tes are such as tend least of
all to the edification or capacity of the people, but rather
perplex and leaven pure doctrine with scholastical trash than
enable any minister to the better preaching of the Gospel. Whence
we may also compute, since they come to reckonings, the charges of
his needful library; which, though some shame not to value at L600
[equivalent to L2000 now], may be competently furnished for L60
[equivalent to L200 now]. If any man, for his own curiosity or
delight, be in books further expensive, that is not to be reckoned
as necessary to his ministerial either breeding or function. But
Papists and other adversaries cannot be confuted without Fathers
and Councils, immense volumes and of vast charges! I will show them
therefore a shorter and a better way of confutation: _Tit. I._
9; 'Holding fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught, that he
may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and to convince
gainsayers,'--who are confuted as soon as heard bringing that which
is either not in Scripture or against it. To pursue them further
through the obscure and entangled wood of antiquity, Fathers and
Councils fighting one against another, is needless, endless, not
requisite in a minister, and refused by the first Reformers of our
Religion. And yet we may be confident, if these things be thought
needful, let the State but erect in public good store of Libraries,
and there will not want men in the Church who of their own
inclinations will become able in this kind against Papists or any
other Adversary."

No Parliament that England ever saw, not even the Barebones
Parliament itself, could have entertained for a moment, with a view
to practical legislation, these speculations of the blind Titan in
all their length and breadth. Disestablishment, Disendowment,
Abolition of a Clergy, had been the dream of the Anabaptists and
Fifth Monarchy men of the Barebones Parliament. Even in that House,
however, the battle practically, and on which the House broke up, was
on the question of the continuance of Tithes, and it is dubious
whether some in that half of the House which voted against Tithes
would not have been for preserving a Church Establishment or
Preaching Ministry by some other form of state-maintenance. Nor can
one imagine, even in those eager and revolutionary times, an utter
disregard of that principle of compensation for life-interests which
any Parliame