election in the chapters of your churches, calling upon the Holy Ghost: for because those canons are not obeyed now-a-days (but prelates are chosen oftentimes more by the favour of men, than by the grace of God) hence truly it comes to pass, that we have not seldom bishops who have little spirituality in them, men rather worldly than heavenly, savouring more the spirit of this world than the spirit of Christ.

'Let the canons be rehearsed of the residence of bishops in their dioceses, which command that they look diligently to the health of souls, that they sow the word of God, that they show themselves in their churches, at least on great holidays; that they officiate in their own persons, and do sacrifice for their people; that they hear the causes and matters of poor men ; that they sustain fatherless children and widows, and exercise themselves in works of virtue.

'Let the canons be rehearsed, concerning the right bestowing of the patrimony of Christ; the canons, which command that the goods of the church be spent-not in costly building, not in sumptuous apparel and pomps, not in feasting and banqueting, not in excess and wantonness, not in enriching of kinsfolk, not in keeping of hounds; but in things profitable and necessary for the church. For when St. Augustine the monk (once Bishop of England) asked Pope Gregory, how the bishops and prelates in England should spend their goods, which were the offerings of faithful people; the said Pope answered (and his answer is put into the Decrees, xii. 2.)

That the goods of the bishops ought to be divided into four parts; whereof one part ought to be for the bishop and his household, another to his poorer

clergymen, the third to repair and uphold his tencments, the fourth to poor people.'

'Let the canons be rehearsed (yea, and that oftentimes), which take away the filthiness and corruption of your courts, which take away those daily newfound crafts for lucre; which effectually pull away this foul covetousness, which is the spring of all the evils that we feel, the fountain of all iniquity.

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• Lastly, let those canons and constitutions of our fore-fathers be renewed, which concern the celebration of councils: which appoint provincial synods to be oftener used for the reformation of the church; because there never happens any thing more hurtful to the church of Christ than the lack of Councils, both General and Provincial.

"When these canons are rehearsed (and such others as concern us, and the correction of our manners), nothing will be lacking, but that the same be put in execution with all authority and power, that once (seeing we have a law) we live according to the law. For which things, with all due reverence, I call chiefly upon you, fathers (for this execution of the canons, and observing of the constitutions, must needs begin at you) that ye may teach us priests to follow you by lively examples; or else truly it will be said of you, They lay grievous burthens upon other men's backs, but they themselves will not as much as touch them with their little finger. Matt. xxiii. 4. For indeed if you keep the laws, and first reform your own lives to the rules of the canon-laws, then shall ye give us light (in which we may see what is to be done on our part), that is to say, the light of your good example: and we, seeing our fathers so keep the laws, will gladly follow their steps.

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The clergy and spiritual men being thus once re

formed in the church, we may then with a just order proceed to the reformation of the laity's part: which truly will be very easily done, if we be first reformed ourselves. For the body follows the soul; and such as the rulers in the city be, such are the inhabitants. Wherefore, if priests that have the charge of souls be good, the people will straight be good too. Our goodness will teach them far more clearly and effectually to be good, than all other teachings and preachings whatsoever: our goodness shall compel them into the right way, truly more powerfully than all your suspensions, excommunications, and cursings. Wherefore, if ye will have the lay-people to live after your wish and will, first live ye yourselves after the will of God; and so, trust me, ye shall effect in them whatsoever ye would.

'Ye would be obeyed by them; and it is fit ye should (for these are the words of St. Paul to the lay-people, Obey them that have rule over you, and submit yourselves; Heb. xiii. 17.): but if you will have this obedience, first do you perform within yourselves that, which is the reason and cause why they ought to obey you, which the said St. Paul teacheth (and it follows in the text) viz. Take ye heed diligently, as those that must give a reckoning for their souls; and they will obey you.

Ye would be honoured of the people; and reason good (for St. Paul writes to Timothy, that the priests who rule well are worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and teaching; 1 Tim. iii. 17.): but if you desire to be honoured, first look that you rule well, and that you labour in word and teaching; and then shall the people have you in all honour.

Ye would reap their carnal things, and gather

tithes and offerings without contention; and it is very fit (for St. Paul writing to the Romans saith, It is their duty to minister unto you in carnal things; Rom. xv. 27.): but you ought first to sow your spiritual things, and then ye shall reap plentifully their carnal things; for truly that man is very hard and unjust, who will reap where he never did sow, and desires to gather where he never scattered.

'Ye would have the church's liberty, and not be drawn before secular judges: this also is reasonable; (for it is in the Psalms, Touch not mine anointed; Ps. cv. 15.): but if ye desire this liberty, first unloose yourselves from the worldly bondage, from trucking with the world, and from the vile services. of men; and lift up yourselves to the true liberty, the spiritual liberty of Christ: place your hearts and affections upon his service, which is perfect freedom: serve your God, and reign in him; and then, believe me, the people will not touch the anointed of their Lord God.

Ye would be out of business in rest and peace; and that is convenient: but if ye would have peace, return to the God of peace and love. Come again to Christ; (in whom is true peace which passeth all understanding'); come again to yourselves, and to your priestly living. And (to make an end) as St. Paul saith, Be ye reformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may savour the things that be of God; and the peace of God shall be with you.

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CARDINAL WOLSEY.*

[1471-1530.]

IN the Life of Thomas Wolsey we meet with one of the most extraordinary examples, which history furnishes, of the vicissitudes of human events. The son of a butcher of Ipswich in the county of Suffolk, he was elevated to the highest stations both in church and state; and then, like an idol set up by Fortune merely to show her power, hurled down in an instant from all his greatness, and reduced to a more wretched condition even than that from which he had been originally raised. It is true, indeed, he enjoyed the advantage of a liberal education: for his father, observing in him an uncommon aptness of apprehension, sent him early to the grammar-school; whence, by the assistance of some kind friends, he was removed to Magdalen College, Oxford. Here he made so extraordinary a progress, that he took the degree of B. A. when he was only fifteen years of age; whence he was commonly called The Boy-Bachelor.' He was next admitted to a fellowship in the same col

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* AUTHORITIES. Cavendish's Life of Wolsey, Biographia Britannica, Fiddes' Life of Wolsey, Lord Herbert's Life of Henry VIII., and Rapin's and Hume's Histories of England.