be present at that action Possibly it had been less exposed to scandal if instead of them two or three Ministers had so joined and the end as well obtained but surely this was a far lesser evil than the admitting of all to the Sacrament that could but rehearse the Creed Lords Prayer and Ten Commandments there was nothing in this action but any pious Ministers who are the stewards of the mysteries of God might answer with a safe conscience for of Stewards it is required that they should be faithful saith the Apostle and I believe any Bishop would have judged his Steward unfaithful if he had dealt out his Master's goods contrary to his Master's order The Ministers Master's order is plain enough that the holy Sacrament belongs not either to ignorant or scandalous persons All the Churches of God in all Ages agree this our own Church in her principles agreeth it yet in practice all Ministers were tyed to give the Sacrament as in times of Popery to all such as could but rehearse the Creed the Pater Noster and the Ten Commandments and confessed in Lent those eminent persons who were commissionated by Edw. 6. to draw up a new body of Ecclesiastical Laws though that excellent Prince lived not long enough to set his Hand and Seal to it so as what they had done had no legal force had expresly determined Tit. de Sacramentis Cap. 5. We will have none admitted to the Table of the Lord until in the Church he hath made profession of his faith What should good Ministers do in this case they could act but precariously it seems at Wandsworth in Surry there was a people that voluntarily submitted to this what harm was this to the Bishops But the truth is this business of discipline came into very little debate before 1584. after that Subscription had been so fatally imposed In several Diocesses I perceive there were some circumstantial variations in the forms of Subscriptions To let my Reader therefore know what it was I will give it him as it lieth in the 36th Canon 1603. when it first received any thing like a legal confirmation which was at least 25. or 26. years after it was first devised and full 30. years after it was so rigorously pressed 1. Art That the Queens Majesty under God is thē Supreme Governour of this Realm and of all other her Highnesses Dominions and Territories as well in all Spiritual or Ecclesiastical things or causes as Temporal and that no forreign Prince Person State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority or Preheminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within her Majesties Realms Dominions or Countries 2. Art That he alloweth the Book of Articles agreed on by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London 1562. and that he acknowledgeth All and Every the Articles therein being in number 39. besides the Ratification to be agreeable to the Word of God 3. Art That the Book of common-Common-Prayer and of ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons containeth in it nothing contrary to the Word of God and that it may lawfully be used and that he himself will use the form in the said Book prescribed in publick Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and no other This Engine was first formed by the Archbishop Whitgift and was one of those 16. Proposals he offered to the Queen for the setling of the Church a Copy of which in M. S. with two Answers to them I have read some little difference there was in the Arch-bishops form His first Article was 1. Art That the Authority which is given her Majesty in Causes Ecclesiastical by the Laws of the Land is lawful and according to the Word of God The Second Article was his Third andran thus 2. Art That he allowed the Book of Articles of Religion agreed on by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London 1562. and set forth by her Majesties Authority and that he agreeth the Articles therein contained to be agreeable to the Word of God 3. Art Which was the Archbishops Second was word for word the same This Motion of the Archbishops put the Queen upon adding force to the Imposition which indeed had been by some Bishops began before but now in most Diocesses it was rigorously pressed The issue of this is told us by the Author of the unlawful practices of Prelates in these words Whatsoever was required in Civil Causes either that concerned her Majesty or the State was by the Ministers embraced wholly and freely In Ecclesiastical Causes also whatsoever concerned Doctrine or otherwise was expresly required by Statute for Subscription Thus far at the first all men with protestation offered but to yeild to this thing so strange and new without any Law in streighter sort than ever was required That all things were agreeable to Gods Word and not against it not only tollerable but allowable both in the Book of Common Prayer and in the Book of ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons This was refused divers of the Ministers were suspended multitudes were thrust out How many godly able painful Ministers were outed all over England I cannot tell but ex ungue Leonem I have seen a M. S. which gives an account of the names of Sixty odd in Suffolk Twenty one in Lincolnshire Sixty four in Norfolk Thirty eight in Essex which though they seem comparatively few yet are a great many when we consider that in Essex at that time there was an account given of 163. Ministers that never Preach'd only read Prayers and Homilies and 85. more Pluralists Non residents or persons most notoriously debaucht This was the first fruit of that Archbishops preferment and a fair offer at the rooting out of the reformed Religion as soon as planted which never did nor ever will live and flourish in any place under the conduct of an ignorant debauched unpreaching Ministry such a Ministry much better serving Popish than Protestant purposes What the Ministers that were suspended or deprived did to prevent their misery or to get this severity a little mitigated and allayed at this time in the years 1583 1584 1585. I shall inform the world from the worthy Author of the Book aforementioned wrote at that very time and often quoted by Bishop Bancroft His words are these The Cause was general means were made Ministers presented Doubts Protestations Supplications they were repulsed reviled threatned the Ministers did indure sustained with a good Conscience but their miserable flocks were subject to all disorders spoils havock Good men mourned evil men prevailed License possessed all places nothing was reserved whole to civil and modest life These things Gentlemen of all sorts took to heart they lamented their own estate and the estate of the people they pitied their Ministers their Wives and Children Gods Cause moved them the honour of the Gospel drew them yea the safety
THE HISTORY OF Conformity Or a PROOF of the MISCHIEF OF IMPOSITIONS FROM THE EXPERIENCE Of more than One Hundred Years LONDON Printed by A. Maxwell and R. Roberts 1681. To the READER by way of INTRODUCTION Christian Reader WHAT was in a great measure proved before the Committee of Parliament in the year 1666 that London was burned by the treachery of Papists and hath withal been suspected a long time by our wise and discerning Patriots that a Plot was by them laid to subvert the Government of the Nation and introduce the Popish Religion hath been so fully proved by a variety of Evidence before the greatest Courts of Judicature in England since the first discovery of the late Hellish Plot and that with this advantage to convince us of the Villany and danger of that party That they had upon it grafted a design for the hastening of the other to assassinate his most Sacred Majesty and several eminent Peers and by a Popish army to massacre all Protestants as none can deny it with any degree of modesty And if any had any inclinations to it the murther of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey and Assassination of Mr. Arnold the manifold lyes perjuries subornations which have been proved against them the device of the Meal-tub Plot c. to spoil the credit of the manifold proofs against them have been such convictions as none hath been able to outface unless such as have dreamed of a liberty yea and a merit too for and in doing any thing for the reputation of the Catholick Church as they nickname the Synagogue of Rome It is as evident that the design of the Popish faction was to have cast the Odium of these actions upon the Protestants The Odium of Sir Edmondbury Godfreys death should have been cast upon Debauches of that Religion had it not been unluckily discovered that he was murthered within the Walls of Sommerset House But that of the Kings Death could they have effected it should have been thrown on the Presbyterians a name under which of late they have comprehended all Dissenters This should have engaged our credulous and furious men to have helped them to have destroyed the Dissenters while they should have got their Catholick Army in a capacity at last to have destroyed them also This restless party having had this long in their design no doubt wonderfully influenced some to procure such a settlement of Religion upon his Majesties Restauration as should produce Dissenters enough nor is it reasonable to think that all the latter severe Acts against Dissenters were not the fruits of their counsels considering how conducive they were to make a great number of Protestants willing for their own ease to have had an Vniversal Toleration which though nothing is or can be more contrary to Popish Principles would admirably have served their design giving an undisturbed liberty to their Priests and Jesuits who can never have an abode in any place without contriving the ruin of those they call Hereticks in our own bowels to have contrived our ruin Or if this failed as indeed it did yet they knew that this way they should employ all our Courts of Judicature against Protestants so as they should not look after them and besides raise a mighty odium and prejudice in the hearts of Protestants one against another so as whatever Villany they should have effected it would have been easie to have charged it upon Dissenters and there had been a party of Protestants in name ready prepared to give credit to it It is now evident to all who will not wilfully shut their eyes how near they were to have accomplished their design But God in infinite mercy hath prevented the accomplishment After all this one would reasonably think that there should not be one Protestant in England who should not think it high time for our Superiors to unite all Protestants A thing the more easie and reasonable because it is apparent that it may be done without the least offence to God or scandal to the generality of Reformed Churches and by the abatement only of some things which being abated we shall be much more like all Reformed Churches than we are But against this some make a mighty outcry out of what design God knoweth For it is a little mysterious that those men who all along have been great pleaders for a reconciliation betwixt us and the Church of Rome and the true Disciples of those Bishops who to prevent the offence of that Church took upon them in the time of King Charles the first to expunge passage out of the Common-Prayer-Book and to bring us as near as possible to them erected Altars brought in Tapers and twenty things more should now that they see the effect of those endeavours for and favours to Papists not be willing for the reconciling of all Protestants to abate those things which themselves own no where specially commanded by God and this too at a time when the Popish bloody Knives are at all our Throats Especially considering that the true cause of retaining our Ceremonies at the first and forming our Common-Prayer-Book in the method it is was originally a desire so far to commend our Worship to the Papists whose Religion lyes all in Ceremonies and Set-forms that they might be proselyted to us and the effects we have seen after an hundred years and upwards is but the hardning of Papists and the alienating infinite numbers of Protestants from us I am aware that a late Author in his Book call'd The Vnreasonableness of Separation hath given us an account of three other reasons of the first Imposition of the Ceremonies upon the Reformation 1. A due reverence to Antiquity 2. To manifest the justice and equity of the Reformation by letting the Papists see we did not break communion with them for things meerly indifferent 3. To shew our consent with other Protestant Churches But he had better have said nothing For will some say How have we reverenced Antiquity in retaining three of their ceremonies and leaving out twenty more of greater antiquity if we may believe the Books we have than the Surplice and kneeling at the Sacrament two of the three we have retained can pretend unto Besides that all the account we have of antiquity is from Books Printed within 200 years for Printing is very little older from Manuscripts which if they bear date three hundred years after Christ must be 1100 years old when they were Printed If we stretch antiquity to 600 years after Christ they must be 800 years old and all that time generally kept in the hands of the known depravers of all Books that ever came in their hands where was any thing not for the purposes of their Church Now what reverence is due to any such worm-eaten Records of antiquity let any men of sense judg His second reason is as invalid for what need was there of our keeping two or three Ceremonies to testifie we did not differ from them for meer
qualified 1. In the Church Service That the Cross in Baptism Interrogatories ministred to Infants Confirmation as superfluous may be taken away Baptism not to be administred by Women and so explained The Cap and Surplice not urged That Examination may go before the Communion That it may be administred with a Sermon That divers terms of Priests Absolution and some others used with the Ring in Marriage and other such like in the Book might be corrected The longsomeness of Service abridged Church-songs and Musick moderated to better edification That the Lords day be not profaned The rest upon Holidays not so strictly urged That there may be an Vniformity of Doctrine prescribed No Popish opinion any more taught or defended No Ministers charged to teach the people to bow at the Name of Jesus That the Canonical Scriptures only be read in the Church 2. Concerning Church Ministers That none hereafter be admited into the Ministry but able and sufficient men and those to preach diligently and especially upon the Lords day That such as be already entred and cannot Preach may either be removed and some charitable course taken for their relief or else to be forced according to the value of their Livings to maintain Preachers That non-Residency be not permitted That King Edwards Statute for the lawfulness of Ministers Marriages may be revived That Ministers be not urged to subscribe but according to the Law to the Articles of Religion and the Kings Supremacy only 3. For Church-livings and Maintenance That Bishops leave their Commendams some holding Prebends some Parsonages some Vicarages with their Bishopricks That double beneficed men be not suffered to hold some two some three Benefices with Cure and some two three or four Dignities besides That Impropriations annexed to Bishopricks and Colledges be demised only to Preachers incumbent for the old Rent That the Impropriations of Lay-mens fees may be charged with a sixth or seventh part of the worth to the maintenance of the â—reaching Ministers 4. For Church-Discipline That the Discipline and Excommunication may be administred according to Christs Institution or at the least that enormities may be redressed as namely That Excommunication come not forth under the names of Chancellors Lay-persons Officials c. That men be not Excommunicated for trifles twelve peny matters That none be Ecommunicated without consent of his Pastor That the Officers be not suffered to extort unreasonable fees That none having Jurisdiction or Registers places put out the same to farm That divers Popish Canons as for restraint of Marriage at certain times be reversed That the longsomeness of Suits in Ecclesiastical Courts which hang sometimes 2 3 4 5 6 7 years may be restrained That the Oath ex Officio by which men are forced to accuse themselves be more sparingly used That Licenses for Marriage without Banes asked be more cautiously granted These with such other abuses yet remaining and practised in the Church of England we are able to shew to be not agreeable to the Scriptures if it shall please your Highness further to hear us or more at large to be informed or by conference amongst the Learned to be resolved And yet we doubt not but that your Majesty without further process of whose Christian judgment we have received so good a taste already is able of your self to judg of the equity of this cause God we trust hath appointed your Highness our Physician to heal these diseases and we say with Mordecai to Esther Who knoweth but you are come to the Kingdom for such a time Thus your Majesty shall do that which we are perswaded shall be acceptable to God honourable to your Majesty in all succeeding ages profitable to his Church which shall be thereby increased comfortable to your Ministers which shall be no more suspended silenced disgraced imprisoned for mens traditions and prejudicial unto none but those who seek their own credit quiet and profit in the world Thus with all dutiful submission referring our selves to your Majesties Pleasure for your Gracious answer as God shall direct you We most humbly recommend your Highness to the Divine Majesty whom we beseech for Christ his sake to do herein what shall be for his glory the good of his Church and your endless comfort Your Majesties most humble Subjects the Ministers of the Gospel who desire not a disorderly Innovation but a due and Godly Reformation How his Majesty resented this Petition is variously reported But sure it is saith Fuller it ran the Gantlop through all the Prelatical party every one giving it a lash some with their Pens more with their tongues and the dumb Ministers as they term it found their speech most vocal against it How many the number of those was who joined in this and several other Petitions at the same time and were suspended deprived imprisoned c. I cannot tell but a great division arose which held during the Archbishop Bancrofts time Bishop Abbot who succeeded him in the Archbishoprick of Canterbury was much calmer Several Books were wrote at this time against the Nonconformist by Mr. Hutton Mr. Rogers Dr. Lovel and Dr. Spark who had himself been a Dissenter but in the year 1607 1608 they were learnedly answered by a Book of three parts call'd A Defence of the Ministers Reasons for refusal of Subscription The first part was concerning the holy Scriptures the ill Translation of several Texts The second concerning the Holy Scriptures and Apocrypha The third was about kneeling at the Sacrament Several able Ministers left the Nation many others with their Families were undone in it Thus Conformity stood till the time of King Charles the First some Bishops being more some less rigid in pressing the Canons But when Archbishop Laud came to be Archbishop of Canterbury who succeeded Abbot he made a new Edition of Impositions to which he required Conformity saying second Service at the Table setting that at the East end of the Church Altarwise commanding the Communion Table to be railed in and all people to come up thither to receive the Communion kneeling enforcing the bowing at the Name of Jesus Forbidding Lectures and Afternoon-Sermons Pressing the Book of Sports on the Lords day Not injoining but commending bowing toward the East-end c. and twenty more things What havock hese things made is yet within the memory of many and what disturbance Bishop Wren made in Suffolk and other places as several other Bishops that were his Creatures did in other Diocesses many alive know multitudes of Ministers were again deprived and suspended Many undone in the High Commission At last in the Convocation 1640 an Oath with c. was devised which had perfected the business in rooting out all Puritan Preachers had not a Parliament came and spoil'd that design Scarce any is ignorant what numbers of Godly Ministers and people left the Nation upon this account betwixt 1630. and 1640. so many as to make one of the noblest Colonies at this day in the world that