not satisfied he must have another Book a Prayer book and another Book an instructing or preaching Book a Catechisme book and to the same end that hee may bee better furnished for his work that by this means it may bee done more perfectly more to edification as the Common Prayer-book formerly There is a precise appointment with what words and sentences Gods Name shall be called upon saith Mr. Hooker that the endless and senslesse effusions of indigested Prayers may not bee Pol. p. 239. and another of them The end of these formes is to bee a meanes to banish utterly out of Christs Church all extemporal invention of unsound prayer Covel against Burgis p. 70 71. So for the other part of our Ministerial work wee have beene furnished with a Homily Book and now a Catechisme Book which some would have imposed upon Ministers utterly to banish out of Christs Church all other Catechismes as also a more particular help and means then any Christ hath furnished his Ministers with for the better understanding of the Principles and for the better propagating the Gospel and preserving men sound in their knowledge which is to like ends as was those set formes formerly imposed § 5. To conclude this Argument our demand is of those that have so zealously stickled for such an imposition and have a mind to bring Ministers to their Books againe from whose necks this yoak hath been and that by a mighty hand of God so lately taken off I demand whether any thing in those reasonings of our suffering Brethren against Apocrypha Common Prayer-books and Homily-books he of any consequence from this topick the bringing of other books into the solemne Service of God besides those of Divine Authority Neither the Levites saith many of our Brethren together in the Abridgement nor Christ Abrid p. 6. nor his Apostles did ever read preach or interpret any other writing for the instruction of the Church but only the Canonical Scripture Againe in the same place It is the proper Office of Christ to be the Teacher of his Church and therefore no writings may bee appointed to bee read in the Congregation for instruction but only such as have been indited by his Spirit Mr. Cartw. in Cat. maketh it a breach of the Second Commandement and against Doctor Whitg about reading of Homilies in the Church hee writeth thus Neither the Homilies nor the Apocripha are to bee read at all in the Church It is good to consider the order which God kept with his people in times past when hee commanded that no Vessel nor instrument either Beesome or Flesh-hook c. should come into the Temple but those only which were sanctified and set apart for that use And hee will have no other Trumpets to call the people together but those only which were set apart for that purpose what should the meaning of this Law bee The matter of other common Vessels and Trumpets was the same oftentimes which theirs was the same forme also and Trumpets able to serve for the uses of sounding c. as well as those of the Temple and as those which were set apart wherefore might not these as well be used in the Temple as others forsooth because the Lord would by these Rudiments teach that he would have nothing brought into the Church but that which hee had appointed no not although they seemed in the judgement of men as good the Homilies be they ever so learned and pithy c. see Parker on the Cross 1 part Doctor Chadderton on Rom. 12. and divers others to the same purpose I demand againe what shew of Scripture there is for any such method or way as prescribed by Christ or Authority left by him to any other person to prescribe any such Utensile or Instrument What warrant hath any man to carry on the Directory for instruction further and more particularly than Christ himself hath thought fit to doe and thus to establish a Humane forme in a setled stated Sabbath-service without Scripture warrant And whether he may not as lawfully collect matter and put it in a set method and forme of words and furnish the Minister with a Booke as a help or means for the better edification of the people in any other or in all other the works and parts of the Ministerial Function as in this and as lawfully impose such Books to bee used by him and no other nor any other thing done by him but what is done by Book If hee may bee by such meanes better enabled for one part of his Ministry he may likewise for another and if for all why should it not be rather chosen CHAP. IV. Divers Objections answered no shew of Scripture for it nor necessity nor requisite for uniformity or obliged to it by our Covenant I Shall now faithfully give an account of whatever I have either read or heard or imagine can be pleaded as a warrant in this case § 1. Obj. 1 The notation of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to teach by voyce from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and this from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 autem sonum sive simplicem sive ex reflexa repercussione geminatum significat and hence wee have our English word Eccho which is as it were an answering againe Ans There is no such distinct meaning in the Scripture use of the word but most ordinarily for preaching or instructing by voyce and so interpreted by our Translators 1 Cor. 14.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that by my voyce I might teach others Gal. 6.6 wee doe not beleeve the Ministers maintenance is to rise from those that learn Catechismes only such as are unmarried and under the age of twenty one years yet the same word there and is translated teaching and the Scripture speaking of such to whom this Catechistical way seems to bee most sutable it expresseth their instruction and teaching by another word Heb. 5.12 You have need that one teach you the first Principles of the Oracles of God the word there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word is used also for a story or any report by hear-say Luke 1.4 Acts 21.21 24. Obj. 2. Those Scriptures are objected that mention Principles Fundamentals which are reckoned up Heb. 6.1 Psal 34.11 Come yee children hearken unto me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord. And 2 Tim. 1.13 a pattern of sound words in faith and love and Rom. 2.20 the forme of the knowledge of the truth is spoken of Ans In none of these Scriptures any set forme for method and words and if so yet not with injunction to bee held to only that principles and lower truthes are to bee taught and to those of a lower capacity in a more familiar and plaine method and way this is confirmed by those Scriptures and is a duty of that evidence from Scripture that the Civil Magistrate may impose and compel Ministers
upon which Episcopacy was taken away Ordinan June 12. 1643. namely because it was very prejudicial to the state and government of this Kingdome Now if a settlement in the Church depends thus upon the Lawes and constitutions of the Common-wealth As they or it shall alter and change there will ordinarily then at furthest bee new mouldings of the Church order in whole or in some parts of it and if so experiments may bee made of several wayes and impositions before a thorow and fixed settlement of any It cannot bee expected saith the former Ordinance a rule in every particular should bee setled at once but that there will bee need of suppliment and additions and happily also of alterations in some things as EXPERIENCE shall bring to light the necessity thereof though the fundamentals and substantial parts of Church-Government hath been setled And so in the first reformation there was a reserve for alterations It is said of the Ceremonies and Church-Order then determined Preface to the Com. Prayer-Book that upon just causes they may bee altered and changed being not as the Law of God and a little after in the same Declaration That wee should put away such things from time to time as wee perceive to bee abused as in mans Ordinance it often chanceth And it is appointed by the Statute for Uniformity That the Queens Majesty with the advice of her Metropolitan might make such alterations and ordaine and publish such further Rites and Ceremonies of the Church as may bee most for Gods glory c. And what alteration was in the Common-Prayer Book in 1â— Jacobi was done by Commission under the Great Seal Proclamation of March 5. 1 Jaco which is there said to bee according to the form which the Lawes of this Realm in like case prescribe to be used so that not only in Parliament but at other times also alterations might be made §. 7. So they say Ordi of March 14. 1645. THe great difficulty which the Honourable Houses found to pitch upon any thing suddainly in Church-Government especially in what they judged not to be fundamental and of the substance of it for that was sooner setled by them And the possibility upon further experience to make alterations in Circumstantials and lesser matters Did beget a tenderness in them and gracious indulgence to such as were to submit in what they then setled as 1 In the establishing of matters more doubtful for three years only or a shorter time 2 What was to be for a standing Law or Rule and for longer time had no ruining penalty to enforce submission 3 A forbearance was consulted for such as through tendernesse of Conscicence could not come up to that rule prudently and piously considering What was not without so much difficulty resolved upon in their own Consciences to establish might after establishment finde some difficulty in other mens Consciences to be submitted unto And the truth is such matters as Civil Governours and others have looked upon as small differences or but Circumstances or at most not of the substance of Discipline or Worship yet it hath fallen out otherwise in the Consciences of those that have been to practise knowing their God to bee a jealous and severe God in matters wherein his Worship and Name is concerned Exod. 20. Small things are great to a searching tender Conscience and where doing or not doing thrusts a man between these two rocks the offending of God or man §. 8. And that our Governours may still if it please the Lord continue this work of reformation with the like tenderness as it hath bin begun and hitherto carried on let it be seriously and sadly considered how that from time to time the greatest differences and contentions with us in Ecclesiastical affairs have risen not from what is of the substance or essence either in Discipline or Worship but from Circumstances only and lesser matters in both And then especially such things have proved and will prove occasions of greatest suffering and discouragement to Ministers when such smaller and more doubtful matters as these are imposed under such great and undoing penalties as in THIS CASH Episcopal and Common-prayer-Book Conformity and the contentions and sufferings upon that account is a sad instance and may not bee forgotten The matters controverted were not of the substance either of Discipline or Worship in the opinions of those that imposed them This appears in the Preface to the Common-Prayer Booâ— and frequent professions of the Bishops Nor were they otherwise judged of by those that opposed and sought to have them reformed It is asserted by our Brethren in a Treatise that the Bishops and Seekers of Reformation are all one that is the title of the Book the drift and scope whereof is to shew that whatsoever is essentially of the religion and profession of the Church of England and of the Ministry described in the Holy Scripture maintained by the Prelates standing for conformity Wee the Ministers and People who seek reformation doe hold and professe the same And the things wee desire to bee reformed and they stand earnestly to maintain are but Circumstantial Additaments brought into the Church by Humane constitution Which will bee more evident if wee reduce the Controversies thereabout to these three heads the Leitourgie Ceremonies and Episcopacy For the first stinted prayers A formed Leitourgie there was to be held to for matter and words by all Ministers or to lose their Livings Those that were for this look upon such forms imposed to bee no matter of Religion Mr. Bâ—â—â— his trial p. 4. or substantial means of Worship nor necessary to prayer And those against it joyn in this that the Book of Common prayer may bee used for the substance thereof 2 The heats and sufferings about the Ceremonies were greater the Materials of this Controversie were but Circumstantials so granted by both parties Our Brethren disputed not against them Brâ—dsh 12 Arg. but as in manner and form prescribed Those that pressed Ceremonies professed as much Our Church saith Bishop Morton retains them for decency c. without making them of the substance of Gods Service The 3 Innocent Cerem p. 45. thinking them alterable and changeable without opinion of necessity And of the Crosse one of the worst of them in the Canons of 1603. Can. 30. The keeping and omitting of a Ceremony in it self considered is but a small thing Ed. 6. Common Prayer Book Ann. 1549. it is said to be no part of the SVBSTANCE of the Worship The infant is fully and perfectly Baptized before the sign of the Crosse which being afterwards used doth neither adde any thing or being omitted doth detract any thing from the effect and SVBSTANCE of it and in the same Can. It is a thing in it self INDIFFERENT 3. Episcopacy and that form of Government which saith Doct. Downham is the chief and principal though other particulars bee controverted and so chief as
any other profession some that are expert and able in it have done I say when these were taken away a very great incouragement to Learning was removed and such as will be felt in the following age Not that the continuance of such places is in the least desirable no they were sinful and ought to bee removed But let Gods dealing and providence in removing of them bee remarkably observed and especially in this namely That when the Lord took from this Tribe those invitations that did ballance the hazard of a long and chargeable education and other uncertainties At the same time these Ceremonies and subscriptions the tenure by which they were held and those great and breaking penalties of ejection and deprivation for Non-Conformity were also happily removed which was so great an incouragement on the other hand as it held up mens minds to the Ministry notwithstanding But now to see these penalties upon one occasion or other returning upon us again but those encouragements or any equivalent never likely to return and that after they have been so lately and twice taken away and to return again in as strict a severity upon this almost sunk generation of men as ever they were inflicted It will cause multitudes to turn their backs upon this Profession more than upon any other and more than ever they have done heretofore I must professe I have long feared and doe still more than ever considering these things and upon what uncertain terms also that maintenance depends which the Law hath allowed for the Ministers support and how long struck at I mean Tithes and petitioned against and I doubt had been taken away before this time were it not for the Lay-interest so much spoken against by some of Appropriators And also with what difficulty some Tithes especially in Cities and Towns are now recovered and gotten in I say when I thus consider and lay all together I fear this Nation which hath been worthily famous throughout the world for learned powerful able Preachers In a short time if such discouragements should bee brought in again upon the Ministry our Governours will bee constrained either 1 To take the course they doe in the Netherlands where the Ministers being low and mean their Children comming to the charity of the State are bred up to the Ministry again for a supply when their Fathers go off by death And for their Professors places men are called ordinarily from other parts to supply them Or 2 To put into the Ministry persons bred up to some other Calling or Trade who though not able in conscience to conform to what is or what may bee imposed in Discipline or Worship yet if it so happen can take up their Shops or Trades again Having been so provident as not to cast their youth into such a way of breeding as will hang their necessary livelihood upon such an uncertain turning hinge §. 10. And if this also be added the SEASON and a consideration of these times in which 1 Ministers work never lay heavier upon those that are faithful and 2 The hands never fewer to bear it up than at this present which will adde weight and aggravation to our discouragement For the first when a reformation is made of what is amisse in Religion when the Worship of God comes to bee purged of old wonts and superstitions these are such things as the common people are more unwilling to part with than their gold or silver 1 Pet. 1.18 Judg. 18.24 Jer. 32.35 or any thing else they have in this world A more Spiritual Gospel Light also in reforming times breaketh forth upon such as naturally love darkness rather than light At such times therefore there hath ever been great stirrings and distempers of spirit through the generality of a whole Nation The Ministers they only stand as it were in the front of contention and receive all the shot of opposition Though the alterations be by the Lawes of the Nation and the resolutions of their own representatives yet they are willing to look no further than their Ministers in whose hands indeed these changes first appear as those that make them Our Minister saith one will not use the common-prayer-Common-prayer-Book not Marry nor Bury nor Church as we were wont to have it our Minister will set up Discipline keep us from the Sacrament say others When Ministers had to doe only with the Doctrine of the Gospel and discharged their Consciences in a faithful and searching application of it to each person such a mans condition was not much better than Ishmaels of whom it is said Gen. 16.12 His hand is against every man and every mans hand against him But Gospel Discipline provokes and displeaseth ten times more and this also is now Ministerial work and it is a New work to the common people especially it being exercised by so mean a hand as they account it a common Minister Formerly it was done by a Bishop a Spiritual Court under Seal and by those that exercised a great deal of state in their Ecclesiastical proceedings like the Princes of this world that have dominion over their people Thus we see Ministers have discouragements enough at such a time from the work it self if performed as it should be in so much as in many places they are enforced to sit down with half the means the Lawes give them and what they doe get is with such uncomfortable contentions as did not necessity urge they were better bestow their pains amongst them for nothing And this hath been the Ministers condition upon all changes and further reformations who being not able in Conscience to satisfie their people in such superstitious vanities as they formerly enjoyed the people put them to the utmost extremity and molestation in every thing they have to doe with them in And so it is at this time in so much as his Highnesse commiserating the sufferings in this kind Proclamation for the better encouragement of godly Ministers Nov. 25. 1658. of the most conscientious Ministers throughout the Nation was graciously pleased with the advice of his Council by a seasonable Proclamation to require all persons concerned to deal more righteously in this matter And it being thus at present with the faithful Ministers of the Gospel and especially with those that are most zealous to carry on this work of reformation If to this severe Discipline of the people who take from him half his means because he dischargeth his Conscience in some things such Discipline of the Magistrate bee added the taking away his whole means because he cannot goe against his Conscience in some other things I say if it be thus with this profession and on each hand beset with such discouragements it is not for us to expect any thing in the future but a very low Ministry through the Nation some few persons being off the Stage that more encouraging times engaged to come on §. 11. For the Second As the work it self hath
questions as our Brethren of Scotland affirm about Religion Declar. of the Com. of the Gen. Assemb p. 26 and matters Ecclesiastical ought to be determined by the assemblies of the Church as matters Civil by the Parliament a Parliament is absolute and independent in its determinations Then this question whether stinted Forms of Prayer or instruction composed by men ought to have a constant setled use and how frequent or seldome to be used in the Worship of God and of the sufficiency or insufficiency of a Minister in any such respect being undoubtedly questions of that nature should first have been determined by the Church which hath not been done before the Parliament had medled with it §. 2. Obj. If it be said the Assembly of Divines disposed put the principles of Religion into this form or mould and fitted it for such a method and way of instruction and commended this Catechism to the Parliament A. 1. So were the forms of Prayer and Homilies composed by learned godly men and out of a good intention those first reformers are acknowledged to be excellent instruments raised of God The Preface to the Direct c. it is not the matter in those Prayers and Homilies that was so much blamed but the end and use for which and the authority by which they were brought into the Church they are imposed saith the Admonition to the Parliament as a set service to God Adm. p. 9 though the words or matter be good the use is naught Our Supplications Remonstrances say our Brethren of Scotland in the aforesaid Declaration Acts of assembly and Parliament and our defensive armes in Anno 1630. and 1640. were not only against the Book of Canons Pag 26. service-Service-book c. for the evil matter there contained but the manner of introducing the same that is by a Civil and not by a Church power Ans 2. The Assembly did never intend such a stinted stated use of it in the solemn Worship of God as in the Case according to which a Sabbath is not judged well spent wherein the words of this Catechism or some part of them are not read or said And that the not submission hereunto upon any account should be a sufficient test of a persons unfitnesse to enjoy a place or station in the Ministry Such a severe strict use of it was never advised by that Assembly but rather condemned by them in condemning the like use made formerly of set forms of the same nature Preface to the Directory The Liturgy say they hath been a great meanes as on the one hand to make and increase an idle and unedifying Ministry which contented it self with set forms made to their hands by others c. so on the other side it hath been and ever would be if continued a matter of endless strife and contention in the Church and a snare both to many godly and faithful Ministers who have been persecuted and silenced upon that occasion and to others of hopeful parts many of which have been and more still would be diverted from all thoughts of the Ministry to other Studies especially in these latter times wherein a greater discovery of error and superstition and more knowledge in the Mysteries of godliness and gifts in preaching and prayer In another place wee are told in the same preface how by reason of such forms and the not submitting to them divers able and faithful Ministers are debarred from the exercise of their Ministry to the indangering of many thousand souls in a time of such scarcity of faithful Pastors and spoyled of their livelihood to the undoing of them and their families §. 3. These were the evils of such a stated authoritative use of set forms in the solemn Worship of God observed by the Reverend Divines of that Synod And therefore they advise there may be no more such severe injunctions but instead of them a Directory for all parts of Worship in which the Minister is left at more freedom Preface to the Direct having liberty to furnish both his heart and tongue with further or OTHER materials of Prayer and exhortation as shall bee needful upon all occasions These words of the Assembly contain the true nature and notion of a Directory as it differs from a stinted form and is the same with Hookers distinction before mentioned Pa. 58 59. A prescript form is such an appointment as every man must observe A Directory is a form men may use if they please or change it and please themselves in some other if there bee just reason Now it is professed by the Assembly of Scotland Act of the Gen. Ass for appro the Cat. that they receive this Catechism under no other notion but as a DIRECTORY for CATECHISING and not as a stinted Catechism And thus the Parliament understood the Assembly in all the forms they presented to them and condescended so far as to reason with our Brethren of Scotland and justifie the liberty and freedom they had given by the Directory as being according to the judgement of moderate Presbyterians here in England When we consider saith the Parliament what some Ministers of the Presbyterian judgement and members of that Assembly in their book subscribed Smectimnius dedicated to the Parliament say of the Litourgy then established by Law it was never established to be so punctually observed so rigorously pressed to the casting out of all that scruple it Declar. of the Lords and Com. in answ to the Scot Papers or any thing in it wee have reason well to consider what we put the stamp of publick authority upon for if this uniformity of the Directory Church-Government Confession of Faith and CATECHISE should produce such a rigid Conformity unto them it is not easie to fore-see all the mischiefs and inconveniences it would beget though we may easily guess they would not be small by what we have felt in the like kind Ans 3. Wee are told Eng. po Cer. p. 154 before Princes Ordinances can bee said to bind us it must first bee shewed they have been prescribed by a lawful Synod of the Church The Magistrates power is only Cumulative so that an Ecclesiastical power is first to be put forth by a lawful Synod of the Church The Assembly called by the Parliament was no such Synod being 1 Not made up of persons delegated from the Churches by the intrinsical power received from Christ â—en Asâ—â—â—b of 〈◊〉 Anno 1647. Ses 23. nor 2 Any power of suffrage for the minor part presented their resolutions as well and with as much authority as the major 3 Nor had they liberty to debate of any thing but what was proposed by the Parliament Hence those Ordinances were examined and owned by the general assembly in Scotland before they had any sanction of that State or reception in their Churches And we in England having no general Assembly so established the Provincial assembly of London took it
upon themselves and after the Parliament had injoyned us forthwith to practise according to their Ordinances they added considerations and cautions before they would receive them And by consequence if no Provincial a Classical Assembly may doe the like and if no Classis each Congregation being furnished with a Presbytery ought to make if not afore Judgement by their Delegates in some greater Assembly yet an after Judgement and to accept or refuse what a Parliament shall doe in this kind by their Presbytery according to Presbyterial principles which liberty cannot be enjoyed where Civil powers impose with such penalties as in the case CHAP. X. The Fifth Argument It is difficult in Ecclesiastical matters to obtain reformation of what is amiss These things are pressed with greatest severity upon the most conscientious WHen any change happens in Ecclesiastical affairs it is long before wee can come to a settlement as we have formerly shewed This settlement being made and munited with penal Lawes by the Civil Magistrate it is difficult if not impossible in an ordinary way to get any thing reformed though it bee ever so inconvenient and burdensome to mens Consciences Repeals and changes are made frequently of Lawes about Civil affairs and our evils cured as they come to bee discerned but Church grievances like diseases in the spirits are in a manner incurable 1 There are but a few in comparison and those more strict and conscientious who are ordinarily the worst beloved and least regarded that feel the pain of such distempers 2 By such impositions we rid our selves of those Ministers whom wee esteem most troublesome and have great advantage to fashion the rest I mean the less conscientious to a state guise The sad experience we have had formerly and what great and constant endeavours after reformation have been many years prosecuted with little or no fruit may be a proof sufficient hereof In the Reformation began with Edward the Sixth such reliques of Popery were left in the Church as did much offend divers godly learned even in those dayes These Superstitions coming to a settlement and by penal Lawes fixed in the Worship and Service of God they held their station neer a hundred years notwithstanding the testimonies at several times given all along against them In the beginning of Queen Maries dayes those learned men that left their own Country and went into Germany where this reformation and the superstitions setled in it being stuck to by some amongst them there was then a very great testimony and in the eye of the Churches of Christ given against those evils by others of them better affected to a thorow reformation of which more afterwards These endeavours and witnessings did not in the least loosen the hold those corruptions had gotten by their first establishment but were continued still as will appear in what followeth §. 2. Those Brethren and such others as desired further reformation conceived great hope to themselves upon Queen Elizabeths coming to the Crown who was a Sufferer with them SHEE by Imprisonment as they by Banishment Application was made betimes and with much zeal and so it was continued all her days There were Petitions preferred to her Majesty to the Parliament to the Council to the Bishops to the Convocation Pleas Admonitions Advertisements Considerations and the like to the Common people Multitudes of Books daily and profers of Disputation against those forms and impositions as also Assertions Demonstrations wherin a more savoury Discipline in the Church and order in the Worship of God is held forth and in so much evidence of Scripture light as they were not able to put it under a bushel much out of our Brethrens Writings might bee brought forth to this purpose and of the great actings and sufferings by the godly party all her reign and yet all this obtained not the least alteration or to have the lightest penalty taken off from such as could not conform though some of them sealed their testimony with their bloud Greater hopes by farre were conceived upon King James his coming to the Crown whose breeding seemed to set him fair for the desired reformation as also the Oathes Covenants and other engagements that were upon him his seeming dislike also of our Bishops and Ceremonies expressed frequently As a preparation hereunto there were representations and applications made to him while in Scotland and speedily at his first comming into England There were by a discreet and moderate Pen some considerations put into his hand about this work of reformation And to make way hereunto in the first place the Author endeavours to represent the slownesse and neglect of States in altering what hath gotten any settlement in Ecclesiastical affaires though matters bee ever so much amisse his words are these I ask why the Civil State should be purged and restored by good and wholsome Lawes made in every third or fourth year in Parliament providing remedies as fast as time breedeth mischiefs and contrariwise the Ecclesiastical state should still continue upon the dreggs of time and receive no alterations now for this five and forty years and more It is above five and forty years since Wee have heard saith he of no offer of Bills in Parliament Is nothing amisse The pretensions for not making alterations in Churches setled are mentioned by the same Honourable Pen in page 29. Tares say they Discourse concerning Church affairs by the L. Bacon must not bee plucked up lest you supplant the good Corn but let them grow together they stiffly hold that nothing may bee innovated because it would make a breach upon the rest which hee reasoneth against thus Qui mala non permutat in bonis non perseverat Without change of ill a man cannot continue in good to take away abuses supplanteth not good orders but establishes them Morosa moris retentio res turbulata aeque ac novitas est Contentious retaining of Custom is a turbulent thing as well as innovation pag. 32. There were solicitations by the godly Ministers and people of both Kingdoms the suffering of good Ministers all Queen Elizabeths days were represented to him which before hee came to this Crown hee seemed much to resent These hopes were strengthned by his Majesties condescension to a Conference which could never bee obtained before in which hee was present in his own person And what was the issue of all those hopes and endeavours It is strange to consider 1 Not one grievance some small things only explained rather than changed or imposition removed or penalty lessened but advantage taken to lay the yoke heavier upon those that desired reformation in representing them to the Nation as persons Schismatical and troublesome in the Church 2 A Proclamation was sent abroad immediately March the 5. in 1 Jacobi to let all men know that whatsoever was presumed upon of his Majesties intentions to further reformation was without cause given by him All former Lawes and penalties are anew enforced
thus the Proclamation concludeth And last of all we doe admonish all men that hereafter they shall not expect or attempt any further alteration in the common and publick form of Gods service from this which is now established such a resolution in respect to Lawes and Statutes made about Civil affairs hath not been known In King Charls his time the like endeavours continued yet Ministers daily silenced and being utterly wearied with expectation Multitudes Ministers and others being hopelesse as their last testimony against those evils separated themselves from the Congregations here in England and went to the utmost ends of the earth and into a Wildernesse some of them and others into other parts beyond the Seas that they might enjoy Ordinances in purity None of all these endeavours moved the State to remove the least thing offensive either in Discipline or Worship nor at all to bear with those that could not submit §. 3. Let it be everlastingly a Caution to Governours that they doe not impose smaller matters and such as themselves judge but Circumstances under such ruining penalties It is a wretched policy and too much practised by States-men where there is want of light or reason to enforce to supply it by the severity of Lawes and penalties And let not Ministers or Churches which should bee as pillars to hold forth and as an Army with banners to contend for Truth Can. 6.4 and Liberty according to Christ I say let not such be wanting in all humility to use indeavours to hinder such settlements It is not for us to say light is growing and knowledge in these matters increaseth every day more and more and therefore such evils Law restraints will fall off of themselves I confesse if any thing doe it one would think the breaking forth of Scripture light should it being the property of that light to burn up and consume Wood Hay 1 Cor. 3.13 Stubble and the like mixtures with or additions to the Doctrine and Worship of God But yet let it be considered where Forms and Ceremonies have once gotten a footing how long they have been able to keep their stations after their evil and offensivenesse by most evident light and demonstration on every side have been discovered to all men It was written by Master Udal Mr. Cartwright and others in an Epistle to the Bishops as followeth Many and most evident have our Declarations been c. never have any one of you taken in hand to say any thing against it but it hath made his eyes to dazle as the clearest Sun-shine whereby hee hath been driven hither and thither groping for evasions and yet could not escape but hath fallen into infinite most monstrous absurdities and blasphemous assertions so forceable is the truth to amaze the gain-sayers thereof yet still you continue in your course is it because you see not what you should do It cannot bee so unlesse you have eyes and see not for the cause hath been by the blessing of God so managed that many Plow-men Artificers and Children doe see it and know it and are able by the Word of God to justifie it and condemn you to bee adversaries to the Gospel c. Doe not perswade your selves therefore that further light and a greater suffrage hereafter will be able to remove what things for the present seem not so allowable its true God can doe any thing But it is evident there hath been light light sealed with sufferings sealed with the estates liberties and lives of as gracious holy learned men as any the World had and that for the space of near a hundred years and yet these abuses and impositions remained in as great vigour and freshnesse to run their race oppresse and destroy for a hundred years more had not a hand from Heaven prevented it the Lord did shake Heaven and earth the sea and dry land that those shaken things might be removed and such things only that cannot bee shaken may remain §. 4. The sharpest edge of such Laws while unreformed verging about from their first pious and righteous intentions if any such were will bee set and in the greatest rigour against the most conscientious and holy Ministers and others Something and some instances that bear a proportion to this observation may bee given from former actings not yet quite out of memory In Edward the sixths reformation Common-Prayers and the leaving of a Prayer-Book as a help to the Minister in officiating c. was for a good purpose Preface to C. P. and great advancement of godlinesse as is professed by the Composers of it As also the Ceremonies to bee observed in officiating according to that Book Of Ceremonies why before the C. Prayer Book they were of a godly intent and purpose formerly devised they are reserved for a decent order in the Church for which they were first devised and because they appertain to edification c. and upon this good meaning that without some Ceremonies it is not possible to keep any order or quiet Discipline in the Church It was farre from the thoughts of those good men who afterwards were Martyrs some of them it would ever have been wrought about to become a matter of such high contention and made use of as it was in a few years to eject from the Ministry so many hundreds of the choycest persons that ever had station amongst us Dr. Burges Apol. on K. James This Doctor Burges gives as one reason why he could not yield to subscription though he had formerly subscribed because hee perceived by the Book of Canons published in 1603. the intention of the Leitourgy and Ceremonies was to another purpose than what the Church aimed at in the first imposition 2 The not suffering Ministers to preach without a Licence from the Bishop had a good rise in that age See Injon in 1. Eliz. N. 8 when most places were supplied with Readers and those found able to preach Popish and corrupt in their judgements In processe of time it became a barre only to the most holy and eminent Preachers 3 Three or four men that tender Gods glory Injunct of Eliz. N. 46. and his true religion were to be appointed by the Ordinary as informers to observe that men kept their own Parish Churches and to present such as were negligent into the Spiritual Court this was intended against the Popishly affected but not long after those Informers appointed by the Ordinary were the vilest of men and few Popishly affected but the holiest and most consciencious persons presented and molested by them and the neglect of Common Prayer became the Character of a Puritan so were they described to King James in the Conference at Hampton Court by the Bishop of London 4 In the Articles appointed by Queen Elizabeth Artic. 51. to bee inquired of in the Visitation this is one Item Whether doe you know any man in your Parish secretly or in unlawful Conventicles say or hear Masse
c. but in after times such as met together to fast and pray to repeat Sermons and edifie one another with good conference were these Conventiclers and punished accordingly §. 5. In some Diocesses where the Bishop being mindful of that wholsome exhortation to mercy in his Consecration was more tender to his Clergie Book of Ordination pa. penult there more indulgence was exercised and not such wresting former Injunctions and Articles or perverting them against the godly sober Ministers Hence Visitation Articles and Inquiries were of different strains according to the spirit of the Diocessan which being observed and that there was more liberty given in one Diocess than in another from the inadvertency as his Majesty termed it of some in authority By the ninth Can. of the Synod in the year 1640. It was ordained for the better setling of uniformity in the outward government administration of the Church as followeth This Synod saith the Canon hath now caused a summary of Visitatory Articles and wee doe Decree and Ordain that no Bishop shall cause to be printed or published any other Articles or forms of enquiry c. So that the edge of those former Injunctions which was intentionally set against Popery and Prophaneness by this new Book of Articles and enquiries is fixedly set and without all hope of indulgence from any better-minded Bishop to wound the peace and comfort of the best affected Ministers and People throughout the Nation and for all times to come It being now not left in the power or to the discretion of any Bishop without hazard of a Months suspension ipso facto from his Bishoprick to bee more favourable than another or less severe and rigorous than the major part of that Synod a Synod that mounted their Canons to a greater height against the purity and simplicity of Gospel-Worship than any at any time before them since the reformation FINIS The Contents THe Usefulness of Catechizing and the prejudice to the people for want of it Pref. CHAP. I. A Case With an explication of some terms and the State of the Question Pag. 1 CHAP. II. The first Argument Rites and Forms that have a Stated Use and to Spiritual ends in the Worship of God ought to have Scripture warrant for their establishment p. 16 CHAP. III. What directions there are in the Scripture for the instructing of others in respect both of matter method and means c. p. 29 CHAP. IV. Divers Objections answered no shew of Scripture for it nor necessity nor requisite for Uniformity or obliged to it by our Covenant p. 43 CHAP. V. The second Argument Of Christian Liberty things indifferent the particular Catechism designed not so desirable for this Use and how many waies our Ministerial liberty is prejudiced by the imposition of it p. 61 CHAP. VI. The third Argument Taken from the imposition and penalty the severity and inequality of it p. 99 CHAP. VII Of the prejudice to the Ministry and evil consequences of such an imposition p. 120 CHAP. VIII Schisms and Divisions amongst the People of God occasioned and continued thereby is another fruit or evil consequence of such penalties p. 165 CHAP. IX The fourth Argument It is destructive to that Independency which hath been anciently claimed and professed by our brethren the Nonconformists p. 211 CHAP. X. The fifth Argument It is difficult in Ecclesiastical matters to obtain reformation of what is amiss These things are pressed with greatest severity upon the most conscientious p. 233 Courteous Reader These Books following are printed or sold by Adoniram Byfield at the three Bibles in Cornhil next door to Popes-head Alley THE History of the Evangelical Churches of the Valies of Piedmont containing a most exact Geographical description of the place and a faithful account of the Doctrine Life and Preservation of the Ancient Inhabitants together with a most naked and punctual relation of the late bloody Massacre 1655. And a Narrative of all the following transactions to 1658. Justified partly by divers Ancient Manuscripts written many hundred years before Calvin or Luther by Samuel Monland Esq in fol. Divine Characters in two parts acutely distinguishing the more secret and undiscerned differences between the hypocrite in his best dress of seeming virtues and form of duties and the true Christian in his real graces and sincere obedience by Mr. Samuel Crook in fol. A Commentary upon the three first Chapters of Genesis by that Reverend Divine Mr. John White late of Dorchester in sol An Exposition upon Ezekiel by Mr. William Greenhill in quarto The Humble Sinner resolved what hee should do to bee saved or Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the onely way of Salvation by Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick in quarto The Riches of Grace displayed in the offer and tender of Salvation to poor Sinners by Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick in 12o. The Fountain opened and the water of Life flowing forth for the refreshing of thirsty Sinners wherein is set out Christs earnest and gracious Invitation of poor Sinners to come unto the waters His complaining Expostulation with the ingratitude and folly of those who neglect so great Salvation His renewed Solicitation with all earnestness and the most perswasive Arguments to allure thirsty Sinners to come to Christ by Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick in quarto The Anatomy of Secret sins Presumptuous sins sins in Dominion and Uprightness wherein divers Cases are resolved with the Remissibleness of all sin and the Irremissibleness of the sin against the Holy Ghost by Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick The Plain Doctrine of the Justification of a Sinner in the sight of God justified by the God of Truth in his holy Word and the cloud of witnesses in all ages wherein are handled the Causes of the Sinners Justification explained and applied in a plain doctrinal and familiar way for the capacity and understanding of the weak and ignorant by Mr. Charls Chauncy in quarto The Gospels Glory without prejudice to the Law shining forth in the glory of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost for the Salvation of Sinners who through Grace do beleeve by Richard By field in octavo A Declaration of the Faith and Order owned and practised in the Congregational Churches in England agreed upon and consented unto by their Elders and Messengers in their meeting at the Savoy in quarto Habbakkuks Prayer applied to the Churches present occasion and Christs Counsel to the Church of Philadelphia very seasonable and useful for these times by Mr. Samuel Balmford in 8o. A Short Catechism by Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick Hidden Manna by Mr. Fenner in 12o. Safe Conduct or the Saints guidance to glory by Mr. Ralph Robinson in quarto The Saints Longing after their heavenly Country by Mr. Ralph Robinson in quarto A Sermon at a Fast by Mr. Nathaniel Ward in quarto Moses his Death a Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. Edward Bright Minister by Mr. Samuel Jacomb in quarto A short and plain Catechism instructing a learner of Christian Religion what he is to believe and what he is to practise by Mr. Samuel Jacomb in octo The Hypocritical Nation described with an Epistle prefixed by Mr. Samuel Jacomb in quarto A Sermon of the baptizing of infants by Mr. Stephen Marshal in quarto The unity of the Saints with Christ the head by Mr. Stephen Marshal There is now in the press that long expected book The bowels of tender mercy sealed in the everlasting Covenant by Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick in fol. FINIS