it fitter and more to edification to read a chapter of the new for any that is appointed of the old then so to do And indeed this being euen so as any man may see it is in that place in that thereby he is so left to his discretion to change any chapter appointed to be read of the old and therefore thereby some times may so do with a canonicall chapter what reason hath any man to thinke but that hee may so do also with the Apocrypha or who can truly say that euer yet any minister was troubled for his quietly and peaceably taking and vsing his liberty herein you heard also before what the same reuerend man truly reported to haue been said by his Maiestie in the foresaide conference touching the omitting the reading of any apocrypha chapter that iustly might be charged with any fault crossing the canonicall Page 63. of his report thereof since in print Further certaine it is that Doctor Abbots Deane of VVinchester one called also to the foresaid conference and then vice chauncellor of Oxenford in his answere of late published against Doctor Hill Page 317 vrgeth againe the direction of the said preface to the second booke of Homilies published by authoritie 1563 whereas the booke was authorised some foure yeares before to proue that the minister by warrant from thence may lawfully in stead of any of the Apocryphall Chapters appointed to be read on sundaies and holy dayes and therefore much more as hee saith vpon the working dayes as he in his wisedome and iudgmēt shall think fit vsing prudence and discretion in that behalfe read other canonicall lessons and so likewise others in print haue answered this obiection since as it should seeme with the good liking and allowance of them that be in authority which being so all the branches of this obiection are euen thereby quite cut of as also all the hard consequents imputations by reason therof imposed vpon the booke or the order thereof so farr as conformity is vse and practise therunto reach are vtterly remoued especially seeing also in the preface of the booke it is said that nothing is therby appointed to bee read out eyther the pure word of god or that which is euidētly groūded thereupon and the late Archbishop as plainly refuses to defend any thing allowed thereby to be read not grounded vpon the word of God Page 720. of his foresaid booke But suppose the worst namly that it be not or were not so or if it had beene so that now yet by better view of the Callender for the order in this respect in August and by the canons it were taken away as some alleadge though looking thereinto and as seriously considering therof as I can I find nothing to lead any man iustly to think that in that regard the case is any thing altered or otherwise then it was before yet though by the booke we be tyed neuer so strictly to read them yet we are not therby bound to iustifie them to be faultlesse neither do we for likewise by the said booke by a certaine rubrick in the treatise of the communion wee allow sermons to be made and if we read not a homily wee should preach yet we therby do not iustifie all sermons made according to that order alwaies to bee without all faults but surely most if not all the supposed faults against them that by the book are appointed to be read by fauourable construction would bee much lessened if not quite remoued And in that by the very expresse order of our booke wee are both before after we read them to note out of what booke euery chapter thereby appointed to be read is taken and in the sixt article of the booke of articles published first concluded on in conuocation 1562 which was three yeares after the booke was first authorised all the Apocrypha bookes are apparently seuered from the canonicall there further it is said that as Hierom faith the Church doth read them for example of life instruction of manners yet it doth not apply them to establish therby any doctrine it is most euident howsoeuer they are appointed to be read and some canonicall omitted and on some solemne feast daies and holy daies and as chapters of the holy scriptures or of the old Testament that yet by none of these or all these together may wee or can wee gather without doing the Church of England manifest wrong that euer it was or is her meaning to equall them much lesse to make them in dignity or in edifiing superiour to any of the canonicall but rather indeed all these notwithstanding her meaning and desire is that euerie one should know that they are but Apocrypha chapters and therefore farre inferiour to any of the caconicall especially wee hauing acquainted our people as we should which bee canonicall bookes and which bee apocrypha teaching them euen by their names to know and discerne them In common charity therefore wee are bound whensoeuer either in the booke or in the Homilies they are said either to be Chapters of the old Testament or holy Scripture to conceiue whereas holy scriptures or old Testament are taken either according to the vulgar and common speech for all that commonly is wont to bee bound togither in Bibles with the holy scriptures of the old testament or more properly and strictly for those onely bookes therof that we are sure were written by such direction of the holy spirit that preserued the writers thereof from all erring therein which therefore onely wee count and call canonicall in so speaking of them that the said books speake and therefore are to be vnderstood so to do onely in the former sense And when therein there is comparison made betwixt chapters of the old testament of lesse and more edifying we can not for the foresaid manifest difference acknowledged to be by our Church betwixt all the canonicall bookes of the old Testament and all the Apocrypha euen in that respect vnderstand it to be betwixt any canonicall appointed to be read or not read and the Apocrypha set down to be read but only betwixt the canonicall appointed thereby to be read and those that are not And looking into the Kallender for proper lessons for sundaies and holy daies in that therby I find none but canonicall appointed for the sundaies and Apocrypha often for Saints daies I alwaies haue taken it that euen thereby our churches meaning was plainly to giue vs all to vnderstand that as shee in her regard and estimation preferres the Lords daie before all other holy daies so she would haue vs euen by this order to see that so she preferred the canonicall before the Apocrypha in worth credit and dignity but suppose the comparison shold by the booke be meant of certaine chapters of the Apocrypha it is so for that the same are wholy consonant with the canonicall and are more now to our edification then the canonicall either for
that behalfe will grow by the wise and orderly reuiuing thereof What more of any moment not formerly answered is now alleaged out of the communion booke to stay men from subscription I remember not saue that some say the vrging of all prescribed therby now to be read without leauing out any part therof in respect of a sermon or in any other regard as it appeares Canon 14 shuts out preaching much But my experience teacheth me the contrary for though I read fully all that is appointed and haue long vsed so to do yet I praise God beeing vpon the point now of 60 yeares of age yet I finde both strength and time conuenient euery Sabbath both forenoone and afternoone to do both And they that finde not themselues of strength so to doe they are not by any law forbid to get thē Curats and helpers which may ease them commonly if not of all yet of a great part of the burden of the tone and if their liuing bee so small and they are not able to haue that helpe otherwise beeing conformeable and doing what they can their weaknesse or sickly estate will easily with their ordinaries excuse them Sure any man may be that reads the booke and the canons there to find that the booke often directeth vs to pray that all ministers may be diligent preachers of the word and that by the canons better order is taken for often diligent preaching of the word then euer heretofore hath beene and therefore this may goe amongst other too hard collections and constructions of our Churches meaning well enough and therfore need not in truth stay any man from subscribing I am not ignorant that yet many things more in this booke are obiected but because I know onely a charitable construction will easily remooue them I passe thē ouer wishing euery man therby as he may is bound to satisfie him selfe therein CHAP. 15. Answering certaine obiections out of the booke of Ordination THus then we are come at the last to the other booke of ordinatiō of Bishops Priests Deacons against which as it is in vse with vs now long hath been I must cōfesse I see or find nothing euer alleaged of any moment to this purpose but I finde the same so fully answered by our late most reuerend Archbishop in his foresaid book against Cartwright so oft before named since by the right reuerend and learned now Bishop of Winchester in his booke written long since of the perpetuall gouernment of Christs Church as that I cannot but maruaile especially seeing I could neuer see the latter of these books by any once euer yet attempted to be answered that any for all this should set a foot againe any old obiections and new I finde none of any moment against the said booke whereunto there they haue beene and are and that also long ago so throughly answerd And therefore for this point Christian Reader both to spare thy further labour and mine thereunto I referre thee Onely this in the meane time I say for my owne part that there I finde all that hath beene said of any waight against the said booke in my iudgement so satisfied that in respect thereof onely whosoeuer refuseth to subscribe he doth so without any iust cause at all For concerning the distinction of degrees by that booke for the better ordering of the Church in her ecclesiasticall policy allowed to be amongst vs the ministers of the Gospell I must needs say and protest though as seriously and diligently as I could I haue read and considered all that hath beene written to or from with or against of that question for these thirtie yeares and more and also of purpose for the same haue searched all antient writers and all monuments of antiquity that I could come by yet I could neuer find any thing of any sound moment or force brought against the same yea that more is besides hatred to popery too great an admiration of some other Churches I neuer by all this could finde that the impugners thereof and the seekers in the steed thereof to bring in a gouernment of the Church by a parity of Ministers and their Presbiteries haue indeed and truth any thing of sound moment or of any waight at all to iustifie or to countenance their so doing In so much that before the late reformation of Geneua for all the fore said points and search that I haue vsed for this point I could thereby yet neuer finde any one Church of Christ so big as that of Geneua and the appurtenances thereof any where or at any time for the space of one ten yeares possest of that their kinde of gouernment whereas of the contrarie through the whole course of the Scriptures euer since Moses and through all Ecclesiastical stories and monuments of antiquitie I obserue it hath bin the lords pleasure in his good prouidence alwaies to haue his church since it had but outward visibility in one nation perpetually gouerned by distinct degrees of ministers proportionable to this of ours for through the old Testament from Moses to Christ it had by Gods ordinance an high priest Priests and Leuites to that end and Christ enlarging the bounds therof we find by the playne testimony of the new testament he left for the orderly gouernment therof vntill his second comming Ephes 4. some Apostles some Prophets some Euangelists some Pastors Teachers In that therfore in that golden age of the Apostles when the gifts of the spirit both vpon the ordinary Pastours christian people were as they were often extraordinary we yet find when particular Churches were furnished setled with all their ordinary necessary officers they stood need besides the helpe they then had of Synods the ouersight of euangelists the visitation againe and againe both by their letters personall presence of the apostles whiles they liued what reason can any man haue to thinke that in the times since far worse then those the churches of Christ should not likewise need some in the roome of those to haue a superintendency ouer the particular ministers to visit and to keepe them in order from time to time And therfore doubtlesse the Apostles Prophets Euangelists in that which they had extraordinaly ceasing euer since we find by the testimony of ecclesiasticall stories by light warrāt from these former proportions experience for the better ordering therof in peace and vnitie the church of Christ possest of Bishops ministers Deacons All which neither could nor would haue beene so if this other fancyed forme of Church gouernmēt had been so essentiall thereunto this of ours so bad vnfit for the same as the admirers of that other would beare the world in hand both this and the other hath been is for who can or wil be perswaded that God being of that powre that he is louing his church as he doth that euer he could or would suffer her for 15 or
9. Of the order and practise of the book in reading the scriptures Canonicall Chap. 10. Touching the reading as the booke appointes of the Apocrypha Chap. 11. Concerning the interrogatories in Baptisme Chap. 12. Answers touching diuers other obiectiōs against the booke Chap. 13. Touching subscription and certaine obiections against the same Chap. 14. Answers to more obiections made against the same Chap. 15. Answers to certaine obiections against the booke of ordination Chap. 16. The conclusion and an exhortation to vnitie A PERSVVASION TO VNIFORMITIE VNto his Christian brethren The Preamble Chap. 1. THough I must needs confesse well beloued that none that with any diligence haue read the Ecclesiasticall stories and the monuments of the ancient councels and fathers but that therein they must needs see and find that alwayes there haue bene diuersities of opinions in causes Ecclesiasticall euen in the best times sinse the Apostles and that amongst the best and most famous Christians otherwise especially about the outward orders and customes of the Church yet no small griefe hath it bene vnto me to see and behold now for these 34. yeares that I haue bene in the ministerie the originall growth and continuance of these our domesticall controuersies amongst our selues about the outward policie and rites of our Church For whiles men haue spent their times and zeale in the pursuit thereof as of both sides they haue very much so much time leasure and oportunitie hath Sathan got to sow and water his tares of Atheisme Papisme and of sects and schismes amongst vs. Insomuch that the sight and consideration therereof hath often made me to thinke and say as occasion hath serued me to men of both sides as Moses did to the Israelits Exod. 2. Why smitest thou thy fellow being thy brother and as Paul sayd to the Galathians Gal. 5. If ye thus bite one another take heed yee be not consumed one of another For alwayes it hath bene and still is my opinion in such cases Conferant fratres sed non contendant for doubtlesse in such matters as these especially S. Paul hath told vs if any list to be contētious that we haue no such custome nor the Church of God 1. Cor. 11.16 Foreseeing yet what further inconuenience might grow of these controuersies in the end if it were not in time preuented I haue long and much wished and prayed that God would raise vs some one that both for authoritie skill and will were fit to be a moderator therein and so an effectuall composer thereof Wherein his name be blessed for it at the last he hath graunted that my desire in sending vs him to be our soueraigne Lord and king whom he hath who accordingly vpon his first entrance into this his kingdome most religiously and christianly hath sought by a solemn conference to end and determine the same by letting both parties therein see wherein they had gone too farre what was the Medium in which they were both to meete and agree Wherein his Maiestie so caried himself that verily I thinke I may boldly speake it in the name of all that were then present thereat that neuer any of his place before in such varietie of questions and matters shewed himselfe more worthie of admiration and applause of all either for his indifferency in deciding or for his iudicious kind of examining of euerie thing that then came in question Insomuch that without all doubt if once whatsoeuer then and there his Maiestie resolued of might take effect and accordingly be put in execution witnesse but the report of the sayd conference alreadie with allowance published in print great hope there would be that the vnitie that thereby his Highnesse aimed at would quickly be attained and happily continued For euen thereby it appeares that an vniuersall learned and preaching Ministery through his dominions and that also by all good meanes prouision should be made for the same as soone as might be was then yeelded to be fit and verie necessarie Pag. 52. 96. The carelesnesse and negligence of sundrie ministers in this Church also was therein by his Maiestie inueyed against and condemned Pag. 52. And that stricter order should be taken for the due sanctifying of the Sabaoth was then vniuersally approued Pag. 45. Likewise how and by whom hereafter the censures of the Church might be euerie way and in all Ecclesiasticall courts most fruitfully and sincerly administred then and there was so resolued of as that if accordingly there be proceeding therein we shall all therefore haue great cause to reioyce Pag. 19. 78. 89. 94. And for the better maintenance of the puritie of religion amongsts vs then and there by his Highnesse order was taken which since most carefully and religiously his Maiestie hath caused to be gone about that as pure and perfect a translation should be made of all the scriptures as may be that then that onely both to the ending of all quarrels touching translations as much as possible might be both amongst our selues and also with our aduersaries should after be publiquely vsed in our Churches Page 46. Then also it was to the same end agreed that our Catechisme should be perfected Page 43. which since thereupon as we see hath beene enlarged amended Thirdly to that end likewise it was yeelded vnto that there should bee a straiter restraint for the selling of Papists bookes then before had beene Page 49. And lastly then also it was graunted that the words in the sixteenth Article of the booke of articles touching falling from grace of regeneration should be explayned by addition of some such words as wherby plainly it might appeare that it taught not that the regenerate and iustified either totally or finally fall at any time from the same Page 30. 41. Further concerning the communion booke to make the vse and subscription thereunto the easier to be yeelded vnto it was by his Maiestie with the assent of the Bishops concluded that to the title of absolutiō shold be added for the better explanation of the meaning thereof these words or remission of sins Page 13. And that to the title of confirmation should be annexed these laying on of hands vpon children baptised and able to render an accompt of their faith according to the Catechisme following Page 36. And that the Rubricks touching priuate babtisme should be so altered as that thereby it might be euident that the booke in no case of necessity allowes any but a lawfull minister to baptise any childe Page 19. 86. And that those words his disciples shold twice be left out in the Gospells Page 63. al which we see in our new communion bookes don And then also certainly as it is plainly set downe Page 61 of the said booke of the cōferēce his Maiesties order was that none of the Apocrypha should bee read at all wherein there was any error and therefore his highnes willed D Reynolds to note those chapters in the Apocrypha bookes wherein such errors were and to
bring the note thereof to the Bishops as it is further testified Page 62. besides thē there it was alleadged by the author of the said booke D Barlow thē dean of Chester now Lord B. of Rochester when the obiection taken from the reading of the Apocrypha was in hand as a sufficient answere thereunto and not gainsaid of any that the preface prefixed to the second book of Homiles might haue made vs to see the needlesnesse thereof for that thereby the minister is permitted at his discretion for any chapter appointed by the Communion booke of the old testament to be red to read a chapter of the new which he thought more fit for the edification of his people And yet his Maiesty most wisely foreseeing that all these notwithstanding thus amended it was likely inough that some things in the book or within the compasse of the vrged subscription would still seeme vnto some so harshly to remaine set downe as that they would sticke and stay thereat his Highnesse most graciously signified vnto vs that as it was our duties so he wished euery one of vs to construe and take euerything in the best sense that we could and not in the hardest and worst for so only his intent and pleasure was that they should be vrged And so much in the foresayd booke of Conference also to this end is remembred as that Pag. 47. it is set downe that his maiestie would haue things indifferent rather interpreted and helpt by a glose then altered All which things considered if we could and would once learne to bend our wits as well to make the best construction of euerie thing hereafter as some haue heretofore to make the worst both the practise of the book the subscription therunto and to the rest would now be doubtlesse far easier then heretofore it hath or yet is vnto many Indeed the rites ceremonies prescribed by that booke by no meanes would either his Maiestie or the Bishops be drawne to alter howsoeuer it was agreed and then consented vnto that where they had in certaine places beene long disused and the men there otherwise were found peaceable painfull fruitfull Ministers a conuenient time should be graunted them which since accordingly hath beene both to satisfie themselues and their people in that time for the vsing of them againe And certainly his Maiesties answeres to the reasons that were then vsed to haue perswaded him to remoue them which in effect were all that either before or since by any haue beene vrged to that purpose were such as also his owne reasons for the continuance thereof being no otherwise vrged then they are as that I am fully perswaded what his Maiestie resolueth therein he doth it with an vpright and good conscience in the Lord. For his Highnesse answeres to the said obiections I must needs confesse then seemed vnto me not onely very apt acute and sufficient but also euen now in this treatise most of the ground of all my answeres to the same obiections or the like growes thence The reasons as I remember vrged by his Maiestie for his resolution of their continuance were these that he found them here established by such a state which the Lord had long and wonderfully blest that being vrged but as they were they were of that nature of things wherein both he lawfully might commaund and wee also were bound willingly to obey and that change vnlesse very necessary did as Augustine saith Epist 118 more hurt by the nouelty then otherwise profit and that they were vsed by the primatiue and purest churches in the ages next the Apostles and that by holy fathers and renowmed christians before popery began and so euer since haue beene continued and that therefore he would not giue the Church of Rome that aduantage as by his now reiecting of them to say that we were so giuen to nouelty as that no auncient thing could please vs but rather said he by our retaining stil of them they should wel vnderstand that neither in doctrine rite nor ceremonie we despise true antiquitie and that indeed they are they that in both these do so and not wee And doubtlesse it was euident that all that pains then his Maiestie tooke to knit vs altogether in vnitie that so being ioyned together in one in vniformity of Iudgment and practise in these things as wee were otherwise in doctrine we might all more strongly bend our forces together against our common aduersaries he be also thereby the stronger to draw them after to conformity of religion with vs. Giue me therfore leaue good brethren euen of vnfained loue also to you and of an harty desire of the peace and good of this our Church in the best manner that I can by this my brotherly perswasion to further his Highnes royall and holy desire herein Many haue written I confesse to this end both before I writ this and since and that in good sort and to very good purpose yet I trust there may be also good vse of this of mine but indeed euen therfore in most things I haue beene so briefe as I may referring you for the rest that might haue beene said to those others in print before this CHAP. 2. Containing the summe and diuision of the whole Treatise To enter therefore hereinto though I must needs confesse that so farre to iustifie by subscription as it is vrged as we are content by our practise to allow or at the least to tollerate seemeth vnto me in effect all one yet I cannot deny but that there is great difference betwixt a ministers yealding onely so farre forth as concerns him and his ministry to conformity and his yealding vniuersally and simplye to the subscription now vrged For by the former he yeelds onely a tolleration or an allowance at the most for the peace sake and good of the Church to so much of the booke of Common Prayer as by the rules thereof he himselfe is bound to vse and practise and by the other he not onely so farre also iustifies the same but all the rest thereof as namely the tract of confirmation the vse practise whereof onely belongs to Bishops as also the booke of ordination the execution whereof appertains likewise onely to them and the reading of Homilies then published and authorised or to be then after published and authorised which long since as I take it so haue bene in the second volume of homilies 1563 which being a preacher and preaching alwaies when they should be read by the order of the booke it selfe he needs neuer do As for the rest within the compasse of the said subscription namely touching his Maiesties supremacie the Articles concerning faith the sacraments I mentiō not because without gainsaying all of our religion are willing so farre to yeald it howbeit for asmuch as he that hath once learned with a good conscience for the Churches good and his owne to yeald to the former will also the
day and the Epistles on Easter eue and Michaels day lastly that the portions of scripture inserted into the booke and the Psalter annexed thereunto are so prescribed thereby to be read as they are wherein yet there are many knowne faults that by no meanes can stand with the same Scriptures in the originall tongues wherein they were first written The first whereof is prooued to be a great fault for that it is a kinde or taking from the word and forbid Reuel 22. and a depriuing the people of one good meanes the better to enable them to search them and so is the second said to be for that by the precise appointing them at those times the people are occasioned to mistake and to misunderstand them and likewise is the third for that so there is false witnesse borne both against the scriptures and the spirit of God the authour thereof as to haue said and meant that there which they neuer did But to the first of these for any thing that I can gather out of the 14 Canon for by the statute made at the first Eliz. 1. to establish the booke aswell all addition detraction or alteration thereof in the vse and practise of it was forbid as it is now by that Canon it may as well now as before and indeed both before and now truely and iustly bee said that no such inconuenience neede arise by that order for that no minister eyther by the booke or by any other ordinance of our Church is 〈◊〉 forbid ouer and aboue those that are appointed being allowed to be a Preacher to read any or all of those that are not at such times as he shall thinke good with exposition thereof and sure I am I myselfe haue so done and in ful perswasion that therin I haue done nothing against order therin taken eyther before or now For doubt lesse any man may iustly think that by our Churches order they were onley so left out as they are in that they were not thought so lightsome and easie to be vnderstood as the other that are appointed to be read being but barely read without exposition and interpretation and in the meane time none that can are forbid to read and studie them priuately But if they were by the Kalender aswell appointed as the other orderly to bee read yet in that in parish Churches the people com not together but vpon few daies in the weeke they might misse the hearing of most of them aswell then as now And as for the second the inconuenience imagined to arise therby euery minister that makes scruple at conformity being a Preacher as commonly and generally he is that likewise he in reading of those Scriptures at those set times by soundly interpreting them and preaching thereupon which the booke no where nor any other Canon forbids him may preuent And touching the last I hope shortly all occasion of that obiection will be remoued when the new translation by his Maiesties most Christian and Princely order in hand shall be finished and authorised as the onely authenticall translation to be vsed in our Churches and in the meane time I am perswaded that no Bishop in this land will denie any minister that can and will in peace and quietnesse vse that his liberty to read all the foresaid Scriptures in the booke according to the great Bible by order alreadie from themselues appointed to be in Churches that we may read the Chapters out of it for though we may find that the Booke appointes Epistles Gospels Chapters and Psalmes to be read yet no where shall we finde there eyther that they are said to be any part of the Booke and therefore they were left out in the latine translation thereof or that it ties or bindes vs to any one certaine translation for the same But if it expressly did may we iustly thinke that it is contrarie to the word to read the Scriptures to the common people in a translation that hath such faults as the originalls thereof rightly vnderstood sometimes will not beare Doubtlesse then I feare in faith and assurance in our consciences that wee doe alwaies well therein we shall neuer allow them to read or to haue read vnto them the Scriptures in any translation at all for when can we be certaine that any translation is free from all such faults vnlesse therefore with the Papists we would debarre them from hauing and hearing the Scriptures at all in the vulgar tongues we must be contented that they read and haue them read vnto them in translations that happily when we haue all done may haue some such faults And this is it that both they and we must content our selues withall in this case first that the faultes be such which though they stand not full with the originall yet they import not any errour against any necessarie truth elsewhere taught in the scriptures of which kind for any thing that I can remember amongst all the faults noted in the foresaid inserted Scriptures in the booke there is not one and then that those faults are not so defended by our Church to be no faults but that alwaies it hath beene permitted the godly learned ministers in preaching of any of the said Scriptures in a wise and discreet manner notwithstanding to acquaint the people with the sense most agreeable with the original yea we see most of the same faults corrected and amended alreadie in the foresaid great Bible commonly called the Bishops Bible and now againe that that whole translation and others are to be examined and so all faults that haue past in any hertofore as far as the learning and diligence of man can reach vnto are to be reformed all which duely considered I hope may serue to answere these obiections CHAP. 10. Touching the reading of the Apocrypha NOw the next is touching the bookes appointing the Apocrypha to be read as it doth wherein many faults are found also as that they are appointed publikely to be read at all that they are appointed to be read as Chapters of the holy Scripture of the olde Testament and as more edifying then the Canonicall omitted to giue roome for thē and that often there is a speciall choyse of them for certaine solemne feast daies or holy daies All which obiections as I sayd before the Deane thē of Chester now L. Bishop of Rochester no man then or there finding any fault with that his answer in the conference before his Maiestie shewed was needlesse because by the preface set before the second volume of homilies which is by order of our Church allowed authorized aswell as the booke and indeed published since the bookes first authorising in the yeare 1563. and therefore euen by that circumstance more likely and fit to serue in this point to explane the meaning of the booke the minister is exhorted to wey and to read his Chapters priuatly before he come to read them publickly and thereupon if in his discretion he thinke
their hardnesse or for that now they doe not so much concerne vs. these things therefore wayed indifferently and with mindes rather seeking to be satisfied where iustly they may then needlesly still to keepe stones and blocks in their way to stumble at I trust the force of this obiection is so remoued also that henceforth it will stay none that duly considereth hereof from peacably yeelding this notwithstanding to conforme themselues to the vse and practise of the booke CHAP. 11. Concerning the interrogatories in Baptisme THe next thing of any moment that I find troubles and hinders men from yeelding to conformity is the order of the booke for the interrogations and answeres in the tract of baptisme wherat I the lesse must needs maruail for that I find by the 23. Epistle of S. Au that one Boniface a learned Bishop in his time was also troubled therwith but then I must needs say againe that I find in the said Epistle that it first appears that they were euen then in vse in baptising of Infants in effect as they are now and that there the said S. Aug sets himselfe earnestly in the best manner that he could to defend the vse of them against all the obiections of the said Boniface yea further certaine it is let any man read Dionisius ecclesiasticall Hierarchy Cap. 7. he shall there find that in that Authors time whosoeuer whatsoeuer he was they were also in vse and likewise of some misliked and that therfore he to defend them expounded then the promises there that the godfathers make as also our late Archbishop doth defending the same Page 611. as made onely to signifie that they will vndertake to doe asmuch as shall lye in them that after the child liuing to yeares of discretion it shall performe that which they promise and vow in the name thereof which therefore in the first entrance into our Catechisme euery one is taught to professe that thereby he taketh himselfe bound to do and therefore accordingly that he will And surely hereupon it is also that in the new addition to the Catechisme also it is sayd that the child performes faith and repentance in that they promised them both in the name therof so speaking for that so they are both vowd and professed in the name thereof and not as some hardly take it as though now therein it were the meaning of our booke to teach either that both these are actually in euery child that is baptized or that one may beleeue and repent by another but only so to shew that their good hope was in so promising in the name thereof that in time it should and would To this effect S. Austin in the latter end of his 105. Epistle hauing an eye to the like vse in his time in answering for the child most plainly writes that truly the child so answers by their mouths and beleeues by their hearts and mouths that so confesse for it as it is there new borne by the ministerie of the baptizer See him also to this purpose de verbis Apost ser 10. And indeed who so only considers the words of the booke not only in the questions and answers themselues especially as they are set downe in priuate baptisme but also in the exhortation precedent and consequent in the tract of publike baptisme as also what is set downe concerning the same in the entrance into the old part of the Catechisme shall be enforced to see that the said questions are proposed to the infants and that the answers are made only by the godfathers and godmothers thereunto in their names for of the hope which they in christian charity haue of them which teacheth them to hope alwayes the best 1. Cor. 13.7 of such as are so borne in the Church descended come of Christian parents 1. Cor. 7.14 because they are not able then so to answer for themselues The reason and ground of which custome is that in the administration of this Sacrament the Church alwayes hath thought there is to passe a mutuall stipulation couenant betwixt God euery partie to be baptized and therfore seeing children born or descended of parents wherof but one is a christian so far herby are sanctified as that they are admittable to and capable of baptisme 1. Cor. 7.14 yet not able either to offer themselues thereunto or expresly thēselues to make the same they that in the name of the parents congregation present thē therunto should in this sort and maner as our booke appoints it do it in their names thereby not only shewing what they hope they after will do but so binding thēselues also to be what means to them they can that whē they come to age to discretiō they shal perform al which they promised for them or in their names Which as his Maiestie said in the foresayd conference when question was about these ought the lesse to seeme strange vnto vs for that it is an vsuall thing for gardians to orphans and children to aunswere and to promise sundry things in the names of their sayd pupils and wards and that yet the foresayd pupils and wards are after to thinke themselues bound as well to performe the same as if they had their owne selues being of yeares of discretion so answered and promised Whereof also another experience his Highnesse gaue vs in his owne selfe and that when he was crowned king of Scotland being then but an infant yet then his nobles answered in his name as he himselfe would and should haue done if he had then bene a man and therefore whereof he had euer since bene and would be hereafter as carefull to performe the same as if he had himselfe made the sayd answers It may be at the beginning this forme was prescribed to be vsed onely as some thinke to such as when they were baptized were of discretion and vnderstanding thus to answer for themselues and yet very likely is it also that so the rather it might appeare that the Church would haue all men to vnderstand that the baptisme of such and of infants also was one and selfe same baptisme and that they therein aswell as the other entred into couenant with the Lord that it was thought fit and necessarie that the same answer should be made by some of the congregation alwayes in their names that the other made themselues Wherefore to conclude this point in my opinion well and iustly hath againe our late Archbishop Pag. 602. of his answere to Maister Cartwright concerning this obiection sayd why should it not be as lawfull for the Church of England by publike authoritie to appoint godfathers and godmothers thus to answer in the name of the child as for the writers of the admonition to allow vpon their priuate fancies that parents or some in their roomes in case of their necessarie absence should in the childs name make confession of the Christian faith and desire to be baptized therein Thus therefore
in the name of the child they professing and desiring what is it but in the true meaning of the booke in Christian charitie and hope so to do for that they are perswaded that if the child were of age it would euen so do professe desire therfore that they in the mean time do so in the name therof in full expectation that when it shall it will account that by them it selfe so did that so the Couenant betwixt God and it may in this Sacrament stand ratified therein And yet in some sence according to Christs saying Math. 18. it might well bee defended that such little ones beleeue in him as habitually they are reasonable not actually CHAP. 12. Answering diuerse obiections against the booke touching baptisme and other things there ordained ANd seeing by Christs baptisme and his ordaining of this sacrament water was alloted to be the outward part therein why may we not according to the booke both say and thinke that therby the water of the flood Iordan wherin he and others were baptised and all other water was indeed sanctified meaning as the outward element in a sacrament by the institution therof was and is thereby sanctified for that vse to the mysticall washing away of sin As for that which is further obiected against that which is set downe in the foresaid parte of the Catechisme touching two sacraments only generally necessary to saluation the meaning onely is that there are only 2 such taking a sacrament properly as thereafter it is defyned and that they two are necessary so to saluation as by no means without danger therof they may be contemned or neglected and that for all christians first or last yong or old and then what iust exception can there be made at all against that So also by the order that is now takē in the booke that the lawfull minister only shall priuately baptise the child the old obiection against the conditional baptising of it after in the case mentioned in the booke is sufficiently taken away for now that will neuer neede to be put in vse And as for the ring vsed in mariage the words with my bodie I the worship or the resēblance that it is said there to haue of the spirituall marriage betwixt Christ and his church I finde not that any seeme greatly to stand at any or at all of these And if they should surely they could not therin finde any iust cause for the ring is but giuen taken as a ciuill token betwixt the parties that are maried of the promise and couenant that therein they make one to the other and the word worship there vsed doth but import that worship or honor that growes vnto the woman by marriage in that thereby man is so made her head that she hath in the phrase and sense of the Apostle thereby also such a right of ouer and in his bodie that thenceforth it is not his owne as it was before which whiles by marying of her he intitles her vnto very truly hee may say in that sense that with his bodie he doth her worship and finding the holy ghost so oft hath taken delight vnder the shadow of marriage betwixt man and woman to set forth vnto vs the spirituall marriage betwixt Christ and his Church the speech in the booke beeing to bee vnderstood no otherwise but as hauing reference onely thereunto as indeed iustly it cannot no iust fault can be found thereat Now as for all the rest of the obiections alledged against precise conformity in the practise of the booke from certaine words phrases in sundry prayers and parts thereof which seeme hardly and harshly to be set downe yea so as without some alteration they cannot well be so vsed to helpe vs in that we are to call to mind againe his Maiesties pleasure as I noted in the beginning of this treatise most gratiously deliuered vs in the conclusion of the conference that hee would haue vs to take euery thing in the best sense we could for in that sense only he would haue vs to vnderstand that he vrged them to be vsed and yeelded vnto for in this case we but so doing there is nothing so hardly set downe but that taking it and explaining it as the very booke meanes it and as the publikly professed and authorised doctrine of our Church doth lead vs the offence thereat will be remoued 2 Then secondly howsoeuer some now so the better to countenance their refusall to yeeld this conformity though in some sort they haue seemed better to like thereof heretofore perswade themselues would also perswade others that now they are more strictly bound to follow in euery thing the precise letter of the Booke then before by the new Canons and the declared meaning therein of the Church in that respect we are to vnderstand that both contrarie to his Maiesties foresaid declared pleasure in that point and contrarie indeed both to the meaning of the booke and those Canons it is so conceiued for if that were so that now vpon no circumstance or due consideration the precise letter thereof might be altered at any time then we should neyther burie baptize nor visite any but males and though there be but one to be baptised we should yet alwaies vse the plurall number in speaking thereof for so onely runs the letter of our booke yea that more is if conformitie now vrged bound vs to such a precise and strict following the very letter of our booke in euery thing then thereby we should be bound to breed the Bishops and the whole state more trouble by our exact so doing then they breed any by the vrging of it For by the last rubricke in marriage euery married couple should receiue the Communion that day and by an other euen the last also in the tract of confirmation it is flatly set downe that none are to be admitted vnto the holy communion vntill such time as they can say that Cathechisme and bee confirmed for all wise men will and may easily conceiue that if our conformity bound vs so strictly to the letter of the book that by force of these two Canons no Papists or Brownists that refuse vtterly to communicate with vs nor any else that cannot both say the whole Catechisme and were not confirmed also might by any minister of this Church lawfully be married what inconueniences soeuer otherwise grew thereof and likewise that all vnconfirmed old and yong man and woman noble and ignoble should be held from the communion vntill they could all say the Catechisme and were also confirmed there being therefore so few in comparison of the rest that are thus qualified what a stirre would this breede Ministers in most places should haue far lesse to doe then they haue in marrying and in ministring of the Communion and the Bishops would be driuen to spend all their time and liuing in confirming of the vnconfirmed or the whole land would mightily be disquieted in running and seeking