mysteries unto us There is I confess a distinction between Faith and Manners when we come to sort and sever the things contained in the Word into the kinds of duties imposed but when we consider them in the Rule and Principle of the word it self from which the Conscience is certainly inform'd and bound there is no difference but they are all of faith alike even as the same sap which in the branches distinct unto leaves and blossomes was in the Root but one whence it followes that nothing can be properly Canonical unto manners but the same was first Canonical unto faith for we therefore stand undoubtedly perswaded that thus we ought to do because we first believe that God himself would have us to do so and hath reveal'd it to us as his will By this it seems evident that the distinction between Canon of faith and of manners as us'd by the Bishops is idle and impertinent and that therefore notwithstanding all has been said by Mr. Hutton it remains as an undoubted truth that the Service Book doth consider the Apocripha as Canonical as a part of the Holy Scriptures the pure Word of God which is no more than what may be inferred from their confounding the Apocriphal with the Canonical books as may be seen in their great Bible Authorized to be read where dividing the books of the Old Testament into Legal Historical Sapiential and Prophetical In the Historical they place 19 books amongst which they reckon the third and fourth books of Esdras the books of Tobith and Judith the two books of Maccabees and the rest of the Chapters of Esther making the book of Esther to consist of 16 Chapters and then to be part of that book In the Sapiential they place 5 books whereof they reckon the books of Wisdom and Ecclesiasticus for two calling the book of Wisdom the Wisdom of Solomon In the Prophetical they place 18 books of which they reckon Baruch the Prophet and Susanna Bell and the Dragon making the same all one with Daniel consisting of 14 Chapters What can be more clear than this sayes the Defender of the Reasons c. Where to sayes the same Author if we add the book of Homilies how it divers times calleth these Apocriphal Books Holy Scriptures in the same sense wherein the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are so called saying in the alledging Tobith and Ecclesiasticus the Holy Ghost speaketh so in the Scriptures thereby giving the same Authority and Title with Zechary Luke 1. and the Author to the Hebrews Ch. 3. 7. give to the Holy Prophets in their writing of places out of the Old Testament Thus 't is evident That according to the Service Book and the Sentiments of some great Bishops the great Bible and Book of Homilies the Apocripha is consider'd as a part of the Holy Scriptures The which truth abides in its strength notwithstanding what is argued from the Book of Articles where 't is sufficiently manifest that the Apocripha are no part of the Holy Scriptures for this doth but discover the contradiction there is between the book of Articles and the Service book c. whereby the Non-Conformists are but supply'd with an unanswerable argument against subscription which I 'll give in the words of the Devonshire Ministers viz. That to subscribe to the Service Book is contrary to our Subscription to the Book of Articles the 6 Article whereof under the name of Holy Scriptures understanding only the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament there mentioned whereof the Apocrypha Books are none and therefore they conclude they cannot safely subscribe because they shall subscribe to two books one contrary to another This being so clear namely that the Apochripha Books are appointed to be read as a part of the Holy Scriptures and as the Canon and Rule of manners I 'll proceed to shew what has been objected against it Not that I 'll trouble the Reader with all but onely with two or three particulars 1. Hereby their error who account these Books Canonical Scripture is confirm'd This was sayes the Lincoln Abridgment the only reason that moved the third Councill of Carthage to decree that they should be held Canonical because they had received from the Fathers that they were to be read in the Church And Bellarmine makes this one of his best reasons to prove that the authority of these books is Divine and Canonical because they are now and have been of old read by the Church in the publique Assemblies so do the Papists in that Book they have lately Published called the Three Conversions of England And Gregory Martin reasoneth thus Their own Service book saith he appointeth these books of Toby and Ecclesiasticus to be read for Holy Scriptures as the other Do they read in their Churches Apocryphal and Superstitious Books for Holy Scriptures so clear it is that the very Papists are confirm'd in their error by this practise of the Church 2. The reading these books though but as the Canon and Rule manners tends so very much to the corrupting the manners of men in some things that the Dissenters can in no way approve of it In the defence of the Devonshire and Cornish Ministers reasons 't is thus argued If the Apocriphal Books be Canonical as teaching manners then whatsoever point of manners those books do commend unto us either by Precept or allowed Example we not only may but must observe it for Conscience sake as a divine Rule or Canon 'T is true hereby a late Order which was that the wicked Dissenters if poor receive not Almes will be defended for 't is but according to the command in Ecclesiasticus 12. 5. where 't is expresly said Give not to the Vngodly hold back thy bread and give it not unto him least he over-master thee thereby But how agreable this Precept is unto the pure word of God or the light of nature let a common capacity judge but though this practice is enjoyn'd to the defence of that but now mention'd order yet there are other allowed and highly approv'd practises which are most odious in the apprehension of the Dissenter and are really abhor'd by all but bloody Papists For Judiths tricking up her self on purpose to tempt and ensnare the heart of Holofernes to uncleanness her compassing an Irreligious Governour by fraud by lies by oaths and protestations in the name of God to the end she might the more assuredly murder him is not only an allowed but a practice highly approv'd of by the book of Judith that is appointed to be read in October The children of Israel though now return'd from the Babylonian Captivity yet to the very time Holofernes was murdered by Judith they remained under the Government of the Emperour The Emperour though an Idolater yet their Lawfull Governour whose Government they should not have shaked off by frauds by lies equivocations and other sinfull practices which yet Judith did to the gaining the greatest applause and
commendation The which is read in the Church as the Rule of manners whereas in truth 't is meet only for the countenancing the unjustifiable treasons of the Papists to which purpose it has been improv'd by Saunders de schismate who inciting the English Ladies professing the Popish Religion to murder Queen Elizabeth and all her Favourers calling her Holofernes the Heretical Prince did prove from this example of Judith that they might do it without any the least stain or blot to their Religion This is urg'd in the defence of the reason of the Devonshire and Cornish Ministers from whence I would query whether a person fully convinc'd of that if the book of Judith must be read as the Rule of manners this allowed practice of Judith must be in the like case imitated ought not rather to abandon the reading or hearing of these books then presume to enter on the practises of murdering by lies deceits c. I verily believe that the Non-Conformists rather than that they would imitate Judith in these things would rather be expos'd to the worst of miseries whereby they would more effectually demonstrate to the World the Loyalty of their Principles than by their Conformity There are several other things that must be practised if the Apocriphal Books be embrac'd as the Rule of manners unto which the Dissenters cannot conform But designing to be short I will at this time wave the considering them and proceed to shew the sense some of the Old Church of England Protestants had of these books as I find it in the Abridgment 3. The Old Church of the Jewes saith Dr. Whitaker never vouchsafed the Apocriphal Books so much honour as to read 'em publiquely which also the Learned hold to be a good president for us to follow The Council of Hippo sayes Bishop Jewell speaking of the Canonical Scriptures decreed that besides them nothing might be read in the Church The Council held at Laodicea decreed on the Sabbath we may not read any books that be without the Canon but only the Canonical books of the Old and New Testament To the like effect Chrysostom speaks sayes the same Jewell and as Bishop Jewell so Bishop Horn and Bishop Pilkinton asserts the French Church by the constitutions of Lewes and Charles were against the reading of the Apocrypha Whoever will diligently compare what Protestant writers offer against Apocryphal books with the books themselves will find so many idle stories and fables so many errors and ill presidents in it that they cannot but conclude with Dr. Sutcliff That it is impudence in the Papists that they match Apocryphal books and Legends with the Scriptures or at least read them in the Churches together with the Scriptures From the whole hath been said on this particular I inferr that 't is but charity to conclude that some Dissenters may receive such strong convictions concerning the unlawfulness of conforming to this part of the Liturgy that their Non-conformity may be more justly esteemed the product of Conscience than the Off-spring of obstinacy and an unreasonable Humour Argument II. II. Some Dissenters cannot Conscientiously approve of the Translation of the Psalmes which is read at the ordinary Lord's dayes service because 't is not only imperfect but moreover in some places senseless and absurd and in other places false directly contradicting our last Translation of the Psalmes in the Bible The Translation now us'd is the same set forth in the times of ignorance when the light of the truth did but begin to dawn in Henry the 8th dayes and is 1. Imperfect because among many other omissions all the Titles though a part of the original and very usefull are left out 2. Sensless and absurd for Psal 58. 9. where our Translation has it thus viz. before your pots can feel the Thorns he shall take them away with a Whirl-wind both living and in his wrath In the Service Book Translation 't is or ever your pots be made hot with Thorns so let indignation vex them as a thing that is raw So Psal 72. 6. He shall come down like rain upon the mowen grass This in the common prayer is Translated thus he shall come down like the rain into a fleece of Wool This our Old Protestant divines look'd upon as a corruption in the Papists not to be approved but can it be less so when done by the sons of the Church of England Fulk Withers Bulkley Whitaker and others have blamed the Rhemists Translation because 't is in many places senseless and absurd for which reason seeing the Translation of the Psalmes in the Service Book is as senseless in some things as that of the Rhemists is in other 't is as much to be blamed and as little to be approv'd But this is not all for this Translation in Henry the 8th is not only imperfect absurd and senseless but moreover in some places contrary to the original not only in the opinion of Dissenters but also in the judgment of those who were the Authours of the best Translation that ever was in English 1. The Psalter has it in Psal 17. 4. Thus because of mens works that are done against the words of thy lips I have kept me from the wayes of the destroyer but more agreeably to the Original our Translation is thus concerning the works of men by the words of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer whereby 't is apparent that not mens works that are done against the words of God's lips kept David right but concerning mens works David was kept from the paths of the destroyer by the words of God's lips 2. In Psal 18. 26. The Psalter sayes that with the froward thou shalt learn frowardness but according to the Hebrew 't is as our last translation in the Bible has it with the froward thou shalt shew thy self froward 3. In the Psalter Psal 68. 6. 't is thus he is the God that maketh men to be of one mind in an house whereas according to the Hebrew 't is God setteth the solitary in Families 4. In the Psalter Psal 107. 40. Though he suffer them to be evil intreated through Tyrants but according to the Hebrew in our Bibles He poureth contempt upon Princes But 5. In Psal 105. 28. The Psalter sayes And they were not obedient unto his word but the Hebrew And they rebelled not against his word or were not disobedient to his word And in Psal 106. 30. The Psalter has it Then stood up Phineas and Prayed and so the Plague ceased But our Bibles then stood up Phinehas and executed judgment and the Plague ceased which is not only most agreeable to the Hebrew in this place but moreover to the History in number 25. 7 8. Such as conform to the ordinary Lord's dayes Service must not only shew their approbation to the many idle Stories in the Apocryphal books and give 'em that countenance that alone pertains to the pure word of God but besides must lay
sayes the common fame went for truth that the Pope promised to confirm out of his own authority the English Liturgy provided her Majesty should rank her self with the Roman Church To thefe I adjoyn Dr. Boyes who was a bitter expositor of the English Liturgy as Heiga by the Doctors of Dowayes appointment was of the Mass after he hath whetted his teeth upon the Schismaticks in his Epistle to Bancroft he produceth the letter of Pope Pius for the approbation of the Service Book and notes also the Testimony of approbation from Bristow in his motives Queen Elizabeth being interdicted by the Popes Bull. Secretary Walsingham wrought so that he procured two Intelligences to be sent from the Pope as it were in secret into England to whom the Secretary appointed a State Intelligencer to be their Guide who shew'd them London and Canterbury service in all the pomp of it which the popish Intelligencers viewing and considering well with much admiration they wondred that their Lord the Pope was so ill advised or at least ill informed as to interdict a Prince whose Service and Ceremonies so Symobiliz'd with his own and therefore returning to Rome they possest the Pope that they saw no Service Ceremonies or Orders in England but they might very well serve in Rome whereupon the Bull was recalled to this also Doctor Carrier consid p. 45. a dangerous seducing Jesuit gives ample evidences The Common Prayer book saith he and the Catechism contained in it held no point of Doctrine expresly contrary to Antiquity that is as he explaineth himself contrary to the Romish Service c. Much more might be spoke to this purpose but I wave it judging that what hath been already offer'd is sufficient to evince that there is at least in the judgment of many a very great agreableness between the two service books 2. What is it that occasion'd the Church of Englands adhering to so great a part of the Romish Service Book even when she forsook the Communion of that Church Whoever considers the State of the Church in Edward the sixth his time will find that Cranmer and others discover'd a propension to drive on the Reformation much farther than they did but were hindred by the iniquity of the times Thus Bullinger as I find it in a difcourse of the troubles of Franckford reports to Mr. Williams Whittingham Gilby and others that Cranmer Bishop of Canterbury had drawn up a book of Prayers an hundred times more perfect than this we now have but the same could not take place for that Cranmer was matched with a wicked Clergy and Convocation with other enemies There were also reasons of a like nature that might hinder the furtherance of the reformation in Queen Elizabeths dayes for even then the ignorance of the vulgar accompanied with a proportionable hatred to true Religion was very great Whence 't is that Cambden assures us that the change of Religion was not suddenly made but by little and little by degrees for the Roman Religion continued in the same State it was first a full Month and more after the death of Queen Mary The 27th of December it was tolerated to have the Epistles and Gospels the Ten Commandments the Symbole the Litany and the Lords Prayer in the vulgar Tongue The 22 of March the Parliament being Assembled the order of Edward the sixth was re-established and by act of the same the whole use of Lord's Supper granted under both kinds The 24th of June by the Authority of that which concern'd the Uniformity of Publique Prayers and Administration of the Sacraments The Sacrifice of the Mass was abolished and the Liturgy in the English Tongue more and more Established In the Month of July the Oath of Allegiance was proposed to the Bishops and other persons and in August Images were thrown out of the Temples and Churches and broken and burn'd Furthermore as the illness of the times did impeed a sudden Reformation in like manner the moderate temper and favourable disposition the Queen had to some part of Popery was such as hindred a full Reformation whereupon it was not so far carryed on by this Queen as 't was sometime before by her Brother Edward the sixth That Queen Elizabeth had a natural propension to favour some part of Popery is not only manifest from her I hope Conscientious conforming so far in Queen Maries dayes as to hear Divine Service according to the rule in the Romish Church and her oft going to confession and afterwards when she came to the Throne her choosing to be Crown'd by a Popish Bishop according to the order of the Roman Pontifical which had so much in it of the Ceremonies and Superstitions of the Church of Rome that 't is thought very probable the Protestant Bishops would not act in it but with great alterations and that therefore she desired 'em not to be ingaged in it But beside this Dr. Burnet gives us the same Character I have suggested for sayes he in his History of the Reformation Queen Elizabeth receiving some impressions in her Fathers Reign in favour of such Old Rites as he had still retain'd and in her own Nature loving State and some Magnificence in Religion as well as in every thing else she thought that in her Brother's Reign they had stript it too much of External Ornaments and had made their Doctrine too narrow in some points therefore she intended to have some things explained in more general Termes that so all parties might be comprehended by them She inclin'd to keep up Images in Churches and to have the manner of Christ's presence in the Sacrament left in some general words that those who believed the Corporal presence might not be driven away from the Church by too nice an explanation of it So far Dr. Burnet In pursuance of these resolves the Queen attempts the accommodating matters of Religion so unto the Romish Clergy as to take 'em into the Communion of the Church of England the which end as Dr. Heylin affirmes she so effectually compass'd that for several years the Papists continued in the Communion of the Church and when they did forsake it it was not because they approved not of our Liturgy but upon political considerations and because the Councill of Trent had commanded it and Pope Pius the 5th had Excommunicated the Queen and discharg'd her Subjects from their Allegiance and made the going or not going to Church a sign distinctive to difference a Roman Catholick from an English Protestant I 'll give you the words of Dr. Heylin they are in his History of Queen Elizabeth There past another Act for recommending and imposing the book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments according to such alteration and corrections as were made therein by those who were appointed to revise it as before is said In the pursuance of which service there was great care taken for expunging all such passages in it as might give any scandal or offence to the
such a multitude of weighty Arguments against the Lawfulness of the Ceremonies c. that a giving the Reader all would take up a very large Volume but 't is not my business to insist on all that may be offer'd I 'le therefore close with this one Argument Argument VI. Notwithstanding the great Cry that has been made about the Antiquity of the English Service and the reasonableness of conforming unto it for that reason some Dissenters refuse to joyn in the use of it because such a practice is not agreeable to the best Antiquity They think that the Apostles were best acquainted with the Mind and VVit of Jesus Christ and that the Primitive Christians in the First Second and Third Centuries kept more exactly to the Rule of Christ than those who lived in the Fourth Fifth Sixth or Seventh c. whence the Antiquity the Dissenter pleads for is that which is most Ancient and most pure unto which pattern such as will aim at a thorough Reformation must attempt the reducing all things in matters of Religion 'T is generally agreed by all Protestants that in the Apostolical and most Primitive Dayes of the Gospel all things were most exactly conformed to the VVill of our Lord Jesus Christ and that the nearer any keep to his Rule the better A Deviating from the Primitive practice has been but the beginning of all those many corruptions that have infested the Church of Christ Seeing this is a truth acknowledged by most let us enquire after the Antiquity of such Liturgies as this in use among us and after the time when Liturgies were first imposed and from whom and when the present English Liturgy had its rise 1. From what has been already suggested 't is manifest That there were no stinted Liturgies impos'd on any Pastors of particular Churches the First Four Hundred years after Christ The which may be be further confirm'd out of what Dr. Burnet in the Second part of the History of the Reformation doth acknowledge who speaking of Liturgies doth say That they were not made the Subject of any publick Consultation till St. Austins time when in their Dealings with Hereticks they found they took advantages from some of the Prayers that were in some Churches Upon this he tells us it was order'd that there should be no Prayers used in the Church but upon common Advice After that the Liturgie came to be more carefully confidered Formerly the Worship of God was a pure and simple thing and so it continued till Superstition had so infected the Church that those Formes were thought too naked unless they were put under more Artificial Rules and dressed up with much Ceremony c. So far Dr. Burnet About this time which was in the Fourth Century St. Ambrose compos'd his Service Book which was the first that gained any confiderable Reputation in the VVorld The Spurious Liturgies that are ascribed unto the Apostles are such as have enough in 'em to convince the Reader that they were not so ancient as is pretended After this time the Pastors or Bishops of Churches were very busie in composing Prayers in making Additions to what was done by such as went before ' em But no Liturgie as yet impos'd on any Churches Every Pastor tho' he communicated the prayers he had composed for his own use unto others The which he did only for the satisfaction of his Brethren that they might be assur'd there was nothing of Error in 'em yet none impos'd 'T is very probable that St. Ambrose's Liturgie in Divers places finding Acceptance was much in use But 't is most certain that until Pope Adrian the first who liv'd in the Eighth Century there was no general Imposition of any Liturgie In Petries Church History 't is storyed That about the later end of the Eighth Century there was a great contention for receiving the Mass of Pope Gregory into the Churches first by Authority of Pope Adrian and then of Charles the Great some Churches had one Directory and some another who would not change VVhen the Pope saw so great Opposition and it may be understood that it was not small when the Pope was put to such a shift he said he would refer it to the VVill of God whither he would by any visible sign approve the Mass of Gregory or Ambrose so these two Books were laid together upon the Altar in St. Peters Church and he cal'd upon God which of the Two he approved The Doors were shut all Night and the next Morning when they were return'd into the Church the Book of Ambrose was found lying as it was laid down and the other was all torn and dispersed through the Church The Pope maketh the Comment if we will belive Jacob de Voragine in Vita Gregorij That the Mass of Ambrose should be untouch'd and the Mass of Gregory should be used through the VVorld and so he did Authorize and Command that it should be used in all Churches and Chappels But many did expound that sign the contrary way and would not receive it till Charles did command all Bishops and Priests to use it through his Dominions he caused the Mass of Ambrose to be burned and threw many Priests into Prison who refused to accept the new Mass or Pope Gregories Liturgy The Church of Millaine would not change Walifred Strabo who lived about the year 900 testifieth in his Book de Exordijs rerum cap. 25. That in his time the Roman Mass was not universally in all Churches but almost saith he in all the Churches of the Latines and no Benedictine Monks did read it c. Thus Adrian the Pope and Charles the Emperour were the first hot Zealots for Gregories Liturgy who were much more fond of it than Gregory himselâ— was for Gregory did as much detest the Vniversal Imposition as he did zealously reject the Title of an Vniversal Bishop whence he was not fond of imposing it on us in England 'T is very certain that the Christian Religion did many an hundred years flourish in this Kingdom before 't was troubled with a Romish Liturgie which came not hither till about the year 600 and then rejected by the British Christians who severely suffer'd for their refusing to comply with the prelatick Impositions of that proud Monk Austine who stirring up the King of Kent to fight against the Christians thereby to bring 'em if possible to a complyance with his Ceremonies was the cause of the Destruction of above a Thousand Godly Monks besides the many others who were cruelly slain at that time The which Austin most wretchedly did tho' he never receiv'd any such advice from Gregory An account of Pope Gregories Moderation we have in Dr Burnet who gives us also a short History of the Rise and Progress of Ceremonies thus Gregory the Great was the first that took much care to make the Church Musick very regular and he did also put the Liturgies in another Method than had been formerly used Yet he had no
only form of prayer to be us'd in publique II. But to be more particular there are many among the Dissenters who are furnish'd with such Arguments as the Reader may find in the Abridgment of that book which the Ministers of Lincoln Diocess deliver'd to the King Anno 1605. as also in a part of the Register and among the reasons for Refusal of Subscription exhibited to Cotton Bishop of Exeter by the Devonshire and Cornish Ministry and in several other discourses as in Bayly's Parallel of the Liturgy with the Mass-book Ames his fresh suit against Ceremonies c. The which have fix'd such strong convictions on the Consciences of some Dissenters concerning the unlawfulness of the present Liturgy that they cannot safely joyn with any in the use of it Though some who have not receiv'd such powerfull impressions from the weight of those Arguments can read the Common Prayer and joyn with such as do to the end they may save themselves from the severity of Penal Lawes yet other Dissenters will rather submit themselves to the greatest extremities than venture to dishonour God by doing what they are convinc'd is a sin That the Reader may be mov'd to entertain some charitable thoughts concerning such persons and that the common objection that is laid in against their Non-Conformity which is Humour and Fancy and a Peevish Obstinacy may be fully answered I 'll give an Historical Account of some of those Arguments which do so fully convince some Dissenters that they cannot without laying an unnatural violence on their Families conform Argument I. I. They are perswaded that according to the Rubrick the same honour is put on the Apocryphal Books which is due alone to the Sacred Scriptures For they are appointed to be read as a part of the Old Testament without any note of difference from the Canonical In a discourse before the Common Prayer concerning the Service of the Church 't is asserted that nothing is ordained to be read but the very Pure word of God the Holy Scriptures or that which is agreable to the same beside this after the order how the Psalter is to be read 't is said in the Title how the rest of Holy Scripture is to be read under which Title several orders are to be found Namely 1. The Old Testament is appointed for the first Lessons at Morning and Evening Prayer so as the most part thereof will be read every year once and in the 3d. order 't is said that to know what Lessons shall be read every day look for the day of the Month in the Kalendar following and there ye shall find the Chapters that shall be read for the Lessons both at Morning and Evening Prayer and in the Rubrick after the Psalms are read 't is order'd that then shall be read distinctly with an audible voice the First Lesson taken out of the Old Testament as it is appointed in the Kalendar whereby 't is evident that what is appointed in the Kalendar to be read for the First Lesson is consider'd as a part of the Old Testament the Holy Scripture the pure word of God But the Apocryphal books are in the Kalendar appointed to be read for First Lesson for almost Two Months together even from the latter end of September untill November 24th beside the Holy dayes on which these books are appointed to be read To which add that this is done to the constant neglect of reading a great part of the Sacred Scriptures namely the two books of Chronicles Solomons Song and a great part of the Revelations That 't is the appointment of the Church to read the Apocryphal books as a part of the Holy Scriptures is farther confirm'd by Archbishop Bancroft in the conference held at Hampton Court where as the abridgment has it he tax'd Jerom for calling these books Apocrypha and said he was the first that gave them that name and called his objections against them the old Cavills of the Jews And the Bishops of Winchester affirm'd at the same time that they must needs be held Canonici ad informandos mores Canonical for the information of manners To these I 'll add what Mr. Hutton in his answer unto the reasons of the Ministers of Devon and Cornwall to this very objection They are saith he called Holy Scriptures in a signification at large because the subject they entreat of is God his Love Power our Sanctification and Obedience to him And they may be held Canonical wholsom Doctrines being thence deduced though not simply of themselves yet wherein they agree with the Canon as also because they may serve as they alwayes heretofore have done for a rule to direct and order our Conversation aright In this answer though he seems without the approbation of the Rubrick to make a difference between the Sacred Scriptures and the Apocrypha books yet at length falls in with the Bishop of Winchester asserting that they are a Canon or Rule to direct our Conversation aright But in opposition hereunto 't is generally by sound Protestants asserted 1. That the Apocryphal books are not a part of the Holy Scriptures the pure word of God 2. That there are several things appointed to be read which are not agreable to the word of God nor can be defended by any sound Protestant To make this point the more clear I 'll give the Reader an account of what is reply'd to the distinction of the Bishop of Winchester about the Canon of Faith and Manners and then offer what arguments have been urg'd against this practice of the Church In the second part of the defence of the reasons of the Devonshire and Cornish Ministers 't is thus reply'd to the aforesaid distinction But that we may farther see how heartless and unsound this distinction of Canonical for manners but not for Faith is let us observe how they here make a distinction of faith and manners where none is for all Doctrines of God's word are in this respect Doctrines of faith whether they concern matters of believing or of other Conversation of life wherefore the Apostle hath coupled them together in that place to Timothy saying all Scripture given by inspiration of God c. shewing us thereby that upon one and the same divine Revelation our knowledge and practice both must be grounded And I would entreat these men that give us this distinction to tell us whether it be not a point of faith That we must worship one God and him after his own manner reverencing his Name and keeping his Sabbaths c. And whether it be not a point of faith That we must honour our Parents and Superiors that we must not Kill commit Adultery Steal Slander Covet And whether our Consciences be not bound in these things by the Divine Testimony as well as in any point of our understanding surely unless our Divinity faileth all the word of God is the object of Faith that as well which directeth to manners as that which revealeth
Popish party or be urg'd by them in excuse for their not coming to Church and joyning with the rest of the Congregation in God's publique worship In the Litany first made and published by King Henry the Eight and afterwards continued in the two Liturgies of King Edward the sixth there was a Prayer to be deliver'd from the Tyranny and all the detestable enormities of the Bishops of Rome which was thought fit to be expung'd as giving matter of scandal and disaffection to all that party or that otherwise wish'd well to that Religion In the First Liturgy of King Edward the Sacrament of the Lord's Body was deliver'd with this benediction that is to say the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which was given for the preservation of thy Body and Soul to Life Everlasting The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ c. which being thought by Calvin and his Disciples to give some countenance to the gross and carnal presence of Christ in the Sacrament which passeth by the name of Transubstantiation in the School of Rome was alter'd into this form into the second Liturgy that is to say take and eat this in remembrance that Christ dyed for thee and feed on him in thy heart by faith with Thanksgiving Take and drink this c. But the Revisers of the book joyn'd both formes together least under colour of rejecting a carnal they might be thought also to deny such a real presence as was defended in the writings of the antient fathers Upon which ground they expung'd also a whole Rubrick at the end of the Communion Service by which it was declared that kneeling at the participation of the Sacrament was required for no other reason than for the signification of the humble and gratefull acknowledging of the benefits of Christ given therein unto the worthy Receiver And to avoid that prophanation and disorder which otherwise might have ensued and not for giving any adoration to the Sacramental Bread and Wine there bodily received or in regard of any real and essential presence of Christ's Body and Blood And to come up closer to the Church of Rome it was ordered by the Queens injunctions that the Sacramental Bread which the book required onely to be made of the finest Flower should be made round in fashion of the wafers used in the time of Queen Mary She also order'd that the Lord's Table should be placed where the Altar stood that the accustomed reverence should be made at the name of Jesus Musick retained in the Church and all the old festivals observ'd with their several Eves By which complyances and the expunging of the passages before remembred the book was made so passable amongst the Papists that for ten years they generally repair'd to their Parish Churches without doubt or scruple as is affirm'd not only by Sir Edward Cook in his Speech against Garnet and his charge given at the Assizes held at Norwich but also by the Queen her self in a Letter to Sir Francis Walsingham then being her Resident or Leiger Embassador in the Court of France the same confessed by Sanders also in his book de Schismate To this Heylin within a few years following adds And now we may behold the face of the Church of England as it was first setled and established under Queen Elizabeth The Government of the Church by Archbishops and Bishops The Liturgy conform to the primitive patterns and all the Rites and Ceremonies therein prescribed accommodated to the honour of God and encreafe of piety The Festivals preserved in their former Dignity observ'd with all their distinct Offices peculiar to them and celebrated with a Religious Concourse of all sorts of people the weekly Fasts the Holy time of Lent the Embring weeks together with the Fast of the Rogation severely kept by a forbearance of all kind of flesh not now by virtue of the Statute as in the time of King Edward but as appoynted by the Church in her publique Calendar before the book of Common Prayer the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper celebrated in most reverend manner the Holy Table seated in the place of the Altar the people making their due reverence at their first entrance into the Church kneeling at the Communion the confession and the publique prayers standing up at the Creed the Gospels and the Gloria Patri and using the accustomed reverence at the name of Jesus Musick retain'd in all such Churches in which provision had been made for the maintenance of it or where the people could be trained up at least to plain Song All which particulars were either Established by the Lawes or commanded by the Queens injunctions or otherwise retained by virtue of some antient usages not by Law prohibited Nor is it much to be admired that such a general Conformity to those antient usages was constantly observ'd in all Cathedrals and the most part of the Parish Churches considering how well they were presidented by the Court it self in which the Liturgy was Officiated every day both morning and evening not only in the publick Chappel but the private Closet celebrated in the Chappell with Organs and other Musical Instrments and the most excellent voices of men and children that could be got in all the Kingdom The Gentlemen and Children in their Surplices and the Priests in Copes as oft as they attended the Divine Service at the Holy Altar The Altar furnished with rich Plate two fair Gilt Candlesticks with Tapers in them and a Massy Crucifix of Silver in the midst thereof which last remained there for some years till it was broke in peices by Pach the fool no wiser man daring to undertake such a desperate Service at the sollicitation of Sir Francis Knolles the Queens near Kinsman by the Caries and one who openly appeared in favour of the Schism at Franckford The antient ceremonies accustomably observ'd by the Knights of the Garter in their Adoration towards the Altar abolished by King Edward the 6th and reviv'd by Queen Mary were by this Queen retain'd as formerly in her Fathers time for which she received both thankes and honour from her very enemies i. e. the Papists as appeares by Harding's Epistle Dedicatory before his answer to the Apology c. So far Heylin Thus from what the sons of the Church Cambden Burnet and Heylin have affirm'd 't is apparent that Queen Elizabeth had a natural propension to favour the Papists and that this was discover'd by her making the Termes of Communion much more easie to the Papists than in King Edward's time whereby they became the more difficult and arduous to the Protestant Dissenter I 'll only add one observation of the Jesuit Reignold against Whitaker whereby the Reader may perceive not only that the Papists take notice how the practice of the Church of England contradicts their Rubrick but also that in the Rubrick concerning Apparel which is now to be found in the Communion Book even the beginning before morning prayer 't is order'd That the Minister
at the time of Communion and at all other times in his Ministration shall use such Ornaments in the Church as were in use by Authority of Parliament in the second year of the Reign of King Edward the 6th But Queen Elizabeth was not the only cause of driving back the Reformation but the Clergy themselves had an hand in it which was sufficiently discover'd when they perceiv'd that her Majesties Council began to entertain more favourable thoughts of Protestant Dissenters who continued their cries for a further Reformation Cambden assures us that about the year 1583 The Queen who held it for a maxime that she ought not to be more remiss in Ecclesiastical Affaires advancing Whitgift from the Sea of Worcester to that of Canterbury above all commanded him to re-establish the Discipline of the Church of England that as then lay dismembred by the connivency of Prelates the obstinacy of Innovators and by the power of some great ones whilst some Ministers using to their own fantasie new Rites of Services in their private Houses utterly condemning the Liturgy and the appointed manner of Administring the Sacrament as being in many things contrary to the Scriptures and therefore many refus'd to go to Church To abolish which things and to reduce 'em in Unity Whitgift propounded Three Articles to the Ministers by them to be subscribed But adds Cambden 't is incredible what controversies and disputations arose upon this What troubles and injuries Whitgift suffer'd of certain noble men So far Cambden But whoever might be so happy as to be throughly acquainted with a just impartial and particular History of those times would suddenly see that the true cause of all Whitgifts troubles was his intemperate persecuting Godly and Conscientious men who rather like a Spanish Inquisitor propos'd a multitude of Articles to ensnare than as a good Pastor to reduce his erring Brethren to the truth For even when he was most violent in letting out his rage on the Conscientious Dissenter even then the wicked the ungodly and prophane Priests knew not what it was to be prosecuted for their debaucheries Neither can it be truly said that the Earl of Leicester was the only great person that resented the ill proceedings of this Bishop but even the Lord Treasurer Cecill and her Majesties Councill 'T is sad to consider with what severity Whitgift treated the Couscientious Dissenter and with what mildness the drunkard glutton c. The which was so palpable that some zealous Conformists since that time have judg'd it necessary to essay the putting some colour on it as Isaac Walton in the life of Hooker most Satyrically represents the Nonconformist to be much more vile than the drunkard or glutton even when he could not impeach 'em as being guilty of any such enormities But that somewhat might be said to expose the Dissenter and defend the Bishops an encroachment is made on the divine prerogative and vain man who cannot but with much difficulty look into his own heart pretends to see into the secrets of the Dissenter where he finds so many Spiritual wickednesses that lye hid to lodge that he must be warm in discovering his abhorrence to such Villanies judging not according to the outward appearance but like unto the all-knowing God according to the heart I 'll give you Mr. Walton's own words who speaking of the Nonconformists sayes Of this party there were many that were possest with an high degree of Spiritual wickedness I mean with an innate restless radical pride and malice I mean not those lesser sins that are more visible and more properly Carnal and sins against a mans self as gluttony and drunkenness and the like from which good Lord deliver us but sins of an higher nature because more unlike to the nature of God which is Love and Mercy and Peace and more like the Devil who is not a glutton nor can be drunk and yet is a Devil those wickednesses of malice and revenge and opposition and a complacence in making and beholding confusions Men whom Pride and Self-conceit had made to over-value their own Wisdom and become pertinacious and to hold foolish and unmannerly disputes against those men which they ought to reverence and those Lawes which they ought to obey As if disputing freely with the Bishop and not giving him the desir'd respects by rendring obedience to his commands even when they could not without sinning against God had been the Overt Act of that Pride Malice c. which makes men more vile than Gluttony and Drunkenness But 't is no part of my present province to comment on this notion but only from it to inferr that as the dignified Clergy did consider the Non-Conformity of the Dissenter to be a sin most odious much more high and great than that of gluttony even so 't is easie to conclude that what is affirm'd in History concerning the Bishops treating the drunkard with more candor than the Conscientious Dissenter is very true For which no stronger reason can be assign'd than that the debauchees wickedness not being so great an impediment to the accommodating the difference between the Church of England and of Rome as the Non-Conformity of the Dissenter the wickedness of the former might be tolerated even when the Dissent of the latter would not be born That this is so namely that the Arch-bishops and Bishops in the respects they shew'd the ignorant and scandalous among the Ministry and the letting out their wrath on the intractible Dissenter as they term'd it was a plain evincement that they thereby aimed at the gratifying the Papist will appear with conviction to such as will be so just to themselves as to weigh impartially the import of those Letters are added to the end of this Treatise where he will not only see into the reason why the Episcopal would by all means hide 'em from the Light but moreover perceive the matter of fact I have suggested to be very true That these Letters are nor spurious nor feigned but copies from an Anthentick Original is well known to some zealous Sons of the Church who it may be will be surpriz'd to see that appear in face of the World which doth so plainly discover what they desire might be conceal'd In these Letters 't is apparent that when the prosecution was most brisk against Protestant Dissenters several among the dignified Clergy were very covetous and scandalous in their Conversations Numb 1. Even those who antecedently to their preferment were well affected when they came to the Cathedral Churches did so strangely degenerate that the Lord Treasurer Cecil Numb 2. did fear the places did alter the men whence 't is that her Majesties Councill in their Letter to the Bishop of London and Canterbury Numb 3. did observe from the many complaints brought unto them that the worst of men met with no trouble when Conscientious and Learned Ministers were greatly molested for their Non-Conformity But that which doth most fully discover the temper
and design of Whitgift as one who acted rather like a Spanish Inquisitor than a good Protestant imposing Articles that were of an ensnaring tendency is what I find in the Letters of the Lord Cecil unto the Arch-bishop with Arch bishops reply Numb 4. 5 6. The which is more generally suggested in Cambden who mentions the dissatisfaction of several noble men with the Bishops proceedings but more expresly by a moderate writer in Queen Elizabeths who in his plea of the innocent doth in the name of the Non-Conformists speak thus of the Lords of the Councill And this is not all that bindes us to their honours for in our private troubles about the Ceremonies and Subscription we the poor and faithfull Ministers of Christ whensoever we have opened our cause and humbled our selves unto them we have found great justice and equity and divers times great relief and ease from our troubles No doubt they seeing our innocency that of meer Conscience without any the least inclination to disloyalty to our Sovereign we did forbear to do those things they have tendered our cause and lovingly effected that we might not be too much over-burdened Moreover concerning the Bishops they say What could we do less or better than to repair to the Reverend Bishops for Counsell and Comfort which for the space of ten years or the most part thereof they did in some good measure afford unto us till as I take it by the relation of some in the same broyles the Papists had cunningly wrested our good Fathers from us that they could and would do no further for us Then yet complaining of our case and opening our doubts unto them we did as the Law affordeth that the cause should be brought before the Ordinary in all doubts about ceremonies of the Church Established by Law and finding not our selves resolv'd by our ordinaries alas what could we do less than quietly to suffer our selves with great grief bewailing our flocks to be suspended imprisoned and deprived And this hath been the cause of all them which have not used the Ceremonies so fully as some other of their Brethren By this 't is evident that as Queen Elizabeth's Education natural temper Interest of State and I verily believe Conscience of Duty unto God inclin'd her to such an establishment in the Ecclesiastical Constitution as might be most gratefull unto the Papist even so some of the Clergy who by Heylin are called Melancthonians of whom Whitgift and Bancroft were principal in their times did their utmost by insisting so very much on the Ceremonies Subscription c. to the same end the Queens Majesty did whereby to the great grief of many Sound Protestants the Service of our Church was made to resemble as much as possible that of the Church of Rome But 3. I 'll now consider the reasonings of some Protestant Dissenters from this similitude likeness and agrement there is between these two service books against the ordinary use of the English Liturgy Whoever will make a due enquiry into the History of the Reformation will find that in Edward the 6th his dayes Hooper Lord Bishop elect for Glocester scrupled the Episcopal Vestments because they had been invented cheifly for celebrating the Mass with much pomp and had been consecrated for that effect In Queen Maries time the exil'd Protestants at Frankford such as Knox and those of his perswasion refused to Minister the Communion by the book of England for that there were some things in it placed only by warrant of man's Authority or no ground of God's word for the same and had also a long time very Superstitiously in the Mass been wickedly abused See discourse of the troubles at Franckford Moreover in Queen Elizabeth's and King James's dayes several manifested their dislike of our Liturgy for this very reason because 't was so like unto the Romish Service I 'll give some particular instances with those reasons that were by 'em urg'd against a complyance with a Service Book so like that of the Papists In a part of the Register you have the sense of Mr. Edward Deering who sayes that The similitude that this book has with the form of Prayer which the Papists used I think declineth from the equity of these Lawes Deut. 7. 25. Deut. 12. 30. Deut. 18. 9. which things our fathers so much regarded in the Primitive Church that their books are full of great complaints against all similitude to be had with the Gentiles Yea the second Councill of Bracca made a decree that no Christian should have either Bay-Leaves or Green Boughes in their houses because the Gentiles so accustomed And at this day all Reformed Churches in France Polonia Helvetia Scotland and other places have changed that form of Prayer which prudence of all ages if we shall condemn the rebuke of the Apostle I think will touch us 1 Cor. 14. 36. Came the word of God out from you or came it else to you only Secondarily we have the Psalmes Venite Benedictus Magnificat nunc dimittis usual in our Ministry of which we can give no good reason Nor I see no cause why we should more leave out the Ave Maria. And because of parting the Scriptures again into the Epistles and Gospels which was not heard of before the dayes of Popery I dare not avow that this is that reverent handling of the Scripture and the right dividing of the word of truth which St. Paul requireth 2 Tim. 2. 15. But the Abridgment is much more full on this Subject shewing what are the many Scriptural Arguments against all complyances with the Superstitions the which is farther confirm'd not only from the Fathers the Transmarine Protetestant Divines but also by our own Old Protestant Doctors of the Church of England Take it as in the Abridgment where 't is asserted that 't is contrary to the word of God to use such ceremonies in the worship of God as man has devised if they be notoriously known to have been of old and still to be abused unto Idolatry or Superstition by the Papists especially if the same be now of no necessary use in the Church Where note that the Ceremonial part of the English Service that is like unto that of the Romish is what has been abused by the Papists to Idolatry or Superstition but yet are not so necessary to Divine Worship but that the worship may be compleat decent and orderly without em but to their reasons this may appear say they 1. By the Second Commandment which forbids all provocation unto spiritual fornication as the 7th doth unto that which is Carnal 2. By the Commandment and direction God hath given us in his word to separate our selves from Idolaters and be as unlike to them as may be especially in their Religious Observations and Ceremonies to abolish not only all Idols but also all the Ceremonies and Instruments of Idolatry and that so as we may best shew our utmost detestation to them and root out the very
Postscript Your Grace must pardon my hasty scribling for I have done this raptim and without correction Numb 5. The Treasurer's reply to an answer of the Arch-bishop's unto the former Letter July 17. 1584. I Have received your Graces loving Letter answering Speeches as I think delivered by your Chaplain Dr. Cossins and I perceive you are sharply mov'd to blame me and clear your self I know I have many faults but I hope I have not given such cause of offence as your Letter expresseth I deny nothing that your Grace thinketh meet to proceed in with these whom you call factious and therefore there is no controversie betwixt you and me expressed in your Letter The controversie is pass'd in your Grace's Letter in silence and so I do rest satisfied your Grace promised me to deal I say only with such as violate order and to charge them therewith which I allow well thereof But your Grace not charging men with such faults seeketh by examination to urge them to accuse themselves and then I think you 'l punish them I think your Graces proceedings is I will not say rigorous nor captious but I think it is scarce charitable I have no leisure to write more and therefore I will end for writing will but encrease offence and I mean not to offend your Grace I am content that your Grace and my Lord of London where I hear Brown is use him as your Wisdomes shall think meet If I had known his faults I might be blam'd for writeing for him but when by examination only it is to sift him with 24 Articles I have cause to pity the poor man Your Graces as Friendly as any William Burleigh Numb 6. The Arch-Bishop's Answer to the Lord Treasurer MY singular good Lord God knoweth how desirous I have been from time to time to satisfie your Lordship in all things and to have my doings approved to you for which cause since my coming to this place I have done nothing of importance without your advice I have risen early and sat up late to write unto you such objections and answers as on either side were used I have not done the like to any man and shall I now say that I have lost my labour or shall my just dealing with two of the most disorder'd Ministers in a whole Diocess the obstinacy and contempt of whom especially of one of them your self would not bear in any subjected to your Authority cause you so to think and speak of my doings yea and of my self no man living should have made me beleive it Solomon saith an old friend is better than a new and I trust your Lordship will not so lightly cast off your old friend for any of those new fangled factious Sectaries whose fruits are to make divisions wheresoever they come and to separate old and assured friends Your Lordship seemeth to charge me with breach of promise touching my manner of proceeding whereof I am no way guilty but I have alter'd my first course of depriving them for not subscribing only justifiable by law and common practice both in the time of King Edward and from the beginning of her Majesties Reign Your Lordship also objecteth that I took this course for the better maintenance of my book c. mine enemies said so indeed but I trust my friends have a better opinion in me Why should I seek for any confirmation of my book after years or what should I get thereby more than already And yet if subscription may confirm it it is confirm'd long ago by the subscription of all the Clergy almost in England before my time even of Branie also who seemeth now to be so wilful Mine enemies and tongues of this slanderous and uncharitable Sect report that I am revolted become a Papist and I know not what But it proceedeth from their lewdness not from any desert of mine and I disdain to answer to such notorious untruths which the best of them dare not avouch to my face Your Lordship seemeth further to burden me with wilfulness I am sure that you are not so perswaded of me I will appeal to your own Conscience there is difference between wilfulness and constancy I have taken upon me the defence of the Religion and Rights of this Church of England to appease the Sects of Schismes therein to reduce all the Ministers thereof to Vniformity and due obedience herein I intend to be constant and not to waver with every wind the which also my place my person my duty the law her Majesty and the goodness of the cause doth require of me and wherein your Lordship and others all things considered ought in duty to assist and countenance me It is strange that a man in my place dealing with so good warranties as I do should be so encounter'd and for not yielding should be accounted wilful but I must be contented vincit qui patitur and if my friends herein forsake me I trust God will not neithe law her Majesty who hath laid the charge on me and are able to protect me But of all other things it most greiveth me that your Lordship should say that the two Ministers fare the worse because your Lordship sent them Hath your Lordship ever had any cause so to think of me it is needless for me to protest my heart and affections towards you above all other men the world knoweth it and I am assured that your Lordship nothing doubeth thereof I have rather cause to complain to your Lordship of your self that upon so small occasion and in the behalf of two such you will so hardly conceive of me yea and as it were countenance persons so meanly qualified in so evil a cause against me your Lordship 's so long tryed friend and their ordinary that hath not so been in times past now it should least of all be I may not suffer the notorious contempt of any of them especially unless I will become Aesop's block well because I would be loath to omit any thing whereby your Lordship might be satisfied I have sent unto you certain reasons to justifie the manner of my proceeding which I marvel should be so much misliked in this cause having been so long practis'd in the like yea in the same and never before this time found fault with truly my Lord I must proceed this way or not at all the reasons I have set down in this paper and I heartily pray your Lordship not to be carryed away either from the cause or from my self upon unjust surmises or clamours least you be some occasion of that confusion which hereafter you would be sorry for For mine own part I desire no farther defence in these occasions of your Lordship nor any other than justice and law will yield unto me In my private affairs I know I stand in need of friends especially of your Lordship of whom I have made alwayes an assured account but in these publick actions I see no cause why I should seek for friends seeing they to whom the care of the common weal is committed ought out of duty therein to joyn with me to conclude I am your Lordships assured neither will I ever be perswaded but that you bear an hearty good will towards me So far Whitgift If Dr. Burnet would undertake the carrying on the History of Ecclesiastical Affairs all the time Q. Eliz. liv'd and in order thereunto might he be so happy as to obtain a sight of all those great things were then on the stage the world would see how little they are owing unto Heylin for his History and also understand how unjustly the Old Protestants call'd Puritanès have been represented as factious c. FINIS