for transgressing your humane Laws which they ignorantly conclude erroneous and shall not you perish for transgressing my Divine Laws which you know to be good and holy had I mercy on you and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servants with the same measure you meeted it shall be measured to you again I tremble to go farther but most humlby beseech you for Christs sake endeavour to regain these stray sheep for whom he shed his precious blood and think it as great an advantage as great an honour to you as it was to St. Paul to become all things to all men that you may gain some as doubtless you will many though not all and the few standers off will become the more convinced and at long running wearied out and gained also Thus having reduced all into one fold in true faith and Christian charity the present generation will much forget the succeeding generation will be wholly ignorant of these erronious fancies and all animosities being quite exinguished wholsome edifying Ceremonies may be easily introduc't again with comfort to all which are now irksome and grievous to many And so I pass on to the second matter The Church Service contained in the Book of Common Prayer whereof briefly because what I said before may be applyed to this also Concerning Church Service I will not here enter into the dispute whether it be lawful for a Church to have a set form of Prayer supposing that there are none but either highly fanatick or higly factious that affirm it unlawful and with such I have no reason to expect that reasonable Arguments should prevail for enough hath beeen already printed to this purpose I may also suppose that there is nothing contained in our Book of Common Prayer that is directly contrary to the Word of God for had there been any such thing we should have heard of it long since which I never yet did from any sober man And truly I might in the third place suppose that a Book of Common Prayer being no way contrary to the Word of God the use of it is far more conducing to Piety then to suffer extemporary prayer to be used generally in Churches experience hath fully declared it in our late confused times when a man should have heard in many Churches such extravagant such wild such rash such blasphemous expressions as would drive any sober conscientious person out of their Churches Can you with reason expect it otherwise when half the Churches in this Nation have not a tolerable maintenance to support men of parts and discretion fit to perform so solemn and holy an Office Had we the holiness the zeal the charity the humility of the Primitive times when men forsook all the World daily sacrificed their lives for the Service of God we might hope that God would graciously pour down upon us as he did on them the special gifts of praying and prophecying but now when most serve God for gain and would neither open nor shut the Church doors for nought as Malachi saith we must not expect those gifts and graces And therefore I conceive it absolutely necessary to have some form prescribed to be used by all for were there liberty left to the more able and discreet most would suppose themselves to be such few discovering their own weakness and were it left to the Bishop to licence as he saw fit it would prove a very great cause of our heart-burning among his Clergie and hatred towards himself yea and rebellion against him and the laws But now in Christ I humbly beseech the Governours of the Church calmly to consider Were it not better to have such a form of Service as would satisfie most The Fathers of our Church as I said before when they reformed this Nation from Popery were desirous to fetch off as many as they could retaining for this cause all the Ceremonies and Forms of prayer they could with a good rectisied conscience and therefore they prescribed that form of second service to be said at the Altar as carrying some resemblance to the Mass then the peoples delight which being now become the peoples hate should for the same resemblance according to the same rule of reason be now taken away We commend our Forefathers for doing piously and wisely and yet we will not imitate them they endeavoured to please and gain the people we will needs displease and lose them Certainly we cannot do our Forefathers a greater honour then to observe their rule of reason to confirm to the Times and therefore they are grossly mistaken who think it a dishonour to them 〈◊〉 us to take away what they have established when we keep close to the reason wherefore they did establish it Wise Physitians by the same rule of reason prescribe things clean contrary according to the temper of their Patients hot or cold Some other things I could mention in the Book of Common Prayer though no way ill in themselves yet fit to be altered and would obviously appear so to every wise man once resolved to compose such a form as would take in most of this Nation which I humbly conceive Governors should in conscience endeavour becoming all things to all men to gain some though not all yet happily gain all in process of time for the reason before specified But though I desire such a form of Service such Ceremonies also to be established as may give most general satisfaction yet I desire what is established may be generally observed and not a liberty left as some do propose to add or detract Ceremonies or Prayers according to the various opinions and humours of men for certainly this would cause great faction and division those that are for Ceremonies would run from their own Church to others where they were used others to some fine fancied Prayers of such as they approve of and thus some Churches would be thronged others deserted and no account could be taken by the Pastor of this Congregation Atheists also and Papists under pretence of frequenting other Churches would abandon all This course say you would bring but few into the Church and perchance drive some out who having been long bred up to such and such Ceremonies would have small devotion to frequent the Church if all or many were abolished To this I answer That certainly his Religion is vain that would abandon the Substance for want of the Ceremonies which he acknowledgeth to be no way necessary but only more satisfaction to his mind Surely a very ignorant mind who hath not learnt That obedience is better then sacrifice and whole burnt offerings And surely a very uncharitable mind who would not leave ninety and nine unnecessary Ceremonies to bring one sinful strayed Sheep into the Congregation and convert him from the error of his non-conforming way I profess I am amazed to see how many men of a very good sence in most things so zealously erroneous in this business of Religion seeing the
people and honour to the Church then now they are I most humbly beseech all in the spirit of meekness and humility to consider these things laying aside the veil of pomp and vanity which blinds their eyes and hinders them from discovering the naked truth and simplicity of the Gospel I call the Searcher of all hearts to witness I wish unto all Clergy-men both double honour and double maintenance also I can't think any thing too much for those who conscienciously labour in the Ministry But seeing as I said there is no hopes of regaining the Church maintenance we in prudence should seek out such helps as may be had And truly I have great reason to hope that were this rule observed of putting only grave discreet and consciencious persons into the Ministry whether University men or not it matters not so as fully instructed in the Doctrine of the Gospel by sound Commentators many persons of good rank and Estate would think it no dishonour but rather a high honour to enter into it as they did in the Primitive time Iulian neerly related to the Roman Emperour and afterwards Emperour himself thought it an honour to be admitted a Reader one of the lowest Offices in the Church And for the better advancing this business and fitting all sorts of men with convenient Knowledge for the Ministry I humbly conceive it very fit there should be one good and brief English Comment of Scripture selected and compiled out of those many voluminous Authors laying asid all impertinent criticismes abstruse questions nice speculations and the like setting down only the plain and most obvious sence in matters of Faith and good life necessary to salvation such a book to be set forth by Authority with a command that no man in Sermons Exhortations or Catechisings teach any thing contrary to it and what ever Learning beyond that is brought into the Pulpit let it rather be exploded then applauded for if any countenance be given to excursions there will be no end the itch men have to shew their Learning will soon bring us again into the vain unedifying practice we now are in I humbly conceive it fit also that the book of Homilies be reviewed not to correct any thing in them for they are most excellent sound Exhortations containing the true Primitive Spirit but to add to them what ever is wanting to the necessary Doctrine of Faith and good manners to teach every person how to behave himself in his several vocation and these commanded to be read once over every year for I have observed several even good and conscientious Preachers to take quite another method and preach on this or that Chapter and so in the whole year yea perchance in two or three years never preach on the duty between Man and Wife Parents and Children Masters and Servants Magistrates and Subjects or omit to treat of Pride or Malice or Cheating or the like by reason of which omissions several in the Congregation are ignorant in necessary duties though rightly instructed in many things unnecessary I expect that many will cry out of this as a means to introduce laziness into the Ministry and a hindrance from exercising those Talents God hath endowed them with To this I answer First That I had rather the Ministers should be lazie then the People ignorant in their duty But secondly I answer That besides Pulpit Preaching the Minister may find enough to do to keep him from laziness and exercise the best that is the most useful Talents of a Minister to visit and comfort the Sick and Afflicted to compose Differences and reconcile Janglers to examine and instruct the meaner and duller part of his Flock who are not capable of Pulpit preaching to whom they must inculcate both Doctrines and Admonitions ten times over and scarcely so make them apprehend any Spiritual matters Experience only can raise a belief how extreamly dull the common people are in the mysteries of Faith and but little quicker in the principles of a good life Christ dyed to save these poor vulgar Souls as well as those of the Gentry and more learn'd yet the labour of most Ministers is to entertain those that know enough and are very lazy in Catechising those poor souls that know nothing let these be fully instructed and then for me let them shew their Talents by preaching as often as they please to others All that I labour for is that those may have it who most want it either by injoyning such Homilies as I mentioned to be yearly read or such Sermons to be yearly preached I am no enemy to true Apostolical preaching God forbid I should but to vain Scholastical useless preaching to have the Pastor who should daily watch over his Flock sit in his Study all the Week long picking from that or this Quaint Author a few beautiful Flowers and then come on Sunday with his Nosegay in his hand to enterâ—ain Ladies and Courtiers for my part I count this far more sinful laziness then to read a Pious Homily on Sunday and all the Week after go up and down from house to house taking pains to instruct and exhort such as I mentioned But these shall be called dumb Dogs yet surely by none but barking Curs who are wholly ignorant in true Apostolick Preaching Pardon me if I return them their due who speak evil of that they understand not They will Object The Apostles and Primitive Disciples did not read Homilies but Preach'd themselves Neither do I desire that any one Homily should ever be read so as we had the true Apostolick preaching both oâ— Sundays in publick and Week-days also in private where there is need But I am sure such pious Homilies as I mentioned are no ways contrary to the Apostolical and primitive practice and are far more useful then such preaching as we have now adays And I am also sure that in the purest and most primitive time Homilies under another name were read in the Churches that is the Epistles of Apostolick godly Bishops written to other Churches were read in the Congregation with great Veneration Shall the name of Epistle make the one applauded the name of Homily make the other reproached the contents and the intent being the same to stirr up the people to godliness If this will satisfy let the Homilies be styled Epistles to such or such a Church and then I hope they will pass for current But you will say The Compilers of our Homilies are not of equal authority to those primitive Epistlers Let that pass but I am sure they are of far more authority then most of our Preachers I pray consider how many giddy Youths are of our Ministry how many of greater age but of as little gravity or discretion how many that vainly preach themselves and their own abilities not Christ and his Gospel how many that preach piously and yet not usefully but as I said before many things unnecessary omitting many necessary Summ up all these
particulars and you will find a small remainder that preach piously and edifying also very few to equal the Compilers of our Homilies and then calmly consider the great use yea the great necessity of such Homilies But if you can furnish all our Churches with pious discreet edifying preaching Pastors I am abundantly satisfied and do you seal up the Book of Homilies till a new dearth of spiritual food which God in his great mercy prevent Amen Concerning Bishops and Priests WHoever unbiass'd reads the Scripture thence proceeds to the first Christian Writers and so goes on from Age to Age can't doubt but that the Church was always governed by Bishops that is by one Elder or Presbyter or President or what else you please to call him set over the rest of the Clergy with authority to Ordain to Exhort to Rebuke to Judg and Censure as he found cause no other form of Government is mentioned by any Authority for Fifteen hundred years from the Apostles downwards Now who can in reason and modesty suspect those Primitive Bishops who lived in the days of the Apostles chosen by them into the Church succeeded them in Church Government yea and in Martyrdom also for the Faith as Clemens Ignatius Polycarpus and others who I say can suspect them to be prevaricators in Church Discipline and take upon them another form of Episcopal Government contrary to Apostolican Institution These great Masters of Self-denyal who gave their Lives for the Truth would they transmit unto Posterity a Church Government contrary to the Truth let who will believe it I can neither believe it nor suspect it And there is yet another thing very observable that all the Orthodox Church dispersed all the world over some parts having no correspondence at all with the other by reason of distance some by Warrs divided and made cruel Enemies yet all agreed in this form of Government and not only the Orthodox but also the Schismaticks and Hereticks who separated from hated and persecuted the Orthodox Church they likewise retained still this form of Government as if all were of necessity compelled to acknowledg this having never known heard nor dream'd of other And therefore nothing but necessity if that can excuse those who first set up another form of Government to their own Masters let them stand or fall I will not presume to censure them I will only say That from the begining it was not so and I thank God 't is not so with us but as it was in the beginning so it is now with us and ever shall be I trust in God Amen But notwithstanding all this yet 't is very much to be doubted whether they were of any distinct superiour order from and above the Presbyters or one of the same order set over the rest with power to ordain Elders to exhort rebuke chastise as Timothy and Titus were constituted by St. Paul For though they were of the same order with the other Elders and Pastors yet there was great reason for some to be placed with greater Authority to rule over the rest The Scripture tells us That even in the days of the Apostles there were several seducing teachers leading the people into errors and heresies and more were to follow after the Apostles times grievous wolves in sheeps clothing and therefore it was very necessary to pick out some of eminent soundness in faith and godliness of life and set them up on high with great Authority as fixed Stars in the Heavens so styled Revel 1. to whom all might have regard in dangerous times as Marriners observe in their Sea-faring journies But the Scripture no where expresses any distinction of order among the Elders we find there but two orders mentioned Bishops and Deacons Of Deacons we shall treat afterwards Let us now proceed to the Order of Bishops and Priests which the Scripture distinguishes not for there we find but one kind of Ordination then certainly but one Order for two distinct Orders can't be conferred in the same instant by the same words by the same actions They who think Deaconship and Priesthood distinct the one subservient to the other though they intend in the same hour to consecrate the same Man Deacon and Priest do they not first compleat him Deacon then Priest I pray let any Man shew me from Scripture as I said Timothy or Titus or any one ordained twice made first Priest then Bishop which is absolutely necessary if they be distinct characters and 't is generally affirmed though I humbly conceive they scarce understand what they affirm I mean they understand not what these characters are whether Greek Hebrew or Arabick or what else But let that pass I desire them only to shew me how a Man can make two characters with one stroke or motion A. and B. at the same instant If then neither Timothy nor Titus nor any other were but once ordained whence can we gather these two distinct characters these two distinct Orders We find the Apostles themselves but once ordained those by the Apostles but once ordained and so on When St. Paul left Titus in Creete to ordain he mentions only one ordination that of Presbyters so the word in Greek no other ther 's no commission given him to ordain Bishops and Presbyters Who then was to ordain Bishops there not Titus he had no such command we do not find that St. Paul himself did And sure you will not grant that the Presbyters which Titus ordained that they could ordain Bishops there for you will not allow them to ordain so much as Presbyters Yet Bishops you will needs have in every City and in Creete were very many who ordained Bishops for them all Truly I can't find nor you neither I believe But you will say The superior order contains in it virtually the inferior order let this pass at present doth Presbyter then virtually cantain Bishop If so then all Presbyters are Bishops No say you Bishop is the superior order and that contains in it Presbyter You say so but by your leave you are to prove so or give me leave to say otherwise especially seeing I have Scripture for my saying and you have none for yours But should I grant Bishop the superior what then we find Titus ordained not any but Presbyters as he was commanded by St. Paul so we are still at a loss for our Bishops we find not their Ordination Or did St. Paul mistake in his expression and meaning Bishops in every City said Presbyters in every City let this pass also and I pray let us see what you mean by this The superior order virtually contains the inferior Do not you say they are two distinct Orders two real distinct indelible characters imprinted in the Soul as the School-men affirm give me leave to talk their Language though I understand it not If I take a fair paper and make an A. upon it for the character of Presbyter and then make a B. upon it for the Character of