he would have his Disciples and those that succeed them proceed to it with all caution and care endeavouring first by all other means to gain the Offender to Repentance Would to God all our Excommunications were always for such Causes and proceeded with such Cautions and Endeavours It would render both the Sentence more formidable and our Church more honourable Tim. I am fully of your mind for I perceive 't is a thing of weight Tit. 3. That is the next particular the Sentence it self Excommunication carries no less in it than the Apostles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 5. 5. and 1 Tim. 1. 20. a delivering to Satan Or it is a depriving the Offender of those daily means which Christianity affords and ordinarily Hammonds Annot. on 1 Cor. 5. 5. useth to eject Satan and the power of his Kingdom out of the heart Such are 1. The Prayers of the Church 2. The publick use of the Word and Doctrine of Christianity for he that is under Cerem nec docet nec docetur says the Jews and in the antient Christian Church they that upon Repentance were received in again were first amongst the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hearers in the Porch 3. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper Now certainly such a Sentence as this which deprives a man of all the Ordinances of God and delivers him over to the Devil is not to be passed against a professing Christian out of pet and humor upon light and trivial occasions but for just Causes and with greatest deliberation and consideration and for right Ends not for revenge or filthy lucre or barely to shew a Dominion and Power But to keep the Church pure by cutting off corrupt Members and to reclaim the obstinate and impenitent by this means when all other proves ineffectual Thus you see Excommunication though an heavy Censure is a Gospel Institution and is appointed for high and excellent ends and is a proper medium to those ends where 't is not abused And I must needs say 't is better used in our Church at this time then it was some Years past Which I hope will make it more valuable than it hath been Many men heretofore being so far from dreading it as a punishment that they sought it as a priviledge as it excluded them from our Church Tim. You have given a full answer to my request and great satisfaction to my mind in this matter which I never before so well considered Tit. I am glad I can gratifie you in any thing Proceed for it grows late Tim. I will. ARTICLE 34. It is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one or utterly alike for at all times they have been divers and may be changed according to the diversity of Countreys Times and mens Manners so that nothing be ordained against Gods Word Whosoever through his private judgment willingly and purposely doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church which be not repugnant to the Word of God and be ordained and approved by common Authority ought to be rebuked openly that others may fear to doe the like as he that offendeth against the Common Order of the Church and hurteth the Authority of the Magistrate and woundeth the consciences of the weak Brethren Every Particular or National Church hath Authority to ordain change and abolish Ceremonies or Rites of the Church ordained only by mans Authority so that all things be done to edifying Tit. I need not ask your thoughts of this having had your opinion of the 20th Article not much different from this So that you may read the next ARTICLE 35. Tim. The second Book of Homilies the several Titles whereof we have joyned under this Article doth contain a godly and wholsome Doctrine and necessary for these times as doth the former Book of Homilies which were set forth in the time of Edward the 6th and therefore we judg them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently and distinctly that they may be understanded of the People The Names of the Homilies 1 OF the right use of the Church 2 Against peril of Idolatry 3 Of repairing and keeping clean of Churches 4 Of good works first of Fasting 5 Against Gluttony and Drunkenness 6 Against excess of Apparel 7 Of Prayer 8 Of the place and time of Prayer 9 That Common Prayer and Sacraments ought to be ministred in a known Tongue 10 Of the reverent estimation of Gods Word 11 Of Alms-doing 12 Of the Nativity of Christ 13 Of the Passion of Christ 14 Of the Resurrection of Christ 15 Of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the Body and Bloud of Christ 16 Of the Gifts of the holy Ghost 17 For the Rogation days 18 Of the state of Matrimony 19 Of Repentance 20 Against Idleness 21 Against Rebellion Tit. These Homilies I suppose you are well acquainted with Tim. Truly no I don't know that ever I saw them I remember that some of our Rubricks sometimes appoint if there be no Sermon an Homily shall be read but understand not what is meant by Homily Tit. It had not been amiss you had informed your understanding better before you subscribed because of the high Commendation the Article gives of them which you consent to examine by your subscription Tim. True the Article saith they contain godly and wholsome Doctrine and do they not Tit. That question comes a little too late from you yet I answer they do The Books of Homilies are I may call them Sermons or Methodical Writings composed on sundry necessary Subjects as you see here by godly and sober men and were of good use in those times saith the Article being read distinctly to the People Tim. But why were they Composed Tit. For the benefit of the Clergy few of whom were able to Preach in those times or doe any more than Read. Tim. How long ago was it or in what times were they Composed Tit. The Article tells you one Book was in Edward the 6ths time the other about 1604. Tim. But why are they in use still what are they better Sermons than are usually Preached in these times Tit. I think not but far short of what many of our Reverend and Learned Clergy Preach weekly Therefore they are rarely enjoyned now but with this Proviso if there be no Sermon Whereby our Church saith no more than this better an Homily than nothing And I think our Governours in the Church shew their wisdom in not requiring the constant use of them For though as 't is said here they contain wholsome Doctrine yet they are not so suitable in these times as in those wherein they were framed Honest B. Lattimer's Sermons contain in them wholsome Doctrines yet if one of them should be read in our Churches it would rather be matter of Ridicle than Edification to most of the Hearers Tim. It is very true for most Persons stand affected to their Sermons as they do to their Garments nothing will please them
Ceremonies are innocent her self being Judge But where I say again are these required Tim. In the Liturgy are they not Tit. Not in that which my Church-Wardens bought for me and they tell me they are sure they bought the newest Edition Tim. I 'le protest you ve stunded me I 'le consider of it Tit. Consider it be ashamed of it for you transgress the Law as much in adding to as in taking from what is contained and prescribed in the Book of Common-Prayer For the Act establisheth that and no other the Ceremonies therein contained and no more For your fuller satisfaction read the words of the Act in this point they are these And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid that no form or order of Common-Prayers administration of Sacraments Rites or Ceremonies mark that shall be openly used in any Church Chappel or other publick place of or in any Colledge or Hall in either of the Vniversities c. other than what is prescribed and appointed to be used in and by the said Book note that also And lest once mentioning of this should not be sufficient you have afterwards when the said Book with the Prayers Rites and Ceremonies prescribed and appointed by it is named these words and no other again repeated What think you now Tim Tim. I think bowing towards the Altar and bowing at the name of Jesus are works of supererogation and not at all meritorious for the Act seems not only not to enjoyn them but to forbid them in as much as they are no where contained in the said Book Tit. Thus you give offence and become a scandal to weak Brethren where you need not nay in things you ought not Tim. I see it and hope I shall avoid it for the future and shall endeavour my brethren of the Clergy about me may do the same Tit. I wish they may But there is that which is far worse than all this Tim. What should that be brother Titus Tit. Thank you Sir for that friendly title I wish we of the Clergy were all true brethren in heart and deed that we might all speak and do the same things as our Rule requires I ampleased I say with this expression of amity and 't will make me the more free in my talk with you as well as serious Tim. The more free the more grateful for you have gained upon me by your plain dealing and strong arguments Go on brother with what you were about to say was worse than the addition of those Ceremonies Tit. 'T is this brother That many of our publick Preachers some ignorantly some I fear designedly oppose and preach down the very Articles of our Church which they have subscribed and which we all are bound to maintain and keep close to which hath been matter of great grief to me to consider Tim. But surely there are none do this Tit. As sure as you are there too many and if I mistake not you for one and that too oft Tim. I am not conscious to my self I do or ever did Tit. I confess I have so much charity as to think so and that your sin is a sin of ignorance because you said but now you never read the Articles Though I must tell you Tim 't is vincible ignorance for that you have not read them is your own fault Tim. No I profess they are so scarce to be got that I know not where to have them and I withal so short of money that I know not how to purchase them Tit. To remove this obstacle and cure your ignorance in some measure here they are I hope you can read as well as preach Tim. Yes yes I am not so ignorant neither pray let me see them Tit. Hold not without Conditions Tim. What are they Tit. Nay teasonable enough First that you will stay so long here as to read them over deliberately and Secondly admit of a short debate as we pass along upon some of them and then tell me whether I do any wrong to you and many others in saying that your Doctrines and theirs do not admirably well agree with them For I meddle only with those that have subscribed yet do not keep to them Tim. All this is highly reasonable and I readily yeild to it Tit. Begin then and read carefully not hastily Article 1. Tim. There is but one living and true God everlasting without body parts or passions of infinite power wisdom and goodness the maker and preserver of all things both visible and invisible And in unity of this Godhead there be three persons of one substance power and eternity the Father the Son and the holy Ghost Tit. Hold now what think you of this Article Tim. Mighty well sound and good and no body surely but believe and approve it both in part and in whole Tit. I am afraid not how else come you and many others to discourse sometimes against and deride what is contained in it I don't mean the being of a God for tho' some in their works and with David's fool in their hearts say there is no God yet I know you dare not do it in words But that which is next door by they dare and do say Tim. What 's that Tit. That there is no Providence Tim. Admit it wherein doth that cross this Article that hath not a word of Providence in it I don't see but a man may think so and yet safely subscribe this Article Tit. Right 't is what I expected and doubtless there are many of your judgment but what if I prove a Divine Providence governing the world and all that there is and after that prove too that this first Article of our Church plainly asserts it Tim. Then I shall say I never understood it Tit. A worthy satisfaction for your gross wilful ignorance and the great mischief you have thereby done to the Christian Religion and the Church of God established amongst us Tell me what think you of those words of our Saviour Not a Sparrow falls to the ground without your father and the hairs of your head are all numbered I think this bids fair to prove a Mat. 18.29 30. protecting preserving disposing providence and that not only as to the great changes and revolutions in Kingdoms and Nations but even as to smaller matters such as relate to you and me and every man nay to the very beasts and birds And he that shall seriously consider the workings of God now in the world and even in that spot of it which we inhabit and think how the wise and profound Polititians of Rome are baffled in their enterprises and detected in their hellish Plots and Counsels even beyond their expectation or belief must either put out the eye of his Reason or else he must needs see and adore a special hand of Providence acting for us to admiration What prevented the further designed mischief from taking place when London was put in flames if providence did not How came the late
cannot charge you nor I hope any one else Tim. No I am sure they cannot the People to whom I have Preached now Two Sundays together can bear me Witness I am sound here for I have handled these main Doctrines amongst them though I never knew they were part of the Articles of the Church before Tit. That 's not material to you whether you Preach according to the Articles you have subscribed or not But by the way I observe Tim. you have a Whisking Faculty at handling to handle Three such Points in two half hours or thereabouts Tim. Nay I was not longer yet performed so well that I had as many thankful scrapes as Dr. O. himself for his long interwoven Discourse of late at Tit. 'T is like you might have as many Tongues but I doubt not so many Guineys as he Tim. Guineys what are they Tit. Now I see thou art ignorant of something besides the Articles Guineys they are the great Procurers of Advousons Presentations and Ecclesiastical Preferments their Principal Residence is about the Court and they sometimes help a Church-man at a dead lift when Merits and Friends both fail Tim. I wish I could meet with one of these Courteous Gentlemen I am sure none ever stood in more need of his Assistance Tit. One no less than some hundreds according as the Place may be Thousands will do you any kindness at all Tim. Nay then I despair for having lived Forty years and never met with one 't is more than probable I shall be dead before I procure a Thousand to stand my Friends Tit. It will do you more good to understand the Articles of the Church and practise them for that will make you happier in Forty years more than all the Guineys in England can Therefore push on to the next Article V. The Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son is of one Substance Majesty and Glory with the Father and the Son very and eternal God. Tit. Here I hope you are sound too Tim. Yes truly for the Athanasian Creed teacheth me thus much touching the Holy Ghost which Creed I have often Repeated and do most stedfastly believe Tit. I wish all that have subscribed this Article could say as much But let us have the Sixth Article VI. Tim. Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to Salvation so that what soever is not read therein nor may be proved thereby is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an Article of the Faith or be thought requisite or necessary to Salvation In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church Tit. As to this I hope you are perfectly Orthodox Tim. So perfectly that I wish all but the Canonical Books of Scripture had been left out of our Calendar for since our Church here Affirms that these Contain all things necessary to Salvation and consequently are sufficient for Example of Life and instruction of Manners I think we might have made a pretty good shift with these especially on Sundays without Tobias Bell and the Dragon with the use of the Apocraphites Tit. And I Assure you if our Calendar were to suffer a new impression and I were the Corrector I should not boggle much to gratifie you in this Opinion Tim. I thank you for your good will but since it is not in my power nor yours to amend it we must be content and make as much use of the former and as little of the latter as possibly we may Tit. Very good I wish we agree in the next as well as we do in this Article VII The Old Testament is not Contrary to the New for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ who is the only Mediator between God and Man being both God and Man. Wherefore they are not to be heard which feign that the old Fathers did look only for transitory promises Although the Law given from God by Moses as touching Ceremonies and Rites do not bind Christian men nor the civil Precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any Common-Wealth Yet notwithstanding no Christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the Commandments which are called Moral Tit. This Article hath a great Deal in it Tim. Where lies it I don't perceive it Tit. No Why it Requires of every Christian Man Obedience to all the Commands called Moral now how do you Comport with it in your Practice Tim. I own it Obedience is Due to all the Commands that are Moral Tit. Why is there any that is not Moral Tim. Yes I think so Tit. Which is that Tim. The Fourth Tit. Why so Tim. Why the Article Termes it so Tit. I can't tell I don't believe it Tim. Nor a great many besides you who have subscribed this Article yet deny the sence of it Tit. I must be plain In troth I hold it no more moral than All Saints or the Fifth of November Why doth the Church require all her Members when this Command is read to say Lord have mercy upon us and incline our hearts to keep this Law c. Tit. I thought somewhat was the matter you make so slight of it that you can share one half of it Weekly to your own use and Service Tim. And I hope no Offence Tit. And as you give your People leave in the Afternoon so many of them took leave for the Forenoon and thus you share the whole betwixt you leaving the rest to God Almighty Yet no Offence I hope Tim. If it be Morral why is it not perpetuall without Alteration Tit. 'T is the shameful Prophanation of this Day by you and such as have Sucked in your Principles that hath Ushered in so much Irreligion amongst us and helped to pull down such severe Judgments upon us But hoping being better informed you will become reformed hear me a little as to this point Tim. When you have said all you can you can never prove it Morral and perpetual Tit. You have owned't is so by your Subscription of this Article and will you now question it Tit. Yes I do for I knew not there was any such Article amongst them if I had known it I Tim. Nay never Repent you have done it for you have no cause if you understood as you ought Tim. Understand what Tit. Tâ—ht the Morality of this Fourth Command lies not in observing the Seventh day from the Creation for the Fourth Commandment doth not require to use and sanctifie the Seventh Day from the Creation nor from any other Period or Date of time but only the Seventh Day after Six of Labour or coming between Six of Labour in a settled Course of Numbring from any Period that God should appoint and so in the Meaning of that Commandment we do now and ever must use the Seventh Day For the Seventh is that part