had such Books they were desired to bring them in which was done and a Committee appointed to inspect them and report what Presidents could be found that might concern the Convocation which is yet under Examination It was proposed that a Committee might be continued during the Adjournment to prepare things against their Meeting but this was denied Complaint was made of some dangerous Books printed contrary to the Canons as that against the Creed of Athanasius which was sent to the Bishops to be Censured by them A Reverend Person made a Speech on the behalf of the Bishops under Suspension that something might be done to qualifie them to sit in Convocation but so as the Convocation might not incur any danger which being not in their Cognizance it was waved and left to farther Consideration The MINUTE PARTICULARS Observ'd in the Proceedings of the CONVOCATION 4 December 1689. PRayers being ended the King's Commission brought in with a Message by the Earl of Nottingham both which being read the Bishops went to Jerusalem-Chamber from whence they sent a Copy of the King's Message with the Form of an Address to which they desir'd the Concurrence of this House Dean of Windsor St. Paul's Exon desired by this House to attend the Lords to know whether they were all consenting to the said Address and likewise to pray a Copy of the said Commission They Reported from the Lords That they were consenting to the said Address and order'd to be sent down to this House and desir'd their Concurrence and that they would order a Copy of the Commission Then a Question arose Whether this House should concur with the Form recommended by the Bishops or Address the King in their own Form Resolv'd by this House To return Thanks to the King in a Form of their own Dean of Peterborough Dean of christ-Christ-Church desir'd to attend the Lords with their Resolution Order'd That nothing of any moment be agreed upon or pass into an Act till the old Books of former Convocations are brought in Order'd That Mr. Pleydell's Proxy be withdrawn The Bishops desiring a Conference Order'd That the Dean of Christ-Church Chichester Litchfield Bristol St. Paul's Peterborough Drs Hooper Maurice Willis be desired to attend the Lords to acquaint them that the House consents to a Conference and have appointed Managers but desire a longer time to prepare Instructions for them The Lords appointed Friday Morning nine of the Clock to be attended about the Conference Order'd That the same Persons together with the Prolocutor Deans of Windsor Exon Dr. Battely and Archd. Feilding be appointed a Committee to draw up Instructions to Morrow at nine of the Clock Adjourn'd to the 6th 6 Decemb. Prayers ended the old Books and the Copy of the Commission brought in The Committee brought in an Address with Alterations with the Reasons why they cannot concur with the Bishops in their Form in these words We are desirous to confine our Address to his Majesty's most Gracious Message and to those things only therein which concern the Church of England which Reasons being approved of and agreed to by this House it was carried up to the Lords by the said Committee who Reported from their Lordships That what Alterations this House makes in their Lordships Address ought to be specified in the respective Lines thereof in particular Exceptions Order'd That the Form of Amendments sent down by the Lords be referred to the same Committee to meet to Morrow at eight of the Clock at Dr. Busby's Chamber saving this House's right of Proceedings in their own way in this and the like cases where there is no Precedent to the contrary Order'd That the House adhere to the Reason of their Amendments which was offered to the Lords Order'd That Drs Tenison Fuller Beveredge Hamond Halton Thorpe Parsons Gregory Grove Saywell Alston Mander Woodward Goodman Busby Younger Moore Stanley Mr. Kimberley Richardson Ottley Buckley and Skelton be appointed a Committee to inspect the old Books belonging to the Convocation and where they find them defective to offer new Orders for the Approbation of this House Eleven whereof to be a Quorum and to meet at three this Afternoon at Dr. Tenison's Library Adjourn'd till to Morrow 7 Decemb. Prayers ended the Committee return'd the Bishops Form of Address Alter'd and Amended according to the order of the House Yesterday which being approv'd of by this House they were desir'd to carry it up to the Lords Adj till 9. 9 Decemb. Prayers ended the Committee return'd the Bishops Form of Address Alter'd according to the order of the House on Friday which being approved of they were again to carry it up to the Lords being prevented by the Adjournment on Wednesday from attending their Lordships with it who brought down three Reasons from their Lordships why the express mention of the Protestant Religion should be inserted in the Address which are as follow 1. Because it is the known denomination of the common Doctrine of the Western part of Christendom in opposition to the Errors and Corruptions of the Church of Rome 2. Because the leaving out this may have ill consequences and be liable to strange constructions both at home and abroad among Protestants as well as Papists 3. Because it agrees with the general Reason offer'd by the Clergy for their Amendments since this is expresly mentioned in the King's Message and in this the Church of England being so much concerned the Bishops think it ought still to stand in the Address Then a Question arose Whether the consideration of these Reasons should be referred to a Committee or debated in a full House Resolv'd That it be debated After the debate the House agreed that after these words in the Address viz. The Establishment of the Church of England it be immediately added Whereby we doubt not the Interest of all the Protestant Churches which is dear to us will under the influence of Your Majesty's Government be the better secured Order'd The Lords desiring a Committee from this House to inspect the old Books That Drs Tenison Mauder Woodward Halton Moore Gregory Mr. Skelton and Ottley be appointed a Committee to attend the Lords this Afternoon at five a Clock to inspect the old Books Adjourn'd till to Morrow 10 Decemb. Prayers ended a Message came down from the Lords for the Managers to attend their Lordships who Reported from their Lordships That they desire the reason of this House why instead of the Protestant Religion they insert Protestant Churches Order'd That the same Managers be appointed to draw up their Reasons immediately who return'd their Reason in these words We being the Representative â—f a form'd establisht Church do not think fit to mention the word Religion any further then it is the Religion of some form'd establisht Church Which Reason being approv'd it was carried up to the Lords The Lords return'd the Amendments with some Alterations in these words After the words Establishment of the Church of England add Whereby we doubt not the Interest of the Protestant Religion in this and all other Protestant Churches which is dear to us will be the better secured under your Majesty's Government and Protection Order'd by the House That the words this and be omitted The Prolocutor at the Request of the House gave an Account of the Conference with the Lords Order'd That the Thanks of the House be given to the Prolocutor for Managing the Conference with the Lords Adjourn'd till to Morrow 11 Decemb. Prayers ended the Prolocutor Reported from the Lords That they had agreed to all the Amendments with this House and that they would give this House an account this Morning when it would be a fit time to wait upon his Majesty with the said Address Then the House desir'd the Prolocutor to attend the Lords and humbly to represent to their Lordships That there are several Books of very dangerous consequence to the Christian Religion and the Church of England particularly Notes upon Athanasius Creed and two Letters relating to the present Convocation newly come abroad and to desire their Lordships Advice in what way and how far safely without incurring the Penalty of the Statute 25 H. 8. the Convocation may proceed in the preventing the Publishing the like Scandalous Books for the future and inflicting the Censure of the Church according to the Canons provided in that behalf upon the Authors of them Then the Prolocutor acquainted the House That their Lordships received the Message very kindly and promised to take it into consideration And also that this House is desired to attend their Lordships at the Banquetting-House to Morrow at three of the Clock to present the said Address to his Majesty Adj. to Friday 13 Decemb. Prayer ended Adjourn'd till to Morrow Prayers ended a Copy of the King's Answer to the Address sent down from the Lords The Prolocutor acquainted the House That the President had declared his sence of the ill consequence of those Books that were sent up from this House to their Lordships and that upon inquiry he could not receive any satisfaction how far the Convocation might proceed in that affair but he would as far as lay in him take further order about it Agreed by this House That the Prolocutor return Thanks to the President for the care he hath taken about our Proposal concerning the Books and to desire his Lordship to proceed further in it Then it was proposed by the Lords to appoint a Committee of both Houses to sit during the Recess After some debate Resolved That this House does not consent to appoint any Committee during the said Recess Adjourn'd to the 24th of January FINIS
not only be despised but cast back as filth in our faces not only with a Quis requisivit but with a Pudet haec Opprobria vobis as if our manner of publick Worship were so corrupt that we were ashamed of it and were convinced of a necessity to purge it Whereas though it was declared in the Preface to the Liturgy as also in the King 's Ecclesiastical Commission as is repeated p. 13. of that Discourse That it is reasonable that on weighty and important Considerations according to the Exigency of times and occasions such Changes and Alterations may be made as to those that are in place of Authority should seem necessary or expedient Yet it is there said We are fully perswaded in our Judgments that the Book as it stood before established by Law doth not contain in it any thing contrary to the Word of God or to sound Doctrine or which a godly Man may not with a good Conscience use and submit unto or which is not fairly defensable against any that shall oppose the same Though the Book there spoken of hath been altered for the better in some Hundreds of places since that Declaration 2. They think it reasonable that the End should be considered before the Means be resolved on Now the End designed by the Alterations to be made is the Satisfaction of the Consciences of the Dissenters and reducing them to the Communion of the Church but what those Alterations are that will give them satisfaction hath not yet been proposed with any moderation nor what Concessions will reduce them to our Communion The Author of a Discourse concerning the late Ecclesiastical Commission p. 18. saith That in the Year 1661 the Alterations and Additions then made by the Convocation did amount to the number of about Six hundred Yet that Established Liturgy was rejected by some of the chiefest Dissenters not without very indecent Reflections on King Charles the Second who had promised to leave those things to the Parliament and Convocation with this reproach If these be all the Abatements and Amendments ye will admit ye sell your own Innocency and the Churches Peace for nothing In the Year 1681 when Dr. Stillingfleet now Bishop of Worcester made large Overtures to gratifie the Dissenters viz That the Cross in Baptism might be either taken off or consin'd to publick Baptism and left to the choice of the Parents That such as could not Kneel might be permitted to stand at the reception of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper That the Surplice should be taken away That at Baptism the Fathers should be permitted to joyn with the Sponsors in offering the Child to Baptism or desire them publickly to present their Child and the Charge be given to them both That they should be required to Subscribe only to thirty six of the Articles That there should be a new Translation of the Psalms for parish-Parish-Churches That the Apocryphal Lessons should be exchanged for Scriptural That the Rubrick should be Corrected with many other Condescentions They were all thrown as it were with spite in his teeth by those that Answered his Sermon and Proposals with an Habeat sibi suis And in a Book of Mr. R. B's lately Re-printed being an Account of Non-conformity in the Reigns of Charles the Second and James the Second it is affirmed That there are Forty sinful Particulars in our Communion besides Thirty tremendous Principles and Circumstantials which affright the Dissenters from it and he reproacheth the Conformists as a company of lying and perjur'd Persons And the Author of a late Book called the Healing Attempt says they the Non-conformists are not satisfied with the Propension of our Governors to lay aside the Ceremonies and other more offensive Impositions unless their new Model for a Comprehension may be admitted which is such as would make every Parish-Church independent and in a short time turn our Bethel into a Babel of Confusion whereas therefore it is said in the Preface to the Liturgy It is reasonable that on weighty and important Considerations such Alterations may be made as to those that are in Authority should seem necessary and convenient Yet it is added in the same Preface We are fully perswaded in our Judgments and we here profess it to the World that the Book as it stood before established by Law and we may say the same of the Book now Established after the Six hundred Alterations doth not contain in it any thing contrary to the Word of God or to sound Doctrine or which a godly Man may not with a good Conscience use or submit unto or which is not fairly defensible against any that shall oppose the same Now I take it as granted that the Convocation neither can nor will alter all those Particulars which some leading Men among the Dissenters do account to be Sinful nor all those tremendous Circumstantials which will still afright them from our Communion and that if but a few if but one such thing which they account to be Sinful remain unaltered the Schism will still be continued and therefore if I should ask Cui bono To what end should any Alterations be made I doubt a satisfactory Answer could not be given by such as plead for them when they themselves have so plainly declared that they will not be satisfied Object But herein we may please the King the Parliament and a great part of the Dissenting Laity Ans First as to the King His Majesty hath devolved that Province on the Convocation and Parliament 2dly He hath declared his Satisfaction as to the present Constitution 3. He doth confirm his delared Judgment by his constant practice in Communicating with the Church as established and frequent Promises to favour and protect it 2. As to the Parliament they do generally live in the Communion of the Church and if any do otherwise it is contrary to several Acts of preceding Parliaments against which though a Toleration be their Security yet as that hath been formerly exploded so it may be again and if they see it fit abrogated And 4hly Nothing can be obligatory but what shall be enacted by them whose consent we are not assured of 3. As to the People though some few may desire Alterations yet they do not agree in what Alterations they will acquiesce And it is more probable that the insisting on a Consormity to the present Constitution will reduce all to an Uniformity rather than any intended Alterations for Experience shews that from the Year 1661 when Uniformity was enjoyned the People were generally reduced to it so as in some great Cities scarce three or four persons of any note kept off from our Communion until the Toleration procured by the Papists put all into Disorder again Lastly What the late Commissioners have prepared in order to an Alteration is to us a Non constat the Reasons are best known to themselves but though we have no very good opinion of such of them as are said to be
hold their Synods or Sacred Assemblies to deliberate and consult of things belonging to the Church constituted in that Province And p. 22. All such Churches by their Synods have power to make Laws as they shall judge expedient for the better Administration of the Publick Worship of God and of his Word and Sacraments within their Province otherwise it could not well be that any Provincial or National Church should long subsist or be at peace And p. 23. Moreover it belongs to all the Churches of God to establish by Ecclesiastical Penalties such Canons by them made lest any thing contrary to them should be without Impunity committed Object But our Divisions had almost betrayed us to Popery and Slavery for prevention of which danger for the future it is adviseable as much as may be to inlarge the Terms of our Communion Ans But who betrayed us to those Divisions were they not such as causelesly separated from us and were more ready to joyn with the common Enemy of the Protestant Religion though they call'd themselves true Protestants than with the Church of England Whereof he that wrote the Defence of Dr. Stillingfleet's Sermon of Separation gave an Account and even dared the Opponents to call him to the proof of it viz. That Dr. Owen c. were entertain'd as Pensioners to the late King and by him encouraged to continue our Divisions by which the Papists got great advantages against us And whereto tended the flattering and fulsom Addresses of the Sectaries to the late King to stand by him with their Lives and Fortunes and to obey him without Reserve but to continue those Divisions and foment those Seeds of Discord which were grown up and ripen'd almost for the Harvest to cut us all down and utterly destroy us And what if some leading Presbyterians be by our Alterations let into the Church and advanced to such Preferments as they hope for to be Bishops Deans Arch-deacons c. what security have we that they will not promote Divisions in the Church more dangerous than the Schism they made by Separation from us as some Bishops and others that had been sour'd with that Leaven being preferred in the Reign of Charles the Second did attempt A secret Enemy within the Walls of a well Fortified City is more dangerous than an open Foe in the Field I have read in the Life of Judge Hales written by the present Bishop of Sarum p. 71. That there was a Bill for Comprehension contrived by Bishop Wilkins Sir Orlando Bridgman and that Judge which though it contained more reasonable Terms than what are now proposed as I have been informed for the Admission of some Dissenters into our Communion yet it was opposed by the Clergy because they thought a Faction within the Church would prove to be more hurtful than a Schism without it And when one Party was let in upon Terms not perhaps unreasonable another Party upon other Terms less reasonable would solicite their Admission And it was objected That as some might come in so others that were in our Communion might take Offence by the Alterations and desert it and seeing our frequent Changes in some things they might suppose that there is nothing certain among us and from the many Disputes about our Liturgy proceed to question our Articles and at last fall off to the Church of Rome which they saw more constant to their Principles For which and other reasons the Bill was cast out by the Votes of the House of Commons with whom the same Considerations may still prevail And now let the Men that are given to Change produce those weighty and important Reasons required in the Preface to the Common-Prayer or that great Necessity which Dr. Beveredge requires for the Alteration even of incommodious Laws Is it necessary that an honest Man should voluntarily resign his Freehold to a litigious Person who neither desires nor deserves it and perhaps would improve the possession of it to his ruine Is it necessary that a Parent should yeild to a disobedient Child upon his own unreasonable terms Is it necessary that a good Man should accuse bear false witness against and condemn and execute himself and be a Felo de se Is it necessary that the Citizens should suffer a breach to be made in their Wall to give advantage to an Enemy when they are ready to open their Gates to let in any that offers a reasonable assurance that he is a Friend Is there any necessity to Reform that Church which is conseft to be the best Reformed Church in the World that Church to whose Pattern all the rest do desire and only want power and opportunity to conform their own Is it necessary we should do more for those who wilfully departed from us and as our Saviour intimates Not being content to be with us were against us than we have done for those forreign Protestants Men of great Learning and tender Consciences who voluntarily offer themselves to our Communion without insisting on any Terms with us Is it necessary that a Church in which all things necessary to Salvation may be freely enjoyed should accuse herself of want of Christian Charity and of imposing such sinful Terms for admitting others into her Communion as were purposely designed to keep them out and afterward voluntarily cast off those things and thereby confess themselves guilty of so great Uncharitableness Is it necessary that a Church which hath Authority to judge for itself what is decent and orderly should subject herself to the Judgment of her Members to determine for her or themselves what is decent and expedient and what is not especially when the Exception from Obedience to the Church in such things ought to be as evident and unquestionable as the Command to obey them in such Matters is Is it necessary that we should give greater Offence to the Papists from coming into our Communion now in this juncture of time by our Variableness and Defect of the Solemnity of Publick Worship which hitherto they have objected against us Is it necessary we should part with any thing to them whom we have reason to suspect that they will not leave craving till they have all When all these things are proved to be necessary then shall we be ready to make Alterations in our Ceremonies and other Circumstances if the Dissenters will be content to let us injoy what is substantial and necessary to the well-being of our Church In the mean time we shall account our selves Happy in the number of those English-men that know when they are well REFLECTIONS ON A DISCOURSE CONCERNING The Ecclesiastical Commission SIR I Have also conferred with my Brethren concerning a Book intituled A Discourse concerning the Ecclesiastical Commission 1689. Of which we shall not say so much as the Author doth of a former Commission for the like affair viz. That he never entertain'd a good Opinion of it We only remark that this Author hath laid the foundation which he
and some others have framed their superstructure on viz. 1. That the Alterations intended by it are not prejudicial 2. That they are useful tending to the well-being of the Church 3. That it is a fit juncture for putting the design in execution The Author gives several Instances of several Alterations made as in the Third of Edward the Sixth when the common-prayer-Common-Prayer-book was composed and altered the 1st of Eliz. And a Proclamation for Authorizing an Uniformity of the Book of Common-Prayer and at the Return of Charles the Second the Liturgy was reviewed and altered by his Commission ae the Savoy but our Author takes no notice of the Penalties to be inflicted on such as should not conform to it and on such as should defame it by several Acts of Parliament nor how little effect it had for the healing the Divisions and Schism which some Dissenters had then made nor how much King James the First was displeased with those Dissenters that pretended to make good their Objections against it which they were not able to perform in the Conference at Hampton-Court whereof the Author speaks p. 3. Yet this I say of this Author that he speaks much more modestly than the Author of A Glance on the Ecclesiastical Commission who would precipitate the matter and have an Act of Parliament for a Comprehension first and then an Act to Authorize the Commission But our Author pretends only to prepare things thereby to save Time and Labour in kindness to the Convocation whatever the Pretence be the Consequence may be very prejudicial to the Members of the Convocation if any difference should happen for this Discourse and several Letters being dispersed into the Countries where they have their Residence to prepossess the Minds of Dissenters that they have occasioned the obstruction of the intended Union and as those Letters import deserve to be treated as Enemies That Mobile which are already too full of Rankor against them and have already in a considerable City burnt a Bishop instead of a Pope will be ready to affront them and throw them into the next fire as they were when there was rejoycing for the Bishops deliverance out of the Tower And therefore it had been more prudent if they had with patience expected the determination of the Convocation and forborn those ill-boding Reflections which tend to create an Odium against such Members though it be well known they have no power to offer any thing being limited by the King's Proposals Nor hath the Author consulted better for his own Party when speaking of the Personal Qualifications of the Commissioners p. 8. he tells the Country how they have been traduced as assuming Men who will think themselves bound in Honour to defend what they shall have done as Men that have tenderness enough to part with any thing but their Church-preferments As Men who have a Latitude to conform to a Church de facto which hath Power on its side And pag. 9. Men who conceal their own inclinations till it is time to shew them Men likely to do the Church of England a good turn when opportunity serves and which perhaps they imagine now they have which Characters agree well with those who are known to be Latitudinarians indeed and have Monopolized Church-preferments Yet our Author says they have no temptation now to shew that they are Men of Latitude it seems then they had heretofore Page 10. our Author mentioneth another Objection viz. That as it may happen our Church may be changed altered and transformed by nine Men which are the number of the Quorum in the Commission Now although I dare not say there was any partiality used in naming the Commissioners yet when I consider that many of those that were named did not appear and some very considerable persons that did appear perceiving that some such things as might in their judgment prove prejudicial to the Church were proposed did dissent and withdraw it was not altogether unlikely that Nine of those who remained might prepare such things as the Convocation would not approve of as the Event will shew And as for those great and excellent Men who as our Author says are not named in the Commission it had been a more commendable Office and Duty to have pleaded on their behalf knowing them to be Men of great Prudence and Fortitude as well as of Integrity and Affection to the Church and that they are never like to disturb the Peace of the State to intercede that some favour might be shewn to them as well as to Dissenters Seeing if any they are the Men who suffer for sake of their Consciences especially seeing our Author says The Commissioners design nothing so unreasonable as to fear that the Alterations would not pass in a free Convocation if those Reverend and Judicious Prelates were present But it is our great unhappiness that though there have been several Convocations called yet had not an opportunity of meeting till these Right Reverend Fathers and others were excluded and made uncapable what hinderance this may be to the performance of what they promised as our Author relates That they wanted no due tenderness to Dissenters but were willing to come to such a temper as should be thought fit when that matter should be considered in Parliament and Convocation I cannot divine but acquiesce in the judgment of our Author That if nothing unreasonable were designed it might then have passed and a firm Establishment ensued for doubtless the calm Tempers of those Reverend Fathers would mightily have influenced their Sons Page 13. mention is made of the Commission the Preface whereof is the same with what hath been before mentioned out of the Preface to the Liturgy concerning the Alteration of Rites and Ceremonies c. upon weighty and important Considerations and the end of it is to take away all occasions of differences for the future as well as reconciling all Their Majesties Subjects at present A Blessing this to be seriously endeavoured by all persons but rather to be hoped for than expected for though not only all our Rites and Ceremonies all things tending to Decency and Order should be taken away yet there will be some that will find occasions of difference still for we are told in the late Healing Attempt That it is impossible for the Dissenters to unite if it be still affirmed That the Bishops and Presbyters are not of the same Order That the Power of Ordination is the sole Prerogative of the Bishops i. e. If the Ordinanation by Presbyters be not as authentick as that by Bishops or that the Ordination by Presbyters is void and that the Ordaining them again by Bishops is not Re-ordination and he tells us plainly That it is not the taking away of our Ceremonies and other Impositions that will satisfie the Dissenters but if a Comprehension may not be had on those other terms there can be none at all And a greater Dissenter than he says of Episcopacy That
it is that thorny hedge which he had made his business to pull down and would endeavour it by going on both sides as long as he lived And what dislike some have not only of the pretended defects in our Liturgy but to any Liturgy for publick Worship is too well known by some very late Writings of the Dissenters And Mr. Baxter affirms That of the Forty sinful Terms for a Communion with us if Thirty-nine were taken away and only that Rubrick concerning the Salvation of Infants dying shortly after their Baptism were continued yet they could not conform Now to what purpose should we begin when we cannot see where to end Is it not better to endure some inconveniencies as in all Constitutions some will be than to expose our selves to certain mischiefs And what can we expect when the Six hundred Alterations in 1661 had no competent effect but were rejected with scorn I wonder how this Author can object to you as if you proceeded on the same false grounds as those Papists Heath and Fecknam did in Primo Eliz. in opposing the Act for Uniformity viz. That those changes were departures from the Standard of the Catholick Church That Points once defined were not to be brought again into question That the Church should be constant to it self For he cannot but know that they opposed the Act for Uniformity Primo Eliz. as excluding the false Doctrines and Superstitions of Rome whereas we plead for the Preservation of Uniformity in Doctrine Worship and Government which are all opposed by some sort of Dissenters I shall leave the indifferent Reader to judge of the Inference which he makes p. 18. That if the Commissioners in 1661 saw reason for making Additions and Alterations to the number of Six hundred That there is equal if not greater reason for some further improvements I think he might rather conclude as he doth immediately after That if they had foreseen what is since come to pass viz. how few of the Dissenters came in upon those Condescentions they would not have done all that they did And perhaps on these Concessions in favour of Dissenters the Papists had those hopes cherished in them of which our Author there speaks of Liberty of Conscience the removal of the Sanguinary and then of other Penal Laws and of Forty Chappels to be opened for them in and about London for they know the Charity of the Church of England is not confined to one Sect as that of the Sectaries is What he says p. 19. That the Conformists have given their Assent and Consent to the Book of Common-Prayer whereof the Preface is a part which says That in Churches Circumstantials may from time to time admit of Alteration is true but not the whole truth for it is added Vpon great and important Reasons which the Author omits and if he speaks it not as being in a good Mood but as his setled Judgment that our Church as it is the best constituted Church in the World then certainly they that cannot conform to our Church must on the same reason dissent from all the other Reformed Churches Page 20. he says He is in part of the Opinion that the Prayers cannot be altered for the better by any meer humane composition But he will not grant it of every Collect and what those Collects are we may have occasion to consider hereafter it is enough that our constant daily Prayers are beyond exception His great business as he calls it will be but a great burthen to the Dissenters as well as himself viz. Adding some Offices to the Liturgy and preparing new ones which are wanting Seeing we have had so many complaints of the length and tediousness of them formerly one thing the Author can scarce pardon himself for when writing of those who he says so angrily though causelesly spake against that Work i. e. of making Alterations he adds They must pardon me if so near after the mentioning of them I take notice of the French Papists who have reviled both the Commission and the persons named in it Herein he scems to joyn all such as are not for Alterations with the Papists and whether they must pardon him for this if the People deal with them as Papists let him consider and pardon himself if he can yet I think the Papists would very willingly have us make more Alterations than most Protestants think sit to make It is a pretty insinuation which he makes p. 21. That the Conformists will naturally be glad if the House in which they resolve to live and dye have all the strength and beauty added to it which can be given it by Commission Convocation and Parliament Ans The strength and beauty which it now hath is by all those means confirmed to them and willingly they would live and hope they may happily dye in it But if the Dissenters will make breaches in that House and take possession thereof deface its Beauty and undermine its Strength and force them to leave it I cannot see how they can naturally be glad of the behaviour of such ill-natur'd Men and that there are some such besides those whom I have mentioned already the Author speaks of some in Northamptonshire and I know such in other Counties who oblige their Communicants and have vowed themselves never to return to the Communion of the Church of England and if the present generation be so bad the next is not like if these Men have their desire to be better In p. 22. the Author considers That now is a fit juncture of time for Alterations And his first ground is the Expediency for things which may be done yet are not to be done at a time when they are not expedient And thus he shews the Expediency The Passions of Men at this time are in a vehement fermentation and he that would allay the Feaver may stay too long if he forbears to prescribe till the bloud is quiet But must the Mother be bleeded if the Children be distempered Must the Passions of Men disturb the Peace of the Church and no Man endeavour to suppress them If a sick Man be distempered and ungovernable the Physician is his friend though he cause him to be confin'd or bound for a time 2. He says the Church hath at this time powerful Enemies Therefore I think she ought to stand on her guard and keep strict watch least they that are so make too near approaches And none are more dangerous than those that are or have been of the same House And though the Church had of late as implacable Enemies as ever and they in great Power yet by the blessing of God she hath out-lived them Obj. 3. Their Majesties have declared their desires of it Ans The Commission says Vpon weighty and important Reasons and that the Alterations prepared by the Commissioners may be approved by the Convocation and Parliament Cannot you wait for that time 2. Their Majesties desire may be best known by their living in
short work of it and would not have his Country-Brethren to be obliged to their daily labour in the Service of the Church but to be left free to attend it how and when they please to perform one part of the Service at one time and another at another and to be left to their own discretion and not tied up to Forms and to do what is commanded them Thus he pleads for himself and fellow-labourers whom he thinks fit to share with the Master-builders and to that end he thus mis-represents them p. 20. That they are ready to impose such burthens on others as they will not touch with themselves That they only walk from a warm House to a Cathedral and for half an hour turn over a Service-book hear a Sermon and return to a warm Room and good Fare and know not what it is to do the Service of a Cure perhaps all their life This would be very edifying Doctrine in a Conventicle but not so acceptable when a Country-Minister shall preach it to a Convocation which consists of the select Clergy of the Land who are for the most part obliged to the Service of God in Cathedrals or in their own Churches and moreover to all those Services which the Country-Minister is bound to do And which is as difficult a work as any of the other to Oversee those Labourers least they do more hurt than good by their Idleness Ignorance or Immorality for too many such there be who if they were kept to their daily duty might be restrained from many inconveniencies which are more prejudicial to their Lives than the appointed Service of God would be And doubtless the Convocation will not be of the Country-Minister's mind p. 21. That he should be left to his discretion to read one part of the Service one day and another another and in the Afternoon to leave out the first Lesson or the like leaving out on Sunday the Communion-Service and shortning the Liturgy at the Lord's-Prayer For which he gives this reason That it was composed peculiarly with respect to a State of Persecution For which cause it ought rather to be continued for he asks the Question p. 27. Are we without danger and if not have we less danger to fear now when we are divided than when united But why must the Communion-Service be left out when the Primitive Church did communicate at their daily Assemblies And it is the Peoples fault that the Communion is not Administred every Sunday in the Parish-Churches as well as in the Cathedrals so that the reading that Service minds the People of their backwardness to partake of so great a Blessing and both minds and prepares them for it But I see not to what end these Offices should be shortned except it be to yield to the Country-Minister's extemporary Prayers and tedious Sermons which if left to his discretion would doubtless be the consequence And his desire That the first Lesson or the like may be left out in the Afternoon that Men may fodder their Cattel when I suppose the turning of the Afternoons Sermon into Catechizing may better answer that end and be more profitable to the People both young and old and it is more agreeable to Order and this course would neither hamper their Consciences nor expose them to the rash Censures of those whom he calls their not over-laborious Brethren Which Epithet some such Country-Ministers as himself may deserve p. 19. he would have some of the Convocation sent down to some Country-Parishes to ease the poor Ministers by reading Prayers and Preaching c. As if the Members of the Convocation never did perform the intire Service of the Church in Praying and Preaching The Country-Minister might consider that a great part of them have travelled some a hundred some near two hundred Miles to meet in Convocation to consult for the common benefit of the Clergy and sit sometime near the whole day in a cold place in the depth of Winter And some Country-Ministers now of the Convocation do now see in what great ease and plenty the City-Ministers live who have their Readers and Lecturers and frequent Supplies and sometimes tarry in the Vestry till Prayers be ended and have great Dignities in the Church besides their rich Parishes in the City Having pleaded for the shortning of the Liturgy he pleads p. 22. for the prolonging of it by adding an Office to receive Penitents after an Apostacy and in case of notorious Scandal this may concern the Country-Minister 2. For receiving persons Absolved after Excommunication this as he desires is left to the discretion of the Priest that Officiates 3. An Office for the Prisoners which is provided for by the Bishops who generally appoint able Men for that charitable Office So that all this notwithstanding he concludes in the words of Dr. Featly c. concerning the Liturgy as it stood before the 600 Amendments in 1661. That the Book of Common-Prayer is the most compleat perfect and exact Liturgy in the Christian World and such as a Godly Man may with a good Conscience use and not only lawfully but comfortably joyn in Wherefore it having already received so many Amendments there should be some important Reasons given why it should admit of more for his May-be's are no Arguments It may-be some things are obscure and too doubtfully express'd It may be in its Phraseology liable to misapplication It may be too fanciful And all these May-be's may not be if the most exceptionable Expressions in the whole Liturgy be allowed as the Preface to it says such just and favourable construction as in common equity ought to be allowed to all humane Writings Page 23. Our Author comes to enquire more nicely into it but whether more wisely let the Reader judge He instanceth first in what he thinks obscure As in the Prayer for the Clergy Who alone workest great Marvels send down c. of which Who dares deny saith Dr. Comber that the assistance granted to the Ministers for the conversion of sinners are as marvellous as was the Creation of Light out of Darkness or the Resurrection from the Dead see Ephes 1.19 So in the Collect for Trinity Sunday Who hath given us Grace in the Power of the Divine Majesty to Worship the Vnity This is not obscure to any that acknowledgeth the Trinity which is to be worshipped in the Unity of Divine Majesty As when in the Litany we pray O holy blessed and glorious Trinity three Persons and one God In the Preface at the Communion for Trinity Sunday that which we believe of the Glory of the Father the same we believe of the Glory of the Son and of the Holy Ghost without any difference or inequality viz. as to the Godhead Christ having said I and my Father are one And the Church in all Ages hath professed the same belief in the Father Son and Holy Ghost and ascribes the same Glory to each of them in the Tresagion In the Prayer
Province or the greatest Number of them that shall be present in Person or by their Proxies shall and may from time to time draw into Forms Rules Orders Ordinances Constitutions and Canons such Matters as to them shall seem Necessary and Expedient for the Purposes abovementioned and the same set down in Writing from time to time to Exhibit and Deliver or cause to be Exhibited and Delivered unto us to the end that We as Occasion shall require may thereupon have the Advice of Our Parliament And that such and so many of the said Canons Orders Ordinances Constitutions Matters Causes and Things as shall be thought Requisite and Convenient by Our said Parliament may be presented to Us in due Form for Our Royal Assent if upon Mature Consideration thereof We shall think fit to Enact the same In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent Witness Ourselves at Westminster the 30th Day of November in the First Year of Our Reign Per Breve de privato Sigello BURKER Vera Copia J. C. N. P. His Majesty's Gracious Message to the Convocation sent by the Earl of Nottingham as followeth WILLIAM R. HIs Majesty has Summon'd this Convocation not only because 't is usual upon holding of a Parliament but out of a Pious Zeal to do every thing that may tend to the best Establishment of the Church of England which is so eminent a Part of the Reformation and is certainly the best suited to the Constitution of this Government and therefore does most signally deserve and shall always have both His Favour and Protection and he doubts not but that you will assist Him in promoting the Welfare of it so that no Prejudices with which some Men may have laboured to possess you shall disappoint His good Intentions or deprive the Church of any Benefit from your Consultations His Majesty therefore expects that the Things that shall be proposed shall be calmly and impartially Considered by you and assures you that he will offer nothing to you but what shall be for the Honour Peace and Advantage both of the Protestant Religion in general and particularly of the Church of England The Bishops ADDRESS WE Your Majesty's most Dutiful Subjects the Bishops and Clergy of the Province of Canterbury in Convocation assembled having received Your Majesty's Gracious Message together with a Commission from Your Majesty by the Earl of Nottingham hold ourselves bound in Gratitude and Duty to return our most Humble Thanks and Acknowledgements of the Grace and Goodness expressed in Your Majesty's Message and the Zeal You shew in it for the Protestant Religion in general and the Church of England in particular and of the Trust and Confidence reposed in us by this Commission We look on these Marks of Your Majesty's Care and Favour as the Continuance of the great Deliverance Almighty God wrought for us by Your Means in making You the Blessed Instrument of Preserving us from falling under the Cruelty of Popish Tyranny for which as we have often Thanked Almighty God so we cannot forget that high Obligation and Duty which we owe to Your Majesty and on these new Assurances of Your Protection and Favour to our Church we beg leave to renew the Assurance of our constant Fidelity and Obedience to Your Majesty Whom we Pray GOD to continue Long and Happily to Reign over us This Address was not approved of by the Lower House who thought they had the Priviledge wanting the Books of Presidents to present one of their own drawing but that not being admitted it was voted by the Lower House to make some Amendments which were not agreed on till after a Conference with the Bishops the Lower House insisting that they would confine themselves to the King's Declaration and to what concerned especially the Church of England whereupon a Conference was desired and a Committee appointed to attend the Lords The Conference was managed chiefly between the Bishop of Salisbury and the Prolocutor the Bishop urged That the Church of England was not distinguished from other Protestant Churches but by its Hierarchy and Revenues and that it was an equivocal Expression for if Popery should prevail it would be called the Church of England still To which the Prolocutor answered That the Church of England was distinguished by its Doctrine as it stands in the Articles Liturgy and Homelies as well as by its Hierarchy and that the Term of Protestant Churches was much more Equivocal because Socinians Anabaptists and Quakers assumed that Title After this we heard no more Reply but a Committee of the Convocation in the Lower House having drawn up another Form it was consented to And Thanks were given to the Prolocutor for managing the Conference And the Address as agreed on to be Presented was as followeth WE Your Majesty's most Loyal and most Dutiful Subjects the Bishops and Clergy of the Province of Canterbury in Convocation Assembled having received a most Gracious Message from Your Majesty by the Earl of Nottingham hold ourselves bound in Duty and Gratitude to return our most Humble Acknowledgments for the same and for the Pious Zeal and Care Your Majesty is pleased to express therein for the Honour Peace Advantage and Establishment of the Church of England Whereby we doubt not the Interest of the Protestant Religion in all other Protestant Churches which is dear to us will be the better secured under the Influence of Your Majest's Government and Protection And we crave leave to assure Your Majesty That in pursuance of that Trust and Confidence You repose in us we will consider whatsoever shall be offered to us from Your Majesty without Prejudice and with all Calmness and Impartiality And that we will constantly Pay the Fidelity and Allegiance which we have all Sworn to Your Majesty and the Queen Whom we pray GOD to continue Long and Happily to Reign over us This Address was presented on Thursday the 12th of December in the Banquetting-Chamber His Majesty's most Gracious Answer to the Bishops Address c. My LORDS I Take this Address very kindly from the Convocation You may depend upon it that all I have promised and all that I can do for the Service of the Church of England I will do And I give you this new Assurance that I will improve all Occasions and Opportunities for its Service I. In the Adjournments it was first debated What Proxies each Man might have from those that were absent and it was agreed that one Man might have four II. Whether those Bishops that had Arch-Deaconries annexed to their Bishopricks might grant Proxies to any Member of the Lower House of Convocation to Vote for them III. Whether such Proctors for the Clergy as had not appeared might grant their Proxies Which was resolved in the Affirmative Presidents being found for the same Then it was complained that the Convocation wanted the Books of Presidents belonging to the Convocation and it being said that the Bishop of Asaph and Dean Tillotson