Primitive Church should draw and make one convenient and meet Order Rite and Fashion of Common and open Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments to be had and used in his Majesties Realm of England and in Wales the which at this time by the aid of the Holy Ghost with one uniform agreement is of them concluded set forth and delivered to his Highness to his great comfort and quietness of mind in a Book Intituled The Book of the common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church after the use of the Church of England Wherefore the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled considering as well the most Godly Travel of the Kings Highness of the Lord Protector and other of his Highness Council in gathering and collecting the said Arch Bishops Bishops and Learned Men together as the Godly Prayers Orders Rites and Ceremonies in the said Book mentioned and the considerations of altering those things which be altered and retaining those things which be retained in the said Book but also the honour of God and great quietness which by the Grace of God shall insue upon the one and uniform Rite and Order in such Common Prayer and Rites and Extern Ceremonies to be used throughout England and in Wales at Calice and the marches of the same go give to his Highness most hearty and lowly thanks for the same and humbly pray that it may be ordained and enacted by his Majesty with the Assent of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament Assembled and by the Authority of the same c. The Compilers of the Book of Common Prayer An. 3 Edw. 6. Tho. Cranmer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury George Day Bishop of Chichester Dr. Goodrich Bishop of Ely. Dr. Skip Bishop of Hereford Henry Holbech Bishop of Lincoln Nicholas Ridley Bishop of Rochester Thomas Thurlby Bishop of Westminster Dr. May Dean of St. Pauls Dr. Taylor then Dean afterwards Bishop of Lincoln Dr. Haines Dean of Exeter Dr. Robertson Arch Deacon of Leicester afterwards Dean of Durham Dr. Redman Dean of Westminster Mr. of Trinity Colledge Cambridge Dr. Richard Cox then Almoner to the King afterwards Bishop of Ely. Fuller Church History l. 7. p. 386. Reviewers of the Common-Prayer 1558. Dr. Parker Cox May Bill Pilkington Smith Whitehead Grindal Compilers of the Articles of 1562. MS. D. W Matthaeus Parkerus Cantuariensis Edmundus Grindallus Londin Robertus Horne Wintoniens Richardus Cox Eliensis Nicolaus Bullingham Lincolniens Thomas Bentham Lichfeildens Joan. Jewellus Sarisburiens Gilbertus Barkley Bathoniensis Gulielmus Allen Exoniensis Joan. Parkhurst Norvicensis Edwinus Sandes Wigorniensis Joanes Scory Herefordensis Gulielmus Barlow Cicestrensis Edmundus Gwest Roffensis Richardus Cheyney Glocestrensis Edmondus Scambler Petriburgensis Rich. Davies Menevensis Antonius Kitchin Landavensis Rolandus Merick Bangorensis Thomas Young Eboracensis Jacobus Pilkington Dunelmens Joannes Best Carleolensis Gulielmus Downam Cestrensis By King James the First A Proclamation for the Authorizing an Uniformity of the Book of Common Prayer to be used throughout the Realm Some of those who misliked the state of Religion here Established held Assemblies without Authority whom we restrained by a former Proclamation in the Month of October last and gave Intimation of the Conference we intended to be had with as much speed as conveniently could be for the ordering of These things of the Church which accordingly follow'd in the Month of January last at Our Honour of Hampton Court where before Our Self and Our Privy Counsel were Assembled many of the gravest Bishops and Prelates of the Realm and many other Learned Men c. March 5. In the first Year of Our Reign of England c. 14. Carol. 2. WHereas in the first year of the late Queen Elizabeth there was one Uniform Order of Common Service and Prayer and of the Administration of Sacraments Rites and Ceremonies in the Church of England agreeable to the World of God and usage of the Primitive Church compiled by the Reverend Bishops and Clergy set forth in one book Entituled The book of Common Prayer and Administration of Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies in the Church of England and enjoyned to be used by Act of Parliament holden in the first year of the said late Queen Entituled An Act for the Vniformity of Common Prayer and Service in the Church and Administration of the Sacraments the Kings Majesty according to his Declaration of the five and twentieth of October One thousand six hundred and sixty granted his Commission under the great Seal of England to several Bishops and other Divines to review the Book of Common Prayer and to prepare such Alterations and Additions as they thought fit to offer And AFTERWARDS the Convocations of both the Provinces of Canterbury and York being by His Majesty called and assembled and now sitting His Majesty hath been pleased to Authorize and require the Presidents of the said Convocations and other the Bishops and Clergy of the same to Review the said Book of Common Prayer c. The NAMES of the COMMISSIONERS A. D. 1689. Thomas Lamplugh Lord Arch-Bishop of York Henry Compton Lord Bishop of London Peter Mew Lord Bishop of Winchester William Lloyd Lord Bishop of St. Asaph Thomas Sprat Lord Bishop of Rochester Thomas Smith Lord Bishop of Carslile Jonathan Trelauny Lord Bishop of Exeter Gilbert Burnet Lord Bishop of Salisbury Humfrey Humfreys Lord Bishop of Bangor Nicholas Stratford Lord Bishop of Chester Edward Stillingfleet late Dean of St. Pauls London now Bishop of Worcester Simon Patrick late Dean of Peterborough now Bishop of Chichester John Tillotson D.D. Dean of Canterbury Richard Meggot D.D. Dean of Winchester John Sharp D.D. Dean of Norwich Richard Kidder D.D. Dean of Peterborough Henry Aldridge D.D. Dean of Christ-Church Oxford William Jane D.D. Regius Professor of Divinity in the University of Oxford John Hall D.D. Margaret Professor of Divinity in the University of Oxford Joseph Beaumont D.D. Regius Professor of Divinity in the University of Cambridge John Mountague D.D. and Mr. of Trinity Colledge in the University of Cambridge John Goodman D.D. Archdeacon of Middlesex William Beveridge D.D. Archdeacon of Colchester John Battely D.D. Archdeacon of Canterbury Charles Alston D.D. Archdeacon of Essex Thomas Tenison D.D. Archdeacon of London John Scott D.D. Prebendary of S. Pauls London Edward Fowler D.D. Prebendary of Glocester Robert Grove D.D. Prebendary of S. Pauls London John Williams D.D. Prebendary of S. Pauls London The END Books Lately Printed for Richard Chiswell Reflections upon the Opinions of some Modern Divines concerning the nature of Government in general and that of England in particular With an Appendix relating to this Matter containing 1. The Seventy fifth Canon of the Council of Toledo 2. The Original Articles in Latin out of which the Magna Charta of King John was framed 3. The true Magna Charta of King John in French By which the Magna Charta in Matth. Paris is cleared and justified and the Alterations in the Common Magna Charta discovered Of which see a more particular Account in the Advertisement before the Appendix All three Englished Jacobi Usserii Armachani Archiep. Historia dogmatica Controversiae inter Orthodoxos Pontificios de Scripturis Sacris Vernaculis nunc primum editae Accesserunt ejusdem dissertationes de Pseudo-Dionysii scriptis de Epistola ad Laodicenos ante hac ineditae Descripsit digessit notis atque Auctuario locupletavit Henricus Wharton A. M Reverendissimo Archiep. Cantuariensi a Sacris Domesticis A Discourse concerning the Unreasonableness of a New Seperation on Account of the Oaths With an Answer to the History of Passive Obedience so far as relates to them will be Published in few days a See the Names of the Compilers in p. 24. of the Appendix * Full. Ch. Hist. p. 386. b See part of the Act in Append. p. 22 23 24. c Cambd Eliz. p 23. An 1558. See the Names of the Reviewers in Append. p. 25. a Hist. of Ref. part 3 p. 405. b See the Names of the Compilers in Append. p. 25. c Full. Ch. Hist. b. 9. p. 72. Heylin Hist. Ref. p. 158. d See part of that Procl in Append. p. 26. a See part of the Act in Appendix p. 26 27. * A Letter to a Friend containing some Quaeries about the New Commission p. 4 5. a An 25 H. 8. Reviv'd 1 Eliz. See Append. p 21. See their Names in Appendix p. 27 c. a A Letter to a Friend containing some Quaeries about the New Commission p. 1 2 p. 4. (b) Quer. p. 4. (b) Quaer p. 4. †Ch. Hist. b. 7. p. 386. * H. of Ref. Coll. vol. 2. p. 330. * Quaer p. 5. (a) Arâ—ic 34 Every particular or National Church hath Authority to ordain change and abolish Ceremonies or Rites of the Church ordained only by mens Authority so that All things be done to edifying (a) Hist. of Ref. p. 393. L 3. An. 1559. Breviarium restitutum (a) Syst. Biblioth Coll. Par. Soc. Iesu. p. 17. Latina ante Correctionem Latina post Correctionem (b) Vid. Caus. Valesian p. 126 127 128. (d) Queries p. 1. (e) Quaeries p. 4. (f) P. 2. (g) Quaer p. 1. Qu. 2. Whether intended for the sake of the Church or for the satisfaction of Dissenters or to serve both these ends together (a) Quaer p. 3. (b) Quaer p. 6. Q. 2. (c) P. 3. Q. III. See. p. 5. See p. 2. See p. 2. See p. 2. Camb. Eliz. A. 1558 p. 23. See p. 3. In H. Lestranges Affin of div Lit. p. 6. See p. 3. See p. 4. See p. 7.
A DISCOURSE Concerning the Ecclesiastical Commission 1689. LICENSED October 29. 1689. A DISCOURSE CONCERNING THE Ecclesiastical Commission OPEN'D IN THE JERUSALEM CHAMBER October the 10 th 1689. LONDON Printed for Ric. Chiswell at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard MDCLXXXIX A DISCOURSE Concerning the Ecclesiastical Commission c. THough I never entertain'd a good Opinion of the late Commission for Ecclesiastical Affairs yet concerning This which is of a very differing Nature and has differing Ends I stand thus persuaded I. It is agreeable to the Laws of the Land. II. It is not prejudicial but useful to the Convocation III. It tendeth to the well-being of the Church IV. This is a fit Iuncture for the putting the design of it into execution I. This Commission is agreeable to the Laws of the Realm It is founded upon a Legal bottom for it is undoubtedly a Right of the King to call any number of his Subjects together to advise concerning such things as He shall think fit to propose to Them. And here is no Acting required by this Commission but only the Giving of Advice It is further justified by several Presidents since the Reformation It was by a Commission that the Common-Prayer-book was Compiled in the third year of King Edward VI. the Commissioners meeting at his Castle of Windsor And both the Parliament and Convocation readily approv'd of it as is manifest by the Preamble of the Act It was by Queen Elizabeth's Order that the Second Book of King Edward which had passed in Parliament in the fifth and sixth years of his Reign and been repealed in the days of Queen Mary was Review'd in the first year of Hers Which Review being made and upon it some Emendation the Book was again authoris'd by Act of Parliament In the Year 1559 it being resolv'd that the Doctrine of the Church should be set out as it had been done in King Edward's time the Articles of it began to be prepared After much deliberation they were compiled by Dr. Matthew Parker Archbishop of Canterbury in conjunction with Two and twenty Bishops This being done they pass'd in Convocation in the Year 1562. and were confirm'd by Parliament in the Year 1571. Mr. Fuller believ'd they were compos'd in Convocation but Dr. Heylin did not In the Proclamation of King James the First entituled A Proclamation for the Authorising an Uniformity of the Book of common-Common-Prayer to be used throughout the Realm there is mention of a former Proclamation giving notice of the Conference at Hampton-Court about Religion betwixt Conformists and Dissenters I will not insist on this or on the Translating of the Bible and sundry other Ecclesiastical Matters done without a Convocation in that King's Reign My purpose not being to dispute nicely about the Authority of All Things that have been done but only to shew that greater Things have without offence and without prejudice to the Church been formerly done either by private Order or by publick Commission or Proclamation than giving MEER ADVICE concerning such things as are fit and proper to be laid before a Convocation which is the present Case At the Return of King Charles the Second the Liturgy was reviewed by His Commissioners who sate at the Savoy Reference is had to that Commission in the last Act of Uniformity and it is by that Act approved Since that time no Law has been made derogatory to that Power by which the King has granted this Commission II. Neither is A Commission nor THIS Commission prejudicial to a Convocation but useful to it A Commission before a Convocation meets is not prejudicial to it For besides that it has been hitherto found beneficial by experience the very Nature of it shews its Usefulness That which Commissioners do is only by way of preparation which saveth Time and Labour and provideth something ready for the Convocation to go upon In all Assemblies that which is not to be compleated without the Major part of them is begun by a few It is certain that the Methods of the Two Houses of Parliament are not exactly the same with those of the Convocation which by using its own does not as a late Quaerist does seem to insinuate presume to prescribe to Them. But though the Two Houses have not that Method by a Commission yet no Member of Parliament who either by Himself or by the Advice of private Friends prepares an useful Bill is by either of the Houses reprehended when he asks leave to bring it in For the Convocation the first beginning of any thing that is to be done there cannot be made by a Committee appointed by it self For though the Members can meet by virtue of the King 's WRIT yet since the Act concerning the Submission of the Clergy without the King 's WARRANT they cannot legally deliberate upon any one Ecclesiastical Matter It is therefore by some Spring without the Houses by which the King moves both with respect to the granting a WARRANT and to the Matters which are debated upon the Authority of it And if the King who might have proceeded upon His own Judgment or upon very private Advice in this Affair is pleased to do it by so publick and solemn an Act as That is of issuing forth an Ecclesiastical Commission the Preparation is the more likely to be well made And this being but Preparation the Convocation is not prejudg'd or limited by it It is the subsequent WARRANT that limits or enlarges their Powers as it pleaseth a King and not the Commission it self The Things which by virtue of it are prepar'd are Proposals only not Impositions And as a Commission in general is not a just Grievance to a Convocation so neither is This present Commission to be so esteemed Either with respect to the Power given or to the Persons named in it The Power given in this Commission is no more than that above-mentioned of Deliberation Preparation and Proposal expressed in these words So that the Things by you so considered and prepar'd may be in a readiness to be Offer'd to the Convocation at their next meeting and when Approv'd by them may be presented to Us and our Two Houses of Parliament that if it shall be judged fit they may be established in due Form of Law. The Persons employ'd in it are not such as may probably injure either Church or Convocation whether we consider Their Office and Rank in the Church Their Personal Qualifications Or Their Number By Office they are all Church-men and so the more likely to be skill'd in the Matters of their own Profession By Place they are for much the greater part such men as will sit in Convocation whensoever it meets they being Bishops Deans and Archdeacons Their Personal Qualifications are such that I may presume to say indifferent Judges will not think them incompetent for this Affair It is true they have been publickly traduc'd in a late Paper of
Case would bear may admit of Alterations and Improvements He who affirms the contrary believes a Visible Church on Earth may in some one Age be brought to Perfection even in Circumstantial Things which varie with Time and Place and Custom And he uses an Argument against all Reformation from the time of the Establishment of such a Scheme Upon this false Ground it was that Heath and Fecknam in the First Year of Queen Elizabeth oppos'd the Act of Uniformity objecting That these Changes were Departures from the Standard of the Catholick Church That Points once defin'd were not to be brought again into question That the Church should be constant to it self Forgetting the common Practice of their own Church Ours and every sound Church is constant to it self in Substantials and in the general frame of Forms of Worship but in Things of an alterable nature it ought not to be so Where Alterations are fit for the Edification of Christians the real Good of them will overweigh the accidental Evil of the Surmize of the Ignorant who may for a Week or two fansie that their Religion is chang'd Neither is such Change and Improvement a Reproach to Church-men They are not fickle who are constant in all necessary Things and in Circumstantials affect not Change but do it when Piety and Peace and Discretion require it The Church of Rome it self though She pretends to Infallibility has not show'd a stiffness against All Alterations She has made very many and might have made them for the Common Good of Christendom though she has fail'd extremely in it The Roman Breviary now in use is called by themselves The Restored or Reformed Breviary Their short Latin Service of the Canon of the Mass has been so often varied that it is now the least part of its self Nay the very Jesuites themselves in the disposition of their Bibles in their Library at Paris distinguish their Latin ones into Those Before and those After Correction 2. Our Constitution was review'd in LXI and yet notwithstanding that Review is capable of Another The Commissioners of that time did not add the last hand to that Work so as to render it uncapable ever after of being corrected and improved Some who have well considered All the Alterations and Additions then made by them which amount to the Number of about 600. are sufficiently convinc'd that if They had reason for those changes there is equal if not greater reason for some further Improvements If They had foreseen what has since come to pass I charitably believe They would not have done all that they did and just so much and no more And yet I also believe that if They had offer'd to move much further a Stone would have been laid under their Wheel by a secret but powerful Hand The Mystery of Popery did even then work and a Romanist has very frankly inform'd us of the Expectation raised in that Party in the beginning of the Summer of LXI They had some hopes cherished in them of Liberty of Conscience of the removal of the Sanguinary and then of other Penal Laws and of Forty Chappels to be opened for Them in and about the City of London Much more is understood by those who have penetrated into the design of a certain Paper called commonly The Declaration of Sommerset-House The Enemies of this Commission do seem to grant a need of Reformation in the Canons and Ecclesiastical Courts and They well understand and I wish from my heart that their Charity were equal to their Skill that the Book called Reformatio Legum was long ago prepar'd and has from that time been very well esteemed though not authoriz'd and put in execution It is true the present Church-men have given their Assent and Consent to the last Book of common-Common-Prayer but even part of that Consent is to the Preface of it in which it is set forth that there are in Churches Circumstantials which from time to time may admit of Alteration Neither can any Man reasonably think that when They Assented and Consented to the use of the Book as containing nothing that was unlawful They intended to declare that every Thing in It should be unalterable 3. For the Alterations and Additions now intended I verily believe they will conduce to the great good of this Church though as it is I am persuaded it is the best constituted Church in the World and that the Person reflected on as writing those words in a good mood did publish no more than was his settled Judgment But the best Church is not absolutely perfect in all Circumstantial Things nor can it ever be made so here on Earth I am in part of the Opinion of the Quaerist That the Prayers cannot be alter'd for the better by any meer human Composition This seems to be true of the Confessions at the beginning of the Service and at the Communion and of many other Forms but it ought not to be said of every Collect. But the great business as to the Liturgy is the adding to some Offices and preparing new ones which are wanting and the amending of Rubricks To instance publickly in any possible Alterations and Improvements is unseasonably to prevent the Commissioners and Convocation But Time will show by the Particulars that this Church may receive Great advantage and no prejudice by That Work which is by some so angrily tho' causelesly spoken against They must pardon me if so near after the mentioning of them I take notice of the French Papists who have in so many of their late Gazetts revil'd both the Commission and the Persons named in It. They are not apt to speak ill of a thing that would do hurt to us Good is intended and may be done to the benefit both of Conformists and Dissenters Conformists who purpose to continue such will naturally be glad if the House in which they resolve to live and die have all the strength and beauty added to it which can be given It by Commission Convocation and Parliament As to Dissenters for such as are either against All Forms or whilst the Healing of our Breaches is under consideration go on with fresh Ordinations or as the Quaerist relates the Story of some in Northampton like Novatianus of old oblige their Communicants to Vow or Swear upon the Sacrament that They will never return to the Communion of the Church of England we must leave Them to God. Better things are to be hop'd from some at least of this Generation and from many more in the next And if the Convocation do's its own reasonable part as I am confident it will to make an Union among Protestants let Those look to It at whose door the Fault lies in case the Separation continues They will surely be left without Excuse IV. Now because Things which may be done yet are not to be done at a time when they are not expedient It is my opinion that The