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
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-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
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-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