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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	law_n	time_n	write_v	3,058	5	5.6338	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A03141	A coale from the altar. Or An ansvver to a letter not long since written to the Vicar of Gr. against the placing of the Communion table at the east end of the chancell; and now of late dispersed abroad to the disturbance of the Church. First sent by a iudicious and learned divine for the satisfaction of his private friend; and by him commended to the presse, for the benefit of others	Heylyn, Peter, 1600-1662.; Williams, John, 1582-1650.	1636 (1636)	STC 13270.5; ESTC S119828	38,864	84

and necessarie causes but that in correspondence unto former practise and the Injunction of the Queene he thought the place where formerly the Altar stood to be fittest for it at least out of the time of the ministration and in that time too if hee might be heard conveniently of the Congregation And whether hee might or no no doubt he better knew than this extravagant Epistoler and so in that respect might be aswell Master of the peoples eares as he in Tacitus whom this Epistoler hath remembred was of his owne 3. I Say according unto former practise and the Queenes Injunction For if we looke into the former practise either of the Chappels of the King the best interpreter of the Law which himselfe enacted wherein the Communion Table hath so stood as now it doth since the beginning of Queene Elizabeth what time that Rubrick in the Common Praier booke was confirmed and ratified or of Collegiate and Cathedrall Churches the best observers of the forme and order of God's publick Service the Vicar had good warrant for what he did And for the Injunctions howsoever it bee said in them that in the time of the Cōmunion the table shal be placed in so good sort within the Chancell● 〈◊〉 thereby the Minister may more conveniently be heard being a matter of Permison onely if occasion be yet it is ordred in the same that after the Communion done from time to time the same holy Table shall be placed where it stood before that is where formerly the Altar stood So that the next clause of this Epistoler wherin it is referred to the Vicar's judgement Whether this Table which like Daedalus his Ensignes moves and removes from place to place and that by the inward wheeles of the Church Canon be fitly resembled to an Altar that stirr's not an inch might have well been spared as not being likely to be any part of the Vicars meaning For we may reasonably presume that it was onely his intent to keep the table free from irreverent usage and by exalting it to the highest place to 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 reverence to the blessed Sacrament from the Common people who if infected with the fancies of these latter daies are like enough to thrust it down into the Bell-free or some worser corner Nor say I so without good reason it being so resolved of in the Altare Damascenum that any place be it what it will is good enough for the Lords Table the Communion ended De loco ubi con●istat cur solliciti cum quovis loco vel angulo extra tempus administrationis collocari possit pa. 718. What need they be so carefull say those factious spirits which composed that booke how to dispose or place the Table seeing that out of the time of the ministration it may be put in any place or corner whatsoever it be High time assuredly that such prophanenes should be met with 4 THere is one only passage more to be considered in this letter for the close of all and that is this that If we doe desire to know out of Eusebius Augustin Durandus the fif●h Councell of Constantinople how long Communion tables have stood in the midst of the Church we should reade Bishop Jewell against Harding Art 3. p. 143. and we shal be satisfied And read him though we have yet we are not satisfied Eusebius tels us of the Church of Tyre that being finished and all the ●eats thereof set up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Founder after all placed the most holy Altar in the midst thereof and compassed it about with rai●es to hinder the rude multitude from pressing neer it This proves not necessarily that the Altar stood either in the body of the Church or in the middle of the same as the Epistoler doth intend when hee saith the middle The Altar though it stood along the Eastern wall yet may be well interpreted to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the middle of the Chancel in reference to the North and South as it since hath stood And were it otherwise yet this is but a particular case of a Church in Syria wherein the people being more ming●ed wi●h the Iewes than in other places might possibly place the Altar in the middle of the Church as was the altar of Incense in the midst of the Temple the better to conforme unto them For if as Bishop Iewell saith in the selfe sam● place The holy Table was called an Altar onely in allusion to the Altars in the old law or if as this Epistoler tells us the name of Altar crept into the Church by a kind of complying in p●rase with the people of the Iewes 〈…〉 5 THat of the fifth Councel of Constantinople as it is there called being indeed the Councell sub Agapeto Menna against Anthimus Severus affirms as much in sound as the Epistoler doth intend but if examined rightly concludes against him It is there said that in the reading of the Diptychs the people with great silence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gathered together about the Altar and gave eare unto thē Where although 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in it selfe doth ●ignifie a Circle yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cannot bee properly interpreted round about the Altar so as there was no part thereof which was not compassed with the people no more than if a man should say that hee had seene the King sitting in his throne and all his Noblemen about him it needs or could bee thought that the throne was placed in the very middle of the Presence as many of the Nobles being behind him as there was before him And certainly if the man of God in the description of God's throne in the kingdome of Heave● had any reference or resemblance as no doubt hee had unto the thrones of kings on earth wee have hit right enough upon the meaning of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the aforesaid Councell it being said in the 4th chapter of the Revelat● on vers 6. that round about the throne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were foure beasts full of ●yes and chap. 7. ver 11. that all the Angels stood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 round about the throne So that for all is said in the fifth Councell of Constantinople the Altar might and did stand at the end of the Chancel although the people came together about it to heare the Diptychs i. e. the Commemoration of those famous Prelates and other persons of chiefe note which had departed in the faith The like mistake there is if it be lawfull so to say in the words of S. Austin That which hath beene alleaged from him being the 46 Sermon not the 42 is this CHRISTVS quotidie pas●it Mensa ipsius est illa in medio constituta Quid causae est O Audientes ut mensam videatis ad epulas non accedatis Which BP. Iewell thus trans●lateth Christ feedeth us daily and this is his Table here set in the middest O my hearers what is the matter

Thanksgiving Part. 2. pag. 700. And this I have he rather laid downe at large to shew with what indifferencie these names of Table Board and Altar have beene used before and may be used for the present as also in what regard the Lord's Table may be called an ●ltar And this according unto Master Foxes Marginall note in the selfe same Page viz. The Table how it may be called an Altar and in what respect which shewes that he allowed it to be called an Altar though this Epistoler doth not like it 15. NOw as the Story of the change is not altogether true so the reason there assigned is both ●al●e and dangerous First it is false the Alteration not being made because the people were scandalized with Altars in Countrey Churches The people were so farre from being scandalized with having Altars that in the Countreyes of Devon and Cornwall they rose up in Armes because the Masse was taken from them Act. and Monum Part. 2. pa. 666. And if we looke into the Story of tho●e times we shall quickly find that it was no scandall taken by the people which did occasion that or any other c●ange in the Common prayer Booke but and offence conceived by Calvin It seemes that Bucer had informed him of the condition of this Church and the publike Li●urgie thereof and thereupon he wrote to the Duke of Sommerset who was then Protector Epistola ad Bucer●m In which his Letter to the Duke hee finds great fault with the Commemoration of the dead which was then used in the Celebration of the Lords Supper though he acknowledgeth the same to bee very ancient calling it by the name of a piece of Leaven Quo m●ssa integra sanctae coenae quodammodo ace●ieret where with the whole Communion was made sower Other things in the Liturgie hee found fault withall and then adviseth Illa omnia abscindi se●el that they should all at once be cut off for ever Epist. ad Protectorem Angliae Nor stayed hee here but he sollici●ed Archbishop Cranmer to the same ●ffect 〈◊〉 1551 being the yeare before the Al●eration made as by the placing of that Letter doth appeare complaining in the same unto him 〈…〉 That in the Church of England there was yet remaining a whole masse of Popery which did not only blemish and obscure but in a manner overthrow Gods holy worship So that however in his Answer to the Devonshire men the King had formerly affirmed that the Lords Supper as it was then administred was brought even to the very ●se as CHRIST left i● as the Apostles used it and as the holy Fathers delivered it Act. and Monum Part. 2. pa. 667 Yet to please Calvin who was all in all with my Lord Protector and as it seemes had tooke ●pon him to wr●te ●●to the King about it Epistol ad 〈◊〉 1551 the Litu●gy then established was called in by Parliament though in the very act it selfe they could not but acknowledge that the said Booke of Common prayer was both agreeable to Gods Word and ●he Primitive Church 5. 6. of Edw. 6. cap. 1. So that the leaving of the word Altar out of the Common Prayer booke last established and other altera●ions which were therein made grew not from any s●andall which was taken at the name of Altar by the Countrie people but from the dislike taken against the whole Liturgy by Calvin as before I said 16 AS false it is but far more dangerous which is next alleaged viz. that The people being ●●anda●ized in countrey Churches did first de fac●o beat down Altars and then the Prince to countenance no doubt and confirme their unruly actions did by a kinde of Law put them do●ne de jure Wher● is is said in all the Monuments of our Church or State that ever in the former times the Countrey people tooke upon them to bee reformers of the Church or that in this particular they did de facto beat downe Altars This is fine doctrine were it true for the common people who questionlesse will hea●ken to it with a greedy ●are as loving nothing more then to have the soveraigntie in sacred matters and who being led by a Pre●edent more than they are by the Lawe or Precept thinke all things lawfull to bee done which were done before them But sure the people never did it For in the Letters sent in the Kings name to Bishop Ridley it is said that it was come to the Kings knowledge how the Altars within the most part of the Churches of this Realme being already upon good and godly consideration taken downe there did remaine Altars in diverse other Chu●ches Actes and Monument Part. 2. pag. 699. So that the Altars were not generally taken dow●e throughou● the Kingdome and those which were tooke downe were taken downe on good and godly consideration which certainely implyes some Order and Authority from those who had a power to doe it Not beaten downe de facto by the common people in a popular hu●our withou● Authoritie or Warrant And had they all beene beaten downe de ●act● by the common people that kind● of La● which after put them downe de jure had come too late to carry any stroake in so great a businesse Vnlesse perhaps the King was willing on the post-fact to partake somewhat of the honour or durst not but confirme the doings of disordered people by a kind of Law A kind of Law And is the Edict and Direction of the King in sacred matters but a kind of Law The peoples beating downe the Altars was as it seemes a powerf●ll Law a very Club-Law at the least against the which was no resistance to be made the Princes Edict to remove them but a kind of Law which no man was obliged unto nor had regarded but that they found it sorted with the peoples humour Just so he dealt before with the Queenes Injunctions The Queens Injuctions had appoynted that the Holy Table in every Church should be ●ecently made and set up in the place where th● Alt●r stood and thereupon it is resolved by the Epistoler that if by placing of the Table Altarwise is meant the setting of it in that place of the Chancell where the Altar stood there may be somewhat sayd for that because the Injunctions did so place it The Edict of King Edward but a kind of Law the Order of Qu. Elizabeth but a kind of somewhat This is no mannerly dealing with Kings and Queenes my good Brother of BOSTON 17. YEt such a kind of Law it was that being seconded by a kind of somewhat in the Queenes Injunctions 1559 referring to that order of King Edward it hath taken from us the Children of the Church and Common-wealth the name nature of former Altars The Children of the Church And who are they Those onely which are bounded Intr● partem Donati the lot and portion of the Brethren of the Dispersion those who have kep● their children's fore-heads from the signe of the Crosse

indefinitely be onely meant the person of the Queene then being not her Heires and Successours by Metropolitan indefinitely wee must also meane the Metropolitan then being and not his Successours and then the power heere given the Queene had beene determined with the death of Arch-bishop Parker which was some 28 yeares before her owne Thirdly from another clause in the selfe same Act where it is said that If any person being twice convict of depraving the booke of Common Praier c. shall off end againe the third time and be thereof lawfully convict hee shall forfeit for his third offence to our Soveraign Lady the Queene all his Goods and Chattels c. where though the Queene be onely named the penaltie of the Law 〈◊〉 be and is most justly taken by her Heires and Successours or else there were no remedy at this time by the Lawes provided for the third Contempt Fourthly from the usuall forme of those Acts and Statutes which were made purposely for the particular and personall profit safetie and advantage of the said Queene which are distinguished from others by this note or Character viz. This Act to continue during the Queenes Majesties life that now is onely Such is the Act against rebellio●s assemblies 1. Eliz. cap. 16. Those against such as shall rebelliously take or conspire to tak● from the Queenes Majestie any of her Towers Castles c. 14. Eliz. cap. 1. And against such as shall conspire or practise the enlargement of any Prisoner committed for High Treason cap. 2. That against seditious Word● and Rumors uttered against the Queen●s most excellent Majestie 23. Eliz. ca. 2. And finally that for the safety of the Queenes royal person and the continuance of the Realme in Peace An ● 27. ca. 1. In the which last although it bee not said expresly that it shal dure no longer thē her natural life yet the word Person in effect doth declare as much Fiftly from a resolution in the Law in a case much like it being determined by that great Lawyer Ploydon that if a man give Lands to the King by deed inrolled a Fee● simple doth passe without these words Successours and Heires because in ●udgement of Law The King never dieth Coke on Lit● pag. 9. b. And last of all it may be argued that the said clause or any thing therin conteined is not indeed Introductorie of any new power which was not in the Crowne before but rather Declaratorie of an old which anciently did belong to all Christian Kings as before any of them to the Kings of Iudah and among others to ours also who with the C●unsell of their Prelate● and other Clergie might and did induce such Rites and Ceremonies into the Churches of and in their severall kingdomes as were thought most convenient for God's publick Service till at the last all Ecclesiasticall autoritie was challenged and usurped by the See of Rome Which is the answer and determination of Sir Robert Coke in Cawdries case being the fifth part of his Reports entituled De jure Regis Ecclesiastico where hee affirmeth that if the Act of Parliament 1● Eliz. 2. cap. 1. whereby it was enacted That all Ecclesiasticall power and autoritie which heretofore had beene or might lawfully be exercised or used for the visitation of the Ecclesiasticall state and persons and for reformation of all and all manner Errours Heresies Schismes Abuses and Contempts Offences and Enormities should bee for ever united and annexed to the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme Was not an Act introductory of a new law but confirmative of an old for that this Act doth not annex any jurisdiction to the Crowne but that which was in truth or of right ought to bee by the ancient Lawes of the Realme parcell of the Kings Jurisdiction and united to the crowne Imperiall By this Authoritie the Altars were first taken downe in King Edwards reigne though countenanced and allowed of in the Common-prayer Booke then by Law established the better as the cause is pleaded by Bishop Ridley to avoyd superstition Actes and Monum Part. 2. pag. 700. and by the same or by that mentioned 1 ● Eliz. cap. 2. his Majestie now being might appoynt the Table to bee set up where formerly the Altar stood had it been otherwise determined in the Rubrick as indeed it is not to avoyd prophanenesse 8. I Will adde one thing more for your satisfaction which perhaps you know not And that is that his sacred Majestie hath hereupon already declared his pleasure in the Case of Saint Gregories Church neere Saint Pauls in London and thereby given encouragement to the Metropolitans Bishops and other Ordinaries to require the like in all the Churches committed to them Which resolution of his Majestie faithfully copied out of the Registers of his Councell-Table I shall present herewith unto you and so commend my selfe to you and us all to the grace of God in JESVS CHRIST At Whitehall the third of November 1633. Present the KINGS most excellent Majestie Lo Archbish. of Cant. Lo Keeper Lo Archbish. of Yorke Lo Treasurer Lo Privie Seale Lo Duke of Le●nox Lo High Chamberlain Ear. Marshall Lo Chamberlaine Ear of Bridgewater Ear of Carlile Lo Cottington Mr. Treasurer Mr. Comptroller Mr. Secretary Cooke Mr. Secret Windebanke THis day was debated before his Majestie sitting in Co●nsell the Question and Difference which grew about the Removing of the Communion Table in Saint Gregories Church neere the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul from the middle of the Chancell to the upper end and there placed Altar-wi●e in such manner as it standeth in the sayd Cathedralls and Mother Church as also in all other Cathedralls and in his Majesties owne Chappell and as is consonant to the practise of approoved Antiquitie Which removall and placing of it in that sort was done by Order of the Deane and Chapter of St. Pauls who are Ordinaries thereof as was avowed before his Majestie by Doctor King and Doctor Montfort two of the Prebends there Yet some few of the Parishioners being but five in number did complaine of this Act by Appeale to the Court of Arches pretending that the Booke of Comm●n-prayer and the 82. Canon doe give permi●sion to place the Communion Table where it may stand with most fitnesse and convenience Now his Majestie having heard a particular relation made by the Counsaile of both parties of all the carriage and proceedings in this cause was pleased to declare his dislike of all Innovation receeding from ancient Constitutions grounded upon just and war●antable reasons especially in matters concerning Eccle●iasticall Orders and Government knowing how easily men are drawne to affect Novelties and how soone weake judgements in such cases may bee overtaken and abused And he was also pleased to observe that if those few Parishioners might have their wills the difference thereby 〈…〉 of the neerene●s of St. Gregories standing close to the wall thereof And likewise for so much as concernes the liberty given by the said Common