be present at that action Possibly it had been less exposed to scandal if instead of them two or three Ministers had so joined and the end as well obtained but surely this was a far lesser evil than the admitting of all to the Sacrament that could but rehearse the Creed Lords Prayer and Ten Commandments there was nothing in this action but any pious Ministers who are the stewards of the mysteries of God might answer with a safe conscience for of Stewards it is required that they should be faithful saith the Apostle and I believe any Bishop would have judged his Steward unfaithful if he had dealt out his Master's goods contrary to his Master's order The Ministers Master's order is plain enough that the holy Sacrament belongs not either to ignorant or scandalous persons All the Churches of God in all Ages agree this our own Church in her principles agreeth it yet in practice all Ministers were tyed to give the Sacrament as in times of Popery to all such as could but rehearse the Creed the Pater Noster and the Ten Commandments and confessed in Lent those eminent persons who were commissionated by Edw. 6. to draw up a new body of Ecclesiastical Laws though that excellent Prince lived not long enough to set his Hand and Seal to it so as what they had done had no legal force had expresly determined Tit. de Sacramentis Cap. 5. We will have none admitted to the Table of the Lord until in the Church he hath made profession of his faith What should good Ministers do in this case they could act but precariously it seems at Wandsworth in Surry there was a people that voluntarily submitted to this what harm was this to the Bishops But the truth is this business of discipline came into very little debate before 1584. after that Subscription had been so fatally imposed In several Diocesses I perceive there were some circumstantial variations in the forms of Subscriptions To let my Reader therefore know what it was I will give it him as it lieth in the 36th Canon 1603. when it first received any thing like a legal confirmation which was at least 25. or 26. years after it was first devised and full 30. years after it was so rigorously pressed 1. Art That the Queens Majesty under God is thē Supreme Governour of this Realm and of all other her Highnesses Dominions and Territories as well in all Spiritual or Ecclesiastical things or causes as Temporal and that no forreign Prince Person State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority or Preheminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within her Majesties Realms Dominions or Countries 2. Art That he alloweth the Book of Articles agreed on by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London 1562. and that he acknowledgeth All and Every the Articles therein being in number 39. besides the Ratification to be agreeable to the Word of God 3. Art That the Book of Common-Prayer and of ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons containeth in it nothing contrary to the Word of God and that it may lawfully be used and that he himself will use the form in the said Book prescribed in publick Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and no other This Engine was first formed by the Archbishop Whitgift and was one of those 16. Proposals he offered to the Queen for the setling of the Church a Copy of which in M. S. with two Answers to them I have read some little difference there was in the Arch-bishops form His first Article was 1. Art That the Authority which is given her Majesty in Causes Ecclesiastical by the Laws of the Land is lawful and according to the Word of God The Second Article was his Third andran thus 2. Art That he allowed the Book of Articles of Religion agreed on by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London 1562. and set forth by her Majesties Authority and that he agreeth the Articles therein contained to be agreeable to the Word of God 3. Art Which was the Archbishops Second was word for word the same This Motion of the Archbishops put the Queen upon adding force to the Imposition which indeed had been by some Bishops began before but now in most Diocesses it was rigorously pressed The issue of this is told us by the Author of the unlawful practices of Prelates in these words Whatsoever was required in Civil Causes either that concerned her Majesty or the State was by the Ministers embraced wholly and freely In Ecclesiastical Causes also whatsoever concerned Doctrine or otherwise was expresly required by Statute for Subscription Thus far at the first all men with protestation offered but to yeild to this thing so strange and new without any Law in streighter sort than ever was required That all things were agreeable to Gods Word and not against it not only tollerable but allowable both in the Book of Common Prayer and in the Book of ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons This was refused divers of the Ministers were suspended multitudes were thrust out How many godly able painful Ministers were outed all over England I cannot tell but ex ungue Leonem I have seen a M. S. which gives an account of the names of Sixty odd in Suffolk Twenty one in Lincolnshire Sixty four in Norfolk Thirty eight in Essex which though they seem comparatively few yet are a great many when we consider that in Essex at that time there was an account given of 163. Ministers that never Preach'd only read Prayers and Homilies and 85. more Pluralists Non residents or persons most notoriously debaucht This was the first fruit of that Archbishops preferment and a fair offer at the rooting out of the reformed Religion as soon as planted which never did nor ever will live and flourish in any place under the conduct of an ignorant debauched unpreaching Ministry such a Ministry much better serving Popish than Protestant purposes What the Ministers that were suspended or deprived did to prevent their misery or to get this severity a little mitigated and allayed at this time in the years 1583 1584 1585. I shall inform the world from the worthy Author of the Book aforementioned wrote at that very time and often quoted by Bishop Bancroft His words are these The Cause was general means were made Ministers presented Doubts Protestations Supplications they were repulsed reviled threatned the Ministers did indure sustained with a good Conscience but their miserable flocks were subject to all disorders spoils havock Good men mourned evil men prevailed License possessed all places nothing was reserved whole to civil and modest life These things Gentlemen of all sorts took to heart they lamented their own estate and the estate of the people they pitied their Ministers their Wives and Children Gods Cause moved them the honour of the Gospel drew them yea the safety
matters of indifferency when so many Books so many Disputations testified we differed from them because of their Idolatry in many things and their Doctrine of Justification by Works c. The last is yet of all the most weak for how did we by it shew our consent with other Protestant Churches In the year 1552 which was the last of King Edward in the year 1558 which was the first of Queen Elizabeth there were no Protestant Churches but the Luther an Churches the Suitzerland Churches and that of Geneva besides some in Germany which followed the Reformation of Suitzerland and Geneva In retaining these Ceremonies we shewed a dissent to the Reformed Churches in Suitzerland and at Geneva and all those who followed their order and shewed our consent only with the Lutheran Churches so imperfectly reformed that in the Synod at DoÌ„rt the Messengers of all Reformed Churches there met made a difficulty to afford them the name of Protestants though I think the name Protestant better agreed to them than that of Evangelici which was the name the Reformed were known by for the ten first years after the Reformation began Besides that for Kneeling at the Sacrament the Saxon Churches retain it upon their peculiar notion wherein they differ from all other Reformed Churches viz. The Corporeal Presence of Christ in and with that Ordinance For the retaining of some Ceremonies in the Saxon Churches a double account is to be given Luther and Ambsdorfius were great Zealots for them partly to quiet the people who had so lately been Papists and it may be partly in opposition to Zuinglius and specicially to Carolostadius who had made himself the Author of abolishing some during Luther's absence when he was hid for fear of a Decree at Worms Melancthon a very learned man being of a more soâ—t ductile spirit with Justus Jonas and some others took Luther's part Carolostadius was run down both Zuinglius and Carolostadius saw that the retaining any of the Popish Ceremonies would have no desired effect but rather scandalize their friends and harden the Papists and the taking them away afterward would be called a Refining upon a Refining they therefore though they bare with much some few years yet took the first opportunity to throw them all out where they had to do The case was much the same with us in England our Ceremonies were retain'd upon no such pretences as were before expressed There was no Reverence in it shewed to antiquity No consent shewed with the most or best Reformed Churches at that time But our best and most eminent Ministers had been Papists used their Missal practiced all their Ceremonies At that time to have receded from the Papists in all things fit to have been receded from might have been oddly lookt upon by the people Besides that the people in times of Popery were much strangers to any thing of Religion but Ceremonies and hearing Mass hence as may be seen in the first Edition of the Common Prayer many things were put in which were left out by the Bishops in the 2d Edn. of it in K. Edw. time And had it pleased God after Q. Maries time to have continued us such Bishops as Cranmer Hooper Latimer Coverdale c. there is little doubt but these Controversies had long since been at an end But our Bishops many of them were such moderate men as could abide here all Queen Maries time others of them were such as indeed had been beyond Sea but very zealous there to keep up the Book in the framing of which themselves had an hand amongst these was Dr. Cox the same reason held as in K. Edw. the 6. time for humouring the people thus the Ceremonies came at first to be established For the Forms of Prayer there was not the same reason for establishing some Forms at present in that state of the Church there could scarce have been any Praying or Preaching without some Forms both of Prayers and Sermons there were twenty reading Ministers for one who had any competent abilities either to Pray or Preach But the reason was the very same for the establishing so many of the Old Forms and keeping Methods agreeing to none of any Reformed Church I offer it to any knowing persons to judg whether whatever be said by some this was not the true reason of the first establishment and they were no invaluable reasons for the continuance of them for some few years until people were brought off more from their old Superstitions I find that in most places of Germany at first the Reformation was gradual some Ceremonies and Superstitious usages were cast out one year some the next some several years after the Gospel was first Preached in those places But why these should be continued after twenty years when it was seen that the continuance of them had no effect to bring in Papists but gave a great scandal to and made a great division amongst Protestants and when people were further enlightned and their first heats for their old ways of worship were abated is a much greater mystery yet we shall find that in the 25 26 27 years of Queen Elizabeth there was a more severe urging these things than ever before I am loth to think any rancor against those at that time called Puritans was the Original cause but do believe that an imployment for those who managed the Ecclesiastical Courts without using their power against the Papists or Moral Debauchees might be no little argument in the cause and a design driven by the Papists and Atheists in the Nation to that purpose Such Considerations as these could never affect an English Parliament so as to make a first establishment of them But the succeeding Parliaments and Princes found them in possession that we say is nine parts of a Law and some Zealots in the Church strained their wits to make them appear lawful and so within the power of the Superiour and for many of them several good men had not then light enough to discern their unlawfulness â—â— as there were very few that wrote to purpose on that argument Dr. Ames was almost the only man in his age Indeed the Ceremonies the reading the Old Translation of the Scripture and the Apocryphal Books the Subscription That there was nothing in the Common Prayer Book and Book of Ordaining Priests and Deacons but what was agreeable to Gods Word were an hundred year since argued against as unlawful as I could prove by several writings of the Nonconformists of those times I have seen an ancient Manuscript of them big enough for a just folio some things were not then practised non required to be put in ure though they were in the Queens Injunctions c. some of them at least In all the cases of Nonconformists in Queen Elizabeths time I find not a Minister complaining for being inforced to receive or to administer the Sacrament to people kneeling I find nothing of any suffering for not bowing at the
of her Majesty in these dangerous times compelled them their own Offices of Justice which by the word was so well aided and which without it they could not steer in a storm of so great confusion drew them to sue in all humble sort to the Archbishop testifying the wholesome Doctrine together with the honest life of their Pastors declaring the breaches waste and wrecks of their Country the present evil the dangers to come finally craving that in regard of the souls of the people and their own he would accept such a Subscription as the Law expresly appointed 13. Eliz. c. 12. and restore the poor men both to their Preaching and Livings This second means prevail'd with him Archbishbp Whitgift no more than the first The third was attempted This refuge was to the Honourable Senate of her Majesties Privy-Council There it was in like manner sought and declared the proceedings before used with the Archbishop The inconveniency by this new dealing sprang up in the Church and Commonwealth was shewed and witnessed by Subscribed Hands These supplications with Letters of favour were sent to the Archbishop in the behalf of Preachers did he yet any thing relent surely no nay I would he had not been more indurate Six or Eight months were thus spent the Country devoid of Preaching the calamities of some Shires increased testimonies informations multiplied At the length such were the complaints that her Majesties most Honourable Council dealt very feelingly in the case Lest any should traduce that Book as giving a false account I could out of a MS. in my hands fill a competent Volume with Copies of Supplications of this nature It shall suffice to give an instance or two 1. Of the Ministers Applications to Archbishop Whitgift 2. The peoples and several Gentlemens applications and supplications to the Archbishop then 3. To the Council Letters from Noblemen and Privy-Councellors to the Archbishop c. That of the Ministers of the Diocess of Ely is one of the shortest I shall therefore transcribe that for a specimen of Applications to the Archbishop Whereas two Canonical Admonitions upon our obedience are already past most Râ—verend Father in God and suspension ready to proceed against us for not subscribing to some things we know not and others that we greatly doubt of We having received good hope upon our own knowledg of your Lordships wonted hatred of sin and love of true Religion and godliness are bold to offer our humble supplication unto you as well to shew our obedience to all superiority over us in the Lord as also to crave your Lordships lawful favour for larger space of time to be granted to us considering how carefully we have used our Ministry to the building of the Church endeavouring with all our hearts to keep the good peace thereof which we daily pray for Wherefore if it shall please your Lordship to deal so graciously with us as either to free us from all subscriptions saving to her Majesties authority and the Articles of the Christian Religion which the Law requireth or to give us so long time as divers Treatises may be perused by us that either we may be satisfied in our persuasions to subscribe or if there be no remedy quietly to give place to the peace of the Church In the mean time we judg them not that have subscribed as we desire not to be judged in this our staying Thus if it shall please Almighty God to move your Lordship to take compassion on our troubled consciences that we may feel our burden lighter by your good favour we shall praise God for the same and shew our thank fulness to your Lordship which we pray God to preserve and keep to the good and benefit of his Church and to your own comfort 12. March 1583. Your Graces most humble Robert Garret Bowter Martin Henry Dickenson Mat. Chapman Edw. Brain Christopher Jackson Thomas Brain Many Supplications of this nature were in that and in the two following years presented to the Archbishop to particular Bishops of Diocesses c. which I forbear to transcribe the matter being much the same These not finding their due effect the Gentlemen of several Counties petitioned the Archbishop I could insert several Copies I shall only insert that of the Gentlemen in Cambridgshire to the Archbishop bearing date the 26. of April 1583. May it please your Lordship that under your good favour we whose 〈…〉 en â—â—y be acceptable suitors on the behalf of divers godly Ministers with in this County of Cambridg whose names are set down in a schedule herewith sent unto you concerning the manner of subscribing to the articles lately published the execution whereof towards our Ministers we fear would be to the displacing of them as some are already whereby we think great inconvenience must follow in these parts by reason that both the sufficiency and good conversation of these already placed with the good success and blessing on their labours is evidently known unto us and we are persuaded that they continue their places by bond in conscience for that hitherto we have not heard of any contentiousness in Religion or disquietness and disorder in any of them or their people Wherefore altho in your wise and fatherly care your desire is to make choice of a good supply if these fail yet if it should seem good unto your Wisdom we should acknowledg our selves much bound unto your Lordship in the continuance of these men being known unto us already the other hereafter to come being unknown what they shall be and so much the rather because of the bare Livings which some of them have whereby it is to be feared it will be no easie matter to place sufficient men in their stead Thus trusting and nothing doubting but that they may find your honourable favour so far forth as you may grant not contrary to the Law of this Realm and most humbly beseeching that we may enjoy them in their rooms as long as any others in other places whereof we and they hope so much the more for that it pleased God once to make your Lordship a special member in this County for a time whereby as you gave and bestowed a great cause of love so you reaped much good will which as it remaineth in us and them to stand you in any stead to our powers so we trust that we and they shall find this latter fruit of it to our great comfort and benefit and thus we humbly take our leave Your Graces assured John Cutts Fr. Hind John Hutton Fitzralph Chamblein Thomas Wendy Thomas Chickly Anthony Cage Some others there were of this nature but it seemed â—â—â—h by what followed and also by what the Author of the Book aforementioned saith that the Archbishops ear was deaf to all Supplications of this nature and has resolved to carry his Subscription through The poor Ministers in this distress together also with the Gentlemen of several Counties and the people of several places addressed