present at such Elections shall be always advising and assisting together with those of the Chapter in all Ordinations and in every part of Jurisdiction which appertains to the Censures of the Church and at all other solemn and important Actions in the exercise of the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction wherein any of the Ministry are concerned Provided that at all such Meetings the number of the Ministers so elected and those present of the Chapter shall be equal and not exceed one the other and that to make the numbers equal the Juniors of the exceeding number be withdrawn that the most ancient may take place nor shall any Suffragan Bishop ordain or exercise the fore-mentioned Offices and acts of Spiritual Jurisdiction but with the advice and assistance of a sufficient number of the most judicious and pious Presbyters annually chosen as aforesaid within his Precincts And Our Will is that the great work of Ordination be constantly and solemnly performed by the Bishop and his aforesaid Presbytery at the four set times and seasons appointed by the Church for that purpose 5. We will take care that Confirmation be rightly and solemnly performed by the Information and with the Consent of the Minister of the place who shall admit none to the Lord's Supper till they have made a credible Profession of their Faith and promised Obedience to the Will of God according as is expressed in the Considerations of the Rubrick before the Catechism And that all possible diligence be used for the Instruction and Reformation of scandalous Offenders whom the Minister shall not suffer to partake of the Lord's Table until they have openly declared themselves to have truly repented and amended their former naughty Lives as is partly exprest in the Rubrick and more fully in the Canons Provided there be place for due Appeals to Superiour Powers But besides the Suffragans and their Presbytery every Rural Dean those Deans as heretofore to be nominated by the Bishop of the Diocess together with three or four Ministers of that Deanery chosen by the major part of all the Ministers within the same shall meet once in every Month to receive such Complaints as shall be presented to them by the Ministers or Church-Wardens of the respective Parishes and also to compose all such differences betwixt Party and Party as shall be referred unto them by way of Arbitration and to convince Offenders and reform all such things as they find amiss by their Pastoral Reproofs and Admonitions if they may be so Reformed And such Matters as they cannot by this Pastoral and Perswasive way compose and reform are by them to be prepared for and presented to the Bishop at which Meeting any other Ministers of that Deanery may if they please be present and assist Moreover the Rural Dean and his Assistants are in their respective Divisions to see that the Children and younger sort be carefully instructed by the respective Ministers of every Parish in the Grounds of Christian Religon and be able to give a good account of their Faith and Knowledge and also of their Christian Conversation conformable thereunto before they be confirmed by the Bishop or admitted to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper 6. No Bishop shall exercise any Arbitrary Power or do or impose any thing upon the Clergy or the People but what is according to the known Law of the Land. 7. We are very glad to find that all with whom we have conferred do in their Judgments approve a Liturgy or set Form of Publick Worship to be Lawful which in Our Judgment for the preservation of Unity and Uniformity We conceive to be very necessary And though we do esteem the Liturgy of the Church of England conteined in the Book of Common Prayer and by Law established to be the best We have seen And We believe that We have seen all that are extant and used in this part of the World and well know what Reverence most of the Reformed Churches or at least the most Learned Men in those Churches have for it Yet since We find some exceptions made against several things therein We will appoint an equal number of Learned Divines of both Perswasions to re-view the same and to make such alterations as shall be thought most necessary and some additional Forms in the Scripture phrase as near as may be suited unto the nature of the several parts of Worship and that it be left to the Ministers choice to use one or other at his discretion In the mean time and till this be done although We do heartily wish and desire that the Ministers in their several Churches because they dislike some Clauses and Expressions would not totally lay aside the use of the Book of Common Prayer but read those parts against which there can be no exception which would be the best instance of declining those marks of Distinction which We so much labour and desire to remove Yet in Compassion to divers of Our good Subjects who scruple the use of it as now it is Our Will and Pleasure is that none be punished or troubled for not using it until it be reviewed and effectually Reformed as aforesaid 8. Lastly Concerning Ceremonies which have administred so much matter of difference and contention and which have been introduced by the Wisdom and Authority of the Church for edification and the improvement of Piety We shall say no more but that We have the more esteem of all and Reverence for many of them by having been present in many of those Churches where they are most abolished or discountenanced And it cannot be doubted but that as the Universal Church cannot introduce one Ceremony in the Worship of God that is contrary to God's Word expressed in the Scripture so every National Church with the Approbation and Consent of the Sovereign Power may and hath always introduced such particular Ceremonies as in that conjuncture of time are thought most proper for edification and the necessary improvement of Piety and Devotion in the People though the necessary practice thereof cannot be deduced from Scripture and that which before was and in it self is indifferent ceases to be indifferent after it is once established by Law And therefore Our present Consideration and Work is to gratifie the private Consciences of those who are grieved with the use of some Ceremonies by indulging to and dispensing with their omitting those Ceremonies not utterly to abolish any which are Established by Law if any are practised contrary to Law the same shall cease which would be unjust and of ill example and to impose upon the Conscience of some for the satisfaction of the Conscience of others which is otherwise provided for As it could not be reasonable that men should expect that We should Our Self decline or enjoyn others to do so to receive the Blessed Sacrament upon Our Knees which in Our Conscience is the most humble most devout and most agreeable Posture for that Holy Duty because some other men upon
all thoughts of Victory are laid aside the humble and necessary thoughts for the Vindication of Truth cannot be enough entertained We must for the honour of all those of either perswasion with whom We have conferred declare That the Professions and Desires of all for the advancement of Piety and true Godliness are the same their professions of Zeal for the Peace of the Church the same of Affection and Duty to Us the same They all approve Episcopacy They all approve a set form of Liturgy and they all disprove and dislike the sin of Sacriledge and the alienation of the Revenue of the Church And if upon these excellent Foundations in submission to which there is such a harmony of Affections any Superstructures should be raised to the shaking those Foundations and to the contracting and lessening the blessed gift of Charity which is a vital part of Christian Religion We shall think Our Self very unfortunate and even suspect that We are defective in that administration of Government with which God hath entrusted Us. We need not profess the high Affection and Esteem we have for the Church of England as it is established by Law the Reverence to which hath supported us with Gods Blessing against many temptations nor do We think that Reverence in the least degree diminished by Our Condescentions not peremptorily to insist on some particulars of Ceremony which however introduced by the Piety and Devotion and Order of former times may not be so agreeable to the present but may even lessen that Piety and Devotion for the improvement whereof they might happily be first introduced and consequently may well be dispensed with and We hope this charitable compliance of Ours will dispose the Minds of all Men to a chearful submission to that Authority the preservation whereof is so necessary for the Unity and Peace of the Church and that they will acknowledge the support of the Episcopal Authority to be the best support of Religion by being the best means to contain the Minds of Men within the Rules of Government And they who would restrain the exercise of that holy Function within the Rules which were observed in the Primitive times must remember and consider that the Ecclesiastical Power being in those blessed times always subordinate and subject to the Civil it was likewise proportioned to such an extent of Jurisdiction as was most agreeable to that And as the Sanctity and Simplicity and Resignation of that Age did then refer many things to the Bishops which the policy of succeeding Ages would not admit at least did otherwise provide for so it can be no reproach to Primitive Episcopacy if where there have been great alterations in the Civil Government from what was then there have been likewise some difference and alteration in the Ecclesiastical the Essence and Foundation being still preserved And upon this ground without taking upon Us to censure the Government of the Church in other Countries where the Government of the State is different from what it is here or enlarging Our Self upon the Reasons why whilst there was an Imagination of erecting a Democratical Government here in the State they should be willing to continue an Aristocratical Government in the Church It shall suffice to say that since by the wonderful Blessing of God the Hearts of this whole Nation are returned to an obedience to Monarchick Government in the State it must be very reasonable to support that Government in the Church which is established by Law and with which the Monarchy hath flourished through so many Ages and which is in truth as ancient in this Island as the Christian Monarchy thereof and which hath always in some respects or degrees been enlarged or restrained as hath been thought most conducing to the Peace and Happiness of the Kingdom and therefore We have not the least doubt but that the present Bishops will think the present Concessions now made by Us to allay the present Distempers very just and reasonable and will very chearfully conform themselves thereunto 1. We do in the first place Declare Our purpose and Resolution is and shall be to promote the Power of Godliness to encourage the exercises of Religion both publick and private and to take care that the Lord's Day be applied to holy Exercises without unnecessary divertisments and that insufficient negligent and scandalous Ministers be not permitted in the Church And that as the present Bishops are known to be Men of great and exemplar Piety in their Lives which they have manifested in their notorious and unexampled Sufferings during these late Distempers and of great and known sufficiency of Learning so We shall take special Care by the assistance of God to prefer no Men to that Office and Charge but Men of Learning Vertue and Piety who may be themselves the best examples to those who are to be Governed by them And We shall expect and provide the best We can that the Bishops be frequent Preachers and that they do very often Preach themselves in some Church of their Diocess except they be hindred by Sickness or other bodily Infirmities or some other justifiable occasion which shall not be thought justifiable if it be requent 2. Because the Diocesses especially some of them are thought to be of too large extent We will appoint such a Number of Suffragan Bishops in every Diocess as shall be sufficient for the due performance of their work 3. No Bishop shall Ordain or exercise any part of Jurisdiction which appertains to the Censures of the Church without the advice and assistance of the Presbyters And no Chancellors Commissaries or Officials as such shall exercise any Act of Spiritual Jurisdiction in these cases viz. Excommunication Absolution or wherein any of the Ministry are concerned with reference to their Pastoral charge However Our intent and meaning is to uphold and maintein the Profession of the Civil Law so far and in such matters as it hath been of use and practice within Our Kingdoms and Dominions Albeit as to Excommunication Our Will and Pleasure is that no Chancellor Commissary or Official shall Decree any Sentence of Excommunication or Absolution or be Judges in those things wherein any of the Ministry are concerned as is aforesaid Nor shall the Arch-Deacon exercise any Jurisdiction without the advice and assistance of six Ministers of his Arch-Deaconcy whereof three to be nominated by the Bishop and three by the election of the major part of the Presbyters within the Arch-Deaconry 4. To the end that the Deans and Chapters may be the better fitted to afford Counsel and Assistance to the Bishops both in Ordination and the other Offices mentioned before We will take care that those Preferments be given to the most Learned and Pious Presbyters of the Diocess And moreover that an equal number to those of the Chapter of the most learned pious and discreet Presbyters of the same Diocess annually chosen by the major vote of all the Presbyters of that Diocess
to put an end to our present Differences and to Unite us for the future that so we may become a flourishing Nation free from the Factions and Divisions of former Ages Proposals for our present Vniting 1. I Humbly propose that the Ceremonies at present enjoyned by Law might be left to the liberty of the Clergy to use or lay aside and that because the Dissenters on the one hand are perswaded that their conformity to them would be sinful and the Church of England on the other hand hath declared at several times that they are things indifferent and may be changed Upon our first Reformation in the account she hath given of Ceremonies why some be abolished and some retained She saith thus That as those Ceremonies were taken away which were most abused and did burthen Mens Consciences without any cause so the other that remain are retained for Discipline and Order which upon just causes may be altered and changed Again since his Majesties Restauration in her Preface to the Common-Prayer are these Words That the particular Forms of Divine Worship and the Rites and Ceremonies appointed to be used being things in their own Nature indifferent and alterable and so acknowledged it is but reasonable that upon weighty and important Considerations according to the various exigency of times and occasions such changes should be made therein as to those that are in place of Authority should from time to time seem either necessary or expedient Accordingly we find that in the Reigns of several Princes of Blessed Memory since the Reformation the Church upon just and weighty Considerations her thereunto moving hath yielded to make such Alterations in some some particulars as in their respective times were thought convenient Thus far the Church of England And of late I find that a very eminent Member thereof the Reverend Dean of Canterbury hath aequainted us in a publick Sermon Preached by him at the Yorkshire-Feast That though it was not for private Persons to undertake in matters of publick concernment yet he thought he had no cause to doubt but the Governours of our Church notwithstanding all the advantages of Authority and Reason too as they thought on their side were Persons of that Piety and Prudence that for Peace sake and in order to a firm Vnion amongst Protestants they would be content if that would do it not to insist upon little things but to yield them up whether to the infirmity or importunity or perhaps in some very few things to the plausible exceptions of those who differed from them The Reverend Dr. Sherlock in a Sermon lately preached before the Lord Mayor hath likewise most charitably and piously declared his Thoughts about these matters of difference in the following Words We have reason to hope that the Church of England which at the beginning of the Reformation took such prudent Care not to offend the Papists going farther from them than was necessary will whenever it is likely to do good condescend a great deal farther than it is necessary to reform to meet the Dissenter for while the external decency gravity and solemnity of Worship is secured no wise and good Man will think much to change a changeable Ceremony when it will heal the Breaches and Divisions of the Church And let us all heartily pray to God that there may be this good and peaceable disposition of Mind in all Conformists and Non-conformists towards a happy re-union and all considering Men will think it time to lay aside such little Disputes when it is not meerly the Church of England nor any particular Sect of Protestants whose Ruin is aimed at but the whole Protestant Faith. And as a farther Confirmation of the readiness not only of our Divines but of the Fathers of our Church to incourage so glorious a Work His Grace of Canterbury and the rest of the petitioning Bishops did in their famous Petition for which they were sent Prisoners to the Tower assure his Majesty That they did not refuse to distribute and publish his Declaration for Liberty of Conscience from any want of due Tenderness to Dissenters in relation to whom they were willing to come to such a Temper as should be thought fit when that Matter should be considered and setled in Parliament and Convocation And not long after another company of Bishops who were sent for by the late King Iames to give him their Advice in in several important Affairs of the Nation among other things proposed That a Free Parliament should establish a due Liberty of Conscience The Archbishop of Canterbury was to earnest to promote this so Christian Design that among those admirable Articles recommended by his Grace to all the Bishops within his Province which were to be more fully insisted upon in their Addresses to the Clergy and People of their respective Diocesses this was one That they also walk in Wisdom towards those that are not of our Communion And if there be in their Parishes any such that they neglect not frequently to confer with them in the Spirit of Meekness seeking by all good Ways and Means to gain and win them over to our Communion More especially that they have a very tender Regard to our Brethren the Protestant Dissenters that upon occasion offered they visit them at their Houses and receive them kindly at their own and treat them fairly wherever they meet them perswading them if it may be to a full compliance with our Church or at least that whereunto we have already attained we may all walk by the same Rule and mind the same thing And in order hereunto that they take all Opportunities of Assuring and Convincing them that the Bishops of this Church are really and sincerely irreconcilable to the Errors Superstitions Idolatries and Tyrannies of the Church of Rome And that they warmly and most affectionately exhort them to joyn with us in Daily Fervent Prayer to the God of Peace for an Vniversal Blessed Vnion of all the Reformed Churches both at home and abroad against our common Enemies and that all they who do confess the Holy Name of our Dear Lord and do agree in the Truth of his Holy Word may also meet in one Holy Communion and live in perfect Vnity and Godly Love. Now seeing the Church of England once and again declared her excellent temper and moderation for the preservation of Peace and Unity the great end and design of all Church-government we have little reason to question her readiness at such a time as this is to comply with so modest a Proposal as a liberty of using or refusing those Ceremonies which she saith In their own nature are indifferent and alterable and upon weighty and important considerations may be changed c. or to grant her consent to such a Subscription in relation to those Articles which concern the Government and Discipline of the Church as are proposed by the Learned Dean of S. Paul's in the Appendix especially considering that by
this condescention of hers she will certainly bring into her Communion a great number of pious moderate and more considerative Non-conformists Which will not only add strength to her self but give a great joy and content to all those who have wish'd well to the Peace Unity and prosperity of this our Church and Nation To which end it would not be amiss that a strict Injunction should be laid on the Clergy and People to forbear all harsh and unchristian Language one towards another and to observe the Apostles Rule of not judging one another 2. I would likewise humbly propose That the rest of the Protestant Dissenters might be indulged by Act of Parliament provided they neither Preached wrote nor discours'd against the Doctrine or Government of the Church as by Law established and that because Charity which is kind and thinks no evil would oblige a sober and indifferent person to believe that the reason of their Separation from our Church did chiefly proceed from a tenderness of Conscience impressed upon them by the force of their Education Study Conversation c. lest in complying with the present established Form of Worship they should sin against God and wound the peace of their own Souls for otherwise their own present quiet and interest must necessarily have obliged them to a Compliance they having been under a continual danger and hazard of the execution of the Laws established against them whereby they have been not only deprived of that Maintenance which by the countenance of Authority they might otherwise have expected and publickly enjoyed but exposed to many wants difficulties and sufferings Proposals for preventing future Divisions I humbly propose to the Wisdom of this present Parliament That an ACT might be passed whereby every person after a limited term of years intending to take holy Orders should be incapacitated for any Church-preferment or for a License to preach in private Congregations who could not give a satisfactory account to the Bishop of the Diocess where he intended to settle of his proficiency and ability in Church-History and Primitive Learning whereby he might be able to give a clear and plain account of what Discipline and Order were used in the Church of God nearest our Saviour's and the Apostles days when Differences and Errours in Doctrine or Church-government began first to arise with the Authors Occasion and Effects thereof The Advantages which must necessarily attend the making of such a Law would be very great both to our interest in Church and State amongst which I beg leave to name the following 1. We might hereby for the future more assuredly hope for and expect Peace and Union amongst our Church-Men who having been all well acquainted with Primitive Learning and practice with the rise and growth of all Heresies Schisms and Divisions in the Church and with the fatal consequences which have attended them they would not more rationally than unanimously make choice of one and the same Form of worship and Discipline but most heartily unite in their affections to one another endeavouring with all their strength and power to maintain the Church in Peace and Unity 2. By this means we might be assured to enjoy the most Learned Clergy that ever this Nation brought forth who would not only prove a great Bulwark against Popery on the one hand but Schism and Faction on the other and being to well accomplished for the Ministerial Function before they enter into it might much more assuredly engage the affection and hearts of their people by spending in private the greatest part of the Week in instructing them in the Principles and encouraging them in the Practice of the Christian Religion a Duty alas too much neglected in our days 3. We may then hope for Preferments to answer every man's Merit One of the principal Reasons why we have more Clergy-men than Livings seeming to be this That a great number of ordinary Tradesmen and Farmers do send their Children to the Universities being ambitious to make them Gentlemen though they are unable to maintain them there above three or four Years in which time such Accomplishments are not to be attained as are required by this Proposal If therefore such a Law as this were once established they would be willing to bring them up to honest Professions and Trades much more suitable for them and Persons of better Estate and Quality would be encouraged to bring up their Children in the Universities and continue them there until they arrived to that pitch of Learning which would not only render them the Honour of their own but the Envy of Foreign Nations and also capacitate them for the enjoyment of a Preferment suitable to their Parents Charge and their own Pains and Industry especially if the King would appropriate the First-Fruits and Tenths of all Ecclesiastical Preferments or the Parliament should think fit to raise a sum of Mony for the purchasing Impropriations and endowing Livings with such a competency as might enable the Incumbents to provide comfortably for themselves and Families and to keep up decent Hospitality in their Neighbourhood and would annex those Impropriations when purchased to the Bishops and Chapters of each Diocess who are to be presumed to be the most competent Judges of the Abilities of all Persons to be entrusted with the care of Souls And for the more effectual Success of this important Affair let the Bishops be obliged every Year to call upon the Universities for the Names of the most Pious Learned and Industrious Persons in their several Colleges In short I heartily wish that we might often and seriously remember our blessed Saviours Prediction that a Kingdom divided against it self cannot stand and likewise consider that fate which attended the Faction and Division of the Iews which grew to that height that they could not forbear destroying each other even when their declared Enemies the Romans were coming to besiege their City From which good Lord deliver us APPENDIX His Majesty's Declaration to all His loving Subjects of His Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs CHARLES R. HOW much the Peace of the State is concerned in the Peace of the Church and how difficult a thing it is to preserve Order and Government in Civil whilest there is no Order or Government in Ecclesiastical Affairs is evident to the World and this little part of the World Our own Dominions hath had so late experience of it that we may very well acquiesce in the Conclusion without enlarging Our self in Discourse upon it it being a Subject We have had frequent occasion to contemplate upon and to lament abroad as well as at Home In Our Letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons from Breda We declared how much We desired the Advancement and Propagation of the Protestant Religion That neither the unkindness of those of the same Faith towards Us nor the Civilities and Obligations from those of a contrary Profession of both which We have had
of the Rule of their Worship and Discipline and of all the Persons belonging to the indulged Congregations with their Qualities and Places of Abode and that none be admitted a Member of any such Congregation without acquainting their Visitor with it that so means may be used to prevent their leaving our Communion by giving satisfaction to their scruples This Power of the Bishops cannot be scrupled by them since herein they are considered as Commissioners appointed by Law. 8. That no indulged Persons presume under severe Penalties to breed up Scholars or to teach Gentlemens Sons University-Learning because this may be justly looked on as a design to propagate Schism to Posterity and to lay a Foundation for the disturbance of future Generations II. As to the Case of the ejected Ministers I have these things to offer 1. That bare Subscription of the Thirty six Articles concerning Doctrinal Points be not allowed as sufficient to qualifie any Man for a Living or any Church-preferment for these Reasons First Any Lay-man upon these Terms may not only be capable of a Living but may take upon him to Administer the Sacraments which was never allowed in any well-constituted Church in the Christian World. And such an allowance among us instead of setling and uniting us will immediately bring things into great confusion and give mighty advantage to the Papists against our Church And we have reason to fear a Design of this Nature under a pretence of Union of Protestants tends to the Subversion of this Church and throwing all things into confusion which at last will end in Popery Secondly This will bring a Faction into the Church which will more endanger it than External Opposition For such Men will come in Triumphantly having beaten down Three of the Thirty Nine Articles and being in Legal Possession of their Places will be ready to defie and contemn those who submitted to the rest and to glory in their Conquests and draw followers after them as the Victorious Confessors against Prelacy and Ceremonies And can they imagine those of the Church of England will see the Reputation of the Church or their own to suffer so much and not appear in their own Vindication Things are not come to that pass nor will they suddenly be that the Friends of the Church of England will be either afraid or ashamed to own her Cause We do heartily and sincerely desire Union with our Brethren if it may be had on just and reasonable Terms but they must not think that we will give up the Cause of the Church for it so as to condemn its Constitution or make the Ceremonies unlawful which have been hitherto observed and practised in it If any Expedient can be found out for the ease of other Mens Consciences without reflecting on our own if they can be taken in without reproach or dishonour to the Reformation of the Church I hope no true Son of the Church of England will oppose it But if the Design be to bring them in as a Faction to bridle and controll the Episcopal Power by setting up forty Bishops in a Diocess against one if it be for them to trample upon the Church of England and not to submit to its Order and Government upon fair and moderate terms let them not call this a Design of Union but the giving Law to a Party to oppose the Church of England And what the success of this will be let wise Men judge Thirdly if a Subscription to Thirty Six Articles were sufficient by the Statute 13 Eliz. c. 12. I do not understand how by virtue of that Statute a Man is bound publickly to read the Thirty nine Articles in the Church and the Testimonial of his Subscription on pain of being deprived ipso facto if he do not For the L. Ch. I. Coke saith That Subscription to the 39 Articles is required by force of the Act of Parliament 13 Eliz c. 12. And he adds That the Delinquent is disabled and deprived ipso facto and that a conditional Subscription to them was not sufficient was resolved by all the Judges in England But how a Man should be depriued ipso facto for not Subscribing and Reading the 39 Articles as appears by the Cases mentioned in Coke and yet be required only to subscribe to 36 by the same Statute is a thing too hard for me to conceive 2. But notwithstanding this if any temper can be found out as to the manner of Subscription that may give ease to the scruples of our Brethren and secure the Peace of the Church the desired Union may be attained without that apparent danger of increasing the Factions among us And this I suppose may be done by an absolute Subscription to all those Articles which concern the Doctrine of the true Christian Faith and the Use of the Sacraments and a solemn Promise under their hand or Subscription of Peaceable Submission as to the rest so as not to oppose or contradict them either in Preaching or Writing upon the same Penalty as if they had not subscribed to the 36. Which may be a more probable means to keep the Church in quiet than forcing a more rigorous Subscription upon them or leaving them at their full liberty 3. As to the other Subscription required 1 Jac. to the 3 Articles The first is provided for by the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy The Third is the same with the Subscription to the 39 Articles And as to the second about the Book of Common-Prayer c. It ought to be considered 1. Whether for the satisfaction of the scrupulous some more doubtful and obscure passages may not yet be explained or amended Whether the New Translation of the Psalms were not fitter to be used at least in Parochial Churches Whether portions of Canonical Scripture were not better put in stead of Apocrypha Lessons Whether the Rubrick about Salvation of Infants might not be restored to its former place in the Office of Confirmation and so the present exceptions against it be removed Whether those expressions which suppose the strict exercise of Discipline in Burying the Dead were not better left at liberty in our present Case Such a Review made by Wise and Peaceable Men not given to Wrath and Disputing may be so far from being a dishonour to this Church that it may add to the Glory of it 2. Upon such a Review whether it be not great reason that all Persons who Officiate in the Church be not only tied to a constant Use of it in all publick Offices as often as they administer them which they ought in Person frequently to do but to declare at their first entrance upon a Parochial Charge their approbation of the Use of it after their own Reading of it that so the People may not suspect them to carry on a factious Design under an outward pretence of Conformity to the Rules of the Church they live in 3. Whether such a solemn Using the Liturgy and approbation and
promise of the Use of it may not be sufficient in stead of the late Form of declaring their Assent and Consent which hath been so much scrupled by our Brethren These are all the things which appear to me reasonable to be allowed in order to an Union and which I suppose may be granted without detriment or dishonour to our Church There are other things very desirable towards the happiness and flourishing of this Church as the exercise of Discipline in Parochial Churches in a due subordination to the Bishop the Reforming the Ecclesiastical Courts as to Excommunication without prejudice to the excellent Profession of the Civil Law the Building of more Churches in great Parishes especially about the City of London the retrenching Pluralities the strictness and solemnity of Ordinations the making a Book of Canons suitable to this Age for the better Regulating the Conversations of the Clergy Such things as these might facilitate our Union and make our Church in spight of all its Enemies become a Praise in the whole Earth A Specimen of a Bill for Vniting Protestants being a rough Draught of such Terms as seem equal for the Conformist to grant and the Non-conformist to yield to for Peace sake Provided a good while and Published on purpose only for the farther better and more easie Consideration of the Parliament WHereas there are many Jealousies risen about Popery which makes it even necessary to the peace of the Nation that the Protestant Interest be united and strengthened by all Good and Lawful Means And to this end there being this one proper Expedient to wit The removing the Occasion of Divisions which several persons do find to themselves in those late Injunctions which yet were intended to the same purpose of Concord in the Nation Be it Enacted That an Explanation of these Impositions and such Alleviations be allowed to the tenderly Considerate and peaceably Scrupulous as follow In the Act of Uniformity By the Declaration of Assent and Consent to all things and every Thing contained in and prescribed by the two Books of Common Prayer and of Ordering Priests and Deacons we understand not that these Books are in every Minute particular infallible or free from that Defect which is incident to all Human Composure But that they are in the main Contents to be sincerely approved and used And we do therefore allow this Declaration to be sufficient if it be made to the use of the Book in the Ordinary Constant Lords-Days-Service notwithstanding any Exceptions some may have against some Things in the By-Offices and Occasional Service the Rubrick and otherwise And for the Ceremonies which are made and have been always and on all hands held to be only indifferent Things we think fit that they be left to the Consciences and prudence of Ministers and People every where excepting the Cathedrals to use them or forbear them as they judge it most meet for their own and others Edification provided that if any person will have his Child Baptized with the Sign of the Cross or stands upon any thing else hitherto required by the Service-Book if the Minister himself scruple the performance he shall permit another to do it In the same Act By those Words in the Subscription that It is not lawful to take Arms against the King upon any Pretence whatsoever we intend no new or strange Thing but the Rightful Maintenance only of the King's Authority against Rebellion according to the common determination of Learned Writers in the Case of Subjection to Princes By the Words I abhor the Position of taking Arms by the Authority of the King against any Commissionated by Him we never thought of advancing the Arbitrary Commissions of the King above Law but by those Commissionated by Him we understand such as are Legally Commissionated and in the Legal pursuit of such Commissions By the Clause which follows that requires a Renunciation of all Endeavour of any Alteration of Government in the Church or State we never meant to deny any Free-born Subject his Right of Choosing Parliament-Men or Acting in in his place for the Common Good any way according to Law but that he shall Renounce all such Endeavour as is Seditious or not warranted by the Constitution of the Nation and particularly such an Endeavour as was Assumed in the late Times without and against the Consent of the King And for the rest of the Subscription which is enjoyned but to the Year 1682. Be it Enacted that it cease presently and be no longer enjoyned And forasmuch as there is an Oath prescribed and required of all Non-conformists Preachers that reside in any Corporate Town by a certain Act of the former Parliament made at Oxford in the 17 th Year of His now Majesties Reign Entituled An Act for restraining Non-conformists from inhabiting Corporations We do further declare That it shall suffice any Man for the Enjoyment of his Free born Liberty of Inhabiting where he thinks best and serve him also instead of the fore-mentioned Subscription to take that Oath in this form of Words following I A. B. do swear That I hold it unlawful upon any pretence to take Arms against the King His Government or Laws And that I disclaim that dangerous Position of taking Arms by his Authority against his Person or any Legally Commissionated by him in the Legal pursuit of such Commissions And that I will not endeavour any Alteration of Government in the Church or State in any way or manner not warrantted by the Constitution of the Kingdom or any otherwise than by Act of Parliament And as soon as any Man has taken the Oath thus he shall be discharged of all penalty for his omission before We do Declare moreover That whereas it is required also in the Act of Uniformity that every Minister who injoys any Living or Ecclesiastical preferment shall be Ordained by a Bishop and there are several persons of late who in case of Necessity for want of Bishops took Presbyterian-Orders Our meaning is not in any wise to disgust the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas and make it necessary for such to be Re-ordained to the Office but that they receive this Second imposition of Hands to the Exercise of their Office in the new charge unto which they are or shall be called and that the Bishop shall frame his words accordingly And whereas there is a Subscription also in the Canons and the Canonical-Oath of Obedience imposed on most Ministers by the Bishops that have given some of the greatest Occasion to Non-conformity heretofore which yet never passed into Law by any Act of Parliament We do further Declare That nothing more of that kind shall be required of Ministers hence forward than was made and held necessary by the Act of the Thirteenth of Elizabeth And in regard there hath been great Offence taken by Conscientious Ministers at the Bishops or their Courts commanding them to read the Sentence of Excommunication against some or other of their Parish
for such faults as they think not at all worthy of so great a Censure We declare it but a just Thing that every Minister be first satisfied in the Cause or else be exempted from the Execution of that Charge and that the Bishop or his Court provide some other person that is satisfied about it to do it And to the intent that a free search after Truth may not be discouraged in the pursuit of Concord and many other Scruples avoided upon that Account We declare that though an Authentick Interpretation be required as to the Substance of all Laws yet in the Articles of the Church which are Theses for Agreement and not Laws and the Homilies a Doctrinal Interpretation shall be held sufficient for an Assent or Subscription to them And because the very Superintendency of Bishops and that Subjection to them which is required by the Constitution of the Realm is or may be an hindrance to many sober Ministers and other Protestants of coming into the Church who are ready to consent to the Doctrine but not to the Discipline or Government of it We do declare That so long as any Person or Party do acknowledge the King's Supremacy as Head of the Church in this Nation and obey their Ordinary or the Bishops in Licitis Honestis upon the account of his Authority committed to them for the Exercise of that External Regiment Circa Sacra which is granted by all our Divines to the Higher Powers in every Nation it is enough for the owning Episcopal Iurisdiction so far as they do own it in the Declaration of Assent and Consent or in any other part of Conformity and shall serve them to all intents and purposes in Law no lets than a professed belief and acknowledgment of the immediate Divine Right of it Be it therefore Enacted by this present Parliament That if any Person be willing to Conform to the present Establishment of the Church of England and her Service appointed according to these Explanations Alleviations Declarations Lenitives or Cautions he shall be admitted to any Ecclesiastical preferment and enjoy the use of his Ministry without any molestation All Statutes Canons or Laws to the contrary notwithstanding And for the making this Act of better Signification to the Concerned and the prevention of that Scandal which is raised on the Clergy through the Covetousness of some in heaping up to themselves all the Preferments they can get when others have scarce Subsistence for their Families and the Souls of many People are thereby neglected Be it farther Enacted that no Clergy-men for the three next years ensuing be suffered to enjoy any more than one Living or Cure of Souls and one Dignity or other Ecclesiastical Preferment at one time and that every Man without Exception that hath more than One of Either shall immediately give up the Rest to be distributed among those who shall be brought off from their Non-conformity upon the Terms of this Act into the Established Order Which that they may also be obtained and possessed with a clean Conscience and that grievous Curruption of Simony may be Extirpate out of the Land Be it Enacted moreover that every Patron that shall hence forward present his Clerk to any Living shall have the Oath called The Simonical Oath imposed on him no less than on the Incumbent And if he refuses to take it that then the Bishop shall have immediate Power taking only the same Oath of Presentation in his Room And forasmuch as there are some Ministers of a good Life that cannot according to their Judgments allow of our Parochial Churches nor a Book of Liturgy But do choose to Worship God and Jesus Christ in the way of their gathered or separate Congregations and crave the Protection and Clemency of the King upon their Allegiance as other Subjects Be it finally Enacted for the happiness and quiet of the Realm and the Reduction of these Men by other means than those which have hitherto proved unsuccessful That every Christian Subject throughout the Land that profess the Reformed Religion and be not Convict of Popery be Pardoned all Faults and Penalties incurred upon the account of any Fore-passed Non-conformity and that they shall not during these Seven Years next ensuing be Prosecuted upon any Penal Law for their Consciences in the matter of Religion They carrying themselves Innocently and Peaceably with submission to the Civil and without disturbance to the Ecclesiastical Government now settled in the Nation All Statutes to the contrary notwithstanding In Short A Repeal of our Laws about Conformity unto the 13 th of Elizabeth Or a New Act of Uniformity Or The King's Declaration concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs at his first coming in turn'd into a Law were Comprehension His latter Declaration to all his Loving Subjects some few things in both yet a little considered made so were Indulgence A Bill of Comprehension with Indulgence both together will do our Business An Addition or Clause in it against Pluralities will do it with Supererogation Deo Gloria Hooker's Preface to his Ecclesiastical Polity printed anno 1676. p. 44 45. Hooker's Preface to his Ecclesiastical Polity p. 44. Dr. Stillingfleet's Irenicuâ— p. 122.123 Preface to the Common-Prayer Dr. Tillotson's Sermon Preached at the Yorkshire-Feast An. 1679. p. 28. Dr. Sherlock's Sermon Preached before the Lord Mayor Nov. 1688. Co. Inst. 4. Part. 323 324