of Latitudinarian Principles yet they having hitherto lived in a Conformity to the Church as established we hope they will not give up any thing that is substantial with the Circumstantials for Decency and Order or if they do so it will be as pardonable in us of the Country to forsake them as for some of those eminent Divines that were joyned in Commission with them And I am fully perswaded that on making such Alterations as are said to be prepared by the Commissioners the Church will run the hazard of offending a greater number of more considerable persons than they are likely to gratifie thereby Object But such Alterations being made such as shall thenceforward continue to be Dissenters will be more inexcusable Ans This is not very probable because they will still say you have only taken off the lesser Offences but have continued the weighter Matters on their Consciences still viz. such as in their Consciences they account to be Sinful and their Conformity to them to be Damnable And if after such Alterations be established by Law and any Penalty be annexed for the Sanction of that Law the Legislators will be reflected on as Persecutors and their Laws as so many tearing Engines though I must needs say there never yet were such severe Penalties enacted against any sort of Dissenters though known to be Men of Atheistical and Antimonarchical Principles as against some Reverend Fathers and Members of the Church who are known to be Men of Religious and Peaceable Principles yet they quietly submit with a Deus providebit I may well presume that no Man living in Communion with our Church is convinc'd that there is any thing Sinful in that Communion now these being the greater and the better part I say with Dr. Beveredge in his Sermon to the Convocation p. 25. Neque ratio neque perpetua Ecclesiae consuetudo patitur ut pars toti praeferatur Neither reason nor the perpetual Custom of the Church doth permit that a part should be preferred before the whole And then nothing can justify the Dissenters from Schism in their Separation from us for as to things that are by them judged Inexpedient it is fit that the greater and better Part should judge of Expediency for the rest and not they for themselves or their Betters And if such Opinionative and Ungovernable People were for a while by strict Discipline taught the Duty of Self-denial as to things in their nature indifferent and how necessary Obedience to Superiours is in such cases which even they themselves do practice and in which sort of things only our Governours have Authority we might hope for an Uniformity and not otherwise And to this end it is very observable what Dr. Beveredge says in his Sermon p. 26. Antiquas novis mutare Legibus To change old Laws for new is alway dangerous unless such a Necessity constrain as is otherwise insuperable There was never any Church which hath not inserted into her Laws many things not contrary but beside those things which are in the Holy Scripture and having made such Laws do establish them by the Sanctions of Ecclesiastical Punishments p. 23 When therefore that Learned Doctor says p. 27. Vtrum Ecclesiae noslra c. whether our Church be obliged by a Necessity to change any thing that is by her Laws established is not his part to determine but Prudentis est and immediately adds This only I dare to affirm That if it be necessary to reduce wandring Sheep into Christ's Flock if to take off Scruples from the minds of weak Brethren if to allay Hatred appease Anger and as much as may be to suppress all Dissentions concerning Religion if to recall Ecclesiastical Discipline to its Primitive Vigour if to Defend and Establish the best Church in the World against the Assaults of Men and Devils if these things says he seem necessary to any Man it will also seem necessary to that Man to admit such Changes as he is perswaded will conduce to such ends so as the Change be made in such things only which our Church hath constituted by her sole Authority not in such as the Vniversal Church by her common Laws hath Established Here then we say that to alter the Episcopal Government to take the Power of Ordination from Bishops and place it in the hands of Presbyters to take away a Well-ordered Liturgy and bring in Extemporary Prayers for Publick Worship to give every Minister a Jurisdiction and Power of Excommunication and many other things without which some grave Dissenters will not be comprehended is more than the Learned Doctor will grant for of such things he speaks his mind impartially Has sub quovis praetextu vel extremis digitis attingere c. To endeavour the removal of these under any pretence whatsoever or to touch them with one of our Fingers is contrary to the Religious Care of all the Churches of God and of our own And to Abrogate or Reject that which hath been every-where and at all times observed is not to change an Ecclesiastical Rite only but the Church itself and to make it differ from all other Churches of God But what then is the Doctor 's Judgment concerning such Constitutions as are in the Power of a particular Church Ans This the Doctor determined p. 23. ut supra and again p. 26. A Change hath neither been wont nor ought to be made by any Church at any time unless some great Necessity do constrain thereto But of a change of what fort of Laws doth the Doctor speak That he tells us in the same Page Neque enim quispiam c. There is not any Man so skilful as by any Art to foresee how many and great dangers are like to arise by the change of incommodious Laws wherefore to change old Laws for new is alway dangerous unless such a necessity urge it as cannot otherwise be overcome and such as is so manifest to all that whoever seeth the Change may also see Summam ejus rationem necessitatem the greatest Reason and necessity for the Change even of those incommodious Laws To this I shall need to add no more than that apt Allusion of this Learned Doctor concerning the Obligation of Ecclesiastical Laws p. 19. As in this Kingdom there are many Corporations and inferiour Societies which have a Power granted them of constituting Laws for themselves and their Members with this caution That nothing be done or constituted by them which is contrary to the Statutes of the Realm the Common Law or any ancient Custom which beyond the memory of Man hath been introduced and received by the whole Kingdom and thereby hath obtained the force of a Law Now though this be in p. 20. applied to the Universal Church yet in p. 21. the Doctor applies it to particular Churches In quacunque provincia sitae sunt In whatever Province a Church is planted the Bishops and Pastors of that Province may as oft as occasion requires
tend more certainly and speedily to its Confusion than that out of the Church And this Schism is already in being and will not be remedied tho' all the Ceremomonies should be taken away it is therefore very imprudent causlesly to begin another Schism in the Church especially when it is not so much Conscience as Scruple and Prejudice on which the Dissenters dislike our Ceremonies for when for their Interest and enjoyment of beneficial Offices they were required to conform to the Publick Worship they did it notwithstanding the Use of Ceremonies and I know few of them who are not willing that their Children and Relations should conform for their advantage and therefore I shall not trouble the Reader with his impracticable Idea's for Accommodation and only say That more than what he proposeth hath been offered for an Accommodation but refused and that not without scorn Page 9. He comes to the business of Reordination and says They that have been Ordained by Presbyters though they are not against Episcopal Orders yet think it unlawful to renounce them and to be Reordained Answ This he confesseth to be against a late Act of Parliament yet in force which hath provided That none are to be admitted to Officiate in the Church of England without Episcopal Ordination for which reason if there were no other I cannot see how any Member of the Convocation can consent to it The first Reason which the Letter gives for it is That it was not so before Answ It was ever so in the Church of England except in some extraordinary Cases where Ordination by Bishops could not be had as in the Case of the three Scottish Bishops but here the Case is altered there being Bishops ready to give Orders ever since 1660 wherefore such as have been Ordained by Presbyters since that time may be said to do it in Contempt of their Authority in that Case nor were those that were Ordained before that time deprived of an opportunity to take their Orders from the Hands of a Bishop there being some still ready to confer them and many in the preceding Years did accept of those Orders from Bishops which argues that such as did not refuse it in Contempt or for their Preferment which was denyed to some because they had been Episcopally Ordained but the main Argument may be taken from Dr. Beveridge's Text 1 Cor. 11.16 If any Man seem to be contentious we have no such Custom neither the Churches of God for search all the Ecclesiastical Records and you will find that except in case of great necessity no Ordination hath ever been accounted valid but such as hath been administred by the Hands of a Bishop and if any did contest it they have been branded as contentious Persons This Country-Minister therefore assumes too much to himself to prescribe to the Convocation in so material a Point and urge Arguments for it when the Commissioners were only to prepare Materials for the Convocation to determine of But he pleads farther p. 10. Quod fieri non debuit factum valet Though it ought not to be done yet being done it is valid This is denied because both those Presbyters that gave it and these who received it were guilty of a Schism as much then as now for the Practice is still continued Episcopal Ordination being still to be had without any considerable difficulty And the Author grants that St. Hierome tho' pleading the Cause of Presbyters against Bishops yet grants that it was the sole Prerogative and distinguishing Character of that Order viz. of Bishops to Ordain His words are Quid enim non faciat Presbyter quod facit Episcopus excepta Sola Ordinatione And therefore the Salvo's which he makes for the sake of some particular persons against the constant practice of the Universal Church and particularly against the Law of the Land cannot be excused from being a Plea for the present Schism and the perpetuating thereof such Ordinations being still practised Page 12. He speaks concerning Declarations and Subscriptions the result whereof is That he perswades himself and I think he will not perswade many others besides those who already stand out that what is generally understood by those Subscriptions and Declarations ought to be more plainly expressed For if it be generally so understood already as he would have it what need is there to have it more plainly expressed viz. That the former i. e. the Declaration of Assent and Consent is to the Vse of the Common-Prayer the latter viz. Subscription to the Articles is as to Articles of Peace and Concord which he says is the Sense of Archbishop Laud as he understands it against Fisher p. 51. n. 2. And without doubt that of Archbishop Bramhall Schism guarded S. 1. C. 11 c. and Mr. Chilingworth's Answer to Charity Maintained But yet to maintain Schism and Contention he forms a Case after this manner Suppose a young Student not a Dissenter thinks of entring into Holy Orders and considering what he is to do meets first with the Declaration of his unfeigned assent and consent to the use of all and every thing contained in and prescribed by the Book of Common-Prayer among which he finds that the Apocrypha is to be read Of this Scruple we have spoken already Then he proceeds to the Psalms and comparing the two Translations finds some things inconsistent and sometimes the one to deny what the other affirms Ans And this Case hath been already seanned but to omit nothing of his Objections he adds That this young Man finds in the two Translations some things inconsistent and the one to deny what the other affirms and being to use both in the Desk he reads as Psal 105.28 They were not obedient to his word and in the Pulpit with the Hebrew and the new Translations he reads They rebelled not against his word To this I answer First There are many seeming Inconsistencies and Contradictions in that which he calls the Correct Translation namely from the Hebrew which have occasioned the writing of divers Books for the reconciling of them and none but such as are disposed to Atheism are offended at them 2dly This is such a Blunder as none but a Man wholly given to Contention and is able to read the Resolutions of Learned Men could be guilty of had he consulted but Mr. P.'s Synopsis on the place that the words LoMaru admits of an Interrogation and that is a vehement affirmation then the sence of this Translation Did they not rebel is as much as they did rebel against his word which is the same with the other Translation viz. They were not obedient or they rebelled against his word thus the Hebrew Translation agrees with the Septuagint And of this among other instances Mr. Poole gives one Exod. 8.26 we read will they not stone us when without the Interrogation it would have been translated They would not have stoned us but the Septuagint also agrees well with the Hebrew Translation for the
VOX CLERI OR THE Sense of the Clergy Concerning the Making of ALTERATIONS IN THE ESTABLISHED LITVRGY WITH REMARKS on the Discourse concerning the Ecclesiastical COMMISSION and several Letters for ALTERATIONS To which is Added An Historical ACCOUNT OF THE Whole PROCEEDINGS OF THE Present Convocation My Son fear thou the LORD and the King and meddle not with them that are given to Change Prov. xxiv xxi Ipsa mutatio consuetudinis etiam quae adjuvat utilitate novitate perturbat August ad Januarium Epist 118. Cap. 5. Licensed and Entred according to Order London Printed and are to be sold by R. Taylor near Stationers-hall 1690. THE AUTHOR'S PROTESTATION TO cure the Prejudices with which too many are already prepossessed and to prevent the growth and mischievous effects which they may produce I have thought it necessary for the security of my self and Brethren to declare what our Perswasions are as to the Present Government both in Church and State And first we have by our Oaths promised to bear Faith and true Allegiance to the King and Queens Majesties And the whole Clergy have renewed their Allegiance to their Majesties and their adherence to the Church as Established in their late Address of Thanks c. in these words Whereby we doubt not but the Interest of the Protestant Religion in all other Protestant Churches which is dear to us will be better secured c. So that whoever do represent them as enemies either to the Church or State or any Protestant Churches do falsly and maliciously reproach them or interpret that to be their sin which is their bounden duty and care and if these be our faults I hope there is no sort of people who joyn with us in living in obedience to the Laws of the Land and in the Communion of the Church will entertain those Prejudices and hard thoughts of us which some that are enemies to both have from the Press and from their Pulpits scandalously suggested against us to draw an Odium on the Consultations of the whole Clergy in Convocation and to incense the people against them as enemies to peace and reconciliation I only crave this kindness from those that are influenced with these reports 1. To consider what our Adversaries report of us And 2ly what may be the reason of such reports The Author of the second Letter reflected on in the following Discourse relating to the Convocation hath these expressions concerning such as are not for Alterations Pag. 6. I expect no less than that they become abhorred of the whole Nation and as the common enemies of its peace be treated accordingly in every Parish where we live among them P. 5. That we have maintained Trifles with unreasonable Rigor And P. 6. we have already lost our reputation with the people by insisting too rigorously on those things P. 9. That there is an obligation upon us of coming to a change not to be resisted without guilt P. 20. That we are a base and false sort of men that can promise in adversity and forget all when that is over P. 22. That we shall lose the people of the Land and give our Adversaries advantage over us to our utter ruin P. 15. That the People are overthrown by Excommunications for a penny or two-penny cause That we shall totally extinguish all Convocations for the future and therefore he desires them to consider whether the Church of England is now met together only to be Felo's de se and not to mention all his vile insinuations that in P. 25. contains as much spite and venom as he could hold without breaking such saith he as are most perversely bent against reason and conscience to do all the wickedness they can to gratifie a peevish humour With these things he asperseth the whole Clergy in general cloathing them as the Persecutors of old did the Christians in Bears and Lions Skins and so exposed them to be devoured by such creatures But this Author comes to Particulars And P. 25. says of the suspended Bishops whom he acknowledgeth as their greatest enemies must that they are excellent men yet says if they should not consent to Alterations The resentment of the State will be heavy on them as enemies to them and us so as they will be immediately crush'd and fall to nothing And more particularly he thus reflects on our worthy Prolocutor as a man worthy of the death of the greatest Criminal For thus he saith of him We have no reason to thank him for his Speech or his Motto the last of which I suppose pleased him best because it carried a double stab with it the one against the Church the other against his greatest Benefactor to promote him in it Tantum Religio potuit suadere malorum But 2ly What is the cause of all this bitter zeal and inveterate malice it is only because he fancieth they will not consent to such Alterations as shall be proposed to them but first it may well be supposed that neither he nor they do yet know what Alterations will be for none have been as yet proposed to them and therefore to hang and draw before any crime be alledged against them is a most barbarous practice especially for one that is of the same Communion with them and upon those whom he acknowledgeth to be such excellent men his Fathers and his Brethren But thus did his Predecessors heretofore destroy the Church by such malicious insinuations from groundless fears and jealousies as the Jews did Crucifie our Saviour Venient Romani They will bring in Popery But when the Church hath defeated that Engine and made it wholly useless by rooting up the very foundations of Popery such men must have recourse to other inventions And the noise of Persecution is raised against them that they have been and would be again if they had power as great Persecutors as the Heathen Emperors were but this clamor the present Bishop of Salisbury with some others have silenced proving undeniably that the Church of England had neither the temper nor the power to be of a Persecuting spirit And now the Cry is That she is of a peevish and obstinate humour that against Reason and Conscience hinders peace and reconciliation and in sum saith our Author That she is afraid of losing her Church power and Church-promotions though all the Nation knows with what general unanimity and Christian resolution the Clergy hazarded all their Promotions by refusing to publish the late Kings Declaration for Liberty of Conscience and suspending the Penal Laws which now their enemies plead for in compliance with the present juncture of Affairs and is as evident as any matter of fact can be and little less evident is it who they are that gape for the Preferments which other men have signally deserved and are legally possessed of if this be not enough wholly to cure the prejudices which have been insinuated into the Minds of over-credulous and inconsiderate Men yet I hope that which follows
hold their Synods or Sacred Assemblies to deliberate and consult of things belonging to the Church constituted in that Province And p. 22. All such Churches by their Synods have power to make Laws as they shall judge expedient for the better Administration of the Publick Worship of God and of his Word and Sacraments within their Province otherwise it could not well be that any Provincial or National Church should long subsist or be at peace And p. 23. Moreover it belongs to all the Churches of God to establish by Ecclesiastical Penalties such Canons by them made lest any thing contrary to them should be without Impunity committed Object But our Divisions had almost betrayed us to Popery and Slavery for prevention of which danger for the future it is adviseable as much as may be to inlarge the Terms of our Communion Ans But who betrayed us to those Divisions were they not such as causelesly separated from us and were more ready to joyn with the common Enemy of the Protestant Religion though they call'd themselves true Protestants than with the Church of England Whereof he that wrote the Defence of Dr. Stillingfleet's Sermon of Separation gave an Account and even dared the Opponents to call him to the proof of it viz. That Dr. Owen c. were entertain'd as Pensioners to the late King and by him encouraged to continue our Divisions by which the Papists got great advantages against us And whereto tended the flattering and fulsom Addresses of the Sectaries to the late King to stand by him with their Lives and Fortunes and to obey him without Reserve but to continue those Divisions and foment those Seeds of Discord which were grown up and ripen'd almost for the Harvest to cut us all down and utterly destroy us And what if some leading Presbyterians be by our Alterations let into the Church and advanced to such Preferments as they hope for to be Bishops Deans Arch-deacons c. what security have we that they will not promote Divisions in the Church more dangerous than the Schism they made by Separation from us as some Bishops and others that had been sour'd with that Leaven being preferred in the Reign of Charles the Second did attempt A secret Enemy within the Walls of a well Fortified City is more dangerous than an open Foe in the Field I have read in the Life of Judge Hales written by the present Bishop of Sarum p. 71. That there was a Bill for Comprehension contrived by Bishop Wilkins Sir Orlando Bridgman and that Judge which though it contained more reasonable Terms than what are now proposed as I have been informed for the Admission of some Dissenters into our Communion yet it was opposed by the Clergy because they thought a Faction within the Church would prove to be more hurtful than a Schism without it And when one Party was let in upon Terms not perhaps unreasonable another Party upon other Terms less reasonable would solicite their Admission And it was objected That as some might come in so others that were in our Communion might take Offence by the Alterations and desert it and seeing our frequent Changes in some things they might suppose that there is nothing certain among us and from the many Disputes about our Liturgy proceed to question our Articles and at last fall off to the Church of Rome which they saw more constant to their Principles For which and other reasons the Bill was cast out by the Votes of the House of Commons with whom the same Considerations may still prevail And now let the Men that are given to Change produce those weighty and important Reasons required in the Preface to the Common-Prayer or that great Necessity which Dr. Beveredge requires for the Alteration even of incommodious Laws Is it necessary that an honest Man should voluntarily resign his Freehold to a litigious Person who neither desires nor deserves it and perhaps would improve the possession of it to his ruine Is it necessary that a Parent should yeild to a disobedient Child upon his own unreasonable terms Is it necessary that a good Man should accuse bear false witness against and condemn and execute himself and be a Felo de se Is it necessary that the Citizens should suffer a breach to be made in their Wall to give advantage to an Enemy when they are ready to open their Gates to let in any that offers a reasonable assurance that he is a Friend Is there any necessity to Reform that Church which is conseft to be the best Reformed Church in the World that Church to whose Pattern all the rest do desire and only want power and opportunity to conform their own Is it necessary we should do more for those who wilfully departed from us and as our Saviour intimates Not being content to be with us were against us than we have done for those forreign Protestants Men of great Learning and tender Consciences who voluntarily offer themselves to our Communion without insisting on any Terms with us Is it necessary that a Church in which all things necessary to Salvation may be freely enjoyed should accuse herself of want of Christian Charity and of imposing such sinful Terms for admitting others into her Communion as were purposely designed to keep them out and afterward voluntarily cast off those things and thereby confess themselves guilty of so great Uncharitableness Is it necessary that a Church which hath Authority to judge for itself what is decent and orderly should subject herself to the Judgment of her Members to determine for her or themselves what is decent and expedient and what is not especially when the Exception from Obedience to the Church in such things ought to be as evident and unquestionable as the Command to obey them in such Matters is Is it necessary that we should give greater Offence to the Papists from coming into our Communion now in this juncture of time by our Variableness and Defect of the Solemnity of Publick Worship which hitherto they have objected against us Is it necessary we should part with any thing to them whom we have reason to suspect that they will not leave craving till they have all When all these things are proved to be necessary then shall we be ready to make Alterations in our Ceremonies and other Circumstances if the Dissenters will be content to let us injoy what is substantial and necessary to the well-being of our Church In the mean time we shall account our selves Happy in the number of those English-men that know when they are well REFLECTIONS ON A DISCOURSE CONCERNING The Ecclesiastical Commission SIR I Have also conferred with my Brethren concerning a Book intituled A Discourse concerning the Ecclesiastical Commission 1689. Of which we shall not say so much as the Author doth of a former Commission for the like affair viz. That he never entertain'd a good Opinion of it We only remark that this Author hath laid the foundation which he
Verb plural may have respect to divers precedent Nouns some whereof speak de rebus signis others de personis Now the Aegyptians for the conviction of whom God executed the Plagues before spoken of were not obedient to his word and so both Translations agree These and other Resolutions are so clear that I wonder how any Country-Minister much less one of the City should at this time of the day be ignorant of them but none so blind as he that will not see for it looks like a design in the Author to foment Prejudices and Mistakes in the Minds of young Men to keep up a Schism against the Church And so doth his next Plea p. 14. against the use of the Athanasian Creed whilst he restrains the Damnatory Sentences to one Article of the Creed which is to be referred to the whole for so says the Preface This is the Catholick Faith c. Moreover I think it not necessary to Salvation that every Man should believe that Article of the Procession of the Holy Ghost from the Father to the Son seeing there are several Articles in the Creed called the Apostles as we receive it now which in the most Primitive Times were not extant in that Creed for which consult Vossius Armagh and Dr. Pearson the late Bishop of Chester and therefore I cannot conceive that those Greek Churches were Hereticks and in a state of Damnation that held not the Filioque And to this purpose the Letter makes his second Quere Whether this be a fundamental Article of the Faith which except a Man believes he cannot be saved Seeing as he grants it is not made necessary by Athanasius himself nor was originally either in the Nicene truly so called or Athanasian Creed Nor is it so thought by our Church says the Letter which receiving the four first General Councils agrees with that of Ephesus which is the third which made a peremptory Decree against all Additions to be made thereafter to the Creed Concil Ephes Part 3. Art 6. Which shews that some Additions had been formerly made From whence says he it follows that nothing else was then accounted necessary to be believed but what was contained in the Nicene And so the Damnatory Sentences not appearing to be the Addition of Athanasius nor respecting any particular Article but what is fundamental and necessary to Salvation in the whole the young Man notwithstanding any thing that the Letter saith may Subscribe the Athanasian Creed with the Damnatory Sentences which are applicable only to such as obstinately deny the Fundamental Articles of the Christian Faith contained in that Creed And I desire the Author of this Objection to consider what occasion it hath given to the Antitrinitarians to proclaim their Blasphemies against the Blessed Trinity and consequently against the Christian Religion for a late Writer says That Athanasius was drunk when he wrote that Creed That it is setled by a Tyrannical Dominion and is a Superstition or Polity rather than true Religion That the Follies and Contradictions charged on the Doctrine of Transubstantiation are neither for Number Consequence or Greatness comparable to those implied in the Athanasian Creed And that the Trinity hath the same foundation with Transubstantiation and we must admit both or neither This Opinion of the Socinians hath been so confuted by our late Divines that I shall not repeat their Arguments so apt are our Adversaries of all sorts to improve the Objections of Dissenters into very dangerous and destructive Errors Page 15. This Country-Minister hath a very modest Request in behalf of himself and the Dissenters viz. That Presbytery may be restored to its ancient Priviledge and permitted to share in all Acts belonging to their Station What Acts those are he sufficiently intimates but doth not enumerate they must share in the Jurisdiction and Administration of Discipline in the issuing forth of Excommunications and in the power of Conferring Orders and this forsooth for the honour of the Bishops to take off whatever they may suffer by Misgovernment and I suppose they would quickly draw too much of that Odium upon themselves Wherefore as he doth so shall I leave these things to the mature consideration of the Convocation and how likely it is that the Church would not be the worse for these Alterations But concerning this he raiseth two Objections the first is Where are they that would come in upon these Concessions and Alterations And 2dly if they do come in what advantage this will be to the Church To the first he says 't is but to try and I say whatever the Church can grant and not be the worse for it hath been already tried and scornfully rejected though the Concessions were more than the Convocation can now with prudence and safety grant them for these will not stifle their clamours against the Church who have publickly declared that they expect greater things But in justice and integrity says the Letter these things ought to be granted for it was promised by their Bishops viz. that they wanted not due tenderness towards Dissenters but 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 But as he says they promised it when it was not in their power and now the more is the pity it is not in their power to perform it but they promised no more than was fit to be granted i. e. upon great and important Reasons nor more than what should be thought fit by a Parliament and Convocation to which it is still referred 2dly He inquires what benefit this will be to the Church To which I answer None at all if as he says when kept out they are Enemies and when let in they will be no Friends but when they have more power and opportunity they may do more mischief S. M. E. C. T. Y. M. N. W. S. were in the Church in 1641 and did it more hurt than those that were kept out and there are still such among us as are not of us whose Names would make up as terrible a word as that of Smectymnuus but I forbear to call Names His third General is That there are such things in our Church as may be altered for the better Ans Thus some Men have attempted to mend the Magnificat but finding they could not do that they resolved to lay it aside And many an unskilful Architect hath under taken to repair a good old Fabrick and make it better but by pulling down Beam after Beam and after a lesser Stone a greater till the whole Fabrick hath been like to fall and then what perhaps was designed at first he perswades the Owners that there is a necessity wholly to destroy the old and erect a new one upon better foundations And thus the Country-Minister thinks he hath cleared the Point and may come in for a share in the imployment and benefit And first he ingageth to make easie and
Jane had the Majority of Voices yet great endeavours were used to prefer the Dean whose Party having argued much for it but saw themselves overcome did at last yeild to the Election of Dr. Jane the Votes for him being double to the others The first thing that was done in the Convocation after the chusing the Prolocutor was Decemb. 4th when the Commission from the King was read there being present twelve Bishops the Commission was as follows WIlliam and Mary by the Grace of GOD King and Queen of England Scotland France and Ireland Defenders of the Faith c. To all to whom these Presents shall come Greeting Whereas in and by one Act of Parliament made at Westminster in the 25th Year of the Reign of King Henry the 8th Reciting That whereas the King 's Humble and Obedient Subjects the Clergy of this Realm of England had not only acknowledged according to the Truth that the Convocation of the same Clergy were always had been and ought to be Assembled only by the King 's Writ but also submitting themselves to the King's Majesty had promised in Verbo Sacerdotis that they would never from thenceforth presume to Attempt Alledge Claim or put in Ure or Enact Promulge or Execute any new Canons Constitutions Ordinances Provincial or others or by whatsoever other Name they should be called in the Convocation unless the said King's most Royal Assent and License might to them be had to Make Promulge and Execute the same and that the said King did give his Royal Assent and Authority in that behalf It was therefore Enacted by the Authority of the said Parliament according to the said Submission and Petition of the said Clergy among other things That they nor any of them from thenceforth should Enact Promulge or Execute any such Canons Constitutions or Ordinances Provincial by whatsoever Name they might be called in their Convocations in time coming which always should be Assembled by Authority of the King 's Writ unless the same Clergy might have the King 's most Royal Assent and License to Make Promulge and Execute such Canons Constitutions and Ordinances Provincial or Synodal upon Pain of every one of the said Clergy doing contrary to the said Act and being thereof Convict to suffer Imprisonment and make Fines at the King 's Will. And further by the said Act it is Provided That no Canons Constitutions or Ordinances should be Made or put in Execution within this Realm by Authority of the Convocations of the Clergy which should be contrariant or repugnant to the King's Prerogative Royal or the Customs Laws or Statutes of this Realm any thing contained in the said Act to the contrary thereof notwithstanding And lastly It is also Provided by the said Act That such Canons Constitutions Ordinances and Synodals Provincial which then were already made and which then were not contrariant or repugnant to the Laws Statutes and Customs of this Realm nor to the Damage or Hurt of the King's Prerogative Royal should then still be Used and Executed as they were before the making of the said Act until such time as they should be Viewed Searched or otherwise Ordered and Determin'd by the Persons mentioned in the said Act or the most part of them according to the Tenor Form and Effect of the said Act as by the said Act among divers other things more fully and at large it doth and may appear And whereas the particular Forms of Divine Worship and Rites and Ceremonies appointed to be used therein being Things of 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 and Alterations should be made therein as to those that are in Place and Authority should from time to time seem either necessary or expedient And whereas the Book of Canons is fit to be Reviewed and made more suitable to the State of the Church And whereas there are divers Defects and Abuses in the Ecclesiastical Courts and Jurisdictions and particularly there is not sufficient Provision made for the removing of Scandalous Ministers and for the Reformation of Manners either in Ministers or People And whereas it is most fit that there should be a strict Method prescribed for the Examination of such Persons as desire to be admitted into Holy Orders both as to their Learning and Manners Know ye That We for divers urgent and weighty Causes and Considerations Us thereunto moving of Our especial Grace certain Knowledge and meer Motion have by Vertue of Our Prerogative Royal and Supream Authority in Causes Ecclesiastical Given and Granted and by these Presents do give and grant full free and lawful Liberty License Power and Authority into the Right Reverend Father in GOD Henry Lord Bishop of London President of this Present Convocation for the Province of Canterbury upon the Suspension of the Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury during this present Parliament now Assembled and in his Absence to such other Bishops as shall be appointed President thereof and to the rest of the Bishops of the same Province and to all Deans of Cathedral Churches Arch-Deacons Chapters and Colledges and the whole Clergy of every several Diocess within the said Province That they the said Lord Bishop of London or other President of the said Convocation and the rest of the Bishops and other the said Clergy of this present Convocation within the said Province of Canterbury or the greatest number of them whereof the President of the said Convocation to be always one shall and may from time to time during this present Parliament Confer Treat Debate Consider Consult and Agree of and upon such Points Matters Causes and Things as We from time to time shall Propose or cause to be proposed by the said Lord Bishop of London or other President of the said Convocation comercing Alterations and Amendments of the Liturgy and Canons and Orders Ordinances and Constitutions for the Reformation of Ecclesiastical Courts for the Removing of Scandalous Ministers for the Reformation of Manners either in Ministers or People and for the Examination of such Persons as desire to be admitted into Holy Orders and all such other Points Causes and Matters as We shall think Necessary and Expedient for advancing the Honour and Service of Almighty GOD the Good and Quiet of the Church and the better Government thereof And we do also by these Presents Give and Grant unto the said Lord Bishop of London or other President of the said Covocation and to the rest of the Bishops of the said Province of Canterbury and unto all Deans of Cathedral Churches Arch-Deacons Chapters and Colledges and the whole Clergy of every several Diocess within the said Province full free and lawful Liberty License Power and Authority That they the said Lord Bishop of London or other President of the said Convocation and the rest of the said Bishops and other the Clergy of the same
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-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-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