DIONYSIUS GRANVILLE DECANUS DUNELMENSIS AET. SVAE 54 Beaupoille pinxit G. F. Edelinck Sculp Jâ—peâ—sis Thomâ—â— Hacquet 〈◊〉 hâ—s pitis sui anno Dom. 1693. Serenissimum Dominum Jacobum Secundum Magnoe Britanioe Regem secutus est in Galliam Anno 1688. Propter fidelitatem Suam Domino Regi Principe Arausiacensi Coronam Anglioe Vsurpante deprivaÌ„tus fuit anno 1691. THE RESIGNED RESOLVED CHRISTIAN AND FAITHFUL UNDAUNTED ROYALIST In tvvo Plaine Farevvell-Sermons a Loyal Farevvell-Visitation-Speech Both deliver'd amidst the Lamentable Confusions occasioned by the Late FORREIGN INVASION HOME-DEFECTION of his Majesties Subjects in England By DENIS GRANVILLE D. D. Deane Archdeacon of Durham novv in Exile Chaplaine in Ordinary to his Majestie Whereunto are added Certaine Letters to his Relations Freinds in England shewing the Reasons and manner of his withdrawing out of the Kingdom VIZ A LETTER TO HIS BROTHER THE EARLE OF BATHE A LETTER TO HIS BISHOP THE BISHOP OF DURHAM A LETTER TO HIS BRETHREN THE PREBENDARIES A LETTER TO THE CLERGY OF HIS ARCHDEACONRY A LETTER TO HIS CURATS AT EASINGTON ET SEDGEFEILD Printed at Roüen by WILLIAM MACHUEL ruë S. Lo neare the Palace for JOHN BAPTISTE BESONGNE ruë Escuyer at the Royall sun and are to be sold by AUGUSTIN BESONGNE in the Great Hall of the Palace at Paris In the yeare of our Lord God M. DC LXXXIX TO THE READER THE Subject-matter of these ensuing sheets concerning Christian Resolution Humble Submission to the will of God in times of distresse according to the example of the holy Patriach Jacob Hearty subjection to the King according to the Doctrine of the Church of England our many Indispensable tyes of Conscience will with all those few who truly Feare God Honour the King sufficiently a pologize I hope for the publication of them in a Juncture an Age advanced to the highest contempt defiance both of Loyalty and Religion That Incensed God who hath for our manifold provocations and more particularly wee have reason to believe for our Carnall Confidence in the Arme of Flesh Disobedience to Gods Vice-Gerent powred out the vialls of his wrath on three Kingdoms is not like to be appeased without the serious practice of the contrary Graces in a manner as Universall and generall as hath been our late notorious Defection towards the King by an abhorr'd detestable Violation of the many sacred often repeated Oaths whereby all subjccts were obliged to support his Crowne Dignity Such is my sense of what is past Dread of Allmighty Gods future Indignation when I consider that I am how weak and unworthy soever advanced to a publick station in the Church of England that I cannot satisfy my selfe with mourning in secret but conceive it my indispensable duty to proclame after such a Stupendious Revolution as soon as well as I am able to all persons in the Kingdom my unfeigned Resolution to adhere to my Soveraigne in his distresse least I may by silence contribute to the increase of that dangerous Lethargy which hath seized on the People of England who by Resisting at length Deserting their Prince have Apostatized from their Religion I have helped possibly as litle as any one of my Brethren or fellow-subjects in the Nation to the first growth of this disease having for six tuentie years together openned my mouth widely on Topicks which would have prevented had they met vvith due regard our present misery for the truth whereof I appeale to the whole Jurisdiction whereto I have long related But however I cannot think my-selfe perfectly disengaged to ioyn in attempting the Cure or at least to help on vvhat is God bee thanked in some sort begun vvhereto the contradictory preposterous proceedings of the Kings enimies have assisted I mean to the oppenning the eyes of thousands in England to see already the madness of their Change the Errors of their late method to redresse Grievances by labouring to bring their Soveraigne to Termes all that vvas aimed at I do in Charity beleive by the Church of Englands fallen sons and to deliver the Nation from Domestick Evills by calling for Forreigne Assistance § The number of souls committed to my charge in the Cathedrall in my Archdeaconry in the Peculiar Jurisdiction depending on the Church of Durham are too many too considerable to be forgotten or neglected by me now incapacitated othervvise to Preach to them Therefore in this low Ebb of Loyalty vvhen Instances of firme fidelity to ones Prince are so rare the Dean of Durham it is hoped vvill be pardonned if he sets so much value on his ovvn Example as to make use of it as vvell as his vvords vvritings tovvards the Extricating the People vvith vvhose soules hee hath been Intrusted out of the Labyrinth vvhereinto they are Run by Non-Compliance vvith their Lavvfull Gratious Soveraigne ready Concurrence vvith a Forreign Usurper or at least tovvards the Hindring them from Running farther yet into it remaining stupidly in so sinfull and deplorable a state condition This induces me to vvish that I could bring the last vvords I spoke to the Clergy Ecclesiastick Officers of my Archdeaconry to the Members of the Cathedrall and Citty of Durham contained in the ensuing Discourses to the vievv and consideration of the vvhole County Diocesse that those vvho vvere absent vvhen I utterd them may as vvell as those present partake of my poor zeale and endeavours for their spirituall Advantage vvhich is all the Returne I can at present make for the temporall Benefits I have reaped in that country during my injoyment of sundry considerable Preferments among them If such Communication of my Papers cannot be so soon so successefully effected as I would by reason all Intercourse betwixt the Kingdom of England this wherein I reside is stop'd I am willing in the meane while to let the world see that I am not Idle or Unconcerned but do all that in me lyes towards this honest End whereby if no proffit accrews to them or others I shall ease my mind deliver my soule If any are pleased to censure contemn or reject my writings because they find nothing in them Learned or Elaborate ot where of the Age is over-fond Controversial I desire them to consider that Polemik Learning Divinity are things I never did nor shall pretend to And that in the month of November 88. when I spake to the Clergy in the first week of December following when I preached in the Abby at Durham as ill as things did portend I little dreamt that my Soveraigne or selfe should be put under an unavoidable necessity to fly in to an other Kingdome or that I should be obliged to make use of such meanes methods to Evidence my sincerity in my Religion the first thing I should strive to Evince to all those to whose spiritual Assistance I administer otherwise
in their Misfortunes and thereby to demonstrate that my poor distressed Mother in the greatest and most generall defection as this seemes to be that ever vvas among any King of Englands subjects vvill never vvant some to bear testimony to the truth of her Doctrine vvho according to the Exemple of Christ and his Apostles doth maintaine the practice of Allegiance and intire submission and subjection to all Lavvfull supreme povvers deputed by God as his Vice-Gerents to Governe the vvorld Hovv great a contradiction hereof soever the last years transactions in England have proved vvhich hath given the greatest vvound that vvas ever yet given to our Church the Doctrine of Non-resistance Remaines on such authentick Record in the Church of Englands Printed Homilies against Rebellion vvhich I have in some sort Epitomised in the conclusion of my discourse that your Majesty as vvell as the King vvil I hope bee pleased to continue your Charitie to our Ecclesiastick Constitution vvith liberty to its members to Exercise their Religion and thinke no vvorse of the Parent for the disobedience of the Children but render that Iustice to the Church of England vvhich is due to all Churches to vvit to bee Iudged by her Doctrine Discipline and Order vvhich I am sure never did carry a long vvith them any Rebellion and not by the practice or Conversation of its Members VVhereby if the vvhole Christian Church vvas to bee Iudged it vvould in many things appeare more vile then some parts of the vvorld overrun vvith Turcisme and Paganisme Offerring to God my most fervent devotions for the preservation and Restoration of the King the Life and Happinesse of the Prince and out of Gratitude to Heaven in a most particular manner for your Majesty vvho have been Instrumentall to the Greatest blessing vvhich hath been these many yeares conferred on the Kingdom in bearing and bringing forth an Heir male for the support of the Monarchy I do vvith all humility implore yours together vvith his Majesties Patronage as vvell as beg Pardon for this Presumption and vvith the most profound respect imaginable subscribe my selfe YOUR MAJESTIES MOST DUTIFULL EVER FAITHFUL SERVANT SUBIECT DENIS GRANVILLE A DISCOURSE CONCERNINC CHRISTIAN RESIGNATION AND RESOLUTION WITH SOME LOYALL REFLECTIONS ON THE DUTCH INVASION Preached in the Cathedrall Church of Durham on the 1. Wensday in Advent the sunday follovving being the 5. 9. of December 1688. By DENIS GRANVILLE D. D. Deane Archdeacon of Durham novv in Exile Chaplaine in Ordinary to his Majestie TWO SERMONS CONCERNING CHRISTIAN RESOLUTION And Humble Submission to the VVill of God in Tymes of Distresse on the Holy Patriarch Iacobs Farevvell VVords to his sons at Parting IF I BE BEREAVED OF MY CHILDREN I AM BEREAVED Gen. ch 43. v. 14. FOR the better Understanding of the Story it Will be requisire to reade the precedent Words from the 11. verse to the text v. 11. If it must be so novv do this take of the best fruites of the Land in your Vessels and carry dovvn the man a Present a little balme a little honey spices mirrhe nuts almonds v. 12. And take double money in your hands and the money vvhich vvas brought againe in the mouth of your sacks carry it againe in your hand peradventure it vvas an Oversight v. 13. Take also your Brother and arise go againe unto the man. v. 14. And God Almicghty give you Mercy before the Man that hee may send avvay your other Brother Benjamin IF I BE BEREAVED OF MY CHILDREN I AM BEREAVED THe Approaching Holy Feast of CHRISTS NATIVITY or Coming in the Flesh doth Every yeare require a Solemne preparatory time of Devotion And that it may not want such due respect the Church takes care in its preceding Exercises Every Sunday service during ADVENT hath an Eye to that pious End purpose In pursuance whereof wee have in this Cathedrall revived an Antient Religious Custome Two dayes of every week throughout this season to wit wednesdays fridays are Sermon Dayes dedicated to Prayer Fasting to accompany those Exercises of Repentance which are allwayes thought a necessary part of out Preparation But Gods Impending Iudgements for our sins which at this time threaten Bloud Confusion do summon us to add to those exercises and by some voluntary impositions of Dayly Devotion Mortification to turne this Advent in to A little Lent giving up our selves wholy to the Exercise of Piety Prayer beseeching God that hee will not Enter into Iudgement vvith us and for our provocations give us up as a Prey unto our Enimies making us a scorne derision to them that are round about us It is lawfull nay Religious by Devout Prayer to Use Violence to the Kingdom of Heaven and if wee did in this our Distresse betake our selves to so sure a Refuge making use of the Holy Weapons of the Antient Christians PRAYERS TEARES crowding up to the horns of the Altar rendring all our Devotions more prevalent by the vveekly Reception of the Lords Supper wee that meet in Gods House if we came with that spirit Which wee ought might do our King and Country better service than those who fight for him in the Field What hath been said I premise in regard to the present Season of ADVENT and the Ensuing Feastivall of CHRISTMAS by reason my text doth not respect Either of them so particularly as the Storme Danger Which is imminent doth loudly call for the Holy Resolution asvvell as submission of Pious Jacob. And having so done I shall before I enter on the Words Move you to Pray according to the Canonicall Exhortation of the Church Yee shall pray for the Holy Catholieck Church of Christ that is for the vvhole Congregation of Christian people dispersed throughout the VVorld more espetially for the Churches of Great Britaine Ireland And here in I am to require you more particularly to pray for our Dread Soudraigne Lord Iames by the Grace of God King of England c. Yee shall likevvise pray for our Gratious Queen Mary Katherine the Queen dovvager his Royall Higness the Prince of VVales c. Concluding your Devotions allwayes with the Lords Prayer Our Father c. THe PATRIARCHS were now returned from their first journey Sermon I into Egypt and as they little thought from full-filling their Brother Iosephs dreame They had Bovved to him whom they thought they had Robbed of all Honour and been Fed by him whom they once conspired to Starve So inviolable is Gods purpose in things to man impossible OLD JACOB here at first with greatest Joy wellcomes home his weary sons but excesse of gladnesse is commonly attended on with Greife the end of Ioy is Mourning Whiles hee is yet congratulating their good successe in their Journey the sad newes of Simeons Imprisonment silenceth his mirth Which Greife too is attended on by a greater the necessity of his Deare Benjamins going into Egypt Crosses in
in the same page all sins by all names that sins may bee named by all meanes that sins may bee committed do vvholly upon heaps follovv Rebellion pag. 361. Pestilence Famine VVar declared in scripture to be the greatest of VVordly Plagues Miseries yea all the Miseries vvhich these Plagues have in them do alltogethor follovv Rebellion the fore-quoted pag. Of all vvars Civil VVar wee are there minded is the vvorst But Rebellion far more abominable than any Civill VVar pag. 362. Moreover that Rebells are Commonly punished vvith Remarkable shamefull Deaths that they do very seldom repent the greatest of Punishments wee are assured by the very same Homily pag. 363. As also that Heaven is the Place of good obedient subjects as Hell the Prison Dungeon of Rebells against God their Prince Our Church in that very page terming every obedient Realme the Figure of Heaven a Rebellious one the similitude of Hell. I thinke I need not produce any more quotations or arguments out of this Repository of our Church to convince you that Rebellion is the most abhorred sin and that it can never prove a soveraigne salve whoever are the Authours or supporters of it for the King Church or Kingdome But that I may have a sufficient foundation for a pathetick disswasion from this sin it will bee requisite to informe you fully in right Church-of-England-Loyalty And it can bee no other that is taken word for word out of these her own authorized Sermons which will bee most effectually done by satisfying you in a particular manner what the Church of England esteemes to be Rebellion First to vvithstand or use any force or violence to Lavvfull Soveraigns the they be never so vvicked and do never so much abuse their Povver is Rebellious If you will not give mee credit I 'le tell you the very page where you may finde it Even in the Homily of Obedience Part. the second pag. the 66 the last Edit in the yeare 1676. Where you are also minded and I desire you to take good notice thereof that the Amalâ—kite vvho Killed King Saul tho it vvas done by Sauls ovvn consent comand 2 Kings 1 vvas put to Death Secondly wee are informed that not only open Rebellion or dovvn right Resistance of the Lords anointed but any kind of Insurrection or COMMOTION or Murmuring one of our moderne vertues is condemned as an intollerable VVickednesse in a vvell governed Kingdome p. 67 of the same Hom. Where you see by the way how much this Ages and that Ages Protestants differ in their Sentiments of Loyalty Thirdly in case of unlavvfull or sinfull Commands our Mother the Church of England amidst all the unjust Reproaches cast on her is so far from approving any Violent vvithstanding or Rebelling against lavvfull Rulers that it will not allow of any sort of sedition or Tumults either by Force of Armes or Othervvise against the King himselfe or any of his officers But layes before the Rebells Eye Gods remarkable Judgements on Corah Dathan Abiram and on others for provoking God in the like kinde and lesse provocations than most of us have been guilty of tho through the mercy of God a Gratious King wee have hitherto escapd unpunish'd The fore-mentiond Corah Dathan Abiram vvere svvallovved up alive for but Grudging against Gods Magistrates Others vvere utterly Consumed by a sudden Fire sent from God for their VVicked Murmuring Others vvere suddenly stricken vvith a foul leprosy for but frovvard behaviour not to mention some stung to death with strange fiery serpents and 14700 at one tyme killed vvith the Plague whereof you are minded in the Conclusion of the same Homily as you are in Other places of scripture of 24000 70000 also slaine by the same Judgement of God for the very same sin That very sin of Rebellion that truly Diabolick sin which many present pretenders to Loyalty nourish in their Bosomes who have invited the SWORD into the Land thereby Conjured up a Devill which God knowes when they will bee able to Conjure dovvn againe I shall say no more to rectify your Notions Concerning Loyalty Rebellion than that our mother the Church of England now sadly Wounded by her own Children who is Exceeding averse to this Hellish crime doth in these her orthodox Pious Composers the standard of our Sermons divinity Condemne it as disloyall Rebellious not only to depose destroy or oppose the King but to put him in feare to Terrify or disturb his sacred Person or Mind valuable as the scripture tells us above ten thousand of his subjects And hovv any of those vvho either ioine vvith his Enimies or sit still vvhen their Soveraigne needs their assistance or somuch as mutter against him can purge themselves from this last mentioned Guilt if the Contrivers and Mannagers of the Invasion have furnished them vvith distinctions to cleare themselves of the former I shal never bee able to comprehend or Understand Having novv by Gods assistance shevvn you the necessity of Christian submission Resolution Resignation to the VVill of God and the manner hovv vvee are to Exercise those necessary usefull Graces and also made some seasonable Reflections on Gods Iudgements at this time hanging over our Heads vvhich do lovvdy call for the Practise of the fore-said Duties vvithout vvhich t is impossible for us to be so truly Penitent as to appease Gods vvrath Laying also before you the Hainous Guilt odiousnesse of the sin of Rebellion and according to the Doctrine in the Words of the Church of England endeavoured to informe you vvhat the Church vvhich can better Judge than our Private Heads doth esteeme to bee Rebellion Rebellious to fortifie you against the Odd Notions Hodge-Podge-Divinity of such Divines as are more able to write the History of the Reformation than willing to Practise the Reformed Religion of the Church of England the Glory whereof is the Bearing Faith true Allegiance to their lawfull Soveraigne Give mee leave as well as I am able to dissvvade you from that abominable sin and all approaches tovvards it vvhich is so dreadfull in its consequences and destructive to Monarchy and Episcopacy being fostered as the Darling of Presbitery a Common vvealth and probably by none more than our Neighbouring One vvho Upholds her unnaturall Invasion by tempting Subjects to â—ight against their Lavvful Soveraigne BRETHREN I am not so old as to have forgot nor so young but that I do Well Remember the spetious holy Pretences of 41 vvhich vvere made use of to Ruine both Church State. Neither vvould I bee thought so stupid as not to feare suspect but that the same Traine of Designes Intrieguts and Mathinations may have the same dismallâ— effects The Generality of People vvere even then in the dayes of King Charles I. as much afraid of Popery as vvee are at present tho hee shevved himselfe to bee one of the most Pious men
power which had been before exercised but from the utmost malice of all it 's worst Adversaries who were watching to devour her The wretched Requitall of God's mercy Love made to Heaven by the most Real I fear none can excuse themselves as well as pretended Friends of Crown Myter in repaying such unexpressible Bounty with Contempt and Ingratitude at last the most deplorable Folly Madness of the People of England in being catch'd by nay running into the very same Snares wherein they had been once before intangled by the Subtilty of the Devil almost to their utter Destruction The recalling to mind thorough Consideration I say of such the like passages should have made us methinks wise enough to have avoided in due season the same Trap which was again laid for us into which we are a second time fallén At least one would guesse or else we are become perfectly stupid insensible should awake every one to look to his After-Game for fear we may be remedilessly depriv'd of the remaining part of our Felicity which is bound up in the life of our distress'd Soveraigne his legitimate Issue by our gratious Queen-Consort who hath evidenced her selfe in these former innumerable Troubles of our afflicted thrice banisht Prince a notable Example of Submission Patience who ought to be for being made by God the happy Instrument of bringing us the Blessing of a hopefull Heir Male for ever Dear to the English Nation all faithfull Subjects to the Crown of England If such extraordinary Dealings of the God of Heaven varied to every man's capacity condition If neither God's speaking by a still voice nor in the VVhirlevvind neither by the Sunshine of mercyes nor the Thunder of his Judgements that dreadfull Clap whereinto the late black Clouds driven into England out of Holland broke very fatally to the unhinging of the whole Fabrick of our Government both in Church State will reclaime us make us sensible of our most real Interest Happyness in a most desireable wéll establisht Monarchy Episcopacy a gratious Prince according to the heart's wish of every right loyall son of the Church of England save that he doth not ptofess our Religion nor reduce us to that intire obedience submission to the King and Church which the wise dispensations of a loving long-suffering God seem above other things by many repeated Summonses loudly to call for there remains nothing but a Fearfull looking for of Iudgement I know no Salve for our sore nor can discover any thing which can mollify such stony hearts or mortify such corrupt natures that have lamentably defeated our heavenly Father in all his methods to do good unto us save us And I who have never been all that know me must confess a man of excessive fear jealousy as to the Publick must sink down into dispaire conclude that the people of England the other Day an object of envy to all the Nations round about us are signally mark'd out for God's displeasure will be made a standing Monument of his Wrath to all succeding Ages But I shall not detaine You longer with Reflections on the State of England It will be a Duty more incumbent on me to consider the Circumstances of Durham therein those of the Cathedrall Church my speciall more particular Charge wherein I have been by the Favour of my King rather than my own merit set to Preside And indeed I cannot thoroughly reflect on that Church Citty wherein I have by God's permission the Kings kindness had the honour for the last 27. years to be dignified without melting into Tears To consider that the Bishoprick Cathedrall Church of Durham which had so well approv'd themselves both to his late present Majesty usually exceeded others in expressions of Loyalty should now lye undistinguishable incorporated into the Mass of Rebellion which the wise just God is pleas'd to permit to oppress the whole Land peirces my very Soule It was one of the most painfull mortifications I ever met with the weeke before my Departure to discerne my selfe deserted by all the Citty-Clergy in my honest zeal for the righteous Cause of my Soveraigne In such sort as not to discover then on the place any one Ecclesiastick neither in the Cathedrall nor any Parochial Church or Chappell with in the Precincts of that Citty who had the courage at that juncture to own openly either in the Pulpit or in his Conversation his oppress'd Prince's Interest and Honour by shewing just Indignation against that Treasonable Attempt which was then insolently made against his Crowne Dignity in reading publickly with great formality the Rebellious paper mention'd in this former letters Tho every man who was not a mere Ideote must comprehend that that very Act countenanced was in effect the pulling up the sluce letting in a Stream of Rebellion to overflow the whole County This was I declare to me a mighty exercise of Patience did among other Pressures which possibly contributed much to my crazy condition last Winter heavily afflict me But when I look farther at this day regard the State Ecclesisiastick of the whole County discover but three of all my Brethren of the Clergy through the whole Bishoprick of Durham as I am made beleive by Report who have had either the Integrity or Courage to stand their Ground against a new unlawfull Oath of Allegiance to a Prince set up by the abhorr'd treachery unheard of Ingratitude of the People Subjects who have no authority in our anciently Hereditary Realm to dispose of the Crown I am above measure astonish'd overwhelmed with greif Which greif is unexpressibly augmented when I consider that the members of that Body or Community whereof I have the honour to be Head have incurr'd the same Guilt And those Eminent Persons which as Salt by their Examples ought to have seasoned the whole Diocess are rendred uncapable to reprove their Inferiours reprehend the sins of the Times Alas if Resistance of the higher powers be by some Moderne Divines Distinctions refin'd into a Vertue is Perjury no sin If the Sacred Authority of our Earthly God the stile in Sripture allow'd to a Lavvfull Soveraigne be fallen into such deplorable contempt among Subjects that there is little Regard given either to their Promises or Commands is the Majesty of the God of Heaven become so mean cheap that men nay Divines dare cancell the Obligation of an Oath And the calling God to witness the truth of what we promise become void of no effect as soon as our Interest tempt us to break it If so then farewell all Religion nay Conversation and Commerce among men If the Bonds of a Sacred Oath are not sufficient to hold men surely nothing can The Evills Mischiefs which must unavoidably attend a sin so universally committed through
dispise or 〈…〉 Your 〈…〉 who has done his part faithfully to discharge his Trust in a criticall juncture thereby has help'd to save the honour of the young Clergy under my Conduct will be willing I know to hear testimony that I did to my utmost diligently discharge the part of a faithfull vvatchman penning down my thoughts almost dayly using him sometimes for an Amanuensis to fortify all Persons under my care against the dangerous inveiglements of ill men the plausible rather than reall arguments of deluded goodmen who have by their Reputation contributed more to the present sad state of things I must take the liberty to tell them than the more malicious sinners that did originally designe to trample on the Crown Mytre And that I was no bad Prognosticatour in the month of August 1688 you your-selfe every body else may without all contradiction be convinced by a coppy of a Paper which I penn'd at Durham the 27 of the aforesaid month according to my usuall manner of dictating to one of my Clerks in my chamber at my uprising Which Paper only contains some floating thoughts of my brain but relating to mattets of so great importance as did according to its title portend very fatally to the Government Church of England And it being the only sheet of some hundreds penn'd in such manner much to the same purpose that I did by great accident bring away with me I shall here to this my letter annex a printed Coppy thereof which will at least demonstrate to all who shall seriously consider it that I gave a better guess how things would go than any of my Censurers or Opposers who thought them selves greater Politicians but have so much faild in their Politicks that they as well as others are by this time I suppose convinced how their zeale which run so Counter to mine was very preposterous viz That the irregular unaccountable method they took to be deliver'd from Popery and Arbitrary Power hath brought the whole Kingdome absolutely under the one and in greater danger than ever it was of the other And that I may do all that in me lyes to clear my selfe both in the sight of God man from being the least ways accessary to the horrid guilt many who have depended on me in my parishes or else where have contracted by forsaking our Churche's Doctrine the good Rules which I have set them I shall embrace this occasion to add another paper to the former containing the Order Directions which I required strictly to be observ'd in my parishes respectively which will be sufficient to evince that I did honestly tho imperfectly endeavour to have prevented the Apostacy of any committed to my charge Always looking on a strict observation of the Discipline Rubricks of the Church as the best means by Gods blessing to have strengthen'd them against those temptations that have at last overcome them for which I now begin to value my selfe And a serious consideration of this Method enjoyn'd in my Parishes added to the manner of my parting with my Brethren of the Cathedrall Clergy of my Archdeaconry set forth in those Fare-vvell-Discourses I made to them in the months of Nov◠December 1688 will sufficiently proclaime to all unbiass'd persons that I was at least an Honest man so far in all my capacities as to have no fingar at all in the Invitation of a Forreigne povver the unnaturall Invasion which attended thereon which I am desirous should remaine to Posterity upon Record If the publication of such papers as were never design'd for the press seem to savour any thing of vanity cause to beleive that I glory in having been more regular constant in my duty than the generality of my Brethren let them give a Looser leave to speake and desire them to remember consider that the Apostle St. Paul himselfe was compell'd to boast in a less day of temptation than the fifth of November 1688 which did in a manner blow up the foundations of three Kingdoms I confess that I do glory with the B. Apostle but it is as he did in my vveakness the grace that Almighty God has manifested therein carrying me through the manifold temptations which have prevailed over my Stronger Brethren I do bless praise God's holy name will do it by his assistance for ever ever that he did endow me with resolution to stick close to all the Churches Rules Orders whereto I gave my assent consent at my first entrance into the ministerial function in the year 1661 without governing my selfe by example of any Clergy high or low in the citty or in the country Living by the example of those who contradicted their excellent Rule being a sort of Complaisance which I bless God's holy name I have never been guilty of tho it has been God know s too frequent among my Brethren and prov'd fatall to the poor church of England To take no comfort satisfaction in my owne innocency which God has in a manner miraculously preserv'd when he has suffer'd such a multitude of abler Divines to faile who were furnish'd with greater qualifications to have borne vvittness to his truth I should look on as an act of meaness of spirit savouring more of spirituall ingratitude than true humility who desire rather to be really thankfull humble than appear either Let my censurers be contented with my revenue which I have left to their mercy choosing to do so rather than betray my conscience without depriving me of that precious ointment more valuable treasure a good name which I shall in spight of all my enemys endeavour by the aid of Gods holy spirit to secure my title to in approving my selfe to the very end as I have hitherto as much as in me lay a Genuine son of the Church Loyall subject to the Crown of England If the present Generation who favour none with their good opinion but those who concurr to the support of the present Fabrick in England will not allow me the aforesaid satisfaction but load me with obloquy or contempt one of these Fates I expect from the North where so few have followed my example there remains yet one thing that I am sure they are not able to deprive me of I mean the internall Peace and Quiet of my conscience which I have enjoy'd since I was driven from my Station to Heavens eternall praise I speak it in a more plentifull measure than ever I did heretofore when I was in the actuall possession of some of the best preferments of their kind in England This supports me under my present pressures and will be continued unto me I trust in God while I continue as I pray I may faithfull to my mother the Church unalterably obedient to the father of my Country Of these things I require you to assure the flocks I have committed to your charge whom I do not
accuse mee over rigidly for not doing that for vvhich I am not so vvell as others quallified either by nature or education It hath been my fate to have suck'd in other Principles to have been trained up under better Tutours nay possibly in my vvhole Make to be so contrived and composed that it is not in the Povver of man to nevv-mould mee into that sort of Animal vvhich can blovv Hot Cold vvith the same Breath and is able to save his stake vvhat ever Card turnes up trump To these vvho shall condemne it in mee as a deplorable piece of Madness or folly to talk or vvrite avvay such a Considerable Revenue as Providence my Kind Patrons have bestovved on mee vvhich I am like to do by setting my name to vvhat I print I must declare that I am one of those Fooles S. Paul speakes of vvho that I may bee vvise am vvilling in the sight of the vvorld to become a Foole valuing my Innocency Quiet of Conscience more than I do the best Deanery or Bishoprick in Christendom And as nothing yet hath tempted mee I thank God to Compliment avvay my Religion tho I have been by some so reproached upon Gods raising setting over us a Prince of a different Communion So no Consideration vvhatsoever I rely on Gods Grace shall be able to prevaile vvith mee to prostitute it by falling dovvne to adore the multitude or any Image tho it be of Gold that shall be set up by the People Those therefore that attack mee by arguments or Threats in letters to seduce mee back and dravv mee into a Compliance vvith the nevv Government that I might set my hand to she raising up the Babell vvhich they are building in England may save their labour ink For till they have confuted the Doctrine vvhich they have preached as vvell as the sound Divinity of their Mother vvhich they have forsaken they may cease from offerring mee other arguments to convince mee And till they persvvade mee to set a higher value upon my money than I do on the Grace of God prize my temporall intrest more than mine Integrity vvhich no magick I have yet met vvith all hath been able to effect so as to fill my pockets they may also forbeare to affright mee vvith Deprivation I have long considered studied the point of Allegiance vvhich I ovve to my only Leige Lord Soveraigne King Iames 2 and to no other and am firmely vvithout doubt or scrupule satisfied that my Religion vvill not permitt mee to svveare fidelity to any besides him That the greatest part of my Brethren notvvithstanding the faithfull frequent endeavours I have used to establish them in Conformity Loyalty should forsake Gods Vice-Gerent to do Homage to the Peoples is an unexpressible greife to my soule To prevent the Incurring such guilt and the lamentable scandall of such Apostacy I did in due time as may appeare from the date of the ensuing Address expose my selfe to much censure by delivering my mind to an Auditory vvhich seem'd ready to run themselves as they have done into that Yoke servitude vvhich I vvho had greater temptations than others vvas resolved to run out of the Kingdom from my preferment rather than submit to And to demonstrate that I am after great thought fullness much prayer to God to direct mee of the very same mind here in France on Nov. 15. 1689 that I vvas in England on the same day of the month 1688 as vvell as desirous to expresse my vvillingness to do all that in mee lyes to avvaken those out of their sin vvhich I could not confirme in their Duty I am as vvilling to commit to the Presse the discourse I then made Tho I vvell knovv that I shall in so doing in case these Papers get into England and considering mens present Genius Actings there be exposed to the danger of running as it vvere the Gantlet through the Nation D. G. Trom my study in Roüen Nov. 15. 1689. ADVERTISEMENT IF this or the former Piece have the good fortune to find the way back to Durham and fall into the hands of those Persons that were present when they were spoken for whose sake they were first deliver'd and since Printed they may chance to take notice in the perusall if their memories do not faile them that the Authour is more sparing than heretofore or ever used to be in his Commendation of the Constitútion of the Church of England and more particularly in the Praise of its well compiled Liturgy which he was wont upon all occasions very highly to extoll In which case they are desired to understand and consider that these Papers have been Printed in a R. Catholick Country where they could not be permitted to pass the press without the perusal approbation of R. Catholicks and that it was a great mark of favour and an espetiall token of their present forwardness to concurre with and encourage Loyalty to suffer Sermons and A speech spoken by a Divine of the Church of England to be printed here at all notwithstanding the castigations which have been made by the retrenchment of sundry expressions omitting all Comparisons which did carry with them any Reflections And therefore the aforesaid people have no just cause given them to conceit that the Authour hath in any respect Changed his sentiments of the Religion of the Church of England which he hath ever professed where in he desires and resolues by gods Grace to live and Dye If the aboue mentioned Auditors who discouer too apparently that there is among them at home what ever is in the Authour abroad a lamentable Change or any other sort of Readers of our own or of any Forreigne Nation fancy him guilty of too much sharpness of expression they are intreated to remember or to be informed that what ever he hath utterr'd in a tyme of great Heat Hurry hath been spoken against such as did invade his own Native County with unexpressible injustice unnaturallness as well as many heightning aggravations for want gratitude and that it was a speciall Duty in every one of his Character his station at that time to expose as much as they were able an invasion which was beyond all precedent without paralell In so much that if a satyricall Invective of which the Authour was never a great louer be at any time allowable in the writings of a Divine it cannot be denied surely but that it may passe here in this Instance espetially Considering that he did very seasonably shew such his indignation even before the Forces that Landed had rowled to so great a number but that they might have been Opposed nay suppressed by any one County of England which would have shewed it selfe right valiant faithful and unanimous And if some 〈…〉 with 〈…〉 during the Reign of in raiâ—ing subjects 〈…〉 in the 〈…〉 of Doctor â— to dethrone their lawfull Soveraigne had done
vvretched requitalls that vvee have made for the Mercy Bounty of our Father in Heaven his Deputy on Earth I shall not omitt the repetition there of tho late carriages transactions persuade mee it vvill be unpleasant to some of your ears since out of Gods Rods vvee may at this very instant pluck a fescue to teach us our lesson Wee have impudently defied HEAVEN by all imaginable Provocations but by nothing more I am not afraid nor ashamed yet to harp upon my old string than by our contempt of it in making bold vvith it's VICE-GERENT Tho God hath bless'd us English vvith a more happy Race of Kings than any Nation in the World can boast of yet it is notorious that no people under the sun have transgress'd more egregiously by murmuring Complaints or that hath Copied out vvith more exactness the unthankfullnesse Infidelity Distrust of the Impenitent hard-hearted Ievves Both in reference to God himselfe in Heaven and their Conductors MOSES AARON here on Earth If God in his vvrath had sent us a vvicked Heathnish Persecutour a Nero a Caligula or Dioclesian to Reigne over us vvee must vvith Confusion have confess'd that it had been much lesse than vvee deserv'd And yet vvee the most incorrigible people I thinke under Heaven are so squeamish that vvee cannot digest a Christian Monarch Gratious mercifull even to Wonder A Prince vvho hath demonstrated himselfe beyond all gainsaying to be a true son of K. Charles the Martyr vvho vvas A King I am persvvaded of the greatest clemency that ever vvas upon the face of the Earth cannot digest I say a Soveraign endovved vvith all these Graces and a multitude of other Kingly Qualyties relating to War Government merely because hee is not of our opinion in point of Religion tho hee gives us no other disturbance in the exercise of ours than to desire liberty for himselfe party to enjoy their ovvn Since vvee have thus Ungodlily Brovv-beaten Strugled vvith and in a manner Disclaimed if not rejected such a Christian Prince God in his Justice threatens to give us up a Prey to our Enimies the vvorst Masters upon the face of the Earth Our abhorr'd Ingratitude to his Royall Brother selfe vvithout putting in to the scales our other innumerable sins impieties may give us just ground to feare that our incens'd God may designe to teach us submission and subjection by so severe a Method as to make us vvho have been yet one of the freest and most happy Nations of Europe TRUCKLE to an Upstart-Commonvvealth to an Antimonarchicall Generation vho by their continuall shelt'ring encouraging and assisting of Traytors proclame their Emnity to the very name of King and that they vvould not leave if they could have their vvill one Crovvn'd Head in Christendom But let us not be discouraged or despond over much Our condition Blessed be God is far from desperate England cannot be destroyed unlesse it destroy it selfe If vvee vvill in this our day but forsake our sins and stoop first to the God of Heaven and aftervvards to his Anointed servant our Indulgent Soveraign as far as hee hath for this last month past condescended to the requests of his People flinging the vvorst of Traytours our sins out of our Bosomes and I do not doubt but that vvee shall soon drive the Dutch victoriously out of the Land. TO CONCLUDE IT May perchance Brethren seem a little out of the road to employ in this my sole Charge to the Cergy as I have done the whole time alloted both for Sermon the other ordinary Application But I pray consider that I speake to you in avery extraordinary Time vvhich requires every one of us Publick Persons to do if hee can something extraordinary in the discharge of his Duty And besides t is a time of danger and vvar vvhich may be attended on if God in his mercy doth not prevent vvith Blood Confusion So that I cannot assure my selfe t'vvould be a sin not to feare vvhen God threatens that I may live to speak to you in this Place any more Anceps fortuna belli tho I declare I have not such dreadfull Apprehensions as some may have of this unnaturall War but support my selfe vvith a good measure of Confidence that God vvill give the King speedily the necks of his Enimies since hee hath by his late Gratious Condescensions and assurances regained I am vvilling to hope the Hearts of his Freinds Which desireable issue nothing can vvithold Heaven from bestovving upon us but Impenitency more particularly the vvant of Humility to Confesse the Errours vvhich vvee the Leaders of our flocks have been guilty of to ovvne the false steps vvee have made to the Misguiding of our People I do as vvell as the King next under God rely on the brave antient valour of the English Nation English men fighting vvith svvords vvhile their Enimies put their Trust cheifly in Lyes Libells When our Royall Puissant Soveraign appears in the head of his Troops His Example sure must needs animate and create Valour in the most dispirited Covvard And had I not indispensably devoted my selfe to serve my King by serving our Church and obliged my selfe to pray rather than fight for his Grovvn I vvould be the first man that should run to the Royal Standard and please my self to thinke that in defence of my King Country I should have the Honour of some of my Ancestors to fall in the Feild or be buried in thé Deep Let not my Earnestnesse Brethren make you Conceit that I suspect your Loyalty Allegiance vvhich I hope desire you vvill all speedily manifest by a loyall Addresse to his Majesty to shevv your Abhorrence of the Injustice and Unnaturallness of the Invasion and that you vvill ever in remembrance of your Oathes stand by him serve himto the Uttermost vvith your Lives Fortunes It is the indispensable Duty of a faithfull Visitor to quicken his Clergy in such an Exigent And vvith Integrity of Heart I novv do it that I may give you true Measures vvhereby you may set right your People I do acknovvledge my selfe a very feeble tho I hope honest supporter of the Church Crovvn of England But hovvever I have not so bad an Opinion of my selfe God be praised as to be ashamed here among you either of my Life or Doctrine And to evince that I am not I have this day repeated the substance or Cheif Heads of vvhat I have l'ayd before you during the last foure yeares of my Office vvhich none can deny hath been a time of great temptation triall I COMMEND YOV TO GODS BLESSING and Direction I 'LE say but one vvord more and God knovves vvhether it may not be the last I may ever say in this place and it shall be this CONTEND AND FIGHT AS WELL AS PRAY AS HEARTILY AS YOU PLEASE AGAINST OUR INSOLENT NEIGHBOURS THE DUTCH BUT CEASE TO DISPUTE WITH YOUR
awhile here at Roüen I did presume to informe his Majestie by a Packet I sent into Ireland to my Lord Melford of my Arrivall in France the manner of my escape with an Assurance of my unalterable Loyalty and that I should espouse his service with the same zeale during his Exile adversity as when hee was on the Throne I did also according to the Duty of a Loyall subject pay to the Queen Prince all those respects which I could at a Distance informing her also by the assistance of my Lord Waldegrave of my Arrival with assurances that I should never faile to render her Majestie the Prince all the duties which were incumbent on a subject of the King of England And that since I had not the felicity which I came for of being neare his Majestie I was in the next place desirous to bee neare herâ— and accordingly would hasten to St. Germaines as soon as the indisposition of my Body would permit Taking a great Delight to bee nigh the Royall Famliy when I cannot Otherwise serve them never thinking my selfe any wayes absolved from the observance I owed my Soveraigne her Majestie all the bloud Royall by the difference of Religion HAving Sr thus given you the Trouble of so particular an account of my selfe deportment from the time that wee were first allarumm'd with the news of the wicked intentions of the Dutch to invade vs home to this present day I thinke my selfe no lesse obliged to give you some Information Concerning my present Temper of mind future Intentions And which I am the more willing to embrace this Opportunity of doing by Reason my infirmities of Body do in such sort increase that I have small reason to immagine that I shall bee a long lived man they administring to mee too many Grounds of Feare if I were to undergo no other hazard that I may scarce live to see my Freinds in England any more unlesse the air of France motion bee by Gods Blessing a meanes of my Recouery Cure of that disease which I have contracted by à sedentary life since my Installation into the Deanery of Durham And here I do in the first place declare with all sincerity that I am resolued by Gods Grace to live dye a true son of the Church of England Whereof King Charles was King Iames 2. not the Prince of Orange is under God supream Head Governour beleiving her to bee for the Purity of her Doctrine the decent Regularity of her worship the wholesomnesse of her Discipline well executed the best and most Approaching to the Primitive Times of any Church in Reformed Christiendome And I do openly affirme to all the World that however her children or rather those who have pretended to bee soe have behaved themselves Either heretofore or of late to the scandall of the world Reproach of her Constitution I am assured she will bee found upon thorough and serious Examination A Church which doth not Countenance Rebellion or indeed any sin or wickednesse whatsoever I have given no just reason I thanke God to any to thinke mee of another Opinion And if some men have been soe uncharitable as to Censure mee for ever deviating from her it hath been only for such Carriage of mine as may best demonstrate that I am A right Genuine thorough paced tho very feeble Member of Her I meane for my Exact Conformity to constant Observation of the Excellent Rules of her Incomparable Liturgy without any variation and my Constant zeale in asserting the Kings Prerogative and her Excellent Doctrine of non-Resistance Subjection to Authority in both which perohance I have been thought sometimes a litle singular But if I have been soe I am sorry for it I meane that I should want company in so laudable Christian a Cause Practice For I must still affirme that the first is the Indispensable Duty of Every Church man and best meanes to preserve her the last which way soever it fled at the Prince of Oranges Invading England the very Flour and Glory of our Ch which neither losse of Estate nor life shall by the assistance of the Almighty cause mee to Renounce I do therefore humbly intreat your selfe and all my Relations no wise to suspect mee as if Wavering from my Obedience to my Mother the Church for my immoveable Adherence to the cause interest of the Father of our Country and my innate Abhorrence of Disputing Contesting or rudely Capitulating with my Prince even-then when hee commanded things very contrary to my sentiments which I did Judge not only inexpedient but prejudiciall to the Flourishing condition of our Church Had I fail'd as too many did in that Iuncture or in paying the very same duties ef Allegiance Honour to my Present Soueraigne When hee came to the Crowne as I had performed to the late King his Royall Brother my Gratious Master of Blessed memory because his present Majestie declared himselfe of the R. Cath. Religion I might indeed have been lyable to Censure for that was a bad mark of a son of the Church of England But God having enabled mee to Resist this Temptation which hath so mightily prevailed in the Nation I would not have you Feare that I shall bee Ouerthrowne by any other I am I confesse fled out of the Nation to assert the Cause of a R. Cath. Prince I live at present in à R. Cath. Country But sure I am that the right-Church of England Religion doth not only injoyne mee to do the first but considering the circumstances of England the neighbouring Protestant Countries at present to do the later And why I other loyall subjects should choose France rather than any other Nation to Reside in may quickly bee put out of dispute if our Censurers would bee pleased to consider how kindly the most Christian King received his Majesty of England and doth still entertaine those who have Evidenced their Fidelity to him as also reflect on the innate Civilily Hospitality of the French Nation towards strangers never more Visible than in this time of Distress when all are Wellcome espetially English men unlesse they are conceived to bee Spyes or Creatures of the Prince of Orange or other their Enimies As for my own particular Common Justice doth Oblige mee to acknowledge that I meet whith as much Curtisy now in France among the R. Catholicks as I have done heretofore among the Protestants And am permitted to live as quietly and securely tho I do no wayes diâ—oâ—ne my Religion as any of their own Nation THis breif declaration I have made will suffice I hope to assure all my Freinds in England of my stedfastnesse in the Excellent Religion of my Fore-Fathers The next duty incumbent on mee will be to give my Family you our Cheif some fresh assurance that I am by the Grace of God Resolued to endeavour for the future as I have begun
wee add our Lords Refusall to accept of the Judiciall Cognizance of an Offence when hee was put upon it as hee did of A Crowne when it was offer'd him by the People there will appeare strong matter of Conviction proof of the Inviolablenesse of the Rights of Government which it is not lawfull for any person on earth to usurp or meddle with without a Just Call. So far was our Humble Righteous Lord the Capt of our Salvation from retrenching any of the Magistrates former Rights that hee added to MOSES in this matter enjoyning greater Awe Reverence to be given to the Civill Power Wherein wee may take further notice that Christ Jesus hee was so extraordinarily Carefull Tender That where as MOSES among the Egiptians when hee was but a Private man did take upon him to exercise an Act of Judicature on the Egyptian which wronged the Israelite Exod. 2. 12. Christ would not do any such thing leaving the woman taken in adultery and all other offenders to the ordinary legall Course and would not upon any Invitation or Importunity Vsurp Authority or take upon him any thing in that matter This without other Inlargement may Abundantly Evince how unsuitable to the Doctrine and Practice of Christ and Consequently how unchristian and ungodly are the Doctrines of those Ambitious Men who make Christianity a Ground or Excuse for moving Sedition Raising Rebellion thereby disquieting States shaking if not dissolving Kingdomes Tho it bee carried on never somuch under the speâ—ious colours of Preservation of Religion Libertyes or Lawes Whereof wee have now a late perhaps more Notable Instance than ever was in the World An Attempt so Abhorred Unnaturall A I act every wayes so unjustifiable an Impiety so Daring that it must necessarily in the Conclusion pull down Heavy wrath if not Speedy Vengeance both on the Contriver the Accessary Inviter the Invited or on their Posterity If an extaordinary deep Humiliation before God a sincere Repentance some what answerable to the Greatness of the Provocation do not in due season appease his Indignation Of which Heinous Guilt it concerns every one who hath been unfortunately dipt therein as every Complier with as well as Promoter of the new Government in England certainly is with greatest speed care to purge himselfe And I do hope Pray that all those to whom I do presume here in this paper to Address my selfe will take these things into timely deep Consideration washing off those Staines of Disloyalty that may have involved any in the Guilt of an Unparalled Usurpation wihch I am afraid exposes poor England to God Almightyes Impending Judgements more than all the former sins of out selves or Fore-Fathers That I have for my own particular practised the very same Loyalty honest zeale in reference to the Service of my Soveraigne tho A Roman Catholick that I did to his Royall Brother And have not that I can discover upon the most diligent search willfully knowingly made one False Step towards the late Irregular Injustifiable Method of Preservation of our Religion Lawes by the Ungodly Practises meanes of INVASION USURPATION which hath in good truth layen both a Gasping is a Felicity which doth not only wonderfully support but sometimes almost transport mee amidst my present Exercises of Patience And will make mee rellish the worst Air or Usage that I can meet with abroad where there are no Fogs nor Fumes raised by Rebellion better than the best Air or Proferment in England or any other Country where there Are. And here I should beg pardon for this present Trouble Conclude having been I feare too tedious but that I stand obliged least I preach in vaine to answer one Objection which it is easy to fore-see will be made against my Doctrine and may carry more Appearance of Reason therewith than any Other To wit. Christs Example pretended for submission to the Prevailing Povver since his acknovvledging Allegiance to bee due to Tiberius Caesar vvhose Predecessors had so lately changed the Government of Rome by the Senate did by that Act of his give liberty to vs lavvfully to yeild our Allegiance to any vnjust prevailing Povver vvhat ever it bee This difficulty being solved by the Forementioned learncd Doctor of our owne Church Nation of undeniable Authority an Eminent Confessour in the Great Rebellion I 'le give the Answer in his owne very words without the least variation Which is so substantiall an one that it is seasonable at this instant to be exposed to view And if there were no other Designe in my writing would justify the Publication of this letter In short his words are these The state of the Government of Rome at that time when Christ Jesus lived must bee considered distinctly what it was It is true indeed that Julius Caesar had not many yeares before wrested the Power out of the Senates hands and Changed the Government violently but before this time of Tiberius whereof wee speake the buisnesse was so accorded betwen the Senate the Emperours that the Emperour now Reigned unquestionably without any Competition of the Senate In him the Power was quietly seated the money superscribed with his Image and Edicts sent out in his name and hee looked on by all with out any Rivall as inferiour to God only In which case of his acknowledged Power Christ being borne in his Dominious thinkes not fit to make a Question of his Right where there was none made by the Romans or to dispute Caesars Title However acquired by violence at first when they from whom it was taken did acquiesce disputed it not Which Case how different it is from other forcible Usurpations where the legall Soveraigne doth still Claime his Right to his Kingdomes and to the Allegiance of his Subjects no way acquitting them from their Oathes or laying down his Pretension tho hee be for the present Ouerpowred is easily discernible to any who have the Courage Fidelity to consider it is not by his own Intrests bribed or frighted from the performance of his Christian Duty It being withall most certaine that it belongs not to the conveniences or advantages of subjects to determine or prevaile any thing in the Buisnesse of Princes Rights This one of the most formidable Objections Arguments for submission to an unlawfull prevailing Power being thus effectually answered I shall not thinke it paine-worthy in a letter to multiply other of lesse difficulty which by consequence may more easily be blowne away And indeed I suppose it needlesse at this Time of Day to fall to strong reasonings to evince the unsincerity of the Pretensions of the Contrivers Promoters of this late unhappy Change of Government in Church State they themselves having destroyed all the Plausibility of their own Professions Declarations First The Prince of Orange disowned that hee came to Conquer or meddle with the Crowne and yet most willingly
which I had given at severall Visitations to your view in one Address as before mention'd which I have printed for your farther edification my own justification And in the next place I knew of nothing better that I could do than to preach to you by my example in leaving my Station my Revenue when I could not be permitted longer to discharge a good conscience rather than involve my selfe in the guilt of an usurpation Which act of mine how grealy soever it may have been censur'd I esteem as the best sermon I ever preach'd in my life the reflection on which affords much comfort to my soule since thereby I clear'd my selfe from the guilt of renouncing my Allegiance as the generality have done which will prove an eternall blot to the Nation not excepting the Clergy of the Church of England T is too late now to give you Cautions against Perjury or to sett before your eyes how much more heinous it is in a Priest than in a Lay man because the greatest part of you allready have swallow'd a new oath to an Usurper And to informe you in the obligation that lyes on you to repent of rather than keep the oath you have taken is to conclude you what I ought not to do not only bad Christians but very weak Divines There is no man that understands any thing of Religion but knows that a rash oath only obliges to Repentance whereof that there might be some MEET AND WORTHY FRUITS brought forth among the Clergy of my Jurisdiction would prove to me great matter of Consolation if it were done very speedily it would be a great extenuation of their crime afford good ground to hope they were overborne with the Boisterousness of a Violent Sorme rather than did willfully plunge themselves in so horrid a guilt Let not the fear of loosing your possessions which I thank God has not prevail'd on me tempt you to lye one moment under so insupportable a load The enjoyments of your Livings will be sadly purchas'd by the increase of so enormous an Impiety And there will be a lamentable Precedent left to your flocks if You the Pastours have not sufficient sincerity to make a speedy Confession of your sin courage enough publickly to owne the same by giving glory to God taking shame unto yourselves There can be no more effectuall way to redeem your own honour than by restoring Gods. Nothing contributed so much to the glory of St. Augustin as his Confessions Retractations consequently nothing can be more to your's than to betake your selves to this Essential part of Repentance I mean the Confession of your Crime whereby you have scandaliz'd your flocks You that have taken an unlawfull oath to save your Benefices have thereby put your selves under a greater necessity of parting with them or retaining your guilt For nothing lefs than so seems to be a sufficient evidence ofâ— your sincerity God hath so ordered it by his divine providence that a sinner alwayes misses of his aim Those that betake themselves to unlawfull courses to save their lives or estates must necessarily forsake them enter on such as are diametrically contrary to the former or loose their soules which are infinitely more valuable than both Repentance ought to be esteem'd by every ordinary Christian a Returning from sin yea such a Returning as requires the treading out the very stepps which the sinner made in order to the commission of it And surely then what soever is binding in the Disciple must be much more obligatory in the spirituall Guide But I shall not dive too far into particulars chalk out the exact method manner hovv you shall make reparation for the wrong which You have done by submitting to an Usurper both to the King Church of England I have reason to beleive that all of you know your duty well enough many I am sure better than I can instruct you since the Prerogative of the King Passive-obedtence Non-resistance were preach'd up with more zeal by you in the Bishoprick of Durham than they were by others in any Diocess in England Where Conformity to the orders of the Church Execution of other Laws of the Land were so well practis'd tho not as they ought to have been that the BISHOPRICK which anciently was stil'd the Land of Preists was generaly reputed the Seat of thorough-Conformists You on the place of acting must see more clearly than I can at this distance tho your eyes have been in a great measure blinded by the smoak of a Rebellion the fittest manner opportunities of making satisfaction for your egregious Apostacy I shall therefore rather than prescribe the means mind you of your indispensable obligation to do the thing so redeem your honour redress the scandall you have given to the increase of your own sin the unspeakable greife of my soule who did faithfully labour to make every one committed to my charge such as God hath given me grace to approve my selfe even an unalterable Loyall Subject to King Iames the second as well as so legitimate a son of the Church of England as can never be perswaded that it can be for her Intrest to contradict her Doctrine Which as I have hitherto profest held fast amidst all the blasts of Temptation from what ever point of the Compass they have blowne I am resolv'd by the Divine assistance to practise unto the end in spight of the most prevalent examples or malicious censures used now as arguments or engins to overthrow mee That such a Generall neglect of Church-Order among the Clergy through the Nation as I long and loudly complain'd of and warn'd you against should be attended on by so fatall an Yssue as an Vniversall Defection should not be a thing perfectly new to You to whom I address my selfe since you yourselves can be my wittnesses that I have often faithfully foretold that an Universall Semi-conformity would end in as Universall Semi-Allegiance would God we had not found by lamentable experience that it had done much more by producing that degenerate offspring who have not only imbrew'd their hands in so horrid a crime as the dethroning their lavvfull Soveraigne but like Vipers have in a manner eaten out their very Mother's Bovvells I do not doubt but that Almighty God hath by this time brought to your memory some of those seasonable cautions memento's which I have plainly lay'd before You in the publick discharge of my Archidiaconall office with some greater force effect on your spirits than they had at their first delivery I cannot have such prejudiciall thoughts of you as to imagine otherwise since Divine Providence led me often to such suitable Topicks as might have prevented by God's blessing had they been generally insisted on by all those who had Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction and not been rejected by the people much of our present misery the ill effects of which are like to be