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
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
and some others have framed their superstructure on viz. 1. That the Alterations intended by it are not prejudicial 2. That they are useful tending to the well-being of the Church 3. That it is a fit juncture for putting the design in execution The Author gives several Instances of several Alterations made as in the Third of Edward the Sixth when the Common-Prayer-book was composed and altered the 1st of Eliz. And a Proclamation for Authorizing an Uniformity of the Book of Common-Prayer and at the Return of Charles the Second the Liturgy was reviewed and altered by his Commission ae the Savoy but our Author takes no notice of the Penalties to be inflicted on such as should not conform to it and on such as should defame it by several Acts of Parliament nor how little effect it had for the healing the Divisions and Schism which some Dissenters had then made nor how much King James the First was displeased with those Dissenters that pretended to make good their Objections against it which they were not able to perform in the Conference at Hampton-Court whereof the Author speaks p. 3. Yet this I say of this Author that he speaks much more modestly than the Author of A Glance on the Ecclesiastical Commission who would precipitate the matter and have an Act of Parliament for a Comprehension first and then an Act to Authorize the Commission But our Author pretends only to prepare things thereby to save Time and Labour in kindness to the Convocation whatever the Pretence be the Consequence may be very prejudicial to the Members of the Convocation if any difference should happen for this Discourse and several Letters being dispersed into the Countries where they have their Residence to prepossess the Minds of Dissenters that they have occasioned the obstruction of the intended Union and as those Letters import deserve to be treated as Enemies That Mobile which are already too full of Rankor against them and have already in a considerable City burnt a Bishop instead of a Pope will be ready to affront them and throw them into the next fire as they were when there was rejoycing for the Bishops deliverance out of the Tower And therefore it had been more prudent if they had with patience expected the determination of the Convocation and forborn those ill-boding Reflections which tend to create an Odium against such Members though it be well known they have no power to offer any thing being limited by the King's Proposals Nor hath the Author consulted better for his own Party when speaking of the Personal Qualifications of the Commissioners p. 8. he tells the Country how they have been traduced as assuming Men who will think themselves bound in Honour to defend what they shall have done as Men that have tenderness enough to part with any thing but their Church-preferments As Men who have a Latitude to conform to a Church de facto which hath Power on its side And pag. 9. Men who conceal their own inclinations till it is time to shew them Men likely to do the Church of England a good turn when opportunity serves and which perhaps they imagine now they have which Characters agree well with those who are known to be Latitudinarians indeed and have Monopolized Church-preferments Yet our Author says they have no temptation now to shew that they are Men of Latitude it seems then they had heretofore Page 10. our Author mentioneth another Objection viz. That as it may happen our Church may be changed altered and transformed by nine Men which are the number of the Quorum in the Commission Now although I dare not say there was any partiality used in naming the Commissioners yet when I consider that many of those that were named did not appear and some very considerable persons that did appear perceiving that some such things as might in their judgment prove prejudicial to the Church were proposed did dissent and withdraw it was not altogether unlikely that Nine of those who remained might prepare such things as the Convocation would not approve of as the Event will shew And as for those great and excellent Men who as our Author says are not named in the Commission it had been a more commendable Office and Duty to have pleaded on their behalf knowing them to be Men of great Prudence and Fortitude as well as of Integrity and Affection to the Church and that they are never like to disturb the Peace of the State to intercede that some favour might be shewn to them as well as to Dissenters Seeing if any they are the Men who suffer for sake of their Consciences especially seeing our Author says The Commissioners design nothing so unreasonable as to fear that the Alterations would not pass in a free Convocation if those Reverend and Judicious Prelates were present But it is our great unhappiness that though there have been several Convocations called yet had not an opportunity of meeting till these Right Reverend Fathers and others were excluded and made uncapable what hinderance this may be to the performance of what they promised as our Author relates That they wanted no due tenderness to Dissenters but were willing to come to such a temper as should be thought fit when that matter should be considered in Parliament and Convocation I cannot divine but acquiesce in the judgment of our Author That if nothing unreasonable were designed it might then have passed and a firm Establishment ensued for doubtless the calm Tempers of those Reverend Fathers would mightily have influenced their Sons Page 13. mention is made of the Commission the Preface whereof is the same with what hath been before mentioned out of the Preface to the Liturgy concerning the Alteration of Rites and Ceremonies c. upon weighty and important Considerations and the end of it is to take away all occasions of differences for the future as well as reconciling all Their Majesties Subjects at present A Blessing this to be seriously endeavoured by all persons but rather to be hoped for than expected for though not only all our Rites and Ceremonies all things tending to Decency and Order should be taken away yet there will be some that will find occasions of difference still for we are told in the late Healing Attempt That it is impossible for the Dissenters to unite if it be still affirmed That the Bishops and Presbyters are not of the same Order That the Power of Ordination is the sole Prerogative of the Bishops i. e. If the Ordinanation by Presbyters be not as authentick as that by Bishops or that the Ordination by Presbyters is void and that the Ordaining them again by Bishops is not Re-ordination and he tells us plainly That it is not the taking away of our Ceremonies and other Impositions that will satisfie the Dissenters but if a Comprehension may not be had on those other terms there can be none at all And a greater Dissenter than he says of Episcopacy That
it is that thorny hedge which he had made his business to pull down and would endeavour it by going on both sides as long as he lived And what dislike some have not only of the pretended defects in our Liturgy but to any Liturgy for publick Worship is too well known by some very late Writings of the Dissenters And Mr. Baxter affirms That of the Forty sinful Terms for a Communion with us if Thirty-nine were taken away and only that Rubrick concerning the Salvation of Infants dying shortly after their Baptism were continued yet they could not conform Now to what purpose should we begin when we cannot see where to end Is it not better to endure some inconveniencies as in all Constitutions some will be than to expose our selves to certain mischiefs And what can we expect when the Six hundred Alterations in 1661 had no competent effect but were rejected with scorn I wonder how this Author can object to you as if you proceeded on the same false grounds as those Papists Heath and Fecknam did in Primo Eliz. in opposing the Act for Uniformity viz. That those changes were departures from the Standard of the Catholick Church That Points once defined were not to be brought again into question That the Church should be constant to it self For he cannot but know that they opposed the Act for Uniformity Primo Eliz. as excluding the false Doctrines and Superstitions of Rome whereas we plead for the Preservation of Uniformity in Doctrine Worship and Government which are all opposed by some sort of Dissenters I shall leave the indifferent Reader to judge of the Inference which he makes p. 18. That if the Commissioners in 1661 saw reason for making Additions and Alterations to the number of Six hundred That there is equal if not greater reason for some further improvements I think he might rather conclude as he doth immediately after That if they had foreseen what is since come to pass viz. how few of the Dissenters came in upon those Condescentions they would not have done all that they did And perhaps on these Concessions in favour of Dissenters the Papists had those hopes cherished in them of which our Author there speaks of Liberty of Conscience the removal of the Sanguinary and then of other Penal Laws and of Forty Chappels to be opened for them in and about London for they know the Charity of the Church of England is not confined to one Sect as that of the Sectaries is What he says p. 19. That the Conformists have given their Assent and Consent to the Book of Common-Prayer whereof the Preface is a part which says That in Churches Circumstantials may from time to time admit of Alteration is true but not the whole truth for it is added Vpon great and important Reasons which the Author omits and if he speaks it not as being in a good Mood but as his setled Judgment that our Church as it is the best constituted Church in the World then certainly they that cannot conform to our Church must on the same reason dissent from all the other Reformed Churches Page 20. he says He is in part of the Opinion that the Prayers cannot be altered for the better by any meer humane composition But he will not grant it of every Collect and what those Collects are we may have occasion to consider hereafter it is enough that our constant daily Prayers are beyond exception His great business as he calls it will be but a great burthen to the Dissenters as well as himself viz. Adding some Offices to the Liturgy and preparing new ones which are wanting Seeing we have had so many complaints of the length and tediousness of them formerly one thing the Author can scarce pardon himself for when writing of those who he says so angrily though causelesly spake against that Work i. e. of making Alterations he adds They must pardon me if so near after the mentioning of them I take notice of the French Papists who have reviled both the Commission and the persons named in it Herein he scems to joyn all such as are not for Alterations with the Papists and whether they must pardon him for this if the People deal with them as Papists let him consider and pardon himself if he can yet I think the Papists would very willingly have us make more Alterations than most Protestants think sit to make It is a pretty insinuation which he makes p. 21. That the Conformists will naturally be glad if the House in which they resolve to live and dye have all the strength and beauty added to it which can be given it by Commission Convocation and Parliament Ans The strength and beauty which it now hath is by all those means confirmed to them and willingly they would live and hope they may happily dye in it But if the Dissenters will make breaches in that House and take possession thereof deface its Beauty and undermine its Strength and force them to leave it I cannot see how they can naturally be glad of the behaviour of such ill-natur'd Men and that there are some such besides those whom I have mentioned already the Author speaks of some in Northamptonshire and I know such in other Counties who oblige their Communicants and have vowed themselves never to return to the Communion of the Church of England and if the present generation be so bad the next is not like if these Men have their desire to be better In p. 22. the Author considers That now is a fit juncture of time for Alterations And his first ground is the Expediency for things which may be done yet are not to be done at a time when they are not expedient And thus he shews the Expediency The Passions of Men at this time are in a vehement fermentation and he that would allay the Feaver may stay too long if he forbears to prescribe till the bloud is quiet But must the Mother be bleeded if the Children be distempered Must the Passions of Men disturb the Peace of the Church and no Man endeavour to suppress them If a sick Man be distempered and ungovernable the Physician is his friend though he cause him to be confin'd or bound for a time 2. He says the Church hath at this time powerful Enemies Therefore I think she ought to stand on her guard and keep strict watch least they that are so make too near approaches And none are more dangerous than those that are or have been of the same House And though the Church had of late as implacable Enemies as ever and they in great Power yet by the blessing of God she hath out-lived them Obj. 3. Their Majesties have declared their desires of it Ans The Commission says Vpon weighty and important Reasons and that the Alterations prepared by the Commissioners may be approved by the Convocation and Parliament Cannot you wait for that time 2. Their Majesties desire may be best known by their living in
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
very shame the Convocation thought it necessary to make them But our Author finding all his arguings to be lost as in p 28. he betakes himself to a sham-plot against those that are not for Alterations as if because they said or rather he for them That they were not seasonable they had said the Parliament was illegal the Government precarious and the Laws no Laws it becomes not a Country-Minister to be a Minister of Satan in falsly accusing his Brethren who have all owned the present Authority and Laws and he that blames the want of Connexion in our Collects should have been more cautious then first to raise an Objection of his own and then infer from it such impertinent conclusions as may be mischievous to others But what think you says he if this Government sink I think our causless dissentions will be one of the greatest causes Who sunk the Government under the Royal Martyr Who had well nigh sunk it a second time under the late King to whom such multitude of Dissenters addressed Thanks for Suspending the Laws and promised to obey him without reserve we have had experience enough who they were that could after all their Pleas for Liberty part with their Consciences to save their Lives though with the loss of their Religion Laws and Liberty so as their Brethren might perish a little before them When therefore he would perswade us that we may have a new Law for the intended Establishment I think no Man will be perswaded to run such a risque for having many good Laws already for our Established Worship we may conclude that as to certainty the old are better Having thus treated the Members of the Convocation he takes his Farewel of them leaving them to their Couch and Consideration intimating that they are all become mighty Politicians or Tools for them that are so Who have been made and used as Tools by the late unhappy Politicians is as evident as any matter of fact can be and I wish I could leave this Country-Minister well in his Wits to consider whether he be not used as a Tool to destroy the Established Church by some who think themselves mighty Politicians Some REMARKS on a LETTER from a Member of the Convocation NO sooner had I finished my Remarks on the Letter of the Country Minister to a Member of the Convocation but I were encounter'd with another from a Member of the Convocation to his Friend in which I feared my Opinion would have been oppugned not only by a greater Authority but by sharper Arguments than any I had yet met with But having viewed his Weapons I found that they were flourished and glittered with a Rhetorical style yet they wanted that Logical strength that might enforce them This encouraged me to take my Pen in hand again and to enter the List against this Master of the Assembly for I considered that though his Weapons were keen yet the Arm that wielded them was but weak and it was no great danger to wrest them out of his hands and imploy them against himself His great flourish was A Necessity an absolute Necessity of yielding to many Alterations in our Established Worship This I thought might prove durum telum for Necessity hath no Law especially when it is Absolute then like the Absolute power it bears down all before it This lookt somewhat formidably for I considered that Necessity had destroyed many great and good Men. It was said of that great Hero the Earl of Strafford Illum non tulit Lex verum necessitas non habens Legem And of a greater than he we have a Law viz. of the Jews making and by that Law Oportet mori to dye and dye he did because it was expedient also for the People But that there was an Absolute necessity that Judas should betray his Master I can no more believe than that there is a Necessity That he who is a Member of the Church of Christ and hath familiarly eaten of her Bread and born the Bag too should lift up his heels and kick at her I considered therefore what kind of Necessity this might be for our Opponent grants there is no necessity in respect of the Church her self that she should make Alterations Because saith he p. 1. nothing is more dangerous to Religion than frequently to make Alterations 2. Because an unsteadiness though in Circumstantials only which are always alterable may become an Argument against the whole the Multitude not being able to judge what is Circumstantial and what is Essential in our Worship what is in the Power of the Church to alter and what is not and are apt to call every Alteration though in things indifferent and by variation of times made totally insignificant to be a change of Religion it self and so concluding that we have no firm bottom become Apostates from us to Popery or Atheism And therefore he thinks the Church of England may be justified that it hath not been forward on every demand of the Dissenters to unhinge those of her Communion but hath to the utmost resisted all Alterations hoping by other less dangerous Methods to heal the Divisions that are among us By this I perceived the Absolute necessity would not much affect the Church yet I considered farther whether there were an Absolute necessity from any Precept that did oblige the Church to make Alterations in the external Parts or Rites of Worship and I found she had a Power by Precept to see that all things be done decently and according to her Order and Appointment and another Precept That the People should Obey those that had the Rule over them And accordingly the most Primitive Church of which we read Acts 2.45 Continued daily with one accord in the Temple and in the Apostle's Doctrine and Fellowship and in breaking of Bread and in Prayer Nor would St. Paul endure any Contention about Circumstantials contrary to the Custom of the Church 1 Cor. 11.16 Nor can I see this Absolute necessity in the things that are to be altered because they are confessed to be in their own nature indifferent and when they fall under a Precept of those whose proper work it is to injoyn them we cannot without Disobedience to our lawful Governors reject them Neither can this Necessity affect the Persons for whose sake the Alterations are desired because if there be nothing sinful in our Communion it is sinful to separate from it besides the Dissenters would take it ill of any Man that should say they cannot be saved in that way of Worship which they have chosen for themselves and then there is no Absolute necessity for the Church to alter her Constitutions to gain them to her Communion In a Church where Salvation is to be had we ought to abide notwithstanding some inconvenient circumstances whose Amendment is desirable Though there were great Disputes in the Primitive Church about the Place of Worship Circumcision and Meats and Days yet was there no Separation And
Quixot with Windmills disturbing his Brain The other acts as the Fur praedestinatus under a fatal necessity by which he would excuse all his Cheats and Robberies as if he could not do otherwise being under the power of an Absolute necessity I shall leave it to the Convocation to conjecture who may be the Authors of these Letters but that the One is a Minister of the Established Church and the Other as he pretends of the Present Convocation I cannot be perswaded though he should swear to it because by what is matter of fact such Men have acted contrary to their Oaths and solemn Subscriptions and so I take my leave of them An Historical ACCOUNT OF THE PRESENT CONVOCATION THE CONVOCATION being Summon'd by the King 's Writ His Majesty issued out another Commission to thirty Divines to prepare Matters to be Considered by the Convocation The Commission is as followeth WHereas the particular Forms of Divine Worship and the Rites and Ceremonies appointed to be us'd therein being Things in their own Nature Indifferent and Alterable and so acknowledged It is but reasonable that upon weighty and important Considerations according to the various Exigencies 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 Review'd and made more sutable to the State of the Church and whereas there are 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 Reforming 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 We therefore out of Our Pious and Princely Care for the Good Order and Edisication and Unity of the Church of England committed to our Charge and Care And for the Reconciling as much as is possible of all Differences among Our Good Subjects and to take away all Occasions of the like for the future have thought fit to Authorize and Empower You c. and any Nine of You whereof Three to be Bishops to Meet from time to time as often as shall be needful and to Prepare such Alterations of the Liturgy and Canons and such Proposals for the Reformation of Ecclesiastical Courts and to Consider of such other Matters as in Your Judgments may most conduce to the Ends above-mentioned The Names of the Commissioners A. D. 1689. Tho. Lamplugh Lord A. Bish of York Henry Compton Lord Bishop of London Peter Mew Lord Bishop of Winchester William Lloyd Lord Bishop of St. Asaph Thomas Sprat Lord Bishop of Rochester Thomas Smith Lord Bishop of Carstile Jonathan Trelauny Ld. Bishop of Exeter Gilbert Burnet Lord Bishop of Salisbury Humfrey Humfreys Ld. Bishop of Bangor Nicholas Stratford Ld. Bishop of Chester Edward Stillingfleet late Dean of St. Pauls Lond. now Bishop of Worcester Simon Patyick late Dean of Peterborough now Bishop of Chichester John Tillotson D. D. late Dean of Canterbury now Dean of St. Pauls Lond. Rich. Meggot D. D. Dean of Winchester John Sharp D. D. late Dean of Norwich now Dean of Canterbury Rich. Kidder D. D. Dean of Peterborough Henry Aldridge D. D. Dean of Christ-Church Oxford Will. Jane D. D. Regius Professor of Divinity in the University of Oxford John Hall D. D. Margaret Professor of Divinity in the University of Oxford Joseph Beaumont D. D. Regius Professor of Divinity in the University of Cambridge John Mountague D. D. and Mr. of Trinity Colledge in the University of Cambridge John Goodman D. D. Archdeacon of Middlesex Will Beveradge D. D. Archd. of Colobest John Battely D. D. Archd. of Canterbury Charles Alston D. D. Archd. of Essex Thomas Tenison D. D. Archdeacon of London John Scot D. D. Prebendary of St. Pauls London Edward Fowler D. D. Prebendary of Glocester Robert Grove D. D. Prebendary of St. Pauls London John Williams D. D. Prebendary of St. Pauls London What things were debated by them are not yet communicated to the Convocation only it is known that the present Prolocutor and some other Learned and Reverend Divines deserted them as disliking several Proposals which the rest insisted on The Particular Acts and Adjournments OF THE CONVOCATION From December the 4th 1689. THE Litany was read by a Bishop for some days in Latine there being only this Supplication added after the Prayers for the Bishops That it may please Thee to inspire with Thy Holy Spirit this Convocation and to preside over it to lead us into all Truth which is according to Godliness At other times when there was no Sermon this Prayer for the Parliament was constantly used MOst Gracious God who dost Rule all Men and Govern all Things be graciously present we beseech Thee with the three Estates of the Kingdom in Parliament assembled under the Government of our most Gracious Princes William and Mary Assist them with the Spirit of Counsel and Peace whereby they may be preserved in one Mind and Accord and also may be inspired with the Love of Thee and Study the Publick Welfare that whatsoever Laws by their joynt Suffrages shall be obtain'd being established by our Lord and Lady the King and Queen may establish Righteousness and Peace to us and confirm them to our Rosterities for ever to the encrease of all Vertue and the Eternal Glory of Thy Name by and for Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour Then follow'd these Five Collects I. The Collect on St. Simon and Jude's Day O Almighty God who hast built thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets c. II. The Collect for Good-Friday Almighty and Everlasting God by whose Spirit c. III. Collect Almighty God who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to the Holy Apostles many excellent Gifts and commandst them Earnestly to feed thy Flock Make we beseech thee all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach thy Holy Word and the People obediently to follow the same that they may receive the Crown of Everlasting Glory thro' Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen IV. The Collect on the Fifth Sunday after Trinity Grant we beseech Thee c. V. Collect O Lord God the Father of Lights and Fountain of all Wisdom we thy humble and unworthy Servants prostrating ourselves at thy Footstool beseech thee that we who are here met together in thy Name under the Government of our most Gracious King WILLIAM and Queen MARY being assisted by thy heavenly Grace may so search out meditate handle and discern all things which may promote thy Honour and Glory and the Good of thy Church that thy Spirit which heretofore did preside over the Council of the Apostles may also preside over this our Council and lead us into all that Truth which is according
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-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-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