Selected quad for the lemma: hand_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
hand_n	bishop_n	church_n	presbyter_n	4,517	5	10.4419	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45163	Union pursued, in a letter to Mr. Baxter, concerning his late book of national churches published for a fuller disquisition about this subject, by the sober and composed of all sides, in order to comprehension which hath been forming, and a larger constitution of the church to be formed, when that Day of Concord comes, which the gentle aspect of Heaven in God's appointment (and the King's) of so many choice moderate bishops together at this time does presage to the nation, that the Presbyterians and Independants, that have united within themselves, may both be united also with the Church of England / by a lover of Him, and follower of peace.	Humfrey, John, 1621-1719.	1691 (1691)	Wing H3716; ESTC R15748	28,717	40

upon shall not be able to come into it Which we must take heed of as already noted especially now when the present Face of things look auspitious towards Union There are some things Essential to the Church of England and some things Accidental and there are some things that are the Abuses and Corruptions of it For the last of these the Corruptions there was a Paper came out and as I apprehended from Lambeth some few years since entituled Grievances of the Church of England which are not in the power of the Governours of it to remedy Two of the many I will name One this That the Ecclesiastical Power is by Law invested in Lay-Chancellors and Officials who act in the name of the Bishop and Archdeacon when things are against their Wills and they cannot help it The other this That a Convocation cannot take any of these Corruptions into debate to reform them without danger of a Premunire unless they be first proposed by the King Under these Grievances and such as these does the Church her self or the Bishops themselves we see groan and that for this Reason which I observe because her Government being only what is established by Law so much is he out that goes to make it of Divine Right the Governours of it or the Bishops can alter nothing but by Act of Parliament who yet being themselves Members we may well conceive they will endeavour to find a time for their own Relief and I do more especially hope that the Reduction of Archbishop Vsher will be taken into their consideration upon that account For things Accidental to the Church I do presume much more on the good Temper and Resolution of the present Bishops that nothing of that kind shall stand in the way but they will part with it for Concord Of these Accidentals some are of easier some of harder departure Of the easier sort I reckon the Ceremonies which I do not see but they may part with and with no more Grievance than with the Rain from off their Hats or the Grease from off their Cloaths As for the harder sort if the Dissenters should require of the Bishops to forgo the Liturgy and use none this were too hard this were a kind of thrust at the Churches Breast and She might justly bid a man stand off If they are not against a Liturgy but would have a new one composed in Scripture-Expressions I cannot say but this were good inexceptionably good but not to be asked unless they see good as being more than is meet and more than needs If it be a Reformation then only they desire let it be in all things which are offensive to any sober not humoursome godly persons this is but so fair so honest so fit that the Bishops are before hand in it and if any are for farther Improvement this they are for also For things Essential to the Church of England such as Episcopal Government is it is not for any to imagin the Church should part there with for then she must cease to be the Church of England And consequently unless a way be made out for the Dissenters conscionably in some regard as they may to submit to that Government there can be no Coalition into a National Church which yet is the End both of your and my Writing There have been two things long on the Hearts of peaceable men as requisite to the Happiness of the Kingdom and they were foreseen therefore and intended by His present Majesty as one End of his Expedition into England which was as he tells us in his Declaration for they are best expressed in his words for the making such Laws as may establish a good Agreement between the Church of England and Protestant Dissenters as also for the covering all such who will live peaceably under the Government from all Persecution upon the account of their Religion The one of these called generally Indulgene is obtained the other Comprehension is yet under expectation but no less needful to the Interest of the King and Bishops than that was to the Interest of the Dissenters A Kingdom a Church divided so much against it self as ours is a Blessed Mouth hath foretold them is not a safe Estate and does in effect say to both Look to your selves It is therefore hugely material in regard to the end of these Sheets and to the Title to speak a little of the Contents of that said Bill which will be revived at the sitting of this Parliament or of another in good time I doubt not After a short Preamble then this Bill goes downright honestly to work and for that reason it can never be too much prized enacting That no other Oath Subscription or Declaration be required to the enjoying any Ecclesiastical Preferment but the New Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy to the King and Queen the Antipapal Test the Simoniacal Oath and one Declaration to be subscribed to this sence or purpose the words whereof being put too readily together as some of them that put them will perhaps acknowledg upon reflection I would humbly beg may be deliberately put in these ensuing I A. B. do heartily approve of the Reformation of the Church of England in her Doctrin and Worship as containing all things in their kind sufficient to Salvation And I submit to the Government thereof by Law established The Bill proceeds to the Ceremonies enacting the leaving off the Surplice excepting in the Cathedrals and leaving the Cross in Baptism and Kneeling at the Sacrament to the liberty of the Parent and Receiver with some the like things I think but have forgot that have no Rubin them Only the great difficulty lying bout Orders I cannot but upon Examination of other Expedients give my full Consent to the Motion of the Bishops themselves as to this case provided they be careful of the words wherein they express it which I beg again may be thus Be it farther enacted That those Ministers who have been ordained since the First of May in the Year 1660 by Presbyters only shall receive a second Imposition of Hands by a Bishop in this form For thy Reception as a Minister in the Church of England and thy holding and exercising that Office to the satisfaction of the Conscience of others as well as thy own If thou beest not Ordained already be thou Ordained If thou beest be thou Confirmed by the Imposition of my Hands to the Glory of God and Edification of the Church in the place where thou art or shalt be called These words If thou beest not Ordained already do include a doubt The Minister himself Ordained by Presbyters I will suppose doubts not in the least of the Validity of his orders by them and he cannot submit to these words if they were put alone in regard to his own Conscience But forasmuch as the Bishop perhaps or others with whom he is concerned may doubt of it these words as thus conjoyned may be spoken bona fide in regard