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
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-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
short work of it and would not have his Country-Brethren to be obliged to their daily labour in the Service of the Church but to be left free to attend it how and when they please to perform one part of the Service at one time and another at another and to be left to their own discretion and not tied up to Forms and to do what is commanded them Thus he pleads for himself and fellow-labourers whom he thinks fit to share with the Master-builders and to that end he thus mis-represents them p. 20. That they are ready to impose such burthens on others as they will not touch with themselves That they only walk from a warm House to a Cathedral and for half an hour turn over a Service-book hear a Sermon and return to a warm Room and good Fare and know not what it is to do the Service of a Cure perhaps all their life This would be very edifying Doctrine in a Conventicle but not so acceptable when a Country-Minister shall preach it to a Convocation which consists of the select Clergy of the Land who are for the most part obliged to the Service of God in Cathedrals or in their own Churches and moreover to all those Services which the Country-Minister is bound to do And which is as difficult a work as any of the other to Oversee those Labourers least they do more hurt than good by their Idleness Ignorance or Immorality for too many such there be who if they were kept to their daily duty might be restrained from many inconveniencies which are more prejudicial to their Lives than the appointed Service of God would be And doubtless the Convocation will not be of the Country-Minister's mind p. 21. That he should be left to his discretion to read one part of the Service one day and another another and in the Afternoon to leave out the first Lesson or the like leaving out on Sunday the Communion-Service and shortning the Liturgy at the Lord's-Prayer For which he gives this reason That it was composed peculiarly with respect to a State of Persecution For which cause it ought rather to be continued for he asks the Question p. 27. Are we without danger and if not have we less danger to fear now when we are divided than when united But why must the Communion-Service be left out when the Primitive Church did communicate at their daily Assemblies And it is the Peoples fault that the Communion is not Administred every Sunday in the Parish-Churches as well as in the Cathedrals so that the reading that Service minds the People of their backwardness to partake of so great a Blessing and both minds and prepares them for it But I see not to what end these Offices should be shortned except it be to yield to the Country-Minister's extemporary Prayers and tedious Sermons which if left to his discretion would doubtless be the consequence And his desire That the first Lesson or the like may be left out in the Afternoon that Men may fodder their Cattel when I suppose the turning of the Afternoons Sermon into Catechizing may better answer that end and be more profitable to the People both young and old and it is more agreeable to Order and this course would neither hamper their Consciences nor expose them to the rash Censures of those whom he calls their not over-laborious Brethren Which Epithet some such Country-Ministers as himself may deserve p. 19. he would have some of the Convocation sent down to some Country-Parishes to ease the poor Ministers by reading Prayers and Preaching c. As if the Members of the Convocation never did perform the intire Service of the Church in Praying and Preaching The Country-Minister might consider that a great part of them have travelled some a hundred some near two hundred Miles to meet in Convocation to consult for the common benefit of the Clergy and sit sometime near the whole day in a cold place in the depth of Winter And some Country-Ministers now of the Convocation do now see in what great ease and plenty the City-Ministers live who have their Readers and Lecturers and frequent Supplies and sometimes tarry in the Vestry till Prayers be ended and have great Dignities in the Church besides their rich Parishes in the City Having pleaded for the shortning of the Liturgy he pleads p. 22. for the prolonging of it by adding an Office to receive Penitents after an Apostacy and in case of notorious Scandal this may concern the Country-Minister 2. For receiving persons Absolved after Excommunication this as he desires is left to the discretion of the Priest that Officiates 3. An Office for the Prisoners which is provided for by the Bishops who generally appoint able Men for that charitable Office So that all this notwithstanding he concludes in the words of Dr. Featly c. concerning the Liturgy as it stood before the 600 Amendments in 1661. That the Book of Common-Prayer is the most compleat perfect and exact Liturgy in the Christian World and such as a Godly Man may with a good Conscience use and not only lawfully but comfortably joyn in Wherefore it having already received so many Amendments there should be some important Reasons given why it should admit of more for his May-be's are no Arguments It may-be some things are obscure and too doubtfully express'd It may be in its Phraseology liable to misapplication It may be too fanciful And all these May-be's may not be if the most exceptionable Expressions in the whole Liturgy be allowed as the Preface to it says such just and favourable construction as in common equity ought to be allowed to all humane Writings Page 23. Our Author comes to enquire more nicely into it but whether more wisely let the Reader judge He instanceth first in what he thinks obscure As in the Prayer for the Clergy Who alone workest great Marvels send down c. of which Who dares deny saith Dr. Comber that the assistance granted to the Ministers for the conversion of sinners are as marvellous as was the Creation of Light out of Darkness or the Resurrection from the Dead see Ephes 1.19 So in the Collect for Trinity Sunday Who hath given us Grace in the Power of the Divine Majesty to Worship the Vnity This is not obscure to any that acknowledgeth the Trinity which is to be worshipped in the Unity of Divine Majesty As when in the Litany we pray O holy blessed and glorious Trinity three Persons and one God In the Preface at the Communion for Trinity Sunday that which we believe of the Glory of the Father the same we believe of the Glory of the Son and of the Holy Ghost without any difference or inequality viz. as to the Godhead Christ having said I and my Father are one And the Church in all Ages hath professed the same belief in the Father Son and Holy Ghost and ascribes the same Glory to each of them in the Tresagion In the Prayer
to Godliness that we who have worthily and seriously utterly renounced the Errours of our holy Reformation the Corruptions and Superstitions together with the Papal Tyranny which heretofore did here abound may all of us firmly and constantly hold the Apostolick and truly Catholick Faith and without fear may duly serve thee with a pure Worship through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Then follows the Prayer of St. Chrysostome Almighty God who hast given us Grace at this time c. Then the Members of the Convocation were called over An Alphabetical Catalogue of all the Names of the Members of the Vpper and Lower House of this present CONVOCATION William Ld. Bp. of St. Asaph Geor. Bright D. D. Dean of St. Asaph Samuel Davies L. D. Proctor for the Chapter William Lord Bishop of St. Asaph Arch-Deacon of St. Asaph Griffin Lloyd B. D. John Edwards A. M. Proctors for the Clergy Bath and Wells Ralph Bathurst D. D. Dean of Bath and Wells Rich. Busby D. D. Proct. for the Chapter Edwin Sandys A. M. Archd of Wells Bath Taunton Edw. Waple B. D. Archd of Wells Bath Taunton William Clement A. M. Giles Pooley A. M. Proctors for the Clergy Humphrey Ld. Bp. of Bangor John Jones D. D. Dean of Bangor Rob. Foulks A M. Proâ—t for the Chapt. Humphrey Ld. Bp. of Bangor Archdeacon of Bangor and Anglesey Fran. Lloyd A. M. Archd. of Merioneth Robert Wynne A. M. John Williams A. M. Proctors for the Clergy Gilbert Ld. Bp. of Bristol William Levett D. D. Dean of Bristol Steph. Crespion A. M. Proct. for the Chap. John Feilding D. D. Archd. of Dorset Roger Mander D. D. Rich. Roderick B. D. Proctors for the Clergy Canterbury John Tillotson D. D. then Dean of Canterbury now Dean of St. Paul's Lond. Proctor for the Chapter Joh. Batteley Archdeacon of Canterbury George Thorpe D. D. John Cooke A. M. Proctors for the Clergy Simon Ld. Bp. of Chichester Francis Hawkins D. D. Dean of Chichester Zach. Cradock D. D. Proct. for the Chapt. Josias Pleydell A. M. Archdeacon of Chichester Joseph Sayer B. D. Archd. of Lewes Conyers Richardson A. M. David Morton D. D. Proctors for the Clergy Thomas Ld. Bp. of St. Davids John Ellis D. D. Praecentor Spencer Lucy A M. Proct. for the Chapt. Tim. Halton D. D. Archd. of St. Davids Geo. Owen D. D. Archd. of Carmarthen Tho. Stainoe B. D. Archd. of Brecknock Joh. Williams A. M. Archd. of Cardigan Tho. Sandys A. M. William Powell A. M. Proctors for the Clergy Ely John Spencer D. D. Dean of Ely John Moore D. D. proct for the Chapt. Will. Saywell D. D. Archdeacon of Ely Samuel Blith D. D. Nicholas Gouge A. M. proctors for the Clergy Jonathan Ld. Bp. of Exeter Rich. Annesley D. D. Dean of Exon. Geo. Hooper D. D. proct for the Chapter Edward Lake D. D. Archd. of Exeter Edw. Drew A M. Archd. of Cornwall Fra. Fulwood D. D. Archd. of Totnes William Read A. M. Archd. of Barum John James D. D. Tho. Long Senior B. D. proctors for the Clergy Glocester William Jane D. D. Dean of Glocester Prolocutor Rich Duke A. M. proctor for the Chapt. Tho. Hide D. D. Archd. of Glocester Abraham Gregory D. D. Rich. Parsons L. D. Proctors for the Clergy Herbert Ld. Bp. of Hereford George Benson D. D. Dean of Hereford Tho. Rogers D. D. proctor for the Chapt. Sam. Benson A. M. Archd. of Hereford Adam Ottley A. M. Archd. of Salop. William Johnson D. D. Rich. Bulkley A. M. proctors for the Clergy William Ld. Bp. of Landaffe Henry Bull D. D. Archd. of Landaffe Jonathan Edwards proctor for the Chapter William Frampton A. M. Jenkins A. M. proctors for the Clergy Thomas Ld. Bp. of Lichfield and Coventry Lancelot Addison D. D. Dean of Lichfield John Willes D. D. proctor for the Chapt. Lancelot Addison D. D. Archdeacon of Coventry Fran. Ashenhurst A. M. Archd. of Darby Fran. Ashenhurst A. M. Archd. of Stafford Fran. Ashenhurst A. M. Archd. of Salop. Barnabas Poole A. M. Jo. Kimberley A. M. proctors for the Clergy Thomas Lord Bp. of Lincoin Daniel Brevint D. D. Dean of Lincoln John Inet A. M. Samuel Fuller D. D. proctors for the Chapter Tho. Oldys L. B. Archd. of Lincoln John Hutton A. M. Archd. of Stow. Byrom Eaton D. D. Archd. of Leicester John Hamond D. D. Archd. of Bucks John Gery L. D. Archd. of Huntington John Skelton A. M. Archd. of Bedford James Gardiner D. D. Robert Edwards B. D. Proctors for the Clergy Henry Ld. Bp. of London Pres J. Tillotson D. D. now D. of St. Paul's Will. Stanley D. D. Proct. for the Chapt. Tho. Tenison D. D. Archd. of London John Goodman D. D. Archd. of Essex Charles Alston D. D. Archd. of Middlesex Will. Beveridge D. D. Archd. of Colchester John Cole A. M. Archd. of St. Albans Gregory Hascard D. D. Robert Grove D. D. Proctors for the Clergy Norwich John Sharpe D. D. then Dean of Norwich now Dean of Canterbury Nath. Hodges A. M. Proct. for the Chapt. John Conant D. D. Archd. of Norwich Edw. Reynolds D. D. Archd. of Norfolk John Spencer D. D. Archd. of Sudbury Hum. Prideaux D. D. Archd. of Suffolk John Connald A. M. John Eachard D. D. Proctors for the Clergy Oxford Hen. Aldrich D. D. D. of Christ-Church Hen. Smith D. D. Proct. for the Chapter Timothy Halton D. D. Archd. of Oxon. John Mill D. D. Henry Maurice D. D. Proctors for the Clergy Peterborough Rich. Kidder D. D. Dean of Peterbour John Patrick A. M. Proct. for the Chapt. Tho. Woolsey D. D. Archd. of Northampt. Matthew Hutton B. D. Nath Whalley A. M. proctors for the Clergy Thomas Ld. Bp. of Rochester Henry Vllock D. D. Dean of Rochester Fran. Brevall D. D. proct for the Chapt. Tho. Plume D. D. Archd. of Rochester Richard Holden A. M. Joseph Yates A. M. proctors for the Clergy Gilbert Ld. Bp. of Salisbury Thomas Price D. D. Dean of Sarum Robert Woodward L. D. proctor for the Chapter Will. Richards B. D. Archd. of Sarum Tho. Lambert D. D. Archd. of Berks. Thomas Ward L. D. Archd. of Wilts John Younger D. D. Thomas Wyat D. D. proctors for the Clergy Westminster Thomas Lord Bishop of Rochester Dean of Westminster Edw. Pelling D. D. proct for the Chapt. Rich. Busby D. D. Archd. of Westminst Peter Ld. Bp. of Winchester Rich. Meggott D. D. Dean of Winton Will Hawkins D. D. proct for the Chapt. Tho. Clutterbuck D. D. Archdeacon of Winchester Tho. Sayer D. D. Archdeacon of Surrey William Harrison D. D. George Hooper D. D. proctors for the Clergy Windsor No Return Wolverhampton No Return Edward Ld. Bp. of Worcester George Hicks D. D. Dean of Worcester R. Battle A. M. proct for the Chapter John Fleetwood A. M. Archdeacon of Worcester John Jephcott D. D. Tho. Hodge A. M. proctors for the Clergy And after this the Prolocutor was chosen The Persons named were Dr. Tillotson Dean of St. Paul's and Dr. Jane the King's Professor in Oxford Dr.