the Corinthian But this is contrary to the receiv'd Custom of all the Churches Ergo. Now if the Church of Corinth was not oblig'd to accommodate her self to and observe the Rites of all the other Churches this Argument of the Apostle would be of no weight For by this supposition that Church might have admitted that Rite notwithstanding 't was contrary to a Custom Universally receiv'd And therefore the major proposition wou'd be false But undoubtedly the Apostle argued rightly being divinely inspired when he penn'd these Words Which is a cogent reason because he could not deceive by the Argument nor be deceiv'd in the manner of arguing And therefore a principal reason obliges every such Provincial Church as the Corinthian was diligently to observe the Rites of the Universal For if any neglect the observance of them he is by this infallible Argument convinc'd of a grievous Error and Schism Neither is it possible for him to defend himself by any Pretence since God himself dictated this Argument to the Apostle and from thence it necessarily follows That 't is the Will of God that every Provincial Church should conform to the Universal And also that we always use this way of arguing which he has taught us to determine all Controversies of the like nature Moreover the same appears from the very nature and notion of a Church For the Church generally so called is a vast Society or Congregation of Men professing the Christian Faith in all parts of the World Whereof all Provincial Churches are so many Parts or Members Now in all such Societies every Part ought to agree with its whole And consequently the lesser with the greater Reason tells us this The Law of nature commands it and the Universal consent of Mankind judges it necessary So that if any thing enacted by the greater obliges the remaining part much more what is ordain'd by the greatest part of each Society which it ought to observe if it wou'd continue a member and enjoy the Priviledges of the same Society Which rule since it prevails in all manner of Societies ought much more in the Church which of all things should be the most Regular Accordingly Christ himself is the head of this Church called Universal who equally diffuses his Spirit thro' all its parts The Apostle in the Epistle to the Ephesians and elsewhere in many places explains this idea or notion of the Church Seeing therefore the Spirit of Christ himself is diffused thrô all the Members of this Body and both guides and governs them whatsoever is performed by these Members let it be as it ought ascrib'd to his Holy Spirit For althô each Member is able perhaps to suffer some humane affliction which yet all have done conjointly at all times it cou'd scarcely proceed from any thing less than a common if I may so say Principle of all things namely the Spirit of God which generally actuates all things And therefore it can't but be necessary to be still observ'd as much as may be by every Member The next Argument on this occasion is fetcht from the Apostolical Institution of all such Rites which are observed by the Universal Church For whatsoever the Apostles in the first institution of the Churches delivered for their observation is undoubtedly necessary to their legitimate constitution For otherwise they must have appointed something superfluous which can't be alledg'd against the Apostles considering that they have instituted nothing in the Church but what was enjoyn'd them by Heaven Which since all Christians believe they agree in nothing more than that the Apostolical Institution of the Churches is a Rule and Measure according to which every present Church is to be model'd So that no Constitution of any Church can be accounted Legitimate unless it be consonant thereto Now this being granted it follows that no particular Church is lawfully constituted unless it observes all the Rites of the Universal For whatsoever she hath observed in all ages must be of Apostolical Institution For how is it possible for any one to imagine that all the Churches dispersed over the face of the Earth shou'd every where use the same modes unless they received them together with their Faith by Apostolick Tradition 'T is very clear that the Apostles went about almost all Parts and appointed Churches where ever they came 'T is clear that they were conducted by the same Spirit And lastly 't is clear that they endeavour'd Uniformity in all Churches And therefore 't is no wonder if they have every where ordained the same Rites ' Twou'd have rather been a wonder if they had done otherwise Now if such general Rites were not by Apostolick appointment how cou'd they every where come into Chucrhes so far distant from each others Cou'd they from General Councils For that indeed remains to be spoken to For they must of necessity either be ordained by the Apostles or by Oecumenical Councils as Saint Augustin observes in his Epistle to Januarius wherein he says We preserve things not written but delivered which are indeed observ'd all the World over whereby we may understand that things recommended and decreed either by the Apostles or General Councils whose authority the Church venerates are retain'd Now we in this place speak only of such Rites as were observ'd by the Universal Church before General Councils had their being and which for this reason cou'd not be instituted by them It remains therefore that we attribute them only to Apostolical Institution according to that common rule of the same Learned Father who says That the Vniversal Church holds not what 's instituted by Councils but always retain'd which being deliver'd only by Apostolical Authority is truly believed Therefore since 't is necessary to legitimate the Constitution of every Church that the Rites instituted by the Apostles be retain'd And since all the Rites of the Universal are appointed by the Apostles themselves none can doubt but that the observing the same is necessarily requir'd to the Legal Constitution of every particular Church And this indeed is not my private Opinion but is and ever was the common Sentiment of all Christians especially the Primitive This appears from hence that in times past if any Controversy arose concerning any Ecclesiastical Rite which some peculiar Church had receiv'd 't was always customary to enquire into the Practice of the Universal and her constant usage touching that Rite and afterwards to give in their Verdict Examples are very obvious how ever I 'le chuse one for the present The Primitive Church you all know was long perplex'd with a grievous Contention concerning the time of the celebration of the Passover For the Church of Asia contended with the Jews that 't was to be celebrated on the fourteenth day after the appearance of the Moon let it fall on whatsoever Holy-day of the Week it would Now all other Churches were wont to fast and celebrate that Feast only on the day of our Lord's Resurrection This controversie
A SERMON Preach'd before the CONVOCATION OF THE Bishops and Clergy OF THE Province of Canterbury at Westminster Novemb. the 18 th 1689. By WILLIAM BEVERIDGE Archdeacon of Colchester Printed in Latin By the Bishops Command Made English by J. G. a Member of the Church of England Let ancient Customs still take place Syn. Nic. Can. 6. Licens'd and Entred London Printed for N. R. and J. Bullord at the Old Black Bear in St. Pauls Church-Yard 1689. Dr. BEVERIDGE's SERMON Before the CONVOCATION ENGLISHED TO THE AUTHOR Reverend Sir PERVSING your Learned Discourse lately Preached before the Sacred Synod and finding in it such admirable Matter so harmoniously handled and so suitable to this present Age wherein the best Church and Religion in the World wou'd be in great danger of being Crucified like their blessed Author were they not maintain'd and defended by such Props as You I thought 't wou'd not be amiss to render it into English for the benefit of those who understand not the Latin Tongue and being well assur'd 't wou'd be very acceptable to the English Reader as coming from You whose known Candour and Sweetness of temper I doubt not will pardon my presumption in this Attempt which I fear has not escaped the too common fate of all such sublime and excellent Subjects which is to be foul'd and sullied by ill Version However such as it is it 's humbly presented by him who is SIR Your most devoted Servant J. G. A SERMON Before the CONVOCATION c. 1 Cor. XI 16 But if any Man seem to be contentious we have no such custom neither the Churches of God. WITH what and how great Controversies the Church of England now a-days is exercised and with how potent and likewise malicious Enemies surrounded we all indeed see and grievously resent but no wonder considering we are well assured that this has been almost the constant and perpetual fate of Christ's Church wheresoever constituted For if we peruse all the Ecclesiastick Histories derived down to us from the very times of the Apostles we shall find no Age wherein the Catholick Church has not been molested either by Hereticks or Schismaticks or both together That is to say Tares are sown by the Enemy near the Wheat in the Lord's ground and they 'll grow together till the harvest But truly such is the love of our God to his Ground such the benevolence of the Almighty towards his Church that he 'le ne're permit the Wheat to be suffocated by the Tares the Evangelical Doctrine by Heresy and Discipline by Schism And therefore we have no reason to fear our Church's sustaining so many Assaults of its Adversaries seeing 't is buoy'd up by an omnipotent God as a pure and sound Member of his Universal Church But truly the purer and sounder our Church is and therefore more acceptable to God the more and fiercer Enemies it has among Men who from one side to t'other set themselves wholly against it and if they can't destroy at least Endeavour to disturb it For on the one hand Popish Priests on the other Sectaries traduce slander and wound it in their words and actions they try all ways to obtrude their new Fangles and Ceremonies on us and that so they may either utterly pull down or corrupt our Church But we in the mean while relying on Divine assistance fly to God alone daily beseeching him in the name of his only begotten Son that he wou'd vouchsafe to defend and maintain a Church of his own making And he has been so propicious to our Prayers contrary to our Deserts in wonderfully delivering Us at least from one sort of our Adversaries to wit the Popish Recusants and has given us reason to hope that they 'l ne're be capacitated again to molest our Church But even now one part remains who tho' seemingly of the same Faith and Doctrin yet being seduced either by Ignorance or Error or peradventure some scruple of Conscience alledge I know not what crimes against the Discipline and Rites of our Church and for that reason refuse Communion with us in God's Worship And 't is strange how great mischiefs may arise from this apparently small beginning For hence it is that Altars are erected against Altars hence proceed Factious Tumults and Mutual Hatreds among Brethren hence 't is that God's Worship is neglected and the very Sacraments one being thrust into corners the other seldom celebrated hence it is I am amaz'd to speak that impious words are rashly spoken against God and against all Religion as if it rather did afford matter for Discord than Peace hence lastly those popular calamities which threaten both Church and State and thereupon perpetually disquiet both Now that some remedy at length may be opportunely apply'd even to these diseases His most Serene Majesty has been pleased doubtless by Divine inspiration to assemble the Bishops and whole Clergy of this Kingdom that they may consult by what methods these pernicious differences may at last be so composed our Church loosing nothing of its Purity and Glory nothing of its Authority and Right that they who dissent from us may be reduced to our Holy Communion or at least remain for ever destitute of all reasons I don't say just which they never had but of all specious colours which hitherto they have pretended for their Separation I confess that this is a great and very difficult undertaking but as pious as necessary and therefore worthy of the utmost endeavours of our Clergy And how great soever the Labour and Work may seem although not less than to strive against the Stream yet we must not despair if so that God be present and influence our undertakings And indeed we have so ofteen experienced his singular Providence in defending our Church that we have no reason to doubt but that He will be present and propitious to our Importunities for it whilst all things are directed according to His Divine Will reveal'd to us in Holy Writ Which both we and our Dissenting Brethren hold to be the Supream Rule whereby all Ecclesiastical Controversies are to be judg'd Now if we consult these Sacred Oracles we shall find all things in them necessary for the obtaining Eternal Salvation But not so many things touching the external Polity of the Church much less particular Rites necessarily requisite for it For truly God has left these to be us'd in every particular Church according to those general Rules he has deliver'd in the Holy Scriptures for that purpose Such are Let all things be done decently and in order Let all things be done for Edification And others of the like nature with which the usual Rites of our Church exactly agree But what if a Contention shou'd arise between two Provincial Churches or between divers Members of the same Province concerning any Ceremony have we no Precept nor Example in the Holy Scriptures to stifle it 'T is true we have an Example which shou'd indeed have the force of a
any Provincial or National Church to subsist long in Peace From hence also a common Custom has obtain'd in all the Churches of God when all such Canons and Laws are Constituted to have regard not only to the well-being of any private member but also to the Peace and Tranquillity of the whole Church And indeed many things are necessary to the procuring this that are not to our obtaining everlasting felicity For which reason almost all the Canons published hitherto by Provincial or General Councils are instituted only for such things that make for the external Discipline and Peace of the Church And hence 't is also that never any Church was extant which did not register several things amongst their Laws not against but besides those things which are contain'd in holy Writ Which is so clear and perspicuous that I can't enough wonder how any one can doubt of the truth thereof Besides 't is customary in all the Churches of God to ratify such Canons as they make with Ecclesiastick Penances to prevent impunity when they are violated This likewise appears from the Canons of all the Councils upon which a man can scarce cast his eye but presently at the first sight see Suspension or Deposition Anathema or Excommunication against Lay-men if they shall act otherwise For neither has the Church ever esteem'd those worthy of the Sacred Ministry nor these of her Communion who refuse to obey Laws written as well for theirs as its own advantage Further 't is evident out of the aforesaid Collection of Councils that all the Churches of God were wont so to frame and temper these Laws which they thought necessary for themselves that they might be advantageous to and edifying of the whole Community and as much as possible inoffensive I said as much as possible by reason their ignorance is such that they scarce are sensible of any thing Such is the perverseness of others that they wrest all to the worst sense And truly 't is hardly possible for any Civil Law much less Ecclesiastical to be so made as to be approv'd by all Therefore there 's no reason that the Church shou'd be sollicitous for this sort of men unless perhaps that they may be better taught in discipline and manners by the force of the Laws Again others there are who endeavour to serve God piously and devoutly and to direct their lives according to his Commands and yet are of so weak and Scrupulous a Conscience that nothing almost can be done that do's not prove offensive to them and that too as we should charitably believe not from an obstinacy of will or stiff inclination to any Faction but from some pious tho' groundless fear lest it shou'd be displeasing to God. And truly these men are to be taken into consideration before Laws are confirm'd especially Ecclesiastick lest instead of eradicating old Scruples we shou'd implant new ones in their minds And that also whether they who are thus troubl'd in conscience wait on God's Altar together with the Church or separately from it For both are to be taken care of these that they may persevere in the Communion of our Church the other that they may be brought back to it And certainly this is a work and labour deserving the cares and studies of us all Which nevertheless is to be so enterpriz'd that nothing for their sakes may be omitted that shall redound to the Interest of the Church nor admitted that shall prove detrimental to the same For neither reason nor the perpetual Custom of the Church suffers a part to be preferable to the whole We may add further That nothing has been more usual amongst the Churches of God than to change Laws that they 've made to abrogate ancient ones and to substitute others perhaps quite different in their room when a necessitous time requires it None conversant in Ecclesiastick Histories can be ignorant of this For you can find no Church throughout the World that has all the same Laws now which it formerly had Doubtless all such Laws of Provincial Churches whereof we now speak are constituted pro hic nunc if I may be allow'd to speak barbarously here that is with respect to time and place When these are chang'd the Laws of Necessity must be chang'd for their accommodation to the present Customs of every Age and Place But truly no Church ever did or must do this without cogent Necessity For every unnecessary alteration in Ecclesiastick Laws stigmatizes the Church with inconstancy and too much derogates from the Authority given it by our Blessed Saviour it makes Prophane Wretches call Religion into Question whether or no it depends on the Will of Man It sets several together by the ears and keeps more still in a dubious expectation of some new attempt It renders the minds of others doubtful and uncertain what to do It stirs up outragious Tumults often disturbing the Publick Peace Neither also is any one so Skilful in the disposal and provision of things as to be able to foresee by any Art what and how great Miseries may be arising even from the mutation of Laws incommodious And therefore the changing of inveterate Laws for others is at all times dangerous unless such Necessity may compel as is otherwise insuperable and which is so manifest and apparent to the Eyes of all that none may see a change without seeing great Reason and Necessity for it Now if there be such a Necessity all those Calamities will be averted that generally attend on unnecessary change Our Church will not lose a drachm of Honour or Esteem that 's due to her For she and her Authority will be the same And all things will appear more peaceable calm fix'd and quiet in her than if they had kept their former State. All the Churches of God are taught this by Experience And for this reason they never Scruple to abdicate Laws of their own Constitution and to Confirm new ones as often as they see occasion Now whether our Church be oblig'd by such a Necessity to alter any thing that 's setled by her Laws belongs to Wise Men not me to determine This only I 'le presume to say that if it be necessary to bring back wandring Sheep to Christ's Fold if necessary to remove Scruples from the Consciences of weak Brethren If necessary to extinguish Hatred mitigate Anger and reconcile all Differences as far as possible about Religion If necessary to restore Ecclesiastick Discipline to its pristine vigour If necessary to defend and maintain the best Church on Earth against the Efforts of Men and Devils I say If any one thinks these necessary certainly he must likewise think it necessary to admit of such Alterations as in his Opinion are most conducive to this purpose Whilst only those things are chang'd which our Church has constituted by her Authority not those which the Universal Church has Establish'd by her Common Law. For all the Churches of God and ours too have