communicate to them of my children that teach in every good thing 11. Do you envy my just Power and Authority whereby with the wisdom gravity and integrity of such men as are invested with that power I may check all abuses and disorders in the Church and by a well-ordered discipline I may recover my self to my former glory and renown for which I was spoken of throughout the World 12. Do you except against the private infirmities the personal failing of my Bishops and Ministers as less strict and unblameable in their lives less painful in their calling less prudent in their undertakings or less compassionate in their Government though all the world knoweth that within me Learning flourisheth knowledge multiplyeth Grace aboundeth excellent Preaching thriveth Sacraments are duly administred the fruits of Gods spirit are mightily diffused hospitable kindness is exercised Christian Charity is maintained plain heartedness and Good works are eminent though I know the Christian world cannot shew men more eminent then some of my Clergy are for well-weighed knowledge for Christian Courage and Patience for sincere piety for indefatigable industry for Care and Vigilancy for exemplary Vertue for sound Doctrine useful Writing prudent Governing for a firm Constancy for fatherly Instructions charitable Corrrections and imitable conversations who guide the people without any allowed licentiousness in conversation any undecency in Devotion any irregularitie in Administration in all which according to the sacred direction of Gods Word according to the heavenly assistance of Gods spirit through Faith in Jesus Christ they teach them to worship the only true God who is blessed for ever as the admirable instruments of Gods glory and the good of mens souls teaching them a fruitful and effectual Faith a sound and judicious knowledge an hearty and sincere Love a discreet and prudent Zeal a severe and through Repentance fervent and devout Prayers godly and unfeigned Sorrow spiritual and unspeakable Comforts well grounded and firm Hope heavenly and holy Conversation a meek obedience and submission in the general frame of Christian mens carriage Though I have men famous for greatness of Learning soundness of Judgement gravity of Manners and Sanctity of Lives yet among my ten thousand Ministers it 's likely some may do amiss If when there was but three men in the world one was a Murtherer if among Noah's sons one of the three was disobedient If among Jacob's children of two one was prophane if of twelve Apostles one was a Devil another dissembled and a third denyed his Master if among the Asian Angels there is none but was to be reproved if among the few Primitive Preachers there was a Demas that loved the present world a Diotrephes that loved the preeminence among my so many thousand Clergy it 's not likely but that some may fall short of the severe exactness required in all Ministers who ought to be patterns in good works Oh my Clergy are not Angels but men subject to the like infirmities with other men If they should say they have no sin they would deceive themselves and the truth would not be in them but if they confess their sins he is faithful and just to forgive them their sins and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness Be Perfection the glory of other Church-members the glory of mine is Sincerity Without all peradventure the most holy and all-seeing God who walketh in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks whose pure eyes are most intent upon the Ministers of the Church hath found iniquity in his servants the Bishops and other Ministers both as to their persons and professions all things being open and naked to him with whom we have to do 1. He observes how many consecrated and set apart to the service of God and his Church in the name place power and authority of Jesus Christ and approaching his gracious presence with Aaron in the holy of holies in the glorious manifestations of God in Christ to his Church by publick Ordinances and spiritual Influences have not so sanctified the Name of the Lord God their God in their Hearts and Lives in their Doctrines and Duties 2. The great Searcher of hearts knoweth how rashly many of his Ministers undertake how carelesly they manage that great and terrible work under which Angels may swoon and great Apostles cry Who is sufficient for these things how vulgarly they converse how lazily they live how loosely they behave themselves how ambitiously they design how covetously they reach how enviously they repine how unexemplarily they walk unworthy of the favour and indulgence shewed them to the amazement of their High-calling the dishonor of their Profession to the forfeiture of their Dignity and Plenty the endangering of their Peace and Safety 3. He that is about our paths and about our dwellings hath observed how unpreparedly negligently and irreverently how partially popularly and passionately how formally and vainly without any power of godliness Life of Religion some perform the work of God the great work of Eternal concernment to our own and other mens souls 4. He whose eyes see whose eye-lids try the children of men hath looked down from heaven and observed the iniquity of some mens holy things their dead and unreasonable instead of a living and acceptable service he hath taken notice of that supine negligence which hath sunk some mens Ministrations below the just majesty solidity and gravity of Gospel-dispensations others by an affected height and depth for want of plain instruction and charitable condescending amuse the poor people who know not what they say nor whereof they do affirm 5. He that will reprove and set mens sins in order before them hath taken notice of some mens remiss compliance and others exact rigours according to their private tempers judgements and passions whereby they swerved too much from that just charity discretion legality and constancy which my Canons intented and my constitution health and peace required especially in the peevish touchinesse of these times when so many subtile and envious ones lie in wait to destroy me Yet my Church-mens exorbitancies are not my constitutions their failings are not my frame their infirmities are not my nature their fall is no more mine who disallows it then the Angels fall may be the Heavens that forbid it their weaknesses are humane my authority is divine that charity which thinketh no evil will not lay upon me those enormities which I forbid by a Law which I restrain by Discipline which I mourn for in mine Humiliation and discountenance in those great patterns that shew a most excellent way These sins O the Christian world are transgressions of my Law affronts to my Authority the baffles of my Cannons and Injunctions O that my Apologie were written yea printed in a book for the satisfaction of the world that the good that I would do that I cannot do and the evil that I would not do that I do I find a law of my members against the law of my mind So
Lacrymae Ecclesiae ANGLICANAE OR A serious and Passionate ADDRESS of the Church of England To her SONS especially those of the CLERGY Printed in the Year 1689. TO THE READER THe Church of England ever since its Recovery from the Darkness of Popish ignorance and Superstition has been no less the envy of Rome then the Honour and Glory of all other Reformed Churches for its Constitutions are Holy and Primitive its Liturgy pious and devout all her Doctrines consonant and agreeable to the word of God. She retains the Ancient Creeds She Rejects all novel and superstitious Doctrines that are neither to be found in nor warranted by the Word of God She retains the two Sacraments instituted by our Saviour and rightly and duely administers them and that whole and entire according to Primitive Institution and that too neither Superstitiously advancing them above the nature of Sacraments nor yet prophanely or irreverently detracting from the Greatness and Holiness of their Mystical and invisible significance Marvel not therefore Brethren if the World hate you for even our dear Redeemer was hated and scorned and shamefully put to Death and shall the Disciple be above his Master 'T is what our Saviour himself foretold they hate me they will hate you also Now altho' it may be objected that there are several scandalous and loose Livers among the Clergy of the Church of England what then does not the Church reprove such Does it not correct such And if they prove obstinate and incorrigible does she not disown such And 't is no wonder that among such a numerous Clergy there should be some ill persons Our Saviour when present upon Earth in his humanity was not withcut a Judas among twelve and no doubt it will be so in all numerous Assemblies while the world endures But this is matter of Compassion not of scorn they are Personal Blots but does not injure the Constitutions or Doctrines of the Church All these things are more amply and fully handled in the following Book which was first Printed in 1663. and then humbly Dedicated to the King and his great Council the Parliament of England and it having fallen into my hands of late after a careful and delightful perusal of it I thought it not improper to Reprint in these times and therefore recommended it to the Bookseller as a useful piece and so I do to thee Reader Farewel Lacrymae Ecclesiae ANGLICANAE CHAP. I. O All you that pass by me stand and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow if it hath been done to any Reformed or Protestant Church under Heaven as it is done unto me O now my wounds were ready to be closed my Ruines to be repaired my Desolations and Wastes to be finished when the Barbarous was checked the Licentious was restrained the usurpers were removed the professed Enemies of different Interests and Religion which persecuted me were subdued and I ready to settle upon the Eternal Foundations of sound Doctrine of Primitive Government of an holy and pure Worship of a decent and comely order to the amazement of the World to the honour of Religion to the glory of God to the peace of the whole Earth and for good will among men behold my Children are discontent my Government is complained of my Ordinances are neglected my Ministers are despised my peace is disturbed and my safety endangered Hear O Heavens and give ear O Earth What could I have done that I have not done Have I not taught the truth of God sincerelie giving Milk to babes and stronger meat to them that were able to bear it and the Oracles of God to all in a Language they best understood Have I concealed any part of Gods sacred Counsel from you Have I not set forth with all plainness and freedom the blessed fulness and excellencies of my Lord Jesus Christ in such a manner and measure as I received from the Word and Spirit Have I not administred all the Ordinances of God faithfully have I not enjoyned and taught all vertue and all grace carefully recommending to my Children whatsoever things are good whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report every holy Duty every necessary Rule and every imitable Example with all the Advantages of sound Knowledge powerful Preaching which at once was able to inform the weak to reclaim the most erroneous to reform the most debauched to satisfie the most curious and to silence the most refractory Have I not prepared with much study and industry with many prayers and tears with long education and diligent care Reverend Bishops Orderly Presbyters able Ministers workmen that need not be ashamed duly ordained and called after an uninterrupted and Catholick succession through all Ages agreeable to that original institution which was from Jesus Christ the great High Priest the true Prophet the soveraign King of the Church the chief preacher of righteousnesse and Bishop of our Souls Have I not I say taken an holy care of a succession of Ministers about holy things who might divide the Word aright by solid preaching might wait upon God solemnly by a devout and discreet Praying might convince Gain-sayers by acute Disputing might instruct the world by exact Writing might maintain peace and order by wise Governing might reform the world by holy living Hath it not been my care and endeavour to keep up the soundness power and life of Christian Religion Have not I laboured that my good people might every where have what is necessary and wholesome for their souls good in devout Prayers in holy Sacraments in powerful Sermons whereby I desired God knoweth to preserve wholsome and saving truth to promote true holiness to set up an holy decency to maintain the wholsome form and power of godliness in truth peace order and unity Have not I held forth an holy Light Rule and Life in the plain parts of Scripture every where read in the Articles every where acknowledged in the Creeds and Catechism every year explained in the Liturgy constantly used whereby poor souls had a plain easie and sure way to Heaven through an unfeigned Faith sincere Repentance a Catholick Charity a devout humility a good conscience and an holy obedience to God and man according to the will of God unto all well pleasing Do not I take care to instruct the ignorant diligently to comfort the weak hearted tenderly to raise up them that fall compassionately to visit those that are sick charitably to relieve those that want mercifully to bury my dead that sleep in Jesus solemnly to punish those that do amisse severely to restore them that have gone astray pitifully to instruct them that oppose themselves meekly to frame a way of Peace Order and Cummunion in which Brethren might happily dwell together in unity prudently rationally and discreetly O what failings of mine then have occasioned these impatient
people an inward worship of soul in spirit and in truth before God but withal I enjoyn outward worship of the body which is but a reasonable service to God that made the body exemplary and significant before men in such habits and gestures as may most conduce by the advice of the whole Church for the private spirit of the prophets in those things ought to be subject to the publick spirit of the Prophets to reverence devotion and edification in knowing humble meek and quiet spirits rightly discerning the innocent nature of such things not prohibited and so indifferent and the Christian liberty allowed to them to use those things indifferent when commanded and to lay them aside when not commanded However let the many Obligations to unity by the true Faith you joyntly professe give you more satisfaction then the occasions of dividing the Ceremonies in which you differ give you offence so that you may not upon so small occasions in such small matters sacrifice to your private passion and perswasion the publick Peace and Prosperity of the Church especially since I never heard of any sober Christian or truly godly Minister who being in other things prudent unblameable and sincere did ever suffer any check of conscience meerly upon the account of having been conformable to and keeping communion with me nor did they ever complain of Ceremonies Liturgy and Episcopacy as any damps to their real graces or to their holy communion with Gods blessed spirit but admired them as the united influence the joynt consent the combined devotion of all good Christians in this Nation who publickly agreed with one mind and in one manner to serve the Lord in a way allowed by the most pious of Princes practised by the best Nobility owned by the wisest Gentry maintained by the most learned Clergy and embraced by the best sort of Commons I allow only such Ceremonies as make religious Duties not more pious but more conspicuous not more sacred but more solemn not more spiritual and holy but more visible imitable and exemplary to quicken my children to allure others to instruct and edifie all 5. Are ye offended with my Canons and Injunctions Is it fit that a few men whom order and Policy hath made inferiour to others as the Rulers and Representatives of the whole society should prefer their own private Opinions and Judgements before the well-advised Results the learned Connsels the pious Endeavours and solemn Sanctions of so many eminent for piety prudence integrity publick influence and just Authority 6. Are my solemn Fasts and Feasts your grievances those solemn remembrances of Gods Mercy to men in Christ celebrated with prayer praises preaching and communicating to Gods glory and all sober Christians improvement according to the known president of the Jews and the general practice of the Christian Church What harm is there if some good men observing a day observe it to the Lord and others not observing a day observe it not to the Lord 7. Do you resent my Endeavours for Unity and uniformity Alas I desire only that men sincerely worship one true God and profess the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ that they may be partakers of the gifts and graces of the blessed Spirit and may have an holy communion with that adorable Trinity and with one another in love and charity as Christians enjoying the noblest life the sweetest society and most heavenly fraternity imitating God emulating Angels Children and expectants of happiness Partakers of grace and daily preparing for eternal Glory that all men who have been called baptized and instructed by lawful Ministers here in the mysteries and duties of the Gospel may make a joynt and publick profession of the Christian Faith and Reformed Religion in the name and as the sense of the whole Nation grounded upon the holy Scripture guided also and administred by that uniforme order due authority and holy Ministry for Worship and Government which according to the mind of Christ the pattern of the Apostles and the practice of all primitive Churches hath been lawfully established by the wisdom and consent of all Estates in this Kingdom for Gods honour the Churches safety the publick peace and the common good of souls 8. Do I not allow you a just liberty to do such things constantly and chearfully which are most proper and advantagious to the nature and excellency of men to think what is true to do what is fit and enjoy what is just in reference to God others and your selves I have taken from you no liberty but that of doing evil you are at liberty to enjoy all the comforts priviledges and Ordinances which Christ hath instituted in an holy order and regular way for private or publick good and to hope for that reward and crown which God the righteous judge hath promised those that persevere in well doing My highest aim is that you may have liberty to exercise a good conscience void of offence towards God and towards man that they may willingly in all things live honestly 9. Are ye displeased with my Members Alas innocent men they pursue after the knowledge of and communion with God in order to a rational religious spiritual gracious perfect and unchangeable life enjoying themselves in the blessed enjoyment of God the enjoyment of whom satisfieth all their desires rewards all their duties requites all their sufferings compleats all their happiness crowns and perfects true Religion They endeavour that on earth which they hope for in heaven viz. a right knowledge and a willing performance which as reasonable they owe for ever to God their Maker Preserver and Redeemer in Christ With this religious frame and temper of which themselves only are conscientious they prepare for a glorious and blessed immortality with a sincerity of heart and uprightness of conversation which hath no other Rule but Gods Word no other End but Gods Glory no other Comfort but the Constancy of this Disposition to their Lives end Innocent men they look for one common Salvation they use one common Sacrament they professe one Faith and Rule of Holiness they have one Gracious Temper the same inward sense of Duty and Devotion they walk in the same order with the Catholick Church over the face of the earth 10. Do you envy me my Patrimony and Maintenance what the Law of God allows me what the Gospel hath provided me what the Piety of Elder times hath bestowed upon me what good Kings Peers and people of their own endowed me with freely honouring the Lord with their substance that they that served the Altar might live by the Altar O why may not my children who attend the Gospel live by the Gospel since they attend a Ministry as venerable in its Mysteries as clear in its Doctrine as glorious in its chief Minister Jesus as painful to it's Ministers and as comfortable to pious and devout souls as the Ministry of the Law Why are you offended that they of my children that are taught should
that it 's no more I but the sins and the sinners that dwell in me 4. It 's you it 's you whom I have nourished and brought up as children whom I have encouraged as Ministers whom I have promoted as Governours it 's you that have brought this reproach and danger upon me When I had with heroick patience endured the oppression of adversaries by a Christian prudence defeated the attempts of Schismaticks by an exemplary humility and piety turned the hearts of enemies and by a miracle of Restauration silenced the mouths of all men you my Sons opened the mouth of scandal strengthned the cry of reproach raised the clamours of the envious Oh if an enemy had done this I could with the same Christian courage I have suffered these twenty years have born it but it`s you of my own bosom family and profession O you my Clergy whom I expected more glorious more esteemed more reverenced before all the world after your constant sufferings who coming out of this fiery furnace might shine brighter then ever you did with the love of Christ and of me his Church both as to the care of those private charges and publick inspections committed to you in excellent order and by due authority and I expected that neither pride nor envy pomp nor popularity neither covetousness nor ambition should distract the thoughts divide the hearts exasperate the humours or provoke the reproach of an incensed people against my Order and Government and the good of all sorts of Christians Whosoever of you notwithstanding the miracles both of your sufferings and relief at such a time as this when the mouth of Hell is open against me shall open any other mouth to joyn in the cry against the Church give life or tongue to any scandalous sin and set that to its clamans de terra crying from the ground that by luxury or sloth by covetousness or griping by insolence or pride by carelesness or looseness by disorder and irregularity shall justifie mens malice against me and by that means perswade credulous and easie people that is true that hath been said of me all is just that hath been inflicted upon me I know not what Wo is heavy enough for him O alas my Brother O it had been better for him he had never been born 5. My Doctrine I can maintain my discipline I can assert my constitution I can vindicate You you O my Sons I cannot justifie wo is me that I must hear your reproach and cannot gain say it Five things there are that tend equally to mine and your own ruine which I must charge you before the world Five things that will insensibly undermine my famous Fabrick which hath been the care and labour of so many years when erected and the miracle of this last year when restored These five sad Particulars are 1. Vndue Ordination 2. An unconscionable Simony 3. Careless Non-residence 4. Loose Prophaneness 5. Encroaching Pluralities CHAP. II. The Church of England's resentment of Vndue Ordination ALthough I am well satisfied whatever the Romanists and others have of late suggested that my Ordination is Authentick Primitive and proper in the form of it is valid in the Author being by men ordained in an uninterrupted succession by the primitive Bishops as they were by the Apostles and the Apostles by Christ and Jesus Christ by God himself and is regular and legal in the circumstances of it being agreeable to the established Laws of the Realm yet not without much regret must I confess that solemn investiture of men to the great calling of Ministers fallen much below its native glory much shrunk in its Primitive sacredness and reverence and extreamly decayed in its first esteem and honour because my reverend Bishops in the great intricacies of late alterations are surprized to bestow the honour of that high calling 1. upon the Young 2. upon the Unlearned 3. upon the Debauched and 4. upon the Factious SECT 1. Of Young Ministers whereof I have a Call of above 3000. WO is me when I have those that teach before they have learned that I have those that would instruct others and have need themselves be instructed which are the first principles of the Doctrine of Christ Instead of the ancient Fathers we have children who are made Priests in all Lands Former times honoured my excellent Clergy for their age and gravity reverenced them for their learning and austerity and esteemed them as the wonder of the World and said Ask the Father and he will shew thee thine ancients and they shall tell thee this age slights them for their youth and weakness for their ignorance and unexperience as persons that are but of yesterday and know nothing We have understanding saith the common people to the young men as well as you we are not inferiour to you yea who knoweth not such things as these As the Patriarchs separated their first-born for the Priest-hood and Moses and Aaron reserved themselves many years for their Ministries and the Law prepared men thirty years for the sacred service and the blessed Jesus the Preacher of Righteousness entred not untill the thirtieth year of his Age upon the great work of Ministry so my Bishops knowing how to behave themselves in the work of God which is the Church of the living God the pillar and ground of truth took heed to themselves and the flocks over which the holy Ghost had made them overseers that they laid hands suddenly on no man neither were partakers of other mens sins but keep themselves pure taking care that men be first proved and then use the Office of a Deacon being found blameless and then when they had used the Office of a Deacon well and purchased to themselves a good degree of a Priest or Bishop then they took care that they should be blameless vigilant sober of good behaviour given to hospitality apt to teach not Novices lest being lifted up with pride they fall into the condemnation of the Devil Moreover they took care they might have a good report of them that are without lest they fall to reproach and condemnation of the Devil But now since the looseness of these late times there are admitted to the Priesthood of the meanest of the people who are not the sons of Levi as in Jeroboam's days every one that will is made a Priest that he may have bread to eat Those Pulpits that were filled with ancient Fathers are now Desks for young children those solemn Assemblies that were rapt up into the third Heaven with pious Sermons and devout Prayers hear the late pedantique Herangues and juvenile Orations with scorn and laughter those people that thronged to hear the wisdom of God delivered in the demonstration of the Spirit and with power are quite weary of that true foolishness of Preaching that consists only in the childish wisdom of words and in the trifling enticing words of mans wisdom I had reverend men that shewed themselves a pattern of good works