Quaeries as ASSUMING men as men who will think themselves BOUNDIN HONOUR to defend what they shall have done as men who have Tenderness and Moderation enough to part with any thing but their Church = Preferments As Men who have a Latitude to conform to a Church de Facto which has Power on its side These are very hard words whosoever gave them and proceed from a Temper ASSUMING enough to say no worse of it There is a great deal of Spite in them but not a grain either of Truth Justice or Charity So far are they from Assuming that I have ground to say They have declared among themselves That notwithstanding the offer of their present Opinions they would not conclude themselves but reserve a liberty of changing their minds if in Convocation any cogent Reasons which they had not yet thought of were brought before them If they were such as that Paper represents them yet why is it a Point of Honour to defend mere Proposals And then I would know by what Instances it appears that they are truly such as they are there represented MEN who conceal their own inclinations till it is time to show them MEN likely to do the Church of England a good turn when opportunity serves and which perhaps they imagine now they have Men ready to sacrifice their Consciences to their HONOURS and PREFERMENTS They must needs have a great defect in their Memories who have forgotten the time when these very Men with true Christian Courage hazarded all that was dear to them in this world in order to the support of this Church and the true Religion professed in it by refusing to read a Declaration which was I believe on purpose framed for the overthrow of our Establishment As to the LATITUDE with which they are charg'd they did not show it when they were tri'd and now God be thank'd they have no Temptation to it and I fear there may be in those who are without cause their Enemies a sort of NARROWNESS that is not more commendable They have indeed this LATITUDE in them That provided Good be done to the Church they would rejoice in it though even those who are their Adversaries should happen to have the doing of it For their NUMBER it is again said falsly and absurdly as well as spitefully That as it may happen our Church may be chang'd and alter'd and transformed by NINE men That number of the Quorum does by one exceed that of the intire Body of those who by Order review'd the second Book of King Edward the Sixth in the first of Queen Elizabeth for as Cambden where above-cited does assure us there were joined with Dr. Parker no more than seven Persons but six saith Mr. Fuller forgetting Dr. Bill though after consultation with these the consent of others was to be desired Neither is it at all probable that the Nine of the Quorum should at any two Meetings be but just Nine and those the very same Men. But supposing the Commissioners to be Men of ill Design yet neither have the Quorum of NINE nor yet the whole Thirty together Power given Them to Change Alter or Transform any thing but only to offer what in their present Opinion is fit to be offered to the Convocation to be there debated and after such debate to be approved or rejected I confess there are some Great and Excellent Men who are not named in this Commission Neither have we such Hopes as we most earnestly wish we could have had of their appearing in Convocation But whatsoever the Cause of that may be for it becomes not me to judge Them and whatsoever the Suggestions of the Quaerist are the Commissioners design nothing so unreasonable as to fear it would not pass in a Free Convocation if Those Reverend and Iudicious Prelates were present For those Reverend Fathers of the Church have declared Their Opinions in Conversation That Great Improvements might be made both in our Offices and our Discipline and ought in due time to be so and particularly towards Dissenters They solemnly told King James That they wanted no due Tenderness towards Them but were willing to come to such a Temper as should be thought fit when that Matter should be Considered and Settled in Parliament and Convocation And I am confident They All sincerely meant the same thing they so publickly declared In the Commission it self III there is no unreasonable Thing design'd neither is it at all probable that the Commissioners should pervert the good Ends of It. But by both the Support and Improvement and Well-being of the Church is directly aim'd at The Design of the Commission is set forth in these Words in the Body of It. 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 acknowledg'd It is but reasonable that upon weighty and important Considerations according to the various Exigences 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 Edification 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 Liturgie 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 In pursuance of the Sense of these Expressions it may be shewn That All Churches in process of time though as well constituted at first as the Case would bear may admit of Alterations and Improvements That our Constitution was Review'd in Lxi. and yet notwithstanding that Review is capable of this which is now intended That what is now design'd is for its Support and Advantage with respect both to Conformists and Dissenters 1. All Churches in Process of Time though at first as well constituted as the Age and
Things designed in the Commission should for that Reason be done now this being a fit juncture for the pursuing the Ends of It. That is true which the Quaerist says and in part he makes it go 〈…〉 by his own mâ—nner of writing that the 〈…〉 ssions of Men 〈◊〉 this time are in a vehement Fermentation but it is so always in all Revolutions and 't is one great business of the Parliament and Coâ—â—â—â—â—tion to allay our Heats but He that would abate the Fever may stay too long if he forbears to prescribe till the Blood is quiet It is again granted to him that the Church at this time has powerful Enemies I think it seldom is without Them. But if it do's its part in showing a true Christian Temper I doubt not but God will disappoint their devices An Attempt is to be made towards an Union amongst Protestants and I humbly offer those Reasons to the Consideration of better Judges which move me to believe that This is the Time for It. Their Majestes have declared their desires of it The House of Lords have given us their Sense of it in the Bill of Union The Bill was brought down to the House of Commons and had a Place on the Table amongst other Bills till their Prorogation Toleration is already granted by Statute the Nature of which requires our utmost Application in order to the preserving our own People and the bringing in of Dissenters for the good of both The Eyes of the World are upon us All the Reformed Churches are in expectation of something to be done which may make for Union and Peace Greater numbers of the Irish and French Protestant Clergy are now here than ever were since we were a Nation We may consult them with Ease and not without Benefit No Man can be wise too late For Wisdom would not delay what is necessary or expedient to be done beyond the due Seasons of Action After the Year Lxi though there were sometimes Writs issued out for the meeting of a Convocation yet no Warrant could be procur'd for the Support and Improvement of the Church during the Reign of King Charles the Second much Iess were we to expect it from King James Those therefore in my Opinion do not give wholesom Advice who say Do nothing now or As little as may be Little or Much is not the Business but as much as is fit And if One Opportunity be neglected it may discourage the Powers that offer It from vouchsafing Another Upon the whole Matter I have a threefold Request to make The First is to those Church-men to whom the Commissioners and Matters in the Commission are not fully known and who may have conceived some Prejudice against Them and the Work under their Hands by means of any Letters or Printed Pamphlets containing uncharitable Misrepresentations and sent about too industriously by Those who are either Enemies to Peace or â— Persons employ'd towards the making of It or have a Zeal not according to Knowledge I heartily pray them That as becomes their Holy Function they would duly consider both Things and Persons before they censure them and forbear judging before the Time lest they offend God and lead the People into an Error out of which it will not be easie to bring them afterwards The Second is to the People I earnestly beseech Them not to give too open an Ear to any such Censures of Things which they do not yet fully understand and which for ought they know may prove a great Blessing to Them nor receive ill Impressions concerning Men who having with Judgment and Zeal and Firmness in both endeavour'd to support This Church in the late Difficult Times are not likely upon any Account whatsoever to betray It in These The Last is to the Quaerist whether he be of the Laity or the Clergy I entreat him to make some Christian Reflections upon his Letter and piously to consider whether he hath not been angry without Cause judged rashly done to the Commissioners what he would not have had done to himself and endeavoured to lead others into the like Offences APPENDIX Anno 25 Henrici Octavi Cap. 19. An Act concerning the Submission of the Clergy to the Kings Majesty WHere the Kings Humble and Obedient Subjects the Clergy of this Realm of England have not only knowledged according to the Truth that the Convocations of the same Clergy are and always have been and ought to be Assembled by the Kings Writ but also submitting themselves to the Kings Majesty have promised in Verbo Sacerdotis that they will never from henceforth presume to attempt alledge claim or put in ure or enact promulge or execute any new Canons Constitutions Ordinances Provincial or other or by whatsoever other Name they shall be called in the Convocation unless the Kings most Royal Assent and License may to them be had to make promulge and execute the same and that his Majesty do give his most Royal Assent and Authority in that behalf c. Anno. 2. 3. E. 6. C. 1. WHereof long time there hath been had in this Realm of England and in Wales divers forms of Common Prayer commonly called the Service of the Church that is to say the use of Sarum of York of Bangor and of Lincoln And besides the same now of late much more divers and sundry Forms and Fashions have been used in the Cathedral and Parish Churches of England and Wales as well concerning the Mattens or Morning Prayer and the Evening Song as concerning the Holy Communion commonly called the Mass with divers and sundry Rites and Ceremonies concerning the same and in the Administration of other Sacraments in the Church And as the Doers and Executors of the said Rites and Ceremonies in other Form than of late years they have been used were pleased therewith so other not using the same Rites and Ceremonies were thereby greatly Offended And albeit the Kings Majesty with the advice of his most intirely beloved Unkle the Lord Protector and other of his Highness Council hath heretofore divers times assaied to stay innovations or New Rites concerning the Premisses Yet the same hath not had such good success as his Highness required in that behalf Whereupon his Highness by the most prudent advice aforesaid being pleased to bear with the frailty and weakness of his Subjects in that behalf of his great Clemency hath not only been content to abstain from punishment of those that have offended in that behalf for that his Highness taketh that they did of a good Zeal But also to the intent a uniform quiet and godly Order should be had concerning the Premisses hath appointed the Archbishop of Canterbury and certain of the most Learned and Discreet Bishops and other Learned Men of this Realm to consider and ponder the premisses and thereupon having as well Eye and respect to the most sincere and pure Christian Religion taught by the Scripture as to the usages in the
Primitive Church should draw and make one convenient and meet Order Rite and Fashion of Common and open Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments to be had and used in his Majesties Realm of England and in Wales the which at this time by the aid of the Holy Ghost with one uniform agreement is of them concluded set forth and delivered to his Highness to his great comfort and quietness of mind in a Book Intituled The Book of the common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church after the use of the Church of England Wherefore the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled considering as well the most Godly Travel of the Kings Highness of the Lord Protector and other of his Highness Council in gathering and collecting the said Arch Bishops Bishops and Learned Men together as the Godly Prayers Orders Rites and Ceremonies in the said Book mentioned and the considerations of altering those things which be altered and retaining those things which be retained in the said Book but also the honour of God and great quietness which by the Grace of God shall insue upon the one and uniform Rite and Order in such Common Prayer and Rites and Extern Ceremonies to be used throughout England and in Wales at Calice and the marches of the same go give to his Highness most hearty and lowly thanks for the same and humbly pray that it may be ordained and enacted by his Majesty with the Assent of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament Assembled and by the Authority of the same c. The Compilers of the Book of Common Prayer An. 3 Edw. 6. Tho. Cranmer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury George Day Bishop of Chichester Dr. Goodrich Bishop of Ely. Dr. Skip Bishop of Hereford Henry Holbech Bishop of Lincoln Nicholas Ridley Bishop of Rochester Thomas Thurlby Bishop of Westminster Dr. May Dean of St. Pauls Dr. Taylor then Dean afterwards Bishop of Lincoln Dr. Haines Dean of Exeter Dr. Robertson Arch Deacon of Leicester afterwards Dean of Durham Dr. Redman Dean of Westminster Mr. of Trinity Colledge Cambridge Dr. Richard Cox then Almoner to the King afterwards Bishop of Ely. Fuller Church History l. 7. p. 386. Reviewers of the Common-Prayer 1558. Dr. Parker Cox May Bill Pilkington Smith Whitehead Grindal Compilers of the Articles of 1562. MS. D. W Matthaeus Parkerus Cantuariensis Edmundus Grindallus Londin Robertus Horne Wintoniens Richardus Cox Eliensis Nicolaus Bullingham Lincolniens Thomas Bentham Lichfeildens Joan. Jewellus Sarisburiens Gilbertus Barkley Bathoniensis Gulielmus Allen Exoniensis Joan. Parkhurst Norvicensis Edwinus Sandes Wigorniensis Joanes Scory Herefordensis Gulielmus Barlow Cicestrensis Edmundus Gwest Roffensis Richardus Cheyney Glocestrensis Edmondus Scambler Petriburgensis Rich. Davies Menevensis Antonius Kitchin Landavensis Rolandus Merick Bangorensis Thomas Young Eboracensis Jacobus Pilkington Dunelmens Joannes Best Carleolensis Gulielmus Downam Cestrensis By King James the First A Proclamation for the Authorizing an Uniformity of the Book of Common Prayer to be used throughout the Realm Some of those who misliked the state of Religion here Established held Assemblies without Authority whom we restrained by a former Proclamation in the Month of October last and gave Intimation of the Conference we intended to be had with as much speed as conveniently could be for the ordering of These things of the Church which accordingly follow'd in the Month of January last at Our Honour of Hampton Court where before Our Self and Our Privy Counsel were Assembled many of the gravest Bishops and Prelates of the Realm and many other Learned Men c. March 5. In the first Year of Our Reign of England c. 14. Carol. 2. WHereas in the first year of the late Queen Elizabeth there was one Uniform Order of Common Service and Prayer and of the Administration of Sacraments Rites and Ceremonies in the Church of England agreeable to the World of God and usage of the Primitive Church compiled by the Reverend Bishops and Clergy set forth in one book Entituled The book of Common Prayer and Administration of Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies in the Church of England and enjoyned to be used by Act of Parliament holden in the first year of the said late Queen Entituled An Act for the Vniformity of Common Prayer and Service in the Church and Administration of the Sacraments the Kings Majesty according to his Declaration of the five and twentieth of October One thousand six hundred and sixty granted his Commission under the great Seal of England to several Bishops and other Divines to review the Book of Common Prayer and to prepare such Alterations and Additions as they thought fit to offer And AFTERWARDS the Convocations of both the Provinces of Canterbury and York being by His Majesty called and assembled and now sitting His Majesty hath been pleased to Authorize and require the Presidents of the said Convocations and other the Bishops and Clergy of the same to Review the said Book of Common Prayer c. The NAMES of the COMMISSIONERS A. D. 1689. Thomas Lamplugh Lord Arch-Bishop 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 Carslile Jonathan Trelauny Lord Bishop of Exeter Gilbert Burnet Lord Bishop of Salisbury Humfrey Humfreys Lord Bishop of Bangor Nicholas Stratford Lord Bishop of Chester Edward Stillingfleet late Dean of St. Pauls London now Bishop of Worcester Simon Patrick late Dean of Peterborough now Bishop of Chichester John Tillotson D.D. Dean of Canterbury Richard Meggot D.D. Dean of Winchester John Sharp D.D. Dean of Norwich Richard Kidder D.D. Dean of Peterborough Henry Aldridge D.D. Dean of Christ-Church Oxford William 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 William Beveridge D.D. Archdeacon of Colchester John Battely D.D. Archdeacon of Canterbury Charles Alston D.D. Archdeacon of Essex Thomas Tenison D.D. Archdeacon of London John Scott D.D. Prebendary of S. Pauls London Edward Fowler D.D. Prebendary of Glocester Robert Grove D.D. Prebendary of S. Pauls London John Williams D.D. Prebendary of S. Pauls London The END Books Lately Printed for Richard Chiswell Reflections upon the Opinions of some Modern Divines concerning the nature of Government in general and that of England in particular With an Appendix relating to this Matter containing 1. The Seventy fifth Canon of the Council of Toledo 2. The Original Articles in Latin out of which the Magna Charta of King John was framed 3. The true Magna Charta of King John in French By which the Magna Charta in Matth. Paris is cleared and justified and the Alterations in the Common Magna Charta discovered Of which see a more particular Account in the Advertisement before the Appendix All three Englished Jacobi Usserii Armachani Archiep. Historia dogmatica Controversiae inter Orthodoxos Pontificios de Scripturis Sacris Vernaculis nunc primum editae Accesserunt ejusdem dissertationes de Pseudo-Dionysii scriptis de Epistola ad Laodicenos ante hac ineditae Descripsit digessit notis atque Auctuario locupletavit Henricus Wharton A. M Reverendissimo Archiep. Cantuariensi a Sacris Domesticis A Discourse concerning the Unreasonableness of a New Seperation on Account of the Oaths With an Answer to the History of Passive Obedience so far as relates to them will be Published in few days a See the Names of the Compilers in p. 24. of the Appendix * Full. Ch. Hist. p. 386. b See part of the Act in Append. p. 22 23 24. c Cambd Eliz. p 23. An 1558. See the Names of the Reviewers in Append. p. 25. a Hist. of Ref. part 3 p. 405. b See the Names of the Compilers in Append. p. 25. c Full. Ch. Hist. b. 9. p. 72. Heylin Hist. Ref. p. 158. d See part of that Procl in Append. p. 26. a See part of the Act in Appendix p. 26 27. * A Letter to a Friend containing some Quaeries about the New Commission p. 4 5. a An 25 H. 8. Reviv'd 1 Eliz. See Append. p 21. See their Names in Appendix p. 27 c. a A Letter to a Friend containing some Quaeries about the New Commission p. 1 2 p. 4. (b) Quer. p. 4. (b) Quaer p. 4. †Ch. Hist. b. 7. p. 386. * H. of Ref. Coll. vol. 2. p. 330. * Quaer p. 5. (a) Arâ—ic 34 Every particular or National Church hath Authority to ordain change and abolish Ceremonies or Rites of the Church ordained only by mens Authority so that All things be done to edifying (a) Hist. of Ref. p. 393. L 3. An. 1559. Breviarium restitutum (a) Syst. Biblioth Coll. Par. Soc. Iesu. p. 17. Latina ante Correctionem Latina post Correctionem (b) Vid. Caus. Valesian p. 126 127 128. (d) Queries p. 1. (e) Quaeries p. 4. (f) P. 2. (g) Quaer p. 1. Qu. 2. Whether intended for the sake of the Church or for the satisfaction of Dissenters or to serve both these ends together (a) Quaer p. 3. (b) Quaer p. 6. Q. 2. (c) P. 3. Q. III. See. p. 5. See p. 2. See p. 2. See p. 2. Camb. Eliz. A. 1558 p. 23. See p. 3. In H. Lestranges Affin of div Lit. p. 6. See p. 3. See p. 4. See p. 7.