of difference whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not Christned but it is also a sign and seal of our new-birth whereby as by an instrument they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church the promises of forgiveness of sin and of our adoption to be the sons of God are visibly signed and sealed faith is confirmed and grace increased by vertue of prayer unto God The Custom of the Church to Christen young Children is to be commended and in any wise to be retained in the Church Of the Lords Supper THe Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another but rather it is a Sacrament of our redemption by Christs death Insomuch that to such as rightly worthily and with faith receive the same the bread which we break is a communion of the body of Christ likewise the Cup of blessing is a communion of the blood of Christ Transubstantiation or the change of the substance of Bread and VVine into the substance of Christs Body and Blood cannot be proved by holy VVrit but it is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture and hath given occasion to many superstitions For as much as the truth of mans nature requireth that the body of one and the self same man cannot be at one time in divers places but must needs be in some one certain place therefore the body of Christ cannot be present at one time in many divers places and because as holy Scripture doth teach Christ was taken up into heaven and there shall continue unto the end of the world a faithful man ought not either to believe or openly confess the real and bodily presence as they term it of Christs flesh and blood in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper The Sacrament of the Lords Supper was not commanded by Christs Ordinance to be kept carried about lifted up nor worshipped Of the perfect Oblation of Christ made upon the Cross THe offering of Christ made once for ever is the perfect redemption the pacifying of Gods displeasure and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world both original and actual and there is none other satisfaction for sin but that alone VVherefore the sacrifices of Masses in the which it was commonly said that the Priest did offer Christ for the quick and the dead to have remission of pain or sin were forged fables and dangerous deceits The state of single life is commanded to no man by the Word of God BIshops Priests and Deacons are not commanded to vow the state of single life without marriage neither by Gods law are they compelled to abstain from matrimony Excommunicate persons are to be avoided THat person which by open denunciation of the Church is rightly cut off from the unity of the Church and Excommunicate ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the faithful as an Heathen and Publican until he be openly reconciled by penance and received into the Church by a Iudge that hath authority thereto Traditions of the Church IT is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one or utterly like for at all times they have been divers and may be changed according to the diversity of Countries and mens manners so that nothing be ordained aginst Gods VVord VVhosoever through his private judgment willingly and purposely doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church which be not repugnant to the Word of God and be ordained and approved by common authority ought to be rebuked openly that other may fear to do the like as one that offendeth against the common order of the Church and hurteth the authority of the Magistrate and woundeth the consciences of weak brethren Of Homilies THe Homilies of late given and set out by the Kings authority be godly and wholsom containing Doctrine to be received of all men and therefore are to be read to the people diligently distinctly and plainly Of the Book of Prayers and Ceremonies of the Church of England THe book which of very late time was given to the Church of England by the Kings Authority and the Parliament containing the manner and form of praying and ministring the Sacraments in the Church of England likewise also the book of ordering Ministers of the Church set forth by the aforesaid Authority are godly and in no point repugnant to the wholsom Doctrine of the Gospel but agreable thereunto furthering and beautifying the same not a little and therefore of all faithful members of the Church of England and chiefly of the Ministers of the word they ought to be received and allowed with all readiness of mind and thanksgiving and to be commended to the people of God Of Civil Magistrates THe King of England is supreme head in Earth next under Christ of the Church of England and Ireland The Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this Realm of England The Civil Magistrate is ordained and allowed of God wherefore we must obey him not only for fear of punishment but also for conscience sake The Civil Laws may punish Christian men with death for heinous and grievous offences It is lawful for Christians at the commandment of the Magistrate to wear weapons and serve in lawful wars Christian mens Goods are not common THe riches and goods of Christians are not common as touching the right title and possession of the same as certain Anabaptists do falsly boast Notwithstanding every man ought of such things as he possesseth liberally to give alms to the poor according to his ability Christian men may take an Oath AS we confess that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Iesu Christ and his Apostle James so we judge that Christian Religion doth not prohibit but that a man may swear when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of faith and charity so it be done according to the Porphets teaching in justice judgment and truth The Resurrection of the Dead is not yet brought to pass THe Resurrection of the dead is not as yet brought to pass as though it only belonged to the soul which by the grace of Christ is called from the death of sin but it is to be lookt for at the last day For then as Scripture doth most manifestly testifie to all that be dead their own bodies flesh and bone shall be restored that the whole man may according to his works have either reward or punishment as he hath lived virtuously or wickedly The Souls of them that depart this life do neither die with the bodies nor sleep idlely THey which say that the souls of such as depart hence do sleep being without all sense feeling or perceiving until the day of judgment or affirm that the souls die with the bodies and at the last day shall be raised up with the same do utterly dissent from the right belief declared to us in holy Scripture Hereticks called Millenarii THey that
Gowns of the fashion aforesaid and Caps as afore is prescribed Item That all poor Parsons Vicars and Curates do endeavor themselves to conform their apparel in like sort so soon and as conveniently as their ability will serve to the same Provided that their ability be judged by the Bishop of the Diocess And if their ability will not suffer to buy them long Gowns of the form afore prescribed that then they shall wear their short Gowns agreeable to the form before expressed Item That all such persons as have been or be Ecclesiastical and serve not the Ministery or have not accepted or shall refuse to accept the Oath of obedience to the Queens Majesty do from henceforth abroad wear none of the said apparel of the form and fashion aforesaid but to go as meer lay-men till they be reconciled to obedience and who shall obstinately refuse to do the same that they be presented by the Ordinary to the Commissioners in causes Ecclesiastical and by them to be reformed accordingly Protestations to be made promised and subscribed by them that shaâ—l hereafter be admitted to any Office Room or Cure in any Church or other place Ecclesiastical INprimis I shall not preach or publickly interpret but only read that which is apppointed by publick Authority without special license of the Bishop under his Seal I shall read the Service appointed plainly distinctly and audibly that all the people may hear and understand I shall keep the Register-book according to the Queens Majesties Injunctions I shall use sobriety in apparel and specially in the Church at common prayers according to order appointed I shall move the Parishioners to quiet and concord and not give them cause of offence and shall help to reconcile them which be at variance to my uttermost power I shall read daily at the least one Chapter of the Old Testament and another of the New with good advisement to the increase of my knowledge I do also faithfully promise in my person to use and exercise my office and place to the honor of God to the quiet of the Queens subjects within my charge in truth concord and unity And also to observe keep and maintain such order and uniformity in all external Policy Rites and Ceremonies of the Church as by the Laws good Vsages and Orders are already well provided and established I shall not openly intermeddle with any Artificers occupations as covetously to seek a gain thereby having in Ecclesiastical Living to the sum of twenty nobles or above by year Agreed upon and subscribed by Matthaeus Cantuariensis Commissioners in Causes Ecclesiastical Edmondus Londoniensis Commissioners in Causes Ecclesiastical Richardus Eliensis Commissioners in Causes Ecclesiastical Edmondus Roffensis Commissioners in Causes Ecclesiastical Robertus Wintoniensis Nicholus Lincolniensis With others Imprinted at London by Reginald Wolfe The Oaths of Allegiance Supremacy and Canonical Obedience The Oath of Allegiance I A. B. Do truly and sincerely acknowledge profess testifie and declare in my Conscience before God and the World That our Soveraign Lord King CHARLES is lawful and rightful King of this Realm and of all other his Majesties Dominions and Countries And that the Pope neither of himself nor by any Authority of the Church or Sea of Rome or by any other means with any other hath any Power or Authority to depose the King or to dispose any of his Majesties Kingdoms or Dominions or to authorize any Foreign Prince to invade or annoy him or his Countries or to discharge any of his Subjects of their Allegiance and Obedience to his Majesty or to give license or leave to any of them to bear Arms raise Tumults or to offer any violence or hurt to his Majesties Royal Person State or Government or to any of his Majesties Subjects within his Majesties Dominions Also I do swear from my heart that notwithstanding any Declaration or sentence of Excommunication or Deprivatition made or granted or to be made or granted by the Pope or his Successours or by any Authority derived or pretended to be derived from him or his Sea against the said King his Heirs or Successours or any Absolution of the said Subjects from their Obedience I will bear faith and true Allegiance to his Majesty his heirs and Successours and him and them will defend to the uttermost of my power against all Conspiracies and attempts whatsoever which shall be made against his or their Persons their Crown and Dignity by reason or colour of any such Sentence or Declaration or otherwise and will do my best endeavour to disclose and make known unto his Majesty his Heirs and Successours all Treasons and Traiterous Conspiracies which I shall know or hear of to be against him or any of them And I do further swear That I do from my heart abhor detest and abjure as impious and heretical this damnable Doctrine and Position that Princes which be excommunicated or deprived by the Pope may be deposed or murthered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever And I do believe and in Conscience am resolved That neither the Pope nor any person whatsoever hath power to absolve me of this Oath or any part thereof which I acknowledge by good and full Authority to be lawfully administred unto me and do renounce all Pardons and Dispensations to the contrary And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to these express words by me spoken and according to the plain and common sense and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And I do make this Recognition and acknowledgment heartily willingly and truly upon the true faith of a Christian So help me God c. The Oath of Supremacy I A. B. Do utterly testifie and declare in my conscience That the Kings Highness is the only supreme Governor of this Realm and of all other his Highness Dominions and Countries as well in all Spiritual or Ecclesiastical things or causes as Temporal And that no Foraign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority Pre-eminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm And therefore I do utterly renounce and forsake all Foraign Jurisdictions Powers Superiorities and Authorities and do promise from henceforth I shall bear faith and true Allegiance to the Kings Highness his Heirs and lawful Successours and to my power shall assist and defend all Jurisdictions Priviledges Pre-eminences and Authorities granted or belonging to the Kings Highness his Heirs and Successours or united and annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm So help me God and the Contents of this Book The Oath of Simony I A. B. Do swear that I have made no Simoniacal payment contract or promise directly or indirectly by my self or by any other to my knowledge or with my consent to any person or persons whatsoever for or concerning the procuring or obtaining of the R. or V. of A. in
Statute in that behalf provided against those Sectaries VI. An Oath enjoyn'd for the preventing of all Innovations in Doctrine and Government THis present Synod being desirous to declare their sincerity and constancy in the profession of the Doctrine and Discipline already established in the Church of England and to secure all men against any suspition of revolt to Popery or any other superstition decrees That all Archbishops and Bishops and all other Priests and Deacons in places exempt or not exempt shall before the second day of November next ensuing take this Oath following against all Innovation of Doctrine or Discipline and this Oath shall be tendred them and every of them and all others named after in this Canon by the Bishop in person or his Chancellour or some grave Divines named and appointed by the Bishop under the Seal and the said Oath shall be taken in the presence of a publick Notary who is hereby required to make an Act of it leaving the Universities to the Provision which follows The Oath is I A. B. do swear That I do approve the Doctrine and Discipline or Government established in the Church of England a containing all things necessary to salvation And that I will not endeavor by my self or any other directly or indirectly to bring in any Popish Doctrine contrary to that which is so established nor will I ever give my consent to alter the Government of this Church by Archbishops Bishops Deans and Archdeacons c. as it stands now established and as by right it ought to stand nor yet ever to subject it to the usurpations and superstitions of the See of Rome And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to the plain and common sence and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And this I do heartily willingly and truly upon the faith of a Christian So help me God in Jesus Christ And if any man Beneficed or Dignified in the Church of England or any other Ecclesiastical person shall refuse to take this Oath the Bishop shall give him a months time to inform himself and at the months end if he refuse to take it he shall be suspended ab Officio and have a second month granted and if then he refuse to take it he shall be suspended ab officio beneficio and have a third month granted him for his better information but if at the end of that month he refuse to take the Oath above-named he shall by the Bishop be deprived of all his Ecclesiastical Promotions whatsoever and execution of his function which he holds in the Church of England We likewise Constitute and Ordain That all Masters of Arts the sons of Noble-men only excepted all Batchelors and Doctors in Divinity Law or Physick all that are licensed to practice Physick all Registers Actuaries and Proctors all School-masters all such as being Natives or naturalized do come to be incorporated into the Universities here having taken a Degree in any foreign University shall be bound to take the said Oath And we command all Governors of Colledges and Halls in either of the Universities that they administer the said Oath to all persons resident in their several Houses that have taken the Degrees before-mentioned in this Canon within six months after the publication hereof And we likewise Constitute That all Bishops shall be bound to give the said Oath unto all those to whom they give holy Orders at the time of their Ordination or to whomsoever they give Collation Institution or License to Preach or serve any Cure VII A Declaration concerning some Rites and Ceremonies BEcause it is generally to be wished that unity of Faith were accompanied with uniformity of practice in the outward worship and service of God chiefly for the avoiding of groundless suspitions of those who are weak and the malitious aspersions of the professed Enemies of our Religion the one fearing the Innnovations the other flattering themselves with the vain hope of our backslidings unto their Popish superstition by reason of the situation of the Communion-Table and the approaches thereunto the Synod declareth as followeth That the standing of the Communion-Table side-way under the East-window of every Chancel or Chappel is in its own nature indifferent neither commanded nor condemned by the Word of God either expresly or by immediate deduction and therefore that no Religion is to be placed therein or scruple to be made thereon And albeit at the time of Reforming this Church from that gross superstition of Popery it was carefully provided that all means should be used to root out of the minds of the people both the inclination thereunto and memory thereof especially of the Idolatry committed in the Mass for which cause all Popish Altars were demolished yet notwithstanding it was then ordered by the Injunctions and Advertisements of Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory that the holy Tables should stand in the place where the Altars stood and accordingly have been continued in the Royal Chappels of three famous and pious Princes and in most Cathedral and some Parochial Churches which doth sufficiently acquit the manner of placing the said Tables from any allegality or just suspition of Popish su-superstition or innovation And therefore we judge it fit and convenient that all Churches and Chappels do conform themselves in this particular to the example of the Cathedral or Mother Churthes saving always the general liberty left to the Bishop by Law during the time of Administration of the holy Communion And we declare that this scituation of the holy Table doth not imply that it is or ought to be esteemed a true and proper Altar whereon Christ is again really sacrificed but it is and may be called and Altar by us in that sence in which the Primitive Church called it an Altar and in no other And because experience hath shewed us how irreverent the behaviour of many people is in many places some leaning others casting their hats and some sitting upon some standing and others sitting under the Communinion-Table in time of Divine Service for the avoiding of these and the like abuses it is thought meet and convenient by this present Synod that the said Communion-Tables in all Chancells or Chappels be decently severed with Rails to preserve them from such or worse profanations And because the Administration of holy things is to be performed with all possible decency and reverence therefore we judge it fit and convenient according to the word of the Service-Book established by Act of Parliament Draw near c. that all Communicants with all humble reverence shall draw near and approach to the holy Table there to receive the Divine Mysteries which have heretofore in some places been unfitly carried up and down by the Minister unless it shall be otherwise appointed in respect of the incapacity of the place or other inconvenience by the Bishop himself in his jurisdiction and other
Sentence shall bind to submission though the Superiours may err in the sentence Thus God ordered it Deut. 17. that in doubts the Inferiour were to stand to the decision and sentence of the Priests and the Judge and yet their judgement was not infallible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the whole Assembly the chiefest Senate might err and sin through Ignorance and a sacrifice is appointed for the expiation of their errour Lev. 4.13 Better that Inferiours be bound to stand to such fallible judgment as to quiet submission in such kind of controversies as afore-mentioned than that every man be suffered to interpret Laws and determine controversies which will bring into the Church certain confusion Nor will such submission in the Inferiours be damnable seeing in this submission to Authority they follow Gods method obeying them that have the oversight over them Heb. 13. and keep order of which God is the Author 1 Cor. 14.33 God is not the Author of Confusion but of order and peace as in all Churches of the Saints This Authority in determining doubts and controversies the Church hath practised in all Ages and her constant practice is the best interpreter of her right We read not only of St. Pauls determining controversies about rites and circumstances 1 Cor. 14. but also of the Churches determining controversies of Doctrines and matters of belief in a full Council Act. 15. and requiring submission to those determinations from inferiour members The like did the Church afterwards in her general Councils of NICE CONSTANTINOPLE EPHESUS CHALCEDON And not only the General Councils have exercised this Authority but particular Churches also in National Councils in the Council of ORANGE MILEVIS and others have used the same power over their children whom they were bound to teach and govern and for whose souls they were to account to God and they did no more than was their right so long as they did it with submission to the general Church to whom they are subject Christ said to the Apostles and by this to all the guides of souls that should succeed them in a lawful Ordination he that hears you hears me and he that despises you despises me St. Cypr. Ep. 69. From these premises it plainly follows that our dear Mother the Church of England in makeing these Canons and Articles for determining the controversies in matters of belief which you may see in the ensuing Collection did no more than what was both her right and her duty to do both for the preservation of her peace and the guidance and conduct of the souls committed to her charge and what her care hath been in the exercise of this power for the good of her members ever since the Reformation will evidently to her honour appear by this following Collection made up not without great care and industry of the Publisher By which he hath done our Mother this farther right that now whosoever will may easily see the notorious slander which some of the Roman perswasion have endeavoured to cast upon her That her Reformation hath been altogether Lay and Parliamentary for by the Canons and Articles following which were formerly scattered and hard to be seen by every one now gathered together into a body it easily appears to any that will but open their eyes and read that the Reformation of this Church was orderly and Synodical by the Guides and Governors of souls and confirmed by Supreme Authority and so in every particular as legal as any Reformation could or ought to be Anth. Sparrow Books newly Printed for Robert Pawlet at the Bible in Chancery Lane 1675. AN Historical Vindication of the Church of England in point of Schisme as it stands separated from the Roman and was Reformed I. Elizabeth Written by Sir Robert Twisden Knight and Baronet XIX Sermons Preached by that Eminent Divine Henry Hammond D. D. Published by the Authors own Copies Golden Remains of the ever Memorable Mr. John Hales of Eaton Colledge Also Letters and Expresses concerning the Synod of Dort with many new Additions from an Authentick hand INJUNCTIONS Given by the most Excellent Prince EDWARD VI. By the Grace of God KING of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith And in Earth under Christ of the Church of England and Ireland the Supreme Head To all and singular his loving Subjects as well of the Clergy as of the Laity Imprinted at London by Richard Grafton MDXLVII Injunctions given by the most Excellent Prince Edward the Sixth by the Grace of God King of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith and in Earth under Christ of the Church of England and of Ireland the supreme Head To all and singular his loving Subjects as well of the Clergy as of the Laity THE Kings most Royal Majesty by the advice of his most dear Vncle the Duke of Somerset Lord Protector of all his Realms Dominions and Subjects and Governor of his most Royal Person and residue of his most honourable Council intending the advancement of the true honor of Almighty God the suppression of Idolatry and Superstition throughout all his Realms and Dominions and to plant true Religion to the extirpation of all Hypocrisie Enormities and Abuses as to his duty appertaineth doth minister unto his loving Subjects these godly Injunctions hereafter following whereof part were given unto them heretofore by the Authority of his most dear beloved Father King Henry the Eighth of most famous memory and part are now ministred and given by His Majesty All which Injunctions his Highness willeth and commandeth his said loving Subjects by his supreme Authority obediently to receive and truly to observe and keep every man in their offices degrees and states as they will avoid his displeasure and the pains in the same Injunctions hereafter expressed 1. The first is That all Deans Archdeacons Parsons Vicars and other Ecclesiastical persons shall faithfully keep and observe and as far as in them may lie shall cause to be kept and observed of other all and singular Laws and Statutes made as well for the abolishing and extirpation of the Bishop of Rome his pretensed and usurped power and jurisdiction as for the establishment and confirmation of the Kings authority jurisdiction and supremacy of the Church of England and Ireland And furthermore all Ecclesiastical persons having cure of souls shall to the uttermost of their wit knowledge and learning purely sincerely and without any colour or dissimulation declare manifest and open four times every year at the least in their Sermons and other Collations that the Bishop of Rome's usurped power and jurisdiction having no establishment nor ground by the Laws of God was of most just causes taken away and abolished and that therefore no manner of obedience or subjection within his Realms and Dominions is due unto him And that the Kings power within his Realms and Dominons is the highest power under God to whom all men within the same Realms and Dominions by Gods Laws owe most Loyalty and
past and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life to the honor and glory of thy Name through Iesus Christ our Lord. Then shall the Priest stand up and turning him to the people say thus Our blessed Lord who hath left power to his Church to absolve penitent sinners from their sins and to restore to the grace of the heavenly Father such as truly believe in Christ have mercy upon you pardon and deliver you from all sins confirm and strengthen you in all goodness and bring you to everlasting life Then shall the Priest stand up and turning him toward the people say thus Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith to all that truly turn to him COme unto me all that travel and be heavy laden and I shall refresh you So God loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son to the end that all that believe in him should not perish but have life everlasting Hear also what St. Paul saith THis is a true saying and worthy of all men to be embraced and received that Iesus Christ came into this world to save sinners Hear also what St. John saith IF any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous he it is that obtained grace for our sins Then shall the Priest kneel down and say in the name of all them that shall receive the Communion this Prayer following WE do not presume to come to this thy Table O merciful Lord trusting in our own righteousness but in thy manifold and great mercies we be not worthy so much as to gather up the crums under thy Table but thou art the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy grant us therefore gracious Lord so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Iesus Christ and to drink his blood in these holy Mysteries that we may continually dwell in him and he in us that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body and our souls washed through his most precious blood Amen Then shall the Priest rise the people still reverently kneeling and the Priest shall deliver the Communion first to the Ministers if any be there present that they may be ready to help the Priest and after to the other And when he doth deliver the Sacrament of the body of Christ he shall say to every one these words following THe body of our Lord Iesus Christ which was given for thee preserve thy body unto everlasting life And the Priest delivering the Sacrament of the blood and giving every one to drrnk once and no more shall say THe blood of our Lord Iesus Christ which was shed for thee preserve thy soul unto everlasting life If there be a Deacon or other Priest then shall he follow with the Chalice and as the Priest ministreth the Bread so shall he for more expedition minister the Wine in form before written Then shall the Priest turning him to the people let the people depart with this blessing THe peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his Son Iesus Christ our Lord. To which the people shall answer Amen Note That the Bread that shall be consecrated shall be such as heretofore hath been accustomed And every of the said consecrated Breads shall be broken in two pieces at the least or more by the discretion of the Minister and so distributed And men must not think less to be received in part than in the whole but in each of them the whole body of our Saviour Iesus Christ Note That if it doth so chance that the Wine hollowed and consecrate doth not suffice or be enough for them that do take the Communion the Priest after the first Cup or Chalice be emptied may go again to the Altar and reverently and devâ—utly prepare and Consecrate another and so the third or more likewise beginning at these words Simili modo postquam coenatum est and ending at these words qui pro vobis promultis effundetur in remissionem peccatorum and withiout any leavation or lifting up Articles to be enquired of in the Visitations to be had within the Diocese of Canterbury in the second year of the Reign of our Dread Soveraign Lord Edward the Sixth by the Grace of God King of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith and in Earth of the Church of England and also of Ireland the Supreme Head FIrst Whether Parsons Vicars and Curates and every of them have purely and sincerely without colour or dissimulation four times in the year at the least preached against the usurped power pretended authority and jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome Item Whether they have preached and declared likewise four times in the year at the least that the Kings Majesties power authority and preheminence within his Realms and Dominions is the highest power under God Item Whether any person hath by writing cyphring preaching or teaching deed or act obstinately holden and stand with to extol set forth maintain or defend the authority jurisdiction or power of the Bishop of Rome or of his See heretofore claimed and usurped or by any pretense obstinately or maliciously invented any thing for the extolling of the same or any part thereof Item Whether in their Common-prayers they use not the Collects made for the King and make not special mention of his Majesties name in the same Item Whether they do not every Sunday and Holy-day with the Collects of the English procession say the prayer set forth by the Kings Majesty for peace between England and Scotland Item Whether they have not removed taken away and utterly extincted and destroyed in their Churches Chappels and Houses all Images all Shrines coverings of Shrines all Tables Candlesticks Trindels or Rolls of Wax Pictures Paintings and allother Monuments of feigned Miracles Pilgrimges Idolatry and Superstition so that there remain on memory of the same in walls glass-windows or elsewhere Item Whether they have exhorted moved and stirred their Parishioners to do the like in every of their houses Item Whether they have declared to their Parishioners the Articles concerning the abrogation of certain superfluous Holy-dayes and done their endeavor to perswade the said Parishioners to keep and observe the same Articles inviolably and whether any of those abrogate dayes have been kept as Holy-days and by whose occasion they were so kept Item Whether they have diligently duly and reverently ministred the Sacraments in their Cures Item Whether they have preached or caused to be preached purely and sincerely the word of God in every of their Cures every quarter of the year once at the least exhorting their Parishioners to words commanded by the Scripture and not to works devised by mens phantasies besides Scripture as wearing or praying upon Beads or such like Item Whether they suffer any Torches Candles Tapers or any other lights to be in your Churches but only two lights upon the
Gods only begotten Son Iesus Christ they walk religiously in good works and at length by Gods mercy they attain to everlasting felicity As the godly consideration of Predestination and our Election in Christ is full of sweet pleasant and unspeakable comfort to godly persons and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation to be enjoyed through Christ as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God so for curious and carnal persons lacking the Spirit of Christ to have continually before their eyes the sentence of Gods Predestination is a most dangerous downfall where by the Devil may thurst them either into desperation or into wretchlesness of most unclean living no less perilous than desperation Furthermore although the decrees of Predestination are unknown unto us yet we must receive Gods promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scripture and in our doings that will of God is to be followed which we have expresly declared unto us in the Word of God We must trust to obtain eternal Salvation only by the. Name of Christ They also are to be had accursed and abhorred that presume to say that every man shall be saved by the Law or Sect which he professeth so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that Law and the light of Nature For holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the name of Iesus Christ whereby men must be saved All men are bound to keep the Moral Commandments of the Law THe Law which was given of God by Moses although it bind not Christian men as concerning the Ceremonies and Rites of the same neither is it required that the civil precepts and orders of it should of necessity be received in any Commonweal yet no man be he never so perfect a christian is exempt and loose from the obedience of those Commandments which are called Moral wherefore they are not to be hearkned unto who affirm that holy Scripture is given only to the weak and do boast themselves continually of the Spirit of whom they say they have learned such things as they teach although the same be most eminently repugnant to the holy Scripture Of the Church THe visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of faithful men in which the pure Word of God is preached and the Sacraments be duly ministred according to Christs Ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same As the Church of Jerusalem of Alexandria and of Antioch hath erred So also the Church of Rome hath erred not only in their living but also in matters of faith Of the Authority of the Church IT is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to Gods Word written neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another wherefore although the Church be a witness and keeper of holy of VVrit yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same so beside the same ought not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of salvation Of the Authority of General Councils GEneral Councils may not be gathered together without the commandment and will of Princes And when they be gathered forasmuch as they be an Assembly of men whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of God they may erre and sometimes have erred not only in worldly matters but also in things pertaining unto God Wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to salvation have neither strength nor authority unless it may be declared that they be taken out of the holy Scripture Of Purgatory THe Doctrine of School-Authors concerning Purgatory Pardons worshipping and adoration as well of Images as of Relicks and also invocation of Saints is a fond thing vainly feigned and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture but rather repugnant to the Word of God No man may Minister in the Congregation except he be called IT is not lawful for any man to take upon him the office of publick preaching or ministring the Sacraments in the Congregation before he be lawfully called and sent to execute the same And those we ought to judge lawfully called and sent which be chosen and called to this work by men who have publick Authority given unto them in the Congregation to call and send Ministers in the Lords vineyard Men must speak in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people understandeth IT is most seemly and most agreable to the Word of God that in the Congregation nothing be openly read spoken in a tongue unknown to the people the which thing St. Paul did forbid except some were present that should declare the same Of the Sacraments OVr Lord Iesus Christ hath knit together a company of new people with Sacraments most few in number most easie to be kept most excellent in signification as is Baptism and the Lords Supper The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon or to be carried about but that we should rightly use them And in such only as worthily receive the same they have a wholsom effect and operation and yet not that of the work wrought as some men speak which word as it is strange and unknown to holy Scripture so it engendreth no godly but a very superstitious sense but they that receive the Sacraments unworthily purchase to themselves damnation as S. Paul saith Sacraments ordained by the Word of God be not only badges and tokens of Christian mens profession but rather they be certain sure witnesses and effectual signs of grace and Gods good will toward us by the which he doth work invisibly in us and doth not only quicken but also strengthen and confirm our faith in him The wickedness of the Ministers doth not take away the effectual operation of Gods Ordinances ALthough in the visible Church the evil be ever mingled with the good and sometime the evil have chief authority in the ministration of the Word and Sacraments yet forasmuch as they do not the same in their own name but do minister by Christs Commission and Authority we may use their Ministry both in hearing the Word of God and in the receiving the Sacraments Neither is the effect of Gods Ordinances taken away by their wickednes nor the grace of Gods gifts diminished from such as by faith rightly receive the Sacraments ministred unto them which be effectual because of Christs institution and promise although they be ministred by evil men Nevertheless it appertaineth to the discipline of the Church that enquiry be made of such and that they be accused by those that have knowledge of their offences and finally being found guilty by just judgment be deposed Of Baptism BAptism is not only a sign of profession and mark
in Reg. Edward 9. Artic. cannot put away our sins and endure the severity of Gods judgment yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a tree discerned by the fruit 13. Of Works before Justification WOrks done before the grace of Christ and the inspiration of this Spirit are not pleasant to God forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Iesu Christ neither do they make men meet to receive grace or as the School-Authors say deserve grace of Congruity yea rather for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done we doubt not but they have the nature of sin 14. Of Works of Supererogation VOluntary Works besides over and above Gods Commandments which they call works of Supererogation cannot be taught without arrogancy and iniquity For by them men do declare that they do not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do but that they do more for his sake than of bounden duty is required whereas Christ saith plainly When ye have done all that are commanded to you say We are unprofitable servants 15. Of Christ alone without sin CHrist in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all things sin only excepted from which he was clearly void both in his flesh and in his Spirit He came to be a Lamb without spot who by sacrifice of himself once made should take away the sins of the World and sin as S. John saith was not in him But all we the rest although baptised and if born again in Christ yet offend in many things and if we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us Blasphemia in Spiritum Sanctum EST cum quis Verborum Dei manifestè perceptam veritatem ex malitia obfirmatione animi convitiis insectatur hostiliter insequitur Atque hujusmodi quia maledicto sunt obnoxii gravissimo sese astringunt scelere unde peccati hoc genus irremissibile à Domino appellatur affirmatur Artic. 16. Edward 6. 16. Of sin after Baptism NOt every deadly sin willingly committed after Baptism is sin against the holy Ghost and unpardonable Wherefore the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after Baptism After we have received the holy Ghost we may depart from grace given and fall into sin and by the grace of God we may arise again and amend our lives And therefore they are to be condemned which say they can no more sin as long as they live here to deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent 17. Of Predestination and Election PRedestination to life is the everlasting purpose of God whereby before the foundations of the world were laid he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation as vessels made to honour Wherefore they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God be called according to Gods purpose by his Spirit working in due season they through grace obey the calling they be justified freely they be made Sons of God by adoption they be made like the Image of his only begotten Son Iesus Christ they walk religiously in good works and at length by Gods mercy they attain to everlasting felicity As the godly consideration of Predestination and our Election in Christ is full of sweet pleasant and unspeakable comfort to godly persons and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation to be enjoyed through Christ as because it doth frequently kindle their love towards God so for curious and carnal persons lacking the Spirit of Christ to have continually before their eyes the sentence of Gods Predestination is a most dangerous downfal whereby the Devil doth thrust them either into desperation or into wretchlesness of most unclean living no less perilous than desperation Furthermore we must receive Gods promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scripture and in our doings that will of God is to be followed which we have expresly declared unto us in the word of God Omnes obligantur ad moralia legis praecepta servanda LEx à Deo data per Mosen licet quoad ceremonias ritus Christianos non astringat neque civilia eis praecepta in aliqua Repub. necessario recipi debeant nihilominus ab obedientia mandatorum quae moralia vocantur nullus quantumvis Christianus est solutus quare illi non sunt audiendi qui sacras literas tantum infirmis datas esse perhibent spiritum perpetuo jactant à quo sibi quae praedicant suggeri asserunt quamquam cum S. Scripturis apertissime pugnent Art Edward 6.19 18. Of obtaining eternal Salvation only by the Name of Christ THey also are to be had accursed that presume to say that every man shall be saved by the Law or Sect which he professeth so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that aw and the light of nature For holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the Name of Iesus Christ whereby men must be saved 19. Of the Church THe visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of faithful men in which the pure Word of God is preached and the Sacramencs be duly ministred according to Christs Ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same As the Church of Jerusalem Alexandria and Antioch have erred So also the Church of Rome hath erred not only in their living and manner of Ceremonies but also in matters of faith 20. Of the Authority of the Church THe Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies authority in Controversies of Faith And yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to Gods Word written neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another Wherefore although the Church be a witness and a keeper of holy Writ yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of salvation 21. Of the Authority of General Councils GEneral Councils may not be gathered together without the commandment and will of Princes And when they be gathered together forasmuch as they be an Assembly of men whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and word of God they may erre and sometime have erred even in things pertaining unto God Wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to salvation
of this Realm And also that if there shall happen any contempt or irreverence to be used in the Ceremonies or Rites of the Church by the misusing of the orders appointed in this Book the Queens Majesty may by the like advice of the said Commissioners or Metropolitan ordain and publish such farther Ceremonies or Rites as may be most for the advancement of Gods glory the edifying of his Church and the due reverence of Christs holy mysteries and Sacraments And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all Laws All Laws and Ordinances made for other service shall be void Statutes and Ordinances wherein or whereby any other Service Administration of Sacraments or Common-prayer is limited established or set forth to be used within this Realm or any other the Queens Dominions or Countries shall from henceforth be utterly void and of none effect Coke pla fol. 352. A Clause Anno 8. Eliz. cap. 1. A Confirmation of the Stat. of 2 Eliz. 1 touching the Book of Common-prayer and Administration of the Sacraments WHerefore for the plain declaration of all the premises and to the intent that the same may the better be known to every of the Queens Majesties Subjects whereby such evil speech as heretofore hath been used against the high state of Prelacy may hereafter cease Be it now declared and enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament That the said Act and Statute made in the first year of the Reign of our said Severaign Lady the Queens Majesty whereby the said Book of Common-prayer and the Administration of Sacraments with other Rites and Ceremonies is authorised and allowed to be used shall stand remain good and perfect to all respects and purposes And that such order and form for the Consecrating of Archbishops and Bishops A Confirmation of the Stat. of 5. 6. Ed. 6. 1. touching the form of consecrating of Archbishops c. and for the making of Priests Deacons and Ministers as was set forth in the time of the said late King Edward the sixth and authorized by Parliament in the fifth and sixth years of the said late King shall stand and be in full force and effect and shall from henceforth be used and observed in all places within this Realm and other the Queens Majesties Dominions and Countries Anno 13. Eliz. cap. 12. Reformation of Disorders in the Ministers of the Church c. THat the Churches of the Queens Majesties Dominions may be served with Pastors of sound Religion be it Enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament that every person under the degree of a Bishop which doth or shall pretend to be a Priest or Minister of Gods holy Word and Sacraments by reason of any other form of Institution Consecration or ordering than the form set forth by Parliament in the time of the late King of most worthy memory 3 Ed. 6. 12. 5 Ed 6. 1. Dyer f. 377. King Edward the sixth or now used in the Reign of our most gracious Soveraign Lady before the Feast of the Nativity of Christ next following shall in the presence of the Bishop or Guardian of the Spiritualities of some one Diocess where he hath or shall have Ccclesiastical Living declare his assent and subscribe to all the Articles of Religion which only concern the Confession of the true Christian Faith and the Doctrine of the Sacraments comprised in a Book imprinted entituled Articles Every Ecclesiastical person shall subscribe to the Articles touching the Confession of the Faith and declare his assent there unto Reading of the Articles and Testimonial The penalty of maintaining of Doctrine against the Articles whereupon it was agreed by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London in the year of our Lord 1562. according to the computation of the Church of England for the avoiding of the diversities of Opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion put forth by the Queens Authority and shall bring from such Bishop or Guardian of Spiritualities in writing under his Seal authentick a testimonial of such assent and subscription openly on some Sunday in the time of some publick Service afternoon in every Church where by reason of any Ecclesiastical living he ought to attend read both the said testimonial and the said Articles upon pain that every such person which shall not before the said Feast do as is appointed shall be ipso facto deprived and all his Ecclesiastical promotions shall be void as if he were then naturally dead And that if any person Ecclesiastical or which shall have Ecclesiastical Livings shall advisedly maintain or affirm any Doctrine directly contrary or repugnant to any of the said Articles and being convented before the Bishop of the Diocess or the Ordinary or before the Queens Highness Commissioners in causes Ecclesiastical shall persist therein or not revoke his errour or after such revocation eftsoons affirm such untrue Doctrine such maintaining or affirming and persisting or such eftsoon affirming shall be just cause to deprive such person of his Ecclesiastical Promotions And it shall be lawful to the Bishop of the Diocess Several things required in him which shall be admitted to a Benefice or to the Ordinary or the said Commissiones to deprive such persons so persisting or lawfully convicted of such eftsoons affirming and upon such sentence or deprivation pronounced he shall be indeed deprived And that no person shall hereafter be admitted to any Benefice with Cure except he then be of the age of 23 years at the least and a Deacon shall first have subscribed the said Articles in presence of the Ordinary and publickly read the same in the Parish-Church of that Benefice with declaration of his unfeigned assent to the same And that every person after the end of this Session of Parliament to be admitted to a Benefice with Cure except that within two Months after his Induction he do publickly read the said Articles in the same Church whereof he shall have Cure in the time of Common-prayer there with declaration of his unfeigned assent thereto and be admitted to minister the Sacraments within one year after his Induction if he be not so admitted before shall be upon every such default ipso facto immediately depâ—ived And that no person now permitted by any dispensation or otherwise shall retain any Benefice with Cure being under the age of 21 years or not being Deacon at the least or which shall not be admitted as is aforesaid within one year next after the making of this Act or within six Months after he shall accomplish the age of 24 years on pain that such his dispensation shall be meerly void The Age of a Minister or Preacher and his testimonial And that none shall be made Minister or admitted to preach or administer the Sacraments being under the age of 24 years nor unless he first bring to the Bishop of that Diocess from
the Diocess of London Nor will at any time hereafter perform or satisfie any such kind of payment contract or promise made by any other without my knowledge or consent So help me God through Jesus Christ Juramentum de Canonica Obedientia EGo A. B juro quod praestabo veram Canonicam Obedientiam Episcopo Londinensi ejusque successoribus in omnibus Licitis honestis Sic me Deus adjuvet Juramentum de continuâ Residentiâ in Vicariâ EGo A. B. juro Quod ero residens in Vicariâ meâ nisi aliter dispensatum fuerit à Diocesano meo By the KING A Proclamation declaring that the proceedings of his Majesties Ecclesiastical Courts and Ministers are according to the Laws of the Realm WHereas in some of the Libellous Books and Pamphlets lately published the most Reverend Father in God the Lord Archbishop and Bishops of this Realm are said to have usurped upon his Majesties Prerogative Royal and to have proceeded in the high Commission and other Ecclesiastical Courts contrary to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm It was ordered by his Majesties high Court of Star-Chamber the twelfth day of June last that the opinion of the two Lords chief Justices the Lord chief Baron and the rest of the Judges and Barons should be had and certified in those particulars viz. Whether Processes may not issue out of the Ecclesiastical Courts in the Name of the Bishops Whether a Patent under the great Seal be necessary for the keeping of the Ecclesiastical Courts and enabling Citations Suspensions Excommunications and other censures of the Church And whether Citations ought to be in the Kings Name and under his Seal of Arms and the like for Institutions and Inductions to Benefices and Correction of Ecclesiastical offences Whether Bishops Arch-Deacons and other Ecclesiastical persons may or ought to keep any Visitation at any time unless they have express Commission or Patent under the great Seal of England to do it and that as his Majesties Visitors only and in his name and right alone Whereupon his Majesties said Judges having taken the same into their serious consideration did unanimously concur and agree in opinion and the first day of July last certified under their hands as followeth That Processes may issue out of the Ecclesiastical Courts in the name of the Bishops and that a Patent under the great Seal is not necessary for the keeping of the said Ecclesiastical Courts or for enabling of Citations Suspensions Excommunications and other censures of the Church And that it is not necessary that Summons Citations or other Processes Ecclesiastical in the said Courts or Institutions or Inductions to Benefices or correction of Ecclesiastical offences by censure in those Courts be in the Kings name or with the style of the King or under the Kings Seal or that their Seals of office have in them the Kings Arms And that the Statute of Primo Edvardi sexti cap. secundo which enacted the contrary is not now in force And that the Bishops Arch-Deacons and other Ecclesiastical persons may keep their Visitations as usally they have done without Commission under the great Seal of England so to do Which Opinions and Resolutions being declared under the hands of all his Majesties said Judges and so certified into his Court of Star-chamber were there recorded And it was by that Court further ordered the fourth day of the said month of July that the said Certificate should be enrolled in all other his Majesties Courts at Westminster and in the High Commission and other Ecclesiastical Courts for the satisfaction of all men that the proceedings in the High Commission and other Ecclesiastical Courts are agreeable to the Laws and Statutes of the Realm And his Royal Majesty hath thought fit with advice of his Council that a publick Declaration of these the Opinions and Resolutions of his Reverend and Learned Judges being agreeable to the Judgment and Resolutions of former times should be made known to all his Subjects as well to vindicate the legal proceedings of his Ecclesiastical Courts and Ministers from the unjust and scandalous imputation of invading or entrenching on his Royal Prerogative as to settle the minds and stop the mouths of all unquiet spirits that for the future they presume not to censure his Ecclesiastical Courts or Ministers in these their just and warrantable proceedings And hereof his Majesty admonisheth all his Subjects to take warning and as they shall answer the contrary at their perils Given at the Court at Lyndhurst the 18 day of August in the 13 year of his Majesties Reign God save the KING Imprinted at London by Robert Barker Printer to the Kings Most Excellent Majesty and by the Assigns of John Bill MDCXXXVII THE FORM and MANNER OF Making and Consecrating Bishops Priests AND DEACONS According to the Appointment of the CHURCH OF England LONDON Printed by Bonham Norton and John Bill Printers to the Kings Most Excellent Majesty 1629. The PREFACE IT is evident unto all men diligently reading holy Scripture and ancient Authors that from the Apostles time there hath been these Orders of Ministers in Christs Church Bishops Priests and Deacons which Offices were evermore had in such reverent estimation that no man by his own private authority might presume to execute any of them except he were first called tried examined and known to have such qualities as were requisite for the same and also by publick prayer with imposition of hand approved and admitted thereunto And therefore to the intent these Orders should be continued and reverently used and esteemed in this Church of England it is requisite that no man not being at this present Bishop Priest nor Deacon shall execute any of them except he be called tried examined and admitted according to the form hereafter following And none shall be admitted a Deacon except he be twenty one years of age at the least And every man which is to be admitted a Priest shall be full four and twenty years old And every man which is to be consecrated a Bishop shall be fully thirty years of age And the Bishop knowing either by himself or by sufficient testimony any person to be a man of vertuous conversation and without crâ—me and after examination and trial finding him learned in the Latine Tongue and sufficiently instructed in holy Scripture may upon a Sunday or Holy-day in the face of the Church admit him a Deacon in such manner and form as hereafter followeth The form and manner of Ordering DEACONS FIrst When the day appointed by the Bishop is come there shall be an Exhortation declaring the duty and office of such as come to be admitted Ministers how necessary such Orders are in the Church of Christ and also how the people ought to esteem them in their Vocation After the Exhortation ended the Archdeacon or his Deputy shall present such as shall come to the Bishop to be admitted saying these words REverend Father in God I present unto you these persons present
defend all jurisdictions priviledges pre-eminences and authorities granted or belonging to the Kings Highness his heirs and successours or united and annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm So help me God and the contents of this Book Then shall the Bishop examine every one of them that are to be ordered in the presence of the people after this manner following DO you trust that you are inwardly moved by the holy Ghost to take upon you this office and ministration to serve God for the promoting of his glory and the edifying of his people Answer I trust so The Bishop DO you think that ye be truly called according to the Will of the Lord Iâ—sus Christ and the due Order of this Realm to the Ministry of the Church Answer I think so The Bishop DO you unfeignedly believe all the Canonical Scriptures of the Old and new Testament Answeâ— I do believe The Bishop WIâ—l you diligently read the same unto the people assembled in the Church where you shall be appointed to serve Answer I will The Bishop IT appertaineth to the office of a Deacon in the Church where he shall be appointed to assist the Priest in Divine Service and specially when he ministreth the holy Communion and to help him in distribution thereof and to read holy Scriptures and Homilies in the Congregation and to instruct the youth in the Catechism to Baptize and to Preach if he be admitted thereto by the Bishop And furthermore it is his office where provision is so made to search for the sick poor and impotent people of the Parish to intimate their estates names and places where they dwell unto the Curate that by his Exhortation they may be relieved by the Parish or other convenient alms will you do this gladly and willingly Answer I will do so by the help of God The Bishop WIll you apply all your diligence to frame the fashion your own lives and the lives of your family according to the doctrine of Christ and to make both your selves and them as much as in you lieth wholsom examples of the flock of Christ Answer I will do so the Lord being my helper The Bishop WIll you reverently obey your Ordinary and other chief Ministers of the Church and them to whom the government and charge is committed over you following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions Answer I will endeavor my self the Lord being my helper Then the Bishop laying his hands severally upon the head of every of them shall say Take thou authority to execute the Office of a Deacon in the Church of God committed unto thee In the name of the Father the Son and the holy Ghost Amen Then shall the Bishop deliver to every one of them the New Testament saying Take thou authority to read the Gospel in the Church of God and to preach the same if thou be thereto ordinarily commanded Then one of them appointed by the Bishop shall read the Gospel of that day Then shall the Bishop proceed to the Communion and all that are ordered shall tarry and receive the holy Communion the same day with the Bishop The Communion ended after the last Collect and immediately before the Benediction shall be said this Collect following ALmighty God giver of all good things which of thy great goodness hast vouchsafed to accept and take these thy servants unto the Offices of Deacons in the Church make them we beseech thee O Lord to be modest humble and constant in their ministration to have a ready will to observe all spiritual discipline that they having always the testimony of a good conscience and continuing ever stable and strong in thy Son Christ may so well use themselves in this inferiour office that they may be found worthy to be called unto the higher Ministeries in thy Church through the same thy Son our Saviour Christ to whom be glory and honor world without end Amen And here it must be shewed unto the Deacon that he must continue in that Office of a Deacon the space of a whole year at the least except for reasonable causes it be otherwise seen to his Ordinary to the intent he may be perfect and well expert in the things appertaining to the Ecclesiastical administration in executing whereof if he be found faithful and diligent he may be admitted by his Diocesan to the Order of Priesthood The form of Ordering of Priests When the Exhortation is ended then shall follow the Communion And for the Epistle shall be read out of the twentieth Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles as followeth FRom Miâ—eto Paul sent Messengers to Ephesus and called the Elders of the Congregation which when they were come to him be said unto them Ye know thaâ— from the first day that I came into Ana after what manner I have been with you at all seasons seâ—ving the Lord with all humbleness of mind and with many tears and temptations which happened unto me by the lying in wait of the Iews because I would keep back nothing that was profitable unto you but to shew you and teach you openly throughout every house witnessing bâ—th to the Jews and also to the Greeks the repentance that is toward God and the Faith that is toward our Lord Iesus And now behold I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall come on me there but that the holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bands and trouble abide me But none of these things prove me neither is my life dear unto my self that I might fulfil my course with joy and the ministration of the word which I have received of tâ—e Lord Ie us to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God Aâ—d now behâ—ld I am sure that henceforth ye all thâ—ough whom I â—ave gone preaching the Kingdom of God shall see my face no more Wherefore I take â—oâ— to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men For I have spared no labour but have shewed you all the counsel of God Take heed therefore to your selves and to all the flock among whom the holy Ghost hath made you overseers to rule the Congregation of God which â—e hath purchased with his blood For I am sure of this that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing â—he flock Moreover of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw disciples after them Therâ—fore awake and remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn ev ry one of you night and day with tears And now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build further and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified I have desired no mans silver gold or vesture Yea you know your selves that these hands have ministred unto my necessities and unto them that were with me I have shewed you all things how that so labouring
and Ireland And herein I require you most specially to pray for the Queens most Excellent Majesty our Soveraign Lady Elizabeth Queen of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith and supreme Governor of this Realm as well in causes Ecclesiastical as Temporal You shall also pray for the Ministers of Gods holy Word and Sacraments as well Archbishops and Bishops as other Pastors and Curates You shall also pray for the Queens most honourable Council and for all the Nobility of this Realm that all and every of these in their calling may serve truly and painfully to the glory of God and edifying of his people remembring the account that they must make Also ye shall pray for the whole Commons of this Realm that they may live in true faith and fear of God in humble obedience and brotherly charity one to another Finally let us praise God for all those that are departed out of this life in the Faith of Christ and pray unto God that we may have grace for to direct our lives after their good examâ—le that after this life we with them may be made partakers of the glorious Resurrection in the life everlasting And this done shew the holy-days and fasting days ALL and singular which Injunctions the Queens Majesty ministreth unto her Clergy and to all other her loving subjects straightly charging and commanding them to observe and keep the same upon pain of deprivation sequestration of fruits and Benefices suspension excommunication and such other correction as to Ordinaries or other having Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction whom her Majesty hath appointed or shall appoint for the due execution of the same shall be seen convenient charging and commanding them to see these Injunctions observed and kept of all persons being under their jurisdiction as they will answer to her Majesty for the contrary And her Highness pleasure is that every Iustice of Peace being required shall assist the Ordinaries and every of them for the due execution of the said Injunctions ARTICLES Agreed upon by the ARCHBISHOPS and BISHOPS OF BOTH PROVINCES And the whole CLERGY IN THE CONVOCATION Holden at LONDON in the year 1562. For the avoiding of diversities of Opinions and for the establishing of Consent touching True Religion Reprinted by his Majesties Commandment With his Royal Declaration prefixed thereunto LONDON Printed by Bonham Norton and John Bill Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty 1630. His Majesties Declaration BEing by Gods Ordinance according to Our just Title Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church within these Our Dominions We hold it most agreable to this Our Kingly Office and Our own Religious Zeal to conserve and maintain the Church committed to Our Charge in Unity of True Religion and in the Bond of Peace and not to suffer unnecessary Disputations Altercations or Questions to be raised which may nourish Faction both in the Church and Commonwealth We have therefore upon Mature Deliberation and with the Advice of so many of Our Bishops as might conveniently be called together thought fit to make this Declaration following That the Articles of the Church of England which have been allowed and authorised heretofore and which Our Clergy generally have subscribed unto do contain the true Doctrine of the Church of England agreable to Gods Word which We do therefore Ratifie and Confirm requiring all Our loving Subjects to continue in the Uniform Profession thereof and prohibiting the least difference from the said Articles which to that end We Command to be new Printed and this Our Declaration to be Published therewith That We are Supreme Governor of the Church of England and that if any difference arise about the External Policy concerning the Injunctions Canons or other Constitutions whatsoever thereto belonging the Clergy in their Convocation is to Order and Settle them having first obtained leave under Our Broad Seal so to do and We approving their said Ordinances and Constitutions providing that none be made contrary to the Laws and Customs of the Land That out of our Princely Care that the Church-men may do the work which is proper unto them the Bishops and Clergy from time to time in Convocation upon their Humble desire shall have License under Our Broad Seal to deliberate of and to do all such things as being made plain by them and assented unto by Us shall concern the setled continuance of the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England now established from which We will not endure any varying or departing in the least Degree That for the present though some differences have been ill raised yet We take Comfort in this that all Clergy-men within Our Realm have always most willingly subscribed to the Articles established which is an Argument to Us that they all agree in the True usual literal meaning of the said Articles and that even in those curious points in which the present Differences lie Men of all sorts take the Articles of the Church of England to be for them which is an Argument again that none of them intend any Desertion of the Articles established That therefore in these both curious and unhappy Differences which have for so many hundred years in different times and places exercised the Church of Christ We will that all further curious search be laid aside and these Disputes shut up in Gods Promises as they be generally set forth to us in the Holy Scriptures and the general meaning of the Articles of the Church of England according to them And that no Man hereafter shall either Print or Preach to draw the Article aside any way but shall submit to it in the plain and full meaning thereof And shall not put his own sense or Comment to be the meaning of the Article but shall take it in the Literal and Grammatical Sense That if any publick Reader in either Our Universities or any Head or Master of a Colledge or any other person respectively in either of them shall affix any new sense to any Article or shall publickly read determine or hold any publick Disputation or suffer any such to be held either way in either the Universities or Colledges respectively or if any Divine in the Universities shall Preach or Print any thing either way other than is already established in Convocation with our Royal Assent he or they the Offenders shall be liable to our Displeasure and the Churches censure in Our Commission Ecclesiastical as well as any other and We will see there shall be due execution upon them ARTICLES OF RELIGION Of Faith in the holy Trinity THere is but one living and true God everlasting without body parts or passions of infinite power wisdom and goodness the Maker Preserver of all things both visible and invisible And in unity of this Godhead there be three persons of one substance power and eternity the Father the Son and the holy Ghost 2. Of the Word or Son of God which was made very man THe Son which is the Word of
Christ once made is that perfect redemption propitiation and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world both original and actual and there is none other satisfaction for sin but that alone Wherefore the sacrifices of Masses in the which it was commonly said that the Priest did offer Christ for the quick and the dead to have remission of pain and guilt were blasphemous fables and dangerous deceits 32. Of the marriage of Priests BIshops Priests and Deacons are not commanded by Gods Law Non habentur haec notata in R. Edv. 6. Artic. either to vow the estate of single life or to abstain from marriage Therefore it is lawful also for them as for all other Christian men to marry at their own discretion as they shall judge the same to serve better to godliness 33. Of excommunicate persons how they are to be avoided THat person which by open denunciation of the Church is rightly cut off from the unity of the Church and Excommunicate ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the faithful as an Heathen and Publican until he be openly reconciled by penance and received into the Church by a Iudge that hath authority thereunto 34. Of the Traditions of the Church IT is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one or utterly like for at all times they have been divers and may be changed according to the diversity of Countries and mens manners so that nothing be ordained against Gods Word Whosoever through his private judgment willingly and purposely doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church which be not repugnant to the Word of God and be ordained and approved by common authority ought to be rebuked openly that other may fear to do the like as one that offendeth against the common order of the Church and hurteth the Authority of the Magistrate and woundeth the consciences of weak brethren Non habentur haec notata in Edv. 6. Artic. 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 35. †Homiliae nuper Ecclesiae Anglicanae per injunctiones Regias editae atque commendatae piae sunt atque salutares doctrinamque ab omnibus amplectendam continent Of Homilies THe second Book of Homilies the several titles whereof we have joyned under this Article doth contain a godly and wholsom Doctrine necessary for these times as doth the former Book of Homilies which were set forth in the time of Edward the sixth and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently and distinctly that they may be understanded of the people Of the Names of the Homilies 1 OF the right use of the Church 2 Against peril of Idolatry 3 Of Repairing and keeping clean of Churches 4 Of good works first of Fasting 5 Against gluttony and drunkenness 6 Against excess of apparel 7 Of Prayer 8 Of the place and time of Prayer 9 That common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministred in a known Tongue 10 Of the reverent estimation of Gods Word 11 Of â—lms doing 12 Of the Nativity of Christ 13 Of the Passion of Christ 14 Of the Resurrection of Christ 15 Of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ 16 Of the gifts of the holy Ghost 17 For the Rogation-days 18 Of the state of Matrimony 19 Of Repentance 20 Against Idleness 21 Against Rebellion De libro precationum ceremoniarum Ecclesiae Anglicanae LIber qui nuperrime authoritate Regis Parliamenti Ecclesiae Anglicanae traditus est continens modum formam orandi Sacramenta administrandi in Ecclesiâ Anglicanâ similiter libellus eadem authoritate editus de ordinatione ministrorum Ecclesiae quoad doctrinae veritatem pii sunt salutari doctrinae Evangelii in nullo repugnant sed congruunt eandem non parum promovent illustrant atque ideo ab omnibus Ecclesiae Anglicanae fidelibus membris à maximè ministris verbi cum omni prompitudine animorum gratiarum actione recipiendi approbandi populo Dei commendandi sunt Artic. R. Edvard 6. 36. Of Consecration of Bishops and Ministers THe Book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops and ordering of Priests and Deacons lately set forth in the time of Edward the sixth and confirmed at the same time by Authority of Parliament doth contain all things necessary to such Consecration and ordering neither hath it any thing that of it self is superstitious and ungodly And therefore whosoever are consecrated or ordered according the Rites of that Book since the second year of the aforenamed King Edward unto this time or hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered according to the same Rites we decree all such to be rightly orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered 37. Of Civil Magistrates Rex Angliae est supremum caput in terris post Christum Ecclesiae Anglicanae Hiberniae Artic Edv. 6. Haec notata non habentur in Artic. Edvard 6. THe Queens Majesty hath the chief power in this Realm of England and other her Dominions unto whom the chief Government of all estates of this Realm whether they be Ecclesiastical or Civil in all causes doth appertain and is not nor ought to be subject to any foreign Iurisdiction Where we attribute to the Queens Majesty the chief Government by which titles we understand the minds of some dangerous folks to be offended we give not our Princes the ministring either of Gods word or of the Sacraments the which thing the Injunctions also set forth by Elizabeth our Queen do most plainly testifie but that only prerogative which we see to have been given always to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself that is that they should rule all estates and degrees committed to their charge by God whether they be Ecclesiastical or Temporal and restrain with the civil sword the stubborn and evil doers The Bishop of Rome hath no Iurisdiction in this Realm of England Magistratus civilis est à Deo ordinatus atque probitus quamobrem illi non solum propter iram sed etiam propter conscientiam obediendum est Artic. R. Ed. 6. The Laws of the Realm may punish Christian men with death for heinous and grievous offences It is lawful for Christian men at the commandment of the Magistrate to wear weapons and serve in lawful wars 38. Of Christian mens Goods which are not common THe Riches and Goods of Christians are not common as touching the right title and possession of the same as certain Anabaptists do falsly boast Notwithstanding every man ought of such things as he possesseth liberally to give alms to the poor according to his ability 39. Of a Christian mans Oath AS we confess that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Iesus Christ and James his Apostle So we judge
of his dear beloved Son we may attain the sight And that with perfect faith also we may acknowledge thee The Spirit of them both alway one God in persons three Laud and praise be to the Father and to the Son equal And to the only Spirit also one God coeternal And pray we that the holy Son vouchsafe his Spirit to send To all that do profess his Name unto the worlds end Amen And then the Archdeacon shall present unto the Bishop all them that shall receive the Order of Priesthood that day the Archdeacon saying REverend Father in God I present unto you these persons present to be admitted to the Order of Priesthood Cum interrogatione responsione ut in ordine Diaconatus And then the Bishop shall say to the people GOod people these be they whom we purpose God willing to receive this day unto the holy office of Priesthood for after due examination we find not to the contrary but that they be lawfully called to their function and ministery and that they pe persons meet for the same But yet if there be any of you which knoweth any impediment or notable crime of any of them for which he ought not to be received into this holy ministery now in the Name of God declare the same And if any great crime or impediment be objected Vt supra in Ordine Diaconatus usque ad finem Litaniae cum hac Collecta ALmighty God giver of all good things which by thy holy Spirit hast appointed divers Orders of Ministers in the Church mercifully behold these thy servants now called to the office of Priesthood and replenish them so with the truth of thy Doctrine and innocency of life that both by word and good example they may faithfully serve thee in this office to the glory of thy Name and profit of thy Congregation through the merits of our Saviour Iesus Christ who liveth and reigneth with thee and the holy Ghost world without end Amen Then the Bishop shall minister unto every one of them the Oath concerning the Kings Supremacy as is set forth in the Order of Deacons And that done he shall say unto them which are appointed to receive the said Office as hereafter followeth YOu have heard brethren as well in your private examination as in the exhortation and in the holy lessons taken out of the Gospel and of the writings of the Apostles of what dignity and of how great importance this office is whereunto ye he called And how we exhort you in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ to have in remembrance into how high a dignity and to how chargeable an office ye be called that is to say the Messengesrs and Watchmen the Pastors and the Stewards of the Lord to teach to premouish to feed and provide for the Lords family to seek for Christs sheep that be dispersed abroad and for his children which be in the midst of this naughty world to be saved through Christ for ever Have always therefore printed in your remembrance how great a treasure is committed to your charge for they be the sheep of Christ which he bought with his death and for whom he shed his blood The Church and Congregation whom you must serve is his Spouse and Body And if it shall chance the same Church or any member thereof to take any hurt or hindrance by reason of your negligence you know the greatness of the fault and also of the horrible punishment which will ensue Wherefore consider with your selves the end of your Ministery towards the children of God towards the Spouse and Body of Christ and see that you never cease your labour your care and diligence until you have done all that lieth in you according to your bounden duty to bring all such as are or shall be committed to your charge unto that agreement in faith and knowledge of God and to that ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ that there be no place left among you either of error in Religion or for viciousness of life Then for as much as your office is both of so great excellency and of so great difficulty ye see with how great care and study ye ought to apply your selves as well that ye may shew your selves kind to that Lord who hath placed you in so high a dignity as also to beware that neither you your selves offend neither be occasion that other offend Howbeit ye cannot have a mind and a will thereto of our selves for that power and ability is given of God alone Therefore ye see how ye ought and have need earnestly to pray for his holy Spirit And seeing that you cannot by any other means compass the doing of so weighty a work pertaining to the salvation of man but with doctrine and exhortation taken out of the holy Scripture and with a life agreeable unto the same Ye perceive how studious ye ought to be in reading and in learning the Scriptures and in framing the manners both of your selves and of them that specially pertain unto you according to the rule of the same Scriptures And for this self-same cause ye see how ye ought to forsake and set aside as much as you may all worldly cares and studies We have good hope that you have well-weighed and pondered these things with your selves long before this time and that you have clearly determined by Gods grace to give your selves wholly to this vocation whereunto it hath pleased God to cal you so that as much as lieth in you you apply your selves wholly to this one thing and draw all your cares and studies this way and to this end And that you will continually pray for the heavenly assistance of the holy Ghost from God the Father by the mediation of our only Mediator and Saviour Iesus Christ that by daily reading and weighing of the Scriptures ye may so wax riper and stronger in your Ministry and that ye may so endeavor your selves from time to time to sanctifie the lives of you and yours and to fashion them after the rule and doctrine of Christ and that ye may be wholsom and godly examples and patterns for the rest of the Congregation to follow and that this present Congregation of Christ here assembled may also understand your minds and wills in these things and that this your promise shall move you to do your duties ye shall answer plainly to these things which we in the name of the Congregation demand of you touching the same Do you think in your heart that you be truly called according to the will of our Lord Iesu Christ and the Order of this Church of England to the Ministery of Priest-hood Answer I think it The Bishop BE you perswaded that the holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all doctrine required of necessity for eternal salvation through faith in Iesu Christ And are you determined with the said Scriptures to instruct the people committed to your charge and to teach nothing as required of
ordered according as is prescribed in the said Act with more care and diligence than heretofore hath been done the which negligence hath been cause why such disorders have of late now so much and in so many places encreased and grown And if any persons shall either in private houses or in publick places make assemblies and therein use other Rites of Common-prayer and Administration of the Sacraments than is prescribed in the said Book or shall maintain in their houses any persons being notoriously charged by Books or Preachings to attempt the alteration of the said Orders they shall see such persons punished with all severity according to the Laws of this Realm by pains appointed in the said Act. And because these matters do principally appertain to the persons Ecclesiastical and to the Ecclesiastical Government her Majesty giveth a most special and earnest charge to all Archbishops Bishops Archdeacons and Deans and all such as have ordinary jurisdiction in such cases to have a vigilant eye and care to the observation of the Orders and Rites in the said Book prescribed throughout their Cures and Diocess and to proceed from time to time by ordinary and Ecclesiastical jurisdiction as is granted them in the said Act with all celerity and severity against all persons who shall offend against any of the Orders in the said Book prescribed upon pain of her Majesties high displeasure for their negligence and deprivation from their Dignities and Benefices or other Censures to follow according to their demerits Given at Greenwich the 20 day of October 1573 In the fifteenth year of the Queens Majesties Reign God save the Queen Imprinted at London by Newgate-Market next unto Christs Church by Richard Jugge Printer to the Queens Majesty Cum privilegio Regiae Majestatis By the Queen A Proclamation against the Sectaries of the Family of Love WHereas by report of sundry of the Bishops of this Realm and others having cure of souls the Queens Majesty is informed that in sundry places of her said Realm in their several Diocesses there are certain persons who do secretly in corners make privy assemblies of divers simple unlearned people and after they have craftily and hypocritically allured them to esteem them to be more holy and perfect men than other are they do then teach them damnable Heresies directly contrary to divers of the principal Articles of our Belief and Christian Faith and in some parts so absurd and fanatical as by feigning to themselves a monstrous new kind of speech never found in the Scriptures nor in ancient Father or Writer of Christs Church by which they do move ignorant and simple people at the first rather to marvel at them than to understand them but yet to colour their sect withal they name themselves to be of the Family of Love and then as many as shall be allowed by them to be of that Family to be elect and saved and all others of what Church soever they be to be rejected and damned and for that upon conventing of some of them before the Bishops and Ordinaries it is found that the ground of their sect is maintained by certain lewd heretical and seditious books first made in the Dutch tongue and lately translated into English and printed beyond the seas and secretly brought over into the Realm the author whereof they name H. N. without yielding to him upon their examination any other name in whose name they have certainly books set forth called Evangelium Regni or a joyful Message of the Kingdom Documental Sentences The prophecie of the spirit of love a publishing of peace upon the earth and such like And considering also it is found that these Sectaries hold opinion that they may before any Magistrate Ecclesiastical or Temporal or any other person not being professed to be of their sect which they teame the Family of Love by oath or otherwise deny any thing for their advantage so as though many of them are well known to be teachers and spreaders abroad of these dangerous and damnable sects yet by their own confession they cannot be condemned whereby they are more dangerous in any Christian Realm Therefore her Majesty being very sorry to see so great an evil by the malice of the Devil first begun and practised in other Countries to be now brought into this her Realm and that by her Bishops and Ordinaries she understandeth it very requisite not only to have these dangerous Hereticks and Sectaries to be severely punished but that also all other means be used by her Majesties Royal authority which is given her of God to defend Christs Church to root them out from further infecting of her Realm she hath thought meet and convenient and so by this her Proclamation she willeth and commandeth that all her Officers and Ministers temporal shall in all their several vocations assist the Archbishops and Bishops of her Realm and all other persons Ecclesiastical having cure of Souls to search out all persons only suspected to be either teachers or professors of the foresaid damnable sects and by all good means to proceed severely against them being found culpable by order of the Laws either Ecclesiastical or Temporal and that also search may be made in all places suspected for the Books and Writings maintaining the said Heresies and Sects and them to destroy and burn And wheresoever such Books shall be found after the publication hereof in custody of any person other than such as the Ordinaries shall permit to the intent to peruse the same for confutation thereof the same persons to be attached and committed to close prison there to remain or otherwise by Law to be condemned until the same shall be purged and cleared of the same Heresies or shall recant the same and be thought meet by the Ordinary of the place to be delivered And that whosoever in this Realm shall either print or bring or cause to be brought into this Realm any of the said Books the same persons to be attached and committed to prison and to receive such bodily punishment and other mulct as fautors of damnable Heresies And to the execution hereof her Majesty chargeth all her Officers and Ministers both Ecclesiastical and Temporal to have special regard as they will answer not only afore God whose glory and truth is by these damnable Sects greatly sought to be defaced but also will avoid her Majesties indignation which in such cases as these are they ought not escape if they shall be found negligent and careless in the execution of their authorities Given at our Mannour of Richmond the third of October in the two and twentieth year of our Reign God save the Queen Imprinted at London by Christopher Barker Printer to the Queens most Excellent Majesty By the Queen A Proclamation against certain seditious and schismatical Books and Libels c. THe Queens most Excellent Majesty considering how within these few years past and now of late certain seditious and evil disposed persons towards her Majesty and
trusty and well-beloved Councellor Richard by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of York Primate and Metropolitan of England respectively directed bearing date the twentieth day of February in the fifteenth year of Our Reign to appear before the said Lord Archbishop of Canterbury in Our Cathedral Church of St. Paul in London and before the said Lord Archbâ—shop of York in the Metropolitan Church of St. Peter in York the fourteenth day of April then next ensuing or elsewhere as they respectively should think it most convenient to treat consent and conclude upon certain difficult and urgent affairs contained in the said Writs Did thereupon at the time appointed and within the Cathedral Church of S. Paul and the Metropolitan Church of S. Peter aforesaid assemble themselves respectively together and appear in several Convocations for that purpose according to the said several Writs before the said Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and the said Lord Archbishop of York respectively And forasmuch as We are given to understand that many of Our Subjects being misled against the Rites and Ceremonies now used in the Church of England have lately taken offence at the same upon an unjust supposal that they are not only contrary to Our Laws but also introductive unto Popish Superstitions whereas it well appeareth unto Vs upon mature consideration that the said Rites and Ceremonis which are now so much quarrelled at were not onely approved of and used by those learned and godly Divines to whom at the time of Reformation under King Edward the sixth the compiling of the Book of of Common-Prayer was committed divers of which suffered Martyrdom in Queen Maries days but also again taken up by this whole Church under Queen Elizabeth and so duly and ordinarily practised for a great part of her Reign within the memory of divers yet living as that it could not then be imagined that there would need any Rule or Law for the observation of the same or that they could be thought to savour of Popery And albeit since those times for want of an express Rule therein and by subtile practises the said Rites and Ceremonies began to fall into disuse and in place thereof other forraign and unfitting usages by little and little to creep in Yet forasmuch as in our own Royal Chappels and in many other Churches most of them have been ever constantly used and observed We cannot now but be very sensible of this matter and have cause to conceive that the Authors and Fomentors of these jealousies though they colour the same with a pretence of Zeal and would seem to strike only at some supposed iniquity in the said Ceremonies Yet as we have cause to fear aim at Our own Royal Person and would fain have Our good Subjects imagine that we Our Self are perverted and doe worship God in a Superstitious way and that we intend to bring in some alteration of the Religion here established Now how far we are from that and how utterly We detest every thought thereof We have by many publick Declaracions and otherwise upon sundry occasions given such assurance to the World as that from thence We also assure Our Self that no man of wisdom and discretion could ever be so beguiled as to give any serious entertainment to such brain-sick jealousies and for the weaker sort who are prone to be misled by crafty seducers We rest no less confident that even of them as many as are of loyal or indeed but of charitable hearts will from henceforth utterly banish all such causeless fears and surmises upon these our sacred professions so often made by Vs a Christian Defender of the Faith their King and Soveraign And therefore if yet any person under whatsoever mask of Zeal or counterfeit Holiness shall henceforth by speech or writing or any other way notwithstanding these Our right hearty faithful and solemn Protestations made before Him whose Deputy We are against all and every intention of any Popish Innovation be so ungracious and presumptuous as to vent any poisoned conceits tending to such a purpose and to cast these develish aspersions and jealousies upon Our Royal and Godly proceedings We require all Our loyal Subjects that they forthwith make the same known to some Magistrate Ecclesiastical or Civil And We straightly charge all Ordinaries and every other person in any Authority under Vs as they will answer the contrary at their utmost peril that they use no palliation connivance or delay therein but that taking particular information of all the passages they do forthwith certifie the same unto Our Court of Commission for causes Ecclesiastical to be there examined and proceeded in with all fidelity and tenderness of Our Royal Majesty as is due to Vs their Soveraign Lord and Governour But forasmuch as we well percieve that the misleaders of Our well-minded people do make the more advantage for the nourishing of this distemper among them from hence that the foresaid Rites and Ceremonies or some of them are now insisted upon but only in some Diocesses and are not generally revived in all places nor constantly and uniformly practised thorowout all the Churches of Our Realm and thereupon have been liable to be quarrelled and opposed by them who use them not We therefore out of Our Princely inclination to Vniformity and Peace in matters especially that concern the holy worship of God proposing to Our Self herein the pious examples of King Edward the sixth and of Queen Elizabeth who sent forth Injunctions and Orders about the Divine Service and other Ecclesiastical matters and of Our dear Father of blessed memory King James who published a Book of Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical and according to the Act of Parliament in this behalf having fully advised herein with Our Metropolitan and with Our Commissioners authorised under Our great Seal for causes Ecclesiastical have thought good to give them free leave to treat in Convocation and agree upon certain other Canons necessary for the advancement of Gods glory the edifying of his holy Church and the due reverence of his blessed Mysteries and Sacraments that as We ever have been and by Gods assistance by whom alone We Reign shall ever so continue careful and ready to cut off Superstition with one hand so We may no less expel Irreverence and Profaneness with the other whereby it may please Almighty God so to bless Vs and this Church committed to Our Government that it may at once return unto the true former splendour of Vniformity Devotion and holy Order the lustre whereof for some years by-past hath been overmuch obscured through the devices of some ill-affected to that sacred Order wherein it had long stood from the very beginning of the Reformation and through inadvertency of some in Authority in the Church under Vs We therefore by vertue of Our Prerogative Royal and supreme Authority in causes Ecclesiastical by Our several and respective Letters Patents under Our Great Seal of England dated the fifteenth day of April now last past and
Nature and Nations for the publick defence care and protection of them yet nevertheless Subjects have not only possession of but a true and just right title and propriety to and in all their Goods and Estates and ought to have And these two are so far from crossing one another that they mutually go together for the honourable and comfortable support of both For as it is the duty of the Subjects to supply their King so is it part of the Kingly Office to support his Subjects in the property and freedom of their Estates And if any Parson Vicar Curate or Preacher shall voluntarily or carelesly neglect his duty in publishing the said Explications and Conclusions according to the Order above described he shall be suspended by his Ordinary till such time as upon his penitence he shall give sufficient assurance or evidence of his amendment and in case he be of any exempt jurisdiction he shall be censurable to his Majesties Commissioners for Causes Ecclesiastical And we do also hereby require all Archbishops Bishops and all other inferiour Priests and Ministers that they Preach Teach and Exhort their People to obey honor and serve their King and that they presume not to speak of His Majesties Power in any other way than in this Canon is expressed And if any Parson Vicar Curate Preacher or any other Ecclesiastical Person whatsoever any Dean Canon or Prebendary of any Collegiate or Cathedral Church any Member or Student of Colledge or Hall or any Reader of Divinity or Humanity in either of the Universities or elsewhere shall in any Sermon Lecture Common-place Determination or Disputation either by word or writing publickly maintain or abet any position or conclusion in opposition or impeachment of the aforesaid explications or any part or Article of them he shall forthwith by the Power of His Majesties Commissioners for Causes Ecclesiastical be excommunicated till he repent and suspended two years from all the profits of his Benefice or other Ecclesiastical Academical or Scholastical Preferments And if he so offend a second time he shall be deprived from all his Spiritual Promotions of what nature or degree soever they be Provided always that if the offence aforesaid be given in either of the Universities by Men not having any Benefice or Ecclesiastical Preferment that then the Delinquent shall be censured by the ordinary authority in such cases of that University respectivly where the said fault shall be committed II. For the better keeping of the day of His Majesties most happy Inauguration THe Synod taking into consideration the most inestimable benefits which this Church enjoyeth under the peaceable and blessed Government of our dread Sovereign Lord King CHARLES and finding that as well the godly Christian Emperors in the former times as our own most Religious Princes since the Reformation have caused the days of their Inaugurations to be publickly celebrated by all their Subjects with Prayers and Thanksgiving to Almighty God and that there is a particular form of Prayer appointed by Authority for that day and purpose and yet withal considering how negligent some people are in observance of this day in many places of this Kingdom Doth therefore decree and ordain That all manner of Persons within the Church of England shall from henceforth celebrate and keep the morning of the said day in coming diligently and reverently unto thei Parish Church or Chap. at the time of Prayer and there continuing all the while that the Prayers Preaching or other service of the day endureth in testimony of their humble gratitude to God for so great a blessing and dutiful affections to so benign and merciful a Soveraign And for the better execution of this our Ordinance the holy Synod doth straightly require and charge and by authority hereof enableth all Archbishops Bishops Deans Deans and Chapters Archdeacons and other Ecclesiastical persons having exempt or peculiar jurisdiction as also all Chancellors Commissaries and Officials in the Church of England that they enquire into the keeping of the same in their Visitations and punish such as they shall find to be delinquent according as by Law they are to censure and punish those who wilfully absent themselves from Church on Holy-days And that the said day may be the better observed we do enjoyn that all Church-wardens shall provide at the Parish-charge two of those Books at least appointed for that day and if there be any want of the said Book in any Parish they shall present the same at all Visitations respectively III. For the suppressing of the growth of Popery ALL and every Ecclesiastical persons of what rank or condition soever Archbishops and Bishops Deans Archdeacons all having exempt or peculiar jurisdiction with their several Chancellors Commissaries and Officials all persons intrusted with cure of souls shall use respectively all possible care and diligence by conferring privately with the parties and by censures of the Church in inferiour and higher Courts as also by complaints unto the Secular Power to reduce all such to the Church of England who are misled into Popish Superstition And first These private Conferences shall be performed in each several Diocess either by the Bishop in person if his occasion will permit it or by some one or more learned Ministers at his special appointment and the said Bishop shall also defign the time and place of the said several Conferences and all such persons as shall be present thereat which if Recusants refuse to observe they shall be taken for obstinate and so certified to the Bishop And if the said time and place be not observed by the Minister or Ministers so appointed they shall be suspended by their Ordinary for the space of six months without a very reasonable cause alledged to the contrary Provided that they be not sent above ten miles from their dwelling If the said Conferences prevail not the Church must and shall come to her Censures and to make way for them the said Ecclesiastical persons shall carefully inform themselves in the places belonging to their several charges of all Recusants above the age of twelve years both of such as come not at all to Church as also of those who coming sometimes thither do yet refuse to receive the holy Eucharist with us as likewise of all those who shall either say or hear Mass and they shall in a more especial manner enquire out all those who are either dangerously active to seduce any Persons from the Communion of the Church of England or seditiously busie to disswade his Majesties Subjects from taking the Oath of Allegiance together with all them who abused by their Sophistry refuse to take the said Oath And we straightly command all Parsons Vicars and Curates that they carefully and severally present at all Visitations the names and sirnames of the Delinquents of these several kinds in their own Parishes under pain of suspension for six months And likewise we straightly enjoyn all Church-wardens and the like sworn Officers whatsoever that by
vertue of their Oaths they shall present at the said Visitations the names of such Persons whom they know or hear of or justly suspect to be delinquent in all or any of these particulars and that under the pains of the highest censures of the Church that so these Delinquents may be legally cited and being found obstinate they shall be Excommunicated and such Excommunication shall be pronounced both in the Cathedral Church of the Diocess and in the several Parishes where such Recusants live and every third month they shall be again publickly repeated in the places aforesaid that all may take notice of those Sentences And because there are places which either have or pretend to have exemptions in which such Delinquents do usually affect to make their aboad Therefore we enjoyn that all Bishops shall within their several Dioceses send unto such places one or more of their Chaplains or some of their Officers whom they may relie on to make strict enquiry after Offenders in those kinds who diligently returning their information accordingly the said Bishop shall certifie such informations to his Metropolitan that the aforesaid proceedings may forthwith issue from some higher Courts in these cases whereof by reason of the said exemptions the inferiour Courts can take no cognisance But if neither conferring nor censures will prevail with such persons the Church hath no way left but complaints to the secular power and for them we streightly enjoyn that all Deans and Archdeacons and all having inferiour or exempt Jurisdiction shall every year within six Months after any Visitation by them holden make Certificate unto their several Bishops or Archbishop if it be within his Diocess under their Seal of Office of all such persons who have been presented unto them as aforesaid under pain of suspension from their said Jurisdictions by the space of one whole year And we in like manner enjoyn all Archbishops and Bishops that once every year at the least they certifie under their Episcopal Seal in Parchment unto the Justices of Assize of every County in the Circuits and within their Dioceses respectively the names and sirnames not only of those who have been presented unto them from the said Deans Archdeacons c. but of those also who upon the Oaths of Church-wardens and other Sworn-men at their Visitations or upon the information of Ministers imployed in the said Conferences have been presented unto them that so the said intended proceedings may have the more speedy and the more general success In particular it shall be carefully inquired into at all Visitations under the Oaths of the Church wardens and other Sworn men what Recusants or Popish persons have been either Married or Buried or have had their Children baptized otherwise than according to the Rules and Forms established in the Church of England and the names of such Delinquents if they can learn them or otherwise such names as for the time they carry shall be as aforesaid given up to the Bishop who shall present them to the Justices of Assize to be punished according to the Statutes And for the education of Recusants Children since by Canon already established no Man can teach School no not in any private house except he be allowed by the Ordinary of the place and withal have subscribed to the Articles of Religion established in the Church of England We therefore streightly enjoyn That forthwith at all Visitations there be diligent enquiry made by the Church-wardens or other sworn Ecclesiastical Officers of each Parish under their Oaths who are employed as School-masters to the Children of Recusants and that their several names be presented to the Bishop of the Diocess who citing the said School-masters shall make diligent search whether they have subscribed or no and if they or any of them be found to refuse subscription they shall be forbidden to teach hereafter and censured for their former presumption and withal the names of him or them that entertain such a School-master shall be certified to the Bishop of the Diocess who shall at the next Assize present them to the Judges to be proceeded against according to the Statutes And if they subscribe enquiry shall be made what care they take for the instruction of the said Children in the Catechism established in the Book of Common-prayer And all Ordinaries shall censure those whom they find negligent in the said instruction and if it shall appear that the Parents of the said children do forbid such School-masters to bring them up in the Doctrine of the Church of England they shall notwithstanding do their duty and if thereupon the said Parents shall take away their Children the said School-masters shall forthwith give up their names unto the Bishop of the Diocess who shall take care to return them to the Justices of Assize in manner and form aforesaid And because some may cunningly elude this Decree by sending their Children to be bred beyond the Seas Therefore we ordain That the Church-wardens and other sworn Ecclesiastical Officers shall likewise make careful enquiry and give in upon their Oaths at all Visitations the names of such Recusants Children who are so sent beyond the Seas to be bred there or whom they probably suspect to be so sent which names as aforesaid shall be given up to the Bishop and from him returned to the Judges as aforesaid that their Parents who so send them may be punished according to Law Provided alwayes that this Canon shall not take away or derogate from any Power or Authority already given or established by any other Canon now in force And all the said Complaints or Certificates shall be presented up to the Judges in their several Circuits by the Bishop's Register or some other of his Deputies mimediately after the publishing of His Majesties Commission or at the end of the Charge which shall be then given by the Judge And this upon pain of Suspension for three months This Sacred Synod doth earnestly intreat the said Reverend Justices of Assize to be careful in the execution of the said Laws committed to their trust as they will answer to God for the daily increase of this gross kind of superstition And further we do also exhort all Judges whether Ecclesiastical or Temporal upon the like account that they would not admit in any of their Courts any vexatious Complaint Suit or Suits or presentments against any Minister Church-wardens Questmen Side-men or other Church-Officers for the making of any such Presentments And lastly We enjoyn that every Bishop shall once in every year send into his Majesties High Court of Chancery a Significavit of the names and sirnames of all such Recusants who have stood excommunicated beyond the time limited by the Law and shall desire that the Writ De excommunicato capiendo might be at once sent out against them all Ex officio And for the better execution of this Decree this present Synod doth most humbly beseech His most Sacred Majesty that the Officers of the
said High Court of Chancery whom it shall concern may be commanded to send out the aforesaid Writ from time to time as is desired for that it would much exhaust the particular estates of the Ordinaries to sue out several Writs at their own charge And that the like command also may be laid upon the Sheriffs and their Deputies for the due and faithful execution of the said Writs as often as they shall be brought unto them And to the end that this Canon may take the better and speedier effect and not to be deluded or delayed We further Decree and Ordain That no Popish Recusant who shall persist in the said sentence of Excommunication beyond the time prescribed by Law shall be absolved by vertue of any Appeal in any Ecclesiastical Court unless the said party shall first in his or her own Person and not by a Proctor take the usual Oath De parendo Juri stando mandatis Ecclesiae IV. Against Socinianism WHereas much mischief is already done in the Church of God by the spreading of the damnable and Cursed Heresie of Socinianism as being a complication of many ancient Heresies condemned by the four first general Councils and contrariant to the Articles of Religion now established in the Church of England And whereas it is too apparent that the said wicked and blasphemous errors are unhappily dilated by the frequent divulgation and dispersion of dangerous Books written in favor and furtherance of the same whereby many especially of the younger or unsetled sort of People may be poysoned and infected It is therefore decreed by this present Synod that no Stationer Printer or Importer of the said Books or any other person whatsoever shall print buy sell or disperse any Book hroaching or maintaining of the said abominable Doctrine or Positions upon pain of Excommunication ipso facto to be thereupon incurred And we require all Ordinaries upon pain of the Censures of the Church that beside the Excommunication aforesaid they do certifie their names and offenses under their Episcopal Seal to the Metropolitan by him to be delivered to his Majesties Attorney-General for the time being to be proceeded withal according to the late Decree in the Honorable Court of Star-Chamber against the spreaders of prohibited Books And that no Preacher shall presume to vent any such Doctrine in any Sermon under pain of Excommunication for the first offence and Deprivation for the second And that no Student in either of the Universities of this Land nor any person in holy Orders excepting Graduates in Divinity or such as have Episcopal or Archidiaconal Jurisdiction or Doctors of Law in holy Orders shall be suffered to have or read any such Socinian Book or Discourse under pain if the offendor live in the University that he shall be punished according to the strictest Statutes provided there against the publishing reading or maintaining of false Doctrine or if he live in the City or Country abroad of a Suspension for the first offence and Excommunication for the Second and Deprivation for the third unless he will absolutely and in terminis abjure the same And if any Lay-man shall be seduced into this Opinion and be convicted of it he shall be Excommunicated and not absolved but upon due repentance and abjuration and that before the Metropolitan or his own Bishop at the least And we likewise enjoyn that such Books if they be found in any prohibited hand shall be immediately burned and that there be a diligent search made by the appointment of the Ordinary after all such Books in what hands soever except they be now in the hands of any Graduate in Divinity and such as have Episcopal or Archidiaconal Jurisdiction or any Doctor of Laws in holy Orders as aforesaid and that all who now have them except before excepted be strictly commanded to bring in the said Books in the Universities to the Vicechancellors and out of the Universities to the Bishops who shall return them to such whom they dare trust with the reading of the said Books and shall cause the rest to be burned And we farther enjoyn that diligent enquiry be made after all such that shall maintain and defend the aforesaid Socinianism and when any such shall be detected that they be complained of to the several Bishops respectively who are required by this Synod to repress them from any such propagation of the aforesaid wicked and detestable Opinions V. Against Sectaries WHereas there is a provision now made by a Canon for the suppressing of Popery and the growth thereof by subjecting all Popish Recusants to the greatest severity of Ecclesiastical Censures in that behalf This present Synod well knowing that there are other Sects which endeavor the subversion both of the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England no less than Papists do although by another way for the preventing thereof doth hereby decree and Ordain that all those proceedings and penalties which are mentioned in the aforesaid Canon against Popish Recusants as far as they shall be appliable shall stand in full force and vigour against all Anabaptists Brownists Separatists Familists or other Sect or Sects person or persons whatsoever who do or shall either obstinately refuse or ordinarily not having a lawful impediment that is for the space of a month neglect to repair to their Parish Churches or Chappels where they inhabit for the hearing of Divine Service established and receiving of the holy Communion according to Law And we do also further decree and ordain That the Clause contained in the Canon now made by this Synod against the Books of Socinianism shall also extend to the Makers Importers Printers and Publishers or Dispersers of any Book Writing or scandalous Pamphlet devised against the Discipline and Government of the Church of England and unto the maintainers and Abettors of any Opinion or Doctrine against the same And further because there are sprung up among us a sort factious of people Despisers and Depravers of the Book of Common-Prayer who do not according to the Law resort to their parish-Parish-Church or Chappel to joyn in Publick Prayers Service and Worship of God with the Congregation contenting themselves with the hearing of Sermons only thinking thereby to avoid the penalties due to such as wholly absent themselves from the Church We therefore for the restraint of all such wilful contemners or neglecters of the Service of God do ordain That the Church or Chappel-Wardens and Questmen or Side-men of every Parish shall be careful to enquire out all such disaffected persons and shall present the names of all such Delinquents at all Visitations of Bishops and other Ordinaries And that the same proceedings and penalties mentioned in the Canon aforesaid respectively shall be used against them as against other Recusants unless within one whole month after they are first denounced they shall make acknowledgment and reformation of that their fault Provided always that this Canon shall not derogate from any other Canon Law or
Ordinaries respectively in theirs And lastly Whereas the Church is the house of God dedicated to his holy Worship and therefore ought to mind us both of the greatness and goodness of his Divine Majesty certain it is that the acknowledgment thereof not only inwardly in our hearts but also outwardly with our bodies must needs be pious in it self profitable unto us and edifying unto others We therefore think it very meet and behoveful and heartily commend it to all good and well-affected people members of this Church that they be ready to tender unto the Lord the said acknowledgment by doing reverence and obeysance both at their coming in and going out of the said Churches Chancels or Chappels according to the most ancient custom of the primitive Chuch in the purest times and of this Church also for many years of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth The reviving therefore of this ancient and laudable Custom we heartily commend to the serious consideration of all good people not with any intention to exhibit any Religious Worship to the Communion-Table the East or Church or any thing therein contained in so doing or to perform the said gesture in the celebration of the holy Eucharist upon any opinion of a corporal presence of the bodyo Jesus Christ on the holy Table or in mystical Elements but only for the advancement of Gods Majesty and to give him alone that honor and glory that is due unto him and no otherwise and in the practise or omission of this Rite we desire that the Rule of Charity prescribed by the Apostle may be observed which is That they which use this Rite despise not them who use it not and that they who use it not condemn not those that use it VIII of Preaching for Conformity WHereas the Preaching of Order and Decency according to St. Pauls Rule doth conduce to edification it is required that all Preacheâ—s as well Beneficed men as others shall positively and plainly Preach and Instruct the People in their publick Sermons twice in the year at least that the Rites and Ceremonies now established in the Church of England are lawful and commendable and that they the said people and others ought to conform themselves in their practice to all the said Rites and Ceremonies and that the people and othe s ought willingly to submit themselves unto the Authority and Government of the Church as it it is now established under the Kings Majesty And if any Preacher shall refuse or neglect to do according to this Canon let him be suspended by his Ordinary during the time of his refusal or wilful forbearance to do thereafter IX One Book of Articles of Enquiry to be used at all Parochial Visitations FOr the better setling of an Uniformity in the outward Government and Administration of the Church and for the more preventing of just grievances which may be laid upon Church-wardens and other Sworn-men by any impertinent inconvenient or illegal Enquiries in the Articles for Ecclesiastical Visitations This Synod hath now caused a Summary or Collection of Visitory Articles out of the Rubricks of the Service-Book and the Canons and warrantable rules of the Church to be made and for future Direction to be deposited in the Records of the Archbishop of Canterbury and we do decree and ordain That from henceforth no Bishop or other person whatsoever having right to hold use or exercise any Parochial Visitation shall under the pain of a months suspension upon a Bishop and two months upon any other Ordinary that is delinquent and this to be incurred ipso facto cause to be printed or published or otherwise to be given in charge to the Church-wardens or to any other persons which shall be sworn to make Presentments any other Articles or forms of enquiry upon Oath then such only as shall be approved and in terminis allowed unto him upon due request made by his Metropolitan under his Seal of Office Provided always that after the end of three years next following the date of these presents the Metropolitan shall not either at the instance of those which have right to hold Parochial Visitations or upon any other occasion make any addition or dimnuition from that allowance to any Bishop of Visitory Articles which he did last before in any Diocess within this Province approve of But calling for the same shall hold and give that only for a perpetual Rule and then every Parish shall be bound only to take the said Book from the Archdeacons and other having a peculiar or exempt Jurisdiction but once from that time in three years in case they do make it appear they have the said Book remaining in their publick Chest for the use of the Parish And from every Bishop they shall receive the said Articles at the Episcopal Visitation only and in manner and form as formerly they have been accustomed to do and at no greater price then what hath been usually paid in the said Diocess respectively X. Concerning the Conversation of the Clergy THe sober grave and exemplary Conversation of all those that are imployed in Administration of holy things being of great avail for the furtherance of Piety It hath been the religious care of the Church of England strictly to enjoyn to all and every one of her Clergy a pious regular and inoffensive demeanour and to prohibit all loose and scandalous carriage by severe censures to be inflicted upon such Delinquents as appears by the 74 and 75 Canons Anno 1603. provided to this purpose For the more effectual success of which pious and necessary care this present Synod straightly charges all Clergy-men in this Church that setting before their eyes the Glory of God the holiness of their calling and the edification of the people committed to them they carefully avoid all excess and disorder and that by their Christian and religious conversation they shine forth as lights unto others in all Godliness and honesty And we also require all those to whom the Goverment of the Clergy of this Church is committed that they set themselves to countenance and encourage godliness gravity sobriety and all unblameable conversation in the Ministers of this Church and that according to the power with which they are intrusted they diligently labor by the due execution of the above-named Canons and all other Ecclesiastical provisions made for this end to reform all offensive and scandalous persons if any be in the Ministery as they tender the welfare and prospering of Piety and Religion and as they will answerâ— to God for those scandals which through their remisness and neglect shall arise and grow in this Church of Christ XI Chancellours Patents FOr the better remedying and redress of such abuses as are complained of in the Ecclesiastical Courts the Synod doth decree and ordain That hereafter no Bishop shall grant any Patent to any Chancellor Commissary or Official for any longer term than the life of the Grantee only nor otherwise than with express reservation to himself
the next or second Court day after the Citation served at the farthest and that the party so cited unless he be convinced by two witnesses shall upon the denial of the fact upon Oath be forthwith freely dismissed without any payment of Fees provided that this Decree extend not to any grievous crime as Schism Incontinency mis-behaviour in the Church in time of Divine Service obstinate Inconformity or the like WE of Our Princely inclination and Royal care for the maintenance of the present Estate and Government of the Church of England by the Laws of this Our Realm now setled and established having diligently with great contentment and comfort read and considered of all these their said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions agreed upon as is before expressed And finding the same such as We are persuaded will be very profitable not only to Our Clergy but to the whole Church of this Our Kingdom and to all the true members of it if they be well observed Have therefore for Vs Our Heirs and lawful Successours of Our especial grace certain knowledge and meer motion given and by these presents do give Our Royal Assent according to the form of the said Statute or Act of Parliament aforesaid to all and every of the said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions and to all and every thing in them contained as they are before written And furthermore We do not only by Our said Prerogative Royal and supreme Authority in Causes Ecclesiastical ratifie confirm and establish by these Our Letters Patents the said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions and all and every thing in them contained as is aforesaid but do likewise propound publish and straightly enjoine and command by Our said Authority and by these Our Letters Patents the same to be diligently observed executed and equally kept by all Our loving Subjects of this Our Kingdom both within the Provinces of Canterbury and York in all points wherein they do or may concern every or any of them according to this Our will and pleasure hereby signified and expressed And that likewise for the better observation of them every Minister by what name or title soever he be called shall in the parish-Parish-Church or Chappel where he hath charge read all the said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions at all such times and in such manner as is prescribed in the said Canons or any of them The Book of the said Canons to be provided at the charge of the Parish betwixt this and the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel next ensuing straightly charging and commanding all Archbishops Bishops and all other that exercise any Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction within this Realm every man in his place to see and procure so much as in them lieth all and every of the same Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions to be in all points duly observed not sparing to execute the penalties in them severally mentioned upon any that shall wittingly or wilfully break or neglect to observe the same as they tender the honour of God the peace of the Church the tranquillity of the Kingdom and their duties and service to Vs their King and Sovereign In witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our Self at Westminster the thirtieth day of June in the sixteenth year of Our Reign THE TABLE 1 COncerning the Regal Power 2 For the better keeping of the day of his Majesties most happy Inauguration 3 For suppressing of the growth of Popery 4 Against Socinianism 5 Against Sectaries 6 An Oath injoined for the preventing of all Innovations in Doctrine and Government 7 A Declaration concerning some Rites and Ceremonies 8 Of Preaching for Conformity 9 One Book of Articles Of inquiry to be used at all Parochial Visitations 10 Concerning the Conversation of the Clergy 11 Chancellours Patents 12 Chancellours alone not to censure any of the Clergy in sundry cases 13 Excommunication and Absolution not to be pronounced but by a Priest 14 Concerning Commutations and the disposing of them 15 Touching concurrent Jurisdictions 16 Concerning Licenses to Marry 17 Against vexatious Citations FINIS The Form of CONSECRATION OF A CHURCH OR CHAPPEL And of the place of Christian Burial EXEMPLIFIED By the Right Reverend Father in God LANCELOT ANDREWS Late Lord Bishop of Winchester Bishop Andrews Notes upon the Liturgy It is not to be forgotten though it be forgotten that who ever gave any Lands or Endowments to the Service of God gave it in a Formal Writing as now adayes betwixt Man and Man Sealed and Witnessed and the tender of the Gift was Super Altare by the Donor on his Knees LONDON Printed for Robert Pawlet at the Bible in Chancery Lane near Fleetstreet M.DC.LXXV BISHOP ANDREVVS Form of Consecration of a CHURCH or CHAPPEL c. Consecratio CAPELLÆ JESV ET COEMETERII Per LANCELOTVM Episcopum Winton JVxta Southamptoniensem villam Ecclesia Beatae Mariae collapsa cernitur solis Cancellis ad sacros usus superstitibus paucae aliquot aedes ibi in propinqua parte numerantur caetera Parochianorum multitudo hinc inde sparsim inhabitant in villis tum loci longinquo intervallo tum estuarie longe periculoso divisi ab Ecclesia Ex ea accedendi difficultate non profanae modò plebeculae animos facile invasit misera negligentia atque dispretio divini cultus sed viri probi sedulique pietatis cultores remoram in trajectu saepe experti sunt haud ipso quidem capitum discrimine eluctabilem consortem hujus infortunii cum se factum sentiret dum ibi loci familiam poneret Vir strenuus Richardus Smith Armiger heroicos plane animos gestans atque inspiratos de coelo commune hoc religionis dispendium privatis quingentarum aliquot librarum expensis aut plus eo redemit Capellam egregiam quam Deo divinisque officiis dicari supplex vovet in altera parte fluminis magnifice extruit Spectato probatoque Capellae hujus Jesu omni adparatu adest tandem Reverendissimus in Christo Pater Honorandissimus Lancelotus Episcopus Wintoniensis Septembris 17. Anno 1620. Hora octava matutina aut cireiter erat autem dies Dominicus Episcopus Capellam statim ingressus induit se pontificalibus quem secuti itidem qui ipsi à sacris domesticis aderant Matthaeus Christopherus Wren SS Theol. Bacc. Sacerdotalibus induuntur Egressus dein cum illis Episcopus convenarum magnastipante caterva Fundatorem afsari orditur in haec fere verba Captain Smith you have been an often earnest Suitor to me that I would come hither to you now that we are come hither to you what have you to say to us Tum illo praefata humillimè Reverentia schedulam porrigit quam suo nomine recitari cupit per Willielm Cole qui Episcopo à Registris erat eam ille ad nutum Episcopi clara voce sic perlegit IN the Name of Richard Smith of Peer-tree in the County of Southampton Esquire Right Reverend Father
sins of thy people that Temple was destroyed thou didst by thy Prophets Aggai and Zachary by shewing how inconvenient it was that they should dwell in cieled houses and let thy house lye waste stir up the spirit of Zorobabel to build thee the second Temple anew which second House likewise by the fulness of the Glory of thy presence thou didst shew thy self to like and allow of Neither only wert thou well pleased with such as did build thee these Temples but even with such of the people afterwards as being moved with zeal added unto their Temple their Mother Church lesser places of prayer by the names of Synagogues in every Town throughout the Land for the Tribes to ascend up to worship thee to learn thy holy will and to do it Which very Act of the Centurion to build thy people a Synagogue thou didst well approve and commend in the Gospel And by the bodily presence of thy Son our Saviour at the feast of the Dedication testified by St. John didst really well allow of and do honour to such devout Religious services as we are now about to perform Which also by thy holy Word hast taught us that thine Apostles themselves and the Christians in their time as they had houses to eat and drink in so had they also where the whole Congregation of the Faithful came together in one place which they expreslly called Gods Church and would not have it despised nor abused nor eaten nor drunken in but had in great Reverence being the very place of their holy Assemblies By whose godly examples the Christians in all Ages successively have erected and consecrated sundry godly houses for the Celebration of Divine Service and Worship Monuments of their Piety and Devotion as our eyes see this day We then as Fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God being built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the head corner-stone walking in the steps of their most holy Faith and ensuing the examples of these thy Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles have together with them done the same work I say in building and dedicating this house as an habitation for thee and a place for us to assemble and meet together for the observation of thy Divine worship invocation of thy Name reading preaching and hearing thy most holy Word administring thy most holy Sacraments and above all in thy most holy place the very gate of Heaven upon earth as Jacob named it to do the work of Heaven to set forth thy most worthy praise to laud and magnifie thy most glorious Majesty for all thy goodness to all men especially to us of the Houshold of Faith Accept therefore we beseech thee most gracious Father of this our bounden duty and service accept this for thine house and because thine Holiness becomes thine house for ever sanctifie this house with thy gracious presence which is erected to the honour of thy most glorious Name Now therefore arise O Lord and come into this place of thy rest thou and the ark of thy strength Let thine eye be open towards this house day and night Let thine ears be ready towards the Prayers of thy children which they shall make unto thee in this place and let thine heart delight to dwell here perpetually And whensoever thy servants shall make to thee their petitions in this House either to bestow thy good graces and blessings upon them or to remove thy punishments and judgments from them hear them from Heaven thy dwelling place the Throne of the glory of thy Kingdom and when thou hearest have mercy and grant O Lord we beseech thee that here and elsewhere thy Priests may be cloathed with Righteousness and thy Saints rejoyce in thy Salvation And whereas both in the Old and New Testament thou hast consecrated the measuring out and building of a material Church to such an excellent Mystery that in it is signified and presented the fruition of the joy of thy Heavenly Kingdom we beseech thee that in this material Temple made with hands we may so serve and please thee in all holy Exercises of Godliness and Christian Religion that in the end we may come to that thy Temple on high even to the holy places made without hands whose Builder and Maker is God so as when we shall cease to pray to thee on Earth we may with all those that have in the like manner erected such places to thy Name and with all thy Saints eternally praise thee in the highest Heavens for all thy goodness vouchsafed us for a time here on earth and laid up for us there in thy Kingdom for ever and ever and that for thy dear Sons sake our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ to whom c. BLessed Father who hast promised in thy holy Law that in every place where the remembrance of thy Name shall be put thou wilt come unto us and bless us according to that thy promise come unto us and bless us who put now upon this place the memorial of thy Name by dedicating it wholly and only to thy Service and Worship Blessed Saviour who in the Gospel with thy bodily presence didst honour and adorn the Feast of the dedication of the Temple at this dedication of this Temple unto thee be present also and accept Good Lord and prosper the work of our hands Blessed Spirit without whom nothing is holy no person or place is sanctified aright send down upon this place thy sanctifying power and grace hallow it and make it to thee an holy habitation for ever Blessed and glorious Trinity by whose Power Wisdom and Love all things are purged lightned and made perfect enable us with thy Power enlighten us with thy Truth perfect us with thy Grace that both here and elsewhere acknowledging the glory of thy eternal Trinity and in the Power of thy Divine Majesty worshipping the Unity we may obtain to the fruition of the glorious Godhead Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity to be adored forever God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost accept sanctifie and bless this place to the end whereunto according to his own Ordinance we have ordained it to be a Sanctuary to the most High and a Church for the living God The Lord with his favour ever mercifully behold it and so send upon it his spiritual Benediction and Grace that it may be the House of God to him and the Gate of Heaven to us Amen Haec precatus Episcopus Baptisterium adit à tque impositâ manu ait REgard O Lord the Supplications of thy Servants and grant that those Children that shall be baptized in this Laver of the New birth may be sanctified and washed with the Holy Ghost delivered from thy wrath received into the Ark of Christs Church receive herein the fulness of Grace and ever remain in the number of thy faithful and elect Children Suggestum dein GRant that thy Holy Word which from this place shall be
Porta clauditur Prior Sacellanus pergit legendo sententias illas hortatorias ad Eleemosynas interea dum alter Sacellanus singulos Communicaturos adit atque in patinam argenteam oblationes colligit Collecta est summa 4. l. 12 s. 2. d. quam Dominus Episcopus convertandam in Calicem huic Capellae donandum decernit Caeteris rebus ordine gestis demum Episcopus sacram Mensam redit Sacellanis utrisque ad aliquantulum recedentibus lotisque manibus pane fracto vino in Calicem effuso aqua admista stans ait ALmighty God our Heavenly Father c. Eucharistiam ipse primo loco accipit sub utraque specie proximo loco tradit Fundatori quem jam coram sacra Mensa in genua supplicem collocarant dein utrique Sacellano Ad caeteros vero pergentem Episcopum atque panem iis tradentem prior Sacellanus subsequitur Calicem ordine porrigit Cum vinum quod prius effuderat non sufficeret Episcopus de novo in Calicem ex poculo quod in sacra Mensa stabat effundit admistaque aqua recitat clare verba illa consecratoria Finita tandem exhibitione Dominus Episcopus ad Sacrae Mensae Septentrionem in genibus recitante quoque populo ait OUr Father c. O Lord our Heavenly Father c. GLory be to God on high c. Concludit denique cum hac precatione BLessed be thy name O Lord that it hath pleased thee to put into the heart of this thy servant to erect an house to thy worship and service by whose Pains Care and Cost this work was begun and finished Bless O Lord his substance and accept the work of his hands Remember him O our God concerning this wipe not out this kindness of his that he hath shewed for the house of his God and the offices thereof and make them truly thankful to thee that shall injoy the benefit thereof and the ease of it and what is by him well intended make them rightly to use it which will be the best fruit and to God most acceptable Post haec vota populum stans dimitit cum Benedictione hac THe peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and Minds in the Knowledge and love of God and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord and the Blessing of God Almighty the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost be amongst you and remain with you always Amen Consecratio COEMETERII STatim à prandio quod in aedibus suis vicinis Fundator Capellae satis lante appararat Domino Episcopo atque convenarum magnae frequentiae ad rem divinam reversis alter Sacellanorum praeit OUr Father c. Post Responsas Psalmus 90. recitatur alternis Post Psalmum Episcopus cum universa multitudine egreditur Capella atque ad Orientalem Coemeterii partem stans denuo sciscitatur Captain Smith for what have you called us hither again Ille schedulam ut prius humillime porrigit quam praefatus à Registris recitat in haec verba IN the name of Richard Smith of Peer-tree in the County of Southampton Esquire R. Reverend Father in God I present unto you the state of the Village of Weston c. ut prius usque ad the River cannot be passed whereby it often cometh to pass that they have been constrained to bury their dead in the open fields the water not being passable or if they durst venture over yet the dead body was followed with so little Company as was no way seemly And thus much formerly having been presented to your Predecessor the R.R.F. in God James late Bishop of Winton and Petition to him made to give and to grant leave unto the said Richard Smith to enclose a piece of ground for a Burial-place on the east side of the said River he favorably gave licence and granted power unto the said Richard Smith so to do as may appear by an instrument under his Episcopal Seal bearing date the 23 of February in the year of our Lord God according to the Computation of the Church of England 1617. Which place of Burial being now enclosed with a decent Rail of Timber at the only proper cost and charges of him the said Richard Smith with intent and purpose that it might be dedicated and consecrated only and wholly for Christian burial for him the said Richard Smith and his Family and the said inhabitants and none other In which respect I beseech God to accept of this sincere intent and purpose and both he and they are together humble Suiters to your Lordship as Gods Minister the Bishop and Ordinary of this Diocess in Gods stead to accept this his free-will offering and to decree this ground severed from all former common and profane uses and to sever it as by the Word of God and prayer and other special Religious duties to dedicate and consecrate it to be a Coemeterie or place of christian burial as aforesaid wherein their bodies may be laid up until the day of general Resurrection promising that they will ever so hold it for holy ground and use it accordingly applying it to no other use but that only and that they will from time to time and ever hereafter as need shall be see it conveniently repaired and fenced in such sort as a Coemetery or Burying-place ought to be Hoc ipsum vero ab Episcopo paucis interrogatis viva voce confirmant Fundator qui è vicinia Lectio prima desumitur è 23. Gen. Secunda Lectio destinabatur è prima Epist ad Cor. cap. 15. à vers 15. ad finem propter angustias temporis omissa Tum Dominus Episcopus in genua ibi submissus precatur O Lord God thou hast been pleased to teach us in thy holy Word as to put a difference between the soul of a Beast and the spirit of a Man for the soul of a Beast goes down to the earth from whence it came and the spirit of a Man returneth unto God that gave it so to make diverse accompts of the Bodies of Mankind and the Bodies of other living creatures in so much as the Body of Adam was resolved on and afterwards the workmanship of thine own hands and endued with a soul from thine own breath But much more since the second Adam thy blessed Son by taking upon him our nature exalted this flesh of ours to be flesh of his flesh whose flesh thou sufferedst not to see Corruption so that the Body returns to the earth and the soul to him that gave it It shall from thence return again it is but a rest and a rest in hope as saith the Psalmist for it is a righteous thing with God that the Body which was partaker with the soul both in doing and suffering should be raised again from the Earth to be partaker also with the soul of the reward or punishment which God in Mercy or Justice shall reward not to one of them alone but joyntly to them both There being then so