A Modest and reasonable examination of some things in vse in the Church of England sundrie times heretofore misliked and now lately in a Booke called the Plea of the Innocent and an Assertion for true and Christian Church policy made for a full satisfaction to all those that are of iudgement and not possessed with a preiudice against this present Church Gouernment wherein the principall poynts are fully and peaceably aunswered which seeme to bee offensiue in the Ecclesiasticall State of this Kingdome The Contentes whereof are set downe in the Page following By William Couell Doctor of Diuinitie Eccles. Chap. 3.1 The children of wisedome are the Church of the righteous and their ofspring is obedience and loue AT LONDON Printed by Humfrey Lownes for Clement Knight and are to be solde at his shop at the Signe of the holy Lambe in Saint Paules Churchyard 1604. The Contents of this Booke Chap. 1 KIngs and Princes haue authoritie and ought to haue care for the Church gouernment page 1 2 The Church visible of all other Societies is fittest to haue a Discipline but neuer the same that some men desire page 13 3 The Censure of a booke called The Plea of the Innocent pa. 25 4 The proceeding of the Reformers wholly vnlawfull pag. 32 5 Of Contention pag. 46 6 Of Ceremonies pag. 55 7 Of Subscription pag. 75 8 Of Discipline pag. 94 9 Of Archbishops and Bishops pag. 103 10 Of Ministers their Office and learning pag. 124 11 Of the maintenance of Ministers and of Tithes pag. 142 12 Of Non Residencie Pluralities and Dispensations pag. 159 13 Of publike prayer and of the defectes supposed to be in the Liturgie of the Church of England pag. 174 14 Of Tolleration of diuers Religions and how farre dissenting opinions from the true Christian faith may and ought to bee permitted in one and the same Kingdome pag. 196 15 An humble conclusion to his sacred Maiestie and the Right Honorable Lords of his Highnesse priuie Councill together with the rest whom it may concerne to defend this Church page 206 Deo omnis Potestas Gloria To the Right Honourable and most Reuerend father in God c. my verie good Lord the Lord Bishop of LONDON ⸫ THe word Right honorable is in great trauell with much euill when she shall be deliuered he onely knoweth who measureth al times with his hand and before whose eye lieth open that bottomlesse aeternitie it selfe The faces of Kingdomes and States according to the prosperitie and aduersitie of the Church amongest them sometimes looke heauily and sometimes chearfully as refreshed with more good Man whose Reason and Religion serueth to number these things feeleth in himselfe a true diuinitie manifested by that pure ambition of being greater than hee yet can bee whilest notwithstanding in the sence and feare of these things hee stoopeth as to a burthen that is too heauâ—e Religious and mature wisedome the safest builders of true greatnesse assureth men in prouidence to preuent the worst things or at least by foresight growing familiar with theÌ„ teacheth how to beare them with much patience fewe Kingdomes there are which haue not eyther more scarres in the Church not fully cured or else greater signes of greater insuing euils than our owne I am loth to be thought to flatter a fault whereunto I am not vsually subiect and a thing needlesse being the greatest hatred from the greatest loue which euerie beareth to himselfe but I may say truly and I doubt not but what I say the world thinketh the greatest part of this good next our dread Souereigne is now without enuie bee it spoken your owne The consideration whereof hath made me out of that infinite loue and duty which I owe to his Grace being dead and your Honour yet aliue to dedicate these labours to you both in the defence of that Church which truth experience her aduersaries haue proued for gouernment the most absolute since the Apostles time That it is vndertaken by me is the greatest disaduantage to this cause that it is continued and daily receiueth strength from authority is amongst infinite blessings the greatest and most vnspeakable of this Church I haue dealt as your Honour well knoweth in this cause with a threefolde disaduantage one that it hath so fully beene handled by so many of great learning heretofore so that at this time a defence was rather requisite to tell those that hope for alteration that our Church is still of the same iudgement and spake not heretofore onely to please that State a second is that the things disliked are not differences of any great learning seeing wee deale with aduersaries whose chiefest hope dependeth vpon the allowance of vnlearned followers so that Demonstrations of reason are more requisite than proofes from authoritie Last of all they are a generation apt and skilfull to speake euill I haue carefully and according to my naturall disposition auoided all occasion that might prouoke them to it yet I looke for no other neither by the grace of God so that this paines may benefit the Church do I much care the strongest tyrant of things and men is fancy the truest gouernour Religion hallowed follies when they are vnmasked are but at the best the weake opinions of simple men of whom notwithstanding if they had learned humilitie and obedience this Church might haue much vse your Lordship is besides that particular duty and thankefulnesse which I owe vnto you executor of his Testament and Inheritour of his vertues that was the true owner and possessor of these labours which if it please your Honour to accept with their vnworthie Author into your more priuate and inward affection It shall bee my happinesse to be your seruant and their credit by your Lordships meanes to doe seruice to this Church Thus in the assurance of this hope crauing pardon for my boldnesse I humbly take my leaue desiring God to blesse you with all Graces fit for so high a place and with contentment and long life to my singular comfort and the especiall benefit of this Church May 27. 1604. Your Lordships in all dutie WILLIAM COVELL To the Christian Reader IF the immoderate desire of reformation in some men had not extended it selfe further than eyther Religion or reason would wel permit and especially at that time when thankfulnesse exacted from vs all something like a Sabbath for that blessed Rest continued to this Church by the meanes of our dread Souereigne this cause and some others not yet published had with their vnworthy authors slept in a long and a charitable silence and whereas the miraculous blessings bestowed and continued vpon this land could no otherwise rightly be vnderstood than the true effectes of that Church which was planted in it seeing as S. Ambrose saith That is Charitie to be expected that is Charitie greater than the Empire if that faith bee inuiolate which preserueth the Empire I thought it vnfit to let these men vnderstand that
meanes against the heresie of Priscilian the hatred of which one euill was all the vertue he had became so wise in the end that euery man carefull of vertuous conuersation studious of Scripture and giuen vnto any abstinence in dyet was set downe in his Kalender of suspected Priscillianistes For whom it should bee expedient to approue their soundnes of faith by a more licentious and loose behauiour neither do I thinke vnto a great number that desired this name could any thing more fitly be applied than that vnto the Cathari a sect of Heretikes not cleane but worldlings or as Epifaâ—iâ—s calleth them pure impure ones But surely if eyther the Cathari the Nouatians the Pelagians the Donatists or any sect of the papists at this day worthily deserue to be termed by the name of Puritan theÌ„ surely it is no great error to apply that name to a number amongst vs who are euer readie to boast of their innocencie and in respect of themselues to account all of a contrary faction vnholy and prophane Others this Author accounteth old barrels And yet if he had well remeÌ„bred what he saith in any other place That who so feareth an oath or is an ordinarie resorter to Sermons earnest against excesse ryot Popery or any disorder they are called in the Vniuersity Prescisians and in other places Puritans Surely if this description of a Puritan were true neither were there much reproach in the name nor would a great number be left out of that sect who in all humility religion and conscience haue learned to submit themselues to the present States and I doubt not but verie truly a great nuÌ„ber of the Reuerend Fathers of the Church might more fitly be called prescise than those that for the earnest affectatioÌ„ of a new discipline desire by their followers to bee called pure For surely in all those things meÌ„tioned as notes to discerne a Puritan many that are very far from that peeuish singularity of some amongst vs haue done the Church more seuice in one yeare and liued with greater sinceritie their whole life than the principall of those who are distinguisht by that name Is it not a straunge presumption to Impropriat Conscience Holines Innocency and Integrity onely to some few as if all the rest who haue seuered themselues from the Church of Rome were no better than Athiests time-seruers prophane and irreligious only in this respect because by their authoritie and learning they haue resisted this vnreasonable desire of a new disciplne So hardly doo 〈◊〉 temper our selues when wee are strongly perswaded of our owne fancies but that all that are contrarie or repugnant to vs wee traduce theÌ„ to the world as men without conscience only for this that they are apposite A practise which alone is able to discouer to the world our exceeding pride and intollerable selfe-loue for no man can doubt but the aduersaries to this cause haue exceeded the other in all 〈◊〉 wherein they are or would seeme to bee most excellent onely they haue learned to obey which is much better than all the sacrifice of fooles But seeing words haue so many Artificers by whom they are made and the things whereunto wee apply them are fraught with so many varieties it is not alwaies apparant what the first inuentours respected much lesse what euerie mans inward conceit is which vseth their words doubtlesse to distinguish things that are of a different condition is the most ordinarie and the safest vse of names seeing necessarily to collect what things are from names by which they are called can haue small warrant these being but effectes oftentimes of malice sometimes of ignorance mistaking sometimes of some particular accident all which serue but in the construction of wisemen to make their estimation by a better rule and where things are not in nature such not to condemne them though they called by euill names The name of Puritan or Prescisian no man hath reason to vse it as a disgrace seeing with vs it serueth but to signifie such as being more strict for obseruation of Ceremonies than others both parties being opposite in that they both notwithstanding may bee equally distant from the Church of Rome and therefore as I cannot excuse such as prophanely make it any imputation to bee prescise a duetie which surely ought to bee performed by vs all in a stricter maner so neyther doo I thinke the proceeding of those to bee altogether lawfull who vnder this name hauing shrowded themselues account all men besides to bee prophane Atheistes and the resistance which they finde in their violent course to bee a cruell persecutor of innocent men in a good cause They that teach the world to thinke and to speake thus must needes bee iudged both to slaunder the profession of the Gospell amongest vs and to make themselues the best part of that Church which is seuered from the customes of the Church of Rome But lest peraduenture none of them eyther mislike the name or make the original of their sufferings to bee their innocency let vs heare one of them plead for the rest Men which made consceince of many things which the Reuereud Fathers and many learned men affirmed to bee lawfull and for this they were called Puritans There is no man can think but in matters of this nature the iudgement of the Reuerend Fathers and many other learned men that were not Bishops might haue ouerswayed the stifnesse of some few for so they were at the first without inforcing any faction or breach of the Churches vnion this phrase is vsuall in that Booke the goodnes of our cause and the innocency of our persons God deliuered his innocent seruants and being reproued for their proceeding their aunswere is the innocency of our cause doth constrayne vs and that the world may knowe the reason of their sufferings they say the chiefest cause of their trouble and reproach is their carefull and zealous following of Gods holy Word and their tender conscience in offending God Would not a man thinke that the Church of England which hath seuered it selfe not without many Daungers from the Church of Rome had looked backe and become a Harlot and a bloody Kingdome surely there cannot be a greater blemish laid vpon this Church which both is and is desirous to be thought reformed than that it hath persecuted for their conscience men holy religious Innocent and it a good cause The whole tenor of that plea of the Innocent runneth on in this course as if it were the sighes and mournings of a Church vpright and pure labouring vnder the burthen of persecution because they cannot in conscience yeelde vnto Superstition as others doo from hence are these speeches They seeing our Innocencie that of mere conscience our vprightnesse makes vs poore innocent men And in an other place to the same purpose We can boldely and in the sight of God protest our Innocency wee and our honest and iust cause
discipline that they might showe that they were readie and willing to be subiect to it Nay D. Cox a man at that time farre better I thinke then any that refuse subscription and his companie were not admitted to haue voices in the Church of Frankeford vntill they had subscribed to the discipline as others had done before them These holy conscionable refusers to assent to the ordinations that others make are violent exactors of subscription and obedience in a strange countrie at their betters hands to those pettie orders which are of their owne making When Maister Horne was made pastor of the Church at Frankeford he receiued all such persons as members of that Church which were contented to subscribe and to submit themselues to the orders of it A wise course not vnfit for a greater gouernment wherein all men ought to binde themselues some way or other vnto the obedience of those vnder whom they liue Nay if any minister appeale to the magistrate and be found to doe it without iust cause a fault surely lesse then their refusing to subscribe yet then he shall be directly deposed from his ministerie by them Neither was this the practise of those times and in that place but euen at home those men who had neither authoritie to make lawes nor to exact of others allowance of them haue required and had a generall subscription to that discipline which neither scripture wisedome law or themselues could approue vnto vs. So that all those inconsiderate and vnreuerend termes which most of them haue intemperately vttered against subscription are but the violent courses of men that desire to punish and not the charitie of such as should if they had authoritie correct Let them show their affection that they loue our Church and then we will allow them to vtter and aduise what they thinke good In the meane time those false coniecturall effects for which subscription was required as they thinke are but vncharitable deuises of their owne onely to make those in authoritie to be more odious that contempt of their persons breeding disobedience to their gouernment either a generall dissolution may bring a palsey into the Church or else we must onely be ruled by orders of their making Which because neither reason nor experience hath taught vs to be so safe we hold the exacting of subscription to be lawfull and necessarie in those that doe it and the refusall to be daungerous vnholy and vnwarranted in those that are disobedient They which haue labored in their zealous defences to make the world for to thinke otherwise they haue taken vpon them to iustifie themselues with to much loue and to censure our Church with to much rigor But it is like a better consideration will possesse them now when they shall haue small reason to feare either partiallitie or want of vnderstanding to make the chiefe in authoritie either not willing or not able to perceiue their weightie reasons alleaged against those things which they doe mislike But wise men surely haue cause to feare that nothing wil either much or long please them which is not some transformed monster of their owne making So that if any defect be in that statute as they vrge made by our late soueraigne of blessed memorie whereby the refusers may pretend a warrantable excuse for not yeelding by subscription an absolute obedience both to the doctrine gouernment and ceremonies of the Church we hope that now hauing tasted of the sower frutes of their disobedience and seeing without preuention that more daungerous inconueniences are like to follow it will not be thought vnfit either in his maiesties singular wisedome and great iudgement or in the honorable consideration of the whole Parliament is stricter lawes be now made to take securitie by subscribing of the tongues and the hands of these men which so often with so much libertie and boldnes they haue wilfully imployed to the hinderance of the Churches peace we demaund but in this what they thinke reasonable in their owne discipline not onely for men but for women to the auoyding of heresies and sects in the Church And if he that hath most learning and hath been most earnest for the alteration of our Church gouernment be able to make demonstration that their hands are required to giue consent to any one syllable either in our ceremonies our liturgy or our discipline which truth will not warrant and obedient humilitie exact from them I doubt not but the Bishops of our land are and will be readie either to giue them satisfaction why they ought to doe it or yeelde vnto their earnest demaunds that it may not be done But if any man thinke that the vrging of this wherein doubtlesse a remisnes in some hath done more hurt then rigor is either to confirme those things which without the allowance of these great refusers to subscribe might peraduenture be thought to want authoritie or that it is meerely a politike inuention besides law whereby the practises of the Bishops and others may be free from reproofe he doth vncharitably misconster a religious ordination for great vse and to the wrong of himselfe sinisterly suspect in both So that we thinke we may notwithstanding their great complaints of cruelâ—ie persecution and tyranny wherewith diuers of their books haue slaundered the most pure peaceable and reformed gouernment that euer this nation had since it was christian giuing occasion to the common aduersarie to write as they haue done of the English iustice safelie conclude that the exacting of subscription vsed by the Bishops in the Church of England is lawfull and neâ—essarie and the refusers are immodest disturbers of the vnitie and peace both of the Church and the Common-Wealth CHAP. VIII Of Discipline SEeing that no societie vpon earth can long without authoritie to correct retaine all her parts in due obedience and that the disorders of none are of more daunger then of that societie which we cal the Church it is of all ciuill considerations the greatest to thinke of that discipline which is best warranted most agreeable to the state of that kingdome where the Church is and in all reason likelyest to obtaine that end for which discipline is allowed vnto Gods house So that herein if either their skill had been so great or their moderation in that busines so much as peraduenture their desire was to doe good doubtles the Church ought in all reason to haue giuen great attention to these careful aduisers and to haue showed her selfe readie with thankfulnes to make vse of those vertuous indeuours religiously imployed for her good But now that they haue obtruded a discipline with that violence and such a one as must quiet ouerthrow both the practise of other Churches and of this in al other ages that haue been before vs nor this as the inuention of wise men not against the word but the expresse commaundemeÌ„t in euery particular of God himself accounting those to
the Church of England I would take it vpon my soule so farre as my iudgement serueth that it is much more Apostolicall then the gouernment of any Church that I reade of and if it were not for Prohibitions such peraduenture as good intentions found out and some few hinderances of the Common-law a gouernment without exception more holy and of greater peace For whilst euery man will aduenture to offer vnto the Church fancies of his owne making as H.N. and many others saying loe here is Christ and loe there is Christ we shall stand neede to be put in minde of that caueat goe not after them And whereas the two forciblest reasons to giue any thing allowance in the opinion of men is that it is warranted for the institution and profitable for the vse these politike maisters of the new discipline hauing proued neither yet doe offer both To thinke that if we had this gouernment which doubtles God in his mercie hath thus long kept from vs that then God would blesse our victuals and satisfie our poore with bread that he would cloth our priests with health and his Saints should shout for ioy that it is best and surest for our stare that it would cut of contentions and sutes of law that it would nourish learning that then there would be vnitie in the Church that it would bring strength and victorie and many other benefits like these which is experience of these that haue tried them could as well assure as these mens words doubtles the Church had great reason to thinke of it and yet these are benefits no greater then alreadie by Gods mercie our Church hath inioyed without this But they imitate â—aith a learned and graue man of their countrie those seditious Tribunes of Rome who by vertue of the Agrarian law bestowed the publike goods only to this end to enrich themselues that the Bishops being ouerthrowne they might succeede into their places And a little after it ought especially to be prouided that there be not any high authoritie giuen vnto this presbyterie whereof many things might be said but time will reueale what yet doth lie hid Wherefore saith Gualter writing to the Bishop of London at that time and touching some abuses as they are infinit of this new discipline we are carefully to be vigilant least new heads doe bud out of the wounds of the romish Hydra scarce yet subdued The same author in a letter to Bishop Sands after many troubles procured by this new discipline I hope saith he the frame of it will in short time fall of it selfe considering that many who before had it in admiration are now of themselues become wearie of it Another saith that by the meanes of this discipline the magistrates haue inuaded the Church goods the ministers haue little alowance there is no respect of the studie of diuinitie And another complaining of the disorderly frutes of this discipline saith If you did see the confused state of the Churches of these countries you would say that England and marke it for it is true how bad soeuer were a paradise in comparison to be thought but if these men could haue bin content only to haue praysed their owne without opposition defacing and slaundering the gouernment of our Church we would haue been willing to haue furthered their inioying of so much happines in their owne relmes if the peace and prosperitie of our owne had not been enuied by them whereas now we must tell them and when we haue done the Church shall haue some to performe this dutie to the worlds end that a discipline erected by fancie pollicie consisting vpon parts vnsound disagreeing daungerous in themselues chargeable to parishes without profit derogatorie to Princes banishing Apostolicall Bishops appointed by Christ in one word a discipline new full of crueltie ambition and pride cannot be safely admitted into that Church which is seated in a kingdome where a Prince hath authoritie both ouer the Church and the common-wealth There is no part of it vnanswered that I know our purpose in this is but only to let them see that a church being happely planted and gouerned as ours is they that are strangers are charitably to thinke of vs those amongst our selues ought all to be furtherances of our common peace That sinne out of our dissentions may not grow strong and whilest vnthankfully with Israel we reiect Samuel we haue not either a gouernment that is tyrannous or no Church at all For that prouidence which powreth downe mercies whilest meÌ„ are thankefull raineth downe iudgements for the peoples sinnes Let vs theÌ„ hereafter in sted of filling the world with our clamorous outcries for a new Church gouernment approach the throne of his mercie with praiers for our sinnes that they may be pardoned CHAP. IX Of Archbishops and Bishops IF in the generall dislike which diuers not well aduised haue had toward the ecclesiasticall state in this kingdome things of principall and chiefe vse might haue escaped the vnreasonable and intemperate reprehension of some mouthes neither should a thing of so great necessitie nor a condition and estate both by example and reason so much warranted stand in neede of any defence at this time But seeing amongst those ambitious humors which vnder pretence of an equalitie more then is fit aspire vnto a tyrannous authoritie more then is safe there is nothing lesse willingly indured then the title and authoritie of Bishops which by establishing an order doth frame all parts of the Church to a due obedience and by making seuerall dignities which for order are different do impose a vertuous and humble obedience euen amongst them whose ministerie and ordination is all one we cannot but thinke it a thing vnreasonable in those which demaund it at our hands and great folly in vs if we yeeld vnto it that an office of that vse of that lawfulnes and continuance should be remoued as tyrannous and antichristian in Gods Church onely because it pleaseth the wisedome and violence of some men so to haue it Now as to thinke that the state of the Church might either continew better or continew at all without these is but the strong fancies of some which ouerloue themselues so to maintaine after so long practise of the most auncient Churches that Archbishops and Bishops both for name title and authoritie are lawfull and to the well gouerning of the Church necessarie is but to confesse that order must as wel be a safegard to the church as the common-wealth and that subordination of men in authoritie can be well wanting in neither but if in either surely in that societie farre lesse where disorders in manners are not much fewer considering the number of persons and the errors in opinion are more vsuall and more daungerous and none of these possible with any conuenience to bee remedied but by this meanes In regard whereof being neither safe to trust all without
thing iustlie to bee feared whilst men haue no better direction but the sodaine motion as they call it of the spirit and lastlie because vniformitie in this worship is best befitting them whose doctrine and religion is all one wee cannot but both meruaile at them who deuise continuallie new formes of praier in their publike seruice iniuriouslie depraue in sundry points that Liturgie which in the iudgements of moderate and wise men is both least different from antiquitie and withall most absolute for perfection of any that is vsed in the Churches reformed at this day and how soeuer it lieth not in the power of any one Prince to prescribe an Vniformitie of worship ouer all Christendome a thing happie to be praied for that the whole Visible Church in doctrine and Cerimonies as it hath but one faith one Lord so it had but one hart and one mouth yet doubtlesse in the limits of the same kingdome it is possible easie and verie necessarie that the manner of diuine Seruice bee preciselie one For seeing wise men before vs feeling those harmes which wee feare haue euer accounted which the common people doe now a new Liturgie to bee a new religion the forme of worship beeing diuers though the doctrine bee the same and therefore euer prohibited all new manner of assemblies it ought not to seeme strange if our maiestrates heeretofore haue forbidden all Conuenticles and such are all those who assemble to worship God after a manner not allowed by the lawe of the land or that in this they haue dealt either rigorously or against law for as one saieth to the furtherance of religion men may and ought to assemble together so long as it is not against that Law whereby vnlawfull societies are forbidden but when danger may arise from the hazard of a new worship by the example of him that forbad all priuate Sacrifices in priuate places wise men haue thought it not safe for euerie man to take libertie to haue priuate Chappell 's The counsell before this hauing made this Canon that all Clarkes which minister or baptise in priuate Chappels without the allowance of the Bishop were to be depriued the equitie of this for preuention of all new Worship being from that law Take heed that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in euery place that thou seest a facilitie in permission of which abuse hath filled the Church of God with Contempt Prophanation and Confusion of all worship This being in Iustice the punishment of these men that because they wanted Modestie to bee Schollers of Truth they were filled with Pride to bee Maisters of Errour Antiquitie thought Alcibiades worthely condemned for this fault that hee tooke vpon him the vse of those sacred misteries in priuate which the Athenians thought vnlawfull thinking him by this meanes rather to vse coniuration then to exercise Deuotion the wisedome of all ayming at this that Innouation in Religion was no way safe and that libertie for priuate assemblies to the contempt of publike was in all likelihoode a meanes to inuent as manie sundry religions as men had fancies And howsoeuer the number is not manie which misliked all set formes of Praier and their reasons not much stronger that refuse ours and so consequently whether we take account of our aduersaries in this cause either by waight or number there can be no great danger yet for a further satisfaction to all such whom either ignorance or credulitie hath made our opposits wee are willing first to let them vnderstand what the Liturgie of the Church of England is and then that in our opinion there is nothing either superstitious or vnsound contained in it And howsoeuer sundrie times by men of great learning whom I presume not to mention without honor this Booke heretofore hath ben strongly defended against al her aduersaries yet it shall not I hope be offensiue to any to let the world vnderstand that the greatest most bitter reprehentions of this booke haue ben stirred vp through want of Charitie misaplying some places euen for matters of small waight at what time the vertuous King Edward had restored this Church from the burden of those Ceremonies wherewith shee lay grieuouslie opprest the care and consultation of the most learned and religious in that age framed by authoritie A publick order for prayer and the Sacraments to bee vsed in this Church This continued not long good things for the sins of the people being shewed vnto the world but they not suffred to enioy them beefore the most religious in this kingdome whom persecution pursued and opportunitie gaue meanes to escape beetooke themselues to the mercie of that Lord whose truth they desired might bee kept inuiolate and planted the Church in a strange land for that fauour which they found as a comfortable refreshing in so great a storme wee and our posteritie shall say for sauing the bodies of the liuing as Dauid to the men of Iabis Gilead for burying of the dead Blessed are ye of the Lord that ye haue shewed such kindnesse vnto your Lord Saul that yeâ— haue buried him therefore now the Lord shew mercie and truth vnto you and I will recompence you this benefit because yee haue done this thing The first place of their aboade where they found fauour to plant an English Church was at Francford where ioyned with the French and others they ouerhastely fell in loue with the orders and Liturgye of those Churches which beecause the English at Zurick and Strausburge did not but rather with wisdome and moderation as they were so desired to retaine the shape and the fashion of an English Church Bitter contentions arise amongst them onely for retaining or reiecting of the Communion booke Those who came from Geneua being desirous to rest vppon Caluins iudgement who was in a manner as the oracle of God to all Churches that were reformed translated into latin the Liturgie of the Church of England and sent it to him to haue his Censure of it Neither did their discription much differ from that which is vsed at this day wherevnto it pleased Maister Caluin to giue this answere In the Liturgie saith hee I see there were many tollerable foolish things by these words I meane a strange meaning that there was not that puritie which was to be desired these vices though they could not at the first day bee amended yet seeing there was no manifest Impietie mark it they were for a season to be tollerated Therefore it was lawfull to begin off such rudiments or Abcedaryes but so that it behoued the learned Graue and Godly Ministers of Christ to enterprise further and to set forth some thing more field from rust and purer If godly religion had florished till this day in England there ought to haue bene a thing better corrected and many things cleane taken away now when these principles be ouerthrowne and a Church must bee set vp in an other place where ye
may freely make an order againe which shal be apparent to bee most commodious to the vse edification of the Church c. We wil not take vpon vs to censure this letter onely we see not how the same things could be thought in his iudgemēt Foolish yet tearmed Tollerable in a Church Liturgie or how they are called vices which notwithstanding hee freeth from manifest Impietie or if that this libertie of reformation were to bee giuen where a Church was to bee new set vp how it could bee agreable to them who still I think desired to bee a part euen for outward cerimonies of that Visible Church which then suffered persecution in England But it sufficeth in these troubles all were not of one minde the most and the best were before their departure and in their banishment after their returne Zealous discreet and learned maintainers of the Communion Booke And most of them afterward became worthily worthy gouernors in this Church For God who sawe their Fidelitie constancie and truth rewarded them seauen fould into their bosome this booke then but somewhat purer and more reformed then at that time is that huge volume of Ceremonies for I vse their owne words which is in their opinion vnlawfull Idolatrous but in ours a most holie and chast forme of Church Seruice and least in this case our opinion and defence should be thought but the corrupt flatterie of those who are or hope to bee aduanced by the present time the wise and graue approbation of the holie Martire Doctor Tailour is fit by vs to bee alledged in this place There was saith hee set foorth by the most innocent King Edward for whom God bee praised euerlastinglie the whole Church seruice with great deliberation and the aduice of the best learned men of the Realme and authorised by the whole Parliament and receiued and published gladly by the whole Realme which Booke was neuer reformed but once and yet by that one reformation it was so fully perfected according to the rules of our Christian religion in euerie behalfe that no christian conscience can bee offended with any thing therein contained I meane of the Booke reformed Thus farre Doctor Tailour and shall wee now make light account of so honorable a Testimonie or alter these things onelie to satisfie the vnreasonable fancies of some men nay surelie in that most memorable Act of our gracious and dread Soueraīgne whose wisdome appeares in these Importunate sutes like the wisdome of Salomon there is no one thing which shal heape more honourable and euerlasting glorie vnto his name which is or can bee a greater blessing to this land a more religious dutie towards God a more thankfull requitall of all the fauours that Queene Elizabeth did performe vnto him then without any alteration or change in the strict commaundement of publishing this order of common praier in any matter of substance Let thy dew O Lord from aboue fall downe vpon his head to make him wise in the councells of thy law sanctifie his hart with the reuerend and holie estimation of thy truth make his wisdome powerfull against all Achitophells perfect O Lord and blesse these beginnings that wee and our posteritie without chaunge may worship thee in this land so long as the sonne is before thee that it may neuer sound in tents of our enemies that thy worship as erronious is now altered which in mercie thou hast protected fourtie and foure yeeres in the happie daies of Queene Elizabeth And surelie reason must needs tell vs that if wee should ouer easilie yeeld to alter what paraduenture they wish doubtlesse the same reproofe must iustlie fall vpon our own Liturgie of Varietie vncertaintie and Inconstancie which one laieth verie truelie vpon the Romane Missall Besides it were as they of Strausburge wrote of them of Francford to condemne the chiefest authors therof who most of them suffered as Martirs it would giue occasion to our aduersaries to accuse our doctrine of imperfection and vs of mutabilitie and the godlie to doubt in that truth wherein beefore they were perswaded and to hinder their comming hether which beefore they had purposed Thus far did they of Strausburg wiselie answere to them of Francford so that wee may safelie conclude and say of this Booke as S. Austin doth in another case if thou runnest through all the words of the holie Praiers I suppose thou shalt finde nothing which the Lords praier doth not containe and comprehend therefore we may in other words speake the same things in our praiers but wee may not speake contrarie things Yet because reason hath not beene sufficient to restraine the intemperate proceedings of some men they thinke this Church is little beholding vnto them vnlesse they traduce the gouernment and the Liturgie which she vseth for which notwithstanding others out of greater wisedome and conscience haue made against the common aduersarie this challenge Looke if any Line bee blameable in our Seruice and take hold of your aduantage I think M. Iewell will accept it for an Article our Seruice is good and Codly euery title grounded vpon holie Scriptures and with what face doe you call it darknesse Wee are content after the learned indeauours of other men to adde some thing to those principall points which in the Communion booke is and hath beene misliked by them that to whose hands the writings of other peraduenture come not this short answere to such may giue some satisfaction in the principall things which they doe mislike 1 The forme of the Liturgie of the Church of England is taken from Antichrist Wee are sorie that their weakenesse taketh offence at that which wee hold as an honour and a vertue in the Church of England namely that wee haue so sparingly and as it were vnwillingly disented from the Church of Rome for surely by Antichrist they meane her with whom if the corruptions of that Church would haue giuen vs leaue we would haue willingly consented in their whole seruice which being vnsafe and vnlawfull wee follow them notwithstanding in all wherin they follow those holie and auncient fathers which first planted the truth amongst them And as we acknowledge them our fathers in the Faith so wee are willing euen to borrow that from them which vertuouslie was vsed in that Church when it was worthie to bee called our mother◠and if now the holie Citie bee become an harlot yet we as most Churches haue receiued light from them for there was a time that their Faith was published ouer all the world and if now they bee at enmitie with God and vs yet wee had rather follow the perfections of whom wee like not then the defects and Imperfections of those wee loue nay the spoiles of the heathe◠taken from the Deuill are deuided to the furniture and ornament of the Church of God For doubtlesse as one saith all true Godlie men may vertuouslie vse those rites
of all that the Liturgie so vertuous so holy for which so many Martyrs of hers haue dyed restored in the dayes of King Edward continued in the gratious and happie dayes of Queene Elizabeth may by your Princely authoritie seeing all the learned of your kingdome are readie in the defence of it be strongly and vnresistably maintained against her enemies so shall we account it a second birth day to our countrie a day of grace and saluation wherein God hath sworne by his holinesse that hee will not faile you and therefore to this ende hath preuented you with the blessings of goodnesse and set a crowne of pure gold vpon your head a day wherein the Nations that are round about vs shall say as Hyram when hee heard the words of Salomon blessed be the Lord this day which hath giuen vnto Dauid a wise Sonne ouer this mightie people Vnto Queene Elizabeth an Heire of her owne house and linage full of Religion wisedome and vnderstanding so that we may truely say as they did doubtlesse we haue seene straung things this day straunge to our countrie to ourselues to our enemies to haue neighbours to our prosteritie for which our harts burne within vs and shall for euer with feruencie of deuotion for your highnesse safetie our mouthes are filled with laughter and our tongues with ioy and we must needes confesse with the Prophet Dauid The Lord hath done great things for vs alreadie whereof we reioyce for which we intreate the heauens to reioyce with vs the earth to be glad and the Sea to make a noyse and all that therein is the compasse of the round World and they that dwell therein for by this means innumerable benefits are common vnto them to the Heauen a multitude of Saints to the earth peace to the Sea Treasure to the fields plentie for God hath broken the rod of the wicked and the whole land is at rest and surely if euer NatioÌ„ of the world had cause either to hope for happines to this Church and Commonwealth or to giue thankes vnto the Lord and to that ende to fall low vpon our knees before his footestoole it is we to haue a King but which is greater happinesse of the same blood nay more than that of the same Religion but most of all without bloodshed and especially Then when all the politikes of the world had set our period rung our passing Bell euen theÌ„ by your Highnesse meanes the Lord himselfe for we must al acknowledge that it was his worke deliuered our soule from death our eyes from teares and our feet from falling our soule from bodily and spirituall death our eyes from teares arising from our daunger nay from our holy teares for our late Souereigne our feete from falling into troubles which then were present into sinne which then was likely into blindnesse which then we feared into shame which we all deserued into misery which many hoped but we say againe the Lord hath done great things for vs alreadie and greater and far greater shall doe if we be not vnthankefull and therefore howsoeuer thou art either Iesuite or Preest Anabaptist Protestant or Atheist which sayst in thy heart let vs make hauocke of them altogether thou shalt so dianly consume and perish and come to a fearefull ende and the Church shall continually intreate at the hands of the Lord of heauen and humbly before the Throne of your gratious Maiestie for protection against her and all your aduersaries saying O deliuer not the soule of the Turtle Doue vnto the multitude of the enemies and forget not the congregation of the poore for euer looke vpon the couenant for al the earth is full of darkenesse and cruell habitations O let not the simple goe away ashamed but let the poore and needy giue praise vnto thy name A rise O God maintaine thy own cause remeÌ„ber how the foolish man blasphemeth thee dayly forget not the voyce of thy enemie the presumption of them that hate thee increaseth euer more and more Amen FINIS This Epistle following is here annexed and thought fit to be Printed because the Dedication of this booke was first intended vnto the late right Honorable and right Reuerend Father the Lord Archbishop of Canterburie his Grace To the most Reuerend Father in God my very good Lord the Lord Archbishop of Canterburie his Grace Primate and Metropolitan of all England WHat benefit Right Reuerend this Church hath receiued by your Graces meanes God bessing your Counsell vnder the gouernment of two great Princes as this age present doth sensiblie perceiue so the memorie thereof shal be honorable in the time to come For when the vertuons Gouernment of our late Souereigne had banished from all parts of her Kingdome the Tyrannie and superstitioÌ„ of the Church of Rome some men fit instruments to disturbe the peacefull happinesse of this Land fearefull as it seemed of the dangers that might follow and impatient of that forme of gouernment which mercy and wisedome had planted for the Churches safetie laboured by meanes ouer violent and vnholy to bring in perhaps from the partiall loue to the orders of those Churches which comfortably refresht them in the time of banishment a presbiteriall Discipline both of them notwithstanding following a diuers shape of the Ecclesiasticall state in diuers times the one in peace the other in persecution neither of them both doubtlesse circumstances being weighed either warranted by truth or answerable to these times The one labouring to ouerload vs with an intollerable burden of humane traditions polliticke inuentions to make an outward greatnesse whilst inwardly Religion must needs â—aile the other to strippe her as naked as the day wherein shee was first borne discouraging her teachers by robbing them of honour and maintenaunce traducing that learning wherein many of our Reuerend Fathers were equall to any in any part of the world besides and in steade of these making the Church to doe Pennance for her wontonnesse in the dayes of superstition being left vnpitied desolate ignorant and without honour all their purposes tending to this end to make vs had in dirision of all those that were rounde about vs Thus these two enemies in our owne bosome looking both of them with enuie at your happinesse and with Ielosie at that fauour which we might be suspected to beare towards either of them their discentions were not so violent to each other as they both were cruell and daungerous to our peace as if Ephraim and Manasses had made a truce and both of them concluded to deuour Iuda At this time your Lordship for lawes and authoritie had restrayned the one vndertooke the defence of this Church Gouernment against the other wherein doubtlesse if your great wisedome and moderation had not like another Athanasius indured the furie and rage of this vnbridled multitude Wee might â—â—stly haue feared that disorder and barbarisme would haue tyrannously possest long since the worthiest and most beautifull