awhile here at Roüen I did presume to informe his Majestie by a Packet I sent into Ireland to my Lord Melford of my Arrivall in France the manner of my escape with an Assurance of my unalterable Loyalty and that I should espouse his service with the same zeale during his Exile adversity as when hee was on the Throne I did also according to the Duty of a Loyall subject pay to the Queen Prince all those respects which I could at a Distance informing her also by the assistance of my Lord Waldegrave of my Arrival with assurances that I should never faile to render her Majestie the Prince all the duties which were incumbent on a subject of the King of England And that since I had not the felicity which I came for of being neare his Majestie I was in the next place desirous to bee neare herâ— and accordingly would hasten to St. Germaines as soon as the indisposition of my Body would permit Taking a great Delight to bee nigh the Royall Famliy when I cannot Otherwise serve them never thinking my selfe any wayes absolved from the observance I owed my Soveraigne her Majestie all the bloud Royall by the difference of Religion HAving Sr thus given you the Trouble of so particular an account of my selfe deportment from the time that wee were first allarumm'd with the news of the wicked intentions of the Dutch to invade vs home to this present day I thinke my selfe no lesse obliged to give you some Information Concerning my present Temper of mind future Intentions And which I am the more willing to embrace this Opportunity of doing by Reason my infirmities of Body do in such sort increase that I have small reason to immagine that I shall bee a long lived man they administring to mee too many Grounds of Feare if I were to undergo no other hazard that I may scarce live to see my Freinds in England any more unlesse the air of France motion bee by Gods Blessing a meanes of my Recouery Cure of that disease which I have contracted by à sedentary life since my Installation into the Deanery of Durham And here I do in the first place declare with all sincerity that I am resolued by Gods Grace to live dye a true son of the Church of England Whereof King Charles was King Iames 2. not the Prince of Orange is under God supream Head Governour beleiving her to bee for the Purity of her Doctrine the decent Regularity of her worship the wholesomnesse of her Discipline well executed the best and most Approaching to the Primitive Times of any Church in Reformed Christiendome And I do openly affirme to all the World that however her children or rather those who have pretended to bee soe have behaved themselves Either heretofore or of late to the scandall of the world Reproach of her Constitution I am assured she will bee found upon thorough and serious Examination A Church which doth not Countenance Rebellion or indeed any sin or wickednesse whatsoever I have given no just reason I thanke God to any to thinke mee of another Opinion And if some men have been soe uncharitable as to Censure mee for ever deviating from her it hath been only for such Carriage of mine as may best demonstrate that I am A right Genuine thorough paced tho very feeble Member of Her I meane for my Exact Conformity to constant Observation of the Excellent Rules of her Incomparable Liturgy without any variation and my Constant zeale in asserting the Kings Prerogative and her Excellent Doctrine of non-Resistance Subjection to Authority in both which perohance I have been thought sometimes a litle singular But if I have been soe I am sorry for it I meane that I should want company in so laudable Christian a Cause Practice For I must still affirme that the first is the Indispensable Duty of Every Church man and best meanes to preserve her the last which way soever it fled at the Prince of Oranges Invading England the very Flour and Glory of our Ch which neither losse of Estate nor life shall by the assistance of the Almighty cause mee to Renounce I do therefore humbly intreat your selfe and all my Relations no wise to suspect mee as if Wavering from my Obedience to my Mother the Church for my immoveable Adherence to the cause interest of the Father of our Country and my innate Abhorrence of Disputing Contesting or rudely Capitulating with my Prince even-then when hee commanded things very contrary to my sentiments which I did Judge not only inexpedient but prejudiciall to the Flourishing condition of our Church Had I fail'd as too many did in that Iuncture or in paying the very same duties ef Allegiance Honour to my Present Soueraigne When hee came to the Crowne as I had performed to the late King his Royall Brother my Gratious Master of Blessed memory because his present Majestie declared himselfe of the R. Cath. Religion I might indeed have been lyable to Censure for that was a bad mark of a son of the Church of England But God having enabled mee to Resist this Temptation which hath so mightily prevailed in the Nation I would not have you Feare that I shall bee Ouerthrowne by any other I am I confesse fled out of the Nation to assert the Cause of a R. Cath. Prince I live at present in à R. Cath. Country But sure I am that the right-Church of England Religion doth not only injoyne mee to do the first but considering the circumstances of England the neighbouring Protestant Countries at present to do the later And why I other loyall subjects should choose France rather than any other Nation to Reside in may quickly bee put out of dispute if our Censurers would bee pleased to consider how kindly the most Christian King received his Majesty of England and doth still entertaine those who have Evidenced their Fidelity to him as also reflect on the innate Civilily Hospitality of the French Nation towards strangers never more Visible than in this time of Distress when all are Wellcome espetially English men unlesse they are conceived to bee Spyes or Creatures of the Prince of Orange or other their Enimies As for my own particular Common Justice doth Oblige mee to acknowledge that I meet whith as much Curtisy now in France among the R. Catholicks as I have done heretofore among the Protestants And am permitted to live as quietly and securely tho I do no wayes diâ—oâ—ne my Religion as any of their own Nation THis breif declaration I have made will suffice I hope to assure all my Freinds in England of my stedfastnesse in the Excellent Religion of my Fore-Fathers The next duty incumbent on mee will be to give my Family you our Cheif some fresh assurance that I am by the Grace of God Resolued to endeavour for the future as I have begun
vvretched requitalls that vvee have made for the Mercy Bounty of our Father in Heaven his Deputy on Earth I shall not omitt the repetition there of tho late carriages transactions persuade mee it vvill be unpleasant to some of your ears since out of Gods Rods vvee may at this very instant pluck a fescue to teach us our lesson Wee have impudently defied HEAVEN by all imaginable Provocations but by nothing more I am not afraid nor ashamed yet to harp upon my old string than by our contempt of it in making bold vvith it's VICE-GERENT Tho God hath bless'd us English vvith a more happy Race of Kings than any Nation in the World can boast of yet it is notorious that no people under the sun have transgress'd more egregiously by murmuring Complaints or that hath Copied out vvith more exactness the unthankfullnesse Infidelity Distrust of the Impenitent hard-hearted Ievves Both in reference to God himselfe in Heaven and their Conductors MOSES AARON here on Earth If God in his vvrath had sent us a vvicked Heathnish Persecutour a Nero a Caligula or Dioclesian to Reigne over us vvee must vvith Confusion have confess'd that it had been much lesse than vvee deserv'd And yet vvee the most incorrigible people I thinke under Heaven are so squeamish that vvee cannot digest a Christian Monarch Gratious mercifull even to Wonder A Prince vvho hath demonstrated himselfe beyond all gainsaying to be a true son of K. Charles the Martyr vvho vvas A King I am persvvaded of the greatest clemency that ever vvas upon the face of the Earth cannot digest I say a Soveraign endovved vvith all these Graces and a multitude of other Kingly Qualyties relating to War Government merely because hee is not of our opinion in point of Religion tho hee gives us no other disturbance in the exercise of ours than to desire liberty for himselfe party to enjoy their ovvn Since vvee have thus Ungodlily Brovv-beaten Strugled vvith and in a manner Disclaimed if not rejected such a Christian Prince God in his Justice threatens to give us up a Prey to our Enimies the vvorst Masters upon the face of the Earth Our abhorr'd Ingratitude to his Royall Brother selfe vvithout putting in to the scales our other innumerable sins impieties may give us just ground to feare that our incens'd God may designe to teach us submission and subjection by so severe a Method as to make us vvho have been yet one of the freest and most happy Nations of Europe TRUCKLE to an Upstart-Commonvvealth to an Antimonarchicall Generation vho by their continuall shelt'ring encouraging and assisting of Traytors proclame their Emnity to the very name of King and that they vvould not leave if they could have their vvill one Crovvn'd Head in Christendom But let us not be discouraged or despond over much Our condition Blessed be God is far from desperate England cannot be destroyed unlesse it destroy it selfe If vvee vvill in this our day but forsake our sins and stoop first to the God of Heaven and aftervvards to his Anointed servant our Indulgent Soveraign as far as hee hath for this last month past condescended to the requests of his People flinging the vvorst of Traytours our sins out of our Bosomes and I do not doubt but that vvee shall soon drive the Dutch victoriously out of the Land. TO CONCLUDE IT May perchance Brethren seem a little out of the road to employ in this my sole Charge to the Cergy as I have done the whole time alloted both for Sermon the other ordinary Application But I pray consider that I speake to you in avery extraordinary Time vvhich requires every one of us Publick Persons to do if hee can something extraordinary in the discharge of his Duty And besides t is a time of danger and vvar vvhich may be attended on if God in his mercy doth not prevent vvith Blood Confusion So that I cannot assure my selfe t'vvould be a sin not to feare vvhen God threatens that I may live to speak to you in this Place any more Anceps fortuna belli tho I declare I have not such dreadfull Apprehensions as some may have of this unnaturall War but support my selfe vvith a good measure of Confidence that God vvill give the King speedily the necks of his Enimies since hee hath by his late Gratious Condescensions and assurances regained I am vvilling to hope the Hearts of his Freinds Which desireable issue nothing can vvithold Heaven from bestovving upon us but Impenitency more particularly the vvant of Humility to Confesse the Errours vvhich vvee the Leaders of our flocks have been guilty of to ovvne the false steps vvee have made to the Misguiding of our People I do as vvell as the King next under God rely on the brave antient valour of the English Nation English men fighting vvith svvords vvhile their Enimies put their Trust cheifly in Lyes Libells When our Royall Puissant Soveraign appears in the head of his Troops His Example sure must needs animate and create Valour in the most dispirited Covvard And had I not indispensably devoted my selfe to serve my King by serving our Church and obliged my selfe to pray rather than fight for his Grovvn I vvould be the first man that should run to the Royal Standard and please my self to thinke that in defence of my King Country I should have the Honour of some of my Ancestors to fall in the Feild or be buried in thé Deep Let not my Earnestnesse Brethren make you Conceit that I suspect your Loyalty Allegiance vvhich I hope desire you vvill all speedily manifest by a loyall Addresse to his Majesty to shevv your Abhorrence of the Injustice and Unnaturallness of the Invasion and that you vvill ever in remembrance of your Oathes stand by him serve himto the Uttermost vvith your Lives Fortunes It is the indispensable Duty of a faithfull Visitor to quicken his Clergy in such an Exigent And vvith Integrity of Heart I novv do it that I may give you true Measures vvhereby you may set right your People I do acknovvledge my selfe a very feeble tho I hope honest supporter of the Church Crovvn of England But hovvever I have not so bad an Opinion of my selfe God be praised as to be ashamed here among you either of my Life or Doctrine And to evince that I am not I have this day repeated the substance or Cheif Heads of vvhat I have l'ayd before you during the last foure yeares of my Office vvhich none can deny hath been a time of great temptation triall I COMMEND YOV TO GODS BLESSING and Direction I 'LE say but one vvord more and God knovves vvhether it may not be the last I may ever say in this place and it shall be this CONTEND AND FIGHT AS WELL AS PRAY AS HEARTILY AS YOU PLEASE AGAINST OUR INSOLENT NEIGHBOURS THE DUTCH BUT CEASE TO DISPUTE WITH YOUR
their Function having allvvayes made it mine That the Curate shall consider frequently at least once a quarter vvhat Rubricks or Canons be most neglected contemn'd by the parishoners and that he doth besides the ordinary explanation of the service once a year in obedience to his Majestie 's Directions to Prearchers read at convenient times the said Rubricks to the people that is to say betvveen the frist service Litany or betvven Litany second Service or before or after sermon omitting if occasion require the psalm then usually sung that he shall Zealously but mildly stirr up the people to the better observation of the same that vvhen he discovers these publick admonitions ineffectuall that he make it part of his labour in private vvith personnall applications to reforme such irregularitys And that he shall as frequently as he can vvhen presentments are to be made make such applications publick private as shall appear most convenient to the offenders in order to the prevention of their shame expence vvhich I desire alvvayes may be done vvithout further prosecution unless the thing cannot othervvise be reform'd That such discourses as he makes about the Rubricks Constitutions may be usually out of the Desk or if occasion require in the pulpit after the sermon vvhich I vvould not have burthen'd often vvith these smaller matters relating only to good order but reserv'd for more substantial essential truths as the Doctrins of Faith Repentance Love Obedience Temperance c. That he doth not take notice of the People's breach of Rubricks or such disorders in publick vvhen he can reforme the same easily in private unless they are notorious scandalous in vvhich case he is sometimes to give particular persons even publick reproofs in the very Congregation That vvhen there is ground of suspition that the Church-VVardens vvill not faithfully do their dutys in searching the Alehouses c that he go out of the Church sometimes vvith them for the more effectual prevention of disorder That hee cause the Clarck to inquire vvhen notice is given of Baptisme vvhether the vvitnesses have all receiv'd the Sacrament also to informe the Parson if the Church-vvardens do not vvhen any excommunicat'd persons enter the Church or Church-yard to vvhich end purpose there shall be a list kept in the Vestry of all persons excommunicated DENIS GRANVILLE IN REFERENCE TO THE FORE-GOING DIRECTIONS Letters Discourses the Reader is desired to note those matters follovving FIRST that here were intermingled with the abovesaid Directions for the Curates sundry advices for the Church-wardens Parish-Clarks not judged so necessary to be printed These being sufficient to accomplish the fore-mentioned end of their printing p. 39. and convince those Clergy and others who would not allow the authour to bee worthy of his station when he was admitted into his Deanery that he did notwithsstanding the great power of their evill example whose semiconformity first poison'd the nation at least endeavour to be what hee all along cheifly aimed at that is to say a Diligent COUNTRY-PARSON if not good Archdeacon He taking effectuall Care and with no ill success that these his Rules should be as they were better obser'd by his Curates then the Church-Cannons or Rubricks were by them the generality of the Clergy of the nation and consequently in due time might have become a tollerable Deane by Gods blessing if the CITTY-REBELS Joyning with the Invaders had not driven him with his master out of England SECONDLY the Reader is desird to take further notice that this last â—etter to wit to his Curates was not printed when the others were as first intended and mentioned in the Title-Page in the yeare 1689 but was for certain reasons underwritten deferr'd to be put into the Press till the month yeare mark'd in the conclusion of the said letter to wit Oct 1691 some months after the Dean's Deprivation Which delay among other things hinder'd the more speedy Publication of all the other papers and was occasiond upon the three ensuing accounts 〈…〉 First the Deane imagined on second thoughts 〈…〉 that so plaine a Rebuke as the faithfull discharge of his 〈…〉 Conscience in the delivery of the Discourses hee hath printed the penning of the fore-going letters hee hath publish'd in his own name did by reflection cast on many considerable Spirituall Temporall Supporters of the Usurped Authority in Churcâ— State was an Underaking too mighty for him who never delighted to expose or reproach his Superiours in any manner nor should have dared thus to have done it at this time had not too many of them manefestly departed from and contradicted the very Doctrine of the Church of England which they as well as hee had sworne to maintaine Secondly He long expected that some eminent person in England better qualified would have saved him the labour of such an application as he hath here in print made to the people under his authority by publishing ere this some substantiall work that should have strenuously asserted the Cause of King James the 2 that Church of England whereof he is supreme Governour by unmasking the wickedness injustice and ingratitude nay unnaturallness of Dethroning their lawfull Soveraign and under a religious pretence usurp his Crowne The afore-said Person not sticking to set his name thereto tho it might have cost him his life to proclaime undeniably to the World that what hee writ hee beleived to be such truth of God as hee did dare seale with his Bloud Which desireable peice of Charity to the soules of the poor people who were unhappily drawn into Perjury by the powerfull Example of their leaders the authour hath not yet discover'd to be done by any tho he thinks ought to have been performed long ago what ever had been the issue to have given right measures to the People of the Land while they were staggerring not quite fallen into the abominable sins of Perjury and Renouncing their Allegiance Which Christian work if it had been acted in due season would among other good effects have edified also the Dean's Flocks and render'd unnecessary what hee hath said to keep those steddy who stand to restore those who are fallen for want of timely under-propping The authour's earnest longing and waiting with great impaâ—ience to have seen such desireable fruit of Primitive zeale did detaine him a while from plunging himselfe over head ears tho hee made many offers so to do into that Deluge which did over-spred the land thinking himselfe a bad swinmer in such Troubled waters moreover like Elihu Job 32. 4. being very unwilling to speake out thus boldly shame the silence of his Elders till hee had given them all sufficient opportunity to speak and write Tho his boldness zeale as may be observ'd by the way is before noted was not levell'd directly to any but those under his own Charge Care or nearly related to him to whom
in their Misfortunes and thereby to demonstrate that my poor distressed Mother in the greatest and most generall defection as this seemes to be that ever vvas among any King of Englands subjects vvill never vvant some to bear testimony to the truth of her Doctrine vvho according to the Exemple of Christ and his Apostles doth maintaine the practice of Allegiance and intire submission and subjection to all Lavvfull supreme povvers deputed by God as his Vice-Gerents to Governe the vvorld Hovv great a contradiction hereof soever the last years transactions in England have proved vvhich hath given the greatest vvound that vvas ever yet given to our Church the Doctrine of Non-resistance Remaines on such authentick Record in the Church of Englands Printed Homilies against Rebellion vvhich I have in some sort Epitomised in the conclusion of my discourse that your Majesty as vvell as the King vvil I hope bee pleased to continue your Charitie to our Ecclesiastick Constitution vvith liberty to its members to Exercise their Religion and thinke no vvorse of the Parent for the disobedience of the Children but render that Iustice to the Church of England vvhich is due to all Churches to vvit to bee Iudged by her Doctrine Discipline and Order vvhich I am sure never did carry a long vvith them any Rebellion and not by the practice or Conversation of its Members VVhereby if the vvhole Christian Church vvas to bee Iudged it vvould in many things appeare more vile then some parts of the vvorld overrun vvith Turcisme and Paganisme Offerring to God my most fervent devotions for the preservation and Restoration of the King the Life and Happinesse of the Prince and out of Gratitude to Heaven in a most particular manner for your Majesty vvho have been Instrumentall to the Greatest blessing vvhich hath been these many yeares conferred on the Kingdom in bearing and bringing forth an Heir male for the support of the Monarchy I do vvith all humility implore yours together vvith his Majesties Patronage as vvell as beg Pardon for this Presumption and vvith the most profound respect imaginable subscribe my selfe YOUR MAJESTIES MOST DUTIFULL EVER FAITHFUL SERVANT SUBIECT DENIS GRANVILLE A DISCOURSE CONCERNINC CHRISTIAN RESIGNATION AND RESOLUTION WITH SOME LOYALL REFLECTIONS ON THE DUTCH INVASION Preached in the Cathedrall Church of Durham on the 1. Wensday in Advent the sunday follovving being the 5. 9. of December 1688. By DENIS GRANVILLE D. D. Deane Archdeacon of Durham novv in Exile Chaplaine in Ordinary to his Majestie TWO SERMONS CONCERNING CHRISTIAN RESOLUTION And Humble Submission to the VVill of God in Tymes of Distresse on the Holy Patriarch Iacobs Farevvell VVords to his sons at Parting IF I BE BEREAVED OF MY CHILDREN I AM BEREAVED Gen. ch 43. v. 14. FOR the better Understanding of the Story it Will be requisire to reade the precedent Words from the 11. verse to the text v. 11. If it must be so novv do this take of the best fruites of the Land in your Vessels and carry dovvn the man a Present a little balme a little honey spices mirrhe nuts almonds v. 12. And take double money in your hands and the money vvhich vvas brought againe in the mouth of your sacks carry it againe in your hand peradventure it vvas an Oversight v. 13. Take also your Brother and arise go againe unto the man. v. 14. And God Almicghty give you Mercy before the Man that hee may send avvay your other Brother Benjamin IF I BE BEREAVED OF MY CHILDREN I AM BEREAVED THe Approaching Holy Feast of CHRISTS NATIVITY or Coming in the Flesh doth Every yeare require a Solemne preparatory time of Devotion And that it may not want such due respect the Church takes care in its preceding Exercises Every Sunday service during ADVENT hath an Eye to that pious End purpose In pursuance whereof wee have in this Cathedrall revived an Antient Religious Custome Two dayes of every week throughout this season to wit wednesdays fridays are Sermon Dayes dedicated to Prayer Fasting to accompany those Exercises of Repentance which are allwayes thought a necessary part of out Preparation But Gods Impending Iudgements for our sins which at this time threaten Bloud Confusion do summon us to add to those exercises and by some voluntary impositions of Dayly Devotion Mortification to turne this Advent in to A little Lent giving up our selves wholy to the Exercise of Piety Prayer beseeching God that hee will not Enter into Iudgement vvith us and for our provocations give us up as a Prey unto our Enimies making us a scorne derision to them that are round about us It is lawfull nay Religious by Devout Prayer to Use Violence to the Kingdom of Heaven and if wee did in this our Distresse betake our selves to so sure a Refuge making use of the Holy Weapons of the Antient Christians PRAYERS TEARES crowding up to the horns of the Altar rendring all our Devotions more prevalent by the vveekly Reception of the Lords Supper wee that meet in Gods House if we came with that spirit Which wee ought might do our King and Country better service than those who fight for him in the Field What hath been said I premise in regard to the present Season of ADVENT and the Ensuing Feastivall of CHRISTMAS by reason my text doth not respect Either of them so particularly as the Storme Danger Which is imminent doth loudly call for the Holy Resolution asvvell as submission of Pious Jacob. And having so done I shall before I enter on the Words Move you to Pray according to the Canonicall Exhortation of the Church Yee shall pray for the Holy Catholieck Church of Christ that is for the vvhole Congregation of Christian people dispersed throughout the VVorld more espetially for the Churches of Great Britaine Ireland And here in I am to require you more particularly to pray for our Dread Soudraigne Lord Iames by the Grace of God King of England c. Yee shall likevvise pray for our Gratious Queen Mary Katherine the Queen dovvager his Royall Higness the Prince of VVales c. Concluding your Devotions allwayes with the Lords Prayer Our Father c. THe PATRIARCHS were now returned from their first journey Sermon I into Egypt and as they little thought from full-filling their Brother Iosephs dreame They had Bovved to him whom they thought they had Robbed of all Honour and been Fed by him whom they once conspired to Starve So inviolable is Gods purpose in things to man impossible OLD JACOB here at first with greatest Joy wellcomes home his weary sons but excesse of gladnesse is commonly attended on with Greife the end of Ioy is Mourning Whiles hee is yet congratulating their good successe in their Journey the sad newes of Simeons Imprisonment silenceth his mirth Which Greife too is attended on by a greater the necessity of his Deare Benjamins going into Egypt Crosses in
in the same page all sins by all names that sins may bee named by all meanes that sins may bee committed do vvholly upon heaps follovv Rebellion pag. 361. Pestilence Famine VVar declared in scripture to be the greatest of VVordly Plagues Miseries yea all the Miseries vvhich these Plagues have in them do alltogethor follovv Rebellion the fore-quoted pag. Of all vvars Civil VVar wee are there minded is the vvorst But Rebellion far more abominable than any Civill VVar pag. 362. Moreover that Rebells are Commonly punished vvith Remarkable shamefull Deaths that they do very seldom repent the greatest of Punishments wee are assured by the very same Homily pag. 363. As also that Heaven is the Place of good obedient subjects as Hell the Prison Dungeon of Rebells against God their Prince Our Church in that very page terming every obedient Realme the Figure of Heaven a Rebellious one the similitude of Hell. I thinke I need not produce any more quotations or arguments out of this Repository of our Church to convince you that Rebellion is the most abhorred sin and that it can never prove a soveraigne salve whoever are the Authours or supporters of it for the King Church or Kingdome But that I may have a sufficient foundation for a pathetick disswasion from this sin it will bee requisite to informe you fully in right Church-of-England-Loyalty And it can bee no other that is taken word for word out of these her own authorized Sermons which will bee most effectually done by satisfying you in a particular manner what the Church of England esteemes to be Rebellion First to vvithstand or use any force or violence to Lavvfull Soveraigns the they be never so vvicked and do never so much abuse their Povver is Rebellious If you will not give mee credit I 'le tell you the very page where you may finde it Even in the Homily of Obedience Part. the second pag. the 66 the last Edit in the yeare 1676. Where you are also minded and I desire you to take good notice thereof that the Amalâ—kite vvho Killed King Saul tho it vvas done by Sauls ovvn consent comand 2 Kings 1 vvas put to Death Secondly wee are informed that not only open Rebellion or dovvn right Resistance of the Lords anointed but any kind of Insurrection or COMMOTION or Murmuring one of our moderne vertues is condemned as an intollerable VVickednesse in a vvell governed Kingdome p. 67 of the same Hom. Where you see by the way how much this Ages and that Ages Protestants differ in their Sentiments of Loyalty Thirdly in case of unlavvfull or sinfull Commands our Mother the Church of England amidst all the unjust Reproaches cast on her is so far from approving any Violent vvithstanding or Rebelling against lavvfull Rulers that it will not allow of any sort of sedition or Tumults either by Force of Armes or Othervvise against the King himselfe or any of his officers But layes before the Rebells Eye Gods remarkable Judgements on Corah Dathan Abiram and on others for provoking God in the like kinde and lesse provocations than most of us have been guilty of tho through the mercy of God a Gratious King wee have hitherto escapd unpunish'd The fore-mentiond Corah Dathan Abiram vvere svvallovved up alive for but Grudging against Gods Magistrates Others vvere utterly Consumed by a sudden Fire sent from God for their VVicked Murmuring Others vvere suddenly stricken vvith a foul leprosy for but frovvard behaviour not to mention some stung to death with strange fiery serpents and 14700 at one tyme killed vvith the Plague whereof you are minded in the Conclusion of the same Homily as you are in Other places of scripture of 24000 70000 also slaine by the same Judgement of God for the very same sin That very sin of Rebellion that truly Diabolick sin which many present pretenders to Loyalty nourish in their Bosomes who have invited the SWORD into the Land thereby Conjured up a Devill which God knowes when they will bee able to Conjure dovvn againe I shall say no more to rectify your Notions Concerning Loyalty Rebellion than that our mother the Church of England now sadly Wounded by her own Children who is Exceeding averse to this Hellish crime doth in these her orthodox Pious Composers the standard of our Sermons divinity Condemne it as disloyall Rebellious not only to depose destroy or oppose the King but to put him in feare to Terrify or disturb his sacred Person or Mind valuable as the scripture tells us above ten thousand of his subjects And hovv any of those vvho either ioine vvith his Enimies or sit still vvhen their Soveraigne needs their assistance or somuch as mutter against him can purge themselves from this last mentioned Guilt if the Contrivers and Mannagers of the Invasion have furnished them vvith distinctions to cleare themselves of the former I shal never bee able to comprehend or Understand Having novv by Gods assistance shevvn you the necessity of Christian submission Resolution Resignation to the VVill of God and the manner hovv vvee are to Exercise those necessary usefull Graces and also made some seasonable Reflections on Gods Iudgements at this time hanging over our Heads vvhich do lovvdy call for the Practise of the fore-said Duties vvithout vvhich t is impossible for us to be so truly Penitent as to appease Gods vvrath Laying also before you the Hainous Guilt odiousnesse of the sin of Rebellion and according to the Doctrine in the Words of the Church of England endeavoured to informe you vvhat the Church vvhich can better Judge than our Private Heads doth esteeme to bee Rebellion Rebellious to fortifie you against the Odd Notions Hodge-Podge-Divinity of such Divines as are more able to write the History of the Reformation than willing to Practise the Reformed Religion of the Church of England the Glory whereof is the Bearing Faith true Allegiance to their lawfull Soveraigne Give mee leave as well as I am able to dissvvade you from that abominable sin and all approaches tovvards it vvhich is so dreadfull in its consequences and destructive to Monarchy and Episcopacy being fostered as the Darling of Presbitery a Common vvealth and probably by none more than our Neighbouring One vvho Upholds her unnaturall Invasion by tempting Subjects to â—ight against their Lavvful Soveraigne BRETHREN I am not so old as to have forgot nor so young but that I do Well Remember the spetious holy Pretences of 41 vvhich vvere made use of to Ruine both Church State. Neither vvould I bee thought so stupid as not to feare suspect but that the same Traine of Designes Intrieguts and Mathinations may have the same dismallâ— effects The Generality of People vvere even then in the dayes of King Charles I. as much afraid of Popery as vvee are at present tho hee shevved himselfe to bee one of the most Pious men
Consideration in all my Publick Visitation-discourses since the Death of the King. And I am sure that there is not one of them but is very vvorthy of your thoughts espetially in such a Juncture of Affaires as obliges every man in authotrity to use the most povverfull Arguments vvhich ever vvere used to raise men to a high pitch of Loyalty affection to the Crovvn of England I might very properly profitably farther reflect and inlarge on any of the past particulars in these our Circumstances But I shall confine my selfe cheifly to the tvvo last vvhereon I did most breifly Touch as most pertinent for our Meditation in this day of Rebuke Trouble All men are novv I suppose sufficiently Convinced vvho do not labour under some desperate Delusion of the Mischeivous designe of our Treacherous neighbours vvhom vvee shall bee ashamed nay a fraid any more surely to stile Freinds or to cry they vvill do us no harme language wherevvith my eares have been long grated it being novv by Proclamation Treason so to do If the Prince of Oranges landing vvith 14000 Traytours or supporters Abettors of Treason at his heels the particulars of vvhose forces you have in the last Gazette together vvith some Heads of his Rebellious Declaration vvill not convince men that there vvas such a thing as an Evill intended Invasion and that there can be no good designe to our Liberty nor Religion by so manifest a Violation of both I shall give them up for lost for men void of common sence and not spend any more paines or breath upon them As soon as his Majesty told us in his late Proclamation that hee had undoubted advice of a Wicked Designe to invade Conquer his Kingdom I did thought it my duty so to do firmely beleive it and have ever since accordingly in my poor sphere not only offer'd my most fervent Prayers to Heaven for the protection of our Gratious King Church Kingdom but have done all that in mee lay both by vvord example to exhort every person Committed to my Charge to defend our King and Country And if all persons had been as forvvard as my poor unvvorthy selfe to give credit to rely on the Word of our Prince vvhich I have not yet doubted the Nation had been it is manifest in a better state of Preparation Tho God be praised his Majestyes vigilance hath been such that if his Officers continue faithfull the Kingdom is in no bad posture to receive requite the malice of our Enimies triumphing at last as gloriously over these inveterate Foes as hee did three yeares ago over the last rebellious villains vvhich landed in the same Country Thirty thousand vvel-disciplin'd loyall subjects under the banner of so valiant a Prince as ours are able undoubtedly by the blessing of God despaire not to encounter any Prince in the vvorld attended on but vvith 14000 Rebbells By vvhich appellation I do no injustice since in the Case of Rebellion Treason as in that of murder all companions are adjudged to be accessaries and justly are to under go their triall as vvel as the principall Actors The Goodnesse of our own Cause the Badness of our Enimie's is as cleare as the sun put beyond all mann'er of doubt or suspition Neither of which can be brought into Question by any person but such an one as having suck'd in sedition with his milk is Antimonarchicall whiles hee pretends to be Antipapisticall in his nature and so much more zealous for the Name of Protestant the worst thing in it than for the Religion of Protestants as to become a Well-willer to Turks against Christindom wishing success to Infidells because Cerent Tecli Bearing the name of a Protestant a Rebell and an Apost ate or as bad is one of their number Wee must not think so blasphemously of the Deity that the God of Heaven a God of Purity Truth can have more favour to such a Rebellious Rout than to a Loyall Army fighting under the Royall standard of their lavvfull Prince in defence of an antient Monarchy most excellent Government No no wee must not imagine that God who is of purer eyes than to behold any iniquity vvith approbation can have regard to such a Gathering together of the frovvard and Insurrection of VVicked Doers as holy David heartily Prayes against in the 64. Psalme vvho have vvhet their tongue like a svvord and shoot out their Arrovvs even bitter vvords Where Davids Character of the Wicked you vvil easily perceive if you vvill take the pains to peruse the whole Psalme exactly agrées with our Invaders Both the wickedness secrecy of their Undertaking having been such as hee describes But as his Character Complaint in the former part of the psalme doth well agree with those of our Enimies so I trust in God and heartily pray that the latter prophetick part may be verified of them likewise v. 7. 8. 9. But God shall suddenly shoot at them vvith a svvift arrovv that they shall be vvounded yea their ovvn tongues shall make them fall insomuch that vvho so seeth them shall laugh them to scorne And all men that see it shall say this hath God done for they shall perceive it is his vvorke Many considerations together with Gods Providence in bringing this and other pertinent psalms to the Churche's use since certain intelligence of the Enimyes landing do for my particular incourage mee to put my Trust in God that hee will not give us up I am sure hee will not unlesse our sins rise to a higher Pitch than theirs as a Prey to these our Malitious Enimies If all orders of men amongst us vvho have transgress'd his righteous Lavvs and render'd to use the words of our prescribed prayers both his Mercies Iudgements ineffectuall to our amendment do but unfeignedly confesse to God Heartily repent for such their Provocations turning avvay from their wickdnesse for vvhich it is not yet too late Hee vvill be pleas'd to turne avvay from his vvrath vvhich novv hangs over our heads doth greivously threaten us But let us all rest assured that vvee of England can never be throughly reconcil'd to Almighty God and somuch I dare in his name to assure you vvithout repenting of our Ingratitude of the late Odious unparallell'd Ingratitude to our Soveraign as vvell as himselfe Which brings mee home to the Topicks that are of all other at this time most pertinent for our Consideration Which Ingratitude I say your Ingratitude to God the King vvhich among other sins innumerable impieties many of vvhich I feare cry for veageance doth dare Heaven not only to chastise us it selfe but to make us to be rebuked of our neighbours and a By-vvord among the Heathens suffering us to be laught to scorne had in derision of those that are round about us The least vvhich the best of us at this Crisâ—s may justly dread for our late as vvell as former
to infuse into all persons committed to his Charge and also that he is not asham'd to proclaim to all the world in spight of the Censures he mett with all that he did doth hold the following Queres in the affirmative being of opinion that to hold them otherwise is to place some of the King's Supremacy in the People An ADDRESS vvhich the Dean of Durham sent to his Majestie speedily after the Prince of Orange landed upon his Brethen their Refusall to joyne vvith him because the Superiour Clergy had not Addtess'd before to shevv his Abhorrance of that Unnaturall Invasion vvhich Address vvas intercepted by the Lord Lumley other Lords vvho had seiz'd on York as mention'd page 3. To the King 's most excellent Majestie The Hearty Humble Addresse of your Majestie 's ever loyall and faithfull Subject Servant the Dean of Durham MAY it please your Sacred Majestie In time of an Invasion as in a common Inundation or Calamity by fire VVhen every body is bound in duty to preserve the House Citty or Country vvhereof he is a member vvithout usuall ceremony or compliment to Superior or Equalls I do judge it an Indispensable Duty of every Faithfull right Loyall subject to hasten to assist his Soveraigne vvith his purse as vvell as his prayers to the utmost of his povver ability therefore not daring to stay till all my Betters have given me example in Addressing before me or all my inferiour Brethren have agreed on a forme to Address vvith me I do heartily offer to your Majesty all that I have to spare for your present service thinking nothing mine ovvn in such a time of danger but vvhat is sufficient to suffice nature Assuring you vvithall that I do not only from the very bottome of my soule Abhorre Detest this Treacherous Vnnaturall Invasion of the Prince of Orange together vvith all the other VVicked Rebellious Bloody Designes of his Adherents vvhether Enemies at home or abroad and more particularly of those among us vvho have lately revolted from their Allegiance but do vvith great Indignation Renounce all manner of Violence Force Contempt of Authority offer'd to your Sacred Person or Government either by the Rabble the very dregâ—â— of the Mobile in the Citty as vvell as Rebells in the Field Conceiving gs a great sin to use any Compulsive Arguments to Constreine or Terrify Gods Vice-gerent into a Compliance vvith the VVill Desires of his subjects be they never so much for the good of himselfe Church or Kingdome having learnt in the Communion of my Mother the Church of England vvherein I am firmly resolv'd to live dye other principles than to teach my Supreme or any of my Superiours vvhat He or They ought to do vvith a svvord in my hand or compell a Soveraigne Monarch vvhether he vvill or no to do his duty gratifie his people sooner than he is inclin'd or his ovvn Necessity vvhereof he is the best Iudge vvill permit Satisfying myselfe most thank fully vvith the repeated assurance vvhich yeur Majesty hath already given of our Religion Lavvs Libertiesâ— together vvith all your past present Gratious Condescentions to remove the Fears Iealousie of your people Resolving to stay your leasure for the Calling of a Parliament all other means methods vvhich are in your Majesties ovvn choice for the securing your ovvn Royall Person or Establishment of your Government in Church or State. Nov. 27. 88. DENIS GRAINVILLE Dean of Durham QVERES Put by the Dean of Durham to some Young Clergy men to ansvver privately in his ovvn Study near about the time his Majesty sent forth an order to read his Declaration for liberty of Conscience vvhich being treacherously stolen avvay or falsely transcrib'd upon the interception of a letter to a Friend vvere dispers'd canvass'd up and dovvn the Coffee-Houses of London other parts of England as mention'd pag. 7. and are for that reason printed 1. Whether a Subject is not bound to comply vvith his Prince in every Command or Reasonable Intimation of his pleasure vvherein he is not in Conscience bound to the contrary 2 Whether a Subject is not bound to comply vvith his Prince in some things vvhich he conceives not only inexpedient but such as may tend to the Prejudice of the Flourishing condition of the Church provided the Being of the Church be secure if a lavvfull Prince of a Different Religion doth absolutely command them vvill not be satisfied vvithout Compliance vvith such Command 3. Whether the Church of England vvas not an establish'd Church before the enacting of the Penall Lavvs If so vvhether it is not better to comply vvith his Majesty in consenting to take avvay those Penall Lavvs vvhich his Majesty desires to be abrogated than hazard the Being of our Church by provoking the King on vvhose Favour vvee depend FINIS TO THE BISHOP OF DURHAM MY LORD So Suddain and violent a separation betwixt a Bishop and his Dean as hath been occasion'd betwixt your Lordship my selfe by our late stupendiouâ— Revolution is a matter of too great importance to be pass'd over in silence by one who was driven from his station by the impetuosity of that dreadfull storm which lately fell on and overthrew our Church and State. I conceive it therefore my duty to informe your Lordship not only where but what I am in this age of mutability which hath produced I think almost all kind of changes among men of every Quality Degree Calling but that which Doctour B. speaks of in his letters concerning his travells into Italy I mean the change of sex I need not my Lord give You any particular account of my behaviour or usage in England after your Lordship was call'd up to London about Michaelmass last or of the manner of my Escape since your Lordship was certified by letters from my selfe in the months of Oct and Nov last of most matters of moment relating to the Church and County of Durham tho I had the honour satisfaction of receiving an answer to few of them and may come to the knowledge of other things by the relation of my deportment which I have publish'd in my printed letter to my Brother the Earle of Bathe whereto I crave leave to refert your Lordship all who are inquisitive after me I shall only embrace this occasion solemnely publickly to assure your Lordship in generall that I did faithfully and with as much punctuallity as I was able discharge those Trusts which were committed to me in every one of the places and offices which I had the honour to beare under your Lordship maintain'd my Poste in your Absence not withstanding mighty discouragements till it was not possible for me any longer to strive against that Torrent which had hurried all matters in that other parts of the Nation into great disorder confusion When I saw there was no possible means left for me but to