thus to instruct leaving them as Christ hath left them for choyse of matter and words according to the gifts the Lord hath furnished them with for his service §. 2. Obj. 3. It is ancient and received by all Churches in all ages since the Apostles times Ans If it bee meant instructing the ignorant and younger sort in Principles it is not only so but more ancient even before the Apostles times and confirmed by them and is or ought to bee received practised by all Churches But method words c. imposed as a necessary Rite and Order in the Service of God this is not ancient and he that was well skilled in antiquity will tell you so Mr. Parker of Symbolizing with Antichrist part 2. p. 19. If they speak of Canons inferring necessity they must know there were no such Canons in antient time Christian Liberty was more tendred in those dayes Againe Antiently saith the same Author there was in Rites a liberty permitted and no necessity imposed necessity in Rites is jugum papale never heard of in the Church till Antichrist began to usurp over the liberty of Christian men Ans 2. Suppose it had both Antiquity and Universality Is this a topick more cogent here then in former disputes as between Protestants and Papists Conformists and Non Conformists Cassander Anglica pag. 2. Mr. Sprint layeth his most weight upon this Argument The refusing of Conformity saith hee tends to condemne all true Churches all faithful and sound Teachers of all times and places since the time of the Apostles of Christ The avouching Antiquity and Universality of acceptation as equivalent in a Dispute to Divine Authority which is or ought to be the only rule in this matter is very sufficiently refuted by Jewel Whitakers Reinolds Morton and the rest of ours against Papists as also at large disputed betweene Doctor Ames in his reply to Mr. Sprint and Doctor Burgis his rejoynder and then Dr. Ames again in his Fresh suit Obj. 4. And for any necessity or Arguments drawne from thence Ans There is no Ministerial work in which a necessity may not better bee pretended as 1 In convincing the Gain-sayer controversal disputes such difficulty as for want of help sometimes men are disputed into error 2 To pitch upon such Characters and signes by which Sincerity may be discerned from Hypocrisie is very difficult and for want of experience and skilfulness in such a work the hearts of those have been made sad whom God would not have made sad Ezek. 13. If in such Cases the Magistrate should consult with a Synod and forme certaine wayes of reasoning for method and words and impose upon the Minister in their Disputes to bee held to and no other and the like for the imposing certaine formes of signes and markes by which Sincerity and Hypocrisie may safely bee distinguished or any other difficulty that falls in the way of our Ministry is much more necessary and allowable 3 To be able to speake level and not over or under in determining the Magistrates power in Ecclesiastical matters is a difficulty and to what extremities doe good men in their preaching and printing run in the point upon this consideration a Homily is composed that is a certaine forme for matter and words Synod 40. Can. 2. and imposed * upon all Ministers as followeth For the fuller and clearer instruction and information of all Christian people in their duties in this particular wee doe Ordaine and Decree That every Parson Vicar Curate or Preacher upon some Sunday in every quarter of a year shall treatably and audibly read these explanations of the regal Power here inserted and the words are set downe In every of these Cases and forty more might bee instanced there is more necessity of impositions than in teaching plaine Principles Can it bee imagined Ministers intrusted without any such books or helps in these more difficult points will need them in the easiest part of his Ministry Is a Minister able to feed with strong meat and not fit to bee trusted with Babes and Lambs Obj. 5. It will conduce say some much to uniformity and so to unity and peace if the same order in this matter be observed throughout the Nation Ans This is the old Plea and a means by which the Ceremonies and Common Prayer-book kept their station so long amongst us There is an uniformity arising from the vertue of internal principles as also from an external mould or frame the one is free and natural the other compelled and forced Uniformity from internal Principles is an excellency in Nature and in Grace also That an Acorn a grain of Corn a Kernel a seed from each a Body and in its kinde the like the like leaf bark branch fruit it is true not in smaller things so exact in likenesse as what you cast in the same mould yet for substance and in the maine they are the same all Vines Cedars every Plant and every Herb in its kind every Beast and every Bird in its kind And so is it with gracious and holy men being a holy Seed and having this Seed remaining in them their conversation for the substance is the same and so visibly uniforme and the same as the blinde World can distinguish them from other men So also in this part of their conversation their Service of God in his Ordinances if the institutions of Christ and whatsoever hee in his Word hath prescribed as necessary means and circumstances from more general Rules bee observed by Ministers that are gifted industrious and gracious you will have a natural free and comely uniformity and more to the glory of God then to have all by external injunctions cast as it were in an artificial mould such a forced Conformity in all Ages hath been the occasion of greatest differences and disturbances I say the neglect of Scripture Rules which guide and direct an uniformity in matters of substance and greater consequence and by Canons and Injunctions erect an uniformity in matters of doubtful Dispute and not of much concernment if they were cleared Those Reverend N. Conformists that wrote the Admonition spoke very prudently to this The only cause why our Church differeth from the Churches reformed of the Strangers or among our selves or they among themselves is because our Church suffereth not it self so to bee directed by the course of those Scriptures as another doth except it be in those things of order wherein one Parish may many times differ from another without offence following the general Rules of Scripture for order as in appointing time place and the like 2 Ad. pa. 42. The pretence of uniformity and upon that account taking liberty to impose doubtful Traditions hath been in all Ages an Utensile in the hands of Church Governours by which they have exercised the greatest tyranny and put themselves in a capacity to bring Ministers under what bondage they please One Councel Decrees that all Ministers must live single
not satisfied he must have another Book a Prayer book and another Book an instructing or preaching Book a Catechisme book and to the same end that hee may bee better furnished for his work that by this means it may bee done more perfectly more to edification as the Common Prayer-book formerly There is a precise appointment with what words and sentences Gods Name shall be called upon saith Mr. Hooker that the endless and senslesse effusions of indigested Prayers may not bee Pol. p. 239. and another of them The end of these formes is to bee a meanes to banish utterly out of Christs Church all extemporal invention of unsound prayer Covel against Burgis p. 70 71. So for the other part of our Ministerial work wee have beene furnished with a Homily Book and now a Catechisme Book which some would have imposed upon Ministers utterly to banish out of Christs Church all other Catechismes as also a more particular help and means then any Christ hath furnished his Ministers with for the better understanding of the Principles and for the better propagating the Gospel and preserving men sound in their knowledge which is to like ends as was those set formes formerly imposed § 5. To conclude this Argument our demand is of those that have so zealously stickled for such an imposition and have a mind to bring Ministers to their Books againe from whose necks this yoak hath been and that by a mighty hand of God so lately taken off I demand whether any thing in those reasonings of our suffering Brethren against Apocrypha Common Prayer-books and Homily-books he of any consequence from this topick the bringing of other books into the solemne Service of God besides those of Divine Authority Neither the Levites saith many of our Brethren together in the Abridgement nor Christ Abrid p. 6. nor his Apostles did ever read preach or interpret any other writing for the instruction of the Church but only the Canonical Scripture Againe in the same place It is the proper Office of Christ to be the Teacher of his Church and therefore no writings may bee appointed to bee read in the Congregation for instruction but only such as have been indited by his Spirit Mr. Cartw. in Cat. maketh it a breach of the Second Commandement and against Doctor Whitg about reading of Homilies in the Church hee writeth thus Neither the Homilies nor the Apocripha are to bee read at all in the Church It is good to consider the order which God kept with his people in times past when hee commanded that no Vessel nor instrument either Beesome or Flesh-hook c. should come into the Temple but those only which were sanctified and set apart for that use And hee will have no other Trumpets to call the people together but those only which were set apart for that purpose what should the meaning of this Law bee The matter of other common Vessels and Trumpets was the same oftentimes which theirs was the same forme also and Trumpets able to serve for the uses of sounding c. as well as those of the Temple and as those which were set apart wherefore might not these as well be used in the Temple as others forsooth because the Lord would by these Rudiments teach that he would have nothing brought into the Church but that which hee had appointed no not although they seemed in the judgement of men as good the Homilies be they ever so learned and pithy c. see Parker on the Cross 1 part Doctor Chadderton on Rom. 12. and divers others to the same purpose I demand againe what shew of Scripture there is for any such method or way as prescribed by Christ or Authority left by him to any other person to prescribe any such Utensile or Instrument What warrant hath any man to carry on the Directory for instruction further and more particularly than Christ himself hath thought fit to doe and thus to establish a Humane forme in a setled stated Sabbath-service without Scripture warrant And whether he may not as lawfully collect matter and put it in a set method and forme of words and furnish the Minister with a Booke as a help or means for the better edification of the people in any other or in all other the works and parts of the Ministerial Function as in this and as lawfully impose such Books to bee used by him and no other nor any other thing done by him but what is done by Book If hee may bee by such meanes better enabled for one part of his Ministry he may likewise for another and if for all why should it not be rather chosen CHAP. IV. Divers Objections answered no shew of Scripture for it nor necessity nor requisite for uniformity or obliged to it by our Covenant I Shall now faithfully give an account of whatever I have either read or heard or imagine can be pleaded as a warrant in this case § 1. Obj. 1 The notation of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to teach by voyce from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and this from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 autem sonum sive simplicem sive ex reflexa repercussione geminatum significat and hence wee have our English word Eccho which is as it were an answering againe Ans There is no such distinct meaning in the Scripture use of the word but most ordinarily for preaching or instructing by voyce and so interpreted by our Translators 1 Cor. 14.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that by my voyce I might teach others Gal. 6.6 wee doe not beleeve the Ministers maintenance is to rise from those that learn Catechismes only such as are unmarried and under the age of twenty one years yet the same word there and is translated teaching and the Scripture speaking of such to whom this Catechistical way seems to bee most sutable it expresseth their instruction and teaching by another word Heb. 5.12 You have need that one teach you the first Principles of the Oracles of God the word there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word is used also for a story or any report by hear-say Luke 1.4 Acts 21.21 24. Obj. 2. Those Scriptures are objected that mention Principles Fundamentals which are reckoned up Heb. 6.1 Psal 34.11 Come yee children hearken unto me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord. And 2 Tim. 1.13 a pattern of sound words in faith and love and Rom. 2.20 the forme of the knowledge of the truth is spoken of Ans In none of these Scriptures any set forme for method and words and if so yet not with injunction to bee held to only that principles and lower truthes are to bee taught and to those of a lower capacity in a more familiar and plaine method and way this is confirmed by those Scriptures and is a duty of that evidence from Scripture that the Civil Magistrate may impose and compel Ministers
fit and sutable in that respect then what was done by others So Master Gataker Dr. Hill c. in their Epistles to their Catechismes § 7. If nothing faulty either in the matter or forme of this Catechism yet wee enjoy not that ministerial liberty Christ hath left us and that which hitherto and even in the worst times hath bin enjoyed in this Nation and hitherto we have not beene straightned or narrowed It is true a forme of Catechisme is mentioned in the Common Prayer-book but so as a liberty left and taken to compose or chuse what Catechisme a man judged more sutable to his people for their edification and few Ministers of eminency in the Land but composed a distinct Catechisme there are I beleeve no less then five hundred several Catechismes extant nay men of the Episcopal way and such as were punctual in observing the very hints of what was likely to be pleasing or displeasing to their Lords composed and published Catechismes for matter and method differing from what was allowed by authority as Doct. Hall who was afterwards Bishop Dr. Featly Dr. Chitwin Dr. Hill Mr. Pearston who dedicated his Catechisme to the Bishop of London Mr. Vicars Chap. to Bishop Carlton and many others Neither hath this variety been looked upon as hurtful for if so then holy men would have kept to what they found and have made conscience of increasing this evil by adding to the number I finde saith Dr. Gouge in all ages of the Church Epistle to his Catechisme God hath stirred up many of his Servants to publish severall formes all agreeable in the substance and I observe among many other these two good uses to arise from thence c. which there hee specifieth nay since this of the Assembly composed by a Synod of holy and learned men approved of and commended to the Nation by the Parliament then sitting and received and setled in Scotland yet mens Consciences have not been satisfied in this as the only Catechisme fit to bee used as appeareth in the great number and variety of Catechismes composed and printed since this was published a greater number then in so short a time were ever published before But suppose in all this variety of Catechismes there were no difference no one better but each equally as good and edifying to my people as other that which I now further assert is this that in these Spiritual affaires to impose or limit to some one in such a case is against Christian Liberty and our freedome as Ministers if a man hath obtained his Freedome in any Trade hee is judged fit to set up in any part of the City no man can limit him to any one Precinct though hee might drive his Trade with as much advantage there as in any other place nay if a man shall enter into Bond to his Master not to set up his Trade in such a street or within such a distance from him this Bond is voyd in Law so tender are our Lawes of Humane liberty The Lords Prayer so tearmed is beyond Controversie as edifying as any other Prayer in the Scripture yet our Brethren the N. C. could not subject to such an imposition as gave a preheminence or more stated use of this one Scripture Prayer above all the rest the refusal of such an use of that Prayer was one thing for which Mr. Hooker could not have the liberty of his Ministry with Mr. Paget at Amsterdam when for N. Conformity hee was enforced by the Bishops to make that his refuge It was an Objection against the Common Prayer Book that in the Calender some Scriptures were to bee read every year and some oftner and some part of Canonical Scripture not to be read in publick at all â pari ratione in ordinary gifts to exalt any one work or composition by such a solemn sanction above all that hath been or shall be and limit us from the like publick use of any other though from men of equal gifts and graces is an abridgment of our Liberty ordinary as well as extraordinary gifts are from Christ and for his ends § 8. The third particular by which in such impositions wee are abridged of our Liberty it is in respect of the gifts and abilities wee have received from Christ It is the priviledge of a Minister to have liberty to imploy his owne talent there is an honour and reward in so doing Our labour and study shall not bee lost in the Lord every man shall receive according to his owne work and the talents hee hath imployed the Disciples work hath but a Disciples reward but the Prophets worke a Prophets reward If the Lord Christ hath put into my hand and trust Prophets or Pastors worke and gifts and talents sutable if I bee faithful and put my self out accordingly I shall accordingly be accepted of the Lord if I fulfill my Ministry I shall not come short of a full reward Wee are equally intrusted with the Lambs as with the Sheep with the weake as with the strong and to shew our love to Christ in feeding the one as well as the other wee are upon this account Debtors both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians both to the wise and to the unwise Rom. 1.14 It is laid on us not only to find out fit sutable matter for such instruction but expressions and words to this end Christ hath given gifts of utterance as well as a gift of knowledge and whatsoever gift we have received wee must stir up and use Eccl. 12.9 The Preacher was wise hee taught the people knowledge hee gave good heed and sought out and set in order the Preacher sought to finde out acceptable words so that matter and order and words and all is by Christ intrusted with the Preacher it is not for him to enquire what the State or a Synod hath sought out and set in order The truth is hee who is to be the mouth of God and to whom it is given to speake from him to the people to him belongs the finding out both of matter and words Psal 19.14 hence those to whom to instruct others belongeth are dealt with by the Apostle about the method and forme of words in which that holy duty is to bee managed 1 Cor. 14.9 so likewise except you even you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you that are to Prophecy to instruct utter by the tongue words significant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word well and aptly signifying how shall it bee known what is spoken saith the Apostle If I had not warrant if it were not my liberty and priviledge to expresse my owne matter in my owne words faylings and faults in expressions would not bee accounted as my sin but rash inapt unsignificant expressions tautologies Word or speech so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. wee finde in Scripture charged upon those that pray or instruct non simplex vox seu dictio sed integra sententia seu rei narratio
upon which Episcopacy was taken away Ordinan June 12. 1643. namely because it was very prejudicial to the state and government of this Kingdome Now if a settlement in the Church depends thus upon the Lawes and constitutions of the Common-wealth As they or it shall alter and change there will ordinarily then at furthest bee new mouldings of the Church order in whole or in some parts of it and if so experiments may bee made of several wayes and impositions before a thorow and fixed settlement of any It cannot bee expected saith the former Ordinance a rule in every particular should bee setled at once but that there will bee need of suppliment and additions and happily also of alterations in some things as EXPERIENCE shall bring to light the necessity thereof though the fundamentals and substantial parts of Church-Government hath been setled And so in the first reformation there was a reserve for alterations It is said of the Ceremonies and Church-Order then determined Preface to the Com. Prayer-Book that upon just causes they may bee altered and changed being not as the Law of God and a little after in the same Declaration That wee should put away such things from time to time as wee perceive to bee abused as in mans Ordinance it often chanceth And it is appointed by the Statute for Uniformity That the Queens Majesty with the advice of her Metropolitan might make such alterations and ordaine and publish such further Rites and Ceremonies of the Church as may bee most for Gods glory c. And what alteration was in the Common-Prayer Book in 1â— Jacobi was done by Commission under the Great Seal Proclamation of March 5. 1 Jaco which is there said to bee according to the form which the Lawes of this Realm in like case prescribe to be used so that not only in Parliament but at other times also alterations might be made §. 7. So they say Ordi of March 14. 1645. THe great difficulty which the Honourable Houses found to pitch upon any thing suddainly in Church-Government especially in what they judged not to be fundamental and of the substance of it for that was sooner setled by them And the possibility upon further experience to make alterations in Circumstantials and lesser matters Did beget a tenderness in them and gracious indulgence to such as were to submit in what they then setled as 1 In the establishing of matters more doubtful for three years only or a shorter time 2 What was to be for a standing Law or Rule and for longer time had no ruining penalty to enforce submission 3 A forbearance was consulted for such as through tendernesse of Conscicence could not come up to that rule prudently and piously considering What was not without so much difficulty resolved upon in their own Consciences to establish might after establishment finde some difficulty in other mens Consciences to be submitted unto And the truth is such matters as Civil Governours and others have looked upon as small differences or but Circumstances or at most not of the substance of Discipline or Worship yet it hath fallen out otherwise in the Consciences of those that have been to practise knowing their God to bee a jealous and severe God in matters wherein his Worship and Name is concerned Exod. 20. Small things are great to a searching tender Conscience and where doing or not doing thrusts a man between these two rocks the offending of God or man §. 8. And that our Governours may still if it please the Lord continue this work of reformation with the like tenderness as it hath bin begun and hitherto carried on let it be seriously and sadly considered how that from time to time the greatest differences and contentions with us in Ecclesiastical affairs have risen not from what is of the substance or essence either in Discipline or Worship but from Circumstances only and lesser matters in both And then especially such things have proved and will prove occasions of greatest suffering and discouragement to Ministers when such smaller and more doubtful matters as these are imposed under such great and undoing penalties as in THIS CASH Episcopal and Common-prayer-Book Conformity and the contentions and sufferings upon that account is a sad instance and may not bee forgotten The matters controverted were not of the substance either of Discipline or Worship in the opinions of those that imposed them This appears in the Preface to the Common-Prayer Booâ— and frequent professions of the Bishops Nor were they otherwise judged of by those that opposed and sought to have them reformed It is asserted by our Brethren in a Treatise that the Bishops and Seekers of Reformation are all one that is the title of the Book the drift and scope whereof is to shew that whatsoever is essentially of the religion and profession of the Church of England and of the Ministry described in the Holy Scripture maintained by the Prelates standing for conformity Wee the Ministers and People who seek reformation doe hold and professe the same And the things wee desire to bee reformed and they stand earnestly to maintain are but Circumstantial Additaments brought into the Church by Humane constitution Which will bee more evident if wee reduce the Controversies thereabout to these three heads the Leitourgie Ceremonies and Episcopacy For the first stinted prayers A formed Leitourgie there was to be held to for matter and words by all Ministers or to lose their Livings Those that were for this look upon such forms imposed to bee no matter of Religion Mr. Bâ—â—â— his trial p. 4. or substantial means of Worship nor necessary to prayer And those against it joyn in this that the Book of Common prayer may bee used for the substance thereof 2 The heats and sufferings about the Ceremonies were greater the Materials of this Controversie were but Circumstantials so granted by both parties Our Brethren disputed not against them Brâ—dsh 12 Arg. but as in manner and form prescribed Those that pressed Ceremonies professed as much Our Church saith Bishop Morton retains them for decency c. without making them of the substance of Gods Service The 3 Innocent Cerem p. 45. thinking them alterable and changeable without opinion of necessity And of the Crosse one of the worst of them in the Canons of 1603. Can. 30. The keeping and omitting of a Ceremony in it self considered is but a small thing Ed. 6. Common Prayer Book Ann. 1549. it is said to be no part of the SVBSTANCE of the Worship The infant is fully and perfectly Baptized before the sign of the Crosse which being afterwards used doth neither adde any thing or being omitted doth detract any thing from the effect and SVBSTANCE of it and in the same Can. It is a thing in it self INDIFFERENT 3. Episcopacy and that form of Government which saith Doct. Downham is the chief and principal though other particulars bee controverted and so chief as
upon themselves and after the Parliament had injoyned us forthwith to practise according to their Ordinances they added considerations and cautions before they would receive them And by consequence if no Provincial a Classical Assembly may doe the like and if no Classis each Congregation being furnished with a Presbytery ought to make if not afore Judgement by their Delegates in some greater Assembly yet an after Judgement and to accept or refuse what a Parliament shall doe in this kind by their Presbytery according to Presbyterial principles which liberty cannot be enjoyed where Civil powers impose with such penalties as in the case CHAP. X. The Fifth Argument It is difficult in Ecclesiastical matters to obtain reformation of what is amiss These things are pressed with greatest severity upon the most conscientious WHen any change happens in Ecclesiastical affairs it is long before wee can come to a settlement as we have formerly shewed This settlement being made and munited with penal Lawes by the Civil Magistrate it is difficult if not impossible in an ordinary way to get any thing reformed though it bee ever so inconvenient and burdensome to mens Consciences Repeals and changes are made frequently of Lawes about Civil affairs and our evils cured as they come to bee discerned but Church grievances like diseases in the spirits are in a manner incurable 1 There are but a few in comparison and those more strict and conscientious who are ordinarily the worst beloved and least regarded that feel the pain of such distempers 2 By such impositions we rid our selves of those Ministers whom wee esteem most troublesome and have great advantage to fashion the rest I mean the less conscientious to a state guise The sad experience we have had formerly and what great and constant endeavours after reformation have been many years prosecuted with little or no fruit may be a proof sufficient hereof In the Reformation began with Edward the Sixth such reliques of Popery were left in the Church as did much offend divers godly learned even in those dayes These Superstitions coming to a settlement and by penal Lawes fixed in the Worship and Service of God they held their station neer a hundred years notwithstanding the testimonies at several times given all along against them In the beginning of Queen Maries dayes those learned men that left their own Country and went into Germany where this reformation and the superstitions setled in it being stuck to by some amongst them there was then a very great testimony and in the eye of the Churches of Christ given against those evils by others of them better affected to a thorow reformation of which more afterwards These endeavours and witnessings did not in the least loosen the hold those corruptions had gotten by their first establishment but were continued still as will appear in what followeth §. 2. Those Brethren and such others as desired further reformation conceived great hope to themselves upon Queen Elizabeths coming to the Crown who was a Sufferer with them SHEE by Imprisonment as they by Banishment Application was made betimes and with much zeal and so it was continued all her days There were Petitions preferred to her Majesty to the Parliament to the Council to the Bishops to the Convocation Pleas Admonitions Advertisements Considerations and the like to the Common people Multitudes of Books daily and profers of Disputation against those forms and impositions as also Assertions Demonstrations wherin a more savoury Discipline in the Church and order in the Worship of God is held forth and in so much evidence of Scripture light as they were not able to put it under a bushel much out of our Brethrens Writings might bee brought forth to this purpose and of the great actings and sufferings by the godly party all her reign and yet all this obtained not the least alteration or to have the lightest penalty taken off from such as could not conform though some of them sealed their testimony with their bloud Greater hopes by farre were conceived upon King James his coming to the Crown whose breeding seemed to set him fair for the desired reformation as also the Oathes Covenants and other engagements that were upon him his seeming dislike also of our Bishops and Ceremonies expressed frequently As a preparation hereunto there were representations and applications made to him while in Scotland and speedily at his first comming into England There were by a discreet and moderate Pen some considerations put into his hand about this work of reformation And to make way hereunto in the first place the Author endeavours to represent the slownesse and neglect of States in altering what hath gotten any settlement in Ecclesiastical affaires though matters bee ever so much amisse his words are these I ask why the Civil State should be purged and restored by good and wholsome Lawes made in every third or fourth year in Parliament providing remedies as fast as time breedeth mischiefs and contrariwise the Ecclesiastical state should still continue upon the dreggs of time and receive no alterations now for this five and forty years and more It is above five and forty years since Wee have heard saith he of no offer of Bills in Parliament Is nothing amisse The pretensions for not making alterations in Churches setled are mentioned by the same Honourable Pen in page 29. Tares say they Discourse concerning Church affairs by the L. Bacon must not bee plucked up lest you supplant the good Corn but let them grow together they stiffly hold that nothing may bee innovated because it would make a breach upon the rest which hee reasoneth against thus Qui mala non permutat in bonis non perseverat Without change of ill a man cannot continue in good to take away abuses supplanteth not good orders but establishes them Morosa moris retentio res turbulata aeque ac novitas est Contentious retaining of Custom is a turbulent thing as well as innovation pag. 32. There were solicitations by the godly Ministers and people of both Kingdoms the suffering of good Ministers all Queen Elizabeths days were represented to him which before hee came to this Crown hee seemed much to resent These hopes were strengthned by his Majesties condescension to a Conference which could never bee obtained before in which hee was present in his own person And what was the issue of all those hopes and endeavours It is strange to consider 1 Not one grievance some small things only explained rather than changed or imposition removed or penalty lessened but advantage taken to lay the yoke heavier upon those that desired reformation in representing them to the Nation as persons Schismatical and troublesome in the Church 2 A Proclamation was sent abroad immediately March the 5. in 1 Jacobi to let all men know that whatsoever was presumed upon of his Majesties intentions to further reformation was without cause given by him All former Lawes and penalties are anew enforced
thus the Proclamation concludeth And last of all we doe admonish all men that hereafter they shall not expect or attempt any further alteration in the common and publick form of Gods service from this which is now established such a resolution in respect to Lawes and Statutes made about Civil affairs hath not been known In King Charls his time the like endeavours continued yet Ministers daily silenced and being utterly wearied with expectation Multitudes Ministers and others being hopelesse as their last testimony against those evils separated themselves from the Congregations here in England and went to the utmost ends of the earth and into a Wildernesse some of them and others into other parts beyond the Seas that they might enjoy Ordinances in purity None of all these endeavours moved the State to remove the least thing offensive either in Discipline or Worship nor at all to bear with those that could not submit §. 3. Let it be everlastingly a Caution to Governours that they doe not impose smaller matters and such as themselves judge but Circumstances under such ruining penalties It is a wretched policy and too much practised by States-men where there is want of light or reason to enforce to supply it by the severity of Lawes and penalties And let not Ministers or Churches which should bee as pillars to hold forth and as an Army with banners to contend for Truth Can. 6.4 and Liberty according to Christ I say let not such be wanting in all humility to use indeavours to hinder such settlements It is not for us to say light is growing and knowledge in these matters increaseth every day more and more and therefore such evils Law restraints will fall off of themselves I confesse if any thing doe it one would think the breaking forth of Scripture light should it being the property of that light to burn up and consume Wood Hay 1 Cor. 3.13 Stubble and the like mixtures with or additions to the Doctrine and Worship of God But yet let it be considered where Forms and Ceremonies have once gotten a footing how long they have been able to keep their stations after their evil and offensivenesse by most evident light and demonstration on every side have been discovered to all men It was written by Master Udal Mr. Cartwright and others in an Epistle to the Bishops as followeth Many and most evident have our Declarations been c. never have any one of you taken in hand to say any thing against it but it hath made his eyes to dazle as the clearest Sun-shine whereby hee hath been driven hither and thither groping for evasions and yet could not escape but hath fallen into infinite most monstrous absurdities and blasphemous assertions so forceable is the truth to amaze the gain-sayers thereof yet still you continue in your course is it because you see not what you should do It cannot bee so unlesse you have eyes and see not for the cause hath been by the blessing of God so managed that many Plow-men Artificers and Children doe see it and know it and are able by the Word of God to justifie it and condemn you to bee adversaries to the Gospel c. Doe not perswade your selves therefore that further light and a greater suffrage hereafter will be able to remove what things for the present seem not so allowable its true God can doe any thing But it is evident there hath been light light sealed with sufferings sealed with the estates liberties and lives of as gracious holy learned men as any the World had and that for the space of near a hundred years and yet these abuses and impositions remained in as great vigour and freshnesse to run their race oppresse and destroy for a hundred years more had not a hand from Heaven prevented it the Lord did shake Heaven and earth the sea and dry land that those shaken things might be removed and such things only that cannot bee shaken may remain §. 4. The sharpest edge of such Laws while unreformed verging about from their first pious and righteous intentions if any such were will bee set and in the greatest rigour against the most conscientious and holy Ministers and others Something and some instances that bear a proportion to this observation may bee given from former actings not yet quite out of memory In Edward the sixths reformation Common-Prayers and the leaving of a Prayer-Book as a help to the Minister in officiating c. was for a good purpose Preface to C. P. and great advancement of godlinesse as is professed by the Composers of it As also the Ceremonies to bee observed in officiating according to that Book Of Ceremonies why before the C. Prayer Book they were of a godly intent and purpose formerly devised they are reserved for a decent order in the Church for which they were first devised and because they appertain to edification c. and upon this good meaning that without some Ceremonies it is not possible to keep any order or quiet Discipline in the Church It was farre from the thoughts of those good men who afterwards were Martyrs some of them it would ever have been wrought about to become a matter of such high contention and made use of as it was in a few years to eject from the Ministry so many hundreds of the choycest persons that ever had station amongst us Dr. Burges Apol. on K. James This Doctor Burges gives as one reason why he could not yield to subscription though he had formerly subscribed because hee perceived by the Book of Canons published in 1603. the intention of the Leitourgy and Ceremonies was to another purpose than what the Church aimed at in the first imposition 2 The not suffering Ministers to preach without a Licence from the Bishop had a good rise in that age See Injon in 1. Eliz. N. 8 when most places were supplied with Readers and those found able to preach Popish and corrupt in their judgements In processe of time it became a barre only to the most holy and eminent Preachers 3 Three or four men that tender Gods glory Injunct of Eliz. N. 46. and his true religion were to be appointed by the Ordinary as informers to observe that men kept their own Parish Churches and to present such as were negligent into the Spiritual Court this was intended against the Popishly affected but not long after those Informers appointed by the Ordinary were the vilest of men and few Popishly affected but the holiest and most consciencious persons presented and molested by them and the neglect of Common Prayer became the Character of a Puritan so were they described to King James in the Conference at Hampton Court by the Bishop of London 4 In the Articles appointed by Queen Elizabeth Artic. 51. to bee inquired of in the Visitation this is one Item Whether doe you know any man in your Parish secretly or in unlawful Conventicles say or hear Masse