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
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
their parts but with as hearty good will all that the 〈…〉 boast of as he did â— more counties than one might probably have been alarum d into so Deep a sense of their duty and condition that our present low Country Cavaliers who have mounted us shewn themselves already so ill riders as to have sput galled us might have been driven away with shame before they had gotten into or fixt themselves in 〈…〉 So desireable an end the Authour conceived may certainly authorise some smartness of stile and Apologize for him in any nationall or 〈…〉 reflections his honest zeale transported him into which as he spake he 〈…〉 that if any perceive some vinegar in his ink he is perswaded they wil discover â—o gâ—wle A â—peech made by the Archdeacon to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Durham in the Church of St. Mary le Bovv on the 15. of Nov. 1688. vvith a Repetition of some cheife Matters contained in former speeches since his present Majesties Accession to the Crovvn REVEREND WORTHY BRETHREN It is a Custome in the University of Oxford once in the yeare in the University-Church to have a Repetition Sermon This as wellas other her Customs I make no doubt is supported with Substantiall Reason An Auditory of Schollars and Learned men Doctors Divines have not as she supposes allwayes such faithfull Memoryes but that they need a monitor It is no affront therefore Brethren to thinke that the Gravest Clergy at the most Solemne Visitation may bee men of the like Infirmities Were I not then Convinced by the language of your Actions Whereby you Speak as plainly as by your tongues that you have either forgotten many things of moment said unto you or have done much worse that is in plaine termes undervalued rejected them I your Unworthy Archdeacon might have cause enough once in my life to imitate this laudable University-Patterne in making you a Repetion-Speech which tho long will go downe with you the better at a time when as at present you have no Visitation-Sermon And here it will not be amisse to mind you that Repetition-Taske there in the Church at Oxford is the most difficult Imployment of the whole yeare So that you will have Small reason to imagine that I do betake my selfe to the like course so much for mine ovvn ease as for your Edification And as I shall imitate my Mother the University in one respect so shall I in an other Shee doth not exercise the Patience of her Auditory so far as to bring to their view the substance of many or any Sermons of the whole yeare but of the foure last imediately preceding Low-Sunday viz. the Sermons preached on Good-Friday Easter-Day with those on the two following Feastivalls No more shall I disturb you with Hearing the Heads of any of my past Addresses saving the four last I meane those which I have made since the Death of our Late Gratious Soveraign Tho I might invite you to look farther back being not conscious to my selfe God be praised that I did ever with zeale presse any thing upon you but what was well worth your Hearing and consonant to the known Rules of the Church of England So without any more ado praying for Gods Assistance I enter on my proposed imployment REPETITION OF THE SVBSTANCE OF FORMER SPEECHES SPEECH I. THE former of these four Discourses I made you in the Church of S. Nicholas the three last in this where in wee are at present assembled I shall according to our Oxford-Method entertaine you with the Cheif Most important Points in the same order which I spoke them First in that after a considerable absence a great Change I did Judge it meet to bring to your vievv The Greatnesse of our Affliction our greater sins vvhich provoked God at that time in that manner to punish us vvith the losse of a Meek mercifull Father of our Country A Prince of so condescending a Race that hee was like his never enough to be admired and good natured Father more concerned for the Ease Property of his subjects than for the security of his own Person Prerogatives A Prince of such Exemplary long-suffering bearing with such innumerable intollerable Affronts of his Authority that hee did evince to all the world that it was scarce possible for a Stuart ever to be a Tyrant A Prince what ever might be his own personall Infirmities that had not one of those grosse Flavves in a Monarch which do border upon Injustice Cruelty to his People A Prince that did so abound in Acts of Grace to a stubborn ungratefull Generation that an Excessive Clemency had like to have proved his own as it did his Fathers Ruine Lastly a Prince under whom God forgive our unreasonable complaints wee might have been if wâ—e were not one of the Happiest Nations in the World. The next thing which I offer'd to your consideration was The Gratious Goodness of the present King in not only continuing but Protecting our Religion VVhereby hee did in an unexpected Blessed manner defeat the bitter Calumnies of his Malitious Enimies vvho for seaven yeares before had most seditiously hammer'd into the Spirits of the vulgar most Dismall Dreadfull Apprehensions of a Popish successour Hee thereby proving all those God be thanked false Prophets who had insinuated into the Peoples minds to the scaring them almost out of their senses that as soon as the Duke of Yorke came to the Crovvne vvee should have Masse said in all she Cathedralls in England To vvhich Act of mercy in the King it vvas but an unsuitable unseasonable Returne I could not omit the notice to grudge his Majesty and those of his Persvvasion the Exercise of their ovvn Religion vvith impunity from the severity of the Lavves vvhilst God kept us under the Government of a Prince of the Roman Communion Witnesse the Untimely heat of some turbulent Spirits in the House of Commons vvhich assembled on the 19 of may after his Coming to the Crovvne who flung a bone among that August assembly vvhich vvas like to have brokn all their Teeth furiously pushing on the then present immediate Revivall of the Penal Lavves vvithout any exception of the Roman Catholicks vvho had undeniable pretences considering their Loyalty and services in the Great Rebellion to some respite during the Reign of a Prince of their ovvn Religion But the Major part of that Loyall Parliament vvisely foresavv vvhereto such a preposterous proceeding did tend and like faithfull Patriots did readily oppose soon Quench the flame of that ill-timed Zeal resolving vvithout any more adoe Would God none had ever changed their minds firmely to rely on the vvord of their Gratious Prince for the security of their Religion Lavves dutifully expressing their just Indignation against those rash as vvell as horrid Rebels vvho did at that time insolently make a desperate attempt to overthrovv our Antient Monarchy The Parliament
Rebellious Age. Indeed I am so farre from being ashamed that I am tempted to a little kind of Pride to thinke I brought this some other like Points to discussion last summer the General Eviction whereof however they vere despised Opposed would have stopt Multitudes from running with full Career to put their Necks by the Expulsion of their owne undoubted Gratious Soveraigne under the Yoke of Afforreign Power And it may not bee Alltogether unworthy of their Thoughts who were so angry with them made so much Noise about them whether their Anger did not proceed from the serviceablenesse of my Doctrine to the Kings Interest which they were about to destroy those propositious which I asserted striking at the very Root of the Controversy betwixt the King Subjects of England that is whether the supremacy should bee in the King or in the People A Galled Horse Pardon the similitude shewes where he is sore by his unwillingness to bee handled And the Serpent directs where a man should strike by defending his Head. But how greatly soever I was hereby Exposed to censure made the Talke scoff of some Divines others over their Cups of Coffee upon the Interception of a letter to my Ever honored Freind ***** and other treacherous publication of some Queries which were canvassed up and down about a yeare agoe under the name of the Dean sometimes falsely under the name of the Bishop of Durham I am very well pleased and greatly comforted thad I had then somuch honesty courage as notwith standing great Opposition Powerful Examples perswasions to the contrary to assert the Prerogative of my King to make an Attempt towards the Conviction of Others committed to my Charge Which were the Only persons for whom those Queries were first designed being certain propositions of the verity of which I made no doubt containing the Reasons of my forwad Compliance with his Majestie which I drew into Queries for the Private Consideration of some young Divines I had under my Roof requiring them effectually to answer them in writing with reasonnings which would Beare the Eye or to comply as I had done with the King. Which Honest loyall Queries tho Good sense I am sure when they were first stole out of my study at Durham being after passing through divers hands I know not how disguised and by some stiled the nonsensical Queries of the Deane of Durham I shall crave leave also to publish in the postcript of this letter giving you no more trouble till then about them or my own Justification But craving pardon for so long a Digression returne proceed in my intended narration of some farther transactions relating to his Majesties service mine own Escape out of England in order to repaire to him Notwithstanding then all that I had done recited in the beginning of this letter upon the first Allarum of the Prince of Oranges designe to invade England tho I had God bee thanked honestly discharged a Good Conscience in Opposing by my Words Actions to the uttermost of my Power the then Growing Rebellion as I had all along the Increase of that Temper which was at that time Burst out into A Dreadfull flame whereto I discerned my selfe too weake to make any farther Opposition many of my owne Brethren Deserting nay opposing mee I say notwithstanding all this I could not satisfy my selfe without sending away a faithfull servant to his Majestie Expresse vvith an account of that County together vvith A Duplicate of those papers before mentiond vvhich vvere intercepted letting the King understand that I despaired as things vvent and so did those fevv loyall frainds vvho Concurred vvith mee of doing his Majestie any further service in that Place Having done all that lay in my Povver in all my Capacities by my most vigorous Endeavours tovvatds the Support of the Crovvne the Church of England and seeing my selfe absolutely uncapable to Act further for his Majestie as I had done to discharge my Conscience there in soe Metamorphosed a Place I resolved after earnest prayer to God to direct mee to preserve my Innocency by fflight since I could not doe it by sitting still staying in Durham if I should escape the Jaole vvhich I had litle Reason to hope after an honest Loyall activity vvhich God had given mee the Grace to practice especially during the Yeare past therefore bethought my selfe of flying avvay secretly to the King to Ovvne his Cause vvhen I could not othervvise serve him Commending my Charge fflock both in Durham Elsvvhere in the Bishoprick to Gods Wise Gratious Protection signifying my mind by letter to my Deputies both in Durham the Country Hoping to Edifye them more by such Expression of my Loyalty Religion in adhering to my Soveraigne vvhen the Defection began to bee generall than I vvas like to doe by svch Sermons or Example as the nevv Authority vvould permitt mee to give them And accordingly on the 11. of Dec. at midnight by the helpe of tvvo faithfull servants vvhich I did dare trust I got my horses prepared and vvas conducted by one of them that night to Heâ—cam vvhere I procured an honest Guide to Carlisle the nearest of the Kings Garnisons the most Considerable Place as I conceived vvhich then held out for the King Hull being reduced the vveek before I had no sooner got to Carlisle vvhere I vvas very kindly received by Mr. Hovvard the Governour Coll Purcell Capt Hern others Officers there but the very day after being Saturday the Post brought in the Dismall Nevves of the defeat of some of his Majesties Troopes at Reading others deserting in such sort that hee vvas forced to vvithdravv out of the Kingdome together vvith some intimations to the Governour that it vvas to no purpose for him to hold out the Place but that hee being a Roman Catholick it vvould bee most prudent not displeasing to his Majesty for him toretire leave the Government to the old Governour tovvit Sr. Christopher Musgrave vvho came into the Tovvne on Saturday night Enter'd on the Government appearing in the Governours seat on Sunday the 15. in the Cathedrall This Direfull Catastrophe vvhich did both astonish and afflict mee to see our Soveraigne a Gratious Prince treated with somuch brutality betrayed by those hee thought his best freinds deserted by his Nearest Relations forbidden his ovvne Palace forced out of his Kingdome did Immediately vvithout much consideration incline mee to leave it allso to manâ—fest my Just Indignation against Rebellion treachery vvhich had then spread themselves allmost over the vvhole Nation And did resolve accordingly to hasten into France to share vvith my Soveraigne in his Misfortunes In order vvhereunto after I had visited the Bishop of Carlisle at Rose Castle craved his Benediction deposited vvith his Lordship some solemne assurances of Living Dying in the right Church of England Religion I departed from
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
the Kingdome even by the Leaders Guides of Christ's Flock are more greater than it is possible for any to conceive or foresee Such a Notorious Contradiction of your own past Preaching Practice must I fear render you very cheap amongst those People which you have drawn into a Snare by a very sinfull Example who have too much sense not to discern the illness thereof tho they want Courage to resist it I am sorry that the necessity which I am put to of delivering my Soule constreins me here to declare thus much and that you have very often in my Presence preach'd false Doctrine if your present Proceedings Compliances are justifiable It 's now a more seasonable time than it was a year agoe for us Ecclesiasticks who cannot swallow implicite Faith to teach our Hearers to beware of implicite Obedience If it were dreadfull dangerous while we liv'd under a gratious Prince of an undoubted Title whose excessive Goodness Forwardness to rely on his Subjects hath prov'd his Ruine is it become otherwise under the Government of a Prince who hath by Violence wrested a Crown from the very Father of his own Princess his own near Relation who by such an act of unparaleld Injustice inexcusable palpable defect of Veracity in having at his first Entrance grossly contradicted his own Declaration gives more just Grounds than both his Uncles or his Grandfather ever did of Jealousy Fear to conclude that he intends to Rule as he Conquer'd the Kingdome proposing to himselfe no other motives in his future Government than he did in his first Invasion And what they were it will be needless to recite to any but those who were during the months of Oct Nov last fast a sleep And what will become then of our Religion Libertyes Lavvs it will be easy enough to devine O Fortunatos nimium bona si sua norint c. The Review of our past Felicity those very Blessings we enjoy'd and sadly overlook'd during the Reigne of our present Soveraigne must needs greivously torment our Hearts give us occasion of pining away with just vexation anger at out selves Since it is not possible now for us in all humane apprehension to swimme back to such our sottishly neglected lost Happiness but through that sea of blood which Tyrants Usurpers commonly shed in prosecuting accomplishing their Machiavellian Designes And it is matter of no small moment for men especially Churchmen to examine thoroughly impartially how much of the Guilt will lye at their own Doores As a great measure thereof must it is without all Dispute rest at the door of every one who hath knovvingly and vvillfully contributed to the Fall Banishment of his Lawfull Prince whereby he is put under a Necessity out of Justice to his son to recover his own by the Sword which by Force Violence as well as the abhorr'd Treachery of his own Subjects were taken from him And I do beseech You to be assur'd that in now recommending to You whom God hath plac'd under my Authority so Seasonable necessary a Task as this sort of SELFE-EXAMINATION I do manifest that I am as I have done often in other matters your faithfull Friend as well as Roüen Aug 15. 1689. Your affectionate Brother DENIS GRANVILLE FINIS To the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Durham REVEREND BRETHREN Among the many applications which upon my withdrawing and leaving the Nation I have been oblig'd out of common decency as well as good conscience considering the publickness of my circumstances to make to my Relations Naturall Spirituall I might without censure or blame omit all Laborious penning down of my thoughts for You the Clergy of my Archdeaconry having for more than twenty years together with the greatest industry best zeal I was able from year to year by word letter sometimes in Print not only incited you at my Visitations faithfully diligently to execute your offices but plainly fully deliver'd my soule at my last more memorable Visitation on the 15 of the never to be forgotten month of Nov 1688 ten dayes after our late Dutch-Protestant Gunpowder-Treason Brotherly advising nay earnestly pressing you to stand the Test in that great day of tryall that you might not have lost either the honour or reward of Confessors for a Righteous Cause in Asserting whereof I am willing and resolve by Gods grace to sacrifice my life as I have done my Revenue if the wise God should thinke fitt to call me to the one as he hath done to the other To demonstrate undeniably to your selves all that hear'd me that day that I was not among all my weaknesses afraid or ashamed to owne my past life Doctrine to compleat the Office of a Visitor as honestly heartily as I began I chose you may remember to lay before you the cheife heads of all the Good Counsell Advice which I had given you at the former Conventions of the Clergy of my Jurisdiction for four years together even the four last extraordinary years that is to say ever since his gratious Majestie our Liege Lord Soverigne King Iames the 2 mounted his Throne tho I had too much reason then to apprehend by your long neglect thereof running counter to the principles practice of your Archdeacon it would badly suite with your palates which at that time to my greife appear'd since without all dispute are found not only vitiated but poison'd by the Leaven Magick of the Age. It was ever my hopes that his Majestie 's Loyall County of Durham the appellation which my gracious Master King Charles the 2 was wont as I have often minded You to afford Us would have resisted longer than any Diocess in England by vertue of the Good Government which was very seasonably more effectually than else where therein set on foot at his joyfull Restauration How little prevalent unsuccessfull soever my poor weak endeavours prov'd towards your establishment I could not imagine that the Clergy of the Bishoprick of Durham could have so soon forgotten much less have frustrated the precepts Example given them by so great a Confessor and stout Champion of the old orthodox Church of England as had happily reviv'd good order conformity to the Churche's Rules among them But since we find by sad experience that it is so that even the very Leaders have apostatiz'd from their Duty to God and the King It becomes me who dare not follow their Example to do all that I can to prevent the People of my Archdeaconry from being seduced thereby You know I have labour'd faithfully with zeale more than ordinary to assert the King's cause from the yeare 1678 through all the Combustions occasion'd by an Infamous Impostor home to the Dutch Invasion at that very time even on the 15 of Nov. 1688 brought all the wholesome advice
dispise or 〈…〉 Your 〈…〉 who has done his part faithfully to discharge his Trust in a criticall juncture thereby has help'd to save the honour of the young Clergy under my Conduct will be willing I know to hear testimony that I did to my utmost diligently discharge the part of a faithfull vvatchman penning down my thoughts almost dayly using him sometimes for an Amanuensis to fortify all Persons under my care against the dangerous inveiglements of ill men the plausible rather than reall arguments of deluded goodmen who have by their Reputation contributed more to the present sad state of things I must take the liberty to tell them than the more malicious sinners that did originally designe to trample on the Crown Mytre And that I was no bad Prognosticatour in the month of August 1688 you your-selfe every body else may without all contradiction be convinced by a coppy of a Paper which I penn'd at Durham the 27 of the aforesaid month according to my usuall manner of dictating to one of my Clerks in my chamber at my uprising Which Paper only contains some floating thoughts of my brain but relating to mattets of so great importance as did according to its title portend very fatally to the Government Church of England And it being the only sheet of some hundreds penn'd in such manner much to the same purpose that I did by great accident bring away with me I shall here to this my letter annex a printed Coppy thereof which will at least demonstrate to all who shall seriously consider it that I gave a better guess how things would go than any of my Censurers or Opposers who thought them selves greater Politicians but have so much faild in their Politicks that they as well as others are by this time I suppose convinced how their zeale which run so Counter to mine was very preposterous viz That the irregular unaccountable method they took to be deliver'd from Popery and Arbitrary Power hath brought the whole Kingdome absolutely under the one and in greater danger than ever it was of the other And that I may do all that in me lyes to clear my selfe both in the sight of God man from being the least ways accessary to the horrid guilt many who have depended on me in my parishes or else where have contracted by forsaking our Churche's Doctrine the good Rules which I have set them I shall embrace this occasion to add another paper to the former containing the Order Directions which I required strictly to be observ'd in my parishes respectively which will be sufficient to evince that I did honestly tho imperfectly endeavour to have prevented the Apostacy of any committed to my charge Always looking on a strict observation of the Discipline Rubricks of the Church as the best means by Gods blessing to have strengthen'd them against those temptations that have at last overcome them for which I now begin to value my selfe And a serious consideration of this Method enjoyn'd in my Parishes added to the manner of my parting with my Brethren of the Cathedrall Clergy of my Archdeaconry set forth in those Fare-vvell-Discourses I made to them in the months of Nov◠December 1688 will sufficiently proclaime to all unbiass'd persons that I was at least an Honest man so far in all my capacities as to have no fingar at all in the Invitation of a Forreigne povver the unnaturall Invasion which attended thereon which I am desirous should remaine to Posterity upon Record If the publication of such papers as were never design'd for the press seem to savour any thing of vanity cause to beleive that I glory in having been more regular constant in my duty than the generality of my Brethren let them give a Looser leave to speake and desire them to remember consider that the Apostle St. Paul himselfe was compell'd to boast in a less day of temptation than the fifth of November 1688 which did in a manner blow up the foundations of three Kingdoms I confess that I do glory with the B. Apostle but it is as he did in my vveakness the grace that Almighty God has manifested therein carrying me through the manifold temptations which have prevailed over my Stronger Brethren I do bless praise God's holy name will do it by his assistance for ever ever that he did endow me with resolution to stick close to all the Churches Rules Orders whereto I gave my assent consent at my first entrance into the ministerial function in the year 1661 without governing my selfe by example of any Clergy high or low in the citty or in the country Living by the example of those who contradicted their excellent Rule being a sort of Complaisance which I bless God's holy name I have never been guilty of tho it has been God know s too frequent among my Brethren and prov'd fatall to the poor church of England To take no comfort satisfaction in my owne innocency which God has in a manner miraculously preserv'd when he has suffer'd such a multitude of abler Divines to faile who were furnish'd with greater qualifications to have borne vvittness to his truth I should look on as an act of meaness of spirit savouring more of spirituall ingratitude than true humility who desire rather to be really thankfull humble than appear either Let my censurers be contented with my revenue which I have left to their mercy choosing to do so rather than betray my conscience without depriving me of that precious ointment more valuable treasure a good name which I shall in spight of all my enemys endeavour by the aid of Gods holy spirit to secure my title to in approving my selfe to the very end as I have hitherto as much as in me lay a Genuine son of the Church Loyall subject to the Crown of England If the present Generation who favour none with their good opinion but those who concurr to the support of the present Fabrick in England will not allow me the aforesaid satisfaction but load me with obloquy or contempt one of these Fates I expect from the North where so few have followed my example there remains yet one thing that I am sure they are not able to deprive me of I mean the internall Peace and Quiet of my conscience which I have enjoy'd since I was driven from my Station to Heavens eternall praise I speak it in a more plentifull measure than ever I did heretofore when I was in the actuall possession of some of the best preferments of their kind in England This supports me under my present pressures and will be continued unto me I trust in God while I continue as I pray I may faithfull to my mother the Church unalterably obedient to the father of my Country Of these things I require you to assure the flocks I have committed to your charge whom I do not
to speak out have to their everlasting shame scandalously neglected And by the neglect whereof in a word have betrayed their Mother the Church of England the Head of Reformed Christendom A very Odd kind of way to accomplish what people pretend the Support of the Protestant Religion DIRECTIONS VVhich Dr. Granville Archdeacon of Durham Rector of Sedgefeild Easington enjoins to be observ'd by the Curates of those his Parishes given them in charge at Easter visitation held at Sedgefield in the yeare 1669. THAT the Mattens Even-Song shall be according to the Rubrick said dayly in the Chancells of each of his Parish-Churches throughout the yeare vvithout the least Variation That the houres for dayly Prayer on VVorking-dayes shall be six in the morning six in the evening as the most convenient for labourers men of business Except as folloveth On all Vigills Holy-day-Eves as also on all Saturday-afternoons which anciently were half-holy-dayes three of the clock shall be the houre for Evening-Prayers On all wensday friday-mornings both throughout Advent all Lent and on the three Ember-Dayes in each Ember-week the hour shall be nine On the Rogation-Dayes one houre at least earlier by reason of the Perambulation That allvvayes as nine of the clock three of the clock-prayers aforesaid vvhen there shall be some additionary exercise of Devotion requiring a greater number than ordinary tvvo bells shall chime to intimate the same to the People That at fix of the clock-prayers one bell only shall toll beginning a quarter of an hour before That there shall be allvvayes Catechisings after the second lesson on sunday and Holy-day-Afternoons vvith some explanation of the Church-Catechisme after the third collect lighten our Darkness unless there be some exposition of the Scripture or Rubricks some profitable exhortation or discourse de tempere dravvn from the service of the church or else that the 39 Articles of Religion or Canons are to be read according to Order That one quarter of an hour is sufficient for such Exposition Exhortation or Discourse that it never shall exceed an halfe hour That on all aforesaid dayes vvhen there are prayers at nine in the morning tvvo bells chime there ought to be some additionary exposition or discourse to the people if de tempore the better vvhich ought not to exceed the time appointed for the explanation of the Catechisme That there shall be sermons on all Festivalls or Holy dayes Except there be an Homily vvhich shall not be oftenner than to countenance the book or assert the King s supremacy according to the Canon vvhich may very commodiously be done in some of the Homilies Concerning Obedience or against Disobedience being the very vvords of the Church vvhich sermons shall never exceed an halfe hour That the sermons even on Sundayes shall be shorten'd to an halfe hour vvhen there happen's any concurrent offices vvhich require it but never the least omission of one tittle of the service or variation from the Rubricks That the Curate vvhen he bids Christmass Easter or Pentecost vvith their Festivalls as also vvhen he gives notice of Ember-vveek Passion-vveek or Perambulation on Rogation-dayes or other times extraordinary he shall come dovvn to the desk after the Niceene Creed do it in a more solemne manner than vvhen he bids the ordinary Holy-dayes at the table making a short speech de tempore to quicken the People's Devotion That on Advent-sunday Quinquagesima-sunday he shall do the like to prepare the People for the Devotion of the follovving holy seasons That besides the severall Sacraments at Christmass Easter-day Holy-Thursday Pentecost there shal be at least 5 other Sacraments vvhich Sacraments shall be administer'd on the severall dà yes here nominated viz on Nevv year's-day on the first sunday in Lent on the first Sundays in July October November That Easter shall be the time alvvayes for admission of Youth first at the Communion vvho are never to be admitted till they have repair'd upon summons to the minister to receive private instruction on vvenssday Fryday-mornings after service during Lent. That the young people be confirm'd after due instruction before they receive if possible but vvhen that cannot be contriv'd by reason of the Bishop's absence or othervvise that they their friends be enjoyn'd faithfully to send them to the first confirmation vvhereof they shall have notice That none shall be admitted to the Sacrament till 16 years of age unless the minister shall see extraordinary cause for the same That the 39 articles Cannons be read according to Injunction That the Canon about Excommunication be read excommunicates denounced according to the said Canon That his Majestie 's Directions to preachers be read in the Congregation at least once in the yeare vvhich I by my ovvn authoriâ—y take upon mee to injoyne as Ordinary of the PLACE That vvhen Citations Excommunications or Absolutions are read the Curate shall consider vvhether he may by any occasionnall reflection out of the Desk or from the pulpit improve the same to the People to the deterring of them from the like offeâ—ces for vvhich the persons mention'd in the said Acts of Court are proceeded against That the Curate do summon the Church-vvardens tvvice at least bevveen visitation visitation to read consider the visitation-articles to quicken assist them in the due discharges of their offices That he doth in particular frequently mind the Church-vvardens to go out of the Church at convenient times for the prevention of disorders in tovvn and ale-houses during SERVICE That the Curate takes a particular notice of the Absence of Church-vvardens from the Church on sundays festivalls and signify the same to the Rector their Archdeacon That vvhen the Church-vvardens are negligent suffer irregular behaviour during Divine service that he admonish them of such their neglects cause them to go out of their seats sometimes in the very time of service to mind people publickly of their disorder so shame them into a compliance if milder private admonitions prove ineffectuall That the Curate makes enquiry oftentimes of the Church-vvardens vvhat persons are sick or detain'd from the Church by any infirmity people being negligent to informe the Minister voluntarily to repair to them accordingly tho they should not give notice to assist them in reference to their spirituall estate That the Curate shall on sundayes Holy-dayes at least observe a course of personnal application according to his promise at ordination to the vvhole as vvell as sick visiting after evening-prayer one family if not more on that account observing as far as hee shall be able the venerable Mr George Herbert's method rule to that purpose prescribed in his Country-Parson or Character of an holy Preist VVhich book as I recommend to all the Clergy in my Jurisdictions so do I more especialy to my Curates for their rule direction in order to the exemplary discharge of