promoting Atheisme Arch-Bishop Grindal in his Fair Warning Part 2. Edit 1663 expressed his great fear of two things Atheism and Popery and both arising out of our needless differences By these the Enemies of our Religion gain this that nothing can be established by Law in the Protestant Religion whose every part is not opposed by some or other of her own Professors so that things continuing loose and confused the Papists have their Opportunity to urge their way which is attended with Order and Government And our Religion continuing thus distracted and divided some vile Wretches lay hold on the Arguments on one side to confute the other and so hope at last to destroy all Judge Hales 's Discourse of Religion p. 49. When Men see so much Heat and Passion so much Fervour and Contention such Reproaches and Revilings such Exasperations of Authority on either Party such mutual Prosecutions one of another that more could not possibly be done between Dissenters in those points which both agree to be Fundamental Atheistical Spirits are apt to conclude that probably those points that both sides supposed to be of greater moment are Ejusdem Farinae as those in Contest which all Men take to be small and inconsiderable Mr. Hooker 's Ecclesiastical Politie p. 18. Speaking of Atheistical persons by our Contentions their Irreligious Humour is much strengthened Also by the hot persuit of lower Controversies among Men professing Religion and agreeing in the principal Foundation thereof they conceive hope that about the higher Principles themselves time will cause Alteration to grow Abner 's Plea for Accommodation p. 41. It will cast a scandal on Religion it will open the Mouths of the Adversaries of the Truth The Name of God is blasphem'd among the Gentiles through you saith the Apostle Rom. 2.24 The worst sort among them scoff at it it is meat and drink to them And the better sort are stagger'd by it discouraged from coming within the pale of the Church when they observe Christians as Contentious as Pagans Believers as quarrelsome as Infidels Vnity of Catholick Christians The many Divisions and Animosities which have distracted and separated the parts of Christendom these have opened the Mouths and whet the Tongues of its professed Enemies to Reviling and Railings and Prophane Scoffs against our Blessed Lord and Saviour and his Holy Religion and stifled the first thoughts of admitting the most Convincing Truths to a debate among Jews Turks or Pagans and stopt their Ears against the wisest Charmes To no one cause can we more reasonably impute the small progress which Christianity hath made in the World for a Thousand years past The same contents have a pernicious influence at home upon the Faith and Manners of those within the Pale of the Church Men are hereby too soon tempted into some degree of Sceptiscism about very material points of Christian Doctrine in which they observe so many to differ among themselves Bishop Hacket on Acts 15.39 Where many Sects spring up it calls the Truth more into question and the fewer Proselytes will be gained Secondly By bringing Men to a Lukewarmness and Indifferency in the great things of Religion Bishop Whitgift 's Letter to the Council in Fullers Hist L. 9. That in King Edwards Time and in the beginning of Queen Elizabeths before the heat of these Contentions the Gospel mightily prevailed But since this Schism and Division the contrary Effects have happened Design of Christian p. 236. It is too visibly apparent to be denied that those who have such a scalding hot Zeal or contend so earnestly either for or against things of no certainty and no necessity are many of them as their Predecessors the Pharisees were in the very other Extream as to not a few of the weightiest matters of Religion Conformists Plea for the Nonconformists Part 4. pag. 17 It renders the Labours of the Worthiest suspected and despised by the contrary-minded The most useful profitable searching Books which the World hath most need of are not as much as look'd into by many but rejected because the Books of F s as they are called Yea more if a Conformist have the Name of F some of our Church-P will not come nigh the door-posts of Wisdom Mr. Kidder 's Sermons 1 Pet 3.11 We quarrel for Trifles and neglect our unquestionable Duty to God and Man Doctor Burnet Bishop of Salisbury Matth. 12.25 p. 5. The ill Effects of this Zeal or Contentiousness upon our selves will be That as this Temper grows upon us all our inward seriousness will in a great measure abate and turn meerly to a Form And with that many other Sins will creep in upon us we will bear with many ill things in others because they are of our Party whom otherwise we would detest for their ill Lives and by Conversing much with them we will contract at least a Familiarity with their Vices and perhaps imagine That by our rage and heat we offer up some acceptable Sacrifice to God to compensate for our other Disorders Causes of Decay of Piety p. 251. When bitter Zeal was once fermented the Orthodoxy or Heresie of Lives became soon Tearms out-dated and Men were measured only by Opinions Item p. 301. They are not much discomposed to see Men of no Religion 't is only the having one different from their own that makes their Indignation Mr. Cook 's Sermons on Rom. 12.18 p. 24 What a siding is there with this and the other Zealous and Conscientious Sect even by those that have neither Zeal nor Conscience but are Deriders of both and of strict Holiness in all sorts of Professors Appendix to the third part of the Friendly Debate p. 143 Doctor Jackson tells us the first ground of his dislike to the chief Solicitors of Reformation in our Church was the deformity of their Zeal not moving them to redress known Enormities of the Common-wealth much more material and much more nearly concerning the Advancement of the Gospel than those doubtful Controversies of Formality about which they strove Bishop Wilkins on Rom. 14.17 18 Let a Man but indifferently look round about him amongst all the kinds of Parties in our times even those who in his own judgment he esteems the best and then say Whether both our Common Peace and the Power of Religion hath not suffered exceedingly upon the account of our Zeal in lesser matters Another Mischief it destroys Charity Doctor Steward 's Englands Case p. 26 In such Divisions as these Men are extreamly apt to forget all Bonds of Peace and for possession sometimes of a little supposed Truth quit indeed their whole state of Charity Mr. Kidder 's Sermons 1 Pet. 3.11 We do indeed fiercely contend with each other but it is because we want Charity We neglect that plain Duty whilest we are fond of some Opinion of our own which is often false and at best but doubtful Pref. to Usher 's Body of Divinity Men falling into Sects and Schisms break the Bond of Love and
scattered each from other upon the Mountains but a storm brings them together So doth Eusebius relate that the Church enjoyed much peace and freedom immediately before the Persecution raised against it by Dioclesian and making no better use of it than to fall asunder into Divisions and Factious Contentions instantly God took a course by way of punishment to cover the Daughter of Zion with a Cloud in his Anger and to cast down from Heaven to Earth the beauty of Israel and not to remember his footstool in the day of his Anger setting up the Right-hand of his Churches enemies and making their adversaries to rejoyce Lam. 2.1 Psal 39.42 Mr. Ward of Ipswich 's Sermons p. 253. Charity Charity is the builder of Churches Strife about trifles hath wasted many famous ones and placed the Temple of Mahomet where the Golden Candlestick was wont to stand We pity the former Ages contending about leavened and unleavened Bread keeping of Easter Fasting on Sundays the future Ages will do the like by us Pygots Abners Plea for Accommodation in 43. p. 33. Take heed your private dissentions do not expose you as a prey to the common adversary I remember the dying Fathers admonition to his Sons Having call'd them all together he caused a Faggot to be brought into the Room and commanded the stoutest of them to break it they tryed one after another but none of them could do it then he bade them undo the band and take them stick by stick and so they snapped them asunder like a twined thread Thus shall it be with you my Sons saith the Old Man when I am dead if you continue united and knit together in the bond of Peace and Love no Enemies shall be able to hurt you but if you once break the bond and fall into differences among your selves you 'l presently be broken to pieces and come to nothing Item p. 42. The wild Boar of the Forest I mean the Turk had never made such inrodes into Christendom had it not been for the dissention of Christian Brethren 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vpon the Rebellion in Ireland Ejac. 3. Because we have not more loved thy Truth and practiced in Charity thou hast suffered a Spirit of error and bitterness of mutual and mortal hatred to arise among us Bishop Reynolds Broth. Agreement p. 18. Cites holy Cyprian who in his time looked upon it as one great cause of that fore Persecution which God sent upon the Church Had Unanimity and Peace said he been amongst the Brethren we had long ago obtained our Petitions from Divine Mercy neither had we been thus long tossed with those Tempests which endanger our Faith and Salvation Imo vero nec venissent Fratribus haec mala si in unum fraternitas fuisset animata Bishop Hacket on Acts 15.39 p. 8 9. The passage is well known about Constantine the Great how he remov'd from his Palace in the East because every corner of the Imperial City was filled with adverse disputations about Religion much more you may presume that God will depart from that Church where the flames of notorious discords are Causes of decay of Christian Piety p. 304. As to the extirpation of the Eastern Churches he that shall examine the Records of those Times will have cause to say their janglings and divisions were not only in a Moral and Divine but even in a proper natural sence the Instruments of it the Turk only coming in at those breaches which themselves have made Glanvells Cath. Charity p. 17. The greatest evils that have or can happen to the Church have been the effects of the decay of Charity and of those intestine divisions that have grown up in it From these she hath always suffered more than from external Persecutions The flames within have consumed her when those from without have only sing'd her garments Bishop of Salisbury 's Exhort to Peace and Vnion on Matth. 12.25 p. 3. There is nothing that defeats the end of Religion more and doth more naturally lead to all manner of sin and impieties which must end in Temporal as well as Eternal ruine then our Divisions Pag. 9. In Divisions either party will be so intent on their little designs that the whole may perish and they will bite and devour one another till they are either consumed one of another or made an easie Conquest to those that both see and improve all their advantages Item Exhort p. 10 11. The Africans continued quarrelling about Cecilian and his ordainers till the Vandals came and destroyed both the one and the other Item p. 11. And can we think without astonishment that the difference of the Procession of the Holy Ghost could ever have rent the Greek and Latin Churches so violently one from another that the Latins rather than assist the other look'd on till they were destroyed by the Ottoman Family which has ever since been so terrible a Neighbour to the rest of Europe Mr. Hesketh on Lam 3.20 21. p. 25. It were seasonable to have made some reflections upon the unchristian heats and unreasonable differences that are among us things that render us not only sinners but great fools and plain contrivers for our own Ruine For these are evils that will destroy us alone and by their own weight sink us into destruction Divided Societies last not long the experience of all Ages confirms it for a Truth and I do not see what reason we have to expect an exemption from the common fate Dr. Mores Mystery of Iniquity p. 554. What harm is it to presage so well of the Reformation as that after the decursion of the years of their Childhood God will ripen them into a more Manly sence of the great and indispensable Duties of the Gospel that he will not tolerate nor connive any longer at their Childish squabling about Nut-shells Counters and Cherry-stones and menace them even with destruction if they leave not off their animosities and asperities of mind about toys and trifles and hold fast to the Royal Law of Love If ye bite and worry one another take heed that ye be not consumed one of another Gal. 5.15 Mr. Hancocks Sermon on Luke 19.42 If the judgments of God which we have already groaned under cannot sure the dangers that threaten us and our Religion might help to abate our heats and suppress our differences Did not Christianity decay in the Church of Corinth as their Schisms and Factions increased Pag. 31. Were not the former Conquests of these Nations the effects of our own Divisions God grant that saying may never be applyed to us which was used of our Fore-Fathers that whilst they severally quarrel'd among themselves they were all overcome by the common Enemy Item They are convinced that a number of petty Sects and divided Interests cannot long maintain their ground against the Roman Forces Mr. Cooks Sermon on Rom. 12.18 p. 4. Were it not for that security the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it that is the
drew too hard to an uniform complyance in things where Christ hath left us free True state of the Primitive Church p 20. Let us be men of understanding men in Devotion be zealous and hold fast the substantial parts of Religion and let us leave it to Women and Children to contend about Ceremonies Let it be indifferent to us whether this or that or no Ceremony whether Kneel or not Kneel Bow or not Bow Surplice or no Surplice Cross or no Cross Ring or no Ring Let us give Glory to God in all and no offence to our Brethren in any thing Doctor Stillingfleets Irenicum p. 65. He must be a great stranger in the Primitive Church that takes not notice of the great diversity of Rites and Customs used in particular Churches without censuring of those that differ'd from them or if any by inconsiderate Zeal did proceed so far how ill it was represented by other Christians And he concludes with that Divine Aphorism of St. Austin Indignum est ut propter ea quae nos Deo neque digniores c. It is an unworthy thing for Christians to condemn and judge one another for those things which do not commend us unto God To the same purpose in Vnreasonableness of Separation That the Cross be left at liberty as the Parents desire it or wholly taken away Pref. p. 83. Edit 3. King Charles II. Declaration at Breda Agreed to leave the Ceremonies at liberty Dr. Rudde Bishop of St. Davids Speech in the Convocation 1604. In the life time of the late Archbishop then Whitgift these things were not so extreamly urged but that many Learned Preachers enjoyed their Liberty therein conditionally that they did not by word nor deed disgrace or disturb the State established King Charles II. Declaration from Breda None shall be denied the Lords Supper for not Kneeling none compelled to use the Cross it shall be Lawful to him that desires to use the Cross to have such Ministers as will use it and if the proper Minister refuse to get another None compell'd to bow at the name of Jesus The Surplice left to liberty except in the Royal Chappel Cathedrals and Universities Another Argument The mischief to the Church hath been very great from these Ceremonies especially from the Cross First as to the Imposition though the present Fathers of the Church have signified their consent unto a due liberty to Dissenters and some Indulgence to them beyond their Predecessors yet several Ministers in Queen Elizabeths and King James I. Reign and that of King Charles I. and at King Charles II. Return have been turned out of their Benefices and silenced for Nonconformity to these Ceremonies although the Church of England confesseth them to be but things indifferent And it were hard for refusing upon a Conscientious account to submit to things indifferent to have one of the greatest punishments inflicted on a man Suspension and Deprivation even as Conformists would many of them think it hard to be Silenced for not assenting to the Perseverance of the Saints or any other of the five points according to the common sense or notion of our Dissenting Brethren Secondly These Ceremonies have been as it were a bone of Contention thrown in between Conformists and Nonconformists Zanchies Letter to Queen Elizabeth 1571. tells her This Counsel about strict Imposition of Ceremonies will trouble the publick Peace of the Church by causing contentions among men and cause them to write Books one against another about things indifferent which are the Golden Apples of Contention Many an hot Dispute and Conference there hath been and Books wrote for and against them with bitterness of Spirit some contending as earnestly about these indifferent things as about matters of Faith as if the very Life and Soul of Religion lay in them and as if the cause of Christ and our Protestant Reformation were to stand or fall with them The Ceremony of the Cross hath been as vexatious to our Church as ever the difference about the Jewish Ceremonies of Days and Meats was in the time of the Apostles which occasioned a Council at Jerusalem Acts. 15. so many Chapters in St. Pauls Epistle and such contention among them Thirdly Much time hath been spent to little purpose or profit in Reading or Studying these matters Oh the many that have wrote for and against No little time doth it cost men in Writing as Bishop Mourton Dr. Bourges for Dr. Ames against them and others nay every Book for or against Conformity as God knows there are abundance of them upon these fruitless Controversies makes the Ceremonies materiam contentionis matter of the Controversie and it calleth for a part and a considerable share in the Book Time also spent in Reading and Studying the point and there must be Prayer to be led by the Spirit to find out the Truth for satisfaction The time also which is spent in Preaching on this point for it is commanded in the Canons I say this time would be much better spent in reading the Bible with Comments or Treatises of Divinity and so be Redeemed for Eternity which now men are necessitated to spend for satisfaction herein All this a great deal or a considerable portion of time may be better improved if this Ceremony be taken away And then as my Lord Bacons Essays p. 13. Speaking of Peace in the Church It turneth the labours of Writing and Reading Controversies into Treatises of Mortification and Devotion Again The strict exaction of these Ceremonies hath occasioned some to cry them up as if a considerable part of Ministers Conformity to the Laws of God and Man lay therein when in truth it is a very inconsiderable part And some have sought to get into favour with greater Persons and attain Preferment by a niceness and strict observance of every Punctilio about the Ceremonies exacting perhaps a more strict Obedience to these than to the Laws of God And he shall pass for an obedient and very good Son of the Church with some that is a zealous stickler for these though he be loose in his Life formal in his Religion and uncharitable to those that differ from him Again Some have declared that they cannot joyn with us in Baptism suffering their Children to be Baptized by Conforming Ministers because of the Sign of the Cross which they in their Consciences cannot allow of nor joyn in the Lords Supper because of Kneeling which seems to them though through great weakness and a more unreasonable prejudice when the Rubrick is so expresly against the Idolatry and Adoration of the Sacramental Bread a symbolizing with Idolaters which things have bred no small perplexity of mind and outward trouble to some Godly Persons said Mr. Sprint in his days Cass Anglic. I shall conclude this with Dr. Preston on the Lords Prayer p. 89. Thy Kingdom come We intreat the Lord that he would curse and cross all Antichristian Plots and Practices and we are to Pray against all lets and
A New SURVEY of the BOOK of Common Prayer Humbly proposed to this Present PARLIAMENT In Order to the Obtaining a New Act of UNIFORMITY By a Minister of the Church of England LONDON Printed for the Author 1690. THE PREFACE GOD hath wrought very graciously and in an Extraordinary manner for the deliverance of this Church and State from Popery and Arbitrary Power in such a way of Peace as other Ages can scarce parallel But Beneficium postulat Officium God's great Goodness calls for some suitable return in the way of Love Thankfulness and Obedience And no doubt but the Lord expects some Work that is Great and Excellent somewhat more than ordinary for the good of that Church which he hath so wonderfully preserved And if you would know what we shall render unto the Lord for all his Benefits What more What better than for Protestants with one Heart and one Mouth to glorifie God the Father of all our Mercies and to Worship him with one consent And oh that the All-wise God would inspire this Great Council of the Nation with Wisdom from above what and how to act effectually for this Blessed Vnion Which as Mr. De L' Angle in his Letter to his Lordship the Bishop of London will rejoyce Men and Angels and bring down a Thousand Blessings of Heaven and Earth upon those that shall contribute the most unto it Vnreas of Separ p. 424. It is to be hoped that the Glory of so Great and Good a Work will be due to our present Governours next under God And since we are told in the Preface before the Common Prayer that in the Reigns of several Princes of Blessed Memory since the Reformation the Church upon just and weighty Considerations her thereunto moving hath yielded to make such Alterations in some particulars as in their respective times were thought convenient Therefore I have added Arguments for such Concessions and Alterations in this Worship as may be effectual in order to the Desired Vnion Though I have had God's Glory for my end yet I know no Mans Integrity in the Cause of God and of Religion nor the most unfeigned Desires and Endeavours for the good and Peace of Church and State can exempt him from the common fate that attends things of this Nature which are sure to be unacceptable with some if not pass for an unpardonable Offence against the Church of England If I knew that there were any thing but Truth and Charity I would blot it out If it be possible and as much as in me lyeth I would live peaceably with all Men. The Motives and Inducements to write were these First A Zeal for God God's Honour is intimately concerned in his Worship What Soul that hath any sense of God and Religion can bear so much dishonour as is done to God in his Worship Several casting a contempt upon it by their unhandsom Speeches and ill Examples prejudiced and prejudicing others against it Many scarce look upon it as the Worship of God and mind nothing less than to be devout in it And since the Worship of God lies under contempt or a great abuse and unprofitableness in the performance of it is there not reason to be offended at it I am not satisfied and cannot be satisfied without some endeavour to redress the Evil. Second Motive was a desire to discharge this part of my Ministerial duty to my own and the Peoples better Edification Does the VVorld think it is nothing to Ministers that have a concern for the Peoples Souls to see how little this VVorship is done to Edifying How great a guilt lies upon their Congregations upon that very account Surely guilt enough to lay them low in misery And the sense of this put me upon another Design which was first in my intention a short piece Argumentative for Conformity to the Prayers And therein first to satisfie Peoples Consciences in a peaceable Submission and Communion in this Worship though they do not like every thing in it best I urge that they themselves will not suffer their Children and Servants to leave their Worship in their Families under pretence that anothers is better But the Governours Authority over the several Families in the Nation reacheth as far as theirs in their own Family in all things Sin only excepted so far as they may be obeyed without disobeying God Secondly To excite them to a Devout use of the Prayers with some Helps and Directions for their Edification in it Thirdly To keep them within the Bounds of Christian Charity towards those that differ from us as knowing that without Charity all is nothing worth Time and Opportunity called for this first though less studied or accurate and plain in its Language Third Motive was a compassionate Concern for some who have suffered much by the severity of the Laws and a desire to prevent their future sufferings I know there are those that dissent from this Worship that would very heartily would if their Consciences had been satisfied have Conformed to it If they did not they knew they were like to pay for it But by such Concessions as to take them in they will be safe for the future from fear of Trouble and Sufferings Fourth Motive was a desire to do my part towards the remedying the Evils which have eventually followed the Act for Uniformity And surely in an Age that hath smarted so much as this hath done for Contentions about these Common-Prayers it concerns every one to put to his helping hand I shall conclude with a Pathetical and Affectionate Speech of that Reverend Prelate Dr. Hall who used to say War with none but Rome and Hell and was a true Son of Peace Bishop Hall's Works p. 426. But thou O Lord How long How long shall thy poor Church see the Dear Sons of her Womb bleeding about these Apples of Strife Speaking of some things in the Common Prayers Ceremonies especially Ye Men Brethren and Fathers help for Gods sake put to your hands for the quenching of these Common Flames The one side by Humility and Obedience the other by Compassion i. e. to the weak and unsatisfied both by Prayers and Tears that so that Passage in His Majesties Declaration may take Effect for Establishing such Laws as should make a good Agreement between the Church of England and Protestant Dissenters May that Agreement be in the Worship of God The Great God of Heaven and every True-hearted Protestant say Amen to it Arguments for Concessions and Alterations in the Common-Prayer and in the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England in order to the desired Vnion in Worship CErtainly that man is no friend to Church and State who is an enemy to their Peace and Union in matters of Religion For as the Eminent Mr. Le Moyn of Holland saith in his Letter to his Lordship the present Bishop of London at the end of Vnreasonableness of Separation In England the good of Church and State depends absolutely upon Vnion
unspeakably great I profess my self to stand admiring the vanity of this contentious World that values such a state no more Hear what men of the most serene temper men that aspired after it if it were possible to attain to some good degree of it or somewhat like it by living Peaceably with all men and by being Peacemakers Benefits of Peace and Vnity LOrd Bacons Essays p. 13. Speaking of Peace in the Church It containeth infinite Blessings it establisheth Faith it kindleth Charity and it turneth the Labours of Writing and Reading of Controversies into Treatises of Mortification and Devotion Bishop Andrews Sermons p. 672. The Spirit dwells not but where Unity and Love is Think of this seriously and set it down that at Salem is his Tabernacle and Salem is Peace and so the Fathers read it in pace factus est locus ejus make that place for him and he will say here is my Rest here will I dwell for I have a delight therein Mr. Vertues Plea for Peace Christ hath said Blessed are the Peace-makers they shall be called the Children of God Matth. 5.9 As we would share in this Blessedness let it be our study Item p. 51. Would we see good and enjoy long days would we be sure that we have that Wisdom which is from above be peaceable wrangle not for trifles contend not about uncertainties Dr. Goods Firmianus Dubitantius p 165. It is not to be doubted but that Peace and Unity and Love among our selves would much dishearten those restless enemies of our Church and State c. and cause Religion and Primitive Christianity to flourish in our miserable divided Nation while that time which is now spent in vain Wranglings and unchristian Contentions would be better employed in devout Prayer Holy Meditation and Mortification of our Corruptions in Duties of Piety towards Almighty God and of Love Mercy and Charity one towards another Mr. Jekyls Sermons on Jer. 5.29 p. 30. Next to Peace with God without which all other security will prove deceitful Unity amongst our selves is certainly the most effectual thing to the making of us an happy people and till that be attained we may possibly be quiet but we shall never be safe I shall conclude this with an excellent Speech of that Pious and Peaceable Prelate Dr. Reynolds in his Sermon of Self-denyal towards the end It were worth not only our Fasting and Prayer but our Studying our Sweating our Bleeding our Dying to recover Peace to the Church and Unity amongst Brethren again I could argue also from the mischievous effects and consequences of our Divisions that the case of our Church must be very sad and deplorable while our Divisions and Confusions in matters of Religion continue Malorum ilias a multitude of evils throng in upon a Church through its unchristian Divisions A divided state is an unhappy state it is a state of Separation from God as well as from their Brethren Bishop Andrews Sermons p. 672. And what is there would sooner grieve him the Holy Spirit and make him to quit us than discord or disunion Among divided men or minds he will not dwell not but where Unity and Love is They may talk of the Spirit without these in vain To say Truth who would be hired to dwell in Mesheck Psal 120.5 where nothing is but continual jars and jangles Such places such men are even as Torida Zona not habitable by the Spirit by this Spirit But for the Spirit of Division ut habitet inter eos Daemon a fit place for the Devil to dwell among such And surely he that hath an heart affected with any sense of the miserable case of our divided Church though blessed be God not in so lamentable a case now as in former years he that hath any concern for it must needs be convinced that we are not well cannot be well in our multiplicity of Divisions The Lord Chancellor Hides Speech to the Parliament 1660 He calls it a sad Consideration that must make every Religious Heart to bleed to see Religion which should be the strongest of Obligations and cement of Affection and Brotherly kindness and Compassion made by the perverse wranglings of passionate and froward Men the Ground of all Animosity Hatred Malice and Revenge My Lords and Gentlemen saith he this Disquisition hath cost the King many a sigh many a sad hour when he hath considered the almost irreparable Reproach the Protestant Religion hath undergone from the Divisions and Distractions which have been so notorious in this Kingdom Bishop Saunderson 's Sermons ad Aulam Serm. 9. Sect. 30 Odious to God and grievous to every Godly Man it is when such Voices as these are heard in the Church I am of Paul and I am of Cephas and I of Apollo Mr. Baxter in the Life of Sir Matthew Hale saith that he much lamented that so many Ministers were silenced the Church weakned Papists strengthned the cause of Love and Piety greatly wronged and hindred by the present differences about Conformity Doctor Good 's Firmianus Dubitantius c. p. 152 'T is indeed much to be lamented that we should quarrel about Mint and Cummin to the prejudice of the more weighty and material duties and scandal of our Religion Causes of the decay of Christian Piety p. 424. Amidst all our importunate pretences to Piety if there be indeed any such thing amongst us methinks it should give us some relentings make us sadly consider what a deplorable Condition we have brought that very Religion into by our Divisions Bishop of Salisbury 's Exhortation to Peace and Vnity p. 30. There have arisen among us such heats so much bitterness so violent an aversion to one another that it must needs beget great Grief and sad Apprehensions in all that look on and judge impartially Principles and Practices of some Mod. c. p. 4. It pains me to the Heart when I consider to what a prodigious heighth about matters in Religion our feuds are grown and how utterly averse the too many Sects and Parties we are crumbled into are to entertain thoughts of Peace and Accommodation Vnity of the Catholick Church p. 1. Whosoever with an Impartial Eye and a truly Religious concern for the Honour of God the Credit of the Gospel and the Salvation of Men looks into the State of Christendom he will scarce find any greater cause of sorrowful Reflections than from the many Divisions and Animosities which have distracted and separated its Parts Mr. Wakes Serm. on Rom. 15.5 6 7. I do not believe there is any good Christian so little affected with those unhappy Divisions under which the Church at this day labours as not both heartily to deplore them and to think that nothing could be too much that might innocently be done on all hands for the redressing of them And to show that these Worthy Men had cause to complain and bewail our Divisions I shall Exemplifie the Evils The Mischief of our Divisions THE First Mischief
fall off from the Communion of Saints as though it were no Article of their Creed and being in Love with their own New Tenets they contend more for them than any Fundamental Truths and hate Malign most bitterly and Uncharitably all those that differ from them in their Opinions though never so Conscientious and Religious as though they professed not the same Faith yea served not the same God nor believed in the same Christ Causes of the Decay of Christian Piety p. 284. It is apparent in too many That they are apt to confine even the Common Offices of Humanity to their own Sect and others who do not so yet shew so great partiality in dispensing them as discovers that the Name of Christian is not half so charming as that of their own particular Faction Mr. Cook 's Serm. Rom. 12.18 How dreadful is it to consider what we may plainly observe that Dissention Hatred and Rancour is not so Violent and Irreconcileable betwixt Extream Opposites who dissent utterly as Pagans and Christians for Example as it commonly is betwixt subordinate Professors who agree upon Generals and in the main Substance but dissent in Particulars Those of the Church of Rome this day rather Tolerate do not so extreamly hate a Turk a Jew a Pagan as they do a Protestant and some Protestants to be quit with them do in affection and kind usage too plainly prefer a Heathen or Mahometan before them Judge Hales 's Discourses of Relig. p. 37. It often comes to pass that not only the Common Bond of Charity and of Christian Love is broken between the Professors of the same Substantials in Christianity but there is most ordinarily much more Severity and Persecution and Implacableness and Irreconcileableness more Endeavours to undermine and supplant and disgrace Dissenters more Scorns and vilifying and reproach and Insolence one towards another in their vicissitudes of Advantage than there is between Men of the most loose and prophane Lives and Professors of Christianity between Orthodox and Hereticks nay between Christians and Turks or Infidels many times Bishop of Salisburies Exhortation to Peace p. 11. Luther and Zuinglius difference about the Sacrament has raised such an alienation that in many places the Lutherans are no less and in some more fierce against the Calvinists than against Papists Bishop Reynold 's Brotherly Agreement p. 8. Through the prevalency of Corruption the Affections of good Men so dissenting are often Alienated and Estranged one from another Glanvil 's Catholick Charity p. 8. Though I see never so much eagerness for an Opinion or heat for an Indifferent Circumstance out the Conscience of Christian Love I shall never call that forwardness for those little things Zeal or Religion yea though those warm Men should sacrifice their Lives to their beloved Trifles I should not think them Martyrs but fear rather that they went from one fire to another and a worse as 1 Cor. 13.3 Mr. Cook 's Sermons on Rom. 12.18 p. 3. Though some divided Parties may in their several wayes exercise many Acts of true and substantial Worship yet whilest the Members thereof retain in their hearts any unpeaceable Disposition or bitter Envy though thay call it Zeal against another Party all the Effects of their Religion must necessarily be null and void because in our Religion we can find no sort of dispensation for an Uncharitable Temper Glanvil's Catholick Char. p. 55 56. If therefore we are Friends to Christian Love let us avoid and oppose this its most fatal Enemy and consider that we should exercise our Zeal about the necessary certain things and our Charity about the rest That Divisions are Ruinous of a Church Bucer I see with what Art Satan doth resist i. e. the Reformation While he goeth about to stir up so many pernitious Contentions as well in Doctrine as Rites For surely except we remove so manifest dishonourings of God whereby the whole Kingdom of God may be renewed Oh how intolerable Wrath of God shall be kindled against this Rhealm In another place With this crafty slight hath that Ancient Enemy driven miserable Germany unto these present Calamities wherewith they be now oppressed in King Edward the VI. dayes God forbid Christ Jesus I say our only Saviour forbid that he prevail against England with this crafty subtilty Bishop Andrew 's Sermon p. 913. Let us begin with the motion for Fire from Heaven upon the Samaritans Luke 9.55 Let us begin with that which was the beginning of all this quarrel dissent in Religion between the Samaritan and the Jew We see the fruit of it here and what Spirit it makes Men of mutual and mortal hatred breaking forth upon every occasion And these two the Samaritans and the Jews made not an end of it till it made an end of them In Josephus you shall see in the days of Claudius Cumanus then Deputy the very like quarrel to this here upon the very same occasion taken up wholly by the Zelotae and pursued hard opened the way to the Jews War which never ended till the utter rooting out and desolation of them both Injunct of K. James I. to the Bishops 1626. One thing there is which proves a great hinderance of this State and not continued amongst the people without great offence against God detriment both to Church and State and our great disservice in this and all other business It is the breach of Unity which is grown too great and common amongst all sorts of men The danger of this goes far for in all States it has made way for enemies to enter Mr. Hookers Answer to Mr. Travers Supplicat p. 30. There can come nothing of Contention but the natural waste of the parties contending till a common Enemy dance in the ashes of them both Halls Works Bishop of Norwich p. 413. If we desire the grief of our common Mother the languishing of the Gospel the extirpation of Religion the loss of Posterity the advantage of our Adversaries which way could these be effected more than by our Divisions Mr. Vertues Plea for Peace p. 25. Falling out among our selves we stand aloof off one from another suffering our selves to be devoured by the common Foe while we look on Yea happily we shall be ready to act one against another and so to save the Enemy a labour as Moab against Ammon and Ammon against Moab and Edom against both sheathing their Swords each in other so that Jehosaphat and his Jews needed not to strike a stroke 2 Chron. 20.3 Isa 9.21 Gal. 5.15 It is a Dutch device and a good one to this purpose of two earthen pots swimming on the water frangimur fi collidimur we are broken all to pieces if we clash one against another Idem p. 31. Besides that God doth often punish breaches and divisions in the Church among Christians by raising up some storm against them which may teach them better to agree we being in this too like to Sheep which on a fair Sun-shine day are
with great regret and expresses some hopes that it might be Repealed next Session of Parliament if the Popish Party did not hinder it and he seems to stand in doubt whether he should Conform himself to it or not upon which he desires Bullingers advice And in many Letters writ on that Subject it is asserted that both Cranmer and Ridley intended to procure an Act for abolishing the Habits and that they only defended their Lawfulness but not their fitness and therefore they blamed private persons that refused to obey the Laws Bishop Grindal in a Letter Aug. 27. 1556. writes that all the Bishops who had been beyond Sea had at their return dealt with the Queen to let the matter of the Habits fall but she continued inflexible He laments the ill effects of the opposition that some had made to them which had extreamly irritated the Queens Spirit Cox Bishop of Ely laments the aversion that they found in the Parliament to all the Propositions that were made for the Reformation of abuses Peter Martyr to Bishop Hooper At first I conceived no small joy of your singular and earnest study in that you put your endeavour that Christ his Religion may be brought again unto a chast and simple Purity For what should be more desired of all Godly hearts then that all things by little and little should be clean taken away and cut off which have very little or nothing in them that can be referred wholly to Edification but rather be judged of the Godly to be superfluous Homily of Fasting Part 1. p. 172 173. Edit 1673. Gods Church ought not neither may it be so tyed to that i. e. Fasting or any other Order now made or hereafter to be made and devised by the Authority of Man but that it may Lawfully for just causes alter change or mitigate those Ecclesiastical Decrees and Orders yea recede wholly from them and break them when they tend either to Superstition and Impiety when they draw people from God rather than work any edification in them This Authority to mitigate Laws and Decrees Ecclesiastical the Apostles practised signifying Acts 15. they would not lay any other burden upon them than these necessaries King Charles I. in his Declaration with the Advice of his Privy Council Jan. 164â— As for differences among our selves for matters indifferent in their own nature we shall in tenderness to any number of our Loving Subjects very willingly comply with the Advice of our Parliament that some Law may be made for the exemption of tender Consciences from Punishment or Prosecution for such Ceremonies in such cases which in the judgment of most men are held to be matters indifferent and of some to be absolutely unlawful Bishop of Cork and Ross 's Protestant Peacemaker Some Circumstantials may be on our side abated and had been doubtless long ago if men of eager and inflexible Spirits had not hindered Du. Goods Firmianus Dubiâ— p. 153. Some Wife and Peaceable Men have desired that the use of certain Ceremonies might be forborn at least for a time which notwithstanding they are still continued These Peaceable Men do abhor the great sin of Separation and do continue their Conformity Dr. Stillingfleet also in Preface to Vnreasonableness of Separation Mr. Claud of France Mr. De L' Angle c. Ceremonies to be left free The Canons made 1640. Can. 7. In the Practice or Omission of this Rite bowing towards the Altar we desire that the Rule of Charity prescribed by the Apostle may be observed which is that they which use this Rite despise not them who use it not and that they who use it not condemn not those that use it Bishop Bilson of Subjection Part 4 p. 15 Strangers are suffered in their Churches to retain their own Ceremonies as be neither against Faith and good Manners and therefore may be born in Christian Unity without offence or confusion Letter to Johannes a Lasco concerning the use of such Signs It is surely the part of Brotherly Charity commanded us by God to leave the use of those Signs free to the Judgment and Conscience of the Congregation except we see an open abuse either of Superstition or of Contention as if they displeased the greater and better part of the Church It was evident at St. Pauls time by the most clear Scriptures of God that the use of days meats and all other external things was made free and it was a sure token of infirmity of Faith to doubt thereof Lord Bacon in his Consideraâ— Dedicat. to K. James I. For the Cap and Surplice since there be things in their nature indifferent and yet by some held Superstitious and that the Question is between Science and Conscience it seemeth to fall within the compass of the Apostles Rule which is that the stronger descend and yield to the weaker only the difference is that it will be materially said that the Rule holds between a private man and a private man and not between the Conscience of a private man and the order of a Church But yet sith the Question at this time is of a Toleration not by connivance which may encourage disobedience but by Law which may give a Liberty it is good again to be advised whether it fall not within the equity of the former Rule And for subscription it seemeth to be in the nature of a Confession and therefore proper to bind in the unity of Faith and to be urged rather for Articles of Doctrine than for Rites and Ceremonies and points of outward concernment For howsoever Politick Considerations and Reasons of State may require Uniformity yet Christian and Divine grounds look chiefly upon Unity Dr. Edw. Bulkleys Apol. for the Religion Established Edit 1608. p. 112. Touching the use of Surplices Organs c. in Divine Service I say that men may differ in Opinions of these things and agree in unity of Faith and Knowledge of the Son of God Doctor Fuller in his Appeal of injured Innocence in defence of his Church History Multiformity in things meerly indifferent with mutual Charity doth more promote Gods Glory then Uniformity it self Doctor Mores Mystery of Godliness Sect. 10. Pref. About the Communion I confess an Uniformity would look better in outward shew but is not worth the least stir and violence in diversities of actions or rather circumstances interpretable to so good a meaning as either Kneeling or Sitting at the Communion is and the real exercise of Charity in leaving every one free is every whit as suitable to this solemn performance as the most exquisite Uniformity if devoid of the Spirit of Meekness and mutual forbearance Item To the same purpose about the Cross Unity of Hearts being better than Uniformity in Actions indifferent there ought to be no breach nor quarrel about these things By an high value of the indispensables of Christianity and of the tender regard to the Consciences of men the Minister will conciliate more authority to himself than if he
of the People in point of Religion and one cannot there press an Vnion too much For there is never like to be an effectual Reformation of Peoples unreformed Lives without an Union when Conforming and Nonconforming Ministers may joyn together encourage and assist each other in that blessed work And as to an Union Mr. Baxter in his Life and Death of Sir Matthew Hale saith p. 19 20. that the said Judge told him the only means to heal us was a new Act of Uniformity Therefore I shall apply my self to the Governours of the Church that are Lawfully called and have Authority to appoint and alter matters of this nature respecting the Service and Worship of God I shall in all Humility recommend to the Governours Consideration some Arguments for Concessions and Alterations in the Common Prayer and then in the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England And to show that I am not alone and that it is not a project of my own which hath no countenance or encouragement from others I shall mention greater Names in favour of the same Argument and urge their concurrence and that shall be my first Plea First Plea For some Concessions and Alterations in this Worship because there are some things which in the judgment of several eminent Conformists may be altered without any detriment or dishonour to the Church Divers Reverend Bishops and Doctors in a Paper in Print before the unhappy Wars in King Charles I. Reign yielded to the laying aside of the Cross and the making many material Alterations as the Archbishop of Armagh the Bishop of Lincoln Dr. Prideaux Dr. Ward Dr. Brownrigg Dr. Featly met together by Order of the Lords at the Bishop of Lincolns in Westminster besides some Innovations in Discipline given in hinted their desire of the Alteration of many things in the Book of Common-Prayer as the Reading of the Psalms according to the New Translations Lessons of Canonical Scripture instead of the Apocrypha leaving out the Hymn of Benedicite and the saying Gloria Patri after every Psalm changing with my Body I thee Worship into these I give thee Power over my Body I Absolve thee in the Visitation of the Sick into these I pronounce thee Absolved c. Grand Debate p. 31. Again the Bishop of Armagh p. 130 131. from Dr. Barnard to this effect That for the healing of those distractions and divisions among Ministers and others and the moderating of each extream in relation to the use of the Liturgy whereby there might be a return of that wished for Peace and Unity which of late years we have been strangers to he conceived some prudent and moderate accommodation might be thought of by wise men in order to the continuance of the substantial part each side yielding somewhat after the example of St. Paul Rom. 14. Idem Directions about the Liturgy After his Vindication of the Liturgy yet it cannot be denied but that there are naevi in pulchro corpore and as it were to be wished that these were altered so it were to be done without much noise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Upon the Ordinance against the Common Prayer Sect. 4. Our publick Liturgy or Forms of constant Prayers must be abolished and not amended in what upon free and publick advice might seem to sober men inconvenient for matter or manner to which I should easily consent Idem To the Prince of Wales In this Church I charge you to persevere as coming nearest to Gods Word with some little amendment c. King Charles the Seconds Declaration from Breda 1660. Since we find some exceptions made against several things in the Liturgy we will appoint an equal number of Divines of both perswasions to review the same and to make such alterations as shall be thought most necessary and some additional Forms and it shall be left to the Minister to chuse one or other In the mean time we desire that Ministers would read those parts against which there lie no exceptions yet in compassion to those that scruple it our will and pleasure is that none be punished or troubled for not using it until it be effectually Reformed as aforesaid The Bishop of Corks Protestant Peacemaker p. 29. What most of the Dissenters would be at no Liturgy no Episcopacy may not be cannot be without Schism we are ready to sacrifice all we can otherwise to the publick peace and safety Idem p. 33. But notwithstanding what I have said of the excellency both of the Common-Prayers and of Cathedral Performances I do not conceive the alteration of an Expression or here and there of a whole Prayer or two by Law or dispensing with some Ceremonies I do not conceive such relaxation as this would break the Harmony and Beauty of our Worship or disturb the Union and Peace of our Church There are some Collects and perhaps Rubricks too which with all duty and submission I humbly conceive might be altered for the better Page 118 119. Mr. Hales in his Tract of Schism p. 215. Propounds it as a remedy to prevent Schism to have all Liturgies and publick Forms of Service so framed as that they admit not of particular and private fancies but contain only such things in which all Christians do agree Prayer Confession Thanksgiving Reading of Scriptures in the most plain and simple manner were matter enough to furnish out a sufficient Liturgy though nothing either of private Opinion or of Church Pomp of Garments or prescribed Gestures of Imagery or Musick of matter concerning the Dead of many superfluities which creep into the Church under the names of Order and Decency did interpose it self The great Dean of St. Pauls in the Vnreasonableness of Separation Pref. About the Book of Common-Prayer it ought to be considered whether for satisfaction of the scrupulous some more doubtful and obscure passages may not yet be explained or amended Whether the new Translation of the Psalms were not fitter to be used especially in Parochial Churches Whether portions of Canonical Scripture were not better put instead of Apocrypha Lessons Whether the Rubrick about the Salvation of Infants might not be restored to its former place in the Office of Confirmation and so the present exceptions against it be removed Whether those Expressions which suppose the strict exercise of Discipline in Burying the Dead were not better left at Liberty in our present case Such a review made by Wise and Peaceable Men not given to wrath and disputing may be so far from being a dishonour to this Church that it may add to the glory of it And whether using the Liturgy and Approbation and Promise of the use of it may not be sufficient instead of the late Form of declaring their Assent and Consent which hath been so much scrupled by our Brethren True state of the Primitive Church p. 23. Now in Christ I humbly beseech the Governours of the Church calmly to consider were it not better to have such a Form of Service as