continued for many Years till at length 't was complain'd of in the general Council held at Nice Where 't was prov'd that all other Churches except that of Asia us'd to celebrate that Feast on the Lord's day and for that reason all the Fathers that were present at that Synod thought it fit and reasonable for the Asian Church to celebrate it on the same day As the great Emperor Constantine expresly asserts in an Epistle to the Churches by whose command that Synod was summon'd From whence it appears that the Nicene Fathers us'd the same arguments against the Asian Church that the Apostle do's against the Corinthian which he deduces from the Custom of all the other Churches Also St. Cyprian has the same against Novatian and St. Augustin against the Donatists But Epiphanius brings it against all Hereticks and likewise Schismaticks condemning them all of Heresie that either in Doctrine or Discipline Apostatize from the Universal Church I might seem too prolix and tedious if I should but point out all the Councils and Fathers that have us'd this argument and therefore our Proposition may well be inferr'd from them For this Argument which the Catholick Church has always us'd takes for granted that 't is at least just and rational that all her rites shou'd be every where retain'd Upon which account we have more largely prosecuted this subject because hereby we may the better when occasion serves repress all the adversaries of our Church even the Romanists themselves who assuming the Name of Catholicks do insolently Glory in it For the Romish Church whose Faith and Customs all Papists are solemnly engag'd to maintain hath invented so many new Tenets and lately innovated so many superstitious Ceremonies either rejected or unknown to the Universal and is at this day so imperious in her commands that she only deserves the name of a most corrupted much less Catholick Church For she has nothing common with the Catholick nothing with all other Churches but rather all things Dissentaneous and Repugnant excepting wherein she agrees with ours But omitting these things as not pertinent to this place let 's rather advance those things which we have hitherto discours'd that we may the better accomplish the Business in hand Now then 't is apparent from what we have already premis'd how expedient it is that Ancient Rites and Manners observ'd hitherto by the Universal that the same should also now be observ'd by every particular Church Just so 't is even in Bodies Politick As for instance in this very Kingdom there are divers Corporations Burroughs and other inferiour Fraternities all which are impower'd to give Laws to themselves and to their Members Provided always they neither do nor enact any thing Contrary to the Statutes of this Realm or as we say to the Common Law or any ancient Custom that has been introduc'd and receiv'd in this Kingdom time out of mind and so has obtain'd the force of a Law. Almost after the same manner 't is with the Universal Church which is the Kingdom of Christ For this has it's Decrees written in the Word of God and also has as it were a Common Law consisting of some certain Rites Which tho' they be not expresly and in just so many words commanded in the said Decrees yet are so adapted if I may so say to the general design and purport of them and so useful for the Propagation and Establishment of that Religion which is instituted there that they have been observ'd at all times and every where throughout the whole Christian World and for that reason are still to be observ'd by all Churches that are desirous of holding a firm Union and Communion with the Universal For if any Church shall abolish any one of these Rites or constitute any thing contrary to them the same will thereby be depriv'd of that Custom which all the other Churches of God enjoy Which thing indeed the Apostle charges the Corinthians with as a fault And deservedly too Because it can't possibly be deem'd a lesser Crime to disannul the common Rites of the Universal Church than to violate the Common Law of the Realm That this is great 't is generally acknowledg'd and some to their own Cost have found it so But perhaps some will judge me guilty of a fault in pleading hitherto for Rites and not shewing what they are or how to know them But truly this don 't belong to me who have hitherto design'd nothing more than to demonstrate how just and equitable it is that for instance our or any other Provincial Church shou'd religiously observe all such Rites which 't is certain all other Churches have observ'd Now what peculiar Rites ought to be rank'd here and from whence that appears I leave undecided to your Judgments Perchance some of them will be debated here before you For that reason I 've forbore mentioning the least of them in this place for fear I shou'd seem to anticipate your more discerning Judgments in these Affairs But there are some general Institutions of the Universal Church which if I mistake not are indisputable and yet seem momentous to the determining such cases as will be laid open in this Sacred Synod Therefore I can't quite pass them by lest I shou'd seem to fall short of performing the duty laid on me First Therefore all the Churches of God have this Custom and always had that in whatsoever Province they are plac'd the Bishops and Pastors of that Province as often as occasion requires and opportunity permits may summon Synods or Conventions to deliberate and consult about affairs relating to the Church in the same Province Which Synods therefore are call'd Convocations or Provincial Councils This sufficiently appears from those huge and numerous volumes of Councils in which you may see several such like Councils held in all Ages and all Provinces over the whole Christian world And far more doubtless are celebrated that are neither extant there nor in any other place at present Which I thought fit to note here that any one may plainly see that this our Synodical Convocation is no Innovation Because nothing was ever more usual in all the Churches of God than the celebration of such Provincial Councils Add to this that all Churches every where so Synodically congregated were always us'd to create such Canons or Ecclesiastick Laws as they judg'd to be Expedient for the better administration of the publick Worship of God his Word and Sacraments and the Discipline of the whole Church This also abundantly appears from the said Acts of Councils In which there are divers Canons set forth by every Provincial Church as proper and peculiar to itself For tho' all the common Churches of God have scrupulously retain'd the rites of the Universal yet they were always forc'd to add others to the Canons of the Church that were adapted to the form and modes of that Kingdom or Province wherein each Church was situated Otherwise it were almost impossible for
A SERMON Preach'd before the CONVOCATION OF THE Bishops and Clergy OF THE Province of Canterbury at Westminster Novemb. the 18 th 1689. By WILLIAM BEVERIDGE Archdeacon of Colchester Printed in Latin By the Bishops Command Made English by J. G. a Member of the Church of England Let ancient Customs still take place Syn. Nic. Can. 6. Licens'd and Entred London Printed for N. R. and J. Bullord at the Old Black Bear in St. Pauls Church-Yard 1689. Dr. BEVERIDGE's SERMON Before the CONVOCATION ENGLISHED TO THE AUTHOR Reverend Sir PERVSING your Learned Discourse lately Preached before the Sacred Synod and finding in it such admirable Matter so harmoniously handled and so suitable to this present Age wherein the best Church and Religion in the World wou'd be in great danger of being Crucified like their blessed Author were they not maintain'd and defended by such Props as You I thought 't wou'd not be amiss to render it into English for the benefit of those who understand not the Latin Tongue and being well assur'd 't wou'd be very acceptable to the English Reader as coming from You whose known Candour and Sweetness of temper I doubt not will pardon my presumption in this Attempt which I fear has not escaped the too common fate of all such sublime and excellent Subjects which is to be foul'd and sullied by ill Version However such as it is it 's humbly presented by him who is SIR Your most devoted Servant J. G. A SERMON Before the CONVOCATION c. 1 Cor. XI 16 But if any Man seem to be contentious we have no such custom neither the Churches of God. WITH what and how great Controversies the Church of England now a-days is exercised and with how potent and likewise malicious Enemies surrounded we all indeed see and grievously resent but no wonder considering we are well assured that this has been almost the constant and perpetual fate of Christ's Church wheresoever constituted For if we peruse all the Ecclesiastick Histories derived down to us from the very times of the Apostles we shall find no Age wherein the Catholick Church has not been molested either by Hereticks or Schismaticks or both together That is to say Tares are sown by the Enemy near the Wheat in the Lord's ground and they 'll grow together till the harvest But truly such is the love of our God to his Ground such the benevolence of the Almighty towards his Church that he 'le ne're permit the Wheat to be suffocated by the Tares the Evangelical Doctrine by Heresy and Discipline by Schism And therefore we have no reason to fear our Church's sustaining so many Assaults of its Adversaries seeing 't is buoy'd up by an omnipotent God as a pure and sound Member of his Universal Church But truly the purer and sounder our Church is and therefore more acceptable to God the more and fiercer Enemies it has among Men who from one side to t'other set themselves wholly against it and if they can't destroy at least Endeavour to disturb it For on the one hand Popish Priests on the other Sectaries traduce slander and wound it in their words and actions they try all ways to obtrude their new Fangles and Ceremonies on us and that so they may either utterly pull down or corrupt our Church But we in the mean while relying on Divine assistance fly to God alone daily beseeching him in the name of his only begotten Son that he wou'd vouchsafe to defend and maintain a Church of his own making And he has been so propicious to our Prayers contrary to our Deserts in wonderfully delivering Us at least from one sort of our Adversaries to wit the Popish Recusants and has given us reason to hope that they 'l ne're be capacitated again to molest our Church But even now one part remains who tho' seemingly of the same Faith and Doctrin yet being seduced either by Ignorance or Error or peradventure some scruple of Conscience alledge I know not what crimes against the Discipline and Rites of our Church and for that reason refuse Communion with us in God's Worship And 't is strange how great mischiefs may arise from this apparently small beginning For hence it is that Altars are erected against Altars hence proceed Factious Tumults and Mutual Hatreds among Brethren hence 't is that God's Worship is neglected and the very Sacraments one being thrust into corners the other seldom celebrated hence it is I am amaz'd to speak that impious words are rashly spoken against God and against all Religion as if it rather did afford matter for Discord than Peace hence lastly those popular calamities which threaten both Church and State and thereupon perpetually disquiet both Now that some remedy at length may be opportunely apply'd even to these diseases His most Serene Majesty has been pleased doubtless by Divine inspiration to assemble the Bishops and whole Clergy of this Kingdom that they may consult by what methods these pernicious differences may at last be so composed our Church loosing nothing of its Purity and Glory nothing of its Authority and Right that they who dissent from us may be reduced to our Holy Communion or at least remain for ever destitute of all reasons I don't say just which they never had but of all specious colours which hitherto they have pretended for their Separation I confess that this is a great and very difficult undertaking but as pious as necessary and therefore worthy of the utmost endeavours of our Clergy And how great soever the Labour and Work may seem although not less than to strive against the Stream yet we must not despair if so that God be present and influence our undertakings And indeed we have so ofteen experienced his singular Providence in defending our Church that we have no reason to doubt but that He will be present and propitious to our Importunities for it whilst all things are directed according to His Divine Will reveal'd to us in Holy Writ Which both we and our Dissenting Brethren hold to be the Supream Rule whereby all Ecclesiastical Controversies are to be judg'd Now if we consult these Sacred Oracles we shall find all things in them necessary for the obtaining Eternal Salvation But not so many things touching the external Polity of the Church much less particular Rites necessarily requisite for it For truly God has left these to be us'd in every particular Church according to those general Rules he has deliver'd in the Holy Scriptures for that purpose Such are Let all things be done decently and in order Let all things be done for Edification And others of the like nature with which the usual Rites of our Church exactly agree But what if a Contention shou'd arise between two Provincial Churches or between divers Members of the same Province concerning any Ceremony have we no Precept nor Example in the Holy Scriptures to stifle it 'T is true we have an Example which shou'd indeed have the force of a
any Provincial or National Church to subsist long in Peace From hence also a common Custom has obtain'd in all the Churches of God when all such Canons and Laws are Constituted to have regard not only to the well-being of any private member but also to the Peace and Tranquillity of the whole Church And indeed many things are necessary to the procuring this that are not to our obtaining everlasting felicity For which reason almost all the Canons published hitherto by Provincial or General Councils are instituted only for such things that make for the external Discipline and Peace of the Church And hence 't is also that never any Church was extant which did not register several things amongst their Laws not against but besides those things which are contain'd in holy Writ Which is so clear and perspicuous that I can't enough wonder how any one can doubt of the truth thereof Besides 't is customary in all the Churches of God to ratify such Canons as they make with Ecclesiastick Penances to prevent impunity when they are violated This likewise appears from the Canons of all the Councils upon which a man can scarce cast his eye but presently at the first sight see Suspension or Deposition Anathema or Excommunication against Lay-men if they shall act otherwise For neither has the Church ever esteem'd those worthy of the Sacred Ministry nor these of her Communion who refuse to obey Laws written as well for theirs as its own advantage Further 't is evident out of the aforesaid Collection of Councils that all the Churches of God were wont so to frame and temper these Laws which they thought necessary for themselves that they might be advantageous to and edifying of the whole Community and as much as possible inoffensive I said as much as possible by reason their ignorance is such that they scarce are sensible of any thing Such is the perverseness of others that they wrest all to the worst sense And truly 't is hardly possible for any Civil Law much less Ecclesiastical to be so made as to be approv'd by all Therefore there 's no reason that the Church shou'd be sollicitous for this sort of men unless perhaps that they may be better taught in discipline and manners by the force of the Laws Again others there are who endeavour to serve God piously and devoutly and to direct their lives according to his Commands and yet are of so weak and Scrupulous a Conscience that nothing almost can be done that do's not prove offensive to them and that too as we should charitably believe not from an obstinacy of will or stiff inclination to any Faction but from some pious tho' groundless fear lest it shou'd be displeasing to God. And truly these men are to be taken into consideration before Laws are confirm'd especially Ecclesiastick lest instead of eradicating old Scruples we shou'd implant new ones in their minds And that also whether they who are thus troubl'd in conscience wait on God's Altar together with the Church or separately from it For both are to be taken care of these that they may persevere in the Communion of our Church the other that they may be brought back to it And certainly this is a work and labour deserving the cares and studies of us all Which nevertheless is to be so enterpriz'd that nothing for their sakes may be omitted that shall redound to the Interest of the Church nor admitted that shall prove detrimental to the same For neither reason nor the perpetual Custom of the Church suffers a part to be preferable to the whole We may add further That nothing has been more usual amongst the Churches of God than to change Laws that they 've made to abrogate ancient ones and to substitute others perhaps quite different in their room when a necessitous time requires it None conversant in Ecclesiastick Histories can be ignorant of this For you can find no Church throughout the World that has all the same Laws now which it formerly had Doubtless all such Laws of Provincial Churches whereof we now speak are constituted pro hic nunc if I may be allow'd to speak barbarously here that is with respect to time and place When these are chang'd the Laws of Necessity must be chang'd for their accommodation to the present Customs of every Age and Place But truly no Church ever did or must do this without cogent Necessity For every unnecessary alteration in Ecclesiastick Laws stigmatizes the Church with inconstancy and too much derogates from the Authority given it by our Blessed Saviour it makes Prophane Wretches call Religion into Question whether or no it depends on the Will of Man It sets several together by the ears and keeps more still in a dubious expectation of some new attempt It renders the minds of others doubtful and uncertain what to do It stirs up outragious Tumults often disturbing the Publick Peace Neither also is any one so Skilful in the disposal and provision of things as to be able to foresee by any Art what and how great Miseries may be arising even from the mutation of Laws incommodious And therefore the changing of inveterate Laws for others is at all times dangerous unless such Necessity may compel as is otherwise insuperable and which is so manifest and apparent to the Eyes of all that none may see a change without seeing great Reason and Necessity for it Now if there be such a Necessity all those Calamities will be averted that generally attend on unnecessary change Our Church will not lose a drachm of Honour or Esteem that 's due to her For she and her Authority will be the same And all things will appear more peaceable calm fix'd and quiet in her than if they had kept their former State. All the Churches of God are taught this by Experience And for this reason they never Scruple to abdicate Laws of their own Constitution and to Confirm new ones as often as they see occasion Now whether our Church be oblig'd by such a Necessity to alter any thing that 's setled by her Laws belongs to Wise Men not me to determine This only I 'le presume to say that if it be necessary to bring back wandring Sheep to Christ's Fold if necessary to remove Scruples from the Consciences of weak Brethren If necessary to extinguish Hatred mitigate Anger and reconcile all Differences as far as possible about Religion If necessary to restore Ecclesiastick Discipline to its pristine vigour If necessary to defend and maintain the best Church on Earth against the Efforts of Men and Devils I say If any one thinks these necessary certainly he must likewise think it necessary to admit of such Alterations as in his Opinion are most conducive to this purpose Whilst only those things are chang'd which our Church has constituted by her Authority not those which the Universal Church has Establish'd by her Common Law. For all the Churches of God and ours too have
always religiously forborn let the pretence be what it will the least Alteration in these Laws For to abolish or reject what has been always and every where observ'd is not only to change an Ecclesiastick Rite but also the Church it self and render it different from all the Churches of God. Which yet never cou'd nor I hope ever will be said of our Church For truly such was the care and diligence of our Reformers whose happy memory we can never sufficiently extol and reverence such their Piety and Religion such their divinely inspir'd Prudence that thinking it as necessary to keep firm Communion with the Catholick as to recede from the Roman Church renouncing all her Superstitious Innovations they themselves religiously preserv'd whatever had been approv'd by all the Churches of God and so ordain'd it in our Church the most illustrious Image and Resemblance of the Catholick And hence 't is that our Church has always been the envy of the Roman But so great an honour to all the Reform'd Churches that I don't doubt but that they wou'd imitate her pious Examples were it in their power So that we must not impute it to them but to the necessities of time and place that they are not in all things agreeable to us Since therefore God has committed such a Church to our care and since his Vicegerent here has now given us an opportunity to prosecute all things that may tend to the peace and advantage of his Church let us employ all our powers and faculties for its accomplishment Let us leave no means unattempted to make all English-men to be of the Church of England Let us endeavour all we can to make her Faith her Worship and her Discipline if possible the wonder of the whole world and she her self perpetual by whose guidance we of this Kingdom may obtain everlasting Salvation thro' Christ till his second coming That all posterity may laud and magnifie our God for moving so religious a Prince to assemble this Sacred Synod and assigning such a preparation for it to the advantage of this our Church If this Convocation shall be so pleas'd to whose disposal all things are left But whilst we are considering of these things we call to mind the ancient Customs observ'd by all God's Churches in the calm and sedate Celebration of their Synods And let ours take example by that Let us throw off all prejudiced Opinions presumptuous Suspitions and litigious Contentions which only confound and disturb such Sacred Councils But let all be done with that agreement and consent as becomes Christians Clergy-men and more especially all us of the Church of England when we consult about the Establishment of her Peace Whatsoever we do let it be done by universal Approbation That in this we may truly say with the Apostle If any man seem to be contentious we have no such custom neither the Churches of God. But whatsoever pains we take for the good of our Church they 'l avail not unless adorn'd with good works Wherefore most Reverend Fathers in Christ and dearly beloved Brethren give me leave to beseech you in the name of Christ so to comport your selves as Becomes Fathers and Sons of so holy a Church Let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good works may glorify your Father in Heaven Let all see and admire the eminent Sanctity of the Church of England in producing men most holy By this means we shall engage not only men but God to be of our side Who alone is able to defend and for ever preserve a Church first of his own building and then restoration from all the Machinations of its enemies Let God therefore arise and his enemies be scatter'd God grant that our Church may flourish and increase daily more and more God grant that the Gates of Hell may ne're prevail against it Lastly God grant that his most holy Spirit may guide this Sacred Synod assembled in his name and lead them into all truth that whatsoever they do may end in the glory of God the good and settlement of the Universal Church and more especially this of England through our Lord Jesus Christ to whom with the Father and holy Spirit be ascrib'd all glory and honour now and evermore Amen FINIS