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S^etter to a jftienti

Relating to the prefent

CONVOCATION

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Weftminften

6y i\^,<i^ft^^i^ V\A<Uer^ Dccwy c}- '\^e^ Wirvc^l'^

LONDON, Printed for Brakion Aylmer at the

Three Pigeons againft the Royal Ex- change in Cornhill. MDCXC

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A

LETTER to a FRIEND,

Relating to the

Prefent Convocation at Weftwmjler.

SIR,

I Have fully confidcred what you have been pleafcd to offer to mc in yours concerning- the Convocation now met at Weftminjler , and the Alterations intended to be made therein in the prefent Oilices, Rites and Conflitu- tions of our Church , and all w hat you fay I apprehend to be reducible to thele three heads •' i. That >w altera" tions ought at all to he made in things pertaining to Religt' on hut when there is a very great necejfity for it. z. That at prefent there is no fuch neceffity for the alterations intent ded. And^ 3 . That., if there were., this is no time for it , when fo many of the Fathers of our Churchy and other emi- nent perfons of the Clergy do now hy their fufpenfion fland incapacitated to a^ with us in this matter.

As to the firft , I readily grant what you fay , That nothing is more dangerous to Religion, than frequently to make alterations in the things pertaining thei'eto , be- caufe an unfleadinefs as to thele , although in outw^ard circumftantials onely , which are always alterable, may to many become an argument againli the whole. For there being m.ultitudes among us who are not able to diflinguilli between what is circumdantial and what is effential in our Worfliip , what is in the powxr of the Church to alter , and what is not , and are apt to call every alteration though in things merely indiffcimt ,

A • 1 . and-

Qfid \^ lilch the variation of times liave made totally in- /jgnificant to the firll end of their eflabhiliment, to be a change of the Rehgion it felf ^ and therefore concluding tliat we have no firm bottom at all for that which they lee us fo often vary from, nmy from hence be induced to cad off all regard both for our Church and the Worlliip of God elitabliilied therein , and become Apoflates from us either to Popery or AtheiOxi all their life after. For the prevention whereof I readily grant what you fay, That pjch alterations ought not to be attempted but when there is an abfolute neceflity for them. And therefore the Church of England may be juflifyed in her Procee- dings hitherto, that llie hath not been forward on every demand of the Diflenters to unhinge thole of her Com- munion from her long received eftablifliments, but hath to the utmofl refifted all alterations from them , hoping by other lefs dangerous methods to cure the diftradlions and heal the divifions that are among us. But when af- ter her utmofl tryal of all other ways they have all proved ineffectual to attain the end propoled , and the Church hath dill grown weaker and w^eaker , and thole that diflcnt from it flill llronger and llronger under all thole attempts which have been made ufe of for the re- uniting them to us, fo that now we are brought to that pafs, dnt w ithout coming to a temper with them, and abating fomcthing on our fide for the fake of peace and union with them, we cannot have that profped as for- merly of fupporting the Church of God and maintaining the Honour of his Worfliip with fuccefs among us. I think now to make fiich alterations as are propoled a thing fo abfolutely necelTary as ought not any longer to be deferr d. And^ this I hope I fliall be able clearly to convince you of in anivver to your fecond head of ob- jedion, from thefe following reafons.

For,

(3)

. For, fiW, There lyes an indifpenfable obligation up- on us to doe the utmofl we are able to remove this mifchievous Schifm from among us, which hath Co long diflurb'd the Church ef Chrifl in this Land. How pre- judicial this hath been to the Honour of God and the Salvation of Men , and how advantageous to the cn- creale of Popery and Atheifm, and the propagating alfb of all manner of iniquity among us , is that which by wofull experience is too well known unto you to neai a defcription : And all this evil mofl certainly muil lyc at our doors as far as we doe not the utinofl tliat in us lyeth to remove it, and \\hat other \\'ay is there now left of attempting it but by coming to fome terms of moderation and temper with thofe that dillcnt from us. We have already tryed all methods of pcrfuafion to mpllifie them , all force of argumentation to convince them ; we have tryed alfo Church Cen Cures and Penal Laws;~ and inflided' them too with a feverity perchance beyond what we can juilifie ,♦ add w Iiat have we avai- led our (elves of all this , but onely to heighten the di- vifions and increafe the mifchief which we endeavoured to remove ; and therefore \\'hat otlitr remedy is now left usj^w^hat other means for us to Ij^ve recourfe to for the cClhg of this prevailing evil among us, but that, as far as we are able we abate of that which hath given the whole origin thereto ; thofe excepted paflages in our Liturgy, and thofe ceremonies in our Worthip which our diffenting Brethren cannot conform with us in. And for this the late Ad of "] oleration hath added a very prefling neceflity. For when our divihons ran fo high, and our animofities againfteach other io far mcreafed as that Dillcnters were driven by them to take ilielter from us in the Camp of our common Enemy , and join with tiie Papifls againft us to the endangering both of Church and State to utter ruin. The Parliament then thought

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k time to provide for the publick Safety by reconciling thofe men thereto by an Adt of Toleration and Indul- gence , whereby they being now put upon as good a botton7 of legcil right and protedioii as wcour Telves , there is no other way left us of coming to a union with, them but by following the fame Heps which the State hath gone in before us, and by condefcenfion and abate- ments to reconcile thofe men unto us : For they are now no more in our power to force them to a confor- mity with us than we are in theirs, and therefore they being on equal terms with us of right and proted:ion from the Government under which we live ,* treaty and mutual abatement is the onely method now whereby we can be brought to a union with each other ; and why we fliould not abate for the fake of this which car- rieth with it a pipomife of (o great good and benefit to the Church of Chrifl among us, I would defire a reafon from liim that is able to give it. For what are thofe things which we differ about , that we mufl for ever fa- crifice to them the peace both of Church and State w^ith- out abating tlie lead tittle for fo great a good as that of die common union of Chriflians among us ? are a few excepted parages in our Liturgy , and two or three cere- monies in our Worfliip things of fo great value ftjt we mud for the fake of them flill maintain thofe oucords and divifions both in Church and State which have fo long harafled both almofl to utter mine ? Is it not e- nough that we have had already a twxnty years Wai* a- bout tiiem > and, is it not enough, that ever fmce our deliverance from that, for the fake of thofe trifles , we have for thefs thirty years hd pafl driven up our divifi- ons and anunofities againll each other to that height as that we had almofl totally given up pur Church to Po- pery and our Government to Tyranny thereby ? Cer- tainly, after all this, it's time to fit down and confider whe- ther

tlier thofe things are of fuch great value for the fake of which we bring fo much mifchief to this poor diftref^ (ed CJiurcii and Nation , that nothing mud be abated of that unreafonable rigor whereby w^e have hitherto main- tained them. And if the confideration of things paft cannot move us, I befeech you, confider a little the pre- lent poflure of our affairs ,• we have a formidable Enemy in our neighbourhood now engaged in War againft us, who thinks of nothing lefs than hibjugating thefe three Kingdoms to his abfblute Tyranny, and impofing Popifh Idolatry and Superflition upon all the Inhabitants of them; and that which gives him the greatefl advantage againfl us, and the greatefl hopes for our de{lrud:ion is, our divifions among our felves at home w hich enfeeble both our hearts and hands for the battel , and make us unable to refifl him with that fuccefs which formerly uled to attend mofl of our other, expeditions againfl E- nemies altogether as potent ; and what remedy have we left to prevent this terrible ruin that now fo formida- bly threatens us, but to come to as firm a union among our (elves as we are able ? and could but this be once happily effedled , We need not fear all the power of France and Rome in the firmeft union againfl us ,• but fhould be flrong enough to refifl all their efforts for our ruin ,- and, by the blefTin^ of God, fliU continue in fafe- ty , in fpight of all the endeavours of both to the con- trary. And fmce it hath plealed God to move the King to call us together in Convocation in this conjundrure , I hope we ihall not let flip this opportunity of doing the utmoft we are able to unite the Nation now our affairs da fo much require- it for the pubUcIi fafety thereof. For the expedations of all men are now upon us for this purpofe, and the hopes of preferring Church and State in the great dangers under which they are now both m- volv'd, do in a great meafure depend upon what we iliall

■doQ

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doe for our common Peace now met together and put in a way to remove thole obllacles which have fo long diflurbed it. Have we not ah'eady lofl our reputation with the people of the Land by infifiing too rigoroufly on thofe things > And now we have in a great meafure again retrieved it by our firm and fuccefsfuU engagement againft the Popifli caufc, fliall we be fo far infatuated as figain to run tlie fame risk ? will Me but now come to that temper and moderation in our edablilliments as may remove that bone of contention wliich hath fa .long diflurbed us, and think pf fuch abatements as may tend to the fetliiig of Peace and Union among us , the mouths of all this people ihall blefs us , and we fliall ac- quire thereby that veneration and regard among them tiiat they fliali all look on us as the onely faithfull Shep-. herds whofe voice they are to hear, and we, thereby be enabled to difcharge the duties of our Miniflry amdng.- them with that comfoTt to our felves and benefit to them- as fhall loon fix our Church upon a foundation never more to be Ihaken by any of its Enemies. But if on the contrary we Hill perllfl in our old rigor , and abate no expreffion in our Liturgy, nor ceremony in our Worfliip, for the fake of fo great a good ,• for my part, I can ex- ped nothing lels than that we become ahhorr'd of the- whole Nation , as the common Enemies of its, peace , and be treated accordingly in every Parifh where we Jive among them. Were thofe matters in which a- batements are defired of us by our diflenting Brethren things of that moment that they either carried with them the force of si divine Inflitution , or were of their own nature fo neceflary to our Worfliip that either the Honour of God or the Interefl of man s Salvati- on fhould fuf!er the leaft prejudice by their, omiffion, it would become us then , whatever the Conlequences fhould be, to flick to them to the utmofl., and with

the.

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the lame conRancy as formerly the ancient ChriOiians did againil the Arr tarts ^ not yield a letter to them to end the whole controverfie between us. But notwith- flanding what our learned Prolocutor hath been plea- fed in his Latin Speecli to the Convocation to (uggell , this is by no means our prefent ca(e. For what Article of Faith, what neceflary requifite of our Worfliip is it in which any alterations are at all intended to be propo- fed in this prefent Convocation ? if he knows of any fuch , he would doe well to difcover them , and wdien they come to be offered , oppofe them to the ut- moft. But, alas, the alterations intended, how great op- pofitions fopver- they may meet with , arc fo far from touching upon any thing of this nature , that I can af^ fure him, and he himfelf well knows it, as being one of the Commiffion, wliere they are prepared, that they are onely in thofe indifferent things , wliich have through all ages of the Church from the beginning been ever allowed to be alterable , whenfoever the good of the Church fhould require it And therefore fmce at prefent ( as I have Ihown ) not onely the good of the Church in order to the edablilhment of its peace among us, but al- fo the publick intereft of the State too in order to. its prefervation in its prefent exigencies do To much re- quire that thofe alterations fhould be made , why do we fo obflinately flick at thofe matters , whereby not onely the caufe of God in the welfare of his Church , but our own alfo in the publick in terefl of the Nation , is fo greatly prejudiced by us ? As it is a great errour in fome of our diflenting Brethren to allow nothing law- full to be made ufe of in our pubhck Worlliip but what they find particular warrant for in Scripture , fo is it no lefs a miflake in us to hold any thing of this nature not prefcribed there to be unalterable. For our Saviour having given us his divine Law , and therein a-

B mong

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mong other Precepts , commanded us the Worfliip of God , tlie Celebration of his Sacraments , and the Go- vernment of his Church for the better influencing of every member of it to all the duties enjoined , for this very reafon defcended not to prefcribe the particular manner, rites, and conflitutions which his Church after- wards made ufeof in the performance of all this, becaufe it was impoiTible that any unalterable rule could at all be given of thole matters. For the rcaibn of thefe being only decency and order in the Church of God, and to be as helps therein the better to influence the minds of men^ to the performance of the Divine Commands they mud necefiarily be of their own nature variable, according as to the different variation^ of times, circumflances, and the cuftoms of men they more or lefs become capable of anfw ering the end deilgn d, and therefore have ever been in the power of the Church to conilitute, alter, and abo- lilli them, according as the honour of God, the good of his Church and the interefl of Religion might bebefl pro- moted thereby. As long therefore as thefe Forms of Prayer which are uled in our Church, and thofe Rites and Conflitutions which are received therein do anfwer the end of their firfl eftablillimient in being ufefuU to the promoting the honour of God and the edification of his people, fo long they ought with conllancy always to be retained ; but when either the infirmity or the wicked- nefs of men, or any other caufe hath made that alteration in the Times, and in the humours and cufloms of tlioie that hve in them, that thefe things inltead of conducing sny longer to that good end propofed, do on the contra- ry adminifter only to Schifm and Divifion in the Church, and to diftradion and difcord in the State, wliereby the pe'ace of both is miferably diflurb'd, as is too. manlfeftly our cafe ; from hence tliere arifeth a reafon altogether as (Irong tor their alteration, as €ver there was at firft for

tlieir

(9)

their indlrutlon. Were tlKy become only ufclefs and no longer anfwercd their end, this would be a fufh'cientrea- fon alone for an alteration in them, but when over and above they are become mifchievous too in the evils that they bring both upon Church and State, this adds an ob- ligation, which cannot I think without guilt be rcfiRed, of coming to a change in thcfc matters.

And to come to the particular things contro\'ertcd between us , I readily aftcnt that the Crols in Baptilin had a very good reafon for its firft inditution : For when in the primitive times the Heathens made it a matter of conflant reproach to the Chriflians , tliat • they worfliippcd a crucified God-, they for this rcalbn appointed tlic Crofs after Baptifm to be thenceforth put . as a Badge upon all w hom they received into the Church, to let them know, that they ought not to be a- fliamed hereof. And I doubt not but that it was of excel- lent ufe in thofe times to fortifie the minds of Chriftians with that conflancy and relblution as was requifite to bear them up againft the feoffs and reproaches of tlieir ♦ Heathen Advcriaries amongft whom they lived. But now Heathen ifin hath fo many- Ages fmce been totally extinguiihed in thofe parts oftlie World, and \\c live in a State whicli is totally Chriftian, fo that the Crofs of Clii'ifb is'no longer liable to Lc objedtcd to us as a re- proach by any,, it cannot be denied but that this Cere- mony hath now totally loft its ufe, and although it might innocently enough be ftill retain'd, yet may it w^ith as much innocency alfo be totally laid afide now the altera- tions of times have made it wholly ufelefs to the end for which it was firft defigned. But in our prefent circum- stances, when it is become not only ufclefs but alfo mJf- chievous to the caufe of Clirift by reafon of the Diilenfi- ons and Schilins which it occafions in his Church, and is thereby inftead of a badge of Union and Cluiftian con- :>' . B z ' , ftancy

flancy under the banner of the Captain of our Salvatloir^ as was firfl: intended, become an Enfign of war to make us fight againfl: each other , and a Crols of torment thereon again to crucifie the Lord of Hfe in his body the Church , and rent its bowels aiunder by thofe la- mentable divifions which it cauieth among us ; in this- cafe I think we have an obligation upon us not to be re- filled from the abfolute necellity of the thing , either to- tally to lay this Ceremony afide , or elfe make fuch a- batements concerning its uie, as may allay all thele heats of contention and mifchiefs of fcparation which, have been caufed in the Church of Chrill thereby. And I here plainly aver that the Church of England cannot be guiltlefs in this matter , if flie doth not on this op- portunity, now put into her hands by this prefent mee- ting of the Convocation , doe fomething herein , and that efpecially fince by an unwary exprellion in her Ca- nons, wherein llie hath explained this Ceremony to be that whereby the perfon baptized is dedicated to the fer- vice of Jefus Chriil, flie hath wrongfully attributed thereto the (acramental efled which belongs to Baptifm onely, and thereby adminiflred a great part of the oc- cafion to all the divifions which have been rifen about it. a. As to the SurpHce I am fuiEciently fatisfied that nothing is more unreafonable than thofe Cavils which are rifen againft it. For it is onely an habit of diflindti- on, which the Minifter for the fake of order and decen- cy makes ufe of in the execution of his FuncStion in the lame manner as is pradtifed in all other Offices and Pro- feffions of men, and thofe that except againft it may as well except againfl the Robes of a Judge on the Bench, or the Gown of a Mayor when he prefides in his Cor- poration , it being altogether as reafonable. that a Mini- fler fliould be diflinguilhed by a proper habit in the ex- ecution of liis Office , as they in theirs. But when

riirough

CO

through the malice of fome in w^orking flrange obje<5i:i' ons againil it into the minds of men , and the weaknels of others in receiving and believing them , it is now be- come fo great a ftumbling- block of offence as to driver multitudes to mrfake our. Churches, and be dilafledled to the Worlhip of God w Inch is performed in them ; whatfbever was the reafbn of its firil appointment, fure I am tliat from hence there is a much greater totally to lay it afidc, 'and appoint another that may be Icfs o&n- five in its fte&d. The Union of the Church and the Be- nefit which the Souls of m.en may receive thereby being certainly things of far greater mtimeDt than to be facri- ficed to fo trivial a matter as that of a Garment.

3. Kneeling at the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is a poflure fo proper to that Holy Ordinance, that of all the Conflitutions of our Church, this is the laft I fliould be willing to part w ith ; becaufe I think the highefl po- llure of Devotion is that which is always mofl natural for us to be in when we are receiving from Chrifl Co great and ineflimable Benefits as thofe which are rea- ched out unto us m that Holy Myftery. But fince the weaknefs of many who are good and well meaning men have been fo far impofed on by feveral fallacious argu- ments which they have not skill enough to fee through, as to think it fin full to receive in this po.lure , and here- by the Table of the Lord becomes deferted , and thq Souls of many deprived of the benefit of that Spiritu- al Food which is adminiilred thereon , contrary to the intention of. our Saviour , who hath by no means im- powred us oa any fuch account as tliis to debar men from Communion , and deprive them thereby of thofe Benefits of Salvation which we are fent to adminiHer un- to them , it is time for us now to abate of our rigor in this matter ; and when we are- not able to bring men up by reafon of their weaknefs to the Conflitutions of

the--

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the Church , be Co far indulgent as to defcend to them , and give them the Sacrament in their own way , rather than for the fake of a poflure onely debar them of the Benefits which their Souls may receive tliereby ,- and to doe otherwiie I doubt will not oncly be a Sin againfl ChrifHan Charity., in prejudicing the Salvation of many, but alio be an abufe of the CommifTion intruded with us. For I can by no means be pei:ruaded tiiat Chrifl; hath given us the power of the Keys to iliut out thofe from the Benefits of this Sacram.ent wlio in all otlier refpedls being good and righteous men, have onely this weaknefs, that they cannot comply with us in receiving thereof in that poflure which the Church prefcribes, and for which it hath no other warrant but its ov,n Conflitutions. For how fitting a poflure foever Kneehng may be for the receiving of this Sacrament, this muft undeniably be allowed, tiiat neither Saipture dired:s it, nor Antiquity ever ufed it ,• it having been for feveral ages after Chrifl the conflant practice of all the Churches in the World to communicate Standing , and why this may not again by a particuLir difpenlation from the pre- fent eflabhfhment be allowed to weak and fcrupulous perfons for the fake of peace and union with them , I can fee no reafon that favours either of a Chriflian tem- per or Chriflian Charity that can be faid to the con- trary.

4. As to the Liturgy of our Church I freely acknow- ledge, iand I think no man can contradid me herein, tliat it is the befl which was ever yet ufed in any Chriflian Church, but that it fliould therefore be fo perfed:as not to be capable of amendments or alterations for the better doth by no means follow. For nothing of humane com- pofure can be fuch, efpecially in a thing of this nature, where procefs of time and alteration of circumflances frequently produce a necelTity for corredlion, as moft

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certainly in our Liturgy they verj' often doe. For the language in which it is wrote beir^ confiantly in fluxu, as all other living languages are, in every age fome words that were in ufe in the former grow obiblete, ^nd foinc phrafes an*-i exprelfions formerly in grace and talhioa tlirough difule become uncouth and ridiculous, and al- ways to continue thefe in our Liturgy witliout corred:ioii would be to bring a difparagement upon the whole, and expole to contempt the worlhip of God among us. Be* fides there are ievcral things which in one age may con- duce to devotion, which«through variation of times and circumdances may not be born in another 5 (everalthrngs which may be the proper matter oF Prayer at one time which may not be (b in another, and all thofe things call for alterations and amendments whenever they happen. And therefore I am lb far from ailenting with fome of our Brctliren in this particular, that our Liturgy ought not to be .altered , that I think it ablblutely neceflary from the abovementioned particulars that it be always at leallonce in 30 years brought to a review for this pur- pole. And I am lure this hath been .tlie judgment of the whole Chrillian Church from the beginning till this time: The Greek Church hath lb often alterai as to this, and made fo many ditierent forms of their Liturgies, that a Collecftion ot them in a late Audtion amounted to twen* ty Volumes ,- and the Latin Chuirch w ho brag mod of their conftancy in thefe matters have rather exceeded thancomx behind them herein, as .in the old Manulcripts of their Liturgies will fufHciently appear to any that will take tlie pakis to look into them. Nay they were To far from continumg one age in conformity with- anotlier herein, that tlicy obferved none at ail in this matter, but almoll every Province had its diflerent Liturgy, and it's well known that tliere were five different forms oi: them in this Kingdom till the Reformation, and- die like was

alfo'

alfo pradffed in other parts of the Latin or Romifli Church , and a general Agreement as to this was then fo far from being thought neceflary , That the A6t of King Edivard the Vlth was the firft Law for a uniform Liturgy in any Church that was ever enacSted from the beginning of Chriflianity to that time. But neither did that exclude all varying from it in after times. The Li- turgy that was firft eflabliflied in that King's reignr, within a very little while after underwent a review , which produced very confiderable alterations in it. And when Q^Eiiz. came to tlie Crown many others were made therein. ■ And thofe who compute the late altera- -tions decreed in the Convocation of i66i. tell us they amount to the number of 400. And why we onely of this prefent time fliould be debarred the privilege of bet- tering our felves in this matter , which all other times of the Church before us have enjoyed , I would fain know a reafbn. Thus far fure I am that no time had ever more need to make ufe of it for the publick good than this in which v/e now live. For the Exigences of the State call loudly upon us to doe that herein which may tend to its fafety , and the peace of the Church and the intereft of Religion plead as hard on the other hand to the fame purpoie,for the removing of animofities and divifions , and the reftoring of Union and Charity among us. And what can we fay for our ielves if we continue deaf as to all this ? But to come to the Liturgy it felf ;. are there not many things in it which with fome Ihew of feafon our diflenting Bre- thren except againfl ? and are there not many more which we our Ielves heartily wifh might be amended and improved ? certainly, weretherc no other reafon to induce us to comply with our Bretliren that diflent from us, in making fiich alterations as would fatisfie them , I fhould think this a very fuiFicient one , that

we

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that we have an opportunity given us at the fame time alfo to gratifie our iclves in fuch furtlier alterations and improvements which we our (elves clefirc. For mud the Story of ToLit and his Dog and that of Be// and the Dragon ah\ays fupplant Canonical Scripture in our Churches, and we be forced to read fuch ridiculous things to our people inflcad of the Word of God? mull: we al- ways be forced to read the old TranflatLonofthc Pfalms, and impofc that on the people for true Scripture, which in fo great a number of places quite difTcrs from it ? mufl we alw ays be forced in our addrellcs to God Al- mighty with a flattery not to be w arrantcd, to call eve- ry King that reigns over us moft Religious, though the whole tenor of his life may be quite the contrary ; and pray that he may be kept and ftrengthned in tlie true worfliipping of God, though openly prorciring (b fahe a worihip as that of Popery ? And mufl; we alfo be for- ced ftill to put that abufc upon the power of the Keys committed to our charge, as to excommunicate, and thereby thrud out of our Churches fometimes the bed of our people for being right or wrong overthrown infome penny or tw openny Caule in our Ecclefiaftical Courts t And muft we alwa}'s be riecenitated to pronounce all damn'd that do not believe every tittle in AtJ?a>ufnns Creed which fo few do underdand ; and on the contrary to declare every man fav'd at his burial how wickedl}- ibevcr he liv'd all his life before ? And mud we always be bound to many other grievances and dekdis of this nature , which I could tell you of, and dill deny our felves all redrefs under the burden of them, by refufing all thoie defirable alterations and improvements which are now in our own power to effed:, becaufe fome of our Brethren are obdinately bent to doe nothing for the la- tisfadion of thofc that diflent from us i In dimm, ic cannot be deni<^d, but that tliere are many things in our

C Liturgy

Liturgy which may be amended and Improved , many detedis in our Difcipline and Conftitutions which may be fupphed, and abundance of other particulars in our Church which may receive a great advance for the bet- ter enabhrg us to promote Religion and Piety, and fup- prefs fin and iniquity among us. And fin ce the King and Parliament are now (b well inclined to comply with us in all thefe particulars, which we have fo often laboured for in vain in other timxs, provided that we will on our fide doe what juftly we may to fatisfie our diflenting Brethren for the fake of peace and union among us , which the necefTities of our prelent circumflances doc lb much require for our common fafety ; it is a barter of that advantage on our fide, that none I think can re- fule that have any regard to the honour of God , the good of his Church , or the true interell of Religion a- mong us.

But to all what I have faid I very well know many ebjedions will be made , uhich I daily hear from thofe who are of your opinion in this matter. The firfl is, That altering any thing in this now conflituted Church will be like the plucking of a Beam out of a well built Houle, and that it cannot be done without endangering the whole Fabrick. To this I anfwer, If all had been of this mind we could never have reformed from Popery , be- caufe this Argument would have been as flrong againft all alterations then as now ; but I thank God we alte- red for the better then , and flill prefer v'd our Church , and therefore I hope we may be able to doe fo flill with- out any prejudice thereto.

z. It is objeded , If we once begin to alter , where fell we flop ? To this I anfwer, Whenfoever any tiling is propofed to us w hich is not fit to be done.

3. It's objeded. If we yield now , they will flill be craving more, and never refltill at lafl they have taken-

all-

ri7)

all from us. To whicli I anfwer , W!io;- diey doe this, then it will be time enough to reait them ,• in the interim let us not refufe them whaf: is jul and fitting for us to grant them, left therely we muke good the old Saying , Omnia dat qui jufia negat ; an i we give them an advantage againft us , by our obftinate rigor a- gainft yielding any thing , to get that power on their jQde which may deprive us of all.

4. Its objected. That fome ofthofe alterations which they require are m things as ancient as the Primitive Church, from which we ought not to vary, as may be inftanced in the Crofs in Baptifm. To w hich I anfwer , That we are not bound to retain all things that were uled in the Primitive Church. For if fo , why have we not ftill their Lovc-feafts and their Deaconelles , \v hich have been long flnce difufed in all Chriftian Churches , and yet the mention of them is as ancient as the Scrip- tures themfelves. For in truth it is not ancient ufage , but the necelTities and exigencies of the Church that are the reafons of all its conftitutions and eftablifliments , which are to be framed in every Age as will beft lute with tlie promoting of the honour of God, and the edifi- cation of his People , to which abundance of things might very well ferve in the primitive times , which will not now ; and therefore to fay , that what was in ufe in the primitive times muft be retained now^ for this reafon onely without any other to enforce it is juft the fame as if we were bound to revive all the old Saxon and Britifh Laws, becaufe they w^ere the ancient Conftitutions of this Land, without con fidering whether they are ufefull to us or no.

5. The fifth Objedion is^ That it will be a reproach to change. To which I anfwer, That it will be a much greater reproach obftinately to refift a change when there is good reafon for it And therefore I cannot approve

Q % the

(i8)

the confidence of that Gentleman , who hath lift up his banner again it the whole intent and defign of this Con- vocation , with a Nolumus Leges Anglias mutare. For doth he think we are bound never to make any new Conflitutions in our Church , or abolifh old ones , ac- cording as the exigencies of it doe require ? If fb , why have we any Convocations at all ? for is not the whole intent and reatbn of thefe aflemb'ies of the Cler- gy of this Church , to confider its ggicv^ances and coi'- ruptions in the lame manner as the Parliament doth thofe of the State , and from time to time , in like man- ner , provide remedies for them , and that by abolifli- * ing old Conflitutions, as w^eil as by decreeing new ones ? and hath not the Church ever aflerted this power as one ' of the mofl eflential things which belong to its Coniti- tution ? and muft it now renounce all this for the fake of this Gentleman's motto ? and now , in this critical time, when its fafety doth fb much depend upon what it fliall doe for it felf , rather fit quietly down and lan- guifli to death, than make the leafl motion of effort to lave it felf If this be it which this Gentleman would have , \\t have no reafon to thank him either for his Speech or his Motto^ the laft of which, I luppofe, plea- led him belt, becaufe it carried a double flab with it, the one againfl the Church , and the other againfl him that was his greatefl benefad:or to promote him in it.

6. The fixth Objedion is , That we have no reafon to alter any thing for the fake of Diflenters , becaufe the fault of our divifions is not from^ny Conflitutions of ours , but from their obllinacy and perverlenefs in un- reafonably diflenting from them. To \\hich- 1 anf\ver , That I acknowledge all this to be true, that it is not the Church which is the Caufe of our divifions by any of its conflitutions or impofitions , which are all rational and good , but they onely who refufe to conform to

them=

dp)

them. But It doth not follow therefore, that when nothing elfe- will remove the divificns now railed among us on the acccuntof thefe things, or again reduce Diflcnters to the Unity of the Church, but fbme alterations in them, . (which without the lead prejudice to our Church, or the Worfliip of God therein we may lawfully make) it may not be a great fault in us now to be over obftinate in thefe • matters, and that we ought not rather when there is be- fore us fo great a good, as the Peace of the Church and tlie Salvation of lo many therein ( which it's to be fear'd may be too much obftruclcd by thefe divifions) be ready to comply with^them as far as lawfully we may for the lake hereof. For they being the weak and the* infirm whom we are fent to heal, out part to them muft be that of a Phyfician, who, when he finds his Patient, through that peevilhnefs w Iiich is commonly incident to- tlie fick, obflinately refufe an whollom medicine w hicli he prelcribes him, doth not for this reafon immediately caft off all care of liim , but thinks of fomething elie more agreeable to his palate and humour, that may doe as w ell.

- 7. The feventh Objedion is, If we make thofe alte- rations and Co often change, how fliall we anfwer the Pa- pills, who will upbraid us with it? To this I anfwer, As well as we did in the firft of Queen Elizaheth^ and in 1661. or, if this be an Objedtion, as well as they can us for their alterations by rhe Council of Trent , the late reformation of their Mafs- books at Pans , and the lafc Pope's abolilhing (everal Oifices concerning the Virgin Miiry.

8. The eighth ObjecfHon- is. We iliall by thefe altera* tions diflatishe our own People. To which I anfwer , Why more now than in 1662. when all readily com- plyed with and approved the like alterations .- but I be- lieve more noife is made of this Objection , tlian there is

truth.

Cao)

ti^th t>r reailbii in it ; percli ace there may be (bme few ignorant and weak People, that may be over zealoufly affe<3;ed to thefe matters among us, but they being our own , I hope are capable of being better inllrud:ed by us , than to think any of thofe things in which the alte- rations are defired fo facrcd as not to be meddled with : For this is to attribute that to the appointments of men, which is due onely to the Divine inftitutions , and is a finfuU fuperflition, in which they ought by no means to be indulged, but are as to this to be corrected, and bet- ter informed by us, under whofe care they are.

And thus far having fhewn you what ncceflity is up- on us to confent to the alterations that will be propofcd in this prefent Convocation , from the great obligation we have to remove the Scifms and heal the Divifions that are among us, I lliall in the (econd place (liew you another reafon of this necffity from the promife , where- by we have obliged our (elves fo to doe. For the Billiops, in their Petition to King James ^ promifed that they would come to a temper with the Diilenters, whenever put in a legal way , and this promile all the Clergy in the Land have feemed to approve of by owning that Petition in which it was contained, as they all plainly did who re- iiifed to read that King's Declaration in compliance there- with ; and therefore now we are put in a legal way by being called together in Convocation , we are bound to make this Promife good. For hereby we have not only railed the exped:ations of the Diflenters, but alfo of the whole Nation too, who are earneft for the fake of the publick good and peace of the Kingdom, that the difle- rences between us iliould be compofed ; and if we doe nothing in complyance herewith , what can we exped: , but that the general clamour of the People will be raifed againfl us hereon, as a bale and falfe fort of men, who can promife fair in times of adverfity , and forget all

perfor-

(21)

performances when they are over, and we become there- proacli of cvTry man hereon. I know the anfwer hereto . is, that the Diflcnters will do nothing on their pait to- wards this temper, and that after all that we can doe on ours we cannot have aflurance that any one of them will come over to us thereon, and therefore it will be in vain for us to proceed any further on this Projcdt. To which I reply, Firit, That it is by no means true that all Diflcn- ters are fo averfe to a reconciliation with us, as this an- fwer luggefts, for I know multitudes that on granting ' the alterations propofed would mod gladly come in and unite themfelves to us. That their Miniilers are not (b forward as to this I believe to be true, bccaufe they ha- ving many of tliem very beneficial Conventicles, where they have a more plentifull Income, greater refpedts, and • a larger power than they can hope for in a Church Bene- fice, would rather for the fake of fe If intercfl continue as they are, and have no Comprehenfion at all, than to be brought into the Church thereby to their lofs. But . with the People I know it will be other wife , who will in large numbers come in to us as foon as thofe alterations ihall be in our Churches ; and when they arer once come ofl, it will not be long ere their Miniflers alfo will be forced to follow. But, Secondly, fuppoie it true. That no DifTenter at all would be brought over to us by the Conceflions propofed, yet I fay that we arc {till bound as well by interefl as duty to perform what we have promifed : For by doing our part herein, firfl, . wefliall leave them without excufe, if they be not fatif^ fied thereon,/and deliver our (elves from abundance of their clamotir, which we are now continually vexed with by them on this account. Secondly, we fliall there- by give fatisfadion to the Nation, who exped this from us, and fix them thereby the more firmly to us. For fay we what we will of the flrength and number of thole

that

\

(22)

that ^re for us, let us not deceive our felves, As they that are zealous for the Diilenters are no great number, nei- ther are they that are zealous for us. The main body of the Nation I look on to fland indifferently afleded both to them and us, and although they now come to our Churches, yet are they as ready to joynalfo with them were they in the pubHck Miniflry , as in the times of Cromwell hath been fuificiently made appear. For they think not the Controverfie between us of that moment, and therefore cry loudly to us to agree, and take it very ill that fuch difcords and divifions Ihould be flill maintai- ned in the Nation fo much to the prejudice of tlie pub- lick peace and fafety about fuch trifling matters as they think them to be which, we contend w^ith each other a- bout. And at prefent I m.ufl tell you they are readier to caft the blame of all this rather on us than them becaufe they are now the fuffering party. But if we do our part on this occafion, and make all thofe fleps to peace and agreement which are propofcd, wc Ihall not onely (et our felves right with them as to this, but if the DiHentersdo not hereon come in and comply with us, they will fb plainly manifeft: themfelves thereby to be a fort of obfli- nate and unreafonable people , that the whole Nation diall condemn them and juflifie us, and be thereby firm- ly fixed on our fide ever after. But on the contrary if we do not our part, but break our promifes, and rejed: the prefent opportunity put into our hands of doing our befl towards the refloring peace to this poor divided Church and Nation, which all now fo earnellly defire, and the exigency of our prefent affairs do make fonecefla- ry for our lafety, we fliall fo far lole the people of the Land, and give our Adv-erfaries that advantage over us therel3y, as I fear may become our total ruine.

But, Thirdly, another reafon there is which fliewsthe neceffity of our doing what is proposed, becaufe if we do

not

(23)

not doc it mbH: certainly the Parliament will. For It may be very well remembred, that in the laft Sclllons the Bill pafl the Houfe of Lords in order hereto, and when it came down into the Houfe of Commons it was by their defire that the matter was referred to us, and ' if we now do nothing in it, )ou may allure your fclf the Parliament will refume it again, and doe it their own way, and they have the whole thanks for it, and we onely the odium of the whole Nation for refufing ir. To prevent which let us not cad the prefent opportunity out of our hands of doing the thing our felves : for \\c as Divines are befl able to doe it as it ought without prejudice to the Church, whereas if we caft it into the hands of Laymen, they may inftead of altering Circum- Hantials flrike at Effcntials, and fo make a breach upon the Religion it {qI[ to the undoing of all. And altliough this fliould be avoided, as I fear it will not in fome par- ticulars I could inftance, as particularly in that of our Orders, yet the Icafl mifchief we can expect will be to- tally to exringuilh ail Convocations for the future, and refolve the whole power of the Church into the two Houfes of Parliament, and thereby perpetuallv rixthat reproach of the Papifts upon us, tl-at our Religion is a Parliamentary Religion. And whether the Church of England is now met together onely to be felo de fe'is that which the Members ot this prefent Convocation are ear- ndlly defired to conhder.

But in anfwer to all this your third head of Objecti- on tells us, That how necellary Ibever this may be from the abovementioned Reafons, yet this is no proper time for ir, when fo many of the Fathers of our Church, and other eminent perfons of the Clergy by their Sufpenfion iland incapacitated to a<5t with us in this matter, and that bccaufe if this be now done, when their confent can- not be had in the doing of it, thev will renounce it all,

D ' and

(24;

and by flicking to the prefent Form create a new Schlfm among us, and thereby as great a breach be made in the Church on the one hand, as poflibly can be made up on the other. And this I hear is a reafon much infifted on to defeat the whole defign and intent of thi-s Convo- cation But in anfwer hereto I mult tell you thofe ex- cellent perfons are very little beholding to them that talk of them at this rate, there being nothing that can be a more bitter Libel againft them. For is it poiTible to imagine that thofe who have io eminently fignalli- zcd thcmfelvcs in the defence of the Church, and fo readiiy yielded themfelves to be Confellbrs for it (as all uell know in the late Reign ) fliould now on a fud- den turn their hands againft it to wound and dellroy it, and all tliis onely out of a defperate peevidmefs, be- caufe they have fome infelicities at prefent upon them which none of us can help. Far be it from thofe emi- nent Fathers of the Church to become guilty of fo great a wickcdnefs againll it, and I mjft tell you it is impof- fible they ever fliould, whatfoever fome men may talk hereof to ferve their own purpofe. For how can they who have fo long preached and wrote againft Schifm and the wickednefs of it in feparating from the Church without a juO: caufe, now become guilty hereof them- felves, when there is no caufe at all to drive them to it ? Should we indeed put any thing either into our Liturgy or Conflitutions, which is contrary either to the Dodrine or the Precepts of our Religion, I mud confefs then there would be reafon for them to fepa- rate, and I my felf would make one of their number ; but thofe that are mod hot againfl: the defign of this prefent Convocation do not tell us that any thing of this is likely to be done therein, and therefore we may fuppoie the Liturgy after its prefent review will have nothing of this therein, and that any then Ihould feparate

from

I

C25)

from us In that where they can find no fault toobjed is a thing tha: cannot be imagined, but of fudi onely as are molt perverOy bent agiini Rcafon and Confcience to doe all the uickednefs they can to gratitle a peevilh hu- mour. And therefore thofe that talk after this rate of thofc excellent and moll Religious pcrfons have a great deal to anfwer for to them for the injury which they doe them by this flanderous and vile imputation. But fince they will have it fo we will for once ( begging their pardon for doing Co) fuppofe what they fuggelt to be true, that thofe w lio ure now of fo tender a Confci- ence in reference to the Oaths, will have none at all as to this which is a much plainer cafe, but go on in op- pofition to all which we ihall do in this prefent Con- vocation to make that Schifm which they would friglit us with, the hurt will be (o little u hich they will be able to doe us thereby, as that it will no: need either to be feared or regarded by us. For their number is fo fmall, and the Profeh tes they are like to get fo few, and the refentments of the" State will be lb heavy upon them , as being enemies to them as well as us in this oppofirion, that they can no fooner appear in the Schifm which is talked fo much of, but they mui\ immediately be crulh'd and falj to nothing, and therefore to talk of this as fome do, in fo formidable a manner for the obtruding all the good intentions of this prefent Convocation, is a Scare-crow which Knaves may lift up , but nonQ but Fools can be frighted therewith.

And thus far having iliewn you the necefllty which urgeth us to doe what may become us in this prefent Convocation , methinks the cafe is fo plain, that I can- not imagine from whence it is that the prefent oppofiii- on may arife, unlefs it be that fome, when they hear of Rtfofinat;on , are afraid of their Church power and

D z Church

/

y Church promotions. If this be the matter, ss I doijbt / it is, that makes (o many hang ofT from the publick good of the Churcii at this time , I defire they would confider whether the}^ doe not take the mod eflecftual courfe to bring that about which they fear. If by fuclj moderate abateinents as are required we give fatisfadioa to the Nation , they will be the better inclined to bear wirh us in all things elfe, and make the continuance of our eftabliiliments more lafiing among them. But if on the contrary, by our refufal, we provoke them againfl us, I know not but that, infiead of that moderate and jull reformation which they will now be contented with, they may take the matter into their own hands, and bring us to that of Scotland, which we are fo much afraid of, and deprive us of all. And of this we have a plain in- flance in the Cafe of the Council of T'rent, Had they granted any moderate Conceflions to the juft demands of the Germans^ and yielded them but fome of thofe things which are now a burthen to them, and which they would be gladly rid of, if they could with reputation, I doubt not the Church of Rome might have retained its power over the whole Latin Church till this time ; but their jealoufie of this power making them rigorous to yield nothing, hath put them in the diredt way to lofe all. And if we follow the fame courfe , I doubt the fame ef- fect will enfue. In fumm , fuch bye ends are always moft unjuflifiable in Ecclefiallical Councils, in which no confiderations of fecular intereft, but thofe onely which may bell tend to the Honour of God and the Salvation of men ought to influence all our determinations , and could we but all come together with this mind, I Ihould think our felves fo fure of the blelTing of God upon all our endeavours , that I durft promife you all the good fuccefs from this Convocation that can be defired, what- ever appearance there may at prefent be to the contrary.

As

(27)

As to the account which you defire of our Procee- dings hitherto, I can onely teJI you, that on Monday hik we chofe our Prolocutor, and adjourned to thisday^ and are now again adjourned till Monday next, and then we exped: to have our Commiffion to adt and fall to bu- finefs. The firfl thing to be brought before us will be ^

the reformation of the Kalendar, that is, whether the A- ]

pocryphal Leflbns fliall be flruck out or no ; and here ■

I apprehend the main Queftion will come to the debate, whether Alterations, or no Alterations: If the latter be carried, you will have your defire, and I my liberty a- gain to return home, where the old faying, Quos Deus perJet dementat , mufl: necefTarily have that influence upon my mind, as to make me fear our total ruin can- not be long behind after fo great an infatuation; if it muft be fo, I am lure our fins have deferved it, and God endue us with Patience to fubmit thereto. I am,

Sir,

Nov. 27. 1689, Tour affe^hnate humhle fervant^

A. B.

FINIS.

t

ADVERTISEMENT.

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Printed for Richard Chifwell^ Jonathan Ro- bijifon^ and Brabazon Aylmer.

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