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11
Digitized by the Internet Arciiive
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University of Toronto
http://www.archive.org/details/bwcertaineconsidOObaco
£•" ^uLam.
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CERTAJNE
CONSIDE-RATION^S
touching the betterp^ification,
and Edification of the Church of England: . .
• Dedicated to his n:cU Excellent
MaMLe.
^-^-r
Printed for HiN&Y Tomes.
•
•.
CERTAINE
CONSIDERATIONS
touchingthe better pacification,
and Edification of the Church
oFEn gland:
Dedicated to his moU ExceEenf MAsepc*
H E Vnitie of Your
Church J (ExcilU^it So ftg'
yaigne) is a ching no lefle
precious, than thcVui-
on of your Kingdonaes,
bceing both Workcs
wherein your bappjncfJc
may contend with your worthineffc. Hauing therefore prefumcd not without your Majcfties gracious acceptacion, c. f ,
to fay fomewhac of the one , I am the more in--''* ''*^^^^°<:^ couraged not to bee filent in the other j the ra- ther. becauTe it is an Argument thatIhauetra-;«^«^><-tT^**^^^*^*'
^^led heretofore : But SaUmcn comnaesdeth a C^^mc?
A3
word
■f ^-
Qrtnine Conjtderations touching
word fpoken in feafon 5 and as our Sauiour (fpea- king of the difccrning of feafons) faith, whenyoit fee i, cloud rifmg in the mfi^youfij it r^ilbe ajhowre ; So your Maiefiie^ fifing to this Monarchie in the Weft parts of the WotkJ, doth promifcafvvcct and fruitfuUlhoure of many bleffings vpon this Church ana CoFnmon-wcahhj afhowreof that influence, as the very firft dewes and drops there- of, hauc already layd the (larmcs and windes throughout Chnftendomc, reducing the very face oiEftffpe^to a more peaceable and amiable Coun- tenance. But to the purpofc.
It is very true that thefe Ecclcfiafticall matrerSj are things not properly appertaining tomy pro- fefTion^wbichl wasnot io inconfiderate, but to objed to my fcife : but finding that it is many times feenCjthat a man that ftandcth off, and fora- whac remoued from a plot of ground, doth better furuay it and difcouer k^ than thofc which are vp- on it, I thought it not impofTible, but that I as a looker on, might caft mine eyes vpon feme things which the Adors themfelues, (crpccially fome be- ing into:e(!ed,fome led and addided, fome decla- red and ingaged) did not, or would not fee ; And that knowing in my confcience , whereto God bcareth witnefTCj that the things which I fhall fpeake/pring out of no vaine of popularTtie,offcB- tation,derire of noueltie, parcialitic to either fide, 4'fpofitionto intermeddle, or any the like Lcucn
I may
the Church of England^
I may conceiuc hope,ihat what I want in depth of judgement, may bee counteriiailed in fimplicitie, and finceriticofafiPcdlion. But of all things, this did moft animate me, that I found in thcfc opini- on: of mine, ( which I hauc long held and embra- ccd^as mayappeare by that which I haue many )^cercs fince written of them,according to the pro- portion neuertbelefle of my weakncfic) a confcnc and conformitie with that which your Majeftic hath publifViCJ^of your owne mo(\Chriftianjmoft wife and moderate fence in thefe caufcs : wherein you haue well exprelTed to the World, that there is infufed in your facrcd breftfrora God,that high principle and pofitionof Gouernmcnt, r/^4/^tfs^ euer hoU the whole more ^eere^ thin anjiparU
Porwhofeethnotj that many are aifededand glue opinion in thefe matterSj as if they had not fo much a defire to purge the euill from the good, as to countenance and proted the cuill by thegood, Othersfpcakc as if their fcope were onelytofct forth what is good^ and not tofecke forth what is pclTible, which is to wifh and not to propound. O.hers^jocecd, as if they had rather a minde of rcmoouing, than of reforming* But hovvloeuer cither fide as men, though excelknt men fliall run into ex.rtmitiesj yet your Majeftie,as a moft wife, cqu3ll,andchrillian Moderatorjisdifpofed to find out the golden mediocriticjin iheeflablilliment of that which is lound^ and in the reparation, ot that
winch.'.
3.
f
Qertaine Confiderations touching
which is corrupt and decayed. To your Princely judgement then Idocinallhamblencfic, fubmit whatfoeuer I (Tiall propound , offering the fame but as a raitc into the Trcafutic of your wifdomc ? For as the Aftrooomcrs do wcl obferuCj that when three of the fuperiour Lights doe meet in conjun- dion, it bringeth forth fome admirable cffcds: fo there being joyned in your Majcftie the light of Nature, the h'ght of Learning , and aboue all the light of Gods holy fpirit5iccanaotbebut yowrgo- uernmcnt muft bee as a happie conftcllation oucr the States of your Kingdomes. Neither is there wanting to your Majcftie that fourth Li^ht,which though it be but a borrowed Light,yct is of fingu- ler efficacic and moment added to the reft, which is the Light of a moft wife^ and well compounded Cqunccllito whofc Honourable and^graue Wife- domes I doe likewife fubmit whatfoeuer I flball fay 5 Hoping that I fhal not need to make protcf^a- tion of my mind and opinioD,that vntill yoiK Ma« jefticdoth othcrwife determinc^anHor^er^airaSu- alfand fulTobedience is toht giuen to Ecelcfiafti- calljurirdidion^as unovvHands, and wtienyour Majcftie hath determined and ordered, that euery good Subicd ought to reft fatisfied^aftd apply his obedience to your Majefties Lawes, Ordinances, and Royal! commandcments. Nor of the diflikc Ibaue of all immodeft bittcrncffe, peremptoric prcfumption^popular handlingj and other courfes
tending
the Church of England.
rending rather to rumour and imprcflion in tbc vulgar fort, thantolikcly-hoodof cflfcd^, ioyncd with •bferuacionof ducie.
But before I enter into the points controucrecd, I thinkc good to rcmoouc (it it may be) two opi- nions, which do dircdly confrbat and opponc to reformation, the one bringing it to ;> nulhtie, and iheothcrtoanimpoffibilitie. The fir ft is, 7^4/ fl{ / IS i^iiff^giaifolicii t$ hntinte any Wimg 10 Church mjtstrJ. The othcr^ Thdt 4U nf^rmsttiif «?•/ hee ^ f'^' sfter 0ni P/atfifw^* ' '""
" For the firli of thefCjit is excellently faydtjy the Vto^zi^Suuftiper<vid$Antiqa^^ ^ *videte qud- 9dm fit vid ft {Is d- vers^ fJF tmhdsit in fg. So as be doth not fay, Stgtefupir *vim M»tiq»44 (^ dm^B- Uftintii, For xx. is true, that with all wife and moderate perfons, cuilosne and vfage obtaineth chat reuercnce, as it is fufficicnt Bnatter to mooue them to make a (land, and to difcouer and take a viewjbut it is no warrant to guide or condu6^ the; a iyftjground I fay it is of dcliberatiyn, butjot of '%e0ioD. But on the other fide, who koowctfi oot that time {% truely compared to a ftrcamc,that carieth downe freth aad pure waters into that fait fca ol corruption which inuironetb all humane aflions ? And therefore \{ man fhall not by hij in- duOrie, vcrtue, and policie, as it were with the oarerowea^ain(\the Arcame and inclination of ciiQe^all inQitutioQS and ordinances be cbay Rcuer
B fo
^ * (jYtamConfideYatms touching
. fo pure will corrupt and degenerate. But not to
%i^ ^S2^Stj!!u^k ^*"^^<= fhis matter comon- place-like,! would onc-
'T"'^£^, d "^"^"lyaskc, why the ciuillStatCjfhould be purged and
reftcred by good and wholelpmc Lawcs made c^ ucry third or fourth yearc in Parliaments aflcm- blcdjdeuifing remedies as faft as timcbreedeth mifchiefs, & contrariwife the Ecdeilaflicall State Aiould flill continue vpon the dregs of time, and rccciue no alteration now for thcfc fiue and (ortic, yeares and more? If any man (hall obiedl, that if the like iHtermiiHon had becne vfed in Ciuill cau- fes alfo, the error had not bcenc great. Surely, the wifedome of the Kingdomc hath becne othctc wife in experience, for three hundred yeares fpace at the leaft. But it it bee faid to mc, that there is a difference betweene Ciuill caufcs and Ecclcfiafti- L^L'^ cr^^k.'^u ^\^ ^y>^'^'Ca\l, they may as well tell me, that Churches and 4V,v,.,^<,.^,^;,,.^^^ Ghlppelil^drnolcprraiiGn^^ though Gffles
and houfes doe; whereas commonly to fpeakc truth, dilapidations of the inward and fpirituall edifications of the ChurcFoTGo'dare is alllimes as great, as tlie outward and materiall. Sure I am, that the very word and ftile of Reformation vfed by our Sauiour, ah initio mnfmi ita^ was applyed to Church matters ,and thofe of the higheft nature concerning the Law moralL
Neuerthelcffe, hce were bothvnthankefull and vnwife that would denie, but that the Church of tngUn^ during chc time ©f Qiicenc Elix^ihctb of
famous
(!U*;C i^.<v.^<'K (L.'
the Church of England.
famous mcmorie did flourini.If I fhould compare 4yf^^ if wTthTorrainc cfiurchcs,! would ratlicr the com-^ *'^^' ^^" parifon fhouldbc in the vertucs^then as foroe make ft m the dcfe(5isi rather I fay,as betweene the Vine . , ^ -.^^^ %% ^^>\ Scjhe^Oh'ue.which (houldLbejrsojt fruitFull.S^ not t3,-a-7< as between the bryer and the thiftic, which Ihoiild beemoftvnprofitable. For that reucrence (hould bcvfed to the Church which the good fonneabf Naah vfed to their fathers nakedncffe ; that is^ as it weretogoebackvyardsj and to heipe the defedts ihcrcof,and yet to diflemble them. And it is to be acknowledged, that fcarcely any church fincc tlic Frmitiue churchy y;cclded in like manner of yeares an3^ Latitude of Counrrcyj_a greater numScr of^ excel !ent_PreacHers , Famous Writers , and grajjc GouernoarsJ5unbrlBe difcipiine and Or- ^3er$ of the Chutcb, as, marry^and the chief efl of them arc very holy and good, fo yet if Saint Itbn were to indite an Epif^Ie to the church oiEnghni^ as hcc did to them of a^^/Jj, it would furc haue the claufe Hj^t^ Aitter(t4i tifAucA, And no more for this point, fauing that as an appendixe thereunto, it is not amifle to touch that obiedion, which is made to the time and not to the matter, preten- ding that if Reformation were nccefTarie, yet it , were not now feafonable at your Mite fits firft en- jk-^j-^'* *^'^ ^v^^*^-**^ trance.Yct JJtfpQcrates raith,S^ quidmoues afrincu ^"^'^ -^^^ un,»»^ *^ • fh mfiUf, And the wifedomc of all examples doth (hew, that the wifcli Trinca.^ as they haue cuec
B 2 beene
QnaineConfideratiom tomhing
Jbeen the moft fparing in remoouing or altcratioa of fcruams and officer! vpon their comming in; fo for remoouing of abufes and enormities, and for reforming of Lawcs and the policie of their States, they baue chiefly fought to enable and commend their beginnings thcrewirh, knowing that the fir(l imprcilion with people concinuetli^ long, and when mens mindcs are mofi in expe6la« tion and fu(penca, then ate they bcft wrought and managed. And therefore it feemeth to me^thatas the fpringof nature, I meane the fpringol the yeare, i% the beft time for purging and medici- 'V sing the naturall body;fo the fpring of Kingdoms, is the m^ft proper fea(on for the purging and re- difyingof politique bodies.
There remaineth yet an obie^ion, rather of ^gijpitioiitheiiofrcafon, and yet fuchasl tJhinke nakcth a great impreflion in the mindes of very wife and well aftdcd pcrfqns 5 which \s^ Tkst if wsy hgtMift to m»$athif, tboi^^hh sh ukhg dwsy jhfeSy ^efiimfffo dtcju^mmm w$iSJveetHe^e of
whifbujotmdinigeod, Thisfurcly had bcene a good and true allegation in the ancient conten* tions and diutfions betwecne the people and the Senate of Romt^ where things were carried at the appetites of multitudes which can .ncuerieepe within the compafTe of any moderation. But tWc things beting with vs to hauc an orderly pattge
vndcr
the Church ofEnglandn
vndcr a King who hach a M^ysUfowr^ and appi«- ucd iadgement, and koowech as well chemcafirf ofchmgs,aitbenacureoftheis, i$ furelya aced- Icfic fearc. For they need not doubt, but your Msieftie with the aduife of your dumtell^ will dif- cerne what things arc intermingled like the tares amongft the wheat, which liaue their rootes fo in- wrapped and in tangled, as the one cannot be pul- led vp without indangcring the other, and what arc mingled, but as the chafife and the cornc, which needs bat a fanne to fift and feuer them. So much therefore for the fir A point of do reformati- on to be admitted at all. 2« ^ For the feeond point* That there fhouid be but ^^^^^''^'^y'^'u'^ *^ oWiioixsi^oiDiftiflme in all Churches , and that ^^'^"^^ f- ^ impofedbyancccfYitie of a commandemcnt and pr^fcript out of the word of God ^ it is a matter Volimieshauebecnc compiled of, and therefore cannot tccciue a bricfe redargution. 1 for my r part doe confeflc, that in rcuealing the Scriptures, -^ — ;/ " l'^;' I could neucr find any fuch thing, but that God^'^'^^'"]!^'^ f^*^*^*^^^ ^ had: left the like libertie to the Chmrchjioiiirmfunt^^^^ «i ^/.^ -r ^^ SITKfeBath doBcjojche CMgouermg^nt , to be va* ^'^^ {•^tf^s . rfcd accSrding to time and place and accidents, wbid) neUerthclcfTc, his high and diuine proui- tfebce doth order and difpole 5 for all ciuill go- iienimeiitsarcreftraincd from God ymo thcge^ *i«rall grounds of lufticc and manners, but the po- licitt and fbriact 6f them are left free. So that
Qertalne Confideratims touching
Afpnarchies and Kin^do rr^es , S cnates 9nd Scjgno- rigs^ pOpTiTar Srargs and .ComnninaltleF,^a r^alj kvyfuii ati.d \vl?cre they are planted ought to bee maintained inuiolare.
^ lik^wyfc Li,<phurch matters, the Tiihlancc ol Do(Slrins is ifnmutable , and (o are t-hegcnerafl Ruks-of gouernment ; but for Rites atad Cc.remp
^
-^•.M?.f .Ti. u- '■ ^ And thererore u IS pood wecrctiirnevntochcan- cJcjkK (^arvds oi vnitiejin the Church of Godjwhich v;^a? qne f >j/r^5, one Bnfjifme^ and not ooe HJcTAr^ die a ene DJfciflme , aad that vyeeobferue the haguQoichri/iiam as it is penned by our Sauiour C^r{/?-Whicv» is in fubftance of do6lrine this , J/f^ //>4f u not yvfth vs^is againfi -t^/.But in thingsjndi?c^ rent and but.ofcircumftance, this, Hfi_thdlk»fif^ agmf^sji vpith f /.In thefe things fo as the gene- .: rail rules be obferucd that cbripFlocke htjcd:ythdt iSo<re he ^fuccefston m Byfijops ^^A^MJf^fJ^^J, w h ich
* arc the PrfffhefToi the New Tifiamem^ tljaiTtHcrc be a due & reuerenr vfe of the ^ossQx^fifthe.^eyfs 5
• that thoje ih/it Preach the Gefpell^ liae of the C of pell - that all things tend to edification 5 thit all things hee done in order And with decencie^Jknd the likc^jthe rcfl
T , it left to the holy wiledomc and fpirituall 4ifcre-
tion of the maftcr-buildcrs and infcriour builders in Chrsfis church ^^s it is cxccltcntly alluded by that Father thac notod that chrifisG4rf»inf ps with-
the Church of England^
outfeamc, and yec the Churches garment wa[$ol
diucrs colours, and thereupon (ettcth downcfor . a Rule J I» vefte ^Arietoi fit^fcijJurA nfttft.
In which varietic ncucrihelelTc it isafafc and a
wifecourfc to follow good cxampks and prcft-
dents.But then the rule of imitation and example, a ^^ £.^ J-^f.u^^
is CO confider not oncly which arc the^beft, buc;^^,^^//)^/^:'"^?^:
which arc the likeft^ as namely the gouCrnmcnt of ' v.t y^fa-rt ?>,v^.v.^v/,
jhc Churchj in the pureft times of the fiirft godd
Emperours that imbraced the F4//A. For the times
of perfecution before temporall Prhces receiucd
the Faith^as they were excellent times forido(5trin€ —and manerSjfo they be vnprppet aricf Vnlike cxarti-
ples o! outward goucrnmentand policic. And fo
much for this point ; now to thcpartlcular fcints
of Controuerfics or rathefof KeFormanon.
1
Cifcumfiances in the (jouernment
of By floods. .^^
'ClxQi therefore for the Gouernmcnt of BjfBofSj
^ 1 for my part notprcjud^'ng the Prcfiacnts of
other reformed Churches, doe hold it warranted
by the word of God and by the p^aaifeof tlrcan-^ ^',^. ^^w.>f t^
cicnt Church in the better times; ^ndmuch morc^^^<^^<:, f^'^<^'^ ^'
conuenient forKingdomes thjen j)aritjof Mini- y^y^^P^.o^ s.,-.^'^
ftws^andgouernment by Sy nodes. But then tbct it IS tot>c eFnBdercd/thiFflic dhtircb is
nodes. But thcn7ur- not
BOW
QermineConltderatkns touching
now CO plane or build, but onciy to bcc prancd from corruptions and rcpaii^.d^ ajsd ^cdpfjCfi in fbmedecayes.
For it is worth the noting, that the Scripture faith, rxinJUt$ SueritM^nfcepefivtd^Legiifiit trAnjlAti0. It js not poffiblejrucjpcg •f the_grcac and nccrc fywpathie bctvvecnc the State Ciuii!^ ^nd the State Ecclefiafticall, co make fo mayne an I ^Jtcration iq ihzchprclj^ but it would haue a pcri:_ lous operation vpon the Kingdomcjand therefore it is fi t, chat controuerfic be in peace and file^cc, ,puttherc bee cwocircuoiftanccs ivi thcadmi- niftrationof Byihops, wherein I confeflTc I could I neuer be fatisficd. The one, TheJ$le exmsje cf their mhorilst'^ The other, tBcDip»tAt$(fm0fthtir 7) n, ^- MMthpritie, '^ ...i..
''% ^ ^ / ^^^ ^^^ firftjChc Byfhop giucih orders alone, c«.
ir .''^ *'^- ^coromuiiicatech alone Judgcth alone. This fcemcs 4 TF"*^'"^" w bee a thing alrooft wichout example in goucrn- % JC .^^..jU^ mcnt, and therefore not viihkely to haue crept in <rx--VK.«wt ' / the degenerate and corrupt times. Wee lee the
greatcft King! and Monarches haue their Coun- cels.There is no teg}porall Counccll in EngUndoi the higher fort where theauthoritie doth reft in one pcrfon> The King»-bcnch,C6mon-pleas,and chc Exchequer,ate benches of a certain number of ludgof . The Chancellor of England hath an Afli- ftaoce of 1 2.iMlajftcrs of the Cbanccrie. The Ma- ftcc d[ tbcVi^dj hath a c»uncell of chc Courr;So
hath
13 ■^ the Church of England.
hath the Chancellor of the Duchie.In the Exche- quer Chamber^ihe LordTrcafuror n ioyncd with the Chancellor and theBarronsj The Maftcrsof the Rcquefts are eucr more than one. The lufticcs of Affile arc two. The Lord Prtfidents in the Mar- ches and inihc Nerih^ hauc councels of diners. The Sc^rre-chambcr is an afTembly of the Khgs lpi\\i\tCfiuncell afperfed wich Lords Spiriruall and Teniporall. So as in all Courts the principall per- fon hath eiier either Colleagues or AJJcfJors,
The like is to bee found in other well gouerned Kingdomes abroad where ti)ejunfdkfiion is yet more diftributedj as \x\ tbeCourrs of Parliament of Fr4»f^,3nd in other places. No man will denic, but the A^Sis that paffc the B^fhsp jurirdijflionj arc or as great importance as thofe that pade the duili CfiMrt/} for mens foiiles are more precious then their bodies or goods^Sr fo are their good names. ^jjhoPs haue their iofirmiticSj and hauc no except lion from that gene rail maledi<9:ion which is pro- aouncedagainft all osen liuing, P^dfeli^nAmftetti' derityd'c, NayjWC fee that the firft warrant in Spi" f^ ^ w^^^ rituall caufcs is dircdcd^to a number D« Etclejid, ^'^ M^'y^ which is not fointemporall matters; Andwcfcc ^ J<hs^
that in generall caufcs oi Church gdHernment^xhttz 'r75f'^^^^'*^^\'^.-«4 arcafwclAffcmbiiesef all thcfAi^^/tfiijCouncds, ^^"^^ ^^^^ ^ as of the States in Prfy^rfw^-^^j whence fhould this-' •*^^^'*''^^*^''^'*''^*^ folccxercifcof jmifdicftionGome? Surely, I doc /f ^
(uppoic and thinke vpon ground, that aJ? iM§ <^^ -^'^^ n.^^-u^ ;/«
C non
OATtiyn^**^^
''^4C^':^7lt Ortnine Confiderat'wm mching
-^i^cc^^h if:B^^-^'-4^^nonfunitA\ and that the Deanes and Chapters
%Tt ws^r/^*^^^^^'^ Counfels abou[ the Seas and chayr£$ of jr.-
^^•^ ^l^iJ^^jpf^-^dfl- i^ofs at the fiiftj andij-verc^rntothcm a ?Ttihittrtej\
^ or Conjtforh^ aiiT intcrmcdled not oneTy" in the
difpofing of their rcuenues and endowments, but
mueb more in jurifdidion Ecckfiaflical]. But it"
is probablCjthat the De4fjean6 chapter fiuckc dole
to the By/hops in matters of profit and the world,
^u4fA^. ■ ^ni-Cdi- fr*^/ii^^^ would not loofe their hold 5 but in matters of
^ a#;?^*,^^f^y_^^ ^f jurildi^^ion, (which they accounted but trouble
A t^^^^.s ^V.^ »^^'*-^and attendance) they fuffercd the Byfl;iops to cn-
/j.^'hx*^^^ ^f fi^fl-'T^^''^^ croach and vfurpej and fo the one continucthjand
ihc other is loft. And wee fee that the Byfhop o^ Reme^ {fasefi^^ ab hcfle iccefty and no queftion in ^* fjf ,c^^^\,c^^ that church the firft inftitutions were exceIleBt)>r ^ /c^ ^cf^-'uJ^s-vk^- perf ormeih ail Ecclefiaft icall Jurifdi6iion^ as^ m - 1^ 'v^ /^ii-»^u^. CoH^jlerie.
. And whereof confifleth this C^/?y^mf, but of theparifla Priefts of 5tfw^,which terme thcmfeiues cimn^^^car^limFMmun^^ becaufc the Byfhop ^ ^ prcrendeth to be vniucrfailouer the whole world.
^^"^-^ ^^^ -^ "^- And hereof againe we (cc diners fhadowes yet re- j>^^^ (Qm^^^^ ^^^^^ maining ; As that the Dedfie and chapter^ fro fef' cX^ v^ ^A S'^i- -%> ,3,4 choofcth the Byfhopy which is the highefi point ^u-^^iiui^. of jurifdiaion. And that the Byfliop when hec gi-
^\o^ ^,vj i^^f^^ ^ ueih orders, if there be any Minifters cafuallygrc- ^ j>#.b 'i^ ^ crc^' 'f- fentjCalieth them to joyne with him in impcntioh C^MtZ.i, .v!^ «/.^c oThandSjand fome other particBlars. And thcre-
fvTe k feemes to me a thing real«nable and religi-
OUSj
the Clour ch of England. ^
ouSjand according to the firft inftitution^that By- ffpj>s in the grcatcft caufes. and thofc which re- quire ajpirituall^i'fcerning/harocl^ in orday ning, ty^^ Ci).,c^.^^ <i ^o S^ iufpending or depriuing MmTflers in excommu- nication being reftorcd to the true and proper vfe as ftiall bee afterwards teuchcd, in fen fencing the ?<^^ ^f^ud-^ r^^r^^r^ validitic of Manages, andlcgittimatlons,in jad-.^*:^t'7!2!^/^1cit'i^* ging caufes criminoBs as Symonic,inceft,bIarph€YC:rX<^^3^"-^ ^y^f^r mie and the likcJftiou[dnotj)rocced fole and_vn-" '■''^ 'f ^. (^imh^m'^^"' affiacd, which point asl vndcrftand, is a Refor:^'^'''"^ '-^""''''^ mttion tha: may bec^lant€d^/?«rtf^rf^/i^ without " any perturbation at al!, and is a matter which will •gioe ftrength to the Byrhops, countenance to the inferiout degrees of Prelates or Minifters, and the better iffue or proceeding ia thofecaufci that Ibali pa^e.
And as I wifti this ftrength giucn to the Byfho^i ty Councell, fo it is not vnworthy your Msiefties ^
Royall coniideration, whether you fhall notihink fit to giue ftrength to the general Councell of yeur ^-^ V ^ c^»t^/v»«fil^c : Cjerite^ the Conuocathn Houje^ wh ic h was the n re- ^ ' ^^ ' ► (irained, whcH the fiate of the cUrgk was thought a fufpefted part to the Kingdomc in regard of their late homage to the Byfliop of j?<?w^^ which ftate now will giue place to none in their loyaltic and deuotion but to your Maiejiie^
For the fecond point, which is the Deputj?« 2- ,J!>:-LLhJ^^''>fh> tjon^f theii^Authorit]C~T]ee~nc^c^^^ x^-^i ^^^^^
groimd for that ncidier ^ bceing romewhat diffc- ^ ''Cr...>^
C 2 rent '60^<^ ff ■
£ertaine Conjtdemtions touching
rent from the examples and rules of goucrnment.
The Zf^y^^^ exetcifeih his jurifdi^iion by his C/^4;!p-
p/}. ^ A •/> ,^ Ciller and Comifjme^ ^^^i4L&^* VVce fee in all
i^^lS 'r.c^3^?*^^ ^^^^'^^ ^" ^^^ world.i^^^ipi of confidence and skill
S^t^^Al'-. «:rc.y ^^^^^-cannot be put oucr nor exerciTed by^eputle^jcx-
^'L ^^'^ry^^K^^ATvri-. ceptit face efpccially contained in theorigmall
grant, ^and in that cale it is dutiful). And for cx- ^if*-^'>^<^^'^,'^:(knx.: pcricncCj thciewas neuer any Chauncellour of ¥ ^^" £«g/W, made a Deputie, There was ncucr any
^'^^A^:PaS''v>.^f^. J"<^ge in any Court,made a Deputic.The lyPiep is f <^ cT aludgCj andofahighNature,wheneecommcih
|. A ji^|j <r^« /^ 7v*/«^*v jt that hce f^^^^ depute, confidering thatal! */C^^*'/rft«r>.*^*;v^t-';^j.yf^3„j^Qn^^^j^j.g^5 ^^5 (aid is perfonalland
inherent5and cannot or ought not to bee tranfpo- a^.Wi> .^ -A*- Wtc. fcd ? Surely in this againe ihinith nofffu'nita^
butitisprobable, that Byjjqps when they gauc r" J^ (N i^iemfeiucs too much to the gloricofthe world,
p^ ^.; . , ' Gouncellors to Princes , then did they dc-
leaguc their proper jurifdidion as things of too inferiour a nature for their greatneflc ;and then after the {imiiitude and immitation of Kings and
^- *fj i-nt jA*aV '^i^y^sit- CounTs^Pala tine, they would haaeilicir Chad-
fa>d^v . ccllors and Judges,
But that example of Kings and Potentates gi-
^j ^ 2r^Avf^A?3 ?rv^.^ ucth no good defence. For the reafons why Kings
^4.^9^. *" adminifter by their ludges, «ltboughthcmfelucs
arefuprcamc Judges, are two. The one becaufc
^rdM-f^
^5 ^ ^^^ **^ ibc officci of Kings arc for the . moft partorin
the Church of England^ ■
hcriiancc,and it is a Rule in all La\^cs ; Thdt OffH^ A^^ ^
(ts ofinhn»t4nce^Ar€rAtherm*Ue_fs that found in tn-
Urefi^ihtn in ccnfidence ^iorain\uch as they may fall
ypon womcn,ypon Infa nts^vpon Liinafigues and
idcots, pcrfons vncapable to execute ji,dica(urc
in perfon,and therefore fuch Offices by all Lawes
might cucr be excrcifcd and adminiftrcd by dc le- /^ / ^^ /
gation.The fccond rcafon is^becauie oftheampii- '^^-^y^^^^tT^^-- ^
tudc otlHeirrurif^l^OH^ which ij as grcajjs cT- ^p^J^"^ o^ '7^
ther their ^TrtTMJght from their AnceAorSjOr their^
rword-rTgBt from God jmaketh it. And therefore if
Mtfes that was Goucrnour ouer no gi eat people,
and ihole collc£bed together inacampc,andD®t
fcattcred in Prouincesand citicSjhimfelfelikcwife
of an extraordinarie f pirit, was neuertheles not a-
ble to fuflSceand hold out in perfon to judge the
peop!e,but did b/ the aduife of//;Ar^approued
from God, fubftitute Elders and Judges^ how
much more other Kings and Princes, . a
TA«c.«adMrdR€aloniikeujiey not much "^i^f t^^ !^^
the prcfcnt purpoi€,andt^atii:Tfiat Kings eyiBcr Z'*^^ '*^ ^'*'^ ^'
in rcfpeiSlef the CommonoWeahhjOr of the grcat-
ncsohheirownePatrimonies,are vlually par'ics
in fwtes , and then their Judges ftand indifferent ^ ^ '>4^L»>v.^.»*!'
Betwcene them and the fubicd. But in the cafe of ^^ ^/^ "^ ^"^ '
jS;/;J<?/>;,noncof thefe reafoHshold. Forfirftjtheir ^"^ \ / .
Oifice is clediue_and for life, aod noTparnmonN"7^^ o-^'-*^ ! yti^
aTorTiercWtancTan C5ce meerly of confidence, ^^^.^"^-^ 6^-^r
fci€nccandq^iialificaiiOij. i'W^for the (econd rea*-
G 3j i'H^^
M.
Qermme Confidemtlons touching
jt j»^ *^. foHj it istruc ihactheir jurifidi<SlionisamfIeaad
■^ ,*^ "7^ -tf^ 5Jl lpaciO"^5 2"^ that their time is to bcc diuided bc-
^u^JZ&^UC^^i t^veenc the labours as well m the word and do-
'^^v. "^^^^^ (ftrinCjasingoucrnmentandjurifdidion.Butycc
I^oenptke/uppofing the Byliiops Courts to be
\k<^ vncorriiptly, and without any in.dire6l courfc
held to multiply caufcs for gaine of fees ^hm
that_tbe By iTiop might very well for caiifes ol ma.
U h r ri; ^,,Lr£tt4 *"^^ ^"PpJx hj«- jy.4|ci all fundion in h is o woe
L^^ JiX <^.^ 5^ '^P^^^^^'^^'' ^^ ^^^ before our eyeSjtbat one chstun-
'f "^ (rr/Zi'f of EngUnd difpatcheth the fuitcs in equitic
J of the whole Kingdomejiwhich irnotbyrcafon
:ofthcexcgllencic of rfiat rare honourable Peffon which now holdeth tEaTpIac^, l)ut it was cucr {o^ tfiough more and lefle burdcnqujito^hc^fator^as ^zChAuhMor was more or leflc sbJc to giuc di- ^^V^itcM^i^n.-^ A^i^fpatch. And if heed bee talcen to "tlwt which was y .^v>^*i-^^*/^i^'^'^- faid before, that the ^^fhofi labour in the word
miift take vp a priHcipali part of his time, fo I may fay sgaine, that matters of State haue cuer taken
?n^^y, <rr )^h>^ aJ^ ftA ''^
-f^ ^^'. t<M trf A ^v^vp moft of the chAumeilors time, hauing bin for A^^^ ^?»^^. /^^ the moft part perfons vp©n whom the Kings of
this Realme haue moft relied for matters of Coun-^ cell. An therfore there is no doubt,but the Byfbtpy whole circuit is Icflc ample, and the cauics in na- ture not fo multiplying, with the hclpc of referen- ces and certificates to and from fit perfons for the better ripening of caufes in their meane procee-' dines, and fuch ordinary helpes incident to jurif-
di^ion^
the Church of England^
Ul
di^ioOj may very well fufficc his Office, But yet *_
there is an other heipe, for the cauies that come ;^^^^ ^'^^'filj^ ^^"^ before him are thcfe, T^^s^Lc^acies andMml'^i^^. ^^ ^J \ J. niftrationSj and other teftamcmary caufes, caufes '^^'!'^*'^^^-^" '" ^ ' Matrimoniall, accufations againft Miniftcrs ten^ ' ** ding lb theit (ulpeBIion, deprfuation or degra- ding, Symonic, incoutinencie, Herefiej Bla/phe- roie, breach ct Saboth, and other like cauks of fcandall. The firft two of thcfe in mine opinion^ differ from the reft^that is.Tithesand teftamcntsT^^^^^^t^ \Z^ for thofe bee matters of projfite and in their naturc'^^fw7C^'"/.^Tr Temporalljtnoujih by ajauour and conniuence o{,,„.,a«<R^<^ of^tU^'^ ~ the tempoira]l]unrdr$[ron,they haue been allowed^M^^^^^tflL «r*^^»^^- and pcrroittcdjo the Courts ^ccUftAjtTcdl^^t one, to the end the C^r^f^ might luc for tfiaTthat was their fuftcmatbn^ before their owne ludgcs, and the other in a kind of pietie and Religion, which was thought incident to the performance of dead ^
mens Wils, And lurcly for thcfe twOjthe Byfhop ^ ^By^h^^ ^ '^^ in mine opinion, may with leffe danger difcharge "^I'^^T^^T**^ bimfelfc vpon his ordinary Judges. And I thinks ^'^'*'^'^<^^^ ' likeujfeit winfallout that thoje futes are in the greatef! number. But for the reft, which require a ;^ /.^^sf-*^^vv^«-^<- SpirituallTcience and difcretion in refpe<5t of thcis ^^'^-^.^^p^^'t^^'^i^'^^ nature, or ofthefcandall, it were realon in mvo-^^-*-*-'^-*-'^^^:'***'. /« pinion there were no audience ftiicn, but by the '^ j' "^^.^ji^^^oA- Byfhop himfclfej he being alfo nififted as was ^^^i^-'^^^'^'^d.^ i^fT^ chcd before, but irwere ncceflTarie alfo hee wcrcr^ • 'f^i.<^^'y-k?'^'^ attended by bis C(&4»t:^//<^r or fomc others bis Of-c|^^^''^ »/>j^ (h^ ■
ficcrs.
Qertulne Con/tc/erations touching
{iccrs, being learned in the Chill Law^ for his bet- ter inftriKSlion in points of formalitiCjOr ihe cour- (b of tlie Court, which if it were donc^then were rhcrelefTe vfe of the off t dais Court -^ whereof there is now to mucfvconiplajnt. ArcI caufcs of the na- t jre aforcfaid being only drat^eto the Audience of the 5viiii»p,it would reprcdc friuckuis av.6 ^o- lingfuicSjanS giue agraue and incorrupt pro- ceeding to fuch caufes as Qialbefit ior the Court* ' t . J, ?. Thcrg is a third point ajlo, not ot. juriididion^
^•Y^T^ • *^'^^^- but of forme of proceed ii}i^,~iV'hich may'diTccrue
Kcioimation; the rather bccauie It IS contrary to
the Lawcs and Cuftonesoftbis Land and State,
^ ^- , t which rhoueh they doc not rule thofe procec-
-*Hvv^* *^'U4 *<V> v^^n^dingSj ytl may tncy BV aduilcd with lor better di-
..^>^ 'fr^,cr^j/'^''^^ redif -n . .-ni that is, the Oath ex Officio^ whereby
; iuMj;:^.^,. '^ tr'mcn ^.c inforccai^i^cinelHeraleiuesT and that
; ^ that IS more^ arefworne vnro Blanqucs^ and not
vntj accufations and charges declared. By the Tu-d- y,.^ \t .^rr^^ ,^ *axx>v.>- Lavvcs of Effgloffd^no man is bound to accufc him '^^^'*^ ■ ielfe. In the highcft cafes of trcafon, torture is v-
7^> rc^^t^sy ^y^f A^ fed for difcouerie.and not for cuidencc. In capi- j tar matters, no dehnquents amwer vpoB oath IS
i«r,^t^«LV i* 'n'v-"^ vtv required, no not permitted. In criroinall m^tter^ ^'KAj.,.,^%,.,uhi4.^ o/e^w^i. not capital], haHdled in ihc Stdrre Chamher^znd ii^ " '''^^ caufcs of Confciencc handled in the ChauHcerU^
for the moft part grounded vpon truft and fccrcfic, the oath of the partfc is required. But how ? wbcrc^ there is an acculation and an Accufor, which wee" call
the Church of England.
call bills of complaint, (from which the complaio nant cannot varic, and^out^iiliejcompiajf^ which thedefcndani may not bcc examined) exhi- bited vnto iTie Court jandbyTroccs notified vnio the defendant. But to examine a man ygon^oath out of the infinuationoijamc, or out of acculati- ons fccret andynd^3ared/tli^i?gyiniauelome countenance from the C/»///-ZJ:yj yet is fb oppo- {vLcetTdtametro to the fence and courfc of the Cor»' wsn-LarVy as it may well receiue fome limitation,
r
Concerning the Liturgie^ the Cere^
monies f andSubfcription.
pOr the Liturgie^ great refpeiS; and heed would ^ be taken jleait by inueighing againft the durabc Miniftrie due reuerence be not withdrawne from the LiturgU, For though the guifi of Preaching, beefarreaboue that of Reading, yet thea^ionof the Liturgte is as highand holy as that of the Ser- mon, iTis faidj)0mfid mea domm oraticnis 'veabu tur^ The houfe of Prayer, not the houfe of Prea- ching. And whereas the Apoftfe faith : Howjhall men call 'vfon him on xphem they haue not heleeued f and hoxvfhil they heleeue 'vnieffe they he Ate f And how flail they heare v^iihout a Treacher ? It appcareth that j;S Preaching '\% the more originaj!^ fo P^rayer i$ thcmore finall, aslEc B":ffercnce isbctween tfiie ^~' D feed
^/-
Qemine Conjtderations touching
feed and the fruit for the keeping of Gods Law; is the fruit of the teaching of the Law,and/r^/fr, or JmocAtioH^ or ViutHe (eruice^^ot Lttnr^u (fo^ thcfe be but varietie of cermesj is the mediate hal- ]owing of the Name of God, and the principall workc of the firfl Table, and of the great Com- mandcmenc of the Law of God. It is true that the Preaching of the holy word of God,!s the (owing of the feed jit is the lifting vp of the brazen ferpcnt, the Minif^ric of FaitFi and the ordinary racancs of
faluatipn^buf j^t K2!jg22^ ^^ ^^^^-— P'^»^^^ thatj^he beftAcStionsoTtFie worfhip of God may
be extolled cxccfCucly and fuperftjtjoufly. As the
CKtoITmg of The jacramcn t bred the j^ipcrflition
of the Maff?; the cxrojling of the Liturgie and ^
prayers, bred the fuperfiicion of the Monaflicall
orders and oraifons 5 And fo nl73ouBi Preaching
IlEcwiIe aiay^Tmagnified and extolled fuperfliti-
oufly, as if all the whole body of Gods worfhip
{hould be turncs'l into an eare»So as nonc(as 1 fup-
pofc) of found judgementjWill derogate from the
Liturgie, if the forme thereof be in all parts agrcc*-
able to the word of God^ the example of the Pri-
mftiue ckurch^md if;at holy decency which 5.Ptf«/
commendcih. And therefore fir ft^that there bea
fet forme of prayer.and that it be not Icf f,ciibcr to
ancxiemporaHformCjOr to an arbitraric forme.
Secondly jthat it confift afwcll of lawdcs^hymncs,
^pd thankcfgiuings^as ofpcdtiqns^pw^^^ ^S^
the Church of England.
pltcations.Tbirdlyjthat the forme therof be quicks ncd with fomc fhortneSj and diuer ficies of prayers andhymnes and with feme interchanges of the "vaycc of the p.c<>plej aswell as ofthe voyce of ^hc
of times and commemorations ©f Gods principal bcnefi(s,as well generall as particular^Fifthly^that prayers likewife be appropriated to feueraTrneccf- (iiiesandoc<:.ifion3 ofihe Church. Sfxtly , rhat there be a forage hkewilc of vvords and Li' urgie ifi ihcadminiftr^tionofihe Sacraments, andinthe dcnoutKing of the cenf urc^ of th^ Church ^ and o- ther holy actions and folcmnitics. Thcic things 1 tbinke will not bee much controuerted.
But for the particular exceptions to the Lltui^ gic in forme as it now ftands,Ithinkediuer$ of ihem allowing ihcy were juft, yet feemc they not to be weightiCjOtherwifc then that nothing ought to bee accounted Hght in matters of Religion and pietie, as the Heathen himfclfe could fay, Etiar^ n^ultufd^e iatdnurfutas. That the word Pr/tfi fhould not bee continued efpecially witB"^ fcnce,thc \sox(^MiniJler being already made fami- liar.This may be faid that itis a good Rule in tran- {lition,iieuer to confound that in one word in the tranflition, which is prccifely dif\inguifhed in two words in the or igioall, for doubt of aequiuoca- tion and traducing. And thcrforc feeing the word 3H^«f-@ and (itiiti bee alwayes diftinguifhed
Da . i^
3
ng
Qrtnine Conjtderations touchim
m the originalljand the onevfed for a Sacrificcfj the other tor aMinifter, the word Priefi bceing" made common to botbjvvhatfoeucr the dcriuaticn be^yet in vfe it confoundeth the Minifter with the SAcriJcer. And for an examplejof this kind^ I did cucr allow the difcretiqn and tendernefic of the ^/^^^^jianfbnon Jn tjiis pol^ m
the original! the Word Ayw and neuer 6f»r, doe cuer tranflare charftig^ and neuer £g«^^"Eecaiui?c of the indjffercncic an^ cquiuocaiion of the word with iirpure Louc.
Touching the Abfolution. it {% not vuwortbv confideratiGn whether it may not bee thought vn- proper and vnneccfTary/orjherjyjrc but tvyo^f^ of Abfoluiiona both Tuppciing an obligation pre^ cedent r^c^ne vpon an ExcommHnication, which is Religious and Primitiuc ; the othci^on Confeffion and Pcnnance which^is^fuperflmouSj or at lealFpoTitiue, andToth particular, neither general!. Therefore (Ince the one is taken away, and the other hath his proper cafe^what doth a ge- neral! Abfolution wherin there is neither Penaance nor Excommunication precedem.For the church neuer loofetb, but where the chureh batlj boynd. And furely, I may thinlse^ this at the firft was al- lowed in a kind ot Spiritual! diferetion, becaufc the church thought the people could not bee fud- denly weaned from their conceit of aCoyling, to which they had heene fo long accufiomed.
Foj?
the Church of England.
"^i ConfimAtton y to .niy-vnderftanding the ftete oJThe Qjeftion is, whether it bee not a mat- ter miftaken and altered by timCjand whcjther that bejipt now made a {ubfcqiient to Baptifmi^^ich was indeed Eniii3^ucement to the Commumcn\ For whereas fn tTfe Primittue churchy children were ex- amined of their Faith before they were admitted to the Commttmon^ time may feeme to haue turned it to referrc as if it had beene to receiue a confir- mation of their £4/>/;/Mf.
For Prittite BAftifme ^ by Women or Lay- perions^THc'beir Dmnes d^oe^teiTy^ndemncIt, and 1 hcare it not generaly defended, andl haue of tan maruelled J that when thcBooke in the Pre- face to pubhque BaptifmCjdoth acknowledge that Baptifmeis thepradife of the Primttiue churchy was anniuerfarie and but at let and certafne times, vj^h^vm^ixhmhz Primitiue church, did not attribute fo much to tlie T^cremonie ," as't'fiey would brcake an outward and general! ordsr for it, ihcBooke (hould afterwards allow of Priuate Ba£tifme onely to tKe Mmiffers, TRouTd BeeBro- ken in regard^ of the fuppofed necelfine. And therefore this point of all others, I thinke was but a cfince(fHm propter duritiam cordis*
For the forme of celebrating Mafrmonie ; the
the Ring {eeme:h to many eucn of vulgar fence
jnd voder{\andin^,_a^Ccrcjmonienoigrdue,jpe--
cijllytobcmade (as the words makeitj_thecfl.cn>
D 3 ~" tiall
Z^
Qertnine Confiderations touching
e claliy4Q be-HMJc (a»<iJw^iygT^j maKt iiM<<^fea° f *^'^^/j^-^^^'!lull puimf thi action : bcfidcs fomc other of the words are tioced in ipcech to bcc not fo decent and fir, *"
For Mufickein churches^l^hnthcTC fhould be finging of Pfalmesand fpirituall fongs, is not dc- nied,{o the Qncftion isJD^fw^^; wherein if a man wilUooke aticnducTy into the order and obfer- uanccofit, it is cafic to difccinc, bctweenethe wKedome of the inftftutjon, and the cxcefle of the latctimcs. For firftjthcrc arc no Songs oTTcrTes KTng by the Qiiirc, which are no: fuppofed, by continual! vfc, to bee Co familiar with the people astheyhauerhsm without booke, whereby the found hurtcth not thevndcrftanding, and ihofe which cannot read vpon the booke, are yet parta- kers ol the fence and may follow it with their mind. So againejafter the reading of the Word ofGod, it was thought finhere fhould bee fome pawfe.for holy meditation before they proceeded to the reft of the fctuicej\ihichpaw/e was thojight fie to be filled rather wijtMojpc^rauefo then mth a il i [1 fi le ncc , wh ich was thej:caf on of the pjaying vpon the Organs after the Scriptures read. All wRich wasde^cnt and tending to^dificatioo. But then the curiofitie of diuilion and reports;, and other figures ol Mufick,haueno afiinitiewiih^ the reafonable feruicc of God, but were nddcdj'n ' lig-tpofep oiBPQus ura^s. For
the Church of England^
^For theCrf^ and Surp//ce,£ncc they bee things in their nature indiftcrcnc, and yet by /on^eh.eld jupcrflitious, and that the queftion js be^wecne Science and Confcience, it lecmeth to fall within thecompalTe of the t^p»/Ilesruk^ which is, tiiat tfcc tender doc_de(ccnd and yeeld to the weaker. Onely, the difference is , that it will be materially faid, that ih^rule holds between priuatc manjand priuaic roan^but not betweenc the confcience of a priuate man,and the order oist church. But yec fincc the qucftion at tjm time^is of a tolleraxipn, not by cpnniuence which raay incouragc dilobc- dicnce,^t:by law which may giue a liberty, it is goodagainc to beea^uTIed, whether it fall not within the equitic of ihcformer rule. The rather becaufc the filencin^ of Minifters by this occafj- on^in thisTcarcitje g^ood PrcacherSja punifh- ment tliat ligTjts vpbn the people, as well as vpon thcpartie. And for the SuhfcripthnM f;emethjo_ bee in the nature of a confeflion, and therefore more pjropcrtobindein the vniiie of Fdiih^^nd to be vrgcd rather for Articles of doarine, then for Rit^s and Ceremonies and points of outward gouerhmenr. For howfoeuer politike confidera- ^ians and reafons of State may requirFvnTforrai- ^c?yct daflian and diuinc grounds loolc chief-;
Z7
QerUiine Confideraticns touching
Touchinz cu> T?reachin2
NLimflry.
"T^O fpcake of a k arntdMw fjeyh^k is truejthat •*- ihs vvorchinefife of the Pafi^rs and Minijiers is of all other points of religion the moft fummaryjl doe not fay the greateftjbut the moQ efiFediiall to- wards all the rcft.But herein to my vndcrftandingj while mcu goe on in Zeale to haftcn this worke 5 theyare not aware of as great or greater inconue*. niendc then that which they fcekc to remoue. For whilethey inueigh againft a duiube Miniftrk^ they make too eafieand too promifcuousan alj. lowancc of fuch as they account Preachers 5 ha- uing not refped enough vnto their learnings iii o- thcr Artes, which are hand-maides to Diuinitie 5 nor refped inough to the guift it felfe which many times is none at ail, FocjGod forbid that euery man that can take vnto himfelfc boI^ncfTe tolpeak an houre together in a c^yr^Jvpon aText^ftiould be admitted for a Preacher though he meanenc- uer io wclijl know tiierc is a great latitude in guifrs and 3 great varietfe in Auditories and Congrega- tionSjbut'yct fo, as there i^aii^uidwfimum^ below which you oug^tnot to defcend. For you muft ra{i]£t leauejtie Arke to (hake, asitrhaHpleafe, God, then putjinwordiy hads to hold it vp, arid
when
>. the Church of England.
when wc arc ki Gods Temple, wc are warned ra- ther to put our hands vpon our niouthjihitxro^pf- ^2lcSiaificeofjooJcJ.And fiirelyjit may bcjuft- ly though tjthatamongliman^caiifes o{\^(hieJ^e\ which are miferably met in cur Age,, as Schilmcs and controucrfies 3 pro^[wreTc effing inJl^^Y matters and others, it is not the leaft that diuers do aduenturc to handle the word oFGod, which are vnfit and vnworthy. And herein I would haue no man miftake me, ^ifidMex?olLcuriousjnd affeded Preaching^ which is as much on the other fide to be didiked, and breeds Atheffme-in^k^n" dall as well as the other ( for who would not bee offended at one that comes into the pulpit, as ifhc came vpon the Stage, to play parts oi prizes,) nei- ther on the other fide,as if I would difcouragti'any who hath any tollerable gift, '
But vpon this point, I grcundjhrectonfidera- t. tigns, whether it were not requifite torencw^thac good Exercife which was pradiled in this church fome yearcs, and afterwa rdsj)ut do wnc, by or- der indeed from the churih in regard of {omc a- bufc thereof, ineonucoicnt for thole times , and yet againft the aduife and opinion ,^ of one of the greateflandgrtueft Pf£hites^o[thJ£_I^^ . .
was commonly ca I k^frc^^ecjiit^ \ wh ich _ wag '^^rfkc^^^i nd^wn^ this ; That the Mjnifteiivv^tHrn a precindj did / ' ^ inccw vppoQ a wccice day , wvfpme prrncipall Towac^ where there was Tome ancient granc
E Miaiftcc
Qertn'meConliderations touching
Mmifter, that u^as Prefident and an Auditonc ad- i»ivttg)d Qi GcrvtTcmcn, or other pcifons o( Tcilure 5 then cwLiy Miniftcr fucctiTiucly, beginning with iheyOfigci}, did handle one and thcfamc piece of Scripture, ^Ecnd[n^feuc rally Ibmc quarter of an houre or bcctetj Sd in the w hojcjo n^e two houres 3 and To the Excrci(e beeing bf^iitLand concluded with prayer, and the Prcfident giuing a Text for tKcncxi niGCting, the Aflcmbly wa$ diffolued, Ano^hlswas-as 1 take it, a fort-nights Exctcifc, which in my opinion was the beft way to frame and traine vp Preachers to handle the JWord of God as \i ought to be handled, that hath been pra- gifgdt For we fee Orators ha^thejr Declamati- ons, Lawyers haue their moote* Jvogicians their SophcmSj and eucry pra(5iire of Science hath an exsrcife of erudition and imitation, before men i come to the lifc,6nely Preach/rg which is the wor- ihieftj^nd wherein it is moft danger to doe amiflfe, ^Vanteth an introdu^ion, and is ventred and rufh- ed vpon at the firftj ^"LVS"^. i^kE^crcife of the Pfsfhefte^ I wouljdwiftithcrc two additions J the one, that after this Exsrcife which is in fomtfort publique, there were immediatly a priuate mee- ting of the fame Miniflers where they might bro- therly admoFiifli the one the other, and c^ecially the elder fort the younger, of any thing that had pafTed in iheExerctfe in matter or manner vnfound and vncomely« And in a word might mutually vfc
fuch
the Church of Englmd."^^ ^^^
fuch aduiic; inftrudtion, comfort or encouragc- mcnc, asoccdfion might minL'^crforpublikcrc- prcljcafion were to be debarred
Thcothcr addition thai I tncfine^ is , that the &rnc^^rci/e were Wed in the vhiuerfitics for young Diuines before they f relumed to Prcsch.as well as in the Country for MMiifterSjfor they haue in fonic Coljcdges an exercifc called a Common- J^d^mii^^Rmno d^^cCj j>ecfo pi cfi table , beeing but the fpcccb oFone tnaoat one^~timc. Andific bee feared that it may bceoccafion fo whctmcnsfpccchcs for ControuerfieSj it is eafily rcmedyed by lomc ftri^ prohibition, that mat- ters of Controuerfic tending any way to the vio- lating or dilquictiog of the peace of the Church be n«t handled or cntrcd into 5 which prohibition in regard there is cucrto beagraueperfon Prcfi- dent or Moderator ^cannot bee fuifered* The fe- ^ ^ / / cond confidei-ation is, whether it were notconue- ^ ^^ ' nieni there fhould be a more cxsd prob^stion aad examination of Mtniftcrs. Namely^ that the By- (hpps doe not ordaint alone~But by adulTe , and then that the ancient lioly orders of the Church might be reuiued, by the v\ hich theBylliop difj- ordainc Minifters but at foure fct times in the yearc, which were called^ Qu. iMfrUmporTwHch arc now called Evtb rvfieeks^^'i being tHcughc £tto accompany To high an a^ ^n with general! Faftmg, and Prayer, and Sermons, and all holy
£ 2. exer-
QertaineConfidemtions touching
cxercifef. And the names likewife of thofc that were ordained were piMfficd' fomc daycs before their ordinarion , to the end cxc€£tlons
3 ' ThetM c^nfideraiion is ; that if the cafe of the ChurcITof Engtdnd ¥ce , that where a com- putation is taken of all the pcrochian Parifhes , as allowing the vnion of fuch as were too fmali , and adjacent , and againe a computation to bee taken of the perfons who are worthie to bee Pa- yors. And if vpon the faid account it fall our,that there are many more Churches thenPaftors, then of^neceffitie ^ recourfc muffBcc had to one oTthefc remedies j cythcr that p//»r4/5f«^/ muflbc allowed, fpccially if you can by permutations ^ake the benefices more compatible , as there be allowed Preachers to haue a more generajl charge to fupply and ferue by turne Parifkes vnfumifhed. For that {omt Churches fhould bceprouided of PaftorsaS^Jole^!^3^<^otfe^ ^mcth to meetoBce againftHic Communion of Saints, and Chriftians, and^agaiiyi^iHcJradifc oiihzPrimiuue church, '
7w4chmg
the Church of England^
33
Touching the ahufe of
Excommunication,
EXcimmanieAthn is the greateft judgement vp- pon the earthy being that which is ratified in Heauen, and being a precurforie or prclafo- ric judgement eichriji in the end of the world 5 and therefore for this to be vfed vnrcuerently , and to bee iTiaj^CjingidJRari^ and downc for Fees, how can it bee without de- rogation to Gods honour, and making the power of the keyes contemptible ? I know very well the defence thereof, which hath no great force. That ^t jiTues foorth not for the thing it jeLfc, but foi the contumacie. I doe not dcnie but this judge- ment isas I laid before, of the nature otGods judgcmentjofthe whichitisamodelJjFor as the judgement ofGod taketh hold vpentbgJciJlfin of . .^ (J4^- ^'^[ t / the impcnitent.fo eKcemmunicAttqjn^vm cafe ifTuc M av J^P JX
/ ^,,' ?^<
^
vpo.n the frn^allefl oSince,and in cale not I t_he£rcate(^but is this cotumacyJuch a contuma cie SLsExcamm/tKfcathtt is sow vied foipfpr iha con*
eye and wifcdome of theQnirch can diTccFne^n-
~^deth in ft.^tc of reprobation and damnatign^as one
that for that time iccmethjiucn ouenofinaH im-
gcnitcncie. Vpon this obferuation I ground two
Qrtmne Conjtderafions touching
coniidcraaons j Tjicone , that this ccniurc bee it- ftorcd CO the cruc digaitic ^^^ v(c thcrcol, which is that ic proceed cot but ^n cafes o f great weight, and that it be decreed not by any Deputie or iub-' ftitutc of the Bjjhfpy but b> the By/hff^ in pcrion ; and not by him alone, but by the Bj^j>£ii^i\cd,
The otbcfConfiderauon is, that in lieu there- of, therT'be glucnTotEc^EcclHiaiUcall Courts, Come ordinary prccefls, with luch force andco^ ertion, as appcrtaiaeth. That fo the dignitie of (o high a fcntcp.ce being retained, and the necdfijie of mcane proccfTc iupplyed^ the iWurch may bee inHccd reftorcd to theAncicnt Tigor and fplcndor. To this purpofc joyned with feme other holy and good purpoies, was there a Bill drawne in Parha- ment in the three and twcmic yeare of the raignc of the Qjcene deccalcd, which was the gra- uefi PailiamcTttbat I baue knownej^^thc Bill recommended by the ^iueB CounfelIor~of E- ftatc in Parhamcnt, though aftcrwar<^« it was flay- ed by the Q^ccnes fpeciall commandeioent, the nature of thole times conddered.
Touching the !?^(m - refidents
and pluralities.
CO R Non'tejidents except it bee iuft of ncccffa- *" ry abfsRce ^ ir fccmeih tobe anabufe drawne ^ut of CQuetoufaeffg jtnd flc^ath ; foFSTt ircn
ftiould
the Church of England^ 3f.
(hould Hue of the flockc that they doc not fccde j "bratihc Aliarat which they docnotferuc, is a ihing that can hardly rcceiue juft defence, And to cxercife the office of aPaftorin matter of word »nd do^rfne by deputy, r^ a thing not warranted as hath becnc touched before. Thequcftionvpon thispoymdcth chicfely arife vpcnihe cafes of exception, and excufation,which fl^all be thought reafonableand fufHcient,S; which nor* for the cafe of Chaplaines, let nr.e fpcakc that with your Maje- flies pardon, and with due reuerencetowardt 6- otHcr Peeres and giaue perfbns, which arcEy Sta- tutes prfuiledged, I fhould thinke that the atten- dance which Chaplaines giue to your M^jeflies Court^ and in the Houfes and Famihes of tlieir ,
Lords, were ajufter reafon why they fhould hatae ^x*^"^ "^'"^S Si^T^l-r^ no Bcni&c, then why they (hould bee ^ualifeed , ^^^^^x^/^'^ a^^^a*^ toHaue two, for a? it ftandcih wuh Cbrittian po- >"'
1Icic,chat fuch attendance be in no wife negteded j becaufe that good which cnfueth thereof to the Church of God, may exceed orcounteruaile that which may follow of their labours in any, though neuer fo large a congregation, fo it were rcafo* nable that their maintainancc fhould liberally proceed th^ence whence their labours bee employ- ed. Neither are there wanting in the Church, Dignities and preferments notjoyned with any ex.^cureoffoulesby which and by the hope of which fuch attendants in ordinary^ who ought to be Its tor the mofl pare they are of the befl gifts and
foit,
(^ermine Conjiderations touching
iorCj may bee further encouraged and rewarded* And as for extraordinary atrenoanis dicy may ve- ry well retainc the grace and countenance of their places and duties at times incident therunto with- out diicontinuancc or n0f9'r€fidcft€e'mihQ\t^%,i\:o-' rail charges.
Nexrafor the cafeai Intending ftudJcs in the Wn'm^xinks^ it will now eafily reccTue aa Anfwcr, forftudies doc butfcrucand tend to thepradifc of thofe ftudiesj And therefore by that which moft principall and finalltobc leftvndonc, for the at- tending of thofe which is fiibferuicnt and fubmi^ niftrant, fe^meth to bee againft proportion of rea- fpn.Neiiher do I fee but that they proceed Right- well in all knowjcdge which do couple ftudie with their pra^fiifejand^o not firft ftudy altogether and ^en pra£tilc altogether. And thercforctliey may very well []tudyat_their benefice. TbiL^^Vj^or the cafe of extraordinary TeriiTce of the Church, as if fome Paftor be (ent to a generall Counfcll, or here to a Conuocation, and hkcwife for the cafe of ne- eeifityjas in the particular of infirmity of body and the like, no man will contradifij buttheremaybe fome fubf^itution for fucha time.But tfie generall cafe ot necelTity, is the cafeoff/jar^/z/w, the wane of paftors and infofi&cicncy of Liuings confidered. Pf/ItPy that a man doth faithfully and inccflfantly diuidc his labours betwccne two Cures, which kinde of necefHty I come now to fpcake of, in the hanilmgoi PiHralaies^
For
the Church of England. ^^'
For Pluraliities^ in cafe the number of able Mi- TJu^a&itvtff nirtcrswere fufficlenr, and the value of the Bene- fices were fufficientj then Plural/ties were in no . fort tollerable. But wee muft take heed we defirc not contraries 5 For to dcfirc that eucry parifh (hould bee furniflied with a fufficicnt Preacher, and to dcfire that Plttraltttcs bcc forthwith taken away, is to defire things contrary, confideriing de /igg^^thcrc are not fufiicient Preachers foreuery farirti 5 wherto adde hkcwi(e,that there is ilot fuf- fidcnt IJuing and mainicnance in manyparifiies to maintaine a Preacher,and it makes the trnpoi!!- biliiic yet much the greater. The remedies in n- rttmnAturaait but thrce^ y»f^») permutation ^md Sufily. Vnion^ ot luch Benefices as haue the Li- uingtoofmall,& theparifli^nottoogreatjand are adiaccnt. Pcrmutition , to make Benefices more compatible me-n becoucr-rulcd tofome lofTc in changing a better for ancerer. SuHljjby flipcn- darie Preachers to bee rewarded with fomelibc- rall flipcnds to fupply as they may, fuch places which are vnfurnifhed of fufiicient Paflors , as Qieene Elttahcth amongft other her Chriftiaa a6ks , did cred ccrtaine of them in L4»cafi?iret towardsJwHicITpcrfons^^^ ,ding Mmifters if they haue rich Benefices {Hoind bcc charged «.
F t^Mchif^
Qcrtaine Conjiderations touching^ Touehing the ^puiJtonforJ~uffic tent
Queuing CWrch maih'cnance it is well to hi weighed, what is lure divwo, and what is /gre fofitf'V6\\i is a conftitution of the Diuine law, whcre-from Humainc lawcs cannot derogate j that thofe that feed the flocke, fhotild liuc of the floekc J that thole which ferue at the Altar, rtiould liueat the Alrar ^ and which difpcnce Spiritual! thingSjffciouId reapc Temporall things. Of which
it is alio an appendix, that l^J££E2Eli£!L °^^^'^ niain tenance be not (mall or nccc fjfiri^^^bufplen- nfufl and^liberalj J fo that all the places and ofSccs in the Church haue fuch a donation' , that they may bee maintayned according to rheyr fcuerali degrees, is a conftitution parmancnt and perpc- tuall. But for particularirie of theendowincnr^ whctherjtfliould confift^in Tythes, or Lands, or perfons, ormixt^ j^ may make a gucft ionToF^n- ucniencc 5 but^no qucftion of prccifc^neccflitie : Againe, that the cafe of the Church De facts i$ fuch, that there is want in theChurch of patrimo- niCj is confefTcd for the principal! places 5 namely, the Bifhops liuings arc Jnjomc^ particulars not fufficientj and therefore inforced to bee fuppfyed by toleration of C^wwr»^4w; , things inihcm-
fclucs
'the Church of England.
fellies vnfi: and cucrhcid of no good report, (>vTv>r-^ *--i «n^^.
And as for che Benefices and Paftors places, it is manifeft, chat many of them v/ere very weakc and penurious 5 on thcothei fide, thatjliere^as a time when the Church was rather bur Jsned with ^
fupcrfluitic then with lacke ; thatlsTIkcwifc appa- rantjbutitwaslongfiriccj lo as the fault w.is in others, the want tedoundeth vpon vs agajne. And therefore, that it wmc to beevvifhed liiat Im^ro- Jyr^^^J^.^f -f^ ^^ priationswcre returnedTolhe Cliurdi aslhe ^lo-n^fu^ ^'^^ /^^^ \ per and naturailcndownient thereof, As a thing '^''"'^''^'^*'^ likewife whereon mens judgements will not n)uch vaiic. AKo, that ius an Impoilibilitk to proceed -eytbcr to thcyr reXumption oriadcipption, is as plaine on the other fide 5 for men ^.rc lilaicd^ih thenoTyTReTneheff aflfurBncc of the Kingdomc, which is A^ oi Parliament, andjhe value of them amoiinteth much aboue tenne Subfidics, And the Reditutlon njuJFot neceiHtie paffe tfieir hands in whole hands there is intercfl and pofikfTion. But of fhcfc fhings which are manifcfilytfuej to inferrc andgtound fomeconclufiont ; Fir{>, for
^5iP£,P^'^^ *^'P'°i9? ^"^ ^"^^ ^ ^^^ confefTe, let mcc fpeakeitwith reuerence^ that a]l the Par- l|amjntsjinccthc 27. and 3 1 . of King Hfn.%. who ^o4^<^y f^^-^ ^f ^Z- gajK^awayTmpropriations from the Church, ^ ^^ r^^^fi^ ^^^ ^ feme to mcc to ftand in fome fort qSnoxiou^and';^.^ C^"^^ "X^'^. obliged to God in^onfcience to doc fomewhat^^!^^,,^* iV *^ -t*^/ V*^ - far mc Church, to reduce the pa trimome there-' ^^. ^ r^' F ^ of,
QertnmeConJtderations touching
p{ to a competencies for (incc they haue ctbar* rcdChrifls wife of a great part of her Dowrie, it were reafofl ihey made her a competent loyntnrc. t»^cxc to fay, that Impropriations diculd bee oneJy charged, that carryetb neytFier pcfC^'ilitic norreafon. Not poflfibiliricforthcreafGiuouch- cd before. Not reafon bccaufg if it be conceived chat any other prions bee_ charged itjfhould bee a recharge or double charge, in as much as hee payetH^ tythes to the Church , (o the Realmc hath taken that away againe from the Church, andgauctfiem to the King, as they might giuc their tenth fheaffc , or ninth fhcaffc 5 and there- fore, the fixf^ gutfc bceing evacuated, it can- not goe in dcfeazanccor difgrace of that perpe- tuall bond whereby men arc bound to maintainc Go^^s Minifters. As we fee in example , that divers godly and well- difpofed perfons doc put ia vre who arc content to increafe their Preachers livings, which though in Law it bee but a bene- volence j yef before God, it is but a confcicncc. Farther that IrnpropriatTons A^ould not bclemc- what more deepcly charged then p ther revc^ new s oflikc value;»nc thinkes cannot well be dc- tiye y. both in regard of the ancient claime of thcC'Urch and the intention of the firft giver. Andd^ainc, bccaufr tt^ey haue pa/Jed inVAluitl" <»/f betwetfie wan andmm fmtevchat at the ^f^tr*te^ inregird of the f aid pretence 0r clame^in Coujcu
ence
the Church of England.
me hefire Cod ; But of this point touching Church mainuinancCj I doc not thinlrtTfit to en- ter into a farther particularitic , hit rcfcruc the fame to a fitter time.
f fuis haiie nrTall humblcncs and finccritie of heart, to the beft of mine vnderftanding , given your Majeftie tribute of my cares and cogitati- ons in this holy bufincfle , To highly tending toGodsglorie, your Maiefties honorjaud the peace and welfare ofyour S tares j info much^asl am perfwaded the Papilb ihcmfclucsjjiould iR'„ "5x4 Jo mu'^^^ feveriiic of thcpcnall Lawcs, if the fword of the Spirtf2y^''c^t' tcr t^ufi,^ \ ,by ftrcfigtbcning 'tKTauthoruic afldfup^rcffing the abufcs in ihcChttrch.
To conclude therefore, rcnuing my mcft humble (ubmiilion of all that Ihauefaid,toyour Majefties moft high wi/edomc ; and agaicfe, naoft humbly cravmg pardon for my errour committed m this writing, wi'h the fame wcakntlfe of Judgement which luffcred mc to commit them, would not fuffer mee ro difcovcc them. lend with my devout arid fervctn prayer to God, that ashce hath n ade your ;'^ai£ftie the corner ftonc in joyning your two Xmg- domes^ fo yon may bee alio as a corner ^oi to
F 3 vnitc
Qertnme Conftderatms,0'c.
vnitc and knif together thcfc differences in the
Church of GOD, to whole heaucnly grace,
and ncucr erring Dirtdion , I commend
your Majcfties Sacred perlon and
all your doings.
FZJ^(/5•.
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of the
University of Toronto
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