Reflections on a book entituled (The rights, powers, and privileges of an English convocation, stated and vindicated) by Gilbert, Bishop of Sarum. Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715. 1700 Approx. 62 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 18 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A30402 Wing B5848 ESTC R14762 12034878 ocm 12034878 52867 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A30402) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 52867) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 861:3) Reflections on a book entituled (The rights, powers, and privileges of an English convocation, stated and vindicated) by Gilbert, Bishop of Sarum. Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715. [2], 31, [1] p. Printed for Ri. Chiswell ..., London : 1700. Reproduction of original in Huntington Library. Advertisement: p. [1] at end. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Atterbury, Francis, 1662-1732. -- Rights, powers and privileges of an English convocation. Church of England -- Government. 2003-11 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-12 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-02 John Latta Sampled and proofread 2005-02 John Latta Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion REFLECTIONS ON A BOOK ENTITULED , [ The Rights , Powers , and Privileges of an ENGLISH CONVOCATION , Stated and Vindicated . ] By GILBERT Bishop of Sarum . LONDON : Printed for RI. CHISWELL , at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard , 1700. REFLECTIONS on a Book Entituled , [ The Rights , Powers , and Privileges of an English Convocation , &c. ] IT is so natural for all Men to love Power and Authority , that it was not to be wondred at , if the Book published some Months ago , asserting the Rights of a Convocation , was received by many with great Approbation , and much Applause . Some things indeed it had in it agreeable enough ; but there was one thing wanting , which was too evident not to appear , both in the whole Contexture , and almost in every Page ; That though the Author pretended to plead the Cause of the Church , which is indeed the Cause of Christ himself , who is the Head of the Body ; yet he had so entirely laid aside the Spirit of Christ , and the Characters of a Christian , that without large Allowances of Charity , one can hardly think that he did once reflect on the Obligations he lay under to follow the Humility , the Meekness , and the Gentleness of Christ : So far from that , he seems to have forgot the common Decencies of a Man , or of a a Scholar . A Book writ with that roughness and acrimony of Spirit , if well received , would be a much stronger Argument against the Expediency of leaving a Convocation at full liberty , than any he brings or can bring for it . A meeting of Men of that Temper would give but too much occasion to renew all the Complaints that Nazianzen made of the Synods and Councils in his time ; and would , I doubt , be a greater prejudice to the common Concerns of the Christian Religion , than could be ballanced by any thing that the best Men in it might promote . When such a Spirit appears without doors , what might be expected from Men covered by the freedom of Speech , which must be allowed in all publick Consultations ? If the Writer had been provoked , by any thing writ on the Subject in that Strain , to which he lets himself loose , then the great Liberties he takes had been capable of some excuse . But the attacking of Men who had given him no colour of provocation in so petulant and virulent a Stile , is somewhat new ; and I hope shall be so little liked , that it shall not be much followed . The Scorn with which he treats my self , and the Malice that he pours out upon me in such a copious manner , are things that I can very easily bear . I have been long accustomed to them , chiefly from some Men of one sort . If Fame sixes this Book to the true Author , I had no reason to look for such treatment from him ; unless the unsuccessfulness of my Attempts to serve him , though managed by me with much care and zeal , oftner than once , does pass with him for so great an injury , that upon it he thinks every thing may be justified , that he can write against me . He takes some pains to colour the blackness of his Spite ; but the Art is so course , and the Venom is so malignant , that it breaks through all disguises . It is true , I may be mistaken in the Author , and for several Reasons I wish I were . But certainly , since those he levels his Wrath at , have put their Names in the Front of their Books ; it had been reasonable that an Answer to these should have likewise been as publickly owned by its Author . He writes on the Popular side ; but has many peculiar Maxims ; and this may be one of them , Not to engage himself past retreat . He might perhaps hope , that this performance would be more effectual for his Advancement than my Endeavours had been . This shewed what he could do ▪ yet still all was safe ; he might be taken off , and then Altri tempi , altri castumi . But I leave him in his Covert to pursue his designs by what methods he pleases , only for the Church's sake , as well as for his own , I wish he would more frequently carry those words of our Saviour's in his mind , Learn of me , for I am meek and lowly in heart . It gives Scandal enough to the World when Lawyers , Philosophers , Physicians , and Politicians , happen to write one against another with Bitterness and Scurrility : but it is much more Scandalous when Divines keep no Temper in their Writings , but forget all Decency , and shew themselves Enemies , not only to the Opinions , but also to the Persons of those they write against ; and that in such an open and visible Contradiction to the Words of our Saviour : By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples , if ye have love one to another ; as if they affected a Reverse of them : By this shall all men know your zeal to your Party , if ye hate all those who are not of it . Such practices as these do effectually obstruct the progress of Religion , while an Age that is too much possessed against both us , and our Holy Faith , fails not to make a very wicked use of all those Advantages with which ambitious or ill-natur'd Zealots furnish them ; to represent us to the World as a Company of aspiring and factious Men , who are ready to Sacrifice every thing to our own Humours and Notions , not considering how much Religion it self suffers by the management . These are Things that I hope good Men will lay seriously to heart , and that they will watch over their own Tempers ; even after the highest provocation from those who seem to be in the gall of Bitterness , and the bond of Iniquity : not to return railing for railing , nor to be overcome of evil , but to overcome evil with good . But after I have taken the liberty to admonish the Writer , in a Strain that I think becomes me , considering both the Post , that how undeserving soever I hold in the Church , together with my Age , and the Services that I have endeavoured to imploy my Life in ; I shall in the next place acknowledge what I must needs commend him for . He writes with just and due Respect of the King , and of the present Constitution . This has come so seldom from that Corner , that it ought to be the more consider'd : I will not give that scope to Jealousy , as to suspect that this was an Artifice ; but accept it sincerely , and do acknowledge , that this which is so heartily express'd , ought to make Abatements for the many severe Reflections that are made in it on the whole Bench of Bishops , not excepting the Head of it , and his carrying his Spite back so far , as even to Bishop Bancroft . I confess , if he had taken a little more pains to have Vindicated King Charles the First and Archbishop Laud from that for which he falls so foully on the present Administration , it had been more suitable to the respect that all the Lovers of the Church do pay their Memory . If it does appear that We and They have acted upon the same Principle , then a Wound , and that a deep one too , is given to those two great Names by the same Persons who seem to Venerate them as Martyrs . Dr. Wake * is charged for having taxed the Vices of the Clergy too freely , though from the Days of the Apostles , all downwards , the best Writers in all Ages , both Bishops and Priests , have thought it a part of their Duty to deal plainly in those matters . If the Charge is false , it is highly unjust : and if it is laid upon lesser or secreter Offences , it is very indiscreet ; but if there is too much ground for it , the best way of answering it , is to amend what is in our own power , and to lament what is not . But after all , a just taxing of the ill Tempers of some of the Clergy , for which I am sorry that this Book shews there is too much occasion , has a great Compass , a Body of twelve or fifteen thousand Men : If one of twelve chosen by our Saviour , had a Devil , it is nothing but what must be expected from the general Corruption of human Nature , that so numerous a Body should have a mixed Multitude in it . But an ordinary measure of Caution should have taught one who found fault with this , not to be so liberal in his own Reflections on Bishops : For not to insist on that , which he seems resolved to forget , that they are his Superiors ; they are but Twenty-six in all : so his Censures are more contracted : In some of them he points at his Man very plainly . When I writ my History of the Reformation , I had Dr. Collet's Sermon in my hands , and once I intended to have published it as a Piece that might serve to open the Scene , and to shew the state of Things at the first Beginnings of the Reformation : but I was diverted from it by those under whose direction I put that Work. They thought it might have been judged that I had inserted it on design to reflect on the present , as well as on the past State of Things . I submitted to their advice : but our Author seems to seek out for matter of Reflection with as much care as I used to avoid it . I confess where it lay in my way , either as a Historian , or as a Divine , to acknowledge such Corruptions and Disorders among the Clergy , as were too visible to be denied , and too gross to be extenuated or excused , I thought it became me to write honestly and impartially : [ See Pag. 90. p. 188. ] How much soever this Author may rally me for it , I am not ashamed to own , that I am Impartial to the Abuses of Clergymen . I know there are some that hate all Discourses that tend to awaken Clergy-men to attend on their Cures , to reside much , and to labour hard ; nothing pleases them but what tends to encrease the Wealth , and to raise the Authority of the Clergy . Whereas others , who are justly sensible of the Depression of holy Functions , both in the narrowness of their Maintenance , and the Fetters that they lie under by the want of Ecclesiastical Discipline , do yet think the best way to recover the Clergy to a just degree of Ease and Authority , is not to argue those Points in which they are not like to be very successful , but chuse rather to set about those methods by which the Church was at first established , protected and provided for . Serious attempts that way , would , in their opinion , clear peoples Minds of their Prejudices , heighten the Zeal of their Friends , silence the Cavils of Enemies ; and , above all things , it would again draw down some of those Blessings on the Church , which appeared so eminently in the first Ages . This is a Topick that bad Clergy men cannot bear ; it lays them too open , and touches in the Quick. If I have gone in to these Measures , I knew whose hatred I must ever after that look for : But I thank God , my Labours on this Head , have had such success , that I am in this even overpaid for all the Censures that they have exposed me to . But let this Author censure me as much as he pleases , I desire him to make no Apologies for me , he may leave that to me . He says [ See the Preface ] that now my high Station is a bar to Reply . If I have only confessed faults in order to the correcting them , I have done my duty : but if I have made any unjust Charges , or have aggravated things too much , I have betrayed my Trust , and am liable to just Censure ; nor do I decline it . As for what I have writ in this Strain , when in a lower Station , he puts it in on my being a Stranger ; and being unacquainted , and not touched with Tenderness for the State of the Clergy . My being a Stranger he thought might serve a Turn ; and so that was not to be forgotten . But the Apology was meant to make me ridiculous ; a Stranger ought to keep himself under great Reserves on that very account that he is one ; he ought to apprehend that he may be mistaken , and lean rather to the other Extream , unless the Subject he writes on forces it : so this does rather aggravate than excuse such a Presumption . There is another Maxim set up by this Author , and managed with much Zeal ; I wish I could say with as much Good Nature , which is a little new , especially coming from a certain Corner . It is ▪ that the Supremacy is not singly in the King , but is lodged with the whole Legislature . I confess I was always of this mind : but I remember among whom this passed , not long ago , for little less than Herely ; and I cannot but confess , that the Stile both in King Henry's time , and ever since , seems to favour that : So that how much soever I may agree with this Author in the Notion , I cannot go along with him in the Severity of his Censures ; for he plainly writes in the Stile of an Inquisitor , to deliver him who goes in the Common Road to the Secular Arm , and oftner than once calls on a Great and Honourable Body to execute his Spite . It has passed generally among the Clergy , That Ecclesiastical Matters could only be judged by persons deriving their Power immediately from God : And as the Clergy have their Commission from him , so it was a received Doctrine , That the King had his Power likewise from God ; and that therefore the Church was to be Governed by the King and the Convocation : And the Book of Canons being ratified only by the Regal Authority , seems to give such Authority to this , that a Man ought to be mildly corrected , if it should prove to be a mistake . It could never be thought that Parliaments were de jure Divino ; so it was a Consequence suitable to their Principles , who put our whole Ecclesiastical Constitution on the bottom of a Divine Right , to shut this within the hands of those who they believed acted by a Divine Commission . I was never of this mind . I always thought that the King was no other way Head of the Church , than as he was the Head of the State , with whom the Executive Power is lodged , and who is the Head of the Legislative , in Conjunction with the Great Body of his Parliament . But this Author knows how much the Doctrine he now advances was condemned , and by whom , not long ago ; Therefore a little more Temper were but decent , if he thought fit to find fault with it . Another of this Author's Maxims was not long ago as much exploded , and yet now is very heartily espoused by him ; in which I was ever of the same mind with him ; That there is just reason to explode that conceit , that the Commons were not summoned to Parliament before the 49th of Henry III. This was a Notion once so zealously maintained by some , that he was thought an Enemy who went not into it . I was so fully convinced of the contrary , both by what I had observed of the Gothick Constitution , and the Feudal Law , and by the Authorities , which were brought together with great Fidelity and Industry by my most honoured Friend Mr. Petyt , that I declared my sense of it plainly in my History , though that was a little mollified by a Parenthesis added by a great Licenser : but I was then severely censured for it . Thus it is , that while Men think they have a good Interest in the Administration , they do very naturally favour all Opinions that make for it , or rather that make for themselves : But if their Interest declines there , they are ready to tack about , even to that which a little while ago passed under the most odious Characters possible . The World does not fail to observe this ; and is too ill-natur'd not to make unkind Inferences from it : without considering that received Opinions do often pass without much enquiry about them ; and that even those who depart from them , chuse for their own quiet 's sake to do it covertly and modestly . Those who both held those Opinions , when they were much decried as not favourable to the Regal Authority , and do still adhere to them while they are more favourably treated , have some advantages over those who may be supposed to retreat to them on design to vent their Spleen . I turn next to the main design of this Work. No Man that is in any degree conversant in Antiquity , can deny , that the Presbyters were the Bishops Assistants and Counsel : That good Bishops governed their Dioceses by their Advice , as well as with their Concurrence ; though it has been made a Question by very Learned Men , Whether Cyprian's Expressions to this purpose , were pursuant to established Rules , or were the Effects of his own Modesty and Humility . But even in this particular , such as from the beginning of their Service in the Church , have declared for this Constitution , have some advantage over those among whom Dr. Hammond's Notions passed long as certain , That the Bishop was the sole Pastor of his whole Diocese ; and that his Presbyters were but his Assistants , as Curates , who had no other Authority but what was Delegated to them from him : so quickly can Men go from one Extreme to another . But how certain soever this may be , That Presbyters in conjunction with their Bishops , are his Counsel ; yet this may be very positively affirmed , That in no part of the Ancient Constitution , and in no Church for many Ages after the Primitive Times , can it be made appear , even by a Conjecture , that in any National or Provincial Synod , the Inferior Clergy formed a Body apart , and sate by themselves without their Bishops , acting in any sort , as a co-ordinate Body with them . So that whatsoever may be found of this kind among us , is no part of our Ecclesiastical Constitution , as we have an Authority from Christ that ought to be managed conform to the Primitive Pattern , but is meerly a Temporal Constitution , taken from the Frame of our Parliaments . Therefore if Men have a true Zeal for the Primitive Times , they should turn it all another way , to procure a Constitution suitable to that Frame . The Commons of the Spiritualty sate in a Chamber apart , as the Commons of the Temporalty did ; and were summoned by the same Authority , and to the same End. But tho' with Relation to the Temporal Concerns of the Clergy , this was a good Constitution ; yet it cannot be called a true Representative of the Church , tho' it be now a legal one . In the lower House there are of the Province of Canterbury 20 Deans , or more , who pretend to sit there ; there are as many Proctors from Chapters , and 60 Archdeacons , and but 38 Clerks chosen by the Clergy . So that the Deans and Chapters who had their Authority at first by Papal Bulls , and have now their Exemptions and Jurisdictions continued to them only by a Proviso in in the Statute of 25 Hen. 8. have more Interest in the Convocation than the whole Body of the Clergy : These are all made , either by the King or by the Bishops . The Threescore Archdeacons are all of the Bishops Nomination , and their Authority is of a late Date , and but a human Constitution . All this is besides the Interest that the Bishops have in making the Returns of Two only out of all those who are chosen in the several Archdeacon●ies of their Diocese ; so that the Inferior Clergy can in no sort be said to be equally represented there . I acknowledge that this is not necessary in a Constitution that pretends no higher than Law and Custom . A Practice past Prescription is , in such cases , a good foundation ; and if Men rise no higher in their Claim for Church-power than Law and Custom , this is enough : But if they pretend to a Divine Original , they must seek for another Constitution . Indeed , if they are contented to take up with a human Authority , they may rest satisfied with this : howsoever , it is fit for Men to write exactly , and upon a consistent Hypothesis , and so have all the parts of it of a piece . But to enlarge a little upon this : I wish those who are full of high Notions would try how to justify the Jurisdiction that is exercised among us by Deans and other exempted persons , who do Exercise not only the Archidiaconal , but the Episcopal Jurisdiction ; the former being of Ecclesiastical Creation , may without doubt be transferred to them . But if we are true to a Principle , that has been received in the Church of God from the Apostles days downwards , and has been maintained with much Zeal by this Church , now for above an hundred years , That Christ and his Apostles have established in the Church a Subordination in Bishops , Priests , and Deacons ; so that the latter are subordinate to the former ; and that in consequence to this the Discipline of the Church , the highest step of which is Excommunication , ought to be chiefly under the Bishops direction , and also the appointing of Priests to Cures , and by consequence the depriving them , should likewise be under their care , according to the establishment first made by the Apostles : How comes it , I say , that the Authority of Papal Bulls and Royal Confirmations , and a Provision in a Statute made in a Reign that some take pleasure now to decry , should be thought strong enough to authorize Deans and other Exempted persons to do all the Acts of Episcopal Jurisdiction ? If Ecclesiastical Authority is only of human Original , indeed all this may be excused , and born with : But if our Plea for a Divine Original is well founded , then since no human Law nor Custom can derogate from the Divine Law , let those who are concerned in these things see how they can reconcile our Principles to their Practices . Here are Presbyters acting in most parts of the Episcopal Functions , as Bishops , without any Subordination to them : If all is founded on a Divine Right , then by the same Authority that they do invade many Acts of Episcopal Jurisdiction , they might as well have invaded all the rest ; and if the one would be condemned as a sacrilegious attempt , it will not be easy to excuse , much less to justify the other . Upon all these things I wish that Men would apply their Thoughts more carefully , and direct their Zeal a little better ; and that they would lay all the ends of their System together , that it may appear that all is coherent , and hangs well together . And therefore it is not very fairly done to bring some Authorities from Ancient Authors and Councils , of Presbyters assisting their Bishops , and from thence immediately to conclude for the Right of a Convocation constituted as ours is . I must acknowledge this Author confines himself chiefly to our own Laws and Customs : In which I will not trace him , but shall leave that to others , who may be more at leisure to follow him ; only I must in general remark one thing , which I find some are beginning to observe with no kind Intentions . The Clergy are now generally admitted as Freeholders , to chuse the Representatives of the Commons in Parliament ; and I believe they would look on it as a very unfriendly Office if any Doctrines were laid down that might exclude them from this . But it passes for a Maxim , That those who constitute any other State or part of the Parliament , how great soever their Estates or Freeholds may be , cannot Vote in the Elections to Parliament ; how far the Doctrine that is so much laboured by this Author may have an influence in this matter , I will not determine : If it does , I doubt not , but that since mens Affections do , as we have already observed , very much biass their Judgments , the Opinion of the World concerning this performance may come to be changed from what it is at present . I have neither Leisure nor Inclination to enter further into the discussion of this pretended Right of the Convocation's sitting and being Constituted into a Body , and of their preparing and proposing of Matters . I will only offer some Historical Observations upon which it will be easy to make Remarks , to shew that there is nothing new in the present Administration , how heinously soever it may be complained of . I will avoid saying any thing with relation to King Henry the VIIIth's Reign , because of the Prejudices that these Men have against it ; and I will refer a very material part of King Edward's Reign to the end of these Reflections . The Debates with the Puritans , and the Disciplinarian Controversy , was that which occasioned great Heats during Queen Elizabeth's Reign : But the Convocation never medled with this , it was left wholly with the Queen ; she appointed some Bishops and others of the Clergy , who were of the High-Commission , to settle Rules in those Matters . They did it , and their Decisions are Printed , and may be seen in the later Editions of Bishop Sparrow's Collections . I have an Edition of them Printed in that Reign ; so here a matter of very great consequence was settled by a few Bishops and others acting by the Queen's Commission ; and this was the Rule that the Church was Governed by , till the late Civil Wars . Here was a good Plea for the Puritans , which this Author has found for them , that none of themselves made use of . The next Subject of dispute was during a great part of King James the First 's Reign , and all King Charles the First 's , till the War , concerning Predestination : In this the Calvinists appealed to the Articles , and seemed to have a strong Plea from them . This was a point of Doctrine , and the Dispute being about the sense of Articles that had been agreed on in Convocation , it seemed very natural to make the Appeal to that Body ; but yet that was not done : Our Kings made Declarations in this matter , and gave Directions to the Bishops . It was generally thought that in King James's Reign the much greater number of both Houses were the followers of St. Austin's Doctrine , if not of Calvin's . Yet I never found this among the Complaints of the Angry Men of that time , that the Decision of the matter was not left to a Convocation . And among all the Remonstrances , how warm soever , that were Voted in the House of Commons , I do not find this is ever named . Nor is Archbishop Laud ever Charged with this , though that was a time in which all his Actions were severely descanted on . There was then in the House of Commons a Set of Men , who by reason of the Ship-money , and some other Disputes , had examined further into the Original of our Constitution , than ever was done before or since . So in this particular , a Negative Argument is of great force to shew that they had not those Notions of our Constitution which this Writer suggests . After the Corrections of the Liturgy that were made upon the Restoration of King Charles the Second , there was not a Line published , and scarce a word muttered demanding a Convocation . Then the danger of Popery's breaking in upon us appeared in very eminent Instances ; and though some apprehended that sooner than others , yet none doubted of it after the Declaration in the year 1672. But during both that , and the late Reign , among all the zealous Attempts that were made for securing us from it , not any one was offered at for a Convocation's medling in it ; even among the indiscreet Instances of ill-governed Zeal , this was not so much as once mentioned . This Writer names among other reasons for one now , the growth of Popery . It may justly seem strange if this is a good one now , that it was not thought on when the Danger was so Threatning and Visible . There was no want of a just and well-governed Zeal in that time : But the men that managed it knew what they had a Right to and what they could Legally both demand and maintain . If there were any just grounds to fear that Popery was beginning again to be active and insolent among us , when this Book was Written , I suppose the Act pass'd in the last Session has put such an effectual stop to it , that there will be little occasion given any more to reckon that among the reasons of calling for a Convocation . Thus it has appeared that for above 140 Years , the Crown has been in possession of a Right of making use of a Convocation , or of settling matters of Religion without it , at Discretion . Queen Elizabeth made use of one to settle our Doctrine , and little more was done in Convocation in her time . King James the First made use of one to make a Body of Canons , but took all other matters under his own care . King Charles the First followed the same method . And though in the Year 1640. some things were done that must be put on the heat of that time , yet the Declaration that was made of the extent of the King's Authority , as it was all managed by Archbishop Laud , and Directed by that King ; so it shews plainly what the Sense of this Church was as to that Matter : Which had been indeed the Sense and Language of their Predecessors for above an 100 Years before that time . In King Charles the Second's time , the Convocation was allowed to consider what Alterations ought to be made in the Liturgy ; and after that there was no more work given them ; only they Met on Wednesdays and Frydays to Read the Litany ; which I am sure I heard many who were then required to Attend , that so there might be a Face of a Meeting answering the great name that it bare , complain of as o● a very uneasy and troublesome Attendance , that was of no sort of use . But now to come to the Present Reign ; a Convocation was opened in it , and a Secretary of State brought a License from His Majesty and the late Blessed Queen to them to consider of such things as should be laid before them , in order to the healing the Schisms and Breaches that were among us . The Bishops in the former Reign had in that Petition , upon which they Suffered so Gloriously , expressed a readiness to come to a just Temper in all the matters of Difference among us , when they should be brought before them in Convocation or Parliament ; and among other Messages that were sent over to the King , being then Prince of Orange , one was , That he would use all his Interest among the Dissenters to hinder them from running in to the Declaration , and to the design that was then promoted , of animating them against the Church : Of this I may be allowed to speak confidently , because it passed through my own hands ; and I drew the directions that were given to an Eminent Person who was Employed in it . Upon these reasons it was that the Prince ( now King ) promised in his Declaration with which he came over , that he would use his endeavours to bring about the so much desired Union , between the Church of England and the Dissenters . So their Majesties were under Engagements to make the Experiment . It is true it did not succeed , a formed Resolution of consenting to no Alterations at all in order to that Union , made that the attempt was laid aside . I will not enter into any further Reflections on mens Behaviour at that time ; it plainly appeared it was not a proper season to try to make Peace : Attempts that way were more likely to create new rents than to heal the old ones . I shall only touch on one particular , which will shew that when Men are disposed to be jealous , they will suspect every thing ; even that which at another time would be thought the most effectual method to prevent or to cure jealousy . Princes do commonly prepare the matters which they propose to such Assemblies , with the advice of their Council : But upon that occasion the King and Queen did create a Council , by a special Commission , of all the Bishops who owned their Authority , and of the most Eminent of the Clergy , gathered from the several parts of the Kingdom , that they might consider and prepare such things as should be offered by them to the King and Queen , that so their Majesties might propose these to the Convocation . This surely was done in favour of the Church . But even this was cried out upon , as a limiting the Convocation , with many other hard words , which I do not love to repeat . It did then appear in so many visible Instances , that our Wounds were then too tender to be either handled or healed ; so it was thought fit to let the matter sleep , and to give no new occasion to Heat or Animosity . But at the same time to keep the Clergy still ready upon call , if there should be any occasion for them during the Sessions of Parliament ; yet not to charge them with a needless Attendance , when the Publick occasions put them under so many heavy Taxes : It being also observed , that in a hot time all unnecessary Assemblies are to be avoided ; for if they have no business one way , they commonly make it another . And now after this short but true and clear account of this matter , what is to be said of the fruitfulness of a man's Imagination , who could make so great a Book and such heavy complaints for no other cause but this , because by a possession of above an 140 Years , founded upon a Statute that has been understood at least , by both Divines and Lawyers , in favour of the Crown , ( for I leave the Examining the Importance of the Words of the Act to those whose Profession leads them to Expound them best ) it is at the King's Discretion , whether he will allow a Convocation to Treat of matters or not , and upon a Trial his Majesty found it not convenient , either to carry the thing further at that time , or to repeat the Experiment hitherto , and since he did not intend this , he has thought fit to free them from the charge and trouble of an unprofitable Attendance . What is in his discretion to do or not to do , must be left there : But since some do not rightly apprehend his Care and Kindness in delivering them from a fruitless Trouble , it were a great pity that this should be any longer misunderstood ; but that either the Clergy should understand the thing as it is truly meant , or that they should return to that toil , of which they were generally so weary not many Years ago . Upon the whole matter , let men vex themselves as long as they please in fixing the limits of the Civil and the Ecclesiastical Authority , I believe no other will ever be found but this , That the Magistrates Authority must go to every thing that is not contrary to the Law of God ; so that no bounds can be set to it , but those which God himself has set ; and this is of the same extent in Spiritual as well as in Civil matters ; a Law in Temporal concerns , that is contrary to the eternal Laws of Morality , of Justice and Truth , is void of its self : Because it is contrary to a Superior Authority , which cannot be controul'd by a Subaltern . Upon the same reasons a Law made contrary to any Rule in the Gospel , that is delivered as a perpetual Law binding to all Christians , is void of it self , and ought not to be Obeyed ; upon this ground , that Christ is the King of kings , and the Lord of lords ; and no Power upon earth can derogate from the Authority of his Laws , or oblige men to act in opposition to them . In temporal matters the Legislature is free and without controul ; yet where this is prudently managed with due regards to those who are subject to it , they will take care to hear all who may be concerned , and consult such Bodies whose Profession it may be to study the matters that are in agitation before them . But if this should not be observed , though the Legislature may be thought in such a case not to be managed with a just care , yet still Laws so made must be Obeyed , if the matter of them is not unjust or unlawful . In the same manner , it is a method highly becoming those with whom the Legislature is lodged , to consult the Clergy , either in one or more Bodies , or otherwise , as they think fit ; that so all things may be well weighed and duly prepared , before any Law is made relating to them ; but if this caution should not be observed , yet unless Laws so made are contrary to any of the Laws that were given the world by Christ and his Apostles , they must be submitted to and obeyed : In consequence to the general obligation that lies on all men to be subject to the Government by which they are Protected ; which is likewise one of the Laws of our Religion , let every soul be subject to the higher powers . So far I have gone over the main design of this Book , and have delivered my sense very freely both of the Author's way of handling his matter , and of the design it aims at . I come now in the last place to that in which I my self am more particularly concerned in . The main design of the Book is levelled at Dr. Wake , he is of Age and can answer for himself : I will not let my selt into Panegyricks ; but this I am sure I may well say , that his whole course of life , since I first knew him , now for Seventeen Years , has been so Exemplary both abroad and at home ; his Labours both from the Press and in the Pulpit , have been so useful and edifying ; and his Discharge of his great care has been so eminent , that he had upon these and many more reasons a Right to be used with Decency and Respect , by any who thought fit to Write against him . And as to his Ambitious Designs , I have very particular grounds to clear him of these . He needed no addition to the consideration he was already held in , to recommend him ; and was as free from all aspirings , as others seem to be full of them . The occasion that I had to know this was particular , so that I look on my self as Bound in justice to own it in so publick a manner . Every body understands at whom that indecent expression is levelled , that he is not the first who has been writ out of his Reputation into his Preferment ; and must know how unjust it is : For the diverting the Town with some Mirth does not destroy a Reputation that has a deep and solid Foundation : But some mens Ambition may lead them to write themselves out of their Reputation , that a Good man ought to value more than all the Applauses that can be given either to his Industry , Learning or Wit ; I mean the Reputation of writing as becomes an Humble and a Candid , a Modest and a Charitable Christian. There is a way of Writing that runs quite counter to all these , upon which I do heartily wish that this Author may make serious Reflections . I come now in the last place to consider the Treatment that both I my self and my History have met with from him . As to what relates to my self , I let it all go without any sort of Answer . I will take no pains to lay open his more disguised strokes and hints , of which there are very many , that , perhaps , few Readers will apprehend . But as for my History , I think the supporting of that is of some Consequence to the Publick ; and therefore I am much more concerned in the pains he is at to undermine the Reputation it has gained in the World. Besides many very detracting passages , there is one that seems to give a Character of the whole , that I will set down in his own Words , and then discuss them a little : If the main Facts he professes to relate , are right ; if there be no premeditated Omissions or Disguises of material Truths ; no designed Compliances with popular Mistakes and Prejudices ; if that Air of Impartiality , which at first sight seems to run through the relation , be undissembled , and not only a more artificial way of conveying false Principles and Characters into the minds of the Reader ; if , I say , in these , which are the most essential Vertues and Beauties of good History , his Lordship's Labours will bear the Test , ( which his Lordship's Friends do not much doubt ) — though it should after this be granted , that Mistakes of a Lesser size and importance abound there without number , and particularly that the Digressive part of the Book has little of Exactness in it ; this would not however sink the Reputation of the Work. It is , what considering the hast of the Composure , was not to be wondered at , and may easily be excused . A few Lines before , he diverts himself with pretending that I had excused my self from the Neglect of the Transcriber , upon whom he says , he finds I lay very great Blame ; which , by the by , is not to be sound in the Letter he Cites , but much to the contrary . To which he adds ; And indeed if he stands answerable for all the Neglects that are or may be Charged , I think very deservedly . And as if all this were not enough to blast that Work , he gives two dashes , as intimating thereby , that he had a great Et caetera in store behind . The Artifice in putting the Ifs to so severe a Charge , is too baresaced to think it can pass on any man ; all must see what the Writer intended in it ; that they should understand the whole period as Simple and Absolute ; so that this Charge against the whole in the Main parts of it , as well as against the Mistakes of a lesser size , that abound without Number , and against the Digressive part of the Work , as having little Exactness in it , is very visibly meant not to be conditional , or as a Supposition , but to be full and home : I have reason to take it so , because I find every body else does it ; and if he did not mean it so , the contexture of the whole Period is Malicious and Dishonest both ; and that Parenthesis ( which his Lordship's Friends do not much doubt ) is so poor a Reserve , or rather so gross an Abuse , that I have not so mean an Opinion of the Author's Sagacity , as not to conclude , That he hoped , as well as that he intended , that his Reader should understand him aright , and judge that he put in his Ifs as a way of wounding with a little more decency , and to be more secure himself when called upon to justify it . Upon so severe an Accusation it is fit that I say somewhat in General before I descend to Particulars . I confess if those of the Church of Rome had dealt thus by that Work , or if any secret Favourers of Popery had given them such help , I should not have wondered at it . I have no sort of reason to suspect any thing of that kind to lie under the several attempts that have been made on that Work , but very much to the contrary , if common fame sixes it right . If any Person intends to Write a more Correct and a better History of that time , it were very natural for him to endeavour the disparaging the Credit of my Work , the better to prepare the World for his own . I should not much wonder in that case to see such a continued Vehemence against the History of the Reformation . But the studying to disgrace it , as this Author and others have endeavoured to do , seems to flow from no other Principle but meer Spleen and Ill-nature . I took great pains in Writing my First Volume , and much more in Writing the Second , when the good Reception that the First had , gave me reason to hope for a more universal Assistance ; I made the best use and the gratefullest Acknowledgments of all the help that was given me , that I could . I invited all People to it ; almost all the Eminent Clergy of that time promoted the design . If it can be alledged that I either neglected or stifled any Assistance that was offered me , I am then liable to just Censure ; since the Work was finished I have had some Materials sent me in order to a review of that Work ; which though they happened to be matters of very little Consequence , yet I have laid them all in order by me , that when it is seasonable I may review the whole Work ; I have received every thing of this kind in such a manner , as might encourage others to use me with the decencies that becomes such Attempts . But if any will Animadvert on me publickly without trying the kinder as well as the more Christian way of beginning in private with my self , they discover a temper that I will not describe in its true Characters . Some years ago a rude Attack was made upon me , under the disguised name of Anthony Harmer . His true Name is well enough known , as also who was his Patron ; who had set those about him , during the late Reign , on the design , which one would think was an odd one , chiefly at that time . But I answered that Specimen with the firmness that became me , and I charged the Writer home to publish all the rest of his Reflections : He had intimated that he gave them but the Sample , and that he had great store yet in reserve . I told him upon that , I would expect to see him make that good , and bring out all that he had to say , otherwise that must pass for Slander and Detraction . He did not think fit to write any more on that Subject , tho' he was as much sollicited to it by some , as he was provoked to it by my self . He is now at his Rest , and therefore I will say no more on the Subject . Only I will add one singular thing , to teach those who survive and think they are beating out untrodden Paths , to write with Modesty as well as exactness . I have a whole Treatise in my hands , that contains in it only the faults of ten Leaves of one of his Volumes ; they are indeed so many and so gross , that often the faults are as many as the Lines , sometimes they are two for one . There is not only such a gross mistaking of Abbreviatures , but even where the Manuscript that he Copied has the words at large , that no sort of account can be given how these Mistakes were made ; for some of them are contrary to many of his most beloved Maxims . I have made no use of this , but have it still in my hands to shew it to such as are curious . I have indeed desired the Ingenious person that sent it me , to try his exactness upon my self ; and to see what defects , errors , or other faults my History can be justly charged with . From this it may appear , that those who take great liberties with others , and who perhaps think they themselves are safe , because as they have not named themselves , so they have not told where their Vouchers are , and how they may be come at , and may hope that few will be at the pains to trace them ; yet they may be very justly censured for Errors of another nature than those are with which they charge others ; of which I shall have occasion to give some very eminent Instances in this Author , but without those unkind and uncharitable Comments , in which he allows himself such Indecent liberties . It is three and twenty years past since I set first about my History ; I was for three years together at no small pains and charge in searching for Materials ; I had no sort of practice in our Records before that time . But I was conducted by men who were very knowing in those matters ; these were Bishop Stillingfleet , Sir John Marsham the Younger , and Mr. Petyt . I went to every place as they directed me , I consulted them in all difficulties , and was concluded by them : chiefly by the first of them , whose Reputation was then very high , and was very deservedly so with relation to those matters . I was indeed put under one great disadvantage : Some Men of this Author's temper possessed that Learned and Noble Gentleman Sir John Cotton , with such ill impressions of my design in writing the History , that no endeavours whatsoever could conquer them . He stood upon this , That if I could procure a Letter either from a Secretary of State , or from the Archbishop of Canterbury , desiring I might be admitted into his Library , it should be open to me , but not otherwise . Those who had begot the Jealousie in him , knew that this was not to be obtained ; so when the present Bishop of Worcester had tried all his Endeavours , but without success to clear this , I o●fered to deliver up all my Collections to any who would undertake the Work. But that was not accepted of . No care was taken to find one who should write it , but a great deal was used to hinder me from doing it . Sir John Marsham had free admittance into the Library ; so once when the Noble Owner was out of Town , he carried me thither , and I with my Amanuenses were for some days hard at work ; but that lasted not long . Another worthy Gentleman , Mr. Cary , had the credit to borrow out some Books , and I had the use of these . Thus I was barred the free use of that Unvaluable Library , whilst I writ the first Volume . Indeed as soon as that appeared the Honourable Owner of it said , he saw ho 〈…〉 d an use I had made of that short stay I was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 make there ; so he gave me ever after that , free access to it . But since the first Volume was so well received , I made no more use of it with relation to the matters belonging to that time , unless when I was seeking Materials for the second Volume , I found them in my way . Thus I was obstructed in my search by some Men of the same temper , I had almost said of the same House with those who have since that time reproached me for that which was not my fault , but theirs . For they who had shut the Library against me , concluded that I must have laid aside all thoughts of that Work , since without help from thence it was not possible to be well furnished ; and indeed I had not the fourth part of the time that was necessary to examine every thing in it that related to my subject . It cannot be imagined that twenty years being now past since I finished that History , I can carry in my mind all the Grounds I went on ; nor can the Station and Service I am now in , leave it possible for me to go and follow this Writer in every thing that he is pleased to quarrel with me for . When he has poured out all he has laid together , I will then be better able to judge , whether it will deserve that I should be at any pains my self , or imploy any other to search after him : for he has given me great cause to conclude , that his exactness is no way to be depended upon . I will single out only one particular , because as it is of the greatest Moment , so I seem in my late Book on the Thirty nine Articles to retract what I had admitted in the second Volume of my History , That in Edward the Sixth's time the Articles of Religion were past in Convocation ; but own now , that they were Published by the Regal Authority without mentioning a Synodal consent : Upon this he gives a long Extract of a Journal of that Convocation that mentions a Regular Progress of the Convocation , with Relation to the Catechism and Articles , both which he acknowledges here and elsewhere , that they went together . He likewise urges the Martyr Philpot's authority , who when D. Weston urged in the Convocation 1 Marioe , that a Catechism was put forth without their consent , answered , That the House had granted an Authority to make Ecclesiastical Laws to certain persons ▪ to be appointed by the King's Majesty , and that what was set forth by them might well be said to be done in the Synod of London : altho the House had no notice thereof before the Promulgation . Upon this the Writer says , that we have lost the Time and Circumstances of appointing this Committee . Howsoever he thinks the whole thing is plain , and so leaves it with one of his usual strains of Detraction . Yet he did well to set this and the Journal at a considerable distance from one another ; for if there is any credit due to that Journal , as indeed there is none , for it is a plain Forgery , this discourse of Philpot's was idle and needless . Here I will give a tast of this Writer's way of delivering matters , without adding any sharp or aggravating words to it , but from thence his Readers will see what Judgment is to be made of his Collections . In Fox , from whom he vouches this at the beginning of Philpot's Speech , he leaves out those words , That the Catechism beareth the Title of the last Synod of London before this , altho' many of them which then were present , were never made Privy thereof in seting it forth . This Confession of his ought not to have been suppressed . This matter was handled more particularly when Cranmer was before the Convocation at Oxford , where Weston objected to him in these words , Also you have set forth a Catechism in the name of the Synod of London , and yet there be fifty which witnessing that they were of the Number of the Convocation , never heard one word of this Catechism . To which Cranmer answered , I was ignorant of the setting to of that Title : and as soon as I had knowledg thereof , I did not like it . Therefore when I complained thereof to the Council , it was answered me by them , That the Book was so intitled , because it was set forth in the time of the Convocation . And in the Interrogatories that were exhibited to him in order to his final censure , the Seventh ends , That he did Compile , and caused to be set abroad divers Books . The last part of his answer set down to this , is thus , As for the Catechism , the Book of Articles , with the other Book against Winchester , he grants the same to be his doings . This I think decides the Point : so that it will admit of no more debate . This Author does not know when the Commission was to the 32 granted . If he had looked into King Edward's Journal , he would have seen it was on the 10th of February , very near the end of the Year 1552. And if either the Words of that Journal , or rather of the Statute , pursuant to which that Commission was issued out , are considered ; it will appear that their Power did not extend to Matters of Faith and Worship , but was restrained to the Courts , and to Proceedings in them . So that it is plain that Philpot alledged this , being pressed with an Objection , to which he had no other Answer ready : He knew there was such a Commission , and so he fancied that they had prepared these Books . Cranmer's Sincerity appears in this , as well as in all the other parts of his Life ; and indeed the Title with which the Articles were printed , had a Visible ambiguity in it . In Latin it is Articuli de quibus in Synodo Londinensi Anno Dom. 1552. Ad tollendam Opinionum dissensionem & consensum veroe Religionis sirmandum inter Episcopos & alias Eruditos viros convenerat . In English : Articles agreed upon by the Bishops and other Godly and Learned Men , in the last Convocation at London , in the Year of our Lord 1552. To root out the Discord of Opinion , and establish the Agreement of true Religion . Different from this is the Title given to what did indeed pass in Convocation Ten years after : Articles agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Provinces , and the whole Clergy , in the Convocation holden at London in the Year of our Lord 1562. It is trifling and unbecoming this Author , who writes more to purpose , when his Cause will bear it , to prove that because Divines in a Convocation are in Respect called Learned Men ; that therefore a Title importing an Agreement between the Bishops and other Learned Men , can be understood as the Title of an Act pass'd in Convocation . The Popish Bishops , with the rest of that Party of the Inferior Clergy , continued all that Reign opposing every thing as long as they might safely do it , but complying with every thing when it was once imposed upon them : Which occasioned such stretches to be made , not only against Bonner and Gardiner , but Tonstall , Heath , and Day . So there is no probability in imagining that any thing of that kind could then have passed in Convocation . But in Queen Elizabeth's time the Popish Clergy were all turned out ; the Act of Uniformity was made , and a new Sett of Reformed Bishops and Divines was brought in ; and yet it was Five years after her Accession to the Crown , before that Convocation met . So this Author had not the Advantages with which he thought he was furnished to divert his Reader , by exposing me on this account . This was a matter of such consequence , that I thought it necessary to give a truer View of it than this Writer had done . I hope in this enough is said to oblige both himself to be more cautious and modest for the future , and his Readers not to receive all he says too Implicitly . I have found him as much out in several other of his Allegations against me ; but if I should mention only a few of these , and not go through with them all , it would look as if I had justified my self as far as I could , and had yielded up all the rest . Therefore since I cannot go through with all , I resolve to let all alone , till I see the utmost that he can bring out against me : and then I will make the best use of it I can , either to Vindicate my self , or to confess Mistakes as soon as I am convinced of them , how little soever of Decency or of Christianity there may be in the manner of offering it to me . I wish this Author would reflect with some measure of Impartial seriousness , as in the Presence of that God by whom he must be judged for this as well as all the other parts of his Life , on the Temper he was in , on the End he pursued , and on the Spirit that acted him while he writ his Book . Sudden Emotions are capable of Excuses , but such a continued course of Spite and Malice seems scarce capable of any . I pray God give him a just sense of it . And so I have done with his ill-natur'd Book , with as little loss of time as was possible ; I could not meddle with it before I came hither , where my Papers and References lie ; and I have been but Four days at home when I end this ; so much haste have I made to get rid of an unpleasant Imployment ; but it seemed necessary , and there I leave it . I pray God pour out another Spirit upon his Church , and teach us all in this our day , to know the things that belong to our peace : For how secure soever we may be in our present Quiet , the Evil day is perhaps not so far from us as some may imagine . The more we are divided among our selves , the less able will we be to bear what we must then look for . But without any other Enemy , if we bite and devour one another , we shall be consumed one of another . The black View that we may justly have from the Impieties , and other Abominations that abound among us , seem to call upon us to put on other Tempers , and act by other Principles , and with another Spirit , and to seek for the things that make for peace , and things wherewith one may edify another . Salisbury , the 25th of May , 1700. FINIS . BOOKS Printed for R. Chiswell . BIshop Patrick's Commentary on Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers , and Deuteronomy , in Five Volumes , 4o. Wharton's Serm in Lambeth-Chapel , 2 Vol. 8º With his Life . The 2d Edit . 1700. Dr. Conant's Sermons , in Two Vol. 8o. Published by Bishop Williams . Dr. Wake of Preparation for Death . The 6th Edition . 1699. Dr. Fryer's 9 Years Travel 's into India and Persia , with Copper-Plates . Fol. 1698. Bishop Williams , Of the Lawfulness of Worshipping God by the Common-Prayer . With several other Discourses Mr Tulley's Disc of the Government of the Thoughts . The 3d Edit 12o. 1699. The Life of Henry Chichele , Archbishop of Canterbury , in which there is a particular Relation of many Remarkable Passages in the Reigns of Henry V. and VI. Kings of England : Written in Latin by Arthur Duck , L. L. D. Chancellor of the Diocess of London , and Advocate of the Court of Honour ; Now made English , and a Table of Contents annexed . 8o. 1699. The Judgment of the Ancient Jewish Church against the Unitarians , in the Controversy upon the Holy Trinity , and the Divinity of our Blessed Saviour . With a Table of Matters , and a Table of Texts of Scriptures occasionally explained , by Peter Alix , D. D. Short Memorials of Thomas Lord Fairfax Written by himself Published , 1699. The Life of John Whitgift Archbishop of Canterbury , in the times of Queen Elizabeth and King James I. Written by Sir Geo Paul , Comptroler of his Grace's Houshold . To which is annexed a Treatise intituled , [ Conspiracy for pretended Reformation , ] Written in the Year 1591. By Richard Cosin , L L. D. Dean of the Arches , and Official Principal to Arch-Bishop Whitgift 8º , 1699. An Exposition of the 39 Articles of the Church of England , by Dr. Burnet Bishop of Sarum Fol ▪ 1700. — His Sermon to the Societies for Reformation of Manners . Mar. 25. 1700. A Practical Discourse of Religious Assemblles ; By Dr. William Sherlock , Dean of St. Pauls . The 3d Edition . 1700. A Treatise concerning the Causes of the present Corruption of Christians , and the Remedies thereof 1700. Archbishop Tillotson's Eighth Volume , being several Discourses of Repentance , viz. The Necessity of Repentance and Faith. Of confessing and forsaking Sin , in order to Pardon . Of Confession , and Sorrow for Sin. The Unprofitableness of Sin in this Life , an Argument for Repentance . The Shamefulness of Sin , an Argument for Repentance . The final Issue of Sin , an Argument for Repentance . The present and future Advantage of an Holy and Vi●tuous Life . The Nature and Necessity of holy Resolution . The Nature and Necessity of Restitution The Usefulness of Consideration , in order to Repentance . The Danger of Impenitence , where the Gospel is preach●d . In the Press . The Fourth and Last Part of Mr. RUSHWORTH'S Historical Collections . Containing the Principal Matters which happen'd from the beginning of the Year 1645 ( where the Third Part ended ) to the Death of King Charles the First , 1648. Impartially Related : Setting forth only Matter of Fact in Order of Time , without Observation or Reflection . ●●●●ed for the Press in his Life-time . To which will be added , Exact Alphabetical Tables . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A30402-e130 * The Preface to Author ▪ of Christian Princes , P. ult . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , p 105 , 148 , 152 , 24● P. 307. P. 102. P. 243. P. 263. P. 377. P. 196. P. 197. 〈◊〉 3 Vo. P. 80. Fox . p. 657.