The schism of the Church of England &c. demonstrated in four arguments formerly propos'd to Dr. Gunning and Dr. Pearson, the late Bishops of Ely and Chester / by two Catholick disputants, in a celebrated conference upon that point. Spencer, John, 1601-1671. 1688 Approx. 21 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 7 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A59244 Wing S2591 ESTC R15805 12007034 ocm 12007034 52346 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. A59244) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 52346) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 876:16) The schism of the Church of England &c. demonstrated in four arguments formerly propos'd to Dr. Gunning and Dr. Pearson, the late Bishops of Ely and Chester / by two Catholick disputants, in a celebrated conference upon that point. Spencer, John, 1601-1671. Gunning, Peter, 1614-1684. Pearson, John, 1613-1686. Lenthall, John, Sir, 1625-1681. Sergeant, John, 1622-1707. [2], 10 p. Printed by Henry Cruttenden ..., Oxon : 1688. Reproduction of original in Huntington Library. Reprinted from Spencer's Schisme unmask't (p. 637-655 of the 1658 edition). Also attributed to John Sergeant by Wing. Wing lists title as "The Schism of the Church of England &c. remonstrated. The two Catholic disputants are John Spencer and John Lenthall. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. 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Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Church of England -- Controversial literature. 2000-00 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2001-07 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2001-08 TCP Staff (Michigan) Sampled and proofread 2001-08 TCP Staff (Michigan) Text and markup reviewed and edited 2001-11 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE SCHISM OF THE Church of England &c. Demonstrated in Four ARGUMENTS . Formerly Propos'd to Dr. Gunning and Dr. Pearson , the late Bishops of Ely and Chester , by Two Catholick Disputants , in a Celebrated Conference upon that Point . OXON . Printed by Henry Cruttenden , One of His Majesty's Printers . MDCLXXXVIII . The SCHISM of the Church of England Demonstrated in Four Arguments , &c. The Definition of Schism . Schism is a Voluntary Separation of One Part from the Whole , True , Visible , [ Hierarchical ] CHURCH of CHRIST . The First Argument . WHosoever make a voluntary separation of themselves from the whole , true , visible Church of Christ , are Schismatiques ; But all those of the English Protestant party , make a voluntary separation of themselves from the whole true visible Church of Christ : Therefore all those of the English Protestant party are Schismatiques . The first Proposition is evident , and granted by our Adversaries when they allowed our Definition to be a true Proposition . We prove the second Proposition . Whosoever voluntarily separate themselves from all particular visible Christian Churches in the world of the same time with them , make a voluntary separation of themselves from the whole true visible Church of Christ ; But all those who are of the English Protestant party , voluntarily , separate themselves from all the particular visible Christian Churches in the world of the same time with them : Therefore all those of the English Protestant party make a voluntary separation from the whole true visible Church of Christ. The first Proposition is manifest : For in the extent of all the true visible Christian Churches in the world , must be contained the whole true visible Church of Christ. The second Proposition we prove : Whosoever voluntarily separate themselves from the present Eastern and Western Churches , and all Churches in their Communion , voluntarily separate themselves from all the particular Christian visible Churches in the world , of the same time with them ; But all those of the English Protestant Party voluntarily separate themselves from the present Eastern and Western Churches , and all Churches in their Communion : Therefore all those of the English Protestant party voluntarily separate themselves from all the particular visible Christian Churches in the world , of the same time with them . The first Proposition is certainly true . For no Assembly or Congregation of Christians can be named ( which is not manifestly Heretical ) that is not contained in this Proposition . We prove the second by enumeration : If they do not so separate themselves , let that Church be nominated amongst the forementioned , from which they do not voluntarily separate themselves . It is not ( confessedly ) the Roman ; for they all profess themselves not to be of her Communion : Nor the Greek , under obedience to the Patriarch of Constantinople ; for they have as little dependance , or agreement with that , either in Doctrine , Subjection , Discipline , Rites , or Communion , as they have with the Roman ; our Adversaries producing but four Points wherein they seemed to agree with Protestants against us ; and those either not of Faith , or clearly mistaken , or not as they are controverted betwixt us . And the same reason proceeds of all Churches in actual Communion with them . Ergo , The second Proposition is true . It will avail nothing to alledge here , that English Protestants communicate with many other Reformed Churches beyond Sea ; for all those are comprehended under our terms the English Protestant Party ; and it is as evident , that each of those voluntarily separate themselves from all other Churches , as it is that these of England separate . Neither will it excuse them to say , that they only refined that Church , which they found corrupted and defiled ; which notwithstanding remains still amongst them the very same in substance that it was before . For it is evident , that all of them , whether English or others , separated themselves from all those National Churches and the Pastors of them , who were in quiet possession of Church-government immediately before they begun ; rejected in all Countries respectively , where they entred , their Authority , dispossessing them of their Sees and Cures , intruding themselves into their places , and gathering tumultuously among themselves particular Congregations and Conventicles , instituting new and unheard of Rites and Ceremonies , without dependance of any , who were in possession of Church-government immediately before them through the whole world : and all this as notoriously , and undeniably , as any Schismatiques ever did before their time : In all which particulars we appeal to the Historians on both parts , who have writ the Records of these two last Ages . The Second Argument . Whosoever adhere to Schismatical Pastors ( as Schismatical is understood in our Definition ) are Schismatiques . But all English Protestants adhere to Schismatical Pastors , as Schismatical is understood in our Definition : Therefore all English Protestants are Schismatiques . The first proposition is evident . For those being only such as separate themselves from the whole true visible Church of Christ , all who adhere to them , must also separate with them , and thereby become Schismatiques . The second proposition we prove . Whosoever adhere to those , who are successively Ordained by such Schismatical Pastors , maintaining the same cause which they begun , adhere to Schismatical Pastors , as Schismatical is understood in our Definition ; But all English Protestants adhere to those , who were successively Ordained by such Schismatical Pastors , maintaining the same cause which they begun : Therefore all English Protestants adhere to Schismatical Pastours , as schismatical , is understood in our Definition . The first Proposition needs no proof , as being clear ex terminis : The second , viz. that those , whom we say were so Ordained , maintain the same cause , which was begun by those who Ordained them , is also clear : it remains therefore only to prove , that they were Ordained successively by Schismatiques , understood in the sense of our Definition : which we thus prove : Whosoever adhere to those , who were successively Ordained by Matthew Parker , and the other first Protestant Bishops of his time , adhere to those , who were successively Ordained by such Schismatical Pastors ; But all English Protestants adhere to such , as were successively Ordained by Matthew Parker , and the first Protestant Bishops of his time : Therefore all English Protestants adhere to those , who were successively Ordained by such schismatical Pastors . The second Proposition is clear , and confessed by all : We thus prove the first : If Matthew Parker , and the rest were such schismatical Pastors , then whosoever adhere to those , who were Ordained by them , adhere to those who were Ordained successively by such Schismatical Pastors ; But Matthew Parker , and the rest were such Schismatical Pastors . Therefore all those , who adhere to those , who were successively Ordained by them , adhere to those who were Ordained by such Schismatical Pastors . The first proposition is clear : we prove the second . Whosoever either Possess the Sees and Offices of lawful Bishops , those lawful Bishops yet living , or unite themselves to such as possess them , are such schismatical Pastors ; But Matthew Parker , and other first Protestant Bishops of his time , either possest the Sees and Offices of lawful Bishops , those lawful Bishops yet living , or united themselves to such as possest them : Therefore Matthew Parker , and all the first Protestant Bishops of his time , were such schismatical Pastors . The first proposition is evident of it self . The first part of the second proposition , That the Sees , &c. of living Bishops were possest , and that others of these new Bishops united themselves to such as possest them , is also clear , as matter of fact , out of Stow , Speed , Cambden , Mason , Goodwin , Fern , &c. The second part , viz. that those living Bishops were lawful Bishops , even when they were deprived , we prove thus : Whosoever were once lawful Bishops , and never did any thing after , whereby they became unlawful , remained still lawful Bishops ; But those deprived Bishops were once lawful Bishops , and never did any thing after , whereby they became unlawful : Therefore those Bishops remained still lawful Bishops . The first proposition is evident . The first part of the second proposition , viz. that they were once lawful Bishops , we prove thus : No National Church can be a true particular Church of Christ , unless those who have the place of Bishops in it be lawful Bishops ; But the National Church of England in Queen Maries time was a true particular Church of Christ : Therefore those , who had the place of Bishops in it , were lawful Bishops . Now I subsume . But those , who had then the place of Bishops in that National Church , were those deprived Bishops : Ergo. The first proposition is clear . For no true Church can unite it self to unlawful Pastors . The second proposition is also clear from the confession of our Adversaries , who grant , That the Church of Rome , and all those of her Communion are true Churches of Christ. See Bramhall and Fern upon this Subject . We prove now the second part of the second Proposition , That those Bishops did nothing , whereby they became unlawful Bishops . If those lawful Bishops did any thing , whereby they became unlawful Bishops , it must be supposed to be that for which they were deprived ; But that for which they were deprived , did not make them unlawful Bishops : Therefore they did nothing , whereby they became unlawful Bishops . The first proposition seems evident . For no prudent man can suppose , that they would deprive them for that which made them not unlawful Bishops , if they had been convinced to have done any other thing which might make them unlawful Bishops . The second we prove : All the reasons , for which they were deprived , was resisting the pretended Reformation , and refusing the Oath of Supremacy ; But those could not make them unlawful Bishops : Therefore the causes , for which they were deprived , could not make them unlawful Bishops . The first proposition being matter of fact , is witnessed by Cambden , Goodwin , and others . The second proposition we prove thus : No proceeding in practice , according to the common Tenets , the holding whereof made them not unlawful Bishops , can make them unlawful Bishops ; But resisting the pretended Reformation , and refusing the Oath of Supremacy , was only a proceeding according to the common Tenets , the holding whereof made them not unlawful Bishops : Therefore resisting that Reformation , and refusing that Oath could not make them unlawful Bishops . The first proposition is clear in it self : For no man can be thought to become an unlawful Bishop , v. g. by praying for the souls in Purgatory , if the holding that such prayers are lawful , make him not an unlawful Bishop ; and so of the rest . The second proposition is also evident . For whilst they were lawful Bishops in Queen Maries time , they held it a common necessary point of Religion to resist that Reformation , and refuse that Oath of Supremacy . If it should be replied , that as the Queen had power to deprive lawful temporal Officers at her pleasure , so might she also deprive at her pleasure lawful Ecclesiastical Officers and Bishops , as being no less chief Governour of the Church then of the Commonwealth ; we answer , even that admitted ( not granted ) yet this second she could not do : For the Kings and Queens of England pretended only to succeed into those prerogatives of Church-government , which the Pope had before them , as is clear in King Henry the 8th . But the Pope himself had no power to dispossess a lawful Bishop remaining a lawful Bishop at his pleasure . Therefore neither had the Queen any such power . The Third Argument . We prove in this Argument , by another medium , that Matthew Parker and his Associates , and consequently all who adhered to them , or adhere to their Successors were and are Schismatiques , separate from the whole true visible Church of Christ. Matthew Parker was a Shismatique , voluntarily separate from the whole true visible Church of Christ : Therefore all those , who were willingly consecrated by him , and all their Successors and Adherents , were such Schismatiques . The Consequence is clear , as appears in the former Argument : The Antecedent we prove . Whosoever was willingly consecrated by Schismatiques , voluntarily separate from the whole true visible Church of Christ , is himself a Schismatique , voluntarily separate from the whole true visible Church of Christ ; But Matthew Parker was willingly consecrated by Schismatiques , voluntarily separate from the whole true visible Church of Christ : Therefore Matthew Parker was a Schismatique , voluntarily separated from the whole true visible Church of Christ. The first proposition is already proved . For to be willingly consecrated by such Schismatiques is schismatical , and therefore separating from the whole true visible Church of Christ. The second proposition we prove , as matter of fact . Goodwin in the different lives of Barlow , Coverdale , Scory , and Hodgkins , who were the Consecrators of Parker , acknowledges , that the three first were possest of the Sees and Offices of other Catholick Bishops living . Barlow was intruded into the place of Christopherson , Bishop of Chicester , Dec. 20. 1559 , and elect to it , before he consecrated Parker , as appears by the Queens Letters , Gulielmo Barlow , nunc Cicestriensi electo . Scory was put by King Edward the 6th into Day 's place , then being Bishop of Chicester . Coverdale into Vecey's place , by King Edward the 6th , Aug. 30. 1551 , which B. Vecey was forced to resign , as appears by his being willing to be restor'd ( as he was afterwards ) by Queen Mary . Hodgkins was only a Suffragan ; but communicated with these three in this Consecration ; and thereby became Schismatique . The Fourth Argument . Whosoever subject themselves unto these , as to their lawful Pastors , who have no true jurisdiction over them , are Schismatiques ; But English Protestants , ever since Qu. Elizebeth's time , have subjected themselves to those , as to their lawful Pastors , who have no true jurisdiction over them : Therefore English Protestants , ever since Qu. Elizabeth's time , are Schismatiques . The first proposition is clear , from 1 Tim. 4. 3. where describing Heretiques , &c. S. Paul says , Ad sua desideria coacervabant sibi Magistros , &c. according to their own fancies they shall heap up Teachers , or Masters , that is , confusedly and tumultuously , without power or authority . And from Ro. 10. 15. Quomodo praedicabunt , nisi mittantur ? How shall they preach , unless they be sent ? Eor their adhering to such , supposes the rejection of all those who are legally authorized to govern them , which is formal Schism . The second proposition we prove by Enumeration . They could not have true Jurisdiction over the particular Bishopricks and Cures of England ; neither by the force of Orders which they receiv'd , ( if they had any such ) for one may have true Order without any true Jurisdiction , as appears in the Act of K. Henry 8th , concerning Suffragans , who had true Episcopal Order , and yet had not Episcopal Jurisdiction , as the Act expresly says ; and many are made Ministers in the Universities , before they have any Jurisdiction over any particular Parishes . Neither could they have it from those who consecrated them ; for never a one of them had any themselves , as being either Suffragans , or not design●d to any See , or elected , and not invested . Neither was there then any Primate in England to give it them . Neither had they it by general consent of the Bishops of England ; for they all resisted . Neither would they have it from the Pope , or Patriarch of Constantinople ; nor would either of them give it them : Much less had they either from a General Council ; for that was against them : Nor from the general Consent of Catholick Bishops , either of the Eastern or Western Church ; for all oppos d them . Neither did their fellowsuperintendents beyond Sea , or could they confer Jurisdiction upon them ; for they were all as void of Jurisdiction as these themselves were . Neither could they have it from the Queen or Parliament ; for that had been an heaping up of Teachers to themselves , 2 Tim. 4. 3. now cited . And Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction being a Spiritual Government , is declared 1 Cor. 12. 28. to be a supernatural gift , and Institution of God in his Church ; and ver . 6. Prophesying , that is , the Power of Preaching , is declared to be a Gift of the Holy Ghost ; and therefore are above the politick power of Magistrates of any Commonwealth . And Act. 20. 28. the Holy Ghost is said to appoint Bishops to govern the Church of God ; and so the giving Jurisdiction to them must be supernatural , coming from the Holy Ghost , and above the reach of politick Governors . And if Kings , Queens , or Parliaments , who are under the number of Scholars and Subjects in matters of Religion , could communicate Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction to their Prelates , they would be Governors of their Governors , and Masters of their Masters , which is quite contrary to Mat. 10. 24. Non est Discipulus supra Magistrum , The Disciple is not above his Master , i. e. in those things wherein he is his Master , which is here in Church-government . As therefore our Saviour Joh. 20. and Mat. 28. sent his Apostles with power of Governing and Preaching , and the Apostles gave that Spiritual Jurisdiction to others , whom they sent to divers particular Provinces , and those Ecclesiastical Persons only amongst all Orthodox Christians , still communicated the like Jurisdiction to others , both in the primitive and after ages ; and never did any Catholick Prince , or State , pretend to confer Jurisdiction upon their own Bishops , or Pastors : It is most manifest , that neither Qu. Elizabeth , nor her Parliament , had any such power : And consequently it follows from this Enumeration of parts that those Elizabeth Bishops and Pastors had no Jurisdiction at all , or any of their Successors ; and therefore , That all English Protestants , attributing such Jurisdiction to them and adhering to them as their lawful Bishops and Pastors are Formal Schismatiques . FINIS .