Some thoughts on a convocation and the notion of its divine right with some occasional reflections on the defence of the vindication of the deprived bishops.
         Hody, Humphrey, 1659-1707.
      
       
         
           1699
        
      
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             Some thoughts on a convocation and the notion of its divine right with some occasional reflections on the defence of the vindication of the deprived bishops.
             Hody, Humphrey, 1659-1707.
          
           [4], 36 p.
           
             Printed for Tim. Childe ...,
             London :
             1699.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in the Trinity College Library, Cambridge University.
             Includes bibliographical references.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Church of England -- Government.
           Church of England -- Clergy.
           Church and state -- Church of England.
        
      
    
     
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           SOME
           THOUGHTS
           ON
           A
           Convocation
           ,
           And
           the
           Notion
           of
           its
           DIVINE
           RIGHT
           .
           WITH
           SOME
           Occasional
           Reflections
           ON
           
             The
             Defence
             of
             the
             Vindication
             of
             the
             Deprived
             Bishops
             .
          
        
         
           LONDON
           :
           Printed
           for
           
             Tim.
             Childe
          
           ,
           at
           the
           White-Hart
           ,
           the
           West-end
           of
           St.
           
           Paul's-Charch-yard
           ,
           1699.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           THE
           PREFACE
           .
        
         
           I
           Shall
           only
           thus
           far
           endeavour
           to
           prepossess
           the
           Reader
           in
           Favour
           of
           the
           following
           Papers
           ,
           as
           to
           assure
           him
           ,
           That
           the
           Author
           is
           not
           Conscious
           to
           himself
           of
           having
           advanced
           any
           Notion
           that
           is
           repugnant
           to
           the
           Sense
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           or
           Antiquity
           ;
           To
           the
           Articles
           of
           our
           own
           Church
           ,
           or
           the
           Opinions
           of
           its
           greatest
           Divines
           who
           have
           treated
           this
           Subject
           .
           The
           Authority
           of
           the
           King
           over
           our
           Convocations
           has
           indeed
           been
           of
           late
           disputed
           by
           some
           ;
           and
           a
           Learned
           Treatise
           that
           was
           writ
           in
           Defence
           of
           it
           ,
           has
           had
           the
           Misfortune
           of
           meeting
           with
           a
           great
           many
           Enemies
           ,
           that
           are
           very
           free
           in
           thier
           Censures
           upon
           it
           ;
           what
           their
           Reasons
           are
           themselves
           best
           know
           :
           For
           they
           are
           so
           kind
           as
           not
           to
           let
           them
           appear
           in
           Publick
           .
        
         
           But
           these
           Papers
           are
           only
           designed
           to
           give
           as
           true
           a
           State
           and
           Notion
           of
           the
           Controversie
           as
           the
           Authors
           Enquiries
           could
           lead
           him
           into
           ,
           and
           not
           for
           a
           Vindication
           of
           others
           Opinions
           :
           And
           if
           they
           should
           chance
           to
           fall
           in
           with
           any
           of
           those
           delivered
           in
           that
           forementioned
           Treatise
           ,
           it
           was
           no
           other
           than
           a
           sober
           and
           impartial
           View
           of
           the
           Subject
           that
           occasioned
           it
           .
           And
           I
           can't
           but
           think
           that
           they
           who
           assent
           to
           the
           Articles
           of
           our
           Church
           ,
           can
           hardly
           deny
           joyning
           in
           the
           same
           Notions
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           very
           common
           with
           the
           Managers
           of
           Disputes
           of
           late
           ,
           to
           fix
           Characters
           of
           Ignominy
           upon
           those
           who
           dissent
           from
           them
           .
           And
           some
           who
           have
           engaged
           in
           this
           Controversie
           ,
           for
           want
           of
           other
           Arguments
           ,
           have
           thought
           I
           suppose
           to
           carry
           the
           Cause
           by
           insulting
           over
           their
           Adversaries
           as
           Latitudinarians
           and
           Erastians
           .
           And
           therefore
           ,
           least
           they
           should
           fix
           the
           same
           Titles
           upon
           the
           Author
           of
           these
           Thoughts
           ,
           he
           desires
           they
           would
           first
           answer
           these
           two
           Queries
           .
        
         
         
           Whether
           he
           who
           advances
           no
           other
           Doctrin
           than
           what
           has
           always
           been
           maintained
           by
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           and
           is
           intirely
           agreeable
           to
           its
           39
           Articles
           ,
           can
           justly
           be
           charged
           by
           any
           Member
           of
           that
           Church
           ,
           as
           a
           Latitudinarian
           in
           point
           of
           Doctrin
           ?
        
         
           And
           whether
           he
           who
           subscribes
           to
           the
           Government
           of
           the
           same
           Church
           as
           by
           Law
           Established
           ,
           and
           maintains
           no
           other
           Notions
           but
           what
           our
           Convocations
           have
           agreed
           to
           ,
           and
           are
           at
           this
           Day
           the
           standing
           Rules
           delivered
           to
           us
           in
           her
           Ecclesiastical
           
             Canons
             and
             Constitutions
          
           ,
           can
           by
           any
           Member
           of
           the
           
             Church
             of
          
           England
           be
           reasonably
           charged
           as
           an
           Erastian
           in
           point
           of
           Church-government
           ?
        
         
           And
           if
           he
           that
           guides
           himself
           by
           these
           Methods
           is
           in
           the
           wrong
           ,
           the
           Church
           must
           answer
           for
           his
           Errors
           ,
           and
           not
           he
           for
           being
           obliged
           to
           defend
           her
           .
           And
           therefore
           the
           Church
           must
           be
           taxt
           with
           our
           false
           Principles
           ,
           if
           they
           are
           such
           ,
           or
           it
           ought
           to
           be
           shewn
           ,
           wherein
           we
           have
           differed
           from
           her
           .
        
         
           It
           may
           probably
           be
           one
           Objection
           against
           these
           Papers
           ,
           that
           a
           Book
           of
           
           Grotius's
           is
           sometimes
           cited
           in
           them
           ,
           which
           lies
           under
           the
           Censure
           of
           
             Erastian
             Principles
          
           .
           It
           is
           foreign
           to
           my
           present
           Business
           to
           engage
           in
           its
           Defence
           ;
           
             Ger.
             Vossius
          
           *
           gives
           it
           the
           Character
           of
           a
           most
           Excellent
           Book
           ,
           and
           offers
           to
           defend
           it
           against
           all
           Opposers
           .
           But
           it
           is
           enough
           to
           my
           purpose
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           nothing
           cited
           from
           him
           ,
           that
           is
           disagreeable
           to
           the
           Doctrines
           of
           our
           Church
           :
           And
           it
           was
           not
           his
           Authority
           ,
           but
           the
           strength
           of
           his
           Argument
           ,
           that
           occasion'd
           his
           being
           introduced
           in
           the
           Debate
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           hope
           the
           other
           Authorities
           that
           are
           here
           made
           use
           of
           can
           have
           no
           such
           Objections
           against
           them
           .
           Tho'
           if
           these
           Papers
           are
           condemned
           they
           can
           hardly
           escape
           ,
           notwithstanding
           the
           Characters
           they
           have
           always
           bore
           in
           the
           World
           ought
           to
           secure
           them
           from
           such
           Treatment
           ,
           since
           if
           this
           Author
           is
           an
           Error
           ,
           't
           is
           they
           who
           have
           led
           him
           into
           it
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           SOME
           THOUGHTS
           ON
           A
           Convocation
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           THE
           stating
           the
           Rights
           and
           Authority
           of
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           must
           be
           confest
           to
           be
           a
           very
           nice
           and
           tender
           Point
           ;
           and
           in
           Attempts
           of
           this
           Nature
           ,
           it
           is
           almost
           impossible
           not
           to
           offend
           .
        
         
           Let
           a
           Man
           deliver
           his
           Opinions
           with
           never
           so
           much
           Sincerity
           and
           Caution
           ;
           yet
           after
           all
           ,
           he
           must
           expect
           to
           find
           that
           some
           Party
           or
           other
           will
           be
           displeased
           .
        
         
           The
           asserting
           the
           Privileges
           of
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           but
           even
           as
           far
           as
           those
           Bounds
           which
           Religion
           and
           the
           Laws
           of
           the
           Land
           have
           set
           them
           ,
           and
           the
           Nature
           of
           their
           Function
           requires
           ,
           is
           almost
           a
           downright
           Affront
           to
           a
           sort
           of
           Men
           ,
           who
           think
           the
           whole
           Order
           useless
           ,
           and
           their
           Office
           only
           an
           Imposition
           upon
           the
           Rights
           and
           Liberties
           of
           the
           rest
           of
           Mankind
           .
        
         
           And
           the
           not
           carrying
           their
           Authority
           to
           a
           higher
           pitch
           ,
           than
           the
           Constitution
           of
           the
           State
           does
           or
           can
           admit
           of
           ,
           or
           than
           the
           Law
           of
           God
           has
           allowed
           ;
           or
           even
           to
           such
           Immunities
           ,
           as
           some
           Mens
           mistaken
           Zeal
           would
           challenge
           to
           belong
           to
           them
           ,
           is
           represented
           as
           an
           Indignity
           to
           Religion
           ,
           and
           an
           open
           Violation
           of
           the
           Rights
           and
           Honours
           of
           that
           Profession
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           not
           concern
           my self
           in
           determining
           whose
           Censure
           't
           is
           most
           safe
           to
           fall
           under
           .
        
         
         
           But
           this
           seems
           very
           apparent
           ,
           That
           the
           pretending
           to
           too
           unlimited
           a
           Power
           ,
           is
           as
           great
           a
           Prejudice
           ,
           and
           of
           as
           dangerous
           Consequence
           to
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           as
           the
           parting
           with
           some
           of
           their
           just
           Rights
           and
           Privileges
           :
           Either
           of
           these
           Extreams
           may
           be
           fatal
           ;
           and
           therefore
           the
           more
           Caution
           is
           required
           to
           avoid
           them
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           certainly
           a
           great
           Weakness
           in
           any
           Clergy
           ,
           to
           raise
           themselves
           Enemies
           in
           the
           State
           ,
           by
           laying
           Claim
           to
           an
           Authority
           which
           is
           none
           of
           theirs
           .
           The
           intolerable
           Usurpation
           of
           the
           
             See
             of
             Rome
          
           on
           the
           Rights
           of
           Princes
           ,
           and
           the
           Revolutions
           occasioned
           by
           it
           ,
           in
           a
           great
           many
           parts
           of
           Europe
           ,
           afford
           us
           Instances
           enough
           of
           this
           Nature
           .
        
         
           Let
           us
           ,
           in
           God's
           Name
           ,
           maintain
           the
           Honours
           and
           Privileges
           of
           the
           Holy
           Function
           ,
           as
           far
           as
           of
           right
           we
           may
           ;
           but
           let
           us
           not
           extend
           them
           to
           such
           a
           Power
           and
           Superiority
           ,
           as
           neither
           the
           Laws
           of
           God
           will
           justifie
           ,
           nor
           those
           of
           the
           Land
           admit
           of
           ;
           and
           which
           the
           first
           Ages
           of
           the
           Church
           (
           after
           the
           State
           was
           Christian
           )
           never
           exercised
           .
        
         
           The
           whole
           Controversie
           about
           a
           Convocation
           may
           be
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           reduced
           to
           this
           .
           Either
           that
           the
           time
           and
           manner
           of
           its
           sitting
           ,
           acting
           or
           debating
           ,
           is
           to
           be
           determined
           by
           the
           Laws
           of
           the
           Land
           ,
           and
           the
           Prudence
           of
           the
           supream
           Authority
           ;
           or
           that
           the
           Clergy
           have
           a
           Power
           by
           
             Divine
             Right
          
           ,
           independent
           on
           the
           State
           ,
           to
           assemble
           themselves
           ,
           decree
           and
           enact
           Ecclesiastical
           Laws
           ,
           without
           the
           Consent
           of
           the
           secular
           Authority
           .
        
         
           If
           the
           latter
           of
           these
           Notions
           be
           true
           ,
           't
           is
           plain
           ,
           That
           all
           human
           Laws
           to
           the
           contrary
           ,
           can
           be
           of
           no
           force
           :
           A
           Divine
           Institution
           being
           unalterable
           by
           any
           other
           Power
           .
           And
           if
           any
           other
           Power
           has
           decreed
           any
           thing
           in
           Opposition
           to
           it
           ,
           't
           is
           a
           Sin
           to
           submit
           to
           its
           Commands
           .
        
         
           But
           in
           Cases
           of
           this
           Nature
           ,
           where
           such
           a
           Right
           is
           pretended
           ,
           it
           ought
           to
           be
           made
           very
           clear
           and
           indisputable
           from
           the
           express
           Declaration
           of
           Scripture
           ;
           or
           at
           least
           ,
           from
           the
           Practice
           of
           the
           first
           Christians
           ,
           where
           any
           Parallel
           Instances
           can
           be
           produced
           :
           Though
           I
           think
           this
           latter
           is
           an
           Argument
           of
           far
           less
           Authority
           than
           the
           former
           ;
           and
           if
           there
           had
           been
           Instances
           of
           Convocations
           like
           ours
           in
           the
           Apostles
           Days
           ,
           yet
           this
           would
           not
           prove
           their
           Divine
           Right
           ,
           unless
           there
           could
           be
           shew'd
           a
           Command
           of
           God
           for
           
           it
           ;
           for
           a
           great
           many
           Examples
           have
           not
           the
           force
           of
           Precepts
           ,
           even
           in
           Scripture
           it self
           ,
           but
           are
           of
           an
           inferiour
           Nature
           ,
           and
           serve
           for
           no
           other
           Purpose
           than
           to
           direct
           what
           may
           be
           most
           proper
           to
           be
           done
           in
           like
           Cases
           .
           As
           the
           Order
           of
           Deaconesses
           and
           others
           ,
           tho'
           as
           early
           as
           the
           Apostles
           Age
           ,
           is
           now
           wholly
           laid
           aside
           .
           The
           end
           of
           its
           Institution
           ceasing
           ,
           which
           was
           to
           instruct
           the
           younger
           Women
           in
           the
           Faith
           ,
           when
           there
           were
           stronger
           Reasons
           for
           the
           abolishing
           it
           .
           Prudence
           is
           to
           judge
           how
           far
           such
           Examples
           are
           to
           be
           followed
           .
        
         
           Now
           whether
           this
           Notion
           of
           
             a
             Divine
             Right
          
           has
           any
           Foundation
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           or
           can
           be
           grounded
           upon
           any
           Examples
           in
           the
           Primitive
           Church
           or
           not
           ;
           it
           is
           past
           all
           Controversie
           ,
           that
           our
           Kings
           have
           an
           Authority
           devolved
           on
           them
           by
           our
           Laws
           ,
           and
           acknowledg'd
           as
           of
           Right
           belonging
           to
           them
           over
           our
           Convocations
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           Clergy
           neither
           have
           ,
           or
           can
           pretend
           to
           have
           ,
           by
           our
           Constitution
           ,
           the
           Liberty
           or
           Power
           to
           meet
           after
           that
           manner
           without
           their
           Assent
           .
           This
           is
           very
           evident
           from
           the
           Writs
           ,
           by
           which
           they
           are
           summoned
           to
           assemble
           .
        
         
           And
           as
           they
           cannot
           meet
           but
           by
           the
           King
           's
           Writ
           ,
           so
           neither
           when
           met
           ,
           can
           they
           make
           any
           Canon
           ,
           or
           Constitution
           ,
           without
           his
           Licence
           and
           Approbation
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           indeed
           a
           Convocation
           always
           summoned
           ,
           whenever
           a
           Parliament
           is
           called
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           ancient
           Constitution
           :
           And
           hence
           some
           have
           thought
           ,
           That
           they
           ought
           to
           claim
           the
           same
           Right
           and
           Liberty
           to
           enact
           Laws
           for
           the
           Good
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           as
           the
           other
           for
           the
           Advantage
           and
           Welfare
           of
           the
           State.
           
        
         
           But
           the
           Case
           is
           very
           different
           ;
           the
           Reasons
           of
           calling
           the
           Clergy
           anciently
           ,
           every
           Parliament
           ,
           was
           upon
           a
           Political
           Account
           ;
           because
           they
           were
           then
           look'd
           upon
           as
           a
           Member
           of
           the
           Parliament
           ,
           and
           could
           not
           be
           taxt
           but
           by
           their
           own
           Grants
           :
           But
           that
           Reason
           is
           now
           ,
           in
           great
           measure
           ,
           out
           of
           Doors
           .
           And
           though
           they
           are
           still
           summoned
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           be
           ready
           upon
           all
           Occasions
           ,
           to
           advise
           and
           counsel
           the
           King
           in
           making
           Provisions
           for
           the
           Security
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           the
           Preservation
           of
           the
           Church
           ;
           yet
           as
           there
           is
           not
           always
           the
           same
           Necessity
           for
           their
           sitting
           and
           acting
           ,
           as
           for
           the
           Parliaments
           ,
           so
           the
           King
           is
           made
           the
           sole
           Arbiter
           of
           it
           .
        
         
         
           But
           this
           Particular
           has
           lately
           been
           so
           fully
           and
           largely
           discussed
           by
           a
           very
           learned
           Pen
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           need
           of
           farther
           Addition
           .
           
        
         
           And
           indeed
           ,
           if
           we
           may
           stand
           to
           the
           Decision
           of
           the
           Laws
           of
           the
           Land
           ,
           this
           whole
           Controversie
           will
           soon
           be
           at
           an
           end
           :
           For
           it
           is
           no
           difficult
           matter
           to
           be
           resolved
           about
           the
           Power
           the
           King
           is
           invested
           with
           ,
           by
           being
           
             Head
             of
             the
             Church
          
           ;
           and
           what
           Privileges
           are
           reserved
           for
           the
           Clergy
           by
           their
           own
           Suffrage
           and
           Decree
           in
           Convocation
           ,
           and
           by
           Act
           of
           Parliament
           .
        
         
           The
           King
           ,
           by
           his
           Power
           ,
           is
           to
           call
           the
           Convocation
           ,
           they
           are
           to
           assemble
           only
           by
           his
           Writs
           ,
           they
           are
           to
           debate
           upon
           such
           Matters
           as
           he
           shall
           offer
           ,
           and
           are
           to
           constitute
           no
           Orders
           ,
           or
           make
           any
           Laws
           without
           his
           Consent
           .
        
         
           
             This
             is
             very
             apparent
             from
             the
             Act
             of
             Parliament
             ,
          
           where
           the
           King
           's
           humble
           and
           obedient
           Subjects
           ,
           
           the
           Clergy
           of
           this
           Realm
           of
           England
           ,
           have
           not
           only
           acknowledged
           according
           to
           the
           Truth
           ,
           That
           the
           Convocations
           of
           the
           same
           Clergy
           ,
           is
           ,
           always
           hath
           been
           ,
           and
           ought
           to
           be
           assembled
           only
           by
           the
           King
           's
           Writ
           ,
           but
           also
           submitting
           themselves
           to
           the
           King's
           Majesty
           ,
           have
           promised
           
             in
             Verbo
             Sacerdotis
          
           ,
           That
           they
           will
           never
           from
           henceforth
           ,
           presume
           to
           attempt
           ,
           alledge
           ,
           claim
           or
           put
           in
           ure
           ,
           enact
           ,
           promulge
           ,
           or
           execute
           ,
           any
           new
           Canons
           ,
           Constitutions
           ,
           Ordinances
           Provincial
           ,
           or
           other
           ,
           or
           by
           whatsoever
           other
           Name
           they
           shall
           be
           called
           in
           the
           Convocation
           ,
           unless
           the
           King
           's
           most
           Royal
           Assent
           and
           Licence
           may
           to
           them
           be
           had
           ,
           to
           make
           ,
           promulge
           and
           execute
           the
           same
           ;
           and
           that
           His
           Majesty
           do
           give
           His
           most
           Royal
           Assent
           and
           Authority
           in
           that
           Behalf
           .
           And
           where
           divers
           Constitutions
           ,
           Ordinances
           ,
           and
           Canons
           Provincial
           ,
           or
           Synodal
           ,
           which
           heretofore
           have
           been
           enacted
           ,
           and
           be
           thought
           not
           only
           to
           be
           much
           prejudicial
           to
           the
           King's
           Prerogative
           Royal
           ,
           and
           repugnant
           to
           the
           Laws
           and
           Statutes
           of
           this
           Realm
           ,
           but
           also
           over-much
           onerous
           to
           His
           Highness
           and
           His
           Subjects
           ;
           the
           said
           Clergy
           hath
           most
           humbly
           besought
           the
           King's
           Highness
           ,
           That
           the
           said
           Constitutions
           and
           Canons
           may
           be
           committed
           to
           the
           Examination
           and
           Iudgment
           of
           His
           Highness
           ,
           and
           of
           two
           and
           thirty
           Persons
           of
           the
           King's
           Subjects
           ,
           whereof
           sixteen
           to
           be
           of
           the
           upper
           and
           nether
           House
           of
           the
           Parliament
           of
           the
           Temporalty
           ,
           and
           other
           sixteen
           to
           be
           of
           the
           Clergy
           of
           this
           Realm
           ;
           and
           all
           the
           said
           two
           and
           thirty
           Persons
           ,
           to
           be
           chosen
           and
           appointed
           by
           the
           King's
           Majesty
           .
           And
           that
           such
           of
           
           the
           said
           Constitutions
           and
           Canons
           ,
           as
           shall
           be
           thought
           and
           determined
           by
           the
           said
           two
           and
           thirty
           ,
           or
           the
           more
           part
           of
           them
           ,
           shall
           be
           approved
           to
           stand
           with
           the
           Laws
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           consonant
           to
           the
           Laws
           of
           this
           Realm
           ,
           shall
           stand
           in
           their
           full
           Strength
           and
           Power
           ;
           the
           King
           's
           most
           Royal
           Assent
           first
           had
           and
           obtained
           to
           the
           same
           .
           Be
           it
           therefore
           now
           enacted
           by
           Authority
           of
           this
           present
           Parliament
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           said
           Submission
           and
           Petition
           of
           the
           said
           Clergy
           ,
           That
           they
           ,
           ne
           any
           of
           them
           ,
           from
           henceforth
           shall
           presume
           to
           attempt
           ,
           alledge
           ,
           claim
           ,
           or
           put
           in
           ure
           ,
           any
           Constitutions
           or
           Ordinances
           Provincial
           ,
           or
           Synodal
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           Canons
           :
           Nor
           shall
           enact
           ,
           promulge
           ,
           or
           execute
           any
           such
           Canons
           ,
           Constitutions
           ,
           or
           Ordinances
           Provincial
           ,
           by
           whatsoever
           Name
           or
           Names
           they
           may
           be
           called
           ,
           in
           their
           Convocations
           in
           time
           coming
           (
           which
           always
           shall
           be
           assembled
           by
           Authority
           of
           the
           King
           's
           Writ
           )
           unless
           the
           same
           Clergy
           may
           have
           the
           King
           's
           most
           Royal
           Assent
           and
           Licence
           ,
           to
           make
           ,
           promulge
           ,
           and
           execute
           such
           Canons
           ,
           Constitutions
           ,
           and
           Ordinances
           Provincial
           ,
           or
           Synodal
           ,
           upon
           pain
           of
           every
           one
           of
           the
           said
           Clergy
           ,
           doing
           contrary
           to
           this
           Act
           ,
           and
           being
           thereof
           convict
           ,
           to
           suffer
           Imprisonment
           ,
           and
           make
           Fine
           at
           the
           King
           's
           Will.
           
        
         
           They
           are
           indeed
           left
           at
           Liberty
           ,
           to
           give
           what
           Judgment
           they
           think
           fit
           ,
           upon
           such
           Matters
           as
           are
           offered
           to
           them
           ;
           and
           their
           Determinations
           and
           Decisions
           about
           them
           ,
           are
           solely
           in
           their
           own
           Breasts
           :
           But
           they
           cannot
           have
           the
           Force
           of
           a
           Law
           ,
           unless
           he
           will
           be
           pleased
           both
           to
           approve
           and
           confirm
           them
           .
        
         
           And
           this
           is
           the
           Nature
           of
           Ecclesiastical
           Synods
           ,
           amongst
           us
           by
           our
           Constitution
           .
           And
           as
           this
           preserves
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Sovereign
           ,
           so
           does
           it
           not
           infringe
           the
           Liberty
           of
           the
           Clergy
           .
           No
           Ecclesiastical
           Canons
           or
           Constitutions
           ,
           can
           be
           made
           without
           them
           :
           Nothing
           can
           be
           accounted
           Heresie
           ,
           or
           censured
           as
           such
           ,
           but
           what
           by
           lawful
           Synods
           has
           been
           already
           condemned
           ;
           decreed
           to
           be
           such
           ,
           with
           the
           King's
           Consent
           by
           our
           own
           Convocations
           ;
           whose
           Acts
           have
           been
           ratified
           and
           confirmed
           by
           Parliament
           .
        
         
           Thus
           ,
           tho'
           the
           Clergy
           can't
           ,
           by
           their
           own
           Power
           ,
           meet
           in
           Convocation
           ,
           nor
           decree
           or
           enact
           any
           Ecclesiastical
           Laws
           without
           the
           Sovereign
           Authority
           ;
           yet
           neither
           can
           any
           Ecclesiastical
           Canon
           be
           made
           ,
           or
           any
           new
           Heresie
           be
           declared
           ,
           without
           their
           Advice
           and
           Approbation
           .
        
         
         
           Grotius
           is
           indeed
           of
           Opinion
           ,
           
           That
           the
           supream
           Civil
           Authority
           ,
           has
           a
           Right
           to
           make
           Laws
           ,
           without
           the
           Consent
           of
           the
           Clergy
           for
           the
           Government
           of
           the
           Church
           .
           Because
           if
           it
           could
           not
           ,
           it
           would
           receive
           some
           Right
           of
           governing
           from
           the
           Synod
           ,
           and
           consequently
           could
           not
           be
           supream
           ;
           whereas
           the
           highest
           Power
           being
           subject
           to
           God
           alone
           ,
           has
           under
           him
           the
           sole
           Right
           of
           Governing
           .
           Besides
           ,
           if
           the
           supream
           Power
           could
           not
           enforce
           the
           Observance
           of
           that
           without
           a
           Synod
           ,
           which
           it
           might
           with
           one
           ,
           then
           it
           should
           receive
           part
           of
           its
           Right
           and
           Authority
           to
           govern
           from
           thence
           :
           And
           by
           Consequence
           some
           part
           of
           the
           Government
           must
           be
           lodged
           in
           the
           Synod
           .
           Which
           it
           can
           neither
           challenge
           by
           Human
           or
           Divine
           Right
           .
           God
           having
           no-where
           committed
           such
           a
           Power
           to
           the
           Church
           ;
           and
           therefore
           not
           to
           Synods
           .
           And
           for
           these
           Reasons
           ,
           he
           is
           of
           Opinion
           ,
           That
           the
           highest
           Power
           has
           a
           Right
           to
           make
           Orders
           for
           the
           Government
           of
           the
           Church
           without
           a
           Synod
           .
           And
           to
           confirm
           it
           ,
           he
           adds
           the
           Examples
           of
           the
           
             Hebrew
             Kings
          
           ,
           and
           some
           of
           the
           
             first
             Christian
             Emperors
          
           ,
           that
           have
           exercised
           their
           Authority
           about
           things
           sacred
           ,
           without
           any
           such
           Convention
           of
           the
           Clergy
           .
        
         
           But
           tho'
           these
           Reasons
           should
           prove
           such
           a
           Right
           in
           General
           ,
           to
           belong
           to
           the
           supream
           Power
           ,
           yet
           it
           cannot
           be
           doubted
           but
           that
           the
           same
           Power
           may
           so
           far
           dispense
           with
           the
           Execution
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           to
           consent
           ,
           That
           no
           Laws
           shall
           be
           made
           relating
           to
           Religion
           ,
           without
           the
           Counsel
           and
           Approbation
           of
           the
           Clergy
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           it
           may
           be
           thought
           reasonable
           to
           have
           the
           Advice
           of
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           in
           all
           Matters
           of
           such
           Importance
           ,
           it
           must
           be
           also
           absolutely
           necessary
           ,
           That
           the
           Civil
           Power
           which
           is
           to
           enforce
           the
           Observance
           of
           the
           Injunctions
           ,
           resolved
           on
           by
           the
           Spiritual
           ,
           should
           have
           the
           Right
           of
           judging
           of
           its
           Determinations
           ;
           especially
           ,
           where
           all
           Mens
           Consciences
           ,
           as
           well
           secular
           as
           Ecclesiastical
           ,
           are
           to
           be
           concluded
           by
           them
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           most
           certain
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           a
           Duty
           incumbent
           on
           the
           Prince
           ,
           whether
           the
           Clergy
           give
           their
           Opinions
           or
           not
           ,
           to
           reform
           and
           correct
           Abuses
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           
           and
           he
           must
           answer
           for
           his
           Neglect
           to
           God
           ,
           if
           he
           does
           not
           do
           so
           .
           And
           if
           before
           any
           Declaration
           of
           the
           Judgment
           of
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           he
           
           has
           a
           Right
           to
           order
           what
           is
           necessary
           in
           sacred
           Affairs
           ,
           't
           is
           plain
           ,
           That
           his
           Power
           is
           superior
           to
           theirs
           ;
           and
           that
           it
           cannot
           be
           less
           at
           the
           meeting
           of
           a
           Synod
           ,
           than
           it
           was
           before
           it
           .
           The
           supream
           Authority
           continues
           the
           same
           ,
           whether
           it
           acts
           by
           the
           Counsel
           of
           others
           ,
           or
           without
           it
           .
           And
           there
           can
           be
           no
           Obligation
           to
           comply
           with
           it
           ,
           but
           that
           of
           Reason
           and
           Prudence
           .
        
         
           The
           Notion
           of
           the
           King's
           
             Supremacy
             ,
             over
             all
             Persons
             ,
             and
             in
             all
             Causes
             ,
             as
             well
             Ecclesiastical
             as
             Civil
             ,
          
           established
           by
           our
           Laws
           ,
           owned
           and
           asserted
           by
           our
           Clergy
           ,
           and
           very
           frequently
           vindicated
           with
           much
           Strength
           and
           Learning
           by
           the
           greatest
           Men
           of
           our
           Church
           ,
           ever
           since
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           grants
           all
           that
           Right
           and
           Power
           to
           the
           King
           ,
           over
           Convocations
           that
           we
           contend
           for
           .
        
         
           
             This
             Power
             ,
             
             says
             
               the
               Excellent
               Mr.
            
             Hooker
             ,
             being
             sometime
             in
             the
             Bishop
             of
             Rome
             ,
             who
             by
             sinister
             Practices
             ,
             had
             drawn
             it
             into
             his
             Hands
             ,
             was
             for
             
               Iust
               Considerations
               by
               Publick
               Consent
            
             ,
             annex'd
             unto
             the
             King
             's
             Royal
             Seat
             and
             Crown
             ;
             
               from
               thence
               the
               Authors
               of
               Reformation
               ,
               would
               translate
               it
               into
               their
               National
               Assemblies
               or
               Synods
               :
               Which
               Synods
               are
               the
               only
               Helps
               ,
               which
               they
               think
               lawful
               to
               use
               against
               such
               Evils
               in
               the
               Church
               ,
               as
               particular
               Iurisdictions
               are
               not
               sufficient
               to
               redress
               .
            
             In
             which
             Cause
             ,
             our
             Laws
             have
             provided
             ,
             That
             the
             King
             's
             Super-eminent
             Authority
             and
             Power
             shall
             serve
             :
             As
             namely
             ,
             when
             the
             whole
             Ecclesiastical
             State
             ,
             or
             the
             Principal
             Persons
             therein
             ,
             do
             need
             Visitation
             and
             Reformation
             ;
             when
             in
             any
             part
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             Errors
             ,
             Schisms
             ,
             Heresies
             ,
             Abuses
             ,
             Offences
             ,
             Contempts
             ,
             Enormities
             are
             grown
             ;
             which
             Men
             in
             their
             several
             Jurisdictions
             either
             do
             not
             ,
             or
             cannot
             help
             .
             Whatsoever
             any
             Spiritual
             Power
             and
             Authority
             ,
             (
             such
             as
             Legats
             from
             the
             See
             of
             Rome
             ,
             did
             sometime
             exercise
             )
             hath
             done
             ,
             or
             might
             heretofore
             have
             done
             ,
             for
             the
             Remedies
             of
             those
             Evils
             in
             lawful
             sort
             ,
             (
             that
             is
             to
             say
             ,
             without
             the
             Violation
             of
             the
             Laws
             of
             God
             ,
             or
             Nature
             in
             the
             Deed
             done
             )
             as
             much
             in
             every
             Degree
             our
             Laws
             have
             fully
             granted
             ,
             that
             the
             King
             for
             ever
             may
             do
             ,
             not
             only
             by
             setting
             Ecclesiastical
             Synods
             on
             work
             ,
             that
             the
             thing
             may
             be
             their
             Act
             ,
             and
             the
             King
             the
             Motioner
             unto
             it
             ,
             
               for
               so
               much
               perhaps
               ,
               the
               Masters
               of
               the
               Reformation
               
               will
               grant
               :
            
             
             But
             by
             Commissions
             few
             or
             many
             ,
             who
             having
             the
             King's
             Letters
             Patents
             ,
             may
             in
             the
             Vertue
             thereof
             ,
             execute
             the
             Premises
             as
             Agents
             in
             the
             Right
             ,
             not
             of
             their
             own
             peculiar
             and
             ordinary
             ,
             but
             of
             his
             Super-eminent
             Power
             .
          
        
         
           This
           Passage
           ,
           as
           tho'
           designed
           on
           Purpose
           against
           the
           present
           Opposers
           of
           the
           
             King's
             Supremacy
          
           ,
           is
           not
           only
           an
           Account
           of
           the
           Power
           our
           King
           has
           over
           his
           Convocations
           by
           the
           Law
           of
           the
           Land
           ,
           but
           also
           a
           Vindication
           of
           that
           Law
           ,
           in
           investing
           him
           with
           such
           Authority
           .
           And
           I
           the
           rather
           thought
           it
           deserved
           to
           be
           taken
           notice
           of
           ,
           that
           I
           might
           oppose
           the
           Judgment
           of
           this
           great
           and
           learned
           Man
           to
           the
           Censures
           of
           
             two
             late
             Authors
          
           ,
           
           who
           have
           taken
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           Freedom
           in
           blackening
           the
           Memory
           of
           the
           Convocation
           in
           
             Henry
             the
             8th's
             Reign
          
           ,
           for
           surrendring
           up
           to
           the
           King
           the
           Right
           and
           Liberty
           of
           meeting
           without
           his
           Leave
           .
        
         
           The
           Author
           of
           the
           
             Municipium
             Ecclesiasticum
          
           ,
           in
           his
           Preface
           ,
           insults
           over
           
             that
             Convocation
          
           ,
           as
           under
           the
           lash
           of
           a
           Praemunire
           ,
           and
           from
           thence
           ,
           seeks
           to
           prejudice
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Convocation-Act
           .
           But
           this
           is
           a
           great
           Blunder
           ;
           for
           the
           Praemunire
           was
           off
           at
           least
           three
           Years
           before
           ,
           
           and
           released
           by
           Act
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           in
           the
           22d
           of
           Henry
           the
           8th
           ,
           the
           Convocation-Act
           being
           not
           till
           the
           25th
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           let
           that
           pass
           ,
           this
           whole
           
             Eighth
             Book
             of
             Ecclesiastical
             Polity
          
           ,
           is
           designed
           for
           a
           Vindication
           of
           the
           Kings
           Power
           in
           that
           Particular
           ,
           as
           also
           of
           our
           Laws
           ,
           and
           the
           Consent
           of
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           by
           which
           it
           was
           confirmed
           .
        
         
           
             Except
             therefore
             ,
             we
             make
             the
             King's
             Authority
             over
             the
             Clergy
             ,
             
             less
             in
             the
             greatest
             things
             ,
             than
             the
             Power
             of
             the
             meanest
             Governors
             is
             in
             all
             things
             over
             those
             which
             are
             under
             them
             ,
             how
             should
             we
             think
             it
             a
             Matter
             decent
             ,
             that
             the
             Clergy
             should
             impose
             Laws
             ,
             the
             supream
             Governors
             Assent
             not
             asked
             ?
          
        
         
           But
           lest
           some
           sort
           of
           Men
           should
           pretend
           ,
           that
           this
           8th
           Book
           is
           not
           so
           much
           ,
           and
           truly
           Mr.
           
           Hooker's
           ,
           as
           those
           which
           are
           published
           by
           himself
           ,
           which
           however
           is
           not
           questioned
           by
           the
           last
           of
           these
           Authors
           mentioned
           ,
           that
           quotes
           from
           it
           ,
           how
           much
           to
           his
           purpose
           ,
           I
           shall
           consider
           hereafter
           .
           
           
           I
           shall
           add
           a
           Passage
           out
           of
           his
           Preface
           .
           There
           was
           (
           says
           he
           ,
           speaking
           in
           Reference
           to
           some
           who
           had
           a
           Dislike
           to
           the
           Constitution
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           then
           established
           by
           Law
           )
           in
           my
           poor
           Understanding
           ,
           no
           Remedy
           ;
           but
           to
           set
           down
           this
           as
           my
           final
           resolute
           Persuasion
           ,
           
             Surely
             the
             present
             Form
             of
             Church-Government
             ,
             which
             the
             Laws
             of
             this
             Land
             have
             established
             ,
             is
             such
             as
             no
             Law
             of
             God
             ,
             nor
             Reason
             of
             Man
             ,
             hath
             hitherto
             been
             alledged
             of
             Force
             sufficient
             to
             prove
             they
             do
             ill
             ;
             who
             ,
             to
             the
             uttermost
             of
             their
             Power
             ,
             withstand
             the
             Alteration
             thereof
             .
             Contrariwise
             ,
             the
             other
             ,
             which
             instead
             of
             it
             ,
             we
             are
             required
             to
             accept
             ,
             is
             only
             by
             Error
             and
             Misconceit
             ,
             named
             the
             Ordinance
             of
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             no
             one
             Proof
             as
             yet
             brought
             forth
             ,
             whereby
             it
             may
             clearly
             appear
             to
             be
             so
             in
             very
             deed
             .
          
        
         
           Thus
           far
           I
           have
           chiefly
           consider'd
           what
           Power
           the
           King
           has
           over
           the
           Meetings
           of
           Ecclesiastical
           Synods
           ,
           by
           our
           Constitutions
           .
           And
           if
           ,
           in
           Opposition
           to
           this
           ,
           any
           Laws
           had
           been
           made
           whilst
           we
           were
           under
           the
           Popish
           Tyranny
           ,
           and
           Usurpation
           ,
           that
           had
           exempted
           the
           Clergy
           from
           any
           such
           Subjection
           to
           the
           supream
           Authority
           ,
           as
           't
           is
           certain
           there
           were
           none
           ,
           
           the
           King
           's
           Ecclesiastical
           Jurisdiction
           being
           always
           asserted
           against
           the
           Encroachments
           of
           the
           Pope
           and
           Clergy
           upon
           it
           ;
           I
           think
           we
           might
           justly
           have
           deny'd
           them
           to
           be
           any
           Argument
           in
           the
           present
           Controversie
           .
        
         
           But
           all
           that
           we
           can
           urge
           from
           our
           Laws
           ,
           will
           prove
           little
           in
           the
           Case
           before
           us
           ,
           if
           the
           Clergy
           had
           an
           Antecedent
           Right
           to
           meet
           in
           Convocation
           by
           a
           Divine
           Commission
           ;
           or
           are
           invested
           with
           a
           separate
           Authority
           ,
           by
           the
           Law
           of
           God
           ,
           of
           making
           Orders
           for
           the
           Government
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           whether
           the
           Sovereign
           Power
           be
           Christian
           or
           not
           ;
           and
           of
           obliging
           all
           Men
           in
           Conscience
           to
           observe
           them
           ,
           without
           any
           Consent
           or
           Licence
           from
           thence
           .
        
         
           Now
           't
           is
           strange
           ,
           if
           there
           should
           be
           any
           such
           Divine
           Right
           ,
           that
           the
           Clergy
           not
           only
           at
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           but
           to
           this
           very
           time
           ,
           should
           be
           so
           very
           ignorant
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           not
           only
           by
           a
           tacit
           Consent
           to
           submit
           to
           ,
           but
           in
           all
           their
           Writings
           ,
           acknowledge
           and
           publickly
           defend
           this
           superior
           Power
           in
           the
           Prince
           ,
           either
           to
           prevent
           their
           meeting
           ,
           or
           forbid
           their
           making
           any
           Canons
           ,
           unless
           they
           had
           first
           obtained
           
           his
           Order
           and
           Licence
           .
           If
           this
           
             Divine
             Right
          
           had
           been
           plainly
           declared
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           it
           could
           not
           have
           been
           over
           look'd
           ;
           and
           if
           't
           is
           not
           plainly
           there
           ,
           it
           can
           with
           no
           tolerable
           shew
           of
           Reason
           be
           pretended
           to
           .
        
         
           And
           that
           this
           Notion
           of
           a
           
             Divine
             Right
          
           of
           Convocations
           ,
           is
           altogether
           precarious
           ,
           seems
           evident
           upon
           these
           two
           Accounts
           .
           First
           ,
           That
           all
           the
           first
           Synods
           ,
           where
           the
           Emperor
           was
           Christian
           ,
           were
           summoned
           and
           conven'd
           by
           his
           Authority
           ;
           and
           Secondly
           ,
           That
           this
           Power
           of
           the
           Emperor's
           ,
           
           was
           never
           disputed
           by
           the
           Clergy
           as
           an
           Usurpation
           upon
           their
           Rights
           ;
           but
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           was
           always
           approved
           of
           by
           them
           .
        
         
           For
           the
           Practice
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           in
           those
           times
           ,
           is
           of
           great
           Moment
           in
           the
           present
           Controversie
           :
           For
           if
           there
           is
           such
           a
           Divine
           Right
           lodg'd
           in
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           of
           meeting
           ,
           either
           to
           decide
           Disputes
           ,
           or
           make
           Ecclesiastical
           Laws
           without
           the
           Consent
           of
           the
           Sovereign
           Power
           ;
           it
           is
           strange
           ,
           that
           the
           Clergy
           in
           those
           early
           Ages
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           should
           so
           quietly
           part
           with
           their
           Privilege
           ;
           or
           that
           an
           Emperor
           ,
           who
           was
           so
           mighty
           zealous
           for
           Religion
           ,
           as
           Constantine
           was
           ,
           should
           violate
           the
           Rights
           of
           the
           Church
           in
           so
           notorious
           a
           manner
           ,
           and
           overthrow
           its
           Constitution
           even
           contrary
           to
           a
           Divine
           Appointment
           ,
           by
           summoning
           Councils
           ,
           as
           he
           did
           ,
           by
           his
           own
           Authority
           .
        
         
           If
           the
           Clergy
           had
           such
           a
           Right
           ,
           as
           is
           now
           pretended
           ,
           it
           could
           not
           so
           soon
           be
           forgotten
           ,
           as
           in
           
           Constantine's
           time
           ;
           nor
           could
           they
           have
           given
           it
           up
           ,
           or
           the
           Emperor
           have
           taken
           it
           from
           them
           ,
           without
           sin
           .
        
         
           It
           must
           then
           be
           confess'd
           ,
           to
           be
           a
           good
           Argument
           against
           the
           
             Divine
             Right
          
           of
           any
           thing
           ,
           where
           the
           Scripture
           is
           silent
           ,
           that
           the
           contrary
           was
           practised
           ,
           within
           three
           or
           four
           Ages
           after
           Christ
           ,
           even
           by
           Men
           ,
           who
           are
           allowed
           on
           all
           sides
           ,
           to
           be
           of
           the
           most
           Orthodox
           Principles
           ,
           who
           could
           not
           but
           know
           the
           Rights
           of
           the
           Church
           ;
           and
           who
           ,
           if
           they
           did
           know
           them
           ,
           would
           never
           suffer
           them
           to
           be
           violated
           .
        
         
           Now
           that
           Christian
           Princes
           have
           pretended
           to
           this
           Authority
           of
           assembling
           General
           Councils
           and
           National
           Synods
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           Clergy
           have
           met
           ,
           upon
           their
           Summons
           ,
           is
           undeniable
           :
           And
           't
           is
           also
           evident
           ,
           That
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           when
           the
           State
           was
           first
           Christian
           ,
           never
           thunder'd
           out
           any
           Anathema's
           
           against
           it
           ,
           for
           this
           pretended
           Authority
           ;
           that
           they
           never
           censured
           it
           as
           an
           Usurpation
           upon
           their
           unalienable
           Privilege
           ,
           but
           always
           quietly
           and
           readily
           submitted
           to
           the
           Prince's
           Summons
           ,
           without
           disputing
           from
           whence
           he
           derived
           that
           Power
           over
           them
           .
        
         
           Indeed
           before
           the
           supream
           Authority
           was
           Christian
           ,
           the
           Clergy
           had
           a
           Right
           to
           convene
           themselves
           ,
           to
           make
           what
           Orders
           might
           seem
           requisite
           for
           the
           Good
           of
           the
           Church
           .
           
           In
           this
           Case
           ,
           the
           Church
           has
           a
           Right
           like
           that
           of
           the
           State
           :
           In
           the
           Vacancy
           of
           the
           Government
           ,
           the
           Members
           of
           each
           may
           assemble
           ,
           consult
           ,
           and
           make
           Orders
           ,
           as
           the
           Exigencies
           of
           the
           Church
           or
           State
           may
           require
           .
        
         
           Some
           ,
           I
           know
           ,
           have
           insisted
           upon
           this
           as
           an
           Argument
           ,
           to
           prove
           an
           independent
           Authority
           in
           the
           Church
           from
           that
           of
           the
           State
           ;
           and
           they
           are
           of
           Opinion
           ,
           That
           the
           same
           Liberty
           which
           the
           Clergy
           then
           exercised
           ,
           in
           meeting
           upon
           Affairs
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           is
           still
           their
           Right
           in
           Equity
           ,
           tho'
           the
           State
           be
           Christian.
           For
           the
           Church
           ought
           not
           to
           lose
           any
           of
           these
           Rights
           and
           Privileges
           by
           the
           Conversion
           of
           Princes
           ,
           which
           it
           enjoyed
           before
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           Case
           is
           widely
           different
           ,
           and
           therefore
           the
           Reason
           cannot
           be
           the
           same
           .
           The
           Church
           and
           the
           Common-wealth
           were
           then
           two
           different
           Societies
           ,
           very
           opposite
           to
           each
           other
           .
           But
           where
           they
           profess
           the
           same
           Religion
           ,
           are
           incorporated
           into
           the
           same
           Society
           ,
           and
           are
           under
           one
           common
           Governour
           ,
           they
           are
           both
           subordinate
           to
           that
           Power
           ,
           and
           no
           Laws
           can
           be
           made
           to
           bind
           either
           ,
           but
           what
           shall
           be
           approved
           of
           by
           him
           :
           As
           for
           the
           Right
           which
           the
           Clergy
           had
           ,
           before
           the
           State
           was
           converted
           ,
           it
           was
           only
           prudential
           ,
           and
           was
           theirs
           no
           longer
           ,
           than
           whilst
           the
           supream
           Power
           was
           Heathen
           .
           When
           the
           chief
           Authority
           had
           no
           Relation
           to
           the
           Church
           ,
           it
           could
           not
           be
           under
           its
           Government
           ,
           but
           the
           Care
           of
           it
           must
           belong
           to
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           who
           were
           then
           most
           immediately
           to
           be
           concerned
           for
           it
           .
           But
           this
           Power
           was
           to
           cease
           ,
           when
           the
           chief
           Governor
           became
           Christian
           ,
           who
           upon
           that
           Account
           ,
           engaged
           to
           defend
           and
           protect
           the
           Church
           ;
           and
           the
           Reason
           of
           the
           things
           ,
           and
           the
           Nature
           of
           Government
           ,
           do
           both
           require
           that
           it
           should
           be
           lodged
           there
           .
        
         
         
           It
           was
           the
           Misfortune
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           the
           Necessity
           of
           the
           Clergy's
           taking
           care
           of
           it
           in
           a
           State
           of
           Persecution
           ,
           that
           made
           them
           do
           it
           :
           It
           was
           no
           Privilege
           belonging
           to
           their
           Function
           ;
           and
           therefore
           ,
           a
           Christian
           Ruler
           coming
           ,
           the
           Power
           was
           to
           return
           to
           the
           right
           Channel
           ,
           and
           the
           Clergy
           lost
           not
           a
           Privilege
           ,
           but
           were
           freed
           from
           the
           Burden
           and
           Care
           they
           had
           before
           .
        
         
           For
           in
           those
           things
           ,
           where
           there
           is
           no
           Prohibition
           or
           Caution
           in
           the
           Divine
           Law
           ,
           the
           Church
           is
           to
           be
           subject
           to
           human
           Government
           .
           
           What
           is
           commanded
           by
           God
           ,
           must
           not
           be
           omitted
           by
           the
           Church
           ;
           but
           in
           Matters
           which
           are
           left
           purely
           to
           human
           Prudence
           ,
           the
           supream
           Governour
           is
           to
           be
           obeyed
           ,
           and
           there
           is
           a
           Law
           of
           God
           for
           it
           .
        
         
           Now
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           the
           Mistake
           about
           the
           
             Divine
             Right
             of
             Convocations
          
           is
           grounded
           upon
           this
           ,
           That
           Christ
           having
           constituted
           spiritual
           Governors
           in
           his
           Church
           ,
           they
           consequently
           must
           have
           the
           supream
           Right
           over
           it
           ,
           in
           all
           things
           that
           concern
           Religion
           ,
           either
           for
           making
           any
           new
           Orders
           or
           Offices
           ,
           that
           may
           tend
           to
           the
           Advantage
           of
           the
           Church
           ;
           and
           that
           no
           humane
           Authority
           ,
           can
           of
           Right
           interfere
           with
           ,
           or
           hinder
           it
           .
        
         
           It
           can't
           indeed
           be
           denied
           ,
           but
           that
           Christ
           has
           instituted
           and
           ordained
           a
           Succession
           of
           Pastors
           of
           his
           Flock
           ,
           and
           committed
           certain
           proper
           Functions
           to
           them
           ,
           such
           as
           the
           preaching
           the
           Word
           ,
           the
           Administration
           of
           the
           Sacraments
           ,
           the
           Power
           of
           the
           Keys
           ,
           and
           the
           like
           ;
           and
           that
           there
           shall
           be
           such
           ,
           no
           Power
           on
           Earth
           has
           a
           Right
           to
           forbid
           ,
           so
           far
           there
           is
           a
           Divine
           Institution
           .
           But
           that
           the
           supream
           Governor
           ,
           to
           whom
           these
           Pastors
           are
           subject
           ,
           has
           not
           a
           Power
           over
           them
           in
           all
           those
           things
           ,
           which
           the
           Scripture
           mentions
           nothing
           of
           ,
           and
           which
           are
           not
           any
           part
           of
           the
           Ministerial
           Office
           or
           Function
           ;
           this
           we
           absolutely
           deny
           .
        
         
           All
           human
           Institutions
           must
           be
           subject
           to
           human
           Laws
           ,
           and
           since
           Convocations
           are
           such
           ,
           because
           not
           appointed
           by
           any
           Divine
           Law
           ,
           all
           the
           Power
           they
           have
           ,
           must
           be
           deriv'd
           from
           that
           Authority
           to
           which
           they
           are
           subject
           .
        
         
           If
           it
           be
           said
           ,
           That
           if
           the
           Prince
           has
           this
           Power
           ,
           he
           may
           make
           a
           wrong
           use
           of
           it
           ;
           yet
           this
           does
           not
           prove
           against
           his
           Right
           .
           Our
           Abuse
           of
           any
           thing
           ,
           is
           not
           an
           Argument
           that
           we
           have
           no
           Rightor
           Title
           to
           it
           .
        
         
         
           If
           indeed
           the
           Prince
           should
           happen
           to
           be
           of
           a
           different
           Religion
           ,
           and
           disclaim
           all
           Right
           to
           his
           Supremacy
           over
           the
           Church
           ,
           or
           abuse
           it
           to
           the
           Destruction
           of
           it
           ;
           I
           see
           no
           Reason
           ,
           
           but
           if
           the
           Necessities
           of
           the
           Church
           should
           require
           it
           ,
           the
           Clergy
           now
           may
           have
           the
           same
           Privilege
           ,
           as
           the
           Primitive
           Christians
           ,
           and
           may
           assemble
           of
           their
           own
           accord
           ,
           as
           they
           might
           have
           done
           ,
           when
           their
           Emperors
           were
           Heathen
           .
        
         
           Common
           Prudence
           will
           direct
           what
           is
           proper
           in
           such
           Cases
           .
           As
           Right
           Reason
           ,
           and
           the
           Laws
           of
           Equity
           would
           advise
           ,
           That
           the
           chief
           Power
           over
           Ecclesiastical
           Affairs
           ,
           should
           be
           committed
           to
           the
           Sovereign
           Authority
           ,
           when
           Christian
           ;
           which
           is
           supposed
           ,
           upon
           that
           Account
           ,
           to
           be
           as
           much
           concerned
           for
           the
           Good
           of
           the
           Church
           as
           of
           the
           State.
           
        
         
           And
           indeed
           ,
           
           where
           nothing
           is
           determined
           on
           either
           side
           ,
           this
           must
           necessarily
           be
           fixt
           there
           .
           Because
           there
           is
           no
           other
           that
           can
           either
           by
           Divine
           or
           human
           Right
           ,
           lay
           claim
           to
           the
           like
           Authority
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           no
           other
           possible
           way
           of
           determining
           the
           Bounds
           of
           the
           supream
           Power
           ,
           
           but
           by
           the
           Law
           of
           God
           or
           Nature
           ;
           It
           s
           Right
           extends
           over
           all
           things
           ,
           but
           what
           are
           either
           commanded
           or
           forbidden
           by
           them
           .
        
         
           
             Now
             then
             allowing
             Mr.
             
             Hooker's
             Opinion
             ,
             That
             as
             for
             supream
             Power
             in
             Ecclesiastical
             Affairs
             ,
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             doth
             no-where
             appoint
             ,
             
             that
             all
             Kings
             shall
             have
             it
             ,
             neither
             that
             any
             should
             not
             have
             it
             ;
             yet
             for
             this
             very
             Cause
             it
             seemeth
             to
             stand
             altogether
             by
             human
             Right
             ,
             that
             unto
             Christian
             Kings
             there
             is
             such
             Dominion
             given
             .
          
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           Law
           of
           Nature
           ,
           I
           think
           it
           must
           be
           granted
           ,
           to
           be
           no
           way
           concerned
           in
           the
           present
           Controversie
           .
           Grotius
           does
           indeed
           allow
           ,
           
           That
           the
           Original
           of
           Synods
           ,
           is
           derived
           from
           the
           Law
           of
           Nature
           :
           For
           Man
           being
           a
           sociable
           Creature
           ,
           does
           naturally
           associate
           himself
           with
           those
           ,
           who
           pursue
           the
           same
           Methods
           and
           Manner
           of
           Life
           .
           So
           Merchants
           for
           the
           Improvement
           of
           Traffick
           ,
           so
           Physicians
           and
           Lawyers
           meet
           and
           consult
           together
           ,
           for
           the
           examining
           the
           Mysteries
           of
           their
           Art
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           advancing
           their
           Profession
           .
           But
           then
           to
           prevent
           Mistake
           ,
           he
           distinguishes
           between
           an
           absolute
           Law
           of
           Nature
           ,
           which
           cannot
           be
           changed
           ,
           as
           to
           worship
           God
           ,
           honour
           our
           Parents
           ,
           and
           to
           do
           no
           Injury
           to
           the
           Innocent
           ;
           and
           that
           which
           is
           natural
           ,
           after
           a
           sort
           ,
           as
           being
           
           most
           reasonable
           ,
           and
           allowed
           of
           by
           Nature
           ,
           till
           human
           Laws
           interpose
           :
           Thus
           every
           thing
           by
           Nature
           is
           common
           ,
           all
           Men
           are
           free
           ,
           the
           nearest
           Relation
           is
           Heir
           ;
           till
           by
           human
           Appointment
           and
           Consent
           ,
           Propriety
           ,
           and
           Subjection
           were
           introduced
           ,
           and
           the
           Inheritance
           disposed
           of
           by
           Will.
           In
           this
           latter
           Sense
           ,
           he
           allows
           it
           to
           be
           natural
           to
           hold
           Synods
           ;
           but
           he
           denies
           it
           to
           be
           so
           in
           the
           other
           ,
           because
           then
           ,
           no
           Bishops
           would
           ever
           have
           petitioned
           the
           Emperors
           for
           leave
           to
           meet
           ;
           and
           St.
           
           Hierom's
           Argument
           to
           prove
           a
           Synod
           unlawful
           ,
           would
           be
           invalid
           ;
           
             Shew
             me
          
           ,
           saith
           he
           ,
           
             what
             Emperor
             commanded
             the
             meeting
             of
             that
             Council
             .
          
           Synods
           therefore
           are
           to
           be
           accounted
           in
           the
           number
           of
           those
           things
           ,
           which
           being
           allowed
           of
           by
           the
           Law
           of
           Nature
           ,
           are
           yet
           subject
           to
           human
           Constitutions
           ;
           and
           may
           be
           assembled
           ,
           or
           prohibited
           by
           them
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           in
           the
           Reigns
           ,
           even
           of
           the
           
             Pagan
             Emperors
          
           ,
           any
           Laws
           or
           Imperial
           Edicts
           had
           been
           published
           against
           holding
           Synods
           ,
           and
           the
           Necessities
           of
           the
           Church
           not
           evidently
           required
           their
           meeting
           ;
           but
           especially
           ,
           had
           those
           heathen
           Powers
           allowed
           them
           all
           the
           Liberty
           of
           meeting
           for
           Prayers
           ,
           and
           performing
           other
           Duties
           which
           Christ
           had
           appointed
           ,
           and
           were
           necessary
           to
           be
           done
           by
           them
           ,
           in
           Obedience
           to
           his
           Commands
           ;
           I
           know
           no
           Right
           the
           Clergy
           could
           have
           pretended
           for
           their
           assembling
           .
           It
           is
           certain
           ,
           That
           the
           Church
           might
           subsist
           ,
           and
           be
           preserved
           without
           them
           .
           And
           thereupon
           ,
           the
           Bishops
           were
           very
           careful
           not
           to
           offend
           or
           provoke
           their
           Governors
           ,
           by
           their
           Synodical
           meeting
           ,
           whatever
           Occasions
           there
           might
           be
           for
           them
           .
           St.
           Cyprian
           ,
           as
           Grotius
           observes
           ,
           has
           shewn
           in
           several
           Places
           ,
           That
           when
           in
           times
           of
           Persecution
           ,
           there
           arose
           a
           hot
           Contest
           ,
           
             about
             receiving
             the
             lapsed
             into
             Communion
             ,
          
           and
           for
           the
           putting
           an
           end
           to
           it
           ,
           nothing
           seemed
           more
           necessary
           ,
           than
           for
           the
           Clergy
           to
           meet
           and
           consult
           together
           in
           common
           ;
           yet
           the
           Bishops
           deferred
           the
           meeting
           ,
           till
           the
           Storm
           was
           blown
           over
           ;
           which
           certainly
           they
           ought
           not
           to
           have
           done
           ,
           if
           Synods
           had
           been
           enjoin'd
           by
           a
           positive
           Law
           ,
           either
           
             Divine
             or
             Natural
          
           ;
           and
           could
           have
           been
           no
           more
           dispensed
           with
           ,
           than
           the
           Duties
           of
           worshipping
           God
           ,
           and
           honouring
           our
           Parents
           .
        
         
           Since
           then
           there
           appears
           no
           Authority
           from
           Scripture
           ,
           or
           from
           the
           Practice
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           after
           the
           State
           was
           Christian
           ;
           or
           from
           the
           Law
           of
           Nature
           ,
           to
           found
           this
           Pretence
           
           upon
           ,
           of
           the
           Clergy's
           having
           a
           distinct
           Right
           from
           the
           State
           of
           assembling
           themselves
           in
           Convocation
           ;
           it
           is
           evident
           ,
           That
           the
           Laws
           of
           the
           Land
           ,
           and
           the
           Suffrage
           of
           the
           Convocation
           in
           
             Henry
             the
             8th's
             Reign
          
           ,
           and
           of
           all
           the
           Convocations
           that
           have
           been
           held
           since
           ;
           which
           by
           common
           Consent
           ,
           have
           invested
           the
           King
           with
           this
           Power
           ,
           and
           have
           submitted
           to
           it
           ,
           were
           not
           so
           rash
           and
           irreligious
           ,
           as
           some
           Men
           would
           insinuate
           .
           Even
           the
           Convocations
           in
           Queen
           
           Mary's
           Reign
           ,
           when
           that
           Law
           was
           abrogated
           ,
           yet
           met
           and
           acted
           by
           her
           Authority
           .
        
         
           But
           it
           is
           to
           be
           observed
           ,
           
           That
           the
           Arguments
           which
           are
           now
           produced
           to
           prove
           the
           Church
           Independent
           on
           the
           State
           by
           a
           
             Divine
             Right
          
           ,
           are
           the
           same
           which
           Mr.
           Hooker
           taxed
           as
           the
           Errors
           of
           some
           in
           his
           time
           ,
           who
           asserted
           the
           Unlawfulness
           of
           the
           Prince's
           exercising
           any
           Authority
           in
           the
           Affairs
           of
           the
           Church
           .
        
         
           
             The
             Causes
             of
             common
             received
             Errors
             ,
             in
             this
             point
             ,
             seem
             to
             be
             especially
             two
             :
             One
             ,
             That
             they
             who
             embrace
             true
             Religion
             ,
             living
             in
             such
             Common-wealths
             as
             are
             opposite
             thereunto
             ,
             
             in
             other
             publick
             Affairs
             ,
             retain
             civil
             Communion
             with
             them
             .
             This
             was
             the
             State
             of
             the
             Jewish
             Church
             ,
             both
             in
             Egypt
             and
             Babylon
             ,
             the
             State
             of
             Christian
             Churches
             a
             long
             time
             after
             Christ.
             And
             in
             this
             Case
             ,
             because
             the
             proper
             Affairs
             and
             Actions
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             as
             it
             is
             the
             Church
             ,
             hath
             no
             Dependence
             on
             the
             Laws
             ,
             or
             upon
             the
             Government
             of
             the
             civil
             State
             ,
             an
             Opinion
             hath
             thereby
             grown
             ,
             That
             even
             so
             it
             should
             be
             always
             .
             This
             was
             it
             which
             deceived
             Allen
             ,
             in
             the
             writing
             his
             Apology
             ;
             
               The
               Apostles
            
             (
             saith
             he
             )
             
               did
               govern
               the
               Church
               in
            
             Rome
             ,
             when
             Nero
             
               bare
               Rule
               ,
               even
               as
               at
               this
               Day
               ,
               in
               all
               the
               Churches
               Dominions
               ,
               the
               Church
               hath
               a
               spiritual
               Regiment
               without
               Dependence
               ,
               and
               so
               ought
               she
               to
               have
               amongst
               Heathens
               or
               with
               Christians
               .
            
             Another
             Occasion
             of
             which
             Mis-conceit
             ,
             is
             ,
             That
             things
             appertaining
             to
             Religion
             ,
             are
             both
             distinguished
             from
             other
             Affairs
             ,
             and
             have
             always
             had
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             spiritual
             Persons
             chosen
             to
             be
             exercised
             about
             them
             .
             By
             which
             Distinction
             of
             spiritual
             Affairs
             ,
             and
             Persons
             therein
             employed
             from
             temporal
             ,
             the
             Error
             of
             personal
             Separation
             always
             necessary
             between
             the
             Church
             and
             Common-wealth
             ,
             hath
             strengthned
             it self
             .
          
        
         
         
           These
           Notions
           have
           been
           often
           made
           use
           of
           by
           the
           Papists
           ,
           in
           their
           Disputes
           against
           the
           
             King's
             Supremacy
          
           ;
           and
           't
           is
           strange
           they
           should
           be
           now
           revived
           ,
           when
           they
           have
           been
           so
           learnedly
           considered
           and
           refuted
           by
           Mr.
           Hooker
           ,
           
           Dean
           Nowel
           ,
           Bishop
           Iewell
           ,
           and
           other
           great
           Men
           of
           our
           Church
           .
           And
           I
           may
           add
           ,
           That
           some
           of
           our
           present
           Adversaries
           Opinions
           are
           much
           the
           same
           ,
           with
           those
           of
           the
           Scotch
           Disciplinarians
           refuted
           by
           Bishop
           Bramhal
           .
        
         
           The
           Author
           of
           the
           
             Defence
             of
             the
             Vindication
             of
             the
             deprived
             Bishops
             ,
          
           
           hath
           told
           us
           ,
           That
           Mr.
           Hooker
           (
           for
           whom
           he
           pretends
           a
           very
           great
           Respect
           ,
           tho'
           for
           what
           Reasons
           I
           know
           not
           ,
           since
           they
           differ
           in
           every
           thing
           )
           
             is
             against
             him
             ,
             in
             making
             the
             Church
             one
             Body
             with
             the
             believing
             State.
          
           And
           therefore
           ,
           I
           suppose
           ,
           he
           would
           have
           it
           taken
           for
           granted
           ,
           That
           his
           Reasons
           are
           more
           conclusive
           in
           making
           them
           distinct
           .
        
         
           Indeed
           it
           was
           necessary
           for
           this
           Author's
           Purpose
           ,
           That
           the
           Church
           and
           State
           should
           be
           separate
           Societies
           ;
           for
           all
           the
           Weight
           of
           his
           Arguments
           ,
           depends
           upon
           it
           ;
           and
           if
           this
           should
           fail
           ,
           his
           whole
           Fabrick
           must
           sink
           of
           Course
           .
           It
           was
           certainly
           time
           for
           him
           to
           call
           a
           new
           Cause
           ;
           and
           ,
           since
           the
           Practice
           of
           the
           whole
           Church
           is
           against
           him
           ,
           to
           omit
           Authorities
           ,
           and
           the
           Sense
           of
           Antiquity
           ,
           and
           to
           retire
           to
           downright
           Reason
           .
           But
           he
           would
           have
           done
           well
           ,
           to
           have
           considered
           and
           answered
           Mr.
           
           Hooker's
           Arguments
           ,
           before
           he
           had
           produced
           any
           others
           on
           the
           contrary
           side
           .
        
         
           For
           certainly
           ,
           
           
             if
             the
             Common-wealth
             be
             Christian
             ,
             if
             the
             People
             which
             are
             of
             it
             do
             publickly
             embrace
             the
             true
             Religion
             ,
             this
             very
             thing
             doth
             make
             it
             the
             Church
             .
          
           And
           to
           make
           it
           a
           separate
           and
           independent
           Society
           from
           the
           State
           ,
           where
           all
           Mens
           Principles
           are
           the
           same
           ,
           is
           a
           Notion
           neither
           agreeable
           to
           Scripture
           or
           Reason
           .
           
           But
           I
           shall
           not
           pursue
           an
           Argument
           ,
           which
           has
           been
           already
           so
           fully
           and
           learnedly
           managed
           by
           Mr.
           Hooker
           ,
           to
           whom
           I
           shall
           refer
           the
           Reader
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           think
           my self
           obliged
           to
           do
           Mr.
           Hooker
           Justice
           in
           a
           Passage
           cited
           from
           him
           by
           this
           Author
           ,
           
           as
           though
           it
           made
           for
           him
           ;
           and
           which
           appears
           to
           me
           ,
           to
           be
           designed
           to
           prove
           directly
           contrary
           .
           This
           Author
           ,
           it
           seems
           ,
           would
           perswade
           us
           ,
           that
           Mr.
           Hooker
           is
           of
           his
           Opinion
           ,
           That
           the
           
             Deprivation
             of
             spiritual
             Persons
             ,
             by
             the
             Civil
             Power
             ,
             is
             not
             justifiable
             by
             even
             our
             present
             secular
             Laws
             .
          
           And
           to
           this
           end
           ,
           he
           cites
           these
           
           Words
           ;
           
           
             all
             Men
             are
             not
             for
             all
             things
             sufficient
             ,
             and
             therefore
             publick
             Affairs
             being
             divided
             ,
             such
             Persons
             must
             be
             authorized
             Iudges
             in
             each
             kind
             ,
             as
             common
             Reason
             may
             presume
             to
             be
             most
             fit
             .
             Which
             cannot
             of
          
           Kings
           and
           Princes
           ,
           
             ordinarily
             be
             presumed
             in
             Causes
             meerly
             Ecclesiastical
             ;
             so
             that
             even
             common
             Sense
             doth
             rather
             adjudge
             this
             Burthen
             to
             other
             Men.
          
           This
           ,
           indeed
           ,
           looks
           plausibly
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           here
           set
           down
           ,
           without
           its
           Connexion
           with
           what
           goes
           before
           and
           follows
           it
           .
           But
           however
           ,
           all
           that
           it
           can
           prove
           by
           its
           self
           ,
           is
           only
           ,
           That
           it
           may
           be
           more
           proper
           for
           spiritual
           Persons
           to
           judge
           in
           Causes
           meerly
           Ecclesiastical
           .
           But
           then
           it
           denies
           not
           ,
           That
           if
           Princes
           are
           so
           pleased
           ,
           they
           may
           judge
           themselves
           ;
           this
           takes
           not
           away
           their
           Right
           ,
           though
           it
           may
           be
           Prudence
           in
           them
           to
           appoint
           others
           to
           sit
           in
           their
           stead
           .
        
         
           
             But
             let
             us
             see
             the
             full
             Scope
             and
             Extent
             of
             Mr.
          
           Hooker
           '
           
             s
             Words
          
           .
           As
           ,
           
             says
             he
          
           ,
           the
           Person
           of
           the
           King
           may
           ,
           for
           just
           Considerations
           ,
           even
           where
           the
           Cause
           is
           civil
           ,
           be
           notwithstanding
           withdrawn
           from
           occupying
           the
           Seat
           of
           Iudgment
           ,
           and
           others
           under
           his
           Authority
           be
           fit
           ,
           he
           unfit
           himself
           to
           judge
           ;
           so
           the
           Considerations
           for
           which
           it
           were
           haply
           not
           convenient
           for
           Kings
           to
           sit
           and
           give
           Iudgment
           in
           spiritual
           Courts
           ,
           where
           Causes
           Ecclesiastical
           are
           usually
           debated
           ,
           can
           be
           no
           bar
           to
           that
           Force
           and
           Efficacy
           ,
           which
           their
           Sovereign
           Power
           hath
           over
           those
           very
           Consistories
           :
           And
           for
           which
           we
           hold
           ,
           without
           any
           Exception
           ,
           That
           all
           Courts
           are
           the
           King
           's
           .
           
             And
             then
             follows
          
           ;
           All
           Men
           are
           not
           for
           all
           things
           sufficient
           ,
           
             &c.
             
             And
             after
             that
             he
             goes
             on
             ,
          
           We
           see
           it
           hereby
           a
           thing
           necessary
           ,
           to
           put
           a
           difference
           as
           well
           between
           that
           ordinary
           Iurisdiction
           which
           belongs
           unto
           the
           Clergy
           alone
           ;
           and
           that
           Commissionary
           wherein
           others
           are
           for
           just
           Considerations
           appointed
           to
           join
           with
           them
           ,
           as
           also
           between
           both
           these
           Iurisdictions
           ,
           and
           a
           third
           ,
           whereby
           the
           King
           hath
           transcendent
           Authority
           over
           both
           :
           Why
           this
           may
           not
           lawfully
           be
           granted
           unto
           him
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           Reason
           .
        
         
           Now
           take
           the
           whole
           together
           ,
           and
           the
           Argument
           turns
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ;
           and
           proves
           ,
           That
           the
           Judgment
           of
           the
           supream
           Power
           is
           in
           all
           manner
           of
           Causes
           to
           be
           the
           highest
           .
        
         
           But
           hower
           ,
           
           were
           Ecclesiastical
           Courts
           alone
           to
           judge
           of
           spiritual
           Matters
           ,
           and
           there
           could
           be
           no
           Appeals
           from
           their
           Decisions
           ,
           (
           which
           yet
           the
           supream
           Power
           has
           a
           Right
           to
           receive
           )
           yet
           these
           Courts
           do
           not
           exercise
           any
           Power
           that
           is
           not
           derived
           from
           the
           Supremacy
           ,
           either
           mediately
           or
           immediately
           .
           
           The
           Laws
           by
           which
           they
           act
           ,
           and
           exercise
           their
           Jurisdiction
           ,
           proceed
           from
           thence
           ,
           and
           the
           Courts
           are
           constituted
           by
           its
           Authority
           .
           So
           that
           all
           that
           is
           done
           there
           ,
           is
           by
           Virtue
           of
           the
           King's
           Commission
           .
        
         
           But
           besides
           ,
           if
           the
           King
           had
           no
           Power
           at
           all
           in
           spiritual
           Cases
           ,
           yet
           it
           does
           not
           appear
           ,
           That
           the
           Cause
           of
           the
           deprived
           Bishops
           is
           purely
           spiritual
           ;
           they
           are
           as
           much
           Ecclesiastical
           Persons
           now
           ,
           as
           they
           were
           before
           their
           Deprivation
           .
           And
           though
           they
           may
           not
           exercise
           any
           part
           of
           Episcopal
           Power
           in
           the
           King's
           Dominions
           ,
           yet
           they
           still
           retain
           their
           Office
           ,
           and
           have
           a
           Right
           to
           perform
           all
           the
           Duties
           of
           it
           ,
           where
           and
           whensoever
           the
           Sovereign
           Power
           will
           authorise
           them
           to
           it
           .
        
         
           It
           was
           the
           Opinion
           of
           Archbishop
           Laud
           ,
           
           That
           the
           Use
           and
           Exercise
           of
           his
           Jurisdiction
           ,
           
             in
             Foro
             Conscientiae
          
           ,
           might
           not
           be
           but
           by
           the
           Leave
           and
           Power
           of
           the
           King
           ,
           within
           his
           Dominions
           .
        
         
           If
           his
           Majesty
           should
           forbid
           a
           Physician
           to
           practise
           within
           his
           Dominions
           ,
           for
           some
           Crime
           committed
           by
           him
           ;
           't
           is
           plain
           ,
           That
           by
           this
           means
           ,
           he
           is
           not
           degraded
           from
           his
           Profession
           ;
           nor
           will
           it
           follow
           ,
           That
           his
           Majesty
           ought
           to
           be
           acquainted
           with
           that
           Art
           ,
           before
           he
           pronounces
           Sentence
           against
           him
           .
           If
           his
           Offence
           had
           been
           against
           some
           of
           the
           Rules
           of
           his
           own
           Profession
           ,
           't
           would
           be
           more
           proper
           for
           the
           College
           of
           Physicians
           to
           judge
           of
           the
           Nature
           and
           Manner
           of
           it
           :
           But
           where
           the
           Crime
           has
           no
           Relation
           to
           the
           Profession
           ,
           there
           is
           required
           no
           Skill
           in
           Physick
           to
           judge
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           If
           a
           Person
           be
           convicted
           of
           Heresie
           ,
           't
           is
           just
           he
           should
           be
           tried
           by
           the
           spiritual
           Power
           ,
           and
           according
           to
           what
           has
           been
           judged
           by
           them
           so
           to
           be
           .
           But
           if
           his
           Offence
           be
           against
           the
           King
           or
           the
           Publick
           ,
           if
           he
           refuse
           Allegiance
           to
           his
           Majesty
           ,
           or
           Obedience
           to
           his
           Laws
           ,
           be
           he
           a
           spiritual
           Person
           or
           not
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           doubt
           ,
           but
           his
           Majesty
           has
           a
           Right
           to
           forbid
           him
           the
           Exercise
           of
           any
           Office
           or
           Function
           within
           his
           Territories
           .
           The
           King
           does
           not
           judge
           herein
           of
           his
           Qualifications
           as
           a
           Divine
           ,
           but
           of
           his
           Duty
           as
           a
           Subject
           .
           And
           as
           such
           has
           a
           Right
           to
           command
           his
           Obedience
           ,
           and
           to
           punish
           him
           as
           he
           thinks
           fit
           for
           his
           Disloyalty
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           what
           the
           Author
           of
           the
           
             Defence
             of
             the
             Vindication
             of
             the
             deprived
             Bishops
             ,
          
           urges
           ,
           is
           of
           any
           Force
           ;
           as
           ,
           
             That
             the
             Church
             and
             State
             ,
             tho'
             Christian
             ,
             are
             two
             distinct
             Societies
          
           ;
           
           and
           that
           
             spiritual
             Persons
          
           ,
           tho'
           defended
           and
           preserved
           by
           the
           Sovereign
           Power
           ,
           
             have
             yet
             as
             such
             ,
             no
             Dependence
             upon
             it
             ,
             and
             are
             not
             subject
             to
             its
             Authority
             .
          
           How
           advantageous
           soever
           this
           may
           prove
           to
           the
           Church
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           very
           inconvenient
           and
           dangerous
           to
           the
           State.
           
        
         
           For
           if
           the
           Prince
           has
           no
           just
           Power
           over
           
             spiritual
             Persons
          
           as
           such
           ,
           it
           must
           follow
           ,
           That
           in
           several
           Cases
           ,
           he
           can
           have
           no
           Authority
           over
           them
           as
           temporal
           .
           As
           suppose
           any
           of
           that
           Body
           should
           be
           guilty
           of
           a
           Crime
           ,
           which
           requires
           such
           a
           Punishment
           ,
           as
           can't
           be
           inflicted
           without
           depriving
           him
           of
           his
           Ecclesiastical
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           his
           Civil
           Rights
           ;
           't
           is
           plain
           ,
           according
           to
           that
           Author's
           way
           of
           arguing
           ,
           That
           in
           such
           a
           Case
           ,
           the
           State
           can
           have
           no
           Authority
           to
           punish
           .
           And
           if
           the
           Clergy
           will
           not
           pass
           Sentence
           against
           him
           ,
           he
           must
           go
           unpunished
           :
           For
           how
           guilty
           soever
           he
           may
           be
           ,
           the
           King
           can
           pretend
           no
           Authority
           ,
           either
           to
           imprison
           or
           banish
           him
           .
           Because
           ,
           according
           to
           this
           Author
           ,
           the
           
             supream
             Power
          
           has
           no
           Right
           upon
           any
           Account
           whatsoever
           ,
           to
           prohibit
           him
           the
           Exercise
           of
           his
           Ecclesiastical
           Function
           ;
           which
           he
           must
           do
           ,
           if
           he
           punishes
           him
           either
           of
           the
           fore-mentioned
           ways
           .
           The
           same
           Reasons
           will
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           also
           forbid
           the
           Civil
           Authority
           ,
           from
           having
           any
           Right
           of
           sentencing
           an
           Ecclesiastical
           Person
           to
           Death
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           to
           perpetual
           Imprisonment
           ,
           be
           his
           Offence
           of
           what
           Nature
           soever
           .
           The
           Consequences
           of
           such
           Notions
           ,
           are
           more
           than
           sufficient
           Confutations
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           The
           great
           Grotius
           ,
           
           who
           could
           have
           no
           Interest
           or
           Prejudice
           to
           mis-guide
           his
           Judgment
           ,
           in
           Relation
           to
           this
           Controversie
           ,
           is
           of
           Opinion
           ,
           That
           the
           Right
           of
           removing
           a
           Pastor
           from
           the
           Cure
           of
           any
           certain
           Place
           ,
           ought
           always
           to
           remain
           in
           the
           highest
           Power
           .
           So
           Solomon
           deposed
           Abiathar
           from
           being
           Priest.
           The
           
             Vindicator
             of
             the
             deprived
             Bishops
          
           has
           been
           at
           some
           pains
           ,
           to
           prove
           that
           Abiathar
           was
           not
           
             high
             Priest.
          
           Which
           whether
           true
           or
           no
           ,
           is
           little
           to
           his
           Purpose
           ;
           for
           if
           he
           was
           a
           Priest
           ,
           and
           deprived
           by
           a
           
             Lay
             Power
          
           ,
           it
           is
           sufficient
           .
           So
           the
           
             Bishops
             of
          
           Rome
           ,
           were
           more
           than
           once
           deposed
           ,
           by
           the
           Imperial
           Authority
           ,
           as
           is
           owned
           by
           Bellarmine
           himself
           .
           And
           to
           prove
           this
           ,
           says
           Grotius
           ,
           is
           not
           difficult
           :
           For
           if
           the
           supream
           Authority
           hath
           a
           Right
           to
           forbid
           any
           one
           
             the
             City
          
           or
           Province
           ,
           he
           must
           of
           Necessity
           have
           a
           Right
           ,
           to
           prohibit
           him
           the
           
             Ministry
             of
             that
             City
             or
             
             Province
             .
          
           For
           this
           is
           included
           in
           the
           other
           :
           
             For
             he
             who
             has
             a
             Power
             over
             the
             whole
             ,
             must
             have
             the
             same
             ,
             no
             doubt
             ,
             over
             the
             part
             .
          
           And
           he
           adds
           ,
           That
           if
           the
           Sovereign
           Power
           had
           not
           this
           Right
           ,
           the
           State
           could
           not
           be
           able
           to
           provide
           for
           its
           own
           Security
           .
        
         
           But
           what
           seems
           to
           me
           most
           absurd
           in
           the
           Management
           of
           this
           Controversie
           by
           the
           Vindicator
           of
           the
           depriv'd
           Bishops
           ,
           is
           this
           ,
           That
           he
           condemns
           all
           those
           of
           Schism
           ,
           who
           go
           upon
           different
           Principles
           ,
           or
           that
           conform
           with
           these
           who
           fill
           the
           Sees
           of
           the
           deprived
           Bishops
           .
           For
           by
           this
           means
           ,
           he
           not
           only
           involves
           the
           Christians
           of
           several
           Centuries
           in
           the
           same
           Guilt
           ,
           even
           from
           
           Constantine's
           time
           ,
           till
           Papal
           Usurpations
           were
           introduced
           ;
           who
           submitted
           to
           Bishops
           put
           into
           the
           Places
           of
           others
           deprived
           by
           the
           Emperors
           ,
           as
           has
           been
           learnedly
           shewn
           in
           a
           great
           many
           Instances
           ,
           
           beyond
           all
           Possibility
           of
           a
           Reply
           :
           But
           he
           also
           condemns
           and
           contradicts
           himself
           .
           For
           I
           believe
           his
           Practice
           has
           been
           contrary
           to
           his
           present
           Opinion
           .
           Since
           ,
           if
           I
           mistake
           not
           ,
           he
           held
           Communion
           with
           the
           
             Church
             of
          
           England
           ,
           till
           the
           late
           Revolution
           .
           And
           I
           believe
           this
           Doctrin
           of
           the
           Prince's
           Authority
           over
           spiritual
           Persons
           ,
           was
           the
           same
           then
           as
           now
           .
           If
           not
           ,
           what
           can
           those
           Words
           signifie
           ,
           That
           the
           King
           
             is
             over
             all
             Persons
             and
             in
             all
             Causes
             ,
             as
             well
             Ecclesiastical
             as
             Civil
             ,
             Supream
             ?
          
           Mr.
           Hooker
           tells
           us
           ,
           That
           the
           Prince
           has
           by
           this
           ,
           the
           same
           Power
           over
           Ecclesiastical
           Persons
           ,
           as
           the
           Pope
           had
           usurped
           before
           the
           Reformation
           .
           And
           indeed
           ,
           if
           these
           Words
           do
           not
           imply
           ,
           
           That
           Ecclesiastical
           Persons
           as
           such
           ,
           are
           subject
           to
           the
           King's
           Authority
           ,
           they
           signifie
           nothing
           .
           And
           if
           they
           carry
           such
           a
           Sense
           with
           them
           ,
           they
           must
           also
           denote
           the
           Sufficiency
           of
           the
           King's
           Authority
           ,
           for
           depriving
           Bishops
           of
           their
           Sees
           upon
           a
           just
           Cause
           .
           And
           tho'
           it
           be
           granted
           ,
           there
           were
           no
           Instances
           of
           this
           Nature
           in
           the
           
             late
             Reigns
          
           ;
           yet
           the
           Case
           is
           much
           the
           same
           ,
           if
           such
           a
           Doctrin
           was
           then
           held
           and
           maintained
           by
           the
           Church
           .
           And
           if
           't
           is
           a
           Sin
           to
           communicate
           with
           the
           Bishops
           ,
           who
           are
           put
           into
           the
           Sees
           of
           them
           ,
           who
           were
           deprived
           by
           the
           
             Supream
             Power
          
           ,
           't
           is
           a
           Sin
           also
           not
           to
           separate
           from
           that
           Church
           ,
           which
           requires
           all
           its
           Members
           to
           acknowledge
           and
           believe
           such
           a
           Right
           to
           belong
           to
           that
           Power
           .
           For
           the
           Nature
           of
           the
           Church
           is
           the
           same
           ,
           whether
           the
           King
           exercises
           that
           Authority
           
           or
           not
           ;
           if
           it
           be
           owned
           and
           allowed
           by
           the
           Church
           to
           belong
           to
           him
           .
        
         
           But
           this
           Author
           pretends
           that
           he
           has
           the
           Church
           and
           the
           Laws
           on
           his
           side
           ,
           
           since
           Queen
           Elizabeth's
           Time
           ;
           and
           that
           he
           will
           agree
           to
           the
           Supremacy
           as
           then
           stated
           
             by
             her
          
           ,
           and
           as
           it
           is
           expressed
           in
           the
           37th
           Article
           .
           If
           he
           will
           put
           the
           Cause
           upon
           this
           Issue
           ,
           we
           must
           also
           submit
           to
           be
           determined
           by
           it
           .
           For
           we
           cannot
           desire
           to
           carry
           the
           Supremacy
           farther
           than
           it
           was
           in
           that
           Queen's
           Time
           ,
           and
           as
           't
           is
           specified
           in
           that
           Article
           .
           But
           then
           we
           demand
           ,
           That
           the
           Words
           may
           be
           explained
           according
           to
           the
           most
           easie
           and
           natural
           Sense
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           not
           understood
           only
           as
           this
           Author
           would
           interpret
           them
           .
           
           The
           Queen
           lays
           claim
           to
           the
           same
           Authority
           over
           
             Ecclesiastical
             Affairs
             and
             Persons
          
           ,
           that
           was
           Exercised
           
             by
             all
             Godly
             Princes
             in
             Scripture
             ,
             and
             which
             at
             all
             times
             belonged
             to
             the
             Imperial
             Crown
             of
          
           England
           :
           And
           this
           must
           include
           the
           Power
           which
           was
           given
           to
           her
           Predecessors
           Henry
           the
           8th
           ,
           and
           Edward
           the
           6th
           .
           The
           37th
           Article
           allows
           the
           King
           all
           that
           Power
           which
           we
           contend
           for
           ,
           and
           asserts
           his
           
             Supremacy
             over
             all
             sorts
             of
             Persons
             as
             well
             Spiritual
             as
             Temporal
             in
             all
             Causes
             .
          
           
           And
           all
           the
           Limitations
           that
           either
           the
           Injunctions
           of
           
             Queen
             Elizabeth
          
           ,
           or
           that
           Article
           hath
           set
           to
           the
           
             Regal
             Power
          
           ,
           is
           ,
           That
           Kings
           have
           not
           ,
           or
           do
           not
           pretend
           to
           have
           ,
           
             any
             Authority
             to
             minister
             Divine
             Service
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
          
           which
           we
           are
           not
           Disputing
           for
           .
           But
           if
           this
           Author
           will
           be
           concluded
           by
           Queen
           Elizabeth's
           Notion
           of
           the
           Supremacy
           ,
           he
           must
           carry
           it
           I
           am
           afraid
           something
           farther
           than
           he
           is
           aware
           of
           .
           For
           she
           thought
           her
           Supremacy
           extended
           to
           the
           giving
           Commissions
           to
           Lay-Persons
           to
           proceed
           by
           
             Ecclesiastical
             Censures
          
           .
           
           And
           accordingly
           the
           
             Earls
             of
             Shrewsbury
             ,
             Derby
          
           ,
           and
           others
           ,
           were
           made
           
             Visitors
             of
             Ecclesiastical
             Matters
          
           ,
           and
           acted
           as
           such
           .
           This
           then
           we
           may
           be
           positive
           in
           asserting
           ,
           That
           the
           Supremacy
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           confirmed
           and
           settled
           in
           Queen
           Elizabeth's
           Reign
           ,
           is
           a
           sufficient
           Vindication
           of
           our
           Principles
           ,
           and
           directly
           opposite
           to
           his
           .
           Upon
           the
           whole
           ,
           that
           Author's
           Censures
           are
           either
           too
           far
           stretcht
           ,
           or
           too
           much
           confin'd
           .
        
         
           Every
           Man
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           ought
           to
           be
           very
           tender
           in
           fixing
           the
           Charge
           of
           Schism
           upon
           a
           whole
           Church
           ;
           especially
           where
           it
           has
           the
           practice
           of
           all
           Antiquity
           on
           its
           side
           .
           Charity
           
           certainly
           would
           rather
           oblige
           a
           Man
           to
           distrust
           the
           strength
           of
           his
           own
           Arguments
           ,
           where
           he
           has
           neither
           the
           Authority
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           the
           ancient
           Church
           to
           support
           them
           ,
           than
           pass
           so
           severe
           a
           Censure
           from
           the
           bare
           result
           of
           his
           own
           Thoughts
           and
           Opinions
           .
           If
           we
           are
           in
           the
           wrong
           ,
           we
           err
           with
           the
           whole
           Catholick
           Church
           for
           some
           Ages
           together
           ,
           and
           I
           believe
           I
           may
           add
           with
           the
           Scriptures
           themselves
           ,
           I
           am
           sure
           not
           against
           them
           ;
           and
           we
           have
           moreover
           our
           Canons
           and
           Articles
           for
           us
           ,
           the
           Judgment
           of
           some
           of
           the
           greatest
           Men
           of
           the
           last
           Age
           ,
           who
           could
           have
           no
           other
           Motives
           to
           mislead
           them
           ,
           but
           the
           impartial
           discovery
           of
           Truth
           ,
           who
           were
           of
           the
           same
           Opinion
           with
           us
           .
        
         
           Indeed
           ,
           I
           think
           we
           ought
           to
           pay
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           respect
           to
           Men
           that
           go
           upon
           sincere
           Principles
           of
           Conscience
           ;
           but
           then
           it
           were
           to
           be
           wished
           ,
           That
           they
           would
           not
           judge
           too
           rashly
           of
           other
           Men
           ;
           but
           consider
           ,
           that
           they
           who
           dissent
           from
           their
           Notions
           ,
           may
           not
           be
           less
           sincere
           and
           consciencious
           than
           themselves
           .
           It
           can't
           be
           supposed
           ,
           that
           Men
           ,
           who
           believe
           Religion
           ,
           should
           be
           so
           fond
           of
           the
           little
           interest
           of
           a
           short
           Life
           ,
           as
           to
           forfeit
           all
           pretences
           to
           a
           better
           ,
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           it
           .
           Surely
           ,
           Men
           that
           know
           the
           present
           value
           of
           things
           ,
           ought
           to
           think
           them
           very
           inconsiderate
           Motives
           for
           the
           byassing
           a
           Man's
           Conscience
           one
           way
           or
           other
           .
        
         
           There
           are
           a
           great
           many
           who
           can't
           comply
           with
           us
           ,
           whom
           we
           must
           ,
           and
           do
           entertain
           a
           very
           high
           Opinion
           of
           ,
           and
           who
           deserve
           and
           command
           our
           Esteem
           .
           The
           late
           Service
           which
           one
           of
           them
           has
           done
           the
           
             Church
             and
             Clergy
          
           ,
           by
           the
           vindicating
           them
           from
           the
           Contempt
           and
           Abuses
           of
           the
           Stage
           ,
           in
           his
           admirable
           and
           just
           Reflections
           upon
           the
           Immorality
           and
           Profaneness
           of
           that
           Place
           ,
           ought
           always
           to
           be
           acknowledged
           with
           the
           highest
           returns
           of
           Gratitude
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           return
           to
           our
           Convocations
           ;
           if
           we
           should
           grant
           that
           Revelation
           has
           not
           in
           express
           Terms
           determined
           this
           Matter
           ,
           yet
           we
           may
           venture
           to
           lay
           this
           down
           for
           a
           certain
           Principle
           ;
           That
           in
           a
           Christian
           Common-wealth
           ,
           that
           Order
           ought
           most
           to
           be
           observed
           ,
           which
           is
           most
           subservient
           to
           its
           Peace
           and
           Unity
           ;
           and
           that
           such
           a
           method
           of
           Government
           cannot
           be
           lawful
           ,
           which
           will
           necessarily
           confound
           and
           destroy
           it
           .
        
         
         
           Now
           ,
           if
           the
           Clergy
           should
           have
           the
           sole
           Power
           among
           themselves
           of
           meeting
           ,
           and
           Establishing
           what
           Laws
           they
           please
           ,
           for
           the
           Government
           of
           the
           whole
           Church
           ;
           and
           of
           subjecting
           all
           Christians
           to
           the
           observance
           of
           them
           ,
           whether
           they
           will
           consent
           to
           them
           or
           no
           ,
           it
           will
           probably
           occasion
           great
           confusion
           ,
           and
           raise
           perpetual
           Heats
           and
           Jealousies
           in
           the
           State.
           
        
         
           The
           State
           does
           not
           challenge
           such
           a
           superiority
           over
           the
           Clergy
           in
           Civil
           Affairs
           ;
           no
           Temporal
           Laws
           are
           made
           to
           bind
           them
           ,
           but
           such
           as
           themselves
           have
           assented
           to
           :
           The
           same
           Reasons
           will
           hold
           in
           Christian
           Discipline
           ;
           none
           ought
           to
           be
           bound
           to
           obey
           any
           Constitutions
           ,
           but
           such
           as
           are
           made
           by
           their
           own
           consent
           ;
           or
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           same
           thing
           ,
           by
           that
           of
           the
           Supream
           Authority
           ,
           which
           represents
           the
           whole
           State.
           
        
         
           Nor
           indeed
           ,
           
           can
           the
           Clergy
           plead
           such
           a
           Priviledge
           ;
           their
           Business
           being
           only
           to
           deliver
           their
           Opinions
           ,
           and
           to
           declare
           their
           own
           ,
           and
           the
           Sense
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           concerning
           any
           Point
           in
           Religion
           ,
           and
           no
           farther
           than
           this
           does
           their
           Authority
           extend
           .
        
         
           
             G.
             Vossius
          
           has
           proved
           this
           at
           large
           ,
           
           and
           tells
           us
           ,
           That
           the
           Clergy
           are
           forbid
           by
           the
           Scripture
           to
           Exercise
           Authority
           ;
           
           and
           Grotius
           tells
           us
           ,
           That
           they
           are
           called
           in
           Holy
           Writ
           by
           the
           Titles
           of
           
             Embassadors
             ,
             Messengers
          
           and
           Teachers
           ,
           to
           signifie
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           their
           Part
           ,
           to
           declare
           the
           Authority
           and
           Power
           of
           another
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           oblige
           Men
           by
           their
           own
           .
           The
           Government
           therefore
           which
           is
           committed
           to
           them
           ,
           when
           they
           are
           said
           to
           Guide
           ,
           to
           Rule
           ,
           to
           Feed
           ,
           to
           be
           
             set
             over
             the
             Church
          
           ,
           ought
           to
           be
           interpreted
           of
           the
           
             declarative
             kind
          
           ,
           or
           of
           that
           which
           consists
           only
           in
           persuasion
           :
           When
           the
           Apostles
           are
           any
           where
           said
           
             to
             have
             commanded
          
           ,
           it
           is
           to
           be
           understood
           in
           such
           a
           figurative
           Sense
           ,
           as
           they
           are
           said
           to
           remit
           and
           
             retain
             Sins
          
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           to
           declare
           them
           remitted
           or
           retained
           .
           He
           farther
           proves
           ,
           That
           the
           Church
           can
           have
           no
           commanding
           Power
           by
           
             Divine
             Right
          
           ,
           because
           the
           Sword
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           instrument
           of
           Power
           ,
           and
           denotes
           Authority
           ,
           is
           not
           committed
           to
           them
           .
        
         
           There
           can
           no
           Power
           naturally
           belong
           to
           the
           Pastors
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           because
           no
           such
           thing
           is
           included
           in
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           Function
           .
           Under
           the
           
             Mosaical
             Law
          
           ,
           when
           there
           was
           
           neither
           King
           nor
           Judge
           ,
           the
           Supream
           Power
           in
           Civil
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           Ecclesiastical
           Affairs
           ,
           devolved
           on
           the
           
             High
             Priest.
          
           But
           during
           the
           Regal
           Dignity
           ,
           
           the
           High
           Priests
           Jurisdiction
           was
           always
           under
           that
           of
           the
           King
           ;
           so
           Aaron
           was
           under
           that
           of
           Moses
           .
        
         
           The
           Trust
           that
           is
           committed
           to
           the
           Ministers
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           by
           the
           Law
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           and
           which
           comes
           nearest
           to
           Iurisdiction
           ,
           though
           it
           is
           distinct
           from
           it
           ,
           are
           those
           Actions
           which
           were
           either
           peculiar
           to
           the
           first
           Christians
           only
           ,
           or
           are
           still
           continued
           to
           the
           Pastors
           of
           the
           Church
           .
           Such
           was
           that
           Sharpness
           which
           the
           Apostle
           threatens
           the
           Corinthians
           with
           ,
           which
           denotes
           according
           to
           Grotius
           ,
           a
           certain
           miraculous
           Vertue
           of
           imposing
           Punishment
           .
           Thus
           Ananias
           and
           Sapphira
           fell
           down
           dead
           ;
           Elymas
           was
           smitten
           with
           blindness
           ,
           and
           others
           were
           
             delivered
             to
             Satan
          
           ,
           which
           was
           plainly
           an
           Act
           of
           miraculous
           Power
           exercised
           by
           God
           himself
           ;
           who
           ,
           at
           the
           Denunciation
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           commanded
           Men
           to
           be
           vexed
           and
           tormented
           with
           Diseases
           ,
           and
           seized
           on
           by
           
             Divels
             .
             Grotius
          
           ,
           upon
           this
           observes
           ,
           That
           before
           the
           Civil
           Powers
           exercised
           their
           Authority
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           God
           himself
           supplyed
           by
           Divine
           Assistance
           ,
           what
           was
           defective
           in
           Human
           Laws
           .
           But
           as
           Manna
           ceased
           ,
           after
           the
           Israelites
           were
           possessed
           of
           the
           Holy
           Land
           ;
           so
           ,
           after
           Emperors
           took
           upon
           them
           to
           protect
           the
           Church
           ,
           their
           Office
           being
           to
           punish
           all
           that
           any
           way
           disturbed
           its
           Peace
           ,
           these
           Divine
           Executions
           of
           Justice
           were
           dis-continued
           .
           But
           however
           ,
           all
           those
           Divine
           Punishments
           were
           the
           Acts
           of
           God
           ,
           not
           of
           Men
           ,
           and
           the
           whole
           Work
           was
           his
           ,
           not
           the
           Apostles
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           
             use
             of
             the
             Keys
          
           which
           is
           perpetually
           annext
           to
           the
           Pastoral
           Office
           ,
           that
           implies
           no
           Iurisdiction
           .
           The
           denouncing
           the
           Divine
           Threats
           and
           Punishments
           ,
           and
           the
           enjoyning
           restitution
           of
           Goods
           unjustly
           gotten
           ,
           are
           only
           so
           many
           declarations
           of
           the
           Divine
           Law
           :
           Excommunication
           is
           of
           the
           same
           kind
           .
           The
           denying
           the
           Sacraments
           to
           notorious
           Offenders
           ,
           is
           not
           Exercising
           any
           Dominion
           over
           them
           ,
           but
           is
           only
           a
           Suspension
           of
           the
           Pastors
           own
           Act
           ,
           and
           therefore
           is
           not
           any
           part
           of
           Jurisdiction
           .
        
         
           From
           the
           whole
           it
           appears
           ,
           That
           the
           Authority
           which
           was
           committed
           to
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           does
           not
           reach
           to
           the
           making
           of
           Laws
           ,
           or
           to
           oblige
           any
           Persons
           to
           be
           subject
           to
           their
           Injunctions
           
           by
           Vertue
           of
           their
           own
           Power
           .
           They
           may
           do
           both
           by
           the
           consent
           and
           permission
           of
           the
           Supream
           Authority
           ,
           but
           of
           themselves
           they
           can
           pretend
           no
           Right
           .
           They
           are
           only
           allowed
           by
           the
           Scriptures
           to
           declare
           and
           deliver
           their
           Opinions
           about
           any
           Religious
           Matters
           ,
           
           but
           the
           Sovereign
           Power
           alone
           can
           confirm
           them
           ,
           and
           give
           them
           the
           force
           of
           Laws
           .
        
         
           But
           however
           ,
           if
           at
           any
           time
           there
           may
           seem
           to
           be
           absolute
           necessity
           for
           a
           Convocation
           to
           meet
           ,
           for
           the
           condemning
           Errors
           and
           Heresies
           ,
           which
           may
           have
           crept
           into
           ,
           and
           have
           disturbed
           the
           Peace
           of
           the
           Church
           ;
           Though
           the
           Prince
           in
           such
           a
           Case
           will
           not
           consent
           to
           the
           Assembling
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           they
           may
           notwithstanding
           ,
           as
           many
           of
           them
           as
           think
           fit
           ,
           give
           their
           Opinions
           ,
           concerning
           such
           false
           Notions
           .
           And
           if
           their
           Opinions
           have
           any
           weight
           in
           them
           ,
           they
           may
           be
           perhaps
           as
           much
           regarded
           ,
           by
           the
           judicious
           part
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           as
           the
           Judgment
           of
           a
           whole
           Convocation
           .
        
         
           For
           when
           Men
           Publish
           their
           Reasons
           concerning
           any
           Opinions
           ,
           every
           Body
           is
           at
           liberty
           to
           Discuss
           and
           Examine
           them
           ,
           to
           search
           into
           the
           strength
           of
           their
           Arguments
           ;
           be
           able
           to
           discover
           whether
           their
           Thoughts
           are
           well
           weighed
           ,
           or
           whether
           they
           are
           not
           the
           effects
           of
           a
           peevish
           ,
           mis-guided
           Zeal
           ,
           rather
           than
           of
           a
           serious
           ,
           deliberate
           Judgment
           .
        
         
           The
           World
           can
           then
           judge
           whether
           Mens
           Enquiries
           into
           others
           Notions
           ,
           and
           their
           Censures
           of
           them
           ,
           are
           impartial
           or
           not
           ;
           whether
           a
           Man's
           prejudice
           ,
           or
           perhaps
           his
           Ignorance
           ,
           or
           both
           ,
           do
           not
           biass
           or
           mis-lead
           his
           Apprehensions
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           not
           impossible
           that
           Men
           may
           side
           with
           a
           Party
           in
           a
           Convocation
           ,
           only
           because
           't
           is
           the
           greatest
           ;
           may
           judge
           against
           Men
           and
           their
           Opinions
           ,
           only
           because
           they
           are
           theirs
           ;
           but
           the
           World
           may
           be
           best
           satisfied
           of
           the
           Reasons
           and
           Motives
           of
           every
           Man's
           Judgment
           ,
           when
           they
           are
           submitted
           to
           Publick
           Examination
           .
        
         
           Besides
           ,
           the
           Consent
           of
           a
           Church
           may
           be
           known
           by
           the
           unanimous
           Writings
           of
           all
           the
           Great
           Men
           of
           that
           Church
           ,
           
           that
           have
           treated
           of
           such
           Subjects
           .
           For
           the
           Affairs
           of
           Religion
           ,
           have
           been
           more
           often
           managed
           this
           way
           ,
           and
           the
           Consent
           of
           the
           Church
           more
           frequently
           signified
           by
           Communication
           of
           Letters
           ,
           as
           Grotius
           observes
           ,
           than
           by
           Synods
           .
        
         
         
           I
           would
           not
           be
           thought
           to
           derogate
           from
           the
           usefulness
           of
           Convocations
           ,
           and
           from
           that
           Respect
           and
           Submission
           which
           is
           justly
           due
           to
           their
           Decisions
           .
        
         
           Whenever
           the
           King
           shall
           be
           pleased
           to
           give
           them
           leave
           to
           sit
           and
           Act
           ,
           every
           Man
           is
           obliged
           to
           be
           determined
           by
           their
           Orders
           and
           Decrees
           ,
           as
           soon
           as
           ever
           they
           are
           legally
           confirmed
           .
        
         
           But
           there
           is
           not
           at
           all
           times
           a
           necessity
           for
           their
           Meeting
           ,
           and
           there
           may
           be
           often
           greater
           Reasons
           to
           urge
           against
           ,
           than
           for
           it
           :
        
         
           Grotius
           assigns
           these
           as
           two
           of
           the
           chief
           Ends
           of
           having
           Synods
           ;
           
           one
           is
           ,
           to
           counsel
           and
           direct
           the
           Prince
           in
           the
           advancement
           of
           Truth
           and
           Piety
           ;
           the
           other
           ,
           that
           the
           Consent
           of
           the
           Church
           may
           be
           Established
           and
           made
           known
           .
           But
           a
           Synod
           is
           not
           absolutely
           necessary
           upon
           either
           of
           these
           accounts
           :
           Counsel
           is
           not
           necessary
           for
           a
           Prince
           in
           things
           that
           are
           sufficiently
           plain
           by
           the
           Light
           of
           Nature
           ,
           or
           Supernatural
           Revelation
           .
           Who
           doubts
           ,
           but
           he
           that
           denies
           a
           God
           ,
           a
           Providence
           ,
           or
           a
           
             Iudgment
             to
             come
          
           ;
           that
           calls
           in
           question
           the
           
             Divinity
             of
             Christ
          
           ,
           or
           the
           
             Redemption
             purchased
             by
             him
          
           ;
           who
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           can
           doubt
           ,
           that
           a
           Man
           so
           profane
           may
           not
           be
           put
           out
           of
           Office
           ,
           or
           banished
           the
           Common-wealth
           ,
           without
           the
           advice
           of
           others
           ?
        
         
           Besides
           ,
           the
           Prince
           has
           the
           Judgment
           of
           former
           Synods
           to
           assist
           and
           guide
           him
           in
           such
           Cases
           ,
           so
           that
           he
           need
           not
           be
           obliged
           to
           call
           a
           new
           one
           .
           He
           hath
           the
           perpetual
           Consent
           and
           Determinations
           of
           the
           most
           Serious
           and
           Learned
           Men
           ,
           who
           have
           lived
           in
           all
           other
           Ages
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           present
           ,
           so
           that
           a
           Synod
           cannot
           be
           absolutely
           necessary
           for
           this
           End.
           
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           Consent
           of
           a
           whole
           Church
           ,
           there
           may
           be
           other
           Methods
           ,
           as
           was
           already
           observed
           ,
           of
           declaring
           that
           without
           the
           Meeting
           of
           a
           Convocation
           .
        
         
           If
           then
           the
           Ends
           for
           which
           Convocations
           are
           to
           be
           called
           are
           not
           indispensably
           necessary
           ,
           certainly
           their
           Right
           to
           sit
           cannot
           be
           Divine
           .
           But
           however
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           this
           to
           me
           seems
           very
           apparent
           ;
           that
           they
           are
           guilty
           of
           a
           very
           great
           Sin
           against
           God
           ,
           and
           their
           
             own
             Consciences
          
           ,
           if
           any
           such
           there
           are
           ,
           that
           either
           publickly
           maintain
           ,
           or
           secretly
           believe
           the
           
             Divine
             Right
          
           of
           Convocations
           independent
           on
           the
           Supream
           Civil
           Authority
           ,
           and
           yet
           submit
           to
           be
           Members
           of
           such
           a
           
           one
           ,
           as
           has
           no
           Power
           to
           Sit
           ,
           or
           Act
           ,
           but
           what
           depends
           solely
           upon
           the
           Pleasure
           of
           the
           State.
           
        
         
           If
           they
           are
           convinced
           that
           the
           Clergy
           have
           a
           
             Divine
             Commission
          
           to
           Assemble
           themselves
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           Concessions
           made
           by
           the
           Clergy
           in
           Henry
           the
           Eighth's
           Time
           were
           unjust
           and
           sinful
           ,
           why
           don't
           they
           Act
           agreeably
           to
           themselves
           ?
           Why
           don't
           they
           protest
           against
           the
           Power
           of
           the
           Prince
           to
           call
           them
           ;
           refuse
           his
           Writs
           ,
           and
           disobey
           his
           Summons
           ?
           For
           the
           very
           Meeting
           by
           his
           Appointment
           ,
           is
           an
           acknowledgment
           of
           his
           Power
           ,
           and
           an
           actual
           Surrendring
           of
           those
           Rights
           ,
           which
           they
           pretend
           are
           only
           theirs
           ,
           by
           Vertue
           of
           the
           Divine
           Institution
           ;
           and
           consequently
           are
           in
           the
           very
           least
           degree
           for
           ever
           unalienable
           .
        
         
           If
           then
           there
           are
           any
           ,
           (
           as
           I
           would
           willingly
           believe
           there
           are
           not
           )
           who
           plead
           for
           such
           a
           
             Divine
             Right
          
           ,
           and
           yet
           submit
           to
           be
           called
           to
           Convocation
           by
           a
           Lay-Authority
           ;
           they
           must
           grant
           at
           least
           ,
           that
           their
           Practice
           is
           very
           inconsistent
           with
           their
           Notions
           .
           But
           this
           I
           leave
           to
           the
           Consideration
           of
           the
           Elaborately
           confused
           Author
           of
           the
           
             Municipium
             Ecclesiasticum
          
           :
           But
           yet
           ,
           in
           asserting
           the
           King's
           Authority
           over
           Convocations
           ,
           we
           don't
           mean
           ,
           that
           he
           may
           prescribe
           ,
           what
           himself
           thinks
           good
           to
           be
           done
           in
           the
           Service
           of
           God
           :
           How
           the
           Word
           shall
           be
           taught
           ,
           how
           the
           Sacraments
           Administred
           :
           
           That
           he
           may
           by
           judicial
           Sentence
           decide
           Questions
           which
           may
           arise
           about
           Matters
           of
           Faith
           and
           Christian
           Religion
           ;
           that
           Kings
           may
           Excommunicate
           ;
           Finally
           ,
           that
           Kings
           may
           do
           whatsoever
           is
           incident
           unto
           the
           Office
           and
           Duty
           of
           an
           Ecclesiastical
           Judge
           .
           But
           ,
           to
           give
           Mr.
           Hooker's
           Words
           ,
           we
           mean
           ,
           
             That
             the
             King
             's
             Royal
             Power
             is
             of
             so
             large
             compass
             ,
             that
             no
             Man
             Commanded
             by
             him
             ,
             can
             plead
             himself
             to
             be
             without
             the
             limits
             and
             bounds
             of
             that
             Authority
             .
             And
             that
             Kings
             should
             be
             in
             such
             sort
             Supream
             Commanders
             over
             all
             Men
             ,
             we
             hold
             it
             requisite
             ,
             as
             well
             for
             the
             ordering
             of
             Spiritual
             as
             Civil
             Affairs
             ;
             in
             as
             much
             as
             without
             universal
             Authority
             in
             this
             kind
             ,
             they
             should
             not
             be
             able
             when
             need
             is
             ,
             to
             do
             as
             Vertuous
             Kings
             have
             done
             .
          
           As
           Iosia
           and
           Hezekiah
           in
           the
           Old
           Testament
           did
           ,
           when
           they
           Assembled
           the
           Priests
           and
           Levites
           to
           renew
           the
           House
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           to
           Celebrate
           the
           Passover
           .
           The
           like
           before
           them
           did
           David
           and
           Solomon
           ,
           for
           removing
           the
           
           Ark
           ,
           and
           Dedicating
           the
           Temple
           .
           Such
           Authority
           as
           the
           Iewish
           Kings
           Exercised
           over
           Ecclesiastical
           Affairs
           and
           Persons
           ,
           the
           like
           we
           claim
           to
           belong
           to
           our
           Kings
           ;
           and
           those
           that
           deny
           them
           the
           same
           Authority
           ,
           are
           to
           be
           Excommunicated
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
        
         
           But
           since
           there
           is
           an
           Argument
           now
           again
           insisted
           upon
           from
           the
           New
           Testament
           ,
           to
           prove
           the
           Right
           which
           belongs
           to
           the
           Clergy
           to
           Assemble
           ,
           and
           make
           Ecclesiastical
           Laws
           without
           the
           leave
           of
           the
           Supream
           Authority
           ,
           which
           in
           Mr.
           Hooker's
           Time
           was
           brought
           for
           an
           Objection
           against
           such
           a
           Supremacy
           in
           the
           King
           ,
           I
           shall
           take
           the
           freedom
           to
           set
           it
           down
           in
           his
           Words
           ,
           with
           his
           Answer
           to
           it
           .
        
         
           
             It
             will
             be
             
               (
               says
               that
               Excellent
               Author
            
             )
             perhaps
             alledged
             ,
             That
             a
             part
             of
             the
             Unity
             of
             Christian
             Religion
             is
             to
             hold
             the
             Power
             of
             making
             Ecclesiastical
             Laws
             a
             thing
             appropriated
             unto
             the
             Clergy
             in
             their
             Synods
             ;
             
             and
             whatsoever
             is
             by
             their
             only
             Voices
             agreed
             upon
             ,
             it
             needeth
             no
             farther
             Appropriation
             to
             give
             unto
             it
             the
             strength
             of
             a
             Law
             ,
             as
             may
             plainly
             appear
             by
             the
             Canons
             of
             that
             first
             most
             venerable
             Assembly
             :
             
             Where
             those
             things
             the
             Apostles
             and
             Iames
             had
             concluded
             ,
             were
             afterwards
             published
             ,
             and
             imposed
             upon
             the
             Churches
             of
             the
             Gentiles
             abroad
             as
             Laws
             ;
             the
             Records
             threof
             remaining
             still
             in
             the
             Book
             of
             God
             for
             a
             Testimony
             ,
             that
             the
             Power
             of
             making
             Ecclesiastical
             Laws
             ,
             belongeth
             to
             the
             Successors
             of
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             the
             Bishops
             and
             Prelates
             of
             the
             Church
             of
             God.
             
          
           
             To
             this
             we
             Answer
             ,
             That
             the
             Council
             of
             Ierusalem
             is
             no
             Argument
             for
             the
             Power
             of
             the
             Clergy
             to
             make
             Laws
             ;
             For
             first
             ,
             There
             has
             not
             been
             since
             ,
             any
             Council
             of
             like
             Authority
             to
             that
             in
             Ierusalem
             :
             Secondly
             ,
             The
             Cause
             ,
             why
             that
             was
             of
             such
             Authority
             came
             by
             a
             special
             Accident
             :
             Thirdly
             ,
             The
             Reason
             why
             other
             Councils
             being
             not
             like
             unto
             that
             in
             Nature
             ,
             the
             Clergy
             in
             them
             should
             have
             no
             Power
             to
             make
             Laws
             by
             themselves
             alone
             ,
             is
             in
             Truth
             so
             forcible
             ,
             that
             except
             some
             Commandment
             of
             God
             ,
             to
             the
             contrary
             can
             be
             shewed
             ,
             it
             ought
             notwithstanding
             the
             aforesaid
             Example
             to
             prevail
             .
          
           
             The
             Decrees
             of
             the
             Council
             of
             Ierusalem
             ,
             were
             not
             as
             the
             Canons
             of
             other
             Ecclesiastical-Assemblies
             ,
             Humane
             ,
             but
             very
             Divine
             Ordinances
             :
             For
             which
             Cause
             the
             
             Churches
             were
             far
             and
             wide
             ,
             commanded
             every
             where
             to
             see
             them
             kept
             ,
             no
             otherwise
             than
             if
             Christ
             himself
             had
             personally
             on
             Earth
             been
             the
             Author
             of
             them
             .
             The
             Cause
             why
             that
             Council
             was
             of
             so
             great
             Authority
             and
             Credit
             above
             all
             others
             which
             have
             been
             since
             ,
             is
             expressed
             in
             those
             Words
             of
             principal
             Observation
             ,
             
               Vnto
               the
               Holy
               Ghost
               ,
               and
               to
               us
               it
               hath
               seemed
               good
               :
            
             Which
             form
             of
             Speech
             ,
             though
             other
             Councils
             have
             likewise
             used
             ,
             yet
             neither
             could
             they
             themselves-mean
             ,
             nor
             may
             we
             so
             understand
             them
             ▪
             as
             if
             both
             were
             in
             equal
             sort
             assisted
             with
             the
             Power
             of
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             .
             Wherefore
             ,
             in
             as
             much
             as
             the
             Council
             of
             Ierusalem
             did
             consist
             of
             Men
             so
             enlightned
             ,
             it
             had
             Authority
             greater
             than
             were
             meet
             for
             any
             other
             Council
             besides
             to
             challenge
             ,
             wherein
             such
             kind
             of
             Persons
             are
             ,
             as
             now
             the
             State
             of
             the
             Church
             doth
             stand
             ;
             Kings
             being
             not
             then
             that
             which
             now
             they
             are
             ,
             and
             the
             Clergy
             not
             now
             that
             which
             then
             they
             were
             .
             Till
             it
             be
             proved
             that
             some
             special
             Law
             of
             Christ
             ,
             hath
             for
             ever
             annexed
             unto
             the
             Clergy
             alone
             the
             Power
             to
             make
             Ecclesiastical
             Laws
             ,
             we
             are
             to
             hold
             it
             a
             thing
             most
             Consonant
             with
             Equity
             and
             Reason
             ,
             that
             no
             Ecclesiastical
             Laws
             be
             made
             in
             a
             Christian
             Common-wealth
             ,
             without
             consent
             as
             well
             of
             the
             Laity
             as
             of
             the
             Clergy
             ,
             but
             least
             of
             all
             without
             consent
             of
             the
             highest
             Power
             .
          
        
         
           
             The
             Opinion
             of
             the
             Learned
          
           Grotius
           
             being
             more
             short
             and
             decisive
             in
             our
             present
             Case
             ,
          
           
           
             upon
             that
             forementioned
             place
             of
             the
          
           Acts
           ,
           
             I
             shall
             also
             give
             an
             account
             of
             it
             .
          
           The
           Original
           of
           Synods
           ,
           
             says
             he
             ▪
          
           is
           usually
           taken
           from
           that
           History
           in
           the
           15th
           
             Chap.
             of
          
           the
           Acts.
           But
           whether
           that
           Assembly
           may
           be
           properly
           termed
           a
           Synod
           ,
           as
           we
           now
           understand
           that
           Word
           ,
           may
           very
           well
           be
           questioned
           .
           There
           arose
           a
           Controversie
           between
           Paul
           and
           Barnabas
           ,
           and
           certain
           Iews
           of
           Antioch
           ,
           concerning
           the
           Obligations
           of
           the
           Mosaick
           Law
           :
           Paul
           and
           Barnabas
           are
           sent
           with
           some
           of
           Antioch
           ,
           to
           know
           the
           Opinion
           of
           the
           Pastors
           ;
           but
           were
           they
           those
           of
           all
           
             Asia
             ,
             Syria
             ,
             Cilicia
          
           and
           Judea
           ,
           Assembled
           together
           in
           one
           place
           ,
           that
           were
           to
           give
           their
           Iudgment
           ?
           No
           certainly
           ;
           but
           of
           the
           Apostles
           and
           Elders
           of
           Jerusalem
           ;
           the
           Company
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           was
           a
           College
           ,
           not
           a
           Synod
           ;
           and
           the
           Elders
           of
           one
           City
           ,
           could
           not
           certainly
           be
           called
           a
           Synod
           .
           One
           Church
           therefore
           alone
           is
           consulted
           ;
           or
           more
           truly
           
           and
           properly
           speaking
           ,
           the
           Apostles
           only
           are
           consulted
           ,
           and
           they
           alone
           give
           Iudgment
           ;
           to
           whose
           Authority
           the
           Elders
           and
           Brethren
           of
           Jerusalem
           yield
           their
           Consent
           and
           Approbation
           .
           
             Thus
             ,
             I
             think
             there
             can't
             be
             the
             least
             shadow
             of
             an
             Argument
             brought
             from
             Scripture
             for
             a
             Divine
             Institution
             of
             Synods
             .
          
        
         
           But
           to
           return
           once
           more
           to
           
             Mr.
             Hooker
          
           ;
           
             Were
             it
             so
             ,
             (
             adds
             that
             judicious
             Author
             )
             that
             the
             Clergy
             alone
             might
             give
             Laws
             unto
             all
             the
             rest
             ,
             is
             it
             not
             easie
             to
             see
             ,
             how
             injurious
             this
             might
             prove
             to
             Men
             of
             other
             Conditions
             ?
             Peace
             and
             Justice
             are
             maintained
             by
             preserving
             unto
             every
             Order
             their
             Right
             ,
             and
             by
             keeping
             all
             Estates
             ,
             as
             it
             were
             in
             even
             ballance
             ,
             which
             thing
             is
             no
             way
             better
             done
             ,
             than
             if
             the
             King
             their
             Common
             Parent
             ,
             whose
             Care
             is
             presumed
             to
             extend
             most
             indifferently
             over
             all
             ,
             do
             bear
             the
             chiefest
             sway
             in
             making
             Laws
             ,
             which
             all
             must
             be
             ordered
             by
             ;
             wherefore
             of
             them
             which
             attribute
             most
             to
             the
             Clergy
             ,
             I
             would
             demand
             ,
             what
             Evidence
             there
             is
             ,
             whereby
             it
             may
             clearly
             be
             shewed
             ,
             that
             in
             ancient
             Kingdoms
             Christian
             ,
             any
             Canon
             devised
             alone
             by
             the
             Clergy
             ,
             in
             their
             Synods
             ,
             whether
             Provincial
             ,
             National
             or
             General
             ,
             hath
             by
             meer
             force
             of
             their
             agreement
             ,
             taken
             place
             as
             a
             Law
             ,
             making
             all
             Men
             constrainable
             to
             be
             Obedient
             thereunto
             ,
             without
             any
             other
             approbation
             from
             the
             King
             ,
             before
             or
             afterwards
             required
             in
             that
             behalf
             ?
          
        
         
           This
           was
           the
           Sense
           of
           that
           Great-Man
           ;
           and
           the
           very
           same
           Opinion
           and
           Notions
           they
           are
           ,
           and
           no
           other
           ,
           (
           as
           far
           I
           can
           judge
           ,
           )
           which
           are
           maintained
           by
           them
           ,
           who
           at
           present
           defend
           the
           King's
           Authority
           in
           calling
           Convocations
           ,
           and
           in
           other
           Ecclesiastical
           Affairs
           .
           And
           I
           can't
           yet
           apprehend
           ,
           how
           those
           who
           so
           warmly
           and
           furiously
           oppose
           them
           ,
           can
           reconcile
           their
           Notions
           with
           the
           Doctrines
           which
           have
           been
           always
           received
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
        
         
           But
           it
           may
           probably
           be
           urged
           ,
           That
           though
           the
           Clergy's
           Right
           to
           Assemble
           themselves
           ,
           and
           make
           Laws
           for
           the
           Government
           of
           the
           Church
           by
           their
           own
           Power
           could
           not
           be
           proved
           by
           Revelation
           ,
           yet
           in
           Reason
           it
           ought
           to
           be
           allowed
           to
           them
           ;
           because
           the
           security
           of
           Religion
           depends
           upon
           it
           .
           For
           if
           the
           Clergy
           alone
           may
           not
           make
           any
           new
           Orders
           which
           may
           seem
           wanting
           ,
           nor
           pass
           a
           general
           Censure
           upon
           any
           false
           Opinions
           or
           Innovations
           in
           Religion
           ,
           by
           a
           judicial
           
           Sentence
           against
           them
           in
           Convocation
           ,
           without
           the
           Pleasure
           of
           the
           State
           ;
           The
           Church
           will
           by
           this
           means
           be
           deprived
           of
           its
           Liberty
           ,
           and
           never
           be
           in
           a
           Capacity
           of
           deciding
           any
           Controversies
           which
           may
           disturb
           its
           Peace
           and
           Unity
           .
           And
           if
           the
           Prince
           be
           Heretical
           ,
           as
           't
           is
           not
           impossible
           ,
           and
           will
           not
           suffer
           the
           Meeting
           of
           a
           Convocation
           ,
           our
           Religion
           will
           then
           very
           probably
           be
           corrupted
           by
           Errors
           and
           Heresies
           ,
           and
           the
           Church
           unable
           to
           relieve
           it
           ,
           by
           being
           divested
           of
           the
           Power
           of
           summoning
           its
           Clergy
           ;
           by
           whose
           united
           Opinions
           and
           Decrees
           ,
           a
           timely
           stop
           might
           be
           put
           to
           all
           false
           Doctrines
           and
           Divisions
           .
        
         
           To
           this
           I
           answer
           ,
           That
           the
           Case
           is
           the
           same
           wherever
           the
           Power
           shall
           be
           lodged
           .
           Let
           us
           suppose
           in
           a
           Metropolitan
           .
           Now
           't
           is
           not
           impossible
           ,
           but
           he
           also
           may
           be
           a
           Heretick
           ,
           and
           will
           not
           suffer
           a
           Convocation
           of
           the
           Clergy
           .
           For
           if
           the
           Authority
           is
           in
           him
           ,
           the
           inferior
           Order
           must
           be
           as
           much
           subject
           to
           his
           Will
           ,
           as
           to
           that
           of
           the
           Civil
           Governor
           ,
           and
           may
           as
           equally
           be
           deprived
           of
           their
           Liberty
           of
           Meeting
           ,
           by
           the
           one
           as
           the
           other
           ;
           and
           so
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           let
           the
           Authority
           be
           placed
           in
           any
           other
           Hands
           .
        
         
           But
           perhaps
           it
           may
           be
           thought
           that
           the
           Civil
           Power
           is
           not
           a
           proper
           Judge
           of
           the
           Necessities
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           when
           its
           Faith
           or
           Discipline
           are
           in
           danger
           of
           being
           corrupted
           or
           destroyed
           .
        
         
           Let
           it
           be
           granted
           ,
           That
           there
           may
           be
           others
           more
           fit
           to
           judge
           of
           these
           things
           ,
           tho'
           it
           may
           happen
           ,
           that
           even
           some
           of
           the
           Clergy
           themselves
           may
           be
           mistaken
           in
           these
           Matters
           ,
           and
           may
           be
           sometimes
           very
           unfit
           Judges
           of
           the
           most
           proper
           Times
           for
           calling
           a
           Convocation
           :
           Yet
           I
           hope
           the
           King
           is
           not
           to
           be
           precluded
           from
           all
           Council
           and
           Advice
           in
           such
           Cases
           .
           If
           any
           of
           the
           Clergy
           had
           the
           Power
           ,
           they
           would
           not
           ,
           I
           presume
           ,
           make
           use
           of
           it
           ,
           upon
           their
           own
           single
           Opinion
           :
           They
           would
           certainly
           ask
           the
           Advice
           of
           the
           most
           Wise
           and
           Judicious
           in
           such
           Matters
           .
           And
           why
           the
           King
           may
           not
           have
           the
           same
           Priviledges
           and
           Opportunities
           of
           Enquiry
           ,
           I
           can
           see
           no
           Reason
           .
        
         
           But
           it
           is
           objected
           ,
           That
           the
           Office
           of
           the
           Clergy
           is
           distinct
           from
           that
           of
           the
           Civil
           Power
           ,
           and
           they
           receive
           no
           Parts
           of
           it
           from
           thence
           ,
           and
           therefore
           cannot
           be
           under
           its
           Jurisdiction
           .
        
         
         
           So
           it
           was
           also
           among
           the
           Jews
           ,
           yet
           their
           Kings
           had
           the
           Supream
           Power
           over
           their
           Priests
           .
           The
           Power
           and
           Authority
           of
           the
           King
           is
           Spiritual
           ,
           though
           he
           is
           not
           invested
           with
           the
           Spiritual
           Office.
           The
           King
           indeed
           seems
           in
           some
           Cases
           to
           be
           subject
           to
           the
           Priestly
           Office
           ;
           as
           he
           is
           to
           receive
           the
           Sacraments
           ,
           Absolution
           ,
           and
           the
           like
           from
           them
           :
           So
           also
           is
           he
           subject
           to
           his
           Physician
           as
           to
           his
           Health
           ,
           he
           is
           to
           be
           governed
           by
           his
           Rules
           and
           Methods
           for
           preserving
           Life
           .
           Yet
           this
           does
           not
           diminish
           his
           Authority
           over
           either
           .
           His
           Right
           over
           them
           ,
           as
           Supream
           Governor
           still
           remains
           the
           same
           .
        
         
           But
           't
           is
           again
           objected
           ,
           That
           the
           Care
           of
           Souls
           is
           the
           particular
           and
           immediate
           Business
           of
           the
           Clergy
           :
           And
           the
           observance
           of
           the
           true
           Religion
           being
           necessary
           to
           that
           end
           ,
           't
           is
           undeniable
           that
           they
           ought
           to
           have
           a
           Power
           of
           endeavouring
           to
           preserve
           it
           by
           such
           ways
           as
           may
           seem
           most
           effectual
           and
           proper
           for
           it
           .
        
         
           To
           this
           we
           may
           answer
           ,
           That
           the
           Supream
           Governor
           has
           the
           same
           Care
           incumbent
           upon
           him
           ;
           
           he
           is
           obliged
           to
           preserve
           and
           defend
           the
           true
           Religion
           ,
           to
           see
           it
           rightly
           observed
           ,
           and
           to
           
             punish
             those
             that
             do
             Evil
          
           :
           
           For
           which
           Reason
           ,
           
             G.
             Vossius
          
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           Grotius
           ,
           is
           of
           Opinion
           that
           Princes
           have
           the
           Supream
           Authority
           in
           Sacred
           Matters
           by
           a
           Divine
           Right
           .
           For
           if
           they
           are
           the
           
             Ministers
             of
             God
             for
             Good
          
           ,
           they
           must
           have
           the
           Supream
           Command
           in
           Religious
           Matters
           ,
           
           whereby
           to
           enforce
           Obedience
           to
           them
           .
           And
           indeed
           ,
           if
           the
           Commission
           given
           by
           God
           to
           Moses
           ,
           and
           Exercised
           afterwards
           by
           Ioshua
           ,
           and
           the
           Iewish
           Kings
           ,
           and
           never
           abolished
           by
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           does
           give
           the
           same
           Right
           and
           Authority
           to
           Christian
           Kings
           now
           ,
           to
           call
           Ecclesiastical
           Assemblies
           as
           they
           did
           ,
           it
           can't
           be
           denied
           that
           they
           also
           Act
           by
           a
           Divine
           Commission
           .
           And
           it
           is
           one
           great
           Business
           of
           theirs
           ,
           that
           Divine
           Things
           should
           be
           rightly
           ordered
           ,
           and
           the
           Salvation
           of
           Men
           procured
           .
           They
           are
           the
           Defenders
           and
           Guardians
           of
           the
           Divine
           Law
           :
           The
           Inspectors
           of
           the
           Actions
           of
           all
           Men
           ;
           and
           have
           accordingly
           a
           Power
           to
           Reward
           and
           Punish
           .
        
         
           'T
           is
           also
           necessary
           that
           Kings
           should
           have
           the
           chief
           Command
           in
           Religious
           Matters
           ,
           because
           Religion
           is
           of
           mighty
           Service
           to
           the
           Civil
           Government
           ;
           nothing
           more
           advantageous
           for
           the
           preserving
           Peace
           and
           Unity
           ,
           Love
           of
           our
           Country
           ,
           Justice
           ,
           Equity
           ,
           and
           all
           other
           Moral
           Duties
           ,
           which
           
           't
           is
           a
           Princes
           Duty
           to
           maintain
           :
           And
           which
           he
           has
           no
           means
           of
           effecting
           so
           well
           ,
           as
           by
           his
           Sovereign
           Power
           in
           all
           Sacred
           Concerns
           .
           And
           therefore
           to
           deprive
           him
           of
           this
           Power
           ,
           is
           to
           forbid
           him
           the
           Exercising
           those
           Commands
           which
           a
           Vertuous
           King
           is
           obliged
           to
           .
        
         
           Upon
           the
           whole
           then
           ,
           it
           can't
           be
           denied
           ,
           That
           by
           our
           Constitution
           ,
           the
           King
           has
           the
           sole
           Power
           of
           calling
           and
           dissolving
           Convocations
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           have
           no
           Authority
           to
           Act
           but
           what
           is
           derived
           from
           him
           .
           And
           whoever
           takes
           the
           
             Oath
             of
             Supremacy
          
           grants
           as
           much
           .
           That
           this
           Power
           is
           no
           other
           ,
           than
           what
           was
           Exercised
           by
           the
           
             Iewish
             Kings
          
           ,
           
           and
           afterwards
           by
           the
           first
           
             Christian
             Emperors
          
           ;
           and
           was
           never
           disowned
           and
           protested
           against
           by
           the
           Clergy
           .
           That
           the
           Practice
           of
           the
           Christians
           before
           the
           Conversion
           of
           the
           Supream
           Authority
           ,
           is
           not
           concerned
           in
           the
           Dispute
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           Scriptures
           are
           either
           for
           us
           ,
           or
           wholly
           silent
           in
           the
           Matter
           .
           Tho'
           I
           think
           we
           may
           fairly
           urge
           ,
           That
           the
           Examples
           of
           the
           Iewish
           Kings
           ,
           and
           the
           general
           Authority
           given
           to
           Princes
           by
           God
           ,
           do
           sufficiently
           prove
           even
           from
           Scripture
           ,
           that
           this
           Power
           does
           belong
           to
           them
           .
        
         
           That
           the
           Ends
           of
           Government
           require
           ,
           That
           where
           all
           profess
           the
           same
           Religion
           ,
           they
           should
           all
           be
           subject
           to
           the
           same
           
             Common
             Head
          
           ,
           in
           Spiritual
           as
           well
           as
           Civil
           Affairs
           .
           And
           that
           He
           ,
           to
           whom
           the
           chief
           Care
           of
           the
           Church
           is
           committed
           ,
           and
           to
           whom
           it
           principally
           belongs
           to
           preserve
           and
           defend
           the
           Orders
           and
           Constitutions
           of
           it
           ,
           should
           also
           have
           the
           Principality
           of
           Power
           in
           Approving
           and
           Establishing
           them
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           the
           Clergy
           have
           the
           sole
           Power
           by
           a
           Divine
           Commission
           of
           making
           Ecclesiastical
           Laws
           ,
           it
           will
           follow
           ,
           That
           't
           is
           the
           Prince's
           Business
           ,
           to
           maintain
           and
           see
           them
           observed
           ,
           whether
           he
           is
           willing
           to
           consent
           to
           them
           or
           not
           .
           He
           cannot
           refuse
           to
           obey
           them
           himself
           ,
           nor
           to
           oblige
           others
           to
           submit
           to
           them
           .
           Nay
           ,
           more
           ,
           if
           the
           Clergy
           have
           a
           
             Divine
             Right
          
           to
           meet
           and
           constitute
           any
           Orders
           without
           the
           leave
           of
           the
           Supream
           Power
           ,
           they
           have
           a
           Right
           also
           to
           Decree
           and
           Enact
           what
           Laws
           they
           may
           judge
           beneficial
           to
           the
           Church
           ,
           how
           opposite
           soever
           to
           the
           Constitutions
           of
           the
           State.
           They
           may
           declare
           what
           Doctrines
           they
           please
           to
           be
           taught
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           provided
           they
           be
           not
           repugnant
           to
           the
           Law
           of
           God.
           For
           if
           their
           Right
           is
           Divine
           ,
           their
           Power
           is
           Absolute
           and
           Uncontroulable
           ,
           where
           Scripture
           has
           not
           determined
           the
           bounds
           and
           measures
           of
           it
           .
        
         
         
           Every
           one
           sees
           what
           Distractions
           such
           a
           Power
           might
           occasion
           ;
           and
           therefore
           we
           can't
           pay
           too
           great
           a
           Veneration
           to
           our
           Laws
           ,
           which
           have
           wisely
           provided
           against
           them
           :
           That
           have
           intrusted
           this
           Power
           with
           the
           Prince
           ,
           whose
           Interest
           it
           is
           as
           much
           to
           preserve
           the
           Church
           ,
           as
           the
           State.
           And
           I
           hope
           we
           have
           no
           Reason
           to
           believe
           ,
           but
           that
           he
           makes
           it
           as
           truly
           and
           sincerely
           his
           concern
           to
           vindicate
           the
           Cause
           of
           Religion
           ,
           as
           any
           amongst
           us
           .
        
         
           If
           there
           are
           such
           Dangers
           threaten
           the
           Church
           ,
           that
           nothing
           but
           a
           Convocation
           can
           prevent
           ,
           no
           doubt
           but
           he
           will
           think
           it
           a
           great
           Obligation
           upon
           him
           to
           call
           one
           :
           But
           yet
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           at
           all
           times
           necessary
           ;
           Mens
           Heats
           will
           not
           always
           suffer
           it
           .
           And
           if
           it
           should
           chance
           to
           fire
           their
           Tempers
           instead
           of
           cooling
           them
           ,
           it
           would
           be
           then
           very
           Prejudicial
           .
        
         
           We
           confess
           indeed
           ,
           
           with
           Grotius
           and
           Others
           ,
           That
           Synods
           are
           often
           times
           very
           useful
           to
           the
           Order
           and
           Government
           of
           the
           Church
           ;
           yet
           we
           also
           join
           with
           them
           ,
           that
           there
           may
           be
           such
           a
           time
           ,
           when
           they
           are
           far
           from
           being
           convenient
           ,
           
           much
           less
           necessary
           .
           
             But
             our
             greatest
             wonder
             is
             at
             the
             Boldness
             of
             some
             Men
             ,
             who
             maintain
             ,
             That
             ,
             even
             when
             the
             Powers
             take
             on
             them
             the
             Protection
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             whether
             they
             will
             or
             no
             ,
             Synods
             may
             lawfully
             and
             rightly
             be
             Assembled
             .
          
           Of
           another
           Mind
           ,
           
           says
           Vossius
           ,
           were
           all
           those
           ,
           who
           have
           hitherto
           defended
           the
           Cause
           of
           the
           Protestants
           against
           the
           Papists
           ;
           and
           he
           cites
           several
           Authorities
           for
           it
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           Assertors
           of
           a
           Divine
           Right
           of
           Synods
           ,
           't
           is
           something
           difficult
           to
           know
           their
           meaning
           ;
           they
           seem
           too
           much
           to
           distrust
           their
           Cause
           to
           speak
           plain
           enough
           to
           be
           understood
           .
           If
           they
           mean
           no
           more
           by
           that
           Expression
           ,
           than
           that
           Christ
           hath
           so
           constituted
           his
           Church
           ,
           as
           to
           leave
           a
           Power
           of
           Goverment
           with
           the
           Bishops
           of
           it
           ,
           for
           the
           better
           ordering
           its
           Affairs
           ;
           who
           accordingly
           may
           either
           by
           Consent
           meet
           themselves
           ,
           or
           by
           their
           Authority
           call
           together
           their
           Clergy
           ,
           and
           agree
           on
           such
           things
           as
           are
           necessary
           for
           the
           ordering
           of
           it
           :
           This
           is
           what
           ,
           in
           States
           not
           Christian
           ,
           will
           never
           be
           deny'd
           by
           us
           .
           But
           if
           they
           pretend
           to
           a
           Power
           from
           God
           of
           Meeting
           and
           Acting
           independently
           on
           the
           Sovereign
           Authority
           ,
           tho'
           Christian
           ,
           and
           of
           Making
           and
           Establishing
           Ecclesiastical
           Laws
           and
           Constitutions
           without
           his
           Consent
           ;
           this
           is
           what
           we
           utterly
           deny
           .
           And
           I
           would
           desire
           to
           know
           of
           the
           Author
           of
           
             The
             Vindication
             of
             the
             depriv'd
             Bishops
             ,
          
           by
           what
           Authority
           ,
           either
           from
           the
           
           Scripture
           or
           the
           Practice
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           he
           will
           oppose
           this
           ,
           or
           with
           what
           Justice
           he
           can
           so
           severely
           reflect
           on
           the
           Memory
           of
           the
           first
           Reformers
           ,
           for
           being
           of
           the
           same
           Opinion
           .
           But
           to
           return
           ,
           supposing
           we
           should
           allow
           this
           
             jus
             divinum
          
           which
           they
           contend
           for
           ;
           yet
           after
           all
           ,
           it
           must
           be
           left
           to
           human
           Prudence
           to
           determine
           ,
           when
           't
           is
           proper
           for
           Convocations
           to
           meet
           ;
           and
           then
           ,
           who
           is
           it
           that
           must
           judge
           of
           the
           proper
           Seasons
           for
           it
           ?
           Who
           of
           the
           Clergy
           have
           a
           divine
           Commission
           to
           judge
           of
           the
           Reasons
           ,
           and
           fix
           the
           time
           for
           it
           ?
           Or
           suppose
           the
           Clergy
           should
           differ
           in
           their
           Judgments
           ,
           who
           is
           the
           supream
           Arbiter
           that
           must
           decide
           when
           it
           is
           most
           convenient
           ,
           and
           accordingly
           shall
           have
           the
           Power
           of
           summoning
           all
           the
           rest
           ?
           Superiority
           in
           Bishops
           over
           each
           other
           is
           an
           act
           of
           human
           Authority
           ,
           since
           Christ
           did
           not
           appoint
           a
           Head
           ;
           and
           therefore
           any
           one
           of
           those
           can't
           have
           a
           Power
           by
           Divine
           Right
           of
           summoning
           all
           the
           rest
           :
           Where
           then
           must
           the
           Power
           be
           placed
           ?
           For
           they
           who
           urge
           such
           an
           Institution
           against
           us
           ,
           ought
           to
           assign
           where
           they
           would
           have
           the
           divine
           Power
           of
           summoning
           the
           Convocation
           to
           be
           lodged
           .
        
         
           After
           all
           ,
           't
           is
           Reason
           that
           must
           direct
           in
           these
           Cases
           ;
           when
           a
           Convocation
           ought
           to
           be
           Assembled
           ;
           of
           what
           Number
           of
           the
           Clergy
           it
           ought
           to
           consist
           ;
           where
           their
           Power
           is
           to
           be
           fixed
           and
           limited
           ,
           and
           to
           whom
           the
           chief
           Authority
           ought
           to
           belong
           of
           Calling
           and
           Dissolving
           them
           ,
           and
           of
           giving
           their
           Resolutions
           ,
           the
           Force
           and
           Sanction
           of
           a
           Law.
           This
           the
           Wisdom
           of
           the
           Nation
           ,
           has
           entrusted
           with
           the
           Sovereign
           Power
           ;
           
           and
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           has
           ever
           since
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           own'd
           and
           acknowledg'd
           it
           to
           be
           its
           peculiar
           Province
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           Author
           of
           the
           
             Municipium
             Ecclesiasticum
          
           ,
           poor
           Man
           ,
           he
           is
           rather
           to
           be
           Pitied
           then
           Censured
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           arguing
           part
           of
           his
           Book
           ;
           he
           writes
           so
           much
           backwards
           and
           forwards
           ,
           for
           and
           against
           himself
           ,
           and
           withal
           so
           very
           obscurely
           ,
           that
           the
           most
           charitable
           Opinion
           of
           him
           ,
           is
           ,
           That
           he
           knew
           nothing
           of
           what
           he
           writ
           .
           He
           is
           so
           strangly
           bewildred
           in
           his
           own
           Notions
           ,
           and
           so
           fond
           of
           Ill-nature
           ,
           that
           he
           is
           neither
           to
           be
           understood
           or
           convinced
           .
        
         
           All
           he
           has
           urged
           in
           defence
           of
           the
           
             Divine
             Right
          
           of
           Convocations
           ,
           will
           as
           much
           prove
           a
           Divine
           Right
           of
           Constables
           and
           Church-wardens
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           Officers
           that
           may
           be
           useful
           for
           punishing
           Immorality
           ,
           or
           for
           supporting
           or
           advancing
           
           the
           Interest
           of
           the
           Church
           .
           And
           for
           all
           the
           Argument
           I
           can
           find
           in
           his
           Book
           ,
           he
           might
           as
           well
           have
           called
           it
           a
           Criticism
           upon
           
           Honer's
           Iliads
           ,
           as
           an
           Answer
           to
           Dr.
           Wake
           .
        
         
           This
           Author
           is
           one
           great
           Instance
           ,
           why
           I
           think
           a
           Convocation
           necessary
           ,
           that
           Malice
           and
           Uncharitableness
           may
           have
           their
           just
           Reward
           ;
           that
           he
           may
           be
           convinced
           ,
           that
           he
           who
           writes
           at
           all
           adventures
           upon
           every
           thing
           he
           least
           understands
           ,
           must
           not
           think
           to
           carry
           a
           Cause
           only
           by
           abusing
           and
           defaming
           his
           Adversary
           ;
           which
           is
           all
           that
           I
           can
           find
           he
           pretends
           to
           ,
           in
           all
           his
           Prints
           :
           And
           lastly
           ,
           that
           he
           may
           be
           satisfied
           that
           his
           Ill-breeding
           ,
           which
           he
           values
           himself
           so
           much
           upon
           ,
           is
           but
           one
           way
           Meritorious
           .
        
         
           I
           should
           not
           have
           digressed
           into
           this
           way
           of
           Writing
           ,
           was
           it
           not
           to
           inform
           this
           Author
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           a
           difference
           between
           Railing
           and
           Argument
           :
           That
           the
           one
           is
           rude
           and
           indecent
           ,
           even
           when
           mixt
           with
           the
           other
           ;
           but
           without
           it
           ,
           't
           is
           insufferable
           .
        
         
           Thus
           have
           I
           run
           thro'
           all
           the
           parts
           of
           this
           Dispute
           ,
           about
           a
           Convocation
           ,
           which
           I
           thought
           necessary
           to
           be
           considered
           and
           discussed
           ;
           I
           have
           endeavoured
           to
           reduce
           the
           Controversie
           ,
           into
           as
           narrow
           a
           compass
           ,
           and
           to
           set
           it
           in
           as
           clear
           and
           true
           a
           Light
           as
           I
           could
           .
           And
           as
           I
           have
           given
           my
           Thoughts
           freely
           ,
           so
           I
           have
           not
           been
           misled
           by
           any
           Prejudice
           ,
           or
           a
           desire
           of
           pleasing
           any
           Party
           .
           My
           first
           Designs
           were
           to
           get
           a
           clear
           view
           of
           the
           Controversie
           ;
           and
           since
           there
           had
           been
           of
           late
           some
           heats
           about
           it
           ,
           I
           thought
           it
           not
           improper
           to
           expose
           my
           Enquires
           to
           publick
           Examination
           .
           I
           consulted
           the
           best
           and
           most
           rational
           Authors
           that
           I
           could
           find
           had
           writ
           upon
           the
           Subject
           ;
           tho'
           I
           thought
           it
           unnecessary
           to
           fill
           out
           a
           Volume
           with
           Quotations
           .
           
           But
           I
           shall
           add
           what
           the
           Learned
           Vossinus
           as
           well
           as
           Grotius
           ,
           says
           upon
           this
           occasion
           ;
           namely
           ,
           
             That
             besides
             the
             Divines
             ,
             all
             the
             Writers
             of
             Polity
             ,
             
             that
             are
             worth
             the
             Reading
             ,
             have
             declared
             the
             supreme
             Authority
             of
             Princes
             ,
             over
             Ecclesiastical
             Persons
             and
             Causes
             ,
             to
             be
             one
             of
             the
             principal
             parts
             of
             the
             Imperial
             Right
             .
          
           Dr.
           Wake
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           all
           the
           other
           Writers
           upon
           this
           Subject
           ,
           is
           wholly
           unknown
           to
           me
           :
           But
           I
           can't
           but
           think
           ,
           upon
           an
           impartial
           Enquiry
           into
           the
           Controversie
           ,
           that
           he
           has
           given
           us
           a
           very
           just
           and
           learned
           .
           Account
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           that
           he
           agrees
           with
           the
           most
           judicious
           and
           eminent
           Men
           ,
           that
           have
           treated
           the
           Subject
           before
           him
           .
           What
           a
           peice
           of
           daring
           Confidence
           must
           it
           then
           be
           ,
           to
           tax
           those
           as
           mercenary
           designing
           Writers
           ,
           that
           only
           espouse
           a
           Cause
           ,
           which
           some
           of
           the
           greatest
           and
           most
           learned
           Men
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           have
           before
           defended
           .
           But
           I
           shall
           urge
           nothing
           more
           ,
           but
           only
           ,
           That
           I
           have
           delivered
           what
           I
           judged
           to
           be
           Right
           ,
           without
           either
           Hopes
           or
           Fears
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
         
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A44094-e100
           
             *
             Epis.
             23.
             
          
        
         
           Notes for div A44094-e470
           
             Dr.
             Wake
             .
          
           
             Act.
             Parl.
             
               An.
               25.
               
               Hen.
            
             VIII
             .
             Upon
             the
             submission
             of
             the
             Clergy
             ,
             and
             restraint
             of
             Appeals
             .
          
           
             De
             Imperio
             sum
             .
             Potest
             .
             circa
             Sacra
             .
             c.
             7.
             
          
           
             See
             Bp.
             
             Taylor
             's
             
               Duct
               .
               Dub.
            
             L.
             3.
             
             C.
             3.
             
          
           
             Eccl.
             Polity
             .
             l.
             8.
             p.
             462.
             
          
           
             That
             Clause
             of
             the
             1st
             .
             Eli.
             which
             gave
             the
             King
             Power
             to
             make
             such
             high
             Commissioners
             in
             Ecclesiastical
             Causes
             ,
             is
             now
             repealed
             .
          
           
             Municip
             .
             Eccles.
             Preface
             .
             Defence
             of
             the
             Vind.
             of
             the
             depriv'd
             Bishops
             ,
             p.
             104.
             
          
           
             See
             Rast.
             Stat.
             22.
             
             H.
             VIII
             .
          
           
             Ecclesiastical
             Polity
             ,
             p.
             469.
             
          
           
             Preface
             p.
             44.
             
             Ed.
             Lond.
             1682.
             
          
           
             Vid.
             Stat.
             16.
             
             R.
             2.
             against
             purchasing
             Bulls
             from
             Rome
             .
          
           
             G.
             Voss.
             Ep.
             23.
             
          
           
             See
             Canon
             ,
             1640.
             
             Can.
             1.
             
          
           
             See
             Bishop
             
             Andrews's
             Sermon
             before
             the
             King
             at
             H.
             C.
             Canons
             1640
             Can.
             1.
             
          
           
             See
             Bishop
             Andrews
             Sermon
             at
             
               Hampton
               Court.
            
             
          
           
             See
             Bishop
             
             Taylor
             's
             
               Duct
               .
               Dub.
            
             L.
             3.
             
             C.
             3.
             
          
           
             Vid.
             Grot.
             de
             Imp.
             sum
             .
             Pot.
             cir
             .
             Sacra
             C.
             3.
             
          
           
             Eccl.
             Pol.
             p.
             444.
             
          
           
             C.
             7.
             de
             Synodis
             .
          
           
             See
             the
             Defence
             of
             the
             Vind.
             of
             the
             Deprived
             Bishops
             .
             
               Municip
               .
               Eccl.
            
             
          
           
             p.
             439.
             
          
           
             See
             Bishop
             Bramhal
             against
             the
             Scotch
             Discipline
             .
          
           
             p.
             109.
             
          
           
             Eccl.
             Pol.
             467.
             
          
           
             p.
             440
             ,
             441
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Defence
             of
             the
             Vind.
             of
             the
             deprived
             Bishops
             ,
             p.
             108.
             
          
           
             Eccl.
             Pol.
             p.
             464.
             
          
           
             See
             the
             History
             of
             the
             Troubles
             and
             Tryal
             of
             Arch-Bp
             .
             Laud
             ,
             p.
             309.
             
          
           
             lb.
             p.
             309.
             
          
           
             De
             Impersum
             .
             Potest
             .
             Circa
             Sacra
             ,
             Chap.
             10.
             
          
           
             By
             Doctor
             Hody
             .
          
           
             See
             Dean
             Nowel
             ,
             against
             Dorman
             .
          
           
             See
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             the
             Church
             of
             England
             ,
             concerning
             the
             Independency
             of
             the
             Clergy
             on
             the
             Lay-Power
             ,
             by
             the
             Vindicator
             of
             the
             deprived
             Bishops
             .
          
           
             Vid.
             Bp.
             
             Burnet's
             Hist.
             of
             the
             Reform
             .
             Vol.
             2
             ,
             p.
             399.
             
          
           
             See
             Dean
             Nowel
             ,
             who
             was
             Prolocut
             .
             of
             the
             Convocat
             .
             when
             the
             Articl
             were
             made
             in
             his
             Books
             against
             Dorman
             .
          
           
             Hist.
             of
             the
             Reform
             .
             Vol.
             2.
             p.
             400.
             
          
           
             See
             Bp.
             
             Taylor
             's
             Duct
             .
             Dubitant
             .
             l.
             3.
             c.
             4.
             
          
           
             Ep.
             23.
             
          
           
             Cap.
             4.
             
          
           
             Vid.
             Selden
             .
             de
             Synedriis
             .
          
           
             See
             Vossius
             ,
             Ep.
             23.
             
             Duct
             .
             Dubitant
             .
             l.
             3.
             c.
             4.
             
          
           
             Cap.
             7.
             
             De
             Synodis
             .
          
           
             Cap.
             7.
             
             De
             Synodis
             .
          
           
             Vid.
             Eccle
             .
             Politie
             .
             p.
             461.
             
          
           
             P.
             467.
             
          
           
             Acts
             15.
             
          
           
             Chap.
             7.
             
             De
             Synodis
             .
          
           
             Voss.
             Epist
             .
             23.
             
          
           
             Cap.
             1.
             
             De
             Imperio
             .
          
           
             See
             Bishop
             
             Andrew's
             Sermon
             at
             
             Hampton-Court
             .
          
           
             See
             Bishop
             
             Andrew's
             Sermon
             at
             Hampt
             .
             Court.
             
          
           
             Cap.
             7.
             
          
           
             Vid.
             Bp.
             Bramhal
             against
             the
             Scotch
             Discipline
             .
          
           
             Vossius
             Epist
             .
             23.
             
          
           
             Vid.
             Bp.
             
               Taylor
               ,
               Ductor
               Dubitamium
            
             ,
             Archbp.
             Bramhal
             against
             the
             Scots
             Discipline
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Vos
             .
             Ep.
             23.
             
          
           
             De
             Imperio
             sum
             .
             Potest
             .
             circa
             Sacra
             .