Q' r O PRINCETON, N. J. ^ vff Presented by Mr. Samuel Agnew of Philadelphia, Pa. Division Section .Vumder SCC- V \N VINDICATION O F T H E I Government, Doctrine, and Worship, Q^ / O F T H E €hurch of ENGLAND, EftablKhed io the Reign of Q.UEEN ELlZJSEr H: Againft the Injurious Reflexions of Mr. N e a l e, in his late Hijiory of the Puritans. Together with a Detection of many falfe Quotati- ons and Miftakes in^that Performaijce. alteram Partem. Audit LONDON: Printed, and Sold by A. Bettefworth and C. Hitch, at the Red Lion in Fater-Nofter-Row ; and T, A/iley at the Rofe^ and S. Anften at the Angel^ in St. P'auV'i Churtb-yard, Mdccxxxiii. VINDICATION OFT HE . Government, DM^^^.^-^ Introducti dl^t N Hearty Union and Friendfhip among Pro- teftants (could fuch a Blefling be obtain'd) muft prove highly ad- vantageous to the Intc- reft of true Religion. This, in all human Probability, would continue it where it already is, and fpread it in thofe Places where now it is not received. Enemies, as well as Friends, concur in this Opinion. The unwearied Endeavours of Tapifts from the Beginning of the Reformation, to B divide [ o divide the Troteflants^ plainly enough fhew their Sentiments upon this Head. In how many Shapes have they ap- peared? What Pretences, v^hat Intrigue, what Difguife have they not employed, to begin or carry on thofe Animofities, in which they have found too great Succefs ? 'Tis rather to be wiili'd than expected, that all who have feparated from the Church of Roffte (hould agree in the fame Opinions, or the fame ex- ternal Rites y but in mutual Forbear- ance and Charity they may all concur. 'Tis more than time they Ihouid : Duty as well as Intereft oblige them to it. While Popery is gaining continually upon the declining Intereft of the Re- formation ; while our perfecuted Bre- thren feel, in the moft fenfible manner, the daily Progrefs of this cruel Super- ftition upon the Continent ; and while the EmiUaries of Rome are fo far from being inadive in this Ifland^ at fuch a Junfture 'tis extreamly unfeafonahle^ and may be very prejudicial^ to kindle or revive any Difputes among thofe of the fame Faith. No Benefit fure can arife to the general Intereft of Proteftantifm, from endeavouring to convince its Ad- verfaries, that different Parties of Pro- tefiants have treated one another as feverely as Papifts have treated them all. C 3 ] all. If the Original of thefe unhappy Difputes was in the main very infigmfi" cant or groimdlefs^ the Revival oi them is ftill more improper. For the fake of Chriftianity, therefore^ and the Pro- tcftant Caufe, 'tis to be hoped, that every Attempt to awaken the PaiTions of Mankind upon fuch Points, will be for ever difcouraged by the Friends of Truth and Liberty. Why lliould Pro- teftaats bite and devour? why calumni- ate or reproach each other ? or why endeavour to afperfe and blacken the great Founders of the Reformation ? The common Enemy can do enough of This. 'Tis pity a Hiftory of the Turi- tans lately publifhed by T>aniel Neal^ M. A fhould give Occafion for fuch Re- flexions ! If either Party has often ded, as it may be each in its Turn has done, fince thofe Offences now ceafe, let them be buried in eternal Oblivion • not only be forgiven, but abfolutely forgot. Iliacos intra mtiros peccatur & extra. If the Lavos were fomewhat fevere upon the Turitans^ they^ when they had got the Power into their own Hands, took ample Revenge contrary to Law. Thefe things are paft ; for thQ future, if the Nation is not to be blefs'd with a more perfed Agreement, yet, as Chriftians, and as Proteftants, let us B 2 join [ 4 J . join our beft Endeavours in the impor- tant Caufe of Chriftianity, Proteflan- tifm, and pradical Religion. When united Attempts have got the better of the Infidelity and Immorality of the Age (which certainly demand the firft Regard) it will then be time enough for Fellow-Chriftians and Fellow-Pro- teftants to difpute Matters of fo little Confequence as an Organ or a Surplice^ a fquare Cap^ or a Gold King. It may even then be too foon to engage the Minds of People upon Subjefts of fo little Moment; but, at prefent^ 'tis, upon many Accounts, greatly unfeafon- able and improper. Contentions of this Sort, among many other Evils, are apt to produce a Coldnefs and Difregard for the neceffary Duties of Piety and Virtue. Men of all Perfuafions are too prone to fall into this Miftake, and fub- ftitutea difproportio7id Zeal againft^ as well 2isfor^ the external and difputed Parts of Religion, in the Place of true Devotion and real Goodnefs. When the Mind is thus warmly engaged in fuch Difputes, either on one Side or the other, it generally becomes too carclefs of more weighty Matters. Nor is this Effcd at all unnatural. One of the common Arts in this religious Con- troverfy (for even that, to the great Hurt [ 5 ] > Hurt of real Chriftianity, is now become a Science) is to heighten the Importance of the Point in Difpute. Matters which to a cool and impartial Man, not en- gaged in the Controverfy, appear of little Moment, by a skilful Manage- ment in this fort of Difputation, may be reprefented as of the utmoft Confe- quence. Hence Men are led to a vaft Opinion of themfelvcs, for being, as they imagine, fo much wifer than their Neighbours, in an Affair thought very momentous. Mr. N's Hiftory amply confirms this unpleafant Truth. In this Narration the World is reminded of thofe Difputes equally fierce and un- happy, which had for their chief Foun- dation nothing of greater Confequence than the Habit in which the Clergy were to officiate, and a few (very few they were) harmlefs Ceremonies of the fame indifferent Nature. By thus di- viding the Proteftants, they weakened that Intereft in the Infancy of it, when its whole united Strength feem'd fcarce fufficient againft Popery. And for what Reafon was this ill-tim'd hurtful Con- tention raifed, but chiefly that divine Service might be performed in a black Garb rather than a white one , that the Cloak of Geneva^ and not the common Surplice, might be the efta- B 3 bliilVd CO blifh'd Drefs? when, after all, the one is drcfling, in a manner, as the Jefuits do ; the other, at worft, is only wear- ing a Part of the Habit of the Parifli- Priefts. 'Tis natural for a Proteftant to wifh a Veil drawn over fuch a Scene as this; fo warm and hurtful a Conten- tion for fo fmall a Matter. This is no Jggra'vation of the Cafe, Mr. N. him- Ws Hift. feif declares, " Had the Habits and h *3o- " 2L few Ceremonies been left indiffe- ^^ rent, both Minifters and People had Ibid.p.:r94 « been eafy." Again, '' the Contro- " verfy with the Puritans had but a *^ fmall Beginning,'' How much Di- fturbance was raifed in the Nation up- on that Account, his whole Hiftory is a Proof. This Gentleman, upon En- quiry, will find, that the Re'vwal of this Controverfy, and the opening thofe Wounds which all good Men hoped were effeftually healed, meets with lit- tle Applaufc from the beft Protcftants, and the moft moderate Men in the Kingdom. Does he imagine there can- not be as frightful Pidures drawn of Calviniftic or Puritanical Perfecutors, as any he has drawn of the Church of 'Eyiglandl But what Purpofe could this anfwer, except to make the different Parties of Protcftants more cold to each other3 E 7 ] other, and help the Papifts to triumph over them all? The two Kingdoms of England and Scotland are happily united ; each Per- fuafion has the Advantage of a publick Eftablifliment, with a Toleration to thofe that refpediively differ from it. . But this, it fecms, is not fufficient ^ no- thing but the Introduction of the Gene- efence of their Jccnfed Superiors. The Treatment thefe t IX ] thcfe have met with fliall not be made an Example in fpeaking of the other. The Eftahlijhment of the Church of England on the Bafis on which it now ftands, was etfeded in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth ,• we ihall therefore pafs over the preceding Parts of Mr. iVTs Hiftory, and confider this as the prin- cipal Period when the Controverfy with the Tttritans properly had its Rife. A few Obfervations upon the Cir- cumftances of Affairs in that Reign, will give feme Light to the Difpute, if under them it fliall appear^ 1 . That Queen Elizaheth was really a Trotejiant^ and wifely fix'd upon the moft proper and fcriptural^ as well as mofl catholick and comprehenfive Eila- blifhiment of the Protefiant Religion. 2. That the Titritans were neither defirous of a T^oleration for themfelves, nor willing to grant it to any others ; but folely aimed at the eJiahUJloing their own Tlatform^ and perfecnting their Fellow-Subjefts and Fellow-Proteftants. 3. That they were treated with great Indulgence and Favour, and allow'd to enjoy many and confider able T refer*- inents in the Churchr 4* That [ I* ] 4. That their ow7t irregular Conduli obliged the Government to fecure itfelf, by keeping a ftridter Hand upon them. And that, after all, great T)ifiinUion was made between peaceable Noncon- formifts and thofe that endeavour'd the Overthrow of Church and State j that the one were indulged^ while the other were reftrain d. If thefe Things fhall appear upon proper Evidence^ the 'Eng- Uflj Reformation^ 'tis to be hoped, will be fufficiently vindicated from the Re- fiedions caft upon it in the Hijiory of the ^arita^^Sy and appear in its true Light a great and glorious Work, To prevent all Sufpicion of Unfair- nefs or Mifreprefentation , the 'very Words of the Authors made ufe of fhall be quoted ; tho' this may caufe a Diverfity in the Stile, yet it muft great- ly add to the Reader's Satisfaftion. Mr. N. allows Bifhop "Burnet^ Strype^ and Fzdlery to be the chief Church Hiftorians of thefe Times, and as fuch to deferve Credit. Thefe, together with the Tttritan Writers of the great- eft Efteem and Reputation among their own Party, will be the chief Evidences produced in this Caufe. CHAP. [ 13 ] CHAP. I. IN the firft Place, 'tis but Jtiflice to Queen Elizabeth^ to mention her honeft Concern and Zeal to introduce and fupport the Troteftant Religion ; that the Mea/ures ihe took were the moft proper^ and moft fubfervient to this laudable Defign. Any one in the leaft acquainted with the Character of this Great Princefs would hardly think it neceffary to vindicate her from the Charge of being adually a Papift, or greatly inclined to Popery, But, as it was not only the Imputation of thofe in her Reign, who could not be gratified with the full Eltabliiliment of their own Schemes, but Mr. N. alfo, in Imi- tation of them, has frequently laid this to her Charge 5 it feems necefl'ary, in the firft Place, to vindicate her from fo heavy an Accufation. By Mr. iV's Account of this Great Princefs, it muft be thought her Heart was entirely PopilTi. Thus, pag. 337. " Tho' the Tapijis were the Queen's " moft dangerous Enemies, herMajefty " had a pectiliar Tendernefs for them. So again, p, 255. ^^ One would have '^ thought, fays he^ thefe formidable !^ Confpiracies of thp Roman Catho- « licks [ H ] " licks fliould have alienated the " ^^teens Heart from them^ If her Majefty, upon very weighty Reafonsj was for retaining fome few ancient Ce- remonies, it had been much more decent as well as jaft to fo Great a Queen, to have faid Ihe inclin'd more to the Luthe- ran than Cahinifiic Proteftants, in the external Polity of the Church, tho' ihe never came up to the former. But "Popery is an odious Word, and therefore the Good j^ieen is to be Branded with that. Thus, when he is giving her Character in Form, at the End of her Reign, p. 6oi. " As to her own Re- " ligion, flie atfecSed a middle Way be- *^ tween Popery and Turitanifm^ tho' ^^ her Majefty was more inclinable to ^^ the former : She dilliked the fecular ^^ Pretentions of the Court of Rome ^^ over foreign States, but was in lo've " with the Pomp and Splendor of their " Worfliip. This is the heavy Charge brought againft that lUuftrious Princefs, who expofed herjelf to fo many Hazards for the Proteftant Religion. How ground- lefs the Accufation is, will foon appear to her Honour y and if it be to the Shame of her Accufer^^ they are to thank themfeives. The [ IJ ] The cruel Treatment flie met with in her Sifter s Reign., merely upon the Account of Religion^ fufficiently proves what Opinion the Papirts had of her Sentiments upon that Head. They ne- ver thought her Heart was for them, or that Ihe was any way in love with their Worfliip. Her Behaviour^ after fhe came to the Crown, plainly fliew'd they were not miftaken in their Apprehenfi- ons of her. The Way in which the "Pope himfelf, as well as foreign Vrinces^id. The Bull of the R^^//^ Church, and her own^^.^^^g'^,;^;^ TopiJ}oS\xh)Q&,s always treated her, is aEitza6. Bur. farther Evidence in her Favour ^ and ^'''' *'^* 577- fo is her fiipplying the Vacancies in the Church.^ as Mr. Rapin obferves, withRapin, ehz. the moji zealous TroteJiantSy and her^- ^^°' inviting foreign Proteftants into her Do-S^^^yp^'sAnn, minions, as well as fupporting them ' ^* ^^^' abroad. To form a better Judgment of the Queen's Regard to the Proteftant Religion, it may be proper to recoiled the Circumftances of Affairs at her Ac- ceifion. This will give a jufter Notion of her Condufl:, and fliew the Necejfity there was to proceed with great Cati- tiony and muft alfo convince every un* prejudiced Perfon, that had flie been fecretly difpofed towards Popery, Inte-^ reft would have led her to follow her Inclination, avidi continue Religion in the fettled. [ 16 ] fettled State in which Queen Mary left it, and not expofe herfelf to fo much Trouble and Danger, as it was eafy to forefee fo great a Change muft certain- ly occafion. Queen Marys Endeavours to make the Nation entirely Topijlo^ had fuc- ceeded too well. Bifhop Cox to a learn- ed Foreigner gives this Account of it. Strype'sAnn.^^ Popcry fo cncreafcd and prevailed in pend.^*. c"^!" " Five Years only, under the cruel ^^ Reign of Queen Mary^ that it was " incredible how very much the Papifls '^ were hardened." Biftiop Jewels at the fame time, to the learned "Bullifp- Ibid. ger^ " Our TJnvjerfitics are fo entirely " loft^ that there are fcarce two who " are of the fame Opinion with us. " You can fcarce believe fo great De- " vaftation could be made in fo iTiort Ibid. " a Time." As to the 'Bijlwps and Clergy^ all over the Nation, they were ttnanimotis for Popery, firm as a Rock. Immotus enim^ fays Biihop Cox^ fiat Clems tottis. ^anquam dura filex^ aut fiet Marpefta cautes. Sub fevo Mariae imperio ira crevit invaluitque Tapifmus ad quinquennium tantum, ut incredibile fuerit quantopcre peftora Papiftarum obduruerint. AcademiA noftrae ita afflidx funt & perJiUt ut vix duo funt qui nobifcum ftntianf— vix credas tcintam vajlitatem affcrri potuiflc tarn parvo tempore. So [ 17 ] So far was Queen Elizabeth thought from being in love with Popery^ that, as yir.Rapin tells us, ^^ a great Dif-Rapin, E!iz. " ficulty was thrown in the Way of the*"*^* " Declaration of the Houfe of Lords " in favour of Elizabeth. And this " was, that all England^ and particu- " larly the Houfe of Lords, made Pro- *^ feffion of the Roman Catholick Re- " ligion^ and that it was almoft out " of all Doubt, that Elizabeth was a '^ Trotejiant in her Hearth The Bi- fliops and Catholick Lords perfuaded themfelves that Elizabeth would find it a difficult Undertaking to change the eftabliih'd Religion, fhou d her Inclina- tions to fuch a Change be eoer fo firong s fo firm, in their Opinion, was the Foun- dation upon which Popery ftood, that they thought the attempting any Alte- ration would bring her into D//?//rZ'^7/2- Rapines Hift. ces that might be attended with^ her^^^^' Ruin. This was the State of Affairs, as to Religion ; the Nation univerfally TopiJJj i not only the 'BiJJjops and Cler- gy^ but all the Trioy-Counfellours^ Judges^ and other publick Officers^ were the mod bigotted Tapifts^ and chofen into Place for that very Reafon. 'Twas with great Difficulty they got aAnn.rc/ :, Bil"hop to crown the Queen, and at laft^*'*^- it was one in a See no more confidera- C ble [ x8] ble than Carlifle. The Oppofition from the 'Popijlj Clergy appear d very foon. Ann. Vol I. jq Coiwocatmi^ as Mr. Strype fays, they ^'^^' ^ 'did notably heftir themfelves, nor were they lefs aftive m other Places. " The ^- Popifh Priefts and other Zealots took " frequent Occafion, not only to preachy '^ but to jpeak very untoward Words " againji the ^een^ refleding, as it " feems, upon Queen Anne Pollen her *^ Mother, and her own Legitimacy " and "title- to the Succefiipn, and in '^ favour of the Qrieen of SeotsT This was another Emharafsment upon Queen Elizabeth i her Title to the Crown was difpiited., and liable to Objections upon the Article of Illegitimacy. Her pow- erfulKivaU Mary £^een ef Scots^ was in adual PoJeJJion of one Part of the liland, was of the fame Religion with Elizabeth's SiibjeUs^ and to the Power of Scotland']omd that of France^ where flie had married the Heir of the Crown ,• fo great was her Intereft in England^ that, as MeUjill^ who was not igno- rant of thefe Matters , informs us, Memoirs " Queon Elizabeth was in great Siifpi- •^^- " cion of her Eftate, finding fo many ^^ of her Subjefts Favourers of the ^* ^een of Scots!' And fo fanguive was Queen Mary^ her Friends fo many and powerful, that flie ajfumed the Arms [ 19 ] Arms and Stile of Qtieen of England^^P^'f^;*"- and foUicited the Tope to declare £//- ^ * ' * zaheth\ Title not to be good. Mr. Strype juftly obfcrves ^*^ the Queen had^bid. p. ,o, " ftill more Reafon to be jealous of the " Scots Title, iince her Sifter, the late " 2^ieen Mary^ ufed to tmmt her, by " telling her often, that the Otieen of " Scots was the certain and nndouhted '^ J^^/> of the Crown of E^igland^ next ^^ after herfelf. Add, /^ji^i" he^ to this, '^^ that the Cardinal of Lorrain^ in a " Conference with fome Delegates '' from 4^^/^ at Camhray^ about this ^■^ time aflerted, that his Niece the faid ^^ 2tieen of Scots was moft juft 2i^een ^^ of England.'' Befides, it muft be remembered, that againft a Rival fo ftrongiy fupported. Queen Jhlizaheth was very ill promded to make any Oppofition. The Crown was incum- ber d with immenfe T>ehts^ the Teople difpirited, the Fortifications riiinous. *^ Queen Mary left the Kingdom in asStrype'sAnn; " low and miferable an Ebb as ever it^''^•'^•^ ^' ^^ was known to have been in, in any former Times; embroil' d'mW^iv with France and Scotland *y the Et0'ver^ againft Trance ; fo " that an Invafion was fear'd on that '^ Side j and, on the Scots Quarters, Ibid. ;. 3. " ^Berwick \v2is in a wofui Condition, ^^ wanting both Fortifications and Men. The Lord Keeper Baco7i feem'd juftly fenfible of the unhappy State of Aflfairs, when he reprefented to the Parliament " the great T>ecays and Lofles of Ho- " nour^ Strength^ and Treaftire^ and " the Peril that happen'd to this Impe- *"' rial Crown of late Time. The mar- '^ vellous Wafie of the Re^'enue of the *^ Crown, the ineftimable Confumptmz '^ of the Treafiire levy'd both of the " Crown and of the StibjeU ^ the ex- '^ ceeding Lofs of Ammunition and Ar- *^ tillery-y the great Lofs of divers Va-^ *^ liant Gentlemen of good Service ^ *^ the incredible Sums of Money t?^/;^^ ^^ at that prefent, and in Honour due *^ to be paid, and the biting Intereft *^^ that was to be anfwer'd for Forbear- " ance of this Debt." Nor did the Face of Affairs abroad look more fa- vourable for a Reformation, than thofe at home. So far was the Queen from being ftrengthened and fupported by any foreign Alliance, that the moji conjide- rable Powers of Europe were ready to oppofe any fuch Defign. Her ow^n Sub- Sub- [ 21 ] Subjeds 'very foon began to form Con- [piracies with her foreign Enemies, even before her Coronation. " There were Strype's Ann: " fome already, fays Mr. Strype, of^7• " the Popidi Faftion, contrimng Mif- " chief againft the Qiieen, by fetting " up the Scots Queens Title, and by " getting Afliftance from the Giiifes in " France, to carry on their Defigns in " her Behalf." France was neither un- willing nor unprepared to give them that Afliftance. This was not doubted by the Queens Friends, '" for it was con-ibii ^ n. " eluded at Court, and taken for gran- '^ ted, that the French meant to en- " deavour the Conqueft of this Realm. They had now (as no lefs Man than Secretary Cecil obferves in a Paper drawn up upon this Subjeft) " got an ibid. " Occafion to conquer Scotland, and ^^ had already Men of War there ; and ^* prepared a great Army both out of *' France and Almain, their Captains ^' were appointed^ their ViUuals pro- " mided, their Ships in Rigging, they '^ reckon d within a Month to have " their Wills in Scotland. That done, " it feem'd moft likely they would pro- " fecute their Pretence againft England^ '' which had no Fort but 'Berwick to '' ftay them, and that was unperfeU, "-^ and would be fo thefe two Years Day. C 5 "If C " ] '' If they offer'd Battle with the " Jlmains^ there was great doubt how ^^ England would be able to fuftain it^ " both for lack of good Generals and '^ Great Captains, and principally for " lackoiTeople^ confidering theWafte " that had lately been by Sicknefs and " Death thefe three laft Years." Thus far that Great Man. There was fodn after the Queen's Accefifion a Plan drawn for effcding a Reformation. It is needlefs to tranfcribe the Whole, v/hich is to be feen in Bifhop ^timet's Hijiory of the Reformation^ but more correfi: in the Appendix to lylr. Strype's Jnnals of ^leen Elizaheth^^ Vol. L However, as this is a Paper of Confe- quence and Authority, we ftiall tran- fcribe that Part which contains the jutt Reprefentations of the Dangers that w-ere likely to follow a Reformation. Vol. r. Ap- ^"^ What Dangers may enfue upon the peB.^4. " Alteration? " L 7:'he Biiliop oi Rome, all that " he may, will be incenfed-^ he will ''^ excommunicate the Queen's Highnefs, inter diU the Realms, and give it to Prey to all Princes that will enter up- on it, and incite them thereto by all ^^ imanner of Means. '' II. The French King will be encou- *' ra2:ed more to the War, and make '' his [ ^3 ] ^' his People more ready to fight againft " us, not only as EnemieS:, but as He- " retich. He will be in great Hope ot '' Aid from hence, of them that are '' difcontented with this Alteration, " looking for Tumult and Difcord. " He will alfo ftay concluding Peace, '^ upon Hope of fome Alteration. " IIL A^^ri^^te^ will have fome Caufes " of Boldnefs ; and by that way the " French King will feem fooneft to at- " tempt to invade us. '"^ IM. Ireland alfo will very difficult- " ly be ftay'd in their Obedience^ by *•= reafon of the Clergy that is fo ad- '^ didted to Rome. " V. Many Teople of our own will '' be very much difcontented -, efpeci- " ally thefe Sorts. " I . All fiich as govern d in the late '' Otteen Mary J time, and were chofen '' thereto for no other Caufe, or were " then moft efteem'd for being hot and " earneft in the other Religion, and " now remain Unplac d and Uncall d to '' Credit, will think themfelves difcre- '' dited, and all their Doings defaced, '' and ftudy all the Ways they can to " maintain their former Doings, and " defpife all this Alteration. " 2. mjhops, and all the Clergy " will fee their own Ruin. In Con- C 4 '' feUion cc cc cc C H ] ^'^ fefllon and Preaching, and all other ^^ ways they can , they will per- *^ fwade the People from it. They ^^ will confpire with whomfoever that *^ will attempt, and pretend to do God *' a Sacrifice, in letting the Alteration, " tho' it be with Murther of Chriftian ^^ Men, or Treafon. 3. Men which he of the Tapift Self J which late were in manner all the Judges of the Law, the Jtijiices " of the Peace, chofen out by the late *^ Queen in all their Shires, fuch as ^^ were believed to be of that Se<5t ; and " the more earneft therein, the more '^ in Eftimation. Thefe are like to join with the Bifhops and Clergy. 4. Some^ when the Stthfidy Jloall he granted^ and Mone^ levied, (as it appeareth that neceflarily it muft be done) will be therewith offended ; and like enough to confpire and arife^ if they have any Head to ftir them to it, or Hope of Gain and Spoil, 5. Many fuch as would gladly *^ hai'e the Alteration from the Church ^^ of Rome^ when theyfhall fee perad- venture, that fome old Ceremonies fhall be left ftill, or that their T)o-' Urine which they embrace, is not al- lowed and commanded only, and all other aboliflied and difproved, '' fhall iJ[fatisfaUion^ which has feized me^ upon Morley V Keprefe7itation of Things. Good Gody what a miferable World do we live in ! Could 1 ever have thought ^ Sir^ that any fecular Confideration could have prevailed with you^ to difcard ajufi Senfe of God and his Fear ? or^ can you ever reafonahly expeU^ that Trovi- dence will grant this Change of yours a happy Ijfue ? or, could you entertain a Jealoufy^ that the gracious Seing^ who had fo long fupported and prefer-- vedyou^ would fail and abandon you^ at laji ? it is^ believe me^ a dangerous 'Experiment^ to do Evil that Good may come. "But I hope^ you may be yet re- covered to a better Inclination^ even the Spirit of a found Mind. In the mean Time^ Ifhall not ceafe to recommend your I 28 ] your Cafe to God^ in my T)aily Tray- erSy and earneftly to hcfeech himy that Efau J* Hands may not pollute the "Blcf- fifig and Hirth-right of Jacob. The Tromife yoti made of a facred and friendly Alliance^ I concei've myfelf to haz'e defern:edy and €. 38. [ JO ] " The Queen fays Mr. Strype, was not backward, upon her Jirfi coming to the Crown, to ftiew her merciful Nature (fo different therein from her late Sifter) toward the affiiUed Trofeffors of the Gofpel in Bonds and Imprifonment \ and for putting a fpeedy Stop to the cruel Methods ufed before, for the deteding them in all Places, and taking them up by a kind of Spanifh Inquifition ^ fo as became a Prince that intended not to rule with Rigour, but Juftice and Cle^lency. One of her earlieft Acti- ons was to releafe the Captwes^ and to reftore Liberty to the Free-born. Therefore Orders from above were fent to the Keepers of the Prifons, wherefocver thefe honeft and pious People w^ere detain'd, that they fhould fet them at Liberty, taking their own Bonds for their Appear- ance, whenfoever they ftiould be caird to anfwer." Befides, fetting^ thefe poor Prifoners at Liberty, and enquiring into the Execution of a C&m- mijfion in the late Reign againft X/ifcipline they had ufed in that Tlace eftablifh'd here. They, as it was natural for them^ gave the Prefe- rence to their own Model, as the Eu- therans did to theirs. The Number of the Gene'va Exiles was very inconfide- rable^ compared with thofe that were difperfed at the many other Places. K's Hift. jyir. i\r. obferves, that thofe of Gene- ^'"■^' va [only] wrote to their Brethren of Arrow^ Bafil^ Francfort^ Strashttrghy Troubles of aud Wormes (&c. as it is in the Origi- Franctort, j^^}^ fliould havc been added) defiring i'dic. ix75-, mutual Forgivenefs [of what happen d at [ 37 ] at Francfortl and that they would unite their Endeavours to obtain fuch a Form of Worfhip as they had feen pracftifed in (what they cail'd) the heft reformed Churches, The others, who were of different Sentiments, reply 'd, that it would not be in their Power to appoint what Ceremonies ftiould be ob- ferved ; but they were determin'd to fubmit to things indifferent, and hoped thofe of Geneva would do fo too: " And that whereas all the reformedihn p. 189^ " Churches dij^er among themfelves in " dwers Ceremonies, and yet agree in ^^ the Unity of T>oUrine 5 we fee no ^* Inconvenience^ [fay they] if we ufe ^^ fome Ceremonies divers from them^ " fo that we agree in the chief Joints " of our Religion." The Letter from the Church of Geneva was fign d by eleven Perfons, Chriftopher Goodman^ Miles Coverdale^ John Knox^ John Sodly^ William Williams^ Anthony Gilby^ Francis Withers^ William Ful^ ler^ John Tullen^ William "Bevoyet^ William Whittingham. Thefe fign'd in the Name of the Church, That of Francfort was faid to be moft nu-jviem.Rcror; merous, and amounted only to about i^^'/. ///. 80 Perfonsi but making the greateftj;;jjj^7^°^ Allowances, we cannot fuppofe, that/>. 133, * the Church of Geneva^ Minifters and D 3 People^ [ 38 ] People, did, at moft, amount to One Hundred : And of thefe Minifters fe^ve- ral^ tho' they prefer d the Geneva Mo- del, yet could, and adually did comply with the eftabliilied Form, and were beneficed in the Church. Let us then take an impartial View of this Matter, and in order to form a Judgment, remember what Mr. N> fays. Tag. 42. with an Air of Triumph againft Bifliop "Burnet^ " is it reafonable " that the Majority fliould depart from " their Sentiments in Religion, becaufe '^ the Prince vjith the Minority are of " another Mind ? " Sure then, if the Minority^ even with the fupreme Ma- giftrate on their Side, had no Right to an Eftablifhment (for it is of that the Bifhop is fpeaking, and to that Mr. iV. objefts) a Minority without the Prince, fo fmall a Number as fhould not be called aMinority^ an Handful of Men, were extreamly unreaf enable to expeft the BjftaUiJIoment of their own Form of Worfhip, and the Extirpation of e- very other. If the vaft Numbers of Tapijisy Lutherans^ and of thoje both from abroad and at home^ who were for King Edward's Keformation^ be confider a,what Pretence, what Shadow of a Pretence had a fingle Hundred of Men from Gejie^/a to claim the San- ation [ 39 ] dion of publick Authority, to enjoin and enforce their Scheme ? a Projet^l as impracticable as it was imreafonahlc ! Thus, the Lutherans and Cahinifts were each for their Plan ; but there was a third Propofal, King Edward's Reformation. It happens very unluc- kily that Mr. N's^ or, if he pleafes, the Turitdns ObjeUions to this Plan, as it was re-eftabiiflied by Queen Elizabeth^ are really fo many Arguments in its Favour, with refpeft to the feveral Parts of it, T>oUrinej Government and WorJInp. As to the firfl: Point, indeed, there was but little Difference ^ however a Cenfure is pafs'd upon the Queen by Mr. N^ himfelf, for not being rigid enough in her Opinions, and among .^-^ ^i^^ other Faults laid to her Charge, fhe is^ 123. blamed for being fond of old Rites and Ceremonies^ thinking her "Brother had jirippd Religion too much of its Orna- ments^ and made the T)oUrines of the Church too narrow in feme Points. Something of the like Nature is infi- nuated in one of the famous Jdmoni- tions to the Parliament, for the extir- pating the Epifcopal Government, and the eftablifhing the Geneva Platform^ or, in their Stile, the Holy Difcipline, wherein the Puritans make the foUow- D 4 ing cc cc [ 40 ] ing Declarations : " For the Articles " concerning the Subftance oiT)oUrine " ufing a Godly Interpretation, in a ^^ Point or two, which are either too fparely^ or elfe too darkly fet down, we are, and are ready according to Duty, to fubfcribe unto them." For this, and other the like Reafons, Mr. A^. gives them the Character of being zealous Calvin ifts ; and Mr. Fuller Fuller //^. 9, obferves, " fome have nnjtijily Vd%QA P' 7*- " the Compofers for too much Favour " extended in their large Expreflions, " clean thro' the Contexture of thefe ^^ Articles which were penn'd in *^ comprehenfi've Words, to take in all " who differing in the ^Branches meet *^ in the Root of the fame Religion." That the Articles of the Church of Engl a fid are fo fparely fet down as not to countenance the fevered No- tions of zealous Calvinifts, is certainly true, and has been often proved, but efpecially by a lato pidiciouSy learned and moderate Writer, in a Piece, in- tituled. An Apology for the Church of England j printed for JB. Widwinter in St^PauPs Church'Tard. This Gentle- man has ihewn, beyond all Contra- didion, that the Articles were com- piled with a Latitttdcy th^t fairly ad- mits a Subfcription from thofe of the Senti- [ 4X ] Sentiments of ArmininSy as well as CahUu He obferves, that among the Compilers, there were fevcral Anti- Calvinians ; and, as thofe who compil- ed the Articles were not all Calvin ifts themfelves, fo they were very far from defigning to frame Articles upon the rigid Calviniftic Notions. That as thefe Reformers were known to be Men of Temper, Prudence and Moderation, 'tis but Juftice to fuppofe, that in Points fo nice and intricate, they intended fuch a Latitude as would admit Sub- fcription, by moderate Perfons, of what is now called the Arminian, as well as of the Calviniftic Opinion, This Tem- per, fo agreeable to the general Prin- ciples upon which the Church of B^ng- land was eftabliihed, they likewife ob- ferved, with refped to the Article of Chrift'i T>efcent into Hell j for tho' there are feveral Opinions about it, yet they have not fpecially determined which is the true one ; and were par- ticularly careful in the Review of the Articles, to ftrike out that PalTage, which decided upon the Point. That, as the fuppofing the Articles left in medio^ between moderate and rigid Calvinists does not make them ufe- lefs j fo neither does the leaving them in medio^ between moderate Jrmini- ans [ 4> ] ans and modere Cahinijis make them of noUfe, becaufe they exclude other Notions, which both Parties agreed in condemning j in particular, the ill Ufe that the Gofpellers made of Predefti- nation, which brings them, as Biiliop Latimer expreft it, either to T^efpe- ration or carnal Liberty. He likewife appeals to the Articles themfelves, and mentions feveral Par- ticulars held by the Arminians, by which he obferves it eafily appears, that no one Propolition in all the Doctrines of the Church of England concerning ^Predeftination^ is contradicted by them. He takes Notice likewife of fome Par- ticulars in which the Articles do not a- gree with the Calmnijiic Scheme j they no where declare, that the Decrees of God were made without any Regard to the good or bad Behaviour of Men ; but what is moft remarkable is, that they adtually differ from the Calvinifts in that material Article of tmiverfal Redemption ; exprefsly alferting that Chrift's Death is a perfeft Redemption, Propitiation, and Satisfaction for all th^> Sins of the whole World '^ that this O- pinion runs thro' all the Offices of the Church, and is direCtiy oppofite to the Calviniftic Notion, that Chrift dyed on- ly for the EleU ; or in the Words of the Wefi^ ' [ 43 ] Wejiminjier Confeflion, neither are mty other redeemed by Chrift. This Point of univerfal Redemption, is the chief Article of the Difpute between the Ar- minians and Calviniils ; and, as he ob- ferves from Dr. Whithy^ who was well skilled in that Controverfy, draws all the reft after it. Here the Church differs from the Calvinifts. That agreeably to this publick De- claration of our Church, the private Writings of the moft eminent Refor- mers, fuch as Archbifliop CranmeVy Bifhop Latimer^ Bilhop Hooper^ (jc. fpeak in the fame Strain 3 he has pro- duced Quotations from them. He fur- ther obferves, that the principal Oc- cafion of Calvinifm taking any Root a- mong the Englijh Clergy, was in ^ueen Marys Reign, when many of the Ex- iles fell into the Calviniftic Notions, which they learned at Gene^^a^ Zu- rich^ and other Calviniftic Churches ; that, notwithftanding this, feveral con- fiderable Divines were of different Sen- timents, and the Articles continued, without any materia] Alterations, as to thefe Points, under Queen Elizabeth^ the fame they were under K. Edward. When thefe were compiled in that King's Reign, it does not appear any Deference was paid to Caking Judg- ment r 44 ] ment or Authority ,• inftead of that, the Afliftance he offered was, to his no little Grief and Diflatisfadtion, refufed. He likewife obferves that, in drawing up the Articles, the Compilers next to the Scripture and Dodrine of the pri- mitive Church, had an Eye to the Jitguflan Confejfion^ the Writings of MelanUhon^ who was invited over hi- ther ^ the Works of jEf/^y^^^j i and ^Z?^ Enidition of a Chrijiian Man. This Bock was pubUfhed in King Henrys Reign, and had the Approbation of moft of thofe who compiled the Ar- ticles ; and, 'tis very exprefs againft the Calmnijiic Notions, as to univerfal Redemption, falling from Grace, and Free Will. As the Articles were com- pofed chiefly by Perfons, not of Calvi- niftic Sentiments, and underwent no material Alterations as to thefe Points, in the Review -, fo they muft, at leaft, be thought to be left in medio j and, accordingly he remarks fome of the Calvinifts, Cartwright and his Follow- ers in the Admonition, fyc. objeivine T>ecrees^ which have hrohen fo many of the Reformed beyond Sea, but in " thefe has left Divines to the Free- " dom of their feveral Opinions. Nor " did fhe run on that other Rock of " defining, at firft, fo peremptorily, *' the Manner of Chriffs Trefence^ in ^^ the Sacrament which divided the *^ German and Helvetian Churches ; " but p. 159. cc cc cc cc cc [ 46 ] but in that did alfo leave a Latitude to Men oi different Perfuafions. This charitable and ufeful Latitude^ as to the real Trefence^ is unhappily another ObjeUion with Mr. N. " The p. i38» cc Rubric, fays he, that declared, that '^ ^i; kneeling at the Sacrament^ no Adoration was intended to any Cor-- poral Trefence of Chrift^ was ex- punged,'* What then ? why for this and other Reafons as weak and ground- lefs, ^tieen Elizabeth' j* Common Tray- er ^ook was hardly equal to King Ed- ward'i" / Dr. Humphreys and Sampfon^ two Heads of the Nonconformifts, men- tion it in a Letter to Zurich^ as a Grievance ('tis their own Word.) T^he ^97* Jrticle which explain d the Manner of ChrifPs Trefence is taken away : Had the Cahinijis or Puritans been obliged to acknowledge any corporal Prefence, or had it been declared there was any in the Sacrament, the Objedion would have had fome Weight : But as the Lutheran Senfe was not forced upon them, it was very unreafonable Kar- rownefs to be difpleafed, that their Senfe was not impofed upon the Lu- therans. Why fhould one be excluded more than another by a particular Ex- plication ? Each thought themfelves in the Right, and it was a more can- did [ 47 J did Method of Proceeding, and a fair Compromife^ tho' difapproved by the Puritans and their Hiftorian, that each fliould enjoy his own Senfe, without fixing it upon the other. Indeed (fays Mr. Fuller) moft of the p. 72. Compofers of the Articles had for- merly been Sufferers themfehes^ and cannot be faid in compiling thefe Articles (an acceptable Sermce no doubt) to offer to God what coft them nothings fome having paid Imprifon- '^ ment^ others Exiky all Lofs in their ^' EJiates for this their experimental ^^ Knowledge in Religion^ which made ^^ them the more merciful and tender *^ in ftating thofe Points ^ feeing fuch, '^ who themfelves have been the moft " patient in hearings will be moft piti- '^ fill in hurthening the Confciences of ^^ others." But as was obferved before, the Difference as to Dodrines was not great, and confifted chiefly in this, that the Sentiments in the Efiahlifloment were more charitable and comprehen- five than thofe of the Calvinifts. But fince the Sacrament is mentioned, upon Account of the real Prefence, it may not be improper to take Notice of another Circumftance attending that Ordinance. It feems kneeling was en- joined, as being thought a Pofture moft proper cc cc cc (C cc I 48 3 proper to exprejs a due Senfe of the great Lo've and Goodnefs of our bleffed Samoiir in dying for Mankind : That Kneeling is a Scriptural Pofture of Wor- fliip is not deny'd. The Queftion there- fore is^ Whether in fo folemn an A6t of Worfhip as Humiliation for thofe Sins which were the Occafion of our Saviour'^ Death, and T^hankjgi^jing for his won- derful Goodnefs in laying down his Life ; whether in fuch Ads of Worfhip any Pofture can be too refpedful and fub- miffive ? There are no Chrijiians who have not departed from the original In- ftitution in fome Circumft^nces^ fuch as the Time^ the Vlace^ the Manner ^ the Company 5 nay, and the very To- voin.p-iyo.Jlure. Billiop "Burnet obferves, " it was apparent in our Saviour s TraUicey that the JewiJJo Church had Chan- ged the Tofture of that Inftitution of the Taffover^ in whofe Room the '^ Eucharift came ; For, tho' Mofes had appointed the Jews to eat their Pafchal Lamb, ftanding with their Loins girt, with Staves in their *^ Hands, and Shoes on their Feet ^ yet ^^ the Jews did afterwards change this '^ into the Common-Table-Pofture ; of '^ which Change, tho' there is no men- ^^ tion in the Old Teftament, yet we " fee it was fo in our Saviour's Time^ " And cc cc cc cc cc cc [ 49 ] ^* And fince he comply 'd with thd ** common Cuftom, we are furc that ** Change was not criminal. It feem'd *' reafonablc to allow the Chriftian *^ Church the like Power in fuch things " with the yet0ij}o: Arid ^s the Jews ** thought their coming into tlie pro- " mifed Land hiight be a Warrant to " lay afide the Pofture appointed by *^ Mofes y which became Travellers *' befti foChrift being now exalted^ it ** feem'd fit to receive this Sacrament " with higher Marks of outward Re- ** fped, than had been proper in thd firft " Inftitution, when he was in the State *' of Humiliation^ and his Divine Glory *' not yet fo fully reveal'd. 'Tis true^ KneeUng was abufed, and fo was the Feafling Pofture ^ as 'tis call'd by Mr. K^ /?. 238. Of this the ExcefTes at fome Lot'e Feafts are too good a Proof. But Mr. N. mentions flanding at the Sacrament ; whereas the Puritans ^isJlriUly enjoined fitting as the Church did hieeling. The Injun(2ion they made on this Head is in thefe Words. " The Exhortation ended, '^^^^^crvice. ** the Minifter coming down from the the ^Lgiiji) *' Pulpit, fitteth at the Tahlcy e ve i^y church otc^- ** Man and Woman /;z/i;&^^//^, taking 37;;:Vrby their Place, as Occafion beft ferveth ^ ihtMofl Revj then he taketh Bread, and givcthif;;->*;^t Thanks, Q-c. This then is the State of church of E (he^^^^^'*"'''^-*^- <( [ JO ] the Cafe. ThePofture o£ fitting enjoin'd by the Tnritans was calculated for none hut themfehes^ and muft have excluded many others; whereas the Pofture of hieeling was not only approvd by the Friends of Ki7ig Edward's Reformat tmi^ but was necejjary to keep the Lutherans^ and ma7iy who, in the Reign of ^teeyiMary^ had been fedu- ced to Popery (to whom fome Regard and Compaflion was due) iii the Com- munion of the Church. This humble and decent Pollure of kneeling is fome- times call'd Topery and Idolatry; upon which Cenfure Biiliop "Burnet makes R;/. 7/.^. 1 7 1. the following Remark. " In the pri- '' miti^e Church they received fiand- ^^ ing and hending their "Body in a Po- " flure of Adoration. But how foon that Gefture of Kneeling came in, is not fo exactly obferved^, nor is it needful to know. But furely there is great Want of Ingenuity in them that are pleafed to apply thefe Or- " ders of fome latter Popes for kneel- " m^ at the Elevation, toourkneel- *^ ing; when ours is 7iot at 07ie fuch ^^ Vart^ which might be more liable " to Exception, but during the whole ^^ Office : By which it is one continued ^^ AU of Worfhip, and the Communis " cants kneel all the while. There C 51 ] There is mother very important ©//- ferenccj th^t makes it cafy to judge on which Side Chriftian Charity anifcipliney unlefs they bring Let- ters Teftimonial, d'r. What a large Field for Reflexion is here ? But the Reader fhall be left to his own Thoughts upon the Topicks fo often employ'd in the Caufe of this Holy Difcipline, Unwar- rantable l77ipoJitions^ Scripture the only Rtile^ Chriftian Liberty :, &c. Every un- prejudic'd Pcrfon will eafily determine whether he would rather be obliged to commemorate, kneeling^ the dying Love of his Saviour, which was a necejjary Means to keep many weak brethren in a Proteftant Church, or be compell'd to ftibfcribe to their T)oUri7ie and T^ifci- pline^ in order to partake of the Holy Sacrament, and be alfo equally obliged to [ 53 3 to Jit y and thereby keep up a Divifion be- tween the Reform'd Churches. Mr. Fid" ler mentions this diftinguifliing Mode- ration to the Honour of the Church of England. " No Lay-Terfon (fays he)^:.^^. 9•^ 7»- " was required to fubfcribe, no Magi-- *' Jlrate^ none of the Commons^ accord- ^^ ing to the Severity in other Places. '^ For the Perfecuted Church of En^- ^^ Ufh in Francfort in Qpeen Mary her *^ Days, demanded Siihfcription to their *' Difcipline of e'very Man, yea, even ^^ of Women. Mr. iV's next Objeftion to King JS^- isoard's Reformation, is the Form of the Ecclejiajiical Go^^ernment ; and yet here again the good Queen wifely chofe not only the mqft Chriftian^ but the moft moderate and Catholick Scheme of Church Government. The Holy Scrip- tures^ and the unqueftionable Ufage of the Vrimiti've Churchy were abundant- ly fufficient to recommend the Appoint- ment of "Bijhops. But as this Epifco- pal Form of Governing the Church was better fuited to the Form of the Dc// Government in England^ (however a different Manner might fuit the little 'Repnhlick of Gcjie^a) as moft of the Reformed Churches in Germany had the fame Form in Effeft, changing on- ly the old Greek Names (as Zanchins E 5 report- cc ce cc t 54 1 Survr'^'Xf^^P^^^^^^^* 6f JrchbiJIoops and S/^^/'J ^urvey, ^-j^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ worfc Latin Names of Stiperintendents and General Super in-- teyidents. As the mote moderate CaU mnifts^ and their great Leader, Cahin himfelf, ailow'd of this Superiority of Bifhops, and thought it very ufeful. In the Chapter, which was Wrote upon the State of the Churchy and the Mari- ner of Governing before the Vapacy^ he expreffes himfelf after this mannef. It will be very advantageous, in con- fidcring the Manner of Governing the Church, and the feveral Orders of Minifters, to obferVe the Form of Cdvin. Injlitut. Lth. 4. Cap.^, De ftatu veieris Ecelefii^ ^ ratione gubernandt qui m ufu fu'tt ante Fapatum^ Ucile crit in iis rebus [de ordinc gubernandse ecclefiae 5c mini- ftcriis] vetcris ccclefi^ formam recognofcere, quae ttobis divinae inftitutiohis imagincm quandam oculis repraefenta- bit. Timetfi enim mulros Canones ediderunt iliorum tem- pcrum Epifcopi quibus plus videtientur expriniere quatn i'acrjs libris exprelTam cflet : ea tamen Caurione rotam fa- am oeconomiarn compofuerunt ad unicam ilhm verbi Dei normam, uc facile videas liihil fere hac parte habuifTe a verbo Dei alicnum- Quibu? ergo docendi rhunus i'n- jun(5lum erat, eos omnes noininabant Presbyteros. Illi ex fuo numero m fingulis chitattbus unum e)«gebanr, cut fpecialirer dabant tirulum Epifcopi, ne ex Aqnalitate, ut fieri foler, dijjidta nafcerenfur,;— — Quod autem fingulac provin- cial unutn habebant inter Epifcopos Archiepilcopum : quod itemin NicenaSynodoconftitutli futttPatriarcbae, quieffe'nc ordine & dignitate Archiepifcopis fuperiores, id ad dtfcipli- n£ conft-rvatiomm pertinebat- — — Gubemationem fie con- ftituram no'nnulii Hierarchiam vocaruht nomine (ut fnihi videtur, improprio: certe Scripturis inufifato— — VeSrum ii rem omifTo vocabulo intaemur, repcriemus vetcres Epif^ copos non a] Jam regendae Ecclefiae formam vbJuifle fingcre ab ea <]uam Deus vcrbd fuo pr«fcripfir, "the [ 55 ] the ancient Churchy which reprefents to us an Image of the Divine Infti- tution. For altho' the '£iJIjops of thofe Times pnbfifJjed many Canons^ *^ in which they feem to exprefs more " than is expreffed in the Holy Scriptures; ^' yet they framed their whole OEco- " nomy with fo much Regard to that '' only Rule, the Word of God^ that " you may eafilyfee, they have fcarcc ^' any thing, in this refpea, different " from the Word of God— All thofe " who were enjoin'd the T>iity of teach^ '^ ing^ they called Treshytcrs. Thefe, " in every City ^ chofe one of their " own Number, to whom they fpecially " gave the Name of "Bifhopy left, as ^' commonly happens, T>iJlentions ihoxxlA " '3ix\^Q from an Equality. That eve- ^^ ry Province had among the Bifliops " one Jrchhifljop:, and that in the " Council of Nicey Patriarchs were ^^ appointed fuperior to Archbiihops in '^ Order and Dignity^ this appertained " to the Prefervation of Difcipline. ^' The Government fo conftituted fome " call the Hierarchy, an improper Word, " (as I think) certainly not ufed in '^ Scripture— But to pafs by the Word, if we regard the thing itfelf, we *' fliall find that the ancient "Bijhops " were wUliJ^S to frame no other Form ' ' E 4 ''of cc C 5<5 ] " of Governing the Church, than that " which God had prefcribed in his " Word." Another Writer fpeaks to Survey of the this Purpofe. " As G^/^ himfelf ap- DTfcipiine,''^^" Pointed an Inequality amongft the /). 142. ' '^ Triefts in the OldT^eftament -, as by " ChrifFs Inftitution, and in his own ^^ time, the Jpojiles were fiiperior to '^ the Seventy Difciples : As the Jpo- ^^ files ^ when the Gofpel began to " fpread itfelf, appointed ixxndryT^imo- *' thies^ and Titns^ to govern the *^ Churches in divers Countries and " Territories: As all the Eccle/iafiical " Hiftories do record the Superiority ^^ of Bifliops, and do fet down the ^^ Catalogues of many of themi^ and " which of the Apofiles and Apoftolical " Bifliops, and in isohat Cities and " Cojuntries they fucceeded : As all ^^ the Ancient General Councils^ and " all the ancient and godly learned Fathers have allowed of "BifloopSy and of their Superiority over the reft of the Clergy ; As Bifliops have been accounted generally throughout the '' World, to be the Apoftles Succef- •^ fors, and have continued in the " Church ever lince the Apoftles time : "' As there was never any one of all ""^ the ancient Fathers, nor any learned -' Men for Fifteen Hundred Years, but '^ Jeritis *^ Jerhs the Heretick, that ever held ^^ that there ought to be no Difference ^' betwixt a Biihop and a Prieft (I mean ^' an ordinary Minifter of the Word :) " and that his Opmion was imputed *' unto him 1200 Years hence by Epi- " phanitis and St. Jtiftin^ for an Here- " fy: As all the chief of the learned " Men^ that were the principal Inftru- " mcnts, under God, in this latter '' Jgey for the Rejiitution of the Gof " pel, allow d fully of "Bijhops^ and " of their Authority, and would wil- " lingly have fubmitted themfelves to " their Obedience, if they might have " been received with any tolerable Con- '^ ditions : As all the Reform d Churches " in Germany, that do embrace the '' Juguftan Confelfwn, have (for the ^^ moft part) their Superintendents and " General Superintendents, the fame *' in effeft with our Bifhops and Archbi- " ftiops: As the chiefeji of Mhc German " Writers^ now living, do jufiify the " Calling and Offices of their Superin- *' tendents and General Superintendents *' by the Word of God: As none of lat- '' ter Times ever condemn d the Calling '' and Authority of fuch Bifliops and ** Archbilhops, as embrace the Gofpel ** (for ought I find) but ^eza and his ♦* Scholars. As Zanchius, a Favourer ** of [ 58 ] ** of the Elderfhip Equality, and now Beza contra'^ "Bcza himfelf joining with hinij do ^^^'^'tMi^'^ both of them coufefs, that the Cal- ** ling and Authority of ^iJJjops and Ibid. p. 115-." Jrchbiffjops may be defended ^ that & 1 1(5. u ^j^gy jj J proceed from /^^ //^/>' Ghoji^ " and that there is nothiiig more ;;2^- *' i/c/^/? in all the Ecclefiaftical Hifto- '' ries^ all the ancient Councils^ and in *' the Writings of all the ancient Fan " thers^ than the Allowance of them, *' throughout all Chriftendom. " Not- withftanding all this, Mr. ^. is extream- ly fond of a Parity among the Clergy, and has taken tQO much Pains in that Caqfe. 'Twas an Excefs of Zeal to prefs the pious Reformers and King Edward's Ordinal into this Service : K^s Hift. ** The Committee (fays he) foon finift- h^i.c^, cc gj ^j^p-j. Ordinal, which is a|moft *' the fame with that now in Ufe : they take no Notice in their Book of the lower Orders in the Churchj of RomCj as Subdeacons, Readers, Aco- *' lytes, (jc. but confine themfelves to ** Eifhops, Priefts and Deacons ; and " here it is obfervable, that the Form " of Ordaining a Trieji^ and a ^iJIjot> *' IS tHE SAME, there being no e^^preis *' Mention in the Words of Ordiq^tion *' whether it be for the one or the other " Office : This h^s W^p alter'd of Jate " Years, cc [ 59 ] ** Years, ftnce a Diftindion of the two *' Orders has been fo generally admit- ^' ted ; but that was not the received *' T>oUrine of thefe Times. " Thus again. " We may obferve (fays he) ibid. ;>. Sir ** from the Hiftory of this Reign [King ^' 'Edwards ] that the firft Reformers '' believed but two Orders of Church- " men in Holy Scripture, mz. ^ijloops *' and T>eaco7ts ,* and confequently the '' Bifhops and Priefts were but different Ranks or Degrees oi t\iQ fame Or- ibid. />. 494; ^^ der. '* In like Manner elfewhere* " Our firft Reformers admitted but ^^ two Orders of Church Officers to be ^^ of divine Appointment, ^iz. Bifhops '^ and Deacons ; a Tresbyter and '^ "Bifhops according to them, being but *^ two Names for the fame Office." By this Account 'tis plain Mr. N. would have it believed, that Bifhop and Pricft were, in the Opinion of the firft Re- formers, fynonimous Terms, lignifying not only the fame Order ^ but the fame Office too \ being, as he fays, but two Names of the fame Office. His mate- rial Proof is the publick Ordinal i and to befure, if anywhere, the Reformers fpeak dijiinUly^ when they are defign- ^dly treating upon this Subjed, and ap- pointing the very Forms of Ordination tod Onfecn^tion. Here then wc join - ^^ • Iflue [ ^o ] Iffue, and both appeal to the fa^72e Or- dinal, as a decijive Troof. Mr. N\ Aflertion Page 82, is in thefe Words. " Thefrft Reformers helie'ved " BUT TWO Orders of Church-Men in " Holy Scripture^ *viz. Bishops and " Deacons." Thefe very fame firft Re- formers, in the very fame Ordinal, he refers to, make the following exprefs Declaration. £W/s Or* ^^ ^^ evident unto all Men, diligent- dinaL ly readynge Holy Scripture and aiinci- ent Jutoiirs{ that from tV Jpoftles J T^yme there hat^e he en these Orders '^ of Minijiers in Chrifles Chiirche^ Bi- SHOPPEs Priestes ^«^ Deacons. Without flopping for one Refledion, let us go on to his next Affertion, which runs thus ^ V5 Hift. " The Form of Ordaining a Trie(i ^ ^♦- " and a Bifl:iop is the fame." Here we have Recourfe to the fame Ordinal, and find therein two Forms, one for the Trieft, and the other for the ^iJJjop, as diftinft from each other as the Forms of a T>eacon and a Trieji. The ^ifhof is confecrated by an Arch- hiJhopanA. Biflwps \ the Trieft ordain d by a "Bifhop and ^Presbyters. The Title of the one Form is The Form of ordain- ing of 'Priejis; the Title of the other i^ The For?n of Confecration of an Jrcb- hi(hop^ [ 61 ] hifhop^ or Bifhop. Perhaps Mr. N. means that the very Form of Ordination and Confecration, thofe indhidnal Words^ by which they are ordain d and confe- crated, are the fame. But neither is this the Cafe. The Form for the Triefi ^^^^ is as follows. When this Prayer is done^ 4^ the Bishop with the Priests prefent^ S:/ ;^ ffoall lay their Hands fe^ver ally upon the | ^ ^^ Headofez^ery one that recein^eth Orders y^\^ g ^ ^ the Recei'vers Jmmhly kneeling np07ti>: ^ J c their Knees, arid the "Bifioop jayingM g ^ > "' Receive the HolyGhoft: WhofeSms|S ^ o ^ '' thou doft forgive they are forgiven : \ g '^^ ^ " And whofe Sins thou doft retain they ^ ^ •' are retained i and be thou a faithful " Difpenfer of the Word of God, and " of his holy Sacrament. In the Name " of the Father, and of the Son, and " of the HolyGhoft." "fhe "Bijloop jhall deliver to ecery one of them the Bible in his Hand, faying, '' Take thou Au- ^' thority to preach the Word of God, " and to minifter the holy Sacraments " in this Congregation where thou Ihalt " be fo appointed." The Form of confecrating an Arch- bi(hop or Bifhop is this. Then the Archbishop ^w^ Bishops prefent Jlmll lay their Hands upon the Head of the eleUed'Biflwp, the ArchUjloop fay- ing, " Take the Holy Ghoft, and re- ^^ member I 6t 2 ^^ member that thou ftir up the Grace " of God which is in thee, by Impofi- " tion of Hands ; for God hath not " given us the Spirit of Fear, but of " Power and Love, and Sobernefs." ^hen the Archhijhopjhall deliver him the liihle^ f^yi'^^g-, *^ Give Heed unto Reading, Exhortation and Doctrine ; think upon thefe Things contain'd in this Book I be diligent in them, that the Encreafe coming thereby may be *^ manifeft unto all Mtn* Take Heed " unto thy felf, and unto teaching, and " be diligent in doing them ; for by " doing this thou ^alt fave thy felf, " and thofe that hear thee. Be to the " Flock of Chrift a Shepherd, not a '^ Wolf: Feed them, devour them not - ^^ Hold up the weak, heal the Sick, ^^ bring together the Broken, bring a- " gain the Out-caft, feek the Loft ; be ^^ fo merciful that ye he not too remifs i " fo minifier Discipline that you for- ^' get not Mercy ; that when the chief '^ Shepherd fliall come you may re- ^^ ceive the immarcefcible Crown of *^ Glory, thro' Jefus Chrift our Lord. ^ Amen. Thefe are the Forms of ordaining a Bifhop and a Trieft^ whidh are called the fame. The Weight of thus Mif- rcprefenting a publick Ordinal falls wholly [ ^3 ] wholly upon Mr. N. His Friends are of a different Opinion : The Ob/eUions of the ^Puritans to thoih Forms of Ordi- nations are as follow. Under the Ar- ticle of Tyefects in the publick Service alledged by them, this is one Particu- lar. ^' 4. The Trie ft receiveth in his a short Table " Ordination no Authority to govern °^^^"^''y^^- " the Flock, and exercife the Tyifci-^^^l'^^''^^' ^^ pline of Chrift, but 07tly to preach '^ the Word, and adminifter the Sa- *^ craments. " Under another Article, which bears the fevere Title manijeft Untrtithsy this ftands as the firft Parti- cular. " I. When it is faid, that it is " evident unto all Men^ diligently ^^ reading the Holy Scriptures and an- " cient Writers, that from the Apollles " Times there have been thefe Orders " of Minifters in Chrift's Church, mz.ihid, " Bifhops, Priefts and Deacons." Un- der anotlier Title call'd Popifli Errors and Superftitions, the id Particular runs thus: " That Deacons, Priefts, >Bi-ibij. ;. uo. " fliops, and Archbifhops, are made " feveral Orders and Degrees of Mi- nority. Nothing, fure, but the Impoffibility of fupporting his Scheme, and proving the Parity of Presbyters ^and Biflaops any other Way-, could have put Mr. N. upon this Method of attempting it. He C Hi He had indeed undertaken a difficull Task, and muft therefore have great Allowances in the Execution of it. The Senfe and TraBice of the whole Cbri- jiian Church for fifteen Hundred Years, in a Form of Church Government, fo early^ fo tinwerfally^ fo conjiantly re- ceived, were great Obftacles. No In- ftances of Presbyters executing the di- Jiinguijhing Offices of a Biihop, no Ex- ample of any Man's being a Bifliop one Day, and reduced to a mere Presbyter the next, as muft have been the Cafe, had a Bifliop, as is fometimes alledged, been no more than a Chairman^ a Mo- derator, or temporary Trefident of a Presbtery. No Inftances oi many Bi- fliops in Places where there were many Priefts ; on the contrary, we always find 07ie particular Perfon mention'd as the Bifliop, and [ole Bifloiop of one par- ticular City ; even where there were many Presbyters. This being the Cafe^ and the promifcuotis Ufe of Names^ not fufficient to overcome fo many Ar- guments, or fliew the Identity of Order and Office between a Bifliop and Prieft, any more than an Jpoftles calling him- Eph.iii.7» felf a T)eacon will prove the Apofto- Coi. 1. 23. Y^i^Q ^^^ Deaconftiip to be one Order ; other Methods were to be try*d, and the very Form of confecrating a Hijhopy who [ 6^ 3 who had hefore been ordained a Prieft, be employ'd to prove there was, in the Opinion of the Compilers of that Form, no fuch Order as Biiliops in the Church, all meer Presbyters and nothing more • not only the Order but the very (ffkce the fame. Since Mr.iV". has thought fit to intro- duce the Reformers as Patrons of his Notion of Parity, it may not be im- proper to lay before the Reader Bifhop Gurnet's Account of the Jutbors of Hift. Refor. that Opinion. ' " In the ancient Church ^'^' ^- ^5<^^• '^ they knew none of thefe Subtilities " which were found out in the latter *' Ages. 'Twas then thought enough '^ that a "Bijhop was to be dedicated to " his Funftion by a new Impofition of " Hands, and that fever al Offices could '^ not be performed without "Biflwps ^ " fuch as Ordination, Confirmation, " &c. But they did not refine in thefe " Matters, fo much as to enquire whe- '* ther Bilhops and Priefls differed in ^* Order and Office, or only in Degree. " But after the Schoolmen fell to exa- '^ mine Matters of Divinity with logical " and unintelligible Niceties j and the '* Canonijis began to comment upon the '' Rules of the ancient Church, they " fttidied to make ^ijhops and Triefts *' feem very near one another j fo that F '' the [ 66 3 *' the Difference was but fmall. They ** did it with different Defigns. The *' Scbool-men having fet up the grand " Myftery of Tr anjiibftantiation^ were ^' to exalt t\iQ^ Trieftly Office as much as " was pofftble ; for the turning the Hqft *' into God was fo great an jiiion^that " they reckoned there could be 7?o Of- **' flee higher than that which qualified *' a Man to fo mighty a Performance : *' Therefore, as they changedxho Form ** of Ordination from what it was an- *' ciently believed to confifl in, to a de- *' Iwering of the facred Veffels, and " held that a Priefl had his Orders by " that Rite, and not by the Impofi- *' tion of Hands j fo they rat fed their " Order or Office fo high as to make it *' equal with the Order of a Bifliop ^ " but as they defign'd to extol the Or- der o£ Triefihood^ fo the Canonifis had as great Mind to deprefs the Epif copal Order. They generally wrote for Preferment, and the Way to it was to exalt the Tajpacy. No- " thing could do that fo effediually as *^ to bring down the Tower of "Bifiops. ** This only could jafiify the Exevip- *' tic US of the Monks and FryarSy the " Pope's fetting up Legantine Courts^ " and receiving at firfi Appeals-, and ** then Original Caiifes before them, *' together [ ^7 ] ^' together with many other Encroach- *' ments on thek Jurifdidion ^ all *' which were unlawful, if the ^iflwps " had, by Divine Right, JurifdiUion '* in their Diocefes ^ therefore it was " necclTary to lay them as low as could *' be, and to make them think that *^ the Power they held, was rather as " Delegates of the Apoftolick See, than *' by a Commiflion from Chrift or his " Apoftles 3 fo that they look'd on the ** declaring Epifcopal Authority to be *' of Tiimne Righty as a Blow that *' would hQ fatal to the Cotirt of Rome ; *^ and therefore they did after this, at *^ Trent^ ufe all poffible Endeavours to *' hinder any J 74c h Decifion. It having " been then the common Stile of that ^^ Age to reckon Bifliops and Priefts as '* the fame Office, it is no Wonder if at *' this Time the Clergy of this Church, " the greateft Part of them being ftill *' Leaven'd with the old Supcrftition, '' and the reft of them not having Time " enough to examine leflfer Matters, " retained ftill the former Phrafes in *' this Particular. On this I have in- *^ fifted the more, that it may appear ^^ how little tbey have confider'd things, " who are fo far carry'd with their " Zeal againjl the eftablifhed Govern- ^^ ment of this Church, as to make F 2 "much cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc [ 68 ] _ much Ufe of fome Pafl'ages of the Schoolmen and Canonifts that deny them to be diftindt Offices ; for tbe/e are the very Dregs of Popery^ the one raifivg the Prieft higher for the Sake of ^ranfuhftantiation^ the other ^' pulling down the ^iJJoops lower for the Sake of the Topes Supremacy ; and by fuch Means bringing them almoft to an Equality, So partial are fome Men to their particular Conceits, that they make Ufe of the moft mifchievous Topicks when they can ferve their Turn, not confidering how much further thefe Arguments will run, if they ever admit them." Mr. iV". imputes thefe Sentiments of fome in the Reign of King Henry VIII. to the Reformers under X. Edward VI, tho' in the Preface to their Ordinal, they exprefly declare the contrary- A particular Infelicity feems to attend the Hiftory of the Puritans upon this Point, -P.^P4« the fetter al Orders of Minifiers y the Author tells us often, that the Puri- tans believed two Orders of Minijiers^ '^ They acknowledged, fays he, but two " Orders of Clergy of Divine Inilitu- " tion, mz. Bifliops or Priefts, a7id *' Deacons /' and yet nothing is more plain from the whole Strain of Puritan Books, than that they did not think a Deacon [ 6g ] T^eacon to be a Clergy Man, nor would allow him to adt as a Minifter. Their Admonition to the Parliament is fo au- thentick a Declaration, that we need quote nothing elfe. " "^fhe 1)eaco7iJhip^ ^*^ fay they ^miift not he co7zfotindedwith ^ Admonit. " the Miniflry.'' And fo warm were they in this Matter, that they dcfir'd the Parliament " to injoin Deacons not to meddle in Minifter s Matters -^w;^^, p. 7. '^ and if they do, to fee them fharply " punifhed." By this odd Account of Mr. N's it plainly appears, the Puritans believed two Orders of Clergymen ; ONE of which in their Opinion was 710 Order at all. Thus has Mr. N, fucceeded with the Doftrine and Government of the Church ; let us now attend him in confidering the Worjhip thereof, which, with a few proper Alterations, is another Part of K. Edward's Reformation that Queen Elizabeth eltabliilied. Here again fhe is fo unhappy as to incur this Gentle- man's Difpleafure. Faultlefs Perform- ances are not to be expedied : The moft laboured publick Form of Prayer will fcarce be above all Exception from eve- ry different Party. Some Prayers of a private Compofition have been very affedionate and proper j but others, greatly indecent, and fuch as no Con- F 3 gregatioa [ 70 ] iz,i*egation could join in, without con^ fenting to things little fhort of Blafphe- my. Should any Man have fo good an Opinion of himfeif, as to imagine that his own private, or extemporary Per- formances will be perfed ; fuch an In- ftance of his Vanity will be no great Argument in favour of his Corapofiti- ons. A ferious and peaceable Mind will not be offended at thofe Failings which are unavoidable in the prefent State of things. 'Twas Cahins Advice to the Heads of the Englijh Reforma- Caivin.Epift.tion \w King Edward's Days, " As to EpiftTi/ '" ^ Form of Prayer, fays he^ and Ec- clefiaftical Rites, I highly approve of it, that there be a certain Form from which the Minillers be not allow'd to vary or depart in the Difcharge of their Office. That fome Provifion may be made to help the Simplicity and IJnskilftdnefs of fome. And that the Confent and Harmony of the Churches one with another may ap- pear. And laftly, that the defulto- ry Humour and Levity of fuch as cc cc cc cc cc cc (C cc cc cc Qaod ad formam precum Sc rituum Ecclefiafticorum, valde probo ur ctrtd ilia extet, a qua Tafloribus difcedere in funclione ivLZ non liceai , tarn ut confularur quorundam finiplicitati Sc imperitiae, quam ut certius ita conftet om- nium inter fe Eccleliarum Confenfusj poftremo ctiam ut obviam eatur defulroriae quorundam levitati, qui novatio- ucs quafdan) aftcdlant. *' affe(5t [ 7X ] *^ affed Innovations may be prevented. The Puritans did not pretend to object, that the publick Prayers were framed in an unknov/n Lan^uage^ or not di- reded to the proper Objed, or not of- fered thro' the true Mediator, being conceived in the Engh//j Ton2:,uc^ and addreifed not to the Virgin Mary^ to Saints or Angels, but to God the Fa- ther, Son and Holy Gholt^ and offer- ed in the Name of our BlelTed Savi- our, the 072ly Mediator and Advo- cate : Nor did they complain, that the Matter of them was fuch as did not become finftil Creatures to offer their great Creator. An humble Confejfwn of their Sins^ with an earneft T^epre- cation of God's Wrath Promifes of future Obedience J with warm Requefis for divine Jffiftance to fulfil thofe Pro- mifes ^ Traifes and Thankfgivings for Mercies fpiritual and temporal al- ready received, with fuitable ^Petitions for future Favours^ and proper Pray- ers for all Orders and Degrees of Meju Thefe, with Tfalms and Hymns ^ taken out of Scripture^ or agreeable there- to, the Leffons of the Old and New Teftament (fome few of the Apocry- fha being read upon Week Day^ only) compofe the Service of the Church of F 4 Bng^ [ 72 ] England. Nor could they or Mr. N. for them, be able to name any Church or Congregation, where the Holy Scrip- t tires make jo great a Part of the Ser- vice as they do in the Church of Eng- land. Let him examine, for Inftance, the Service for a Sunday Mornings the *pfalms^ the Chapters^ the Command- ments^ and other Parts of Scripture then read, will foon convince him of the Truth of this Affertion. As to the Matter of the publick Prayers, there was but one thing alledged to be direct- ly {inful ^ but this fhews fuch a chari- table Spirit, and reflects fo much Ho- nour upon the Liturgy, that it is to be hoped it will always continue a Part of it. The Prayers ohjeUed to by the Puritans are thefe. *^ That it may " pleafe God to have Mercy upon all " Men j That it may pleafe God to preferve all that Travel by Land or by Water, all Women labouring with Child, all fick Perfons and young Children, and to fliew Pity '' upon all Prifoners and Captives. To which humane and Chriftian Peti- Diai. between ^ion the following Objcftion was made, a Soldier and T*hey pray alfo^ that all Men may he hin^"'^'S'/^^'^^5 '^i^l^oiit Exception:, and that fHbfin.Art,^.all travelling hy Sea and by Land may Wntr. iyj6. Iq infcribed to cc cc cc cc [ 73 ] he preferved^ Turks and T^raitors ^^^^c^^'^^^^ excepted^ &cc. The fame Objed:ion \^ mghlm^.^m- made in the famous Jdmomtio72j which pM ^^«'w- contained the Opinion of them all ^c7.)ey!7nd " In all their Order of Sermce (fay others,' that " they) there is no Edification — they^'^''"'"'^ ^^ cc ■' T,m- ' nTooc out the PRAY THAT ALL MeN MAY BE SAVED. WeHsofPa- Notwithftanding this Obje6tion3 it willjP^ry- upon Examination, appear, that they ^ ^^°"' * did not prove one finfid Petition tn- ferted^ nor any neccjjary Requeft omit- ted^ in the publick Liturgy^ which is fo well adapted to the Apoftle's Injun- dion, hy Trayer a^id Supplication^ with Thankf giving^ to make known our Re- qiiefis tmto God : But Mr.iV. tells us, *^ it would have obviated many Objedi- " ons, if the Committee had thrown ^,^ ^.^ " afide the Mafs-hook^ and compofed;,. ^4. " an uniform Service, in the Language " of Scripture." This was an Objedi- on frequently made by the Puritans^ with great Variety of very fevere and very coarfe Expreffions. Thus, in their firft Admonition to the Parhament: " Remove {fay they^ in great Warmth) ^^ Homilies, Articles^ Injundions, and " that prefer ipt Order of Sermce made « Admon. '' out of the Mafs-'BooK' In their fe-^' ^• cond Admonition to the Parliament, they exprefs themfelves after this Man- ner ; [ 74 ] tier : ^^ We muft needs fay as foUoweth^ '' That this Book is an inxperfeift ^Oott, A vieTof " culled and pick'd out of that V-opifl^ Popifh Abu-" T>tinghilh the Torttiife and Mafs- fes, 6.7. z.cc ^^^^^ f^ij ^f ^^ Abominations." Another of them is pleafed to deliver his Opinion in the following Words : " The whole Form of the Church Diai.^tf.c^-" Service is borrowed from the Papift-v^ taL Art. 2. cc ^'^^^^^ ^^^ patclo d^ without Redfoii " or Order of Edification!' Their fa- mous Leader, yLr.Cartwright^ likewife declares his, and his Brethren's Difplea- fure upon this Head, " Before I come Cartwright'/ ^' to fpcak of , Praycrs (fays he) I will l^l^L'xu'' '' ^^^^^ ^f the Faults that are commit- ' " ted almoft throughout the whole Liturgy and Service of the Church of England^ whereof one is that which is often ohjeUed by the Authors of the Admonition, That the Forn^ of it is taken from the Church of /In- tichriftr This is a heavy Charge againft thofe piotis Men that compiled the Englifh Liturgy : 'Tis but proper they be heard in their own Defence, whereby their great Prudence and Charity will a^ipear : " Whereas (fay cf ^'Vr? e' " ^^^-^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^ Time, the Minds of con'Jerni"^^'^ " Men are fo divers, that fome think the Service of" it a great Matter of Confcience to :'„dofa:c' "depart CC CC cc CC cc CC monies. C 75 ] ^^ depart from a Tiece of the kqft of ^^ their Ceremonies, they be fo addiUed " to their old Cuftoms \ and again, on " the other Side, fome be fo newfangled^ " that they would inno'vate all things, *^ and fo defpife the old, that nothing '^^ can like them, but that is new ; ^' 'Twas thought expedient not fomuch " to have Refpeft how to pleafe and " fatisfy either of thefe Parties, as " how to pleafe God, and profit them *'*^ BOTH — ^Sothat here you have anOr- *^ der for Prayer, and for the reading of '^ the Holy Scriptures, much agreeable " to the Mind and Purpofe of the old ^^ Fathers, and a great deal more profita- ^^ ble and commodious, than that which *' of late was ufed. It is more protita- " ble, becaufe here are left out many '^ Things, whereof fome are untrue, fome uncertain, fome vain and fuper- ftitious,- and nothing is ordained to be read, but the very pure Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, or that which is agreeable to the fame, and that in fuch a Language and Order as is moft *^ eafy and plain for the Underftanding "both of the Readers and Hearers. ^^ It is alfo more commodious, both for *^ the Shortness thereof, and for the ^^ Pkinnefs of the Order, and for that " the Rules thereof be few and eafy." Nothing (C cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc __ '' r 75 ] Nothing can be more charitable than the further Declaration they make: In thefe our Doinirs we condemn no other Nations^ nor prefcribe any thing but to our own People only j for we think it convenient, that every Country fliou d ufe fuch Cere- monies as they fhall think beft, to the fetting forth of God's Honour and Glory, and to the reducing of the People to a moft perfecS and Godly Living, without Error or Superftiti- on." The Reader will take Notice, that the Difpute with the Puritans was not^ whether there fhould be one uniform Manner of Worfliip, or every Man left to ufe what Prayers he pleafed extem- porary or precompofed in his own N's Hift. Church. " They did not difpute the ^- ^3^- " Lavvfulnefs of fet Forms of Prayer/' A Form of Prayer was then ufed in all the Churches, Gene^va^ Scotland^ &c, Billiop "Burnet gives the following Ac- Burnet's Hift. count of the Matter: " I do not find r///'^*^*'" if^y^ ^^^^ learned T relate) it was ever brought under Confideration, whether they iliould compofe a For^n of all the Parts of divine Worfhip, or leave it to the fudden and extern- ^^ porary Heats of thofe who are to ^^ officiate, which fome have called, " fincc that Time, worfhipping by the "' Spirit i iQ cc cc cc r 77 1 spirit ; of this Way of ferving God they did not then Dream ; much lefs that the appointing of Forms of Prayer was an Encroachment on the Kingly Office of Chrift; but thought, whatever praying in the Spirit might " have been in the Apoftles Time '^ (where yet every Man brought his " Pfalms, which are a fort of Prayers, " as well as Praifes, and thefe look " like fome written Compofures, as *' St. Taul exprefles it) that now to " pray with warm JffeUion and fincere "^^ T>e'VOtion was fpirittial Worjhip ; and " that where it was the fame thing " that was to be daily asked of God, " the ufing the fame Expreffions was " the Sign of a Jieady Devotion that '' was fixed on the thing pray'd for ; " whereas the Heat that new Words " raifed, look'd rather like a Warmth " in the Fancy. Nor could it agree " with the "Principles of a Reformation, " that was to di^^eft the Churchmen of " that unlimited ^////:?^mjl^ which they '^ had formerly exercifed over Mens " Confciences, to leat^e them at Liber- " ty to make the Teople pray after ^' them, as they pleafed j this being " as great a Refignation of the Peo- " pie, when their T>eootion depend- 'i ed on the fuddcn Heats of their '' Tajiors, C 78 ] Tafiors^ as tho former Superjiition had made of their Faith and Confcie^ice to them. So it being refolved to bring the whole Woriliip of God under fet Forms ; they fet one general Ktile to themfelves (which they af- terwards declared) of changing no- thing for Novelty Sake^ or 7neerly *^ becaufe it had been formerly nfedi They refolved to retain fuch Things as the primitive Church had pradtif- ed, cutting off fuch Jbufes as the latter Jges had grafted on them, ^^ and to continue the Ufe of fuch other " Things, w^hich, tho' they had been " brought in not fo early, yet were of *^ good Ufe to beget Devotion ; and " were fo much recommended to the " People by the Pradice of them, that ^' the laying thefe afide would perhaps " have alienated them from the other ^^ Changes they made ; and, therefore, " they refolved to make no Chafige^ ^^ without very goodeinA weighty Rea- ^^ fon. In which they coniiderd the ^^ Practice of our Saviour , who did ^^ not only comply with the Rites of " Judaifm himfelf, but even the "Pray- ^^ er he gave to his Difciples was fram- " ed according to their Forms ; and *^ \\\stwo gxQdiX. Inftittttions ofSaptifm " and thcEuchariJf^ did confift oi Rites '' that C 79 J " that had been ufed among th^Jews ; '^ and fince he who was delhering a. " 7WW Religion, and was authorized " in the highcft Manner that ever any " was, did yet fo far comply with re- " ceiced TraUices^ as from them to ^^ take thofe which hefandtified for thq ^^ Ufe of his Church ; it feemed much *^ fitter for thofe who had no fuch ex- traordinary Warrant to give them Authority in what they did, when they were reforming Abufes, to let the World fee, they did it not from the wanton T)efire of Change^ or " any /iffeUation of No^^elty^ and with " thofe Refolutions they enter'd on " their Work." A great deal of Noife has been made with this Objeftion, that fome of the Prayers in the Liturgy were taken out of the Mafs jBooh The Lawftilnefs of pziblick Forms is agreed on all Hands, and it can hardly be fuppofed that et^ery Thing employed in the Popifh Service was thereby ren- der'd tiJifit for Chriftian Ufe. Kow ma- ny impious Tricks did they play with Water : Muft we therefore never Bap- tize with Water ? or becaufe they with many Fopperies confecrated S^Z/j, muft we lofe an ufefui Method of caUing People to Church by the Sound of them ? becaufe they ufed the Jpojiks Creed^ [ 8o ] Creeds the Lord's Trayer^ and many Portions of Scripture mixt with odious Superftitions, is it unlawful for us to ufe tho fame y free fromthofe Sttperjii- tions ? Can any Man of Senfe think it finful to offer up the following Peti- tions in the Englijh Tongue^ only be- caufe a Popilli Prieft ufed a Latin Prayer to the fame Purpofe : " Lord " of all Power and Might, who art the " Author and Giver of all good Things, " graft in our Hearts the Love of thy ^' Name j encreafe in us true Religion ; '' nourifh us with all Goodnefs, and " of thy great Mercy keep us in the " fame, thro' Jefus Chrift pur Lord. " Or this Prayer : " O Lord, who haft " taught us, that all our Doings with- *^ out Charity are nothing w^orth, fend '^ thy Holy Ghoft, and pour into our '' Hearts that mott excellent Gift of ^* Charity, the very Bond of Peace and ^^ of all Virtues, without which, who- '^ foever liveth is counted dead before ^' thee. Grant this for thine only Son *' Jefus Chrift's Sake." The true and only dueftion for a peaceable Chriftian, is not who has tifed a Trayer^ but what the Trayer is ? If this be fuitable to his Condition, and every Way proper for him to offer ; it is not incumbent upon him to enquire further, nor ihou d he throw [ 8i ] throw it afide, tho' he knew that an EntJmfiaJi or a T)runkard^ or even an Idolater^ or a Murderer had ufed the fame Words. Thofe Parts of Scripture are not the worfe, nor ought to be the lefs regarded, which 'Blajph enters or the Devil himfelf has quoted. There is one Thing more that Mr. iV. often mentions, and lays great Strefs upon. " The Puritans (fays he) dido's Hid. " not objc(ft to prefcribed Forms of^' ^^^' '^ Prayer, provided a Latitude was in- *^^ dulged the Minifter to alter or vary " fome Expreflions j and fo make Ufe ^' of a Prayer of his own Conception, " before and after Sermon. " What ! the Topijh^ Lutheran and Cahinijiic Clergy to alter the publick Prayers as any of them thought proper ! Each had the fame Right, and each was intitled #o the fame Liberty. By this hopeful Scheme, when Minifters were forbid preaching againft each other, they had a fure Way of continuing T>ijfentions^ exprefllng their T^ijlike^ and formi?!^ of Parties by their Prayers. This had been an effectual Way to throw the Nation into great Confufion, and give the Papifts fuch Advantage as would have enabled them to fubvert the EfiahliJJjed Proteftant Religion. The Church of England was too great a G Friend [ 82 ] Friend to Peace, Charity and true Piety, to run the Hazard of any fuch Contentions and Divifions in the pub- lick Prayers. The Government too wife to change a good Bftahlifhment for fuch a Scene of T>ifcord and Con- fufion j nor were they willing fo far to fuhpU the People to the Power of the Clergy^ as to leave the Alteration of the ptihlick Prayers to the entire Pleafure of every Parifh Minifter. This Projeft of Mr. N. for thus altering the Publick Prayers, feems the more extra- f ^iH^^* ordinary, fince he tells us, " 'Twas im- " poflible, with all the AfTiftances they *^ could get from both Univerfities, " to fill up the Parochial Vacancies *^ [which were at moft but i oo] with " Men of Learning and Character." p. 1^6: Again Tag. 172^ " Archbiftiop Tarker *^ vifited his Diocefe this Summer, Ann. Dom. ^^ [^5^0 and found it in a Deplorable •^s^'- " Condition ; the major Part of the " Beneficed Clergy being either Me- ^^ chanicks or Mafs-Priefts in Difguife." Moft of the inferior beneficed Clergy kept their Places ; there were only one hundred Parochial Clergy difplaced out of nine thmfand four hundred Pa- rochial Benefices ; and was it either fafe ov prudent for the Sake of that Handfiii of Men, who came from Ge- neva^ [ 83 ] neva^ to inveft every Clergyman of the Kingdom with a Power of altering the Liturgy, when it mu(t unavoidably hap- pen, that thofe who might be mofl con^ ceited of their Abilities to alter the publick Service^ would be leaft capable of fuch a Work ; and in this Scheme every Man was compleat Judge what he would change^ and what he would put in the Room of it ? As to making a Trayer before or after Sermon, it was a Pradice very common at that Time, nor has Mr. N. been able to give one Inftance of a Minifter cenfured upon that Account ; but as to changing and altering the publick Service, it could not be expected. The Church Prayers were highly efteemed, as exprefling all our Wants, and containing nothing lin- ful. 'Twas therefore thought the nioft fafe and quiet Method to continue the general Ufe of them. 'Tis not the Defign of thefe Papers to enter at large into thefe Controver- fies, or offer every Thing that has, or may be faid, upon this Sub)e(ft. The little fuggefted will latisfy the Reader, that the Objedions made by the Puri- tans, againft the "Doctrine^ Got'ernment and Worjhip^ eftabliflied by Queen Eli- zabeth^ are very weak and frivolous 5 and alfo iliew that the EfiabliJIoment G 2 of [ 84 ] of the Proteftant Religion in the Church of Engla7id was formed upon CathoUc and comprehenffve Principles, fuch as would include the greateji Numher of EngliJJj Subjedts, and be the moft likely Method to unite foreign Trotejiants. 'Tis a Confirmation of this, that very conliderable Numbers both of Luthe- rans and Cahinifts have become Mem- bers of the Church of England^ not- withftanding their Irreconcileahlenejs to the proper Scheme of each other. But there is an Objedion made by the Pu- ritans to the Habits^ and a few Cere- monies of the fame indifferent Nature, retained by the Wifdom of thd Nation that muft be mentioned^ not for the Weight this Objedion has, butbecaufe 'twas made the Occafion of fo much ^ebate^ Contention and Mif chief. Their Sentiments upon this Head Mr, N. has given, Pag. 595. " Nor had they an *^ Averfion to fuch decent and diftinU " Habits for the Clergy^ as were not '^ derived frora^Popery." The Difpute therefore was, not about the Diftindion of Drefs, but what that diftinguiflimg Drefs fliould be. Here again we fhall find the Government upon the more charitable Side of the Queftion. The Queen is Cenjiired where flie deferves Praife, for thinking that the DoiSrines of [ 8j 3 of the Church might be made too nar- row-, and thereby many valuable Men kept out of it j and that if all the an- cient Ceremonies had been entirely laid afide^ great Numbers would have been dri'ven out of her Communion, And therefore, for the Sake of many Thou- fandsj 'twas agreed that a few iiinocent and ancient Ufages fhould be retained, fuch as were praftifed lo7tg before Popery had extended its tyrannical Dominion over the Chriftian Church. And as fome diftingttiJJping Habit was thought expedient, none feem'd fo proper as That theTeopIe had been accuftomd to, and were already furnifhed with. The Clergy were then fo poor^ that they could fcarce buy themfelves decent Clothes. " But to this (fays Mr. i\Z.)p. ;6. " could not the Parifh provide a " Gown, or fome other decent Ap- ^^ parel ?" Not fo eafily as he imagines. Popifli Church Wardens and ParilTiio- ners, as the Generality of the Nation then were, would not be very ready to purchafe new Habits when they had old ones by them. As Mr. N. has, upon this Occafion, quoted Biiliop Gurnet imperfeUly^ and then thought fit to add, " upon these Jlender Reafons the p. <,6. ^^ Garments were continued." 'Tis but Juftice to the Bifliop, to tranfcribe the G 3 whole t 85 ] "dohole Paflage. The Jlenderer thcfe Reafons are, the lefs neceffary it was to fupprefs any Part of them. Burnet's Hift. ^c i^- ^^^g argued, that as White was f^tf. •/'•7i'-cc ^i^^i^j^^ly the Colour. of the Priefts " Garments, in the Mofaical Difpen- " fation, fo it was nfed in the African " Churches in the fourth Century : " ( This Mr N, thought proper to omit) " And it was thought a natural Ex- " prellion of the Purity and Decency " that became Priefts ; befides, the " Clergy were then generally extream " poor, fo that they could fcarce af- " ford themfelves decent Clothes ; [the People alfo running from the other Extream of fubmitting too much to ^^ the Clergy, were now as much in- clined to defpife them, and to make light of the Holy Fun(5tion ,• fo that ^^ if they fliould officiate in their own mean Garments, it might make the Divine Offices grow alio into Con- tempt. And therefore it was refol- (C cc cc cc cc ^^ ved to continue the Ufe of them y " and it was faid, that their being blef- " fed and ufed fuperftitioufly, gave as '^ ftrong an Argument againft the Ufe ^^ of Churches and Bells ; but that St. '^ Pattl had faid, that every Creature " of God was good, and even the Meat ^"^ of a Sacrifice offered to an Idoh than " which [ 87 ] *^ which there could be no greater Abufe, might lawfully be eaten ; therefore they faw no Neceflity be- caufe of a former Ahiife to throw away Habits, that had fo much De- cency in them^ and had been former- ly in Ufe]." All that is enclofed Mr. iV. has left out, without hinting at the Omiflion. But as fo great a Part of the Puri- tanical Difpute was about the Ha- bits, let us examine a little farther in- to that Matter. Mr. iV. afferts, " that p. ,39: ^'^ Queen Elizabeth's Common-Prayer '* Book was hardly equal to that which " was fet out by King Edward^ and " confirmed by Parliament, in t\\offth " Year of his Reign, For w^hereas in " that Liturgy, all the Garments were *^ laid afide but the Surplice, the Queen " now returned to King Edward's fir fi " ^ook^ wherein Copes and other Gar- " ments were order'd to be ufed. " The Truth of the Cafe is this ; the Change of Religion w^as fo hazardous^ that great Caution was neceffary, and as few Perfons as polfible to be offend- ed. But tho' the Habits appomted in the 2d Year of Edward VI. were pre- fcribed in the Aft of Uniformity ,• yet a Claufe was inferted to impower the Queen, if it Ihould appear practicable, G 4 to [ 88 ] to make further Alterations, as follows. Be it enafted, that fuch Ornaments of the Church, and the Miniflers there- of, fhali be retained and be in Ufe, as it was in this Church of England by Authority of Parliament, in the 2d Tear of the Reign of K.EdwardVl. until other Orders floall he there- in taken hy the Aiithority of the (^^eens Majefty^ with the Ad'vice of her Commiffwners^ appointed and att- " thorized tinder the great Seal of Eng- ^"^ \2cciAf0r Cattjes Ecclefiaftical^ or of " the Metropolitan^ In Confequence of this Power the Queen did^ in the very firft Year of her Reigii, appoint that 'very Form of Hahit tifed in the FIFTH of King Edward^ which Mr. iV. complains was laid afide by the Adt of Uniformity. It had been more gene- rous and impartial to have mentioned this Inftance of the Queen's Conde- fcenfion, than to afperfe her Reforma- tion, as being hardly equal to King Ejdward's^ upon this Account of the Habits, when fhe herfelf with great Indulgence to the Ttiritans^ fet afide the Habits of the fecond^ and appointed thofe of t'ao ffth Year : The Queen's Injundion, which upon many Accounts defervcs great Regard^ is as follows. [ 89 ] '' In/. 30. 7rm. her Majcfty being de-^^^App^^^^^ ^^ firous to have the Trelacy and Clergy *' of this Realm to be had, as well moitt- " ward Reference as otherwife regard- ^^ ed^ for the Worthinejs of their Mini- " fteries ^ and thinking it necejfary to have them known to the People ^ in all Places and AlTemblies, both in the " Church and without^ and thereby to " receive the Honour and Eftimation due " tothefpecialMeifengersand Miniflers " of Almighty God j Willcth and Com- " mandeth, that all Archbifliops and Bi- " fliops, and all other that be called or " admitted to Preaching or Miniftry of " the Sacraments, or that be admitted into Vocation Ecclefiaftical^or into any Society of Learning in either of the Uni verfi ties or elfe where, lliallufeand wear fuch feemly Habits, Garments, and fuch fquare Caps, as wxre mofl commonly and orderly received in the latter Tear of the Reign of King Edward VI. not thereby meaning to attribute any Holinefs or fpecial IVor- thi7iefs to the [aid Garments ,• but as St. Taiil writeth, Omnia decen- cc cc :. cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc " ter & fecundum ordinem fiant. i Cor. 14. cap. " Mr. A^. feems equally un- happy ^ in quoting InjtinUions and Or- dinals. Tho' he had the foregoing In- juniftion before him^, he gives the fol- lowing cc cc cc cc cc cc cc C 90 ] ?. J 50. lowing Account of it ; how unfairly to the good Queen, the Reader will judge, by comparing them together. Jrt. 30, All Archbifhops and Bi- fhops, and all that preach or admi- nifter the Sacraments, or that fliall be admitted into any Ecclefiaftical Vocation, or into either of the Uni- verfities, fhall wear fuch Garments and fquare Caps, as were worn in ^^ the Reign \Jeamng out thofe impor- " taJlt WorJs THE LATTER YeARJ of " King Edward VI." It plainly ap- pears, that the Habits Qiieen 'Eliza- heth enjoin'd were not fo properly Po- pifh as Proteftant Habits ,- w^orn in King Edward's Time, in the laft Year of his Reign. Thefe Habits were a Scholars Gown, a fquare Cap, a Tippet or Scarf ( to thofe who wxre entitled to wear one) and in the Church a white Surplice. It fliould further be confi- der'd, w^hether thefe Habits were not effectually diftinguifh'd from the Popifh Garments ; 'tis certain they were not confecrated with Prayer, crolfmg and fprinkling with holy Water, as the Po- pifh Veftments were. 'Twas only the Surplice, that could in any Senfe be call'd Popitli, the other being acade- mical ', and even this had not the Cru- cifix and Crojfcs which were embroider- ed [ 91 3 ed on the ^opiJJj Garments. Other Perfons, Judges, Magiftrates, publick Officers, were diftinguiiVd by their Ha- bits, as well as the Clergy ; it was, therefore, intended not fo much a re- ligious, as a decent and civil Diftinftion, and fo it was explain'd by proper Au- thority, even the ^leen herfelf. The Cap^ the Scholars Gown and Tippet^ as was obferved, are meerly an Aca- demical Drefs. No Objedion can lie againft thefe from Perfons who allow, as the Puritans did, a Diftindion of Ha- bit, or who think a Goz^ernm^ent has Power to make (umpttiary Laws^ and, if they fee Caufe, prefcribe a certain Drefs to the whole Society^ or any par- ticular Members of it. The Surplice^ if it is not allow'd to be an Uni'verfity- ^refs (for that alfo was worn there) yet is rather an Aaronical than Popilli Garment. And it was in that View IBiJhop Hooper objeded to it. He de- clined his Confecration. Mr. N. him- felf tells uspag' 68. for two Reafons, *^ Firft, becaufe of the Form of the *^ Oath, Cjc. Secondly, by reafon of the '' Jaronical Rahits. The CondtiU of the Turitans feems very extraordinary upon this Occafion. Thefe Gentlemen were for having the Clergy diftinguifh'd from the Layity by their [ 9^ ] their Drefs, and yet ftrongly objcd and inflame the Trot eft ant Tcptitace thro the Nation again ft the only Habit that could be attended with any Jd'vantage. Thoufands of poor ignorant People, \\ ho had been accuftom'd to Divine Offices, where fuch a Drefs was ufed, would not hear or regard a Man in another Habit. Their Ignorance and Weaknefs call'd for the charitable Condefceniion of their more knowing Superiors. Thefe Habits, and the few Ceremonies retained, were agreeable to the Lutheran Pro- teftants, to many moderate Calvinifts, and to thofe who, approving King Edwarcfs Reformation, follow'd it in their Banifliment. They were alfo of great Service, if not abfolute Necefiity, to keep many in a Proteflant Chuurch, who had been perverted in Queen Marys Time. By thefe moderate and prudent Meafures the Papifts were con- tinued in the Church for feveral Years, and of Courfe great Numbers brought off from their falfe Opinions and Idola* trous Worfhip. It fhould be remem- ber d alfo, tho' Mr. N. is pleafed to fupprefs it, that the Queen publifti'd an authentick Declaration, that no Holi- vefs or fpecial Worthinefs was imputed to the prefcrihed Habits. They were ufed only to diJiivgtiiJJo the Clergy, as many C 93 ] . many other Orders of Men in the King- dom were diftinguifh'd, from the Layity, appointed as Things meerly indifferent for Decency and Order; as a very fuc- cefsful Means to keep many weak Bre- thren in a Protcftant Church, and pre- vent their falling a Prey to Popilli Priefts. " If the People (as Mr. iV,P. :r^. fays) had fuch a fuperftitious Opi- nion of them, as to think they gave an Efficacy to their Prayers^ and that T>wine Service [aid without this Jpparelwas infignificantr 'Tis certain they would have left every Church, where they did not find that Habit, without which the Prayers had no Efficacy, and Divine Service was infig- nificant. So that the abolifhing thefe Habits, as the Puritans propofed, muft have drove vaft Numbers from a Pro- teftant Church, and engaged them in Meafures to overturn it. But on the contrary, the wife Condefcenfton of the Government in a few indifferent Things, kept all the Lutheran Proteftants, and very many Thoufands of poor deluded Papifts, in a Church where they might be convinced of their Errors. The greater and more dangerous thofe Er- rors were, the greater and more cha- ritable was that Compaflion which con- defcended to their Weaknefs in a few in- [ P4 ] indifferent Things, as a neceflary Means to gain their Attention. This was agreeable to the Conduit of the great Author of our Faith and his Apoftles, who inftruded Men as they were able to bear it ; and took Care to gh^e no Offence to Jews or Gentiles^ nor to the Church of God. The Puritanical Rigour and Severity, by driving them from the Church, would in all Proba- bility have thrown them upon the Queen of Scots^ or into fome Scheme equally fatal to the Reformation. It cannot be denied, that the People might have the fame InftniUion. from thofe that wore a StirpUce^ as from him that wore a Cloak^ with this Difference, that they were prejudiced in Favour of the one, and had a Diflike to the other. Who then was likely to be beft heard ? A Man may as well throw afide his Shirt, or his Shoes, becaufe a Popifh Prieft wore fuch, as, lay afide an out- ward Garmentj^ for no other Reafon. But notwithftanding the appointing the Surplice was not only the in joining an indifferent Matter -, but, at that Jun- cture very convenient, fo agreeable to the general Scnfe of the Nation, and the laying it afide fo likely to be at- tended with very ill Confequences,- yet VTQ fhall fee prefently, whatever Mr. N. has [ 95 3 has faid, that great Indulgence^ Tjcni^ ty^ andTendernefs^ were ufed towards thoje who could not perfuade thenifolves to wear it. When a Httle Notice has been taken of the T>ifciplme of the Church, all the Objections to the Eftabhihmcnt, made by the Puritans, have been confi- der'd. That the Difcipline is not jo perfetJ as good Men willi it, and as the Sijhops frequently and earneftly endeavoured to render it, cannot be denied : But yet, let Churchwardens make honefi Prefentments ^ and Ta- rijhes^ as they ought to do, ftipport their Officers in the Profecution of them, the Complaints of want of Dif- cipline will, in a great Meafure, be re- moved. As to the Geneva Models the World has had pretty long E^:perience of it, without difcovering any Extra- ordinary Eifefts to recommend it. Wick- cdnefs prevails too much amongft Men of all Denominations, and under every Form of Church Difcipline. But had thofe vehement Endeavours, which were ufed to introduce the Geneva Plan, been employed to procure a Form more fuitable to the Conftitution, and more perfefl: than what we now have, great Service might have been done to Pra- ^ical Religion. And yet, whatever Zeal [ 96 ] Zeal was (hewn for this Platform, what- ever Encomiums and fine Titles given to this Holy Difcipline, this T)wine Go- vernment, as it is calfd, of Ruling El- ders, there are fome Circumjiances that attend it, far enough from making it appear very amiable. One is, that a Man knows not what Laws or Canons, what eftablifhed Rules, or fettled Or- ders, he is to be try'd by. Thefe Lay Elders are to judge, as they fay, ac- cording to the Word of God, their own Senfe of it, they always mean. What this Senfe may be, or how it may vary, who can anfwer ? By this means, a few Tradefmen in Cities, or Farmers in Country Parillies, may brand a Man as a Sinner^ or a Heretick^ being Judges of Opinions as well as jUions^ according to their own arbitrary and fovereign Determination. 'Tis but calling them- felves a holy Synod, a facred Confifto- ry, and then they may judge as they ^- '^' pleafe. Mr. N. complains, that " it lyes in the Breaft of the Judges to declare what Canons are contrary to the Laws or Rights of the Crown, which is more for the King s Prero- " gative, than to make a Collection of '^ Ecclefiaftical Laws, which JJootdd he '^ jixd and immo'veahle. " This Re- mark of his is founded upon a Claufe in an cc [ 91 ] an Ad of Parliament, 2 5 of Hen. VIIL cap- 19. enafting, " That fuch Ca- " nons or Conftitutions, not contrary " to the LawSj Statutes and Cuftoms " of the Realm, or to the Damage or " Hurt of the King's Prerogative Roy- " al, as were then received and ufed, " fliall ftill continue to be fo. " It is not fo difficult as Mr. A^. imagines, to determine, what Canons are contrary to the Laws of the Land^ or the King's Prerogative ; but if this be an Objecti- on, 'tis much ftronger againft the Elder- fhip, that no Body knows what Laws or Canons they judge by. Here we fee fome Certainty in the Church. The ptthlick Regifters will fhew upon what Canons there have been Trocejfes. It may be determined what Canons were in Ufe, and what repugnant to the Laws or the Prerogative ^ but where are the fixt and immoveable Canons or Confti- tution of Ruling Elders ? Upon what hiGwn Laws, what fiy^t and Jiated Rules is the Charafter and Reputa- tion of Mankind, when trufted in fuch Hands, to depend ? 'Tis the very No- tion of Arbitrary Tower not to govern by certain^ fixt and known Rules, but to ad: and determine at Pleafure ,- fuch Power was vefted in and exercifed by the Geneva Elderfhip. In the Con- H fifiory C 98 ] Holy lyiCa^ 'Jijlory the mcft Voices are to he yielded ^to2L\^^^^^^io. The only Certainty, a Perfon accufed could have, was, that his Cafe would be determined by the Majority of Ruling Elders prefent in the Con- fittory ; but upon what Laws or Max- ims they would proceed, he was en- tirely ignorant. The Survey of the pretended Holy Difcipline publifti'd 1593, has proved this from the Pa- trons of that Form, and their Endea- vours to aboliili all the received Ec- clefiaftical Laws and Canons, without vid. Admon.fubftituting any other in their Room, is a farther Confirmation of it. N's Hiftory ^^^ v^^iSit is this, but to crcd a high Commijjion in every Parifli, not 44 whom Mr. iV. complains of, but half a Dozen fovereign Judges are to proceed againft a Party accufed by one of them- felves by any Ways and Means they can invent, and upon any Maxims of their own which they are pleafed to call Scripture. This leads us to another difagreeable Circumftance in this Dif- cipline, the Ruling Elders are to judge and cenfure one another. This gives great Opportunity of favouring each other, and lays them under a Tempta- tion to do fo, as each may exped the fame Indulgence from his Brethren in the like Circumftances i nor does it at all C 99 ] all recommend this Holy Difcipline^ that the fame Perfon is, in other Cafes, both Jccufer and Judge. The Ruling Elders are to fearch and find out Hc- reticksj or other Offenders, in tlie Con- gregation ; and when they have ac- cufed them to the Body of Elders, they themfelves are to fit in Judgment upon them. " The Eiders watch over theDire^or oF " Life and Behaviour of every Man ;^^'^'^^ ^^' " and to tbem belongs the T>eciJton of oef. of the " all fuch Matters as do rife in theAdmon. *^ Church either touching corrupt Man- " ners or perverfe T>oUriner 'Tis cer- tainly more agreeable to the Maxims of good Senfe, as well as the EngliJJj Coiiftitution, for the Church Wardens^ who may be confider d as Lay-Klders by fuch as are fond of the Name, to prefent Offences, as a grand Jury finds Bills, and leave the Judgment to the Ordinary, or even his Chancellor^ who cannot be more a Lay-Man than hay aiders are. This mufl be own'da more unexceptionable Way of proceeding, for one Man to accufe^ and another to pidge^ by known and /?<^W Rules, than for the fame Man to be Jccufer^ Ji^dge and Jury* In fliort, to have the whole Power of complaining, judging and de- termining, according to his ow^n Will aad Pleafure i " the Tuftice of theFui'erL^.ix. H 2 " Land^- ^^+' [ loo ] " Land dcteflcth that the Judge fliould " himfelf be an Accufcr ; for by Law " no Man may be Accufcr and Witnefs, " Inditer (j jftiror^ therefore much lefs " Judge and Jcctifer.'' This is their own Reafoning againft the high Com- miffion, and yet they were defirous to have Inch a Tower lodged in their own Conjifiories, The Reader will obferve all along, that tho' they exclaim'd againft the Towers the Law had ^jeft- ed in other Hands, yet they defign'd to get fimilar Towers into their own. Wc have another Inftance of this in the Oath ex officio. This was not only ufed in many of the EiigUJIj Courts, but was alfo praftifed at Geneva as well as in England^ and therefore fliould not be objefted to the eftabliflied Church, as a Practice peculiar to that, fince it was common to both Parties, and as was argued at that Time, " tho' not re- L. whitgtft " quired by Adi of Parliament, yet -\ppen./>.i37." had undoubted Grounds in the Law " Eccleliaftical, according to which, " the Proceeding in all the Ecclefiafti- " cal Courts of this Realm have been " ufed Time out of Mind." The moft c«/.Epift.7 1. Reverend Mr. Cahin^ as he is called Fareiio. by the Puritans, made Ufe of the fame J": ^^* Oath ex officio in his Confiftory at Ge- ne'va* The Tttritans themfelves could not [ ,01 ] not by Law adminifter an Oath, but they came as near it as poffible, by fubjeding every Member of the Church to the jolemn Scrnthiy and Examina- tion of the Confiftory, where he was obHged, as often as required, to give an Account oF his /^r/c^/^ Opinions^ and accufe himfelf. The Law enaded for this Purpofe is as follows : " And thatDifci{i;ne " every Member of the Congregation RefornVd, " do not refufe to render a ^Dcclara-"^'""^' ^'' " tion of their i^^/Y^5 before the Mini- " ftcrs and Elders, whenfoe^ver they " iliall by them be thereunto required." However, this Oath ex officio is now no longer ufed in the Chiirch ^England. As to the Eftablifliment of a Difcipline and Government by Lay-Elders, had it been more deiirable than really it is, no Man, that confiders in what Cir- cumftances the Nation was, the great Numbers of Tapijis^ Lutherans^ and Tr lends of King Edward's Reform at iou^ can think it a praUicahle Scheme. 'Tis in the Nature of it very unjmtaUe to a Monarchical Government ^ indeed the ahfolute and independent T^owerSy thefe Gentlemen claim'd of making LawSy WITHOUT the Ccnfent of theviJ. canrt^. Magiftrate^ obliging him to fee their^'^^''^'' "^' Decrees executed^ and puniQi the Con-^ ^ temners of them, were not 1 09. Scheme in the Hotife of Commons , But let us hear Mr. Cartwright in his Inter- pretation of that Paffage of St. TattL I.Tim, f. 1 7. 2"/^^ Elders which rule well are wor- thy of double Honour, " whereby, fays '^ he, the Apoflle fignifies a plentiful ^^ Reward, and fuch as may be fully " fufficient for them and their Hotif- " holdsT The Government, however, did not think it fafe or prudent to dif- pleafe the People, by laying fo heavy a Tax upon them ; befides, had fuch a Confiftory been eftablillied in every Pa- rifh, what Confufion and T>iforder^ coniidering the different Sentiments of different Parilhes, muft ^ have arifen thro' the Nation ? A Man that had been held in high Efteem with fome Cahi' Cahijiifiic Elders, mufthave fallen un- der the Cenfures of a Lutheran Con- fiftory, and fo mce ^jerju ,• for as thefe Confiflories claim their Power by 2)/- mne Rights they were not to be regu- lated by human Laws, the whole Go- Admon. i. "vernment of the Church being commit- ted to themfelves. Rather than em- bark in fuch a Scheme, the Biiliops and Clergy chofe to continue the difcourag- ing Wickednefs, by publick Exhorta- tions, as well as private Advice and Ad- monition, and every other lawful Me- thod, till the Difcipline of the Church could be made more perfe^a and ef- fectual. We have now feen, that the Scheme of the Puritans, or Favourers of the Geneva Model, was attended with ma- ny Difficulties, and liable to ftrong Ob- jections ^ that they had no confiderable or valid Objeftion to the EftahliJIyment of the Proteftant Religion, much mare CathoUck and comprehenfive than miy propofedm its (lead. This was not only more unexceptionable than any other ,• but befides its nearer Conformity to Scripture in fome Particulars, and the earliefl: Pradices of theChriftian Church in others, there were fome additional Arguments in its Favour. H 4 It [ 104 ] It has been proved, beyond all Dif- pute, that the Qiieen was not a Papift in her Heart, but finccrely defign'd to abolifh Popery. The Meajures flic took were the moft proper and fubfervient to this great and arduous Undertaking. There were many Reafons, befides thofe already mention'd, why her Re- formation fliou'd proceed upon King Edward's Plan. One was, that c'oft Ntimhers of good and pious Men had //^^rV greatly, ^x\6. not a few haA dy d in the Flames, upon that Account. The Blood of thefe Martyrs had gain'd great Regard and Efteem to that T)oUritie^ Goz'erfiment^ and Wcrfloip^ for which their Lives were offer d. Many People undoubtedly had a greater Aifedion, and would naturally become more zen- lotis for that Form, for which them- felves^ their Relations and Friends, had fttfferd fo much, than for a new one imported from Gerieva^ unknown and untry'd in England. This Reafon had great Weight with the Exiles in Queen Marys Reign^ who warmly prefs'd their Brethren that afterwards removed from Trouhics of Francfort to Geneva^ to a full Confor- -Ermkforu mity ; " camcftly entreating them to " reduce the E^igliflde Churche now '^ begun there [at Francfort'] to its for- " mer Perfedion, off the lafte had in " England^ [ lor] *^ England., fo farre as pofTibly could be ^^ attained, Icaftc, fay they, by mttch " altering of the fame, we lliouldc " {QQmQ to condemue the chi^& Juthors ^^ thereof, who, as they now fiiffcTy fo '^ are they moft ready to conhrm that "^^ Fade with the Price of their Bloud, and flioulde alfo both give Occafion to our Jdi'crjaries to accnfe our Doftrine of Imperfedion, and us of Mtitahilitie^ add the Godlie to dowte in that Truth wherein before they ^^ were perfuaded, and to hinder their " coming hither, ^^." This Reafon- ing had the fame Force, when Queen Elizabeth was to reftore the Proteftant Religion, and muft naturally fix her Thoughts upon King Edward\ Refor- mation. This was held in great Efteem abroad, was look'd upon by the mofl temperate Proteftants as an happy Me- diiim between Calvinifts and Luthe- rans, and as fuch, moft proper for that great Trincefs^ who rcfolved to fupport the whole reformed Intereft ; it was fettled upon very mature Advice and Confideration, being the Work of a great deal of Time, to fix it upon fo good a Bafis. It was, moreover, one confiderable Advantage, that this Plan of King Edward had not only been twice befote confirm d by Tarliament^ but [ io5 ] but had alfo in a manner been unwerfal- ly comply'd with. When the Popifti strype% Ann. Bifliops advifcd the Queen, in a Letter VoJ.i./.i4/.^j,^^^ for thatPurpofe, not to be led aftray, and perfuaded to embrace Schifms and Herefies in the lieu of the ibid.i4d.i47.Catholick Faith, fhe juftly upbraids them with their former Compliance, and thereupon adds,, who then are Schifmatichs and Hereticks? When the Emperor and TopiJJo Princes warmly interpofed for the Popifh Bifliops and Clergy, fhe was the better able to deny their Requefts, as flie could alledge, vid.Q, £/«;;:." that the Popifli Bifliops had infolent- A^n'VS.'" ^y ^^d ^P^^^y oppofed the Laws and ^^ the Peace of the Realm j anddidflill '^ wilfully rejeU that T>oUrine which '^ many of them had puhlickly ownd *' and declared in their Sermons dtir- ^^ ing King Henry VIII. and Ki^ig '' Edward VL their Reigns'' It was of great Confequence to the Queen, to be able to give fo good a Reafon, when flie refufed a Favour importunately ask'd by Powers fo very confidcrable. — — Befides, the contriving a new Form^ and O'verturning at once all the Ecclejiafti- cal Laws and Ufages, muft have been attended with infuperahle difficul- ties. What different Opinions, what Debates, what irreconcileable Animo- fities [ 107 ] fitics muft have arifen, if the Qiieen had thrown afide her Brother's Plan, and follow 'd their Advice who were for introducing, as Mr. N. himfelf al-^,^ ^.^^^ lows, the Service and Difcipline thcyp/iij, ^^^ had learned at Ge?ie^a ? How much more praUicable and eafy was the Re- Jioration of the Trot eft ant Religion, by re-eft ahlijloing King Edward's Form, than if e^ery Tart of the Ecclefiafti- cal Conftitution, the Do£lrine, Wor- fliip and DifcipUne of the Church had been to be re-examined^ debated, and particularly fettled ? How difficult and tedious, if not imprafticable a Work had this been ? In the mean time, the Teople muft have continued under a Topijh Worfliip, which was then efta- blilhed, 'till the Legiflature had decid- ed all thefe intricate Points ,• whereas, by fixing upon King Edward's Refor- mation, the Bufinefs, by the divine Blefling, was fpeedily and effeftually done He it enaUed^ that £iieeniEiiz,cip.i. MaryV Statute of Repealy and every thing therein contain dy he made 'void^ and of none EffeU at once finifhed this great and glorious Work, 'Tis impoflible, upon this Occafion, to do Juftice to the Wifdom^ Courage and Tiety of this Proteftant Princefs, with- out placing her Opponents in a difadvan- tageous r io8 ] tageous Light. All the Arguments for re-eftabliiliing King EdwardV jR^- formation^ that Reformation which was fo moderate ^ndcatholick^ fofatisfaBo- ry to pious Men^ and fo well calculated to reconcile and fupport all Proteftants^ are fo many Reafons againft the Con- du(S of thofe who oppofed this Refor- mation, and, for the fake of a narrozjver Plan, afperfed her Government) when living, or her Memory nowilie is dead : Who then reprefented her as a Favour- er of Tapijiry, or now defcribe her as 2^'siiiftory. having an Heart not to he alicfiated from the Tapijis^ hy any Tlots or Con- [piracies againfi her Crown or Life. The Puritans themfelves feem con- vinced, that Queen Elizabeth proceed- ed in the moft wife and prudent manner, while they abiife her Condud under the opprobrious Names of Craft and T^nofiReg.Cunnijig, ^^ Well, by God's Power /. 14. cc ^y^^j. ^^^^ of tloem^ in what is called '^ a Godly and Zealous Letter) we " have fought with the Wohes for '^ thefe and fuch like Popijli Chaffe, " and God hath given us the Victory : " We have now to do with the Foxes ; *^ let us not fear ; there is no Crafty " Cunnings or Tolicy^ againft the Lord. *^ We have Chrift and his Apoftles, " and all the Prophets ever ftriving H againft r lop ] ^^ againft the Hypocrites of their Time, " on our Side. A Straw for Popilh " Tolicyy But, notwithftanding this abufive Language^ the prudent Mea- furcs taken by Queen Elizabeth juftly entitle her to great Efteem, and expofe her Adverfaries to great Contempt. The Zeal flie difcovered, and the Ha- zards flic ran, for the Proteftant ReHgi- on, deferved other Returns, than afperf- ing and difturbing her Government. Mr. Strype has preferved a moft humane ^^'^^^^ ^'■^^" Letter from ArchbiiTnop "Parker to^^ 187. "' ^'' Mr. Sampfo7i^ a famous Puritan, with a remarkable Paffage to this Purpofe, wherein with much Gravity and Sweet- nefs he perfuaded him to unite himfelf with the Pra(5lice enjoined in the Church. ^^ Mv.Sampfon^ after my hearty Com- " mendations, I am glad that my Let- " ters> in your Behalf, to the Church, ^"^ took fuch Effed as you defired '^ So again I have written my Letter, " to obtain your other Requefl ; pray- ' "^ iJ^gyou in Jefus Chrifl to fake againji '•^ this great Offendicle rifen by your " T>ijfent from the Courfe of the Gof " pel : Remember what Obedience fo " great Liberty of the whole T)oUrine " of Chrift granted^ requireth at your ^' Hands^ &c. .CHAP. CHAR IL ^T^ HERE is a fecond Obfervation JL which naturally offers it felf up- on this Occafion, mz. That the Puri- tans did not defire a I'oleration^ but the EJiabliJ)ome7it of their own Scheme, fuch an Eftablifliment of it^ as would hav^e kept all others, in particular the Lutherans^ and the Friends of King Edward'i" Keformation^ out of the Church i and, as they did not delire a Toleration themfelves, fo they would not gra7it it to others. The full Efta- blifhment of their own Plan, abfolute and univerfal Compliance with it, with- out any Favour or Indulgence, was what they wrote for, and earneftly endeavour d to obtain. This gives fo difagreeable an Idea of thefe Gentlemen, and feems fo heavy a Charge againft them, that 'tis requi- fite to pro^'e it diftindtly from their own moft approved Writings. If this be done, it muft appear, that the only Difpute was, whether a rigid narrow Scheme^ imported from the Repttblick of Geneva^ fhould be the eftablifhed Religion of the Kingdom of Englandy or whether the Government ftiould ap- point fiich a Form as would be vaftly more [ "I ] more extenfwe^ and take in the mode- rate Men of all Perfuafions. In the Preface of their famous Admonition to the Parliaments which is always ap- pealed to, as containing the general Senfe of the Party, they give the fol- lowing Advice. " And let us all with " more earned Prayer than we are " wont, earneftly recommend it to " God his Blefling ^ and namely, that *^ it will pleafe him by his Spirit, to '^ lighten the Heart of our moft graci- " ous Sovereign, and the Reft in Au- thority, to the Benefit o£ his fma/l F/ocky and the Overthrow of their proud Enemies^ that Godlinefs may by them proceed in Peace. " And that we might not be at any Lofs to know who thefe proud Enemies are, that they defire to be overthrown, they defcribe them very diftinc^ly, ^' Cer- " tain Men whofe Credit is great ^ and ^^ whofe Friends are many^ we mean '^ the Lordly Lords, Jrchbifljops^ 'Bi- " JhopSy SuffraganSy T)eanSs Vniverfity " T>oUorsy and 'Bachelors of Di^vi^iityy " Archdeaconsy Chancellorsy and the " Reft of that proud Generation, *' WHOSE Kingdom must down, hold " they never fo hard y becaufe theif '^ tyrannous Lordfh ip cannot fiand with " Chrijfs Kingdom.'' Can there be a more r iio more compleat Subverfion of any Con- ftitution, Root and Branch ? Not only the Dignitaries of the Church, but the Members of Colleges too, TJnwerJity ^oUors^ and Bachelors of Divinity ! In the Admonition it felf, t\i\s fmrJl Fleck addreffes the Parliament in the Admon i ^o\\ow\.\^g Manner. "Now, becaufe p. I. '^ many Men fee not all Things, and " the World in this Refpeft is marvel- " oufly blinded ; it has been thought " good to prefer to your Godly Con- " fidaratioris, a true Tlatform of a " Church reformed, to the End that it being laid before your Eyes_, to be- hold the great JJnlikenefs betwixt it and this our Englijh Church : You may learn either with perfeU Hatred to deteft the one^ and with fingidar JLo've to embrace, and careful En- " deavour, to plant the other ; or elfe " to be without Excufe before the " Majefty of our God." A Httle after reciting a Catalogue, Lord'BiJhop^ Sttf- fragan^ T>ean^ Archdeacon^ (jc. they Ibid. ;. 4. add ; " All which, together with their " Offices, as they are ftrange and un- " unheard of in Chrift's Church ; nay, " plainly in God's Word forbidden^ lb " are they utterly^ with Speedy out of '^ the fame to be removed^ Nothing can be more exprefs than what foon fol- cc cc cc cc cc cc follows. '' You mufi (fay they^ very ibid, ^f, authoritavely to the Parliament) '^ dif- '^ place thofe ignorant and unable Mi- " nifters already placed, and in their ^' Rooms appoint fuch as both can and '' will, by God's Affiftance, feed the " Flock." Not only the whole Body of the Clergy are to be deprived and ejeded, but the Conftitution it felf thrown down, and the very Foundation of it raz d. " Overthrow (fay they) i^'^- " without Hope of Reftitution, the " Court of Faculties — remove Homi- " lies^ Articles^ Injtinclions^ and that " prefcript Order of Sermce made out '' of the Mafs-'BooV And that none might prefume to violate their In- jundions, they defired to have them enforced by whole fome Severities. *^' To ibid. p. 7.] redrefs thefe, your Wifdoms have to remove, as before, ignorant Minifters, to enjoin T>eaco?zs and Midwives not to meddle in Minifters Matters ; ^' if they do, to fee them sharp- '' LY pu^iished/' One hardly knows which to complain of moft, the Want of Modefty, or of Chriftian Charity, in this Propofal of infliaing fmrp 'Pu^ niflments upon T>eacons that officiated as Minifters, when the Body of the En- glifh Clergy thought Deacons one Order of Minifters in the Chriftian Church, I and ["4] and a particular Form was accordingly appointed for their Ordination as fuch. In like Manner, in a Bill preferred to the 'Parliament^ together with their own Platform, they defired to have it ^^'"^f^ cnaded. " That as much of all for- whKgit. 4c j^^^ Laws, Cuftoms, Statutes, Or- dinances and Conftitutions, as limits eftablifh, and fet forth to be ufed, any other Serince^ Adminiftration of ^' Sacraments, Common-Prayers, Rites, '^ Ceremonies, Orders, or Government cc cc of the Church, within this Realm, or any other your Majefty's Domini- ^' ons or Countries, be from henceforth *' utterly ^ooid^ and of none Effeft." Thus alfo in the Complaint of the Commonalty, they advis'd the Parlia- ment " To fuffer no Contradiction by *' any whatfoever [the Queen, it feems, *' had fometimes interpofed in thefe 7^v.Strype*s *^ Matters ] nor admit any Impedi- N^s^Hift. '* rnent, whatfoever Satan fhall objed, ^ ^66, 272,*' but arm your f elf with that zealous PartotaRc'' ^"^ heroical Spirit of Chrift Jefus, gifterf.27K" which he had when he purged the '' Temple of Buyers and Sellers, and *' prepare a facred Ijaw for a learned *' Miniftry, as a Whip with Cords ^ to ** drive and keep out all the Buyers and " Sellers." This was a Complaint addreft to the Parliament. In another Piece^ entitled^ [ IIJ ] entitled^ a Supplication to the High Court of Parliaments we find thefeSupplic;.i8. Words : ^^ Unlcfs, withotit T)ela}\ you ^^ labour to cleanfe the Church of all " Lord Biftiops, Dumb Minifters, Non- *^ Refidents, Archdeacons, Commifla- ^^ rieSj and all other Romifli Officers '^ and Offices, there tolerated, and fo " tolerated, as by the Confent and Au- " thority of the Parliament they are ** maintained ; that you are, both in " this Life and the Life to come, like- " ly to be fubjefl: unto the untolerable " Mafs of God's Wrath, the Exectiti- '• 071 whereof is 7tot unlikely to fall up- " on yoti and your Houfes, unlefs you prevent the Fiercenefs of the Lord's Indignation." Agreeable to this, the famous Martin Mar-Prelate^ to all the Clergy, Part II. ^^ My Defire is, to " have the Matter try'd, whether your " Places ought to be tolerated in any ^' Chriftian Common-wealth ? I fay, " they ought not," Thus again the fame Author : " This learned Dif- " courfe [which he had mention'd be- " fore] is a Book altow'd by All the ^' Puritan Treacbers in the Land-, who " would have all the Remnants and '^ Relicts of Antichrift banilli Vi out of " the Church, and not fo much as a .^^ Lord Bifhop (no not his Grace him- I 2 '' felf ) (C iC cc [ IIO fclf ) Dumb Minifter (no not Dumb John of London himfelf ) Non-Re- fident. Archdeacon, Abby-Lubber, '^ or any fuch Loyterer, tolerated^'wi " our Miniftry." The Holy i>ifciplme of the Church, dcfcribed in the Word of God, anciently contended iox^ and, as far as the Times would fuffer, pradifed by the fir ft Non- conformifts, in the Days of Queen £//- zahetb^ was printed by Authority in the Year 1 644. 'Twas faid to be found in the Study of that 7720ft accompliJJjd Divine (as he is there called) Mr. ^Thomas N's Hift. Cartwright. Mr. iV. tells us,, ^*^ This f' 449- ^^ Book was in high Efteem among the Puritans j that it w^as drawn up in Jjatm by Mr. 'Travers^ and printed at Geneva: But, fince that time, had been diligently review d^ cor- reflcd and perfeUed^ by Mr. Cart- wright (who tran dated it) and other learned Minifters at their Synods ; " That it contains the Subftance of ^^ thofe Alterations in Difcipline that " the Puritans of thofe Times contend- " ed for; and w^as fubfcribed by the ^^ Brethren hereafter named, as agree- " able to the Word of God, and to be " promoted by all lawful Means, that ^^ it may be ejiahlifloed by the Atithori- " ty of the Ma^iftrate and of the '' Churchr cc cc cc cc cc cc cc C "7 ] ^'' Charchr They were by no means content with enjoying it thcmfelves; all Endeavours were employed to have it not tolerated, but efiahlifljed -, in the mean time onl)\ till they cowXdi force it upon others^ were they fatisfy'd with ufing it themfelves. 'Tis part of their Subfcription^ '^ In the mean time, wcN'sHft. " promife to obferve it, fo far as may^ '^^3- " be lawful for us to do, by the pub- " lick Laws of this Kingdom, and by '■^ the Peace of our Church " In this admired Form of Difcipline, fo earneft- ly contended for, we have an authen- tick Proof, how deflitute they were of Charity or Condefcenfion to weak Bre- thren. One of the firft Laws are in thefc Words. '^ Let none be call'd [to any^'s iiift. Ecclefiaftical Benefice] ^^ but they whop- <5io. ^^ have firft fubfcribed theConfeflion of " T)oarine and Difcipline -, whereof ^^ let them be admoniilVd to have Co- " pies with themfelves." This muft at once have deprived not only theBifhops, Deans, Archdeacons, &c. but all the Epifcopal Clergy throughout the Nati- on, who could not fubfcribe to this Holy Difcipline. No Latitude for ten- der Confciences, none to be admitted, but thofe that fubfcribed to their Do- Gix'mQ and Difcipline. Could any thing more effectually Ihut the Doors of the I z Church [ "8 ] Church againft all the Lutheran Pro- teftants, as well as thofe that approved King 'Edward's Reformation ? Thus much they propofed when they were dcftitute of Power. If a Minority, a Small Flock^ as they call themfelves^ could move for fuch a Law, and talk of enforcing it by JJoarp T^uniJJmients^ it was an Aft of Goodnefs, as well ^s Wifdom, in the Government, not to comply with their Requeft, or put the Weapons of Authority into fuch Hands, But this Subfcription did not content them 3 farther Care was to be taken, that a Minifter fliould never change his Mind, without violating his Promife. The fame Holy Difcipline enjoins ; Ibid. 6ii. cc i^et him be demanded^ whether he ^^ will be ftudious and careful to main-- tain and prefer^De wholefom UoUrine and Ecclefiaftical T)ifcipline, Thus let the Minifter be examined, not '^ only by one Elderfhip, but alfo by " fome greater Meeting and Affembly." Still all this is not fuificient to fatisfy thefe ftriU Calvinifts ^ no Declaration of a Man's prefent Faith, or Promife for the future, will do ; That no other Tro- teflant might ever be admitted into the Church, they had a farther Contri- vance \ a ftrift Enquiry was to be made into his /(?rw^r Opinions, his very Study^ in re cc ill a manner, to be broke open^ and fearch'd for Heretical 'Books ; the read- ing of any of thefe is Caufe enough for Exclulion from the Church. Let their own Words fpeak their own Senfe. " In ibid. 6 1 o. " the Examination of Minifters (fays " the fame Holy T^ifcipHne) the Tefti- " mony of the Place from whence they " come is to be demanded, whereby it " may be underflood what Life and '^ Converfation he hath been of, and '' whether he hath been addided to any " Herefy, or to the reading of any ^^ Heretical 'Booksy or to curious and " ftrange Queftions, and idle Specula- ^^ tions; or rather, whether he be " accounted found and confenting in " all Things to the "DoBrine received " in the Church. Whereunto if he ^^ agree, (^yc. " What furprizing Care to guard againft all their Proteftant Brethren ! This was that hopeful Plat- form of Difcipline for which the King- dom was fet on Fire. To judge in this Caufe between the Puritans Scheme and the Proteftant EftabHfhment, which they labour'd to deftroy, a Man need do no more than compare the narrow Spirit oi their Holy Difcipline, with the charitable, cathoUck Temper obferved in the publick Service, which was ^^'^^^^\^J'^'^^^ fignedly compiled as a Medium between [^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ I 4 the K's Hift. [ 120 ] the feveral Parties, and, as far as was con- fiftent with pleafingGod, to include them all. In fliort, one endeavour d to compre- henddi^ many Chriftians as pofTible in its Communion ; the other to eftablilli the f /- g/WNotions of ay/;z^/nji of the Feet of the " Church," What does this amount to lefs, than that this celebrated Geneva Church was to try and condemn Men for Herefy in England^ as it had done at home , and then deliver them over to the fecular Arm^ who, as the Ser- vant of the Church, w^as, by no Means, to fail infliding condign Puniiliment upon tlie Contemners of their T^e- crees, Mr. N. fure, was unacquaint- ed with this Part of the Character of the Puritans, when he .applauds them for " ufing no other Wea- N'sHift. ^c pQi^s but Prayers and Tears, at- P'S9S' « tended with Scripture and Argu- " ment." Their Power indeed to inflift JJmrp Puniiliments was not fo great as they defired, but where they had any, they took care to exert it, and com- Strype'sAnn.w^end thcmfelvcs for fo doing. '' We Vol. III. " allow not {fay they) of Papilts ; of P'^H' « ^]^^ Family of Love^ of Anabaptifts f 'Jg^- " or Brown irts : No, we puniflj all '' thefe." This Mr. N. quotes from Mr.Strypej whofe Words are ftronger than he has thought fit to put them. *' We allow not of the Papifts, their " Subtilties and Hypocrifies^ we allow " not of the Family of Love, an Egg " of [ 1^3] " of the fame Neft ; wc allow not of ^^ the Anabaptifts, nor their Communi- "•^ ty ; we allow not oilirowny the O^er- " thrower of Church and Co7nmon^ " wealth I we ahhor all thefe. No, " [we] ruNisH all thefe." Were one to guefs at the Reafon why the De- fcription here given of Urownt the Overthrower of Church and Common- wealthy is omitted, it might be imagin'd to be this: ^' Some of his PrinciplesN's Hift. '^ were adapted and improved by a^* ^7<^ "^^ confiderahle Body of "Puritans^ in the ^^ next Age." Before this Head is concluded, it may not be improper to take Notice of the partictilar Se^verity which the Tti- ritans ufed towards thofe who differed from them upon the Article of Free- wilL This they always brand with the odious Name of Popery^ in order to reprefent thofe of that Opinion in the moft difagreeable Colours, and raife the ftrongeft Averfion againft them. We have a remarkable Inftance of this fort in a celebrated Piece, often quoted by Mr. i\r. and held in great Efteem and Credit by the Party. 'Tis as follows. ^* The "Book of the Generation of Anti-'^^it q^ ^v^t- ^' chrifi, the Tope, the reveafd Child^^''^ ^ ^/- cc rrr\ T ' t t - n rf* o A View oi ofFerdittonyanamsSzicceJJors^occ. Antichrifth IS Laws and Ce- The' [ 124 ] " The "Demi begot T>arhiefs^ Dark- ^^ nefs begot Ignorance^ Ignorance begot " JEiTYor and his Brethren^ Error begot " Free- WILL and Self-love. Free-will was the Parent of Lady Lucre and many other Abominations3 which, after long Succeflion, produced the *^ Tope and his Brethren the Cardinals^ " with all their Succeffors^ Abbots, Pri- " ors, and all the Brood of Popelings, " Jrch'biJhopSy Lord-biJJjops^ Jrch- deacons^ T>emis^ Chancellors^ Com- " mifaries, Officials^ Spiritual T>oUors^ " and TroUors^ with the reft of that Viperous "Broody in the Tranfirdgra- tion of Abomination. The Qusere is unavoidable, Were not fuch as thefejfe^ Heads to admonish a Parliament, to reform and fettle a Nation, who could publifli fuch an ingenious and wonderful Genealogy? The Reader cannot but ob- fcrve, that every thing is Topery which thefe Gentlemen did not reliili j Free- will is the very Root and Foundation of it^ much worfe than a Surplice^ a Square Cap^ or 2l Scholar s Gown^ which are but the Leaves or Branches of 'Papijiry. We find, annexed to a Tetition to the Cowvocation^ a Piece, called, the State of the Church laid open, in a Conference or Dialogue between T>iotrephes^ a Bilhopj [ 115 1 Bifliop, Vatil^ a Preacher of the Word of God, and others. Part of that Conference or Dialogue runs thus : Diotr. T)o you not alfo like of the preaching of Predeftination ? Paul, Tea^, or elfe fljottld I diflike of preaching the Truth j for it is a Tart of God's revealed Will. Diotr. So do not I ; in thefe T)ays^ when there are fo many weak ones^ 1 think it to he a ^^ery "Break-neck of all 'Keligion. Paul. I have heard of Free-will Men that have [aid fo^ hut I never heard Men of Learning affirm it^ hut one that was a Bifhop, in a Sermon ,• hut his Words were no lefs than Blafphemy, and fo are yours^ and all they that jay or think the fame are guilty of no lefs Sin. Diotr. Are you a Treacher^ andfpeak fo of the Reverend Fathers ? It may he it was your own Ordinary^ to whom you are fworn^ to give canonical Ohedience? Paul. 'T^was the 'Bifhop^ indeed^ who tifurped over the Tlace where I dwelt-, hut I never fwarc him any Ohedience. Mr. iV. tells us, they fet up religi-^'^ ^^'^^ ous Exercifes among themfelves, for the^* '''^' Interpretation of Texts of Scripture, which [ lV6 ] which they call'd Trophefyings : That they coiifer*d among themfelves touch- ing found Dodrine and good Life and Manners. Here it was natural to ex- peft, they would allow a reafonahle Latitude, for the fake of hearing diffe- rent Sentiments, and makings, fair Bx- amination. But, on the contrary, we find, upon this Occafion, that Free-will is ranked with the Pope's Supremacy, Purgatory, Tranfubftantiation, to be abjtiredy renounced^ and utterly con- demn dhy every Member, in a Confeffion to hefubjcribedat his Admiflion. Mr. iV. indeed, has thought fit to omit thofe ftrong Words, in his Account of the Pro- phefyings, tho' they are a Part of their Subfcription, in Mr.Strype^ whom he quotes upon the Occafion. Nor can this Gentleman himfelf be acquitted ciTar^ tiality^ againft thofe who believe the Freedom of the human Will. To re- prefent this Opinion as bad as he could, he chofe to give it an invidious Name; p. loy, 1 06. 'tis the Telagian Doftrine ; and, to ren- der it ftill more odious, 'tis charged with [iipplanting the received Doctrine of the Reformation. Many of the F^x- iles in Queen Marys time did embrace the ftrifter Notions they learned in the foreign Calviniftick Churches ; but the frji Refor7ners in King Henry and King Edward^ [ 127 ] EdwarcTs Reign were not of the fame Opinion, and therefore the latter Sen- timents have no Right to be calfd the ^cUri72e of the Reform at io7i. There is fomewhat very feverc in Mr. N's Reflection, p. 105. " I don't find Mr. at in his " any of thcfc Free-TVillers at the^'^ Edition. " S:ake." There was no Occafion to^hfe'chargeo^' mention them in this difadvantageous another icr- manner, when his Proof is no more thanff"j^J^^^^"'> this : "They did not take Notice ^/fays my au- any T)ifferences with their Troteftajit^^'''* ^"^ ^^ sr/ 7 7 7 1^ r nanies nonei Brethren^ wheji they came to dye jor^n^ the lait the Trot eft ant Caufe, '' If (Aw ^^)^^l^^l\]l *^ any of them fufferd, they made nol-ill^ suZet. *' mention of their Diftingniiliing Opi-^^ '^ '" his " nions, when they came to die/' '^""°^'- Mr. Strype has preferved J Pious Mcm.voi.iir. Letter againfi complying with Idola-^^"^^^- ^'5- trous JVorfloip^ in j^iieen MaryV T>ays^ written by a Free-will Man \ which he fuppofes to be wrote by Henry Hart^ one of the chief of them, and afterwards a Prifoner. Mr. N's Account oiH'HartK\ Hft. and others is, that ^^ they ran their Noti-^ '^3. ons as high as the modern JrminianSy or 2isT elagitis hirafelf, defpi/ingLear^i- ing^' &c. He quotes no Authority, nor produces any evidence to fupport this hea~ vy Cenfure, which plainly is not levelled only at thofe who believed the Freedom of the Human Will in Q: Marys Days. CHAP. (C cc A [ 1^8 ] CHAP III. Third ObfcT'vation which arifes from the Hiftory of thefe Times is this. That notvvithftanding t\iQ Eft ablijlj- ment was fo much more reafonaUe and cathoUck than any propofed by the Pu- ritans; and that they were fo defiroiis of having penal Laws enacted againft *DiJj enters from their Platform, yet did the Government make no penal Laws againft the Puritans, as fuch, /. e. meer - Non-conformifts ; and where they fell within the reach of Laws enad;ed upon repeated Plots, Confpiracies, and other high Provocations againft !P^/7//?j"5 Im- pugners of the Supremacy^ and other Diftzirhers of the State^ they were treated with great Lenity and Mild- nefs. The very firft Tranfadtion of Queen Elizabeth mention d by Mr. N. is under xVsHift. this Title: "Preaching forbid. " The ^ '^^* " only thing {fays he) her Majefty did before the meeting of the Parhament was, to pre^^ent Pulpit Tiifputes \ for fome of the Reformed^ that had been " Preachers in King Edward's time, ^^ began to make ufe of his Service Book, " without Authority or Licence from *^ their Superiors j this alarm'd the II Popifti €C €C [ 129 i Popifli Clej^y, and ^a've Occafion *^ to a Proclamation, dated T)ecem. 27* ^^ by Avhich all Preaching of Minifters, " or others, was prohibited." By this Account, it muft be thought, the Pro- clamation was levell'd againft the re- form d Minifters, whom he reprefents as the only Preachers ; and that the Papiftswere no farther concerned, than being alarm'd at fuch a Procedure in the Proteftants. A fuller Account is given by My. Strype. ^' Now did both \m. vol l " the Evangelicks and Papalins beftir^ ^^' " themfelves for their Parties. The ^- former were afraid the Queen would " not fet upon the Work of reforming " Religion, or make too much Delay in fo neceflfary a Work : The latter were very jealous of her, by the lit- tle llie had already done towards a Reformation, that flie would, in the " End, throw down the late new-raifed " Structure of their Religion. There- " fore, on the one Hand, many of the Gofpellers^ without Authority, abhor- ring the Superftitions and Idolatry re- maining in the Churches, were guilty of great T^iforders^ in pulling down Images, and fuch other Relicks there. The other fpared not for lewd Words poured out againft the Queen, with- out Meafure or Modefty. And both K " took cc cc cc cc cC cc cc cc cc [ 130] took their Occafions to fpeak freely their Minds in the Tulpits.'' It was not therefore the Preaching of the Re- form'd that occafion'd this Prohibition. '' Now alfo, but efpecially a while af- " ter {fays Mr. Strype^ in the next Tage) " when the Parliament came together, " and, by their Authority, a common *^ Form of Prayers, in the vulgar Tongue, ^^ was like to be brought in, inftead of ^^ the old Mafs, the Topijh Priefts that '^ could preach beftirr'd themfelves every " where in the Churches, to prejudice " the People againft receiving of it/' p. 6, Mr. N. had afferted in his , Preface " That the Queen having conceived a " ftrong Averfion to thefe People (the ^^ Puritans) pointed all her Artillery *^ againft them." Hence it became ne- ceflary to reprefent e'very Venal Law, and every 'Kefir aint as defign'd to af- feft them, v^hen in Truth the chief In- tention was to Support the Trotefiant Rehgion, and for that End to fupprefs the daring Infolence of Vapifls^ equal Enemies to the eftablifli*d Religion and eftabliih'd Government. The Hiftory and TranfadHons of the Times will ac- count both for the enading of penal Laws, and putting them in Execution. As for the moderate and peaceable Nonconformifts, they vrere not only treated [ 131 ] treated with Lenity, but Favour. So far in Qixeen Elizabeth's Reign as the Year 1586. Mr. N- allows, there wash's Hiftory a very confiderablc Number /?r^/^rrV^ +^4- in the Church. For near five Hundred Pages in his Book we hear of little elfe, but dreadful Severities againft the Pu- ritans, Exclufions, Sufpenfions Depri- vations, Imprifonments, " The very Ibid.^'ifcipline^^c. (of which f- 4^3- Mention has been already made) " and " at the fa7ne Time refohing^ that " fince the Magistrate cou^ld not he " induced to reform the T>ifcipline of the Churchy by fo many Petitions and Supplicatio7is j that therefore^ after fo many Tears waitings it was law- fid to aU without him^ and introduce a Reformation in the beji Manner '"• they (C cc cc cc „ [ ^33 ] " they cotild'^ Sure thcywere not much afraid of Profecutions, who could, in fo formal and publick a Manner enter into a Defign to fubvert the whole Ec- clefiaftical Eftablifhmcnt againft the Senfe of the Legiflature, often declar- ed to them After the T>eprwations of thofe that were in the Church, and the Exchtjion of others that could not comply with the Terms required, 'twas hardly to be expected, that a fingle Tti- fit an fliould be left in the Church, and confequently that this SiihfcriptionmvA. have been made, and theje Attempts. of fubverting the Eftabhfhment carry'd on by Puritans, fufpended, deprived, or excluded from Preferment, jtnce it was impojfihle for one honeft Tnritan to efcape the high CommiJJion : And yet, on the contrary, notwithftanding the Outcries Mr. N. has made from the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign to the Time of this Subfcription and Affociation, no lefs than 28 Tearsy we find that the Ho/y T>ifcipline^ &c. was, p. 48^. as Mr. N. himfelf afferts, fubfcribed by ABOVE fifve hundred Puritan Clergy- Men, ALL "Beneficed in the Church of England j ufeful Treachers of unfpot- ted Lives and Charafters. The Puri- tans, by this Gentleman's Account, are always Men of exceeding good Cha- K 3 raiters^ [ 134 ] rafters, ^nd the Conformifts of very bad ones. But to go on, here we fee aho've five hundred Puritans, not only "Bene-- ficed^ but licenfedto preach! What a fubftantial Proof i^ this of the great Lenity of the Archbiiliops and Bifhops, cfpecially as it appears, that among thefe Beneficed and Licenfed Puritans, we find all their great Leaders, Mr, Carti!oright^ Travers^ Fields Snape^ Johnjhiy Sparks^ Cawdrey^ Tayne^ TJdale^ &:c. about fifty of whom Mr. iV". has particularly enumerated ? What now muft the Reader think of this Gentleman's heavy Complaints of fe- vere Ufage, the T^eprwatmt and fi- lencing of thofe very Perfons, who, by his own Account, were all Beneficed and preaching in the Church ? Here is one important Evidence in favour of Queen Elizaheth and the "Bijhops^ There are many other confiderable T'eftimonies on the fame Side. Sir Tran- cis Walfmgham is, by Mr. iV. reckon'd among the Friends of the Puritans, and joind with the Earl of Lekefier^ the Champion and Supporter of their Caufe. Mr. Fuller gives this Charader of him. Amongft all the Favourers of the *^ Presbyterians, furely Honefty and '^ Wifdom never met more in any thart '^^in Sir Francis Walftngham^ of whom f' it Cr35] ^"^ it may be faid (abate for the Difpro- " portion ) as of St. Taul^ tho' poor, *^ making many rich." Walftnghamy therefore, can be no partial Evidence for the Church ; the univerfal Eftecra he juftly acquired by his Integrity and Wifdom, demands the greater Credit to what he relates. " The Steps of Hifl. Refor: " the Queen's Proceedings (fays Bilhop^'^'^^^-***- " "Burnet) both againft Tapijis and ^^ Turitans^ are fo fet out by her great " and wife Secretary, Sir Francis ^^ Walfingham^ in fo clear a Manner, " that I ftiall fet it down here as a '^ moft important Piece of Hiftory ; '^ being written by one of the wifefl " and moft mrtuous Minifters, that " thefe latter Ages have produced." Mr. iV. complains of thofe eminent?. 1 2/. Men, Archbiftiop Grindah Biiliop Coxy Horny Tilkington and others, that they had no Courage. They did not dare, it feems, to oppofe the reafonable Mea- fures of the Legiflature. No Body, 'tis to be hoped, will charge this Gentle-- man with the fame Defed, who has ^ventured his own 'deputation againft fo great, fo wife, and good a Man as Sir Francis Walfingham y who has even flaewn Courage enough to accufe that celebrated Minifter, of Faljhood and^'«"«^- Mifreprefentationst or, in his own^*^^^* K 4 Words, C X3'6 ] Words, of being guilty oifalfe Colour^ ings, in Affairs that fell within his own Knowledge-, and in the conducing of which he had a very great Share ; the' Mr.i\r. cries out, was there anything like what Walfingham afferts ; yet, as Walfingham lived in thofe Times, and Mr. 2V. did not, as he fpeaks from his own Knowlege^ and was no Enemy to the Puritans, his Teftimony flmll be laid before the Reader, who, when he confidersj how able, and how honeft a Man he was, will pay a due Re- gard to it. '^ I am glad, (fays this " great Man) to impart that, little / ** know I find her Majefty's Pro- " ceeding to be grounded upon two " Principles. *' The one^ that Confciences are not " to he force dy but to be won and in- *^ duced by Force of Truth, with the '' Aid of Time, and the Ufe of all *' good Means of Inftruftion and Per- " fuafion. ^^ The other ^ that Caufes of Confci- ^^ encc, when they exceed their 'Bounds^ " and grow to be matter of FaUioiiy " lofe their Nature, and that Sovereign Princes ought diftinftly to punifh their Praftices, and Contempt, tho' coloured with the Pretence of Con- '^ fcience and Religion." After having repre- [ 137 ] reprefented her Proceedings towards the Tapijis^ and given the Reafons from their CondiiU of the Laws made againft them, he ftates the Cafe of the ^Puri- tanSy as follows. '* For the other Party, "which have " been qffenfin)e to the St ate ^ tho in am-- " ther T)egree [was Mr. N, confcious, that Waljinghams Account of the Pu- ritans would be credited, that he has fupprefs'd thefe important Words, in both Editions of his Book, without any Mark, notwithftanding he aJJuTes us, pag. 597. I Jhall tranjcrihe his own Words.^ " which 7tamed themfehes " Reformers, and we commonly call " Puritans \ this hath been the Pro- *^ ceeding towards them ; a great while, " when they inveigh'd againft fuch " Abufes in the Church, as Pluralities, " Non-refidence, and the like, their " Zeal was not condemned, only their " Violence was fometimes cenfured j " when they refufed the Ufe of fome ifcipline were planted, there fliould be no Vagabonds nor Beggars, a thing *^ vQxy plaufibk ; and in like manner they promifed the People many of *^ the impoffihle Wonders of their ©//- '^ cipline ,• befides, they opend to the '^ people a way to Go^jernment^ by their ^^ Confijiory and Tresbytery ; a Thing, *^ tho', in Confequence, no lefs preju- ^^ dicial to the Liberties of private " Men, than to the Sovereignty of Prin- ^' ces ; yet, in firft Shew, very popular. '^ Neverthelefs Hhis^ except it were in iome few that enter'd into extream Contempt^ was home withy becaufe they pretended, in dutiful manner, to make Propofitions, and to leave it '' to cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc (C C I3P ] ^* to the Providence of God, and the Authority of the Magiftrate. " But now, of late Years, when there iffucd from them that affirm'd, " the Confent of the Magiftrate was " not to he attended -, when, under a ^^ Pretence of a Confeifion, to avoid Slander and Imputations, they com- hind themfehes hy Clares and Sub- fcriptions i when they defcended to that vile and bafe Means of defacing the Government of the Churchy hy " ridiculotis Tafquils i when they be- "^^ gun to make many StihjeUs in dotiht^ " to take Oaths', which is one of the " fundamental Parts of Juftice in this " Land, and in all Places ^ when they " began both to 'vau7it of their Strength ^^ and the Number of their Tartifans " and Followers, and to ufe Commina- " tions that their Caufe would prevail " thro' Uproar and Violence ; then it ^^ appeared to be no more Zeal, no ^^ more Confcience, but meer Faction '^ and Divifion ^ and therefore, tho' the ** State were compeWd to hold fome- " what a harder Hand, to reftrain them^ " than before, yet was it with as great " Moderation as the Teace of the State " ot Church would permit — As things " themfelves alter'd, the Queen ap- ** ply'd her religious Wifdom to Me- " thods r 140 ] *^ thods correfpondent unto them 3- flill *' retaining the two Battles before men- *' tion'd, and dealing tenderly with ^' Confciences^ and yet in difcovering ^^ Faction from Consciences and Softnefs " from Singularity. Thus far this great and honeft Statef- man. The next Evidence is a Divine, of great Diftindiion, the Reverend Mr. John Fox^ the Martyrologift, of whom Mr. N. gives the following Cha- N's Hid. rafter. " He was a moft learned, pi- ; 494- tc ^^^j.^ ^j^ J judicious Divine, of a ca- *' thohck Spirit, and againji all Me- '^ thods of Severity in Keligion ; but he *^ was Ihamefully neglected, for fome *' Years, becaufe he was a Non-confor- *' w//?> and refufed to fubfcribe the '* Canons and Ceremonies." His Tefti- mony, therefore, is beyond Exception. Let xxsfirft hear the good old Man, as to the Turitans^ and then as to the ^Qfieen. They expell'd his Son from Magdalen College, without any Admo- nition or Crime alledged againft him -, upon which, he writes, as follows, to a Reverend Bifhop. Fuiiertf^.ix. « j^ has always, I confefs, been my h '°7- cc g^^^^ Care, if I could not befervice- " able Illud coiifiteor, femper civifle me fedulo, ut fi minus prodeffe multis licuerit, ne fciens tamen obeflcm cuiquam, turn rainime vcro omnium Magdalcnlibus, quo magis id mibi r 141 ] " able to many Perfons, yet not know- *^ ingly to injure any one, and leaft of ^^ all thofe of Magdalen College ^ I " cannot therefore but the more won- *^ der at the ttirhtilent Genius which in- " fpires thofcfaBious Tttritans^ fo that, '' violating the Laws of Gratitude, de- " fpifing my Letters and Prayers, difre- " garding the Interceflion of the Prefi- " dent himfelf, without any previous ^^ Admonition, or aflfigning any Caufe, " they have exercifed fo great TCyran- " ny againft me and my Son. Were I ^^ one who, like them, would be mo- ^^ lently ctttrageotis againft Biftiops and " Archbiftiops, or join myfelf with them, " that is, would become mad^ as they " are, I had not met with this fevcre *' Treatment. Now becaufe, quite dif- " ferent from them^ I have chofe the *' Side of Modefiy and ptihlick Tran- " qtiillity^ mihi admirationi habetur, quis tarn turbulentus Genius facliofa i(b Putitanorum capita efflaverir, ut lie violafis gra- tiarum legibus, fpretis meis ad fe Uteris 8c precibus, con- tempta ipfius prselidis interceflione, nulla pr asm iffa admoni- tione, nee caufa reddita, tantam banc in rae, filiumquc ty- rannidem cxercuerint— — — Quod fi enim is elTem, qui perbacchar't cum cis contra Epifcopos 8c Archi-Epifcopos, aut fcribam me prasbere illorum ordini, hoc eft, infanire cum illis voluifTem, nunquam iftos in me aculcos exacuif- fent. Nunc quia totus ab its aUenuSj partes illas fedlari ma- lucrim, quse modcftis fujit, 8c publicdtranquillifatij, hinc odi- um in me conceptum jamdiu, in banc demum cfFervuit accrbitatcm. Quod cum ita fit, non jam quid mea caufa vclitis faccre, id poftulo, quin potius quid le/Ira ipforum CAufk a [ 142 3 " qtiillityy hence the Hatred they have ^' a long time conceived againji me^ 15, *' at laft, grown to this Degree of Bit- *' ternefs. As this is the Cafe, I do '* not fo much ask what you will do on my Account, as what is to be thought of for your own fakes ^ you, *' who arePrelates of the Church, again *' and again confider. As to n;iyfelf, '* tho' the taking away the Fellowfhip '* from my Son is a great Afflidion to *' me, yet, becaufe this is only a pri- ^' vate Concern, I bear it with more •'* Moderation ; I am much more mov- ** ed upon Account of the Church, ^* which is ptihlic. I perceive a certain *^ Race of Men rifing up, who, if they *' ftiould increafe and gather Strength *' in this Kingdom, I am forry to fay " what T>ifturhance I forefee muft fol- rivine of fo '^ much Merit, who held up the Aflies " of Smithfeld before their Eyes. Mr. A^. cc cc cc cc [ 145 ]^ Mr. is?, will not he enoyd any Tleafiire he can receive from thus altering a Qiiotation^ in order to explain an In- fiance oiVriendfloip and Regard to Me- riti into the mean Paflions of Fear and Cowardice^ meerly becaufe the Favour fhevvM to lAv, Fox proceeded from an JrchhiJJx)p and BifJoops. But there is another Remark relating to this good old Man. Mr. iV. to give the greater credit to his Lift of Puritans, places Fa- ther Fox at the Head of it j v^hereas, in truth, he was perfectited by the Tn- Titans^ and to his Death preferrd in the Church. This Treatment of Mr. Fox by the Puritans Mr. N. omits, tho' it feems a very proper Part of their Hifto- ry, and lay before him in the Book he quotes for the other Story. This by the bye. We have feen Mr.jR?^"'s Sen-iVs Hidory timents of the Puritans j let us now fee^ ^*°* what he fays of Queen Elizaheth^ in a voluntary Letter that good Man wrote to her. Mr. Strype gives it in the fol- lowing Words. " To let pafs, moftStrype'sAnn. " noble Queen, thofe commonly known ^'^ ^' ^* "^"^ ' " things, 'viz. That prefently, at the " Beginning of your moft fortunate L " Reign, Ur vulgaria iila praeteream, quoJ in ipCs ftatim felicifli- mi regni tui aufpiciis tot periclitanres cives, & homines cxtorres ab exilic revocaverisj quod Patriam ipfis, nee fo- lum ipfis, fed Patriam quodammodo Patriae rcddideri*!, Angliamquc jamjam psene expirantem luci ac vit.'e Tux re- ftituerisi L M^ ] Reign, you faved fo many good Men at home, in Danger of their Lives, and called back {o many more abroad " from their Baniflimenti That you reftored their own Country to them ; and not only to them, but the Coun- try, in a manner, to it felf , and Erigiandj then almoft at the very Point of expiring, to its Light and Life again : That, at your faid firil happy Beginning, having procured Peace, you do now every Day im- ftitucris; qu5d pacem tuis illis aufpiciis partam pergasquo- tidie ftudiis ornare 8c artibus j bonis legibus ,fuum vigorcra revocas, noxias tollis, falutarcs fufficis Certe multo tnajom hxc, omniumquc maxfma funr, quod indyta tua Cellitudo Rem Ecdefiajitcam non minus quam Publicam, propugnas tam fortitcrj quod Religionis curam ^rque de- icnfionem in te fufcipis tam ckmenter-y quod fkvas perfe- cutionum faces extinguis, confcientiis diu interclufam Li- bcrtatcm appcris: Templum Dei & Evangelicae Dodlrinae gloriam illuflras 6c provehis : Videlicet, modis omnibus hoc ageos, ut profligatis fenfim vcteris fuperftirionisReliquiis, fincera Evangelii Veritas ad nativum fuum nitorem redear. Declaravic id nuper cgregia vox ilia ac Refponfio Majefta- tis tuse ad quorundam preces reddita Thcologorum, de modo videlicet veftiendi. Qua voce quantam uno in die univerfse Ecclefise pepereris tauftitatem, quantum piorura omnium animis fblatium, quantum pofteritati bencficium, quantam omnibus temporibus lucem, turn luo infupcr no- mmi quantum quamque immorrale decus, quovis arc pe- rennius, attuleris, vix aeftimari poterir. Ingrata: omnium Anglorum linguae ac hterx futuraefunt, fi patiantur tam Di- vinum hoc, caeccraque multa tuarum Virtutum Tropbaea, ulla temporum vetuftate abolefccre. Accedit ad hunc cu- mulum iingularis porroMajcftatis tuae crga Literarum ftu- dia favor: m quibus excolcndis, provehcndifque, nunquam tam propenfam tc dcclarares, nifi quod ipia in eifdem cx- culta tam clegantcr Sc pcrpolita fuilFes. \ " prove [ 147 ] prove it, in good Studies and Arts ; " to the good' Laws you give again " their Force, the bad ones you take '' away, and fnpply tbeir Rooms with " fuch as are wholefome - But aflured- " ly, thefe things which follow are " much greater ftill; and of all, the " greateft, that your excellent High- '' nefs defendeth fo vigorcuay the Ec- '' clefiafticai State, no lefs than the " Commonwealth j that you take upon " you fo affeaionately the Care and '' Protedion of Religion ; that you " quench the direful Flames of Terje- " cution: That you open a Liberty to '' Confciences, fo long fliut up : That you illuftrate and promote the Tem- ple of God, and the Glory of Evan- gelical Doftrines : That is, by all Means endeavouring, that the Re- mainder of old Superftition, by little and little be deftroy d ; the fincere '' Truth of the Gofpcl return to its na- '' tive Brightnefs : This was lately de- clared by that excellent Voice and Anfwer of your Majefty, given to the Petition of feme Divines, concerning the Habits ; by which Words, then, by your Majefty, fpoken, it can fcarce be thought, how great Profperity you did, intone Day, bring to the whole ' Church 5 how great Comfort to the I, 2 '' Minds cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc €C cc cc cc cc cc [ 148 ] ^^ Miiicls of all Godly People ^ how *^^ great Benefit to Pofterity j how great '"^ beHght to all fucceeding Times! *^ and moreover, to your own Name " how immortal an Honour ! more ^^ lading than any Monument of Brafs. ^^ The Tongues and Learning of all '^ EngUJJymen would be ftained with Ingratitude, fliould they fuffer, as well this Godlike thing, as all the other Trophies of your Virtues, by any An- tiquity of Time, to be abolillied. " Hither muft be added, your Ma- " jefty's fingular Favour towards learn- " ed Studies, in the adorning and fur- ^'^ thering whereof, you would never ^^ have fliewn your felf fo inchnable, ^' had you not been fo exquilitely fur- *^ niflied and dreffed your felf with "^^ them. The Reader has now feen the Sen- timents of good Father Fox as to the Puritans ; the dangerous Schemes they had formed j the Violence of their Pro- ceedings ; and the Neceifity of keeping a watchful Eye over them. TheChara- der of QEfe^/'^^/^voluntarily given by fuch an upright and impartial Witnefs of her Conduct, deferves great Regard. Sir Francis Walfmgha7n\ unprejudiced Relation will meet with entire Credit, evon were it not confirmed by Mr. N's long [ H9 ] long Catalogue of Puritans, and thofc the moft confidcrable of the Party be72e' ficed in the Church, after the Noncon- formity and Oppofition of many Years. Any one who examines the feveral Ads of Parliament relating to thofc Affairs, confiders the Preambles or the State of Things at the making of them, will find a farther Confirmation, that the Penal Laws were not intended againft confcientious and quiet Men, but were thought a necejjary Means to fecure the puhlick Welfare^ and reftrain thofc molent Proceedings^ wliich threatened both the Ecclefiaftical and Chnl Parts of the Conftitution. The Aft of which Mr. iV. complains the mofl, was, as the Preamble fets forth, made " for the " preventing and avoiding of fuch great " Incoiweniencies and Perils, as might ^' happen and grow by the wicked ^w^ '*" ^j;z^^r^//j'Pra(5tices oi f editions ScOl^" " ries and dijioyal Perfons. The next Thing to be confider'd, is^ how it came to pafs, that Conformity v;as more w^armly prefs'd, and the Laws relating thereto put in ilrifter Execu- tion, after fome Years, than they were at the Beginning of the Queen's Reign ? And if under this Head it (liall appearj. that the Conduct of the Puritans gave Occafion to this Proceeding, their Mift L 3 behaviour [ I50 ] behaviour ought not, in Juftice, to be laid to the Charge of the Government. There is one Observation that deftroys far the greateft Part of Mr. N's Com- plaints. If the Eftabliiliment was found- ed, as we have feen upon a Catholic and comprehcnfive Bottom ; if it took in the greateft Number of EngUJJj Sub- jefts ; and was the beft Medium be- tween foreie;n Proteftants of different Perfuafi^ns ; thofe that would not com- ply with fuch a Scheme, fhould only blame themfelves if they loft the Ad- vantages of it. When the Government had made an EftabUfhment, that com- prehended the moderate Men of all Parties, it was great Wifdom not to re- duce it to a narrow Platform, devifed by the Bigots of apy one> " Many of ., .^...^... ^^ ^^^ ftriUer Sort^ fays Mr. N. that " had been Exile$ for Religion, could ^^ not come up to the Terms of Con- ^^ formity." 'Tis true, many of thofe, who had been at Gene^ja^ would not be fatisfied with any Thing but the Model there ufed. To have introduced that, had it been pra61:icablc, would have been giving up a vaft Majority of a Society, to the Humour of a few. If thcfe few could not comply with area- fonable and extenfive Plan, they could lay the Blame no where fo properly? as upon N's Hift. upon the Peculiarity of their own Way ot thinking. The Queftion, therefore, is i Was King Edward's Reformatio7iy as re-eftabiiftied by Queen Elizabeth^ more proper and comprehenfi've than the Geneva "Platform ? Was it better ac- commodated to take in the Generality of the Nation, and unite Proteftants ? If fo, the Exclufion of thofe who were unalterably attach'd to another Form, was an Effeft that necelfarily followed the Eftablifliment of the better Plan. Let the Cafe be dated as on the other Side ; Had the Galviniftic Tlatfor^n been eftablifti'd, and thereby the w^hole Body of Lutherans^ Epifcopalians^ &c. excluded from all Preferment in the Church, what would the Patrons of that Scheme have faid, but that the Exclufion of the Lutherans^ fyc. was only to be charged upon themfelves, for not complying with their Geneva Scheme ? The Reader will judge after what has been faid, whether this Rca- foning holds, as to the Exclufion of thofe of the firiUer Sort^ who would not comply with the Terms of Con- formity. Thefe Exclufions muft hap- pen in all Countries^ while Mankind think differently ; but can o^tly be charged upon the Legiflature, when they j^2^^/^^ the moft Catholick Scheme, :^:lj»t L 4 and [ ^5^ ] and embrace one more narrow and ccn- find. Where this is not the Cafe, but (a dtte Regard being ftill had to the Ejjentials of Religion) they proceed npon the moll: comprehenfive Plan ^ the Mon-adfnijfion of thofe that 'would ne- c'cr enter into a Church thus conftitut- cd, or removing afterwards [ach as will 'not ohjerve the necejfary Terms of Con- formity, and comply W'ith the Condi- tions upon which they received their Preferment, may be an Unhappinefs to them who are thus unavoidably ilxUt out or deprived j but reflefts no more Dif- grace upon the Government, than the enabling any other ufeful Law^ which promotes the general Good, tho' with foiiie Incon^'jenience to 2iio\v partictilar p. \(js. Pcrfons. " There is no reformed Church (fays the Anfwer to the Admonition) " but it hath a certain Prefcript and ^^ determinate Order, as well touching ^^ Ceremonies and Difcipline, as Do- ^^ (5lrine, to the which all thofe are " conftraiiVd to give their Confent, that '^ will live under the Protection of it ; " and wiiy then may not this Church of ^^ England have it fo, in like Manner ? " This Obfervation takes off the Weight of all Mr. N's Complaints, of Exclu- /ionSy SufpenfionSy and T)eprwations* If the Eftablifliment was made upon a right [ 153 ] . right Bottom, they were in the Wrong who did not comply with it : If this was a Miftake in their Will-i they are juftly to be blamed j if in the Under' ftanding only, to be pitied. But in cither Cafe the Legiflature is blame- lefs, while they conftdted the general Good^ and took the moft effeUual Methods to eftahlijh the Troteftant Religion. However, tho' the Govern- ment could not in Principle or TrU" dence gratify the Genevians^ by efta- hliflnng their Tlatform^ and the enad- ing penal Laws againft T>iJ]enters from it, yet they indulged thefe Gentlemen for a long Time in Non-conformity, and fuffer d them to enjoy many and confiderable Preferments in the Church, till their own ConduU put fome Stop to this Clemency. But ftill, under all Provocations, peaceable, quiet and con- fcientious Men met with great Favour and little Difturbance. " The Queen n's HiHory " (fays Mr. A^.) connived at their Non- ^'^'^•^- "^• *^ conformity^ till her Government v^as " fettled, but then declared roundly^ " iTie had fixt her Standard, and would " have all her Subjefts conform to it ^ *^ upon which the "Bifhops ftiften'd in '^ their Behaviour, explained away their " Promifes, and became too fevere " againft their dilfenting Brethren : " Thus Thus far Mr. iNZ, On the contrary Hia. Refor. Sir Fraucts Walfingham , ^^ Her Ma- voi.n.p.^ii.u i^^y -^ ^^ Temporizer in Religion ; " it is not the Succefs abroad^ nor the Change of Servants here at home, can alter her ,• only as the mng^s themfelves alter^ ftie applied her religious Wifdom to the Methods ^^ correfpondent to them, ftill retaining " the two Rules, in dealing tenderly with Confciences^ and yet in difcover- ^^ ing FaUion from Confcience, and " Softnefs from Singularity. " 'Tis a great Prefumption in Favour of the Qiieen, that fo wife and honeft a Man as Walfingham^ who perfonally knew, and was interefted in thcfe Matters, gives fo good an Account of the publick Proceedings. But the Reader will be ftill better able to determine who is to be credited, Mr. iV. or Sir Francis Walfingham^ when FaUs are laid be- fore him. In the Year 15^4, being the fixth of the Queen's Reign, flie had not yet DECLARED ^o\3^ViV\ fljc had fixt her Standard^ &c. Mr. ]Sl\ Account is as follows ; " Thd Parochial Clergy (he fliould have faid fome of them) in " City and Country, had an Averfion '' to ■ the"^ Habits y they wore them "^^ ' [omHinies in Obedience to the Law, ^^[they [155] [ they could not then in their Judg- ments be finfulj '^ but more frequcnt- " ly adminifter'd without them, for ^"^ which /o772e were cited into the Spi- ^^ ritual Courts and admoniJJ.^eci. But ^■^ the Bilhopshad not yet [in the fixth Year of the Queen's Reign] " affum'd " the Courage to procceed to Sufpen- ^^ Jiofi and Deprivation." Here then, confejjedly is great Indulgence for fix Years to the Puritans, who were allow'd to enjoy the Advantages of the Efta- blifliment without complying with the Conditions upon which thefe Advan- tages were legally granted. How great this Indulgence was, and what Liber- ties were taken in departing from the eftahlijh'd Rules, we may partly ga- ther from a Paper found among Secre- tary Cecifs Manufcripts, and preferved by Mr. Strype^ as follows, Varieties in the Sermce^ and Admi- niftration tifed. Some fay the Service and Prayer ini-eivicean^ the Chancel i others in the Body of ^">'"- the Church. Some fay the fame in a Seat made in the Church ; feme in the Pulpit, with their Faces to the People. Some keep precifely the Order of the Book j others intermeddle Pfalms in Me- tre 5 fome fay with a Surplice ^ others \vithout a Surplice, The r 156 ] Table. The Table ftanding in the Body of the Church in fome Places ; in others it ftandeth in the Chancel. In fome Places the Table ftandeth Altarwife^ diftant from the Wall a Yard : In fome others in the Middle of the Chan- cel, North and South. In fome Places the Table is join'd 3 in others it ftand- eth upon Trelfels. In fome the Table hath a Carpet^ and in others it hath none. Adminiftrat-- Some with Surplicc and Cap ; fome on of the with SurpHcc alone y others with none. Communion. 5^^^ With Chalicc, fome with a Com- munion Cap ; others with a common Cup. Some with Unleavened Bread, and fome with Leavened. Receiving. Some rcccive kneeling, others ftand- ingj others fitting. Baptizing. Some baptize in a Font, fome in a Bafon ; fome fign with the Sign of the Crofs, others fign not j fome Mini- fter in a Surplice, others without. Apparel. Somc with a fquare Cap j fome with a round Cap j fome with a Button Cap ,- fome with a Hat. Some in Scholars Clothes, fome in others. A Connivance at all this Lat/Hide^ it feems, would 720t fatisfy them. They who dijUked the Habits, (jc. were mt content in being connived at in the Dif- ufe of them, but proceeded fo far as to deride^ r 157 ]. deride^ iiiftilt^ and ahttjc their conform^ ing "'Brethren. Great Traije was be- ftow'd upon thofe who dijregarded the I^aws\ and heavy Cenjttres upon Inch 'dsobfer^jedthejn. Nay, they went far- ther than this, and raifed great Con- tentions and T'umtihs in the Church ; inftead of preaching true Piety and Vir- tue ^ Matters ol fo little Confequence, as a/qiiare Cap^ or a Scholars Gown^ were made the SuhjeUs of publick T>ifcoiirjes : Inftead of endeavouring to hv'mgT apiJIs to the Troteftant Faith ^ thofe who were connived at in difufing the eftablifli'd Drefs, feverely inveigle d againft their Troteftant Brethren that peaceably wore it; againft thofe very Bijhops whofe In- dulgence had either git^en or permitted them to enjoy confiderable Stations in the Church. Mr. N. judging it proper, greatly to [often this Matter, has endea- vour'd to explain it into a meer Calum- ny, a Report artfully rais'd upon the Puritans. ^^ To give Countenance to *^ this * Severity, it was reported:, fays '' he, * The Severity Mr. N. complains oF was the Quren's requiring the Archbifhops and Ecclefiafticai CommiiTion, '.* to take effcfftual Methods that an exift Order and Uai- «* formity be maintained in all external Rite? and Ceremo- «' nies, as by Law and good Ufages are provided forj and «* that none hereafter be admitted to any Ecclefiaflical Pre- «• ferment, but who is well difpofed to common Order, «' and fhall formally promilc to comply with it. N. wfl. [ 158 ] " he^ that fome of the warmer Puri- " tans had turned the Habits into Ri- dicule, and given unhandfome Laii- gnage to them that wore them y which, according to y\x.Strype^ was an Occafion of their being preft after- wards with fo much Rigour: But whatever gave Occafion to the Per- fecution that foilow'd, or whoever *^ was at the Head of it, fuppojtng the " Infimmtion to be juft, 'twas very hard '^ that fo great a Number of ufeful '^ Minifters, who neither cenfured their '^ Brethren, nor abufed their Indulg- *^ ence by an unmannerly Behaviourj '* fliould be turn'd out of every thing " they had in the Church /^r the Indif- *^ cretion of a few*' 'Twas not a meer Report or Injinuation againft the Puri- tans, there ftill remains fufficient Proof to fupport the Charge ; nor was it the Indifcretion of a/^zc?, but the general f, 187. Here again this Gentleman has changed the Words of the Author he quotes; for Mr. S/ry/^e fays [Lxfe cf Vat- ker» p. 15-4. " The Queen dirc6ted her Letter to her *' Archbifliop, requiring him, wirh other Bifliops, in the *' Commiffion forCaufcs Ecclefiaftica), that Orders might *' be taken whereby all Diverfities and Varieties among the *' Clergy and Laity, AS breeding nothing but Contention, and *' Breach of common Charity, and againft the Laws and ** goodUfage and Ordinances of the Realm, might be re-' " form'd and reprcfs'd, and brought to one manner of ** Uniformity." Why fliould Mr. N. make no Mention of thofc Contentions which were the very Gwmd of the Queen's Procecdiog? Con- [ X59 ] Condua: of the whole Body. The peaceable fcjD were diftinguiflicd from the tronhkfome Majority of thefe Men, and treated in a different Manner. The Englijfo Laity Mr. N. himfelf allows^ p* 20I. were more ac'erfe to the Habits than the Clergy. Whence could this Averiion arife, but from the ^tiritan Preachers ? Had the People been told, as they ought to have been, if the Sub- ject was mentioned in the Pulpit, that thefe were Matters of Indifference ap- pointed by Authority ; that it did not belong to them to judge or condemn their Minifters or Brethren, efpecially for obeying Laws made to fupport the Proteftant Religion, and the Queen's InjuniStions made in Confequence of thofe Laws : That her Majefty had ex- prefsly declared Jhe did not mean to at- trihttte any Holinefs or fpecial Worthi- nefs to the Garments : That the Peo- ple might be as careful of their Con- dud, and as effeftually promote their own Salvation, whether their Minifter wore a Scholar's Gown, or a Geneva Cloak. Had nothing been faid upon the Subjeft in the Pulpit, or had fome fuch Method as this been taken, and all Violence^ Keproachy and Contempt difcouraged as linful and uncharitable, the EngliJJj Laity^ who had no Ob- jeUi07is [ 1^0 ] jeUions to this Habit tmder King Ed- ward, could not now have had fo ftrong an Averfion againft a Drefs not to be worn by themfelves. This violent Averfion muft be artfully and defignedly rais'd in their Minds. The Endeavours to raife fuch 2i warfn Spirit fucceeded but too well among the giddy Multi- tude. The Populace were effedually inflamed upon this Occafion. That this Matter may not be aggravated , the Reader fhall have it in Mr. N's own Words, and is defired particularly to obferve, that thefe Difturbances were in the Year 1 564. Before thb Queen's Letter and the Advertifements, requir- ing the Ufe of the lawful Habits were publillied, i, e. before the ^tteen had declared roundly^ &c. and before the 3iiJhops had explain d away their Tro- mifes. " The Protestant Populace, " fays he^ thro out the Nation were so " INFLAMED (hc fliould havc told us ^^ hy whom) that nothing but an awful *' Subjedion to Authority could have *^ kept them within the Church. Great " Numbers refufed to frequent thofe ^^ Places of Worlliip where Service was ^' Minifter'd in that T)refs. They would " not falute fuch Minifiers in the " Streets, nor keep them Company ^ " nay, if we may believe Dr. Whit^ift^ ^* ia C i5i ] "** in his Defence againft Cartwright^ *^ they (pit in their F^r^x, reviled ^^m " as they went along, andfhevved//^f>& ^* hke ra^^ Behaviour. ( The Reader is defired to remark what follows ) " 'Becaufe they took them for Tapifis ^^ in ^ifguije^ for Time-fervers and *' half 'faced Troteftants^ that would '^ be content with the Return of that *^ Religion^ whofe "Badge they wore. '* This Reafon of their Con dud Mr. N. afferts to be taken out of Strype Vol. I. Pag. 460, and marks it as a Quotation from thence in both the Editions of his Book y whereas in Truth 'twas the Pro- duct of his own Invention. In order to vindicate thofe unprovok'd Infults and Violences the conforming Clergy met with from the Turitans^ Mr. N, him- felf gives thefe Reafons to juftify their tumultuous Proceedings. The Clergy of the Church of England^ many of whom had been Exiles and Sufferers for the Proteftant Religion, were " "Papifis in 7)ifguifey Time-fervers,^ '^ and halffaced Trotefiants^ &c. whereas in Strype it ftand thus, " they vol.i.f 450. " fpit in their Faces, reviled them in " the Streets, and fhew'd fuch like rude *' Behaviour towards them, and that *^ only becaufe of their Apparel.'' This, and no more^ is to be found in Mr. • :; M Strype^ [ i62 ] Strype^ teiating to this Matter ; fo that the Clergy of the Church of England ^re mtirdy indebted to Mr. N. for that rude and unbrotherly Defcription of them, Tapifts in T^ifgttife^ Time-fer-^ mn^, &c. When this Gentleman is confronted with Sir Francis Walfm- ghurriy the Reader will remember this Inftance of his exad Fidelity. But to go on, 'tis agreed on all Hands, the Natim was inflamed ,• it feems highly proper, therefore, to mention fomc of the ILndeamurs that were ufed tx> rmfe this Flame in the Kingdom, and the rather, becaufe the Hiflary of the Puritans is jfllent upon that Head. When the true Jutbors of this general ^ifturbance are brought to Light, 'twill be eafy to determine who is to be charged with the Confequences of it. If thofe Men, who ought peaceably and thanJftdly to have enjoy'd their Liberty^ made Ufe of that Indidgence to ratfe T^umidts and T>iforders^ to fet the Nation on Fire ; 'twas no Wonder, a wife and careful Government fliould require a ftrifter Obedience to the Laws. Too great Connivance, it was found upon iriai^ had given Occafion to much Tumtdt and FaUion ; hence it became mece[fary to infift upon a more exaft Confornuty to the Rules eftabliftied by the [ 1^3 3 the Wifdom of the Nation, for the Support of the Protcftant Relisrion. 'Tis not at all pretended or alledged^ even by Mr. N. that the Refiifers of the Habits were infulted or abufed by the conforming Clergy^ who had the Laws on their Side, and aded in Obe- dience to them. While on the other Hand, peaceable SuhjeUs were mobl?d in the Streets, reviled as they went along, and their Faces fpit in, only becaufe they appear d in a Habit ap- pointed by proper Authority to difiin" gtiijh their Trofejfion. It muft be an unpleaiant Circumftance to every good Mind to obferve, that this Fire^ which inflamed the Nation^ was kindled at the Jltar ; that the 'Populace did little more than praUife the Lejjons their ad- mird Leaders taught them : We have fome Account of this in Mr. Strype two Years before the Government proceed- ed in the Affair. " For Matters EC'Voii.p.^^s, ^^ clefiajiical-, which be indifferent ^^^^'^'^^^^ " there be fome Preachers which can- " not abide them, but do murmur, '^ fpurn, kick, and ^jery Jloarply do in- '^ veigh againft them ,• naming them ^^ Things of Iniquity^ T>emlijh and " Taptjiical - — • One Preacher not ^^ of tne bafer Sort or Fftimation, did " glory and boaft that he made Bight M 2 '' Ser- [ 164 ] Sermons in London againji Surpli- ces, Rochets, Tippets and Caps, counting them not to be perfed that " do wear them, (^c. " They conti- nued in this Way of preaching upon thefe Subjeds, till, as Mr. N. juftly expreffes it, they had inflamed the Tro- teftant Toptilace throughout the King- dom. Some of the Confequences of this Life of par*«r are recounted byMr. Strype -y '* Such as ^227. tc pigh^ing \^ tfjg Churchy Sacrilegious *^ taking away the Elements prepared " for the Holy Communiony even when ^^ the pioufly difpofed were ready to *^ receive taking Clerks that were ^^ Celebrating the Holy Offices, and ^* turning them by Violence out of the *^ Church, ONLY becaufe they wore " Surplices^ We find that Dr. "Turnery Dean of Wellsy enpind a common Adtil- strvpe'sUfe tcver to do his open Tenance in ^fquare o( Parker. ^^^^ which was Part of the Habit the Law had appointed for the Clergy. Partofa Reg. This Dr. Ttimer was a Man of great ^^^- Diftinftion among the Puritans. In the Year 1 570 we find a Godly and zealous Letter, as it is call'd, written by a noted Vevfon^Mr. Jnthony G/7^r, which is thus addrefs'd ; " To my Reverend ^' Fathers and Brethren in thrift, Mr. *' Co'verdaky Mr. Turner, Mr. IFhit- ^^ inghamy Mr. Samplon. Mr. Dodlor '' Hum^ [ 165 ] " Humphrey^ Mr. Lever^ Mr. Crow- " ley, and others, that labour to root *^ out the Weeds of Popery." This Mr. Crowley^ Minifter of the Pariih of St. Giles s, Cripplegate^ and his Curate, gave great Occafion of much Trouble in his Church, by quarrellimg with di- vers Clerks who came to a Funeral in their Surplices, and making a T'u- mult thereupon. '^ So gentle was our w.strype's " Archbifhop fDr. Tarkerl in his Cen-^'^^^^^^^^^*'' ** fure of fo great a Fault as ^i^arrel-^'^^ *^ ling (and, it may be, coming to " Strokes ) in God's Koufe, Crowley *^ was charged to keep his Houfe, " and remain under Confinement at *' home." Many of thefe Gentlemen of the JlriBer Sort had affumed to themfelves the Title of Englijh Trenchers and ^oUorSy which they affeded from jEph, 4. and 1 1 . At the fame Time they ibid. 1/4. had a Variety of very ahufi've Names for the conforming Clergy. The Hiftory of the Puritans furnifhes fome of them, Tapifts in T>tfguife^ idle T)rones^ dumb T)ogs^ PopelingSj Majfmg Triejis^ pet- ty Antichrifts^ &c. In fhort, thefe Englijh T)oUorSj as we find in Mr. Strypey " proceeded fofar that be wasibicJ. '' thought unworthy of the Title, who ^ had not fome /ingular Opinion to in- M 3 yiam(? [ 166 ] ^^ flame the Multitude withal agatnft '^ thofe who lived under Order and ^^ Obedience.''' The fame candid Hi- ftorian informs us^ " That had it not ^' been for the great Diftttrhances in '^ the Church, occafioned by thefe Va- ^^ rietiesy and the common Omiflion of what was prefcribed by the Queen's Injunftions, and for the rude and /«- fo/ent Behaviour of fome who refufed the Habits, towards thofe that qttiet" ly ufed them, and conformed theni- felves to Orders, probably the urging of them fo ftri(5Hy afterwards^ would not have been. And had the fcrup- ling Brethren peaceably and filently ufed their Liberty^ in the Omiflion ^^ of fome few Things, which their ^^ Confciences fcrupled, it might not ^' have been with fuch Rigour after- *^ wards reftrain'd ; for hitherto (1564) ^^ as far as I find, they were indulged ^^ and conni'ved at by the JiiJJjops^ '^ &c. Thefe Pradiices, tlierefore, *^ being fo contrary to the Queen's In- " jundions, fet out in the Year 1559, " and begetting fo much T>iJJentiofi, ^^ T>ifference, and T)iforder, among *^ Chriftians of the fame Profeflion, rt- '^ dounding fo much to the T>ifparage- ^^ ment of the reformd Religion among ^^ the Enemies thereof ^ the Queen " direded C 167 ] ^' direded her Letter this Year to the *' Archbilhop, 6*^." The Queen re- ceived repeated Information of the T>ifQrders^ that were occalioned by thofe who would not comply with the eftablifti'd Rules, before ihe directed this Letter to the Archbiiliop to rcdrefs thefc Difordcrs. It may not be im- proper to tranfcribe Part of this Letter, bearing Date January 25. 15 64, which will be a farther Proof of the "Dijltir- hances raifed at this Time, and confirm Mr. Strypes Account, how this Liber- ty they took was reftrained. '*^ We ibid, ify, " have now, (fays her Majefty) a good " while heard, to our Grief, fundry Re- " ports hereof, hoping that all cannot '* be true, but rather miftrufting that '' the Adverfaries of Truth, might of '^ their evil Difpofition encreafe the Reports of the fame ,• yet we thought until this prefent, that by the Re- gard, which j^'^2/, being the Trmate and Metropolitan, would have had hereto, according to your Office, with the Afliftance of the BiiTiops your Brethren, in their feveral Dioceiles '' (ba'ving alfo recevjed of us heretofore '' Charge for the fame Turpofe) thefe ^^ Errors tending to breed fome Schifm " or Deformity in the Church, flaould ^^ have been ftay'd and appcafcd -, but M 4 " perceiv- [ 1^8 ] •^ perceiving Very lately, and alfo cer-- " tainlyt that the fame doth rather '^ begin to encreafe^ than to ftay or di- ^^ minifti ; we confidering the Autho- " rity given to us of Alnnighty God, ^^ for Defence of the ptiblick Teace^ *^ Concord and Truth of this his Church, '* and how we are anfwerable for the *' fame to the Seat of his high Juflice, *^ mean not to endure or fuffer any " longer thefe Evils, thus to proceed, '*■ fpread and encreafe in our Realm, *' but have certainly determined to have *^ all ftich Diverfities, Varieties and " Novelties, amongft them of the Cler- *' gy and our People, as breed nothing ^^ but Contention^ Offence^ and breach *' of common Charity ^ and are alfo " againft the Laws^ good Ufages and *^ Ordinances of our Realm to be re- " form'd, reprefs'd, and brought to one " Manner of Uniformity thro* our *^ whole Realm and Dominions, that " our People may thereby quietly ho- ^^ nour and ferve Almighty God, in ^^ Truth, Concord^ Teace and Qtiiet- ** nefs, and thereby alfo avoid the *^ Slanders that are fpread abroad " hereupon in foreign Countries. " In the Ad'vertifements likewife, publiilied in Confequence of this Royal Mandate, the Archhifhop and ^ijhops proceed tipon [ 169 ] upon the fame Reafon, the Conten- tion and Breach of common Charity that had been occaftoned by thofe that r^/i//^^toobeythc Laws. The ^i'^ens own Letter is a fufficient Troof\ that great Facotir and Indulgence was fhcwn to thefe People, by the Archbifliop ( Dodor Parker) and WJhops, " where- '' by (as Ut.Strype obferves) may be perceived, that this was the fecond Time the Queen had called upon the Bilhops to reftrain thefe Differences, and that neither our Archbifhop, nor the Reft of his "Brethren, were ever forward to profecute thofe that did vary from the appointed Rites " and Ceremonies ^ but had, for Peace '' Sake, wink'd a little at the Non- *' obfervance of them." For fhe in the faid Letter blames the Archbifhop and Biftiops, " for their Lack of Re- " gard that fhould have been given ^' hereto, and their Sufferance of fundry " Varieties and Novelties. Mr. iVZ". has reprefented JrchhiJl:iop i;-, \\\^. Tarker '' as at the Head of all the Suf-*'8.and34«. " ferings of the Nonconformifts, which *' he pufh'd forward with unrelenting "' Vigour ; a fevere Churchman, a bit- " ter Enemy to the Puritans, whom he ^' perfecuted to the Length of his Pow- " er, and beyond the Limits of the ' '' Law. [ I70 ] *^ Law/' In fhort, his Charafter is drawn almoji as black as Queen Eliza- N's nmory letHs^ '' who, 'tis faid^ being of Opi- f.Coi. cc j^^^j^^ ^j^^^ ^^^ Methods of Severity ** were lawful to bring her Subjefts to *^ an outward Uniformity, count enan-- ^^ ced all the Engines of ^P erf edition— " and ftretch'd her Trerogati've to fup- ^^ port them beyond the Laws^ againft " the Senfe of the Nation." It may not be improper to mention a Letter of Lifeof p^ritfrthe Archbi {hop's in favour of Mr. Samp- /'.1 86. Sec. y^^^^ a very rioted Puritan ; in this we fhall fee the Maxims upon which his Grace proceeded. That he thought reafonable and quiet Men^ who aUed from a Principle of Confcience^ ought to have fome Tavour fhewd them^ even though this Indulgence were abufed by others^ lefs rational and more trouble* fome. " Which Favour fhew'd, if it " ihould be abufed by the Wilfulnefs of *^ fome fond Heads, yet God's Caufe '^ in reafonable Men may be pitied." The Archbifhop had obtained fome Fa- vour for Mr. Sampfon at Chrift-Church^ where he had been Dean, upon which he made a fecond Requeil: by the fol- lowing Letter. ^^ Reverendifftme S, My humble " Thanks to your Grace premis'd. By ** thefe Letters mcloiQd your favourable *' recom- recommending of my Cafe to the Chapter of Chrift-Church in Oxon^ is well witnefs'd to have had with them juft Regard. And now, as my Ne- ceflity compcUeth me to crave further Aid, fo your Facility to grant my laft, encourageth me to make this fecond Requeil for the fame, (j'c. " The gentle and good Nature of the Archbiihop was fuch, that he pre- ^^ fently wrote to the Secretary^ the " very next Day after he receiv- '' ed Sampfons Letter, recommending " Sampfons Cafe mojl^ heartily^ and ^^ praying the Secretary to ufe his In- '*^ tereft with the Queen, and that up- " on the Account of her Clemency, " which flie was wont to fliew indiffe- " rently to all her SubjeftSj which " Letter being fo exprefTive of the mild *' and Chriftian Spirit of this grave Fa- ^^ ther, even to fuch as did not alto- ^ gether agree with him in all Points, " I do here fet down as a Teftimony ^^ hereof. AFter my hearty Commendation to your Honour-, where lander ft and that Mr. Sampfon lieth ftill at Suit for his favourable placing out at his own Li- berty j without Note of committing him as a Trifoner to any "Place^ lour Ho- nour [ I7» ] nour fhould do a right good Tweedy in mine Opinion^ to he Suitor to the 2^eens Highnefsfor Favour therein. Her Tlea- [lire being thus executed upon him^ for Example to the Terror of others^ might yet be mollified to the Commendation of her Clemency^ whereunto her Highnefs is inclined both Godly and Naturally to all Terfons indifferently. And as Tour Honour is the common Refugey to be a Sollicitor to the Queens Majefiy in our Caufes^ fo Te (hall do a good AU to contifiue herein, which Favour fhewedy if it fl^otdd be abufed by the Wilfulnefs of fome fond Headsy yet GodV Caufe in reafonable Men may be pitied ; and thus with the Offer of my ^Prayer and mofi humble Recommendation to the Queens Highnefs. 1 take my Lea've of Tour Honour. From my Hozife at Can- terbury fi?/x /^th of June 1565. Notwithftanding the Queen's Letter and fome Proceedings thereupon! yet strypt'iU^t *' ftie and her Commiflioners did dif- of Parker, cc pgj^fg qj. yj\y{^ ^t many T)imnes who ^' could not comply, and yet had, '^ and retained still T)ignities in the " Church. There is a Letter of Fa- " ther Fox the Marty rologift, writ in " Latin to the Queen about this time, *' wherein he exalted her in his Praifes, '' as p. 188. ^'« Deprivations; and if thofe who hadP'»^*"''^»78. not obferved the Laws would after- wards promife Conformity, they were continued in their Preferments. But ftill farther, in the Year 1572, we find an Account ot the great Favour and Indulgence fliew'd them: " That they were as gently intreateds-z^^^'s Life " as might be, no kind of Brotherly °^ ^^"'^'/^ " Perfu^fion omitted towards them, ** moft of them as yet^ [eight Years " after the Queen s Letter] kept their " Livings, tho' one or two were difpla- " ced. They were offer d, as he ad- " ded, all kind of Friendlinefs, if they *' could be contented to conform them- *' felves; yea, but to be quiet, and ** hold [ 174 ] '^ hold their Teace; but that they, on *' the contrary Side, moft unchrijiianly *^ and moft imhrotherly^ both pttblickly *' and privately raifd on thofe ri?^^ *^ (hew'd thefe Humanities towards *' them : Slandered them by all means " they could, and moft untruly reported *' of them, feeking by all Means their *' Difcredit," Beyond this, in the Year i573> even after the Admonitions had been publiflied to the Parliament and Nation, we find a Troclamation iffued ; by the Queen, from which it plainly appears^ that the "Bifhops were far from being forward to profecute the Nonconformifts, and that even to this time they continued to commit great s/r>//>e*sp«rJ^ffDiforders. " The Queen's Proclamati- /».44.6. tt Qn declared, that ftie was right for- " ry to underftand, that the Order of ^^ Common-Prayer fet forth by the com- mon Confent of the Realm, and by the Authority of the Parliament, in ** the firft Year of her Reign, wherein " was nothing contain'd but the Scrip- ^^ ture of God, and that which was ^' confonant unto it, was, now of late, ^ of fome Men defpifed and fpoke *^ againfl, both by i)pen Treachings ^' and Writings; and of fome hold ^nd ^^ ^ain-curionsMen^ new and other Rites found om and frequent edi whereupon '' Con- (C cc cc Ci7j] Contentions^ SeUs^ and T>ifqtiietnefs ^^ did arife among her People, and for one Godly and Uniform Order, Di- verfity of Rites and Ceremonies^ T>ifpiitations and Contentions ^Schiims and T>i^nfiOn5 were already rifcn, and more like to enfue; the Caufe of which T>iforders her Majefty did plainly underftand to be the Negli- " GENCE of the Bishops and other Ma- ^^ giftrates, who fhould caufe the good ^^ Laws and J^s of Parliament made '^ in this behalf to be better executed, '^ and not fo dijfemhled and wink'd at ^^ as HITHERTO it might appear that " they had been." After this we have a very important and ftrong Teftimony of the fame Nature, in a Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Bisho ps, (blaming them for not profecuting the Puritans) who, as Mr. Strype obferves,Lifeofrf*»/- were not forward to take Tuniflyment^'f^' ^' ^^^ 'Upon theje T)efmilters^ however they were by them requited with vitich Re- proach and Hatred, It gives great Weight to this remarkable TroQf of the great Mildnefs and Veiwowrfloewdhy the ^ijhops to the Puritans^ that this Let- ter was fign'd by the Lord "Btirleigh^ Lord Leicefier^ and Sir Francis Knot- Jys. The two lajt efpecially were re- n^arkabiy attached to the Turitansy and 1 176 ] and juftly efteemed the Head of their Tarty ; nothing but the moft tindenia" hlc E'vide7ice could have extorted fiich a T>eclaration from them; which at once proves the tiirhtdent Spirit of the Ttiritans^ and the mild CondttU of the 'Bijfoops. They write as follows. strype's Life " After our hcartv Commendation to oiFarker, <« your Lordihip. ByherMajefty'sPro- ^'^^^* « clamation, dated OH. 20^ it appears '' how careful the Queen's Majefty is, '^ that the Order fet forth in the Book of " Common-Prayer, allowed by Parlia- ^' ment in the nrft Year of her Maje- ^^ fty's Reign, Hiould be feVerely and ^^ uniformly kept throughout all this ^^ Realm; and that the Fatdty why jtich T>i'verjities have of late been taken up in many Churches, and thereupon Contentions and unfeemly ^^ Difptitations Vifcny in her Highnefs's ^' Opinion, is most in You, to whom the fpecial Care of Ecclefiaftical Matters doth appertain, and who have your Vifitations Epifcopal, Ar- ^^ chidiaconal, and your Synods, and '' fuch other Meeting of the Clergy, firft and chiefly ordain*d for that Pur- pofe, to keep all Churches in your Diocefe in one uniform and godly Order Nothing is required, but ^"^ that Godly and feemly Orders^ al- ^'low'd cc anger may be to yoUy her Highnefs hath expref^'d in the faid Proclamation. Thus pray- ing you to confider thefe things, and withal fpeedily to put Order m them, and from time to time to certify us ^^ what you have done herein, to the '' fultilling of her Majefty's Defire, we *^ bid you moft heartily farewel. From " Greenwich the yth of Noi'em. 1 573- Some time after this, the LordTrea- ftirer "Burleigh made a Speech of the like Import in the Star-Chamber^ w^here- in he complains of ''' a Number ofibiJ- 4;6. CC CC [ 178 ] ^' Pcrfons young in Tears^ hut oz^er '^ young in Sotmdnefs of Learning and ^^ T)ifcrctiony who^ according to their *^ own Imaginations and Conceits, and *^ not according to the pubhck Order '^ eftablifhed by Law, have not only " in the common Services of the Church, *^ and in the Adminiftration of the Sa- '^ craments, made fundry Alterations j ^^ but aifo, by their Example and ^^ T'eaching^ have inticed their Parochi- *^ ans, and their Auditories, being her ^^ Majefty's Subjects, to conceive erro-. " neous Opinions,* in condemning the ^^ whole Government of the Church, " and Order Ecclefiaftical; and in mov- '^ ing her Majefty's good Subjefis to ^^ think it a Burthen of Confcience to " obferve the Orders and Rites of the ^*^ Church, eftablilTicd by Law^ a Mat- *^ ter pernicious to the State of Govern- " ment." 'Tis needlefs to detain the Reader any longer upon this Head. What has been already faid, from the moft unexceptionable Authorities, will be fufficient at once to fliew the unquiet Behaviour of the Turitans^ and the great Tatience and Clemency of the 3iiJ}jops and Government tow^ards them. As for the laft Particular, Mr. N's own Acknowledgment, that two and twenty Tears after the ^leens Letter and the Adver* [ 179 3 Jd'vertifements were publiflied, aho've Fwe Hundred Puritans were left jBc- neficed in the Church, and among them the moft adive and zealous of the Par- ty, is fufGcient Evidence of the great Lenity and Indulgence they met with from their Superiors. The Reader will pleafc to recoiled, that Queen EHzaheth fix d upon the moft effedual Method to introduce and eftablifti the Reform'd Religion in her Dominions ; that fhe fhew'd great Cle- mency and Indulgence to thofe who did not obferve the Laws, good Ufages, and Ordinances of the Realm, and fuffcr'd great Numbers of them to en- joy Preferments in the Church, not- withftanding their Non - Compliance. That the Difturbance and Tumults rais'd in the Kingdom occafion'd her re- quiring a ftrider Obfervance of the Law. If any were fufpcnded for a Time, or totally deprived of their Pre- ferments, 'twas for want of Compliance with the Conditions upon which thofe Preferments were granted ; nor did they fuffer thus much, till the "Diforders rais'd by their Means in the Nation made it neceffary thus to inquire into their Condud, and proceed as the Safe- ty of the Publick required. This was no more than a neceflary Means to pre- N 2 fcrve [ i8o ] ferve a wife and proper Eftablilliment, to prevent the utmofl: Confufion, and, in all Probability, the entire Ruin of the Proteftant Religion. And, after all, tho' the Provocations ran very high on one Side, yet great Favour and Indulgence was fhew'd by the other. G H A P. IV. BUT, there is another Scene difa- greeable enough, which Mr. N's heavy and repeated Complaints makes it neceflkry to open. This is fuch Pro- ceedings of SuhjeUs againft their So^'e- reign ; of Troteftants againft a Trin- cefs^ who was, under God, the Support of the Trot eft ant Caufe ; fuch Attempts upon the Prerogatives of the Crown^ and the Troperty of pri'vate Terfons ^ fuch Infults upon the £tjeen herfelf j and fuch ^'iolejit Endea'VOttrs to deftroy the Confiitntion^ not only in the Churchy but alfo in the State. In fliort, fuch abtifi'vey faUious and dangerous Pro- ceedings, as gave Occalion to feverer Methods j and was the Reafon of in- fliUing upon feme of them, what they defired might be infliUed upon meer T>i[fenters from their Platform, Jharp TtiniJIoments. Before [ t8i ] Before wc come particularly to con- fider this provoking Behaviour, fo of- fenfive to their Superiors^ and fo hurtful to fome of themfelves, it may not be improper to take Notice of the Terjons by whom it was in a great Meafurc promoted and encouraged: And here wc find them under the Influence of two Sorts of Men, the one Tapiflsj who always find their Account in the divid- ing of Protcftants; the other, fome a^jaritious great Men^ who defired a farther Confifcation of Church Lands ^ in hopes to fliare the Plunder. 'Bifloop Tilkington^ who was always, according to Mr. N's Account, a very great ^'sHift. Friend and Favourer of the Non-con-^ is^- formifts, complains, ^^ That the Dif-ibid. ;».,pj ^^ putes which began about the Veft- ^^ ments were now carried farther, " even to the whole Conflitution ; that " pious Perfons lamented this, Atheifts '^ laugh'd, and the ^kvisrs blew the " Coals I and that the "Blame of all " was caft upon the Bifl)0psr There was too much Ground for this Com- plaint againft the Papifts. " Pope Vius V. Srrype's Am ^^ in the firft Year of his Pontiff, fet^^''^ -^ " forth a Bull to anathematize and^*^^"*' ^^ confound the Hereticks, and fow " T>ifcord among them ; wherein, " among other things, he willed and N 3 '' autho- [l82] " authorized the wife and learned of his " Ecclefiafticks to labour^ endeavour, *^ and contrive all manner of Devices, *^ to abate, afluage and confound thefe '' Hereticks. That thereby the Here- " ticks might either be reclaim'd to '^ confefs their Errors, and acknov^''- *^ ledge the Jurifdidtion of the See of " Romey or that a total Infamy be " brought upon them and their Pofie- ^^ rities, by a perpetual Difcord and '^ Contention among themfelves : By " which means they might either fpee- " dily perifli by God's Wrath, or conti- *^ nue in eternal T>ifference Father " Freke^ a Jefuit of great Authority ^^ in T^arisy thus explained this Bull — • ^' That it difpenfed with the Devifers '^ for deviling of new Tenets^ ^oUrines '^ and Comnants'S Mr. Strype^ in the fame Place gives a long Account of the Methods they uf:d to fov) T)ivifions in the Church. The better to carry on their Defign, they were allow d to marry y and if they were examin'd how they came by the Ability to preach and expound, they were direfted to reply, by the Spirit of God ^ hy Re^elation^ by fearching the Scripture. The Pope, for many Ycars,privately employ'd a Nuncio 'Ridolpho here, under the Charader of an Italian FaUor. " His Buiinefs was '' to cc [183] to excite the Papifts in England againft the Queen, which he did ef- fetSually ; and prevail'd alfo upon fome Troteftants to do the hke ; fome out of private Hatred and Dif- ''^ affedednefs, and Others affcUifig '^ Innovationr And what plainly ilicws the Tapifts had a great Hand in thefe Difturbances and Contentions is, that we always find they rofe higheft^ when the Nation was to be attacked from abroad^ that it might at fuch a Jun- dure be weaken d by violent T)hifions at home. This Mr. Camhden juftly ob-Cambaen's ferves in his Annals of Q. Elizabeth. A Ann. 2588. farther Confirmation of this Matter we have from no lefs Man t\i2in Sir W* Cecil. ^^ Upon thefe domeftick Broils among Strypt'5 Life ^^ Proteftants, the P^/?//?j- under Dif-^^^'^^'^^^' ^^ guife, fell foul upon XkiQEngliflo Litur-^' ^*'*" '^ gy, and combiiid with the Ttiritans^ ^^ in defacing the common Service ufed *' wife Secretary of State, kept a Me- *' morial Book or Journal, wherein ^^ he writ Matters that occurred, whence " thefe Words were extraded. In thefe x^ej. T>ays^ Men began to fpcak againft the Keformed Trayers^ eftahlifl)cd firft by King Edward VI. and his 'Parliament-^ and fine e by her Majefty and her Tar- liament: tjpon which account^ Divers N 4 Papifts [i84] Papifts difguifedly [poke as bitterly againft the Kef or me d Trayers of the Churchy as thofe then called Puritans did. After this follows a long and particular Account of FaiPhfnl Cum- mivy a Tiominican Frya}\ who appeared in the Shape of a moft zealous Vtiritan^ endeavour d for a purer Church, preach'd againft fet Forms of Prayer, and call'd the Englijh Prayer Englilh Ma/Sy and made the Church of England as odmis to the 'People whom he inftrucfted, as Mafs was to the Church of Fmgland. Being difco- vered, he privately withdrew, and the Pope rewarded him with 2000 Ducats. ^^^°/^6*^"^" Mr. Strvpe^ we have an Account of ' ' ^ ' the Principles upon which both Parties proceeded againft the Church, which. For the greater Exadnefs, are here taken from the Author he quotes. ^^ Thefe Ad^nonitioners flatly johid ^' with the Tapijls, and with the felf " fa7ne AfTertions bended their Force againft this Church of England. For firft, the Papifts affirm we are not the true Church ; no, that we had not " fo much as the outward Face and " Shew of a true Church. And fo did '^ thefe Men, almoft in flat and plain " Terms. Secondly, The Papifts fay, *^ that we bad no Miniftry, no Biftiops, *« no cc cc €% CC [ 185 ] " noPaftors, becaufc they be not right- " ly and canon ically call'd to thcfe " Fundions. The felf fame do thcfe Men affirm. Thirdly, the Papifts fay. That our Sacraments were not rightly adminifter'd, and fo fay they '' Hkewife. Fourthly, The Papilb '^ wholly condemned our Book of Com- ^^ mon-Praycrs fet out by publick Au- " thority, and the whole Order of our " Service. In that Point thefe Men do " fully join with them alfo,- for they ^^ condemned it wholly, and that with " moft Bitternefs. Fifthly, The Pa- " pifts would not have the Scriptures " read in the Church to the People ; " no more would they : For they fay, " Reading is not Feeding, but as evil ^' as playing upon a Stage, and worfe " too. Sixthly, The Papifts deny the " Chil Magiftratc to have any Autho- <* rity in Ecdefiafiical Matters -, and fo ^' do they. Seventhly, To be fliort, ** The Tapijis refitfe to come to our *' Churchy to Communicate with us *' in the Lord's Supper; and thefe <* Men would not have them by Laws <* and Punifliments compeird thereun- *' to. Hereby it is manifefl:, that the ** Papifts and they jointly feek to fliake, '' nay, to overthrow the felf fame *^ Foundations, Grounds, and Pillars •* of cc (C [ i85 ] '^ of our Church, altho' not by the felf *^ fame Inftruments and Engines. But befides the Endeavours from the Popifh Quarter, to enfiame the Popu- lace, and fpirit up the Puritans to make fuch a Divifion as might ruin the Pro- teftant Intereft, and reftore the aHenat- ed Lands to the Church, there were others who a6ted from a different View, in hopes to find their Account in the Ruin of Bifliops and Cathedral Chur- Ibid. /). 28. ches. For as Mr. Strype obferves, '^ it " abundantly appears, that the grand " Defign of thefe Admonitions, was '^ to undermine and overthrow ( if not *^ the Reformation it felf, yet) that ^^ great Part of it, mz. the Ecclefiafti- cal Government by the Bifhops ^ and thereby perhaps (many felf- dejigning Menj joining with thofe new Re- formers) they had their Eyes upon '^ the Ket^emtes of the Church, rather ^^ than aded by a Zeal of fetting up *^ a new Order of Church Governors." The great Earl of Leicefter^ as Mr. N. calls him, feems to be the chief of this * n , ^.^ Number. " Indeed (fays Mr. Fuller) Fuller's Ch, tcr/2 n. l -r^ Hift. Lib, 9. Letcefter calt a covetous Eye upon h ^30- " Lambeth Houfe^ alledging as good ^^ Arguments for his obtaining thereof, " as ever were urged by Jhab for Na- hoth\ Vineyard." With this View, he cc cc cc (C [ 187 ] he became the great Patron and Sup- port of thofe, who faid, ArchbiJIoops and BiJJjops were not to be tolerated stvyi>es Life in a Chnftian Country. Thofe who^'^^*^^''' were required to ufe the lawful Habit ^*'^* faid, that my Lord of I^ciceHcr JJjon/d move and obtain the ^leen^ and that requiring the wearing of them was done in his Abfence. That Mr. Cole^ pro- bably Leicejiers Chaplain, or belong- ing to feme other great Courtier, was then at Courts in his Hat and Short Cloaky who would overthrow all the Attempts of the High Commiflion, to enjoin the ufing of the Apparel. In hke Manner, Mr. ^Sfrj)^/?^ tells us, Sampfonibi^. i6^, and Humphreys were animated to ftand ^ ^^^ it out ; and not confent fo much as to put on the fquare Cap now and then in the publick Meetings of the Univer- fity, tho' the pious and moderate Bi- Ihop Grindal^ one of the High Com- mijfionj with 7ears entreated it of them but they had great Intercft at Court — the Earl of Lcicefter was their private Friend. Such Support in- fpired many of them with fo much Cou- rage, that they were very fanguine they fliould carry the Point. This drew them into great Inconveniencics ; for having been exceeding warm, they na- turally thought it would be no fmall Di/grace r i88 ] ^Difgrace to confute themfelves. This ^ade it difficult for them to comply with thofe Laws, which they had, without Caufe, loaded with opprobrious Names. The In (ligation of the Papifts, and the Encouragement they received from others, drew them into fuch Lengths, that it was not very practi- cable to retreat. Let us now proceed to confider what the 'Hehaviour of the Pf/r/V^z;?^ was un- der the Influence already mentioned. But that there may be no Miftake, Mr. N. is defir'd particularly to obferve, that the Difpute with him, under this Head^ is not upon Vrinciples^ but upon FaUs. 'Tis not, whether Terfecution for Confcience Sake be a grievous Sin, highly injurious to our Fellow Crea- tures, inconfiftent with the Chriftiaa Inftitution, and greatly offenfive to Al- mighty God. This is m Tart of the Difpute. It was not therefore very candid in this Gentleman to reprefent the Clergy of the Church of England as the Patrons of Perfecution ; nor had N's Hid. he any Ground to declare fo roundly ^ ^^''' as he does, that one Article of Con- troverfy between the Diffenters and the Eftablifh'd Church at this T)ay is, " 'T'he natural Right that et^ery Man " has to jtid^e for himfelfy and make Tro' r 189 ] " ^rofeffwn of that Religion he appre- ^^ hends mofl agreeable to 'tnith^ as far " as it does not affeU the Teace and ^^ Safety of the Govermnent he lives un- " der i without being determind by " the Prejudice of Education', the " Laws Of the Civil Magijlrate^ or ^^ the T)ecrees of Councils^ Churches^ *^ or Synods. " 'Tis fuppofed, this GentlemaQ is willing to grant, that the Church of England^ is juftly intitled to all thofe Privileges which are reqtiijite to fiipport an EJiablifJjtnent ,• that un- der the Pretence of contending for Liberty yhc does not intend clandejiinely^ hy "Degrees^ to fiibvert that Part of the Conjlitiition which has been the great "Bidwark of the Proteftant Religion. If he means, that the EJiablifljmerit fhould be fiipported and preferred^ and at the fame Time a 'toleration granted to thofe who are of different Senti- ments from it, there is no Difpute be- tween the Church of England and the Proteftant Diffenters ; Nor had Mr.N. the leaft Occafion to caft an Odium up- on the Efiabliflod Churchy by ftarting any Difference upon this Point. 'Tis impoffible to anfwer for every particular Perfon, either on one Side or the other ,♦ but if he takes the general Senfe of the Church of England^ he will find this to be [ rpo ] be the Cafe. As to Queen Elizaheth in particular, who is fo much concern- ed in the Tranfaftions under Debate, we have a Teftimony already mention- ed, whereby it appears, that one Prin- ciple upon which ihe grounded her Pro- ceedings, was, that Confciences are not to he forced^ hut to he "joon and reduced hy Force of T'rtith. The Queftion there- fore between us is ; whether the Cow dtiU of thofe Puritans, who were im- prifon d, or otherwife punifhed, did not affed the Teace and Safety of the Go- 'vernment they lived under ? If it did, this, upon Mr. N\ own Principles, ceafes to be a religious Matter, and becoming a State Crimea is of Courfe puniftiable as fuch. It ought to be remarked that Mr. N\ Account of their Sufferings, and Beha- viour that occafioned thefe Sufferings, is chiefly taken from themfelves ; He has obtained, as he acquaints us in his Preface, a Copy of a large MS. CoU leUion of Tapers, the Originals where- of are faid to be lodged in the Univer- (ity of Cambridge^ but he names no particular Library or College j nor does he acquaint us when the Papers themfelves were wrote, by whom or who was the CoUedor of them. In fhortj his Account of this MS. Col- IciSion [ 191 3 ledion of Papers, upon which he lays fo great Strefs, is the moft unfatisfa&o- ry and unfcholar-like that can be ima- gined. This Gentleman fays. Page 201. If we may believe Do(5tor Wbitgifty C^c. and yet gives entire Credit to this anonymous Manufcript, which ought to have been fupported by fome un- queftionable Authority, fincej by his own Account, it brings many Things to Light, hitherto unknown to the World. This he quotes upon all Occafions as fubftantiai Evidence, tho' it plainly appears to be a very angry and partial Account. A Manufcript is not to be credited meerly for being fuch ^ and this in particular may be convifled of great Miftakes. Inftead of Extrads from the Cotmcil-'Sooksy Examinations, and T^epo/itmis of WitJiicffes before the Star-Chamber, High Commillion, and pubHck Courts, or other authentick Evidence, we are furniflied with Peti- iions^ Reprefentations^ Complaint s-^ &c. chiefly from this Manufcript, made out of Courts after the Examinations and Tryals were over, and drawn up with a Defign to influence Perfons, who did not hear the whole Caufe. Great Abate- ments muft be made when fuch Papers as thefe, efpecially at this T)ijlance of Time^ are brought in Evidence againft the [ 192 ] the publick Juftice of the Nation. In the prefent Inftance, to fuppofe thefe true, you muft fuppofe not only very able and celebrated Trivy-Coimfellors^ ^iJJjops who had been Exiles or Suf- ferers for Religion, Judges, and other Magiftrates extreamly wicked and cruel j but in many Cafes, /7?/;7Vj* of Gentle- men guilty of manifeji "Perjury ^ and in an Inftance or two, oi wilful Murder. This is very hard upon all their Memo- ries, when the Proof againft them is — the Petition or Reprefentation of the Offender after he is convidted ,• or an Account of his Trials drawn up by himfelf^ and thefe publifhed from an unknown MS. lyo Years after the Things happened. However, to ftate this Matter more fully, let us fee what Evidence there is of that peaceable and N*s Hift. fubmijfpve Behaviour Mr. iV. afcribes to p- S99- the Puritans. And in the firft Place let us fee how they treated the ^ifloops and Clergy ^ as well as the other puh- lick Officers. 'Tis an Obfervation of the Lord Keeper Bacon^ in a Speech Dr. Ewes's to the ParHament. ^^ This one Thing \'''';^'^; " may be hoUlen firm by the Rules of An. I'sn. " good Government, that all Officers " both Spiritual and Temporal that ^^ have Government, during the Time " of their Offices^ ought to be pre- *' ferved C IP3 ] " ferved in Credit and Eflimation ; " for how can any Thing be well fet " forth by them that want Credit. " What he immediately adds is a Proof he was not prejudiced or partial in the Caufe. " Marry, for my Part, let the *' Time of their Offices laft as their " Doings do deferve." 'Twas however an BjUgagement entered into by joint Confent among the Turitans^ to de-strype^ Life pra^ue the prejent^ and advance their^^ ^^*^^fi* owndevisd Form of Church Go'vem-^*^^^* ment. 'Tis an old Maxim thus to blacken thofe that are defign'd for Kuin ; firft to defame^ and then to dejiroy. " Some who had a profoundc^w^a'.Ann: " Veneration for the Geneva Platform ^^'^- 'J^s. " of Church Difcipline, imagin'd there '^ was no fiirer or nearer Way for ereU- " ing it in England^ than by loudly ^' railing againft the Engliflj Forms and Rites, and rendering the Names of "Bifhop and Prelate as odious as they could to the common People. Their firft Effay, therefore, was to put out fcurrilous Pamphlets againft Church Order and Prelacy." In confequence of this Defign, to deprave the prefent^ and advance their own Eorm^ higher Titles or finer Encomiums could not be given, than thofe they beftowed upon this Geneva Scheme ; 'tis no Reflection O to cc cc cc [ iP4 ] to call it by that Name, for they al- ways confider'd the Church there as the moft perfci^t Models and appeal'd to it as fuch. The Platform brought from Reo^a.p.^s.f/pence was in their Account " the 've- iww/'sr' ^^^'^^^^ T>oUrine of Difcipline, the Praaice ot '' moft beauttful Order of Ecclefiaftical Prelates 50 1. cc Resimcnt • the (uhftantial Form of Chrilts Government ^ the moji holy " DifcipHne ,• the true Difcipline by " God's W ord, without which no true Keligion can be ; the only Bond of Peace , the Punilher of Sin ; Main- tainer of Righteoufnefs, and the Bane of Herefy : In iTiort, 'tis pure^ perfeU^ and jftill of all Goodnefs.'" Nor are the Patrons of this Difcipline lefs wonderful than the Scheme they efpoufe. We hear of none but pious^ v\^.N\n\iiJear7ied J worthy^ painftd^ faithful^ emi- pamm. fient^ godly Men, who engaged on that Side ; who, as they teftify of them- felves, ftroce for true Religion and Go- a Admon. I'emment of the Church. Nay they go further and affert, there is nothing in our Books that fhould offend any that either be, or fhouid feem to be, God- Ibid. ly, As to the BflaUiflyd Churchy 'tis difficult to find Expreffions equally ahufi^e^ but abfolutcly ifnpojfible to ufe any Words more mrident^ than what were continually employ 'd again ft the WJhops [ 195 ] Sijhops and Clergy. Jefuits, Turks, Heathens could not be loaded with more opprobrious Names. 'Tis endlefs to tranfcribe the Volumes of Abufes, or to repeat the many Inftances, where the Clergy^ mecrly for obeying Laws, made for the eftabhftiing of the Pro- teftant Religion, are called "^^ petty P^rt of a Re- " Popes, Popelings, Papifts.PopiOi Priefts,|-,^-;P;,^^- '"^ Antichrifts, petty Antichrifts, dumb *^ Dogs, idle Drones, Fryars and MonksDhiogue be- " were not fo bad ; all of them in ^n'Z':^iJ^;, " unlawful Calling, and no better than and an £«i///& " a Brood of petty Antichrifts. Bifliops^^'P'^'"- '' are contented to be S^ze;^j- to all^^^^;^^^;/^^^^ ^' kind of Sinners— If in King Henry s England hid] " Days idle, loiterous and hypocritical °P^"- '' Fryars and Monks (for all their^^^^^^J^^^; " great Authority, and undefervedEfti-^' «»"'?• 377- mation they were in) were in the Spite of the Pope put down ; why fhould you think it an impoflible Matter in Queen Elizabeth's Days to make a Search amongft thofe who are their SucceiTors, and to faw *^ off fome of your Branches that make " you all to be as evil, if not worfe, '^ than a great Sort of your Predecef- " fors were, that is^ idle Overfeers, '"^ flow preaching Paftors, vain-glorious " Prelates, Refufers of Reformation, and malicioufly and wilfully bhnd O 2 '• Bifliops." cc C ^96 1 " Bifliops." This comes in to illuftrate " an AlTertion, " Our Trelates are " iinprofitahle "Branches to be cat offP It was publifh'd fo early in Queen £//- zaheth\ Reign as the Year 1567, and is preferved in that admired CoUeftion called Part of a Regifter ^ where it is faid to be wrote by a Godly ^ Learned and Zealous Gentleman. The Preface to the famous Jdmoni- tion^ which has been already mentioned, declares, that " thofe Inconvenien- " cies which Men feem not to think ** upon, without Reformation, cannot ^^ but encreafe further Diffention ,• the " One Part being /7r6?f/^5 Tontificaland ^^ ^yranotis ; and the Word of God for ^^ the other Part exprefs and manifeft^ either muft we have a right Mi- nifiry of God, and a right Govern- ment of the Church, according to the Scriptures fet up, both which we lack^ or elfe there can be no right ^^ Religion ; nor yet for Contempt there- '^ of can God's blagues be from us any *' while deferrdr In like manner, in the fame Place, they call the JEjia- hliffjd Go'vernment of the Church, a Tyranotts LordJJjip^ that cannot ft and with ChrifFs Kingdom. The fame Spi- rit prevails thro' the whole of thofe Performances. Elfewhere they talk in this C IP7 ] this manner, " I know itforaT^hithyV^aof^Kcg* " that the JrchbiJJoop begat you^ and^-'^^'^' '^ the 'Bijhop of Rome begat him^ ^^ and the T>e^nl begat him : I mcan^ ^^ concerning your Offices, fo now, in " refped of your Offices, you fee who " is your Grandfire, and who is your " Great Grandfire Do you think ^' that this Plea, I did but execute the " Law-i will excufe you before the '^ High Judge, where you, except you " repent with a deep Repentance, fliallibki. 368. " ftandand tremble like a Thief in the '* Jail, and gnalh your Teeth • " I am alTured in the Lord, that you " and all the Archbiiliop's Adherents ^^ be Rebels and Traitors unto God. "ibid. In another Place we have a very concife^ j Martin fcurrtlotis Defcription of Archbifiiops and ^ijhops ; and to give it the greater Credit* 'tis faid to be the Senfe of the Puritan "Brethren. " M. D. ftieweth, *^ that the Office of Archbifhops, and " Lord Bilhops are in Nature Tajioral^ ^^ tho' in Dignity they are of another " Ojfice and Miniftry : And what fay " you to that Brethren ? even this *^ fay they. In T>ignity they are Topes^ " in Office proud "Prelates^ and in Mi- '^ nifiry^ plain dumb "Dogs for the moft *' Part " The Reader fhall have one Spe- Life of mu^ cimen more, as we find it in Mr. Strype.^'^^' ^' ^s>s. O 3 " Our [ 198 ] Our Bifliops, and proud, Popifh, pre- fumptuous, paltry, peftilent, and per- nicious Prelates, are Ufurpers. — They are cogging and cozening Knaves. The BiiTiops will lye like ^'^ Dogs, impudent, iliamelefs, wainf- *' cot- faced Bifhops. Your Places are ^' Antichriftian. They are Limbs of Antichrift, Simony is their Lacquey. Monftrous, ungodly Wretches ; that, to maintain their own outrageous Pro- ceedings, mingle Heaven and Earth together. They ought not to be maintain'd by the Authority of the Magiftrate in a Chriftian Common- p. 290. " Wealth That our Lord Bifhops, " as yob7z of Canterbury^ with the reft "^^ of that Swinifl? Rabble, are petty '^ Antichrifts, petty Popes, proud Pre- *' lates, Enemies to the Gofpel, and moft covetous wretched Priefts, (^r. I will tell you. Sir, I am perfuaded " in my Confcience, that the Lord " hath given many of our Bifhops over '^ into a Reprobate Senfe. For they " do wilfully oppofe themfelves againft " the Lord his known Truth ; yea, " and perfecute it. And I fuppofe them " to be in the State of the Sin againfi " the Holy Ghqft. " But the Bifhops were not the only Perfcns, who were treated in this nide and infohnt Man- ner i cc cc (C cc cc (C fC cc cc (C [ ^99 ] ner ; the Supplication to the high Court of Parliament fpeaks thus. " Shallsupph'c/.i9, " you of the high Court of Parliament ^' he difpejifed VJithj being gmlty (cx- '' cept you labour to remove the dumb Miniftry, Non-Refidents, with the ufurp d and Antichriftian Seats of Lord Bifliops, (^c.) of tolerating and cfta- *^ hlifhing greater SinSy &c. Not ibid. to be tolerated by your Authority, ^- ^»- unlefs you think that you may to- lerate Sin by your Laws ,• nor yet once tohcfpokenfor or countenanced, unlefs you w^ould plead for ^aal. " The very Stile of an Admonition^ which is one Part oi Ecclejiafiical Cenfure and ^unijhment^ feems very improper from private Perfons to a Parhament, and they enforced this Cenfure by telling the Parliament exprefly, you may not iftAdmon; do as heretofore you haz'e done^ patch and piece '^ nay^ rather go backward^ and never labour or contend to Ter- feUion — - God has by us revealed un- to youy at this prejent^ the Sincerity and Simplicity of his Gofpel ; not that you fhould^ either wilftdly with/land^ or ungracioufly tread the fame under your Feet 5 for God doth not difclofe his Will to any fuch End : "But that you fJjould yet now at the Lengthy with all your Main and Mighty endeavour that O 4 Chriji:, [ 200 ] Chriji^ whofe eafy Toke and light ^ttr- then we have of long time caft off from lis^ might rale and reign in his Chnrch. Strype^sAnr.fhere is a Declaration of the fame ^'"^•'^'^''^^'Nature, with refped to the whole Conftitution. " As for the general *^ State either of the Magiftracy or the ^^ Miniftry, or of the common People^ behold nothing elfc, but a Magiftra- ^' cy o{ Confpir ators againft Godi againft his Truth, againft the Building of his Houfe, againft his Saints and Chil- dren ; and confequently againft the Wealth of their own Souls, and the publick Peace and Tranquillity of Ibid. ^^ the whole Realm." The Cotmcil and Judges were treated after the fame manner. " Becaufe our Coun- " cil may be truly faid to delight in this Injury and violent Oppreflion of ^^ God's Saints and Miniftersi therefore " whenfoevcr the Lord fhall come to " fearch for the Sins of England with '^ Lights, as Zephaniah faith, he will ^^ furely vifit our Council with a heavy Plague, becaufe undoubtedly they are frozen in their 2)r^^i, and per- *^^ fuade their own Hearts, that the Lord will do neither Good nor Evil, in the Defence of his Meffengers and Children. And then fhall they feel '^ what it is to wink at, much more to '' pro- iC cc cc cc cc cc cc [ 201 ] *^ procure the Oppreflion of the Church " of Chrift The which ungodly and '^ ze^/Vy&^^/Courfe, as they have held on '^ ever fince the Beginning of her Ma- ^^ jefty's Reign, fo at this Day they " have taken greater ^oldncfs^ and " grov^n more Rebellmis againil: the *^ Lord and hisCaufe, than ever they *^ were," With refpedt to the Judges^ " It is now grown, and hath been a *^ long time, a common Praftice of ^^ thefe Guiltlefs Men, to make Offices, " Statutes, ordain'd for the Mainte- ^^ nance of Religion, or common Qui- ^^ etnefs, a Pit wherein to catch the ^^ Peaceable of the Land. But we Ihall be lefs furpriz'd at fuch Ufage of inferior Magiftrates, when we fee how a Crown d Head was treated by thofe Men whofe only Weapons are faid to be Prayers and T^ears. Ton*s Hift. lefTen X\i^ AffeUions idixh^ People, isof^* ^^^* great Confequence to ^nyEngliflj Prince, but to Queen Elizabeth 'twas of more than ordinary Importance. To others, the Love of their Subjefts was their chief Support, to her it was the only one. She, as Mr. Rapin juflly obferves,Hift. q^eUz., ** was to draw thofe Afliftances, which ^ ^^»- " jhe could hope for from no other *' Hands, from her own Prudence^ good '* Condu(ft, and faithfyl Snbj0^s. To " have [ 202 ] " have the Succour always at Hand, " which flie forefaw would be wanted, " ftie had but one Way, and that was '' to niake her felf beloved by her " TeopUr To aUenate their Affedi- ons, was to deftroy her only Support, and to fap the very Foundations of her Throne, which had no powerful Neigh- bour or foreign AHiance to fupport it. And had ftie been overthrown, the whole Proteftant Intereft muft, in all human Probability, have perifhed with her. We fhall, however, find thofe ii\ Hift. whom Mr. N. c^lWs faithful and dtitiful t'i-sS' Subjeds, extreamly rude and fevere upon the Perfon and Government of the Queen, and earneftly endeavouring to fubvert the juft Rights and Preroga- tives of the Crown. The Reader know^s what great Authority the Admo- nitions to the Parliament are allow'd to be of, as compofed with general Appro- bation, and containing the Senfe of the whole Party. In one of thefe there is a formal Impeachment of the Queen, as an Encourager of all Sttperftition^ delivered to the Parliament. The Ac- ad Admon. cufation runs thus. " The ^i^eens " Chapel, which 7^^///^ be a Spedacle " of Chriftian Reformatioriy is rather " a Pattern and Precedent to the Peo- '' pie of all Stiperfiitions^' The flight Foun- [ ^03 3 Foundation of this factious Complaint is a great Aggravation of it. We have it in the Sentence immediately preced- ing. '' As for Organs and curious Sing- '^ ing, tho' they be proper to Popiili " Dens (I mean Cathedral Churches) " yet fome others alfo muft have them ; " the ^/^^;2's Chapelj (^c.'' This was delivered to the Parliament ^r/W^^, and difperfed over the Kingdom^ as a pub- lick Accufation of their Sovereign, in the Year 1572, by Gentlemen who held ^Preferments in the Church by her Fa- vour and indulgent Connivance. An Inftance or two more of this Sort may not be improper to illuftrate Mr. N's Affertion. " Their Loyalty to them's Hift. " Queen was untainted, and their Beha-^' ^^^* *^ viour was peaceable." We find in a CoUedion of Trafts already mentioned, call'd Tart of a Kegifler^ a Petition faid to be of the Communalty, where- in they addrefs'd the Qpeen in this re- markable manner. ^' And to conceaF^'"f°^^^^g' '^ nothing from your Majefty, We are °^* greatly mo'ved at the hearing of the Sermons of the godly Treachers ; for they plainly fay^ that if the Lord his Matters [/. e. the Gene'va Platform] be not regarded, but ftill caft afide, " and temporal Security fought for, " only by the Wifdom of Man^ that " then C ^^4 ] '^ then there is a heavy Judgment pro- " vided by the Lord, and a black \*^ Cloud hanging in the Air, for that *' he will not be continually rejected. — And now are the Eyes of all ^People in the Land fet upon your Majejiyy and wait for this gracious Work, even the Eftablifhing of a learned Miniftry, c^r.*' And that the People, whofe Eyes were thus diredcd to the Throne, might confider their Prince as the Caufe of all the Misfor- tunes or Calamities that befel them, they add, " God hath many times, ^^ and by divers Means, heretofore " knocked not only by his gracious " Bleflfmgs, and fundry Petitions, but " alfo by his fearful Threatnings. For " undoubtedly as often as the Lord '^ hath ihaken his Iron Rod at yotir '^ Grace^ by the Sons of "Belial^ the *^ Papifts, fo many times hath he ^^ fhew'd himfelf offended and difpleaf- '^ ed, for that you have not as yet ^^ gwen unto him the Honour of his " Temple^ and the Glory of his San- ^^ Unary, Wherefore, moft gracious *^' Sovereign, let him not have the Oc- '^ caiion to fliake his Rod any more, C^^.'* So again " Your Majefty knoweth very " well, that all this which was threaten'd ^^ he jnight have put in Execution moft [ 205 J ^^ juftly, for this dumb Miniftry fo long " continued." As to themfelves, they fay with no great Humility^ That God had withdrawn his Judgments upon their Account, ^^ having refpeU ^^ to his Name and to the Prayers " of his little Flock. " At the fame time, their Injunction to the Queen is, " Make an entire and fimple Confeffioa " of your Sins If, after this humble " ConfelTion of Sins, with a full Re- '^ folution to remove them, and firft " of ail, this dumb Miniftry, which is ^^ the fouleft of all; you fliall alfo of- *^ fer to the Lord in his Temple the ^^ Sacrifice of a holy learned Miniftry, ^^ that he may fmell a Savour of Reft; ^^ then undoubtedly he will be appeafed " towards this LandJ" This was penn'd at a time, as they declared themfelves, when the Kingdom was threatened with an Invafion, w^hich they reprefent as one of the Judgments to be feard. How peaceable and loyal (as Mr.iV. re- prefents them) how dutiful or decent this Treatment of their ^ueen^ and how little it tended to encourage all her Subjects to fupport and aflift her againft her Foes, is but too obvious. In like manner, the Supplication to the High Court of Parliament declares^ that the Eftablifhment of the Church of [ 205 ] of England was the Caufe of all Ca- Suppiic^rr.Iamities. " Our dumb Minifters, Non- *' Refidents, Lord Bifliops, Archdea- " cons, (^c. are nothing elfe but an " Encreafe of finful Men, rifen up " inftead of their Fathers, the idola- " trous Monks and Fryars, ftill to attg-- " ment the fierce Wrath of God againft '' this Land and our Governors^' There is another Inftance of the like Behavi- strype*sAnn.our: The Town of ^ury had, as Vol. III. p. 11. yir. Strype informs us, for a long time been remarkably affected to Puritanifm ; the Minifters for fome Years varying from, or altering the Common-Prayer at their Difcretion, difliking the Order of it, and depra^ving the Book ; the Juftices of the Peace countenancing and encouraging them herein, m2ix\y young Minifters of this fort encreafed in thofe Parts. In this famous Church of "Bury^ under the Queen's Arms they painted this Sentence, being the Reproof to the Church of T'hyatira, Ret\ ii. 20* Ibid. 121. Notwithjianding I have a few things againfl; thee^ that thou fuffereji the J Woman Jezabel, which maketh herfclf a Trophetefs to teach and to deceive my Servants ; to make them commit Forni- cation^ and to eat Meat facrificed unto Idols, When the Reader is remind- ed, that this Infcription was fixt, as Mr. [ 207 ] Mr. Strype informs us, after Confulta- tion and Advice upon it^ and that there were no Severities to provoke fuch a high Infult upon a crown'd Head: But great Indulgence to their Nonconformi- ty : There is no Occafion for any fur- ther Refledion upon fuch undutiful Be- haviour. This was one Method oijharply reproving the ^uen^ according to the Advice given in that comfortable Epiftle, as it is call'd^ of Mr. Doctor Wy:, in De- fence of the Faithful. " TheErrorsofPartofaRcg, '*^ Princes are not to be maintain'd, but^-*°* " fharply to be reproved, rebuked, and *^ told to them, by thofe which will be " efteem'd God's Minifters and Servants. " Our Trincefs^ therefore, as flie de- " ferveth high Commendation, for that '^ good Work which the Lord our God " hath wrought by her, fo ought flie " not to be flatter d^ in following of " her Fantafies ; but rather Jljarply to '^ be reproved, for that fhe chufeth ra- " ther to thruft out of the Miniftry ''^ true and learned Preachers, than a ^' Piece of Popiili Pomp. There were indeed, at firfi efpecial^ ly^ moderate Puritans, pious and peace- able Men, who fcrupled fome Things in the Church, but were utterly averfe to the making any T)ijiurhance or 2)/- fvifion upon that Account. Mr. Fuller j wiio [ 2o8 ] who publifh'd his Hiftory in the Tear 1 6') 6^ and cannot be charged with any Partiality againft them, declares, " the F«//fr*sCh. " Puritans of this Age [Queen Eliza- Hift.LiAix.cc y^fj^\ Reign] were divided into two '^ Ranks; fome mild and moderate^ " contented only to enjoy their own ^' Confcience^ Others fierce and fierj^ ^' to the Dijiurbance of the Church " and State."" Among the former, he reckons Father Fox^ Dr. Humphreys^ d^c. zs)ho kept their Preferments in the Church, notwithfianding their no^i- Ibid. 8 1, fiibfcribing. " When the firji Set of " Puritans were gone, Behold ! (fays he) " another Generation of aUi'^je and " zealous Nonconformijis fucceeded " them — Inveighing againft the efta- *^ blifh'd Church Difcipline, accounting " every Thing from Rome which was *' not from Geneva \ endeavouring in " all Things to conform the Govern- " ment of the Englijh Church to the " Presbyterian Reformation.'' For a Tafte, as he calls it, of their Spirit^ he gives the following Account of three of them, " who were cited before Ed- " mund Grindal^ Bilhop of London; " one who did not run of himfelf; yea, " would hardly anfwer the Spur in *^ prefling Conformity," Thefe three were, Mr. White^ Rowland^ and Hawkins^ [ 209 ] whom Mr. N. calls chief Leaders of the Separation) the Bifliop ask'd them this Queftion. " Have we ;/(?^ibid. 141 *^ agodlyTrmce ^ Speak^ isJJoeetil? To which they made their feveral Anfwers in the Manner following ; "' W. Whitey what a Queftion is that ? " the Fruits do ihew. T. Rowland^ " No, but the Servers of God are per- ^* fecuted under her. R. Hawkins^ ** Why, this Queftion ? the Prophet ^' anfwereth in the Pfalms. How caa " they have Underftandijng that work '' Iniqtiity^ fpoihng my People, and *^ that extol Vanity ? Wonder not, ^' therefore, if the Queen proceeded " feverely againft fome of them, com- *^ manding them to be put in Prifon. '* Thus far Mr. Fuller. The Biihop, we are told, intending to declare how fe- verely what was faid by one of them refle^fted upon the Queen, by whofe Au- thority and CommiiTion they afted, put the foregoing Queftion to them. How decent an Anfwer they gave in open Courts the Reader muft judge ; in Mr. iNZ"s Opinion 'twas too bad to be produced j and therefore, tho' he fpends feveral Tages in giving an Account of their Examination, he cautioufly omits every Word of this Matter ; and yet Mr. Strype and Mr. Fuller^ both quoted by P him [ 210 ] him upon the Occafion, make particu- lar Mention of it. 'Tvvas eafier for him to celebrate their Loyalty^ when he thus carefully omitted all Inftances of the contrary, 'Tis, however, no Wonder they were not more refpedful to the Queen, fince their whole Scheme of Church Government appears to be calculated for the Overthrow of Mo- narchy. The Civil Government was to be framed according to that of the Church, which had, as they alledged, the higheft Authority, being of Divine Appointment. The State, therefore, was to be reduced to the fame Form. Their comitial, provincial, or national Aflemblies, the whole Frame of their Church Government was pefe^aly Po- pular or Republican. The final 2)^- terminatiou of all Matters was lodged in this General "Body. Mr. N\ Ac- count of their Sentiments is as follows. N's Hiflory ^^ The Magiftrate is not to be excluded h 134- «« from Church Affemblies : He may " call a Council of his Clergy, appoint ^^ both Time and Place ^ he may be " there both by himfelf or his De- puty, but not as Moderator^ Teeter- mi7iery or Judge ; he may have his Voice in the Alfembly, but the Or- '^ ders and Decrees of Councils are not ^^ made by his Authority ; " In like MannQ.r cc Manner it is declared in the Admonition j " That to thefe three jointly, that is,* Admon. " the Minifters, Seniors and Deacons, is ^^ the whole Regiment of the Church " to be committed.'* When they have thus reduced a Crown'd Head to the Level of every Tradefman or Farmer, that has a Voice as a Ruling Elder, they appoint him their BjXecutioner^ and re- quire him to punifli thofe that violate their Canons. '' 'Tis the Prince's Pro-Ns Hiftory, *^ vince to fee the T)ecrees of his Cler-^- '34-. " gy executed, and topunijh theCon- " temners of them." Having fettled the Church upon this Republican Ba- ils, and brought a Sovereign Prince fo low, let us next fee how they'll ma- nage the State. The moji accomplijh'd Mr. Cartwright has given full Diredi- ons in this Matter, in the following re- markable Words. " The World (fays Defence of '' he) is now deceived^ that thinketh'^"^^^'"''"- ^^ that the C^^r^^ muft ho framed ac- ^ ^^ cording to the Commonwealth i and the Church Government according to the Civil Government , which is as much to fay, as if a Man fliould *^ fajhion his Hotife according to his ^^ Hangings, whereas indeed it is ciea^i " contrary : That as the Hangings are *^ made fit for the Houfe.^ fo the Cofn- ^* monwealth muft be made to agree P 2 '' with cc cc [ 212 ] " with the Churchy and the Government '^ thevcoi with her Go'vernment ^ for as ^- the Houfe is before the Hangings, ^* therefore the Hangings which come ^' after, muji be framed to the Houfe " which was before 5 fo the C^//fT^ being " before there was any Commonwealthy " andthe Commonwealth coming after, *^ mtiji be fafliioned and made fuitable '^ unto the Church -, otherwife God is *' made to give Place to Men^ Heaven *^ to Earth, (jc " What can all this mean, but to fliew the Necefllty of deftroy ing the 'Englijh Form of Govern- ment in State as well Church, and placing in its Room the admired Re- publican Scheme of Gene'va^ that the Houfe and the Hangings might fuit :^'s Hift. each other. Mr. iV. fays " they did not f- '33. « allow the Government of the Church " to be Monarchical {' but ftudioufly conceals their Endeavours to reduce the State to the fame Antimonarchical Form. However, due Care is taken of this Matter, in that celebrated Per- formance of Mr. Tra'uers and Cart- wright i J full and plain ^declaration of Ecclejiafiical T>ifcipline^ out of the p. 1 8;. Word of Gody &c. Here it is de- clared, " Magifirates muft alfo, as well " as the reft, fubmit themfelves, and " be obedient to the juft and lawful " Autho- '^ Authority of the Ojficers of the " Church '^ for^ feeing they not only *^ rule by Authority of Jefus Chrirt, '* but in a Manner reprefent his Ter- Jhty feeing they rule not as they themfelves hft, according to their own Will, but only according to his cc " Word and Commandment ; is it not '^ meet, that even Kings Sind thehigheft " Magiftrates fliould be ohedie7it unto *^ them ? For it is meet that all the " Trinces and Monarch s of the World ^* fhould give up their Sceptres and " Crowns unto him, whom God hath ^^ made and appointed the Heir of his Kingdom, and Lord of Heaven and Earth. I might alledge out of the " Hiftories of allTimes divers Examples " oi godly TrinceSyWhoftihmittedthQm- " felves to the Order and Go^'ernme7it " of the Church appointed by God. Befides their Diflike in general to the Englifl) Form of Government, fome of them had a particular Exception to Qiieen Elizabeth^ as a Wo7nan. This is not mention'd as the Opinion of every one of the Puritans ^ but as it proceeded from Geneva^ and met with great Encouragement there, *tis no Wonder that a wife Queen did not dif- cover any great Fondnefs for a Repub- lican Tlatformoi Church Government P 3 imported cc [ 2H ] imported from the fame Quarter. Tht Broacher of this Notion was the famous strype's Ann. Mr. Jol^n KnoXy in his Firji 'Blafi againft ^ ^'^'*^°the Monjirotis Regimeitt and Empire of Women, Wherein he endeavour d to prove, that it was altogether unlawful for Women to reign, and, even to the laft, continued refolute in this Opinion. His Letters to Secretary Cecil and Queen Elizaheth are very remarkable. He told the Secretary, and charged him '^ in the Name of the Eternal God to " acquaint the Queen therewith [in Ibid. voL I, '^ thefe Words ] That if Queen Eliza- ^"»- " betb would confefs^ that the extra- ^^ ordinary Difpenfation of God's great " Mercy made that lawful unto her, '^ which both Nature and God's Laws did deity unto all other Women be- fides 5 then fhould none in England be more willing to maintain her Au- '' thority, than he ; but if, God's *^ wondrous Work fet afide, flie ground- " ed the Juftnefs of her Title upon Con- '' fuetude, Laws and Ordinances of '* Men, then, as he was aflured, fuch ^^ foolijlj Trefumption did offend God's '^ fupreme Majefty;fo he greatly fear'd, " that her Ingratitude fliould not long ^' lack Tunifimentr To the Queen herfelf he wrote a Letter to the fame Purpofe, telling her, ^' that it *^ was cc cc cc ^* was God's peculiar and extraordinary *' Providence that brought her to the *' Kingdom, and that flie was not to *^ plead her Right by T>cjcent or Law ; ^' and plainly faid, that if ihe began to *' brag of her Birth, and to build her *^ Authority and Regiment upon her '^ own Law, her Felicity would be " fliort, flatter her who fo lifteth. '* Mr. iVT's Charader of this cxtraordi-iv's Hia. nary Perfon is, the reverend and learu'^- ^'^^• ed Mr. John Knox, the Jpoftle arid chief Reformer of the X/Vi^^^ Scotland. He was a Son of Thtmder^ and feard not the Face of any Man in the Cauje of Religion^ which betray d him fome- times into too coarfe Treatment of his Superiors. The Reader cannot but ob- ferve, that every Whim which enters the Head of a Puritan, muft be confe- crated with a folemn Name : Kfiox wrote a virulent Pamphlet againft the Government of Women, and perfonally infidted a great J^ieen upon the Ac- count of her Sex. But he was a Puri- tan, and fo becomes a Son of Thundery that fear d not the Face of any Man in the Cause of Religion. In hke manner, 'tis the re'verend and learned Mr. John Knox died ; he was the Jpoftle and chief Reformer of the Church of Scotland But " Matthew P 4 '' Tarker [ 21^ ] N's Hift. ^' Tarker^ Archbifhop of Canterh^y., P- 340. " departed this Life His Religion " condfted in a fervile Obedience to " the Queen's Injundions." Was there no Room to give him the like Cha- rader of ApofUe and chief Reformer of the Church of Englmid ? But thus the Reader will always obferve the Epithets, Tiotis^ Reaver end ^ Learned^ (jc, join'd to Puritan Names ; if any Defcription is added to the Name of a Conformift, 'tis of a different Sort ; but as to Mr. Kvox^, he was not fingtilar in this Opinion about the Government of Women^ His Friends at Geneva con- curr d with him. " 'Twas not long af- strype\^m, '^ tcr Knoxs Book, (as Mr. Strype ac- voLLp. 122. «^ quaints us) That Chrijiopher Good- ^' majt^ one of the 'Exiles at Gene^ja^ ^^ printed a Book of the like Tenor '^ with that of Knoxs. To this Book ** of Goodmans^ William Whitiy^gham " wrote a Preface comynendntory of the '*' Man and his Wcrh'' Knox and Goodman were Vaftors of the Church at Geneva^ and IVhitingham a Treach- er there. By WhitinghcWis Account in his Preface, Goodman conferrd the Jrticles and chief Tropojitions^ with the heft learned in thofe Tarts^ [ dz. Geneva] who appro'ved them. So that this feems to have been the general Senje [ 217 ] Smfe of the Engliffj Church at Geneva. • This Notion was fo induftrioufly fpread, and fo deeply rooted, that tho* Good- man did afterwards renounce it, yet it was ftill received in England. " Thefeibid ^ntf. " Principles (fays Mr. Strype) againft *^ Women's Government, feem'd not to *' be buried many Tears afte)\ but to " be fecretly cntcrtain'd ; and that by " Tapifts as well as Troteftants. " Something of this Sort feems to have been derin^ed down to the Author of the Hiftory of the Puritans, who ap- pears a little tindured with this Opi- nion of his Friends, when he remarks as follows. " This w^as a high DifplayN's Hid. " of the Supremacy, when the Head^^^^• " of the Church, being a Woman^ &c. As if it would have alter d the Cafe, had it been done by a Man. The Crown, in his Opinion, not being en- titled to the fame Prerogatives, when placed on the Head of a Queen, as if it was wore by a King. Tho' Queen Elizabeth could not countenance and eftablijh the Gene'va Platform, attend- ed with many and great Inconvcnien- cies ,• yet fuch was her Regard to the Trotejiant Intereft, which w^as her principal View, and fo defirous w^as flie to have Trotejiant Treachers, that, as Mr. iV. himfelf afferts, fhe offered Mr. C 2i8 1 jNTs Hiftory Mr. Kftox a ^tjhoprick. Whittingham ^ '4»- enjoy'd, to his Death, no lefs a Pre- ferment the T>eanry of "Durham ^ and 5/7;?»sAnn. Goodmun^ whom we find Chaplaiyt to ^' '^^- a Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, was otherwife provided for. Thus far were the ^tieen and the Bifliops from being cruel and relentlefs ! and thus evident it is, that Queen Elizabeth was not a Vapifl in her Heart ! The Declarati- on flie fent to the Parliament in 1572 is a farther Confirmation of this. 'Tis preferved in Sir Simon TfEws Journal. '^ That her Majefty, as Defender of '' the Faith, will aid and maintain all '^ good Proteftants, to the difcouraging '' of all Papifts. But to proceed to other Principles and TraUices of the Turitans that affeUed the Ci^'il Go'vernment^ the Vrerogati'ves of the Crcwn^ or the Kights of the StthjeU. Their very firft and fundamental Propofal of Popu- lar LleUions of Minifters, that none vd. Direft. fhould be admitted to a Benefice, but ''^ov^mment ^^^ ^^^ chofcn and call'd by the FdUnd'^pbin People, invaded not only the R/g^/j- Declaration and Prerogatives of the Crown^ but lll't^lZ.^'^^ "Property of all Corporations and on. &c, pri'vate TerfonSy who were lawfully X Admon. P<^ff^ft of Advowfons. " Your Wifdoms, (fay they to the Parliament, in their Admo* [ ilp ] Admonition) " have to remove Ad vow- soNSj Patronages, Impropriati- ons, and Bifliops Authority, claim- ing to themfelves thereby Right to ordain Minifters, and to bring in that *^ old and tnie Election which was ac- ^ ^^ cuftom'd to be made hy the Congrega- " gation^ This Scheme entirely took away the Kight of Tatronagc^ how juftly foever acquired, and muft have occafion'd great Confttjion and Diftttrb- ance in the Nation ^ and in many Pla- ces, where the People were ftill Popifh- ly inclin d, have open'd a Door to the Eiedtion of Popifli Priefts. Nor do we find, at this Day, any fuch good Effeds from popular Elections of the Clergy, as to recommend that Method to our Traftice. No body pretends, that thofe Clergy, who are chofe by a Veftry of the People, are remarkably diftinguifh- ed, either for Learning or Behaviour, from fuch as are prefented by the pro- per Patrons. Mr. Strype has preferv'd a Tra£tsnype*sv/hk^ drawn up in thofe Times, entitled, g'^^'^^i^■ Certain Mifcbiefs enftimg the Puritans Demands andTlatform^in ten Articles. " I. It overthrows her Majeftys Su- *^ premacy ; which confifts chiefly in " thefe three Heads, mz. her Title and " fupreme Government over all Perfons " and cc r 220 ] and Caufes EccleJiafiicaL That no *' Law be made and put in Pradice, " without her particular JJfent. That " the Appellation in Caufes Ecclcfiafti- '^ cal be made to her Highnefs in Chan- " cery-i as it was before to the Pope. *' All Three muft, in effed> be abo- '' liflied. " For the Firft, they fay, thcTrincey '^ being no Elder, is in the Number *' of thofe, ^ui facile debent pati fe " re^i & guhernari : And not the Su- *"' preme Governour. '' For the Second, The making of " all Ecclefiaftical Laws they afcribe " to the Senate wholly , and do give to " the Prince Authority 07tly to pimijh ^'' fuch as offend their Orders : Which '^ is indeed to give her Highnefs Go- " vernment in Terfonas tantnm, non ^^ in Catifasy dy poteftatem FaUi, non Juris. '' For the Third, Their Appellations " lye from the Elderjhip to a Confe- rence, from that to a Tromncial ; from that to a National Synod, which miift definitively end all- tl. It taketh from her Majefty that Part of her Prerogative Royal, *' whereby fhe is Matron Paramount of all the Benefices in England, accru- " ing to her by Lapfe or otherwife. '' III. It cc cc cc cc cc r "I ] ^^ III. It taketh from her Majejiy^ and all other of the Laity ^ that Part of their Inheritance^ whereby *' they prefent to the £cclefiaftical Li- " vings, Jus Tatronatiis. " IV, They hold it unlawful X.0 pay to her Majefly the Firft Fruits and tenths of their Livings j or that either her Majejiy^ or any Layman fhall have in their Pofl'eflion any Im- propriation.. ^ V. They require to have more Col- leges built, for the encreafing of *^ that Number which is to fill their ^' Presbyteries i and that all the 'Bijhops ^^ Li'vings^ and fuch Lands as apper- " tain'd heretofore unto Abbies, may partly be employM that Way, and partly to the better Maintenance of their Treshyteries. "' VI. It cverthroweth both Archhi- Jhops and ^ijljops ; and fo confe- quently one of the chief Degrees of the State of this Realm; defiring, as of Necejftty^ an Equality of Minifters, " VIL It overthroweth all the Ec- clejiaftical Conftitutions^ Laws and Ordinances^ which have been made ez'erjince the Jpojiles Times ; that fo they may make fuch other as fliall " be thought meet in every Congre- " gation. '' VIIL It cc [ 222 ] " VIII. It overthroweth a great Part of the Common Laws and Statutes ; as, befides thofe which depend upon her Majefty's Supremacy, the Statute ^^ of Mortmain, &c. If this Platform ihould go forward, it may boldly be averr'd, that One whole Man's Life of Parliaments would not be fiiffici- ent to make new Laws, which might bring it to any tolerable State of Go- vernment. " IX. It overthroweth the prefent Divifion of this Land into Tarijhes^ and requires a new one to be made, anfwerable to their Fancies. " X. It maketh her Highnefs fubjeU to their Excommunication ^ and fo confequently, is not unlikely to prove a Matter of great Danger. For, if her Majefty fliould be Excommuni- cate, and not yield thereunto, the chief Authors of this Platform do affirm, that then. Lege feudorum^ which they fay holdeth in Kingdoms,, her Majefty's Subjefts, or any others, are freed from their Oaths of Fi- delity. " What dangerous Propofition,s the chief Patrons of this new devifed Government have publifhed of Ute Years; how natural-born Subjefts may rebel againft their Prince, de- '^ pofe [ "3 ] " pofc him, and execute him, every " Man knows, who have read the *^ Books intituled, T>e jure regni apud ^^ Scotos 'y and Jimms Celta his Book *^ intituled, Vindicieftgn. This Gentleman fpeaks from an Authority which Mr. N. with all the Courage he fo frequently talks of, did not dare to produce, even their "Bill and 'Book it felf. There is one Thing fhould be obferved particu- larly. This Hiftorian ventures to af- firm, that Minifters, by this Bill, were Ns Hiftory to bc dcpofcd with the Confent of the ^ ^^''' ®//^(?/?,upon their Misbehaviour ^ where- as the Author he refers to, exprefly fays, that the S/7/ was very injurious to the chief of the Clergy^ '^ and cal- '* culated [ 2^5 ] ^^ culated for the O'verthrow of the " prefent State of the Clergy, by their " Presbyteries, efpecially Archbilhops, " and ^ijloopsy &c. as being Callings " not agreeable to the Word of God, ^^ as the "Bill fayeth, " This Paper con- tains fo many confiderable Things relating to the Puritans, and the Dif- pute with them, that, perhaps it will not be difagreeable to the Reader to have the whole of it laid before him, tho' it be fomething long. Mr. Strype calls it an excellent Paper, wherein the true State of the Cafe between the new Reformers and thofe that ftuck to the Reformation, as it then flood, is fliewn. 'Tis preserved in his Appendix to the Life of Whitgifty Tag. 109. under the following Title. cc The Sum of a Speech in Tarlia- ment^ Anno i y 86 ^ upon the Bill and Book of the Puritans, then '' offered. THAT where the Book and Bill hath been greatly commended, &c. and altho' in Refped of manifold Bufinefs, (^c. I have taken no further Pains in the Word of God, than con- cerneth the due Information of a true Chriftian Man, as well in Matters of d Faith, [ 22^ ] Faith, as of Manners^ ; by the cme to be inftru(Sed in the Sincerity of true B^eligion, how to believe, and by the other, how to direft my Adions to GodV Glory, and the Profit of my Country : And befides, that I have deemed it evermore a fpeeial Part of Chriftian Sobriety, for every Man to contain himfelf within the Bounds of his own Vocation 5 and not to prefume too much upon his own Knowledge to difpute, decide and determine Eccie- fiaftical Matters, appertaining proper- ly to the learned Dodors, and grave Fathers of the Church ,• yet, for as much as, a great Part of this defired Reformation cometh within the^ Com- pafs of my TrofeJJion^ toucliing Matters of State ^ I have thought good to crave your heedful Regard, d^r. while 1 fhall open unto you fundry Points of very great Conjequence touching the fame. The whole Reformation began in King Edward's Time, and undertaken by her Majefly, confifteth chiefly in the Eftablifhment of, I. A true Government of the Church greatly corrupted, and foully ufurped by the Bifliop of Rome. II. The ptire T>oUrine of Chrift, by a found Reformation and Purgation there- of from Popery. III. A [ 227 ] III. A Godly Order for puhlick Tray- er and Adminiftration of Sacraments^ with other holy BStes and Ceremonies ,• inftead of the Popifli Mafs, barbarous Service, and many other Corruptions. '^his Reformatio7i was made upon moji gra^'e Confideration^ by the chief learned Dodors and Fathers of this Church. It hath eftfoons been find and refind'^ and by her Majefty, at lengthy brought to fuch TerfeUmt^ as the Profeflion of this reformed 'KeUgion in Englaftd^ hath been ever fince the chief Key and Stay thereof, in all the Reformed Churches in Chriftendom. What Joy was once in England for this Reformation I How many Letters have been written hither by Strangers^ to congratulate the Sincerity and Happi- iiefs thereof ! And, how many Chal- lenges have been made, and Books writ -- ten^ in Defence of the fame ? Our Adverfaries abroad have been mightily refuted. Sedinimici hominis domeftici ejus [ i. e. A Maris Enemies are thofe of his Hotifhold^ Among all the Af- faults made hitherto by fundry Seda- ries againft this our Reformation, there was never any, to my Knowledge, com- parable to this laft S/7/ and Book^ ex- hibited here among us. (i 2 My [ =28 I My Purpofe is to deal only with that Part which touchethGoz*ernme72t. How- beit, as by the Wayf I cannot but re- member unto yoUj how, notwithftand- ing the Law made Jnno i. of her Majefty, that whofoever JJjotild^ either hy Word or Writing, deprme^ &c. the ^ook of Comriion-Trayer^ &c. This Book termeth the fame to contain di- vers Imperfedions, grofs Corruptions^ and fo many Repugnancies with the Word of God 5 as that fcarce any Part thereof remaineth found. In refpefl: whereof it earneftly defireth, to have the fame wholly abrogated ; and doth offer another^ newly made unto us, to be Efiahlijhed : Wherein, firft, my Mailers, I will fpeak but like a politick Man ; will you alter and reform the whole Form and Order of your Service ? Will you take the Book from us, which we have been perfuaded to think both good and godly j and give us a new, accounting the other corrupt, (^c. Might it not havefufficed to have re- formed the Errors ^ If you anfwer, that there were fo many, it could not be otherwife done, will any Man be- lieve you ? What will the People fay ? Alfuredly, whereas you pretend hereby to work Wonders^ you fliall drive them by Thoiifandsj either to become Jtheifis or •[ 2 29 ] or Tapijis. I tell you, there is an old Note of Schifmacicks or Hereticks, which is very rife among us, and I think it is in the Scriptures, jemper difcentes^ and nimquam ad Scientiam pewenien- tes ; affuredly all good Men do begin hereby to fufpe(5t you. idly^ If I be not deceived, I find a Jl^amefuly jUght and cunning ^Point^ fmoothly pafrd over, in this Bill exhi- bited. It is well known, that fome Ringleaders in this Schifm have taught, that it was nnlawftd to have a pre- fcrihed Form of Service in the Church j hut now your Fellows have framed us €7te : Belike, they meant every fuch Kind of Service to be unlawful, except it were of your own making. In good Earneft, do you mean indeed as you feem ? Shall we have a Book of Com" mon-'Prayer to be ufually read^ and obfer^ed in our Churches ; fo as the common People who cannot read, by often hearing one Form of Prayer may learn the fame, to their great Comforts^ elfewhere ? What meaneth the Book then, when the Rubriek before your Chapter of publick Exercifes, fuch an Order is there preferibed, as doth ne- ver permit the chief Part thereof, that is the Confeflion in the firft Chapter^ to be read in the Church ? Befides, Q. 3 what [230] what meaneth this ? There Is a Torm of Service fet down to be ufed before and after Sermon, which is, indeed, the whole Service: And yet in the Ku- brick after the fame, it is thus writ- ten, it fhall not he necejfaryfor the Mi- nifier daily ^ &c. And in the Chapter of "Baptifm^ becaufe he prayeth in this manner y or fttch like^ and in the Chap- ter of the Lord's Supper^ the Minifter gi'veth Tloanks in thefe Words follow- ingy or the like in Ej^eU. So, as for any thing I fee, althoV to pleafe us withal, there be in Shew a Book pre- tended, yet in Truth there is no fuch Matter 5 but alh or the moft Part, is left to the Minifter s Spirit. Thefe Men do therefore verify the Proverb, Jurum fuperatiim^ tuffis pro crepitu. Touching the fecond Part of our Re- formation ,♦ that is, true IDoUrine re- purged -y I take it, the whole Sum thereof is contained in the Thirty Nine Articles of Religion, fet out by Law Jnno 1562, whereof I find by this Bill and Book, Three of them wholly con- demn'd or abrogated, mz. the 34tb, of the Traditions of the Church ; The 35th, of Homilies: The 36th, of the making of 'Bifhops and Minifiers. Be- (ides, it feemeth unto me, that one of the Articles of our Belief is, in Effed, abro- i ^3 1 ] abrogated, ^iz. U^efccfidit ad inferos. But this is a Qaeftion, it feems, among Divines j I will not meddle with it. Howbeit, I remember, that, about Se- ven Years fince, there was written a Book, to the like Purpofe, by one Car- lifle y which her Majcfty, by the Advice of the beft learned of the Clergy, for- bad, as a very dangerous Book and Af- forfion, / But all this while I am almoft befide myiPurpofe: Leaving therefore in this fort Matters of Divinity, I will come to ft>eak of our Governments which, in Jome Points, is quite overthrown ; in fom^ greatly fiaken ; and hy fome very m\XQh endanger d» That which I there- fore miflike in this Bill and Book, is^ thai it is VQxy injtiriotis to ^^j of the Laity ^ to the Chief of the Clergy ; l?ut efpecially to her Maj^fly. . Firft to our felves, it appeareth in ^thex Sixth Chapter of this Book, that when any Ecclefiaftical Man fliould die, or be removed. Jus Tatronatns flbould be in every Tresbytery. And fo Elders^ I know not how, fhould prefent to the Livings. Which toucheth us all in our Inheritances ; and befides, turneth to oiir no fmall Reproof; in that of anci^ ent T'ifney having recei'ued fuch Credit and Authority y we only fliall be thought rj^ Q. 4 unwor-^ [ ^3^ ] miworthy to continue our Rights &c. Why furely, I cannot fee, but that if we were all as we pretend, there could not be many Presbyteries erected in this Land, more able to prefent fit Men to any of our Livings, than we our felves, if we would ufe but thofe Helps ap- pointed by Law already. For mine own Part, (b'C. but yet in this Matter we are farther touched. Here are Or- ders fet down for the "Burthening every YariJJo with one Paftor, at the leaftj a ^oUor^ two T>eacons^ at the leaftj befides I know not how many Elders ^ to hQ found in Eqitity^ if they be poor, and do labour in the Caufes of the Church, by the Relief of the Parifh, as well as any of the reft. But neither S/7/ nor Book do fpeak one Word with what Livings, or how thofe Office3 fhall be maintained. Wherein there is a Tiece of Cunning ufed ; fuppofing that plain Treating would have hinder d their Purpofe ; for indeed their Mean- ing is, to draw from lu^ maugre our Heads, our Impropriations, And if the Spoil of the Biiliops and Cathedral Churches will not ferve their Turns, as certainly they cannot, their Number being fo great j then do they fet it down, that we are bound to furrender out of our Hands our Jhbey Landsy and [ ^33 ] and fuch other PofTcflions as have at any time belonged to the Church. It is wonderful to fee how defpiteftd they write of this Matter. They call us Church 'Kohhers^ T)evotirers of Holy T'hings^ Cormorants^ &c. affirming, that, by the Laws of God, things once confecrated to God for the Service of his Church, belong unto him for ever: And that we keep fuch Goods and Li- vings contrary to our own Confciences, as appears in this Book of Ecclefiaftical Government', and another which came unto my Hands the laft Parliament, in- tituled, A Complaint of the Commona- lity. Whereby we may fee what is in- tended againft us ; how for the enrich- ing of themfehes^ they labour, by our Confents, to impoverijh tis ; and with what reproachful Speeches they handle us. For mine own Part, I have fome Impropriations, (^c. and, I thank God, I keep them with a good Confci- ence, (j'c. Many would he undone. The Law approveth us, (^c. The Rule, Cui bono ? maketh me to think, that thefe hott bufy Reformers^ do ra- ther feek Ou,rs^ than us. Secondly, for the Oc^erthrow of the prefent State of the Clergy by their Presbyteries^ efpecially Archbifhops and BiJhopSy &c. as being Callings not agree- able [ 234 ] able to the Word of Gody as the SiU fayeth ; I will leave it to Divines, be- ing a Matter without my Reach, altho\ in my Confcience, I do fee the Necefli- ty of thofe Dignities and Authorities, for avoiding a Contention^ and better Reputation of their Callings. As to the fame Purpofe, we have in the Ci- vil Law, Noblemen and Gentlemen i and do verily hold that Part of the^Bill as a loud Untruth.^ This only do I judge, that hereby a great Indignity is ofter'd to the Honotir of this Realm, in feeking to fpil the fame of one effen- tialTart of xhe fecond Statei^ to ftltfi" the Honour of our Parliamentife/ aad to bring into it a Sarbafous Equality^ which hath ufualiy hitherto bedn^ Nor otherwife it be&defervqdi/^itj'/rqofqrr] But Thirdly J to' come to ' that wh icti moft of all mould touch us, -mzM-her Majeftys)Efiate, I find this PJatfcifin injurious to her Siipr^macyy \ tOih^r Strength^ and to her Person, rij ^x;^;^ For her Highnefes /.iS'///?r^^^?^^,;.Mit confifteth principally, as I gather out of the Statute to that Purpofe, \i^:w>f.ii. -'of hcr Majefty.vilftio'KTi') (c^-. :^\^\^ I. Upon [ 235 3 1. Upon her Title of Supreme Head or Governour. r 2. Her Authority in making EcclejL aftical Laws* 3. Upon the Right, that the lafi Jp- pellation in fuch Caufes fhould be raade to her Majefty's Chancery. All which Points are in a manner wholly Abro- gated by this Bill and Book. For al- tho' it be faid therein, that the Sove- reign Majefty is placed by God in high- eft Authority under him, within, their Dominions, over all Perfons and Caufes, as well Ecclefiattical as Civile yet mark, how the Book interpreteth itfelf. Forfooth, their Dominion they fpeak of is this, that the Sovereign mult fee and command the ordering of them, as God hath appointed by his. Word. He muft not make any himfelf^ by his or- dinary Authority, but fee others make them : Which is not Sovereign Autho- rity in Catifas^ but in Terfonas \ and is c2i\VA^ToteJiasfaUi^ non juris. Secondly^ Where this Bill affirmeth, that the Guidance oi the Church is committed to the Tajiors^ ^b^ors^ and Eiders j that they by common Confent might dired all the Affairs and Bufinefs of the fame, ^i,i dicit omne malum^ nihil excipiti Where it fayeth, that the Treshytery hath Jti- thority 1236 2 thority to chufcy eleU^ ordain] and, up- on Occafion, to remo've and difplace All Ecclefiaftical Officers; and, as the Book fayeth, to mfit-^ decide Caufes^ appoint thereon Meeti^tgSy Conferences and Synods; in the End, what is left to her Majefty ? or wherein is the fulfil- ling of that Law, which fayeth, that all Authority to vifit, reform, redrefs, order, eled:, corred, make Laws^ abrogate Laws, call Synods^ &c. is an- nexed unto her Royal Crown and Dig- nity, and doth not appertain to any other in a Cbrifiian Kingdom,^ but as derived thence. thirdly ^ it appeareth both in the Bill and Book, that if any Difficulty or Ag-- grievances do arife in thcfe Presbyteries, there lyeth no Appeal, but from the Pref- bytery to the Conference; from that to a provincial Synod ^ and thence to a na- tional. Whereas, when her Majefty s Father did firft abandon Popery, this was his chiefeft Endeavour, that the Appeals which were made to Rome might, by Degrees, come into his Chan- cery : So as hereby it is manifeft, as I think, that this new Device is very inr jurious to her Majefty's Supremacy. Now of the fecond Point ; how it diminijheth her Majefty s Strength and Ability. In my Conceit, her Majefty s Strengtli C ^37 ] Strength ftandeth very much upon her Revenues. Large Tributes, and great Riches, are indeed Nert'i ReiptihliCie^ ornament a Tacis^ ftihfidia "Belli. Now what a Lofs would her Highnefs fuftain, if, as it hath been faid, all her ImfrO'- /7r/V7?/^;zi" fliould be taken from her? but what if they deal with her Majefty in her Tenths and FirJi-FruitSy as with her Impropriations ? Surely the Book of Ecclefiattical Difcipline nameth the exacting of the {ame Nundinationum & SpoUationum T>ireptiones. Laftly, touching her Majefty's P^r- fon and Safety; I account it hereby greatly endanger d ,• in that her High- nefs is made fubjeft to the Treshytery Cenfures, Reprefentations, Sufpenfions, and Excommunications : Which, tho' it be not precifely there named, yet I am furc none will deny it, fith it is fo largely fet out in the Fcclefiaftical difcipline \ for who knows how far they may proceed, if her Majefty do ne- gled their Excommunications? Is it not, think you, very well known, what out^ rageozis Jjfertions are made hereof in your chief TreshyteryMens Books ? Doth not her Majefty underftand what is fet down hereof in thefe Books : ^e jure Regni apud Scotos; T>ejure Magifira" turn infiihditos^ Vindicia contra uyran* [ 238 3 nos^ andothers ? Yes, Indeed — So as to conclude, I affure you, fo far forth as I am able to look into the Matters, I think, all Circumftances confidered, there never was mov'd in a Parliament, to my Remembrance, and urged with fuch Importunity, by thofe who would be reckon'd her Majefty's beft affefted, nioft faithful, and moft dutiful Subjefts^ a Matter of greater Inconvenience j nay Mifchief. For, I pray you, wherein differ thefe Men, in this Cafe, from the Paplfts ? The Tope denyeth the Supremacy of Princes ; fo do, in effect, thefe : The Pope yieldeth to them only poteftatem fcSii^ non juris ^ in perfonas^ non catifas : No more do our Reformers in this Point. The Pope where he entereth, doth ab- rogate all fuch Laws as any Prince hath made in Church Matters, to his Diflike ; and fo would thefe Men do with all the Laws, Canons, Conftitutions and Orders heretofore made in the Church, as isex- prefs'd in the laft Sentence of the Bill^C^r. It a fiat repetitio reliquorum. This publick Account of the Nature and Tendency of their Scheme is con- Fniiers Ch. firm'd by Mr. Fuller^ who acquaints Hift. ^ 2o+.u5^ that the Original State of the Point of Noncormity was much alter d and dif- [ 239 ] difguifed, and mai^y State BufineCfes by turbulent Spirits thruft into it. And even in the Year 1572, we find the like Ac- count of them ill Mr. Strype. " This Par- strype's Parker ^' ty (fays hejl grew more formidable to^ 3^9- *' the -5'^^/^, as well as to the eftablifli'd ^^ Government of the Church." Agreea- bly to this, 'twas obferved byArchbifhop barker to the Lord Treafurer, ^' that ibid. 447. *^ how fecure foever the Nobility were " ofthefe Puritans, and countenanced " them againft the Biftiops, they them- " felves might rue it at laft ; and that all *^ thatthefe Men tended toward w^as the '^ Overthrow of all honourable. Qua- *' lity, and the fetting a foot a Com- " monwealth^. or, as he call'd it, a " Topidarity"' That thefe People did not confine their Thoughts to Matters oiReligiofi., is very evident from fome Requefts which they add to a Piece, in titled, H't^e liamentable Complaint ofcomph'mt, the CommonaUtyy by way of S^lpplica-^^•'^''^'^'^' tion, td the High Court of l^arliament for a learned minijiry. It ihould feem, by their Account, that fome Noble- men and Gentlemen occupied th^iv own La^id^ and had' fometimes, for the greater Convenience, laid one Farm to auQther^ or otiierwife enlarged their Farms; upon which they make the following Requeft. 'I We pray, there- -. '' fore, [ 240 3 ^^ fore, thofe Noblemen and Gentlemen to be occupied in the Maintain- ANCE of the Good Ministers^ by their Authority, againft the Enemies of Religion, and in the Affairs of the Commonwealth, to hold them- *^ felves contented with their Rents, *' and not to in'vade our Callings but " to fuffer us to till the Ground, ex- '^ cept fo much as may ferve for the '"^ Provifion of their Houfe ^ that thefe '' greedy Farmers would employ all *^ their Induftry and Diligence in the *^ good Husbandry of one Farm^ that ^^ it may yield greater Profit than *^ before, and that every Landlord would lay to his Cottage^ where it may be a good Portion of Land^ to be occupied by the Cottinger, and none other ; and becaufe Trayer will not prevail with all, we defire " that by Law they may be compelled " to do as they ought to do ; for we *' truft that the plentiful breaching of *^' the Word, with a Statute to take " down the Tride in Apparel^ will '^ perfiiade the Landlords to fet a rea-- '^ fonable Price of their Farms and " Cottages ; and as thefe Evils, before " rchearfed, hite ns fore, even to the ^' Bone, yet the Sting of Igfiorance is " a thoufand times worfe. which, above '' all, [ HI ] ^' all we defire to be cured* Amen. " This fame complaining Co7nmonality make very free with Troperty^ m their Complaint it felf, where they infift, not only that the Impropriation^ but the Right of Patronage {\~iou\d be given up to the Church. " What, fay they, " belongeth to GoJ that is kept from " him ? Even that which appertainetb " unto his Churchy to wit, Trefen- ^^ tations and Impropriations. We have a further Confirmation of the feveral Particulars before-mention- ed, in another Paper, drawn up, as it feems, by Lord Keeper Pttckering^ 'Tis preferv'd in the 4th Volume of Mr, Strype's Annals, pag. 140. A^ this Relation proceeds from fo eminent a Perfon, who had no private Inter eft in fupporting the Ecclefiaftical Eftablifh- ment ; and as it plainly appears by a Letter from Mr. Cartwrigbt to him strype's Ann. ( likewife preferved by Mr. Strype ) ^'^' ^^' ^' ''^' that he was far from being an Enemy to the Terfons of the Puritans, how^- ever dangerous he thought their Opi- nions and Praftices, the Teftimony of fuch a Man will obtain great Regard and Credit. The whole Difcourfe is too long to be tranfcribed, however Mr. K's Example in abridging fliall not be follow^'d i but all that is quot- R ed [ 242 ] cd lliall be in the ^ery Words of the Author, which are as follow. ^wo Kinds of Schifmaticks^ and the danger of their Opinions^ either di-^ reWy^ or by necejfary Confequence ga- ther d^ to he holden by thofe who tirge a new Church Go'vernment^ commonly called Titritans. Thefe be of two Sorts ; firjt^ fome that will communi- cate with US in Trayers^ Sermons^ and Sacraments. Secondly^ Others that will not* T'he firji Sort hold Opinions darigerotis ,• firfi^ to her Majejly and the Crown^ or^ fecondly^ to the State^ or to the TPolicy of the Kealm. The Opinions efpecially touching her Majefty and the Crown, are either againft, firft, the Rc'venms ; or, fe- condly, her Highnefs's Trerogatice and Supremacy , or, thirdly, the Prince's Safety in the Kingdom. Their Opinion againft the Revenues of the Crown. That the detaining of the Tojfejjfions of Religions Hotifes and Impropriations (being given once to the Church) is Sacrilege, and ought to be reftored to the Church again ; that the Miniflers and others of the Eccle- fiaftical Fundion ought to be exempt from paying frft Fruits^ Tenths^ Sub- fidies^ [ 243 ] fidieSj and other Impofitions, like as the Tr lefts of Egypt were, even under a Heathen King, i Their Opinion againft the Prerogative and Supremacy : They take away all Gifts oi "Bijhopricks and "Demiries from her Majefty, by diffohwg them. They take away all Patronages from her Majefty and others^ and her Hignefs's Patronage Paramount, for Benefices lapfed. For they make all Ecciefiafti- cal Functions meerly eleUvve by the People or their ElderJInps. When the Supremacy was juftly re- ftored to the Crown, one chief fuper- eminency was, that the I aji Appellation^ in all Ecclefiaftical Caufes, was to be made to the King in the Chancery* This they take away ; for they make the Appellation from an Elderfhip Con- fiftory, to a Colloquy, or Conference ; from thence to a provincial Synod ; and laftly, to a national j and T^hat to be final. They deny the Prince's Authority in making Laws Ecclefiaftical j which they do attribute to their Synod. Tho' in Words they will not deny the Oath of Supremacy^ yet in very Truth they take it away ^ for they fay, llae is fupreme Governor over all Perfons, and all Caufes Ecclefiaftical, R 2 but t H4 ] but not [in Cmtfcs Ecclejiaflical'] for they attribute no more to her but to effahliJJ) their Difciplinej and to de- fend them from Time to Time in the Execution of it, which is Ntida pote- ftas faUi & non juris ,• an Authority attributed by the Papifts unto their Princes. That her Majefty being a Child of the Church, is ftihjeU to the Cenfures of Excommunication by their Eider- fliip, as well as any other People ; and that no Man ought to aid, comfort, falute or obey an excommunicate Perfon ,* and that fo long as one is excommuni- cated, he cannot cxercife liis Magi- ft racy. That all Perfons, as well as meaner Perfons, muft willingly he ruled and got'ernd^ and muft obey thofe whom God hath fet over them, that is, the juft Authority of Ecclejiajiical Magi- ftrates ; and muft lick the Duft off the Feet of the Church. That the Elderjhip and Synods are to call and proclaim puhlick Fafts — That the Offices of this Church of England are invented by the Magi- ftratc, and fo no Members of Chrifl's Body. That ilie doth injure the Church, to keep the true Officers out. That ihe maimeth and deformcth the Body of [ H5 ] of Chrift. That every Chriftian Ma- giftrate is bound to receive this Go- vernment by Tafiors^ 'DoUors^ Elders^ and T>eacons^ into the Church, with- in his Dominions, urhatfoever Inconve- nience may be hke to follow the re- ceiving of it. That thofe who with- ftand it, hold it to be lawfu], for her Majefty and the State, to bid God to Battle againft them j and that they make our Prince and Governor wage War againil God. Thatthefe/f?^/f Officers are now the only true Members, that is, the only true Officers of the vifible Body of Chrift : So that her Majefty, nor any other but thefe, is a true Officer, or Member, in the vifible Body of the Church, by this Alfertion. That the higheft Ecclefiaftical Au- thority in all Matters of the Churchy is belonging to their Elderlhip. Againft her Majefty 's Safety in the Kingdom. That the Government of the Church is Ariftocratical or Popular ; and that the Gon)ernment of the Commonwealth muft be framed according to the Qo- mrnment of the Church ; even as the Hangings to the Church, [the Houfe.J R 3 Againft [ 246 ] Againft the State and Policy of the Realm. That the judicial Law ofMofesy for punifhing divers Sins by Death, is in Force, and ought to be obferved in ecery Commomsoealth^ as commanded by God ,• and therefore, that no Prince nor Law can, or ought to fave the Lives of wilful Offenders, not offending by Ignorance only : Nor of Blafphe- mers of God's Name ; nor of Conjurers, Soothfayers, Perfons poffefs'd with an Evil Spirit, Hereticks^ perjured Per- fons, wilful Breakers of thp Sabbath- Day, Negleders of the Sacraments, without juft Reafon ; difobedient to Parents, or that curfe them j inceftuous Perfons , a Daughter committing For- nication in her Father's Houfe ; Adul- terers ; all incontinent Perfons, faving (ingle Fornicators ^ and all Confpira- tors againft any Man's Life. That Lex talionis^ that is, an Eye for an Eye, a Hand for a Hand, (^c. ought to be obferved of Neceflity in e'very Commonwealth* That all Mat- ters arifing in their feveral Limits, (tho' they be meer Ci'vil and Temporal) if there may happen to be Breach of Charity, or Wrong be offer'd by one unto another, may and ought to be com- [ 247 ] pofed by the Blderjlnp : And he that fliall refufe to be ordcr'd^ is to be ex- communicated. That not only the State 'Ecclefiafii- caly being one of the Three in ^ar- liainent^ may, but alfo ought to be cut off. That it is tmlawfiil for any State to tolerate the prefent Government Eccle- fiaftical. That it is falfe^ tmlazsoful^ bajiardly^ unchrifiian. That none can be a good and found Subjed: that de- fends it. That they are Traytors to God and his Word, that do fo. That they are all Enemies to her Majefty and the Land. That they are to an- fwer for the Blood, which the Spa- niard^ or any other Enemies are like to fpill. That they bring in Hazard her Majefty's Life, and the Profperity of the whole Kingdom, and are the greateft Enemies it hath. That her Majefty, and her People, are feduced out of the right Way. That Minifters^ of Duty, not only may, but ought to determine and de- cree of all^ both Civil and Ecclefiafti- cal Caufes j tho' not of the very Fad, as Civil Magiftrates do, yet touching the Right, and what the Law is ; For that thereof they are appointed of God to be Adminiftrators. R4 The [ h8 ] y. The fecond Sort of Puritans now caird 'Barrowijiso They do hold all the former Pofi- tions j and befides, they alfo hold thefe Errors following. I. That it is not lawful to ufe the Lord's Prayer publickly in the Church for a fet Form of Prayer. 2. That all fet and dinted Prayers are meer Bab- bling in the Sight of the Lord ; and not to be ufcd in publick Chriftian Af- femblies. 3. That the publick Prayers and Worfhip of God, in England^ as it is by Law, in the Church of England^ eftablilli'd, is falfe, fuperftitious, Po- piih, and not to be ufed in any Chri- ftian Congregation. 4.Thatthe Church of 'Englavd^ as it is now eftablifh'd, is no true Member of the Church of Chrift. 5. That the Government of the Church of England^ as it is now eftabhfh'd, is no lawful Government, nor Chriftian, but Antichriftian, and Popifli. 6. That the Sacraments of Baptifm and the Lord's Supper, as they are adminifter'd in the Church of 'Eng- land^ be not true Sacraments. 7. That Infants ought not to be baptiz'd accord- ing to the Form of Baptifm, admini- ftred in the Church of England, but arc rather to be kept unbaptiz d. And that [ M9 ] that fuch as have been baptiz'd^ ac- cording to that Form, are not rightly baptized. 8. That the Laws Ecclefia- ftical, that are eflablifh'd by Authority of the Queen and Realm, be not law- ful, g. That if the Prince or Magi- ftrate do refufCjOr defer to reform fuch Faults as are amifs in the Church, the People may take the reforming of them into their own Hands, before, or with- out his Authority. lo. That the Presbytery and Elderfhip may, for fome Caufes, after Admonition, (if there en- fue no Reformation) excommunicate the Queen. 1 1 . That the Church of England^ ( as it ftandeth now by Law eftablifti'd ) profeffeth not a true Chrift, nor true Religion. That it hath no jVIinifters indeed, nor Sacraments in- deed 5 and therefore they will com- municate with us, neither in Prayer nor Sacraments ; nor come to our Churches, which they call Topijh ^arijh JJJem- blies. Thus far the Lord Keeper. After fuch a View of their Scheme, their Refohttion to have it introduce dt and perfecute for it, after it was intro- duced ; their Defign to ftrip the Crown of its Rights and ^rerogati'ves^ and to deprive private Perfons of their Proper- ty ^ in ftiort, to alter the whole Confti- tution [ 2yo ] tution of the Kingdom : After all this^ it cannot furprize any Man, that the Government defended it felf againft their ays^ until ^^ I either obtain it at your Hands, or strype»s Ann/' Iriiig the Lord in Vengeance and voiiF.p.i7f,c^ 2i/oodto plead a^ainji you, for re- " pelling his Caufe. " Agreeable to this, Daniel Suck (who, at his Exa- mination, [wore he could not in his Con- fcience come to his TariJloChurch^unlQ^ there was a Reformatio7i) likewife de- pofed, that he heard one Millers, a Preacher at St. Andrew JJnderjJmft, fay ^' that if they did maintain the '' Truth, cc CC CC cc cc cc cc r ^J3] ^^ Truth, they lliould not keep them- ^^ felves in Corners, but lliould fhew '' themfelves publickly to defend the " fame i but he [Tianiel'BucJz] thought " that ttnfity left it might be a Means ^^ to ftir a Rehellion. What Conftru6tion can be put upon all this, but that Force and Violence was to introduce that Holy Difcipline, which Petitions, and even Admonitions to the Parliament could not effed:ually recommend. Thus, in another admi- red Performance, "Remember, that^emonft. of " one Day you muft be prefented before [{j^'.'^i'l^-^ipf " the Tribunal Seat of Jefus Chrift, tocs't. with i '' be arraign'd for all the Souls thatf^f^^'^^^^"^^^ " have gone to Hell (feeing you will Governors of " needs be the Rulers of the Church) ^^^ ^^'"f*^^ " fince the Gofpel firft appeared in this °^ ^"^^'"^• " Land. Then fhall you not be excu- " fed with this, T^he ^iieen and Conn- " cil will have it fo. The Truth will prevail in jpite of your Teeth, and all other Adverfaries unto it, (for God difdaineth to be croft by Duft and Afhes) therefore be not ohftinate fo long as you will be found " Fighters with God, but prevent his " Wrath, \Q{\.\t break forth agai?2jl yott *^ like Tire, that none can quench, be- ^^ caufe of the Wickednefs of that In- " yention/' Such Threatnings and Decla- C 254 ]' Declarations as thefe fcarce need an Explanation ; however, left they fliould not be exprefs enough to dired the ^Populace inflamed thro out the Nation^ how to ad their Part in this ruinous TrojeU^ wickedly call'd the Catife of Gody the Author adds, ^' Do not think, that becaufe you [the Bifhops] have human Authority on your Side, there- fore you are fafe j for he whofe Au- '^ thority is on our Side is the greateft, " to whofe Voice all the Devils in Hell ihallftoop, much more ^^ filly Arm of finful Flefld. We have fought to advance this Caufe of God, by hum- ble Suit to the Parliament, by Sup- plication to your Convocation-houfe ; by writing in Defence of it, by chal- lenging to difpute for it j feeing none of thefe Means ufed by us ha've pre- " vail'd^ If it come in by that Means which will make your Hearts to ake^ blame your felves ; for it muft pre- 'vail^ malgre the Malice of all that ftand out againft it, or fttch a Judg- ^^ ment muft overtake this Land, 2is. ^^ fliall caufe the Ears that hear there- " of to tingle^ and make us be a Bye- ^' word to all that pafs by us. Defence of Upou the fame Principles, the fa- \.]u R^piy,nious yiwCartwright^ who declares an f 4+ BftahliJJ)7nent may be made without the cc cc 4C rc cc oUrine ', that in this ^' very Cafe, Subjeds might withftand *^ their Prince : That the Minifters, ^^ after due Admonition, might excom- " municate him, as an Enemy againft '' the Kingdom of Chrift. That being " fo excommunicate, the People might " punifh him. It was pretty early in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth that they advanced thefe Maxims. The Friends of the Proteftant Eftabliiliment had endea- voured, by arguing upon the Topicks of Obedience and Concord, to perfuade them to a peaceable and quiet Behavi- our 5 to which Arguments the follow- ing [ ^57 ] ing Anfvver is made, '^ They talk of ^^^^^^a R«- " Obedience and Concord^ but there is Ao^n^'j/^o?' *^ no Obedience againft the Lord, nor ^^ any Concord to be defired, but " where God's Glory and Verity is pre- " ferr'd \ iA{<^ better to have all the " World to rtm in hurly hurly^ and " Heacen and Earth to JJmkey than '^ ^;z^ Jot of God's Glory ihould decay, '^ fo far as in us lieth. For the Reader's farther Satisfadion it may not be improper to lay before him the following Paper, preferved by Mr. Strype. This Piece (which con- tains an Account both of their PRiNci-N'sHiftory TLES and Behaviour) is found in Mnf-^^^i"- 4&rj'/?^s Appendix to the Life of Whit- gift^ pag. 138. under the following Title. ^he Doctrine, with fome Pradices of ftmdry trouble fome Minifters in Eng- land, tending to the ereUi7ig a new pretended Difcipline^ ajid to the Overthrow of her Majejiys Goz^ern- ment^ and Trerogati've^ as well in Caufes Ciznl as Ecclefiajiical. THIS {a) Difcipllne, is a Govern- («) Difdpii. ment in all Caufes Ecclefiaftical,"' ^^^'^ ^ by a DoUory "Paftor^ governing Elders^ ^^"° *"' ^ Deacons, and Kelieiersj or Widows in 3 every [ 258 ] every Parifli. And by 12 Minifters to- gether for a CiafTiSj or Conference : By certain Minifters and Elders out of 24 Clalfes for a Provincial Synod or Council ; and by certain like, chofen out of every Province, to make a Na- tional Synod, or General Aflembly. I. In the defcribing and handling of this Difcipline, in Books of that Mat- ter (befides their grofs Ahfurdities in ^winity-^ and Conftijions^ and ImpoJJi- lilities in Policy) they do impugn her Majefty's Royal Prerogative, and Go- vernment. {b) Ibidem 8c JF/r/?, by (Ji) taking away Nomina'' omnes ^^^^-fJQfis to Sijhopricks and T>eanrieSy and ^'*'' her Rigbf of Jdmwfons originally, and *Patro7iage 7 ar amount upon Lapfes of inferior Benefices, (c) Difcipiina Sccoiidly^ By (r) giving to their Ge- synodica.Tit. ^ jffe^Mj, the laft Appellation in id Admonit.Cauies Ecclejtajttcal^ which is now ^*j^^3»-Dif made to her Highnefs in her Chancery. ca^Tit/des thirdly ^ By taking to themfelves Syzio^tsuzu- jf It hority to make Laws Ecclefiafti- (rThtiog.'cal. For they fay. That (^) the Su^ '^txM^tx\.<:Mxx^pr erne Authority, in all Matters Eccle- pfel! t %\ fi^ftical, belongeth to their ElderJJoipsy and other Affemblics. - Boc^Tf That the Policy {e) of the Church, Common appcrtaiucth to Minifters and Seniors : r/7?.c^'And (/) that^ without Injury to the Repiic'f 74, Minifter^ [ 25^ ] Minifter, flie cannot fo much as pre- fcribe him the Form of his Apparel. Another of them addeth, (g) Thatf^) Soldier of by the fame Authority, tliat the Queen ^''ll^^^^)^ commandeth the one ( c;/<3. MinKlers^'^^^* '^' Apparel) Ihe may command any Piece of Tcperyy fo that fhe call it Tolicy. But Jofias and Ezekias koew no fuch Authority. Fourthly^ By {h) attributing to her^/.) suecsnus Hiffhnefs and her Madftrates no moref;44i- J-b. than the Taptfts do, poteftatem jacU^x^ucwA. 8c non juris in caufis ecclefiqfticis^ ^t/^. Ecdciiafiic. That which they determine to be Law^^2^.^^'^ ' and Righty the Prince and her Offi- cers lliall fee it put in Execution politically. Fifthly^ (i) By giving to their Affem- W T^iCdpi blies Power to call Synods when they^^ co^y^nc. think good. Ecci.t Sixthly {k) By making ^^r Highnefs q{)\v^\:yx^' fubjed to the Cenfures and Fxcommu-^^^.^''''''^^' nication of their Elderfliips, and other Ep,^ T.'^C. Affemblies. /"• h^- For elfe (/) llie cannot be a Child <^0 Counter- of the Church. ^"^"^ '^^' 2. They likewife, by their Plot, fhake the Safety of her Majefty, and of the Realm, {m) by making certain Magi-0??) Theoi. Urates in every Commonwealth ( as^'^""^^* '^^' God's Inftitution) who Ihall have Au- thority to depofe their Sovereign, ei- S 2 ther [ 26o ] thcr by War, or othervvife, if he feem to them to break the Covenant^ as the JLphori in Lac a demon had. ^^^ Ibid Secondly^ By (;z) teaching, that the ^^.\(i].' Prince ought not to determine any Matter of Weight without the pub- lick Aflembly of all the States of the Land. (OT.c. Re- T^hirdly^ {o) By teaching, that the ply, f, 6^6. Qarjernment of the Commonwealth muft be framed to the Government of the Church, as the Hanging to the Houfe. {f) Omnes And {p) they make the Church iiiiusSeaac. Government psivtly popular:, of all the^ People, and partly Oligarchical, of a few Minifters and Elders. 3. Again, they impair the Revenues of the Crown. (,) compi. FirJ}, By teaching (q) that Things of the Com- once confecratcd to God, for the Ser- momky^cJ.^-^^^ of the Church, belong to him Cr) 1 Admo- fQj. ever j calling the (r) having of u'JtiJ^D\i:-Impropriatio7is and Jbhey- Lands ^ Sa- courfep. s^'Crilege, 0)Wai. Tra- Sccondk^ ( J' ) by urging an Immti- Di^ci^^^^l ;z//j of the Re'venues of Perfons Eccle- b. and 88. b.fiaftical from public k Impo fit ions. For ^""J^^P'^^^they call it in us Impiety, Barbarouf- '^^^ *nefs and Covetoufnefs, worfe than the Heathens^ not to fet the Triejfs Pof- feffion free, as the Kings of Lgypt did their Triefis^ and call all yearly Ec- clefiadical [ ^61 ] clefiaftical Contributions to the Queen, by the Name of Robberies. 4. Laftly^ They abrogate or change the greateft Part of the Laws of the Land ,• and namely, for Example Sake. Firft^ By {t) urging legejn talmiis :(t) Theoiog. An Eye for an Eye, &c. ^^^^/s'! Secondly^ (u) By urging of Neceflity («} ibid, the judicial Law of Mojes^ for Pcnal-^ y+; '7^' ties of Death upon Blafphcmers, dif- obedient to Parents, or that curfe them, and fuch like. For they hold (x) that (atjt.c. Re- no Prince or Law may fpare the LifeP'y* P-'^^- of any fuch Perfons. T^hirdly^ (aa) By teaching that M-M J-b. Hb. nifters fliould be Judges Juris, what^-,f,^ ^^''''' is Law in all Matters, and Ciml Ma- Eccicfnih gijirates Judges only of the FaU. ^;''^' .'^^' Fourthly^ By affirming {bb) that all(7^) o^mon- Controverfies of Dodrine and Manners, ^"^'°". "^^ ( fo far as appertaineth to Confci-^/s'^!^""'^ ence) do belong to the Determina- tion of Elderiliips, and other Church Aflfemblies. Fifthly^ In faying {cc) that of all(ro 2 Admo- other grievous Enormities laid upon"'"°"'^* ^°* this Church of England^ this is the greateft, ^hat it is mt lawful to utter that which we learn trtdy out of the Scriptures ; we muft be in T>a7iger of ^ PRitMUNiRE, if we follow not the Laws of the Land, tho' they be againft S 3 the C 2^^ ] the Scriptures^ by which aforefaid they take from her Majefty, and draw to themfelves all the Prerogatwe Royal and Go'vernment^ as well in Civil as Ecclefiaftical Caufes. 5. They alfo deprave the Juftice of the Realm^ and Lords oi the Council, GA/)Epin be as writing thus ; {dd) ^' I will not in trnied'Te^-" ^his Placc chargc our Council, with formation no"' that which foUowcth, ^7C. namely, Eneniyrothccc ^j-j^^ ^j^cy exccutc uo Tudgment, no. not the Judgment of the Fatherlefs. " But this I will fay, that they cannot poflibly deal truly in the Matter of Juftice between Man and Man ; in fo much, as they bend all their For- ces to bereaf Jefus Chrift of that Right which he hath in the Govern- ment of his Church ; by which, un- godly and wicked Courfe, as they have held on, ever fince the Begin- ^^ ning of her Majefty's Reign ; fo at this Day, they have taken greater Boldnefs, and grown more rebellious againft the Lord and his Caufe, than ever they were. All thefe Mifchiefs, notwithftand- ing, they take the Matter very in* (^) Epift'ctodignantly; That their {a) Suits to the D<;mon-p^j.]iaj;j^^3i^^5^ Supplicatious to Convoca- tions, writing in Defence of it, and challenging to difpute for it, have not pre-' cc Cc CC cc Cf cc cc cc cc cc cc prevailed : Yet^ they fay, it iTiall pre- vail; (l>) Malgre the Queen, Counci],W Rffof^^- (c) and all that ftand againft it. """ "° ^'"- my, To bring to pafs, that it may fo pre-w Epiaieto vaiL they have penn d a Book of Dif- ''^^ ^5"^°"^*- • 1. •' 1 * y 1 n J 1 circa finem. ciplme, partly term d Holy.^ partly Synodicai^ {d) containing Rules of (^) Difcipii- their Elderfliips,, Ciaffes, Synods Pro-^^^f^^^^^ ^ vincial; and National, of Publick Pray- ers, and Adminiftration of Sacraments, C^r. wholly innovating, and changing all Laws^ Common and Eccieliaftical^ concerning Church Matters and per- fons, ; without once naming the Chriftian Magijirate^ or his. Authority. ^ ,.^. ,^ To this Book they have procured^iKe C^) Subfcription of many Minifters ; ac-COSubfcriptf- cording to a Set Fprixi p£ .^t/^/^J- /:? ^^tf And it is to be fear'd^ even of fpjiianyandof aciaf- Minifters,; befides others in feveralf^'^^^^^^^ Countries of the Realm, as be fa.(5ti- oufly affefted ^ in that their Subfcrip- tion, among other Things, (/) theyC/) ibidem, promife to further an.d advance that jDifcijpliney not only by Suit to the Queen's Majefty, the Council, and Par- liament, but by all other lav^ful .and convenient Means, and to guide them- felves,, and to be guided by it, and ac-: cording to it ; what by thofe other law;^ ful Meaps they upd^ritand, meet it wer^.to l^e.confider'4. . . . . .,,, ^ „, .; [ 254 ] In Performance of this their Promifc, they have for fome Years paftj fet out their ClafTes and Synods of Minifters ; and (according to the faid Book) have met in ClaJJes every fix Weeks, in a Provincial Synods every half Year : In a General, or National AffembJy (at London^ Cambridge^ or Oxford) every Year once ; and at Parliament Times. (^)AaaCiaf- In fuch {g) their Affemblies, they Ann^''''T8^^^^^ r^??^/?^^^^ and ^^fr^^^, as is al- ubTfirm/ntio ready come to Light, many Points in cbms habits Condemnation of the prcfent State, cnuhngu. j^.^^^^ Ecclefiaftical, and Book of Com- mon Prayer ,• and for the Exercife and fetting forward of their new Difcipline. Among other Things, they have con- C^) Ibidem in eluded (h) that their Difcipline is to "^' be taught to the People upon every Oc- cafion : That (as yet) the People are not to be ftirr'd up publickly to the Praftice of this Difcipline, until they be better inftmded in the Knowledge of it : Albeit, fuch as be of a riper and forwarder Sort, are privately to be al- lured to the prefent Exercifc of it among themfelves. According to this Determination, they have not ceafed in private and publick Speeches and Writings, to de- frave the prefent Laws, Governors, and Government Ecclefiaftical, and to teach [ ^^5 1 , [ teach and extol their own Difcipline, thereby to prepare before Hand the People^s Minds. Seeing then it muft (as they fay) prevail, makre all Withftanders ^ (/)C0 Subfcrip- ^ 1 » • 1 -^/T ^ J tion to the and they mention Other Means to ad- Book of Dif- vance it, befides Suit to the Queen's cipiine. Majefty, the Council, and Parliament ; and in one Book, it is wifli'd (k) thatC'^)J^P>tome the Parliament would bring it in, tho' it were by withftanding her Majefty ; What can thofe Means be, but the Profecution (by Force and Rebellion) of that Plot, which Men of the fame , Humour have defcribed, and followed in the like Gafe. For they (/) brag(/) Martin of an hundred thoufand Hands, to offer ^^"^°''- a Supplication , which he faith, in Policy, would not be rejeded ; efpeci^ ally, ftanding thus in Danger of our Enemies abroad : (m) That Thou-r"*) Motion fands figh for it, and ten thoufands;;;';^^^"^^^";'^- ha've fought for it, and approved j and worthy Men of all Shires, have con- fented to it. That {n) fome of thefe^^w) t.c.rc. Matters are fuch, as if every Hair ofp'y'^44. our Head were a Life, we ought to ^ afford them, in Defence of them. Imcnr, In ip) their Letters, they begin \o{o) Lordw take Care, how fuch as they difplace,^',^"'';^ by their Reformation, as Biffiops, Deans, ;lTk> ;, .j (b'c. may be provided for, fo as the-''-^^ •;,; ' Com- ^^ ' * > [ 166 ] Commonwealth be not pefter'd with {^) Lord. Beggars. They (/?) animate one ano- ther thus. Buckle with the "Bijhop. W Wright. Maffacre thefe Malkin Minifters^ {q) let us take our pennyworths of them^ and not dye in their T)eht* (OSnape. (;.) One of them ask'd this Queftion, What will you fay^ if we ^overthrow the ^iJhopSy and that Government^ all in one T)ay ? (f) Epiftieto They write, ( j) that if, it come in ftrati^n^"^^"^-^ ^^^^ i^ii^^/^J', as wHl make your Hearts ake^ you mufi blame your fehes. iitil'^^^ ^^ And {t) That it is more than Time to regifter the Names of the fittefl and hotteft ^rethren^ round about their federal T)wellings, whereby to put SuecanusV Godly Cotmfel in Execution^ viz. If the Trifice will noty then to ereU it themfehes: " In which Point (faith " he) we have dolefully fail'dv which " now or never ftandeth us in Hapd " to profecute with all Celerity, with- out lingring and flaying, fo long for *^ Tarliajnents. ,.; As they do publifh thefe Things in A Book^^^^^ Books to the World, to poflefs of Comm°o°n. Mens Minds thereby J fobya GO Bill P'^^ycr. withpreferrd to the Parliament, for Gon- fn theCw"r fi^"^^^io" of a ncw Book. of Commo7tr HoufcofPar-?>raj;^ry they defire to have it alfo "r^ Rcgii^n^^cd thus: That as much of all for- nx nunc. - mcr [ ^^^7 ] mer Laws^ Cuftomsy Statutes^ Ordi- nancesy and Conjiitutions^ as limits ejiahlifi^ and fet forth to be tifed^ any other Sermce^ Adminiftration of Sacra- mentSy Common-TrayerSy RiteSj Cere- monies^ Orders^ or Go'vernment of the Churchy within this Realniy or any other your Majejiys T)ominionSy or Cotm- tries y he from henceforth utterly rnidy and of none EjfeU. By which they wholy bereave the Queens Highnefs of her Government and Prerogative Royal, both in Ciml and Ecclejiafiical CaufeSy and convey it over to their Church 40emhlies. Thus far the fore- faid Atuhor* 'Tis a great Confirmation of the fore- going Account^ that the Houfe of Com- mons, as well as the Houfe of Lords, in neither of which they wanted Friends, made an A6t of Parliament " for the jf Uz.. *' preventing and avoiding of fuch^r^/r/^^P* '' * * " Inconveniencies and Terilsy as might ^^ happen and grow by the wicked and ^' dangerous Pradices oifeditious SeUa- " ries^ and difloyai Vcviom. q.uur Mr. N. indeed, is fo thoro' an Advocate for the Puritans, that he ventures to de- fend, or rather ^/?^^^ this Part of their Condu(ft, by comparing it with the Tro- teftant Keformation. Sir Francis Wal- fingham r 26Z ] fingham juftly accufed them of 720t at- tendhig the Confent of the Magiftrate for the EJiabliJJomeiit of their Tlatform ; to which Mr. N. makes a remarkahle Anfwer, not by denying the Charge, but by alledging, they did attend, and apply for it fez^eral Tears-, and for thofe feveral Years they were confeffed- ly treated with great Indulgence and Favour, ^^ Except fome few that en- '' ter'd into extream Contempt'^ as " Sir P. W* himfelf alledgcs, they were " borne with, becaufe they pretended in ** dutiful manner to make Propofitions^ *^ and to leave it to the Providence of " God, and the Authority of the Ma- '^ giftrater ^\xtthisT)efence o't yir.N's IS a Coyifeffion^ that, after thofe feveral Years of quiet Application were over, they did proceed to ^//?7^r' Methods j even thofe mentioned by Walftngham^ of T)efamatio7ij Uproar and Violence. This is dircdly Sir F. Walfiyighams Af- fertion, that they were quiet at frjl^ but grew troublefome and dangerous at laft. And yet tho' Mr. A^. allows and juftifies this their Condud^ he flatly contradiUs that upright Man, and very ungeneroufly loads his Memory with the Charge x^i falje Colourings. To make out this Charge, Mr. iV. fhould have proved, that thby always behaved like peace- r ^69 ] peaceable Subjeds, and not ior fome 'Jime only ; for federal Years. 'Tis Pi- ty he has introduced the Reformation to defend and give a Credit to their Fadious Proceedings; 'tisaProllitution of that great Work to be employed in fuch Service. " Let the Reader (fays^^'s Hift. '' Mr. iV.) judge by the foregoing Hifto-^ ^^9- " ry, whether they did not attend and '' apply for the Confent of the Magi- " ftrate several Years. Jndify after " all^ the Confent of the Magifirate ^^ miift he expeUed^ before we follow '^ the DiBates of our Confcie^iceSy 'tis '^ eafy to fee there would haz^e been no " Reformation in the Trot eft ant " World.'" But, with this Gentleman's Leave, 'tis much more eafy to fee^ that his Ttiritants ought to have attended the Confent of the Legiflature, for ac- compliflnng the T>eftgn they had in View. Confcienceis a moving Word, and there- fore he employs it upon this Occafion : But what does Confcience mean in the prefent Cafe, except a flrong T>efire^ and violent Endeaz'otirs^ to force a nar- row Gene'va Scheme upon their Fellow- Sub jefts, of different Sentiments,- and compel the Ciml Magiflrate to perfccute for it ? 'Twas not a meer following the T>iUates of their own Mi^idy or worftiippingGod themfelves in that way they [ ^70 ] they thought bell, but obtruding their own Tlatform upon the Nation^ efta- blijhing it under fe&^ Church may be ejiablijhedwyth- " oute the Magijirate^ This is no JbftraU or Abridgment^ but the c'^ry ?F(?r^j of the Author himfelf ^ and his Followei*s did accordingly atft upon this Principle, to the great Difturbance of the publick Peace. " Many (fays Life of GnV " Mv.Strype) were now zealous for^^'»f'»'5. " the new way of Difcipline in the ^""•- '^7.^' *' Church, conformable to that prafjlurbancesy by their Endea- '^ vour of fetting it up in Parish ^^ Churches'" Thefe Proceedings to introduce their Geneva DifcipHne into the Tarijh Churches^ was after the Senfe of the Legiflature was known, by rcfnfing to obey their Admonitions. Af- ter this, Mr. Fuller gives an Account of Church Hift. them in London. " The three great Lib. IX. " Societies, Parliament, Convocation, h 173. i7f. « ^^j Jjffembly of MiniJierSy were bu- " fily employed : The two former of them avouched by Law^, the third amtiching itfelf. The certain Place of their convening not known, being clandeftine, arbitrary, and changea- ble, as advifed by their Convenien- *^ ciesi they are better difco'verd by ^^ their mocingy than by their meetings '^ and their TraUices more confpicuous '' than their Places — - The Seflion of *^ Parliament broke off wherewith end- *^ ed the Jffembly of the Minifiers ; " and now all of them had lea've to " depart to their own Homes j other- «^ wife. cc (C cc cc (C cc [ 273 ] wife> jtich Members thereof as for- ^^ merly went away without leave were '^ ohnoxiotts to Cenfiire. Witnefs one ^^ of them in his ingenuous Confeffion. ^^ Touching my Departure from thati^^i'^' P- ^if* " Holy JJJemhly^^c, without leave^ &c. ^^ I crave Pardon, (^cT In Hke Man- ner, we find them affembling at Ccwi- bridge^ &c. making Orders and "JJe-strype*^ Life ^r^^j- for the Government of their ^^ ^^%'//, Churches ; " and (fays the fame Hifto-^ ^^''* *^ rian) without leave of the temporal '^ Rulers, feting up a different Maimer ^^ of Government of their own for Eccle- " fiaftical Matters, and many MiniJierSj ^^ even Incumhents of Livings, had fub- ^^ mitted thereto, > and were Parts of ^^ their Synods." It appears farther, by the Examination upon Oath before the Star Chamber, that none of thefe Examination Miniflers ofVarijhes were admitted to"?^" » Biii thefe Meetings, till they had fubfcribedj^j,^^^^^^. ^""^ to the Difcipline. " And that the Life ot/^^^/- ^^ Claffis [/. e. each Member] in A^^r-^'^^' ^pp'^^;^- ^^ thampton bound themfelves to be •'^^■^^* ^^ order d and cenfiired by the Claffis, *^ in Matters of DoiSrine and Difci- ^* pline. That they drew up cer- ^^ tain Articles not only for Appro- " bation, but Vfe of the Treatife of *^ Difcipline." And, what induced the Government to proceed againll them,- T *' they [ ^74 ] ^^ they promis'd (as this Examinant '^ fwears) the Pradice thereof ^ fo far " as the prefent State of the Church " would fuffer; that is, till the Ma- *^ gijirate enforce them to leave, 'Twere eafy to fwell the Account, both of the ahiijwe Language^ and ille- gal faUiotts 'Behaviour of the fecond Generation ofTnritanSy which Mv. Ful- ler calls Fierce and Fiery, who fuc- ceeded the moderate and peaceable Ex- iles; but as there is no Defign to aggra- vate thefe Matters, what is already faid will be fufficient to fupport Sir P.Wal- Jinghams Aflertion (if fuch an Autho- rity needs any Support) " that the *^ Comminations, Uproar, Violence and ^^ Faction of the ^Puritans compelfd " the State to hold fomewhat harder *^ Hand, to reftrain them j tho' yet (as " that great and good Man continues) *^ with as great Moderation as the " Peace of "the Church or State could " permit. \ But here two Queftions will probably be ask'd : The one, why the Govern- ment did not make fome Alterations^ to ohlige and quiet the Puritans ? The other, if an Fftahlijhment could not be granted them, why, at leaft, they had not a Legal Toleration? As to the making [ 275 ] making Alterations in favour of the Puritans^ it was extreamly difficult, up- on many Accounts. There were war^n People, of other Terftiajions^ that dc- fired different Alterations. The grati- fying one Party had only been encreafing the hnportunity of others. It was the wife Maxim of the Queen's Govern- ment, to preferve a Medium among them all ; and, having once formed a moderate and comprehenfit'e Eftabliili- ment, to fupport that^ againft the At- tacks of thofe who were for introdu- cing a particular Scheme. 'Tis eafy for Mr. i\r. or any other Gentleman, to draw Tlans of Churches and Eftablifh- ments, or invent Methods to change or to fuhmrt and dejiroy them. But when thefe Schemes^ which feem mighty flatifihle in a private Study ^ come to be laid before the TziUick^ and attempted to be put in 'Execution^ "Difficulties and Dangers unforefeen commonly arife^ to interrupt their Succefs^ and difap- pointy at leaft, if not ruin the Authors of them. The Opinions^ the Tajftons^ thclnterejis of Mankind, are not fo eafi- ly reconciled and conduited^ as is fome- times imagin'd. Nor is it fo eafy a Mat- ter to change and alter the efiahliflod Religion of a Country. It is, beyond Difpute^ incumbent upon every Govern- T 2 mcnt. i 276 ] ment, to endeavour to remove out or the publick Eftabliftiment every thing that, in their Opinion, is really fmfnl^ and will expofe them to the Difplea- fure of Almighty God, to whom Ru- lers, as well as SubjciSs, are accounta- ble for their Conduft. But when the Difpute is, whether the.^^r^w^/7/^/and external Parts of Rehgion fliall be mo- dell'd in this or the other particular For777^ it becomes a Matter of cwil jPmdencej more than religious Duty^ and the Peace and Welfare of the Com- munity^ as well as the Safety of the Government (efpecially when thoT'itle is difputed) ought to have great Weight in deciding the Queflion. Queen Eli- zabeth found the Tapijis very watch- ful Enemies, and there was no Topick they inlifted more earnelUy upon than the Uncertainty and Cha?igeahlenefs of the Troteftant Religion. The famous Ab- bot Feckengham made it the Rule by which Men were to diftinguiili between true Religion and the Counterfeit, Strype'sAnn.^vhich is the moH Jl ay cd Religion, and voUL ;.7r-always the mod agreeable to it felf. It may, perhaps, have the greater Weight with Mr. N. That his Fa^vourite^ strypc's Ap-^r^-hbifhop^^^/^, who (hc fays) fpokc pea. f-8. ^^ elegantly and juftly againft the AU of Uniformity^ declares himfelf of the fame Opinion [ 277 ] Opinion with the Abbot, that hy leap- ing (as he calls it) out of PeterV Ship^ we hazard our f elves to he oz'erwhelmd and drown d in the Waters of Schifm^ SeUs andT)i'vifions, It was their com-^'^- Sfryp?, mon Accufatioii of the Proteftants, that^' * *^* they were incovfiflent with themfelves, and Lovers of No'velty. It was there- fore prudent to give ///rZ? malicious ^^- ^erfaries as little Advantage as poffible. 'Tis certain, indeed, that a new T^riith is preferable to an old Error : But from hence it doth by no means follow, that a new T)refs was more advifable than one the People were accuftom'd to, at a JiinUure when, it was part Difpute, de- figning Men would have improved the ^"^- Sum of a Alteration to the Difadvantage of thc^H^J^^,^';/^" Trot eft ant Keligion-i as well as the G^- Commons. ^er7iment-y there was Hazard^ as was obferved before, of driving the Peo- ple hy T^houfands to hecome Atheifts or Tapifts. It was therefore an Aft of Wifdom to fix upon King Edward's Tlan^ which had been before received ; and to adhere to that^ when there was nothing material objeded to it. Befides, the Uncertainty of the Tn- Titan Tiemands made it advifable, for the Government, to fufpend an Affair of fo much Importance as changing the eftabliflVd Form of Worfliip, till they T 3 wha [ ^78 3 who defired the Change had fixed u^on their Alterations. At firjt^ their Z)^- 7nands fecmed to have been very few-^ till, by the Connwance of the Govern- ment, they had engaged great Tart of the ig)wrant Topnlace^ and fome Per- fons of Ccujcqiicnce, on their Side. Flufii'd with this Succefs, they ptihlick-- /j' im'eigh againft thofe very Perfons w^hofe Indulgence, by allowing them CGvfiderahle Stations in the Churchy had given them an Opportunity thus to fhew their unquiet T)ijpofition. So far were they from being abridged of their Liber- ty, that they really grew giddy with it. Inilead of removing the Cap and the Surplice^ their frft Complaint, they were for fithterting the whole Conftitti" tion^ and introducing a Scheme entirely new in every Part) more rigid T)0' Zirine^ a popular T>ifcipline^ and an nn- determind Form of Worfhip. The T)?ffertnces being jo great^ 'twas im- poiTible to fatisfy them, without an en- tire Change : And therefore, as nothing but the total Suh'jerfion of King JE^/- 'j!oard\ Reformation, and the Intro- duBion of the Gene'va Tlatform^ would coni nt rheiri, it would have been ^ery imprudent^ to have awaken d other De- •m?^nd<, or dij obliged other Perfons by an iijf.t,fs Attempt to fatisfy the Turitans^ with [ 279 ] with making fome Changes, when^ as it appears by their whole Conduct, Teti- tionsy Admonitions^ &c. they could only be pleafed with changing the whole, Befides, the Noncojiformijis feem to have had fo ftrong a Tropenfity to /)/- mjion^ that they fplit into Parties among themfelves ; tho' it was fo much their Intereft, and fo natural for them, as a Minority^ to have kept united. The jBrowmJis or Independents were fierce Adverfaries to the Treshyterians ; they treated each other with almoji as fevere Language as either of them had ufed to the Church. Such a T>imfion made it ftill more imprad:icable to give them real Satisfaction, by any Changes in the Eftablilhment. But, even before this grand T>imJion^ they were far from be- ing agreed among themfelves ; and after- wards, when they were thus divided, each Party had its Subdivifion. The Lord Treafurer "Burleigh is above the Imputa- tion of mifreprefenting their Conduft, and is by Mr.iV. number d among their N'sHiftory, Friends ; Let us then hear his LordlTiip. ^- ^°'- " It cannot (fays this great Man) ^«''^"i^'s be unknown to all that have any^^^^^.^.^^^^^ Tafte of Rule, no, not to any that;. 45-8. hath but a Family to rule, or a Ship'^""* '^75- to govern, but that if the Party that hath Charge to command; and they T 4 « whom cc [ 28o ] '^ whom he Ihall commandj fall to fuch *^ Tjifferencey as the Governor continu- '^ ing his Courfe by the ordinary Rules ^^ cftabliili'd, and the Perfons underneath *^ him iliall not only forbear to follow '^ his Direftions, but fliall, among them- *' fekjeSy condemn them, and ftiall de- ^^ z'/fe others of their own Imagination ; ^' yea, fhall, among themfehes^ devife " a NEW Variety of Orders, fo as they '^ iliall even, amoyig themfehes^ con- ^^ TEMD about their own Inventions^ *^ not agreeing one Part with another ; '^ yea, lliall I add, that which her Ma- ^^ jefty findeth to be too truCj if fome " fl-iall, when they have fantafied new *^ Orders at one time, at another mis- *^ LIKE their own-^ in fuch confufed ^^ Diforders of any Government, what " may be thought muft enfue to that " State ? d-c. This Speech was delivered feveral Years before the Rife of the Urownijisy which Mr. iV. places in the Year 1581. So that all this Uncertainty and Varie- ty attended their Schemes, even before that grand DiwiCion among them. We find a like Account in Mr. Strype^s Life of ff'A/V- Life of Whit gift. '^ The T)ifciplina- ^luJ'i]tV " ^^^^^"^ ^^^ this Year drawn up ^more " precife and exaft Tlatform of Difci- pline (as they imagined) for the ^^ Govern- cc [ 28l ] " Government of the Church ; but c/^- '•^ rying in fomc things from the former, " whichy neverthclefs, they affirm'd, " was according to the Trejcript of the '' Word of God: For about the Year " 1583, (when as before that time, the " Platform of Geneva bad heenjoU '' lowed by the "Puritans) a particular ""^ Draught was made for England^ ^^ with a new Form of Common Prayer '' to be ufed in Publick, therein pre- " fcribed. The Year enfuing, in Par- " liament time, came forth the Plat- " form, amended and reUified^ as a " ;;2^r/^S Pattern for /^//Churches- " By Virtue of which Platform, all the " prefent praflifed Orders^ Laws^ and ^' Ceremonies^ were to he cut off at one '^ ^low', and this was laboured then " to be eftablijljed. But it prevailed " not. Shortly after the Parliament was broken up, this Platform was found again to have Things amifs in it j and was committed to Travers^ and by him underwent a new Re^view ^^ and CorreUion. It may not be improper to take No- a ruiund ^ tice of one Particular, in the very Con-P"^"^^ g^'"] ftitution of their Church, upon which fiaaicaiDifd-- they were greatly divided; the rather, p'';^^";^ °[ becaufo the Hiftory of the Puritans is God, and the filent upoa this Head- We find there, declining ^of and [ 282 ] the Church and in the Admonition, only three Offi- toX^ ccrs in the Puritanical Church; Paftors, fame, Lay-Elders, and Deacons. But why ThcBook by ^^^^ Mr.iV. take no Notice of T>oUors I Tr/jv^r/, wirh Were not a confiderable Party of Puri- b c^'r"!'^')'!"^^"^ ^^^ having Doftors, as a fourth y mwrig f'^^^^ or Order of Church Officers ? Were not Cartwrighty Trai-ers^ and many leading Puritans, of this Opinion ? Did they not make them of divine Appoint- ment ? " Let us follow {fay they) that " certain Ktile which the Lord hath " prefcribed. Let Paftors^?^^ Doctors '^ bo afligned unto Churches, who " are only the ordinary and perpetual " Minifters of the Word of God, ap- *^ pointed to the Edification of the '^ Church.'* Soon after it is added^ " Let us fetch the Manner and Fafhion of our examining, chufing, and or- daining, out of the Scriptures. Let DoSiors be appointed to teach and catechife the rude and ignorant. Let cc cc cc cc " Paftors be ordained to minifter the '^ Sacraments, and apply the gene- ral Dodtrine to the particular Ufes cc *^ and Occafions of the Church. Mr. Fuller makes a Remark, that the Liturgy was fupported by its Op- pofers : In Confirmation of which, he relates a pretty remarkable Story. LibTx."'^'" Some complained againft the Liturgy p- 178. «c to [ ^83] to the Lord Hiirleigh^ of whom he demanded, whether they defired the taking away thereof^ They anfwer'd. No 5 but only the Amendment of what was offeyifiz^c therein. He required them to make a better, fuch as they would have fettled m the (lead there- of. Whereupon, ^' The firfi Claffis framed a new one^t fomewhat according to the Form of Geneva. " The fecond^ disliking it, alter d ^ it in Six Hundred Particulars. ^' The third q,uarrell'd at thefe Alterations^ and refolved on a new Model. '" The fourth ClafTis dissented from the former. " Thus, becaufe they could not agree among themfelves, that wife Statef- man put them off for the prefent, until they fhould prefent him a Pat- tern with a perfeft Confent. The very Form of their Stihfcription to their Holy DifcipHne confirms this Account. As much Hafte as they were in to obtrude it upon the World, it plainly appears from thence^ it was not Fully agreed and fettled among them- fehes. The Form of their Subfcription was after this manner: " This Dif-^'sHiflory " cipline we allow as a godly Pifcipline,^?^'"-^*^^^* ^^ and cc cc C 284 ] ^^ and agreeable to the Word of God ; {yet Jo as we may he frji fatisfied in the things here-under noted) and de- fire the fame, fo acknowledged by us, to be further'd by all lawful Means ; that, by publick Authority " of the Magiftrate, and of our Churchy " it may be efiahWJod'.' A very ;;2^- ^/:7(?/^/V^/ Proceeding; eftablifh \x firfiy then fettle and adjuft it ! The ^een herfelf was fo much con- cern'd in ftipporting the Troteflant Eftahlijh77ient^ that it is but Juftice to her Memory, fince her Conduct has been impeached, to lay before the Reader the Maxims upon which that wife Trin- cefs proceeded. Thefe are preferved to us in an authentick MS. containing a Meffage flie fent upon this Subjed to the Houfe of Commons. vid.N'sHift. This ought to be quoted at length, ^*^^'' becaufe Mr.iV. has given a very im- perfeU Abridgment, omitting fome of the moft material Parts of it, and yet marks it, as if it was exaUly and compleatly quoted. Lifeof^^»^ ^^ Her Majefty is fully refolved, of gift, p, 260. cc ^^^ ^^^^ Reading and Princely Jiidg- " ment-t upon the Truth of the Refor- " mation, which we have already ; and " mindeth not now to begin to fettle *^ herfelf, in Caufcs of Religion. " Her CC [ 285 ] Her Majefty hath been confirmed in her fbid Judgment of the prefent ^^ Reformation, by the Letters and Writings of the mofi famoits Men in Chriftendom^ as well of her (?z^^^ T)ominions^ as of ^/;?7^r Countries. ^^ Her Majefty thinks it very uncon- ^'enient^ and dangerous, while our Knemies are lahouring to overthrow x.\iQ Religion eftaUiJljed^ ^sfalfe and erroneous^ that we, by tz^^ T>ifpu- tatio7iSy Ihould feem our fekes to CC CC CC CC CC '^ ^^^/Z^^ thereof. " Her Majefty hath fully confiderd^ * not only of the Exceptions that are ^^ made againft the prefent Reformati- " on, and doth find them fritwlous^ " but alfo of the Tlatform that is " defired, and accounteth it moft pre- " judicial unto the Religion eftahlijljed^ " to her Crown, to her Gover^i^nent^ " and to HER Subjects. " Her Majefty thinketh, that tho* " it w^ere granted, that fome Things " were amifs in the Church, yet feeing '^ fhe is fully perfuaded, and knoweth " it to be true, that for the very Suh- " fiance and Grounds of true Religion^ '^ no Man living can juftly controul " them 5 to make en:ery ^ay new " Laws in Matters of Circumfiances^ '.^ and of le[s Moment {efpecially touch- " ing [ 286 ] *' ing Religiori) were Means to breed " great Lightnefs in her Subjeds, to " nourifh an zmjiayd Humour in them, *^ in feeking ftill for Exchanges. Ma- " lum eft reipiihlica noxium^ ajftiefieri homines adfacilitatem mtitandamm " Icgiim. But it is faid for them, by Mr. K^ tho' they^ who were no Friends to Tole- N*s Hiftory, fation^ did not fay it for themfehes^ why ?• HO' ftiou'd not there have been an Indul^ gence or Toleration for tender Con- jciences ? In Anfwer to which it may be obferved, that altho' a legal Toleration in Form was not granted, yet they had an Indulgence that amounted to much more. The peaceable and quiet "l^avt of them, notwithftanding their Non- conformity^ were allow'd to hold Tre- ferments in the eftablifh'd Church j and fo mild and fatmirahle was the Go- vernment and the Bifhops, that many who could not come under the Cha- raster oi peaceable ^ndi quiet, enjoy'd the fame Indulgence. '^ When they ^^ reftifed the Ufe of fome Ceremonies '^ and Kitesy as fuperftitious, they " were tolerated with much Conni- '^ vancc and Gentlenefs." For this we have no lefs Authority than Sir Francis Walfingham ^ they enjoy'd not only the Freedom of a T!oleration^ but, together with [ 287 ] with it, reap d the benefits of an Efta* hlijhmcnt. So that, in general, great Care was taken of thofe tender Confci- ences that vjqxc accompanied With quiet Spirits ; or, according to Mr. Ws own Doctrine, as far as was thought conJiJi-N'smdorj, ent with the Teace of the Go'vernment^' '+7- they liced under. It could hardly be expefted, that thofe whom Mr. Fuller calls fierce and fiery fhould be entrufted with a Power of overturning a well- concerted EJiahliJhment^ which the Go^ fvernment approved of, and was deter- mifid to ftipport. If thefe Men could enflame the Topulace thro the Nation under a Connivance^ what could be ex- pefted from them when they aded by a legal Authority 1 As the Govern- ment, therefore, was/^r from thinking it advifable to fuhvert the eftaUifloed Churchy 'tis no wonder they did not chufe to arm its avowd Adverfaries with Weapons for its Deftrudion. They themfehes defired no Toleration^ they exprejly difclaim and refufe one, when fomething of that Sort feems to have been intended for them. There is a warm Declaration of theirs Jiill extant upon this Point, dirciSed to thofe who labour to root out the Weeds of Pope- ry. ** AsforjK^/^, dear Brethren, whom Partofa Reg: *' God hath call'd into the 2rmte ofh >s. '' the [ 288 ] '' the "Battle^ the Lord keep you con^ ^ Jlant^ that ye yield neither to Tole- " RATION, neither to any other fubtil Perfuafions of Difpenjations^ or Li- cences^ which were to fortify their KomiJJo Praftices ; But, as yo\x fight the Lord's Tight ^ be I'aliant. ■ ' > " The Matter is not fo fmall as the *' World doth take it ,* it will appear^ ^^ before all he ended^ what an hard ^^ thing it is to cut off the Rags of the ^^ Hydra of Rome. Let us not make *^ the Heritage of God as a Bird of ma- *^ ny Colours^ holding of dithers Keli- ^^ gicns but rather let us take away^ '^ if we can, the Names^ Memories^ " and all Monuments of Popery/' Who were meant by this Defcripticin, in the Year 1570, needs no Explanation. The ^iJJoops and Clergy of the Church of England were then conftantly repre- fented as bearing the Names^ and fupporting the Monmnents of Popery. Agreeably to this Exhortation of yield- ing to no tolerations nor accepting any Indulgence, in all their Vetitions^ Aa- monitions^ Supplications^ &c. w^e fee nothing of a toleration for themfelves only, but ^€\r Jingle Requeft or Com- mand^ in which ever Stile they fpeak, is, the ahfolute O'verthrow of the ejia- llijhed Qovern77ie7it and Worfhipy and the [ 289 ] the IntroduUion of their own^ with ^Penalties, even fharp TtmiJJjments to be inflided upon thofe who did not comply with it. " Both Parties ( Mr. iV.N's Hiftory."; ^^ fays) agreed too well in aflerting the/>- ^7- ^^ Neceffity of an Uniformity of publick " Worlhip, and of calling in the Sword " of the Magiftrate for the Support and *^ Defence of their feveral Principles," Whether the Church Party deferve to be thus equally charged with the other, the judicious Reader will fufpend his Judgment, till Mr. N. has produced an Inftance of above /zi'^ hundred Clergy- men at one time beneficed in a Taritan Church, who not only puhlickly de- clared their T^iJIihe of its Conftitution, and Dilfent from it, but alfo openly avowd their T)ejign to overthrow it. However, we may take it for granted from his Account, had it not been other- wife proved, that the Turitans were for 2iJiriU TJniformity^ to be fupported by Terfecution j and that a Toleration^ cither for themfehes or for others^ was noTart of their Defign or their Defire. There was a Circumftance in Queen Elizabeth's Affairs, that made it ex- treamly difficult for her to grant 2. for- mal Toleration to fome of her Sub- jefts, when flie refufed the fame to the principal Towers of Europe^ who U warmly [ 2po ] warmly interpofed in Favour of others of them. 'Twas more advantageous for the Tiiritans^ and more jafe for her, to connwe at their Noncofiformity^ and indulge them in the Enjoyment of Church Preferments. They are to thayik themfehes^ if this Indulgence was in fome Inftances diminifh'd, and their Friends are indebted to their CondttUy that the fame Mildnefs and Indulgence were not fully continued. Had that warm Zeal^ which enflam'd the Vro- teftant Populace throughout the Nati- on, been employ'd to convince the ^a- pijis of their Errors, they had promoted the Intereft of true Keligion ; they had done their Country good Sermce^ and pre^^ented m\xc\i ^rouhle and Vexation to the Go'vernment ^ and, in all human Probability, would ftill have enjoyed that Fa'vour and Indulgence^ of which they had fo large Experience^ till their 0W71 'Behamour leflen'd it. Mv.Kapin was fo fenfihle of the ^difficulties that attended the granting ^i formal Toleration^ that, as much a Friend as he is to Liberty^ he would not determine, whether the Puritans had Reafon to complain upon that Rspin'jEiiz. Head. ^^ The Presbyterians (fays he) /..Z2J. C4 ^^y^^^ ^j^^^ ^j^^y j^^^,^ Caufe to com- " plain of the Statute enacted in this " Reign;* [ 2pi ] ^^ Reign." ['Tis probable he means that made 35 Bdiz. Cap. i. for the prevent- ing and avoiding of fuch great Inconve- niencies and Perils as migjfit happen and grow by the wicked and dangerous Praftices of feditious Sedaries, and dif- loyal Perfons] " which debar'd them " from Liberty of Confcience, tho' " they were Proteftants. / jlmll not " (fays he) take upon me to determine^ " whether they had Keafon to complain ^^ of this 'B.igotir. The Reader will obferve, that in all the foregoing Account of the Temper^ T>ejtg7ts and 'Be^ha^iotir of the Ttiritans^ nothing is quoted from T>v.HeyH7t or Mr. Collier J whofe Principles Mr. iV. obje(9:s to, as being too zealous for the Hierarchy ; tho' it is utterly impofifible for any Man to be more intemperately zealous for it, than moji of his Witnefles are againft it The State of the Evi- dence, therefore, between us ftands thus: On the Side of the Puritans, this Gentleman has produced their own Petitions, Letters, Reprefentations, chiefly from a Manufcript, of whofe Author or Credit the World is alto- gether ignorant For the ^tieen, the Minijiry and WJhops, Quotations have been made in the ^wry Words of the Authors ; from Mr. K/Z/^r, Bifliop "Bur- U 2 net^ [ 292 j oi^ty and Mr. Strype^ whom Mr.iVL Prcf. f.is- himfelf acknowledges the chief Eccle- liaftical Hiftorians of thofe Times ; and from the mcji atithentick and applaud- ed Pieces of the Puritans themfelves. Upon the whole, it appears^ by this iinexceptionahle 'E'vidence-, that Q^ieen Elizabeth was really a Troteftant that flie wifely fixed upon the befi and mofi comprehenfive Scheme of a reform- ed Church — That the narrow Platform of the Titritans was liable to ftrong Obje^ions^ and would have been at- tended with ma7iy Incom^eniencies That it was not Liberty^ but a Tower to perfeczite^ which they contended for — That the ^teen and "Bifljops treated them w^ith remarkable Lenity and Tavour^ and permitted great Numbers of them to enjoy Preferments in the Church, even many of the moft zealous and aUi^je of the Party That the T)ifiurbances caufed hythemfehes made it neceffary to require a Conformity fomewhat more regular—--^ And after- wards, their violent and outrageous At- tempts to fubvert the Conftitution^ com- pelfd the Go'vernmcnt to fecure itfelf^ and punifli fome of them. What is faid with Refped: to this unquiet and troublefome Behaviour, is not intended as a Cliarge againft e^'ery indi- [ 2P3 ] indimdnal Perfon that went by the Name of a Tnritan^ but as an Account of the Principles and general Behaviour of the Party -, chiefly taken from //W/- /*«^ J- drawn up Wit\\ thQix gcfieralCovfent or Approbation. Nor is is it pretended, that every JUiori of every Perfon con- cerned in the Adminiftration, either in Church or States was pcrfeUly unex- ceptionable ; and therefore^ 'tis no juft Objeftion to the fettled Maxims and Conduct of the Government, to produce in a Courfe of many Tears ^ fome Devi- ations from general Rules. There might, on one Hand, be Magiftrates, Biftiops, or Ecclefiaftical Commilfioners, who were too remifs and negligent, or fome Inftances, on the other Hand, where the Reins of Difcipline and Go- vernment were held too ftr eight : Infe- rior Officers likewife might fometimes be exorbitant in their Fees. The fame will happen in all Courts, Ci'vil as well as Ecclefiaftical: But the Conftitution is not therefore bad, becaufe a Judge^ a Mayor y or a Jujiice of'Peace^ has fome- ti^nes afted improperly ^ or an Attorney or a Bailiff made an extravagant Bill or Demand. It plainly appears, that the general ConduU of the Governors in Church and State was very fitit able to t\iQTimes in which they lived, and the U 3 Terfons [ 294 ] Terfons with whom they were engag- ed. The true Queftion is not, how a particular Man aded in a particular Cafe ? but whether the EJiabliJhment of the Troteftant Church of England was founded upon a jtiji and proper ^afis? and if it was, then they were ciilpahle who endeavour'd to ftihvert it, and juftly ohnoxiotts to the ^yf^/^d^, if they endeavoured that Stibverfion by illegal Methods and Violence. Queen Elizabeth's is imiverfally ac-- knowledged to be a very ze?//^ and care- ful Jd^riinift ration. 'Tis therefore no Wonder, that fttch an Adminiftration endeavour'd fo fupport fo good an EJia- llifljmeiit^ not indeed abfolutely per- fed, but greatly preferable to any other propofed by its Adverfaries. The Otieen and her Minijiry had too great a Re- gard both for the Interefi of 'Religion^ and the Safety of the State^ not to have fome publick Eftablifliment ; and when they had one^ which was the Refttlt of much Confideration^ and had now been appointed, the third Time^ by the Legiflature, they would not fuffer it to be violently O'verthrown^ without know- ing what was to be introduced in the Place of it j or how the Throne it felf could be fafe in fuch an important Alteration, This [ 29J ] This is fulficient to fet the Condud of the Government in a juft Light, and to rejlore the ptthlick Meafures to their dzie Traife-^ Meafures! which brought fo much Ho7tom" to that renownedTrin- cefs^ who was at the Head of them ; which fo effeUually efiahlifhed the Tro- teftant Keligmi at home^ and fo power- fully Jupported it abroad; which were fo heneficial to the Englijh Nation, and have been iojtijily admired by the heji and greateji Men the lajl or the prefent Age has produced. U 4 APPpN- APPENDIX nm-^f C J5r. rn^. I S the Defign of this Appendix to to remark Jome of thofe Miftakes and falfe Quotations to be found in the Hiftory of the PuritaKs, which could not, without too much Inter- ruption, be mentioned in the former Part of this Work. The Number might have been confiderably encreafed ; but what is here colle6ted, together with theMiftakes taken Notice of before, ■will be fufficient to convince the Reader, that if Mr. N. intended an accurate or impartial Hiftory, he has greatly fail'd in the Execution of hisDefign. Were thefe Errors \ti% frequent or lefs obvious ; did they favour one Side as well as the other, he would have a better Title to plead Inadvertency. But when his Readers obferve, that his chief Miftakes are in one Strain^ viz,* to blacken the Eftablifliment, and to heighten the Charader of thofe that oppofed it, Mr.iSZ. muftfubmit to their Judgment, whether/z^f/& Miftakes could be involuntary and undefigned. iV's Hift. />. 2. * The Legiflature, in the zfth Year * ofEdwarallU paflTed an Adl, called, a Statute of ' Provifors, whereby it is enaded^ That the King and * other Lords (hall prefent unto Benefices of their ' own or their Anceftors Foundation, and not the ' Bi(hop of Rome, - This Mr. iV. quotes and marks as a Claufe in the Ad of Parliament, whereas it is only the Title of the A61, and no Claufe in the Adl itfelf. This Gentleman \% extreamly carelefs in quoting AUs of [ 298 ] of ParitAment. Thus, pag. 3. the Statute called, Pnemunire Ena6ls, That if any (in general, Cler- gy or Laity) purchafe Bulls, cr'r. from Rome. Whereas Mr. AT. fays, if any of the Clergy did pur- chafe, ^c. which he marks as the very Words of the Ad; and fo he does the Penalty — Their Perfom to be imprifoned', but the Ad fays, ' That they be at- * tached by their Bodies, if they may be found, and * brought before the King and Council, thereto an- * fwer to the Cafes aforefaid ; or that Procefs be made ' againft them, b'f ." In the fame Page, fays Mr. A/". * The Canons of the Convocation were binding, ' tho* confirmed by no Authority but their own, ' till the /id of Supremacy took Place." 'Twas not the A6!t o( Supremacy^ but another Law, called, the Subr/i'tjfion of the Clergy, and Reftraint of Appeals, that related to the making of Canons. JV'sHift./>.3. ' John Wickliffew2ishoivi2ii Wick- ' liffe mTorkfiire, about the Year 1324, and was ' educated in Queeft*s College^ Oxford^ where he was ' Divinity ProtQfCoT,'* Church Hift. Mr. Fuller fays, ' We can give no Account of fi^.4. f 130.' IVickliffe^s Birth, Parentage only we find an ' antient Family of IVickUffs in the Biftioprick of * Durham. As for this our IVickliffe^ Hillory, at ' the very fird, meets with him a Man and full grown, * yea. Graduate of Merton College in Oxford, TheProfeflTorfhip oi Divinity was founded many Years after, by Henry VIII. As to ^/Vi'//^(r's Opinions, Mr. Fuller Uys, they were like the 5>tones on Salisbury Plain, falfely re- ported ; no two can count them alike. Thofe he has quoted are taken from his greateft Adverfary ; and he complains what Pity it is we W2int IVickliffe^s Works, to hear him fpeak in his own Behalf. Mr. N. has even gone beyond the Catalogue InFuller, tho' that was compos'd by his greateft Adverfary, and imputed Opinions to him, not to be found there ; in particu- lar, t\\2itjignifica»i Ceremonies in religious IVorJbip are unlawful i and he has omitted feveral which are diredly againft the Notions of the Puritans. For Inftance, th^t Deacons m^iy preach. Art. 13. And that it is lawful, in Gaufes Ecclefiaftical, ^nd Matters of Faith^ [ 2p9 ] Faith^ after the Biihop's Sentence, to appeal to the fecular Prime. Vid. AT. 146. ^ alih. To add Credit to the Puritan Side, Mr. N, mentions IVukllffe as maintaining the fame Opinions as they did ; but takes no Notice how he differed from them. JV's Hift. p. s- ' After fome Time, a Controverfy ' arofe between the Houfes of Tork and Lancafter^ ' about the Right of Succeffion to the Crown, which ' VJ2^% favourable toV^\zVX\^Q. A little after Mr. N. fays, JVickliffe died in the Year 1384. The Difputes between the Houfes of Tork and Laficajier began in the Year 1399, when Richard II. was depofed, fifteen Tears after Wick- liffeV Death. N's Hift. p. 16. Art. 5'. * The Clergy were to ex- ' hort their Parifhioners to teach their Children the * Lord's Prayer, Creed, and Ten Commandments, ' in Englifo. And every Incumbent was to explain thefe^ one Article a Day^ Uill the People were injlruiied in them. Of this ufeful Injundion Mr.iNT. takes no Notice. iV's Hid. p. 31. * The true Caufe of Cromwell's ' Fall was, the Share he had in the King's Marriage * with the Lady Anne ofCleves^ whom hisMajefty * took an Averiion to as foon as he faw her. Bifliop Burnet exprefly contradidls this. His Re- mark upon the King's creating him Earl of Effex^ after his Marriage with Anne of Cleves, is in thefc Words: ' This (hews, that the true Caufes of CroTw- ' welPs Fall muji be founded in fome other thing than ' his making up the King's Marriage, who had never ' thus raifed his Title, if he had intended fo foon to ' pull him down." Hiji. Reform. Vol. I. Pag. 275-. iV's Hift. p. 38, 39. ' AFormof Proceflion was ' publifhed mEngUjh, entituled, An Exhortation to ' Prayer Alfo a Litany Colleds were placed ' at the End, with fome Pfalms, and a Paraphrafc on * the Lord's Prayer. No r 300 ] No Pfalms, or Paraphrafe on the Lord's Prayer, at the End of the Litany, There are two Editions of this Exhortation, ^c, in Si. John^s Library^ Cam- bridge ^ one printed in i5'44, the other in 1^46; in neither of thefe are any Pfalms, or Paraphrafe on the Lord's Prayer. iVT's Hid. p. 47. * The Book of Homilies con- * lifted of Twelve Difcourfes on the following Ar- ' guments. Mr, "i^'s Titles. Real Titles. 1. Concerning the Ufe of the Scriptures. 2. Of the Mifery of Mankind, by Sin. 3. Oftheir Salvation by Chrift. 1. A Fruitful Exhortation to the Reading of Holy Scripture. 2. Of the Mifery of Man- kind, by Sin. 3. Of the Salvation of all Mankynde% There are fome other Variations in other Articles; but this is particularly taken Notice of, to fliew the Sentiments of the jirft Reformers upon urifverfal Redemption. One of the Injun6lions that follow confirms this, where it is directed, that Erafmus's Paraphrafe (hould be fet up in every Church. JV's Hift. p. 49. ' How fadly this Bidding of * Prayer has been abufed of late by fome Divines, ' to the Entire Omiffion of the Duty itfelf is too ' well known to need a Remark. Are there no Prayers then in the Church of Eng- land^ unlefs they arc offered by the Minifter in the Pulpit? The moft that can be inferred is, that the Clergyman who preaches does not ufe any Prayer in the Pulpit^ except the Lord's Prayer. But fure the Duty of Prayer is not entirely omitted^ when almoft an Hour has been before employed in that very Duty. N\ Hift. p. JO. * The Parliament that met, ' November ^. (the Statute-Book fays November ^.^ ' made an Ad concerning the Admiflion of Bifliops ' into their Sees, which fees forth, that the Manner ' of ^ of chuling Bifhops by a Conge d^Elire^ being but ' the Shadow. of an Ele6lion, all Biftiops hereafter ' fhall be appointed by the King*s Letters Patents * only, zv\d Jhall continue the Exercife of their Ju- ' rifdihion DURANTE Beneplacito, or durante * vita natural!, fitamdiu fe bene gejferint. 'Tis a ftrange Liberty this Gentleman takes with the Laws of his Country. Is there a fingle Word like this in the Statute it felf, or in B. Burnett Abridg- ment of ii ? The Words of this Statute, i Edw. 6. c, 2. are thefe ' Be it Enaded That from hcnce- ' forth no Conge d^Eiire be granted, nor Eledioii * of any Archbilhop, or Bifhop, by the Dean and * Chapter made, but that the King may, by his Let- * ters Patents, at all Times, when any Archbifhop- ' rick or BiOioprick is void, confer the fame to any * Perfon whom the King (hall think meet; the which ' Collation fo by the King's Letters Patents made * and delivered to the Perfon to whom the King * (hall confer the fame, Arcbbifhoprick or Bifliop-^ * rick, or to the fufiicient Prodlor and Attorney, « Jh all ft and to All Intents^ Conftrudions and Pur- * pofes^ to as much and the fame Effed^ as tho' Conge ' d'Eltre had been giien^ the Eledion duly mnde^ ' and the fame confirmed^ and thereupon the faid ' Perfon to whom the faid Archbiftioprick, Bi(hop- ' rick, or Suffraganfhip, is fo conferred, collated, * or given, may be confecrated, and fue his Livery^ ' or Oufter le main^ and do other things, as well ' as if the faid Ceremonies and Eledions had been * done and made/* Mr. N. adds in the fame Page, * One of the firft Patents with this Claufe ' is that of Dr. Barlow -— in the Second Year of ' the King's Reign ; but all the reft of the Bifliops ' afterwards took out Letters Patents for their ^X- ' (hopricks with \\\q fame Claufe.'' Bifhop Bnrnet.VollLp. iro. in the Seventh Year of the King's Reign, fays, Ridley and Thirlbey were made Bifhops of London and Norwich. ' Both were, according to th^com- ' mon Form, to be Bifhops durante vita naturaU.^ * during Life.'" ' Mr. N, goes on: * In this the ' Archbifhop had a principal Hand ; for it was his * Judgment, that the Exercife of all Epifcopal Ju- ■^ rifdidion depended upon the Prince ; and that as * he C 30a 3 * he gave it, he might reftrain ft, or take it away at * his Pleajure.'* This Aflertion is fupported by no Quotation ; and yet Mr. N, affirms in his Preface, he has cited his Authorities in the Margin, The Ad of Parliament above quoted fufficiently explains the Nature and Delign of thefe Letters. Bifliop Burnet malces the following Remark upon the Subje6l. Hift.Rcform.' By thefe Letters Patents it is clear, that the Epif- f» 218. * copal Fundion was acknowledged to be of divine * Appointment; and that the Perfon was no other ' way named by the Kitig, than as Lay Patrons pre-^ * fent to Livings ; only theBifhop was legally zmho- ' rized \nfuch a Part of the King's Dominions to * execute that FunBion^ which was to be derived to ' to him by Impofition of Hands. Therefore here was ' no Pretence for denying that fuch Perfons were * trueBijhops^ and for faying, as fome have done, ' that they were not from Chrift^ but from the King.^^ Ih the next Page, fi. Mr. N. aflerts a Fa£l abfo- lutely falfe, which he pretends to grOund upon the fame Statute (7^/:^. i jEf^ty.6. ^.2.)that wasoroughtto have been before him. His Affertion is this: ' By ' this Law Caufes concerning Wills and Marriages * were removed into the Courts oiWeftminfter Hall. The Reverfe of this is true ; thefe Caufes were con- tinued in the Ecclefiaftical Courts, and \!(\t manner of Proceeding there only regulated. The Words of the Statute are thefe: ' Be it enaded, that all Sum- * mons and Citations, or other Procefs Ecclejiajiical * in all Suits and Caufes of Inftance betwixt Party ' and Party, and all Caufes of Corredion, and all * Caufes of B^y?<«r^ or Bigamy^ or Inquiry de jure * patronatus, Probates of Tc/iaments, and Commifll- * ons of Adminiftrations of Perfons deceafed ; and ' all Acquittances of and upon Accounts made by the ' Executors^ Admini/lrators, or CoWeStois of Goods ' of any dead Perfon, be from the firft Day of July * next following made in the Name, and with the ' Stile of the King, as it is in Writs original or ju- ' dicial, at the common Law. And that the Tejie * thereof be in the Name of the Archbifljop or Bifiop^ * or other having Ecclejiajiical Jurifdidlion, ^c. How manifert is the Abfurdity, to fuppofe the TeJle of [ 3^5 ] of a Writ from Weftminjier Hall could be in the Name of a Bipof^, who had no manner of Authority or Jurifdiaion there ! And how obvious therefore muft it be, that Procefs Ecclefiaftical, with a tejie from ^Btjhop, could only be in Ecclefiaftical Courts ! What an Idea do fuch Mifreprefentations give of the Hijiory of tioe PHritam ? What Treatment of private Wrhen are we to expe6i, when an Author allows himfelf to give fuch Accounts Qi Ads of Par- liament ? P. 5-3. Mr.N*. has miftaken the Communion Offices publifhed in the Vears 1^48 and i5'49. He gives an imperfed Account of that publifhed in ij'48, leaving out fcveral Parts of it, viz. the Exhortation to make GonfeHion ; feveral Texts of Scripture ftill ufed upon that Occafion; and, after thefe, the Prayer, We do not pre fume ^ &c. This Form he men- tions as Part of the publick Liturgy, whereas that publiihed with the Liturgy, in 15-49, differed in feve- ral material Particulars from that of 1 5^48. A Copy of which is in St. John^ Library Cambridge, The Ru- bric to this Office of I5'48 fays, that the Time of the Commumonpall he immediately after that the Prieji himfelf hath received the Sacrament^ without the va- rying any other Rite or Ceremony of the Mafs^ until other Order pall be provided. Which was otherwife ordered in the Year following, for then Auricular Confeffion was ftruck out; the Prieft took the Sa- crament, and, without reading any Exhortation after taking it himfelf, gave it to the People, as now di- redted in our prefent Liturgy. P. 5'6. contains an Account of the Difputes about the Vertments. It has been already obferved, that Mr.iV. has fuppreft part of Bifhop B/^r»f A Reafon- ing upon that Subjed^, for the Habits ; he has at the fame time added to that Account theBifliop gives of the Arguments againft the Habits ; but the word Part is, the rude and uncharitable Cenfure he pafles upon thofe Divines who were willing to make the Com- munion of the Church asextenfive as they could-— He defcribes them in this Manner : ' Thofe Divines ' thai had ftay*d in England^ and weathered the Storm ' of [ 3^4 ] ' of! King He»ry*s Tyranivy, by a politic Compliance, » and Concealment of their Opinions." For this Language, he quotes no Author. ^'s Hift. p^ Si* * ^^ ought to be obferved, that * this Service-Book was not laid before the Con* * vocation, nor any Reprefentative Body of the ' Clergy : And whereas it is faid to be done by one * uniform Agreement, 'tis certain, that Four of the ' BiChops employed in drawing it, proteftedagainft it. Whether this Book had the formal Appro- bation of the Clergy in Convocation, or nor, 'tis certain by the Preamble, that ih^ Archhijhop of Can- terbury^ and other learned and difcreet Bipops^ and other learned Men of this Realm, did conclude, fet forth, and deliver to the King the Book of Com- mon Prayer, ^c. As to the protefting Bifhops, it had been more unexceptionable, if Mr.iV. had quo- ted the whole Sentence relating to that Matter from Bi(hopB«r»^^; which runs thus. ' Others cenfured * the A61, becaufe it was faid to be done by uni- * form Agreement, tho* Four of the Bifhops, that ' were employed in the drawing of it, proteHed ' againfi it. Thefe were the Bilhops of Norwich * Hereford, Chichejler, and Wejlminjier:' Here Mr. N. flops, tho' the BiQiop goes on, ' But thefe ' had agreed in the main Parts of the Work, tho' * in fome few Particulars they were not fatisfied, ^ which made them diflent from the whole. P. 5-9. * The Popiih Rebels (he fays) fent the * following Articles or Demands to the King. Some of thefe Mr.iV. omits, and curtails others, particularly that remarkable one, which is the 7th * I,, ' *' (hould be called in, and prohibited." To which ^' ^' Y^Q Ihould have added their Reafon, Jince otherwife the Clerj^y could not fo eafily confound the Hereticks. When Mr. N. was giving an Account of the A^r- folk Rebellion, it had been very proper to have men- tioned the following Paflage, which lay before him Ib'd t 8 ^" Bifhop Burnet. * Parker, afterwards Archbilhop ^ •/•ii«>' 4 ^^ Canterbury, came among the Rebels, and ' preached very freely to them of their /// Lives, ^ ' their [ 305 ] * their Rebellion againft the King, and the Robberies * they daily committed, by which he was in great * Danger of his Life, iV*s Hid./'. 60. ' Complaint being made to the * Council, Aprtl 12. of fome Anabnptifts that fled * out of Germany into England from the RulHc * War, a CommilTion was ordered to the Archbilhop ' oi Canterbury^ the BiOiops of Ely ^ Worccjler^ Chi- * shejler^ Lincoln^ Rochejler^ and fome other Divines^ *■ any three being a Quorum. This differs in feveral Particulars from his Author. * On the 1 2th of /ipril^ there was a Complaint Burnet pW./Z, ' brought to the Council, that, with the Strangers^, m. * that were come into England^ fome of that Per- * fuafion [^Anabaptilts] had come over, and were * difTeminating their Errors, and making Profelytesi * fo a Commiflion was ordered for the Archbiftiop * of Canterbury^ the Bifliops of £/>•, IVorceJler^ IVeJi- * minjler^ Chichefier^ Lincoln, Rochejier^ Sitlf^illiam * Petre^ Sk Thomas Smith, (were thefe Divines?) * Dr. Cox, Dr. May, and fome others, three of them * being a Quorum. P. 6s- ' The fame Orders (viz. a Letter from * the Council, to take away Altars) were given * to the reft of the Bithops, as appears by theCol- * ledion in Bifliop Sparrow. No mention of any fuch thing in Bilhop Sparrow's ColleSion, which, in King E^xt/^r^'s Reign, has the King's Injunctions, Order of Communion Service, Archbifliop Cranmer''s and Ridley's Articles of Vifi- tation, the Articles of Religion in EngUJb and Latin, and no more. The Reafons given by Mr. 27. are different in ma- ny Refpeds from thofe Bilhop Burnet fays were given by the Council, in their Letter to b^. Ridley. Mv.N, fays, his were ^/&^/2^.74. ' The Articles [of Religion] were * not brought into Parliament, nor agreed to tnCon- ' vocation^ [ JOP ] ' vQcatiofty as they ought to have been, and as the * Title feems to exprefs. This is entirely confuted by Archbiihop^^^^', who has examined thisMatter very fully; his Conclulion is this : * Thefe Articles were prepared by the Au- State of the ' thority of the King and Council, and were ^^r^-^^ Church, ' to in Convocation-^ and there fubfcribed by bothM'PP*^®®* * Houfes; and fo prefenily promulged by the King's ' Authority, according to Law. But Mr. N". goes on: ' When this (the Publica- * tion of the Articles with fuch a Title) was obje6t- ' ed to, by Archbifhop Cranmer^ as a Fraud, in the ' next Reign he owned the Charge, but faid he was ' ignorant of the Title, and complained of it to the ' Council, i^c. Together with the Articles, was publifhed, a Catechifm; and what Mr.N. relates as concerning the Articles, belonged only to the Catechifm which was annexed to them. lVeJlon\ Words to Cranmer, as related by Fox, are, ' Alfo you have fet forth a ' Catechifm in the Name of the Synod oi London. ^^ To which Cr^»»a?rreply'd, ' 1 was ignorant of the ' fetting to of that Title.*' The Catechifm being joined with the other, it was, it feems, underftood as if both were agreed upon in Convocation ; and fo ft was objedled to Cranmer. In like Manner it was obferved by the Judges in Ridley\ Difputation in the ^^g ^^^ Schools at Oxford, that the Catechifm was fo fet Monum. forth, as tho' the whole Convocation had agreed to^. 969. it. But this does not relate to the Articles. JSTs Hift. p. 7^ ' The next Work the Refor- ' mers were employed in a fecond Corredion of * the Common-Prayer Book The daily Ser- < vice began with a (hort ConfelTion of Sins. Not fo; the Daily Service, in the Review, be- gan, as it does now, with the Sentences and Ex- hortation ; then followed the ConfelTion, ^c. Vid. Book of Common- Prayer 1 5* 5-2. Bilhop Bur- net does not fay the Service began with the Con- felTion ; but that in the Daily Service they prepared a fhort, but moft fimple and grave Form of a ge-Hift Reform, neral Confellion of Sins. But Mr. N, goes on.^"^-^^ ^J<^9. X 3 'The » The Communion began with a Rehearfal of the ' Ten Commandments." A Miftake. The Com- munion began with the Prayer, * Almighty God, ' unto whom all Hearts, ^c. F/W. Liturgy 1552. Again, ' A Paufe was made between the Rehear- ' fa) of every Commandment, for the People's De- ' votions." The fame ReJpo>7fes were made as in our prefent Liturgy. Bifliop Burnet defcribes it in 'this manner. A Stop was made at every Com- Hifl.Reform.mandment for the People's Devotion of imploring rf)/.;/./*. 170. Mercy for their paft Offences, and Grace to obferve it for the Time to come. A7's Hift. p. 79. ' A Paflage was left in the Pre- * face of one of their Service-Books, to this Pur- ' pofe. That they had gone as far as they couU, its *■ reforming the Churchy conjidering the Times they ' lived in ; and hoped that they that came after them^ ' would^ as they mighty do more. Where is this to be met with.? Is there any Pre- face in King Edward's, Queen Eftzabeth's, King James's, or the laft Review, that has this Paffage? P. 80. MuN- gives a long Account of Martin Bucer's Sentiments. He places thefe in the Tear 1 5" 5-3, After the Review of King Edward*s Li- turgy ; and he quotes BilTiop Burnet, Vol. 2. p- I5"6. for his Authority. The Account Bifliop Burnet gives of this Matter is Before the Review in the Year iss^- * Now (fays the Birtiop) a Review of the Commori- Prayer Book was fet about: Martin Bucer was confulted in it; upon which Bucer writ hi« Opinion. The Subftance of it was, that he found all things in the Common Service and daily Prayers were clearly according to the Scrip- tures.'* However, he ad vifed feveral Alterations, which the Bifliop enumerates, and then adds, * All this I have gathered out the more largely, that it may appear how carefully things were then confi- dered \ and that almoji, in every Particular, the MOST Material things which Bucer ohjeBed to were Correded afterwards. After thefe Corredions were made, viz, in the Year 15- 5-3, Mr. iV. introduces Bucer ^s propofwg, that [3" ] that the old Popifli Habits mijrht be laid afide; when he himfelf had told ns from Mr. Strype^ rhat the Tear before If 5*2, * All Copes and f/eftynents were * forbidden throughout England. The Frebenda- ' ries of St. Paul\ left off their Hoods^ and the ' Bifhops their CrofTt'S, b^^r. as by A61 of Parliament ' is more at large fet forth. N\ Hilt./'.76. What Management is this, in order to make fo great a Man as Bucer objed to thofe very things which were altered by his Advice and Diredlion ? Bucer^ as appears in Bifliop Burnet.^ objeded in the Year if 50 to the firft Liturgy, which was accord- ingly altered. Mr. A^. places his Objevflions \\\ 1 5" 5*3, which could only be againft the Book cor- reded by his Advice, the fecond Liturgy. AT's Hid./. 81. ' Nor was Cranmer fatisfied ' with the Liturgy, tho' it had been twice reform- * ed, if we may give Credit to the learned Bullin- ' ger^ who told the Exiles at Francfort^ that the ' Archbifhop had drawn up a Book of Prayers an ' hundred times more perfed than that which was ' then in Being; but the fame could not take Place, ' for that he was matched with fuch a wicked Cler- ' gy and Convocation, and other Enemies. This groundlefs Story Mr. N. mentions without the leaft Appearance of Diftruft, tho* the Author from whom he takes it calls it an improbable Re-Sfjpe's Life pon. The fame Author has given us the real Sen- of Crmmer, liments of the Archbifhop. ' The Great and Good strype's Ann, ' Archbifhop Cranmer'^ Judgmeni of K» Edward's Eliz. Vol, I, ' Book of Common-Prayer may deferve here to/), 86. ' have a Place. When Bifhop Gardiner would have ' fortified his corrupt Dodrine of the Sacrament ' out of that Book, and afferted, that the receiving * of the Body and Blood of Chrift into our Mouths, ' was a Teaching fet forth there, and there Catho- ' lickly fpoken of, the faid Archbifhop thus anfwer- ' ed, That the Book of Common-Prayer neither * ufed any fuch Speech, nor taught any fuch Do- * drine ; and that he [the Archbifhop] did not in ' any Point improve [/. e, difprove] that Godly ' Book, nor vary from it; and that no Man could ' miflike it, that had any Godlinefs in him joined X 4 * with [312] Mcm.Cmw. ' with Knowledge." Again the fame Author, ' It ' was a brave and generous A6t, worthy the Chief * Bifliop of the Englip Church ; I mean, that pub- ' lick Challenge which he made to maintain the * Common-Prayer Book^ and other Parts of the Re- * formation [preces communes Ecclejiafticas^ admini- * Jirationemfacram cum (ceteris Ritibus c^f Ceremoniis^ * Dodr'tnam univerfam ac Religionis ordinem conJiitU' * turn a fufremo noftro Domino Rege Edwardofexto'] * by the Scripture and Fathers, in open Difputation * againft whomfoever, if the Queen fo pleafed to per- ' mithim." This public Challenge is found in Bifliop Burnet^ Fol.IL p.i^^. Append. Thus plain it is, that Archbifhop Cranmer had no fuch Sentiments of the Liturgy as are imputed to him. N^s Hift. p, 96. ' It is faid, that Cardinal Pool was * for gentler Methods of Inftrudtion and Perfuafion, * which is very doubtful. Doubtful with whom, but fuch as are unwilling to allow any good Qualities in an Adverfary ? Men fo different as Mr. Collier and Mr. Rapin^ concur in a good Opinion of the Cardinal's Moderation. The latter expreffeshimfelf in this manner. * Pool * was of Opinion, that gentle Methods were to be * made ufe of, rather than Force; thinking that this *• would only inflame^ inflead of removing the Di- * (temper; and that the moft that could be expedled ' from it would only be the encreajing the Number CliurchHift/ o^ Hypocrites:' Rapin Vol. Fill. ;?. 180. Fuller Lib. Vlll. fpeaks to the fame Purpofe ; and Bifhop Burnet con- />. 41. firms this Account of Cardinal P&o/, giving him the Hift.Reform.Chara6ier o( gleamed, modeft^ humble^ good-natured Vol.ILp. 367. Man ; gentle to the reformed: The Candour of the Bifhop upon this Occafion deferves our Notice. ' I ' have dwelt the more copioufly (fays he) upon ' C. P (God be thanked) lyf/Z^/z/e-^e^ * hy the Prudency of Mat ft er Cox and others which * met here for that Purpofe : So that now we truft * God hath provided for fuch as will fly forth of ' Babylon^ a reQing Place, where they may truly ' ferve him, and hear the Voice of their true Paftor." This Letter bears Date /k?^^/ 6. i^^S- Thofe who were firft 2xFrancfort took Poffeflion of the Church, asMr. AT. admits, July ig. \'$$^, In nine Months therefore, atmofl, after that PolfelTion, Dr. Cox and his Friends ^^^/^/^/^^the Church at /'"r^»f/©rr; and yet Mr.iV! affirms, that ' he brought in the Service- ' Book, with a high Hand, by which thofe who had * been in PofTeffion of the Church almoft two Tears ^ ' were obliged to depart the City, and fet up their * Wordiip in another Place." Mr. AT. would have it thought, that thofe few Perfons who firft arriv'dat Francfort had a better Right to the Church there than the reft of their Countrymen : The Magiftrates of Troubles of Francfort were more hofpitable than this : * A gene- Trancfort, ' ral Grant was made at their firft coming thither to p, 24* ^ i\\Q whole Nation.'''' So that the few Families who firft arrived there were blameable for departing from their fuffering Countrymen, and going upon a new Plan; and not the Congregation, afterwards more numerous, for preferring a Form which had fo many Arguments, efpecially at fuch ajundure, to recom- mend it. ^x^opBarnet gives the following candid Hift Reform. Account of this Matter. * Ai Francfort an unhappy Vol, 11 p,-^^^,^ Difference fell in among fome of them who had ' ufed before the £«^//y^ Liturgy, and did afterwards ' comply with it, when they were in England, where ' it had Authority from the Law; yet they thought, ' that, being in foreign Parts, they fhould rather ac- ' commodate their Worlhip to thofe among whom * they lived: So, inftead of the £«^///& Liturgy, they ' ufed one near the Geneva and French Forms. Others ' thought, that when thofe in £»g-/^»i/ who had com- ' piled their Liturgy were now confirming what ' they had done with their Blood, and many more ' were fuffering for it, ft was an high Contempt of * them and their Sufferings, to depart from thefe ' Forms. This ContradiSionraifed that Heat, that * HuCqx, [3^5] Dr ^Cox^ who lived in Strasburgh^ with his Friend Peter Martyr^ went thither; and being a Man of great Reputation, procured an Order from the Se- nate, that the EKgliJh Forms fliould only be ufedin their Church. This Diflention being once railed, went farther than perhaps it was at firft intended : For thofe who at firft liked the Geneva Way bet- ter, that, being in foreign Parts, they might all feein to be united in the fame Form, now began to quar- rel at fome things in i\\t Engl ip Liturgy; and Knox being a Man of a hot Temper^ engaged in this Matter very warmly, and got his Friend Calvin to write fomewhat fliarply of fome things in ihe£;7^- lijh Service: This made Knox and his Party leave Francfort^ and go to Geneva. Knox had al fo writ- ten indecently of the Emperor; which obliged the Senate of Francfort to require him to be gone out of their Bounds Certainly they began the Breach, who departed from the Way of Worfliip which they acknowledged was both lawful and good ; but there followed too much Animofity on both Sides. This Warmth continued, after they removed 5'/7/»^'s Mem. from Francfort^ as appears from a remarkable Let- Ecd. Vol. in. terof John Bale, late Bifliop of OJfory, vi^ho was^.a43. now removed from Francfort to Bajil, with many others, upon the DifTentions there. He wrote to Mr. Afljley, who enquired into the State of the Church at Bafil. ' The State of our Church is * troublous at this prefent — TheApollies faid, that ' in latter Times fhould come Mockers, Liars, ' Blafphemers, and fierce Defpifers : We have * them, we have them, Mader Apley.^ we have ' them then, even from among our felves: Yea, ' they be at this prefent our Elders, and their fadi- * ous Affinity. When we require to have Common ' Prayers.^ according to our £»i^///^ Order, they tell * us, that the Magiftrate will in no Cafe fuffer \\.\ * which is a mod manifeft Lye: They mock the ' Rehearfal of God's Commandments, and of the ' Epiftles and Gofpels in our Communion, and ' fay they are mifplaced. They blafpheme our ' Communion, calling it a Popilh Mafs, and fay, * that it hath a Popifh Face, with other fierce De- ' fpifings— — Strype^s Life of Grindal, p. 19. C 3i<5 ] fpffings— — With thcfe they build, with thefe they boaft ; and with thefe they triumph, in ereSing their Church of the Purity — The Face of a Po- pifli Mafs is the Shew of the whole Adion, with the Inftruments and Ceremonies thereunto apper- taining — Our Communion beginneth with Prayer unto God in the Mother Tongue ; fo doth not the Mafs : It (heweth us the Commandments of God ; it teacheth us the necelTary Articles of our Chrirtian Faith; fo doth not the Mafs. It bringeth both the Law and the Gofpel to (hew us both Damnation and Redemption ; fo doth not the Mafs. It moveth us to acknowledge our Sins, it ftirreth us up to Repentance for them; it exhorteth us to Mortification of our linful Flefti ; fo doth not the Mafs. It preacheth the Lord's Death till he come; itcallethforaworthy Preparation for fo heavenly a Supper. It promifeth full Remiffi- on of our Sins, thro' Chrift's gainful Sufferings ; fo doth not the Popirti Mafs. It giveih high Thanks to God for our Redemption ; it praifeth the Eternal Majefly for the fame, and wiflieth the true Receivers to depart from thence in his moft holy Peace and perpetual Bleffing, and continue always; fo doth not the abominable Mafs. Ergo, our holy Communion hath not the Face of a Popifh Mafs, as our new Catharites have moft wickedly, malicioufly, mockingly, falfely written to their Affinity or Profelytes.— Thus, tho' we be not in England, among the wicked Pa- pifts now, yet are we molefted of idle Brethren, as wickedly occupied as they, tho' in another kind. The Times are perilous. Thus farewel in the Lord, ^c. This John Bale is a Witnefs entirely unexceptio- nable, being, as Mr. N, himfelf fays, one of thofe who figned a Letter with John Knox, againft having the Church at Francfort reduced to King Edward's Form. The Concern it gave their fufFering Brethren m England, to fee King Edivard^s Form thus renoun- ced, was not an imaginary Inconvenience. There IS fomething very moving in the Complaint of Bi- (hop Ridley upon this Occafion. The charitable good r 517 ] good old Man, a little before his Martyrdom, writes thus upon the Subje£^. ' Alas ! that our * Brother Knox could not bear with our Book of * Common- Prayer, Matters againft which, altho' * 1 grant a Man (as he is) of Wit and Learning * may find to make apparaunt [meaning plaulible] ' Reafons; but I fuppofe he cannot be able found- ' ly to difprove by God*s Word — Surely M.i,Knox ' is, in my Mind, a Man of much good Learning, ' and of an earneft Zeal, the Lord grant him to * ufe them to his Glory. iV's Hift. />. 1 22. ' It was well known, Queen ' Elizabeth was a Favourer of the Reformation : And yet in the very next Page, ' It was with great * Difficulty (lie was prevailed with to go the Length * of King Edward'*s Reformation." So again, p» 176. * The Queen was fo far from improving ' her Brother's Reformation, that (he often repent- ' ed (he had gone fo far. He quotes no Authority for this, nor for another Aflertion of the fame fort, p. 307. ' The Queen ' was for laying hold of all Opportunities to fup- ' prefs a Number of Confcientious Men, whom, ' (he would often fay (he hated more than the Pa- * pirts." This Saying, as well as others, Mr. iV. imputes to the Queen, without any manner of Au- thority. But then, p. 303. he declares, ' The whole * Reformation depended upon the (ingle Thread of * her Life." And/?. 601. ' Qxittn Elizabeth vi2i% ' a Great andSuccefsful Princefs at Home, and the ' Support of the Proteftant Intereft abroad, while * it was in its Infancy; for, without her AfTiftance, ' neither the Hugomts in France y nor the Dutch Re- * formers, could have ftood their Ground. She * a(rirted the Proteftants \n Scotland 2igd\n^ their Po- * pifli Queen, and the Princes of Germany againft * the Emperor. i\r*sHift./, 124. • Their learned Friends and * Patrons beyond Sea advifed them to go thorough * with the Reformation. We have already feen the Sentiments of the learn« cd Bnllingen Satisfacit pits Edwardi Reformatio > Mr. A^. Mr. N. quotes a Letter from Guaher; but this Letter of Guaher^s was wrote ^^/or^ that fatisfadlory Plan of King Edward was re-eft ablifhed. Some were afraid that Popery would have been continu- ed; others feared fomething like i\\t Interim would have been fet up; others, that Lutheranifra would have been eftablifhed: Guaher and the foreign Di- vines feem moll afraid of the Interim: He was againft hearkening to the Gounfels of ' thofe Men * who, when they faw that Popery could not be * honeftly defended, nor entirely retained, would ' ufe all Artifices to have the outward Face of Re- * ligion to remain mixt, uncertain, and doubtful ; ' fo that while an Evangelical Reformation is pre- * tended, thefe Things fhould be obtruded on the * Church, which will make the returning back to ' Popery, Superftition and Idolatry, very eafy." Be- fides ufing the Word Evangelical^ his adding, ' IVe * have had Experience of this for fome Years in * Germany ^^ plainly fhews, he meanx the Interim^ mh Hiftory, which, according to Mr.iV's own Defcription, was $, 67, a Form of Woriliip contrived in Germany to keep up the exterior Face of Popery. This went beyond Lutheranifm. That Guaher had the Interim in his Thoughts, is confirmed by what Mr, N, faw ?n Bifhop Burnet^ m the very Page from which he took his Quotation. The Bifliop obferves, ' This plainly ' infinuated their Fears of fomewhat like what was ' defigned by the Interim in Germany^ But what Guaher thus plainly defigned againft the Interini^ Mr. N. has produced againft King EdwardV Refor-^ mation\ and in tranfcribing Guaher"^ Letters, has fuppreft the following Paftage: * I write not thefe ' things to you, as knowing that there are any fuch ^ among you; but I write from a Fear there may * be fome fuch." What were Guaher'^ Sentiments of the Englip Reformation, and of the Puritans, fuf- LifeofP^rfeerficiently appears by his Letter toBiftiopCo^, after he f. 348. had heard both Sides in that Caufe. He declared, that ' fince that Time, which was fix Years ago, they * of Zurich had had nothing to do with thofe vain * Brawlers^ as he filled them ; nor had any Letters ' at all paft between them. That foon after it ap- ' peared to them, what they went about, when * Men [ 3ip ] ' Men of the fame Principles with them, under * Pretence of Ecclefiaftical Difcipline (the chief- ' eft whereof they would have to conliQ in Excom- ' munication) had been the Authors of great Trou- * bles and Changes in the Palatinate." Mr. Strype has in the fame place preferved a Letter from another eminent foreign Divine, Bullinger.^ to the Bilhop of Winton. ' As he rejoiced that God had given our ' Church fuch an excellent Princefs 2l^(^. Elizabeth^ * for the propagating the Gofpel, fo he expreft much ' Grief, that there were a fort of Men among us, ' that, by their unfeafonable Contending about indif- ' ferent things, put fuch Obftacles in the way of the ' Reformation, and made a Schifm in the Church; * he (hewed how fuch were in their Church at the ' Beginning of their Reformation, who thought no- ' ih'mg pure enough \ and thereupon feparated them- * felve, and fet up Conventicles; and this begat va- ' rious Seds and Schifms ; but afterwards their * Hypocrify and Diforder came to be known, and ' they foon came to nothing. iV's Hift. p, 139. Some of the CoUeSis were a little altered., ' and thus the Book [of Common- Nobis certe ab eo tempore cum veinis iftii r'txatoribus nihil res fuit, qui neque ad nos unquam fcripferunt, nequc aliquid a nobis profcdlum jadari poterunt. Nam non multo poft evidentius apparuit quid molirentur quando in Paiatinatu fub Difciplinse Ecclcfiafticx praetextu, cujus illi caput &: fummam in Excommunicatione conftituunt, mu- tationis primi Authores fuerunt, quae Eccleiias illas vche- menter concufiit. Gualter. Dolet autem nobis non mediocriter, quod in propagan- da veritate, inque dilatandis Ecclcfise pomoeriis, tot vobis fe objiciunt Obrtacula atque Remorae, ab illis quoque exor- tae, qui maxima Evangelici volunt videri, Verum per initia Reformarionis Ecclefiae noftrse, eadem nos exercuit moleftia. Erant cnira quibus nihil in reformando y^/w pu- rum vidcbatur, undc & ab Ecclcfia k£i fegregabant, & conventicula peculiaria conftituebanr, quse mox fequeban- tur Schifmata & fedtae variae. Qua jucundum fpedlaculum cxhibcbant hoftibus noftris Papifticis. Sed innotuit tan»- dera ipforum Hypocrilis & Ataxia, fuaque fponte diffluxere, Libcrabit hac molcftia & vos baud dubie clemens & mi- fcricors Dominus, C5'f, Bffllinger, ' Prayer] [ 320 ] ' Prayer] was prefented to the two Houfes, and ' pafled into a Law. There were no ColleSs altered, but feveral valuable Prayers were added in Qaecn EHzahth^s Review. iV'sHiQ./. 148. Mr. i\r. gives an Abftrad of fomc of the Queen's Injundions. It had been very proper, for the Credit of the Government, to have taken Notice of feveral very material ones for the Incouragement of Learning, Relief of the Poor, Prevention of Simony, tho' he had no Occafion afterwards to refer to them. N*s Hift. /». i5'4. * Parker and Cox were for ' Images in Churches. However Parker and Cox might be ingaged in the Conference, their Judgment and Practice are plainly on the other Side. Mv.Strype gives the following Account of P^r^^r; ' The Archbifhopeled [P^r/^^r] ' had the AfTurance, and the Honefty to advife her ' Majefty not to permit the Crucifix and lighted Ta- * pers any longer in her Prefence ; which he did with * that Gravity and Freedom, becoming his Office, * that Sir Francis Kmllys fent him a Letter, 0<^. 13. * iSS9i wifliing him Profperity in all Godlinels; ' namely, in his good Enterprise againft the Enor- * mities yet in the Queen's Clofet retained." Again 1 Ann.^« i7f. the fame Author. ' The Archbifhop of Canterbury ' performed his Part, by applying himfelf honefily ' to the Queen, for divers Reafons, to remove them : * And fo much thefe Furnitures of her Chapel dif- * gufted fome good Men, that one of her chief ' BiOiops, DtZ' Cox^ Bi(hopof£/y, being appointed ' to minifter the Sacrament before her there, made * itaMatterof Confcience, to do it in a Place which * he thought fo diflionoured by Images. " Some Time after this, the Queen herfelf expreft great Dif- like even at a Common-Prayer Book with Fidures ; and faid exprefly to Dean Nowell^ who laid the Book Strypt\^vi. 1. Upon her Culhion, ' You know I have an Averfion f, x-ji, • to Idolatry, to Images and Pidures of this kind." We fhall have this farther confirmed under the next Particular. 2V"s Hift. N's Hift. p^iSS' * The Queen had a Crucifir, * with the Bleflcd Virgin, and St.Joh^^ (lill in her * Chapel: And when Sandys Bifhop of IVorceJler * fpoke to her againft it, (he threatned to deprive * him, and ifTued out a Proclamation, i^c. For this he quotes Bifiiop Burnet^ FolAU.p. 291, The Bifliop's Words in that Place are thefe. * Upon * this, he (Bidiop Sandys) had fpoken /rc-t'/y to the * Queen; with that ftie was fo difpleafed, as to * threaten to deprive him. She was fine e that time * more foftened^ and the Images were removed. This Mr. N. entirely fupprefs*d; and (by joining the FaSs together, (he threatned to deprive the Bi- Ihop, and iUued out a Proclamation, l^c) endea- vours to load the Queen's Memory for ifluing that Proclamation, only deligned to prevent defacing of Monuments in Churches, and taking away Bells and Lead (which Circumftance he alfo omits) and committing great Diforders. Thefe Monuments thus guarded by the Queen's Proclamation, were 9nly Monuments of /Antiquity, being fet up \a Churches, or other publick Places, for Memory, and not for Superftition. * The Mifchiefs of de- * molifliing thefe Monuments are reckoned to be, * I. That thefe Churches and Places were fpoiled * and ruinated. 2. The good and honourable Me- ' mory of virtuous and noble Perfons extinguiOi'd.^^^ .^ ^ * 3. The true underdanding of divers Families in^ ^gg **' * the Realm, who have defcended of the Blood of * the fame Perfons, darkened. 4. The true Courfe * of their Inheritance hereby might hereafter be in- * terrupted, contrary ioJu(iice, ^^.'* Can fuch a Proclamation, with any Juftice, be brought to fup- port a Charge of Supetllition and Idolatry ? JST's Hift./'. 176. ' The Queen told the Archbi- * (hop in Anger, th^ (he intended to publffh other * Injundtions, which his Grace underftood to be in ' Favour of Popery. Upon which the Archbifhop * writ to the Secretary, that he was forry the Queen's * Mind was fo turned; but, in fuch a Cafe, he * (hould think it his Duty to obew God rather than * Mart, ^ Y What [ 3*a ] What the Archbi(hop immediately adds in his Letter does, in a great Meafure, excufe the Queen. This Mr. N. thought proper to omit. ' The Arch- Life of P/?rJtfr' bilhop (as Mr. ^^r)/?^ adds) attributed thefe Words f, 109. * of the Queen to fome Humanus Mftus^ fudden ' Heat, incident to human Nature, conceived upon * untrue Reports railed againft them by their Ene- ' mies, and doubted not but her Majefty would ' well confider in Matters of fuch Importance, and ' ufe Theodofius''^ Days of Deliberation; and he ' trufted, that, as ftie had began Godly in this good * Work [of Reforming Religion] fo God would ' (lay her Heart, and move her to go on, and to N*s Hiftory» ' finifh." Mr N- defcribes Archbilhop Parker^ as />. 341. a Man, whofe ' Religion confifted in a fervile ' Obedience to the Queen's Injundions." This whole Letter, in Oppofition to what the Queen had done or threatned, is a full Vindication of him from that Charge. The Reader will judge by this one PafTage. " I (hould be forry (fays the good Arch- * bifliop) that the Clergy fhould have Caufe to (hew ' Difobedience, with Oportet Deo obedire magis strype ibid. ' ^uam Hominibus \ and what Inftillers foevqr there V(d, Append/ be, there be enough of this contemptible Flock, ' that will not (brink to offer their Blood for the De- ' fence of Chrift's Verity, if it be openly impugned, * or fecreily fuggilled. iV'sHift, /J. 185-. ' This Reverend Man, viz. * Miies Cover dale (f^ys Mr. Strypf) being nOW old * and poor, Griadal, Bilhop oi London^ gave him the * fmall Living of St. Magnus at the Bridge-foot, * where he preached quietly about two Years; but * not coming up to the Conformity required, was ' perfecuted thence, and obliged to relinquiih his ' Pari(h, a little before his Death, which happened * May 20. 15*67, at the Age of 81. He was a cele- ' brated Preacher, but the Ad of Uniformity brought ' down his Reverend grey Hairs wilhSorrPW to the * Grave. To confirm this Account, Mr. N. qnoUsStrypr^s Ann.MoX.X. Pag. loy. It (hould be 405-. Mt.StrypeH Words are thefe. How altered by Mr. iVT./ * This Reverend Man being now old and poor, the X Bi(hop C 323 ] * Bifl^.op of Londm committed to his Charge the * Church of Sx. Magnus at the Bridge-foot ; but the * Firft- fruits ht\n% fix ty Pounds fixteen Shilling and * ten Pence ('large Firlt-fruits for what Mr. N. calls * afmall Livingl) he was not able to pay ; which ' made him in the Month of January addrels a Let- * ter to the Archhlpop, as he did likewife to the * Bipop of London^ and to his Friends, the Lord * Rfibert Dudley^ and Secretary Cecily that they, ' fetting his Age and his Poverty before the Queen, ' would prevail with h^r to forgive him that Debt ; ' which Favour was at length obtained for him. This Year the faid Father Cover dale went out * Do6bor of Divinity in one of our Univerfities ; * which Degree he had obtained long before, in the * Univerfity of Tubing in Germany. Coverdale, after ' two or three Years, deceafed, viz> May 20. 15-65-, * at the Age of 81; living, as hepromifed theArch- * bifhop, quiet, tho' not coming up, probably, 'to ' the Uniformity required. iV'S Hift. />. 194. ' DT.GaeJi BiftiOp 6f Rochejier * Vfih againji f he Ceremonies^ to Secretary Cm/. For this Mr A/", quotes his MS. and produces the ^.Bifliop as one that was on the Puritan Side *of the *'*Queftion. It happens, that this very Letter to Se- •crfetaryC^f:// is preferved in Mv.Str/pe, This Letter s^/^y^g's An. i. is fo far from being again ll the Liturgy, that it was ;.. 83. Vid, defignedly wrote in Vindication of it. * Guejl (fays Append. * l^t.Strype) convey'd the v)t\v Ser-itice-Book'i^) the ' Secretary, together with a Letter to hfm, contain- * ing htsReafons for his own Emendations and Al- * Tferations ; and therein particular Satisfaffion given ° unto divers things^ many whereof teem tO have . * been Hints and Queftions of the Secretary's, pur- *^< fu^htto the Settlemetit of the Liturgy: As firft, ,^ ^^^ ■^"^ ;*vh;ethe'r fuch Ceremonies as were lately 'tak-en aVjay v - ' * by1ft:fng Edvjard\ ^ook^ might noV be Vf/a)^^^, * hot b^in^ evil in'theiiifelves? /. e. whefth^'r the Po- * pffli C^reftionies naight not be reftore'd ? ^ ; The Anfwer to this'Queftion Mr.iV'. c^nTs-un- lclfiowh Ms. app'lies not to the CeremOOf^s taken ?ffL^^» but to thofe appointed hy Kxti^'Edivard^s mok. The Anfwer is, that having b*e^h eVil ufed, Y 2 and :g 51! [ 3H J and once taken away^ they ought not to be taken again. The Beginning of this Letter fufficiently fhews how abfurd it is to employ it againlt ihe new Service-Book. ' Right Honourable, That you might ' well underftand, that I have neither ungodly al- * lowed any thing againft the Scripture, neither un- ' fteadfadly done any thin^ contrary to my Writing, ' neither raflily, without juftCaufe, put away it which ' might be well fufFered ; nor undifcreetly, for No- ' velty, brought in that which might be better left ' our, I am fo bold to write to your Honour fome * Caufes of the Order taken in the new Service,^* He concludes in this Manner. ' Thus, as 1 think, I have ' fliewed good Caufe why the Service is fet forth in ' fuch fort as it is. God, for his Mercy in Chrift, ' caufe the Parliament with one Voice to enadi it, ' and the Realm, with true Heart, to ufe it." ' Fis true, he was of Opinion, that the Pofture at the Sa- crament (hould be left indifferent; but it fhouldalfo be remembered, that the Puritans offered fixReafons againll the Habits, which Mr. AT. has produced, />. 207. And tho' he did not think proper to menti- on any Anfwer, but only U) s,fime were for anfwer- ing the ReafoKs, yet did this very Dr Gn^fi^ Biiliop of Rochefter^ very fully anfwer ihofeReatons o( the Puritans; which Anfwer is both in h\i , Strype'^s Life o( Parker y and Ml, Collier^ where the Reafju^.are fet down. A^'s Hift. p, 209. * Humphreys made fo many * Friends at Courts that at length he i>bEained a * Toleration for himfelf, but had no Prtftrniticiri ' the Church till after ten or twelve Years, wjienhe ' fubmitted to the Habits. .' ! Here again we have the MS. quoted, tho' it is Life of Pflr-effeQually confuted by yii.^try^e, ' Humphreys, ker, />. 1 8/. ' for his Ufefulnefs in the Univerfiiy, had a Tolerati'jn, ' till ten or eleven Years after, when he comply'd, ' ' and wore the Habits." But much within this time we find a new Preferment beftowed upon him. 'Jn Ibid, 18^. ' Jive Tears after he became Dean of Glottcejler^ in * the Year ifyo, according to lVood'*s Athett. Oxon» How could this MS. fay, he had no Preferment \n the Church till after ten Years. He was Regius Pro- C 3^J ] ProfefTor of Divinity, and Prefident of Magdalen College in Oxford, and continued io all the time, notwirhitanding his Noncompliance with the ap- pointed Habits. In five Years after he was made Doiui of GloHceJler. After that he was made Dean Ann. /». 471. of L^^tnchefter, The Reader muft pay little Regard to M--. TVs Lamentations, or to his MS. when he obf:?' vcs, triat he complains that this Gentleman, Di Humph^eys^ who had fo many confiderable Sta- tions in the Church, and never was turn'd out of one of tnem, 'W2iS denied Preferment for his Puritanical Principles. Mr. Fuller^ on the contrary, fays, ' Not- Church Hift. * withdanding his Nonfubfcribing, he kept his Pro- Lib. IX. * felfor's Mace and Deanry oi lyinchefter as long^- ^^^' * as he lived N's Hill. p. 211. ' After much Perfuafion, and * many fhreacrings, Sixty One [of the London * Cler'Jv] CM! of about One Hundred, were pre- ' vailed with to fabfcribe, and Thirty Seven abfo-^LIfeof P^y* * lutely rv^^ufied, of which laft Number, astheArch-i^e^-, ^. 21$, ' bilhop ackiio^vlcdged , were fome of the beft ' Preachers [were ihc beil, and fome Preachers: Six or Seven convenient fober Men pretending a Confcience^ divers of them zealous, but of little Learning and Judgment. Fhefe are the Words in the Aiunor Mr AT quotes] ' Thefe were immedi- ' ately fafpended, and put from all Manner of Mi- ' niOry, with Signification, that if they did not con- ' form within Three Months, they were to be de- * prived. The Account we have in Strype^s Annals and Ann. 4di.- Life of ArchSilhop Grindal is much more full. They are both quoted Dy Mr. AT but he omits feve- ral material Circumltarices; in particular, that many of thofe who were fufpended, did come in within the three Months, and were not deprived. Any one that reads hisdifmal Account of the Danger of theNV Hiftory Reformation, and Ruin of fo many poor Families, />. 217'. muft imagine that they were all turned out of their Livings But Mr. 6V>7/>efays, ' As molt did fub- ' fcribe at that rime, fo about thirty rtood out, and ' were fufpended ; but many of thefe, within the ' three Months, came in, Y 3 Another Another very important CircumQanc© omiued b^: Mr. A^. is, that there were Papt/is among thofe who were Nonfubfcribers. The Lite of Gri^dal, p. 991. gives the following Account. ' On this memorable * 24th o{ March ^ the Number that appeared at I. «»f- i;etk^ as aforefaid, was 140; whereof only 30 did not fubfcribe ; of which Number (adds Mr. Strype) was my Journalift^ who, with many others, after- wards yielded and fubfc^ibed— Some went over Sea, and thefe were Papift.s chiefly ; for among thefe. Nonfubfcribers were fome Papijis. P. 223. ' To return to the ZiO»^0Ka Con- ' fcientia; that he regarded God^s Honour, and the ' Pitblick Quiet ; that he wifhed Obedience to the ' Queen's Highnefs and her Laws, which was the * greateft Etlimation her [-lighnefs could have among ' her People; and that if this Matter fhould be over- * turned, according to all thefe great Hopes, he faid * he was at a Point to be ufed and abafed, nam fcio ' nos Epifsopos in hunc ufumpofitos effe\ as he added, * we be the Stilts over which Mtn will fooneft ' leap; and if we be thus backed f meaning thus * flenderly backed, or not backed at ail] there will ' be fewer Winchejiers, as is delired." For that was one of the odious Phrafes thefe Men beftowed upon the Bifhops that urged Uniformity, calling them Wi^cheflers, pointing to Stephen Gardiner^ that bloody, perfecuting Bifhop oi IVinchefler, in Queen Mary\ Reign. But when he told the Secretary, there would be fewer IVtmhejlers^ '\i they were no better back'd, he intimated, that he faw that the Y 4 Favour : [3*8] Favour flievved to thefe Men tended to the Over- throw of all Bithops. ' But for my Part (he pro- ' ceeded) Co that my Prince may win Honour, either ' by /landing or relentirig^ 1 will be very gladly Ltf/>/j * Ojfenfioms^ &c. N's Hift./>. 220. * There was ftill one Door of ' Entrance into the Mi »ifiry left open totheP«r/- * tans, which xhtArchbtfoop ufed all his Intereft to ' fhut, but could «o^/jr^xw7. It was a Privilege * granted to the Univerfity of Cambridge by Pope * Alexander VI. to licenfe Twelve Minirters * Yearly to preach any where throughout £»^/<«»^— ^ Here his Grace met with a Difapp ointment', for * the Univerlity retained their Pr/i^/Ve^^, and made * ufe of it to the Relief of the Puritans, it was obferved before, that every thing thefe Gentlemen difliked wasPo^^-ry; but, it feems, no- thing they do can pojjibly be fo. Here we fee thefe very Men ratifying and confirming a/>rf/>«/ Encroach- ment, and their Historian triumphing iagainft a Pro- teltant Archbifliop ; that the Puritans were able to fupport a Bull of Pope Alexander's, which was founded upon the Suppolition of his being univerfal Bifhop, and inverted with a Pleniiude of Power! Was a Scholar's Gown, a Surplice, or a fquare Cap, fuch an Abomination, that thofe who peaceably wore them mult bereprefented ^L^PapiJIs in Dtfguife, jN's Hiftory half-faced Proteftants, that would be content wtth the p. 201. Return of that Religion whofe Badge they wore ; and yet owning the univerfal Jurifdidion of the Pope, accepting a Licence to preach the Gofpel from him or his Subltitutes; defending that Power, and adding under it, was in the Puritans a mofl commendable Adion ! 7'hefe too were the^Men that valued them- Ibid. /. i<^6.^^^^^^^^"^^ keeping clofe to the Bible; that difregarded the Pradlice of a primitive Church, for the farl) four or five Centuries, and would not fubmit to a Habit declaredly appointed for Difiindion, left they fliould not (land fall in the Liberty wherewith Chrift had made them free. Jt was admitted, Mr. A/". teHs us, by thofe whom he is pleafed to caW Court Reformers, ^' '4^* ' that the Church of Rome was a true Church, the' * corrupt. ■ ■ ■ ■the Pope was a trueBifliop of Rome, ' Iho' C 3^9 ] ' tho*not of the univc-iai OhurVh. But the Pur i- * ta>is affirmed the Pope to be 4»ttchnji^ the Church ' of Rome to be no true Church." And yet ihefe very Puritans eileemed it a noble Viftory, that they could preach by Virtue of a Bull from Antichrifl himfelf : If the Gofpel had fixt this Charadler upon him, no human Laws or Cuftoms could alter it. But the molt exceptionable Part of their Condu.22T. ' But this learned Body ^ the * Univerfity of Cambridge^ was foon after thrown * into Confujion, by the Controverfy of the Habits. What a folemn Defcription is this of the irregu- lar Behaviour of fome rafh young Students in the Univerfity ? If thefe are thought to add any Credit to the Puritan Side, 'tis eafy to increafe the Num- ber of them. There are fuch Puritans who will not comply with the Statutes, or wear the Academical Habit in every Univerfity in the V^orld. ' Dr. Long- * worth {f2i^s Mx.N.) Majier of St. John's^ being * abfent from his Col lege, the Students of that Houfe ' came to Chapel on a Feftival Day without their * Hoods and Surplices^ (HOWEVER THEY HAD WORN ' THEM BEFOKE) ftiould have been added, being in ' the [ 3io ] * the Original— -In ZW^//)/ College all, except Stiype's Ann» ' three, declared againft the Surplice." It follows ^78. immediately in the Author from whom this Account is taken, hy the Injligation of T. Cartwright. But this Mr.N". omits. As confcientious an Affair as the Hifirjry of the Puritans makes of the Matter, Se- Ibid. cretaryCf<-/7callsit * a lc;wd Leprofy of Libertines; ' riotous {h'A\i\ng off" the Yoke of 06edie»ce and Or- * der.^* He adds upon the fame Occaiion, * I am * inwardly afraid, if Fear fhall notftay this riotous In* * folency^ thefe ralh yourig Heads that are fo foon ripe ' to climb up into Pulpits, will content themfelves * with no Limits either in the Churchy or in the Po- ' Itcy'^ By an Account fent to the Secretary, it appears, ' that thefe Men had, by their Counfels, ' lb difturbed all things, that the Time which was ' wont heretofore to be employed in good Arts and * Sciences, was now fpent and confumed in trivial ' Janglings de Lana caprina^ But it feems this Scrupulolity about Habits had its Ufe: When Mo- ney ran low, a Student might />4w;» his burplice to the Cook, and then pretend his Confcience would not allow him to wear it, as appears in MT.Strypt:*s Ann, p. 483. IJ'i Hift. p. 227. ' Mr. Strype h of Opinion, * that the Archbilhop himleU publilhed an Anfwer ' to the Z)^r/i3r<2^/o» of the nonconforming Milliners; ' but whoever be the Author, he is a Man of a bad ' Spirit, and abulive Language. As Mr. A?', produces the Reafons of the refuiing Minifters, it had been more impartial to have given feme Account of rhe Anfwer to them; but ihis would have confuted hisCenfure; and tliererore he condemns the Perlormance in the grofs : The Au- thor, fays he, was a Man of a bad Spirit, and abu- Ano fio five Language. Mr. iJ^ry/?^, on the contrary, lays, the Declaration, &c. of the London Minifters foon received a grave and learned Anfwer — The Writer undertook to weigh and examine the Grounds and Reafons dtfiindly, which had been urged in the faid Dcelaraiion, for refufing the Apparel and Garments then ufed of Chrift's Church in England; which he doth nervoujly. [ 33t 1 N's Hid.. p. 229. ' This Order (for Reformati- * on of divers Diforders, in printing and uttering ' of Books) was figned dv Etghi of the Privy- ' Council. Had their Names been mentioned, we (hould have feen thofe Champions in the Puritan Caufe, Mr. iV*s Great Earl of Leicefter^ and Sir Francis KnoUys^ of the Number; which confirms what Mr. Strype fays, that the Puritan Books were writ- ten with much Confidence and Sharpnefs. Would the Earl of Leicejier and Sir Francis Knollys have figneu an Order to punilh thofe who publifhed Books on the Puritan Side, wrote, as Mr. N. alledges,iv's Hiftory with gooii Temper and Judgment ? 227. 27's Hift. p, 229. ' The Puritans being thus ' foreclofed and fhut out of the Church by Seque- * ftrations and Imprifonments, the taking away ' their Licences to preach, and the Reftraint of ' the Prefs, moft of them were at a Lofs how to ' behave. Difmal Reprefentation of their Cafe! It will be fome Relief to fee it effedualiy confuted ! The lalt Auiiior Mr. N. had quoted, was Strype^ s Life of Parker^ p. 222 In the very next Page we find thefe Words, tho' Mr. AT. did not think fit to pro- duce ihem. ' Gentlenefs, as appears hence, was ' ufed towards thofe Minillers that ftood out, and * fo were deprived. Some of them, by Order of ' the Council, with the Ad?ice of the Ecclefiaftical ' Commiffioners, were taken up, and put under ' eafy Reilraints, with fome of the Bifhops, being ' fenc down, fome to £/y, fome to Norwich^ and ' fome to the Bifhop of IVinton; partly to have the * Benefit of their Inftrudions, and partly to rid ' London of them. But it was not long that they ' remiined fo, but were reflored to their Liberties, * and had Leave, or at lealt Connivance x.o preach, TV's Hift. /?.23o. * Here was the ^ra, or Date * of the Separation, s moft unhappy Event {fays * Mr. Strype) whereby People of the fame Coun- * try, of the fame Religion, and of the fame Judg- * ment r 332 ] * ment in Dodrlne, parted Communions: One ' Part being obliged to go afide into fecrct Houfes * and Chambers toferveGod by themfelves, which * begat Strangenefs between Neighbours, Chriftians ' and Proteftants. In thefe few Lines, which be marks as a com- pleat and fair Quotation, Mr. M. is guilty of omit- ting a Declaration in Favour of the Conformifts, that they were equal Enemies to Popery with the Separatifts; and of artfully adding an Accufation againlt the Church Party, as being the Caufe of the Separation, by obliging the Puritans to i^o a(ide, and aUb of imputing that Strangenefs to one Side^ which the Orij^inal imputes to the other. A Gentleman that can quote after this Manner mult be content to find hlm^tlf flatly contradided. Mr. Strype does not fay ^ as he affirms he does, but fays as follows, in the very Place he quotes. ' This was a moft * unhappy' Event of this Controverfy, whereby ' People of the fame Country, oithe fame Religi- * on, and of the /^w^e Judgment too concerning the ' Errors of Popery^ and the Evangelical Do6trine, * parted Communions, and went alide [he does not ' fay, were obliged to go] into fecret Houfes and * Chambers, to ferve God by themfelves; which * Separation ^fj^^^Edrangements between Neigh- * bours, Chriftians and Proteftants. N's Hift. p. 240. The Puritans objeded ' to the ' wearing of the Surplice and other Veftments to be * ufed in Divine Service, concerning which the ' Church fays, in the Preface to her Liturgy^ that * tho' they were devifed by Men, yet they are re- ' ferved for Decency^ Order and Edification.''* And again, ' /^^^ are apt to fiir up the dull Mind of Man ' to the Remembrance of his Duty to God^ by fome *• notable and fpeeial Signification whereby he might be ' edified. vid. Injun«a. Queen Elizabeth herfelf, and the Bifliops, upon 20. Prerace'all Occalions, declared the Habits were prefcribed, to the Adver- 7j&^^ the Clergy might be of one decent Behaviour in tifcments. their outward Apparel.^ and be KNOWN by their DI- STINCT Habits to be of that Vocation\ not meaning to attribute any Holinefs or fpeeial IVorthinefs to the faid [ 333 ] faid Garments. The warm and hurtful Contentjon raiTed by the Puritans, upon account of the appoint- ed Habits, made it necefFary to reprefent them as fomeihing very different from what they really were, which was no more than a particular Drefs to di- ftinguifli a particular Order of Men. Mr. N- feems conicious, that a Drefs appointed with this View could never juftify the inflaming the Proteftant Po- pulace throughout the Nation; and therefore he la- bours to reprefent it in another Light, and quotes two Paflages in the Preface to the Liturgy for this Purpofe. But is there any mention of the Habits in either of them ? One Paflage runs thus. ' This * our excellive Multitude of Ceremonies [in the * Times of Popery] was fo great, and many of * them fo dark, that they did more confound and * darken than declare and fet forth Chrift's Benefits * unto us. And belides this, Chriji*s Gofpei is not a * ceremonial Law (as much of Mofes^ Law was) , * but it is a Religion to fcive God, not in Bondage * of the Figure or Shadow, but in the Freedom of ' the Spirit, being content only with thofe Ceremo- ' nies which do ferve to a decent Order, and godly ' Difcipline; and fuch as be apt to Jiir up the dull ' Mind of Man to the Remembradce of his Duty to ' God, by fome notable and fpecial Signification, * * whereby he might be edified." The Preface fays, ChrijTs Gofpei is content only with thofe Ceremo- nies^ &c. Mr. N, afTerts, that the Preface fays, the Vefiments were defigned for thefe Purpofes; where- as the VeQments are not mentioned there; and, as we have feen, they were appointed for a very diffe- rent Purpofe. The other Paflage in the Preface ferves his Turn as little. There is nothing faid there of the diftinguifliing Drefs of the Clergy ; which would have plainly appeared, if he had quo- ted it as it (lands in the Book. ' Other (jCeremonies) ' there be, which, altho' they have been devifed by * Man, yet it is thought good to referve them ftill, * as well for a decent Order in the Church, for the * which they were firft devifed, as becaufe they per- •^ tain to Edification, whereunto all things done in * the Church (as the Apollle teachcth) ought to be * referred." That thefe Paflages have not the [ 334 ] Jeaft Relation to the Habits, Mr. N. himfelf, in another Place, ftrongly aflerted. His Words are , Tj-ftorv ^^^^^* ' ^^^ fij'-^ Reformers never afcribed any . J ^ '' *" Holinefs or V'trtue to the Veftments^ but wifh'd ^^' ' and pray'd for their Removal. And who were the Authors of this Preface, but the firft Reformers ? But Mr. N- goes farther. ' Not one of the firft Set of Bifliops after the Re- * formation approved of the Habits, or argued for t. their Continuance, from Scripture, Antiquity, or ( Decency ; but fubmitted to them out of Neceffity, 4 to keep the Church in the Queen's Favour. What Inconfiftency is here I The Habits are faid to be exceptionable, becaufe they were declared to have fome notable and fpecial Signification ; and yet thofe very Perfons who are charged with making this Declaration, are faid to have no fuch Opinion of the Habits, and never to have argued for them upon any fuch Topic ! Their Words are mifquated, in order to fix an Opinion upon them which him- felf declares they never entertain'd. AT's Hift. p. Z42. ' The Sheriffs of London de- * te6^ed and broke them up, when they were af- ' fembled, to the Number of about One Hundred. * Moft of them were taken into Cuftody, and fent * to the Compter, Mr. JSl. quotes for thi^, Life of Grwdnl, f. 31^. and Life of Parker^ p 342. He fliould have faid p, lis- and p. 241. This may be a Mfftake of the Printer; but the mifreprefenting the Number of Prifoners muft be his own ; for in hthVhccs he ihould have quoted, it is exprefly faid, about Four- teen or Fifteen were fent to the Compter ; but, as this Gentleman aflbres us in his Preface, he has faid nothing with a Defign to exafperate^ he has only encreafed Fourteen or Fifteen to the greateft Pafrt of a Hundred. ' ;/ , N^s Hrft. p.i^S' * At length, their Patfence * and Conftancy having been futficiently tHed, an ' Order was fent from the Lords of tlte Council, * to releafe them, with an Admonition to bfehave * themfelve« better for the fiiturc. Here C 335 3 Here again we are reterred to a wrong Place, viz. Life of Grindal^ p. 120. inftead of p. \ 35-. But the partial Reprefentation of this Matter, and the frp- pr effing good Bilhop GrindaV% Share in their En- largement, fall much heavier upon this Writer. The Words of his Author, whom he places in the Margin, to give Credit to his own Story, are thefe. * Nor could all the Bi(hop*s Endeavours reclaim ' them: And therefore /'/>y/«^ their Condition, He ' moved the Secretary, that Clemency might be ufed ' towards them, that fo by giving them freely their * Liberty, only with an Admonition, they might be ' more prevailed withal to comply vs^ith the Laws, ' than by Severity ; and praying the Secretary to ' obtain from the Lords of the Council an Order ' to him (the Bifhop) to releafe them. According- * ly, the Lords approved of GrindaPs Counfel^ and * m April fent him a Letter with a Warrant for that * Purpofe. iST's Hid. p. 272. ' The Convocation that began *• with this Parliament affembled April ^. when the * Reverend Mr. Gilbert Alcock^xtUmtd aSupplica- * tton to them in behalf of the deprived Minifters, * praying their Intereft with the Queen for a Redrefs ' of their Grievances; if a Godly Minifter (fays he) * omit but the leaft Ceremony^ for Confcience fake, * he is immediately indided, deprived, calt into ' Prifon, and his Goods wafted and deftroyed. For this Account Mr. N. refers us to his MS. which is effedually confuted by what we find in D'Ew^'s Journal in the fame Year 1^71. A Bill was brought into the Houfe, for coming to Ser- vice; upon which one of the Members obferves, that by the former Law it was Enai^ed, ' That the ' Service (hall not be faid, or Sacrament miniftred ' in any other fort, than in the Book of Common- * Prayer is prefcribed; he Ihewed how differently ' the fame was ufed, in many Places^ from the pre- ' fcribed Rule. As, where no Part of thofe Pray- * ers were obfervcd, but a Sermon, and fome fuch « other Prayers only as the Minifter ftiall think good * in Place thereof. Whereupon have great DWiCi- ^ons, Difcords andDiflikes grown amongft and * between [ ii6 ] ^ htivfttn great N^mhtrs. (He adds) theMiniders * neither dv), rioi will do herein as they (hould, and ' as is by the Law prd'ciibed and commanded. How different is this from the MS. Account ! If they had been deprived and imprifoned for omitting the leall Ceremony, how could there be lb many Churches, at the very time this Complaint is fup- pofed to be made, in which they departed fo much from the prefcribed Form of Service! iV's Hirt. />. 279. ' The Reverend Mr. David * li'hitehead^ a great Scholar, and moft heavenly ' FrofelTir of Divinity He was chofen one of * the Dtfputants againft the Popip Bifiops^ and * fliewed himfelf fo profound a Divine, the Queen * offered him the j^rchbijhoprick of Canterbury. Strange Offer t^ fuch a Man, from a Princefs who, Mr. ^.affirms, had 2i Heart not to be alienated from thePapiJii I But this Gentleman goes on: * He * refufed it from P«r/>^»/j^/Principles, and would ' accept of iu> Preferment in the Chufch, as it then * flood.'* Had not Mt IVhite/jead ^'wen his own Reafons for this Refufal, Mr. AT. might have in- invenied one for him. 'Tis injaring his Memory, to charge hi'm with luppreflingthe true Reafon, and givifjsj afalfc one. He alledged no Diflike of the Churcn, butfaid, he could live plentifully on preach- ing theGofpel, without any Preferment. 'Tis there- fore very unaccountable in Mr.ZST. without any Au- thorirv (not even that of his MS.) to aflign Purita- nifm for the Reafon of his Refufal. This is more unwarrantabk, becaufe, as Mr. N. himfelf menti- 0!»s, ht u/av one ot the Difputants againrt thePopifli Biihops ; ia which Difpute, one Article was, Whe- N*6 Hiftory ^^^^ ^"i^ery Church had not Authority to appoint^ p. 126. change^ and take away CtRjEMONlES and Ecclefiafti- BurnctW.//.cal Rites, fo the fame were dune to edifying. Be- Strype's Ann. fide, Mi.Smmpfon, Cartwrtght^ and Other Puritans^ Vol, I, accepted of Hofpuals \ yet ^i.lVhiteheaditi\iitd a Pre^errnerit of that fort, the Hofpital of the Savoy^ being refolved not to nave any Preferment, either fuch as Puritans orConformiits accepted of. Upon the whole, as he was one o*^ thoCe who revifed and prepared the LiTUKGY for thfe Parliament ^ and al- ways [ 337] ways continued preaching in the Church. He Strype ^nn.l, ought to be added to the Number (-f thole enii-/' yi. nent pious Men, who approved of the Coiiflituu- on, and died Members o[' the Church of En^^lund. N\ Hill.;». 279. ^ Archbifhop P^r^^r took in * the BiOiops abovcmentioned viz.U^ii^cheJier ^ud * £/)', (u) which Mr. i^ ftiould have added, li'orce- ' fter^ Chichefler^ and Sarut») to countenance his ' Proceedings. But Grindal declared h-e would ' not be concerned, if his Giace proceeded 10 Suf- ' penlion and Deprivation. Upon which Parker ' writ back, that he thought it high Time to Rt ' about it; and however the World might judge, ' he would ferve God and his Prince, and put her * Laws \n Execution. That Grindal wil^ too limo- * rous, there being no Danger of ^ Priemuntre.'''' There is no Mention of any fuch Declarmon of Gri'fidal\ in the Place from whence Mr. A/", took this Paragraph, viz. Life of Parker, p. 325-. The Account there is very ditfertnt, in many Refpeds, from his Reprefentaiion of it. *Tis in the follow- ing Words. ' Of the BiOiop of London he [Arch- ' Difliop Parker] doubted, if it came to Sufpenfion * or Deprivation, whether he would be concerned." Sandys was BiiTiop of London^ and not Grindal. ' Bur, for his own Part, as he wrote in a Letter to * Grindal^ Archhijjjop of Tork^ that howfoever the ' World mighr judge, he would ferve God, his ' Prince and her Laws, and his Confcience, as it ' was high Time to fet upon it: And yet he faid he * would be glad to be advifed to work pruJently, * rather to Edfuatio^ than to Dcflrudion. I N.H.p.i^^. * Her Majeftyfent them word within ' a Day or two, that (lie utterly difliked the Bills, ' and never returned them. This awakened a brave ' Spirit of Liberiy among fome of the Members : ' Many free Speeches were made upon this Occa(iori, ' and among others, Sir Peter l^f/entworth fpokc — ' bat for this Speech Sir Pt-^efr was fent to iheTower, The Queen's MeiTage by Mr. 7 reafurer upon this Occaiion, is preferved \{-\ D' Ewch Journal. p. 2,14. How different fro;n Mr. iV's Account of Z u! [ 338 ] it I * Her Majefly feem'd utterly to mlflike of the ' iirft Bill, and of him that brought the fame into * the Houfe ; and that her Highnefs exprefs Will ' and Pleafure was, that no Preacher or Minifter ' fhould be impeached or indicled, or oiherwife ' molefted or troubled, as the Preamble of the faid * Bill did purport, adding thefe comfortable Words * farther, that her Majefty, as Defender of the ' Faith, will aid and maintain all good Proteftants, * to thedifcouraging of all Papifts." But Sir P^/cr Wemvjorth was fent to the Tuwer^ upon this Occa- fi(m\ Three Years after^ liz. in the Year iS7U D'Ewe'sJour- ' Peter Went worth., Efq; (whom Mr. N. calls 5ir nal p, 436. ' Peter) one of the Burgelfes for the Borough of ' Tregony in the County of Cornwall was, for un- * reverent and undtittful Words uttered by him in ' in this Houfe of our Sovereign Lady^ the Queen's ' Majefty^ fequellered, that the Houfe might pro- ' ceed to Conference and Confideration ot his faid * Speech." A Committee was appointed, and did take the Speech into Confideration accordingly. Mr. Treafurer, probably the Chairman, reported, ' that the Committee had examined the faid Peter ' IVentworth touching the violent and wickedV^oi^s ' yefterday pronounced by him m this Houfe touch- ' the Queen^ Majefty^ and mude a Colle6tion of ' the fame Words; which Words fo. colleded ' the faid P^/^r IVentworth did acknowledge and * confefs. Then did the faid Mr. Treafurer read ' unto the Houfe the faid Note of Colledion, * which being read, he declared farther, That the ' faid Peter Wentworth being examined what he ' could fay for the extenuating of his faid Fault * and Offence, could neither fay any thing at all to ' that Purpofe, neither yet did charge any other ' Perfon as Author of his faid Speech, but did take ' all the Burden thereof to himfelf; and fo the faid * Mr. Treafurer did thereupon move for his Punifh- ' ment and Imprifonment in the Tower^ as the * Houfe (hould think good — whereupon he was * ordered to the Tower — but the faid Peter IVent- * worth was (hortly, by iht Queen's fpecial Favour^ ' rellored again, to his Liberty, and Place in the ' Houfe.'* Mt. IVentworth' s Speech is preferved in [ 339 ] in D^Ewe^s Journal. He lays, with refpedl to ths Queen, ' How could any Prince more unkindly ' entreat, abufe and oppofe herjelf aga'inji her ISI'jbi' * lity and People^ than her Majejiy did the tajl Par- ' Itament V He goes on to explain hiinfelt upon the Bills relating, not to the religious Difputes, but to the Scotiijh Queen, in which Affair, as it is ob- ferved/?. 241. the Queen inhibited ihem for a cer- tain time to proceed. But Mi,Wentworth not on- ly inveighed againll the Queen, bat Teems to laice particular Care to alienate the People's Affedion from her. He adds, ' Will not this her Maje(iy*s * Handling, think you, Mr. Speaker, make cold ' Dealing in any of her Majedy's Subje6ls towards ' her again?" This Gentleman was a Friend and Favourer of the Puritans'", and if Mr. AT. thinks it will be any Credit to the Caufe, he is at full Liber- ty to call fuch Treatment of the Queen Puritanifm, and Hill to reckon Mr. lVentivorth\ Commitment by the Houfe of Commons one Inftance of fuifer- ing upon that Account. N's Hift. p. 308. * But after all, his Lordfhip ' or Norwich being fufpeded of RemifTnefs, Parker ' directed a Special Commiflion to Commiflaries * of his own appointing, to vifit his Diocefe pa- ' rochially, which they did, and reported, fomeMi- * nifters v^ere abfent, and fo could not be examined ; * other Churches had no Surplices, but the Mini- ' fters faid they would wear them when provided : ' But that there were about Three Hundred ' Nonconformifts, whom they had Suspended, ' fome of whom, as the good old Bifliop writ, * were godly, learned, and had done much good. In Confirmation of this, Mr. N. quotes Life of Parker^ p. 45-2. Upon confulting that Author, we find an Account greatly different in feveral re- fpefls from the foregoing Reprefentation of it. ' The BilTiop of Norwich (fays Mr. N.) being fuf- * pedcd of Remillnefs, Parker direded a Special * CommifTion to vilit his Diocefe." But when was this.^ Mr. Strype informs us 'twas the next Year, after the Bijhop was dead. ' In March x^-]^, the * ArchbiOiop began his Vilitaiion of the Church of Z 2 * ^^^' t 34° J * Norwkh^ according to the CuRom upon Vacant ' cies o{ iheSees." But Mr. N. adds, the Arckbi- Jhjp^s Comr/jijfaries reported, Ibme Miniikrs wcre ahlerit* aad lb cou'd not be txaniiued Other Churches had no Surplices, cjfc. about i&ree ban' are J v/^re fr^fpef^aeci. This Report was not by the ivrchbifhop's Conirnliliirics. ' By vfnie of a fpeci- ' al Order (fays Mr. Strype) from the Qccen and * Council to vi(it this Dic-cefe of J^J'otwich paio- * chially, a (ir\6i Inqviiry v\as made about the Clcr- * gy's Conformity, many of whom did not Vv^car * the Hibits, nor ^f^d the- otiier Rites enjoined. ' The Minifters of Mo*^wich had been Lcfo>e the ' Bijhop there, as he [not theCommilfaiiesj wrote ' to the Archbifliop, Dec. 3, whom he had earneil- ' ly acmonifhed to Conformity and due Obedience, ' and found them agreeing, and very tra£tablf." Bui Mr N. favs, about three hundred were fufpend- ed, fome of wlioin, as the good old Bifliop writ, were godly and learned, and had done, iiiuch Good. On the contrary, Mr Strype, in the Place Mr. N. quotes, fays, afrer the Inquiluion and Search, of the Diocefe was pretty well over, the Bilhop of Nonvtch wrote thus ro the Archbifhop. ' MyDu- ^ ty unto your Grace humt)Iy remembered. I 60 ' fend unt > you by this Briiiger, the Certificate for * the Archdeaconry ot' Sud-^ury^ whef cby your Grace ' may fee there be nut many wiitul Bodies ot the ' Clergy, and they, for the mo?] Part, have promifcd ' Conformity. In the Archdciconry of Suffolk^ are '■ very few, or none ar all, but that be well v.'iliing ' to be ordered. And fo I have been cenitted, wiih- * out naming any I'eifon particularly; wherefore * I tfud your Grace, nor any others of Authority, , ' fliall have any great ado with the Clergy of my '-Diocefe,'''* Accordingly, we do not tiiid the leafl Mtniioii of three hundred, nor any thijig like it, fufpended. James Rofier^ Vicar of IVinjlon^ and Ji/hn Cba-mpyn^ Vicar of Wherfled^ are the only Perfons faid to be fufpended. Mr. IVelch's^ Curate of Little IValdiK/fifid^ *iis faid, neither hath, nor will obferve the Order, and for that Caufe, had given over the Cure." Thefe three Mr. N. calls about three hundred. There are indeed fome few more [341 ] more mentioned, that eitner defired Time to confi- der, or that did not conlent to conform, but no other are faid to be lufpended. The whole Num- ber of Refufers, of all forts, falls greatly fliort of one hundred ; arid agreeably to this the Bifliop fays in his Letter, there be not many wilful fiodies, and moft of thefe [tcwj have promifed Conformity. Again, Some of thofe that were fufpended (fays Mr. AT.) the Bifhop, in his Letter, wrote, were godly and learned, and had done much good. Some^ fays Mr. N. his Author, on the contrary, fays One^ the rejl wholly agreeing, and being trada- ble, fav'tng that one, IVlr. IVIoor (who does not ap- pear to have been fufpended) of whom the Bifliop gave this Charader to the Archbifhop, * That he ' had not known that he had fpoken againft her ' Majelly's Book at any time; neither could he ' find any manner of Stubbornnefs in him; and * furely (as he added) \Ae\s godly and learned^ and ' hath done much good in this City." This is the Account in Stry^e 45-2. the very Place quoted by Mr. AT. for the Sufpenfion of about 3C0, fome of whom the good old Bifliop wrote were godly, l^c. Mr. N. feems to have taken great Pains to mifre- prefent the Proceedings of this Bilhop of Norwich, The BiJJjop h\mCe\f wrote a Letter to his Chancellory that Commandment might be fent to his Archdea- cons and their Miniflers, to give in Charge to the Clergy and Quel^men, in their refptdive Circuits, to prefent the Names and Surnames of all fuch Perfons as were negligent, obllinate, or any other- wife Hinderers of her Majeliy's Proceedings, con- trary to the faid I^ook, and the Statute provided la strype's AtiQ. that behalf. This Letter was dated from Ludham^i^i^ 'Jan, 30, I5"73. Mr,N*'s Reprefentation is as fol- lows. ' The CommiJJloners being thus pulhed ft)r- ' ward from above, jent Letters to the Bifliops, to * give it in Charge to their Clergy and Qaeft men, * (^c. A Letter of this fort was fent,^ among ' others, to the old Bi(h• 495"' declares a Perfon of ^reat Integrity^ IVorth and Learning) Mr. N. tells us, * He died of the Stone ' in the Year iSlSt ^"^ ^"^^^ interred in Lambeth- * Chapel^ where his Body refted, till \tvJ^^removed * at the End of the Civil Wars, by a private Gentle^ * man^ ^^9ho purchafed that Palace for a Manlion- * houfe. Removed by a private Gentleman \ Thrown into a Dunghill by a Regicide ! This was the Truth of the Cafe, however Mr. N- thought fit to foften the P^a6l, for the fake of him that committed it. Mr. Strype gives the following Account of ir. ' Upon the Diflblution of Monarchy, in the bar- Life of P*»r*rr * barous Violence ufed upon the facred Perfon of p. 499. _. ' King Charles L Lambeth Houfe fell to the L-; Z 4 vJolo- [ 344 ] ' Colonel Scot^ one of the Regicides, He thought ' to ^«r« the Chtipel into a Hall or Dancing'K. 3i. ' old Incumbents and Curates were f^ch as were ' fitter to fport with the Timbrel ancTPipe, than ' to take into their Hands the Book of the Lord. Mr. N. tells us, Most of the old Incumbents are difgptifed Papijis (which is likewife his Additi- on) fitter to fport with the Timbrel and Pipe, than to take into their Hands the Book of the Lord. N's Hid./?. 35-9. ' The Queen put down the * Prophefyings, or religious Exercifes for no other * Reafon, but bccaufe they enlightened the People's * Minds in the Scripture, and encouraged their In- * quiries after Truth. 'Tis very hard Ufage of the Queen, not to al- low her to give the Reafons of her own Condud, and [ 345 ] and Qill worfe, to allign one fo very injuri- ous. She ^xprefTes her felf ihu<;. * By which ' manner of Afffmblits, great Nnyyibers of our * People, meet id be oiherwife (occupied with ho- * ncit Labour for tlicir Living, arc brought to Idle- * nefs^ and reduced, and in a manner of/? //w^/z^^/Zy ' divided arn')Kg themfeives into Variety of danger- ' ous Opinions; not only in T'owns and Partjhes^ ' but even \nfome Families^ and manifellly thereby * c/icnura^cd^ to the V'talation of our Lrre impartial inMriV. if he had tranfcribed the ArchbiOiop's An- fwer, or the mod material Parts of it : But he palfes it over with only faying, the Arcfibifhop vvrore a long Answer. He (hould have taken Notice in particular, that his Grace tells the Lord Burleigh: ' I have, by your LordlTiip's Advice^ cholVn. mis ' kiiid of Proceeding, becaufe I would net touch * ayiy for not fubfcribing oyJy^ but for Breach of Or- * dtr ill celebrating Divine Service, adininiltiitig * Sacraments, and executing other Eccklialiical ' Functions, [ 34^ ] Fun6lions, according to their Fancies, and not according to the Form by Law prefcribed, which neither your Lordfliip nor others feemed to diflike, but to wi(h and require My Proceedings are neither /o vehement^ nor general^ againft Mini- rters and Preachers, as fome pretend, doing me therein great Injury ; and i have fundry times fa- lisfied your Lordfliip therein — The Objection of encouraging the Papijis^ &c. hath neither Proba- bility nor Likelihood. For how can Papifls be animated, by urging of Men to fubfcribe agawft the Pope's Supremacy, or to the juftifying of the Book of Common-Prayer, and of the Articles of Religion, both which they fo greatly condemn? But indeed Papifts, l^c. are animated, becaufe they fee thefe kind of Perfons (which herein, after a fort, join with them) fo greatly friended, fo much borne with, and fo animated in their difordered Doings againft both God's Laws and Man's, and againft their chief Governours Civil and Eccleliaftical. This, 1 fay, encourageth the Papifts, and maketh them fo malapert. The other is but a fallax a non caufa ad caufam. O my Lord, would to God fome of them which ufe this Argument^ had no Pap'tfts in their Families^ and not othervjife alfo countenanced rhem, whereby indeed they receive Encouragement. Aflure your felf, that the Papitls are rather grieved at my Do- ings, becaufe they tend to the taking away of their chief Argument, that is, that we cannot agree among our felves, and lack Unity, and therefore are out of the Church. And I am Cre- dibly informed, that the Papifts give Encourage- ment to thefe Men, and commend them in their Doings ; whereof I have alfo fome Experience. — 1 have not dealt as yet with any but fuch as have refufed to fubfcribe, and given manifeft To- kens of Contempt of Orders and Laws. My Ads remaining in Record will teftify with me— — For, in my own Part, I neither do, nor have done any thing in this Matter, which I do not think my felf in Duty and Confcience bound to do." Mr. Strype calls this a wary, wife and refolute Let- ter; 'tis very long, and is only taken Notice of here, [ 347 } here, as one Inftance among many, where Mr. J^» has given Letters, without adding the Replies made to them, and produced Obje£lions, without taking fufficient Notice of the Anfwers given to thofe Ob« jedions. We have an Inllance of the like fort, within a few Pages, z>iz.p.^iS» Mr. N. produces a Letter from the Lords of the Council, in order to blacken the Archbilhop, but quotes not a Wdrd of the Archbifhop's Letter in Vindication of him- felf and his Brethren. Mr. Strype (out of whom Mr. N. tranfcribes the Letter from the Council) takes Notice in the fame Place, that ' This Let- ' ter of the Lords, lb careful for the good Eftate ' of the Church, was grounded chiefly, as we fee, * upon Surmifes which they had taken up from the * Information and Reports of the Difaffeded Fa^iotjy ' concerning the great Abilities and Learning of ' tbemfelves^ and the ignorant and fcandalous Lives ' of the obedient and conformable Clergy, which * however was in a great Part falfe, and uncharita- * bly given out; and therefore the Archbilhop, in ' his Anfwer, made it his chief Bufinefs to vindicate * to the Lords thofe Minijiers from fuch Afpcrjions^ ' and himlelf and the reft of the CommiJJioners^ m ' (hewing no Favour to fuch as deferved Cenfure * for their Negle6ls or Misbehaviour, and to (hew ' likewife how weak and ignorant that felf-conceiteJ * Party themfehes were ! N's Hid./?. 460. ' The Puritans laft Refort was ' to the Archbilhop— -A Paper was therefore T^w/^- ' liped^ entitled, Means how to fettle a godly- and * charitable Ouietnefs in the Churchy humbly addrelt ' to the Arch"bi(hop, and containing the following ' Propofals But the Archbilhop would abate ' nothing, nor admit of the lealt Latitude from the ' national Eftablilhment. He writ an Anfwer to * thePropofals, in which he inlifts upon a full Con- ' formity, telling the Petitioners, that it was none ' of his Bulinefs to alter the Eccleliaftical Laws, or < difpenfe with them; which was all they were to * expeft from him. As Mr.>/.gave a large Account of the Propofals, he ought to have been more particular as to the An- fwer, fwer, and not fatisfied himfeH with faying the Arcia" biOiop wrote an Anfwer. The leaft he, could do# was to have mentioned what the Author he quotes lays of this Anfwer, viz. ' To all thefe Propa- Strype*s Lit'e * fa's (which the Archbilhop faw could not have ot I'f'hK^iff, ' that Tendency, to fettle a godly Quietnefs, what- /u 197. ' ever was pretended by the Framer of them) he ' returned brief, but very//z// and /a^7V/>»'^ Anfwers, *■ which are very well worth the confidering.'* One of the molt material Propofiils was, that injlead of of fubfcrioing, the fofpendtd Minilters fliould give a Bond. This, notwiihftanding Mr. N. takes no Notice of it, the Archbilliop, in his Anfwer, faid he did not millike; adding an Obftrvation upon the Propofal. The Reader will find them both in Strype's Life of IVhitgift^ j^ppend. N-\6. Lib. ^. m thefe Words. The Propofal is, •• That fuch ho- ' neft and learned Miniilers as have been of late * deprived or fufpended, may be futfered to conti- * nue their Preaching upon thefe Cautions follow- ' ing, viz- A Bond of [he faid Minifters, and fome ' of the principal Gentlemen in the Shire, that * they fliall not preach any erroneous, heretical or ' fchifmaiical Dodrine, nor fhall in their Sermons, ' Ledures or Preachings, inveigh, or teach any ' thing againfl the Book of Common-Prayer, Ar- * tides, and making of Miniders, nor againft the * Dignities of any Archbilhops, Bifhops, or other ' EcckJiadical Perfons, by what Name foever they ' may be called; but foberly to teach Chrid Jefus * crncified, and by no means break or diHurb the * Carder of the Church, but by all Means they can, ' uphold and maintain the fame, and wiihltand all ' fuch as fhall wilfully and wittingly attempt any ' thing to the contrary." To which their Propofal the Archbifliop made the following Anfwer. *' I d^j * mt mijlike of the Bond; but he that fhall enter in- ' to it, and yet refafe to fubfcribe, in irjy Opinion, ' is either a meer Hypocrite, or a very wilful Fel- * low ; for ^^;/ Condition containeth more than doth *• the Subfcription. Mr. N. in tranfcribing the 8th Article or Pro- pofal, has greatly altered it; he declares i( was, that ' Midwives and Women may not baptize." The r 349 ] c , The Words of the Piuiians are, That all bnpiKiing * by Midwives and VVdmen, may from hcDcctnrrh ' be inhibited, :in^ df dared void.^' In his Anlwer, the Bilhop obCerves, * Neither any of the 1' arhers, ' nor the 4th Council o^^ Carthage (which they had ' alledged) ever condemned the Baptizing of Wo- ' men in the Cafe of N'-'cej/hy and extraordtnarily ; * but that they Ihould baptize ordinal ily, and wiih- ' out Necelfuy, the Papifts themfelves do not al- ' low. i never heard, that any Bifhop profclfmg ' the Gofpel did give any fuch Authority to Mid- ' wives." There arc fome Fa6ls in their Articles OfPropofals, which are directly coniraditted in the Anfwer ; in particular, what relates to K. Eaward^ fir ft and fecond Service book. But Mr. N. palics over all thefe things, not ferving the Puritan Caule. iV's Hift.f. 482. ' The Prefs was in the Hands ' of the Archbi(liv)p, who took all poflibie ('are 10 ■' fiifle the Writings of the Puritans, while he gave ' Licence to Aj'camo^ an Italian Merchant and ' Bookfeller in London^ to import what Popijh * Books he thought fit^ upon this very odd Pretence, * that the /\dverfaries Ar^-umentsbfing better known ' by learned Men, mi.t^htbe more eafily confMted-— ' His Grace feems to have been in no Fear of Pope- * ry, tho' this very Year another Affafllnation Plot ' was difcovered. By this Account the Reader muft imagine, that the ArchbiOiop gave a free Licence to this f^ooK fel- ler, without any Condition, t<> impc^rt aiid fell Po- pifli Books. And thus Mr. N. explains it in his Margin and his Index- Whirgift licertfes Popijh Books, This is one Im'tance among many, very inany, where Mr. ^. avoids producin^i the Words of the Author he quotes, and by fubltitufing others in their Place, gives his own Reprefenratfon inHend of the true one. The Fad which he imputes to the Arciibilljop, as a Proof of his Inclinatifm to Popery, was really an Inftance of his Care for the Protefiant Religion. There was no Way for the Arc[)bill\op and Privy Council to know what Argu- ments or Rcprefentations the Papills ufed, but by perufing the Books in which thcfe were contained. Nr,r [ 350 ] Nor could fuch Books, which were fecretly diT- perfed among the People, be confuted, unlefs thofe who anfwered them could get a Copy, which by this Means he endeavoured to obtain. Had Mr N. made a fair Quotation, either given the Words of the Author, or the Licence itfelf, this would have appeared ; the Reader fhall have them both. '* This Strype's VJ hit' '' Licence the Archbifhop granted upon this ,^o»^ gifr, /». i68» ' Coniideration, That fuch Books being perufed by * learned Men, the Adverfaries Arguments might be ' the better known, in order to the Co'/tfutation * of them, and that oftentimes thence Matter ' might be colleded of fundry things relating to ' this Church Sind Real/n, that might turn to its Ufe * and Benefit, as may appear by the faid Licence, * which ran in thefe Words. * Whereas fundry * Books are from time to time fet forth in the Parts ' beyond Seas, by fuch as are addided to the Errors ' of Popery, yet, in many refpeSs, expedient to be ' had by fome of the learned of this Realm; contain* ' ing alfo oftentimes Matter in them againft the * State of this Land, and Jlanderous unto it ; and ' therefore no fit Books to pafs thro* every Man*s ' Hands freely. In Confideration whereof I have ' tolerated jlfcanius de Renialme, Merchant Book- ' fellor, to bring into this Realm from the Parts ' beyond Seas, fome few Copies of every fuch fort • ' of Books, upon this Condition only^ that any of ' them be not pevued or difperfed d.hio2id^ but firft ' brought to me, or fome other of her Majelly's ' Privy-Council, that fo they may be delivered, or ' direded to be delivered forth unto fuch Perfons ' OxMLY, as by us, or fome of us, (hall be thought * mofi meet Men^ upon good Conliderations and * Purpofes, to have the Reading and Perufal of them. ' Giveu at Lambeth, &c. Mr. Strype further ac- quaints us, that the Archbifhop was fo careful, that he made Afcanio enter into (trid Bonds to perform thefe Conditions. iV's Hift. p. 492. * In another Provincial Synod^ ' ^hom Mtchaelmas^ it was agreed, that the Oppref- ' fions otfered to others, and efpecially to the Mi- ' niltcrs, by the Biihops and their Officials in their ' fpiri- [351] * fpiritual Courts^ (hould be colle6led and regiftred. ' If this had been prefervcd entire, more of the ' Sufferings of ihefe great and good Men would * have appeared, and many Works of Darknefs, ' Oppreflion and Cruelty, wouUhave been brought * to Light, which now mult be concealed to the * Day of Judgment. This Writer not only reprefents, as he pleafes, Fa(J^s that are known, but decifiveiy determines upon thofe he profelles to know nothing of. This Golle£lion is now U>ft, or, 'tis more likely, was never made ; yet he is poliiive what wouU have been the Contents. Dr. Bridges publifhed a Book in Defence of the Ellablifliment, wherein he under- takes to prove, ' That the MiniQers were difpla- ' ced, iJjith Griefs for their Demerits. And can Mr. N. fay, that if the Trials themfelves had been produced, they would not have fupported that Al- legation, unlefs he had fcen them ? iV'sHift./. ^-Oi. ' Edivin Sandys, Archbifliop ' of Tork, was a zealous Defender of the Laws ^ againfl Nonconformids of all forts. When Ar- * guments failed, he would earneOIy implore the * fecularArm; tho' he had no great Opinion, either * of the Difcipline or Ceremonies of the Church, *• as appears by his laft Will and Teflament, m * which are thefe remarkable Exprefiions. * I am * perfuaded, that the Riies and Ceremonies by poli- ' tical Infiitution appointed in the Church, are not * ungodly, nor unlawful, but may, for Order and ' Obedience fake, be ufed by a good Chriilian * but 1 am now, and ever have been perfuaded, that ' fome of thefe Rites and Ceremunies are not ex- ' pedient for this Church now; but that in the ' Church Reformed, and in all this Time oi the * Gofpel, they may better be difufed by little and * little, than more and more urged.' Such a Tefti- * mony from the dying Lips of one that had been ' ^feverePerfecuter of honeli Men for things which * he always thought had better be difufed than ur- ' ged, deferves to be remembered. The Amount of this Charge is Hypocrify and Craelty. He perfected for things he thought better difufed [ 35^ ] difufed than urged. We now lee with what Defign it was that Mr.2V. /. 279. applied to another Perlua what wAsfiidoi' the Moderation of Btjhop Sandys. This Bilhop was to be rtprefenred as a Jevere Per- fecutoK, and therefore Mr. N. mifqaotes his Author, rathc:r ih;in let it appear, that Hilliop Sandys was fo far from beinj^ a Perfecutor, that the Archbilhop Life oF Tar- doubted of HlM, if it came to Siifpeyifion or Depnvj- ker, p. X^S tioH^ whether he would be concerned. This is &,Q Cn'urch Hift. Accouut we have in Sirype. Mr. fuller g'lv^s him Lih. IV. the following CharaQer. * Edwin Sandys^ Arch- f. ujj. ' bifljop of Tork, an excellent and painful Preacher, ' and of a pious and godly Life It is hard to * fav, wlieilier he was more eminem \w his ownl^ir" * tues^ or more happy in his fiourifiiing Pollerity.'* By ti^e Help of his own Method of reprefenting things Mr. N- defcribcs this eminent and pious Coi)kir>r, as perfecuting HoNhsr Men againft the ConvicHons of his own Mind. A heavy Charge! Mr. Strype, from whom Mr. A/" had this Will, ex- prefjy fays, ' 1 hat it difcovers from himfelf the '' holy ani divine^ the pions and humble Spirit of this ^/ry^e's An. 5.' excellent Prelate.*' But wlsence thefe different KKx. Gonclulions from the fame Will ? * Fis ealily an- fwered. Mr. Strype fairly qu.»tes the whole of it. And is it nor highly un)ultihable m Mr. AT. by fup- prefTmg Part of the Will which lay before him, fo to change the Oelign of it, as to make that a Foun- dfition to blacken the Memory of the good Arch- bidiop; which is. an honeft Difcovery (»f his benti- jnents, and a plain Proof of his upright-Behaviour. '1 he VVi)rds that immediately f(jllow thofe quoted by Mr. N. are thefe. ' Howbeit, as I do eaiily ' acknowiedt;e i>ur Ecclefiaftical Policy, in fome * Points muy be bettered; fo do I utterly diflike, ' even ill my Conicience, all fuch rude and indigefted ^ Phufornis as have been more lately and ^^/i/y, than •• either learnedly or wifely preferred, tending not * to lie Kf formation^ but to the Deftrudion of this ' Chuich of Erjglund. The Particularities of both ^ ' St ris rcfetveo to theDi(cretion of the godly wife. ' c )r the latter I only fay thus: That the State of a ^ y/7,jli privaie Church, and the Fo; m of a larger ^'Chr'^Jlan K'.dgdora. neither wauld long like, nor ' caa [ 353 3 ^ c:tn at all brook one and the fame Ecclcfiafllcal * Government. Thus much J thought good to * teftify concerning thefe Eccleliaftical Matters, to * clear me of all iiufpicion of double and indiredt * Dealing in the Houl'e of God." Tis plain there- fore, hedifliked the Puritans, not for difliking fome Ceremonies, but for rudely and boldly attempting the Peftru6lion of the Church of England^ and the Introdudion of their own indigefted Platforms. iV's Hift. /'. 5-07. ' Sir Richard Knightley^ Sir * — — • IVigfton^ who had entertained the Prefs, to- * ge^her with the Printer, and Humphrey Meivmatt * [a Cobler, his Author fays] the Difpe"rfer, were ' deeply fined in the Star-Chamber. For this he quotes Fuller Lib. ^. p. 194. They were indeed condemned m a Fine i but Mr. Fuller^ in the Place quoted by Mr. A^. informs us, that ArchbiO^vp llhitgift importuned the Queen * to ' have them delivered out of Prifon, and eafed of * th^ir FineSy whicky upon their Submiflion, was ' performed; whoih MildKcfs (adds Mr. Fuller) to * mediate for his Adverfaries, as it was highly com- ' mended by fome, fo there wanted not thofe who * imputed his Moderation therein to declining of ' Envy, rjfc. Thus impoflible it is to pleafe/r; ' and peaceable Man, who would have been very ^'''- ■^'"' ' glad to reclaim the Puritans by foft and gentle * Means, fuch as the Gofpel allows." Mr. AT. on the contrary, defcribes him as one who was * refolved to bear down all Oppofition, and to dif- * play his foverei^n Power againd all whofe Con- * fciences were not as flexible as his own. ' And to prove this Flexibility of U'hitgifc\ Confcience, he alledges, ' he had complied with the Popifh Re-^-'j Hiftory, * ligion, and kept his Place in the Univerfiiy,* ^qS. * throughout all the Rei^'n of Queen M^ry." Com- plied vvich the PopilTi Religion! the Reverfc of A a this Life of H'hit- [ 354 ] this is true; he neither did, nor could comply wit^i it, which would plainly have appeared, had Mr. N- given us the Words of the Author, which are thefe. There was to be a Vifitation of the Univerfity of Cambridge—m order to the fupprefling of pre- tended Herefy and for the urging of Popery upon rhe Fellows and Scholars, and obliging fuch as were qualified to take the firilTonfure. IVhit' gift was one of thefe ; being Matter of Arts, and forefeeing his Danger^ not only of Expulfion out of the Univerfity, but further of his Ltfe^ fince he COULD NOT COMPLY with what would be re- quired, he refolved with himfelf to leave the Col- lege, and depart abroad, and fojourn as well as he could, among the faithtul Exiles. But Dr.Peirce the Mailer, underftanding^^^/V^//2:'sPurpofe, and obferving him^^^-^ /» ^is Religion^ by the many good Arguments he ufed (which the Dr. would often fpeak of afterwards) he bad him keep his own Counfel, and by no means utter his Opini- ons, whereby he might be brought into Queftion, and he would conceal him without incurring any Danger to. his ConJcie»ce in this Vifitation- ' U^hitgift Therefore obtaining this Favour (not without fome fpecial Providence towards him and thisChurch, and the Univerfity of Crtw^r?^^^^ continued in the College throughout the danger- ous Reign of Queen Mary^ having the Advantage of plying his Studies, and improving in good ufeful Learning, and efpecivilly of examining more narrowly the C>ontrovcrfies between the Roma- niffs and the Reformed, and fo confirmcdWxm^tM more in the true Religion^ This, when Mr.AT. hastranlcribed it, is complying with Popery ! N s Hill. ;'. 53S. * To render the Puritans odi- ous t-> the PuDlick, nil Hnthufiafis, without Di- (lincTtion, were ranked among them; even Hacket ar;d his two Prophets, Arthington zudCoppinger-- wheitas there was not a fingle Puritan concerned with ihem-, Mr. Cartw right writ an Apolo- gy for hinU'crU and his Brethren, againft the Afper- iions o.\ T>x,Sutchffe^ inwhicii he declares he had never U^w Huket nor /Jrthington , nor ever ' had * had any Conference with ibem by Letter or Mef- ' fat^e. The Fa6l charged npon Cartwright was, that there had been fonie Corrcfpondence between hiin and Coppinger; that he had neither di/fcadcd him from the D^^lign, nor acquainted the Go//^ dcpofcJ ' from the Miin'lUy, and commiued clof:: Prifo- ' ncrs." /^jrrf"// indeed, when he was in Fiiiori, made a ri>]fmn Pruicdaiion of his Innocency, and defended the Do6lrine of difpofrefllng evil Spirits, by Fading and Prayer. ' One would think (fays ' Mr. l Was not More con- demned with him ? Does not Mr. Strype mention Mr. HlLierfotim^ another Minifler^ as allowing a Book in Conjundion with Darrell^ wrote by Rice^ a Sadler, upon the DifpolTeffion of the Boy of i^ Years old, and contracted by Mr. Denmfon, ano- ther MiHijler. Of the difpofltfTing the fevcn Per- fons at Mx, Starky''%^ one Wix, Deacon^ Treacher tlx Leigh, wrote a Bojk, which Book was juiliried by More^ another Preacher ; which More^ had joined himfelf with Darrell in that preteiided Dirpolitiriun of lix Women, in one Houfe. Darreil himfclf declared, that Aldridge^ another Minijler^ wrote (O him, after having wrote to two other Mi^i/Jers^ who were abfent from their Homes. And that Barrel, Aldridge, and two other Minifters, with I JO ot the Neighbours, aflcmbled in Prayer and Falling, for dirpolTefling Somers. This Sowers afterwards owned the Fraud, and then denyed ir. Attet wards he was brought before the Lord Chiif Jurtice, and then he confefTcd again the whole Courfe of his Diffimulation.j Darrell, however, wrote a Book, after this, to prove that Somers A a 4 was C 360 ] was really pofTeffed ; any one, that confiders the Siare of the Town of Nottingham^ will applaud the Proceedings of the high Commiffion. * By this ' Time (fays Mx.Strype) it came to pafs, that the * People of Nottingham were violent againii one * another, and the whole Town divided as they ' Itood affeded. The Pulpits rang of nothing but ' Devils and Witches ; and Men, Women and * Children were fo affrighted, that they durft not * (tir in the Night ; nor fo much as a Servant, al- ' moft, go into his Mafter's Cellar, about 1ms Bq- * finefs, without Company. Few happened to be * lick, or ill at Eafe, but ftrait they were damned ' to be polTelTcd." 'Twashigh Time to put a Stop to this Fradtice of difpofTeffing, whether the Au- thors Wt^re Knaves, Enthuliafts, or both, Mr. N, is at Liberty to continue thefe Praditioners in the Lift of Puritans, which this Inftance plainly fhews, he is defirous to encreale with all Clergymen that were puniftied, whatever was the Reafon of it. Mr. Allen beforementioned is an Inftance of another Sort; this Gentleman, by the Malice and Revenge of one of hisParifhioners, happened to fall under an unreafonable Profecution. Mr. Allen^ Mr. N himfelf allows, was a good Preacher^ had fub- fcribed, was well liked by the Bijhop^ and conform- able in his Affedions. How comes this Gentle- man to be a Puritan, or why is he mentioned as fuch, except to fwell their Number ? With what Propriety could Mr. N. after fuch Profecutions, cry out. Thus the Puritan Clergy were put upon the Level with Rogues and Felons. Darrell^ and his Affociates, may be Puritans, if their Hiftorian pleafesi but fure, a fubfcribing Minifter, conform- able in his Affedions, ought not to be added to that Lift. The Reader, from thofe f^w Obfervations that have been laid before him, will be able to judge, what fort of a Hiftory of the Puritans has been offered to the World. He is likewife defired to obferve, that the chief Deiign of thefe Papers is to /»/)/>/y the Defedsy and corred fome Miftakes in that C 3^1 ] that Performance, and not to give a compleat Ac- count of all the Tranfadlons of thofe 1 imes. It had been more conducive to that Peace and mu- tual Forbearance, for which Mr. N*s Preface declares a Regard, if he had faffered this Part of Hiftory to reft whole and emire in Mr. Strype and other Authors, who have largely writ upon ir. Jf impartial Readers are convinced, that the Author of the Hifiory of the Puritans has greatly Ibftened, or entirely omitted what is unfavourable to that Side, while every thing that is thought to tend to the Dif- honour of the Eftablifliment, is highly aggravated ; that, were a Man determined to raife a Contention among the Proteftants of this Kingdom, he would treat the publick Worfhip and Government of this Church, and the great Founders of it in the fame Manner, and call them by the fame opprobrious Names as the Hijlory of the Puritajis has done ; if this fiiall be the Judgment of impartial Men, the Writer of that Hiftory muft be thought no Friend to Concord and mutual Forbearance, or utterly miftaken in the Steps he took to advance them. Good old Father f(2;c, as it feems, who really iw^zux. to promote true Piety and Charity, very pathetical- ly recommends a Method directly contrary to that purfued by this Hiftorian. His Advice was, to dropStrype's Ann. entirely all Difputes about ihefe light external F(j/. ///. Ap- things; to forbear all perfonal RefIe£tions, orpend. />. 120. Arguments drawn from the Characters of Men ; to overlook the Failings of Protellant Brethren ; to join Hands in planting the Faith, in inculcating Rogo in Domino, uc Pacem proftquanunt, extirpetis pcccatum, Evangeiiftarum opera perficiacis, ut dc rebus his levibus cxrernis non ampliuslitigetis, ut Regnum Dei pro- pagctis, ut caufam cum caufa in his Controvcrfiis noflris, non pcrfonas, peccata, nsevos frarrum cum caufis pandc- rctis» quid vobis cum fratre labente ut judicis partes fuf- cipiatis? Domino fuo flat aut cadir, Jungamus dcxtras in plantarione fidei, in inculcatione bonorum operum, in Jcfuitarum profiigationc. Hoc eft fatis operis pro nobis. Alter altcrius oncra portemus, & fie adimplcamus legem Chrifti. Diligamus mutuo, & fie cognofccnt cranes nos ejus clfe Difcipulos. good C 3^2 3 good Works, and oppoling tlie Attempts of Jefuns ill favour of Popery. This, fays he, is VVork enough. Let us bear one another's Burdens, and fo