The history of conformity, or, A proof of the mischief of impositions from the experience of more than 100 years
         Collinges, John, 1623-1690.
      
       
         
           1681
        
      
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             The history of conformity, or, A proof of the mischief of impositions from the experience of more than 100 years
             Collinges, John, 1623-1690.
          
           [7], 2, [i.e. 32] p.
           
             Printed by A. Maxwell and R. Roberts,
             London :
             1681.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign Campus). Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Freedom of religion -- England -- History.
           Dissenters, Religious -- History.
        
      
    
     
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           THE
           HISTORY
           OF
           Conformity
           :
           Or
           a
           PROOF
           of
           the
           MISCHIEF
           OF
           IMPOSITIONS
           ,
           FROM
           THE
           EXPERIENCE
           Of
           more
           than
           
             One
             Hundred
             Years
             .
          
        
         
           
             LONDON
             :
          
           Printed
           by
           
             A.
             Maxwell
             ,
          
           and
           
             R.
             Roberts
             ,
          
           1681.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           To
           the
           READER
           by
           way
           of
           INTRODUCTION
           .
        
         
           
             Christian
             Reader
             !
          
        
         
           WHAT
           was
           in
           a
           great
           measure
           proved
           before
           the
           
             Committee
             of
             Parliament
          
           in
           the
           year
           1666
           ,
           that
           
             London
             was
             burned
             by
             the
             treachery
             of
             Papists
             ,
          
           and
           hath
           withal
           been
           suspected
           a
           long
           time
           by
           our
           
             wise
          
           and
           
             discerning
             Patriots
             ,
             that
             a
             Plot
             was
             by
             them
             laid
             to
             subvert
             the
             Government
             of
             the
             Nation
             ,
             and
             introduce
             the
             Popish
             Religion
             ,
          
           hath
           been
           so
           fully
           proved
           by
           a
           variety
           of
           Evidence
           before
           the
           greatest
           
             Courts
             of
             Judicature
          
           in
           
             England
             ,
          
           since
           the
           first
           discovery
           of
           the
           late
           Hellish
           Plot
           ,
           and
           that
           with
           this
           advantage
           (
           to
           convince
           us
           of
           the
           
             Villany
          
           and
           danger
           of
           that
           party
           )
           ,
           
             That
             they
             had
             upon
             it
             grafted
             a
             design
             for
             the
             hastening
             of
             the
             other
             to
             assassinate
             his
             most
             Sacred
             Majesty
             ,
             and
             several
             eminent
             Peers
             ,
          
           and
           by
           a
           
             Popish
             army
          
           to
           
             massacre
          
           all
           
             Protestants
             ,
          
           as
           none
           can
           deny
           it
           with
           any
           degree
           of
           modesty
           .
           And
           if
           any
           had
           any
           inclinations
           to
           it
           ,
           the
           murther
           of
           Sir
           
             Edmondbury
             Godfrey
             ,
          
           and
           
             Assassination
          
           of
           Mr.
           
             Arnold
             ,
          
           the
           manifold
           
             lyes
             ,
             perjuries
             ,
             subornations
             ,
          
           which
           have
           been
           proved
           against
           them
           ,
           the
           
             device
          
           of
           the
           
             Meal-tub
          
           Plot
           ,
           
             &c.
          
           to
           spoil
           the
           credit
           of
           the
           manifold
           proofs
           against
           them
           ,
           have
           been
           such
           
             convictions
          
           as
           none
           hath
           been
           able
           to
           outface
           ,
           unless
           such
           as
           have
           dreamed
           of
           a
           liberty
           ,
           yea
           and
           a
           merit
           too
           ,
           for
           ,
           and
           in
           doing
           any
           thing
           for
           the
           reputation
           of
           the
           
             Catholick
             Church
             ,
          
           as
           they
           nickname
           the
           
             Synagogue
             of
             Rome
             .
          
           It
           is
           as
           evident
           that
           the
           design
           of
           the
           
             Popish
             faction
          
           was
           to
           have
           cast
           the
           
             Odium
          
           of
           these
           actions
           upon
           the
           
             Protestants
             .
          
           The
           
             Odium
          
           of
           Sir
           
             Edmondbury
             Godfreys
          
           death
           should
           have
           been
           cast
           upon
           
             Debauches
          
           of
           that
           
             Religion
             ,
          
           had
           it
           not
           been
           unluckily
           discovered
           that
           he
           was
           murthered
           within
           the
           Walls
           of
           
             Sommerset
          
           House
           .
           But
           that
           of
           the
           
             Kings
             Death
          
           (
           could
           they
           have
           effected
           it
           )
           should
           have
           been
           thrown
           on
           the
           
             Presbyterians
             ,
          
           (
           a
           name
           under
           which
           of
           late
           they
           have
           comprehended
           all
           
             Dissenters
             .
             )
          
           This
           should
           have
           engaged
           our
           credulous
           and
           furious
           
           men
           to
           have
           helped
           them
           to
           have
           destroyed
           the
           
             Dissenters
             ,
          
           while
           they
           should
           have
           got
           their
           
             Catholick
             Army
          
           in
           a
           capacity
           at
           last
           to
           have
           destroyed
           them
           also
           .
           This
           restless
           party
           having
           had
           this
           long
           in
           their
           design
           ,
           no
           doubt
           wonderfully
           influenced
           some
           to
           procure
           such
           a
           settlement
           of
           Religion
           upon
           his
           
             Majesties
             Restauration
          
           as
           should
           produce
           
             Dissenters
          
           enough
           ;
           nor
           is
           it
           reasonable
           to
           think
           that
           all
           the
           latter
           severe
           Acts
           against
           
             Dissenters
          
           were
           not
           the
           fruits
           of
           their
           counsels
           ,
           considering
           how
           
             conducive
          
           they
           were
           to
           make
           a
           great
           number
           of
           
             Protestants
          
           willing
           for
           their
           own
           ease
           to
           have
           had
           an
           
             Vniversal
             Toleration
             ,
          
           which
           (
           though
           nothing
           is
           or
           can
           be
           more
           contrary
           to
           
             Popish
          
           Principles
           )
           would
           admirably
           have
           served
           their
           design
           ,
           giving
           an
           undisturbed
           liberty
           to
           their
           
             Priests
          
           and
           
             Jesuits
          
           (
           who
           can
           never
           have
           an
           abode
           in
           any
           place
           without
           contriving
           the
           ruin
           of
           those
           they
           call
           
             Hereticks
             )
          
           in
           our
           own
           bowels
           to
           have
           contrived
           our
           ruin
           .
           Or
           if
           this
           failed
           (
           as
           indeed
           it
           did
           )
           yet
           they
           knew
           that
           this
           way
           they
           should
           employ
           all
           our
           
             Courts
             of
             Judicature
          
           against
           
             Protestants
             ,
          
           so
           as
           they
           should
           not
           look
           after
           them
           ;
           and
           besides
           ,
           raise
           a
           mighty
           
             odium
          
           and
           
             prejudice
          
           in
           the
           hearts
           of
           
             Protestants
          
           one
           against
           another
           ,
           so
           as
           whatever
           
             Villany
          
           they
           should
           have
           effected
           ,
           it
           would
           have
           been
           easie
           to
           have
           charged
           it
           upon
           
             Dissenters
             ,
          
           and
           there
           had
           been
           a
           party
           of
           
             Protestants
          
           in
           name
           ready
           prepared
           to
           give
           credit
           to
           it
           .
           It
           is
           now
           evident
           to
           all
           who
           will
           not
           wilfully
           shut
           their
           eyes
           ,
           how
           near
           they
           were
           to
           have
           accomplished
           their
           design
           .
           But
           God
           in
           infinite
           mercy
           hath
           prevented
           the
           accomplishment
           .
           After
           all
           this
           one
           would
           reasonably
           think
           that
           there
           should
           not
           be
           one
           
             Protestant
          
           in
           
             England
             ,
          
           who
           should
           not
           think
           it
           high
           time
           for
           our
           
             Superiors
          
           to
           unite
           all
           
             Protestants
             .
          
           A
           thing
           the
           more
           easie
           and
           reasonable
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           apparent
           that
           it
           may
           be
           done
           without
           the
           least
           offence
           to
           God
           ,
           or
           scandal
           to
           the
           generality
           of
           
             Reformed
             Churches
             ;
          
           and
           by
           the
           abatement
           only
           of
           some
           things
           which
           being
           abated
           ,
           we
           shall
           be
           much
           more
           like
           all
           
             Reformed
             Churches
             ,
          
           than
           we
           are
           .
        
         
           But
           against
           this
           some
           make
           a
           mighty
           
             outcry
             ,
          
           (
           out
           of
           what
           design
           God
           knoweth
           )
           For
           it
           is
           a
           little
           mysterious
           ,
           that
           those
           men
           who
           all
           along
           have
           been
           great
           pleaders
           for
           a
           
             reconciliation
          
           betwixt
           us
           and
           the
           
             Church
             of
             Rome
             ,
          
           and
           the
           true
           Disciples
           of
           those
           
             Bishops
             ,
          
           who
           to
           prevent
           the
           
             offence
             of
             that
             Church
             ,
          
           took
           upon
           them
           in
           the
           time
           of
           King
           
             Charles
             the
             first
          
           to
           expunge
           passage
           out
           of
           the
           
             Common-Prayer-Book
             ,
          
           and
           to
           bring
           us
           as
           near
           as
           possible
           to
           them
           ,
           
             erected
             Altars
             ,
             brought
             in
             Tapers
             ,
          
           and
           twenty
           things
           more
           ;
           should
           ,
           now
           that
           they
           see
           the
           effect
           of
           those
           endeavours
           for
           ,
           and
           favours
           to
           
             Papists
             ,
          
           not
           be
           
           willing
           for
           the
           reconciling
           of
           all
           
             Protestants
          
           to
           abate
           those
           things
           which
           themselves
           own
           no
           where
           specially
           commanded
           by
           God
           ;
           and
           this
           too
           at
           a
           time
           when
           the
           
             Popish
          
           bloody
           Knives
           are
           at
           all
           our
           Throats
           .
        
         
           Especially
           considering
           that
           the
           true
           cause
           of
           retaining
           our
           
             Ceremonies
          
           at
           the
           first
           ,
           and
           forming
           our
           
             Common-Prayer-Book
          
           in
           the
           method
           it
           is
           ,
           was
           originally
           a
           desire
           so
           far
           to
           commend
           our
           Worship
           to
           the
           
             Papists
          
           (
           whose
           Religion
           lyes
           all
           in
           
             Ceremonies
          
           and
           
             Set-forms
             )
          
           that
           they
           might
           be
           proselyted
           to
           us
           ;
           and
           the
           effects
           we
           have
           seen
           after
           an
           hundred
           years
           and
           upwards
           ,
           is
           but
           the
           hardning
           of
           
             Papists
             ,
          
           and
           the
           
             alienating
          
           infinite
           numbers
           of
           
             Protestants
          
           from
           us
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           aware
           that
           a
           late
           Author
           in
           his
           Book
           call'd
           ,
           
             The
             Vnreasonableness
             of
             Separation
             ,
          
           hath
           given
           us
           an
           account
           of
           three
           other
           reasons
           of
           the
           first
           Imposition
           of
           the
           
             Ceremonies
          
           upon
           the
           Reformation
           .
           1.
           
           
             A
             due
             reverence
             to
             Antiquity
             .
             2.
             
             To
             manifest
             the
             justice
             and
             equity
             of
             the
             Reformation
             ,
             by
             letting
             the
             Papists
             see
             we
             did
             not
             break
             communion
             with
             them
             for
             things
             meerly
             indifferent
             .
             3.
             
             To
             shew
             our
             consent
             with
             other
             Protestant
             Churches
             .
          
           But
           he
           had
           better
           have
           said
           nothing
           .
           For
           will
           some
           say
           ,
           How
           have
           we
           reverenced
           
             Antiquity
          
           in
           retaining
           three
           of
           their
           
             ceremonies
             ,
          
           and
           leaving
           out
           twenty
           more
           of
           greater
           
             antiquity
          
           (
           if
           we
           may
           believe
           the
           Books
           we
           have
           )
           than
           the
           
             Surplice
          
           and
           
             kneeling
             at
             the
             Sacrament
             ,
          
           two
           of
           the
           three
           we
           have
           retained
           can
           pretend
           unto
           ?
           Besides
           that
           ,
           all
           the
           account
           we
           have
           of
           
             antiquity
          
           is
           from
           Books
           Printed
           within
           200
           years
           (
           for
           Printing
           is
           very
           little
           older
           )
           ,
           from
           Manuscripts
           ,
           which
           if
           they
           bear
           date
           
             three
             hundred
             years
          
           after
           Christ
           ,
           must
           be
           1100
           years
           old
           when
           they
           were
           Printed
           .
           If
           we
           stretch
           
             antiquity
          
           to
           600
           years
           after
           Christ
           ,
           they
           must
           be
           800
           years
           old
           ,
           and
           all
           that
           time
           generally
           kept
           in
           the
           hands
           of
           the
           known
           depravers
           of
           all
           Books
           that
           ever
           came
           in
           their
           hands
           where
           was
           any
           thing
           not
           for
           the
           purposes
           of
           their
           Church
           .
           Now
           what
           reverence
           is
           due
           to
           any
           such
           worm-eaten
           Records
           of
           
             antiquity
             ,
          
           let
           any
           men
           of
           sense
           judg
           .
        
         
           His
           second
           reason
           is
           as
           invalid
           ;
           for
           what
           need
           was
           there
           of
           our
           keeping
           two
           or
           three
           
             Ceremonies
          
           to
           testifie
           we
           did
           not
           differ
           from
           them
           for
           meer
           
             matters
             of
             indifferency
             ,
          
           when
           so
           many
           Books
           ,
           so
           many
           Disputations
           ,
           testified
           we
           differed
           from
           them
           because
           of
           their
           
             Idolatry
          
           in
           many
           things
           ,
           and
           their
           Doctrine
           of
           
             Justification
             by
             Works
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           The
           last
           is
           yet
           of
           all
           the
           most
           weak
           ;
           for
           how
           did
           we
           by
           it
           shew
           our
           consent
           with
           other
           
             Protestant
             Churches
             ?
          
           In
           the
           year
           1552
           which
           was
           the
           last
           of
           King
           
             Edward
             ;
          
           in
           the
           year
           1558
           ,
           which
           was
           the
           
           first
           of
           Queen
           
             Elizabeth
             ,
          
           there
           were
           no
           
             Protestant
             Churches
          
           but
           the
           
             Luther
             an
             Churches
             ,
          
           the
           
             Suitzerland
          
           Churches
           ,
           and
           that
           of
           
             Geneva
             ,
          
           besides
           some
           in
           
             Germany
             ,
          
           which
           followed
           the
           
             Reformation
          
           of
           
             Suitzerland
          
           and
           
             Geneva
             .
          
           In
           retaining
           these
           Ceremonies
           we
           shewed
           a
           
             dissent
          
           to
           the
           
             Reformed
             Churches
          
           in
           
             Suitzerland
             ,
          
           and
           at
           
             Geneva
             ,
          
           and
           all
           those
           who
           followed
           their
           order
           ,
           and
           shewed
           our
           consent
           only
           with
           the
           
             Lutheran
          
           Churches
           so
           imperfectly
           reformed
           ,
           that
           in
           the
           
             Synod
             at
             Dōrt
          
           the
           Messengers
           of
           all
           
             Reformed
          
           Churches
           there
           met
           ,
           made
           a
           difficulty
           to
           afford
           them
           the
           name
           of
           
             Protestants
             ,
          
           though
           I
           think
           the
           name
           
             Protestant
          
           better
           agreed
           to
           them
           than
           that
           of
           
             Evangelici
             ,
          
           which
           was
           the
           name
           the
           
             Reformed
          
           were
           known
           by
           for
           the
           ten
           first
           years
           after
           the
           Reformation
           began
           .
           Besides
           ,
           that
           for
           
             Kneeling
             at
             the
             Sacrament
             ,
          
           the
           
             Saxon
          
           Churches
           retain
           it
           upon
           their
           peculiar
           notion
           ,
           wherein
           they
           differ
           from
           all
           other
           
             Reformed
          
           Churches
           ,
           viz.
           
             The
             Corporeal
             Presence
             of
             Christ
             in
             and
             with
             that
             Ordinance
             .
          
        
         
           For
           the
           retaining
           of
           some
           Ceremonies
           in
           the
           
             Saxon
          
           Churches
           ,
           a
           double
           account
           is
           to
           be
           given
           .
           
             Luther
          
           and
           
             Ambsdorfius
          
           were
           great
           Zealots
           for
           them
           ,
           partly
           to
           quiet
           the
           people
           ,
           who
           had
           so
           lately
           been
           
             Papists
             ;
          
           and
           it
           may
           be
           partly
           in
           opposition
           to
           
             Zuinglius
             ,
          
           and
           specicially
           to
           
             Carolostadius
             ,
          
           who
           had
           made
           himself
           the
           Author
           of
           abolishing
           some
           ,
           during
           
           Luther's
           absence
           ,
           when
           he
           was
           hid
           for
           fear
           of
           a
           
             Decree
             at
             Worms
             .
             Melancthon
          
           (
           a
           very
           learned
           man
           )
           being
           of
           a
           more
           so●t
           
             ductile
             spirit
             ,
          
           with
           
             Justus
             Jonas
             ,
          
           and
           some
           others
           ,
           took
           
           Luther's
           part
           .
           
             Carolostadius
          
           was
           run
           down
           ;
           both
           
             Zuinglius
          
           and
           
             Carolostadius
          
           saw
           that
           the
           retaining
           any
           of
           the
           Popish
           Ceremonies
           would
           have
           no
           desired
           effect
           ,
           but
           rather
           
             scandalize
          
           their
           friends
           ,
           and
           harden
           the
           
             Papists
             ;
          
           and
           the
           taking
           them
           away
           afterward
           ,
           would
           be
           called
           a
           
             Refining
          
           upon
           a
           
             Refining
             ;
          
           they
           therefore
           ,
           though
           they
           bare
           with
           much
           some
           few
           years
           ,
           yet
           took
           the
           first
           opportunity
           to
           throw
           them
           all
           out
           where
           they
           had
           to
           do
           .
           The
           case
           was
           much
           the
           same
           with
           us
           in
           
             England
             ;
          
           our
           Ceremonies
           were
           retain'd
           upon
           no
           such
           pretences
           as
           were
           before
           expressed
           .
           There
           was
           no
           
             Reverence
          
           in
           it
           shewed
           to
           
             antiquity
             .
          
           No
           
             consent
          
           shewed
           with
           the
           
             most
          
           or
           
             best
             Reformed
          
           Churches
           at
           that
           time
           .
           But
           our
           best
           and
           most
           eminent
           Ministers
           had
           been
           
             Papists
             ,
          
           used
           their
           
             Missal
             ,
          
           practiced
           all
           their
           
             Ceremonies
             .
          
           At
           that
           time
           to
           have
           receded
           from
           the
           
             Papists
          
           in
           all
           things
           fit
           to
           have
           been
           receded
           from
           ,
           might
           have
           been
           oddly
           lookt
           upon
           by
           the
           people
           .
           Besides
           that
           the
           people
           in
           times
           of
           
             Popery
          
           were
           much
           strangers
           to
           any
           thing
           of
           
             Religion
          
           but
           
             Ceremonies
             ,
          
           and
           hearing
           
             Mass
             ;
          
           hence
           (
           as
           may
           be
           seen
           in
           the
           first
           
             Edition
          
           of
           the
           
             Common
             Prayer
             )
          
           many
           things
           
           were
           put
           in
           ,
           which
           were
           left
           out
           by
           the
           
             Bishops
          
           in
           the
           
             2d
             Edn.
          
           of
           it
           in
           K.
           
             Edw.
          
           time
           .
           And
           had
           it
           pleased
           God
           after
           Q.
           
             Maries
          
           time
           to
           have
           continued
           us
           such
           
             Bishops
          
           as
           
             Cranmer
             ,
             Hooper
             ,
             Latimer
             ,
             Coverdale
             ,
          
           &c.
           there
           is
           little
           doubt
           but
           these
           Controversies
           had
           long
           since
           been
           at
           an
           end
           .
           But
           our
           
             Bishops
          
           many
           of
           them
           were
           such
           moderate
           men
           as
           could
           abide
           here
           all
           Queen
           
             Maries
          
           time
           ;
           others
           of
           them
           were
           such
           as
           indeed
           had
           been
           beyond
           Sea
           ,
           but
           very
           
             zealous
          
           there
           to
           keep
           up
           the
           Book
           ,
           in
           the
           framing
           of
           which
           themselves
           had
           an
           hand
           (
           amongst
           these
           was
           Dr.
           
             Cox
             )
             ,
          
           the
           same
           reason
           held
           as
           in
           K.
           
             Edw.
          
           the
           6.
           time
           ,
           for
           humouring
           the
           people
           ;
           thus
           the
           Ceremonies
           came
           at
           first
           to
           be
           established
           .
           For
           the
           
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             ,
          
           there
           was
           not
           the
           same
           reason
           for
           establishing
           some
           
             Forms
             at
             present
          
           in
           that
           state
           of
           the
           Church
           ;
           there
           could
           scarce
           have
           been
           any
           
             Praying
          
           or
           
             Preaching
          
           without
           some
           Forms
           both
           of
           Prayers
           and
           Sermons
           ;
           there
           were
           twenty
           reading
           Ministers
           for
           one
           who
           had
           any
           competent
           abilities
           either
           to
           
             Pray
          
           or
           
             Preach
             .
          
           But
           the
           reason
           was
           the
           very
           same
           for
           the
           establishing
           so
           many
           of
           the
           
             Old
             Forms
             ,
          
           and
           keeping
           
             Methods
          
           agreeing
           to
           none
           of
           any
           Reformed
           Church
           .
           I
           offer
           it
           to
           any
           knowing
           persons
           to
           judg
           whether
           (
           whatever
           be
           said
           by
           some
           )
           this
           was
           not
           the
           true
           reason
           of
           the
           first
           establishment
           ;
           and
           they
           were
           no
           invaluable
           reasons
           for
           the
           continuance
           of
           them
           for
           some
           few
           years
           until
           people
           were
           brought
           off
           more
           from
           their
           old
           
             Superstitions
             .
          
           I
           find
           that
           in
           most
           places
           of
           
             Germany
          
           at
           first
           ,
           the
           
             Reformation
          
           was
           gradual
           ,
           some
           
             Ceremonies
          
           and
           
             Superstitious
             usages
          
           were
           cast
           out
           one
           year
           ,
           some
           the
           next
           ,
           some
           several
           years
           after
           the
           Gospel
           was
           first
           Preached
           in
           those
           places
           .
        
         
           But
           why
           these
           should
           be
           continued
           after
           twenty
           years
           ,
           when
           it
           was
           seen
           that
           the
           continuance
           of
           them
           had
           no
           effect
           to
           bring
           in
           
             Papists
             ,
          
           but
           gave
           a
           great
           scandal
           to
           ,
           and
           made
           a
           great
           division
           amongst
           
             Protestants
          
           and
           when
           people
           were
           further
           enlightned
           ,
           and
           their
           first
           heats
           for
           their
           old
           ways
           of
           worship
           were
           abated
           ,
           is
           a
           much
           greater
           mystery
           ;
           yet
           we
           shall
           find
           that
           in
           the
           25
           ,
           26
           ,
           27
           years
           of
           Queen
           
             Elizabeth
             ,
          
           there
           was
           a
           more
           severe
           urging
           these
           things
           than
           ever
           before
           .
           I
           am
           loth
           to
           think
           any
           rancor
           against
           those
           at
           that
           time
           called
           
             Puritans
             ,
          
           was
           the
           
             Original
          
           cause
           ;
           but
           do
           believe
           that
           an
           
             imployment
          
           for
           those
           who
           managed
           the
           
             Ecclesiastical
             Courts
             ,
          
           without
           using
           their
           power
           against
           the
           
             Papists
             ,
          
           or
           
             Moral
             Debauchees
             ,
          
           might
           be
           no
           little
           argument
           in
           the
           cause
           ,
           and
           a
           design
           driven
           by
           the
           
             Papists
          
           and
           
             Atheists
          
           in
           the
           Nation
           to
           that
           purpose
           .
        
         
           Such
           Considerations
           as
           these
           could
           never
           affect
           an
           
             English
             Parliament
          
           
           so
           as
           to
           make
           a
           first
           establishment
           of
           them
           .
           But
           the
           succeeding
           
             Parliaments
          
           and
           
             Princes
          
           found
           them
           in
           
             possession
          
           (
           that
           we
           say
           is
           
             nine
             parts
             of
             a
             Law
             )
          
           and
           some
           
             Zealots
          
           in
           the
           Church
           strained
           their
           wits
           to
           make
           them
           appear
           
             lawful
             ,
          
           and
           so
           within
           the
           power
           of
           the
           
             Superiour
             ,
          
           and
           for
           many
           of
           them
           several
           good
           :
           men
           had
           not
           then
           
             light
          
           enough
           to
           discern
           their
           
             unlawfulness
             .
          
           ●●
           as
           there
           were
           very
           few
           that
           wrote
           to
           purpose
           on
           that
           argument
           (
           Dr.
           
             Ames
          
           was
           almost
           the
           only
           man
           in
           his
           age
           .
           )
           Indeed
           the
           
             Ceremonies
             ,
          
           the
           
             reading
             the
             Old
             Translation
             of
             the
             Scripture
             ,
          
           and
           the
           
             Apocryphal
             Books
             ,
          
           the
           
             Subscription
             ,
          
           That
           
             there
             was
             nothing
             in
             the
             Common
             Prayer
             Book
             ,
             and
             Book
             of
             Ordaining
             Priests
             and
             Deacons
             ,
             but
             what
             was
             agreeable
             to
             Gods
             Word
             ,
          
           were
           an
           hundred
           year
           since
           argued
           against
           as
           
             unlawful
             ,
          
           as
           I
           could
           prove
           by
           several
           writings
           of
           the
           
             Nonconformists
          
           of
           those
           times
           (
           I
           have
           seen
           an
           ancient
           Manuscript
           of
           them
           big
           enough
           for
           a
           just
           folio
           )
           ,
           some
           things
           were
           not
           then
           practised
           ,
           non
           required
           to
           be
           put
           in
           ure
           ,
           though
           they
           were
           in
           the
           Queens
           
             Injunctions
             ,
          
           &c.
           (
           some
           of
           them
           at
           least
           .
           )
           In
           all
           the
           cases
           of
           
             Nonconformists
          
           in
           Queen
           
             Elizabeths
          
           time
           ,
           I
           find
           not
           a
           Minister
           complaining
           for
           being
           inforced
           to
           
             receive
             ,
          
           or
           to
           
             administer
             the
             Sacrament
          
           to
           people
           
             kneeling
             ;
          
           I
           find
           nothing
           of
           any
           suffering
           
             for
             not
             bowing
             at
             the
             name
             of
             Jesus
             ,
          
           not
           ralling
           in
           the
           
             Communion-Table
             ,
          
           not
           setting
           it
           
             Altarwise
             ,
          
           not
           reading
           the
           
             second
             service
             at
             it
             ,
          
           with
           many
           more
           such
           things
           which
           were
           brought
           into
           practice
           by
           Archbishop
           
             Laud
             ,
          
           Bishop
           
             Wren
             ,
          
           and
           others
           .
           One
           great
           pretence
           of
           keeping
           up
           many
           of
           these
           things
           ,
           was
           to
           avoid
           the
           
             scandal
             of
             the
             Papists
             ,
          
           and
           to
           
             intice
             them
             to
             our
             Religion
             ,
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           We
           have
           now
           seen
           the
           effects
           of
           this
           in
           the
           experience
           of
           an
           hundred
           years
           ,
           which
           have
           been
           too
           sad
           to
           particularize
           ;
           it
           were
           easie
           to
           make
           a
           Book
           of
           
             Acts
             and
             Monuments
          
           twice
           as
           big
           as
           Mr.
           
             Foxes
             ,
          
           with
           the
           sufferings
           of
           holy
           and
           good
           men
           ,
           upon
           these
           accounts
           in
           that
           time
           .
           What
           manner
           of
           persons
           the
           
             Dissenters
          
           are
           ,
           the
           experience
           of
           twenty
           years
           since
           his
           
             Majesties
             Restauration
             ,
          
           hath
           sufficiently
           informed
           the
           world
           .
           What
           have
           the
           most
           fiery
           of
           their
           adversaries
           to
           object
           against
           them
           except
           in
           the
           matters
           of
           their
           God
           ?
           What
           kind
           of
           friend
           the
           
             Popish
             party
          
           hath
           been
           ,
           hath
           been
           also
           made
           sufficiently
           evident
           .
           I
           humbly
           leave
           it
           to
           the
           judgment
           of
           his
           
             Most
             Excellent
             Maejesty
          
           and
           his
           
             Parliament
             ,
          
           whether
           seeing
           (
           confessedly
           )
           it
           may
           be
           without
           offence
           to
           the
           Divine
           Majesty
           ,
           
             The
             taking
             away
             of
             those
             things
             which
             alone
             make
             the
             Partition-wall
          
           betwixt
           
             Protestants
          
           and
           
             Protestants
             ,
          
           be
           
             not
             as
             politick
          
           as
           
             pious
             ,
          
           considering
           the
           
             History
             of
             Conformity
          
           from
           the
           first
           unto
           this
           very
           day
           ,
           which
           
           might
           possibly
           have
           appeared
           more
           reasonable
           if
           I
           would
           have
           inserted
           the
           lamentable
           stories
           of
           the
           sufferings
           of
           good
           men
           on
           this
           account
           ,
           (
           of
           which
           I
           have
           a
           plenty
           )
           but
           I
           had
           rather
           they
           should
           be
           forgotten
           ,
           most
           of
           the
           Authors
           of
           them
           before
           this
           time
           have
           given
           up
           their
           account
           ,
           and
           know
           whether
           they
           did
           good
           or
           evil
           ;
           and
           if
           any
           be
           alive
           ,
           I
           hope
           all
           good
           men
           will
           say
           ,
           
             Father
             forgive
             them
             ,
             for
             they
             knew
             not
             what
             they
             did
             .
          
           Only
           let
           it
           be
           the
           
             Religious
             care
          
           of
           our
           
             Superiors
          
           to
           prevent
           any
           further
           complaints
           of
           this
           nature
           in
           our
           Streets
           ,
           for
           the
           Lord
           most
           certainly
           heareth
           the
           
             crys
             of
             the
             Innocent
             and
             oppressed
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           The
           
             History
             of
             Conformity
             :
          
           or
           a
           Proof
           of
           the
           
             Mischief
             of
             Impositions
             ,
          
           from
           the
           experience
           of
           an
           Hundred
           years
           .
        
         
           THE
           notion
           of
           
             Conformity
          
           with
           us
           in
           
             England
             ,
          
           hath
           always
           signified
           a
           
             compliance
          
           with
           ,
           and
           
             obedience
          
           to
           such
           commands
           of
           
             Superiors
          
           in
           matters
           of
           
             Doctrine
             ,
             Worship
             ,
          
           and
           
             Government
          
           of
           the
           
             Church
             ,
          
           as
           are
           no
           where
           expresly
           
             originated
          
           in
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           but
           supposed
           to
           be
           there
           left
           to
           liberty
           ;
           and
           being
           neither
           there
           
             commanded
             ,
          
           nor
           
             forbidden
             ,
          
           are
           presumed
           to
           be
           matter
           of
           
             Superiors
          
           just
           commands
           .
        
         
           The
           power
           of
           
             Superiors
          
           to
           command
           in
           things
           which
           the
           parties
           commanded
           do
           agree
           
             indifferent
             ,
          
           was
           never
           yet
           disputed
           by
           the
           generality
           of
           
             Nonconformists
             .
          
           But
           there
           being
           many
           things
           which
           Superiors
           call
           
             indifferent
             ,
          
           which
           the
           Inferiors
           verily
           believe
           to
           be
           
             unlawful
             ,
          
           the
           difference
           hath
           chiefly
           been
           about
           these
           ,
           and
           still
           is
           so
           to
           this
           day
           .
        
         
           Upon
           the
           
             Reformation
          
           of
           this
           
             Nation
          
           from
           
             Popery
          
           in
           the
           days
           of
           K.
           
             Edw.
          
           the
           
             6th
             ,
          
           in
           the
           year
           1552
           ,
           (
           which
           was
           6
           
             Edw.
             6th
             )
          
           there
           were
           
             Articles
             of
             Faith
          
           agreed
           on
           ;
           and
           in
           the
           2.
           
           
             &
             3
             Edw.
             6.
             cap.
             1.
             
             &
             5.
             
             &
             6
             Edw.
             6.
             cap.
             1.
             two
          
           Acts
           were
           made
           
             referring
          
           to
           two
           
             Common-Prayer-Books
          
           made
           in
           the
           short
           Reign
           of
           that
           excellent
           Prince
           .
        
         
           It
           must
           be
           known
           ,
           that
           before
           this
           time
           in
           the
           time
           of
           K.
           
             Hen.
          
           8.
           there
           were
           great
           
             foundations
             for
             Reformation
          
           laid
           ,
           in
           the
           
             suppression
             of
             Monasteries
             ,
          
           taking
           away
           the
           Popes
           
             Supremacy
          
           destruction
           of
           
             Appeals
             to
             Rome
             ,
             Printing
             the
             Bible
             in
             English
             ;
          
           but
           there
           was
           no
           
             Reformation
          
           in
           
             Doctrine
             ,
             Worship
             ,
          
           or
           
             Discipline
             .
          
           For
           the
           
             Doctrine
             ,
          
           it
           appeareth
           to
           have
           been
           
             Popish
          
           by
           the
           
             six
             Articles
             ;
          
           the
           first
           of
           which
           yet
           was
           so
           penned
           ,
           as
           though
           it
           established
           a
           
             corporal
             presence
          
           of
           
             Christ
             in
             the
             Supper
             ,
          
           yet
           it
           seemed
           to
           leave
           it
           
             indefinite
             ,
          
           whether
           in
           the
           
             Popish
          
           or
           
             Lutheran
          
           sense
           ,
           which
           possibly
           gave
           Archbishop
           
           
             Cranmer
          
           (
           who
           as
           well
           as
           
             Latimer
          
           and
           other
           good
           men
           at
           that
           time
           were
           
             Lutherans
             )
          
           a
           latitude
           to
           be
           an
           agent
           in
           
             Lamberts
          
           condemnation
           .
           The
           other
           five
           articles
           against
           
             giving
             the
             Cup
          
           to
           the
           
             Laity
             ,
          
           and
           for
           
             Private
             Masses
             ,
          
           and
           
             Monkish
             Vows
             ,
             Auricular
             Confession
             ,
          
           and
           
             Priests
             Marriages
             ,
          
           were
           
             perfectly
             Popish
             .
          
           So
           as
           in
           that
           time
           no
           
             Nonconformist
          
           appear'd
           ,
           but
           as
           to
           Doctrine
           ,
           of
           which
           
             Lambert
          
           the
           Martyr
           was
           one
           ,
           and
           so
           were
           all
           those
           that
           suffered
           upon
           the
           account
           of
           the
           
             six
             Articles
             ,
          
           together
           with
           multitudes
           who
           fled
           into
           other
           Countries
           to
           avoid
           that
           Persecution
           .
        
         
           The
           
             Worship
          
           of
           those
           days
           was
           the
           
             Mass
             ,
          
           only
           some
           parts
           of
           it
           were
           in
           
             English
             .
          
           The
           
             Government
             of
             the
             Church
          
           was
           also
           in
           the
           same
           
             method
             ;
          
           for
           though
           three
           Acts
           had
           been
           made
           to
           authorize
           K.
           
             H.
          
           8.
           to
           call
           together
           32
           persons
           to
           make
           a
           Book
           of
           new
           
             Canons
             ;
          
           yet
           for
           ought
           appeareth
           to
           us
           ,
           it
           was
           not
           done
           .
           And
           possibly
           a
           due
           consideration
           ,
           that
           several
           of
           our
           greatest
           
             Reformers
          
           were
           
             Lutherans
          
           at
           first
           ,
           may
           satisfie
           us
           as
           to
           the
           first
           establishment
           of
           our
           
             Liturgy
          
           in
           the
           method
           it
           was
           ,
           and
           retaining
           of
           some
           Ceremonies
           ;
           the
           
             Saxon
          
           Churches
           having
           before
           reformed
           in
           that
           method
           ,
           keeping
           as
           much
           as
           they
           could
           both
           of
           the
           
             Old
             Prayers
          
           and
           
             Ceremonies
             .
          
           And
           it
           is
           very
           likely
           that
           when
           after
           Queen
           
             Maries
          
           time
           the
           
             Reformation
          
           came
           to
           be
           re-setled
           ,
           some
           of
           those
           who
           had
           a
           great
           hand
           in
           it
           ,
           were
           possessed
           of
           the
           
             Lutheran
             Principles
             ,
          
           as
           to
           the
           
             Corporal
             Presence
             ,
             Forms
          
           and
           
             Ceremonies
             ,
          
           or
           at
           least
           had
           a
           very
           great
           Reverence
           for
           
             Cranmer
             ,
             Latimer
          
           and
           others
           (
           who
           were
           then
           dead
           as
           
             Martyrs
             )
             ,
          
           and
           chose
           to
           fix
           things
           according
           to
           their
           sentiments
           in
           these
           matters
           ,
           without
           so
           due
           weighing
           things
           as
           the
           matter
           required
           ,
           or
           having
           not
           so
           early
           a
           prospect
           of
           the
           evils
           which
           experience
           hath
           since
           let
           us
           see
           following
           thereupon
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           first
           
             Parliament
          
           of
           King
           
             Edw.
          
           6.
           the
           first
           
             Statute
          
           tells
           us
           ,
           that
           before
           that
           time
           (
           in
           the
           times
           of
           Popery
           )
           they
           had
           several
           Forms
           ,
           one
           used
           at
           
             Sarum
             ,
          
           another
           at
           
             Bangor
             ,
          
           &c.
           and
           the
           whole
           Ministry
           of
           the
           Nation
           were
           just
           come
           out
           of
           
             Popery
             ,
          
           and
           neither
           fit
           to
           
             Pray
          
           nor
           
             Preach
             ,
          
           which
           was
           the
           reason
           both
           of
           that
           establishment
           ,
           and
           also
           of
           the
           
             Book
             of
             Homilies
             ,
          
           and
           of
           the
           
             Original
          
           cause
           of
           that
           
             Imposition
          
           on
           the
           Ministry
           ,
           
             not
             to
             preach
             without
             license
             .
          
           For
           the
           truth
           is
           ,
           hardly
           one
           of
           an
           hundred
           of
           the
           
             Priests
          
           newly
           proselyted
           from
           
             Popery
             ,
          
           were
           fit
           to
           Preach
           at
           all
           ,
           which
           made
           our
           
             Rulers
          
           restrain
           
             Preaching
          
           only
           to
           such
           as
           should
           be
           licensed
           .
           Besides
           ,
           that
           there
           was
           just
           reason
           to
           fear
           that
           those
           
             Priests
          
           but
           for
           such
           a
           
             Law
             ,
          
           and
           such
           a
           
             Book
             ,
          
           would
           have
           returned
           to
           their
           former
           
             Mass-service
             .
          
           To
           prevent
           
           which
           ,
           the
           
             Book
          
           was
           provided
           ,
           2
           ,
           3
           
             Edw.
          
           6.
           and
           corrected
           3
           ,
           4
           
             Edw.
          
           6.
           
           And
           all
           Ministers
           injoin'd
           by
           Statute
           to
           
             read
             those
             Prayers
             ,
          
           and
           all
           the
           people
           to
           
             bear
             them
             .
          
           There
           was
           before
           that
           time
           no
           
             Nonconformist
          
           to
           direct
           the
           Act
           against
           ,
           only
           
             Papists
             .
          
        
         
           But
           upon
           the
           second
           
             Edition
          
           of
           the
           
             Common-Prayer
          
           there
           appeared
           a
           considerable
           party
           ,
           who
           opposed
           themselves
           to
           it
           .
           Three
           years
           before
           ,
           Bishop
           
             Hooper
          
           and
           Mr.
           
             Rogers
          
           had
           declared
           themselves
           against
           some
           
             Rites
          
           and
           
             Ceremonies
          
           But
           the
           last
           year
           of
           
             Edw.
          
           6.
           was
           the
           first
           time
           we
           read
           of
           any
           opposition
           to
           the
           
             Common
             Prayer
             ,
          
           and
           the
           
             contest
          
           was
           quickly
           at
           an
           end
           by
           the
           coming
           in
           of
           Q.
           
             Mary
             .
          
        
         
           The
           business
           of
           
             Church-Government
          
           as
           to
           the
           rules
           of
           it
           ,
           was
           left
           by
           King
           
             Edward
          
           undetermined
           ;
           for
           he
           died
           before
           he
           had
           given
           his
           
             Royal
             sanction
          
           to
           that
           
             Systeme
          
           of
           
             Ecclesiastical
             Laws
          
           which
           was
           drawn
           up
           by
           Archbishop
           
             Cranmer
          
           and
           others
           ,
           by
           vertue
           of
           his
           
             Commission
          
           directed
           to
           them
           in
           the
           fifth
           year
           of
           his
           Reign
           .
        
         
           In
           all
           his
           time
           no
           
             Subscription
          
           was
           required
           by
           
             Statute
          
           or
           
             Canon
          
           (
           that
           I
           can
           find
           )
           established
           by
           his
           authority
           under
           the
           broad
           Seal
           ,
           either
           to
           the
           
             Articles
             of
             Faith
             ,
          
           or
           to
           the
           Book
           of
           
             Common-Prayer
             ,
             &c.
          
           nor
           do
           I
           read
           of
           one
           Minister
           
             silenced
             ,
          
           or
           
             suspended
          
           upon
           any
           such
           account
           ,
           or
           any
           people
           vexed
           for
           
             Nonconformity
             .
          
        
         
           Our
           prudent
           
             Reformers
          
           knowing
           they
           had
           to
           do
           with
           a
           people
           who
           were
           
             Papists
          
           the
           other
           day
           ,
           in
           their
           first
           
             Common
             Prayer
             Book
          
           varied
           as
           little
           as
           they
           could
           from
           the
           
             Popish
             Missal
             ,
          
           and
           kept
           as
           many
           of
           the
           
             Ceremonies
          
           as
           they
           conceived
           were
           consistent
           with
           any
           degree
           of
           
             Reformation
             .
          
           In
           the
           second
           
             Common-Prayer-Book
          
           they
           varied
           
             more
             ;
          
           but
           yet
           we
           are
           assured
           by
           Dr.
           
             Fuller
          
           in
           his
           
             Church
             History
             ,
          
           Lib.
           7.
           that
           
             the
             party
             now
             disaffected
             to
             the
             Liturgy
             became
             very
             considerable
             .
          
           This
           was
           in
           the
           very
           beginning
           of
           the
           
             Reformation
             ,
             Anno
          
           1553.
           
        
         
           Queen
           
             Mary
          
           succeeding
           ,
           put
           an
           end
           to
           all
           these
           contests
           in
           
             England
          
           for
           the
           whole
           time
           of
           her
           Reign
           ,
           which
           was
           but
           five
           years
           .
           To
           avoid
           her
           Persecution
           ,
           multitudes
           fled
           beyond
           the
           Seas
           ,
           fixing
           some
           at
           
             Basil
             ,
          
           some
           at
           
             Geneva
             ,
          
           some
           at
           
             Strasburgh
             ,
          
           some
           at
           
             Embden
             ,
          
           some
           at
           
             Francfort
             ,
          
           and
           other
           places
           .
        
         
           We
           have
           no
           account
           ,
           that
           I
           know
           ,
           how
           those
           governed
           themselves
           as
           to
           Religious
           matters
           ,
           who
           fixed
           at
           any
           of
           those
           places
           ,
           save
           only
           at
           
             Francfort
          
           and
           
             Geneva
             ;
          
           those
           at
           
             Geneva
          
           followed
           the
           
             Order
             of
             that
             Church
             ,
          
           so
           did
           those
           at
           
             Francfort
             ,
          
           using
           the
           order
           at
           
             Geneva
          
           from
           
             June
          
           27
           ,
           1554
           ,
           to
           
             Mar.
          
           13.
           1555
           ,
           when
           Dr.
           
             Cox
          
           (
           one
           of
           those
           who
           had
           compiled
           our
           
             English
          
           Common
           Prayer
           Book
           ,
           and
           was
           
           mightily
           in
           love
           with
           his
           own
           labours
           )
           came
           over
           with
           a
           new
           party
           from
           
             England
             ,
          
           and
           by
           his
           arts
           got
           admission
           into
           the
           Church
           at
           
             Francfort
             ,
          
           and
           brought
           in
           the
           
             English
          
           Book
           amongst
           them
           ;
           nor
           did
           this
           satisfie
           him
           ,
           but
           he
           must
           also
           turn
           out
           their
           Pastor
           Mr.
           
             Knox
             ,
          
           and
           that
           not
           from
           his
           
             charge
          
           only
           ,
           
           but
           out
           of
           
             Francfort
             ,
          
           procuring
           him
           (
           by
           some
           of
           his
           party
           )
           to
           be
           accused
           to
           the
           
             Senate
          
           for
           a
           
             Sermon
          
           he
           had
           two
           years
           before
           Preached
           in
           
             Bucking
             hamshire
          
           here
           in
           
             England
             ,
          
           in
           which
           he
           had
           some
           passages
           reflecting
           upon
           the
           
             Emperour
          
           of
           
             Germany
          
           as
           an
           
             Idolater
             ,
          
           &c.
           which
           made
           some
           of
           the
           
             Senate
          
           advise
           him
           to
           leave
           the
           City
           ,
           because
           the
           
             Imperial
          
           Court
           was
           then
           at
           
             Ausburgh
             ;
          
           and
           if
           this
           malicious
           party
           had
           carried
           an
           accusation
           against
           him
           thither
           ,
           and
           the
           
             Emperour
          
           should
           require
           the
           City
           to
           deliver
           him
           as
           a
           
             Traytor
          
           to
           him
           ,
           they
           could
           not
           refuse
           him
           .
           Which
           made
           Mr.
           
             Knox
          
           and
           a
           considerable
           party
           of
           that
           Church
           remove
           to
           
             Geneva
             .
             This
             was
             the
             first
             fruits
             of
             the
             conformable
             mens
             kindness
             to
             poor
             Dissenters
             ,
             though
             at
             that
             time
             they
             were
             both
             parties
             voluntary
             Exiles
             in
             a
             strange
             Land
             for
             the
             common
             Cause
             of
             Religion
             .
          
           So
           that
           Dr.
           
             Cox
             ,
          
           who
           was
           afterward
           
             Bishop
             of
             Ely
             ;
          
           and
           
             Horne
             ,
          
           who
           was
           afterwards
           made
           Bishop
           of
           
             Winchester
             ;
          
           were
           left
           in
           possession
           of
           that
           Church
           ,
           and
           there
           performed
           their
           Devotions
           by
           the
           
             English
             Common-Prayer-Book
             ,
          
           which
           at
           that
           time
           had
           had
           but
           the
           establishment
           of
           one
           year
           before
           it
           was
           thrown
           out
           for
           the
           
             Mass
          
           in
           
             England
             .
          
        
         
           Queen
           
             Elizabeth
          
           came
           to
           the
           Crown
           Three
           years
           after
           this
           ,
           in
           the
           year
           1558.
           
           Upon
           which
           ,
           the
           
             banished
          
           from
           all
           parts
           returned
           ,
           both
           those
           who
           had
           fled
           from
           King
           
             Hen
          
           8.
           persecution
           ,
           for
           the
           
             Six
             Articles
             ,
          
           who
           if
           any
           of
           them
           returned
           before
           ,
           were
           driven
           back
           again
           ;
           and
           those
           who
           fled
           from
           
             Queen
             Maries
          
           persecution
           ,
           from
           1553.
           to
           1558.
           
           These
           (
           if
           we
           may
           believe
           Bishop
           
             Bancroft
          
           and
           Dr.
           
             Fuller
             )
          
           having
           beyond
           Sea
           sucked
           in
           the
           
             Protestant
             principles
          
           for
           
             Worship
          
           as
           well
           as
           
             Discipline
             ,
          
           were
           the
           Fathers
           of
           
             Nonconformity
          
           in
           
             England
             .
          
           But
           these
           were
           either
           many
           more
           than
           I
           could
           ever
           find
           
             registred
             ,
          
           or
           else
           under
           both
           
             persecutions
          
           multitudes
           must
           lye
           hid
           in
           
             England
             .
          
           And
           indeed
           some
           make
           the
           cause
           of
           the
           
             different
             apprehensions
          
           in
           
             Protestants
          
           at
           that
           time
           to
           lye
           here
           ;
           That
           those
           most
           favourable
           to
           
             Conformity
             ,
          
           and
           
             promoters
          
           of
           it
           ,
           were
           such
           as
           had
           never
           been
           abroad
           ,
           but
           during
           both
           those
           
             persecutions
             ,
          
           weathered
           the
           storm
           in
           
             England
             ;
          
           and
           the
           
             Nonconformists
             ,
          
           such
           as
           had
           been
           abroad
           ,
           and
           seen
           the
           
             Worship
             ,
             Order
          
           and
           
             Discipline
          
           of
           the
           Churches
           in
           
             Suitzerland
             ,
          
           and
           
             Germany
             ,
          
           
           and
           at
           
             Geneva
             .
          
           But
           this
           is
           not
           Universally
           true
           ;
           for
           both
           Dr.
           
             Cox.
          
           and
           Mr.
           
             Horne
          
           were
           at
           
             Francfurt
             ,
          
           yet
           high
           en
           ough
           for
           our
           
             Conformity
             ,
          
           both
           during
           their
           abode
           there
           ,
           and
           after
           their
           return
           into
           
             England
             .
          
        
         
           In
           the
           first
           year
           of
           
             Queen
             Elizabeth
          
           several
           
             Acts
          
           passed
           ,
           which
           revived
           the
           
             Reformation
             ,
          
           Uniting
           the
           
             Ecclesiastical
             Jurisdiction
          
           to
           the
           Crown
           ,
           Repealing
           Queen
           
             Maries
             Act
             of
             Repeal
             ,
          
           and
           reviving
           several
           
             Statutes
          
           for
           the
           
             Reformation
          
           made
           in
           the
           time
           of
           
             Hen.
          
           8.
           and
           
             Edw.
          
           6.
           establishing
           
             Vniformity
          
           of
           
             Prayers
             .
          
           And
           it
           is
           to
           be
           noted
           ,
           that
           these
           
             Acts
          
           passed
           without
           the
           
             assent
          
           of
           one
           
             Bishop
             :
          
           there
           were
           at
           this
           time
           but
           Fourteen
           present
           ,
           and
           they
           were
           all
           
             Papists
             ,
          
           and
           notorious
           
             Dissenters
          
           from
           all
           
             Acts
          
           of
           this
           nature
           .
           This
           by
           the
           way
           may
           let
           my
           
             Reader
          
           understand
           the
           
             Popish
             design
          
           of
           a
           
             party
          
           amongst
           us
           ,
           for
           whom
           it
           is
           not
           enough
           that
           the
           
             Clergy
          
           be
           owned
           as
           one
           of
           the
           
             Three
             Estates
             of
             the
             Realm
          
           (
           of
           which
           the
           King
           is
           the
           Head
           )
           but
           they
           will
           also
           have
           them
           to
           be
           one
           of
           the
           
             Three
             States
             in
             Parliament
             ;
          
           which
           if
           they
           be
           ,
           no
           Law
           can
           be
           of
           force
           that
           wants
           the
           consent
           of
           some
           of
           them
           .
           So
           that
           if
           that
           notion
           were
           yeilded
           ,
           
             all
             our
             Acts
             for
             Reformation
          
           must
           be
           concluded
           
             Nullities
             .
          
        
         
           It
           was
           the
           second
           year
           of
           the
           
             Queen
          
           before
           we
           had
           a
           set
           of
           
             Protestant
             Bishops
             .
          
           It
           was
           her
           
             Majesties
          
           interest
           at
           that
           time
           ,
           so
           to
           govern
           her self
           ,
           as
           to
           caray
           an
           equal
           hand
           to
           all
           
             Protestants
             ;
          
           accordingly
           she
           fill'd
           up
           the
           
             Bishopricks
             ,
          
           partly
           with
           men
           that
           during
           the
           late
           persecutions
           had
           staid
           in
           
             England
             ;
          
           partly
           of
           such
           as
           had
           fled
           beyond
           the
           Seas
           .
        
         
           
             1.
             
             
               Mathew
               Parker
               ,
               Archbishop
            
             of
             
               Canterbury
               —
            
             he
             had
             lived
             a
             private
             life
             in
             
               England
               .
            
          
           
             
               
                 These
                 ,
                 if
                 no
                 more
                 ,
                 had
                 been
                 Exiles
                 .
              
               
                 2.
                 
                 
                   Edward
                   Grindall
                   ,
                
                 Bishop
                 of
                 
                   London
                   .
                
              
               
                 3.
                 
                 
                   Robert
                   Horne
                   ,
                
                 Bishop
                 of
                 
                   Winchester
                   .
                
              
               
                 4.
                 
                 
                   Richard
                   Cox
                   ,
                
                 Bishop
                 of
                 
                   Ely.
                   
                
              
               
                 5.
                 
                 
                   Edward
                   Sands
                   ,
                
                 Bishop
                 of
                 
                   Worcester
                   .
                
              
               
                 6.
                 
                 
                   John
                   Jewel
                   ,
                
                 Bishop
                 of
                 
                   Salisbury
                   .
                
              
               
                 7.
                 
                 
                   Tho.
                   Beatham
                   ,
                
                 B
                 of
                 
                   Coventry
                
                 and
                 
                   Litchfield
                   .
                
              
               
                 8.
                 
                 
                   John
                   Parkhurst
                   ,
                
                 Bishop
                 of
                 
                   Norwish
                   .
                
              
            
          
           
             
               
               
                 Whether
                 these
                 had
                 been
                 beyond
                 Sea
                 ,
                 during
                 the
                 persecution
                 ,
                 I
                 cannot
                 tell
                 .
              
               
                 9.
                 
                 
                   Rowland
                   Mecreek
                   ,
                
                 Bishop
                 of
                 
                   Bangor
                   ,
                
              
               
                 10.
                 
                 
                   Nicholas
                   Bullingham
                   ,
                
                 Bishop
                 of
                 
                   Lincoln
                   .
                
              
               
                 11.
                 
                 
                   Thomas
                   Young
                   ,
                
                 Bishop
                 of
                 St.
                 
                   Davids
                   .
                
              
               
                 12.
                 
                 
                   Richard
                   Davyes
                   ,
                
                 Bishop
                 of
                 
                   Asaph
                   .
                
              
               
                 13.
                 
                 
                   Gilbert
                   Barclay
                   ,
                
                 Bishop
                 of
                 
                   Bath
                
                 and
                 
                   Wells
                   .
                
              
               
                 14.
                 
                 
                   Edmond
                   Guest
                   ,
                
                 Bishop
                 of
                 
                   Rochester
                   .
                
              
               
                 15.
                 
                 
                   William
                   Alley
                
                 Bishop
                 of
                 
                   Exeter
                   .
                
              
               
                 16.
                 
                 
                   Edmond
                   Seamler
                   ,
                
                 Bishop
                 of
                 
                   Peterborough
                   .
                
              
               
                 17.
                 
                 
                   Richard
                   Cheyney
                   ,
                
                 Bishop
                 of
                 
                   Glocester
                   .
                
              
               
                 18.
                 
                 
                   Thomas
                   Young
                   ,
                
                 Archbishop
                 of
                 
                   York
                   .
                
              
               
                 19.
                 
                 
                   James
                   Pilkington
                   ,
                
                 Bishop
                 of
                 
                   Durham
                   .
                
              
               
                 20.
                 
                 
                   John
                   Best
                   ,
                
                 Bishop
                 of
                 
                   Carlisle
                   .
                
              
               
                 21.
                 
                 
                   George
                   Downham
                   ,
                
                 Bishop
                 of
                 
                   Chester
                   .
                
              
            
          
        
         
           The
           other
           Bishopricks
           were
           either
           detained
           in
           the
           
             Queens
          
           hands
           ,
           or
           held
           in
           
             Commendam
             .
          
           These
           men
           were
           all
           of
           them
           
             Conformists
             ,
          
           but
           some
           of
           them
           knew
           the
           heart
           of
           
             Sufferers
             for
             their
             consciences
             towards
             God
             ,
          
           for
           themselves
           had
           been
           such
           ;
           indeed
           they
           generally
           had
           been
           so
           ,
           though
           in
           different
           degrees
           .
           This
           temper
           of
           these
           
             Bishops
          
           gave
           that
           party
           much
           quiet
           for
           several
           years
           ,
           who
           could
           not
           agree
           to
           the
           
             Liturgy
             and
             Ceremonies
             .
          
           I
           find
           a
           very
           large
           Petition
           presented
           by
           multitudes
           to
           the
           
             Queen
             ,
             Anno.
          
           1561.
           which
           was
           the
           Third
           year
           of
           her
           Reign
           ,
           in
           Three
           or
           Four
           Sheets
           
             M.
             S.
          
           where
           they
           complain
           of
           
             insufficient
          
           and
           
             scandalous
             Ministers
             ,
          
           of
           
             Pluralists
             ,
          
           and
           
             Non-residents
             ,
          
           and
           
             Lawyers
          
           being
           Ministers
           ,
           but
           I
           find
           not
           the
           least
           complaint
           of
           any
           
             suspended
             ,
             deprived
             ,
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           Yet
           even
           at
           the
           first
           I
           find
           Mr.
           
             Coverdale
          
           refusing
           to
           be
           restored
           to
           his
           
             Bishoprick
          
           of
           
             Exeter
             ,
          
           and
           
             Reverend
             Gilpen
          
           refusing
           the
           
             Bishoprick
             of
             Carlisle
             .
          
        
         
           But
           no
           
             Subscription
          
           was
           yet
           required
           to
           any
           thing
           ,
           by
           any
           Legal
           Authority
           ;
           nor
           was
           the
           use
           of
           all
           the
           
             Common-Prayer-Book
             ,
          
           or
           an
           
             exact
             observance
             of
             the
             Ceremonies
             ,
          
           generally
           urged
           .
           This
           kept
           all
           in
           quiet
           some
           years
           :
           the
           people
           enjoyed
           the
           labours
           of
           their
           godly
           Ministers
           :
           the
           Ministers
           at
           that
           time
           scrupled
           not
           to
           use
           some
           parts
           of
           the
           
             Common-Prayer
             :
          
           the
           
             Bishops
          
           did
           not
           exact
           their
           use
           of
           the
           more
           offensive
           parts
           of
           it
           ,
           nor
           of
           the
           
             Ceremonies
             :
          
           some
           particular
           
             Officials
          
           were
           a
           little
           busie
           ;
           and
           some
           few
           ,
           very
           few
           men
           were
           sufferers
           by
           them
           :
           but
           the
           body
           of
           the
           Nonconforming
           Ministers
           and
           people
           were
           much
           quiet
           ,
           until
           not
           only
           Arch-Bishop
           
             Parker
          
           was
           dead
           ,
           but
           Bishop
           
             Grindall
          
           also
           ,
           who
           succeeded
           him
           in
           that
           ,
           who
           died
           about
           1583.
           about
           the
           
             25th
          
           of
           the
           
             Queen
             .
          
        
         
         
           In
           the
           year
           1583.
           
           Dr.
           
             John
             Whitgift
          
           came
           to
           be
           
             Archbishop
          
           of
           
             Canterbury
             .
          
        
         
           The
           first
           I
           read
           of
           ,
           as
           to
           Subscriptions
           and
           Nonconformity
           ,
           was
           when
           the
           
             Subscription
          
           to
           the
           39.
           
           Articles
           ,
           which
           were
           made
           by
           the
           Convocation
           1562.
           but
           not
           confirmed
           by
           
             Parliament
          
           until
           the
           year
           1572.
           (
           which
           was
           the
           
             13th
             Eliz.
             )
          
           and
           then
           only
           required
           to
           be
           subscribed
           by
           such
           as
           were
           to
           be
           admitted
           to
           Livings
           :
           and
           ;
           that
           no
           further
           than
           so
           far
           
             as
             concerned
             matters
             of
             Faith
             and
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             the
             Sacraments
             ,
          
           was
           exacted
           from
           all
           Ministers
           .
        
         
           After
           the
           agreement
           in
           them
           by
           the
           
             Convocation
             ,
          
           1562.
           several
           
             Bishops
          
           without
           any
           Authority
           from
           
             Parliament
             ,
          
           imposed
           a
           
             Subscription
          
           to
           the
           whole
           number
           of
           them
           upon
           all
           Ministers
           in
           their
           Diocesces
           ;
           the
           refusal
           of
           which
           caused
           the
           sufferings
           of
           seveaal
           particular
           men
           .
           
             John
             Fox
          
           being
           required
           to
           Subscribe
           ,
           pulled
           out
           his
           
             Greek
             Testament
             ,
          
           and
           plainly
           told
           the
           
             Archbishop
             ,
             he
             would
             Subscribe
             to
             nothing
             but
             that
             ;
          
           but
           yet
           such
           was
           the
           gravity
           of
           the
           man
           ,
           such
           his
           
             Eminency
          
           for
           his
           
             service
             to
             the
             Church
             ,
          
           that
           he
           was
           let
           alone
           .
        
         
           The
           famous
           
             Laurence
             Humfry
             ,
          
           and
           
             Anthony
             Gilby
             ,
          
           and
           some
           others
           appeared
           
             Nanconformists
             .
          
        
         
           Betwixt
           1563.
           and
           1583.
           also
           (
           especially
           in
           the
           latter
           part
           of
           that
           time
           )
           the
           Bishops
           began
           to
           press
           a
           
             Subscription
          
           to
           Two
           
             Articles
             more
             ,
          
           the
           one
           
             to
             acknowledg
          
           the
           
             Queens
             Supremacy
             :
          
           that
           none
           denied
           ,
           or
           as
           good
           as
           none
           :
           the
           other
           was
           ,
           
             that
             the
             Common-Prayer-Book
             ,
             the
             Books
             of
             Homilies
             ,
          
           and
           
             the
             Book
             of
             ordering
             Bishops
             ,
             Priests
             and
             Deacons
             ,
             contained
             in
             them
             nothing
             contrary
             to
             the
             Word
             of
             God.
          
           To
           this
           day
           there
           is
           no
           
             Book
          
           of
           
             Canons
          
           confirmed
           by
           
             Parliament
          
           that
           requireth
           any
           such
           thing
           :
           but
           I
           cannot
           find
           that
           there
           was
           any
           
             Canon
          
           about
           these
           things
           ,
           that
           had
           King
           
           Edward's
           ,
           or
           Queen
           
             Elizabeths
          
           assent
           notified
           under
           the
           
             Broad
             Seal
             ,
          
           so
           as
           it
           could
           pretend
           to
           any
           Legal
           establishment
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           
             Bishops
          
           of
           that
           Age
           were
           adventuring
           to
           establish
           these
           things
           upon
           their
           own
           Authority
           ,
           directly
           contrary
           to
           the
           Statute
           25.
           
           
             Henry
          
           8.
           which
           restrained
           them
           from
           putting
           any
           
             Canons
             in
             use
             ,
             to
             be
             made
             after
             that
             time
             ,
             unless
             they
             first
             had
             the
             Kings
             Assent
             .
          
        
         
           The
           
             Oath
             of
             Supremacy
          
           was
           indeed
           established
           by
           Act
           
             1st
             .
             Eliz.
          
           but
           a
           
             Subscription
          
           was
           not
           .
           The
           use
           of
           the
           
             Common-Prayer
          
           was
           commanded
           by
           an
           Act
           
             1st
             Eliz.
          
           but
           a
           
             Subscription
             ,
             that
             that
             there
             was
             nothing
             in
             it
             ,
             nor
             in
             the
             Homilies
             ,
             nor
             in
             the
             Book
             of
             Ordering
             Bishops
             ,
             Priests
             and
             Deacons
             ,
          
           contrary
           to
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           under
           a
           penalty
           of
           
             suspension
          
           or
           
             Deprivation
             ,
          
           was
           not
           .
           And
           the
           question
           so
           
           often
           put
           to
           them
           by
           the
           
             Bishops
             ,
             Will
             you
             use
             that
             which
             you
             will
             not
             subscribe
             to
             ,
             that
             it
             contains
             nothing
             repugnant
             to
             Gods
             word
             ?
          
           is
           easily
           answered
           :
           There
           was
           a
           great
           part
           of
           the
           Book
           
             (
             viz.
          
           the
           
             Rubricks
             )
          
           that
           were
           not
           to
           be
           used
           in
           God's
           Worship
           .
           Nor
           did
           they
           use
           it
           all
           ,
           but
           some
           part
           of
           it
           ,
           which
           was
           not
           offensive
           to
           them
           and
           other
           good
           people
           .
        
         
           But
           altho'
           many
           suffered
           upon
           this
           
             new
             imposition
          
           after
           
             Whitgift
          
           came
           to
           be
           a
           considerable
           figure
           in
           the
           Church
           ;
           yet
           the
           great
           shock
           was
           after
           that
           he
           came
           (
           upon
           the
           death
           of
           
             Grindal
             )
          
           to
           be
           
             Arch-bishop
             of
             Canterbury
             ,
          
           which
           was
           about
           the
           year
           1583.
           and
           the
           first
           considerable
           
             Nonconformity
          
           of
           
             Ministers
             in
             England
          
           is
           to
           be
           dated
           from
           this
           time
           .
        
         
           Some
           separation
           there
           was
           before
           this
           time
           :
           For
           
             Bishop
             Bancroft
          
           in
           his
           
             Dangerous
             Positions
          
           tells
           us
           ,
           
             That
             within
             the
             ten
             or
             eleven
             first
             years
             of
             the
             Queens
             reign
             ,
             many
             of
             the
             people
             separated
             ,
             meeting
             in
             woods
             and
             fields
             .
          
           But
           their
           numbers
           were
           not
           valuable
           ,
           nor
           their
           persons
           much
           considerable
           ;
           they
           were
           generally
           as
           sheep
           without
           a
           Shepherd
           ,
           few
           or
           no
           Ministers
           being
           amongst
           them
           ,
           at
           least
           of
           any
           note
           or
           authority
           ,
           to
           give
           them
           any
           great
           name
           or
           repute
           .
        
         
           The
           Author
           of
           the
           Book
           entituled
           ,
           
             The
             unlawful
             practices
             of
             the
             Prelates
             ,
          
           which
           was
           wrote
           about
           that
           time
           ,
           tells
           us
           ,
           That
           as
           to
           
             Protestant
             Dissenters
             ,
             the
             Queen
             had
             a
             most
             peaceable
             Government
             for
             the
             first
             twenty
             four
             years
             of
             her
             reign
             .
             Towards
             some
             particular
             good
             men
             ,
             some
             hard
             dealings
             were
             shewed
             here
             and
             there
             ,
             by
             the
             instigation
             of
             some
             ignorant
             and
             half
             Popish
             persons
             ,
             for
             lack
             of
             judgment
             and
             knowledg
             .
          
        
         
           That
           which
           possibly
           gave
           occasion
           to
           this
           activity
           of
           the
           Bishops
           ,
           were
           two
           sorts
           of
           Dissenters
           which
           they
           observed
           amongst
           the
           Ministers
           .
        
         
           Some
           who
           only
           dissented
           as
           to
           the
           
             Common-prayer-book
          
           and
           
             Ceremonies
             ,
          
           of
           which
           number
           were
           Mr.
           
             Field
             ,
          
           Mr.
           
             Wilcox
             ,
          
           Mr.
           
             Standon
             ,
          
           Mr.
           
             Boxham
             ,
          
           Mr.
           
             Saintcloe
             ,
          
           Mr.
           
             Clare
             ,
          
           Mr.
           
             Edmonds
             .
          
           Others
           that
           were
           also
           for
           the
           
             Reformation
             of
             Discipline
             ,
          
           amongst
           whom
           were
           Mr.
           
             Clark
             ,
          
           Mr.
           
             Travers
             ,
          
           Mr.
           
             Barber
             ,
          
           Mr.
           
             Gardner
             ,
          
           Mr.
           
             Chestou
             ,
          
           Mr.
           
             Crook
             ,
          
           Mr.
           
             Egerton
             ,
          
           who
           were
           all
           betrayed
           by
           one
           Mr.
           
             Johnson
          
           who
           was
           wont
           to
           meet
           with
           them
           ,
           and
           many
           of
           them
           most
           miserably
           treated
           in
           the
           High
           Commission
           upon
           it
           .
        
         
           A
           great
           noise
           was
           made
           of
           the
           election
           of
           a
           
             Presbytery
          
           at
           
             Wandsworth
          
           in
           
             Surry
             ,
          
           the
           meaning
           of
           which
           was
           no
           more
           than
           this
           .
           The
           
             Queens
          
           and
           the
           
             Bishops
          
           Orders
           extending
           no
           further
           to
           the
           trial
           and
           
           fitness
           of
           Communicants
           ,
           than
           if
           they
           could
           say
           the
           
             Creed
             ,
          
           the
           
             Lords
             Prayer
             ,
          
           and
           the
           
             Ten
             Commandments
          
           (
           all
           which
           might
           be
           done
           by
           one
           so
           ignorant
           ,
           that
           no
           Minister
           who
           regarded
           what
           he
           did
           ,
           could
           administer
           the
           Lords
           Supper
           unto
           )
           some
           Ministers
           did
           agree
           of
           a
           stricter
           examination
           ,
           and
           the
           people
           made
           choice
           of
           ten
           or
           eleven
           persons
           to
           be
           present
           at
           that
           action
           .
           Possibly
           it
           had
           been
           less
           exposed
           to
           scandal
           ,
           if
           instead
           of
           them
           ,
           two
           or
           three
           Ministers
           had
           so
           joined
           ,
           and
           the
           end
           as
           well
           obtained
           ;
           but
           surely
           this
           was
           a
           far
           lesser
           evil
           ,
           than
           the
           admitting
           of
           all
           to
           the
           Sacrament
           that
           could
           but
           rehearse
           the
           
             Creed
             ,
             Lords
             Prayer
             ,
          
           and
           
             Ten
             Commandments
             ;
          
           there
           was
           nothing
           in
           this
           action
           ,
           but
           any
           pious
           Ministers
           who
           
             are
             the
             stewards
             of
             the
             mysteries
             of
             God
             ,
          
           might
           answer
           with
           a
           safe
           conscience
           ;
           for
           of
           
             Stewards
             it
             is
             required
             that
             they
             should
             be
             faithful
             ,
          
           saith
           the
           Apostle
           ;
           and
           I
           believe
           any
           Bishop
           would
           have
           judged
           his
           Steward
           unfaithful
           ,
           if
           he
           had
           dealt
           out
           his
           Master's
           goods
           contrary
           to
           his
           Master's
           order
           .
           The
           Ministers
           Master's
           order
           is
           plain
           enough
           ,
           that
           the
           holy
           Sacrament
           belongs
           not
           either
           to
           
             ignorant
          
           or
           scandalous
           persons
           .
           All
           the
           Churches
           of
           God
           in
           all
           Ages
           agree
           this
           ,
           our
           own
           Church
           in
           her
           principles
           agreeth
           it
           ;
           yet
           in
           practice
           ,
           all
           Ministers
           were
           tyed
           to
           give
           the
           Sacrament
           (
           as
           in
           times
           of
           
             Popery
             )
          
           to
           all
           such
           as
           could
           but
           rehearse
           the
           
             Creed
             ,
          
           the
           
             Pater
             Noster
             ,
          
           and
           the
           Ten
           
             Commandments
             ;
          
           and
           confessed
           in
           
             Lent
             ;
          
           those
           eminent
           persons
           who
           were
           commissionated
           by
           
             Edw.
          
           6.
           to
           draw
           up
           a
           new
           body
           of
           
             Ecclesiastical
             Laws
          
           (
           though
           that
           excellent
           
             Prince
          
           lived
           not
           long
           enough
           to
           set
           his
           Hand
           and
           Seal
           to
           it
           ,
           so
           as
           what
           they
           had
           done
           had
           no
           legal
           force
           )
           had
           expresly
           determined
           ,
           
             Tit.
             de
             Sacramentis
             ,
             Cap.
          
           5.
           
        
         
           
             We
             will
             have
             none
             admitted
             to
             the
             Table
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             until
             in
             the
             Church
             he
             hath
             made
             profession
             of
             his
             faith
             .
          
        
         
           What
           should
           good
           Ministers
           do
           in
           this
           case
           ?
           they
           could
           act
           but
           
             precariously
             ;
          
           it
           seems
           at
           
             Wandsworth
          
           in
           
             Surry
             ,
          
           there
           was
           a
           people
           that
           voluntarily
           submitted
           to
           this
           ;
           what
           harm
           was
           this
           to
           the
           Bishops
           ?
        
         
           But
           the
           truth
           is
           ,
           this
           business
           of
           
             discipline
          
           came
           into
           very
           little
           debate
           before
           1584.
           after
           that
           Subscription
           had
           been
           so
           fatally
           imposed
           .
        
         
           In
           several
           
             Diocesses
          
           I
           perceive
           there
           were
           some
           circumstantial
           variations
           in
           the
           forms
           of
           
             Subscriptions
             .
          
           To
           let
           my
           
             Reader
          
           therefore
           know
           what
           it
           was
           ,
           I
           will
           give
           it
           him
           as
           it
           lieth
           in
           the
           
             36th
             Canon
             ,
          
           1603.
           when
           it
           first
           received
           any
           thing
           like
           a
           
             legal
             confirmation
             ,
          
           which
           was
           at
           least
           25.
           or
           26.
           years
           after
           it
           was
           first
           devised
           ,
           and
           full
           30.
           years
           after
           it
           was
           so
           rigorously
           pressed
           .
        
         
           
           
             1.
             
             
               Art.
            
             That
             the
             Queens
             Majesty
             ,
             under
             God
             ,
             is
             thē
             Supreme
             Governour
             of
             this
             Realm
             ,
             and
             of
             all
             other
             her
             Highnesses
             Dominions
             ,
             and
             Territories
             ,
             as
             well
             in
             all
             Spiritual
             or
             Ecclesiastical
             things
             or
             causes
             ,
             as
             Temporal
             ;
             and
             that
             no
             forreign
             Prince
             ,
             Person
             ,
             State
             or
             Potentate
             ,
             hath
             ,
             or
             ought
             to
             have
             any
             Jurisdiction
             ,
             Power
             ,
             Superiority
             ,
             or
             Preheminence
             ,
             or
             Authority
             ,
             Ecclesiastical
             or
             Spiritual
             ,
             within
             her
             Majesties
             Realms
             ,
             Dominions
             or
             Countries
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             
               Art.
            
             That
             he
             alloweth
             the
             Book
             of
             Articles
             ,
             agreed
             on
             by
             the
             Archbishops
             and
             Bishops
             of
             both
             Provinces
             ,
             and
             the
             whole
             Clergy
             ,
             in
             the
             Convocation
             holden
             at
             
               London
               ,
               1562.
            
             and
             that
             he
             acknowledgeth
             
               All
            
             and
             
               Every
            
             the
             Articles
             therein
             ,
             being
             in
             number
             39.
             besides
             the
             Ratification
             ,
             to
             be
             
               agreeable
            
             to
             the
             Word
             of
             God.
             
          
           
             3.
             
             
               Art.
            
             That
             the
             Book
             of
             Common-Prayer
             ,
             and
             of
             ordering
             Bishops
             ,
             Priests
             and
             Deacons
             ,
             containeth
             in
             it
             nothing
             contrary
             to
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             that
             it
             may
             lawfully
             be
             used
             .
             and
             that
             he
             himself
             will
             use
             the
             form
             in
             the
             said
             Book
             ,
             prescribed
             in
             publick
             Prayer
             and
             Administration
             of
             the
             Sacraments
             ,
             and
             no
             other
             .
          
        
         
           This
           Engine
           was
           first
           formed
           by
           the
           
             Archbishop
             Whitgift
             ,
          
           and
           was
           one
           of
           those
           16.
           
           
             Proposals
          
           he
           offered
           to
           the
           
             Queen
             ,
          
           for
           the
           setling
           of
           the
           Church
           (
           a
           Copy
           of
           which
           in
           
             M.
             S.
          
           with
           two
           Answers
           to
           them
           ,
           I
           have
           read
           ,
           )
           some
           little
           difference
           there
           was
           in
           the
           
             Arch-bishops
          
           form
           :
           His
           first
           Article
           was
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           Art.
           
             That
             the
             Authority
             which
             is
             given
             her
             Majesty
             ,
             in
             Causes
             Ecclesiastical
             ,
             by
             the
             Laws
             of
             the
             Land
             ,
             is
             lawful
             ,
             and
             according
             to
             the
             Word
             of
             God.
             
          
        
         
           
             The
             Second
             Article
             was
             his
             Third
             ,
             andran
             thus
             :
          
        
         
           2.
           
           Art.
           
             That
             he
             allowed
             the
             Book
             of
             Articles
             of
             Religion
             ,
             agreed
             on
             by
             the
             Archbishops
             and
             Bishops
             of
             both
             Provinces
             ,
             and
             the
             whole
             Clergy
             in
             the
             Convocation
             holden
             at
          
           London
           1562.
           
             and
             set
             forth
             by
             her
             Majesties
             Authority
             ,
             and
             that
             he
             agreeth
             the
             Articles
             therein
             contained
             ,
             to
             be
             agreeable
             to
             the
             Word
             of
             God.
             
          
        
         
           3.
           
           Art.
           (
           Which
           was
           the
           
             Archbishops
          
           Second
           )
           was
           word
           for
           word
           the
           same
           .
        
         
           This
           Motion
           of
           the
           
             Archbishops
          
           put
           the
           
             Queen
          
           upon
           adding
           force
           to
           the
           
             Imposition
             ,
          
           which
           indeed
           had
           been
           by
           some
           
             Bishops
          
           began
           before
           ,
           but
           now
           in
           most
           Diocesses
           it
           was
           rigorously
           pressed
           .
           The
           issue
           of
           this
           is
           told
           us
           by
           the
           
             Author
          
           of
           the
           
             unlawful
             practices
             of
             Prelates
             in
             these
             words
             :
          
        
         
         
           
             Whatsoever
             was
             required
             in
             Civil
             Causes
             ,
             either
             that
             concerned
             her
             Majesty
             ;
             or
             the
             State
             ,
             was
             by
             the
             Ministers
             embraced
             wholly
             and
             freely
             In
             Ecclesiastical
             Causes
             also
             ,
             whatsoever
             concerned
             Doctrine
             ,
             or
             otherwise
             ,
             was
             expresly
             required
             by
             Statute
             for
             Subscription
             .
             Thus
             far
             at
             the
             first
             all
             men
             with
             protestation
             offered
             ,
             but
             to
             yeild
             to
             this
             thing
             ,
             so
             strange
             and
             new
             ,
          
           without
           any
           Law
           
             in
             streighter
             sort
             than
             ever
             was
             required
             .
          
           That
           all
           things
           were
           agreeable
           to
           Gods
           Word
           ,
           and
           not
           against
           it
           ;
           not
           only
           tollerable
           but
           allowable
           ,
           both
           in
           the
           Book
           of
           Common
           Prayer
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           Book
           of
           ordering
           Bishops
           ,
           Priests
           and
           Deacons
           .
           
             This
             was
             refused
             ,
             divers
             of
             the
             Ministers
             were
          
           suspended
           ,
           
             multitudes
             were
             thrust
             out
          
        
         
           How
           many
           
             godly
             ,
          
           able
           ,
           painful
           Ministers
           were
           outed
           all
           over
           
             England
             ,
          
           I
           cannot
           tell
           ,
           but
           
             ex
             ungue
             Leonem
             ,
          
           I
           have
           seen
           a
           
             M.
             S.
          
           which
           gives
           an
           account
           of
           the
           names
           of
           
             Sixty
          
           odd
           in
           
             Suffolk
             ,
             Twenty
             one
          
           in
           
             Lincolnshire
             ,
             Sixty
             four
          
           in
           
             Norfolk
             ,
             Thirty
             eight
          
           in
           
             Essex
             ;
          
           which
           though
           they
           seem
           comparatively
           few
           ,
           yet
           are
           a
           great
           many
           when
           we
           consider
           that
           in
           
             Essex
             ,
          
           at
           that
           time
           ,
           there
           was
           an
           account
           given
           of
           163.
           
           Ministers
           that
           never
           
             Preach'd
             ,
          
           only
           
             read
             Prayers
             and
             Homilies
             ,
          
           and
           85.
           more
           ,
           
             Pluralists
             ,
             Non
             residents
             ,
          
           or
           persons
           most
           
             notoriously
             debaucht
             .
          
        
         
           This
           was
           the
           first
           fruit
           of
           that
           
             Archbishops
          
           preferment
           ,
           and
           a
           fair
           offer
           at
           the
           rooting
           out
           of
           the
           
             reformed
             Religion
          
           as
           soon
           as
           planted
           ,
           which
           never
           did
           ,
           nor
           ever
           will
           live
           and
           flourish
           in
           any
           place
           ,
           under
           the
           conduct
           of
           an
           
             ignorant
             ,
             debauched
             ,
             unpreaching
             Ministry
             ;
          
           such
           a
           Ministry
           ,
           much
           better
           serving
           
             Popish
          
           than
           
             Protestant
          
           purposes
           .
        
         
           What
           the
           Ministers
           that
           were
           suspended
           ,
           or
           deprived
           did
           ,
           to
           prevent
           their
           misery
           ;
           or
           to
           get
           this
           severity
           a
           little
           mitigated
           and
           allayed
           at
           this
           time
           ,
           in
           the
           years
           1583
           ,
           1584
           ,
           1585.
           
           I
           shall
           inform
           the
           world
           from
           the
           worthy
           Author
           of
           the
           Book
           aforementioned
           ,
           wrote
           at
           that
           very
           time
           ,
           and
           often
           quoted
           by
           Bishop
           
             Bancroft
             .
          
        
         
           His
           words
           are
           these
           :
        
         
           
             The
             Cause
             was
             general
             ,
             means
             were
             made
             ,
             Ministers
             presented
             
               Doubts
               ,
               Protestations
               ,
               Supplications
               ;
            
             they
             were
             repulsed
             ,
             reviled
             ,
             threatned
             ;
             the
             Ministers
             did
             indure
             ,
             sustained
             with
             a
             good
             Conscience
             ;
             but
             their
             miserable
             flocks
             were
             subject
             to
             all
             disorders
             ,
             spoils
             ,
             havock
             :
             Good
             men
             mourned
             ,
             evil
             men
             prevailed
             ,
             License
             possessed
             all
             places
             ,
             nothing
             was
             reserved
             whole
             to
             civil
             and
             modest
             life
             .
             These
             things
             Gentlemen
             of
             all
             sorts
             took
             to
             heart
             ,
             they
             lamented
             their
             own
             
             estate
             ,
             and
             the
             estate
             of
             the
             people
             ,
             they
             pitied
             their
             Ministers
             ,
             their
             Wives
             and
             Children
             ;
             Gods
             Cause
             moved
             them
             ,
             the
             honour
             of
             the
             Gospel
             drew
             them
             ,
             yea
             the
             safety
             of
             her
             Majesty
             in
             these
             dangerous
             times
             compelled
             them
             ,
             their
             own
             Offices
             of
             Justice
             ,
             which
             by
             the
             word
             was
             so
             well
             aided
             ,
             and
             which
             without
             it
             they
             could
             not
             steer
             in
             a
             storm
             of
             so
             great
             confusion
             ,
             drew
             them
             to
             sue
             in
             all
             humble
             sort
             to
             the
             
               Archbishop
               ,
            
             testifying
             the
             wholesome
             Doctrine
             ,
             together
             with
             the
             honest
             life
             of
             their
             Pastors
             ,
             declaring
             the
             breaches
             ,
             waste
             and
             wrecks
             of
             their
             Country
             ,
             the
             present
             evil
             ,
             the
             dangers
             to
             come
             ;
             finally
             craving
             ,
             that
             in
             regard
             of
             the
             souls
             of
             the
             people
             ,
             and
             their
             own
             ,
             he
             would
             accept
             such
             a
             Subscription
             as
             the
             Law
             expresly
             appointed
             
               [
               13.
               
               Eliz.
               c.
               12.
               ]
            
             and
             restore
             the
             poor
             men
             both
             to
             their
             Preaching
             and
             Livings
             .
             This
             second
             means
             prevail'd
             with
             him
             [
             Archbishbp
             
               Whitgift
               ]
            
             no
             more
             than
             the
             first
             .
             The
             third
             was
             attempted
             .
          
           
             This
             refuge
             was
             to
             the
             Honourable
             Senate
             of
             her
             Majesties
             Privy-Council
             .
             There
             it
             was
             in
             like
             manner
             sought
             ,
             and
             declared
             ,
             the
             proceedings
             before
             used
             with
             the
             
               Archbishop
               .
            
             The
             inconveniency
             by
             this
             new
             dealing
             sprang
             up
             in
             the
             Church
             and
             Commonwealth
             ,
             was
             shewed
             ,
             and
             witnessed
             by
             Subscribed
             Hands
             .
             These
             supplications
             ,
             with
             Letters
             of
             favour
             were
             sent
             to
             the
             
               Archbishop
               ,
            
             in
             the
             behalf
             of
             Preachers
             ;
             did
             he
             yet
             any
             thing
             relent
             ?
             surely
             no
             ,
             nay
             ,
             I
             would
             he
             had
             not
             been
             more
             indurate
             .
             Six
             or
             Eight
             months
             were
             thus
             spent
             ,
             the
             Country
             devoid
             of
             Preaching
             ,
             the
             calamities
             of
             some
             Shires
             increased
             ,
             testimonies
             ,
             informations
             ,
             multiplied
             .
             At
             the
             length
             ,
             such
             were
             the
             complaints
             ,
             that
             her
             Majesties
             most
             
               Honourable
               Council
            
             dealt
             very
             feelingly
             in
             the
             case
          
        
         
           Lest
           any
           should
           traduce
           that
           Book
           as
           giving
           a
           false
           account
           ,
           I
           could
           out
           of
           a
           
             MS.
          
           in
           my
           hands
           ,
           fill
           a
           competent
           
             Volume
          
           with
           Copies
           of
           
             Supplications
          
           of
           this
           nature
           .
           It
           shall
           suffice
           to
           give
           an
           instance
           or
           two
           .
           1.
           
           Of
           the
           
             Ministers
             Applications
          
           to
           
             Archbishop
             Whitgift
             .
          
           2.
           
           The
           
             peoples
             ,
          
           and
           several
           
             Gentlemens
          
           applications
           and
           supplications
           to
           the
           
             Archbishop
             ;
          
           then
           3.
           
           To
           the
           
             Council
             .
          
           Letters
           from
           
             Noblemen
          
           and
           
             Privy-Councellors
          
           to
           the
           
             Archbishop
             ,
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           That
           of
           the
           Ministers
           of
           the
           
             Diocess
          
           of
           
             Ely
             ,
          
           is
           one
           of
           the
           shortest
           ,
           I
           shall
           therefore
           transcribe
           that
           for
           a
           specimen
           of
           Applications
           to
           the
           
             Archbishop
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Whereas
               two
               Canonical
               Admonitions
               upon
               our
               obedience
               ,
               are
               already
               past
               (
               most
               R●verend
               Father
               in
               God
               )
               and
               suspension
               ready
               to
               proceed
               
               against
               us
               for
               not
               subscribing
               to
               some
               things
               we
               know
               not
               ,
               and
               others
               that
               we
               greatly
               doubt
               of
               :
               We
               having
               received
               good
               hope
               upon
               our
               own
               knowledg
               of
               your
               Lordships
               wonted
               hatred
               of
               sin
               ,
               and
               love
               of
               true
               Religion
               and
               godliness
               ,
               are
               bold
               to
               offer
               our
               humble
               supplication
               unto
               you
               ,
               as
               well
               to
               shew
               our
               obedience
               to
               all
               superiority
               over
               us
               in
               the
               Lord
               ,
               as
               also
               to
               crave
               your
               Lordships
               lawful
               favour
               for
               larger
               space
               of
               time
               to
               be
               granted
               to
               us
               ,
               considering
               how
               carefully
               we
               have
               used
               our
               Ministry
               to
               the
               building
               of
               the
               Church
               ,
               endeavouring
               with
               all
               our
               hearts
               to
               keep
               the
               good
               peace
               thereof
               ,
               which
               we
               daily
               pray
               for
               :
               Wherefore
               if
               it
               shall
               please
               your
               Lordship
               to
               deal
               so
               graciously
               with
               us
               ,
               as
               either
               to
               free
               us
               from
               all
               subscriptions
               ,
               saving
               to
               her
               Majesties
               authority
               ,
               and
               the
               Articles
               of
               the
               Christian
               Religion
               ,
               which
               the
               Law
               requireth
               ;
               or
               to
               give
               us
               so
               long
               time
               ,
               as
               divers
               Treatises
               may
               be
               perused
               by
               us
               ,
               that
               either
               we
               may
               be
               satisfied
               in
               our
               persuasions
               to
               subscribe
               ,
               or
               (
               if
               there
               be
               no
               remedy
               )
               quietly
               to
               give
               place
               to
               the
               peace
               of
               the
               Church
               .
               In
               the
               mean
               time
               we
               judg
               them
               not
               that
               have
               subscribed
               ,
               as
               we
               desire
               not
               to
               be
               judged
               in
               this
               our
               staying
               .
               Thus
               if
               it
               shall
               please
               Almighty
               God
               to
               move
               your
               Lordship
               to
               take
               compassion
               on
               our
               troubled
               consciences
               ,
               that
               we
               may
               feel
               our
               burden
               lighter
               by
               your
               good
               favour
               ,
               we
               shall
               praise
               God
               for
               the
               same
               ,
               and
               shew
               our
               thank
               fulness
               to
               your
               Lordship
               ,
               which
               we
               pray
               God
               to
               preserve
               and
               keep
               to
               the
               good
               and
               benefit
               of
               his
               Church
               ,
               and
               to
               your
               own
               comfort
               .
            
             
               
                 
                   12.
                   
                   March
                   1583.
                   
                
              
               
                 Your
                 Graces
                 most
                 humble
                 ,
                 
                   
                     Robert
                     Garret
                  
                   
                     Bowter
                     .
                  
                   
                     Martin
                     .
                  
                   
                     Henry
                     Dickenson
                     .
                  
                   
                     Mat.
                     Chapman
                     .
                  
                   
                     Edw.
                     Brain
                     .
                  
                   
                     Christopher
                     Jackson
                     .
                  
                   
                     Thomas
                     Brain
                     .
                  
                
              
            
          
        
         
           Many
           Supplications
           of
           this
           nature
           were
           in
           that
           and
           in
           the
           two
           following
           years
           presented
           to
           the
           Archbishop
           ,
           to
           particular
           Bishops
           of
           Diocesses
           ,
           
             &c.
          
           which
           I
           forbear
           to
           transcribe
           ,
           the
           matter
           being
           much
           the
           same
           .
        
         
           These
           not
           finding
           their
           due
           effect
           ,
           the
           Gentlemen
           of
           several
           Counties
           petitioned
           the
           
             Archbishop
             .
          
           I
           could
           insert
           several
           Copies
           ;
           I
           shall
           only
           insert
           that
           of
           the
           
             Gentlemen
          
           in
           
             Cambridgshire
          
           to
           the
           
             Archbishop
             ,
          
           bearing
           date
           the
           26.
           of
           
             April
             ,
          
           1583.
           
        
         
           
             
             
               May
               it
               please
               your
               Lordship
               ,
               that
               under
               your
               good
               favour
               we
               whose
               〈…〉
               en
               ●●y
               be
               acceptable
               suitors
               on
               the
               behalf
               of
               divers
               godly
               Ministers
               with
               in
               this
               County
               of
               
                 Cambridg
                 ,
              
               whose
               names
               are
               set
               down
               in
               a
               schedule
               herewith
               sent
               unto
               you
               ,
               concerning
               the
               manner
               of
               subscribing
               to
               the
               articles
               lately
               published
               ,
               the
               execution
               whereof
               towards
               our
               Ministers
               ,
               we
               fear
               would
               be
               to
               the
               displacing
               of
               them
               ,
               as
               some
               are
               already
               ;
               whereby
               we
               think
               great
               inconvenience
               must
               follow
               in
               these
               parts
               ,
               by
               reason
               that
               both
               the
               sufficiency
               and
               good
               conversation
               of
               these
               already
               placed
               ,
               with
               the
               good
               success
               and
               blessing
               on
               their
               labours
               ,
               is
               evidently
               known
               unto
               us
               ,
               and
               we
               are
               persuaded
               that
               they
               continue
               their
               places
               by
               bond
               in
               conscience
               ,
               for
               that
               hitherto
               we
               have
               not
               heard
               of
               any
               contentiousness
               in
               Religion
               ,
               or
               disquietness
               and
               disorder
               in
               any
               of
               them
               or
               their
               people
               :
               Wherefore
               altho
               in
               your
               wise
               and
               fatherly
               care
               ,
               your
               desire
               is
               to
               make
               choice
               of
               a
               good
               supply
               if
               these
               fail
               ;
               yet
               if
               it
               should
               seem
               good
               unto
               your
               Wisdom
               ,
               we
               should
               acknowledg
               our selves
               much
               bound
               unto
               your
               Lordship
               in
               the
               continuance
               of
               these
               men
               ,
               being
               known
               unto
               us
               already
               ;
               the
               other
               hereafter
               to
               come
               being
               unknown
               what
               they
               shall
               be
               ;
               and
               so
               much
               the
               rather
               ,
               because
               of
               the
               bare
               Livings
               which
               some
               of
               them
               have
               ,
               whereby
               it
               is
               to
               be
               feared
               it
               will
               be
               no
               easie
               matter
               to
               place
               sufficient
               men
               in
               their
               stead
               .
               Thus
               trusting
               ,
               and
               nothing
               doubting
               but
               that
               they
               may
               find
               your
               honourable
               favour
               so
               far
               forth
               as
               you
               may
               grant
               ,
               not
               contrary
               to
               the
               Law
               of
               this
               Realm
               ;
               and
               most
               humbly
               beseeching
               ,
               that
               we
               may
               enjoy
               them
               in
               their
               rooms
               as
               long
               as
               any
               others
               in
               other
               places
               ,
               whereof
               we
               and
               they
               hope
               so
               much
               the
               more
               ,
               for
               that
               it
               pleased
               God
               once
               to
               make
               your
               Lordship
               a
               special
               member
               in
               this
               County
               for
               a
               time
               ,
               whereby
               as
               you
               gave
               and
               bestowed
               a
               great
               cause
               of
               love
               ,
               so
               you
               reaped
               much
               good
               will
               ;
               which
               as
               it
               remaineth
               in
               us
               and
               them
               to
               stand
               you
               in
               any
               stead
               to
               our
               powers
               ,
               so
               we
               trust
               that
               we
               and
               they
               shall
               find
               this
               latter
               fruit
               of
               it
               ,
               to
               our
               great
               comfort
               and
               benefit
               :
               and
               thus
               we
               humbly
               take
               our
               leave
               .
            
             
               
                 Your
                 Graces
                 assured
                 ,
                 
                   
                     John
                     Cutts
                     .
                  
                   
                     Fr.
                     Hind
                     .
                  
                   
                     John
                     Hutton
                     .
                  
                   
                     Fitzralph
                     Chamblein
                     .
                  
                   
                     Thomas
                     Wendy
                     .
                  
                   
                     Thomas
                     Chickly
                     .
                  
                   
                     Anthony
                     Cage
                     .
                  
                
              
            
          
        
         
         
           Some
           others
           there
           were
           of
           this
           nature
           ;
           but
           it
           seemed
           ●●●h
           by
           what
           followed
           ,
           and
           also
           by
           what
           the
           Author
           of
           the
           Book
           aforementioned
           saith
           ,
           that
           the
           
             Archbishops
          
           ear
           was
           deaf
           to
           all
           Supplications
           of
           this
           nature
           ,
           and
           has
           resolved
           to
           carry
           his
           Subscription
           through
           .
        
         
           The
           poor
           Ministers
           in
           this
           distress
           ,
           together
           also
           with
           the
           Gentlemen
           of
           several
           Counties
           ,
           and
           the
           people
           of
           several
           places
           ,
           addressed
           themselves
           by
           
             Petition
          
           to
           the
           
             Queen
             ,
          
           and
           to
           particular
           Lords
           of
           the
           Council
           ,
           then
           to
           the
           Queen
           and
           the
           whole
           Council
           .
           Particularly
           ,
           
             Dunmow
          
           in
           
             Essex
          
           sent
           a
           
             Supplication
          
           to
           my
           Lord
           
             Rich.
          
           The
           Parishioners
           of
           
             Aldermary
          
           in
           
             London
             ,
          
           to
           the
           Earl
           of
           
             Leicester
             .
          
           The
           Ministers
           of
           the
           Diocess
           of
           
             Peterborough
             ,
          
           to
           another
           Lord.
           Many
           addressed
           to
           the
           whole
           Council
           ,
           
             viz.
          
           The
           Gentlemen
           of
           
             Norfolk
             ,
          
           the
           Ministers
           in
           
             Norfolk
             ,
          
           the
           Ministers
           of
           
             Essex
             ,
          
           the
           Ministers
           of
           
             Lincolnshire
             .
             Essex
             ,
             Oxfordshire
             ,
          
           the
           
             Isle
             of
             Ely
             ,
          
           and
           many
           other
           Counties
           and
           places
           .
           I
           have
           by
           me
           all
           the
           Copies
           ;
           I
           shall
           only
           transcribe
           that
           of
           the
           Ministers
           of
           
             Lincolnshire
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               
                 
                   The
                   Supplication
                   of
                   the
                   Ministers
                   of
                   
                     Lincolnshire
                  
                   to
                   the
                   Lords
                   of
                   the
                   Council
                   .
                
                 
                   Forasmuch
                   
                     (
                     Right
                     Honourable
                     )
                  
                   as
                   the
                   Lord
                   of
                   heaven
                   and
                   earth
                   hath
                   substituted
                   your
                   
                     Honours
                  
                   next
                   under
                   her
                   Majesty
                   ,
                   to
                   procure
                   passage
                   to
                   his
                   Gospel
                   ,
                   beauty
                   to
                   his
                   Church
                   ,
                   and
                   glory
                   to
                   his
                   Kingdom
                   ;
                   in
                   which
                   business
                   of
                   the
                   Lord
                   ,
                   to
                   the
                   great
                   joy
                   of
                   all
                   those
                   which
                   pray
                   heartily
                   for
                   the
                   peace
                   of
                   
                     Jerusalem
                     ,
                  
                   hitherto
                   you
                   have
                   happily
                   proceeded
                   :
                   We
                   whose
                   names
                   are
                   underwritten
                   ,
                   whom
                   the
                   same
                   Lord
                   hath
                   in
                   mercy
                   placed
                   over
                   some
                   of
                   his
                   people
                   here
                   in
                   
                     Lincolnshire
                     ,
                  
                   as
                   Pastors
                   and
                   Preachers
                   to
                   feed
                   them
                   with
                   the
                   word
                   of
                   truth
                   ,
                   do
                   humbly
                   beseech
                   your
                   Honours
                   to
                   regard
                   the
                   pitiful
                   and
                   woful
                   estate
                   of
                   our
                   Congregations
                   and
                   people
                   in
                   these
                   parts
                   ,
                   which
                   being
                   destitute
                   of
                   our
                   Ministry
                   by
                   the
                   means
                   of
                   a
                   Subscription
                   generally
                   and
                   strictly
                   urged
                   now
                   of
                   late
                   by
                   the
                   Bishops
                   Officers
                   ,
                   do
                   mourn
                   and
                   lament
                   .
                   It
                   is
                   well
                   known
                   to
                   all
                   your
                   
                     Lordships
                     ,
                  
                   that
                   an
                   
                     absolute
                     Subscription
                  
                   is
                   required
                   throughout
                   the
                   whole
                   
                     Province
                  
                   of
                   
                     Canterbury
                  
                   to
                   three
                   Articles
                   .
                   The
                   first
                   concerning
                   her
                   
                     Majesties
                     Supreme
                     Authority
                     .
                  
                   The
                   second
                   to
                   the
                   Book
                   of
                   Common-prayer
                   ,
                   with
                   that
                   of
                   consecrating
                   Bishops
                   ,
                   and
                   ordering
                   Priests
                   and
                   Deacons
                   .
                   The
                   third
                   concerning
                   the
                   
                   Book
                   of
                   Articles
                   .
                   As
                   touching
                   the
                   first
                   ,
                   we
                   offer
                   our
                   sevles
                   to
                   a
                   
                     full
                     Subscription
                     ,
                  
                   as
                   always
                   heretofore
                   we
                   have
                   done
                   ;
                   as
                   also
                   to
                   the
                   Articles
                   of
                   Religion
                   
                     [
                     I
                     presume
                     here
                     must
                     be
                     meant
                     ,
                     as
                     in
                     the
                     rest
                     generally
                     is
                     exprest
                     ,
                     so
                     far
                     as
                     they
                     concern
                     matters
                     of
                     Faith
                     ,
                     and
                     the
                     Doctrine
                     of
                     the
                     Sacraments
                     ,
                     ]
                  
                   and
                   cannot
                   be
                   accepted
                   herein
                   ,
                   without
                   an
                   absolute
                   Subscribing
                   to
                   the
                   other
                   ,
                   unto
                   which
                   we
                   dare
                   not
                   condescend
                   ,
                   being
                   as
                   yet
                   many
                   of
                   us
                   not
                   fully
                   acquainted
                   with
                   the
                   Book
                   of
                   
                     confecrating
                     Bishops
                     ,
                     and
                     ordering
                     Priests
                     and
                     Deacons
                     ;
                  
                   and
                   all
                   of
                   us
                   unresolved
                   ,
                   and
                   unsatisfied
                   in
                   our
                   Consciences
                   ,
                   
                     in
                     many
                     points
                     of
                     the
                     Common-Prayer
                     .
                  
                   May
                   it
                   please
                   your
                   Lordships
                   also
                   ,
                   favourably
                   to
                   consider
                   ,
                   that
                   in
                   refusing
                   an
                   absolute
                   Subscription
                   ,
                   we
                   do
                   it
                   not
                   out
                   of
                   any
                   arrogance
                   ,
                   or
                   singularity
                   ,
                   but
                   only
                   for
                   that
                   we
                   have
                   no
                   sufficient
                   resolution
                   ,
                   which
                   we
                   have
                   earnestly
                   desired
                   of
                   some
                   doubts
                   ,
                   about
                   divers
                   weighty
                   matters
                   ,
                   and
                   points
                   in
                   the
                   same
                   Book
                   ;
                   which
                   requests
                   of
                   ours
                   ,
                   sith
                   we
                   could
                   not
                   obtain
                   ,
                   we
                   desired
                   ,
                   that
                   at
                   the
                   least
                   in
                   our
                   
                     Subscription
                     ,
                  
                   we
                   might
                   make
                   exceptions
                   of
                   the
                   things
                   whereof
                   we
                   doubted
                   ,
                   which
                   they
                   have
                   utterly
                   denied
                   us
                   ,
                   for
                   which
                   causes
                   
                     (
                     Right
                     Honourable
                     !
                     )
                  
                   we
                   fearing
                   to
                   Subscribe
                   so
                   absolutely
                   as
                   we
                   were
                   urged
                   ,
                   we
                   are
                   all
                   suspended
                   from
                   executing
                   the
                   function
                   of
                   our
                   Ministry
                   amongst
                   our
                   people
                   ,
                   to
                   the
                   great
                   danger
                   of
                   their
                   souls
                   ,
                   and
                   danger
                   of
                   losing
                   the
                   fruit
                   of
                   our
                   former
                   poor
                   labours
                   ,
                   which
                   we
                   have
                   by
                   Gods
                   Grace
                   imployed
                   upon
                   them
                   :
                   wherefore
                   we
                   humbly
                   crave
                   of
                   your
                   
                     Honours
                  
                   (
                   our
                   Cause
                   being
                   ,
                   as
                   we
                   are
                   perswaded
                   ,
                   the
                   Lords
                   own
                   Cause
                   ,
                   and
                   his
                   Churches
                   )
                   that
                   it
                   may
                   be
                   considered
                   :
                   And
                   that
                   since
                   we
                   can
                   neither
                   be
                   impeached
                   of
                   false
                   Doctrine
                   ,
                   nor
                   of
                   contempt
                   of
                   her
                   Majesties
                   Laws
                   ,
                   nor
                   of
                   refusing
                   of
                   the
                   exercising
                   of
                   the
                   Book
                   of
                   
                     Common-Prayer
                  
                   in
                   our
                   charges
                   ,
                   nor
                   of
                   breeding
                   contention
                   and
                   sedition
                   in
                   the
                   Church
                   :
                   And
                   again
                   ,
                   that
                   Papists
                   ,
                   her
                   Majesties
                   enemies
                   ,
                   with
                   Atheists
                   ,
                   to
                   the
                   corrupting
                   of
                   Religion
                   in
                   Doctrine
                   and
                   Manners
                   ,
                   do
                   daily
                   multiply
                   and
                   increase
                   ,
                   we
                   may
                   be
                   restored
                   to
                   our
                   flocks
                   and
                   people
                   ,
                   in
                   such
                   sort
                   ,
                   as
                   with
                   all
                   peace
                   of
                   Conscience
                   we
                   may
                   go
                   forward
                   with
                   the
                   Lords
                   Work
                   in
                   building
                   up
                   his
                   house
                   in
                   several
                   places
                   .
                
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         Thomas
                         Fulkeck
                         .
                      
                       
                         Hugh
                         Tuke
                         .
                      
                       
                         John
                         Daniel
                         .
                      
                       
                         Richard
                         Allen.
                         
                      
                       
                         Anthony
                         Hunt.
                         
                      
                       
                         Reinold
                         Grome
                         .
                      
                       
                         Thomas
                         Tripler
                         .
                      
                       
                         Shepheard
                         .
                      
                       
                         Henry
                         Nelson
                         .
                      
                       
                         Mat.
                         Tomson
                         .
                      
                       
                         Thomas
                         Bradly
                         .
                      
                       
                         Joseph
                         Gibson
                         .
                      
                       
                         James
                         Worship
                         .
                      
                       
                         Charles
                         Bingam
                         .
                      
                       
                         John
                         Munning
                         .
                      
                       
                         Humfrid
                         Travers
                         .
                      
                       
                         John
                         Pryer
                         .
                      
                       
                         John
                         Summerscales
                         .
                      
                       
                         John
                         Wintle
                         .
                      
                       
                         Richard
                         Holdsworth
                         .
                      
                       
                         Richard
                         Kellet
                         .
                      
                    
                  
                
              
            
          
        
         
         
           These
           are
           enough
           for
           specimens
           of
           several
           sorts
           of
           Supplications
           .
           There
           were
           others
           more
           particularly
           directed
           to
           the
           
             Queen
             ,
          
           and
           to
           some
           great
           persons
           ,
           all
           much
           to
           the
           same
           sense
           .
        
         
           This
           last
           means
           had
           some
           little
           effect
           :
           of
           which
           the
           Author
           of
           the
           Book
           called
           
             The
             unlawful
             practices
             of
             Prelates
             ,
          
           giveth
           us
           this
           account
           ,
           
             c.
          
           4.
           
        
         
           
             Hence
             became
             the
             subscription
             to
             be
             somewhat
             more
             tolerable
             ,
             and
             further
             time
             was
             granted
             unto
             divers
             in
             divers
             Countreys
             ,
             and
             retaining
             that
             which
             pertained
             to
             the
             Civil
             State
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             Ecclesiastical
             that
             which
             concerned
             doctrine
             ,
             with
             protestation
             to
             use
             the
             Book
             of
             Common-prayer
             ,
             the
             Archbishop
             suffered
             himself
             to
             be
             entreated
             to
             require
             no
             more
             of
             many
             .
             To
             this
             many
             were
             drawn
             :
             the
             peace
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             the
             compassion
             of
             their
             flocks
             ,
             the
             weariness
             of
             turmoils
             ,
             brought
             many
             to
             it
             ,
             that
             yet
             did
             it
             ,
             some
             with
             tears
             ,
             some
             with
             so
             great
             heaviness
             of
             conscience
             long
             after
             ,
             as
             they
             were
             never
             quiet
             till
             their
             dying
             day
             .
             So
             great
             a
             desire
             of
             unity
             was
             in
             sundry
             men
             that
             stood
             herein
             .
             Others
             satisfying
             themselves
             with
             a
             protestation
             of
             an
             holy
             and
             godly
             resolution
             by
             the
             
               Archbishop
               ,
            
             and
             other
             of
             the
             Bishops
             ,
             in
             certain
             points
             (
             as
             they
             supposed
             )
             by
             the
             example
             of
             certain
             learned
             men
             in
             the
             like
             case
             ,
             did
             not
             refuse
             to
             subscribe
             ,
             as
             the
             Ministers
             of
             
               Sussex
               ,
            
             and
             such
             like
             .
             Again
             ,
             some
             other
             special
             men
             were
             admitted
             in
             divers
             places
             with
             more
             favour
             ,
             as
             the
             Ministers
             of
             
               Leicestershire
               ,
               Buckinghamshire
               ,
            
             and
             somt
             other
             places
             ,
             and
             some
             such
             others
             (
             chiefly
             such
             whose
             authority
             would
             have
             brought
             discredit
             to
             their
             too
             too
             severe
             proceedings
             )
             without
             any
             subscription
             at
             all
             .
          
           
             Hence
             ,
             of
             the
             multitude
             that
             held
             out
             ,
             at
             first
             seemed
             not
             so
             great
             (
             tho
             in
             truth
             in
             respect
             of
             the
             men
             ,
             and
             the
             times
             ,
             they
             were
             too
             too
             many
             )
             
               and
               their
               subscription
            
             laid
             with
             their
             
               sundry
               exceptions
               in
               a
               manner
               no
               subscription
               at
               all
               .
            
             But
             with
             the
             credit
             of
             these
             ,
             shewing
             only
             the
             subscriptions
             in
             one
             paper
             ,
             and
             retaining
             their
             
               Protestation
            
             in
             another
             ,
             many
             were
             drawn
             also
             as
             unawares
             birds
             into
             the
             net
             ,
             by
             the
             chirping
             of
             birds
             first
             taken
             .
             From
             the
             colour
             of
             these
             last
             
               forms
               of
               subscriptions
               ,
            
             sprang
             bruits
             ,
             as
             tho
             all
             things
             were
             well
             in
             the
             
               Orders
               and
               Liturgy
               of
               the
               Church
               of
               England
               ;
            
             all
             things
             subscribed
             unto
             ;
             that
             all
             had
             yielded
             ;
             that
             whosoever
             mouths
             were
             open
             ,
             had
             subscribed
             .
             But
             how
             far
             these
             differ
             frow
             that
             which
             was
             at
             first
             tendered
             ,
             I
             suppose
             no
             man
             is
             ignorant
             .
             As
             again
             ,
             how
             little
             difference
             there
             is
             between
             the
             latter
             ,
             and
             that
             which
             all
             men
             did
             freely
             and
             frankly
             offer
             
             at
             the
             first
             .
             Nothing
             that
             did
             pertain
             to
             her
             
               Excellent
               Majesty
            
             was
             struck
             at
             ;
             nothing
             that
             concerned
             doctrine
             ,
             or
             the
             substance
             of
             our
             faith
             .
             Nothing
             that
             in
             the
             Statutes
             was
             set
             down
             touching
             
               Subscription
               .
            
          
        
         
           The
           most
           that
           was
           excepted
           against
           at
           first
           ,
           and
           that
           generally
           ,
           were
           the
           
             Ceremonies
             ,
             The
             reading
             the
             Apocryphal
             Books
             ,
             The
             ill
             translation
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             used
             ,
             The
             Rubricks
             ,
             Very
             many
             things
             in
             the
             Book
             of
             ordaining
             Bishops
             ,
             Priests
             ,
             and
             Deacons
             ,
          
           and
           several
           
             passages
             in
             the
             prayers
             .
          
           The
           number
           was
           not
           many
           ,
           who
           refused
           to
           use
           a
           
             set-form
             of
             prayer
          
           to
           be
           constantly
           used
           in
           their
           Ministry
           .
        
         
           It
           was
           but
           twenty
           five
           years
           since
           the
           whole
           Nation
           came
           out
           of
           
             Popery
             ,
          
           where
           they
           knew
           nothing
           else
           ;
           and
           it
           could
           not
           be
           expected
           that
           in
           that
           time
           should
           be
           a
           discovery
           of
           all
           that
           was
           truly
           blameable
           in
           
             Worship
             ,
          
           or
           
             Government
             of
             the
             Church
             .
          
           Yet
           there
           were
           some
           that
           in
           those
           days
           refused
           this
           .
           Bishop
           
             Bancroft
          
           in
           his
           
             Dangerous
             Positions
             ,
          
           p.
           84
           tells
           us
           ,
           that
           Mr.
           
             Field
          
           in
           a
           Letter
           to
           Mr.
           
             Asker
             ,
             14.
             
             Ap.
          
           1585.
           tells
           him
           :
        
         
           I
           preach
           every
           Sabbath-day
           ,
           (
           if
           no
           other
           that
           cometh
           by
           chance
           doth
           supply
           the
           place
           )
           having
           nothing
           to
           do
           at
           all
           with
           the
           former
           Book
           of
           Common-prayer
           ,
           
             &c.
             
          
        
         
           This
           was
           the
           first
           division
           of
           godly
           Ministers
           into
           such
           as
           were
           
             purely
             Nonconformists
             .
             2.
             
             Conforming
             Nonconformists
             .
          
           The
           latter
           were
           the
           greater
           number
           ,
           who
           had
           subscribed
           to
           
             use
             the
             Common-prayer
             ,
          
           but
           not
           to
           
             read
             it
             fully
             and
             in
             all
             parts
             ;
          
           and
           this
           with
           
             protestations
             ,
          
           that
           their
           
             subscriptions
          
           should
           not
           oblige
           them
           to
           do
           any
           thing
           contrary
           to
           the
           word
           of
           God
           ,
           
             &c.
          
           there
           were
           several
           forms
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           
             Twenty
             Ministers
          
           of
           the
           
             Diocess
             of
             Chichester
          
           thus
           subscribed
           ,
           with
           
             exception
          
           to
           all
           the
           
             Rubricks
             ,
          
           the
           
             Book
             of
             Ordination
             ,
          
           and
           I
           know
           not
           how
           many
           limitations
           .
        
         
           Here
           the
           great
           and
           infinite
           wisdom
           of
           God
           was
           seen
           ,
           governing
           the
           failers
           of
           his
           servants
           to
           his
           own
           
             wise
             ends
             and
             glory
             .
          
           By
           this
           means
           a
           
             preaching
             Ministry
          
           was
           preserved
           in
           
             England
             ,
          
           which
           had
           the
           
             Bishop
          
           kept
           to
           his
           first
           severity
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Ministers
           that
           at
           first
           refused
           ,
           absolutely
           persisted
           in
           their
           refusal
           ,
           had
           before
           the
           Reformation
           was
           28.
           years
           old
           ,
           been
           destroyed
           throughout
           
             England
             ,
          
           at
           least
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           it
           .
        
         
         
           But
           (
           saith
           our
           Saviour
           )
           
             He
             that
             will
             save
             his
             life
             shall
             lose
             it
             .
          
           Very
           many
           of
           these
           good
           men
           were
           afterwards
           
             suspended
             ,
             deprived
             ,
             indited
             ,
             imprisoned
             ,
             wearied
          
           out
           of
           their
           lives
           by
           troubles
           in
           the
           
             High
             Commission
             ;
          
           though
           not
           for
           
             not
             subscribing
          
           (
           for
           which
           was
           no
           Law
           )
           yet
           for
           
             not
             wearing
             the
             Surplice
             ,
          
           not
           
             using
             the
             Cross
             in
             Baptism
             ,
          
           not
           
             keeping
             Holydays
             ,
          
           not
           
             reading
             all
             the
             Prayers
             ,
          
           or
           some
           such
           like
           things
           .
           Thus
           was
           our
           state
           from
           1583.
           till
           1603.
           when
           King
           
             James
          
           came
           to
           the
           Crown
           .
        
         
           Hitherto
           I
           have
           shewed
           my
           
             Reader
          
           the
           first
           
             Impositions
          
           in
           
             England
             ,
          
           and
           the
           woful
           mischief
           wrought
           by
           them
           ,
           not
           only
           to
           multitudes
           of
           particular
           Families
           ,
           but
           to
           the
           interest
           of
           the
           
             Gospel
          
           and
           
             Reformation
          
           in
           general
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           now
           proceed
           to
           a
           second
           period
           ,
           which
           will
           take
           up
           the
           whole
           time
           of
           King
           
             James
          
           his
           Reign
           ,
           from
           1603.
           to
           1625.
           
           
             Whitgift
          
           was
           in
           the
           beginning
           
             Archbishop
             ,
          
           and
           
             Bancroft
             Bishop
             of
             London
             .
          
           Their
           Writings
           sufficiently
           testifie
           how
           zealous
           both
           of
           them
           were
           against
           
             Nonconformists
             .
          
           The
           
             Convocation
          
           this
           year
           established
           the
           three
           Articles
           (
           which
           20
           years
           before
           had
           made
           such
           a
           confusion
           )
           by
           a
           
             Canon
             ;
          
           it
           is
           their
           36
           
             Canon
             :
          
           which
           
             Canons
          
           were
           confirmed
           by
           King
           
             James
             ,
          
           but
           never
           since
           brought
           to
           a
           
             Parliament
             ,
          
           or
           confirmed
           by
           them
           .
           I
           am
           not
           concerned
           to
           enquire
           how
           valid
           they
           are
           as
           Laws
           obligatory
           to
           the
           subject
           ,
           till
           confirmed
           by
           
             Parliament
          
           (
           that
           belongeth
           to
           Lawyers
           to
           argue
           ,
           and
           dependeth
           upon
           the
           
             Kings
             Prerogative
             ,
          
           and
           the
           terms
           used
           in
           the
           Act
           of
           25
           
             Hen.
          
           8.
           )
           I
           am
           only
           concerned
           to
           note
           how
           Conformity
           improved
           upon
           these
           
             Canons
             ,
          
           and
           also
           what
           the
           effect
           of
           these
           new
           Impositions
           was
           .
        
         
           For
           the
           first
           ,
           let
           the
           
             Canons
          
           themselves
           speak
           .
           
             Subscription
          
           to
           the
           three
           
             Articles
          
           was
           now
           enjoined
           by
           
             Canon
             36.
             
             Bowing
             at
             the
             name
             of
             Jesus
          
           was
           enjoined
           
             Can
             18.
             
             Bidding
             of
             prayer
             ,
          
           by
           another
           
             Canon
             ,
          
           with
           a
           multitude
           of
           other
           things
           too
           long
           to
           be
           here
           recited
           ;
           for
           which
           I
           refer
           my
           
             Reader
          
           to
           the
           Book
           of
           
             Canons
             .
          
           
        
         
           The
           first
           fruit
           of
           this
           was
           a
           Petition
           with
           a
           thousand
           Ministers
           hands
           ,
           presentad
           to
           the
           King
           1603
           ,
           4.
           saith
           Dr.
           
             Fuller
             .
          
           Indeed
           Dr.
           
             Fuller
          
           saith
           ,
           the
           hands
           were
           but
           750.
           
           I
           believe
           he
           taketh
           his
           intelligence
           from
           the
           
             abridgment
             of
             that
             Book
             ,
             which
             the
             Ministers
             of
          
           Lincoln
           
             Diocess
             ,
             delivered
             to
             his
             Majesty
             ,
          
           5.
           
           December
           ,
           1604.
           
           I
           find
           them
           there
           mentioned
           to
           be
           752.
           out
           of
           23.
           
           Counties
           .
           Dr.
           
             Fuller
          
           saith
           ,
           25.
           which
           are
           but
           half
           the
           Counties
           of
           
             England
          
           and
           
             Wales
             ,
          
           hardly
           so
           much
           .
           Their
           numbers
           are
           thus
           countd
           .
        
         
         
           
             
               
                 Oxfordshire
              
               
                 9.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Stafordshire
              
               
                 14.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Dorsetshire
              
               
                 17.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Nottinghamshire
              
               
                 20.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Surry
              
               
                 21.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Norfolk
              
               
                 28.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Wiltshire
              
               
                 31.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Buckinghamshire
              
               
                 33.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Sussex
              
               
                 47.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Leicestershire
              
               
                 57.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Essex
              
               
                 57.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Cheshire
              
               
                 12.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Bedsordshire
              
               
                 16.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Somersetshire
              
               
                 17.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Darbyshire
              
               
                 20.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Lancashire
              
               
                 21.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Kent
              
               
                 23.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 London
              
               
                 30.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Lincolnshire
              
               
                 33.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Warwickshire
              
               
                 44.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Devon
                 
                   and
                
                 Cornwall
              
               
                 51.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Northampton
              
               
                 57.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Suffolk
              
               
                 72.
                 
              
            
          
        
         
           These
           make
           752
           :
           Here
           are
           none
           reckoned
           of
           any
           County
           in
           
             Wales
             ,
          
           nor
           any
           of
           
             Yorkshire
             ,
             Barkshire
             ,
          
           and
           many
           others
           .
           I
           know
           no
           reason
           any
           hath
           to
           doubt
           ,
           but
           that
           there
           were
           a
           1000.
           hands
           to
           this
           Petition
           ;
           the
           Petitioners
           in
           the
           body
           of
           their
           Petition
           say
           ,
           they
           were
           more
           than
           a
           thousand
           ,
           and
           they
           would
           not
           have
           told
           a
           Lye
           to
           a
           King
           ,
           which
           so
           little
           labour
           as
           counting
           them
           would
           have
           proved
           to
           be
           such
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           matter
           of
           the
           Petition
           is
           very
           considerable
           ,
           to
           let
           my
           
             Reader
          
           know
           both
           to
           what
           height
           
             Impositions
          
           were
           grown
           77.
           years
           since
           ,
           and
           what
           
             Oppositions
          
           they
           met
           with
           from
           our
           fore-fathers
           .
           Dr.
           
             Fuller
          
           in
           his
           
             Church-History
          
           assures
           us
           ,
           he
           has
           got
           the
           true
           Copy
           ,
           I
           will
           therefore
           transcribe
           it
           from
           him
           ,
           as
           I
           find
           it
           in
           the
           
             10th
             Book
             ,
             p.
          
           22.
           
        
         
           
             
               
                 Most
                 Gracious
                 and
                 Dread
                 Soveraign
                 !
              
            
             
               Seeing
               it
               hath
               pleased
               the
               Divine
               Majesty
               ,
               to
               the
               great
               comfort
               of
               all
               good
               Christians
               ,
               to
               advance
               your
               
                 Highness
                 ,
              
               according
               to
               your
               just
               Title
               ,
               to
               the
               peaceable
               Government
               of
               this
               Church
               ,
               and
               Common-wealth
               of
               
                 England
                 :
              
               We
               ,
               the
               Ministers
               of
               the
               Gospel
               in
               this
               Land
               ,
               neither
               as
               factious
               men
               ,
               affecting
               a
               popular
               parity
               in
               the
               Church
               ,
               nor
               as
               Schismaticks
               ,
               aiming
               at
               the
               dissolution
               of
               the
               State
               Ecclesiastical
               ,
               but
               as
               the
               faithful
               Servants
               of
               Christ
               ,
               and
               loyal
               Subjects
               to
               your
               Majesty
               ,
               desiring
               ,
               and
               longing
               for
               a
               Redress
               of
               divers
               abuses
               of
               the
               Church
               ,
               could
               do
               no
               less
               in
               our
               obedience
               to
               God
               ,
               service
               to
               your
               Majesty
               ,
               love
               to
               his
               Church
               ,
               than
               acquaint
               your
               Majesty
               with
               our
               particular
               griefs
               ,
               for
               as
               your
               Princely
               Pen
               writeth
               t●
               
                 The
                 King
                 ,
                 as
                 a
                 good
                 Physician
                 ,
                 must
                 first
                 know
                 what
                 peccant
                 humours
                 his
                 Patient
                 naturally
                 is
                 most
                 subject
                 unto
                 ,
                 before
                 he
                 can
                 begin
                 his
                 Cure
                 :
              
               And
               although
               divers
               of
               us
               that
               s●●
               for
               Reformation
               ,
               Subscribe
               to
               the
               Book
               ,
               some
               upon
               
                 Protestation
                 ,
              
               some
               upon
               
                 Exposition
              
               given
               them
               ,
               some
               with
               
                 Condition
                 ,
              
               rather
               
               than
               the
               Church
               should
               have
               been
               deprived
               of
               their
               labour
               and
               Ministry
               ;
               
                 yet
                 now
                 we
                 to
                 the
                 number
                 of
                 more
                 than
                 a
                 thousand
              
               of
               your
               Majesties
               Subjects
               and
               Ministers
               ,
               all
               groaning
               as
               under
               a
               common
               burden
               of
               humane
               
                 Rites
              
               and
               
                 Ceremonies
              
               do
               with
               one
               joint
               consent
               humble
               our selves
               at
               your
               
                 Majesties
              
               feet
               ,
               to
               be
               cased
               and
               relieved
               in
               this
               behalf
               .
               Our
               humble
               suit
               then
               unto
               your
               
                 Majesty
              
               is
               ,
               that
               these
               offences
               following
               ,
               some
               of
               them
               may
               be
               removed
               ,
               some
               amended
               ,
               some
               qualified
               .
            
             
               
                 1.
                 
              
               In
               the
               Church
               Service
               ,
               
                 That
                 the
                 Cross
                 in
                 Baptism
                 ,
                 Interrogatories
                 ministred
                 to
                 Infants
                 ,
              
               Confirmation
               (
               as
               superfluous
               )
               may
               be
               taken
               away
               ,
               Baptism
               not
               to
               be
               administred
               by
               Women
               ,
               and
               so
               explained
               .
               The
               Cap
               and
               Surplice
               not
               urged
               .
               That
               Examination
               may
               go
               before
               the
               Communion
               .
               That
               it
               may
               be
               administred
               with
               a
               Sermon
               .
               That
               divers
               terms
               of
               Priests
               ,
               Absolution
               ,
               and
               some
               others
               used
               ,
               with
               the
               Ring
               in
               Marriage
               ,
               and
               other
               such
               like
               in
               the
               Book
               ,
               might
               be
               corrected
               .
               The
               longsomeness
               of
               Service
               abridged
               .
               Church-songs
               and
               Musick
               moderated
               to
               better
               edification
               .
               That
               the
               Lords
               day
               be
               not
               profaned
               .
               The
               rest
               upon
               Holidays
               not
               so
               strictly
               urged
               .
               That
               there
               may
               be
               an
               Vniformity
               of
               Doctrine
               prescribed
               ,
               No
               Popish
               opinion
               any
               more
               taught
               or
               defended
               .
               No
               Ministers
               charged
               to
               teach
               the
               people
               to
               bow
               at
               the
               Name
               of
               Jesus
               .
               That
               the
               Canonical
               Scriptures
               only
               be
               read
               in
               the
               Church
               .
            
             
               
                 2.
                 
                 Concerning
                 Church
                 Ministers
                 :
              
               That
               none
               hereafter
               be
               admited
               into
               the
               Ministry
               but
               able
               and
               sufficient
               men
               ,
               and
               those
               to
               preach
               diligently
               ,
               and
               especially
               upon
               the
               Lords
               day
               .
               That
               such
               as
               be
               already
               entred
               ,
               and
               cannot
               Preach
               ,
               may
               either
               be
               removed
               ,
               and
               some
               charitable
               course
               taken
               for
               their
               relief
               ,
               or
               else
               to
               be
               forced
               according
               to
               the
               value
               of
               their
               Livings
               to
               maintain
               Preachers
               .
               That
               non-Residency
               be
               not
               permitted
               .
               That
               King
               
                 Edwards
              
               Statute
               for
               the
               lawfulness
               of
               Ministers
               Marriages
               may
               be
               revived
               .
               That
               Ministers
               be
               not
               urged
               to
               subscribe
               ,
               but
               according
               to
               the
               Law
               ,
               to
               the
               
                 Articles
                 of
                 Religion
                 ,
              
               and
               the
               Kings
               Supremacy
               only
               .
            
             
               
                 3.
                 
                 For
                 Church-livings
                 ,
                 and
                 Maintenance
                 :
              
               That
               Bishops
               leave
               their
               Commendams
               ,
               some
               holding
               Prebends
               ,
               some
               Parsonages
               ,
               some
               Vicarages
               with
               their
               
                 Bishopricks
                 .
              
               That
               double
               beneficed
               men
               be
               not
               suffered
               to
               hold
               ,
               some
               two
               ,
               some
               three
               Benefices
               with
               Cure
               ,
               and
               some
               two
               three
               or
               four
               Dignities
               besides
               .
               That
               Impropriations
               annexed
               to
               Bishopricks
               and
               Colledges
               ,
               be
               demised
               only
               to
               
                 Preachers
                 incumbent
                 ,
              
               for
               the
               old
               Rent
               .
               That
               the
               Impropriations
               of
               Lay-mens
               fees
               may
               be
               charged
               with
               a
               sixth
               or
               seventh
               part
               of
               the
               worth
               to
               the
               maintenance
               of
               the
               ●reaching
               Ministers
               .
            
             
             
               
                 4.
                 
                 For
                 Church-Discipline
                 :
              
               That
               the
               Discipline
               and
               Excommunication
               may
               be
               administred
               according
               to
               Christs
               Institution
               ,
               or
               at
               the
               least
               that
               enormities
               may
               be
               redressed
               ,
               as
               namely
               ,
               That
               Excommunication
               come
               not
               forth
               under
               the
               names
               of
               
                 Chancellors
                 ,
                 Lay-persons
                 ,
                 Officials
                 ,
                 &c.
                 
              
               That
               men
               be
               not
               Excommunicated
               for
               trifles
               ,
               twelve
               peny
               matters
               ,
               That
               none
               be
               Ecommunicated
               without
               consent
               of
               his
               Pastor
               .
               That
               the
               Officers
               be
               not
               suffered
               to
               extort
               unreasonable
               fees
               .
               That
               none
               having
               Jurisdiction
               or
               Registers
               places
               ,
               put
               out
               the
               same
               to
               farm
               .
               That
               divers
               Popish
               Canons
               as
               for
               restraint
               of
               Marriage
               at
               certain
               times
               be
               reversed
               .
               That
               the
               longsomeness
               of
               Suits
               in
               Ecclesiastical
               Courts
               which
               hang
               sometimes
               2
               ,
               3
               ,
               4
               ,
               5
               ,
               6
               ,
               7
               years
               ,
               may
               be
               restrained
               .
               That
               the
               Oath
               
                 ex
                 Officio
                 ,
              
               by
               which
               men
               are
               forced
               to
               accuse
               themselves
               ,
               be
               more
               sparingly
               used
               .
               That
               Licenses
               for
               Marriage
               without
               Banes
               asked
               ,
               be
               more
               cautiously
               granted
               .
            
             
               These
               with
               such
               other
               abuses
               yet
               remaining
               ,
               and
               practised
               in
               the
               Church
               of
               
                 England
                 ,
              
               we
               are
               able
               to
               shew
               to
               be
               not
               agreeable
               to
               the
               Scriptures
               ,
               if
               it
               shall
               please
               your
               Highness
               further
               to
               hear
               us
               ,
               or
               more
               at
               large
               to
               be
               informed
               ,
               or
               by
               conference
               amongst
               the
               Learned
               to
               be
               resolved
               .
               And
               yet
               we
               doubt
               not
               but
               that
               your
               Majesty
               without
               further
               process
               ,
               of
               whose
               Christian
               judgment
               we
               have
               received
               so
               good
               a
               taste
               already
               ,
               is
               able
               of
               your self
               to
               judg
               of
               the
               equity
               of
               this
               cause
               ;
               God
               we
               trust
               hath
               appointed
               your
               Highness
               our
               Physician
               to
               heal
               these
               diseases
               ;
               and
               we
               say
               with
               
                 Mordecai
              
               to
               
                 Esther
                 ,
                 Who
                 knoweth
                 but
                 you
                 are
                 come
                 to
                 the
                 Kingdom
                 for
                 such
                 a
                 time
                 ?
              
               Thus
               your
               Majesty
               shall
               do
               that
               which
               we
               are
               perswaded
               shall
               be
               acceptable
               to
               God
               ,
               honourable
               to
               your
               Majesty
               in
               all
               succeeding
               ages
               ,
               profitable
               to
               his
               Church
               ,
               which
               shall
               be
               thereby
               increased
               ,
               comfortable
               to
               your
               Ministers
               ,
               which
               shall
               be
               no
               more
               suspended
               ,
               silenced
               ,
               disgraced
               ,
               imprisoned
               for
               mens
               traditions
               ;
               and
               prejudicial
               unto
               none
               ,
               but
               those
               who
               seek
               their
               own
               credit
               ,
               quiet
               and
               profit
               in
               the
               world
               .
               Thus
               with
               all
               dutiful
               submission
               referring
               our selves
               to
               your
               Majesties
               Pleasure
               for
               your
               Gracious
               answer
               ,
               as
               God
               shall
               direct
               you
               ,
               We
               most
               humbly
               recommend
               your
               
                 Highness
              
               to
               the
               
                 Divine
                 Majesty
                 ,
              
               whom
               we
               beseech
               for
               Christ
               his
               sake
               to
               do
               herein
               what
               shall
               be
               for
               his
               glory
               ,
               the
               good
               of
               his
               Church
               ,
               and
               your
               endless
               comfort
               .
            
             
               
                 Your
                 Majesties
                 most
                 humble
                 Subjects
                 ,
                 the
                 Ministers
                 of
                 the
                 Gospel
                 ,
                 who
                 desire
                 not
                 a
                 disorderly
                 Innovation
                 ,
                 but
                 a
                 due
                 and
                 Godly
                 Reformation
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
         
           How
           his
           Majesty
           resented
           this
           Petition
           ,
           is
           variously
           reported
           .
           
             But
             sure
             it
             is
          
           (
           saith
           
             Fuller
             )
             it
             ran
             the
             Gantlop
             through
             all
             the
          
           Prelatical
           party
           ,
           
             every
             one
             giving
             it
             a
             lash
             ,
             some
             with
             their
             Pens
             ,
             more
             with
             their
             tongues
             ,
             and
             the
             dumb
             Ministers
             as
             they
             term
             it
             found
             their
             speech
             most
             vocal
             against
             it
             .
          
        
         
           How
           many
           the
           number
           of
           those
           was
           who
           joined
           in
           this
           ,
           and
           several
           other
           Petitions
           at
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           and
           were
           
             suspended
             ,
             deprived
             ,
             imprisoned
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           I
           cannot
           tell
           ;
           but
           a
           great
           division
           arose
           ,
           which
           held
           during
           the
           Archbishop
           
             Bancrofts
          
           time
           .
           Bishop
           
             Abbot
          
           who
           succeeded
           him
           in
           the
           
             Archbishoprick
          
           of
           
             Canterbury
             ,
          
           was
           much
           calmer
           .
           Several
           Books
           were
           wrote
           at
           this
           time
           against
           the
           
             Nonconformist
             ,
          
           by
           Mr.
           
             Hutton
             ,
          
           Mr.
           
             Rogers
             ,
          
           Dr.
           
             Lovel
             ,
          
           and
           Dr.
           
             Spark
             ,
          
           (
           who
           had
           himself
           been
           a
           Dissenter
           )
           ;
           but
           in
           the
           year
           1607
           ,
           
             &
          
           1608
           ,
           they
           were
           learnedly
           answered
           by
           a
           Book
           of
           three
           parts
           ,
           call'd
           ,
           
             A
             Defence
             of
             the
             Ministers
             Reasons
             for
             refusal
             of
             Subscription
             .
          
           The
           first
           part
           was
           
             concerning
             the
             holy
             Scriptures
             ;
          
           the
           ill
           Translation
           of
           several
           Texts
           .
           The
           second
           
             concerning
             the
             Holy
             Scriptures
             and
             Apocrypha
             .
          
           The
           third
           was
           
             about
             kneeling
             at
             the
             Sacrament
             .
          
           Several
           able
           Ministers
           left
           the
           Nation
           ,
           many
           others
           with
           their
           Families
           were
           undone
           in
           it
           .
        
         
           Thus
           Conformity
           stood
           till
           the
           time
           of
           King
           
             Charles
          
           the
           First
           ;
           some
           
             Bishops
          
           being
           more
           ,
           some
           less
           rigid
           in
           pressing
           the
           
             Canons
             .
          
           But
           when
           Archbishop
           
             Laud
          
           came
           to
           be
           Archbishop
           of
           
             Canterbury
             ,
          
           (
           who
           succeeded
           
             Abbot
             )
          
           he
           made
           a
           new
           Edition
           of
           
             Impositions
             ,
          
           to
           which
           he
           required
           Conformity
           ,
           saying
           
             second
             Service
          
           at
           the
           
             Table
             ,
             setting
             that
             at
             the
             East
             end
             of
             the
             Church
             Altarwise
             ,
             commanding
             the
             Communion
             .
             Table
             to
             be
             railed
             in
             ,
             and
             all
             people
             to
             come
             up
             thither
             to
             receive
             the
             Communion
             kneeling
             ;
          
           enforcing
           the
           
             bowing
             at
             the
             Name
             of
             Jesus
             .
             Forbidding
             Lectures
             ,
             and
             Afternoon-Sermons
             .
             Pressing
             the
             Book
             of
             Sports
             on
             the
             Lords
             day
             .
             Not
             injoining
             but
             commending
             bowing
             toward
             the
             East-end
             ,
          
           &c.
           
             and
             twenty
             more
             things
             .
          
        
         
           What
           havock
           hese
           things
           made
           ,
           is
           yet
           within
           the
           memory
           of
           many
           ;
           and
           what
           disturbance
           Bishop
           
             Wren
          
           made
           in
           
             Suffolk
             ,
          
           and
           other
           places
           ,
           as
           several
           other
           Bishops
           that
           were
           his
           Creatures
           did
           in
           other
           Diocesses
           ,
           many
           alive
           know
           ;
           multitudes
           of
           Ministers
           were
           again
           
             deprived
          
           and
           
             suspended
             .
          
           Many
           undone
           in
           the
           
             High
             Commission
             .
          
           At
           last
           in
           the
           Convocation
           1640
           ,
           an
           
             Oath
          
           with
           
             &c.
          
           was
           devised
           ,
           which
           had
           perfected
           the
           business
           in
           rooting
           out
           all
           Puritan
           Preachers
           ,
           had
           not
           a
           
             Parliament
          
           came
           and
           spoil'd
           that
           design
           .
        
         
           Scarce
           any
           is
           ignorant
           what
           numbers
           of
           Godly
           Ministers
           and
           
           people
           left
           the
           Nation
           upon
           this
           account
           ,
           betwixt
           1630.
           and
           1640.
           so
           many
           as
           to
           make
           one
           of
           the
           noblest
           
             Colonies
          
           at
           this
           day
           in
           the
           world
           (
           that
           ,
           I
           mean
           ,
           of
           
             New-England
             )
          
           besides
           those
           who
           fled
           into
           
             Holland
          
           and
           
             Ireland
             .
          
           Many
           staid
           at
           home
           ,
           and
           were
           miserably
           treated
           by
           
             Courts
             .
          
           Some
           lived
           privately
           ,
           others
           in
           some
           quiet
           parts
           of
           the
           Nation
           kept
           their
           Station
           .
        
         
           How
           little
           the
           Conformable
           Interest
           gained
           by
           this
           (
           though
           that
           Party
           ruined
           multitudes
           of
           godly
           people
           and
           their
           Families
           )
           quickly
           appeared
           in
           the
           year
           1641.
           when
           the
           
             Parliament
          
           began
           to
           espouse
           their
           Cause
           ,
           and
           give
           them
           liberty
           .
           The
           number
           of
           Ministers
           ,
           favouring
           
             Nonconformity
             ,
          
           presently
           appeared
           far
           greater
           than
           ever
           before
           ;
           so
           as
           their
           adversaries
           had
           a
           little
           satisfied
           their
           lusts
           ,
           and
           malice
           ,
           but
           not
           in
           the
           least
           promoved
           their
           Cause
           .
           The
           people
           were
           more
           imbitter'd
           against
           them
           ,
           and
           more
           enamoured
           upon
           painful
           godly
           Ministers
           .
           And
           the
           
             Bishops
          
           restraint
           of
           Preaching
           ,
           did
           but
           inflame
           people
           with
           the
           desire
           of
           it
           .
           Several
           Noblemen
           and
           Worthy
           
             Gentlemen
          
           in
           all
           parts
           of
           
             England
          
           began
           to
           be
           awakened
           ,
           as
           may
           appear
           by
           many
           of
           their
           excellent
           Speeches
           in
           the
           beginning
           of
           the
           
             Parliament
          
           1641.
           
           They
           plainly
           saw
           ,
           that
           through
           these
           extravagant
           actings
           ,
           We
           lost
           many
           of
           our
           Eminent
           Ministers
           ,
           multitudes
           of
           our
           most
           sober
           people
           were
           removed
           into
           other
           Countries
           .
           The
           Trade
           of
           the
           Nation
           was
           altered
           ,
           much
           of
           it
           carried
           elsewhere
           ;
           the
           people
           in
           many
           places
           turned
           ignorant
           brutes
           for
           want
           of
           Preaching
           ;
           many
           turned
           
             Papists
             ,
          
           many
           
             Doctrines
             of
             Popery
          
           were
           Published
           ,
           
             Colledges
          
           were
           fixed
           for
           
             Romish
             Priests
             ,
          
           and
           
             Nuns
          
           fixed
           ,
           &c.
           a
           Plot
           laid
           by
           them
           against
           the
           King
           and
           Nation
           ;
           they
           judged
           it
           high
           time
           to
           put
           an
           end
           to
           those
           practices
           ,
           which
           had
           caused
           those
           disorders
           ;
           and
           had
           this
           advantage
           to
           do
           it
           ,
           because
           their
           Conformity
           ,
           whether
           old
           or
           new
           ,
           had
           no
           further
           Statutable
           Authority
           ,
           than
           was
           given
           it
           by
           the
           
             Act
             of
             Conformity
             ,
             1
             Eliz.
          
           and
           the
           Stat.
           13
           
             Eliz.
             c.
          
           12.
           about
           the
           Articles
           of
           Faith.
           
        
         
           Upon
           his
           
             Majesties
          
           happy
           
             Restauration
             ,
             Anno
          
           1660.
           all
           promised
           themselves
           a
           freedom
           from
           these
           evils
           which
           had
           troubled
           the
           Church
           very
           near
           70.
           years
           ,
           from
           the
           13
           
             Eliz.
          
           to
           the
           year
           1640.
           though
           indeed
           in
           no
           great
           degree
           from
           the
           
             13th
          
           to
           the
           
             25th
          
           of
           
             Eliz.
          
           but
           for
           about
           19.
           years
           of
           Queen
           
             Elizabeths
          
           Reign
           ,
           and
           the
           whole
           time
           of
           King
           
             James
          
           his
           Reign
           (
           which
           was
           21.
           years
           )
           ,
           and
           16.
           years
           of
           King
           
             Charles
          
           his
           Reign
           ,
           these
           
             Impositions
          
           were
           the
           cause
           almost
           of
           all
           the
           evils
           under
           which
           this
           Nation
           groaned
           .
        
         
         
           We
           had
           reason
           to
           promise
           our selves
           this
           immunity
           from
           his
           
             Majesties
             Declaration
          
           at
           
             Bredah
             ,
          
           and
           his
           first
           
             Declaration
             about
             Ecclesiastical
             affairs
             ,
          
           in
           the
           year
           1660.
           
           Whether
           the
           wisdom
           of
           his
           
             Majesty
             ,
          
           or
           that
           party
           of
           the
           
             House
             of
             Commons
             ,
          
           who
           then
           opposed
           the
           passing
           of
           it
           into
           an
           
             Act
             ,
          
           were
           greater
           ,
           let
           the
           experience
           now
           of
           
             Twenty
             years
          
           more
           determine
           ,
           which
           for
           the
           most
           part
           have
           been
           years
           of
           
             confusion
          
           and
           
             disorder
             ;
          
           as
           to
           matters
           of
           Religion
           .
           That
           failing
           ,
           
             Impositions
          
           were
           augmented
           .
        
         
           Upon
           this
           last
           attempt
           for
           settlement
           ,
           
             Ministers
          
           were
           not
           only
           left
           to
           the
           Bishops
           power
           to
           have
           exacted
           upon
           them
           ,
           1.
           
           
             A
             Subscription
             to
             the
             3.
             
             Articles
             in
             the
          
           36th
           
             Canon
             .
             2.
             
             The
             Oath
             of
             Canonical
             obedience
             ,
          
           which
           though
           ancient
           ,
           as
           established
           by
           Canons
           in
           times
           of
           Popery
           ,
           yet
           we
           read
           not
           of
           ,
           all
           the
           time
           of
           
             Queen
             Eliz.
          
           But
           3.
           
           
             They
             must
             be
             ordained
             by
             Bishops
             ,
          
           though
           before
           ordained
           according
           to
           the
           
             Ordination
          
           of
           all
           other
           
             Reformed
             Churches
          
           (
           which
           in
           
             Queen
             Eliz.
          
           time
           ,
           the
           Statute
           13
           
             Eliz.
             cap.
          
           12.
           dispensed
           with
           ,
           and
           made
           needless
           .
           4.
           
           They
           must
           
             assent
          
           and
           
             consent
             to
             all
             and
             every
             thing
             in
             the
             Common-Prayer
             ,
          
           as
           
             now
             Printed
             .
             5.
             
             They
             must
             declare
             ,
             renounce
             ,
             and
             abjure
             :
          
           all
           this
           over
           and
           above
           ,
           being
           tyed
           to
           the
           personal
           reading
           of
           the
           
             Common-Prayer
             ,
          
           and
           
             use
             of
             the
             Ceremonies
             ,
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           The
           effect
           was
           ,
           the
           laying
           aside
           of
           more
           than
           2000.
           
           Ministers
           .
           Besides
           the
           Congregations
           which
           depended
           on
           these
           good
           mens
           Ministry
           ;
           the
           number
           of
           
             Quakers
             ,
          
           who
           had
           no
           Ministers
           ,
           and
           of
           
             Pastors
             of
             Congregational
             Churches
             ,
          
           who
           had
           no
           Livings
           ,
           but
           were
           maintained
           by
           their
           people
           ,
           together
           with
           the
           people
           that
           depended
           on
           them
           ,
           and
           the
           
             Antipaedobaptists
             ,
          
           were
           not
           small
           ,
           who
           all
           had
           an
           equal
           ,
           if
           ,
           not
           a
           greater
           prejudice
           to
           the
           
             Common-Prayer-Book
          
           and
           
             Ceremonies
             ,
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           What
           could
           by
           any
           wise
           men
           be
           expected
           ,
           but
           what
           we
           have
           seen
           ,
           that
           in
           all
           places
           people
           should
           gather
           into
           
             separate
             Congregations
             ?
          
           Could
           it
           be
           expected
           ,
           that
           such
           a
           vast
           number
           of
           Ministers
           ,
           not
           half
           of
           which
           had
           any
           thing
           to
           live
           on
           but
           their
           labours
           to
           maintain
           themselves
           ,
           Wives
           and
           Families
           ,
           should
           quietly
           have
           sate
           still
           and
           never
           Preached
           (
           if
           they
           could
           have
           imagined
           ,
           that
           this
           
             humane
             Law
          
           could
           have
           discharged
           them
           from
           any
           previous
           obligation
           to
           God
           )
           ,
           especially
           being
           importuned
           by
           the
           people
           whom
           God
           had
           committed
           to
           them
           ?
           If
           any
           had
           such
           fancies
           ,
           they
           were
           very
           wild
           ones
           .
        
         
         
           In
           
             publick
             Temples
          
           they
           must
           not
           Preach
           ;
           what
           remained
           ,
           but
           their
           own
           or
           others
           
             hired
          
           houses
           .
           What
           would
           be
           the
           event
           of
           this
           ,
           was
           quickly
           seen
           ,
           and
           an
           
             Act
          
           provided
           against
           
             Conventicles
             ,
          
           making
           the
           punishment
           ,
           
             Fines
             ,
             Imprisonment
             ,
             Banishment
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           What
           a
           stir
           this
           made
           ,
           is
           sufficiently
           known
           .
           This
           commenced
           1664.
           and
           being
           a
           temporary
           Act
           ,
           determined
           1667
           ,
           or
           1668.
           
           Soon
           after
           this
           ,
           1665.
           passed
           the
           
             Act
             prohibiting
             Noncon
             .
             Ministers
             to
             inhabit
             in
             Corporations
             .
          
           And
           the
           
             Act
             about
             Conventicles
          
           being
           expired
           ,
           another
           
             Act
          
           was
           made
           ,
           which
           took
           place
           ,
           
             Anno
          
           1670.
           
           How
           many
           sober
           Ministers
           and
           people
           in
           Eight
           years
           time
           had
           been
           undone
           ,
           by
           proceedings
           against
           them
           in
           the
           
             Ecclesiastical
             Courts
             ,
             Indictments
          
           at
           
             Sessions
          
           and
           
             Assizes
             ,
          
           and
           by
           putting
           the
           first
           
             Act
          
           against
           
             Conventicles
          
           in
           
             Execution
             ,
          
           is
           sufficiently
           known
           ,
           and
           too
           large
           ,
           and
           sad
           a
           story
           to
           relate
           .
           The
           new
           Act
           against
           
             Conventicles
          
           (
           and
           such
           a
           one
           as
           never
           before
           passed
           a
           Parliament
           of
           
             England
          
           with
           respect
           to
           
             Magna
             Charta
             ,
          
           and
           the
           fundamental
           liberties
           of
           the
           subject
           )
           passed
           about
           1670.
           
           Ministers
           and
           people
           were
           again
           prosecuted
           to
           incredible
           degrees
           ,
           almost
           in
           all
           places
           ,
           until
           his
           
             Majesty
          
           gave
           a
           
             Writ
             of
             ease
          
           by
           his
           
             Declaration
             of
             Indulgence
             ,
          
           1672.
           that
           lasted
           but
           two
           years
           ;
           and
           in
           1674.
           the
           storm
           began
           again
           ,
           as
           fierce
           as
           ever
           ,
           but
           gradually
           abated
           till
           the
           year
           1677.
           about
           which
           time
           the
           
             Parliament
          
           began
           to
           have
           a
           
             scent
          
           of
           a
           Plot
           to
           bring
           in
           
             Popery
             ;
          
           indeed
           they
           
             scented
          
           it
           first
           in
           1673.
           
           Our
           worthy
           
             Patriots
          
           from
           that
           time
           stood
           upon
           their
           watch
           ,
           something
           they
           discerned
           to
           be
           in
           hand
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           project
           was
           deeply
           laid
           ,
           but
           on
           what
           persons
           to
           charge
           it
           they
           knew
           not
           ,
           and
           were
           wholly
           in
           the
           dark
           as
           to
           the
           
             methods
          
           and
           
             particulars
          
           of
           it
           ,
           till
           God
           ,
           in
           the
           year
           1678.
           inclined
           Dr.
           
             Oates
          
           to
           do
           that
           (
           never
           to
           be
           forgotten
           )
           service
           to
           his
           Country
           ,
           at
           one
           time
           saving
           
             the
             Life
             of
             his
             Soveraign
             ,
             the
             Government
             of
             the
             Nation
             ,
          
           and
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
             ,
          
           from
           a
           total
           
             extirpation
             ,
          
           and
           all
           good
           
             Protestants
          
           from
           a
           
             Massacre
             .
          
        
         
           The
           eyes
           of
           all
           Sober
           persons
           are
           at
           length
           opened
           to
           see
           ,
           that
           an
           
             Vnion
             of
             Protestants
          
           is
           necessary
           .
           The
           
             Question
          
           is
           ,
           which
           way
           it
           shall
           be
           effected
           ?
           for
           my
           own
           part
           ,
           I
           should
           say
           ,
           
             any
             way
             ,
          
           by
           which
           it
           is
           practicable
           .
           There
           are
           but
           Two
           that
           can
           fall
           within
           the
           comprehension
           of
           any
           man
           of
           sense
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           First
           is
           by
           
             continuance
          
           of
           the
           
             Impositions
          
           on
           
             Ministers
             and
             people
             ,
          
           rooting
           out
           all
           
             private
             Meetings
             ,
             enforcing
             people
             to
             come
             to
             hear
             the
             Common-Prayer
             ,
             and
             to
             conform
             to
             the
             Ceremonies
             ,
             and
             hear
             their
             Parish-Ministers
             ,
             and
             receive
             the
             Sacrament
             with
             them
             .
          
        
         
         
           2.
           
           The
           Second
           is
           by
           
             taking
             off
             these
             Impositione
             ,
          
           which
           all
           agree
           to
           be
           of
           things
           not
           in
           their
           own
           nature
           
             necessary
             ,
          
           but
           such
           as
           the
           Magistrate
           may
           if
           he
           pleaseth
           relax
           .
        
         
           For
           the
           first
           
             method
          
           to
           unite
           us
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           strange
           one
           ,
           it
           aims
           only
           at
           
             uniting
          
           by
           
             destroying
             ;
          
           and
           purchases
           such
           a
           
             Church-Vnity
          
           as
           the
           
             Papists
          
           boast
           of
           ,
           who
           by
           destroying
           of
           
             hundred
             thousands
          
           of
           righteous
           men
           ,
           at
           last
           made
           all
           of
           one
           mind
           in
           appearance
           .
           The
           experience
           of
           more
           then
           100
           years
           hath
           taught
           us
           ,
           that
           multitudes
           are
           neither
           to
           be
           
             argued
             ,
          
           nor
           
             cudgelled
          
           into
           their
           
             conformity
             .
          
           The
           multitude
           of
           
             Nonconformists
          
           hath
           increased
           all
           a
           long
           ,
           in
           stead
           of
           abateing
           ,
           even
           from
           the
           first
           beginning
           of
           the
           difference
           at
           
             Francfurt
             ,
          
           to
           this
           day
           ;
           and
           he
           is
           very
           ignorant
           that
           knoweth
           not
           ,
           that
           since
           the
           
             fire
          
           of
           
             London
             ,
          
           they
           have
           been
           almost
           doubled
           to
           what
           they
           were
           before
           .
           Nor
           hath
           the
           warmth
           of
           many
           
             Clergymen
          
           of
           late
           ,
           in
           decrying
           the
           Plot
           ,
           or
           lessening
           it
           ,
           and
           indeavouring
           to
           make
           people
           believe
           it
           was
           a
           
             Nonconformist
             Plot
             ,
          
           a
           little
           contributed
           to
           let
           the
           world
           know
           what
           they
           are
           ,
           and
           would
           be
           at
           .
           Would
           any
           have
           these
           impositions
           still
           inforced
           ?
           what
           can
           they
           pursue
           ,
           but
           the
           old
           design
           of
           
             Reconciling
          
           us
           and
           the
           
             Church
             of
             Rome
             ,
          
           in
           which
           the
           
             Papists
          
           will
           listen
           to
           them
           ,
           till
           they
           have
           ripen'd
           a
           design
           to
           cut
           their
           throats
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           other
           mens
           ;
           but
           those
           are
           mightily
           ignorant
           of
           
             Popish
             principles
             ,
          
           that
           can
           so
           much
           as
           fancy
           a
           possibility
           of
           reconciliation
           with
           them
           ,
           so
           long
           as
           we
           maintain
           the
           
             Kings
             Supremacy
             ,
          
           or
           a
           
             married
             Clergy
             ;
          
           so
           that
           in
           truth
           a
           reconciliation
           to
           the
           Church
           of
           
             Rome
             ,
          
           is
           a
           thing
           not
           to
           be
           thought
           on
           by
           a
           
             married
             Clergyman
             ,
          
           (
           unless
           he
           be
           weary
           of
           his
           wife
           and
           children
           )
           nor
           by
           a
           
             Loyal
             Subject
          
           that
           understands
           sense
           .
        
         
           The
           
             Vnion
          
           must
           therefore
           be
           effected
           by
           taking
           off
           these
           
             impositions
             ,
          
           which
           now
           for
           an
           hundred
           years
           have
           produced
           so
           ill
           effects
           in
           this
           Nation
           .
           It
           is
           easy
           to
           see
           how
           great
           the
           good
           of
           this
           would
           be
           .
           We
           should
           all
           then
           be
           known
           by
           the
           single
           name
           of
           
             Protestants
             ,
          
           and
           be
           hearty
           as
           one
           man
           in
           opposition
           to
           all
           
             Popish
             designs
             .
          
           Our
           
             Civil
             ,
          
           and
           
             Ecolesiastical
             Courts
          
           might
           possibly
           then
           be
           at
           leisure
           to
           execute
           the
           power
           with
           which
           they
           are
           betrusted
           ,
           against
           
             Papists
          
           and
           
             profane
             persons
             .
          
           Sober
           and
           industrious
           men
           would
           be
           encouraged
           to
           
             push
             out
             in
             trading
          
           to
           their
           utmost
           .
           There
           would
           be
           no
           
             complaining
             in
             our
             streets
          
           for
           want
           of
           the
           
             Ordinances
             of
             God
          
           so
           administred
           ,
           as
           that
           concientious
           people
           might
           freely
           partake
           of
           them
           ,
           without
           so
           much
           as
           a
           
             fancy
          
           that
           might
           make
           them
           call
           out
           ,
           
             Death
             is
             in
             the
             pot
             ,
          
           and
           sit
           at
           the
           
             Lords
             feasts
          
           without
           so
           much
           as
           a
           jealousy
           of
           a
           
             Divine
             
             Sword
          
           hanging
           over
           their
           heads
           ,
           spoiling
           their
           Spiritual
           appetite
           .
           In
           short
           ,
           it
           would
           restore
           us
           to
           one
           of
           the
           greatest
           pieces
           of
           Christian
           liberty
           ,
           
             To
             serve
             the
             Lord
             without
             fear
             ,
          
           either
           of
           offending
           God
           whom
           they
           know
           in
           matters
           of
           Worship
           to
           be
           a
           
             jealous
             God
             ,
          
           or
           of
           being
           undone
           in
           their
           temporal
           concerns
           for
           the
           exercise
           of
           a
           
             tender
             conscience
             towards
             God.
          
           All
           good
           men
           should
           rejoice
           under
           the
           shadow
           of
           the
           
             King
          
           and
           
             Parliament
             ,
          
           and
           unite
           their
           
             Prayers
          
           with
           chearfulness
           for
           both
           .
        
         
           What
           would
           be
           the
           Evil
           of
           it
           ?
           The
           foundations
           of
           
             Archbishop
             Whitgift
             ,
          
           and
           
             Archbishop
             Laud
             ,
          
           and
           my
           Lord
           
             Chancellor
             Hide
          
           (
           the
           buildings
           upon
           which
           ,
           hath
           hitherto
           been
           kept
           up
           with
           no
           less
           guard
           than
           the
           trouble
           of
           all
           the
           Courts
           of
           
             Judicature
          
           in
           
             England
             )
          
           would
           be
           something
           shaken
           ,
           and
           our
           foundations
           laid
           upon
           the
           word
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           surely
           is
           far
           better
           ;
           the
           credit
           of
           some
           men
           ,
           who
           have
           laid
           all
           the
           stress
           of
           
             Religion
          
           upon
           a
           
             Common-prayer-book
          
           and
           some
           
             Ceremonies
             ,
          
           would
           be
           thought
           a
           little
           impaired
           ;
           the
           Magistrate
           should
           do
           nothing
           displeasing
           to
           God
           ,
           who
           never
           required
           the
           imposition
           of
           these
           things
           at
           his
           hands
           :
           and
           doubtless
           hath
           been
           highly
           displeased
           at
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           force
           used
           ,
           which
           hath
           not
           been
           good
           for
           the
           enforcing
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           said
           before
           ,
           more
           than
           an
           hundred
           years
           since
           these
           
             impositions
          
           have
           been
           the
           cause
           of
           so
           much
           evil
           in
           these
           Nations
           ,
           and
           that
           not
           only
           to
           particular
           families
           and
           persons
           ,
           but
           even
           to
           the
           
             whole
             Nation
             .
          
           Though
           our
           Civil
           Wars
           were
           bottomed
           upon
           
             Questions
          
           and
           Grievances
           of
           a
           
             Civil
             Nature
             :
          
           yet
           it
           is
           hardly
           imaginable
           the
           common
           people
           should
           have
           been
           so
           inflamed
           ,
           had
           they
           not
           before
           been
           wounded
           in
           so
           tender
           a
           part
           as
           that
           of
           their
           
             Consciences
          
           towards
           God.
           
        
         
           By
           reason
           of
           these
           contests
           ,
           
             Papists
          
           have
           been
           connived
           at
           ,
           and
           gained
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           Reputation
           ,
           so
           much
           (
           that
           till
           within
           these
           2
           years
           )
           it
           was
           dangerous
           for
           
             Protestants
          
           to
           vie
           with
           them
           ,
           for
           
             Loyalty
          
           or
           
             Religion
             .
          
           We
           see
           the
           issue
           ,
           while
           they
           have
           been
           thus
           neglected
           ,
           yea
           credited
           ,
           they
           have
           been
           hatching
           the
           most
           hellish
           Plot
           that
           was
           ever
           heard
           of
           ,
           hardly
           to
           be
           parallel'd
           by
           any
           story
           .
           The
           Plot
           hath
           in
           the
           bowels
           of
           it
           been
           discovered
           so
           full
           of
           
             Blood
             ,
          
           and
           
             Cruelty
          
           and
           
             Ingratude
             ,
          
           to
           his
           most
           Sacred
           Majesty
           ;
           and
           in
           the
           defence
           of
           themselves
           from
           the
           imputation
           of
           it
           ,
           they
           have
           been
           found
           guilty
           of
           so
           many
           
             Lies
             ,
          
           so
           much
           
             Perjury
          
           and
           
             Subornation
             ,
          
           so
           much
           
             ungodliness
          
           and
           
             unrighteousness
             ,
          
           that
           they
           cannot
           but
           see
           their
           
             Catholick
             Cause
          
           is
           wounded
           under
           the
           
             fifth
             rib
             ,
          
           and
           their
           
             pretended
             Religion
          
           not
           
           like
           to
           recover
           its
           
             reputation
             ,
          
           until
           there
           be
           none
           left
           of
           this
           Geration
           .
           They
           have
           nothing
           to
           do
           ,
           but
           to
           wait
           a
           time
           when
           they
           may
           fight
           out
           their
           way
           with
           some
           probable
           hope
           of
           prevailing
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           certainly
           now
           high
           time
           to
           restore
           all
           
             Protestants
          
           (
           be
           their
           persuasions
           what
           they
           will
           )
           to
           a
           just
           liberty
           in
           the
           things
           of
           God
           ,
           than
           the
           want
           of
           which
           nothing
           can
           more
           dispirit
           good
           men
           in
           their
           duty
           as
           to
           a
           common
           watchfulness
           and
           defence
           ;
           for
           what
           spirit
           can
           be
           in
           them
           who
           know
           they
           shall
           be
           ruin'd
           by
           one
           hand
           or
           another
           ?
           I
           surther
           offer
           it
           to
           the
           consideration
           of
           our
           grave
           
             Senators
             ,
          
           who
           come
           up
           from
           the
           several
           parts
           of
           the
           
             Nation
             ,
          
           and
           must
           best
           know
           the
           complexion
           of
           it
           ,
           Whether
           those
           who
           are
           most
           against
           the
           taking
           of
           these
           
             Impositions
             ,
          
           be
           not
           (
           I
           do
           not
           say
           all
           ,
           but
           forty
           for
           one
           )
           the
           persons
           whom
           several
           
             Proclamations
             of
             his
             Majesty
             ,
          
           and
           several
           
             votes
             of
             two
             Parliaments
          
           declaring
           it
           ,
           and
           the
           
             several
             judgments
          
           upon
           some
           of
           the
           
             Traytors
          
           given
           by
           our
           
             Courts
             of
             Justice
             ,
          
           have
           not
           been
           able
           to
           convince
           ,
           
             That
             there
             is
             any
             Popish
             Plot
             ;
          
           but
           in
           all
           their
           converse
           they
           have
           made
           it
           their
           business
           to
           
             deny
             ,
          
           or
           
             lessen
          
           the
           Plot
           ,
           to
           
             defame
          
           and
           
             vilify
          
           the
           
             Kings
             Evidence
             ,
          
           to
           impose
           upon
           people
           that
           it
           was
           a
           
             Plot
          
           of
           the
           
             Nonconformists
             ,
          
           to
           make
           the
           
             dying
             words
             of
             the
             Jesuits
          
           creditable
           .
           In
           short
           ,
           by
           all
           manner
           of
           ways
           to
           turn
           the
           whole
           
             Popish
             Plot
          
           into
           
             Ridicule
             .
          
           I
           do
           know
           some
           few
           (
           very
           few
           others
           )
           zealous
           for
           these
           Impositions
           ,
           have
           born
           a
           
             Testimony
          
           against
           the
           
             Papists
             ,
          
           and
           freely
           declare
           their
           
             Judgments
          
           about
           the
           Plot
           ,
           to
           the
           sense
           of
           the
           
             King
             ,
          
           the
           
             Parliament
          
           and
           the
           
             Judges
             ;
          
           but
           as
           to
           the
           generality
           ,
           let
           observation
           be
           made
           ,
           and
           judgment
           accordingly
           given
           .
           If
           it
           be
           found
           to
           be
           that
           party
           ,
           they
           are
           fit
           only
           to
           be
           regarded
           by
           those
           who
           pray
           for
           the
           good
           success
           of
           that
           
             Execrable
             design
             ,
          
           to
           which
           the
           continuance
           of
           these
           things
           ,
           and
           a
           vigorous
           proceeding
           accordingly
           against
           
             Nonconformists
             ,
          
           will
           as
           potently
           conduce
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           possible
           any
           thing
           should
           .
        
         
           From
           this
           short
           ,
           and
           true
           account
           of
           the
           
             rise
             ,
          
           and
           
             growth
             ,
          
           and
           
             effects
          
           of
           these
           
             Impositions
             ,
          
           a
           good
           account
           may
           be
           given
           of
           a
           late
           Authors
           
             History
             of
             Separation
             ,
          
           the
           smalness
           of
           it
           at
           first
           ,
           and
           the
           further
           increase
           and
           improvements
           of
           it
           ,
           which
           indeed
           did
           much
           vary
           ,
           according
           as
           
             Impositions
          
           varied
           ,
           and
           multiplyed
           .
           Those
           Congregations
           which
           he
           calls
           
             Separate
             Congregations
             ,
          
           were
           from
           the
           first
           of
           Reformation
           ;
           but
           the
           numbers
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           persons
           in
           them
           ,
           was
           much
           increased
           after
           1583.
           when
           
             Whitgift
          
           first
           brought
           in
           
             Subscriptions
          
           to
           
             Articles
             ,
          
           and
           imposed
           them
           universally
           ;
           and
           increased
           yet
           more
           in
           1603.
           and
           further
           in
           
             Bishop
             Lauds
          
           time
           ,
           and
           were
           
           greatest
           in
           1662
           :
           when
           the
           greatest
           number
           of
           Ministers
           was
           thrown
           out
           and
           forbidden
           to
           preach
           in
           any
           publick
           Temples
           .
           Till
           that
           time
           
             Nonconformist
             Ministers
          
           might
           preach
           publickly
           ,
           and
           most
           of
           them
           did
           so
           in
           the
           years
           1634
           ,
           1635.
           to
           1640
           :
           which
           is
           the
           true
           reason
           that
           in
           those
           years
           there
           were
           so
           few
           
             Private
             meetings
             ,
          
           the
           people
           could
           in
           publick
           Temples
           hear
           their
           Ministers
           as
           
             Lecturers
             ,
          
           yet
           in
           those
           times
           there
           were
           
             private
             meetings
             ;
          
           and
           notwithstanding
           all
           the
           fury
           some
           
             Bishops
          
           used
           ,
           I
           remember
           Bishop
           
             Hall
          
           in
           a
           speech
           made
           to
           the
           
             Parliament
          
           1641
           or
           1642.
           complain'd
           of
           an
           hundred
           such
           meetings
           to
           be
           in
           
             London
          
           alone
           .
        
         
           Nor
           is
           it
           any
           wonder
           if
           in
           near
           forty
           years
           time
           ,
           good
           people
           have
           gained
           a
           little
           more
           light
           in
           matters
           of
           
             Worship
          
           and
           
             Discipline
             ,
          
           and
           discerned
           the
           unlawfulness
           of
           some
           things
           in
           both
           ,
           which
           were
           not
           at
           that
           time
           discerned
           .
           The
           
             Questions
          
           relating
           to
           both
           ,
           have
           been
           more
           ventilated
           since
           the
           year
           1640.
           than
           ever
           they
           were
           before
           ,
           since
           the
           Reformation
           .
           So
           as
           a
           telling
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           how
           few
           
             dissenters
          
           were
           at
           first
           ,
           and
           in
           how
           few
           things
           they
           dissented
           ,
           is
           very
           insignificant
           to
           any
           purpose
           but
           the
           loading
           of
           present
           
             Dissenters
          
           with
           an
           
             Odium
          
           from
           those
           ignorant
           and
           passionate
           persons
           who
           do
           not
           understand
           ,
           
             That
             they
             had
             not
             half
             so
             much
             reason
             to
             dissent
             then
             ,
          
           as
           they
           have
           had
           since
           ,
           and
           now
           have
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           present
           
             Conformity
          
           required
           of
           
             Ministers
             ,
          
           is
           twice
           more
           than
           was
           formerly
           required
           .
           And
           for
           the
           people
           ,
           their
           
             Nonconformity
          
           in
           a
           greater
           degree
           must
           also
           be
           attributed
           to
           the
           further
           light
           they
           have
           gained
           as
           to
           matters
           of
           
             Worship
          
           and
           
             Discipline
             ,
          
           the
           true
           
             nature
          
           and
           
             order
          
           of
           
             Churches
             ,
          
           together
           with
           the
           outing
           of
           their
           Pastors
           ,
           they
           being
           no
           such
           notions
           as
           all
           can
           swallow
           ,
           
             That
             the
             forbidding
             godly
             Ministers
             to
             preach
             by
             an
             humane
             law
             ,
             dissolves
             the
             pastoral
             relation
             of
             Pastors
             to
             their
             Churches
             .
          
           Or
           ,
           that
           
             all
             within
             the
             bounds
             of
             a
             parish
             ,
             are
             obliged
             to
             be
             members
             of
             the
             Church
             in
             that
             place
             ;
             or
             are
             therefore
             so
             ,
             because
             they
             dwell
             within
             the
             bounds
             of
             such
             places
             .
          
        
         
           Some
           observe
           ,
           that
           most
           men
           have
           some
           opportunities
           in
           their
           life-time
           offered
           them
           by
           the
           Providence
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           if
           they
           lay
           hold
           of
           ,
           they
           make
           them
           happy
           in
           the
           good
           things
           of
           this
           life
           .
           The
           like
           fate
           possibly
           attends
           Nations
           .
        
         
           We
           had
           one
           opportunity
           offered
           us
           in
           
             Q
             Elizabeths
             time
             ,
          
           when
           Reformation
           might
           have
           been
           settled
           without
           these
           ingrateful
           impositions
           .
           This
           was
           lost
           through
           the
           fiery
           zeal
           of
           the
           then
           
             Archbishp
             ,
          
           and
           brought
           us
           into
           near
           20
           years
           troubles
           .
           We
           had
           a
           second
           in
           the
           beginning
           of
           
             King
             James
          
           his
           time
           ;
           but
           the
           same
           man
           ,
           and
           his
           successor
           
           Archbishop
           
             Bancroft
          
           &c.
           again
           hindred
           our
           seeing
           what
           concerned
           our
           peace
           .
           We
           had
           a
           third
           opportunity
           upon
           his
           Majesties
           Restauration
           ;
           by
           whose
           means
           it
           was
           then
           hindred
           ,
           all
           know
           .
           We
           have
           since
           met
           with
           20
           years
           trouble
           more
           ,
           or
           very
           nigh
           .
        
         
           We
           have
           a
           fourth
           before
           us
           at
           this
           time
           ,
           upon
           the
           discovery
           of
           this
           
             Execrable
             Popish
             Plot.
          
           When
           God
           calleth
           us
           under
           the
           penalty
           of
           all
           that
           is
           dear
           unto
           us
           ,
           to
           seek
           peace
           amongst
           our selves
           ,
           (
           for
           our
           Saviour
           hath
           told
           us
           ,
           A
           
             Kingdom
             divided
             against
             it self
             cannot
             stand
             )
             .
          
           All
           other
           proposals
           for
           Union
           ,
           but
           the
           abating
           those
           
             Impositions
          
           which
           divide
           us
           ,
           are
           meer
           idle
           
             toys
          
           and
           
             vanities
             .
          
           Good
           men
           cannot
           love
           peace
           so
           well
           ,
           as
           to
           purchase
           it
           by
           submission
           to
           things
           which
           they
           judge
           sinful
           .
           If
           we
           should
           lose
           this
           also
           ,
           I
           shall
           only
           say
           ,
        
         
           
             The
             Interpretation
             be
             to
             those
             that
             hate
             us
             ,
             and
             to
             the
             Enemies
             of
             our
             God.
          
           We
           may
           look
           for
           good
           ,
           but
           no
           good
           will
           come
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
         
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A33964-e2590
           
             See
             the
             Troubles
             at
             Francfort
             ,
             p.
             44
             ,
             45.
             
          
           
             This
             makes
             it
             evident
             ,
             that
             the
             Conference
             at
             
             Hampton-Court
             ,
             this
             year
             ,
             was
             not
             in
             the
             name
             of
             all
             
               Nonconformists
               ,
            
             but
             only
             the
             personal
             Act
             of
             3
             or
             4
             men
             Noncon
             .