







 
   
     
       
         Promiscuous ordinations are destructive to the honour & safety of the Church of England (if they should be allowed in it). Written in a letter to a person of quality.
         Pearson, John, 1613-1686.
      
       
         
           1668
        
      
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             Promiscuous ordinations are destructive to the honour & safety of the Church of England (if they should be allowed in it). Written in a letter to a person of quality.
             Pearson, John, 1613-1686.
          
           16 p.
           
             Printed for James Collins ...
             London :
             1668.
          
           
             Attributed by Wing to John Pearson.
             Imperfect: pages stained with loss of print.
             Reproduction of original in the Union Theological Seminary Library, New York.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Church of England -- Clergy.
           Ordination.
        
      
    
     
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           PROMISCUOUS
           ORDINATIONS
           Are
           Destructive
           to
           the
           
             HONOUR
          
           &
           
             SAFETY
          
           OF
           THE
           Church
           of
           England
           :
           (
           If
           they
           should
           be
           allowed
           in
           it
           .
           )
        
         
           Written
           in
           a
           Letter
           to
           a
           Person
           of
           Quality
           .
        
         
           
             LONDON
             .
          
           Printed
           for
           
             James
             Collins
          
           at
           the
           Kings-Head
           in
           
           Westminster-Hall
           ,
           1668.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           A
           Person
           of
           Quality
           ,
           A
           Member
           of
           the
           CHURCH
           of
           ENGLAND
           ,
           To
           a
           Moderate
           Divine
           .
        
         
           
             SIR
             ,
          
        
         
           GIve
           me
           leave
           to
           let
           you
           understand
           ,
           That
           I
           am
           by
           a
           real
           and
           unfeigned
           
             PROFESSION
          
           a
           true
           Son
           of
           the
           
             Church
             of
             ENGLAND
             ,
          
           one
           whom
           God
           hath
           blessed
           with
           a
           competent
           Family
           ,
           of
           whose
           eternal
           welfare
           I
           am
           equally
           solicitous
           .
           We
           are
           seated
           with
           many
           neighbours
           of
           the
           same
           judgment
           and
           desire
           of
           future
           happiness
           in
           a
           
           Countrey
           Parish
           with
           an
           
             ORTHODOX
          
           and
           able
           
             MINISTER
             ,
          
           whose
           age
           and
           infirmity
           seem
           to
           foretell
           we
           shall
           scarse
           enjoy
           him
           another
           Winter
           .
        
         
           Now
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           the
           various
           Discourses
           and
           
             CONTRIVANCES
          
           in
           this
           present
           juncture
           ,
           together
           with
           the
           known
           Inclinations
           of
           our
           
             PATRON
             ,
          
           threaten
           us
           with
           a
           
             PASTOR
          
           as
           next
           Incumbent
           ,
           who
           is
           not
           a
           Pastor
           Canonically
           ordained
           ,
           but
           hath
           received
           something
           which
           he
           calls
           Ordination
           ,
           either
           after
           a
           Classical
           or
           Congregational
           way
           .
        
         
           In
           this
           case
           I
           apply
           my self
           to
           you
           ,
           who
           are
           rendred
           a
           
             MODERATE
             DIVINE
             ,
          
           desirous
           to
           know
           whether
           your
           Moderation
           hath
           induced
           you
           to
           promote
           or
           comply
           with
           that
           which
           seems
           to
           us
           so
           great
           Confusion
           ;
           and
           to
           declare
           how
           you
           can
           answer
           it
           to
           that
           Church
           of
           which
           you
           are
           also
           a
           Member
           ,
           and
           what
           Satisfaction
           you
           can
           give
           to
           our
           Consciences
           ,
           who
           are
           like
           to
           be
           cast
           into
           this
           Condition
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           ANSWER
           .
        
         
           
             Sir
             ,
          
        
         
           I
           Cannot
           take
           any
           delight
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           
             Differences
          
           in
           matters
           of
           
             Religion
             ,
          
           but
           in
           the
           composure
           of
           them
           onely
           :
           and
           if
           I
           understand
           my self
           ,
           nothing
           can
           ever
           alter
           that
           temper
           ,
           by
           which
           I
           have
           been
           so
           long
           enclined
           to
           a
           due
           Enlargement
           and
           Indulgence
           for
           such
           as
           are
           ready
           to
           afford
           a
           rational
           Compliance
           .
           But
           I
           hope
           that
           no
           such
           
             Facility
          
           of
           nature
           or
           opinion
           shall
           ever
           reduce
           me
           to
           that
           weakness
           ,
           as
           to
           betray
           the
           great
           and
           everlasting
           
             Concerns
          
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           or
           to
           give
           over
           the
           indispensable
           duty
           of
           endeavouring
           that
           
             Unity
          
           which
           is
           necessary
           to
           its
           
             Conservation
             .
          
        
         
           That
           the
           
             Order
          
           of
           the
           
             Ministry
          
           is
           necessary
           to
           the
           Continuation
           of
           the
           Gospel
           according
           to
           the
           Promises
           of
           Christ
           ,
           as
           
           it
           was
           to
           the
           first
           Plantation
           of
           it
           according
           to
           his
           Institution
           ,
           is
           a
           Doctrine
           Indubitable
           .
           That
           this
           Ministry
           is
           derived
           by
           a
           
             Succession
          
           and
           constant
           propagation
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           Unity
           and
           Peace
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Christ
           are
           to
           be
           conserved
           by
           a
           due
           and
           legitimate
           
             Ordination
             ,
          
           no
           man
           who
           considereth
           the
           Practice
           of
           the
           
             Apostles
          
           and
           
             Ecclesiastical
             History
             ,
          
           can
           ever
           doubt
           .
           This
           way
           of
           
             Ordination
          
           having
           continued
           so
           many
           ages
           one
           and
           the
           same
           ,
           could
           never
           be
           considerably
           alter'd
           ,
           without
           some
           great
           
             Commotions
          
           and
           
             Dissentions
          
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           the
           manifest
           breach
           of
           Union
           and
           Communion
           in
           that
           body
           ;
           whomsoever
           we
           judg
           guilty
           of
           the
           breach
           of
           that
           Union
           ,
           which
           is
           not
           necessary
           now
           to
           dispute
           .
           And
           as
           the
           first
           introduction
           of
           
             different
             Ordinations
          
           caus'd
           a
           standing
           and
           settled
           
             Opposition
             ,
          
           precluding
           all
           ways
           of
           Reconciliation
           :
           So
           they
           cannot
           be
           brought
           into
           any
           one
           Church
           ,
           but
           they
           
           must
           make
           such
           a
           division
           and
           disparity
           in
           the
           
             Administrations
             ,
          
           as
           will
           amount
           to
           no
           less
           than
           a
           
             Schism
             .
          
        
         
           However
           in
           the
           peculiar
           and
           happy
           condition
           of
           our
           Church
           ,
           these
           
             promiscuous
          
           Ordinations
           ,
           if
           all
           allowed
           by
           it
           ,
           are
           most
           destructive
           to
           that
           which
           is
           the
           Safety
           and
           the
           Honour
           of
           it
           .
           We
           have
           the
           greatest
           felicity
           which
           could
           happen
           to
           a
           
             Reformation
             ,
          
           as
           being
           
             regular
          
           and
           
             authoritative
             ,
          
           that
           we
           have
           so
           taken
           away
           the
           many
           mistakes
           and
           errors
           which
           had
           been
           introduc'd
           by
           a
           long
           Ignorance
           and
           Usurpation
           ,
           as
           to
           retain
           a
           perfect
           
             Compliance
          
           with
           the
           
             Ancient
             Church
             :
          
           and
           therefore
           we
           can
           boldly
           and
           truly
           affirm
           ,
           we
           are
           the
           same
           with
           the
           
             Primitive
          
           Christians
           ,
           even
           those
           of
           
             Rome
             :
          
           and
           while
           we
           hold
           and
           maintain
           our
           
             Ordinations
          
           legitimate
           ,
           we
           speak
           the
           same
           language
           with
           the
           most
           Glorious
           
             Fathers
             ,
             Martyrs
          
           and
           
             Saints
          
           of
           those
           happy
           and
           pious
           times
           .
           But
           if
           we
           
           once
           admit
           a
           
             diversity
          
           in
           our
           Ordinations
           ,
           we
           have
           lost
           the
           honour
           of
           
             Succession
             ,
          
           we
           have
           cast
           away
           our
           weapons
           of
           defence
           ,
           we
           have
           betray'd
           our
           own
           cause
           and
           laid
           our selves
           open
           to
           the
           common
           Enemy
           of
           all
           
             Protestants
             ,
          
           and
           we
           shall
           at
           last
           inevitably
           fall
           into
           the
           
             Socinian
          
           doctrine
           ,
           to
           deny
           all
           necessity
           or
           use
           of
           any
           
             Mission
          
           or
           
             Ordination
             .
          
        
         
           Again
           though
           our
           
             Discipline
          
           be
           much
           weakned
           ,
           and
           the
           good
           effects
           thereof
           obstructed
           by
           many
           Scruples
           and
           Oppositions
           rais'd
           against
           it
           ,
           yet
           they
           can
           be
           no
           just
           imputation
           to
           that
           wholsom
           
             Institution
             ,
          
           it
           being
           sufficiently
           known
           from
           whence
           those
           Obstructions
           proceed
           .
           But
           if
           all
           
             sorts
          
           of
           Ordination
           be
           any
           way
           established
           by
           sufficient
           
             Authority
             ,
          
           if
           what
           is
           so
           earnestly
           desired
           be
           indulged
           ,
           
           
             That
             a
             man
             once
             ordained
             any
             way
             be
             still
             held
             and
             retained
             for
             a
             Labourer
             in
             the
             Harvest
             ,
          
           the
           most
           legitimate
           
             Process
          
           in
           
           
             Ecclesiastical
          
           affairs
           will
           become
           ineffectual
           and
           irrational
           .
           Many
           necessary
           
             Articles
          
           of
           Enquiry
           ,
           founded
           upon
           the
           greatest
           
             Justice
          
           and
           
             Authority
             ,
          
           will
           be
           put
           off
           with
           such
           unblameable
           refusals
           ,
           and
           answer'd
           with
           so
           much
           reason
           and
           equity
           ,
           that
           
             His
             Majesties
          
           Ecclesiastical
           Laws
           can
           be
           with
           no
           conscience
           put
           in
           
             Execution
             ,
          
           when
           they
           which
           are
           to
           be
           prosecuted
           as
           delinquents
           according
           to
           Law
           ,
           must
           be
           pronounced
           the
           most
           innocent
           in
           the
           opinion
           and
           conscience
           of
           the
           Administrators
           of
           the
           same
           Law.
           What
           an
           uncomfortable
           and
           discouraging
           
             Confusion
          
           is
           this
           ,
           whereby
           
             Presentments
          
           shall
           be
           made
           of
           those
           persons
           who
           are
           conscientiously
           
             conformable
          
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           and
           Orders
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           for
           actions
           or
           omissions
           proceeding
           solely
           out
           of
           that
           Conscience
           and
           Conformity
           ,
           and
           they
           who
           
             factiously
          
           or
           
             erroneously
             dissent
          
           from
           that
           Doctrine
           and
           Order
           ,
           shall
           avoid
           their
           own
           and
           promote
           
           the
           presentment
           of
           others
           ,
           and
           in
           this
           error
           or
           faction
           shall
           be
           protected
           and
           encouraged
           by
           a
           superinduced
           Authority
           Thus
           by
           
             promiscuous
             Ordinations
          
           the
           
             Doctrine
          
           of
           the
           Church
           will
           be
           render'd
           indefensible
           ,
           and
           the
           
             Discipline
          
           unpracticable
           .
        
         
           Although
           these
           evil
           
             Consequences
          
           be
           of
           great
           moment
           in
           the
           general
           ,
           and
           threaten
           our
           
             Bethel
          
           with
           the
           
             notion
          
           of
           a
           
             Babel
             ,
          
           yet
           because
           most
           men
           are
           more
           
             apprehensive
          
           of
           particular
           mischiefs
           ,
           and
           stronglier
           moved
           with
           
             Personal
             Inconveniencies
             ;
          
           I
           shall
           more
           earnestly
           apply
           my self
           to
           that
           
             condition
          
           which
           you
           have
           represented
           in
           reference
           to
           your self
           ,
           your
           Family
           and
           Neighbour
           of
           the
           same
           persuasion
           :
           and
           even
           this
           consideration
           will
           be
           of
           great
           latitude
           and
           
             concernment
             ,
          
           because
           it
           is
           not
           confined
           to
           you
           alone
           ,
           but
           all
           of
           the
           same
           
             judgment
          
           will
           be
           subject
           to
           the
           same
           
             unsettlement
             ,
          
           and
           lie
           under
           the
           same
           fears
           and
           
             Discouragement
             .
          
        
         
         
           If
           a
           person
           onely
           qualified
           by
           a
           
             Congregational
          
           Mission
           should
           be
           set
           over
           you
           
             authoritatively
          
           as
           your
           lawful
           Pastor
           ,
           to
           whose
           
             Ministerial
          
           acts
           it
           is
           expected
           you
           should
           apply
           your self
           in
           all
           publick
           matters
           of
           
             Religion
             :
          
           you
           being
           of
           a
           
             constant
             Persuasion
          
           that
           the
           
             Validity
          
           of
           such
           Acts
           hath
           a
           necessary
           relation
           to
           the
           
             Legitimacy
          
           of
           
             Ministery
             ,
          
           &
           of
           as
           certain
           an
           
             Opinion
          
           that
           such
           a
           
             Mission
          
           cannot
           amount
           to
           a
           legitimate
           
             Ordination
             .
          
           I
           cannot
           see
           what
           comfort
           you
           take
           in
           any
           
             compliance
          
           with
           such
           
             Administrations
             .
          
        
         
           Nay
           further
           ,
           if
           a
           person
           be
           said
           to
           have
           obtained
           Orders
           after
           the
           
             Presbyterian
          
           way
           in
           the
           late
           times
           ,
           when
           he
           might
           have
           received
           them
           from
           a
           
             Bishop
             ,
          
           &
           since
           the
           happy
           
             restitution
          
           of
           publick
           Order
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           when
           many
           of
           his
           
             Brethren
          
           have
           submitted
           ,
           still
           
             obstinately
          
           refuses
           to
           receive
           
             Ordination
          
           after
           the
           
             established
          
           way
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           
             England
             :
          
           in
           this
           case
           ,
           if
           you
           
           doubt
           whether
           his
           
             Ordination
          
           be
           
             valid
             ,
          
           or
           conclude
           it
           
             null
             .
          
           I
           confess
           I
           know
           no
           
             argument
          
           to
           convince
           you
           ,
           or
           to
           encline
           you
           to
           another
           
             Persuasion
             .
          
        
         
           But
           then
           I
           cannot
           but
           lament
           your
           
             unquiet
          
           and
           sad
           
             Condition
             ,
          
           accidentally
           cast
           upon
           you
           ,
           for
           reasons
           which
           I
           take
           no
           delight
           to
           consider
           :
           and
           through
           the
           short
           expression
           in
           your
           Letter
           ,
           I
           can
           easily
           perceive
           what
           Thoughts
           and
           Apprehensions
           may
           press
           and
           discourage
           you
           .
        
         
           For
           as
           you
           render
           your self
           a
           
             Son
          
           of
           our
           Church
           ,
           I
           conceive
           you
           are
           one
           who
           values
           the
           
             Liturgy
             ,
          
           thinking
           it
           your
           duty
           to
           give
           God
           that
           Setvice
           ,
           and
           taking
           much
           comfort
           in
           the
           
             ancient
             &
             regular
             Devotion
          
           expressed
           in
           those
           Publick
           Prayers
           ;
           which
           being
           a
           mixt
           Office
           ,
           and
           having
           been
           soever
           since
           the
           Apostolical
           times
           ,
           wherein
           the
           
             Priest
             ,
          
           or
           
             Presbyter
             ,
          
           and
           the
           People
           
             joyntly
             &
             interchangeably
          
           concurr
           ,
           and
           the
           
             Rubrick
          
           directing
           what
           words
           belong
           to
           
           the
           
             Priest
             ,
          
           and
           can
           properly
           in
           the
           sense
           intended
           (
           sometimes
           at
           least
           )
           be
           used
           by
           no
           other
           ;
           I
           confess
           you
           cannot
           but
           abate
           of
           the
           
             devotion
          
           and
           comfort
           of
           your
           Prayers
           ,
           when
           you
           think
           the
           
             person
          
           appointed
           to
           read
           them
           is
           no
           
             Priest
          
           or
           
             Presbyter
             .
          
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           
             Administration
          
           of
           the
           
             Sacrament
          
           of
           
             Baptism
             ,
          
           you
           cannot
           regularly
           but
           desire
           to
           have
           your
           
             Children
          
           baptized
           and
           received
           into
           the
           
             Congregation
          
           of
           Christ's
           Church
           in
           that
           solemn
           
             manner
             ,
          
           and
           by
           such
           a
           
             person
          
           as
           is
           appointed
           by
           the
           same
           Church
           to
           receive
           them
           ;
           and
           though
           in
           case
           of
           
             Necessity
          
           this
           Office
           may
           be
           dispensed
           with
           in
           baptizing
           for
           the
           
             benefit
          
           of
           the
           
             Infant
             ,
          
           yet
           it
           will
           be
           very
           hard
           to
           create
           any
           other
           Necessity
           than
           what
           arises
           on
           the
           
             Infants
          
           part
           ,
           or
           to
           make
           use
           of
           that
           irregularity
           when
           there
           is
           no
           Necessity
           ,
           which
           is
           onely
           indulged
           to
           Necessity
           .
        
         
           But
           as
           to
           the
           other
           
             Sacrament
             ,
          
           the
           
             Supper
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
          
           your
           case
           is
           far
           worse
           .
           For
           to
           
           that
           you
           are
           often
           invited
           ,
           nay
           obliged
           to
           receive
           it
           
             thrice
             a
             year
             ,
          
           and
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           earnestly
           desire
           
             frequently
          
           to
           participate
           of
           the
           body
           and
           blood
           of
           your
           SAVIOUR
           .
           Whereas
           if
           you
           be
           resolved
           that
           your
           
             Pastor
          
           established
           is
           not
           a
           
             Priest
          
           or
           
             Presbyter
             ,
          
           and
           consequently
           hath
           no
           power
           to
           
             consecrate
          
           the
           
             Elements
             ,
          
           or
           render
           them
           
             Sacramental
             ;
          
           I
           cannot
           see
           how
           you
           can
           follow
           him
           to
           the
           
             Holy
             Table
             ,
          
           or
           with
           what
           
             Comfort
          
           or
           
             Conscience
          
           you
           can
           bring
           your
           Family
           ,
           or
           concurr
           with
           your
           Neighbours
           ,
           to
           receive
           the
           
             Elements
          
           from
           his
           Hands
           .
           And
           yet
           
             abstaining
          
           from
           the
           
             Sacrament
             ,
          
           you
           are
           thereby
           
             deprived
          
           of
           the
           Spiritual
           strength
           and
           comfort
           which
           you
           desire
           and
           have
           cause
           to
           expect
           ;
           and
           are
           moreover
           
             betrayed
          
           to
           the
           
             Censures
          
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           in
           compliance
           to
           whose
           Doctrine
           you
           are
           rendred
           disobedient
           to
           her
           
             Commands
             .
          
        
         
         
           Lastly
           ,
           the
           unfeigned
           exercize
           of
           
             Religion
          
           is
           undoubtedly
           ,
           as
           never
           more
           Necessary
           ,
           so
           never
           so
           Comfortable
           as
           upon
           the
           Bed
           of
           our
           
             Sickness
             ,
          
           especially
           upon
           the
           approach
           of
           
             Death
             :
          
           wherefore
           the
           
             Church
          
           hath
           taken
           great
           care
           that
           the
           
             Minister
          
           shall
           attend
           ,
           and
           how
           he
           shall
           behave
           himself
           in
           the
           
             Visitation
             of
             the
             sick
             ,
          
           for
           their
           comfort
           and
           advantage
           .
           This
           
             Comfort
          
           I
           confess
           must
           be
           taken
           from
           you
           ,
           who
           are
           of
           that
           persuasion
           concerning
           your
           Pastor
           ,
           for
           if
           upon
           the
           apprehension
           of
           your
           later
           end
           ,
           you
           feel
           your
           
             Conscience
          
           troubled
           ,
           and
           being
           observant
           of
           the
           method
           prescribed
           ,
           desire
           to
           make
           a
           special
           
             Confession
             ,
          
           and
           receive
           the
           benefit
           of
           
             Absolution
             ;
          
           to
           which
           end
           the
           Priest
           is
           ordered
           to
           use
           these
           words
           ,
           
             By
             the
             authority
             of
             Christ
             committed
             to
             me
             I
             absolve
             thee
             of
             all
             thy
             sins
             :
          
           you
           will
           never
           acquiesce
           in
           the
           
             Absolution
             ,
          
           where
           you
           acknowledg
           no
           
             Commission
             ,
          
           nor
           can
           you
           expect
           any
           
             Efficacy
          
           which
           dependeth
           upon
           the
           
             Authority
             .
          
        
         
         
           These
           and
           the
           like
           I
           look
           upon
           not
           as
           formal
           Objections
           ,
           or
           cavils
           ,
           but
           as
           real
           and
           severe
           complaints
           rais'd
           upon
           Sober
           and
           Religious
           grounds
           ,
           matter
           for
           
             Christian
             Zeal
             ,
          
           rather
           than
           
             Moderation
             .
          
           And
           therefore
           I
           cannot
           persuade
           my self
           that
           any
           person
           endued
           with
           any
           
             Kindness
          
           or
           
             Care
          
           of
           the
           Religion
           settled
           in
           this
           Nation
           ,
           can
           ever
           
             contrive
          
           or
           
             assent
          
           unto
           so
           great
           a
           discouragement
           to
           the
           consciencious
           Professors
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           confusion
           in
           the
           
             management
          
           and
           
             administration
             .
          
        
         
           
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A53898-e260
           
             
               Prop.
            
             p.
             82.
             
          
        
      
    
  

