Commissioners Petitioning for Review of Book of Common Prayer, Commentary 2 · Topic 10 – Topic 11
The Burial of the Dead.
It is not fit so much should be left to the d…scretion of every Minister,Sect. 2. and the desire that all may be said … the Church,Rub. …. being not preten…ed to be for the ease of tender Consciences, but of tender heads, may be helped by a Cap better then a Rubrick.
Rep. We marvel that you say nothing at all to our desire, that it be expressed in a Rubrick, that Prayers and Exhortations there used are not for the benefit of the dead, but onelyonly for the comfort and instruction of the living: You intend to have a very indiscreet Ministry, if such a needless circumstance may not be left to their discretion. The contrivance of a Cap instead of a Rubrick, shews that you are all unacquainted with the subject of which you speak; and if you speak for want of experience in the case of souls, as you now do about the case of mens bodies, we could wish you some of our experience of one sort (by more converse with all the members of the Flock) though not of the other. But we would here put these three or four questions to you.
1. Whether such of our selves as cannot stand still in the cold Winter at the Grave half so long as the Office of Burial requireth, without the certain hazard of our lives, (though while we are in motion we can stay out longer) are bound to believe your Lordships, that a Cap will cure this better then a Rubrick, though we have proved the contrary to our cost, and know it as well as we know that cold is cold? Do you think no place but that which a cap or clothes do cover, is capable of letting in the excessively refrigerating air.
2. Whether a man that hath the most rational probability, if not a moral certainty, that it would be his death, or dangerous sickness (though he wore twenty Caps) is bound to obey you in this case.
3. Whether usually the most studious laborious Ministers, be not the most invaletudinary and infirm? And 4thly, Whether the health of such should be made a jest of by the more healthful, and be made so light of as to be cast away, rather then a Ceremony sometime be left to their discretion? And whether it be a sign of the right and ingenuine spirit of Religion, to sub…ect to such a ceremony? Both the life of godliness, and the lives of Ministers, and the peoples…souls; much of this concerneth the people as well as the Ministers.
We see not why these words may not be said of any person,Sect. 3. pag. 35. whom we dare not say is damned; and it were a breach of charity to say so even of those whose repentance we do not see: For whether they do not inwardly and heartily repent even at the last act, who knows? And that God will not even then pardon them upon such repentance, who dares say? It is better to be charitable and hope the best, then rashly to condemn.
Rep. We spoke of persons living and dying in notorious sins, suppose they were Whoredom, Perjury, Oppression, yea Infidelity or Atheism, &c. But suppose we cannot be infallibly certain that the man is damned, because it is possible that he may repent, though he never did express it: Will you therefore take him for a brother, whose soul is taken to God in mercy? You are not sure that an excommunicate person, or an Heathen doth not truly repent after he is speechless: But will you therefore say, that all such dye thus happily? This is a most delusory principle! The Church judgeth not of things undiscovered: Non esse & non apparere, are all one as to our judgement: We conclude not peremptorily, because we pretend not here to infallibility. As we are not sure that any man is truly penitent that we give the Sacrament to, so we are not sure that any man dyeth impenitently. But yet we must use those as penitent, that seem so to reason, judging by ordinary means, and so must we …udge those as impenitent that have declared their sin, and never declared their repentance. It seems by you, that you will form your Liturgy, so as to say, that every man is saved that you are not sure is damned, though he shew you no repentance, and so the Church shall say that all things are, that are but possible, if they conceit that charity requireth it. But if the living by this be kept from connversion, and flattered into Hell, will they there call it charity that brought them thither? O lamentable charity, that smoothers men's way to Hell, and keepeth them ignorant of their danger till they are past remedy! Millions are now suffering for such a sort of charity. Lay this to the forementioned Propositions, and the World wil see that indeed we differ in greater things then ceremonies, and forms of prayer.
Churching Women.
IT is fit that the Woman performing especial service of Thanksgiving,§ 1 p. 36. Exc 1. should have a special place for it, where she may be perspicuous to the whole Congregation, and near the holy Table, in regard of the Offering she is there to make: They need not fear Popery in this, since in the Church of Rome she is to kneel at the Church-door.]
Reply. Those that are delivered from impenitency, from sickness, &c. perform a special service of Thanksgiving▪ &c. yet need not stand in a special place; but if you wil have all your Ceremonies, why must all others be forced to imitate you? we mentioned not the Church of Rome.§ 2. Ex. 2.
The Psalm 121 is more fit and pertinent, then those others named, as 113, 128. and therefore not to be changed.]
Reply. We have proposed to you what we think meetest in our last pages; if you like your own better, we pray you give us leave to think otherwise, and to use what we propounded.
If the woman be such as is here mentioned,§ 3. Exc. 3. she is to do her penance before she be Churched.]
Reply. That is, if she be accused, prosecuted, and judged by the Bishops Court to do penance first, which happeneth not to one of a multitude, and what shal the Minister do with all the rest? all tends to take away the difference between the precious and the vile, between those that fear God, and that fear him not.
Offerings are required as well under the Gospel as the Law,§ 4. Ex. 4 and amongst other times most fit it is, that oblations should be when we come to give thanks for some special blessing, Psal. 76. 10, 11. such is the deliverance in Child-bearing.]
Reply. Oblations should be free, and not forced: to some special use, and not to Ostentation.
This is needless,§4 Ex 5 since the Rubr. and Common-Pr. require that no notorious person be admitted.]
Reply. We gladly accept so fair an interpretation, as freeth the Book from self-contradiction, and us from trouble; but we think it would do no …urt, but good, to be more express.