A Second Discourse of the Religion of England, Section 13
SECT. XIII.
Of the alledged Reasons of the Ecclesiastical Injunctions in the beginning of the Reformation.
THE Answerer relates at large the proceeding of this Church in the beginning of the Reformation. The sum of the Relation is, That there being Two sorts of men, one that thought it a great matter of Conscience to depart from the least Ceremony, they were so addicted to their old Customs; the other so new-fangled, that they would innovate all things, and nothing would satisfie them but that which was new; It was necessary for the Church to interpose for Peace sake, and casting off neither Party, to please each to their edification; and also to injoyn some things to the common observance of all, and therefore she took away the excessive multitude of Ceremonies, as those that were dark, and abused to Superstition and Covetousness, but retained those few that were for Decency, Discipline, and apt to stir up the dull mind of man to the remembrance of his duty to God. We have good warrant to call in question the truth of his Narration in things of the greatest weight. First, It is not true that the Party that were for Ceremonies, comprehended all those who staid at home, and did not flye in the time of Queen Mary's Persecution. For such as dissented from the Ceremonies in the time of that Persecution, had their Assemblies for the Worship of God in this Land, and indured among others, in the Fiery Trial. And we can find but little zeal in the Martyrs of those days for this kind of Conformity. Likewise it is not true that the Party that were against Ceremonies, were but small, as being but some few of those that fled beyond Sea: There is clear evidence to the contrary. An Historian zealous for Conformity, even unto bitterness, reports in his Ecclesia Restaurata, That in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign, many that were disaffected to Episcopacy and Ceremonies, were raised to great Preferments. Besides, those that were in Ecclesiastical Dignities, he observes, That the Queens Professor at Oxford, and the Margaret Professor in Cambridg, were among the Nonconformists. For the multitude of Dissenters in those dayes, there is a notable testimony of a Friend of Prelacy, in his Letter to Mr. Richard Hooker, about the writing of his Ecclesiastical Polity, in these words: It may be remembred, that at the first the greatest part of the Learned in the Land, were either eagerly affected, or favourably inclined to that way; the Books then written, savoured for the most part, of the Disciplinary stile; it sounded every where in the Pulpits, and in the common phrase of mens speech; and the contrary Part began to fear they had taken a wrong course.
There is as little Truth and Justice in that report, That the Party that were against Ceremonies, caused the Troubles at Frankford, and brought a Dishonor to the Reformation, and Infamy upon our Nation. The English Congregation at Frankford, was setled after the Discipline of the Foreign Reformed Churches, and enjoyed much Peace, till certain eminent men, zealous of the English Forms and Rites, came among them, and by a high hand brought in the Liturgy, and brake them to pieces, and forced away the Ministers, and those Members that were in the first forming and setling of that Church. Afterward, they that remained and received the Liturgy, continued not long in unity, but in a short time an incurable and scandalous Schism brake out between the Pastor, and almost the whole Congregation.
Lastly, There is a great mistake in the main business of the Narrative, in representing things as setled by the Church of England in the beginning of the Queen's Reign, to please each Party in the abolishing of some, and the retaining of other Ceremonies: Whereas at the reviving the Reformation at that time, the Ceremonies then abolished were offensive to all Protestants, and nothing appears to be done in favour of the Anticeremonial Party, about the points in difference. But things were carried to a greater height against their Way, than in King Edward's time, whose Reformation was thought to incline more to that which was afterwards called Puritanism. For which cause the Historian before mentioned, hath written, That that King being ill principled, his Death was no infelicity to the Church of England. The truth of the matter is, That in the first Times of the Queen, whose Reign was to be sounded in the Protestant Religion, the Wisdom of the State intended chiefly the bringing over of the whole Body of the People, and to settle them in that Profession; and therefore thought fit to make no more alteration from their old Forms, then was necessary to be made. Care was taken, that no part of the Liturgy might be offensive to the Papists, and they accordingly resorted to our Divine Service for the first Ten years. Also the retaining of the Ceremonies, was a matter of condescention to the Popish Party, the State thereby testifying how far they would stoop to gain them, by yeelding as far as they might in their own Way. Now long Experience hath shewed, That what was done with respect to the Peace of former Times, and reconciling of Papists to Protestants, is become an occasion of dividing Protestants from one another, without hope of converting Papists.