A Second Discourse of the Religion of England, Section 15 – Section 16
SECT. XV.
Of the diversity of Opinion and Practice already permitted in the Church of England.
THE Moderation of the Church of England in the Articles of Predestination, Divine Grace, and Freewill, being urged against the rigorous imposition of the controverted Orders and Ceremonies, this Answer is made, That the case is not the same, for that those points are so full of difficulty, that they, and questions of that nature, have been matter of dispute in all Ages, and in all Religions; but about the Orders and Ceremonies, this is the only thing to be resolved, Whether the Church hath power to injoin an indifferent Ceremony? But there is no such difference in the case. The Question of things Indifferent, hath been mistaken for the Grand Case of the Nonconformists; for those points which are the main reason and matter of their inconformity, are by them accounted not indifferent, but unlawful, and therefore not to be admitted in their practice, till their Consciences be better satisfied. And it is not irrational to think, that serious doubtings may arise in sober minds about some parts of the injoyned Uniformity, and particularly, about those Ceremonies which seem to draw near to the significancy and moral efficacy of Sacraments, and thereupon may appear to some not as meer circumstances, but as parts of Divine Worship, and their Consciences may be struck with Terror by the sense of God's Jealousie about any instituted Worship which Himself hath not prescribed. Moreover, these Orders and Ceremonies have been matters of dispute in all times since the beginning of Protestant Reformation. But under the degenerate state of the Christian Churches, by the great Apostacy of the later times, there could be no occasion of disputing these things, when Will-worship was generally exalted, and the grossest Idolatries had prevailed.
I question the truth of that Assertion, That the Dissenters cannot name one Church besides ours, in which there was a Schism made for a Ceremony. For a great Rent was made in the Christian Church throughout the World, about a Ceremony, or as small a matter, to wit, the time of celebrating the Feast of Easter. But whensoever a Schism is made, let them that cause it, look to it, and lay it to heart. Wo to the world because of offences, and wo to that man by whom the offence cometh▪ But we still insist upon this Argument, That these Rites being at the best but indifferent in the opinion of the Imposers, the observation of them cannot in reason be esteemed of such importance to the substance of Religion, as the different Opinions about the Articles aforesaid are. And who knows not with what animosity and vehemence the Parties that are called Arminian and Antiarminian, have fought against one another; and what dreadful and destructive Consequences they pretend to draw from each others Opinions? Now put case the more prevalent Party in the Church of England should go about to determine those Controversies on the one side, or the other, (and truly they were sometimes determined by a Synod in His Majesty's Dominions, namely by that of Dublin in the year 1615, also by the greatest Prelates, and most eminent Doctors in England, in the Lambeth-Articles; and what hath been, may again come to pass) would not that side against whom the Decision passeth, be ready to cry out of Oppression? Yea, how great a Rent would be made by it through the whole Fabrick of this Church? Furthermore, in Ceremonies publikely used, and matters of open practice, the Church of England hath thought good to indulge Dissents, as in that of bowing toward the Altar, or the East, unless it be required by the local Statutes of particular Societies. And in this the Sons of the Church do bear with one another, according to the direction of the Canons made in the year 1640. Unto which may be added, That the Mode of Worship in Cathedrals, is much different from that in Parochial Churches. Likewise some Ministers before their Sermon use a Prayer of their own conceiving; others onelyonly (as the phrase is) bid Prayer. If these and other Varieties, be no reproach to our Church, will it reproach her to suffer one to Officiate with a Surpliss, and another without it?
SECT. XVI.
Men differently perswaded in the present Controversies, may live together in Peace.
IT is no vain speculation, to think we may have peace, if men perswaded in their Consciences that the controverted Ceremonies are superstitious, or at the best but Trifles, and that the Liturgy and Ecclesiastical Polity, need some Reformation, should be joined with men far otherwise perswaded. And the preserving of Peace in that case, doth not suppose or require that all these differently perswaded men, will be wise on both sides to content themselves with their own opinions: But it supposeth the State, and the chief Guides of the Church, to be wise, (as it is always requisite they should be) and that many of Reputation and Eminency on both sides, will be prudent and temperate, and examples of Moderation to others, (and not to suppose this is to disparage and debase our present Age) but above all, it supposeth the Publike Constitution so well stated and setled, as to be able to curb the Imprudent and Unsober, and to encourage the Modest and Well-advised.
Surely all Dissenters upon Conscience, will not be prevailed with by the same Conscience, to endeavour the propagation of their own way in these differences, to the depression of others. If some offer to disturb the Peace, can no Rule of Government restrain them? It is a deplorable case indeed, if there be no remedy but for those that are favoured by the Higher Powers, utterly to exclude and reject those that want the like favour and countenance.
At this day the Church of England by Her present Latitude, or at least Connivence, keeps peace among Her Sons of such different Perswasions, as formerly stirred up great Dissentions in this Church. Who is ignorant of the Contentions raised about the Arminian Controversies in the several Reigns of Queen Elizabeth, King James, and King Charles the First? But in the present Times, the mutual forbearance on both sides, but chiefly the Church's Prudence, hath lay'd asleep those Controversies; whereas if one side presuming upon its Power and Prevalency, should go about (as formerly) to decry and depress the other, and to advance and magnifie themselves, and ingross the Preferments, doubtless the like flames would break out again. For there is a great dislike and abhorrency setled at the Heart-root of both these Parties against each others Opinions; and a sutable occasion would soon draw it out to an open Contestation. Now if the Church's Peace and Unity be already maintained in such seemingly dangerous diversity of Opinion among her Members and Officers, and those not of the meanest rank, why should her Prudence and Polity he suspected as insufficient to maintain Unity and Peace in the indulging of the differently perswaded in the now disputed Rites and Opinions?