Defense Doubts Hopes and Reasons for Refusal of the Oath Imposed, Preface – Part
A Preface to the READER, written by N. E.
Shewing that the Book (concerning the Oath, decreed in the ſixth Canon of the late Synod) as it was penned in good ſeaſon; ſo it is now publiſhed not out of ſeaſon: ſince it is yet of good uſe, to divers purpoſes, of great and permanent importance, when both the Oath and Penalty be wholly ſuppreſſed.
WHen the Authour of this enſuing Treatiſe compoſed it, there was (by reaſon of the new enjoyned Oath) much doubt and diſtraction among many godly and learned Miniſters; and (for their ſakes) among the people alſo, whereto theſe Doubts, and Hopes, and Reaſons miniſtred a ſeaſonable remedy: for, the Doubts put many out of doubt, that the Oath, as it was framed, was to be refuſed: the Hopes (for all that) upheld the heart againſt deſpaire of ſafety, from the commination of the Canon; and the Reaſons gave ſupport unto them both: and all together (with the learned ingenuity and pious modeſty, diffuſed through the whole frame and ſtile of the worke) have ſo taken the hearts of divers Divines of eminent note (for their good parts and great paines in their holy callings, among whom were ſome, whoſe dignity in the Church was by the Canon to be ſecured from alteration) as to obtaine their hands, for ſubſcription unto it; and to cauſe both them and many more to importune the publication of the Book (though the Oath it ſelfe, and Penalty annexed to it, were diſanulled) ſince the matter and manner of it are both of that kind, which may at any time entertaine a diſcreet and religious Reader with profit and delight.
For firſt, albeit the Oath gave the motive to it, yet it is not the Oath that makes the meaſure of it: for (beſides that) it compriſeth many very obſervable matters, concerning the purity of Religion (without mixture of Idolatry) the duties of Chriſtianity, the predominance of Prelates, and priviledges of Presbyters, with many other particulars of moment, worthy of the publicke view, if that ſo offenſive, and (in reſpect of ſome I may ſay) formidable Canon, had never beene made.
And for the Oath it ſelfe, this Booke will preſent unto the Reader very many conſiderable advertiſements, which no diſtance of time will put out of date: Concerning
Firſt, the Synod of Divines, by whom the Canon was decreed.
Secondly, thoſe by whom it was diſliked, when it was knowne.
Thirdly, their freedome from it, who were in danger by it.
Firſt, for the Synod of Divines, the many & weighty exceptions againſt the Oath, give juſt reaſon to ſuſpect, that it was not framed by common conſultation among them, but deviſed by ſome one, or ſome few (at the moſt) who over-awed the reſt, and ſo obtruded it upon them, without their good liking; though great feare of oppoſing, and little hope of prevailing; which held them from making any open reſiſtance againſt it.
To this purpoſe hath ſomething been ſaid on both ſides: for, on the one, it was told by a Favourite of a man of great power in the Synod (as in praiſe of his prudence) that hee compoſed the Canons before the Clergy aſſembled: and on the other ſide (which belongs to the ſecond particular, and leads us to it) ſome of the Synod have profeſſed ſo much diſlike of that Canon of the Oath, that had it been in their power to ſuppreſſe it, it ſhould never have proceeded beyond the breath that firſt put it forth.
And for the learned and pious Compoſer of theſe animadverſions upon it, though hee were a Clerke of the Convocation at Yorke, he never heard of it, untill it had obtained its finall approbation, both in that and the other Province; wherein yet hee was not wanting for the uſe of fit meanes, for his due information: for knowing that the Aſſembly at London was the Diall, that at Yorke but the Clocke, which was uſually ſet and regulated by it: preſently after his returne from the firſt Seſſion at Yorke, hee addreſſed himſelfe towards London for intelligence at the firſt hand, that when the Canons were tranſmitted thither, hee might be ſufficiently inſtructed (upon good grounds) to give or deny his aſſent unto them: and ſo to doe either, that he might not be alone in that choice, whereto his conſcience did encline him.
But being on his journie, hee was confidently certified (by the way) that the Parliament was diſſolved, and with that hee conceived, both the Convocation and his Clerkſhip were expired: and therefore that he was diſcharged of further care and paines for ſuch a purpoſe; and if the cauſe had not been carried more by the power of ſome few, then the approbation of moſt, it might be matter of very great marvell, that ſo many, ſo great Clerkes ſhould give their aſſents to a thing (to bee aſſur'd upon Oath) which is ſo many waies ſubject to doubtfull conſtruction.
And this may bee a juſt ground to all judicious and conſcionable Divines, to deſire a Synod of another Conſtitution; wherein there may be more freedome, for diſcuſſion and determination of Eccleſiaſticall matters, then was in that, or can be expected in any of that kind.
Beſides ſuch as were members of Provinciall meetings, there were many more who were offended at the Oath, not only thoſe who were affrighted with the penalty (eſpecially the moſt conſcionable Clergy) but many of the Laity (of the beſt ſort and higheſt rank) have petitioned, pleaded, and, as it is now commonly reported, the Honourable Houſe of Commons have voted it downe (though the right Honourable Lords of the Upper Houſe have not yet ſo far declared their judgements againſt it.)
To theſe this booke may doe ſome acceptable ſervice, as a juſt and complete Apology againſt that Canon, which decrees for it, and ſo ſeverely threatens the refuſall of it) and againſt them, who ſo far favour it, as to referre all the Doubts and Quaeres about it, and Reaſons againſt it, rather to perverſe prejudice of thoſe that find fault with it, then to any juſt cauſe of exception in the Oath it ſelfe: adding with great confidence in it, and no leſſe contempt of ſuch as condemn'd it, that, If any of the Apoſtles, yea, or Chriſt himſelfe had penned it (a ſuppoſition of meere impoſſibility) ſuch men would yet have been cavilling againſt it.
I can name the man that ſaid it, & ſom what elſe (not much better to the ſame effect) and it may be an Apology likewiſe for ſuch as diſlike it, againſt thoſe who have taken upon them by writing to defend it, as containing nothing in it, that may offend the conſcience (if the judgement be not too weake, or the paſſion too ſtrong) whoſe papers have been too paſſent, and too much prevailed with ſome, who have not ſeene this diſcourſe, wherein the Author diſcovers their gloſſes upon it to bee but as the gildings of a rotten Nutmeg, though he forbeare their names, out of reſpect unto the common peace, and to their reputations in particular, who muſt needs ſuffer with it, ſo far as they are oppoſed as Apologiſts for it: ſince as one of them acknowledged (in the beginning of his anſwer to the Quaeres of the Miniſters of London) that the noiſe againſt the Oath grew every day lowder and lowder, and that it was loaded with publicke and popular infamy: and ſo it is like hee ſhould have more need of pardon (as for a preſumptuous undertaking in that cauſe, being but a private perſon) then that he could bring ſufficient aide to juſtifie the Oath, which (not without juſt cauſe) had incurr'd ſo much condemnation.
Thirdly, if we conſider their freedome from it, who were in danger by it & they were many good Miniſters, who (if the ſwearing Canon had continued in force) muſt have ſuffred loſſe of their liberty, and livelihood; and very many good people, who were like to be deprived of their loving and laborious Miniſters) this Book may be of very good uſe, as a ready memoriall of ſuch a mercy to them all, as cannot bee forgotten, without wicked ingratitude: firſt to God, and next to thoſe worthy and honourable perſons, who have been the patrons of their preſent comfort, and protectours of them from the preſſure of this rigorous innovation: and unworthy were they (ſurely) of ſo great a favour, if they ſhould thinke, that when the Oath is condemned, they are forthwith diſcharged from any farther thought or conſideration upon it.
For mine owne part, ſaid a worthy Divine (and I am of his mind) I ſhall endeavour alwaies to keep ſuch an impreſsion both of the perill and diſappointment of the project, for which the Canon was contrived, that the bAll Soules day, a day of high eſtimation with the Papiſts; which feſtivity would (no doubt) have advance… to a higher degree of jollity if it had been (as it was like to be) a day … diſtreſſ to th… beſt Miniſter… whom they account as their worſt enemie…ſecond of November (the day deſigned for the execution of the decree of that Canon) ſhall be to me as one of the dayes of Purim, for hearty thankſgiving for deliverance from it; and this Booke ſhall ſupply me with proper leſſons for the ſervice of that day.
Whereto, as for the matter it is very pertinent; ſo for the ſtile and manner of writing, it cannot but bee pleaſing to an ingenuous and well compoſed ſpirit, ſince it runnes (with an equitable temper of judicious moderation) without all mixture of humour or paſſion, and neither mounts too high, with any ſtraine of preſumption, nor coucheth too low by any ſervile inſinuation.
It may be, ſome will conceive it hath too many reliſhes of reverence to Biſhops, becauſe the tenure of their Authority is therein queſtioned, and the abuſe of it deſervedly diſliked by the beſt of all ſorts; but that will be no matter of exception, if they conſider
1. That when the book was firſt penned, and openly avowed by the Authour, thoſe Canonicall Dictators (who compoſed the Oath, and propounded it to the reſt for their ratification) were at the higheſt pitch of Eccleſiaſticall Prelation: and that their power came forth armed with a new plantation of terrible Canons.
2. That they have long enjoyed, and yet are poſſeſt of an awfull preheminence over their Brethren.
3. That however their callings be accounted of, the perſons of many of them, in reſpect of many excellent endowments in them, are in good manners and accuſtomed civility, to be entertained with reſpective termes, which have been allowed even to thoſe who have been thought bad enough to bee depoſed from their Epiſcopall dignities; as by this learned Authour, out of the Councell of Calcedon upon another occaſionis obſerved in another worke (which, I hope, ere long will come to light.) The words of the Councell, as wee have them delivered bybEvagr. Scho…ſt … 2. c. 4. Evagrius, are theſe: It ſeemeth good to us, and no doubt God approveth the ſame, that Dioſcorus the moſt reverend Biſhop of Alexandria (if ſo pleaſe our Lord the Emperour) Juvenalis the moſt reverend Biſhop of Jeruſalem, Tealaſſius the moſt reverend Biſhop of Armenia, ſhould be puniſhed, and alike depoſed from their Biſhopricks, by the ſentence and judgement of the Councell, and bee at the Emperours pleaſure.
To conclude (for this Book) if there were any need to commend it to common acceptance, by eſpeciall approbation, I could (had I the Authours conſent to this purpoſe) produce many Letters of ſuch as have read it, and are beſt able to judge of it; but that would bee in this caſe a ſuperfluous ſervice; and it will be enough to take notice of one of them, which is as followeth:
Reverend Sir,
YOur Treatiſe of the Oath is a very excellent Cōment upon a bad Text, fit to be made publick for the common good, not onelyonly for the preſent, but for after times. And as was ſaid (by one) of Adams fall, that it was foelix culpa, in that it gave occaſion to the manifeſtation of ſo great a mercy to mankind as followed thereupon; ſo may I ſay of the unhappy Oath (unhappy in reſpect of it ſelfe) that it was foelix Juramentum, an happy Oath, in reſpect it induced the production of ſuch a profitable diſcourſe upon it; very profitable doubtleſſe, if it may become as univerſall as it is uſefull, which is the humble and hearty deſire of him that profeſſeth himſelfe
Yours in all offices of a friend and ſervant, G.J.
Having had opportunity to peruſe many ſuch Letters, I have made choice of the ſhorteſt, becauſe I would not (any longer) withhold the Reader from the principall proviſion prepared for him: whereto I now ſhall willingly diſmiſſe him.
N.E.
CAN. 6. An Oath enjoyned for the preventing of all Innovations in Doctrine and Government.
THis preſent Synod (being deſirous to declare their ſincerity and conſtancy in the profeſsion of the Doctrine and Diſcipline already eſtabliſhed in the Church of England; and to ſecure all men againſt any ſuſpition of revolt to Popery, or any other ſuperſtition) decrees, that all Archbiſhops, Biſhops, and all other Prieſts, and Deacons, in places exempt, or not exempt, ſhall before the ſecond of November next enſuing, take this Oath following, againſt all Innovation of Doctrine or Diſcipline; and this Oath ſhall be tendred them, and every of them, and all others named after this Canon, by the Biſhop in perſon, or his Chancellour, or ſome grave Divines named and appointed by the Biſhop under his Seale; and the ſaid Oath ſhall bee taken in the preſence of a publick Notary, who is hereby required to make an Act of it, leaving the Univerſities to the proviſion which followes.
The OATH is,
I A. B. doe ſweare, that I doe approve the Doctrine and Diſcipline or Government, eſtabliſhed in the Church of England, as containing all things neceſſary to ſalvation: And that I will not endeavour by my ſelfe, or any other, directly or indirectly, to bring in any popiſh Doctrine, contrary to that which is ſo eſtabliſhed: Nor will I ever give my conſent to alter the Government of this Church, by Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Deanes and Archdeacons, &c. as it ſtands now eſtabliſhed, & as by right it ought to ſtand; nor yet ever to ſubject it to the uſurpations and ſuperſtition of the See of Rome. And all theſe things I doe plainely, and ſincerely acknowledge, and ſweare, according to the plaine and common ſenſe, and underſtanding of the ſame words, without any equivocation, or mentall evaſion, or ſecret reſervation whatſoever. And this I doe heartily, willingly and truely upon the faith of a Chriſtian. So help me God in Jeſus Chriſt.