Defense Doubts Hopes and Reasons for Refusal of the Oath Imposed, Table of contents
Concerning the Oath, and Penalty thereof, impoſed by the ſixth Canon of the late Synod.
DOubts, and Hopes, with the Reaſons of them both, for the moſt part delivered into the hands, and intended wholy to be preſented to the prudent and religious conſideration of the reverend Father, John L. Biſhop of Cheſter, in the names of the Divines, Phyſicians, and Schoole-maſters of his Dioceſſe. pag. 1.
1. Generall DOUBT.
1. Doubts in Generall.Whether this Oath (if it be tendred and taken) be not a taking of the Name of God in vaine, againſt the third Commandement. pag. 3.
2. Whether this Oath may be taken in faith, without which, the taking is ſinne, Rom. 14.23. pag. 11.
3. Whether the ſixth Canon, as it is charged with this Oath, and Penalty, be not like to croſſe the chiefe end, whereat his Majeſty aimed, in granting his Commiſsion for a Convocation or Synod. pag. 11.
1. Particular DOUBT.
1. Doubts in Particular.What is meant by Diſcipline and Government, whether the ſame things, or no; and, if the ſame, what they be. pag. 14.
2. What is meant by the Church of England. pag. 16.
3. Why the Diſcipline is linked with the Doctrine of the Church of England, for neceſsity of ſalvation. pag. 18.
4. What is meant by Popiſh Doctrine. pag. 32.
5. What eſtabliſhment of Doctrine is here meant; and how farre it may be ſaid to be eſtabliſhed. pag. 39.
6. whether the degrees here ſpecified, be propounded to be allowed in the ſame, or in a different degree of aſſent and approbation. pag. 43.
7. What Deanes are here meant. pag. 44.
8. What is the Authority or Government of a Cathedrall Deane. pag. 45.
9. What is the Authority or Government of a Deane Rurall. pag. 48.
10. What is the Authority or Government of Archdeacons. pag. 51.
11. Whether we may ſafely take a new Oath, with an &c. pag. 55.
12. How farre the &c. is to be extended, when it is expreſly declared. pag. 56.
13. What Governours are included in the &c. whether the King, as Supreme, be altogether omitted, or implicitely contained in it. pag. 56.
14. Who, and what Governours they be. pag. 59.
15. Whether the eſtabliſhment of the Adjuncts, or the not neceſſary appendences of Biſhops be to be ſworne unto in this Oath. pag. 62.
16. What the Right is, by which the Government is meant to ſtand. pag. 65.
Of Archbiſhops and Patriarchs. pag. 71.
17. How farre this perpetuity propounded is to be applyed to the Diſcipline or Government of the Church. pag. 79.
18. Why we ſhould ſweare againſt conſent, to alter the Government of the Church. pag. 84.
19. Whether, if we ſhould thus ſweare, wee ſhould not be entangled with contradiction to our Governours, and to our ſelves. pag. 85.
20. Why in this part of the Oath mention is made rather of the See of Rome, then of the Church of Rome. pag. 92.
21. How we can ſweare to a plaine and common ſenſe and underſtanding of the Oath. pag. 94.
22. What willingneſſe is required in the taking of this Oath. pag 95.
23. How the Doubts of the Oath may bee reſolved and cleared. pag. 96.
24. Why the ſons of Noblemen are excepted and priviledged from taking this Oath, when they take the degrees of Maſters of Arts. pag. 103.
25. Concerning the difference, betwixt the command and commination of the Canon. pag. 106.
Our HOPES.
Our Reaſons, and Grounds of them are foure:
1. Reaſon grounded on Piety. pag. 112.
2. The ſecond on Charity. pag. 116.
3. On Equitie. pag. 120.
4. On Policie. pag. 122.
Concerning the Oath and penaltie thereof, impoſed by the ſixth Canon of the late Synod.
Doubts, and Hopes, with the Reaſons of them both, for the moſt part delivered into the hands, and wholly intended to be preſented to the prudent and religious conſideration of the reverend Father, John L. Biſhop of Cheſter, in the names of the Divines, Phyſicians, and Schoole-maſters of his Dioceſſe.
THe impoſition of an Oath (being regularly made to be a ſeale of faith to thoſe that impoſe it) doth reaſonably preſuppoſe as much ſatisfaction and confidence in him, that doth take it (touching the manner and meaning thereof) as by ſuch a ſacred atteſtation, may be ſet upon the mind of him that doth tender it. For, as the impoſer expecteth thereby to bee aſſured of the intention and integrity of the taker of the oath; ſo hee that taketh it (that hee may the better imprint that perſwaſion in him) ſhould firſt be aſſured himſelfe, that with a ſafe conſcience it may be taken. An hypocriticall oath (wee confeſſe) may beget a beliefe, but it is not lawfully begotten by any that doth not ſweare in ſincerity.
The due conſideration hereof hath taken up our moſt intentive thoughts, which in their iſſue have arrived at this reſolution of our reverend brethren the Profeſſours of Aberdene:aThe generall demands of the Miniſters and Profeſſors of Aberdene, p. 37. Wee ought (ſay they) to judge of thoſe things we are to ſweare to, with the ſtrict and inquiſitive judgement of verity, and to ponder duly, and to propound particularly and fully to others (eſpecially to thoſe who require our oath) to ſatisfie our conſciences there anent, and to anſwer all the Doubts and Reaſons, which make us unwilling and affraid to give our aſſent thereto.
And for this purpoſe eſpecially, wee are to make our addreſſe to your Lordſhip, by direction of our late*Conference at Hampton Court, p. 57. learned Soveraigne, and of the Fathers of our Church, in theſe words,bThe Preface to the book of Common Praier, pag 2. printed 1625. For as much as nothing can almoſt be ſo plainly ſet forth, but doubts may ariſe in the uſe and practice of the ſame, to appeaſe all ſuch diverſity (if any ſuch ariſe) and for Reſolution of all doubts concerning the maner how to underſtand, doe, and execute this booke (ſcil. the book of Common Praier) the parties that ſo doubt, or diverſly take any thing, ſhall reſort to the Biſhop of the Dioceſſe, who by his diſcretion ſhall take order for the quieting and appeaſing the ſame—and if the Biſhop himſelfe bee in doubt, hee may ſend for reſolution thereof to the Archbiſhop.
What is here expreſly preſcribed (touching the explanation and practice of that booke) we conceive doth vertually belong to our preſent caſe, concerning the Oath by the ſixth Canon lately impoſed: and thereof wee make bold to preſent to your Lordſhip theſe doubts enſuing; which if you pleaſe not to anſwer your ſelfe, wee humbly beſeech you to tranſmit them to an higher Judge, with your favourable teſtimony of us that move them, as of men (for a good part) well knowne to you to bee ſtudious of the publicke peace, and no way affected to faction or novelty, which you may charitably conceive of the reſt, whom you know not; ſince all of us agree (not onelyonly as brethren among our ſelves, but as ſonnes to the reverend Fathers of the Church) to keep both the Kings and the Churches high-way, in a graduall promotion of our ſcruples towards due ſatisfaction; which thus wee propound, beginning firſt with the generall doubts, and ſo proceeding to doubts in particular.