The Kings Authority in Dispensing with Ecclesiastical Laws, Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Of former Examples for Indulgence.
SECT. 1.
HIS Majeſty's Gracious Declaration contains not a greater Indulgence; tho it be extended to a greater number of Perſons, than what was granted by his Majeſty's Predeceſſors (which before we have mentioned) to the French and Dutch Congregations.
1. There was a Uniform Order in Church-Government and Divine Service, to which not only his Majeſty's Subjects, but all the Inhabitants of his Majeſty's Dominions were to conform, and no Man to abſent himſelf: And not to hear or be preſent at any other Forms of Prayers, and adminiſtration of Sacraments, than what is in that Book preſcribed, under Penalties of Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures, Fines to the King, to the Poor of the Pariſh, &c.
2. The Diſpenſation and Exemption was by the ſole Authority of the Soveraign, and ſtands thus; A Liberty to ſeparate and abſent themſelves from the Pariſh Aſſemblies, where they had their Habitations, and to gather themſelves into diſtinct particular Churches or Congregations, to chuſe and ordain their own Miniſters; alſo to eſtabliſh ſuch a Church-Government, or Diſcipline, and Form of Worſhip and Divine Service, as they amongſt themſelves judged to be moſt conformable to the Scriptures, eſtabliſhed by his Majeſty's Patent as a Corporation within it ſelf, and independent upon any Superior Juriſdiction Spiritual but his Majeſty's: And all Biſhops, Mayors, Sheriffs, &c. to protect them, and ſuffer them quietly to enjoy and exerciſe theſe Liberties, with a Non Obſtante, &c.
3. The Grounds and Conſiderations upon which ſuch Liberty and Exemptions were granted, were theſe:
1. The Care of Religion that ought to be in all Chriſtian Princes, and to be ſhewed forth eſpecially in this, the Relief and Incouragement of thoſe that are of the ſame Religion, in their Sufferings for Conſcience of their Duty towards God.
2. Perſons of the ſame Religion with us, and Sacraments adminiſtred by them, according to the Word of God, and practice of the Apoſtles, ought to be tolerated in their way of worſhipping God, though they differ from us in Ceremonies and Diſcipline.
3. The Kindneſs we found in other Proteſtant Countries, when we were forced to leave our Native Soil for preſerving our Conſciences.
4. There were alſo great Advantages in Matter of Trade, for their skill and induſtry, to the great benefit of this Nation, and prejudice of their own. L. Herbert's Hiſtory of Hen. 8.
The Premiſes conſidered, we further ſay;
1. His Majeſty's Proteſtant Subjects here ſpoken for, to whom this Gracious Indulgence is extended, are of the ſame Religion with others of his Subjects, and the preſent Eſtabliſhment, in reſpect to Matters of Faith and Worſhip in external Forms; alſo they are not more differing from the Church of England, than thoſe Congregations to whom the ſame Indulgence hath been granted by his Majeſty and Predeceſſors, and is ſtill enjoyed.
And when thoſe Strangers had removed their Families, and come among us, had not this gracious Indulgence been granted and continued to them, their Conſciences would have engaged them to depart hence, and ſeek Habitations where the like Liberty might be obtained. And this alſo is our Condition; many hundreds of his Majeſty's Subjects, with their Families, have left their Native Country, and diſpoſe themſelves into other parts of the World upon the ſame account.
2. If it be ſo grateful a Charity, and deſerving ſo ſolemn an Acknowledgment, the kind Entertainment our Subjects have found in other Parts, when not ſuffered to live in their own Land, upon the account of Conſcience, doubtleſs it is a greater Charity to be ſo indulgent to our own, as not by Severity to enforce them for Conſcience to become Strangers in other Countries.
3. And for Matter of Trade, Advantages have been great by encouraging thoſe Strangers; but the Diſadvantages in the ſame kind far greater by the late Severity, by which our own Subjects have been ſo greatly diſcouraged; not only thoſe Hands hang down, that were moſt induſtrious in holding up the ſtaple Trade of the Nation; but by reaſon of Artificers removing into other Parts for their Conſciences, the Myſteries of our chiefeſt Manufactures have been made common, and others therein become equal, if not exceed us: A great ſenſe hereof his Majeſty hath expreſſed in his Gracious Declaration.
Object. If it be ſaid, Theſe be Strangers, Objects of Charity, being driven out of their own Country, underſtood not our Language, they were Educated and accuſtomed to other Forms of Diſcipline and Worſhip.
Anſw. 1. It's true, the firſt Grant of this Liberty was to ſuch; but in proceſs of Time, theſe Churches were increaſed and ſpread throughout the Nation; and this Grant being confirmed by Q. Eliz. K. James, and K. Charles I. to their Children, Engliſh born, and born Subjects of this Realm, they had the ſame Liberty granted them as formerly was mentioned; inſomuch, as the Perſons now enjoying this Liberty, are his Majeſty's Native Subjects.
Anſw. 2. The greateſt number of his Majeſty's Proteſtant Subjects, that have benefit by his Gracious Indulgence ſince they have had underſtanding, have been trained up in, and been acquainted with no other Forms of Diſcipline and Worſhip, than what was found amongſt us at his Majeſty's return, the other, formerly eſtabliſh'd, having been for many Years totally diſuſed. King James himſelf being educated under other Forms, when he came into England, ſcrupled many Things in our Liturgy and Rubricks. Conference at Hampt. Court. Finally;
It is now more than a Century of Years, wherein theſe Churches have enjoyed this Indulgence; there hath been much peace and quiet among themſelves, following their Callings without diſturbance; neighbourly and friendly Converſe with thoſe that are of different Perſwaſions in Matters of Religion.
No Diſputings or Reaſonings about it, no Judging or Deſpiſing; experience hereof we have, beyond denial, in London, Norwich, Canterbury, &c. where diverſity of practices, in the Forms of Diſcipline and Worſhip, are conſtantly held forth in the view of all Men for ſo many Years. And why ſhould not we expect the like peaceable and inoffenſive Converſe mutually between thoſe that now enjoy the like Liberty, from this Gracious Declaration, and others of our Brethren, whoſe practice is otherwiſe.
The Lord, who hath put this into the Heart of the King, may put it alſo into the Hearts of our Senators to be like-minded with him. And as his Majeſty hath condeſcended to them in their way for the ſpace of theſe twelve Years, (as he tells them); ſo it is to be deſired that they (if it may ſtand with their great Prudence) would concur with him but half ſo long, in the way himſelf hath choſen, for the Peace and Union of his Subjects in Matters of Religious Worſhip; or at leaſt until there be the like evident Experiments of the Ineffectualneſs of it.
FINIS.
The ſame Author hath publiſhed a Book, intituled, The Lawfulneſs of the Oath of Supremacy, and the Power of the King in Eccleſiaſtical Affairs, &c. With a Vindication of Diſſenters, proving, That their particular Congregations are not inconſiſtent with the King's Supremacy. With ſome account of the Nature, Conſtitution, and Power of the Eccleſiaſtical Courts. Sold by Jo. Robinſon, and Sam. Crouch.
End of the text · Philip Nye, The Kings Authority in Dispensing with Ecclesiastical Laws (1687)