A Just Defense of Hearing the Sermons, Chapter 5 · Section 2 – Section 3
Sect. 2. Ministers submitting to Canons is unjustly censured.
'Tis the minor (or second Proposition) that may be under suspition among some, viz. That the present Ministers of England (the very best of them) do own, submit, and subscribe to Orders and Ordinances that are not only not of Christs revealing, but contrary thereunto: in which two things are incumbent on us to prove.
1. That the present Ministers of England do own, submit, and subscribe to Orders and Ordinances that are not of Christs revealing.
This being a charge, as to matter of fact, the production of a few particulars, that lie near at hand, for its confirmation, will give it a speedy dispatch.
1. They own, submit, and subscribe to the Orders and Offices of Arch-bishops, Bishops, Deans, Arch-deacons, with many others appertaining unto this Hierarchie, as Orders needful and necessary in the Church of Christ, and promise subjection and obedience unto them, Eccles. Canons, Can. 7.
2. They own, and submit (Can. 4.) to a Liturgy or prescript Form of Worship devised by men, and imposed solely by their authority, to which they tie themselves, neither diminishing nor adding any thing in the matter or form thereof.
3. They own, subscribe, and engage to conform to all the Orders, Rites▪ and Ceremonies prescribed in the said Book of Common Prayer (Can. 36.) such as bowing at the Name of Jesus, using the Cross in Baptism, kneeling at the Lords Supper, (which though we do not, some would say, smells very strong of the Popish Leven, and is but one Peg beneath the adoration of their Breaden god) wearing the Surplice, &c
4. They own, that the Office of a Deacon is the first step or degree to the Ministry (Can. 32, 36) to which they are t… submit and subscribe, before they are made Priests.
5. That no person be admitted to expound the Scriptures, though indeed worthy of the Cure of Souls (as they speak Can. 49.) without license from the Bishop thereunto.
6. That there be some lawful Ministers which are no Preachers (Can. 49, 57.)
7. That these unpreaching Ministers (Can. 57.) may lawfully administer the Ordinances of Baptism and the Lords Supper.
8. That persons refusing to have their children baptized by such dumb Ministers, or receive the Communion from them, worthily deserve Excommunication if they shall persist herein, (Can. 57.)
9. That Confirmation by Diocesan Bishops is an Ordinance of God, (Can. 60.)
10. That it appertains to the Office of Ministers to marry, (Can. 62.)
11. That the Bishop of the Diocess may lawfully, for a while, suspend a Minister from his Ministry, for refusing to bury the Dead, (Can. 68.)
12. That 'tis not lawful for Ministers to preach or administer the Communion in private houses, except in times of necessity, (Can. 71.)
13. That no Minister may lawfully appoint or keep any solemn private Fasts, or be wittingly present at any of them; nor hold any Meetings for Sermons in Market-Towns, or other places; which if he do, and persevere therein, he may lawfully be deposed from his Ministry, (Can. 72.)
14. That Ministers ought to be distinguished by their Vestments and Apparel, as Gowns, Hoods, Tippers, Square Caps; and in their journeys Cloaks with sleeves, (called Priests Cloaks, Can 74.) with many more that might be added, to which the Ministers of England are to subscribe and own, as agreeable to the Word of God, before their admission into the Ministry, according to the 38. Canon Ecclesiastical ▪
Are any of these Ordinances and Constitutions of the appointment of Christ? When or where were they instituted by by him? That these are Posts set by the Lords Posts, and Thresholds by his Thresholds (of which the Lord complains, Ezek. 43.8.) who sees not? That the present Ministers of England do conform and subscribe hereunto, cannot be denied; and thence an owning, subscribing, and submitting to Orders and Constitutions that are not of Christs appointment, is evidently evinced.
Answ. Though I undertake not to justifie all that is in the Ecclesiastical Canons of the Synod at London, Anno 1603. nor need the present Ministers, nor perhaps will they or the Bishops themselves take it upon them; yet that it may appear how falsly and injuriously this Authour hath dealt with them, and how superficially he hath handled this Argument; I say,
I. That he hath misrecited the Canons in all or most of the 14 particulars alledged.
1. In the 7. Canon it is not said, That the Orders and Offices of Arch bishops, Bishops, Deans, Arch-deacons, with many others appertaining unto this Hierarchy, are Orders needful and necessary in the Church of Christ; nor is it required therein, that the Ministers promise subjection and obedience unto them. But it is censured as a wicked errour to affirm, that the Government of the Church of England under his Majesty by Arch-bishops, Bishops, Deans, Arch…deacons, and the rest that bear Office in the same is Antichristian or repugnant to the Word of God; and it is required of such as have thus affirmed that before their absolution from Excommunication they repent, and publikely revoke it.
2. In the 4. Canon, Ministers are not required to own and submit to a Liturgy, or prescript Form of Worship devised by men, and imposed solely by their authority, nor to tie themselves to it, neither diminishing nor adding in the matter or Form thereof: But it is judged a wicked errour to affirm, that the Form of Gods Worship in the Church of England, established by the Law, and contained in the Book of Common Prayer and Administration of Sacraments, is a corrupt, superstitious or unlawful Worship of God, or containeth any thing in it that is repugnant to the Scriptures; and it is required of such as have thus affirmed, that before their absolution from Excommunication they repent, and publickly revoke it.
3. In the third particular are sundry things liable to Exception.
1. It is said that in the Book of Common Prayer, Bowing at the Name of Jesus is prescribed; which I find not there, but in the 18 Canon ▪
2. It is not well, that when this Author does not, yet he tells us some would say, that kneeling at the Lords Supper smells very strong of the Popish Leven, and is but one peg beneath the adoration of their Breaden God; when he might know, that not only the 28. Article of the Church of England, and the Homily of the Peril of Idolatry, and the Apology of the Church of England, are fully against it, but also the Compilers of the Common Prayer Book, suffered Martyrdom for their refusal and abhorrency of such adoration; and in the Rubrick of the Common Prayer Book, as it is now established, after the Communion there is a clear and sufficient Declaration against it; which should, if this Author had dealt candidly, have been told ignorant people, who are drawn into a separation upon this suggestion.
3. It is true, that in the 36 Canon subscription is required to this Article, That the Book of Common Prayer, and of Ordering of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, containeth in it nothing contrary to the Word of God, and that it may be lawfully used, and that he himself will use the form in the said Book prescribed in publike Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, and none other; which I take not to be the same with owning, submitting, and engaging to conform to all the Orders, Rites, and Ceremonies prescribed therein.
4. It is said Canon. 32. The Office of a Deacon, is a step or degree to the Ministry, according to the judgment of the ancient Fathers, and the practice of the Primitive Church, and the subscription is required in the 36. Canon to the Book of Ordination, as I have set it down here; but they are not required by that subscription to own this assertion, That the Office of a Deacon is the first step or degree to the Ministry.
5. In the 49. Canon it is said, No person whatsoever, not examined and approved by the Bishop of the Diocess, or not licensed for a sufficient or convenient Preacher, shall take upon him to expound in his own Cure, or elsewhere, any Scripture, or matter, or doctrine: But they do not speak [though judged worthy of the Cure of Souls] they may have a Cure of Souls by indirect means, or by reason of the imperfection of the Law to debarr them, or by reason of the want of sufficient Preachers, as was in the beginning of the Reformation, or for want of maintenance for able Preachers to undertake it, who are not judged worthy of the Cure of Souls.
6, and 7. Neither of the Positions are Canons 49, 57. though their Ministration of Baptism and the Lords Supper is made sufficient.
And the 8. particular is in Canon 57.
9. Can. 60. It is not said, That Confirmation by Diocesan Bishops, is an Ordinance of God, but that it hath been a solemn ancient and laudable custom in the Church of God, continued from the Apostles times, that all Bishops should lay their hands upon children baptized, and instructed in the Catechism of Christian Religion, praying over them, and blessing them; which we commonly call Confirmation; and that this holy action hath been accustomed in the Church in former ages.
10. It is not said Canon 62. that it appertains to the Office of Ministers to marry; but they are only regulated therein.
11. The Bishop is to suspend according to Can. 68. Ministers refusing to bury; but the lawfulness of it is not there asserted, though presupposed.
12, 13. Ministers preaching, administring the Communion in private houses, except in times of necessity; some appointing of Fasts, holding Meetings for Sermons, are forbidden, Can. 71, 72. but it is not there determined that they are forbidden, because of the unlawfulness; Inexpediency, or inconvenience may occasion a prohibition of that which is not unlawful.
14. It is not asserted Can. 74. that Ministers ought to be distinguished by the habit there prescribed, but that ancient Churches thought it fit.
II. Were all true which this Author hath alledged in these 14 particulars, yet it is not true which he saith, that either in the 36, or 38. Canon Ecclesiastical Ministers are to subscribe to, and own all these Orders and Ordinances, as agreeable to the Word of God.
III. To the Questions, Are any of these Ordinances and Constitutions of the appointment of Christ? when or where were they instituted by him? I might answer by cross Interrogations, Are the Church-Covenant, gathering of Churches in the Congregational way, by severing choice Members from the rest, requiring an account of the manner of their Conversion, making Election by the common Suffrage of the Members essential to a Minister, imposition of hands, tied to the Eldership of that Church; maintenance by Collection every Lords day, Excommunication by the major part of the Members, with many more of the Orders of Congregational Churches, Ordinances, and Constitutions of the appointment of Christ? when and where were they instituted by him? It is not I presume altogether forgotten, that such questions have been propounded to them by Mr. Ball, Apollonius, and many others, and their answers judged insufficient. And if they cannot shew Christs appointment for their Orders, which they require, why do they charge so deeply the Ministers of England as denying and opposing the Prophetical and Kingly Office of Christ, for submitting to Orders, which as well may be said to be of Christs appointment as their own; or at least when they themselves may by the same reason be concluded to deny or oppose the same Offices? But for a direct answer, I grant they are not Ordinances and Constitutions of the appointment of Christ, and yet judge they may be submitted and conformed to, and required of Governours, while they are regulated by Laws of Ecclesiastical Policy, and do think that Mr. Hooker in his three first Books of Ecclesiastical Policy hath evinced thus much.
IV. To what is said, that these are Posts set by the Lords Posts, and thresholds by his thresholds (of which the Lord complains, Ezek. 43.8.) who sees not? I answer, Diodate his Annot. on Ezek. 43.8. is this, Their threshold] that is to say, they set their Idols, and perform their service in my Temple, in places and Chappels near to the places which are consecrated to my service. See 2 King. 16, 14. and 21.7. Jer. 11.15. Ezek. 8.3. and 23.39. and 44.7. All the Interpreters I meet with, and the words themselves shew, that the thing complained of, was another thing than making Orders and Constitutions without revelation and appointment of Christ for Ecclesiastical Rule (such as those Constitutions in the Canons of the Church of England, are, which in Christian Churches have in like sort been made in the best times; yea, and some in the Jewish Church without reproof;) to wit, Idolatrous practices by their Kings (such as Ahaz and Manasseh were) called Whoredoms, v. 7, 9. and abominations which they committed and defiled Gods holy Name; and for which be consumed them in his anger; and therefore tell this Author, that I see not those Ordinances he mentions to be Posts set by the Lords Posts, and Thresholds by his Thresholds, complained of Ezek 43.8. but rather think him in a dream or phrensie that saith he sees it. Yea further, if it were granted that the complaint were against their Act, as adding inventions of men to Gods Ordinances, yet this cannot be understood but of such as are made Gods Worship, or wherein that which God hath appointed is altered or corrupted. And therefore I conclude, that it is no small abuse of this Text, which occurrs in sundry printed Sermons and other Books to make every Order of men about Gods Worship, or the Governing of the Church to be thus branded, and out of all infer, that what he saith he hath evidently evinced, is but a vain brag of this Author. Let's proceed in viewing what follows.
Sect. 3. Making Canons in things undetermined, and subjection to them, agrees with Scripture.
Object. If it be said, That though these Canons, and Constitutions owned by the Ministers of England, be not foreign to be found in the Scripture of the Institution of Christ in so many words, yet by consequence they may rationally be deduced from thence: As where it is commanded, That all things be done decently and in order, 1 Cor. 14.40. which 'tis the duty of the Church to make Rules and Constitutions about, which when it hath done, it is the duty of every son thereof, to own, or subject to, without questioning its authority.
Answ. Though I assert not that the Canons and Constitutions Ecclesiastical of the Church of England, may be rationally deduced from Scripture; and therefore make not the Objection as here it is framed, yet I assert that Canons, and Constitutions Ecclesiastical concerning Divine Worship, and Church Covernment may be made by Governours, if they be not opposite to such Rules as are in Scripture about Gods Worship, and the rule of his Church; and be indeed subservient and Conducible to the well-ordering of such Worship and Rule: and that the Members of the Churches under their Governours should submit to, and yield obedience to them, as to other humane Laws, not conceiving the things commanded obligatory of their Consciences, as things appointed by Divine Authority, so as that it should be sin to disobey or omit them in any case: But by virtue of the general Precept of Obedience, Heb. 13.17. and in Order to the ends of their rule without any Contempt of their Authority, or refractariness they should be either actively or passively obeyed, though the things themselves be only indifferent, and not of themselves, or directly binding the Conscience.
And this I conceive to be proved, 1. From Reason, because without such regulations, Church Societies can no more be continued by reason of the difference of minds and capacities than other Societies, which is proved true by experience.
2. From the practise of all sorts of Churches, who have in process of time found it necessary to have Synods to this end.
3. From the course God hath taken with the Christian Churches, to whom he hath delivered the Doctrine of Faith, and necessaries of Worship in the Scriptures, but hath left many accidentals about Worship and Church Government undetermined, & therefore left them partly to each ones own light in things concerning himself only, partly to the Rulers Domestical, National, Civil, Ecclesiastical in things that concern the several Communities.
4. From the Texts 1 Cor. 14.40. Heb. 13.17. and other places. For in that after all his discourse about ordering the use of their gifts, he ends with this general rule; he thereby shews, that more things were to be ordered by that rule, either by each one himself, or by their Governours, as he himself did resolve, 1 Cor. 11.34. and appointed Titus and Timothy in the Epistles to them, and enjoyned obedience, Heb. 13.17. Now let us consider what is answered hereto. He saith: