fessions and desires of all for the advancement of piety and true godliness are the same; their professions of zeal for the peace of the church the same; of affection and duty to us the same: they all approve episcopacy; they all approve a set form of liturgy; and they all disprove 5 and dislike the sin of sacrilege, and the alienation of the revenue of the church; and if upon these excellent foundations, in submission to which there is such a harmony of affections, any superstructures should be raised, to the shaking those foundations, and to the contracting and 10 lessening the blessed gift of charity, which is a vital part of Christian religion, we shall think ourself very unfortunate, and even suspect that we are defective in that administration of government with which God hath entrusted us.

15

We need not profess the high affection and esteem we have for the church of England as it is established by law, the reverence to which hath supported us with God's blessing against many temptations; nor do we think that reverence in the least degree diminished by 20 our condescensions, not peremptorily to insist on some particulars of ceremony, which however introduced by the piety, and devotion, and order of former times, may not be so agreeable to the present, but may even lessen that piety and devotion, for the improvement whereof 25 they might happily be first introduced, and consequently may well be dispensed with; and we hope this charitable compliance of ours will dispose the minds of all men to a cheerful submission to that authority, the preservation

bthe professions and desires of all] "The king treated them [the non- 30 conformist ministers] very respectfully, and renewed his professions of his earnest desires of an accommodation of the differences; told them he was well pleased that they were for a liturgy, and yielded to the essence of episcopacy; and promised them that the places where the old incumbents were dead, should according to their desire be confirmed 35 to the possessors." Baxter's Life, p. 143.

whereof is so necessary for the unity and peace of the church; and that they will acknowledge the support of the episcopal authority to be the best support of religion, by being the best means to contain the minds of men 5 within the rules of government: and they who would restrain the exercise of that holy function within the rules, which were observed in the primitive times, must remember and consider that the ecclesiastical power being in those blessed times always subordinate and subject to 10 the civil, it was likewise proportioned to such an extent of jurisdiction, as was most agreeable to that; and as the sanctity, and simplicity, and resignation of that age did then refer many things to the bishops, which the policy of succeeding ages would not admit, at least did other15 wise provide for, so it can be no reproach to primitive episcopacy, if where there have been great alterations in the civil government, from what was then, there have been likewise some difference and alteration in the ecclesiastical, the essence and foundation being still preserved. 20 And upon this ground, without taking upon us to censure the government of the church in other countries, where the government of the state is different from what it is here, or enlarging ourself upon the reasons why, whilst there was an imagination of erecting a demo25 cratical government here in the state, they should be willing to continue an aristocratical government in the church, it shall suffice to say, that since by the wonderful blessing of God the hearts of this whole nation are returned to an obedience to monarchic government in the 30 state, it must be very reasonable to support that government in the church, which is established by law, and with which the monarchy hath flourished through so many ages, and which is in truth as ancient in this island as the Christian monarchy thereof, and which hath always in 35 some respects or degrees been enlarged or restrained, as hath been thought most conducing to the peace and

happiness of the kingdom; and therefore we have not the least doubt, but that the present bishops will think the present concessions now made by us to allay the present distempers, very just and reasonable, and will very cheerfully conform themselves thereunto.

5

I. We do in the first place declare our purpose and resolution is and shall be to promote the power of godliness, to encourage the exercises of religion both public and private, and to take care that the Lord's day be applied to holy exercises, without unnecessary divertise- 10 ments; and that insufficient, negligent, and scandalous ministers be not permitted in the church; and that as the present bishops are known to be men of great and exemplary piety in their lives, which they have manifested in their notorious and unexampled sufferings during 15 these late distempers, and of great and known sufficiency of learning, so we shall take special care, by the assistance of God, to prefer no men to that office and charge, but men of learning, virtue, and piety, who may be themselves the best examples to those who are to be governed by them; and we shall expect and provide the best we can, that the bishops be frequent preachers, and that they do very often preach themselves in some church of their diocese, except they be hindered by sickness, or other bodily infirmities, or some other justifiable occasion, 25 which shall not be thought justifiable if it be frequent. II. Because the dioceses, especially some of them, are

20

c II. Because the dioceses] "About discipline," says Baxter, 66 we designedly adhered to bishop Usher's model, without a word of alteration; that so they might have less to say against our offers as being our own; 30 and that the world might see that it was episcopacy itself which they refused; and that we pleaded not at all with them for presbytery, unless a moderate episcopacy be presbytery." Kennet, Reg. p. 195. The point at issue however was of great importance with reference to a controversy which had been much agitated in the church. Archbi- 35 shop Usher's plan of a diocesan synod was, that it should consist of the

thought to be of too large extent, we will appoint such a number of suffragan bishops in every diocese, as shall be sufficient for the due performance of their work.

III. No bishop shall ordain or exercise any part of 5 jurisdiction which appertains to the censures of the church, without the advice and assistance of the presbyters; and no chancellors, commissaries, or officials, as such, shall exercise any act of spiritual jurisdiction in these cases, viz. excommunication, absolution, or wherein 10 any of the ministry are concerned, with reference to their pastoral charge. However our intent and meaning is to uphold and maintain the profession of the civil law so far and in such matters, as it hath been of use and practice within our kingdoms and dominions; albeit as to excom15 munication, our will and pleasure is, that no chancellor, commissary, or official shall decree any sentence of excommunication, or absolution, or be judges in those things wherein any of the ministry are concerned, as is aforesaid. Nor shall the archdeacon exercise any juris20 diction without the advice and assistance of six ministers of his archdeaconry, whereof three to be nominated by the bishop, and three by the election of the major part of the presbyters within the archdeaconry.

IV. To the end that the deans and chapters may be the 25 better fitted to afford counsel and assistance to the

suffragans and the rest of the incumbents, or a certain portion of them, "with whose consent, or the major part of them, all things might be concluded by the bishop or superintendant (call him whether you will), or in his absence by one of the suffragans whom he shall depute to be 30 moderator in his stead." This model could not be adopted by any persons who held the doctrine respecting episcopacy which had been first brought into notice by Dr. Bancroft (see No. CII.) and had more recently been enforced by Dr. Joseph Hall, then bishop of Exeter, in his" Episcopacie by divine right asserted;" who maintained that "the 35 imparity of government and episcopal jurisdiction was founded by Christ and erected by his apostles, both by their practice and recommendation." (p. 91. edit. 4to. 1640.)

bishops, both in ordination and the other offices mentioned before, we will take care that those preferments be given to the most learned and pious presbyters of the diocese; and moreover, that an equal number (to those of the chapter) of the most learned, pious, and discreet 5 presbyters of the same diocese, annually chosen by the major vote of all the presbyters of that diocese present at such elections, shall be always advising and assisting, together with those of the chapter, in all ordinations, and in every part of jurisdiction, which appertains to the cen- 10 sures of the church, and at all other solemn and important actions in the exercise of the ecclesiastical jurisdiction, wherein any of the ministry are concerned: provided that at all such meetings the number of the ministers so elected, and those present of the chapter 15 shall be equal, and not exceed one the other, and that to make the numbers equal, the juniors of the exceeding number be withdrawn, that the most ancient may take place; nor shall any suffragan bishop ordain or exercise the forementioned offices and acts of spiritual jurisdic- 20 tion, but with the advice and assistance of a sufficient number of the most judicious and pious presbyters annually chosen as aforesaid within his precincts: and our will is that the great work of ordination be constantly and solemnly performed by the bishop and his aforesaid 25 presbytery, at the four set times and seasons appointed by the church for that purpose.

V. We will take care that confirmation be rightly and solemnly performed, by the information and with the consent of the minister of the place; who shall admit 30 none to the Lord's supper, till they have made a credible profession of their faith, and promised obedience to the will of God, according as is expressed in the considerations of the rubric before the catechism; and that all possible diligence be used for the instruction and reforma- 35 tion of scandalous offenders, whom the minister shall not