A sermon of conforming and reforming made to the convocation at S. Pauls Church in London / by John Colet upon Rom. xii, 2 ... writ an hundred and fiftie years since : to which is now added an appendix of Bp. Andrews and Dr. Hammonds solemn petition and advice to the convocation : with his directions to the laity how to prolong their happiness.

To the Reader.

COnforming and Reforming is now the talk of every man in this Kingdome. Some are very zealous for one without the o∣ther; our D^r. is for both conjoyntly, but yet in due order. He would have us first obey the laws of Christ (our great Law-maker) and then the Canons of the Church: and not with∣out reason. For if the Church be the body of Christ, I would fain learn from * 1.1 our Non-conformists, why we may not give as much reverence & obe∣dience to the laws of the Church, as we must to the laws of each paltry Corporation The contrary position hath occasioned the great increase of fanaticks in this Realm, as I have proved in my discourse of the rise & growth of Quakerisme, which will shortly be printed.

If you desire to be informed concerning the life of this excellent person D^r. Colet, you may read it described at large by Erasmus in his Epistles, à pag. 702. ad 712. (to which add S^r. Thom. Mores letter printed in Sta∣pleton, tom. 4. p. 992.) And if you would know what other works this Authour writ, take the catalogue of them as it is set down by Pitseus, pag. 692.

• 1 In Proverbia Solomanis.
• 2 —Evangelium Matthaei.
• 3 —Epistolas Pauli.
• 4 —Precationem Dominicam.
• 5 —Symbolum Fidei.
• 6 Breviloq. dictorum Christi.
• 7 De reformidatione Christi.
• 8 Conciones ordinariae, &
• 9 —extraordinariae.
• 10 Vita hominis Christiani.
• 11 In cleri Convocatione.
• 12 Excerptiones Doctorum.
• 13 Ortolanus.
• 14 Epistolae ad Erasmum.
• 15 De moribus 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• 16 De institutione puerili.
• ...17 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ad Tailerum.
• 18 Ad argumenta Erasmi.

Of w^ch 18 books I have seen none yet, except this which I here publish, and his Commenta∣rie on the first Epistle to the Corinthians, (which is in Emmanuel Colledge-library) unless I may reckon that small tract for one of them, which is prefixt to his private Devo∣tions; printed for I. Benson. If any man know where any other of his pieces be, he is en∣treated to give notice thereof, either to me, or to M. Crumleholme Master of S. Pauls school in London or to M. Morden Bookseller in Cambridge; that they may be publish'd. You see this Sermon is one of Pits's number: and 'tis cited by Holland in his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 An∣glica, p. 146. And he that compares the 4^th page of it, with what M^r. Cambden saith of D^r. Colet (Remains, p. 272) will conclude, that he there means this discourse. The notes are added by me, partly to satisfie them who will ask what Canons there be to that pur∣pose,

and partly out of my gratitude to D. Co∣let, unto whose bounty on S. Pauls School, I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 most of my education.

If any ask why I cite Theodorus and the Canon law thrice, Linwood and Spelmans Councels often: I answer, Because I suppose our D^r. meant them. And again those that I cite seem to be confirmed by an Act of Parl. 25. Hen. 8 c. 19. entituled, An Act concerning submission of the Clergy: wherein it is de∣creed thus, Provided also, that such Ca∣nons, Constitutions, &c. being already made, which be not repugnant to the laws, statutes and customes of this Realm, nor to the damage or hurt of the Kings preroga∣tive, shall now still be used and executed, as they were before the making of this Act, &c. which Act is revived, 1. Eliz. c. 1.

I have lately seen two small pieces in 8^o, on the same subject with this Sermon of D^r. Colet (which I wish were reprinted together) viz. Stimulus pastorum per Bartholome∣um à Martyribus, Hispaniae Primatem, Pa∣risiis, 1586. &, Oratio Gentiani Herveti de reparanda Ecclesiasticorum disciplina, Brixiae, 1563. From which and the like con∣siderations, it is manifest enough to me, that

the want of putting old Canons in execution, is the chief cause of almost all the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and heresies, which now rend asunder the Christian world.

If any object, that these times will not bear the publishing of such books here; I answer, that I hope better things, that our Church∣men are not so bad as their enemies do 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them; and that I have no other designe, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 publishing this paper, but to stop them (〈◊〉〈◊〉 much as lies in me) from being so; knowing that prosperity is too apt to make even 〈◊〉〈◊〉 men forget themselves, and stand in need of a friendly remembrancer. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Esth. xvi. 2, 3. But for my part, if ever I hear this objection (which I hope I shal not) I shall think it hugely strange, that we who call our selves REFORMED, (in contradistinction to the Papists) should 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be able to brook what they printed (cum pri∣vilegio) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Reformation; and that from this very objection it will be most clear, either that they are not so bad, or that we are not so good as we pretend; and considering our afflictions, may well afford to be. That Almighty God of his infinite mercy may mend us all, is the daily prayer of

Chr. Coll. Jun. 11. 1661.

Tho. Smith.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. xii. 5. 1 Cor. x. 17. and xii. 13. Eph. ii. 16. iv. 4. Col. iii. 15.