The healing attempt being a representation of the government of the Church of England, according to the judgment of her bishops unto the end of Q. Elizabeths reign, humbly tendred to the consideration of the thirty commissionated for a consult about ecclesiastical affairs in order to a comprehension, and published in hopes of such a moderation of episcopacy, that the power be kept within the line of our first reformers, and the exercise of it reduced to the model of Arch-Bishop Usher.

The Introduction.

THose, who are most sensible of the late Deliverance from the Dangers we were in of being overturn'd by the Papists, must be of an Opinion, that the many Divisions, amongst our selves, had too great a hand in bringing on us what was the true Ground of our Danger; that we can never be perfectly free from the Fears of a Return, so long as our Breaches remain Uncured; and, that, it's absolutely necessary, that every one do his Part to∣wards the Settlement of a lasting Ʋnion amongst Protestants, as the strongest Bulwark against Popery.

Thus much I count is very manifest to every Considering Mind; for, at this time, Protestants, of all Perswasions, seem to be desirous of it.

Although there are different Apprehensions about the Means of attaining it, as, whether by an Indulgence only; or, whether by Indulgence, and Comprehension, yet is there no doubt, that I know, about the Ʋnion it self; and seeing an Indulgence is already given, Extending Liberty of Consci∣ence even to the Quakers, and a Bill of Comprehension is at this time on the Anvil, I will humbly offer my thoughts con∣cerning it.

That such as are only for an Indulgence will be angry with this Essay, is no other than I expect. However, the Argu∣ments

for a well-Establish'd Comprehension influencing me more than the Displeasure of any Party of Men on Earth, I am resolv'd in God's strength, to do the uttermost in me lyeth towards the obtaining it.

It is a Concernment for the Protestant Faith, the Salvation of Souls, the Glory of God, that puts me on this work; all which have been Endangered through that want of Powerful Preachers in Parish Churches, which hath been the Effect of our Divisions.

I bless God, there are so many Faithful and Laborious Mi∣nisters in Publick Places, and yet, considering how few these are in comparison of the Churches wants, I cannot but la∣ment the Deplorable Condition of Thousands in this Na∣tion, who on this occasion are like Eternally to Perish, and pray the Lord of the Harvest to Open the Door, that more Labourers may enter in, even men of the most Tender Con∣sciences, who, no doubt. will be the most successful in their Ministry.

In Queen Elizabeths, and James the First's days, it so fell out, that a strict Injunction of Subscription Depriv'd the Church of the Labours of several Divines eminent for their Learning, Holiness of Life, and Conversation.

Consult the Complaint, Presented to the Right Honourable the Lords of Her Majesties Council, and their Lordships An∣swer: The Copy of a Letter, written by a Gentleman in the Countrey to a Londoner, touching the Answer to the Archbishop's Articles: The Lamentable Complaint of the Commonalty by way of Supplication to the High Court of Parliament for a Learned Ministry, and you'l see, that for Non-conformity some of the most Conscientious, and Painful Preachers were brought to the Barr, Marshalled with the worst Malefactors, Indicted, Arraigned, Condemned, New Christned with the odious name of Puritan, Depriv'd, to the Advancement of Popery, Debauchery, Atheism, and to the great Declension of the Power of Godliness.

A Disgracing those Ministers, that are sound in the Faith and Industrious in their Work, hath been one of the most successful Engines the Antichristian Party have used.

The first Ten years of Queen Elizabeths Reign, the Pa∣pists

kept to our Churches, and if Saunders, and some others, had not with an unexpected success nick-named some of the most Valiant Opposers of Popery, and Painful Preachers with the odious names of Puritan and Precisian, to the good liking of some amongst our selves, they might have still continued their Communion with us.

This is not the Observation of some Nonconformists only, but of the Wise and Judicious Sir Robert Cotton, who assures us, that the Reason of the Pa∣pists separating from our Church, and returning to their old Apostacy, was not the Bull of Pius Quintus on the Bishop of London's Door (as the Lord Chief Justice Coke apprehended) or the for∣bearing to hang up Priests, but in con∣junction with the Idleness and Insuffi∣ciency of many Teachers conspiring with the Peoples cold Zeal, Saunders his pinning the name of Puritan on some of the most Learned and couragious Pro∣testants, gave life to that Faction.

It was not (saith this Noble Baronet) the Bull of Pius Quintus on the Bishop of London's Doors, or the forbearing to hang up Priests, that have wrought this Apostacy, but the Idleness and Insufficiency of many Teachers, conspiring with the Peoples cold Zeal, that hath been the Contriver of this Web. Until the Eleventh year of Queen Elizabeths Reign, Recusants name was scarcely known, the Reason was, because the Zeal, begotten in the time of the Marian Persecution, was yet fresh in Memory, and the late Persecutors were so amazed with the sudden alteration of Religion, that they could not chuse but say, Digitus Dei est hîc. In those days there was an Emulation between the Clergy, and the Laity; and a strife arose whe∣ther of them should shew themselves most affectionate to the Gospel: Ministers haunted the Houses of worthiest Men, where Jesuits now build their Tabernacles, and poor Country Churches were frequented with the best of the Shire, the Word of God was precious, Prayer and

Preaching went hand in hand together, until Archbishop Grindal's Disgrace, and Hatfield's hard conceit of Prophecy∣ing, brought the flowing of those good Graces to a still water; the name of a Papist smelt rank even in their own Nostrils, and for pure shame to be accounted such they re∣forted duly both to our Churches, and Exercises; But when they saw their great Coryphaeus Saunders had slily pin∣ned the name of Puritan upon the sleeves of the Protestants that encountred them with most Courage, and perceiv'd that the Word was pleasing to some of our own side, they took heart at Grass, to set little by the Service of God, and Duty to their Soveraign—most Men grew to be frozen in Zeal and benummed, that whosoever (as the worthy Lord Keeper Bacon observ'd in those days) pretended a little spark of Earnestness, he seemed no less than red fire hot, in comparison of the other. And as some fare the worse for an ill Neighbour's sake dwelling beside them; so did it betide the Protestants, who, seeking to curb the the Papists, or reprove an idle Drone, were incontinently branded with the Ignominious note of Precisian, all which wind brought plenty of water to the Pope's Mill, and there will most Men grind where they see Appearance to be well served: So far Sir Robert Cotton.

And as the disgracing Godly-Ministers by fastning the names of Puritan, Precisian, &c. on 'em, and the laying 'em aside from the publick exercise of their Ministry, did in the Reign of Elizabeth give life to Popery, so 'twill still, and all those Protestant Ministers that are now denied en∣trance into the Parish Churches will be in disgrace amongst the People and their Ministry not half so successful amongst those that mostly need it.

The wider therefore the Church Doors are made, the greater will be the number of Pious and Painful Preachers, the greater the Advantage on Truth's side, and the greater Dis∣couragement on the other hand.

But that the Door may be made wide enough to answer the desired End, seeing our Governours are inclin'd to lay aside the strict use of Ceremonies, with some more offensive Impositions there is this one thing, to wit, The Ordering, and

Declaring the Government of the Church to be now no other, but what it was held, and intended to be by the first Reformers, will, as I humbly apprehend, be the most Effectual Expedient of any else in the World.

Some of our Clergy have Notions about Church-Govern∣ment, very Dissonant from what the Gentry, and Parliament Men have, and the first Reformers heretofore had, and it's feared by some thinking Persons, that the Laws, yet in Being, have Established a Government in the Church, very different from what the Legislators, I mean, the King, the Temporal Lords and Commons generally designed.

The Government settled in the Church by the first Re∣formers, and still supposed by our Gentry to continue, is consistent enough with the Church state of all other Pro∣testants; but that, which is really Established by Law is Inconsistent with, and Destructive of it, driving many Learned Godly Protestant Divines from that Conformity which is at this time made necessary to the Exercise of their Ministry in Parish Churches.

To clear thus much is (methinks) one of the most ne∣cessary things to be attempted, and the very next step to be taken towards the setling a Comprehension, which will be of validity with Judicious Men.

What were the Sentiments of the First-Reformers about Episcopacy, and Church Government, during Queen Elizabeths Reign, I will with the greatest impartiality declare, as near as possibly I can in their own words, and add some Argu∣ments to shew, that the most effectual way to settle such a Comprehension as will best secure the Protestant Religion, is the Forming and Framing the Government of the Church, according to the Sentiments of our First-Reformers; which in the Learned Archbishop Ʋsher's Reduction of Episcopacy, I take to be very happily copied out unto us.

I will begin with those who liv'd in Henry the Eighth's days; for then began the Reformation.

Notes

• The N. C. in their Com∣plaint to the Queens Coun∣cil humbly advertise their Lordships, that the Adver∣sary very cunningly new Christned them with an odi∣ous name of Puritan, that whilst they were occupied in the Defence of their Inno∣cency the Adversary might have greater freedom to go about their hateful Trea∣chery. Part of the Regist. pag. 129.
• Posth. Cotton. p. 147, 148.