Defensive doubts, hopes, and reasons, for refusall of the oath, imposed by the sixth canon of the late synod with important considerations, both for the penning and publishing of them at this time / by John Ley ... ; hereunto is added by the same author, a letter against the erection of an altar, written above five yeares agoe, and a case of conscience, touching the receiving of the sacrament, resolved.

CAN. 6. An Oath enjoyned for the preventing of all Innovations in Doctrine and Government.

THis present Synod (being desirous to declare their sincerity and constancy in the profession of the Doctrine and Discipline already established in the Church of England; and to secure all men against any suspition of revolt to Popery, or any other superstition) decrees, that all Archbishops, Bishops, and all other Priests, and Deacons, in places exempt, or not exempt, shall before the second of November next ensuing, take this Oath following, against all Innovation of Doctrine or Discipline; and this Oath shall be tendred them, and every of them, and all others named after this Canon, by the Bishop in person, or his Chancellour, or some grave Divines named and appointed by the Bishop under his Seale; and the said Oath shall bee taken in the presence of a publick Notary, who is here∣by required to make an Act of it, leaving the Univer∣sities to the provision which followes.

The OATH is,

I A. B. doe sweare, that I doe approve the Doctrine and Discipline or Government, established in the Church of England, as con∣taining all things necessary to salvation: And that I will not endeavour by my selfe, or any other, directly or indirectly, to bring in any popish Doctrine, contrary to that which is so established: Nor will I ever give my con∣sent to alter the Government of this Church, by Archbishops, Bishops, Deanes and Arch∣deacons, &c. as it stands now established, & as by right it ought to stand; nor yet ever to subject it to the usurpations and superstition of the See of Rome. And all these things I doe plainely, and sincerely acknowledge, and sweare, according to the plaine and common sense, and understanding of the same words, without any equivocation, or mentall eva∣sion, or secret reservation whatsoever. And this I doe heartily, willingly and truely upon the faith of a Christian. So help me God in Je∣sus Christ.