places so to their liberty in these cases, that none should impose a necessity upon other. This were to be pressed upon a Victor, Bishop of Rome, who violently obtruded a day for the celebration of Easter upon all Churches; supposing, in the meanwhile, an Easter universally kept of all Christians, though not on the same day. This makes nothing against us, who place no holiness in the very hours, nor plead any apostolical injunction for days, nor tie any person or Church to our strict Calendar; but only hold it fit, out of our obedience to the laws both of our Church and Kingdom, to continue a joyful celebration of a memorial day, to the honour of our Blessed Saviour. But that other authority, which you tell me was urged to this purpose, I confess, doth not a little amaze me. It was, you say, of King James, our learned Sovereign, of late and blessed memory; whose testimony was brought in before the credulous people, not without the just applause of a Solomonlike wisdom, as crying down these festivals; and, in a certain speech of his, applauding the purity of the Church of Scotland above that of Geneva, for that it observed not the_common Feasts of Christ's Nativity, and Resurrection, &c. Is it possible, that any mouth could name that wise and good King in such a cause, whom all the world knows to have been as zealous a patron of those Festivals, as any lived upon earth? And, if he did let fall any such speech, before he had any down upon his chin and whilst he was under the ferule, what candour is it to produce it now, to the contradiction of his better experience and ripest judgment? Nay, is it not famously known, that it was one of the main errands of his journey into his native kingdom of Scotland, to reduce that Church unto a conformity to the rest of the Churches of Christendom, in the observation of these solemn days? and, to this purpose, was it not one of the main businesses, which he set on work in the Assembly at Perth, and wherein he employed the service of his worthy Chaplain, Dr. Young, Dean of Winchester, to recall and re-establish these festivals? And, accordingly, in pursuance of his Majesty's earnest desire this way, was it not enacted in that Assembly, that the said feasts should be duly kept? Doubtless it was; and that, not without much wise care and holy caution: which Act, because it cannot be had every where, and is well worthy of your notice, and that which clears the point in hand, I have thought good here to insert. The tenor of it therefore is this: "As we abhor the superstitious observation of Festival Days by the Papists, and detest all licentious and profane abuse thereof by the common sort of professors; so we think that the One of the Five Articles of Perth. inestimable benefits received from God, by our Lord Jesus Christ's Birth, Passion, Resurrection, Ascension, and sending down of the Holy Ghost, was commendably and godly remembered at certain particular days and times, by the whole Church of the world, and may be also now: therefore, the Assembly ordains, that every Minister shall, upon these days, have the commemoration of the foresaid inestimable benefits, and make choice of several and pertinent texts of Scripture, and frame their doctrine and exhortation thereto, and rebuke all superstitious observation and licentious profanation thereof." I could, if it were needful, give you other proofs of King James's zeal for these days: but what should I spend time, in proving there is a sun in the heaven, and light in that sun? The name of that great King suffereth for his excess, this way. Shortly, then, the Church of God, his Anointed, Law, Antiquity, Reason are for us, in this point; and I doubt not but you will gladly be on their side. Away with all innovations and frivolous quarrels: we were divided enough before, and little needed any new rents. The God of Peace quiet all these distempers; and unite our hearts one to another, and all to himself! Farewell, in the Lord. TO MY DREAD SOVEREIGN, THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, As one, whose heart, amongst many thousands, bleeds with the sad thoughts of the woeful Divisions of our dear Fellow-Subjects; and unfeignedly pities the misguidance of those poor well-meaning souls amongst them, whose credulity hath heedlessly betrayed them into a zealous error; I have let fall these few Propositions: which I have presumed to set down, not as in the way of a Challenger; for most, if not all, of them are such, as be not capable of contradiction: but, rather, of a faithful Remembrancer to my dear brethren, of those points, which they cannot but know and yield: as well supposing, that nothing, but mere want of consideration, can be guilty of this perilous distraction, in them, who profess to love their King and the Truth. Now, the Good God of Heaven open the eyes and hearts of us all, that we may both see and be sensible of the invaluable blessing of our peace, and the happy freedom of his Gospel, which we do comfortably enjoy under your Majesty's sweet and religious government, to the wonder and envy of all other nations; and compose the hearts of all your native subjects to meet your Majesty's most gracious indulgence, with all humble thankfulness! And the same God forbid, that any of us should be weary of our happiness; and be drawn to do any act, that may, before all the world, pour shame upon our holy profession! whose chief glory it hath always hitherto been, to render us still LOYAL and OBEDIENT; and, in this very regard, to triumph over the false religion of our opposites. Such shall be ever the prayers of Your Majesty's most humble and ancientest chaplain, |