should dispose of the affairs of God, without any respect had to that which of old hath been reverently thought of throughout the world, and wherein there is no law of God which forceth us to swerve from the way wherein so many and so holy ages have gone. Wherefore not without good consideration the very law itself (1 Eliz. c. 1. §. 36) hath provided, That judges ecclesiastical appointed under the king's commission shall not adjudge for heresy any thing but that which heretofore hath been so adjudged by the authority of the Canonical Scriptures, or by the first FOUR GENERAL COUNCILS, or by some other General Council wherein the same hath been declared heresy by the express words of the said Canonical Scriptures, or such as hereafter shall be termed heresy by the high court of parliament of this realm with the assent of the Clergy in the Convocation'. By which words of the law, who doth not plainly see, how in that one branch of proceeding by virtue of the king's supreme authority, the credit which those Four General Councils have throughout all churches evermore had, was judged by the makers of the aforesaid Act a just cause wherefore they should be mentioned in that case, as a requisite part of the rule wherewith dominion was to be limited ». Ibid. VIII. ii. 17. Vol. iii. 358, 9. «The headship which we give unto kings is altogeher visibly exercised, and ordereth only the external frame of the Church's affairs here amongst us; so that it plainly differeth from Christ's, even in very nature and kind ». Ibid. VIII. IV. 5. Vol. iii. 374. <«<Christ is head as being the fountain of life and ghostly nutriment, the well-spring of spiritual blessings poured into the body of the Church; they «(other governors) «heads, as being his principal instruments for the Church's out ward government: He head, as founder of the house; they as his chiefest overseers »>. Ibid. VIII. IV. 9. Vol. iii. 336. << Touching the king's supereminent authority in commanding, and in judging of causes ecclesiastical; First to explain therein our meaning, It hath been taken as if we did hold, that kings may prescribe what themselves think good to be done in the service of God; how the word shall be taught, how sacraments administered: that kings may personally sit in the consistory where bishops do, hearing and determining what causes soever do appertain unto those courts that kings and queens in their own proper persons are by judicial sentence to decide the questions which rise about matters of faith and Christian religion: that kings may excommunicate: finally, that kings may do whatsoever is incident unto the office and duty of an ecclesiastical judge. Which opinion because we count as absurd as they who have fathered the same upon us, we do them to wit that thus our meaning is, and no otherwise: There is not within this realm any ecclesiastical officer, that may by the autho rity of his own place command universally throughout the kings dominions; but they of his people whom one may command, are to another's commandment unsubject: only the king's royal power is of so large compass, that no man commanded by him according to order of law, can plead himself to be without the bounds and limits of that authority; I say, according to order of law, because with us the highest have thereunto so tied themselves, that otherwise than so they take not upon them to command any ». Ibid. VIII. vII. 1. Vol. iii. 431. << In this respect therefore we must needs think the state of our own church much better settled than theirs » (of the early church) « was; because our laws have with far more certainty prescribed bounds unto each kind of power. All decisions of things doubtful, and corrections of things amiss, are proceeded in by order of law, what person soever he be unto whom the administration of judgment belongeth. It is neither permitted unto prelate nor prince to judge and determine at their own discretion, but law hath prescribed what both shall do. What power the king hath, he hath it by law, the bounds and limits of it are known; the entire community giveth general order by law how all things publicly are to be done, and the king as head thereof, the highest in authority over all, causeth according to the same law every particular to be framed and ordered thereby. The whole body politic maketh laws, which laws give power unto the king, and the king having bound himself to use according unto law that power, it so falleth out, that the execution of the one is accomplished by the other in most religious and peaceable sort. » Ibid. VIII. VIII 8. Vol. iii. 443. 5. The following extracts from the Coronation Oath and Service substantiate beyond all possibility of cavil or de nial the foregoing positions. THE OATH. ... « Archbishop Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the people of this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging, according to the Statutes in Parliament agreed on, and the respective Laws and Customs of the same?. And will you maintain and preserve inviolably the Settlement of the United Church of England and Ireland, and the Doctrine, Worship, DISCIPLINE, AND GOVERNMENT thereof, AS BY LAW ESTABLISHED within England and Ireland, and the territories thereunto belonging? And will you preserve unto THE BISHOPS AND CLERGY of England and Ireland, and to the CHURCHES THERE COMMITTED TO THEIR CHARGE, all such RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES, as by LAW do, or shall appertain to them, or any of them? Queen. All this I promise to do. Then the Queen arising out of Her Chair, attended by Her Supporters, and assisted by the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Sword of State being carried before Her, shall go to the Altar, and there make Her Solemn Oath in the sight of all the People, to observe the Premises: Laying Her right hand upon the Holy Gospel in the Great Bible which was before carried in the Procession, and is now brought from the Altar by the Archbishop, and tendered to Het as she kneels upon the steps, saying these words: The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep. So help me God. Then the Queen kisseth the Book, and signeth the OATH. 0.0 Service at the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen At the Delivery of the Sword « into the Queen's Right Hand, and she holding it, the Archbishop saith: Receive this Kingly Sword, brought now from the Altar of God, and delivered to you by the hands of us the Bishops and Servants of God, though Unworthy. With this Sword do Justice, stop the Growth of Iaiquity, PROTECT THE HOLY CHURCH OF GOD, help and defend Widows and Orphans, restore the things that are gone to decay, maintain the things that are restored, punish and reform what is amiss, and confirm what is in good Order: that doing these things, you may be glorious in all virtue; and so faithfully serve our Lord Jesus Christ in this life, that you may reign for ever with Him in the Life which is to come.A MEN. » Ibid. pag. 34. |