MISCELLANEOUS PIECES OF ARCHBISHOP SANDY S. ADVICE CONCERNING RITES AND CEREMONIES IN From Strype's Annals, Vol. 1. Part 1. Chap. XXIX. HERE bishop Sandys brought in his paper: wherein his advice was to move her majesty,] in Synodo. First, That, with her majesty's authority, with the assistance of the archbishop of Canterbury, according to the limitation of the act provided in that behalf, might be taken out of the Book of Common Prayer private baptism, which Potest fieri hath respect unto women: who, by the word of God, can- Bishop not be ministers of the sacraments, or of any one of them. marginal Secondly, That, by like authority, the collect for crossing the infant in the forehead may be blotted out as it seems very superstitious, so it is not needful. Thirdly, That, according to order taken by her majesty's father, king Henry VIII. of most famous memory, and by the late king Edward, her majesty's brother, certain learned men, bishops and others, may by her majesty be appointed to set down ecclesiastical orders and rules in all ecclesiastical matters, for the good government of the church of England, as shall be by them thought most meet; and the same in this present session of parliament, whatsoever they shall order or set down, within one year next to be effectual, and for law confirmed by act of parliament, at or in this session. Grindal's note. [SANDYS.] 28 ORDERS FOR THE BISHOPS AND CLERGY. Id. Chap. xxx. [SANDYS, bishop of Wigorn, drew up orders] to be observed by the bishops and other ecclesiastical persons, by their consents and subscriptions in this present synod. First, Forasmuch as bishops are not born for themselves, but for their successors, and are only possessors for their own time; every bishop, by the subscription of his hand, promiseth that he shall not either by lease, grant, or any other means, let, set, or alienate any of his manors, or whatsoever heretofore hath not been in lease, except only for his own time, and while he is bishop. Item, That no bishop, dean, or chapter, shall give or grant any advowson of their prebend, parsonage, or vicarage, after the date hereof. Item, That no bishop shall admit any into the ministry, who hath not good testimony of his conversation; who is not learned, fit to teach the people; and who hath not presently some appointed place, cure, and living to serve. And that he do not admit the same without the consent of six learned ministers; who shall all lay their hands upon his head at his admission. Item, That every bishop by himself, or by his officer, shall see that every curate, parson, vicar, or other, do catechise the children and youth of his parish every Sunday, according to the injunction in that behalf. Item, It is ordered, that no minister shall marry any other than be within his parish, the woman-party at the least; and that he do it not, except the banns be openly thrice proclaimed in the same parish, and that he knew that the parents of the party consented thereto. Item, That no bishop, dean, or chapter, shall bestow their benefices, whereof they be patrons, but upon such as be learned and fit for the office, and such as will subscribe to sound religion now by authority set down. Item, That every bishop take order, that whosoever is a common swearer in his diocese, if after two admonitions by the minister he will not leave the same, that then it shall be lawful for the minister to exclude him from the communion, until he shall find reformation in him. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE TRANSLATION OF LUTHER'S COMMENTARY ON GALATIANS. To the Reader. THIS book being brought unto me to peruse and to consider of, I thought it my part, not only to allow of it to the print, but also to commend it to the reader, as a treatise most comfortable to all afflicted consciences exercised in the school of Christ. The author felt what he spake, and had experience of what he wrote, and therefore able more lively to express both the assaults and the salving, the order of the battle and the mean of the victory. Satan is the enemy, the victory is by only faith in Christ, as John recordeth. If Christ justify, who can condemn? saith St Paul. This most necessary doctrine the author hath most substantially cleared in this his commentary which being written in the Latin tongue certain godly learned men have most sincerely translated into our language, to the great benefit of all such as with humbled hearts will diligently read the same. Some began it according to such skill as they had. Others godly affected, not suffering so good a matter in handling to be marred, put to their helping hands, for the better framing and furthering of so worthy a work. They refuse to be named, seeking neither their own gain nor glory, but thinking it their happiness, if by any means they may relieve afflicted minds, and do good to the church of Christ, yielding all glory unto God, to whom all glory is due. Aprilis 28, 1575. EDWINUS LONDON. EPISTOLA PASTORALIS EPISC. CESTRENS'. E MSS. Caio-Gonvill. Cantab. 197. pp. 471-4. Archiepiscopus Eborum Cestrensi Episcopo. GRATIA, pax, et salus, a Deo Patre et Domino nostro Jesu Christo. Intuenti mihi, frater venerande, cursum et conditionem hujus impietate perditi sæculi, quantos agat triumphos Satan, quam longe lateque dominetur scelus, quam innumeri sint ac frequentes improborum hominum flagitiosi greges, quam exilis, quam arida, vel potius quam nulla sit in terris fides, nulla pietas; videmur in ultima et impia mundi hujus jam interitui vicina tempora devenisse. Cum porro mihi in mentem venit zizaniam, horum peccatorum semen, nulla re magis in agro Domini vel spargi vel succrescere, quam agricolarum somnolentia, colonorum desidia; nec aliunde tantam cladem invectam esse Hierosolymæ nostræ sanctæ civitati (qua et muri ejus evertuntur, et ipsa pene capta cedit inimicorum violentiæ) quam quod excubiæ, quæ deberent vigilare, somno sopitæ, suis muneribus desunt: ad hæc cum recolo nos etiam ipsos, quibus curam suæ vineæ commisit Dominus, officio nostro parum satisfecisse, vitas nimium secure tanquam in alta pace transegisse, neque hostibus Christi satis fortiter resistendo, neque Domini fundum arando satis diligenter, neque pascendo gregem satis fideliter, neque satis vigilanter in specula consistendo, munus nostrum prout decuit adimplevisse: uti meipsum negligentiæ coarguo, testeque conscientia cogor succumbere veniamque petere, (quanquam dissolutum et penitus desidem me nunquam fuisse novit Dominus;) ita, charitate pia fraternaque benevolentia commotus, meum esse duco te cohortari: uti quemadmodum idem nobis incumbit onus, eadem est administrandæ provinciæ reddenda ratio; sic conjunctis animis [This pastoral epistle has been printed by Strype, Annals, Vol. m. Book 1. Chap. 15. Appendix, No. XXIX.-ED.] [ Coargo, MS.-ED.] |