Geo. I. ftitution in church and ftate, thought proper to put a stop to 1717. these proceedings, by a prorogation to the 22d of Novem ments, fines, or any leffer and more moderate penalties; nay, not the much leffer negative difcouragements that belong to human fociety. He was far from thinking that thefe could be the inftruments of fuch a perfuafion, as he knew to be acceptable to God. 12. Chrift chose the motives which are not of this world, to support a kingdom which is not of this world. 13. The maxims, oppofite to the maxims upon which Chrift founded his kingdom, are contrary to the interefts of true religion. 14. To apply worldly force or worldly flattery, worldly plea. fure or worldly pain, to the cafe of religion; is a method oppofite to the maxims upon which Christ founded his kingdom: And, therefore, contrary to the interests of true religion. 15. Christ knew the nature of his own kingdom, or church, better than any fince his time. 16. Chrift left no fuch matters to be decided against himfelf, and his own exprefs profeflions. 17. To teach Chriftians that they must either profefs, or be filent, against their own confcienees, because of the authority of others over them, is to found that authority upon the ber. fines, or other leffer and more moderate penalties; or the much leffer negative difcouragements that belong to human fociety. Thefe he thought the proper inftruments of fuch a perfuafion, as he knew to be acceptable to God. 12. Chrift did not chufe the motives which are not of this world, to fupport a kingdom not of this world. 13. The maxims, oppofite to the maxims upon which Chrift founded his kingdom, are agreeable and helpful to the interefts of true religion. 14. To apply worldly force. or worldly flattery,worldly pleafure or worldly pain, to the cafe of religion; is not oppofite to the maxims upon which Chrift founded his kingdom: Or, is not contrary to the intereits of true religion, though it be contrary to our bleffed lord's maxims relating to it. 15. Chrift did not know the nature df his own kingdom, or church, better than his profeffed followers do, fince his time. 16. Chrift did leave the nature of his own kingdom, and the maxims of fupporting it, to be decided, by others after him, against himself, and against his own express profeffions. 17. To teach Chriftians that they must either profefs, or be filent, against their own confciences, in regard to the authority of others, is a very good doctrine; very confiftent As this was industriously represented to be the effect of Geo. I. the bishop's follicitation, and an argument of his fear, he 1717. pub ruins of fincerity and common honefty; to teach a doctrine which would have prevented the reformation, and the being of the Church of England; which divefts Chrift of his empire in his own kingdom, and leads his people to prostitute their confciences at the feet of men. 18. Chrift never interpofeth, fince his first promulgation of his law, either to convey infallibility, or to affert the true interpretation of it. After this, the bishop adds a particular view of thofe principles, which ought to be the measures of judging in fuch important matters: 1. Chrift has the fupreme authority of legiflator, and judge, with refpect to all Chriftians. 2. No authority, therefore, can be justly claimed by any Chrillians, of what rank foever, in any Chriftian church, which deftroys the fupreme authority of Christ. 3. The will of Chrift is delivered to all Chriftians for the conduct of their lives. 4. No human, fallible authority, therefore, can determine Chriftians in points of religion, which they themselves do not judge to be agreeable to the will of Chrift. 5. Whatsoever equally concerns the falvation of all Chriftians, is equally propofed to the understandings of all. with the fincerity and honefty becoming Chriftians; very useful for the justification of the reformation, and Church of England; perfectly confiftent with Chriftians regard to Chrift as their king; and not at all leading them to prostitute their confciences at the feet of weak men. 18. Chrift does interpofe, fince the first promulgation of his law, to convey infallibility to fome of those who interpret it; or to affert the true interpretation of it. 6. There can, therefore, be no fuch thing as fubmitting our understandings, out of humility or out of laziness, to any other men whatfoever, in points relating to eternal falvation; without either fuppofing that Chrift did not deliver his will for us, in things which concern us; or did not deliver it plainly enough for us to find it out (with the aids and means he has put in our power) in those points which concern our eternal falvation, and therefore require all fufficient plainnefs: Though the taking in the advice and affiftance of others, and attending to their arguments, is perfectly confiftent with the foregoing propofition. 7. No argument can be admitted by Proteftants, which deftroys the very effence of Proteftantifm: Nor can any reafoning conclude juftly in favour of any powers amongst them, Geo. I. publicly declared before the world, that the prorogation was 1717. ordered, not only without his feeking, but without fo much as his knowledge or even fufpicion of any fuch defign till it was refolved. It must be obferved, that the representation was never approved of by the lower house, so as to be made the act of it: Though many have been led to think it was, by the artifice made ufe of in the title-page to the printed copy of it. The prorogation of the convocation did not put an end to the controverfy. For feveral of the members, fince they could not attack the bishop, as a public affembly, refolved to take up the cause in a private capacity. Dr. Sherlock, who was one of the committee who drew up the report, feconded Dr. Snape, and thefe two were followed by many others, infomuch that the tracts published on this occafion, on both fides, are faid to be about feventy (e). which they conftantly and 8. No authority, therefore, 9. No fubmiffion in religious affairs can juftly be demanded from Proteftants, by Proteitants, upon any fuch foundation, as would have abfolutely prevented the reformation itself. 10. Whatsoever was true at the time of the reformation, is true ftill. 11. Whatsoever principles are true and juit, when urged against Papifts, are likewife fo amongft Proteflants. 12. Whatever principles and conduct, are unjustifiable in Papits, are equally fo in all Pro Du to justify it at first, is necessary to defend it now. 14. Nothing therefore, which contradicts the main principle of the reformation; and that, without which the Church of Englaud itself could not justly have been in being; can be for the true interest of this church, as it is a Proteftant church. 15. As it is a Chriftian church, nothing can be fuppofed either to fupport or defend its intereft, which, admitted as true, would have prevented even the reception of Chriftianity itself; or which contradicts the main defign of the Gofpel. 16. The principles therefore, which alone can juftly and unexceptionably fupport it, are fuch as are uniformly and confilently Chriftian and Protef During these proceedings, the ministers were no less em- Geo. I. ployed than the parliament. Negociations were carrying on, 1717. par doctor puts the following que-to any mortal that the late fer- The bishop two days after, in an advertisement, folemnly denies all this, and challenges the doctor to name his author. I pray recollect yourfelf, and was preached with my know put thefe questions home to your ledge, or fubmitted to my corown confcience, whether yourrection.' Notwithstanding this, Abfolutely's and Properly's, and the bishop of Carlisle afferted fuch evafive words, were not in print, that Dr. Kennet was omitted in your fermon, as it the man that told him he had was originally compofed? Whe- prevailed with the bishop of ther you did not, before it was Bangor to put in the foremenpreached, fhew it to a certain tioned words. In fhort, the perfon without fuch limitations? bishop of Carlisle pledges his And whether you was not with eternal falvation, that Dr. Kendifficulty prevailed upon by him net did fay fo: Dr. Kennet, in to infert them by way of caution? one of his papers, fays, God fo If you think fit to anfwer in the help him, and judge him, if he negative, I engage a perfon of did. They went on advertising as high a station as your lord- against each other, till the bifhip will charge himself with fhop of Carlisle refolved to give the proof of the affirmative.' no more answers to whatever fhould be faid. However, the bishop of Bangor, refolving that calumny fhould lie where it ought to lie, published a long advertisement, as Dr. Kennet did another, to fix the fact upon the bishop of Carlisle, and to convict him of forgetfulness at leaft, in charging a fact upon the bishop of Bangor, which was not true; and quoting a witnefs for it who knew nothing of the matter. In a word, af-. ter lying dormant fome months, this controverfy was revived in October following, on account of the bishop's entertaining in his houfe Francis de la Pillonere, who had been a Jefuit, but had now renounced the Popish religion. The bishop's three principal adverfaries were dean Sherlock, Dr. Snape, and Dr. Cannon, whom the bishop feemed to outdo in reafon and argu The doctor, preffed by the folemnity of the challenge, names the bishop of Carlile, who, being called upon to prove what he had afferted, difputed a while with Dr. Snape, affirming he had not faid, the words were put in before the fermon was preached, but before it was published; owning withal, that he knew there was fuch a perfon in the world who had averred the fame. The bishop of Carlisle, being preffed to name him, names Dr. White Kennet, and writes to him of what had paffed, telling him, he did not queftion but he would own his own words. Dr. Kennet pofitively denied the fact, faying, 'I ⚫ never affirmed, never fuggefted ment Geo. I. particularly to oblige the king of Sweden to make peace. 1717. The czar had, the last year, married his niece, the princess Catharina, to the duke of Mecklenburg Swerin, and refolved to procure the poffeffion of Wifmar for him. To that end he had fent firft twelve thoufand Ruffians (which were afterwards increased to twenty-fix thousand) to affift at the taking of that place, then befieged by the Pruffians, Hanoverians, and Danes. But, the town having furrendered before the arrival of his army, his project fell to the ground, nor would the allies fuffer any of his troops to be garrisoned there. The czar was vexed at this disappointment, and from hence may be dated several memorable events, particularly the mifunderstanding between him and the court of Hanover. Soon after this, a defcent on Schonen was concerted between the kings of Pruffia and Denmark, and the czar, in order to oblige the king of Sweden to quit Norway, where he had penetrated with an army of twenty thousand men, and was advancing towards Chriftianftadt, the capital of that kingdom. The czar feemed the moft forward in this expedition, and took upon him the command of the united fleets of England, Holland, Denmark, and Ruffia, in order to drive the Swedish fleet into port. But this was all outward fhow. For the appearance of the British fleet under admiral Norris could not be very agreeable to the czar, as it prevented the defigns he had formed against Denmark itself, after his difappointment at Wismar. And therefore when, in a council of war between him and the king of Denmark, all things were fettled for the defcent in Schonen, and the troops ordered to imbark, on a fudden the orders were countermanded, and the project, which was to reduce the king of Sweden to fuch terms as the allies fhould think proper to impofe on him, was laid afide, after the great expence the ment as far as they did him in virulence, perfonal reflections, and reproachful language. He was painted in the most odious colours, both from the prefs and the pulpit, and all for afferting, that Chritt is the fole law-giver, and fole judge in his kingdom, in all points relating to the favour or difpleasure of God; a propofition as evident as the fun at noon-day. Dr. Cannon vindicated the convocation, and dean Sherlock attacked the bi fhop upon a popular point, the repeal of the Test Act, which he afferted to be the defign of the bishop's fermon. The dean ended his treatife with a moft unjust and reproachful reflection, which the bishop immediately anfwered, by fetting the matter in a clear light. In November, Dr. Sherlock and Dr. Snape were both removed from being king's chaplains; nor has the convocation fat to do any buffnefs ever fince. Danes |