read the Homilies; because, perhaps, whatsoever Homily they read, may contain fomething which they difapprove. But I defire it may be remembred, that tho' he who is prefumed to preach his own Sermon, is thereby fuppofed to deliver his own Senfe in every Claufe and Propofition; and confequently muff, to avoid the Guilt of lying, inwardly approve what he utters with his Mouth: yet the Cafe is vaftly different, when a Man profeffes, and is un-derftood, to read an Homily compofed by another. For then, tho' he is obliged by his Subfcription to own the general Doctrin, yet he is not efteemed by the Auditory to deliver what is precifely the Senfe of his own Mind; but fuch a Latitude is indulg'd' him, that he may in fmaller Matters diffent from the Form he pronounces, without the leaft imputation or color of Infincerity; the bare Sufpicion of which a Clergyman ought to avoid and abhor in the whole Courfe of his Actions. 2.1 The THIRTY SIXTH ARTICLE. HE book of Confecration of Arch-bishops, and Bishops, and ordering of Priests and Deacons, lately fet forth in the time of Edward VI. and confirmed at the fame time by authority of Parliament, doth contain all things neceffary to fuch confecration and ordering; neither bath it any thing that of it felf is fuperftitious and ungodly. And therefore whosoever are confecrated or ordered according to the rites of that book, fince the fecond year of the aforenamed King Edward, unto this time, or hereafter fhall be confecrated or ordered according to the fame rites, we decree all fuch to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully confecrated and ordered. In In the Act for Uniformity of Public Prayers paffed in the Fourteenth of King Charles the Second, we have thefe Words following. Provided always, That whereas the fix and thirtieth Article of the nine and thirty Articles agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Provinces, and the whole Clergy, in the Convocation bolden at London, in the Year of our Lord One thousand Five hundred Sixty two, for the avoiding of Diversity of Opinions, and for establishing of Confent touching true Religion, is in these words following, viz. That the Book of Confecration of Archbishops, and "Bishops, and Ordaining of Priests and Deacons, lately "fet forth in the Time of King Edward the Sixth, and σε confirmed at the fame time by Authority of Parliament, "doth. contain all things neceffary to fuch Confecration and "Ordaining, neither bath it any thing that is of it felf Superftitious and Ungodly; and therefore whosoever are "Confecrated or Ordered according to the Rites of that "Book, fince the Second Year of the aforenamed King "Edward unto this time, or hereafter shall be Confecrated or Ordered according to the fame Rites; We decree "all fuch to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully Confecrated " and Ordered. It be enacted, and be it therefore enacted by the Authority aforefaid, That all Subfcriptions hereafter to be had or made unto the faid Articles, by any Deacon, Prieft, or Ecclefiaftical Perfon, or other Perfon whatsoever, who by this Act, or any other Law now in Force, is required to fubScribe unto the faid Articles, fhall be conftrued and taken to extend, and fhall be applied (for and touching the faid Six and thirtieth Article) unto the Book containing the Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Confecrating of Bishops, Priefts and Deacons, in this Act mentioned, in fuch. fort and manner as the fame did heretofore extend unto the L 3 Book Book fet forth in the Time of King Edward the Sixth, mentioned in the faid Six and thirtieth Article; any thing in the faid Article, or in any Statute, Act, or Canon beretofore had or made to the contrary thereof, in any wife notwithstanding. This being premifed, the Thirty Sixth Article contains Three Propofitions. 1. The Book of Confecration of Arch-bishops and Bifhops, and ordering of Priefts and Deacons, lately fet forth in the Time of Edward the Sixth, and confirmed at the fame time by Authority of Parliament (and afterwards altered in the Fourteenth Year of King Charles the Second) doth contain all things neceffary to fuch Confecration and Ordering. 2. The Book of Confecration of Arch-bishops and Bifhops, and ordering of Pricfts and Deacons, lately fet forth in the Time of Edward the Sixth, and confirmed at the fame time by Authority of Parliament (and afterwards altered in the Fourteenth Year of King Charles the Second) hath not any thing that of it felf is fuperftitious and ungodly. 3. Whofoever are confecrated or ordered according to the Rites of that Book, fince the Second Year of the aforenam'd King Edward, unto this Time, or hereafter fhall be confe crated or ordered according to the fame Rites, we decree all fuch to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully confecrated and ordered. The Firf and Second Propofitions fuppofe, accor ding to the Doctrin of the Twenty third Article, that the Perfons who confecrate or ordain, have Authority fo to do. The only Question therefore is is concerning the Form prefcribed in that Book for fuch Confecration or Ordination. And the Church. affirms, that that Book doth contain all things neceffary to the fame. This being obferv'd, the Truth of both Propofitions will appear at firft fight to fuch as perufe the Book. The Third Propofition is the neceffary Confequence of the First and Second. But fee the Fourth Chapter of the Third Part of the Confutation of Popery. Here it will be proper to give fome account of a Difficulty arifing from the Interpretation of the Subfcription to this Article, which was before recited from the Fourteenth of King Charles the Second. Since by that Act our Subfcription to this Article must be understood of the Book of Confecration, &c. as it was then altered: therefore the Third Proposition, when expreffed at full length, must run thus, "Whofoever are Confecrated or Ordered accor"ding to the Rites of that Book, which was fet "forth and confirmed by Parliament in King Ed"ward the Sixth's Days, and was afterwards al"tered and confirmed again in the Fourteenth of "King Charles the Second; I fay, whofoever has "been Confecrated or Ordered by that Book fince the Second Year of King Edward unto this time,or "hereafter fhall be confecrated or ordered accorσε ding to the fame Rites, we decree all fuch to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully confecrated and "ordered. But is it not then ftrange, that our Church fhould now be fuppofed to speak of Perfons Confecrated or Ordered fince the Second of King Edward, according to the Rites of the Book as it ftood altered in the Reign of King Charles the Second? And L 4 wou'd wou'd our Lawgivers impofe on us a Subfcription to the Propofition above rehearfed? I conceive therefore, that our Subfcription does at prefent oblige us to acknowledge the Validity of thofe Ordinations only, which have been and fhall be made according to that Book fince the above mentioned Alteration of it. But then, because the Validity of our Succeffion depends upon the Validity of the prior Ordinations; therefore we ought to fatisfy our felves concerning them, tho' our Church does not bind us to an explicit Confirmation of them. And whoever will compare the Forms of Confecration and Ordination confirm'd in King Edward's Time, with the Book as 'twas altered in the Fourteenth of King Charles the Second, will be foon convinced, that this Propofition has no real Difficulty in it, either as it was understood formerly, or as 'tis now to be understood by reafon of the ParJiamentary Interpretation. I will add (to prevent fome Scruples which may poffibly arife) Dr. Burges's Interpretation of the Subfcription to this Article, which is in the Paper before mentioned; and is therefore warranted by unexceptionable Authority. His words are thefe. an IX. Of the Book of Ordination of Bishops, Priests and Deacons. I conceive, that Subfcription to this Book does not intend Approbation of every Phrafe, or Application of every Place of Scripture therein alledged, as fitly applied: but only that the Calling of Bishops to govern the Church, and the Ordination of Inferior Minifters by them to the Ufes there affigned, are not contrary to the Word of God, and So I fubfcribe to that Book, The |