,transcribed from the #ahfd ,hatchard and ,co4 edition by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,,clerical ,,subscription ,,and ,,the ,,act ,,of ,,uniformity4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,by ,,the ,,rev4 ,,edward ,,hoare1 ,m4,a41 ,,incumbent ,,of ,,trinity ,,church1 ,,tunbridge ,,wells4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,london3 ,,hatchard ,,and ,,co41 #ahg1 ,,piccadilly4 #ahfd4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,alex4 ,,macintosh1 ,,printer1 ,,great ,,new-,,street1 ,,london4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,clerical ,,subscription ,,and ,,the ,,act ,,of ,,uniformity4 ,as it has pleased ,her ,majesty to appoint a ,royal ,commission to consider the subject of ,clerical ,subscription1 the time has clearly come when those who regard the principle of ,subscription to be one of essential importance to the well-being of our ,church should consider carefully by what arrangements that principle may be best maintained and carried out4 ,it is the opinion of many that the wisest course is to endeavour to secure the present system without alteration1 and earnestly to oppose any change of any kind whatever4 ,under many circumstances1 ,i could believe in the wisdom of so doing2 but if it can be shown that there are great objections against the present practice1 then ,i think that1 for the sake of the principle1 we ought to be prepared to receive with gratitude such a change as may remove well-grounded and reasonable objections4 ,the principle and the practice are so intimately connected in people's minds that they are almost sure to stand and fall together2 so that if there is any great defect in the practice1 there is danger of the principle being made to bear the blame of it2 and if the practice is such as to give reasonable dissatisfaction to reasonable men1 it is almost sure to weaken the hold which the principle has on the public mind4 ,on these grounds ,i am anxious to call the attention of those ,churchmen who believe in the importance of the principle of ,subscription to the practice as at present imposed by the ,act of ,uniformity on the beneficed clergymen of the ,church of ,england2 and ,i do so under the very strong conviction that1 in order to maintain the principle and1 ,i might almost add1 on every other ground1 there should be an united endeavour amongst ,english ,churchmen without delay to effect a change4 99 99 99 99 99 ,my reasons are as follows3-- 7#a47 ,the ,subscription1 as now required of all incumbents1 is required not by the ,church1 but by the ,state4 ,the ,church of ,england is in no sense responsible for it1 having never either sought or sanctioned it4 ,as the ,church of ,england has always held the principle of ,subscription1 so it has provided a form4 ,this form was first prepared in ,convocation1 and then sanctioned by ,james ,i41 by virtue of his prerogative royal1 and supreme authority in causes ecclesiastical4 ,this is the form embodied in the thirty-sixth ,canon1 and is as follows3-- ,i4 ,that the ,king's ,majesty1 under ,god1 is the only supreme ,governor of this ,realm1 and of all other his ,highnesses dominions and countries1 as well in all spiritual or ecclesiastical things or causes as temporal2 and that no foreign prince1 person1 prelate1 state1 or potentate hath1 or ought to have1 any jurisdiction1 power1 superiority1 pre-eminence1 or authority1 ecclesiastical or spiritual1 within his ,majesty's said realms1 dominions1 and countries4 ,,ii4 ,that the ,book of ,common ,prayer1 and of ordering of bishops1 priests1 and deacons1 containeth in it nothing contrary to the ,word of ,god1 and that it may lawfully so be used2 and that he himself will use the form in the said book prescribed1 in publick prayer1 and administration of the ,sacraments1 and none other4 ,,iii4 ,that he alloweth the ,book of ,articles of ,religion1 agreed upon by the archbishops and bishops of both provinces1 and the whole clergy in the ,convocation1 holden at ,london1 in the year of our ,lord #aefb2 and that he acknowledgeth all and every the articles therein contained1 being in number nine-and-thirty1 besides the ratification1 to be agreeable to the ,word of ,god4 99 99 99 99 99 ,but the ,church's form was too temperate for the vindictive spirit of ,charles ,,ii4 and his ,parliament2 and therefore1 without consulting the ,church at all1 the ,king's ,majesty1 with the consent of the ,lords and ,commons1 enacted a new form of ,subscription1 and imposed it on all those who either held any benefice at the time1 or should hereafter be presented to one4 ,no one1 therefore1 need fear that his allegiance to the ,church would be in any manner compromised by his disapprobation of the form of ,subscription required by the ,act of ,uniformity2 for the ,church has never had anything to do with it beyond bearing the blame4 ,it is a test imposed on ,churchmen by ,act of ,parliament1 without the concurrence of the ,church itself1 and virtually supersedes the form which the ,church has provided4 ,it appears to me1 therefore1 that loyalty to our ,church would lead us respectfully to petition for the repeal of the ,parliamentary enactment1 that so our ,church may be permitted to carry out her own principles1 and make use of the form deliberately drawn up by ,convocation1 and sanctioned by the ,crown4 7#b47 ,it is impossible to prove a negative2 and ,i may be mistaken3 but ,i am not able to discover that such a form of ,subscription as that required by the ,act of ,uniformity was ever known in the whole history of ,christendom4 ,churches1 one after another1 have drawn up ,confessions of ,faith1 and employed them as tests of opinion in the admission of their ministers4 ,most ,churches have prepared liturgical forms for devotional purposes1 and required the use of these forms in public worship4 ,the ,confession of ,faith has been carefully drawn up for one object1 and the ,liturgy for another2 the one to secure sound doctrine1 and the other pure devotional worship4 ,so the ,church of ,england1 in its form of ,subscription1 has kept the distinction perfectly clear4 ,it requires the new incumbent to subscribe 8that he alloweth the ,book of ,articles to be agreeable to the ,word of ,god10 thereby giving a positive acknowledgment of their truth4 ,but of the devotional book1 the ,book of ,common ,prayer1 it requires him to sign1--8,that it containeth in it nothing contrary to the ,word of ,god1 and that it may lawfully so be used1 and that he himself will use the form in the said book prescribed1 in publick prayer and administration of the ,sacraments1 and none other40 ,the ,book of ,articles is employed as a ,confession of ,faith1 or test of opinion2 whereas all that is required respecting the ,book of ,common ,prayer is the promise to use it1 with the declaration that there is nothing wrong in so doing4 ,but this temperate spirit of the ,church was not sufficient for the purposes of ,charles and his ,parliament4 ,the persons whom they wanted to turn out believed in the ,articles1 and were1 many of them1 quite willing to use the ,prayer-book4 ,thus the ,church's principles were insufficient for their ejection1 and1 in order to get rid of them1 the plan was devised of omitting all specific mention of the ,articles1 and making use of the whole book as the test or confession of faith4 ,a long devotional book of #djj pages1 containing prayers1 ,psalms as pointed for chanting1 rubrics1 addresses1 and special services1 some of which can be used by the ,bishops only1 are all massed together1 and made into a new exclusive creed4 ,there is no exception made for anything4 8,all and every thing0 is alike included1 and the language is made as stringent as possible4 ,it is as follows3-- 8,i1 ,a4 ,b41 do hereby declare my unfeigned assent and consent to all and every thing contained and prescribed in and by the book intituled1 ,the ,book of ,common ,prayer1 and ,administration of the ,sacraments1 and other ,rites and ,ceremonies of the ,church1 according to the uses of the ,church of ,england2 together with the ,psalter1 or ,psalms of ,david1 pointed as they are to be said or sung in ,churches2 and the form or manner of making1 ordaining1 and consecrating of ,bishops1 ,priests1 and ,deacons40 ,never1 ,i believe1 was a more flagrant misuse of any document4 ,the book was prepared for one purpose1 and then1 for party ends1 employed for another4 ,prayers were made into creeds2 the pointing of the ,psalms into a test of opinion2 and rubrics into confessions of faith4 ,fortunately1 there is wonderfully little in the book1 taken as a whole1 to wound the conscience of those who subscribe to the ,articles4 ,but that is not the point4 ,the real question is1 whether prayers1 pointings1 rubrics1 c41 should be employed as creeds4 ,my own belief is1 that they never ought to be2 for1 if there is the accuracy of the creed1 there cannot be the devotional warmth of the prayer2 that they never have been1 except in this instance2 and that they would not have been1 even in #affb1 had it not been for the spirit of retaliation1 which1 unhappily1 induced the ,king and ,parliament to agree in passing the ,act of ,uniformity4 7#c47 ,but as the form of ,subscription is ,wrong in principle1 so to many conscientious minds it becomes painful in practice4 ,in a long devotional book it is next to impossible that all and everything should be exactly to the mind of any one1 and of all the thousands of clergymen who regard the ,liturgy as amongst the most sacred possessions ever given to a ,church ,i believe there are very few who would not rejoice over a slight change here and there1 if only they could be sure that no changes which they disapproved would be introduced with those they would approve4 ,looking at the book in its comprehensive character1 as containing a ,calendar of ,lessons1 a vast number of rubrics1 the ,psalms pointed for chanting1 and several occasional services1 it is vain to expect that every point of detail shall be exactly to the mind of any man4 ,however decided the general approval1 there must of necessity be points of detail which grate1 to say the least1 on the feelings1 if they are not opposed to the judgment4 ,thus there are many persons who believe that there is nothing contrary to ,god's ,word in the ,prayer-book1 and that it may be lawfully used1 who still consider that 8assent and consent to all and every thing0 is too strong a term to express their state of mind respecting it4 ,the result is that some are deterred from entering the ministry1 others decline or resign preferment2 while many others would consider it a great relief if the form in the ,canon were substituted for that in the ,act of ,parliament4 7#d47 ,but there is another objection of a much graver character1 and one which1 in these days of loose opinion1 is1 ,i believe1 far more important than any already mentioned4 ,by the confusion of the ,articles and the ritual in one form of ,subscription the door is opened for great laxity as to doctrine4 ,to meet the difficulty which conscientious persons may feel with reference to the ritual1 our ,church1 in the preface1 claims for the book that it shall 8be allowed such just and favourable construction as in common equity ought to be allowed to all human writings1 especially such as are set forth by authority40 ,it is supposed1 therefore1 by the ,church1 that each clergyman will put his own favourable construction on the details of the book1 which1 as a whole1 he greatly values2 and1 provided that he does not consider any portion contrary to ,god's ,word1 she is prepared to entrust him with the use of it in the public ministry4 ,now1 such a principle as this is all very well with reference to forms1 but becomes inexpressibly dangerous when applied to doctrines4 ,it is only right that men should be allowed to entertain their own opinion respecting the selection of lessons in the calendar2 but the very life of the ,church is imperilled if we admit a similar latitude respecting the essential truths of ,christianity4 ,thus1 the ,act of ,uniformity1 by confusing the two in one form of ,subscription1 practically opens the way for laxity of religious belief4 ,it puts those who do not believe in the ,thirty-nine ,articles in the same position as those who think that mistakes have been made in the calendar1 or that the mind of the ,church would be better expressed if two or three sentences amongst the occasional services were omitted or slightly modified4 ,the favourable construction which is necessary for a comprehensive ritual is claimed equally for the confession of faith1 and the denial of revealed truth is placed on the same level as a scruple about a rubric4 ,to the mind of ,charles and his advisers ,i am inclined to think that the two were of equal importance1 or possibly the forms were more important than the doctrines4 ,but men of all classes are now1 thank ,god1 waking up to the conviction that all matters of ritual are as nothing when compared with the truth as revealed in ,scripture2 and it is lamentable to think that those who deny such a doctrine as the ,atonement should be no more condemned by their ,subscription than are those conscientious men who are made uncomfortable by a few trifling matters in the ritual4 ,the conclusion1 therefore1 is that1 just in proportion as we value ,divine truth1 we should endeavour to fall back on the wisdom of our forefathers1 who kept the two things quite distinct2 and that there ought to be two forms of ,subscription1 as directed by the ,canon1 instead of one1 as required by the ,act of ,uniformity2 that so our adhesion to the great scriptural and essential truths of the ,gospel may stand out1 as the ,church has placed it1 quite distinct from our approbation of the various details of the ritual4 ,but it is frequently argued that1 if we touch any portion of the ,act of ,uniformity1 the whole would be endangered2 and it is regarded as so sacred a bulwark around the truth that no risk must be incurred respecting it4 ,now1 ,i believe that this respect for the ,act of ,uniformity arises simply from the fact that no one reads it4 ,the greater part has long since become a dead-letter1 and if the whole were swept away our position would be very slightly changed4 ,the following is a short summary3-- #a4 ,that the ,book of ,common ,prayer as revised in #affj should be used instead of that of ,edward ,,vi4 #b4 ,that all parsons1 vicars1 or other ministers should subscribe1 according to the form above given1 before the ,feast of ,st4 ,bartholomew1 #affb2 or within one month be deprived1 ipso facto1 of their spiritual promotions4 #c4 ,that every person who may hereafter be presented to any living make the same ,subscription4 #d4 ,that every resident incumbent1 where a curate is kept1 read the common prayers and service at least once a month1 or forfeit #el4 to the poor of the parish1 on conviction before two justices of the peace4 #e4 ,that all deans1 canons1 c41 and even tutors in private families1 shall subscribe a declaration against rebellion1 a promise to conform to the ,liturgy1 and until the year #afhb a renunciation of the ,solemn ,league and ,covenant4 #f4 ,that no person shall act as schoolmaster or private tutor in any family without a licence from the ,bishop1 and that any person teaching without a licence shall be liable to imprisonment for three months and a fine of #el4 #g4 ,that no person shall be admitted to any benefice who is not in holy orders by episcopal ordination2 or administer the ,sacrament of the ,lord's ,supper unless he be ordained priest by episcopal ordination1 upon pain of a penalty of #ajjl4 #h4 ,that the penalties in this ,act shall not extend to foreigners or aliens of the ,foreign ,reformed ,churches allowed1 or to be allowed1 by the ,king's ,majesty1 his heirs and successors in ,england4 #i4 ,that all heads of colleges read the ,morning ,prayer in their college chapel at least once in every quarter1 upon pain to lose and be suspended of and from all benefits and profits belonging to the same ,government or ,headship by the space of six months4 #aj4 ,that all lecturers or preachers shall1 on their admission and on the first lecture day in every month afterwards1 read the prayers for the time of the day1 and shall afterwards declare their unfeigned assent and consent to the ,book of ,common ,prayer according to the prescribed form2 that if they neglect to do so they shall be disabled to preach the said or any other lecture2 and that if they preach when so disabled they shall suffer three months' imprisonment in the common gaol without bail or main-prise4 #aa4 ,that whenever a sermon or lecture is to be preached the common prayer and service for that time of the day must be read4 #ab4 ,that previous statutes be not repealed4 #ac4 ,that the parishioners of the several parishes procure copies of the ,prayer-book before the ,feast of ,st4 ,bartholomew1 #affb4 #ad4 ,that the ,book be translated into ,welsh4 #ae4 ,that provision be made for the preservation of the ,book in ,cathedrals and other places4 #af4 ,that the ,thirty-sixth ,article be understood as applying to the book mentioned in this ,act as it did heretofore to that of ,edward ,,vi4 #ag4 ,that the form of prayer heretofore in use shall remain so until the ,feast of ,st4 ,bartholomew1 #affb4 99 99 99 99 99 ,now what is there in all this that is worth preserving8 and what barrier does it present against the inroads of error8 ,the greater part was intended only for the day1 and had done its work before the close of the year #affb4 ,of the remainder there is very little which has not long since fallen into abeyance4 ,rectors are never fined #el4 if they fail in reading prayers once a month4 ,tutors in private families never subscribe any declaration against rebellion1 and are never imprisoned for teaching without the licence of the ,bishop4 ,heads of ,colleges are neither suspended nor deprived if they fail to read prayers once a quarter in their college chapels4 ,lecturers never repeat their declaration of assent and consent on the first lecture day in each month1 and yet are never imprisoned4 ,and the ,litany is constantly used even by our ,bishops in the place of ,evening ,prayer4 ,all that we want to preserve as of present and practical importance is the adoption of the ,liturgy as revised in #affj1 and the necessity of ,episcopal ordination4 ,for aught ,i know these may be secured by other statutes2 but if not1 there would be no difficulty in securing them1 though the whole ,act of ,uniformity were repealed4 ,or if it is thought desirable that so celebrated an ,act of ,parliament ought to be preserved as a curious specimen of bygone vindictive legislation1 let an amendment be introduced substituting the form of ,subscription in the ,canon for that required by the ,act4 ,if this were done1 the ,church would be permitted to guard its ministry according to its own principles2 many tender consciences would be relieved1 and an important step would be taken towards the attainment of the great object of ,her ,majesty's ,commission1 viz41 the simplification of ,clerical ,subscription 8consistently with due security for the declared agreement of the clergy with the doctrines of the ,church1 and conformity to its ritual40 99 99 99 99 99 ,macintosh1 ,printer1 ,great ,new-street1 ,london4