THE Time-serving Proteus, AND Ambidexter Divine, Uncased to the VVorld:
Containing two Letters of M. John Dury (the great Champion for the New Ingagement, faithfully extracted out of the Originalls under his own hand.)
The first, to Joseph Hall, late Bishop of Exeter;
The second, to William Lawd, late Archbishop of Canterbury.
WHEREIN
He expresseth the Reasons which moved him, not onely to scruple and dislike, but in some sort to renounce his Ecclesiasticall Orders, and Ministeriall Function formerly conferred on him in the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas; because not given by a Dioecesan Bishop, but by particular men, whereof none is above the degree of a Priest, and in point of conscience to crave and receive a Reordination, and new Orders from our English Bishops; that so he might enter by the door into the sheepfold. Whose superiority in degree over other Ministers, and sole jurisdiction in conferring Orders, he asserts to be jure divino; professing withall, his conscientious observance of, and submission to all their Canons and Constitutions, and testifying to all the world that he was the Prelates and this Archbishops most humbly devoted servant in all obedience; and so he actually was till their fall; and then he quite deserted them, and turned a zealous Presbyterian again, untill the late change of affairs metamorphosed him into an Independent: and since, into the first printed Advocate for the New Ingagement, proving a Divine of as many various Editions, as there are severall impressions of his inconsiderate Considerations.
Printed in the Yeer 1650:
A Copy of a Letter presented to the Reverend Father in God, JOSEPH Lord Bishop of Exeter, by Iohn Dury.
Wherein he setteth down the reasons which moved him to crave Orders in the Church of England, after he had gotten a presentation to a Cure; although else-where beyond seas he had been formerly called to a Pastorall charge in one of the Protestant Churches.
IT doth import every one who is called to a Pastorall charge in the Church, to satisfie his own conscience in all things belonging thereunto, and be sure, that he Did you enter thus into your present Living and Pastorall charge, without institution, admission or induction of a Bishop? entereth in by the door into the Sheepfold, least if he enter in another way, he be counted a thief, and a robber. Now I was lately called by my Archbishops preferments made Mr. Dury an Episcopall Proselite, and marr'd his Presbyterianship. Lords Grace of Canterbury to such a charge in this Church of England; whereof I never was heretofore a member in the Clergy. Therefore I thought it my duty to consider with my self, whether or no I could lawfully take such a charge upon me, except I were first received & admitted unto the Ministry as others are in this Church of England; which after ripe deliberation, I found I could not do, either lawfully, in respect of the Church in which I am to have a charge; or conveniently, in respect of the duties to be discharged in it; or safely, in respect of the tranquillity of my own conscience concerning both: For which cause I found it requisite to He voluntarily sues to the Bishops for new Orders, without their motion or instigation. request, among other favours, this at your Lordships hands, that you would be pleased to grant me the orders which are appointed by the Canons [Page 2] of this Church, to be received after a presentation or title is granted, and before institution and induction may be given to any, who is to have a charge of souls. It is therefore my humble desire and intreaty, that I may have the priviledge and right which others have by [d] No Ordination lawfull with him but that of Bishops. lawfull ordination into the Ministry, to discharge the office unto which I am called in this Church. And least this request should seem to be without ground and motives sufficient to perswade my His conscience is very tender, yet stretching and mutable with times and preferments. conscience to desire it, I will shortly set down the reasons which induce me to sue for this favour.
1. I cannot find in conscience, that I am a true member of the Clergy in this Church, except I have the orders which others have in it, and as it is appointed by the Law that every one should have. For the His former Ordination by Presbyters made him no Minister nor Member of the Clergy in his judgement. Ordination of the Church giveth one the right to be a member of the Ministery in it: and he is none of the members that is not ordained as the Church appointeth. Now it is so with me; therefore I think my self obliged to seek for your Ordination, that I may have the previledge of a true member of the Clergy, and The Bishops Ordination only, not the Presbyters, is the door whereby all must enter into the Sheepfold. enter in by the door into the Sheepfold.
2. A Minister must be We have much failed herein of late years. carefull before all things to be without blemish, and occasion of offence, both in respect of the Church wherein he is to follow his calling, and in respect of a good conscience whereby he must walk and be conversant in his calling: But except I receive Ordination by Bishops alone he calls Gods Ordinance, but not by Presbyters. Orders appointed by God in the Church, I conceive that I cannot be blamelesse in either of these respects. For first, in respect of the Church, I should not be blamelesse because the Law of the Church doth admit none to be a Curate or Minister, except he be ordained by some Bishop of this Church. Secondly, I should not be blamelesse in respect of my own conscience, because I must He intends and promiseth exact Canonicall obedience beforehand. intend to observe and submit my self to all the Canons and Constitutions of the Church agreeable, or not contrary to the Word of God: Now I know, that this Canon touching the Ordination of Ministers, is one of the chief and important Constitutions, and Ordination by Bishops most agreeable to Gods Commandements. most agreeable to Gods Commandement; therefore I acknowledge my self bound to observe it.
3. Although I have been admitted els-where unto the Ministry, [Page 3] yet I think not that Ordination by Presbyters insufficient in his judgement, which nulls and makes void the Ministers and Ministry of the reformed Church. Ordination sufficient to authorize me to discharge a Pastorall office in this Church. 1. Because the Church where I was formerly admitted, is not the same with the Church of England, as being different in Government from it. 2. Because the orders which I received formerly were not given by persons of the same degree and authority, by which these of the Church of England are conferred: For those are given by particular men, whereof none is above the Bishops and Ministers different in degree in his judgement. degree of a Priest; but these are given by a Diocesax or Bishop.
4. Because in my His Ordination by Presbyters much troubles his conscience. former calling to the Ministery, I have been heretofore interrupted and perplexed in conscience about it: For a year after I was ordained, I fell in trouble of mind concerning my calling, and was once resolved to have left it wholly: The cause of my doubt was, a Doth not the present Ingagement put a greater restraint and confinement upon Ministers, and the Ministry then this you mention. certain restraint and confinement of my Ministry, to certain conditions not agreeable to the freedome of a good conscience in professing the Gospell, which were laid upon me both by those that sent me, and those to whom I was to minister the Word: When I found this, I fell in a deep trouble of mind; whereupon I went back again to those that had sent me thither, and got a He could not in conscience accept of a Pastorall charge in a Presbyterian Church, yet he can do it with a good conscience in a Prelaticall; belike the revenues of the one were small, but the other so great that it easily overpoised his conscience and judgement to accept it. discharge from them out of that place, and permission to go to my Country: There I stayed a long while before I could find a resolution to continue in the Ministery; which at last by the perswasion of learned and godly friends, I found so far, that I thought it not lawfull for me to ronounce altogether that calling, whereunto from my youth I had sincerely dedicated my studies; to which I had been publiquely chosen by a Church, to which I was approved fit by the judgement of many, and to which I had obliged my self by solemn promise towards God. So being afterwards called to a Noblemans family, I returned to the function of a Lecturer, and would never take upon me the charge of souls; and thus have continued till now in ministeriall imployments of such a nature, as did not bind me to any particular Church. But now finding my selfe called in another Church, otherwise ordered, to a particular cure, and finding the A Parochiall Cure under our late Bishops is agreeable to Gods Word, but not a Pastorall charge under a Presbyter? Therefore I must renounce his present cure upon this ground as well as his first. nature of this cure agreeable to the Word of God, and my self disposed in due time to discharge it, I think that, seeing the former Ordination [Page 4] hath been heretofore troubled with doubts, and interrupted; to the end I may go about this charge to which I am now called with a A call from a Bishop gives a faithfull assurance to him of a blessing from God, to his Ministry, but not from a Presb [...]tery. full resolution, and a faithfull assurance of a blessing from God, I ought to enter by the door, and crave such inabling as the Church can give me by Gods Ordinance, not neglecting the The power of Ordination bestowed of God on Bishops only in his opinion, not on inferiour Ministers. Power which God hath bestowed upon the Rulers thereof, whereby they can give Orders unto their subordinate Ministers, whereof I am appointed to be one; And therefore to quench, and prevent all further doubts, of my calling to the Ministry, I find my self He is bound in conscience to seek a Reordination from the Bishop, whom he Courts and flatters with all his Lordly Titles. bound in conscience to crave and receive Orders in this Church of England, which for these, besides other causes, right Reverend Father in God, I humbly desire your Lordship to confer upon me, if I shall be found capable of them, after tryall and examination: For which favour and benefit I have cause to praise God, and be bound to pray for your Lordships perpetuall increase, in all spirituall and temporall happinesse: remaining alwaies,
To the He Courts this Archbishop to the full with all his Lordly Titles. most Reverend Father in God, my most gracious, Lord William, by Gods Providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury; Primate of all England and Metropolitane, Chancellour of Oxford, and one of the Lords of his Majesties most honorable Privy Counsell, my most Noble Lord, and ever-honored Patron.
SEeing I ought to be jealous over my self in all things that concern the publike, least I give just occasion to any body (but chiefly unto your Grace) of conceiving any thing of my actions, (but chiefly of that which doth concern my taking Orders in this Church) otherwise then might be Your Reordination, Reasons, and frequent changes are little for your credit. for my credit; as if either formerly I had without sufficient cause delayed a thing of so great moment, or now lately had rushed upon it unadvisedly; neither considering the nature of the work in it self, nor the offence which Forrainers might take at me if they Your Reasons, Reordination and mutations have given them just offence and scandall too. should come to know it; I did think good for all these respects to present this Letter, first in the originall to my Lord of Exeter, and now in the Copy unto your Grace; that all sinistrous and doubtfull opinions might be prevented, and the true cause might appear, wherefore I did now and never heretofore intend this matter; therefore I beseech your Grace to take this also in good part, and keep me in the favour of your good opinion, as one that desires nothing more, then to live and behave my self so, that I may He desires to testifie to all the world that he was this Archbishops most humbly devoted servant, which will now make little for his credit. testifie to all the world that I am your Grace his
BY the serious consideration of these two Letters, and the marginal animadversions on them, Mr. Iohn Dury his seduced engaging Patrons and Disciples, (comparing them with his subsequent changes and wheelings about with the times and thriving Party) may take an exact Character, as well of his inward as outward complection, which S. James thus characteirzeth, Jam. 1. 6. 8. He that wavereth is like a wave of the Sea, driven with the wind and tossed: A double-minded man is unstable in all his waies. We shall say no more of him at present, but recommend these three sacred texts to him and his followers, most serious considerations and second thoughts.
Prov. 24. 21, 22. My son, fear thou the Lord, and the King, and meddle not with them that are given to change; for their calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruine of them both?
Jer. 2. 36, 37, Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria. Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thy head: for the Lord hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.
Rom. 1. 35. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more then the Creatour, who is blessed for ever, Amen.
Isai. 9. 16, 17. For the leaders of this people cause them to erre, and they that are led of them are destroyed. Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherlesse and widdows: for every one is in hypocrite, and an evill doer, and every month speaketh folly (or villany) for all this his anget is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Mr. Dury was so far in love with these reasons of his, wherein he manifested himself not only an absolute Episcopall Proselite, but Parasite, both in his conscience, judgement and practise beyond all former presidents, by Archbishop Lawds presentation of him to a good benefice in Devonshire, which wrought these strange alterations and miraculous effects therein expressed, that he sent the copy of them, written with his own hand, indorsed by him as aforesaid, unto this Archbishop of Canterbury inclosed in this ensuing Letter, written with his own hand, and thus indorsed by the Archbishop himself, Rece. Mar. 10. 1633. Comp. Aug.