Ecclesiastical History of England, Volume 5—The Church of the Revolution

by John Stoughton

A Bill for uniting their Majesties’ Protestant Subjects. First reading, March 11, 1688; second reading, March 14, 1688.

Whereas the peace of the State is highly concerned in the peace of the Church, which therefore at all times, but especially in this conjuncture, is most necessary to be preserved: In order therefore to remove occasions of differences and dissatisfaccons which may arise amongst Protestants, Be it Enacted by the King and Queen’s most excellent Ma^ties, By and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and of the Commons in this present Parliam^t assembled, and by the authority of the same, That in order to y^e being a Minister of this Church, or the taking, holding, and enjoying any Ecclesiastical Benefice or promotion in the same, noe other subscripcon or declaracons shall from henceforward be required of any person, but onely the Declaracon menconed in a Statute made in the thirtieth year of the Reigne of the late King Charles the Second, Intituled, An Act for the more effectual preserving the King’s person and Governm^t by disabling Papists from sitting in either House of Parliam^t, and also the Declaration following, viz^t: I, A. B., doe submit to the prnt Constitucon of the Church of Engl. I acknowledge that the doctrine of it contains in it all things necessary to Salvation, and I will conforme myself to the worship and the government thereof, as established by Law; And I solemnly promise, in y^e exercise of my Ministry, to Preach and practice according thereunto.

And Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that in order to the being Collated or Instituted into any Benefice or promotion noe more or other Oaths shall be required to be taken of any person than onely the two Oaths menconed in the late Statute made in the first year of the Reigne of King William and Queen Mary, Intituled, an Act for removing and preventing all questions and disputes concerning the assembling and sitting of this present Parliament, and alsoe the Oath of Simony, and the Oath of Residence, any Statute or Canon to the contrary notwithstanding.

And Be it further Enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that the Two Declaracons aforesaid shall be made and subscribed in y^e said Oaths menconed in the s^d Stat, made in the first yeare of the Reigne of King William and Queene Mary, shall be taken in the presence of the Bishop or his Chancellor, or the Guardian of the Spiritualities, by every person that is to receive any Holy orders, or keepe any public Schoole, and alsoe the p^r Oathes and Declaracon, together with the said Oathes of Simony and residence by every person that is to have a Lycence to preach any Lecture or that is to be Collated or Instituted into any Benefice, or that is to be admitted into any Ecclesiastical dignity or promotion before such his Ordination, Lycencing, Collation, Institution, or Admission, respectively.

And be it further Enacted, that every person that shall from henceforward take any Degree in either of the Universities, or any fellowship, headship, or professors place in the same, shall, before his admission to that degree, or fellowship, or headship, or professors place, subscribe the aforesaid Declaracons and take the said Oaths mentioned in the said Statute, made in the first yeare of the Reigne of King William and Queen Mary, in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor or his Deputy. Provided that if any of the persons herein before required to make and subscribe the said Declaracons be not in Holy orders, such person shall not be obliged to make and subscribe all the Declaracon hereinbefore expressed, but onely this part thereof, viz.: I, A. B., doe submitt to the psent Constitucon of the Church of Engld. I acknowledge that the doctrine of it contains in it all things necessary to Salvacon, and I will conforme myselfe to the worship and the Governm^t thereof, as established by law, together with the other Declaracon aforesaid menconed in said Statute, made in the Thirtieth year of the Reigne of the late King Charles the Second.

And be it further Enacted, that the making and subscribing the said Declaracons, and taking the said Oaths as aforesaid, shall be as sufficient to all intents and purposes aforesaid as if the parties had made all other Declaracons and subscripcons, and taken all other oaths which they should have taken by vertue of any law, Statute, or Canon, whatsoever.

And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid, that from henceforth noe Minister shall be obliged to wear a surplice in the time of reading prayers or performing any other Religious Office—Except onely in the King and Queen’s Ma^ties Chappells, and in all Cathedral or Collegiate Churches and Chappells of this Realme of England and Dominion of Wales. Provided alsoe that every Minister that shall not think fitt to wear a surplice as aforesaid shall nevertheless be obliged to performe all y^e Publick Offices of his Ministry in the Church in a Black Gowne, suitable to his Degree. And if it be in a place where a Gowne is not the dayly constant habit of the Minister, in every such parish the parish shall provide a Gowne for him, to be worne by him dureing the time of his officiating in the Church.

And be it further Enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that no Minister from henceforward shall be obliged to use the signe of the Crosse in Baptisme, nor any parent obliged to have his Child Christned by the Minister of the Parish if the said Minister will not use or omitt the signe of the Cross, according to the desire of the parent, who in that case may procure some other Minister of the Church of Engld to doe it.

And be it further Enacted, by y^e authority aforesaid, that noe Minister or Ecclesiastical person shall oblige any person to find Godfathers or Godmothers for any child to be baptized, soe as the parents or parent or other friend of such Child shall present the same to be Baptized, and shall answer for such child in like manner as the Godfathers and Godmothers are now required to doe.

And be it further Enacted, by y^e authority aforesaid, that noe Minister that shall officiate in the administracon of the Sacram^t of the Lord’s Supper shall deny or refuse to any person that desires to be admitted to the same, in a pew or seate in the Church, altho’ such person shall not receive it kneeling.