A Second Letter to the Bishop of Exeter

by Sir Edward Hall Alderson

The laity, for it is the laity whom the Parliament (the King, Lords, and Commons) represents, have I apprehend right to prevent any changes in the established laws of Church in all matters whether of doctrine, discipline, or ritual—and the sole right of enforcing, by the civil power, all the injunctions of the Church.

Even the right of assenting to the calling Councils of the Church—and of allowing their decrees was not taken from the lay members of the Church, and was exercised by the supreme head of the state in their name. In this country it is exercised as to executive matters by the King, as to legislative matters by the King, Lords, and Commons in Parliament. Long may it continue to be so exercised. The confusion of these two separate powers of Church and State in the Papacy has been, I believe, the main cause of its unhappy corruptions. But this is too wide a field to enter upon, and requires a longer letter, and an abler correspondent.

Believe me,

My dear Lord,
Faithfully yours,
A Layman.

PRINTED BY JOSEPH MASTERS, ALDERSGATE STREET, LONDON.

FOOTNOTES.

[4] This probably explains the saving of the jurisdiction of the Church of Canterbury in the 25th Henry VIII.