"A Faire Warning for England to take heed of the Presbyterian
Government.... Also the Sinfulnesse and Wickednesse of the _Covenant_,
to introduce that Government upon the Church of England."
the second paragraph of the first page proceeds:
"But to see those very men who plead so vehemently against all kinds of
tyranny, attempt to obtrude their own dreames not only upon their
fellow-subjects, but upon their sovereigne himself, contrary to the
dictates of his own conscience, contrary to all law of God and man; yea
to compell forreigne churches to dance after their pipe, to worship
that counterfeit image which they feign to have fallen down from
Jupiter, and by force of arms to turne their neighbours out of a
possession of above 1400 years, to make roome for their _Trojan Horse_
of ecclesiastical discipline (a practice never justified in the world
but either by the Turk or by the Pope): this put us upon the defensive
part. They must not think that other men are so cowed or grown so tame,
as to stand still blowing of their noses, whilst they bridle them and
ride them at their pleasure. It is time to let the world see that _this
discipline_ which they so much adore, is _the very quintessence of
refined Popery_."
My copy of this tract has no place or date: but it appears to have been
printed at the Hague in 1649. It was answered in the same year by "Robert
Baylie, minister at Glasgow," whose reply was "printed at Delph."
As the tide of the time and circumstance rolled on, this simile gained
additional force and depth; and to understand the admirable aptitude of its
application in the passage I shall next quote, a few preliminary remarks
are necessary.
There was always in the Church of England a portion of her members who
could not forget that the Puritans, though external to her communion, were
yet fellow Protestants; that they differed not in kind, but in degree--and
that these differences were insignificant compared with those of Rome. At
the same time, they reflected that perhaps the Church of England was not
exactly in the middle, and that she would not lose were she to move a
little nearer the Puritan side. Accordingly, various attempts were made to
enlarge the terms of her communion, and eject from her service-book any
lingering "relics of Popery" which might offend the weaker brethren yclept
the Puritans: thus to make a grand Comprehension Creed--a Church to include
all Protestants.
This was tried in James I.'s reign at the Savoy Conference; but in spite of
Baxter's strenuous efforts and model prayer-book, it was a failure. Even
Archbishop Sancroft was led to attempt a similar Comprehensive Scheme, so
terrified was he at the dominance of the Roman Church in the Second James's
reign: however, William's accession, and his becoming a nonjuror, crossed
his design. In 1689, Tillotson, Burnet, and a number of William's
"Latitudinarian" clergy made a bold push for it. A Comprehension Bill
actually passed the House of Lords, but was thrown out by the Commons and
Convocation. From William's time toleration and encouragement were extended
to all save "Popish Recusants;" so that there were a large number in the
Church of England ready to assist their comrades _outside_ in breaking down
her fences. The High Churchmen, however, as may be guessed, would not sit
tamely by, and see the leading idea of the Anglican Church thrown to the
winds, her _via media_ profaned, her park made a common, and her
distinctive doctrines and fences levelled to the ground. What _their_
feelings were, may be gathered from this indignant invective:
"The most of the inconveniences we labour under to this day, owe their
original to the weakness of some and to the cowardice of others of the
clergy. For had they stood stiff and inflexible at first against the
encroachments and intrigues of a Puritanical faction, like a threefold
cord, we could not have been so easily shattered and broken. The
dissenters, as well skilled in the art of war, have besieged the Church
in form: and at all periods and seasons have raised their batteries,
and carried on their saps and counter-scarps against her. They have
left no means unessayed or practised, to weaken her. And when open
violence has been baffled, and useless, _stratagem_ and contrivance
have supplied what force could never effect. Hence it is, that under
the cant of _conscience_ and _scruple_, they have feigned a compliance
of embracing her communion; if such and such ceremonies and rules that
then stood in force could be omitted, or connived at: and having once
broke ground on her discipline, they have continued to carry on their
trenches, and had almost brought the _Great Comprehension-Horse_ within
our walls; whilst the _complying_, or the _moderate_ clergy (as they
are called), like the infatuated _Trojans_, helped forward the
_unwieldy machine_; nor were they aware of the danger and destruction
that might have issued out of him."--_The Entertainer_, London, 1718,
p. 153.[5]
{488}
I shall but add a postscript to my former Note. In "N. & Q." (Vol. viii.,
p. 156.), a number of pamphlets on High Church and Low Church are referred
to. A masterly sketch of the two theories is given at pp. 87, 88. of Mr.
Kingsley's _Yeast_, London, 1851.