of those sacred studies."-This was the first remarkable JAMES I. check given to Calvinism in this reign.

And now to take a short view of the condition of religion The progress of Calvinism in Ireland. The Puritan persuasion had for some time in the kingdom of gotten great footing in this kingdom; the late reign having proved but unfortunate to that Church. Here the lay managers, to enrich themselves, struck in with the Nonconformists against the hierarchy. The revenues of the prelates and cathedrals were set to sale; and the ravage was carried on to so great a calamity, that some sees had nothing towards a competency left to maintain a bishop for which reason several dioceses were thrown together to make a tolerable subsistence. Thus the bishoprics of Ardagh and Kilmore, Ossory and Kilkenny, Down and Connor, Waterford and Lismore, Cork and Ross, &c. were united.

:

This poverty reached the inferior orders for the parish tithes being mostly appropriated to religious houses, fell to the crown at the dissolution; afterwards king Henry VIII., and his successors, conveyed them to their favourites; and thus they were now alienated from the Church and turned to lay-fees. The vicarages were generally sunk to a lamentable provision: insomuch, that in the province of Connaught, the common allowance to the vicar amounted but to forty shillings per annum, and sometimes but to sixteen. Thus the Church revenues being seized, the authority of the bishops and clergy went off of course, and the people followed their own fancy in the choice of religion: and in this despicable condition the Church of Ireland was left at the death of queen Elizabeth.

At the Hampton-court conference the king proposed the sending preachers into Ireland, complaining he was but half a monarch in that kingdom; that nothing but their bodies were subject to his authority; for their consciences were under the pope's command. However it does not appear any expedient was tried to bring the Irish further into the Reformation till after the year 1607: about which time the earl of Ter-Owen, Ter-Connel, Sir John Odhagharty, and other noblemen of the north, quitted the island with their families, and left their estates to the king's disposal. Upon this the plantation of Ulster was undertaken by the city of

London: these adventurers fortified Coleraine, bulk Lar donderry, and purchased a great tract of land in the na cent parts. But the planting this province was more virt ously pursued by some of the Scots, who transported rate rous exlonies. These planters improved the country. EL brought preachers into the churches where they seet Bet being of the Presbyterian persuasion, they formed ar church upon their own scheme; and as for episcopal gover ment, and the English Common-prayer, nothing was mn despised and neglected.

And thus Calvinism advancing by degrees, both in discpline and doctrine, the latter was at last received as the pubile belief of the Irish Church. Thus the Articles of the Church of England not passing the test, the divines there went so far in their singularities, as to bring in a confession of their own. The draught was referred to the conduct f Dr. James Usher, then provost of Dublin-college, and afterwards lord primate. By this gentleman's management, the Lambeth Articles, rejected at the Hampton-court conference, were taken into the Confession. Secondly, An article was framed to justify the morality of the Sunday Sabbath and requiring the spending it wholly in religious exercises. Thirdly, Something of Calvin's notion concerning our Saviour's agony and descent into hell is maintained. Fourthly, Forbearing flesh upon certain days of abstinence, is declared not to be done upon the score of mortification, but for politic considerations. Fifthly, All clergymen are supposed lawfully called, who have their business assigned them by those who have authority in the Church: but that these authorized persons are none but bishops, is not asserted. Sixthly, The power of the keys is said to be only declarative, which expounds away one main branch of the sacerdotal commission, and makes the apostolic privilege of binding and loosing signify nothing. The pope is made AD. 1615. antichrist, pursuant to the doctrine of the Calvinistic synod at Gappe, in Dauphiny: and, lastly, The consecration of archbishops and bishops, is passed over in silence; as if it was done on purpose to avoid asserting the distinction between this order and that of priests. Thus Usher's private opinions were thrown into the articles for the Church

of Ireland, passed in the convocation there this year, JAMES I. and ratified by the lord deputy Chichester in the king's

name.

upon the

Articles.

As to his majesty's sentiment, it was plainly different from many of these decisions: how then came it about that the articles were confirmed by his authority? There are several conjectures to satisfy this question. First, it is Conjectures said archbishop Abbot and James Mountague, bishop of grounds why Bath and Wells, had the ascendant at court in Church his majesty confirmed affairs: now these prelates had formerly undertaken the the Irish defence of some, or most of these opinions. Secondly, The king's engaging so earnestly in the controversy with Vorstius, and taking part with the prince of Orange against Barnevelt and the Remonstrants, might probably press him with his own precedent; and thus he might be prevailed with not to reject those opinions in Ireland, which had been countenanced by him in Holland. Lastly, It was no unusual method with this princę to balance one extreme, by throwing weight into another: thus the Papists were sometimes countenanced against the Puritans, and the Puritans against the Papists, that by this means the growth of each division might be checked, and the English Reformation better secured. Whether the king was determined by these motives, or by which of them, is uncertain. However, the Puritans made their advantage of the ratification: and when they happened to be pinched in any of the points above-mentioned, their way was to take shelter in the Irish articles, and appeal to king James's testimony.

This year, King, bishop of London, consecrated a chapel 709. at Edmington, situate near the house of John Weld, esq. The consecration prayer stands thus :--

"O most merciful Father, the heaven is thy throne, and Bishop the earth is thy footstool; what house then can be built for King's form for consethee? or what place is there that thou shouldest rest in? But crating a chapel. yet since it has ever been thy delight to be with the sons of men, therefore in all ages of the world, thy servants have separated and hallowed certain places from all profane and common uses unto thy divine service, either by thy special commandment, or by the inspiration of thy blessed Spirit.

VOL. VII.

сс

ARROT, SO Adam had as rator ʼn are zu Test z place in the fields. Wiss us

Abg Cant

ness, and the children

worship in the land of mise. mi: Leased te z
last to put into the heart of ang bumao IE

to thy honour in Jerusalem. ximum or ka, maz
for riches, renowned for netry timun al t
whither the tribes of Tarnet iti assemble tre times I for
to offer sacrifices and obiations into hee mi uttevrs
thy people being infamed with the tune aze
added daily unto their mother Chura er sTUTES
every town. By which godly xammies eveniet n
word, the Christian churches in their session lave nue
and consecrated houses unto thee, as val ir de sent A
of divine ordinances and preaching of my heavmir worl =
for the invocation of thy great name and administation i
thy holy sacraments: for the temple is the mur if muñears
wherein thou dost sit to hear our prayers mi Is Ar
heaven upon earth wherein we assemble and nees UH
to land and magnify thy glorious majesty. Ani is n
reason and religion enforce us to this work! Fe sind de
parrow have an house, and the swallow her nest, ani stal
we not find out an house for thee, O Lord, our Redeemer:
Shall wo which are but dust and ashes build unto ourselves
peiled and beautified houses for our worldly affairs, yea, and
Ra our pleasures; and shall we not build and dedicate some
house for thy worship, unto thy great and fearful rame
and repay, as it were, the tithes of our dwelling-places back
Again unto thee! For all things come from thee, and we
en give thee but thy own. Accept, therefore, we beseech
the most gracious Father, this our bounden duty; and
homary except thou build the house, they labour but in
yam that build it, sanctify this house with thy gracious pre-
seine which is erected unto the honour of thy service. Now
PhotoRue arise, O Lord, and come unto this place of rest;
lot the eyes be open to this house night and day. Let
the pore be ready towards the prayers of thy children,
which they shall pour forth to thee in this place: and let
thing heart delight to dwell here perpetually; and whenever
thy sovanta shall make their petitions unto thee in this

house, either to bestow thy good graces and blessings upon JAMES I. them, or to remove thy heavy punishments and judgments from them, hear thou from heaven thy dwelling-place, and when thou hearest, have mercy, and grant, O Lord, we beseech thee, that here and elsewhere thy priests may be clothed with righteousness, and that all the saints may rejoice in thy salvation; so that when we shall cease to pray to thee in these earthy temples, we may, at the last, praise thee in thy glorious temple, not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens, for thy dear Son, our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ his sake, who lives and reigns with thee, and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen."

After this a psalm was sung, and the bishop dismissed King, Regist. the congregation with his blessing. fol. 401.

Vaughan,

The same form was used at the consecration of a chapel in Clay-hall in the parish of Barking in Essex, belonging to Sir Christopher Hatton, grandfather to the late viscount Regist. Hatton. The chapel was consecrated by Thomas, bishop Sept. 15,

of Chester.

fol. 406.

1616.

Bishop

character.

A then.

In June the next year, Thomas Bilson, bishop of Win- 4. p. 1616. chester, departed this life. His great-grandfather, Arnold Bilson's Bilson, a high German, married a daughter of the duke of death and Bavaria. This prelate, born in Winchester, and bred at Wood, New-college, was afterwards schoolmaster of Winchester, Oxon. and then warden of the college. His first see was that of Worcester, from whence he was translated to Winchester in the year 1597. He was a person of great learning, particularly a good linguist, and well read in the fathers and schoolmen. He was an author of character, and writ in defence of the Church of England, both against the Papists and Puritans. His book, entitled, "The true Difference between Christian Subjection, and Unchristian Rebellion," gives a dangerous latitude to subjects in some cases. It is said to be written at the instance of queen Elizabeth, who upon her undertaking the protection of the Dutch, was willing to put the best colours upon their revolt from the king of Spain. In his "Perpetual Government of Christ's Church," the patriarchal power with respect to religion is asserted in the fathers of families before the law;