indisposed them for any measures which might flatter their late oppressors in their obstinacy, or encourage them to aim again at the superiority. The sectarists, on the other hand, less patiently submitted to the disappointment, because they had been so lately in possession of the government, and were indignant at being controlled by laws imposed upon them by those, whom they had not long before seen at their feet, and who, having divested them of all their power, had stripped many of them likewise of their ill-gotten estates. They resolved, therefore, to collect all their strength, and to make an insurrection, before the nation should be better instructed in the principles, and thoroughly settled in a course, of obedience: but, before putting their hopes on the issue of a trial, it was judged prudent to engage their partisans in Scotland and Ireland to second their attempt. The re-establishment of English PresbyEpiscopacy in Scotland had caused some discontent in that kingdom; but less than they had expected. Their hopes from Ireland were more sanguine: for those who belonged to their faction in that country were both more numerous; and they were at the same time animated to resistance by the fear of losing their estates, as well as their conventicles, and encouraged by the unhappy divisions and unsettled condition of the kingdom. terians scek aid from Scotland and Ireland. Ireland. The consequence of this appeal to the Scoto-Irish Consequence in Presbyterians was, in the first place, a plot to seize the castle of Dublin; and, secondly, a design for a general insurrection. The progress of this conspiracy, and the measures for its counteraction taken by the Lord Lieutenant, the Duke of Ormonde, who arrived in Ireland about the time of its commencement, may be sought in Carte's life of that illustrious loyalist Death of Primate June 25, 1663. and conscientious supporter of the Church. The foregoing allusion has appeared necessary, in proof of the spirit then existing, and ready to be brought into action, as opportunity should be offered, against the Church's polity and worship. On the 25th of June, 1663, the Church of Ireland was deprived of her Primate, Archbishop Bramhall, who died on that day, in the 70th year of his age; a prelate, to whom, perhaps, more than to any other, His valuable ser- the Church is indebted for the most valuable ser vices to the Church. Bishop Taylor's testimony to his character. His impediments and labours in the Primacy. vices, especially for his exertions in relieving her from the dilemma into which she had fallen with respect to her articles of religion; in improving the condition of her clergy; and in repairing the breaches and inroads, which had been made upon her discipline and good order before his advancement to the Primacy. But a few sentences, selected from Bishop Taylor's sermon, preached at his funeral, will be the most acceptable testimony to his value. "At his coming to the Primacy, he knew he should first espy little besides the ruins of discipline, a harvest of thorns and heresies prevailing in the hearts of the people, the churches possessed by wolves and intruders, men's hearts greatly estranged from true religion; and, therefore, he set himself to weed the fields of the Church. He treated the adversaries sometimes sweetly, sometimes he confuted them learnedly, sometimes he rebuked them sharply. He visited his charges diligently, and in his own person, not by proxies and instrumental deputations. He designed nothing that we knew of, but the redintegration of religion, the honour of God and the King, the restoring of collapsed discipline, and the renovation of faith and the service of God in the churches. And still he was indefatigable; and, even at the last scene of his life, intended to undertake a regal visitation. to the communion of the Upon a brisk alarm of death, which God sent him the His attachment last January, he gave thanks that God had permitted him to live to see the blessed Restoration of his majesty and the Church. Church of England, confessed his faith to be the same as ever, gave praises to God that he was born and bred up in this religion, and prayed to God, and hoped he should die in the communion of this Church, which he declared to be the most pure and Apostolical Church in the whole world. . . qualities. "To sum up all, he was a wise prelate, a learned doctor, His personal a just man, a true friend, a great benefactor to others, a thankful beneficiary where he was obliged himself. He was a faithful servant to his masters, a loyal subject to the king, a zealous assertor of his religion, against Popery on one side and fanaticism on the other. The practice of his religion was not so much in forms and exterior ministeries, although he was a great observer of all the publick rites and ministeries of the Church, as it was in doing good to others. "He was a man of great business and great resort. He His occupations. divided his life into labour and his book. He took care of his churches, when he was alive, and even after his death, having left five hundred pounds for the repair of his cathedral of Armagh, and St. Peter's church in Drogheda. He was an excellent scholar, and rarely well accomplished; first instructed to great excellency by natural parts, and then consummated by study and experience.. tion. "It will be hard to find his equal in all things. For in His high estimahim were visible the great lines of Hooker's judiciousness, of Jewel's learning, of the acuteness of Bishop Andrewes. .. He showed his equanimity in poverty, and his justice in riches: he was useful in his country, and profitable in his banishment.. He received publick thanks from the Convocation, of which he was president, and publick justification from the Parliament, where he was speaker; so that, although no man had greater enemies, no man had greater justifications." getson raised to The death of Archbishop Bramhall caused a Archbishop Marvacancy in the Primacy, which, on the 29th of the Primacy. 1663. Recommended by his predeces❤ sor. Harris's objection answered. August, was supplied by the translation of Archbishop Margetson from the metropolitan see of Dublin: to his merit no higher testimony can be borne, than the earnest recommendation which is said to have been made of him to the Duke of Ormonde by Primate Bramhall on his death-bed, as the worthiest person for his successor. In a Latin funeral oration, spoken over his hearse by William Palisser, Fellow of Trinity College at the time, and afterwards Archbishop of Cashel, this recommendation is commemorated. By Harris, however, in his edition of Sir JAMES WARE'S History of the Bishops, this is regarded as "a rhetorical flourish;" and the truth of the assertion is questioned, on the ground that Primate Bramhall was seized with an apoplectick fit in a court of justice, and carried thence senseless, and so continued till he died. But it was only about three months before this final seizure, that he had suffered so violent a shock of paralysis, that he "put his house in order, having received the sentence of death within himself, and knowing that he was shortly to render an account of his stewardship." In his own judgment at the time, as well as in that of his attendants, this was his "death-bed," though, in fact, it pleased God to protract his life a little longer; and from this, his death-bed, it is by no means improbable, that the recommendation of his successor in the Primacy, as affirmed by so respectable an attestation, was conveyed to the Lord Lieutenant. BISHOP TAYLOR'S Funeral Sermon. SECTION III. Act of Uniformity. Act for preventing Benefices being holden together in England and in Ireland. Sectarian Plot. Popish Synod. The Remonstrance. Instructions to Lord Berkley about the Church. Violence of the AntiRemonstrants. Interposition of the English Parliament. Proclamations against the Papists. Excellent government of the Duke of Ormonde. IN 1665, two Acts of Parliament were passed, both Two important Acts of Parlia ment. 1665. of them intimately affecting the welfare of the Church; the former in respect of the due ministra- 17, 18 Charles II. tion of publick worship, the latter in its operation upon ecclesiastical discipline, and the respectability and efficiency of the clergy. The former of these was the Act for the Uniformity of Publick Prayers: of which the preamble sets forth, that for the peace and advancement of religion by unanimous agreement in the publick worship of God, it had been recommended to both houses of Convocation to consider whether the form used in England, meaning the revised Liturgy, might not be profitably received in Ireland; and that it had been approved by them, who presented to the Lord Lieutenant and council the Book of Common Prayer. Accordingly the act ordains that the said Book shall be used in all places of publick worship; and that all ministers, enjoying ecclesiastical benefices, shall read and declare assent to the same, under pain of deprivation; and the like shall be done by every person hereafter promoted. It ordains that all persons in holy orders, schoolmasters, and private tutors, shall subscribe a declaration," that it is not lawful, upon any pretence whatever, to take arms against Act for the Uni formity of Pub lick Prayers. Preamble. Assent to the Book of Common Prayer. |