That those words in the Te Deum, "thine honourable, true and only Son," be thus turned, "thine only begotten Son," honourable being only a civil term, and no where used "in sacris."

5 The Benedicite shall be changed into the 128th Psalm, and other Psalms likewise appointed for the Benedictus and Nunc dimittis.

The Versicles after the Lord's Prayer, &c. shall be read kneeling, to avoid the trouble and inconveniences of so often 10 varying postures in the worship. And after these words, "Give peace in our time, O Lord," shall follow an answer, promissory of somewhat on the people's part, of keeping God's laws, or the like; the old response being grounded on the predestinating doctrine taken in too strict an 15 acceptation.

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All high titles or appellations of the King, Queen, &c. shall be left out of the prayers, such as "most illustrious, religious, mighty," &c. and only the word "Sovereign" retained for the King and Queen.

Those words in the prayer for the King, "Grant that he may vanquish and overcome all his enemies," as of too large an extent, if the King engage in an unjust war, shall be turned thus; "Prosper all his righteous undertakings against thy enemies," or after some such manner.

Those words in the prayer for the clergy, "who alone workest great marvels," as subject to be ill-interpreted by persons vainly disposed, shall be thus, "who art the author of all good gifts." And those words, "the healthful spirit of thy grace," shall be," the holy spirit of thy grace," healthful 30 being an obsolete word.

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The prayer which begins, "O God, whose nature and property," shall be thrown out, as full of strange and impertinent expressions, and besides not in the original, but foisted in since by another hand.

The collects for the most part are to be changed for those the Bishop of Chichester has prepared; being a review of the old ones with enlargements, to render them more sensible and affecting; and what expressions are needful, so to be retrenched.

If any minister refuse the surplice, the bishop, if the people desire it, and the living will bear it, may substitute one in his place that will officiate in it: but the whole thing is left to the discretion of the bishops.

If any be desirous to have godfathers and godmothers 5 omitted, and their children presented in their own names to baptism, it may be granted.

About the Athanasian Creed they came at last to this conclusion that lest the wholly rejecting it should by unreasonable persons be imputed to them as Socinianism, a rubric 10 shall be made, declaring the curses denounced therein not to be restrained to every particular article, but intended against those that deny the substance of the Christian religion in general.

Whether the amendment of the translation of the reading 15 Psalms, (as they are called,) made by the Bishop of St. Asaph and Dr. Kidder, or that in the Bible shall be inserted in the Prayer Book, is wholly left to the convocation to consider of and determine.

In the Litany, Communion Service, &c. are some alterations 20 made, as also in the Canons, which I cannot yet learn so particular account of, as to give them you with the rest; as perhaps I may hereafter be able to do.

IV.

b An account of the proceedings of the Commissioners of 1689, by 25 Dr. Nicholls. (Apparatus ad Defens. Eccles. Angl. p. 95.)

Imperato operi viri reverendi se protinus accingunt, et in Liturgia denuo limanda labores auspicantur. Primùm in examen vocatur Calendarium, ex quo lectionibus Apocryphis exturbatis, Canonicæ Scripturæ capita suffecta sunt, cum 30

b This account is understood to have been obtained by Dr. Nicholls from the papers of bishop Williams (of Chichester) who was one of the commissioners. Kennet, Comp. Hist. vol. iii. p. 591.

majore populi fructu perlegenda. Symbolum quod vulgo Sancti Athanasii dicitur, quia a multis improbatur propter atrocem de singulis, secus quam hic docetur credentibus, sententiam ministri arbitrio permittitur, ut pro apostolico 5 mutetur. Collectæ in totum anni cyclum de novo elaborantur, ad epistolæ et evangelii doctrinam congruentius factæ ; et cum tanta verborum elegantia atque splendore, tantaque Christianæ mentis vi atque ardore compositæ sunt, ut nihil possit animos audientium magis afficere et accendere, et eorum 10 mentes ad Deum evehere. Eas primum contexuit, summus hujus rei artifex, Simon Patricius; ulteriorem vim sanguinem spiritumque adhibebat Gilbertus Burnetius; eas denique cum magno judicio, singulis verbis diligenter expensis, examinante Edvardo Stillinfleto; ultimam limam addente ac verbis eno15 dibus et dulcis facilisque eloquentiæ flucntis iterum perpoliente Joanne Tillotsonio. Novam Psalmorum versionem ornabant originibus congruentiorem; eam curam sibi plerumque vindicante Richardo Ciddero, viro in linguis orientalibus versatissimo. Singulas dictiones et vocabula, quæ 20 sparsim per Liturgiam improbarant illius hostes, exquisita indagine collegit Thomas Tenisonius; in eorum loca suffectis verbis perspicuis et distinctis, nec a morosiori aliquo cavillandis. Alia quædam proposita sunt, sed quæ integre ad synodum referenda judicabantur. Primùm ut crux baptis25 malis seu infantium frontibus signetur, seu prorsus omittatur, penes parentes sit eligere. Deinde si non-conformista minister ad Ecclesiam revertatur, novis mysteriis vulgari ritu non iterum initiandus, sed ordinatione quadam conditionali potius insigniendus, uti nobis in usu est baptismum infantibus, de 30 quorum baptizatione non admodum compertum est, inferre ; benedictione episcopi addita, ut mos erat apud antiquos, clericos ab hæreticis ordinatos recipiendi (Dionys. Alex. ap. Euseb. Hist. Eccl. 1. 7. c. 2. Concil. Nic. 1. Can. 8. Just. sive Author Resp. ad orthodox. resp. 18. Theod. Hist. Eccl. l. 1. c. 8.) 35 In sacris ordinibus tali modo conferendis exemplo præiverat vir de ecclesia optime meritus Dominus Bramallus, Hiberniæ Primas, cum Scotos Presbyteros in Ecclesiam reciperet.

Hæc eorum summa erat quæ in hoc congressu viri doctissimi moliebantur.

Ff

· V.

The particular Acts and Adjournments of the Convocation from Dec. 4th, 1689.

THE Litany was read by a bishop for some days in Latin, there being only this supplication added after the prayers for 5 the bishops:

"That it may please thee to inspire with thy Holy Spirit this convocation, and to preside over it, to lead us into all truth, which is according to godliness.”

At other times, when there was no sermon, this prayer for 10 the parliament was constantly used:

"Most gracious God, who dost rule all men, and govern all things, be graciously present, we beseech thee, with the three estates of the kingdom in parliament assembled, under the government of our most gracious Princes William and Mary; 15 assist them with the spirit of counsel and peace, whereby they may be preserved in one mind and accord, and also may be inspired with the love of thee, and study the publick welfare: that whatsoever laws, by their joint suffrages shall be obtained, being established by our lord and lady the King and 20 Queen, may establish righteousness and peace to us, and confirm them to our posterities for ever, to the encrease of all virtue, and the eternal glory of thy name, by and for Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour."

Then follow'd these five collects; I. The collect on St. 25 Simon and St. Jude's day: "O Almighty God, who hast built thy Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets," &c.

II. The collect for Good Friday: "Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit," &c.

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III. Collect: "Almighty God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to the holy apostles many excellent gifts, and commandedst them earnestly to feed thy flock, make, we beseech thee, all bishops and pastors diligently to preach thy holy word, and the people obediently to follow the same, that they 35

may receive the crown of everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

IV. The collect on the fifth Sunday after Trinity: "Grant, we beseech thee," &c.

5 V. Collect: "O Lord God, the Father of lights, and Fountain of all wisdom, we thy humble and unworthy servants, prostrating ourselves at thy footstool, beseech thee, that we who are here met together in thy name, under the government of our most gracious King William and Queen Mary, 10 being assisted by thy heavenly grace, may so search out, meditate, handle and discern all things which may promote thy honour and glory, and the good of thy Church, that thy Spirit, which heretofore did preside over the counsil of the apostles, may also preside over this our counsil, and lead us into 15 all that truth which is according to godliness; that we who have worthily and seriously, utterly renounced the errours of our holy Reformation, the corruptions and superstitions, together with the papal tyranny which heretofore did here abound, may all of us firmly and constantly hold the apostolic and 20 truly catholick faith, and without fear, may duly serve thee with a pure worship, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." Then follows the prayer of St. Chrysostome: "Almighty God, who hast given us grace at this time," &c.

Then the members of the Convocation were called over: An 25 alphabetical catalogue of all the names of the members of the upper and lower house of this present Convocation.

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William Lord Bishop of St. Asaph.

Geor. Bright, D. D. Dean of St. Asaph.

Samuel Davies, L. D. Proctor for the Chapter.

William Lord Bishop of St. Asaph, Archdeacon of St. Asaph.

Griffin Lloyd, B. D. John Edwards, M. A. Proctors for the Clergy.

Bath and Wells.

Ralph Bathurst, D.D. Dean of Bath and Wells.

Rich. Busby, D. D. Proctor for the Chapter.

Edwin Sandys, A. M. Edw. Waple, B.D. Archdeacon of Wells [Bath], Taunton.