i 
7 
4 
91 
and with but little warning, only a flying report, so short was th, 
notice that he had no time to remonstrate, and if he had “ thi, 
would only have provoked,” so, as there was no other place 
“capable to receive so great a multitude as came for cure,” he 
remained passive. The “ office” was consequently .performed in 
the church, between the hours of prayer. Ken’s intended 
remonstrance here does not suppose any popish decorations or 
preaching, but was simply against the church being used for the 
purpose of the healing. But, after what did occur, he continues, 
being well aware what advantage the Romanists would take of 
any “seeming complyances,” and to obviate all misrepresentations 
that they might make, “he took occasion on Sunday to preach 
from the Gospel, of which the subject was the Samaritan, and the 
tenor of his sermon being Charity, pointing out that although the 
doors of the church may possibly be open to a common work of 
charity, they could not be open to a different form of worship. 
This, he concludes, was “the substance of what I said upon that 
action.” Although the office took place between the hours of 
service and not as a parti of it, “ that action” against which Ken 
protested would be not only any “ Popish mummery,” but the 
use of a foreign or unauthorised form of prayer. That a popish 
form was given to the “ office ” is clear, but what took place more 
exactly is not at present in evidence, not even that the Confessor 
preached or addressed those present—a sermon certainly was 
never a part of the ceremony. But it is clear, contrary to tradi- 
tion, that Ken, even if present, did not publicly notice “the 
action,” or preach on it until the Sunday following. 
Another circumstance which has got mixed up with this event, 
and which perhaps accounts for the preaching story, can now also 
be cleared up. 
Ken’s sermon was not printed ; but it happens that there is a 
pamphlet published in this year, 1687, which is an answer to a 
sermon by Ken, and it has been assumed that it was an answer 
to this sermon on charity. 
