LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 375 



" The bishops thought it necessary to put a 

 stop to this new and extravagant doctrine (viz. 

 the invalidity of lay baptism), so a declaration 

 was agreed to, first, against the irregularity of all 

 baptism by persons who were not in holy orders, 

 but that yet, according to the practice of the 

 primitive Church, and the constant usage of the 

 Church of England, no baptism in or with 

 water, in the name of the Father, Son, and 

 Holy Ghost, ought to be reiterated. The Arch- 

 bishop of York first agreed to this. So it was re- 

 solved to publish it in the names of all the bishops of 

 England; but he was prevailed on to change his 

 mindy and refused to sign it, pretending that this 

 would encourage irregular baptism." 



Whosoever reads this passage, will be apt to 

 take for granted, that the Archbishop of York 

 first agreed to the declaration; that upon his 

 agreeing thereto, it was resolved to publish ity 

 and that he afterwards changed his mind, and 

 refused to sign it. Whereas, though the resolution 

 to publish such a declaration was founded on his 

 agreement with the rest of the bishops in their 

 judgment upon the validity of lay baptisms, yet 

 he was not apprised of any such resolution, till 

 the Archbishop of Canterbury communicated 

 it to him, and then he disapproved of it. My 

 Lord of Canterbury does indeed mention in his 

 letter, a proposition that was made at Lambeth 



