Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n
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A64125
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Rules and advices to the clergy of the diocesse of [blank] for their deportment in their personal and publick capacities. Given by the Bishop at the visitation.
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Taylor, Jeremy, 1613-1667.
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1661
(1661)
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Wing T387; ESTC R222418
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12,560
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52
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the ever Bl. Jesus the greatness of God our own meanness the dreadfull sound of the last trumpet the infinite event of the two last sentences at doomsday let them be taught to consider what they have been what they are and what they shall be and above all things what are the issues of eternity glories never to cease pains never to be ended 4. Let every Minister exhort his people to a frequent confession of their sins and a declaration of the state of their souls to a conversation with their Minister in spiritual things to an enquiry concerning all the parts of their duty for by preaching and catechising and private entercourse all the needs of Souls can best be serv'd but by preaching alone they cannot 5. Let the people be exhorted to keep fasting days and the feasts of the Church according to their respective capacities so it be done without burden to them and without becoming a snare that is that upon the account of Religion and holy desires to please God they spend some time in Religion besides the Lords day but be very careful that the Lords day be kept religiously according to the severest measures of the Church and the commands of Authority ever remembring that as they give but little Testimony of Repentance and Mortification who never fast so they give but small evidence of their joy in God and in Religion who are unwilling solemnly to partake of the Publick and Religious Joys of the Christian Church 6. Let every Minister be diligent in exhorting all Parents and Masters to send their Children and Servants to the Bishop at the Visitation or other solemn times of his coming to them that they may be confirm'd And let him also take care that all young persons may by understanding the principles of Religion their vow of baptism the excellency of Christian Religion the necessity and advantages of it and of living according to it be fitted and disposed and accordingly by them presented to the Bishop that he may pray over them and invocate the Holy Spirit and minister the holy rite of Confirmation VI. Rules and Advices concerning Visitation of the sick 1. EVery Minister ought to be careful in visiting all the sick and afflicted persons of his parish ever remembring that as the Priests lips are to preserve knowledg so it is his duty to minister a word of comfort in the time of need 2. A Minister must not stay till he be sent for but of his own accord and care to go to them to examine them to exhort them to perfect their repentance to strengthen their faith to encourage their patience to persuade them to resignation to the renewing of their holy vows to the love of God to be reconcil'd to their neighbours to make restitution and amends to confess their sins to settle their estate to provide for their charges to do acts of piety and charity and above all things that they take care they do not sin towards the end of their lives For if repentance on our death-bed seem so very late for the sins of our life what time shall be left to repent us of the sins we commit on our death-bed 3. When you comfort the afflicted endeavour to bring them to the true love of God for he that serves God for Gods sake it is almost impossible he should be oppressed with sorrow 4. In answering the cases of conscience of sick or afflicted people consider not who asks but what he asks and consult in your answers more with the estate of his soul than the conveniencie of his estate For no flattery is so fatal as that of the Physician or the Divine 5. If the sick person enquires concerning the final estate of his soul he is to be reprov'd rather than answer'd onely he is to be called upon to finish his duty to do all the good he can in that season to pray for pardon and acceptance but you have nothing to do to meddle with passing final sentences neither cast him down in despair nor raise him up to vain and unreasonable confidences But take care that he be not carelesly dismiss'd 6. In order to these and many other good purposes every Minister ought frequently to converse with his parishioners to go to their houses but always publickly with witness and with prudence least what is charitably intended be scandalously reported and in all your conversation be sure to give good example and upon all occasions to give good counsel VII Of ministring the Sacraments publick prayers and other duties of Ministers 1. EVery Minister is oblig'd publickly or privately to read the Common prayers every day in the week at morning and Evening and in great Towns and populous places conveniently inhabited it must be read in Churches that the daily sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiving may never cease 2. The Minister is to instruct the people that the baptism of their children ought not to be ordinarily defer'd longer than till the next Sunday or holy day after the birth of the child least importune and unnecessary delay occasion that the child die before it is dedicated to the service of God and the Religion of the Lord Jesus before it be born again admitted to the promises of the Gospel and reckon'd in the account of the second Adam 3. Let every Minister exhort and press the people to a devout periodical communion at the least three times in the year at the great Festivals but the devouter sort and they who have leasure are to be invited to a frequent Communion and let it be given and received with great reverence 4. Every Minister ought to be well skill'd and studied in saying his Office in the Rubricks the Canons the Articles and the Homilies of the Church that he may do his duty readily discreetly gravely and by the publick measures of the laws To which also it is very usefull that it be added that every Minister study the ancient Canons of the Church especially the Penitentials of the Eastern and Western Churches let him read good books such as are approved by publick authority such which are usefull wise and holy not the scriblings of Unlearned parties but of men learned pious obedient and disinterested and amongst these such especially which describe duty and good life which minister to faith and charity to piety and devotion Cases of Conscience and solid expositions of Scripture Concerning which learned and wise persons are to be consulted 5. Let not a Curate of souls trouble himself with any studies but such which concern his own or his peoples duty such which may enable him to speak well and to do well but to meddle with no controversies but such by which he may be enabled to convince the gainsayers in things that concern publick peace and a good life 6. Be carefull in all the publick administrations of your parish that the poor be provided for Think it no shame to beg for Christs poor members stir up the people to liberal alms by your word and your example Let a Collection be made every Lords day and upon all solemn meetings and at every Communion and let the Collection be wisely and piously administred ever remembring that at the day of judgement nothing shall publickly be proclaim'd but the reward of alms and mercy 7. Let every Minister be sure to lay up a treasure of comforts and advices to bring forth for every mans need in the day of his trouble let him study and heap together Instruments and Advices for the promoting of every virtue and remedies and arguments against every vice let him teach his people to make acts of virtue not onely by external exercise but also in the way of prayer and internal meditation In these and all things else that concern the Ministers duty if there be difficulty 〈◊〉 are to repair to your Bisâ—â—â— for further advice assistancâ— and information FINIS 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vide Rom. 16. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
RULES AND ADVICES To the CLERGY Of the DIOCESSE OF _____ For their Deportment in their Personal and Publick Capacities Given by the Bishop at the Visitation DUBLIN Printed by John Crook Printer to the King 's most Excellent Majesty and are to be sold by John North Book-seller in Castle-Street 1661. RULES AND ADVICES To the CLERGY I. Personal Duty REmember that it is your great Duty and tied on you by many Obligations that you be exemplar in your Lives and be Patterns and Presidents to your Flocks least it be said unto you Why takest thou my Law into thy moâ—h seeing thou hatest to be reformed thereby He that lives an evil Life may preach with Truth and Reason or as did the Pharisees but not as Christ or as one having Authority Every Minister in taking accompts of his Life must judge of his Duty by more strict and severer measures than he does of his People and he that ties heavy Burdens upon others ought himself to carry the heaviest end and many things may be lawful in them which he must not suffer in himself Let every Minister endeavor to be learned in all spiritual wisdom and skilful in the things of God for he will ill teach others the way of godliness perfectly that is himself a babe and uninstructed An ignorant Minister is an head without an eye and an evil Minister is salt that hath no savour Every Minister above all things must be careful that he be not a servant of passion whether of anger or desire For he that is not a master of his passions will always be useless and quickly will becom contemptible and cheap in the eyes of his parish Let no Minister be litigious in any thing not greedy or covetous not insisting upon little things or quarreling for or exacting of every minute portion of his dues but bountiful and easie remitting of his right when to do so may be useful to his people or when the contrary may do mischief and cause reproach Be not over rightous saith Solomon that is not severe in demanding or forcing every thing though it be indeed his due Let not the name of the Church be made a pretence for personal covetousness by saying you are willing to remit many things but you must not wrong the Church for though it be true that you are not to do prejudice to succession yet many things may be forgiven upon just occasions from which the Church shall receive no incommodity but be sure that there are but few things which thou art bound to do in thy personal capacitie but the same also and more thou art oblig'd to perform as thou art a publick person Never exact the offerings or customary wages and such as are allowed by law in the ministration of the Sacraments nor condition for them nor secure them before-hand but first do your office and minister the Sacraments purely readily and for Christs sake and when that is done receive what is your due Avoid all pride as you would flee from the most frightful apparition or the most cruel enemie and remember that you can never truly teach humility or tell what it is unless you practise it your selves Take no measures of Humility but such as are material and tangible such which consist not in humble Words and lowly Gestures but what is first truly radicated in your Souls in low opinion of your selves and in real preferring others before your selves and in such significations which can neither deceive your selves nor others Let every Curate of Souls strive to understand himself best and then to understand others Let him spare himself least but most severely judge censure and condemn himself If he be learned let him shew it by wise teaching and humble manners If he be not learned let him be sure to get so much knowledge as to know that and so much Humility as not to grow insolent and puffed up by his Emptiness For many will pardon a good man that is less learned but if he be proud no man will forgive him Let every Minister be careful to live a life as abstracted from the Affairs of the World as his necessity will permit him but at no hand to be immerg'd and principally imploy'd in the Affairs of the World What cannot be avoided and what is of good report and what he is oblig'd to by any personal or collateral Duty that he may do but no more Ever remembring the Saying of our blessed Lord In the world ye shall have trouble but in me ye shall have peace and consider this also which is a great Truth That every degree of love to the World is so much taken from the Love of God Be no otherwise sollicitous of your Fame and Reputation but by doing your duty well wisely in other things refer your self to God but if you meet with evil Tongues be careful that you bear reproaches sweetly and temperately Remember that no Minister can govern his people well and prosperously unless himself hath learn'd humbly and cheerfully to obey his Superior For every Minister should be like the good Centurion in the Gospel himself is under Authority and he hath people under him Be sure in all your Words and Actions to preserve Christian simplicity and ingenuity to do to others as you would be done unto your self and never to speak what you do not think Trust to Truth rather than to your Memory for this may fail you that will never Pray much and very fervently for all your Parishioners and all men that belong to you and and all that belong to God but especially for the Conversion of Souls and be very zealous for nothing but for Gods glory and the salvation of the World and particularly of your Charges Ever remembring that you are by God appointed as the Ministers of Prayer and the Ministers of good things to pray for all the World and to heal all the World as far as you are able Every Minister must learn and practise patience that by bearing all adversity meekly and humbly and cheerfully and by doing all his duty with unwearied industry with great courage constancie and Christian magnanimity he may the better assist his people in the bearing of their crosses and overcoming their difficulties He that is holy let him be holy still and still more holy and never think he hath done his work till all be finished by perseverance and the measures of perfection in a holy Life and a holy Death but at no hand must he magnifie himselfby vain separations from others or despising them that are not so holy II. Of Prudence requir'd in Ministers 1. REmember that Discretion is the Mistress of all Graces and Humility is the greatest of all Miracles and without this all Graces perish to a mans self and without that all Graces are useless unto others 2. Let no Minister be governed by the Opinion of his People and destroy his duty by unreasonable compliance with their humours least as the Bishop