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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A42335 Advice to the clergy of the diocese of Lincoln by ... James Lord Bishop of that diocese, in order to his primary visitation. Gardiner, James, 1637-1705. 1697 (1697) Wing G223A; ESTC R18382 23,819 40

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natural and acquired was especially remarkt for Integrity and Probity This made him Magnanimous resolute and fervent in resisting and oppugning the corrupt Practises of the Court of Rome altho it exposed him to the neglects and censures of that Court notwithstanding he was the greatest Man of Learning and Industry in that Age. The same Spirit and Disposition began and carried on the Reformation in the Western parts of Christendom in a wonderful manner through many difficulties and hazards It was indeed an happy Direction of Providence that at the same juncture many of those upright and sincere Reformers were also Men of better Capacity and better Learning than the common Romish Clergy and where Learning is joyned with Integrity and Simplicity there can be no better accomplishment for the Work of the Ministry The present Age abounds with many Helps and Assistances of Learning and the Church of England is provided of many Clergymen eminently Learned I will not accuse any of want of Sincerity but I am apt to think that if that was generally the reigning and governing Disposition in the Clergy there would be lesser need of Inquiry and Reformation than I doubt there is This would make them careful to observe the Vows and Promises they made at their Ordination This would make Rectors and Vicars tender of those Souls who are committed to their Cure at their * Form of institution Curam ●nimarum Parochianorum tibi in Domino committimus Institution This would make Curates Sollicitous for the Flock with which they are intrusted although they have not Institution This would restrain all sorts from the immoderate pursuit of Pluralities and reconcile them to Residence making it acceptable and delightful to them This would ingage all the Ranks of the Clergy to be zealous and earnest in regaining the Seduced and reclaiming the Vicious and improving all This is that salt which not only preserves the Clergy from Corruption but also seasons all their Performances In short this makes them acceptable to God and useful to the Church This therefore is that Grace or Disposition of Mind which you should beg of God to bestow upon you and use your greatest Indeavour to acquire which if you be indowed with it will appear not only in the Holiness of your Lives as you are Christians but also in the Faithful performance of your Offices as you are Clergymen This I shall make evident by instancing in the Principal Offices which your Holy Function does oblige you to perform The first of which is Prayer by which I mean the publick Liturgy of the Church To this you have promised to conform and subscribed your Hands to that Promise as also to the 2d of the 3 Articles mentioned in the 36th Canon That the Book of Common Proyer containeth in it nothing contrary to the Word of God and that you your selves will use the Form in the said Book prescribed in publick Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and none other Does he make good these Subscriptions who reads the Common Prayer very seldom or not in order or not the whole but only some parts and peices or if he do read the whole reads it so hastily or so slightly and awkwardly as that an impartial Hearer might be apt to think that he had no good liking to it Whereas a Man that is sincere and in good earnest in this partof Religious Worship would be careful to read it leisurely * Q. Eliz. Articles 1559. plainly and * Q. Eliz. Articles 1559. distinctly well remembring that he addresses himself as the Mouth and Leader of the Congregation to that God who knows and who requires the Heart in all such Services He would also use his best Endeavour to read with such proper and becoming Tone and Accent as may best excite attention affection and fervour in himself others There is indeed a natural Indisposition in some Men to all kind of vocal Harmony even to that which consists only in the Elevation and Depression of the Voice in proper places and periods I call them proper not only with regard to the art of Music but even to the sence of the Words But I shall not urge this further than the natural capacity of men will bear There is certainly a felicity in Voice and Accent which they ought to make good use of to whom God has given it and those that want it can only use their Endeavour to attain to such a degree as to avoid at least all gross absurd and ridiculous pronunciation But such as do not think this worthy their Labouring after I am sure they cannot excuse themselves in neglecting omitting or altering any part of the publick Offices And though they read them not with that propriety of Vtterance and Accent which may promote attention and devotion they ought at least to perform the Offices as they are directed and prescribed for nothing less than this can Answer their Subscription which will remain in the Bishops Custody as a witness of their Insincerity This is to be understood not only of the Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer which if they could be daily performed in all Parishes would be of great use to breed in Peoples minds a sense of their dependance upon God from day to day but also all Occasional Offices the Administration of the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper Matrimony the Visitation of the Sick and Burial of the Dead All these ought to be performed seriously solemnly and deliberately and in the expressions and order in which they are directed which can only satisfy the Conformity which you have promised As to one of these Offices that of publick Baptism of Infants I must advise you to use your utmost Endeavour to prevail with your Parishioners to bring their Children to Church to be Baptized and not feign Pretences for having them baptized at their own Houses or if there be a real Danger and that Sickness or other need compels them so to do if the Child live you must not fail to admonish them that it is expedient as the Rubrick directs to bring the Child to Church afterwards This is a part of that conformity to the Liturgy of the Church of England to which you have subscribed I shall add one Word more upon this Subject which is the Observation of the Fasts and Feasts of the Church which are directed in the Books of Common Prayer the neglect of which has proceeded in some places as much from the Minister as from the People the Minister is to give notice of all such Days and why is that But that the People may know that such Days being appointed for the more than ordinary Worship and Service of God they ought to forbear their Labour and Work at least at the Hours of Worship and repair to Church where if there be no Minister to officiate to what purpose should they come This is an unaccountable Neglect and savours of Insincerity Now from