Sense of the Catholick Church in all Ages and of all particular Churches at this day for Men to set up Altar against Altar and separate from their lawfull Governours without just reason is that Schism condemned by the Gospel and that there is no reason to separate from the Church of England I have sufficiently shewed by taking off all the Objections against her Communion Mr Baxter's Apology pag. 8. I know how unable the Separatists were to answer the many Arguments of the Famous Arth. Hildersham J. Paget W. Bradshaw Brightman John Ball and other old Nonconformists for the lawfulness of Communicating with our Parish-Churches in the Sacraments and the Liturgy I was exceedingly moved against Separation truely so called by considering 1. How contrary it is to the Principle of Christian-love 2. And how directly and certainly pernicious to the interest of the cause of Christ and his Church and of the Souls of Men and how powerful a means it is to kill that little Love that is left in the World 4. I was greatly moved in thinking of the State of most Churches in the World if I travelled into Ahassia Armenia Russia or among the Greek Churches I durst not deny to hold communion with them When I go to God in Prayer I dare not go in a separate capacity but as a Member of the Universal Church nor would I part with my share in the Common-Poayers of all the Churches for all the World And having perused all the Forreign and Ancient Liturgies extant in Bibliotheca Patrum I doubt not but our own is incomparably better then any that is there And consider what Mr Calvin says in this Case who does also own Bishops Liturgies and Symbolical Ceremonies as ours are no just Cause of separating from the Church viz. Institut l. 4. c. 1. n. 10. I have set down the Preaching of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments for the signs whereby to know the Church For where the Preaching of the Gospel is reverently heard and the Sacraments are not neglected there for that time is a certain face of a true Church and 't is lawfull for no Man without punishment to despise her Authority reject her Admonitions be refractory against her Counsels or mock at her Corrections much less may he separate from her and break her unity For our Lord does so highly esteem the Communion of his Church that he does reckon him for a Renegado and desertor of Religion that does obstinately separate from any Christian Society that does hold the true Ministry of the Word and Sacraments from whence it does follow that to depare from the Church is to deny God and Christ but how much the more ought we to take heed of such a wicked Schism for while we go about as much as in us lyes to destroy the Truth of God we deserve that God should thunder against us with the greatest force of his Wrath to break as in pieces If some Men of better understanding by their diligence get to a knowledge of the principal parts of their Duty yet the generality of People Children and Servants will be exposed to all Ignorance Errour and Profaness IN the constitution of the Church the very Order of the Service and the solemn times set apart to bless God for the particular dispensations of the Gospel such as the Incarnation of our Lord at the Feast of Annunciation commonly called our Lady-day his Birth at Christinas and so his Passion Resurrection Asconsion sending down the Holy Ghost the Feast of the Holy Trinity with other particular Seasons are a standing Catechism and with a little help will easily bring even Children to understand and remember all parts of their Duty and for their fuller instruction and admonition the Minister is to Catechise in the Afternoons and to teach those that are ignorant of these things and to put all others in mind to think upon and observe what they do already understand So that Persons that live in the Obedience of the Church must be stupidly careless of themselves if they want any thing necessary for their edification in Faith and Love and finally to attain Salvation and if any generally are ignorant of these things they are such who run away from their Governours and either through sloth or faction would not give themselves the trouble to hear and receive the sober advice of their Ministers and commands of the Church Then under the Churches discipline the admonition of the Bishops the reproof of their Minister good Neighbours and fellow Christians did reform many of these abuses and stir up others to a diligent attendance upon the publick Service But now all sorts of temporal punishments are in a manner Suspended if you by running into Conventicles teach your Children and Servants your Neighbours and Acquaintance to despise the Authority of their Bishops and Ministers and all the Spiritual discipline of the Church you will be a means to encourage Ignorance and Profaness and in a short time our People will fall into Atheism and Infidelity For many from your example taught to contemn the reproofs and censures of their Governours will not only neglect the Communion of the Church but all sort of exercise of Religion and so turn Pagans if not live altogether like brute Beasts Others that have as yet some sparks of the Sense of Religion in generall left in them yet running up and down from Place to Place from one Sect to another will be far from receiving that firm and setled understanding of the Grounds and Principles of Religion which is necessary to keep them steady in their Duty and to bulld them up to an Holy and Heavenly conversation So that you that withdraw your selves from the Communion of your Bishops and Ministers of the Church of England besides the great Sins of Disobedience Schism and contempt of the Church and the danger you run of Heresie and damnable errour you do by your pernicious example expose your Children and Servants and multitudes of your fellow Subjects to Ignorance Profaness Infidelity Atheism and so instead of advancing purer Religion you will bring the greatest part to no Religion at all and these things we could in a great measure prevent if you by running into Conventicles and despising the directions of your Governours did not give them occasion and encourage them to run away from the sober instruction of the Church Let me therefore in the Name of God and as I have the generall care and charge of your Souls and shall be ready to give any assistance and direction you stand in need of in your passage to Heaven prevail upon you to take these things into your serious consideration Religion is not a politick Engine to be used at pleasure only to serve Mens turns upon occasion and gratine their humour and keep up the interest of a party but 't is the revealed and unchangeable Will of God concerning our Salvation and therefore must in all things be
we do from these Men. Answ Perhaps their passionate way of speaking their Noise with now and then an affected Sigh and Groan may stir up a present passion in you as a good Actor at a Play does who can make the People cry and laugh when he will I hope therefore you will not say that the Actor is moved by the Spirit and those are all made Godly People that are thus moved and affected as to burst into Tears so that if you Judge of the soundness of your Religion by such outward Passions I fear the Player when he sets about it will make you believe he is the most Sanctified Preacher Setting then aside this which is no argument of the working of the Holy Spirit but an act of the Man and all the efficacy is lost in an hour or Two assoon as you come into Company or are taken up with business and other affairs You must not therefore Judge of your Religion by a sudden passion but by your sound understanding and steady performing all parts of your Duty Obj. But this cannot be a sudden Passion only in me but must be a real work of the Holy Spirit because I find a great change in my Life I am grown more sober read and meditate upon Gods Word and mind Religion more then I did before Answ But that is no Argament that you are in a safe way so long as you continue in Schism for when the Devil did find he could no longer ruine your Soul by open prophaness he now may tempt you to more secret Sins to more Spiritual wickedness which are as heinous in the sight of God and as dangerous to your Salvation Obj. We have satisfied our selves all along upon these accounts Answ But you see they are weak grounds to rely upon for all this while thô you are Zealous for some you may be wanting in many other necessary duties and you are guilty of Schism disobedience to Parents destroy all Discipline and Order in the Church encourage Atheism and Prophaness and endanger the safety both of Church and State meerly upon fancies and humours for I can call it no other because there is not One good thing that you can learn and observe there that you cannot as well have and practice in the communion of the Church Besides you act against the Sense of the Primitive Church and all other Churches in the World Obj. If it be so we are much mistaken and greatly abused by our Ministers Answ It is certainly so and while you follow such blind and erring guides no wonder if you fall into destruction Obj. We have been told by our Preachers and therefore did verily believe that the Ancient Church were Papists and when the Divines of the Church of England did talk to us of following the Doctrine and Government of the Ancient Church we thought it was only with a design to prepare the way to bring us to Popery Answ Now I hope you are satisfied that the Church of England is no wayes inclining to Popery but does endeavour to teach you your Duty according to the Holy Scriptures and further to confirm the Truth and soundness of their interpretation of Gods Word by the Doctrine of the Primitive Church and the generall Councils and tradition of the Catholick Church And this you may see if you read their late Writings they do as heartily maintain against the Church of Rome as they did before against the other Dissenters and Fanaticks Obj. I am very well satisfied now that the Men of the Church of England are far from being Papists but you tell me that all other Reformed Churches do approve of the Church of England and are ready to joyn with her in communion and condemn those for Schismaticks that set up separate Congregations Answ Yes I do so and if you will but advise with your Bishops and Ministers they will easily be able to prove it to your satisfaction You may read much to this purpose in my Evangelical and Catholick unity where you have the opinions of Luther Melancthon Bucer and Calvin in their own words to this purpose Obj. Then therein I perceive our Teachers have greatly abused us also Indeed I find many rational and sober Men of the Church of England and I believe there may be a great deal of Truth in what you say but yet they are of such a persecuting spirit that they will let no body live quietly by them that are not of their perswasion which we think to be a very ill temper not becoming the moderation of the Gospel Answ It is a sad thing that the Church of England which is the most gentle and moderate and does disclaim all cruelty and hard usage upon the account of Religion should now be accounted the greatest Persecutor as I perceive she is at this time People strangely forget themselves and the opinions and practices of their own Party when they lay such an accusation upon the Church of England which does disown any power of temporal punishment Obj. But there were many Statutes that did inflict severe penalties upon Dissenters Answ These are made by the State for the security of the Government for they finding Dissenters generally enemies to the publick Peace and endeavouring changes and alterations by Mutiny and Sedition saw it necessary by Penal Laws to restrain them from growing too numerous and to keep them within the bounds of their duty Obj. But does not the Church of England then allow of Penal Statutes Answ In a moderate way she does to make Men hear and consider but not to undoe them Obj. But surely Men need not to be used like Children they have discretion to mind their duty without being stirred up by punishments Answ They should have so but 't is plain that they have not Rom. 13. and therefore God Almighty has placed Governours and Officers to be a terrour to evil doers and a praise and an honour to them that do well and mind their duty Obj. Yes if punishments were inflicted on evil doers we should like that well but they punish Godly People because they will not go against their Conscience Answ Do you account then all the Idle Lazy people that lye at home and sleep or else sit drinking at Ale-houses in time of Divine Service and will never so much as take pains to understand their Catechism and bring their Children to be instructed in the Grounds of the Christian Religion Godly People Now 't is evident these idle and ignorant People unless they be stirred up by punishment will never give themselves the trouble to understand and do their duty and so will ruine their own and their Childrens Souls Obj. If you did punish only such idle and lazy People that did live like Heathens and require them and their Children to hear and do their duty no sober Man but must approve of such Discipline and will say such People deserve to be punished But you punish Godly People that do read
and meditate upon the holy Scriptures and take pains to know and do their duty thô they do not conform to the Church of England Answ The Laws are made in generall for all that absent themselves from the publick Service for else all idle People would excuse themselves under that pretence of being Dissenters Besides many are Dissenters not out of Conscience but out of Pride Humour and for temporal advantage and so run into Heresie Schism and Destruction It is all the reason in the World that such carnall affections should be restrained and Men obliged to hear and consider the sober Instruction of the Church and the design of all punishments is to that purpose that men might not neglect their duty out of humour and laziness c. Obj. You will not allow then that the Church of England is a persecuting Church Answ No by no means no body can with any colour say that of Her she does advise all Magistrates to use that wholesome Discipline which God has appointed and which all Holy and Religious Magistrates have executed to oblige People to hear and consider For as all Parents are bound to teach and correct their Children if they be disorderly so all Christian Magistrates as they are common Fathers of their Countrey ought to see their Children instructed in the principles of true Religion and have a right to punish their unruly and disorderly Children accordingly there are Laws for that purpose which when executed as they ought to be bring Peace and Holyness to a Nation thô in the executing them there is great prudence and moderation to be used which the Governours are to take into their Consideration Obj. But why do you say the Church of England is the most moderate Church in the World Answ Because she like the true Mother is for correcting and not destroying her disorderly Children Obj. Surely those that now cry up Toleration and talk of liberty of Conscience when and where they had power were not for putting to death and exterminating those that did differ from them Answ Yes you may read lamentable Stories of the cruelty of the Anabaptists in Germany and I need not tell of the cruelties and Murders committed by others who would be representing the Church of England for a persecuting Church I shall not name particulars inquire and you will easily satisfie your selves that the Church of England does but advise such moderate discipline as Fathers ought to exercise over their Children when the Dissenters are generally not satisfied but with blood and destruction Obj. I cannot say but you speak a great deal of reason in the defence of the Church of England and I perceive many good Men think it no harm to joyn with her upon occasion but they think they may also goe and hear a good Sermon in a Meeting Answ But is not that to set up a Schism and plainly to make a fraction in the Church and it is encouraging Children to think meanly of and to despise their own Ministers Parents and Masters for what is it but the very case that St. Paul blames in the Corinthians that one was for Paul another for Apollos another for Cephas for thô a Dissenter may Preach well yet when he does it in opposition to the Church without any call and does draw People into parties it is that Schism which is condemned by the Scripture and will bring all those mischiefs that I have already spoken of and does plainly teach People to despise their Governours Ministers and fellow Christians Obj. But why do you say those Preachers have no call Answ Because most of them have no Ordination and if they had they have no Licence and Authority from the Bishops and Governours and so by the Law of Christ and the constant Rule of the Church they have no power to Preach for how shall they Preach except they be sent If they were Ordained they ought not to thrust themselves into another Mans charge Obj. Thô they have no outward Call from the Church yet they are sent by Jesus Christ Answ How do you prove that Obj. Because we find them endned with excellent gifts and Christ did not bestow such Talents to be hid in a napkin Answ Gifts are no Argument that a Man has a Lawfull call for a Heretick or a Schismatick may have Gifts and use them to divide and destroy the Church Therefore as none must Preach without a call so if any that are called turn Heretick or Schismatick he may be silenced again Titus 1.10 for besides gifts there must be a sober and orderly Conversation sound profession Obedience to the Orders of the Church and if this Method were not observed and Men tied to be Peaceable and Cuiet and subject to their respective Governours the Church would be the most confused Society in the World Obj. I confess Ministers ought to be quiet and peaceable Men and they ought to promote Love and Unity Answ But after this way of running into Conventicles there can be neither Love nor Unity nor holiness in the Church for one Preacher will be setting up in opposition to another and Sects and Divisions will daily increase And you see by experience Schismaticks differ one from another as they do from the Church and then fall a censuring and condemning one another as much as they did the Church and thence proceed Hatred Strife endless Quarrels and Contentions and Heresies Ignorance and Profaness overspread the Nation and all these mischiefs come upon us because Men will not submit to that Order and Government that Christ has set in his Church but after their own lusts heap to themselves Teachers having isching Ears 2 Tim. 4.3 Now the Scripture says Men that thus oppose the Peace and Order of the Church must have their mouths stopped Tit. 1.10 11. But if they are not stopped all good Christians ought to avoid having any thing to do with them Rom. 16. Obj. Then I perceive you would take away the liberty of Conscience granted by the Act of Parliament Answ The Act of Parliament is only to free you from the punishment that might be inflicted upon you by Law on your Body or Estate and is equally extended to Anabaptists Quakers and other Hereticks and almost Persons of all Perswasions whatsoever and to keep them quiet as to the State under their perverse humours and therefore was never meant to lead you to the way of Salvation or to warrant them to be good Christians and my design is rightly to inform your Conscience and perswade you not to use this liberty for a Cloak of maliciousness and to take this opportunity to run from the truth is the way to bring upon your selves everlasting destruction as many do that forsake the Church of England Obj. Do you think then we are in such a dangerous condition Answ It is not for me to pronounce Sentence upon any One as to the other World but according to the Rules of Gods Word and the constant
reap the greatest advantage by our Disorders As you therefore love God love your Country love your Childrens Souls keep them from Conventicles and be carefull in training them up in the constant Communion of the Church of England God does particularly commend Abraham because he did command his Children after him that they should keep the way of the Lord. Gen. 18 19. And Joshua does not only take care for himself but says As for Me and my House we will serve the Lord. Josh 24.15 And it is the Command of God in the New Testament Ephes 6.4 That you should bring up your Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord And what that is I have here set before you to prevent your falling into the Errours and Confusions of the times And how can you better spend your Dayes then in promoting the Glory of God and Peace and Love round about you and obtaining happiness for your Selves and Families to all Eternity God be thanked the Pious Zeal of the Sons of the Church has had so good effect in the City of London that daily Morning and Evening Prayers Weekly and Monthly Communions are Reverently and Devoutly celebrated and frequented in many Churches and Chappels I hope their good example will stir up People in the Countrey to change their careless behaviour to be reverent and constant in doing their Duty and attending the Prayers and Sacraments of the Church Calvin de necess Reform Eccles LET them give us such an Hierarchy in which Bishops have such a preheminency that they do not refuse to be subject to Christ wherein they depend upon him as their only Head and are referred unto him in which let them maintain Brotherly Charity one with another and be united together with no other Bond than of his Truth Then I will confess there is no Anathema that they are not guilty of if there be any such that do not observe it Reverently and with the highest Obedience Calv. de vera Reformand Ration That no Man may raise a Calumny against us that we are too morose and froward concerning external things and do so precisely take away all Liberty I do here testifie that I do not contend about Ceremonies which serve for Order and Decency or else are Simbols and Incitements of that Reverence which we pay to God Calv. Ep. 87. Protect Angl. I do highly approve that there should be a certain Form of Prayer and Ecclesiastical Rites from which it should not be Lawfull for Pastors themselves to discede or vary 1. That provision may be made for some Peoples ignorance and unskilfullness 2. That the consent of all Churches amongst themselves may more plainly appear 3. That Order may be taken against the desultory lightness of such who delight in innovations Thus there ought to be an established Catechism an established Administration of Sacraments and also a Publick Form of Prayer THE Necessity of adhering TO The Church of ENGLAND as by Law established c. I Hope I have made it evident to you that I have a tender regard for the glory of God and the good of your Souls by the great pains and the charge I was at to send you Books to stir you up and direct you to the serious practice of the duty of Godliness for t is not hearing all the Sermons and melting discourses in the world can bring you to Heaven unless you do truly Love God with all your heart Deut. 6.5 Matt. 22.37 with all your soul with all your mind and with all your strength which is not done by running now and then into a Conventicle and sighing and groaning at a passionate expression of the Preacher but by a constant and steady doing of your Duty There are in the world many errours in opinion destructive of salvation and there are more in practice But of late years since my coming to this Office our Churches have been much more filled and the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper better frequented and the generality of the People seemed to be very well satisfied with the Doctrine and discipline of the Church of England as by Law established and there need nothing but a hearty conformity to the rules and order of it to make us all instruments of Gods glory here on earth and happy to all eternity in the kingdom of Heaven And that I might more effectually perswade you to live in all Christian obedience to the will of God I thought some motives to the duty of Godliness with short directions and prayers would be a means to make you more ready and willing to lead a holy and Religious life This was my real design and intention in sending that little Book amongst you which if you would often and carefully read over and observe the directions contained in it you would and more solid comsort and satisfaction upon your death bed or when you come to examine into the hopes you have of Salvation then in all the passionate Sermons that ever you heard in a Conventicle for then you would do your duty as God hath commanded you whereas now most men content themselves with hearing only and that not as they ought to doe neither and so deceive their own selves Jam. 1.22 Since the coming abroad of that little Book when I thought I had little else to do but to call upon you to do your duty which you did already own and profess I am how put upon another care by the change of affairs in the State in order to the faithful discharge of my Office that is to endeavour to recall some and secure others in the unity and communion of the Church now when you are ready to hear every new Man that sets up in a Conventicle and read erroneous books to lead you to destruction I hope you will read and consider what your Spiritual Governours who have as great a concern for your good as They have a blind Zeal for your hurt have to say for the truth and your obedience to the Laws of the Gospel And 't is from the earnest desire I have of your peace and welfare and the salvation of your Souls that I do now again apply my self to you and require you as you will answer it at the Day of judgement when I must give an account how I have done my duty to was do you seriously to consider how you that run into schism will answer this Charge which I now draw up against you when the scoffs and jears of your Leaders the all I urements and threatnings of your companions and of your friends in errour will stand you in no stead but you must each stand by your selves to be Judged at the day of your death according to the word of God which I now offer to your consideration The pretence of Conscience and being satisfied in their way without assurance from the Scriptures is an unsafe foundation I Know it is the temper of many of you to say we are
carefully performed according to the Rules of his Holy Word neither must we have an eye only to this or that particular Duty but have regard to all his Commandments Now Satan does often appear with strong delusions like an Angel of light and his instruments do with good words and fair Speeches deceive the hearts of the Simple and put many cheats and fallacies upon unwarie Souls to bring them into destruction But there are scarce any more weak and manifest then those that you have been hitherto abused withall and many of them now evidently false by your own confession as that we were all Papists we did worship Stocks and Stones were only morall Men without any dependance upon the Grace of God and the direction of his Holy Spirit And now these slanders are fully confuted they turn to other devices altogether as groundless and unreasonable as that 't is indifferent what manner of Governours Men live under in matters of Religion so they live Holy lives and that they in separating from the Church of England doe no more then she did in Reforming from the Church of Rome as if it were the same to have a publick Service that they do understand with having a publick Service they do not to have the use of their Bibles or not to have them to worship Images pray to Saints and Angels be content with half the Sacrament of the Lords Supper or not when our Lord requires the whole To omit many other errours And not only our Bishops and Clergy but Princes and Parliaments did all agree to Reform these abuses and settle our Church upon the sure foundations of Truth and Holiness according to the Word of God and constant Law and Order of the Catholick Church and there is not one duty of Piety to God Charity to your Neighbour and Obedience to the Catholick Church but you may better practice in the Church of England then in any other Society or Communion Deal seriously with your own Souls and Consciences What can you learn and practice in any Meeting that you cannot as well observe and be taught in the Church Will you then merely for Fancies and Humours expose your own Souls your Wifes and Children and the whole Nation to the danger of all Heresies and Schisms and bring so great a guilt and distraction upon your selves and Country If you are offended at the evil Lives of some of our Members do you come in and joyn with us and give them better example and by your Holy and Orderly conversation so strengthen our hands to their shame and amendment that we may all follow Peace and Holiness in this World and Reign with Joy and Glory in the World to come but if you still continue obstinate in your Separation consider how you will acquit your selves at the great Day of the guilt of Schism Contempt of Christ and his Ministers Disobedience to Parents and from being the sad occasion of those Heresies Profaness and Confusion that have been brought into the Church of God and that I do not say this as my own opinion only but that which was the fear and apprehension of Queen Elizabeth and the Parliament in the beginning of our Reformation we may learn from their Words wherein they did as it were by Prophesie foretell the miseries which since fell upon our Nation and were chiefly brought upon us by this Sin of Schism and neglect of resorting to the Church All and every Person and Persons inhabiting within this Realm or any other of the Queens Majesties Dominions 1 Eliz. 1. shall diligently and faithfully having no lawfull or reasonable excuse to be absent endeavour themselves to resort to their Parish Church or Chappel accustomed or upon reasonable let thereof to some usual place where Common-Prayer and such Service of God shall be used in such time of let upon every Sunday or other days Ordained and used to be kept as Holy-days and then and there to abide Orderly and Soberly during the time of the Common-Prayer Preachings or other Service of God there to be used and ministred upon pain of punishment by the censures of the Church And for the due execution hereof The Queens most excellent Majesty the Lords Temporal and all the Commons in this Parliament now assembled do in Gods Name earnestly require and charge all the Arch-Bishops Bishops and other Ordinaries that they shall endeavour themselves to the uttermost of their knowledges that the due and true execution hereof may be had throughout their Dioceses and Charges as they will answer before God for such evils and plagues wherewith Almighty God may justly punish his People for neglecting this good and wholesome Law Thô the mit ward Penalty be suspended in some Cases yet the Duty still remains and the reason is the same and we may mind Men of it But what miseries and calamities our Nation has suffered by the neglect hereof since that time need not be told the Men of this generation wish the hinderers of the due execution of this Law formerly that are left alive would in time consider and repent A Postscript to the CLERGY Reverend Brethren in Christ THE great business of our Lives as Clergy Men is so to instract and Rule our several Charges that we may be able to say with the great Apostle I am pure from the Blood of all Men Acts 20.26 27. for I have not shunned to declare to you all the whole Councel of God that will require a great deal of Care and Diligence but it is a Duty ought to be performed with our utmost endeavour and saw will it be if any should perish through the Ministers neglect 'T is true the Spiritual power Christ has given his Church is little understood and all her Authority is much slighted by too many in this Age and the many Divisions and Schisms will the rease this disesteem therefore 't is more necessary it should be vigoroussy asserted and maintained and the dangers and mischiess that are like to follow upon it should be discovered and laid open while in some measure they may be prevented For thô it may seem plausible to some and that there can be no harm now and then to hear a good Sermon at a Conventicle as well as in the Church yet in the end it will prove fatall to Religion to say no more what other evils will follow from such a practice if once espoused by Men of Interest and Quality as God be thanked commonly as yet it is not These things I have represented to you my Brethren at our Visitation and I doubt not but you have often urged the same to your several Charges but because things Read may be better weighed and considered and I can with the same pains inform all as a few I have sent these Papers the good effect whereof will in a great measure depend upon your further Discourses and Management in more fully enlarging upon and explaining the several particulars in your Catechising
and private discourses and if you can throughly convince your Parishioners that they ought to forsake all other Meetings and joyn in the Communion of the Church of England and that they are bound to reverence you as Christs Officers established by the Catholick Church as really you are while you are regularly Constituted and faithfully discharge your Places they will easily hearken to you in all other Duties Many perhaps will read these Papers that will not look into a Church But the design of this Discourse is not only to shew them the necessity of adhering to the outward Communion of the Church but to let them see how much Religion in generall and the publick Peace and quiet of Conference is concerned in it if they will goe upon good grounds also that either through Ignorance or Errour they are like to loose the main Principles of the Gospel My first desire therefore is that you would take care in Expounding to your Flook those Articles Rubricks and Canons which concern Faith Hope and Charity and the essential Duties of the Gospel and then upon occasion not always dwelling upon Matters of Discipline let them know how usefull and necessary these things are so preserve the unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace and in righteousness of Life and be sure not to neglect those Laws that 〈◊〉 Catechizing and Expounding the same for the instruction of Old and Young according to their several Capacities and I desire you to consider what weight this Church has layd upon Catechizing as well before as since the Reformation and see the fundamental Principles seriously imprinted upon the Peoples minds which you find * Quilibet sacerdos plebi praesidens quater in anno vel per sevel per alium exponat populo vulgariter absque cujuslibet subtilitatistextura Phantastica quatuordecem fidei articulos decem mandata decalogi duo precepta evangelii viz. geminae charitatis septem opera misericordiae septem peccata mortalla cum sua progenie septem virtutes principales ac gratiae Sacramenta Idem de officio Archidiacon cap. Vt Archid. Vt Archidiaconi quotiens Presbyteros invenerint statutis temporibus populo minime haec omnia praedicasse sen publicasse totiens eos arguant poena canonica castigando supplere compellant quae temerè omiserunt Linwood Provincial lib. 1. de officio Archipresbyteri c. 〈…〉 And then stir them up to shew their Faith by their good works in frequenting the Publick Prayers and Sacraments and leading Holy Lives answerable to their Profession For if they really are or desire to be good Christians and Members of the Church of England they must not only rely upon talking and outward Profession but sincerely observe the Rules and Orders of the Church both by themselves and Families There has been a great outcry made against many Pious and Learned Divines under the Name of High Church-Men c. and others have been magnified as more rational and moderate Men but all that I could see the Church-Men aimed at was Jud. 3. earnestly to contend for the Faith once delivered to the Saints in opposition to Insidels and Hereticks and so to preserve the Purity of the Gospel and to keep a Decency and Reverence in the worship of God and I appeal to the experience of the Nation where the Publick Prayers and Sacraments are more devoutly offered up and frequented and what Congregations shew the most Religious behaviour in the Church And since 't is the Gospel by which we must be Judged at the last day there is no other way Philip. 1.27 to appear with hope before God then having your Conversation as becomes the Gospel of Christ Now all these Orders of the Church which are contended for are only applying the Rules of Gods Word as may most tend to edification and to direct Men in the particular circumstances of each Ones Duty and without some such Orders and observance of them I do not see how Men can keep up a publick Worship of God without being a Scandal to Infidels and Sober Christians and why the Ancient Rules and Customs of the Church should be thought an offence I cannot understand nor how the taking them away can advance Piety in the Nation These Books I commit to your Hands and desire you to lend them about in your several Parishes and make the best use of them you can for the benefit of those that you have any hopes will be the better by them And put them in mind to read and observe the Directions in the former Book FINIS
THE NECESSITY Of Adhering To the Church of ENGLAND As by Law established OR The Duty of a Good Christian And particularly of PARENTS and MASTERS OF FAMILIES UNDER The Present Toleration By William Saywell D. D. Arch-deacon of Ely These are they who separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit Jude 19. CAMBRIDGE Printed by J. Hayes Printer to the University for Edw. Hall Bookseller there 1692. Decemb. 23. 1691. Imprimatur Gabr. Quadring Procan Jo. Beaumont Humf. Gower Joh. Covel THE PREFACE TO All in any Authority ESPECIALLY To Parents and Masters of Families IN THE ARCH-DEACONRY Of ELY I Have in the following Discourse shewed you the true way to Peace and Happiness upon Earth and the certain means of Salvation in the World to come if you will keep your selves and Families in the Communion of the Church of England and practise those Rules and Orders which She has required for your Publick Devotion and duties of Religion And also made it evident what danger your Children and Servants are in of being ruined if you doe not make use of that Power and Authority which God has given you over them to see them duely Instructed in their Catechism and brought up in a Religious conversation and constant attendance at the Prayers and Sacraments of the Church This I have often urged with great earnestness to your Ministers and Church-wardens as they can very well testifie and this if I had opportunity I should deliver to your consideration in your several Parishes and I doubt not but your Ministers often put you in mind of the same but my strength and other occasions not affording me leasure to do that I do send these Books which you may Read and meditate upon at your spare times And for your farther direction besides your Bible and Common-Prayer I recommend to Your and Their serious perusal a Book called The whole Duty of Man where you have Sober and Pious discourses about your particular Duties and also usefull directions about Prayer and other parts of Private Devotion 'T is not only Meat and Drink you are to take care of for your Families as the Beasts do for their young but you are also to provide for their Souls which are the better part and therefore see them educated in the true Faith and Obedience to God and made usefull Instruments to promote the Peace and welfare of their Country Schism and Heresie will make them enemies to both and to you to It will teach them to be stubborn and self-willed Proud and Morose Peevish and ill Natured False and Treacherous and common disturbers of the Church and State all which inconveniences you will avoid if you bring them up in the constant Communion of the Church of England for She only here teaches them the true old Way and the plain Doctrines of the Catholick Church and She is the only particular Church to whom by the Laws of God and Man you are bound to yield submission and this has been fully made out not only against Papists but all other Schismaticks and Dissenters This all Godfathers and Godmothers ought to take into their serious Consideration and where Parents are careless or erroneous they should use their endeavour to see their God-sons and God-daughters brought up in the Profession of that Faith into which they were Baptized the neglect whereof has made the command of the Church herein so much complained off and condemned by the Dissenters for else no Man in his wits can find fault with the Churches care in this matter Since beside the Parents who have a natural Obligation to breed up their Children in the fear of God others are engaged to take care to see that done in Case the Parents dye or neglect it Indeed it is every Christians care in some measure but that it might be more Orderly managed 't is layd upon some few to take it into their more especial Charge and usually left amongst Friends and Relations which in Reason and Nature will be most carefull to see it done To say it is much neglected is no more then may be said of too many Parents also but the custome is very good and Sureties ought to be more carefull to perform the Trust that the Church and Friends lay upon them and to do what they can by themselves or others is all that is expected But it is not onely teaching them their Catechism is sufficient but you ought to see that they lead their Lives according to those Pious Rules and Directions that the Church has taught them and also carefully to restrain them and to correct them for their Vices and Debauchery such as Swearing Lying Drunkenness absenting from the Church and all other kind of Wickedness and the better to prevent all these mischiefs carry them with you at all times to the Church and take account of them what they have Learned and Observed from the Ministers Sermons and Catechizing and be oftentimes on Sundays c. and other Leasure times putting them in mind of their Duty See Deut. 6.7 This the State as well as the Church does now more particularly require of you Deut. 11.18.19 during the Toleration which is not meant to justifie Heresie or Schism or to warrant that they are in a safe condition that separate from the Church no more then Jews or Hereticks who have the like benefit much less to encourage Ignorance and Profaness but only to take off the Temporal Punishment which the Civil State did inflict Now God does often defer his Judgments to wait for our amendment and Parents and Masters do sometimes think it convenient to wink at Offences in their Children and Servants and so thô the State does not at present punish Dissenters yet it does so far disapprove of their Wayes that all the Obligations in Conscience to Conform to the Church still remain both by the Laws of the Church and State also Neither is any Man thought fit to be admitted to any Office or Place of Trust that does not joyn in Communion with the Church of England Besides you must consider thô Punishments may be an outward means yet 't is voluntary Obedience makes good Christians If therefore you will discharge your Duty to God to the Church and State and the Obligation you owe to your Families you must diligently observe these Directions and take more particular Care at this time in the educating of your Children and Servants in the Communion of the Church nay if you expect they should receive any Benefit from any Publick employment in Church or State And I pray God direct you and make you carefull herein and I as I have opportunity shall sometimes come and see and enquire how well your Parish-Churches and Sacraments are frequented by those who would be accounted hearty Friends and true Sons of the Church of England For if they are careless herein how can we expect it from others who would rejoyce at our Destruction and the Papists in the end will