Youth Especially amongst the Poorer sort 11. The want of Imployment 12. The Excessive number of Private and Publique Ale houses and Tap-houses Malus culturafit bonus An Evil person by due ordering is made good Statutes 25 R. 2. c. 6.14 Eliz. c. 5.23 E. 3. c. ult 34 E. 3. c. 1.7 R. 2. c. 5.12 R. 2. c. 7 8.11 H. 7. c. 2.19 H. 7. c. 12.22 H. 8. c. 12.27 H. 8. c. 25.3 E. 6. c. 6. 5 E. 6. c. 2.7 E. 6. c. 11. An. 1. M. c. 12 13.2 3 Ph. M. c. 5.5 Eliz. c. 5.29 Eliz. 39 Eliz. 43 Eliz. 3.1 K. I. E. 6. Injunction 24. Eliz. Injunction 11.14 K. C 2. A CATALOGUE Of all the Arch-bishops and Bishops in England and Wales as they were first Established by his Majesty K. CHARLS the II. Canterbury DR VVilliam Juxon Lord Archbishop Primate and Metropolitan of all England 1633. York Doctor Accepted Frewen Lord Arch-Bishop and Metropolitan of England 1634. London Dr. Gilbert Shelden Lord Bishop 1660. Durham Dr. John Cossens Lord Bishop 1660. Winchest Dr. Brian Duppa Lord Bishop 1638. Prelate of the Garter Bath and Wells Dr. William Piers Lord Bishop 1632. Oxford Dr. Robert Skinner Lord Bishop 1636. Bangor Dr. VVilliam Roberts Lord Bishop 1637. Rochester Dr. John VVarner Lord Bishop 1637. Ely Dr. Matthew VVren Lord Bishop 1638. Chichester Dr. Henry King Lord Bishop 1641. Salisbury Dr. Humphrey Henchman Lord Bishop 1660. Worcester Dr. George Morley Lord Bishop 1660. Lincoln Dr. Robert Sanderson Lord Bishop 1660. St. Asaph Dr. George Grissith Lord Bishop 1660. St. Davids Dr. VVilliam Lucey Lord Bishop 1660. Peterborough Dr. Benjamin Laney Lord Bishop 1660. Landaff Dr. Hugh Lloyd Lord Bishop 1660. Carlisle Dr. Richard Stern Lord Bishop 1660. Chester Dr. Brian VValton Lord Bishop 1660. Exeter Dr. John Gauden Lord Bishop 1660 Bristol Dr. Gilbert Ironside Lord Bishop 1660. Norwich Dr. Edward Reynolds Lord Bishop 1660. Gloucester Dr. VVillam Nicholson Lord Bishop 1660. Hereford Dr. Nicholas Monck Lord Bishop 1660. Coventry and Lichfield Dr. John Hacket Lord Bishop The first five take place by Act of Parliament the rest according to their Consecration Counties under their Several Jurisdictions with the Parishes in each Diocesse Canterbury CAnterbury 257 Rochester 098 have all Kent York Yorkshire Nottinghamshire 581. London Essex Middlesex Hartfordshire part 623. Durham Durham Northumberland Man Isle 135. Winchester Hantshire Surrey Wight Isle Guernsey Isle Jersey Isle 362. Bath and Wells Sommersetshire 388. Oxford Oxfordshire 195. Bangor Carnarvonshire Anglesey Isle Merioneth Denbishire part 107. Rochest Kent part 98. Ely Cambridgeshire Ely Isle 141. Chiche Sussex Hartfordshire part 557. Salisbury Wiltshire Barkshire 248. Worcester Worcestershire Warwickshire part 241. Lincoln Lincolnshire Leicestershire Huntingdonshire Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire Hartfordshire part 1255. St. Asaph Denbyshire part Flintshire part 121. St. Davids Pembrokshire Carmarthenshire 308. Peterborough Northamptonshire Rutlandshire 293. Landaff Glamorganshire Monmouthshire Brecknockshire Radnorshire part 177. Carlisle Cumberland part VVestmerland 93. Chester Cheshire Richmondshire Flintshire part Cumberland part Lancashire 256. Exeter Devonshire Exeter City Cornwal 623. Bristol Bristol City Dorsetshire 236. Norwich Norfolk Suffolk 1121. Glocest Gloucestershire 267. Hereford Herefordshire Shropshire part VVorcestershire part Radnorshire part 213. Coventry and Lichfield VVarwickshire part Staffordshire Derbyshire Shropshire 241. York Durham Carlisle Chester are Diocesles in the Province of York all the rest are in the Province of Canterbury MORAL SENTENCES MOnarchia perfectissima gubernatio A Monarchy is a most perfect Government Basilica reverenter visitanda A Cathedral Church is Reverently to be frequented Vulgi genius perplexus The nature of the Common people is uncertain Seditiosi Rei-publicae ruina Seditious persons are the ruine of a Common-weal Ingenuis acerba penuria Penury is bitter to Ingenuous men Ad inferospoenas parricidii luent They shall suffer Punishment for their Murther in Hell Deteriores omnes sumus licentia We be all the worse by having too much liberty Turba gravis paci A rabble rout grievous to peace Quid opus est armis habentibus Regem What need we fall to Civil warrs seeing we have a King already Sat is peccavit qui resistere non potuit He hath offended sufficiently who cannot oppose Stultus fui qui multos fecerim inimicos Stultior qui falsis amicis confisus fuerim I was a Fool that made so many to be my Enemies but more Foolish that trusted false Friends Ei qui semel fidem solvit iterum habere fidem vix est tutum It is not safe to give credit to him the second time who hath once Violated his faith Odio digna est simulatio simulatione capienda Dissembling is worthy of hatred and to be catched with Dissembling De quo bene Merearis vide Beware of whom you deserve well Cave fidem habeas verbis Take heed how you trust words Invidia vero dementius est nihil Nothing more mad than Envy Falsis testimoniis opprimi quamplurimos tum nemo nescit Very many men are undone by false witnesses as every one knoweth Intellige per vulpem pauperculos quos calumniis premere contumeliisque afficere divitibus aequè studium est By the Fox understand poor men whom wealthy ones study to oppress with Calumnies and Reproaches Malus si libitum fuerit quo jure quaque injuria praecipitem dabit A wicked man right or wrong will undoe thee Impotenti sincero perpetuò est cum malis parata certatio There is a perpetual Enmity betwixt powerless honest and wicked men Non sunt amici omnes qui blande dicunt They are not all Friends who speak flatteringly Verum amicum res adversae pericula designant Adversity and danger Evidence a true friend Qui plura quà m decet quaerit interdum acquirit nihil He that hunts after more than is sitting sometimes gets nothing Potens si libet nocere facile capit nocendi causam A mighty man if he lists to hurt easily takes occasion Unumquemque suo decet esse contentum It becometh every man to be content with his own Unicum summum praesidium complurium amicitia est The only and chief strength is the friendship of many Noli omnibus fidem habere Multi enim dum aliis videntur velle prodesse sibi interim consulunt Trust not all men for many while they seem willingly to do others a pleasure in the mean time provide for themselves Quibuslibet enim rebus potior est libertas Liberty is better than any thing whatsoever FINIS Words explained used in this Book Indifferent Not forbiden nor Commanded that may or may not be done but as Authority shall Judge most meet Properly bind the Conscience By a Divine ordination Simply necessary Of Divine ordination Immediate worship An Act of obedience to the first Table for the honouring of God Properly so called Any action done to the honouring of God immediately in such things as God hath to that end ordained Improperly or Respectively Ceremonies ordained of men to attend upon any service or an Act done to the honouring of God by the orderly and comely usage of his own ordinance Ambulatory Rites Ceremonies that have not Divine Institution Properly Sacred Of Divine Institution Symbols Tokens Institution Ordination Appointment disposing Administration Subaltern Placed under another Venerable Honourable Convocation An Assembling together of Arch-bishops Bishops c. Books written by the Author ADvice or Considerations for Parents and Masters Masters and Scholars Scholars Parents and Masters Printed for the Author and to be sold by R. H. at the Bible in Heart in Little Britain The young Maidens Guide directing the Newest Exactest and easiest way to Learn to Spell with a Catechism Lessons Divine and Moral Graces Prayers The Praise of Women and Virgins Directions for their Carriage with other Delightfull matter crept abroad full of Errours and wanting many pages to the great wrong of the buyer and greater injury to the Author the perfect Copy being now ready and intended for the Press
of all Subjects unto Our Dread Soveraign Lord King Charls the Second of whom and of whose Government I cannot Write too much but may Err in this that I have Writ no more The Everlasting Arms of Divine Power be under Him and the Never-dying Favours of His All enduring Love rest upon you upon all Loyal and Royal Hearts and His well-placed Subjects of Honour and Obedience which is the daily Orison of Right Honourable and Right Worshipfull His Majestie 's Most Loyal Subject and Your Devoted Servant W. Wasse TO THE READER Christian Reader IT is not possible for any Man to make a true and constant Profession and Confession of his Faith except he understand the Doctrine of the Church aright and exercise his Conscience therewith Then such men as have not the understanding of the Articles of the Doctrine of Christ expressed in the 39. Articles of the Church of England in some good degree and measure are nothing else but Vain Bubbles which suddenly swell start up and fall away of themselves And if any man will stand in doubt of them he is justly counted not to be a Man but the Monster of a Man and without all Wit it being the property of a good and sober Wit not to love Cavillations knowing that two times four makes eight and the Excess brings nothing but Disorder and Amazement What these Articles be are plainly Comprised in the Creeds of the Apostles of Nice and Athanasius and these we judge and believe do agree with the perpetual meaning of the Prophets and Apostles Writings Now sith that there is but one Truth and more than one there cannot be and this Truth we Have Hold and Profess Then whatsoever varyeth from that one Truth must needs be no Truth for Truth agreeth with Truth Reader art thou a Christian I suppose thou art canst thou say the parts of thy Catechism I think that there is no Christian will be so wickedly rude as not to know so few Heads Now let those Heads of the Catechism be unto thee instead of a most sure perfect Rule to examine to try and to judge all Religious and all Doctrines by For it is certain that the Catechism is a short Sum of all the whole Bible and containeth all that is required of Necessity unto Faith and unto our Salvation But what I write or have written I know not how it may please I have made it my Study rather to please God than Man whether I shall offend I know not with much doubt I have changed some Words and fear if I take others I may take worse what ever the Pains be I have taken I cannot pass the Strife of Tongues neither the Malice of Ungratefull and Irreligious Spirits nor yet Jerks of the False Government and the No-Government Faction who as they have so still will endeavour to Disturb my outward and my inward Peace by False Malicious Scandals Lying Reports and Accusations whereby they have and still may promise themselves Concealment of their Ill-contrived Enterprises Like the Artians of old the better to bring in their damnable Error concerning the Deity of Christ which Athanasius withstanding and holding fast his Judgment in the truth of the Deity of Christ they forged Lies and Accusations against him of dishonesty with a woman and cutting off a man's hand as Eusebius relates Christian Reader that these Reasons have been kept from the Press twelve months beyond my first intentions hath been by reason of some proud and ignorant persons whose Lives were notoriously tainted as the Judgments of others are notably corrupted who withstood me to my face Yet have I this hope that they are not so long in coming forth as to hinder thy profit and satisfaction who yet remainest full of doubt concerning our Governours and sure established Government nor yet too late for the confirmation and strengthning of those who doubt not of the one nor the other Remember we are all under one Head and why not all of one Heart Seek not thy own honor profit or private estimation amongst men but the Peace of the Kingdom with the Salvation of Souls and the work is done without any danger of failing from the Land of Uprightness Read and consider what thou readest pray that thou maist understand and believe the Truth and the Truth will make you free which is the hearty prayer of Your Christian Faithful Remembrancer of your Duty and Allegiance W. WASSE March 20 1662. TAlem nobis Hierarchiam si exhibeunt ir qua sic emineant Episcopi ut Christo subesse non recusent ut ab illo tanquam unico capite pendeant ad ipsum referantur in qua sic inter se fraternam societatem colant ut non alio modo quam ejus veritate sint colligati tum vero nullo non Anathemate dignos fateor si qui erunt qui non eam reverenter summaque obedientia observent Cal. de Neces Reforman Ecclesiae If they would bring unto us such an Hierarchy wherein the Bishops shall so rule as that they refuse not to submit themselves to Christ that they depend upon him as their onely Head and refer all to him and so embrace Brotherly Society that they are knit together by no other means than his truth then surely if their shall be any that shall not submit themselves to that Hierarchy reverently and with the greatest obedience that may be I confess there is no Anathema of which they are not worthy Calvin in the Treatise of the Necessity of Reforming the Church If then it hath pleased Gratious Princes for expression of the Honor which they gave to God in the Honor given by them to our holy Function to grace us with eminent Titles and Rights can any Christian man be so foolishly spightful as to think because we are lord-Lord-Bishops that we challenge to be Lords of our Clergy I would these Maligners should know that with High Titles we can bear as humble minds as those that pick that quarel and are so little transported with these Puffs of Style that we account it according to our Saviour's prescription our greatest glory to be Servants to the Souls of the meanest Drudges in the Family of our God Bishop Hall in his Episcopacy of Divine Right Imprimatur Geo. Stradling S. T. P. Rev. in Christo Pat. D. Gilb. Episc Lond. Ã sac Domest Ex Aed Sab. Feb. 26. 1662. A CENTURY OF REASONS For Subscription c. Con. Toledo Can 2.636 THE Decree of the B B of Spain assembled in a National Council at Toledo against Perjury and Treason Whosoever amongst us shall from this time forward violate the Oath which he hath taken for the safeguard of this Country and the preservation of the King's Majesty Whosoever shall attempt the King 's Death or Deposition Whosoever shall by Tyrannical presumption aspire to the Royal Throne let him be Accursed before the Holy Spirit before the blessed Saints let him be cast out of the Catholique Church
in the judgment of the Law To alter the setled frame and constitution of the Government is Treason in any State Cicero Aut undique Religionem tolle aut usquequaque conserva Either take away Religion clean or preserve it in all points whole and sound Bracton l. 1. c. 8. The material Sword is put into the hands of the King by Almighty God lib. 2. c. 24. By the material Sword is meant Power and Right to look to the defence and preservation of the Kingdom and it is no less than Treason to enter into any Association or Confederacy without the King's Consent or against His Will By the KING His Majesty's Proclamation forbidding the tendring or taking the late Vow or Covenant c. WHereas We have lately seen a Vow or Covenant pretended to be taken by some Members of both Houses of Parliament whereby after the taking notice of a Popish and Traiterous Plot for the subversion of the True Reformed Religion and the Liberties of the Subject and to surprise the Cities of London and Westminster They do promise and covenant according to their utmost power to assist the Forces pretended to be raised and continued by both Houses of Parliament against the Forces raised by Us and to assist all other persons that shall take the said Oath which Oath as the same hath been taken without the least colour or ground the Contrivers thereof well knowing that there is no Popish Army within this Kingdom that We are so far from giving countenance to that Religion that We have always given and always offered Our consent to any Act for the suppression of Popery and the growth thereof and that the Army raised by Us is in truth for the necessary defence of the true Reformed Protestant Religion established by Law the Liberty and Property of the Subject and Our Own Just Rights according to Law All which being setled and submitted to or such a free and peaceable Convention in Parliament being provided for that the same might be setled We have offered and are still ready to Disband Our Armies and as the said Oath was devised onely to prevent peace and to pre-ingage the Votes of the Members of both Houses directly contrary to the Freedom and Liberty of Parliament and to ingage them and Our good Subjects in the maintenance of this horrid and odious Rebellion so it is directly contrary as well to their natural Duty as to the Oathes of Allegiance and Supremacy established by Law which obliges them to bear to Us Truth and Faith of life Members and Earthly Honor and to defend Us to the utmost of their powers against all conspiracies and attempts whatsoever which shall be made against Our Person Our Crown and Dignity and to do their best Endeavours to disclose and make known to Us all Treasons and Traiterous Conspiracies which shall be against Us and to their power to assist and defend all Jurisdictions Privileges Preheminences and Authority belonging to Us or united and annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm And whereas We are informed that some desperate seditious persons do endeavour to perswade and seduce others of Our good Subjects to take the said Oath thereby to ingage them and this Kingdom into a continuance of these miserable and bloody distempers We do therefore out of Grace and compassion to Our people and that they may not by any craft or violence suffer themselves to be seduced against their Duty and Conscience warn them of their natural Allegiance and their Obligations by Oathes lawfully administred to them and with them to remember the great Blessings of God in Peace and Plenty which the whole Kingdom hath received whilst that Dâ—ty and those Oathes were carefully observed and the unspeakable miseries and calamities they have suffered in the breaking and violating thereof And we do streightly charge and command Our loving Subjects of what degree and quality soever upon their Allegiance that they presume not to take the said Seditious and Traiterous Vow or Covenant which indeavours to withdraw them from their Natural Allegiance which they owe unto Us and to which they are or ought to be sworn and are bound by the Laws of the Land albeit they are not sworn and engages them in Acts of High Treason by the express Letter of the Statute of the twenty fifth year of King Edward the Third And We do likewise hereby forbid and inhibit all Our Subjects to impose administer or tender the said Oath or Covenant And if notwithstanding this Our Gracious Proclamation any person shall presume to impose tender or take the said Vow or Covenant We shall proceed against him or them with all severity according to the known Laws of the Land Given at Our Court at Oxford the one and twentieth day of June in the nineteenth year of Our Reign God save the King Antiqua fert animus-dicere From his Majesty's command and because our Government hath been and stands established by Kingly power which power I am not to question but perform what is commanded for the King ruleth absolutely and commandeth his people at his pleasure as the World and all things contained therein are tied in subjection unto the will of the Highest King Because the Statutes and Acts of Parliament which banished Popery out of this Kingdom did establish our Church-Government with the Ceremonies as Lawful and if we through weakness or perversness make Lawful things to be Unlawful Baxter that will not excuse us in our disobedience our error is our sin and one sin will not excuse another sin Because the King as God's Vicegerent is bound to maintain and advance the true Religion so far forth as the light of Nature can manifest it or Divine Revelation doth make it known unto Him yea a Christian King is a Law-giver above the Ecclesiastical Law-makers for with Him is Wisdom Power Righteousness Meekness Justice and Judgment Therefore we ought to acquiesce in the unanimous Votes of the King's Majesty The Honorable Houses of Parliament And the Venerable Convocation and all Powers and Interests ought to be fully satisfi'd whether in the decision of Controversies in Religion making Ecclesiastical Canons c. or any the like Ecclesiastical matters because they are the conjunct Votes of all the concerned The General Assembly in Parliament is the Common-Council of the Realm called together by the King for advice in matters concerning the whole Realm of which Assembly Lambard some be Counsellors by birth as the Barons by Succession as the Bishops by Election as Knights and Burgesses the King as the Head to give life The Barony consisting of Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commonalty made up of the Knights and Burgesses be as the Body to deliberate confer and conclude So that forasmuch as every man from the highest to the lowest is there either in person or procuration therefore of right reason every man is said to be bound by that which doth pass from such an Assembly
sought to bring the Authority of Ecclesiastical Praelates to nothing when as they never forbad them that worldly Government and Authority which they have given unto them by Kings and Emperours for the civil Government of their Goods c. it being conferred upon them by Pious Princes out of their Love to Christ and his Ambassadors the better to preserve them from the contempt of the wicked and to inable them the better to maintain the great interest which in civil things belongs to the Ecclesiastical State and that the great Honour of a Christian Kingdome should not sit without giving the Ambassadors of Christ an Honourable place and Privilege amongst them Because the Churches abroad confess that so many as do despise Ecclesiastical Assemblies and separate themselves from them they are contemners of true Religion and are to be compelled by the Bishops and Godly Migistrates to surcease stubbornly to separate and absent themselves from sacred Assemblies Because the Churches abroad confess if any Church do Religiously celebrate the memory of the Lord's Nativity Circumcision Passion Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven and sending the Holy Ghost upon his Disciples according to Christian Liberty they do very well allow of it Because the Churches abroad confess no Religion doth keep every where the same Ceremonies although they admit and receive the self same Doctrine touching them For say they even they which have one and the self same Faith disagree amongst themselves about Ceremonies the Churches having always used their liberty in Rites as being things indifferent Because the Churches abroad confess Ceremonies brought in by good Custome are with an Uniform consent to be retained in the Ecclesiastical Assemblies of Christian People at the common Service of God according to the Doctrine of the Holy Apostles Let all things be done in the Church decently and in order For God is not the Author of confusion but of peace and no man by pretending a shew of Christian liberty should withdraw himself from such constitutions as be godly and serve to a good use Because the Churches abroad confess although their Preachers do not keep all Rites with other Churches yet they do not withstand or oppose themselves to any good and godly Constitutions neither are they so minded as that for the Ceremonies sake they would raise up any dissentions although they should think that some of them were not very necessary Because the Churches abroad confess their meaning is not to have Rule taken from the Bishops but teach that the true Pastors of the Churches may ordain Publick Rites in their Churches for good Order's sake and if they be broken with offence given there where the Churches are well ordered and there be not error in Doctrine let him that in such a place breaketh them know that he doth offend because he disturbeth the peace of the Church well ordered or doth withdraw others from the true Ministery Because the Churches abroad do profess Ceremonies invented by Man such as are seemly devised for Order may be observed without any opinion of Merit Worship or Necessity and confess they do both observe certain Ceremonies which are comely and made for good order and also teach that they ought to be observed even as men cannot live without good order Because the Churches abroad confess that it is lawful for the Bishops with the consent of the Church to appoint Holy-days Lessons and Sermons for edifying and for instruction in the true Faith in Christ Because the Churches abroad touching Traditions of the Fathers or such as the Bishops and the Churches do at this day ordain hold it as their opinion such as agree with the Scripture and were ordained for good manners and the profit of men although they be not expressed in the Scripture nevertheless in that they proceed from the commandement of Love which ordereth all things most decently they are worthily to be accounted rather of God than of man which no good Christian will refuse to obey no not unlawful Laws so they have no wicked thing in them Because the Churches abroad deny not the Churches Canons about Rites which serve for the publick order and edification of the Church but that the matter of the Canon warranted by God's Word doth bird Because the Churches abroad confess indeed they teach that the care of Religion doth chiefly appertain to the Magistrats and he that opposeth himself against the Magistrate doth procure the wrath of God against him and therefore condemn all contemners of Magistrates as Rebels enemies of the Common-wealth seditious Villains and all such as do either openly or closely refuse to perform those duties which they ought to do and confess all men of what dignity condition or state soever they be ought to be subject to their lawful Magistrates and obey them in all things which are not repugnant to the Word of God and condemn all those troublesome spirits who do reject Higher Powers and Magistrates overthrow Laws and Judgments that do abolish and confound all those Orders and Degrees which God hath appointed amongst men for Degrees and Vocations should not be confounded nor is it lawful for every man to start up into the Pulpit and there shew his mind and teach others openly Con. Tol. Solus ad sacra Dei mysteria tractanda accedat quem morum innocentia literarum splendor reddunt illustrem Let such an one alone undertake to handle the Divine mysteries of God who is renowned both for integrity of life and excellency of Learning and these Councils conclude Concil Mediolan Toledo Trident. Lateran Carthage Apostoli in quorum locum Episcopi successerunt satis nobis aperuerunt verbi Dei praedicationem esse praecipuum illorum munus qui in Episcopali sede collocantur The Apostles in whose room the Bishops come have made it sufficiently manifest unto us that the preaching of the Word of God is the principal function of those who are placed in Bishops Seas Because it were scandal not to give obedience to the Laws of the Church when they prescribe things necessary or expedient for eschewing of scandal and it were contempt to refuse obedience to them when we are not certainly perswaded of the unlawfulness or inexpediency of things prescribed Because in things which are in themselves indifferent and none of them inexpedient we ought to do that the Church requireth though our Brethren should exhort us unto the contrary being bound in conscience to obey the Ordinances of the Church except they be evidently unlawful and when the Authority of the Church doth ordain and the things be lawful and expedient we are bound by both saith an Anonymus of Scotland Because the Church of Scotland profess his Majesty shall ever find that he hath none more loyal and true Subjects who will more gladly imploy and bestow their Lives Lands Goods Houses Holds Gear Rents Revenues Places Privileges Means Moyeties and all in his Highness Service and maintenance of his Royal Crown and moreover
for the enabling of Citations Suspensions Excommunications or other Censures of the Church And that it is not necessary that Summons Citations or other Processes Ecclesiastical in the said Courts or Institutions or Inductions to Benefices or Correction of Ecclesiastical Offences by Censure in those Courts be in the King 's Name or with the Style of the King or under the King 's Seal or that their Seals of Office have in them the King 's Arms. And that the Statute of Primo Edwardi Sexti cap. 2. which Enacted the contrary is not now in force We are also of Opinion that the Bishops Arch-deacons and other Ecclesiastical Persons may keep their Visitations as usually they have done without Commission under the Great Seal of England so to do John Bramstone John Finch Humphrey Davenport William Jones John Dinham Richard Hutton George Croke Thomas Trevor George Vernor Robert Berkley Francis Crawley Richard Weston The Right Reverend Father in God George Lord Bishop of London His Advertisment To all and every the Ministers Church-wardens and Side-men within the City Suburbs and Diocess of London WHereas I am daily advertised by the relations of many honest and religious persons of a General Misbehaviour in most Churches in and about the City of London in time of Divine Service Men and Boys sitting then cover'd with their Hats on their heads without all shew of Reverence or Respect either of that Holy place or Action the one being the House of Almighty God the other a continued Vicissitude as it were of Speech between God and his People The due consideration whereof might easily induce any well-disposed Christian to use such Outward posture and gesture of his body as becometh that Sacred place and the great Majesty of that God to whom they come at that time Professedly to perform a Divine Worship I have therefore thought it my duty incessantly to recommend unto you the Ministers Church-wardens and Side-men the Reformation of this prophane abuse scandalous to our Religion against an express Law in that case provided and condemned by the contrary practice of all Christians in all Ages in their like Solemnities and Assemblies praying and requiring you to joyn together your utmost endeavours to effect the same for which purpose it shall be necessary for you the Church-wardens and Side-men during the time of Divine Service diligently to look about the Church and where you see any covered if Boys or of the younger sort those to shame openly by pulling off their Hats and chastize with such Discipline as you have been laudably accustomed to inflict upon such rude and unmannerly Fellows If the Elder or better sort though I well hope that none of that condition out of their own judgment will hereafter offend in this kind those to admonish gravely of their duty representing unto them the inconvenienâ—es of this their ill example and how directly repugnant it is to the Apostle 's Rule of Decency in the Church thus to celebrate Divine Service and to perform a Professed and Religious Worship of Almighty God After which your Admonition if any shall obstinately refuse to uncover his oâ— their heads in Service time you shall then present them to Me or my Chancellor to the end that they by the severity of Censures may be amended by whom brotherly and gentle perswasions have been contemned Moreover also I am certainly informed That the Publick Service of Almighty God in the Churches is omitted and thereby come to neglect and almost scorned forasmuch as the Ministers read not the Divine Service the First and Second Service before their Sermons according to the order of our Church Liturgy and the Canon in that case provided I do therefore hereby require all the Parsons Vicars and Curates in my Diocess to take care that they offend not in this kind strictly likewise requiring you the Church-wardens and Side-men that according to your Oathes you present to Me or my Chancellor those Ministers that shall be faulty in this kind c. City Petition 1646 1. That some strict and speedy course may be taken for the suppressing of all Private and Separate Congregations 2. That all Anabaptists Brownists Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers and all such Sectaries as conform not to the Publick Discipline established or to be established by Parliament may be fully declared against and some effectual course taken for proceeding against such persons 3. That as we are all Subjects of one Kingdom so all may equally be required to yield obedience unto the Government set forth or to be set forth by Parliament 4. That no Person disaffected to the Government set forth or to be set forth by Parliament may be employed in any place of Publick trust The most Reverend Father in God the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his Grace to all the Lords the Bishops within his Province of Canterbury AFter my hearty Commendations I have lately received Letters from His Majesty wherein He takes notice of the continuance and increase of some bold Abuses and Extravagances in the Church especially in Preachers notwithstanding His great Indulgence used towards them And fore-seeing the mischief and inconveniencies likely to ensue thereupon if not timely prevented and repressed Hath out of His Princely and tender care of the Peace of the Church sent withall certain Directions to be strictly observed by the Bishops in their several Diocesses as by the Copies thereof which I have sent here inclosed your Loâ—dship 's will more fully understand and for the more speedy dispatch and ease in the Communication hath been Graciously pleased to command so many Copies thereof to be Printed as shall be needful a proportionable number whereof will be forthwith sent unto your Lordship for your Diocess Now as we cannot but with all thankfulness acknowledge His Majesty's Affectionate Care and Zeal in this His providing for the good and Welfare of the Church by all means which He finds may be conducible thereunto So my earnest desire and hope is We shall not be so much wanting to our own good as not to second those His Majesty's Commands with the utmost of Our endeavours But that your Lordship when you shall have given order for the careful dispersing and communicating those Copies as is required will by your diligent inspection and serious Admonitions to your Clergy as occasion shall be offered be able in due time to return an account of the success in the Observation answerable to His Majesty 's expectation and Pious Designs in this His Injunction And so with my Prayers to God for a Blessing upon your Endeavours herein I commit you to His holy Protection and rest Your Lordships very Loving Friend and Brother W. Cant. Lambeth 23 Octob. 1662. The Right Reverend Father in God Gilbert Lord Bishop of London his Injunction GIlbert by the Divine Providence Bishop of London To our Well-beloved in Christ in the City and Our Diocess of London sendeth Greeting Whereas we are informed and sadly resent the great Profanation of
the Lord's day by several Abuses and Misdemeanors in excess of Riot by Tipling Sporting Idling and Wandring about the Streets in the time of Divine Service and other unlawful and unwarrantable courses committed and continued both in your Parish and divers other parts of the City and Suburbs thereof by an Idle and Licentious sort of People to the great dishonor of God and profanation of his Day the scandal of our Religion and the conscientious Professors thereof and contempt of the Laws and Authority both Ecclesiastical and Civil These are therefore to require you duely and seriously to exhort and perswade those in Authority in your Parish and Congregation carefully to look after all such offenders in any kind whatsoever together with all those that Abet Receive or Entertain them and either present them unto Us that we may proceed against them or if the nature of their Crime and Offence require it return them to the Civil Magistrate that so by the Conjunction of Our Power and Authority such seasonable and timely Remedy may be used for prevention of the like disorders for the time to come as is fit and necessary in business of so serious and General concernment Given under our Hand and Seal the Twelfth day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand six hundred sixty and two And in the second Year of our Consecration Act. Mon. fol. 1521. There was set forth by the most Innocent King Edward the whole Church-Service with great Deliberation and the Advice of the best Learned men of the Realm and Authorised by the whole Parliament and Received and Published gladly by the whole Realm which Book was never Reformed but once and yet by that one Reformation it was so fully perfected according to the Rules of Christian Religion in every behalf that no Christian Conscience can be offended with any thing therein contained Dering against Haddon Look if any Line be blameable in our Service take hold of your advantage I think Mr. Jewel will accept it for an Article Our Service is good and godly every Tittle grounded upon Holy Scripture and with what face do you call it darkness But men are ashamed to seem guilty who always have been Judges or at least Accusers Anonymus The Papists of all Places their desires and attempts to recover England have been always and still are the strongest which in their sober moods many of them will acknowledge to have been the onely Nation that walk the Right way of sustifiable Reformation in comparison of others who have run headlong rather to a Tumultuous Innovation whereas that alteration that hath been in England was brought in with peaceable and orderly proceedings by General consent of the Prince and whole Realm Representatively Assembled in Solemn Parliament a great part of their own Clergy according and conforming themselves unto it What publick discussing and long deliberation did perswade them to be faulty that taken away The Succession of Bishops and Vocation of Ministers continued the Dignity and State of the Clergy preserved the Honor and Solemnity of the Word of God not abused the more Antient Usages not cancell'd no Humor of affecting contrariety but a charitable endeavour rather of Conformity with the Church of Rome in whatsoever they thought not gain-saying to the express Law of God which is the onely approveable way in all New Reformations Reasons against the Covenant Ursinus PRincipalis autem causa juramenti debet esse gloria Dei salus proximi privata publica The chief ends of an Oath are the Glory of God the safeguard and welfare as well private as publick of our Neighbours But the ends of the Covenant have not been answerable to these ends and therefore ought not to be kept nor observed though sworn unto For 1. The Covenant Cum verbo Dei pugnat fit de rebus adversis falsis incertis illicitis non necessariis impossibilibus levibus futilibus irrationabilibus absque necessitate The Covenant is not agreeable to the Word of God and is made of things preposterous false uncertain unlawful not necessary impossible light frivolous and unseasonable without necessity See Dr. Featly's League Illegal The Anti-Covenant Printed at Oxford 1643. Ursinus 2. Juramenta autem de rebus illicitis c. facta sive per errorem sive per ignorantiam sive per infirmitatem sive contra conscientiam non sunt servanda sed retractanda corrigenda poenitentiam agendo a malo proposito desistendo non autem in eo persistendo illud exsequendo Ps 15.6 Nam qui servat juramentum illicitum as is the Covenant bis peccat semel male jurando iterum malè juratum servando juxtaregulam Quod malè juratur pejus servatur Quae enim Deus prohibet ea nec jurata vult servari quae vetat promittere vel jurare ea tantò magis facere prohibet quanto facere quam promittere est gravius Illicitum enim non servatum minimè facit Deum testem mendacii quando quidem mali retractatio bona est ut retractatio juramenti Davidis quo juraverat se Nabalem perditurum cum familia c. Ursinus 2. Oaths made of Unlawfull things either by an Error or by Ignorance or through Infirmity or against the Conscience it is a sin to keep them And therefore such Oaths are to be Retracted and Re-called by Repenting and Surceasing a wicked purpose not to be continued by Persisting and Practising lest we add thereby sin unto sin For he that keeps an Oath made of Unlawfull things as is the Covenant heapeth sin upon sin both in that he Sware amiss and also in that he endeavoureth to do that which he Sware amiss according to the Common rule Ill sworn and Worse kept For what things God forbids those things he will not have Men either Sworn or Unsworn to perform And what he forbids us to will or promise or swear so much the more he forbids us to do the same how much the more grievous a thing it is to do them than to will or promise For an unlawful Oath being broken maketh not God witness of a Lie because the revoking of it is good as appears in the revoking of that Oath which David had made to destroy Nabal with all his houshold c. 3. Henderson Although no Human Power and Authority can dispence with a Lawful Oath Quia juramentum pertinet ad forum Divinum yet in some case as in the Covenant it cannot be denied but the Obligation of an Oath ceaseth Sublata causa tollitur effectus sublato relato tollitur correlatum Or when any Oath hath a special reference to the benefit of those to whom we swear or make the promise as the Covenant had first to the Church of Scotland and pretendedly to the Church of England Henderson if we have their desire or consent the Obligation ceaseth because all such Oathes and so