An Account of the SOCIETIES FOR Reformation of Manners IN LONDON and WESTMINSTER And other Parts of the Kingdom WITH A PERSUASIVE TO Persons of all RANKS TO BE Zealous and Diligent in Promoting the Execution of the Laws against Prophaneness and Debauchery For the Effecting A National Reformation Published with the Approbation of a Considerable Number of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal Who is on the Lord's side let him come unto me Exod. 32. 20. Who will rise up for me against the Evil-doers Who will stand up for me against the workers of Iniquity Psal 94. 16. LONDON Printed for B. Aylmer at the Three Pigeons in Cornhill and are to be Sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster M DC XC IX GULIELMUS D Gratiae Angliae Scotiae Franciae et Hiberniae REX Fidei Defensor etc. By the King A PROCLAMATION For Preventing and Punishing Immorality and Prophaneness WILLIAM R. WHereas We cannot but be deeply Sensible of the great Goodness and Mercy of Almighty God in putting an End to a Long Bloody and Expensive War by the Conclusion of an Honourable Peace so We are not less touched with a Resentment that notwithstanding this and many other great Blessings and Deliverances Impiety Prophaneness and Immorality do still abound in this Our Kingdom And whereas nothing can prove a greater Dishonour to a well ordered Government where the Christian Faith is Professed nor is likelier to provoke God to withdraw His Mercy and Blessings from Vs and instead thereof to inflict heavy and severe Iudgments upon this Kingdom than the open and avowed Practice of Vice Immorality and Prophaneness which amongst many Men has too much prevailed in this Our Kingdom of late Years to the high Displeasure of Almighty God the great Scandal of Christianity and the ill and fatal Example of the rest of Our Loving Subjects who have been Soberly Educated and whose Inclinations would lead them to the Exercise of Piety and Virtue did they not daily find such frequent and repeated Instances of Dissolute Living Prophaneness and Impiety which has in a great Measure been occasioned by the Neglect of the Magistrates not putting in Execution those good Laws which have been made for Suppressing and Punishing thereof and by the ill Example of many in Authority to the great Dishonour of God and Reproach of our Religion Wherefore and for that We cannot expect Increase or Continuance of the Blessings We and Our Subjects Enjoy without Providing Remedies to prevent the like evils for the future We think Our Selves bound by the Duty We owe to God and the Care We have of the People committed to Our Charge to proceed in taking effectual Course that Religion Piety and Good Manners may according to Our hearty Desire Flourish and Increase under Our Administration and Government and being thereunto moved by the Pious Address of the Commons in Parliament Assembled We have thought fit by the Advice of Our Privy Council to Issue this Our Royal Proclamation and do Declare Our Royal Purpose and Resolution to Discountenance and Punish all manner of Vice Immorality and Prophaneness in all Persons from the highest to the lowest Degree within this Our Realm and particularly in such who are Imployed near Our Royal Person and that for the greater Incouragement of Religion and Morality We will upon all Occasions Distinguish Men of Piety and Virtue by Marks of Our Royal Favour And We do expect that all Persons of Honour or in Place of Authority will to their utmost contribute to the Discountenancing Men of Dissolute and Debauched Lives that they being reduced to Shame and Contempt may be enforced the sooner to Reform their ill Habits and Practices that the Displeasure of Good Men towards them may supply what the Laws it may be cannot wholly Prevent And for the more Effectual Reforming these Men who are a Discredit to Our Kingdom Our further Pleasure is and We do hereby strictly Charge and Command all Our Iudges Mayors Sheriffs Iustices of the Peace and all other Our Officers and Ministers both Ecclesiastical and Civil and other Our Subjects whom it may Concern to be very Vigilant and Strict in the Discovery and the Effectual Prosecution and Punishment of all Persons who shall be Guilty of Excessive Drinking Blasphemy Prophane Swearing and Cursing Lewdness Prophanation of the Lords Day or other Dissolute Immoral or Disorderly Practices as they will answer it to Almighty God and upon Pain of Our Highest Displeasure And for the more Effectual Proceedings herein We do hereby Direct and Command Our Iudges of Assizes and Iustices of Peace to give strict Charges at the respective Assizes and Sessions for the due Prosecution and Punishment of all Persons that shall presumē to Offend in any the Kinds aforesaid and also of all Persons that contrary to their Duty shall be Remiss or Negligent in Putting the said Laws in Execution and that they do at their respective Assizes and Quarter Sessions of the Peace cause this Our Proclamation to be publickly Read in Open Court immediately before the Charge is given And We do hereby further Charge and Command every Minister in his respective Parish or Chapel to Read or cause to be Read this Our Proclamation at least Four times in every Year immediately after Divine Service and to incite and stir up their respective Auditories to the Practice of Piety and Virtue and the Avoiding of all Immorality and Prophaneness And to the end that all Vice and Debauchery may be Prevented and Religion and Virtue Practised by all Officers Private Soldiers Mariners or others who are Imployed in our Service either by Sea or Land We do hereby strictly Charge and Command all Our Commanders and Officers whatsoever That they do take Care to Avoid all Prophaneness Debauchery and other Immoralities and that by the Piety and Virtue of their own Lives and Conversations they do set good Examples to all such as are under their Authority and likewise to take Care and Inspect the Behaviour and Manners of all such as are under them and to Punish all those who shall be Guilty of any the Offences aforesaid And whereas several Wicked and Prophane Persons have presumed to Print and Publish several Pernicious Books and Pamphlets which contain in them Impious Doctrines against the Holy Trinity and other Fundamental Articles of Our Faith tending to the Subversion of the Christian Religion therefore for the Punishing the Authors and Publishers thereof and for the Preventing such Impious Books and Pamphlets being Published or Printed for the future We do hereby strictly Charge and Prohibit all Persons that they do not presume to Write Print or Publish any such Pernicious Books or Pamphlets under the Pain of Incurring Our High Displeasure and of being Punished according to the utmost Severity of the Law And We do hereby strictly Charge and Require all Our Loving Subjects to Discover and Apprehend such Person and Persons whom they shall know to be the Authors or Publishers of any such Books
one Witness   This Act extends not to dressing of Meat in Cooks-Shops Inns or Victualling-Houses for such as otherwise cannot be provided nor to Hackney Coaches that are Licensed    Every Person must be Impeached upon this Act within Ten Days after the Offence Drunkenness   A Crime from which the Ancient Britains were free therefore the Laws against it are new Co. 3 Instit fol. 200 201. 4 Jac. c. 5. 21 Jac. c. 7. The Offender for the first to pay Five Shillings to the Church-Wardens where c. within one Week after Conviction or else to be Levied by Warrant c. by Distress and Sale and for want of Distress to sit in the Stocks six Hours If any be Convicted for being Drunk by One Witness View or Confession and the Party confessing a good Witness against another Offending at the same time   If any Ale House-Keeper be Convicted of Drunkenness he is disabled for Three Years to keep any Ale-House 7 Jac. c. 10. 21 Jac. c. 7. For the second Offence must be bound in Ten Pounds with Two Sureties to the good Behaviour and for want of Sureties to be sent to Gaol This Conviction of Drunkenness must be within Six Months after the Offence committed  If the Constable levy not the Forfeitures he Forfeits Ten Shillings to the Poor ut supra Inn-Keepers Ale-House-Keepers or Victuallers that suffer any of the same Parish to continue Tipling in their Houses 1 Jac. c. 9. 21 Jac. c. 7. Ten Shillings to be Levied by Distress and Sale after six days and for want of Distress to be committed till Payment and Disabled for 3 Years from keeping any Ale-House c. One Witness View or Confession and the Party confessing a good Witness against another Offending at the same time  If the Constable or Church-Warden do not Levy the Penalty or shall not certifie the want of Distress within Twenty Days he Forfeits Forty Shillings to be levied by Distress and Sale ut supra If any Inn-Keeper Ale-House-Keeper Victualler or Taverner suffer any Person wheresoever his Habitation be to continue Tipling in his House 1 Jac. cap. 9. 21 Jac. C. 7. 1 Car. cap. 4. Ten Shillings to be Levied by Distress and for want of Satisfaction in six days to be sold restoring the Overplus and for want of Distress to be committed till Payment Two Witnesses or View   Townsmen or others which shall remain Tipling in any Inn Ale-House or Victualling-House One Witness View or Confession ut supra 4 Jac. cap. 5. 21 Jac. c. 7. Three Shillings and Four Pence to be Levied by Distress after one Weeks Neglect of Payment or to sit in the Stocks four Hours Constables shall be charged on their Oaths to present Offences committed against these Acts. 1 Car. cap. 4. 21 Jac. c. 7. Dalt cap. 7. The Constable for his Neglect Forfeits Ten Shillings ut supra These Statutes do Prohibit all Quaffing and Drinking of Healths such Houses being solely appointed for the Accommodation of Travellers and for the Relief of the Poor  Every such Taveâ—ner which shall suffer any Person whatsoever to Tiple in his House contrary to the said Statutes shall be adjudged within the Statute 1 Jac. Cap. 9. Swearing Cursing   If any Person shall Prophanely Swear or Curse in the Hearing of a Justice of Peace Mayor c. or be Convicted of such Swearing by One Witness or Confession of the Party 21 Jac. c. 20 3 Car. c. 4. 17 Car. c. 4. 6 7 Guliel Cap. 11. He shall foriâ—â—t for every such Offence to the Use of the Poor the respective Sums following every Servant Day-Labourer common Soldier and common Sâ—â— man One Shilling every other Person Two Shillings If any Person after Conviction shall â—â—end a Second time such Person shall pay Double and if a Third time Trebble the Sum respectively to be paid for the first Offence Every Justice Head-Officer c. may Command the Constables c. 〈◊〉 Levy the same by Distress And for 〈◊〉 of Disâ—râ—ss the Offender being above the Age of Sixteen Years shall be for in the Stocks for every single Offence one Hour for any Number at one and the same time two hours If under sixteen Years old and shall not pay the saiâ— Twelve pence he shall oâ— whipp'd by the Constable by Warrant of the â—â—â—â—â—ce Every Offence against this Act must be proved within Ten Days after the Offence Committed   Every Justice shall Register c. and certifie to the next Quarter-Sessions of Peace all Convictions made before him upon this Act and the time of making thereof and for what Offence  or by the Parent Guardian or Master in the Presence of the Constable Every Justice or chief Magistrate wilfully omitting the Performing of his Duty shall forfeit Five Pounds to be recovered by Action The Act of the Sixth and Seventh of King WILLIAM to be Read four times in the Year in all Churches and Chappels under the pain of Twenty Shillings for Neglect thereof General Issue c. Treble Costs c. None shall in any Stage-Play Shew May game Interlude or Pageant Jestingly or Prophanely speak or use the Holy Name of God Christ Jesus the Holy Ghost or Trinity 3 Jac. C. 21. On pain of Ten Pounds to be divided between the King and the Prosecutor to be recovered by Action c. Blasphemy   If any Person having been Educated in or at any time having made Profession of the Christian Religion within this Realm shall by Writing Printing Teaching or advised Speaking deny any one of the Persons in the Holy Trinity to be God or shall assert or maintain there are more Gods than One or shall deny the Christian Religion to be true or the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be of Divine Authority and shall upon Indictment or Information in any of His Majesty's Courts at Westminster or at the Assizes be thereof Lawfully Convicted by the Oath of Two or more credible Witnesses 9 10. Gulielm 3. For the first Offence shall be adjudged incapable and disabled in Law to all Intents and Purposes to have or injoy any Office or Imployment Ecclesiastical Civil or Military or any Part in them or any Profit or Advantage appertaining to them and if at the Time of Conviction Possest c. such Office Place or Imployment shall be void Note This Statute punishes not the Error but the Impudence of the Offender  On the second Conviction shall be disabled to Sue Prosecute Plead or use any Action or Information in any Court of Law or Equity or to be a Guardian or an Executor or Administrator or capable of any Legacy or Deed of Gift or of any Office Civil or Military or Benefice Ecclesiastical and shall suffer three Years Imprisonment without Bail from the Time of the Conviction   The Information to a Justice of Peace to be within four Days for Words and the Prosecution
or Pamphlets and to bring them before some Iustice of Peace or Chief Magistrate in order that they may be Proceeded against according to Law Given at Our Court at Kensington the Four and twentieth Day of February 1697. In the Tenth Year of Our Reign God save the KING HER LATE MAJESTIES GRACIOUS LETTER In the Absence of the KING To the Justices of the Peace in the County of Middlesex July 9. 1691. For the Suppressing of Prophaneness and Debauchery MARIE R. TRusty and Well-Beloved We Greet you well Considering the great and indispensable Duty incumbent upon Vs to promote and encourage a Reformation of the Manners of all our Subjects that so the Service of God may be Advanced and those Blessings be procured to these Nations which always attend a Conscientious discharge of our respective Duties according to our several Relations We think it necessary in order to the obtaining of this Publick Good to recommend to you the putting in Execution with all fidelity and impartiality those Laws which have been made and are still in foâ—â—â— against the Prophanation of the Lord's-day Drunkenness Prophane Swearing and Cursing and all other Lewd Enormous and Disorderly Practices which by a long continued neglect and connivance of the Magistrates and Officers concerned have universally spread themselves to the dishonour of God and scandal of our Holy Religion whereby it is now become the more necessary for all Persons in Authority to apply themselves with all possible care and diligence to the suppressing of the same We do therefore hereby charge and require You to take the most effectual Methods for putting the Laws in Execution against the Crimes above-mentioned and all other Sins and Vices particularly those which are most prevailing in this Realm and that especially in such cases where any Officer of Justice shall be guilty of any of those Offences or refuse or neglect to discharge the Duty of his Place for the suppressing them that so such Officer by his Punishment may serve for an Example to others And to this end We would have you careful and diligent in encouraging all Constables Church-Wardens Headboroughs and all other Officers and Persons whatsoever to do their part in their several Stations by timely and impartial Informations and Prosecutions against all such Offenders for preventing of such Judgments which are solemnly denounced against the Sins above-mentioned We cannot doubt of your Performance hereof since it is a Duty to which you are obliged by Oath and are likewise engaged to the discharge of it as you tender the Honour of Almighty God the flourishing condition of his Church in this Kingdom the continuance of His Holy Religion among Us and the Prosperity of Your Country And so We bid you Farewell Given at Our Court at White-Hall the Ninth Day of July One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety One in the Third Year of Our Reign By Her Majesties Command Nottingham To Our Trusty and Well-Beloved the Justices of the Peace for Our County of Middlesex at Hicks's Hall THE HUMBLE ADDRESS OF THE House of Commons TO THE KING For the Suppressing of Prophaneness and Vice May it Please Your MAJESTY WE Your Majesties most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects the Commons in Parliament Assembled Do with great Joy and Comfort remember the many Testimonies which Your Majesty hath given us of Your Sincerity and Zeal for the True Reformed Religion as Establish'd in this Kingdom And in particular we beg leave to present to Your Majesty our most Humble and Thankful Acknowledgments for the late Gracious Declaration Your Majesty has made to us from the Throne That You would effectually discourage Prophaneness and Immorality which chiefly by the Neglect and ill Example of too many Magistrates are like a general Contagion diffused and spread throughout the Kingdom to the great Scandal and Reproach of our Religion and to the Dishonour and Prejudice of Your Majesties Government Therefore in Concurrence with Your Majesties Pious Intentions we do most humbly Desire That Your Majesty would Issue out Your Royal Proclamation Commanding all Your Majesties Judges Justices of the Peace and other Magistrates to put in speedy Execution those good Laws that are now in Force against Prophaneness and Immorality giving due Incouragement to all such as do their Duty therein And that Your Majesty would be Pleased to Require from Your Judges and Justices of Assize from time to time an Account of such their Proceedings And since the Examples of Men in High and Publick Stations have a Powerful Influence upon the Lives of others we do most humbly beseech Your Majesty That all Vice Prophaneness and Irreligion may in a particular manner be Discouraged in all those who have the Honour to be Employed near Your Royal Person and in all others who are in Your Majesties Service by Sea and Land Appointing Strict Orders to be given to all Your Commanders That they not only shew a Good Example themselves but also Inspect the Manners of those under them And that Your Majesty would upon all Occasions distinguish Men of Piety and Virtue by Marks of Your Royal Favour We do further in all Humility beseech Your Majesty That Your Majesty would give such Effectual Orders as to Your Royal Wisdom shall seem fit for the Suppressing all Pernicious Books and Pamphlets which contain in them Impious Doctrines against the Holy Trinity and other Fundamental Articles of our Faith tending to the Subversion of the Christian Religion and that the Authors and Publishers thereof may be Discountenanced and Punished And we do also most humbly beseech Your Majesty That Your said Proclamation may be Ordered to be Read at least Four times in the Year in all Churches and Chapels immediately after Divine Service and at the Assizes and Quarter-Sessions of the Peace just before the Charge is given We present to Your Majesty this our most Humble ADDRESS proceeding from our Duty and Zeal for the Glory of God and to the end that all our Counsels may be bless'd by his Divine Assistance and may produce Honour Safety and Happiness with all the Blessings of a Lasting Peace to Your Majesty and Your People To the AUTHOR SIR WE have perused the Book you sent us Entituled An Account of the Societies for Reformation of Manners the Design of which is so truly Great and Noble so much for the Honour of God the Advancement of Piety and Virtue and the publick Good both of Church and State that it cannot fail of being approved by all good Men. The Method likewise proposed in order to the Promoting and Accomplishing complishing the said Design is We conceive most proper and by the Blessing of God attending it most likely to prove effectual And that Pious Men of all Ranks and Qualities may be excited by this good Book to contribute in their respective Places and Stations their best Endeavours towards a National Reformation of Manners is the most Humble and Hearty Prayer of SIR Your very Loving Friends Lords Temporal Pembroke P
Undertaking as we might well believe would soon alarm the Enemy but which the Patrons of Vice would make no doubt to deseat before any Progress could be made and which the Prudent and Wise Men of the World who rely on second Causes with too little regard to the first the Almighty Creator and Governor of the World with whom as King Asa expresses it in his Prayer it is nothing to help whether â— Chron. 14. 10. with many or with those that have no power would look on with Pity if not with Derision and so it proved that the Champions and Advocates of Debauchery put themselves in Array to defend their wretched and infamous Liberties they set themselves to Ridicule to Defame and to Oppose this Design and to Overthrow the Hopes and Expectations of the Undertakers And some others whom in Charity we would not look on as Enemies of Religion and Virtue tho' we cannot easily esteem them our Friends whose Conduct has so greatly obstructed the Progress of this Design consulting Human Prudence or rather Worldly Policy too much and perhaps their own Obligations too little were very forward to censure these Attempts as the Effect of an imprudent and an unseasonable Zeal But notwithstanding a furious Opposition from Adversaries the ill Offices of those from whom better things might have been expected and the unkind Neutrality of Friends these Gentlemen who in a little time began to add some others to their Number not only kept their Ground but made farther Advances for our late Excellent QUEEN of Glorious Memory having this Affair laid before Her in the Absence of the King by a Prelate of great Learning and Fame the late Lord Bishop of Worcester She had just Sentiments of it and therefore thought it became Her to give it Countenance She Graciously condescended to Thank those who were concerned in it and readily promised them Her Assistance and afterwards upon this Application made to Her Majesty She was pleased to send Her Letter to the Justices of Middlesex commanding them to put the Laws against Prophaneness and Vice in Execution with all Fidelity and Impartiality and to this end that they should be careful and diligent in encouraging all Persons to do their part in giving Informations against Offenders as they were obliged by their Oath as Magistrates to do and when there was further Occasion She shew'd She was in earnest to promote this Design by taking other more effectual Methods for that purpose But as it may well be supposed That the Queen's patronizing of these Endeavours could not but give Credit and Strength to them so the Affair by Her Death it may as easily be imagined must lose a great Advantage But yet the Loss tho' it appeared exceedingly great did not discourage those that were ingaged in this Enterprize For as they first set about it with little or no Expectation of such a Patroness because they thought it would be an acceptable Service to the King of Kings and that it would promote the true Interests of Religion and the Welfare of their Country So the same Considerations obliged them to pursue their Design with equal Vigour and Zeal tho' they were deprived of so great a Friend and Protector And Divine Providence had by this time seemed to favour their Endeavours by the great and remarkable Success that had attended them for Multitudes of Offenders had been by their means brought to Punishment The Publick Opposition that was at first made to their Vndertaking was broke through which the Lord Bishop of Gloucester who hath been a great Encourager of this Undertaking gave an Account of in his Vindication of it which it may be wished there may never be any further Occasion to remember and the Honesty of it had recommended it to the Virtuous and Unprejudiced part of the Nation whom the Account of these Matters had reached the Enemy after a severe Examination having not been able to discover that any illegal Methods had been used or that any secular Interest was pursued by those who bestow'd their Time and their Pains in carrying on so ungrateful and hazardous a Work as that of Reformation will be always found since it is the Opposing of ill Men in their sinful Indulgencies which are often more desirable to them than their very Lives With these Encouragements they prosecuted their Business increasing their Number by the Addition of Persons of considerable Note and of the best Character some of whom tho' they were of different Opinions from those of the Establish'd Church as to some Points concerning Religion were willing to unite their Strength in the common Cause of Christianity and engage in so Noble a Design that had done so much Good By whose joint Endeavours great Advances have been made towards a Reformation of Manners which is every Day getting ground Persons of various Ranks of considerable Fortunes and of the clearest Character offering Assistance to it not only in and about the City of London but from several Parts of the Kingdom But since it hath been long desired that a more distinct and clear View may be given to the World of this Vndertaking and of the Advances of it which those that have been principally concerned in it so industriously consulting Privacy have not hitherto been prevailed on by any Temptations either of Vanity or Resentment to make publick being more desirous that it should be known by the good Effects it produces than by any History or Narrative I ask leave to present the World with a short Scheme of the Design and some Account of the Managers of it that the well-disposed part of the Nation that have hitherto been Strangers to it may by the Knowledge thereof be induced to join in so good a Work and now especially since this Conjuncture is so favourable to it beyond our Expectation There is a very large Body of Persons compos'd of the Original Society before-mentioned with the Additions that have been since made of Persons of Eminency in the Law Members of Parliament Justices of Peace and considerable Citizens of London of known Abilities and great Integrity who frequently meet to consult of the best Methods for carrying on the Business of Reformation and to be ready to advise and assist others that are already ingaged or any that are willing to join in the same Design This Society is at a considerable Yearly Charge for the effectual managing their Business but takes no Contributions of any but their own Members by whose Endeavours as was said before Thousands of Offenders in London and Westminster have been brought to Punishment for Swearing Drunkenness and Prophanation of the Lord's-Day and a great part of the Kingdom has been awakened in some measure to a sence of their Duty in this respect and thereby a very hopeful Progress is made towards a General Reformation A Second Society is of about Fifty Persons Tradesmen and others who have more especially applyed themselves to the Suppression of Lewdness by
the various Obstructions and Discouragements they encountred in the Prosecution of it which those pious Men made such dismal Reflections upon as I shall under our present Circumstances forbear to repeat does demand a particular Acknowledgement in this place and deserves to be transmitted to after-Ages when the Names of such as discourage Endeavours of Reformation may either be forgot or be remembred with Ignominy And I not only submit what I have said on this Head of the Clergy and this whole Discourse to This Reverend Body which I think I shall never obtain of my self to Publish without the Approbation of some of the pious Members of it but out of a sense of my own Defects and the tenderest Regard I would always have to matters of Religion I heartily desire if I am ever prevailed on to Publish it a publick Correction from them of any thing I have said in these Papers through Weakness or Inadvertency which I hope all the Advantages of the World would not have prevailed on me if they could have been offered me to have said knowingly that may not be warranted from the Holy Scriptures or that does give Offence to any but those whom the Representation of their Sin or their Duty to them and Religion it self offends whose Sentiments of this Discourse as I have no reason to ask their Censures of it I may know how to value And I must the rather make this humble and solemn Address to them for a speedy Censure of these Papers if there is any just Occasion for it and that at the same time they would be pleased to put this Glorious Cause that I have here represented with no more skill in a better light which I conceive would well become the most celebrated Writers of the Age to do not only because Errors in general as well as Diseases are better prevented than cured after they are spread but because upon a long Consideration and a full Knowledge I have had of the Vndertaking I have treated of and of the Steps by which it hath been carried on from the very Beginning I cannot but believe that the Virtuous part of the Nation when it is laid before them will conclude that there is abundant Reason for their Concurrence and Assistance in it and will think that either the Happiness or Misery of this Kingdom may with great ground be expected from either the Success or the Discouragement that these and others pious and just Endeavours for a National Reformation meet with My Business in the next place is to consider the Magistrates Obligation to be diligent in the Execution of the Laws against Prophaneness and Debauchery It will I think be allowed That Government is of Divine Appointment and that the Power of Magistrates whether it be that of the Supream or that of those that are Inferior and Subordinate is derived originally from God St. Paul speaking of the Magistrate Rom. 13. 4. says He is the Minister of God to thee for Good There is no Power but of God The Rom. 13. 1. Powers that be are ordained of God And Moses speaking to the Judges of the People of Deut. 1. 16 17. Israel says Hear the Causes between your Brethren and Judge righteously between every Man and his Brother Ye shall not respect Persons in Judgment but you shall hear the Small as well as the Great you shall not be afraid of the Face of Man for the Judgment is God's Take heed 2 Chron. 19. 6. said Jehoshaphat to his Judges what ye do for ye judge not for Man but for the Lord who is with you in the Judgment Wherefore now let the Fear of the Lord be upon you take heed and do it for there is no Iniquity with the Lord our God nor respect of Persons nor taking of Gifts Thus shall ye do in the Fear of the Lord Ver. 9. faithfully and with a perfect Heart From whence we may I think conclude without adding any further proof of what is so generally confest that Magistrates do act by God's Authority are his Ministers or Instruments which he maketh what use of he pleases in the Governing the Natural and Rational World that they are to Act for his Honour and the Good of his People and that He will call them to account for their Behaviour in this respect Accordingly for Kings and for all that are 1 Tim. 2. 1 2. in Authority the Apostle does particularly direct That Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made that under them we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life in all Godliness and Honesty For our King therefore and all sorts of Magistrates does it not behove us to pray That God would be pleased to inspire them with Zeal for his Glory and the Good of his People and particularly to direct and assist them in this necessary and most weighty Affair of Reformation And as the Magistrate's Power is primarily and originally from GOD so is the Office and Power of Subordinate Magistrates immediately and visibly conferred upon them as a weighty Trust by their Prince and their Country which they have an Obligation to the faithful Discharge of in their natural Allegiance and Fidelity but this Obligation rises yet higher they are bound yet closer to the faithful Discharge of their Office by a Solemn Oath relating to their particular Trust as well as by the Oath of Allegiance Now the Obligation being thus great and various must I think necessarily draw the dreadful Guilt of Perjury as well as Breach of Trust upon those who being thus intrusted and obliged to Execute the Laws do wilfully neglect to do their Duty For a Justice of the Peace takes this Solemn Oath at his Entrance into that Office That in the County of in all Articles in the King's Commission to him directed he shall do legal Right to the Poor and to the Rich after his Cunning Wit and Power and after the Laws and Customs of the Realm and the Statutes thereof made and wherein he is first obliged to do Right which regards very much the Punishment of Offenders as appears more fully in his Commission and this Equally reaches Rich and Poor The whole County is assign'd in the Oath as the Extent of his Jurisdiction and therefore his Authority is not confin'd to a part he is not tied up to act only in any lesser District of it but is to issue out his Warrants against Offenders upon Informations offered him by Persons that live never so remote from him in the County or for Offences committed in any part of it which though 't is so obvious from the very Words both of the Oath and Commission I thought fit to take notice of lest if we should have any Magistrates that should think it too much to give themselves the Trouble to look into the Disorders of any kind that are committed even in their own Parishes to suppress them when they hear or observe them any-where else as
Swearing and Cursing for Instance in Bowling-Greens Coffee-Houses and other publick Places Drunkenness Lewdness and Prophanation of the Lord's-Day in the Taverns and Streets or that should unwillingly receive Informations from others of them they should in either of these Cases be tempted to think those worthy Magistrates too officious and take the Liberty to speak of them as such who by inspecting into these Disorders where-ever they hear of them in any part of the County and by giving Encouragement to those that bring them Informations of such Offences which will in consequence draw a more than ordinary Attendance upon them of such Persons on this Occasion as live at a distance from them will thereby make their Unfaithfulness in their Office the more remarkable He is obliged to do Justice according to the Laws Statutes and Customs of the Realm He is not then to break the Laws himself or to suffer others with Impunity to break them He is to discharge his Office according to his Vnderstanding and Ability But can any be supposed to be of such weak Abilities as not to know that Offenders ought to be punished when legal Informations are offered them or when Offences are committed before them If then any Magistrates can discourage those who are so much Friends to their Country as to bring them Informations against Offenders can refuse to convict upon them or can see and hear one another break God's Laws and the Laws of their Country at their Diversion and their own Tables What is more directly contrary to their Office and Trust What becomes of the Oaths that are upon them In how many Instances do they notoriously break them And if the Violation of a Private Trust is justly esteemed base and detestable how much higher Aggravations must their Offences admit of who break a Publick one so solemnly taken upon them And certainly Perjury that is of so black a nature in it self is not a less Enormity or less Infamous in a Magistrate than it is in one of an inferior Order The Commission for a Justice of the Peace also sets forth That he is to Conserve the Peace in such or such a County and to keep as well as cause to be kept all Ordinances and Statutes made for the Good of the Peace and the Conservation thereof and for the Quiet Rule and Government of His Majesty's People and in all and every the Articles thereof according to the Force Form and Effect thereof to Chastise and Punish all Persons in the said County offending against the Form of thefe Ordinances and Statutes or any of them in the County It deserves our Observation That as the * Populus Romanus delegit Magistratus quasi Reipublicae Villicos in quibus siqua praeterea est ars facilè patitur sin minus virtute eorum innocentia contentus est Tullii Oratio cum Plan. Roman Government the †Virtus in pâ—imis apud Lacedaemonios circa Magistratus legendos â—emper spectata quod Politicum praeceptum in quavis Republica servari â—â—usu esset Nic Gragius de Repub Lacedaemoniorum p. 82 83. Lacedoemonian and * Inter praecipuos Atheniensium Magistratus censendi sunt annui Novemviri Oportebat in eorum vitam inquiri antâ—quam Magistratum capesserent Pctitus de Legibus Atticis 236. Tantam honestatis curam his Novemviris voluit esse Solon ut si quis Archon vino se ingurgiâ—averit capital ei fâ—erit ex hac lege 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jurabant in leges se esse observaturos Novemviri Jurisjurandum Novemvirorum Leges observabo quod si secus fecero auream statuam meam aequi ponderis pendam Petitus de Legibus Atticis 190. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Herach Pont. de Politiis Athenicnsium Athenian Common-Wealths provided by their Laws against ill Magistrates kept when they flourished vicious Men out of their Magistracy and entrusted those with the Execution of their Laws that would shew such a Behaviour to others as they expected from them So our Government hereby strictly requires the Magistrates to give a good Example 'T is a mighty force that Example hath one can hardly conceive any thing on the one hand so foolish and unaccountable and on the other so difficult and brave as that Men may not in a great degree be led to by it Good Example hath often the advantage of Humane Precept of Admonition or Reproof and sometimes of the Exercise of publick Justice or private Authority which besides that they are not always practicable have often too little Influence upon the Mind but Good Example hath a great and secret Charm to draw others to Imitation It attracts and assimilates by a Power of which we cannot give a full Account though by shewing Virtue as it were visibly it hath undeniably thereby a great Advantage of other Methods of Instruction * Segnius irritant animos dimissa per aures quà m quae occulis subjecta fidelibus those things being allowed to make a much deeper and longer Impression upon our Minds that are represented to us by our Eyes than those that are admitted by our Ears Precepts though they are in the general not only highly useful but necessary are not always clear and when they are understood the Efficacy of them of Admonition and Reproof seems often to be more or less according to the Example of them that give them such Persons are lookt on as a Reproach to Religion and unquestionably do often give bad Men a further Aversion and Prejudice to it that do not practise themselves what they recommend in their Discourses As the Christian Religion does therefore strictly oblige all its Proselytes to shew a good Example by a strict Observance of its Precepts so it does more especially inculcate upon those whose particular Office it is to teach others their Duty their endeavouring to persuade them to it by their own good Example as well as by their Doctrine that they may â— Tim 4. 16. thereby both save themselves and those that hear them and when this is wanting when they say but do not how exceedingly mischievous Matt. 23. 3. the consequences of it are highly deserves serious Consideration The Heathen Moralists could observe the great Mischief that was done the World by Mercenary Masters of Precept * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by whom they meant those that endeavoured to talk elegantly of just things but not to do them and that it was not the Discourses but the good Examples not the Schools but the Manners of Philosophers that made their best Disciples what they were and so much celebrated I know says Plato Socrates by his good Works more than by his good Words * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gorg. fol. 460. and he makes it a necessary quality of a good Orator that he himself be Just and Virtuous †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stobaeus fol. 49. And accordingly Socrates his Master being asked what he
thought to be the best Instruction answered Eupraxie or well-doing Example hath indeed such a power that Men are in a great degree too often such as those are with whom they converse as even the Proverbs of many Nations have observed So that he that gives a good Example though he be but a private Person does in truth a publick Service and lays an Obligation upon the Age he lives in But the good Examples of Governors and Magistrates I need not add of Ministers hath a far greater force of Persuasion their Virtues are generally derived by Imitation into the Manners of the People * Quales enim summi civitatis viri fuerint talis civitas erit Claudianus Ut enim vitiis sceleribus Magistratuum infici solet corrumpi tota Respublica ita corrigi emendari 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isocrates ad Nicoclem Nec ignores totius civitatis mores ad exemplum Magistratuum conformari How fatal an Influence more especially must then the vicious Examples which the corrupt Nature of Man does with so much Ease comply with of Superiors of Persons in Authority whose particular Province it is to look to the Execution of the Laws have upon those below them These Men carry not only those of their Neighbourhood but a great part of the Counties they live in after them many of whom 't is very obvious are apt to think it an Excuse if not a Warrant to transgress after their Example The Commission of a Justice of Peace does therefore with great reason tell him That he is to keep himself as well as cause to be kept all the Ordinances and Statutes c. As his giving a good Example is a likely way to procure a due regard to his Office to maintain his Authority and with the Exercise of it to reform Others so on the contrary his giving a bad Example is as effectual a course to teach others to break the Laws and to bring a Contempt upon his Office and the Government it self as can easily be thought of I needed not to have been thus long upon this Head of Example and particularly the malignant Influence of the bad Examples of Magistrates and great Men if most Ages did not abound with such unhappy Instances and if this Nation in particular had not felt so much the fatal Effects of them as may be some Excuse for my insisting on it But to go on Besides the Mischief that is done by the vicious Examples of Magistrates With what Reason can we expect that those that make no Conscience to break the Laws should diligently and conscientiously Execute the Laws upon others And supposing such Magistrates should sometimes either out of a fear of the Inspection of the Government into their Behaviour in the Reign of a Prince that is zealous in the Discouraging of Vice or out of a desire of keeping up their Reputation with better Men be sometimes inclined to punish such Offences in others as they are themselves guilty of consciousness of their own Faults will when they act upon no better and firmer Principles deprive them of Courage and be very apt upon many Occasions to draw them back from the Punishing of others especially when the Offenders are either their Superiors or Equals whereas the Law knows no respect of Persons and they whose Business it is to Execute it must do it without Distinction or Partiality Their Commission tells them that they are to chastise and punish all Persons in the said County offending And can any that consider this That we live under a Christian Government and that the Apostle acquaints us That the Magistrate is the Minister of God for Good That he beareth Rom. 13. 3. Ver. 4. not the Sword in vain Is a Revenger to execute Wrath upon him that does Evil and that Christians shou'd have a far greater Concern for the Honour of God than for the Honour of their Prince their own Reputation or Estates but think that the Laws that relate to Piety and Virtue are to be chiefly regarded by the Magistrate that his principal Care should be applied to the restraining Men even those of the highest Rank from openly breaking those Laws by a strict and impartial Execution of them since the Reasonableness of the Punishing of Men for the Violations of Religion seems to have been evident by the Light of Nature It being I think a just Observation which I have somewhere met with of a Heathen Philosopher That tho' several Nations do appoint several Punishments for the Violation of Religion yet it does not in any Country go wholly unpunished No Mens Quality ought to shelter them from Punishment in this Case Even Privilege of Parliament does not give those who are allowed it for the Service of their Country the mischievous Liberty to trample upon the Laws of God and their Country nor will excuse Magistrates from acting according to their Oaths in these Matters Charity and good Manners would forbid us if such a Case had never been heard of or was like to happen to suppose that this Privilege should ever be pretended on such an Occasion by any one of those Bodies who as they * Receptumque omnium pene Gentium temporumque memoria ut ad legum latarum observantiam invitarentur inferioris sortis homines exemplo potentum qui primi eas custodire cogebantur praesertim illi ipsi qui eas tulissent Tit. Liv. 3. Decad. lib. 8. Magistratus Gubernatores Regesque obediunt quoque ipsi legibus id est rectae rationi Diodorus Siculus Si quid injungere inferiori velis prius in te ac tuos recipias necesse est si ipse jus statueris quo faciliùs omnes obedientes habeas Val. Max. lib. 8. cap 6. Tit. 3. Cum leges praescripsisti aliis praescripsisti tibi leges enim Imperator fert quas ipse custodiat Praeceptum salubre Pittaci sapientis apud Ausonium Pareto legi quisque legem sanxeris make Laws against Debauchery and Prophaneness ought likewise to endeavour by their own Exemplary Behaviour to promote Piety and good Manners to give Laws of Civility to the rest of the Nation and to add That if these things do happen good Magistrates 't is to be hoped will act as become them And there is I think no doubt but the bringing to legal Punishment a Man of Title or Authority that makes use of his Power or Interest to be more vicious and to do greater Mischief to the World than others is a greater Service to Religion and our Country and more highly honourable among Men than the Punishing of a private Person perhaps than many poor Creatures who as hath been long observed generally suffer the Extremity of the Law for such Offences as their Necessities are a Temptation to them tho' not a Reason for them to commit when great Men that cheat whole Provinces and bid defiance to Sacred things go unpunished if they are not rewarded * Si
Civitatum guto Cic. de Leg. p. 336. instead of being Patrons of Religion help to debauch those about them and ruine their Country Inferior Officers are likewise obliged by their Oaths as well as by the Design of their Offices to be diligent in bringing Offenders to Punishment and therefore they are highly criminal if they are negligent therein The Constable's Oath tells him That he is to use his Endeavour that Night-walkers be apprehended To see that the Statutes made for punishing Vagabonds and such idle Persons coming within his Bounds and Limits be duly put in Execution To have a watchful Eye to such Persons as shall maintain or keep any Common House or Place where any unlawful Game is or shall be used as also to such as shall frequent or use such Places or shall use or exercise any unlawful Games there or elsewhere contrary to the Statutes To present at the Assizes Sessions of the Peace or Leet all and every the Offences done contrary to the Statutes made to restrain the inordinate haunting and tipling in Inns Ale-houses and other Victualling-houses and for Repressing of Drunkenness and that he is well and duly according to his Knâ—wledge Power and Ability to do and execute all other things belonging to a Constable's Office Whoever therefore they be that undertake this Office and wink at Offenders or do not endeavour to bring them to Punishment would do well to consider how they can be acquitted from Perjury but how much clearer is their Fault if they neglect or refuse to serve those Warrants which are brought to them against Swearers Drunkards Lewd Persons and Prophaners of the Lord's-Day or to levy the several Forfeitures for those Offences as too many Constables Headboroughs Overseers and Church Wardens have done which the Commission of a Justice of the Dalt p. 18. c. 5. Peace tells him he is to inquire after Their Guilt is of the same Nature with that of those Justices who discourage Informations and refuse to sign Warrants against such Offenders whereby besides all other Aggravations of their Sin before-mention'd they hinder the Poor of that Relief which the Law gives them out of the Penalties upon those Statutes which in some Cases may happen to be the depriving them of their Lives * Panis Pauperum est vita eorum qui fraudat eos est vir sanguinis and ought to be a dreadful Consideration to those that have the Guilt of it upon them the Poor having as good and undoubted a Right to these Forfeitures vested in them by Law as any Man hath to his own Estate I have said so much of the Constable's Duty that there is the less need of my adding much of the Church Warden's Sidesman's and other Inferior Officers Obligations in this respect which fall in with that of the Constable's The Church-Warden's and Sidesmen's Oath does not run in the same terms in all Diocesses though their Office is I suppose much the same in most if not all The Tenor of the Church-Warden's and Sidesmen's Oath in the Diocess of London is as follows You shall Swear truly and faithfully to execute the Office of a Church-Warden within your Parish and according to the best of your Skill and Knowledge present such Things and Persons as you know to be presentable by the Laws Ecclesiastical of the Realm And one of the Articles of Enquiry exhibited to the Ministers Church-Wardens and Sidesmen of every Parish runs thus Are any of your Parish known or suspected to be guilty of Incest Adultery Fornication or any other Enormous Crimes Do any Prophane the Lord's-Day or any other great Holy-day or the Name of GOD And if the Church-Wardens and Sidesmen neglect to Present the Ministers are told That they may and ought to present as they have the highest Obligations to suppress Iniquity From hence 't is plain That the Power of Inferior Officers as well as that of Magistrates is great and would have a very remarkable Effect for the Suppressing of publick Disorders if it was generally used and might with God's Blessing go very far towards a National Reformation with the Assistance of the Magistrate if private Persons would but do as I conceive becomes them in giving Informations against Swearers Drunkards Lewd Persons and Prophaners of the Lord's Day to the Magistrate which shall be my next Business to recommend to the Consideration of all that have a Love to God their Neighbour or their Country It hath been proved That the Execution of Good Laws is requisite in our present Circumstances for the Suppressing of Vice and the Effecting a Reformation of Manners but Magistrates cannot put the Laws in Execution against Offenders without they have the Knowledge of the Offences And they cannot be present at all Places to observe them tho' they have either such a Sense of their Duty or so pious a Concern to do all the good they can in their Office as frequently to take their Walks to observe Disorders as divers of the worthy Magistrates have here done in the several Quarters of the County in which they live and in embracing all Opportunities of using their Authority for the Suppressing them And those Offences that are deeds of Darkness it may be hoped for the Honour of our Magistrates are not now generally and knowingly committed before them One would think that the Presence of a Magistrate should have such an Awe upon ill Men that they should not dare to transgress before him That he should resent it as a high Affront to him if a Person of the highest Rank should discover so base an Opinion of him as to expect that he should be content to break his Oath to suffer him upon the Account of his Quality to go unpunished for any Offence of this kind committed before him It is certainly much so where Magistrates have a just Sense of Honour or are as Zealous and Faithful in the Discharge of their Office as they ought But the less this may reasonably be hoped from all Magistrates at this day there appears I am sure the more reason or rather necessity for private Persons applying themselves to this Business of giving Informations to them of our reigning Sins without which it is not reasonably to be expected that Offenders will be generally brought to Punishment especially in Cities and Corporations where it may be presumed without Uncharitableness that many are daily either publickly or privately breaking the Laws against Prophaneness and Immorality Thus then our giving of Informations of these Offences to the Magistrate seems absolutely necessary in our present Circumstances as we heartily desire or expect the Suppression of Prophaneness and Vice by Humane Laws And I desire those who would be informed whether there is any Direction or Example for this Practice from the Word of God to consider the following Texts of Scripture If there be found Deut. 17. 2. among you within any of thy Gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee Man or
to bring them Informations of the Breaches of the Laws against Prophaneness and Immorality and tell them 't is their Duty to do it and promise to give them Encouragement And now lastly His Majesty by His Proclamation does command all Judges Mayors Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and all other Officers and Ministers both Ecclesiastical and Civil and all his Subjects whom it may concern to be very Vigilant and Strict in the Discovery and the effectual Prosecution and Punishment of all Persons who shall be guilty of Excessive Drinking Blasphemy Prophane Swearing and Cursing Lewdness Prophanation of the Lord's-Day c. as they will answer it to Almighty God and upon pain of his highest Displeasure So that those who oppose the giving of Informations in these Cases not only seem directly to strike at the Foundation of our Constitution but do oppose Reformation and confront the Government which are Enormities that demand a due Resentment from all that are concerned for the honour of our Government our Laws or our Religion And if any Magistrates should discourage those that bring them Informations on this occasion by giving them hard words making their work as difficult to them as they can by wilfully forcing them to long and unnecessary Attendance on them in this Business or not sheltring them from the insults of obstinate Offenders if any should be so insolent and daring as to offer them 't is I think evident that they not only act therein contrary to their Duty as Christians but to their Oaths and Trust as Magistrates and to their Pretensions of Loyalty and Obedience to the Government as Subjects And now is it possible to conceive that any Magistrates can desire the execution of those Laws nay that any that are not the greatest Enemies to it and are lost to all sense of true Honour as well as Conscience should in defiance of all their Obligations and in full Contradiction to their printed Orders with their Names to them publickly set up by their direction on Churches and other publick Places not treat with respect and give the greatest Encouragement to those excellent Persons particularly by making this business as easie to them as they can by protecting them from any kind of Affronts and Assaults from wicked Men and giving them all possible dispatch who in such a profligate Age do for the preventing the Indignities that are offered to the great God and the ruin of their Country bring them generally with trouble and sometimes with great difficulty Informations of such Offences And on the other hand I do not see generally speaking how those that are convinced that the giving of Informations to Magistrates of these Offences is a Christian Office a likely and proper if not a necessary means of Reformation of Manners and yet wholly neglect the doing it at a time when they see their Fellow-Christians engaging successfully in it can in ordinary cases easily satisfie themselves that they have a due Zeal for God's Honour or Charity to their Neighbours 'T is allowed that this will be sometimes done with some Danger and Inconvenience * Dulce est periculum sequi Deum but so much the more laudable is the doing of it A brave Man who refuses to live under the slavish Dominion of Custom and Example who frequently works against Wind and Tide and steers in the Teeth of Danger must expect to be sometimes tost and batter'd but Dangers and Difficulties do often invite rather than discourage such a one from doing that which becomes him Virtue could I think be hardly distinguished from a kind of Sensuality if it were gained without any Labour Every mean Soul can do such things as require no Resolution or Courage that are not attended with any trouble or inconvenience but though there has never been so general a corruption in any Age or Nation as that there have not been some conspicuous for their Piety yet the number of those wise and happy persons have in most Ages of the World been too few who have preferr'd their Duty to all other Considerations If 't is not generally thought fashionable shionable to inform let it be consider'd whether 't is fashionable to be Religious Don't Men usually meet with the reproachfull Names of Hypocrites Fools Enthusiasts Phanaticks or formal and precise Persons who lead Christian or but modest and regular Lives But those Men that understand what Religion is do not surely think this a sufficient Dispensation for them to be Libertines They know that Elisha and St. Paul were called Mad-men that Holy David was derided by the People that Christ his Apostles and the Christians in the firâ—â— Ages were treated accordingly Wise Men and Christians are not so much afraid of ill Names as of wicked Actions And our Judgment of Actions must not be taken from the opinions of Men but from the Nature of them otherwise the Notions of Good and Evil will be soon confounded Those Actions are dishonourable that carry in their Nature a Repugnancy to Reason and Religion but if those Actions that directly tend to preserve and strengthen Government to promote Religion and the good of Mankind be honourable then the giving of Informations upon these occasions that are so much countenanced and encouraged by the Government and the Laws are I conceive truly honourable though corrupt Men judge otherwise * Apud quos virtus insania furor esse dicitur such for instance who think it more honourable to resent an Affront with the loss of their own or their Fellow-Christians Lives and reckon in short Temperance and Chastity Meekness and Humility Zeal for God and Heavenly-mindedness contemptible Qualities and fit for mean and base Souls Let it be remembred that Christians are to walk by Faith and not by Sight * Non Exemplis sed Legibus judicandum 1 Cor. 3. 19. by Precepts and not by Examples that 't is to the most high GOD Who judgeth righteously and with whom the Wisdom of this World is Foolishness and not to a sinfull Generation that in divers Instances that might be mentioned calls Evil Good and Good Evil that we are to approve our selves So that putting this Case at that Disadvantage as the cowardly and formal Christian who will not fail to raise Objections and start difficulties on such an occasion would have it and will be sure himself to do supposing that the giving of Informations of these Offences should sometimes expose Men to reproachfull Words or rude Treatment from an ill Magistrate or a prosligate Offender which it will not be for the honour of any Government to countenance 't is the business I think of Christians to consider whether they ought not to suffer Shame and undergo some Trouble and Loss for the Exercising an Act of Charity to their Neighbours Souls for the suppressing of National Sins the preventing of God's Dishonour and the ruin of their Country now especially that their Endeavours of this kind will be so very likely
all Magistrates and the direction of private Persons who in any part of the Kingdom are religiously engaged in the Glorious Work of promoting a National Reformation and sold by B. Aylmer at the Three Pigeons in Cornhill W. Rogers at the Sun in Fleetstreet D. Brown at the Swan without Temple-Bar and W. Henshman in Westminster-Hall An Account of the Societies for Reformation of Manners A Sermon Preach'd at St. Mary-le-Bow to the Societies for the Reformation of Manners By the Right Reverend Father in God Edward Lord Bishop of Gloucester in 8vo Price 6 d. A Sermon Preach'd at St. Mary-le-Bow to the Societies for the Reformation of Manners By John Hancock D. D. Chaplain to his Grace the D. of Bedford in 8o. Price 6 d. A Sermon Preach'd at St. Mary-le-Bow to the Societies for the Reformation of Manners By Lilly Butler Minister of St. Mary Aldermanbury in 8o. Price 6 d. A Sermon Preach'd at St. Mary-le-Bow to the Societies for Reformation of Manners By Samuel Bradford Rector of the said Parish in 8o. Price 6 d. These Books sold by B. Aylmer in Cornhill For the more Effectual Promoting the Design of this Book is added An Abstract of the Penal-Laws Against Immorality and Prophaneness Commanded to be put in Speedy and Vigorous Execution by His Majesty's Gracious and Pious Proclamation pursuant to the Humble Address of the Honourable House of Commons OFFENCES Laws and Statutes PENALTIES Prophanation of the Lord's Day ALL Laws in force concerning the Observation of the Lord's-Day shall be put in Execution This Day is by every one to be Sanctified and kept Holy and all Persons must be careful herein to exercise themselves in the Duties of Piety and true Religion Publickly and Privately and every one on this Day not having a reasonable Excuse must diligently resort to some Publick place where the Service of God is exercised or must be present at some other Place allowed of by Law in the Practice of some Religious Duty either of Prayer Preaching Reading or Expounding of the Scriptures or Conference upon the same 29 Car. 2. Cap. 7. NOTE That His Majesty's Protestant Subjects dissenting from the Church of England and qualified according to the late Statute of Indulgence are exempted from the Penalties of the Statutes 3 Jac. 1 Eliz. 23. Eliz. 29. Eliz. and some other Statutes But this Indulgence extends not to such prophane Persons who no where attend on the Publick Worship of God Establisht or allow'd by Law nor to any that in Preaching or Writing deny the Trinity  1 W. M. Cap. 18.   1 Eliz. c. 2. 3 Jac. c. 4.  Such as Repair not to Church c. on Sundays and Holidays 1 Eliz. c. 2. Twelve Pence for every Default to be levied by Distress and for want of Distress to be committed to some Prison until the same be paid Vid. 14 15. § One Witness   Absenting for a Month If a Twelve-month or more 23 Eliz. cap. 1. 3 Jac. c. 4. Twenty Pounds per Month or forfeiture of Two parts in Three of their Estaus If any come not to the Sacrament of the Lord's-Supper once a Year  Their Names and Sirnames to be Pretented Forty Shillings Reward to such as present them None shall speak or do any thing in Contempt of the most Holy Sacrament 1 Ed. 6. c. 1. By Oath of Two Lawful Witnesses by Three Justices Quorum un to be bound over and Prosecuted in Sessions Whosoever shall disturb the Church or Congregation per mitted or misule the Teacher 1 W. M. cap. 18 1 M. cap. 3. To find Sureties in 50 l. or committed till next Quarter-Sessions and on Conviction to Forfeit 20 l. Proof by Two Witnesses before a Justice of Peace   Whosoever shall disturb any Preacher allow'd in his open Sermon or Collation or be procuring or abetting thereunto or shall Rescue c. any Offender c.  To be Committed by any Justice of the County to safe Custody and within six days the said Committing Justice with one other Justice if the Offender upon Examination shall be found Guilty shall Commit him to Gaol without Bail c. for Three Months and farther to the next Quarter-Sessions c. Accusation must be by Two Witnesses or Confession   Such as Meet or Assemble out of their own Parish upon the Lord's-Day for any Sports Or Pastim is whatsoever or such as shall use any Unlawful Exercise or Pastime in their own Parish upon the Lord's-Day 1 Car. c. 1. Three Shillings and Four Pence to the Poor where c. to be levied by Distress and Sale restoring the Overplus c. and for want of Distress to be sent to the Stocks for Three Hours but they must be questionem within a Month. If any Caâ—rie Wagoner Butcher c. with Horse Wain or â—â—â—t or Drover with Cattle shall Travel upon the Lord's-Day by themselves or any other for them 3 Car. c. 1. Twenty Shillings for every Offence to be levied by Distress and Sale to the Use of the Poor If any Butoner or any other for him shall Kill oâ— Sell any Victuals upon the Sunday 3 Car. c. 1. He shall Forfeit Six Shillings and Eight Pence if questioned within Six Months to be Levied c. or may be Sued for in Sessions c. Two Witnesses View or Confession   If any Shoe-Maker shall shew with intent to Sell any Boots Shoes c. on the Sunday 1 Jac. c. 22. He shall Forfeit the Value of every such pair and also Three Shillings and Four Pence for every Pair If any Person of the Age of 14 shall on the Lord's-Day or any part thereof 〈◊〉 any Worldly Labour Business or Work c. except Works of Necessity 〈◊〉 Charity 29 Car. 2. Cap. 7. He shall Forfeit Five Shillings for every Offence If any Person shall Cry Shew forth or put to Sale any Wares Fruit Goods c. except Milk â—â—â—y before the Hours of Nine in the Morning after four in the afternoon 29 Car. 2. cap. 7. He shall Forfeit the said Wares Fruit Goods c. to the Use of the Poor No Drover Horse-Courser Wagoner Butcher Higler or any of their Servants shall Travel or come to their Inns on the Lord's Day 29 Car. 2. cap. 7. The Forfeiture is Twenty Shillings for every Offence No Person shall use to Travel upon the Lord's-Day with any Boat Wherry c. except allow'd by one Justice of Peace so to do 29 Car. 2. cap. 7. The Forfeiture is Five Shillings for every Offence The Conviction upon the Statute must be before any Justice of the County c. who shall give Warrant to the Constables c to Seize the Goods shewed c. and to Levy the Forfeitures by Distress c. and for want of Distress to put the Offender in the Stocks for Two Hours The Justices c. may reward the Informer out of the Forfeitures not exceeding the Third part By View Confession or
bringing the Offenders to legal Punishment These may have actually suppressed and rooted out about Five Hundred Disorderly Houses and caused to be punished some Thousands of Lewd Persons besides Swearers Drunkards and Prophaners of the Lord's-Day as may appear by their Printed Lists of Offenders These Persons by their prudent and legal Management of their Business have received great Countenance and Encouragement in our Courts of Judicature and very particular Encouragement and Assistance for several Years past from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen who are sensible of the great Service that is done by them which they express upon proper Occasions A Third Society is of Constables of which sort of Officers Care is taken to form Yearly a new Body in this City who meet to consider of the most Effectual way to discharge their Oaths to acquaint one another with the Difficulties they meet with to resolve on proper Remedies to divide themselves in the several Parts of the City so as to take in the whole to the best Advantage for the inspecting of Disorderly Houses taking up of Drunkards Lewd Persons Prophaners of the Lord's-Day and Swearers out of the Streets and Markets and carrying them before the Magistrates and I must observe that this is found a very successful Method for Constables to take for the Suppressing of the abominable Sin of Swearing when Private Persons are negligent in giving of Informations and the Magistrate is careless of his Duty A Fourth Rank of Men who have been so highly Instrumental in this Vndertaking that they may be reckoned a Corner-Stone of it is of such as have made it some part of their Business to give Informations to the Magistrate as they have had Opportunity of such Breaches of the Laws as were before mentioned Many of these Persons have given the World a great and almost unheard-of Example in this corrupt Age of Zeal and Christian Courage having underwent at the beginning more especially of these Proceedings many Abuses and great Reproaches not only from exasperated and hardned Offenders but often from their luke-warm Friends Irreligious Relations and sometimes from Vnfaithful Magistrates by whom they have been Reviled Brow-beaten and Discouraged from performing such important Service so necessary to the Welfare of their Country And herein these brave Men have acted with so great Prudence as well as Zeal that foreseeing it might one day be the Policy of the Enemy of all Goodness and the Business of wicked Men who are his Instruments and who could not generally be brought to Shame and Punishment for their infamous Practices but by their means to raise Prejudices in the Minds of bad and unthinking People against them and to disparage their Proceedings by whispering of Jealousies of their being influenced in what they did by Worldly Considerations That the World may be challenged to make appear That these Societies have been so much as treated with by any Person whatsoever to give Informations with any Promise of a Reward or that they have ever received the least Advantage by any Convictions upon these Statutes against Prophaneness and Debauchery the Money arising thereby being wholly appropriated to the Poor except the third part of the Penalty upon the Statute against Prophanation of the Lord's-Day which in some Cases the Magistrate hath a bare Power to dispose of but was never that we know of received by any one of these Persons which I thought fit to observe as a lasting Answer to any Objection of this kind in Justice to them who have gone through Frowns and Reproaches for the sake of doing so much Good and that all Men may see with how great Reason it is both from the Character of the Persons concerned in the Discharging of this Service to Religion and their Country as well as from the Nature and Necessity of it which I shall hereafter enquire into that the Name of an Informer is now become much more Glorious among wise and good Men than it was grown Contemptible by the ill Practices of some in our days And that it does therefore appear truly Honourable for Persons of the greatest Quality to give Informations in these Cases for the Service of the most High God as some among us of greater Ranks than the World does perhaps think of have of late done and which it hath been observed in divers Discourses lately Published that even Princes under the Jewish Dispensation were not ashamed to do Now when these things were Ezra 9. 1 2. done the Princes came to me saying The people of Israel and the Priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the people of the Lands doing according to their Abominations c. There are Eight other regulated and mixt Bodies of House-keepers and Officers in the several Quarters of London Westminster and Southwark who differ in their Constitution from those before-mentioned but generally agree in the Methods of inspecting the Behaviour of Constables and other Officers and going along with them and assisting them in their Searching of Disorderly Houses in taking up of Offenders and carrying them before the Magistrate and also in giving Imformations themselves as there is Occasion Besides those before-mentioned there are about Nine and Thirty Religious Societies of another kind in and about London and Westminster which are propagated into other Parts of the Nation as Nottingham Gloucester c. and even into Ireland where they have been for some Months since spreading in divers Towns and Cities of that Kingdom as Kilkenny Drogheda Mannouth c. especially in Dublin where there are about Ten of these Societies which are promoted by the Bishops and inferior Clergy there These Persons meet often to Pray Sing Psalms and Read the Holy Scriptures together and to Reprove Exhort and Edifie one another by their Religious Conferences They moreover carry on at their Meetings Designs of Charity of different kinds such as Relieving the Wants of Poor House-keepers maintaining their Children at School setting of Prisoners at Liberty supporting of Lectures and daily Prayers in our Churches These are the SOCIETIES which our late Gracious Queen as the Learned Bishop that hath writ her LIFE tells us took so great Satisfaction in that She inquired often and much about them and was glad they went on and prevailed which thanks be to GOD they continue to do as the Reverend Mr. Woodward who hath obliged the World with a very particular Account of the Rise and Progress of them hath lately acquainted us And these likewise are SOCIETIES that have proved so exeeedingly Serviceable in the Work of REFORMATION that they may be reckoned a chief Support to it as our late Great Primate Arch-Bishop Tillotson declar'd upon several Occasions after he had examined their Orders and inquired into their Lives That he thought they were to the Church of England I might now give an Account of a Society of Ministers of the Church of England for carrying on of this Work and another Agreement of Justices of
the Peace But I am withheld at present by some Considerations from descending to any further Particulars concerning them and must content my self with saying what will be easily allow'd That the stated Meetings of such Persons are as proper and may be more useful for the Promoting of this Work than any other I have describ'd For what might we not expect from the Zealous Endeavours of these Orders of Men in this Affair which 't is obvious will not be employ'd with so great Effect as when they form themselves into Societies or at least have frequent and stated Times of Meeting for the Prosecution of this Business 'T is true that Ministers and Magistrates have far greater Advantages as well as more particular Obligations than others as I shall hereafter endeavour to make appear to be serviceable in this Work of Reformation but yet when they act alone in this Contention between Virtue and Vice thoâ— they will do great good in our present Circumstances and much more than they will easily believe till they are heartily engaged in it yet they must expect to be under Disadvantage on some Occasions as well as other single Persons who exert their Zeal without a Communication with one another and particularly when they encounter Combinations of wicked Men which it is not unlikely will sometimes happen Do we not see by what Methods the Men of the World propagate Wickedness and countermine Good Designs Is it not by their Clubs and Confederacies Are we not sensible with what Advantage our Civil Concerns are carried on by Companies and Corporations Nay Does not the Account before us convince us of the great Vsefulness or rather Necessity of Good Mens confederaling and meeting frequently together to concert Methods and Encourage one another in this difficult Work of Confronting and Suppressing of bare-fac'd and insolent Wickedness And that the Reason why good Men have not sooner or more generally done it may be because the Children of this World are in Mar. 16. 8. their Generation wiser than the Children of Light Since therefore Vnion and Method seem evidently to give good Men much the same Advantage abstracting from the Consideration of the Goodness of their Cause and the Divine Aid that they may expect in their just and brave Opposition to Prophaneness and Immoralities against the greater Number 't is to be feared of the Wicked as Discipline and good Ground in War gives a small Body of Men against a very unequal Number of those that are undisciplin'd and with disadvantageous Ground 't is highly to be wished That not only Societies of Ministers and Magistrates but of all other degrees of Men were set up in Prosecution of this Design in all Parts of the Kingdom more especially in all Towns Cities and Corporations And it may charitably be hoped that there are but few if any such Places where there are not to be found Three or Four Persons at least of one or other Denomination of Christians that have a Zeal for GOD and Religion who may easily form themselves into a Society which may enlarge by degrees and which will probably speaking go a great way towards the Suppressing Publick Disorders where they are but may have a marvellous Effect with God's Blessing for this End where there is a Magistrate that makes a Conscience of his Duty or a Minister that incourages Reformation as would be manifest to any that had observed in how short a time and to what a degree open Wickedness hath been checkt where a zealous Minister hath given himself the Trouble I might rather have said the Pleasure of meeting sometimes a Society of his Parishioners to encourage their Zeal and Constancy in this Work of Reformation even where the Magistrates have been either open or secret Enemies to it The Advantages moreover are too many to be insisted on in this place for the Exercising of our own Graces and the Confirming our Virtuous Dispositions by our Associating with our Fellow Christians for the Carrying on Religious Designs in an Age when Christian Conversation which hath an inestimable Value with Men of Religion is with such Difficulty met with The forming therefore of Good Men into such pious Combinations for the over-balancing those of Vice the countermining the contrary Attempts of all wicked Men and recovering the Power as well as Form of Religion is most earnestly recommended to all the Friends of Piety and Virtuo And methinks it may be expected from all that have any sincere regard to God's Honour their own and their Country's Happiness that they should exert themselves in their several Capacities with a noble Zeal and Emulation for the Perfecting of this great Vndertaking And now especially the Times of Peace are returned which we have been told are the Times of Reformation surely none that carry the Face of Christians can with Confidence offer new Excuses any longer to postpone it we may now hope for the Assistance of some at least of the Cautious and prudent Men amongst us who have hitherto with great Gravity stood Neuters in this Affair and that they will at last answer the Expectation of Good Men from them and suffer the Generations to come to call them Blessed 'T is at least to be hoped that if they are too Great and Wise to ingage in the Work themselves they will not however obstruct it more than the open Enemies of it can do by their calling it an Impracticable Vndertaking whispering groundless Jealousies of the Design or uncharitable and disadvantageous Characters of the Persons concerned in the Promoting it but rather that they will let the World see that their Zeal is ingaged in the Carrying on of wiser Methods for the Effecting of a National Reformation And one would think that the Employing our Labour or Authority in this Noble Design of being Instrumental in doing Good to Multitudes of Souls by Suppressing of National Sins and by consequence the Reviving the Power and Reputation of Religion and thereby Preventing National Judgments should be more worth the Concern and Application of Christians and should afford a more true and solid Satisfaction than the pursuit of our Worldly Interest or Pleasures All indeed are not Capable of being Serviceable in the same way but whether it be by Executing the Laws or by Preaching Discoursing Writing Informing Setting up of Societies or otherwise contributing towards it which way soever it be that we can further this Glorious Work it will I think be hard to find a good Excuse for any that shall decline their Concurrence according to their Advantages and Opportunities in an Undertaking which it would become the greatest Man upon Earth to promote which is now so far facilitated by the Schemes that are laid and the Methods it is put into We have seen some few Persons ingaging in this Enterprize before they had any Methods to direct them or many Examples to incourage them encountring Opposition in the first forming their Design from open Enemies and perhaps