vifit once or twice the Family, into which Death has entered, and endeavour to cherish and ftrengthen the good Impreffions,* which it is to be hoped fuch an awful Scene hath made on their Minds. 7. It is highly proper, and will greatly conduce to preferve your own Mind in a right Frame, and to fecure the divine Blefsing, to fpend a few Minutes in fecret Prayer, before you go out to vifit the Parifhioners, (efpecially the fick and afflicted) that God would affift and profper your pious and benevolent Attempts. 1. Mifcellaneous HINTS You will not forget to read the Act of Parliament against profane Curfing and Swearing, as injoined under the Penalty of forfeiting five Pounds, immedi ately after the Morning or Evening Prayer on four several Sundays, namely, the Sunday after Lady-day, Midfummer, Michaelmas, and Christmas. It is a long, tedious Act, and it would take up too much Time, and be ufelefs to read all the Forms, by which Lend Dr GROSVENOR's Mourner, or the Afflicted relieved, to fuch Families as feem to ftand in Need of the Confolations therein given. which the Penalties are levied, and how they are to be applied, &c. It is fufficient in Foro Confcientiæ to abridge it, and only to read the Preamble, and the Penalty. No Court of Juftice would levy a Fine on a Clergyman for not reading the whole Act, when he reads an Abridgment of it in this Manner.This is certainly complying with the Spirit of the Law. 2. The Preamble of the Act of Parlia ment for the better Obfervation of the Lord's Day, (made in the 29th Year of the Reign of Charles the Second) and the Penalty, fhould be read at proper Times, and on fuitable Occafions: And every Minifter is charged, and commanded four Times in the Year to read in his Church the King's Proclamation for the Encouragement of Piety and Virtue, and for the preventing and punishing of Vice, Profanenefs, and Immorality. Sabbathbreakers ought undoubtedly to be punished, as the Law directs, after due Almonition has been given, and difregarded: But then you fhould endeavour to make the Offender fenfible, that his Difregard to your Admonition renders your Application to a Justice of `Peace neceffary; and that you have made fuch an Application, not from Refentment, nor any perfonal Diflike, but from Compaf fion, and a Principle of Confcience, to prevent (as much as in you lies) his Continuance in fo finful a Practice Himself, and in setting fo bad an Example to others. 3. Before 2. Before every Vifitation remind the Churchwardens in a friendly Manner of their Duty. Read the printed Articles of Inquiry with them deliberately in private, and point out to them the Importance of fuch Inquiries, that they may confider them confcientiously, and not as mere Matters of Form. There are fome Ministers, who, to prevent any just Blame in this Particular, think it proper to read publicly in Church, on the Sunday before the Vifitation, the following Canons, the 112th, 116th, 117th, 118th, and 119th. 14. 4. Let me advise you to bear your Tef timony on every Occafion against the Profanation of the LORD's Day, by a Neglect of his Worship, Diverfions after it, Ringing of Bells, or any other Offence. It is our Duty, as Minifters, to give Notice, that for these things the Wrath of God cometh on the Children of Difobedience,” Ephes. v. 6. A Contempt of the Sabbath opens the Way to innumerable Evils. There are too many, who come to Church only once in the Day: You will do well to in-quire what Excufe they have for not attending twice. Sickness or the Care of young Children, may neceffarily confine fome at Home; and a due Allowance should be made for thefe Impediments: But many, who go only in the Afternoon, have not these Excufes Excufes to plead: They finfully abfent themfelves in the Morning, having an Opportu nity of going then, as well as in the Afternoon, and the Example of others to induce them to it.-Moreover as there are Forms of Prayer appointed by our Church for both Parts of the Day, it is fuppofed that all its Members (not having any lawful, or rea fonable Excufe) will attend on the public Worship twice every Sunday. The very Lame Reafons, which require their Rrefence there on one Part of the Day, are equally ftrong for their being there on the other Part of it. The Opportunity they mifs might, by the Bleffing of God, have been made peculiarly useful to them; and GoD may punish their Neglect by withholding his Bleffing, when they do attend. And this may be one Caufe why fuch partial Worshippers have so long heard the Preacher to fo little Purpose. 5. I must beg you to be attentive to the earliest Reports of any notorious Sin in thofe, who "profefs Godliness," and in Cafe of their Guilt, I would advise you to take no friendly Notice of them, as you did before, nor fuffer them to come to the Parfonage houfe; nor admit them to the Lord's Table, till they have made their humble Confeffion of Guilt, as public, and well-known, as their Commiffion of it. And, that they may be led to make fuch a public Confeffion and Acknowledgment, reprove them, rea fon fon with them, and endeavour to humble, convince, and reform them. When 6. Study to be a Peace-maker. Differences arife between any of the Parish, take Pains to compofe them. Plead with each Party Jeparately, and advise them to refer the Matter in Difference, not to yourself, but to fome Perfon or Perfons of Age, Prudence and Calmness, who are no Way interested in the Affair, or connected with either of the Parties. 7. When the Seed is fown, the Devil comes immediately, Mark iv. 15. and takes it out of the Hearts of many of the Hearers. Hence it is evident how dangerous a Cuf tom it is for People to stay in the Churchyard, chatting about indifferent Matters, as foon as the Sermon is ended. Warn thofe therefore, in whom there is any Seriousness, to proceed from Church to fome retired Place in their own Houfes, or to converfe with their Families on what they have been hearing. 8. Endeavour to live on friendly Terms with the neighbouring Clergy, and to cultivate a particular Acquaintance and Friendfhip with fuch as are ferious, and diligent in their paftoral Work, and of candid and generous Sentiments. Be ready to serve and affift them according to your Ability, and to promote their Reputation and Usefulness 9. Allow |