I REmember that it is your great Duty, and tied on you by many Obligati­ons, that you be exemplar in your Lives, and be Patterns and Presidents to your Flocks: least it be said unto you, Why takest thou my Law into thy mo [...]h, seeing thou hatest to be [Page 2] reformed thereby. He that lives an evil Life may preach with Truth and Reason, or as did the Pharisees; but not as Christ, or as one having Authority.

II Every Minister in taking ac­compts of his Life, must judge of his Duty by more strict and severer measures, than he does of his People; and he that ties heavy Burdens upon others, ought himself to carry the hea­viest end: and many things may be lawful in them, which he must not suffer in himself.

III Let every Minister endeavor to be learned in all spiritual wisdom, and skilful in the things of God; for he will ill teach others the way of godli­ness, perfectly, that is himself a babe and uninstructed. An ignorant Minister is an head without an eye; and an evil Minister is salt that hath no sa­vour.

IV Every Minister, above all [Page 3] things, must be careful that he be not a servant of passion, whether of anger or desire. For he that is not a master of his passions will always be useless, and quickly will becom con­temptible and cheap in the eyes of his parish.

V Let no Minister be litigious in any thing; not greedy or covetous; not insisting upon little things, or quarreling for, or exacting of every minute portion of his dues; but boun­tiful and easie; remitting of his right, when to do so may be useful to his people, or when the contrary may do mischief, and cause reproach. Be not over rightous (saith Solomon) that is, not severe in demand­ing, or forcing every thing, though it be indeed his due.

VI Let not the name of the Church be made a pretence for personal covetousness; by say­ing, you are willing to remit many things, but you must not [Page 4] wrong the Church: for though it be true, that you are not to do prejudice to succession, yet many things may be forgiven upon just occasions, from which the Church shall receive no in­commodity; but be sure that there are but few things which thou art bound to do in thy personal capacitie, but the same also, and more, thou art ob­lig'd to perform, as thou art a publick person.

VII Never exact the offerings, or customary wages, and such as are allowed by law, in the ministration of the Sacraments, nor condition for them, nor secure them before-hand; but first do your office, and mini­ster the Sacraments purely, readily, and for Christs sake; and when that is done, receive what is your due.

VIII Avoid all pride, as you would flee from the most frightful apparition, or the most cruel enemie; and remember [Page 5] that you can never truly teach humility, or tell what it is, unless you practise it your selves.

IX Take no measures of Humili­ty, but such as are material and tangible; such which consist not in humble Words, and low­ly Gestures; but what is first truly radicated in your Souls, in low opinion of your selves, and in real preferring others be­fore your selves, and in such significations, which can neither deceive your selves nor o­thers.

X Let every Curate of Souls strive to understand himself best; and then to understand others. Let him spare himself least; but most severely judge, censure, and condemn himself. If he be learned, let him shew it by wise teaching, and hum­ble manners. If he be not learned, let him be sure to get so much knowledge as to know that; and so much Humility, as not to grow insolent, and puffed [Page 6] up by his Emptiness. For ma­ny will pardon a good man that is less learned; but if he be proud, no man will forgive him.

XI Let every Minister be care­ful to live a life as abstracted from the Affairs of the World, as his necessity will permit him; but at no hand to be immerg'd and principally imploy'd in the Affairs of the World: What cannot be avoided, and what is of good report, and what he is oblig'd to by any personal or collateral Duty, that he may do, but no more. Ever remem­bring the Saying of our blessed Lord: In the world ye shall have trouble; but in me ye shall have peace: and consider this also, which is a great Truth; That every degree of love to the World, is so much taken from the Love of God.

XII Be no otherwise sollicitous of your Fame and Reputation, but by doing your duty well & [Page 7] wisely: in other things, refer your self to God: but if you meet with evil Tongues, be careful that you bear reproach­es sweetly and temperately.

XIII Remember that no Minister can govern his people well, and prosperously, unless himself hath learn'd humbly and cheer­fully to obey his Superior. For every Minister should be like the good Centurion in the Go­spel: himself is under Autho­rity, and he hath people under him.

XIV Be sure in all your Words and Actions to preserve Chri­stian simplicity and ingenuity; to do to others, as you would be done unto your self; and ne­ver to speak what you do not think. Trust to Truth, rather than to your Memory: for this may fail you, that will never.

XV Pray much, and very fervent­ly, for all your Parishioners, and all men that belong to you, and [Page 8] and all that belong to God; but especially for the Conversion of Souls; and be very zealous for nothing, but for Gods glory, and the salvation of the World, and particularly of your Charges: Ever remembring that you are by God appointed as the Mini­sters of Prayer, and the Mini­sters of good things; to pray for all the World, and to heal all the World, as far as you are able.

XVI Every Minister must learn and practise patience; that by bear­ing all adversity meekly, and humbly, and cheerfully, and by doing all his duty with unwea­ried industry, with great cou­rage, constancie, and Christian magnanimity, he may the better assist his people in the bearing of their crosses, and overcoming their difficulties.

XVII He that is holy, let him be holy still, and still more holy, and never think he hath done his work, till all be finished by [Page 9] perseverance, and the measures of perfection in a holy Life, and a holy Death: but at no hand must he magnifie himselfby vain separations from others, or de­spising them that are not so ho­ly.

XVIII 1. REmember that Discretion is the Mistress of all Gra­ces; and Humility is the great­est of all Miracles; and with­out this, all Graces perish to a mans self; and without that, all Graces are useless unto others.

XIX 2. Let no Minister be gover­ned by the Opinion of his Peo­ple, [Page 10] and destroy his duty, by unreasonable compliance with their humours; least as the Bi­shop of Granata told the Go­vernours of Leria and Patti; like silly Animals, they take burdens upon their backs at the pleasure of the Multitude, which they neither can retain with Pru­dence, nor shake off with safe­ty.

XX 3. Let not the Reverence of any Man, cause you to sin a­gainst God; but in the matter of Souls, being well-advis'd, be bold and confident; but abate nothing of the honour of God, or the just measures of your duty, to satisfie the importuni­ty of any man whatsoever: and God will bear you out.

XXI 4. When you teach your peo­ple any part of their duty, as in paying their debts, their tythes and offerings, in giving due re­verence and religious regards, diminish nothing of your admo­nition in these particulars, and [Page 11] the like, though they object, That you speak for your selves, and in your own cases. For a counsel is not the worse but the better, if it be profitable both to him that gives, and to him that takes it. Onely do it in simplicity, and principally in­tend the good of their Souls.

XXII 5. In taking accounts of the good Lives of your selves, or others; take your measures by the express words of Scripture; and next to them, estimate them by their proportion and com­pliance with the publick mea­sures, with the Laws of the na­tion, Ecclesiastical and civil, and by the Rules of Fame, of pub­lick Honesty and good Report; and last of all by their observa­tion of the ordinances and exte­rior parts of Religion.

XXIII 6. Be not satisfied when you have done a good work; un­less you have also done it well: and when you have, then be careful that vain-glory, partia­lity, [Page 12] self-conceit, or any other folly or indiscretion, snatch it not out of your hand, and cheat you of the reward.

XXIV 7. Be careful so to order your self, that you fall not into temptation and folly, in the presence of any of your Char­ges; and especially that you fall not into chidings, and in­temperate talkings, and sudden and violent Expressions: Never be a party in clamors and scold­ings, least your Calling become useless, and your Person con­temptible: Ever remembring, that if you cheaply and light­ly be engag'd in such low usa­ges with any Person, that Per­son is likely to be lost from all possibility of receiving much good from your Ministry.

XXV 1. USE no violence to any man, to bring him to your opinion: but by the word of your proper Ministry, by Demonstrations of the Spirit, by rational Discourses, by ex­cellent Examples, constrain them to come in: and for other things, they are to be permit­ted to their own Liberty; to the measures of the Laws, and the Conduct of their Gover­nours.

XXVI 2. Suffer no quarrel in your [Page 14] Parish; and speedily suppress it when it is begun: and though all wise men will abstain from interposing in other mens Af­fairs, and especially in matters of Interest, which men love too well, yet it is your Duty here to interpose, by perswa­ding them to friendships, recon­cilements, moderate prosecuti­ons of their pretences; and by all means you prudently can, to bring them to peace, and bro­therly kindness.

XXVII 3. Suffer no Houses of De­bauchery, of Drunkennes or Lust, in your Parishes; but im­plore the assistance of Autho­rity for the suppressing of all such meeting places, and Nur­series of impiety: and as for places of publique Entertain­ment, take care that they ob­serve the Rules of Christian Piety, and the allowed measures of Laws.

XXVIII 4. If there be any Papists, or Sectaries in your Parishes, [Page 15] neglect not frequently to confer with them in the spirit of meek­ness, and by the importunity of wise Discourses seeking to gain them. But stir up no violences against them; but leave them (if they be incurable) to the wise and merciful disposition of the Laws.

XXIX 5. Receive not the people to doubtful Disputations: and let no names of Sects or differing Religions, be kept up amongst you, to the disturbance of the publick peace, and private Cha­rity: and teach not the People to estimate their Piety by their distance from any Opinion, but by their faith in Christ, their obedience to God, and the Laws, and their love to all Chri­stian People, even though they be deceiv'd.

XXX 6. Think no man considera­ble upon the point or pretence of a tender Conscience, unless he live a good life, and in all things endeavour to approve [Page 16] himself void of offence both towards God and man: but if he be an humble person, modest & inquiring, apt to learn, and de­sirous of information; if he seeks for it in all ways reasona­ble and pious, and is obedient to Laws, then take care of him; use him tenderly, perswade him meekly, reprove him gently, and deal mercifully with him, till God shall reveal that also unto him, in which his unavoid­able trouble, and his temptation lies.

XXXI 7. Mark them that cause Di­visions among you, and avoid them: for such persons are by the Scripture call'd Scandals in [...]. Vide Rom. 16. 17. [...]. the abstract; they are Offenders and Offences too. But if any man have an Opinion, let him have it to himself, till he can be cur'd of his disease by time, and counsel, and gentle usages. But if he separates from the Church, or gathers a Congregation, he is proud, and is fallen from the Communion of Saints, and the [Page 17] Unity of the Catholick Church.

XXXII 8. He that observes any of his people to be zealous, let him be careful to conduct that zeal into such channels where there is least danger of inconvenien­cie; let him imploy it in some­thing that is good; let it be press'd to fight against sin. For Zeal is like a Cancer in the Brest; feed it with good flesh, or it will devour the Heart.

XXXIII 9. Strive to get the love of the Congregation; but let it not degenerate into popularity. Cause them to love you and re­vere you; to love with Religi­on, not for your compliance; for the good you do them, not for that you please them. Get their love by doing your duty, but not by omitting or spoiling any part of it: Ever remem­bring the severe Words of our blessed Saviour, Wo be to you, when all men speak well of you.

XXXIV 10. Suffer not the common [Page 18] people to prattle about Religi­on and questions; but to speak little, to be swift to hear, and slow to speak, that they learn to do good works for necessary Uses, that they work with their hands, that they may have wherewithal to give to them that need; that they study to be quiet. and learn to do their own business.

XXXV 11. Let every Minister take care that he call upon his Char­ges, that they order them­selves so, that they leave no void spaces of their time; but that every part of it be filled with useful or innocent imploy­ment. For where there is a space without business, that space is the proper time for danger and temptation; and no man is more miserable than he that knows not how to spend his time.

XXXVI 12. Fear no mans person in the doing of your duty, wisely, and according to the Laws: re­membing [Page 19] always that a servant of God can no more be hurt by all the powers of wicked­ness, than by the noise of a flies wing, or the chirping of a Spar­row. Brethren do well for your selves: do well for your selves as long as you have time; you know not how soon death will come.

XXXVII 13. Entertain no persons in­to your Assemblies from other Parishes, unless upon great oc­casion, or in the destitution of a Minister, or by contingency, and seldom visits, or with leave: least the labours of thy Brother be discouraged; and thy self be thought to preach Christ out of envie, and not of good will.

XXXVIII 14. Never appeal to the judgement of the people in matters of controversie; teach them obedience, not arrogancie; teach them to be humble, not crafty. For without the aid of false Guides, you will finde some of them of themselves [Page 20] apt enough to be troublesome: and a question put into their Heads, and a power of judging into their Hands, is a putting it to their choice, whether you shall be troubled by them this week, or the next: for much longer you cannot escape.

XXXIX 15. Let no Minister of a Pa­rish introduce any Ceremony, Rites or Gestures, though with some seeming Piety and Devo­tion, but what are commanded by the Church, and established by Law: and let these also be wisely and usefully explicated to the people, that they may understand the reasons and mea­sures of obedience: but let there be no more introduc'd, least the people be burdened unnecessarily, and tempted or divided.

XL 1. LEt every Minister be di­ligent in preaching the Word of God, according to the ability that God gives him; e­ver remembring that to minister Gods Word unto the People, is the one half of his great Of­fice and Employment.

XLI 2. Let every Minister be careful, that what he delivers be indeed the word of GOD: that his Sermon be answerable to the Text; for this is Gods Word, the other ought to be according to it; that although in it self it be but the word of Man, yet by the purpose, truth, [Page 22] and signification of it, it may in a secondary sense be the Word of God.

XLII 3. Do not spend your Ser­mons in general and indefinite things; as in Exhortations to the people to get Christ, to be united to Christ, and things of the like unlimited signification; but tell them in every duty, what are the measures, what circumstances, what instru­ments, and what is the parti­cular minute meaning of every General Advise. For Generals not explicated, do but fill the peoples Heads with empty no­tions, and their Mouths with perpetual unintelligible talk: but their Hearts remain empty, and Themselves are not edified.

XLIII 4. Let not the humours and inclinations of the people be the measures of your Doctrines; but let your Doctrines be the measure of their perswasions. Let them know from you what they ought to do; but if you [Page 23] learn from them what you ought to teach, you will give but a very ill account at the day of Judgement, of the souls committed to you. He that receives from the people what he shall teach them, is like a Nurse that asks of her sick Child, what Physick she shall give him.

XLIV 5. Every Minister in reproofs of sin and sinners, ought to concern himself in the faults of them that are present, but not of the absent; nor in reproof of the times; for this can serve no end but of Faction and Sedition, publique Murmur and private Discontent; besides this, it does nothing but amuze the people in the faults of o­thers, teaching them to revile their Betters, and neglect the dangers of their own Souls.

XLV 6. As it looks like flattery and design, to preach nothing before Magistrates but the Du­ty of their people, and their [Page 24] own Eminencie; so it is the begining of Mutiny to preach to the people the duty of their Superiors and Supreme; it can neither come from a good Prin­ciple, nor tend to a good end. Every Minister ought to preach to his Parish, and urge their Duty. St. John the Baptist told the Souldiers what the Souldi­ers should do; but troubled not their heads with what was the duty of the Scribes and Pharisees.

XLVI 7. In the reproof of sins be as particular as you please, and spare no mans sin, but meddle with no mans person; neither name any man, nor signifie him, neither reproach him, nor make him to be suspected: he that does otherwise, makes his Ser­mon to be a Libel, and the Mi­nistry of Repentance, an instru­ment of Revenge: and so do­ing he shall exasperate the man, but never amend the sinner.

XLVII 8. Let the business of you [Page 25] Sermons be to preach holy life, obedience, peace, love among neighbours, hearty love, to live as the old Christians did, and the new should, to do hurt to no man, to do good to every man. For in these things the honour of God consists, and the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus.

XLVIII 9. Press those Graces most, that do most good, and make the least noise; such as giving privately, and forgiving pub­liquely; and describe the grace of Charity by all the measures of it which are given by the Apostle, 1 Cor. 13. For this grace is not finished by good Words, nor yet by good Works, but it is a great building: and many Materials go to the stru­cture of it. It is worth your study, for it is the fulfilling of the Commandments.

XLIX 10. Because it is impossible that charity should live, unless the lust of the tongue be mor­tified: let every Minister in [Page 26] his charge be frequent and se­vere against slanderers, detra­ctors and backbiters: for the crime of backbiting is the poy­son of charity; and yet so common, that it is past into a Proverb: [After a good dinner let us sit down and backbite our neighbours.]

L 11. Let every Minister be carefull to observe, and vehe­ment in reproving those faults of his Parishioners, of which the Laws cannot or do not take cognizance; such as are, many degrees of intemperate drink­ings, gluttony, riotous living, expenses above their ability, pride, bragging, lying in ordi­nary conversation, convetousness, peevishness and hasty anger; and such like. For the Word of God searches deeper than the Laws of men; and many things will be hard to prove by the measures of Courts, which are easie enough to be observ'd by the watchful and diligent eye and ear of the Guide of Souls.

[Page 27] LI 12. In your Sermons to the people, often speak of the four last things, of Death & Judge­ment, Heaven and Hell: of the Life and Death of Jesus Christ; of Gods mercie to repenting sinners, and his severity against the impenitent: of the formi­dable Examples of Gods anger powr'd forth upon Rebbels, Sacrilegious, Oppressors of Widdows and Orphanes, and all Persons guilty of Crying Sins: These are useful, safe and profitable; but never run into Extravagancies and Curiosities, nor trouble your selves or them with Mysterious Secrets; for there is more laid before you, than you can understand; and the whole Duty of Man, is To fear God, and keep his com­mandments. Speak but very little of the secret and high things of God; but as much as you can of the Lowness and Humility of Christ.

LII 13. Be not hasty in pronoun­cing [Page 28] damnation against any man or party in a matter of dispu­tation. It is enough that you reprove an Errour; but what shall be the sentence against it at the day of Judgement, thou knowest not, and therefore pray for the erring person, and re­prove him; but leave the Sen­tence to his Judge.

LIII 14. Let your Sermons teach the duty of all states of men to whom you speak: and particu­larly, take care of Servants and Hirelings, Merchants and Tradesmen, that they be not unskilful, nor unadmonished in their respective duties: and in all things speak usefully and af­fectionately; for by this means you will provide for all mens needs; both for them that sin by reason of their little under­standing, and them that sin be­cause they have evil, dull, or de­prav'd affections.

LIV 15. In your Sermons and Discourses of Religion, use pri­mitive, [Page 29] known and accustomed words; and affect not new Phantastical or Schismatical Terms: Let the Sunday Festi­val be call'd the Lords day▪ and pretend no fears from the common use of Words amongst Christians. For they that make a business of the words of common use, and reform Re­ligion by introducing a new Word, intend to make a change but no amendment; they spend themselves in trifles, like the barren turf that sends forth no medicinable herbs, but store of mushroms; and they give a demonstration that they are either impertinent people, or else of a querulous nature; and that they are ready to disturb the Church, if they could find occasion.

LV 16. Let every Minister in is charge, as much as he can, indeavour to destroy all popu­ [...]ar errors, and evil principles [...]aken up by his people or o­ [...]hers with whom they con­verse: [Page 30] especially those that directly oppose the indispensa­ble necessity of a holy life: let him endeavour to understand in what true and useful sense Christs active obedience is im­puted to us; let him make his people fear the deferring of their repentance, and putting it off to their death-bed; let him explicate the nature of faith, so that it be an active and quickning principle of cha­rity; let him as much as he may, take from them all confi­dences that slacken their obe­dience and diligence; let him teach them to impute all their sins to their own follies and e­vil choice, and so build them up in a most holy faith to a ho­ly life: ever remembering that in all ages it hath been the greatest artifice of Sathan, to hinder the increase of Christs Kingdom, by destroying those things in which it does consist viz. peace and rightousness, ho­liness and mortification.

[Page 31] LVI 17. Every Minister ought to be careful that he never ex­pound Scriptures in publick, contrary to the known sense of the Catholick Church, and par­ticularly of the Churches of England and Ireland; nor in­troduce any Doctrine against any of the four first General Councils: for these as they are measures of Truth: so also, of necessity; that is, as they are safe, so they are sufficient; and besides what is taught by these, no matter of belief is ne­cessary to salvation.

LVII 18. Let no Preacher bring before the People in his Ser­mons or discourses, the Argu­ments of great and dangerous Heresies, though with a pur­pose to confute them; for they will much easier retain the ob­jection, than understand the Answer.

LVIII 19. Let not the Preacher make an Article of Faith to be a matter of dispute; but teach [Page 32] it with plainness and simplicity, and confirm it with easie Argu­ments and plain words of Scri­pture; but without objection: let them be taught to believe but not to argue: least if the arguments meet with a scrupu­lous person, it rather shake the foundation by curious enquiry, than establish it by arguments too hard.

LIX 20. Let the Preacher be carefull that in his Sermons he use no light, immodest or ridi­culous expression; but what is wise, grave, useful and for e­dification; that when the Prea­cher brings truth and gravity, the people may attend with fear and reverence.

LX 21. Let no Preacher envie any man that hath a greater Audience, or more fame in Preaching than himself; let him not detract from him, or lessen his reputation directly or indirectly: for he that cannot be even with his brother but [Page 33] by pulling him down, is but a dwarf still; and no man is the better, for making his brother worse. In all things desire that Christ's Kingdom may be ad­vanc'd; and rejoyce that he is served, whoever be the Mi­nister: that if you cannot have the fame of a great Preacher, yet you may have the reward of being a good man: but it is hard, to miss both.

LXI 22. Let every Preacher in his Parish take care to expli­cate to the people the myste­ries of the great Festivals; as of Christmass, Easter, Ascensi­on day, Whitsunday, Trinity sunday, the Annunciation to the Bl. Virgin Mary; because these Feasts containing in them the great fundamentals of our Faith, will with most advan­tage convey the mysteries to the people, and fix them in their memories, by the solem­nity and circumstances of the day.

[Page 34] LXII 23. In all your Sermons and Discourses, speak nothing of God but what is honourable and glorious; and impute not to him such things, the conse­quents of which a wise & good man will not own: never sup­pose him to be the author of sin, or the procurer of our damnation. For God cannot be tempted, neither tempteth he any man. God is true, and eve­ry man a lyer.

LXIII 24. Let no Preacher com­pare one Ordinance with ano­ther; as Prayer with Preaching, to the disparagement of either; but use both in their proper seasons, and according to ap­pointed Order.

LXIV 25. Let no man preach for the praise of men: but if you meet it, instantly watch and stand upon your guard, and pray against your own vanity; and by an express act of ac­knowledgment and adoration, return the praise to God. Re­member [Page 35] that Herod was for the omission of this, smitten by an Angel; and do thou tremble, fearing least the judgment of God, be otherwise than the sentence of the people.

LXV 1. EVery Minister is bound upon every Lords day, before Evening Prayer, to in­struct all young people in the Creed, the Lords Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Doctrine of the Sacraments, as they are set down and expli­cated in the Church Catechism.

LXVI 2. Let a Bell be tolled when the Catechising is to begin; [Page 36] that all who desire it, may be present; but let all the more ignorant, and uninstructed part of the people, whether they be old or young be requir'd to be present: that no person in your Parishes be ignorant in the foundations of Religion: ever remembring, that if in these things they be unskilfull, what­ever is taught besides, is like a house built upon the sand.

LXVII 3. Let every Minister teach his people the use, practise, me­thods and benefits of medita­tion, or mental prayer. Let them draw out for them, helps and rules for their assistance in it; and furnish them with ma­terials; concerning the life and death of the ever Bl. Jesus, the greatness of God, our own meanness, the dreadfull sound of the last trumpet, the infinite event of the two last sentences at doomsday: let them be taught to consider what they have been, what they are, and what they shall be; and above [Page 37] all things, what are the issues of eternity: glories never to cease, pains never to be ended.

LXVIII 4. Let every Minister ex­hort his people to a frequent confession of their sins, and a declaration of the state of their souls; to a conversation with their Minister in spiritual things, to an enquiry concerning all the parts of their duty: for by preaching, and catechising and private entercourse, all the needs of Souls can best be serv'd; but by preaching alone, they cannot.

LXIX 5. Let the people be exhor­ted to keep fasting days, and the feasts of the Church; ac­cording to their respective ca­pacities; so it be done without burden to them, and without becoming a snare; that is, that upon the account of Religion, and holy desires to please God, they spend some time in Reli­gion, besides the Lords day: but be very careful that the [Page 38] Lords day be kept religiously, according to the severest mea­sures of the Church, and the commands of Authority: ever remembring that as they give but little Testimony of Repen­tance and Mortification, who never fast; so they give but small evidence of their joy in God and in Religion, who are unwilling solemnly to partake of the Publick and Religious Joys of the Christian Church.

LXX 6. Let every Minister be diligent in exhorting all Parents and Masters to send their Chil­dren and Servants to the Bishop at the Visitation, or other so­lemn times of his coming to them, that they may be con­firm'd: And let him also take care that all young persons may by understanding the princi­ples of Religion, their vow of baptism, the excellency of Chri­stian Religion, the necessity and advantages of it, and of living according to it, be fitted and disposed, and accordingly by [Page 39] them presented to the Bishop, that he may pray over them, and invocate the Holy Spirit, and minister the holy rite of Confirmation.

LXXI 1. EVery Minister ought to be careful in visiting all the sick and afflicted persons of his parish: ever remembring that as the Priests lips are to preserve knowledg: so it is his duty to minister a word of comfort in the time of need.

LXXII 2. A Minister must not stay till he be sent for; but of his own accord and care to go to them; to examine them, to ex­hort [Page 40] them to perfect their re­pentance, to strengthen their faith, to encourage their pati­ence, to persuade them to re­signation, to the renewing of their holy vows, to the love of God, to be reconcil'd to their neighbours, to make restitution and amends, to confess their sins, to settle their estate, to provide for their charges, to do acts of piety and charity; and above all things, that they take care, they do not sin towards the end of their lives. For if repentance on our death-bed seem so very late for the sins of our life; what time shall be left to repent us of the sins we commit on our death-bed?

LXXIII 3. When you comfort the afflicted, endeavour to bring them to the true love of God: for he that serves God for Gods sake, it is almost impossible he should be oppressed with sor­row.

LXXIV 4. In answering the cases of [Page 41] conscience of sick or afflicted people, consider not who asks, but what he asks; and consult in your answers more with the estate of his soul, than the con­veniencie of his estate: For no flattery is so fatal as that of the Physician or the Divine.

LXXV 5. If the sick person enquires concerning the final estate of his soul; he is to be reprov'd rather than answer'd; onely he is to be called upon to fi­nish his duty, to do all the good he can in that season; to pray for pardon and acceptance; but you have nothing to do to med­dle with passing final sentences; neither cast him down in de­spair, nor raise him up to vain and unreasonable confidences. But take care that he be not carelesly dismiss'd.

LXXVI 6. In order to these and ma­ny other good purposes, every Minister ought frequently to converse with his parishioners; to go to their houses, but al­ways [Page 42] publickly, with witness and with prudence; least what is charitably intended, be scan­dalously reported: and in all your conversation be sure to give good example, and upon all occasions to give good coun­sel.

LXXVII 1. EVery Minister is oblig'd, publickly or privately to read the Common prayers every day in the week, at mor­ning and Evening: and in great Towns and populous pla­ces conveniently inhabited, it must be read in Churches; that the daily sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiving may never cease.

[Page 43] LXXVIII 2. The Minister is to instruct the people, that the baptism of their children ought not to be ordinarily defer'd, longer than till the next Sunday or holy day after the birth of the child: least importune and unnecessary delay, occasion that the child die before it is dedicated to the service of God and the Re­ligion of the Lord Jesus; before it be born again, admitted to the promises of the Gospel, and reckon'd in the account of the second Adam.

LXXIX 3. Let every Minister exhort and press the people to a de­vout & periodical communion; at the least three times in the year, at the great Festivals: but the devouter sort, and they who have leasure, are to be in­vited to a frequent Communi­on: and let it be given and re­ceived with great reverence.

LXXX 4. Every Minister ought to be well skill'd and studied in saying his Office, in the Ru­bricks, [Page 44] the Canons, the Articles, and the Homilies of the Church, that he may do his duty readily, discreetly, gravely▪ and by the publick measures of the laws. To which also it is very usefull that it be added▪ that every Minister study the ancient Canons of the Church▪ especially the Penitentials of the Eastern and Western Churches: let him read good books, such as are approved by publick authority; such which are usefull, wise and holy: not the scriblings of Unlearned parties, but of men learned, pious, obedient and disinterested; and amongst these, such especially which describe duty and good life, which minister to faith and charity, to piety and devotion; Cases of Conscience, and solid expositions of Scripture. Con­cerning which, learned and wise persons are to be consulted.

LXXXI 5. Let not a Curate of souls trouble himself with any stu­dies, but such which concern [Page 45] his own or his peoples duty; such which may enable him to speak well, and to do well; but to meddle with no controver­sies, but such by which he may be enabled to convince the gainsayers in things that con­cern publick peace and a good life.

LXXXII 6. Be carefull in all the pub­lick administrations of your parish, that the poor be provi­ded for. Think it no shame to beg for Christs poor mem­bers: stir up the people to li­beral alms by your word and your example. Let a Colle­ction be made every Lords day, and upon all solemn meetings, and at every Communion; and let the Collection be wisely and piously administred: ever re­membring, that at the day of judgement nothing shall pub­lickly be proclaim'd, but the reward of alms and mercy.

LXXXIII 7. Let every Minister be sure to lay up a treasure of comforts [Page 46] and advices, to bring forth for every mans need in the day of his trouble; let him study and heap together Instruments and Advices for the promoting of every virtue, and remedies and arguments against every vice; let him teach his people to make acts of virtue not onely by external exercise, but also in the way of prayer, and in­ternal meditation.

In these and all things else that concern the Ministers du­ty, if there be difficulty, [...] are to repair to your Bis [...] for further advice, assistanc [...] and information.