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 all things what are the issues of eternity glories never to cease pains never to be ended 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 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 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 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 them presented to the Bishop that he may pray over them and invocate the Holy Spirit and minister the holy rite of Confirmation VI. Rules and Advices concerning Visitation of the sick 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 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 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 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 4. In answering the cases of 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 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 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 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 VII Of ministring the Sacraments publick prayers and other duties of Ministers 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 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 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 4. Every Minister ought to be well skill'd and studied in saying his Office in the Rubricks 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 5. Let not a Curate of souls trouble himself with any studies but such which concern 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 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 7. Let every Minister be sure to lay up a treasure of comforts 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 Bisâ—â—â— for further advice assistancâ— and information FINIS 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vide Rom. 16. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
RULES AND ADVICES To the CLERGY Of the DIOCESSE OF _____ For their Deportment in their Personal and Publick Capacities Given by the Bishop at the Visitation DUBLIN Printed by John Crook Printer to the King 's most Excellent Majesty and are to be sold by John North Book-seller in Castle-Street 1661. RULES AND ADVICES To the CLERGY I. Personal Duty 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 moâ—h seeing thou hatest to be 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 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 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 Every Minister above all 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 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 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 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 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 Avoid all pride as you would flee from the most frightful apparition or the most cruel enemie and remember that you can never truly teach humility or tell what it is unless you practise it your selves 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 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 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 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 Be no otherwise sollicitous of your Fame and Reputation but by doing your duty well 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 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 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 Pray much and very fervently for all your Parishioners and all men that belong to you and 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 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 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 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 II. Of Prudence requir'd in Ministers 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 2. Let no Minister be governed by the Opinion of his People and destroy his duty by unreasonable compliance with their humours least as the Bishop
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 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 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 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 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 IV. Rules and Advices concerning Preaching 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 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 and signification of it it may in a secondary sense be the Word of God 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 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 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 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 6. As it looks like flattery and design to preach nothing before Magistrates but the Duty of their people and their 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 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 8. Let the business of you 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 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 10. Because it is impossible that charity should live unless the lust of the tongue be mortified let every Minister in 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 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 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
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 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 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 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 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 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 self-conceit or any other folly or indiscretion snatch it not out of your hand and cheat you of the reward 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 III. The Rules and Measures of Government to be used by Ministers in their respective Cures 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 2. Suffer no quarrel in your 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 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 4. If there be any Papists or Sectaries in your Parishes 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 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 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 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 7. Mark them that cause Divisions among you and avoid them for such persons are by the Scripture call'd Scandals in 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 Unity of the Catholick Church 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 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 10. Suffer not the common 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 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 12. Fear no mans person in the doing of your duty wisely and according to the Laws remembing always that a servant of