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
of Humane Society and if so surely it behoves good Men by all proper measures to assist Magistrates in their Endeavours effectually to suppress them If bad Men don't approve of these Methods 't is no wonder they are Enemies to good Order Law and Justice because these things are troublesome to them There is no doubt but the Gallows is a great Grievance to Murtherers the Discipline of Bridewell to Whores the Pillory to the Perjured and the Stocks to Drunkards But such Grievances as these are I conceive of near as long standing as Government and will not be thought proper to be laid aside whilst it lasts or at least till there is not so much Occasion for them since as hath been proved * Facile est imperium in bonos its Interest and chief Business is to cherish and support Religion and by consequence to take care that it be not treated with any disrespect particularly that it be not made the Scorn of any Order or Body of Men the common Subject of the Prophane Play-Houses or the Sport of Buffoons and that the open Violations of it by Prophane Swearing and Cursing Drunkenness Lewdness c. be suppressed as all wise Nations I conceive have ever done and ever will do Against these Enormities therefore that are the Plagues of Government the Enemies of our Peace the Dishonour of our Religion and the Reproach of our Nation have the Societies of Reformation applied themselves with so great Success as to give so very promising hopes as have been represented of a general Concurrence and Union of the Virtuous part of the Nation in the same Design and in consequence of a National Reformation and their Endeavours have been carried on as hath been observed for above Eight Years with as little or less occasion given to their Enemies of Objection either to the Methods of their Proceedings or to the Behaviour of the Persons concerned in them as perhaps have been often known in Matters of the greatest Consequence where such a number of Persons have been engaged though if the Prudence of some good Men who are either already engaged or that shall hereafter be concerned in this Undertaking is or should be less than their Zeal it will I hope be far from giving wise and well-meaning Men a just Prejudice to the Design it self or keeping them from Assisting in it But blessed be God a more glorious Prospect hath been lately given us by the Address of the late House of Commons to His Majesty for the Suppressing of Prophaneness and Debauchery and His Majesty's Proclamation in pursuance of it and His Princely Word in His Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament We have now then 't is evident His Majesty's positive Commands together with the concurrent Advice in this Matter of the late great Representative Body of the Commons of England for things I conceive not only unquestionably lawfull but highly important and necessary for the strict Execution of the known Laws of the Land against Prophaneness and Immorality agreeably to the Word of God that acquaints us That the Magistrate beareth not the Sword in Vain That Rulers are not a Rom. 13 4. Ver. 3. Terrour to good Works but to the evil c. Whoever therefore they are that in this Case oppose the King's Commands who either openly obstruct or secretly undermine the Endeavours of those who act in this Affair in Obedience to the Will of God the Command of the King and for the Good of their Country will I think find it somewhat difficult to acquit themselves from great Impiety And now can any that love their God their Religion or their Country hear of these transporting things without being affected with greater Joy than any Success in their own secular Concerns would give them and without thinking themselves under high Obligations after they have pretended to Fast and Pray and Mourn for our publick Sins for so many Years past as most if not all Orders of Men and Parties among us have done to do what they are able in their several Stations for the Suppressing of Prophaneness and Immorality and for the perfecting of this great Work of REFORMATION which I conceive it had been our Duty to promote if we had not met with so much Encouragement and Assistance from our Governours But how much stronger Obligations do now lie upon us to do it And how shamefull and inexcusable will our Neglect of it be now we have such an Opportunity by His Majesty 's repeated Declarations for our Engaging in it by the Advances that are already made and the Methods that are laid as perhaps may never again be offered us if we neglect this in Prosecution whereof it would I think become us to adventure all our dearest Interests in this World nay a Thousand Lives if we had them to lose Behold then a glorious Opportunity for all that make a Profession of Religion or any pretence to Virtue of what Rank soever to signalize their Love and Faithfulness to their great Lord and Master their Neighbour and their Country To all Orders of Men therefore whose Service His Majesty hath required to promote this great this necessary Work and who would not share in the dreadful Guilt and lasting Infamy of neglecting to promote a Reformation of Manners which now seems to be put very much in our power with God's Blessing to see effected I ask leave upon these Glorious Encouragements with all due respect to address my self To the NOBILITY that they would be pleased to consider That true Greatness doth not consist in the having of swelling Titles high Places great Power or large Territories which tho' they may be sometimes the Reward of virtuous and brave Actions as they ought to be are often the Gifts of Nature and it may be too frequently the Acquests of such Crimes as deserve Punishment instead of Recompence That the Persons who in all Ages have been most beloved and reverenced when Alive and most honoured by wise and good Men when Dead have been those who have been most beneficent and serviceable to the World not those who have amassed the greatest Estates and acquired the loftiest Titles to themselves the blind Heathens erected not their Altars to those that they did not think were some way or other usefull or serviceable to Mankind That they would therefore be perswaded that nothing will render them so much Blessings to their Country so truly noble and esteemed as their being Patrons of Religion and Virtue That they are not in their high Stations too great for that Employment which is the greatest Glory of Princes to set up their Standards for Religion and declare War against Vice and Prophaneness * Haud difficilius est errare naturam quam principem fui dissimilem formare rempublicam Quaecunque mutatio in principibus extiterit â—eandem populo secutam Cic. after the Example and under the Conduct of such a Prince and Leader as hath graciously declared in his
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
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
after this Matter is plainly laid before us the giving of Informations is now more generally insisted on by our Clergy in their Sermons especially at those stated times that they are required to read the Act of Parliament against Swearing and Cursing with the other Statutes against Prophaneness and Vice by His Majesty's Letter and His late Gracious Proclamation for the enforcing the Execution of them and we have moreover such a change of Circumstances and such favourable Occurrences as that our Diligence in giving Informations will at this time so effectually promote a National Reformation as it is evident it will do from what is already done by it that it will be found notwithstanding the Objections and plausible Pretences that will be made on this Occasion by many for their being excused from it to proceed frequently if not generally from worse Causes that we are either afraid or ashamed of discharging it from a want of Faith or of Love to God and our Neighbour not duly considering the Admonition Fear ye not the Reproach of Men neither be afraid of his Revilings That the Fearful and Vnbelieving are joined together with Rev. 21. 8. those who shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone nor the Extent of our Saviour's Threatning Whosoever Mar. 8. 38. therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my Words in this adulterous and sinful Generation of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he cometh in the Glory of his Father with the Holy Angels Nor lastly the great Encouragement given in the Word of God to those that suffer for discharging of their Duty Blessed are they Matt 5. 10. which are Persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Our light 2 Cor. 4. 17. Affliction which is but for a Moment worketh for us a far more Exceeding and Eternal Weight of Glory If any Man suffer as a Christian 1 Pet. 4. 16. let him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God on this behalf Wherefore let them 1 Pet. 4. 19. that suffer according to the Will of God commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithfull Creatour And now if notwithstanding what hath been said or that may be urged by our Clergy with more Advantage in their Discourses for our giving Informations against prophane and vicious Men and the Magistrate's Diligence and Faithfulness that was before insisted on this criminal Fear and Shame shall so generally prevail as to keep private Persons from giving Informations in these Cases and shall likewise keep Magistrates who have less Colour of Excuse for their Unfaithfulness they being under the Obligations of Oaths and Trusts super-added to those they have as Christians from using their Diligence in the Execution of the Laws and particularly from giving all Countenance and just Encouragement to those who bring them Informations at the same time that Prophaneness and Debauchery do appear so shameless and fearless among us what a weight of Guilt may be supposed to lie upon this Nation And in how great danger of Misery and Destruction may it be apprehended to be which I do not see with what Reason we can expect will so likely be pervented by any other Means as by the close Conjunction the zealous and united Endeavours of good Men for the Retrieving of Religion and the Morals of the Nation by all Christian and Prudent Methods For Religion in general and the Practice of every Moral Virtue in particular do in their own Nature tend not only to the Felicity of every Man 's private Life but do also conduce to the Peace Order and Welfare of all publick Societies and good Government over Men as it hath the greatest Influence for these Ends upon Magistrates and Subjects Religion teaches and obliges Governours to over-rule their Subjects in the Fear of God to his Glory and for the Safety and Prosperity of those that are in Subjection to them and therefore I think to endeavour to support and encourage them in the Exercise of Religion and Virtue and this as well by the Use of their Authority which may for instance be expressed by their Personally Countenancing and Promoting Men of Virtue and Discountenancing vicious Men by their taking Care that good Laws be made for the Security of Religion and that the Laws that are made for the Promotion of Christian Virtues and the Suppression of Vice be put in Execution as by their own Exemplary Behaviour * Non si inflectere sensus humanos edicta valent ut vita regentis Qui Macedoniae regem erudit omnes etiam subditos erudit Delirant reges plectuntur Achivi which hath a wonderfull force is as it were a living Law and Religion instills in Subjects such Principles and Dispositions as in their own nature tend to make themselves happy as well as a Government strong and prosperous It instructs and obliges them to obey Magistrates not only for Fear but out of Conscience And as Piety and Virtue do thus evidently conduce to the Stability and Happiness of any Kingdom and Government so Vice and Irreligion in the natural consequences of them tend to bring Decay and Ruine upon them as they unqualifie Magistrates for Government and make †Homo sine Religione sicut equus sine fraenc Subjects unfit for Commands averse to all good Order and destructive instead of helpfull Members of a Community from whence ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutarch might justly esteem it the Foundation or Cement of Humane Society * In Magistratuum institutione prima sit cura de Religione 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plato conclude That in the Institution of Magistracy the first and chief Care should be of Religion and the Famous †Sine maenibus Civitas potest stare sine virtute nullo mode potest Scipio observe That it was impossible any City should stand if their Manners were depraved tho' their Walls were never so firm Accordingly I conceive there have been but few if any amongst the ancient and celebrated Legislators and Statesmen whatever there have been among our Modern who have not had the greatest Regard to Religion in the Modelling and Governing of Civil Societies for how is it possible to conceive that any State should long stand and be prosperous without Honesty or Peace * Religio neglecta maximam pestem in Civitatem insert omnium scelerum fenestram aperit Or that it should either enjoy a lasting Peace or have a general Honesty without Religion And therefore it was no weak tho' a wicked Piece of Policy which they tell us of a King of Assyria who chose rather to endeavour to overcome the City of Babylon by sending in of Players Lewd Women c. to debauch it by which means he effectually did it and at last obtained his End than to invade it with a powerfull Army Upon the whole Matter We may dare to challenge
ne quis Magistratum ullum gerere posset qui impudicitiae aut alio turpitudinis genere notatus fuisset Sigonius lib. 111. p. 532. Novem viri antequam assumerentur ad Magistratum illum de omni vita acta causam dicere solebant quod si nullam dedecoris labem perpetua innocentia contraxisse videbantur ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 adsumebantur deinde Magistratus gesti causam dicentes rationesque ferentes si tum quoque innocentes usquequaque apparuissent ad Areopagiticum Senatum conscribantur Sam Petitus de Leg. Atticis fol 190. Introducebantur autem omnes illi Magistratus quorum anteactam vitam expendi eam inquiri oportet Pet â—f 223. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isocratis Oratio Areopagitica p. 285. Grecian Common-Wealths having had a great regard to Virtue in the Choice of their Senators and Magistrates which seems to have been one of the greatest Causes of their Stability and Prosperity And herein our Gentry and Commonalty have likewise manifestly greater Advantages and Opportunities for the Promoting of the Work of Reformation for the making one brave Effort for the Interest of Religion and Virtue for the Honour and Welfare of England and thereby to recover the former Glory of their Ancestors who were Famous for their Virtue and Love to their Country and which appeared so glorious in the Heroes of the Gentile World And for the Encouragement of those that are destitute of the Advantages of Riches and Honours of Authority and Learning to use their Diligence and Zeal in the Instances I have given or in any other Expressions of their Duty for the Promoting of this Work †Si quis rem considerare velit omnes eos vel saltem maximam partem eorum qui in hoc toto terrarum orbe res praestantiores aggressi sunt atque inter caeteros aevi sui heroes excelluerunt aut obscuro aut abjecto loco editos prognatos fuisse abjectis parentibus Non est praetereundum maximorum virorum plerosque patres ignoratos matres impudicas fuisse Scaliger I will put them in mind that it hath been long observed that the Persons who have been thought to have performed the bravest Actions and done the greatest Service to the World have frequently been Men of obscure Birth and Parentage who were without Riches and Honours and often I conceive without Learning of which a multitude of Instances might be given if 't was necessary here to insert them That though 't is freely allowed that Authority and Quality when they are accompanied with Virtue as they ought to be or when they are the Rewards of it * Alii pro pecunia emunt Nobilitatem alii illam lenocinio alii veneficiis alii parricidiis multis perditio nobilitatem conciliat plerique adulatione detractione calumniis c. Agrippa de vanit Scien Aude aliquid brevibus gyaris aut carcere dignum Si vis esse aliquid Indignissimus dignissimo praefertur plerunque illaudatus laudatissimo Ille crucem sceleris pretium tulit hic diadema which too seldom happens are truly honourable and enable those that have them to be more serviceable to the Interest of Religion and the Good of Mankind which is their proper Business but when they are separated from Virtue they render those that possess them truly scandalous and highly pernicious * Ut omnium rerum sic literarum quoque in temperantia laboremus Sen. Ep. 106. 'T is true likewise That when Learning is moderately pursued and for the Service of Religion and Good of the World it is both innocent and laudable and the Advantages of it for those ends are confest yet 't is plain from too sad Experience that 't is too generally sought upon base Considerations and frequently applied to very ill Purposes as is allow'd when 't is made use of for the Raising of Heresies the Adulterating or Confounding the Simplicity of the Christian Doctrine with Philosophical Notions and Distinctions or to the raising and continuing of unnecessary and dangerous disputes out of Pride and Vanity of Passion or Worldly Interest to the disturbing of the Peace of the Church the Ruine of Charity and manifest Injury of Religion †Paucis opus est literis ad mentem bonam But as Virtue may be obtained without great Natural parts or acquired Knowledge as is evident by the Lives of the common Body of Christians in the first Ages and is ‖ Nobilitas nil aliud sit quà m cognita virtus quis in eo quem vetera scentem videat ad gloriam generis antiquitatem desiderat Sed genus proavos quae non fecimus ipsi Vix ea nostra voco Tota licet veteres exornent undique cerae atria Nobilitas sola est atque unica virtus honourable without any Ornaments from Birth and Honour Authority or Learning so it makes Men capable of doing much good Let them consider not only this but further That it pleases Almighty God sometimes as it seems to raise the Spirits of Men above their natural pitch for great Performances to make use of mean and contemptible Instruments in Humane Appearance to bring about the great Ends of his Providence whereby his Wisdom and Power is more visible and the Pride of Man is more humbled and that among the various Instances of this kind which Sacred and Prophane History acquaint us with he did so in the Publishing of Christianity when he chose the foolish things of the World to confound 1 Cor. 1. 27. the Wise and the weak things of the World to confound the things which are Mighty when he Commissioned a few mean and illiterate Persons to Preach the Gospel which notwithstanding prevailed over the Policy and Learning the Worldly Interest and Prejudice the Strength and Opposition of the World and that as then not many Wise Men after the Flesh 1 Cor. 1. 26. not many Mighty not many Noble were called so in the Ages since though there hath been of all Conditions as well Noble as Ignoble Learned as Illiterate Kings and Philosophers Emperours and States-men who have been truly devoted to Religion and have shewed the mighty Power and Energy of it and adorned the Ages in which they have lived yet it hath been a general Observation among Heathens as well as Christians and 't is a terrible one for great Men to reflect upon * Luxuriant animi rebus plerunque secundis Prima peregrinos obscoena pecunia mores intulit turpi fregerunt secula luxu Divitiae molles Pecuniis augetur improbitas Divitiae seculi sunt laquei diaboli Divitiae rarò virtutis sunt comites Pietas probitas fides privata bona sunt Fortuna quem nimium fovet stultum facit That Riches and Honours do in the Nature of them tend to corrupt Men's Minds are great Clogs to Wisdom mighty Obstructions in the Business of the Christian Warfare to those that possess them And therefore That the Great
and the Noble are too generally diverted and carried away from the One thing necessary the working out of their own Salvation and consequently their being concerned for that of others by the violent Temptations that their Condition exposes and subjects them to which Persons of a lower Rank are much without wherefore our Saviour hath assur'd us how ‖ Matth. 19. 23 24. hard it is for a Rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven out of a sense whereof a great number of Christians in most if not all Ages have refused Titles and Honours and have renounced Riches and Worldly Grandeur Nay Princes and Potentates Kings and Queens have forsaken their Crowns their Fortunes and Territories for a safe and happy Retirement And it accordingly appears by the Account that is given of the Endeavours that have been so successfull towards a National Reformation That as they were not begun so they have not been assisted by many of the Rich and Mighty but by Persons of a lower Rank who submitted to be reckoned Disturbers of the publick Peace Imprudent and Hypocritical Persons c. as the Christians of old were by the Heathens and as such will hardly fail to be who in a corrupt Age shall faithfully go about to convince some Men of their Lukewarmness and neglect of their Duty and to disturb the Generality in their Vices for the effecting a National Reformation who were willing I say to bear the Censures the cruel Mockings and the Frowns of the World and perhaps some of them to hazard their Lives for the Vindicating of the Honour of the Laws of God the Good of Souls and the Service of their Country and that though it may perhaps be expected from the Character of some few of the Great and Noble among us who seem to be much more honourably distinguish'd from those of their own Rank by their Virtue than they are from those below them by their Quality that they have it in their Inclinations as it seems to be in their Power with God's Blessing to be Instruments of Reforming us from publick Prophaneness and Immoralities yet that 't is still to be feared that great Men will not generally at least obtain of themselves to declare for oppressed Virtue and engage in its Cause till it hath regained its Reputation more generally in the World and it is accounted a Mark of greater Infamy to be vicious Prophaneness and Debauchery have in truth been ever Infamous in the Opinions of the wise and good Men in all Ages of the World and treated as such by the Religion and Laws of Heathen Nations as well as by the Christian Religion and the Laws of our own Country which Justice and Temperance Chastity and Truth never were that I know of by any nay there have never I conceive been many Men so lost to the Notions of Good and Evil as seriously to set a Mark of Infamy upon some Men for their Virtue or to make Panegyricks upon others for their Vices and neither the Number or the Quality of those that are guilty of Prophaneness and Debauchery can any more alter the Nature of them or can take off them that Infamy that the Law of God the Laws of Nations and the Law of Nature have fixt on them than they can the Nature of Murther Bribery or Theft and as they are infamous in their Nature they will every day more appear to be so if we continue to make our vigorous Efforts against them It will not ere long be thought creditable for Men of an inferior Rank to be carried through the Streets before the Magistrate or to be put in the Stocks to do there publick Penance for the Violation of Divine and Humane Laws Or will it be Honourable for Men of Title or Authority who have thought themselves unfit for gentile Conversation without a large share of Lewdness have reckoned it Wit to Blaspheme and have within our Memories 't is believed made their way to their Preferments by their Prophaneness and Debauchery to have the Penalties of those Laws levied upon them in the Sight of their Neighbours or their Country to be upon Record and to be disabled for those Offences for Places of Honour of Publick and Private Trusts to be told before the Congregation Four times a Year by the King in his Proclamation that he reckons them to be a Discredit to his Kingdom and strictly Commands their being brought to Punishment and by their Minister at the same time that they ought to be avoided by Men of Religion to be excluded from Christian Communion till they reform and that they will unless they do so be shut out of Heaven and be condemned to unspeakable and everlasting Confusion and Torment In short we may in a little time see a Drunkard a Lewd or a Prophane Person though a Man of the greatest Quality or Estate who now passes with too little Remark and Contempt and is kept in countenance by the Multitude of Offenders of the same kind make but a very scurvy Figure be ashamed to shew himself in any Company but of such as are like himself abandoned of a sense of true Honour as well as Religion and shunned by all but the unclean Herd of the Vicious and Prophane who may ere long be ashamed of one another in the Sight of the Sun and may be forced to converse or rather to have their gangs as High-way-Men Clippers and Coiners have in dark Corners and in continual fear of being discovered This is part of the Glorious Prospect that we have in view whilst we continue to make our vigorous Efforts against Vice and Prophaneness And is there any doubt whether they that acquit themselves in this Noble Enterprize as they ought will entitle themselves to great Acknowledgments from the present Age and from Posterity since the Influence of their good Example and the happy Effects of their pious Endeavours may last to succeeding Ages as long as the Nation and perhaps the World may last Let then the Men of the World whose Hopes terminate with this Life pursue Honours and Titles and what in their foolish Language they call their Worldly Advantages let them that think of no other Happiness court popular Air intrigue and fawn drudge and scramble for little parcels of Earth which if they meet with are their Portion attended with Fear and Envy Jealousie and Hatred Anxiety and Grief * O si pectora pateant divitum quantos intus sublimis agit fortuna metus Brutio coro pulsante fretum mitior unda est Quem mihi regem dabis non curis plenum non diadema aspicias sed vitam afflictione refertam non catervas satellitū sed curarū multitudinē Cur tu hos Evasisse putes quos diri conscia facti Mens habet attonitos surdo verbere caedet Occulto quatiente animo tortore flagellum Non enim gazae neque consularis summovet lictor miseros tumultus mentis curas laqueata
own Diligence and Conduct considering that the Zeal we have for God's Honour and the Success of it is from Him that our best Endeavours herein as well as our other Performances will have a great mixture of Humane Frailty and that after all we shall do we shall be but unprofitable Servants Luk. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If they thus go on with Sincerity with Prudence with Courage with Humility and trust in God they may I think face all the World we may soon see what Courage Vice hath whether Prophaneness and Debauchery will be able to hold up their heads with their Supporters which they have too long had within our Memory as Religion hath often done without them and when the Powers of the World have been against it No Sin is of the Nature of the Devil its Author cowardly and sneaking and will with God's Blessing give way when thus opposed which those concerned in the Transactions I have given an Account of have experimented and who have had so great Success as makes it very evident that a general Concurrence of good Men may with God's Blessing effect a general Reformation but if the Concurrence of Men of Religion should not prove so universal as is hoped it will or if our Endeavours should not succeed to a National Reformation as is proposed we may however hope to do a great deal of good we shall bear our Testimony to Religion against the Corruptions of the Age and we cannot I think fail of giving a great Check to publick Wickedness and though we should not after all by our Prayers and Endeavours prevent the Deluge of Calamities that threaten us an Ark may mercifully be provided for us we may deliver our own Souls and it will then be known who they are that are to be thanked that a thorough Reformation was not effected and the Misery of the Nation prevented not only those who by desperately discouraging and opposing pious and proper Endeavours for Promoting a Reformation seem to be of the Number of those that may be said in some sense to fight against Acts ch 5. v. 39. God but those likewise that despised the Warnings we gave them of their Danger all the Persuasions with which we pressed them to set about it and would not be prevailed with to give any hearty Assistance to the Work Supposing then that we are to prepare in the Prosecution of this Enterprize for evil Surmisings and reproachfull Words for Storms of Malice and ill Will which the Enemy of all Goodness and the Passions of Men may be expected to raise this I conceive may now the Tide is turning be generally the greatest Opposition of the infatuated and senseless Slaves of Vice for in Reverence to our common Nature I must presume that there are few that will be declared Agents for the Devil that are so abandoned of all sense of Honour all Concern for their Reputation as to enter publickly the Lists and venture their Lives for his Service And as wicked Men have therein the worst Cause they have I think no settled and steady Principles to act upon but little true Courage and not much Faith among them they will often betray one another when Occasion offers and therefore we may conclude that they will never make a firm stand against the united Body of good Men if they acquit themselves as they ought in so glorious an Undertaking To the Men of Religion and Virtue of all Ranks Orders and Denominations without distinction I ask leave therefore in this common Cause of Religion humbly to apply my self Your Religion is avowedly attacqued by the desperate Rebels of Christianity and Enemies to Virtue your God is publickly dishonoured yea sometimes 't is still to be feared Blasphemed for the Entertainment of Persons of all Degrees all Ages and both Sexes His Laws are trampled on his Servants despis'd the Notions of Good and Evil are endeavoured to be confounded and your Country is in imminent danger of being lost if in the present Contest between Religion and Debauchery Religion does not prevail You are all confessedly by your Baptismal Engagement listed Soldiers for God's Service against the Devil's Kingdom And as God hath an undoubted Title to your Service the King by publickly declaring for a vigorous Execution of the Laws against publick Wickedness and the Cause of Religion hath given you an happy Opportunity of discharging your Fidelity and Zeal for your Great Lord and Master and your Fellow-Christians who are already successfully engaged in a publick Opposition to Vice and Prophaneness to these Rebels to Religion and Enemies to your Country seem to call on you to enter into their pious Confederacy as Moses heretofore did on the Israelites when he slood in the Gate of Exod. 32. 20. the Camp Who is on the Lord's side let him come unto me Or as Holy David of P◠94. 16. old Who will rise up for me against the Evil doers Who will stand up for me against the Workers of Iniquity Now then is the Time to make one general and brave Effort for the Interest of Religion and for the Welfare of the English Nation And will you any longer defer your Declaring and Engaging in this Glorious Work now it seems so apparent that this Cloud that appeared so little to you at first is like to overspread our whole Horizon that one of the most plausible and uncomfortable Objections which was made to this Undertaking of its being impracticable which we have too much reason to suspect to be upon other like Occasions a frequent Excuse for Fear Laziness or want of good Principles is taken off by the great Success that hath attended it that the Heat of the Day the fiercest Opposition to these Attempts seems much over and that you have so very great reason to conclude that the Virtuous part of the Nation of all Parties will fall in and give their Assistance in it when more particular Methods shall be laid before them that if we point our united Batteries against the strong holds of Debauchery and Prophaneness if we prosecute this Religious War with Conduct and Resolution which is so successfully begun with so unequal a humane force we have Victory in view we may with God's Blessing see a Reformation throughly essected and put upon such a firm Foundation as that it may not be easily in the Power of a viciuos Court or of a degenerate Nobility or Gentry in a succeeding Reign to overturn it again to debauch the Nation and bring it in such danger of Ruine But is it not enough that you that have had an early Knowledge of these Transactions have not sooner engaged in a Cause which you could not well be supposed without great Inconsideration or Prejudice but secretly to approve of under all its Disadvantages when it was in it self the same as it is now with its Success and meerly perhaps because you thought the Service might be too hot for you and therefore you left it
Love to God any Charity to Man any Concern for their Country or Regard to their Posterity to engage them in it consider that we have herein the Laws of God and the Nation the Commands of the King the Concurrence of a late Representative Body of the Nation the Prayers of good Men the Pretences of those that carry but a Form and Profession of Religion and the Consciences that are not hardned even of bad Men on our side and moreover the great Success that hath already attended these Attempts to animate and encourage our Zeal and Diligence in it So that if we acquit our selves herein like Men and Christians if God is on our side we know there is as Solomon says no Wisdom nor Vnderstanding Prov. 21. 30. nor Counsel against him we need not much fear the Strength or Policy of the World or the Powers of Darkness we may with God's Blessing see Prophaneness and Debauchery every day more and more fly into dark Corners as Idolatry of old did at the appearance of Christianity Vice be branded and confounded Virtue embraced Religion prevail England flourish and give such an Example as may provoke succeeding Ages and other Nations to an Imitation and give perhaps Occasion to reform Christendom and Mankind But what Triumph of Soul which neither Riches nor Honours nor the Flesh can give such happy Souls may Living or Dying have who have undergone Shame and Sufferings in the faithfull Discharge of their Duty and for the Cause of God who have been his Instruments in bringing about such blessed Effects nay in discharging their Duty herein and in other respects sincerely tho' Success which is not in our Power and will not be required of us should not attend it And on the contrary what severe Reflections they may hereafter make on their Behaviour who after this Matter is plainly laid before them and a publick Reformation of Manners seems to be put as it were into their hands will either openly oppose or secretly undermine the just Endeavours of it or that will not be prevail'd upon either to concur in the Methods that are already laid or to engage in any other that they can suppose may be more effectual for the carrying on a National Reformation that can contentedly look on and see their Fellow-Christians suffer in any kind by their brave Opposition to the declared Enemies of God and the Devil's Kingdom the Cause of Religion to be injured and depressed and their Country so much endangered for want of their giving their seasonable and zealous Assistance to it I will not undertake to describe I will only add That if the Attempts of Reformation which were began with so great Disadvantage have born up under so many Difficulties which are carried on by the united Endeavours of such Bodies of Men in the several Parts of this City are spreading through the Cities and Corporations of the Kingdom and are propagating in those of Ireland who have a Communication with one another are governed by Methods that have been approved by Persons of great Wisdom and consummated Judgment and which have been so highly successfull should be defeated by the Industry and Power the Number and Interest of its Enemies If I say we should suffer Debauchery and Prophaneness to regain their ground and to carry the Victory after the Advances that are thus made towards the Suppressing of them and the Encouragements and Advantages we have for the Carrying of them on to so glorious an Issue have we not very great reason to fear that we may never again have such an Opportunity put into our Hands Can it be thought easie humanely speaking to bring the Body of Men together that are now engaged in it to rally and reassume a Baffled Cause wherein they may perhaps be apt to think they may have made a full and dismal experiment of the desperate Aversion and Opposition of this Generation to Reformation have if they have acted therein and in other parts of their Duty sincerely kept the Guilt of publick Wickedness from lying on them and may have delivered their own Souls Or is there any probability that this Cause will be revived and successfully retrieved by those whom no Arguments will now prevail on to concur in the present Methods or to give any other zealous Assistance to it And who is there that believes that there is a Righteous God that governs the World that will not fear how sanguine soever some Men may be upon the firmness of our present Peace and Settlement that notwithstanding our Councils and Confederacies we shall feel the Effects of the high Displeasure of Almighty God upon whose Blessing the Stability of our present Peace and outward Prosperity does depend that He will be avenged on such a Nation as this And if Jer. 6. 9. this should prove to be our dismal Case might it not then be said over us O ungratefull and rebellious Nation that wouldest so provoke infinite Patience and Forbearance wouldest obstinately refuse so many gracious Offers contemn such various Methods of Mercy as if thou had'st been desperately resolved upon Destruction O England England To what Misery have thy Sins brought thee But the Cause of Reformation is God's Cause His Providence hath seemed to me to favour the poor Endeavours of it which are represented in these Papers and therefore I hope they will with his Blessing so prosper and prevail that such a National Reformation may be effected as may prevent His heavy Judgments falling upon us And may Almighty God who is pleased to magnifie his Power in Weakness for this end mercifully direct and support those who are sincerely engaged in this Glorious Work give what is said herein agreeable to his Will some Success in the furthering of it and graciously pardon any thing in it that may not be acceptable to Him for the Lord Jesus Christ's Sake All Glory to God ERRATA Pag. 5. lin 23. for evil read wicked p. 21. l. 3. for Interest r. Interests p. 26. l. 6. dele and. p. 41. l. 6. for know r. knew p. ibid. l. 26. for hath r. have p. 47. at the end of the Marginal Note dele p. 66 67. p. 57. l. 5. for do r. doth p. 5â— l. 4. for hath r. have p. 84. l. 2. for seems r. seem p. 98. l. 15. for pervented r. prevented p. 113. l. 16. for hath r. have p. 115. l. 7. for have r. hath Advertisement ABstracts of the Laws against Prophaneness and Debauchery Blank Warrants against prophane Swearing and Cursing Drunkenness and Prophanation of the Lord's-day by Tipling in Publick Houses and Exercising of Trade Blank Registers of such Warrants for the Magistrates calling of Constables Church-Wardens Overseers of the Poor c. to account at the Sessions or otherwise for the Execution of them and the application of the Mony thereby levied to the use of the Poor Prudential Rules for the giving of Informations to Magistrates in these cases Printed for the ease of
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