thought to be the best Instruction answered Eupraxie or well-doing Example hath indeed such a power that Men are in a great degree too often such as those are with whom they converse as even the Proverbs of many Nations have observed So that he that gives a good Example though he be but a private Person does in truth a publick Service and lays an Obligation upon the Age he lives in But the good Examples of Governors and Magistrates I need not add of Ministers hath a far greater force of Persuasion their Virtues are generally derived by Imitation into the Manners of the People * Quales enim summi civitatis viri fuerint talis civitas erit Claudianus Ut enim vitiis sceleribus Magistratuum infici solet corrumpi tota Respublica ita corrigi emendari 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isocrates ad Nicoclem Nec ignores totius civitatis mores ad exemplum Magistratuum conformari How fatal an Influence more especially must then the vicious Examples which the corrupt Nature of Man does with so much Ease comply with of Superiors of Persons in Authority whose particular Province it is to look to the Execution of the Laws have upon those below them These Men carry not only those of their Neighbourhood but a great part of the Counties they live in after them many of whom 't is very obvious are apt to think it an Excuse if not a Warrant to transgress after their Example The Commission of a Justice of Peace does therefore with great reason tell him That he is to keep himself as well as cause to be kept all the Ordinances and Statutes c. As his giving a good Example is a likely way to procure a due regard to his Office to maintain his Authority and with the Exercise of it to reform Others so on the contrary his giving a bad Example is as effectual a course to teach others to break the Laws and to bring a Contempt upon his Office and the Government it self as can easily be thought of I needed not to have been thus long upon this Head of Example and particularly the malignant Influence of the bad Examples of Magistrates and great Men if most Ages did not abound with such unhappy Instances and if this Nation in particular had not felt so much the fatal Effects of them as may be some Excuse for my insisting on it But to go on Besides the Mischief that is done by the vicious Examples of Magistrates With what Reason can we expect that those that make no Conscience to break the Laws should diligently and conscientiously Execute the Laws upon others And supposing such Magistrates should sometimes either out of a fear of the Inspection of the Government into their Behaviour in the Reign of a Prince that is zealous in the Discouraging of Vice or out of a desire of keeping up their Reputation with better Men be sometimes inclined to punish such Offences in others as they are themselves guilty of consciousness of their own Faults will when they act upon no better and firmer Principles deprive them of Courage and be very apt upon many Occasions to draw them back from the Punishing of others especially when the Offenders are either their Superiors or Equals whereas the Law knows no respect of Persons and they whose Business it is to Execute it must do it without Distinction or Partiality Their Commission tells them that they are to chastise and punish all Persons in the said County offending And can any that consider this That we live under a Christian Government and that the Apostle acquaints us That the Magistrate is the Minister of God for Good That he beareth Rom. 13. 3. Ver. 4. not the Sword in vain Is a Revenger to execute Wrath upon him that does Evil and that Christians shou'd have a far greater Concern for the Honour of God than for the Honour of their Prince their own Reputation or Estates but think that the Laws that relate to Piety and Virtue are to be chiefly regarded by the Magistrate that his principal Care should be applied to the restraining Men even those of the highest Rank from openly breaking those Laws by a strict and impartial Execution of them since the Reasonableness of the Punishing of Men for the Violations of Religion seems to have been evident by the Light of Nature It being I think a just Observation which I have somewhere met with of a Heathen Philosopher That tho' several Nations do appoint several Punishments for the Violation of Religion yet it does not in any Country go wholly unpunished No Mens Quality ought to shelter them from Punishment in this Case Even Privilege of Parliament does not give those who are allowed it for the Service of their Country the mischievous Liberty to trample upon the Laws of God and their Country nor will excuse Magistrates from acting according to their Oaths in these Matters Charity and good Manners would forbid us if such a Case had never been heard of or was like to happen to suppose that this Privilege should ever be pretended on such an Occasion by any one of those Bodies who as they * Receptumque omnium pene Gentium temporumque memoria ut ad legum latarum observantiam invitarentur inferioris sortis homines exemplo potentum qui primi eas custodire cogebantur praesertim illi ipsi qui eas tulissent Tit. Liv. 3. Decad. lib. 8. Magistratus Gubernatores Regesque obediunt quoque ipsi legibus id est rectae rationi Diodorus Siculus Si quid injungere inferiori velis prius in te ac tuos recipias necesse est si ipse jus statueris quo faciliùs omnes obedientes habeas Val. Max. lib. 8. cap 6. Tit. 3. Cum leges praescripsisti aliis praescripsisti tibi leges enim Imperator fert quas ipse custodiat Praeceptum salubre Pittaci sapientis apud Ausonium Pareto legi quisque legem sanxeris make Laws against Debauchery and Prophaneness ought likewise to endeavour by their own Exemplary Behaviour to promote Piety and good Manners to give Laws of Civility to the rest of the Nation and to add That if these things do happen good Magistrates 't is to be hoped will act as become them And there is I think no doubt but the bringing to legal Punishment a Man of Title or Authority that makes use of his Power or Interest to be more vicious and to do greater Mischief to the World than others is a greater Service to Religion and our Country and more highly honourable among Men than the Punishing of a private Person perhaps than many poor Creatures who as hath been long observed generally suffer the Extremity of the Law for such Offences as their Necessities are a Temptation to them tho' not a Reason for them to commit when great Men that cheat whole Provinces and bid defiance to Sacred things go unpunished if they are not rewarded * Si
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
are not obliged for the removing the load of Guilt that is upon them the obtaining Forgiveness from God a well-grounded Peace in their own Minds and Esteem from Men sincerely to endeavour to repair the Injuries they have done Religion their Neighbours or their Country by their future Care and Diligence And till they do give the World some proof of this they will not take it amiss if we do not think that their late Representatives in Parliament have put them under too heavy a Charge and if we say that this is so very Great that tho' we are sure that the Christian Religion is the best Religion in the World yet it so much condemns such Practices that such as are guilty of them are a dishonour to their Profession that we reckon honest Heathens are not the worst sort of Men or rather that there are few if any worse than corrupt and unfaithful Magistrates And therefore methinks tho' such Magistrates were deaf to all Counsel were so given over to a Spirit of Slumber that no Motives that have been offered them from Religion will make any such Impression upon them as to awaken them to a sense of their Sin and Danger if they have yet any thing of the Modesty of Men remaining Shame might oblige them to a better Behaviour that they should not be able to look a Man in the Face that hath a Love to God and his Country but more especially that they should be in the greatest Confusion to hear in our Churches if they should come there the King's Proclamation Four times in the Year charging them with being the great Cause of the Increase of Prophaneness and Vice in the Nation It hath been generally thought an Indication of a good and generous Mind to desire an honest Reputation among Men and on the contrary a sign of a base Soul wholly to despise it on which Consideration Solon might well presume in the Laws he gave the Athenians That he that hath no Value for his Reputation will have little or no Regard to the publick Interest For how can it be reasonably imagined that he should have a tender sense of the Honour or Interest of his Country who hath no sense of his own Honour and greatest Interest but that he will sacrifice them upon Occasion Indeed he that hath neither regard to Conscience nor sense of Shame seems not only in great danger of not being reduced to Virtue by any common Methods but to be lost to almost all good Purposes to be unfit for common Intercourses with Men but much more unfit to be honoured and entrusted with the Care of the Execution and Maintenance of the Laws wherein the Religion * Inter omnia quae Rempublicam ejusque felicitatem conservant quid utilius quid praestantius quam viros ad Magistratus gerendcs eligere summa prudentia virtute praeditos quique ad honores obtinendos non ambitione non largitionibus sed virtute modestia sibi parent aditum the Honour and Prosperity of the Nation is so highly concerned And therefore I submit it to the Judgment of those who are more especially concerned to consider of these important Matters whether it is not highly to be wished that effectual Care may be taken for the preventing the fatal Consequences of such Mens obtaining in any future Reign Commissions of this kind particularly by disabling any to hold them after they are convicted a certain number of times of the Violations of the Laws which they are entrusted to execute For if we enquire into the Reasons of the Happiness of most if not all of those Nations who have arrived at the greatest pitch of Glory and Prosperity we shall I believe have a general Consent That the Diligence and Faithfulness of Magistrates have been one of the greatest Causes of it unquestionably far more instrumental therein than good †Verè dici potest Magistratum legem esse loquentem legem autem mutum esse Magistratum Magistratibus igitur opus est sine quorum prudentia diligentia civitas non potest stare Cic. de Leg. p. 232. Laws which we know are but dead Letters without the Magistrates Execution of them * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plato de Legibus Lib. 12. fol 951. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lb. f 959. And therefore Plato in his Common-Wealth appointed that the Conservators of the Laws whose chief Care was to promote Virtue should be such Men as were Eminent for Virtue and †Cum leges omnes vel optimae absque probatissimis Magistratibus mortuae sint Magistratus autem optimi vel absque legibus scriptis ipsi sunt divae leges merito Plato non in condendis Legibus sed formandis Magistratibus omni diligentia elaboravit more apply'd himself to the Forming of Magistrates than Laws And accordingly 't was wisely observed by Cicero That if Magistrates keep the Laws themselves they had little more to wish for And by the Famous Athenian Law-giver That Magistrates ought to Obey the Laws as well as the People the Magistrates that a Government may be lasting Indeed we cannot easily conceive how any Nation can be long happy without good Magistrates So that 't is with great Reason that our Church directs us to pray That all that are put in Authority may truly and indifferently minister Justice to the Punishment of Wickedness and Vice and to the Maintenance of God's true Religion and Virtue and that we esteem those that thus discharge their Duty as great Blessings to their Country and may praise God for them and on the contrary that we think that those unhappy Men who under the Obligations of Oaths and Trusts have neglected or opposed the Execution of the Laws for the Punishment of Wickedness and Vice and Maintenance of Religion do deservedly lie under the dreadful Imputation of having been a great Cause of the Prophaneness and Debauchery of the Nation and the fatal Enemies of it since we may look on that Nation whether it be our own or any other to be in a very languishing Condition and in manifest danger of Ruine where the Magistrates and the Generality of Men of greater Ranks who have by their being placed in higher Stations as Stars in higher Orbs so many Advantages to conduct the lower Ranks of Men by the shining Examples of virtuous Lives to support the Reputation and Interest of Virtue do by the Abuse of their Authority or by their vicious Behaviour scatter a pestilential Infection where-ever they come basely make use of the Advantages they have above others to the Dishonour of God by whose Permission they enjoy them * Nam licet videre si velis replicare memoriam temporum qualescunque summi Civitatis fuerint talem Civitatem fuisse Idque haud paulò est verius quam quod Platoni nostro placet qui Musicorum cantibus ait mutatis mutari Civitatum status ego autem Nobilium vita victuque mutato mores mutari
Lonsdale Leeds Bedford Lindsey Lords Spiritual T. Carliol H. Bangor N. Cestriens E. Gloucestr S. Eliens Lords Temporal Kent Bridgwater Thanet Radnor Abingdon Portland Falconberg Warington Rochford Say Sele Longvile Bergavenny Eure. Willoughby of Parham Brook Maynard Berkley of Stratton Lords Spiritual J. Bristol R. Bath Wells J. Cicestriens J. Oxon. Lords Temporal Dartmouth Guilford Haversham Barnard Digby Allington Cutts Judges Ed. Ward Ed. Nevill Nic. Lechmere Tho. Rokeby John Turton John Blencowe Hen. Hatsell An Account of the SOCIETIES FOR Reformation of Manners IN LONDON and WESTMINSTER And other Parts of the Kingdom c. IT may be hoped That this plain Discourse will meet no other Enemies than such as are likewise Enemies to Religion and Virtue and are lost to the Sense of Good and Evil since the only Design of it is evidently to promote the true Interest of Religion and it does not oppose any one Man's honest Advantage or encounter any common Opinion that I know of among us The Observation having been long since made That how many Disputes soever there have been rais'd among the too various Denominations of Christians concerning the Power of the Magistrate in Matters of Religion with respect either to Faith or Worship it hath never been a Dispute Whether the Magistrate hath Power to Punish Immoralities The Prosecution of Men for their Vices hath never been reckoned Persecution It being as plainly the Duty of the Magistrate from the Word of GOD which Rom. 13 4. obliges him to Execute Wrath upon those that do Evil as it is evident from the dismal Effects of Vice and Wickedness in all Ages that Laws against Prophaneness and Debauchery are necessary for the Preservation of Communities as that Piety and Virtue are requisite to their Well-being and that unrestrained Vice and Prophaneness are as fatal to Publick Societies as they are destructive to Private Persons But though LAWS are necessary to the very Being of Communities and Good Laws to their Happiness yet they cannot be supposed by any Rational Man to be any more sufficient of themselves to procure the Welfare of the Body Politick without Execution than the best Medicines can procure the Health of the Natural Body without the Use and Application of them If therefore the Execution of Good Laws be necessary as is proved to the Welfare of Communities and those that concern Matters of Religion as do those for the Punishment of Prophaneness and Debauchery are allow'd in a Christian Country to deserve the greatest regard the Interest of Religion and the Welfare of the Community being so deeply concerned therein it cannot be a matter of Dispute whether it becomes Men that call themselves Christians to promote the Execution of such Laws Nay it cannot be well imagined how Men can have a Zeal for the Service of the Great GOD of Heaven and Earth or can have a due Love to Mankind who have no regard to the Honour of God or Welfare of their Country as shall hereafter more fully appear Now what becomes all Men in their several Capacities to do in the Promoting of the Execution of our Laws against Prophaneness and Debauchery my Business in the first place is to shew is Practicable and that it may be done by us of this Nation * Admonetur omnis aetas id fieâ—i posse quod aliquando factum est and that not only from what was done some Years ago in the Times of Vsurpation but what hath been done within Eight Years past in and about this City and other Parts of the Kingdom It is very well known that in the late times Prophane Swearing and Cursing Drunkenness Open-Lewdness and Prophanation of the Lord's-Day were generally discouraged and suppressed And it is as well known to our Shame that those Sins have not only since revived among us by reason of the Impunity of Offenders the Countenance and Preserment they have met with and the Contagion of great and ill Examples but have been committed with great Impudence and without Controul without either Shame or the Fear of the Laws so that they were seen and heard at Noon-Day and in our Open Streets and as if we were resolved to out-do the Impieties of the very Heathens Prophaneness and even Blasphemy was too often the Wit and Entertainment of our Scandalous Play-Houses and Sincere Religion became the Jest and Scorn of our Courts in the late Reigns And thus Debauchery diffused it self throughout the whole Body of the Nation till at last our Morals were so corrupted that Virtue and Vice had with too many changed their Names it was reckoned Breeding to Swear Gallantry to be Lewd good Humour to be Drunk and Wit to despise Sacred things and it was enough to have rendred one suspected of Phanaticism or an abjectness of Spirit and a matter of Reproach not to suffer ones self to be carried away with this Torrent of Wickedness and not to glory in those fashionable Vices Nay it was thought an unpardonable Rudeness even for a Clergy-Man or Magistrate to reprove or punish one that was Guilty of them notwithstanding the Solemn Obligations of their Oaths and Vows to do it And even after the Accession of His present Majesty to the Crown tho' Popery immediately vanished Immorality and Prophaneness still kept their ground as if they expected an Establishment with our Liberties after so long and Peaceable a Possession Reformation was indeed talkt of by some Persons as an Excellent thing and as a proper way of Expressing our Thankfulness to Almighty God for his Mercies to this Nation and to procure a Continuance of them to us and to our Posterity But Vice was lookt upon as too formidable an Enemy to be provok'd and Publick Reformation was thought so difficult an Undertaking that those that gave it very good Words judged it not safe to set about it in the time of War whilst there were so many in Arms on the other side and therefore they seemed to decline the Thoughts of it till we should see the End of the uncertain War we were ingag'd in tho' they were I conceive otherwise instructed by God's express Command to the Jews When the Host Deut. 23. 9. goeth forth against thine Enemy then keep thy self from every evil thing When things were in this dismal and almost desperate State it came into the Hearts it seems of Five or Six private Gentlemen of the Church of England to engage in this difficult and hazardous Enterprize who considering that the higher the Tide of Wickedness was the more need there was of Opposing it that our crying Sins were our greatest Enemies and most threatned our Ruin that we have Laws in Force against them and that they should have the Laws of God with the Prayers of good Men on their side resolved whatever Difficulties they met with to make their Efforts for Promoting the Execution of our Laws against Prophaneness and Debauchery and the Suppressing of them by advisable Methods This was such an
quis convictus furti esset apud Locrenses effodiebantur ei oculi Contigit autem ut Zaleuci filius furti reus convitiaretur cui quum Locrenses poenam remitterent non tulit id pater sed sibi unum filio alterum voluit erui oculum Legem quandam Tenediis tulit Tennes quâ licebat Adulterum deprehensum securi necare Quum itaque silius ejus esset captus interrogante regem qui coeperat Quid ei faciendum Respondebat Lege utendum quapropter nummo ejus ab una parte securis excusa ab altera facies viri mulieris uno collo juncta If History can tell us of Heathens that could do and suffer so much for the Maintenance of the Laws of their Country shall it be supposed that the Fear of disobliging a Man of Interest that hath a swelling Title one that is I doubt improperly called a Man of Honour who affronts and contemns Religion should keep Christian Magistrates from Executing the Laws of their Country that are made for the Support of Religion and to which they are Sworn And yet as unworthy and unaccountable as such a Behaviour may appear to be even by the Light of Nature it were well if for the Honour of Christian Magistrates nay even of Humane Nature that it could be denied †Pudet haec opprobria nobis dici potuisse non potuisse refelli that many I am unwilling to say most of the Magistrates in the late Reigns lived and died with their Commissions without putting any one of the Laws that our more virtuous Ancestors had left us against Prophaneness and Debauchery in Execution which some of the worthy Magistrates of this Reign making a Conscience of Discharging the Oaths they have taken and the Trust that is reposed in them by their Personal Watchfulnss and Diligence as well as by their giving due Encouragement to those who without having Oaths to oblige them or Rewards to encourage them bring them Informations of the Breaches of those Laws which were grown almost obsolete and useless have to their great Honour so successfully done with such Opposition and Difficulty and not only with greater Clamour from hardned Offenders but with more Reflection from too many others than they might have met with if they had been breaking them in the most impudent manner had been making Attempts to destroy them To prevent therefore for the future the Mischief that this Nation may otherwise fall under as it hath done by the Vnfaithfulness of Magistrates it may deserve Consideration whether it would not be highly advisable that * Cogunt eos qui Magistratu abierint apud Censores edere exprimere quid in Magistratu gesserint Gothofredus de duodecim Tabularum Fragmentis p. 66 67. as we are told the Romans for this reason ordered their Magistrates to give an Account of their Diligence for the Maintenance of the Laws to their †Censorum Officium erat describere facultates cujusque Civis observare singulorum hominum mores vitam tollere quoque omnia quae probitati morum pestem perniciem illatura videbantur Rosinus de Antiquitatibus Romanis fol. 520 Censores mores populi regunto Haec detur cura Censoribus quandoquidem eos in Republica semper volumus esse Cicero de Legibus fol. 340. Censors a chief part of whose Office it was to look to a Reformation of Manners and as our Magistrates are by the late Act of Parliament against Swearing and Cursing required to keep Lists of those Persons that they have convicted of those Offences and to return them to the Sessions our Magistrates should be likewise further obliged to bring in to our Judges of Assize or to the Quarter-Sessions Lists of such as they have convicted upon all the Statutes against Prophaneness and Debauchery which Method will I humbly conceive not only be effectual for the quickening the Diligence of Magistrates but give a just Terror to Offenders and will afford the Government a means of knowing what Magistrates are Unfaithful in their Office and deserve Discountenance and Punishment and on the contrary who they are that most Honourably discharge their Trusts do the greatest Service to their Country and deserve the highest Regard from it * His autem duobus praemiis poena salus Reipublicae quamplurimum continetur And can any unless they are faithful and zealous Ministers of the Gospel be supposed to deserve more Respect than those Magistrates that conscientiously apply themselves to the Suppressing of Vice and Prophaneness and to the Promoting of Religion As the doing of this is I conceive the greatest Benefit of Magistracy and may be supposed as hath been shewn to be a great End for which it was appointed so it can't I think be doubted but God's Blessing may attend his Ordinance the Magistrates zealous and united Endeavours for this purpose so that they may succeed to the Spiritual good of particular Persons as well as to the good of the Publick that as Afflictions are often sent by Him to awaken Men out of their Lethargy in their vicious Courses and in the nature of them tend to that end the legal Corrections of Offenders which may be looked on as Afflictions may with God's Blessing work the same happy Effect upon them and the rather since they are the immediate and sensible Effects of their Sins and of this we are told there hath been so many happy Instances since the beginning of these Transactions as may be sufficient without other Considerations to encourage the Magistrates Diligence But when this fails of the desired Success upon particular Persons yet it is a vast Advantage to the Cause of Religion in general to keep the Multitude by the strict and exemplary Punishment of some Offenders from the publick Commission of such Scandalous Sins as wast the Conscience affront Religion and directly tend to bring it into Contempt that as the Scripture expresses it All Israel may hear and fear Deut. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and do no more any such Wickedness For considering the Original Corruption of our Nature which is generally more depraved by our Education in a degenerate Age that being thus depraved and weakned we find it no very easie work to resist Temptations to Sins to which we have either habituated our selves or have a natural propensity when they are naked and alone and that 't is much more difficult to encounter those Sins when Temptations to them are made stronger by the bad and eminent Examples which are almost every-where to be seen in our Commerce with the World there being but few that we meet with that do not recommend one Vice or other by their Example to our Imitation and which is I think still worse most of those not such as profess themselves Enemies of Religion but that pretend themselves Christians entertain hopes of receiving the Benefits of Religion and attend its Ordinances with Allowance as often as they think it for
to bring them Informations of the Breaches of the Laws against Prophaneness and Immorality and tell them 't is their Duty to do it and promise to give them Encouragement And now lastly His Majesty by His Proclamation does command all Judges Mayors Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and all other Officers and Ministers both Ecclesiastical and Civil and all his Subjects whom it may concern to be very Vigilant and Strict in the Discovery and the effectual Prosecution and Punishment of all Persons who shall be guilty of Excessive Drinking Blasphemy Prophane Swearing and Cursing Lewdness Prophanation of the Lord's-Day c. as they will answer it to Almighty God and upon pain of his highest Displeasure So that those who oppose the giving of Informations in these Cases not only seem directly to strike at the Foundation of our Constitution but do oppose Reformation and confront the Government which are Enormities that demand a due Resentment from all that are concerned for the honour of our Government our Laws or our Religion And if any Magistrates should discourage those that bring them Informations on this occasion by giving them hard words making their work as difficult to them as they can by wilfully forcing them to long and unnecessary Attendance on them in this Business or not sheltring them from the insults of obstinate Offenders if any should be so insolent and daring as to offer them 't is I think evident that they not only act therein contrary to their Duty as Christians but to their Oaths and Trust as Magistrates and to their Pretensions of Loyalty and Obedience to the Government as Subjects And now is it possible to conceive that any Magistrates can desire the execution of those Laws nay that any that are not the greatest Enemies to it and are lost to all sense of true Honour as well as Conscience should in defiance of all their Obligations and in full Contradiction to their printed Orders with their Names to them publickly set up by their direction on Churches and other publick Places not treat with respect and give the greatest Encouragement to those excellent Persons particularly by making this business as easie to them as they can by protecting them from any kind of Affronts and Assaults from wicked Men and giving them all possible dispatch who in such a profligate Age do for the preventing the Indignities that are offered to the great God and the ruin of their Country bring them generally with trouble and sometimes with great difficulty Informations of such Offences And on the other hand I do not see generally speaking how those that are convinced that the giving of Informations to Magistrates of these Offences is a Christian Office a likely and proper if not a necessary means of Reformation of Manners and yet wholly neglect the doing it at a time when they see their Fellow-Christians engaging successfully in it can in ordinary cases easily satisfie themselves that they have a due Zeal for God's Honour or Charity to their Neighbours 'T is allowed that this will be sometimes done with some Danger and Inconvenience * Dulce est periculum sequi Deum but so much the more laudable is the doing of it A brave Man who refuses to live under the slavish Dominion of Custom and Example who frequently works against Wind and Tide and steers in the Teeth of Danger must expect to be sometimes tost and batter'd but Dangers and Difficulties do often invite rather than discourage such a one from doing that which becomes him Virtue could I think be hardly distinguished from a kind of Sensuality if it were gained without any Labour Every mean Soul can do such things as require no Resolution or Courage that are not attended with any trouble or inconvenience but though there has never been so general a corruption in any Age or Nation as that there have not been some conspicuous for their Piety yet the number of those wise and happy persons have in most Ages of the World been too few who have preferr'd their Duty to all other Considerations If 't is not generally thought fashionable shionable to inform let it be consider'd whether 't is fashionable to be Religious Don't Men usually meet with the reproachfull Names of Hypocrites Fools Enthusiasts Phanaticks or formal and precise Persons who lead Christian or but modest and regular Lives But those Men that understand what Religion is do not surely think this a sufficient Dispensation for them to be Libertines They know that Elisha and St. Paul were called Mad-men that Holy David was derided by the People that Christ his Apostles and the Christians in the firâ—â— Ages were treated accordingly Wise Men and Christians are not so much afraid of ill Names as of wicked Actions And our Judgment of Actions must not be taken from the opinions of Men but from the Nature of them otherwise the Notions of Good and Evil will be soon confounded Those Actions are dishonourable that carry in their Nature a Repugnancy to Reason and Religion but if those Actions that directly tend to preserve and strengthen Government to promote Religion and the good of Mankind be honourable then the giving of Informations upon these occasions that are so much countenanced and encouraged by the Government and the Laws are I conceive truly honourable though corrupt Men judge otherwise * Apud quos virtus insania furor esse dicitur such for instance who think it more honourable to resent an Affront with the loss of their own or their Fellow-Christians Lives and reckon in short Temperance and Chastity Meekness and Humility Zeal for God and Heavenly-mindedness contemptible Qualities and fit for mean and base Souls Let it be remembred that Christians are to walk by Faith and not by Sight * Non Exemplis sed Legibus judicandum 1 Cor. 3. 19. by Precepts and not by Examples that 't is to the most high GOD Who judgeth righteously and with whom the Wisdom of this World is Foolishness and not to a sinfull Generation that in divers Instances that might be mentioned calls Evil Good and Good Evil that we are to approve our selves So that putting this Case at that Disadvantage as the cowardly and formal Christian who will not fail to raise Objections and start difficulties on such an occasion would have it and will be sure himself to do supposing that the giving of Informations of these Offences should sometimes expose Men to reproachfull Words or rude Treatment from an ill Magistrate or a prosligate Offender which it will not be for the honour of any Government to countenance 't is the business I think of Christians to consider whether they ought not to suffer Shame and undergo some Trouble and Loss for the Exercising an Act of Charity to their Neighbours Souls for the suppressing of National Sins the preventing of God's Dishonour and the ruin of their Country now especially that their Endeavours of this kind will be so very likely
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
our Strength against the Patrons of Vice who are the Enemies of God and Goodness more than against those that differ from us in some few things and those of lesser moment but agree with us I conceive in those that are essential if we sincerely and without delay set about and further all pious and proper Endeavours for a National Reformation truly pursue the things that belong to our Peace it still seems with us a Day of Mercy and the Scriptures give us Encouragement to hope that we may not perish For thus it is said At what instant I shall speak concerning Jâ—râ— 8. 7 8. a Nation and concerning a Kingdom to pluck up and to pull down and to destroy it If that Nation against whom I have pronounced turn from their Evil I will repent of the Evil that I thought to do unto them Having thus endeavoured to prove the Common Obligation which lies upon All Men as Christians and as Members of the Community to use their sincere Endeavours for a General and National Reformation and the Special Obligations of Governours and Ministers of Subordinate Magistrates and Inferiour Officers from either the Nature of their Office and Trust or their express Oaths to this purpose and having more largely insisted on the Reasons for private Persons giving of Informations of the Violations of the Laws of Religion and their Country and the Magistrates Obligation highly to encourage those who do so to make this their excellent Service to their Country as safe and as easie to them as they can by directing their Judgments excusing their innocent Inadvertencies by making Examples of any obstinate Criminals that shall dare impiously affront and obstruct them in it and having likewise represented the danger of God's Judgments and of our Ruine if we continue unreformed and the Blessings and Advantages we may hope to obtain to our selves our Country and our Posterity in the hearty forwarding any just and pious Designs and Endeavours for such a Reformation as Virtue is the way to the Happiness of particular Persons of private Families and the Prosperity of Nations and the Suppressing of Vice and Prophaneness by Humane Laws that are agreeable to the Laws of God seems to be the nearest and most probable way in our present Circumstances for the retrieving of the Virtue of the Nation without which if we could suppose that this Kingdom would continue to be prosperous I do not easily conceive how wise and good Men should either take much Pleasure in Living otherwise than in Obedience to the Will and for the Glory of God and the working out their own Salvation or in the Thoughts of leaving a Posterity behind them in a Nation where there is no more Religion or even common Honesty I intended I say having done this in the next place to offer some Arguments against those Vices that are most reigning among us as Leudness Prophane Swearing and Cursing Drunkenness c. in hopes that the Representation of the Baseness the Folly and Beastiality of those Sins together with the various and great Mischiefs they bring upon the Publick but more especially often upon those unhappy Men that are addicted to them in respect to their Estates and Reputation their Persons and Posterity their Bodies and Souls would shew so much the Evil and Deformity of them that it might be a means to keep some at least from falling in Love with them and of disingaging others from them who are already ensnared in them even as the Sight of a Drunkard to a thinking Man is a good Lecture against Drunkenness But these Sheets growing to a Bulk far beyond what I at first proposed I shall lay aside perhaps for some other Occasion the Materials which were prepared for this purpose and I shall the rather do so * Mat. 5. 28 34. Matt. 15. 18 19. Rom. 1. 24. 27. 29. 13 14. 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. -13. 18. Gal. 5. 19. 21. Eph. 5. 3 5 6. Col. 3. 5 6. since these Vices are plainly condemned by the Word of God which expresly excludes Drunkards and Vnclean Persons c. from the Kingdom of Heaven and that we find by sad Experience that those who are fully reconciled to their Lusts who are miserably abandoned to the Conduct of Custom and ill Example seem too generally almost deaf to the Calls of Conscience to all Representations of this kind nay often even to the powerfull Rhetorick of the Gospel at least they frequently make for want of Consideration and other proper means no great and lasting Impressions upon them And this I conceive makes the use of other Methods with such Men necessary not only for their own sakes but for the publick Safety that those that are Lethargick and almost dead in their Sins yet having Senses still to feel the Stroaks of Justice may tho' never so stubborn be bowed in some measure to discipline and punish'd into a better outward Behaviour if they cannot into such a serious Consideration of their Sin and Folly as may end in an inward and entire Reformation of their Lives which is by no means to be totally despaired of For as the allowed Habits of these Sins exclude Men from the Kingdom of Heaven in the Opinion of Divines they ought to shut out those who are guilty of them from the Communion with the Church on Earth till they give some signs of their Repentance as 't is allowed they would have done if they had lived in the first Ages of Christianity when such Offenders which now make too great a part of the visible Church were looked on as a kind of Monsters and like putrefy'd Members were cut off as being not only extreamly dangerous but very noisome to the Body But till the Ecclesiastical Power which is now so weakned and hath to speak justly lost its Credit is recovered to its Primitive Design and the ancient Discipline of the Church is in some measure restored which 't is to be hoped we shall not always think sufficient especially under the present Reign publickly to lament the loss of once a Year in the Office for Ash-Wednesday but shall in good earnest endeavour to restore There is I conceive evidently greater reason to engage the secular Arm in this matter that those upon whom the gentle Methods of Persuasion have little or no force and whom the Ecclesiastical Power does not and will not take any Notice of should be severely punished and restrained by the Civil Government that they should be treated as a sort of Out-Laws and as common Enemies to their Country For publick Immoralities are Offences against the Peace and Happiness of Mankind against the Government and the Laws as well as against the Christian Religion which is not only now incorporated into the Law of the Land but does above all other things promote the Safety and Prosperity of Government and of particular Persons which Offences of this kind directly tend to the destroying of even to the dissolving the band
entrusted with it for his Honour and the Good of his People That by their faithfully Executing the Laws against Offenders particularly those that are made for the Honour of God the Suppressing of Prophaneness and Immorality they are to be a Terrour to Evil doers and in order to this that they would therefore remember That as the poorest Wretch hath a Talent that he must render an Account of they must expect one day to appear at a Tribunal themselves and give an Account of the discharge of their Oaths and Trusts of the Employment of their Authority and their other Advantages and for the Deluge of Evils that either hath or may fall upon the Nation through their wilfull Neglect of their Duty for our Blessed Saviour hath told us That unto Luk. 12. 48. whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required And the Authour of the Book of Wisdom thus expresses himself to this purpose Hear therefore O ye Kings and understand Wisd 6. 1. learn ye that be Judges of the Ends of the Earth Give ear you that rule the People and glory in 2. the Multitude of Nations for Power is given you of the Lord and Sovereignty from the Highest 3. who shall try your Works and search out your Counsels because being Ministers of his Kingdom 4. you have not judged aright nor kept the Law nor walked after the Counsel of God Horribly and speedily shall he come upon you for 5. a sharp Judgment shall be to them that be in high Places For Mercy will soon pardon the Meanest 6. but mighty Men shall be mightily tormented To the GENTRY and COMMONALTY of the Nation that they consider That tho' they have not the particular Oaths and Vows the Trusts and Authority of any of the Orders I have mentioned they have notwithstanding their Baptismal Engagements upon 'em which they own when they come to the Holy Communion and that if they would acquit themselves as Christians they must endeavout to be such in all their Relations to behave themselves as good Magistrates and Subjects as good Citizens and Members of their Community as well as good Masters and Servants good Parents and Children but that they cannot be reasonably thought to be so without having a Love to God a Zeal for his Honour or a Concern for the Welfare of their Neighbours and of the Community of which they are a part and that it may be doubted whether they can have either if they can contentedly hear without any Concern Men openly affront their God bid Defiance to his Laws go on with a full Career to Destruction and bring Decay and Ruine upon their Country which 't is evident they may use proper and effectual means to prevent as particularly by their giving of Informations of enormous Offences to the Magistrate which I have in another place more largely insisted on and which they have at this time so fair an Opportunity to employ as is offer'd them by the Declarations of the Government and the Assistance of such Bodies of Christians that are not only in and about this City but that are spreading through the Cities and Corporations of the Kingdom And do you think it dishonourable for you to conceal any Offences that endanger the Government or any Injuries that are done your Neighbour when you can do him right by the bare discovering of it to the Magistrate Is it reckoned an Act of Bravery to adventure your Lives in the taking of a Thief or a Murtherer An Act of Charity to prevent any Injury to your Neighbour in his civil Concerns to hinder a Fool or a Lunatick from wounding of his Body or destroying his Life And is not a sincere endeavour to prevent the publick Dishonour of the Name the Day and the Laws of God by acquainting the Magistrate with these high Offences in order to the Suppressing of them as is done with general Approbation and Applause in other ordinary Cases when Men's private Rights the Security of the Government or the Welfare of the Nation is concerned an honourable Work and becoming Christians Does it become a Soldier of Christ Jesus to see Him publickly affronted to hear his Name and Wounds mentioned oftner in horrid Oaths and Execrations than in serious Discourses his Laws trampled on and their Fellow-Christians to live in the open Commission of such Sins as manifestly tend to bring great Calamities upon them in this World to destroy their Souls and draw down National Judgments without taking any kind of Notice of these things and only for fear of meeting with reproachfull Words or rude Treatment which yet the Magistrate if he hath a just sense of his Duty will not suffer from a hardned Offender or the Advocates of Vice from such whose Commendations a virtuous Man would be inclined to look on as a real Disparagement and their Company a Scandal and when in the Discharge of what they justly apprehend to be their Duty they may have for their Comfort and Support some of the great Rewards of Religion in this World the Approbation of their own Consciences and of good Men with the hopes of an Everlasting Reward on the other side of the Grave Can this be imagined to be a signification of a Zeal for God of our loving Him with all our Hearts c. or our Neighbour Matt. 22. 37 38. 39. as our selves Does this Behaviour adorn the Gospel Would the Christians of old have thought well of it Or is it sufficient for us to call our selves the Disciples of the Blessed Jesus who went about doing good without endeavouring Act. 10. 38. in any degree to follow his glorious Example Herein then our Gentry and Commonalty seem to have a great Opportunity of furthering the Work of Reformation But this is not all the Advantage they have if the Laws that relate to Religion are upon so many and such momentous Considerations thus Zealously to be put in Execution it is I think evident that not only those Persons that violate and contemn those Laws but those that are unconcerned for and discourage the Execution of them cannot with any Colour of Reason be esteemed Friends to their Country but rather as unworthy to live in it and enjoy the common Benefits of it * Omnes quidem Magistratus in bene constituenda republica convenit esse virtute praeditos sed maximè eos qui senatoriae dignitatis gradum obtinent nec est laudanda respublica in qua peraeque bonis malis prudentibus stultis honores tribuantur quare legibus hos oportet esse descriptos ut quorum virtus industriaque fit bonorum approbatione commendata his honos debeatur Unde in antiquorum rebuspub statuae arcus triumphales sepulchra publica laudationes alia id genus meritis tribuautur and if so they are unquestionably much more unfit for and unworthy of Posts of Honour and Trust and those that concern themselves for the Election
or Promotion of such Persons to publick Places when Men of Virtue may be easily found to accept of them and perhaps offer themselves to their Choice upon the account of their Titles or Estates of their Relation or Friendship to them and I think I may further add for their being of their Faction or Party may deservedly be judged to behave themselves very unbecoming good Common-Wealths-Men and good Christians to act therein as very mischievous Members of the Community and even Enemies to their Religion and Country on the contrary they who are truly Religious who not only keep the Laws themselves but are diligent to execute the Laws or zealously encourage and assist others in the furthering the Execution of them are to be looked on by those that make any just pretence to Virtue as Benefactors to the Community of which they are Members as proper Persons to be honourably distinguished which it behoves all Men to consider who are any ways concerned in this Matter and would shew their sincere Regard for the Interest of Religion or their Country particularly * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isoc Path p. 513. the Gentry and Commonalty of England to whom I am addressing my self in the Election of their Representatives in Parliament of Magistrates in Corporations and Subordinate Officers in them and all other Places throughout the Kingdom on whose Behaviour the Welfare of the Nation does so much depend lest when they might have served the true Interests of Religion and the Nation by their making Choice of such worthy Persons as might have proved great Blessings to us if they had been thus employed by their Faithfulness in their Trusts and by the happy Influence of their good Example they on the other hand by being instrumental in the Election or Promotion of vicious Men especially after the evil of their doing so is represented to them may perhaps draw a Guilt upon themselves of Partaking in other Men's Sins of being Accessory in some degree to the Mischief that is done by the Negligence and Unfaithfulness of such Persons in their Duty whom they make Choice of as well as by the malignant Influence of their ill Examples upon others Hath God Almighty said by the Prophet †1 Sam. 2. 30. Them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed Hath Holy David said ‖ Ps 101. 6. Mine Eyes shall be upon the Faithfull of the Land that they may dwell with me He that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me Hath the King lately declared in his Proclamation That vicious Men are a Discredit to his Kingdom and that he will discountenance and punish Immorality and Prophaneness in Persons of the highest and lowest degree particularly in such as are employed near his Royal Person and that he will upon all Occasions distinguish Men of Piety and Virtue by Marks of his Royal Favour And lastly hath the Commons of England assembled in a late Parliament in their Humble Address to His Majesty represented to Him That the Debauchery of the Nation is chiefly owing to the Negligence and ill Example of Magistrates and that the countenancing and preferring of Virtuous and the discouraging of Vicious Men is a proper way to suppress it And can any that have any Principles of Virtue and Love to their Country that shall duly and impartially consider this be instrumental in promoting of prophane and vicious Men to Places of Honour and Authority and chuse to entrust with them the high Concerns of Religion and our greatest Temporal Interests How far Ignorance Prejudice or Inconsideration may have hitherto been an Excuse for any concerned herein I shall not presume to determine but I may be allowed to say that * Is ordo vitio careto caeteris specimen esto Praeclara ista lex ait Cicero nam cum omni vitio carere lex jubeat ne veniat in eum ordinem unquam vitii particeps Ciâ— lib. 6. de leg p 336. 't is to be hoped it will not be hereafter pretended by any Men who are sincerely concerned for the Honour and Interest of Religion and the Security and Prosperity of their Country who having this Matter laid before them shall not only consider the fatal Consequences of their own ill Conduct in this Matter but the many and almost unspeakable Evils that this Nation hath so long groaned under by the Election and Promotion of wicked Men to Places of Honour or Power and on the contrary what a Glorious face of things we might expect to see if Men of all Ranks as well as those to whom I am addressing my self would acquit themselves herein as Natural Reason as well as Religion may convince them they ought in the Discouraging or Opposing in their feveral Stations the Election and Promotion of wicked Men to publick Posts and thereby keeping them from doing so much Mischief as they have undeniably the greatest Advantage for their doing in them And if we will not be moved herein by either Religious or Civil Considerations I must ask leave to say that we are sunk below Heathenism in this respect the formerly famous * Delecti apud Romanos Senatores quibus corpus annis infirmum ingenium sapientia validum erat undè patres conscripti nuncupati Sigoniuâ— de jure CiviuÌ„ Româ—noruÌ„ fol. In pluribus Romanum Senatum imitantur Decuriones nec minor annis 25 decurio creabatur nec major 55 meritis enim facultatibus dignissimi eligebantur Pancirolus de Magistra fol 3. 4. Eadem forma in elegendis Dunmviris quae in creandis Decurionibus observabatur hoc excepto quod Dunmviri tribus antè aut pluribus mensâ—bus quam Magistratum initent nominabantur ut si forte recusandi justam honoris causam habuissent alii eorum loco congruo tempore substiâ—â—i possent fol. 8. Roman and †Apud Lacedaemonios Senatui reliquis virtus potius merita suffragabantur Nam virtutis praecipuè habita fuit ratio ut in aliis omnibus apud eos ita etiam in quibusvis Magistratibus conferendis Nic Crag Ripen de Rep. Lacedaem Et Plato de hac repub ita dixit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Non enim inquit in civitate honores ideò in pretio esse quod is qui eos gerat divitiis excellat c. Et Demost henes Graecus scribit tantum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in ordinem Senatorum cooptari Aetas deinde justa lege quasi annuaria definita in Senatoribus fuit annorum sexaginta Caeterum vita honestè acta in Senatoribus praecipuè deside rabatur Crag lib. 11. p. 113 114. Judicium apud Athenienses constituebatur quod illi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vocabant in quo Senatorum qui lecti erant vita diligentèr exquirebatur Sigonius de Republica Atheniensium lib. 2. p. 492. Omnes oportebat Magistratus vitae morúmque suorum antequam Magistratum inirent rationem in foro apud judices reddere
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
circum tecta volantes which are their secret and almost constant Tormentors and make them as the Scripture expresses it as the troubled Sea that cannot rest But let those that can look on these deluded and miserable Souls with a just Pity that know the Pleasures of Innocence that are acquainted with the Triumphs of Conscience that arise from the sense of their having served their God their Country and themselves that hope after a few Years for an Everlasting Inheritance and unspeakable Joy at God's Right-hand that believe that our Blessed Saviour †1 Joh. 3 8. Christ Jesus was manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil think it more honourable to be employed in the Promoting the same Glorious Design to the utmost of their Power and by all Christian Methods according to their Abilities and Opportunities than to be Favourites of the greatest Prince than to be Masters of the World We shall indeed meet with many Discouragements and much Resistance in these Endeavours The Reformation of a Nation particularly that is so very degenerate that a great part of it seems to act as if it had entred into a Combination against Religion cannot be thought to be an easie Work we never I suppose heard of such a one in any Age that was effected without Opposition The first Attempts especially of a National Reformation unless they have the Advantages of Power of Interest or of Numbers of Men to support them must be attended with great Difficulties those that are engaged in them may expect to wrestle not only against the Passions and Lusts of private Men but against Principalities Eph. 6. 12. and Powers against the Strength and Policy of the Prince as well as Men of this World since those that most need Reformation will most explode the Attempts of it and oppose it and among them there will be often such met with as by their Quality or Interest their Power or their Authority will be most capable to obstruct it and there will be others who when they have not Power or they dare not openly oppose the Undertaking will be spreading their Jealousies that some secular Interest or dangerous Design is carrying on under such plausible Pretences and will use their utmost diligence to find Fault with the manner how regular soever it be of its being carried on or to raise Objections against the Persons engaged in it and when they cannot find any real ones they will have recourse to their Inventions to down-right Slanders to mis-represent them as the Heathen Persecutors did the Martyrs to expose them the more to the People's Hatred and Rage nay and that which makes the Work yet the more difficult is that there will not be wanting another kind of Men and indeed I conceive some of the worst sort of Enemies to such a Design who through some unhappy Principles or Prejudices will not only be content to sit still themselves and to be unconcerned in this Matter but perhaps to excuse themselves from giving that Assistance which might otherwise be with Modesty expected from them and to prevent the Censure that may be apt to fall upon them for their ill Conduct will be very ready to declare the Attempts of this kind impracticable unseasonable or imprudent as they do most other things of the same nature which 't is much to be both feared and lamented many of them want either Zeal or perhaps Honesty to undertake which Men of no less true Wisdom if that Principle whether it be called Caution or Policy that keeps Men from doing their Duty deserves the Name of Folly rather than Wisdom not only attempt but surmount the appearing Difficulties of But tho' Resistance to the first Attempts of Reformation from the Powers of Darkness and the corrupt Nature of Man might be foreseen and may have been experienced by those concerned in the Transactions I have given an account of and may be still expected in some measure in the Prosecution of it yet as 't was at first necessary to undertake it so 't is still as necessary to pursue it Nay the higher the Tide of Debauchery and Prophaneness runs the more evident Reason there is for us to look to our Banks to use all proper Methods for the Opposing of it and the more generous and brave is the Opposition unless 't is more reasonable to give way to it and expect an Inundation of Wickedness and Ruine than to endeavour to prevent it since as the Case will grow the worse and more desperate by the delay so the Objections that are now made against it will thereby grow the stronger Let then the Opposition to this Enterprize be as great and desperate and from as various Causes as we can well suppose it if those who are engaged in it do sincerely propose God's Glory and the Good of Mankind in their Endeavours if they often turn their Thoughts within themselves as well as upon the Faults of others and endeavour to be blameless and Phil. 2. 15. harmless and without Rebuke in the midst of a perverse Generation if they continue to take great Care that their Conduct in this Affair be regular governed by the Laws of the Land and the Precepts of their Religion remembring that the Goodness of no end can make Evil means lawfull and as free as far as 't is possible from Imprudencies and Inadvertencies to which the wisest and best Men are subject and therefore are no reasonable Objection against a good Design to honest Men that know how to give all just Allowances to Humane Frailties in a Work of Difficulty wherein many unexpected Occurrences will arise Numbers of Men are engaged and who will be sometimes taken unprepar'd and at disadvantage by bad and designing Men who will not fail to wait for their Halting and to improve all kind of Advantages against them if they go on with Diligence and Resolution considering that Solomon's Direction Whatever thy Hand findeth to do do it with thy Might Eccl. 9. 10. in this Work seems more especially to be regarded by those who are employed in it a Woe being pronounced against them that do Jer. 48. 10. the Work of the Lord ‖ Or. negligently Rev. 2. 10. deceitfully and a Crown of Life being promised to them that are faithfull to Death if lastly they cry mightily to God to whose Omnipotence no Difficulties are insuperable and without whom nothing is strong no means can attain their end for his gracious Direction and mercifull Assistance in a Work of Hazard and Difficulty wherein Wisdom and Constancy the Spiritual Armour of the Gospel is requisite the Honour and Interest of Religion and the Good of Souls seem to be so much concern'd to prevent their being assaulted with such violent Temptations that might overcome them or to give them such extraordinary Supports and Comforts as may enable them to bear up under them and they humbly depend more upon his Direction and Blessing than their
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
all Magistrates and the direction of private Persons who in any part of the Kingdom are religiously engaged in the Glorious Work of promoting a National Reformation and sold by B. Aylmer at the Three Pigeons in Cornhill W. Rogers at the Sun in Fleetstreet D. Brown at the Swan without Temple-Bar and W. Henshman in Westminster-Hall An Account of the Societies for Reformation of Manners A Sermon Preach'd at St. Mary-le-Bow to the Societies for the Reformation of Manners By the Right Reverend Father in God Edward Lord Bishop of Gloucester in 8vo Price 6 d. A Sermon Preach'd at St. Mary-le-Bow to the Societies for the Reformation of Manners By John Hancock D. D. Chaplain to his Grace the D. of Bedford in 8o. Price 6 d. A Sermon Preach'd at St. Mary-le-Bow to the Societies for the Reformation of Manners By Lilly Butler Minister of St. Mary Aldermanbury in 8o. Price 6 d. A Sermon Preach'd at St. Mary-le-Bow to the Societies for Reformation of Manners By Samuel Bradford Rector of the said Parish in 8o. Price 6 d. These Books sold by B. Aylmer in Cornhill For the more Effectual Promoting the Design of this Book is added An Abstract of the Penal-Laws Against Immorality and Prophaneness Commanded to be put in Speedy and Vigorous Execution by His Majesty's Gracious and Pious Proclamation pursuant to the Humble Address of the Honourable House of Commons OFFENCES Laws and Statutes PENALTIES Prophanation of the Lord's Day ALL Laws in force concerning the Observation of the Lord's-Day shall be put in Execution This Day is by every one to be Sanctified and kept Holy and all Persons must be careful herein to exercise themselves in the Duties of Piety and true Religion Publickly and Privately and every one on this Day not having a reasonable Excuse must diligently resort to some Publick place where the Service of God is exercised or must be present at some other Place allowed of by Law in the Practice of some Religious Duty either of Prayer Preaching Reading or Expounding of the Scriptures or Conference upon the same 29 Car. 2. Cap. 7. NOTE That His Majesty's Protestant Subjects dissenting from the Church of England and qualified according to the late Statute of Indulgence are exempted from the Penalties of the Statutes 3 Jac. 1 Eliz. 23. Eliz. 29. Eliz. and some other Statutes But this Indulgence extends not to such prophane Persons who no where attend on the Publick Worship of God Establisht or allow'd by Law nor to any that in Preaching or Writing deny the Trinity  1 W. M. Cap. 18.   1 Eliz. c. 2. 3 Jac. c. 4.  Such as Repair not to Church c. on Sundays and Holidays 1 Eliz. c. 2. Twelve Pence for every Default to be levied by Distress and for want of Distress to be committed to some Prison until the same be paid Vid. 14 15. § One Witness   Absenting for a Month If a Twelve-month or more 23 Eliz. cap. 1. 3 Jac. c. 4. Twenty Pounds per Month or forfeiture of Two parts in Three of their Estaus If any come not to the Sacrament of the Lord's-Supper once a Year  Their Names and Sirnames to be Pretented Forty Shillings Reward to such as present them None shall speak or do any thing in Contempt of the most Holy Sacrament 1 Ed. 6. c. 1. By Oath of Two Lawful Witnesses by Three Justices Quorum un to be bound over and Prosecuted in Sessions Whosoever shall disturb the Church or Congregation per mitted or misule the Teacher 1 W. M. cap. 18 1 M. cap. 3. To find Sureties in 50 l. or committed till next Quarter-Sessions and on Conviction to Forfeit 20 l. Proof by Two Witnesses before a Justice of Peace   Whosoever shall disturb any Preacher allow'd in his open Sermon or Collation or be procuring or abetting thereunto or shall Rescue c. any Offender c.  To be Committed by any Justice of the County to safe Custody and within six days the said Committing Justice with one other Justice if the Offender upon Examination shall be found Guilty shall Commit him to Gaol without Bail c. for Three Months and farther to the next Quarter-Sessions c. Accusation must be by Two Witnesses or Confession   Such as Meet or Assemble out of their own Parish upon the Lord's-Day for any Sports Or Pastim is whatsoever or such as shall use any Unlawful Exercise or Pastime in their own Parish upon the Lord's-Day 1 Car. c. 1. Three Shillings and Four Pence to the Poor where c. to be levied by Distress and Sale restoring the Overplus c. and for want of Distress to be sent to the Stocks for Three Hours but they must be questionem within a Month. If any Caâ—rie Wagoner Butcher c. with Horse Wain or â—â—â—t or Drover with Cattle shall Travel upon the Lord's-Day by themselves or any other for them 3 Car. c. 1. Twenty Shillings for every Offence to be levied by Distress and Sale to the Use of the Poor If any Butoner or any other for him shall Kill oâ— Sell any Victuals upon the Sunday 3 Car. c. 1. He shall Forfeit Six Shillings and Eight Pence if questioned within Six Months to be Levied c. or may be Sued for in Sessions c. Two Witnesses View or Confession   If any Shoe-Maker shall shew with intent to Sell any Boots Shoes c. on the Sunday 1 Jac. c. 22. He shall Forfeit the Value of every such pair and also Three Shillings and Four Pence for every Pair If any Person of the Age of 14 shall on the Lord's-Day or any part thereof 〈◊〉 any Worldly Labour Business or Work c. except Works of Necessity 〈◊〉 Charity 29 Car. 2. Cap. 7. He shall Forfeit Five Shillings for every Offence If any Person shall Cry Shew forth or put to Sale any Wares Fruit Goods c. except Milk â—â—â—y before the Hours of Nine in the Morning after four in the afternoon 29 Car. 2. cap. 7. He shall Forfeit the said Wares Fruit Goods c. to the Use of the Poor No Drover Horse-Courser Wagoner Butcher Higler or any of their Servants shall Travel or come to their Inns on the Lord's Day 29 Car. 2. cap. 7. The Forfeiture is Twenty Shillings for every Offence No Person shall use to Travel upon the Lord's-Day with any Boat Wherry c. except allow'd by one Justice of Peace so to do 29 Car. 2. cap. 7. The Forfeiture is Five Shillings for every Offence The Conviction upon the Statute must be before any Justice of the County c. who shall give Warrant to the Constables c to Seize the Goods shewed c. and to Levy the Forfeitures by Distress c. and for want of Distress to put the Offender in the Stocks for Two Hours The Justices c. may reward the Informer out of the Forfeitures not exceeding the Third part By View Confession or