absolve them under the former notion; for that had been, in effect, sealing them to damnation; but if they held these men to be martyrs, then their absolving them in that manner was a justification of those grievous crimes, for which these men suffered, and an open affront to the 5 laws both of church and state.

Upon the consideration of these things, and for the doing of right to our church, which may otherwise suffer, among such as are strangers to our constitution, by the evil principles and practices, both of the aforesaid cri- 10 minals, and the three clergymen that assisted them, who all pretended to be members of the church of England; we do declare that we disown and detest all such principles and practices; looking upon them as highly schismatical and seditious, dangerous both to the church and 15 state, and contrary to the true doctrine and spirit of the Christian religion. And we also take this occasion to warn and exhort all the people committed to our charge, to beware of such seducers and to avoid them; lest (as the apostle St. Peter speaks) " they be led away with the 20 error of the wicked," and fall from their steadfast adherence to the principles of the true church of England, as it was established at the blessed reformation of religion, and as by God's especial providence it continues to this day.

April 10, MDCXcvi.

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Archiepisc. Cant.
THO TENISON 5.

His

grace the lord archbishop of Canterbury's letter to the right reverend the lords bishops of his province. (From an original in the Bodleian.) 4to. W. 45 Theol.

To the right reverend the lord bishop of

REVEREND BROTHER,

MY writing to you and the rest of our brethren at this

time is occasioned by a sensible growth of vice and 5 profaneness in the nation: which, to the great affliction of all good men, appears not only in the corrupt practices of particular persons, but also in the endeavours that are used to subvert the general principles of our holy religion. And this with a boldness and openness, far beyond the examples of past times; so that if a speedy stop be not put to such national provocations, we have just cause to fear they may bring down the heaviest judgments of God upon us; the preventing whereof belongs more immediately to us, who are the ministers of Christ; and as 15 such, are obliged to the utmost care and watchfulness in opposing these instruments of Satan.

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I doubt not, but many of the parochial clergy are sufficient sensible both of their own duty and the danger we are in: in the cities of London and Westminster, and 20 other places, I am sure the good effects of their diligence

His grace the lord archbishop] King William having ordered a general fast and humiliation to be observed on the 5th day of April, the archbishop took occasion to issue this letter of admonition to the bishops of his province.

have been very evident of late years.

But in some parts

that are more remote, all of them may not so well understand either the arts or the industry of these enemies of religion and therefore I thought it a duty incumbent on the station wherein providence has placed me, to desire 5 of you and the rest of our brethren, to warn the clergy under your care, of these attempts against religion and virtue; and to excite them to a diligence proportionable to the danger; and to suggest to them such methods as are most likely to work a general reformation.

With this request, I send you such particulars as, in my opinion, are very necessary to be pressed upon your clergy for the attaining so desirable an end. As,

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I. That in their own lives, and the government of their own families, they would make themselves examples of a 15 sober and regular conversation. It is the apostle's reasoning, "If a man know not how to rule his own house (and much more his own life and actions) how shall he take care of the church of God?" The true method of working a reformation abroad, is to lay the foundation at 20 home, which alone can give our reproofs a just weight and authority: but till that is done, no exhortations, whether in public or private, can either be offered with decency, or received with reverence.

II. To piety, they should add prudence, to all their 25 actions and behaviour: which even in private Christians is a great ornament to religion, but in public teachers is a most necessary qualification for the due discharge of their ministry. A mildness of temper, with a gravity and calmness in their conversation, will not fail to gain them 30 a general love and esteem among their neighbours; and a discreet caution in their words and actions will preserve them from those little imprudences that are sometimes so sensible an obstruction to the good endeavours of wellmeaning men. Persons in holy orders are not only bound, 35 in the conduct of their lives, to consider what is lawful or

unlawful in itself, but also what is decent or indecent in them, with respect to their character and function: “abstaining from all appearance of evil, and giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed."

དྷ III. While our enemies are so very industrious in seeking out objections against the Christian religion, it becomes the clergy (who are set apart for the vindication of it) to be no less diligent in their preparations for its defence by acquainting themselves thoroughly with the 10 rational grounds of Christianity, and the true state of such points as are the subjects of our present controversies; together with the objections which are usually made by our adversaries of all sorts, and the effectual answers that have been returned to them by so many eminent writers of our own church; that so they may be ready, on all occasions, to do justice and honour to our religion; and be able to expose the folly and ignorance of these gainsaying men. The cause which God has put into our hands, is undoubtedly good; but the best cause 20 may suffer by the weakness of its advocate: and when this happens in the matter of religion, it gives the adversary an occasion of triumph, and is apt to stagger the faith even of sincere and unprejudiced Christians.

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IV. It were to be wished, that the clergy of every 25 neighbourhood would agree upon frequent meetings, to consult for the good of religion in general, and to advise with one another about any difficulties that may happen in their particular cures. By what methods any evil custom may most easily be broken: how a sinner may be 30 most effectually reclaimed: and (in general) how each of them in their several circumstances may contribute most to the advancement of religion. Such consultations as these, besides the mutual benefit of advice and instruction, will be a natural means to excite the zeal of 35 some, to reduce the over-eagerness of others to a due temper, and to provoke all to a religious emulation in

the improvement of piety and order within their respective parishes. And these meetings might still be made a greater advantage to the clergy in carrying on the reformation of men's lives and manners, by inviting the churchwardens of their several parishes, and other 5 pious persons among the laity, to join with them in the execution of the most probable methods that can be suggested for those good ends. And we may very reasonably expect the happy effects of such a concurrence, from the visible success of that noble zeal wherewith so many 10 about the great cities in my neighbourhood do promote true piety, and a reformation of manners. And therefore I desire you that you will particularly excite your clergy to the procuring such assistances as these, for the more effectual discharge of their own duty.

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V. It would very much further and facilitate all their endeavours of this kind, to gain over the persons who have the greatest esteem and authority in their parishes, to a hearty concern for the honour of God and religion: frequently suggesting to them the obligation that God 20 has laid upon them to be examples to others, and the great good that it is in their power to do, by setting a pattern of regular living, and the unspeakable mischief of their irregular behaviour. For if once the better sort can be brought to such a seriousness and sobriety, the 25 rest will more easily follow; example being the most powerful instruction; and experience teaching us that shame and fear, which arise from the authority of such good patterns, are commonly the most effectual restraints upon the meaner sort.

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VI. Where any person is obstinate in his vices, and not to be reclaimed either by teaching or example, by exhortation or reproof; the ordinary ought to be informed of it, that he may proceed to reclaim such by ecclesiastical censures. And where those are like to prove ineffectual, 35 the civil magistrate must be applied to, and desired to