instances of their duty, and especially strict and exact in all holy conversation, that so they may become examples to the flock.

III. To this end, that they be constantly resident upon 5 their cures in their incumbent houses, and keep sober hospitality there, according to their abilities.

IV. That they diligently catechise the children and youth of their parishes, (as the rubrics of the Common Prayer Book and the LIXth canon enjoin,) and so pre10 pare them to be brought in due time to confirmation, when there shall be opportunity; and that they also at the same time expound the grounds of religion, and the common Christianity in the method of the catechism, for the instruction and benefit of the whole parish, teaching 15 them what they are to believe and what to do, and what to pray for, and particularly often and earnestly inculcating upon them the importance and obligation of their baptismal vows.

V. That they perform the daily office publicly (with 20 all decency, affection, and gravity) in all market and other great towns, and even in villages and less populous places bring people to public prayers as frequently as may be, especially on such days, and at such times, as the rubrics and canons appoint, on holy-days and their 25 eves, on Ember and Rogation days, on Wednesdays and Fridays in each week, especially in Advent and Lent.

VI. That they use their utmost endeavour, both in their sermons, and by private applications, to prevail with such of their flock, as are of competent age, to receive 30 frequently the holy communion; and to this end that they administer it in the greater towns once in every month, and even in the lesser too, if communicants may be procured, or however as oft as they may, and that they take all due care, both by preaching and otherwise, to 35 prepare all for the worthy receiving of it.

VII. That in their sermons they teach and inform their people (four times a year at the least, as the first canon requires) that all usurped and foreign jurisdiction is for most just causes taken away and abolished in this realm, and no manner of obedience or subjection due to 5 the same, or to any that pretend to act by virtue of it; but that the king's power being in his dominions highest under God, they upon all occasions persuade the people to loyalty and obedience to his majesty in all things lawful, and to patient submission in the rest; promoting (as 10 far as in them lies) the public peace and quiet of the world.

VIII. That they maintain fair correspondence (full of the kindest respects of all sorts) with the gentry and persons of quality in their neighbourhood; as being deeply 15 sensible, what seasonable assistance and countenance this poor church hath received from them, in her necessities.

IX. That they often exhort all those of our communion to continue steadfast to the end in their most holy faith, and constant to their professions; and to that end, 20 to take heed of all seducers, and especially of popish emissaries, who are now in great numbers gone forth amongst them, and more busy and active than ever; and that they take all occasions to convince our own, that it is not enough for them to be members of an excellent church, 25 rightly and duly reformed both in faith and worship, unless they also reform and amend their own lives, and so order their conversations in all things, as becomes the gospel of Christ.

X. And forasmuch as those Romish emissaries, like 30 the old serpent, "insidiantur calcaneo," are wont to be most busy and troublesome to our people at the end of their lives, labouring to unsettle and perplex them in the time of sickness and at the hour of death; that therefore all, who have the cure of souls, be more especially 35

vigilant over them at that dangerous season, that they stay not till they be sent for, but inquire out the sick in their respective parishes, and visit them frequently; that they examine them particularly concerning the state 5 of their souls, and instruct them in their duties, and settle them in their doubts, and comfort them in their sorrows and sufferings, and pray often with them, and for them, and by all the methods, which our church prescribes, prepare themselves for the due and worthy receiving of To the holy eucharist, the pledge of their happy resurrection; thus with their utmost diligence watching over every sheep within their fold (especially in that critical moment) lest those evening wolves devour them.

XI. That they also walk in wisdom towards those, 15 who are not of our communion; and if there be in their parishes any such, that they neglect not frequently to confer with them in the spirit of meekness, seeking by all good ways and means to gain and win them over to our communion. More especially, that they have a very 20 tender regard to our brethren, the protestant dissenters, that upon occasion offered they visit them at their houses, and receive them kindly at their own, and treat them fairly wherever they meet them, discoursing calmly and civilly with them, persuading them (if it may be) to a full 25 compliance with our church, or at least, that whereto we have already attained, we may all walk by the same rule, and mind the same thing. And in order hereunto, that they take all opportunities of assuring and convincing them, that the bishops of this church are really and sin30 cerely irreconcilable enemies to the errors, superstitions, idolatries, and tyrannies of the church of Rome, and that the very unkind jealousies, which some have had of us to the contrary, were altogether groundless.

And in the last place, that they warmly and most 35 affectionately exhort them to join with us in daily fervent prayer to the God of peace, for an universal blessed union

of all reformed churches, both at home and abroad, against our common enemies; that all they, who do confess the holy name of our dear Lord, and do agree in the truth of his holy word, may also meet in one holy communion, and live in perfect unity and godly love.

CLXVI.

Archiepisc. Cant.

suspenso.

Anno Christi
1689.

Reg. Angliæ
GUILIEL. et MAR. 2.

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His majesty's letter to the reverend father in God, Henry, lord bishop of London, to be communicated to the two provinces of Canterbury and York.

WILLIAM R.

RIGHT reverend father in God, we greet you well.

Whereas the advancement of the honour and service of Almighty God, and of the protestant religion, which by his wonderful providence hath been preserved and 10 established in these kingdoms, ought to be the chief part of our royal care; in order to this, as we have oftentimes declared that we would take the church of England, by law established, into our particular protection and favour, so we take this occasion to renew these assurances, being 15 resolved to do all we can for the support and strengthening of it, preserving withal the liberty of conscience to all our protestant subjects, which by our laws they now enjoy.

His majesty's letter] Archbishop Sancroft was suspended from his 20 office on the 1st of August 1689, and deprived on the 1st of February following. Dr. Tillotson, then dean of Canterbury, was appointed by the chapter of his cathedral to exercise the archiepiscopal jurisdiction during the suspension, and was nominated by the king to the archbishopric on the 23rd of April 1691.

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And because the welfare, peace, and honour of this church depends so much upon all persons faithfully doing their duties in their several places and functions; we therefore first of all charge and require you the bishops of 5 this our church, to apply yourselves with all diligence and zeal to the duties of your episcopal function, according to the word of God, the orders of this church, and the laws of this our realm.

More especially as to the ordination of ministers, we require you to use all possible care and strictness in examining and inquiring into the lives and learning of such persons, as desire to be admitted into holy orders; and herein constantly to observe the canons relating thereunto, the neglect whereof we shall strictly inquire into, 15 and take care that it be punished according to law.

We also charge and require you, to keep a strict watch over all the clergy in your respective dioceses, to see that they be duly resident upon their livings, according to the laws in that case provided; and that they be constant 20 and diligent in their duties, performing the public offices of worship gravely and devoutly, preaching the word of God plainly and practically, without running into needless controversies, and administering of the holy sacraments frequently, with that reverence, which is due to 25 the institutions of Christ, also catechizing the youth, visiting the sick and distressed, and doing all such things in their stations, as may tend to promote the honour of God, and true religion, together with peace and charity among all their neighbours; themselves giving a good 30 example to their flock, by walking before them in all holy conversation and godliness.

And the more effectually to prevent the scandals that may arise by any disorders in the lives of those, who ought to be examples to others, you shall admonish them 35 religiously to observe the canon entitled "Sober conversation required in ministers ;" and you shall severally and