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I.

bound in charity to believe, that what I SERM. fpeak, is the unfeigned refult of my own judgment and confcience, and really in-s tended for your Service. Confider then impartially, whether this can be any juft occafion for your anger and refentment, or ought not rather to be more equally requited with Refpect and Gratitude. Confider likewife, what fatal inconvenience you may bring upon yourselves, by blowing any coals of animofity, or keeping up fuch variance between you and your proper Paftor, as by making my labours among you ineffectual, muft turn in the end to your own hurt and prejudice.

The laft minifterial Office which I men.tioned, was the Administration of the Sa craments. Thefe in the Chriftian Church are two, that is to fay, Baptifm and the Supper of the Lord. Thefe, and first of all Baptifm, the Church allows on some occafions to be adminiftred in private houses But then at the fame time obliges her Clergy to warn and admonish the People, that they never procure this to be done, but in cafe of great and unavoidable ne.. ceffity. I therefore in compliance with this Order of the Church, do take the present opportunity to exhort and require you, that you neither infift upon it without fhewing occafion, nor plead occafion when

there's

SERM. there's none. There might divers reasons I. be affigned, why this Sacrament should be adminiftred at Church: As that is the proper place for fuch facred and folemn acts of our Religion, and fpecially confecrated for fuch uses; as it is there done in the prefence of a greater Congregation, and may be of great ufe to remind thofe, who might otherwise forget the terms and conditions of their baptismal Covenant; as it is performed with greater Solemnity, more Decency and Order, than when huddled over in a private room, with no very decent provisions for that purpose, in prefence of a flender Congregation, and those met together with lefs ferioufnefs of difpofition, than might be hoped, if they affembled in the House of God, where the awfulness of his Majefty might perhaps incline their reverence. The prevalence of fo irregular a practice has induced many, I fear, to treat this Sacrament with fuch indifference, that they scarce otherwife confider it but as the occafion of a merry Meeting, or which is worse, of Sin and Folly. But if there were no other reason, the Authority of the Church alone were enough to determine

my
obedience: And whatsoever force there
may be in the example of others, where
we are deftitute of a Rule to walk by; yet
where our Rule is clear and evident, no

con

contrary example fhould withdraw us from SERM. it. It is Neceffity alone that is subject to I. no Law; and therefore it is only in cafes of neceffity that we are permitted to comply; nor even then may we do more than fuch neceffity requires. The Sacrament may be adminiftred, and fome Prayers annexed: But the Child may not be folemnly received into the Congregation of Chrift's vifible Church; the ftipulation of the Sureties may not be accepted; they may not receive their charge, or intimations of their Duty. These things,if the Child lives and does well, (and they are not neceffary other wife) are required to be done only in the Church; and therefore it is there only I intend to do them: Of which I thought fit beforehand to make this public declaration, that whereever the first instance shall happen, you may not interpret it as a mark of difesteem, but the refult of a fettled and serious purpofe of mind. I am likewife farther to admonifh you, after the direction of another Rubric, that you defer not the Baptifm of your Children longer than the firft or fecond Sunday next after their Birth, or fome other Holy-day falling between, unless upon a great and reafonable caufe, of which the Rubric leaves the Curate to judge.

The other Sacrament is that of the Lord's Supper: An Inftitution, which I am forry

to

SERM to obferve fo much neglected among us, to I. the Reproach of Chriftianity, whilft many, who would be esteemed zealous Chriftians, and Proteftants, and Churchmen, can so flightly turn their backs upon this facred Ordinance, and defpife the holy Commandment delivered unto them. How little is their Gratitude to their crucified Redeemer, who can fo difrefpectfully neglect his dying Command? How flender their regard to their own real interest, who can let flip fuch precious opportunities of applying to themselves the benefits of his Death and Paffion? The advantages of frequent Communion were better understood in the primitive times of Chriftianity: And could I hope to fee the fame Zeal and Frame of Spirit revive, I should be glad to furnish you with frequent opportunities; that instead of monthly, you might have weekly Sacraments, provided they might. be frequented by my own Parishioners, and not promiscuously offered to all Comers, unknown both to me and one another : By which means we might fometimes hap pen to join communion with Perfons unbaptifed or excommunicate, For the avoiding of this evil, the Church has prescribed that fo many as intend to communicate, fhould fignify their Names at least the day before: And however this Practice be

grown

grown into difufe, yet I would hope it I would hope it may SER M. not be impoffible to perfuade you of the Equity and Reasonablenefs thereof.

I have detained you fo long in fpeaking to these public Offices, that I fhall afk your patience whilst I fay but little of the private. The Station I am in at present, will neceffarily hinder me from an immediate Refidence among you. And I would hope indeed, that your Duty, as laid open at Church, fhould have fuch influence upon you, as might make it little needful to be privately enforced; that you would learn to be cautious and circumfpect in your behaviour, to live foberly, righteously, and godly in this prefent world; that you would ufe influence and authority to promote the interest of Virtue and Religion in

your

your

Neighbourhood, and among your Dependents that you would obferve fuch regular and decent Orders in your Families, fo accuftom yourselves to Prayers and the reading of the Scriptures, as may become the Character of Men profeffing Godlinefs.

If fuch be your own care and diligence, you will ftand the lefs in need of private Admonitions: Only fuffer me to add with respect to the Vifitation of the Sick, that in that cafe it were adviseable you should fend for the Minifter or Phyfician of the

Soul,

I.

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