and attendance than that of our country people that labour the ground, and therefore cannot well be duly discharged if it be wholly caft over upon the Lord's day, without ever meeting with them, or bringing any confiderable part of them together, all the week long. 5. It seems abfolutely neceffary that each minifter would refolve on fome fhort and plain form of catechifm, for the ufe of his people; for, it is not, I think, to be imagined, that ever people will have any fixed knowledge of the articles of religion, by lax, and continually varied, difcourfes and forms, or by catechifms too long and too hard for them: and would fome draw up feveral fhort forms, they might be revised at the next Synod, and poffibly one framed out of them, which, by confent, might be appointed for the ufe of this diocefs for the interim, till one shall be published for the whole church. 6. That which hath been formerly propofed, would be reminded, of a more exact and spiritual way of dealing with public offenders, that their reception might be both more apt to recover the, penitents themselves, and to edify the church. 7. For more frequent communion, (if it could be had), or, however, for the better improving it, when we have it, feldom as it is, what hath been formerly fuggefted, touching the way of examining and preparing people to it, and other particulars relating thereto, need not be repeated, but need very much to be really practifed, if they can be of any use. 8. Likewife, enough hath been formerly said, (it were well if any thing might once appear to be done), touching the worship of God in families, especially the prime ones within our bounds: as likewife touching the exercife of difcipline, for the repreffing of fwearing and drunkennefs, and all profaneness, fo much abounding every where; and that our doctrine be likewise, more particularly and frequently, applied to that purpose. 9. Something 9. Something hath likewise been faid concerning the training up of fuch young men amongst us as intend the miniftry, not only as to their ftrain of preaching, but the moulding of their minds to more inward thoughts, and the study of a devout life, and more acquaintance with the exercises of mortification, and purging of their own hearts, by thofe divine truths which they are to preach to others, for the fame purpose; for how fhall they teach what they have not learned? 10. That churches be more frequently and exactly vifited, and by each minifter the families of his congregation. This paper being publicly read, and confented to, and approved by the unanimous vote of the Synod, conform to it was framed the following act: The Bishop and Synod having seriously confidered the height of profaneness, and grofs fins abounding among their people, particularly drunkenness and uncleanness, and most univerfally the heinous fin of curfing and fwearing, and, that which foments and increases thofe, and all fins, the great contempt of the Lord's holy day and ordinances; and the grofs and almost incredible ignorance of the common fort, under so much affiduous preaching and catechifing: for the more effectual redress of all these evils, have agreed and refolved, through the Lord's help, each one, within himself, to stir the grace and zeal of God that is within him, to renewed vigour and fervour, and more earnest endeavours in the use of all due means for that effect; and particularly, 1. The applying of their fermons and doctrines more exprefsly and frequently to the reproof of those wickedneffes, especially of that horrible fin, which almoft all ranks of men do more eafily and frequently commit than they can poffibly do other grofs fins, and that with lefs fenfe and remorfe,-curfing and fwearing And that they will, by God's affiftance, not not only use short and frequent reproofs of this and other fins, but at fometimes more largely infist in representing the exceeding finfulness and vileness of fuch a particular fin, and the great danger of the Lord's wrath and heaviest judgments upon those that perfist in it. 2. That with this they will join conftant private inspection over the lives of their people, and, by all due means, particularly inquire into them; and when they find any one guilty of any grofs fin, privately to admonish him, meekly and affectionately, but yet with all freedom and plainnefs; and if upon that they mend not, to proceed in the regular way of difcipline and cenfure within their own charge; and if they be not by that reclaimed, but prove obftinate, then to delate them to the higher judicature, in the ufual order of this church. 3. To ufe more frequent catechifing, and that in fo plain a method and way, as may be most apt, both to inform the minds of the moft ignorant, and, through the bleffing of God, to make more deep impreffion upon their hearts. 4. That, as much as is competent for minifters, they will endeavour to procure the executing of these penal laws made against curfing and swearing, and other fcandalous offences, in fuch a way as may be moft convenient and feasible in each of their refpective parishes. 5. That they will endeavonr, both by exhortation, and, where need is, by ufe of difcipline, to bring their people to more careful and constant attendance on all the ordinances of God, at all times of the accustomed public meetings, and to a more religious and reverend deportment in them throughout the whole, but particularly in time of prayer. 6. That they be particularly careful to inquire after the daily performance of the worship of God in families, and, where they find it wanting, to enjoin it, and make inquiry again after it; and this would be be especially provided for, in the choice and most eminent families in the feveral congregation, as exemplary to all the reft. VI. Concluding Paragraph, April 1668. The Bishop having commended the Brethren for their unity and concord, and good converfation, exhorted them to continue therein, and to be more and more exemplary in holiness, and in modefty and gravity, even in the externals of their hair and habit, and their whole deportment; and to the regulating of their children, and their whole families, to be patterns of religion and fobriety to all about them; and that they themselves afpire daily to greater abftraction from the world, and contempt of things below; giving themselves wholly to their great work of watching over fouls, for which they must give account; and to reading and meditation; and to prayer, that draws continual fresh fupplies from heaven, to enable them for all these duties. VII. Paragraph refpecting Baptifmal Vows, That which had been fometimes spoke of before, the Bishop now again recommended to the Brethren, that, at their fet times of catechifing and examining their people, they would take particular notice of young perfons, towards their firft admiffion to the holy communion; and, having before taken account of their knowledge of the grounds of religion, would then cause them, each one particularly and exprefsly, to declare their belief of the Chriftian faith, into which, in their infancy, they were baptized; and, reminding them of that their baptifmal vow, and the great engagement it lays upon them to a holy and Chriftian Chriftian life, would require of them an explicit owning of that vow and engagement, and their folemn promife accordingly, to endeavour the obferving and performance of it, in the whole courfe of their following life: And then, in their prayer with which they use to conclude those meetings, would recommend the faid young perfons, now thus engaged, to the effectual bleffing of God, befeeching him to own them for his, and to beftow on them the fanctifying and ftrengthening grace of his Holy Spirit, as his fignature upon them, sealing them to the day of redemption. And this practice, as it hath nothing in it that can offend any, even the moft fcrupulous minds, so it may be a very fit fuppletory of that defect in infant baptifm, which the enemies of it do mainly object against it, and may, through the bleffing of God, make a lafting impreffion of religion upon the hearts of thofe young perfons towards whom it is ufed, and effectually engage them to a Chriftian life; and if they fwerve from it, make them the more inexcufable, and clearly convincible of their unfaithfulness, and breach of that great promife, and facred vow, they have fo renewed to God before his people. And for authority of divines, if we regard it, it hath the general approbation of the most famous reformers, and of the most pious and learned that have followed them fince their time; and, being performed in that evangelical fimplicity, as it is here propounded, they do not only allow it as lawful, but defire it, and advife it as laudable and profitable, and of very good ufe, in all Christian churches. VOL. II. 3 L LET |