complete the purchase; he wrote to me, saying this was a case in which faith might be exercised, but my ordinary judgment did not coincide, and I declined it. However, through the active agency of this clergyman, the living has been bought for him by several parties, one of whom, a Wesleyan, was solely induced by the personal and pressing solicitations of this clergyman to join in the purchase for the expectant incumbent himself. Both clergymen are now in daily expectation of being presented to the livings from the age and infirmities of the present incumbents, and when that takes place will they dare to go before the Bishop and take a solemn oath that these purchases have not been made "by myself, or by any other to my knowledge, or with my consent;" these are cases (and there are many similar) in which, if faith cannot be exercised, mental reservation must be to a rather large extent. Both these ministers stand very high as evangelical with their party. BUYING AND SELLING LIVINGS DECLARED EXECRABLE. Every Archbishop, Bishop, and Priest have on their first ordination to the Priests' office solemnly promised to minister "the Doctrine and Discipline as the Lord hath commanded, and as this Church and Realm hath received the same, according to the command of God," "so that you may teach the people committed to your cure and charge with all diligence, to keep and observe the same;" and he answers," I will do so by the help of the Lord." Amongst the numerous creeds, laws, doctrines, injunctions, canons, &c., he has solemnly promised to minister and "teach the people committed to his cure and charge" the discipline as well as all the other matters as "this Church and Realm hath received the same." Now amongst these matters that he has thus solemnly promised to minister and perform, is that of reverently obeying the powers set over him, and submitting himself to their godly judgment." Furthermore, he is strictly commanded by the injunction following the 141st Canon, that these things "be diligently observed and executed, and that likewise for the better observation of them every Minister, by whatever name or title soever he be called, shall in the parish church or chapel where he hath charge, read all these said Canons, Orders, Ordinances, and Constitutions once every year upon some Sunday or holy days in the afternoon before divine service; strictly commanding all Archbishops, Bishops, and all others that exercise any ecclesiastical jurisdiction within this realm, every man in his place, to see and procure (as much as in them lieth), all and every of the same Canons, Orders, Ordinances, and Constitutions, to be in all points duly observed." If the clergymen before alluded to, with all others, obeyed what they have so solemnly undertaken, and have read these Canons and Injunctions from their pulpits or reading desks, what a trial of their consciences it would and must have been to read the 40th Canon, against Simony, as before quoted, which is as follows: "To avoid the detestable sin of Simony, because the BUYING and SELLING of spiritual and ecclesiastical functions, offices, promotions, dignities, and livings, IS EXECRABLE BEFORE GOD," &c. How trying to these men must it have been to read these at the very time they were actively negociating purchases of livings. However they feel it best to omit reading these Canons, although they have solemnly promised to obey all these orders, discipline, &c., and besides the above matters, there are many other things contained in them which would equally condemn their practice. In the case of the two livings alluded to, there is no doubt that if the individuals who purchased them for the clergymen, and who acted from the best of motives, had been aware their Church authoritatively declares the buying and selling of livings to be a detestable sin and execrable before God, they would not have had any hand in the matter, unless overcome by the persuasion of the Ministers, that these are matters in which faith may be exercised contrary to the absolute, plain, declaration by their highest Church authorities and their own solemn promises. Perhaps they may doubt if the Church is right in declaring this to be a detestable sin and execrable before God, but however that may be, the clergy have solemnly before God engaged to believe and practice what the Church has declared is the truth. 41. Licences for Plurality of Benefices limited, and Residence enjoined. 42. Residence of Deans in their Churches. 43. Deans and Prebendaries to Preach during their Residence. 4. Prebendaries to be resident upon their Benefices. 45. Beneficed Preachers being Resident upon their Livings, to Preach every Sunday. 46. Beneficed men, not Preachers, to procure monthly Sermons. 47. Absence of Beneficed men to be supplied by Curates that are allowed Preachers. 48. None to be Curates but allowed by the Bishop. 49. Ministers, not allowed Preachers, may not Expound. 50. Strangers not admitted to Preach without showing their License. 51. Strangers not admitted to Preach in Cathedral Churches without sufficient authority. 52. The names of strange Preachers to be noted in a Book. 53. No public opposition between Preachers.—If any preacher shall in the pulpit particularly, or namely of purpose, impune or confute any doctrine delivered by any other preacher in the same church, or in any church near adjoining, before he hath acquainted the bishop of the diocese therewith, and received order from him what to do in that case, because upon such public dissenting and contradicting, there may grow much offence and disquietness unto the people: the church wardens, or party grieved, shall forthwith signify the same to the said bishop, and not suffer the said preacher any more to occupy that place which he hath once abused, except he faithfully promise to forbear all such matter of contention in the church, until the bishop hath taken further order therein: who shall with all convenient speed so proceed therein, that public satisfaction may be made in the congregation where the offence was given. Provided, that if either of the parties offending do appeal, he shall not be suffered to preach pendente lite. 54. The Licences of Preachers refusing Conformity, to be void. 55. The form of a Prayer to be used by all Preachers before their Sermons. 56. Preachers and Lecturers to read Divine Service, and administer the Sacraments twice a year at the least. 57. The Sacraments not to be refused at the hands of unpreaching Ministers. 58. Ministers reading Divine Service, and administering the Sacraments, to wear Surplices, and Graduates therewithal Hoods. 59. Ministers to Catechise every Sunday. 60. Confirmation to be performed once in three years. 61. Ministers to prepare children for Confirmation. 62. Ministers not to Marry any Persons without Banns or Licence. 63. Ministers of Exempt Churches, not to Marry without Banns or Licence. 64. MINISTERS SOLEMNLY TO BID HOLY-DAYS.-Every parson, vicar, or curate, shall in his several charge declare to the people every Sunday, at the time appointed in the Communion book, whether there be any holy-days or fasting-days the week following. And if any do hereafter wittingly offend herein, and being once admonished thereof by his ordinary, shall again omit that duty, let him be censured according to law, until he submit himself to the due performance of it. (All Clergymen have solemnly undertaken to obey these Canons.) DISSENTERS TO BE PROSECUTED. 65. Ministers solemnly to denounce Recusants and Excommunicates.—All ordinaries shall in their several jurisdictions carefully see and give order, that as well those who for obstinate refusing to frequent divine service established by public authority within this realm of England, as those also (especially of the better sort and condition) who for notorious contumacy, or other notable crimes, stand lawfully excommunicate, (unless within three months immediately after the said sentence of excommunication pronounced against them, they reform themselves, and obtain the benefit of absolution) be every six months ensuing, as well in the parish church as in the cathedral church of the diocese in which they remain, by the minister openly in time of divine service upon some Sunday, denounced and declared excommunicate, that others may be thereby both admonished to refrain their company and society, and excited the rather to procure out a writ De excommunicato capiendo, thereby to bring and reduce them into due order and obedience. Likewise the register of every ecclesiastical court, shall yearly, between. Michaelmas and Christmas, duly certify the archbishop of the province of all and singular the premises aforesaid. 66. Ministers to confer with Recusants. 67. Ministers to visit the Sick.-When any person is dangerously sick in any parish, the minister or curate (having knowledge thereof) shall resort unto him or her (if the disease be not known, or probably suspected to be infectious) to instruct and comfort them in their distress, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF THE COMMUNION-BOOK, if he be no preacher: (that is, not in full orders) or if he be a preacher, then as he shall think most needful and convenient. And when any is passing out of this life, a bell shall be tolled, and the minister shall not then slack to do his last duty. And after the party's death (if it so fall out) there shall be rung no more but one short peal, and one other before the burial, and one other after the burial. 68. MINISTERS NOT TO REFUSE TO CHRISTEN OR BURY.-No minister shall refuse or delay to christen any child according to the form of the Book of Common Prayer, that is brought to the church to him upon Sundays or Holy-days, to be christened, or to bury any corps that is brought to the church or church-yard (convenient warning being given him thereof before) in such manner and form as is prescribed in the said Book of Common Prayer. And if he shall refuse to christen the one or bury the other, except the party deceased were denounced excommunicated, majori excommunicatione, for some grievous and notorious crime, (and no man able to testify of his repentance) he shall be suspended by the bishop of the diocese from his ministry by the space of three months. 69. Ministers not to defer Christening, if the child be in danger.—If any minister being duly, without any manner of collusion, informed of the weakness and danger of death of any infant unbaptized in his parish, and thereupon desired to go or come to the place where the said infant remaineth, to baptize the same, shall either wilfully refuse so to do, or of purpose, or of gross negligence shall so defer the time, as when he might conveniently have resorted to the place, and have baptized the said infant, it dieth through such his default unbaptized; the said minister shall be suspended for three months, and before his restitution shall acknowledge his fault, and promise before his ordinary, that he will not wittingly incur the like again. Provided, that where there is a curate or a substitute, this constitution shall not extend to the parson or vicar himself, but to the curate or substitute present. 70 Ministers to keep a Register of Christenings, Weddings, and Burials. 71. Ministers not to preach or administer the communion in private houses except in cases of necessity. 72. Ministers not to appoint public or private fasts, or prophecies, or to exercise, but by authority. 73. Ministers not to hold private conventicles. STANDING COLLARS, &c. 74. Decency in apparel enjoined to Ministers.-The true, ancient and flourishing churches of Christ, being ever desirous that their prelacy and clergy might be had as well in outward reverence, as otherwise regarded for the worthiness of their ministry, did think it fit by a prescript form of decent and comely apparel, to have them known to the people, and thereby to receive the honour and estimation due to the special messengers and ministers of Almighty God: we therefore following their grave judgment, and the ancient custom of the Church of England, and hoping that in time new-fangleness of apparel in some factious persons will die of itself, do constitute and appoint, that the archbishops and bishops shall not intermit to use the accustomed apparel of their degrees. Likewise all deans, masters of colleges, archdeacons and prebendaries in cathedral and collegiate churches, (being priests or deacons) doctors in divinity, law and physic, bachelors in divinity, masters of arts and bachelors of law having any ecclesiastical living, shall usually wear gowns with standing collars, and sleeves strait at the hands, or wide sleeves, as is used in the universities, with hoods or tippets of silk or sarcenet, and SQUARE CAPS. And that all other ministers admitted, or to be admitted into that function, shall also usually wear the like apparel as is aforesaid, except tippets only. We do further in like manner ordain, that all the said ecclesiastical persons above mentioned, shall usually wear in their journeys CLOAKS WITH SLEEVES, commonly called priests cloaks, without gards, welts, long buttons or cuts. And no ecclesiastical person shall wear any coise or wrought night-cap, but only PLAIN NIGHT-CAPS of black silk, satin, or velvet. In all which particulars concerning the apparel here prescribed, our meaning is not to attribute any holiness or special worthiness to the said garments, but for decency, gravity, and order, as is before specified. In private houses, and in their studies, the said persons ecclesiastical may use any comely and scholar-like apparel, provided that it be not cut or pinckt; and that in public they go not in their doublet and hose, without coats or cassocks: and that they wear not any light coloured stockings. Likewise poor beneficed men and curates (not being able to provide themselves long gowns) may go in SHORT GOWNS, of the fashion aforesaid. 75. SOBER CONVERSATION required in Ministers.—No ecclesiastical person shall at any time, other than for their honest necessities resort to any TAVERNS or alehouses, neither shall they board or lodge in any such places. Furthermore, they shall not give themselves to any base or servile labour, or to drinking or riot, spending their time IDLY by day or by night, playing at DICE, CARDS, or tables, or any other unlawful game: but at all times convenient, they shall hear or read somewhat of the HOLY SCRIPTURES, or shall occupy themselves with some other honest study or exercise, always doing the things which shall appertain to honesty, and endeavouring to profit the Church of God, having always in mind that they ought to EXCEL all ! others in PURITY of life, and should be examples to the people to live well and christianly, under pain of ecclesiastical CENSURES to be inflicted with severity, according to the qualities of their offences. 76. MINISTERS AT NO TIME TO FORSAKE THEIR CALLING.— No man being admitted a deacon or minister, shall from thenceforth voluntarily relinquish the same, nor afterward use himself in the course of his life, as a layman, upon pain of excommunication. And the names of all such men so forsaking their calling, the church-wardens of the parish where they dwell shall present to the bishop of the diocese, or to the ordinary of the place, having episcopal jurisdiction. Three Articles relating to Schoolmasters. Eleven Articles of things appertaining to Chvrches, Two Articles relating to Churchwardens, Questmen, and Sidesmen. 109. Notorious Crimes and Scandals to be certified into Ecclesiastical Courts by Presentment. 110. Schismatics to be presented. 111. Disturbers of Divine Service to be presented. 112. Not Communicants at Easter to be presented. 113. Ministers may present. 114. Ministers shall present Recusants.-Every parson, vicar, or curate, shall carefully inform themselves every year hereafter, how many popish recusants, (all nonconformists were likewise called recusants, and prosecuted as such) men, women, and children, above the age of thirteen years; and how many being POPISHLY GIVEN (who though they come to the church, yet do refuse to receive the Communion) are inhabitants, or make their abode either as sojourners or common guests in any of their several parishes, and shall set down their true names in writing (if they can learn them) or otherwise such names as for the time they carry, distinguishing the absolute recusants from HALF recusants: and the same, so far as they know or believe, so distinguished and set down under their hands, shall truly present to their ordinaries before the feast of the Nativity next ensuing, under pain of suspension to be inflicted upon them by their said ordinaries, and so every year hereafter upon the like pain, before the feast of Saint John Baptist. Also we ordain, that all such ordinaries, chancellors, commissaries, archdeacons, officials, and all other ecclesiastical officers, to whom the said presentments shall be exhibited, shall likewise within one month after the receipt of the same, under pain of suspension by the bishop from the execution of their offices for the space of half a year (as often as they shall offend therein) deliver them, or cause to be delivered to the bishop respectively; who shall also exhibit them to the archbishop within six weeks, and the archbishop to his majesty within other six weeks after he hath received the said presentments. 115. Ministers and Church-wardens not to be sued for presenting. 116. Church-wardens not bound to present oftener than twice a year. 117. Church-wardens not to be troubled for not presenting oftener than twice a year. 118. The old Church-wardens to make their Presentments before the new be sworn. 119. Convenient time to be assigned for framing Presentments. • 120. None to be cited into Ecclesiastical Courts by process of quorum nomina. 121. None to be cited into several Courts for one Crime. 122. No Sentence of Deprivation or Deposition to be pronounced against a Minister, but by the Bishop. |