of former ages been found to tend to the dishonour of God, the scandal of religion, and disturbance of the peace both of church and state, but have also (through the licentiousness of the late times) much increased, to the 5 inflaming, fomenting, and heightening, of the sad distempers and confusions that were among us: and whereas even at this present (notwithstanding the merciful providence of God, so signally manifested in restoring us to our crown, and our pious care and endeavours to govern 10 our realms in peace and tranquillity) the said abuses do yet continue in a very high measure in sundry parts of this realm, through the busy diligence of some unquiet and factious spirits, who instead of preaching the pure word of God, and building up the people in faith and 15 holiness, have made it a great part of their business to beget in the minds of their hearers an evil opinion of their governors, by insinuating fears and jealousies, to dispose them to discontent, and to season them with such unsound and dangerous principles, as may lead them 20 into disobedience, schism, and rebellion and whereas also sundry young divines, and ministers, either out of a spirit of contention and contradiction, or in vain ostentation of their learning, take upon them in their popular sermons to handle the deep points of God's eternal coun25 sels and decrees, or to meddle with the affairs of state and government, or to wrangle about forms and gestures, and other fruitless disputes and controversies, serving rather to amuse, than profit the hearers; which is done for the most part, and with the greatest confidence, by 30 such persons as least understand them: we out of our princely care and zeal for the honour of God, the advancement of piety, peace, and true religion, and for the preventing for the future, as much as lieth in us, the many and great inconveniences and mischiefs that will 35 unavoidably ensue, if a timely stop be not given to these and the like growing abuses, do, according to the exam

ples of several of our predecessors of blessed memory, by these our special letters straitly charge and command you to use your utmost care and diligence, that these directions, which upon long and serious consideration we have thought good to give concerning preachers, and which 5 we have caused to be printed, herewith sent unto you, be from henceforth duly and strictly observed by all the bishops within your province. And to this end, our will and pleasure is, that you forthwith send them copies of these our directions, to be by them speedily communi- 10 cated to every parson, vicar, curate, lecturer, and minister in every cathedral, collegiate, and parish church within their several dioceses; and that you earnestly require them to employ their utmost endeavour for the due observation of the same, whereof we shall expect a strict 15 account, both of you, and every one of them: and these our letters shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge in that behalf. Given at our court at Whitehall the 14th day of October, in the 14th year of our reign, MDCLXII.

By his majesty's command.

20

ED. NICHOLAS.

I.

THAT

Directions concerning preachers.

HAT no preachers in their sermons presume to meddle with matters of state, to model new governments, or take upon them to declare, limit, or bound out the power and authority of sovereign princes, 25 or to state and determine the differences between princes and the people; but that upon all good occasions they faithfully instruct the people in their bounden duty of subjection and obedience to their governors, superior and subordinate of all sorts, and to the established laws 30 according to the word of God, and the doctrine of the church of England, as it is contained in the homilies of

obedience, and the articles of religion set forth by public authority.

II. That they be admonished not to spend their time and study in the search of abstruse and speculative no5 tions, especially in and about the deep points of election and reprobation, together with the incomprehensible manner of the concurrence of God's free grace, and man's free will, and such other controversies as depend thereupon; but howsoever, that they presume not positively To and doctrinally to determine any thing concerning the

same.

III. That they forbear in their sermons ordinarily and causelessly to enter upon the handling of any other controversies of less moment and difficulty; but whensoever 15 they are occasioned by invitation from the text they preach upon, or that in regard of the auditory they preach unto, it may seem requisite or expedient so to do, that in such cases they do it with all modesty, gravity, and candour, asserting the doctrine and discipline 20 of the church of England from the cavils and objections.

of such as are adversaries to either, without bitterness, railing, jeering, or other unnecessary or unseemly provo

cation.

IV. That for the more edifying of the people in faith 25 and godliness (the aforesaid abuses laid aside) all ministers and preachers in their several respective cures shall not only diligently apply themselves to catechise the younger sort, according as in the book of Common Prayer is appointed; but also shall in their ordinary sermons insist 30 chiefly upon catechetical doctrines, (wherein are contained all the necessary and undoubted verities of Christian religion,) declaring withal unto their congregations, what influences such doctrines ought to have in their lives and conversations, and stirring them up effectually, as well by 35 their examples as their doctrines, to the practice of such

religious and moral duties, as are the proper results of the said doctrines, as self-denial, contempt of the world, humility, patience, meekness, temperance, justice, mercy, obedience, and the like; and to a detestation and shunning of sin, especially such sins as are so rife among us, 5 and common to the age we live in; such are those usually styled the seven deadly ones; in short, all kind of debauchery, sensuality, rebellion, profaneness, atheism, and the like. And because these licentious times have corrupted religion even in the very roots and foundations, 10 that where there is an afternoon's exercise, it be especially spent either in explaining some part of the church catechism, or in preaching upon some such text of scripture, as will properly and naturally lead to the handling of something contained in it, or may conduce to the exposi-15 tion of the liturgy, and prayers of the church, (as occasion shall be offered,) the only cause they grew into contempt amongst the people being this, that they were not understood. That also the minister, as often as conveniently he can, read the prayers himself; and when he cannot so 20 do, he procure or provide some fit person in holy orders, who may do it with that gravity, distinctness, devotion, and reverence, as becomes so holy an action: and whensoever by reason of his infirmity, or the concurrence of other offices, the time may seem too short, or he unable 25 to perform the office of both prayers and sermon at length, he rather shorten his discourse or sermon, than omit any thing of the prayers, lest he incur the penalty of the act for uniformity, requiring them to be read according as the book directs.

30

V. And further our will and pleasure is, that all ministers within their several cures, be enjoined publicly to read over unto the people such canons, as are or shall be in force, at least once, and the thirty-nine articles twice every year, to the end they may the better under-35

stand and be more throughly acquainted with the doctrine and discipline of the church of England, and not so easily drawn away from it as formerly they have been.

VI. Since preaching was not anciently the work of 5 every priest, but was restrained to the choicest persons for gravity, prudence, and learning; the archbishops and bishops of this kingdom are to take great care whom they license to preach, and that all grants and licenses of this kind heretofore made by any chancellor, official, 10 commissary, or other secular person (who are presumed not to be so competent judges in matters of this nature) be accounted void and null, unless the same shall likewise be allowed by the archbishop or the bishop of the diocese; and that all licenses of preachers hereafter to be 15 made or granted by any archbishop or bishop, shall be only during pleasure, otherwise to be void to all intents and purposes, as if the same had never been made nor granted.

VII. Lastly, That for the better observing of the 20 Lord's day, too much neglected of late, they shall, as by often and serious admonitions, and sharp reproofs, endeavour to draw off people from such idle, debauched, and profane courses, as dishonour God, bring a scandal on religion, and contempt on the laws and authority eccle23 siastical and civil; so shall they very earnestly persuade them to frequent divine service on the Lord's day, and other festivals appointed by the church to be kept solemn; and in case any person shall resort unto any tavern, alehouses, or use any unlawful sports and exer30 cises on such days, the minister shall exhort those, which are in authority in their several parishes and congregations, carefully to look after all such offenders in any kind whatsoever, together with all those that abet, receive, or entertain them, that they may be proceeded 35 against according to the laws and quality of their of