His Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury's letter to the Reverend Dr. Batteley Archdeacon of that diœcese, to be communicated to the clergy of his archdeaconry Tenison, Thomas, 1636-1715. 1699 Approx. 12 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 4 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-11 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A64360 Wing T699 ESTC R219200 99830712 99830712 35166 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A64360) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 35166) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1876:08) His Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury's letter to the Reverend Dr. Batteley Archdeacon of that diœcese, to be communicated to the clergy of his archdeaconry Tenison, Thomas, 1636-1715. 7, [1] p. printed by Charles Bill, and the executrix of Thomas Newcomb, deceas'd, printers to the Kings most excellent Majesty, [London : 1699] Lord Archbishop of Canterbury = Thomas Tenison. Imprint from colophon. Reproduction of original in: New College (University of Edinburgh). Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Reverend Sir , MY Writing to You , at this time , is occasion'd by a sensible growth of Vice and Prophaneness in the Nation : which , to the great Affliction of all good men , appears not only in the corrupt practices of particular persons ; but also in the Endeavours that are used to subvert the general Principles of our holy Religion . And this with a boldness and openness , far beyond the examples of past times ; so that if a speedy stop be not put to such National Provocations , we have just cause to fear they may bring down the heaviest Judgments of God upon Us ; The preventing whereof belongs more immediately to us , who are the Ministers of Christ ; and as such , are obliged to the utmost care and watchfulness in opposing these Instruments of Satan . I doubt not , but many of the Parochial Clergy are sufficiently sensible both of their own duty and the danger we are in : In the Cities of London and Westminster , and other places , I am sure the good effects of their diligence have been very evident of late years . But in some Parts that are more remote , all of them may not so well understand either the Arts or the Industry of these Enemies of Religion : And therefore I thought it a Duty incumbent on the Station wherein Providence has placed me , to desire of you , to warn the Clergy of your Archdeaconry , of these attempts against Religion and Virtue ; and to excite them to a Diligence proportionable to the Danger ; and to suggest to them such Methods as are most likely to work a General Reformation . With this request , I send You such Particulars as , in my Opinion , are very necessary to be pressed upon the Clergy for the attaining so desirable an End. As , I. That in their own Lives , and the Government of their own Families , they would make themselves Examples of a sober and regular Conversation . It is the Apostles Reasoning , If a man know not how to rule his own house ( and much more his own Life and Actions ) how shall he take care of the Church of God ? The true method of working a Reformation abroad , is to lay the foundation at home ; which alone can give our Reproofs a just Weight and Authority : but till that is done , no Exhortations , whether in publick or private , can either be offer'd with decency , or receiv'd with reverence . II. To Piety , they should add Prudence in all their Actions and Behaviour : which even in Private Christians is a great Ornament to Religion ; but in Publick Teachers is a most necessary qualification for the due discharge of their Ministry . A Mildness of temper , with a Gravity and Calmness in their Conversation , will not fail to gain them a general Love and Esteem among their Neighbours : and a discreet Caution in their Words and Actions , will preserve them from those little Imprudences that are sometimes so sensible an Obstruction to the good Endeavours of well-meaning Men. Persons in Holy Orders are not only bound , in the conduct of their Lives , to consider what is lawful or unlawful in it self , but also what is decent or indecent in Them , with respect to their Character and Function . Abstaining from all appearance of evil ; and giving no Offence in any thing , that the Ministry be not blamed . III. While Our Enemies are so very industrious in seeking out Objections against the Christian Religion ; it becomes the Clergy ( who are set apart for the Vindication of it ) to be no less diligent in their Preparations for its Defence : By acquainting themselves thorowly with the rational grounds of Christianity , and the true state of such Points as are the Subjects of our present Controversies ; together with the Objections which are usually made by our Adversaries of all sorts , and the Effectual Answers that have been returned to them by so many Eminent Writers of our own Church : That so they may be ready , on all occasions , to do justice and honour to our Religion ; and be able to expose the folly and ignorance of these Gainsaying Men. The Cause which God has put into our hands , is undoubtedly good ; but the best cause may suffer by the weakness of its Advocate : and when this happens in the matter of Religion , it gives the Adversary an occasion of Triumph , and is apt to stagger the faith even of sincere and unprejudic'd Christians . IV. It were to be wisht , that the Clergy of every Neighbourhood , would agree upon frequent Meetings , to consult for the good of Religion in general , and to advise with one another about any difficulties that may happen in their particular Cures . By what Methods any Evil Custom may most easily be broken ; How a sinner may be most effectually reclaimed ; and ( in general ) How each of them in their several circumstances may contribute most to the advancement of Religion . Such Consultations as these , besides the mutual benefit of advice and instruction , will be a natural means to excite the zeal of some , to reduce the over-eagerness of others to a due temper , and to provoke All to a Religious Emulation in the improvement of Piety and Order within their respective Parishes . And These Meetings might still be made a greater advantage to the Clergy in carrying on the Reformation of Mens Lives and Manners , by inviting the Church-Wardens of their several Parishes , and other pious persons among the Laity , to joyn with them in the Execution of the most probable methods that can be suggested for those good Ends. And we may very reasonably expect the happy Effects of such a concurrence , from the Visible Success of that Noble Zeal wherewith so many about the great Cities in my Neighbourhood , do promote true Piety , and a Reformation of Manners . And therefore I desire you that you will particularly excite the Clergy to the procuring such assistances as these , for the more effectual discharge of their own duty . V. It would very much further and facilitate all their Endeavours of this kind , to gain over the persons who have the greatest Esteem and Authority in their Parishes , to a hearty concern for the honour of God and Religion : frequently suggesting to them the Obligation that God has laid upon them to be Examples to others ; and the great good that it is in their power to do , by setting a Pattern of regular living , and the unspeakable mischief of their irregular behaviour . For if once the better Sort can be brought to such a Seriousness and Sobriety , the rest will more easily follow ; Example being the most powerful Instruction ; and Experience teaching us that shame and fear , which arise from the Authority of such good Patterns , are commonly the most effectual restraints upon the meaner sort . VI. Where any Person is obstinate in his Vices , and not to be reclaimed either by Teaching or Example , by Exhortation or Reproof ; the Ordinary ought to be informed of it , that he may proceed to reclaim such by Ecclesiastical Censures : and where those are like to prove ineffectual , the Civil Magistrate must be applied to , and desired to proceed against them according to the Laws in those Cases provided . Which Information and Request , especially in the Case of such incorrigible Offenders , can be made by none so properly as by the Clergy ; who may best be supposed to understand the necessity there is of having recourse to the Civil Magistrate . And since our Law-givers have Enacted these temporal Punishments , on purpose to assist us in the discharge of our Ministry ; it would be a great failing in us , not to make use of them when all other Methods have been tried to little or no Effect . VII . Every Pious Person of the Laity , should , if need be , be put in mind by the Clergy , that he ought to think himself obliged to use his best endeavours to have such Offenders punished by the Civil Magistrate , as can no otherwise be amended . And that when he hears his Neighbour swear or blaspheme the Name of God , or sees him offend in drunkenness or prophanation of the Lords Day , he ought not to neglect to give the Magistrate Notice of it : In such a Case to be called an Informer , will be so far from making any Man Odious in the Judgment of Sober Persons , that it will tend to his honour , when he makes it appear by his unblameable behaviour , and the care he takes of Himself and his own Family , that he doth it purely for the glory of God , and the good of his Brethren . Such well disposed persons as are resolved upon this , should be encouraged to meet as oft as they can , and to consult how they may most discreetly and effectually manage It in the places where they live . VIII . As in reforming the Laity , they ought to use the Assistance of the Civil Magistrate ; so if any of their own Brethren be an irregular Liver , and cannot be reclaimed by brotherly Admonition , the neighbouring Clergy should be strictly enjoyned to make it known to you , and by you , to me ; if the Case requires . That so the Offender may be Admonisht to live suitably to his Character ; and if a bare Admonition will not do , he may be proceeded against by Ecclesiastical Censures ; for the preventing such Scandals and Mischiefs , as will always accompany the irregular Life of a Minister of the Gospel . IX . And whereas the Foundations of Piety and Morality are best laid at the beginning , in the Religious Education of Children ; I cannot but wish that every one of the Parochial Clergy would be very diligent in Catechising the Children under their Care ; and not only so , but in calling upon them afterwards , as they grow up , to give such further Accounts of their Religion , as may be expected from a riper Age. That being thus carefully instructed in the Faith and Duty of a Christian , they also may teach their Children the same ; and so Piety , Virtue , and Goodness , may for ever flourish in our Church and Nation . These Directions with such others of the same nature as will occur to you , I desire may be Transmitted by you to the Clergy of my Dioecese ; for the Religious Government of themselves , and their People , in these dangerous Times . So commending you and them to the Blessing of God , I rest Your Affectionate Brother Tho. Cantuar. Lamb●th . April 4 th . 1699. London , Printed by Charles Bill , and the Executrix of Thomas Newcomb , deceas'd , Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty . 1699.