A LETTER OF THE Bishop of Ely, TO HIS CLERGY.  
LONDON, Printed for Ric. Chiswell, at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard. MDCXCII.   

A LETTER OF THE BISHOP of ELY, TO HIS CLERGY.  
My Dear Brethren,  
THAT the Visitation, I shortly intend, may be more easy to myself and more profitable to my diocese; I have thought fit to desire a few things of you before-hand.  
I. It would be a good Preparation to the inquiries I am then to make, if you would call yourselves to an account, how you have performed the several parts of the duty incumbent on you: and if you find you have been negligent, to resolve upon and immediately begin, a sincere reformation I am not able to mention them all in a short Letter; but the very first thing in the Book of Common Prayer deserves to be seriously considered: where you are enjoined to say daily the Morning and Evening Prayer, either privately or openly, &c. It is posible I am sure to observe one part of this Injunction, if you cannot observe the other. That 
rubric 2. 3. after the Preface concerning the Service of the Church.  is; if you cannot procure a Congregation to meet daily in the Church; yet you may, and therefore ought, to red the Service of the Church in your own Families, either privately or openly, not being hindered by Sickness, or some other urgent cause; which cannot happen every day. This, if solemnly performed, would be a powerful means, to preserve an aweful sense of God continually upon your Minds, and to make yourselves and your Families wholesome Examples to the f●ock of Christ; as you promise●●o endeavour at your Ordination.  
red over the vows you then made, and the Charge which was then given you: and examine yourselves faithfully how you ha●e observed them. Which would save me the labour, either of metioning all other particulars of your duty here, or making long exhortations to you, when I meet you at the visitation: All being comprised in the Promises you made at that time; if they be distin●●ly pondered.  
If I had therefore but one Re●uest to make to you, it should be this; that every Morning, the first thing you do, you would call to mind, that you are the Ministers of Jesus Christ; who have made such and such promises to him, when you were admitted into his Serv●e: which if you grant me, it could not fail to have a great effect upon your hearts and lives. For how could any man neglect to Preach the Word of God diligently, to catechize the Children, visit the Sick, reconcile Differences and all the rest, with due care and fidelity, when he had it always in his mind; that this is his business, and that he promised to God before his people, that he would make this his business, and conscientiously attend it? you cannot think of appearing before our Lord and Master, with any confidence, if you have not made good your word to him.  
II. I am loathe to suppose, that any who have sworn Alleigeance to their present Majesties, neglect to observe the Monthly Fasts appointed by their Authority, to implore Gods Blessing upon their Persons, and the Prosperity of their Arms. But there being reports that some are guilty of such scandalous Omissions, in several parts of this Kingdom; I beseech you to take care that there be no such complaint made to me of any in my diocese. And let me not find that any omit the Use of that Form of Prayer, which is enjoined on that occasion: after which I will make a solemn enquiry and am commanded so to do.  
III. I hope you received, two year ago, a Letter of his Majesties to the B●shop of London, ordered to be communicated to both Provinces of Canterbury and York. Wherein he requires all the Bishops to keep a strict watch over their Clergy; and more particularly to order them to preach frequently against those sins and Vices which are most prevailing in this Realm. As namely against Blasphemy, Swearing and Cursing; against Perjury; against Drunkenness; and against Profanation of the Lords day. And in those Lords-day's on which such Sermons are preached, to red also to the people such Statutes of this Realm, as are provided against that 'vice, which is their Subject on that day: Which Statutes were printed together with that Letter, and ordered to be transmitted to every Parish in both Provinces. I most earnestly entreat you to observe these injunctions: for they were not intended for that year only: but to continue till we saw the blessed effects of them in a hearty Reformation.  
And for your better direction in this matter, let me desire you to observe this method. On the Sunday seven-night before the Assi●es, it will be most proper to red the Act of Parliament against PERJURY and to preach upon that Subject. On the second Sunday in May it will be seasonable to red the Act for the Observation of the LORD●s-DAY, and exhort your Parishioners to the religious observation of it. On the first Sunday in Advent red the Act against BLASPHEMY, Swearing and Cursing, and preach against those sins. On the Fourth Sunday in Lent, against the sins of ADULTERY and FORNICATION. It hath been intended that Homilies be provided for all these days: but till they be, let every one furnish himself with Sermons upon these Heads, and continue this course from-year to year.  
IV. There have been such foul practices, in Cland-stine Marriages that they produced lately a Bill in Parliament: which if it had passed into an Act would have fallen very heavily upon us all; and cast no small reproach upon us, for standing in need of such severe means for our Reformation. Which if we would avoid, let us observe the Canons of the Church exactly; and there will be no such abuses to be corrected, by any body but ourselves alone. I resolve, by God's Grace, to observe that part of them which concerns me; by proceeding against him, as a person suspended for three years ipso facto, who shall offend against the LXII. Canon. I hope you will as carefully ●bserve your part, which is( as you may there red) not to mary any persons without asking in the Church, or such a licence as the Law allows: and at no hour but between VIII. and XII. in the forenoon; nor in any place but in the Church or chapel where one of the parties dwell; and not without consent of Parents or Guardians, if the parties, to be married, be under the Age of one and Twenty years.  
Let no Person, under the colour of any peculiar Liberty or privilege, belonging to the Church or chapel, presume to do otherwise: for the Penalty of Suspension for three year, will notwithstanding fall upon him, as he may learn by the next Canon LXIII. which I am resolved to see put in Execution.  
V. And now let me prevail with you to take some pains, where you find it necessary, with your Church-wardens, to convince them of the Obligation that is laid upon them, by a solemn Oath, to make a faithful Answer to my inquiries, which shall be as few, as may be, that they may be the better able to give satisfaction to every one of them.  
It would be a great comfort to me, as well as credit to this Church, to find the usual Answer, true: But pray them to consider what a guilt they bring upon their Souls, if they say, All things are well, and as they ought to be; when they know, in their Consciences, that many things are quiter otherwise. Beseech them, as they love their own Souls, not to increase the Sins of the Nation, when we are endeavouring to reform them.  
VI. Particularly, press them earnestly, and assist them, to present to me all those, who profess to live in the Communion of our Church, and are of Age, and yet neglect to receive the Holy Communion; at least, 3 times in the Year, as by Law they are bound to do. For such People not only wrong their own Souls, as the wise Man speaks; but bring a great scandal upon our Church and Religion. For what other Christians are there in the World, who suffer their Members to live without any solemn regard to their blessed Lord and Master, who dyed for them? As all those do, who never commemorate his wonderful Love, by receiving the holy Sacrament of his Body and Blood. For the Lord●s sake, let this gross neglect be amended.  
And let me prevail with you, to put in practise the first rubric before the Communion Office; which directs all those who intend to partake of the holy Communion, to signify their Names to the Curate, at least some time the da● before. That he may both know, what quantity of Bread and W●ne is necessary to be provided for Communicants; and also, discourse with those young Persons, who may need instru●tion, and admonish those who are notorious and open evil ▪ liver● or have any way injured their Neighbours( as the next rubric directs) to abstain from the Lord●s Table, till they have openly declared their sincere purpose of amendment, and made satisfaction for the wrong they have done This would be the more ea●●e to perform; if as many as intend to Communicate, would be persuaded( as I hope without much difficulty they may) to come to the public Prayers, which I beseech you never fail to have in the Church, on the Wednesdays, Frid●ys, and Saturdays, before the Communion: however you may want a Congregation at other times. And in great and Market Towns, if not in others, I hope you may be able to keep up monthly Communions, as well as Prayers on all Wednesdays and Fridays.  
VII. There is another thing, in which both you and the Church-wardens are concerned; of which I beseech you due care may be taken. Which is, to bring in to me or to the archdeacon at his next Visitation, a Terr●●r of the Gl●be-lands, Meadows, Gardens, Orchards, and all other things belonging to your Parsonage or vicarage: with an account of any Customs of Tithings which have been used among you: That so, the Maintenance provided for God's Ministers, by our pious Ancestors, may be preserved.  
It is so great a sin and shane, to let those Buildings which they erected for the Service of God, and for our Commodious Habitation, run to decay; that I must desire you likewise to in●orm me truly, whether both the Church and Chancel of your Parish, and also your own Houses, and out-Houses, be in good repair. It makes my Heart ache, I assure you, to think that any of us should so far degenerate from our worthy Progenitors, as not to uphold those fabrics in a good condition, which they raised from the Ground with great Cost and Charges.  
Let us all endeavour to redeem ourselves from this infamy.  
It would be very useful also, to have an ●nventory under your and the Church-wardens Hands, of all the Utensils belonging to your Church: which I desire you to deliver unto me, or unto my archdeacon, at his next Visitation, to be kept in the Registers office. Of this the Arch-bishop hath required me to take an Account.  
VIII. And now let me beseech your conscientious Care in some things which concern myself, as well as you.  
I. It is my duty to Confirm such as are prepared for it; which that it may be done to Edification, and all disorders and crowds may then be avoided; I pray you to take notice, that ● will Confirm none, but such whose Names shall be given to me in Writing, by you the Ministers of the several Parishes, from whence they come: with a Certificate under your Hands, that you have examined them, and find them not only able to repeat the Words of the Church Catechism; but also sensible of the solemn Vow which was made in their Names at their Baptism; and desirous to renew the same themselves. Let it be your endeavour therefore to dispose the young People of your Parish unto this: by representing to them the Necessity, and the Benefit thereof.  
And for the better performance of it, I design to Confirm as frequently, as I am able: not only in my Visitation( when we have so much other Bu●●ness, that I desire those only who are near, then to attend me) but at other times, and in such Churches as I shall be advised to be most convenient: where those in the Neighbourhood, who are fit to be Confirmed, may be appointed to resort unto me.  
II. Giving Holy Orders is another weighty Care of mine; about which I cannot be too solicitous: and wherein I must beg your assistance. And First, I entreat you not to set your Hands to the Testimonial of any Person, but upon your own certain knowledge of his Life and Conversation, for the space of 3 year next before, as the XXXIV. Canon requires. It would much conduce to restrain young Men from 'vice, if they had no hope to gain a Testimonial of their good life and behaviour, from the easiness or civility of their Neighbours, or any other means, but merely from their own known virtue. Make a Conscience of this, and it will go a great way to reform the Church. And Secondly, do not sand any Person to me with ●n empty Title: For I will admit none to Orders, upon a Curacy; unless it be a competency, to be continued till he be otherways provided for. And Lastly, let me desire you to signify unto such, as you find desirous to be put into Holy Orders, that ●e●pect they come to me, or certify me of their intentions, a Month at least before Ordination Sunday: That I may be able to give notice of it, to the Parish or Place where they live; that if they have any impediment to object, why they should not be admitted, I may have timely information of it.  
For there cannot be too much care taken, that the Flock of Christ be not committed into the Hands of bad Men; but such may be set over them, as will watch for their Souls, and ●s●●eing youthful Lusts, will follow Righteousness, Faith, Charity, Peace, with them that out of a pure heart call upon the Lord, XIII. Hebr. 17. 2 Tim. II. 22.  
Unto whose Grace and Blessing, I do most hearty commend you, and your Labours.  
April 20. 1692. SIMON ELIENSIS.