Seasonable Advice TO THE SOCIETIES FOR Reformation of Manners.  
LONDON: Printed for Brab. Aylmer, a● the Three Pigeons against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill. MDCXCIX.   

Seasonable Advice TO THE SOCIETIES FOR Reformation of Manners.  
THOUGH there are large Complaints against the Debauchery of the present Age; yet, blessed be God, Wickedness is so far from being established by a Law, that the strictest Legal Methods are employed to restrain it.  
His Majesty doth not only discountenance 'vice, by the virtuous Example of his own Sacred Person, but also by his Authority, in the Letters, Proclamations, and repeated Orders, issued thereupon. But, Quid Leges sine Moribus?— The best constituted Laws will be of no use without a due Execution.  
If the Penalties of our Laws, through the Cowardice or Contrivance of Inferior Magistrates, shall not be inflicted; Offenders will soon be insolent, but never reformed.  
This very Consideration hath awakened the Zeal of many Pious Persons; Who out of a due sense of their Duty to God and their Country, are designing a Method to reform these Abuses.  
The Undertaking of these worthy Gentlemen is explained and vindicated by a much abler Pen. Those who are ignorant of the Design, may please to consult a late Tract with this Title: An Account of the Societies for Reformation of Manners in LONDON and WESTMINSTER, &c. Published with the Approbation of a considerable Number of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Honourable Judges. Printed for B. Aylmer.  
I shall not enlarge in commendation of so generous a Work. But shall leave that satisfaction to God and their own Consciences. amid all those checks and discouragements which they meet with in a degenerate Age, may they still be supported with this Testimony of their Consciences, That in simplicity and godly sincerity they have had their conversation in the world. And may all their toilsome Labours in the Cause of God and Religion, be finally rewarded in the pronouncing of that Blessed Sentence, Well done, good and faithful servant;— enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.  
And that they may not fail of this Blessed Reward in the next World( though they must expect their share of Troubles in this) I shall with a faithful plainness mind them of their Duty in these four Instances. 1. Innocency. 2. Industry. 3. Courage. 4. Caution.  
1. Innocency. By which word I only denote, A Freedom from those Vices which they reprove in others.  
For he who is guilty of those Crimes which he pretends to correct, doth inevitably expose both his Person and his Cause. It being a noted Observation, That the Reproofs of a Guilty Man are both Undecent and Ineffectual.  
First, It is very Undecent that 'vice should correct Sin. And when those who are tardy themselves, will presume to be meddling, there are Proverbs against such Reformers, and very severe ones. The Expostulation of St. Paul is sharp and pungent, Thou therefore which teacheth another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? And so in any other instance as the Case may require.  
But such Reproofs are not only Undecent, but also for the most part,  
2. Ineffectual. And are so far from being regarded, or making any Impression in order to amendment, that they only exasperate and gull their guilt. For Man is naturally a proud Creature; and as such is most impatient of Contradiction and Reproof. Those who are unable to vindicate themselves, will recriminate their Accusers. And if they can but find the least suspicion of Guilt, they will not spare them; but will contrive to expose them, with as much scorn and contempt as rage and malice can suggest.  
And in this the Devil, that great Accuser of the Brethren, will not fail to assist them. For that roaring lion, who walketh about seeking whom he may devour, is most inveterate and outrageous against those pious good Men, those lovers of Souls, who are active and industrious to pluck the Prey out of his Teeth. And if by all his ensnaring Arts and Temptations he can so far prevail over the Weakness of Human Nature, as to make them guilty of some scandalous practise; he will then triumph in their Fall: And having thus exposed them to public Censure, he will quench and divert their former Zeal, and make them useless to the World.  
Be not therefore confident of your own Strength. Be not high-minded, but fear. And let it be your daily Prayer to the God of all Grace, to make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you, 1 Pet. 5.10. That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuk, in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world, Phil. 2.15.  
Another Instance I will take the freedom to remind you of is,  
2. Industry. You cannot but be sensible that there is a toil and fatigue in your present Undertaking: And it will cost some Pains and Drudging to perfect your Design. And therefore 'tis prudence to sit down at the first, and count the Cost. To consider, how far you are inclined to deny yourselves for the sake of God and your Duty. Whether you are contented to part with your Ease and your Pleasure; and perhaps in some instance, your Profit also for the benefit of others.  
But I will not enforce this topic any further. For I do not suspect your Sincerity in the Case. I know you are truly sensible, that we are not born to enjoy ourselves, by gratifying our sensual Inclinations; but that we are obliged to govern our Passions and Appetites by Reason, and then to be active and diligent for the benefit of others. To be willing on all occasions to do what good we can; and according to our Power and Capacity to be useful to the World. For this Life is only a State of Probation and Trial, in order to the next. And for your encouragement, let me remind you, That they who have done the greatest Service to God in this World, and improved their Time and Talents to the best advantage, and have done the most good to Mankind; such Persons are qualified for the greatest Rewards, for the richest and brightest Crowns.  
Imitate therefore your Blessed Saviour, who went about doing good: And with unwearied diligence solicited the Reformation of the most obstinate Sinners. And though the World may hate and malign, censure and oppose you, as a sort of noughty pragmatical People; Yet be of good comfort, our B. Saviour he hath overcome the world. Consider him who endured so many Affronts, and so much contradiction of Sinners against himself, lest you be weary and faint in your minds. Which brings me to my Third Instance or Qualification,  
3. Courage. By which I denote, A firmness and resolution of mind, not to be daunted with any Opposition. The which Heroic Temper is little less than necessary in the present Case. For be assured, the Devil and his Instruments will be very active and solicitous to baffle your Design, and to make it abortive. Be not you therefore wanting in a decent briskness to countermine and supplant them. And though you may sometimes meet with unseasonable Rebukes, and may be clouded with the frowns of Debauched Greatness; yet fear not the Face of Men; For greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. You have not only the Authority of his Majesty, and the Laws on your side; But, which is far more encouraging, the Power and Providence of God to support you. And if God be for you, who can be against you?  
However, since Zeal is an active Principle, and like Fire, is very destructive when it exceeds its Bounds; that Yours may be regular, and governed by Prudence, I shall proceed to my Fourth Particular, viz.  
4. Caution. Which I will take the freedom to commend to you in these following Instances.  
1. Avoid Popularity. Do not value yourselves upon the Character of Reformers. Such a Conce●● may not only degenerate into Spiritual Pride, and as such be destructive to your own Souls; but also will ●●pose you to the Observation of Detractors, who will enviously remark, not only your most innocent Actions, but also your very Looks and Gestures; whereby if they do not divert you from your Design, and tempt you to follow a multitude to do evil; they will at least be very troublesone and uneasy to you.  
In public Conversation therefore, and in promiscuous Company( unless you have the Ascendant, and can by your Authority turn the stream of Discourse as you please) be nor too frequent in your Complaints; or in making observations on the wickedness of others. For all Truths are not to be spoken at all Times, nor in all Companies. Cast not Pearls before Swine, was the Admonition of our B. Saviour; and is a full proof of what I now suggest. Intimating; That there are Seasons when the greatest Offenders are not to be reproved; but must be let alone till a more favourable Juncture.  
2. Avoid Affectation in your Language, or in your Looks. Do not study a Shibboleth, or a set of affencted Phrases. Be manly in your Conversation. Speak and look like Men. And by such Masculine and acceptable Behaviour, cut off occasion from those who desire occasion against you.  
3. Be Moderate in your Proceedings. Be not rash and violent in your Methods of Reformation. Be contented to go on gently, and by degrees: And according to our blunt Proverb, Drive the Nail as it will go. Be not discouraged, though you cannot instantly amend all that is amiss. To correct Abuses is a Work of Time and Patience. Do what Good you can at present; and silently bewail what you cannot yet amend. And then be assured, that God who knows our weakness, and the Difficulties you struggle with, will graciously accept the Will for the dead.  
4. Be Unanimous. Let not Difference in Opinion disorder your Proceedings.  
Churchmen and Dissenters( as for distinction-sake I am forced to call them) do both honestly join in this good Work.  
It were indeed hearty to be wished, that these distinguishing Names were utterly abolished: That all Protestants were perfectly united. And O that such an Expedient could be found as might effectually do it. We hope and breath for it. In th' Interim, let not the Devil( who seeks the ruin of you both) make advantage of your Divisions. Why may not those who differ in judgement, be united in Affection? And therefore( to express myself in Military Language) though we are differently Regimented, yet let us all unanimously fight under one General, the Captain of our Salvation, to destroy the Devil's Kingdom. Be strong and of a good Courage. And the God of Peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.  
Finally, Brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.  
FINIS.   

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