ENGLISH CRETES, AND Atheistical CHRISTIANS DESCRIBED and INSTANCED: WITH Directions for the Reformation of all; FROM St. PAUL'S Epistle to TITUS, the first Bishop of CRETE. Wherein is Intimated the Sacred Order, and Supreme Power of Episcopacy in the CHURCH, with the Inferior Ministry. Concluding all With Supplemental Instances; AND A Lamentation of the Churches present Miseries. Fellow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Heb. xii. 14. LONDON: Printed for Jos. Hindmarsh, at the Golden Ball over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill. 1695. THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY; OR A LETTER TO AN Honourable Member of PARLIAMENT▪ TO THE Honourable Sir W. T. Bar. Ever honoured Sir, MAY I presume to lay this at your feet, with an humble congratulation of your late honourable unsought for Election at too such distant Places, paying you that meritorious esteem and regard, which the best of our Gentry, and Regular Clergy unanimously bear you in that County, whereto you are so great an Honour, and ever will be, in despite of Ignorance, Malice, Ill-Nature, Self-Interest, and Faction; however shamefully dividing us, etc. Your Orthodox Piety, admirable Parts and Learning; your unbounded Charity, Meekness, Candour, and unbiass'd Judgement and Integrity, which has no Interest to serve but the Publick-Good, etc. We can't but declare, as we love and value: this was conspicuous to the Nation, while you were formerly our truly honourable Representative with general applause: and will be now again. Therefore your utmost Service for our true Episcopal Church (whose Zealous, Learned, Champion your renowned Father was, likewise) and Clergy, we doubt not of. May all honest tender Consciences be Tolerated, and Sufferers duly relieved: may Profaneness, Atheism, and all manner of Licentiousness (so scandalous in, and dangerous to a Christian State) be severely suppressed. May Sacrilege be shunned by all, and (according to the Pious and Learned Sir Henry spelman in particular) may the Church's Divine Rights be well considered; or at least the Case of poor Vicarages be justly and charitably Redressed, and secured from the base encroachments, and oppressions of Hypocrisy, Pride, and Avarice insatiable, etc. Or finally, were these things in such worthy Hands as yours: and would all Live, and Act like you, for the Glory of God, and his Church: then might be completed the just Wishes of Your ever obliged humble Servant, T.W. DEO TRIUNO, Aeterno, Incomprehensibili, Omnipotenti, Omniscienti, Omnipresenti, Infinito Justitiâ, Miserecordiâ, etc. Super & in omnibus Gloria. COnversionem Mundo; Pacem Ecclesiae; Fidem Principibus & regnis, Tranquilitatem Angliae. Salutem Benefactoribus, Poenitentiam Inimicis, Sincerè Vivet & Optat, Humillimus & indignissimus Servus, gaudens & solummodo confidens in Jesus Christo ipsoque Crucifixo. T. W. Psal. lxxxii. Out of Patrick's Metre. THE Rulers of the world, that bear God's name, and represent him here, Know that this Judge among you sits. If you enact unrighteous Laws, Or Countenance a wicked Cause, Your guiltiness no plea admits. You act like God, when you defend The Poor, and your assistance lend To helpless men, that Justice crave. Absolve the Innocent with speed, Obnoxious only by their need, And from th' Oppressor's power save. They cry too oft to you in vain, Who'll know no other right but gain, Whose Eyes are blind by Bribes you take. Thus Justice cannot find its course, But Laws neglected lose their force, And all the Land's Foundations shake. I said y'are Gods, but you shall die, And fall, though sons of the most High, As other men, and King's have done. Arise Great Judge of all, and Reign, Fallen Justice then will rise again, When God doth sit upon his Throne. ENGLISH CRETES, AND Atheistical Christians described, etc. TIT. i. 16. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate, or void of judgement. As it is in the Margin. SAint Paul a Servant of God, and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the Faith and Truth, etc. ver. 1. having ordained Titus the first Bishop of the Church of the Cretians; as he did Timothy of the Ephesians: he gins here to show him, in a very solemn and blessed Style, for what end he thus left him in Crete, ver. 6. As particularly to Ordain and Settle the inferior Ministry; the due qualifications whereof he next declares, ver. 6. and then proceeds to set forth the life of a good Bishop: manifesting the necessity of their Faithfulness, Ability, and Zeal, because of Deceivers, and that the mouths of those evil corrupt Teachers (who crept in Houses, and swarmed about the Church) might be stopped, to ver. 12. Then he gives him some description of the people whom he was set over, with admonitions concerning them, etc. Now these let us briefly consider with parallel Instances of the great Numbers of pretended false Christians among us, and the directions here for their reformation: concluding with an earnest recommendation of all the Duties laid down in this Epistle, as now required indispensibly both of Ministers and People. First then, The Apostle gins his description of these Cretians with an irrefragible testimony of one of their own Poets, ver. 12. one of themselves; even a Prophet of their own said, the Cretians are always Liars, evil Beasts, slow-bellies. (i. e. deceitful, false, sensual, carnal, and earthly-minded) which is plain enough, howsoever Poetical: and as St. Paul affirms in the next verse this Witness is true; whence necessarily follows his admonition, wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the Faith; not giving heed to Jewish Fables, and Commandments of men that turn from the Truth. This beastliness, or impurity of their lives (notwithstanding their Conversion to Christianity) polluted and corrupted their Profession of the purest Religion, which none but the pure can rightly understand and practise: and so continued them sinful Brutes, and guilty Infidels still. For as it follows, ver. 15. Unto the Pure all things are Pure, but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing Pure; but even their Mind and Conscience is defiled: well therefore might there be so many Heretics, Seducers, and Hypocrites among such filthy Pretenders; yea and Atheists too, or worse: for so are they, who profess (as St. Paul here concludes their Character) That they know God; but in Works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, etc. These are called Practical Atheists, and are thus far worse than the Speculative, in that they act contrary to their declared Principles; their Lives run contrary to their Creed: O they do the greater dishonour to Almighty God. Now every customary habitual Sinner particularly is such; and such are the common Profane, Unjust, Vicious, and Uncharitable Wretches of this vilest Age, who fill our Church and Nation. These unreformed Sinners who make up the generality of our People of all Ranks and Degrees, are the English Cretians, and the Atheistical Christians: whose Lives and Conversations prove their ignorance and denial of God, and of all true Religion; whatsoever their Faith or Profession may be: as will be manifest from a brief discussion of these Words with deductions of some few Instances: They profess that they know God. Now to know God, is to understand as much as Nature, Reason, and Revelation discover to us of his Being, or his Perfections and Attributes included therein; and of that Worship and Service due to him from us his Creatures, which we call Religion in general. Thus far as men ought we to know God; but much more as Christians must we know him to be, not only our Creator, Preserver, etc. but our great Lord and Judge, our merciful Redeemer, Saviour, and Sanctifier too, as well as Lawgiver, in his only begotten eternal Son, and Holy Spirit. Yea, further must we thus draw near or come unto God that we may please him, and in order thereunto we must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him, Heb. xi. 7. And then moreover, we must obey his Laws, live up to his Gospel of Grace and Salvation, which is our Christian Profession; if we would truly and rightly know him. Then, and not till then, we may well profess that we know God: since hereby alone we shall know ourselves that we know him, if we keep his Commandments. Herein shall we be fully satisfied, when we thus endeavour to love, adore, and imitate his infinite Perfections as his Laws direct; thus to renew his Image upon our souls, and resemble him as far as we can to our own sole happiness; purifying, following, and uniting our minds to the Divine. For whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; yea, hereby know we that we are in him; so he that professeth to know him, or saith, he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. But he that saith I know him, and keepeth not his Commandments is a liar, and the truth is in him. 1 Joh. two. 3, 4, 5, 6. But in Works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good Work reprobate: So to deny God in our Works, is to allow ourselves in any known wilful sin, that is hateful and dishonourable to his Nature, and transgressing his most Holy, Just, and Good Laws. To continue in any wicked Customs, sinful Habit, or any evil Course of Life without timely Repentance and Amendment: to have hereby seared Consciences, hardened Hearts, and stupefied Wills, reprobate Minds, and corrupt Judgements; ever prone to impiety, backward and unwilling to do good; perverse and stubborn in acts of iniquity, following the bent and inclination of our vile Lusts and Affections, and so easily yielding to the Devil's suggestions, and the World's deluding Charms and Allurements; thus frequently and notoriously Rebelling against God: to slight God's sacred Ministry, resist the good motions of his Holy Spirit, disregard the most pious Instructions; and neglect the means of Grace and Salvation ordained in Christ's Church Militant here upon Earth. Thus do the many pretended Professors of a Deity, and Vaunting Worshippers, and Religionists deny God, and all; by their common, inconsiderate, foolish do, by their devilish, sensual, earthly living, by their secret sins, and avowed Crimes so odious in God's all-pure Eyes, and nauseous to every good Soul. Hence they form such Notions of the Divinity, and favour such Doctrines, and Interpretations of Scripture (which they read to their own destruction) as might raise their defilements in Mind and Conscience; and please their Corruptions most: thus would they make God like one of themselves, have his ways as their ways; or else they seem to set up the vile Deities of the Heathens, to profess only by their Deeds a a cruel Saturn, a wanton Jupiter, a thievish Mercury, and a drunken Bacchus: or with the grossest Idolaters in Egypt to Worship Leeks and Onions, and make their Bellies their Gods. What less do our Self-Contradictors, inconsistent, ridiculous Professors manifest? Do not their Actions belie their Mouths? And are they not thus far worse than the very Ethnics, or Atheists, denying the only true God, whom yet they affirm to own, etc. As for instance, to expostulate this Case with all Rational People, and Christians: let us consider in the general, that those who live and act contrary to the Divine Perfections, and Laws, do so far deny the same: and such, who deny God's Attributes, which are essential to his Being, do thus deny God. So in particular, this consider, first in relation to his Holiness, Purity, and Goodness in the Abstract: does not all manner of Irreligion and Profaneness plainly contradict the most Holy Being? Is not every unclean Thought and Desire, every filthy Discourse, and lustful beastly Action diametrically opposite to God's all-pure Nature? And is not all manner of ill-nature, and evil-doing absolutely contrary to the most lovely Essence, to Goodness itself? If so, what are the common, false Swearers, and all the guilty takers of God's most holy Name in vain? What are the Contemners, Neglecters, and Prophaners of his holy Word, and Ministry; of his Sacraments, and other Ordinances; of his true Church, and most pure Religion? What are the Sacrilegious Robbers of Churches, Robbers of God in Tithes and Offerings, greedy encroachers upon the Pastor's Divine Rights, and bold Invaders of holy Church's Patrimony; the proud Despisers of holy Persons, and domineering Violators of things Sacred, thus bringing a Curse upon the whole Nation? If so, what are the Fornicators, Whoremongers; the Adulterers, and Adulteresses; the Brutes, and Sodomites; what are the lascivious vile obscene Wretches, the carnal and earthly minded Herds of Animals? In short, what are the selfish Unrighteous, the wicked vicious ungodly sinful Livers? If so, what are any such better than Atheists? Yea, are not they rather worse, and dot they more shamefully deny, by these abominable Courses, that most holy pure and good God, whom yet they profess to know. So secondly, Consider this Point in reference to God's Justice, Mercy, and Truth: Can any thing more directly affront the Just and Righteous Judge of all the World; than Rapine, Violence, and Oppression; than Fraud, Knavery, with all sorts of Dishonesty, and Unrighteous Dealing? What can bid defiance more to our most gracious long suffering compassionate heavenly Father; than Cruelty, Tyranny, and barbarous Usage; than Malice, Envy, dire Revenge, Hatred, and all manner of Uncharitableness? Can any thing more impudently contradict the only Wise and True God; him, who is Truth itself: than Falsehood, Dissimulation, Perjury, Scepticism, Infidelity; than Diffidence, Deceit, Lying, with all kind of Guile and Hypocrisy? So thirdly, In relation to God's infinite Wisdom, and Power; or his Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnipresence: how bold Presumption on the one Hand, and slavish Despair on the other, or distrust of Providence; with crafty Designs, and secret Sinning, etc. does call these adorable Attributes into question? Will not humane Strength and Policy, carnal or worldly Wisdom bend and submit hereto? Shall not all Pride, Arrogance, Ambition, Avarice, Intemperance and Sensuality tremble hereat? Upon these Considerations then, are not all Cheats, Knaves, and Liars; all Robbers, Thiefs, and Murderers; all Tyrants, Usurpers, and devouring Oppressors: Are not all spiteful haughty Conceits, all perverse Self-Lovers; all bloodthirsty encroaching Villains; all sorts of Unbelievers and Hypocrites; all evil Contriving, Crafty, Sly or Clandestine Sinners; all Debauchees, Gluttons, Drunkards, proud Boasters; with all Covetous Persons, who are Idolaters, and whom particularly God abhoreth: Are not all these, I say, with the others , such abominable, disobedient, and evil reprobate Wretches; by leading such wicked Lives, so contrary to the whole Divine Nature, and to all True Religion; while they profess to know God, etc. That they thus plainly deny their God and Saviour; and commence the worst of Infidels, and Atheists: whatsoever Faith, or Knowledge they may pretend to? Now the like Instances may be made in reference to all the Sublime Truths, and Injunctions of the Gospel, or all the Duties of Christianity; from which the generality of its Professors so grossly vary; and wherein so many do deceive, and are deceived: but these may be reserved for another Season; and what has been said, may suffice at present for demonstration of the matter in hand. So we shall now proceed to the Apostles directions for the Reformation of all: and especially for the management of those false Teachers, Sceptics, and Seducers, whom he chief aims at, and describes here, ver. 10. and this he lays upon his Bishop, particularly to convince such, ver. 9 Including withal the Offices of the inferior Ministry: as I noted in the beginning of this Discourse, and may regularly proceed upon: having hitherto only cleared the Text at first proposed. In all this Epistle it is evident, says a Divine Preacher, that St. Paul looks upon Titus as advanced to the Dignity of a Prime Ruler of the Church, and entrusted with a large Diocese, containing many particular Cities under the immediate Government of their respective Elders; and those deriving Authority from his Ordination, as was specified in ver. 5. And now looking upon Titus under this qualification, he addresses a long Advice and Instruction to him, for the discharge of so important a Function: it being the peculiar Office of every Bishop within his own Jurisdiction, by Prayer, and Imposition of Hands, (as the Apostles did) to order and separate Men for the Offices of Deacon, and Elder, i. e. Presbyter or Priest in the Church of Christ: and in like manner to Confirm all whom the Inferior Ministers admit Members of, or receive into the Church-Communion by that initiating Sacrament of Baptism, as our Saviour positively Commissioned all his Ambassadors, Stewards, or Ministers of his Gospel upon Discipling the World: Mat. xxviii. 19, 20. And as Philip the Deacon Baptised the Samaritans, and then came the great Apostles, Peter and John, down from Jerusalem, to Confirm them with Prayer and Imposition of Hands, Act. viij. And as our Bishops, the Prime Successors of the Apostles, after our Infant-Baptism, and Pious Education upon the Promises and Solemn Vows, and care of fit Sponsors, etc. (as our Church most Charitably directs) have accordingly practised from the very Primitive times: which may sufficiently ease and satisfy all Sureties, etc. both in their Duty, and discharge of their Trust: and so might equally convince our Antipedobaptists, and all other Gainsayers to the Laudable Ancient Apostolical Orders of Infant-Baptism, Confirmation, etc. Which, with our whole excellent Constitution, let us all duly and respectively observe, under our Sacred Gospel-Ministry, as true sound Members of the best Established Church in the World: with particular Reverence of the highest Order of Episcopacy, our Spiritual Hierarchy, whereto alone it belongs to Govern and Preside over the whole Ecclesiastical Body. There is no one thing (says a learned Writer) more clear and evident in the Christian Religion, than that our Saviour invested the whole Apostolical Order (not in St. Peter only, but all the Apostles) with a Supremacy of Power over his Church; and that they in pursuance of this his Divine Institution ordained Bishops to succeed them in their Supremacy of Power through all following Ages. That the Apostles were Superior to all other Officers in the Church, is out of question, and granted on all Hands: and that the Bishops succeeded them, is as unquestionable from all the clearest Records of Antiquity; their Succession, especially in the most famous Churches, being derived by the most Ancient Writers from the Apostles themselves, and was as easily and certainly know to those Men that have transmitted it to us, as any learned Man may know the Succession of the Archbishops of Canterbury from the Reign of Queen Elizabeth to this time. And also 'tis evident, that they modelled the first Settlement of Churches according to the then present State of the Roman Empire. But as this Power was at first given to the Apostles, so was it equally divided among them; so that every one exercised Supreme Power within the Bounds of his own Jurisdiction, and all together in the Catholic Church: or as St. Cyprian states it, Epist. 52. that as there was but one Church Founded by Christ throughout all the World, but this Church was made up of several distinct Members; so there was but one Episcopacy, and that consists in the agreement, and unanimous care of all Christian Bishops: so that the whole Body of the Church was governed by the whole Body of the Apostles, and their Successors; but the several parts of it were allotted to the Charge of single Bishops, who governed them with particular care, but so as to have regard to the Peace and Unity of the whole. This is the only Notion (says my Author) that this wise and good Man (than whom there is not a more eminent example for both upon Record) seems in all his Writings to have had of the Catholic Church; and so this he improves to the utter Confutation of the Pope's Supremacy; and likewise of all our Dissenters confused wild pretences: resembling the Popish Legends, Superstitions, etc. All whose presumptuous, covetous, Teaching, creeping into Houses, leading Captive silly Women, deluding sinful weak Souls, 2 Tim. three 6. with all their deceitful, hypocritical, or insulting, rigid, greedy, devouring ways, aught to undergo such Episcopal Judgement and Rebuke, and be so silenced, etc. as these Sceptical lying Cretes, and avaricious Jewish Deceivers; whom the great Apostle here warns their proper Bishop of, that he may proceed against them sharply: or as himself judged too obstinate Sinners, or Heretics and Schismatics, (as he did the incestuous person before, 1 Cor. v.) wicked Hymeneus, and Alexander, whom he delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. 1 Tim. i 20. This is the very power of true Excommunication, which with Absolution, called the power of the Keys, our Saviour delegated immediately to the Supreme Governors of his Church. Matth. xuj. 18, 19 John xx. 21, 22, 23. And thus was Titus to manage the Stubborn, and Heretical within his Diocese; Chap. iii. 10, 11. A Man that is an Heretic, after the first and second Admonition, reject: knowing, that he that is such, is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. Yet these our Rulers must especially avoid all Pride, Ambition, Tyranny, Idleness, Corruption, and Covetousness, with all Vice, Passion, or Selfishness: wherewith the Princes of the World, and Civil Magistrates too often exercise Authority, and Dominion: but we must all dischage our Sacred Function, and do all things with the greatest humility, and in the true Gospel Spirit of Meekness and Charity, strictly imitating our blessed Saviour, and giving good Example to all others. Matth. xx. 25, 26, 27, 28. 1 Pet. v. 1, 2, 3, 4. And now thus must the Younger obey their Elders, etc. ver. 5. who may thus rebuke with all, with the highest, i. e. Divine Authority; and let no Man despise them; as St. Paul here sums up the Episcopal Office to Titus, Chap. two. 15. which is the first direction for the Reformation of all: and particularly, for the suppression of the many unruly and vain Talkers, and Deceivers, urging the Commandments of Men that turn from the Truth, legendary Fablers, etc. Like the Jews: whose Mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole Houses, Teaching things which they ought not, for filthy Lucre's sake. Who (with the rest before testified of, and described:) must therefore be rebuked sharply, that they may be sound in the Faith, and become pure and undefiled, Chap. i. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. That none may give heed to fables; nor regard needless controversies, or any jarring disputes: but avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strive about the law: for they are unprofitable and vain, Chap. iii. 9 Thus comes in the next Directions, which all should constantly observe, and so diligently mind and practise the sound, grave, uncorrupt, sincere Doctrine, which they are daily Taught under the true Gospel-Ministry in our excellent Communion. Then would aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. And the aged women likewise would be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, (not liars, or slanderers:) Not given to much wine, teachers of good things: teaching the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Then would young men likewise be exhorted to be sober-minded Chap. two. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Then would servants too, be obedient to their own masters, and please them well in all things, not answering again. Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things, ver. 9, 10. Then would Christians in general remember their necessary Duties and Obligations signified in the verse following, and elsewhere. For the grace of God, that bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men, teaching us, that denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. These things must we speak, exhort; and preach both in our life and doctrine, ver. 7, 8. As thus too, Must our Bishop's rebuke with all authority, and let no man despise them. verse 15. And thus farther, Must they, and we, and all be, as we put others in mind to be, subject to Principalities and Powers, to obey Magistrates, whose Civil Authority, how great soever in Church-Matters, supposes the Spiritual Authority of the Church: and neither should interfere with the other, etc. See Bishop Parker's Religion and Loyalty, and Letter. Thus moreover ought we all to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men, Chap. iii. 1, 2. So finally thus is pressed on the general Reformation, with these indispensible Duties both of Clergy and Laity, (here briefly recommended) concluding all, verse 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Wherein the Apostle exemplifies the state of Unbelievers and Sinners before Conversion, and regeneration; and their blessed condition after through Sanctification, Justification, etc. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice, and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour: that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things (says St. Paul to his Bishop) I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God, might be careful to maintain good works: these things are good and profitable unto men. Wherefore (As 'tis in Heb. xiii. 16, 17, 18.20, 21.) to do good, and to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience in all things, willing to live honestly. Now the God of Peace, that brought again from the dead the Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Supplemental Instances of some notorious Sins, very dangerous in Church and State: as to all Souls. Collected out of the brief Heads of Self-Examination, especially before the Sacrament, in the Whole Duty of Man. With a Lamentation of the Church's Calamities. IN the black Catalogue of Sins, or Transgressions of our respective Duties to God, our Neighbour, and ourselves, laid down by that incomparable Author from this his first excellent Treatise, that best of Books, next to the Inspired: These following Sins of Omission, and Commission are particularly enumerated, viz. 1. Not believing in God, nor his Word Practically, so as to live according to our belief. 2. Presuming groundlessly on his Mercy, while we go on in wilful sin. 3. Not loving God for his own Excellencies; nor for his Goodness to us, not labouring to please him. Not desiring to draw near to him in his Holy Ordinances. Not longing to enjoy him in Heaven. 4. Not fearing God, so as to keep from offending him. Fearing Man above him, by committing sin, to shun some outward Suffering. 5. Not trusting on God in Dangers, and Distresses. Using unlawful means to bring us out of them, etc. Not looking up for his Blessing on our Honest Endeavours. Overcarking, etc. 6. Not acknowledging his Wisdom in choosing for us, but having eager and impatient desires of our own. 7. Not honouring God by a reverend usage of the things that relate to him. Behaving ourselves irreverently in his House. Robbing God, by taking things that are Consecrated to him. Profaning Holy Times, the Lord's day, and the Feasts, and Fasts of the Church. Placing Religion in hearing of Sermons, without Practice. Breaking our Vows made at Baptism. Profaning the Lord's Supper. Profaning God's Name by Blasphemous Thoughts and Discourse. Giving others occasion to blaspheme him by our vile and wicked Lives. Taking unlawful Oaths. Perjury. Swearing in our Ordinary Communication. 8. Not Worshipping God. Omitting Prayers public and private. Not Praying in Purity, Faith, Humility, Attention, nor Reverence. 9 Not Repenting, Fasting, Mortifying, nor solemnly Humbling, etc. 10. Placing our Love, and other Affections more on Creatures, than the Creator, which is inward Idolatry. 11. Unthankfulness to our Benefactors, especially those that admonish us. Not amending upon their reproof. Being angry at them for it. Not Reverencing our Civil Parent, the lawful Magistrate. Despising our Spiritual Fathers, the Bishops, and Pastors of our Churches. Not loving them for their Works sake. Not obeying those Commands of God they deliver to us. Seeking, to withhold from them their Just Maintenance. Forsaking our lawful Pastors to follow Factious Teachers. Not loving our Spiritual Brethren, i. e. our Fellow-Christians. Having no of their Sufferings. Causelessly forsaking their Communion in Holy Duties. Not taking deeply to Heart the Desolations of the Church: which are now Calamitous and deplorable indeed: 12. Being puffed up with high conceits of ourselves. Carnal and Spiritual Pride, greedily seeking the praise of Men. Directing Christian Actions, as Prayer, Alms, etc. to that end. Committing Sins to avoid the reproach of wicked Men. Anger, Inconsideration, etc. Uncontentedness in our Estates. Greedy desires after Honour and Riches. Seeking to gain them by sinful means. Envying the condition of other Men. Not improving God's Gifts, outward, or inward, to his Honour. Abusing our natural Parts, as Wit, Memory, etc. to Sin. Neglecting or resisting the motions of God's Holy Spirit. Uncleaness. Intemperance. Pampering the Body, not subduing it, etc. 13. Being Injurious, Unjust, Cruel, and Malicious to our Neighbour. Oppressing by Violence and Force, or colour of Law. Theft, Deceit, false Witness, Lying, Ingratitude. Want of true Love and Affection in Husbands and Wives. Not bearing with the Infirmities of each other. So in Friends. Tyranny, or Remissness in Parents, and Masters. Disobedience, and Stubborness in Children, and Servants. Ill-nature in all. 14. Want of Bowels and Charity to our Neighbours. Not hearty desiring their good Spiritual, or Temporal. Not loving and forgiving Enemies. Taking actual Revenges upon them. Professing Kindness, and acting none. Backbiting, etc. 15. Not loving Peace. Going to Law upon slight occasions. Bearing inward Enmity to those we Sue. Not labouring to make Peace among others. Now let this short dismal Catalogue, which is all a plain Contradiction to our most Holy Christian Profession, with those Instances of Sins, and Contrarieties to God, and all True Religion, : be seriously considered, bewailed, and reformed in every guilty Soul: then shall we soon be happy in our public and private State here; and more hereafter. THE LAMENTATION, etc. BUT alas! Since Christendom continues the vilest part of the World, a Sink of all those abominable Pollutions, which even Barbarians detest. Since our Profession, and our Practice are always at so wide a distance. Since the Disciples of the Holy and Immaculate Jesus, be of all others the most Profane and Impure; and the Subjects of the Prince of Peace be of all others the most contentious and bloody. Since the Church in general is become an Aceldama, a Field of blood: and this particular true Catholic, Apostolical, Episcopal Church, is so miserably dissected, so shamefully overrun with Blasphemy, Sacrilege, Hypocrisy, Covetousness, and all manner of Profane, and beastly Licentiousness, Uncharitableness, etc. is so maliciously undermined every where, so cruelly oppressed, and insultingly trampled upon in one place, and so fatally surrounded with Enemies on all Hands. Since her Sabbaths are Polluted; her Ministry Contemned; her Sacred Ordinances Profaned and Slighted; her Primitive Discipline Despised, etc. by her own sworn Members. Since many of these are constant bosom Foes, the most treacherous, and irreclaimable, sensual, and worldly; making no Conscience of religious Concerns and Duties; much less of Defaming, Injuring, or Defrauding their own lawful Pastors, especially the Inferior and most Laborious. As if they had neither Divine nor Humane Right to their most reasonable Deuce. As if neither Christ, nor his Apostles had given any Orders about the Reception, Reverend Estimation, and Maintenance of his Ministers; Matth. x. 1 Cor. iv. 1. and cap. ix. 7. 11.14. Heb. seven. to 10. As if Christians were herein allowed to be worse than either Jews, or Heathens. As if Sacrilege were not Sin. As if the Curse of God did not attend it, etc. though he cursed a whole Nation for the same. Mal. iii. 8, 9 Since Christianity the best and purest Religion in the World is thus notoriously and uncontrollably scandalised, even by the very Devotes, and boasting Professors. Since Matters are at this dreadful pass among us, under the best establishment too: What alas! Can become of us? What Judgements may we not justly hear? What sad Calamities expect under such an universal decay of Christian Piety, and all true Virtue, and good Nature? Yet shall we not mourn for Zion? And pray for the Peace of Jerusalem? This seems to be all, left us to do. O then let the Priests, the Ministers of the Lord, herein unite at least, and weep between the Porch and the Altar; and cry, spare thy People, O Lord, and give not thine Heritage to reproach. O Save, Cleanse, Enlarge, and Defend thy Church good God. In all time of our Tribulation, in all time of our Wealth, in the hour of Death, and in the day of Judgement. Good Lord deliver us. Amen. FINIS.