Prince Johan, Christian Duke of Lignitz and Brieg in Silesia, had a Discourse unto the Ministers of the Gospel of that Principality, in a Public Assembly, in the Year 1627. Wherein he shown them, THat the Lord had, by several National-plagues, manifested his Wrath against them, and that by reason of their Iniquities, being so heinous and universal, it had now proceeded so far, that in all appearance there scarce would be found among them Ten Persons truly Godly and Religious. That the People commonly did busy themselves with a kind of Worship, consisting only in hearing Sermons, receiving Sacraments, making a General Confession of Sins, professing a Willingness and Hope to be saved through the Merits of CHRIST, and promising of Repentance or Amendment of Life: But that they, at the Utmost, did only keep themselves from External Gross Transgressions, and rehearsed only Forms of Prayer, Morning and Evening, also before and after Meat; and that they imagined, after that manner, to attain to Salvation, regarding nothing further, but wholly minding their Worldly Affairs. That the People did not well understand the Ten Commands, nor the LORD's Prayer, nor Man's Misery; nor what Difference there is betwixt Sin Indwelling only, and Sin having Dominion, betwixt a Living and a Dead Faith, betwixt the Letter and the Spirit; nor what the Love of GOD is, the Yoke of CHRIST, Regeneration, Self-denial, the Warfare betwixt the Flesh and Spirit; and what Brokeness of Heart is; and how we should work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling. That all this did in a great measure proceed from the Ministers, who did not so acquit themselves in their Charges as that any were Converted; That they, viz. the Ministers did place All in hearing Sermons and receiving Sacraments; That they did not seriously consider how the People must be prepared for the LORD's Supper; That they reckoned to have well acquit themselves when they have only Preached twice a Week, having in the mean time neglected the Principal Works, which is to speak to the People in Particular, and at their several Dwelling-Houses, and to search and try them, teach, admonish and reprove them; and That they did not set before themselves the right Scope in their undertaking the Ministerial Charge, and in their executing of it; That not one of Ten made the Building up of CHRIST's Kingdom his Principal End; That in their Meetings they had no right Scope and Aim, such as the Discoursing of what occurs in Visiting of Congregations; How Hearers of the Gospel do acquit themselves in Life and Conversation, and how Matters go as to Scandals and Offences That they laboured not to know how Young and Old understood, applied to themselves, and reduced into Practice, the Doctrine of the Catechism; That they did not themselves lead an Exemplary Life, nor had their Lives suited to their Doctrine; Yea, That they continued careless and secure, and would not so much as once consider and learn, what were incumbent for them to do for bringing Matters to a better Pass, while yet Experience did teach, that it cannot be effectuated by such general and superficial Work. And that therefore; He did now propose to the Ministers, this Question to be more maturely Considered and Pondered, How Means, apposite and sure, and in the present Juncture of time and State of the Church, practicable, might yet be fallen upon whereby the prevailing Carnal Security may be effectually driven away, Lip-service laid aside, and Religion in Reality and Truth, truly acceptable unto GOD, planted among us, and transmitted to Posterity? The same Prince thereafter did emit a Public Edict amongst his Subjects; Requiring every one, both Ministers and People, and also the Magistrates to contribute their Endeavours for Reformation. This above-written Account was Translated first out of the High-Dutch into the netherlands Tongue, and Printed at Groningen 1676, and is now, out of the Low-Dutch, turned into English.