Lynford 
 Primitive Christianity revived
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES

 
 (primitive Cbriftlanlty 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd in the Parifh-Church of 
 
 St. Edmund the King, 
 o N 
 
 Sunday April the 24^, 170^. 
 B E I -N G 
 
 Eaffer-D&y in the Evening. 
 
 Bv THOMAS L T AT FO R >, D. D. 
 
 ReSor of the United Parifties of St. Edmund the 
 Kin* and St. Nichols Acons^ and Chaplain in 
 Ordinary to Her Maj^fty. 
 
 PuSlifhed at the Rcqaeft of fome Gentlemen who con- 
 tribute towards t'ue Maintenance of a Monthly Even- 
 ing-Sermon, to invite Peribns to frequent: the Holy 
 Communion, and others who heard it. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed and Sold by Joftph Downing in Biirthtlomsw-Clofe 
 near IVeft-Smithfield, 1709.
 
 H. 
 
 And thy^o&nued ftedfaftly in tie Afoftks 
 Doftrine and Felloit >J}nf>, and in Breaking 
 of Bread, and in Prayers. 
 
 OF this Portion of Scripture which I have now 
 read, it may be truly faid what was fpoken by 
 our Saviour concerning another, Luk.'vj. 21. 
 
 This Day ii this Scripture fulfilled in your Ears. We have 
 liVed, God be thanked, to fee the Primitive Times in 
 fome meafure reftored amongft us, and all the Offices of 
 Divine Worfhip to be attended with great Zeal and De- 
 votion , fo that if that Prophecy of St. John, Rev. xxi. 
 2. AndJ Johnfaw the Holy City, the New Jerufalem coring 
 down from Cod out of Heaven^re fared as a Bride adorned for 
 herHtubandfie literally to be interpreted with refped to 
 what is to happen upontheEarth ; I am willing to hope, 
 that the Time draws near wherein it will be accom- 
 plilhed. And that there is no place wherein it is fo 
 likely to be accomplished, as in that Nation and City un- 
 to which we belong. 
 
 But againft this, I know that it will be immediately 
 objected, That there never was fuch a Prophane and 
 Atheiftical Age as this is. That many Men not only 
 write Books, but likewile: talk openly againft our moft 
 holy Religion. That their Lives are a dired contradi- 
 ction to all its Precepts. And that the Defcription 
 which is given, Pom. i. of fome of the worft of Sinners, 
 doth exactly fuit them. They being filed with all Vn- 
 righteoufne/s, Fornication, Wickednefs^ Covetoufnefs^ Mali- 
 cioujnefs, full of Envy, Murder , Debate, Deceit^ Malignity ', 
 Whifperers, Backbiters, Haters of God, .Hsfpiteful, Proud, 
 Boafter*, Inventers of Evil Things, Difobedtent to Parcvts^ 
 without VndLrttavdtxg, Covenant-breakers, without Natu- 
 ral ^/tffc&ion, Implacable, IJnmfi'c'iii-iL ^And not only. com- 
 witting things worthy of Death them [elves , but tik^fe tak- 
 ing pleafart: in them that do them. 
 
 But this is not at all to be wondred at, fince it has 
 long fmce been foretold, That Offincw mvft cme: That 
 
 theie
 
 Primitive Chriftianity Revzv'e/. 
 
 there would be Mockers in the faft Time, whofrould wa 
 after their own ungodly Lufts. And that it cannot be ex- 
 pected, but that when the Profeflbrsv of the True Reli- 
 gion appear moft Zealous in the defence of it, the Ene- 
 mies thereof will make the greateft Oppofition they can 
 sgainft it And therefore, amidft the glorious Things 
 which are predicted concerning ths future Age of the 
 Church in the Revelation^ there is one place, where a 
 Woe is denounced againft the Inhabiters of the Earth, 
 and of the Sea> for this Reafon ; Becaufe the Devil was 
 came down amongfl them^ baiting great ivrath t bscaufe he 
 knew that he had hut afhort time. Rev. xii. 1 2. 
 
 The Devil, to be fare, will do his utmoft to fecure 
 that Empire which he has for a long time obtain'd over 
 MensConfciences-, and therefore, when he obferves the 
 Patrons of Chriftianity, to exert themfelves ftrenuoufly 
 for the Depriving of him of it, he will rage horribly, 
 and do all he can. to obftruft their Defigns, and to 
 make Reprifals upon them. And therefore, as long 
 as we are fo happy as to obfervegood Men to confede- 
 rate together, and to be very Zealous for the welfare 
 of Religion, and the caufeof God, don't let us be dii- 
 couraged at any Attempts which wickedMen can make 
 againft it. God will be too hard for the Devil at the 
 laft : And ic is no bad Omen of the letter's Kingdom 
 beginning to totter amongft us, and of his Time being 
 fhort, that the ancient infiances of Chriftian Piety are 
 reviv'd. And that, like the firft Chriftian Converts, 
 we do continue ftedfaftly in the Jpofrles Dotirine and Pel- 
 lowftif) and breaking of Bread, and Prayers. 
 
 Give me leave therefore to reprefent to you, your 
 prefenthappyStateand Condition, that fo being through- 
 ly acquainted wifTi the hleflings you erjoy, you may 
 be the more effectually excited to go on in making a 
 good ufe of them for the promoting of the Glory ?f 
 God, and the Salvation both of your own and other 
 Mens Souls. 
 
 Now, in doing of this, I mall change, a little the Or- 
 der of the Particulars in the Text ; And difcourfe, 
 
 I. Concerning the Jppojilss Doftrine, ^ OOQ r- 
 
 II. Consernin? Prqer. , OOoOOO 
 
 A I ' III,
 
 Primitive Chriftianity Revived. 
 
 III. Concerning breaking of Bread. 
 IV. Concerning Fellowjhip. 
 
 And under every Head, (how the great Conformity 
 betwixt the Pradice of thefe Times, and the Practice 
 of the firft Chriftians. 
 
 I. The Firft Cbriftians continued in the Defies 
 Doftrine , and fo do you. 
 
 The Firft Chriftians received the Apoftles Dodrine 
 from the Apoftles Mouths. They had no other way of 
 being acquainted with what they taught, but by being 
 conftant in their Attendance on their Preaching : The 
 Apoltles indeed afterwards fet down in Writing what 
 they taught , and the New Teftament contains the Sum 
 and'Subftance of all their Sermons. Now thefe Scrip- 
 tures are not only daily read in your publick Aflemblies, 
 but you have them at home in your Clofers, and may 
 converfe with them there, as oft as you pleafe, in your 
 own Language. The Church you are Members of, 
 impofeth no Doftrines upon you but what are conform- 
 able to thefe holy Writings^ and is fo juft, as to leave 
 it to your felves to judge whether they are fo or no. 
 You may examine them as oft and as much as you pleafe 
 by this Touchftone, and the more thoroughly you ex- 
 amine them, the more you will be C9mmended for it, 
 being required to take nothing upon Truft, but to fee 
 with your own Eyes what are fit to be entertsin'd by 
 you as faving Truths. 
 
 Your Mininers,, in the Explication of fuch Truths, do 
 endeavour, with Clearnefs of Expr.eflion and ftrength of 
 Argument to fet before you the Excellency of them ; 
 and to fnow what influence they ought to have upon 
 you in your Lives and ConveTfations. They don't in- 
 termix any of their own Inventions, whereby to abufe 
 and impofe on you. They don't teach any Doctrines 
 a? do tend either to promote any fecular Intereft, or to 
 footh you up in your Sins, or to encourage your giving 
 that Service and Worfhip to the Creature, which is due 
 only to the Creator, God blcffed for evermore. 
 They : preach Chrift and him Crucified as much as was 
 done in the Apoftles- Times . For they daily call up- 
 on you to put your Truft and Confidence in the Merits 
 -of our Saviour's Sufferings, and in nothing ejfe; To
 
 Primitive Chriftianity Revived. 
 
 depend not upon your own Power, to perform what 
 is acceptable in God's fight, but upon the Affiftance of 
 the holy Spirit .- And they exhort you to be ready and 
 prepared to endure the worft Evils as can happen to you 
 for his Sake, fhould God think fit to call you to it. 
 They prefs you to grow as indifferent as you can with 
 refpeft to all worldly Advantages, and to fit your Af- 
 fettions on Things above, and not on Things beneath. They 
 urge yon to mortifie all your unruly Lttfts and Affitti- 
 ons, and to live foberly, Righieoufy and Godly in this pnfent 
 World, looking for that hlcffed Hope, and the glorious appear- 
 ance of our Lord and Saviour Jeftts Chrifl. 
 
 Thefe things you often hear infilled upon from the 
 Pulpit, and thefe things you daily meet with in print- 
 ed Books and Sermons : And therefore may upon all 
 thefe Accounts be truly faid to continue in the A~ 
 poftles Dottrine- 
 
 Secondly* The Primitive Chriltians are faid to con- 
 tinue in Prayer ; and the fame thing may very well be 
 faid of you. 
 
 The very firft thing which the Apoftles and our Sa^ 
 viour's Difciples did, after he had left them, and was 
 afcended into Heaven, was the affembling themfelves 
 together to pray, Att.i. 12, 13, 14. Then they return- 
 ed unto Jcriifalem from the Mount called Olivet. And 
 when the) were come /, they went ftp into an upper Room, 
 where were fcter and the refi of the Afoftlef, who ati con- 
 tinued with one accord in Prayer and Supp'icat'.on with the 
 Women,andMary theMotherofjefusjvithhisBrethren. And 
 when a little while after they went to make choice of a 
 Perfon to fucceed, as an Apoftle, in the Room of Judas, 
 they made a foletnn Prayer unto God to direct them in 
 the Choice, Per. 24, And as their Numbers grew, ftill 
 one chief part of their Exerciie, when met together, 
 was to pray. Thus when they were increafed to Five 
 Thoufand, as we may read, dft. iv. and their Lead- 
 ers the Apoftles, were feized, and being ftriflly exa- 
 mined, were afterwards difmified, the next News we 
 hear of them is, That being met together to pray for 
 the Divine Affiftance, to enable them to withftand all 
 A 3 the
 
 Primitive Chrrftianity Revived. 
 
 the Oppofition which was made againft them, and to 
 work Miracles for theConfirmationof what they taught, 
 the Place was fhaken where they prayed, and they 
 were all filled with the Holy Ghoil. 
 
 Our Saviour had-long fince promifed, that where two 
 or three were met together in his Name, he would be 
 ia the midft of them. And therefore fo great a Num- 
 ber being now prefent to of^r up their Petitions in his 
 Name, he judged this a proper feafon to make good his 
 Promife after an extraordinary manner, by pouring 
 forth his Holy Spirit upon them, for their guidance 
 and comfort in all Exigencies. 
 
 Neither was this Duty of Prayer a Duty which was 
 praclifed only in that part of the Ghriftian Church, 
 which was eftablifhV! firft ar Jerifakm ; But it was the 
 principal Thing which w<& ordained in all Places where- 
 ever there were any Chriftian AfTemblies. And there- 
 fore the Apoftie St. Paul gives it as a particular com- 
 mand to Timothy, t Tim. ii. I. That firft of a/l^Sup- 
 plications^ Prajers^ Inter cejjions, and giving of Thanks, he 
 made for all Men. And they who are well acquainted 
 with the AocientWriters of the Church do in form us, 
 That from the beginning of Chrrttianity, the Chrifrians 
 had not only their ftated Times for publick Prayers, 
 but likewife their Liturgies and fet Forms of Prayer, 
 which were of greatService to them* fince by thisMeans 
 theyknew before hand wha^Wordsthey wes to join in, 
 and could rpme prepared to put up their particular Pe- 
 titions under fuch general Expreffions as were therein 
 made ufe of. . They w6re all of them very conftant at 
 their Private Devotions, bnt ftill thought that if with 
 pint Hearts and Voices they offered up their Prayers 
 at the Throne of Grace, they mould be better heard, 
 and their Requefts would be fooner granted vand there- 
 fore they came to the folemn Affeoiblies as often as 
 they could, that fo they might not want the Ailiftance 
 of one another to interceed with God for a iupply oi 
 what was moft neceffary and convenient for them. 
 
 And here I cannot perfwade my felf, but that in this 
 Refpect you come, neareft to the Primitive Pattern of 
 
 any
 
 Primitive Chriflianity Revived. 
 
 any Chriftians in the World. You have no Prayers in 
 an unknown Tongue. You are in no danger of having 
 fuch Expreflions made ufe of in your Prayers, as it is 
 not fit for you to join with. That Excellent Church 
 of which you are Members, has provided for you fuch 
 a Form of found Words, as will fufficiently inftrudt you 
 what you ought to pray for, and doesfurnifh you with 
 fuch Expreflions, as you need not either be afraid or 
 afhamed to make ufe of. Your Liturgy is exactly com- 
 pofed according to the Apoftles Rule and Direction- 
 For it confiits of Prayers, Supplications. Intercefilons, 
 and Thanksgivings. It is plain and eaiie to be under- 
 ftood, and ib contrived, that any Devout Mind may 
 attend to it wichout trouble or diftradion. And that 
 which is to be accounted one of the great BlefTings of 
 this Renowned City, is, that the Inhabitants thereof 
 have not only an opportunity of praying unto God in 
 publick every Day j but likewife of doin* it almoft any 
 hour of the Day, as they themfelves do moft like and 
 approve of. Such having been the Prudence of many 
 pioufly difpofed Perfons, as to make Provifion for pub- 
 lick Prayers at different hours of the-Day : Thatfo they 
 who cannot attend the publick Aflemblies at one hour, 
 may do it at another ; and if -they can't be prefent at 
 Prayers in their own Parifh Churches, yet may drop 
 into fome other, and their join with the Congregation 
 in recommending the whole Church, as well as them- 
 felves and Families, to the Almighty's Favour and Pro- 
 tection. And this is done conftantly by feveral good 
 Chriitians; and it would be well it it was done by 
 more. At leaft, this was to be wifhed, that every Family 
 would every Day fend one Perfon or another out of it 
 unto the Publick Aflfemblies, for the imploring a BlefT- 
 ing upon the reft, who, as it is to be hoped, are all the 
 while honeftly imployed in fome Bufinefs or other, 
 either at home or abroad. 
 
 Thirdly i The firft Chriftians continued in Breaking 
 of Bread $ and in this likewife, God be thanked, you 
 are in a great Meafure come up to their Example. 
 
 Oar Saviour being about to leave this World, that 
 
 fee might th more effectually imprint upon the Minds 
 
 A 4 ?
 
 Primitive. Chr/ft'unity Revived. 
 
 of his Difciples and Followers a lading Remembrance 
 or his Death and Paflion, and of the great Benefits 
 which thereby would accrue to the World ; did think 
 fit to eftablim a particular 'Ordinance, which (hould 
 be obferved by them throughout all Generations, un- 
 til his coming again. 
 
 He knew very well how prone Mankind is to for- 
 get the greateft Bleflings conferred on them: How 
 loath to 'undertake any tiding that is difficult, al- 
 though for the fake of him who was their belt Be- 
 nefactor. And therefore the very Night before his 
 Paflion, inftead of burthening them with any Num- 
 ber of troublefom 2 Ceremonies, heappt>ints oneeafe 
 Rite, the Obferv;nce whereof was to be the Badge 
 of their Profeflion, and to-diftingnifh them from the 
 reft .of the World befides. By this it was to be 
 known unto whom they did belong, and by the help 
 of this Rite they were to receive fuch flrength as 
 might inable them- to walk -worthy of that location un- 
 to which they were called. Do this in Remembrance of me, 
 gave the S^n&ion to their being, by the eating of 
 Bread and drinking of Wine, own'd to be Members 
 of the Chriftian Church, and confirmed in ttiem the 
 hopes of their being made partakers of the Divine 
 Afliftance, for the guiding and fnpporting them in 
 the way which leads unto everlafting Life. And of 
 this the firft Converts to Chriitianity were fo fenfi- 
 ble, that their attendance on the Lord's-Supper was 
 part of their conftant as well as publick Worfhip. 
 
 And you may obferve from the Text, thac they 
 continued as much in breaking of Bread, as they did 
 in the Apoftles Doctrine and Prayer. They did not 
 raife any Doubts and Scruples about their Attend- 
 ance on this Ordinance. They did not go a- 
 bout to find out Excufes for abfenting them Pelves 
 from it. They did not pretend that they were un- 
 worthy to attend on it, and therefore dar'd not to 
 approach it : For they knew, that if they were un- 
 worthy to come to the Lord's Table, they were un- 
 worthy to be called Ghriftians, They knew, that
 
 Primitive Chnjtianitj Revived. 9 
 
 this was one of the only Things whereby they might 
 beft exprefs their Gratitude to their Lord for what 
 he had done for them } whereby they might molt 
 effe&ually teftifie their great readinefs to obey any of 
 his particular Injun&ions ; and whereby- they might 
 not fail to receive fuch Portions of Gn-ce as would 
 mightily help them to grow and increafe in all man- 
 ner of Spiritual Life and Holinefs. And therefore 
 it was part of their daily imploymcflt thus to pro- 
 claim, with their higheft Praifes, the loving Kind- 
 nefs of the Lord in the great work of their Redem- 
 ption threugh hismoft Precious 31ood. 
 
 Thus to publifh the Glorious Victory which he 
 had obtained for them over al] their Spiritual Adver- 
 faries. Thus to tranfmit unto all Pofterity a Re- 
 prefentation of that Death, which makes all our Ser- 
 vices acceptable unto God, and is the principal way 
 and means whereby Salvation is 'procured for us. 
 This, I fay, .was their daily Pradicc ^ and God be 
 praifed that we have lived to fee this holy Ordinance 
 to be had in fo high refpeft, at it is at prefent 
 amongft us. 
 
 As it may well make us Melancholy, to reflect up- 
 on thofe unhappy Times, when all things being in dif- 
 order and contuiion, the Sacrament was not admini- 
 ftred in many Places for Twenty Years together : So it 
 may well, on the other hand, beget within us a fe- 
 cret pleafure, to obferve how much things are now 
 mended with us in this Refpeft ^ and what Zeal has 
 of late been exprefled to' bring thi Sacrament into 
 repute agsin, and with what Succefs. 
 
 Great has been rbe variety of Books which have been 
 worte upon this Subjeft ; wherein the Nature of the 
 Sacrament has been fully explained : Wherein is has 
 been Ihown, what Qualifications are neceflary for 
 the receiving of it, and wherein all manner of Doubts 
 and Scruples, which were wont to difcourage Men 
 from attending on it, have been thoroughly difcufied 
 and anfwered- And as there have been fome Religi- 
 QUS Perfons who, at their own Charge, have diftri- 
 
 tuted
 
 *o Primitive Chriflianity Revived. 
 
 buted federal of thefe Books amongft thofe of the 
 meaner fort : So there have been others, who have 
 taken care to eftablifh Sermons in feveral Churches 
 of this City, on purpofe to exhort Perfons of all 
 Sorts and Conditioners frequent the faid Ordinance, & 
 to (how them the danger, when they are fo earneftly 
 invited to partake thereof, of wilfully keeping from it. 
 
 Which things have had fo good an effect amongft 
 us, that Communicants are multiplied in moft Places. 
 And fuch a Spirit of Devotion is raifed, that in fome 
 Chnrches the Sacrament is adminiftred every Sunday 
 in the Year, and does never want at fuch Times its 
 devout and conftant Attendants. This therefore is 
 a Third Inftance of Primitive Chriftianity being re- 
 vived amonlgft you, that you do continue ftedfaftly 
 in breaking of Bread, as well as in the Apoftles Dottrie 
 and Prayer. 
 
 But there is another inftance ftill behind ; where- 
 in youfeem to make near approaches unto the Pri- 
 mitive Practice. And that is; Fellowflrip. 
 
 The Learned Dr. Hammond has from Rom. xv. 
 26. and from other Places of the New Teftament, 
 as weft as from profane Authors, (hown, that the 
 word Ka/ran*, which we here render Fellowjljip^ fig- 
 nifies the Communication of the good things which 
 every one injoyed towards the Relief of others. And 
 there is nothing for which tie firft Converts unto Chri- 
 ftianity were more remarkable, than they were for 
 this. For in the 44^ far. of this ii- Ch. of the A&* 
 of the Apoftles, it is faid; That all that believed were 
 together , and had all Things common ; And j old thtir Pof- 
 fefflons and Goods, ar.d parted them to all Men, as every 
 Man had need. And Ch. iv. ver. 34. Neither was 
 there any amongft thsm that lacked: Far as many as 
 were foffeffe d of Lands, or Horfes, fold them, and brought 
 the Prices of the Things that were fold ; And laid them 
 flown at the Apoftles feet^ and DiftrivHtion was made 
 ttnto every Man according as he had need. Such was 
 their Joy, for their llnderitandings being inlighten- 
 ed with the knowledge of all faving Truths. So in* 
 
 flamed
 
 Primitive Chrrjtianity Revived. I C 
 
 flamed were their Hearts with the Love of their blef- 
 fed Saviour, that they thought they never could give 
 away enough to teftifie their Gratitude for what He 
 had done and 'fuffer'd for them. They could not 
 think it fit t'^at any of thofe for whom Chriftdied 
 ftould live in penury and want, whilft they fwom 
 in plenty and affluence themfelves. And therefore, 
 they not only gave away all the ready Money which 
 they had ; but likewife freely parted with the very 
 Inheritance which was left them by their Anceftors. 
 Sold both their Lands and Houles, that fo they 
 might be always fnrnilhed wherewith to fupply the 
 Neceffities of Chrift's indigent Saints. 
 
 Such was the Malice both of jews and Gentiles a- 
 gainft the New Converts, that the Poorer of them 
 muft neceflarily have ftarved, had they not been re- 
 leived by their richer Brethren. And therefore, ra- 
 ther than fuffer the Poor Members of Chrift to ftarve, 
 their Richer Brethren chofe to truft Providence for 
 the Maintenance of themfelves and Families, by giv- 
 ing others an equal mare of their own FofTeffions. 
 And in this they exactly obfcrved their Teachers Di- 
 rections, who fo often told them : Tbxt if God fo loved 
 them^ by fending Ins Son to die for them^ they ought in 
 like manner to love^cne another. 
 
 And here I cannot but rejoice to obferve how well 
 it may be faid of theChriftiansof.this City and Na- 
 tion, what was fpoken of thofe in the Primitive 
 Times, Behold, how they Love one another. For there 
 never were greater Instances of true Chriftian Chari - 
 ty, than are at this time amongft us. We. have no 
 need, God be thanked, to fell all, and to give, to 
 the Poor. Christianity is the eftablilhed Religion 
 of our Country, which, by good wholefome Laws, 
 has mdde a tolerable Provifioq for all fuch as are in 
 real Want. And therefore the great Commendati- 
 on of our Charity is, that we are generous and kind 
 oat of Choice, and not Compulfion. And have found 
 out fome of the molt ufeful ways of being Benefactors 
 to the diftreflcd part of Mankind, as can be imagined 
 Or coiiceived. \V ic '
 
 Primitive Chrifliantty Revived. 
 
 Witnefs that Corporation of Clergy- JMens Sons^ C- 
 ftablifhed on purpofe for the Relief of the Widows 
 and Children of fiich Clergy-Men, whofe either (len- 
 der Income, or great Charge, or perhaps in fome 
 Cafes Mifmanagement, would not fuffer them at their 
 Deaths to leave any fuitable, if any Provifion at all 
 for them. 
 
 Witnefs that other Corporation lately founded for 
 the Propagation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts ; where 
 Men of publick Spirits, cheerfully throw in their 
 Contributions for the helping forward fo good aWork. 
 
 Witnefs thofe Charity-Schools, which daily increafe 
 throughout the whole Kingdom *, wherein the Chil- 
 dren of the meaner fort are, at the Charge ofwell- 
 difpofed Perfons, taught to Read, Write, caft Ac- 
 compt fay their Prayers^ and Catechifra, and from 
 whence many of them are placed Apprentices to fome 
 honeft Trade. 
 
 Witnefs thofe Private Societies of Serious Chriftians, 
 who fpare neither their Pains, nor their Purfes, in 
 finding out Ways and Means, for the utter Extirpation 
 of Ignorance and Error out. of Mens Minds, and for 
 the Reformation of their Lives and Manners. 
 
 And Witnefs that never to be forgotten mftance 
 of Princely Bounty, whereby fb many of thofe who 
 Minifter at the Altar of God, being freed from a 
 great deal of Care arnd Dillraftion in their Family Con- 
 cerns.will be move at leifure to attend upon holyThings, 
 and will be better fnrnifh'd with due helps to make 
 improvement in allChiiftianKnowledge,to theEveriaft- 
 ing Welfare both of their own and other Mens Souls. 
 
 And thus have I endeavoured to reprefent to you 
 the happy Circumftances you are in, in thofe feveral 
 refpefts for which the primitive Chriftians were fo 
 eminent in. the Apoftles Days. And this is a proper 
 Meditation for us at this time, when we are met to- 
 gether to celebrate our Saviour's Victory over ail 
 our Spiritual Enemies, and to commemorate the ft - 
 nifhing ftroak which was given to our Redemption, 
 by his Refurrection from the Dead. 
 
 Since Clubs of Atheiitical and Profane Livers, take
 
 Primitive Chriftianity Revived. I 3 
 
 of much pains to vilifie his Glorious Undertaking 
 for us, and to bring it into- Contempt ; It is highly 
 fit, that on fuch Days as thefe, we fhould publifh to 
 the World what Friends He has, how much their 
 Numbers daily increafe, and what noble Defigns they 
 have in hand, for the baffling all Atheifticai Projects* 
 and for the promoting their Saviour's Honour and 
 Glory as much as they can. 
 
 One of the Artifices whereby the Enemies to Chri- 
 ftianity endeavour to encreafe their Party, is, by giv- 
 ing out that all People are alike Wicked, and that 
 there is not fo much as a Virtuous Man or Woman to 
 be found any where. This they think juftifies their 
 own Praclice, and will help to infnare unftable Souls 
 into the Commifllon of the fame Impieties, of which 
 they are made to believe the reft of Mankind 
 are all guilty. But fuch weak Artifices wont impofe 
 upon any of thofe who are heartily concerned in 
 promoting any of the forementioned Defigns. 
 Such as thefe are far from thinking themfelves ingaged 
 in a declining Caufe. Defer ters from the Tents of the 
 ungodly come frequently into their Camp; snd they 
 and their Allies grow ftrongcr and ftronger every Day. 
 Many of thofeAfiemblies, ^wherein all manner ofWick* 
 edneJTs was wont to be openly tranfacted, are quite 
 broken. And Defigns are forming, (rot without good 
 hopes of fuccefsj to undermine and blow up the reft. 
 Nay, feveral of Satan's Party, out of mere fhame, arc 
 constrained to pay Contributions towards the De- 
 ftru&ion of his Kingdom-, and how then can it 
 long ft and ? 
 
 What therefore remains, but that I earncftly exhort 
 you all, and efpecially you of this Neighbourhood, that 
 by the ufe of thofe Bleilings which God has been 
 pleafed to beftow on you, you afpirc after Perfed, ,n as 
 much as you can,and drive to grow every Day more and 
 i^ore in Grace, and in the Knowledge 'and Love of 
 our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. 
 
 The Piimitive Chriltiar.s hsd very UdiiFcrem Flactfe 
 to meet in for Fublick Woi (hip. An upper Rccrn in 
 nd Bartholomew Fairs. 
 
 feme
 
 Primitive Chrifli^fity Revived. 
 
 fome Private Family, was 'the beft Conveniency they at 
 
 firft had- You of this Neighbourhood have an band- 
 
 fome Building -et apart on purpofe for that ufe. And 
 
 I am willing to believe, that it is a pleafure to you to ob- 
 
 ferve how decently it is adorned, and 
 
 The church of st. tnat y OU never thought any Money 
 
 S&3 JMJB , betrer beftow . e ' d > than ? hat r as give f n 
 
 for that Service. Be fure then to af- 
 fonb>e often in it for attendance upon the slpoftles 
 Doftrine, for Prayer, for breaking of Bread^ and for fd- 
 lowjbip. 
 
 You have here the Scriptures conftantly read to you.} 
 and although you have not the beft Preaching, yet i 
 hope I may have leave to fay, that you have noc 
 theworft. We do as well as we can; and one thing 
 you may be fure of, that nothing but the Apoftles 
 Doctrine is prtacbed to you. Let not then any ufeful 
 Inftrudion which you btdr from s, be flighted and 
 contemned by you-, but let it link down deep into your 
 Hearts, and become a principle of Life and Action 
 within you.- 
 
 If any thing that we fay is dire&ly contrary to thofe 
 Vices which you are moft fond of: If at any time we 
 recommend thofe Duties which have been along while 
 neglected by you: Inftead of Vilifying and rejecting 
 what is faid upon fuch Occafions.take care to im'nd it fo 
 much the more. And never to be eafie within your 
 felves until what you find, by fuch Suggeft ions from the 
 Pulpit, to have been amifs, be fufficieatly corrected and 
 amended for the time to come. For it is then only 
 that you continue in the Apoftles Doctrine to good 
 purpofe, when by the Preaching thereof a thorough Re- 
 formation of Lives and Manners is wrought amongft 
 you, and you are fo transformed in your Minds, as to 
 approve and pradtife what is that acceptable and per- 
 fect Will of God. 
 
 As for publick Prayer^ you have them read thrice r, 
 very Sunday and f "twice every Day in the Week bc- 
 fidei. And as many do conftantly attend thereon, fo it 
 
 t <# Eleven in ths Ma nhig. at Scvfn in tkc Evtrirg, 
 
 were
 
 Primitive Ckriftianity Revived. A 
 
 were to be wifted, that others did the like. Nay IE 
 might be a. great Ad vantage to thofc who have moftBu- 
 finefs,if they borrowed n<>vv andthenafewMinucesfrom 
 it, and fpent them here in follidting for aBkfling upon 
 all their Affairs. For fuch Perfons might have Reafon 
 to hope for much better Succefs in all theirRighteouslla- 
 dertakings than perhaps they often meet with. 
 
 As for the Sacrament of the Lorcfs'Suppr.-,. it * s (ac'cording to 
 the general Ufage of the Town) every Month adminiftred 
 amougft you. And you have as often a Ser- 
 mon on purpofe to invite you to it. Don't In the Evening 
 then let any Excufes tempt "any of you to ihy of the loft Sun- 
 wholly away from, or to come but fcldom to day of every 
 it. Whatever thofe Excufes are, they have been Month. 
 anfwer'd again and again. And the moft ef- 
 feftual Arguments as could be thought of, have been ufed to 
 Ihow you the Neceifity of attending on this Ordinance. And 
 therefore it will be more tolerable at the Day of Judgment 
 for the Inhabitants of other Places, where no fuch Sennoss 
 are preached, to be guilty of any neglecl: with refpeft to it, 
 than it can be for you, who are fo earneftly invited and fo of- 
 ten prefled to be made partakers of it. 
 
 As to the laft Particular, the continuing in Feffevfbif. Go on 
 Ibefeechyou, to imitate the Primitive Chriftians in this as 
 in other Things. 
 
 You have now always in your view, one 
 of the moft commendable ways of being f/J. Ad-vertifa- 
 Charitable as can be well contrived. And went. 
 you may be morally aflured, that whatfoever 
 is given to fo good an End and Purpofe, fhall be very carefully 
 laid out. We have now, by the help of forne Quarterly Sub- 
 Icriptions, and the Collections at the Church Doors, in fome- 
 what above a Years Time, put out Thirteen Boys Apprentices 
 and have a'Fund at prefent in ftore to diipole c'f t'iree or four 
 more. And feveral of thefe are fo well placed, that their 
 Matters are as great Benefactors in receiving them, as you in 
 contributing towards their putting out. For being Perfons 
 of good Subttance, they could eafily have had a much better 
 allowance with their Apprentices, than \vhat fcrves only to 
 buy them a few good Cloaths. But your Charity has provoked 
 theirs, and they hope that they fhall thrive the better for ta- 
 king thofe into their Families at a very eafie Rate, who by the 
 help of Charity were firft religioufly educated, and are now 
 by the help of Charity bound out. 
 
 May God infpire if into the Minds of others to do the like 
 And that inH-ead of greedily hunting after a grer.r deal of Mo- 
 ney with Apprentices, thofe that are of good Abilities may 
 now and then pick out of thefe Charity Schools fuch Youths, as- 
 by reafon of their towardly Behaviour, and the i;cqd Inftruc- 
 tions which they have had there, are moft likely to be faithful 
 in Bufincis, ana to feiye them befl:. W*
 
 1 6 Primitive Chriftianity Revived. 
 
 We take care, as often as we can, to bring thefe Apprentices 
 to attend this Sacrament Sermon, that fo they may the better 
 remember unto whom they are beholden for the Profpeft they 
 have of living comfortably in the World. And when \ve fee 
 them, it cannot but be a great pleafure to us all to think ; 
 That thefe, in Time, may be Matters, ufeful Citizens, ay, 
 Benefactors to this Charity, and may fljow themfelves as 
 Zealous in furthering fo ufeful a Defign, as they have been 
 who laid the nVft Foundation of it. 
 
 Let nothing therefore difcourage you, my Brethren, but 
 goon cheerfully in, the promoting of it. If , the Times are 
 bad, this is one good way of helping to mend them ; and for 
 this your Labour of Love, future Generations will call you 
 Blefled. Confider likewifb within your felves, that no Day in 
 the Year can be more fit for V<(orks of Charity than this where- 
 in you commemorate our Saviour's Refurreftion from the 
 Dead, For how can you better obey the Apoflles Exhortati- 
 on in feeking, upon the account of fuch his Refurreftion, 
 the Thingfth.it are above, than by freely parting with fome of 
 the Things here beneath, in Gratitude for wha{ your Blefled 
 Vaviour has dfcmeforyou. 
 
 As therefore you have, on this Day, already continued in 
 the sfpoft/cs Doftrine, hi Prayer, and in Breaking of Bread ; Be 
 lure to conclude it with continuing in FcUovefiip too. Let 
 no one depart hence without fhewing fome Readinefs to 
 conform to the primitive Pra&ice in this refpeft, as well as 
 the former. That fo having by this Means, during our abode 
 in' this Woi Id, imitated thole Glorious Saints which are gone 
 before us in Afts of Piety, Charity, and every other Chriftian 
 Duty required of us, we may at laft attain the fame Blefled 
 Refurreftion, and live together with them in the fame Man- 
 fions of Bill's and Glory from Everlafting to Everlafting. 
 
 A 1) 7 E ^ T I S E M E N T. 
 
 THERE being now, by the^ kindnefs <?/ <a>ell-difpofed Perfovs, 
 ff-veral Charity-Schools 'eftablifhed in this famw.s City of 
 London, Tfhcre the Children of the poorer fort arc tai'^ht to read, 
 to /rvrv, and to fay their Catechiftn, to Write, and to cnfi Accompt ; 
 but thtre Ishig no fujjiciciit Prov/'/ton, as yet, made for the putting 
 of tl::\"c (who are thus taught) to be Apprentices to fome hon^jt 
 Call'.rg ; 
 
 Tli; G:n:umtn who for many Tears have, at their own Charge, 
 mint .lined a Mtntbly E^^mng-Lcctvre in the Church of St. Ed- 
 mund the King in "Lombard -ftrett, for the exhorting of all Per- 
 fens to freymnt the Holy Communion, do frofofe to pick out of theft 
 'Charity-Schools (uch'-Tourhs a; arc the mojt hopeful, and to tak2 
 th? Trouble of fading out Proper Ma.fi ers for as many of them as, by 
 th; Su&fcripti'atts n-/./J; they jlj'/ ob^'ii, and the CoU&'ms v>h'^ 
 iKiil be ma&'at the Cb&cb-door, th:y llall be inabhdto place tuf. 
 
 t I N i S.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
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 >133 -Primitive 
 .00 Christian it: 
 revived 
 
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