obliged them hitherto to join in preserving us, seeing these all abandoned and blasted, may either be at best indifferent spectators, or the bigotry that surrounds them may be quickened, by a desire of revenging what they will call the giving them up, to concur in compleating our ruin; which in such a state of things cannot reasonably be thought to be far from us. Besides, if an avow

ed departing from the sacred ties of treaties and alliances is once openly practised, it may prove a fatal precedent. Such maxims are catching and contagious. The woe denounced by the prophets against those that deal treacherously when they are not dealt treacherously with, that when they shall make an end to deal treacherously they shall be dealt treacherously with, may come heavily with a face of retribution, and without pity.

Upon the whole matter, that I may bring this discourse to a conclusion; as our disunion does not only weaken us, but diverts us from that which ought to be our main concern, to the unhappy consequences that follow formed parties; so if we will not take warning from our Saviour's words, that a city or kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, but must come to an end; we have reason to apprehend that such a breach, even without the advantage that an enemy may make of it, will be fatal; while by, our devouring one another, we may come to be consumed of one another: But how much more certain will this be, if we have a watchful and powerful enemy so near us? To whom we may justly apply the character given of the evil spirit, that he goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. But even our union though it may fortify us in the methods of human policy, yet it will not signify

much, unless we do unite in order to our applying ourselves to the great duties of our profession; so as to secure the favour and protection of heaven. We ought not to hope that if we continue still in our sins, and in our security, saying with the Jews, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord! or in the modern stile, the church, the church! we shall not at last fall under the severest of all judgments denounced by St. Paul against the unbelieving Jews, in the words of Isaiah, Go unto this people and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not undertsand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive; for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

To avert all this, let us, the priests and ministers of the Lord, weep before HIM, and say, spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thy heritage to reproach, that the heathen (or idolaters) should rule over them. Wherefore should they say among the people, where is their GOD, where is their church, where is their reformation? In these exercises I desire to employ many of my own hours; and to these I invite all who have a true zeal for GOD and HIS church.

Salisbury, the 5th of November, 1712.

GI. SARUM.

1

ΤΟ

THE QUEEN'S

MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.

May it please your Majesty.

T

HE title of Defender of the Faith is so inherent in the royal dignity, and so essential a part of its security, as well as of its glory, that there was no need of papal bulls to add it to the crown that your Majesty now wears: You hold it by a much better tenure, as well as by a more ancient possession. Nor can one reflect on the Pope's giving it to King Henry the VIII, without remembering what is said of Caiaphas, that being high priest that year he prophesied. For since that time, the true faith hath been so eminently defended by our princes, and that of both sexes, we having had our Pulcheria's as well as our Constantine's, and our Theodose's, that this church has been all along the chief strength and honour of the reformation, as well as the main object of the enemy and spite of those of the Roman communion.

But though your Majesty's royal ancestors have done so much for us, there remains yet a great deal to be done for the compleating of our reformation, especially as to the lives and manners of men. This will most effectually be done by obliging the clery to be more exemplary in their lives, and more diligent and faithful in the discharge of their pastoral duty. And this work seems to be reserved for your Majesties, and designed to be the

felicity and glory of your reign. To serve God by promoting this great and glorious design, which is so truly worthy of your Majesty's best care and endeavours, I have purposely written this treatise, which I do with all humility dedicate and present to your sacred Majesty.

May that God who is the King of kings, and hath blessed us with two such excellent princes, preserve you both long to us, and make you as happy in us, as we are in you: May you reign over us till you have accomplished all those great designs for which God hath raised you up, and with which He hath filled your hearts: And may this church be made by your means the perfection of beauty,.. and the joy of the whole earth.

These are the daily and most fervent prayers of,

· May it please Your Majesty, '

Your Majesty's most Loyal,

Most Humble, and most Obedient,

Subject and Chaplain,

T

The Preface.

HIS subject how important soever in itself, yet has been so little treated of, and will seem so severe in many parts of it, that if I had not judged this a necessary service to the church, which did more decently come from one, who, how undeserving soever he is, yet is raised to a post that may justify the writing on so tender a head; I should never have undertaken it. But my zeal for the true interests of religion, and of this church, determined me to set about it: Yet since my design is to correct things for the future, rather than to reproach any for what is past, I have resolved to cast it rather into advices and rules, into plain and short directions, than into long and laboured discourses, supported by the shews of learning and citations from fathers, and historical observations; this being the more profitable, and the less invidious way of handling the subject.

It ought to be no imputation on a church, if too many of those that are dedicated to her service, have not all the characters that are here set forth, and that are to be desired in clergymen. Even in the apostle's days there were false apostles, and false teachers; as one of the twelve was a traitor, and had a devil. Some loved the pre-eminence; others loved this present world to a scandalous degree. Some of those that preached christ, did it not sincerely, but out of contention: (Phil. 1. 16.) they vied with the apostles, and hoped to have carried away the esteem from them, even while they were suffering for the faith: For envying their credit, they de