the Cause of Religion to be injured and depreffed, and their Country fo much endangered, for want of their giving their feafonable and zealous Affiftance to it, I will not undertake to defcribe. I will only add, That if the Attempts of Reformation, which were began with fo great Disadvantage, have born up under fo many Difficulties, which are carried on by the united Endeavours of fuch Bodies of Men, in the several Parts of this City, are spreading through the Cities and Corporations of the Kingdom, and are propagating in those of Ireland, who have a Communication with one another, are governed by Methods that have been approved by Perfons of great Wisdom, and confummated Judgment, and which have been fo highly fuccefsfull, fhould be defeated by the Industry and Power, the Number and Interest of its Enemies: If, I fay, we fhould fuffer Debauchery and Prophaneness to regain their ground, and to carry the Victory, after the Advances that are thus made towards the Suppreffing of them, and the Encouragements and Advantages we have for the Carrying of them on to fo glorious an Iffue, have we not very great reafon to fear that we may never again have fuch an Opportunity put into our Hands? Can it be thought eafie, humanely fpeaking, to bring the Body of Men together that are now engaged M in in it, to rally and reaffume a Baffled Caufe, wherein they may perhaps be apt to think they may have made a full and difmal experiment of the defperate Aversion and Oppofition of this Generation to Reformation, have, if they have acted therein, and in other parts of their Duty, fincerely, kept the Guilt of publick Wickedness from lying on them, and may have delivered their own Souls? Or is there any probability that this Cause will be revived and fuccessfully retrieved by thofe, whom no Arguments will now prevail on, to concur in the prefent Methods, or to give any other zealous Affiftance to it? And, who is there that believes that there is a Righteous God that governs the World, that will not fear, how Linguine foever fome Men may be upon the firmness of our present Peace and Settlement, that notwithstanding our Councils and Confederacies, we fhall feel the Effects of the high Displeasure of Almighty God, upon whose Bleffing the Stability of our present Peace and outward Profperity does depend; that He will Jer. 5.9. be avenged on fuch a Nation as this? And if this should prove to be our dismal Case, might it not then be faid over us; O ungratefull and rebellious Nation, that wouldeft so provoke infinite Patience and Forbearance, wouldest obftinately refuse so many gracious Offers, contemn fuch various Methods of Mercy,as if thou had'st been desperately refolved upon Deftru ction! ction! O England! England! To what Mifery have thy Sins brought thee! But the Cause of Reformation is God's Caufe, His Providence hath feemed to me to favour the poor Endeavours of it, which are represented in these Papers, and therefore I hope they will, with his Bleffing, fo profper and prevail, that fuch a National Reformation may be effected as may prevent His heavy Judgments falling upon us, And may Almighty God, who is pleased to magnifie his Power in Weakness, for this end mercifully direct and support those who are fincerely engaged in this Glorious Work, give what is faid herein agreeable to his Will fome Succefs in the furthering of it, and graciously pardon any thing in it that may not be acceptable to Him, for the Lord Jefus Chrift's Sake. All Glory to GOD. ERRAT A. Pag. 5. lin. 23. for evil read wicked. p. 21. 1. 3. for Interest r. Interefts. p. 36. 1. 6. dele and. p. 41. 1. 6. for know r. knew. p. ibid. I. 26. for hath r. have. p.47. at the end of the Marginal Note dele p. 66, 67. p. 57.1. s. for do r. doth, p.s 1. 4. for hath r. have. p. 84. 1. 2. for feems r. feem. p. 98. 1. 15. for pervented r prevented. p. 113.1.16. for, hath r. have. p. 135.1.7. for haver. hath. A Bitracts of the Laws against Prophaneness and Debau chery. Blank Warrants against prophane Swearing and Curfing, Drunkenness and Prophanation of the Lord's-day, by Tipling in Publick Houses, and Exercising of Trade. Blank Regifters of fuch Warrants, for the Magiftrates calling of Conftables, Church-Wardens, Overseers of the Poor, &c. to account at the Seffions or otherwise, for the Execution of them, and the application of the Mony thereby levied, to the use of the Poor. Prudential Rules for the giving of Informations to Magiftrates in these cafes. Printed for the ease of all Magiftrates, and the direction of private Perfons, who, in any part of the Kingdom, are religiously engaged in the Glorious Work of promoting a National Reformation: and fold by B. Aylmer, at the Three Pigeons in Cornhill; W. Rogers, at the Sun in Fleetftreet; D. Brown, at the Swan without Temple-Bar 3 and W. Henfhman in Westminster-Hall. An Account of the Societies for Reformation of Man ners. A Sermon Preach'd at St. Mary-le-Bow, to the Societies for the Reformation of Manners: By the Right Reverend Father in God, Edward, Lord Bishop of Gloucester, in 8vo. Price 6 d. A Sermon Preach'd at St. Mary-le-Bow, to the Societies for the Reformation of Manners: By John Hancock,D.D. Chaplain to his Grace the D. of Bedford, in 8°. Price 6 d. A Sermon Preach'd at St. Mary-le-Bow, to the Societies for the Reformation of Manners: By Lilly Butler, Minifter of St. Mary Aldermanbury, in-8°. Price 6 d. A Sermon Preach'd at St, Mary-le-Bow, to the Societies for Reformation of Manners: By Samuel Bradford, Rector of the faid Parish, in 8°. Price 6 d. These Books fold by B. Aylmer in Cornhill, For the more Effectual Promoting the Defign of this Book, is added, An Abstract of the Penal-Laws Against Immorality and Prophaneness, Commanded to be put in Speedy and Vigorous Execution, by His Majefty's Gracious and Pious Proclamation, pursuant to the Humble Address of the Honourable House of Commons. A LL Laws in force the Lord's-Day, fhall be put in Execution: This Day is by every one to be Sanctified and kept Holy; and all Perfons muft be careful herein to exercise themselves in the Duties of Piety and true Religion, Publickly and Privately; and every one on this Day (not having a reasonable Excufe) muft diligently refort to fome Publick place, where the Service of God is exercised, or muft be prefent at fome other Place, (allowed of by Law) in the Practice of fome Religious Duty, either of Prayer, Preaching, Reading, or Expounding of the Scriptures, or Conference upon the fame, 29 Car. 2. Cap. 7. W. & M. 1 Eliz. c. 2. N OTE, That His Majefty's Proteftant Subjects diffenting from the Church of England, and qualified according to the late Statute of Indulgence, are exempted from the Penalties of the Statutes, 3 Jac. 1 Eliz. 23. Eliz. 29. Eliz. and fome other Statutes. But this Indulgence extends not to fuch prophane Perfons who no where attend on the Publiek Worship of God Eftablisht, or allow'd by Law; nor to any that in Preaching or Writing deny the Trinity. |