Bow, and Piety and Devotion, the great End and Degfin of their Inftitution, is fo much neglected? Upon this Occafion, I think it a great Piece of Juftice to acknowledge and commend the Pious and Devout Practices of the Religious Societies; who in this Point, as well as in many others, diftinguish themselves by their regular Conformity and Obedience to the Laws of the Church; for they conftantly attend the public Affemblies upon fuch holy Seafons. And till they can communicate regularly in their own Parish Churches upon fuch Days, they embrace thofe Opportunities that are provided, there being two Churches St.Mary le in London employed for that Purpose; where St. Dun- they as duly receive the Blessed Sacrament upon all Festivals, as they perform all the other Acts of public Worship. How they spend the Vigils, in preparing their Minds for a due Celebration of the enfuing Solemnity, is more private, but not lefs commendable. And the great Care they take to fupprefs the Dawnings of Enthusiasm, and to discountenance the firft Appearances of any vicious Practices amongst their Members; and the Methods they impofe before Delinquents are entirely reconciled or totally rejected, is fuch a Preparation of the Minds of the Laity for the Reception of that Difcipline which is wanted in the Church, that if ever we are blessed with what good Men fan in the Weft. Societies, wish for, and bad Men fear, thefe Religious Societies will be very inftrumental in introducing it, by that happy Regulation which prevails amongst them. And while they pay View of that Deference they profefs to their Parochial Religious Minifters, and are ready to be governed by Ord. iii. their Directions, and are willing to fubmit their Rules and Orders to the Judgment of the Reverend Clergy; I cannot apprehend but that they must be very ferviceable to the Intereft of Religion, and may contribute very much to revive that true Spirit of Chriftianity, which was fo much the Glory of the Primitive Times. And I fee no Reason why Men may not meet and confult together, to improve one another in Chriftian Knowledge, and by mutual Advice take Measures how best to further their own Salvation, as well as promote that of their Neighbours; when the fame Liberty is taken for the Improvement of Trade, and for carrying on the Pleasures and Diverfions of Life. And if at fuch Meetings they shall voluntarily fubfcribe any certain Sums to be difpofed of in fuch Charities as fhall Seem moft proper to the Majority of their Members, I cannot imagine how this can deferve Cenfure, when the liberal Contributions of Gentlemen to fupport a Horfe-Race or a Mufic-Meeting bave never been taxed with the leaft Illegality. And 73. And as for thofe Objections which are urged against thefe Societies from fome Canons of Can. xii. the Church; they seem to be founded upon a Mifunderstanding of the Senfe of thofe Canons; the first whereof was defigned against the pernicious Opinions of the Anabaptifts, and the latter only against fuch Meetings and Confultations, as tended to the impeaching or depraving of the Doctrine of the Church of England, of the Book of Common-Prayer, or any Part of the Government and Difcipline now establied in the Church of England; neither of which Confequences can justly be charged upon a Body of Men, who make it a chief Qualification in the electing their Members, that they View of be fuch as own and manifeft themselves to be Religious of the Church of England, and frequent the Ord. ii. public holy Exercises of the fame. Societies, I have, for the Sake of those who not only own the Principles of the Church, but are refolved to give the best Proof of it by their regular Conforming to the Laws of that Society whereof they are Members, endeavoured to give fome fort Account of each Festival and Fast, and have offered fuch Heads of Meditation, as may, if thoroughly digefted, contribute to their Improvement in most of the Virtues of a Chriftian Life. They that are acquainted with Ecclefiaftical Hiftory, know what imperfect Sketches we base bave of many of the blessed Apostles, and that of that kind are collected with fo much Learning and Judgment by my worthy Friend the Reve- rend Dr. Cave, that whatever I have advanced upon their Festivals, without Quotations, may be found in bis Lives of the Apostles; from whene I have taken the Liberty to borrow what I thought might contribute towards the perfecting my Defign; the Criticisms of their Hiftory, which are omitted, are more proper to enter- tain the Curiofity of the Learned, than the Devotions of well-difpofed Minds. And indeed what Arguments can prevail upon Men, to engage them to keep a Conscience guish themselves, by what is properly their Glory; but if we defign to attain that Happinefs the bleffed Saints now enjoy, we must tread in their Steps; and to acquire true Firmness and Refolution of Mind, we must propound for our Imitation the Examples and Patterns of thofe holy Men gone before us, who in their refpective Ages have given remarkable Teftimonies of their Faith in God, and conftant Adherence to his Truth. Among thofe crying Abominations, which like a Torrent bave overspread the Nation, this Age feems to diftinguish itself by a great Contempt of the Clergy, than which I think nothing can be a greater Evidence of the decayed State of Religion among us. This barbarous and unchristian Practice, fetting all particular Reafons afide, can be refolved into nothing fo furely, as into that great Loofenefs of Principles, and Corruption of Morals, which bave too much infected all Ranks and Orders of Men; for though it may pass for a current Maxim among fome, that Priests of all Religions are the fame; yet I am of the Opinion, it will appear a much truer Obfervation by Experience, That they of all Religions that contemn the Priesthood, will be found the fame, both as to their Principles and Practice; fceptical in the one, and diffolute in the ether. To remedy, if poffible, this grent Evil, |