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CONTAINING g An Abſtract of the Penal-Laws againſt
Prophaneneſs and Vice.
A Form of the Warrants iſſued out upon Of- fenders againſt the ſaid Laws. 5 Directions to Inferior Officers in the Execution of their Office. Prudential Rules for the giving of Informations to the Ma- | giſtrates in theſe Caſes, e . A Specimen of an Agreement for the Forming of a Soci for Reformation of Manners in any City, Town, or larger Village of the Kingdom. | And Her Majeſty's Proclamation for Preventing and Puniſh- ing Immorality and Prophaneneſs; and the late Act of Parltament againſt prophane Swearing and Curling.
To which is added, | 8
An Account of the Progreſs of the Reformation of Manners in England and Ireland, and other parts of the World.
—
Work. AND THE
*
4 Help to a National Reformation. GA. by
With Reaſons and Directions for our Engaging in this Glorious
Special Obligations of Magiſtrates - To be diligent in the Ereention of the Pengl-Laws againſt | tional Reformation.
Some Conſiderations offered to ſuch unhappy Perſons
Uncleanneſs, and are not paſt Counſel. |
Printed for the Eaſe of Magiſtrates, Miniſters, and Inferior Offi- cers, and the Direction and Encouragement of private Perſons, who in any part of the Kingdom, are engaged in the Glorious
. Work of Reformation, or are Religiouſly diſpoſed to contri. o bute" their Endeavours for the Promoting of it.
Prophaneneſs and Debauchery, for the Effecting of a Na-
as are guilty of prophane Swearing and Curſing, Drunkenneſs, and | |
"The Fifth Edition with great Aoditions,
—
LONDON, Printed and Sold by Joſeph Downing in Bart bolmem⸗-
*
| F = Ale, near Weſt -ſmithfield, 1706,
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AS ve bave unqueſtionable Authority on our Religion, our Laws and our Government, for the applynig our ſelves' to the Promoting of 4 National Reforma- tion; and have the great Encouragement, for our ſetting our ſelves heartily to this pions- Work, of 'a publick Approbation, Y a con- ſiderable Number of the Lords Spiritual ant Temporal , and Honourable Judges of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, of the Methods by which the Reformation - hath been carried on, for ſeveral Tears paſt, with great Succeſs, in both theſe Kingdoms ; and have moreover the Example and Aſſiſtance of ſo many Bodies of Men as are now engaged in it, in ſeveral Parts of the Nation, and
* which, for ſome Months paſt, have ſo exceed-
FA ig
The Preface.
ingly encreas d in our Cities and Corporations;
as to give us hopes, that Societies for Re- formation will now, in, 4 very little time, be carrying on through alt Parts of the King- dom, end 4 Reformation of Manners very far advanc & So there are publiſhed in theſe | Papers ſuch plain and full Directions for all | Perſons. to give their Aſſiſtance in this Noble | Undegtaking, that tis to be hoped that Men will not now eaſy find any Juſt Excuſes, un- der theje Encouragements and Advanteges,: for their declining to aſſiſt in it, one way, or other, who have either 4 Love to God, or. Charity. to Man, am Juſt Regar d to their Dat), K to. the Welfare of their Country or Paſterity.
. 5 E : ſ ; v1 J 1 CT Ty hy 14 JI 4. T . * 4 1 _ A | + f : - þ * \ * 5 1 ' 8 N : ? . *. Te y 5 {IT * 1 K a may ”_ 5 _ k 0 - n 4 1 Ne 18 awd * A © % 0 ky. * N . 7 x £ * 4 3 1 — . £ 5 a { CY d. 8 5 *
By the QUEEN; A PROCLAMATION,
kor the Encouragement of
IE Tv and VIRTUE,
And for the Preyemtng and Puniſhing. of
Vier ice, ee & Imnoroliy.
F 9 2 WEDEREAS on dur Ac- 8 of cellion to the Thzaone, Me N thou tit, by the Ad⸗ A vice af Dur K Coun⸗ al to. Jilue out Dur 20 POE ) Royal Pioclamation. for Gy the Encouragement of Piety and Virtue, ne. fo? me preventing and Puniching ol Mes Prophaneneſs, and Immorali ; © And whereas We have dern WO hat Our Ps :
as: ac
= *
By the QUE E N,
mentioned in the laid Proclamation have not been executed accozding to Our jult Erpeita- tion and Command 3 We molt ſerioudy and religioufly conſidering, That it is an
indiſpenfible Duty on Us, to be careful,
above all other things, to preſerve and ad- vance the Honour and Scrvice of Almighty God, and to diſcourage and ſuppreſs all Vice, Prophaneneſs, Debauchery, and Immorali- ty, Which are lo highly diſpleaſing to God, ſo great a Repꝛoach to Our Religion and Government, and (by means of the frequent ill Cramples of the Pꝛacticers thereof) have ſo fatal a Tendency to the Cozruption of many of Dur loving Subjects, otherwiſe Rcligioufly and Uirtuoufly diſpoſed, and Which (it not timely remedied) may juſtly draw down the Divine Gengeance on Us and Dur Kingdoms: Me alſo humbly ac- knowledging, That We cannot . expeft the Blelling and Goodneſs of Almighty God (by whom Kings and Queens Reign) and on which We entirely rely) to make Dur Reign happy and p2oſperous to Dur Self and Our People, noꝛ hope to2 the Divine Aſſiſtance to deliver Us from the great and imminent Dangers which Our Kingdoms, and the true Pꝛoteſtant Religion, Ellablich⸗ ed among Us, are in this preſent Juniture threatned with, without a . wo Es rvan
——— — — — —— —ęV—ꝛ —
their own Uirtue
A Proclamation: ſervance of God's poly Laws: To the Jn- tent therefoze that Religion, Piety, and d Hanners may (accozding to Dur molt
arty Deſire) flouriſh and increaſe un- der Our Adminittration and Government, We have thought fit (by the Advice of Dur Pzivy Council) to iſſue this Our Royal Pꝛoclamation, and do hereby declare Dur Royal Purpoſe and Reſolution to difcoun= tenance and puniſh all manner of Vice, Prophaneneſs, and Immorality, in all Perſons of whatſoever Degree oz Quality, within this Dur Realm, and particularly in ſuch as are employed near Dur Royal Perſon3 and that fo2 the greater Encouragement of Religion and Pozality, We will, upon all Occaſions, dillinguiſy Perſons of Piety and Uirtue, Ka Parks of Dur Royal Fa⸗ vour. And We do expeit and require, that all Perſons of Honour, 02 in Place of Authozity, will give good Example by | ad Picty, and to their utmoſt, contribute Fo the diſcountenanc= ing Perſons of diflolute and debauched Lives, that they being by that Means re. duced to Shame and Contempt, foz their looſe and evil Actions and Behaviour, may be thereby alſo enforced the ſooner to refoznr their ill Habits and Praſtices, and that the viſible Diſpleaſure or god Yen towards
them,
- * *
By the QU E E N.
them, map (as far as it is poflibie) ſup What the Laws (probably) cannot altoget 1 . nd We do hereby Uriitly enjoyn mohibit all our loving SUIS of whats * ce 02 7 15 ſoever, from Play⸗ ing Hor *'+da Dice, Cards, oz any othie ame in [ſdover, either in Publick 02 P2ivate poules, ** other Place oꝛ Places Whatfoerer 3 and do hereby require and com- mand them, and every of them, decentl and ei to attend the — Sod on every L02d's-day, on Pain of highell Di h deen and of being —.— ie by Lat the ufmoſi Kigour that ma K
g of Al fry Palees (be by ming of a ons, teaſon of 1195 di oute Lives and Con⸗ Toh, Gu are a dal to Dur King furthe 15 Pieaſure is, and We 2 N e and Command os Sheriffs, Juftices of the 5 mln * all other Dur Officers Pini ne Eccleſiaſlical and Civil, — 1 other Dur Subjeits whom it may oncern, to be very vigilant and frift in the e and the etfeſtual Pꝛoſecution and ient of all -Perfons who ſhall be Salt excelſive Drinking, Blaſphemy, Pro- ane Swearing aud Curſing, Leu dneſs, Pro- Pha
lute,
on of the | pl 02 other Diſfo-
02 otheꝛ Publick Houſes whatſorver, from
A Proclamation.
inte; Immozal, o Diſozderly Prafticess wp that they take care — my y to fup -pouſes ,, Pub. lick Gaming Þouſes _ 7 and other
di loꝛderly Houſes; and to put in Execution
the Statute made in the Nine and Twen. tieth Peaz of the Reign of Dur late-Royal Uncle King Charles the Second, JIntituleds An Act for the better Obſervation of the Loidg⸗ day, commonly called Sunday ; and alſo an At of Parliament made in the Ninth Bear of the Keign of Dur late dear Bzother Ring William the Third, Jntituled, An Act for the more effeQual Suppreſſing of Blaſphemy an ns 5 = on Rang L406 now- in
ozce foꝛ uniching an ppreſliing p of the Gices afozetaid 3 and alſo to preſs and pzevent all Gaming what⸗ ſoever in Publick 02 Pꝛivate Houſes on the
L02d's-day 3 and likewiſe that they take ef-
titual Care to prevent all Perſons keeping Taverns, Chocolate-Houſes, Coffee-Hontes;
felling Wine, Chocolate, Coffee, Ale, Beer, 02 other Liquoꝛs, 02 receiving 02 permitting
Gueſts to be 02 remain in ſuch their Þouſes
on the Lozd's-day, (except in caſe of Neceſ- 1 and Charitp) as they Will anſwer it to m high ſpleaſure. and foz the mane ek⸗ | fectual
{mighty God, and upon pain ok Dar lt Di
3
By the Q U E E N, fefual pꝛoceeding herein, We do hereby direct and command all Dur Judges of
ſtrict Charges at their reſpective Alliz es and Sellions, fo2 the due Pꝛoſecution and Puniſhment of all}Þerſons that all pꝛeſume to offend in any the kinds afoꝛelaid, andalſo of all Perſons that, contrary to their Tn ſhall be remiſs 02 negligent in putting th {aid Laws in Execution; and that they do at their reſpective Allizes and Quarter- Seſſions of the Peace, cauſe this Dur Pꝛo⸗ clamation to be publickly read in open Court, immediately bekoze the Charge is given. And TWe do hereby further charge and command every Yiniſter in his reſpe- ctive Pariſh-Church o2 Chappel, to read, N2 cauſe to be read, this Dur Proclamation at leaſt Four times in every Pear, 1mme- diately after Divine Service, and to incite and ftir up their reſpective Auditozies to the Pꝛactice of Piety and Uirtue, and avoid- ing of all Jmmozality and P2ophaneneſs. And to the end that all Uice and Oebauchery may be prevented, and Religion and Uiz- tue pꝛactiſed by all Officers, pzivate-Sol- diers, Mariners, and others, Who are em- ploped in Dur Service, by Sta 02 Land,
ut do hereby ſtꝛictly charge and command all Dur Commanders and Officers . f kver,
Allize, and Juſtices of the Peace; to give
—
A Proclamation.
ſocver, that they do take care to avoid all P2ophaneneſs, Debauchery, and other Im- mozalities and that by their own good and virtuous Lives and Converſations they do ſet god Examples to all fuch as are under their Care and Authoaty, and
likewiſe take Care of and inſpect the Beha- viour of all ſuch as are under them, and to punich all thoſe who Call be guilty of any the Offences afozeſaid, as they will be
anſwerable fo2 the ill Conſequences of their Neglect herein.
Given at our Court at St, James's the
Five and Twentieth Day of February, 1702. In the Firſt Year of Our Reign.
G O D Save the QUEEN.
Ln Me. it... cud
27 1 H. E. Ve s
Eg A 3 Societies * e © Reformation e 1G 3 .
He Mviah) rand: the late Kings Approb ation and Count exnance of them.” 07 Bf 3- The \ Great a Publick dpproburioes aber hang e . 40 cee. nen
them i
TOE their nhoſe Conn woes.
ul P45 4 75 '® g, x0, 7X reh 05326. Perſwafroe to a zealous Concurrence in promoting,
p. 1 88, 2. . aud axac- countable ibid. 'A ſhort Schewe L wich Diretia how.
to promote it the moſt ck. p. 20, au, a. The Reverend the Bir Recommenilativn.of
tbe Societies to their Cle p. 23, 24. The Teferior Clergy liretftail rie Right Rever Reverend. - the Biſhops to exrite the Laity to give Informa-
| Frog to The Marat, —— pos 2 5
* . Ne "ng p 4
The Contents.
E — er mou a
and _—
* 0. 27 7 Ser A it 55 5
. i'd,
The Zh Lee tutor of = of our Right Reverend = Biſbeps — other Dignitaries of the Church con- + cerming Societies. p. 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 738. 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, '45, 46, 477 &c.
Te G Hruct tons to thu Deſgu, and the Miſchief chap:
1 ae, fuck auff Tae 4 give ubem, repreſented. S p. 66.
-phinted Aa Sent moſt.
„ Counties ef England ivite geod Chriſtiuns
10 give them lufurmat iaus againſt\ prophant and
ve Ferſant, un previ fhew ee ue! N At Waden r bk Wear
The Keb — of ſach Magiſtrates 46 at? contrary to their Olligations and printed Orders.
. hidi ibid. The good je of buying.up and dupecfngef the Books © relating" to fefor mation. Pp. 70, 71.
nue da and: Commiſſion of @ Jalbice: of \the- Peace | © 3 l 11 0e P. 72. The- Obligarinn * Ioltize of the: Pace. p. 73,
* . * Sine van « e 24, 7, 76, 77 78. Ibe Oath and Obligations a Cena e. p. 79, do,
81. The |
2
of the Societies. p. - 2
.
The Contents. The Lord Biſhop of London's Circular Letter - *
C Play £4 of his la ls, An for the more effectual Jon prope
Curfing and Swearing. 4, 85, 8 An 22 of the Laws a ROS = Immorality. p. 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92,93, 94,
95, &c. Forms of Warrants in Caſes of prophane Swearing
2 Curſing, Drunkenneſs, and Prophanation . of 5 Lord 8. day. p. 98, 99, 100, Lot. ne; Form of a Re gifter of ſuch Warrants p. 102. Prudential Method, for the giving of Informations. P. 103, 104.
A Specimen of an Agreement for the forming of a Society for Reformation of Manners. p. 105, 106, 107, 1
Some Confiderations offered to ſuch as are guilty of Perophaue Swearing and Curfing. p. 109, 110,111, 112, 113, 114.
To ſuch as are guilty of Drunkenneſs. p. 115, 116, 117.
Ti .ſuch as are guilty of Uncleanneſs p. 118, 119, 120, 121, 122.
The Preſentments of the Grand. Juries of divers Coun ties, in relation to the Societies for Reformation
7 Mamers. p. 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, &e.
- -
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| InExctany& IX ET any, And other Parts of the World. T
with Reaſons and Directions for our hearty nt vi IR Proſecutiom of this Qi Woke...
"In 4 Letter 10 4 . 1 n Na. —
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Suppoſe that you have n of the Attempts
that have been made by the Societies for Refarmas' | tion of Manners, for the promoting the Executi- on of the Penal Laws: againſt. Prophaneneſs and Debauchery, begun by ſome few. Perſons of the Church of England, and moſt of them private Men, o reſolved to make their Efforts, and agresck to meet frequently together to concert proper Meaſures, for: n | a _ to 2 Inundation * Vice and that A
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— 5 | | 51 2 An Account of the Progreſs that had broke in upon us, and threatned our Ruine: That the Endeavours of theſe Societies, which are now become ſo numerous, are ſpreading in other far diſtant Nations, and were thus happily begun, have kad a very great Succeſs, by God's Bleſſing, for the Suppreſling of Prophane Swearing and Curſing, Blaſphemy, Prophanation of the Lord's-Day, Drunkenzeſs, and the Un- clearmeſs that was committed in the Infamous Houſes in and about London, and other Parts of the Kingdom; be. and the giving a great Check to the Open Lewaneſ: that was tranſacted, to our high Reproach, in many of the Streets of this great City ; Beſides the great Good that bath been done by them ſince they have enlarged their Deſigns, in promoting the ſincere Prattice of Religion, by their procuring ſo many Books and Papers to be writ for the awakening of Men to a Senſe of their Sins, and Con- cern for their Souls; the exciting of them to 4 conſcien- tious Diſcharge of Family Duty; and the laying open to the World the outragious Diſorders and execrable Im- pieties of out moſt ſcandalous Play- Houſes , with the fatal Effects of them to the Nation in general, and the manifeſt Sin and Danger of particular Perſons frequen- ting of them; and in giving away, at their own Fæpence, a great Number of thoſe Books and Papers that they procured to be publiſhed on ſuch proper Subjetts for the ef- fecting a Reformation; andlaſtly, the promoting of the Edu- cation of Poor Children in the Principles of Religion, and the employing of them (with their Learning) in ſome ſuch Work as may render them more ſerviceable to the Pub- lick. That theſe Attempts for Suppreſſing of Vice and Prophaneneſs, by the Execution of the Laws, have been publickly and ſolemnly Approved by a conſiderable | Number of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Ho- nourable Judges of the Kingdoms of England and Ire- land; and have been recommended occaſionally, and in another manner, by moſt of the other of our Right 8 - | Reverend
—— a
e the Reformation of Manners, 3 Reverend Biſhops, in their Circular Letters, print- ed 1699. (of which I ſhall take ſome farther Notice) But you may not be acquainted, That His late Ma- jeſty having this Affair laid before him by one of his chief Miniſters of State, promiſed the Societies not only his Protection, but Countenance: And that our preſent Illuſtrious QUEEN, ſince the Iſſuing out of Her Proclamations againſt Vice and Prophaneneſs, hath been graciouſly pleaſed to fignifie Her Approbation of this Work: That theſe Endeavours are carryin
on in moſt Parts!of this Kingdom, and in many of thoſe of Ireland, as I could enumerate to you if *twere ne- ceſlary ; and have been applauded and recommended, in a publick manner, as fit to be imitated by other Chriſtian States, by the Commiſſioners of ſeveral French Churches, who were appointed to take this Af- fair into their Conſideration ;and have been lately very
ſolemnly Approved by divers of the Nobility, and
by the Commiſſioners of the General Aſſembly of the Church of Scotland, where this Work is now ſo far advanced, that beſides the Societies for Reformation late- ly ſet up in other Parts of that Kingdom, there were (we are informed) ſome Months ſince, Thirteen of theſe Societies in the City of Edinburgh alone; in which City, the Magiſtrates have upon this occaſion lately erected a new Court againſt Immorality; and that 'tis to be hop'd, that, with Gad's Bleſling, a great part of the Chriſtian World will be influenced here- by, the Account of theſe Societies being already Tran-
flated into the French and High- Dutch Languages, and
hath been ſome time ſince Tranſlating into the Latin, for the Propagating the ſame Glorious Deſign in o- ther Nations; by which means a great part of the World will be ſoon acquainted with this Underta- king, and the Succeſs of it, and it may reaſonably - be expected, will be excited to an Imitation: op
hs this
EDI
4 AJ Account of the Progreſs | this may the rather be hop'd, ſince. the reſtraining of Men from publick Vices, and open Violations of Re- ligion, hath, I think, ever been thought the great In- tereſt and Buſineſs of Government, is what the Laws of civilized Nations, tho' they may be more or leſs ſevere in different Countries, provide againſt, Anci- ent and Modern, Heathen and Chriſtian Legiſlators, Pa- piſts and Proteſtants, Jews and Mahometans agree in; and ſince moreover ſo many learned and pious Per- ſons, in divers parts of Europe and America, are al- ready ſucceſsfully engaged in Promoting of this Work, by Societies, after the Example of England.
A Reverend Divine, who hath been lately in our Northern Plantations in America, by the Encourage- ment of divers of our Biſhops, for the Propagating Chriſtianity there, order'd a whole Impreſſion of the Account of the Societies to be Printed off, and ſent thi- ther, for the promoting a Reformation, by theſe Me- thods, in thoſe Parts of the World. And this Re- verend Perſon the laſt Month told me, that he thinks they have ſince made a more remarkable Reformation there, than is in either of Her Majeſty's Kingdoms.
From the Iſland of Jamaica, Dr. Tod, Rector of St. Thomas in the Vale, tells us, That at a general Meet- iog of the Clergy of that Iſtand at St. Jago de la Vaga Novemb, 27. 1700. by the appointment of their Com- millary, the Clergy, in conjunction with divers of the Gentlemen of that Country, had formed themſelves into a Society for Reformation of Manners, and the Propa- gat.on of Chriſtian Knowledge:, and that the Governour of that Iſland had under his Hand Signed his full Approbation of it, and their Orders.
Tis affirmed by a Perſon of Integrity, who is come over from Flanders, that they have very much ſuppreſ- ied the A orderiy Houſes in Bruſſels, (the Popiſh Prieſts in that City having gone about to the Publick Houſes,
5 ex-
of the Reformation of Manners. 5 exborting them to leave off their Irregularities) as he alſures me they had done the Adfuſick- Houſes, which were generally-Honſes of ill Fame, in Amſterdam in Holland; from whence Monſieur Bonage has wrote to a Perſon in Ireland, to be informed what Progreſs Religion hath, made in that Kingdom ſince Sorteries have been ſet up in it, being it ſeems deſirous, as this Gentleman informs me, to engage himſelf in this Work in Holland, N By a Letter from Switzerland, dated in Octob. 1700; we were acquainted, That an Account of our Societies was tranſlated into the Higb-Dutch Language; and that they were making ſome Progreſs in this Un- dertaxing. N bl From Schafhauſen twas wrote, Jar. 12: 1700. That they rejoiced to hear of our Zeal in England, from an Account of our Societies, which was there tranſlated; and that they had Examples of the ſame ſort of Societies. From Germany we have the following Account from Dr. Franck, Divinity Profeſſor in the City of Hall in Saxony, Jan. 21. 1700. who writes thus to ſome Perſons in this Place: The eminent Succeſs of your Un- dertakings bath been made known in Germany by the Reve- rend Dr. Jablonski, Chaplain to the newly Crowned Kin
of Pruſſia, who hath tranſlated the Account of the Soci-
eties out ef Engliſh into the German Language. Nor bath this Gentleman: Labours in it proved unſucceſsful : For beſides the good it hath done to the Souls of many par- ticular Pcrſpns, who have been awakened thereby to a great er Concern for their Spiritual Edification, it hath had 4 particular good Effect at Norenburgh, in that it hath mig h- tily put forward and cucopraged a Society, conſiſting of 4 great Number of Citizens, who had ſome time before be- gan to meet at each others Houſes upon 4 religious Account, and from a fincere deſire of the Truth; as 4 very worthy Perſon hath, 6 the Requeſt Y them all, acquainted * 9 „ 8 3 | |
*
—
45
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6 An Account of the Pfogreſs From Rotterdam, the famous Monſieur Jurien hearing of theſe Societies, takes Notice in a tranſporting man- ner, in a Letter to a Divine in London, That amidſt the many Societies that were in the World about the Concerns of Gold and Silver, and for bringing the Wealth of the Indies into other Countries, he had at laſt heard a moſt reviving Account of pious Perſons united in very ſucceſsful Methods for the Extirpation of Vice and Prophaneneſs, and the bringing down of the Riches of Heaven; for which he Praiſes God, and conceives great Hopes from hence, that thoſe happy Days may enſue to the Chriſtian World which Holy Souls ſo ardently deſire and long for: | Monſieur Oſtervald (the learned Author of that ex- cellent Book, intitled, A Treatiſe concerning the Cauſes of the preſent Corruption of Chriſtians, and the Remedies thereof.) tells us in a Letter dated April the 6th, 170 1. fromthe Principality of Neuf-Caſtle, That he had print- ed off there an Account of our Societies; and that ſince that was done, the Pious Deſigns formed in England were there approved, &c. And April 11th 170 1, he again ſays, That their Conſiſtory being laſt Week aſ- ſembled, reſol ved to buy up ſome Hundreds of the Print- ed Copies of the Account of the Societies; and that they were ſent to all the Coſiſtories of that State, in order to diſpoſe them to a Reformarion of Manners, and to the ſetring up of Schools; and that the Magiſtrates of Neuf-Caftle were addreſſed too by them for Orders
and Laws againſt Vice and Immorality, which they had
already obtained.
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A Gentleman at St. Gall, in his Letter bearing date the 19th of May 1701. writes to his Friend in Eng- land, That the ſetting up of Societies was recom- mended to a large Synod of Divines, at their late Meet» lag at Zurich, as the beſt Expedient for. the engage- ing Men to a Religious courſe of Life: That the Ac. ; count
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. 4 | 3 | | Gul th 4 "BW of the Reformation of Manners, 7 'count of our Religious Societies, which was tranſlated and Printed at Zurich, was much enquired after: That Orders had been given from other Proteſtant Cantons, for the buying up ſome Numbers of them: That [Monſieur Scherer had put into the German Language the Account of the Societies for Reformation of Manners, which was there in the Preſs, and he hoped would be printed off in a few Days ; that it was, intended to be dedicated to the States; and that Care was ta- ken to make it known all over G In which Country the Pious Dr. Cramner, this Gentleman ſays, expreſſes a great Zeal to fet forward this Work in his Univerſity. ” 3 3 Monſieur de Moos writes from Malans, in the Coun- wy of the Griſont, Sept. 22. 170T, That an Aſſembly. of Divines that met at Jais in that Country the ſecond of that Month, a very advantageous Account of our Deſigns of Reformation had been given them; that they would be laid before the Synod when they met; and thar they deſigned to appoint a Perſon of Learning and Piety, to begin and continue a Correſpondence with one of our Societies in England. An Envoy Extraordinary from one of the greats eſt Princes of Europe, to the Swiſs Cantons, writes in theſe Terms to an Exgliſh Gentleman, in a Letter
dated at BERN Septemb. 10. 1701. 1 have diſcourſed
with the Principal Perſons of this Church and State, and all of them bleſs God for the Succeſs wherewith Hehas Crown- ed the Zeal of your Holy and Religious Societies, and are all of them enclined to enter into a Correſpondence, &c. A Perſon of great Reputation in Switzerland acquaints us, Sept. 18. 1701, That Monſieur Anſillun, who hath a Commiſſion to the Proteſtant Cantons from the King of Denmark, has by Letters to his Correſpondents recommended this Work at Berlin; and that a Propo- fal was there made for Tranflating the Account of the
B 4 Soci-
$ An Account of the Progreſs Societies far Reformation of Manners into the Daniſh and Swedish Languages; and that a Deſign was there laid of ſetting up and carrying on of Societies in Denmark and Sweden, by means of theſe Tranſlations, He goes on thus in the ſame Letter: The Societies in England are in ſuch Eſteem in thoſe Parts, that an the ſixth of Na- vember, 1 701. (their general appointed Faſt-Day} they e —* for the Preſer vation of them in all the Prote- Fant urches in that Country. I hope there is no Eng- liſhman that bath the leaſt ſparks of Love to his Native Country, but will bave in Honour theſe incomparable Soci- eties: If there are any People ſo impudent, as to ſpeak diſ- reſpetfully of them, let them look to it, that it doth not 01 time or other fare with them, as now goes with. (an 44. verſary of the Societies, he means) at Zurich, who, I aw told, is ſo aſhamed of his having oppoſed us, ſince all honeſt Men are on our ſide, that he is reſolved to leave his Native Country, and go with his Family into ſome Foreign Parts. Theſe unparallell d Societies in England are not only to bo regarded for the Honour they bring to their moſt happy Na- tion, but far more for the unſpeakable Good that they cauſe to the Church of Chriſt both at home and abroad, and annun- ciate a more illuſtrious ſtate of the Church of God that is expected by the Converſion of Jews and Gentiles. - Theſe are his Words, and he adds further theſe following: Thus, dear Sir, we nom find all the Helvetick and Rhetick Churches are entirely diſpoſed to propagate Chriſtian Knowledge, punish Vice, and promote true Piety, as the | Honourable Society invite them io. A Mon ſieur Brink, Chaplain to the King of Denmark, wrote March 2. 1701. to a Reverend Divine in this Kingdom, to ſend him the Books relating to Refor- mation here, in order to his ſetting forward the ſame Deſign in that Kingdom; which was accordingly done; whoſe Endeavours therein, we have reaſon gi- ven us to hope, are by this time n x. | I den eee eilte
ef the Reformation of Manners. 9 aſſiſted by ſeveral publick Miniſters at that Court: And we underſtand that there hath been ſome Months paſt tranſmitted into Sweder, and ſeveral other Coun-
tries, the Books of Reformation, for the Promoting
of the Deſign of them likewiſe in thoſe Countries. From Cleftin the Country of the Grixons, the celebra- tedLady Madam Horrenſia de Salis, whom you find honou- rahly mentioned in the Biſhop of Salisburyꝰs printed Letters of Switzerland, in her Letter dated the tenth of March 1702. thus writes: I cannot ſufficiently de- clare how great a Veneration is had for the Church of England, the King, and the Illuſtrious Society, in this Country, by all, in particular by the Clergy. They are eve- ry where prayed for, and remembred,as in our Hearts, ſo in all our Pulpits alſo. I truſt in God (ſays ſhe) that as he had always bis Moſes's, Lots, and Samuels,” that withheld his Wrath, &c. So he will now, in our Days, raiſe up ma- ny ſincere Chriſtians, mbo, by the Example of the Church of England, and of the Illuſtrious Society, will be encourag - ed to promote the Good, and puniſh the Bad, according to the Laws and Cuſtoms of every Country.
From New-England we are told, That great Care hath been there taken ot late for the Puniſhment of Vice and Prophaneneſs by the Methods that are here us d; and a Gentleman in that Country, in his Letter
bearing date April 10. 21902. informs us, That ſeveral
Societies are formed in Boſton, and he thinks that in
a little time he ſhall acquaint us of others ſet up in o-
ther Parts of that Country.
9 Mr. Peter Zeller, a very eminent Miniſter in Zurich in Switzerland, in a Letter of his dated Feb. 6. 1703. does in very affectionate Terms expreſs their com-
mon Eſteem of the pious Societies here, and their Expectations of great Advantages to Eng land, and to the Church of Chriſt from them. And having men- tioned the frequent Earthquakes in and about Rome, paved * | e / "OR
10 An Account of the Progreſs which he thinks may be Tokens of God's Diſpleaſure to thoſe Places: He adds his Opinion, that he thinks God. is pleaſed to vouchſafe to our: Nation the hap- 85 Preſages of Proſperous times, in the Riſe and ucceſs of thoſe Societies, by whoſe means Religion and Virtue is very much advanced both in our own and other Nations. ere — (4 15593 Nonſieur Scherer, in a Letter of his from Sangall of Jan. 26. 1704. aſſures us of the reviving of Piety among them, by the Report of what is done here by _ Societies, which are concerned in Religious Af- rs. | Let 28514 A Gentleman of great Character at Berlin, in a Letter dated Feb. 23. 1704. acquaints us, That there were printed in that City Two Thouſand of