The Bishop of Worcester's charge to the clergy of his diocese, in his primary visitation begun at Worcester, Sept. 11, 1690
About this Item
- Title
- The Bishop of Worcester's charge to the clergy of his diocese, in his primary visitation begun at Worcester, Sept. 11, 1690
- Author
- Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.
- Publication
- London :: Printed for Henry Mortlock ...,
- 1691.
- Rights/Permissions
-
To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
- Subject terms
- Church of England -- Pastoral letters and charges.
- Church of England -- Clergy.
- Visitations, Ecclesiastical -- England.
- Link to this Item
-
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A61530.0001.001
- Cite this Item
-
"The Bishop of Worcester's charge to the clergy of his diocese, in his primary visitation begun at Worcester, Sept. 11, 1690." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A61530.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 29, 2025.
Pages
Page [unnumbered]
To the Reverend CLERGY Of the DIOCESE Of WORCESTER.
My BRETHREN,
WHat I lately delivered among you in the several Places of my Visita∣tion, and what I have since thought fit in some particulars to add, I have here put together, and sent it to you, that it might re∣main with you, not only as an Instance of my Duty, but as a Monitor of your own. And I may reasonably hope, as well as desire, that the frequent Reading and Considering the Things I here recommend to you, will make a deeper Im∣pression on your Minds, than a mere transient
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Discourse; for I know nothing will more effectually preserve the Honor and Interest of the Church of England, than a diligent and conscientious Discharge of the Duties of our several Places. In this time of general Liberty, our Adversaries, of all kinds, think themselves let loose upon us; and therefore we have the more reason to look to our selves, and to the Flock committed to our Charge.
Yet, I do not question, but through the Good∣ness of God, and the serious and vigorous Application of our Minds to the great Busi∣ness of our High and Holy Calling, that Church which we so justly value, will escape sinking in the Quick-Sands, as it hath hi∣therto, being dashed against the Rocks. If we behave our selves with that Prudence and Zeal and Circumspection which becomes us, I hope the Inclinations of the People will ne∣ver be made use of as an Argument against us. For, although in a Corrupt Age, that be one of the weakest Arguments in the World (if it be true) and only shews the Preva∣lency of Folly and Faction; Yet there
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is no such Way to prevent the spreading of both, as our constant Care to instruct our Peo∣ple in the main Duties of Religion, and going before them in the Ways of Holyness and Peace.
In the following Discourse, I have first endeavoured to Assert and Vindicate the Au∣thority of Bishops in the Christian Church; and in as few Words, and with as much Clearness as I could, I have proved their Apostolical Institution. And the Judgment and Practice of the Universal Church from the Apostles Times, will prevail with all un∣byas'd Persons above any modern violent In∣clinations to the contrary.
In the next place I have recommended to you such things, which I am sure are much for the Churches Service and Honour, as well as our own, and therefore, I hope you will the more regard them.
In the last place, I have made it my De∣sign to clear several Parts of the Eccle∣siastical Law, which concerns Church-Men, and have shewed the Nature, Force, and Extent of it; and how agreeable it is to
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the Common Law of England. In these things, my aim was to do something towards the Good of this Church, and particularly of this Diocese. And that the Glory of God, the Salvation of Souls, and Holiness and Peace may be Promoted therein, is the hearty Prayer of
Westminst. Jan. 33. 1690/1.
Your Affectionate Brother, and Fellow-Servant to Our Common Lord, ED. Wigorn.