A century of reasons for subscription and obedience to the laws and government of the Church of England, both ecclesiastical and civil. With reasons against the covenant Justifi'd by scripture, confirmed by the laws of the kingdom, the right and power of kings, ecclesiastical and human authorities, with an harmony of confessions. [T]o which is annexed the office and charge belonging to the overseers of the poor, &c. [By] W. Wasse school-master in Little Britain near unto Christ-church.

The Right Reverend Father in God, George Lord Bishop of London His Advertisment.

To all and every the Ministers, Church∣wardens, and Side-men, within the City, Suburbs, and Diocess of Lon∣don.

WHereas I am daily advertised by the relations of many honest and religious persons, of a General Mis∣behaviour in most Churches, in and about the City of London, in time of Divine Service, Men and Boys sitting then co∣ver'd with their Hats on their heads, without all shew of Reverence or Respect, either of that Holy place or Action, the one being the House of Almighty God, the other a continued Vicissitude (as it were) of Speech between God and his People. The due consideration whereof might easily induce any well-disposed Christian to use such Outward posture and gesture of his body, as becometh that Sa∣cred place, and the great Majesty of that

God, to whom they come at that time, Professedly to perform a Divine Worship. I have therefore thought it my duty, in∣cessantly to recommend unto you the Mi∣nisters, Church-wardens, and Side-men, the Reformation of this prophane abuse, scandalous to our Religion, against an express Law in that case provided, and condemned by the contrary practice of all Christians in all Ages in their like So∣lemnities and Assemblies, praying and requiring you to joyn together your utmost endeavours to effect the same, for which purpose it shall be necessary for you, the Church-wardens and Side-men, during the time of Divine Service, diligently to look about the Church, and where you see any covered, if Boys, or of the younger sort, those to shame openly by pulling off their Hats, and chastize with such Dis∣cipline as you have been laudably accu∣stomed to inflict upon such rude and un∣mannerly Fellows; If the Elder or better sort (though I well hope that none of that condition, out of their own judgment, will hereafter offend in this kind) those to ad∣monish gravely of their duty, represent∣ing unto them the inconvenien••es of this

their ill example, and how directly re∣pugnant it is to the Apostle's Rule of Decency in the Church, thus to celebrate Divine Service, and to perform a Pro∣fessed and Religious Worship of Al∣mighty God. After which your Admo∣nition, if any shall obstinately refuse to uncover his o•• their heads in Service time, you shall then present them to Me or my Chancellor, to the end that they, by the severity of Censures, may be amended, by whom brotherly and gentle perswasions have been contemned. Moreover also I am certainly informed, That the Publick Service of Almighty God in the Churches is omitted, and thereby come to neglect, and almost scorned, forasmuch as the Ministers read not the Divine Service, the First and Second Service, before their Sermons, according to the order of our Church Liturgy, and the Canon in that case provided: I do therefore hereby re∣quire all the Parsons, Vicars, and Cu∣rates in my Diocess, to take care, that they offend not in this kind, strictly like∣wise requiring you the Church-wardens and Side-men, that according to your Oathes you present to Me or my Chan∣cellor

those Ministers that shall be faulty in this kind, &c.