this hateful practice; whereof four are direct: the raising of a false crime, the amplifying of a true crime, the disclosing of a crime secret, and the sinister construction of another's fact.

To these I must add, that, even where the act is such as challengeth a revelation, the time may be unseasonable and past the date. You know that the notice of treason, if too long smothered, draws the concealer into danger: and, in this case, though there be no peril in the silence, yet there may be injury.

Shortly, this sin, if ever, should have been so early made known to the party concerned, as might have prevented the making up of a match secretly sinful; and have convinced the agent of a foul illegality, whereof he was ignorant: but now, thus over-late, would break out to an unprofitable vexation; since this crime, which might justly have hindered the marriage from being contracted, ought not to have the force, after so long intermission and success of an intervenient wedlock, to dissolve it. The time was, when the minister, in a solemn preconization, called you either then to speak, or for ever after to hold your peace: had you then spoken, it might have been construed as zeal; now, not to hold your peace, will be interpreted no better than malice.

AN

ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER.

с

I HAVE been earnestly moved by some judicious friends, to go on with this subject; and to make up a complete Body of CaseDivinity, both Practical, Speculative, and Mixed: whereof, I confess, there is great defect in our language. But I remember the talk which Plutarch reports to have been betwixt Crassus and King Deiotarus; two old men, but great undertakers. Crassus jeers Deiotarus, for laying the foundation of a new city, in his decayed age; Deiotarus twits Crassus, for going about, in the like age, to subdue the warlike Parthians: both justly supposing our decrepit age a just dissuasive, from venturing upon great enterprises. Although, herein, I should not want a worthy precedent, that honour of Navarre, Martinus Azpilcueta; who, at ninety years, finished the fourth edition of that his elaborate Manual of Cases of Conscience. But, as for me, I am sufficiently conscious of my own inabilities for so long and difficult a work: only this, I shall willingly profess, thut such scruples as I meet with in my way, I shall not allow myself to balk; and shall leave the answers upon the file. In the mean time, let me incite some of our many eminent Divines, whose wits are fresh, and bodies vigorous, to go through with so useful a work. Many years are passed, since my ancient and worthy colleague, Dr. Ralph Cudworth, told me, that he had, with much labour, finished that task, and devoted it to the press; which yet sleeps in some private hands. It were happy, if his worthy son, the just heir of his father's great abilities, would make strict enquiry after it; and procure it to the public light, for the common benefit of God's Church, both in the present and succeeding ages.

c Plut. in Vitâ Crassi.

THE

HOLY ORDER:

OR,

FRATERNITY OF THE MOURNERS IN SION.

HUMBLY AND EARNESTLY TENDERED TO ALL GOD'S FAITHFUL Ones.

BY JOSEPH, BISHOP OF NORWICH.

TO MY WORTHY FRIEND,

MR. G. H.

Sir,

After my stedfast purpose of a silent obscurity for the small remainder of my days, I do now, once more, break loose again. The view of the danger and sad condition of the Church of God hath wrung these lines from me. You know the story of Cræsus's son: right so it is with me, upon sight of the mortal peril of our common and dearer parent. For Sion's sake I will not, (I may not, I cannot) hold my peace; for my own, I would and shall. If, therefore, you believe that these papers may avail ought towards the public good, let them fly abroad out of your hands; since I have resolvedly shut my own, save only for their lifting up to heaven for mercy to our Sion; wherein yourself, and all other faithful patriots of the Spiritual Jerusalem, will heartily join with,

Your much devoted,

J. H.