DRINKING I N REMEMBRANCE OF THE DEAD. BEING The Subftance of a DISCOURSE Deliver'd to the CLERGY of the Diocese of CO R K, on the Fourth of November, 1713. by the Bishop of that Diocese. And Published at their Unanimous Request. LONDON: 4 Printed for J. ROBERTS, near the OxfordArms in Warwick-Lane. M DCC XIII. Price Six-pence. Of Drinking in Remembrance of the DEAD, &c. T HE Question I am now to speak to, is this: Whether Drinking in Remembrance of the Dead, excepting only Remembrance of Jefus Christ, is an Action in it felf Sinful, now under the Gospel? And bether the Custom of Drinking in Remembrance of a Departed Monarch, is fo in particular? Aff. I fhall, by way of Preface, only obferve to you, That were it not for the Power and Prejudice of a Custom which has lately prevailed, thro' much Inadvertency and Want of a pious Zeal and fincere Concern for Religion, in the Hearts of Men, it wou'd be look'd upon as a very needlefs Work, to go about to prove the Affirmative of this Question. Had we liv'd in any other Age fince Christ, the very Propofing of it wou'd have ftartled all good Chriftians. They wou'd immediately fay, I was going about to de A 2 monstrate monftrate a felf-evident Truth, which no body doubted; I fhou'd have met with no other Return, but, Who denies it? And it will certainly come about to this again, whenever Truth and Loyalty shall triumph over Infidelity and Faction. The Question is not, ift, Whether we may have an Honourable Remembrance of great and worthy Perfons; and perpetuate the Memory of fuch as have been useful and exemplary in their Lives, by promoting the Honour of God and Religion, and the Good of their Country? This was the Defign of the Diptychs in the Primitive Church, and is countenanced and encouraged in Scripture, which proposes it as a Reward confequent to Virtue and Goodness in this Life; and fays, That the Righteous fhall be had in everlasting Remembrance. Nor, 2dly, Whether we are to be well affected to the late Revolution? Tho' we cannot fo far limit the Power and Wisdom of God, as to fay, that he could not have delivered us by any other Means or Methods more advantageous; yet whosoever confiders that it was the Hand of God, a remarkable Dispensation of his Providence, and the Method by which he chose to work fo great a Deliverance for us, muft not only acquiefce in it, but return God the Glory of fo great and general a Bleffing. But, if we magni |