The L I F E. of the Part III. The.former Propofxion is thus proved. s . The Canons give the Senfe ofthe Word [ Conventicles] (for it is a Church- Term, about Church-Matters.) But the Canons mention buttwo fortsofConventi- cles, one of Presbyters, when they meet to make Orders or Canons. for Church- Difcipline; the other of People who meet under the Profelfion of being a Church diginft from the Churchof England'; ( andneither of thefe is my Cafe.) 2. ' he Statute of the 35 of Eliz. expoundeth it accordingly ; charging none of Unlawful Alfembling, but filch as Separate, or Communicate not with theChurch. 3. There is noother Statutethatfaith otherwife. 4, The Rubrick and Law alloweth Conformable Minigers to keep many Religious Affemblies, which are not in the Church, being but Subordinate,as s. At the Vifi- tation of the Sick, where no numbers of Neighbours are prohibited to be prefent : - Sermons at the Spittle, Sturbridge-Pair, &c. z. At privateBaptifms. 3: At private Communions, where any Familybath an impotentPerron that can- not Communicate at Church. 4. At the RogationPerambulations, where it was ufual to Feag at Houfes in their way, and there for the Minifler to mania the People, and to Pray, and ling Pfalms. 5. TheLaborious fort of Conformable Mini lers, have manyofthem ufed to re- peat their Sermons toall thatwould Affembleat their Houfes : Which Repeatingwas as trulyPreaching, as iftheyhad Preached the fame Sermon infeveral Pulpits.There- fore all Meetings, betides Church- Meetings, are not Conventicles, nor thofe that arein Subordination to them. 5. Even thelate Expired A&agáinft Conventicles, forbiddeth no Religious Ever- rifes, but fach as are otherwife than the Liturgy or Prafticeofthe Church ; and di- ltingeilbing exprefly between the Exercifes and the Numbers, doth forbid.no num- ber, when the Exerrifes are not otherwife, as aforefaid, tolerating even unlawful Exercifes to the number ofFour, butnot to more. TheSecond Propotion [That my Meetings wereneverUnlawful Conventicles] isproved. t. I do congantly joyn with the Church inCommon Prayer, and go at the begin- ning. z. I Communicate in the Lord's Supper with the Chutch of England. g. I am no Nonconformift in the Senfe of the Law, becaufe 1 Conform as far as the Law required) me (having been in no EcclefiailicalPromotion, May s. 1662. the Law requireth me not to fubfcribe, declare, &c. till I take a Cure or Leture, cire. 4. I fometimes repeat to theHearers, the Sernion which I heard in theChurch. 5. I exhort the People to Church-Communion, and urge them with fufficient Ar- guments, and Preach ordinarilyagaing Separation, andSchifm, and Sedition, and Difloyalty. 6. I have commanded my Servant tokeep myDoors that at the time of PublickWorlhip, that none may be in myHoule that while. 7. I go into the Church from my Houfe, in the Peoples fight, that my Example, as well as my Do &rine, may perfuade them. S. In all this, I fo far prevail, that the Neighbours who hear me, do commonly go to Church, even to the Common- Prayer; and I know not three, or two of all the Parifh, that ufe to come to me, who refufe it; which fuccefs Both Phew, what it is I do. 9. 1 have long offered the Pallor of the Parifh (the Deanof Windfor) that if he would but tell me, that it is his Judgment, that I hinder his Succefs, or the People's Good, rather than help it, I will remove out of the Parifh, which he never yetbath done. s o. I have the Now-Arch-Bifhop's Liccnfe ( not reverfed, nor difabled) to Preach in the Diocefs of London, which I may do by Law ifI had a Church. And I offered the Dean to give over my Meetings in my Houfe, if he wouldpermit me to Preach (withoutHire) fometimes occahonally in his Church, which I am not difabled to do. By all this it appeared), that any Meetings are not Unlawful Conventicles. ). And,riotous they arenot, for my Houfe being jug before the Church Door,the fame Perron go out of the Church into my Houfe, .and out ofmy Houfe into the Church;
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