I 31) firmed, and admitted into the Rank of Communicating members, fo he hath no power at all efFedually to keep awaythe groffelt offenders, or to forbear his own a6kual putting the Sacrament into their hands. For though the Canon feem to favour his power, and the Rubrick fay fome- what the fame way, yet it is to be noted, r. That whereas the Rubrick alloweth him to advertife the fcandalous not to come to the Sacrament, yet it is only the contentious that have injured others and are not reconciled, whom he is plainly enabled to refufe. 2. Among thofe that he may advertife not to come, the grofly ignorant ( who know not what Chrift or the Sacra- ment is) the Atheift, Infidel and Heretick are not numbred at all ; but [ an open and notorious evil liver, or that bath done wrong to his neighbours ] 3. And ifhe be never fo wicked, yet unlefs alfo [The Congregation be thereby offended ] the Curate cannot hinder him, or fomuch as advertife him not to come. And fo if only a few Godly perfons be offended, they are not the Congregation ; or if the Minor part be offended, they are not the Congre- gation : And how [hall the Minifter know whether the Major part be of-. fended : For he hath no power to ask them, much lets to put it to the Vote : And the Major part will never come to him nor be accufers ? And if the Major part (which is no wonder) be themfelves fo Ignorant, Heretical, or ungodly as not to be offended, but rather to take the Sinners part, then the Curate mull give them all the Sacrament, and hath no remedy. 4. And he that muff not live in Taverns; Alehoufes, Play-houfes, or other places of wickednefs (fpeciálly if he live as Chryfoftome did, who never did fo much as eat with any one in his own houfe) may have molt of his Com- municants to be abominable and flagitious, before it will be Notorious to him: for (as is faid) He hath no power to call any to witnefs any thing, that are unwilling. And few will be willing to enrage their neigh- bours, when they foreknow that it will do more hurt than good. 5. And ifhe do refufe an one, he is bound to become an Informer, and to give an account of the fame to the Ordinary within fouteen days at the fartheft.] Whenas, a. Perhaps he may dwell many (core miles off; 2. And have his ffudies and all other bufinefs on his hands: 3. And mull then bring his proofs, when he is not enabled to examine any witnefs nor take proof ofthat which to all others is notorious. 4. It is a great doubt whether the Sinner have not his remedy at Law againfl him to his undoing, if he lay not by all his other bufinefs to profecute the proof to the utmofi. And if he do lay by the reft of his work that while, the Bifhop may undoe himor fufpend him. , 5. By this means he (hall more exafperate the Sinners ( by profecuting them to fuch a Court as the Prelates) and harden them against all profiting by his Miniftry, than if by his Pafloral office he had himfelf firft lovingly convinced them, and fufpended them only till they repent. 6. When he hash all done, if the firmer pay his fees and fay, He repenteth, the Chan- cellor is to Abfolve him And fo the Curate doth only to his own vexation and the Sinners hurt, deny him the Sacrament but once. And if the wrath R 2 or
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