falsely, and swearing often, and in vain: for thou shalt not be held guiltless. Do not appear before the Priests empty; and offer thy free-will offerings continually. Moreover, do not leave the Church of Christ; but go thither in the Morning, before all thy work; and again meet there in the Evening, to return thanks to God that he has preserved thy life. Be diligent, and constant, and laborious in thy calling. Offer to the Lord thy free-will offerings; for says he, Honour the Lord with the fruit of thy labours: if thou art not able to cast any thing considerable into the corban, yet at least bestow upon the strangers one, or two, or five mites. Lay up for thyself heavenly treasure, which neither the moth nor thieves can destroy.

BLESSED are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed

are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake: rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. [See also that whole Sermon at the Mount, Matth. v. vi. vii.]

St. Paul's Heads of Catechetick Instruction.
Heb. vi. 1, 2.

THEREFORE, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith towards God, of the doctrine of immersions, and of laying on of * Dippings, hands, and of the resurrection of the or, Baptisms. dead, and of eternal judgment.

The Heads of Catechetick Instruction, out of the Constitutions, lib. vii. c. 39, 40, 41.

He who is to be catechized in the word of piety, let him be instructed before his Baptism in the

knowledge of the unbegotten God; in the understanding of his only-begotten Son; in the assured acknowledgment of the Holy Ghost. Let him learn the order of the several parts of the creation, the series of providence, the different dispensations of the laws. Let him be instructed why the world was made, and why man was appointed to be a citizen therein. Let him also know his own nature, of what sort it is. Let him be taught how God punished the wicked with water, and did glorify the saints in every generation; I mean Enoch, and Noah, and Abraham and his posterity, and Melchizedek, and Job, and Moses, and Joshua, and Caleb, and Phinehas the Priest, and those that were holy in every generation: and how God still took care of, and did not reject, mankind, but called them from their error and vanity to the acknowledgment of the truth at various seasons, reducing them from bondage and impiety unto liberty and piety, from injustice to righteousness, from death eternal to everlasting life. Let him that offers himself to Baptism, learn these and the like things in his catechizing.

Let him also be instructed in the doctrines concerning our Lord's Incarnation, and in those con

cerning his Passion, and Resurrection from the dead and Ascension.

And when it remains that the Catechumen is to be baptized, let him learn what concerns the renunciation of the Devil, and the joining himself to Christ. For it is fit that he should first abstain from things contrary, and then be admitted to the mysteries: he must beforehand purify his heart from all wickedness of disposition, from all spot and wrinkle, and then partake of the holy things. For as the skilfullest husbandman does first purge his ground of the thorns which are grown up therein, and does then sow his wheat; so ought you also to take away all impiety from them, and then to sow the seeds of piety in them, and vouchsafe them Baptism. For even our Lord did in this manner exhort us, saying first, Make disciples of all nations; and then he adds this, And baptize them unto the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Note, These Heads of Catechetick Instruction are more largely explained in the Apostolical Constitutions, lib. viii. whence the Catechumens may be more fully instructed in them.

Note, That Matrimony seems to be a thing of a civil nature, and not directly belonging to religious worship. Yet does the holy Bishop Ignatius assure us, "That it becomes those Epist. ad Poly- that marry, whether men or women, to be joined carp, 5. together with the approbation of the Bishop: that so their marriage may be according to the Lord, and not out of lust." Which direction therefore it will be fit for for every Christian to follow. Nor will the ordinary Form be wholly improper, (when corrected,*) while that matter is entrusted with the Clergy, as it is at present.

THE

ORDER FOR THE VISITATION OF THE SICK. When any person is sick, notice shall be given thereof to the Bishop, or some one of the Presbyters; who, coming into the Sick person's house, shall say,

PEACE be to this house, and to all that dwell in it.

When he cometh unto the sick man's presence, he shall say, kneeling down,

REMEMBER not, Lord, our iniquities, nor the iniquities of our forefathers. Spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy Son's most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever.

Answ. Spare us, good Lord.

* These two words are inserted from the edition of 1750.-P. H.