Confirmation and Restoration Necessary Means, Postscript 2
Dr H. Hammond, In his view of the-Direct. §. 41. p. 45, 46. For Confirmation, which being ſo long and ſo ſcandalouſly neglected in this Kingdome (though the Rule have alſo been ſevere, and carefull in requiring it) will now not ſo eaſily be digeſted, having thoſe vulgar prejudices againſt it; yet muſt I moſt ſolemny profeſs my opinion of it; That it is a moſt ancient Chriſtian Cuſtome, tending very much to Edification: which I ſhall make good by giving you this view of the manner of it. It is this; that every Rector of any Pariſh, or Curate of charge, ſhould by a Familiar way of Chatechizing, inſtruct the Youth of both Sexes within his Cure, in the Principles of Religion, ſo farre that every one of them before the uſuall time of coming to the Lords-Supper, ſhould be able to underſtand the particulars of that vow, made in Baptiſm, for the Credenda and Facienda; yea and Fugienda alſo: what muſt be Believed, what done, and what forſaken; and be able to give an intelligent account of every one of theſe: which being done, every ſuch Childe ſo prepared, ought to be brought to the BP for Confirmation. Wherein the intent is, that every ſuch Child, attain'd to years of Underſtanding, ſhall ſingly and ſolemnly before God, the BP, and the whole Congregation, with his own conſent, take upon himſelf the Obligation to that, which his God-Fathers and God-Mothers in Baptiſm, promiſed in his Name; and before all thoſe Reverend Witneſſes, make a Firm, Publick, Renued promiſe, that by Gods help he will Faithfully endeavour, to diſcharge that Obligation in every point of it, and perſevere in it all the dayes of his life. Which reſolution and promiſe ſo heightned with all thoſe ſolemnities, will in any reaſon have a mighty impreſsion on the Child, and an influence on his actions for ever after. And this being thus performed by him, the BP ſhall ſeverally impoſe his hands on every ſuch Child (a ceremony uſed to this purpoſe by Chriſt himſelf) and bleſs and pray for him, that now, that the Temptations of ſinne begin more ſtrongly in reſpect of his age, to aſſault him, he may receive Grace and Strength againſt all ſuch Temptations or Aſſaults, by way of prevention and ſpeciall aſsiſtance; without which, obtained by Prayer from God, he will never be able to do it. This is the Sum of Confirmation; and were it rightly obſerved (and no man admitted to the Lords-Table, that had not thus taken the Baptiſme-Bond from the Sureties into his own Name; and no man after that, ſuffered to continue in the Church, which brake it wilfully; but turned out of thoſe Sacred Courts by the power of the keys in Excommunication) It would certainly prove by the Bleſſing of God, were it begun, a moſt effectuall meanes to keep men (at leaſt within ſome terms of Chriſtian civility, (from fallings into open Enormious ſinnes; and that the defaming and caſting out of this ſo blameleſſe gainfull order, would be neceſſary or uſefull to any policy, ſave only to defend the Devill from ſo great a blow, and to ſuſtaine and uphold his Kingdome, I never had yet any Temptation or Motive to ſuſpect or imagine. Inſtead of conſidering any Objections of the adverſary againſt this piece, whether of Apoſtolicall or Eccleſiaſticall Diſcipline (which I never heard with any colour produced) I ſhall rather expreſs my moſt paſsionate wiſh unto my friends, thoſe who ſincerely wiſh the good of this Nationall Church, that they will endeavour their uttermoſt to revive theſe meanes of regaining of purity and exemplary lives of all its members, when God by reſtoring our peace ſhall open a doore for it.
FINIS.