Wesley Corpus

“Thus I have shown you, in part, what belongs to your office: It is well, if, according to the tenor of your oath, you duly, according to your knowledge and ability, do and execute all these things. But remember, that, if you do not, if you neglect any of them, you are forsworn.” Now let all men judge, how many Constables in England are clear of wilful perjury ! 9. “I will now,” he goes on, “address myself to Church wardens. Your oath is, ‘that you shall well and truly execute the office of a Churchwarden, for the ensuing year; and, to the best of your skill and knowledge, present such persons and things as are presentable by the ecclesiastical laws of this realm.’ I shall set down only a few of these. “The statute of King James I. obliges you to present, once a year, all monthly absenters from church. “The ninetieth Canon enjoins you, first to admonish, and then, if they reform not, to present, all your parishioners who do not duly resort to church on Sundays, and there continue the whole time of divine service. On this article observe, (1.) That a person’s being absent from church, is ground sufficient for you to proceed. (2.) That you are not only to present those who do not come to church, but also those that behave irreverently or indecently there, either walking about or talking; all who do not abide there, orderly and soberly, the whole time of service and sermon, and all that loiter away any part of that time in the churchyard or in the fields. “The one hundred and twelfth Canon enjoins you, within forty days after Easter, to exhibit to the Bishop, or his Chan cellor, the names of all above the age of sixteen, within your parish, that did not receive the communion. “Other statutes oblige you to present drunkenness, tippling, and public houses suffering persons to tipple in them. “And the one hundred and ninth Canon binds you to pre sent all manner of vice, profaneness, and debauchery, requiring you faithfully to present all and every the offenders in adul tery, whoredom, drunkenness, profane swearing, or any other uncleanness and wickedness of life.