8. “The curate of every parish shall diligently _upon Sundays and Holydays, after the second lesson at_ evening prayer, _openly in the church_, instruct and examine so many children as he shall think convenient, in some part of the catechism.
9. “Whensoever the bishop shall give notice for children to be brought unto him for their confirmation, the curate of every parish, shall either bring or _send in writing, with his hand subscribed thereunto, the names of all such persons_ within his parish, as he shall think fit to be presented to the bishop.”
81. Now the question is not, whether these rubrics ought to be observed, (you take this for granted in making the objection) but whether in fact they have been observed by you, or me, most? Many can witness, I have observed them punctually, yea, sometimes at the hazard of my life: and as many, I fear, that you, have not observed them at all, and that several of them you never pretended to observe. And is it _you_ that are accusing _me_, for not observing the rubrics of the church? What grimace is this! _O tell it not in_ Gath! _Publish not in the streets of_ Askelon!
82. With regard to the canons, I would in the first place desire you to consider, two or three plain questions.
_1st_. Have you ever read them over?
_2dly_. How can these be called, “The canons of the church of _England_?” Seeing they were never legally established by the church? Never regularly confirmed in any full convocation?
_3dly_. By what right am I required to observe such canons as were never legally established?
And then I will join issue with you on one question more, _viz._ Whether you or I _have observed_ them most?
To instance only in a few.
_Canon 29._ No person shall be admitted godfather or godmother to any child,――before the said person hath received the holy communion.
_Canon 59._ Every parson, vicar, or curate, upon _every_ Sunday _and Holiday, before evening prayer, shall, for half an hour, or more_, examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his parish.
_Canon 64._ Every parson, vicar, or curate, shall declare to the people every Sunday, whether there be any holidays or _fasting-days_ the week following.
_Canon 68._ No minister shall _refuse_ or _delay_ to christen any child that is brought to the church to him upon Sundays or holidays to be christened, or bury any corps that is brought to the church or church-yard.
(_N. B._ Inability to pay fees does not alter the case.)
_Canon 75._ No ecclesiastical persons shall spend their time idly, by day or by night, playing at _dice_, _cards_, or _tables_.
Now let the clergyman who has observed only these five canons for one year last past, and who has read over all the canons in his congregation; (as the king’s ratification straitly enjoins him to do once every year) let him, I say, cast the first stone at us, for _not observing the canons_ (so called) _of the church of_ England.
83. “However we cannot be (it is said) friends to the church, because we do not _obey the governors of it_, and _submit ourselves_ (as at our ordination we promised to do) _to all their godly admonitions and injunctions_.”¹ I answer, in every individual point of an indifferent nature, We do and will (by the grace of God) obey the governors of the church. But the _testifying_ the _gospel of the grace of_ God, is not a point of an indifferent nature. _The ministry which we have received of the_ Lord Jesus, we are at all hazards to fulfil. It is _the burthen of the_ Lord which is laid upon us here; and we are _to obey God rather than man_. Nor yet do we in any ways violate the promise which each of us made, when it was said unto him, “Take thou authority to preach the word of God, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” We then promised to _submit_ (mark the words) _to the |godly| admonitions and injunctions of our ordinary_. But we did not, could not promise to obey _such_ injunctions, as we know _are contrary to the word of_ God.
¹ _The author of a tract just published at_ Newcastle, (_entitled_, The notions of the Methodists fully disproved, _in a letter to the Rev. Mr. |John Wesley|) much insists upon this objection. I have read, and believe it quite needless to take any further notice of this performance: the writer being so utterly unacquainted with the merits of the cause; and shewing himself so perfectly a stranger, both to my life, preaching, and writing; and to the word of God, and to the articles and homilies of the church of England._