and fome whofe Tears procure a Multitude of Mercies. O the Comfort of the Forgiveness of Sins! Of being guided fafely through the Shadow of Death! Of arriving fecurely at the heavenly Country! What is it that Prayer can't obtain? But though the Wickedness and Impenitency of the dying Perfon be fuch, as that the Prayers of the Faithful will not be fufficient to avert the Wrath and Punishment of a justly incensed God; yet as this can be only known to God, it will not discharge Men from recommending him to the Divine Mercy, in the most paffionate and affectionate Manner. They thereby exprefs the most laudable Zeal, the most disinterested Charity; and whilst they are fo folicitous for the Happiness and Welfare of other Men's Souls, they cannot but be thereby influenced to have the greatest Concern for their own, and be both encouraged and directed to proceed with an holy Emulation from Strength to Strength, and endeavour as the Apostle advises, to go on to Perfection. * But, alas! we are fallen into Times of fuch Irreligion and Prejudice, fuch Contempt of Antiquity, and fuch too great Reformation, that what with Indolence on one Hand, and Ignorance on the other; what with no Zeal on this * Heb. vi. I. Side, and too* falfe a one on that; we either neglect the most decent Ceremonies of Religion, or we think it is Religion to have no Ceremonies at all. No Wonder then, that, in the Midft of fuch a crooked and perverfe Generation, when the most of Men are negligent of themselves, they are alfo negligent of others: No Wonder, that when there is fuch a general Contempt of Religion, and Men are carelefs of their own Souls, they are not careful for the Souls of their Friends. But it is called † Popish and Superftitious; for what true Reason, I know not. Did we indeed * Among the many Objections of the Brownifts, it is laid to the Charge of the Church of England, that though we deny the Doctrine of Purgatory, and teach the contrary, yet how well our Practice fuits with it, may be confidered in our ringing of hallowed Bells for the Soul. Bifh. Hall. cont. Brown. In a Veftry Book belonging to the Chapel of All-Saints, in Newcastle upon Tyne, it is obfervable, That the Tolling of the Bell is not mentioned in the Parish Accounts, from the Year 1643, till 1655, when we find it ordered to be tolled again. At a Veftry holden January 21ft, 1655. Whereas for fome Years paft, the collecting of the Duty for Bell and Tolling, hath been forborn and laid afide, which hath much leffened the Revenue of the Church, by which, and fuch-like Means, it is brought into Dilapidations; and having now taken the fame into ferious Confideration, and fully debated the Objections made by fome against the fame, and having had the Judgment of our Minifters concerning any Superftition that might be in it; which being made clear, it is this Day ordered, That from henceforth, the Church Officer appointed thereunto, do collect the fame, and bring the Money unto the Church-Wardens, and that those who defire to have the Ufe indeed imagine with the Papifts, that there is any * Virtue or extraordinary Power in a Bell, that it is hallowed by Baptism, and drives away the Spirits of Darkness, then it might justly be called Superstition, and therefore justly abolished. But when we retain the Custom, only to procure the Prayers of the Faithful for a departing Soul, it would furely be of Advantage to observe it, if the Prayers of a righteous Man avail any Thing at all; which, if we may believe an infpired Apostle, are of very great Efficacy and Validity. Art thou then attending a Friend in his last Moments? Art thou careful for his Soul, and folicitous for his Salvation? Doft thou wish him fafe through the Valley of Death to the everlafting Hills? Wouldst thou have the good Angels protect him, and be his Shield against the Powers of Darkness? In fhort, wouldst thou have him crown'd with the Joys of Paradife? Be affured then, that the Prayers of good men Ufe of the Bells, may freely have them as formerly, paying the accustomed Fees. It is certain they laid it afide, because they thought it fuperftitious, and it is probable, if they had not wanted Money, they had not feen the contrary. * We call them Soul-Bells, for that they fignifie the Depar ture of the Soul, not for that they help the Paffage of the Soul. Bifh. Hall cont. Brown, P. 568. Item ut Dæmones tinnitu campanarum, Christianos ad preces concitantium, terreantur. Formula vero baptizandi feu benedicendi campanas antiqua eft. Durant. Lib. C. 22. S. 6. will very much contribute to the gaining of thefe Things. But how fhall they then pray for him, if they know not of his Departure? And how can they know that, without the tolling of the Bell? Do thou therefore put in Practice this decent and profitable Custom, not as our Age generally does, after the Death of thy Friend, but before it; before he leave the World, when the Prayers of good Men can affift him, and facilitate his Journey into the other Life. Or, art thou working in the Field, or grinding at the Mill? Remember then, when thou hearest the Sound of the Bell for one departing, that thou put up thy Prayers for him. Be thy Business what it will, it will always permit thee to say at least, LORD, now letteft thou thy Servant depart in Peace: Or to ufe the Words of St. Ofwald, when he and his Soldiers were ready to be flain, Lord, have Mercy on the Soul of thy Servant. It will not be * * Oravit ad dominum pro animabus exercitus fui. Unde dicunt in proverbio, Deus miferere animabus, dixit Ofwaldus cadens in terram, Bed. Eccl. L. 3. C. 12. It is used (fays Bede) even to a Proverb, That he died praying; for when the Enemy had furrounded him, and he faw himself about to be flain, he prayed unto the LORD for the Souls of his Army. Hence it is that the Proverb comes, LORD, have Mercy upon the Soul, as St. Ofwald faid when he fell to the Earth. Which Proverb, in all Probability, hath been the Original of this prefent national Saying, When the Bell begins to toll, B4 long long, till thou thyfelf fhalt have Occafion for fuch Prayers, till thou come to die, and enter on thy Journey to the other State: If then thou hast been merciful, thou shalt obtain Mercy; if by thy Prayers thou haft affifted the Souls of thy Brethren, thou fhalt either be remembered in the Prayers of good Men, or furely these thy Prayers for others will be of Service to thyfelf alfo, at that dreadful hour. But now it may be objected, That as the Bell is feldom tolled till after the Perfon's Departure, it is to no Purpose to pray for the Soul; nay to pray for it, would be praying for the Dead: And fince that is repugnant to the Doctrine of our Church, our Prayers at that Time had much better be omitted. Indeed it is too true, this Custom is not fo common as it fhould be; but however, it is fo much obferved, as will be able to vindicate the putting up of constant Prayers, I know feveral religious Families in this Place, and I hope it is fo in other Places too, who always obferve it, whenever the melancholy Seafon offers; and therefore it will at leaft fometimes happen, when we put up our Prayers conftantly at the tolling of the Bell, that we shall pray for a Soul departing. And tho' it be granted, that it will oftener happen otherwife, as the regular Custom is fo little followed; yet that can be no harmful praying for the Dead. We believe |