f preaching _Funeral
Sermons_ in Houses, where at Funerals are assembled a great Congregation
of Neighbours and Friends; and if you insist upon having the Sermon and
Ceremony at Church, they'll say they will be without it, unless
performed after their usual Custom. In Houses also there is Occasion,
from Humour, Custom sometimes, from Necessity most frequently, to
_baptize_ Children and _church Women_, otherwise some would go without
it. In Houses also they most commonly _marry_, without Regard to the
Time of the Day or Season of the Year. Though the Churches be not
_consecrated_ by Bishops, yet might there be some solemn _Dedication_
prescribed for setting them apart for sacred Uses; which would make
People behave themselves with greater Reverence than they usually do,
and have a greater Value for the House of God and holy Things.

Their _Churches_ were formerly built of Timber, but now they build them
of Brick, very strong and handsome, and neatly adorned; and when any
Church is gone to Decay, or removed to a more convenient Place, they
enclose the old one with a Ditch.

Though Persons are admitted to the Lord's Supper there, that never were
confirmed by the _Bishop_, yet might there be certain Examinations as
preparatory Qualifications, which would lay the Sureties and Parents of
Children baptized, under a Necessity of taking Care of them, as to a
pious Education, and would make them be obliged to know more of their
Duty than they generally do.

For this End I have composed (as I before hinted) an _Accidence to
Christianity_, being a short Introduction to the Principles and
Practices of Christians, collected out of the _Church Catechism_, the
thirty nine _Articles_, _Hammond's Practical Catechism_, _Grotius of the
Truth of the Christian Religion_, and _the whole Duty of Man_.

Out of which may be extracted a brief _Examination for Communicants_
before their first Admittance; which may be done by the _Minister_, if
he had Orders and Directions for it. By this Means the People would
attain to better Notions of Religion (and many more would be
Communicants, who now abstain totally through Fear or Ignorance) were
the first true Principles timely instilled into them in a brief Method;
for any Thing tedious soon tires them, and will not obtain the desired
Effect. In several Respects the Clergy are obliged to omit or alter some
minute Parts of the _Liturgy_, and deviate from the strict _Discipline
and Ceremonies_ of the