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profpects; thefe and other circumstances will be very apt to bias the judgement, and influence the determination, of the enquirer. Let him never forget his danger; let him examine the meaning of the feveral articles with upright views and impartial investigation; let him not content himself with perufing what has been written in their defence; but qualify himself to form a fatisfactory decision respecting their conformity to the Scriptures, in the fame manner in which he would enable himfelf to determine any other controverted point, by informing himself of the principal arguments alleged against them, and appretiating with equal deliberation and fairness what he finds urged on either fide of the question. Let him remember, that if he fubfcribes while perplexed by diftracting doubts, and without peace and fatisfaction of mind, he not only incurs present guilt; and guilt too which will be likely to be continually aggravated, as long as he remains a Minister of the established Church with his fcruples unremoved; but entails upon himself constant uneafinefs and difquiet, and conftant temptations to endeavour to blind his understandingand ftifle his conviction; temptations which will increase in proportion to the

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length of time during which he fhall have been a Minister of the national Church, and to the preferment and profits which he derives from it. If the refult of his enquiries and reflections should be fuch, that he feels himself incapable of making the necessary subscription with a safe and quiet confcience; let him defift from his intention of enrolling himself among the Clergy of the establishment.

It may not be fuperfluous to remark, that the use of unjustifiable means in gaining teftimonials, certificates, or titles; and attempts to impose on the Bishop by procuring the affiftance of others in the exercifes and compofitions enjoined antecedently to ordination as trials of the candidate's abilities and attainments, can be confidered in no other light than in that of frauds; and of frauds committed on an occafion when every feeling of confcience ought to be awake, and when ingenuousness and integrity are particularly required.

II. We are in the next place to speak of the conduct of a Minifter of a parish.

VOL. II.

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But

But before the duties of the office are stated let the young Clergyman be warned against reprehenfible methods of attaining the office itself. Under this defcription are included all kinds of illegal and fimoniacal proceedings, whether appearing in the shape of direct payments of money, of general bonds of refignation, or of contracts to cede any actual or probable rights of the living, to lower tithes or dues, or not to augment them, or to transfer to any other person a portion of the produce of the benefice; and all infincere and difhonourable means of conciliating a patron's favour, as by pretending to concur in the peculiarities of his religious opinions, or in his fentiments respecting political measures, the characters of individuals, fubjects of local difcuffion, or other topics incidentally brought forward in converfation(); by fubmitting to be his agent:

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(n) To fome of the temptations here enumerated, a young Clergyman received into the families of Bishops, or of Lay Peers, or of wealthy Commoners, as a chaplain, or as a private tutor to their children, is particularly exposed. His fituation indeed, whatever advantages it may poffefs, is a poft of danger; and the utmost vigilance is necessary to preferve him from gaining habits of affectation, vanity,

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in the venal traffic of elections; by ftudiously becoming the conftant companion of his field fports; or by partaking of the intemperance of his table, and acquiescing in scenes of vice, riot, and profaneness. In the case of lectureships, and other elective employments in the church, let no impofition be practised to captivate the voters and delude their ignorance; nor let any attempt be made, if they are tradefmen, or in more humble ftations, to overawe their free choice by the authority and influence of men on whose favour they are dependent. If a living is to be held for a minor, let no reserve or fubterfuges be practifed to conceal the transaction. And let not preferment be fought in any cafe with a degree of anxiety inconsistent with a full and lively conviction of the fuperintending wisdom and goodness of Providence, and a cheerful refignation to the will of the Disposer of all events.

Among the peculiar functions of the Minifter of a parish, the celebration of divine wor

and felf-conceit; imbibing lofty ideas and expectations, and contracting a time-serving difpofition, and that abject deference to the Great, which is often found united with arrogance towards equals and inferiors.

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ship naturally offers itself in the first place to our attention.

The usual times of public worship ought never to be changed by the Minifter for the purpose of fuiting his own convenience, when his hearers will be incommoded or difpleased by the alteration, and of course be apt to relax in their attendance. There are perfons in every parish to whose minds the slightest pretence is a fufficient apology for omitting to go to church; and they who take offence at the conduct of the Clergyman often gratify themfelves by the abfurd revenge of keeping away from his inftructions. Neither ought any portion of the duty to which the congregation has been accustomed, either on Sundays or on holidays, to be difcontinued. On the contrary, if any unreasonable deficiency has hitherto prevailed (and in particular with refpect to the frequency of fermons, and the recurrence of the facrament), a confcientious. Minifter will be folicitous to obviate it for the future.

In reading the liturgy, a natural, distinct, and moderately flow pronunciation, audible throughout

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