confequence which naturally follows; that he must be absent at least half the year from one of the parishes. A confiderate Minister of the Gospel will be very flow to place himself in a fituation which adds to the charge for which he is refponfible, and diminishes in an equal proportion his ability to fulfil it. And independently of this circumftance, a Clergyman, whofe heart is fixed on its proper objects, will not only reject with abhorrence the idea of practising fervile and unchristian arts to advance himself in his profeffion; but will never be eager and very anxious for the acquifition of preferment. Even if a place in the highest rank of ecclefiaftical promotion be at his option, he will be guided, as to accepting or declining it, by the refult of a ferious and unprejudiced enquiry into his fitnefs for the office, the temptations with which it will be accompanied, and their probable effects on himself and on his family (77). A Cler (99) "Nec indecorè appetentes crimus (modò fapere, " & benè audire, atque adhiberi, feriis negotiis cordi eft) "aut dulcis lucelli, aut gradus cujuflibet altioris. Non "funt, experto credite, non funt tanti vel honores, vel " reditus ampliffimi ecclefiafticis deftinati, ut a quopiam « enixè A Clergyman ought to cultivate a friendly and edifying intercourfe with his clerical brethren; and freely to impart, when opportunities occur, to younger members of the profeffion the benefits of his counsel and experience; and, as far as his circumftances allow, to contribute to the relief of his distressed fellow-labourers in the Gospel, and of their indigent widows and orphans. Let him be moderate in demanding, just in paying, and impartial in arbitrating, dilapidations; and careful to fecure to his fucceffors the poffeffion of all papers, records, and other documents, which may be of use to them in ascertaining or supporting the rights of the living (r); particularly if those rights are likely to be brought into queftion hereafter through any agreement or tranfaction of his own. But let not mistaken goodnature, nor the fear of giving offence, nor the difficulty of repelling importunate folicitation, lead him to be guilty of falfehood, and to impofe on his Diocefan, by figning an unmerited "enixè cupiantur. Multum habent follicitudinis, non "parùm forfàn invidiæ; veræ delectationis nihil, nifi "quotiès occurrit, occurrit autèm rarò infignis, benefa"ciendi occafio." Secker's Oratio Synodalis, p. 368. (rr) See Secker's Charges, p. 155-157 testimonial, or a fictitious title, for any of his brethren; or for any person who folicits admiffion into orders. In many cafes from neceffity, and in almost all cafes from habit, a Bishop reposes very great confidence in the accounts which he receives from his Clergy concerning those who feek admiffion into orders, or employment and advancement in their profeffion. If unworthy men therefore are ordained, or invefted with offices in the church (events which are no lefs misfortunes to the persons themselves, than to thofe placed under their care, and to the general interefts of religion and virtue), much difgrace and much criminality attaches itself to the conduct of the Clergyman, who by carelefs indifference, or by artifice and fraud, have contributed to place them in their respective fituations. These are confiderations which deserve more attention than they commonly obtain. A Clergyman is bound by the nature of his profeffion, and by his exprefs promife at his ordination, to be diligent in fearching the Scriptures, to make them his leading ftudy, and and to avail himself of collateral aids towards understanding them. The knowledge with which he entered into orders, if left to itself, will rapidly decline. From those who are bleft with greater abilities and the enjoyment of more leifure than others of their brethren, greater progrefs in critical erudition, deeper researches into ecclefiaftical history, a more intimate acquaintance with the writings of the primitive fathers of the Christian church, and a more accurate infight into the feveral objections urged against Christianity by modern unbelievers, may juftly be expected. There are few however who cannot procure for their improvement in fcriptural knowledge the affiftance of useful commentators; in consulting of whom, no extraneous circumftance, as their being antient or modern, foreign or domeftic, belonging or not belonging to the church of England, fhould be permitted to prejudice the judgement against found argument and truth. But a regular ftudy of the Bible, undertaken with the practical design of warming the heart with fentiments of piety and holiness, is ftrictly required of every Clergyman. He who poffeffes not a devout frame of mind, devout views, and devout affections, will labour with little earneftnefs to inculcate them on others. But he who is governed by a principle of steady and habitual piety, will feel the enlivening influence of it in every part of his conduct; in his public and in his private exertions as a Minister; in performing divine fervice; in compofing fermons ; in delivering them from the pulpit; in the fuperintendence of youth; in argumentative and in perfuafive converfations on religious fubjects with the intelligent; in familiar admonitions to the poor man, when he vifits. him in his cottage, overtakes him going forth to his labour, or meets him returning from the field. And how fhall this devout temper be attained by him, who neglects continually to imprefs on his memory the precepts and the bright examples of piety recorded in the Scriptures; the inftructions and the animating lives of Patriarchs, of Prophets, of Apostles; and, above all, the commandments and the character of Jefus Chrift? Those are the fources from which are to be drawn that grateful love of God, that defire to be rendered an inftrument of his glory, that affectionate VOL, II. G zeal |