By the refult of a deliberate and impartial furvey of the character and qualifications of the candidate, and by no other motive whatever, let the Bishop be determined as to granting or refusing him admiffion into orders, or advancement to a higher degree in the miniftry. Let him not be afraid of exercising his difcretion. If the young man's pretenfions ought not to be allowed, let not the pain of giving him a temporary or permanent denial, nor the fear of offending his friends, or another Bishop from whom he has received dimissory letters, not even the ties of confanguinity, be fuffered to have the slightest influence in the cafe. If on the other hand he is a man of piety and of competent knowledge, let not the church be deprived of a useful Minifter, though he should not happen to have been educated at one of the univerfities. And let not the Bishop omit the opportunities which his ftation affords him, of impreffing on the minds of the approved candidates the folemn nature of the office which they are about to undertake, and the awful refponfibility annexed to it. By exhortation, by advice, by recommending habits of life, fuggefting plans of fudy, H

VOL. II.

and

and pointing out improving books, severally adapted to the fituation and abilities of the individuals whom he addreffes; let him contribute whatever is in his power towards rendering all of them zealous and useful Ministers of religion. His inftructions delivered warm from the heart, and at a season which forms a memorable era in the lives of those to whom they are directed, will seldom be totally forgotten.

The general fuperintendence of the conduct of the Clergy of the diocese is a very important branch of epifcopal duty. That a Bishop may be enabled to perform it with fidelity and effect, it is indispensably requifite that he should refide very much in his diocese; and gain all poffible infight into the character and general behaviour of each individual Clergyman. This knowledge is beft obtained, and ought ever to be fought, by perfonal intercourse and inspection. When remoteness of fituation in fome degree precludes the diocefan from fufficient occafions of judging from his own obfervations, let him call to his aid the information to be collected from con

fidential

fidential perfons refident near the party concerned; appreciating it according to their means of learning his true character, and their freedom from prejudices, either in his favour or against him; and putting its accuracy to the proof by comparing together and contrasting the intelligence derived from different quarters. The periodical visitations of a Bishop, prudently conducted, will greatly increase his knowledge of the state of his diocese. And on this account among others they ought not to be postponed beyond the customary time of their recurrence; nor hurried over, as if they were mere matters of troublesome form, with eager precipitation. And were a Bishop to make an annual and unceremonious progress through a portion of his (yy) diocese in the intervals between the

general

(yy) An admirable example of truly Christian zeal and diligence in the discharge of epifcopal duties has been exhibited by Bishop Burnet. "Not content with the " usual triennial vifitations, he every fummer, during fix "weeks, made a progrefs through some districts of his "diocefe, preaching and confirming from church to "church; fo that, before the return of the triennial vifit"ation, he became well acquainted with the behaviour "of every incumbent. He preached every Sunday in ❝ fome

H 2

general vifitations; his active vigilance would be well repaid by the exertions to which it would roufe his Clergy, and the infight which it would afford him into their feveral difpofitions, attainments, and proceedings. And the confufion which not unfrequently takes place at present from the vast crowds affembling to be confirmed, infomuch that numbers are even unable to hear any of the queftions proposed to them, though calling for promiffory replies on their part, would be obviated. Its existence in any degree is difgraceful.

In reproving the negligent among the Clergy, and in the exercife of those feverer powers with which the laws authorife him to proceed against the refractory and the im moral; let him not be swayed by the defire of conciliating favour, nor by the dread of incurring odium and exciting refentment,from

dif

"fome church of the city of Salisbury; catechised and inftructed its youth for confirmation; was moft vigilant "and ftrict in his examination of candidates for holy "orders; and was an invincible enemy to pluralities, and of course to non-refidence." Pennant's Tour in Scotland, 4to. London, 1776, vol. ii. p. 373, note.

difcharging his duty with proper ftrictness; and with an impartial regard to the merits of the cafe, whatever be the fituation and connections of the individuals in fault. What was the folemn injunction with which St. Paul clofed his directions to Timothy respecting his conduct in cenfuring elders of the church? "I charge (zz) thee before "God and the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the "elect angels, that thou obferve these things, "without preferring one before another; "doing nothing by partiality." In cafes of Aagrant enormity, it may well become the Bishop to pass open cenfure on the unworthy Minifter. Except in fuch inftances, private reproof is more advisable. It has more of the air of kindness; and leaves no ftigma on the character of the individual, if it should ultimately appear that the diocefan had been misinformed as to the nature or the degree of the offence.

By the fame fpirit of impartiality ought a Bishop to be actuated in exercifing that degree of authority which the laws give him,

(zz) 1 Tim. v. 21.