A

CHARGE

DELIVERED TO THE

CLERGY of the DIOCESE

OF

OXFORD,

In the YEAR 1741,

Reverend Brethren,

GHEN I had firft the pleasure of meeting you, being very much a ftranger, I could only lay before you fuch general admonitions CH as appeared to be feasonable in this unhappy age of irreligion and libertinifm. But having now obtained a fuller acquaintance with things, chiefly from your Answers to my printed Enquiries, which have given me many reasons to esteem and refpect you; I fhall at prefent defcend into fome farther particulars and confidering you, not merely as minifters of the Gospel at large, but as minifters of the feveral parishes in which you officiate, remind you of fome plain directions for your doing it more fuccefsfully: which I fhall deliver with lefs diffidence, and

you

you will receive with greater regard, for their being chiefly fuch as have been often recommended with good effect on such occafions as this.

I begin with one of the lowest in appearance, but not the leaft important of ecclefiaftical employments: catechizing the children under your

care.

The catechifm confifts of the fundamental articles of Christian faith and practice. Without learning these we know not fo much as what it is we profess to be; and there is great danger that unless perfons learn them at first, they will never learn them throughly: but only pick up from what they hear or read, unconnected and sometimes ill grounded notions, that will never unite into a complete or a confiftent form of found doctrine as I apprehend we have had too much experience. The Rubric therefore requires, that every perfon learn the catechifm before his confirmation: and the 59th Canon, that every Incumbent shall examine and inftruct the young and ignorant of his parish in it for half an hour or more every Sunday. Every fecond Sunday had been appointed before: but that I fuppofe was judged afterwards infufficient. Not that a ftrict obfervation of this rule was probably expected, during the winter feafon, in the generality of country parishes, or where the children being few were more easily taught. But plainly it was intended, that how much time foever was needful to do this work well, fhould be faithfully employed in it. I thank God, there are very few places in this Diocese, and I hope there will foon be none, where catechizing is omitted. But I obferve that in many it is practifed only during lent. Now I fhould apprehend that the fummer feason would in general be much more convenient both for the minifter and the congregation. But at least the space of a few weeks is by no means fufficient to fix the knowledge of their Chriftian duty fo firmly in the minds of young people, but that in the many months which pass from the end of one lent to the beginning of another, a great part of it will be to learn again. Therefore whenever this exercife is begun, it should be continued much longer: and whenever the constant repetition of it is left off, it should be occafionally refumed for a Sunday or two, at proper distances of time.

Another defect in fome places is, that barely the words of the catechifm are taught without any expofition. Now the very plainest expreffions in it will need to be varied into others that are equivalent: else children will too often learn nothing but the found and unless this danger, which is a very great one, be guarded againft, you will have spent both their pains and your own but to fmall purpose. Befides, all fciences have their terms, which must be interpreted to beginners: and fome of thofe in the catechifm are figurative ones; very prudently used, as they comprehend in a little compafs much meaning, and lead to the underftanding of the fame figures in Scripture; but undoubtedly used on purpofe to be explained: without which they are liable to make either no impreffion or a wrong one. And farther fill, a fyftem fo fhort as to be . learnt by heart, must have need, were it ever fo clear, to be enlarged on; the proofs of its truth, the connections and tendency of its doctrines, the use and extent of its precepts to be fhewn: and therefore fince the Canon with great reafon enjoins, not only that you examine, but instruct the children in their catechifin, I hope you will think this a very

needful

needful part of that inftruction. As to the manner of it, that may be different, not only in different places, but in the fame at different times. Sometimes a continued difcourfe of fome length may be requifite: as it will lay before the adult part of your parishioners a methodical fummary of Chriftian doctrine; which they often want very much for themselves, and will thus be enabled to teach fomething of to their children, after they have heard it together from you.

Sometimes a curfory expofition of the more difficult expreffions may deferve the preference. But asking the children queftions, relating to each part, and procuring them to learn texts of Scripture confirming each, will be always beneficial. The words of the catechifin itself may be very usefully broken into fhorter queftions and anfwers: to which others may be added out of any one of the many good expofitions that have been made, public. Only you should endeavour as foon and as much as you can to make this a trial and improvement of the understanding as well as the memory of young people, by asking fuch things as they fhould reply to in words of their own; making that eafy to them in every poffible way. And indeed, if many of your queftions were formed to be answered merely by affirming or denying, it would be a very good method: and there is an expolition drawn up in that man

ner.

I am fenfible that fome clergymen are unhappily obliged to ferve two churches the fame afternoon: who may therefore plead, that they have scarce ever time to hear the children repeat their catechifm, much lefs to explain it to them. And God forbid that any needless addition fhould ever be made to their burthen. But as I am fure they will be defirous of doing what they are able, in a matter of this importance, fol fhould hope that in the longer days, at each of their churches alternately, they might hear the catechifm repeated one Sunday and expound part of it another, .or hear only part of it repeated and expound that, or find fome way to prevent the intire omiffion of fo neceffary a duty. And if these can do any thing of this kind, there is no doubt but others may cafily do more. But a farther hindrance which I fear you complain of too juftly is, that parents and mafters are negligent in fending their children and fervants; and the latter efpecially are both unwilling and often afhamed to come. Now the Canon doth indeed make provifion for punishing such. perfuading them would be much happier. And furely in fo clear a cafe, well timed and well judged arguments, if perfifted in, must do a great deal. The example of their equals or their betters, if you have any under your care that are wife enough to fet a good one; or however that of your own families, may help very much and fuch little rewards of good books, or other encouragements as you can give or procure for them, it may be hoped, will completely prevail with them. At least fuch as think they are either too old or too confiderable to say the catechifm themselves, may be greatly improved by hearing others repeat, and you explain it.

But in fome few places it is pleaded, that the children cannot read, and their parents either cannot or will not get them taught, and therefore the foundation for their learning the catechifm is wanting. But furely tome perfon might be found, within a moderate diftance from VOL. VI.

B

every

every place, to whom parents might be induced, at leaft if fomething were contributed towards it, to fend their children to be inftructed thus far. Or at the worst, they who cannot read might eafily by degrees learn fo much as the catechifm by heart: efpecially as the three main parts of it are in every Sunday's prayers. The incapacity of reading was almoft general at the time of the reformation: yet even in those days the clergy were able to teach first parents and houfholders, then by their means children and fervants, the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments: and afterwards the reft of the catechifm. Now fince that grofs darkness hath been so far enlightened, it cannot be impracticable to difpel the remains of it.

After due inftruction follows confirmation: an appointment derived down from Apoftolical practice; and of fuch acknowledged usefulness that in the times of confufion, a hundred years ago, when bishops were rejected, fome of their adverfaries took upon them to perform this part of their function: and within these few years the church of Geneva hath restored it in the best manner their form of church government will admit, and added an office for it to their liturgy. In our own church the ancient efteem of this inftitution is, generally fpeaking, so well preserv ed, that I hope the defire of being confirmed may not a little ftrengthen that of being inftructed, as the only way to it. And yet I muft obferve, that the numbers from fome parishes have been in proportion very fmall. This may not have arifen from any neglect in the minifter: but as it ought to incline me to make the opportunities of confirmation as convenient as I am able; so it ought to incline you, agreeably to the nature of your function, and the exprefs direction of the 61ft Canon, to use your best endeavours, that your parishioners may gladly take thofe opportunities. Yet I muft intreat you to endeavour at the fame time, that none be brought, but those who, to speak in the language of the Rubric, are come to years of difcretion, who have learnt, not the words only, but, in a competent degree, the meaning of what was promised for them in baptism; who can fay with feriousness and truth, (what furely elfe they ought not to fay at all,) that in the prefence of God and the congregation they ratify and confirm the fame in their own perfons; and who therefore are likely to have useful and lafting impreffions made on them by this folemnity. Undoubtedly fome arrive at this capacity fooner than others, and therefore I have mentioned the age of fourteen, not with a defign of abfolutely tying you down to it; but as being, for the moft part, full early enough; and that, where you fee it requifite, you may, without giving offence yourselves, oppofe my order to the indifcreet forwardness of parents; whom however, I hope, it will make eafy, to affure them, as I give you authority, that fo long as it pleafes God to continue my health and ftrength, confirmations fhall be frequent in every part of this Diocefe. I must alfo defire that you will carefully inftruct those whom you do bring, in the whole nature of the inftitution, and particularly in this, amongst other more important points, that they are never to be confirmed any more than baptized a fecond time: that you will direct them to make the proper anfwers audibly through the whole of the office, which many of them seem to have no notion of, though it is fo necesfary in the nature of the thing, and tends fo much both to fix their atten

tion,

ton, and to give the folemnity a decent and édifying appearance. You will caution them likewife not to crowd forward and incommode each other, ufing this argument for one, that the whole number who come in at the fame time, will be difmiffed at the fame time alfo; and laftly you will prefs it ftrongly upon their minds, that what they promise at their confirmation, they are to remember and keep to their lives end. I have already desired of you, on these occafions, a lift of fuch as you judge qualified; that fo the numbers and perfons may be known of this you would do well to keep a copy yourselves, and if it were written al phabetically, both you and I should be able to confult it upon the spot more eafily. For the abovementioned Canon, the 61ft, plainly directs your attendance along with your parishioners; to take efpecial care (for fo the words run) that none be prefented but fuch as you know are fit. And as your being prefent to approve or difapprove muft needs increase your influence and authority amongst your people; it must likewife make the difcharge of my duty fo very much eafier and more useful, that I beg you will never let me be without your affiftance in this work, as you fhall never be without mine in any thing. And for this purpose when confirmations are on a Sunday, which is the time I fhall ufually pitch upon, for the convenience of the people, excepting at the places of my vifitation, you may omit for that day the morning or the evening prayers as you fee occafion. I have not indeed hitherto been able to effect, what would greatly fhorten your labour, calling up your several parishes in their order separately. But I fhall be very glad to do it, as foon as ever you can introduce this order amongst them, which I earneftly recommend to you and I hope a continued frequency of confirmations will foon make that feafible without difficulty here, which is now practifed constantly in the populous cities of London and Westminster.

From confirmation perfons ought to be led on, if poffible, before the impreffions of it are much weakened, to the holy facrament: and it is one material reason why confirmation should not be too early, that with a little farther inftruction given foon after it, you may eafily bring them, fuch as they ought to be, to the Lord's table: which may prove a much harder matter, when once they have been a good while out of your hands. The small proportion of communicants which I find there is in moft of your congregations, and very small in fome, muft undoubtedly (as this ordinance is appointed for all Chriftians, and for a ftanding means of grace to all) be a fubject of very great concern to you. And though it is too true, that the generality of the world, and perhaps the lower fort beyond others, are incredibly obftinate in their prejudices, especially in fuch as at all favour corrupt nature: yet our complaining of these prejudices is not enough; but labouring to overcome then is our business, and we are not to grow weary of it. Some imagine that the facrament belongs only to perfons of advanced years, or great leisure, or high attainments in religion, and is a very dangerous thing for common perfons to venture upon. Some again difregard it ftupidly, because others, they fay, who do receive are never the better for it; or because their friends before them, or their neighbours about them never received at all, or not till fuch an age: and why should they? You will therefore represent to them, that whoever receives without benefit, it is his own fault

B 2