offices, and keep up an edifying and entertaining converfation in a neighbourhood, muft add incredible weight to public inftruction.

Indeed your congregations expect thefe things from you, and have a right to expect them. The nature of your office requires them: you have all at your ordination expressly promised to ufe both public and private monitions and exhortations, both to the fick and whole within your cares, as need fhall require and occafion be given, the Lord being your helper. Now we cannot use them duly, without being refident. But further ftill, fince their ordination, all vicars have fworn particularly to be refident unless they are difpenfed with, which means by lawful authority: nor doth any difpenfation of a Bifhop last beyond his own time; or beyond the term, for which he gave it; or, if that were indefinite, beyond his pleasure points, which vicars ought to confider much more ferioufly, than they often do. And every rector hath fworn in general, to obey his Bifhop in all things lawful and honeft. Now furely refidence is lawful and honeft: and what is punifhable by a Bishop may, if done without his leave, be well interpreted difobedience to him: and the non-refidence of rectors is punishable juft in the fame manner with that of vicars.

It must not therefore be pleaded, that however neceffary the refidence of fome minifter may be, that of a curate may suffice. For your engagement is, not merely that the feveral duties of your parish fhall be done, but that you perfonally will do them and if it were enough to fubftitute another to do them, a layman would be, in point of reafon and confcience, as capable of holding a benefice, as a man in holy orders. Befides, a curate will ufually have lefs knowledge and less experience, than the incumbent: and he and the parishioners will conceive, that they are lefs related to each other. He will confider himself, as being with them only for an uncertain, and he may hope, a fhort time; which will tempt him to neglect them. And they will confider him, as not the perfon, who hath authority over them; which will tempt them to difregard him: especially as the largest falary, that can be legally appointed, or generally afforded to a curate, will not enable him to recommend himself to them by doing good amongst them in any expenfive way: whilft yet the people will think, and juftly too, that the whole income of the benefice was intended to procure them a minifter, to do them as much good in every way, as could reasonably be expected from it.

There are indeed cafes, in which the law difpenfes with holding two livings, and by confequence allows abfence from one. But perfons ought to confider well; fuppofing they can with innocence take the be.nefit of that law; whether they can do it on other terms, than their difpenfation and their bond expreffes, of preaching yearly 13 fermons, and keeping two months hofpitality, in the parish, where they refide Icaft. For the leave given them on these conditions, is not intended to be given them, however legally valid, if the conditions are neglected: always excepting where juft impediments happen. There are likewise cafes, in which the non-refidence of perfons, who have only one living, is permitted by law. But fome of thefe alfo are put under limitations, beyond which the permiffion doth not reach.

Further ftill, I am fenfible, that confiderations of health and ftrength, and particular circumftances of incumbents or their families, require

leave

leave of abfence to be fometimes allowed, where the law makes no allowance. But then it fhould never be taken for any confiderable time, without being afked: nor fhould it be afked without good caufe. And mere fancy, or defire of living more at eafe, or in a cheerfuller, and, it' may be, lefs clerical manner, is by no means a fufficient caufe. Nor indeed is the allegation of health to be urged too far, or to be too much regarded. For places, called unwholefome, prove upon trial very wholefome to many perfons: and thofe, which are leaft fo, must have fome minifters in or near them; and whom rather, generally fpeaking, than fuch as enjoy the whole profits? Much lefs is indulgence to be granted for every prefent convenience, or prospect of temporal advantage: which if clergymen appear to have greatly at heart, and the care of their parifhes but little, indeed it looks very ill.

Another plea may be offered by fome, that though they live not on their own cures, they ferve others. And it is not always an infufficient one. But, with very few exceptions, the moft natural and moft ufeful method by far is, that each take the overfight of the parish, which pro-" perly belongs to him: and absenting himself from that, for a little more income, a little more agreeablenefs, or any flight reafon, is unbecoming and unwarrantable behaviour.

At the fame time I acknowledge, that the poorness of fome benefices makes the refidence of a diftinct minifter upon each of them impracticable and therefore they must be served from an adjoining parith, or a greater distance; and no more duty expected, than there is a competent provifion for. But then I fear, indeed I have found, than in fome be-" nefices, not so poor, one minifter fupplies two churches on a Sunday; contrary to a repeated injunction of fucceffive Archbishops to their fuffragans, which they certainly defigned to obferve themselves; and the words of which are thefe; that you do not allow any minister to ferve more than one church or chapel in one day, except that chapel be a member of the parish church; or united thereunto; and unless the faid church or chapel be not able to maintain a curate. The confequence of difregarding this injunction is, not only the very bad one, that the fervice is performed in irreverent hafte, but that catechifing is neglected in both places, if not altogether, yet in a great degree. Nay, perhaps for great part of the year, if not the whole, each of them hath prayers but once. Where indeed it can be truly alledged in this laft cafe, that the inhabitants of each parish not only with convenience may, but actually do, attend at both churches, the plea must be allowed its weight. But, as to other excuses: if the number of the people be fmall, the fervice is not less enjoined, and is more eafily performed: if they had rather have a fermon at another church, than merely prayers at their own; they ought to have more than prayers; an expofition of the catechifm, which they will account equivalent to a fermon: or you may reduce it with eafe into the form of a fermon; and then many of them will come to their own church, who now go to no other, but profane the rest of the day if they are content with part of the Sunday fervice, which however may be faid or believed without fufficient ground, yet probably they would be glad of the whole. But fuppofing them to be indifferent about it, or even averfe from it, their minifter is bound to fhew them, that they

E 4

ought

ought not. And how long foever this hath been the practice; if it ought not to have been fo at all, the longer the worfe. My pious and learned predeceffor, Archbishop Potter, lamented heavily to me the irregularities of this kind, which he found in this Diocefe: and if any remain, I muft, after his example, endeavour to have them rectified.

I hope they will be rectified by the best method, beyond comparison; your own ferious reflections on what you owe to your flocks, and what you owe to the great Shepherd of fouls. Though you are ever fo exprefsly permitted by human laws to be abfent from your cures, or by your ordinary to ferve them, or let them be ferved, by halves; you are anfwerable to an infinitely higher tribunal for what God, and not man alone, hath made your duty. Therefore, if you regard the peace of your own fouls and your final comfort, you will never do any of these things, unlefs very strong reafons oblige you to it: and you will never be glad of fuch reafons, but heartily forry. You will give your parishes both morning and evening prayer, wherever it is poffible: and you will fupply them in perfon, unlefs particular circumstances render it impracticable, or unless, by living at a distance for the prefent, you are more ufeful to religion some other way, and peculiarly qualified for that ufe fulness, Far from catching at weak pretences, you will be rather diffident about strong inducements; and much readier to follow the directions, than folicit the indulgence of your fuperiors. But if any do chuse the worse part, they must remember, that we Bishops are bound to oppose, instead of confulting their inclinations, from concern for them, aş well as their parishioners. And therefore you will not furely think it real good-nature to connive at liberties of this kind prefumptuously taken without leave, or to grant requests made for them, as matters of course: nor impute it to a fondness of exercifing power, when compliance with the rules of the church is required: nor yet haftily condemn it, as pare tial behaviour, if an indulgence, denied to one, is granted to another a for there may be, in the cafes of different perfons, confiderable difparities, unknown to you, or unobferved by you,

But when it is ever fo clear, that the non-refidence of minifters ought to be allowed, it is at leaft equally clear, that they should ufe their beft endeavours to make their people amends for it. One thing, proper to be done for this end, is relieving their poor: which as they could not with decency avoid doing, according to their ability, if they lived amongst them, they ought to do more largely, if they live elsewhere. For no reproach will lie heavier on our order, than that of reaping all, and fowing nothing: whereas, they who give alms in their abfence, will be in effect always prefent to one valuable purpose: will be readily prefumed to be well-wifhers to their parishes in every way; whilft they are benefactors to them in this way: and by such a specimen of the influence of religion upon themselves, will remind their congregations, very acceptably, of the influence, which it ought to have upon them; efpecially if they make their charity more directly fubfervient to religion, by affording diftinguifhed encouragement to pious and virtuous perfons, and thofe who appear likely to be made fuch; by procuring children to be instructed in their Chriftian duty, and other proper knowledge; by distri buting useful books amongst the needy and ignorant. What is thus be

ftowed,

Rowed, is of all the fervice it can be: whereas injudicious bounty may even produce harm.

Another thing, incumbent on fuch as cannot refide conftantly, is to inspect however the ftate of their parishes as frequently as they can: fpending days, or weeks, or longer feasons there occafionally, and in proportion as their time is fhorter, ufing more diligence in public and private inftructions and warnings. For they are peculiarly bound to do what they are able, who are not able to do what elfe they ought. But if even this be out of their power, they may at least be affiduous in get ting informations from perfons of understanding and seriousness, in or near their cures, with what regularity, with what spirit and zeal, each part of the parochial duty is performed; whether true inward piety makes any progrefs; whether any and what abuses and neglects are crept in. And he, who reckons it enough, that, for ought he knows to the contrary, his parishioners go on like their neighbours, hath by no means the requifite concern for their fouls, or his own.

But whenever abfence is neceffary, or the largeness of a parish, or the infirmity of a minifter, hinders him from taking the whole care of it perfonally, the principal point is, the choice of a fit fubftitute, to be employed in his ftead, or fhare his burthen: for no fuperintendency will make an unfit one anfwer the end. And therefore I charge it upon your confciences, not to fuffer cheapnefs, recommendation of friends, affec tion to this or that perfon or place of education, in fhort any induce ment whatever, to weigh near fo much with you, as the benefit of your people, in chufing perfons to ferve your churches. For on you the choice of them lies in the first place: but not on you alone. The laws of the church require, particularly Can. 48, that no curate or minifter be permitted to ferve in any place, without examination and admiffion of the ordina ry in confequence of which, one of the before-mentioned archiepifco pal directions to the fuffragans of the province, is this: That you make diligent inquiry concerning curates in your Diocefe: and proceed to ecclefiaftical cenfures against thofe, who shall prefume to fervé cures, without being first duly licenfed thereunto; as also against all incumbents, who fhall receive and employ them without obtaining fuch licence. Yet I would avoid rigour in all cafes. The expence of a licence, by means of the ftamps, may to fome be rather inconvenient, and greater than the government perhaps intended; at least, if they are likely to remove, and fo repeat that expence, in a fhort time. And fuch curates I would excufe: only defiring them to confider, what fecurity of continuing in their station, and receiving their falary, a licence brings them. But then you cannot think it right, that I should be left in ignorance, who serves a church under my care, till I learn it by accident, or private inquiry, perhaps many months after; through which omiffion, men of bad characters, men not in orders, may intrude; as there hath lately been a flagrant inftance in this Diocefe. I am far from looking on the past failures of giving notice, as defigned negligence of your flocks, or difrefpect to your fuperiors. But I fhall have caufe both to think of them and treat them as fuch, if continued after the warning, which I now give, that no one is to officiate statedly, or employ another to officiate fo, within my jurifdiction, unless he first obtain my confent; or what in effect will be mine, that of your very

worthy

worthy and vigilant Archdeacon. Think not, I beg you, that this is taking more on myself, than my predeceflors did. Their own directions prove, that they would have done the fame thing, if they had feen the fame neceffity. Far be it from me to lord it over God's heritage (a): but I am bound to keep that which is committed to my trust (b).

When you want curates, I recommend it to you, first to inquire after perfons of merit, already ordained, and if poffible ordained priests, taking care to fee their orders, as well as to examine into their characters, before you think of granting nominations to others. The number of clergymen indeed is rather deficient, than fuperfluous. But ftill one would not add to it by overlooking undefervedly those who are of it already. And particularly where help is wanted only for a fhort time, I fhall infift on this point: nor will, without abfolute neceffity, ordain any one upon fuch a title. And if fraudulent titles are brought merely to procure orders, as I hope I fhall difcover them foon enough to difallow them, fo I fhall be fure to remark and remember, who hath attempted to impofe upon me by them...

The next thing to be confidered in relation to curates is, their testimonials. And here the Canon and directions already quoted enjoin, that no Bishop admit fuch as remove out of another Diocefe to ferve in his, without the testimony in writing of the Bishop of that Diocese, or ordinary of the peculiar jurifdiction, from whence they come, of their good life, ability, and conformity to the ecclefiaftical laws of the church of England. For the clergymen of one Diocefe, or jurifdiction, at least their hand-writing, being ufually unknown to the Bishop of another, he can feldom, of himself, be fure, either that he hath their genuine teftimony, or how far he may truft it. Therefore it is fit, that he should defire the atteftation of their proper fuperior. And even to this it will be prudent to add fuch further information, as can be got: confidering how very carelessBy teftimonials are fometimes granted, even by reputable perfons.

But let me intreat you never to be guilty of fuch carelessnefs yourselves, for whatever purpose one is afked of you. Both the nature of the thing, and the directions repeatedly mentioned, require, that no Bifhop accept any letters teftimonial, unless it be declared by thofe who fhall sign them, that they have perfonally known, not only the man, but his life and converfation for the time by them certified; and do believe in their confcience, that he is qualified for that order, office or employment, which he defires. Now teftimonials, concerning fuch things as thefe, cannot be matter of mere form, unless our whole profeffion be a very empty form. We, the Bishops to whom they are given, do not, and mult not, understand them to be fo: it would be abfurd to demand them if we did. Some customs indeed may grow to be things of courfe: the reafons for them ceafing, or not being thought of moment; and yet the law for them continuing. But the reafons for teftimonials can never ceafe, or be thought of small moment. They are the only ordinary information that we have, in a cafe of the utmost importance, in which we have a right to be informed. For no one can imagine, that we are to ordain and employ whoever comes, or depend on clandeftine intelligence.. We must therefore.and do depend on regular teftimonials. And if they be untrue, we are most injuriously (a) 1 Pet. v. 3.

ง.3

(b) 1 Tim. vi. 20.