you will receive with greater regard, for their being chiefly fuch as have been often recommended with good effect on fuch occafions as this. I begin with one of the lowest in appearance, but not the least impor tant of ecclefiaftical employments: catechizing the children under your care. The catechifm confifts of the fundamental articles of Chriftian faith and practice. Without learning these we know not so much as what it is we profess to be; and there is great danger that unless perfons learn them at firft, 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 strict obfervation of this rule was probably expected, during the winter season, in the generality of country parifhes, 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 should apprehend that the fummer feafon 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 Christian 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 exercise is begun, it should be continued much longer: and when- ever the constant repetition of it is left off, it should be occafionally refamed 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 small purpose. Besides, all sciences have their terms, which must be interpreted to beginners: and fome of thofe in the catechism 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 ftill, a fyftem so short 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 catechifm, 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 alking 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 ufefully broken into fhorter questions and anfwers: to which others may be added out of any one of the many good expofitions that have been made public. Only you fhould endeavour as soon and as much as you can to make this a trial and improvement of the under ftanding as well as the memory of young people, by afking fuch things as they fhould reply to in words of their own; making that easy to them in every poffible way. And indeed, if many of your questions were formed to be answered merely by affirming or denying, it would be a very good method: and there is an expofition 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 less to explain it to them. And God forbid that any needlefs addition should 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, fo I should 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 necessary a duty. And if these can do any thing of this kind, there is no doubt but others may easily 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 punifhing fuch. But 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 leaft 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 fome perfon might be. found, within a moderate diftance from VOL. VI. B every 1 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 almost general at the time of the reformation: yet even in those days the clergy were able to teach first parents and houfholder's, 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 fo 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 esteem of this inftitution is, generally fpeaking, fo well preferved, 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 finall. This may not have arifen from any neglect in the minister: but as it ought to incline me to make the opportunities of confirmation as convenient as I am able; fo it ought to incline you, agreeably to the nature of your function, and the express direction of the 61ft Canon, to use your beft endeavours, that your parishioners may gladly take thofe opportunities. Yet I must intreat you to endeavour at the fame time, that none be brought, but thofe 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 baptifm; who can say with seriousness and truth, (what furely elfe they ought not to say 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 fodemnity. 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 most part, full early enough, and that, where you fee it requifite, you may, without giving offence yourfelves, oppofe my order to the indifcreet forwardnefs 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 Diocese. I muft 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 direc them to make the proper answers audibly through the whole of the office, which many of them feem to have no notion of, though it is fo neceffary in the nature of the thing, and tends fo much both to fix their atten tion, and to give the folemnity a decent and edifying 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 defired of you, on thefe 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 alphabetically, both you and I fhould 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 especial care (for fo the words run) that none be prefented but fuch as you know are fit. And as your being present to approve or difapprove muft needs increase your influence and authority amongst your people; it muft likewife make the discharge of my duty fo very much easier 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 usually 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 shorten your labour, calling up your feveral parishes in their order feparately. But I fhall be very glad to do it, as foon as ever you can introduce this order amongst them, which I earnestly recommend to you and I hope a continued frequency of confirmations will foon make that feasible without difficulty here, which is now practised conftantly 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 soon 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 most of your congregations, and very fmall in fome, muft undoubtedly (as this ordinance is appointed for all Chriftians, and for a standing means of grace to all) be a subject 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, efpecially in fuch as at all favour corrupt nature: yet our complaining of these prejudices is not enough; but labouring to overcome them is our bufinefs, 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 fhould they? You will therefore represent to them, that whoever receives without benefit, it is his own B 2 fault ; fault; and that how many foever omit it either for part of their lives or the whole, not their example but the word of God is the rule for Chriftians that far from being a terrible or enfnaring inftitution, it is in reality a moft gracious one: defigned to be celebrated with humility indeed, but with comfort and joy: that all the preparation it requires is within the reach of the plaineft head and the moft laborious hand, provided there be only an honeft and pious heart: and that the judgment which unworthy receivers eat and drink to themselves, needs no more affright those whom God in his mercy will confider as worthy; as he certainly will every true penitent; than the capital punishments, threatened by the law to crimes, make innocent perfons uneafy that he whose life unfits him for the facrament, is unfit for the kingdom of heaven alfo ; and he, who being qualified for it, neglects it, neglects a dying command of his Lord and Saviour, intended for the greateft, good to him. But your public inftructions on this head will be much more effectual for being followed by seasonable private applications: in which you will hear and answer their objections, be they of ever fo little weight, with great meekness; not be provoked by any perverfeness of theirs to fhew anger, but only a friendly concern; and even if you meet with an abfolute repulfe, leave them with an affurance that you shall apply to them again, in hopes that God will have difpofed them better to obey his precepts. But befides increafing the number of your communicants, it were very defirable, that they who do communicate fhould do it more frequently. In the three first centuries the eucharift was every where celebrated weekly, and in many places almost daily. Decay of piety occafioned an injunction in the fixth, that every Christian should receive thrice in the year; which was reduced in the thirteenth, perhaps with a bad intention, to once. Our church requires thrice at the leaft: which evidently implies, that more than thrice is hoped for. And indeed each perfon will scarce be able to communicate fo often unless the communion be adminiftred oftener. But befides, it is appointed to be every Lord's day in cathedral and collegiate churches, and part of the office for it is read every Lord's day in every church, for an admonition of what it were to be wifhed the people could be brought to. This indeed at best must be a work of time: but one thing might be done at present in all your parifhes, as God be thanked, it is in moft of them: a facrament might eafily be interpofed in that long interval between. Whitfuntide and Chriftmas and the ufual feafon for it, about the feaft of St. Michael, (when your people having gathered in the fruits of the earth have fome rest from their labours, and muft furely feel fome gratitude to the Giver of all good) is a very proper time. And if afterwards you can advance from a quarterly communion to a monthly one, I make no doubt but you will. Upon this fubject I muft obferve to you farther, that though in one or two parishes of this Diocese the old cuftom is retained, of oblations for the minifter, as well as alms for the poor, to both which the sentences appointed to be read are plainly adapted: yet in many parishes there is no offertory at all: though it be certainly a practice of primitive antiquity, a moft proper admonition and fpecimen of charity; which I fear the generality of Chriftians much want to be reminded of; a moft feafonable 7 |