being, in a reasonable degree, difinterefted. A very large proportion indeed of the clergy have too much cause to endeavour at bettering their circumstances: and it is barbarous treatment, to accuse them for it, inftead of pitying them. But over-great folicitude and contrivance for advancing ourselves will always make impreffions to our prejudice, let cur condition be ever fo low: though defervedly much ftronger impreffions, in proportion as it is higher. We fhall be thought to have no attention, but that, of which we difcover too much: and the truth is we cannot ferve two mafters (p). Nor will it be fufficient, that we avoid the charge of immoderately defiring more; unless we avoid alfo that of selfishness, in the management of what we have already: a matter, in which it is very difficult, and yet very important, to give no offence. We are bound, both to thofe who belong to us, and those who shall come after us, to take a proper care of our legal dues: and preferve them faithfully from the encroachments of fuch, as tell us very truly, that we ought not to be worldly-minded; but forget what is equally true, that they themselves ought not to be fo. But then the ftrongeft reafons of all kinds oblige us, never to make unjuft or litigious claims; never to do any thing, either hard or rigorous, or mean and fordid: to fhew, that we defire always the most eafy and amicable method of ending difputes; and whatever method we may be forced to take, never to let any thing force us into the leaft degree of unfairness, paffion or ill-will; but endeavour, by all inftances of friendly behaviour, to win, if poffible, upon the perfon we have to do with; at least to convince every body elfe, how very far we are from intending wrong to him, or any one. And nothing will contribute more, to acquit us from the fufpicion of being selfish in our dealings with other perfons; than approving ourselves charitable to the poor: a virtue which becomes us fo extremely, and is fo peculiarly expected from us, and will give us fo valuable an influence; that we fhould willingly ftraiten ourselves in almost any thing befides, that, to the full proportion of our abilities, we may abound in giving alms. And together with this, would we but, each in his station, take the best care we can to fee juftice done them in that provifion, which the law hath intended for them, it would generally prove a much more confiderable benefaction, than all that we are able to bestow on them of our own. To the above-mentioned inftances of right conduct we must always add, what will render them very engaging, the occafional kind offices of good neighbourhood; with a decent hofpitality alfo, if our circumftances will permit it: and then, notwithstanding the cenfures of thofe, who complain that we are of little ufe, and endeavour to make us of none, we may furely well hope to do service to God, and be esteemed of men: efpecially if, together with fo exemplary a behaviour towards others, we are friendly and compaffionate, candid and equitable amongst ourfelves. Great injuftice, I am fatisfied, is done us on this head and many groundless accufations brought confidently against us, by perfons, who neither enquire into facts, nor confider circumstances. But there are (2) Matt. vi. 24. few few things, in which it concerns us more, to clear ourselves where we are innocent, and to amend ourselves where we are faulty. For fo long as we are thought in the world, either infolent to our inferiour brethren in general, or void of generofity and pity to fuch of them as we employ; we must not expect to receive better treatment, than we are understood to give. And if we are believed to be chargeable, beyond other men, with mutual bitterness and vehemence, when any kind of controverfy rifes amongst us; this too is a character, fo very different from that which ought to be ours, that the utmost care should be taken to guard against it. Not that we are obliged, either to speak of or behave to men of bad lives, or bad principles, as if they were good ones, because unhappily they belong to our order. Making no diftinction would be on all accounts wrong and making a proper diftinction will be very useful. But then we should never think worse of our brethren, than evidence forces us; never publifh our ill opinion, without fufficient reafon; nor exceed, when we do publifh it, the bounds of moderation: we should be ready to fhew them all fitting kindnefs, even whilft they continue blamable; and receive them back with the moft charitable tenderness, when they return to their duty. For there is no manner of need, that we fhould give either fo much advantage or fo much pleasure to the adverfaries of religion, as to let them fee thofe, who should be the joint-defenders of it, engaged in domeftic wars: and bringing such charges, and raifing fuch prejudices, one against another, that it is hard to fay, whether believing or difbelieving our mutual accufations will make the world think worse of us. Our bleffed Lord therefore, after reminding his Difciples, that they were the falt of the earth; were defigned, by the purity of their doctrine and example, to keep others from corruption; and after giving them that prophetic warning, which we shall find men zealous to fulfil, that if the falt have loft its favour, it shall be caft out and trodden under foot (q); refuming the fame figure at another time, concludes his exhortation thus, Have falt in yourselves, and have peace one with another (r). To these things, Brethren, if we have any concern for the interests of religion or our own, we must always industriously attend; but especially in fuch times, as by no means admit of negligence or mifmanage ment. Yet vain will our best endeavours be, unless we conftantly add to them our fervent prayers, that God would enable and strengthen, both us, and all that ferve him in the Gofpel of his Son, to perform our duty with faithfulness and fuccefs. For we are not fufficient to think any thing of ourselves: our fufficiency is of God (s). What therefore we ought, every one of us, to beg of him at all times, let us all at prefent jointly addrefs to him for, in the comprehenfive and expreffive words of our public fervice. Almighty and everlasting God, by whofe Spirit the whole body of the church is governed and fanctified; receive our fupplications and prayers, which we offer before thee for all eftates of men in thy holy church; that every member of the fame, in his vocation and miniflry, may truly and godly ferve thee, through our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. Amen (t). (9) Matth. v. 13. 4 (r) Mark ix. 50, (t) Second Collect for Good Friday. A CHARGE A CHARGE DELIVERED TO THE CLERGY of the DIOCESE OF OXFORD, In the YEAR 1741. W Reverend Brethren, . WHEN I had firft the pleasure of meeting you, being very much a ftranger, I could only lay before you fuch general admonitions 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 Anfwers to my printed Enquiries, which have given me many reasons to esteem and respect you; I fhall at present 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 fuch occafions as this. I begin with one of the loweft in appearance, but not the least important 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 profefs 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 fometimes 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 feafon, in the generality of country parishes, or where the children being few were more eafily 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 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 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 exercise is begun, it should be continued much longer: and whenever the conftant repetition of it is left off, it should be occafionally refumed for a Sunday or two, at proper diftances of time. Another defect in fome places is, that barely the words of the catechifm are taught without any expofition. Now the very plaineft expreffions in it will need to be varied into others that are equivalent: elfe 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. Besides, all fciences have their terms, which must be interpreted to beginners: and fome of those in the catechifm are figurative ones; very prudently ufed, as they comprehend in a little compafs much meaning, and lead to the understanding 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 system so short as to be learnt by heart, muft 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 infruct the children in their catechifm, I hope you will think this a very needful needful part of that instruction. 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 deserve the preference. But afking the children questions, relating to each part, and procuring them to learn texts of fcripture confirming each, will be always beneficial. The words of the catechifm 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 fhould endeavour as foon and as much as you can to make this a trial and improvement of the underftanding as well as the memory of young people, by asking such things as they thould reply to in words of their own; making that eafy 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 manner. I am fenfible that fome clergymen are unhappily obliged to ferve two churches the fame afternoon: who may therefore plead, that they have fcarce ever time to hear the children repeat their catechifm, much lefs 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, so I should hope that in the longer days, at each of their churches alternately, they might hear the catechifin 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 entire omiffion.of fo neceffary a duty. And if thefe can do any thing of this kind, there is no doubt but others may eafily 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 especially are both unwilling and often afhamed to come. Now the Canon doth indeed make provifion for punishing 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 |