A discourse made by the Ld Bishop of Rochester to the clergy of his diocese at his visitation in the year 1695 : published at their request. Church of England. Diocese of Rochester. Bishop (1684-1713 : Sprat) 1696 Approx. 76 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 36 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A61157 Wing S5031 ESTC R39999 18595896 ocm 18595896 108092 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A61157) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 108092) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1102:4) A discourse made by the Ld Bishop of Rochester to the clergy of his diocese at his visitation in the year 1695 : published at their request. Church of England. Diocese of Rochester. Bishop (1684-1713 : Sprat) Sprat, Thomas, 1635-1713. [2], 68 p. Printed by Edw. Jones, In the Savoy [London] : MDCXCVI [1696] Half-title page reads: The Ld Bishop of Rochester's discourse to his clergy, &c. Reproduction of original in the Union Theological Seminary Library, New York. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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In the SAVOY : Printed by Edw. Iones , MDCXCVI . A DISCOURSE MADE BY The L d Bishop of Rochester TO THE CLERGY , &c. I Can scarce think it worth my while , or yours , ( my good Brethren , ) that I should now spend much time in any long general Exhortation , to your Diligent and Conscientious performing the Duties incumbent on you , as you are the Ministers of GOD , duly called according to the Will of of our Lord Christ , and the Order of this Excellent Church of England . Did I find , there were here any absolute need to use many Words , towards the exciting your Care in the several Administrations of your Holy Calling ; yet , I am persuaded , I my self might well spare my own Labour , and your Patience , on this Subject ; since all that kind of wholesome Advice has been already so very sufficiently , and so much better given you , in Arguments deduced out of the Holy Scriptures , and most fitly applied to this Purpose , by the venerable Compilers of our Public Liturgy , in the Forms appointed for the Ordering of Deacons and Priests . There , you know , this Work has been so wisely , and so fully , long ago , done to a Bishop's hands ; there all the Parts of your weighty Office are so judiciously laid before you ; the high Dignity , and great Importance of it , towards the Salvation of Mankind , is so substantially urg'd ; the blessed Fruits , and everlasting Rewards of well-attending it , and the extreme Dangers of neglecting it , are so justly amplified ; the Necessity of adorning your Doctrine by an innocent , virtuous , and pious Life of your own , towards the rendring it efficacious on the Lives of others , is so pathetically inforc'd ; that , I am confident , the very best Charge , a Bishop could give to his Clergy , were to recommend seriously to all their Memories , as I now do most affectionately to yours , those very same Questions and Answers , those very same Promises and Vows , as you ought to esteem them , where-with every one of you did most solemnly charge his Conscience , at the time of your Admission into Holy Orders . I profess , I cannot , nor , I believe , can the the Wit of Man , invent any more proper Method of Instruction to Men in your Circumstances , from a Man in mine , than to exhort you all to a continual Recollection of , and Meditation upon , those many and great Obligations , you then seem'd voluntarily and cheerfully to lay on your selves . Whence there could not but ensue ( by GOD's Blessing , ) a firm Resolution in your Minds to endeavour the performance of them , and a Holy Perseverance in those Endeavours , and in Conclusion , the happy Effects of all on your selves , and the Flocks committed to you : That by thus Meditating on these Things , and giving your selves wholly to them , your profiting may appear to all ; and that by taking heed to your selves , and your Doctrines , and continuing in them , you may both save your selves , and those that hear you . Wherefore seeing that , which else had been a Bishop's proper Business in such Meetings as this , I hope , is , or may be so easily shorten'd for me , by you your selves , by your having recourse to a Rule so well known , and so obvious to you , in a Book , which ought scarce ever to be out of your hands ; I shall the rather , at this time , purposely omit the prescribing you many Admonitions , touching the matter and substance of the Duties of your Sacred Function . Instead of them , I shall only offer you some few familiar Considerations , which may serve as so many friendly and brotherly Advices , concerning , chiefly , the Manner and Way of performing some of the principal Offices of your Ministry . And , I trust in GOD , that if these Advices shall be as carefully examin'd , and , if you find them useful , as industriously observed by you , as they are honestly intended by me , they may , in some sort , enable you to do laudably , and with Commendation , the same Things , which , I hope , you already do , without just Exception . Only , in this place , let me premise once for all , that whatever Instructions I shall now give you , I intend them not only as Directions to you , but especially to my self . As indeed , in all Matters , that come under Deliberation , he ought to be esteem'd no good Counsellor , who is very ready and eager in giving , but averse from receiving the same Counsel , as far as it may be also proper for himself . The first Advice I presume to set before your view , shall relate to the Manner of doing your part , in all the ordinary Offices of the Public Liturgy . As to that , it is my earnest Request , that you would take very much Care , and use extraordinary Intention of Mind , to perfect your selves in a true , just , sensible , accurate becoming way of Reading , and administring them as you have occasion . A Suggestion , which some perhaps , at first hearing , may think to be but of a slight and ordinary Concernment : Yet , if I am not much deceiv'd , it will be found of exceeding Moment and Consequence in its Practice ; and of singular Usefulness towards the raising of Devotion in any Congregation piously inclined : When your weekly , or rather daily labours of this kind shall be thus performed ▪ I mean , not with a meer formal or artificial , but with such a grave , unaffected Delivery of the Words , as ( if the defect be not in our selves , ) will , indeed , naturally flow from a right and serious considering of their Sense . I pray therefore , take my Mind a-right in this particular . I do not only mean , that you should be very punctual in reading the Common Prayer Book , as the Law requires ; that is , not only to do it constantly , and entirely in each part , without any maiming , adding to , or altering of it , that so Supplications , Prayers , Intercessions , and giving of Thanks , may be made , by you , for all Men : For Kings , and for all that are in Authority ; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life in all Godliness and Honesty . If you do not so , you are liable to a Legal Punishment and Censure . But my aim now is , not meerly to prevent that , or to provide only against your breaking the Law. What I intend is something higher , and more excellent ; something , that you cannot be punish'd for , tho' you do it not ; but , if you shall do it in any reasonable Perfection , it will redound to the unspeakable Benefit of your Congregations . The purpose then of this my plain Motion to you is , in short , to beseech you all to employ much serious Pains , in practising the public and private Reading of all your Offices , as the Use of any of them shall occur , distinctly , gravely , affectionately , fervently ; so as every where to give them all that Vigour , Life and Spirit , whereof they are capable : Which certainly is as great as in any human Writings whatsoever ; if we be not wanting to them in the Repetition . The Truth is , whatever some may imagine to the contrary , such a compleat and consummate Faculty of reading the Common Prayer , Quam nequeo monstrare , & sentio tantum , is of so great difficulty , as well as use , that I am fully convinced , it very well deserves to have some place among our constant Studies ; at least in the first Initiation into our Ministry , if not throughout the whole course of it . I could heartily wish , it were altogether needless for me to lay so much stress on this Advice as I do . Yet , I hope , I may do it without Offence ; since it is not with design of censuring any particular Mens Failings or Deficiencies , but only for the public Good ; that we may all strive to attain not only to a Mediocrity , but to an Excellency in this kind : Which , in my small Judgment , can never be done , unless we shall make this Duty a Business by it self , and assign it a special Place among our other Ecclesiastical Studies . It cannot be denied , but the Church it self has provided for this with all imaginable Circumspection ; having solemnly enjoin'd every Clergy-man , besides the Times of his public Ministry , to read some very considerable Parts of his Office , once a day , at least , to himself , except he shall be excused by indispensable Business . By which wise Injunction , tho' , no doubt , the Church intended primarily to produce and increase , in the Minds of all its Ministers , a frame of Spirit perpetually serious and devout : Yet , if that be also accompanied with a proportionable Regard to the Manner , as well as to the Matter of our Public Prayers , this other Advantage of well-reading , what is so often to be read , will follow of course , and by necessary Consequence . It seems indeed to me , that the very way of performing all the outward Acts of Religion , has so wonderful an Influence towards obtaining the inward Effects of it , on our Hearts and Consciences , that I cannot but think , we can never be too laborious in preparing and exercising our Thoughts , and even our very Voices , in private , for a public Service of so great Importance . 'T is true , we generally value and esteem Preaching , as our great Privilege and Honour . And so far we are in the right . But we are not so , if we look on the reading of Prayers only as our Task and Burthen ; and , as such , shall be willing to get rid of it altogether , or to get thro' it in any undecent Manner , with such Heaviness or Precipitation , as , in any Affairs of worldly Interest , we would never be content with . A preposterous Custom , which , if due Care be not taken , may be very prejudicial and mischievous to our Church , by quenching the Spirit of Devotion in our own People , and giving occasion to our Adversaries to throw Scorn and Contempt on our otherwise-incomparable Liturgy . Consider , I pray you , How can we expect that others should revere , or esteem it according to its true worth , if we our selves will not keep it so much in Countenance , as to afford it a fair Reading ? If we will not do it so much common Justice as to contribute , as much as lies in our Power , that it may have an impartial Hearing , equal , at least to any other Divine Ordinance ? If we shall refuse to lay as much weight on those Devotions , which our whole Church has injoin'd us to pour out before the Throne of Grace , for the People , as we do on those Discourses , which we make , on our own Heads , to the People ? Wherefore , I say again , this very commendable Skill of devout and decent Reading the Holy Offices of the Church , is so far from being a perfunctory or superficial Work , a mean or vulgar Accomplishment , or a subordinate lower Administration , only fit for a Curate ; that it deserves to be placed among your Ministerial Endowments of greater Superiority and Praeeminence ; as being one of the most powerful Instruments of the Holy Spirit of GOD , to raise and command Mens Hearts and Affections : of the Holy true Spirit of GOD , I say ; which , tho' in our inward Ejaculations , or private Supplications towards Heaven , it often helpeth our Infirmities , and maketh Intercession for us with Groanings that cannot be uttered ; Yet , in the public Worship , is most frequently pleased to operate by such Words , and Sounds , as are express'd with the best Utterance . So that now , with a just Assurance , I may assert this to be a very proper Qualification of a Parochial Minister ; that he has attain'd to an habitual Faculty of setting forth the public Prayers to all their due Advantage , by pronouncing them leasurably , fitly , warmly , decently ; with such an Authority in the Speaker , as is , in some degree , suitable to the Authority of what is spoken . Thus much I may safely say , that the Reader of the Prayers ; if he does his part , in the manner I have mention'd , by such a vigorous , effectual , fervent Delivery of the Words and Conceptions , put into his Mouth by the Church it self , may give a new enlivening Breath , a new Soul , as it were , to every Prayer , every Petition in it : He may quicken and animate those Confessions , Intercessions and Thanksgivings , which , when read coldly , and indifferently , with irreligious Carlesness , or ignorant Flatness , will seem to some to be but a dead Letter : He may make every Hymn , every Psalm , every Lesson , Epistle and Gospel , to become well nigh a new Sermon ; at least he may give , to the old standing Text of the Bible , a very good clear Exposition , even by his very way of reading it to the Congregation . This , upon Experience , you will find to be apparently true . For if , as is usually observed by Men of Learning , in printed Books , the very accurate and critical pointing of the Copy is one of the best kinds of good new Commentaries on any old Author ; how much more , in all the Offices of Devotion , would that , which consists not only in good Pointing , and observing all due Stops , but in so much more besides , I mean a good , distinct , forcible , yet easie , and unforced reading of every Prayer , and Portion of the Holy Scriptures ; how much more would all this really serve for a good new Paraphrase and Illustration of every Sentence in them ! It is indeed almost incredible , how quite another thing the daily morning and evening Prayers will appear ; what new Figures and Beauties , and hidden Treasures of sacred Eloquence , they will continually discover , when thus pronounc'd ; how much apter they will be to kindle in us , and our Auditors , all manner of Heavenly Affections , of Spiritual Grief , and Contrition , of Love and Gratitude , of Faith , Hope , and Charity , and Joy in the Holy Ghost ; When the Harmony of the Tongue shall be tuned , as it were , to the Harmony of the Matter ; When the Zeal of the Reader shall keep Company with his Voice ; and his Voice shall be adapted to , and varied together with every Sense and Expression ; When by long Use , and Imitation of the best Masters , or the best we can come at , we shall know familiarly how to give every Word and Sentence its due poise ; Where to lay a greater or smaller weight on every Clause , according to its natural or spiritual Force ; where to be quicker or more vehement , where slower and more sedate ; how to observe equally all Pauses and Distances ; how to avoid Monotonies on the one hand , and immoderate Elevations and Depressions on the other ; Yet , where to use the same Tones , where to rise or fall in the right place : When , I say , the Reader shall be throughly expert and vers'd in practising these , and many more such natural Decencies of Pronouncing ; tho' they may seem but light , and petty things , taken singly , and a part , yet all together , in their full united Power , they will be found to have an admirable Concurrence towards the creating , augmenting , well tempering , and well-governing of Devotion . Had I time , it were easie to exemplifie this , in every Office of our Church . Give me leave only to mention one Instance within the compass of my own Knowledge , which perhaps may not be unworthy your special remarking : Tho' I doubt not but many of you have met with several Examples of the like nature . It was immediately after the Happy Restoration of King Charles the Second , when , together with the Rights of the Crown , and the English Liberties , the Church , and the Liturgy , were also newly restored ; that a noted Ringleader of Schism in the former times , was to be buried in one of the principal Churches of London . The Minister of the Parish , being a wise and regular Conformist , and he was afterwards an eminent Bishop in our Church , well knew how averse the Friends and Relations of the Deceased had always been to the Common Prayer ; Which , by hearing it so often call'd a low Rudiment , a beggarly Element , and Carnal Ordinance , they were brought to contemn to that degree , that they shunned all occasions of being acquainted with it . Wherefore , in order to the Interment of their Friend , in some sort , to their Satisfaction , yet so as not to betray his own Trust , he used this honest Method to undeceive them . Before the day appointed for the Funeral , he was at the pains to learn the whole Office of Burial by Heart . And then , the time being come there being a great Concourse of Men of the same Phanatical Principles , when the Company heard all delivered by him without Book , with a free Readiness , and profound Gravity , and unaffected composure of Voice , Looks , and Gestures , and a very powerful Emphasis in every part ; as indeed his Talent was excellent that way ; they were strangely surprised and affected : Professing , they had never heard a more sutable Exhortation , or a more edifying Exercise , even from the very best and most precious Men of their own Persuasion . But they were afterwards much more surprised and confounded , when the same Person , who had officiated , assured the principal Men among them , that not one Period of all he had spoken was his own ; and convinc'd them by ocular Demonstration , how all was taken Word for Word out of the very Office ordained for that purpose , in the poor contemptible Book of Common Prayer . Whence he most reasonably inferr'd , how much their ill grounded Prejudice , and mistaken Zeal , had deluded them , that they should admire the same Discourse , when they thought it an unprepared , unpremeditated , Rapture : which they would have abominated , had they known it to be only a set Form prescribed by Authority . And from the same Observation , we also may as justly infer , that all the Coldness and Dulnes , which too many , such abused and wanton Spirits , have complain'd they find in set Forms , is not really in the Forms themselves ; in ours it is far otherwise . If there be any colour for the Complaint , that can only proceed from a cold , flat , supine , insipid manner of repeating them . Upon the whole Matter it is most certain , that , in the public Worship of GOD , nothing can be more grave , or moving , more lofty , or Divine , either in the confessing , petitioning , or praising part , than where the Thoughts and Expressions are strictly weigh'd , and prudently reduced into standing unalterable Forms : Provided also , those very Forms be not pronounced in a formal way ; but that they be assisted , inflamed , inspired , as I may say , with such a present Ardour , and sprightly Zeal in reading them , as will always make them seem to be extempore : Extempore , I mean , in the new , ready , vehement manner of their Pronunciation ; but set Forms still , in the solid Ripeness of the Sense , and the due Choice , and deliberate ordering of their Phrases and Figures ; Which are the peculiar Advantages of set Forms : And therefore , so spoken , they will , in all Reason , produce a far more real , unfeigned , and durable Devotion , than all the other meerextempore , raw , and indigested Effusions ought to pretend to . I should crave your pardon , that I have dwelt so long on this first Head of Advice . But it appear'd to me so very material , that I could not hastily pass it over : Especially since what I have now said on this Subject , may concern in common all your public Ministrations , and is equally applicable , not only to the well-performing the daily morning and evening Prayers throughout the Year , both of ordinary Days and Sundays , and extraordinary Fasts and Festivals ; but also to the Offices of Baptism , Matrimony , and the Holy Communion ; and indeed to every other part of our established Liturgy : In all which , as the Reader officiates better or worse , so most usually is their Benefit and Efficacy more or less on the Minds of the Hearers . Nay , I will now make bold to go farther , to apply the Usefulness of this Counsel , not only to the Praying Part , but also to another Part of your Office , I am next to consider , which is that of Preaching . I am verily persuaded , that the Sermons preached every Sunday in this one Kingdom , by the Church of England Clergy in this Age , are more excellent Compositions of that kind , than have been delivered , in the same space of time , throughout the whole Christian World besides . Only let me take the Freedom to suggest , that perhaps it would add much , tho' not to the solid and substantial Part of such Discourses , yet to their just popularity , and more general Acceptance , and to the greater Edification of our Hearers , if we would universally addict our selves a little more to this Study of Pronunciation : By which Advantages alone of the Freedom , and life of their Elocution , we know the Preachers of some other Nations do seem to reign and triumph in the Pulpit , whilest their Sermons , as far as we can judge by those we have of them in Print ▪ are not comparable to the English. An Observation , which , methinks , may rouze our Preachers to out do them in this kind of Perfection also : I mean , in a natural , comely , modest , yet undaunted force of Pronunciation : Not such as is full of over-Action , and mimical Gesticulations ; which , though some Parties may admire for a time , and to serve a Turn , yet the serious Temper of our Nation will never long approve or admit of . But I intend such a steddy composed , severe , decent , lively , and apposite managing your Voices and Gestures in the Pulpit , as is best accommodated to the Gravity and Solidity of the English Genius , and is also agreeable , as much as may be , to the Simplicity , Power , and height of the Message you bring from Heaven . The next great Duty then of your Priestly Office , which comes in our way , being that of Preaching , I shall begin with one short Admonition , which , I confess , I am almost ashamed to give ; and yet it may be very expedient , that it should be given ; not , I declare , as a Correction to any of you here present , for any thing past , but only in regard to the future , and for the sake of those who as yet are less experienced Preachers , and young timorous Beginners . The Caution , in plain Terms , is this , that every Person , who undertakes this great Employment , should make it a master of Religion and and Conscience , to preach nothing but what is the Product of his own Study , and of his own Composing . I would not be mistaken , as if I should hereby condemn the Reading of the Homilies ; which were composed by the Wisdom and Piety of former Times , and have been ever-since allowed , nay recommended , by our Church , in some Places , and upon some Necessities to be used . I am so far from doing so , that I rather wish from my Heart we were furnish'd with a larger Stock of such learned plain , and orthodox Discourses . There can be no manner of hurt , nay there is very great reason , that , upon some urgent Occasions , a Preacher should have liberty to take something out of that public Treasury , which was laid up for that end , and has the Stamp of Authority upon it to make it current . My Purpose is only to dissuade you from all unjust Rapine of this kind , from all under-hand dealing with the private Stores of particular Persons . As to that , I dare avouch , it is far better and more advisable , even for the rawest Practiser , to exhibit but very mean Things of his own , at first , than to flourish it in the best of other Mens Sense and Oratory . For he , who does never so ordinarily at first , provided it be from himself , may , and will do better , and better in time , by GOD's Assistance , thro' fervent Prayer , and indefatigable . Attention to reading , and hearing , and practising to preach . Whereas this sordid borrowing , this shameful , I had almost said , sacrilegious purloining from other Mens Labours , is an utter irreconcilable Enemy to all manner of Growth and Improvement in Divine Learning , or Eloquence . I will not now insist on the meaness of Spirit , and perpetual fear , that must attend the Consciousness of this Guilt , lest it should be , some time or other , discover'd ; or on the shame and contempt that often happens to such Pilferers upon the Discovery . But besides all this , in Truth , when once Men have indulged themselves in this easie , but despicable and shuffling Commerce , they seldom or never give it over ; nay , at last , they can very hardly give it over if they would . Thence will succeed such a visible decay of Parts , such a neglect of all serious Studies , such a desuetude , and unaptness for regular thinking , such Emptiness of Invention and Memory , such a Diffidence of their own Style , Understanding and Judgement ; that they , who at first made bold with others Sermons , perhaps meerly out of Idleness , will at length be forced to do it out of Necessity ▪ It will unavoidably happen to this kind of Thieves , as most commonly it does to all others ; they steal so long in their Youth , and Strength of Age , because they will not work , that in their old Age , they are compell'd to steal on , because they cannot work . But enough , or too much of this . I know to whom I speak ; to those , who , for ought I could ever observe , or hear , do not only Preach , but themselves compose what they Preach . Yet I thought it became me to give this Intimation , seeing , in my own small Experience , I have been forced to deny Orders to some Persons , because I found them peccant in this very Crime . I was at first exceedingly amazed to hear them produce most excellent Sermons , whilest I found their Gifts of Nature , and Abilities of Learning , and Knowledge , were far from being passable . But my Wonder was soon over , when I manifestly discover'd , that nothing but their Ignorance was their own , their Sermons belonging of right to their Betters . Now then , my Brethren , that we may come into the Way again , after this unwelcome Digression , in making our Sermons , great regard ought to be had to the Words , and to the Matter ; great to both , tho' not equally great to both . Your Words and Style should be simple , expressive , weighty , authoritative : And therefore , tho' not without some true Art , yet not very artificial ; and rather void of all Ornament , than over-adorn'd ; but as much Scriptural as may be without Affectation ; and as easie , familiar , and intelligible as possible . And Perspicuity is always possible . Nay it is almost impossible , that ones Words should not be perspicuous , when his Thoughts are clear , and untroubled , and the Thing to be spoken of is throughly understood . When the Matter is well invented , digested , and ordered in the Mind , it very rarely happens , but the fittest and most expressive Words will occur to the Fancy and Tongue of the Speaker . Verba non invita sequentur . Next , since your Matter must , of course , be either Doctrinal or Practical ; where it shall be meerly Doctrinal , there it may suffice for your common Auditories , and , in good Truth , for all other , from the lowest to the very highest , that it be plain , sound , substantial , ancient , catholic ; seldom or never curiously drawn out into the fine Threads of Dispute and Speculation , or , as the Apostle terms them , Oppositions of Science falsly so called . It were indeed , much to be wished , that the agitating of all manner of Controversies could be utterly excluded from the great Work of saving Souls , which is your special Work. Yet , because in times so degenerate from the Primitive Purity , and in this militant State of the Christian Church , it cannot be expected , that you should teach aptly , or oppose Schism and Heresie solidly , without touching sometimes , and entring upon some Walks of Controversies ; Certainly the best way , in these inevitable Cases , is never to meddle with such obscure Subtilties , out of Spiritual Pride or Ostentation , but meerly out of Necessity ; and then only with the most necessary Parts of them ; and then also that you be ever sure to keep close to the Form of sound Words used in the Church , and to contain your selves within the known Bounds of Scripture Determinations , in every controverted Point , to deliver the Faith to your People , as it was once deliverd to the Saints . As little a Lover then as I am of Controversial Divinity in the Pulpit , yet I cannot be faithful to you , or to our Mother the Church of England , if I do not recommend two sorts of it to be seriously studied by you : But I must still say , rather to be studied than preach'd ; tho' preach'd too upon reasonable Occasions . The first kind is that of the Controversies between us and the Church of Rome . For we are not yet so exempt from Fear on that Quarter , that we should securely lay aside , and suffer to rust on the Walls , those very Arms , which , to the immortal praise of the Parochial Clergy , were so successfully managed by them , during the last great Crisis of danger from the Popish Interest . I the rather mention these , because they are still almost in every Mans hands ; and perhaps a judicious summ , and full Epitome , collected out of them all , would be as useful a Body of Controversies on those Questions , as any is yet extant . Wherefore , that you may preserve your own , and the Souls under your Care , from Infection , and be able to convince Gainsayers , I exhort you all , according to your several Stations and Opportunities , to be still conversant and prepared in those very same Arguments against the Papists : Yet , let me say also , not only now in those . For there is another sort of Controversies , or rather blasphemous Doctrines , reviv'd in this Age , and which seem , indeed , to be the most cherish'd and darling Tenents of the loose and Antichristian part of the Age ; I mean those execrable Opinions against the Incarnation and Eternal Godhead of our Saviour , the Satisfaction of his Meritorious Sufferings , and Death , and the very Being of the Ever-blessed Trinity : Which being all of them the peculiar and distinguishing Foundations of Christianity , whatever they , who so directly oppose them , may at first pretend , yet they cannot but really tend to the Destruction of the Primitive Faith in Christ , and the Introduction of another Religion , new , and therefore abominable . Wherefore , to maintain no less than the main Fundamental Points of our pure and Vndefiled Religion , you are now most zealously to apply your Thoughts to the serious Study of those Divine Mysteries . Yet , if you please to take my Judgment , after you shall be never so well furnish'd with Weapons defensive , or offensive , of this nature , you should very rerely brandish , or so much as shew them in your ordinary Pulpits ; never but when you cannot avoid it without betraying , or deserting the Orthodox Truth . And whenever you shall produce any of them in such Auditories , even then , it were best done in a calm , positive , and didactical , rather than in a sharp , wrangling , or contentious way . But always take along with you , what I said before , to wade no farther in them , in your popular Sermons , than as the Scripture Light primitively expounded shall plainly lead you . This may suffice , at present , touching the doctrinal and speculative part of your Preaching . As to the other , which is the Practical , in that I need not forewarn you to proceed with such reserve , or restraint . In the greatest abundance of that , if managed with any tolerable Prudence , there can hardly be any manner of excess . Most assuredly the less controversial , and the more practical your Pulpit Discourses are , the better they must be , and the more profitable . Now , my dear Brethren , the Subject of this part of your Sermons , being , as you cannot but know , so comprehensive and vast , as to take in the whole compass of all our Spiritual and Moral Duties ; I say of Moral also ; For , let none be deceived , Moral Preaching is of marvellous use where-ever it is subservient to the inspired Doctrine of Christianity , and does not strive to justle that , which is its Principal , quite out of the Pulpit : But , I say , the Matter of your practical Preaching being in it self so large , as to extend to all the Precepts and Promises . both of the Law , and the Gospel ; to all the Temptations and Corruptions of the World , the Flesh , and the Devil ; whereof the one ought to be the eternal Argument of your Exhortations , the other of your Reproofs and Admonitions : Here it is especially , that I would beseech you all , with a Brotherly Tenderness , and oblige you , with a Fatherly Authority , to lay out the whole stress , and bent of your Souls , to draw all your Studies , all your Learning , Human or Divine , all your Eloquence , all your Affections , all your Zeal this way : This being the great Work you have chosen for the Business of your whole Lives , and for which we all were so peculiarly dedicated to the Service of GOD , and his Church : And let me add , this being the great Purpose , for which all Scripture seems to have been given by Inspiration of GOD : That it may be profitable for Doctrine , for Reproof , for Correction . There is the chief end of all the Doctrine you are to teach . But what follows ? For Instruction in Righteousness ; that the Man of GOD may be perfect , throughly furnished to every good Work. There is the great Design of all the Practice you are to inforce . I have dispatched what I thought proper now to say on this Head of Preaching , unless you will suffer me to name one very obvious Caution ; which yet I cannot think to be ever the less necessary , for being so very obvious . The Caution is , that in all your Sermons , where you have Occasion to praise any Virtue , or dispraise any Vice ; in all your Commendations of what is bad ; you would always separate the good Person from the good Thing , and always distinguish the Sinner from the Sin : That is , That you would never put any one Virtue , never any one Vice , you are to deal with in the Pulpit , into the Habit or Countenance of any one Member of your Congregations , so that they may be known thereby : In a word , that you would utterly shun , and abhor all Personal Flatteries of the Good ; and all Personal Reflections on the wicked . As to the first of these Extremes , that of Flattery , I need only mention it here . That is seldom thought worthy of such plain Country Congregations , as yours generally are : 'T were well , if it were as much excluded out of all other Religious Assemblies of better Quality . It is indeed great pity , that such glosing and deceitful Language should at last , in any measure , take Sanctuary in the Church ; when it had been so long , in all Ages , by common Consent of wise and good Men , judg'd fit to be banish'd out of all other well-constituted Societies . Has it not been always found , by Experience , that a flattering Tongue is so far from increasing the Virtues of the Good , and the Great , that it rather serves to deprave the real Worth they might have before ? So that , as the Psalmist says , the Men who flatter with their Tongue , have not only no Faithfulness in their Mouth , but their very Throat is an open Sepulcher . But , above all , it is most unbecoming the Pulpit ; where Men would seem to speak as from GOD , and with Authority , which nothing can more debase or prostitute than Flattery . As to the other Excess , that of secret Reflections , and malicious Insinuations against , or open Defamations of Persons , I would absolutely dissuade you from the very Shadow , and Suspicion of it . I would intreat you all , in the Bowels of our Lord Christ , that you would never , on any Occasion , or Accident , not even on the greatest Provocation , do that Affront to the Honour and Modesty of the Pulpit , as to make it a Place for any Rudeness , or Scurrility whatsoever . Surely nothing can be more disgraceful to the Reputation of your Profession , or more destructive to Edification , or more unbeseeming the Gravity and Charity of a Church-of-England Divine , than to make an Ordinance so sacred ; and the Word of GOD handled in it , become instrumental to your own private Passions , Animosities , or Revenges . I am now arrived at the next great Duty of your Holy Office , which is that of Catechising ; not so much to recommend to you the Duty it self ; tho' I might do that most earnestly and vehemently , and with some kind of Episcopal Expostulation and Reprehension , if any where it should be totally neglected . But that I would not here so much as suppose . I cannot doubt but we are all of one Mind , touching the inexpressible Advantages of this Ordinance in general ; we especially who have lived in these Times . We cannot but be abundantly convinced of it by a woful and dear-bought Experience : Since it is evident , that the far greater part of the monstrous Looseness of Opinions , and profane Enormity of Manners , which overwhelm'd the whole face of the last Age , and has too much descended on this , did remarkably proceed from the notorious defect , or universal Omission of Orthodox Catechising , during the Calamities and Confusions of the great Rebellion . Wherefore , touching the imminent Necessity of restoring , or , I may well hope rather , among you , of continuing this first part of Christian Discipline , I make sure account we are all agreed . The only Thing , to be debated , is the Manner , how this Holy Exercise may be so put in use , that the blessed Ends , which , I am assured , we all aim at alike , may be attained . Without all Controversie then , the first Practice of your regular Catechising , in all your Churches , ought to be in the very same Order , and on the same Materials , which the Church Catechism has traced out , and the Law has injoin'd . I would therefore desire you all to begin , or rather incourage you to go on , plainly and literally in that way , with a strict Consinement of your Catechumens , as they may be called , to that very compendious Introduction ; to have your Youth throughly versed , and instructed perfectly in all the Questions and Answers there prescribed . This ought by no means to be left undone in the smallest or poorest of your Country Cures ; where the highest Capacities are not at first above , and the lowest can scarce be below , this kind of plain Information . But in greater Towns , where the Youth are somewhat better educated , and so should be more capable of Improvement , there , supposing still you never omit the other more simple way , you may , by degrees , with a sober , and discreet Pace , proceed farther ; I will not say , by inlarging the Foundations , but by raising the Building higher on the same compass of Ground . And this I have known done with very remarkable Fruit , and Benefit to the Learners , in a familiar Method , whereof I will only trace out to you the imperfect Draught ▪ which , by Time and Custom , you may easily advance , and complete . The Method is this , That to every Article , and every Clause of it , in the Church Catechism , after they have learnt them by Heart , you should annex , at first , some such Texts of Scripture , as may suffice to prove the Matter contain'd in them , and do it in the fewest Words , and clearest to the Purpose . These Texts you should induce your young Disciples to repeat often , and perfectly without Book , together with each Article , and should begin to let them understand , by a very brief Exposition , how evidently each Scripture proves each Article . Then , by degrees , after they shall be made intimately acquainted with that first Sett of Texts , you may more securely add other Quotations out of the Bible , somewhat larger , but still tending to the same Purpose ; and when you have explain'd them , in the like manner , but more copiously , you may cause those also to be learnt as exactly , and repeated as readily as the former . And the same Course you may begin , and go through with again , still adding more Texts , and more distinctly dividing the Parts , and Members of the several Articles , as often as you shall find it practicable , or convenient . Thus , whilest you do not over-burden tender Minds , but softly instil these Instructions into them , Drop after Drop , the Children , you have undertaken in this way , so very little out of the common Rode , and many also of riper Years , who shall be present , and attentive , will , beyond their own , and even your first Expectation , come to have treasured up , almost unawares , in their Minds , a little Body , as it were , of Orthodox Divinity : which cannot but be all Orthodox , all Primitive , as being , without mixture , purely collected out of the Holy Scriptures . With the Scriptures , by this means , their Memories will unperceivably be filled ; yet not so as only to fit them to cant with unseasonably , in common Discourse , but so as to instruct or confirm their Judgments , and teach them to apply properly , what they shall there read , to every part of a sober Christians Belief , or practical Duty . In this great Article of Catechising , I would offer one honest Direction more . It is , that you should not so much aim in it at the length of the Exercise , or at the perpetual changing of your Thoughts and Expressions , as at the sound Bottom , on which you build your Discourse , and the solid , unmovable Ground of each Doctrine , whereon you fix your Explanations ; tho' your Performance each time be the shorter , so it be not unreasonably short , and tho' your Words , and Phrases , may happen frequently to be the same , and repeated more than once . In truth , I would , if I durst , offer some such Advice also as to your Preaching . But I know the common Vogue is against my real Opinion in this Matter . And therefore I must handle this point the more tenderly . It is indeed a very great Burden , that the Humour of the People , and our own too , in some measure , has laid on our Profession : Such as , I think , no other Calling , or Way of Life , were ever willing to lay on themselves ; no , nor any other Nation , that I know of , has exacted in so high a degree , from their Clergy ; that you should twice or once a week , at least , always present your Auditories with new Sermons ; and those also to be composed with the Care and Accuracy , almost of Elaborate , and Complete Treatises . Whereas I am sure , in the business of Catechising , and most probably , the same will be found true in Preaching also , that a sound , substantial , well-collected , and well-woven Provision , of Plain , Instructive , Godly , and Devout Discourses , altered , and increased , according to the Teachers growing Abilities , and used over , and over , tho' in the same Desks , or Pulpits , would be more edifying , and sink deeper into the Minds , and Consciences of the Hearers , than all the greatest Afluence , and Redundance of new Words , and Phrases multiply'd , or interchanged , which the most fanciful , copious Catechist , or Preacher can devise . I have known some very learned and pious Men , and excellent Preachers , and zealous Lovers of our Church , and Country ; whose Welfare and Prosperity they wisely judg'd to be inseparably join'd ; I say I have known these Persons affectionately declare their Wishes that some such Order , as this I shall subjoin , were observed by the greatest part , if not by all our Parochial Ministers . That , on the very entring into their Ministry , or at any time afterwards , if they have not done it before , they would set themselves to draw out the general Lineaments , and larger Members of a whole Years , or perhaps a two Years Course of Catechisms , and Sermons : following therein the annual Method of our Churches Devotions , or any other Scheme they shall approve , and form to themselves ; provided it comprizes all the main Points of Christian Doctrine , and Practice . That on this Stock they should set up ; and , in the first , and second Year , begin to fill up the void Spaces , and lay the first Colours , towards the finishing , as well as their Sufficiency will then allow ; still collecting , and conveying all the Streams of their useful Reading and Learning into those common Receptacles and Channels ; and so successively Preaching them on , as the Year turns round . That ever after , in the whole Progress of their Ministry , they should still be adding to , or cutting off from , or polishing those first imperfect Ideas ; altering the Method , and Shape of the whole , if needful ; inforcing , or increasing the Arguments , Illustrations , and Amplisications , if Wanting ; inserting new Doctrines before-unobserved , making new practical Inferences before-untouched , as their Judgements , or Light , or Experience shall improve ; but especially , still drawing more , and more , over all , a new beautiful Skin , and the lovely Features of Scripture Language : And then , without Scruple , or Disguise , should preach them again , and again , so corrected , augmented , and in some part renewed . And I have heard these very wise Persons , some of them most excellent Fathers of our Church , often conclude , that , by this , or some such Method , any Preacher , tho' of no extraordinary-bright Endowments at first , yet of an honest Mind , clear Sense , unwearied Industry , and judicious Learning , would , in process of time , in all likelihood , have by him in store , a complete , domestic , Course of sound , well-compacted , affecting Sermons ; that , by GOD's Blessing , might with the just Advantages of Delivery , be of far greater use to his Conscientious Hearers , than all that pompous Novelty , and counterfeit Variety , which some others may boast of . I say counterfeit Variety . For so indeed it is often , upon tryal , found to be . And now I have faithfully told you the Opinion of those Great Men , I will presume , under so safe a Shelter , to disclose my own Thoughts in this Business ; yet still with all deference , and candour towards any , who may differ from me in this Particular . We have lived in an Age , when the two Gifts , as they are wont to be call'd , of Extempore Praying , and Extempore Preaching , have been more pretended to , and magnified , than , I believe , they ever were before , or , I hope , ever will be again , in this Church and Nation . Yet , for all I could ever learn , or observe , the most sudden Readiness , and most profuse Exuberancy , in either of these Ways , has been only Extempore in Shew and Appearance , and very frequently but a cunningly-dissembled Change of the very same Matter , and Words often repeated , tho' not in the same order . As to that of Extempore Praying , which therefore too many mistake for Praying by the Spirit ; it is manifest , that the most exercised , and most redundant Faculty , in that kind , is , in reality , only Praying by the Fancy , or , the Memory , not by the Spirit . They do but vary , and remove the Scripture Style , and Language , or their own , into as many Places , and Shapes , and Figures , as they can . And tho' they have acquired never so plentiful a Stock of them , yet still the same Phrases , and Expressions , do so often come about again , that the Disguise may quickly be seen through , by any attentive and intelligent Hearer . So that , in plain terms , they who think themselves most skilful in this Art , do really , all the while , only pray in set Forms disorderly set , and never ranged into a certain Method . For which Cause , tho' they may not seem to be set Forms to their deluded Auditors , yet they are so in themselves ; and the very Persons who use them most variously , and most artificially , cannot but know them to be so . This , my Brethren , seems to be all the great Mystery of the so much boasted Power of Extempore Praying . And why may not the like be affirm'd , in great measure , of Extempore Preaching , which has so near an Affinity with the other ? Is not this also , at the Bottom , only a more crafty Management of the same Phrases and Observations , the same Doctrines , and Applications , which they had before provided , and composed , and reserved in their Memories ? Do but hear the most voluble Masters in this way , once or twice , or perhaps oftner , as far as their Changes shall reach , and at first , no doubt , you will be inclined to wonder at the strange Agility of their Imaginations , and compass of their Inventions , and Nimbleness of their Utterance . But if you shall attend them calmly , and constantly , the Vizour will be quickly pull'd off , tho' they manage it never so dextrously : You will at last find , they only walk forward , and backward , and round about : One , it may be , in a larger Labyrinth than another ; but in a Labyrinth still ; through the same Turnings and Windings again , and again , and , for the most part , guided by the same clue . The Explanations , perhaps , of their Texts , the Connexions , and Transitions of the Parts , and some sudden Glosses , and Descants , and Flights of Fancy ▪ may seem new to you . But the material Points of Doctrine , and the common Places , to which , upon any Loss , or Necessity , they have recourse , these they frequently repeat , and apply , to several Subjects , with very little Alterations in the Substance , oftentimes not in the Words . These are the constant Paths , which they scruple not to walk over , and over again , 'till , if you follow them very close , you may perceive , amidst all their Extempore Pretensions , they often tread in the same Rounds 'till they have trodden them bare enough . But , GOD be thanked , the Church of England neither requires , nor stands in need of any such raptural ( if I may so call it ) or Enthusiastical Spirit of Preaching . Here the more advised , and modest , the more deliberate and prepared the Preacher is , the better he is furnished , by GOD's Grace , to deliver effectually our Churches solid Sense , its fixed Precepts , its unalterable Doctrines . Our Church pretends not to enter into Mens Judgements ; meerly by the Affections ; much less by the Passions to overthrow their Judgements . The Door , which that strives first to open , is of the Understanding , and Conscience : It is content , if by them , a Passage shall be made into the Affections . I have detain'd you the longer on this Argument , because I am perfectly convinced , that although one , or two Preachers in an Age , or perhaps some few more , Men of extraordinary Parts , Assurance of Mind , and Volubility of Tongue , may , by long use , make a remarkable Blaze , for a time , in this sudden , unstudied Way : Yet , if it should ever become the general Custom of the whole English Clergy , it would produce little more than Ignorance and Confidence in many of our Preachers , and tempt many of the Laity , who presume themselves to be equally gifted , to think they had an equal Right to the Ministry . But what need I say any more of this Matter ? It is confess'd on all hands , that if an Extempore kind of Preaching had been universally put in use among us , from the beginning of our Reformation , the whole Church of Christ had been much impoverished thereby , had been deprived of the best Treasury of Sermons , that ever it was inrich'd with , since the Apostles , and their Successors , and the primitive Fathers Times . There is still behind one solemn Duty more , belonging to all of us , wherein I would willingly suggest one serious Word of Counsel : And it concerns the Office of Visiting the Sick. I would not doubt , but herein you generally do your Parts , diligently , piously , and prudently . But there are some Things in this , as well as in the others before-mentioned , touching the Manner of doing it , whereof the Observation may be of a peculiar and signal Benefit to your selves , as well as to your Spiritual Patients . If you please to consult the Rubricks relating to this Office , you will find , you are more left to your own Liberty in this , than , I think , in any of the rest . For this Duty of Friendship , and Charity , being supposed to be more in private , the Rule it self in the Liturgy seems to give way to , nay to direct some occasional Admonitions , and Exhortations , to which I do not remember , it does equally impower you in any of the rest , out of the Pulpit . Wherefore , to prepare your Thoughts , and to replenish your Minds throughly for this Work not only of Ministerial Duty , but of Compassion , and Brotherly Love , you shall not only do well to furnish your Memories , with a plentiful Store of pious , moving , affectionate Expressions , out of the Book of Psalms , and other practical and devotional Parts of the Holy Scriptures first ; and , next to them , out of our own Liturgy ; and all these to be casually used , as shall be most proper : But principally I would persuade you , to have some good , sound Body of Casuistical Divinity , of your own studying I mean , to be always at hand , that is , in your Hearts , as well as Heads . You can scarce imagine , unless you have try'd it , as , I hope , some of you have , of what unspeakable Use this Divine Science of Cases of Conscience will be to you upon any sudden , unforeseen Emergency in such Ghostly Visits . Indeed the being a sound , and well-experienced Casuist is also a most excellent Qualification , towards all the other Ends of your Ministerial Office ; there being no kind of Skill , or Proficiency in all your Theological Studies , that more becomes a Divine of the Church of England ; whose highest Spiritual Art is to speak directly from his own Conscience to the Consciences of those under his Pastoral Care : and this at all times ; but most especially when they are on their Sick-Beds : When Mens Consciences are usually most awakened , most managable , most truly tender , and capable of the best Impressions . So that I say it again , and can never say it too often , one of the most necessary Provisions , and Instruments of your sacred Armory , which you are always to carry about with you , in your own Souls , ( for there it is best lodged ; thence it will be drawn forth , on all Occasions , with the quickest Expedition , ) is such a firm Sense , and general Scheme of the primitive , uncorrupt , practical , Casuistical Divinity : Such as , on the one side , is purged from the Spiritual Crafts , and Equivocations of the Jesuits , and , on the other , is freed from the Narrowness and Sourness of Enthusiasm . I told you even now , it highly concern'd you all to be well stock'd with plenty of good Matter for present Use , in the Visitation of the Sick ; and that for your own Sakes as much as theirs . And , in truth , so it is . A Clergy-man can , no way better , have his own Affections , and Passions regulated , tempered , soften'd , mortified , sanctified , than by frequently performing this Office in a right Godly manner . By thus often seeing Death before our Eyes , in all its ghastly Shapes , we cannot , if it be not the Fault of our own Insensibility , but be the better accustomed , and made skilful to teach the whole , and the healthful , how to prepare to meet that King of Terrors . By these Spiritual Anatomies of the Dying , ( if I may be allowed to use so bold a Metaphor , ) we cannot but be made more expert in discerning the inward Frames and Constitutions of the Living , and to apply the properest Remedies to the Diseases of their Souls . And , to instance now only in one Duty of such a faithful Spiritual Physician , that of relieving and refreshing the Conscience throughly searched and purged , and of comforting and restoring the true Penitent , What , I beseech you , can be a more God-like Work among Men , than for us to be humbly serviceable in that , which GOD owns to be His Work , to be skill'd in not breaking the bruised Reed , and not quenching the Smoaking Flax ? To be instrumental in performing our Lords own Office , under the Parable of the good Samaritan , in binding up the wounded Spirit , and pouring Wine , and Oyl into it ? What can more adorn your Evangelical Ministry , than a soft , melting , compassionate , Fellow-feeling , merciful Habit , and Disposition of Mind , and , as the Scripture styles it , the Ornament of a meek Spirit ? Or , Where can such a blessed Temper be more seasonably practised , or sooner learn'd and increas'd , than in the Chambers of sick and dying Persons ? Now , my dear Brethren , having all along insisted , that , for the furnishing and inriching your Minds with Spiritual Knowledge , towards the due performing these , and all other Offices of your Holy Profession , you should make the Holy Scriptures the principal Subject , and indeed the only final Center of all your Studies ; that your Doctrine should never swerve from that unerring Rule ; your very Words , Language , and Style , should every where tast of , and overflow with those living , and inexhaustible Streams of Truth , and Godliness ; it may be expected , that , for the Sake only of the younger Divines among you , I should add a Word or two , touching the Manner , and Method , of your studying these sacred Writings . It is indeed a Business too large to be drawn within the narrow compass of the Conclusion of such a Discourse . But since a true , at least a competent Understanding of this Blessed Book , ought to be the Beginning , and End of all our Spiritual Studies ; and because I may speak to some , whose Circumstances in this World are not so plentiful , as to enable them to purchase large Libraries ; yet their Industry is by no means to be discouraged , nor their Zeal , in pursuing this Holy Skill , abated ; I will open to you my own simple Apprehensions in this Matter , with Submission still to better Judgements . My Opinion is , That altho' , without question , all manner of Secular , or Ecclesiastical Learning , can never be more usefully employ'd , than in this search , and is all little enough for it , and too little to compleat it ; yet , when all is done , the Scripture it self is the best Expositor , the best Commentator on it self . It is apparent , that the whole New Testament is so to the whole Old Testament ; that being the real Light of the others figurative Darkness , and Mysteries ; the very Consummation of the others Prophecies , and Shadows of good Things to come . But I will also aver , that every Part , every Book , every Sentence almost , both of the Old and the New Testament , well-compared , and judiciously set one over against the other , in their right View , and Reflection , cannot but prove , by GOD's Blessing , an inestimable Explanation of each other : If a due and accurate Care , I say , be taken to interpret their difficult Texts , by others of their own , that are easier ; and to collate their Words , Phrases , and Sense , that may seem dark , or doubtful in some Places , with the same , or the like in other Places , where they are clearer and more intelligible . I cannot forbear , as I go along , to declare my Meaning a little fuller in this Matter , by one special Instance . For , consider , I pray , how is it possible for any , the most learned , or sagacious Student in Divinity , to conceive the true , and genuine Sense of the Eloquent and Divine Epistle to the Hebrews , except he has been also throughly conversant in the Writings of Moses ? Or where can there be found a clearer , a more Spiritual , and more illustrious Commentary on the whole Ritual Part of the Pentateuch , than the Epistle to the Hebrews ? The like also may be proved of all other Portions of the Holy Book of GOD. And indeed to manifest , what mutual Brightness , and Splendor , the Scripture gives to and takes from it self , by comparing its several Parts , I need only urge the frequent Practice of our Saviour himself , and the inspired Pen-men of the Gospel , in thus expounding the Old Law by the New , and the New by the Old. So that now I may with greater Freedom propound my humble Conceptions in this Matter ; That where Multitudes of Fathers , Councils , Schoolmen , Histories are wanting , ( which are all very beneficial Helps , where they can be had , but , where they cannot be come at , ) if a Clergy-man shall resort immediately to the Fountain it self , first , and always imploring the Assistance of that Divine Spirit , by which the Scriptures were written , and then , with a sincere Love of the Truth , and Resolution to live according to it , without which GOD will neither hear our Prayers , nor bless our Endeavours ; and also with an humble Heart , a devout Mind , and unquenchable Fervour of Spirit , and a right unbyass'd Judgement ; join'd with a sufficient Skill in the Original Languages , and in those other Introductory Studies ; which no Man in Holy Orders , if it be not the Bishop's Fault , as well as his own , can possibly be altogether to seek in : And if withal he shall be assisted with some of the ancient , and some few of the modern sound , and Orthodox Commentaries ; he will , in all human Probability , by an incessant , daily , and nightly meditating upon , and revolving in his Mind , the Divine Text it self , become , in time , tho' not perhaps , as Apollos is said to have been , Eloquent , and Mighty in the Scriptures , yet a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed , rightly dividing the Word of Truth . The more to incourage your Studies in this Method , if you shall be necessitated to it , give me leave to present you with one Example of a great Divine , and Bishop , in the Time of King Charles the First , who was one of the most Eminent Confessors then , and survived those Calamities , to die in Peace and Tranquillity , several Years after the Return of King Charles the Second . In the common Persecution , which then happened to the whole Episcopal Order , this Reverend Person was exposed to a more than ordinary Degree of popular Malice , and Rage ; so that , without ever being once brought to his Tryal , he was closely imprisoned in the Tower , for almost twenty Years , and was not only despoil'd of his annual Revenue , and Personal Estate , in the first Fury of the Civil Wars ; but was also plunder'd of most of the Collections of his former Labours , and a very considerable Library . Wherefore , being thus laid up in Prison , without any prospect of Liberty , having also a numerous Family to maintain , so that he was not able , in any sort , to repair the Loss of his Books , and Papers , he betook himself to this course of Study . Well-knowing , that he could have no faithfuller Companion for his Solitude , nor surer Consolation in his Afflictions , than the Holy Scriptures , he applied himself to them immediately , with little other help , but what he had within himself , and the best Prints of the Originals in the Learned Tongues , and their Translations in the Learned , and Modern , in both which he was a great Master . Thus however he firmly , and vigorously proceeded so far in the single Study of the Scriptures , that long before his Enlargement , he had composed a great Mass of Annotations on divers Parts of the Bible . What is become of them , I know not . If they are either imbezill'd , or suppress'd , no doubt , it is to the great Damage of the Church ; since the Native Thoughts of a Great Man are generally , at least , as good as the most Artificial . Perhaps you will say , he might be able to do all this by the Strength of his Memory , and the Variety of Learning he had laid up in it before-hand : And I make no doubt but those were an exceeding great Assistance to him . But what was very remarkable , and for which I am bold to produce him as an Instance worthy your Imitation in this Particular , I know , he was often heard to profess solemnly , that in all his former Studies , and various Reading , and Observations , he had never met with a more useful Guide , or a surer Interpreter , to direct his Paths in the dark Places of the lively Oracles , to give Information to his Understanding in the obscure Passages , or Satisfaction to his Conscience in the experimental Truths of them , than when he was thus driven by Necessity , to the assiduous Contemplation of the Scripture alone , and to weigh it by it self , as it were , in the Ballance of the Sanctuary . Had I not been already so tedious , there is one Particular behind , on which I ought most justly to have expatiated , which now I can only name ; And it is that touching the Manner of your Conversation ; that it be such , as may render you Vessels , not only sanctified , but meet for your Masters Vse , and , as St. Paul also adds , Vessels of Honour . I would therefore recommend to Men of your Character , not only the Innocency , and Sincerity , but ( as much as human Frailties will allow , ) the Comeliness , and the Amiableness of every Word , and Action of your Lives : That you especially would not only strive to follow whatsoever Things are true , or honest , or just , but moreover whatsoever Things are pure and lovely , and of good Report ; that you would think on these Things , not only if there be any Virtue , but if there be any Praise of Virtue . From you , my Brethren , it may well be expected ▪ that your Behavior should not only be unblameable , but , if I may be permitted so to say , something more than strictly unblameable , and that not only to those within , but also towards them who as yet are without ; that you should not only keep your Minds clean , your Hands unpolluted , your Tongues well-govern'd , your whole Course of Life spotless , and upright , and your Consciences undefiled , but also your Consciences void of Offence , and that towards Men , as well as towards GOD : That you may be not only exemplary in your Families , in your Parishes , in the Neighbouring Country , in the whole Church of GOD , to the Gentry , to the Laity , to your Brethren of the Clergy , to the Commonalty of our Communion , for your Justice , Modesty , Sobriety , Prudence , Quietness , and Obedience to Superiors ; but that you would exercise , and extend all these Virtues , and also your Humility , Long-suffering , good Will , good Wishes , Condescention , and Affability , even beyond the Church it self , to the very Enemies of it : That towards all Men you would sweeten the Gravity of your Behaviour , and soften the Strictness of your Conversation , with the Gentleness , and Suavity of your Manners : That you would take special Care , as never to be obstinately in the wrong , so , when you are sure you are in the right , even then never to be too rigidly , austerely , or morosely in the right : That by all reasonable Respects , mild and winning Converse , and not only by a ready Return , but by a chearful Prevention of all Christian good Offices ; and even by making your very Oppositions , and Contentions with those , that differ from you , if you shall happen to be forced to any , as humane and friendly , and easie to be intreated , as possible ; by all this you may do your part to put to silence the Ignorance of foolish and unreasonable Men. Who knows but you may convert , and gain some of them ? Who knows , but by your thus following not only Righteousness , and Faith , but Peace and Charity ; by your being not only apt to teach , but gentle to all Men , and patient , in Meekness instructing those that oppose themselves ; who knows , but by these Means GOD peradventure will give the fiercest Adversaries of our Church Repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth ? Most certainly by these Means , or by no other , in all human Probability . I cannot now enlarge , as I would , on this most necessary and seasonable Argument . But unquestionably by thus keeping your selves free from haughty Censoriousness , and untractable Peevishness , and sullen Darkness of Life , and Manners ; And by excelling in the contrary Virtues , you will , in the best way , teach and convince all that dissent from you , how unworthy such a Pharisaical Garb , and Disposition is of the true Christian Liberty , or Severity . In short , by such a grave , sedate , decent , charitable Course , and Colour of your whole Lives , you will do your selves , and especially the Church of England most Right . For our Church it self , wherever she is set in a true Light , cannot but be found to be most of this sweet , meek , and truly pacific Temper , of any Church in the Christian World. I conclude therefore . Whoever among her Sons , and Members , much more among her Teachers , and Fathers , as you , and we are , shall not do their utmost , to attain to this gentle , obliging , charming Manner of Conversation , which our Church prescribes towards all Men , Adversaries as well as Friends , I must repeat what our Blessed Saviour said to his Disciples , on the like Occasion , they know not what Spirit they are of . There is one or two short Requests more I am to make you , which chiefly respect me , as your unworthy Bishop ; and then I shall give ease to your Patience . One is to intreat , that you would be exceeding watchful , and indeed religiously serupulous , for whom you give Certificates and Testimonials . For what some of you , perhaps out of good Nature , or good Neighbourhood , or an Easiness , and not being able to resist Importunity , may at first think to be only a Matter of Form , is not so to me . I have scarce any other way possible of being rightly informed , from without , of the good Lives , or sufficient Endowments of the Persons , but only by yours , and the like Testimonies . The Law of the Land appoints that Method to me , and almost confines me to it . Whereas , if you make this to be only a Business of private Favour , or Partiality , not of public Judgement , and Conscience , I may chance to be led into very mischievous , and sometimes irreparable Mistakes ; only by that , which you may esteem but as a piece of Bashfulness , and good Breeding : I may be induced to lay Hands on the ignorant , and unworthy , meerly by the Authority of your Names , the subscribing of which you might think to be only an Office of common Humanity and Modesty . My next and last Request to you , at this time , shall concern your Curates . This it may suffice only to intimate to you . I know , I need not spend many Words on it in this Assembly ; because there is but a very small inconsiderable Number of Pluralists in my Diocese . I am persuaded , they will be found upon Inquiry the fewest of any in 〈…〉 . I cannot but say , I could be very well content there were more : Especially if all , so qualified , would be rigorously true to the Church , in their Choice of Substitutes , where they cannot always reside themselves . For , as I will frankly own , I never yet heard an invincible Objection , against the prudent Allowance , and moderate Use of Pluralities ; but only some plausible popular ones against the Abuse of them ; which we are as much offended with as any others can be : So , I verily believe , were this Legal Indulgence to the Clergy so carefully observed every where , as , among divers other good Ends of it , to furnish us with a Race of painful , learned , Godly Curates ; who , by this way of Probation , may make , and shew themselves worthy to be promoted to a higher Charge ; there Pluralities would be so far from being a Scandal , or Prejudice , that they would conduce to the Strength , and Defence , as well as they do to the Ease , and Ornament of the Church of England . The great Obligation then I am to lay upon you ; you , I mean , whom it does at present concern , is this , That you would be very unmovably faithful to me , to your selves , and to the whole Church of GOD , in the Persons , whom , on just Occasions , you shall offer to me to be your Curates . I do not only intend , that you should never Own , or Patronize any , as your Curates , who really are not so , that , under that Colour , by false Titles , they may slip into Holy Orders . But I speak of such Instances where you really have need of , and the Law allows you to have Curates . In such Cases , it is my earnest Intreaty , that you would not only keep all the Legal Times of your own Residence , and Hospitality ; and not only afford your Curates a liberal Maintenance in your Absence ; Liberal , I mean , not only for their own Livelihood , but for their continuing some kind of Hospitality too , to the Poor at least : But that you , you especially , who are of greater Age , and Experience , would watch over your Curates as your Fellow-Labourers , your Friends , your Probationers ; for whose Improvement , in Divine Learning , Godly Conversation , and Abilities of Teaching , you ▪ or I , must be answerable to the Great Shepherd of our Souls . But it is high time to dismiss you . I beseech Almighty GOD to assist , and prosper all your Labours , to His Glory , and your own Comfort in the Great Day of Account . Towards the obtaining which Blessed Ends , you can never think of any better ▪ or indeed of any other Means , than by living up ▪ in your private Conversation , to the Religion you profess , and teach others ; and , in your public Office , by defending and supporting the Church established by Law in this Kingdom . A Religion , and a Church , that well deserves all this at your hands ; being in its Faith most Primitive , in its Orders most Apostolical ; in its Discipline most Moderate ; in its Charity most Diffusive ; in its Devotions most Spiritual as to the Substance ; most decent as to the Circumstances . In few Words , in its Interests it is inviolably united with the Laws and Rights , with the Well-Being , I had almost said with the Being , of the English Nation and Government : In its Principles , it is irreconcilable with the Interests of Popery , and the only impregnable Defence against its Return into this Land : Which , it is much to be lamented , that the Dissenters will not see , and are therefore Dissenters , since it is evident , the Papists themselves have always seen it but too well . What then remains ? but that as Christians , as English-Men , as Church-Men , we should all make it our principal , our only great Concern , and pray to GOD the Father of Mercies , that all others of our Character , throughout the Nation , would make it theirs ; to represent to the World the true Excellencies of such a Religion , and such a Church , by our Doctrine and Example , with Industry , and Vigilance , with Stedfastness , and Courage , in Meekness of Wisdom , and with Zeal according to Knowledge . And if we shall all , in this Manner , devote our selves to this Work , we may then be assured , that the same Promise , which our Lord Christ , in some of his last Words on Earth , made to his whole Church , will be eminently made good to this , the purest part of it in these latter Ages of Christianity , that He himself will be alway with it even to the End of the World. Amen . FINIS .