■-i' ' -^^ '■'■'■■ V* 4 W F,30 '?'s 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 Sound : and unlefs this Danger, which is a very great one, be guarded againft, you will have fpent both their Pains and your own to but fmall Purpofe. Befides, all Sci- ences have their Terms, which mufl: be in- terpreted to Beginners : and fome of thofe in the Catechifm are figurative ones ; very prudently ufed, as they comprehend in a little Compafs much Meaning, and lead to the underftanding of the fame Figures in Scrip- ture ; but undoubtedly ufed on Purpofe to be explained : without vi^hich they are liable to make either no ImprefTion or a wrong one. And farther ftill, a Syftem fo fhort as to be learned 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 Docftrines, the Ufe and Extent of its Precepts to be fhewn : and therefore fmce the Ca- noft fecond Charge to hts Ci.^v.Gt, 51 non with great Reafon enjoins, not only that you examine, but inftruft the Children in their Catechifm, I hope you will think this a very needful Part of that Inftrudion. 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 Parifhioners a methodical Summary of Chrif^ tian Dodrine; which they often want very much for themfelves, 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 diiScult Expreffions may deferve the Preference, But alking the Children Quefti- ons, relating to each Part, and procuring them to learn Texts of Scripture confirming each, will be always beneficial. The Words of the Catechifm itfelf may be very ufefully broken into {horter.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 Ihould endeavour as foon and as much as you can to make this D 2 a Trial 52 The Bifkop of Oxford's a Trial and Improvement of the Underftand* ing as well as the Memory of young People, by ailing fiich Things as they (hould reply to in Words of their own ; making that eafy to them in every poiiible Way. And indeed, if many of your Qncflions were formed to be anfwercd merely by affirming or denying, it would be a very good Method : and there is an Expoiiticn drawn up in that Manner. I am fenliblethat fome Clergymen are un- happily obliged to fer\'e two Churches the fame Afternoon : who may therefore plead, that they have fcarce ever Time to hear the Chil- dren repeat their Catechifm, much lefs to ex- plain it to them. And God forbid that any needlefs Addition fliould 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 fhould hope that in the longer Days, at each of their Churches alternately, they might hear the Catechifm repeated one-Sunday, and expound Part of it another, or hear only Part of it re- peated, and expound that, or find fome Way to prevent the intire Omiffion of fo neceffary a Duty. And if thefe can do any Thing of this Kind, fecand Charge to hisC'LZV.GY. 53 Kind, there is no Doubt but others may eafily dp more. But a farther Hindrance which I fear you complain of too juftly is, that Parents and Mafters are negHgent in fending their Chil- dren and Servants ; and the latter efpecially are both unwilling and often afliamed 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, muft 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, v/ill completely prevail w^ith them. At leaft fuch as think they are either too old or too confidcrable to fay the Catechifm themfelves, m.ay 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 D ^ either 54 "T^^^ Bifkop of Oxford's either cannot or will not get them taught, and therefore the Found iticn for their learn- ing the Catechifm is wanting. But furely fome Perfon might be found, within a mo- derate Diftance from every Place, to whom Parents might be induced, at leaft if fome- thing were contributed towards it, to fend their Children to be inflrudted thus far. Or at the worft, they who cannot read might cafily by Degrees learn fo much as the Cate- chifm by Heart ; efpecially as the three main Farts of it are in every Sunday's Prayers. The Incapacity of reading was almoft ge- neral at the Time of the Reformation : yet even in thofe Days the Clergy were able to teach firft Parents and Houfholders, then by their Means Children and Servants, the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Com- mandments ; and afterwards the reft of the Catechifm, Now ^nce that grofs Darknefs hath been fo far enlightened, it cannot beim- pradlicable to difpel the Remains of it. After due Inftrudion follows Confirmati-* on: an Appointment derived down from Apof- tol-cal Practice ; and of fuch acknowledged Uleful nefs that in the Times of Confufion, a hundred fecond Charge to his Ci^^^GY. ^^ hundred Years ago, when BIfhops were re- jeded, fome of their Adverfaries took upon them to perform this Part of their Fun6lion : and within thefe few Years the Church of Ge?2€va hath reftored it in the beft Manner their Form of Church Government will ad- mit, and added an Office for it to their Litur- gy. In our own Church the ancient Efteem of this Inflitution is, generally fpeaking, fo well preferved, that I hope the Defire of being confirmed may not a little ftrengthen that of being inflrudted, as the only Way to it. And yet I muft obferve, that the Numbers from fome Parifhes have been in Proportion very fmall. This may not have arifen from any Neglefl: in the Minifter : but as it ought to incline me to make the Opportunities of Con- • firmation as convenient as I am able ; fo it ought to incline you, agreeably to the Nature of your FundHoii, and the exprefs Direction of the 61 ft Canon, to ufe your beft Endeavours, tha^your Pariiliioners may gladly take thofe Opportunities. Yet I muft entreat you to' endeavour at the fame Time, that none be brought, but thofe who, to fpeak in the Language of the Rubric, are come to Tears D 4 of 56 ^he Bifhop 0/ Oxford's- or DifiTeti n, who have learned, not the \Vords only, hut, in a competent Degree, the Meaning of w'lat was promifed for them in Baptifm ; who can fay with Serioufnefs and Truth, (what furt ly elfe they ought not to fay at all,) that in the P^e fence of God and the Congregation they ratify and confirm the fame in their own Per- fo'ns I and who therefore are likely to have ufeful and lading Impreffions made on them by this Solemnity. Undoubtedly fome ar- rive at this Capacity fooner than others, and therefore i have mentionedi the Age of Four- teen, not with a Defign of abfolutely tying you down to it ; but as being, for the moft part, full early enough ; and that, where you fee it requifite, you may, without giving Of- fence yourfelv es, oppofe my Order to the in- difcreet Forwardnefs of Parents 5 whom how- ever, I hope, it will make eafy, to aflure them, as I give you Authority, that (o long a*: it pleafes God to continue my Health and Strength, Confirmations (hall be frequent in every Fart of this Diocefe. I muft alfo de- fi'^ that you will carefully inftrucS thofe whom you do bring, in the whole Nature of the In»- fliituiion, and particularly in this, amongfl other fecond Charge to bis Clergy. 57 other more important Points, that they are never to be confirmed any more than baptized a fecond Time : that you will diredl them to make the proper Anfvvers 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 Attention, and to give the Solemnity 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, w^ill be difmiffed at the fame Time alfo : and laflly you will prefs it ftrongly upon their Minds, that what they protnife at their Confirmation, they are to remember and keep to their Lives End. I have already de- fired 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 yourfelves, and if it were written alphabetically, both you and I ihould be able to confult it upon the Spot more eafiiy. For the abovementioned Canon, the 6.1.0:^ plainly direftsyour Attend- ance 58 "the Bijhop of Oxford's ance along with your Parifhioners ; to take efpecial Care (for fo the Words run) t/jat none be prefented but fuch as you know are fit. And as your being prefent to approve or dif- approve muft needs increafe your Influence and Authority amongft your People ^ it muft likewife make the Difcharge of my Duty fo very much eafier and moreufeful, that I beg ^ou will never let me be without your Af- fiftance in this Work, as you fhall never be without mine in any Thing. And for this Purpofe when Confirmations are on a Sunday, which is the Time I ihall ufually pitch upon, for the Convenience of the Peo- ple, 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 effefl:, what would greatly fho'rteu your Labour, Calling up your feveral Parilhes in their Order feparately. But I (hall be very glad to do it, as foon as ever you can introduce this Order amongft them, which I earneftly recommend to you : and I hope a continued Frequency of Confirmations will foon make that fea- fible without Difficulty here, which is nowr praflifed fecond Charge fo his Clerov. 59 pradlifed conftantly in the populous Cities of London and fFeJiminJler. From Confirmation Perfons ought to be led on, if poflible, before the Impreffions of it are much weakened, to the holy Sacra- ment : and it is one material Reafon why Confirmation fhould not be too early, that with a little farther Inftrudtion given foon after it, you may eafily bring them, fuch as they ought to be, to the Lord's Table : which may prove a much harder Matter, when once they have been a good While out of your Hands. The fmall Proportion of Commu- nicants which I find there is in moft of your Congregations, and very fmall in fome, muft undoubtedly (as this Ordinance is appointed for all Chriftians, and for a ftanding Means of Grace to all) be a Subjeft of very great Concern to you. And though it is too true, that the Generality of the World, and per- haps the lower Sort beyond others, are incre- dibly obftlnate in their Prejudices, efpecially in fuch as at all favour corrupt Nature : yet our complaining of thefe Prejudices is not enough ; but labouring to overcome them is ©ur Bufinefs, and wo are not to grow weary Pf 6o T!he Bijhop of Oxford's of it. Some imagine that the Sacrament belongs only to Perfons of advanced Years, or grea:t Leifure, or high Attainments in Re- ligion, and is a very dangerous Thing for common Perfons to venture upon. Some again difregard it ftupidly, becaufe others, they fay, who do receive are never the better for it ; or becaufe their Friends before them, or their Neighbours about them never re- , ceived at all, or not till fuch an Age : and why (hould they ? You will therefore re- prefent to them, that whoever receives without Benefit, it is his own Fault ; and that hovv many foever omit it either for Part • of their Lives or the Whole, not their Ex- ample but the Word of God is the Rule for Chriftians : that far from being a terrible or enfnaring Inflitution, 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 plainefl: Head and the moft laborious Hand, provided there be only an honeft and pious Heart : and that thejudgement which unworthy Receivers eat and drink to themfelves, needs no more af- fright fecond Charge to bis Clergy. 6i fright thofe whom God in his Mercy will confider as worthy ; as he certainly will every true Penitent ; than the capital Punifhments, threatened by the Law to Crimes, make innocent Perfons uneafy : that he whofe Life unfits him for the Sacrament, is unfit for the Kingdom of Heaven alfo ; and he, who being qualified for it, negledts it, negledts a dying Command of his Lord and Saviour, intended for the greateft Good to him. But your public Inftrudtions on this Head will be much more efiredual for being followed by feafonable private Applications : in which you will hear and anfwer their Objecftions, be they of ever fo little Weight, with great Meeknefs -, not be provcked by any Perverfe- nefs of theirs to fhew Anger, but only a friendly Concern ; and even if you meet with ^n abfolute Repulfe, leave them with an Af- furance that you (hall apply to them again, in Hopes that God will have difpofed them better to obey his Precepts. But befidesincreafing the Number of your Communicants, it were very defirable, that they who do communicate fhould do it more frequently.' In the three firft Centuries the Eucharifl 62 The Bijhopof Oxtov^Ti's - Eucharifl: was every where celebrated weeklvi and in many Places almoft daily. Decay oi Piety occafioned an Injunftion in the Sixth, that every Chriftian fliould receive thrice in the Year ; which was reduced in the Thir- teenth, perhaps with a bad Intention, to once. Our Church requires thrice at the leafi : which evidently implies, that more than thrice is hoped for. And indeed each Perfon will fcarce be able to communicate fo often unlefs the Communion be adminiflered oftener. But befides, it is appointed to be every Lord's Day in Cathedral and Colle- giate Churches, and Part of the OfHce 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 beft muft be a Work of Time : but one Thing might be done at prefent in all your Parifhes, as God be thanked, it is in moft of them : a Sacrament might eafily be interpofed in that long In- terval between Whitfuntide and Chrijimas : and the ufual Seafon for it, about the Feaft of St. Michael, (when your People having gathered in the Fruits of the Earth have fome feco7id Charge fo his Cl'ergy. 63 fomc Reft from their Labours, and muft furely feel fome Gratitude to the Giver of all Good) is a very proper Time. And if af- terwards you can advance from a quarterly Communion t© a monthly one, I make no Doubt but you will. Upon this Subjed: I muft obferve to you farther, that though in one or two Parilhes of this Diocefe the old Cuftom is retained, of Oblations for the Miniftcr, as well as Alms for the Poor, to both which the Sen- tences appointed to be read are plainly adapted: yet in many Parifhes there is no Offertory at all : though it be certainly a Pradice of primitive Antiquity, a moft pro- per Admonition and Specimen of Charity ; which I fear the Generality of Chriftians much want to be reminded of^ a moft feafonable Dem^onftration of our loving our Brethren for his Sake, who hath loved us ; and a Thing exprefsly enjoined in the Ru- bric of the Communion Office. Why therefore fliould you not attempt to revive it, where it hath been intermitted ? Merely prefenting to Perfons an Opportunity of giving if they think fit, and only what they think 64 ^l^^ Bifiop of Oxford's think fit, can furely (if the Reafons of it be explained to them beforehand) never keep any one away from the Sacrament. But then, though all who have not abfolutely Nothing, ought undoubtedly to contribute their Mite, yet no difagreeable Notice fhould ever be taken of any, for giving but little or not giving at all : and whatever is collefted, fhould be difpofed of, fo that all Perfons may know it, with the greateft Faithfulnefs, Pru- dence, and Impartiality. Another Part of divine Worfhip, concern- ing which I think it needful to fpeak, is Pfal- mody : a Part clearly appointed in Scrip- ture, both expreffive and produdlive of de- vout AfFeftions, extremely well fitted to diverfify long Services, and peculiarly to diftinguifh the feveral Parts of our own, which were originally feparate. Our eccle- fiaftical Laws do not indeed require it under any Penalty : becaufe there may not every where be Perfons qualified to perform it decently. But wherever there are, the Ru- bric makes Provifion for it, and I reconi- mend to you that it bs not omitted. You will always endeavour that your Parifli- Clerks fecond Charge to iis Cl'ERGY. 65 Clerks be Perfons of Difcretion as well as Skill and Serioufnefs. But however you "will be much furer of no Impropriety happening in this Part of the Worfhip, if you either direft them every Sunday to fuitable Pfalms, or affign them a Courfe of fuch to go orderly through. And unlefs the Generality of your Parifhioners are provided with Books and able to make ufe of them j ordering each Line to be read, will both fecure a greater Number of Singers and be very inftrudive to many who cannot fing. All Perfons in- deed who are by Nature qualified ought to learn, and confiantly join to glorify him that made them, in Pfalms and fpiritual Songs. This was the Practice of the early Chriftians : it was reftored very juflly at the Reformation : and hath declined of late, within moft of our Memories, very unhap- pily. For the Improvements made by a few in Church-Mufic, were they real Im- provements, will feldom equal the Harm.ony of a general Chorus ; in which any leiTer DifTonances are quite loft : and it is fome- thing inexprefTibly elevating, to hear the Foice cf a great Multitude^ as the Voice of E ?nany 66 T'/je Bi/hop of Ox? ord's 77iany Waters and of mighty T^hmiderSy to fpeak in the Words of Scripture, making a joyful Noife to the God of their Sahationy andfinging his Praifes with Underfanding, Perfons of a ludicrous Turn may reprefent every Thing in a wrong Light : but thofe of any Serioufnefs, if they will lay afide falfe Delicacy, and that prepoflerous Shame of religious Perfor- mances, with which the prefent Age is fo fatally tainted, will find themfelves very pi- oufly affedled only by hearing this Melody, much more by bearing a Part in it : and therefore I beg you will encourage all your Parifhioners, efpecially the Youth, to learn Pfalmody ; and excite them, if there be Need, with fome little Reward : for you will thus make the Service of God abun- dantly more agreeable, and their Attendance on it more conflant. But then, where any Knowledge of the old common Tunes re- mains, you iliould endeavour principally, that your Learners mayperfed: themfelves in thefe ; that fo they may lead and aflift the reft of the Congregation, who Ihould al- v/ays join with them , or if you muft admit a Mixture of new and uncommon Tunes, it fhould fecokd Charge to iis CfERGY. 67 Ihould be no greater than you find yourfelves in Prudence abfolutely obliged to. Elfe the Confequence will be> what 1 fear many of yoU have experienced, that either one Part of your People will refent being unjuftly filenced, and this by the Introdudion of Tunes often not fo good as their former ones, and fo your Parifli will be divided and uneafy : or if they agree to the Change ever fo generally and like it ever fo well, yet your feledl Singers will either be weary in a Whild of what only Novelty recommended to them, or grow conceited and ungovernable, or die off, or be difperfed, and the Congregation will be left unable to fing in any Manner at all. Where indeed the newer Tunes have quite blotted out the Memory of the old ones, all you can do is, to make Ufe of what you find in Ufe, to get fome of the eafiefl of them learnt as generally as you can, and keep to thefe. And if, in order to inftrud: your People in either Way of Singing, Meet- ings to pradife out of Church-time be requifite, you will keep a firicfl Watch over them, that they be managed with all poffible Decency, and never continued till Candle- E 2 light. 6S The Bijloop ^/ O x f o R d'j- light. If they confift of both Sexes. You will likewife difcountenancc, at leaft, all frequent Meetings, between the Singers of different Parifhes, and making Appointments to fing alternately at one anothers Churches : for this wandering from their own, which by Law they ought to keep to, ufually leads them into ExcefTes and Follies. I am very fenfible, that fome of the Things v.hich I have been mentioning, are by no Means of equal Importance with others. But Nothing is without its Importance, that relates to divine Worfhip. The mere out- ward Behaviour of thofe who attend upon it is of fuch Ufe, and good Influence, that I mud defire you will be diligent in teaching them, (but fo as to perfuade, hot provoke them) what Reverence belongs to the Houfc of God : particularly how very wrong it is to fit inftead of kneeling when they are or {hould be addreffing themfelves to their Maker, and to fhew how indecent that Ap- pearance is of Difregard to him, which they would not ufe on any Account to one of their Fellew-creatures a little fuperior to themfelves. If you could only breed up the younger fecond Charge fo i/s C lilr gy. 69 younger to a right Behaviour in this Refpe(fl, your Congregations would grow regular in Time. But mild Expoftulations will furely in lb plain a Cafe produce fome Effeft upon the reft alio, which will be much facilitated if you take Care that proper Conveniences for kneeling be provided for them. And if you could convince them alfo that Handing is a more reverent Pofture to fing Plalms to God in, as well as to read them, than (itting, you would com.e fo m.uch the nearer to the Apoftolical Rule of doing all ^7 kings decently. For as fome of the Pfalms contain the noblefl A6ts of Adoration, furely they ought not to be fung in a Poilure unfit to exprefs it. Another Thing, and no fmall one, which I believe many of your Parlfliioners often want to be admonid^ed of, is to come before the Service begins. Undoubtedly Allowance is to be made fcr neceifary, efpecially unforefeen, Bufinefs, and fome Allowance for not know- ing the Time exad:ly : but I hope you will obviate both thefe Pleas as far as you can, by confulting their Convenience in the Hour you fix, and then keeping pundlually to it. And at the fame Time you will reraiad them, E 3 that JO 7he Bifhop of Oxford's that a due Degree of Zeal in Religion would incline them to be rather a great deal too .early at the Houfe of God, than a little too late : that no Part of the Service can be more needful for them, than that which comes firft ; the Confeffion of their Sins : that Inflrudtion in their Duty is better learnt from the Pfalms and Leffons, which are the Word of God, than from Sermons, which are only our Explanations of it : and that by coming fo irregularly, they not only are great Lofers themfelves, but difturb and offend others. But it is not fufficient to give you Directions about fuch as do come to Church, without taking Notice of the great jNumbers whjch I find there are in many, if not moft, of your Parifhes, that omit coming. Now on thefe your Preaching indeed can have no imme- diate Influence. But it may however prevent the Increafe of them ; and furnifli others with Arguments againft them ; and with the beft of Arguments, their Experience of its good Effedts. You will therefore queftionlefs dq all you can in this Way, without ufing any f^xpreffions in Relation to their Fault, which • '" \f fecotid Charge to his Cl'EV.gx. 71 if repeated to them may exafperate them. But your chief Dependance muft be on private Application to them, varied fuitably to the Occafion of their Negled:. If it arifes mere- ly from Ignorance, or Sloth, or Want of Thought, they muft be plainly told what they owe to their Maker, and awakened to the Hopes and Fears of a future Life. If it be Delire of Gain or of Pleafure that keeps them away, they muft be aflced what it will profit them to gain the whole World and lofe their own Souls F or fhewn that to be Lovers of Pleafure more than of God will end in Pains eternal. If they defend themfelves, by pleading, as fome will, that Nothing can be told them at Church but what they are acquainted with already, it will furely not be hard to Aew them that they over-rate their Knowledge : that if this were otherwife they may however be reminded of what they did not think of, or excited to what they did not pracftife : that, wxre they too perfedl to receive any Benefit, it would not be decent for thern to tell the ¥/orld fo by their Behaviour : that at leaft they ought to fet others an Example who may be the bet- ter for public Inftrudtion : and laftly, that E 4 receiving 72 'T^he Bifhop ofOxT ord's receiving Inftruftion is not the Whole of di^ vine Service, but Praying the chief Part. And though it is allowed they can pray at Home privately, yet without enquiring whe- ther they do, fince God hath commanded, for plain and important Reafons, that wb worfhip him publicly, and hath excepted no one : by what Authority doth any one except himfelf ? And what will this end in^ but an univerfal Negled of a Duty which our Maker hath required to be univerfally prac- tifed ? If it be any Scruple about the Lawful- nefs of coming to Church that keeps Perfons away,' fit Opportunities fhould be fought with great Care, and ufcd with great Prudence, to fet them right : and fuch Diffenters, for many there are, as do not think our Manner of Worfhip finfu!, but only prefer another, which perhaps they are often without the Means of attending upon, feould be ferioufly entreated to confider, hov/ they can juftify feparating from a lawful Communion ap- pointed by lawful Authority, and even omit- ting all public Worfhip frequently, rather than worfhip with us. But then with which- foever of thefe Perfons we difcourfe, not the leaft fecond Charge toMs Clergy. 73 leafl: perfonal Anger muft be fliewn. Nothing but a Concern about their future Happinefs. For by this Means if we make them no bet- ter, ws {hall at. lead make them no worfe, and perhaps may leave in their Hearts what will fome Time or other work there. Per- fons who profefs themfelves not to be of our Church, if Perfuafions will not avail, muft be let alone. But other Abfenters after due Patience muft be told in the laft Place, that unwilling as you are, it will be your Duty to prefent them, unlefs they reform : and if, when this Warning hath been repeated, and full Time allowed for it to work, they ftill perfift in their Obftinacy, I beg you to do it. For this will tend much to prevent the Con- tagion from fpreading, of which there is elfc great Danger : and when once you have got them, though it be againft their Inclinations, within Reach of your Pulpit, who knows what Good may follow ? Different Cafes may indeed require Difference of Treatment : and both the fame Severity and the fame Mildnefs, that will fubdue one, will harden another. You will therefore ad yourfelves and advife your Church-wardens to ait in this Matter according 74 515^ Bi/hop of Oxford's according to your Difcretion. And after a Profecution is begun, it (hall ftill depend on your Opinion whether it fhall be carried on with Rigour, or fufpended a While in Hopes of Amendment. Only one Caution I would give you. Let not any Perfon's Threatening^, that, if he is profecuted, he will go over to the DiiTenters, move you in the leaft. Such will feldom do what they threaten : or if they do, 'tis better they fhould ferve God in any Way than none ; and much better they ihould be a Diigrace to them than to us. I muft not conclude this Head without defiring you to remind your People, that our Liturgy confifls not only of Morning but Evening Prayer alfo : that the latter is in Proportion equally edifying and inflrudive with the former ; and fo {hort, that, generally fpeak- ing, there can arife no Inconvenience from attending upon it, provided Perfons are with-, in any tolerable Diftance from the Church : that few of them have Bufinefs at that Time of Day ; and Amxufements ought furely never to be preferred on the Lord's Day before Re- ligion : not to fay that there is Room for both. Put befidcs the public Service, your Peo- ple fecond Charge to hisCtEViG Y. 75 pie fhould be admonifhed to fpend a due Part of their Sabbath in private Exercifes of Piety. For this is almoft the only Time, that the far greater Part of them have, for meditating on what they have heard at Church ; for reading the Scripture and other good Books ; for the ferious Confideration of their Ways ; for giving fuch Inftruftion to their Children and Families, as will make your Work both eafier and more efFeftual. And therefore, though one would not by any Means make their Day of Reft wearifome, nor forbid Cheer- fulnefs, and even innocent Feftivity upon it, much lefs the Expreffions of neighbourly Civility and Good- will, which are indeed a valuable Part of the gracious Ends of the In- ftitution : yet employing a reafonable Share of it ferioufly at Home as well as at Church, and prefer ving an efpecial Reverence of God even throughout the freer Hours of it, is neceffary to make it a Bleffing to them in Re- ality, inftead of a Seafon of Leifure to ruin themfelves, as it proves too often. But farther, befides your and their Duty on the Lord's Day, it is appointed, that all ^injfters of Pariflies read Prayers on Holy- dayS;j 76 Tlje Bifljop of OxroRD*s days, on Wednefdays, and Fridays : and un- doubtedly your Endeavours to procure a Congregation at fuch Times ought not to be wanting. Were I to repeat to you the ftrong Expreffions which my great Predeceffor Biihop Fell ufed, in requiring this Part of ecclefiaftical Duty, they would furprife you. But I content mylelf with faying, that pub- lic Worfhip was from the very iirft Ages conftantly performed on the two ftationary Days of each Week ; that all Holydays ap- pointed by the Church were carefully ob- ferved by the Clergy, and the Number of them now is not burthenfome : that where you can get a com.petent Number to attend at thefe Times, you will adt a very pious and ufeful, as well as regular Part : that your own Houfes will fometimes furnifh a fmall Congregation ; and what Succefs you may have with others. Nothing but Trials, re- peated from Time to Time, can inform you. But they, whofe Parifhioners are the feweft and the bufieft of all, I hope do not fail of bringing them to Church at the leaft on Good Friday, and Chriftmas Day, befides Sundays. For though in fome of your An^ fwers fecond Charge to his C'L^'rgy. 77 fivers to my Enquiries, thefe are not menti- oned as Prayer Days, yet I prefume that this arofe from your taking it for granted I fhould^ underftand they were. But if in any Place they be not, I earneftly entreat they may : for at fach Times there can be no Difficulty of getting a Congregation. I hope likewife, that you are not wanting in due Regard to thofe which are ufually called State Holy- days : and particularly, that if the public Faft, which hath been appointed thefe two laft: Years, fliould be continued (as we have but too much Reafoh to apprehend there will be Need) I beg you will endeavour, not only to bring your PariQiioners to Church on that Occafion ; but move them to fuch inward Humiliation for their own Sins, and fuch Fervency of Prayer for this moft corrupt and wicked Nation, as may avert, if it be pofii- ble, the juft judgments of God which fo vi- fibly threaten us. You muft have underftood. Brethren, in all you have heard, that I am not exhorting you to promote in your Parifhes a mere Form of Godlinefs without the Power. Outward Obfervances, by whatever Authority ap- pointed. 7? T:he BlJI:op o/Oxtord^s pointed, are only valuable in Proportion as they proceed from a good Heart and become Means of Edification and Grace. They arc always to be reverently regarded, but never refted in : for Perfons may obferve without the leaft Benefit, what they cannot omit without great Sin. The Bufinefs of your Parifhioners therefore is, fo to ufe the exter- nal Part of Religion, as to be inwardly im- proved by it in Love to God and their Fel- low-creatures and in moral Self-government : and your Bufinefs is to apply both your pub- lic and private Diligence, that this happy End be effeftually attained. You have un- der your Care great Numbers of poor Crea- tures, living very laborious Lives in this World, and depending almofi: intirely on you for their Hopes of another. It is a noble Employment to dired their Behaviour and lighten their Toils here, by Precepts and Motives which lead them on at the fame Time to Happlnefs hereafter. You will be fure of their Acknowledgments at leaft in Proportion as you fucceed in this Work ; but you will be rewarded by God in Proportion as you endeavour it. Think not therefore, that fecond Charge to his Cl'EI^gy. 79 that I am laying Burthens upon you, but only jiirring up your Minds by Way of Refnembrance, and exhorting you fo to watch for the Souls of Men as they that mujl give Account^ that you may do it with foy and ?iot ivith Grief. It is very little in my Power either to increafc or leffen your Duty. Our bleffed Matter hath fixed it; you have undertaken it : and were I to releafe you from ever fo great a Part of it, I fhould only bring Guilt on my- felf without acquitting you at all. The In- juncftions of the New Teftament, infinitely flridler than any of Men, would continue to bind you as firmly as ever. Take Heed there- fore to the Miniflry which you have received ifi ihe Lordf that you fulfil it. Having a Subject of fuch a Nature to fpeak to you upon, and being able to fpeak to you in a Body but once in three Years, you muft not wonder if I go fomewhat beyond the Bounds of a common Difcourfe. There are many other Things and very material ones, relating to you as Parifli Miniflers, which I could have wiflied to mention now : But I was willing to treat firft of fuch Matters as belong more So T/je Bi/Jjop of Oxfov^d"^ more Immediately to the Worfhip of God. If it pleafe him that I live to another Vifitatioii, I fliall in that proceed to the reft. Permit me now to add but one Word or two more upon a different Subjed: and I have done. Whilft we are ferving Chriftianity here, "with the Advantage of a legal Eftablifliment and Maintenance, there are vaft Multitudes of our Fellow-fubjecfts in AmericcPy their Negro-Slaves, and the neighbouring Indians-^ amongft whom the Knowledge of God is taught, and the Exercifes of his Worfhip fupported, if at all, very imperfeftly^ and with great Difficulty, by the Society for pro- pagating the Gofpel : the Income of which depends entirely on the voluntary Contribu- tions of good Chriftians ; and is now re- duced fo low, and burthened with fuch a Debt, that they find it neceiTary to propofe, this next Year, according to the Powers of their Charter and with his Majefty's recom- mendatory Letters, a general Colledtion, which they have not had for above 20 Years paft, to enable them to go on. Application will fecond Charge to his Clergy. 8 i V^iU probably not be made to every Parifh feparately. But I hope every Minifter will give this excellent Defign all the Affiftance in his Power : fiich, as can afford it, either by becoming ftated Contributors and Members of the Society ; or at leaft by fome occafional Benefaftion in this Time of Need; and all, by recommending the Cafe to fuch of their People or Acquaintance as they have Reafon to think will pay Regard to it. If any Perfon defires a more particular Acquaintance with the Nature and Ufefulnefs and prefent Condition of this Undertaking, I have given fome Account of thefe Matters in a Sermon at their anniverfary Meeting lately publiflied by me, and (liall be ready to give any of you farther Information, who fhall either now or hereafter apply to me for it> perfonally or by Letter. But I muft not yet conclude, without mentioning alfo the Society for promoting Chriftian Knowledge : who are carrying on the fame good Work in the Ea^ Indies, which that for propagating the Gofpel is in ih^WeJi', and at the fame Time are pro- F moting S2 "The Bijhop ij/' O X F o R dV moting the Caufe of Religion many Ways here at Home : particularly by felling at very low Rates, Bibles, Common-Prayers, and Num.bers of other religious Books, chiefly of fmall Sizes, for the Ufe of the Poor. This they alfo are fupported in by voluntary Benefadions : to which whoever is able to contribute, will do a very good Work : and whoever can only purchafe a few of their Books for the Ufe of his Parifhioners* fhall have both my beft Affiftance in it, and my hearty Thanks for it. I do not mean at all in fpeaking of thefe Things to prefcribe to you the Methods of your Charity : but only to lay before you two very deferving ones, which may poffibly have efcaped the Notice of fome of you ; and to endeavour, that the Caufe of our Lord and Mafter may be ferved in as many Ways as it can : for you muft be fenfible how very great Need there is that none be neglecSed. By zealoufly making Ufe of fuch as are pre- fented to us, we may poffibly be of much more Service to others than we exped: : but we fliall be fure of doing infinite Service to our- pchnd Charge to his C l e r g y; 83 ourfelves. And may Godjiir tip the Wills of nil his faithful People y that they plenteoiijly bringi?zg forth the Fruit of good Works may tf him be plenteoufly rewarded through ^efus Cbrifl our Lord K * Coikfc^ for the 25th Sunday after Trinim F2 ACHARGE € EIGHT CHARGES DELIVElED TO THE CLERGY OF THE DI CESES OF OXFORD AND ANTERBUpy. TO WHICH Ae added INSTRUCTIONS T O CANDIDATES f^r ORDERS; A N P - 4LATIN SPE E CH f intended to have been maie at the Opening of the Convocation in 1761. By THOMAS S E CRE.R, LL. D. ..Late Lord Archbishop o£iCantereurv. Publifhed from the OrigindManufcripts By Beilby Porteus, D. D. and G£orge Stinton, D. D. r His Grace's Chaplains, THE SECOND EDITION. L O N D O N: Printed for John and Francis B.ivington, in St. Paul's Church-yarc ; And Benja min Wh^te, in Flect-ftreet. M.DCC.LXXL ^ .-^'^■ m. >^.«";'"''' --ii?