^r vr 
 
 ^Aavaen-i^' 
 
 BRARYtf/ <$l-UBRARY0/ 
 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 Lewis F. Lenrfeld
 
 
 
 sAl-LIBRARYOr $HIBRAR#0/ 
 
 ^fOJITVD-JO^ 
 
 ^OJITCHO* 
 
 <r7i3DNVSO 
 
 ^0FCAI!F(% 
 
 OS 
 
 ^0FCALIF<% 
 
 ^AHVHail^' y #AHV! 
 
 \WEUN
 
 cclestasttcal Reform. 
 
 THE 
 
 PRESENT STATE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CLERGY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ESTABLISHED CHURCH, 
 
 CONSIDERED. 
 
 IN THREE PARTS 
 
 I. Of the various abufes occafioncd by the conduct of our prelatos. 
 II. Of the opprefhon of the incumbents, the pluraliftc, towards their 
 
 fubftitutes. 
 III. Of the rniferable ftate of the curates, whofe falaries are fo very 
 difproportionate to the value of the benefices of their employers, 
 
 Bv A BENEFICED CLERGYMAN, 
 
 OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 "RINTED FOR E. WILLIAMS, BOOKSELLER, N 3 I3, STRAND : 
 AN D T. WILLIAMS, ^156, L E A D E N K A L L -ST R E Y. T. 
 
 VT. DCC.XCII,
 
 3X 
 E17 
 
 ECCLESIASTICAL REFORM. 
 
 PART THE FIRST. 
 
 'Treats of the various ABUSES in the Tfablijhed 
 Church, owing to the ConducJ of the BISHOPS. 
 
 TT is univerfally acknowledged, that perfons 
 miniftring in things facrcd, have always 
 been held in the highefl veneration and re- 
 fpecl ; not only in civilized countries, but 
 even among the moll barbarous part of man- 
 kind, fuch as officiate in their religious wor- 
 ships of whatever kind it be, are held in 
 efteem and reverence. 
 
 The ancient Romans, although pagans, 
 considered it a peculiar honour to be elected 
 into the high office of Pofttifex ; the moft il- 
 luftrious of the Roman fenate afpired to that 
 dignity, efteeming it the moft. honourable of- 
 fice of the ftate. With refpecl to facred hif- 
 tory, it appears from the Old Tcftament, that 
 
 B the 

 
 ( o 
 
 the priefthood was founded on terms the moff: 
 honourable : when the firft born and head of 
 the family was appointed into that office; 
 when the prince and the priefl were united 
 into one and the fame perfon ; and to have a 
 right to minifler in holy things, wasefteemed, 
 among the Jews, the higheft- degree of 
 nobility. 
 
 We alfo find in the New Teftament, that 
 the gofpel confers the higheft titles and appel- 
 lations of honour, upon fuch as devoted them- 
 selves to the fervice of the Deity. The great 
 apoflle of the Gentiles commands them to be 
 obeyed and ejlcemed very highly in love, for their 
 works' fake. 
 
 The apoftolic age received them, even as 
 the angels of God, gladly miniftred to their ne- 
 ceflities, were ready to do them every poflible 
 fervice, and Ihewthem the higheftrefpecT:. We 
 find that converted kingdoms admitted them 
 to the moll: important trufts j enacted edicts, 
 fettled revenues, and granted them peculiar 
 privileges and immunities, protecting their 
 5 perfon s
 
 t 3 ) 
 
 perfons from violence, and fhielding their re- 
 putation from ilander and reproach. 
 
 In latter times, when this zeal and reverence 
 began in fome degree to abate, the laws of the 
 church endeavoured to revive it : as we find it 
 thus expreffed in one of their capitulars; utom- 
 nes fuis facer dotibus, tarn majoris ordinis, quam 
 inferior is, a minima ufque ad maximum, ut 
 fummo Deo, eujus vice in ecclejia legation? fun- 
 guntur, obedientes exiflant. 
 
 The grounds upon which the fcripture re- 
 quires that the clergy in all ages mould be held 
 in fuch eftimation and honour, is, the dignity 
 and great majefty of the Matter they ferve ; 
 let a man account of us, fays the apoftle, as of 
 the minijlers ofCbrijl, 
 
 In order to add the more weight, refpect, 
 and veneration to their office and miniftration, 
 particular care was obferved in the Levitical 
 law, that no perfon who had any blemilh, or 
 perfonal defect, lliould be admitted to the 
 priefthood to minifler in the fervice of the 
 Deity. 
 
 For the fame reafon, ftrict caution is given 
 to all Chriftian bifhops, that they lay not bands 
 
 fuddenly
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 Juddenly upon any one. This is alfo forbid by 
 the canons of our church. But, how little are 
 thefe prohibitions attended to by the Prelates 
 of our church, who admit into the facred of- 
 fice of the mmiftry, the moll: contemptible 
 beings in perfonal appearance ; the dregs and 
 refufe of every other profeilion or occupation, 
 of which I could point out a variety of inftan- 
 ces, was it not an invidious talk ? Some of 
 the military profcilion, who had been broke 
 for cowardice and other mifbehaviours ; others, 
 who, not fucceeding in the profeflion of the 
 law and phyfic ; broken tradefmen alfo ; who, 
 by fome of our bifhops have been admitted 
 into the church by ordination, without any 
 previous iludy or preparation, to the no fmall 
 difparagement of the miniflerial function : 
 have, by the folicitation of friends, or fome 
 other motives, been inftantly put upon a level 
 with gentlemen who have fpent many years, 
 as well as hundreds of pounds, in a regular 
 univerfity education, and had taken proper de- 
 grees to qualify themfelves for the mmiftry. 
 Gommiflioning perfans of the above defcrip- 
 
 tion
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 tion to officiate in religious myfleries, is, a 
 reflection upon the venerable order of our 
 Prelates ; a kind of profanation of things fa- 
 cred; an injuftice to the regular bred uni ver- 
 ity gentlemen ; a difparagement to the pro- 
 feilion in general : in fine, it is a grofs affront 
 to the Deity in particular, to fuppofe that the 
 refufe and dregs of every other occupation in 
 life, are fufficiently qualified for his service. 
 Was there a deficiency of regular clergy for the 
 fupply of the miniflry in the eflablifried 
 church, there might indeed be fome excufe 
 for the conduct of ourbifhops in this particu- 
 lar ; but it is notorious, that there are a fuper- 
 abundance of expectants, miferably diitreiTed, 
 for want of appointments in the church, even 
 of the moft inconfiderable falary. What I 
 have advanced, with regard to refpect due to 
 the clerical profeffion, is not with a view of 
 magnifying the office ; but to lliew the impro- 
 priety of our bifhops ordaining perfons of the 
 above defcription, to the difparagement of the 
 function, to officiate in the church, and to 
 partake of its revenue, to theexclufion of fuch 
 
 as
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 as have been regularly educated in our univer- 
 fities for that purpofe, with an expectation of 
 being maintained thereby, in recompenfe for 
 the time and expence they had been at in 
 qualifying themfelves for the profeffion : this, 
 by the difpaffionate and judicious part of man- 
 kind, is efleemed a great grievance, as well 
 as the height of injuftice. 
 
 There is an abufe of great magnitude in our 
 church, occasioned by the Archbifhop of Can- 
 terbury ; which is, his granting dispensa- 
 tions to hold two benefices at a time. It is 
 true the law, as it unfortunately Hands at pre- 
 sent, grants him this power, and peculiar pri- 
 vilege j but it is an evil, which remained un- 
 corrected at the reformation ; it was a prero- 
 gative which the pope ufurped, and, fince that 
 time, has been continued to the metropolitan 
 of our church. This, by multiplying plurali- 
 ties, occafions non-re fidence, and confequently 
 neglect of the cure of fouls, which the incum- 
 bents had folemnly undertaken to attend to, 
 as well as much inequality among the clergy : 
 large incomes to fome, and incompetent pro- 
 
 vilion
 
 (7) 
 
 virion and maintenances for others; which CX-* 
 cites a contempt of their perfons and adminis- 
 trations, in the opinion of the laity. 
 
 Confidering the regard his Majefly has for 
 the profperity of the eftabliiried church, I am 
 pretty confident, was he made fehnble how 
 greatly the happinefs and refpeetability of the 
 clergy would be advanced, and the caufe of 
 religion promoted, by with-holding his con- 
 firmation of the archbifhop's faculties, there 
 would be a fpeedy end to this monftrous 
 abufe now prevailing in our church. 
 
 Option, another relic of popery uni- 
 formed. It is a peculiar privilege which the 
 archbifhop's claim as their prerogative in their 
 refpective provinces. When either of the 
 Archbifhops confecrate a fuffragan bifliop in 
 their respective provinces, they constantly 
 make choice of the moft valuable piece of pre- 
 ferment in that diocefe, and collate a favour- 
 ite chaplain, or fome friend they ihink proper 
 into it, upon the death of the incumbent. 
 
 Permitting bifhops to hold livings in com- 
 mend am, is another Scandalous abufe in the 
 
 cftabliflicd
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 eftablifhed church, totally d Terent at prefentj 
 from its original intention, which I mall 
 explain. 
 
 Commend ams then, were of very ancient 
 and laudable inftitution, upon their firft origin ; 
 for when an elective benefice, that was jus- 
 patronatus, for which the ordinary could not, 
 for fome reafon, provide immediately, the care 
 of it was recommended by the fuperior to fome 
 man of merit, who mould take upon him the 
 direction of it* only till the vacancy fhould be 
 filled up, but could enjoy none of tide profits: 
 therefore fome excellent perfon was generally 
 pitched upon, to w 7 hom the undertaking was 
 an expence, and had nothing to recommend 
 it j but the trouble he was to undergo, was 
 for the fervice of the church : inch a perfon, 
 then, would very improperly be faid to hold 
 this benefice in Commendam, as is practifed 
 amongfr. us at prefent ; confequently, in reality, 
 he could not be faid to hold two benefices. 
 Firlt, the Commendam was to continue only 
 till other provilion was made; then, it grew 
 to be for a determined time, fix months only ; 
 thus, this abufe gained ground gradually, till 
 
 it
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 it arrived to the fhameful height, and I may 
 add, facrilegious abufe now praftifed. 
 
 How can a fpiritual governor of the church 
 anfwer it to his confcience, when he holds 
 one, fometimes two valuable benefices in com- 
 mcndam, with a bifhoprick, the revenue of 
 which is, alone, amply fufficient to keep up the 
 dignity of his ftation ? 
 
 Non-residence another evil. The pre- 
 tence of the bifhops for abfenting themfelves 
 the greater part of the year from their diocefes, 
 is, their attendance in parliament. 1 ap- 
 peal to every considerate perfon, even to the 
 prelates themfelves, whether they do not in 
 confcience fuppofe, that their attendance and 
 refidence in their refpedb've diocefes, to regu- 
 late and fuperintend the affairs of their clergy ; 
 to have an eye upon their conduct with refpect 
 to the performance of their duty, and beha- 
 viour to each other, in allowing proper falaries 
 to their curates, &c. would not be of infinitely 
 more benefit and advantage to the community, 
 than their attendance in parliament, where 
 they, at prefent, only ferve as dead weights in 
 
 C the
 
 f 10 ) 
 
 the fcale, to fanction every meafure of admi- 
 nistration, however impolitic. As matters are 
 at prefent conducted, our bifhops, by vifiting 
 their diocefes, and making fo fhort a refidence, 
 are in a manner, not only total Grangers to the 
 laity, but even to the clergy, I mean the in- 
 ferior part of them, upon whom the care of all 
 the fouls of their diocefes is devolved. I have 
 always underftood, that their lordlhips fat in 
 the upper houfe of parliament, to watch over, 
 and take care that nothing paffed to the detri- 
 ment of the eftabliihed church, and to pro- 
 mote the affairs of the clergy ; as well as to 
 aflift in enacting other laws for the benefit of 
 the realm. 
 
 But has it ever yet been known, that their 
 lordfhips made one motion, fince they have 
 enjoyed the privilege of fitting in that houfe* 
 that tended to the advancement of religion and 
 the benefit of the eftablifhed church j by 
 placing the prefent diltreifed, moll: ufeful body 
 of people, the inferior clergy, upon fuch a 
 footing, as might be a means of maintaining 
 themfelves with any degree of comfort and de- 
 cency,
 
 cency, and thereby attracting more refpecl and 
 attention to their miniftry, doctrine, and 
 example ? 
 
 It is the duty of bifhops to infpect into the 
 affairs of the clergy of their refpective diocefes, 
 the very word in the Greek implies it ; but a 
 continuance in the metropolis, in attending the 
 levees of the great in purfuit of tranilations, is 
 totally incompatible with this weighty concern, 
 to fee that the duty of every parifh is duly 
 performed, and properly attended to; and 
 w r here the principal does not attend in perfon, 
 that a proper falary be allowed, that they be 
 not oppreffed and devoured by each other, as is 
 too frequently the cafe, A curate, with the 
 moil incompetent falary, is as worthy of the 
 protection, refpect, and care of his diocefan, 
 as the loftieft dignified pluralift, St. Paul 
 obliges Timothy, who was bifhop of Ephefus, 
 to do every thing impartially, without preferring 
 one before another. St. Peter, in his exhortation to 
 the elders of the churches, feems to have com- 
 prifcd all that can be defired upon this head ; 
 Feed the flock of God, fays he, which is among 
 you, taking the overjight thereof x not by con- 
 5 Jlraint,
 
 ( ** ) 
 
 flrainti but unwillingly ; not for filthy lucre, but- 
 of a ready mind ; neither as being Lords over 
 God y s heritage' that is, not ufing defpotic au- 
 thority, or partiality in your diocefes. It is 
 evident that thefe paffages imply, that every 
 bilTiop fhould confider himfelf as a common 
 father to his clergy in general, and bound to 
 conduct all matters with an equitable, impar- 
 tial hand among them ; not beftowing all pre- 
 ferment upon fuch as have already too much, 
 and much more than they think proper to at- 
 tend to, by the recommendation of great men 
 in power ; or at the nod of the minifter of the 
 flate : but, to pay fome regard to abilities, 
 proficiency in learning,' long fervice in the 
 vineyard, fuch as are burthened with large fa- 
 milies, moral character, and in ciftrefTed cir- 
 cumstances. But daily experience convinces 
 us, that the reverie of this is the prefent 
 practice. 
 
 Preferment now goes by letter and affcdlion, 
 
 And not by old gradation, 
 
 Where each fecond flood heir to the firft. 
 
 SHAKESPEARE. 
 
 In
 
 ( '3 ) 
 
 In the military profeffion it is efteemed ex-* 
 tremely unjuft, and a great degradation, to 
 place a young irripling over the head of an old 
 experienced veteran; and why not in the 
 church militant ? 
 
 Another particular I efleem extremely re- 
 prehenfible in our biftiops, is, their engaging 
 too deeply in politicks, and their too 
 great fubferviency in feconding the views of 
 the court andadminiftration. 
 
 A notorious and fatal inftance of this we 
 have experienced, in their ferviie conduct in 
 parliament in the courfe of the American war: 
 I remember, during that impolitic, unjuft, 
 cruel, expenfive, bloody conteft, the whole 
 bench of bilhops voted uniformly for every 
 queftion that favoured the views of adminiftra- 
 tion ; excepting Dr. Shipley, the late bifhop 
 of St. Afaph, and Dr. Hinchcliffe, the prefent 
 bifhop of Peterborough, who refufed to boiv 
 the knee to Baa/; to lacrifice their conferences 
 to intereft, I mean tranflations to better 
 biihopricks. 
 
 During
 
 ( H ) 
 
 During that iniquitous war, a prelate im- 
 plicitly attached to the court, in whofe diocefe 
 I have a fmall benefice, upon being informed 
 that I had wrote a variety of papers reprobat- 
 ing the conduct of the minifter of that period, 
 and his venal tools in that bufinefs, told me, 
 that it was wrong in a perfon of my profeffion 
 to write upon political fubjects ; that it became 
 me to write upon fubjects of morality and di- 
 vinity only: But the event has fhewn, that 
 my writing againfr. the continuance of that ini- 
 quitous war, and pointing out the injustice 
 and deftructive confequence of it, was right ; 
 and his lordlhip voting to promote it, proved 
 eventually wrong. In matters of life and 
 death, where the life of a tingle individual 
 only is concerned, it is ufual for the prelates to 
 retire; but in that bloody, ruinous war, where 
 the lives of many thoufands were depending, 
 I am forry to fay it, they were as forward as 
 the temporal lords to fecond that infamous 
 minifter to promote blood and (laughter. 
 
 I cannot avoid relating an anecdote of the 
 Earl of Granville, father of the laft Earl, when 
 
 in
 
 ( '5 ) 
 
 in the laft reign a ftruggle lay between hirri 
 and the Pelhams, for the important office of 
 firft Lord of the Treafury. His Lordfhip 
 having, upon fome occafion, dropt an expref- 
 fion in thecourfe of debate, reflecting in fome 
 refpect upon the bench of bifhops in coming 
 from the houfe, one of them afked him, How 
 he could expect fupport from their order, by 
 treating them fo difrefpectfully, fhould he 
 come to have the chief adminiftration of af- 
 fairs ? His Lordfhip's anfwer was farcaftical, 
 that if he fhould have occafion for their 
 fupport, he knew by what means it was to be 
 acquired. " Hinting at their views of tranf- 
 lations. 
 
 The ingenious worthy bifhop of LandafF 
 ingenuoufly acknowledges, that the fear of 
 offending cramps the difpofition for advifing 
 fincerely and honeftly, to flop the career in 
 extravagance and folly in elevated fituations. 
 That the influence of the crown is dangerous, 
 when it extends to the deliberations of the 
 hereditary counfellors of the flare, or the par- 
 liamentary reprcfentatives of the people, which 
 
 for
 
 ( '6 ) 
 
 for feme time pafl has been increajing, and which 
 ftjQidd be diminifeed. His Lordfhip adds far- 
 ther, that had the influence of the crown been 
 Jcfs predominant ; had the meufures of the ca- 
 binet been canvailed with wifdom, by men 
 exercifing their free .powers of deliberation, 
 honeftly for the common wea], America, the 
 brighter!: jewel of his Majefty's crown, would 
 not have been rudely fevered from its parent 
 frock. It is the curfe of kings to be attended 
 by ilaves, who take their humour for a war- 
 rant, and who, to be endeared to their mafter, 
 make no confeience of deftroying his honor ! 
 
 The prelates who promoted the bufmefs of 
 that adminilfration, have no reafon to be of- 
 fended with me for animadverting upon their 
 political conduct, fince they are condemned 
 by one of their own order, and indeed by the 
 dij/nterrJ/edpcLVt of the whole kingdom. 
 
 Another more recent inftancc of court fer- 
 vility and adulation in the prelates, was, in 
 the publication of that memorable form of 
 prayer, in which they attributed the King's 
 malady to the fins and iniquities of hi$ people. 
 
 Had
 
 ( '7 ) 
 
 Had this Happened fome centuries paft, in thofe 
 dark ages, when monkifh ignorance, bigotry, 
 and fuperftition reigned in this kingdom, and 
 all knowledge and learning was confined to 
 the clergy only ; it would not have been fb 
 much to be wondered at : but in times fo 
 enlightened as the prefent ; when philofophy, 
 the fciences, every branch of literature, and 
 liberality of fentiment fo remarkably flou- 
 rifh, and are diffufed through all ranks of 
 perfons, in an equal, and in many of the laity 
 in a fuperior degree to the prelates themfelves ; 
 it was an infult to every man of fenfe and un- 
 demanding through the whole kingdom, and 
 as fuch, was feverely reprobated and univerfally 
 condemned. 
 
 Another very culpable conduct in our pre- 
 lates, is, their interfering in contefted elec- 
 tions ; which is contrary to the laws of the 
 conftitution, that a peer mould interfere with 
 the commons ; and I remember one of them, 
 Dr. Maddox, when bifhop df St. Afaph, 
 being obliged to make humiliating conceffions 
 
 D before
 
 ( 18 ) 
 
 before the Houfe, for fending circular letters 
 to the clergy of his diocefe, to influence them 
 to vote for the court candidate Mr. Middleton, 
 in oppofition to Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, 
 a gentleman of the firft independence in prin- 
 ciples and fortune : The bifhop's motive for 
 taking fo active a part in that bufinefs, was to 
 induce the corrupt minifter of that day, to 
 tranflate him to the fee of Worcefter. 
 
 The late bifhop of Hereford, a weak man, 
 at the laft general election, acted the fame 
 part in favour of the contractor Mr. Harley, 
 the court candidate and tool of Lord North ; 
 who had the moil ample fhare of the fpoils ot 
 the American war of any man in the Houfe of 
 Commons. To his honour and credit be it 
 fpoken, the prefent bifhop of the fee of Here- 
 ford, to (hew his difapprobation of the con- 
 duct of his predeceflbr, has declared publicly 
 to his clergy, that he will, upon no conside- 
 ration whatever, defire to influence them in 
 the choice of a reprefentative, being determi- 
 ned never to interfere in any conteft of that 
 
 kind.
 
 ( >9 ) 
 
 kind. Let it be obferved, that I do not mean 
 Dr. Harley, who was bifhop of that fee only 
 for a very fhort period, but a former prelate. 
 
 I could point out another more recent injlance-, 
 but as it would appear invidious, I chufe to 
 decline it. 
 
 The encouragement our bifhops give to 
 pluralities, and the connivance at non-refi- 
 dence of the opulent clergy, is attended with 
 the worft confequence to the caufe of religion ; 
 for if the clergy were obliged to refide, and 
 lived more fuitable to their function, there 
 would be lefs infidelity in men of high rank, 
 and lefs immorality in thofe of low rank. 
 The clergy may be confidered as a little leaven 
 preferving from corruption the whole mafs ; 
 their light would Jhine before me?i as examples. 
 
 With refpect to the diflribution of ecclefiaf- 
 tical preferment, it muftbe allowed, that fome 
 inequality is neceflary, as rewards for extra- 
 ordinary merit and ability j in the apoflle's 
 fenfe of mankind, fome were worthy of double 
 honour; but it muit be obferved, that the 
 
 apoftle
 
 apoftlc regards honour, and not filthy lucre ; and 
 this honour or diftinction, the dignities in our 
 church are, in the opinion of moft men, 
 amply fufficient to anfwer the end, and in 
 fact were fo intended in the eye of the law, 
 without the inequalities of pluralities. 
 
 To anfwer then the original intention of 
 promoting religion, and the happinefs of man- 
 kind; let each perfon have one benefice, a 
 competent maintenance for the cure of fouls, 
 and no more ; and with refpect to deanries, 
 arch-deaconries, prebends, and other honour- 
 able offices in the church, let them be as en- 
 couragements to men of fuperior learning: 
 this would be furely a fitter and more pro- 
 per diftribution, than now exifts among 
 the fons of the church ; where we fee fome 
 living in the greateft indigence, and eat- 
 ing the bread of qffliclion ; whilft others, often 
 of lefs merit, are glutted with too much pre- 
 ferment, and performing the duty of none. I 
 cannot avoid quoting Bifhop Burnet's fenti- 
 ments in his paftoral care, to this purpofe : 
 
 Since,
 
 ( *< ) 
 
 Since, fays he, all the returns of obedience 
 and refpect, efteem and fupport, are declared 
 in Scripture to be due to the clergy, on ac- 
 count of their watching over, and feeding the 
 flock of God: thofe who pretend to thefe, 
 without confidering themfelves under the other 
 obligations, are guilty of the worft of facri- 
 lege, in devouring the things that are J acred, 
 without performing the duties for which they 
 are due ; and what right foever the laws of the 
 land give them to poffefs them, yet, agree- 
 able to the divine law, thofe who do not 
 wait at the altar, ought not to be partakers 
 with the altar ; thofe who do not minijler about 
 holy things, ought not to live of the things of 
 the temple ; nor ought thofe who do not preach 
 the gofpel, live of the gofpel. 
 
 Avarice is another fault imputed to the 
 bifhops of our church by the laity. Amaf- 
 fing great wealth from the revenues of their 
 fees, often to enrich fuch as have no occafion 
 for it; never employing any part for the aug- 
 menting fome of the poor vicarages, which 
 
 are
 
 ( ) 
 
 are an infufEcicnt maintenance for the incum- 
 bents; and relieving fome of the diftrefTed 
 curates who labour under difficulties and em- 
 barraffments for want of competent falaries, is 
 a difgrace to a Bifhop. It is related of the 
 bifhop of Durham, Dr. Chandler, that he was 
 fo fenfible of this, that he declared in his laft 
 moments, that he died shamefully rich ; 
 this was his expreflion : intimating that he was 
 culpable in not having applied the fuperflux 
 of his immenfe income from the church in 
 works of charity, in relieving his diftreffed bre- 
 thren, &c. 
 
 Notwithftanding what is advanced refpect- 
 ing the fcantinefs of the church revenue for 
 the maintenance of the clergy of the efla- 
 blifhed church in this kingdom, were plura- 
 lities abolifhed, and a more impartial diitribu- 
 tion of preferments by our bifhops to take 
 place ; were difpenfations, options, fimoniecal 
 contracts, refi gnat ions ad favorem, commendams y 
 and many other abufes connived at by our 
 i'piritual governors, reformed ; and the clergy 
 
 put
 
 ( *3 ) 
 
 put in fome degree upon the fame footing 
 with the Gallic church fince the revolution ; 
 that is, a competency to each individual to 
 maintain himfelf with decency ; but fuperflu- 
 ity to promote luxury, and profligacy to none ; 
 and a lefs inequality and difproportion through 
 the whole than prevailed before, when the 
 government was defpotic and arbitrary : I fay, 
 was fuch a reform adopted amongft us in this 
 kingdom, it would tend greatly to promote 
 religion, by placing the clergy in general in a 
 more refpectable fituation in the efteem and 
 and opinion of the laity, who wifli to fee a 
 better regulation take place, and are at this 
 time forming affociations to bring a bill into 
 parliament for this purpofe. 
 
 Whatever our fpiritual governors may fup- 
 pofe, refpecting the liberty and difcretion thev 
 may have of exercifing partiality in the dif- 
 tribution of preferment, in compliance with 
 the applications of great men in power ; yet 
 they are all fervants of the ftate, and entrujied 
 with that power, which mould be difpenfed 
 with equity and juftice, as may bell promote 
 
 the
 
 ( 2 4 ) 
 
 the caufe of God and religion only, and not tc* 
 gratify their private views and fecular interefts; 
 and for which every rational perfon muft be 
 perfuaded, that they will be accountable at the 
 final day of retribution. 
 
 It is aftonifhing with what avidity, with 
 what fervile compliances, fome of our prelates 
 are obferved to folicit the minifter to promote 
 them to fome more valuable preferment. One 
 would be difpofed to imagine, that a perfon,, 
 from being originally a curate, or fellow of a 
 college of forty or fifty pounds a year, when 
 elevated by fome fortunate recommendation to 
 the epifcopal dignity, with a revenue of four 
 or five thoufand pounds a year, might efteem 
 himfelf happy, and fufHciently fortunate and 
 contented, without having his reliefs eye con- 
 tinually cafe towards the richer fees of Win- 
 chefter or Durham, or afpiring to one of the 
 arcb-bifhopricks. 
 
 I cannot avoid relating an anecdote, which 
 mews the pliancy and time-ferving difpofltion 
 of the prelates, as well as their ingratitude to 
 their benefactor ; which I well remember, and 
 
 3 can
 
 ( *i ) 
 
 tan Vouch for as a fa6l. The late ddke of 
 Newcaftle, when at the head of affairs in ad- 
 ministration, oppofed the then heir apparent, 
 the prince of Wales, his prefent Majefty's 
 father, for the chancellorfhip of the university 
 of Cambridge : the duke's intereft in the fe- 
 nate, on account of his having the difpofal of 
 all ecclefiaftical preferments, appeared fuperior 
 to that of the prince's, that he declined the 
 conteft. ; upon which the duke was elected. 
 In recompence for the zeal of his party he 
 rewarded them with different preferments; 
 prebends, deaneries, and bifhopricks. In a 
 word, nearly all the bench of bifhops owed 
 their creation to his Grace : but no fooner 
 was he diverted of the high office of Firfl: Lord 
 of the Treafury, viz. Prime Minifter, by the 
 intrigues of the late Earl of Bute, the then 
 reigning favourite, than all the bilhops, who 
 conflantly before attended his levee, inftantly 
 deferted him; which induced a facetious wag 
 to remark, that all the bilhops had forgot their 
 
 CREATOR. 
 
 E A ccr-
 
 ( 26 ) 
 
 A certain worthy, ingenious prelate, who 
 condefcended to perufe my manufcript when 
 preparing for the prefs, candidly acknowledg- 
 ed that the cafe was as I related it ; but in 
 excufe for his brethren, he faid, it was owing 
 to a miftake in the appointment of the levee - 
 day, after the duke's difmiffion from office, 
 l hat it happened that none of them at- 
 tended. 
 
 Notwithstanding our bifhops are fenfible 
 that the burthen of the miniftry lies entirely 
 upon the fubflitute curates, the principals 
 being abfent, hunting about in quefl of addi- 
 tional preferment, and making what they enjoy 
 livings and emoluments in the molt carnal fenfe 
 of the words. It is aftonifhing how it comes 
 to be fo fmall a part of the epifcopal duty 
 (lince the church has made it part of her in- 
 junctions) to examine, or at leaf! make fome 
 little enquiry, into the abilities of thefe fub- 
 ititutes, who fupply the place of the incum- 
 bents who have, in a manner, deferted their 
 flocks, as oeneath their care or notice; whe- 
 ther
 
 ( *7 ) 
 
 ther they be properly qualified for the bufinefs 
 afligned them, and in which they are engaged; 
 whether they be of good moral characters; 
 whether they be allowed a fufficient fdary by 
 their employer ; and whether they be able, by 
 their learning, to expel errors, to withftand 
 gain-fayers, and to inftruct their congrega- 
 tions in their religious duties, fo that they be 
 be able to give to every man that ajketh, an 
 anfwer of the faith and hope that is in them. 
 But the truth is, that our bifhops in general 
 are total ftrangers to this body of men, upon 
 whom the whole burden of the duty lies ; 
 thefe fubal terns in the church, thefe hewers of 
 wood and drawers of water, are below the 
 notice or cognizance of their fpiritual gover- 
 nors. The management and treatment of the 
 fubftitutes is left entirely to the incumbents; 
 who introduce them from different diocefes, 
 without the leaf! knowledge of the ordinary, 
 or any tejlimonial whatever refpecling their 
 conduct and ability, from the Lift place where 
 they performed duty j for cheapnefs is the 
 principal recommendation with the incum- 
 E 2 bents ;
 
 ( aS ) 
 
 bents j proficiency in learning, moral con^ 
 duel:, proper addrefs, being free from un- 
 couth awkward dialect, fuitable voice, grace- 
 ful manner of performing the duty, &c. thefe 
 are only fecondary confederations not worth re- 
 garding; this is in general the cafe, which, 
 for various fubilantial and weighty reafons I 
 could 2$\ga> floauld not be Jo. What is above 
 ftated is fo notorious, that there have been in? 
 fiances of perfons officiating in the eftablifhed 
 church, and this for fome time before they 
 have been detected, even in the metropolis ', 
 who never received ordination. The worthy 
 bifhop of London is now made fo fenfible 
 of this, that he is determined, I am inform- 
 ed, to put a fpeedy end to it within his 
 diocefe, which is of more importance, and 
 more requiiite than in any other in the king- 
 dom, for obvious reaions. 
 
 The above abufe is the effect of the non- 
 refidence of our bifhops, who by their fliort 
 continuance in their refpective diocefes where 
 their duty lies, and for the fuperintendance 
 and regulation of their clergy of every degree, 
 
 are
 
 ( 2 9 ) 
 
 are fo very amply rewarded by the ftate, vvhofc 
 fervants they are : fo that if they properly re- 
 flect, they are anfwerable for their neglect, 
 both to God and the ftate in reality, and are 
 guilty of a kind of facrikge in receiving the 
 revenues of the church, without performing 
 the duties required of them. 
 
 It muft be admitted, that nothing of this 
 can be applicable to the bifhop of London, as 
 he is constantly refident where his duty re- 
 quires, After the acccflion of worldly honor a 
 and the erection of bifhopricks into baronies 
 (which was, upon the firfh inftitution, intend- 
 ed for a political purpofe rather than any ex- 
 traordinary favor to the church) epifcopal re- 
 fidence became diminifhed, and a neceflary at- 
 tendance on the king's council or parliament; 
 by which diftant provincial diocefes, as is at 
 prefent the cafe, became deferted and neglect- 
 ed. Whether the church, and religion in ge- 
 neral, receives more benefit or detriment on 
 that account, is no difficult matter to deter- 
 mine. 
 
 The
 
 (30 ) 
 
 The ingenious liberal-minded bifhop of 
 Landaff, in a letter he addrefled to the late 
 archbifhop of Canterbury, and to the legifla- 
 ture in general, among other reafons he ailigns 
 for an ecclefiaftical reform, by rendering the 
 bifhopricks lefs difproportionate than they are 
 at prefent : one is, a longer refidence of the 
 bifhops in their refpe&ive diocefes ; from 
 which, he fays, the bell: confequences might be 
 expected. 
 
 For when the temptation to wifh for trans- 
 lations were in a great meafure removed, it 
 would be natural for the bifhops in general to 
 confider themfelves as fettled for life in th 
 fees to which they fhould be firft appointed ; 
 this confideration would induce them to render 
 their places of refidence more comfortable and 
 commodious ; and an opportunity of living 
 more comfortable, would beget an inclination 
 to refide mere conflantly in them. Being 
 wedded, as it were, to a particular diocefe, 
 they would think it expedient, of courfe, to 
 become better acquainted with their clergy; and 
 
 by
 
 ( 3' ) 
 
 by being better acquainted with their clergy, 
 their fituations, profpe&s, tempers, and talents, 
 they would be better able to co-operate with 
 them in the great work of amending the morals 
 of his Majefty's fubjects, and of feeding the 
 flock of Chrijl. It is the duty of Chriftian 
 Paftors in general, and of the principal paftors, 
 the Bifhops, in particularly, to Jlrengthen that 
 member of the flock which is difeafed, to heal 
 that which is Jick, to bind up that which is 
 broken, to bring again that which is driven 
 away, and to feek that which is lofl. That 
 thefe and other parts of the paftoral office can 
 never be fo well performed as when the fhep- 
 herd is rejident in the midfr. of his flock, can 
 admit no queftion. It is aftoniihing to con- 
 ceive what beneficial influence the examples of 
 the bifhops, refiding in their diocefes, and let- 
 ting their light Jhine before men, who would be 
 difpofed to obferve it, would have upon the 
 lives of both clergy and laity. 
 
 I recoil edt a certain bifJjop, remarkable for his 
 
 fliort refidence in his dioccfe, juft fufficient to 
 
 7. enable
 
 ( 3* ) 
 
 enable him to fettle for the revenue of his fee* 
 holding two benefices in commendam, the 
 moft valuable in that diocefe. This I efteeni a 
 fpecies of facrilege, engroffing a fuperfUiity of 
 what others ftand fo much in need of, and per- 
 forming the duties of neither ; it is to be ob- 
 ferved, that the revenue of that fee is now va- 
 lued at between four and five thoufand pounds 
 a year. A fly farmer who rented the tythes, in 
 converfation with the fame bilhop's curate, 
 who officiated in one of the two livings he 
 held in commendam, afked him, when he ex* 
 peeled the chief shepherd down amongft, 
 them ? Upon the curate's anfwering, That he 
 was ignorant of his Lordfhip's intention of 
 vifiting his diocefe : I fuppofe, replied the 
 farmer, with a farcaflic look and ineer, about 
 the time cfjhearing, about the time of /hearing ! 
 intimating, as if the chief fhepherd had no 
 farther care or concern about the flock than to 
 receive the fleeces, that is, the emoluments. 
 The very fame bifliop who held thefe two 
 livings in commendam, at the fame time giving 
 Jintl orders in his charge to his clergy, at a vi- 
 
 fitation,
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 fitation, that no perfon fhould officiate in his 
 diocefe, in more than one chtirch upon any 
 pretence whatever; This was cruelty ip the 
 extreme, and the height of oppreflion, to pre- 
 vent a perfon from endeavouring to fupport 
 himfelf and family by his diligence and appli- 
 cation to the duties of his function, to increafe 
 his fmall pittance of income from his falary j 
 when his diocefan enjoyed feveral hundred 
 pounds a year from his commendams, without 
 cure &ffouls t exclufive of his ample revenue 
 from his fee. Non mijfura cutem, niji plena 
 cruoris hirudo. 
 
 Were commendams abolifhed the poorer 
 bifhops would be freed from the neceflity of 
 holding ecclefiaflical preferments with their 
 bifhopricks ; confequently there would be more 
 provifion for the reft of the clergy, and not fo 
 much obloquy and reflection upon the bifhops 
 for their avarice, ambition, &c. Rendering 
 the bifhopricks in general fomething more 
 upon an equality, or not quite fo difpropor- 
 tionate as at prefect obtains, would put an 
 end totally to this evil in the church. What 
 
 F can
 
 ( 34 ) . 
 
 can be more unreafonable and abfurd, than that 
 a bifhop of Ely mould have a revenue from 
 his fee of between feven and eight thoufand 
 pounds a year; a bifhop of Winchefter be- 
 tween nine and ten thoufand ; and the bifhop 
 of Durham about twelve thoufand a year upon 
 an average: what a difproportion between 
 the bifhoprick of Briftol, only about four hun- 
 dred pounds a year ; the bifhoprick of Lan- 
 daff about feven or eight hundred ; and St. 
 David's, I believe, of lefs value : I cannot be 
 very accurate in this ftatement, it being quite 
 impoflible ; but the value of the three latter, 
 contrafted againft the three former, is fufficient 
 to point out the neceflity of a reform in eccle- 
 fiaflical affairs, amongfr. us of this kingdom, 
 which the legiflative body have a right, and 
 are fully competent at any time to accom-* 
 plifh; and indeed it is what would be brought 
 about, was there an equal reprefentation of the 
 people in parliament ; but while things are in 
 the prefent ftate, it is not to be expected ; 
 being morally impoflible, while every kind of 
 
 reform
 
 ( is ) 
 
 reform is refitted by the minifler and his de- 
 pendents. 
 
 Another confequence, and that not th* 
 lead, of the bifhopricks being lefs difpro- 
 portionate in point of value of revenue, would 
 be a greater independence of the bifhops in 
 the houfe of lords, they would be lefs under 
 the influence of the minifter, was there no 
 profpedl or expectation of tranflations to better 
 bifhopricks, the temptation would be removed ; 
 their obedience to the nod of the minifter du- 
 ring the American war, will fuffice to exem- 
 plify this moil glaringly, as well as fatally ; 
 their conduct: in that bufinefs (whatever they 
 may think of the matter) has greatly lowered 
 them in the efteem and veneration of both 
 laity and clergy through the whole communi- 
 ty, which is not very eafily regained and re- 
 covered ; , the people are more keen- lighted, 
 and fhrewd in their, remarks and obferva- 
 tions, than their fuperiors in rank and ftation 
 imagine. 
 
 Would our bilhops unanimoufly agree in a 
 
 refolution to admit none into the church who 
 
 F % were
 
 ( 36 ) 
 
 were remarkable for their perfonal deformity % 
 nor any but graduates who had undergone a 
 regular education in either of the two uni ver- 
 ities, it would be attended with the belt eon- 
 fequence to the caufe of religion amongfr. us. 
 The profeffion would become more refpect- 
 able in the opinion of the laity, were there 
 not lb many fupernumerary expectants of mean 
 appearance, and uncouth provincial dialects, 
 &c. which often excite rather ridicule than 
 ferioufnefs and devotion in our congregations 
 where they officiate. It is in a great meafure 
 owing to the bilhops of Landaff and St. 
 David's, that the fouthern part of the king- 
 dom is fp over-run with perfons of the above 
 defcription. There are in South Wales cha- 
 rity or free fchools, where poor people fend 
 their fons to be inflructed in a little Latin 
 and Greek, juft fufficient to undergo an exa- 
 mination for orders ; and as they are not in 
 a capacity of defraying the expence of a liberal 
 univerlity education, application is made to one 
 of the above bilhops to ordain them. Thefe 
 bilhops, with the belt, intention, being fcnli- 
 
 ble
 
 ( 37 1 
 
 t)le that there are feveral churches and chapels 
 in their diocefes, that will not fupport gen- 
 tlemen who have had the advantages of a re- 
 gular univerfity education, that their congre- 
 gations may not be entirely neglected, ordain 
 the above defcription of perfons to officiate in 
 them. No fooner are thefe poor humble fup- 
 pliants admitted into the church, than their 
 ambition prompts them to quit the barren 
 mountains of Wales in exchange for the me- 
 tropolis and its environs, where they inftantly 
 put themfelves upon a level with the regular 
 graduates of our univeriities, who have fpent 
 hundreds of pounds upon their education. 
 Carmarthen is the place that furnifhes the 
 greater!: part of thefe perfons. 
 
 There are two additional reafons, at prefent, 
 why fo many perfons mould not be admitted 
 into orders in the eftablifhed church. The one 
 is, the lofs of America, which before was fur- 
 nifhed with a confiderable number of our 
 fupernumerary clergy, who had no profpecl: 
 of preferment in the mother country : the 
 other is, the profpect of a long continuance 
 
 of
 
 ( 38 ) 
 
 of peace, being under no apprehenflon of 
 cither a continental or naval war, which at 
 other times engaged no inconfiderable number 
 of the inferior part of our clergy as afliftant 
 chaplains to regiments, and chaplains to men 
 of war. 
 
 As our commerce to India is now become 
 lb very confiderable, and veffels of much larger 
 fize and bulk now employed than ever before, 
 fhould the legiflature in their wifdom think 
 proper to put the trade, and the very extenfive 
 territories wepoflefsin Indoflan, into the hands 
 of government, at the expiration of the charter 
 of the Eafl India Company. Ihumbly prefume 
 to hint only, whether there would be any im- 
 propriety in enacting a ftatute, that every vefTel 
 employed in that trade mould receive a chap- 
 lain, as well as mips of war : I cannot 
 conceive what objection could be made to the 
 adopting fuch a regulation, which I am of 
 opinion, could not fail of being attended with 
 very good confequence. 
 
 Let it be ferioufly adverted to, that in 
 pointing out the above abufes occasioned by 
 
 the 
 6
 
 ( 39 ) 
 
 the conduct of our prelates ; it is by no means 
 the intention of the author of thefe meets 
 to degrade or difparage that venerable order, 
 by fpeaking ill of dignities ; far otherwife : 
 but with a view of benefiting religion, and 
 placing the reft of the clergy in a more refpedt- 
 able light in the opinion of the laity, in order 
 to add more weight and attention to their 
 miniftration. The author humby prefumes, 
 there will be, in the courfe of this fmall trea- 
 tife, a variety of other abufes and hints, which, 
 would their Lordfhips condefcend to pay at- 
 tention to, might tend greatly to the advan- 
 tage of the eftablifhed church ; fuch as they, 
 from their elevated ftations can have no cogni- 
 sance of, and which may be eafily remedied. 
 Whatever has been hinted at, respecting the 
 rendering the bilhopricks lefs difproportionate 
 in value and patronage, &c. it is not intended 
 it fhould affect any perfon now living ; but 
 agreeable to the learned and ingenious bifhop 
 of LandafT's fcheme, of appropriating, as they 
 become vacant only, one third, or fome defi- 
 nitive part of the income of every deanery, 
 
 prebend,
 
 ( p ) 
 
 prebend, or canonry of the churches of Weft* 
 minfter, Windfor, Chriil-church, Canterbury, 
 Worcefter, Durham, Norwich, Ely, Peter- 
 borough, Carliile, &c. to the fame purpofe, 
 mutatis mutandis^ as the flrfl fruits and tenths 
 were appropriated by the act paifed the fifth 
 of Queen Anne. Whoever willies to be 
 farther acquainted with his Lordfhip's pro* 
 pofal, I refer them to the Letter itfelf, which 
 had fo little attention paid to it, notwithstand- 
 ing its reafonablenefs and good tendency. 
 
 There is nothing in what is propofed by 
 the author in thefe fheets that may be efteem- 
 ed fpeculative or chimerical, but plain ftub- 
 born facts, which cannot be controverted, 
 which the laity of every denomination are 
 fenfible of, and regret ; fuch as may be re- 
 dreflfed without apprehenfion of danger ; and 
 would be of infinite advantage to the commu- 
 nity in general. Here is nothing to excite fear 
 or difcontent to our prelates who enjoy the 
 rich bifhopricks. Nothing to occafion panicle, 
 or the leafl dread or apprehenfion to the 
 Pitts, the Grenvilles, the DundaiTes, the 
 
 Burkes
 
 ( 4t ) 
 
 Burkes alfo now, &c. &c. &c. the numerous 
 adherents to the minifler, who may enjoy 
 great emoluments in peace and fecurity, with- 
 out having xecourfe to ring the changes upon 
 the words chimerical, reform, innovation, im- 
 politic and improper at this time, vifionary 
 fpeculation, dangerous now, &c. &c. &c. in 
 terrorem; in a word, from any thing touched 
 in this little work they have nothing to fear, let 
 them eat their loaves and fifties in fecurity, they 
 will not be difturbed. The avowed objedt of 
 this publication is to promote religion, morali- 
 ty, and good order, and not fedition, &c. 
 
 G PARI!*
 
 ( 4* ) 
 
 PART THE SECOND. 
 
 Treats of the Condutl of the INCUMBENTS 'r-tkt 
 . PLURALISMS. 
 
 St. CHRISOSTOM, in his treatife de Sa~ 
 cerdotio, among a variety of other particu- 
 lars, obferves, that the honour and refpect 
 that, accrue to the clergy from their admi- 
 niftrations, are common to all who have re- 
 ceived ordination. Difference in point of 
 preferment makes none in their power and 
 authority in performing the duties of the 
 church ; the incumbent and his curate are 
 upon an equality in the exercife of their func- 
 tions; whether it be in the deik, font, pulpit, 
 or at the altar. The clergy then, in general, 
 beneficed or otherwife, are upon a level as- 
 minifters of Chnft, and Jtewards- of the myf- 
 teries of God. 
 
 There is a miftake among the vulgar part 
 f the laity, of a very mortifying nature, re- 
 
 fpecting
 
 ( 43 ) 
 
 fpecting the perfons who ad: in the capacity 
 of curates ; and that is, their being confidered 
 and treated as/er^ants to the opulent pluralift, 
 whereas the inferiority coniifts only in point 
 of the provifion of the church revenue, and 
 not fn their adminiltrations, as before ob- 
 ferved. 
 
 Every clergyman, from his education and 
 profeffion, is, by the conftitution of this king- 
 dom, placed upon the footing and rank of a 
 gentleman, for the furtherance of his function. 
 Such a one acting in the fubordinate /ration of 
 affiftant to a beneficed clergyman of the fame 
 order, is totally different from all other depu- 
 ties or fubftitutes whatever, in fecular em- 
 ploys. 
 
 'The moil: honourable and exalted itation in 
 our church, the archbifhop cf Canterbury, 
 the metropolitan of England, is open to a 
 curate of the loweft degree in point of falary, 
 fhould he have recommendation fufficiently 
 powerful with the Sovereign, the fountain of 
 all honours and dignities. 
 
 G 2 There
 
 ( 44 i 
 
 There are many imperious, illiberal plu- 
 ralifts, who, to aggrandize themfelves, and 
 indulge their pride and vanity, are content to. 
 obferve their affiftants degraded in the eyes of 
 the laity; but I would recommend to this op- 
 prelTed body of men, not to betray the pri- 
 vileges of their function by any fervile com- 
 pliances; or unbecoming fubmiiTion. Too 
 much condefcenfion in a clergyman is gene- 
 rally mifinterpreted, and fuppofed to proceed 
 not from humility and good breeding, but 
 from a confcioufnefs of his inferiority ; and 
 others are willing to allow him fo much fenfe, 
 as to be a competent judge of his own in- 
 confiderablenefs ; therefore he is generally 
 treated accordingly ; according to the Italian 
 adage, 
 
 Chi peccorajifciy il lupo fe la mangm. 
 
 This contempt readily defcends from the per- 
 fons to the profefhons ; fo that the holy office 
 becomes degraded, and the word of God 
 blafphemed by fuch fervility. St, Paul fhews 
 
 the
 
 ( 45 ) 
 
 the greatnefs of his fpirit, where he fays, God 
 has not given us the fpirit of fear, but of powers 
 that is, of chriftian courage and magnani- 
 mity. 
 
 There are no perfons whatever whom a 
 haughty fupercilious carriage fo ill becomes as 
 clergymen. Their behaviour gives the lye 
 direct to the doctrine they pretend to inftil into 
 others, as received from Chrift their matter. 
 There is a refpect from the higheft dignitary 
 to the mod: diftreffed fubftitute; for it is a 
 mercy and favor of Providence, that he, who 
 now lolls at his eafe and luxury, was not a 
 miferable curate himfelf, ftarving upon the 
 offals, in a manner, of his rich patron's table. 
 A haughty demeanour defeats itfelf ; and fo 
 far from acquiring refpecl:, that it excites 
 contempt and deteflation. To infult, domi- 
 neer, and treat an inferior imperioufly, con- 
 ciliates no efteem or affection ; it may oblige 
 a dependant to keep his diftance ; but it will 
 be a diftance without reverence ; it may attract 
 parafites and flatterers, but few faithful friends 
 and admirers, 
 
 It
 
 ( 46 ) 
 
 It is obferved, no pcrfons make harder bar- 
 gains than the beneficed clergy, and particu- 
 larly with their fubftitutes their curates. - It 
 is no uncommon thing for a dignitary plu- 
 rality, who enjoys feveral hundreds a year from 
 different preferments, to beat down an indi- 
 gent curate, perhaps with a family, to offi- 
 ciate at the lowefl jftipend poflible, not ena- 
 bling him the means of fupporting himfelf 
 and family with any degree of decency ; and 
 at the fame time fb'pulating with him itrictly, 
 with refpect to prefents received from the mu- 
 nificence and liberality of any of the opulent 
 parifhioners above the fiated fees ; even a 
 hat-band and pair of gloves, upon attending 
 a funeral, muft not be referved, at the peril 
 of being difmiffed from the cure ; this in 
 general is the cafe : there may be particular 
 exceptions. 
 
 It is a practice in various parts of the 
 kingdom, for two beneficed pluralifts, whofe 
 parifhes are not at an inconvenient diftanee, to 
 join together to procure a perfon to ferve both 
 churches, at twenty or twenty -five pounds a 
 
 year
 
 ( 47 ) 
 
 year each ; when each of the beneficesyfr/g/y, 
 might- well enable the incumbent to pay an 
 aiTiftant liberally j thi9 is what is ftiIed r ,con- 
 iblidating the curacies, if I may be allowed 
 a ludicrous expreiTion, and why not? The 
 facetious Horace fays, ridentem dicere 
 
 VERUM, QUID VETAT ? 
 
 Another manoeuvre frequently practifed in 
 clerical affairs by the pluralifts, is, curtailing 
 the parifhioners of the afternoon's fervice 
 (whofe fouls they had folemnly promifed to 
 watch over, &c.) in order to have the church 
 ferved at a cheaper rate. This is the caufe of 
 {o many perfons of the eftablimed church 
 deferting it, and reforting to methejjUft meet- 
 ings, &c. &c. 
 
 The ordinary is a total fir anger to thefe 
 fetty concerns, being Jo bujily engaged in other 
 matters, that he is in a manner a ftranger to 
 his diocefe. I appeal to the clergy in gene- 
 ral for the truth of what is advanced, and 
 that this ftatement of things is not exagge- 
 rated, but literally true, of which there are a 
 great variety of instances. 
 
 3
 
 ( 48 ) 
 
 y tt is generally remarked t that the digni^ 
 fied plnralifts fcarce ever deign to perform di- 
 vine fervice, when they annually vifit their 
 parifhioners to fettle for their tythes, &c. 
 this is efteemed a kind of degradation ; they 
 may condefcend to give them a fermon, as the 
 phrafe is, but reading divine fervice is efteem- 
 ed by them a kind of drudgery fit only for 
 the curate. In plain Englifh, they consider 
 themfelves too great to perform the office of 
 their fubftitute : that is, to addrefs the Deity 
 in prayer in behalf of thofe whofe fouls they 
 had in the m'oft folemn manner promifed at 
 their inftitution to watch over, and prepare 
 for a future ftate ; but they will difplay their 
 Vanity, by delivering, perhaps a compofition 
 of another perfon of fuperior abilities, as their 
 own ; in recompence for fome hundred pounds 
 a year received from their parifhioners, before 
 their return to the metropolis, Bath, or fome 
 fafhionable place of gay refort. 
 
 This brings to my recollection an anec- 
 dote of a dignitary pluralift., a Doctor Morgan, 
 who was prefented to a rectory in Leicefter- 
 
 fhire.
 
 ( 49 ) 
 
 mire. He arrived in this Parifli the latter 
 part of the week, was inducted, and on 
 Sunday gave his pariihioners a fermon, and oh 
 Monday returned to town. His curate, ft 
 Mr. Watts, a gentleman of fome humour> 
 knowing that the Doctor never intended to re- 
 fide amongft them, or probably ever vifit them 
 more, told the parifhioners to their great fur* 
 prize, that the Doctor had preached his f are- 
 voell fermon % and in fact it proved fo, for he 
 never faw their faces more ; but took care to 
 have the rent of the glebe, tythes, &c. re- 
 mitted to him with great punctuality. Thus 
 this confcientious gentleman undertook the dure 
 of fouls. 
 
 It is aftonifhing that the opulent pluralifts 
 do not act more liberally to their brethren* 
 who all mult have once been in the abject 
 flate of curates themfelves, upon their flrft 
 entering into orders ; the nature of a title for 
 orders implies it, fellows of colleges only ex- 
 empted ; and befides a clergyman, it is ama- 
 zing they fhould be fo forgetful of the flrft 
 rule in morality, of doing to others as they 
 
 H would
 
 ( s ) 
 
 would wijh to be done to, were they in the 
 fituation of curates. It is to be obferved that 
 the legiflature, not forefeeing the extraordi- 
 nary difference in the value of money, altera- 
 tion in the mode of living, the price of pro- 
 vifions j as well as the great improvement in 
 the value of the rectories where inclofures 
 have taken place, fome doubled, fo me trebled 
 in value, left the wealthy incumbents to their 
 own generofity ; little fuppofing they would 
 be wanting in acting liberally towards their 
 brethren of the fame education, the fame ex- 
 pectations, and the fame profemon. 
 
 It never was intended, that the church 
 revenue mould be fo difpofed as to aggran- 
 dize fome, and ftarve others; much lefs that 
 the incumbent who performed ?ione of the 
 duty, and took not the leaft care of the fouls 
 entrufted to him, mould enjoy nearly the whole 
 income , whilft the real labourer in the vine- 
 yard received not a pittance fufficient to fuftain 
 him : this is literally muzzling the ox that 
 treadeth out the corn, with a vengeance ! 
 
 This
 
 ( * ); 
 
 This difproportion among the clergy of the n 
 eftablifhed church, is the univerfal fubject of 
 converfation ; every ferious well difpofed per- 
 fon deplores the incompetent provifion affign- 
 ed to the greateft part of them ; but no perfon 
 attempts to feek redrefs in a parliamentary 
 way for fo great a grievance ; although one of 
 the mofl important national concern, when 
 properly reflected upon. \ With refpect to our 
 bifhops, and dignitaries in general, they dread 
 the very idea of a better regulation in the 
 church, left their great incomes mould be di r 
 minifhed, as much as adminiftration and the 
 dependents of the minifterdo a reform in par- 
 liament, by a more equal reprefentation of 
 the people. 
 
 There is a common practice that prevails 
 with the gay part of incumbents, to avoid 
 refidence among their parifhioners, whofe fouls 
 they promifed, in the moft folemn manner, to 
 take care of at their inftitution, to obtain leave 
 of abfence from the bifliop in whofe diocefe 
 their benefices are lituated ; and mould there 
 be any difficulty of obtaining (which very 
 
 H 2 rarely
 
 ( s* ) 
 
 rarely happens) application is made to fome 
 Peer's valet-de-chambre for the purchafe of a 
 fcarf, that is, an appointment to be his 
 Lordfhip's chaplain ; and mould that Peer be 
 full, having the complement that the law 
 allows, one of them is defired to refign pro 
 tempore, to ferve the prefent purpofe. This 
 being accomplished, the incumbent is then at 
 Kberty to refide where his inclination leads 
 him, while the flock is deferted, and left to 
 the care of the hireling. This is a very great 
 abufe amongfr. the incumbents ; for this privi- 
 lege was originally intended to Peers, for their 
 domeftic chaplains only y who are to refide 
 bona fide in the family. \ There are many non* 
 xefident incumbents, who thus leave the care 
 of the fouls of their neglected parilhioners to 
 their curates, who ling requiem to their con- 
 fciences, upon the prefumption that they have 
 difburthened themfelves of the whole charge, 
 and that the fubftitute is anfwerable for all 
 defaults; and that if one foul perijh for lack 
 of knowledge, God will require the blood of 
 that foul at his hand. A very fcanty reward 
 
 indeed
 
 ( S3 ) 
 
 indeed for fo much danger, was that the cafe; 
 but the eternal rule is this, he that receiveth 
 much, of him /hall much be required ; a maxim 
 founded in equity it is, that the benefice fhall 
 go with the office and duty. 
 
 The rules of religion require perfonal fer- 
 vice, and oblige thofe who Ike by the altar to 
 wait at the altar y ' where the original word 
 wporeJ$uv fi^nifies rejiding, and it is ufed by a 
 perfon of no lefs eminence than St. Chryfof- 
 tom, to the prefent purpofe. 
 
 The laws of the church are moft of them 
 comprized in the fenfe of the council of 
 Mentz, that one man's holding more benefices 
 than one, is extremely mifchievous in the church ; 
 as one perfon cannot perform the offices they 
 require. Even the law of the land, that fa- 
 mous ftatute of the 21 ft of Henry the VHIth, 
 in which the pluralifts place their chief con- 
 fidence, was originally intended to prevent 
 the great evil of pluralities, and to oblige 
 refrdence ; however, the many provifions for 
 perfon s qualified for difpenfations may have 
 deftroyed the force of it: but be that as it may, 
 
 ^ at
 
 ( 54 ) 
 
 ^ at our ordinations we promife moft folemnly, 
 in all refpects, to take care of the people 
 that fhall at any time be committed to our 
 charge ; and at our inftitution to any benefice 
 there is a certain particular people appointed 
 us, and we undertake the cure of their Jouls, 
 without reftriction , or the leaft referve. If 
 then our faith, given in exprefs words to God 
 and his church, can bind ; if promifes mad e 
 at the altar do oblige; if a Stipulation, in 
 consideration of which orders are given, and 
 infiitutions granted us, is facred, our obliga- 
 tion, in point of confidence, continues the 
 fame, as if no difpenfation had been granted. 
 V. There is another abufe among avaricious 
 incumbents which is fometimes praclifedj and 
 that is, felling titles for orders to young can- 
 didates, either for a fum of money, or upon 
 condition of their ferving the church for which 
 the title is given, without falary, for a ftipula- 
 ted timer added to this, the fame incumbent 
 iigns the teflimonial requifite for the candi- 
 date, and perhaps procures two more of his 
 friends to do the fame, anfwering for his pro- 
 3 ficiency
 
 ( S5 ) 
 
 ficiency in learning, moral character, and con- 
 dud, for three years paft, as required by the 
 bifhop of the diocefe; when probably the 
 candidate in queftion has not been known to 
 either of them above a few days; and fo far 
 from having had a regular univerfity educa- 
 tion, that he is no other than a writing ufher 
 in fome petty fchool, or fome gifted infpired 
 methodift, who declines working at a mechani- 
 cal buimefs, &c. Having mentioned the abufe, 
 of granting falfe titles to improper perfons 
 for orders, it may not be unfeafonable here to 
 explain this, as it was cuftomary in the full 
 ages of the church. For many ages then, none 
 was ordained to the prieflhood, who had not 
 at the fame time a particular cureaffigned him : 
 antiquity knew no diftinction between ordina- 
 tion and a benefice. From the firft eftablifh- 
 ment of the church till the year 500, no per- 
 fon was ordained without a defignation to 
 fome particular benefice for his fure mainte- 
 nance. In proeefs of time, a little latitude 
 began to take place in this refpect, and the 
 bifhops began to relax from this ftric~t rule, by 
 
 ordaining
 
 ordaining without title, in expectation of a 
 benefice becoming vacant. In time thefe fu- 
 pernumerary co-adjutors to beneficed incum- 
 bents became fo numerous, that a law was 
 enacted, that the bimops were obliged to main- 
 tain all the clergy themfelves whom they had 
 ordained without title. Epifcopus ji aliquem 
 Jine certo titulo de quo necejfaria vita percipiat, 
 in diaconum & pre/by terum ordinaverit % tamdiu 
 ei necejfaria fubminiftret, donee in aliqua eccJe- 
 Jia de convenient ia ftipendia militia clericalis 
 ajjignet; niji talis ordinal us de fua pater na hce- 
 reditate^ vel aliqua alia honeftatis caufafubfidium 
 fojfit habere. 
 
 This canon was made by the council of 
 Lateran, under Alexander the Third, and is 
 to be found in the 4th chap, de prebendis. 
 
 I have never known an inliance of any 
 perfon claiming a maintenance, according to 
 the exprefs words of the title, and agreeable to 
 the tenor of the canon above quoted ; the 
 words and fum fpecified in the title were 
 efteemed by the generality of the incumbents 
 as words of courfe, mere forms only ; as 
 
 they
 
 ( 57 ) 
 
 they were feldom or never enforced, that I 
 can recollect, till very lately ; upon that me- 
 morable difpute which took place between 
 Dr. Hynde, redor of St. Anne's, Soho, and 
 his curate Mr. Martin, to whom he had given 
 a title for ordination. 
 
 The Doctor was defirous of difmifling Mr# 
 Martin from the cure, which he refitted, al- 
 ledging, that he had a right to continue to 
 officiate in that church as curate, according to 
 the tenor of the words exprefled in the title, 
 till he was provided with fome ecclejiaftical pre- 
 ferment. 
 
 The Doctor was of a contrary opinion ; fo 
 that the caufe came to be argued in the Eccle- 
 fiaftical Court, in Doctors Commons, and was 
 determined in favour of Mr. Martin, the cu- 
 rate. This mortified Dr. Hynde to fuch a 
 degree, that he contrived means of being re- 
 moved to another benefice, that he might not 
 perform duty in the fame church with his 
 curate, with whom he was at variance, and 
 who had foiled him in this difpute. Mr. Mar- 
 tin maintained flill farther, that he had a 
 
 I right,
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 right, by the words of the title, to be continued 
 to officiate as curate in that church to any fuc- 
 ceeding rector or incumbent there, as his de~ 
 fignation was for that particular church. 
 This matter came to be tried in the court of 
 Exchequer, but how it was determined -I am 
 at alofs to fay. 
 
 There is another very great abufe and evil, 
 whieh too frequently prevails in our church* 
 which is simony. Church Benefices are now 
 purchafed as openly as temporal property ; 
 which gives an opening to any perfcn who 
 has command of money, however ill quali- 
 fied or immoral, of enjoying a consider- 
 able fhare of the revenue of the church, even 
 without performance of duty. This is at- 
 tended with another evil, of a ferious and 
 heinous nature, which is perjury. 
 
 As many of the laity may not be well ac- 
 quainted with the nature of the limoniacal 
 oath, I think it neceflTary to inform them, that 
 it is the ftri&eft of all the c iths administered 
 in this realm. The cler. man upon his in- 
 ilitution fwears, that he gave not the leajl 
 
 confide 'rat 'ion
 
 ( 59 ) 
 
 confederation whatever ', either bimfeif, dire 61 ly 
 nor indiretlly, nor. any perfon for him with his 
 privity, knowledge , or confent ; when perhaps 
 he had been perfvnaliy treating with the patron 
 for the purchafe, and even prejent at the pay- 
 ment of the money. I was witnefs to a 
 notorious instance of a tranfaction of this kind 
 in the diocefe of Lincoln ; where the patron 
 and the perfon who was to be the incumbent 
 of the benefice, were both together when the 
 purchafe money was paid ; the latter took the 
 fimoniacal oath, which was tendered to him a 
 few days after, without the leafl fcruple, and 
 refides now upon that benefice near Atherftone 
 in Warwickshire. 
 
 - There is another fpecies of fimony, which 
 is ftiled Pettico.it Simony ; when a clergy- 
 man, by marrying the niece or daughter of 
 a bifhop, becomes a pluralift of large in- 
 come, his lady being portioned out of the 
 revenue of the church. I could point out 
 feveral perfons now living, but it might ap- 
 pear invidious, therefore fliall decline it; but 
 one inltance^ within my recollection was {o 
 
 I 2 notorious
 
 ( 6o ) 
 
 notorious, that I cannot avoid mentioning 
 it 
 
 It was a dean of Canterbury, who by mar- 
 rying Archbifhop Potter's daughter, became 
 poffeffed of Six or Seven different pieces of 
 preferment, to the amount of above four 
 thoufand pounds a year of the church revenue> 
 by way of marriage portion. 
 
 This was the gentleman who gave occaflon 
 to fo many jokes and witticifms, and whom 
 the celebrated Hogarth fatirized in the print 
 Of the afs laden with preferment. But dull 
 and heavy as the Dean was fuppofed to be, 
 he had the addrefs to blunt the keennefs of 
 raillery when attacked. Agreeable to the 
 Italian adage, Fajino pur pigro, JfimoJato, tira 
 qualche calcio. 
 
 Upon the publication of that print fome 
 officers of the guards, at St. James's Coffee- 
 'houfe, Where the Dean ufually frequented 
 when in town, were defirous of having, as 
 they expreffed it, a little fun by fmoaking the 
 Dean, placed the print alluded to in a con- 
 fpicuous part of the- coffee-room, where it 
 
 mud
 
 ( 6. ) 
 
 mull unavoidably be obferved. The Dean, 
 upon viewing it with a crowd of thofe gentle- 
 men about him, in expectation of feeing him 
 much mortified and embarrafled, were mor- 
 tified themfelves upon the pleafant turn he 
 gave the joke, by exclaiming aloud ; " You 
 " fee, gentlemen, Matter Hogarth has repre- 
 14 fented me here, as bending under the weight 
 " of my different preferments ; but he is 
 M much miftaken, I can bear a great deal more 
 ftill." The officers fhrunk off abafhed, 
 having miffed their aim, and difappointed of 
 their joke. 
 
 But the purchafing of benefices for money, 
 and marrying the daughters or nieces of 
 bifhops, are not the "only fpecies of fimonia- 
 cal contracts j that of felling titles for orders 
 juft touched upon, is as great an abufe as the 
 two above-mentioned ; and I am of opinion 
 comes nearer the cafe of Simon Magus, which 
 we read of in the New Teflament, who gave 
 rife to this expreffion. 
 
 Collusive Resignations alfo are gene- 
 rally attended with fimony and perjury: when 
 
 we
 
 ( 62 ) 
 
 .we hear of a perfon being prefented to a 
 benefice, upon the ceffion of another, we may 
 conclude, in general, that fame confideration 
 has been given, that fomething of fimony has 
 been t ran facte d. 
 
 This practice has thefe evils attending it : 
 firft it leads to the fin of perjury; and befides, 
 is often the means of introducing an im- 
 moral and improper perfon by means of his 
 money to the cure of fouls, perhaps to the 
 exclufion of a man of learning and merit, who 
 might be an ornament to his profeffion, and 
 who would probably have difcharged the duty 
 much more to the fatisfaction and benefit of 
 theparifhioners. 
 
 Here I may add aifo, that patrons who dif- 
 pofe of benefices to improper perfons do not 
 fufficicntly reflect, that this is a truft of a 
 folemn nature lodged in their hands, when 
 they prefent a perfon to the cure of Jouls ; that 
 it is a weighty concern for which they will be 
 accountable to God ; and that they will in a great 
 meafure be accountable for the fouls that may 
 
 3- be
 
 f ( 6 3 ) 
 
 be loft, and whatever abufe may arife, through 
 their corrupt contract, and improper choice. 
 
 Doctor Warner, in the Appendix to his 
 Ecclefialtical Hiftory, publifhed in 1757, has 
 the following obfervation ; " Of the nine 
 ** thoufand and fome hundred churches and 
 44 chapels, which we have in England and 
 44 Wales, fix thoufand are not above the value 
 " of forty pounds a year." Doctor Burn 
 has alfo ftated the number of fmall livings 
 (in his Ecclefiaftical Law, article firft fruits and 
 tenths) in the following terms " The num- 
 * ber of livings capable of augmentation 
 44 have been certified as follows; 1071 li- 
 ** vings not exceeding 10/. a year, 1467 li- 
 44 vings above 10/. and not exceeding 20/. *a 
 " year, 11 26 livings above 20/. and not ex- 
 ** ceeding 30/. a year, 1 049 livings above 30/. 
 44 and not exceeding 40/. a year, 884 livings 
 44 above 40/. and not exceeding 50/. a year. 
 44 So that in the whole rhere are 5^97 livings 
 44 certified under 50/. a year.' This itate- 
 ment of the church revenue, I doubt not, will 
 
 greatly
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 greatly aftonifh. many of the laity, who never 
 have turned their thoughts to this fubject. 
 
 It is now very near 80 years when the 
 return of livings was firft made to the gover- 
 nors of Queen Anne's bounty. The bounty, 
 affifted by private benefactions, has made a 
 flow progrefs indeed fince its commencement ; 
 fo that the clergy in general who have received 
 a fhare of it have been very little bettered in 
 their condition, and particularly fince the go- 
 vernors have thought proper to lower the rate 
 of intereft of the money due to the feveral 
 claimants, from five per cent, to two per cent, 
 which, I am fenfible, was with a view of 
 enabling them to augment yearly a greater 
 number of benefices ; but did they know the 
 inconvenience many fuffer upon this account, 
 they would be probably furprized ; while they 
 themfelves who have the management, enjoy 
 large incomes from the church revenue, with- 
 out ever feeling for the difficulties and dif- 
 treffes of their brethren who have been iefs 
 fortunate in the church. 
 
 The
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 The reafon that fo many perfons are obliged 
 to fubmit to the above regulations of the go- 
 vernors, who are biihops of great incomes, 
 is owing to the extreme difficulty of finding 
 certain portions of land which mult exactly 
 fuit the fpecific fum they are entitled to, to- 
 gether with the fmall fums received in aid 
 of the bounty by private benefactions , &c. 
 fo that in fact the prefent generation of the 
 interior clergy niuft fubmit to be ft ill diftrefTed 
 the more, in order to benefit thofe who are to 
 fucceed them feveral generations to come; and 
 that this is the cafe I lhall quote the following 
 authorities : 
 
 Doctor Warner fays-, it will be 500 years 
 before every living in this kingdom can be 
 advanced, by the prefent management of ^ueen 
 Anne's bounty, to the value of 60/. a year. 
 And Doctor Burn has calculated, that fuppo- 
 fing the clear amount of the bounty to make 
 55 augmentations yearly, it will be 339 years, 
 from the year 17 14 (which was the firft year 
 in which any augmentations were made) be- 
 fore all the livings in the eitablillicd church 
 
 K amongft
 
 ( 66 ) 
 
 amongfttis, can exceed 53/. ayear. Andifit 
 be computed that half of fuch augmentations 
 may be made in conjunction with other bene- 
 factions, which is improbable, it will require 
 226 years before all the livings already certified 
 will exceed 50/. a year. 
 
 As the private benefactions are found to be 
 fo very few among the laity, fuppofe the 
 bilhops who enjoy feveral thoufands a year of 
 the church revenue, for the performance of 
 fcarce any duty to the benefit of the commu- 
 nity, would there be any impropriety mould 
 they apply fome part yearly towards augment- 
 ing the. vicarages of the lead: value in their 
 refpective diocefes,in conjunction with Queen 
 Anne's bounty, in order to accelerate the end 
 propofed by that charity, by way of fetting 
 an example to the laity ; mould they adopt fo 
 laudable a refolution, it would only be return- 
 ing to the church from which it was ac- 
 quired, the fuperflux of what it fo much 
 wants, and what they themfelves can fo well 
 fpare, and have fo little occafion for; and 
 particularly fuch of them as have no families, 
 
 and
 
 ( 6 7 ) 
 
 and have acquired all they pojfefs from the 
 church, of whom I can point out feveral in- 
 ftances, who never were pofTerTed of any pri- 
 vate patrimony whatever. What objection 
 can fo venerable a body make to fo charitable 
 and pious a purpofe, the benefit of which 
 would defcend to infinite numbers for many 
 generations to come, as well as comfort and 
 relieve at prefent a great number of their co- 
 temporary diftrefTed brethren, who pine and 
 languifh for want of the conveniences of life, 
 whilfr. their fuperiors live in luxury, eafe, and 
 the greatefl pomp. And if this was copied 
 alfo by our rich dignitary pluralifls, it would 
 operate more powerful Itill, and be a means 
 of accelerating the augmentation of the poorer 
 vicarages in a double or triplicate ratio, and 
 induce the rich part of the laity, who have a 
 regard for the church, to follow their ex- 
 ample. 
 
 As it has been dated above, that the number 
 of livings through the whole kingdom a- 
 mounts to near ten thoufand, and that near 
 fix thoufand of thefe are under 50/. a year; 
 
 K2 it
 
 ( 68 ) 
 
 it may be concluded then, that the remaining 
 part, amounting to about four thoufand, are 
 rectories, livings of value, fuch as are pofTefled 
 by incumbents, generally pluralifts ; for let it 
 be remembered, that the moft. valuable benefices 
 are always fuch as are held by the plural ifts, 
 and often dignitaries, at the fame time. 
 
 There have been near a thoufand inclofures 
 of Lordiliips, which were common fields, in 
 the courfe of about 35 years part, which, in 
 general, have doubled, fome trebled the in- 
 comes of the incumbents. Notwithftanding 
 the fmall vicarages are not bettered for the 
 inferior part of the clergy ; yet the rectories 
 where there are great tythes, have been benefit- 
 ed in a very extraordinary degree. 
 
 It may be necefTary to obferve, that the 
 valuation of benefices in the king's books, or 
 the laft valuation and improved value, give 
 very little infjght into the prefent real im- 
 proved value of livings in general. 
 
 I remember the rectory of Doddington, in 
 the ifle of Ely, (the incumbent of which is 
 Poctor Proby, dean of Litchfield) about ele- 
 ven
 
 ( 69 ) 
 
 ven hundred pounds a year, about 35 years 
 ago, when I was a ftudent in the univerfity 
 of Cambridge, having been upon the fpot ; 
 but was informed by an inhabitant of the 
 parifh very lately, that it amounts at this time 
 to above two thoufand two hundred pounds a 
 year, or more. The means by which Doctor 
 Proby became pofTeffed of that valuable bene- 
 fice, does infinite credit and honour to the 
 memory of the late Doctor Gooch, who was 
 then bifhop of that fee. The dean of Litch- 
 field, fhould he happen to perufe this, will 
 underftand readily what I allude to, it being 
 too tedious to relate here. 
 
 I alfo remember, about the fame time, the 
 rectory of Hawarden, in the diocefe of St. 
 Afaph, and county of Flint, when a relation 
 of mine was prefented to it, no more than 
 400/. a year in value, but at this time amounts 
 to above 1600/. the laft incumbent was Sir 
 Stephen Glynn, Baronet, the patron. 
 
 I am informed a proportionable advance 
 has been made in the valuable living of Win- 
 wick, in the patronage of the carl of Derby. 
 
 In
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 Ylftaword, every rectory through the kingdom 
 has been confiderably advanced within the laft 
 35 years, even where there have not been 
 inclofures ; as the produce of every article the 
 land produces have borne an extravagant price 
 for fome time paft, and our improvement in 
 agriculture, fuperior to that of any country in 
 Europe, has made the moft rapid progrefs: fo- 
 reigners from all parts have come here to copy 
 our improved mode of cultivating every fpecies 
 of foil, particularly from Ruflia by the em- 
 prefs's command, and at her expence. 
 
 What I would infer from the above ftate- 
 ment, is, that the incumbents of livings mould 
 allow their fubftitutes, while they enjoy fuch 
 plentiful incomes at their eafe, a falary \x\fome 
 degree proportionable to the improvement of 
 
 * their benefices ; and remember that the la- 
 bourer is worthy of his reward, that a liberal 
 income mould infpire liberal fentiments : one 
 might reafonably fuppofe, that one fourth of 
 the value of a benefice would not be too 
 much for thofe who oblige themfelves to con- 
 tinual refidence, who fujlain the whole burden 
 
 and
 
 ( V ) 
 
 and heat of the day, who in labours are more 
 abundant, who, as matters are at prefent con- 
 dueled, added to: their fpiritual concerns and 
 fatigue, have the conflict of poverty to ftrug- 
 gle with befides, and are obliged in all things 
 to approve them/elves the minifters of God, in 
 patience, in afflictions, in necejjities, in dif- 
 trejfes ; whilfl the wealthy incumbents their 
 employers, have often no farther view than to 
 the emoluments, which they diffipate in lux- 
 ury, &c. become eftranged from their flocks, 
 nor are folicitous what becomes of them, pro- 
 vided they can but feed themfelves with the 
 fat, and cloath themfelves with the wool. 
 
 Befides a liberal falary allowed, a kind 
 benevolent, and friendly behaviour from an 
 incumbent towards his fubftitute, would be 
 extremely becoming, where fuch connection 
 in the performance of the duty of the church 
 iublifts between them, free from fuperciliouf- 
 nefs and hauteur, fpeaking favourable of his at- 
 tention to his duty, moral conduct, his ability, 
 &c. This might be expected from men in fuch 
 
 happy
 
 ( 7* ) 
 
 happy circumftances, and under fuch ties of 
 mutual relations m the church. But when the 
 reverfe of this often appears ; when we obferve 
 proud priefts of large incomes, by pluralities, 
 treat their dependent curates with an air of fu- 
 periority, that would better become a Perfian 
 monarch than a chriftian clergyman. What 
 mall we fay for fuch men in excufe for 
 their conduct ? Shall we join in the calum- 
 nies of the enemies of our church, who im- 
 pute this to the worft of caufes, arrogance 
 and pride, and a fpirit of infidelity in our 
 clergy. 
 
 Or -mall we fuppofe that there is an ex- 
 ternal and internal doctrine in the Chriftian 
 fyflem ; the one to be delivered and made 
 public to the people, the other to be con- 
 cealed and referved by the clergy, for their 
 own private practice, as is the cafe in the 
 church of Rome. 
 >v" This reprehenfible conducl: in fome of our 
 beneficed pluralifts, is accounted for from the 
 mode of life they have been accuftomed to ; 
 fucL as fellows of colleges who have for 
 3 feveral
 
 ( 73 ) 
 
 feveral years led a reclufe life, little con- 
 verfant with the world ; this, it is true, im- 
 proves and adorns the faculties of the mind, 
 by giving a man an opportunity of much 
 reading and deep contemplation ; but at the 
 fame time deprives him of the knowledge of 
 the world, and in light into men and man- 
 ners; and by that means renders him a pedant 
 and four mi fan th rope; the moil odious defpi- 
 cable character in fociety ; inflead of a man of 
 letters, civility, and polifhed manners. This 
 difagreeable temper and demeanour is often 
 the refill t of a hafty accumulation of pre- 
 ferments. 
 
 Preferments by collation, and eflates by in- 
 heritance and acquifition, have this difference 
 in their effects upon men in general ; the for- 
 mer coming all at once, and fometiines unex- 
 pectedly, fwell the heart, and intoxicate the 
 head by too fudden fuccefs ; the latter coming 
 leifurcly, and after fome expectance, are ufually 
 received with temper and moderation, occafion 
 no great alteration in the mind/iWhat pre- 
 ferment fuch^ perfon acquire*, he imputes to 
 
 L his
 
 ( 74 ) 
 
 his own merit ; what he fees others lefs for- 
 tunate want, he attributes to their defects ; 
 thofe who are before him in the race and ca- 
 reer for wealth and honour, he emulates i but 
 fuch as arc unfuccefsful and behind him, he 
 defpifes. Never reflecting that the race is not 
 always to thefwift, nor the battle to th: Jlrong ; 
 neither yet bread to the wife, nor riches to men 
 of under/landing ; nor yet favor to men of fkilh 
 but time and Jkill happen to all. 
 -k. Enforcing the refidence of incumbents in 
 their refpective parifhes more 110(5117 where 
 their duty requires them, would have a better 
 effect infinitely, in improving and reforming 
 the morals of the prefent age, than a thoufand 
 proclamations iiTued from his Majefty by ad- 
 vice of his privy council, for fupprefilng vice 
 and immorality, and the fuperfluous number of 
 houfes of public refort, thofe nurferies of every 
 fpecies of wickednefs and villainy. 
 
 The proclamation I allude to, was that pub- 
 jilhed about four years ago, and not the late 
 one for preventing the difcuflion of political 
 jfybjec"t, relative to reforming any abufes or 
 
 defects
 
 ( 75 ) 
 
 defeats that may be from length of time re- 
 quired in our excellent conftitution, &c. With 
 refpect to the former, what has been the con- 
 fequence ? Have the morals of the lower 
 order of people been in any degree amended 
 and improved fince that period ? Have the 
 number of public houfes been lefTened ? So 
 far otherwife, that it is univerfally remarked, 
 that they have increafed in an incredible degree , 
 under the denomination of liquor mops, wine 
 Vaults, &c. but in reality are no other than 
 places licenfed by trading jufKces, where the 
 mod pernicious liquid poifon is vended to the 
 prejudice of the health and morals of both 
 fexes, inflaming and exciting them to every 
 kind of diforder. 
 
 With refpecl: to the late proclamation for 
 fupprefling the difcuflion of fubjects relative 
 to the management of public affairs, &c. I 
 am apt to fear it will have a very different 
 effect than what is expected j it will tend to 
 excite farther enquiry into the conduct of ad- 
 ministration, and the fuppofed abufes and de- 
 fects which a lapfe of time may have ceca- 
 ls 2 iioned
 
 ( 76 ) 
 
 Honed in the conftitution, which may require 
 amending* repairing, or renovating. 
 
 The fpirit of liberty being once entertained 
 by the people, the more it is attempted to be 
 checked and fupprefled, the more it will fpread 
 and increafe ; it refembles the palm tree, 
 which is faid to fpread and flourim in pro* 
 portion as it is prefled down. 
 
 It is a maxim in philofophy, that the fame 
 caufes will always produce the fame effects : 
 and by hiffory we are inftructed to judge of 
 the future confequences of things from what 
 under fimilar c i re um fiances have happened in 
 pail ages ; for human nature is the fame under 
 different periods of the vvcrld, a little allow- 
 ances being made for variations in modes and 
 fafhions. I could produce a variety of in- 
 ftances from hiflory in confirmation of the 
 above reflections, was it proper at this time, 
 when fo much dread and apprehenfion are 
 entertained by the rulers of the ftate, either 
 for the community itfelf, or for their own 
 power, and extravagant emoluments. 
 
 But
 
 ( 77 ) 
 
 But be that as it may, what I wifh to re-* 
 commend and inculcate, is, the neceflity there 
 is for the refidcnce of incumbents of bene- 
 fices where their duty requires : and as fer* 
 vants of the ftate with liberal incomes, that 
 they be obliged to pay attention and diligence 
 to feafon the rifing generation, the youth of 
 their refpective parifhes, who are under their 
 care and guidance, as early as poflible, with 
 piety towards God, and refpect to magiftracy; 
 which would produce the mofl: falutary be- 
 nefit and advantage to the community in ge- 
 neral ; for from thefe the hopes of a reform 
 in fucceeding generations are to be expected* 
 which, if well grounded, they may retain 
 during the remainder of their days, and may 
 be a means of reforming others alfo : 
 
 yo feme I eft imbuta recens fervabit odorem % 
 Tijta diu. 
 
 The youth, under their infpection, fhould 
 be taught and made fenfible of the abfolute 
 
 neceflity 
 
 Jk " ft: 4
 
 ( 78 ) 
 
 neceiTity of paying an uniform and unqualified, 
 obedience to the laws of the gofpel, in op* 
 pofition to the diforderly propenfities of fenfe, 
 and the immoral maxims of the world ; this 
 is an employment for which the feveral in- 
 cumbents of parimes are amply paid ; this 
 they have folemnly engaged at their inftitu- 
 tion to perform pcrfonally y and not by proxy, 
 &c. but which is too frequently neglected, as 
 matters beneath their dignity in general, and 
 fit only for their fubftitutes to attend to. But 
 thefe lofty gentlemen do not reflect, that fuch 
 an employ would by no means difparage them, 
 however exalted they may be as minifters of 
 the gofpel ; as it is 'no other than co-opera- 
 ting with the benevolent author of the uni- 
 verfe, when they endeavour to train up free and 
 intelligent beings to fuch a degree of moral 
 perfection, as may fit and prepare them for 
 eternal happinefs in a future fiate, which their 
 duty requires. 
 
 As fervants of the flate, it is more imme- 
 diately the bufinefs of the clergy to do every 
 thing in their power to promote the peace and 
 
 good
 
 ( 79 ) 
 
 good order of the community, by endeavour- 
 ing to throw the controul of piety over the im- 
 petuofity of appetite, when they oppofe the 
 reftraint of religion over the fedu&ion of the 
 world j for the tranquility, and indeed the very 
 exiflence of every civil community, is endan- 
 gered when religion has loft its influence over 
 the minds of its members. 
 
 
 
 . , . . . . 
 
 
 
 PART
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 PART THE THIRD.. 
 
 Treats of that denomin ttion of people, Jiiled 
 CURATES, 
 
 ^INCE then it muft be allowed by every 
 intelligent perfon, that religion contributes fo 
 greatly to the advancement of the great ends 
 of government, it would furely be a matter 
 of prudence and policy in the civil magiftrate, 
 as well as the great men of the ftate, of whom 
 our legiflators are compofed. to protect and 
 encourage fuch as are profeflbrs and teachers 
 of it ; and particularly the inferior part of the 
 clergy, upon whom, as before hinted, de- 
 volves now nearly the whole care of the fouls 
 of the people of the eftablifhed church of 
 England, the whole administration of religion, 
 as matters are now conducted ; mice the fu 
 perior part, whofe mofr. immediate bufmefs it 
 is, have in a manner abandoned them, by 
 their non-refidence, as unworthy and beneath 
 
 their
 
 t Si' ) 
 
 their concern, it may be averred with ltnctefl 
 truth, that the poor curates at prefent are the 
 only apoftolic clergy of this nation; for they 
 literally both hunger and thirft, are naked \ 
 are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place \ 
 according to ,St. Paul. And as the clergy of 
 this kingdom have the greateft intercourfe 
 with the people, by frequently converting with 
 them, they have the chief opportunity of 
 forming'their principles, and directing their 
 confcicnces, as well as difpofing and guiding 
 their inclinations and affections. This body 
 of men are free from that fupercilious hauteur 
 fo difgufting in their dignified brethren, from 
 the nature of their humble condition; alfo 
 free from that litigious contention for tythes, 
 &c. which lower the beneficed clergy fo much 
 in the efteem of their parifhioners. They* gain 
 the attention of the greatefi part of the inhabi- 
 tants ot the whole realm, once every week at 
 leafl ; they have an opportunity of ruling 
 their prdiions, and tempering their prejudices, 
 &c. Upon this ground then, I am of opi- 
 nion, that it would be no bad policy in govern- 
 
 M ment
 
 ( 8a ) 
 
 mcnt to attach them to its interefts as firmly 
 as poffible, by the,fureft ties and motives of 
 affection and gratitude. 
 
 QUAM PLURIMTS AMICITIIS FORTUNA 
 Principis indigat, PR^CIPUUM EST 
 principis opus amicos parare. 
 
 Plin. 
 
 Should any civil commotion ever happen 
 amongft us, which might difturb the ftate 
 (which may divine Providence ever avert) 
 there is no better expedient than to encourage 
 thofe who have now the guidance of the 
 people in fpiritual concerns, to put them in 
 mind to be fubjecl: to principalities and powers ; 
 tofubmit them/elves to every ordinance of man 
 for the Lord's fake ; not to f peak evil of the 
 ruler of the people ; not to curfe the king in 
 their hearts ; but to obey mag ift rates, and pray 
 for thofe who are in authority, that we may live 
 peaceably and quietly under them. From thefe 
 fubjects they have it in their power to in- 
 fluence their refpective congregations to 
 
 a& 
 
 3
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 ad in fupport of our prefent happy eftablifh- 
 ment. 
 
 In the prefent ftate of things, thefe poor 
 fubalterns in the church, feem to be cut off in 
 a manner from the body of the clergy, to be 
 fallen off from the confideration of the legiila- 
 ture. The meannefs of their condition, and 
 the fevere oppreflion they experience from 
 their fuperiors, difpirit them, and cramp 
 their endeavours for the public good ; and 
 what is extraordinary, and extremely difcou- 
 raging, even in thofe very ftatutes which are 
 enacted for the maintenance of the poor clergy \ 
 the diftreffed curates are never confidered, 
 though fo ufeful a body of people. Every vi- 
 car, every beneficed curate ', that hath fomething 
 certain to depend upon of his own, promifes 
 himfelf fome little farther advantage from a 
 royal augmentation, I mean Queen Anne's 
 bounty : but the poor curate hath nothing to 
 depend upon, but to live at the mercy of a 
 haughty, domineering, hard-hearted matter, 
 who pays him as he pleafes, treats him as he 
 thinks proper, and difmiffes him according 
 
 M a to
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 to his pleafure and caprice. The fcripturc 
 fays, to him that hath Jhall be given , and from 
 him that hath not Jhall be taken away, even that 
 which he hath. 
 
 The only ftatute law that hath been provi- 
 ded in favour of the curates, as a barrier 
 againil their opprefTors, has been limited in 
 its bounds, and evaded in its execution. 
 
 It is earneftly to be hoped that the legifla^ 
 ture, when they come to underltand the real 
 hardfhips and oppreffions this moft ufeful 
 body of people (I may without exaggeration 
 affirm in the whole nation) labour under, and 
 the infinite benefit that would arife to the whole 
 body of people of the eflablifhed church, in the 
 improvement of their morals and religious 
 duties, were the inferior clergy put upon a 
 more refpeclable footing : I fay, when this 
 comes to be underftood and considered, it is 
 to be hoped, the prefent heavy yoke will be 
 removed from the necks of thefe hewers of wood 
 and drawers cf water y as they are coniidered 
 by their employers, that they may in fome mea- 
 sure be relieved, and their condition bettered, 
 
 by
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 by the wifdom, found policy, and humanity 
 of the legiflature; that the calumny and re- 
 proach of the clergy of the eftablifhed church 
 being the greateft tyrants to each other, may 
 be removed; and that it may not be faid, that 
 the leeiflature have been more attentive, com- 
 
 o 
 
 paffionate, and folicitous to relieve the natives 
 of Africa, than they are to relieve their fel- 
 low countrymen of the fame religion, who 
 are the mod aggrieved, diftreiTed, defpifed 
 part of ,his Majefty's fubjects, on account 
 of their poverty and indigence ; at' prefent, 
 they are really become a bye-word ; the 
 epithet poor is invariably and univerfally an- 
 nexed to the appellation of curate. 
 
 In the prefent ffcate of luxury and diffipa- 
 tion in this kingdom, a hair-drefler will ac- 
 quire more in one attendance upon a lady or 
 gentleman, than a clergyman by an attendance 
 at the altar: of God; and an Italian mufician, 
 or a celebrated female finger, will acquire more 
 by one performance, than a poor curate's 
 falary will amount to for a whole year's duty 
 in the church in the fervice of God : this is 
 
 abfolutely
 
 . ( W ) 
 
 abfolutely true, without the leaft exaggera- 
 tion. 
 
 Matters being in this deplorable fituation, 
 it is in vain to attempt to afTert and maintain 
 the dignity of profeffion and ftation ; this 
 would only tend to draw upon them a farther 
 degree of ridicule and contempt ; for when the 
 mind is bowed down by diftrefs and penury, 
 it is impoflible, by any effort whatever, to bear 
 up againft contempt and fcorn. 
 
 It may be urged by fome inconfiderate per- 
 fons, that thefe unfortunate oppreffed body of 
 men are to blame, in fubmitting to fuch fcanty 
 falaries allowed them by their illiberal employ- 
 ers : but the misfortune is, the bifhops have put 
 it in the power of the beneficed clergy to avail 
 themfelves of the afcendancy they have over 
 the poor curates, who, if they exprefs them- 
 felves in the leaft dirTatisfied with the Hilary 
 impofed upon them, are inftantly told, that 
 they have feveral who are ready to engage to 
 perform the duty, upon the fame or lower 
 terms; and that they are at liberty to quit 
 
 as
 
 ( 3 7 ) 
 
 as foon as they pleafe, if they do not approve 
 of what is allowed them. 
 
 What can a perfon do in this fituation ? 
 Notwithftanding he is engaged in a pcofeilion 
 by which he cannot fupport himfelf, there is 
 no -receding ; there is no other means of his 
 fubfiftence : he will reflect, that it will be 
 prudent to fubmit to the incompetent allowance 
 he then has, than to be entirely without any 
 engagement. 
 
 This is owing to our fpiritual governors th 
 bifhops, as before hinted, ordaining fo many 
 mean wretches, of all defcriptions, without be- 
 ing regularly educated, the lame, the halt, and 
 the almofl: blind, illiterate mechanics, &c. 
 which has been the caufe of reducing the 
 moil honourable of all profeflions to {o much 
 contempt. 
 
 When a high prieft, endued with a little 
 more liberality than the generality of his be- 
 neficed brethren, grants his fubftitute fifty or 
 fixty pounds a year, when a vacancy happens 
 in fo rich a piece of curatical preferments ; 
 there will be as much emulation to fucceed, 
 
 and
 
 ( 88 ) 
 
 and application to acquire it, as among our" 
 right reverend fathers for the difproportionately 
 endowed fee of Durham, which upon an 
 average, communibus annis, is valued'by fome 
 at fifteen thoufand pounds a year ; but fome 
 years, by the falling in and renewing of leafes, 
 &c. confiderably more. What an enormous 
 difproportion between perfons of the fame 
 profeflion ! Such a prelate's poftillion or 
 porter is much better provided for than a poor 
 curate, although fometimes as well educated, 
 and of fuperior abilities to his Lordfhip. 
 
 The late bimop of a certain fee, was ori- 
 ginally a crape weaver at Norwich. There 
 is now a perfon who is a prebendary and 
 archdeacon, brother to a certain bifhop, 
 who has been fo rapidly advanced by Mr. 
 Pitt, who was a little while ago behind a 
 counter. The curates in the metropolis and 
 large towns muft, to avoid contempt, make 
 the bell: appearance their fcanty allowances 
 will admit of, which often occasions very 
 difagreeable embarrafTments and difficulties ; 
 fo that it may be faid of them, Commune id 
 
 vitium
 
 ( 8 9 ) 
 
 ^vitium eft, hie vivirtius ambiliofa paupertate $ 
 vmnes. 
 
 Such are the modes of acquiring promotion 
 at prefent in the church, that a perfon of mean 
 appearance can have no pretentions, let his 
 merit arid long ftanding in the miniftry be 
 what they may, when a perfon of affluence, 
 Connected with men in power, ftands in com- 
 petition agairift him. 
 
 Haud facile emergunt, quorum virtutibus ob- 
 
 fat. 
 Res argujla domi. 
 
 I have before hinted, and muft inculcate it, 
 that in genera/ whatever prefents the officia- 
 ting curate receives above the ftated fees, by 
 the genefofity or liberality of any of the pa- 
 rifhioners, though he is under the neccfiity of 
 making his obeifance for what is fuppofed to 
 be for him/elf-, yet he is generally , under the 
 ftricteil: flipulation, to refund to his employer 
 mmediately when the ceremony is performed. 
 There are inftances of fome unfortunate per- % 
 
 N fons
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 fons in the humiliating fituation of curates* 
 who by the duty they perform in the church, 
 do not acquire even the intereft of the money 
 expended upon their education, which is a moil 
 melancholy truth* 
 
 Is this a fufficient recompence for all the 
 anxious care and thought that the good old 
 father-has been at, in endeavouring to promote 
 the welfare and advancement of his fon in the 
 world ? Is this an equivalent for the fatigue 
 of along ftudious application ? 
 
 Mufl a man for this be accomplilhed in 
 every branch of literature, and particularly of 
 divinity and oratory ? How much wifer in 
 point of prudence, as things are at prefent 
 conducted in the church, would that parent 
 be, who difpofes of his fon in fome mechani- 
 cal bufinefs, than to a profefTion in which, 
 without friends or means of purchafing prefer- 
 ment, he mufl probably be a beggar for the 
 mere honor of being ftyled a gentleman, which 
 is the cafe with a great part of the clergy of 
 the eflablifhed church. 
 
 Th
 
 ( 9' ) 
 
 The clergy of the church of Rome have, it 
 is true, in many places, no confiderable al- 
 lowance. But what may not a man acquire 
 who is fuppofed to be a retainer of an infalli- 
 ble head, the maker of a God in every con^ 
 fecration of the hoft ? What may not he ex- 
 tract from the pockets of the people by auri- 
 cular confefiion, forgiving fins, freeing fouls 
 from purgatory, admitting fouls into heaven ; 
 befides a great variety of more profitable tales, 
 cheats, and lying wonders under his manage- 
 ment and adminiftration ? 
 
 DifTenting teachers of every denomination 
 have ample provifion made for them, by fub- 
 fcriptions, rents of pews, collections frequently 
 under various pretences, &c, and particu- 
 larly methodift. preachers, who now are be- 
 come fo numerous in every part of the king- 
 dom ; who commence fuch without the leaft. 
 knowledge or application to ftudy, illiterate 
 mechanicks who have nothing to recommend 
 them befides an hypocritical demeanour and 
 appearance, a pretence to infpiration ; yet thefe 
 are the perfons who flyle thcmfelves, by way of 
 N 2 eminence,
 
 (. 9* ) 
 
 eminence and diftinction, go/pel mini/lers, 
 Thefe have the addrefs to extract from the 
 pockets of their ignorant, infatuated, enthu- 
 iiaftic followers a moft comfortable revenue and 
 plentiful maintenance, devouring widows bou-r 
 -Jes, and for a pretence making long prayer. 
 
 The moft mortifying and humiliating cir-f 
 cumftances of all to the poor curates, particu- 
 larly in the metropolis, is their being lorded 
 over, and treated with familiarity and con- 
 tempt by the parifh clerks, on account of the 
 fuperiority of their incomes from the church, 
 to the falaries of the curates. 
 
 But to carry the matter into fome of its 
 ferrous confequences How can it otherwife 
 be, but that contempt and poverty muft be the 
 effect of fuch incompetent allowance ? It is in 
 vain to attempt correcting the opinion of man- 
 kind, even the wifer part will follow the vul- 
 gar, in efteeming men according to their 
 wealth, dignities, and honors; few have fuch 
 logical heads to be able to diftinguifti the man 
 from his profeffion, and reverence him as a 
 divine, while they defpife him on account of 
 
 his
 
 ( 93 ) 
 
 his poverty. The vulgar efpecially cannot fup~ 
 pofe that a. fpectre of a man, labouring under 
 diftrefs,can preach as powerfully, and petition 
 heaven as prevalently, as the dignitary plu- 
 raliff. who appears in pomp and fplendor. The 
 wife man of Sirach has more gravely remarked 
 this difference : When the rich man fpeaketh, 
 fays he, every one holdeth his peace, and his 
 words are extolled to the cjouds; but, if a 
 poor man fpeaketh, they are ready to fay, 
 what fellow is this ? Agreeable to this the 
 French poet Boileau fays, 
 
 L,a richejfe permet une jufle flertk t 
 Mais il faut it re fouple avec la pauvrete. 
 
 From the feveral calculations in political 
 arithmetic, that have been made by Doctor 
 Price and others, the inhabitants of this king- 
 dom, allowing fix to a houfe, may amount to 
 about feven millions. Out of this number Ict- 
 us fuppofe two millions to be Roman catho- 
 lics, Jews, and Diffenters of every denomina- 
 tion, there will then be five millions of fouls 
 
 who
 
 ( 94 ) 
 
 who fall under the care of the clergy of the 
 cftabliftied church, I mean the inferior clergy, 
 the curates, whofe diftrefles render them fo 
 contemptible in the eyes of the laity in gene- 
 ral, that their adminiftration is not attended 
 with that weight it otherwife would have. 
 
 The poverty of the firft preachers of the 
 gofpel in the primitive times of Chriftianity 
 was fo far from being defpicable, that it was 
 rather honourable, as performing their duty 
 from confeientious motives ; but in thefe times 
 of luxury and difTipation, and refinement of 
 manners, nothing appears more difgraceful and 
 contemptible than a garb that favours of pe- 
 nury. Every perfon new is efteemed in pro- 
 portion to the figure he makes in the world, fas 
 aat nefas, no matter which way the means of 
 fupporting it is acquired. 
 
 It was exactly the fame in the degenerate 
 
 m 
 
 time of the Romans, when the proconfuls, 
 like our nabobs, as they are fry led, returned 
 home laden with the fpoils of the provinces of 
 the Eaft. It was cuftomary for their friends to 
 write to them not to return to Rome till they 
 
 had
 
 ( 95 ) 
 
 had acquired fufficient wealth to be able to 
 bribe the fenate. We have feen fomething 
 refemhling this in our times. Luxury and 
 profligacy of manners among them, had arri- 
 ved to fuch a pitch, that worth and merit be- 
 came of no eftimation, were laughed totally 
 out of countenance. According to Juvenal's 
 bfervation, who lived at that time, 
 
 Et genus et virtus ', nife cum re, (ft vilior alga* 
 
 Juv. 
 
 Had a curate of thirty or forty pounds a 
 year falary, labouring under indigence and po- 
 verty, the united eloquence of the two cele- 
 brated orators of Greece and Rome, Demofthe- 
 nes and Cicero, as well as the learning of all our 
 able divines who have wrote fo very excellent- 
 ly upon theological fubjedts, yet their doctrine 
 will be received with coolnefs and indifference, 
 will have no effect, nor make the leafl impref- 
 fion upon the generality, who judge more by 
 appearance than reality. In a word, in the 
 prefent age of luxury and frivolity, poverty is 
 
 the 
 6
 
 ( 96 ) 
 
 the moft mortifying difgrace that can befal A 
 man. 
 
 Poverty, in the opinion of fome, is ftyled 
 kind of hell upon earth ; and he who labours 
 under this misfortune, anticipates, in fome 
 degree, the torments of the unhappy in a fu- 
 ture ftate. It eclipfes the brighter! virtues, is 
 the fepulchre of great and noble defigns, de- 
 prives a man of genius of the means of ac- 
 complifhingwhat nature fitted him for, ftifliilg 
 the moll laudable purpofes in their embryo* 
 How many illuftrious fouls may be faid to have 
 been dead, in a manner, among the living, or 
 buried alive in the obfcurity of their condition, 
 whofe talents and capacities would have ren- 
 dered them the brighteft ornaments of their 
 country! yet the infuperable penury . of their 
 conditions has ranked them among the outcafts 
 of the earth in the fight of men. 
 
 The prefent ftate of this kingdom refembles 
 in a great degree that of ancient Rome, as be- 
 fore hinted, when an inundation of wealth had 
 corrupted the manners of its citizens, the 
 
 power
 
 ( ?>7 ) 
 
 power of fafhion became fuperior to that of 
 law. 
 
 Mores Leges perduxerunt in potes*. 
 tatem suam. 
 
 If an angel from heaven, I believe, mould 
 defcend amongft us, and take upon him the 
 minifterial function, if he abftained from 
 working miracles, under the fame difcourage- 
 ments and difficulties that the prefent curates of 
 the eftablimed church, he would acquire not 
 much refpect to his perfon, or attention to his 
 doctrine. 
 
 There are no denominations of men in the 
 kingdom, clerks in public offices under go- 
 vernment, common excifemen, mechanics of 
 every kind, &c. who have not applied for an 
 advancement of their falaries and wages, in 
 confequence of the high price of provifions, 
 and every necelTary of life, difference in the 
 value of money, as well as alteration in the 
 manner of living amongft us ; even journey- 
 men taylors have had their wages fettled by 
 
 O ad
 
 t 98 ) 
 
 aft of Parliament, at a higher rate than the 
 curates in general are allowed by their rectors 
 for officiating in the fervicc of the church. 
 Even the negroes of Africa have had the omni- 
 potent minifter of the prefent day, and the firft 
 orators in the houfe of Commons, for their ad- 
 vocates, to relieve them from the tyranny of their 
 hard tafk-maiters. The diftreffed defpond- 
 ing curates are the only fet of men in the realm, 
 who are neglected, and whofe falaries have not 
 been advanced, and that bear no kind of pro- 
 portion with the revenues of their employers, 
 whofe benefices have been greatly advanced, as 
 before hinted ; but that the falaries of the 
 curates continue the fame at this time as fet- 
 tled near a hundred years ago. The laft act 
 of Parliament for the regulation of curates was 
 in the former part of the reign of Queen Anne, 
 when it was enacted, that they were to receive 
 no lefs than 20/. nor more than 50/. a year, 
 the proportioning which was left to the ordi- 
 nary ; but if the curate had not a licence, he 
 ould not avail himfelf of even this pittance. 
 It is univerfally allowed, that the contempt 
 
 that
 
 ( 99 ) 
 
 that ufeful body of men, the curates, are held 
 in on account of their poverty, is one of the 
 chief caufes of the defertion from the efta- 
 blifhed church, the rapid and alarming increafe 
 of all kinds of fectaries, particularly of that of 
 methodifm, which is inconceivable, through 
 every part of the kingdom * and yet thefe 
 oppreflfed indigent people are the perfons upon 
 whom now the care of the greater part of the 
 fouls of the members of the eftablifhed church 
 are devolved; 
 
 Some perfons have maintained, that the ftate 
 of the clergy is the beft means of judging of a 
 people of any nation. 
 
 The prefent earl of Guildford, when a mem- 
 ber of the houfe of Commons, fpeaking of 
 Mr. Beaufoy's Bill in favour of the DifTenters, 
 declared it as his decided opinion, that the 
 fituation of the eftablifhed church was the cri* 
 terion by which the world meafure the flou- 
 rifhing ftate of the conftitution. If this por- 
 tion be true, then fuch as are acquainted with 
 the many abufes fubfifting in our church, and 
 the extraordinary defertion from it in confe- 
 
 O a quence
 
 C ioo ) 
 
 cjiience of them, muft form a very indifferent 
 opinion indeed of our constitution. 
 
 Exclufive of the benefits which may be ex* 
 pe&ed from the improved ftate of religion in 
 this kingdom, confidered in a fpiritual fenfe, I 
 mean fefpecting the happinefs and rewards to 
 be expected in a future ftate ; yet in a political 
 view our fecular governors well know, that tho 
 beft and furefl foundation of theirauthority over 
 mankind is laid in Religion ; that human 
 laws, and the terrors of them, can only bind the 
 outward man ; but confcience, which is the in- 
 ward man, can by no other means be bound 
 than by the ties of Religion, and the re- 
 wards and punifhments of a future ftate. For 
 this reafon, fome of the wifeft heathens have 
 ever efleemed it more expedient to humour the 
 vulgar in their miftakes relative to a future 
 ftate (becaufe how grofs foever they appeared 
 to be, they found them ferviceable to keep 
 them in fubjection), rather than endanger the 
 government by invalidating their belief. For" 
 the fame reafon, even atheiftical politicians 
 advife their princes, in all ages, to take efpe-. 
 
 cial
 
 ( ! ) 
 
 cialcare of religion, and to fee it rooted a* 
 firmly as poffible in the hearts of their fub* 
 jects, and held in veneration, refpect, and 
 efteem, how little foever they might inwardly 
 regard it themfelves; becaufe it is the only 
 inltrument of government, and the mod ef- 
 fectual expedient of maintaining their fubjects 
 under controul. 
 
 So fhamefully inadequate is the Itipend al- 
 lowed the curates amongft us, that it is a noto- 
 rious truth, that an eminent barrifter at law 
 will gain more by one particular caufe of im- 
 portance, than a curate's falary would amount 
 to in /even years. When the late Lord Grant- 
 ley, or better known perhaps by the title of 
 Sir Fletcher Norton, attended at the bar, being 
 the firft. perfon who received thefe extravagant 
 fums, it was not uncommon for him to receive 
 two or three hundred guineas as a retain- 
 ing fee. Lord Afhburton, the late Mr. Dun- 
 ning, followed his example by exacting the 
 fame immoderate fums ; by which practices 
 they both amaifed greater fortunes than the 
 whole collective body of curates in the nation 
 
 arc
 
 ( *w ) 
 
 are capable of doing during their lives nar> 
 withftanding many of them are better educated 
 and of fuperior abilities, though not of equal 
 effrontery with the two gentlemen above men-* 
 tioned. 
 
 With the higher! elevation of fifty pounds a 
 year, as fettled by the legiflature near a hun* 
 dred years ago, which was then equal to three 
 times that fum, at leafi at prefent* a gentle- 
 man (for fuch the curates muft be ftyled) not- 
 withftanding their diftreffed condition, and that 
 journeymen mechanicks, who have better in* 
 comes, burlefque them upon that account : I 
 fay, a perfon will find it difficult to live and 
 appear in any degree as a gentleman, when the 
 high price of proyifions, and every article of 
 life, as well as the prefect mode of living, are 
 confidered : and he will be an extraordinary 
 ceconomiiHndeed, if at the expiration of the 
 year, he finds not himfelf minus* in the lan- 
 guage of the algebraifts ; but, upon fuppofition 
 that he has a wife and fome olive branches 
 around his table, what a diftrefled ftate muft he 
 then r be in ! perpetually ftruggling to free him- 
 felf 
 6
 
 ( I0 3 ) 
 
 felf from the embarraffrnents of debt, and as 
 perpetually relapfing. What a primitive fight 
 in thefe days of diffipation, luxury, and uni- 
 verfal foppery, to fe a man of God traverfing 
 the streets of this gay metropolis in his thread- 
 bare coat, for fpruce powdered fhopmen and 
 apprentices to point at, and wags to crack their 
 jokes upon. 
 
 To be ferious, how is it poflible to con- 
 ceive, that a man obliged to appear under the 
 character of a gentleman, can fubfift upon fuch 
 a pittance, I do not fay with decency, but in 
 any degree ', without being plunged into diffi- 
 culties, and reduced to the neceffity of crouch- 
 ing and (looping to fuch debafing actions, as 
 muft render both himfclf and his adminiftra- 
 tion contemptible, and fuch as his foul would 
 fpurn at under other circumftances. Were 
 he indeed in any expectation of arriving at 
 preferment, after fuch a courfe of ftarving and 
 extreme diftrefs and mortification, he proba- 
 bly might ftrive to bear up againft thefe diffi- 
 culties with patience and magnanimity. 
 
 The
 
 ( *<H ) 
 
 The only recourfe a poor curate has of im- 
 proving his income, as his family increafes, 
 and his exigencies require, is commencing pe- 
 dagogue, engaging in the bufinefs of educating 
 youth, the moft difagrceable of all the em- 
 ploys of life. A melancholy reflection after 
 fo much expence, time, and ftudy, which, if 
 employed in any fecular bufinefs or occupa- 
 tion, might have enabled him to live comfort- 
 ably in plenty, and perhaps acquire a fortune 
 againft the decline of life, and provifion for his 
 children, who, as matters are at prefent, are 
 generally under the management of truftees of 
 charitable focieties, &c. 
 
 In the metropolis and large towns, a curate 
 endeavours to make a little addition to his in- 
 come, by entering the lifts for a lecturefhip ; 
 to acquire which, fuch mean debating arts are 
 ufed, fuch proftitution of character, fuch de- 
 famation, reviling, fuch envious emulation, 
 &c. are practifed, as are a difgrace to religion, 
 . and the clerical profelTion ; and if he who will 
 riot cringe and fawn upon the meaneft of the 
 
 people,
 
 ( ">5 ) 
 
 people, can expect no fuccefs in his pulpit 
 prize-fighting. St. Paul makes mention of 
 iome in his days, who preached Chnft for 
 envy y ft rife, and contention ; what we fee in our 
 times is fomewhat fimilar to this. 
 
 Such as are engaged in fecular affairs, in \ 
 cafe of accident, ficknefs, inability, through 
 age, &c. fuch as are free of any of the compa- 
 nies in trade in London, or moft of the large 
 towns in the kingdom, have all a comfortable 
 retreat and maintenance in the decline of life : 
 but the man of God, who hath dedicated his 
 life in the fervice of the altar, hath not, undef 
 the above diftrefs, where to lay his head. 
 
 There have been two recent inftances of 
 clergymen dying, as fuppofed, for want of 
 neceflary fuflenance ; one was in Bartholomew 
 hofpital, the other was in Wiltshire : but how 
 many are there who cannot dig, but to beg are 
 afoamed, who pine in obfeurity, whofe cafes 
 are not fo publickly known. 
 
 The bifhop of LandafPs advice to the fo- 
 ciety of curates, who applied to him lately for 
 his Lordfhip's advice refpe&ing an applica- 
 
 P tion
 
 ( m } 
 
 iioh to parliament for a redrefs of their gr'ie-' 
 varices, was to this effecl: ; that if the legisla- 
 ture does not take their miferable unhappy 
 Situation into consideration, with that of their 
 brethren through the reft of the kingdom, and 
 if no relief is to be expedted; " that they mull: 
 look forward with content to that aw ^ul 
 day, when all fuperiority mail be done away, 
 except fuperior goodnefs, and no degree of 
 merit fail of its reward :" it is extremely eafy 
 for a perfon in affluent circumftances to give 
 fuch advice ; but it is very difficult for fuch as 
 have been delicately and liberally educated, 
 and who once have enjoyed probably the con- 
 veniences and comforts of life plentifully, and 
 with profpects of living independently in the 
 world, to fit down contented under the 
 combined misfortune of fuffering hunger, po- 
 preffion, as well as contempt, fcorn, and deri- 
 fion, and all this for right eoafnefs fake \ having 
 for many years, in the prime of their lives, per- 
 formed their duty with faithfulnefs and dili- 
 gence in their profeilion, for perhaps an un- 
 grateful, illiberal, opulent pluralifh 
 
 His
 
 ( io 7 ) 
 
 His Lordfhip gave it as his opinion at the 
 fame time, that the incumbents of benefices 
 were as much diftreffed as the curates. But 
 with due deference to his Lordfhip, I muftfay, 
 that this is a very great error indeed. 
 
 The benefices that have occafion for curates 
 are fuch as belong to non-rfefident pluralifts, 
 which have been, as above ftated, greatly im- 
 proved by inclofures of Common Fields, and 
 tythes advanced twice or three times over, 
 without any advance perhaps to the perfon who 
 performs the whole of the duty. . A rectory I 
 held for fome years before an inclofure took 
 place, amounted to no more than a hundred 
 and twenty pounds a year, which at this time is 
 above two hundred and fifty pounds. There 
 has been a very great advance through the 
 whole kingdom wherever there arc great 
 tythes, that is, in the rectories. Even the 
 condition of all the inferior incumbents, the vi- 
 cars, is greatly preferable to that of the cu- 
 rates. Suppofe a perfon is incumbent of a 
 fmall vicarage, he faves the expence of houfe- 
 rent, has a garden, orchard, and generally a 
 
 P 2 little
 
 ( IO & ) 
 
 little glebe to fupply a horfe, and a cow or two, 
 befides fome fmall endowment ; fomething 
 arifing annually from Eafler offerings, furplice 
 fees and prefents, an opportunity of improving 
 his little glebe, which may now be of fome- 
 thing more Value, fince the decision relative to 
 aggiftment tythes. Whereas the miferable 
 curate muft rent a houfe or lodging for himfelf 
 and family, enjoys none of the above conve- 
 niences and advantages, has nothing befides his 
 bare 30/. or 40/. a year, the average of the 
 falary allowed, to furnifh every article for him- 
 felf and family, which at thefe times is a very 
 fcanty fupport indeed. 
 
 . I have been thus particular in cont rafting the 
 condition of the fmalleft benefice with that 
 of a curate, to convince his Lordfhip of the 
 many advantages the former has over the lat- 
 ter ; befides, another conflderation extremely 
 mortifying to a man of fpirit and of liberal 
 ideas, the incumbent is for life and indepen- 
 dent ; whereas he who ferves a curacy has a 
 fuperior to pleafe, by whofe caprice he is liable 
 to be difmiffed at a fhort notice; his condition 
 
 and
 
 ( I0 9 ) 
 
 and tenure is precarious ; but the pofleflbr of 
 the mod inconfiderable benefice is indepen- 
 dent, and his ftate is permanent ; and what 
 is no lefs galling, the perfon who officiates in 
 the capacity of curate, is, by the generality of 
 the laity (particularly the vulgar part) confider- 
 ed as acting in a ftate of fervitude, and is 
 treated accordingly. 
 
 The Levites in the Old Tejlament had plen- >f. 
 tiful provifions : they had houfes, glebe-lands, 
 free-will-offerings, and their part of the firfi 
 fruits and facrifkes. Do the inferior Minifters 
 of the Gofpel, the Curates, deferve worfe 
 wages, for bringing better tidings? Befides 
 the Levitc's office was hereditary, and the fon 
 was fure of fucceeding his father in his houfe 
 and lands, with a faculty adfucccdendum Patri. 
 
 With refpect to improving himfelf in the 
 knowledge requifite for the better difcharge of 
 his function, the poor Curate is totally pre- 
 cluded, having it not in his power to furnifh 
 himfelf with fuch books as are necefTary for 
 that purpofe ; and if he had, the anxiety of his 
 mind under the preffureof his indigent circum* 
 
 (lances,
 
 ( II0 ) 
 
 fiances, prevents him from paying due atten- 
 tion to his ftudies. A mind at eafe is abfo- 
 lutely requifite for fludy, and the acquisition 
 of any fcience, when a man is embarraffed 
 in his affairs under misfortunes, he drags 
 perpetually about him a heavy chain, which 
 in every effort he makes, weighs down his 
 fancy, and enervates his flyle. If the curates, 
 from the narrownefs of their incomes, are not 
 in a capacity of furnilhing themfelves with 
 fuch books as are neceffary, they cannot main- 
 tain the honour and well-being of the church, 
 they cannct defend the caufe of Chriflianity in 
 general, or the reformed religion in particular, 
 as they ought to do ; fliould they be found de- 
 ficient, it is not to be wondered at. It is 
 from the wealthy pluralifls and dignitaries, 
 who have the means of purchasing, and the 
 leifure of fludy ing books, that we mufl expect 
 the advancement of fciences, the underfland- 
 ing of myfleries, the explication of obfeure 
 paffages, the refolving of difficult cafes, the 
 flating of controversies, confutation of errors, 
 and, in fine, the confirmation of all truth. 
 
 5 What
 
 ( III ) 
 
 What a daily triumph mult it be to the in- ~\- 
 fidels of the age, that the very men who have 
 the bufinefs of intruding nearly the whole of 
 the people of England (I mean of the efta- 
 blifhed church) in the principles of religion, 
 mould not be able, on account of the above 
 itated difcouragements, to fupport them by 
 found argument, and be able to demonftrate 
 the divine authority of that bIciTed book from 
 whence they daily preach. 
 
 . What I wiili to inculcate in general, is, that 
 contempt mufl be the unavoidable effect of fo 
 incompetent a provision as falls to the lot of the 
 ftibftitutes who perform nearly the whole of 
 the duty in the eftablifhed church amongft us z 
 and it is impoiiible to correct the opinions of 
 mankind; even the wifer part will follow the 
 vulgar, in efteeming men according to their 
 wealth, dignities, and honours, notwithstand- 
 ing the abfurdity of the thing, confidered in a 
 rational light. And though the refpect that is- 
 due, is fettled, as has been already fliewn, 
 upon a.clergyman on account of his facerdotal 
 character, and in that refpect is unalterable by 
 
 anv~
 
 ( 112 ) 
 
 any circumftance of fortune ; yet few people 
 have fuch logical heads as to he able to diitin- 
 guifli, or fuch nice conceptions as to feparata 
 the man from his profeilion, and fo reverence 
 him as a divine, while they defpife him on ac- 
 count of his poverty : few perfons have fuih 
 unprejudiced minds, as not to efteem an 
 ecclefiaftic in proportion to the value of his 
 preferment, and fuppofe that he rifes and falls 
 in his pulpit abilities, according to the glare 
 and fplendid appearance that accompanies 
 him. 
 
 When the pompous pluralift vifits his 
 parifhioners to receive his revenue for glebe 
 tythe, &c. he will condefcend to give them a 
 fermon, as before hinted : upon return home 
 after fervice, upon being afked who preached, 
 the ladies particularly will anfwer in raptures, 
 that the doctor himfelf\xaA given them a charm- 
 ing difcourfe ; but the great man having fettled 
 for; his dues, taken his departure, and left the 
 care of his flock to the hireling, who fome- 
 times is a man of fuperior abilities and the 
 better orator, there are no further charming 
 difcourfes. 
 
 I could
 
 ( "3 ) 
 
 I could enumerate a variety of other abufes 
 which fubfift in the eftablifhed church of this 
 kingdom j but fhall conclude at prefent by 
 earneftly wifhing, that the rulers of the ftate, 
 among other laws for the benefit of the com- 
 munity, would deign to look into thefanfluary 
 alfo, and fee whether fome better regulations 
 may not be wanting there ; left fome provoca- 
 tions of divine wrath may not proceed from 
 thence : for if the complaint of thofe who reap 
 down the field, or any other hirelings, defrauded 
 of their jufl wages, enters the ears of the 
 Almighty; what will not the opprelTion of 
 his more immediate fervants do ? Woe to him 
 that coveteth an evil covetoufnefs to his houfie, 
 and detaineth from his poor hireling curate an 
 equitable and proportionate recompence for his 
 labour and duty in the vineyard. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 
 yd 
 
 -
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 CtMW 
 
 JUL 3 1985 
 
 Form L9-40m-7,'56(C790s4)444
 
 3X ecclesia stical 
 
 5175 reform 
 E17 
 
 ' r" 
 
 .UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRAf 
 
 A A 000 093 444 
 
 ^fOJIW)-JO 
 
 ^OKALIFO/?^ 
 
 ^AHVHaiB^ 
 
 BX 
 
 5175 
 E17 
 
 WtfUNIVEftf//,
 
 
 
 
 ; ' '.''-:- -mim 
 
 ''''.''. ". \^\ >':