A
MANUAL
FOR TUB
PARISH PRIESI,
BEING A FEW HINTS OX
THE PASTORAL CARE,
TO TUB
YOUNGER CLERGY
OP THE
Cfiurcl) of Cnglan* -,
FROM AN
ELDER BROTHER.
rof {
Luke xxii. 34-.
LONDON :
PRINTED FOR F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON,
NO. 62, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD 5
By 1L $ R, Gilbert, St. John't Square.
1815.
AClt-
THE MOST REVEREND
THE ARCHBISHOPS,
AND
THE RIGHT REVEREND
THE BISHOPS
OF
THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.
MY LORDS,
THIS little Tract, the
production of the leisure hours
afforded to the author in the
last twelve months, I beg to
lay at the feet of your Lord-
ships, not only as the best
means of rendering my work
A 2 as
8 "1
IV
as useful as its merits will ad-
mit, but as a duty I owe to the
Apostolical Order, set over that
branch of the Christian Church,
to which I belong.
The subject, my Lords, is
highly important to the Na-
tional Church, perhaps I might
add, to the whole Christian
world ; for a due discharge of
the pastoral office on so con-
siderable a portion of the pure
Church, as that by God's good
providence preserved within
the British dominion, must be
of great importance to the ge-
neral cause of Christianity.
My opinion of the work,
allow
allow me to say, is rather fa-
vourable ; indeed if it had been
otherwise I should not have
presumed to solicit the coun-
tenance of your Lordships, nor
could I have entertained a hope
of its being received by my
brethren. But, my Lords,
when I say my opinion is fa-
vourable, I do not feel any li-
terary pride ; the work is not
of that description which re-
quires genius, or any uncom-
mon extent of learning ; it is
merely a few hints from an
elderly ecclesiastic for the use
of the younger clergy.
I do think however, my
A 3 Lords,
VI
Lords, that these hints form a
manual of pastoral advice,
which, to the younger part of
the ministry, may be of great
use. Many a young man is no
sooner ordained to the minis-
terial office ; than he is placed
in a situation far distant from
those who are able and willing
to give him good counsel ;
where he is surrounded with
all the alluring temptations of
the world, at an age when he
still requires a friendly moni-
tor.
To a young man under these
circumstances, my book may
be of infinite service ; it may
supply
VII
supply the place of a Mentor ;
it may excite him to pay atten-
tion to the duties of his sacred
calling; " to flee youthful
lusts," and " to shew himself
a workman approved unto God
that needeth not be ashamed ;"
it may preserve him from neg-
ligence and folly in this world,
and theirdreadful consequences
in the world to come.
Such as my book is, I lay it
before your Lordships and my
brethren ; should you, my
Lords, see fit to approve, and
they to read it, should the
work attain such a circulation
as to give a ground of hope
that
Vlll
that I may in any reasonable
degree be instrumental in ani-
mating the younger clergy of
the Church of England to an
active and faithful discharge of
their ministerial functions, great
will be my reward. But, my
Lords, if only one copy of my
little Tract shall leave the
bookseller's shop, and that one
copy shall in any measure be
the happy means of rendering
one unwary brother, instead of a
snare to weak Christians, a use-
ful servant of his Divine Mas-
ter, I shall deem my labour,
and the expence of the whole
edition amply repaid.
And
IX
And now, my Lords, I will
detain you no longer than to
beg, that whatever may be
your opinions, whatever may
be the success of my work, you
will offer up your prayers to
the throne of Heaven for ac-
ceptance of my endeavours,
however unworthy, in the ser-
vice of God : and to assure
your Lordships, that awake to
the arduousness of the situation
in which YOU are placed, feel-
ing that it may require all the
great talents your Lordships
possess, and all the divine in-
fluence we may expect will be
shed upon the highest order in
Christ's Church, under circum-
stances,
stances, with which from the
present aspect of ecclesiastical
affairs, YOU may have yet to
contend ; deeply impressed, my
Lords, with these considera-
tions, that the Almighty may
shower down upon your Lord-
ships such abundance of his
grace as will support you in
every danger, and carry you
through every trial, is the
daily prayer of,
My Lords,
Your Graces,
And your Lordships
Most dutiful and respectful
Servant,
THE AUTHOR.
th Sept. 1815.
ERRATA.
Pag 5, line IS, for and Seeker read and a Scke*
10, 15, for our read his
10, 17, for our read his
10, 18, for our lives read his life
39, 1, jor is equally read are equally
5l 9, /or affation read ifflatus
136, 18, for flock read flocks
140f 7, for which read not in Italic*
INTRODUCTION.
only in a religious, but in
a political point of view the well-
being of a state depends greatly
upon the due discharge of the sa-
cerdotal office. If the priest be
inattentive to his duty, the religion
of the people will grow cool or
corrupt, their moral conduct wili
become depraved, and the civil, as
well as the ecclesiastical polity,
will be in danger. " The priest,"
eays Hooker, " is a pillar of that
B Common*
Commonwealth, wherein he faith-
fully serveth God."
Political writers therefore we
find frequently urging the necessity
of providing for an ecclesiastical
establishment in every well ordered
government, and of enacting laws
to insure the proper performance
of ecclesiastical duty.
In this kingdom provision is
made, both for inforcing, and re-
warding, the exertions of the
clergy ; and at different times
those set apart for the sacred of-
fice have been roused to a consi-
deration of the responsible situation
in which they are placed, by
writers of their own body ; some
of the superior rank in the hier-
archy have published their direc-
tions
tioas and admonitions to the lower
orders, and several of inferior de-
gree have urged their brethren,
upon considerations of the highest
importance, to discharge their
trust with fidelity.
Never was the attention of the
clergy to every part of their duty,
publick and private, more requi-
site than at the present time. Edu-
cation is become so general
amongst every class of the people
in this nation, and the taste for
pulpit composition in the middle
ranks, so much more refined than
it formerly was, that there are few
congregations in which a very un-
skilful mode of reading the ser-
vices of the Church, or a want of
tolerable correctness in the lan-
B 2
guage and arrangement of a ser-
mon, would pass unobserved : And
the spirit of proselytism rages
to such a degree amongst some
bodies of dissenters, and those,
the wildest and most danger-
ous, that the constant unremit-
ted private labour of the pastor,
is not more than sufficient to pre-
vent even the well-inclined part of
his flock being seduced from the
doctrine and discipline of the
Church.
These considerations induced
me to employ a few leisure hours,
in throwing together the follow-
ing hints upon the discharge of the
pastoral office. I was convinced
the employment would be of ad-
vantage to myself, that it would
give
give me clearer and more correct
ideas of my duty, and 1 likewise
had some hope, the memoranda I
should collect for my own use,
might be of service, at least tc*
the younger part of my bre-
thren.
I was not ignorant, nor was I
unmindful, that many excellent
works had been written upon the
subject ; I had not forgotten my
own obligation to those of a Bur-
net, a Patrick, a Hort, and
Seeker ; and to several more mo-
dern charges and treatises upoi>
the sacred office. But consider-
ing, that it was long since any
collective body of pastoral advice
had appeared ii print, and that
some change in the ecclesiastical
B 3 circura-
circumstances of the kingdom had
taken place, I conceived I might
be able to give a few hints on
parochial matters, which were not
to be found in former works of the
same description ; at all events, I
trusted a new publication would
awaken attention to a subject of
the highest importance to our
Church and nation.
I intend to comprise my hints in
two chapters, one on the publick,
the other on the private labours of
the parochial clergy. Proposing
to touch but lightly on the manners
and habits of the parish priest, I
shall not appropriate a chapter to
these heads, but shall give a little
general advice upon the subject in
this place.
The
7
The clergy are a distinct body
of men, set apart for the service
of the Church ; it is therefore
highly proper that they should be
distinguished by some outward
mark. The external garb of the
priest, not only induces the re-
spect of the people towards him,
but it assists in awakening his own
attention to the sacred commission
he bears. The Almighty himself
appointed particular habits for the
priests of the Jewish, and a simi-
lar custom has been adopted by
the Christian Church. Let then
every one who has taken upon
him the priestly office, conform
in this as well as in every other
matter, to the rules and ordi-
nances of the Church. Let him
11 4 put
put on grave and decent apparel.
The stile must be regulated by the
situation in which he is placed j
but whatever mode of dress may
be suitable to his cure, it should
be of such a description, as will
not offend the eyes of those who
ought to have the greatest respect
for their minister.
That the clergy are men, and that
some relaxation from labour is ne-
.cessary to them, as well as to the rest
.of mankind, no one will deny; and
whatever interest, or pleasure, a
parish priest may take in the func-
tions of his office, still there must
be times and seasons for withdraw-
ing himself from his common oc-
cupation. The bow will not bear
.to be always bent : sacred study
may
may be his greatest amusement,
and parochial visits may afford
him sufficient bodily exercise, but
some employment foreign to his
general business, will be requisite
to induce a different train of
ideas, and, by relaxing his mind
for a time, make it vigorous and
active on the return to its usual
occupations.
Amusement then is certainly al-
lowable to the clergy; of course
strictly innocent in the most ex-
tended sense of the term : and it
should not only be innocent, but
characteristic. Of what particu-
lar amusements the relaxations of
a clergyman should consist, I will
not here inquire ; all I wish to
say upon the subject, is, that they
J should
10
should be of a description, which
will neither lessen him in the eyes
of his flock, nor occupy that time
and thought which ought to be
appropriated to more serious and
momentous concerns.
And these amusements, inno-
cent, and clerical, and allowable
as they may be in their nature, it
will be understood, from what I
have said, are to be recreations
only : they must be taken with
moderation, and not pursued with
a degree of ardor, which will en-
danger our becoming attached to
them ; or even make them appear
in the eyes of our parishioners, to
be the business of our lives.
I have, so long as my attention
fcas been turned to the subject,
considered
11
considered an intermixture of the
clergy amongst every rank of so-
ciety, of the greatest advantage
to the religion and morals of the
nation. The bishops associate
with the peers, the subordinate
clergy are in the habit of familiar
intercourse with the middle ranks,
and the parochial ministers, through
the constant communication it is
in their power to keep up with
their parishioners, may always have
an influence over the manners,
and morals of the lower order.
An intermixture of the clergy with
the laity I am persuaded is of the
greatest consequence to the well
ordering of society. Their pre-
sence, like that of females, gives
a east of propriety to social meet-
B 6 ings ;
12
ings ; and though, they may some-
times be constrained to witness an
over-stepping the bounds of strict
temperance, or decorum, yet they
will in general perceive that re-
spect paid to their order, which de-
clares, what would be the conse-
quence, if they were secluded by
custom or inclination from the
familiar intercourse, that now
takes place between themselves
and the laity.
Far from necessary therefore is
it for the parish priest to decline
that social communication with
his neighbours, which may be of
reciprocal advantage. Society
will relax and unbend his mind
after study and the labours of his
office. lie may, at the tables of
his
13
his lay neighbours, gain informa-
tion in many branches of useful
knowledge, and an insight into
men and manners. And he may
be an instrument, perhaps an un-
conscious instrument, of keeping
mirth within the bounds of de-
cency and decorum. But to do
this he must be cautious in the se-
lection of his companions ; if he
shews a partiality to, and keeps up
an intimacy with men of known
profligate habits; if he is con-
tinually joining their parties, and
instead of restraining, approves
their intemperance and ribaldry,
he is so far from being of service,
that he is of the greatest detri-
ment to the cause of morality and
jeligioi) ; he makes the Christian
ministry
14
ministry give a sanction to those
deeds, which the Christian religion
declares will exclude all who prac-
tise them from any benefit in the
atonement of Christ; he disgusts
the sober part of his parish, renders
his ministerial labours ineffectual,
and perhaps drives some of his
flock from the bosom of the
Church.
It is not the part of the Christian
minister, with pharisaical pride to
refuse all communication with
every one he may think not pos-
sessed of that genuine piety he
could wish ; to say, as it were,
" Stand by, for I ain holier than
thou ;" but he should carefully
avoid a familiar intercourse with
men, whose habits and manners
render
U
render them, in the eye of the
world, unfit companions for those
who have dedicated themselves
to the service of the Christian
Church.
This will not bring the society
of the parochial minister within too
narrow a compass. Not a neigh-
bourhood, I believe, is to be
found which will not afford a
sufficient number of proper asso-
ciates for the clergy, and where
the tables of the higher ranks of
the laity are not open to every
rank of ecclesiastics, whose con-
duct deserves the notice of the
wise and good. Let me then urge
my younger brethren, for the sake
of the Christian Church, for the
sake of the flocks particularly com-
mitted
16
mittect to their charge, for the
sake of their own eternal wel-
fare, to be cautious into what so-
ciety they enter when they are
just setting out in life. They
may, and they will, if they con-
duct themselves properly, gain ad-
mittance into that society which is
suited to their character, which
will make them respected by their
parishioners, and useftil in their pro-
fession. If they form habits of in-
timacy with the intemperate and
dissolute, they will exclude them-
selves from the friendship of the
thinking and religious part of
the neighbourhood ; and instead
of rendering their hours of relaxa-
tion subservient to the cause of
religion and virtue, they will by
the
17
the sanction of their presence, lead
their companions farther into sin
and misery, and have a dreadful
account to settle when their
stewardship is inspected by that
Master, whose service they have
neglected, whose commands they
have disobeyed, upon whose reli-
gion they have brought a scandal,
and the work of whose enemy they
have been performing and ad-
vancing.
The parochial minister should
not only be attentive to his ex-
ternal deportment, to his dress,
bis amusements, and his society,
but he should be careful to form
habits which are useful and be-
coming the clerical character.
I would recommend in the first
place
18
place regularity in his proceedings,
to have, as far as circumstances
will admit, fixed times and seasons
for all his occupations, whether of
business or relaxation. There can
be no proper husbandry of that
most precious of the talents in-
trusted to man, time, without, rule
and order. I have somewhere
met with the following aphorism
of the thrifty in worldly affairs,
" Take care of the pence, the
pounds will take care of them-
selves;" intimating that large ex-
penditures will not be unnoticed,
whilst smaller sums, without care
and attention, will pass away un-
observed. May we not parody
this maxim very usefully on the
present subject, and say, Take care
of
19
of the minutes, the days will take
care of themselves. Indolent in-
deed must be that man who can
suffer even one day to pass with*
out an allotted employment ; but
many there are I believe whose
time is generally and perhaps use-
fully engaged, that allow small
portions of the day to glide away
unoccupied, which might be pro-
fitably and pleasantly employed.
Have times and seasons, not only
for study, but for the different de-
scriptions of study ; there are
some hours when the mind is
more alert and better fitted for
close application, and others more
adapted to lighter reading ; and
always have a book at hand to fill
up the straggling minutes. Much
information
20
information may be gained in the
course of the year from books,
which a parochial minister cannot
afford to make a part of his studies,
and at times which would other*
wise be lost to every good pur-
pose.
There is a habit I strongly re*
commend my younger brethren to
attain early in life ; that is the ha-
bit of solitude ; to be able, com-
fortably to pass a series of days
without society. It will be under-
stood, from what I have before
said, that I by no means advise a
seclusion from the world ; far
otherwise ; all I recommend to a
young divine, is that he should
so interest himself in his home em-
ployments, that he shall feel no va-
cuity
tjttity when, at times, they form his
only engagements. The contrary
habit tends to dissipate all serious
thought. If when the mind grows
a little weary, relief is immediately
to be sought .in company, and not
in a change of home occupations,
the inclination to those occupa-
tions will gradually diminish, and
the labour as well as the study of
the parochial minister, will dwindle
down to the lowest possible pro-
portion. This habit likewise leads
to the most fatal consequences.
The situation of most young men
renders it highly improbable they
can constantly find proper society.;
if therefore society is deemed in-
dispensable, whither can such men
but where the dereliction of
their
22
their duty must hurry themselves,
and their sanction and example
hurry their companions, into cer-
tain destruction. Let me advise
the young ecclesiastic, to encou-
rage if he has, and endeavour to
attain if he has not, a propensity
to reading ; by habit he will ac-
quire a fondness for his books, and
this habit will preserve him from
the danger I have just pointed out,
and it will be a source of profit
and pleasure to him during his
whole life.
The last hint I shall give to my
younger brethren upon the sub-
ject of habit, but by no means the
least important, is, to adopt the
practice of self-examination. It
was
23
was the advice of Pythagoras t*
his pupils :
Mr<T VTTVOU jwaAaxonnv IT*
<Jia<r0i
ITcm TWK vjufpivwy */>y>
Never to suffer their eyes to sleep
nor their eyelids to slumber, be-
fore they had thrice reflected upon
the actions of the past day.
Self-examination is a wholesome
and useful exercise to every one.
But to those who have dedicated
themselves to the service of the
Church, it is a highly important, if
not a necessary duty, frequently to
take a review of their conduct; "to
call their ways to remembrance."
Con-
Consideration is the grand de-
sideratum in the conduct of hu
man life, and it ever has been.
=** O that they were wise," says
the Almighty of the children of
Israel, through his servant Moses,
<c O that they were wise, that they
understood this, that they would
consider their latter end/' Few
are ignorant of what they ought to
do ; but many are inattentive.
Day after day closes upon great
numbers, without one gleam of
thought breaking in upon their
minds, whether its occupation has
been useful, or unprofitable, or
hurtful; whether their time has
been employed to the glory of
God, and the good of their fel-
low creatures, or has been wasted
in
25
in idle or sinful dissipation ; or
what account they shall be able to
give of its transactions at the great
and general audit.
Whoever rigidly adheres to the
practice of self-examination, will
not, I think, deviate far from the
way wherein he should walk. Con-
science by this means kept always
awake, and at her post, whenever in-
dolence or the indulgence of per-
sonal gratification is tempting him
to waste, or misapply, a day which
should be devoted to useful employ-
ment, conscience will whisperan ad-
monition in his ear; but should this
prove ineffectual, when the inter-
nal monitor is placed in the seat
of authority, and is called, at
the close of the day to give judg-
c ment
26
ment upon its transactions, then
her voice will be heard ; and the
sensations attendant upon her dis-
approbation, will be too uneasy to
induce a repetition of that con*
duct, which occasioned them.
I do therefore earnestly recom-
mend the custom of the heathen
moralist, to the Christian pastor.
Let him, ere he composes himself
to rest at night, or before he goes
forth from his chamber in the
morning, recall the actions of the
past day ; try them by the rule of
his duty, and pass an impartial
judgment upon them. " Passion
will cease,'* says Seneca, "or be-
come cool, when it knows it is
every day to be called to account"
or
OF THE
PUBLIC DUTIES
or THS
PAROCHIAL CLERGY.
THESE consist in reading the ser-
vice of the Church preaching
and catechising the children.
In reading the service of the
Church, too much attention can-
Dot be paid by the parochial minis-
ter. The people are in general
disposed to make light of the
prayers ; and to consider the ad-
c 2 vantage
28
vantage they are to receive from
public worship, is to be derived
chiefly from the sermon. This
idea is much strengthened when
the liturgy is read in a careless
or unskilful manner ; and no idea
can be more erroneous.
It is most proper, indeed it is
necessary, that the Christian pastor,
set to watch for the souls of a
parish, should explain the word of
God to his flock, and enforce up-
on them the precepts of Scripture.
But far, very far is the discourse<of
the preacher from superseding, or
ranking higher than, the service of
the Church. The order of Prayer
prescribed by the Church of Eng-
land, is itself a body of divinity.
In it, all the doctrines, all the lead-
ing
ing principles, and all the precepts
of our religion are: summed up.
The attentive hearer may in that
learn his duty, and perform every
part of public devotion.
Highly mistaken then are those,
who rest their chief dependence,
and pay the greatest or the only at-
tention to the sermon. And this
mistaken notion takes away from
those who adopt it, a safeguard
provided by our Church, and ex-
poses them to great danger, espe-
cially in these days, when the
Christian world is so split and di-
vided. The hearer, who attends
properly to the liturgy, will be
guarded by a store of sound doc-
trine, of primitive Christian princi-
ples ; and should the sermon not
c 3 be
so
be in unison with the prayers, he
will be able to correct the sallies
of the preacher, and preserve him-
self from doubt or error ; whilst he
who pays little or no attention to the
service of the Church, will be tossed
about by every wind of doctrine.
Let me then advise my younger
brethren, to be particularly careful
in the performance of this branch
of their duty. Various endow-
ments are requisite to form a good
and a pleasing speaker; such as
strength in the voice, correctness
in the ear, and melodiousness in
the tone ; and these endowments
are not bestowed upon all men :
all men therefore cannot read, and
speak, equally well. But where
these gifts of nature are denied,
much
31
much may be done by caie and at-
tention. Let the reader under-
stand what he is speaking, and be
attentive to what he is doing,
and however harsh may be his
tone, and inharmonious his voice,
the service will not fail to have a
good effect upon his congregation.
The most material defects I have
observed in reading the prayers of
the Church, have been a failure in
the reader, of comprehending the
service, and of attending to the
solemn duty he was performing.
Wherever I could perceive that
the minister understood what he
was reading, and had his mind im-
pressed with the subject, there the
excellent .Liturgy of our Church
appeared to have a good effect y
c 4 but
but with every assistance nature
could afford, when the speaker,
from his stops and emphases, dis-
covered that he comprehended little
of what came from his lips, and
was unfeeling to every part of the
service, there I have noticed all to
be cold and lifeless : when the
minister was unmoved, the con-
gregation appeared to be without
devotion.
" I do assure you," says Arch-
bishop Hort, " there is no little
skill required to read the public
prayers as they ought to be read."
Whatever skill may be required in
reading the service of the Church,
I am persuaded is within the abi-
lity of most men. I must repeat,
that if the reader is thoroughly ac-
quainted
33
qimnted with the sense and drift
of what he is reading, and his mind
is impressed with the solemn duty
he is performing, though he may
speak ungracefully, he will not
speak ineffectually.
lij when the minister is leading
the congregation in the General
Confession, his thoughts are
turned to the weakness of human
nature, the imperfection of man's
best endeavours, and that through
' O
the merits and intercession of the
Redeemer, upon confession of past
sins, and resolution of amendment,
we can alone hope for pardon and
forgiveness ; if he has these im-
pressions upon his own mind, and
a right apprehension of the ex-
cellent language in which these
c 5 senti-
34
sentiments are conveyed, he can-?
not fail of bringing the mind of an
attentive hearer, to that humble
and penitent frame suited to this
part of our public devotion.
If the priest feels the high and
solemn office with which he is in-
vested, the goodness of God in
granting pardon to repentant sin-
ners, and the gracious promise of
divine assistance to enable us to
perform our part of the Christian
Covenant, he will, I think, speak
the Absolution with a dignity be-
coming his sacred embassy, tem-
pered however with a humility
befitting the frail condition of an
earthly messenger even of the Al-
mighty Himself.
different portions of Scrip-
ture
35
ture in the Psalms, the Lessons,
and the Epistles and Gospels, will
be read with propriety, and will
keep up the attention of the con-
gregation, if the reader will take
the pains to make himself well ac-
quainted with the design and lan-
guage of the sacred writers. If he
fully comprehends, and feels him-
self, the prophetic effusions and
pious resolutions of the royal
Psalmist, the discourses of our
blessed Lord, the interesting nar-
ratives of the Evangelists, and the
forcible argumentative reasoning
of St. Paul and the other inspired
penmen of the Epistles, if he will
so study these writings as to under-
stand, and be attentive when he
reads them, it is not the want of
c 6 strength
36
strength or melody in the voice
that will prevent their effect upon
the hearers.
Let the same attention be given
to the Collects and Prayers, and
the effect will be the same.
The Litany 1 am persuaded
must make an impression upon a
congregation, when the minister
himself is impressed with the ex-
cellent and forcible language of
the petitions. When his own mind
feels the necessity of begging our
Lord and Saviour, " not to remem-
ber our offences, nor to take ven-
geance of our sins,*' " but to spare
those whom he has redeemed with
His most precious blood," his lips
will not utter the supplication in a
careless or ineffectual manner.
Nor
37
Nor will the solemn and energetic
petition which concludes the de-
precatory portion of the Litany,
fail to be impressive upon the
people, when the priest himself is
sensible, how much he stands in
need of divine aid under all the
circumstances and in all the stages
of his mortal career, in pros-
perity as well as adversity, and
particularly that he will require
the support and deliverance of
his Lord and Saviour, " in the
hour of death, and in the day of
judgment."
The beautiful and comprehen-
sive form of General Thanks-
giving, cannot surely be spoken
with impropriety by any minis-
ter, who thoroughly understands,
and
38
and feels the language and sen-
timents of that admirable com-
position.
Let me then once more press
upon the younger clergy, the ad-
vantage, indeed the necessity, of
reading the service of the Church
with the greatest attention and de-
votion. The young divine who is
endowed by nature with talents
for speaking, must not suppose
his own exertions are unnecessary ;
and those on whom these gifts are
not bestowed with so liberal a
hand, must use care and diligence
to improve the few talents, with
which they are intrusted. A pa-
rochial minister therefore should
consider, that under whichever of
the above descriptions he may
rank,
39
rank, study and attention is
equally requisite. The want of
these will not be compensated by
a good voice, and a melodious
tone ; and by study and attention,
a less pleasing delivery may be
made effectual to the most bene-
ficial purposes. Let the minister
folly comprehend the language and
sentiments of the service of our
Church, and be intent upon the
solemn office he is performing, and
whatever may be his natural talent
for speaking, he will, I am persua-
ded, read with that correctness in
stop and emphasis, that distinct
and deliberate, yet not tedious de-
livery, and that proper tone from
a creature to the Creator, which
will communicate to his congrega-
tion
40
tion a becoming frame and dispo-
sition of mind.
The next branch of the paro-
chial minister's duty is preaching,
and if properly performed, it is a
most useful part of his public la-
bours. In his discourses from the
pulpit, the servant of Christ is to
explain the doctrines, and enforce
the precepts of his divine Master.
The different seasons appointed by
the Church, for commemorating
the different remarkable events in
the life of our blessed Lord, afford
him opportunity of calling the at-
tention of his congregation to the
leading doctrines of our religion.
The four weeks set apart for
considering the ADVENT of the
Redeemer, he may well employ in
the
41
the manner pointed out by the
Church ; in, preparing the minds
of his flock, to make a proper use
of the approaching celebration of
ihejirsf coming of Christ, by turn-
ing their reflections to His second
coming to judge the world.
Following the order of the Col-
lects he may begin with urging
them to pray for the grace of God,
and to use their own exertions,
" that they may cast away the
works of darkness and put upon
them the armour of light," in full
assurance that their Redeemer will
sit in judgment upon them; that
the same Jesus, who with un-
bounded humility came down from
Heaven, to visit and bring salva-
tion to mankind, will in the last
day,
42
day, come again in power and
great glory, to reward every one
according to his deeds ; that they
who have worked the works of
darkness here, will have their por-
tion with the devil and his angels
hereafter ; but all who have walk-
ed as children of light, will <; rise
to the life immortal."
He may on the next Sunday
direct the attention of his congre-
gation to the Holy Scriptures ;
not to the mere perusal of them,
but shewing the necessity of ap-
plying the mind, " to mark and in-
wardly digest them," he may im-
press upon his flock that by patient
application they will receive such
inward comforts from God's Holy
Word, as will lead them on from
strength
4$
strength to strength, and give them
the best hope of man, the blessed
hope of everlasting life.
On the third Sunday in Advent,
the Church awakens the attention
of her members to the duty, and
the proposed effects, of the Chris-
tian ministry. The pastor may on
this day explain the nature of the
ministerial office, and urge upon
his flock the necessity of their co-
operation in the highly important
work to which he is called ; that
the minister and steward of Christ,
may open to the people the great
mystery of godliness; he may pre-
pare and make ready the way,
but unless they will add to this pre-
paration, and to the assistance
God gives them through the Holy
Spirit,
44
Spirit, their earnest endeavours to
keep their disobedient hearts in the
way of God's laws, and in the
work of his commandments, when
He who liveth and reigneth with
the Father and the Holy Ghost
shall appear at the end of the
world, they will not be found ac-
ceptable in his sight.
Still looking to the same object,
the impressing upon Christians
the design and end of Christ's com-
ing into the worldj namely, to cause
mankind to be holy here, that they
may be happy hereafter, the mini-
nister may, like the Church, con-
clude Advent with instructing his
parishioners from the pulpit, to
beg the help of God in working out
that salvation, the merits and suf-
ferings
45
ferings of the Redeemer have pro-
cured for them ; that through His
help they may so run as to obtain
the prize, an inheritance in
Christ's kingdom in heaven. He
may explain to his flock, that they
can do nothing of themselves, but
they can do every thing through
Christ who strengthens them. They
must, and will, be sore let and
hindered by the spiritual enemy in
their mortal career, but greater is
He that is for, than he that is
against them ; and that if they use
earnest prayer, and their own en-
deavours, the bountiful grace and
mercy of God will make them con-
querors, through the satisfaction of
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and
our Lord and Saviour.
The
46
The nativity of the Redeemer,
with all the circumstances and ef-
fects attending it, will furnish mat-
ter for discourses during the season
of CHRISTMAS. Not only may the
accounts given by the Evangelists,
of the birth of Jesus, compared
with the predictions of the pro-
phets, be brought forward to prove
that our Blessed Lord was the
promised Deliverer, but the joy-
ful results of these glad tidings
may be enlarged upon : that man
dead in trespasses and sins, re-
ceived in the birth of his Saviour
anew birth to life and immortality,
regenerate, and born again, by
admission into the Christian cove-
nant, he became the child of God
by adoption ; and, attended con-
tinually
47
tinually by the Holy Spirit, he
may through faith and obedience,
attain eternal happiness.
At the EPIPHANY the minister
may shew to his flock, how full the
Sun of Righteousness has risen up-
on them ; how the light of the glori-
ous Gospel of Christ has shone
round them from their cradle, and
therefore it is incumbent upon
them to walk as children of light
The season of LENT marks it-
self as the proper time to enforce
the doctrine of repentance ; to de-
clare the mercy of God to the
truly repentant sinner, and the
vengeance threatened in the Scrip-
ture to the hardened and impeni-
tent.
GOOD FRIDAY, " a day to be
much
48
much observed," when the Son of
God, giving up the ghost on the
cross, " finished " the redemption
Of man, will naturally suggest to
the mind of the pastor, suitable
meditations to be recommended to
his flock. Let me however hint
to the young parochial minister,
that in these times, it will be ex-
pedient to press strongly on his
people, the necessity of Christ's
atoning sacrifice to man's sal-
vation ; that all had through
Adam's transgression become chil-
dren of wrath, and must have
perished without the gracious
intervention of a divine Re-
deemer.
The events which occurred to
the Redeemer of fallen man from
w his
his expiring upon the cross till he
was seen to go up into heaven, with-
the wonderful circumstances at-
tending them, afford ample matter
for discourses through the season
of EASTER. The death, resur-
rection, and ascension of our
Lord are Christian doctrines, ne-
cessary to be explained, and en-
larged upon, to a Christian con-
gregation ; and the conversations
of our blessed Saviour with his
apostles and disciples, toward the
close of his ministry, are so inter-
esting, that the well-furnished pas-
tor can be at no loss for instruc-
tion to his dock at this time.
The remarkable, and highly im-
portant events of the day of Pente-
cost, which first witnessed the de-
D scent
50
scent of the Holy Ghost upon the
Apostles, to guide themfiy an extra-
ordinary inspiration into all truth,
and to assist with his ordinary influ-
ence every disciple of Christ in every
age, will plainly point to the subject
of the WHITSUNDAY'S discourse.
In these days, when so many er-
roneous notions respecting spiri-
tual influence are abroad, the
uatchful pastor, sound in the
faith once delivered to the saints,
and attentive to the high charge
committed to his trust, will deem it
his indispensable duty, to take this
opportunity of laying before his
flock explicitly, and unequivo-
cally, what is revealed to us in the
Scripture concerning the opera-
tions of the Holy Spirit, to be ex-
pected
'51
pected at this time ; that the ex-
traordinary aid hath ceased, and
that we are now to look only for
that assistance of the Blessed
Spirit, promised and afforded to
every Christian, and to be no
otherwise perceived than by the
fruits of the Spirit; that our per-
ception of the afflation in the
spiritual life, is similar to that of
the wind in the operations of na-
ture. AVe know the 'wind blows
because it removes objects opposed
to it, and purifies the atmosphere ;
so we are assured the Holy Spirit
operates when we perceive that it
removes the works of the Jlesh,
adultery, fornication, variance,
wrath, and heresies ; and pro-
duces in the subject love, peace,
D 2 long-
long-suffering, faith, meekness and
temperance.
The .Sunday after Whitsunday is
appropriated by the Church, to
consider the doctrine of the
TRINITY. This subject may be
thought by some too abstruse for
a common congregation ; but
surely as a doctrine, and a ma-
terial doctrine, of the Christian
Church, it is necessary to be laid
before the people. A minister
will not, I think, do his duty if he
withhold from them so essential a
branch of the Christian faith.
Completely to unfold a mystery is
a contradiction in terms ; to at-
tempt to be wise beyond that
which is written is folly ; but what-
ever Scripture reveals to us
should
snould be declared to an assem-
bly of Christians ; and enough is
revealed, to assure us that there
is one God, and, in the Godhead
are three Persons. We have
ample testimony in Holy Writ,
of the existence, and the dis-
tinction in person, of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Ghost ; of
their equality in omnipotence*
omniscience, and other divine at-
tributes ; and of the exertion of
the different persons in the God-
head, for different benefits to man:
All this may, I think, be so laid
before a congregation of ordinarily
endowed Christians, as to give
them as much real information
apon the subject as perhaps their
more enlightened brethren pos-
D 3 sess ;
54
sess; and may be so practically
summed up, as to impress their
minds with the duty of giving
thanks to God the Father, for
His goodness in creating them; to
God the Son, for His mercy in re^
deemingthem;and to God the Holy
Ghost, for His kindly influence to
sanctify and enable them to work
out their salvation to cause them
to join with heart as well as voice
in praying that the Hoi}', Blessed
and Glorious Trinity, three Per-
sons and one God, would have
mercy upon ihem miserable sinners.
With Trinity Sunday, the
Church in the Collects, Epistles
and Gospels closes her doctrinal
instruction ; and from thence to
the return of Advent, appropriates
them
them to practical Christianity.
The parochial minister cannot
perhaps follow a better rule.
Having in the former part of the
year fully instructed his flock in
the doctrines, let him in the latter
part enforce upon them the duties
of the Gospel.
Some years ago an outcry was
raised against the great body of
the clergy for preaching too much
on the subject of morals, and neg-
lecting the leading doctrines of the
Gospel. The outcry I fear was
raised with no good intention, and
the charge I am persuaded was, in
general, without foundation. I
believe however, sober churchmen
were at that time so disgusted with
the sermons of some preachers,
D 4 who
$6
who were unceasingly bringing for*
ward certain doctrines for the sake
of perverting them, that there were
parochial ministers who, through
fear of running into this, were
verging toward the opposite ex-
treme : in avoiding the whirlpool
they approached perhaps rather
too near the rock ; they allotted
more than the just proportion of
their discourses to the preceptive
part of Christianity. But the mo-
rals insinuated in the accusation,
the morality of the heathen philo-
sopher, the rule of duty to be prac-
tised by men without relation to
the Almighty Jehovah, I believe
seldom if ever formed a subject
for the Christian preacher. It is
the duty of the parish priest to
discourse,
57
discourse, and largely to discourse
upon morality the morals of
the Gospel that rule of con-
duct to be practised by a Christian
toward his neighbour and himself,
enjoined by our blessed Lord, and
enforced by the assurance of fu-
ture reward or punishment.
Let the watchful pastor by n
means be negligent in the doc-
trinal part of his instruction ; in
declaring to his congregation the
whole Christian scheme. But let
him not forbear to appropriate, in
whatever manner he sees best, a
due portion of his discourses to
the practical- part of Christianity*
Let him impress strongly upon the
minds of his bearers, that the re-
demption of man is -a covenant,
D 5
58
9. promise with condition : a graci-
ous indeed and merciful covenant,
a promise on the part of God, un-
merited in the smallest degree by
man, graciously and freely to give
eternal happiness to mankind on
condition, that they believe in
Jesus and obey his commands,
fcnd that his commands enjoin His
disciples to live in the constant
practice of those moral rules pre-
scribed by God under the Law, and
confirmed, extended, and spiritu-
alized by our Saviour under the
Gospel.
Such is the general plan I re-
commend for the discourses of the
year ; namely to devote the period
from ADVENT to TRINITY Sunday
to doctrinal, and from thence to
the
5P
the return of ADVENT to practical
subjects.
A question then arises, how is
the young divine to furnish himself
with sermons ? Is he to depend in*
tirely upon his own compositions
or to seek assistance from the com-
positions of others? There is I
believe scarcely a young man who,
upon his first entering into the
Church, possesses a stock of divi-
nity and a facility in composition,
sufficient to produce even one ser-
mon every week of such matter,
and in such language, as he would
wish to deliver before a moderately
well informed congregation, with-
out bestowing upon his discourses
that time which should be em-
ployed in other branches of his
o 6 duty,
cluty, equally useful and necessary.
This preparation for his public,
would greatly interfere with the
private labours of the parish
priest ; he would doubtless attend
lo the particular calls of the sick
and distressed, but he must omit
much of the constant attention
from the pastor to his flock, which
I deem indispensable to the pro-
per performance of the ministerial
office. But if it did not inter-
fere with this part of his duty,
every moment appropriated to the
study would be employed in com-
position, he would be constantly
at work upon his stock of know-
ledge at a time when he should be
increasing his store : for let a
young man be ever so industrious
before
61
before his ordination, he will still
be in want of much professional
information after that period. In
the early part of his ministry, he
should allot a portion of his time
to the study of divinity. Many pro-
fessional subjects there are in
which he must proceed step by
step, to which he must turn his
thoughts as his knowledge in-
creases and his mind opens. All
these necessary duties must be
neglected if his whole time and
attention is occupied in preparing
for the Sunday's discourses.
I do therefore think it is not
only allowable, but advisable that
a young parochial minister, when
be is first ordained to his cure,
should take assistance from the
sermons
62
sermons of others ; let him raise
his own stock by degrees, and du-
ring that time let him procure
good and plain discourses, and
study them so as to enter into the
spirit and drift of the authors : he
will by this means not only make
them in a great measure his own
in the delivery, but if he selects
with judgment, they will be a use*
ful study to him in composition.
But although I advise my young
friends to seek assistance, I by no
means recommend them to be
intirety dependent upon others
for their discourses. However
unfavourable may be their talent
for composition, and how much
soever they may be occupied by
their parochial labours, let some
portion
63
portion of their time be allotted to
compose sermons ; exercise in
composition will encrease the fa-
cility, and their compositions will
very much assist them more effec-
tually to perform the parochial
part of their duty. *' Reading,'*
says Lord Bacon, " maketh a full
man ; conference a ready man ;
and writing an exact man." Writ-
ing makes a man exact not only in
his language but in his train of
thought : nothing gives such clear
and correct ideas upon a subject
as putting down the thoughts on
paper. When a pastor in visiting
his flock is required to speak upon
any topic, he will find great ad-
vantage if that topic has been the
subject of a sermon he has com-
posed*
64
-posed. His mind will be better
stored, than it otherwise would
have been, with weighty and pro-
per arguments, and he will have a
greater flow of language to enforce
them.
Let then the parish priest, so
soon as he enters upon his office,
begin to compose a few sermons
upon the leading doctrines and
duties of Christianity. On doc-
trinal points he may begin with
1st The necessity and the efficacy
of true repentance. Sndly, The
nature of the Christian covenant,
shewingtheextent of redemption on
the part of God, a ndthe conditions
required on the part of man.
3dly, The obligation of comply-
ing with the ordinances of our Sa-
viour
65
Tiour, particularly pressing the
partaking of the body and blood
of Christ in the Sacrament of the
Lord's Supper.
In practical Christianity he
will perhaps find honesty and
brotherly love, as duties to our
neighbour, temperance and cha-
stity as duties to ourselves, sub-
jects of the most general utility
in his private labours. On these
and such topics of Christian doc-
trine and morals, I strongly re-
commend every young divine to
put down his thoughts in the form
of sermons. This will train him to
a facility in composition, it will
give him the habit of thinking, and
k will furnish him with matter and
language to discourse on points
upon
pon which he will frequently be.
called to speak.
Is he required to attend the sick
bed of a worldly Christian, who
content to give the forms and cere-
monies of religion to God, has
allowed his heart and affections to
be engrossed by the interests and
pleasures of this life, and who
perhaps has indulged in vices,
which although unrestrained by
the laws of man, yet will incur a
heavy penalty from the righteous
Judge of all the earth, before
whose tribunal he must one day
stand ? his sermon upon repen-
tance will come to his aid ; he will
have language and arguments to
declare with perspicuity the na-
ture, and to urge with force the
necessity
67
necessity, of true repentance ; to.
shew that the only certain sign of
repentance is amendment, and
that unless we do turn from our
evil ways we shall not save our
souls alive.
Should he be summoned to a
repentant sinner sinking under the
weight of his former iniquities,
fearing that his sins are too many,
and too grievous to be forgiven ;
having collected his thoughts upon
the atonement of our Lord, and
thrown them into language for the
pulpit, he will be enabled to enter
fully into the subject to speak
comfort to the wounded spirit to
cheer the humble and sincere peni-
tent to assure him that Christ
died to save all sinners, who SQ
repent
repent of their sins as to forsake
them, and who so believe in Jesus
as to follow his precepts.
There is no duty of more high?
and positive obligation, than that
of complying with the ordinance
of our Saviour in attending the
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ;.
and yet it is a duty much neglected.
This is a subject therefore upon
which the parish priest will have
frequently to speak; a subject
upon which he should always be
ready to throw in a word when
opportunity offers. To the sick
he will sometimes have to explain
the nature of the Institution, and
the necessity of complying with it*
to prepare them in a short time
and under the distraction of pain
and
and weakness, for the first obser-
vance of that earnest request, and
express command of their Saviour.
Let the parochial minister reflect
upon this, and he will perceive
the propriety of using every means
to make himself master of the sub-
ject; to have matter for a long
conversation if required, and to be
able to compress, if necessity de-
mand it, all the material parts of
his discourse into a narrow com-
pass.
To the healthy as well as to the
sick a few hints upon Christian
morals are often requisite, and may
often be given with advantage, in
the walks of the village pastor.
Hie practical discourses will fur-
nish him with matter and language
for
70
for friendly admonitions of this
kind. Let me then repeat, that
whatever press of other business
may crowd upon the young paro-
chial minister, I recommend him
to find time early to prepare for
the pulpit a few sermons, on the
doctrinal and practical subjects,
upon which he will have such
frequent calls to discourse in his
private ministerial duties.
The intent of a discourse from
the pulpit, is to explain the doc-
trines and enforce the duties of
religion. Upon a subject of such
high importance, it behoves the
preacher to be careful his sermon
is so arranged, as to make his in-
struction intelligible, and to assist
the recollection of his hearers.
For
71
For this purpose a few divisions
are useful, indeed necessary ; but
numerous divisions and sub-divi-
sions, confuse the composition,
and perplex the auditors. No
general rule can be laid down ;
some subjects require more divi-
sions, some fewer; but care should
be taken on the one hand, to ad-
mit no more than are needful, and
on the other hand to guard against
that uninterrupted flow, " which,"
as archbishop Hort observes,
" glides like a smooth stream over
the soul, leaving no traces behind
it." A discourse from the pulpit
cannot, I think, in general be ef-
fectual to the purpose for which it
is intended, namely, to explain a
portion of Scripture and draw
practical
72
practical inferences from it which
may be useful to the hearers in
future life, if it consist of less than
three divisions. First, An Exor-
dium or opening to shew the
meaning and general drift of the
text Secondly, The body of the
sermon, wherein the particular
doctrine or duty in the contem-
plation of the preacher is to be
explained and illustrated, and
Lastly, the Application, to bring
home to the congregation the
particular point he wishes to
enforce upon their belief or
practice. The language of a
sermon cannot be too plain, but
it may be too famtfiar ; for in our
discourses from the pulpit the
mode of speech should be more
close
73
close and dignified than when we
&peak, even on the same subjects,
at other times and in other places.
The texture of a sermon, if I may
so express myself, should be/?n
the expressions nervous the style
didactic not colloquial. But whilst
the preacher shuns familiarity, let
him take simplicity as his guide,
particularly in the explanatory
part of his discourse ; and even ill
the application, which will admit,
as Bishop Burnet says, of " such
tender touches as may soften, and
such deep gashes as may awaken
the hearers, " " yet in this," as the
same author observes, " he should
be clear and short, very weighty,
*nd free from any thing that looks
like the affectation of wit and elo-
E quence ;
74
quence; here the preacher must
be all heart and soul, designing the
good of his people.'*
If a young divine has composed
his discourse, he will not often
speak it ill ; most men deliver
their own sentiments naturally,
with proper emphases and proper
stops. If he takes the composition
of another, let him study it
thoroughly, so as to enter into the
views of the author, the drift and
force of his arguments, and he wiH
seldom fail to interest his congre-
gation.
The next duty of the minister
I shall mention is catechising the
children. This is a mixt duty,
being both of a public and a pri-
vate nature. The children are, ac
cording
cording .to the rules of the Church,
to be publicly catechised during
some part of the year. It is highly
useful .both to young and old, to
give at this time an explanatory
lecture upon that excellent sum-
mary of doctrinal and practical
Christianity. The parochial mi-
nister however must not satisfy
himself with catechising the chil-
dren in public, and preaching his
catechetical discourses ; by adding
his private exertions, the advan-
tage of his public labours will be
greatly increased. He should take
some method of eiamining in pri-
vate, whether those young persons
who are advancing to riper age,
understand what they repeat In
early years all we must expect in
8 teaching
'76
9
teaching the catechism, is to
-store the memory of the young
"Christian with sound doctrine and
pure precept; and when the un-
derstanding opens, these will be
brought into use and practice. As
therefore the minds of our young
charges expand, our instruction
should keep pace with their ex-
pansion ; we should excite, and
increase the thirst after religious
knowledge, and assist in the at-
tainment of it. Many excellent
expositions of the Church Cate-
chism are in print ; the best I have
seen, is " The Church Catechism
broke into short Questions ;" very
full, and at the same time plain,
and comprehensible by ordinary
capacities ; admirably adapted to
give
77
give the younger Christians J*
knowledge of their religion, and to
lead them to the practice of its
duties. But I fear in too many
instances, this, like the Catechism, is
repeated merely by rote. The
only method, in my opinion, of as-
certaining whether the children
who are arrived at an age to un-
derstand the Catechism, do com-
prehend it, and of leading them to
reflection, is to vary the questions
in such a manner that the answers
required must be given in their
own words ; an exercise of this
kind will imprint on their minds as
well as on their memories, the ru-
di me tits of Christianity ; it will
train them to the habit of thought,
and of that description of thought
3 which,
1*
which is of the greatest importance
to their best interests ; it will cause
them to reflect upon the existence
and omnipotence of the Creator,
the merciful and gracious plan of
man's redemption through the
Divine Mediator, and the aid af-
forded by the Holy Spirit to enable
him to overcome the temptations of
the world, the flesh, and the devil,
and to exert an earnest and con-
stant endeavour to obey the" pre-
cepts of the Gospel.
There is another branch of the
parish priest's duty, which like
that I have just mentioned, demands
both his public and private exer-
tions. I mean the preparing young
persona for continuation. This
like- the publicly catechising the
children
children, is an opportunity notto be
lost, of impressing upon his whole
flock, old as well as young, the na-
ture and obligations of the Chris-
tian Covenant. Whenever there*
fore the Bishop gives notice of his
intention to confirm the young
persons in the parish who are.
properly qualified, the minister
should make this rite, with all it*
attendant doctrines and duties, the
subject of his discourses. But
this is not all, be must use his ex-
ertion to bring the candidates for
confirmation to hi*/) as early as
possible, that he may learn the ex-
tent of their knowledge, and pri-
vately instruct the more ignorant*
The intent and purpose of this rite
are easily explained, and most of
E 4 the
SO
the candidates I have examined,
whose religious education had not
been totally neglected, if they did
not understand the nature and de-
sign of Confirmation, I have found
readily to comprehend a short ex-
planation of it. They have ap-
peared to be sensible, they were
themselves to enter into the en-
gagements made for them at their
baptism, and what these engage-
ments were; that renouncing all
sin and wickedness, they were to
believe the doctrines, and obey the
precepts of the Gospel.
At the age for Confirmation,
young persons are just entering
the most important and dangerous
period of their lives. In the
height of youthful ardor, they are
going
81
going to encounter the temptations-
of the world ; and the thoughts and
habits of a few years at this time,
generally give a bias to the future
conduct. Let the careful pastor
by no means lose the opportunity
now afforded him, of urging upon
this part ef his flock, the neces-
sity of the greatest consideration,
and watchfulness ; to press upon
them, the observance of religious
duties* and carefully to avoid the
company of the dissolute, and the
haunts of intemperance. And
particularly let him earnestly ^e-
commend them to take the firsjG?p-
portunity of attending thejSacra-
inent of the Lord's Supper. The
too coiiHHOB neglect of this sacred-
ordinance, is, I am persuaded,
E 5 greatly
greatiy owing to young persons not
presenting themselves at the Holy
Table so soon as confirmed. They
postpone the duty from time to
time, until they turn their backs
upon the Altar without compunc-
tion or consideration or ground-
less fears arise or they are dnwn
into that course of life, which is no
unreasonable or imaginary hind-
rance to their spiritually partaking
of the body and blood of the Re-
deemer. But if as soon as quali-
fied they receive this sacrament, all
these consequences will most pro-
bably be avoided : they will ex-
perience the comfort, and continue
in the habit of a constant atten-
dance at the Lord's Supper. Hav-
ing a knowledge of Ike nature of
the
83
the institution, they will not be
disturbed by groundless fears; and
the consideration generally in-
duced by this act of devotion, with
the blessing we may expect upon,
the use of an appointed means of
grace, will preserve them from
those sins which render them unfit
to approach the Table of their
Lord on earth, and will render
them equally unfit to be inhabi-
tants of his. kingdom in Heaven.
OTP
OF THE
PRIVATE LABOURS
OF THE
PAROCHIAL CLERGY.
understands bul little of
the nature and obligations' of the
priestly office," says Bishop Bur-
net, " who thinks he has discharged
it by performing the public ap-
pointments."
Various certainly, and of the
highest importance are the private
duties of the parish priest. To visit
the
85
the sick to pay attention to the
schools where children of the lower
orders are instructed and above
all, to keep up that intercourse
with his parishioners which will
give him an insight into their man-
ners and habits, should form a
considerable part of his occupa-
tion.
The visiting the sick stands
foremost amongst the private la-
bours of the parochial minister.
An inspired writer, one of the
Apostles, who conversed with our
Blessed Lord after His resurrec-
tion upon the things concerning
His kingdom, has left a direction,
that when Christians are visited
with sickness, they shall send for
their spiritual guides ; " Is any
*'*. sick
sick among you," says Si. James.
" let him call for the elders of the
Church and let them pray over
him." And our Chuceh has en-
joined her clergy not only to at-
tend on such occasions, but to
resort to those who are by them,
known to be dangerously sick a
(Canon 67.)
The attentive pastor, therefore,
will not wait tiH he is summoned,
but on the first intimation that one
of his flock is indisposed, he will
consider that there his duty calls,.
and thither he will repair. Noc
will he content himself with going
through the appointed offices in a
perfunctory manner, with merely
reading the visitation prayers, OE
administering the Sacrament of the
Lord's
87
Lord's Supper. He will consider
this is an opportunity of giving
that spiritual advice of which,
from his knowledge of the patient,
he may be aware he stands in need^
This is sometimes a season of
advantage that may never return, a
favourable minute for fighting the
grand adversary with his own>
weapons, and gaining a victory over
him. The great e/iemy of the soul,
we learn from Scripture, is con-
stantly walking about, seeking
and watching for every moment o
weakness to ensnare mankind. His
power is now weakened, all earthly
considerations are vanishing from
the sight of a being, who feels per-
haps, for the first time, that he is
mortal Let the minister seize
this
88
thrs fortunate, this favourable hour,
given to him for pressing upon his
parishioner the importance of reli-
gion, and opening a way for the
wandering sheep to return into the
path of piety and virtue. When
such an opportunity occurs, of
awakening to a sense of his duty
the transgressor of God's laws, or
rousing the attention of a careless
Christian, it should not be allowed
to pass by ; returning health may har-
den a heart softened only by sick-
ness ; and a hasty summons at a fu-
ture period may arrive, when the
lamp is in an equally untrimmed
state, and, when there is no time
to provide oil.
To the sinner and the worldly
minded, the presence of the parish
&ij priest
m
priest is particularly necessary in
the time of sickness, to urge upon
the one the necessity of repentance,
and to shew the other the folly of
that indifference in his spiritual
concerns, which he so anxiously
avoids in his temporal affairs. To
the former, let the minister of
God declare, how plainly and ex-
plicitly the divine wrath is de-
nounced in Scripture against a life
of wickedness, against wilful ha-
bitual sin ; that God is of purer
eyes than to behold iniquity, and
that none shall enter into the king-
dom of heaven but those who
work righteousness. Upon the
latter let him strongly impress
this momentous truth, that the
Almighty must be served " with
a perfect
90
a perfect heart and a willing mind,'*
that although no particular vice
may lie heavy on his conscience,
yet this will not atone for the ab-
sence of every active virtue and of
all vital religion that God and
mammon cannot be served at the
same time ; two masters whose
commands are so diametrically op-
posite, cannot be obeyed. If we
hold to the god of this world, we
must despise the God of Heaven.
By a fond attachment to earthly
things, we break the first and great
commandment of loving the Lord
our God with all the mind, and
soul, and strength. Upon both
however should be carefully incul-
cated, that whenever the wicked
man turneth away from his wicked-
ness
91
ness that he hath committed, and
doeth that which is lawful and
right, he shall save his soul alive;
that no truly repentant sinner is
rejected by our heavenly Father,
the returning prodigal is received
with complacency, and even with
satisfaction ; that there is joy in
heaven over one sinner that re-
pen teth. This is the time for him
who is set to watch for the souls
of his parishioners, to discourse
both upon the terrors and upon
the mercies of the Lord, to use
every method to persuade the no-
minal to become a real Christian.
This is a time when he must be
heard, and when he will most pro-
bably be attended to ; the power
of the spiritual enemy is, as I have
before-
92
before observed, in a great degree
fallen, and the spiritual guide is
placed upon the vantage ground.
Though the presence of the
pastor is most necessary to this
description of his sick parishioners,
and though success will generally
attend his labours, yet sometimes
the good seed will be scattered on
very unfavourable soils ; it will lie
neglected on the mind hardened
by a too close adherence to the
world, and it will barely meet with
a reception from the dull and
stony heart: his advice he will
find in some cases received with
indifference, and his prayers joined
in with coldness.
These uncomfortable visits how-
ever, will be compensated by his
atten-
Attendance upon the virtuous, de-
vout, sensible part of his flock.
He will frequently experience the
satisfaction of sitting at the side
of a pious Christian, called by the
will of his Heavenly Father to suf-
fer under disease or sorrow, hum-
bling himself beneath the chastizing
hand of God, and resigned to all
the dispensations of his provi-
dence. He will find him viewing
with indifference the things which
merely concern this world, and
fixing his mind upon the things
eternal ; looking back with com-
fort upon a life spent in an earnest
endeavour to please God, and for-
ward with hope, that through the
merits of the Redeemer, he shall
enjoy
94
njoy a state of rest and peace in
Chrises kingdom in Heaven.
Here the labour is sweet ; all is
comfort ; the temporal circum-
stances of the sufferer must awaken
a sympathetic sorrow, but the
prospect into the eternal state of
his parishioner, will cause the
well-instructed pastor, to sorrow
with such a hope as will turn his
mourning into joy.
Often have I met in the humble
cottage with that religious polish,
if I may so express myself, which
would not have disgraced a more
exalted situation; I mean that
calm resignation to the will of
Heaven, which neither on the
one hand repines under pain of
body,
95
body, or anguish of mind, nor on
the other hand, with a boisterous
fortitude, resists, as it were, the
chastisements of the Lord. This
mind, and this manner truly cha-
racteristic of the gentle Christian,
I have found under the lowly roof
of the cottager as well as in the
mansion of his more wealthy
neighbour. The hours passed with
this part of our flocks do, (as no
doubt the will of our Blessed
Master is that they should) repay
us for the painful moments we ex-
perience with those of a different
description.
Under these circumstances we
should be very careful whilst we
pay attention to the former, that
we do not neglect the latter ; we
must
tmist by no means cast off all
hope even of the most profligate
and obstinate ; if we are not in-
stant out of season, let us be ur-
gent in season ; let us take every
favourable opportunity of rousing
the thoughtless and the sinner to
a sense of their duty. Our chief
attention however must be given
to the religious part of our pa-
rishes ; this portion of our flocks
alone it is which will admit of our
constant attendance : and here
likewise we have to guard against
partiality ; the manners and ha-
bits of some will be more engaging
and pleasant than those of others,
though all may have an equal
claim to our fostering care, and
*eceive equal comfort and advan-
tage
97
tage from our visits. Upon all
the virtuous and devout then,
whatever may be their personal
deportment, or domestic arrange-
ments, let us bestow equal atten-
tion ; let us shew the same earnest-
ness and solicitude for their tem-
poral and eternal welfare.
It is not upon the sick in body
only that the attendance of the
spiritual guide is, required, it is by
no means less useful and necessary
to those who are under the pres-
sure of mental affliction. When
the sources of our enjoyment in
this world dry up, from no earthly
well can we draw the waters
of comfort; in vain will the
wounded mind seek relief in
dissipation ; it must look for con-
F sol at ion
delation to the living water, which
religion alone can give. To apply
this remedy is the office of the
minister of religion. His part
it is to remind the sufferer, that
with whatever calamity he is vi-
sited, it comes from the hand of
the Almighty ; that all His dis-
pensations are wise, all are merci-
ful; that although they may at
present be grievous, yet they will
ki the end work together for good,
if we serve, and love, and obey
6rod ; if we submit with resignation
to all his disposals, and say with
holy Job, " blessed be the name
f the Lord."
The" sick in mind as well as
fcody, let me repeat, are under the
peculiar care of the parochial mi-
nister,
99
nister ; and therefore let me bintte
my younger brethren, that in the
most common, and the heaviest
calamity which befalls man in this
mortal state, the loss of those upon
whom he is dependent for a large
portion of his earthly happiness,
they will often find a few visits
most comfortable and beneficial.
The removal of a companion, a
counsellor, or a guide, is always a
bitter part of the Lord's cup ; and
sometimes it pleases God, for wise
and good purposes, to pour out his
cup to the dregs; to take away
what he has given, with aggravated
circumstances of affliction. Here
it requires all the aid of religion to
support the sufferers. This aid it
is the duty of the parish priest to
F 2 administer,
100
administer, and the attentive Shep-
herd, who knows his flock, and is
known of them, will generally be
able to do it with success. That
voice which has been accustomed
to sooth their less weighty cares,
that well-known voice, will now be
able to speak comfort to the agi-
tated and troubled mind. When-
ever therefore death has made a
chasm in a family, especially un-
der peculiar circumstances of dis-
tress, the parochial minister should
throw himself in the way of giving
the only consolation that can be
afforded in such a case. If he
perceives his listening to the tale
of woe gives relief to the mourner,
and his discourse raises the mind
.io the only souice of peace and
comfort,
JO'r
comfort, his reward, from the irp-
ward satisfaction he experiencesy
will be great; should he be un-
successful, he may still rest satis-
fied that he has done his part
Having mentioned what I con-
ceive to be the duty of the pastor
in his general conduct to his pa-
rishioners, under the various dis-
tresses to which they are subject in
their passage through this world,
I will proceed to give a few hints
relating to those particular duties
of the ministerial office, for which
the Church more expressly directs
him to attend the sick : these are,
" to pray over them," and to ad-
minister to them the Sacrament of
the Lord's Supper.
The form of prayer, ordered by
F 3 our
our Church to be used in visiting
th sick, is most excellent. It fe
admirably calculated to impress
upon the mind of the sick Christian,
the power, and providence, and
the infinite mercies of the Almighty ;
and to make him bow with humble
submission under the correcting
hand of God, in imitation of his
crucified Redeemer. It leads him
to prepare for the termination of
his distemper, whatever that ter-
mination may be. Should the
Almighty see fit to restore him to
health, it reminds him, that he
must devote the residue of his life
to the service of his Heavenly Fa-
ther a-nil Benefactor ; but should
the warning voice prove a sum-
mons to quit this world, it instructs
him
him to pray, that God in his i
nite mercy would, and to act in
such a manner, that a God of infi*
nite justice may, take him into his
favour, through the merits of Jesus
Christ our Lord.
This excellent form should by no
means be neglected ; but still the
parochial minister may seek
other assistance in this part of hii
duty. Many diseases and infirmi-
ties continue a great length of time;
and in these cases his attendance
is long required : a change of de-
votion is then very desirable.;
There are likewise particular af-
flictions of body and of mind,
which call for particular prayers.
For these purposes I recommend
" The Clergyman's Companion- in
F 4 visiting
visiting the Sick." In this collec-
tion are prayers adapted to different
occasions ; and there are few cir-
cumstances either in those evils
that happen to the body, or the
moral evils that assault and hurt
the soul, to which the minister will
not find some appropriate form of
devotion. The prayers are all
plain and impressive ; and I have
found the best effects from using
them ; they have appeared to com-
fort the mind under bodily afflic-
tion, and to lead it to those medi-
tations which were likely to be of
permanent service. The young
pastor will, I think, find this book
a valuable companion in his pa-
rochial walks.
There are few Christians, who
have
105
have been in the habit of attending
the Lord's Table, that are not de-
sirous of receiving the Sacramen-
tal bread and wine, when a severe
illness portends an approaching
dissolution. To this the minister
is, of course, ready to accede.
He should however go a step far-
ther, and recommend this duty
whilst the patient's body and mind
are equal to the exertion. It
surely must be well pleasing in. the
sight of God, openly to declare, in
this manner, a continued faith in
the Recteemer to our latest hour ;
to employ the closing scene of life,,
in this compliance with the affec-
tionate desire, and positive in-
junction, of our Blessed Saviour.
Too often, however, is the paro-
F 5 chial
106
chial minister called to the sick J
bed of a professed disciple of
Christ, who has lived many years
in the total neglect of this Chris-
tian duty. A favourable oppor-
tunity now offers, to urge the ne-
cessity of obeying this command of
his Saviour ; to point out that the
LORD'S SUPPER is a Sacrament,
and equally obligatory upon us
with BAPTISM ; that it was not
only instituted for a continual re-
membra?ice of Christ's sacrifice for
us, but is one of His appointed
means of Salvation ; that we are
told, by our Blessed Lord himself,
" unless we eat the flesh of the
Son of Man, and drink his blood,
we have no life in us." Now the-
interesting account of our Lord's
- ; "^ ' last
107
last Supper with his disciples, when
in the most clear and positive
manner he instituted this sacred
ordinance, will excite attention ;
it will probably strike with force
and conviction, and he who through
careless indifference, or on ac-
count of inadmissible excuses, has
heretofore turned his back upon
the Lord's Table, may, if he sur-
vives, become in future a regular
communicant.
Let the parish priest therefore
consider, that his duty to the sick,
in respect of the Lord's Supper, is'
not only to administer it to those*
who are desirous of this comfort-'
able Sacrament, but to explain the 1
nature of the ordinance to the i<r-'
o
norant, and to urge the -necessity'
f 6 of
108
of complying with the command of /
our Redeemer, upon those who
have perhaps, to a late period of
their lives, neglected this necessary
means of salvation.
There is a description of persons
in every parish besides the abso-
lutely sick, which calls for the at-
tention of the pastor ; I mean those
who though not under the influ-
ence of disease, yet from age or in-
firmity, are unable to attend the
public service of the Church. To
these the Church should in some
measure be carried ; the parochial
minister should, as often as the
extent and population of his parish
will admit, visit them, read some
of the prayers of the Liturgy to
them, and discourse with them up-
on
109
on religious subjects. He will al-
ways find they receive comfort
from these visits, and generally ad-
vantage. Their minds will be kept
in a proper frame for that change
to which they are approaching ;
and they will by this means be
kept, not only in righteousness
of life, but, most probably, in the
unity of the Church.
The assistance given by the mi-
nister to his sick parishioners,
should not be confined to prayer
and conversation ; much aid may
be given them through books.
There are many small tracts he
may give away, and some larger
works he may lend, when occasion
calls for them. These may be
procured on easy terms by sub-
scribers
no
scribers to the Society for pro-
moting Christian Knowledge ; and
if the circumstances of the minister
are such, that he cannot himself
conveniently bear this expence, in
most parishes I trust there will be
found those, whose opulence will
make them able, and their regard
to the spiritual wants of the poor
will make them willing, to furnish
the necessary supply.
To the industrious labourer who
is confined to his house by illness,
a book is a great treasure. Unac-
customed tc idleness, -We feels in a
peculiar manner the tediousness of
sickness; a book relieves the weari-
ness, and thus comes in the form
of a friend ; he has now leisure
for consideration -; sickness like-
wise
in
\visc softens his mind, and opens
his prospect to eternity. Under
all these circumstances, favourable
to religious influence, a plain and
well written tract will sink deep in-
to the heart, and the impression,
most probably, will never be ef-
faced.
The next subject which requires
the parochial minister's attention,
is the education of the lower order
of his parishioners. Where there
is an endowed school, the clergy-
man is generally one of the trus-
tees; in that case, he, no doubt,
feels himself called upon to use
every exertion that a proper mas-
ter may be appointed, and then to
watch over the master's conduct.
But although there, may be no en-
dowment
112
dowment in the parish, yet I do
think it is the duty of the minister,
to take care that the education of
the poor, over which he may al-
ways have a sufficient influence, is
properly conducted. His presence
in the schools, at no long intervals,
and at uncertain times, will pre-
vent negligence ; and it will pre-
vent an improper education in re-
ligious matters. The law most
properly allows every man to wor-
ship God, and to educate his
children, in that way he judges will
best conduce to their temporal and
eternal welfare. Far be it there-
fore from the parochial minister,
to interfere with sectarian schools.
But we too frequently find per-
sons, who openly professing them-
selves
113
selves members of the Church, arc
secretly promoting schism. Many
of these set up schools for the low-
er ranks in society, and instill into
the younger minds unsound doc-
trines, and wild notions. The
Catechism of our Church is totally
neglected, or lightly esteemed ;
and the prayers of our Liturgy
being laid aside, their place is
supplied by enthusiastic devotions*
The visits of the minister to the
schools in his parish, will prevent
these evils ; if the teachers wish to
appear orthodox, they must be
really so. The examination of
the children will develope the sys-
tem of education, and any sinister
practice will be discovered. In-
deed the knowledge that the
watch-
114
watchful pastor is in the habit of
paying this attention to the instruc-
tion of the poor, will prevent the
attempt. The expectation of a
Superintending eye is always ad-
vantageous.
Sunday schools are become so
it
general, that there are, I believe,
few parishes in the kingdom where
they have not been established.
Should however a parish fall to
the lot of a young divine in which a
Sunday-school has not been formed^
I recommend him to use his ut-
most exertion to procure one.
The advantages of the institution
are great. Although the instruc-
tion to be gained there, will in
few instances be sufficient for an
intirely uneducated child, yet it
will
115
will act as a stimulus in the daily
school, to both teacher and scholar}
the activity of the teacher, and the
industry of the scholar, will be
called forth, that the credit of the
former may be supported, by the
latter being in due time brought
sufficiently forward, to take his
place in the Sunday-school.
The children of the poor, espe-
cially in these days, are obliged
to leave the daily school at an eariy
age, to earn their bread by the
sweat of their brows. The Sunday-
school is then of material service ;
it not only affords a weekly exer-
cise and instruction in reading, but
it urges the child to endeavour to
retain what he has learned, that his
place and credit in the class may
not
lio-
net be lost. The last benefit I
shall mention, which the children
of the poor derive from the Sun-
day-school, but by no means the
least, is their being taken regularly
and orderly to hear the service of
the Church*
The superintendance of the Sun-
day-school, especially in villages,
rests commonly on the parochial
minister ; a few hints therefore
respecting its management, may be
serviceable to a young man inex-
perienced in the business. The
first step is to throw the scholars
into classes, \either two, or three,
as his judgment, and the circum-
stances of the parish may point
out. If he is placed in a widely
extended village, two classes will,
in
117
in my opinion, be sufficient ; in a
town, or compact village, a third
class may be added for the younger
children who cannot read. To the
highest class, if the minister can
raise a fund for the purpose, a
Bible, a Prayer-book, and a reli-
gious tract, may be given ; to the
second class the Psalter, and to the
third class a small cheap spelling-
book.
"When the funds will afford the
books I have recommended to be
given to the highest class, the ad-
vantages attending the Sunday-
school extend beyond the scholar.
The family are supplied with the
Scriptures, and the prayers of the
Church, as well as furnished with
a reader ; and the tract likewise
is
118
h> not only an exercise in reading
for the child, but it is a vehicle to
convey instruction, in Christian
doctrine and practice, to the pa-
lents. The psalter appears to be
the most useful book for the junior
class; the psalms and prayers are
an exercise in reading, the collects
may be made an exercise for the
memory, and any part will afford
an examination of the child in the
progress he has made in spelling.
A cheap spelling-book is sufficient
for the third class, But I must
repeat, that in general the advan-
tage of the Sunday school to this-
class is small* Till the child is of
an age to read in the psalter, he is
seldom able to attend the village
Sunday-school with any regularity,
which
which from most of the children is
probably at a considerable dis-
tance ; the instruction of an hour
or two one day in the week, is not
sufficient, as I have observed, to
teach an intirely uneducated child
to read, and the desire of getting
into the Sunday-school, will anN
mate exertion, as much as the de-
sire of promotion from one class
to another.
The last, but by no means the
teast important, branch of the pri-
vate labour of the parish priest, is
to keep up that intercourse with
his parishioners, especially with
those of the lower order, which
will give him an insight into their
manners and habits, and an influ-
ence
120
ence over their religious and moral
conduct.
This can only be done by fre-
quent and familiar visits ; by en-
tering into all their little cares and
troubles, and, as far as he is able,
relieving their distresses with his
advice and assistance. By this
constant communication, the mi-
nister will become acquainted with
the different characters of his peo-
ple, and be able to distinguish by
his favour the deserving from the
profligate and worthless. By his
kind attention and good offices to
the virtuous and orderly, they will
be accustomed to fly to him in all
their wants and perplexities, to
lean upon him whenever they re-
quire
121
quire support ; they will feel that
on him is their chief dependence ;
they will be aware that any in-
discretion will not long be con-
cealed from the ear of their watch-
ful pastor, and the dread of losing
the esteem and countenance of their
best friend on earth, will be a pow-
erful restraint upon any vicious in-
clination.
The intercourse bet ween the mi-
nister and the higher ranks in his
parish will not be so frequent, nor
will he have that apparent influence
over them, he has on the lower
class. He will not be able to vi-
sit, or to discourse with them in
the familiar manner he does with
the cottager ; nor will they feel
the continual want of his advice
G and
and assistance, which is so neces-
sary to the poor and ignoranfc,
But still there may be that inter-
change of civility and good offices,
and that readiness, on his part, to
afford assistance whenever oppor-
tunities offer, which will operate
powerfully, and beneficially, upon
*this description of \m parishioners.
The love they will bear to the man,
and the respect they will feel for
the minister, always on the watch for
the temporal and spiritual ^welfare
of his whole flock will be no weak
barrier against the temptation to
evil. The apprehension of his dis-
approbation, to whose opinion and
judgment they are accustomed to
pay a deference, will give a check
to the first motions of sin; and
this
this train of thought will open the
ear to the still small voice of that
monitor, who is ever at hand to di-
rect us in the right way.
In this manner will the friendly
communication which may, and
ought to, be kept up between the
pastor and his flock, have the best
effect upon the general conduct of
his parish. There is, however, one
particular, in which his frequent
visits to those of the lower rank
will prove of the most essential
service. Little differences must
arise between neighbours ; we
cannot expect the rude and ignor-
ant to be exempt from them ; for
such, I fear, are to be found in
more polished life. These heats
and animosities, trifling perhaps
c 2 in
124
in their origin, from the constant
attention of the minister will be
known to him as soon as they oc-
cur; and will then be easily al-
layed : but if suffered to break out
into flame, they will not so readily
be extinguished ; and nothing is
more detrimental to the moral or-
der of a parish, than want of har-
mony.
The parochial walks of the pa-
rish priest, have however a yet
higher aim -than the order and re-
gularity of his people. The first
and principal object of all his la-
bour, public and private, will be re-
ligion ; this he will lay as the foun-
dation of virtue ; on Christian doc-
trine, he will build Christian mo-
rals. And much religious instruc-
- " tion
125
tion may, indeed ought to be
given in private ; many doctrines
and duties of the Gospel may be
urged in- this manner more effec-
tually than from the pulpit A
word spoken in a favourable sea-
son, will oftentimes strike more
forcibly, than the best and clearest
chain of argument in a sermon.
Conversation too affords opportu-
nity of objection on the part of the
instructed ; and an excuse for a
sin of commission, or of omission,
weighty in the scale of self-judg-
ment, may, when brought to a
more even balance, be made ap-
pear light as air. And upon this
familiar intercourse with our pa-
rishioners, it is, we must rest our
chief hope of counteracting the
c 3 wiles
126*
wiles of schism, and enthusiasm 5
it is by such a constant pastoral
communication with our Socks,
that we can be acquainted with
their spiritual state, and prevent
the weak and ignorant being drawn
away from the Church, and all
sober religion.
The Sacrament of the Lord's
Supper is an essential means of
grace, an indispensable requisite
in obtaining salvation ; and yet
is very frequently neglected. This
duty therefore should be urged
upon the flocks committed to our
charge, in every way likely to
prove effectual ; and we shall of-
ten find, that after the solemn and
impressive exhortation of the
Church to partake in the Holy
Com-
isr
Communion, and various dis-
courses from the pulpit, explain-
ing the nature, and enforcing the
necessity of complying with this
injunction of our Saviour, have
failed, we shall often find, that a
short conversation upon the subject
in private will succeed : it will dis-
pel a doubt or calm a fear or
answer an excuse or awaken a
negligent Christian to a proper
sense of his situation ; and we
shall have the satisfaction of see-
ing the former absenter from, be-
come a constant attendant at, the
Lord's Table.
In like manner the duty of pri-
vate prayer may be more powerfully
urged in a domestic visit, than in
a sermon. We may press the
c 4 pro-
J28
propriety, the comfort, the ne-
cessity, of applying to God in all
our individual wants and distresses,
and returning him thanks for the
many particular mercies and bless-
ings we receive, more effectually
in a friendly conversation, than in
a set didactic discourse. There
are likewise offences against the
laws of God, for the correction of
which, we must rest principally on
our private exhortations. Upon
that too common crime, the want
of chastity, we can touch but
lightly in public ; in private we
may be more explicit in advice or
reproof, and the application may
be direct and personal. Indeed,
'religious and moral duties can, in
some instances, be enforced in no
other
129
other manner. The man who
never enters the doors of a Church,
cannot profit by our public in-
struction ; and in all cases, reli-
gious exhortation will prove most
beneficial, when we can bring the
matter home to the individual, and
say "thou art the man." The
heart may be steeled by self-love,
and self deception, against the
arrow shot from the pulpit. In
the general picture of vice thus
held up to view, mankind are
ready to perceive a resemblance
to their neighbours, but seldom
discover a likeness to themselves.
And not only will the minister, in
these friendly communications,
have the advantage of the ear of
bis parishioners, and of making his
6 5 ins true-
instruction personal, but the at-
tention itself will very much awa-
ken in his flock a sense of reli-
gion. The care bestowed upon
their spiritual welfare will declare,
in a manner all can comprehend,
that the concerns of the next
world are of the greatest moment ;
and the very urging upon them
anxiously, and continually, the
performing particular duties, will
impress on their minds that these
duties are of the highest impor-
tance.
Another branch of the pastoral
office there is, which can only be
performed by parochial visits ; and
that is, to gain an insight into the
state of education among the lower
class, and to learn whether those
who
131
who are able to read possess
Scriptures, and the Liturgy of our
Church. It is much to be wished,
that in each family there should
be a Bible, and a Prayer-book ;
and one capable of reading them.
Where this is not the case, the mi-
nister ought to use every exertion
jn his power, to supply the defi-
ciency in learning or books : and
in few parishes, I believe, charity
and opulence are at so low an
ebb, as not to afford the assistance
required, if the clergyman j$ ac-
tive in calling them forth.
The possession of the Scrip-
tures by the Ipwcr orders, anfl the
ability to read them, are objects
very desirable to be attained ; fpr
although the Bible is upt sufficient
c 6 for
152
for religious instruction, without
the aid of that ministry appointed
by our Lord, to "teach all na-
tions :" yet the reading and study
of the sacred volume is greatly
conducive to the knowledge and
practice of Christianity. PRAYER
and the Sacrament of the LORD'S
SUPPER are likewise so necessary
to the Christian life, that with the
ability to READ, and the posses-
sion of the HOLY SCRIPTURES,
they form the four cardinal objects
of pastoral care.
Whenever, therefore, the parish
is not too populous to admit of
that familiar visitation I have recom-
mended; or so small that there is no
occasion for a memento, I advise
the parochial minister, to furnish
himself.
133
himself with a list of the families:
in the parish, with marks denoting
the state of each in the particulars
above-mentioned. By casting his
eye over this register, previous to a
village walk, he will perceive where
his presence is most required, and
what turn of conversation he is to
seek, in his different visits.
If no better plan occurs to his
mind, let him take the following ;
I have known it to be adopted,
and to prove useful.
Column 1
2
3
4
5
R
B
P
S
A. I>. ......
+
+
_
C. D
+
-f
+
E. F.
+
=
The
The first column contains the
name of the family. The second,
the ability or disability to read.
The third, the possession, or
capability of purchasing, or want
of a Bible, and a Prayer-book.
The fourth, the use or neglect of
private prayer. The fifth, the
attendance, or non-attendance, at
the Lord's Table. The marks,
denoting the stale of the family in
these particulars, it will be per-
ceived, are the algebraical cha-
racters of plus, minus, and equality ;
which in the above specimen are
thus used.
T .
A. B. , There is at least one
T>
in the family who can read.
They possess a Bible, and a Prayer
book,
135
p
book. ~ Private prayer is neg-
Q
lected. - They are never seen
at the Lord's Table.
P
C. D. This family can read.
B I*
~ They have not a Bible.
They are in the habit of private
c
prayer. They attend the Sa-
crament.
T>
E. F. This family can read.
ID
They are in a situation to fur-
P
nish themselves with books.
The use of private prayer is not
a
ascertained. Not one of the
family attends the Communion.
These, or any like short memo-
randa,
136
randa, easily noted down, will
much assist the watchful shepherd,
in the care and superintendance of
his flock. He will have under his
eye, the wants of the different
branches of his spiritual family ;
and he will at a glance perceive
where education, where books,
where advice, or reproof, is re-
quired ; and he will thus be ena-
bled to apply the talents intrusted
to him to the best advantage.
Nothing conduces so much to
the order of our temporal affairs,
as keeping accurate accounts. Just
so is it in spiritual concerns. When
we often take a view of what we
owe to our flock ; when such and
such debts of duty appear upon
the parochial account book, we
shall
shall find ways and means to dis-
charge them as they become due.
But if through inattention or neg-
ligence, we suffer them to accumu-
late, they may increase beyond the
power of payment ; and when we
are called upon to give in the ac-
count of our stewardships, we may
find ourselves in that state of in-
solvency, from which mercy itself
cannot relieve us.
The professed Christians in this
kingdom, appear to be more split
and divided in the present day,
than they ever were before ; and
proselytism rages in no common
degree. The utmost vigilance of
the pastor is therefore required, to
preserve his flock from schism ; and
no preservative is so likely to prove
effica-
139
efficacious, as frequent parochial
Tisits. By this familiar intercourse,
not only the minister gains an in-
sight into the spiritual state of his
people, and is thereby enabled tq
give an early check to any wrong
propensities, but the sheep know
the shepherd ; they are convinced
of his being able, and willing, to
lead them in the right way ; they
are acquainted with his voice, and
they follow him. Where this at-
tention is not paid, where the
flock is left greatly to itself, no
wonder if they go astray, and the
wolf catcheth them.
In these days then, when wolves
of the wildest description are
constantly prowling about, seeking
whom they may devour, let me ad-
vise
vise my brethren to be always up-
on the alert ; to be ever walking
round and round the fold. Their
appearance alone will contribute
greatly to safety. When the watch-*
man is seen at his post, the robber
is generally deterred from his pur-
pose. Where the minister is
known to be in the habit of this
intercourse with his parishioners,
there the itinerant preacher, and
the hawker of enthusiastic and
schismatic tracts, are not inclined
to pay very frequent visits ; they
look for a more favourable soil,
whereon to sow the seed of their
wild doctrines ; some uncultivated
spot, where the noxious plants are
in no danger of being rooted out ;
but will be allowed to grow, and
expand,
140
expand, till their eradication is be-
come difficult.
I would not however have the
young pastor imagine, that his pre-
sence alone will be sufficient to
guard the flock ; he will find vari-
ous arts used to seduce them, a* kick
it will require his utmost watch-
fulness to counteract ; nor must he
be discouraged, if after all his care
and attention, some are drawn
away from the Church ; for mis-
taken zeal is arrived at that height,
it seems impossible, in every in-
stance, to stem the torrent. The
dispersion of tracts, inculcating the
tenets of Calvin sensible illumi-
nation the necessity of sudden
conversion the universal neg-
ligence of the clergy and the in-
sufficiency
141
sufficiency of the Church to salva-
tion, is a principal engine em-
ployed. These tracts are sold by
hawkers at a cheap rate, or given
by some person in the neighbour-
hood in a higher rank, with pro-
fession of peculiar anxiety for the
welfare of the soul, or thrown from
the window of a carriage to the
lower orders. The only way to
counteract this movement of hea-
ven and earth to make one pro-
selyte, is to meet the disease in
time ; to be always at hand to
discover the earliest taint, and pre-
pared to apply A remedy.
The minister, in his cottage vi-
sits, if he .looks to the shelf, will
sometimes perceive, peeping out
between the Bible and Prayer-
book,
142
book, one of these little tracts;
he will upon inspection find it per-
haps to contain no inconsiderable
portion of sound doctrine, and
much practical Christianity, work-
ed up in a plain and familiar
style, well adapted to the lower
class. In certain parts however,
the cloven foot will appear. The
reader will be directed to consult
his feelings, whether the new birth
has taken place, Or a story will
be told how long a sinner, groan-
ing under the weight of feis trans-
gressions, attended his parish
Church without any good ef-
fect ; but accidentally putting his
head into a conventicle, the dis-
course of the preacher went home
to his heart, and after a few strug-
gles,
143
, he was assured of salvation;
Or a dialogue will be introduced ;
in which the parish priest is re-
presented as a mixture of ignor-
ance, indolence, and worldly
minded ness, and the sectarian
teacher as a pattern of good sense,
piety, and disinterestedness.
For these insidious publications,
let the eye of the pastor be always
on the watch. Wherever he dis-
covers, let him -take them down,
and comment upon the unscrip-
tural doctrines, and the insinuating
method of working up the poison,
with so much pure Christianity.
Let him point out the danger of
the doctrines, and the falsity of the
accusations. This my brethren
will find no easy er pleasant task ;
they
144
they will sometimes .find it difficult,
to make the objectionable parts
.sufficiently comprehended, to coun-
teract them ; and yet these incom-
prehended parts, however paro-
<loxical it may sound, will be
capable of doing mischief; for
the poison is mixed up with so
much wholesome religious nourish-
ment, and in so palatable a man-
ner to the piously inclined, but ig-
norant Christian, that before he
understands the tenets of the en-
thusiast, he forms a partiality for
the sect ; and is imperceptibly led
on to believe their wild doctrines,
and attach himself to their society.
And the egotism required to an-
swer the accusations brought
against the clergy, is very unplea-
san*
145
sant to an ingenuous mind. But
the arrogance of the enthusiast,
who scruples not to boast of every
human excellence and virtue, as
well as of immediate divine com-
munication, calls upon us to put
some constraint upon ourselves,
and to meet their charges with
boldness, as well as firmness. Let
the Christian minister shew the er-
roneousness of the doctrines, from
Scripture, and meet the charge of
negligence with the practice, as
well as the profession, of zeal and
activity.
When a philosopher of old was
informed, thaf certain persons
calumniated him, he made this
reply, " I will live in such a man-
ner, that no one shall believe
u them."
146
them." Let us be ever at our posts,
and attentive to the spiritual con-
cerns of those committed to our
care, and then no one will be-
lieve, what the enemies of the
Church may say, respecting the
negligence of the clergy.
But whatever may be the atten-
tion and care of the pastor, few
instances, I fear, occur, where the
flock has been preserved intire ;
there will be found in most pa-
rishes some wanderers from the
fold, who have attached themselves
to sectarian teachers. The paro-
chial minister must therefore con-
sider, what is to be his conduct
towards them. His duty certainly
is to watch for, and take advan-
tage of, every opportunity to shew
the
ur
the light of truth to those who are
in error, to fetch home, if possi-
ble, a wandering sheep. The hope
however of reclaiming an enthusi-
ast, I am afraid is small. To the
man who applies to his feelings for
a knowledge of his spiritual state?
who believes that an immediate di-
vine impulse imparts to him the
rule of his faith, and practice, all
argument drawn from reason and
Scripture is thrown away ; under
these impressions, the exercise of
reason must he considered impiety,
and Scripture is superseded. To
those therefore who have forsaken
the Church, who enter its doors,
only when ihe service does not in-
terfere with a regular attendance
at the conventicle, the constant at-
H 2 tentiou
145
tendon of the parochial minister
will be useless, whilst to the rest
of the parish it will be detrimental.
Most of the lower class of village
sectarians (who are generally me-
thodists) would, I believe, gladly
keep up a communication with
their parish priest ; they would be
pleased with his pastoral calls, and
with his prayers in sickness. But
can we, circumstanced as they are,
usefully to themselves, can we con-
scientiously on our own parts, can we
safely to others, thus attend them ?
OUT prayers may be grateful to a
sick person of this description, but
a deaf ear will be turned to our
doctrinal instruction ; the religious
opinions and tincture will be
taken from the schismatic teacher.
If
149 ,
If we attend with him, our's will
be the subordinate department.
We can in such a case be of no
material service, and if we believe
an apostolic priesthood to be an es-
sential part of the Church of
Christ, by joining the unordained
preacher in taking care of the soul
of a parishioner, by thus placing
him upon an equality with the re-
gular pastor, we disguise our real
sentiments, we virtually declare
schism to be no sin, and we lead
the rest of our flock into error.
The parish priest will behave
with civility to those who have for-
saken him ; he will, if occasion
calls for it, assist them in their tem-
poral affairs ; but in spiritual mat-
ters, he must consider them as not
H 3 within
150
within his fold. When desired to
perform the offices of the Church,
he will feel that his duty forbids
him to refuse; and he will readily
seize this, and every other oppor-
tunity, of throwing in a word of
advice ; but he should, I think,
forbear the unsolicited attendance
at the sick bed, and the familiar
parochial visit.
This appears to me the best, the
only line of conduct we can pur-
sue with those, who by the artful
insinuation of others, or through
their own pride, and itching ears,
have been enticed from the Church.
The kindness due from us to them
as fellow-travellers on the road of
life, ought not to be withheld ; and
yet I have known the common ci-
vilities
151
vilities of a clergyman to a schisma-
tic parishioner, mentioned by the
latter, as a proof that the former
did not disapprove of his religious
conduct ; and urged as an argu-
ment to induce another of his pa-
rishioners to attend the conventicle.
Such attacks, however, \ve must
meet with other weapons, than in-
civility and unkindness ; this un-
governed spirit of proselytism will
give us uneasiness, and excite our
pity, but let it not raise our anger.
Christian charity should guide all
our actions ; especially ought it to
be our rule in spiritual concerns.
But at the same time we must be
careful, not to give our sanction to
that mistaken, yet too fashionable
liberality, of considering, orspeak-
ii 4 ing
ing of, every one who names the
name of Christ, as within the pale
of his Church. Whenever occa-
sion requires, let us openly and
boldly declare we consider, and
are by Scripture borne out in the
consideration, that our Blessed
Lord founded his Church on the
Apostles ; and that through the
Apostolic ministry he will continue
it to the end of the world. That
those, who joining themselves to
schismatic societies forsa kethe Apo-
stolic ministry, for sake the Church;
they withdraw themselves from
the care of the parochial priest ;
they are virtually absent from his
flock; that 'although they are still
included amongst the number of
those who have been authorita-
tively
153
ti-oely committed to our care, and
of whom therefore we must give
account at the awful day of judg-
ment, yet our souls will have been
delivered with respect to them
we would have " watched for their
souls," but they would not " sub-
mit " themselves to "our spiritual
rule ;" that they have transferred
the responsibility from us, and up-
on themselves will fall the effect of
whatever spiritual sins, and errors,
they have committed ; and that
we cannot but dread they will be
called upon, to answer before the
tribunal of their Redeemer, for
having divided and distracted. His
CHURCH which it was His positive
command, and most earnest pray-
er, should be ONE UNITED BODY.
II J CON*
354
CONCLUSION.
THE plan I proposed when I
began this little tract is now com-
pleted. I have thrown together a
few hints upon the different func-
tions of the parochial clergy.
It was far from my intention to
enter into controversial points, re-
specting the origin and appointment
of the Christian ministry, or to
raise opportunities of discussing
disputed doctrines. My sole ob-
ject was to collect into a small
manual,
155
manual, for the use of the younger
clergy of the Church of England,
some practical observations upon
the duties of a parish priest, which
the reading and experience of
many years, passed in that situa-
tion, had suggested to a mind,
deeply impressed with the impor-
tance of the ministerial office.
Upon a review of what I have
written, I entertain a hope that I
have not deviated from the plan
laid down. The reader will be at
no loss to discover my sentiments
upon the constitution of the Chris-
tian Church, and he will perceive
I have not forborn to intimate my
opinion upon several points of
doctrine, on which the ministers
ii 6 and
156
and members of the Church are
not perfectly agreed. But I have
touched upon these matters, I
trust, in so uncontroversial, and so
unoffending a manner, that none
of my brethren, between whom and
myself there may be some shades
of difference, will on that account
be prevented profiting from the
hints I have given them, relating
to the practical part of their pas-
toral duties.
Respecting the execution of the
plan, I am aware if the book is
read, there must be various opi-
nions. Some readers may think I
have laid burdens upon the clergy,
too heavy for them to bear : others
will say I have placed the standard
of
157
of pastoral duty too low : observa-
tions will likewise be made on the
style and language of the work.
I do not mean to hold at arm's
length the literary critic, or to
despise the opinions of any of my
brethren who may not agree with
me.
Whenever a writer sends his la-
bours into the world, the public
has a right to expect, that no rea-
sonable exertion on his part shall
be wanting, to render the compo-
sition fit for its inspection ; no ex-
cuse can be admitted for errors,
which a little time and attention
would have prevented. From the
nature of the work, the reader will
not in my book seek for any thing
but information. The attention
therefor*
158
therefore I have paid to the style
and language, has been to give my
opinions and advice in the plainest
manner, and in the fewest words
Nothing very uncouth, I trust, will
be found in the style ; and whilst
the sheets were going through the
press, I have endeavoured to take
out any spots and blemishes which
might offend the correct eye of
the literary critic.
To my brethren wha may think
I have not laid my rule on the ex-
act line of pastoral duty, some con-
sidering 1 have deviated on one
side, and some on the other side of
the narrow track, to such I deem
it incumbent upon me to say a few
words before I conclude.
To those who consider I have
given'
159
given too much latitude to the
Christian minister in his intercourse
with the world, I beg to repeat,
that the human mind will not sus-
tain continued exertion ; some re-
laxation from official labour is re-
quisite, and this may and should be
sought in society. To those who
would deprive the clergy of all in-
tercourse with the world, I beg to
observe, that Christianity is by no
means morose and ascetic, that
the Gospel considers man as a
social being, not abstracted and
solitary ; that it teaches us to use
the world and not to abuse it ; to
resist and overcome temptation,
not to fly from the trials with
which the Almighty sees fit to
prove us in this life, to prepare
us
us for the life to come. Social
pleasures therefore, innocent and
professional, such intermixture
with the laity, I mean, as will not
interfere with professional duties,
nor degrade the clerical character,
and these alone have I recom-
mended or allowed to the clergy,
such I repeat are, in my opinion,
both lawful and expedient.
Others there may be of my
brethren, especially of those for
whose use these hints are chiefly in-
tended the younger clergy who
will think I have infringed upon
their Christian liberty, imposing
duties which the Church does not
require from her ministers, and
thus depriving them of pleasures,
which in the world are deemed al-
lowable.
161
lowable. The objections I appre-
hend will not be so much against the
public, as against the private exer-
tions I deem requisite from the pa-
rish priest. Many will admitthe truth,
of my observations upon the per-
formance of the public services of
the Church, that the greatest care
should be taken to read the Li-
turgy and offices with propriety,
and that the doctrines and duties
of Christianity should be en-
forced from the pulpit with the
greatest earnestness ; but in re-
quiring that constant parochial at-
tendance, upon which I lay so much
stress, I shall, I fear, by numbers of
my brethren be thought fancifully
to have stretched beyond all eccle-
siastical rule, and filled up thattime
with
1&2
with pastoral labour, which might
be innocently employed in worldly
pursuits. '
I beg in the first place to hold
up my hand against custom, or
strict ecclesiastical rule, being the
criterion of pastoral perfection. If
we measure ourselves by ourselves,
we shall not be wise ; nor will ex-
act canonical observance fulfil the
pastoral duties. The general out-
line may be given by' injunction,
but the interior, the most material
part of the plan, can only be filled
up according to circumstances
by each individual minister, from
a knowledge of his parish, a due
consideration of the sacred and
important office to which he is ap-
pointed, and a constant impres-
sion
163
sion upon his mind, that the
watchful eye of his Divine Master
is always upon his whole Church.
A parochial minister may satisfy
human law, he may escape the
correcting arm of legal, and the
censure of episcopal authority, and
yet be wanting in his duty to the
flock committed to his care and
superintendance. Various atten-
tions are required, which cannot
be made the subject of human re-
gulation, or human investigation.
We, the ministers of Christ, are
called upon more than any other
description of servants, not to per-
form "eye service as men plea-
sers, but to do our duty as to the
Lord and not unto men." We,
who are so frequently reminding
others
164
others of their great account^
should ever bear in recollection,
that we shall one day stand before
a tribunal, where the strictest mere-
ly formal compliance with canons
and constitutions, will avail no
more, than did in old time the
Pharisaical tithing of anise and
eummin ; there are more impor-
tant, though unprescribed duties,
which must turn the balance that
will weigh the Christian priest ;
notleaving the other undone, these
ought to be, and must be done,
if we hope for a favourable sen-
tence at the last day. We must
give our time, we must give our
minds, to the sacred duties we
have undertaken. We have dedi-
cated ourselves to the service
of
of the Church, and surely trc
who have engaged in this spiritual
profession, are not called upon
for less exertion than are those,
who have entered into professions
of a temporalnature. These how-
ever we shall often find wiser in
their generation than ourselves,
and they may afford us -a useful
example.
When 'the fleeting and perish-
able possessions of this world shevr
symptoms of taking wing, when
fame and fortune are in danger,
and legal aid is called in, how ac-
tive is the lawyer ; how alive to
'the interest of his client ; his whole
mind is engaged to counteract the
open attacks, or the insidious arts
of the opponent, that he may do
" bit
166
his duty as an advocate, and pro-
cure applause and affluence as his
own reward. Let us, in watch-
incr over the eternal interest of our
o
flocks, take example from the
earnestness and assiduity shewed
by the guardian of their temporal
possessions. Our situations are
somewhat similar ; but the cause
we have to plead, is of unspeak-
ably greater importance. Let us
consider, that we are constantly re-
tained to protect the spiritual
estate of those committed to our
charge ; that there is an adversary
ever on the watch, to despoil them
of their best inheritance; that it
requires the utmost vigilance to
guard them against his secret wiles,
and constant admonition to defend
them
167
them against his open temptations.
Let us consider likewise, the dread-
ful consequences to ourselves of
neglecting the cause we have un-
dertaken ; and the glorious reward
we shall receive if we faithfully
discharge our duty. That much
heavier punishment, than disgrace
and poverty, will befall us in the
former case, and that eye hath not
seen, nor ear heard, neither hath
it entered into the heart of man
to conceive, the happiness we
shall attain if we turn many to
righteousness.
There is another temporal pro-
fession, from which the clergy may
profitably take a lesson ; and op-
portunities for this kind of instruc-
tion frequently occur. When the
spiritual
165
spiritual guide, and medical ad-
viser are summoned in their re-
spective departments to the bed
of sickness, let the conduct of the
physician be an example to the
parochial minister. The whole
mind of him who is to take care of
the body, is called forth to save
and heal the perishable substance ;
he is ever at the service of those
who require his assistance ; no un-
professional business draws him
aside, no pleasures intice him from
his professional duties; he chear-
fully allows the hours of his re-
freshment and rest to be broken in
upon; the almost hopeless case
does not slacken his exertion, nor
does the danger of contagion af-
fright him from the infectious
chamber.
chamber. A less degree of atten-
tion surely ought not to be paid to
the soul, than is paid to the body ;
nor is the spiritual less subject to
disease than the corporeal frame
of man ; it is frequently, to speak
in the figurative language of Scrip-
ture, full of wounds, and bruises,
and putrifying sores ; and requires
the aid of the spiritual physician.
The health of the soul, like that of
the body, is likewise often under-
mined before the patient is aware;
the contagion of bad example, or
the propensities of human nature,
frequently make inroads upon the
unguarded heart before they are
observed ; and the cure becomes
difficult and doubtful. In these
cases let us who have the charge
i of
170
of the immortal spirit, look to him
who has the care of that part,
which must one day return to the
dust as it was; and let us be
equally active and assiduous in our
attendance. Let us probe the
wounds of our patient to the bot-
tom, let us find out the sins which
easily beset him, awaken him to a
sense of his danger, and the cer-
tain restoration to ease and health
if he follows our prescription.
And here we have the advantage
over the attendant upon the body ;
we can give that assurance of
health, if our regimen is pursued,
which he cannot. Let the head
be ever so sick, and the heart ever
so faint, if the wi etched sufferer will
follow our directions, if he will re-
pent
171
pent and forsake his sins, and turn
to God in sincerity and truth, inv-
powered by Him who cannot de-
ceive, we may promise that his
spiritual wounds shall be healed ;
and he shall find rest to his soul.
Intrusted as we are with the
eternal interests of our brethren,
let us not be, in zeal and industry,
behind those who undertake the
care of their temporal concerns.
Not only the time of the physi-
cian and the lawyer is employed,
but their thoughts are engaged in
their profession ; and unless the
Christian minister in like manner
fixes his mind upon the high and
important office he has taken upon
him, he cannot properly perform
its duties. If his heart is given up
i 2 to
172
to the world, if temporal concerns,
of any description, chiefly occupy
his thoughts, and his clerical la-
bours become mere bodily ser-
vice, although the common de-
mand of official duty may be dis-
charged ; and even an increased
attention occasionally paid, yet
there will be a failure in those
things, which distinguish the " true
shepherd" from the " hireling."
When the thoughts are occupied
by worldly, instead of professional
pursuits, the main spring to every
thing that is useful and praise-
worthy in the clerical character is
wanting. If the parish priest
would obey the command of his
blessed Master, given to him in
the form of a request to St, Peter,
"to
173
" to feed His sheep," his heart
must be in his parish ; that must
not only be the sphere of his ex-
ertions, but the chief source of his
pleasure and his pain. He must
enter with zeal into every thing that
concerns his flock; he will, it is
true, in such case, feel with keen-
ness professional disappointment,'
but he will experience professional
comfort, far beyond any other sa*
tisfaction this world can afford.'
Ever then, my young reader,
bear in recollection, that if you
would meet your Lord with joy
and not with sorrow, when the
dread summons arrives to give an
account of your stewardship, you
must devote yourself to your pro-
fession, If you would do the work
J 3 of
174
of an Evangelist, you must wean
your mind from the world ; I say
not, withdraw yourself. I must
once again repeat, in the world
you have duties to perform, in the
world you may seek relaxation
from labour; but pj^ofessional em-
ploy merit must occupy the thoughts,
and fill up the hours of business ;
neither worldly interest, nor plea-
sure, nor too great an attachment
lo unprofessional studies, must be
allowed to engross the mind in
such a manner, that pastoral duty
becomes nearly confined to forms
and ceremonies.
Consider, let me intreat you, the
importance of the office you have
undertaken, and the solemn en-
gagements into which you have
entered;
175
entered. Your office is that of a
minister, a servant of Christ, set
to watch for the salvation of souls ;
an ambassador, sent by your Di-
vine Master, to urge, in his stead,
the cause of God and Religion
against Sin and Satan ; and before
the holy altar you have devoted
yourself to the discharge of this
momentous trust. Reflect daily
upon the earnest exhortation you
there received, the awful warning
then given to you, and the solemn
promises you made in the presence
of GOD. And that you may never
forget them, let rne recommend
to you the advice of Archbishop
Hort, " to read over the offices of
Ordination, once at least in every
year." There can be no better
memo-
memorandum of the ministerial en-
gagements, than the interrogatories
O O 1 *
in these sacred rites; and no words
can, I think, more strongly impress
upon the mind, the weight and
importance of the priestly office,
than those contained in the admo-
nition of the Bishop, to a candi-?
date for the priesthood.
If these fail to awaken you to a
just sense of the awful responsibi-
lity of the situation in which you
stand; no language I can use
will prove effectual. I shall con*
elude therefore, in the words of
the reverend father in God who
sent you forth to preach the Gos-
pel, with " exhorting you in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that you have in remembrance, into
how
177
how high a dignity, and how
weighty an office and charge you
are called : that is to say, to be a
messenger, and watchman, and
steward of the Lord ; to teach and
to premonish, to feed and provide
for the Lord's family ; to seek for
Christ's sheep that are dispersed
abroad, and for his children which
are in the midst of this naughty
world, that they may be saved
through Christ for ever."
Have always therefore printed
in your remembrance, how great a
treasure is committed to your
charge. For they are the sheep of
Christ, which he bought with his
death, and for whom he shed his
blood. The Church and congre-
gation whom you must serve, is
his
178
his spouse, and his body. And 1 if
it shall happen the same Church,
or any member thereof do take
any hurt or hindrance, by reason
of your negligence, you know the
greatness of the fault, and alsa
the horrible punishment that will
ensue. Wherefore consider with
yourself the end of the ministry
toward the children of God ; to-
ward the spouse and body of
Christ, and see that you never
cease your labour, your care, a-nd
diligence, until you have done all
that lieth in you, according to
your bounden duty, to bring all
such as are or shall be committed
to your charge, unto that agreement
in the faith and knowledge of God
and to that ripeness and perfectr
ness
179
ness ef age in Christ, that there be
no place left either for error in re-
ligion, or for viciousness in life."
FINIS.
K. fie 11. Gilbert, Printers, Su Joha'i Square, London.
AMUSEMENTS
OP
CLERGYMEN.
Dial
ON
THE AMUSEMENTS
OF
CLERGYMEN,
AND
CHRISTIANS IN GENERAL.
THREE DIALOGUES
BETWEEN
A DEAN AND A CURATE.
BY
EDWARD STILLINGFLEET,
LORD BISHOP OF WORCESTER.
LONDON :
Printed by A. J. Valpy, Red Lion Court, fleet St.
FOE SHERWOOD, NEELY, AND JONES ; SIMPKIN AHD CO.;
AMD ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS.
1820.
OK THE jjj
AMUSEMENTS
*
CLERGYMEN.
Dr. Joslah Frampton's library
was sgld in London (in tfie year 1 729 or
1730) his divinity books were classed in
seven lots ; one of which was purchased
by Dr. Edwards. The catalogue ofthit
lot mentioned a parcel of MSS. 'Among
these the Doctor found one in Dr. Framp-
ton's own hand-writing^ of which the
following is a copy :
Dial
Dialogues on the
September 23, 1686.
I ALWAYS thought it one of the most
fortunate circumstances of my life (or
rather the most providential, as I ought to
call it) that soon after my leaving college,
I was led, by various and singular acci-
dents,.to the curacy of Wroxal in War-
wickshire. Here I met with many civilities
from the gentlemen of the country, par-
ticularly from Sir Roger Burgoin, who
was equally distinguished for his piety
and learning. At his house I frequently
saw that truly venerable man, Dr. Ed-
ward Stillingfleet, afterwards Bishop of
Worcester, but at that time Dean of
Paul's. He had been early connected
Amusements of Clergymen. 3
with the Burgoin family, and ever pre-
served a great intimacy with them ; which
he commonly renewed, every year, by a
visit of two or three weeks.
What Dr. Stillingfleet saw in me, I
know not : but I thought myself very un-
worthy of the civilities he showed me.
I was certainly, at that time, a very in-
correct young man. I had entered into
the ministry with little attention to the
duties I had taken on me to discharge.
I loved society, and was fond of country
diversions; and though I was fond also
of my book, I would at any time have left
it for a day's diversion with the hounds
a ramble in the woods with my gun
or a game of cards, and a dance in the
evening. Such as I was, however, Dr.
4 Dialogues on ihe
Stillingfleet was particularly obliging to
mej and friendly enough to give me a
hint, now and then, with regard to my
conduct, which, I hope I may with truth
say, was not lost upon me. An opportu-
nity, however, occurred, which enabled
me to receive more than casual advantage
from his conversation.
During one of his annual visits to the
Burgoin family, he was seized with a vio-
lent fit of the gout, to which his latter
years were very subject. It happened at
this critical time, that Sir Roger Burgoin
and his lady were called into Worcester-
shire to attend their mother, who lay at
the point of death : and as the Dean ex-
pressed a desire for my company in their
absence, I gave him as much of it as I
Amusements of Clergymen. 5
could; following not more his desire
than my own inclination. He was at that
time engaged in correcting his Origines
SacrcB l for a new edition j and had
brought down with him several Latin
books to consult. As I could read that
language with accuracy enough, I was of
some little use to him. While I read, he
noted with his pen the passages he wanted.
The intervals were filled with conversation.
1 Thii very learned work was written, when
Stillingfleet was under thirty years of age. A
story is told of his having been put to the blush
by Bishop Saunderson, his diocesan ; who, seeing
a young man at his visitation, of the name of
Stillingfleet, and not knowing his person, asked
him, whether he were related to the great Stilling-
fleet, who wrote the Origines Sacra.
6 Dialogues on the
We were sitting together, one day, af-
ter dinner ; and the Dean laying up his
feet on a cushion, and being tolerably free
from pain, began to rally me a little on
my attachment to country diversions a
subject he had often before casually in-
troduced ; and on which he knew I had
a "weak side. I had brought him two
young partridges that day for his dinner ;
and he began by expressing his obligations
to me for my attention to him ; and then
asked me some questions, which led me
to give him an account of my day's ex-
ploits. I did not see his drift j and in the
spirit of a sportsman, told him, that the
late rainy season had made game very
scarce that the two covies, from which
I had shot the brace I had brought to him,
were the only birds I had seen the whole
Amusements of Clergymen. 7
day, though I had been out from five in
the morning till twelve at noon ; and had
walked upwards of fifteen miles.
Well, said the Dean, with an affected
gravity of countenance, I only wished to
know the extent of my obligation to you j
and I find your philanthropy has done
more for me in giving me seven hours of
your time to procure me a dinner, than I
could have done (even were I as able to
walk as you are) for any man in Christen-
dom.
From being a little jocular, he became,
by degrees, serious. I have often thought,
said he, Mr. Frampton, (and I know your
candor will excuse me) that the clergy
have rather injured the respectability of
I
8 Dialogues on the
their characters by mixing too much with
the amusements of laymen. They not
only get into a trifling way of spending
their time ; but by making themselves
cheap, they diminish the weight of their
instructions ; and often give a sort of sanc-
tion by their presence to gaieties, which
were better checked. It is a common
speech in the mouths of licentious people,
that they must be right, because they have
gotten the parson along with them. In-
deed a clergyman cannot be too cautious
with regard to his character. It is a mat-
ter of the greatest delicacy, and easily
sullied. If he act contrary to it, he al-
ways has a consciousness about him, which
makes him jealous of every eye : and
when he becomes hardened, he is among
the most contemptible of mankind. You
Amusements of Clergymen. 9^
will easily, however, understand, that when
I restrict the clergyman from joining too
freely with the amusements of the laity, I
am equally hurt with every appearance of
haughtiness and moroseness. If the cha-
racter of the clergyman is not marked
with modesty and humility, it is bereft
of its most distinguished graces.
But, said I, Sir, may not example work
the other way j and the presence of a
grave clergyman be a check upon licen-
tiousness ?
Sometimes, said he, it may : and when
a clergyman mixes in improper company
with this view, and is conscious of his own
powers of control, he imitates that bright
example which sorted with publicans and
i
10 Dialogues on the
sinners. A very respectable clergyman,
a friend of mine, having heard that a fa-
vorite youth had been decoyed by bad
company into a disreputable house, went
thither himself; and pretending business
with the young man, sat down on a slight
invitation, among a set of debauchees,
trusting his character to its credit. He
was a man of severe aspect, strong sense,
and ready expression ; and therefore well
fitted for the office he undertook. For
a while he overawed, by the suddenness
of his appearance, the vice and folly he
was mixed with. But well knowing,
that in a little time the impression he
made, would go off, and he might fye
liable to affronts, he retired, before the
company could rally their impudence ;
and carried off with him his young
Amusements of Clergymen. 1 1
friend ; who would frequently declare af-
terwards, that he believed this very cir-
cumstance brought him more to recollec-
t
tion, than any event of his life ; and per-
haps saved him from ruin. But now,
my dear Sir, though I have accommo-
dated your argument with an example, I
must add, that I think the accommodation
gives it little support. I fear the motive
exemplified here has little weight in the
common intercourse between the clergy
and laity.
But may not this intercourse, said I,
Sir, though without any direct view of
leading out of immediate mischief, still
have its use ? Even the presence of a re-
spectable clergyman, I should think, might
often be a happy restraint.
12 Dialogues on the
Why, yes, answered the Deanj but
then, my good friend, you will consider,
that a young clergyman can rarely act
this part. Years are necessary to give
respectability to this mode of instructive
intercourse. Natural talents too, which
few people possess, are necessary. A
man of morose character may perhaps be
of service with his pen in his closet ; but,
however pious, and well-meaning, he will
hardly be of much use in any of the scenes
of common life. If, again, we avoid mo-
roseness by assuming the color of our
company (which must, in a degree, always
be done, when we wish to reform in this
way), I fear, instead of doing good, we
shall do harm.
But it is a difficult matter, said I, Sir,
Amusements of Clergymen. 13
especially for a young man, to preserve
those exact bounds of intercourse which
his character may reqnire. When he en-
ters first into the world, and is taken
notice of by those who are in a station
above him, it is hardly possible for him
to resist the importunities he meets with
to enter into various amusements ; to
drink his glass freely ; or make one in
parties, which in fact perhaps he may not
approve.
No doubt, said the Dean, it may be
difficult. But do you believe that when
God placed you in a state of trial, he
meant that you should live without dif-
ficulties i The whole of life is a conflict :
and if we do not begin early to brace on
14 Dialogues on the
our moral armour, and accustom our-
selves to it, when are we to enter the
field ? I should hope it is for want of
consideration, more than any thing else,
that so many young clergymen err in this
matter. I could wish them to fix in their
own minds certain bounds to their amuse-
ments, and remember the poet's caution,
Quos ultra citraque, nequit consistere rectum.
Aye, Sir, said I, these certijines this
narrow path between the citra and the
ultra, I have often in vain endeavoured
to pursue. And if you can give me any
instruction to guide my footsteps better
through the amusements of life, than they
have hitherto been conducted, I shall
Amusements of Clergymen. 15
kindly receive them, and lay them up in
a grateful memory.
It is very probable, my dear Sir, said
the Dean, that my rules may be stricter
than you would wish to comply with. I
have thought often on the subject lately,
for the sake of a young clergyman, in
whose well-doing I was much interested :
but I had not all the success I hoped for.
I assured the Dean, I should endeavour
to be a more observant disciple. I did
indeed spend a considerable part of my
time in amusements of various kinds ; but
I was hopeful, that my errors proceeded
more from inattention (the apology he
was pleased to furnish) than from any
bad disposition.
16 Dialogues on the
The good Dean was pleased to say, he
believed me ; and added some other
friendly expressions, which not being to
our present purpose, I omit. He then
asked me, what was my idea of an amuse-
ment ; or how I should define it ?
This was a puzzling question to one,
who had trespassed so much on this head ;
and who, having never thought much on
the subject, seldom had any end but
barely to please himself* I could have
given him a definition of amusement j
but I was afraid of bringing my own
practice too much within its censure. To
gain, therefore, a little time for reflection,
I asked, Whether he meant amusement
in general, or confined the question to
the amusements of clergymen ?
Amusements of Clergymen. 17
Why, truly, said the Dean, the amuse-
ments of all people require regulation
enough. But my question, at present,
relates only to the amusements of the
clergy.
I answered, that I thought bodily ex-
ercise was one end ; and as to the amuse-
ment of the mind, I thought its only end
was to relax, and fit it the better for
study.
Your definition, said the Dean, is so
far good : but it does not go far enough.
It considers only the purpose of amuse-
ment : whereas it should also take in the
quality. You will allow, I suppose, that
the clerical amusement should be suited
to the clerical profession ?
1 8 Dialogues on the
I allowed it certainly.
Well, then, said the Dean, we have
now, I think, obtained a full definition of
clerical amusement. It should intend the
exercise of the body, and the recreation
of the mind ; but it should also be suited
to the genius of the profession. As the
first member, however, of this definition
relates to amusement in general ; and ap-
plies as well ad populum, as ad clerum,
we will, if you please, pass it over at
present. If we can establish the second
part, I hope there will be no great danger
of mistaking the first. I shall only, there-
fore, endeavour to show you, that all cleri-
cal amusements should be suited to the
clerical profession. Now, in order to
throw the best light on this subject, I should
19
wish to consider amusements under the
three heads of riotous and cruel of tri-
fling and seducing and lastly, of innocent
and instructive : for I think it very pos-
sible, that an amusement may be charac-
terised with both these epithets, though
either may be sufficient. Are these heads,
added he, comprehensive enough to in-
clude all kinds of amusement ? Or do you
recollect any other ?
I thought them sufficiently comprehen-
sive.
Well, then, said the Dean, we will
begin with such amusements as are riot'
ous and cruel : and among these I should
be inclined to assign the first rank to
hunting. It is an unfeeling exercise, de-
20 Dialogues on the
rived from our savage ancestors, who-
hunted at first for Jbod, and consigned
the barbarous practice to their posterity
for pastime. Its giving birth to forest laws
and game laws its injuring corn-lands,
and destroying fences its setting squires
and their tenants, gentlemen and their
neighbours, at variance its consuming
the forage of a country in breeding de-
structive or useless animals, in the room,
of such as are really useful the riotous
uproar of the chase, so opposite to the
mild serenity which should characterise
the clergyman and the noisy, intempe-
rate evening, to which it often leads ; add
such an accumulation of mischief to hunt-
ing, that I should be sorrv 1 y clergyman
should give his countenance to it. To
this we may add the cruelty exercised
Amusements ofCkrgymen. 21
both on the animals that pursue, and the
animals that are pursued the horse push-
ed to the last extremity the hound train-
ed to the chase with savage barbarity 1
and the wretched fugitive agonising in the
extremity of distress.
But there is still a greater mischief,
which often attends these riotous amuse-
ments. When the squire hunts with his
neighbours, he introduces no more cor-
ruption into the parish than he found.
But I have sometimes known annual hunts
established in sporting countries, which
At hi* foot
The spaniel dying for some venial fault,
Under dissection of the knotted scourge.
Cow PER.
22 Dialogues on the
draw together hundreds of profligate
people from different parts, who call them-
selves gentlemen, but are really pests
of the neighbourhood, to which they re-
sort ; introducing new vices into the vil-
lages, and every kind of debauchery.
Their servants, who are commonly of the
same stamp, spread the corruption among
the peasants and servant-girls, which their
masters spread among the farmers' sons
and daughters. The clergyman, who
mixes in such scenes, is far out of sight
of the bare decency of his profession.
But pray, Sir, said I, may not some
little plea be offered in favor of hunting ?
Is it not a manly exercise ? Does it not
furnish our tables with food j and rid the
country of noxious animals ?
Amusements ofCkrgymen. 23
I beseech you, said the Dean, do not
call in argument to defend a pastime
which has no alliance with reason. Call it
a wild passion a brutal propensity or
any thing that indicates its nature. But to
give it any connexion with reason, is
making a union between black and white.
But it is manly, forsooth, to hunt. Man-
liness, I should suppose, implies some
mode of action that becomes a man.
Hunting might formerly, for aught I
know, have been a manly exercise, when
the country was overrun with boars and
wolves, and it was a public service to ex-
tirpate them. Bu^ to honor with the
name of manliness the cruel practice of
pursuing timid animals to put them to
death merely for amusement, is, in my
opinion, perverting the meaning of words.
24- Dialogues on the
There are many ways surely of using
manly exercise, at least as healthful and
far more innocent, and less expensive and
dangerous, than galloping over hedges,
gates, and ditches. If the manliness of
the action lie in the risk you run of break-
ing your neck, for no end, it would still
be greater manliness to jump down a pre-
cipice. The fox-hunter, I doubt not,
would ridicule the man, who runs about
with a hand-net hunting a butterfly : but
I protest, I see not for what reason. The
exercise of the butterfly-hunter is as good ;
and the pleasure of the chase is, to him
at least, equal. But you allege, that
hunting supplies the table with food. I
4are say, Sir Roger's game-keeper will
tell you, he could supply it better in
many other ways. I have certainly no
Amusements of Clergymen. 25
objection to take the lives of animals for
food ; and grant, that if they were suffer-
ed to multiply, they would become noxi-
ous. What I mean is, that I cannot allow
turning the destruction of them into an
amusement and least of all into a clerical
amusement. I knew a gentleman, who
took great delight in knocking down an
ox ; which he performed with much dex-
terity : and it was his common amuse-
ment to go among the butchers on a
slaughtering-day, and give two or three
of them a shilling a-piece, to let him be
their substitute in that operation. You
call such a man a brute : and he surely
was one. But you would find it difficult
to show, that the circumstance of rid-
ing on a horse, and bawling after a
Dial. B
26 Dialogues on the
pack of dogs, makes the amusement less
brutal.
Surely, said I, Sir, there is a difference
between the pleasure of a pursuit ; and a
pleasure, which consists merely in the
act of inflicting death ?
Why, yes, answered the Dean, there is
a difference ; but I know not on which side
of it the advantage lies. If hunting be a
more genteel species of butchery, it is cer-
tainly a more cruel one. The ox receives
its death by an instant stroke ; whereas
the hare is first thrown into convulsions of
terror, for four or five hours together j
and then seized, in the midst of its agony,
and torn piece-meal by a pack of ra-
Amusements of Clergymen. 27
venous blood-hounds.* As to your last
argument, that hunting rids the country
of noxious animals, I apprehend you are
mistaken in the fact. I rather think it
tends to replenish the country with them.
As one instance at least I can testify, that
I offended a whole club of sporting neigh-
bours in a manner, that was hardly ever
to be gotten over, by giving a man half-a-
crown for killing a fox, which had thin-
ned my poultry-yard. And I dare say,
there is not a hunting squire in the coun-
try, who would not, at any time, give up
a dozen of his tenant's lambs, to save half
-Detested sport,
That owes its pleasure to another's pain !
That feeds upon the sobs and dying shrieks
Of harmless nature
COWPKR.
28 Dialogues on the
the number of foxes' cubs. Nay, I have
often known covers of considerable extent
left purposely in fields, or perhaps planted
merely to decoy foxes into a neighbour-
hood, by providing a proper shelter for
them. But you have provoked me to say
all this by aiming to establish an alliance
between hunting and rationality. I intend-
ed not to disturb the squire either in his
riotous day, or his roaring night. I consi-
der his malady as a surgeon does a morti-
fication which has seized the vitals be-
yond all hope of recovery. What I mean,
is only to admonish the clergyman not to
follow his example.
It is but just however to say, that exam-
ples to warn him might also be found in
our own profession. I remember a clergy*-
Amusements oj Clergymen. 29
man in a neighbourhood, where I once liv-
ed, who had two benefices ; but he spent
little time at either of them, because neither
happened to be in a sporting country. The
hunting-season he always spent near a
squire in the parish next to mine, whose
disciplined pack was famous. With this
gentleman, and his hounds, he lived on
terms of the greatest intimacy. Indeed
both the squire and his dogs looked up
to him as their ablest leader. Though
he was a miserable preacher, he was
uncommonly musical in the field ; and
could cheer, and animate his sonorous
friends with an eloquence beyond the
huntsman himself, whose associate he al-
ways was, and whose place, on any emer-
gency, he could amply supply. He was
much readier at finding a hare, than a text
of scripture j. and though he was scarce ac-
30 Dialogues on the
quainted with the face of one of his pa-
rishioners, he knew exactly the character
of every hound in the squire's pack ; and
could run over their names with much
more readiness, than those of the twelve
apostles.* He had at length the misfor-
tune to break his neck at the end of a
fox-chase ; but not till he had first bro-
ken the heart of a very amiable woman,
who had unhappily connected herself
with him.
* Oh laugh, or mourn with me, the rueful jest,
A cassock'd huntsman !
He takes the field ; the master of the pack
Cries, Well done, Saint and claps him on the
back.
Is this the path of sanctity ? Is this
To stand a way-mark in the road to bliss ?
COWPER.
Amusements ofCkrgymen. 31
Such a clergyman, said I, is hardly to
be paralleled in a century. But in an in-
ferior degree, I fear, there are many of
our brethren, who allow themselves great
indulgence. I remember a hunting-clergy-
man, who received a very proper rebuke
from one of his brethren j and which I
have reason to believe was of service to
him as long as he lived. He had been
lamenting his unfortunate lot, in being
stationed in a country, where there was
no hunting. The other looking him full
in the face, said with great gravity of
countenance, and in a deliberate tone of
voice ; " At the great day of accounts,
the question will 'not be, where have you
lived ; but how have you lived ? " AH
this however is carrying amusement to
excess. But suppose, Sir, when you are
32 Dialogues on the
riding out, you happen to hear the
hounds, is there any harm merely in
taking a little exercise with them, if you
do not join in the riot of the chase ?
I hate, said the Dean, to see a man do
any thing by halves. Is it right, or is it
wrong ? If it be right, do it boldly. If
it be wrong, turn your horse another way,
and take your exercise in a contrary di-
rection. Never go to the edge of a pre-
cipice. You can hardly help going a little
farther than you intended. I remember
hearing a story of a clergyman, who was
not remarkable for neglecting, at least the
outward part of his duty j but once un-
happily forgot it through his love for
hunting. He was eagerly engaged in a
fox-chase, when the fox took to earth, as
Amusements of Clergymen. 33
they call it : on which he cried out,
" Gentlemen, I must leave you : This
puts me in mind, that I have a corpse to
bury at four o'clock this evening ; and I
fear I shall be an hour too late." Besides,
continued the Dean, you cannot well
avoid, in this field of riot, at least if you
are often seen in it, making an aqcuaint-
ance with several, to whom, for your
character's sake, you would not wish to
be known. But indeed, as I observed,
to mix, in any degree, in these scenes of
cruelty, and riotous exultation, is unbe-
coming the clerical profession. Farther
still, (to close my argument with scrip-
ture) I should wish you to consider, that
as many good people, as well as 1, disap-
prove a clergyman's mixing in these riot-
ous amusements, so of course it will give
34 . Dialogues on the
offence to all these good people. No
man therefore, who has the honour of
his profession at heart, would give offence,
where the matter in question is of so little
consequence as a mere amusement. Let
him consider how strict St. Paul was in
matters of this kind. St. Paul's exam-
ple is certainly not very fashionable ; but
with a clergyman, I should hope it might
have some weight. He gives us many
hints, which come home to the point we
are now discussing. Hunting was out
of the question. He would not certainly
have permitted Timothy, or Titus to hunt,
if they had been so disposed. But he
forbids us to give offence in matters, that
are of much more concern, than mere
amusement. If meat, says he, make my
brother to offend, I will eat no flesh,
Amusements of Clergymen. 35
the 'world standeth, lest I make my
brother to offend.
I told the good Dean he had silenced
me. I was afraid my love for the di-
version had been founded rather on incli-
nation than argument. But nobody
again, I hoped, should ever take offence
at my following a pack of hounds. But
pray, said I, Sir, 'do you allow shooting ?
It is a much less riotous amusement j nay,
it may even be a solitary one.
To speak plainly, replied the Dean, I
cordially allow no amusement to a clergy-
man that has any thing to do with shed-
ding blood. Besides, I think a peculiar
cruelty attends this diversion. You may
wound, and maim, as well as kill. My
36 Dialogues on the
heart, I am sure, would be strongly affec-
ted indeed, even my conscience if I
should make a poor animal miserable all
the days of its life, for the sake of giving
myself a momentary amusement. It was
but the last autumn, when riding down a
lane, I saw two poor miserable partridges
both bleeding, and one trailing a shat-
tered leg after it fluttering and running
before me. Poor wretches, said I, I
wish the person, who put you into this
miserable situation, may never feel the
distress he has occasioned ! I then order-
ed my servant to dismount, and run after
them. The lame one he caught ; the
other crawled into a hedge, where it pro-
bably lingered out its miserable life a few
days longer.
Amusements of Clergymen. 37
But the expert marksman, I told the
Dean, never shoots among a covey, but
takes his aim at a single bird.
And are all shooters, said he, expert
marksmen ? And does the expert marks-
man himself never maim the bird he aims
at, or the bird that is near it ? Often, I
have no doubt, he maims both. To repel
the attack of a bird, or beast of prey, I
have certainly no objection ; nor to take
the life of an animal for food ; though I
should not wish to make a clergyman the
butcher, whether an ox or a partridge is
to be slaughtered. But to take the life
of an animal, except in one or the other
of these cases, I hold to be absolutely im-
moral. And I think it is no better to run
the risk of maiming it, and making it mi-
S3 Dialogues on the
serable for life. The most humane way
therefore is to take birds with a net, which
allows you to discharge such as you wish,
and put to a speedy death those you take
for food.
But to take birds in a net, said I, Sir, is
not at all in the spirit of sportsmen. Be-
sides, there are some species of game, as
pheasants particularly, which cannot be
taken in nets.
Do not tell me, replied the Dean, of
the spirit of sportsmen. Though the ties
of humanity, no doubt, equally bind
them ; yet to such hopeless hearers I
should no more attempt to preach, than
I should to their spaniels. Nor do I pre-
tend to know> what kind of game may be
Amusements of Clergymen.
taken in one way, and what in another :
though I have no doubt, but my friend
Robert* could inform me, how pheasants
might be taken without shooting them.
But what I labour at chiefly is to convince
such sober-minded clergymen, as I con-
ceive you to be, that every species of
bloody and cruel amusement is unsuita-
ble to the genius and temper of a Chris-
tian divine ; and enters more by habit
into a character, than is commonly sup-
posed. It is under the idea of tainting a
character with professional habits, that the
butcher is prohibited from serving on a
jury.
For myself, Sir, I replied, I am only
ashamed, that from the dictates of my own
reason I have not sooner acknowledged
* Sir Roger's game-keeper.
40 Dialogues on the
the truths you set before me. I always
had my doubts : but not supposing
amusements of this kind to be sinful, and
not conceiving them to be improper,
from the eagerness with which numbers
of my elder brethren pursue them, I
stifled my own suggestions. But in my
present sentiments I believe I shall never
fire a gun again for my diversion, at any
kind of game.
To assist your good resolutions, said
the Dean, I can suggest two or three
other considerations, which are worth
the attention of a clergyman. He can
scarce be settled in any place, in which
he will not find the squire of his parish
attached violently to his game; and
jealous of every man, who interferes with
Amusements of Clergymen. 41
him in this great point. He is especially
jealous of the clergyman, whom he con-
siders as an interloper. I have known
many clergymen get into silly squabbles
on this score ; and by making themselves
obnoxious to the squire, render themselves
much less able to be of service in their
parishes. On many occasions the squire's
countenance may be of great use to the
clergyman in managing his parochial af-
fairs : and it is highly imprudent to lose
his assistance for a trifle.
I once, said I, experienced this incon-
venience myself. But I had the discre-
tion, when I found I had raised a jealousy,
immediately to desist. At present, I
have free permission from Sir R< ger,
and two or three other gentlemen of the
42 Dialogues on the
country, to range their domains when I
please : So that I lay down my arms in
the plenitude of my power.
I should wish still farther to suggest
to you, continued the Dean, that if any
mischance, in these violent exercises,
should happen to a clergyman, it tells
much worse, than when it happens to
another person. How oddly would it
sound, if the parish were told, on a Sun-
day there could be no service, because the
parson had put out his shoulder, the day
before, by a fall at a fox- chase? If a cler-
gyman lose a hand, or an eye in shooting,
as is sometimes the case, I have generally
found the commiseration of people, mix-
ed with a certain degree of contempt. If
he had been about his business, they
Amusements of Clergymen. 43
would say, it would not have happened.
The commission also of an accidental
mischief, in these unclerical amusements,
will always be more distressing, at least it
ought, to a clergyman than to a layman.
Poor Archbishop Abbot was a melancholy
instance. He was exemplary in many
points, but unhappily indulged himself in
the amusement of shooting ; and as he was
taking this exercise in a park belonging to
LordZouch in Hampshire, he had the mis-
fortune to shoot one of the keepers. After
this event, he never recovered his cheer-
fulness ; and party running high, it gave
his enemies a great handle against him.
It was brought as a question, whether he
could ever again officiate as an arch-
bishop. After a long inquiry, it was deter-
mined, that he must be degraded, but
44 Dialogues on the
that the king might again restore him ;
which was accordingly done. I could
point out a prelate of these days, 1 who
does his character no service by being a
sportsman. Formerly he kept a pack of
hounds ; but has had the decency, since
he obtained a mitre, to dismiss them. He
is still however his own game-keeper ;
and is so expert, that he wants no assist-
ance in furnishing his table with every
article of game. Archbishop Abbot's mis-
fortune reminds me of a similar accident,
of which this prelate had nearly been the
occasion. A young lady, who lived near
him, was riding quietly along a close
lane, when a gun went off, on the other
side of the hedge, close to her horse's
* About the beginning of James IL.
Amusements of Clergymen. 45
ear. The beast took fright started vio-
lently aside and threw her ; though pro-
videntially she was not hurt. While her
servant was following her horse, she
walked gently up the lane ; and coming
to an opening in the hedge, the bishop,
in all his shooting accoutrements, presen-
ted himself. He made his apology, and
hoped she was not hurt She thanked
him for his kind enquiry : but said, she
should have been better pleased, if it had
been needless.
I told the Dean, I remembered some-
thing of the story, about two years ago,
in the public prints.
Yes, said the Dean, she was an arch
girl, and inserted it in a very ludicrous
46 Dialogues on the
manner ; making a laughable contrast
between the bishop's sporting attire, and
his lawn, sleeves, and other episcopal ha-
biliments.
Well, Sir, said I, I hope these ex-
amples will prove sufficient cautions to
me, though I am sorry to receive them
from such exalted characters. I should
wish you however to believe, that I am
an enemy to cruelty in all shapes ; and
do not remember, that I ever wantonly
took the life of the meanest reptile.
We certainly, said the Dean, have no
right. When a spider takes possession
of my house, or a snail of my garden, I
make no scruple to destroy them. They
are invaders. But if I meet with either
Amusements of Clergymen. 47
of them in the fields, I should think my-
self the invader, if I disturbed them. If
a wolf attempt to seize a lamb, which is
my property, and under my protection,
I think his life should pay the forfeit.
But if he can seize an antelope, or any
other wild animal, with which I have no
concern, I have no authority to interfere.
He has the same deed of gift to allege
for seizing his prey, which I have for the
beef or mutton I buy in the market. And
yet I know not, whether I should not
put him to death, wherever I found hin,
as a proscribed villain j as always acting
under at least a tacit declaration of war
against me. If I were not well assured
he would attack me, when he could, I
am pursuaded I should never molest him.
Man regulates his actions towards his
48 Dialogues on Mie
fellow-men by laws, and customs. But
certainly there are laws also to be observ-
ed between man and beast, which are
equally coercive, though the injured party
has no power ot appeal.
I fully accede, said I, Sir, to your code
of criminal law between man and beast.
It is certainly power, not right, that we
appeal to, in wantonly disposing of the
lives of animals. And what surprises me
the more is, we often see this wanton
breach of natural law in men of humani-
ty. An acquaintance of mine, who is as
ready as any man to do a good-natured
action, will stand whole mornings by the
side of a bridge, shooting swallows, as
they thread the arch, and flit past him.
He is however no clergyman.
Amusements of Clergymen. 49
Let him be what he will, said the Dean,
his profession has been mistaken, and he
ought to have been bred a butcher. I
can have no conception of the humanity
of a man who can find his amusement in
destroying the happiness of a number of
little innocent creatures, sporting them-
selves, during their short summer, in skim-
ming about the air ; and without doing
injury of any kind, pursuing only their
own little happy excursions, and catching
the food which Providence has allotted
them. But I have seen instances enough
of this kind of cruelty to remove all sur-
prise. More offence from such despotism-
I never remember to have taken, than
about five or six years ago, in a little
voyage I made into the Irish sea. A
nephew of mine, the captain of a cruizer,
Dial. C
50 Dialogues on the
whom you saw here last summer, was
then lying at Milford-haven ; and, being
about to take the voyage I have mentioned,
was desirous to carry me with him, as I
had expressed an inclination to see the
wonderful rocky barrier, which nature
had formed against the ocean, along many
of the coasts of Wales. As we drew near
a promontory, where the rocks were
lofty, we found them inhabited by thou-
sands of sea-fowl of different kinds, which
at that season frequent them. I was
greatly amused with seeing the variety of
their busy actions, and different modes of
flight ; and with hearing the harsh notes
of each, when single ; and their varied
tones, changed into a sort of wild harmo-
ny, by the clangor of all together. One
should have thought a colony like this
Amusements of Clergymen. 5 1
might have been safe from all annoy.
They are useless when dead and harm-
less when alive. We saw, however, as
we proceeded, two or three boats anchor-
ing at different distances, in which were
certain savages I can call them by no
other name diverting themselves with
shooting at these poor birds, as they flew
from their nests, or returned to them
with food from the sea ; destroying not
only the parent-birds, but leaving the
helpless progeny to clamor in vain for
food, and die of hunger. This mode of
taking life, for no end, is a species of cru-
elty which I should wish to brand with
the severest name ; and should almost
detest a clergyman, who should find his
amusement in it.
52 Dialogues on the
I must allow, said I, Sir, that what you
have said against hunting and shooting
hath entirely convinced me of the impro-
priety of both, as clerical amusements.
You have said nothing, however, against
fishing. Do you allow me to suppose
this amusement to be a clerical one ? It
is silent, quiet, and may be contempla-
tive.
I am afraid, replied the Dean, I shall
be thought too rigid if I abridge a clergy-
man of this amusement. Only I abso-
lutely enjoin him not to impale worms on
his hook ; but to fish either with an arti-
ficial fly or a dead bait. If he like fish-
ing with a net, I approve it more : but
still I cannot bring myself to recommend
Amusements of Clergymen. 53
any amusement to him which arises from
destroying life.
But, said I, Sir, fishing seems to have
scriptural authority. Many of the apos-
tles were fishermen; and our Saviour
himself bids Peter cast his hook into tJie
sea.
Why yes, answered the Dean ; but I
doubt whether we get much from these
authorities. Fishing, you know, was the
occupation of several of the apostles :
they fished with nets for a livelihood :
and St. Peter, you will remember, did
not cast his hook into the sea for his
amusement. However, you find I am
not very rigid on this head. Indeed all
I have said about taking the lives of ani-
54 Dialogues on the
mals amounts only to this that we have
no right to do it except for food, or to
get rid of a nuisance and that when we
are obliged to take life, we should always
take it in the easiest manner. All this
appears to me so much the dictate of na-
ture and truth, that no man can contro-
vert it in reason, whatever he may do in
practice. But the clergyman is under
the still stricter ties of decency and re-
spect to his character.
But have not you, Sir, said I, confined
within too strict a limit the power of man
over the lives of animals ? Are there not
other reasons, besides obtaining food, and
the removal of a nuisance, which may
make the exercise of that power lawful ?
Amusements of Clergymen. 55
May we not take the whale for his oil,
and the beaver for his fur ?
I allow it, said the Dean. Where the
uses of man preponderate, his right over
the animal seems just. But perhaps grea-
ter liberty may be commonly taken in this
matter than my code will allow. If the
use be trivial, I reject the claim. I per-
mit you to take the whale for his oil ; but
I should not readily grant you leave to
destroy the elephant for his tooth.
I told the Dean I saw the difference
very plainly. But, said I, Sir, do you
allow the philosopher to take life in mak-
ing his researches into nature ? in examin-
ing the wonders of the microscope ; in
tracing the circulation of the blood ; in
56 Dialogues on the
tr
discovering the properties of air ; and in
other things, which tend to advance hu-
man knowledge, and often serve some
great end of utility?
This question, said the Dean, is rather
more difficult. What promotes human
knowledge, or serves any essential pur-
pose of utility, is certainly of more con-
sequence, than the life of an animal : and
I give you liberty to take it, when you
are sure your motive is good. But I
should interdict this privilege to mere
curiosity. We may believe, on the credit
of others, that the blood circulates j or
that an animal will die in an exhausted
receiver.
I then asked the Dean, if he did not
Amusements of Clergymen. 57
think, on the other hand, that we might
carry our tenderness in taking life too far ?
I have frequently, said I, deserted a path
I wished to walk in, because I have found
it pre-occupied by a train of ants, which
it hurt me to crush. And yet I have
sometimes thought my caution unneces-
sary.
No doubt, replied the Dean, every
virtue has its extremes its ultra (as we
just observed) as well as its cilra. I have
often seen this tenderness in taking life
carried to a ridiculous length, if we can
call any thing ridiculous, that is founded
on an amiable principle. I knew a hu-
mane man, who would not suffer a mouse
to be taken in a snap-trap. He allowed
it to be taken alive ; but he took care to
58 Dialogues on the
have it carried to a distance into the fields,
and there set at liberty. He would not
destroy a spider, though he made no scru-
ple to sweep away its web. My dear Sir,
I once said to him, your tender mercies
are cruel. It would certainly be more
merciful to dispatch these poor animals at
once, than to make them miserable by
turning them adrift, or leaving them to a
languishing death by taking from them
their means of subsistence. All this, there-
fore, seems to me absurd. It is making
the lives of animals of more consequence
than they should be. It is making a man
miserable for the sake of a mite. For if
we carry this tenderness as far as it will
fairly go, we ought neither to eat a plum*
nor taste a drop of vinegar. It is not
size, which gives value to life. The in-
Amusements oj Clergymen. 59
sect, that forms the blue of a plumb, or
that frisks in a drop of vinegar, has cer-
tainly the same claim, to exist, as a spider
or a mouse. And how far life extends,
we know not ; so that our tenderness in
this respect, if indulged to excess, might
be endless. Like Indian Bramins, we
should not dare to lie down, or set a foot
to the ground, without examining every
footstep with microscopical exactness.
But as these little swarms of nature inter-
fere thus with all the concerns of men, it
is plain, that Providence does not lay
much stress on their lives. All, there-
fore, that seems required, in these cases,
is to abstain from wanton injury. I
would not, however, have youalways take
the measure of a man's virtue by the ex-
traordinary tenderness of his feelings.
60 Dialogues on the
I knew a gentleman, so extremely tender
towards the lives of animals, that when
an earwig crept out of a log of wood,
which had been laid on his fire, he for-
bad any more logs to be taken from
that pile, and left it to rot. Yet this very
man, with all these nice feelings about
him, lived avowedly in a state of adultery.
Such tenderness, therefore, may, or may
not, be allied. It is founded merely in
nature. But when any one affection of
the mind is regulated by a religious prin-
ciple, there is in that mind a controlling
power, which regulates other affections.
Thus if we abstain from cruelty on a
religious principle, we may depend on
that principle on other occasions. As to
these delicate feelings i they seldom reach
beyond their immediate object* Here
Amusements of Clergymen. 61
the Dean made a pause, and v after a little
recollection said, he thought we had now
run over all the riotous, and cruel amuse-
ments which he could recollect. As for
cockjighting, and horse-racing^ he added,
they are such gambling diversions, that
I conceive no clergyman would even be
present at the former ; nor enter into the
spirit of the latter. The race-ground is
a wide field, and if he ever enter it for
curiosity, he will not only avoid the deep
concerns, and commerce of the place,
if I may so phrase it ; but will also keep
entirely aloof from the noise and bustle,
and clamor of the scene. A friend of
mine lived on the confines of a celebrated
race-ground. He was fond of horses,
merely as beautiful objects, which he
62 Dialogues on the
liked to see in their various motions : and
as people are generally well mounted at
a race, and much agitated, he used to
gratify his curiosity by walking out in an
evening, about the time the race was over,
and would get behind some hedge, where
unseen he had a good view of the com-
pany returning from their sport over a fair
plain. This was to him the only amuse-
ment of a race ; and he would say, he
believed he had more pleasure from the
sober enjoyment of this moving picture,
than any one could feel, who entered
into the wild joy and jollity of the scene.
Here our conversation ended at that
time. The^ood Dean complaining, that
his feet grew a little troublesome, rang
Amusements of Clergymen. 63
for his servant to change his posture ;
and I thinking myself in the way, wished
him a good night.
END OF THE F1BST DIALOG UK
Dialogues on the
SECOND DIALOGUE.
IT was two days before I had an oppor-
tunity of renewing my conversation with
the good Dean ; which I was not sorry
for, as it gave me time to put on paper
what had already passed." He had di-
vided amusements into three kinds, and
we had yet considered only such as were
noisy and cruel. I took the first op-
portunity to remind him, that he had left
me still in possession of such amusements,
as he called trifling and seducing.
I mean not, however, said he, to be
more complaisant to you 'on this head,
Amusements of Clergymen. 65
than I have already been. I am afraid
too many of our fashionable amusements
will fall under my censure. What do
you think, for instance, of cards ?
I answered I did indeed suppose he
would point one of his first batteries
against them.
It was plain then, he told me, that I
thought they deserved to be assaulted.
I know not, said I, Sir, whether I
thought quite so ill of them. I have
always been accustomed to think that,
moderately used, they were an innocent
amusement, even for a clergyman.
But pray, said the Dean, in examining
66 Dialogues on the
the propriety or impropriety, the in-
nocence or guilt, of an action, are you to
consider how it affects yourself alone,
or how it affects the public in general ?
No doubt, I replied, a public- spirited
man will consider his actions in reference
to the public.
He certainly ought, said the Dean;
and this being allowed, do not you con-
sider the present rage for card-playing,
through all ranks of people, as a public
evil ?
I replied it was, no doubt, an amuse-
ment much abused : but the abuse, I
thought, lay only at the door of the abuser.
Meat and drink were abused dress was
Amusements of Clergymen. 67
abused the Bible itself was abused : but
we must have those things notwithstand-
ing.
Aye, there, returned the Dean, you
point out the true distinction. You answer
yourself. We must have the one ; but
need not have the other. Does it follow,
because we must have meat and drink,
though they are abused, that we must
necessarily have cards also ? If then
cards be allowed to be a public evil, and
we are, at the same time, under no neces-
sity to have them, every conscientious
man would give up a thing so trifling (as
an amusement, at best, is) to avert that
evil : and by refraining, he certainly does
avert it, as far as his own influence and
example reach.
68 Dialogues on the
You do not mean, said I, Sir, that
cards are in themselves essentially bad.
Why, no, said he. Cards in themselves
may afford as innocent amusement as
any thing else. And yet I know not
whether this concession is not too much.
I have been used myself to consider
amusements under the head of such as
are strictly social ; and of such as con-
tain in them a principle adverse to
society. Many amusements are of the
former kind j but cards, and some other
games, in which one party must be victo-
rious and the other subdued, encourage
a kind of principle somewhat opposite to
the social temper : and the many little
squabbles, even among friends, at such
games, prove the truth of my remark.
Amusements of Clergymen. 69
However, if they could be played at with
such moderation, as occasioned no heart-
burning, I should be inclined to wave this
objection ; and consider chiefly the excess.
It is this, indeed, which creates the great
mischief; and the example spreads it. If
cards are played in the parlour, they de-
scend to the kitchen : and from your par-
lour, and kitchen, to those of your neigh-
bour, and so on. The lust of card-play-
ing is now become so flagitious that every
serious man, I affirm, ought to withdraw
his own example from so general and
pernicious a practice. The clergyman,
in particular, should dread to sanction
what has certainly so bad an effect on the
manners of the people.
But, said I, Sir, my example is of so
7O Dialogues on the
little weight, that it cannot make things
either better or worse.
There is not, replied the Dean, with
some warmth, in the whole magazine of
false reasoning, a more destructive mode
of it than this. I will not set a good ex-
ample, because I know another will not
follow it. So nobody will set a good ex-
ample. We have better rules surely, to
direct us, than the practice of otherpeople.
When a man thus puts his own practice
and example into the hands of others,
and depends upon his neighbours con-
duct to regulate his own, what reformation
can we expect ? If we are right, under
such circumstances, it is by chance.
Every man's example has its influence,
Amusement* of Clergymen. 7 1
more or less, which he should endeavour,
for the sake of good order, to make as
instructive as he can, without troubling
himself with the example of others. In
families, where cards are never played at
in the parlour, I dare take upon me to say
they are rarely played at in the kitchen :
except perhaps where servants, who
have already learned their lesson in card-
playing families, are introduced. And if
the obligation to avoid setting a bad ex-
ample, in this instance, be general, it binds
the ecclesiastic with double force. He
should certainly be the salt oflhe earth;
and endeavour to keep every thing, as
far as he can, from corruption. Consi-
der what a change even that might effect.
There are perhaps twenty or thirty thou-
sand ecclesiastics of different denomina-
72 Dialogues on the
tions, scattered about the various parts
of England. If each of these influence a
dozen, which (including their own fami-
lies) is no extraordinary calculation, con-
sider what a party would be gained over.
Each of these again, we may suppose,
might have some influence j and if we
may adopt our Saviour's allusion, we
might hope to see it work like leaven
through the whole mass. At least, we
might hope to see cards confined within
the gloomy walls of gaming-houses and
night-cellars.
But I should think, said I, Sir, we
should begin our reformation at these
places. If we could get rid of gaming-
houses and night-cellars which the high
and 'low vulgar frequent, cards might
Amusements of Clergymen. 73
perhaps be left to us sober people as an
innocent amusement.
Not so entirely, my good friend, an-
swered the Dean. It is not only when
cards are- carried to this pernicious height,
that I except against them. Indeed 1 ,
when a man has taken his degrees at a
gaming-table, I have done with him. He
is beyond receiving instruction from me.
I must therefore inform you, that I do not
confine the gaming-table to what is called
so (as they say) xar' sji^r'y. I rank
under that head all those scenes of profliga-
cy, scattered, not only through the me-
tropolis, but through every part of the
country, where high stakes are pledged,
and well- dressed people meet, not so much
\vith a view of amusement, as with apur-
DiaL D
74 Dialogues on the
pose to pillage one another. These
however are only the excesses of card-
playing ; but for various other reasons it
should be discouraged. In the best
light, I think, cards afford only a frivolous
and seducing amusement ; especially to a
clergyman. They often lead him into
more expense, still short of what may be
called gaming, than may be prudent for
him to incur. Once engaged in the habit
of playing, or listed, if I may so phrase
it, into the corps of card-players, he can-
not sometimes avoid venturing higher
stakes than he could wish. But sup-
pose he keep the scales of loss and gain
pretty even, (as I have sometimes heard
the moderate card-player boast) what
shall we say for the expense of time ?
Here comes in a very seducing part-
Amusements oj Clergymen. 7*
Evening after evening is lost. The
afternoon is often added. Habits are
formed. Play and comfort are connect-
ed ; and the day ends in joyless vacancy,
that does not conclude with <rards.
Besides, you give yourself into the hands
of others. It is unsocial to break up a
party. You are not therefore master of
yourself. Then again, consider, you
cannot choose your company. You
are a known card-player ; you cannot
stand out, when a hand is wanted, and
must often consort with those you dises-
teem. Above all, young people should
consider, how easily, where amusements
are concerned, the mind glides into habits
of indulgence. In these journeys of
pleasure, step follows step mechanically.
I knew a young lady thus debauched
76 Dialogues on the
into a card-player, though she was once
among the most amiable of her sex
domestic ingenious fond of books
full of resources, and never at a loss for
the. employment of her time. Family
amusements were all the pleasures she
sought. Her father and mother were ex-
cellent people ; and brought her up, an
only daughter, in, what I may justly call,
the cheerful restraints of religion. But du-
ring a short visit at a relation's, to which
her father reluctantly consented, she un-
happily got a taste for card-playing ; and,
when she returned home, did not much
enjoy those innocent domestic circles, in
which, before, she had given and receiv-
ed so much pleasure. In short, she had
lost her heart to this vile amusement.
Soon afterwards she married a young
Amusements, of Clergymen. 77
gentleman of fortune a sober, virtu-
ous, and modest young man, but of
talents very inferior to those of his wife.
With discretion she might have modelled
her family as she had pleased 5 and had an
excellent model before her, in her father's :
but she chose rather to corrupt her hus-
band, and turn his mansion into a gaming-
house. I mention this example as one
among a hundred I have seen in my life,
to shew the rapid progress of pleasurable
habits, and those of cards perhaps beyond
all others ; to which I think particularly
belongs that excellent adage, Principiis
obsta.
But since, said I, Sir, we are often
obliged to consort with those whom we
disesteem, or with those whose minds
78' Dialogues on the
are too unfurnished to bear a part ire
conversation, is it not useful, and often-
necessary, to introduce something that
removes, for the time at least, all disgusts
something that may level those who
have not sense, with those who have;
and enable them to pass their time toge*
ther in mutual civility, without labouring
to support a conversation, which most
probably more than half of them are
utterly unable to support ?
This is the first time, said the Dean
smiling, I ever heard cards mentioned
as a bond of benevolence : as the cause
of ill-humour, and dissension, I have often
heard them taxed. But I suppose you
do not hold the argument seriously. You
cannot imagine cards to be more effec-
Amusements of Clergymen. 79
tual to this end, than even those modes
of general civility, which commonly reign
among polite people j and check, during
the intercourse, all appearance of such
little hostilities as may rankle within.
At least you must allow, that card-playing
is not quite a clerical mode of inculcating
benevolence. And as to your solicitude
to lower the man of wit and sense to a
level with his neighbours, and bring con-
versation to an equilibrium, I think it ill-
judged. If the man of sense have any
good-nature in his composition, he will
not be much hurt at bestowing on his
weaker neighbour a pittance of his own
information and wisdom. At least, it is
not well done in you to furnish him
with an apology to withhold it. How is
the poor man to improve, if on his coming
SO Dialogues on the
into company, an immediate stop is put
f
to all conversation by calling for cards ?
However, I consider this argument
only as a shuffle. Any conversation is
surely better than the dull monotony of a
card-table. He who can bear the conversa-
tion of a card-player, may bear any thing.
For myself, I protest I should make better
company of a parrot.
I cannot, said I, truly say much for the
conversation of a card-table, except that
it is innocent, and may keep conversation
from taking a worse turn.
Why, yes, said the Dean, and so it
would, if you should clap a gag into
every body's mouth, when he went into
company. At the same time I should
Amusements of Clergymen. 81
lay but little stress either on one expedi-
ent or the other. A short restraint af-
fords no amendment. Bring the axe to
the root of the tree correct the heart
and you do something. But till that
be done, the propensity to scandal may
be cliecked, but will find its opportunity
to break out, whether you play at cards
or not. Perhaps, like fermenting liquor,
it may burst out with more Tiolence from
having been confined.
But perhaps, said I, Sir, it may be
worth consideration, that if people do not
employ their vacant time on cards, they
may do worse.
I know not what they can do worse,
answered the Dean, if you respect their
82 Dialogues on the
amusements only. And if you think
cards will keep a young fellow from the
stews or a debauch, when he is inclined
to either, I fear you attribute much more
to them than they deserve. If a man be
fond of two games, both are amusements ;
and so far as there is a similitude between
them, the love of one may perhaps over-
power an attachment to the other. But
when a man is fond of a game, and ad-
dicted to a vice, as there is no similitude
between the objects, you have no more
ground for expecting the former will
drive out the latter, than for supposing a
man's dancing a minuet should prevent
his admiring a picture.
You drive me, said I, Sir, out of all
my strong holds , but you must give me
Amusements of Clergymen. 83
leave to make one observation more. I
have heard sickly people speak of cards
as a great relief in pain ; when the mind
is incapable of any other attention. And
if exciting this frivolous attention will
draw it from attending to its malady,
cards, I think, are an opium, and may
often be called a blessing.
I have certainly no objection, replied
the Dean, to their being used medicinally.
But then I should wish to have them
sold only at the apothecary's shop, and 1
the doctor to prescribe the use of them.
I should fear, if the patient prescribed
for himself, he may be apt to take too
large a dose, as he often does of lauda-
num, and other anodyne drugs. I once
knew an old lady, who had lost the use
84 Dialogues on the
of her speech, and of both her hands, by
two or three paralytic strokes j and every
evening took the remedy you have been
prescribing. She was a lady of large
fortune gave good suppers and had
generally a number of humble friends
about her, one of whom always, after
supper, dealt, sorted, and held her cards,
and pointing to this, or that, the old lady
nodded at the card she wished to have
her friend play. But it sometimes hap-
pened, that the paralytic shake of the
head was mistaken for the nod of appro-
bation, and unfortunately a wrong card
was played ; which threw the old lady
(whose whole heart was in the remedy
she was taking) into such violent fits of
passion, that people thought she received
Amusements of Clergymen. 85
more injury from these irritations than
benefit from the prescription.
I fear, said I, Sir, from all this ridicule,
that you thought what I advanced rather
impertinent.
My ridicule, replied the Dean, was not
surely directed at you ; but at those poor,
pitiable objects, who cannot, even at the
dose of life, be happy without their
cards. I have heard of many such ; and
have known some. At a time when
serious thoughts and meditation are the
most becoming, it is pitiable, in the last
degree, to see the dregs of life running
off in so wretched a manner. If there is
any thing in human nature, which unites
contempt and commiseration, said a
86 ' Dialogues on the
friend of mine (coming from a sight
of this kind) it is the spectacle of a man
going down to the grave with a pack of
cards in his hand!
Indeed, said I, Sir, these frightful ex-
amples are of themselves sufficient warn-
ings. But I have done. I give up my
cause. I was willing to say what I could
for an amusement, in which I fear I
have had too great an interest. But I
hope, Sir, I shall not be the worse either
for your ridicule, or your instruction.
After all however it must be confessed,
that we yount>; clergymen have a difficult
part to act. The prevalence of custom
is a vehement tide, which we find it very
hard 1 to stem.. ,
Amusements of Clergymen. 87
I should therefore, said the Dean, wish
you to keep out of it; which every man
may, if he please. Be resolute at first in
resisting importunity, and importunity
will presently cease. You will soon be
considered as one who has a will of his
own. The clergy, I think, may be divi-
ded into two great bodies. One class
are such as enter into the ministry only to
make their fortunes. These are a kind
of amphibious animals. I cannot call
them clergymen. They are traders in
ecclesiastical goods. With them my ar-
guments have nothing to do. They have
no scruples ; and will comply of course
with every thing that will recommend
them to the world. In the other class
are many, no doubt, who have the end
and honor of their profession at heart;
88 Dialogues on the
and wish only to be convinced of the pro-
priety, or impropriety of a thing, to do it
or leave it undone. But there are num-
bers, I fear, in this class, well-meaning,
on the whole, and serious men, who are
yet ready to make the customs of the
world an apology for a variety of impro-
per practices j and slide into a number of
corrupt habits, without considering that
to oppose the seducing customs of the
world is the very essence of a state of
trial ; and that it is the very business of a
good pastor to set up his own example as
a way-mark against them.
To all this I fully assented.
Aye, Mr. Frampton, continued the
Dean, with much earnestness in his man-
Amusements oj Clergymen. 89
ner, these are serious truths. The cus-
toms of the world put a gloss upon many
improper things among which I reckon
cards j and mislead numbers, who are
glad perhaps to misinterpret the apostle,
and tell you, that if they do them not,
they must altogether go out of the world.
But whatever liberties the layman takes,
(and yet I know not what gives him any
exclusive liberty) the clergyman ought
to be particularly guarded against the in-
dulgence of any amusement, which is
fraught with so much mischief, both pub-
lic and private ; which so easily gains
ground by the force of habit ; and in the
defence of which, you see, so little can be
said. Many bad habits subside in age.
Nature cannot hold out. But here is a
mischievous propensity, which cleaves
90 Dialogues on the
often to our very last sand. It is possible
I may yet live to see people so barefaced,
as to make no distinction of days, and
play at cards on Sundays. It is practised,
I am informed, in France, from which we
derive too many of our fashions*
I told the Dean, that, as I believed I
was better acquainted with the history of
card-playing than he was, I was afraid
that vile practice, though not frequent,
had gotten at least some footing among
us. One instance I knew. I had, not
long ago, the honor to be admitted, in
a dearth of better company, to the card-
table of a lady of fashion. Soon after I
found she played at cards on Sundays ;
when fearing lest I should be involved in
the imputation of that practice, I never
Amusements of Clergymen. 91
would touch another card at her house.
On her calling me to account for desert-
ing my post, I plainly told her the rea-
son. This led to a short debate. She
said, after the duties of the day were over
(for she was a constant church- woman)
she thought a little recreation in the even-
ing was very allowable. I talked of the
great impropriety at least of breaking
downjences, and laying the practice open
to the common people, even though she
would not allow any profanation of the
day. She thought the fault lay in the
cattle, that u'etit through the breach. At
length however she allowed that playing
jit cards on a Sunday was a very impro-
per practice to get among the lower peo-
ple and farther, that, when carried to
(he height oj gaming, it was a very impro-
.92 Dialogues on the
per Sunday-amusement to any one. I beg-
ged she would suffer me to show her,
merely on these two concessions of her
own t the mischief of playing at cards at
all on a Sunday j and that she might see
it in the stronger light, I offered to put
my arguments on paper. But I could
never obtain leave. She always stopped
my mouth with saying, she had made up
her mind, and wished to hear no more
on the subject.
I honor you, said the Dean, as I
should every young clergyman, who could
make so proper a stand against a vicious
fashion. And now, in return for your
story, in which you have given me an in-
stance of some duplicity, I will contrast it
with one of genuine simplicity. A friend
Amusements of Clergymen. 93
of mine had a curate recommended from
Cambridge, an excellent young man, who
had never been in a scrape during the
whole time he had been at the university.
He was addicted to no improper amuse-
ment ; and cards in particular he disliked.
It happened, however, on some singular
occasion (I believe on that of a young
lady's coming of age) he was invited, a-
mong several other young folks, to spend
an evening where cards made a part of
the entertainment. He stood out strenu-
ously, as wholly ignorant of every game.
At last some general game ' (I know not
1 We have among us at present a kind of game,
which is called a round game, from the compa-
ny's sitting round a table. The Dean pn b.ihly
alludes to some such game as this, which might
be in use in his time.
94 Diaiogites on the
what they call it) being proposed, and
some of the company (as corruptors are
always at hand) instructing him in what
he could not but feel he had powers of
mind to comprehend, he was drawn in,
and sat down, though little attentive to the
business in which he was engaged. At
the end of the game, when the accounts
of profit and loss were settled, his com-
panions gave him four shillings, to his
great surprise, for certain little ivory fish,
which he had received in the course of
the game. The next morning, when he
told the story, he said it was a fortunate
thing that he had been successful ; for if
he had lost four shillings, instead of win-
ning them, he should certainly have gone
off without paying his debt ; as he had
not the least conception that the ivory
Amusements of Clergymen. 95
lish he had received, represented any
thing but themselves.
The good Dean having thus dispatch-
ed the card-table, led me next to the
play-house. What a noble institution,
said he, have we here, if it were properly
regulated ! I know of nothing that is
better calculated for moral instruction
nothing that holds the glass more forci-
bly to the follies and vices of mankind. I
would have it go hand-in-hand with the
pulpit. It has nothing indeed to do with
scripture and Christian doctrines. The
pageants, as, I think, they were called, of
the last century, used to represent scrip-
ture-stories, which were very improperly
introduced, and much better handled in
the pulpit. But it is impossible for the
96 Dialogues on the
pulpit to represent vice and folly in so
strong a light as the stage. One addres-
ses our reason, the other our imagination ;
and we know which receives commonly
the more forcible impression. There
should always, however, be a little dash of
the caricature to give a zest to character.
But nature and probability should be
strictly observed. I remember I believe
it is now thirty years ago seeing a play
acted (I forget its title) in which an old
fellow is represented dallying with a co-
quettish girl. It was an admirable picture
from nature. The sprightly actions of
youth imitated by the ridiculous gesti-
culations of age, struck my memory so
forcibly, that the picture is yet as fresh,
as if it had been painted yesterday. As
moral representations, I cannot say, I
Amusements of Clergymen. 97
think Shakspeare's plays are models-
There is a fund of nature in them vast
invention and a variety of passions ad-
mirably coloured. I wish I could forget
the loose fancy which wantons through
most of them, and is extremely disagree-
able to a chaste ear. But what I chiefly
remark is, that I do not commonly find
in them (what I should wish to find in
every play) some virtue or good quality,
set in an amiable light ; or some vice or
folly, set in a detestable one, and made,
as it were, the burden of the whole. I
call the scenes of Falstaff admirable copies
from nature ; but I know not what in-
struction they give. Now I should wish
to turn the play-house into a mode of
amusing instruction, and to suffer no
theatrical performance which did not
Dial. E
98 Dialogues on the
eminently conduce to this end. Young
men, for instance, are apt to be led away
by vicious pleasures ; and, to supply their
profligacy, are often carried from one
degree of wickedness to another. A play
on such a subject ' might, perhaps, deter
many a young man, in the beginning of his
career. Or a good effect might be pro-
duced by placing some virtue in opposi-
tion to its contrary vice ; as contrasts gene-
rally have more force than simple exhibi-
tions.
1 There was afterwards a play formed on this
very plan, intitled George Barnwell j the moral
of which is good, though the execution is far
from being faultless.
Amusements of Clergymen. 99
I asked the Dean if he meant to ex-
clude comedy from his theatre ? /
By no means, said he ; I should rather
encourage it more than tragedy, inas-
much as I should have more hope of
curing such vices and follies as require
the lash, than such as require the gibbet.
My stage-authors should deal much in
ridicule ; which, when well conducted,
and not thrown on individuals but cast
broadly on vice and folly, I conceive to
be an admirable engine. But I should
not ridicule a squinting eye a stam-
mering voice a provincial dialect the
peculiarities of a profession or indeed
any oddity or deformity that was no
strictly immoral.
I am afraid, said I, Sir, you will cut off
10O Dialogues on the
much of our modern wit by this severity ;
for these oddities are, in general, a great
source of it. The broken English of a
Frenchman the blunders of an Irishman
or the broad dialect of a Scotchman,
are what our modern theatres are taught
to believe very witty. I shall, however,
(to speak for one) think myself much ob-
liged to you for ridding the stage of all
this trumpery of false wit and humour,
and bringing only such ridiculous charac-
ters forward, as can support themselves,
if I may so speak, by their real follies and
vices. But there is one thing which, I
fear, will incapacitate the stage from
being of much use in the reformation of
manners. The scenery, the dresses, the
music, and other appendages of the thea-
tre, make the expence so great, that it can
Amusements of Clergymen. 101
never be brought to a level with the
pockets of the multitude.
;
That is well urged, said the Dean. I
thank you for the hint, and will immedi-
ately model my dramatic representations
in conformity to it. We have one church
for rich and poor. All pay equal homage
to one God all are equally his creatures
and it is fit we should all worship him
in one place. But though we have only
one church, there is no necessity to have
only one theatre. In my Utopia, there-
fore, I mean to establish two one for
the higher, the other for the lower
orders of the community. In the first,
of course, there will be more elegance
and more expence ; and the drama
must be suited to the audience by the
102 Dialogues on the
representation of such vices and follies
as are found chiefly among the great.
The other theatre shall be equally suited
to the lower orders. And to enable them
the better to partake of the moral amuse-
ment provided for them, I mean to
abolish all tumbling dancing bear-
baiting, and every thing else that tends
only to encourage merriment without
instruction.
You have now, said I, Sir, perfectly
satisfied me. I shall heartily rejoice in
the erection of your two theatres j and
it gives me great delight to hear you
speak so favourably of the drama. I
own, if there is any one amusement
which appears to me superior to all others,
it is to see a good play well acted.
A m usements of Clergymen. 103
>
But hold, said the Dean : you under-
stand, I hope, that I give this commenda-
tion only to theatres of my own regulat-
ing ; not to such as at present exist*
With a few exceptions, I think I may
describe the drama of the present age ,'
as having nothing less in its view than
good morals. Amorous scenes vicious
principles the most indelicate language
debauched characters, set off in agreea-
ble colours scoffs thrown out against
religion and morals with light music
tending to soften the mind, and make it
1 It must be observed, that the drama of
that age was exceedingly corrupt. Charles the
Second had introduced great licence into the
theatre. Bad as the btage still is in this respect,
it is much chaster than it vas then.
1O4 Dialogues on the
still more susceptible of those vile incen-
tives, that had already been excited, are
too much, I fear, the ingredients of our
theatrical amusements. And even if
the play were good, and tended to give
the thoughts any virtuous impression, the
light farce, coming after, would throw
the whole at once out of the mind. All
forces I should recommend to my lower
theatre. The style of all its composi-
tions should be somewhat in this way j
but they should all certainly have a
moral tendency. The farce, as at present
used, is a most absurd excrescence ; and
I suppose intended merely to please the
vulgar. As there is an upper gallery,
the people there must be pleased, as well
as those in the boxes. But my two
theatres will render this double mode of
Amusements of Clergymen. 105
representation unnecessary. In short, if
the stage were regulated as I could wish
it, even clergymen almost might be actors
upon it. As it is now managed, they
cannot well, I think, be innocent specta-
tors. Tacitus, I remember, somewhere
speaking of the modesty of the German
ladies, attributes it in a great measure to
their not being suffered to attend public
diversions. 1 I should wish only to make
one improvement on this German fashion,
which is, neither to permit gentlemen
nor ladies to attend them, till they are
better regulated. The historian might
have reference to the public amusements
1 The words of the original are, Nullis specta-
culorum illecebris, nullis conri-ciorum irrilationi-
bus corrupt*.
1O6 Dialogues on the
to'
of Ms own country, with which he
thought it happy the German ladies had
no opportunities of being corrupted.
Whatever his precise meaning was, it
shows his general opinion of such amuse-
ments : and I suppose you will allow
Tacitus, though not an apostle, to be a
very good judge of men and manners.
Besides, added the Dean, the very pro-
fession of a player is rendered so disrepu-
table, that nobody ought to encourage it.
Take the matter home with you. Would
you wish either your son or daughter to
seek a livelihood on the stage ? If not, do
you think it shows much moral rectitude
to encourage in other people's children,
what, on virtuous principles, you would
shudder at in your own ?
Amusements of Clergymen. 107
I told the Dean I durst not take upon
me to answer his invective, either against
the stage or its professors. I feared there
was more truth in what he had said than
I wished to find. A clergyman, I observ-
ed, must often be in the way of hearing
and seeing improprieties which he can-
not avoid. But I allowed it certainly to
be a different case, when he went volun-
tarily into the way of these things. I
then asked the Dean what he thought of
dancing-assemblies and cheerful meet-
ings of other kinds ?
As they are at present managed, said
the Dean, so far as I am acquainted with
them, I should hardly allow a clergyman
to attend any of them. Put them under
1 08 Dialogues on the
my regulation and he may attend them
all.
For the sake of truth, I replied, I must
say, that I have attended the assemblies
at our county-town, not constantly, in-
deed, but very frequently, and I do not
remember ever seeing (except perhaps
once or twice) what the most exact per-
son would call the least breach of deco-
rum or good manners.
I know not, said the Dean, what you
precisely mean by the least breach of de-
corum ; but before I should give my
sanction to the assemblies at your county-
town I should wish to ask a few questions.
Is all company, that are well dressed,
promiscuously admitted ? or admitted on
Amusements of Clergymen. 109
the introduction of nobody can tell who ?
Is there no vying in dress, and orna-
ment, and fashion ? Are no card-tables
introduced ? Are suppers and drinking,
and late hours excluded ? While you
are dancing, or carding, or drinking, above
stairs, is any care taken of your poor ser-
vants below ? Are they left to saunter
about inn-yards and tap-houses, to get
into bad company or, not knowing
what to do with themselves, to debauch
one another ? Unless you can answer me
rationally, on all these heads, I shall never
suffer any clergyman, over whom I have
influence, to attend any of these meetings.
It may be difficult/perhaps, to prevent the
layman from filling the heads of his sons
and daughters with dress, and vanity, and
folly, and intrigue, and all the imperti-
1 1O Dialogues on the
nence that attends such promiscuous, ill-
regulated assemblies we must leave him,
if he please, to set them an example him-
self, and go before them in all these
scenes of dissipation we must leave him
also, to take no more care of the morals
of his servants than if they were his cat-
tle, and to pay no attention to the dif-
ficulties into which he leads them. If
he will run into these excesses, (I have
no better word in my dictionary to ex-
plain my meaning) I cannot prevent it :
but certainly I should wish the clergy-
man to be very cautious how he gives any
encouragement to such assemblies by his
example. The world may laugh at him ;
but he must learn to bear the ridicule of
the world, and I hope in return he will
meet approbation elsewhere.
Amusements of Clergymen. 1 1 1
But, said I, Sir, I have often heard,
that prudent fathers and mothers consider
these meetings as places where their
daughters are seen to most advantage.
Aye, replied the Dean, I have lately
heard that subject discussed in all its
folly by one of these prudent mothers, to
-whom I was weak enough to give my ad-
vice on this head, for the sake of an amia-
ble god-daughter of mine. I hate the
idea of carrying young women, like colts,
to a fair. It is indelicate : it is below
their dignity. They should not seek,
but be sought after. Few happy marria-
ges, I believe, are founded on these hasty
impressions. I shall not, however, say
more on this point, as I am not instructing
the world at large, but only giving ad-
112 Dialogues on the
vice to my brethren of the clergy. Let
the beau suit himself with a belle, and
choose a wife from the made-up young
ladies, who are taught to say smart things
and shine at assemblies, and whose heads
are fuller of fashions than of such know-
ledge as most becomes them. But when
the clergyman thinks it prudent to change
his condition, let him look for a wife in
some domestic family, and endeavour
to choose one, whom he hears sober
people commend for her private virtues.
And if she happen to be known in any
polite circle, and dignified by the name
of a lifeless, inanimate thing, he has still
the better chance for happiness.
As I was always fond of dancing, I did
not care to let the argument wholly drop j
Amusements of Clergymen. 113
and told the Dean I hoped he had no
dislike to dancing in itself; but only when
it was improperly circumstanced. It ap-
peared to me a very innocent winter-
evening amusement.
It appears so to me, said the Dean. I
have already told you, that if you will
suffer me to regulate your dancings, and
other evening-meetings, I will freely in-
dulge you in them. Summon an assembly
when you please, at some private house.
Public houses always lead to promiscu-
ous company and intemperance. Let
the meeting consist of well-educated and
well-disposed young people of both sexes;
and when the music strikes up, and the
dance begins, send for me, and I will
hobble away, as fast as my gouty feet will
1 1 4 Dialogues on the
allow, and if I may be permitted quietly
to occupy a corner of the room in an
elbow-chair, I shall enjoy the scene as
much as any of you. To see youth and
innocence made happy amidst such amuse-
ments as are suitable to them, always
gives a new joy to my philanthropy ; which
is as suddenly injured, when I see them
entangled in pleasures which I cannot
but look upon as secret snares for their
innocence. And yet I cannot say I should
wish to see a clergyman, except perhaps
a very young one, more than a spectator of
these amusements. To see him, to-day
sailing about in a minuet step, and to-
morrow preaching in a pulpit, might
make a contrast perhaps too strong for
some of his hearers. I do not, however,
wish to determine precisely. The amuse-
Amusements of Clergymen. 1 1 5
ment is certainly innocent. With regard
to the other meetings you mention, if
you put them under the same rational re-
straint, I have no objection to any of them.
I should be pleased to meet a set of vir-
tuous, well-bred young men, or a mixed
company, either at dinner or supper;
and if their chief end were either conver-
sation or innocent amusemen't, I should
do the best in my power to amuse and
enliven them. Nor should I expect them
all to be men of agreeable manners, in-
genuity, and information. I should only
indulge the hope of their having the same
dislike that I had, to transgress the rules,
of decency and propriety. But as for
clubs met together on set purpose to be
joyous to drink and to rattle to sing
songs and catches to roar and stagger,
116 Dialogues on the
as the evening gets late, I hold them in
abhorrence. No clergyman ' should ever
join in such orgies j and I should think
very meanly of him if he should frequent
a company that had the least tendency to
that riotous mirth which produces these
improprieties of behaviour.
You seemed to mention, said I, Sir, with
1 Johnson and his friend Beauclerk were in
company with several clergymen who thought
they should appear to advantage by assuming
the lax jollity of men of the world. Johnson,
who, they expected, would be entertained, sat
grave and silent for some time. At last, turn-
ing to Beauclerk, he said, by no means in a whis-
per, " The merriment of these parsons is mighty
offensive."
Bos. Life, vol. iii. p. 328.
Amusements of Clergymen. 117
a mark of disapprobation, songs and
catches. Do you see any thing particular-
ly mischievous in them ?
By no means, replied the Dean, when
they are not found in bad company ; and
when the words are such as neither coun-
tenance vice nor violate decorum. If
the select assembly we just left dancing,
choose to amuse themselves after their
dance, or after supper, with singing, I
should not only approve it, but beg
leave to listen to them. Even the clergy-
man I will allow to sing in such an assem-
bly; though I should warmly reprove
him if he should sing for the entertain-
ment of a mixed company, or at a public
meeting. If I should not be thought
precise or puritanical, I should, now and
1 1 8 Dialogues on ihc
then, recommend a psalm-tune especially
on a Sunday evening. We have several
psalm-tunes which are very fine ; and when
sung in parts, by sweet female voices, are,
in my ear, more harmonious than any other
species of music ; and in the language
of our great, but unfashionable poet, 1
Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to
heaven.
At the same time, I cannot say I am a
friend to instrumental music on a Sunday
evening ; from no objection to the thing it-
self, (though, indeed, 1 think harmonious
voices sweeter when unaccompanied) but
I should fear its being misconstrued by un-
1 At that day Milton, on the account of his
political principles, was not in general esteem.
Amusements o) Clergymen. 119
distinguishing people, to whom we should
always be careful not to give offence.
Psalms are sung in churches, and can
lead into no mistake ; but fiddles, and
flutes, and harpsichords, are merry instru-
ments, and, in some people's opinion, can
never be accommodated to purposes of
devotion ' As to catches, I know little
of them : but from what I do know
1 Occiduus is a pastor of renown.
When he has prayed, and preached the sabbath
down,
With wire and catgut he concludes the day,
Quav'ring and serniquav'ring thought away
The full concerto swells upon your ear ;
All elbows shake.-
Will not the sickliest sheep of every flock
Resort to this example ?
If apostolic gravity be fre *
To play the fool on Sundays, why not we ?
12O Dialogues on the
they make no attempt either at sense or
sentiment. The harmony may be good ;
and if the words, though senseless, have
no ill meaning, I shall not reprobate
though I cannot commend them.
Having dispatched, said the Dean, all
our riotous and cruel amusements, and
likewise such as are trifling and seducing,
(though they often, as in some instances
just observed, intermingle with each
other) I should now introduce you to
such amusements as I think proper for a
If he the tinkling harpsichord regards
As inoffensive, what offence in cards ?
Strike up the fiddle;-, let us all be gay;
Laymen have laave to dance, if parsons play.
COWPER.
Amusements of Clergymen. 121
clergyman : but as the evening grows late
we will take an earlier hour, if you
please, to-morrow, to discuss them.
END OF THE SECOND DIALOGUE.
Dial.
]22
THIRD DIALOGUE.
THE next day was Sunday, when I hap-
pened to be wholly engaged. But on
Monday I waited on the good Dean soon
after dinner.
I am impatient, said I, Sir, to have ano-
ther conversation with you. You have
taken from me my gun and my dog.
You have prohibited my playing at cards,
and have refused me leave to go to an
assembly, or to meet my friend at a ta-
vern ; and I cannot but be solicitous to
know what amusement you will at length
allow me.
Dialogues, #c. 1 23
But are not you, replied the Dean,
rather unreasonable ? I have indeed ta-
ken your gun. But as to your dog, you
may keep him, if you please, for a compa-
nion. I have no objection. Have I not
at least connived also at your fishing ?
Have I not introduced you to many agree-
' able societies ? Have I not given you
leave to sing and to dance ? And does
not all this satisfy you ? However, I
mean still to do more. I wish only to
make your amusements your habits
? your company your dress and your
profession, all agree. By the way, I am
! not a little solicitous about the dress of a
' clergyman ; which I think a matter of
more consequence than the generality of
people will, perhaps, allow. I think it an
argument of great lightness in a clergy.
124 Dialogues on the
man to endeavour, as far as he can, to
adopt the lay habit. He shows he has em-
braced his own profession only for rea-
sons of convenience, and in his heart dis-
likes its restraints. I should wish to have
every clergyman, especially when in full
orders, obliged to appear always in a short
cassock, under his coat. He could not
then so easily adopt improprieties in his
dress, and might be more upon his guard
also against improprieties in his behaviour.
His clerical habit would be a continual
call upon him for decorum, as he durst
not, in that garb, do many things which,
dressed like a layman, he might be
tempted to do. Besides, it might tend to
keep such young men out of the church,
as, when in it, are a disgrace both to it
and to themselves. C loathing was origi-
Amusements of Clergymen. 125
nally intended for the sake of decency
and warmth. In civilized societies it be-
came afterwards of use to distinguish
ranks : and if in this instance the distinc-
tion were a little more enforced, it would,
I am persuaded, have a good effect.
I hope, Sir, said I, that my wardrobe,
if it were all produced before you, would
give you no offence. Nothing would be
found there but what is strictly clerical.
Indeed I, myself, have been often highly
offended at the improper dress of many
of my younger brethren. I wonder not,
therefore, at your being offended.
So far then, answered the Dean, I may
presume upon you as a hopeful disciple;
and that, as you are clerical in your dress,
1 26 Dialogues on the
you will be clerical also in your amuse-
ments. Now as exercise, on which health
so much depends, is one great end
of amusement, and as the clerical life
may in general be called a sedentary one,
he who provides amusements for a cler-
gyman should have an especial view to
exercise. But though I forbade the cler-
gyman to gallop after hounds I have
no objection to his mounting his horse,
and riding a dozen miles in a morning,
for exercise.
But without some end in view, I observ-
ed, few people were fond of a solitary
ride.
Solitary ride ! exclaimed the Dean.
Have you forgotten the philosopher's no'
ble adage, Nunquam minus solus, quam
Amusements of Clergymen. 127
cum solus ? I should allow a man brought
up in business to urge such a pretence ;
but in a scholar I cannot admit it. The
very trot of a horse is friendly to thought.
It beats time, as it were, to a mind enga-
ged in deep speculation. An old acquain-
tance of mine used to find its effect so
strong, that he valued his horse for be-
ing a little given to stumbling. I know
not how far, he would say, I might carry
my contemplation, and totally forget my-
self, if my honest beast did not, now and
then, by a false step, jog me out of my
reverie, and let me know that I had not yet
gotten above a mile or two out of my road. 1
1 This story was afterwards told of Dr. Young ;
not the author of the Night Thoughts, but ano-
ther clergyman of that name, remarkable for
simplicity of character and absence of mind.
128 Dialogues on the
But every scholar, said I, Sir, has not
the art of keeping his thoughts so collected.
The trotting of a horse, even without
stumbling, may be enough to dissipate his
best meditations.
If he cannot think, answered the Dean,
in one way let him think in another. If
he cannot lay premises and conclusions
together, and make a sermon, let him
consider some letter he has to write, or
some conference with a neighbour to ma-
nage. He must be a very thoughtless
fellow if he have not some useful topic to
engage his thoughts. Or perhaps he
may have some friend to call upon. At
worst, he may amuse himself with look-
ing at the country around him. It is a
pleasure to see how differently the corn
Amusements of Clergymen. 1 29
or the grass grows in different parishes,
and to mark its progress. Every season
furnishes some new and agreeable scene.
He sees the woods assume one appear-
ance in the spring another in summer
a third in autumn and a fourth in
winter. And as nature is never at a stand,
he sees a continual variation in her scenes.
So that, if he have no resources in him-
self he may still find them in the beauties
of nature.
But, perhaps, I objected, he is not
fond of riding ; or he may not be able
to keep a horse.
Let him walk, then, said the Dean. I
should recommend walking to him, as
every way a preferable exercise. Over
ISO Dialogues on the
o '
the horseman he will enjoy many advan-
tages. He is instantly equipped. He has
only to take his hat and stick, and call
his dog. Besides, he need not keep the
highway, like the horseman. He goes
over the stile he gets into the devious
path he wanders by the side of the river,
or through the mead and if these se-
questered scenes do not make him think
I know not what can do it. Besides, he
may use as much exercise in half the time,
which is of consequence to a scholar
and I should suppose as wholesome exer-
cise. But above all things, I should wish
him to get a habit of thinking methodi-
cally as he walks. It will soon become
as easy to think in the fields as at his
desk ; and he will enjoy at once the dou-
ble advantage of study and exercise.
Amusements of Clergymen. 131
Here again he has an advantage over the
horseman. He has his hands at liberty to
manage his memorandum-book, and his
black-lead pencil, which, with the incum-
brances of a whip and a bridle, is more
difficult. To think methodically on
horseback is the work rather of a strong
head, which can continue and carry on
an argument digest it in the mind and
remember the several parts and depen-
dencies of it. On foot, the memorandum-
book eases the head of all this trouble,
by fixing the argument as it proceeds :
for myself, the exercise of walking with
a memorandum-book in my hand hath
ever been among the first pleasures of my
life. When I was a young man, and could
go among my poor neighbours, I had
three employments at the same rime :
132 Dialogues on the
visiting my parish studying and using
exercise. I have made, in these excur-
sions, many a sermon. The greatest part
of this book ' was first rudely composed
in the fields, and when I came home I
always digested what had occurred in my
walk consulted my authorities, and
wrote all fair over. And even since I
grew old, when it pleases God to allow
me the use of my feet, I still continue the
same exercise ; only instead of being able,
as I was then, to take a fatiguing excur-
sion, without paying much attention to
roads or weather, I am obliged now to
shorten my walk to rest a little, and
divide it into portions to creep along
1 The Origines Sacrce, which the Dean had
just been correcting.
Amusements of Clergymen. 1 33
easy paths in garden walks, or under
sheltering hedges.
Much do I wish, said I, Sir, that you
could continue with more ease your use-
ful walks, in which the world hath so
much partaken, and will long partake.
For myself, I shall certainly endeavour
to imitate an example which I am con-
vinced is so profitable. I will immediate-
ly get a memorandum-book, and hope
in time to find more pleasure in bringing
home the heads of a sermon than I have
often done in bringing home a pheasant
or a partridge. But still, Sir, there are
many pious and good clergymen, who
may be great blessings to their parishes,
and yet were never able to compose a
sermon themselves, and cannot, perhaps,
134 Dialogues on the
by any means, induce a habit of thinking
methodically What are they to do ?
Why they must endeavour, said the
Dean, as I advised the horseman in the
same circumstances, to find employment
for their thoughts as they are able. If
they are visiting a poor neighbour, in sick-
ness or distress, they may think what to
say on the occasion. The duties of his
parish will always be a call to exercise,
and engage a worthy clergyman to be
frequently abroad, in one shape or other,
especially if his parish be extensive. He
may also take a book, and read at inter-
vals, which will always furnish some
employment for his thoughts. I have
heard Sir Roger speak of the mode of
exercise used by his late friend Dr. Bret.
Amusements of Clergymen. 135
He would generally, during two hours
every day, sally out into the fields, with
his spud in his hand, and cut up all the
weeds he could meet with. A field of
thistles was to him a sporting country :
and he used to say, good man ! when he
was inclined to boast a little of his bene-
volent exercise, that he believed he did
not save his parishioners less than a dozen
pounds every year in weeding. But if
walking, after all, except when some end
or parish-duty is in view, cannot be made
pleasant to a clergyman, let him seek
other exercise. Does he love a garden ?
There cannot be a more clerical amuse-
ment than the cultivation of it. The
flower-garden the fruit garden or the
kitchen-garden, may all afford him great
amusement, and are perfectly consistent
136 Dialogues on the
with his character. I should think it no
discredit to a clergyman to have his vines
and his fruit-trees better trained by his
own hands than those of any professed
gardener in the country : and even his
pease and beans and cabbages to be in
a more flourishing condition. If he wish
for still stronger exercise let him roll his
walks, or dig his ground usque ad sudo-
rem. This will be of great use to him ;
for besides the advantage of it, it will ena-
ble him to take as much exercise in a
couple of hours as will serve him for
the day. It is a wise provision in the
statutes of some monastic houses, to
oblige their members to employ them-
selves in manual labour during so many
hours in the four-and-twenty. Nothing
Amusements of Clergymen. 1 3 7
can contribute more to give them spirits
and rid them of the spleen. I have heard
that the founder of the famous abbey of
La Trappe, in prescribing this kind of
discipline to his convent, used to say,
that as labour was originally laid on man
as a punishment for sin, we may be as-
sured it is one of the best means of keep-
ing us out of it.
I admire his wisdom, said I, in making
the rules of his convent an antidote to the
natural indolence of a cloister. And I
think our church, in giving the clergy-
man a glebe, hath had something of this
kind in its eye. I suppose you have no
objection to his making the culture of
it his amusement ?
138 Dialogues on the
None, replied the Dean, if the selling
of his corn and hay do not lead him to
bargain among low people at markets. I
have no objection to any innocent rural
employment. For myself, when I lived
in the country I had great pleasure in all
these things. I used to see my horses
and cows foddered j used to visit them
in their pastures, and fed my poultry
myself. But there are few circum-
stances in which I should advise a
clergyman to gather his own tithe. It is
an odious business. 1
1 When will the good sense of the Legislature
appoint a funded Income for the Clergy in lieu
of Tithes? Dreadful is the persecution, deception,
and fraud, practised on them in the year 1820.
Amusements of Clergymen* 1 39
I asked the Dean, if he had any objec-
tion to botany, as an inducement to draw
us abroad ?
Not the least, said he, if it be an induce-
ment to me it would be none, though
it is certainly very innocent; and, if I
should judge from the numbers who
study it, very interesting also. To ex-
amine the beauty and construction of
plants their infinite variety and their
several uses, I can easily conceive, might
furnish much rational amusement. But
merely to give them hard names, when
they already have easy ones, and to class
them botanically, which is in fact to class
them so that nobody but a botanist can
find them out, appears to me something
like writing an English grammar in
140 Dialogues on the
Hebrew. You explain a thing by mak-
ing it unintelligible. I must speak how-
ever, with caution, on a subject of which
I know so little. 1
I then asked the Dean what he thought
of bowls, tennis, and cricket, as clerical
amusements ?
With regard to bowls, said he, I am a
party concerned, and therefore improperly
called upon, either as an advocate or an evi-
dence. I always liked a game at bowls, and
thought it good exercise in a summer-
1 This censure of botany seems to respect Mr.
Ray, who was contemporary with Dr. Stillingfleet,
and the only botanist of note, 1 believe, at that
time.
Amusements of Clergymen. 141
evening. It is just exercise enough to
give the body a gentle breathing, without
being too violent. With regard to tennis
and cricket, I must be silent for another
reason. I know nothing of either of
them. To none of these exercises, how-
ever, have I any objection, if the party
which joins you in them be well chosen.
It is this which makes them innocent or
seducing. 1
I think, said !, Sir, we hare now ex-
hausted all such amusements as go under
the name of exercise ; and I cannot but
1 The Dean did not, perhaps, know that there
are few tennis-courts which are not places of
public resort. Every amusement, so circumstan-
ced, he would certainly have interdicted.
142 Dialogues on the
acknowledge you have been more liberal
on this subject than I expected. If you
will be as indulgent to us in our domestic
amusements we shall have no reason to
complain. What gratification, Sir, on
this head, are you disposed to allow us ?
All that is necessary, replied the Dean.
For my own part, I know not what mental
amusement men of science and infor-
mation want, after a studious day, except
that of conversing with each other.
Nothing gives the mind a more pleasing
relaxation. You need not talk much, if
you are indisposed ; and listening to
good sense is no fatigue. Nor does any
thing excite genius so much as this colli-
sion among learned men. We are equal-
ly pleased with feeling our own sentiments
Amusements of Clergymen. 143
corrected, (as it is done in a manner by
ourselves) and with correcting the senti-
ments of others. These meetings among
learned men, may be called the Fair of
learning. They purchase commodities
of each other. One man exchanges his
wit for another's knowledge ; and each
probably gains what he wants, at the ex-
pence of something in which he abounds.
From this kind of communication too
we get a variety of hints which we may
afterwards turn to use, and that without
the fatigue of thinking, as other people
think for us. I knew an ingenious man
who read little himself, but kept much
good company, and had the art of picking
up, and turning to account, every thing
he heard. By expanding these hints, and
throwing beautiful lights and images
144 Dialogues on the
upon them, by the help of a good imagina-
tion, he would write a sermon or an essay,
which might be called entirely his own j
though his friends, who lived much
in the same company with him, could
now and then discover how he came
by his leading ideas. I should not, how-
ever, advise any young man to seek his
knowledge in this vague way. It is a
hundred to one he is not qualified for it.
Besides, it is an indolent way, when you
rest solely upon it. In his books he will
always meet with instruction.
If the pleasure, said I, Sir, arising from
the company of learned men, could be en-
joyed in its full purity, it would indeed
be a relaxation beyond all others. Where
tempers are well harmonized, I can con-
Amusements of Clergymen. 1*5
ceive nothing more delightful. But as
in chemical mixtures one single 'heteroge-
neous ingredient often puts the whole
mass into a ferment ; so in these learned
societies, one man, who talks incessantly,
or disputes eagerly, destroys all the plea-
sure of the meeting, and makes us think
we might have employed our time more
happily with our own solitary meditations.
For myself, indeed, I have seldom mixed
freely with any one set of people, among
whom some or other has not been of this
troublesome description. At college I
remember several such intruders on the
social pleasures of an evening.
It is very true, answered theDean, noisy
talking and eager disputing are two great
evils in conversation ; and are often found,
DiaL o
146 Dialogues on the
more or less, in the meetings even of learn-
ed and ingenious men. And it is a miser-
able thing when a man's self is the only
person pleased with hearing his own con-
versation. Nay, I will go farther, and
allow that this is not the only evil which
infests these societies. There are other
things which often render them disagree-
able. A friend of mine told me lately,
that in a capital town in England he was
a member of a very reputable society, con-
sisting of several men of taste and science.
He was delighted with their conversation,
and thought his time very profitably spent.
He soon, however, found that one or
two of the members of this society had a
deistical turn. This might have been en-
dured, if they would have kept their sen-
timents to themselves, and discussed only
Amusements of Clergymen. 1 47
points of literature : but they were for-
ward, on all occasions, to move questions
on religious subjects, and would discuss
them with very offensive licence. My
friend, therefore, seeing no remedy, left his
company, and consorted no more with a
society where he could not receive plea-
sure without a great mixture of pain.
And indeed I must allow with you, there
are so many things which make these ge-
neral meetings of literati disagreeable, that
I know not whether, as far as mere relaxa-
tion is concerned, one has not a better
chance for it in the mixed company of
well-bred people of both sexes. I should
at least wish for no more than three or
four, in a society of select friends, to make
it agreeable.
But, said I, Sir, there are many of us
1*8 Dialogues on the
poor curates, who have few opportunities
ef getting into .company of any kind ; who
live in lonely places ; and see few, besides
the peasants of our own parishes: What
resources have you for us?
Why, in the first place, answered the
jDean, the peasants of your parish are, in
many respects, theproperest company you
<can keep. You will not mingle with their
pleasures and .diversions. But -the good
pastor will often find leisure to enter their
houses and cottages, and see and hear
what they are about : and in this duty he
will find his amusement. Qn -this head,
however, I need not instruct you.
Besides, adde.d he, we are rather going
from the question. We are not .consider-
ing amusement as united with duty ; but
relaxation from it. Are you musical?
Amusements of Clergymen. 1 49
I know no amusement so adapted to the
clerical life, as music. And indeed
not only as an amusement, but as a mean
often, as Saul used it, to drive away the
evil spirit. Sedentary men are subject to
nervous complaints ; and I have known
many a man who could at any- time
fiddle away a fit of the spleen.
I am myself, said I, musical enough to
have sometimes felt the relief you mention,
though I can, on no instrument, charm
any ears but my own.
And what other ears, replied the
do you wish to charm ? To tell you the
truth, I should think excellence rather a
disadvantage. I have known several
clergymen, who were masters of music,
150 Dialogues on the
get into disagreeable connections by being
called on frequently to assist in concerts
with people whom it would have been
more prudent to avoid. We are willing
indeed to suppose, that music makes a
part of our heavenly enjoyments : but on
earth, I am persuaded, it is sometimes
found among very unharmonized souls. It
may drive away a fit of the spleen, or mo-
derate some momentary passion j but I fear
it has not often much effect in meliorating
the heart by subduing inordinate affec-
tions. If, therefore, continued the Dean,
you can fiddle so as to amuse yourself, I
should desire no more.
I hope, then, said I, Sir, my acquire-
ments in this art will not displease you ;
for they are very far from the point of ex-
Amusements of Clergymen. 1 5 1
cellence. But I am chiefly solicitous to
have your opinion on a still more fa-
vourite amusement, which is drawing.
It has given agreeable employment to
many a solitary hour in my life, and I
should be sorry to be debarred the exer-
cise of it.
I have no intention, said the Dean, to
debar you from it. But I must give you
one piece of advice. As you are fond
both of music and drawing, I should
not wish you to practise both. One of
these domestic amusements^ I should think,
might find sufficient employment for your
leisure. This piece of advice is from my-
self. But I am not unqualified to give
you other instruction. I have no know-
ledge of the art myself, but I remember
Dialogues on the
hearing an excellent judge give in^
struction to a young man, who had*
a profession, as you have, and wished
to follow drawing only as an amuse-
ment. In the first place, I. remember,
he advised his young friend against, co-
louring, which all dabblers are fond of.
To understand the harmony of colours,
be said, required great experience ; and
without it, colouring was daubing. He
advised him also, I recollect, against at-
tempting history, or portrait, or animal
life, or any other branch in which accurate
delineation was required. Landscape he
recommended as the easiest and most
pleasing branch, which, might have the
farther advantage of decoying him into
the forest, or the field, to examine or
copy nature.
Amusements oj Clergymen. 155
I gave the Dean my best thanks for
his advice. Of the utility of that part
which came from himself, I was already
convinced by experience ; and had deter-
mined to drop one of my amusements, as
I found I could not, without too great an-
expence of time, follow both. With re*
gard to the other part of his advice, I la-
mented that it had never been given me
before. I owned I was a dabbler, and had
daubed over many a sheet of paper. But
if I continue,, said I, to practise drawing,,
I shall entirely lay aside my colours, and
practise my art, such as it is, in a way
that may give me more satisfaction :
though perhaps, Sir, I shall please you.
better by not aiming at any excellence ate
alt
1 34> Dialogues on the
If you allude, replied the Dean, to
what I said about music, you mistake my
meaning. My great objection to your
obtaining excellence in music, is, lest it
should mislead you into improper com-
pany. Its sister art is of a more solitary
nature, and is not liable to that incon-
venience. Except for this reason, and
the fear of too much expense of time, I
have no objection to your obtaining ex-
cellence in both arts. But though you
should not be able to please yourself with
your own proficiency in drawing, yet, if
you have a taste for the art, you may be
greatly amused with the works of others.
A clergyman near me r who is now dead,
had a small collection of prints and draw-
ings ; and when he was fatigued with
study (as he was a very studious man)
155
could, at any rime, amuse himself with a
few of his prints.
But all this, said I, Sir, requires taste ;
and if a clergyman have no taste for these
amusements, I hope you have no objec-
tion to indulge him in some amusement
which does not require it in a game at
chess, for instance, with a neighbouring
vicar; or at back-gammon with the
squire ?
In my opinion, said the Dean, chess is
so far from being a relaxation, as all
amusements should be, that, if you are
fairly matched, it is a severe study. It is
a game in which a great variety of diffe-
rent movements create double the variety
of different circumstances; on each of
Dialogues on the
which circumstances, so numerous a trainr>
of consequences again depend, that to pro-
vide for all the contingencies that arise
from your own moves, and may arise from
the probable moves of your antagonist, re-
quires a mind intensely occupied in, the
pursuit before it, and vacant from every
other. In short, a skill in this game, like
mathematical knowledge, may be continu-
ally adrancing to perfection. When I was
Fellow of St. John's, I played much at.
chess j and being fond of it, I attained, as
I thought, some degree of excellence: till
at length, from beating all the young men',
at Cambridge who played with me, I be-
gan to think myself the best chess-player;
in England.- It happened, on a visit to a.
friend in London, that an old Germaa
officer made one of the party. After
Amusements of Clergymen. 1ST
dinner we went to different amusements,,
and it was proposed that he and I should
play a game at chess* as we were both,
known to be chess-players. I modestly.
threw my glove ; but my heart beat with
a full assurance of triumph. I soon,
however, perceived that my antagonist
opened his game in a manner to which I
had not been accustomed. This roused
all my attention. But while I was defend-
ing myself in one quarter (for I quickly
found I had to act only on the defensive)
I received a severe blow on another, which
threw me into great confusion; and
while I was endeavouring to recover my
disordered affairs,, the enemy broke in.
upon me, and shamefully defeated me,,
without giving me an opportunity of
displaying one instance of my prowess*
158 Dialogues on the
I was convinced, however, that all this
mischief had befallen me from too great
confidence, and an incautious manner
of opening my game. I begged there-
fore another trial : but it ended in
the same disgrace. My antagonist, by
this time, was fully apprized what a
hero he had to deal with ; and exulting
in his success, desired me to fix upon any
chamber on the board I pleased, and use
all my strength merely to defend that
single post : he engaged to attack no
other. But in spite of all my endeavours,
he gave me check-mate upon that very
spot. Nay, he did it repeatedly ; for
my shame was now turned into admira-
tion. I sat down therefore contented,
and endeavoured to console myself by
forming the disgrace I had suffered into
a lesson against presumption.
Amusements of Clergymen. 1 59
I cannot, in return, said I, Sir, tell you
a story of my prowess at chess ; but, if
you will give me leave, I will tell you one
of my perseverance. I played a game
with a gentleman at my own lodgings,
and was victorious. You have taken me,
said he, rather inopportunely to-day ; but
if you will be vacant on Thursday, I shall
be this way, and will demand satisfaction.
Accordingly on Thursday he came about
eleven o'clock ; and by the rime we had
played three games, two of which I had
won, his horses came to the door. I
cannot leave the matter thus, said he j if
you can set any little matter before me,
we will go on. Two games more were
played, when in the midst of the third, a
bit of roasted mutton appeared ; and by
the time it was cold, I had defeated him
J6QT Dialogues' on tfie
again. I was now four or five games
before him. Our intercourse therefore
with the mutton was short, and we went
to work again. I was still victorious,
when the horses returned at six. This
is provoking, said he ; I cannot leave the
matter thus. Can I have a bed at the
inn? His orders to his servant now
were, not to bring the horses till they
were sent for. This was- a melancholy
note to me, fatigued as I was already
beyond measure. However, as I was
under some obligations to the gentleman,
and in my own lodgings, I had no choice.
The night ended late, and the morning
began early. Breakfast came the bar-
ber came dinner came all was negli-
gently treated, except the main point. I
sighed inwardly, and hoped this visitation.
Amusements of Clergymen. 161
would now soon have an end. It lasted,,
however, all that day ; and I was still
two games before my antagonist j though
I had played as carelessly as I could, with-
out discovering my indifference. As the
evening drew on, I expected every mo-
ment to hear a message sent for the
horses : I was shocked with his telling
me, we could not part on these unequal
terms. As the next day was Saturday,
and he must of necessity, he said, then
finish, he would try his fortune once
more. So we continued nailed to our
board till a late hour on Friday night,
and began again before breakfast on
Saturday morning. Towards the close
of the day, our accounts differed in one
game. But I was too complaisant to
dispute the matter ;. so the horses were
1 62 Dialogues on the
sent for, and I was delivered from such a
trial of my patience as I never before
experienced.
Scarce any mischief happens to us, said
the Dean, but we have the comfort of
thinking it might have been worse ; and
you were happy that your friend did not
come to you on Monday instead of
Thursday. As it appears, however, from
my story, how much time and pains are
necessary to obtain excellence in this
game; and from yo ur story, how fasci-
nating a game it is it is worth while to
consider, how far it may be a proper
amusement for a clergyman and whether
it really answers the end of an amuse-
ment by unbending the mind. If it only
substitute one severe study for another,
Amusements of Clergymen. 163
it cannot certainly take the name of an
amusement. 1 Let every one however judge
for himself. I found it too interesting to
be amusing to me, and therefore in early
life I left it off. It is certainly, however,
a noble game. It gives us an idea of war,
without its guilt. It gives us a just idea too
of common life of the happy effects of
prudent and cautious steps, on one hand ;
1 Cowper, with his usual descriptive talents,
admirably portrays the ardour of a chess- player.
Who then
Would waste attention at the chequer'd board,
His host of wooden warriors to and fro
Marching, and counter-marching, with an eye
As fixed as marble, with a forehead ridg'd
And furrowed into storms, and with a hand
Trembling, as if eternity were hung
In balance on his conduct of a pin ?
164 Dialogues on the
and of the fatal mischief which often at-
tends even one false step, on the other.
1 know not, said I, Sir, whether such
games as are made up of skill and
chance together, are not closer imitations
of life. Our most prudent plans are
often defeated by events which' do not
depend on ourselves, but arise from what
we call chance ; while an ill-digested plan
sometimes succeeds without any aid from
our own prudence. Games, therefore;
consisting partly of skill, and partly of
chance, seem more to resemble the course
of events in human life, than games o
mere skill, like chess*.
Certainly, replied the Dean, such games
afford a juster picture of the circumstances
Amusements vf Clergymen. 165
ef life ; but I am speaking of the conduct
of it. Sometimes, it is true, we are
ruined by unavoidable calamity ; but
more often by our own misconduct : and
it is this latter view of life which chess
so justly resembles.
Well, said I, Sir, as you repudiate
chess from the list of your clerical amuse-
ments, because of its intricacy, I hope
you will take back-gammon into favour,
because of its simplicity.
Not into my favour, truly, answered
the Dean. I know too little of it to
make it a favourite. I have no objection,
however, to it but its .stupidity. Let
those play at k, who like it. It seems to
me a noisy, rattling game, fit rather to
166 Dialogues on the
conclude an evening after a fox-chase,
than suited to the taste of men of letters
and refinement. But indeed I have a
sort of prejudice against back-gammon,
as it contributed to ruin the fortunes of
an excellent young man, with whom, in
early life, I was intimate at college. He
was related to a rich old admiral, and
was supposed to be his intended heir ;
which he probably might have been, had
not this stupid game intervened. Back-
gammon was the admiral's delight. He
had no resources in himself. As to
books, he hardly knew the top of a page
from the bottom. Back-gammon was
level to his genius. All his powers were
centered in this game. Three or four
hours after dinner, and half that time
after supper, he never failed to play j and
Amusements of Clergymen. 1 67
all day long, if the weather did not permit
him to go abroad. As the admiral was
not a very pleasing man, and besides
rather penurious in his house-keeping, his
company was not much sought after ; and
it fell to the unhappy lot of my friend to
be his almost constant antagonist. Day
after day it was weary work. I re-
member well his coming to me one even-
ing, much out of humour : " I have been
playing with him, said he, at this stupid
game, from four this afternoon till eight ;
and he had the conscience, towards the
close of this heavy business, to look me
full in the face, and cry, Cousin, you
play as if you were tired." In short, my
friend could not bear this miserable tres-
pass upon his time, and began to make
conditions. The admiral was not used
WS Dialogues on the
to controul, took the huff, blotted him
out of his will, and chose a puppy for his
heir, who was fit for nothing but to
play at back-gammon.
A liberal-minded man, said I, Sir, is
much to be pitied, when his interest and
his sentiment are thus at variance.
Young as lam in life, I have seen several
instances of it j but I have seldom known,
as on this occasion, sentiment prevail.
Upon the whole, however. Sir, I think
you are too harsh in your censure of back-
gammon. It is not surely a game of
deep contrivance ; yet I think it pos-
sesses variety enough to be amusing even
to an enlightened mind, which wishes, du-
ring a short interval, to suspend its facul-
ties, and enjoy the refreshment of a little
Amusements of Clergymen. 169
privation of sentiment. What has hurt
this poor, harmless game, t believe, more
than any thing else, is its connection with
those wicked little cubes called dice,
which are employed in so many villanous
purposes, that every communication with
them is suspected. One of our good
bishops, I have heard, is fond of a game
at back-gammon, when he can get snug to
it with his chaplain. But he stands much
in awe of his own servants, lest, in passing
to and fro, they should hear their master
rattling dice. So he plays always on a
table lined with green baize, and throws
his dice from lined boxes. 1
1 This story is told of Bishop Gibson, of Lon-
don; but as he lived after Dr. Stillingfleet's time,
I suppose the same device has been practised by
other bishops.
Dial. 9
] 70 Dialogues on the
If it had been my case, said the Dean,
I should have played openly : these con-
cealments never are concealed. They
only show that we have not resolution
to forbear doing, what, on some account,
we do not think perfectly right. For
myself, I see no reason why the bishop
may not indulge himself in a game at
back-gammon, without scruple, if he like
it. As for the ill-repute it lies under, on
the account of its connection with dice, I
see no more reason for it, than that knives
and forks should be objected to because
they may become the instruments of glut-
tony. It is another connection which
occasions the mischief. If these little
wicked cubes, as you call them, were not
connected with certain little wicked circles
called money, they would be perfectly
harmless. These little circles are, in fact,
Amusements of Clergymen. 1 7 1
the wicked companions, which debauch
the cubes ; and are indeed such mischiev-
ous companions as seldom fail to turn
all amusements into vice. In my Utopia
therefore money shall in no degree be
connected with amusement. Its proper
place is the market, and there only it has
concern.
Gaming, said I, Sir, no doubt, is a very
strange perversion of amusement : but is
there any objection to a trifling stake,
which is never felt, whether we win or
lose, and is in fact no object?
What end then, said the Dean, does it
answer?
Merely, I replied, to keep the attention
a little awake.
1 72 Dialogues on the
But you must allow then, answered the
Dean, that as far as it does keep the atten-
tion awake, so far it is an object. The
amusement itself, it seems, cannot keep
the attention awake ; but wants a stimu-
lative, the love of money, which makes
you play with that care, and caution,
which the amusement itself could not do.
And is this any thing else, my good friend,
(twist and analyse it as you please) but
the spirit of avarice ? One man's atten-
tion cannot be kept awake, as you phrase
it, without playing for a shilling. Ano-
ther man must keep his attention awake
with a pound. A third must be enlivened
by a stake often times as much ; and so
on, till the attention of some people must
be kept awake by staking a patrimony.
You see then plainly, that if the stake be
Amusements of Clergymen. 173
so trifling, as to be no object, it can be no
incentive ; and if it be an object, it can
only be so by your attachment to a sum
of money ; and what will you call that
attachment, unless you resolve it, with
me, into the spirit of avarice ?
But though in theory, said I, Sir, you
may be able to lead it up to this source,
it seems, in fact, to be so trifling, as not
to come within any moral calculation.
I know the mathematician, replied the
Dean, divides matter with such nicety, as
to bring it to an invisible point. But I do
not like to see morals so treated. Is the
excess wrong? If it be, the approach
cannot be right. If the mind be at all
1 74 Dialogues on the
infected with the spirit of avarice, and
the desire of profiting by your neighbour's
loss, it is so far an approach. There are
different degrees of vice, no doubt ; but
we are cautioned against breaking one of
the least commandments, as well as the
greatest. The good Christian endeavours
to preserve his mind from the smallest
taint ; and the Christian minister thinks
himself particularly bound to abstain
from every appearance of evil. In fine,
I will not cavil with you, whether playing
for money arises from avarice ; but cer-
tainly the amusement ceases, when it can-
not itself produce its end ; and what does
produce the end, becomes the leading
principle. So that the point issues here :
if you choose such feeble amusements, as
Amusements of Clergymen. 175
are really no amusements without the aid
of vicious stimulatives, it becomes you
to lay them aside, and seek for such
amusements as are simply such.
To be candid, I replied, I have nothing
farther, Sir, to oppose. Vicious custom,
I fear, hath modified all our amusements,
as well as every thing else, and hath
driven them from their natural simplicity ;
connecting things with them that have
no relation to them. I cannot but allow,
with you, that amusements should be
simply such ; and that if they connect
themselves with money, they should assume
another name. I then put the Dean in
mind, that he had yet furnished us with
no domestic amusement that came under
the name of exercise. Rainy weather,
1 76 Dialogues on the
I observed, might continue so long, as to
make a little motion necessary to a seden-
tary man. Do you object to billiards ?
Why no, said the Dean, not much.
My own method, when I could not take
exercise abroad, was to throw two or three
doors open, and walk from one chamber
to another, with a book, or scrap of paper
in my hand, as I used to do in the fields.
But I do not prescribe my own example
to others. As to billiards, they are so
unhappily connected with gaming and
bad company, that I have no great respect
for the amusement at least as a clerical
one. However, as the influence of this
game, from its expensive apparatus, can-
not be so extended as cards, I should not
object to a clergyman's playing at it in a
Amusements of Clergymen. 1 77
private family, and under the usual re-
striction of playing with only good com-
pany, and for no stake.
I am obliged to you, said I, Sir, for
the liberty you have given me of indulg-
ing in an amusement, which is a favourite
one with me, and in which I am sup-
posed to have some skill.
Nay then, replied the Dean, I know
not whether I shall not revoke the liberty
I have given you. I am not fond of a
clergyman's possessing skill in any game.
Skill always implies a consumption of
time, and an eagerness after an amuse-
ment, which I cannot approve.
But you have now, said I, Sir, given
178 Dialogues on the
o
me so much good instruction, that, what-
ever I may have done, I hope never
again either to employ my time in improv-
ing my skill, or to use my skill in mis-
spending my time. I then asked the
Dean, if he had ever heard of the game
of shuttlecock ? or if he would laugh at
me for mentioning it to him as good
domestic exercise ?
Laugh at you ! said the Dean ; I know
no game that I value more. It has all
the characters of the amusement we
want. It gives us good exercise it
makes us cheerful and has no connec-
tion with our pockets : and if I may
whisper another truth in your ear, it does
not require much skill to learn. When
my legs were in better order, I have
Amusements of Clergymen. 179
spent many a rainy half-hour with Sir
Roger, at shuttlecock, in his hall. The
worst of it is, few parsonage houses have
a room large enough for it ; though
perhaps the tithe-barn, if it be not better
employed, may furnish one. I could
say more in favour of shuttlecock. You
may play at it alone. It is also an exer-
cise too violent to last long. We need
not fear, as at billiards, to mispend a
morning at it. Laugh at you ! so far
from it, that I respect the man who in-
vented shuttlecock.
I asked the Dean next, if he had any
objection to some little handicraft busi-
ness, as domestic exercise for a clergy-
man ? And I particularised that of a
carpenter, or a turner; both which, I
180 Dialogues on the
said, were very well fitted to put the
blood in motion.
Aye, aye, replied the Dean, I like them
both. I have known very worthy cler-
gymen good carpenters and turners. I
knew one who had a shop in his house,
and made his own tables and chairs.
They were substantial, and not ill made ;
though he did not think them neat
enough for his parlour, they did very
well for his chambers and study. I
knew another clergyman, added the Dean,
and an exemplary man he was, who was
an excellent turner. He used to work
in box, ebony, and ivory ; and made a
number of little, pretty conveniences both
for himself and his friends. In the
coldest weather, I have heard him say, he
Amusements of Clergymen* 1 8 1
/ :
could put his whole frame in a glow by
working his lathe. Did not you see in
the prints, that Mons. Pascal, who died
the other day, had retired, a few years
ago, to the learned seminary of Port-
Royal, where he, and other eminent men
made it a rule to intermix their studies
with manual labour ?
I told the Dean I had seen it, and that
I rather wondered at the choice which
Pascal had made of his own employment,
which was that of making wooden shoes.
\
Aye, good man, said the Dean, he
made them for the poor peasants in his
neighbourhood j and I should be glad
to give more than double their value for
a pair of them to keep for his sake.
Dial. i
182 Dialogues on the
I then mentioned book-binding to the
Dean, as a clerical art.
Why, yes, said he, I think it is : but
we should have introduced it earlier in
our conversation, under the head of
domestic amusement ; it will hardly come
under that of domestic exercise. Well,
have you any thing more to offer ? You
see, I am disposed to allow my brethren
every mode of amusement and exercise
that is consistent with innocence and
propriety of manners ; and I hope the
range which may be taken within these
bounds, will be thought fully sufficient.
If I have omitted any thing, or if you
have any thing farther to propose, let me
know.
Amusements of Clergymen. 1 83
I recollect nothing, said I, Sir, at pre-
sent ; and have only left to express my
grateful obligations to you for what is
past. If any thing farther should occur,
I shall take the liberty, on some future
occasion, to propose it. In the mean
time, I am perfectly satisfied myself with
the indulgence you have given me ; and
should think any of my brethren unrea-
sonable who should desire more.
THE END.
185
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