1705. such a reply, as represented the necessity he lay under of thus discharging his duty, when so solemnly called upon in the greatest court of the nation: and it is certainly at all times the indispensable obligation of all the bishops and pastors of the church, to behave themselves with an holy boldness and undaunted resolution, in the affairs of God and religion, without being awed or biassed by the torrent of the times, or made sordidly to crouch to a prevailing power of worldly politicians, who are for carrying on their own sinister designs at any rate, though always under the most specious pretexts.

The bishop,

in July af

secration,

LXXIII. About July after his lordship was conter his con- secrated, he went into his diocese; being resolved to employ the remainder of his strength and vigour in his diocese. that service of his Master, the great Bishop of souls, to which he was now called. He was received by the gentry and clergy with all imaginable demonstrations of respect, which increased in proportion as they grew more intimately acquainted with his solid worth. The episcopal palace at Aberguilly being much out of repair, he made choice of Brecknock for the place of his residence, being the chief town in the county of that name, placed almost in the centre thereof. Here king Henry the Eighth constituted a collegiate church, consisting of two and twenty prebendaries, which he translated to this place, from Aberguilly in Caermarthenshire: this town abounded with great numbers of poor people, who looked upon the good bishop as a guardian angel, sent to comfort and relieve them under their. pressing wants and necessities. And herein they were not mistaken, as will appear by what shall be

care.

related in reference to that subject, when the bishop 1705. removed from thence to another seat in his diocese. When he was settled at this place, his first care was to apply himself to understand the state and condition of that district, which was committed to his Now in order to this purpose, he designed that summer to visit his diocese himself in person; and did begin at Brecknock, where he delivered his charge to the clergy, consisting in an earnest and pathetical exhortation, wherein he stirred them up, by way of remembrance, to a steady and vigorous prosecution of the duties of their sacred function. But it pleased God to prevent the farther execution of his good purposes, by sending him a severe illness, which put an end to his progress at that time. But still, that he might not want that information, which was necessary to enable him to rectify any thing which was amiss under his government, he committed this trust to several commissioners, of which the chief was Mr. William Powel, rector of Langattock, and prebendary of Becknock, with others the most considerable clergymen in the several deaneries. By which means he was better able to judge where his authority and power was most wanting to reform any prevailing abuses; and what measures might be taken to remedy them.

The bishop

visitation by

sioners.

And because it may be proper to finish this head 1708. of his visitations under this article, I must acquaint appoints a the reader, that three years after this his lordship triennial appointed a triennial visitation; but not being able, commisthrough weakness and continued indispositions, to bear the fatigue of travelling, he constituted his worthy son-in-law, Mr. Stevens, the present archdeacon of Brecknock, and residentiary canon of St. David's,

1708. with Mr. William Powel before-mentioned, to be his commissioners, to visit in his stead. Mr. Stevens delivered the charge, which the bishop had prepared, under the hopes of appearing himself in all the parts of his diocese.

The sum of the charge

the bishop.

The sum whereof was, to set before his clergy prepared by the principal parts and branches of their pastoral office, with rules and directions for the most successful manner of performing them. The main duties of their function he maketh to consist in reading the prayers of the church, in preaching, in catechising, in administering the holy sacraments, and in visiting the sick. And as to the manner of performing the principal parts of their office, the directions he giveth are these. To read divine service audibly, that all who are present may join in it; distinctly and leisurely, that they may not outrun the attention and devotion of the people; and with great reverence and devotion, so as to kindle pious affections in the congregation. For thus, he saith, the prayers of the church are to be read, both in order to keep up the reputation of them, and to render them useful to the people. To qualify them for preaching, he pressed the knowledge and understanding of the holy Scriptures; and in order thereunto, some skill in the learned languages, with good judgment and discretion, and not without a tolerable share of elocution. He advised young divines not to trust at first to their own compositions, but to furnish themselves with a provision of the best sermons, which the learned divines of our church have published; that by reading them often, and by endeavouring to imitate them, they may acquire a habit of good preaching themselves. And where, through poverty,

or any other impediment, ministers are incapable of 1708. discharging this duty as they ought, he directed them to use the Homilies of the church, and sometimes to read a chapter to the people, out of that excellent book, called The whole Duty of Man. As to catechising, he just hints at the necessity and usefulness of it; and required the churchwardens to present the neglect of it, that he might by his authority rectify it. As to the administration of the holy sacraments, he enjoined them to perform baptism in public, and chiefly on Sundays and holydays, when the assemblies of Christians are fullest ; and in order to reform the abuses of that kind, he resolved to exert his episcopal power. He exhorted to great reverence and solemnity in officiating at the altar, and to the observation of every punctilio, according to the rubrics compiled for that purpose; and especially to take care not to administer the holy sacrament of the Lord's supper to persons known to be vicious and scandalous. As to visiting the sick, the parochial priest is directed to go without being sent for, when he hears any of his parishioners are under the afflicting hand of God, and to perform the duty, according to the rules prescribed by the church; from whence also he took occasion to press the parochial clergy to acquaint themselves with their flock, when they are in health, in order to promote the great end of their own function, the salvation of souls. He concluded what he had to say to the clergy, in a serious exhortation to them to become examples to their people of eminent piety and holiness, which they are obliged to, not only as Christians, but as priests of the living God; and farther, to be diligent in the business of their

1708. holy function; the importance whereof was too great to admit the least indulgence to sloth and idleness. And lastly, he persuaded them to the frequent use of private prayer, which is necessary for their own direction, as well as to set forward the salvation of those souls which are committed to their inspection. He ends his charge with a word to the laity, that they would be persuaded to respect their pastors for the Lord's sake, and to throw a veil over those personal defects, which were in common to them with the rest of mankind; and moreover, that they would be strictly just in paying them their dues; that the little they have they may have in quiet. He concluded the whole, in putting churchwardens in mind of not perjuring themselves for fear or favour; but to be honest, and present matters according to the best of their skill and knowledge. But a fuller account of this charge the reader will find among his discourses, which are now published, where it is printed at large.

The bishop confirms in several places.

LXXIV. It was matter of great grief to the good bishop, that by the decay of his strength, and by his frequent indispositions, he was prevented from travelling over his diocese, in order to administer in all the parts of it that holy apostolical rite grounded upon Scripture, as expounded by catholic tradition, which for some time hath been known and distinguished in the church by the name of confirmation; and which in the primitive times was more frequently called, obsignation and unction, from the sacred chrism, wherewith the persons confirmed were wont to be anointed by the bishop, and which, with the imposition of hands, was the symbol of con