text or portion of Scripture, explaining it, raising some useful point of doctrine from it, and applying it to the edification of the hearers. For otherwise the bare reading of the Scriptures is sometimes called preaching; as Acts xv. 21, For Moses (that is, the writings of Moses) of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. But here I take the word preaching in the forementioned sense, as now it is used. This is a noble part of the pastor's duty, but difficult; it is not a work that every one should undertake or can perform: for it requires the knowledge and understanding of the holy Scriptures, and in order thereunto, some skill in the learned languages and other parts of human learning; it requires a good judgment and discretion, I add elocution too. The time will not give me leave (if I were able) to set before you all the rules or precepts of the art of preaching, and to give you an entire system of it. There are many learned men who have written full treatises of this subject; I mention only our excellent bishop Wilkins, who hath published a treatise, entitled, Ecclesiastes, or the Preacher, which I recommend to the reading of younger divines and first beginners in the art of preaching : to whom also I give this farther advice, that they should not at first trust to their own compositions, but furnish themselves with store of the best sermons that have been published by the learned divines of our church. These they should read often, and study to imitate them, and in time they will attain to an habit of good preaching themselves. Among the printed sermons, those of the late archbishop Tillotson are well known and approved by all.

But what shall be done in those poor parishes, where there are as poor ministers, altogether incapable of performing this duty of preaching in any tolerable manner? I answer, that in such places, ministers, instead of sermons of their own, should use the Homilies of the church, which ought to be in every parish. And they would do well also, now and then to read a chapter or section out of the Whole Duty of Man, which (I presume) is translated into the Welsh tongue. I add, that it would be a piece of charity if the clergy of the neighbourhood to such places, who are better qualified, would sometimes visit those dark corners, and lend some of their light to them, by bestowing now and then a sermon on the poor people, suited to their capacities and necessities. They have my leave, yea and authority so to do; and they may be sure the good God will not fail to reward them.

III. The third work of the pastor's office is catechising, without which preaching will not be sufficient. For if people be not well instructed in the necessary principles of religion when they are young, they will hardly attain to any sound knowledge when they are old. For according to the Greek apophthegm,

Νεκρὸν ἰατρεύειν καὶ γέροντα νουθετεῖν ταῦτόν ἐστι. "To instruct an ignorant old man and to raise a “dead man are things almost equally difficult." I shall not insist upon this subject, for the usefulness and necessity of catechising is acknowledged by all, though the work itself is by many of the clergy sadly neglected. Where such neglect is, it is the duty of the churchwardens to present. I shall make it my business to see this fault amended.

IV. Another, and a main part of the priest's office, is the administration of the holy sacraments, Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

First, for Baptism; the church strictly requires that it be performed publicly, in the house of God, not in private houses, except in case of real necessity; as when a child is weak, and cannot without endangering itself be brought to church. But notwithstanding this strict order of our church, in most places in this country, baptism is altogether administered in private houses, and scarce any (if any) baptized in the church. If this may be allowed, away with the fonts in your churches; what do they signify? to what purpose are they there? If all the authority I am invested with can do it, I will see this lamentable abuse of the sacrament of Baptism reformed.

But farther observe, that as our church strictly requires that baptism be administered in public, so it advises that it be performed (if conveniently it may be) on the Lord's day, in a full congregation of Christian people. Hear the words of the rubric.

"The people are to be admonished that it is most "convenient that baptism should not be adminis"tered but upon Sundays and other holydays, when "the most number of people come together; as well "for that the congregation there present may testify "the receiving of them that be newly baptized into

the number of Christ's church, as also because in "the baptism of infants every man present may be "put in remembrance of his own profession made to "God in baptism."

I take leave to add, that it is most for the interest of the infant to be so baptized, that it may have

the benefit of the united prayers of a full Christian congregation, which is much to be valued. Methinks there should be no need of urging this to parents, that have any real love or affection to their children: this would incline them to desire that themselves, which the church desires of them. Remember, I beseech you, that your children are to be but once baptized; and what is but once done, ought to be well done, in the best and most perfect

manner.

To come to the other sacrament, the Eucharist, or holy Supper; this is the most sacred and mysterious rite, the apex, the top and perfection of Christian worship, as the ancients term it, and therefore it ought to be performed with the greatest reverence and solemnity in every punctilio of it, according to the direction of our church in her rubric to the Communion Office. But this you are especially to take care of, that you administer not the holy sacrament to persons known to be vicious and scandalous. Hear the rubric of the church to this purpose, viz.

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So many as intend to be partakers of the holy "communion, shall signify their names to the curate "at least some time the day before.And if any of "those be an open and notorious evil liver, or have "done any wrong to his neighbours, by word or deed, "so that the congregation be thereby offended; the "curate having knowledge thereof shall call him, "and advertise him, that in any wise he presume not "to come to the Lord's table, until he hath openly de"clared himself to have truly repented and amended "his former naughty life, that the congregation may thereby be satisfied which before were offended, "and that he hath recompensed the parties to whom

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"he hath done wrong, or at least to declare himself “to be in full purpose so to do, as soon as he conveniently may."

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I am not ignorant, that there are some who plead for a free admission to the Lord's table of all that are members of the visible church, and not yet excommunicated; and exclaim against the exclusion of men from the holy communion, as a device and usurpation of the presbyterians and other sectaries : but these men are grossly mistaken, for you see it is the express order of our church. I add, that the same order was observed in the primitive and apostolical churches. For Justin Martyr, who flourished within forty years after the apostolic age, (i. e. after the death of St. John the apostle,) in his second Apologyb tells us, that in his time none were admitted to the holy Eucharist, but those who lived according to the law of Christ. It is a received distinction among divines, that there is a twofold excommunication, excommunicatio major et minor, "the greater and "the lesser excommunication." The greater excommunication is an exclusion of a man from the communion of the church, and the public ordinances universally. The lesser excommunication is indeed in order to prevent the greater, and to bring men under the discipline and correction of the church for the amendment of their lives, that so at length they may be fit to be admitted to the holy communion.

So our church informs us in her rubric to the Communion Office, where the minister, repelling any from the communion, is required "to give an ac"count thereof to the ordinary within fourteen days

b[i. e. the first Apology, (§. 66.) according to the later editions.]