after at the farthest; and the ordinary shall proceed against the offending person according to the 99 canon. So much for the administration of the holy sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

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V. I come to the fifth and last part of the pastoral office, viz., visiting the sick. For this we have an express command in the holy Scriptures, James v. 14. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; i. e. the presbyters of the church; as supposing they may not otherwise have notice of his sickness. Sick men too commonly neglect this duty; oftentimes out of fear, proceeding from an evil conscience. They look upon the minister's coming to their sick-bed, as a kind of a messenger of death, for which they are not so well prepared. But if the sick man does not send for his minister, the minister (having other notice of his sickness) ought to go to him without being sent for.

How to perform this duty towards sick men aright, our church fully directs him in her excellent Office of the Visitation of the Sick, which is so full and perfect, that there needs nothing to be added to it.

But observe farther, that it is the pastor's duty to visit his parishioners, not only when they are sick, but also when they are well and in good health; not only with common neighbourly visits, but visiting them to the purposes of salvation. He should sometimes go home to their houses, and minister to their souls in private; mildly reproving them for what faults he observes in them, admonishing them of such duties as he knows them to be ignorant of; as not coming constantly to church, not frequenting the communion, and the like. He is there seriously to call upon them, to mind them of the great concern

of their immortal souls in time to prepare for sickness and death, and the tremendous judgment that follows. Such particular private applications of the minister to his parishioners are highly useful, and will render the public ordinances more beneficial to them.

To you, my brethren of the clergy, I shall conclude all I have to say, in a short but serious and affectionate exhortation.

1. In the first place, and above all things, follow after holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Holiness is a qualification indispensably required in every Christian, and that sub periculo animæ, "as he hopes to be saved," and to see the face of God in heaven. And can it be imagined that a minister of God should be saved without it? Nay, he is obliged to holiness in a double capacity, both as a Christian and as a minister. As a minister, his calling obliges him to be almost perpetually conversant about holy things; which he profanes, if he be not himself an holy person. He profanes God's holy worship, his holy word, and his holy sacraments; and God will most certainly and severely punish such profaners of his sacred things.

Nay, a minister of God is obliged to an exemplary holiness. Epiphanius tells us, that the duty of the laity is, Το σύμμετρον καὶ τὸ συγγνωστόν, a more moderate measure of piety, suited to their capacity, and tempered with a greater indulgence and mercy. But from the clergy is expected ἡ περὶ πάντων ἀκριβοXoyia, a more exact and accurate course of life in all things. And St. Paul speaks to the same purpose, when he charges Titus to shew himself in all things an example or pattern of good works, Titus ii. 7.

For every pattern must be excellent and extraordinary, and such as is worthy of imitation. This the people will expect from us, that we should go before them, and lead them on to virtue and piety by our example. And however they fail in other civilities, they will be sure generally to observe this piece of good manners, they will readily give us the precedence in the way to heaven, and be content to follow us at a very humble distance. So that our conversation must be somewhat extraordinary, if we expect by our example to bring them up to the ordinary and necessary measures of piety, and we shall hardly be able to do well, unless we ourselves do somewhat excellently.

2. Be diligent, very diligent, in the business of your calling; for it is a laborious calling, that will not admit of ease and idleness. I speak especially to the younger clergy; ply your studies, give yourselves to reading, chiefly the holy Scriptures, and the writings of learned men that have explained them to you.

The exhortations of St. Paul to Timothy are full to this purpose: Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 1 Tim. iv. 13, 15. Consider, I beseech you, what kind of person he was whom St. Paul thus exhorts: he was one, who from a child knew the holy Scriptures; one that had the gift of prophecy, and was endued with extraordinary and even miraculous gifts. This man St. Paul earnestly calls upon to be diligent in reading and study; what need then have we, even the best of us, of this diligence, who are so very far short of his accom

plishments! In a word, an idle person in any calling whatsoever is very contemptible; but an idle and lazy parochial priest is of all mortals the most contemptible and inexcusable. What! so much business, and that of so great importance as the salvation of men's souls, and yet idle? For the Lord's sake shake off sloth, rouse up and bestir yourselves in the business of your calling, remembering that the souls of your people, and your own souls, are at stake.

3. And lastly, Be much and often in prayer to God, especially in private prayer. Content not yourselves with reading prayers at church, but take care also that there be daily prayers in your families, at least morning and evening; and some time every day retire to your studies, and there, upon your bended knees, earnestly beseech Almighty God to have mercy on you, to direct and assist you in your studies, and to give you good success in your labours. Pray for the souls of the people committed to your charge; pray for your own souls, that while you preach to others, you yourselves may not be castaways.

If you do these things, if you adorn your holy profession with an holy conversation, if you be diligent in the business of your calling, if you pray daily to God for his help and assistance, he will not fail to be with you, and to carry you through all difficulties with honour and success; and in the end your reward will be great and glorious, and an abundant compensation of all your labours. So St. Peter tells you in that excellent text, 1 Peter v. 2, 3, 4, with which I shall conclude, Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight

thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not

away.

And now a word or two to you my brethren of the laity.

First, Give honour and respect to your pastors for the Lord's sake, whatever their personal defects may be; (which you are to overlook, and not, like cursed Cham, delight to pry into the nakedness of your fathers;) their character and office calls for this from you. The contempt of the clergy at last redounds to the contempt of all religion. So our Saviour tells you, speaking of his apostles, and in them of their successors, He that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

Secondly, Be strictly just in paying them their dues that little they have, let them have in quiet. Do not put them to vexatious lawsuits, to the disturbance of their studies, and thereby to your own loss. You will take it ill to be called thieves, and yet such you are; yea, guilty of the worst of thefts, sacrilege. For by denying ministers their dues you rob God, as God himself tells you, Mal. iii. 8. Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings, &c. If any poor minister be oppressed and injured in this kind, I will be a patron to him, stand by and defend him.

In the last place, one word to you that are churchwardens. Remember you are upon your