weight, and the account they must one day give. Such as the heart of the pastor is, such is his behaviour. He who suffers the priesthood to become vile in his own person, does not remember, that he is an ambassador of CHRIST. The dignity is great, and so ought the sanctity to be, of one who is in Christ's stead1.

2 Cor. vi. 3. "Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed." A pastor's life must not contradict his doctrine. He must preach by his actions.

2 Cor. vi. 4, 5, &c. "In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of GOD, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the HOLY GHOST, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, [preaching it sincerely] by the power of GoD, [depending entirely upon His assistance] by the armour of righteousness, on the right hand and on the left, [defending us both in prosperity and adversity] by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, but yet well known; as dying, and behold we live ; as chastened, and not killed; [believing that God chastens his servants not to destroy them] as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; [rejoicing in afflictions] as poor, yet making many rich; [with true not perishing riches] as having nothing, and yet possessing all things; [possessing all things in depending upon GOD.]"

1 Tim. v. 22. “Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partakers of other men's sins: keep thyself pure." A bishop engages to answer before God for such persons as he by advice, ordination, &c. causes to enter into a state of life so very hazardous, and which requires so great a stock of virtues. It is happy for a minister of GOD, that the life he is to lead, and the very outward acts he has vowed to perform, will help to change his heart, and create in him those dispositions which will make him like his Great Master. For instance; he has solemnly promised to read the holy scriptures daily; he will therefore have daily

1 2 Cor. v. 20.

before his eyes the precepts, the instructions, the example of CHRIST; the rewards and punishments of the life to come. He is obliged to catechise; and the more careful he is to instruct others, the more effectually he will learn himself how far we are fallen from GOD, and what pains we must take to be restored to the image and favour of God. He has promised to lead an holy and exemplary life. If he does not do this sincerely, he will be the scorn of men now, and of devils hereafter. It will be impossible to converse with poor and needy people, and to seek out for help for them, without partaking of the spirit and compassion of the blessed JESUS, who laid down His life for them. If he is careful to read divine service distinctly, with deliberation and gravity, it will beget devotion in himself, as well as in those that hear him. If his sermons be plain and practical, they will affect his own heart, as well as the hearts of those he preaches to. Every child he baptises puts him in mind of the vows that are upon himself. And he cannot administer the other sacrament as he ought to do, but it must needs fill his soul with a thousand holy ideas and devout thoughts; with an holy fear, lest he should offer the prayers of the faithful with polluted lips, or distribute the bread of life with unclean hands :—with an ardent love for JESUS CHRIST, whose love and death he commemorates ;—with a perfect charity for all the world for whom he died. And the oftener he administers this sacrament, the more he will find his graces increased. In visiting sick and dying persons, he will be put in mind of his own mortality; and in fitting them as he ought to do for the account they are going to give, he will be put mind of the much greater he is himself to give. When he exhorts, reproves, admonishes others, it will bring to his mind the words of the apostle, Thou that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself! When he calls to mind, that he has promised all faithful diligence, &c. he will give himself wholly to these things, and will be ashamed to be found wholly taken up with business which no way relates to the salvation of souls. If he is diligent in prayer, which he promised to be, God will certainly enlighten his mind with saving truth and grace. In short; if he has an ardent desire to save souls, and really strives to do it as effectually as he

in

can, he will be beloved of GOD, assisted by His Spirit; he will see the fruit of his labours; he will secure his own peace and hope, and will give an account with joy when his LORD calls for him. One of the most certain marks of a divine call is, when it is the full purpose of a man's heart, to live for JESUS CHRIST and His Church.

John xvii. 16.

"They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." O LORD, make us truly sensible how very different our lives ought to be from the lives of worldly people, that we may avoid their maxims, all that is curious, useless, light, and vain, and live up to our character. Mercy and tenderness for sinners, and faithfulness to the justice of God, are characters inseparable in a true pastor.

John x. 11. "The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep." He gives his life, by giving his labour, in taking all occasions of instructing them; in employing his thoughts for their good; in praying for them continually, and rendering GoD propitious to them; in sacrificing his ease and peace for them, by delivering truths which the world will not receive without unkind returns; he gives up the dearest friendships, when they stand in competition with truth and righteousness; he gives up all worldly satisfactions, when he does not look upon what is lanful, but what is expedient; he sacrifices his inclinations, though never so innocent, rather than offend any; he submits to the humility and poverty of the Gospel, that he may give no example of pride and luxury to his flock; he dares not be even a witness of disorders, lest he should encourage them by his presence. It is thus he must be the light of the world, and without this he cannot satisfy the duties of his charge; and it is thus he is to give his life for his sheep.

Mark vi. 8. "Take nothing for their journey save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse." The ecclesiastical ministry requires a great disengagement from the world, to take away all suspicion, that the clergy act only out of selfinterest. Whoever is not ready to part with all, rather than be wanting to his duty, is not worthy to be a successor to the Apostles. We shall never be able to establish the kingdom of

GOD in the hearts of men, so long as we do not appear fully persuaded of those truths which we preach.

Fees.

Can. 135. No fee or money shall be received, either by the archbishop or any bishop, either directly or indirectly, for admitting of any into sacred orders, nor any to his servants or officers, above ten shillings for parchment, wax, &c. For Letters Testimonial of ordination are no part of the ordination, but only taken afterwards for the security of the person ordained, which if he neglect to take, it is at his own peril1.

Ordination.

The example of JESUS CHRIST, before He ordained the Apostles, shows us, that in this choice we ought to depend upon GOD, and pray for His direction and blessing.

Catechising.

Can. 59. Ministers shall, every Sunday evening and holyday, for half an hour at least, examine and instruct in the Church Catechism; and he that neglects to do so, after reproof, to be first suspended, afterwards excommunicated. The neglect of this duty makes the discourses of the pulpit of very little use. People do not understand the very words made use of in the Gospel.

INSTITUTION.

Persons to be instituted shall exhibit orders and testimonials, and be examined 2.

Reasons for refusing Institutions.

Lack of Learning; of which the bishop is the sole judge, and not accountable to any temporal court, but only to a superior

1 Codex Can. Eccl. Ang. p. 177.

2 Can. 39.

spiritual Judge. And a person's being ordained, licensed, and approved by another bishop, does not take away the right which every bishop has to examine and judge 1.

Lack of Language; which renders a person incapable of the cure. Nor does it avail, that the language may be learnt, or that the duty might be discharged by a curate. And the Canon Law requires, that where there is a mixture of languages, the priest shall understand both 2.

Other Causes.

Whatever is sufficient to deprive, is sufficient cause to refuse institution.

Mala in se :--Incontinence, drunkenness, murder, manslaughter, heresy, schism, simony, perjury. The bishop must signify the cause of his refusal specially, that the proper court, if application be made elsewhere, may be able to judge whether the refusal be just, except in the case of insufficiency; for it has been judged in parliament, that it is sufficient to set forth"Quod persona in literaturâ minus sufficiens seu capax ad habendam dictam ecclesiam." The bishop, having the care of all the souls in his diocese, is bound in conscience to see them well taken care of, by committing them to fit persons.

Acts i. 24. "And they prayed and said, Thou LORD, who knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two Thou hast chosen." Should not this make patrons and bishops to tremble, to see with what caution, devotion, &c., even the Apostles themselves proceeded in the choice of fit persons to serve in the sacred ministry of the Church?

A Christian Priest.

Let him remember, that he himself is a man and a sinner; that he is ordained for men only in things pertaining to GoD ; that he is not to live an idle life, but to offer, &c.; that is, to perform the duties of his calling; to appease the justice of God, by offering the prayers, the oblations, &c., of the people; to

1 Codex, p. 850.

2 Ibid. p. 851.