with him, who hath entrusted to him this glorious ministry, and in whose name he speaks and acts! a Minister of the Gospel, unwilling to give an account to the Almighty Being of the gifts and riches he is commanded to distribute, and of the use which the souls, whose salvation is entrusted to his superintendance, make of them! But it is not, that we require your life to be passed in prayer.-No! it is rather a spirit of prayer, which is every where to accompany us: what is becoming us, as Pastors, is, to beseech of God, that spirit, which will direct us aright as Christians, and make us, as Ministers, instruments of salvation-to accustom ourselves to this secret and continual communication with God; to find him every where to find ourselves every where with him-and to derive, from every thing, an opportunity of raising our minds to him. In this way, should a Minister be a man of prayer. Heavenly Father, give, we beseech thee, unto thy Ministers, a tender and paternal heart, towards their several flocks: they will then know in what manner to address thy Divine Majesty in their behalf; they will then need no exhortations to animate them to call daily upon Thee, to "pour down upon them, the abundance of "Thy mercy." A Pastor, O my God, who refuses all heavenly intercourse, who neglecteth to interest Thy Providence, and supplicate thy Grace, in the protection, and repentance of his 1 flock, is not a Pastor and a Shepherd; he is a stranger, an usurper, and an intruder into a family, whose children. neither awaken his solicitude, nor engage his tenderness. Gracious God, open thyself the eyes of the chief Shepherds; enlighten our Ministry, direct our choice, to the end that "we may lay hands suddenly on no man," but may choose those only, whom thou thyself hast chosen : suffer us not, in order to promote any interest of our own, in order to confer a favour, or acknowledge an obligation, to contribute to the troubles and the disgrace of thy Church, by introducing into it Ministers, who may render it contemptible by their want of talents, or inefficacious by their want of piety. Speak unto us, O God, thyself, in secret, as thou formerly spakest unto Samuel— "Neither hath the Lord chosen this :" or rather, strike our hands, that they may become immoveable, when we are about to lay them on the head of a Minister, upon whom thy Holy Spirit hath not vouchsafed to rest. CHARGE XVI. ON STUDY AND KNOWLEDGE. 1 IT cannot, certainly, require any proof that study is an indispensable duty, and knowledge an essential qualification in a Clergyman: it is obvious that the Church considers us as an order of men, set apart to prevent the infection of error, and to preserve the purity of truth. Upon this subject, you, no doubt, my brethren, anticipate whatever arguments can be urged for the conviction of your minds, or whatever eloquence can be displayed for the persuasion of your affections; whatever obligation of our calling, may be proposed to your attention, nothing new can be expected. Thus, you are already acquainted with every thing that can be said on the necessity of study, and of knowledge in a Clergyman; you are not ignorant that we are the light of the world, the eyes of the body of the Church, and that if they be darkness, the whole can be no other than darkness; that the Church, in the imposition of hands, has directed us-Go and teach; that we are the pillars of the New Covenant, and that, being ordained for the purpose of instructing others out of it, we ought to be instructed ourselves; in a word, that an uneducated Clergyman, has no right to bear the high title of the priesthood, and that he is no other than the disgrace of the Church, and the derision of the world.* This, my brethren, you know well already; and these fundamental truths were impressed upon us, during our preparation for the work of the ministry: we were, at first, affected with them, but since that period, they, by becoming so familiar, appear to us less important: like those Priests and Levites, who bare the ark in the wilderness, "when "A point of great importance to Clergymen is, that they be studious. This will keep your money from being spent unwisely; and likewise your time from being thrown away hurtfully or unprofitably, or hanging heavy on your hands. It will procure you reverence too, as persons of knowledge : whereas the idle will, even by the ignorant, be thought deficient. And, which is the main thing, this alone will enable you to understand the business of your station, and perform it well. But then you must apply to such things chiefly, as will fit you most to answer the great end of your employment; and determine, with St. Paul, to know nothing, comparatively speaking, amongst your people, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. The concern of a Parish Minister is, to make the lowest of his congregation apprehend the doctrine of salvation by repentence, faith and obedience; and to labour that when they know the way of life, they may walk in it. If he doth not these things for them, he doth nothing and it requires much consideration to find out the proper methods of doing them, and much pains and patience to try one after another.-Abp. SECKER. |