this, give me leave to obferve to you, that probably the poornefs of many livings is, in a great measure, owing to want of a convenient habitation for the incumbent within his parish; and that, being deftitute of conveniencies for gathering in his legal dues, he is often forced to compound for what he can get: and by this means modufes and prescriptions have grown upon the church; and where they have, it is well if the parfon, in lieu of the tithes of the parish, receives the tithe of his own dues. In many cafes he receives much less. All incumbents then, whether rectors or vicars, being thus obliged to continual refidence, the law has provided for fome extraordinary cafes; and ordina ries have a power to difpenfe with refidence in the cafes, and under the reftrictions, prescribed by the law. But fuch cafes as the law has not specially provided for, must be left to the general reafon of the thing, and the judgment of the ordinary. But fuppofing all circumftances to meet that may make it reasonable and proper to grant a difpenfation for refidence, yet there are certain conditions annexed to the grant, which must be observed. Every beneficed man, licensed not to refide on his benefice, must have a fufficient curate to supply his place. We need look no further than the canons of 1603, to fee that this is law; and I will fufpect no man's judgment fo far, as to go about to prove it to be reason. These curates must have fufficient ability to difcharge the duty; and Sufficient maintenance to support them in it. In both these cases, the ordinary is made the judge. And if it will be of any service to you to know my opinion in these cafes, I will in general declare, that I can think no man fit to be admitted a curate, against whom there would be a proper objection, if he came for inftitution. The reafon is, because he is to perform the fame duty that a person inftituted is to perform. As to maintenance, it ought to be, what it is called, fuch an allowance as a man may live upon, without being driven to seek help from methods unbecoming his profeffion. . It fometimes happens that a curate is employed to serve two parishes; a cafe never to be admitted but upon evident neceffity, as bringing great reproach upon the clergy, and neceffarily introducing a great neglect of religious fervice in the country. When a man, who has a good living, leaves it himself, and puts in one of these half curates to fupply his abfence, what can the people think, but that their minifter has no regard to any thing but the cheapness of his curate? And when churches are thus half attended, and are deprived either of the morning or evening service, the people of the parish, who are religiously disposed, will probably go to the meetinghouse, if there be one near; those who are not religiously difpofed, will probably go to the ale-house. And with what face can we complain of the people for neglecting the service of the church, when the service itself is neglected by those whose duty it is to fee it performed? This is an evil that must be remedied. The 48th canon of 1603 has decreed, that "no "man fhall ferve more than one church or chapel upon one day, except that chapel be a member of "the parish church, or united thereunto; and unless "the faid church or chapel, where such a minifter "fhall ferve in two places, be not able, in the judg"ment of the bifhop or ordinary, to maintain a cu rate. Here are two exceptions: of which the first speaks for itself, the fecond is referred to the judgment of the bishop. I do therefore expect to be confulted in this cafe, and that all who think themselves entitled to the benefit of this exception in the canon, do lay their reasons before me. Where a refident minifter wants a curate for his affiftance, I should be lefs inquifitive in both refpects, relying upon the ability of an experienced incumbent to advise and instruct his curate, and his hofpitality to fupport him. All incumbents, whether refident or non-refident, are bound to uphold and maintain their houses; but there will be particular reason to inquire into the condition of the houses that belong to those who are legally dispensed with from refiding. I need give you no reason for this: common experience in the cafe calls for this care, and will justify it. I have now gone through what I propofed to fay on this head. I have been the more particular, that I might fhew you, not only the rule of your duty, but the rule of my own alfo. It will always be a pleasure to me to affift, with the utmost of my power, the meaneft clergyman in the diocese in the discharge of his duty. Where it is reasonable to dispense with any man's conftant and personal at Y |