SInce my last of October 26, 1691, which you were pleased to thank me for, and to publish, I received your Lordship's Com­mands by Mr. H. to add what hath since occurred to my Mind, concerning the same matter; and more particularly you require me to lay before you those common Causes of the greatest of our Evils, and the most powerful Remedies for the removing them. Since that time I have been hindred by a dangerous Sickness, the effects whereof I have not as yet got clear of: Besides this, when I had recovered to some small degree of Health, I met with other things which unavoida­bly hindred me from obeying your Lordship's Commands. And having been thus long re­strained, I believe I had not entertained any far­ther Thoughts of this matter, had I not by your Lordship's Letter, of Feb. 27. last past, been ve­hemently urged to add what I had farther to say upon this occasion.

What I now trouble your Lordship with, is perfectly in obedience to your Commands, and the freedom I shall use proceeds from the same cause: For thô I have had ancient acquaintance [Page 2]with your Lordship in the University, yet that would not excuse the Liberty I take, had I not been obliged by your Authority, as well as secured by your Friendship.

It is a very unpleasant thing to find fault, and especially to me who know my own faults so well, that I cannot tell how to make severe Re­flections upon others. I am under no Discontent, I desire no Preferment, am of no Party, and have no ill-will to any Man living: Besides, I know 'tis very often an argument of a weak Mind, to cry out of the present time, and com­mend the past: And therefore I find my self un­easie under this Task.

But when I consider to whom I write, and for what end, I cannot refuse to say something. For thô I take no pleasure in seeing Wounds, and ra­king into Sores, yet I should be too nice and un­charitable also, should I refuse this where I had any prospect of working a Cure. The Eyes of good Men are upon the Lords the Bishops at this time, and 'tis greatly hoped you will be Re­pairers of our Breaches; and you will greatly disappoint the just expectations of the wise and good if ye be not. In view whereof I shall offer those things which follow in this Paper. And I shall complain of no Evils but such as the Bishops, by their united Counsels and En­deavours, [Page 3]by their Interest and their Influence, may in great measure remove. I say in great measure; for certain it is, that they cannot be al­together removed. Some of them are such, as when they are once admitted, they are not to be cured, but are like Errors in the first Concocti­on, that are not to be amended afterwards. How­ever this may be done; they may be for the fu­ture prevented, and the present Set of Bishops may leave the Nation in a much better case than they found it. The Particulars which I humbly lay before your Lordship are these that follow.

I. The care of Schools. There are a considera­ble Number of these in your Lordship's Diocess, and some of them well endowed; your Lord­ship hath the Choice of one of the Masters, and the Approbation of several; and none of them can Teach without a License from you. I hope many of the Masters of these Schools discharge themselves well; 'tis of great moment they should all do so. I must needs say, I fear they do not. I once took an occasion to spend some time in Examining one of them, at the re­quest of some Friends, whose Children were placed there for their better Instruction, and of one of the Governours of it. I was greatly sur­prized to find the Charity of the Pious Founder [Page 4]abused, and the honest Design of the Parents of so many Children disappointed. I'll tell your Lord­ship nothing but matter of Fact. In that great School there were not above two that understood any thing of their Grammar, even among those who had been there above three Years. The first Rudiments were never taught them with care; and, for want of that, all the after-care imported nothing, and did but make the Chil­dren weary, and render the School a Prison to them. I hoped, at least, I should have found them instructed in Religion, but they were so far from it, that they were not Taught any Ca­techism at all by their Master, who never pray­ed with them, nor took any care of their Souls. You cannot imagine what an Affliction this was to me. There must be some Remedy found out for this great Evil.

Upon this Occasion I humbly lay before you the following Particulars:

1. That there might be from time to time some certain and fixed times appointed for the strict Examination of all publick Schools; This is practised with good success in many great Schools, especially about the City of London: If this were done with great care, and openly, you would soon find the good effects of it. I [Page 5]could tell your Lordship where one of the best Schools in England had been utterly ruined, had it not been for this Care. The Governours of it, upon this publick Examination, removed the negligent Master, and placed another; who, by his great Care and Diligence, restored it from a very low Condition to a most flourishing one. 'Twill be no hard matter for your Lordship to accomplish this. And you may find Men of Probity who will undertake this trouble, and give you a faithful account. But then they must enquire not only into the Learning, but Manners of the Scholars also; and what care hath been taken to bring them up in the nurture and admo­nition of the Lord. I need not acquaint your Lordship how much the Publick is concerned in this matter. The timely Care of their Mo­rals may save many Souls, and prevent unspeak­able Mischiefs which flow from want of an ear­ly and wise Discipline.

2. That for the future all possible Care be taken, that Men of great Probity be chosen Ma­sters of Schools. Where the Bishops nominate and approve, and, indeed, generally in all great Schools, this Care may be taken. The main Care is, that the Master of a School be a Person of great Probity, a Man of Vertue and Integrity, [Page 6]Yet Learning here is not to be despised, where it may be had, but not so much to be insisted on; For 'tis not necessary as Probity is. A little Learning with great Diligence, wise Discipline, good Temper, and hearty Love of God and Re­ligion, is preferrable to the greatest measure of Learning. I have known several Country School-Masters, that had very little Learning them­selves, that have had flourishing Schools, and some of the greatest Men this Age hath known have been bred under them. But then they have been Men of great Wisdom, and most exact Discipline; their Piety hath been great, and their Lives exemplary; and their Youth (like Jacob's Lambs) have from what they saw in their Master's Lives, and from that goodly Idea of Religion which they laid before them, con­ceived aright, and been formed into a Con­formity to the excellent Pattern laid in their way. I have the honour to know some Per­sons of Quality of singular Vertue, that do own the good which they received this way.

II. The Care of the Universities. This Care perhaps may not be thought to belong to the Bishops, but to the Heads of Houses, and Fel­lows of Colleges. But still it must be granted, that the united Endeavours of the Bishops may [Page 7]do much in this matter. For some of them are Heads of Colleges themselves, others of them are Visitors of them, and many of them have a great Influence upon those Heads and Fellows as they are Deans or Dignitaries of their Churches, Chaplains in their Families, and have their Dependencies or Expectances from them. And very certain it is, that the want of good Discipline in the University is the Source of unspeakable Mischief to the whole Kingdom. For want of due Care in this Mat­ter the Gentry have been corrupted, at least not improved; The Country hath been filled with ignorant and indiscreet Ministers and Cu­rates; The People have taken occasion to for­sake our Church; Schism hath been continued, and is like to be so; There are those who durst not trust their Children there, and therefore have chosen to send them to St. Omers, or else have commended them to the Care of Dis­senters who have taught Schools, and under­taken to Instruct them in the University Learn­ing; By this means they have been prejudiced against the Church of England, and many of them become the professed Enemies of it. I am under no temptation to speak hardly of our Universities, having had a Relation to both of them, and also being under great Obligations [Page 8]to them. But yet I cannot but say that their Discipline of late Years hath been very lax; I have been sometimes desired to recommend a Number of young Gentlemen to the Care of Tutors, and have found it a very difficult Task to place them safely. 'Tis notorious, and not to be concealed; I have in passing through one of them, heard more Oaths sworn by the Stu­dents, and more of them in or coming out of a Tavern, than I had observed whiles I lived there in many Years time. I make no doubt but some in each University have used great Care. But yet this could not avail much, when the greater Number were negligent; And some of the Governing part gave Example of great Intemperance by frequenting Taverns, or apoint­ing drinking Clubs in their Colleges. I know very well both the Men, and Places where they met, and did not only debauch themselves but reproached better Men than themselves over their Bottles, as Men not true to the Interest of their Church. The young Scholars were in the mean time neglected, permitted to frequent publick Houses daily, and not called to a strict account of their Studies or Manners. The Ex­ercises required by the Statute have been hud­dled over, or bought off; Degrees given with­out any merit; Preferments bestowed by Friend­ship, [Page 9]and Letters of great Persons; The Cha­rity of Pious Benefactors perverted; Offices both publick and in particular Colleges not per­formed, thô the Salary were received; Pre­ferments kept that were inconsistent with the Local Statutes; The Studious and Vertuous have been disheartned; Eating and drinking to excess hath been the practice for many Years; I could say much more, and am very sure I could prove it also. I had rather proceed to of­fer at some Remedy; I lay before your Lord­ship the following Particulars.

(I.) That the first Care should be to make the Universities Nurseries of Piety and Vertue. The Learning which the young Student gets will do him or the World little good if his Mo­rals be not secured: And indeed if his Vertue be preserved, he is in a fairer way to get Learning also. This ought to be the first and greatest Care; I wish it were not upon the matter wholly neglected. Your Lordship re­members the Words of Socrates before Hip­pias. Xenoph. Mem. l. IV. 'Tis (says he) a wonderful thing, that whereas if a man would put one out to learn a Trade or Art, he may easily find a Place where this may be learned; Nay more, 'tis said, he may easily find those who will teach an Ox or an Horse to [Page 10]be tractable and useful. But if a Man were himself disposed to learn what is Righteous, or would place out his Son or Servant to be taught it, he would not be able to find where to place himself or them. I believe there is nothing so hard and difficult a matter as to find a School of Vertue. We have often seen those who went innocent to the Universities come thence depraved. And this hath many times happened through want of Care and diligent Application. That part of our Age which we spend there requires the utmost Care, and generally is neglected. There are very many that there have lost their Ver­tue and Modesty; That have been so far from Improvement there that they have been ruined. 'Twill stand you in hand to procure such a Di­scipline, and order that it shall be an hard mat­ter for a young Student to miscarry. This will never be whiles they that are sent thi­ther for Instituton have the Liberty to live as they list. There must be great Care taken to form their Manners, to possess them with the Fear of God, and Sense of a World to come; To convince them of the Difference of things; to principle them in true Religion, and every Vertuous thing. They must be kept from Wine and Wantonness; inured to Labour and Exer­cise; restrained from the Conversation of the [Page 11]Town; not suffered to go out of their Walls without leave; They must be strictly kept to Prayers, and taught to pray by themselves; instructed with exact Care for the Holy Sacra­ment, and kept to frequent Communion; the idle and vicious must be Carefully removed, and all ill Examples taken out of the way. The Heads and Governours of Colleges may with due Care turn their Colleges into Reli­gious Houses; and 'tis hoped your Lordship and the other Bishops will take this Matter in­to Consideration, and do your utmost toward the effecting it.

(II.) 'Twill be highly fit that the Heads and other Governors should be visited. Indeed there are Visitors appointed by the several Founders for some Colleges, and for some Num­ber of them in one of the Universities: But we have not seen any great Fruits of this Pow­er. My meaning is, that some Number of Men should be Commissioned from time to time to Visit both Universities; Men that should be Impowered to Examine strictly into Things, and make Report, that the Negligent may be punished severely. I will not undertake to make Articles of Enquiry, but I think I may name some that will be needful, viz. How [Page 12]the Estates of the Founder and Benefactors have been dispensed? How the Statutes of the House have been observed? Have the Heads and Governors resided as they ought? Have they kept no Place, nor been possest of Estates inconsistent with the Statutes of the House? Have all Exercises been duly per­formed? Diligence and Vertue duly encouraged? What Lives do they lead? And what Account can they give of Themselves and of their Time spent there? What Lectures are read by the Professors and other Lecturers, and whether all be done which the Statute requires? Are those Studies pursued Diligently which tend to make Men useful to the Pub­lick? Are there no unstatutable Fees exacted? No expensive Customs introduced? No unnecessary Eating-Houses allowed? &c.

Were these things looked into by Men of Authority, were the Criminals severely punish­ed, and some of them that are most Guilty removed; were this done frequently, and with due Care, we should soon see the good Effects of it. There would be another Face of things quickly; Prophaneness and Idleness would skulk presently and soon be banished; and Diligence and Vertue would revive and hold up their Heads. We have now many Men that have spent many Years there in order to serve the Church as they profess; when they come for [Page 13]Orders they have not the Learning of some School-Boys. This I know upon my certain Knowledge, having been employed to Examine them when they offered themselves to be Or­dained. I could give your Lordship a great many Instances of those who have not had Skill enough to turn the Creed into true Latine, or an Article of Religion; And a great many others that had some of this Skill, yet had not any Understanding at all of Theological Matters; and yet were these Dunces admitted to Degrees, and brought Testimonials under the College Seal. My Lord, you cannot ima­gine with what Grief I write this: But thus it is; And there must be due Care taken of it.

(III.) These Visitors might be of farther Use if they had Orders to require some Publick Exercises whilst they visited; If they were ob­liged to bring with them a List of the most Pious and Deserving, that should be kept in some publick Place; If they had Power to ap­point some Discipline, and revive the Exercises of greatest Use that are now omitted. A great many things might be named under this Head which I forbear. One thing might easily be done, viz. The requiring all the Students to [Page 14]speak the Latine Tongue within the Walls of their House with each other. To do it at least at their Meals. I remember well when this was done in a certain College, and with that success that many of the House had gained that readiness, and were arrived to that Elegance that they far exceeded all Foreigners. 'Tis a shame Men should be at a loss in this Matter when every Foreigner hath attained it that knows any thing of Letters.

(IV.) 'Twill be necessary that greater Care be taken in bestowing Degrees to those only who deserve them. That Testimonials be not gi­ven promiscuously; That the Good and Bad have not the same Testimony; That a Course and Method of Studies be contrived; That there be greater Care taken to encourage Mathematical Learning, and those Parts of it especially which are most for the Use of Life; That those Theo­logical Studies be commended which tend to make Men more Serviceable to the Church, and better able to Defend our Common Chri­stianity against all Gainsayers; That particular Care be taken to Direct young Students in their Study of the Scriptures.

III. There ought to be very great Care ta­ken in admitting to Holy Orders. And this is a Care peculiarly belonging to the Bishops. The want of this Care hath been attended with unspeakable Mischiefs. The Church groans under them, and is like to do so for some time. The Bishops are the only Judges of the Fitness of Persons that come to be Or­dained, and may refuse them that they judge unfit, without any danger of a quare im­pedit, or any other Legal Molestation. But when they are admitted, a Bishop runs an hazard, that refuseth to give them Instituti­on. If another Bishop Ordain an unfit Per­son, and that Person be presented to your Lordship to a Cure, you will find your self under great Difficulty. If you admit him, you deliver up the Cure of Souls to a Per­son you do not Approve; If you refuse him, you run the hazard of being sued at Law. Indeed where you have Ordained a Person, you cannot reasonably refuse him Institution when he desires it. But 'tis very hard you should be obliged to Institute him whom another Bishop hath without due Care ad­mitted to Holy Orders. This careless ad­mitting [Page 16]Men to Holy Orders, may, by the united Agreement of all the Bishops, be pre­vented for the future. I need not tell you what good Laws are made on this behalf, and how easie a thing 'twill be for the fu­ture to take Care of this Matter. But eve­ry Bishop must take the utmost Care, and the Archbishops had need require a strict and constant Account that others do their Du­ty. For if one Bishop be Careless, as that Bishop will be resorted to and Ordain the greatest Number, so the other Bishops and the Church will suffer greatly by it. I know there have been some Bishops that have been very remiss; And some who have had a small Diocess have had great Ordinati­ons, and that when they lived remote from their Diocess also. This thing must be look­ed after Diligently; and 'twere well that eve­ry Bishop were obliged to give his Metropo­litan an Account from time to time of the Number and Qualifications of all those whom he admits into Holy Orders, and of the Places of their abode, &c.

After all, the Bishops had need be Care­ful that they be not imposed upon with false Titles, (a very common practice) with slight [Page 17]Testimonials, and the perfunctory Examina­tion of a Chaplain. He had need Examine them himself, and require them that come for Orders to apply themselves to him some considerable time before-hand, that he may be the better satisfied concerning them. Eve­ry wise Man will be very tender in com­mending a Person as a Servant to his Friend, much more if it be to a Place of any consi­derable Trust. What Care then ought the Bishops to take when they Commend Men and Admit them to the Service of God, and of his Church, and the tremendous Care of Immortal Souls? The utmost Care in this Matter will be little enough. And were this Care taken by all the Bishops; we should soon see the blessed Fruits of it; young Men would ply their Studies, and take care of their Lives, and form themselves to some shew at least of Seriousness in Religion. I know very well a certain excellent Prelate that hath in this Matter used Exemplary Care and Diligence; and I am told, by one that knows, the good Effects of it too. There are very few but have competently fitted themselves before they have offered them­selves to him: And for the Idle and Negli­gent, [Page 18]that have heard of many such refused, they have endeavoured with all their Skill to find means to be admitted into Holy Orders by some other hand. A due Care of this Matter would go a great way in that Refor­mation which all good Men desire, and just­ly hope from the present Bishops. And this is no more than what is in your Power to do.

IV. A due Care of the Lives of the Clergy, and to see that they Reside on their Cures and do their Duty.

This is a great part of the Bishops work. And they may do very much in it, and the Necessities of the Church and the Souls of Men call for it at your Hands. A wicked Clergy-Man does unspeakable Mischief. I know a considerable Town that was some Years since in good order, the People came constantly to Church, and they all did so: At the usual times they came to the Sacra­ment also. But a lewd and scandalous Mini­ster is now the Incumbent of that Place, one that is often disordered with Drink, and swears commonly. The People are now dispersed: They are run into separate Meetings; and, [Page 19]in a word, the Town is ruined. I know the Truth of this; and can name several Places in your Lordship's Diocess where there is some­thing of this, thô I know no Place where it is so notorious as in that considerable Town. 'Twill be needful that some Remedy be found out for so great an Evil. I will not undertake to Direct your Lordship. 'Tis too evident how much the Church hath lost by such bad Men.

Another Care is that of Residence, which is notoriously neglected. There are a great Number of Parishes that have no resident Mi­nister or Curate. Instead of that the Mini­ster comes or sends every Sunday, and the Parishioners are destitute the rest of the Week. There are many more Parishes which are great, and have a considerable Revenue, which are supplied by some cheap and ve­ry unfit Curates; By reason whereof the Peo­ple are scattered, Parsonage-Houses are dila­pidated, Hospitality disused; and, which is the saddest Consideration of all, the Souls neglected. There are a Number of Mini­sters in England that do not Reside on their Livings: Some chuse to live from their Peo­ple [Page 20]in some great Towns at a distance for the sake of Conversation, or Air, or upon some other Pretence: Some become Curates or Lecturers in other Places, and forsake their own Charge: Some are at the Universities on pretence of better fitting themselves: Some lie about London, hunting after another Li­ving, or some Lecture there. Some are in the Families of Persons of Honour, others hang about the Court; and some are in Ca­thedral-Churches in some Employment there, and notoriously neglect their cure of Souls in the mean time. I know some that are per­fect Strangers to their People that see them not in several Years, and upon the matter never preach with them. I know a Person that hath one of the best Livings in England, and hath had for sixteen Years last past, and ne­ver preached among them; not for want of Ability, or Leisure, or because he hath any o­ther Cure, or Publick Employment, but be­cause he is not reconciled to the Labour of his Calling. I could enlarge very much on this Head, and yet not borrow Materials from others. I have seen and do very well know many of the Neglects of this kind. I am amazed when I seriously consider it, and won­der [Page 21]how these Men can look up to Heaven, or with what Brow they can look honest Men in the Face when they are conscious of so great a Sin? 'Tis time for the Bishops to look after this Matter, as they would not have the Blood of the neglected Souls lie up­on them.

But your Lordship will say, How can this be prevented? For a great Number of these Persons have Qualifications and Dispensati­ons, and some others are absent for Health, or Studies, and other reasonable Causes.

To which I answer, That this will not ex­cuse them that have no reasonable Cause for their Absence, nor any longer than that Cause continues. I know several Men that live at the Universities to a considerable Age, and are never like to be more fit than they are. These Men ought to go to their Cures, and so should those Men too, who withdrew for want of Health when their Health is resto­red. The Dispensations to hold two Livings will not excuse a Man from not residing upon either. And that hath too often been the Case. Besides, 'tis very fit those Dispensati­ons [Page 22]should be very rarely given, and 'tis in the Power of the Archbishop to restrain them. 'Tis no creditable thing for a Man to need a Dispensation generally speaking; And thô where one Living is not a Maintenance, and another small one is near it, a Dispensation to hold those two may be a very allowable thing, yet this will not excuse the promiscu­ous allowance of Dispensations. I know a great Number of Men that have Plurality of the best Livings, and those too at a con­siderable distance; and the same Men that have two great Livings apiece, have many of them besides one, some two or three Digni­ties apiece. Great have been the Mischiefs of Non Obstante's and Dispensations. They were first used in the Court of Rome. Vid. Godol­phin. Reper­tor. Cano­nic. p. 300. 'Twas an ill President and Mischievous to all the Commonwealths of Christendom. For the Temporal Princes perceiving that the Pope dispensed with Canons, in imitation thereof have used their Prerogative to Dispense with their Penal Laws and Statutes, when as be­fore they caused their Laws to be Religiously observed, like the Laws of Medes and Persi­ans, which cannot be dispensed with. For this reason it was that a Canonist said, Dispen­satio [Page 23]est vulnus quod vulnerat jus commune. Ano­ther saith, That all Abuses of this kind would be reformed, Si duo tantùm verba [non Obstante] non Impedirent. And Matth. Paris, having recited certain Decrees made in the Council of Lyons, which were beneficial for the Church of England, addeth, Sed haec om­nia & alia per hoc repagulum [non Obstante] in­firmantur.

After all 'tis certain, that there are very many Non-residents who have no Dispensati­on, nor Excuse that is reasonable. 'Tis pi­ty but these should be obliged to reside, or proceeded against according to the Sta­tutes in that behalf. If they were duly pu­nished, according to Law, we should soon find the good Effects of it.

I have heard some wise Men affirm, who understand the present Posture of things in the City of London, that there are a consi­derable Number of Men there, who are Curates, or Lecturers, or Readers, or at least Candidates for such Places, that have Cures in the Country which they leave, and some of those Cures not well provided for. If [Page 24]this be so, I am sure 'tis a great Evil: But this is an Evil easily cured. The Bishop of London may put a stop to it when he pleaseth. And I believe he will do it; be­cause I know he is a Prelate of great Ver­tue, of most Exemplary Diligence and Care; and of so great Wisdom besides, that he cannot but discern the Mischievous Effects of such a Permission. Were he put in Mind of this Matter, certainly he would never Li­cense any Curate or Lecturer there who had a Cure elsewhere. And did he once take up this Resolution, he would soon dis­courage this sort of Men. 'Tis of vast Con­sequence that the City of London should be well supplied: And that it may be, without employing Men that have Cure of Souls al­ready. And this I must needs say, That thô I have sometimes heard that there are such Men employed in the City, I cannot be­lieve they are Approved or Licensed by that Eminent Bishop.

But your Lordship is not only to take Care that your Clergy Reside, but that they do their Duty also: And that amounts to a great deal more than Preaching every Sunday, [Page 25]and Reading Prayers on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Holy-days. Sick People are to be visi­ted, the Poor to be provided for, young Ones to be instructed, the Good to be encou­raged, the Afflicted to be comforted, the Cri­minals to be admonished, the Contentious to be reconciled.

There are many Emergencies to be pro­vided for. The Minister is the common Fa­ther of his People. He is always wanted, and the utmost Care he can take, the most Time he can spare will be all little enough to spend among them. The very Catechizing the Youth of his Parish, preparing them for Confirmation first, and then for the Sacra­ment of the Lord's-Supper will require great Thought and Pains. The bare saying the Catechism is not enough. They must be brought to Understand their Religion, and made sensible how much 'tis their Interest and their Duty. The least Parish will need the Presence and Labour of its Pastor. This is not to be left to a raw Curate. We af­front Almighty God by taking this Course, and do in this greatest Concern what is never allowed in things of less Moment. [Page 26]When we have retained a learned Physician, or Lawyer, we will not give them the li­berty to substitute and put upon us some unskilful Apothecary, or young Attorney. Our Concerns are of greater Value than to be thus left. And sure our Souls are of greater Worth than our Lives or E­states.

V. A greater Care concerning Confirmation of those who have not been confirmed before. The Truth of it is, that this hath been often huddled over, and with little Fruit. Whereas it is not only an excellent Institution of it self, but may be so managed also as to be of unspeakable Use. Those that are to be Confirmed had need be prepared for it, and the Thing ought to be done with great So­lemnity. To that purpose I humbly offer the following Particulars to your Lordship's Consideration.

First, That there should be Notice given of a Confirmation some considerable time before, and that the Minister be required to Prepare the Youth of his Parish for it; That he have Notice to Instruct them [Page 27]with great Care, not only in the bare get­ting the Catechism by Heart, but in ena­bling them to give such an Account of the Meaning of what they say, and so posses­sing them with the Obligation lying upon them from their Baptismal Vow, that they may be fitly disposed to receive great Benefit thereby.

Secondly, That none be offered to the Bi­shop but such as the Minister of the Parish hath thus prepared. And to this purpose the Minister may be obliged to deliver to the Bishop a List or Catalogue of those who are to be Confirmed by him, together with a Certificate under his Hand and Seal at the bottom of it; in which he shall Testi­fie that he hath Examined and does Approve of the Persons above-named in Number........ and judgeth them fit to be Confirmed. It is to be supposed no Minister will give this Cer­tificate without good Cause. However the Bishop may upon occasion so order the mat­ter, that he may have some of them for tri­al Examined before they are Confirmed, that he may find out the Fraud if he think it fit, and have any cause to fear due Care hath [Page 28]not been taken. By this course they who are to be Confirmed may be called by Name, and the Bishop will not be crowded by those who are not Instructed, and by those who have been Confirmed before. For it hath been observed, that many will be Confirmed often, and many others before they are In­structed, and others that are so young that they cannot understand what they do.

Thirdly, 'Tis very fit there should be a Ser­mon preached on this Solemn Occasion, set­ting forth the Grounds upon which Confir­mation is Built, the Advantages of it, with a particular Address to those who are to be Confirmed; or else the Preacher may discourse of the Baptismal Vow, and of the Reasona­bleness of taking that Obligation upon our selves, which was promised in our Infancy by our Sureties: But your Lordship may chuse a wise and good Man for this Service, and then he will be at no loss for his Argu­ment.

Fourthly, Your Lordship may consider also, whether it might not be fit some little Book should be devised by common Consent of [Page 29]the Bishops, which might be of after-use to them who are Confirmed; which Book may be delivered to each of them at the time of their Confirmation, gratis, (by the Bishop's own Hand) with an Obligation laid upon them to read it. In this Book there ought to be some Prayers, and Instructions towards the Preparing for the Holy Sacrament.

Fifthly, The several Ministers are to be strict­ly charged to have a watchful Eye over those who are thus Confirmed, and to Prepare them for the Sacrament of the Lord's-Supper as soon after as is fit and convenient.

These are my sudden Thoughts of this Matter. Your Lordship is the best Judge of the whole. Thus much is certain, that if this Care were taken, or some better, those who now despise it would be very glad of this blessed Opportunity of engaging Them­selves, their Children, and their Servants, to the Obedience of Christ and his Holy Laws. This Service might be so managed that it would be of great Use to the Souls of Men.

Sixthly, There ought to be the utmost Care taken of Market-Towns that they be well pro­vided (if possible) with able Ministers, and Men of a good Life, and Men that shall preach twice a-day also. For if they be well pro­vided, the little Parishes about them will be the better for it. For as good Preaching in London (a Place of great Resort from all Parts of the Kingdom) hath a mighty Influence up­on the whole Nation, so in proportion it must be in all Market-Towns, to which the Coun­try People come, and the Ministers of the Villages also. A wise Man there is consulted upon Occasion by the other Clergy-Men; and a great Example of Vertue in an Eminent Place goes farther than the same in a Village, or little Hamlet. I confess the Maintenance here is generally small, but then they ought to be encouraged by what other Helps the Bishops can afford them; And some of the Bishops have Prebends and other small Dig­nities to bestow, which cannot be better pla­ced than upon the worthy Ministers of such Places; who as they have the greater Charge and Work, so ought to have the greater En­couragement. Besides, these are the Places [Page 31]where the Dissenters, that preach, generally are; And indeed here are the greatest Number generally of that sort of People. I have known several of these Places preserved from Schism and Faction by watchful, and diligent, and prudent Pastors; and (I speak it with grief) a great many of them miserably divided from our Church through the Negligence, and Folly, and Wickedness of their Ministers: Some of which have refused to Preach in an Afternoon, when it hath been much desired; others have spent their Pains in the Pulpit generally in bitter Invectives against the Dis­senters; others have gone beyond the Ru­brick, and refused to please their People where they might have done it without breaking a­ny Law; some have sided with Parties, and instead of ending Differences have been of a certain Party in them; and others have con­tended with their Neighbours for Trifles, fal­ling into Heats with them, and then have re­fused to Visit them or do them Civil Offices. The Dissenters have taken Occasion to set up Preaching in their Towns and drawn away their People. The Schism hath hereby grown great, and the Minister himself hath had too [Page 32]much hand in it, notwithstanding his warm Declamations against it. My Heart akes when I seriously think of this. And 'twill be worth the utmost Care of all the Bishops how to get this Evil at least lessened, if not quite re­moved. The Care of these great Places con­cerns the whole, and 'twill become the Bi­shops to find some way by themselves, or their Interest at Court, or elsewhere, to pro­cure some additional Maintenance for those who are Diligent and Painful in these Places. Great Cities and Towns (and the Universi­ties especially) most need warm and power­ful Preachers, and 'twill be great Charity to provide them with such. And thus, my Lord, I have spoken my Mind frankly. Some per­haps will think I have used too great Liber­ty: Nor shall I wonder at it: For perhaps I have not considered you in this Letter as my Diocesan, but have used that Freedom which I was wont to use with you when I knew you in the University. If I have done so, 'tis not for want of Deference for your Person and your Character.

I make no question but when you come among us, and in your Visitation, you will answer the expectations of your Friends, and at least silence your Enemies. I doubt not but you will do all you can (and you may do much by your Example and Authority) to make us better, and to work a Reforma­tion, which all good Men expect and de­sire. You will find many of your Clergy very complying in those excellent Designs. If you mind them of their Duty (as I am sure you will) I dare assure you of a great Num­ber ready to assist you.

'Tis high time to be doing that great Work which you intend. There are a considerable Number that expect your Commands, and greatly hope you will vigorously Encourage us to look after our Cures, to Instruct our Youth, to set up Prayers in all the Fa­milies of our Parishioners, and to preach up the Necessity of Reformation, and preach against the Vices that reign amongst us, and to do it with great Care and Applica­tion.

I am very certain (as bad as the World is) that by this Method you will be an In­strument of much Good to the Souls of Men. That you may be so, is the most ear­nest Prayer of,