should be formed to the same valuable Principles, that their Minds should be cultivated, and their Manners regulated; so long the Clergy will have a good Title to the Honour and Esteem of all wise and good Men. The very Method of their Education gives them great Advantages for their Improvement in all sorts of necessary and polite Learning, and raises them above the Level of those with whom they are equal in all other Circumstances; and the Subject of their constant Studies being Matters of Piety and Religion, it is reasonable to suppose, they live under more lively and stronger Impressions of another World, than the Rest of Mankind; and Experience sufficiently convinces us, how much the Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdom are beholden to their Care, for those Impressions of Piety and Knowledge which are stamped upon their Education. In the most ignorant Ages what Learning flourished was in their Body, and by their Care was conveyed down to Posterity. In the most dissolute Times the greatest Examples of Piety were in their Order, and we have yet remaining eminent Monuments of their magnificent as well as useful Charity both to the Bodies and Souls of Men.

Q. But if the Ministers of God do not act suitably to the Dignity of their Character, may we not contemn them?

A. Their Character should certainly defend them from Contempt, and the Relation they have to God should secure them from our ill Usage. And in order to this it is necessary to consider, that as there is an inherent Holiness, whereby Men's Actions and Affections are in some Measure conformable to the Laws of God, in which Sense good Men in all Ages were esteemed holy; so there is a relative Holiness, which consists in some peculiar Relation to God's Service, of which Things, Times, Places and Persons are capable. In this last Sense the Tribe of Levi was called the holy Tribe, as those that are dedicated to the Service of Christ under the Gospel are called

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XX.

God's Ministers; not that it was always true of them Mal. ii. 6. that they walked before God in Peace and Equity, and turned many from Iniquity; for too often they were gone out of the Way, and caused many to stumble at the Law; but because they had a particular Relation to God in the Performance of that Worship which was paid to him. And though they may be bad Men, yet the Effect of Christ's Ordinances is not taken away by their Wickedness, nor the Grace of God's Gifts diminished from such who receive the Sacraments rightly and by Faith, which are effectual by Reason of Christ's Institution and Promise, although they be ministered by evil Men. Just as a Pardon passed by an immoral Lord Keeper, or a Sentence pronounced by a wicked Judge, are looked upon as valid to all Intents and Purposes, because their Efficacy depends not upon s. Chrys. the Qualifications of those in Commission, but upon Hom. 85. the Sovereign Authority from whence they both receive their Commission. So that the Advantages Edit. Par. we receive by their Administrations, and the Relation they have to God, should still preserve some Respect for their Persons. And it is doubtless a better Demonstration of Christian Zeal, where we have a thorough Information of their scandalous Lives, to make proof of it before their lawful Superiors, that being found guilty, they may, by just Judgment, be deposed, than either by our Words or Actions to affront or contemn them ourselves, or to provoke others to do the like.

Q. What is the ill Consequence of despising the Persons, and exposing the Conduct of our Pastors, and Ministers of Christ?

A. It diminishes that Credit and Effect which their spiritual Administrations ought to have upon the Minds of Men, and makes them less capable of doing that Good which their Profession obliges them to attempt; for as much as we take from the Opinion of their Piety and Integrity, so much we lessen their Power in promoting the Interest of

in S. John

p. 558.

Religion, whose Fate very much depends upon the Reputation of those who feed and govern the Flock of Christ. And this the Enemies of Religion are very sensible of, who omit no Opportunity of exposing their Persons, and representing their sacred Function only as a Trade, whereby they procure an advantageous Subsistence.

Q. But since the Interest of the Clergy is supported by what they plead for, doth not this make it reasonable to suspect that all revealed Religion is only Priestcraft?

A. It is very fit that they who quit all other Methods of procuring Subsistence should live of that Gospel they preach; and though Men may be swayed by Interest, yet the Truth and Falsehood of Things no ways depend upon it; and the Measures of judging concerning them are quite of another Nature. It is sufficient Evidence must convince a man, that is impartial, concerning the Truth of what is asserted; and it is reasonable to suppose, that they who make it their Business to search into these Matters, should be best acquainted with the Grounds of Conviction. And we find that our Value for the Laws of the Land, and the Art of Physic is no ways abated by the great Advantages they make who follow either of those Professions.

Q. Is it reasonable to be prejudiced against Religion upon the Account of the bad Lives of some of the Clergy?

A. As long as Clergymen are clothed with Flesh and Blood as well as other Men, we ought not to be prejudiced against Religion, because some few are overcome by the Follies and Infirmities of Mankind; the many remarkable Instances of Piety and Devotion, of Charity and Sobriety among the sacred Order, should rather confirm us in our holy Faith, since they, who have had the greatest Opportunities to examine the Grounds of Religion, shew forth the Truth and Excellency of it by holy Lives suitable to their Profession.

Bp. Stil

Q. How may the Clergy best preserve that Honour and Respect which is due to their Character? A. By discharging the Duties of their Profession with great Zeal and Conscience; by behaving them-. selves with Gravity and Sobriety, with Meekness and ungfleet. Charity, the solid Ornaments of their holy Function, and the surest Method to raise themselves above the Reproaches of a malicious World; for true Value and Esteem is not to be acquired by the little Arts of Address and Insinuation, much less by Flattery, and by complying with Men in their Follics, but by Steadiness and Resolution in the Performance of their Duties, joined with all that Charity and Gentleness in their Behaviour, which is consistent with being true to their own Obligations.

Q. Wherein consists that Love we owe to the Ministers of God?

4. In being ready to assist them in all Difficulties, and in vindicating their Reputations from those Aspersions which bad Men are apt to load them with. In covering their real Infirmities, and interpreting all their Actions in the best Sense; never picking out the Faults of a few, and making them a Reproach to the whole Sacred Order.

Q. Why ought we to provide a Maintenance for the Clergy?

A. Because they are in a peculiar Manner Servants of the great God of Heaven and Earth, to whose Bounty we owe all that we enjoy ; and therefore should dedicate a Part of what we receive to his immediate Service, as an Acknowledgment of his Sovereignty and Dominion over all. And what makes this Duty farther reasonable is, that in order to be Instruments in God's Hands in procuring our eternal Welfare, they renounce all ordinary Means of advancing their Fortunes; they surrender up their Pretensions to the Court and Camp, to the Exchange and the Bar; and therefore it is highly fit that their laborious and difficult Employment, purely for God's Glory and our Salvation, should

receive from us the Encouragement of a comfortable and honourable Subsistence.

Q. Why ought their Maintenance to be Honourable and Plentiful?

4. That Parents may be encouraged to devote their Children of good Parts to the Service of the Altar; for it is not probable they will sacrifice an expenceful Education to an Employment that is attended with small Emoluments. And if some Persons have Zeal enough to engage in the Ministry without a Respect to the Rewards of it, yet common Prudence ought to put us upon such Methods as are most likely to excite Men of the best Parts and Ability to undertake the sacred Function; that the best Cause may have the best Management, and the purest Religion the ablest Defendants. It is also necessary that their Maintenance should bear some Proportion to the Dignity of their Character, who are Ambassadors for Christ; and should raise them above the Contempt of those who are apt to be influenced by outward Appearances. For though Eccles. ix. Wisdom is better than Strength, nevertheless, as Solomon hath long since observed, the poor Man's Wisdom is despised, and his Words are not heard. And farther, that by this Means they may be better enabled not only to provide for their Families, which is a duty incumbent upon them as well as the Rest of Mankind, but to be Examples to their Flock in Charity and in doing Good, as well as in all other Manner of Virtue.

16.

Q. What Maintenance do the Laws of the Land assign to the Clergy?

A. First, the Manse, or House and Glebe, which was the original Endowment of the Church, without which it cannot be supplied; and without which it could not be consecrated; and upon which was founded the original Right of a Patronage. Secondly, the Oblations, which were the voluntary Offerings of the Faithful, very considerable in the Primitive Times; so that the Necessities of the Church were