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the Suffragans Titles belonging to them, as they are allowed in this Realm by the Authority of the Supreme Court of Parliament.

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The Act of Parliament alfo names Penreth for a Suffragan Title, but I cannot find any fuch Town in Cambden, only he says that Pereth is alfo Penreth, yet they are plainly distinguished by the Statute. When this Act was made, Bristol and Glocefter were not Erected

into

into Bishopricks, and therefore were then made Titles for Suffragans.

Now by confidering how thefe Suffragan Titles are laid out, we may conclude, that the Parliament did not think it requifite that all Bishops fhould have Suffragans neither is it expedient; for the Suffragans Business is to aflift, but not to take off all the care from Bifhops; Nor would I have it in our Church as it has been obferved, that it was once in the Church of Vienna, between Marcus the Bishop, and his Suffragan and Brother Claudianus, as was noted before:

The one the Bishops Ornaments did wear,
The other only had the Bishop's care..

But the Care fhould be divided between them. The Bishop himself should Ordain all Priefts and Deacons in his Diocess, or the Suf fragan not at least without his particular appointment, according to the ancient Canons. Then for Vifitations and Confirmations the Diocefs fhould, as near as may be, be divided into equal Parts, between the Bishop and his Suffragans. As for inftance, the Diocess of Lincoln has 1255 Parishes, too many for one Man to Vifit and Confirm in all duly and regularly; here therefore the Bishop is allowed Four Affiftants, let the Diocefs be equally divided into Five Parts, there will be about 250 Parishes under each Man's Care. I could wish the Bishop of Norwich had one Suffragan more, but that may easily be fupplied by letting the Bishop of Cambridge be his Affiftant (for the Bishop of Ely has fo fmall a Diocess, that he needs none) the Act of Parliament not making

it

it neceffary that the Suffragan's Title should be in the Diocess of that Bifhop to whom he is Suffragan, and we have a Precedent to the (4) Angl. Sacr. contrary in (a) William Moor, who had the Title of Colchester, in the Diocefs of London, yet was Suffragan to the Bishop of Ely.

Vol. I. P.

Now I am perfwaded that 300 Parishes is as much as one Bishop can take Charge of to Visit and Confirm, if he designs to do those Duties as he ought. For thefe Offices ought to be performed in all parts of the Dioceses once in three years: And where a Bishop would do these regularly and with due Care, not haftily, and as the way is only as it were En Paffant, to vifit an Hundred Parishes in a year, will take up a whole Month at least, which I believe any Bishop will think to be as much time as he can conveniently spare for this purpose. Now if the larger Dioceses were divided according to this proposed Method, and the Title of Cambridge annexed to the See of Norwich, no one Bishop would have much above 300 Parishes to take Charge of, and befides out of the Diocefs of Wincheften, Bath and Wells, Sailsbury and Carlisle, the Titles of Southampton, Bridgewater, Molton, Marlborough and Pereth, might be referved to be bestowed on Coadjutors for Impotent and Infirm Bishops of thofe Dioceses which have no Suffragans Titles according as there fhall be occafion.

Thus would no part of the Realm be destitute of the Epifcopal Care, all Bishops of larger Diocefes, having Affiftants to perform all parts of the Epifcopal Office, by a general Commiffion to them for that purpose, only referving Ordinations and Institutions wholly to the Diocefan; except when he is hinder'd by

fome

fome Lawful Impediment, a Licence may be granted to a Suffragan to perform either of thofe Offices pro iftac vice. And in the Diocefe of Canterbury the Suffragan of Dover should have a general Commiffion to perform all parts of the Episcopal Function in every part of the Diocese, only referving a Power in his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury to fufpend his Jurifdiction, when he has Time, Leifure and Will to perform those Duties in Perfon. This Bishop might alfo have a general Licence to Ordain; only he fhould be oblig'd to give timely notice to the Archbishop of the Titles and Qualifications of the Perfons to be ordain'd, and to receive his Approbation of them; that fo the Charges of Letters Dimiflory might be faved.

If it be asked what Jurifdiction it may be proper to allow the Suffragan? with fubmiffion I think it to be the fame with the Chancellor or Conimiffary, by uniting these Offices to the Suffragans in thofe Diocefes where it is convenient the Bishops fhould have fuch Affiftants. And for fuch as neither have nor need Suffragans, there let the Dean of the Church be always the Bishops Chancellor. For it is most requifite that he who is the Head of the College of Presbyters, who are the Bishops Senate, fhould have the next Authority to the Bishop throughout the whole Diocefs. And where there is a Suffragan he may alfo be the Dean of the Church. And if there be more Suffragans one at least may be Dean alfo, and the others well dignified in the Church. And it is not much to be queftion'd, but most of our Lay-Chancellors in England would take Orders if they might be made Deans, as thofe Digni

ties

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