Instructions to such as are very ignorant

to such as are vainly confident
to such as want comfort, being dejected
to such as are hardened in wickedness

to such as, in hopes of recovery, put off their

p. 435

p. 436
ibid.

p. 437

p. 439 p. 440 p. 442

repentance

Examination of the sick person's repentance
Duty to God

Duty to our neighbour

Concerning confession and absolution
Concerning habitual sinners

To such as have recovered from sickness

p. 432 ibid. p. 433

p. 434

ΤΟ

THE CLERGY

OF THE

DIOCESE OF SODOR AND MAN.

Bishop's-Court, March 3, 1708.

My dear brethren,

I PERSUADE myself, that you will take the following advice well from me, because, besides the authority God has given me, I have always encouraged you to give me your assistance to enable me to discharge my duty.

Every return of Lent (a time when people were wont either to call themselves, or to be called, to an account) should put us, above all men, upon examining and judging ourselves, because we are to answer for the faith and manners of others, as well as for our own; and therefore this is a very proper season to take an account both of our flocks and of ourselves, which would make our great account less hazardous and dreadful.

Let me therefore entreat you, at this time, to do what I always have obliged myself to; namely, carefully to look over your ordination vows. It is very commendable to do this every Ember-week, but it would be unpardonable negligence not once a year to consider what we have bound ourselves to, and taken the sacrament upon it.

In the first place, therefore, if we were indeed moved by the Holy Ghost, and truly called to the ministry of the church, as we declared we were, this will appear in our conduct ever since. Let us then consider, whether our great aim has been to promote the glory of God with which we were intrusted, and the eternal interest of the souls committed to our charge, according to the vows that are upon us? If not, for God's sake let us put on resolutions of better obedience for the time to come.

The holy scriptures are the rule by which we and our people are to be judged at the last day; it is for this we

solemnly promise, to be diligent in reading, and to instruct our people out of the same holy scriptures. They do indeed sufficiently contain all doctrine necessary to eternal salvation, (as we profess to believe,) but then they must be carefully studied, often consulted, and the Holy Spirit often applied to for the true understanding of them; or else in vain is all our labour, and we are false to our

VOWS.

Upon which heads it will behove us to consider, how much we have neglected this necessary study;-how often we have contented ourselves with reading just so much as we were obliged to by the public offices of the church!How apt such as read not the holy scriptures are to run to other books for matter for their sermons; by which means they have been too often led to speak of errors and vices which did no way concern their hearers, or of things above their capacities:-and it has often happened, that they themselves have scarce been convinced of (and of course have not been heartily in love with) the truths which they have recommended to others; which is the true reason why their sermons may have done so little good.

But when a man is sensibly affected with the value of souls, with the danger they are in, with the manner of their redemption, and the price paid for them; and is well acquainted with the New Testament, in which all this is plainly set forth;-as he will never want matter for the best sermons, so he will never want arguments sufficient to convince his hearers, his own heart being touched with the importance of the subject. Under this head, we must not forget to charge ourselves with the neglect of catechising; for, as it is one of the most necessary duties of the ministry, so it is bound upon us by laws, canons, rubrics, and constitutions, enough to awaken the most careless among us to a more diligent discharge of this duty.

But though we should be never so diligent in these duties, if our conversation be not edifying, we shall only bring these ordinances into contempt; and therefore, when a priest is ordained, he promises, by God's help, to frame and fashion himself and family, so as to make both, as much as in him lieth, wholesome examples and patterns of the flock of Christ.

Under which head it will be fit to consider what offence we may have given, by an unwary conversation, by criminal liberties, &c. that we may beg God's pardon, and make some amends by a more strict behaviour for the future; that we may be examples to the flock, teaching them so

briety, by our strict temperance; charity, by our readiness to forgive; devotion, by our ardent zeal in the offering up their prayers to God.

They that think all their work is done, when the service of the Lord's day is over, do not remember, that they have promised to use both public and private monitions, as well to the sick as to the whole, within their cures, as need shall require, and as occasion shall be given. Upon this head, let us look back, and see how often we have forborné to reprove open offenders, either out of fear, or from a sinful modesty, or for worldly respects:-considerations which should never come in competition with the honour of God, with which a clergyman stands charged.

Let us consider, how few we have admonished privately; how few we have reclaimed; and how many, who are yet under the power of a sinful life, which we might have reclaimed by such admonitions!

Let us consider how many have been in affliction of mind, body, or estate, without any benefit to their souls, for want of being made sensible of the hand, and voice, and design of God in such visitation! How many have recovered from the bed of sickness, without becoming better men, only for want of being put in mind of the fears they were under, and the thoughts they had, and the promises they made, when they were in danger!-Lastly, how many have lived and died in sin, without making their peace with God, or satisfaction and restitution to man, for want of being forewarned of the account they were to give! A negligence which we cannot reflect upon without trembling.

It will here likewise be proper to consider how many offenders have escaped the censures of the church through our neglect, by which they might have been humbled for their sins, and others restrained from falling into the like miscarriages. Other churches lament the want of that discipline, which we (blessed be God) can exercise. How great then is the sin of those, who, by laziness or partiality, would bring it into disuse!

Because a great deal depends upon the manner of our performing divine offices, we ought to reflect upon it, how often we read the prayers of the church with coldness and indevotion, and administer the sacraments with an indifference unworthy of the holy mysteries; by which it comes to pass that some despise, and some abhor the service of God! Let us detest such indevotion, and resolve upon a becoming seriousness when we offer up the supplications of the people to God, that they, seeing our zeal, may be

persuaded, that it is not for trifles we pray, nor out of custom only that we go to church.

The great secret of attaining such an affecting way is to be constant and serious in our private devotions, which will beget in us a spirit of piety, able to influence our voice and actions.

Having thus taken an account of our own engagements, and heartily begged God's pardon for our omissions, and prescribed rules to ourselves, of acting suitably to our high calling for the future, we shall be better disposed to take an account of our flock always remembering, that our love to Christ is to be expressed by feeding his sheep.

I have observed with satisfaction that most people, who by their age are qualified, do come to the Lord's supper at Easter. Now, it is much to be feared that such as generally turn their backs upon that holy ordinance at other times, do come at this time more out of custom, or to comply with the laws, than out of a sense of duty.

This is no way to be prevented, but by giving them a true notion of this holy sacrament, such as shall neither encourage the profane to eat and drink their own damnation, nor discourage well-meaning people from receiving the greatest comfort and support of the Christian life.

To this end it will be highly conducive (and I earnestly recommend it to you) to make this the subject of a good part of your sermons during Lent. But let them be plain and practical discourses, such as may set forth the nature, end, and benefits of the Lord's supper. That it is to keep up the remembrance of the sacrifice and death of Christ, whereby alone we obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his passion. That it is a mark of our being members of Christ's church, a token of our being in covenant with God. That a sinner has nothing but this to plead for pardon, when the Devil or his conscience accuse him before God. That we ought to receive as often as conveniently we can, that, as Peter Damien expresses himself, "the old serpent, seeing the blood of the Lamb upon our lips, may "tremble to approach us." That Jesus Christ presents before God in heaven his death and merits, for all such as duly remember them on earth.

66

Let them know, that a Christian life is the best preparation;-that God respects sincerity of heart above all things; which consists in doing what God has commanded us, to the best of our knowledge and power.

Let them know the danger of unworthy receiving, without full purposes of amendment of life. And that they