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they examine themselves more carefully, if they can find any thing in their own conduct that may occasion it, which they will study to correct, and still they persist in their labour; knowing that if they continue doing their duty, whatever other effects that may have, those faithful shepherds, when the chief Shepherd shall appear, shall receive from him a crown of glory that fadeth not away*.

To all this I will only add somewhat relating to bonds of resignation. A bond to resign at the pleasure of the patron carries with it a base servitude, and simony in its full extent and yet because no money is given, some who give those bonds do very ignorantly apprehend that they may, with a good conscience, swear the oath of simony. There is but one way to cure the mischief of this great evil, which can have no effect, if bishops will resolve to accept of no resignation made upon such bonds; since by the common law a clerk is so tied to his bishop and to his cure, that he cannot part with it without the bishop's leave. By this all these bonds may be made ineffectual.

Other bonds are certainly more innocent, by which a clerk only binds himself to that which is otherwise his duty. And since the forms of our courts are dilatory and expensive, and there is not yet a full provision made against many abuses which a good patron would secure a parish from, I see no just exception to this practice, where the abuse is specially certified; so that nothing is reserved in the pratron's breast, by general words, of which he, or his heirs, who perhaps may not inherit his virtues as they do his fortunes, may make an ill use. It is certain our constitution labours yet under some defects, which were provided against by that noble design brought so near perfection, in that work entitled, Reformatio Legum Ecclesiasticarum, which it is to be hoped will be at some time or other taken up again, and perfected.

The affinity of the former matter leads me to give an account of somewhat relating to myself. When I was first put in the post which I still hold, I found there were many market towns in the diocese very poorly provided. So since there are about fifty dignities and prebends belonging to the cathedral, I considered how by the disposing of these I might mend the condition of the incumbents in the market towns, and secure such a help to their successors. And by the advice of some very eminent divines and canonists, this method was resolved on, that, when I gave a

* 1 Pet. v. 4.

prebend to any such incumbent, he should give a bond, that, if he left that benefice, he should at the same time resign his prebend, that it might go to his successor. This went on for some years with a universal approbation.

But when a humour began to prevail of finding fault, this was cried out upon as a grievance bordering upon simony. I upon that drew up a vindication of my practice, from great authority, out of civilians and canonists. But upon second thoughts I resolved to follow that saying of Solomon's, Leave off contention, before it be meddled with or engaged iny. So to lay the clamour that some seemed resolved to raise, I resolved to drop my design, and so delivered back all the bonds that I had taken.

I will offer nothing either in the way of vindication or resentment, being satisfied to give a true relation of the matter, leaving it to the reader's judgment to approve or censure as he sees cause. And thus I conclude this chapter, which I thought was wanting to complete my design in writing this treatise.

y Prov. xvii. 14.

A

DISCOURSE

MADE BY

THE LORD BISHOP OF ROCHESTER

TO THE

CLERGY OF HIS DIOCESE,

AT

HIS VISITATION IN THE YEAR MDCXCV.

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