THE

PREFACE

TOTHE

THIRD EDITION

OF THIS

BOOK

T is above Twenty Years fince this Book was first Published by me, and now that

thofe who have a Concern in it think fit to reprint it, I thought it became me to review it carefully, to fee if there was Caufe given to alter any Part of it, or to add any Thing to it.

I wrote it when I was newly put into the Poft in which by the Providence of GOD I still am. So that a longer Courfe of Experience and Obfervation may have brought more Things to my View than I could at that Time reflect on.

I

I own this is my favourite Book: which, if it bas raised Indignation in the Minds of fome, who are perhaps fenfible that many Things in it touch them in too tender a Part; yet on the other Hand it has brought me fuch ferious Acknowledgments from many Perfons, to me otherwise unknown but by their Letters, of the Benefit they received by it; that I humbly blefs GOD who made me an Inftrument in any Sort of Promoting HIS Glory, and Edifying HIS Church, by awakening the Confciences of fo many Clergymen to a better Senfe of their Duty, and to more Diligence in the Discharge of it.

I am now in the 70th Year of my Age, and as I cannot fpeak long to the World in any Sort, fo I cannot hope for a more folemn Occafion than this of Speaking with all due Freedom both to the prefent and to the fucceeding Ages: Therefore I lay hold on it to give a free Vent to thofe fad Thoughts that lie on my Mind both Day and Night, and are the Subject of many fecret Mournings. I dare appeal to that GÓD, to whom the Secrets of my Heart are known, and to whom I am shortly to give an Account of my Miniftry, that I have the true Interests of this Church ever before my Eyes, and that I pursue them with a fincere and fervent Zeal; if I am mistaken in the Methods I follow, GÖD, to whom the Integrity of my Heart is known, will not lay that to my Charge. I cannot look on, without the deepest Concern, when I fee imminent

Ruin banging over this Church, and by Confequence over the whole Reformation. The outward State of Things is black enough, GOD knows; but that which heightens my Fears rifes chiefly from the inward State into which we are unhappily fallen. I will, in examining this, confine my felf to that which is the Subject of the following Book; I mean the Clergy.

Our Ember Weeks are the Burden and Grief of my Life. The much greater Part of those who come to be ordained are ignorant to a degree, not to be apprehended by thofe who are not obliged to know it. The easiest Part of Knowledge is that to which they are the greatest Strangers; F mean the plaineft Parts of the Scriptures, which they fay, in Excufe of their Ignorance, that their Tutors in the Universities never mention the Reading of to them; fo that they can give no Account, or at least a very imperfect one, of the Contents even of the Gospels. Those who have read fome few Books, yet never feem to have read the Scriptures. Many cannot give a tolerable Account even of the Catechifm it felf, how short and plain foever. They cry and think it a fad Difgrace to be denied Orders, tho' the Ignorance of fome is fuch, that in a well regulated State of Things, they wou'd appear not knowing enough to be admitted to the Holy Sacrament.

This does often tear my Heart. The Cafe is not much better in many, who having got into Orders come for Inftitution, and cannot make it appear

b

appear that they have read the Scriptures or any one good Book fince they were ordained; fo that the fmall Measure of Knowledge upon which they got into Holy Orders not being improved, is in a Way to be quite loft; and then they think it a great Hardship if they are told they must know the Scriptures and the Body of Divinity better, before they can be trufted with a Care of Souls: Thefe Things pierce one's Soul, and make him often cry out, Oh that I had Wings like a Dove, for then would I fly away and be at Reft. What are we like to grow to? In what a Cafe are we, to deal with any Adversary, Atheist, Papift, or Diffenters, or in any Sort to promote the Honour of GOD, and carry on the great Concerns of the Gospel, when fo gross an Ignorance in the Fundamentals of Religion bas Spread itself fo much among those who ought to teach others, and yet need that one teach them the first Principles of the Oracles of GOD?

Politicks and Party eat out among us not only Study and Learning, but that which is the only Thing that is more valuable, a true Senfe of Religion, with a fincere Zeal in advancing that < for which the Son of GOD both lived and died, and to which those who are received into Holy Orders have vowed to dedicate their Lives and Labours. Clamours of Scandal in any of the Clergy are not frequent, it is true, and GODbe thanked for it: But a remifs unthinking

Rigt. b and Labours.

Course

Courfe of Life, with little or no Application to Study, and the bare performing of that, which if not done, would draw Cenfures when complained of, without ever purfuing the Duties of the Paftoral Care in any fuitable Degree, is but too common, as well as too evident.

But if there is too vifible a Coldness among us, in that which requires our greatest Heat and Zeal; there is a great deal of flaming Heat about Matters, in which more Gentleness and a milder Temper would both look better, and more effectually compass that which is defigned by it; I mean the bringing the Diffenters into our Communion. Bitter Railings, and a rough Behavi our, cannot make many Converts. To study the Grounds of their Separations throughly, to answer | them calmly and folidly, and to treat their PerJons with all Gentleness, expreffing no Uneafinefs at the Liberty granted them by Law, is a Method that will never fail of fucceeding to a great Degree, efpecially on the rifing Generation. O-1 ther Methods do confirm their Prejudices, and beighten their Averfion to thofe who treat them as Enemies on defign to ruin them, and not as Friends on defign to gain them.

GOD be thanked we are delivered from a Remnant of Popery, that stuck too long to us, I mean Perfecution for Confcience Sake: For the Breaches on a Man's Liberty or Goods are as really a Perfecution, as that which strikes at his Perfon.They may be in fome Inftances more uneasy;

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