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in order to affift the poor Archbishop to fettle himself in that See; which they fay usually amounts to Seven or Eight thoufand Pounds, (a fweet Morfel of Ecclefiaftical Food!) And 'tis faid, that if any, even the meaneft Vicar, whofe Children want Bread, does thro' Poverty omit this customary Payment, he must certainly expect to be feverely whipped for the Offence, in their mercilefs Spiritual Court, 'till they have flayed him to the very Bones.

Befides which, in fome Diocefes, as London, &c. there is a Duty paid, called the Bishop's Penfion, i. e. 10l. for every Archdeaconry, and proportionably for other Dignities and peculiar Ju tisdictions, as may be feen in Newcourt's Reper torium Canonicum, Vol. I. & II.

Next to Epifcopal Jurifdiction is to be confidered that of the Archdeacons, whofe Number I I have before limited to Sixty, but find on a farther Scrutiny they may be enlarged to Seventy, or more; for the Diocese of London alone has Five, and other Diocefes proportionable.

Thefe Archdeacons have their Vifitations twice yearly, viz. at Michaelmas and Eafter, both which afford them plentiful Harvests, in their M Col

Collections of Procurations, Synodals, and other profitable Perquifites. For,

1. At their Eafter Vifitations, the Minifters within their refpective Districts pay them Synodals, which they denominate theit Pafchal Rents, taking of each Parfon fix or seven Shillings, fome more, fome lefs; for these Payments are not all alike, but, I fuppofe, raised or leffened according to the Value of the Benefice; but none must come empty-handed.

2. At their Michaelmas Vifitations the fame Ministers pay their Procurations, fome Seven or Eight, some Ten or Twelve Shillings, some more, fome lefs, But it is judged, that, on a mode- . ratę Computation, the Archdeacons of England do yearly collect for Procurations only, Six or Seven thousand Pounds.

The next Jurifdiction to be confidered, is that of Deans and their Chapters. But having already mentioned the feveral Kinds of Deans, and the manner of exercising their Jurifdictions, I fhall not at prefent plunge any further into this bottomlefs Barathron of Ecclefiaftical Officers, and their Rapines; but beg Leave to conclude with the Words of a late eminent Prelate of the Church of England, viz. Dr. G. Burnet, Bishop of Sa

rum,

1

rum, who, in a familiar Difcourfe with me on this very Subject, freely declared, That the Canon Law and Ecclefiaftical Jurifdiction were originally derived from Hell; and that thither it ought to be fent again And obferving me to be fomewhat Iftartled at his Words, he continued thus; A greater than I, even an Archbishop (naming Grindal) was alfo of this Opinion: To which I only add,

Heu! beu! hæc è fulphureo fonte Ecclefiafticorum exurgunt! Vide Mat. Paris, p. 542.

Col. 2.

Thefe Obfervations, I humbly submit to your juft and equitable Enquiry; and am (with all due Refpect)

Your most obedient Servant,

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Episcopal and Priestly CLAIMS

FREELY EXAMINED:

IN A

DIALOGUE betwixt a CoUNTRY GENTLEMAN and a COUNTRY VICA R.

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WHEREIN

CHURCH AUTHORITY, CONFIRMATION, ABSOLUTION; the BURIAL of the DEAD, the POWER of BISHOPS to give the HOLY GHOST, and of PRIESTS to forgive SINS; the CONSECRATION of CHURCHES and CHURCH-YARDS, and BowING toward the ALTAR and the EAST; are particularly confidered.

To which is Prefixed,

An ADMONITION to those who are prefs'd to come to Confirmation.

First printed in the Year 1737.

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