is thus he must be the light of the world, and without this he cannot satisfy the duties of his charge; and it is thus he is to give his life for his sheep.

"Take nothing for their journey save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse."-Mark vi. 8.

The ecclesiastical ministry requires a great disengagement from the world, to take away all suspicion, that the clergy act only out of self-interest. Whoever is not ready to part with all, rather than be wanting to his duty, is not worthy to be a successor to the Apostles.

We shall never be able to establish the kingdom of God in the hearts of men, so long as we do not appear fully persuaded of those truths which we preach.

FEES.

Can. 135. No fee or money shall be received, either by the archbishop or any bishop, either directly or indirectly, for admitting of any into sacred orders, nor any to his servants or officers above ten shillings for parchment, wax, &c.

For letters testimonial of ordination are no part of the ordination, but only taken afterwards for the security of the person ordained, which if he neglect to take, it is at his own peril.*

Codex Can. Eccl. Ang. p. 177.

ORDINATION.

The example of Jesus Christ, before he ordained the Apostles, shows us, that in this choice we ought to depend upon God, and pray for His direction and blessing.

CATECHIZING.

Can. 59. Ministers shall, every Sunday evening and holy-day, for half an hour at least, examine and instruct in the Church Catechism; and he that neglects to do so, after reproof, to be first suspended, afterwards excommunicated.

The neglect of this duty makes the discourses of the pulpit of very little use. People do not understand the very words made use of in the Gospel.

INSTITUTION

Persons to be instituted shall exhibit orders and testimonials, and be examined.*

REASONS FOR REFUSING INSTITUTIONS.

Lack of learning; of which the bishop is the sole judge, and not accountable to any temporal court, but only to a superior Spiritual Judge. And

* Can. 39.

a person's being ordained, licensed, and approved by another bishop, does not take away the right which every bishop has to examine and judge.*

Lack of language; which renders a person incapable of the cure. Nor does it avail, that the language may be learnt, or that the duty might be discharged by a curate. And the Canon Law requires,

that where there is a mixture of languages, the priest shall understand both.t

OTHER CAUSES.

Whatever is sufficient to deprive, is sufficient cause to refuse institution.

Mala in se :-Incontinence, drunkenness, murder, manslaughter, heresy, schism, simony, perjury.

The bishop must signify the cause of his refusal specially, that the proper court, if application be made elsewhere, may be able to judge whether the refusal be just, except in the case of insufficiency; for it has been judged in parliament, that it is sufficient to set forth-Quod persona in literaturâ minus sufficiens seu capax ad habendam dictam ecclesiam.

The bishop, having the care of all the souls in his diocese, is bound in conscience to see them well taken care of, by committing them to fit persons.

"And they prayed and said, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two Thou hast chosen."-Acts i. 24.

Should not this make patrons and bishops to † Codex p. 851.

*Codex p. 850.

tremble, to see with what caution, devotion, &c., even the Apostles themselves proceeded in the choice of fit persons to serve in the sacred ministry of the

church!

A CHRISTIAN PRIEST.

Let him remember, that he himself is a man and a sinner; that he is ordained for men only in things pertaining to God; that he is not to live an idle life, but to offer, &c., that is, to perform the duties of his calling; to appease the justice of God, by offering the prayers, the oblations, &c., of the people; to have bowels of compassion towards sinners: to instruct the ignorant, and them that are out of the way; never to forget his own infirmities, that he may treat sinners with compassion; to pray much for himself and for his people; to stay till he is called into the ministry; it is an honour, and to be conferred as it was on Aaron; to keep his flock, by his vigilance, from falling into ignorance in relation to the truths of Christianity; to suit his instructions to the capacities of his hearers, and to their peculiar wants and not to fill their heads with vain amusements, which signify little to their salvation.*

O Lord, abandon not Thy flock to wolves, but send them pastors after Thine own heart.

"The Lord said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary."-Numbers xviii. 1. That is, they shall carry them away by the

* Hebrews v.

sacrifices which they shall offer for them, especially on the day of expiation.

"Fear the Lord with all thy soul, and reverence his priests.-Love Him that made thee, with all thy strength, and forsake not His ministers; but give the priest his portion as it is commanded."-Ecclus. vii. 29.

A lawful call affords us a good ground to hope for all necessary assistance, and grace to do our duty, and for mercy for all our involuntary defects.

CLERGY.

I beseech Thee, O God, for them, and for myself; that, in the exercise of our ministry, we may depend much upon Thee; that we may learn from Thee what we ought to speak concerning Thee; that we may constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for righteousness' sake; that we may live and act as in the place of Christ, doing nothing unbecoming that character; and that we may preserve an apostolical firmness of mind under the vexations and persecutions of this world. Amen.

FAULTS OF THE CLERGY.

Let it be considered what is the great design of the generality of the clergy of these days-To appear learned rather than pious; to get preferment,