those that went before them. Surely to Perfons in these Circumftances great Allowances ought to be made: and that in Prudence, as well as Equity. Defpair of pleafing you will tempt them to be careless what they do: whereas, if you manifeft a Difpofition to be fatisfied with them, and thankful to them, fo far as you have Cause, you will excite them to deferve ftill better of you; efpecially, if along with this, they were but more conftantly and regularly infpected, affifted and fupported, by the Justices of the Peace: to whom therefore I beg Leave here to recommend this good Work, as I have done elsewhere more than once. And I do it at prefent with the greater Hope of Success, because I know feveral of them are defirous of undertaking it; and am perfuaded, that nothing but Want of Concert, and putting the Matter in a due Method, prevents it.

I have dwelt fomewhat longer on the Affairs of your Poor, because they have produced Uneafineffes among you, not only against one another, but against your Minifter: though he hath no more Concern in them, than to pay his Proportion towards this, as well as other common Burthens; excepting his general Duty, of exhorting all under his Care to do theirs. And I hope you must fee, that this Exhortation of mine, which I have often thought of giving you before now, hath no other Motive than a moft hearty Defire, that,

to speak in the Words immediately after the Text, you may be of one Mind, and live in Peace, and the God of Love and Peace be with you. Let me now mention another Thing of a more ecclefiaftical Nature. This Building, in which we are, greatly wants both cleaning and beautifying, as is too vifible, and repairing also which the Law, that founded the Parish, requires to be done by a Rate, levied on the Inhabitants. Leffer Repairs have been made, without a Rate, for many Years past, out of the Incomes arifing from Pews and Burials. But that from the latter is greatly diminished and both together cannot near do what is now wanted. And And yet taking the Method, which after all must be taken, and the fooner the better, hath been delayed for fear of Clamour. Let me befeech you therefore, to remove these Apprehenfions of your Officers beforehand, as far as you can, by proper Affurances that you understand the Cafe rightly; and when the Work is undertaken, to contribute your allotted Shares with Cheerfulness. I would not urge to you fuch low Confiderations, as that of not coming behind other Parishes in this Refpect, whom you excell fo vaftly in Wealth and Rank. It is much fitter to remind you of the diftinguished Honour, due by Reafon, Scripture, and the Confent of Mankind, to facred Things; and of the Duty and Wisdom of not furnishing a Pretence, either to Unbelievers, or Papifts, for triumphing over Chriftianity, or Proteftantism;

2

as not requiring, or not being able to obtain, from its Profeffors, any Degree of that Deçency in their Churches, which even the middle Sort of them would not bear to be wanting in their Dwelling-houses. Indeed every Thing publick, though of a civil Nature only, and yet more of a religious, ought far to exceed, in Point of Dignity, what is for mere private Ufe. And the Neglect of that Rule both fhews, and will increase, a Preference of perfonal Interests to those of the Community. We read, that many among the Children of Ifrael, both Men and Women, brought voluntary Offerings unto the Lord, for the Work of the Tabernacle *. The early Christians imitated their Example, as foon as they durft: and after the superfluous Ornaments of following Ages were justly difapproved; valuable Prefents have been made in the reformed Church of England, and in this very Church, for the greater Solemnity and Beauty of divine Service. Why would it not now be one fitting Mark of Regard to God, if Persons of Fortune and Condition were to do the fame Thing? At least, will it not be a lamentable Mark of Difregard to him, if any murmur to do what the Law enjoins them?

But I proceed to speak to you concerning your future Minifter. When I prepared this Part of my Discourse, I had not the least Guefs who it would be; nor have I added or

* Exod. xxxv. 5, &ç.

altered

altered one Word fince: nor am I fure that I know, even now: if I do, he is almoft entirely a Stranger to me, except by what he hath written, which is excellent. And therefore you must understand me to speak, without any particular Reference to the Perfon, but only on a general Confideration of the Cafe. The spiritual and eternal Good of Multitudes of Souls will depend not a little on their Attention to his Inftructions: and that will depend very much on the Opinion formed of him, and the Reception given him, at first. For God's Sake therefore, let none of you fet out with Prepoffeffions against him, of any Kind. For in all Likelihood they will wrong him and affuredly they will do Harm to you. But efpecially I beg, that whoever profeffes any Refpect for me, would fhew it by paying a peculiar Respect to my Succeffor. In whatfoever he excells me, as I fincerely with he may in all Things, acknowledge it freely, thank God for it, give him the Encouragement of knowing it: and never let any one be fo abfurd as to imagine, that he shall perform either a right or an acceptable Part to me, by detracting in the leaft from his Merit. If in any Thing he should seem to be inferior; probably a little Time and Ufe may change your Minds: you may be reconciled to, and perhaps by Degrees prefer, what you difliked, when it was new to you. Or if not, remember the Apostle's Obfervation: Every Man bath his proper Gift of God: one after this

Man

Manner, another after that *. He that is only fecond in fuch or fuch an Attainment, may be first in a different one, of equal or greater Benefit. And it is very unfair to judge of a Man's Character or Usefulness on the whole, by a single or a few Articles. Befides, he will be able to adapt both his Difcourfes and his Behaviour to you much better after a Time, than is poffible while he is yet unacquainted with you; and to undertake more for your Service, after fome Space for Preparation, than juft at prefent: which you may recollect was my own Cafe. Therefore do not expect too much from him, nor be too eafy of Belief against him, in the Beginning. And afterwards both confider and inquire, what is rea→ fonable to expect, and what not, before you find Fault.

The Bodies and the Voices of Men, you well know, are not equally ftrong and one may exert himself without Danger, to a Degree, which another, though seemingly as well qualified by Nature, must not attempt. Now where there is a willing Mind, it is accepted by Heaven, and fhould be by You, according to that a Man bath, and not according to that be bath not. And though Perfons be able, yet fuch Things as are not enjoined, and have not been customary, you have no Right to demand, or expect, from them. Permit me to mention a few of thefe. The Sunday Even† 2 Cor. viii. 12.

* 1 Cor. vii. 7.