exclusiveness, denies the validity of our Episcopal ordinations. We, considering the Church of Rome to be a part, though a corrupt part, of the Catholic and Apostolic Church, admit theirs.'

Pp. 11, 12: Taking the Scriptures, therefore, as the only rule of our faith, we have only to search them for the confirmation of it. And here I 5 cannot but lament that the books called Apocryphal, though denied by our Church to be of authority to the establishment of any doctrine, should yet have been so far recognised by it as to be not unfrequently read in its service.'

Pp. 14, 15: We may state, in general terms, that we are more nearly 10 related to Churches of the Protestant persuasion, than to that of Rome, or to the Eastern Church. That is to say, there is a broader line of separation between our Church and these, than between our Church and other Protestant Churches. In particular, the doctrines of infallibility and papal supremacy, transubstantiation, purgatory, intercession of Saints, works of 15 supererogation, continued miraculous powers (at least among sober Protestants), plenary indulgences and the like, and the discipline of papal celibacy, monastic vows, and prayers in an unknown tongue, separate us still more widely from the Church of Rome than from the Oriental Church ...But, as is ever the case where the differences are small, we are apt to lay 20 more stress on our disagreement among each other as Protestant Churches, than on the greater and far more important ones between ourselves and the Churches of Rome and Constantinople.'

Pp. 16, 17: 'Infidelity is making so bold an inroad into the land, and lifting up its front so daringly against the Church of Christ, that it is 25 highly to be wished that all those who call themselves His disciples should lay aside their disputes and differences on comparatively lesser matters, and unite with one heart and one mind in holy warfare against this deadly foe... What then, some one may say, is it of no consequence to what denomination of Christians I belong, so that I am a member, in some commu- 30 nity or other, of the Catholic Church? I am sure I have no where said this, and I am quite sure I do not think it. I believe it is of great consequence to every man diligently to examine not only the grounds of his faith in general, but also of his attachment to this or that particular Church; and I heartily thank God for being a member of a Church, which in my 35 heart and conscience I believe to be the best and most apostolic, in its doctrines and institutions, of any in the Christian world; and I would to God that all who differ from it were altogether such as I am in this belief. But I maintain that this advantage, which I feel that I possess in being thus a member of the Church of England, does not authorise me to slight 40 or disregard good men of any Church which differs from my own, especially when these differences are in non-essentials.'

Thoughts on church dignities. By S. Butler, D.D. &c. archdeacon of Derby. Non tamen omnino Teucros delere. London: printed for Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman. 1833. 8vo. pp. 22. [In 45 Cambridge university library.]

Pp. 4, 5. Bishoprics no sinecures; in many cases they are underpaid. 'Hence indeed arises a principal ground of odium. To help out a bishopric of £800 or £1200 a year, stalls or other rich sinecures are given,

or rich livings are allowed to be held in commendam with the bishopric, giving a colorable ground for exclaiming against the accumulation of church preferments in the person of one individual, where a grant of £5000 a year would not appear disproportionate to the duties and dignity of the 5 situation. Improvement therefore might be made, and I should say is imperiously called for, in this respect-especially as it would lead to the abolition of that greatest real evil in the constitution of the Episcopal Bench, the frequency of translations. The enemies of the Church are sensible that here is their strong hold, and it is upon this that they ground 10 one of their strongest arguments for the removal of the Bishops from the House of Lords,- -an event which I most earnestly deprecate, not only as subversive of the just rights and security of the Church, but of the fundamental principles of the Constitution.'

P. 6. Translations make the bishops dependent on government, and 15 subject the poorer dioceses to the evils of constant change.

P. 7. The dioceses should be re-distributed, and their incomes made equal. Advantages of the ecclesiastical commission.

Pp. 8-12. Canons might be required to serve their livings. They might form a school of theology for the training and examining of young 20 divines in the interval between their taking their academic degree and their entering into holy orders-and, perhaps a two years' course of study, which might be pursued either in the Universities or at their own domestic residence, with half-yearly examinations on theological subjects before the bishop or his deputy, and the dean and chapter, might be a better prepa25 ration for orders than the present mode of examination, even though it might cause young men to be a year later before they were able to enter the church.' This would lead to the appointment, not of younger sons or favoured chaplains of noble families, but of the really learned and laborious clergy, whose earlier years have been devoted to the interests of their 30 profession, and who would here find in their more advanced stage of life, leisure for the pursuit of their studies, and opportunities for communicating the result of them for the benefit of mankind.'

Pp. 12-17. The abolition of these dignities would be the introduction of a grade of persons, lower in point of birth, habits, and education, into 35 the church. They should be given by the same rule as college fellowships. The clerical profession the most underpaid of any. The present bench of Bishops must surely be redeemed from the charge of idleness, by the labours of Van Mildert, Blomfield, Marsh, Kaye, Sumner, Maltby, Coplestone. I speak here, be it observed, of Theological Works alone-could I else 40 omit so eminent a name as Monk, destined, I doubt not, when he has been sufficiently long in his high station, to add to the lustre of his classical fame, the result of his theological attainments?'

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Pp. 17, 18. Learned deans, canons, archdeacons.

Pp. 18-22. Necessity of profane learning to divines.

A charge delivered to the clergy of the archdeaconry of Derby, at the visitations at Derby and Chesterfield, June 20 and 21, 1833. By the Rev. S. Butler, D.D. F.R.S. &c. archdeacon of Derby, and head master of

Shrewsbury school. London: printed for Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman, Paternoster-Row. 1833. 4to.

P. 3: In the two years which have elapsed since we last met in this place, those events have been accelerated in their course which were then not difficult to foresee.... A great change has already been proposed in the 5 constitution of a portion of the Established Church in the Sister Kingdom, and how much farther it may be carried there, or how far it may affect our own interests here, no man can at present foresee. It is true that the circumstances of the Church in the two kingdoms are undoubtedly different, and that local changes and arrangements which may be practicable in the 10 one instance may be not only inexpedient but impossible in the other. [Footnote. Since this Charge was delivered, that clause of the Irish Church Bill, which affected the disposal of ecclesiastical property to other than ecclesiastical purposes, has been withdrawn].'

Pp. 4, 5: Much, no doubt, is to be apprehended from the bitterness of 15 those who are entirely hostile to an Established Church; and much from the self-interested views of those who hope to enrich themselves from its spoils something also is to be feared from the too eager interference of the laity, even when not unkindly disposed, without sufficient knowledge and experience in ecclesiastical matters-something from that pruriency for 20 legislation which is the characteristic, I had almost said the vice, of the present age-something from the too urgent zeal of some among ourselves -and something from the too unbending opposition, or at least strong disinclination to all change which is incident to all grave and sober bodies of men, and which forms a favorite topic of reprehension in the mouth of 25 every declaimer against the Established Church. It is not indeed to be wondered, that in times of public commotion the Church should generally be the first to suffer, for it is the least resisting and most defenceless part of the community. But we may find sufficient proof both from the history of foreign nations and our own, that the downfall of the Church has generally 30 been the prelude to that of the state also....Nor are those wanting in the present day who scruple not to unite with avowed hostility to the Church an equally avowed predilection for a republican form of government....A few months since, the complexion of the times induced me to commit to the press some thoughts on a particular point [Church Dignities], which might 35 have been reserved to this time, had I not wished them to go forth before the meeting of Parliament.'

Pp. 5, 6. The returns shew church property to be not more than £3,500,000, about £210 for each clergyman, with the exception of the bishops. 'Thus ends, I trust, the fable of the enormous wealth of the 40 Church.'

Pp. 6-8: Upon every principle of equity they [these funds] can only be applied to ecclesiastical purposes...I cannot see the justice or reasonableness of confining this appropriation to that part of ecclesiastical property alone, which is in the hands of the Clergy, without making a proportionate 45 reduction from that which is in lay hands. Strictly speaking, impropriate property ought to be subject to a heavier impost, because it is an income received for no service performed. If it be argued, that it is sacred to the possessors on the ground of long possession, we may reply, that ecclesias

tical property is far more so....It may be said that this species of property has often since been bought and sold, and that its full value has been given for it without the contemplation of any such claim. This however can never make that right which was originally wrong....[Footnote. We may 5 observe that other landed property has been frequently bought and sold, without the contemplation of subsequent claims upon it-such as the land tax itself-the property tax-the original and daily increasing burthen of poor rates.....]. It may be said that lay rectors already contribute to ecclesiastical purposes, being burthened with the repairs of their respective 10 chancels; but so are ecclesiastical. And I must add, from long observation, that this contribution is too frequently meted out with a sparing and reluctant hand by very extensive lay impropriators. When we further consider, that such impropriators generally receive the full, or nearly the full value of their tithes, without murmuring, from the tithe payers, while the 15 Clergy rarely receive more than about two thirds, and often less, paid grudgingly, it is surely not too much to expect that lay tithe owners should fully participate in any burthen to be laid on ecclesiastical property, even for ecclesiastical purposes. If this can be effected, a very important addition will be made to any fund which may be raised for the increase of small 20 livings, the building of glebe houses, and other ecclesiastical purposes, by any tax imposed upon ecclesiastical property.'

Pp. 8, 9: 'I confess it does not appear to me to make any difference, in a moral point of view, whether the presentation to a living be sold, subject to the life of the present incumbent, or whether it be sold when actually 25 void by his death. In some respects the former seems the more immoral transaction of the two. It partakes more of the nature of gambling, inasmuch as it depends more upon a calculation of chances. It gives an unpleasant interest to the expectant, in the life of the actual incumbent, and does not appear to me defensible upon any ground of morality or religion. 30 I look upon the sale of advowsons as a great evil, but it is one inseparable from private patronage, which it may be impossible for the law entirely to remedy, but which however it might discourage, and prevent as much as possible from falling into the hands of brokers. But I cannot consider the sale of next presentations in any other light than that of aggravated 35 simony. Whether any attempt will be made in the regulation of church affairs to prevent this evil remains to be seen: I am sure it is one of those which cries loudly for reform.'

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Pp. 9-12: With regard to the augmentation of small livings, there appears to me no way in which that measure can be brought about to any substantial purpose, in any reasonable time, but by some contribution from the richer benefices towards the benefit of the poorer....I would wish to see all livings above a certain population, or situated in towns, raised to not less than £300 a year, and in the country to not less than £200....Leaving out therefore the Bishoprics,-which however might contribute on the 45 same principle to the improvement of the poorer sees, the income of which is notoriously inadequate to their support, and leaving out also Cathedral and Collegiate property, which might be employed in raising the smaller livings in their respective patronage to the same amount as is proposed by the operation of the general fund,....I would still recur to the scale of con

tribution which I endeavoured to explain in a letter which I sent for the consideration of the Clergy of this Archdeaconry in the course of last year. According to that scale I suggested, that in lieu of tenths and firstfruits, and exempting from any contribution all livings under £300 a year, the remainder should pay as follows': livings of £300 a year, I per cent; of 5 £400, 2; of £500, 3; etc.; of £1200 and all above, 10. This would produce clear £40,000 a year, four times the amount of Queen Anne's Bounty. 'If to this should be added a similar contribution from lay rectors, unless they chose at once to endow the vicarages on their rectories with a portion of the great tithes, so as to raise them to the sum before mentioned,...the IO above fund, instead of having a fourfold, would probably have at least an eightfold rapidity of operation. [Footnote...It being generally agreed that some sacrifice must be made to public opinion, acting upon the principle of e malis minimum, I would take that which was likely to be efficient with the least injury, and which should comprehend all ecclesiastical property. 15 If the lay impropriator who receives his income and does nothing for it, raises his voice against the injustice of such a tax, how much more may the clergy who are labourers in the vineyard!...If it be found impossible to touch lay impropriators, then I contend that church property in clerical hands must be untouched also]....It is certain that several lay tithe owners 20 would augment the vicarages in their gift, for several have declared such an intention; and if at the same time the smaller livings in the gift of Cathedral and Collegiate bodies were raised by them to the above amount (which has actually been done in many cases within the last two years), the number of small livings remaining to be thus raised would be much 25 diminished.'

Pp. 13, 14. Consolidation of livings; difficulties of; under what conditions practicable and beneficial. 'More summary and better defined powers should be given to the Bishop and Archdeacon, to compel repairs of glebe houses, before they fall into a state of dilapidation and decay.'

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Pp. 14, 15: 'Where a living of small value is held with one of greater, which is frequently the case, so far from the plurality being injurious, I believe that it is very often productive of benefit. It generally produces more good to the poor inhabitants of that parish which has the smaller living, when the incumbent is in easy circumstances, than when he is 35 barely able to maintain his own family on the scanty income of his cure. It helps to form a class of men to become, at a future period, incumbents in the Church, who are thus employed as curates... And not unfrequently it enables an incumbent to employ an assistant curate, with a larger salary than the smaller living itself would produce. I will put a case which is not 40 altogether hypothetical: a clergyman has a living of £300 a year, with considerable population, and would be glad of an assistant in the duty; he is presented to another small living of £40 or £50 a year, with a small population: now though he could not afford to pay an assistant curate £80 a year out of his £300, he can afford it out of his £340 or £350.'

Pp. 15, 16. Absurdity of the outcry about the Working Clergy; no more hardships to be encountered by those who take orders, than by those who engage in any other profession.

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Pp. 16, 17. Declaimers against pluralities enumerate nominal preferment as if it were valuable and real. There are many small livings which, 50