_& REPLY TO HOOK’S ANGUIS IN HERBA.—A WORD OF ADVICE, &c. 
217 
Arr. LXVII. A Reply to the Anguis in Herba of the Rev. James Hook, M.A. F.S.A. 
containing a Refutation of his Defence of Pluralities, Non-residence, and the Employment of 
Substitutes by the Beneficed Clergy. By a Memsper or THE Estartisnep Cuurcn. 
8vo. pp. 87. 
THIS is a strenuous and well written 
defence, of a very important work no- 
ticed in our last volume, and entitled 
«¢ the Necessity of the Abolition of Plu- 
ralities, Non-residence, &c.”’ against 
which the Rev. James Hook, credens se 
aliquem, had entered the lists, and taken 
up the gauntlet in favour of his plura- 
list and non-resident brethren. We sus- 
pect that the author of that work is here 
again before us;' if not, he is one who, 
by many strong marks of likeness, disco- 
vers a near affinity. It is not necessary 
to enter into a detail of this transaction, 
it contains little thet is not to be found 
‘in the larger work to which we have 
just alluded. ; 
_ The following passage deserves the 
attention of Mr. Hook, who has argued 
in support of pluralities, from the’ small 
income arising from the greater part of 
livings : 
¢ Tt is singular, that this eentleman takes 
no notice of the number of superior bene- 
fices, which form a competent maintenance 
for a resident incumbent; and one might 
; suppose, that in his opinion there were no 
single livings sufficient for that purpose. I 
am convinced however, from my own obser- 
vation, and the information of others, that 
the number of benefices in England, above 
300l..a year, cannot be less than 2000, and 
these best livings are held in plurality equally 
with the inferior! Isa plurality of these to 
be defended on the plea of poverty? Or ra- 
ther, is not the insufficiency of some churches 
made use of as a pretext to hide and support 
the plurality of others that are sufficient? If 
the plan of universal residence cannot be re- 
duced to practice, as near an approximation 
to it as possible should be adopted; and a 
Jaw should be passed to prevent benefices 
above 300]. or 4001. per annum, to be held 
in plurality by any clergyman.” 
It is indeed high time that some re- 
formation should be adopted, if the esta- 
blishment is to possess the esteem of the 
great body of the people; who not be- 
ing liable to be misled by interest, feel 
the force of such truths as these : ft 
«« Every one admittediiffito the ch 
ministry 1s equally bound, bythe 
authority of scripture, fo enmplo 
and exert his talents in the faithful an 
scientious discharge of its duties, and to make 
full proof of his ministry. The clergy being 
under an indispensable obligation to perforna 
it in their own persons, it becomes, by ne- 
cessary consequence, impossible that they 
can neglect it, or discharge it by the agency’ 
of a delegate. Every character, title, and 
designation, attributed in the gospel to its 
ministers, demonstrate this truth. An am- 
bassador is notat liberty to delegate the com- 
mission which he has received from his so- 
vereign to a substitute of his own appoint- 
ment. A watchman or sentinel is not al- 
lowed to neglect or desert his post, or place 
another in his stead at his own pleasure. A 
shepherd is not permitted to forsake the flock 
entrusted to him, and commit them to the 
eare ofahireling. A steward is not suffered 
to absent himself from the family of his lord, 
and assign the care and management of his 
household toadeputy. And therefore those, 
who are commissioned to go and preach the 
gospel, are not at liberty to refuse to go and 
discharge their important mission, or to send 
others in tieir room; much Jess, if they ne- 
glect to serve at the altar, ought they to live 
by the altar. Every clergyman must give an 
account of his personal diligence and fidelity 
in the work of his Lord, and receive his re- 
ward according to his own work, and not 
according to the labour of his substitute. 
“«« On these equitable principlés were the 
ministers of the gospel first established, and 
by these just principles did they regulate their 
conduct for ages ; nor is asingle instance to 
be found in the history of the church, for 
near a thousand years, of any minister, in 
any order and rank of the priesthood, per- 
forming his duty by the help of a substitute, 
much less of any minister receiving the re- 
wards earned by the services of his deputy.” 
Arr. LXVIII. 4 Word of Advice to all Church Reformation-mongers : containing Stric« 
tures on two recent Publications. 
THE two recent publications are— 
* the Necessity of the Abolition of Plu- 
ralities, &c.”’ and “a Plea for Religion 
and the Sacred Writings,”’ both noticed in 
our former volume. This Word of Ad- 
Vice is, not inaptly, styled by the author 
Svo. pp. 32. 
a squib; and as we have no fondness for 
gun-powder, we shall not venture to 
touch it. Our readers, we can assure 
them, will suffer no loss; and they will 
keep themselves out of danger, ik they 
follow our example. 
