44 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 



in him, or how far it was an acquired perfection, 

 is not easy to determine ; but which of them 

 soever it was, he never displayed it more than 

 in the celebration of the holy mysteries. So 

 distinct, nervous, devout, and indeed seraphic, 

 was his elocution on those occasions, that he 

 not only disposed the congregation present to 

 seriousness and reverence, but inspired them 

 with some degrees of that devotion, life, and com- 

 fort which he expressed himself. 



In a word, if he ever distinguished himself in 

 a more extraordinary manner under the charac- 

 ter of a Christian Priest, — if he ever did justice 

 to his function, or the Liturgic offices, it was 

 then when he stood before the altar. 



There are two points more, not to be for- 

 gotten, under the consideration of him as a 

 Parochial Minister ; and those are, his care and 

 diligence in discharging two very material 

 branches of his function, viz. catechising of youth, 

 and visiting the sick. 



As to the former, he well knew the great use- 

 fulness and expediency of laying a good foun- 

 dation of religion, by seasoning the mind early 

 with a sense of piety and duty, and furnishing 

 or pre-occupying it with good notions and prin- 

 ciples. It was one of his sayings, (and one that 

 he used to direct particularly to his clergy after 

 he became Bishop,) that, although he would 



