LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 145 



of good sermons, viz. wherein the fundamental 

 doctrines of religion were laid down distinctly , 

 and clearly disentangled of the controversies 

 about them, and wherein the 'practical duties 

 of Christianity were pressed warmly and affec- 

 tionately. When such discourses came from a 

 man of a good life, and one who in all other 

 respects shewed a real concern to make people 

 better, he judged them of great consequence 

 in reforming the world, and promoting true 

 piety and virtue ; and therefore it was a princi- 

 pal branch of his pastoral care, to engage his 

 Clergy in the study of this point, to make 

 themselves useful preachers; and he took all 

 occasions of exhorting them to it, and instruct- 

 ing them in it. 



There were two seasons in particular, when 

 he used to enlarge upon this topic, viz. at his 

 Ordinations and at his Visitations. 



The first he held regularly at all the stated 

 times, when he was in his diocese. And as it 

 was a business of the greatest weight and con- 

 sequence that appertained to his office, he used 

 the properest means to qualify himself for the 

 discharge of it. He usually repaired privately 

 to his chapel to beg God's presence with him, 

 and blessing upon him, or, to use his own ex- 

 pression, to implore the guidance of his Spirit in 

 that work. He measured candidates for orders. 



