146 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHAKP. 



more by their modesty and good sense, and the 

 testimonials of their virtue, than bv their learn- 

 ing. To have a right notion of the main doc- 

 trines of religion, to understand thoroughly the 

 terms of the new covenant, both on God's part 

 and on man's ; and to know the reasons, and 

 apprehend the force, of those distinctions upon 

 which the Church of England explained and stated 

 those terms differently from the Church of Rome 

 and other communions separating from her, were 

 with him the chief qualifications for the ministry 

 in regard to learning. 



He had often found and lamented a deficiency 

 as to these parts of knowledge, in persons 

 otherwise of good learning and abilities ; whom he 

 was obliged sometimes to remit to their studies, 

 that they might make themselves better masters 

 of this most necessary knowledge for a clergy- 

 man. He directed them in such cases, how and 

 where to apply themselves for the attaining it. 

 And if they were unable to provide themselves 

 with the proper helps, he would give them some 

 of the best books for their instruction, and tell 

 them, if they came to him again with this proof 

 of their diligence and improvement, that they 

 appeared well versed in those books, he would 

 then no longer scruple to put them into the 

 ministry. Others there were, on whom, when 

 he could not ordain them on account of their 



