— 
. sier access than at present. 
1807.] .On Parochial Libraries for the Use of the Clergy. 
and the levelling diversions of the card- 
table; that the mixture of profound eru- 
dition with simplicity of manners, which 
characterized the clergy a century ago, 
and rendered them the objects of vene- 
ration and respect, is now rarely to be 
scen. I trust these remarks are founded 
rather on partial than general observa- 
tion; but, as far as they hold true, the 
causes may be traced to the circumstances 
in which the clergy are too often placed 
on their first enterimg on their vocation, 
the common duties of which in general 
fill up but asmall portion of their time. 
Embarrassed by the narrowness of their 
incomes, which are seldom equal to the 
supply of the decent accommodations of 
life; surrounded by persons whose so- 
ciety can add nothing to their. instruc- 
tion, and contribute little to their com- 
fort ; destitute of that superior knowledge 
which would render their professional 
exertions useful to others and procure to 
themselves a respectful attention; and 
deprived of all means of cultivating, on 
an enlarged scale, the studies of their 
early years; they are urged by the com- 
mon feelings of nature to dispel the list- 
lessness and ennui which such situations 
produce, by embracing the only plea- 
sures which he within their reach. The 
means of instruction in the last ace were 
not, perhaps, more numerous, nor of ea- 
But the dif- 
fusion of general knowledge among the 
laity, the progress of civilization, the re- 
Jaxation of discipline in the universities 
and the public seminaries, the great in- 
flux of wealth, and the modes of living 
to which it has given rise, have operated 
powerfully to the prejudice of the clergy ; 
and, while the apparent means of instruc- 
tion remain the same, the moral power of 
profiting by them is diminished, and the 
knowledge of the clergy become ag ina- 
dequate to the discharge of the duties of 
their high station, as their incomes are to 
the supply of their natural wants, If 
any authority were required in support 
‘of this general assertion, I might mention 
that of the present Bishop of Lincoln, 
who says, in the preface to his Elements 
of Christian Theology, “ That the de- 
ficiency which I found with respect 
to professional knowledge, in the can- 
didates for holy orders, suggested che 
idea of the following work, &c.;” and 
Sir William Scott, in his excellent 
speech on the non-residence of the 
clergy, in the House of Commons says, 
444 
“ When I consider the extraordinary 
men which the church of Scotland has 
produced (quailes viros Caledonia emi- 
serit, if | inay use the words of Tacitus, 
respecting their ancestors), I cannot help 
adverting to the circumstance, that their 
harvest of literature has been principally 
produced within the last thirty or forty 
years; within which time L understand a 
more liberal provision has, by the autho- 
rity of the court of justice, been made for 
their clergy.” It appears, that if the 
clergy of a country are conspicuous for 
their ignorance and abject dependence, 
they wil fall, and with them all that is 
graceful, and fair, and venerable, in so- 
ciety. Among the clergy of our esta- 
blished church, there are many who carry 
with them into their profession all the 
advantages which fortune can procure, 
many who have been fellows of Colleges, 
have had the best opportunities of ac- 
quiring extensive erudition; many who, 
residing 1m large towns, or near the man- 
sions of the nobility, have access to libra~ - 
ries, and are thus enabled to make up for 
the defects of their early education. It 
is these who shed sp!endour over the pro- 
fession, give dignity to the general body, 
and render the clergy of England supe- 
nor to that of every other ‘country under 
heaven. But, though they are many, nu-" 
merically considered, they are few in 
comparison of those who are exposed to 
the evils which have been mentioned; 
and however the public eye may be daz- 
zied, and national pride gratified, by the 
effulyence of the former, the fatal conse= 
quences resulting from the condition of 
the latter are severely telt. Parochial li- 
braries, being intended tor the benefit of 
the clergy, and chiefly to enable them to 
acquire, that professional knowledge 
which, in the erdinary and short space 
of their academical studies, they have. 
not an opportunity to obtain, should con- 
sist for the most part, of books immedi- 
ately relative to their profession. But, as 
all the arts, which contribute to the im- 
provement of human life are intimately 
connected, so sacred learning is blended 
with, and greatly illustrated by, that 
which is cailed profane. It is, therefore, 
desirable that the clerical libraries should 
at least contain, besides the works which, 
in. a stricter sense, may he deemed pro 
fessional, the most approved histories of 
the countries in which Christianity was 
first propagated, and has since been esta- 
blished; and likewise good editions of a 
few 
