in every part of the pastoral office is enforced upon you by his station of authority and influence in (this part[1] especially of) the diocese.
I am very sensible, my brethren, that some of these things, in places where they are greatly wanted, are impracticable, from the largeness of parishes, suppose. And where there is no impediment of this sort, yet the performance of them will depend upon others, as well as upon you. People cannot be admonished or instructed in private, unless they will permit it. And little will you be able to do in forming the minds of children to a sense of religion, if their parents will not assist you in it; and yet much less, if they will frustrate your endeavours by their bad example, and giving encouragement to their children to be dissolute. The like is to be said also of your influence in reforming the common people in general, in proportion as their superiors act in like manner to such parents ; and whilst they, the lower people, I mean, must have such numerous temptations to drunkenness and riot everywhere placed in their way. And it is cruel usage we often meet with, in being censured for not doing what we cannot do, without what we cannot have, the concurrence of our censurers. Doubtless, very much reproach which now lights upon the clergy, will be found to fall elsewhere, if due allowances were made for things of this kind. But then, we, my brethren, must take care and not make more than due allowances for them. If others deal uncharitably with us, we must deal impartially with ourselves, as in a matter of conscience in determining what good is in our power to do; and not let indolence keep us from setting about what really is in our power; nor any heat of temper create obstacles in the prosecution of it, or render insuperable such as we find, when perhaps gentleness and patience would prevent or overcome them. Indeed, all this diligence to which I have been exhorting
- ↑ The Archdeaconry of Northumberland.
