we scarcely know a limit to the revenues which we would gladly see at their disposal. But this does not affect the general question. Bishops and archbishops may be generous and munificent in expending their revenues for the furtherence of the glory of God and the happiness of man, or the reverse. But it is not, it cannot be right, that so much wealth and so much poverty should be seen arrayed in the same official vestments, One of the first measures connected with the adjustment of the revenues of the Church we would propose therefore, is, that the incomes of the archbishops and bishops should be reduced much nearer to an equality with each other. According to our view, 10,000l. a-year would form an ample maximum maintenance, and 5,000l. a-year no unreasonable minimum. Assuming, then, that 10,000l. per annum should be the highest, and 5,0001. the lowest rate of income received by the episcopal and archiepiscopal dignitaries of the English Church, every see of which the revenues exceed the smaller sum, might be required to pay 5001. for every thousand of its overplus, for the augmentation of the poorer dioceses, and the whole of the excess of any see above the highest point in the scale should be devoted to the same purpose. If such an arrangement were made, we have no doubt, that, in addition to other advantages, our archbishops and bishops might be supported entirely by resources properly belonging to their own rank; and the other emoluments which they now receive might be available for other purposes. An adjustment of this description, so just and equitable, so fair and unobjectionable, would be attended with results of incalculable importance; nor can we conceive any measure which would be productive of a better moral effect upon the feelings of the community, at this season of irritation and excitement, than such a voluntary exhibition of equity and disinterestedness on the part of the heads of our Church.

A still more important object is, the provision of an adequate maintenance for the parochial clergy; and this might be done to a very considerable extent, by means of the resources which the Church has at her command. It appears to us that the income of a parochial clergyman of the Church of England, in the present state of the country, should, if possible, never be less than 3001. a-year; in large towns it should be more; but it surely ought never to exceed 1000l., except as it may be connected with some other ecclesiastical function. The revenues belonging to the benefices to which is attached a cure of souls, are far from being adequate to secure any thing approaching to such a provision. If the whole were thrown into a common fund and divided, the dividend would be far too small for a reasonable average maintenance of a clergyman and his family. We had made some calculations, from the various conflicting estimates before the public, but they are of necessity imperfect; and as clearer light will be thrown upon the question by the returns of clerical revenue recently ordered by the House of Commons, we shall wait for this fuller information. But the general fact is undeniable, that the whole of the parochial ecclesiastical property in the kingdom, in consequence of lay impropriations, moduses, and various exemptions, is far too small, if equalized, to support the Establishment in due comfort and respectability. Still, much might be done with the more lucrative livings, to make them assist the poorer; though not, we fear, to the extent which some persons imagine, without an unjust interference with the rights of private property. Neither the patron of a valuable living, nor the tithe payers, might willingly see the property of the parish carried to a distant spot; they might at least wish that if a large sum were raised, it should be spent by a resident incumbent upon the spot where it was collected. Much, however, might fairly be done by means of a graduated scale of duties; besides which, even the patron and tithe-payers of the rich living might be induced to allow part of the superfluity to emigrate to poorer parishes, if the former

had, by way of bonus, an equivalent offered him for the diminished value of his advowson, and the latter a remission of a portion of the tithe. The whole of the crown livings (more than a thousand) might be thus adjusted without difficulty, there being but one patron; and also those belonging to public bodies, such as bishops, chapters, colleges, and companies. Cathedral property in particular may be rendered largely available for parochial purposes. We would not, indeed, deal rashly with this species of property; far from it; and we have already stated at some length our views of cathedral reform, which, if carried into effect, would demand a considerable portion of revenue. But one large item in that very article of reform was the augmentation of the numerous parochial benefices belonging to cathedral and other corporate bodies. This is now permitted, by recent enactments, to a considerable extent; but it ought to be imperative, not optional; and if the superfluous portion of cathedral property were duly employed for this purpose, the effect would be very powerful and rapid. Lord Henley has just published an interesting and valuable pamphlet on the subject, in which he shews how largely available chapter property might be made to augment poor livings. His lordship's pamphlet did not reach us till after the preceding remarks were written; but many of the suggestions in it are so important that we shall give the following outline of his lordship's plan

:

"The following pages are not dictated by any grudging feeling towards the endowments and wealth of the Establishment. On the contrary, the author thinks that it can never be too often repeated, that the Church of England is not a wealthy church. It has been stated from high authority, and has never been contradicted, that if all the revenues of the parochial clergy were equally divided amongst them, there would not be more than 1851. per annum for each: and that if the whole property of the Church, including all that belongs to deans and chapters, were thrown into a common fund, it would not furnish a net annual stipend of 350l. to each of the working clergy. But even if it were found greatly to exceed this amount, the author never would consent, upon any reasoning, however plausible, to see one shilling subtracted from the service of the sanctuary." pp. 5, 6.

"The augmentation of small livings and the endowment of churches in poor and populous places, can only be effected by the application of some portion of cathedral property: the other endowments of the Church being in one case insufficient, and in the other barely adequate, to the present demands upon them.

"The plan which is here submitted purposes to vest all episcopal and chapter estates in the hands of a corporation for the exclusive management and controul of this species of ecclesiastical property. It might not, at first, appear necessary to include in this arrangement the estates of the bishops, as no revenue is proposed to be subtracted from the sees. But it is admitted on all hands, that one of the objects most urgently demanded in a measure of Church Reform is the equalization of the bishoprics, in order to put an end to the great but now necessary evil of commendams. And although this might be adequately effected by leaving the administration of the property in the hands in which it is now placed, and by merely remodelling the application of the aggregate of the revenues according to certain proportions to be fixed by a new Act of Parliament, yet as an efficient machinery will have been already constituted for the chapter estates, and the other arguments, which will hereafter be noticed, demonstrate its applicability to episcopal property, it is here adduced as a measure of fitness and expediency, though not as a matter of so much urgency and necessity, as it appears to be with respect to the chapter property.

"This board should be a mixed body, consisting of a certain number of salaried, and a certain number of honorary members. The minute details of duty are rarely very efficiently performed by persons who act gratuitously: a sufficient degree of responsibility is not created to secure at all times that laboriousness and attention to detail, which is required and enforced from a paid agent. On the other hand, it is desirable to obtain the occasional attendance and general inspection of persons in eminent stations, both in church and state, who will give a stability and weight to the corporation, and be a guarantee for the uprightness and purity of its transactions.

"The first object in every alteration of this nature should be the preservation of the perfect inviolability of all life interests. No sinecure, or pluralities, no dispensation from residence, no excessive and disproportionate amount of revenue, however objectionable in principle, must be interfered with as against the present possessors. The plan, therefore, provides that the interests, which are to vest in the corporation, shall only do so on the death or resignation of these persons. This arrangement,

besides the justness of it, will also be highly expedient, as it will prevent the commissioners from being clogged with too much business in the outset, and give them time to become acquainted with the nature of the property which they will have to manage, and to ascertain in what places and districts the surplus revenues can be most beneficially applied.

"In the administration of the cathedral property, and the reformation of the chapters, the first consideration which naturally arises is, that due provision be made for the celebration of cathedral service. For this purpose (as one great object will be the abolition of every thing approaching to a sinecure, that can be dispensed with), it will be found most convenient to entrust the performance of Divine service exclusively to the dean, assisted by such a number of chaplains as shall be deemed necessary. As his residence will be for nine months in the year, he should perform the same quantity of public duty as the incumbents of our great London livings. But as there will be no occasional duty, no registers to be kept, no vestries to attend, no visiting of the poor and sick, his labours will be extremely slight. The plan provides very liberal stipends for these dignitaries; and therefore the deaneries may be considered as the rewards and support for those classes of learned men already alluded to, whom it may be found more proper to advance in this mode, than by either episcopal or parochial preferment. Nor can the provision be deemed too meagre and niggardly, which contains thirty-two pieces of preferment, of amount varying according to population and cheapness of living, from 1800l. to 1000l. per annum. To this must be added, six out of the eight stalls of the cathedral of Christ Church, Oxford, as the present plan does not propose to affect that chapter, except as to residence, and the annexation of two of the stalls to the livings which the chapter possesses in that city.

"The service, too, of the cathedral being thus placed more exclusively under the control and subject to the responsibility of one constantly resident person, may become more parochial, and therefore more devotional and spiritual in its nature. Nothing can be less satisfactory to those who desire to worship God in spirit and in truth, than the coldness and formality of cathedral service. The poor are effectually excluded by the arrangements of the very small portion of the vast edifice which is applied to the real business of worship. And though it is unnecessary to enlarge upon other objections, some of which arise from circumstances that are hardly remediable, yet there are many things which a devout and earnest person, permanently residing and armed with due power, might alter materially, to the promotion of true religion.

"The service of the cathedral being thus adequately provided for by the dean and his assistants, it will be asked, whether it is proposed to abolish entirely all prebendaries and canons? The answer is, that as supernumeraries in a church already provided with ministers, or as sinecurists in a city where they have no efficient duties to perform, they should be abolished. But it will be found, on examining our cathedral towns, that in most of them there are benefices in the gift of the chapter, where the population is extensive, and the emoluments extremely small, the duties of which are therefore assigned to minor canons or other subordinate persons. These livings, if the population exceeds 1500 souls, should be inseparably annexed to a stall of the chapter; if below that amount they might be conferred upon the chaplains, whose stipends should be proportionably increased. In these cities where the chapter happens to have no patronage of this sort, in case there are benefices which come within this description, arrangements might easily be made with the patrons for annexing them to prebends. But this system of endowment should be strictly confined to the livings within the city. For, however small the distance, the great object for which residence should be so strictly enforced, would be missed, if a living, though only a few miles distant, were annexed to a prebend: the incumbent would be passing his days in his prebendal residence in the city, and only visiting his flock for Sunday duties. In chapters, where this mode of annexation of livings could not be adopted, there should be no stalls continued.

"The plan proposes, 1st, To apply somewhat above 50,000l. per annum to the stipends of the deans and their chaplains: 2dly, The sum of 100,000l. per annum towards the endowment of such chapter, benefices, or other similarly situated city parishes; and, 3dly, The residue, which, according to the estimate already alluded to, will amount to about the annual sum of 150,000l. towards the augmentation of country livings, the building of residences, and the endowment of new churches in poor and populous districts." pp. 32-37.

We know not that we can add much to the above plan, except it be the suggestion before adverted to, of making the richer livings, though they be not chapter property, assist the poorer by means of a graduated tax, so far as this can be done without injustice to patrons or tithe-payers. The public, also, ought, for their own sake as well as that of the clergy, to assist the church if its present revenues are inadequate; and we believe that liberality would not be wanting if there were such a reform as would give to every

parish a respectable and pious incumbent, living and dying among the people, and earnestly devoting himself to their spiritual welfare. We need not repeat, having lately dwelt so much on the subject, that in every sound measure of church reform plurality of parochial charges is entirely out of the question; except that, in retired and thinly peopled districts, two parishes, in some cases, might be consolidated into one benefice, which would facilitate the augmentation of the smaller livings. To such a plan as we have proposed, not of levelling, but of equitable management, with such exceptions as peculiar cases might require, we see no possible objection beyond what might be urged by the selfishness of individuals; and such pleas will not long be able to withstand the obvious justice, as well as the overwhelming necessity of the case.

The second branch of our ecclesiastical economy which we have specified as requiring a certain measure of modification and improvement, is that connected with its public services. The first thing which claims attention in this department of the subject, is the necessity of endeavouring by every practicable means, public and private, to promote the erection of a larger number of churches and chapels for the accommodation of the thickening and extending masses of our population. The facilities afforded by the recent Act of the legislature, if met with correspondent liberality on the part of affluent individuals and the rulers of our church, will doubtless effect much to remedy this crying and long-continued evil. That the people may enjoy the full benefit of this increased accommodation, two full services, each including a sermon, should be required in every church and chapel throughout the kingdom. A week-day expository lecture would also be highly desirable; and a Sunday-school, receiving public catechetical instruction in every case, if practicable, should be considered an essential part of the parochial and district system. Hitherto the neglect of these measures, partly from necessity, and partly from indolence and indifference, and the consequent habits of inveterate ignorance, impiety, and demoralization, are too palpable and notorious to admit of denial or extenuation.

Various alterations have been suggested as desirable to be adopted in the liturgical services of our church. Since the time that this beautiful and impressive system of doctrinal and devotional formularies was given, as Milton expresses it, to be "purged and physicked" by the commissioners of Elizabeth, and subsequently underwent an investigation at the HamptonCourt Conference, with a view, as King James is said to have declared, of removing complaints if they should prove well founded; or of taking such knowledge of them, even if frivolous, as would have the effect of a "sop cast into the mouth of Cerberus;" there has been a general impression that some modifications, with respect to its length and arrangement, would be desirable. We would by no means venture so far as some friends of the Church have proposed to go upon this subject. We would not hazard such innovations as would endanger the integrity of her doctrinal system. The alterations we would admit would be strictly confined to arrangement and omission. We would have no new forms or confessions substituted for the present. The too probable character of such substitutions may be learned from a memorable passage in the life of Bishop Porteus. The bishop says, that at the close of the year 1772, and the beginning of the next, an attempt was made by himself, and a few other clergymen, among whom were Mr. Francis Wollaston, Dr. (afterwards bishop) Percy, and Dr. (afterwards bishop) Yorke, to induce the bishops to promote a review of the Liturgy and Articles, in order to amend in both, but particularly in the latter, those parts, which, says Dr. Porteus, "all reasonable persons agree stand in need of amendment." This plan was not in the smallest degree connected with

the Socinian petitioners at the Feathers Tavern, but, on the contrary, was professedly meant, adds the bishop, "to counteract that and all similar extravagant projects; to strengthen and confirm our ecclesiastical establishment; to repel the attacks which were at that time continually made upon it by its avowed enemies; to render the Seventeenth Article on predestination and election more clear and perspicuous, and less liable to be wrested by our adversaries to a Calvinistic sense, which has been so unjustly attached to it; to improve true Christian piety among those of our own communion, and to diminish schism and separation by bringing over to our national church, all the moderate and well-disposed of other persuasions." "On these grounds," continues his lordship, "we applied in a private and respectful manner to Archbishop Cornwallis, requesting him to signify our wishes, which we conceived to be the wishes of a very large proportion both of the clergy and the laity, to the rest of the bishops, that every thing could be done, which could be prudently and safely done, to promote these important and salutary purposes. The answer given by the Archbishop, Feb. 11, 1773, was in these words: 'I have consulted severally my brethren the bishops; and it is the opinion of the bench in general, that nothing can in prudence be done in the matter that has been submitted to our consideration.'

The bishops were probably in the right. Little did Dr. Porteus (it was before he became a bishop) think what a burst of jealousy, alarm, and indignation would have assailed him, and justly, if he had laid his hands upon the Seventeenth Article. Besides, why un-Calvinize it, if it was not Calvinistic; and if it was, where was the propriety or justice of ejecting its literal interpreters from the Established Church. We are therefore no ad, vocates in the present state of the church, for submitting our Prayer-book to what the old divines called "tinkering." A few passages which are a stumbling block to many pious minds, without being essential, might well be altered; but these are not those most likely to be experimented upon, at least if our bishops estimate the matter by Bishop Porteus's estimate, But some abridgment might with great advantage be admitted, especially in the morning service, respecting which there are some useful suggestions (though we go not to his extent) in Mr. Cox's volume. It would be highly conducive to edification and devotional effect, if the Morning Service were divided, or considerably shortened by the omission of such parts as are either actually repeated, or may be considered as embodied in other parts. The Apocryphal Lessons should be ejected forthwith. For the present we only glance at these few matters, under the head of our second division; but they are too important to be thus summarily passed over, and we intend, some future day, to recur to them more at large.

But, thirdly and lastly, that reform, without which all alterations in the fiscal economy and liturgical services of the church would be utterly un availing for the high purposes of its establishment as an engine of spiritual instruction and moral influence, is that which must be embodied in the personal character and endowments of its ministers. Without such habits of mind and conduct in the great body of the clerical profession, as become their solemn vocation, all external and economical improvements, however necessary and important, would fall infinitely short of their object. We want not merely a system of correct and well-adjusted mechanism, but also men who will bring its powers to bear upon the community with energy, assiduity, and effect-not merely a vessel fraught with the treasures of eternal truth, capable of maintaining its equipoise amidst the storms and tempests by which it is liable to be assailed, but likewise those, who by their zeal and vigilance, their experience and skill, are competent to steer it amidst the shoals and quicksands with which it is surrounded, and to CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 366. 3 G