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The Archbishop's Letter to the Bishops of his Province.

MY LORD,

T having been the unanimous opinion of as many of our Brethren, the Bishops of this Province, as I have had an opportunity of consulting during the present Session of Parliament, that it might be for the service of Religion to revive and enforce, with some variations and additions which I proposed to them, the Rules published by the four last of my Predecessors in the See of Canterbury soon after their accession to it; I earnestly recommend to you,

I. That you require of every Person, who desires to be admitted to Holy Orders, that he signify to you his name and place of abode, and transmit to you his testimonial, and a certificate of his age duly attested, with the title upon which he is to be ordained, at least twenty days before the time of Ordination; and that he appear on Wednesday, or at farthest on Thursday, in Ember-week, in order to his examination.

II. That if you shall reject any Person, who applies for Holy Orders, upon the account of immorality proved against him, you signify the name of the person so rejected, with the reason of your rejecting him, to me, within one month; that so I may acquaint the rest of my Suffragans with the case of such rejected Person before the next Ordination.

III. That you admit not any Person to Holy Orders, who having resided any considerable time out of the University, does not send to you, with his testimonial, a certificate signed by the Minister, and other credible Inhabitants of the Parishi where he so resided, expressing, that notice was given in the Church, in time of Divine Service on some Sunday, at least a month before the day of Ordination, of his intention to offer himself to you to be Ordained at such a time: and that upon such notice given, no objections have come to your knowledge for the which he ought not to be Ordained.

IV. That you admit no letters testimonial, on any occasion whatsoever, unless it be therein expressed, for what particular end and design such letters are granted; nor unless it be declared, by those who shall sign them, that they have personally known the life and behaviour of the Person for the time by them certified; and do believe in their conscience, that he is qualified for that Order, Office, or Employment, to which he desires to be admitted.

V. That in all testimonials sent from any College or Hall, in either of the Universities, you expect that they be signed, as well as sealed; and that among the persons signing, the Governor of such College or Hall, or in his absence, the next person under such Governor, with the Dean, or Reader of Divinity, and the Tutor of the Person to whom the testimonial is granted, (such Tutor being in the College, and such Person being under the degree of Master of Arts,) do subscribe their

names.

VI. That you admit not any Person to Holy Orders upon letters dimissory, unless they are granted by the Bishop himself, or Guardian of the Spiritualities, sede vacante; nor unless it be expressed in such letters, that he who grants them, has fully satisfied himself of the title and conversation of the Person to whom the letter is granted.

VII. That you make diligent enquiry concerning Curates in your Diocese; and proceed to Ecclesiastical censures against those, who shall presume to serve Cures without being first duly licensed thereunto; as also against all Incumbents who shall receive and employ them, without first obtaining such license.

VIII. That you do not by any means admit of any Minister, who removes from another Diocese, to serve as a Curate in yours, without the testimony in writing of the Bishop of that Diocese, or Ordinary, of the peculiar Jurisdiction from whence he comes, of his good life, ability, and conformity to the Ecclesiastical Laws of the Church of England.

IX. That you do not allow any Minister to serve more than one Church or Chapel, in one day, except that Chapel be a Member of the Parish Church, or united thereunto; and unless the said Church, or Chapel, where such Minister shall serve in two places, be not able, in your judgment, to maintain a Curate.

X. That in the instrument of licence granted to any Curate, you appoint him, what shall appear to you, upon due consideration of the

duty to be performed by him, the value of the Benefice, and the other circumstances of the case, a sufficient salary, according to the power vested in you by the Laws of the Church, and the particular direction of the Act of Parliament for the better maintenance of Curates.

XI. That you take care, as much as is possible, that whosoever is admitted to serve any Cure, do reside in the Parish where he is to serve; especially in Livings that are able to support a resident Curate: And where that cannot be done, that he do at least reside so near to the place, that he may conveniently perform all the Duties both in the Church and Parish.

XII. That you be very cautious in accepting Resignations; and endeavour with the utmost care, by every legal method, to guard against corrupt and simoniacal Presentations to Benefices.

XIII. That you require your Clergy to wear their proper Habits, preserving always an evident and decent distinction from the Laity in their Apparel; and to show in their whole behaviour, that seriousness, gravity, and prudence, which becomes their function; abstaining from all unsuitable Company and Diversions.

These Directions I desire you would, with all convenient speed, communicate to the Clergy of your Diocese, assuring them, that it is your fixed resolution to make them the rule of your own practice. In the mean time, commending you to the Divine Blessing,

I remain, my Lord,

Your truly affectionate Brother,

Lambeth, May 8, 1759.

THO. CANT.

FORMS

Of the Oaths of Allegiance, Supremacy, and Canonical Obedience, &c.

PROCLAMATION

Declaring that the Proceedings of his Majesties Ecclesiastical Courts and Ministers, are according to the Laws of the Realm.

LONDON:

Imprinted by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings Most Excellent Majesty.

MDCXXXVII.

The Oaths of Allegiance, Supremacy, and

Canonical Obedience.

The Oath of Allegiance.

A. B. Do truly and sincerely acknowledge, profess, testifie and declare in my Conscience before God and the World, That our Sovereign Lord King CHARLES is lawful and rightful King of this Realm, and of all other his Majesties Dominions and Countries: And that the Pope, neither of himself, nor by any Authority of the Church or Sea of Rome, or by any other means with any other, hath any Power or Authority to depose the King, or to dispose any of his Majesties Kingdoms or Dominions, or to authorize any Foreign Prince to invade or annoy him or his Countries, or to discharge any of his Subjects of their Allegiance and Obedience to his Majesty, or to give license or leave to any of them to bear Arms, raise Tumults, or to offer. any violence or hurt to his Majesties Royal Person, State or Government, or to any of his Majesties Subjects within his Majesties Dominions.

Also I do swear from my heart, that notwithstanding any Declaration or sentence of Excommunication or Deprivation made or granted, or to be made or granted by the Pope or his Successours, or by any Authority derived or pretended to be derived from him or his Sea, against the said King, his Heirs or Successours, or any Absolution of the said Subjects from their Obedience; I will bear faith and true Allegiance to his Majesty, his heirs and Successours, and him and them will defend to the uttermost of my power, against all Conspiracies and attempts whatsoever which shall be made against his or their Persons, their Crown and Dignity, by reason or colour of any such Sentence or Declaration, or otherwise; and will do my best en

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