When, again, it is pressed upon our recollection, that, by the very event, by which (under the Providential arrangement) I have been, through His Majesty's good pleasure, placed in this station, the Church of Ireland has been deprived of one of its noblest and firmest supports; that the Prelate, who, by the various high qualities which he possessed, was pre-eminently fitted to defend the Church, over which he had so long presided with disinterested rectitude and Christian truth, has been withdrawn at the moment when that Church most needed such a defender, -I cannot but feel an increased inquietude, from the very occasion, which has empowered me to address the Clergy of this united Diocese upon this day.

And when, in addition to these considerations, I reflect, that the Body of Clergy here assembled, are a Body, the most influential of any that can now be assembled within the limits of this island; that, from the commanding eminence which they occupy, and the conspicuous station which they fill, their conduct and their example must be attended with consequences to the community and to religion the most momentous; I must be but little affected indeed, by a concern for the spiritual welfare of our people, were I not deeply solicitous for the success of my present exhortation, in stirring up and invigorating, both in your breasts and my own, the sense of Christian duty,

the saving spirit of Christian benevolence; the sense of Christian duty, in what relates to our own conduct; the spirit of Christian benevolence, in what relates to the salvation of others.

On these subjects, many among you, my Reverend Brethren, must often have seriously and deeply pondered, as became the solemn obligations which they had undertaken. To such, I can only serve as a remembrancer of what they already know. (And who, among us, does not require to be reminded of his duties ?) To those, who have either not fully acquainted themselves with the awful nature of the charge which has been committed to them, or who have been heedless or lukewarm in its execution, I must assume a different character; I must sound in their ears the duties, which they have disregarded; I must warn them, that, if they persevere in such neglect, the day will come, when they will be called upon to render the tremendous account of an unfaithful stewardship.

For, what is the description, which our Ordination service presents, of the character, duties, and obligations, of those, who are admitted to the Christian ministry in our Church? Are they not there expressly represented, as the

Messengers, Watchmen, and Stewards of the Lord;" who are "to teach, and to premonish,

to feed and to provide for the Lord's family?" Are they not warned to keep in constant "remembrance, how great a treasure is committed to their charge;" no less than "the sheep of Christ which he bought with his death, and for whom he shed his blood: and that " the Church and congregation, whom they must serve, is his spouse and his body:" and that, "if it shall happen the same Church or any member thereof, to take any hurt or hindrance by reason of their negligence," they should think with dread upon "the greatness of the fault, and the horrible punishment that will ensue :" that they should, therefore, considering with themselves the "end of their ministry towards the children of God, towards the spouse and body of Christ," beware, "that they never cease their labour, their care and diligence, until they have done all that lieth in them, according to their bounden duty, to bring all such as are or shall be committed to their charge, into that agreement in the faith and knowledge of God, and to that ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ, that there be no place left among them, either for error in religion, or for viciousness in life?"

Well then, indeed, may they be solemnly called on (as they are immediately after) to see, with what great care and study they ought to apply themselves; as well that they may shew themselves dutiful and thankful to the Lord,

who hath placed them in so high a dignity; as also to be careful, that they neither themselves offend, nor be occasion that others offend:" and that, for this purpose, they should, as much as in them lies, "forsake and set aside all worldly cares and studies,” and endeavour " by God's grace to give themselves wholly to the office, whereunto it hath pleased God to call them, so as, to the utmost of their power, to apply themselves wholly to this one thing, and draw all their cares and studies this way; and that they will continually pray to God the Father, by the mediation of our only Saviour Jesus Christ, for the heavenly assistance of the Holy Ghost, that, by daily reading and weighing of the Scriptures, they may wax riper and stronger in their ministry; and that they may so endeavour themselves from time to time, to sanctify the lives of them and theirs, and to fashion them after the rule and doctrine of Christ, that they may be wholesome and godly examples and patterns for the people to follow."

Is it not, then, demanded of them, in the most solemn manner, to bind themselves to all these things; declaring, as in the more immediate presence of God, and at his holy altar, that they believe themselves to be "truly called to the order and ministry of their priesthood, according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the order of the Church established in this realm;"

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that "out of the Holy Scriptures they will carefully instruct the people committed to their charge;"-that they "will give their faithful diligence always to minister the doctrine, and sacraments, and the discipline of Christ, as the Lord hath commanded, and as this Church and Realm, according to the commandments of God hath received the same;"-that they will be "ready, with all faithful diligence, to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to God's word, and to use to the utmost of their power both public and private exhortations, as well to the sick as to the whole within their respective cures ;"-that they will be "diligent in prayers, and in reading of the Holy Scriptures, and in such studies as help to the knowledge of the same, laying aside the study of the world and the flesh;"-that they will be "diligent also to frame and fashion themselves and their families according to the doctrine of Christ, and to make both themselves and them (as much as in them lieth) wholesome examples and patterns to the flock of Christ;"-that they will "maintain and set forward (to the utmost of their power) quietness, peace, and love, among all Christian people, and especially, among them that are or shall be committed to their charge ;" and finally, that they will reverently obey their Ordinary, and other chief Ministers, unto whom is committed the charge and government over them, following with a glad mind and will their godly admoni