livings afar off, when their duty as common council men of Tiverton, is "to be from time to time, aiding and assisting the mayor of the said town and parish, in all causes, things, and matters, any way touching or concerning the town and parish aforesaid." (u)

I have, at all times, felt disposed to question the policy of this union of the secular with the spiritual functions, when I have heard the frequency of clerical magistrates alluded to; and it has been maintained, that the only secular employments, in which a clergyman may embark, are, the cultivation of his glebe, and an engagement in the office of tuition. There are advantages, and some few disadvantages, which arise from the latter being confided to clerical hands.

(u) Could it ever be believed that any one of sane mind could be found, who would urge the 32 George iii. c. 58, in behalf of those corporate officers who have not been resident within six years? It really is shocking to hear a man possessing an accurate judgment, except in corporation concerns, committing himself by the utterance of such erroneous views, The 32 George iii. c. 58, will secure the corporate officer from any investigation, as to the title whereby he holds his office, provided he has exercised his office six years or more; but not from a forfeiture of his office, which every day's departure renders him liable to. These reasoners are only to be equalled by the Exeter publican, who urged before the magistrates the hardship of a conviction, for selling his beer by a short measure, because he had used the same for more than twenty years! "Dormiunt aliquando leges, nunquam moriuntur.”

As to the inconveniencies of clergymen becoming magistrates, I find them most forcibly urged, in the Bishop of Gloucester's third charge, to which I beg to refer the reader. His lordship, however, justly allows, there may be cases, in which it is a minister's duty "to undertake this burden, and subject himself to this trial." It would scarcely be attempted to prove, that such a case can be found in a large borough town. But to such as have undertaken the magisterial office, this good Bishop's advice is, indeed, most excellent; and if attended to, would greatly diminish the mischief which it but too frequently produces. (~)

I could here urge the opinion also of a friend of the Earl of Harrowby, and Mr. Ryder,-a member of parliament, a staunch government man, of abilities and character the most unquestionable,-upon this very important point; and more particularly on the incorrectness, and impropriety, of clerical common council men. I have it in his own hand writing, and it would go, in opinion, very far towards preventing any increase

my

(v) With the highest satisfaction, I assure the reader, that since the above was written, I have received an important testimony, in corroboration of my opinion of reverend mayors, and reverend common council men. "I agree with you, (observes an excellent, active, and learned bishop of our church) in thinking it highly objectionable, that the clergy should form a part of the Tiverton corporation, or of any similar body."

of candidates for seats in our corporate body, who are already in, or who intend to take, holy orders. We have, in fact, canons of our church, which prohibit the clergy from using themselves in the course of their lives, as laymen, and from exercising secular jurisdictions. (1 Gibs. Codex,

180, 184.)

There are, I lament to say, at this time, (w) four gentlemen, with spiritual cures, at a distance from our town, some in other dioceses, among the officers of our corporate body. Our clergy are set apart for higher, and still better things: they have their own vocation, and in that, they can hardly be too earnest, too laborious, too much absorbed, "spending and being spent." them meditate on the various duties, the scriptures and our ordination service, require of them; and let them give themselves wholly to them.

Let

Burgesses are, properly speaking, men of trade, inhabitants of a borough, or walled town; (vide statute of Merton, c. 7. and Coke on Lyt. 80.)

(w) It has been submitted by a fellow-townsman, a most decided friend to consistency and sound principle, that if clergymen be the proper persons to take upon themselves the burden of a corporate office, it certainly must appear to many, as no trifling want of respect indicated by those, who by oath are bound to elect the most honest and discreet within the parish, to pass over our resident rectors, and elect such, whose benefices are at a distance from Tiverton.

and highly injudicious would it be to increase, what has been called by the truly excellent man above alluded to, "a gross abuse to use a very soft expression;" (x) and, perhaps, it may be justly observed, that sound policy, and the most important interests of society, require, that the ambition of a clergyman, should be confined to his own profession, and that piety and learning should be his surest recommendation to advancement. A modest estimate indeed of our own abilities, and a proper sense of our deserts, will repress all anxiety to become great in the world, or in the church. Our aim should be to discharge sedulously, the duties of the station in which Providence has placed us, convinced, that if he has further occasion for our services, he can and will, without any plodding cares, restless solicitudes, or political influences, on our part, conduct us to the elevation necessary for their performance; but when secular pursuits, liable to political interferences, are combined with spiritual avocations and employments, our objections are at once decisive and unequivocal.

(x) The respectable inmate in his mother's family, lately elected an assistant, it is generally understood, intends shortly to present himself before the bishop, as a candidate for the sacred office of the ministry in which case, we shall have no less than five reverend common council men; not one of whom are beneficed within the jurisdiction of the town and parish of Tiverton.

In England, it is, perhaps, impossible for a man who has a vote to give, not to have some

The talk of the times, will make him a party,

concern in public affairs. the very news of the day, whether he will or not. It becomes then, the duty both of the clergy, as well as the laity, for their own defence, and to preserve themselves from the fallacies of interested men, to make themselves acquainted with the history of the British constitution in general, and that of their own times in particular the right of the subject; the privilege of parliament; the power of the crown; the pretences of patriots; and the designs of ministers: -the use, growth, extent, and importance of our commerce; the expediency of taxes; the danger of a military force; and the real views of all the different parties. But these, with the clergy, should be for their amusement, and not their business; that when they are called upon to name their representative in parliament, they may be able to judge for themselves of the virtue and ability of the candidate; explain the services they expect from him; and, if need be, furnish out a test to know how far he may be depended upon to enforce privileges, redress grievances, and stand in the gap, between the encroachments of power, however disguised, and the liberties and properties of a defenceless people.

But never let the messenger of heaven assume