SECT. 9.-Public Preaching. beth. The clergy in Queen Elizabeth's time being very igno- In the time of rant (and no wonder, their stipends in most places being Queen Elizaexceedingly small), and moreover the state having a jealous eye upon them, as if they were not very well affected to the Reformation, none were permitted to preach without licence, but they were to study and read the homilies gravely and aptly; and they that were instituted subscribed a promise to the same effect. And this continued in some measure in the next reign; for ministers not licensed to preach were by the canons prohibited to expound any text of Scripture, and were only to read the homilies even in their own cures. But the occasion of those canons being now taken away, the bishops do generally and justly forbear to put the canons as to this matter in execution; and every priest is permitted to preach, at least in his own cure, as he may and ought to do by the old canon law, and by the charge given him at his ordination, and by the nature of his office (r). very The restraints in this kind were (and are) as follows: Arundel. "No priest not being licensed shall exercise Restraints on the office of preaching, until he shall be examined and sent preaching. by the bishop, and shall produce the authority by which he preacheth" (s). Form of ordaining Deacons.]—“Take thou authority to read the gospel in the church of God, and to preach the same, if thou be thereto licensed by the bishop himself." Form of ordaining Priests.]—"Take thou authority to preach the word of God, and to minister the holy sacraments, in the congregation where thou shalt be lawfully appointed thereunto.' By Art. 23, "It is not lawful for any man to take upon Article 23, as him the office of public preaching, or ministering the sacra- to. ments in the congregation, before he be lawfully called and sent to execute the same. And those we ought to judge lawfully called and sent, which be chosen and called to this work by men who have public authority given unto them in the congregation, to call and send ministers into the Lord's vineyard." As to the restrictions on licences to preach, formerly contained in Canon 36 of 1603, and now in the new Canon of 1865, see above (p. 469). (7) Johns. 48. It has been for a long time considered that pos session of a benefice renders a No reward for licence to preach. Canons as to preaching. By 31 Eliz. c. 6, s. 9, If any person shall receive or take any money, fee, reward, or any other profit, directly or indirectly, or any promise thereof, either to himself or to any of his friends (all ordinary and lawful fees only excepted), to procure any licence to preach, he shall forfeit 407. After the preacher shall be licensed, then it is ordained as follows by the Canons of 1603:— Can. 45. "Every beneficed man allowed to be a preacher, and residing on his benefice, having no lawful impediment, shall in his own cure, or in some other church or chapel (where he may conveniently) near adjoining, where no preacher is, preach one sermon every Sunday of the year; wherein he shall soberly and sincerely divide the word of truth, to the glory of God, and to the best edification of the people." Can. 47. "Every beneficed man, licensed by the laws of this realm (upon urgent occasions of other service) not to reside upon his benefice, shall cause his cure to be supplied by a curate that is a sufficient and licensed preacher, if the worth of the benefice will bear it. But whosoever hath two benefices, shall maintain a preacher licensed in the benefice where he doth not reside, except he preach himself at both of them usually." Can. 50. "Neither the minister, churchwardens, nor any other officers of the church, shall suffer any man to preach within their churches or chapels, but such as by showing their licence to preach shall appear unto them to be sufficiently authorized thereunto, as is aforesaid." Can. 51. "The deans, presidents, and residentiaries of any cathedral or collegiate church, shall suffer no stranger to preach unto the people in their churches, except they be allowed by the archbishop of the province, or by the bishop of the same diocese, or by either of the universities; and if any in his sermon shall publish any doctrine either strange or disagreeing from the Word of God, or from any of the Thirty-nine Articles, or from the Book of Common Prayer, the dean or residents shall by their letters, subscribed with some of their hands that heard him, so soon as may be, give notice of the same to the bishop of the diocese, that he may determine the matter, and take such order therein as he shall think convenient." Can. 52. "That the bishop may understand (if occasion so require) what sermons are made in every church of his diocese, and who presume to preach without licence, the churchwardens and sidesmen shall see that the names of all preachers which come to their church from any other place be noted in a book, which they shall have ready for that purpose, wherein every preacher shall subscribe his name, the day when he preached, and the name of the bishop of whom he had licence to preach." In the case of The Bishop of Down and Connor v. Miller (u), it was holden by Dr. Radcliff, Vicar-General of the Archbishop of Armagh, that the bishop has the power to inhibit at his pleasure a beneficed and licensed. clergyman of another diocese from officiating or preaching in his diocese without his licence, though such clergyman have the permission of the incumbent. Semble, there would be an appeal from such inhibition to the archbishop. Can. 53. "If any preacher shall in the pulpit particularly or namely of purpose impugn or confute any doctrine delivered by any other preacher in the same church, or in any church near adjoining, before he hath acquainted the bishop of the diocese therewith, and received order from him what to do in that case, because upon such public dissenting and contradicting there may grow much offence and disquietness unto the people, the churchwardens or party grieved shall forthwith signify the same to the said bishop, and not suffer the said preacher any more to occupy that place which he hath once abused, except he faithfully promise to forbear all such matter of contention in the church, until the bishop hath taken further order therein: who shall with all convenient speed so proceed therein, that public satisfaction may be made in the congregation where the offence was given. Provided, that if either of the parties offending do appeal, he shall not be suffered to preach pendente lite." Can. 55. "Before all sermons, lectures, and homilies, the preachers and ministers shall move the people to join with them in prayer, in this form, or to this effect, as briefly as conveniently they may; 'Ye shall pray for Christ's holy The bidding Catholic Church, that is, for the whole congregation of prayer. Christian people dispersed throughout the whole world, and especially for the churches of England, Scotland, and Ireland. And herein I require you most especially to pray for the king's most excellent majesty, our sovereign lord James, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and supreme governor in these his realms, and all other his dominions and countries, over all persons, in all causes, as well ecclesiastical as temporal. (u) 11 Ir. Chan. Rep., Appendix 1; 5 L. T., N. S. 30. |