ing the anomaly was, permission for the duty in a country parish to be performed by one who though resident was not the legal incumbent, in order that the legal incumbent might be more usefully employed elsewhere. He might thus be rewarded for his exertions in some important and arduous charge, while the duties of his own benefice might be provided for by a mini ter equally qualified for it, or sometimes even better adapted to the population and circumstances of the place, however inferior in learning or in talent as a preacher: whereas, under the rigid rule now prescribed, a patron is often restrained from bestowing reward upon great merit and long service, because he cannot do so without removing the individual from the sphere of his peculiar usefulness.

Another restraint, plausible in theory, but often found injurious in practice, is the rigid confinement of clergymen each to his own benefice, when a permutation of duty would often be not only conducive to the happiness of each, but mutually beneficial to their respective parishes. To permit this interchange, even for a season, without control, would lead to numberless abuses; but if the circumstances were fairly stated to the authorities of the Diocese, to whom the character of the parties and the peculiarities of each case are best known, I am certain that great advantage would result from a discretion duly exercised in such matters,—an advantage

CHURCH DISCIPLINE AND NATIONAL EDUCATION.

A

CHARGE

DELIVERED TO THE

CLERGY OF THE DIOCESE

OF

LLANDAFF,

IN SEPTEMBER, MDCCCXXXIX,

BY

EDWARD, LORD BISHOP OF LLANDAFF.

PUBLISHED AT THE REQUEST OF THE CLERGY.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR J. G. F. & J. RIVINGTON,

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD,

AND WATERLOO PLACE, PALL MALL.

1839.