nefs. But to give your Lordships a little reft before we proceed to confider the other qualifications of Chriftian Bishops, I fhall conclude this Discourse, and fay, Amen. SERMON SERMON VI. I TIMOTHY, Ch. iii. ver. 2. A Bishop must be blameless,-given to hofpitality,-apt to teach;-not greedy of filthy lucre ;-not covetous. HOS OSPITALITY, my Lords, is a Scriptural qualification of a Bifhop; and without being given or inclined to the practice thereof, no perfon has a right to that office. Φιλόξενος fignifies a lover of ftrangers, or perfons who can be of no advantage. by either their intereft or favour to a Bishop. Its primitive fignification was expreffed \ L.... expreffed by the practice of the first Christians, and their Bishops. When ftrangers came recommended by other Chriftian Churches to the Elders, and members of any distant Church, they were received by the Overseers, and Members thereof, with as much love and affection as if they were refidenters among them they were kept free of all expences while they ftayed, and fet forward in their travels by the Pastors and Members of the Churches whereever they came. This duty is more efpecially recommended to Bishops, because they ought to be examples to others to stir them up to humanity and brotherly kindness. In fuch a wealthy Church as that in which your Lordships have the honour to be Bishops, there is much in your power, and much to be expected at your hands. If you are Chriftians, hofpitality will be your ftudy: you will be given to it, and practise it conftantly. It is a noble feeling which arifes arifes from the reflection of doing goodto others, especially the diftreffed. The chief objects of Chriftian Hofpitality are the poor; to those your Lordships ought to be kind for the fake of him who came to fave them, and who, during his refidence here on earth, was poor himself, and fhewed a peculiar regard to the poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich. Your Lordships muft undoubtedly know that it is not Hospitality to entertain the rich, and those elegant entertainments which are to be met with at the tables of modern Bishops deserve rather the name of Luxury than Hofpitality. It is not Hofpitality to entertain Dukes, Lords, and Gentlemen; for thofe are abundantly able to entertain themselves. The precept extends to the poor, who in equity have a claim upon all perfons of fubftance for fupply, especially upon you who have large benefices, and ought, according to your profeffion, to live moderately. The expence of your 7 |