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W C
Church

I. Principles
Ch. 2. N

3

§. IV. Sinecures.

1
Every benefice may
be a sinecure where
the incumbent does no
duty, and in effect,
more than half the
number are so. But
the benefices commonly
so called are those
for which no duty is
or is pretended, or
was intended to be
done — & these will
remain so till the
system is purified.

2
Deaneries, Canonries, —
Prebends — the modifications
of sacred
idleness — by neither
of these offices any
duty is even professed
to be done.
Canon, & Prebend,
variantes of the same
useless & idle priest.
Canon — qui vivit secundum
regulam.
Prebendary — qui accipit
aliquid prebendum.

3
From the reproach
of false pretence, (not
having engaged to do
any thing) these sinecurists
are free.

4
Though the individuals
be free from
blame, the constitution
exercises a pernicious
influence by
attaching more material
reward in general
to these sinecures
than to those benefices
where something is
done. Deans Canons
&c are dignitiaries of
the church, — Parish
Priests never.

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§. IV. Sinecures.

5
Here then a liver
in idleness receives more
respect, than the most
useful performer of
the most important
service.

6
As the Church, so are
these the supports
of Christianity. This
a position that is in no
danger of wanting
defenders.

7
Nor (even among
Churchmen) in want
of opponents.

8
Before 1750 Newton's
Pluralities indefensible
published; in which
he proved to William
Whiston's satisfaction,
the unlawfulness
of pluralities
— in other respects
Newtons orthodoxy
unsuspected.

9
Whistons opinion
(he being open to
ridicule and sadly
deficient in the
number of his
gods exercises a
negative influence.

10
Cranmer the Anglican
Protomartyr is his
opinion worthy of regard?
—Yes say his
successors if for sinecures
— not if he
were an angel or
risen from the dead,
would his opinion
if against sinecures
be worthy of regard.

11
Let us hear out of
curiosity what he
says — not that if
all Archbishops &
martyrs upheld
them, sinecures would
be better than Christian
service — but
to see that this corruption
is not less against
high authority, than
against christianity
and conscience.

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§. IV. Sinecures.

12
Follows the letter
from Cranmer to
Cromwell in Burnet
— Reform Vol. III Records
No 65 staring
all Deans &c in the
face — Hence copied
by Whiston —
What follows is all
that bears relation
to the subject.

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Sinecures are branches
upon these arts, legitimate
and sinister together
by which the indigent
seek to ingratiate themselves
into the favour
of the opulent

Identifier: | JB/006/117/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 6.
Date_1		Marginal Summary Numbering	1-12
Box	006	Main Headings	church of englandism
Folio number	117	Info in main headings field	church
Image	001	Titles	sinecures
Category	marginal summary sheet	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	e3
Penner	walter coulson	Watermarks	<…> co
Marginals		Paper Producer	a. levy
Corrections	jeremy bentham	Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	2850
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