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Rh presented ' omnia bene ' in his own parish, where he could testify that there was almost nothing in order.

The truth of the matter was that such men as Adams and Andrewes were distinctly in the minority in this county : not only their church- wardens and their congregations, but their brother clergy and the majority of the local gentry had embraced a wholly different religious ideal. These latter had but one idea in coming to church, and that was to hear sermons. Thomas Adams, himself a notable preacher, complains 'not that our churches are auditories, but that they are not oratories ; and begs his audience to remember that ' all our preaching is to beget your praying, to instruct you to praise and worship God ' ; and that 'the end is ever held more noble than the means." This testimony is of the more value as it comes from one who had no secret sympathies with Rome, who never loses an opportunity, indeed, of abusing the pope and his adherents with all the violence of epithet common in those days. John Andrewes had a good deal to say on the same subject. He was one of those who sympathized strongly with the efforts after a truer reform that were being made by the clergy who had been brought up in the school of Hooker, and were now led by Archbishop Laud : he had a clear idea and appreciation of the priestly office, and to him ' the best part of God's service ' was not the sermon but the Holy Eucharist. But it is very evident that he stood very much alone, and that nearly all the clergy and gentry of his neighbourhood were against him. His efforts to revive the practice of catechizing in the afternoons, instead of giving another sermon, had been almost isolated : the vicar of Chalfont St. Peter, who wished to follow his example, was ' violently importuned ' by his congregation to give them another preaching, and was ' so over- awed by the justices and clergy of those parts ' that he was fain to yield,