the fabric of the fine parish church-a good intention he will scarcely be allowed to have fulfilled as regards the somewhat incongruous porch and the heavy parapet which he added externally; but internally he introduced an abundance of woodwork which can hardly be exceeded in richness in any village church in England. He also placed the reading-desk (which no longer exists) and the pulpit side by side and at an equal height, as an object-lesson to his parishioners, to whom in one of his sermons he complained that "when some men would exalt the pulpit, they cannot do it without debasing the desk; when they would canonize their preachers, they cannot do it without disgracing their readers."

Another characteristic mark of his incumbency is the extraordinary neatness and care with which the parochial registers were kept.'

But these were, of course, the less important aspects of his work at Brancepeth, where everything points to a careful discharge of his pastoral office. He resided there whenever his other duties permitted; and he was conscientious in the employment of satisfactory curates, who were expected to make regular reports of parochial matters when, as later on, his absences were prolonged. Of his sermons preached at Brancepeth several are extant: they are thoroughly characteristic of the period and are

1 See below, p. 29. In the chancel of Brancepeth Church there is an oak tablet which Cosin intended for his epitaph, but, having directed such an epitaph to be engraved in Auckland Palace, he left no instructions about this.

stre pazi da church--a good in

NOW

sew cry be allowed to have es the sotaewhat incer grvens twy parapet which Le add. d

aternally he introduced au wes york which can hardly be Mes many village church in a placed the recumg-desk esta) and the pulpit side by Fat og eight, as an objt-lesson to whom in one of his sermons when some men would

ey cannot do it without de; when they would canonize their. capot do it without disgrac.ng

irveeltristie mark of his incuruextraordinary neatness and care the parchial registers were kept. vere, of course, the less important I's work at Brancepeth, where everypo's to a careful discharge of His posHle sided there whenever his

lutes permitted; and he was "onscientism the crop yment of satisfactory e mates. who were pected to make regular reports of paro, hi matiers when, as later on, his absences were prolonged. Of his sermons preached at Brideep-th several are Extant: they ae thoroughly characteristic of the prd and are

* See below P.

ph.

Is te dancel of Francey là CR Ger is an oak tai set which Cosma pter 1 for his e 1st, having dire ted such an epitaph to mekog aved a Palace, be let no instructions about