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of success in steady and unwearied exertion. And I appeal to any who are acquainted with the divine life, whether peace can coexist with idleness. Surely God loves his servants too well to suffer them quietly to wander from his way, without endeavouring to recal them. The wanderers find their path rough and thorny. In spite of a somewhat confident, and it may be, a just persuasion, that they are still the servants of God, their mind is not at ease; something within seems to whisper that all is not as it might be, perhaps, as it has been. Little satisfaction is experienced in daily self-examination, and as little in the retrospect of past weeks or months. In reading the Scriptures, or any religious book, an unwelcome dread respecting the commands of God, and the intimations of his displeasure towards the slothful and careless, surprises and disturbs their minds; and this is accompanied with a secret disinclination to his service, and a desire either of explaining away the supposed severity of the divine law, or of shaping it by their own conduct. Such dispositions, I think, clearly argue the heart to be in an unsound state; and are rarely, if ever, experienced by the more active Christian. That it saps the very foundations of religious tranquillity is self-evident. Do the characters in question, (I appeal to themselves) when they turn their thoughts within, and examine the general cast of their feelings on the subject of religion, discover that perfect ease and satisfaction, not to say joy, that peace of mind, or that unfeigned willingness to lay open their hearts without disguise before God, which, I think, characterise the diligent and self-denying Christian, except when his spirits happen to be oppressed by external causes? More instances might be adduced in which the life of these persons is saddened, and their mind burthened by disquietude and suspicion; for which their exemption from the cheerful labours of a Christian warrior, is ut

terly unable to compensate. It would be injustice to religion to admit, that those exertions do in the slightest degree destroy its peculiar pleasures: they of the contrary enhance them. But my paper has already, I fear, swelled to too great a length, and I hasten to a conclusion. Allow me however to remark, that no one would be more really grieved than myself to give unnecessary pain to any weak, but sincere follower of that compassionate Saviour, whose character it is not to break the bruised reed. Yet to cure the wound, it must first be probed ; and tenderness for the feelings of the patient should not interfere with exertions for his recovery.

Let such readers as feel themselves interested in the subject of this communication, consider it with the attention and candour required from those who profess to hold the truth in sincerity. I feel the difficulty, or rather the impossibility, of sketching more than an indistinct outline of a design, which the pecuiar circumstances of individuals can alone complete, and fill up with the proper gradations of light and shade. Such persons have indeed an infallible criterion of conduct, I mean the revelation of God in his word; and by that we shall be examined in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to the Gospel. But the study of the sacred volume will avail little, unless each affection of the mind, and each course of action, be referred to its decision with that distinct particularity which results from a patient and honest anxiety to know what we must do to be saved. Christians should imitate those" children of this generation," who, in arranging their secular concerns, avoid confusion and uncertainty by managing every transaction separately.

Your reader, Sir, will perceive, that my subject is by no means exhausted. The insertion of this paper may, perhaps, encourage me to pursue it as opportunities offer themselves.

X.

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To the Editor of the Christian Observer. To the Editor of the Christian Observer. In the number for September last of your valuable publication, you did me the favour to insert a paper, containing an extract from Mr. Herbert's "Country Parson," on the most effectual mode of preaching-I now beg leave to resume that important subject, and to send you some further observations on several points which are more or less connected with it. The greater part of what I have to communicate will still consist of extracts; both be cause the sentiments I wish to convey will be better expressed in the language of others, than in my own, and because they will at the same time be illustrated and animated by examples. Having been in the habit of noticing the most important particulars relative to the clerical character, as they have presented themselves in the lives of eminent ministers, or in other historical or religious works, I proceed to extract a few passages from my commonplace book, which I trust may not prove uninteresting or uninstructive to your clerical readers.

I shall introduce my observations by two short extracts, which may serve to excite the attention of ministers to the supreme importance of their office, and to the necessity of working in it whilst it is called "to-day." Dr. Bernard in his life of Archbishop Usher, makes the following remark on the ministerial labours of that admirable prelate. "To have been a constant preacher, he took in his elder years more comfort by the remembrance of, than in all his other labours and writings." Of a similar nature, though it refers rather to what was intended, than to what had been practised, is the following observation of Bishop Patrick in his account of Mr. John Smith, which bas een already in-serted in your work. "Our friend was as true, as humble a servant (without making any compliment) to the good of mankind, as any person that this day lives. This was CHRIST. OBSERY. No. 55.

his design in his studies, and if it had pleased the Lord of life to have prolonged his days, it would have been more of his work. For he was resolved, (as he once told me) very much to lay aside other studies, and to travel in the salvation of men's souls, after whose good he most ardently thirsted" To these passages, I will only add one word of admonition and of encouragement, to every clerical reader. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do," in the work of an evangelist, in making full proof of thy ministry," do it with thy might, for there is no wisdom, or knowledge, or device in the grave whi ther thou goest." And to animate your efforts, remember, that" they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever."

But what are the best means to prepare a man for the work of the ministry, and to render him successful in it? In addition to what has been already suggested in various papers in the Christian Observer, I would offer a few miscellaneous remarks. "There be four things," said Mr. Selden in his Table-talk, " a minister should be at. The conscionary part-Ecclesiastical story-School divinity-and the Casuists." It is not my intention to enlarge particularly on either of these heads, but merely to enforce upon the clergy, from the observation of the acute and learned Selden, the necessity of making very extensive and laborious application to various objects of study, the ground work of usefulness in the church. Lest this authority, however, should not be deemed sufficiently satisfactory, I would subjoin that of the celebrated Bishop Bull. In a Visitation Sermon, which deserves the attention of every clergyman, this learned and pious prelate observes as follows: "The first requisite to the office of a teacher, is a very large knowledge. For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth : ́ 3 G

for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.' Mal. ii. 7.- Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. Then said be unto them, Therefore every Scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. This extends itself into a very wide compass. Since theology is Tex τεχνων, και επιστημη επιστήμων. The divine must be TavETIOT, he must have compressed the eyxuxλoraidsiz. This at least is the perfection of a teacher. The necessary qualification will be somewhat lower. Here, however, there must be theology, positive, i. e. a knowledge of the necessary speculative truths revealed inScripture, polemical, or controversial. i. e. to defend the truth against enemies-moral or practical: theology is a practical science, absolutely necessary to be thus known by every teacher-casuistical, i. e. to resolve doubts and difficulties of a moral or religious nature. Hence it appears, that the teacher should be mighty in the Scriptures,' and for properly understanding them, much of antiquity, history, and philology is requisite," besides a large acquaintance with the best commen

tators.

As a practical illustration of the preceding observations respecting the importance of knowledge in a Christian minister, I add the following account of Bishop Burnet's studies, from his life prefixed to the history of his own times. Besides an accurate acquaintance with the learned languages, the biographer of this excellent prelate informs us, that "he went through the common methods of the Aristotelian logic and philosophy with applause. He then studied for a year the civil and feudal law, but upon determining to enter into the church, he began his theological studies by going through the Old and New Testament with all the commentaries upon the different parts of it then in repute: he

examined into the most noted authors in controversy, and read Bellarmine and Chamier, in opposition to each other, quite through,-together with some of the most received systems of school-divinity; which, however, soon disgusted him, on account of their subtle and endless distinctions and disputes."In his hours of amusement, he ran through many volumes of history: and it is scarcely conceivable what a progress he had made in these studies, before he was eighteen, by an application which seldom fell short. of fourteen hours in a day." It is afterwards mentioned, that Mr. Nairn, an eminent Scotch clergyman, led him into a new course of reading. By his recommendation he perused, "Smith's select Discourses, Dr. Moore's Works, the Writings of Plato and his Followers: but no book pleased him more than Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity, from the principles of which he never departed." By the advice, also, of Archbishop Leighton, it appears, that Bishop Burnet became early

conversant with all the primitive writers, going through the apologies, and other treatises of the Fathers of the three first Centuries, and Binnius's Collection of Councils, down to the second Council of Nice."

Thus much I have thought it ne nessary to extract upon the subject of the knowledge and learning of a Christian minister. I do not mean to say, that every particular which has been stated is alike important; or that the preceding unconnected passages contain any regular or entirely eligible method of study.Something of this kind will, I trust, hereafter appear from some one of your learned correspondents. In the mean time, I shall be happy if any thing which I have brought forward should awaken the attention of any of your younger clerical readers, or of any who are intended for the church, to this subject, and should afford them any useful hints towards laying up those stores of knowledge which may, under the

divine blessing, tend to make them "able ministers of the New Testament," "workmen that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

It was my intention to have proceeded to several other points, relative to the spirit and temper of a Christian minister, and to the best mode of preaching: but as this paper is already sufficiently extended, I shall defer what I have further to communicate to a future number.

C.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. THE author of the inclosed paper, was the Rev. William Whitaker, of Leeds, in Yorkshire. The last sermon he ever preached was on Matt. xxiv. 44: Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the son of man cometh." This sermon he was induced to publish, with a preface, entitled "An Address to the Reader on the Danger of delaying the concerns of the Soul, in hope of a lingering Illness.” I was particularly struck with this address as applicable to that numerous class of persons who labour under consumptive complaints, and who, it is well known, are exceedingly apt to indulge fallacious hopes of recovery, while their danger is plainly visible to every other eye. An anxious wish to prevent the lamentable effects of this wretched delusion, has made me desirous to obtain for the address in question, now little known, a place in the Christian Observer. And I am sure that should it be the means, as I trust it may, of awakening the minds of any to a perception of the necessity of instant preparation for eternity, you, Sir, will feel amply compensated for the space which it will occupy.

S. L.

MR. WHITAKER'S ADDRESS.
CHRISTIAN READER,

"No one, I believe, ever thought less of publishing a sermon when

composing it, than I did of publishing this. An awful circumstance has however determined me to do it. It was the last I ever preached. The same evening, after my return from Morley, where I had delivered it, a blood-vessel broke in my lungs, and finished my capacity for usefulness, as a preacher, in an instant. A circumstance which I hoped might procure it some extraordinary degree of attention, especially from those who had a personal value for

me.

Another reason was, that it would give me an opportunity of bearing my dying testimony against that delusion of delusions, by which I am persuaded Satan undoes more souls than by all his other devices; I mean the hopes of a death-bed repentance, grounded on the presumption of a lingering death. This, I flatter myself, I may be able to do with some advantage (notwithstanding my present very weak circumstances, and utter unfitness to treat any subject with accuracy) as I have seen so much of the flattery and delusions of a decline, during that long and tedious indisposition, through which the Almighty, in the course of his all-wise providence, has called me to pass. This is the sole design of this introductory address.

"I know the generality of mankind are so far from having any formidable apprehensions of a consumption, that they think it affords a most happy opportunity of preparing for the coming of the Lord; and in the hopes of dying such a lingering death, often, alas! put off that which their conscience tells them is their duty, and which they would not for the world have left finally undone. When they think of the fever, the palsy, the apoplexy, or the cholic, they are alarmed; fear chills all their members, and they are almost persuaded to flee from the wrath to come. But as to a consumption, it carries no terrors with it; so far from it, that they think, if they may but be so happy

as to die of this disorder, all will be Safe enough; they will then have plenty of time to reflect upon their past lives, to humble themselves before God, to apply to the blood of Jesus, and the grace of the Spirit; and that they shall moreover have so many daily calls to attend to, and improve,this favourable opportunity, that there is little danger of their neglecting to improve it. This is all a delusion! a dreadful delusion, big with the eternal ruin of most, if not all who trust to it. A consumption affords none of those favourable opportunities of acquainting ourselves with God, and preparing for eternity, which it so speciously promises. No: like the harlot, it smiles only that it may the more easily delude.

"This, reader, is not the rash hasty declaration of a recluse immured in his closet, but the deliberate opinion of one who has past through the various stages of this most deceitful disorder, and grounded upon his own observation during a long course of trial: of one, whose firm persuasion it is concerning his own soul, that if he had not been prepared before he fell ill, he had been undone for ever, (though no one was ever carried on in a manner more apparently favourable) and whose experience makes him as certain, that if thou trust to it, for making thy peace with God, it will as certainly undo thee. Bear with me, Christian reader, while I offer thee some of those observations which have induced me to be of an opinion so very different from that of the generality of mankind. If they appear only the hasty conclusions of a person rendered fretful by à long course of sufferings, then continue thy former hopes; but if thy conscience tells thee, as I am persuaded it will, that they are just, dread one moment longer to pursue a course which may be attended with the most fatal consequences. Oh remember that awful declaration, the hail shall sweep away the refuge af lies, and the waters shall

overflow the hiding place, and your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then shall ye be trodden down.Isaiah xxviii. 17, 18.

"The reason, I presume, why this disorder has been generally thought so favourable to the great work of faith and repentance, is, that it is in itself extremely dangerous; yet attended with no great apparent pain or distress, and generally continues for a long time. Hence, I suppose, it has come to be thought favourable, both as affording calls to thoughtfulness, and time for exercising it. It niust be confessed there appears something specious in this. One would imagine, considering how generally fatal all kinds of consumptions are, that they would at once alarm the person seized with them, and put him upon an immediate attention to the things that belong to his peace; in which case he would generally have considerable. time for it. Yet surprising as it may appear, this is so far from being the case in fact, that it has passed into a common proverb, that a consumptive man never thinks himself in danger. The justice of this I scarce knew how to allow, till I came to experience it.

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But I am now convinced that it is an awful truth, well de serving the attention of all those who depend upon this as a season for repentance.

"The disorder alarms others, but it seldom creates any great alarm to the patient himself, till he comes to the very last stages of it; and perhaps not then neither, as nothing is more common than for a consumptive man to die in his chair ot on his couch.-To this insensibility of danger a variety of things contribute.

"One is, the gradual and interterrupted manner in which this distemper proceeds. When the impetuous warrior, who by raising battery upon battery, destroys his enemy's defences in a moment, ab

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