Imatges de pàgina
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neceffary at the first, to add to this clafs fuch members of the higher clafs as are not fufficiently acquainted with the fcriptures; and, in the prefent ftate of our focieties, I am afraid that many fuch will be found above eighteen years of age; but of thefe it may be hoped, that there will be many who will not think themselves too old to learn,, and who may even take pleasure in fuch an exercife as this, which is equally calculated to improve the most knowing, as well as to inftruct the most ignorant.

Thefe three claffes appear to me to be fufficient for the purpose of communicating religious inftruction; at leaft, I cannot, at prefent, think of any thing better adapted to the purpose. I fincerely with, that other minifters, who cannot but be fenfible of the evil that I complain of, would propose what appears to them to be a proper reme dy for it, and let us freely adopt whatever we approve in each other's fchemes.

To make room for lectures of fuch manifeft' utility as thefe, which I have now recommended, it were to be wished that weekly, and other periodical preaching lectures, efpecially that which is in many places preparatory to the Lord's, were laid afide. The laft-mentioned fervice, whatever good it may do in other refpe&s, does, unquestionably, promote fuperftition; continually fuggefting and confirming the opinion, that the attendance upon this chriftian

ordinance requires more particular preparation than any other, which is an idea that could never occur to any perfon in perufing the New Teftament only, and can be nothing but the remains of the popifh doctrine of tranfubftantiation:

Other weekly or monthly fermons are feldom attended, except by a few perfons, and thofe chiefly the aged, and fuch others as have the leaft occafion for them; and they are often a burden to the minifter, who is fenfible that he his giving his la bour, which might be better bestowed, to very little purpose. It has feemed fit to infinite wifdom, that one day in feven is proper and fufficient for reft from labour, and the purposes of public worship. When we are got beyond this fcripture directory, all the reft is fuch will worship eas no bounds can be fet to. It has certainly been the foundation of much superstition, and has, in many cafes, occafioned a fatal and very criminal neglect of the proper bufi nefs of this life. In what I have now faid, I would by no means be understood to condemn all occafional acts of public worship, as on days fet apart for public fafting and thanksgiving, or on particular annual folemnities, fome of which anfwer very good purposes.

As all chriftians are brethren, and we are ex prefsly commanded to exhort one another, I hope it will not be deemed arrogant in me to have given my advice with respect to a matter of fo much importance,

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as the best method of communicating religious knowledge, in which all chriftian minifters are equally concerned. The fchemes which I have proposed are fuch as I can recommend from the trial that I have made of them, and they appear to me to be very practicable by any person who is fufficiently qualified to discharge any other part of the minifterial duty; and in the country, I believe that fuch fervices will generally be acceptable, as well as ufeful. As to the city, I am not fo well able to judge; but if I be not misinformed, the connection between minister and people is, in general, so flight, that schemes which fuppofe much perfonal refpect for the paftor on one fide, and an affectionate concern for the people on the other, can hardly be expected to fucceed. The prevailing practice of a London Minifter preaching to one congregation in the morning, and to another in the afternoon, when each of them is able to provide for one (as in fact they half provide for two) tends ftill farther to fink the minifter into a mere lecturer, and to exclude the idea of every thing befides a ftipulated fum of money on the one fide, and mere fipulated duty on the other. In fuch congregations one would think that the epiftles of Paul to Timothy and Titus were never read; and certainly the bufinefs of ordination in fuch places must be a mere form, or farce, without any meaning whatever.

Hoping that my prefumption in offering the preceding advice has not given offence, I fhall take the farther liberty to conclude with a word of exhortation, in which I fhall think myself equally concerned.

Since, my brethren in the christian ministry, in the present state of church discipline, fo unequal a share of the burden is fallen upon us, let us not, through defpair of doing every thing that ought to be done, think ourselves excufable in attempting nothing. If we cannot poffibly warn all the unruly, comfort all the feeble-minded, inftruct all the ignorant, confirm all the doubting, and feek and fave all that are in danger of being loft, let us do all that we can in each of these branches of minifterial duty. Since, with respect to the business of admonition, we are fo circumftanced, that we can but feldom attempt any thing with a profpect of fuccefs, let us do the more by way of infruction, which is a field that is ftill open to us. If we cannot reclaim from vice, let us endeavour to inftill those principles, which may prevent the commiffion of it, and to communicate that rational and useful knowledge, which is the only folid foundation of virtuous practice and good conduct in life.

If every man be a fteward, according to the ability and opportunity which God has given him of being ufeful to his fellow-creatures, much more

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ought we to confider ourselves in that light; and it is required of every fteward that he be faithful to his trust. The mafter under whom we act, and to whom we are immediately accountable is the great shepherd and bishop of fouls, Christ Jesus. Our inftructions are to feed his lambs and his sheep. Let us fee to it, then, that none of those who are committed to our care perish for lack of knowledge. If they will die in their iniquity, let us fo act under the melancholy profpect, that their blood may not be required at our hands; that we may, at least, save our own fouls, if not thofe that hear us. When our Lord fhall return, and take account of his fervants, let it appear that we have diligently improved the talents with which we were intrufted, that of two we have made other two, and of five other five, &c. and then, and then only, shall we not be ashamed before him at his coming.

Advertisement to the fecond edition.

Since the publication of the first edition of this work, I am able to recommend the plan here laid down by farther experience, having confiderably extended the courfes of my lectures to young perfons in my present fituation at Birmingham; having made a feparate class of the young women, and the

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