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serious studies , is obvious * It will be objected , pfetfoaps ; that these consequences do not follow necessarily from the prefer ^ ence of written sermons ; that it is not necessary that the fathers should leave off composing when they have provided a stock ; or that the sons should preach their fathers' serraoais , or
any man preach printed sermons * I answer that certainly none of these tilings are necessary ; but that on this and on all similar questions ^ we are not to inquire what is necessary , but what is most probable under existing circumstances . And what I maintain is 5 that considering inen constituted as they are , it is most probable that the consequences above ~ mentionecf
willj in general , follow From the preference of written sermons * Facts also confirm these reasonings ; for what has been said is nearly a history of the clergy in this respect * It is a truth that most of them scarce ever write a sermon , but preach either the MS . sermons of others which have fallen into their feands , or
sermons copied out of old authors , with a few alterations to adapt them to the present taste , or even modern printed sermons . It has even been represented ns a want of modesty in a young man to obtrude his own discourses on his congregation . The last general effect which we are to consider is thai , which is likely to be produced by each of these orders of preaching on the character of the clergy ki the estimation of mankind *
From the consequences which have been just stated of reading discourses from the pulpit , it is obvious that mankind must Regard the profession © f a clergyman ( judging from what they have been accustomed to see , ) as needing scarcely any other qualification than a good voice and graceful delivery , and , on the whole , as a very idle profession . Hence what is a notorious
fact can scarcely excite surprize , viz . that when parents have a son whom they deem unfit for every other profession , especially if they can procure him preferment , they should devote him to the church . Nor can it be expected that much respect should be entertained for a profession which requires scarce any labour * and needs scarce any ability . But were the practice of preach *
ing from notes universalvthe world would be sensible that some degree of study would be necessary to the discharge of its duties , and therefore they could not regard the profession as an idle one . Besides , they would be capable of forming a tole * rabje estimate of the ability which each clergyman displayed
in his preaching , and could scarce regard the office as needing no talents when they saw considerable ones constantly -displayed In the discharge of its duties . Parents , also , though they had preferment in their gift ^ would hardly be induced to place their sons in a station in which they would be continually ex-
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S 74 Essay &n the Delivery t > f a Sermdn *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1806, page 574, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1730/page/14/
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