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delivered Oration ; and Mr . Commins the Euelpis prize for the best translation into Greek prose . The business of the three days was closed , as usual , by an address from the Visitor ; the substance of which is offered , at the request of the Examiners , for insertion in the Unitarian
Ghromcle . — - — - ——— - ' It is a becoming , and , if judiciously conducted , may generally be rendered a profitable custom , to conclude this Annual Examination with a short Address to the Students in the College , expressive of the satisfaction of those who have witnessed it in its general result , and offering such advice upon some subjects as circumstances may suggest .
' The particular object of this Institution , it is sufficiently known , is the education of Christian ministers ; and although we wish to conduct their preparatory studies on such a plan as that they may be profitably joined in them by young persons intended for civil and active life , and though we are
always happy to see among us young persons of this class , so well disposed to avail themselves of this advantage , yet we must generally count upon the bulk of our young friends being intended , in future life , to instruct their fellow-Christians in those truths , which may happily influence their best affections , and lead them to piety and all virtue .
* How essential a qualification for such a person is it , that he hav& a good understanding and a well-informed mind ; that there be the- original foundation of capacity and genius , and that these be improved and enriched with those acquired endowments , which may render them most ornamental and useful !
Every one is expected to be best acquainted with that particular art or science which he professes ; and it is not easy to conceive a higher degree of presumption than for one to undertake to be the instructor of others , in anything of which he has not himself any competent knowledge . And if
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this be the case with any common art or science , much more so , surely , in matters of religion ; whether we consider the objects at which it professes to aim , or the means which it employs to secure those objects .
' The truths which are of all others the most essential , are those which respect-the-existenee-and ^ perfectioas of God ; and how much just instruction will conduce to the establishment in the mind of such sentiments of God as are worthy of him , atid coii * - ducive to piety and all goodness , must be obvious to every one . It is true he has not left himself without
witness ; but in his visible works of creation teache ' s us the ititfisifele things-of God , his power , wisdoift and goodness . But still religious instruction is . useful , ta diredt put "
thoughts to those parts or the yrorks and ways of Grod , whicli eOfitalii the most evident displays of these pe * fec tions . And when a person of large and comprehensive knowledge -jiouirs forth tHe' ^ btel'vatidlfB'ifrkich ^ h ' erJiaS
collected Or himselfknade , we are ajjt to receive more deep and lively impressions of the interesting subjectj than our own meditations could fever have afforded us . We easily follow him while he conducts us through the world of Nature and Providence .
points out to us the varibus contrivances of divine wisdom for the preservation arid happiness of his crea * tures , and leads ' . Ms to setithrients of reverence and lover of obedience to his laws , submission to his authority , trust in Ids disposals , and hope in his goodness .
* But it is very necessary , m Order to his giving an engaging description ' of the duties of man , aS the creature * and child of .. ^ GQd ,. tbatJ ^ h . 0 JPrb ] j&tijEiil teacher should be well acquainted with the principles and powers of the
human mind ; and be able to show , th&t in the very constitution of our nature ^ God has provided for the practice ot virtue ; so that we cannot neglect it without doing injury to ourselves ; of apply to it without consulting dUf
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130 UNITATUAN CHRONICLE .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 1, 1832, page 130, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1817/page/2/
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