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    truest interest and highest happiness . ' The most important motives to virtue are to be drawn from the Christian revelation ; and from the prospects which it opens out in the future world ,- in connexion with our behaviour in the present state . The bfij 5 Jt _ qjiaJJiie ; M ^ moral instruction are therefore to be

    drawn from the holy Scriptures ; and it is above all things necessary that the clear and pure light which revelation affords should shine into the minds of those , who are to dispense the words of truth , and to assist their fellow creatures in their progress towards perfection .

    ' The proper use of divine revelation can only be made by those who are well disposed to receive it . If any come to the study of the Scriptures with a conceited opinion of themselves ^ and with their heads full of notions which they have derived from other quarters , their prejudices

    will blind'theireyes-to ^ he truth ; and they will only apply particular passages , as they happen to meet with themj- to confirm them in their errors , and lead them further from the way of truth . This requisite for religious knowledge , an open and well disposed mind , is of especial importance to

    those who are to teach others , They , of all persons , should have the clearest notions of the design and tendency of Christianity * and of the means which it employs-to produce that divine and heavenly temper which it is its object to form , and to secure to mankind the blessings which it promises .

    • I ought perhaps to apologise to you , and to your kitid friends around me , for" enlarging upon topics which mus feeperjfe ^ ly _ faimUar . to you j and for tracing out to you a line of study , through which we must all be aware that you are in the course of being so ably conducted by your excellent tutors .

    * But whatever furniture of the head , whatever improvement of the understanding may be requisite to the

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    Christian teacher , it must ever be acknowledged that those are Very un « likely to succeed who are not them * selves patterns of the good conduct which they recommend . Their descriptions of the several virtues will convey no just and striking likeness * their attempts to recommend them Hill-b £ t _ cold _ and _ uninteresting ^ and the assurance of insincerity which their lives betray will be a never-failing bar to their success . But when virtue

    and piety are recommended to our attention by one who is himself an example of it , the description of the character being drawn from the life , will convey the most agreeable likeness ; the address will be easy and ,

    persuasive , fitted to engage the attention , convince the understanding , and win upon the heart . Such an instructor , from the light which his character will reflect upon Ms instructions , wilt be the most likely to plead the sacred cause of truth and virtue with abund- »

    ant success . f On this subject I may perhaps be permitted to address to you ^ , few Words with less impropriety ; becausej though it is understood by the certifi * cates which have introduced you here ^ that you have already entitled yourselves to a favourable report for reli * gious principles and virtuous conduct ,

    yet we cannot avoid feeling some ground of apprehending , as , probably , you may yourselves have felt , a want of parental superintendence , caution , and occasionally even restraint ; You are necessarily here more masters of your leisure time : let it be your study , as it must be the wish of your best friends for you , that you employ it well . Particularly , be sure to make a

    point of setting apmt some portion of eao |^ 2 ) m | ng _ and evening to the exercises of private devotion , and theprac * tical reading of the Scriptures . This will brbg you better acquainted with , yourselves , and convince you of the necessity of self-correction and caution . It will also bring you acquainted with the Scriptures in a variety of points of view in which they may not , per «

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    UNiTAElAN CHRONICLE . 131

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    K 2

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 1, 1832, page 131, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1817/page/3/