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    wr iter who signs himself C , ( pp . 550 —552 , ) I beg to offer a few words in explanation of its design and intent . It was not called an ( t Ordination Service ' by any person engaged in it , nor was it announced as such in any

    way , either publicly or privately . The objection to the title , therefore , muat cease . But the Norwich congregation chose to have a service on a particular day and on a particular occasion . Perfectly true : and I suppose any congregation is at liberty to do so

    when they think proper , without asking the permission of any person or persons whomsoever . In this case , the Society in question ventured to think , that the entrance of a young minister upon his connexion with them

    was a fit occasion for reminding each of their respective duties . They were also of opinion , that in a service of this kind , it was desirable to invite those who took a friendly interest in

    the welfare of both parties to unite : and that it was not very inexpedient that & young man entering upon the discharge of his ministerial duties in a place in which he was a stranger , should see assembled around him those

    neighbouring ministers with whom he must be called upon more or less to co-operate . This may appear to C . very unnecessary , very absurd , and very superstitious . I must be allowed to be of a different opinion , and if he will trouble himself to read the

    service at Norwich , ( which will shortly be published , ) he will there see more fully stated the reasons for its adoption . I think he will find it difficult to shew that such a service may not be useful , and equally so that it could lead to any improper notions on the part of those who heard it .

    But he has " read the New Testament with no small attention , " without being able to discover ( " eagleeyed , " as he says he is ) " any authority for a modern Ordination . " Prodigious !—and it would have been more

    so if he had . How many customs and practices are there in common use among Christians of all denominations , for which no positive command can be found in the New Testament ; or rather , how few arc the laws relating to such observances which it contains What authority is there for the formation of our various Associations , or

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    for the services which form so proper and useful a part of their yearly meetings ? What authority is there for the manner in which , public worship is conducted , and the Lard ' s Supper

    administered ? Nay , what express command have we for the observance of the Lord ' s-day ? There is no authority for wearing a gown , and pray what authority is there for wearing a coat ? Just the same for the one as

    the other . I would advise your correspondent , Sir , notwithstanding the acuteness of his vision , once more to " read the New Testament with no small attention , " and he may possibly acquire a few more correct ideas of what Christianity was intended , as well as what it was not intended , to teach .

    One thing he evidently has to learn —namely , in what the reward of a Christian minister ought to consist . And he has also to learn that in order to form an opinion of a composition , it is necessary either to hear it or to read it . Now he has never either

    heard or read Mr . Fox ' s Sermon : all he knows is , that a sermon was preached on such a subject by such a person . But assuming the mode 5 n which the subject must be treated , taking for granted that , in speaking of " the reward of the labourer , " the preacher

    could only mean money , he proceeds to criticise the Sermon , to say what effect it ought to produce , and to predict that such effect will not be produced . Truly , Sir , your correspondent is a most " eagle-eyed" person .

    An individual so gifted , who can discern the meaning and intent of a sermon 100 miles off , who can sit in judgment upon its contents , and foretell what effects it will produce , may justly claim to be of that privileged class of auditors who " po to hear

    sermons , pour passer le temps , " who " make up their minds" before they hear what is addressed to them . But he should remember , that the multitude are not so gifted , that they are obliged to hear before they can understand or decide , and that there

    still remain some old-fashioned persons who listen to a preacher in the hope of deriving some * ' permanent good" from his instructions . No doubt this will appear very foolish in the eyes of your correspondent C . ;

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    604 On the late Inaugural Service at Norwich ,

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1825, page 604, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2541/page/28/