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mind , without which his labours Cannot be effective with regard to others , nor pleasant and satisfactory to himself , and by viewing ( not previously , indeed , but ever ) the improvement of that knowledge and those qualifications which contribute to the more
efficient performance of ministerial duties , as objects of continual and progressive attainment . These things are requisite , indispensable . But what can be the difference In the practical result , in the real merits and usefulness of a minister ' s labours , whether or not he has listened for half an hour
to common-place advice at an ordination ? Advice is of use just in proportion as it is needed . If it is not wanted , what loss is incurred by dispensing with it ? If it be really wanted by a young minister , is it not a plain proof that he is not duly qualified for his office ? For , I will ask any man of common sense , whether , if a man be indeed ^ n want and need of the common-place advice given in the course of an ordination service , he be fit to be a Christian minister ; and in what definite degree carl such advice diminish his disqualification ? Good and judicious advice is very valuable ; but chiefly so in particular cases and emergencies , when it is really needed . But here , if any public
advice can be of avail , it is not to be expected from an ordination service , but rather from the meetings of district associations , whose members are best acquainted with the nature of the case , and likewise ( especially when a " young minister ' needs advice ) from
the " reverend fathers . " But , as fair as I have observed , this is a course , I am sorry to say , which is not ofteti taken . If , however , any favourable change in this respect should be produced by inaugural services — if they should dispose any " young minister" to lend a more favourable ear
to good advice , I hope I shall have selfcdenial enough to rejoice at my opponents * accession of argument . ood advice is useful , not because it
is given , but because it is taken ; and though the latter has no necessary connexion with the former , that connexion is assumed by my opponents Jai estimating its value . In the tone and manner of a warm advocate , a reporter of one of the or *
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dination services expressed his firm conviction , that " no one e&n disapprove of any a ^ th&ent uttered , or of any ciretmwtance that took place in the course" of the services of the day ; that " they were eminently successful
in promoting a spirit of Christian love in tfae minds of in any who attended ;" and that ordination " may be eonsidered as a means of multiplying op portunities of friendly acquaintance with each other- ^ a thing of great be * nefit and advantage . "
I should be sorry to be thought to depreciate or disparage such advar ^ tages j nor do I see how I can be justly charged with doing this , ; except it can be proved that these advantages are exclusively peculiar * o tages are exclusively peculiar * o
ordination services * With every disposition to give ftdl eredi&wdttkft ' ift . porter , on the score of fa ^ fctsH ^ e * . marks contain no reasoning applicable to the present subject . For * is ifrtiot most obvious to remark , that ther
benefits enumerated may be derived front this service , only because they are es * . sentially and necessarily connected with every religious exercise properly conducted ? I wonder , indeed , that any one should consider such
advantages as peculiar to these services- ? and a peculiar recommendation of them . Besides , are we not at perfect liberty to form as many religious associations as we think proper * provided we do not connect them with ah
unauthorized practice ? And have we not actually many such in every district of the country ? At the meetings of these associations , do we not implore the blessing of the Almighty on both
ministers and congregations , as the different occasions require ? Are thefce not considered as very suitable occasions by the " reverend fathers" to give advice to the inexperienced young ministers , and to all ? What just apology can it be deemed of a meeting for a particular object , that the general sentiments and circumstances exhibited on the occasion are
unobjectionable ? Is the service eminently successful in " promoting a spirit of Christian lov « , " &c , because it is an ordination ? Will any onq inform me what can raise this service to such
pre-eminence over every other ? If we wjah to " multiply opportunities" of friendly acquaintance , j ^ ave we n ° other resource but the unfreqwivt and
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736 Mr . John * on Ordination Servfce * .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1825, page 736, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2543/page/32/
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