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vices jaded minds , and to the delivery of their compositions wearied spirits . The sabbath which comes to all , comes not to them ; and they have to pursue one unvarying : round of laborious exertion . It is evident that , under such circumstances , the duties of a minister cannot be performed so as to satisfy the preacher himself , or adequately to benefit his hearers . But where is the time for the discharge of those duties which are at least as important
as the services of the pulpit—the duties of the pastor ; or for that public advocacy of our opinions from the press , which , in exisiing circumstances , is essentially requisite ? Will it be contended that the employments of a schoolmaster are not incompatible with the duty of a minister ? We are willing to allow that teaching , when the time is devoted to private pupils and the communication of the higher branches of knowledge , may constitute a beneficial discipline of a minister ' s mind . Yet we can hardly doubt that
persons who were competent for such an undertaking , and in consequence well-informed , would not , under the influence of a love of knowledge , pursue with their whole time and attention such subjects as might not only discipline their minds , but have also a more direct bearing on their professional duties . In such cases the discipline of mind that would ensue , would at least be equal to that acquired in teaching , while the amount of available knowledge would be much greater . But how few of our ministers are engaged in teaching of this nature , compared with those who are devoted to
school-keeping ! and we are entirely at a loss to imagine how the dull and monotonous routine of elementary education can in any way fit a person for the discharge of his ministerial functions . If it be rejoined that our ministers had better be employed in school-keeping than not employed at all , an imputation is thrown upon their characters which is not only unwarranted but unjust . We do not suppose them immaculate , but we do regard them upon the whole both as a highly respectable and a highly industrious body of men . We have as yet spoken only of those ministers who are engaged
in teaching , but there are others to whom literary pursuits are a means of eking out a subsistence . Why should we be surprised if the engagement of the time and attention of these also , is such as to exert a prejudicial influence upon their professional duties ; if a taste for literary or scientific pursuits ensues , so decided as to divert excellent talents into a direction where they are all but lost to the ministry ? It is not merely our congregations , individually considered , that suffer in the actual state of things—our institutions also are affected . How can men who are engaged in the daily
duties of a school quit their occupations to attend even the few associationmeetings that we have ? Many of our country ministers , we doubt not , are obliged to deny themselves the pleasure and the advantage of an attendance upon the annual association in the metropolis ; many are obliged to abstain from similar institutions in the country , on account of their engagements as teachers of schools . It would be a wonder if , under such circumstances , the
bonds of union amongst us were strong and efficient ; it would be a wonder if a wholesome and vigorous zeal prevailed , when there is so little intercommunication and mutual prompting . Our ministers must be free to go whither the call of duty invites them , to see each other frequently , and to provoke each other to good works ; and our congregations must feel themselves more closely knit together for mutual comfort and support , the strong to assist the weak , and the zealous to prompt the tardy , ere we can hope to see the work of God prosper in our hands . J . R . B »
Untitled Article
Slate of the Curates 0 / the ^ Church of England . 237
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1829, page 237, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2571/page/13/
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