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public speaker , of a natural , deliberate , and forcible delivery : but with these , as far as they had reference to individuals , $ ie public at large are in fact as little concerned as they would be jn some of those which followed on the subject of the prizes ; prompted as they were by , and addressed to , feelings with which the stranger cannot intermeddle . The concluding part , addressed to Mr . Heaviside , was in substance as follows : —
" With regard to our young friend who is now to leave us , in order to the exercise of the ministry , T confess that I feel a peculiar interest in his reputation and success , as I was personally engaged in his original recommendation , and have carefully watched his progress through his course . He will probably soou be called to the discharge of the duties t * f
his important office ; and in doing this , I trust he will always feel the necessity , and make it his constant study , to hold forth the pure light of the Gospel , unsophisticated by the systematic doctrines of men , which have too long and greatly obscured it . Whatever time or attention he may employ in the prosecution , or
whatever improvement he may make in the acquisition , of various literature of other kinds , which adorn the scholar or the gentleman , he will be very careful to keep them separate and distinct from his ministerial performance ?; he will be even jealous and sparing in the use of embellishments drawn from such sources .
Ihe simplicity of Divine Truths appears best in their own brightness ; and the majesty of the divine precepts needs no such subsidiary aid . The weak eyes of the ignorant will only be dazzled with adventitious ornaments ; and their attention misled from the solid objects upon
which he will naturally wish to fix it . Certainly it would bring no disgrace on ourselves or our performances , if we habituated ourselves , in our preparatory studies for the pulpit , to call to our minds some of the meanest of our auditors , and ask ourselves , how will such a one understand this ? Under this head
of instructing the ignorant , I scarcely need to recommend it to my young friend to take particular care , wherever he may be called to the exercise of his ministry , to endeavour to inform the minds of the young in subjects of religion and moral
duty . With them he may hope for the best success in * opening their eyes , and turning them from darkness unto light . ' Their minds he will find like ground as yet unoccupied , or at least that the weeds of false opinions , and corrupt maxims and practices , have not struck a deep and
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confirmed root ; and therefore that they may be sooner prepared for sowing with good success the seeds of instruction , especially if he can win their esteem and affection by affability and kind regard . In this case they will not fail to feel that gratitude and attachment which will make them firm friends and supports through life , and will rise up as brighter ornaments of a religious society , in th « room of those who may be remored .
" My friend will also endeavour to reform from vicious dispositions and practices , those who may unfortunately have fallen into them . This he must indeed be prepared to find an unpleasant and difficult work . It is easier to open the blind eyes to the knowledge of the truth , aud to encourage virtuous resolutions to persevere in a good way s but to arouse
the stupid , to stimulate the slothful , to rtNiorm the profligate , —who is sufficient for these things ? Yet these things must be attempted . Aud they will be best performed , they can indeed only be performed , by treating those who are overtaken with a fault in the spirit of meekuess . We should be earnest with them ; but we should not fail to shew that our
earnestness proceeds from conjpassion , serious concern for their danger , and desire for their recovery . All appearance of bitterness and wrath and contempt , aud pride of superior virtue , must carefully be avoided- A spirit of love and gentleness will soften even the stubborn heart ; but harshness and severity will only make the heart more stubborn .
c < But what a motive have you , my young friend , to exert yourself for the recovery of sinners , in the words of the Apostle , or rather in those of the commission given to him by our common Master , ( Acts xxvi . 18 , ) * That they may receive forgiveness of sins , and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith that is in me ! ' A motive not indeed
addressed to our selfish affections , by proposals of profit or pleasure or honour to ourselves , but directed to the best part of us , our benevolent feelings . Who that feels like a man and a Christian , but will reckon it the noblest purpose of his being , and the highest felicity he can attaiu , to become instrumental to form
and enlarge men's minds to the comprehension of the noblest and most important truths , to deliver them from error , folly aud vice , to lead them to know , to love , and to obey God with delight , and with continually increasing improvement to assist them in forming their sentiments , principles and tempers , aud regulating their behaviour iii such a manner
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6 ( 58 Intelligence . —Manchester College , York
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1831, page 568, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2600/page/64/
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