wish you to attend to that advice which cannot mislead you :-"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own understanding; in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path.' lights he has afforded us respecting the out- any of you a door on that side, and incline "I have often pointed out to you the wonderful analogy which the Lord has established in many instances, between his works in the outward creation, and in his kingdom of grace. Perhaps the variety observable in the former may be one instance of this kind. When you see every vegetable arrayed in green exactly of the same shade, or all tulips variegated in the same manner, as if painted from one common pattern, then, and not before, expect to find true believers agreed in their views and practice respecting the modes of religion. supposing humour, if you will give me leave Thus far my tutor.-Or, since I am in a to make one supposition more, that it is possible there may be Methodists and Itinerants then perhaps continue his discourse a little in Utopia, as we have in England; he would longer as follows: 66 congregation is the service which the Lord Though the pastoral care of a single has allotted me, and I have not seen it my duty to engage in any thing which might lead me long or far from the people to whom I am related, I am no enemy to itinerant preaching. My Lord and Saviour himself, his apostles and first servants were all Itinerants; and I believe that houses and ships, hills and plains, the side of a river, or the "Study therefore the scriptures, my chil- gospel, and sufficiently authorized as such by sea-shore, are all fit places for preaching the dren, with humble prayer, that the Lord may the highest precedents. I cannot therefore give you such views of these concerns, as censure, much less condemn, a practice which may fit you for the stations and services to the scripture warrants, and to which I doubt which his providence may lead you. See not the Lord has given abundant testimony with your own eyes, and judge for yourselves. in our own times, by making the word thus This is your right. One is your master, even dispensed effectual to the conversion and conChrist, and you need not, you ought not to solation of many souls. I believe indeed, that call any man master upon earth. But be some persons not duly acquainted with their content with this. Do not arrogate to your-own hearts, nor with what is requisite to selves the power of judging for others. Be willing that they should see with their own eyes likewise. The Papists, upon the ground of the assumed infallibility of their church, are at least consistent with themselves in condemning all who differ from them. Protestants confess themselves fallible, yet speak the same peremptory language. "As to myself, if I had thought it preferable upon the whole to be a minister in our Established Church, I might probably have been one; but I trust I am where the Lord would have me to be, and I am satisfied. My desire for you is to see you able ministers of the New Testament. As to the part of the vineyard in which you are to labour, wait simply upon the Lord, and he in good time will point it out to you. If scripture and conscience lead you to prefer the Dissenting line, I shall say, It is well-provided you embrace it with a liberal spirit, and have a better warrant for your choice than merely the example of your tutor. termine otherwise, I shall still say, It is well Should you de-provided I see you disinterested, humble, and faithful. Your being educated under my roof is a circumstance not likely to facilitate your admission into the Establishment; but if the Lord in his providence should open to constitute a preacher, have too hastily sup posed themselves called to preach the gospel; when the event has proved that the Lord had neither called them to his service nor furnished them for it. And I think, if it should generally be allowed that young men are proper judges in their own cause, and have a or how they please, without the advice or apright to commence preachers when or where probation of ministers more experienced than themselves, many inconveniences may and must follow. I could wish every young man to be so impressed with the force of the apostle's question, "Who is sufficient for these things!" that he should rather need invitation and encouragement to preach, than be disposed to run hastily into the work, as the horse rusheth into the battle. But I must not expect every thing will be managed according to my wish. I have mourned over the miscarriages of some Itinerant preachers, but I have been much comforted by the good my business nor my intention to persuade conduct and success of others. It is neither you to this course; but if, when you are properly instructed and qualified for the ministry, I should see any of you disposed to go forth in the Itinerant way, should I be satisfied of your principles and motives, and have reason to hope your zeal was tempered with humility, I know not that I durst refuse my consent. For, as I have often told you, the honour of my Lord and Saviour, and the welfare of precious souls, are far dearer to me than the detached interests of any party; and if Christ be faithfully and successfully preached, in whatever way, and by whatever instruments he is pleased to work, "I do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice." I think what I have said of the tutor, and what he has just now said for himself, may suffice to give you an idea of the person I would choose, and that it is now time to consider, III. The choice of Pupils.-I would have them all resident with the tutor, and therefore their number at one time can be but small; especially as I should wish him to undertake every branch of their education. He might have an assistant to teach the rudiments of the languages, a service that would otherwise take up much of the time which he could better employ, but he must do all the rest himself. I suppose therefore that ten, or at the most twelve pupils will be a sufficient number to be under his care at once. The man I have described would not be mercenary, but the labourer is worthy of his reward. As I shall find him work enough to take up his whole time, his pay ought to be competent and liberal; and, as I have supposed myself rich enough to execute my plan in what manner I please, I hope I shall not starve my tutor, nor put his economical talents on the stretch to contrive how to squeeze and save a pittance out of the sum allotted for their board. I would fix the boarding upon equitable and moderate terms distinct from his salary, which should be handsome, and always the same, whether he had one pupil with him, or ten, or twelve. It would be my part to keep the number up; but if I neglect it, he should be no loser; nor ought he to be dependent upon my caprice or negligence, but he should stand upon an easy and settled footing, so as to be free, not only from want, but from anxious care, that he might be able to attend to his business without distraction. And now my house is ready, where shall I find young men to fill it? I must look around me, and request my friends to look out for me. When I have found two I will send them, and the rest as they offer. Perhaps it would be one of the chief difficulties attending my scheme, to collect ten or twelve youths worthy of such a tutor. They must be serious. I mean they must have an awakened, experimental sense of the truth and goodness of the gospel. This is a point not easily ascertained, especially in young persons. There is often a something that resembles it, which, upon trial, does not prove satisfactory. However, my part will VOL. II. 3 N 465 be to look to the Lord for guidance, and then judge as well as I can. But I hope no persuasion or recommendation, no desire of pleasing or obliging a friend, would prevail on me to admit one who I did not verily believe was a subject of the grace of God. Who would undertake to teach a parrot algebra ? Yet this would be as practicable as to make those able and faithful preachers, whom the Lord has not first made Christians. not necessary that their abilities should be of They must likewise have capacity. It is the first rate (perhaps but few of such are called;) but some tolerable measure of naimproved by education, seems almost necestural abilities, capable of being opened and sary in the person who aims to be a minister of the gospel. At least it will be necessary upon my plan; for as my tutor cannot take many, I must give the preference to such as may both do him credit by their proficiency under his care, and be qualified to profit others when they leave him. Ex quovis ligno Mercurius non fit. If the heart be changed and sanctified by grace, a person of the weakest natural understanding will acquire, under divine teaching, all that is necessary to enable him to fill up his station in private life with propriety, to overcome the world, and to make his own calling and election sure. must have gifts as well as grace, to be able But a preacher to divide the word of truth as a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. And therefore, though the Lord was once pleased by a dumb ass to rebuke the foolishness of a pro-. phet, I am not forward to acknowledge those as ambassadors sent by him (however wellmeaning they may be) who seem either to have no message to deliver, or no ability to deliver it. possible, concerning the views and motives I would likewise be satisfied, as much as which make them desirous of devoting themselves to the ministry. Some desires of this kind are very frequently found in young converts. new and lively upon their minds, and they When a sense of eternal things is they are much affected. The obligations they look round upon a world lying in wickedness, feel to the Redeemer, a grief that he should be so little known, so little loved, and a compassion for their fellow sinners, whom they see liable to perish for lack of knowledge, make them often long to be employed, and sometimes constrain them to run before they by the Lord for this service, either their deare sent. But if they are not really designed sires towards it gradually subside, and they yield themselves to his appointment in other paths of life; or, if they unadvisedly venture upon it, they are seldom either comfortable or useful. They soon feel themselves unequal to the work; or, if self-conceit prevents them from feeling it, their hearers at least are very sensible of it. They often mistake error for truth. They retail scraps and shreds of sentiments which they pick up from others, and, for want of judgment, misapply them. Thus hypocrites are encouraged, and those whom the Lord would have comforted are made sad. They think that preaching with power consists in vociferation and distorted attitudes; and that to utter every thing that comes upon their minds, without end or side (as we say,) without any regard to text, context, occasion, or connection, is to preach extempore. Too often Satan gains open advantage over them: they are puffed up with pride, taken in snares, and perhaps fall into such woeful miscarriages as at length ruin their characters, and stop their mouths. It is therefore of great importance to be workers together with the Lord in this business; to choose those whom he chooses, to bring forward those whom he is preparing, and, if possible, none but these. We cannot indeed know the heart; but we may be wary and circumspect in judging by such lights as we can procure, and we ought to be so. Perhaps, after all, we may be mistaken in some instances; but, if we have done our best, we have done well, and shall not be blamable for such consequences as we could not possibly foresee or prevent. If a candidate for the academy appears to be of a self-diffident and humble spirit, to have some acquaintance with his own heart, a tolerable capacity, a turn for application, and an unblamable character as to his personal conduct, I shall be disposed to admit him. But I would leave the final decision of his fitness to the tutor. For which purpose, it may be proper that he should be under the tutor's eye, for a limited time, as a probationer. IV. The next point I am to consider is, the Course of Study they should pursue. Though I am rather inclined to give this up absolutely and without reserve to the tutor, who, if he answers my description, must be the most proper person to institute a plan for himself, and would have no need of my assistance. But if his humility and good opinion of me should lead him to desire my advice, he shall have it. I do not mean as to little circumstantials, but I would submit to him in a general and miscellaneous way such hints as may occur to me upon the subject. And I submit them to you beforehand. A few things may be previously noticed, which, though they do not properly belong to their academical studies, are well worthy of attention. A minister is a soldier of Jesus Christ, and, as such, is to expect and endure hardship. It is well to have this in our eye in the education of young men. They are not called to be gentlemen, but soldiers; not to live delicately, but to prepare for hardship. They should therefore be advised and accustomed to prefer a plain and frugal manner of life, and to avoid multiplying those wants which luxury and folly would prompt us to multiply almost ad infinitum. A propensity to indulgence either in the quantity or quality of food, is a meanness unworthy of a man, still more unsuitable to the character of a christian, and scandalous in a minister. I am no advocate for a monkish austerity, or a scrupulous, superstitious self-denial, which will almost starve the body to feed the pride of the heart. It is, however, very desirable to possess in early life, a habit of temperance, a mastery over appetite, and a resolute guard against every thing that has a tendency to blunt the activity of the spirits. And youth is the proper season for gaining this mastery, which if the golden opportunity be then lost, is seldom thoroughly acquired afterwards. A propriety in dress should also be consulted. Neatness is commendable; but a student of divinity should keep at a distance from the air and appearance of a fop. A finical dispo sition in this article not only occasions a waste of time and expense, but is a token of a trifling turn of mind, and exposes the fine self-admiring youth, to the contempt or pity of the wise and good. Farther, a habit of rising early should be resolutely formed. It redeems much time, and chiefly of those hours which are most favourable to study or devotion. It likewise cuts off the temptation to sitting up late, a hurtful and preposterous custom, which many students unwarily give unto, and which they cannot so easily break, when the bad effects of it upon their health convince them too late of their imprudence. Let them be guarded against the snares attending a large acquaintance, and unneces sary visiting. The tutor will doubtless maintain authority and good discipline in his house, and not suffer any of his pupils to be absent from family worship, nor abroad after a fixed hour, without his express permission, which should not be given but for solid and just reasons. And he cannot be too careful, both by advice and vigilance, to prevent them from forming any female connections while under his roof, however honourable the views or deserving the person may be. Love and courtship are by no means favourable to study, nor indeed to devotion, at a time when their present engagements, and the uncertainty of their prospects in future life, render a settlement by marriage improper, if not impracticable. Much study is a weariness to the flesh, and the body and the mind are so nearly connected, that what affects the one will have an influence upon the other. Relaxation and exercise are therefore necessary at proper seasons, for those who wish to preserve tinguish, and distribute the ideas thus col4. An ability to methodize, combine, dislected by study, so as readily to know what is properly adapted to the several subjects to be treated of, and to the several parts of the same subject. When the pupils are thus far accomplished, then I shall hope, preach extempore. I do not mean without 5. That they will in good time be able to forethought or plan, but without a book, and without the excessive labour of committing their discourses to memory. This ability of speaking to an auditory in a pertinent and collected manner, with freedom and decorum, with fidelity and tenderness, looking at them instead of looking at a paper, gives a preacher a considerable advantage, and has a peculiar tendency to command and engage the attention. It likewise saves much time, which might be usefully employed in visiting his people. cheerfulness and strength for service, and a repetition of the same leading thoughts, 467 not to become old and disabled, through low-without originality or spirit. ness of spirits, infirmities, and pains, before old age actually overtakes them. Riding is a manly, unexceptionable exercise, where it can be conveniently practised. But walking is, I suppose, equally healthful, and requires neither expense nor preparation. That the students may have an object in view when they go from home, the tutor will probably point out to them some of the Lord's poor, who live at convenient distances, whom they may visit, and comfort with their sympathy, advice, and prayers, as well as administer to the relief of their necessities, according to their ability. Thus while they are consulting their own health, they may at the same time imitate Him, who went about doing good. And in such visits they may meet with many hints from poor believers, concerning the Lord's wisdom and faithfulness in his dealings with them, and of the power of true religion, to confirm what they read upon these subjects, and probably some hints which but like many other gifts, to be sought, not It is undoubtedly a gift of God, their books will not supply them with.Farther, if, when they are abroad together, The first essays will ordinarily be weak and only by prayer, but in the use of means. they will attempt such conversation as warm-imperfect; but the facility increases, till at ed the hearts of the disciples when walking to Emmaus, and if, when alone, they adopt the pattern of Isaac, who went out into the fields to meditate, then all the time they can thus employ may be set down to the account of their studies; for few of their hours can be more profitably improved. But what, and how, are they to study? The answer to this question depends upon another: What is the object of their studies? It is to make them not merely scholars, but ministers, thoroughly furnished for their of fice. The particulars I aim at in placing them with my tutor are such as follow: 1. An orderly, connected, and comprehensive knowledge of the common places and topics of divinity, considered as a whole: a system of truth, of which the holy scriptures is the sole fountain, treasury, and standard. 2. A competent acquaintance with sacred literature, by which I mean such writings, ancient and modern, as are helpful to explain or elucidate difficulties in scripture, arising from the phraseology, from allusion to customs and events not generally known, and from similar causes, and which therefore cannot be well understood without such assistance. 3. Such a general knowledge of philosophy, history, and other branches of polite literature, as may increase the stock of their ideas, afford them just conceptions of the state of things around them, furnish them with a fund for variety, enlargement, and illustration, that they may be able to enliven and diversify their discourses, which, without such a fund, will be soon apt to run in a beaten track, and to contain little more than length a habit is formed, by diligence and perseverance. I should not think my academy complete, unless my tutor was attentive to form his pupils to the character of public speakers. General rules admit of exceptions. I have true humility, and a spirit devoted to the myself known persons, who, with plain sense, Lord, and dependent upon him, have, with little or no assistance from men, proved solid, exemplary, and useful ministers. Such instances convince me, that however expedient learning may be, it is not indispensibly newho is to labour in a retired situation, and cessary for a minister, especially for one amongst plain unlettered hearers. I would not therefore preclude my tutor from all opportunity of being useful to persons of this description, who would be glad of such helps from him as they might receive in their mother tongue, when the time of life, or particular circumstances might render the study of languages and science inconvenient. And, in general, as the capacities, dispositions, and prospects of a number of pupils would of course be different, I should leave it to his discretion to conduct them to the ence of method as he should judge most same grand ends of service, by such differsuitable to each; so as not to discourage or over-burden the truly deserving, nor to permit (if it can be prevented) the more studious and successful, to set too high a value upon their superior accomplishments. For after all it must be owned, and ought to be remembered, that grace and divine wisdom are of unspeakably greater importance, than scholastic attainments without them. We invention and ingenuity, accustom them to consider the same subjects in different lights, and contribute to make the knowledge they derive from him, more their own, than by being always confined to transcribe, line by line, what was read to them. are sure, that though a man had the know- wish the tutor to give them unpremeditated ledge of all mysteries, the gifts of tongues lectures. Great masters of music (it is said) and miracles, and the powers of an angel, if frequently feel an impetus in extempore playhe has not likewise humility, spirituality, ing, which enables them to execute off hand and love, he is in the sight of God but as such strains as they wish to repeat, but cansounding brass or a noisy cymbal. He may not; their taste assuring them, that they are answer the purpose of a church bell to call a superior in kind to what they can ordinarily congregation together, but has little prospect attain when they study and compose by rule. of doing them good when they are assem- Thus a tutor who thoroughly understands his bled. subject, and speaks from the fulness of his But to return to my professed students, and, heart, will, now and then at least, feel a hapFirst, As to the study of Theology.-How py moment, when he will seem to possess far it may be expedient to adopt some system new powers. His thoughts and expressions or body of Divinity as a text or ground at such a time will have a peculiar precision whereon to proceed, I am not quite deter- and force, and will possibly illuminate and mined; and which of these learned sum- affect his hearers more than his regular and maries is the best, I shall not attempt to written lectures. When he has done speakdecide till I have read them all. My tutoring, let the pupils retire and commit to wri will have more of this knowledge; I shall ting what they can recollect of such distherefore refer the choice, if it be necessary courses, keeping to his method, but using to choose one, to him. Calvin, Turretine, their own expressions. These exercises Witsius, and Ridgely, are those with which would engage their attention, employ their I have formerly been most acquainted. But indeed, of these, at present, I can remember little more than that I have read them, or the greatest part of them. I recollect just enough to say, that though I approve and admire them all, I have at the same time my particular objections to them all, as to this use of them. The Bible is my body of Divinity; and were I a tutor myself, I believe I should prefer the epistles of St. Paul as a summary, to any human systems I have seen, especially his epistles to the Romans, Galatians, the Hebrews, and Timothy. There are few uninspired writings, however excellent in the main, but bear some marks of the infirmities, attachments, and prepossessions, which in a greater or less degree are inseparable from the present state of human nature. I would have my pupils draw their knowledge as immediate from the fountain head as possible. I care not how extensive and various their reading of good authors may be under the tutor's eye: the more so the better. He will improve the differences they will find among learned and spiritual men, into an argument to engage them to study the scripture more closely, and to bring every debated sentiment to be tried and finally determined by that unerring standard. He will teach them to collect the detached portions of truth wherever they meet with them; to borrow from all, but to give themselves up implicitly to the dictates of none. For I know no author who is worthy the honour of being followed absolutely and without reserve. I am told, (for I know nothing of academies but from hearsay,) that it is customary for pupils to write after the tutor, who reads his lecture. If I should adopt this custom, I would not confine myself to it. Such written lectures, if well executed, must be good patterns to form the students to closeness in method and style. But I should likewise I would not have the pupils put upon the needless and hurtful attempt of proving first principles. May not a man read lectures upon optics without previously proving the existence of the sun? My tutor will not coldly lay before his students the arguments pro and con, and then leave them to decide as evidence to them appears, whether there be a God, or whether the scriptures be of divine inspiration or not. So likewise with respect to the different sentiments on the primary points of scripture, as whether the Saviour be man or angel, or God manifest in the flesh; or, concerning the different acceptations of the words Depravity, Guilt, Faith, Grace, Atonement, and the like-he will speak with a becoming confidence and certainty on which side the truth lies. He will indeed furnish them with solid confutations of error from scripture and experience; but he will take care to let them know that these things are already settled; and proposed to them, not as candidates for their good opinion, but as truths which demand and deserve their attention. My tutor will not dogmatize, and expect them to adopt his opinions without any better reason than because they are his. He will endeavour to throw every light he is master of upon the subject, but at the same time he will speak as a teacher, not as an inquirer; as one who speaks that which he has known, and testifies that which he has seen.-He will not attempt to fill their head with a detail of all the cavils which pride and sophistry have started against the truths of God; nor so flatter his pupils, as to suppose them competent judges |