ing, and to another in the afternoon, when each of them is able to provide for one (as in fact they half provide for two) tends ftill farther to fink the minifter into a mere lecturer, and to exclude the idea of every thing befides a ftipulated fum of money on the one fide, and mere ftipulated duty on the other. In fuch congregations one would think that the epiftles of Paul to Timothy and Titus were never read; and certainly the bufinefs of ordination in fuch places must be a mere form, or farce, without any meaning whatever. Hoping that my prefumption in offering the preceding advice has not given offence, I fhall take the farther liberty to conclude with a word of exhortation, in which I shall think myself equally concerned. Since, my brethren in the christian miniftry, in the prefent ftate of church difcipline, fo unequal a fhare of the burden is fallen upon us, let us not, through defpair of doing every thing that ought to be done, think think ourselves excufable in attempting nohing. If we cannot poffibly warn all the unruly, comfort all the feeble-minded, inftruct all the ignorant, confirm all the doubting, and feek and fave all that are in danger of being loft, let us do all that we can in each of thefe branches of minifterial duty. Since, with refpect to the business of admonition, we are fo cicumftanced, that we can but seldom attempt any thing with a profpect of fuccefs, let us do the more by way of inftruction, which is a field that is ftill open to us. If we cannot reclaim from vice, let us endeavour to inftill those principles which may prevent the commiffion of it, and to communicate that rational and ufeful knowledge, which is the only folid foundation of virtuous practice and good conduct in life, If every man be a steward, according to the ability and opportunity which God has given him of being useful to his fellowcreatures, much more ought we to confider ourselves in that light; and it is required of every steward that he be faithful to his truft. truft. The master under whom we act, and to whom we are immediately accountable, is the great shepherd and bishop of fouls, Chrift Jefus. Our inftructions are to feed his lambs and his sheep. Let us fee to it, then, that none of those who are committed to our care perish for lack of knowledge. If they will die in their iniquity, let us fo act under the melancholy profpect, that their blood may not be required at our hands; that we may, at least, save our own fouls, if not those that hear us. When our Lord fhall return, and take account of his fervants, let it appear that we have diligently improved the talents with which we were intrufted, that of two we have made other two, and of five other five, &c. and then, and then only, fhall we not be ashamed before him at his coming. Since the publication of the first edition of this work, I am able to recommend the plan here laid down by farther experience, having having confiderably extended the courses of my lectures to young perfons in my present fituation at Birmingham; having made a separate class of the young women, and the fociety having been fo liberal, as to provide a very valuable library, which will be continually increasing, chiefly for the use of those who attend the claffes; confifting of books recommended by the ministers for that purpose. Also, befides the lectures recommended in this introductory essay, I find it useful to teach scripture geography to the younger claffes, and with the elder I shall probably go through a short course of Jewish antiquities, ecclefiaftical hiftory, and such other miscellaneous branches of knowledge, as may be more particularly useful, to enable them to read the fcriptures with advantage, THE |