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    wick appears to us particularly happy . It is cordial , judicious , and concise . No Christian minister could wish to receive a kinder welcome to the post of duty , or to be cheered on his entrance upon his labour of love with words of fairer promise . " We welcome you affectionately amongst us , " says Mr . S . ; "we each of us seek to be your personal friend , to interchange with you the offices of kindness and co-operation , to maintain with you an intercourse , manly , frank , candid , and charitable . "

    The observations which follow are conceived in the same spirit with this introduction . A few very valuable practical hints are thrown out as to the qualifications which the society , in whose name he spoke , might , in his opinion , fairly wish and look for in their minister ; but the tone is throughout that of frank and manly friendship , not of dictation ; and the first wish of the young pastor when he heard this address , must , we think have been , that

    his congregation might ever continue to feel and speak and act towards him in the spirit of their worthy representative ; and that he might himself never prove undeserving of such a friendship as that which had been thus proffered to him , a friendship which should combine honesty and frankness with charity and candour . In a few words of Mr . Swan wick ' s we find a forcible and sufficient defence of the religious service in which he was engaged .

    " We are no favourers of aught that would narrow the road to heaven , or would impede it with obstacles of human invention . But it is possible , we think , to be ' superstitiously afraid of superstition ;'—and we would not reject the unexceptionable means to a good end , because these means may be occasionally associated with objectionable practices Therefore , Sir , as we hope that you are to aid us in fashioning the youthful mind to the reception of the highest and purest motives , and the conduct of our children

    to practical virtue ; and that your instructions will tend to guard all against the inroads of that selfishness which active engagements in the world are too apt to generate , and to strengthen all in whatever is praiseworthy and of good report—we do not think it either unnatural or unwise to commence -our connexion with you by listening to admonitions and joining in a service calculated simply to impress upon our minds the vital importance of the objects we are pursuing , and the means most likely to ensure their attainment . "

    The reply of the Rev . R . B . Aspland appears to be that of an ingenuous young man , entering with zeal and alacrity on the duties of his new situation , and animated by a strong desire to discharge them well . We are particularly pleased with the modesty and candour which appear in the following reference , if we mistake not , to a truly wise and friendly suggestion in the preceding address .

    " I shall never be backward in stating and defending " , on all proper occasions , what we believe to be the peculiar doctrines of the gospel . In noticing the opinions of others , I trust that I shall always exhibit a calm and candid spirit . I am too great a lover of independence of mind and freedom of inquiry to be anenry with those who have thought and searched for themselves , inquiry to be angry with those who have thought and searched tor themselves ,

    however widely their conclusions may differ from my own . Should , however , the excitement of a public address or the ardour of youth ever tempt your minister to pass beyond the boundaries of moderation and charity , some friendly voice will , I trust , warn him back and admonish him of his danger . It is my wish to live in peace with all men , and to be able to hail every fellow-Christian , be his peculiarities what they may , as a friend and a brother . " This is exactly as it should be , as modest and charitable as it is spirited and manly . In the concluding sentence of his reply , the young minister

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    Reviews Ordination Sewkes . 105

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1827, page 105, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1793/page/25/