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    truths and duties of the gospel to the Inhabitants of several neighbouring villages and small towns , while their juniors have accompanied them to teach in Sun * day-Schools , and thus contribute , in a jhumbler , but not less effective manner , to the same great object of diffusing

    religious knowledge , and leading to the pro * fession and practice of it . It has , indeed , been highly creditable to you , my young friends , that you have thus voluntarily and zealously devoted yourselves to an arduous undertaking ; without the prospect of any other remuneration than the satisfaction of doing good , and I hope . of

    prompting your own improvement while you are labouring for that of others . It is a pleasing earnest that you have your souls devoted to your profession and its great objects ; that the love of Christ is so shed abroad in your hearts , that you are desirous to testify it by ' feeding his sheep . * —And I trust that you will reap

    the reward of it , not only in present satisfaction , but also in becoming , by this exercise , better prepared for a successful discharge of your public duties , in whatever part of the flock of Christ you may be called upon to serve the Great Shepherd . Particularly it will prove , at least

    in my opinion , the most effectual means , at any rate it . will serve as a great auxiliary to any other means which may be used , for encouraging the talent of a just and easy expression of the thoughts as occasions may require , and also that of conducting the public services in our

    churches with a correct and pleasing , an animated and forcible delivery . It will thus contribute , I trust effectually , to remove the only objection to this Institution which I have heard brought against it , as not affording sufficient facilities for attaining that earnest , impressive , popular manner , which is so essential to the

    success of young meu as public teachers . " At the same time give me leave , my young friends , to offer to those of you who are to return , a few words of advice and caution . ** In the first place , I hope you will

    always recollect , that your missionary exertions on the Sunday should not be allowed to interfere with the great purposes of your residence 3 ji this place , Vou know that you were sent here with the view to prepare yourselves for

    serving our regular churches , and also for maintaining our credit in general society , as well-educated and enlightened ministers , and promoters of sound knowledge in the places where you may settle : and that you ought not to indulge in any other occupation , however innocent or even laudable h \ itself , so far as to pre-

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    vent you from making the preparations necessary for your profitable attendance on the Lectures , or from performing t | ie other prescribed exercises in this Insti * tution . i " Secondly , let nue caution you not to expect too much , or be discouraged by

    any occasional failures . It is of the nature of youthful enthusiasm to be sanguine , but , at the same time , to stumble at obstacles , and to be disgusted with opposition . You must expect to meet with prejudices which you cannot

    overcome , with carelessness which you canuot impress , with positive wickedness which you canuot reform . Be not provoked by the former into hot and angry disputes , or discouraged by the apathy or sin fulness of the others to withdraw

    your instructions or reproofs . , Be ready always to give an answer to every one that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you , with meekness and fear ; instil precept upon prgcept , though you may not perceive the vessel filling ; write line upon line , though no legible characters

    should for the present appear . It is pleasanter , indeed , to sow the seed in good ground ; but the bread which is cast upon the waters is often found after many days , and the most refractory substances are melted down by coals of fire , judiciously heaped upon their . heads . Great patience , indeed , and a truly

    Christian sweetness of temper and disposition , are necessary to the missionary preacher . " Let me further advise you not to extend the scene of your operations to » too great an extent and distance . If you break up new ground , which you cannot continue to cultivate , it will be in great danger of afterwards producing weeds . It had better even have been left in the

    natural unproductiveness of the plain green sward . You will do well , therefore , to confine yourselves to a few places at once ; such as may he within your compass ; and if you can unite a few

    together , or connect any of them with already established places in the neighbourhood , you may then , but perhaps not till then , seek out for other stations . — But in this , and indeed in all respects , it will be best to hold a free

    communication with your Tutors , whose advice will keep you from any steps which may be imprudent , or likely to be unsuccessful . " In every place I should advise you to train up some one or more who may

    conduct the worship in cases of your occasional absence , if in no othsr , way * at least by the help of ' printedrforma and sermons . Such forms may easfiy be now procured : a collection of them which , perhaps , will very well suit the purpose .

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    InteUigenecs *~ Man € he $ ter College , York . 427

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1824, page 427, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2526/page/43/