unadulterated. Neither violence nor fraud should be suffered to rob us of the inestimable treasure. God and his church expect and require that we fulfil honourably this engagement, so solemnly formed in the presence of both. Whenever our faith is

assaulted, to us the world naturally looks up for its defence; and it is well, if a failure in this part of our duty be not, one day, urged against us, as an argument for the abolition of an useless order of men. It is the property of our great adversary, first to TEMPT, and then to ACCUSE.

The propagation and support of true religion constitute, indeed, our peculiar task, the prescribed employment of our time, the proper exercise of our powers and faculties; for want of which, they will be either turned to other pursuits quite foreign from our profession, or dissipated in frivolous amusements, or permitted to rust in sloth and indolence*. Study of the Scriptures and ecclesiastical history must ever be regarded as the first duty of a clergyman, because that alone can prepare and qualify him for a discharge of all the rest. It is a duty which, if cordially taken in hand and vigorously prosecuted, will soon become his pleasure. And when a man's duty becomes his pleasure, he is a happy man. Till then he never can be one; being indebted for his peace of mind, if he ever enjoy any, only to the want of consideration and re

* When a friend told Bishop Cumberland, he would wear himself out by his incessant application: "It is better," replied the bishop, "to wear out than to rust out."

flection. But what is there which can so enlarge, improve, and delight the human mind, as a contemplation of the truths and dispensations of the Almighty? where is the pleasure that can stand the comparison for a moment? I know of none that is not as much inferior as earth is to heaven.

The church of England, from the time of the reformation, has gloried in a learned clergy, who stood prepared to repel, with skill and vigour, the assaults of her various adversaries. Some would persuade us that this glory is departing from her. "The number of learned Socinians, it is said, is "increasing; that of learned Trinitarians decreasing".

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The remark cannot but excite some wonder, when coming from one so evidently overmatched, as he appears to have been, in point of learning, by his very respectable antagonist. It affords, however, a useful hint to us, not to grow slack and remiss in our professional studies; not to think of subsisting on the fame acquired by our predecessors, but diligently availing ourselves of their labours, still farther to advance and set forward the truth by our own. A general diffusion of knowledge in these latter days has enabled the lower orders of mankind to become acquainted with the objections urged against doctrines laid down by our church as essential and fundamental. Her ministers, therefore, will be frequently called upon for answers to those objections; which, without having read and thought

well upon the subject, they may be at a loss to furnish. Advantage will be made of this circumstance; their people will be seduced, and the enemy will exult. A very small portion of time, applied regularly and constantly to any one pursuit, will soon effect things almost incredible. It is recorded of the great Usher, that, wishing to know, at first hand, the sentiments of antiquity on the points in dispute between the Romanists and ourselves, he went through, between the age of twenty and thirtyeight, the voluminous writings of the Fathers by devoting, amidst his other labours, a small proportion of time every day to that purpose. Tasks of this extent and difficulty need not be now imposed on a clergyman. The evidence on most controverted doctrines has been collected and arranged for him; and by means of a few well-chosen books", perused with due attention, he may become a sufficient ma

Such as-Bishop Bull's Latin Works; Waterland's Import ance of the Doctrine of the Trinity; his Sermons at Lady Moyer's Lectures; Dr. Ridley's, at the same Lecture, on the Holy Spirit; the writings of Dr. Randolph; Mr. Jones's Catholic Doctrine of the Trinity; Full Answer to the Essay on Spirit; Letter to the Common People; to a Young Gentleman at Oxford; Remarks on the Confessional.

On Socinianism; Grotius de Satisfactione; Stillingfleet's Discourse on the true Reason of Christ's Sufferings, against Crellius; Bishop Coneybear's Sermon on the Satisfaction; Edwards's Preservative; Leslie's Dialogues on Socinianism; with Mosheim's Account of its rise and progress, in his Ecclesiastical History.

For the Judgement of the Jewish Church against the Unitarians, Dr. Allix's book with that title; a most learned, valuable, and decisive work on that part of the subject.

ster of the subject, and of the arguments which have been, or indeed can be, produced; for there is but little fresh matter at this time to be started. What progress might he make, within the compass of a year, at the rate of a couple of hours only in each day!

By such an employment of his hours, he will be prepared, whenever summoned, to render a good account of them. Conscious that he must render an account, and cannot render a good one, it is impossible for him, if he reflect at all, to continue long at ease. The grand question concerning our conduct is, how it will appear at the great scrutiny : and he alone is truly wise, who spends his time as, at the last hour, he will wish to have spent it. Happy the man, who may be able with all humility to say, when that hour shall come-" The time which "thou hast given me has been passed in thy service. "I have not suffered myself, through indolence or "dissipation, to live in ignorance of thy truth, or "to withhold it from others. I have laboured dili"gently and faithfully to find it; and when found, to publish and defend it. It is not my fault, if the people perish for lack of knowledge. I have done my best: I have fought a good fight: I have kept "the faith; and endeavoured that others should do "the same." This is a state of satisfaction and comfort for a minister of Christ, weighed against which, "the world, with all its wealth, all its pleasures, "and all its honours, is dust upon the balance, "without weight and without regard.”

But, besides the testimony borne him by his con

science within, other witnesses will appear in his favour from without. He will have the approbation and thanks of all those who wish well to the church and to their country; who do not apprehend, that the latter will be benefited by the destruction of the former, or a nation saved by apostasy from its Saviour. He will have the attestation of multitudes, that by his ministry, by his discourses, by his writings, they were preserved or reclaimed from error and from death, and conducted in the way of truth and life. "Behold him, and the children which "God hath given him, like the arrows in the hand of "the mighty: happy is the man that hath his quiver "full of them; he shall not be ashamed when he speaketh with his enemies, at the seat of judge

ment * "

On that seat he will view the blessed Person for whose faith he has contended; whose cause he has maintained; the honour of whose name he has asserted and vindicated; who has been a spectator of the conflict, and will award the crown.

× Isaiah, viii. 18.; Heb. ii. 31; Psal. cxxvii. 4, 5.