"profit a man, if he gain the whole world and "lose his own soul?" What avails it that all the treasures of science and literature are poured at our feet, if we are ignorant of ourselves, of Christ, and holiness? The period is hastening which will put an end to this world and all its distinctions; which, like a flood, will sweep away its applause and its frown, its learning and its ignorance. The awful glories of the last judgment will, ere long appear; when the humble and penitent inquirer, who has received by faith that stupendous grace which the doctrine of Christ reveals, shall be eternally saved; while the merely speculative student, whose secret love of sin led to the rejection of that doctrine, shall, notwithstanding his presumption of final impunity, be, for ever, undone.

I cannot permit myself to conclude, without expressing my thanks for the very candid attention with which you have been pleased to honour these discourses. I trust that every word hath been spoken with a just deference for the learned assembly before whom I preach: for I greatly covet your approbation, and I hope that I shall obtain it. But I have a solemn account to render; for I have had many opportunities, and I desire to say that, now, which my conscience shall approve, at that hour when I

shall be called to give an account of my stewardship.

I pray that "the Spirit of truth," which our Saviour promised should abide with his people for ever, may manifest his power amongst us, dispel the darkness of ignorance and error, and "guide our minds into all Truth." John xvi. 13. DATHO

To this Holy Spirit, who, together with the Father and the Son, is One God, be ascribed all honour and glory, power, might, majesty, and dominion, now and evermore. Amen.

PREPARATORY STUDIES

FOR THE

CHURCH.

[The knowledge of the Holy Scriptures was passing away.] MORNING SERMON, p. 23.

Not only was Hebrew literature neglected at the Universities, but theological learning in general had declined; and it was, for the most part, left to the student to chuse, whether he would qualify himself or not for the sacred function. And, as the candidates for holy orders were not required to study WHAT was to be preached, so they were not instructed How they were to preach. There were no lectures in public speaking; no exercises in recitation or in sacred composition. Or, if some lectures and exercises still existed under that name, they had become of little practical use.

In the torpid state, in which all the other religious denominations then were, in common with the Established Church, she would not suffer much, in the way of secession, by this decay in theological learning. But the case is widely different, now that there has been a revival of religion in the nation; and we cannot wonder that, under circumstances so unfavourable to the acquirement of the faculty of preaching, there should have been so great a separation from the Church of late years.

F

Some, indeed, think it improper, that eloquence should be displayed in a Church, as at the Bar, or in the Senate, and would be disposed to call it " Rhap"sody," or " Rant;" for that is the name frequently given to " eloquence on a sacred subject." But, in the judgment of Fenelon and Quintillian, it would be called true and legitimate oratory," the power of persuading men by the fittest means." This was that kind of pulpit address which prevailed in our own Church in her better days, from the time of the Reformation to the reign of the First Charles; and which filled the churches at the Universities with willing auditors. And, when a corrupt taste was at length introduced, and preachers began to read their sermons, the innovation was checked, for a time, by the following mandate of King Charles the Second.

VICE CHANCELLOR AND GENTLEMEN,

"Whereas his Majesty is informed, that the prac "tice of reading sermons is generally taken up by the "preachers before the University, and, therefore, some"times continued even before himself: his Majesty "hath commanded me to signify to you his pleasure, "that the said practice, which took its beginning from "the disorders of the late times, be wholly laid aside; "and that the said preachers deliver their sermons, both “in Latin and English, by memory, without book: as "being a way of preaching which his Majesty judgeth "most agreeable to the use of all foreign churches, to

the custom of the University heretofore, and to the na"ture and intention of that holy exercise. And, that "his Majesty's commands, in these premises, may be

46

duly regarded and observed, his further pleasure is, "that the names of all such ecclesiastical persons as «shall continue the present supine and slothful way of

“preaching, be, from time to time, signified to me, by "the Vice-Chancellor, for the time being, on pain of "his Majesty's displeasure.

"MONMOUTH"

It is evident that no man can speak with propriety from the pulpit, any more than at the bar, without some education for that purpose. Would it be impracticable for our Church to retrace her steps, in regard to preparation for the Sacerdotal office, and see what can be done towards attaching the people to her communion, by restoring the primitive means? If she is to be saved from the evils that threaten her, she will be saved, under God, by PREACHING; not by acts of legislation, nor by volumes from the press in her defence, but by the means which God hath been pleased to honour in every age, and which are called in Scripture, "the foolishness of preaching." 1 Cor. i. 21. By which expression is intended, that the means are so simple, that they appear as "foolishness" to some. And if any one should doubt that this ordinance of God is so honoured in our time, he has only to look around, and behold its POWER.

Would it be impossible then to restore theological learning to more respect? I mean not what is called the learning of the schools, but legitimate theology, the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, and of History and Chronology, as the handmaids of revelation.

"It is generally taken for granted that the student is acquainted with the Holy Scriptures before he comes to College. "But this is by no means generally the case; he may be acquainted with Horace and Virgil; but he often

Extracted from the Statute-book of the University of Cambridge, page 301, Car. II. Rex.