MY DEAR SIR,

LETTER V.

To A. Knox, Esq.

Swanlinbar, May 13. 1801.

I HAVE frequently read your letter on christian preaching; and each reading has, more decidedly than the preceding one, convinced me, that your ideas on the subject are perfectly scriptural. If any were to deem your scheme enthusiastic, I should be inclined to think them cold; and I should be happy in preaching, all my life, such methodism, as you have furnished me with a specimen of. The books, for which I am indebted to your kindness and recommendation, have not yet reached the country. When they arrive, I shall lose no time in having recourse to them. They are such, from the description you have given [of] them, as cannot fail to be highly useful; but I must fear my power of turning them to good account; however, I shall make some efforts, not relying on my own strength; and I will leave the event in his hands, who, alone, is able to order things for the good of his creatures.

By the kindness with which you have answered my former question, you have subjected yourself to the trouble of receiving similar applications from me. You have had some experience of applicants, in your official capacity; and, I dare say, that experience proved to you, that success, on one occasion, seldom prevents people from being solicitous a second, and a third time. Such is the case with me. I am emboldened by your goodness, to trespass on it still further.

• The

I hear, that you read to the Clerical Society, a paper on Treatment of Roman Catholics.' I should be more than commonly gratified, if you would favor me with a copy of it. However, I beg, if it be in the least degree troublesome to you, that you will not think of sending it. I should be truly sorry to derive advantage, from any thing irksome, or inconvenient to you.

I have commenced a plan of giving service, in the evening of Sunday; which concludes with a kind of expository lecture, on a portion of the New Testament. I began with St. Matthew's Gospel; and purpose to go regularly through it. The attendance of the parishioners is very respectable; never less than 50 to 60. From never having heard a lecture of the kind, I am sometimes at a loss to know, whether I have adopted the proper plan. If any ideas on the subject of lecturing occur to

you, I would thankfully receive them; and endeavor, by following them up, to improve myself and the parish.

I

On the treatment of Methodists, you gave me some useful advice in Dublin. They form so considerable a portion of my flock, that I wish to direct much of my attention to them. have some pleasure in imagining, that most of them are inclined to attend to me, and have rather a favorable opinion of me. One preacher, indeed, I have been well informed, endeavored to infuse suspicions of me. Of this, I shall, you may be certain, take no notice. Other of their preachers, I have been informed, recommend attention to what I preach, &c. &c. I wish, indeed, that their meetings did not interfere with the hours of divine service; which they sometimes do. On the means of effecting a change in their time of meeting, and on any other particulars respecting them, a few hints from you would be extremely serviceable to me. You well know the principles and feeling of the sect; and could, no doubt, point out the gentlest, and the most effectual mode of dealing with them.

I have written this day to Stopford, and requested that he, or other members of the Clerical Society, would turn their minds towards investigating the best mode of instructing Protestants, who cannot read, and are completely ignorant of the principles of christianity. He will tell you the occasion of this request. Probably, your friend Mr. Alcock, from his great experience, acquired by long visiting his parishioners, could draw up most useful Hints for religious conversation with the uninstructed poor.' You have, I suppose, seen Magee's book, on Atonement and Sacrifice. It evinces astonishing research; and appears to me full of most excellent argument.

I heard of the purpose to which you applied Orton's letters. There could not be a better one. I am much obliged by your

sending over for another set.

I trust this fine weather has been beneficial to your health. In the country, every thing promises well. Thank God, every thing here is plentiful; and there is a greater prospect of an increase of harvest, than has been recollected for many years. Providence orders all things wisely: the scarcity of two years, has been the means of creating a foresight, and industry, and economy, hitherto unknown; probably, these may ripen into a habit.

I am, dear Sir,

Your most obliged and affectionate friend,
JOHN JEBB.

LETTER VI.

To A. Knox, Esq.

Kilmore House, Nov. 26. 1801.

MY DEAR SIR, THE Bishop of Kilmore tells me, that he has informed you of the option he has given me, of remaining at Swanlinbar, or removing to Cashel. He spoke to me this day of his intentions, in that open, kind, and delicate manner, which might be expected from such a man. You, most probably, know, better than I can know, what might be expected, from his recommending me in the strongest manner to Bishop ; but, I confess, that,

from various reasons, and, not least among them, from a wish to be under the good man, from whom, during more than two years, I have experienced nothing but kindness, I should prefer removing to Cashel.

By your advice and opinion, in conjunction with that of my brother, I shall be decided. This only I would say, that, if an introduction to any Bishop I know, were to place me immediately in a comfortable living, on condition of my giving up all prospect of getting into the Bishop of Kilmore's (Brodrick's) diocese, at some future period, I should feel a very strong inclination to refuse it.

I have just written to my brother, and desired him to call on you. I am sure that you, who had the goodness to establish me in my profession, will grant me the additional favor of your advice, in this case.

I should long since have written to you, on other matters, had I not feared that my letters might be troublesome. If I could be certain that the fact were not so, I should sometimes do myself the real pleasure of writing to you; and be amply satisfied by hearing from you only when perfectly convenient, should it be but once a year.

I am, my dear Sir,

Your most obliged, and most faithful servant,

JOHN JEBB.

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LETTER 3.

Feb. 2. 1802.

MY DEAR MR. JEBB,

I SHOULD Sooner have acknowledged your very acceptable let

ter, if I had not been, both particularly engaged in, and indisposed for, writing. Both the same obstacles, too much continue; but I cannot longer defer saying something to you.

I yesterday dined with our archbishop. I mentioned to his Grace your having asked my opinion about your course of lectures; and he expressed his wish, that you should particularly apply yourself, to the preparing youth for confirmation: and gave, I thought, as a reason, his purpose of setting you on that employment, when you should go to Cashel. I answered, that both were very compatible; that I did not question the importance of what he mentioned, but that I consider the lectures, also, as of peculiar moment; and, therefore, could not help hoping you would persevere in your design. He seemed not disposed to differ from me: though I am not sure, that he has yet before his mind, all the motives, for cultivating that particular mode of instruction. I think, that, if he saw it in the light, in which, if I live, I will endeavor to place it to him, he will be more decidedly attached to it. And the epitome of these reasons is simply this,.. that this, alone, is preaching the word of God. This is bringing the Scriptures forward, into the light of day; while the common mode of preaching, is but a statement of human sentiments.

Pater

I soberly think, that, in the Scriptures themselves, there is a clearness, a directness, an energy, a congeniality, with all that is honest, good, and wise, in the human heart; which places them infinitely above every thing else in the world. But these qualities do not shew themselves, to the superficial reader, or hearer. They are too genuine, to be ostentatious. They are, also, perhaps, so disposed, as to require that attention to discover them, which tends to fit the mind for valuing them when found. The treasure was hid in a field; but, in fact, ipse haud facilem esse viam voluit,' applies almost to every thing promotive of human improvement: which saying of Virgil's, is astonishingly correspondent with that in Genesis, In the sweat of thy face, shalt thou eat bread.' In order, therefore, to bring the energies of the Scriptures into action, there must be labor of some; there must be study. But the inability of the people, in general, to do this for themselves, is the very foundation of the clerical office. How, then, can this office be so well fulfilled, as in developing these concealed excellencies? How can the time, allotted for public instruction, be so happily employed, as in opening the very words, and expressions, of Moses and the Prophets, of Christ and his Apostles? If they are to be effected at all, what so fit for the purpose, as that which was performed, for this very end, by the very wisdom of God? The word of God is quick and powerful,' we are told,

'and sharper than a two-edged sword.' But, I think, modern practice effectually prevents this being either known, or felt. For, in my mind, mere reading the Scriptures, without opening them, is but wielding the sword, with the scabbard on: and preaching, in the usual way, is brandishing a weapon, of human manufacture, (which has neither power nor sharpness,) in its room. But, to explain the Scriptures themselves; to lead them, from clause to clause, and from verse to verse; to show the wise adaptation, of the observation, to the occasion; to explain the connection, and, by that means, exhibit the innate wisdom, of the sacred text; to show the knowledge of the human heart, which it implies; the accordance with human conduct, and the matchless conduciveness to real happiness, personal and social, which it displays; and, under such a display, to put it to them, 'Is not this infinite truth? Is not this the way to happiness? Do not your hearts give their testimony to this,.. 'that he that doeth these things, shall never fall?' consequently, this is the word of God, which if you go on to despise, let your own hearts tell what must be your feelings, when you come to the verge of eternity! It is only after laying open the Scriptures themselves, that any modest man could speak thus, and yet, to speak thus, is the only way to rouse the benumbed consciences of men.

In another letter, I hope to give you my thoughts, on the matter of your lectures; which, at present, I conceive should be, alternately, from the historical parts of the Old Testament, beginning with the lives and characters of the Patriarchs; and from the Gospel, and Epistles.

Most truly yours,

ALEX. KNOX.

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LETTER 4.

Dawson-street, April 3, 1802.

MY DEAR MR. JEBB,

I OUGHT long since to have written to you; but various causes have concurred, to make me a defaulter. I was obliged to you for your little memoir.* My only fault with which was, that it was too well, that is, too elaborately written. The matter, as far as I can pretend to judge, was, in point of local information, interesting; and the arrangement, and expression, clear; but I could have wished to have seen no attempt at good writing; nor any rise, above colloquial ease. Perhaps, you * A statistical account of the parish of Swanlinbar.-ED.