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accomplished by yourself. But in vain will any student hope to achieve much in the attainment of that which lectures cannot give him in detail, unless he bring to every lecture a mind awake, active, inquisitive, and greedy of knowledge. Unless he carefully watch every sentence that is dropped; every opening for an important question, and further explanation; and every opportunity, however small, of extending his views of truth or duty. If students listened with such a spirit, the shortest and most meagre lecture would be thought a feast... how remote from this is the dull, drowsy, uninterested mind which some bring to the exercises of the class?-a mind which, instead of eagerly seizing, examining and extending all that is presented to it, can hardly be stimulated to sucn a degree of attention as will enable it even to comprehend what is said, at the time, much less to give any intelligent account of it afterwards. You may rest assured, that if you do not gain the art of bringing INTENSE INTEREST of mental application to that which is presented to you from time to time, you will never accomplish much in any species of mental improvement.

LETTER X.

That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God. 1 TIM. iii. 15.

HABITS IN THE PULPIT, AND IN THE HOUSE OF GOD.

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND,

The Pulpit has been sometimes called the minister's throne. There he appears to perform the most important part of his publick work. And there, if any where, he ought to be seen to advantage. His aspect, his attitudes, and his whole deportment ought to correspond with the gravity and solemnity of his message. And while, on the one hand, every thing like pomp, ostentation, or mock dignity, should be avoided as hateful; on the other, all coarseness, levity, or vulgarity; every thing that borders on the ludicrous, or the want of real dignity, ought to be shunned with no less care. As you

are soon, with the permission of Providence, to ascend the pulpit, I am anxious that you should have some just ideas how you ought to appear there. It is my purpose, therefore, in the present Letter, to put you on your guard against a few of those faults which I have often observed ministers to commit in the sacred desk; and to offer a few plain counsels which may aid you in avoiding those faults.

1. Avoid all UNNECESSARY EXPENSE OF SPIRITS, VOICE, AND STRENGTH, IMMEDIATELY BEFORE GOING INTO THE PULPIT. Those who are not aware of the difficulties under which ministers labour, especially such of them as have weak lungs, or general delicacy of health, are apt to call upon them for services which require much effort, just before the commencement of the public service in the church. The consequence is, that they sometimes ascend the pulpit nearly as much exhausted, as, at other times, when they quit it. This cannot always be avoided; but it certainly ought in all cases to be avoided, when it can be consistently with duty. Guard against all unnecessary reading aloud, and every thing which tends to produce exhaustion or weariness, especially of the lungs. Make a point of entering on the service of the sanctuary in all the freshness and fulness of your strength and spirits. In this case, you may hope to perform them with more vigour

and animation; with more comfort to yourself; and with more profit to others. Whereas if you either inadvertently, or unavoidably, fatigue yourself before you go to the Pulpit, your whole publick work, on that occasion, will probably be dull and nerveless. Hence that preacher is extremely unwise, who sits up late on Saturday-night, and exhausts himself in making preparation for the next day. Of all nights in the week, it is important that that which immediately precedes the sabbath, should be passed in unbroken sleep.

2. When you expect to preach, INSTEAD OF EATING MORE, RATHER EAT LESS THAN ON OTHER DAYS. I do not forget that no rules on this subject can be laid down, which will equally suit all persons. But, unless I am greatly deceived, there are some general principles here, which admit of very few exceptions. And one of these I believe to be, that, when we are about to make a great exertion, especially in speaking, a state of repletion is so far from being advantageous, that it is directly the reverse. Try it when you will, you will find that, when your aliment on the sabbath is more light in its quality, and smaller in quantity, than on other days, you will go through the labours of the day with more ease and vivacity, with far less subsequent fatigue, and feel much better the next day, than when you take an opposite

course. Of all mistakes on this subject, that is the greatest, which dreams of deriving unusual strength and animation for the labours of the pulpit, from an unusual indulgence in the use of solid food.

3. Never habituate yourself To THE USE OF MANY OF THOSE TONICKS, NOURISHING DRAUGHTS, AND CLEARERS OF THE VOICE, of which many make such abundant use. I have known some preachers, who abounded so much in the use of eggs, and honey, and mint drops, and spirits of lavender, and wine, and sugarcandy, &c. &c., immediately before going to the pulpit, that, when abroad, and among those who were not accustomed to their habits, they were really troublesome guests. And I not long since read a work, entitled Medicina Clerica, from the pen of an English clergyman, in which the writer makes preparation for entering the Pulpit so complicated a system; in which he recommends such a long list of drops, and lozenges, and stimulants, and remedies for hoarseness, and such an endless round of indulgences and plans for "ease and comfort," that the perusal of his book appears to me much better adapted to teach a man how to make himself a hypochondriack, than a powerful, active preacher. The truth is, young preachers do not stand in need of any of these things, and ought not to use them. They are seldom necessary for any

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