some fair and favourable opportunities of opening and disabusing their minds, before they are aware. Bigotry is a disease much better cured by gentle means than violent: a fort much easier taken by sap than storm. Perhaps you may meet with some who confound practical with legal preaching; who have never learned to distinguish between personal holiness and self-righteousness; and depreciate Christian piety under the name of works; by mistaking the sense of that word in the apostle Paul's Epistles. Convince them of that mistake if you can; if not, bear with them; but arm them against the danger of it. This confusion of ideas is only owing to a want of right and regular instructions. You will often find their heart better than their head: and if you do, they not only deserve your candour, but claim your esteem.

Whilst you endeavour to avoid what is trite, low and vulgar, beware you do not run into (what is equally ridiculous) a false delicacy. Apply this caution to every thing; your style, sentiments, taste, temper and conduct.

In administering the sacramental seals attend to the original institution and design of them, and conduct yourself thereby.

In visiting the sick (a duty which you will find, perhaps, to be as difficult as any in the

pastoral

pastoral office) consider the character, condition and understanding of the person you visit; and direct your address to him according to the danger of his case, and the temper you find him in. Preserve a seriousness of mind, a freedom of speech, and a composure of spirit throughout the whole. To animate your prayers and compassion for him, suppose yourself in his case, and be thankful that you are not.

Observe where your chief ministerial talent lies; whether in prayer or preaching: if in prayer, whether it consists in a copiousness of expression, enlargement of thought, or devotion of spirit: if in preaching, whether it lies in judicious composition, propriety of style, or pathetic address: and improve it by frequent exercise. And whatever be your principal defect, take care to mend it by a frequent converse with such as excel in those points wherein you are most defective.

Beware of an innovating spirit, or a love of novelty in religious principles. It is a dangerous affectation; and hath drawn multitudes into scepticism on the one 'hand, and the wildest enthusiasm on the other.

Be very serious and sincere in all your ministrations. To that end, keep not only the end of your ministry but the end of life in view. Be

very

very diligent to fulfil the service of each, 'ere providence put a period to both. Mr. Baxter used

to say.

I preach as if I ne'er should preach again;
And as a dying man, to dying men.

Finally, pray for your flock. Pray for yourself. Be very frequent and fervent in your applications to the throne of grace for a blessing on your ministerial labours; that God would be pleased to direct you from time to time, to the most suitable and important subjects, and assist your meditations on them; give a divine blessing to his own word, and make you the happy instrument of bringing many sons unto glory."

66

And thus, sir, in compliance with your desire, I have given you my thoughts very freely and faithfully on the subject you proposed.- -I conclude all with repeating my request, that so far as you see the fore-mentioned rules to be just, right and reasonable, you would not only approve but prac- tise them; and form your ministerial character and conduct thereby. And then, by the blessing of God, they will secure to you the best success in that important service, to which you are now to devote your life and labours. With strength from Heaven equal to your work on earth, may

5

you

you come forth to your flock "in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of peace;" and finally meet with a large reward from "the great shepherd and bishop of souls, when you shall appear before him at his coming!" this is the earnest prayer of,

Sir, your very affectionate Brother,

And humble Servant,

J. M.

AN

ESSAY

ON

ELOCUTION, or PRONUNCIATION.

ELOCUTION is a branch of oratory, the power and importance of which is greater than is generally thought; insomuch that eloquence takes its name from it *.

It was much cultivated by Quintilian, and before him by Cicero, and before him by M. Antonius ; but before his time, it was too much

Eloquentia ab eloqui. I use the word elocution here in its common and vulgar sense, to signify utterance, delivery, or pronunciation, in which sense we frequently use it in the English language, and which its Latin etymology very well justifies; though I know some good writers apply it to a different idea, in conformity to the sense in which the Latin orators used the word elocutio. But it is no uncommon thing for derivative words in one language to be taken in a different sense from that in which the words they are derived from are taken in another.