It is well ascertained, that a variety of vague and miscellaneous reading rather dissipates and enfeebles the mind, than conduces to its improvement, its knowledge, or its power: and that he who wishes to know the best books well, must be contented to be resolutely ignorant of a thousand others. And this is a restraint which attaches to every other branch of manly learning, as well as to that of the Christian minister and divine. It will be but a poor ambition in us to wish to shew an acquaintance with every agreeable or useful, still more with every frivolous publication, and converse in society upon the terms of such accommodating compliance with the popular subjects of attention. We have our prescribed work. Its first demand upon us is for ministerial fitness, sound theological knowledge, and such resources of reason and learning, as may advance the cause of Christianity, in faith and in practice, in the world. Let us be intent on this leading object, before we digress into the indulgences of an optional literature: and with this subordination of our views, we shall find that we have little time left for superfluous reading; or so much of it as we admit will be in subjection to the higher truths and the more important design which have taken the prior possession of our minds. "Ye are the salt of the earth," saith our Saviour; "but if the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall "it be salted?" If our minds and studies are not a source of purity and invigorating wisdom to others, one main purpose of the ministerial function is gone. And here, if I did not hasten to a conclusion, I might enter upon an inviting subject, in descanting upon the excellence and intrinsic pleasure of Christian knowledge, with its kindred inquiries, in comparison of other intellectual pursuits, whatever they may be. The mystery of our Redemption; the dispensations of God; the economy of His all-wise governing Providence; the life, death, doctrines, and mercies of the Holy Jesus our Saviour; our own moral nature; our duties; the prospects of our future immortal state; the history of the Church of Christ in its brighter and its darker periods; the fortunes of its propagation; with the lives of its pastors, sages, and martyrs: these are subjects for which other literature can furnish no equivalent in dignity of character, and which, if cultivated, would yield to none in point of interest to our feelings. No good reason therefore can be assigned, why our taste should be directed, by preference, to other studies, even if motives of duty did not intervene to decide our choice. "Till I come," saith the Apostle, "give attendance "to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." Let us imagine what kind of reading St. Paul would have dictated, and we shall not err in our selection. After well-directed reading, the powers" of exhorta"tion" and " of doctrine" may be expected to follow in the natural order of things, and by the blessing of God's Holy Spirit, without whose sustaining and enlightening aid our hearts will be dead, our studies blind, and our labours vain. May His grace then be with us in our lives, and His illumination direct our studies, that we may "do the work of evangelists, "and give full proof of our ministry," for the edification of His Church, and the salvation of souls, through Jesus Christ. Amen. |