And it is well known, that, even in thofe ages when mankind ftood aftonifhed at the aufterities practifed by reclufes and eremites, the epifcopal or facerdotal character was reckoned as much fuperior to the other, as charity is better than contemplation. "In folitude," faith a great master of this fubject, "a man may go to "heaven by the way of prayer and "devotion; but in fociety he car"ries others with him by the way of

mercy and charity. In folitude "there are fewer temptations, but "then there is likewife the exercise "of fewer virtues. Solitude is a

good fchool, and the world the " beft theatre. The inftitution is "beft there, the practice here. The "wilderness hath the advantage of

difcipline, but fociety furnisheth "the opportunities of perfection *." To confirm this judicious state of the cafe, it may be observed, that the only perfect life which hath ever been led on earth, was a mixture of the folitary and focial. Our Lord himself paffed thirty years in the privacy of Nazareth, and then appeared in public to exercife his miniftry; but ftill not without frequent intervals of retirement. "It was in "folitude that he kept his vigils; "the defart places heard him pray; "in the wilderness he vanquished "Satan; upon a mountain apart he

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was transfigured t." But in public he preached the Gospel, and con

* Bishop Taylor's Life of Chrift, Sect. viii.

Ibid.

verted fouls; in public he healed the fick, and cast out devils; in public he fuffered, and, while he redeemed the world, fet it a pattern of humility, patience, and charity.

FROM the circumftance of St. John's education in the defarts we may, therefore, venture to draw a conclufion which will be of general ufe, with regard to all minifters of the Gospel, namely, that the folitary way of life is neceffary to qualify them for the offices of the focial; or, that he who would ferve God acceptably in public, must first prepare himself for that purpose in private. The reafon is, becaufe no man is properly qualified to teach wisdom and holiness, who doth not himself poffefs them. And a little reflection

will convince us, how needful retirement is for the acquifition of both.

THE toils undergone by all who have ever made any great proficiency in wisdom, plainly prove close application and deep attention to be requifite for it's attainment. And they who imagine themfelves to have difcovered a fhorter way, conducting them to it without ftudy, will find, fooner or later, that they have miftaken their road. Hardly do we "guefs aright at things that are

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upon earth, and with labour do

we find the things that are before "us" fhall we then expect a knowlege of thofe which are of a high and fpiritual nature, without any labour at all? The prophets * Wifdom ix. 16.

themselves

themselves "enquired and fearched 'diligently what things the fpirit "of Chrift, which was in them, did

fignify*." The royal Preacher, endued from above with largenefs

""

"of heart as the fand upon the fea "fhore," yet took pains, and those no flight ones, in the invention and difpofition of his difcourfes. For, "in order to teach the people know"lege, he gave good heed, and

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fought out and fet in order many

proverbs; yea, the preacher fought "to find out acceptable words, "words of uprightnefs and truth f." And if Solomon were not exempted from study and meditation, no other man can have any title to hope for fuch a privilege.

* 1 Pet. i. 10.

G

+ Ecclef. xii. 10. BUT