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that it is incumbent upon every man, who is studious of his own comfort, to seek out for himself a supply of constant occupation. The subject of this occupation, to answer its purpose, must be interesting, various, accessible; suited to each man's opportunity, worthy of his character. I hardly need say, to be allowable it must be innocent; or that it doubles every advantage belonging to it by being virtuous and useful. Now what employment of our time can we propose in which so many of these qualities concur, as in the pursuits of learning?

It must be a stupid or frivolous mind indeed, to which no science is interesting. Such also is the compass of human research, that the understanding expatiates in unbounded variety. Study is as diver- . sified as nature itself, because it hath nature for its object; nay, it adds to nature the operations of art, the knowledge of language, the testimony of ages. Secondly; it reckons also amongst its recommendations, that it is within the reach of almost every man's opportunity who possesses the inclination. It is at the mercy of external circumstances less than any other engagement to which we can addict ourselves; it depends not upon season, climate, or place. Thirdly; different studies have both a different general value, and also a different propriety, according to the profession of the person who cultivates them, but all science is ingenuous and liberal. No station was ever degraded by study: there never was, nor will be, the age or country of the world in

which learning was not respected. Lastly; it must be owing to a depravity of taste seldom heard of, that study is ever vicious; and to a singular misfortune of choice, and defect of judgement, that it is not always useful*.

But when we speak of study, either as an exercise of duty or a source of satisfaction, it ought to be known what we mean by the term. We have stated one, indeed the first requisite, of a life of satisfaction to be, the application of our faculties to some interesting pursuit. To bring study within this description, it must be such as is attended with an exertion of our understanding. I do not say that it is necessary the subject should be abstruse, or the application always intense; but it must be such as to solicit a positive effort of the mind. I the rather mention this, because it is possible, and I am afraid

*To the dogma that truth alone is immutable, might it not be added that nothing but learning is permanent? The writings of Greece have long survived every place which they commemorate. We have Homer in our hands-we seek in vain for Troy. The alphabet of Cadmus is preserved-his seven-gated city lies in the dust. In like manner of the labours of our countrymen; the time may come when no monuments shall remain but of their learning. A discovery in science, the improvement of an art, a just sentiment, or even a beautiful line, may be recorded with respect, when it shall cease to be known where the metropolis of this island stood. It is enough to have mentioned this reflection, in order to show the place in dignity and perpetuity which learning holds, amongst the effects of human industry or the distinctions of human life.

not very uncommon, to make reading as idle an occupation as any of those in which the most trifling of mankind consume their time. There is reading without method or object; in which the mind is entirely passive, without endeavour to investigate, collect, or retain—reading, in a word, without thought. From this reading, or ever so much of it, no knowledge can spring. It assumes not-it ought not to assume the name of study. It affords not the satisfaction of which we speak; it is not what we mean nay, its tendency is rather to dissipate than to fix attention, to dissolve than to call forth the intellectual functions, to destroy that patience of thought upon which all progression of science depends.

But every argument, by which study can be recommended to others, is doubled upon the clergy. Thus religion, by its very nature, calls for a great degree of it. It is an historical religion, founded upon transactions which took place, and upon discourses which were held, in a distant age and country of the world; in a language, and under a state of opinion and customs, very different from our own. It is evident that the knowledge of such a religion cannot be transmitted in its purity without scholars. It is not possible that every Christian should be a scholar; but it is necessary that a knowledge of the original records of the religion should reside somewhere and from whom can this be expected, if it

be not found with those who profess themselves to be public teachers of its doctrines ?

A volume is spread out before us, containing intelligence, which, if true, is of infinite and of universal value. To investigate the authority, and to interpret the sense of these important pages, is one of the most respectable offices which can be imposed upon learning or talents-and that office is ours. The return, the appeal, must always be to original information, and to those who are furnished with the means of acquiring it. It is with Christianity as with other subjects of importance, multitudes may be benefited by the knowledge of a few.

And as the clergy are called upon by the duties, and by one at least of the confessed designs of their order, to give attendance to "reading," -So are they invited to it by the leisure and tranquillity usually indulged to their situation, and by the habits of life which best, which alone, I might have said, befit their profession.

Retiredness is the very characteristic of our calling; it is impossible to be a good clergyman and to be always upon the streets, or to be continually mixing with the diversions, the follies, or even the business and pursuits of the world.

And in our church, the offices of religion assigned to her ministers, though they well deserve to be performed with seriousness and punctuality, and being so performed are sufficient for Christian edification,

are yet neither so numerous nor prolix as not to leave large portions of our time unoccupied. Of these vacancies study is the application and the resource. It has been truly said to be impossible that learning of any kind should flourish with a description of persons of whom no one was at his ease. This complaint, however, belongs not to us as a body. Amongst the clergy of the Church of England, many, without doubt, are very much at their ease. The proper return for this privilege, the proper use of the opportunity, is to convert it to beneficial study. But we go farther. If there be a danger or disadvantage in the clerical profession, which does not belong equally to other professions-I mean with respect to the person's own comfort and satisfaction

-it is the having too much time at liberty, and too little engagement for it. I have known deplorable examples of the spirits sinking under this vacuity; oftener, perhaps, of their taking refuge in resources which were hardly innocent, or, if innocent in their kind, indecorous by their excess. A literary station without learning is always gloomy to the possessor. Every thing which should have been a benefit to him becomes a burthen. The calm and silence which should dispose to meditation induces only melancholy. In the leisure to which the contemplative mind returns as to its home, the person we speak of sees nothing but a banishment from recreation or cheerfulness. There is no greater difference in the human character than in the disposition of different

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