Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

needlessly; keep from all unnecessary company; never be without a
praying heart; and have, as often as possible, a book in your hand. Make
yourself master of Mr. Wesley's Works, and those of Mr. Fletcher and
Mr. Sellon. Read over the Lives of the first Methodist preachers,—they
are in the former Magazines;—and read the Journal of David Brainerd,
Missionary to the North American Indians; and 'the Saints' Everlasting
Rest,' as abridged by Mr. Wesley. Do not lie long in bed, nor sit up late
at night."
Doctor Clarke cultivated the useful rather than the ornamental arts. Of
all the liberal arts he ever considered music as the least useful. The few
first-rate poets he read with high relish. On those of a second or third
order he seldom cast his eye. He possessed, in a high degree, the rare
ability to use knowledge. He himself observed that the learning that is got
from books, or the study of languages, is of little use to any man, and is
of no estimation, unless practically applied to the purposes of life; and it
is said by one who knew him well, that "there never was an individual
who could use to such purpose all the stores which he accumulated. He
possessed an astonishing power of gathering together rays of light from
the whole circuit of his knowledge, and pouring them, in one bright
beam, upon any point which he wished to illustrate or explain. And the
treasures of knowledge which his unwearied industry had drawn together,
were all made subservient to the more effective execution of his
ministerial office."
His conversion, as we have seen, was clear, sound, and decided: of
this, a life of uniform, practical, growing piety, covering over the space
of more than half a century, is the delightful witness. But the following
testimony of the venerable Henry Moore, who knew the doctor longer
than any man who survived him, must not be withheld: "Our connection,
I believe, never knew a more blameless life than that of Dr. Clarke. He
had his opponents; he had those that differed from him, sometimes in
doctrine, sometimes in other things; but these opponents, whatever they
imputed to him, never dared to fix a stain either upon his moral or
religious character. He was, as Mr. Wesley used to say a preacher of the