The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

,domer,LETTERS, TRACTS, ^C.3X3'rill manner. Now, tlie fliudents, for many years, haveThey have got abeen taught the art of compofition :courfe of le£l:ures judicioully colle£led from the bellmailers in rhetoric, ancient and modern, and very diligentlydeHvered, It might be thought reafonable toconclude, that in this rcfpe^l the iludents mufl beconliderably and greatly im.proved 5 and yet I havenot, nor do I know any body who has oblerved thattliefe ledlures have produced any lennble eflecl. Theprefent preachers, generally fpeaking, compofe jullas the preachers formerly did, who, perhaps, duringthe time of tlieir fludying,- never heard of compofition.The real caufe of this I take to be, that the fludentsare not called to compofe any oftener tlian formerly.To giV'C a difcourfe once a-year, perhaps felisall that is required of them. If they wereobliged to compofe every v/eek, or every month, theywould foon out-llrip thofe who iludied long ago. Tocompofe frequently by the help of fo good dire6lionswould produce a very fpeedy aud remarkable effe£l.Bnt without the exercife of compofition, the directionsare in a manner loit. Ic would be jafl: fo inany other art. Should a v/riting-mafler entertain hisfcholars with the moft excellent rules about writing,but never put a pen in tlieir hand, he would lofe hislabour : Or, fhould a carpenter harangue his apprenticeshow to hew the wood, how to form