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

SERMONS, 2)deeper engaged in die love and practice of their duty.It v/as with thefe views, we may fafely prefume, thatthey ^< who feared the Lord, (pake often one to another."On occafions of this fort, we have had many goodfermons on the excellency of the gofpel, the utilityof public inftrucftors, the duty of a minifter, the doctrineshe ought to believe, and the method by whichhe fhould convey thefe doclrines into the rninds ofhis hearers.My defignin this difcourfe is to mention fome ofthe advantages which Chriilians tolerably enlightened,as the minifters of this Church generally are, mayobtain by converfmg often and freely with oneanother, while they have the fear of God beforethem, and keep within the boundaries of decencyand good manners. What I am to deliver may, ithink, merit fome attention from fludents and youngerbrethren 5 and I hope it may alfo be profitable tothofe of my other hearers, who are difpofed to weighits importance, and to behave accordingly.I will notinquire any further, whether the text be the propereflfoundation for the remarks I am going to make, norfhall I be very folicitous about the order in whichI offer thefe remarks.—To begin then j I think itmanifefl,I ft. That by free converfation, an ability of reafoningjuftly, is beft and moft fuccefsfully acquired :" Neither the laboured treatifes of the learned, nor thefet difcourfes of the eloquent, are able of themfelves toteach the ufe of reafon : it is the habit alone of reafon*ing that can make a reafoner ;. and m.en can never bebetter invited to the habit, thari when they findpleafurein it." Nor can they eveV fo really find that pleafurewhich invites and guides to the habit of reafqning,as by converfing with their friends. To teach us tothink and reafon, dry rules afid directions v/erc longago prefcribed, and fome people have, from age to age»