WITH a mind willing to acquiesce in whatever my God shall appoint, I am
enabled to leave this and all my concerns to his gracious disposal, being
fully persuaded that the Lord reigneth. If I have at all profited by
past experience in anything, it is in this, a strong and operative
conviction that so long as we trust in God, our concerns, however
unpleasant at the time, will materially conduce to our welfare; and oh!
what an intolerable load of foolish anxiety and trouble does this
persuasion remove from our labouring minds! You will perhaps remember
that one of the last topics of conversation, when you and Eliza so kindly
accompanied me to the Wash, was the necessity of sacrificing our own will
to others, if we would enjoy comfort ourselves. I was naturally led to
speculate on the future, but could not help being forcibly struck with
the mighty efficacy of this principle, if suffered to operate freely on
our conduct.
As I think it very probable my continuance in college may be prolonged, I
intend availing myself of the opportunity thus afforded me of attending a
course of lectures on anatomy, chemistry and mineralogy. When I thought
it my duty to ask for orders in March, I willingly gave up all thought of
enjoying this gratification. I was enabled to sacrifice it to more
important considerations, but since these reasons no longer exist, I
shall gladly avail myself of the privilege.
Upon the subject of _general_ knowledge for a minister, I was much
pleased with Herbert’s “Priest to the Temple.” “The country parson is
full of all knowledge: they say, that it is an ill mason that refuseth
any stone, and there is no knowledge but serves either positively as it
is, or else to illustrate some other knowledge: he condescends even to
the knowledge of tillage and pasturage, and makes great use of them in
teaching, because people by what they understand are best led to what
they understand not.” As one means of preparing me for the great charge
which lies before me, I have begun a regular course of the lives of
eminently pious characters. The good I received from this kind of
reading some years ago, makes me indulge the hope that it may be equally
serviceable now; but I would not rest here—it is a real baptism of the
Holy Spirit alone which can properly qualify me for usefulness in the
pulpit, and a consistent course out of it.