Madeley, Feb. 13, 1823.
My dear Brother,
I AM obliged to you for thinking of me in reference to my monthly
engagements. I can hardly expect that you should enter with any very
lively interest into this matter, though, I can assure you, your kind
assistance would prove a very acceptable service both to myself and my
readers; nor would the time be altogether lost, if the matter were
considered in sole reference to yourself; at least I should so conclude,
from what I have observed with respect to my own mind and habits, and I
very greatly regret that, for so many years, I suffered my feelings to
prevail over my better judgment, and cause me to neglect the throwing in
of my mite into some channel of usefulness. But I do not blame others,
knowing how very unwillingly I was pressed into the service myself. I do
not expect that my friends should, by any touch of my poor leaden wand,
start into active and willing contributors. Had I Orpheus-like powers,
the trees and stones might follow me; but I possess none of these magical
or touchingly persuasive means, and therefore, though, as a point of
duty, I every now and then turn an entreating eye, and raise a feeble
supplicating voice, both the priest and the Levite are afraid of messing
themselves in my poor concerns, and prudently pass over to the other
side. I would not, however, ungratefully involve all in this sweeping
and indiscriminate crimination. A Samaritan or two have kindly pitied
me, and for their equally unexpected and unwearied act of friendship, I
feel myself peculiarly indebted. But why all this enumeration? Should I
not honestly confess that it is not altogether without reference to
yourself? I am not a stranger to my good brother’s Samaritan-like
feelings, and a distant hope is cherished by me, that he will yet pour in
of his truly welcome supplies.
T. L., I should think, would at present pass quite as good an examination
as his brother B., but I would not recommend him to be over hasty in
applying for orders, nor indeed does he feel thus disposed himself.
Young men, I think, sadly err in this matter; they hasten into the
ministry far too soon, and repent of their haste all through their
subsequent years. But perhaps it is hardly fair to ascribe all the blame
to them: it originates, in great part, with those who bear the expense of
their education, and who are glad of the first opportunity which presents
itself of getting them off. But T. L. supports himself, and, therefore,
the burden and the advantage both fall, as they ought, upon the same
individual, and he so feels the desirableness of improving the present
time, that he prefers waiting a little longer. Another pupil who is
reading with me, a very nice young man, supports himself in a similar
way; and I do not intend, for the future, to superintend the studies of
any who do not, in some way or other, pursue the same method. And