THE

REV. R. HALL'S SPEECH (Of Leicester)

TO THE

BRISTOL AUXILIARY BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY.

bear; and we improved their morals at the same time that we secured their obedience. By learning them to read, we regulated their passions and increased their enjoyments; we enabled them, in their seclusions from the world, to explore the pages of unerring truth," whereby they might become wise unto salvation."

come universal in its application. Its expenses, contrasted with other modes of instruction, were comparatively insignificant, and, on trial, would be found to be as useful in its nature, as magnificent in its effects.

AFTER stating, that, as a nonresident, he should not have taken part in the discussion, if The system of national eduhe had not been particularly cation had been thought imsolicited by a deputation of the practicable, and to be one of friends of the society; he pro- those magnificent chimeras ceeded by noticing, that we which amused mankind. But generally found the population the mechanism of Mr. Lancas of despotic states in ignorance; ter's plan seemed not only well that ignorance was the fruitful calculated to facilitate the proparent of vice; that the pros-gress of instruction, but to beperity of this society had his ardent prayers, for its object was the diffusion of knowledge. Whatever tended to improve the reason, must raise the species in the scale of being. A nation, that professed an inspired revelation, must appreciate the necessity of teaching to read. If we attended to the dictates of divine truth, we discovered, that the poor were committed to our care, and that they had claims upon us for their comfort and instruction. It had been remarked, that, by extending education, we should, at the same time, increase profligacy: but the union was unnatural. By circulating knowledge, we enabled the poor to act a more noble and virtuous part; we elevated their minds above the pressure of poverty, and the pains of disease. By instructing them, we sweetened the toils of life, and consoled their minds under the burdens and difficulties which they were called to

VOL. VII.

Amongst the objections to Mr. Lancaster's plan, he would notice one, which escaped the observation of a gentleman who had preceded him. It had been said, that a violent emulation was likely to be excited, unfavourable to the welfare and peace of society; this he allowed might not be the bright est motive of action; but what could supersede the use of one of the most active principles of our nature. Was not this principle continually operating in most of the concerns of life, not only without censure, but with commendation; and could it be supposed, even in private schools, limited to small numbers, that the talents of young people could be so nicely ba

Sc

lanced, that this stimulating when it became general, those

principle could lie concealed? passions were mitigated and We contradicted experience to suppressed. It needed not be act without emulation. If we feared, that the different classes took away emulation, we must in society would press.. too next put away the sense of closely on each other. As shame, which produced, on the the opulent could always comyouthful mind, nearly the same mand more time, and embrace effects as admiration, and we greater advantage, in propormust stimulate only by the tion to their opulence, to raise fear of corporeal punishment, them above the lower orders, which was the lowest of all whose time must necessarily be motives. The principle of spent in procuring the necesemulation had been beneficial, saries of life; so, by the uninot only to individuals, but to versal diffusion of knowledge, societies. One society had ex- society would be more harmo cited the jealousy of another, nised, its whole edifice be raised and their rivalship, not always and improved, whilst the rela perhaps pure in the motive, tive position of each part would had produced general good, and remain unchanged. And it was called forth the energies of each. certainly preferable, that soTheir different merits had pro-ciety should be in a state of moted investigations, which had gradual improvement, than one terminated in the strengthening part should remain in ignorance of both societies, and in eliciting to foster pride and superiority the means of more extensive in the other. Without casting operations to enlighten and any reflections on other sociebless mankind. We found, in ties, he thought this, in justice, the divine records, St. Paul ex- was the only one, that merited horting the Corinthians to emu- the name of National; that late the Macedonians," whose which embraced the majority of deep poverty abounded unto the nation. He could not but the riches of their liberality;" designate its rival by a figure and, in his epistle to the Ro- of speech we called catachresis; mans, he says, "If by, any or the abuse of a trope, when means I may provoke to emu- the words are too far wrested lation them which are my flesh, from their native signification. and might save some of them." To apply this metaphor to the This principle was so strongly minority was an ellipsis-a soimplanted in the human mind, ciety tending to divide the naand so frequently sanctioned by tion; the deficiency or disdivine revelation, that it ought jointed part of which was to be not hastily or universally to be supplied by the imagination— condemned. The objection to an ellipsis he apprehended not elevate the minds of the lower easily to be filled up. In his orders of society, was an un- opinion, instruction should preworthy principle. Education, cede choice. This institution in the hands of a few, created most admirably combined with pride and intolerance; but, others, and might be extended

to all nations; whilst one so

very

THE

ΤΟ

VISIT THE SICK.

AMONG the various duties which the religion of Jesus imposes upon its professing servants, there are few, if any, more important, or more neglected, than that of visiting the sick and the afflicted; and, while its importance cannot easily be disputed, its neglect may be but too easily accounted for, since there is something in the very constitution of our natures, that renders us averse to scenes of sorrow and distress, and which is too often increased by the very means that ought to excite our sympathy, and raise our commiseration to the highest possible degree; and, it is to be feared, that in exact proportion as the bounties of Providence are bestowed upon us, we grow indifferent and thoughtless to the sufferings and privations of others.

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ciety presented the casket of DUTY OF CHRISTIANS divine truth, this presented the key to unlock those treasures. It run in a parallel line with the Bible Society, never touching, but keeping at a majestic distance; moving, as it was to be hoped, in harmony, till the ages of time should be swallowed up in eternity. By educating the poor, we should make them better subjects; more obedient to the laws and increase the welfare of society at large. In the political world, we had latterly seen nations convulsed; we had beheld the degradation of all that was great, and the elevation of all that was obscure; society had trembled at its base. What was better calculated to give solidity to the fabric of society, than making the foundation secure? What so calculated to prevent a people from being infected with the vices of other nations, as teaching them to value the privileges of their own? The lower class of society was the basis and strength of all states. In it were found the germ of all revolutions, and the moral state of its character gave the complexion to all its political changes. How necessary, there-ness itself. fore, to raise a people from ignorance, and bind them to us by gratitude. In doing this, we strengthened the whole edi-nal mind, which is enmity fice; but, regarding only the against God, glowing with a higher parts of the building generous zeal and disinterested without securing the founda- affection for the best interests of tion, the whole might be over- our fellow men. But while, turned. We had also, the au- on the other hand, a good tree thority of scripture for saying, will necessarily bear good fruit, that" for the soul to be with- it is the bounden duty and proout knowledge is not good." fessed delight of the disciples

Actions, however in them selves virtually good, can only be justly supposed to proceed from motives produced and imparted by the Fountain of good

On this account, we do not expect to find a corrupt tree bearing good fruit; or the car

of Jesus to imitate his example, | Providence, the blessings of grace, the example of Christ, and the value of the immortal soul.

who went about doing good; to them we are entitled to look for works of faith, and labours of love, as the best external evi- The bounties of Providence dence of heirship with Christ, have, indeed, a strong claim and devotedness of heart to upon our gratitude, while that God; and great indeed will be gratitude is not worth the name, the confusion and dismay of that does not stimulate to exerthose, who, at the judgment of tion, and manifest itself by an the great day, shall be address- anxious regard for the honour ed by some obscure and suffer- and interests of the great and ing, but nevertheless sincere bounteous Giver. And have we and humble follower of the received from the hand of him Lamb, in the pathetic strains who giveth to all men liberally, of the Redeemer: "I was an a thousand daily and repeated hungered, and ye gave me no mercies? Has our bread been meat; thirsty, and ye gave me given us, and our water sure; no drink; naked, and ye clothed and has the God of our mercies, me not; sick, and in prison, in a variety of instances, preand ye visited me not:" while vented us from ills, both seen gratitude, wonder, and trans- and unseen; and shall we not port, will fill the breasts of be constrained to exclaim, those who shall hear others tes- "What can I render unto the tify, "I was an hungred, and ye Lord for all his benefits towards gave me meat; thirsty, and ye me?" while we shall cheergave me drink; naked, and ye fully obey the dictates of conclothed me; sick, and in pri- science, and the suggestions of son, and ye came unto me." sympathy, with regard to those Then shall the Judge pro- from whom many of our comnounce, in presence of an as- forts are withheld, not from any sembled world, "Inasmuch as superior worthiness in us, or ye did it unto the least of these, greater sinfulness in them; but my little ones, ye did it unto rather to afford us an opportume." Who is there, then, among nity of manifesting the holy and the goodly number of those benevolent effects of the gospel who have named the name of we profess to believe. Does Christ, and avowed themselves" smiling mercy crown disciples of the cross, that does lives ;" and shall we not cheernot feel the importance of the fully devote a part of that meradmonition, "Whatsoever thine cy, and reflect its smiles, to mihand findeth to do, do it with tigate the woes and soothe the all thy might?" For this pur- sorrows of those around us? pose, we do well to consider And are we unworthy of the our obligations to the duty in least favour we enjoy; and shall question, and the encourage- we, with unfeeling heart, and ments it affords. Our obliga- with unsparing hands, engross tions may be supposed to the whole, and, with apathy, spring from the bounties of deny the smallest tithe of all

.our