PART I. THE INFANCY OF PHILEMON. SECTION I. INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS. ZIBA-Slanderer. 2 Sam. xix. 27. Ziba.—“ Of making books," says Solomon, "there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh." (Eccles. xii. 12.) Such is the decision of unerring wisdom, and yet there are those who will not be admonished. Surely these are not days for writing, but working; active examples are the most impressive discourses. Ministers specially should be unwearied labourers in the Lord's vineyard; for now is the time for doing; to be instant "in season and out of season," ought to be every one's motto: how blameable then are those who forget the true nature and import of their office, who lose sight of that which was intrusted to them, and meddle with other matters with which they have nothing to do. Timotheus.-We must be careful not to form unrighteous judgments; your observation savours of uncharitableness; it proceeds upon the suppo *B sition, that the doing of one thing leads to the neglect of other, and still more important duties; but they who do most, are capable of doing most; besides, who can always be engaged in the same species of labour? Diversity of employment suits some constitutions, and the desire of variety is inherent in all; the functions of the mind, no less than the body, require change: where the mind is unhinged for some exercises, it is equal to others, and herein we discover the merciful design of Providence; the vineyard of Christ is large; it opens out a wide field; it offers various employment: all may find enough to do, some in one way and some in another: none are born to be idle. In my judgment, therefore, our pastor (for to him allusion is made, I suppose) is above censure; and whether he be preaching from the pulpit, or exhorting in private, or writing for our benefit, still he is in his work, and all is for our spiritual and eternal good. Moreover it seems to me, that pious books with prayer for divine teaching, are good helps to a godly life: they are means of grace, and great lifts by the way; their value lies mainly in the practical use we make of them: they are to remind us continually of our privileges and obligations to God,-to put us in remembrance of things already known,-to establish us in the truth, to stir us up to the attainment of greater measures of grace, and excite us to more enlarged usefulness,—to lead us to detect all errors and abuses, and, by divine assistance, to reform them. In all these respects I look upon a minister's writings, circulated among his people, al most as useful in their line for edification, as his presence is in preaching. Ziba.-Do I judge of the sacred scriptures aright? They appear to me chiefly intended for one object, to supply in some sort the actual presence of their authors; hence, when the apostles could not be with their charge in person, they helped them with their minds, and thus committed their thoughts to writing. But in the present instance, to which you have referred, is there any such necessity? Timotheus.-Herein is your mistake: the apostles did not write so much with a view to conversion, (for conversion was effected in the first instance less by the means of writing, than by the foolishness of preaching,) their main purpose was to edify their hearers. They wrote to those who knew already the main truths of the Gospel, but were ignorant of its particular bearings; they did not address a people, as you appear to imagine, at a distance, to whom they had never been sent, and of whom they knew nothing, they addressed themselves to churches which others had visited, or where they themselves had laboured; whether, therefore, such communications are made verbally or in writing, whether in the shape of pastoral visits or through the medium of the press, they are, through God's blessing, likely to prove useful to those who receive them. Ziba. My observations (be it understood) are quite general, and no disparagement is intended. But, as I hear the footsteps of our pastor himself, any scruples I may possibly entertain as to the expediency of his publishing, may easily be removed. Men in official stations, dear Sir, must not be surprised if they become a public talk: this is the usual tribute they are accustomed to pay. Timotheus. And not unfrequently the best intentions are exposed to the most uncandid constructions. Epaphras.-You are right, my dear friend; no practice is more unbecoming, and yet none more common, than a spirit of censoriousness; and yet it requires no great insight into character to discover, that those who are the most eagleeyed, as regards the intentions of others, and who insinuate most against the motives of others, are generally the worst themselves; they resemble the fabled harpies, which are always represented as the least sparing of all birds, because they are the most ravenous themselves. Ziba. The subject of our conversation turned upon publications generally; and to good books I can have no objection, so that they be really good, useful, and new: but where shall we find these qualities in the present day? Authors may pretend to originality as much as they please, but few I deem are original; thoughts, like tints in the rainbow, are for the most part struck out of kindred subjects; some writers, like certain artists, are mere copyists, and follow servilely the style and method of their predecessors. Many, even if they try to shape any thing intellectual, must needs throw their reflections into the moulds of other minds; how few give us any genuine specimens of thinking for themselves. Perhaps, Sir, you will favour us with an outline of your forthcoming work; and, if it be not asking too much, with the circumstances that led to its publication. Epaphras.-An author is not obliged to gratify such curiosity upon points which are not necessary to be touched for the elucidation of his subject. Different reasons, of a public or private nature, may induce him to be more or less explanatory or reserved; and, if he withholds the information desired, he may do so as much from regard to the feelings of his readers as to his own. Ziba.-No offence, I trust. Epaphras.-Certainly not: still I am of opinion it is not prudent to disclose all circumstances, where the disclosure might be turned to no good account, and when it is not necessary for the elucidation of the subject. Were I affecting singularity in this respect, that circumstance alone might justly lay me open to censure, but I can throw myself under the shield of the great apostle to the Gentiles, who is a striking example of both methods of proceeding. In some of his epistles he satisfies every inquiry; he enters much into detail, and assigns his reasons for his pastoral address to the churches; at other times he studiously avoids all particulars; he aims at concealment, shuns all explanations, and even withholds his signature. This obvious difference might arise either from private or personal motives; but some have |