162 On OiJimilion. [Fkb. 



The former, at the age of twenty-three, l)eiiig destined by his friends 

 for the church, without having been able to choose for himself, pos- 

 sesses a competent knov/ledge of Latin and Greek, and has attended 

 some divinitj'^ lectures, and attained a little knowledge of the superficies 

 of theology ; is regular in his conduct, and gentlemanly in his demeanour. 

 His studies at that early period of life have necessarily occupied the 

 greater portion of his attention, and left him but little time to study his 

 fellow man. He receives ordination, and goes to his cure, a mere boy 

 in that species of information which is as valuable in the long run as 

 what he possesses. To this spot he is usually fixed for a considerable 

 period, and too olVen the effects of his deficiency in manly knowledge 

 mar the good which his clerical duties might have produced. 



The latter example we may justly suppose to be a man approaching 

 the middle period of life, when his judgment is ripe, and his knowledge 

 of other professions, and of the world, has enabled him to discover that 

 for which he is by nature and habit best adapted. Nothing need be 

 said of his sufficiency in learning, for his examiners would have the 

 opportunity of deciding on this point, ar.d Le Icrows, from the very 

 circumstance of his not having studied at on university, that he will be 

 more closely interrogated. iTie testimonial^ p-^ his character, of his 

 life and conversation, must be satisfactory. Lot us suppose him to have 

 served his country, in the army or in the navy, w ith credit and gallantry : 

 his years increase, and he reflects more ; he dislikes the toil and 

 parade, and is shocked at the madness of man in playing such a blood- 

 fraught game, and disgusted with all the ferocity and vice that ever has 

 and ever will accompany the details of war. We have a just right to 

 suppose him a man capable of serious reflection, and who, from examin- 

 ing his own mind, discovers that he would be placed more congenially 

 to his nature, if he were tcc:!hii!g the arts of peace, rather than prac- 

 tising those of war. He i.--c."e:; hir, profession, •.etlres for a season from 

 the world, acquires the pcrtioi: of kr.ov>ledge requisite to pass his exa- 

 mination with collegians before the bisliop's chaplain, or the prelate him- 

 self. This man, in addition to his classical qualifications, has chosen the 

 profession of the church, on conviction that it is better suited to him 

 than any other : this the collegian has not done, for his friends had 

 determined for him before he knew tlie difference between any two 

 professions. The one has, by his intercourse with the world, learnt much 

 of human nature ; he knows the passions that agitate the heart ; the 

 sins that most easily beset it ; he has seen human misery, and knows 

 the causes which produced it, and the consequences to which it leads, 

 far better tlian a mere stripling from a college. His habits and expe- 

 rience have taught him how to govern the minds of men, without the 

 ^ appearance of commanding them. He has learnt the manner by which 

 men are conciliated ; and experience has taught him how to conduct 

 himself to the ignorant, the insolent, and the perverse. He has attained 

 that general knowledge of the affairs of the world which proves most 

 useful among the low er classes, since it begets confidence and respect. 

 Yet, this is the man who is not to be allowed to enter the church, unless 

 he will go to an university to live among boys, and be dictated to by- 

 younger and inferior men ; to be even liable to their punishments luul 

 impositions, and be compelled to spend a sum annually which he, most 

 probably, cannot afford. If he is a married man, all these obstacles are 

 increased tenfold. The only argument that ever has been offt-red in 



