which has attended the issue of these yearly narratives of facts and figures.
It is quite a means of grace to read through the book now before us, and any careful and intelligent Christian reader will rise from its perusal,
refreshed and strengthened for future service and faith in the Lord. It is one of the best sermons we know, on faith and works, on common sense and Christian principle combined in active operation. We add to these
suggestions the fur[her considerations, that in the ease of t. he Bristol Orphanage, any one can see that the work is not only God's work, but one which is imperatively called for. That Mr. Muller is the best man to do it, and that he is doing it well With these facts before us, we see the side which appeals to man as well as to God; and we at once comprehend the causes of success. We believe that God blesses, but we believe in divine methods of action, and they are always on the side of sanctified prudence and common sense.
THE SILVER INHORN; OR TAKING NOTES ON
addressed to them. Of course, in cases where everything spoken is issued from the press, the rule may not apply; but these are exceedingly few. The good custom of bidding the children take notes of the sermon, will be followed by all parents who would have their children wise unto salvation;
the youngsters should be pleasantly questioned as to what they remember, and encouraged to treasure up the good things in their memories. It should be the aim of the preacher to assist the memories of both young and old, and to this end he shoed arrange his thoughts in a portable manner, that they may be carried away, and season them with so much suit that they will be preserved in the recollect{on. Philip Henry would often contrive the heads of his sermon, to begin with the same letter; or oftener two and two of a letter. This he did not out of affectation, but from condescension to the younger sort. He would say, that his chief reason for doing it was because frequently the method is followed in the Scriptures, particularly in the book of Psalms in the original. "This," said he, "is my plea. If it be not a fashionable ornament, it is a scriptural ornament, and this is sufficient to recommend it, at least to justify it against the imputation of childishness."
Of some of his subjects when he had finished them, he made short memoranda in rhyme, a verse or two to record each Sabbath's work, and these he gave out to the young people, who wrote them, and leaned them, and profited by them. All preachers may not see fit to use the same
methods, but all should drive towards the same end, and parents should help them by stimulating the attrition of their families.
Should it be objected, "our children cannot comprehend our minister," our reply is, the more is the pity, hear another minister as soon as you can; for a gospel preacher who does not speak plainly enough to be for the most part understood by children of ten or twelve, had better go to school to learn what gospel simplicity means. Try it, parents, and you will find John and Ellen under,d* ing much more than you thought; and if it be not so, there is all the more reason for you to make it clear to them by an hour's conversation and explanation.
In most respects, we cannot do better than follow our grand old
predecessors the Puritans, who were so much given to the habit of note- taking, that a scurrillous writer in a lampoon, entitled, "The Loyal Satirist;
or, Hudibras in prose," finds mater for ridicule in it. He writes afar this fashion," Oh! what a gracious sight is a silver inkhorn. How blessed a gift is it to write short-hand! What necessary implements for a saint are cotton wool and blotting paper! These dabblers turn the church into a scrivener's
shop. A country fellow, last term mistook it for the Six Courts' Office. The parson looks like an offender upon the scaffold, and they penning his confession, or a spirit conjured up by their uncouth characters." In a squib upon the expenditure of the committee of safety, during the
Commonwealth, among the items wittily charged to Lord Fleetwood's use, is one "for a silver inkhorn, and ten gilt paper books, covered with green plush and Turkey leather, for his lady to write in at church — seven pounds, three shilings, and three pence." These godly people could well afford to be laughed at while they were enriching themselves with the choice jewels which the preachers of their age scattered so plenteously.
Henry Smith has a good passage in his sermon on the "Art of Hearing,"
with which this word to the wise shall close.
"But before this you must use another help, that is, record every note in thy mind, as the preacher goeth; and after, before thou dost eat, or drink, or talk, or do anything else, repeat all to thyself. I do know some in the university, which did never hear a good sermon, but as soon as they were gone they rehearsed it thus, and learned more by this (as they said) than by their reading and study; for recording that which they had heard when it was fresh, they could remember all, and hereby got a better facility in preaching than they could learn in books. The like profit I remember 1 gained, when I was a scholar, by the like practice.
The philosophers and orators that have written such volumes, have left in their writings, that this was the keeper of their learning, like the bag which beareth the treasures. Therefore I may say with Christ, that the wicked are wiser than Christians; for the orators and philosophers used this help in hearing of earthly things, and we ;;'ill not use it in hearing of heavenly things. The only case why you forget so fast as you hear, and of all the sermons which you have heard, have scarce the substance of one in your heart, to comfort or counsel you when you have need, is because you went from sermon to dinner, and never thought any more of the matter; as though it were enough to hear, like sieves which hold water no longer than they are in a river.
What a shame is this, to remember every clause in your lease, and every point in your father's will; nay. to remember an old tale as long as you live, though it be long since you heard it; and the lessons which ye hear now will be gone within this hour, that you may ask, What hath stolen my sermon from me? Therefore, that you may not hear us in vain, as you have heard
others, my exhortation to you is, to record when you are gone that which you have heard. If I could each you a better way, I would; but Christ's disciples used this way when their thoughts ran upon his speech, and made them come again to him to ask the meaning; the virgin, his mother, used this way when she pondered his sayings, and laid them up in her heart; the good hearers of Berea used this way, when they carried Paul's sermon home with them, that they might examine it by the Scripture. This difference is noted between Jacob and his sons: when Joseph uttered his dream, his brethren gave no regard to it; but it is said that father Jacob noted the saying, Genesis 37:11. Therefore this must needs be an excellent way. For if Joseph and Mary, and Christ's disciples, should speak unto you as I do, and show you a way to hear, they would show you the same way that they used themselves. You cannot tell how much it will profit you until you practice it; do you try it one month, and if you love knowledge, I am sure you will use it while you live; but if you will not use it for all that can be said, truly you shall be like the old women which St. Paul speaks of, which were 'always learning and never the wiser.' 2 Timothy 2:7."