PAGE 068: CHAPTER II
relation, suitable expressions of gratitude and
praise.
"Few things in the history of religion," says a
modern writer [Rev. William Orm]," are more interesting than the
commencement and progress of Christianity, on a
young, an ardent, and a highly cultivated mind. It
cannot take hold on such a mind without producing
the most marked and important results. Its adaptation at once to all the finest feelings of our nature,
and to the most powerful of its intellectual faculties, makes it capable of producing all that is
refined in moral sensibility, and all that is lofty in
enterprise. It presents to such an individual a new
world, teeming with objects of intense interest,
and calling forth his deepest sympathy and his
noblest ambition. It conducts into scenes of pure
and ravishing sweetness, and diffuses over the spirit
the peace of God, and the bliss of heaven. It presents a theatre, not for display, but for action and
suffering, in the most glorious of all causes; the
glory of God, and the salvation of men."
It has been said, that he commenced the study of
law, with great ardour and untiring diligence, — that
he constantly read, and thought, and wrote, with a
|
PAGE 069: CHAPTER II
fixed and predominant regard to the honours of the
world, for more than two years, or until, by his intense application, he was brought apparently upon
the very verge of the grave. After his conversion,
this profession, however captivating once, presented no allurements. It was divested of all its charms.
He had no relish for it: — not only so, he had a
strong aversion to it, and finding the idea of pursuing it, as the business of his future life, painful to
him, though he said nothing immediately upon the
subject, to any of his friends, he determined to
abandon it; — at least, he felt a strong desire to turn
his attention to some other, that would be more
congenial with his present views and feelings.
What to pursue in its place, he had not yet decided;
and some little time elapsed, before he was relieved
from the embarrassment, which, in the interesting
state of his mind at this moment, was connected
with a decision. He was led, at length, to think of
devoting himself to the ministry of the Gospel;
and "I began to feel," he says, "even greater
ardour for the study of divinity, than I had before
entertained for the law; yet here difficulties," he
adds, "which seemed insuperable, immediately
occurred. My health was still feeble; the pain in
my breast was frequently severe; and I could
scarcely hope that I should be even equal to the labours inseparable from the ministry of the Gospel."
|