A Letter to a Preacher

My dear Friend, You are engaged in the most important work in the nniverse. Commissioned by Grod Ahnightj, yon are sent to explain and enforce that Mystery which had been hidden from former ages; that glorious scheme of salvation, the redemption of a lost world by the incarnation, sufferings, and death of Jesus Christ. Notwithstanding the work is so extremely awful and difficult, you may nevertheless take encouragement from the honour Grod has conferred upon you in calling you to it, to go forward with pleasure and delight; and this is requisite, that you may not be too much depressed by the trials necessarily attendant on an employment which will ever be opposed by the wickedness of men, and the malice of demons. But, while you take encouragement from the above consideration, a proper sense of the awfulness of the work, which should ever rest upon your mind, will keep you from being elated by your honour, as there is such A possibility of miscarriage, and such a danger of being unfaithful. However, these two considerations will serve mutually to counterbalance each other, and cause you to rejoice before God with trembling.

As you have, no doubt, deeply considered the nature of the work, and counted the cost; and have deliberately chosen your present employment, at the certain loss of every worldly prospect, and at the hazard of your life; permit one who has learned experience on a variety of points connected with a Preacher’s usefulness, and at no ordinary expense either (having had the pain to be often instructed through the medium of his own blunders) to give you the following Advices.