N02338:105
Manuductio ad ministerium. Directions for a candidate of the ministry
Manuductio ad ministerium. Directions for a candidate of the ministry. : Wherein, first, a right foundation is laid for his future improvement; and, then, rules are offered for such a management of his academical & preparatory studies; and thereupon, for such a conduct after his appearance in the world; as may render his a skilful and useful minister of the Gospel. : [Three lines of quotation in Latin]
Boston: printed for Thomas Hancock, 1726
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To Strengthen my Advice, I will transcribe some Words of the Celebrated Lord Chief Justice Hale; who in his Account of the Good Steward, says, I carried along with me, in all my Studies, this Great Design, of improving them, and the Knowledge acquired by them, to the Honour of GOD's Name, and the greater Discovery of His Wisdom and Power and Truth, and so translated my Secular Learning into an Improvement ⟨p. 27⟩of Divine Knowledge. And had I not practised this Design in my Acquists of Humane Learning, I had concluded my Time misspent; because I ever thought it unworthy of a Man that had an Everlasting Soul, to furnish it only with such Learning, as would either Dye with his Body, and so become unuseful for his Everlasting State, or that in the next Moment after Death would be attained without Labour or Toll in this Life.
To Strengthen my Advice, I will transcribe some Words of the Celebrated Lord Chief Justice Hale; who in his Account of the Good Steward, says, I carried along with me, in all my Studies, this Great Design, of improving them, and the Knowledge acquired by them, to the Honour of GOD's Name, and the greater Discovery of His Wisdom and Power and Truth, and so translated my Secular Learning into an Improvement ⟨p. 27⟩of Divine Knowledge. And had I not practised this Design in my Acquists of Humane Learning, I had concluded my Time mispent; because I ever thought it unworthy of a Man that had an Everlasting Soul, to furnish it only with such Learning, as would either Dye with his Body, and so become un•seful for his Everlasting State, or that in the nex• Moment after Death would be attained without Labour or Toll in this Life.
Having thus fixed the RIGHT END of your Studies, Let the View of it make such an Impression upon you, as to produce a Marvellous Industry in your Prosecution of it: And Quicken you to observe that Maxim, Do with thy Might, what thy Hand finds to do. Remember this; There never was an Eminent, who was not an Industrious Man. You must be Diligent in your Business, if you would hope to stand in any Desirable Circumstances before that Great KING, unto whose Holy Service you are Dedicated.