A N

ESSAY

ΟΝ ΤΗΕ

COMPOSITION

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OF A

M O N.

Tranflated from the original FRENCH OF

The Revd. JOHN CLAUDE,

MINISTER OF THE FRENCH REFORMED CHURCH AT CHARENTON.

WITH NOTE S.

By ROBERT ROBINSON.

STUDY TO SHEW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO God, a WORKMAN THAT NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.

IN TWO VOLUME S.

VOLUME

S. Paul.

THE FIRST.

CAMBRIDGE,

Printed by FRANCIS HODSON:

Sold by J. BUCKLAND, Paternofter-Row, London; and T. FLETCHER, Cambridge.

M DCC LXXIX.

Tits

HE following effay is published in its present form for the ufe of those ftudious minifters in our protestant diffenting churches, who have not enjoyed the advantage of a regular academical education. Whatever end it may anfwer, our churches will allow me the honour of having taken fome pains to endeavour to serve them.

One, of the many invaluable privileges, which our congregations enjoy, is that of choofing their own minifters. The principal object of attention among our people in choosing their ministers is the piety of candidates; confequently, the choice often falls on a man, whose religious principles are his whole qualification: The far greater part of these ministers, however, are men of good natural abilities, and fincere piety; they have a thorough knowledge of the prac tical part of fcripture, juft notions of civil and religious liberty, an unblemished moral deportment, an honeft and good heart, and an extenfive usefulness among the people of their charge. They are the minifters of the people's own choice, and therefore highly efteemed by them.

The most learned of their brethren, who know the true intereft of the whole