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other officiating ministers. The mode of electing ministers is somewhat different now.

The Society at Bristol having expressed a wish for my regular ordination, I consulted with Dr. Churchill on the subject. He concurred with the Society, but recommended me to apply to the Rev. Manoah Sibly, of London, who was then the oldest acting minister in the Connection. I accordingly waited upon him, and preached before him, when he immediately recommended Dr. Churchill to proceed with my ordination. Accordingly, on the 3rd of November, 1822, I was regularly inducted into the ministry by the Rev. Dr. Churchill. Thus far, although not in the Church of England, my desire was accomplished, and I became a minister among the Swedenborgians.

In person, Dr. Churchill was somewhat spare and debilitated by ill health. He was rather above the middle height. His countenance was pale, his eye languid, and he appeared to be constantly suffering pain. His head was of average size, and rose to considerable altitude in the coronal region. His forehead was moderately broad and deep. He was a man of strict integrity, amiable disposition, and good intellectual ability. Beside the sermon on the death of Mary Minting, before alluded to, he was the author of a 'Domestic Medical Guide,' and of a highly useful, but moderately controversial volume, explanatory of the chief doctrine of the New Church, entitled 'Jesus Christ, the True God and Eternal Life.'

In his charge to me, he particularly dwelt on the necessity of simplicity in preaching; advised me to avoid controversy; to take, as nearly as I could, the Rev. J. Proud for my model; and, in every discourse, to bring the subject practically home to the life. He thus proceeded:

A CHARGE.

Do not expect that you will now be at ease in your mind, or that, having attained to the ministry, you will be free from trial. Be assured your trials as well as your labors, as a minister, are but in commencement. You will be in perils among your brethren as well as among strangers. If you are successful, you will be

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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENDI

TODEN YOUNDATIONS

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