SECTION IX.

DESIDERATA-ORAL INSTRUCTION,

Or the necessity and importance of ministering the Divine Word in a language understood by the People.

WE have placed this subject last, not because it is conceived to be either last in the order of time, or inferior in point of importance to the preceding subjects of Education or Books; but precisely the reverse. It is first in the order of nature and time, and continues to be invariably first in point of importance. Besides, in conclusion, I am desirous of addressing myself, not so much to measures as to men,-to such as are living with the Native Irish all around them,-to such, especially, as are already engaged in preaching the Divine Word; and that, not with reference to what they can give or bestow in such a cause, but what they might themselves do with heart and tongue.

A number of individuals there are, with whom the writer has repeatedly much enjoyed the opportunity of conversing, and there must be many more, who, with an heartfelt interest in the truths contained in the Sacred Volume, are already furnished with all the advantages of a liberal education. Oh! would they but add yet this above all, an ability to converse in the Irish language, it is impossible to say what might be the extent of their usefulness;-not in changing some isolated opinions, for this is worth no man's pains, and far below the ground on which the "legate of the skies" should

stand, but in spreading around them the savour of life unto life, and advancing the kingdom of Him who died for us, and rose again.

Besides, I have occasionally thought it was possible that some might censure, and say it did not become me to close such a detail as this without imploring the men, who, from their professed engagements and their dwelling-place, are so immediately concerned; already on the field of labour, and already preaching in one form of speech.

At the same time I ain perfectly aware, that others may say, all this comes with no good grace from one who remains in Britain, and who, if sincere, might have tried first to set the example. I frankly own, that I am far from being insensible to this remark, though all I can add at present be, that if ever Providence should cast my lot in Ireland, with these views, certainly one of my first objects would be, not only to procure the grammar and dictionary, but sit down and converse daily with an intelligent Irishman, of correct and distinct enunciation, till I should be able to do so with the Native Irish on the things which belong to our common and everlasting peace. In the meanwhile, at intervals snatched from other incumbent avocations, I have thus endeavoured to collect together what perhaps may be of some little service in resolving the present question.

For still, this ministry of the Divine Word, in a language understood by the people, as Bedell used to say, returns upon us as the last and most important of all objects, because it is a sovereign, it is a divine appointment, under a commission which none can revoke. If men below occasionally press the other measures, on this subject, the Christian, and especially those who have taken it in charge to minister the Divine Word, will hear the voice that cometh out from the throne. The terms of that commission we need not repeat, every word of which is so pregnant with meaning and duty to us, so full of pity from above for man below. But every age presents some peculiar seduction from the plainest path of duty, whether to God or man; and at a season when no day is allowed to pass without some eulogy on the power of the press, the noble invention of printing, or the sovereign efficacy of education, it is well to remember, that, however powerless may be the preach

ing of the present day, it was not so once, and ere long it will not be so again.

Men, indeed, have in all ages, perhaps very naturally, panted after the abridgment of labour. This is the age of discovery and invention. New and easy methods have been discovered, and applied with great effect in agriculture, mechanics, and education, yet certainly we need not expect that any human ingenuity shall ever invade this province of labour, or in any degree supersede its necessity. But, besides, there is such a thing as a country having sunk into such a state as in certain points shall set at defiance all the wisdom of man, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Whether such be the present condition of this most interesting part of the empire, I leave to the reader's own reflection; but though it were, to the eye of an enlightened Christian there is nothing in all this which seems appalling. When the harvest stands ready for the sickle of Divine truth, and is just about to be gathered by the arm of the labourer, it is happily not supposed to have passed under some preparatory process of human device. A figure should never be pushed to an extreme, and here it is the Christian minister's privilege that the figure does not harmonize with the natural world. 66 Say not ye there are yet four months, and then cometh harvest ? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest." At whatever time, therefore, we see a country sunk in darkness and destitution, should there only spring up in it a spirit of inquiry, then may we say, that the fields are ready indeed for the moral husbandman. Now, whether other parts of the British dominions are as destitute as many districts in Ireland or not, yet where is there to be found such a spirit of inquiry as exists in these at present? What then remains for us, but to fall in with the simple device of Infinite Wisdom, and remember, that the brighter days for this fine interesting country are to be ushered in, "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith Jehovah ?"

To the ministers of Christ already stationed in Ireland, one cannot help saying, that, however the eye of sense and human reason may turn towards Britain, the eye of faith looks over to you, and the very places where you dwell. Your every abode appears to be a station marked out for proclaiming the

truth. With fields of usefulness all around you, however unpromising to the eye of sense, yet to the eye of faith already white, what though you hear a language daily that you understand not? Methinks every word of it sounds like a cry for the one thing needful. Nor is there any thing at all formidable in acquiring this language: quite the reverse. Men of weak and feeble patriotism have magnified this separating wall as the children of Israel did the walled towns of the sons of Anak; but all such fancies might be answered by an English monosyllable of only three letters-TRY. Believe not that the barrier is so very formidable; even by a little assiduity you may leap over it, and then a welcome indeed awaits you at every step, not only from this ancient people, but in the language itself. A language containing all its roots in itself, receiving its modifications from within, and conveying ideas therefore, with point and precision, must needs be interesting and valuable as a vehicle for intelligent and serious discourse; while, at the same time, it certainly presents one peculiar advantage for proclaiming the truth which may encourage you to commence learning to-morrow, if not to-day. I remember well receiving a letter from a Highland minister some years ago which will explain this advantage. "While the Gaelic," said he, "continues to be generally spoken in the Highlands, it must always be the language best adapted for conveying religious instruction to the people. In Lowland parishes, where English alone is spoken and preached, it may be fairly presumed, that some of the auditors, though they speak no other tongue, do not understand the whole of the language they hear delivered from the pulpit: but it is one of the peculiarities of the Gaelic, that the illiterate speak it with as much propriety as those who have received the advantage of education; and that, as far as regards language merely, the common herd will understand the best orator."

Thus it is precisely among the Native Irish; so that you may rest assured, in the language itself once begun there must be some of its features which will interest your own mind. Much of needless ridicule has been cast upon Irish antiquities, although the tongue being confessedly ancient, the people must be so too; but still there can be nothing of imposture in the language itself. De Rentsi or Vallancey from abroad, or Halliday and O'Reilly at home, but all grown up to manhood be

fore they knew a word of it, could not become so enthusiastically fond of the language for nothing, or by mistake. There must therefore be in it that which, independently of the duty imposed, is interesting to the student. But although there were not, you have read the account of Brainerd preaching to his Indians; or if not, you have seen an Englishman, in the sixtieth year of his age, sit down, two hundred years ago, and acquire the Irish language: and you have read that this " was soon observed to be regarded by the natives in the light of a great compliment." No, a kind compliment was not thrown

* What should we have thought if our language had possessed such enticing allurements, as that several of our earlier and later elementary books, our grammars or dictionaries, should have been composed by foreigners who had come into the country, or by persons living in it, who had grown up before they could read or speak a word of it. Such is the fact with regard to the Irish language. Sir MATTHEW DE RENTSI, above mentioned, a descendant of George Scanderbeg, was born in the year 1577, at Cullen in Germany. He had been a great traveller, and coming into Ireland, he spent there the latter part of his life: he was, it is true, a general linguist, but felt particularly interested in the Irish tongue: he died in the fiftyseventh year of his age, at Athlone, on the 29th August, 1634; and upon his tombstone, which was visible when Harris published his edition of Ware, and may be so still, these words were engraved-" He gave great perfection to this nation by composing a grammar, a dictionary, and chronicle in the Irish tongue." The Irish language seems to have engrossed his study for about three years. This monument, which is on the Westmeath side, was erected by his son of the same name. General VALLANCEY, who was born in Flanders in 1730, and died at Dublin in 1812 at the advanced age of eighty-two, first resolved on learning Irish when engaged in a military survey of the country. He published his grammar in 1773. WILLIAM HALLIDAY, the son of a respectable apothecary in Dublin, though he had a critical knowledge of the classics and some modern languages, was not at all acquainted with Irish till the later years of his short life; yet he not only acquired such a facility in understanding the most ancient Irish manuscripts as surprised those whose native tongue it was from infancy, but published his grammar, containing some curious observations on the declensions and prosody of the Irish tongue, though he died at the early age of twenty-four, in August, 1812. Mr E. O'REILLY, the author of the latest Irish dictionary, was also arrived at manhood before he knew the language, though born at Harold's Cross, and educated in Dublin. Indeed his application to the study of it was occasioned by what some would call a mere accident. In the year 1794, a young man of the name of Wright, who was about to emigrate from his native country, had a number of books to dispose of, which consisted chiefly of Irish manuscripts. They had been collected by Morris O'Gorman, who had taught Vallancey and Dr Young, Bishop of Clonfert. This man's library, which filled five large sacks, O'Reilly purchased, and on examination found himself possessed of some of the rarest Irish manuscripts; for one of which he has since refused fifty guineas. Master of this repository, he commenced the study of the language; so that, to say nothing of any other pieces, the last Irish Dictionary, containing about or above 50,000 words, was composed and published by an individual who, at the period referred to, could not speak a word of the language. After instances such as these, one cannot wonder at the attachment of the natives to their ancient tongue. See Hist. of Dublin, vol. II.