A Course of Legal Study. By David Hoffman [pp. 509-524]

'4
1837.] d Course of Legal Study. 511
fect. He gets but a mere outline, which he is expected to
fill up by subsequent study and research. While in the
seminary, his time is so much occupied with the routine of
duty, that he has but little left, to make himself acquainted
with books, or to avail himself of those facilities which a
large and well selected library would afford under other cir cumstances. We are not now advocating the idea that a
clergyman should be a mere man of books, far from it. He
should be eminently a practical man. But if he would, at
the same time, become a sound and thorough divine, he
must become acquainted, to a great extent, with the various
writings in his profession. He is neither advised nor ex pected to read every book that has been written on the
various points of theology, for of the making of books, and
especially of such books, there is no end: and it is both im possible, and would be unwise if possible, to read more than
a very small portion, and those selected with great care and
judgment. One of the resolutions which our author pro poses to students of law, and which might he adopted with
great advantage by theological students, is "to keep con stantly in view the essential distinction, between reading
and studying; two things often confounded; and that as to
elementary books especially, the safest rule is, multum legendum, non multa." But it is important that the stuident
should know what books have been written on the cotless
topics connected with theology, and in what manner those
topics are treated, so that they may become books of reference, to which he may turn with ease, whenever an oceasion
requires it. Such a knowledge of books as that which we
have now described, is essential to eminence in the two other
learned professions; and we see not how the study of theological bibliography can be safely dispensed with by the
divine, if he would aspire to an extensive acquaintance with
his science, and to eminent usefulness in his profession.
"The researches of the learned," says our author, "as well
as of students, are sometimes retarded by the want of even
this species of acquaintance with books: a student, therefore,
can scarce begin too early to familiarize himself with the
sources of knowledge in every branch of his science. To
know even the existence of a book, and its general object, As
a greater approximation to knowledge than may at first appear obvious." If, therefore, students would treasure up in
their minds, and note down in a suitable book, the various
sources of information on theological Subjects, and make
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