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expected from the pupils of such a teacher, but, that, fearing neither scholastic discipline, nor particular inspection, they should neglect to transcribe what their master with so much unprofitable toil had produced?

11. Since the orator's art has taken place of the energy of faith, what happy effect has it produced upon the minds of men? Have we discovered more frequent conversions among us? Are formal professors more generally seized with a religious fear? Are libertines more universally constrained to cry out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"? Do the wicked depart from the church, to bewail their transgressions in private; and believers to visit the mourners in their affliction? Is it not rather to be lamented, that we are at this day equally distant from christian charity, and primitive simplicity?

12. Reading over a variety of approved sermons is generally supposed to be preaching the Gospel. If this were really. so, we need but look out some school-boy of a tolerable capacity, and after instructing him to read over, with proper emphasis and gesture, the sermons of Tillotson, Sherlock, or Saurin, we shall have made him an excellent minister of the word of God. But, if preaching the Gospel is to publish among sinners that repentance and salvation, which we have experienced in ourselves; if it is to imitate a penitent slave, who, freed from misery and iron, returns to the companions of his former slavery, declaring the generosity of their Prince, and persuading them to sue for mercy; if this is to publish the Gospel of peace, then it is evident, that experience and sympathy are more necessary to the due performance of this work, than all the accuracy and elocution that can possibly be acquired.

13. When this sacred experience, and this generous sympathy began to lose their prevalence in the church, their place was gradually supplied by the trifling substitutes of study and affectation. Carnal

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prudence has now for many ages, solicitously endeavoured to adapt itself to the taste of the wise and learned. But, while the offence of the cross is avoided, neither the wise, nor the ignorant are effectually converted. The Gospel is abundantly better 5 suited to the poor in spirit, than to those, who value themselves as men of sagacity and science.

thank thee, O Father !" said the lowly Jesus, "that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prus dent, and hast revealed them unto babes." These babes, however, in the language of Christ, are the very persons, who have been usually neglected by us, for the mere gratification of reputed sages. Alas! how many thousand proofs do we require to convince us, that the wisdom of this world will conntinue to trample under foot the pearl of the Gospel, though in order to secure its reception, it should be presented among the artificial pearls of a vain philosophy ?

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9. 14. In consequence of the same error, the ornaments of theatrical eloquence have been sought after with a shameful solicitude. And what has been the fruit of so much useless toil? Preachers, after all, have played their part with much less applause than comedians; and their curious auditors are still running from the pulpit to the stage, for the pleasure of hearing fables repeated with a degree of sensibility, which the messengers of truth can neither feel, nor feign...

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Notwithstanding the above remarks have been expressed in the most pointed manner, we mean not to insinuate, that the errors already exposed are the only mistakes to be guarded against. Extremes of every kind are to be avoided with equal care. condemn the carnal prudence of christian orators; but we as sincerely reprobate the conduct of those enthusiasts, who, under pretence, that Christ has promised to continue with his disciples to the end of the world, exhibit the reveries of a heated imagina

tion for the truths of the Gospel. Too many of these deluded fanatics are found, who, taking their slothfulness and presumption, for the effects of a lively faith and an apostolic confidence, repeatedly affront the Almighty, and justly offend those candid hearers, who are least disposed to take offence. Offences will undoubtedly come but it behoves us to make a just distinction between the real offence of the cross, and that, which is given by an unlicenced presumption on our part.

If we are honoured with the pastoral office, let us consider the holy scriptures as an inexhaustible mine of sacred treasures. In the law of the Lord let us meditate day and night. Before we attempt to deliver evangelical truths in public, let it be our first care, to penetrate our hearts, in private, with an adequate sense of those truths. Let us arrange them in the most suitable order: let us adduce and compare the several passages of sacred writ, which appear to support or explain the particular doctrines we mean to insist upon: but, above all, joining faith and prayer to calm meditation, after becoming masters of our subject, let us humbly ask of God, that Parresia. that lively and forcible elocution, which flows from the unction of grace.

And here, instead of resting contented with barely requesting, we should labour to acquire what we seek, by frequently stirring up the gift, that is in us. Let us embrace every opportunity of exhorting both believers and catechumens. Let us carry, with unwearied constancy, instruction to the ignorant, and consolation to the afflicted. Let us be faithful in reproving sinners of every class, and diligent in training up the children of our parish.

It is necessary indeed to be scrupulously cautious, lest we abuse the liberty of preaching from meditation, by becoming followers of those, who are more worthy of censure, than imitation. There are pastors of this kind, who, having acquired a good

degree of spiritual knowledge, and a wonderful facility of expression, unhappily begin to pique themselves upon appearing before a numerous assembly without any previous study. Conscious of their own ability, these self-sufficient preachers make little or no preparation for one of the most solemn duties, that can possibly be discharged. They hasten to a crowded auditory without any apparent concern and coming down from the pulpit with an air of the same easy confidence, with which they ascended it, contentedly return to that habitual listlessness, which had been interrupted by the external performance of a necessary work. Alas! if these presuming pastors could be prevailed upon to write over their sermons, to how much better purpose might they thus employ their hours, then by heedlesly trifling them away, in frivolous conversation and shameful inactivity

It is not to imitate examples of this nature, that we solicit the ministers of Christ to recover those hours, which are usually employed in composing their weekly discourses. How many are the important occupations, of which the faithful pastor has his daily choice! The wicked are to be reclaimed, and the righteous established. Hope must be administered to the fearful, and courage to the tempted. The weak are to be strengthened, and the strong to be exercised. The sick must be supported, and the dying prepared for dissolution. By frequent pastoral visits to hamlets, schools, and private houses, the indefatigable minister should continually be moving, through the several parts of his parish; discovering the condition of those entrusted to his care, and regularly supplying the necessities of his flock; diffusing all around instruction and reproof, exhortation and comfort. To sum up his duties in a single sentence, he should cause the light, that is in him, to shine out in every possible direction, before the ignorant and the learned, the rich and the poor; making

the salvation of mankind his principal pursuit, and the glory of God his ultimate aim.

Thus after having faithfully performed the work of an evangelist, when he is about to be removed from his charge by death, or by any other providential appointment, he may take an affectionate leave of his people, and say; Remember my children, that, while I have sojourned among you, “ I have not ceased to warn every one of you night and day;” and if my word has not always been accompanied with tears, yet it has constantly flowed from the truest sincerity and affection.

CHAP. XI.

WHICH

A REPLY TO THE FIFTH AND LAST OBJECTION,
MAY BE URGED AGAINST THE PORTRAIT OF
PAUL.

ST.

THOSE persons who have already so earnestly resisted the truths for which we contend, will not fail to exclaim in the last place, by way of an unanswerable argument, "What you require of pastors is unreasonable, in the highest degree. If they are indeed called to labour for the salvation of souls, with the zeal and assiduity of St. Paul, the holy ministry must be regarded as all the most painful of all professions, and, of consequence, our pulpits will be shortly unoccupied."

Mons. Ostervald, who foresaw this objection, has completely answered it in his Third source of the corruption, which reigns among christians: "It "will not fail to be objected,” says this venerable author," that if none were to be admitted to holy or"ders, except those, who are possessed of every "necessary qualification, there could not possibly

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