or Demosthenes, or any of the pagan orators, in comparison with these men! a

Preaching may be defined, "the power of persuading men by the fittest means. The late excellent Dr. Claudius Buchanan, says, "This was that kind of pulpit address which prevailed in our own church in her better days, from the time of the Reformation to the reign of Charles I. and which filled the churches at the Universities with willing auditors. And when a corrupt taste was at length introduced, and preachers began to read their sermons, the innovation was checked, for a time, by the following mandate from King Charles II.

"VICE CHANCELLOR AND GENTLEMEN,

"Whereas his Majesty is informed, that the practice of reading sermons is generally taken up by the preachers before the University, and, therefore, sometimes continued even before himself; his Majesty hath commanded me to signify to you his pleasure, that the said practice, which took its beginning from the disorders of the late times, be wholly laid aside; and that the said preachers deliver their sermons, both in Latin and English, by memory, without book as being a way of preaching which his Majesty judgeth most agreeable to the use of all foreign churches, to the custom of the University heretofore, and to the nature and intention of that holy exercise. And that his Majesty's commands, in these premises, may be duly regarded and observed, his further pleasure is, that the names of all such ecclesiastical persons as shall continue the present supine and slothful way of preaching, be, from time to time, signified to

a Robinson's Dissertation on Public Preaching.

me, by the Vice-Chancellor, for the time being, on pain of his Majesty's displeasure.

"MONMOUTH." a

Being in a special manner the lights of the world, their doctrine and example are so to shine before men, that others seeing their good works, may be induced to glorify their heavenly Father. The apostles, who were scrupulously exact in their conversations, could thus appeal to the understanding and conscience of those among whom they lived and laboured, "Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblameably, we behaved ourselves among you that believe." St. Paul insists on it, as a necessary qualification of all candidates for the ministry, that their behaviour should beblameless." He urges it on Timothy, that he, personally, should be "an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." He presses it on Titus, that in "all things" he should "show himself a pattern of good works." St. Peter enforces it on the elders in general, on all ministers of the gospel, that they should conscientiously discharge their official duties, "not as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock."

The eyes of the people are on their ministers, who, being public persons, are "a city set upon a hill." Notice is taken of what they do, as well as what they say: if they say, and do not, teach well and live ill, their bad conduct will evince their want of piety, as well as seriously injure the interests of religion: their outward actions will be considered the true interpreters of their

a Extracted from the Statute-book of the University of Cambridge, p. 301. Car. II. Rex.

inward state of mind. Some persons, when they see how little those are governed by religion, who are supposed to understand it best, will be apt to reason for such loose examples to its great disadvantage, as though it were only a cheat and imposture. At least, such immoral behaviour will give encouragement to vicious characters; and its influence will be seen, as attested by general experience, to be more powerful than the authority of wise and good precepts. Nay, this baneful result is so certain, that in the Scripture it is brought forward as a kind of proverb, "Like priest, like people." So that such a minister is really a public mischief, and likely to ruin more souls by his bad example, than be the instrument of saving by the sanction of his doctrine. Some while ago, a person, on being asked if he had been at the house of God, replied, "No; I see the minister too often to go hear him." There are no greater pests in the Christian church than vicious and scandalous ministers; by their unprincipled deeds, they grieve the pious, discourage the weak, embolden the profane, and harden the enemies of our holy religion in their prejudices against it. However splendid the acquisitions and accomplishments of men may be in other respects, without holy habits they will make very poor ministers: unrighteous actions will enervate the strength of their arguments, and an unholy conversation will spoil the charms of their eloquence. a

a Speaking of the "ministry of evil men," the present excellent bishop Ryder, in a charge delivered to his clergy, says, "What our people thus hear, will rarely, indeed, counterbalance the effect of what they see; and the vices, the dissipation, the worldliness, and the lukewarmness of the man, will generally render utterly vain the prayers and the preaching of the priest, however solemnly set apart for his office. His words must come from the heart, or they will never reach the heart. The precept

Evangelical principle and moral character are so essential to the honour and success of the ministerial function, that we need not hesitate to say, a minister who livesin the practice of any vice, has really no mission, no authority from Christ to officiate in his church. It would be absurd to suppose, that Christ should authorize an enemy to take care of his interest, or set an infidel at the head of believers. Had we no direction as to this point, the unreasonableness of the thing would be a sufficient indication of his mind; for whatever may preclude a man from entering into the sacred office, will as certainly thrust him out of it again: it is so in other instances of delegated power, much more in this where the consequences are so vastly important. But, indeed, our Saviour has determined on this case, and we cannot but know his decision. To his disciples, who were to be employed in propagating Christianity in the world, he says, "Ye are the salt of the earth;" that is, by means of sound doctrine and exemplary conversation, they were to bring men to experimental piety and outward regularity, and so preserve them from putrifying in their sins: "but if the salt hath lost its savour," that is, if ministers themselves become immoral, how impossible it is that they should be instruments of good to others, in seasoning

must be accompanied and recommended by the exemplification : the picture delineated must have its counterpart, in some measure, in the picture embodied. The preacher's doctrine must be confirmed by the daily and hourly lesson of his conduct. He must be able, in his measure, to say with St. Paul, Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ,' or he will make no proof of his ministry;' the very seal of his office, the charge he undertook, the title he assumed, the privileges and opportunities he enjoyed, the power and means of usefulness he possessed, will rise up in judgment against him-not only his own, but his people's blood will be upon his head,' and he will inherit double condemnation !"

them so as to relish practical religion: "it is thence good for nothing, but to be cast out." Awful result!

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To the same purpose, St. Paul advises Timothy to lay hands suddenly on no man, neither (says he,) be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure." He would not have him be precipitate, and the reason is, lest he should put an unconverted man into the sacred office, which if he did, for want of proper examination and due deliberation, he must be considered as accessary to the mischief he should do.

Whose hands are pure, whose doctrine and whose life,
Coincident, exhibit lucid proof

That he is honest in the sacred cause.

To such I render more than mere respect,

Whose actions say, that they respect themselves.

But loose in morals, and in manners vain,

In conversation frivolous, in dress
Extreme, at once rapacious and profuse-
Ambitious of preferment for its gold,
And well prepar'd, by ignorance and sloth,
By infidelity and love of world,

To make God's work a sinecure; a slave

To his own pleasures and his patron's pride;

From such apostles, O ye mitred heads,

Preserve the church! and lay not careless hands

On skulls that cannot teach, and will not learn."

Cowper's Task.

If these passages go to prove any thing, it is, that ungodly men have nothing to do in the ministerial office, and that they can act under no commission from Christ, who is the fountain of all authority in the church. To a wicked minister now, as well as to an immoral priest formerly, God says, "What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldst take my covenant in thy mouth."