. » . * • .
r . / JV L'S*
9s* *
OOWLUOUE vA
NECESSARY AND DESIRABLE FOR A MINISTER
OF THE GOSPEL,
DELIVERED BEFORE
THE BAPTIST CONVENTION OP GEORGIA,
APRIL 18th, 1830,
BY ADIEL SHERWOOD'
Published by request of the Convention
and the Congregation.
MILLEDGEVILLE J
CAMAS & RAGLANB rUOTEBSEf
leieT
ADVERTISEMENT.
The Author does not attempt, in the following pages, sfr
much to prepare a Sermon which will endure stretehing on
the bed of Procustes, aS to give the views of the CoqvejS*
tion in regard to the education of Ministers.
Greenesboro', 15th April,
KNOWLEDGE, &c.
" For the Priest's lips should keep knowledge and they {the
people] should seek the law at his mouth ; far he is the messen¬
ger oj the Lord of hosts." Malachi ii. 7.
The chief media of knowledge are, intuition, experience,
inspiration and instruction.
We may discover some truths in Morals, Mathematicks
and in the other Sciences by intuition; but it is obvious that
men, naturally, have no knowledge on the subject of salta¬
tion, nor of the duties which, belong to the ministerial of¬
fice*
The knowledge derived from experience must of course be
very limited. We know something of the heat of fire by
coming in contact with it—of husbandry, by engaging in it,
and of the influence of the Holy Spirit by being the subjects
of its operations ; but circumscribed indeed must that man
be in information, who, before he admits its certainty, re¬
solves to bring it all to the test of experience.
The sacred penmen, moved upon by the Holy Ghost, de¬
rived their knowledge of the facts recorded by them from
inspiration ; but if Ministers at the present day were inspir¬
ed, their sermons committed to paper, would be as valuable
as any part of the holy Scriptures. The admission of this
sentiment would supersede the use of the only safe guide to
Heaven and expose us to the incurable plagues threatened
against adding to God's word.
Through the medium of instruction, we reap advantage
from all the published knowledge of which the world before
us has been in possession, and in so far as we desire to in«
crease our stock of it, we resemble the angels of God. To
the billowy ocean the Almighty has set bounds and declared
ei hitherto shalt thou come, but no furtherbut to the
human mind in search of knowledge, no boundary has been
fixed—no barrier erected. Full scope is given without pro¬
hibition, to the vigoious exercise of all our mental faculties
and no cautioii is enjoined upon us, lest, in Our daring ex¬
cursions, we should find out the Almighty to perfection.
Though the economy of the Church and the materials of
which it is formed, differed essentially under the ojd and new
4
dispensations ; yet there are many striking" resemblances in
the offices sustained by such as officiated at the Altar. As
the priests were called of God—so arc Ministers of the Gos¬
pel : the employments of both were holy—they were both a
mouth for God to the people—they were an example to
others of a holy life. Designed for a special profession, the
opportunities of the Priests for improvement were greater
than their hearers, and of course their knowledge superior ;
such is the case with Ministers of the Gospel. If the lips
of the one should keep knowledge, certainly should those also
of the other. No one, who recollects that ministers of the
gospel are to be " able to teach others also," and that they
must possess knowledge before they are qualified to be teach¬
ers, will perceive any impropriety in accommodating bur
text on the present occasion.
The kinds of knowledge on which it is designed to speak,
are necessary and desirable.
By necessary knowledge is meant that without which a
man may not on any account be inducted into the ministe¬
rial office. If he be not " called of God" to this work, and
possess the other necessary qualifications which may be
stated, we dare not encourage him to look forward to so im¬
portant a station, were he as eloquent as Whitfield, as pious
as Baxter and as learned as Newton.
I. NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE.
1. A call of God.—This is entirely a distinct thing from
regeneration—it presupposes the new-birth: but if it were
the same, then it would follow that all ragenerate persons
are ministers, which is absurd.
This call is not a vocal one, like that addressed to Samuel;
but a special impression on the mind of the duty to call sin¬
ners to repentance and an anxious solicitude for their eter¬
nal salvation. This solicitude will be so intense as to induce
the subject of it, were it necessary, to forsake " all" ill or¬
der to exhibit the character of the Saviour to a perishing
World. No vocal instructions were incorporated in the call
;pf Aaron,-r-he was directed' to meet Mioses in the wilder¬
ness ; but the impression of duty so far as we know must
Nen a secret one.*
... "A knowledge^ of his call does not come to every matt with
so muph Qertainty, but that he may have doubts of it all
through Hi"?* While1 ifeer.c? is fruit, white the work of the
Xord prospers in his hands* he may possess a strong fcssur-
* Exodtre 17.
«>
ance of his vocation ; but in a day of decline of piety in
his own heart, his performances will seem to him so flat
and insipid, and sinners so unaffected by his ministrations,
that he forms the conclusion, " the Lord hasn not " need of
him
The opinion of a church of experience and discretion,
when sufficient trial has been made, is a safer criterion for
a candidate who really desires to know the will of the Lord,
than that advice which would persuade him to consider
nothing a call unless it be as distinct as a clap of thunder.
The old sentiment that a minister is as certain of his call
as of his existence, and inspired to preach, seems now to be-
classed among the reveries of a distempered imagination.-^-
Did those who made strong asseverations of their inspiration,
commit no blunders, in doctrine ? The history of the pul¬
pit in our own times furnishes a sufficient refutation of this
notion. For men have declared that they should preach only
such preaching as the Lord bade them ; but have evinced
that some other spirit than the Lord's, dictated their commu¬
nications.
2. A capacity to teach.—Aptness to- teach, though a naliCr-
al qualification, is ranked by the Apostle among the pre-re-
quisites to the office, we have under consideration. God
never called a dumb man to preach, nor one who articulates
so indistinctly as not to be understood. It is certain how¬
ever, that a man cannot teach unless he first know some¬
thing, and inspiration will not supply this knowledge. In
this injunction, knowledge is not the desideratum, but apt¬
ness to communicate it. Men may be imbued with wisdom
and yet be un-" able to teach others," because of natural de¬
fects in the organs of speech.
We might enumerate all the necessary qualifications lejitl
down by the Apostle ; but they can be read at our leisure in
the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.
3. Good commcm sense.—It is a remark, which has long
ago passed into an apophthegm, that some men have all
kinds of sense but common sense. Such men, in the various
callings and professions, are frequently exposing themselves
to shame, and the cause they have espoused to obloquy and
disgrace. But as no cause is so important, and none so fre¬
quently becomes the butt of ridicule as that which is support¬
ed by ministers, it behooves all who take part in introducing
them into their office to see to it, that they are not destitute
in this particular. Some men may seem to preach with the
impassioned eloquence of Whitfield, and leastm with thfx
()•
aeuteness of .Locke ; but in their social intercourse with the
chiirch and the world, they discover so much levity or mo-
roseness and act so far out of character, as to neutralize all
the effects of their pulpit labours and bring into contempt in
private, an office, which they appeared to magnify in public.
When cautioned by that prudence, which has wept over
their indiscretion, such men may plead, " it is their wayor
their nature ; but this will not cure the wounds which they
have made. See how the flowers which piety has put forth,
wither under their influence; and the beginnings of remorse,
which were agitating the bosom of conviction, while such men
were in the pulpit, die in their private intercourse.
4. An acquaintance with the Scriptures.—God's Book is
the source of all theological knowledge, and should be studi¬
ed more constantly and intensely than all other books.—
What man in his senses, would employ a lawyer or physi¬
cian, to defend a suit or cure a patient, who possessed no
other knowledge of their professions, than what they had
derived from listening, now and then, to desultory conversa¬
tions on Law and Medicine ? So no church will think of
sending forth to preach, a man who is not intimately ac¬
quainted with all God has caused to be written, There is
no evidence, that any commissioned by the Saviour to pro-
ami! gate the Gospel of salvation, was destitute of a know¬
ledge of the sacred writings; an acquaintance with them
therefore, is to be ranked with necessary knowledge.
Finally, to the church are to be referred as umpire, the call
to this holy office, and the knowledge which the candidate
possesses. No one's word should be taken as evidence, let
him be ever so pious or fluent in speech. Volubility is no
test: a man may talk fast and Ignd and long, and yet not be
called of God nor possess the proper qualifications.
Here the evidence might safely be trusted, were it not, that
some small church having in their bounds few men of discre¬
tion and discernment, would be imposed bn by those who
&an speak fluently in prayer and exhortation, but who have
none of the necessary qualifications we have mentioned. To
guard against the introduction of such men into this respon¬
sible office, the approbation of neighbouring Ministers and
lay-members of intelligence, seems indispensable. No one
was inducted into the office after the resurrection of the Sa¬
viour, except in presence of some of the Apostles. Another
reason why their concurrence is requisite, grows out of the
fact, that ministers are better qualified than others to judge
of the call and qualifications of candidates.
&
Let it now be distinctly understood that to any man haw
i»g this necessary knowledge and the approbation of the pro¬
per authority, this Convention says, " Go forward : go
preach the gospel to every, creature at the same time
it would be glad to have his mind stored with desirable know*
ledge, and which forms the second head of our discourse.
II. DESIRABLE KNOWLEDGE.
1. A knowledge of Chronology and of the Geography of
Palestine.—A man of limited information can not ascertain
from the Bible merely, how long since the creation of the
world and crucifixion of the saviour. The Scriptures do not
inform us in what ages they were written, nor when those
distinguished characters which figure in them so much, flour¬
ished.
It has been published by sectarian zeal that the river Jor¬
dan is but a brook and frequently dry—that the 3,000, who
believed on the day of Penticost, could not have been iuv*
mersed, for there was not in Jerusalem water enough for this
purpose ; and that there is no stream in the way from the
Capital of Judea to Gaza. Now it is desirable, to say the
least, that Baptist Ministers, for whom these observa lions
are specially made, should know enough about Geography to
tell whether these assertions are true, and if not, to disprove
them by appeals to proper authority.
2. History of the Jewish Nation and the manners and cus¬
toms of that singular People.—In the book of Ezra, the stu¬
dent ascertains that about four years were consumed in
building the second Temple; but in John's Gospel, he reads
" forty and six years was this temple in building." How
shall he reconcile this apparent discrepancy ?
Why " new wine should be put into new bottles," and
how a book can be " written within and on the backside,"
we are not informed in the Scriptures. It is difficult for us
.to perceive how Jesus could lie upon the breast of one of his:
disciples at meal time—how a woman " behind him" eould
vvaflh his feet with her tears and wipe them with the hair of
her head, while he was sitting at table; yet an acquaint¬
ance with the customs of the Jews makes this easily under¬
stood, and throws light on many passages, which would bo
otherwise dark and unintelligible. To be sure this know¬
ledge is not necessary to salvation, but is desireaUe.
3. Grammar.—So much knowledge of our own language
qb- to understated its construction and the dependence of one
part of speech on another, renders us more intelligible
speakers, and helps us to comprehend the meaning of the
Scriptures.
4. Logic.—Without some knowledge of this science we
are not certain whether our premises are true and conclu¬
sions just. We may be imposed upon by the sophisms,
which, " science falsely so called," has introduced to dark¬
en the perspicuity of truth and undermine the foundations
of evangelical religion.
5. Astronomy.—David contemplated the heavens and ex¬
amined the planets with which Almighty power had garnish¬
ed them without any detriment to his piety; and if " all
Scripture is given by inspiration of God," this record of the
Psalmist's admiration of those parts of creatioa, which he
could not fully comprehend, is left for our instruction. In
order to lessen the importance of the events, which trans¬
pired at the crucifixion, infidelity has asserted that the dark¬
ness on that day was occasioned by a natural eclipse of the
sun, and therefore, there was nothing remarkable in the
gloom that pervaded the earth. But a knowledge of Astro¬
nomy discloses the falsity of the infidel assertion; for the
Moon, the only planet which eclipses the Sun, was on the
day above mentioned, in its full, but cannot darken the
fearth only in one of its quarters. For the exposure of this
falsehood, Christianity is indebted to the light emitted from
the torch of Science.
6. The Learned Languages.—Let there be no christians
acquainted with the Greek and Hebrew languages and all
our translations ©f the Scriptures must come from the hands
of infidels. Can we safely trust, in a matter of so much
interest as a correct translation of the Bible, to a race of
Men, who have tried to annihilate our holy religion and
bring its author into contempt ?
A mere English scholar in the sentence, "but the son of
perdition,"* according to the ordinary rules of Grammari¬
ans, would parse the word " son" in the accusative, gov¬
erned by the preceding particle: this would imply, that as
one, which had been given to the Saviour, was lost, so oth¬
ers might be. Away goes then the doctrine of final perse¬
verance. But refer this matter for decision to the original
Greek and we shall find that " son" is not in the accusative,
* Johnxvii. 1?.
but is k nominative to a verb understood " but the son of
perdition" is lost, " that the Scripture might be fulfilled."
We wish no new translation, but it is desirable for our min¬
isters to be able to examine the original and discover, as
Dr. Campbell says, the " evidence that even good and learn¬
ed men allow their judgments to be warped by the senti¬
ments and customs of the sect which they prefer."f
A general acquaintance with the Sciences aad whole field
of Literature, is desirable. Paul illustrates his subjects and
strengthens his arguments by quotations from Heathen Au¬
thors and he is a safe'pattern for our imitation 4 •
It is a well attested fact that as Science began to decline
in the earlier centuries of the christian era, religion also de¬
clined with it. Superstition and extravagance are the legit¬
imate offspring of religion ill uncultivated minds. Hence
the Bible was neglected and even the Priests, whose lips
should have kept knowledge and instructed the people, could
not read the law. To this may be attributed in a great
measure the rise of Popery. When Science revived in tKe
15th and 16th centuries, religion also gained new strength
and made fresh conquests. Learned men alone took upon
themselves the Herculean task of unriviting the fetters and
chasing away the darkness, which had, for twelve hundred
years, bound and enveloped the world. Every stroke which
Luther and his co-adjutors struck in the North of Europe
was felt in Rome and made the polluted mistress of the earth
tremble. She well knew that the "tradition" which she had
substituted for God's word could not bear the light of Science
to glare on them and discover their impiety ; and therefore,
she feared these few learned men more than the armies of
all the kings of the earth united.
Were it for nothing else but for the influence which learn¬
ed men exert over the community, we should urge with all
our might, the education of ministers. Where the ministry
is illiterate, so will be the people.
In New England a great portion of the ministers are men
of education : here you can scarcely find a person who can
not both read and write. In Canada a great portion of the
Clergy is ignorant and but little pains taken to instruct the
people. Look at the consequences : " in a petition present¬
ed to Parliament from this country, the whole number of
signers was 87,000 of whom 78,000 were obliged to make
* See similar expressions in Luke iv. 26 27.
t See Matt. iii. 11. and Acts xiii. 4. where the translators inclined " to
correct the diction of the spirit by that of the party." Ib,
X See Acts xvii,' 28. I Cor. xv. 33. Titus i. 12,
ITT
the sign of the cross, not being able to write their names.
Take another view to shew the value of education among
a people: In 1828, 7, 396 persons were accused of crimes
en France—of these 4,166 were ignorant of reading and
writing—-1,H58 could read but imperfectly—780 could read
and write well; and only 118 were found in this number
who had received an education superior to that of common
schools ! These facts speak volumes and shew us that in
proportion to the education of the people, will the number of
crimes be diminished. But if the ministry remain ignorant,
the dorgaant energies of the mass of the people will not be
awakened; they will be indifferent to the advantages and
(pleasures of literature.
Objection 1. Peter and JoJw were unlearned and ignor¬
ant men, they preached to purpose ; tkerefore what you call de-*
sirdble knowledge, is useless.
They were not as learned as the Sanhedrim, who arraign¬
ed and questioned them in relation to the miraculous cure of
the cripple ; but this is no proof that they were ignorant in
the present acceptation of that adjective. We should not
call those men unlearned and ignorant who could preach
and write grammatically in their own language ; but Peter
and John did this, not in the Hebrew, their vernacular
tongue, but in the Greek.t But suppose they were unlearn¬
ed and ignorant men in our acceptation of those terms, is
tjje inference a fair one that human learning now is not de¬
sirable ? They were inspired to preach and write what God
revealed to them, and this would have supplied all deficien¬
cies of education. But men do not now lay claim to inspira¬
tion ; therefore, to speak intelligibly, learning is desirable.—
After they were called too, the disciples enjoyed the instruc¬
tions of the Saviour some years. How frequently do you
find in the Evangilists, an account of their receiving instruc¬
tion from the " Teacher sent from God."
Objection 2. But we are a plain illiterate people, and
therefore do not wish our ministers to be acquainted with the
Sciences you have mentioned, nor can we understand their
preaching.
Some men of little learning, just enough to bloat themy
may labour in their public ministrations to pronounce learn¬
ed phrases and sentences which are unintelligible to their
hearers; but a scholar can, and generally does adapt him-
* Christian Spectator.
t They were Jews by birth and education, yet they wrdie their Epist]pff ih
'he Greek language.
if
rfelf te the comprehension of the most illiterate. It is said
of Demosthenes, that he always read his Orations to a fe¬
male slave before he delivered them to the multitude: in
such simplicity really learned men will imitate the Grecian
0rator.
Objec. 3. But the Convention intend thai none , shall
preach except such as have enjoyed the advantages of a Col¬
lege education ; therefore we can not patronise their plans.
This is not true, and even if it were their desire, they will
never accomplish it. There is no more danger that church¬
es will be deprived of the services of preachers with but a
small share of education, than that all the bridle-ways in our
State will become turnpikes« Because some are introduc¬
ing the cultivation of sugar cane, are you afraid that you
shall be prohibited from growing cotton ?
This Convention blesses God that there are about 200
useful ministers in the State, who have not shared the ad¬
vantages of a Collegiate course, and wishes the number
were doubled and their usefulness enhanced. But because
it aims to improve the education of a few, is it fair to infer
that all the rest shall be proscribed ? Because this Conven¬
tion furnishes the means of education to some, it does not
therefore, undervalue the labours and usefulness of others.
It well knows that the pioneer preachers of this State were
men of but slender human acquirements, yet powerful in
pulling down the strong holds of Satan and rejoices that the
efforts of their succesors for the salvation of sinners have
been so eminently favoured of God.
Objec. 4. Our ministers, who have never seen a College,
are as acceptable to us as those of refined education; therefore
we desire no improvement.
But your ministers have a. good deal of information,
which they have acquired from Books and their wiser breth¬
ren, and the general diffusion of knowledge. For the gener¬
al circulation of books and Periodicals, they are indebted to
learned men, without whose labours they could not even read
the Bible. But in making a comparison between them and
those whose advantages have been superior, you leave these
considerations entirely out of the account. But let them
know nothing except the internal call and no other book but
the Bible, and a vast difference will be perceived in the ac¬
ceptability of their pulpit performances. The Convention
has not suggested a College education; all it aims at is to
store the minds of young ministers with useful knowledge*
lii
Objec. 5. But your educating young men will be like put¬
ting Saul's armour on David, ><nd, like Sarahs attempt to has¬
ten God's promise', it will prove abortive.
I would not stop to notice this objection, did it not exert a
most powerful influence over some ignorant minds against
education.
The case of David,* if you conceive it to have any relation
to the subject in question, will encourage preparation. The
opposers of education say, if a man is called, let him go just
as he is without the armour of Saul, or in other, words, wait¬
ing to acquire knowledge. But let it be remembered that
David did not go empty handed; he chose five smooth
stones, the kind of weapon with which he was most accus¬
tomed to go to war. He was not so presumptuous as to ex¬
pose himself to the giant unarmed, and without using all
the precaution which prudence suggests, although the Lord
had promised to deliver into his hand the mighty foe of Is¬
rael. There was no Scripture, " Take the stones," yet he
stops to select them as he passes through the brook, and God
makes this effect of his prudence, the means of routing the
whole infidel army!
How the trial of Saul's armour should be lugged in to
represent the acquisition of desirable knowledge, is unac¬
countable only by that fertility of invention, which, like a
sinking iftan, will grasp at a straw, rather than drown.
In regard to Sarai's imprudence, it may be observed that
this convention does not aim at begetting preachers, only at
improving the minds of those already begotten of the Lord
and called " by the spirit and the churches" to the holy
work of the ministry.!
Objec. 6. Paul tells us that the Gospel which he preached
was not received of man nor was he taught it; therefore all at¬
tempts to instruct young ministers are worse than futile.
Answer: Before the cases of the Apostle and Ministers
of the present day can be parallel, it must be admitted that
they are inspired and that ail they preach is revealed to them:
but we have previously shewn that this is not truev No new
truths are revealed—the volume of inspiration is complete
and he who lays claim to newly revealed truths, puts himself
at issue with Jehovah.
Those who employ this objection to useful knowledge,
should be required to work some miracle in attestation of
their inspiration and immediate teachings from God.
* I Sam. xvii.
t For proof of this see Minutes of Convention for 1828 and 1839, in the
u)es for admitting beneficiaries-.
13
After Timothy was ordained, he is directed to "give at¬
tendance to reading,"—to hold fast the form of sound words
which he had heard of the Apostle, "knowing of whom* he
had learned them." It is plain that he did not rely on inspi¬
ration, nor because the Lord does impress his ministers with
salutary truths, would his instructor encourage him in indo¬
lence to wait for supernatural influence without laborious
study and intense application. It may do for men, too lazy
to study, to depend on inspiration, but not for such as regard
the injunction to bring their oil well beaten into the Sanctua¬
ry-
Objec. 7. If the Lord wants a learned man, he can caU
Mm as he did Paid.
If the Lord wants a Meeting house he can create one,
and why be at the trouble and expense of this business, when
the Lord can accomplish it without labour ? If he wants a
sinner converted, he can convert him, without the tedious
process of calling another sinner as a preacher to be the
means of his conversion. But the general course is means,
and he who makes the objection, might with as much pro~
propriety sit down in his house in seed time and icait for a
crop, till God should create one for him.
But do not the objectors perceive that unless means were
employed, there would be no,Gamaliels to instruct? If all
were as much opposed to education as they are, there would
be no Seminaries of learning at which instruction could be
communicated ; heiice there would be no learned men to
call.
*
Objec. 8. But a knowledge of the Bible is sufficient
Paul, who is a safe example for imitation, calls in the aid
of other than his knowledge of the Scriptures when he deals
with mockers at the doctrine of the resurrection, and with
the Judaising teachers.* It is safer to follow the Apostle
than those who glory in their ignorance.
We admit that there are many useful and excellent preach¬
ers, who are conversant with very few books except the Bi¬
ble ; but may not their usefulness be augmented by more
knowledge ? Our servants were industrious and useful,
when they picked out all our cotton from the seed by hand 5
but their usefulness is greatly enhanced since the invention
of a more expeditious way for them to labour.
It was proposed many years ago, to the Spanish Govern¬
ment, to improve the navigation of certain rivers, and thus
vastly benefit the country: The answer returned was, if
* See AcSs xvii. 32, Titus i. 10
the Almighty had designed to have them navigable, he would
have done it himself! We hope no one of this Congrega*
tion reasons thus in regard to the improvement of the minis¬
try.
Objec. 9. There is no Scripture for ihe modem plans of
preparing young ministers for greater- usefulness.
Is there any for Associations, for erecting meeting houses,
for the existence of a clerk for a church,—for sending ap¬
pointments to preach and for learning to read the Bible ?
You must answer no, and yet you practice these things, and
you are governed solely by expediency.
The general duty of attending on God's preached word,
is inculcated, and as people can be more conveniently situ¬
ated in a meeting house, you build one for their accommo¬
dation ; but there is no such word as meeting house in the
Bible.
The duty of searching the Scriptures" is incumbent on
all God's creatures; but these duties, as a general thing can
not be known without a capacity to read: learning to read
however, is an inferred duty.
In order that we may know who the members of a church
are, and thus preclude the unworthy from privileges without
relying on our treacherous memories, a clerk is appointed
to pieserve a record of the names and other proceedings of
the church ; but this is inferred ; but do you quarrel with it?
You are desirous to preach to as many sinners as practi¬
cable—you appoint a dav and send your notice; but is there
any Scripture, that great Mr. Somebody is to preach on
such a day at such a place ! We hope this stale objection
in regard to minor things will never be reiterated again: let
this passing notice be its funeral sermon.
So in the cause of education of ministers: we find that the
qualifications are, " apt to teach," " able to teach others
also;" now the inference is fair that they must know some¬
thing or how Can they teach ; and from the general tenor of
the Bible, we feel it enjoined on us to provide for them all
the means of information within our power.
But will not this doctrine of expediency open a wide door
for error ? Learned Pedobaptists admit there is no Scripture
for sprinkling ; but it is more convenient, and expediency gov-
» erns them.
If it does open a door for the shafts of error, you are as
much exposed to them as the advocates of learning; for by
your late confessions, there is no Scripture for several prac¬
tices in which you indulge-
&ut to answer this appendage to your objection, let it be
observed that the cases, are not analagous: Sprinkling is
not an expedient resorted to in the absence of Scripture, but
a substitution of something for an ordinance, which, with the
proper subjects of it, is plainly pointed out and illustrated by
repeated examples in the rivers of Judea.* Therefore, to
object to training up young ministers in the absence of a
u thus saith the Lord," (when we admit the principle in
Other eases) because Pedobaptists substitute something for
an ordinance, is not treating the subject fairly and ingenu¬
ously. The cases would be parallel, if the Scriptures pointed
©ut a specific way and we, rejecting it, should substitute some
other in its stead ; but as no one is minutely described, only
the out-lines sketched, and the duty of knowledge generally
inculcated, we may fill up these out-lines without becoming
subject to the censures of our opponents, provided we do not
transcend the spirit of the Gospel.
We might however come to positive proof in regard to
Seminaries, by mentioning the schools of the prophets at
Gilgal, Jericho and Bethel.t The disciples were frequently
taught knowledge by the Saviour even after they had been
commissioned to preach the Gospel. Timothy also was
taught after his ordination to the ministry : " Till I come
give attendance to reading, to exhortation to doctrinefor
what ? to inspire him ! no, but to acquire desirable knowledge»
This is positive proof.
But even suppose we had no examples to plead and the
general principles of the Bible did not presuppose acquired
knowledge, in those that must " teach others also;" would it,
be impious for christian prudence to devise plans for the pro¬
pagation of religion and for the education of those who of¬
ficiate at her altar ? A knowledge of the spirit of the Bible
is essential to the existence of religion in the soul; but it is
impossible without a miraculous display of God's power, so
to multiply copies of the scriptures that every person may be
supplied; nor has the Holy Spirit given any directions in
\vhich this may be accomplished ; yet God has so blessed the
invention of the art of printing (for which there is no scrip¬
ture) that every family may possess a safe directory to heaven.
Shall not christians then be encouraged to labour & plan to
promote the religion of Jesus, provided they do not substitute
where there are plain directions, nor transcend the general
principles of the Bible ?
*No reflection here is meant to be cast on Pedobaptists,~-the argument is pur*
^aed in this tvay to shew the inconsistency of some Baptists,
i 8&e 9 Kijrrgs ii, 3.4. iv. 38.43,
10
But the practice of our-churches generally furnishes unde-*
niable testimony that they hold in estimation, the knowledge
which we have stated as desirable.' If the usefulness of a
preacher depend merely on the necessary knowledge, then it
matters not who he is, provided you are satisfied the Lord
has called him. But every church makes choice of their
pastor and in their election, choose one, who will be most
likely in their opinion to attract, instruct and affect a con¬
gregation-—nor would they be deprived the privilege of
choice. Sometimes they pass by those ministers In their
own neighbourhood and call one who resides 20 or 30 miles
f&stant. Why did they do this ? Because they supposed he
was best calculated to do good to that people. But if im-+
proved minds or some other quality is not at all to he taken
into the account, the nearest preacher would of course re¬
ceive the call, and one called of the Lord is just as good as
another. Let these remarks suffice to shew that in practice
our churches value desirable knowledge for their ministers,
though they may deny it in theory and though they may
throw in the way of those who are trying to multiply the
number of ministers with improved minds, a thousand ob-
obstacles.
Why is it that our black brethren, who, we believe are cal¬
led of God, are not as useful and do pot exert as much in¬
fluence, as our most distinguished ministers ? It is be¬
cause they have not as much mind, as much desirable know¬
ledge. This simple fact shows as clearly as that 2 ajnd 2
make 4, that desirable knowledge increases our usefulness.
You all know that these things are so.
Even those ministers who question the propriety of our
plans to improve our young brethren, give in to our views in
'practice—They are purchasing and borrowing books and
gleaning all thp knowledge they can, yet some of them are
very apprehensive that we shall ruin our young men with
knowledge ! Yes, they cry down with all their plight our
practice of improving the minds of our junior brethren, while*
in effect they are pursuing the same course!
BEFliKCTIONS.
1. It il&cit teachers sliotdd htiVQ mo/c unowfydtiyi.*
£kun their hearers*,
v it is absurd! for a man to attempt to teach who knows noth¬
ing or no more than his congregation. As a community adi-
vagkees in knowledge, so. should those who instruct this com¬
munity in the most importarait branch of learning—the plan
substitution., JNone will oppose this sentiment, but such
i*s ute cither tw stuped or too lazy to acquire knowledge,
i|f>d therefore endeavour to render irs acquisition unpopular.
Th« people are to "seek the law at the mouth" of their
ministers \ beace the importance of their superior know¬
ledge. Th«y are messengers of the Lord of hosts—tbev
are a mouth for God to a rebellious world. It is of infinite
moment, that the laws and terms of pardon which the Judge
of the whole earth has revealed, should be clearly under
stood and distinctly stated.
2. Let us adopt the prayer enjoined by the Saviour.*
Do you pray for a crop, and yet use no exertions? Do you
desire salvation that your child may be pious and useful to his
country &i successful in his lawful pursuits; <fc forbear author¬
ity and withhold that advice which will be of sei vice to him ?
"So you would not utter the prayer for an increase of the num¬
ber of " able ministers of the New Testament" without cor¬
responding exertions. We are consistent christians when,
though we believe that God only can send such ministers in¬
to his harvest, we labour as industriously as if their existence
depended on our own labours. We believe God only, can
convert sinners ; and yet I trust I address some hundred
ehiistians, who labbur as constantly as if their salvation
were hinged on the fact of their busy employment. Let
us not presumtuously tempt God with our unmeaning pray¬
ers, when we are too indolent to act.
* Malt. i*. 38 . j a r..i • i . l v
I cannot withhold the following anecdote : A little girl at a boarding
school was surprized to find one of her class mates always recite her lessons
wiihart rriissin" a word and asked her how she effected it, and she was answer-
rrrv^.l.at.he might recite well. The nest day the inquirer at¬
tempted to recite her tenon, but foiled entirely and reproved the other for fe.
ceivinL' her " Did you study your lesson well ? enquired her friend : "study?
no 1 did not study it all: I supposed that if I prayed that I might say it correct-
;» this was all that was necessary." I leave this for those viho pray merely
'!>st iffinistcra may be multiplied artd yet nso no es errionu.
18'
3. We have abundant encouragement to strengthen our faith.
The cause oi an enlightened ministry must ultimately
triumph. Satan may oppose it, becausp he knows and
dreads the influence of such men ; and even some good men
may he gulled hy such as have an interest in deceiving them ;
hut the heaviest fogs will he dispersed by the rising sun.
Let us go fohvavd-r-Our fathers did not wait for the aliir
ance with France before they attempted to accomplish some¬
thing in the Revolutionary struggle ; nor should we wait, tilF
all our brethren see as we see and then come up to our help
in this labour of love. Let the van move on, nor need feats
be entertained but thousands will follow.
God is stiring up the churches on this subject. Look at
what those of the Georgia Association performed last fell!
Here is the A-ppii Forum where we may "thank God nn&
take courage." If Sanballat and Tobiah* laugh to scorn and
despise us ; let us answer in the triumphant language ©$
Prophet, " The Qod of heaven, he will prosper -us"
Sad Nehemiah i». 20.