aibbibiisb
TO THE
SENIOR CLASS
IN THE
aEDasaaoasaa aasaosj&a'Q'
OF THE
SYNOD OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA,
®sr mvmmwzm ©a sma &&rcravas8&!3'ff»
COLUMBIA, JULY 10th 1837.
FUBXiXSHED AT THE REQUEST OF THE CX.ASS.
BY CHARLES C. JONES.
Sabannah:
THOMAS PURSE & CO.
1 837.
ADDRESS.
iBSKM^asfr sjEiissaxaiisaj
You have now completed your preparatory studies for the
sacred Ministry, and are about to enter upon its responsible duties.
Suffer me to present to you a few thoughts adapted to this occa¬
sion, in behalf of the Faculty, as their brief, but affectionate
farewell.
1. The foundation of your character and usefulness, and indi¬
vidual happiness, as Ministers, is laid in your Piety.
We trust—nay, we believe, you have all experienced that great
change, essential to your personal salvation, and to your office as
Christian Ministers. Had we doubts in respect to any of you, on
this point, our separation would be with trembling, and in bitter¬
ness of spirit.
Your Piety must be sincere, not feigned: eminent, not ordi¬
nary : for you are shepherds, and must be examples to the flock
of Christ. But you will not be eminently pious, simply because
you are Ministers. In common with the humblest Christian,
your piety is to be cultivated, and in so doing, you are to use the
very same means :—a diligent reading of the Holy Scriptures,
accompanied with self-examination:—humble fervent prayer,
accompanied with watchfulness, lest ye enter into temptation.
Your growth in Piety, will depend, under the gracious influ¬
ences of the Spirit, upon the sincerity, and regularity, with
which you use these divinely appointed means. Formality is
spiritual death. Irregularity leads to the same end. Let neither
business, nor pleasure, nor society, nor any circumstances within
human controul, deprive you of your appointed hours for retire¬
ment. Your Father which seeth in secret, waits for your coming.
Let these hours be well chosen. Take the best time to attend to
the best thing. Let them return with the regularity of the sun
4
in his course : then like him, bursting from the chambers of the
East, clad in his glory, you will day by day, rejoice as a strong
man to run a race, and your light and your heat will extend to
the utmost bounds of your influence.
2. To your Piety, Knowledge should be added. It is the doc¬
trine neither of reason, nor of revelation, that knowledge is unne¬
cessary to the Christian Ministry. All secular professions re¬
quire knowledge : so should the sacred ; and for a greater reason,
for upon a competent discharge of the duties of that profession^
the highest and best interests of mankind depend. "For the
Priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the
law at his mouth : for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts."
You are the Teachers in Israel. Ignorance in you who aspire to
the office of Teachers, is a disgrace, nay a crime, and that of the
first magnitude. Let every man be a fool: but let him that
teaches the Avay of salvation and watches for souls, be wise !
Knowledge comes not by nature: it comes not by intuition.
It is the product of diligent, persevering, protracted and thorough
study. You must not depend upon native talents, nor upon
genius ; but upon your mind, whatever that may be, cultivated in
all its faculties, and enlarged by study.
The man of genius is seen and felt chiefly in itpmergencies and
in excitements. The man of study—of application, at all times.
The one is like the lightning ; all nature is breathless with expec¬
tation ; the sudden glare illumines the earth and overpowers the
eye ; the startling sound succeeds, it rolls along the heavens, it
dies away and is gone. The other, is like the sun himself. Na¬
ture rejoices at his coming and hails him as her benefactor. He
gathers effulgence and strength as he rises ; earth turns her teem¬
ing bosom to his ray; luxuriant harvests spring forth, and the
glad voice of the reapq; is heard bearing homeward his golden
sheaves.
Industry and application will make the man, however ordinary
his mind may be. The mind is created on the principle of inde¬
finite expansion, of unlimited growth, so to speak.
The coral reefs of the sea, are built up from almost fathomless
depths below; they spread over extensive tracts and rise to the
surface of the waters; the drift-wood of the ocean, and marine
substances of every kind are thrown upon them ; a soil is formed,
thither are borne the seeds of vegitation ; the rain and the dews
5
of Heaven descend, and in a little while you behold an evergreen
Islet, inviting to its cool shades and limpid fountains, the weary
mariner, and reaching forth for his refreshment a thousand lusci¬
ous fruits. Whence came this beautiful and this useful spot 1 In
what manner was it formed ? It was formed by accretion: by
animalcules scarcely perceptible to the naked eye, each genera¬
tion of them building their tiny cells upon those of their prede¬
cessors and of indistructible materials. So, the most indifferent
mind on the principle of accretion—the accretion of solid thought,
of indistructible truth, by constant study, may attain to any size ;
and being kept open to the genial influences of Heaven, may
become the delight, the refreshment and the salvation of thou¬
sands.
In order to success in study, you must be systematic and con¬
stant.
Without system, you will accomplish little. You should have
hours as sacredly devoted to study, as to prayer ; and you should
have studies assigned to their respective hours.
You can, or rather, you should never arrive at that period in
life, as long as God shall spare you health and strength, at which
you shall shut the Holy Bible and every human production from
your eyes; and turn away your eyes from all observation and
live upon the past.
How many, alas ! intoxicated by the praises of men, or induced
by a spirit of earthly-mindedness, or of sloth, or of self-sufficiency,
have committed this sad mistake. They have declined from the
very hour in which they ceased to study: they have outlived
their reputation and influence, and been removed from the stage
of action as mere cyphers, in a green old age !
Your studies in this world as Ministers, are to end only with
your lives : and your studies as the children of God, in that which
is to come, are to end only with eternity. We are to be, students
forever.
Never indulge the thought that you know enough, or that your
subject may be exhausted. God is the subject of your studies in
the infinity of his nature and of his operations. " You cannot by
searching find out the Almighty to perfection." Ascend to the
height of the third Heaven, and there are Heavens above you
still:—descend to the depth of the abyss beneath, and there are
profounder abysses beneath you still ? Lay by nothing as per-
6
feet. Your maturest and most laboured efforts can always be
improved.
That you may give your minds enlargement and liberality,
richness and variety, do not confine yourselves wholly to profes¬
sional studies. Theology is the comprehension of all sciences :
that vast ocean into which they flow as streams. Extend your
studies as you may, you can always gather something of use in
your own profession. Read and study and think and converse
at all times and under all circumstances as Ministers. The
" little busy bee," visits a vast variety of flowers; but in the
midst of their fragrance and beauty she never forgets her errand.
She hides herself in their opening bosoms : she extracts their
sweets : presently she comes forth and upon a hasty wing, bears
them away to her quiet and well stored hive. Solomon sent his
ships to Opher for gold and precious stones and rare commodi¬
ties: he plunged his hand into the sea, and drew forth goodly
pearls: he opened the earth and rewarded himself with the finest
of silver: he traded with the merchants of Tyre and obtained
fine linen and embroidered work : he Avent up upon the sides of
Lebanon, and felled its beautiful cedars : the rough rocks became
smoothe at his touch, they bent themselves into polished arches,
or stood before him in majestic columns. Every country and
every people supplied him with the choicest materials ; and for
what intent did he gather them ? That he might build a Temple
to the Lord, and enrich Jerusalem the city of the great King!
Go and do thou likewise. Lay all things under contribution, for
the perfection of your great and good work.
3. To Piety and Knowledge, we must add Activity.
Your zeal should be unquenchable : your labours limited only
by your mental and physical ability. The Church agonizing
amidst amazing obstacles to enter in at the straight gate; and
the world rushing downward the broad road that leads to des¬
truction, call for activity on the part of the Ministers of the Gos¬
pel. If you are lukewarm the Redeemer will spue you out of
his mouth : if you bring your talent to him in the day of reckon¬
ing, folded in a napkin, he will bind you hand and foot and cast
you into outer darkness.
Let it be said of each of you, as it was of that eminent servant
of God, Mr. Richard Baxter, " he lived to labour: and labour
was his life." But our highest example is the adorable Re¬
deemer. His meat was to do his Father's will. " He went about
7
doing good." He is called in scripture, " the Sun of righteous¬
ness." He calls himself, " the light of the world and to his
Ministers he saith, "Ye are the light of the world;" and the
light that is in them must shine before men, through good works.
Our name is " Workmen'''—" Labourers our lives should evi¬
dence the appropriateness of the name.
There is not a day that passes over us, in which we may not
find something to do in our Master's vineyard. Other men may
cease from their labours, but Ministers, never. Death only,
introduces them to their rest. Your piety and your knowledge,
great as they may be, will avail you nothing without activity.
The bravest and best disciplined army in the world will accom¬
plish little, if it abides forever in its camp. The miser hoards his
silver and gold, and is unprofitable to his fellow-men. Act not
the miser's part. Your talents must go out to the exchangers,
that the world may receive benefit, and the Lord his own with
interest. This is the way to double your talents.
The divine spirit in putting you into the Ministry, if you are
good men and true, hath breathed into you, the breath of life.
You are to endeavour so to live, as to demonstrate, through
grace, to yourselves and to the world, the principle of perpetual
motion, if I may be allowed the expression. Ministers are indeed,
living creatures, waiting around the Throne of God, all eye, all
ear, all animation, burning ones, that can turn every way to exe¬
cute the will of the Lord our Righteousness. Oh ! what multi¬
tudes of souls have been lost and what worlds of good left undone,
through the inactivity of Ministers ! If you intend to yield your¬
selves to idleness: if you intend to eat and drink, and lie down
and slumber, and be dumb dogs that cannot bark, then pause ere
you proceed another step. Take your licences from your bosoms,
and send them back to the Presbytery : fall upon your knees and
invoke Almighty God to withdraw your call to the Ministry : and
go—seek some retired spot, far far away, in whose impervious
shades you may hide yourselves fiom the gaze of angels and of
men! There await with trembling the hour, when the Son of
man, having finished his reckoning with his good and faithful
servants, shall condescend to notice you, and call you into his
awful presence, for judgment and condemnation. The response
of your every heart is, " God forbid! By his grace helping me,
I will live and die on the field, in his service: I will make full
8
proof of my Ministry !" The Lord in his infinite mercy, enable
you so to do !
4th. Be sure, according to the command of the Apostle, that
you give yourselves wholly to the work of the Ministry.
Neither Physicians, nor Lawyers prosper in their profession,
when either teaching, or merchandising, or planting, is allowed
to occupy their attention ; neither can Ministers prosper in their
profession, if they engage in any secular business whatever.
And for the plain reason that no man can serve two masters : no
man can do justice to two callings, each of which, demands his
entire attention.
There can be no doubt that Teaching, comes next to Preach¬
ing : and if a Minister is forced by ill health, or by other provi¬
dential circumstances to abandon the Minister, or to connect with
it some other employment, it is a thousand fold better for him to
become a Teacher, than a Merchant, or Planter, or Speculator.
Indeed it may, under particular circumstances, be the duty of a
Minister to exchange the regular preaching of the Gospel for the
special employment of teaching.
That so many Presidents, Professors and Principals in our
Colleges and higher Seminaries of learning, have been Ministers,
is to be attributed to the honest and just conviction of the intelli¬
gent and pious part of community, that they are proper men for
such stations of usefulness, and are, in general, better qualified to
fill them, than any other class which we have amongst us.- Nor
does this conviction result from the superiority of the literary or
scientific, or moral attainments of Ministers, for in such attain¬
ments they may be and often are excelled by other men ; but
from the fact, that they have been themselves educated as Teach¬
ers of men, and are well practiced in the art:—that they take the
deepest interest in the correct education of youth, knowing that
such education is enjoined upon us in Scripture, and lies at the
foundation of usefulness here and happiness hereafter:—that
from the purity of their character, and the sacredness of their
office, and the consequent greater fidelity expected of them both
from the Church and the world, there is greater assurance of the
safety and success of the Institutions committed to their charge.
I may further add, the Christian Religion is the only true Re¬
ligion upon earth, and it is the Religion of our Country, and
upon the prevalence of its principles and practice, as every sober
9
and thinking man knows, depends our stability and purity, our
prosperity and elevation as a nation. It is a duty therefore,
which we owe to our country, (to look no higher) to have our
youth early instructed in Religion, especially our educated youth
who are destined to wield an extensive influence in society.
And when can this more advantageously be done, than in the
progress of their education, here a little and there a little? and
who are better qualified for the work, than the Ministers them¬
selves of that religion ? In teaching, Ministers may in an emi¬
nent degree preach the Gospel and forward the interests of the
Redeemer's Kingdom. As we before remarked Teaching comes
next to Preaching. Whenever our literary and scientific Institu¬
tions shall be given into the hands of free-thinkers, and infidels
and deists, and men indifferent to true piety as the foundation of
all private and public virtue, then will the fountains which have
heretofore, with a very few exceptions, sent forth streams of
water for the beauty, the refreshment and fertilization of our
land, become volcanic craters, objects of terror, with annual
irruptions, pouring over streams of red hot lava, withering and
blasting every thing desirable among men, in their courses !
Yet we should make a distinction between such stations of high
responsibility and extensive influence, as those now referred to,
and such as we find Ministers from time to time occupying;
extremely limited both in responsibility and influence;—mere
heads, or principals, or solitary Teachers of common or high
schools : stations Avhich may be equally well filled by other men.
If ever you "keep a school," let the necessity be as great as that
which pressed upon the Apostle when he exclaimed, "Wo is me,
if I preach not the Gospel!" and lay by all thoughts of regular
study and improvement in the Ministry: calculate certainly upon
gradual depreciation: make up your mind to preach youi> old
sermons over and over, and whatever you may chance to catch
up during the week, until the people shall not be more tired of
you than you shall be of yourselves. In all this matter, "let the
dead bury their dead, but go thou and preach the Gospel."
Engage in no secular business as a source of emolument;
especially, be warned of engaging in Planting and the manage-
ment of Negroes / for to this business, either by inheritance, or
family or marriage relations, you may, more than to any other,
be exposed. If God in his Providence has given you this pro¬
perty, attend to their religious instruction, but manage them
10
through friends or responsible persons, if it be within the bounds
of possibility. Not that you cannot manage them and maintain
your piety, but you cannot manage them and maintain your stand¬
ing and influence as Ministers. You will find such business a
sacriligious thief, to rob you of your sacred hours of study and
pastoral visitation: a charmer to lure you into the world : a
Delilah, that will cause you to slumber sweetly on her knees,
that you may be shorn of the locks of your strength; and when
you rise up to go forth to your Ministry as at other times, you
will be weak as other men ; and what is worse, you will " wisB
not," that the Lord has departed from you. As soon as you be¬
gin to watch the changes of the heavens for the early and the
latter rain, and to converse freely of seasons, and soils and prices ;
and to show yourselves as anxious as other men are for full re¬
turns from your fields ; as soon as you have your head and hands
filled with the nameless and numberless cares of a Plantation,
then will the Minister be merged in the Planter: then will the
millstone be fairly hanged about your necks, to drown your
Ministerial character in destruction and perdition.
If secular employments will injure you, so will debt, and debt
may be the occasion of immersing you in them. If you wish to
lie down and sleep quietly upon your pillows : if you wish to
meet your friends and neighbours with an open face : if you wish
to be independent, and have liberty of speech in the Pulpit,
beware of debt. It is a rock upon which many Ministers have
suffered shipwreck. Run in debt to preach the Gospel to no
people. Should your salary be insufficient, and if you remain
with your people, debt must accumulate upon you, tell it to your
people ; if they will not hear you, change your field of labour for
another : if that be impossible, then in the fear of the Lord do
whatsoever your hands find to do, to relieve yourselves, from
pecuniary responsibilities.
But be careful that the fault is not your own. The certain
way of never being in debt, is to live within your income. Man¬
age your own pecuniary affairs yourselves, economically, not
parsimoniously. As a general rule, in business transactions, ask
as few favours as possible : beware of men : it is not all gold that
glitters : put yourselves in the power of no man, nor set of men :
you have, as yet, had but little to do with the world, and conse¬
quently you know little of the power of the principle of self-in¬
terest. It has been called the " primum mobile'''' of human ac¬
tion. So it is, until subdued by grace. In your engagements
11
and contracts, in your receipts and expenditures, be punctual and
exact: let your word be your bond: you will thereby preserve
a good conscience, and be had in reputation by all worthy and
honest men.
And should God bless you with families : as He shall enable
you, provide not only for their present, but also for their future
wants. This is one of your first duties. When you come to die,
do not leave your wives and children in a state of poverty, to the
care of God, when He gave you the means and opportunity of
leaving them in a state of competency. It will be downright pre¬
sumption on your part: you can plead no promises in your favor ;
and whatever of suffering your family may endure after you are
taken from them, on account of your negligence or prodigality
while living, may very justly be laid to your charge.
5. That you may be actively and entirely devoted to your work,
seek a settlement where you may have a competent support.
The sacred Ministry ? It is the heart of the community. Upon
the healthful, and regular pulsations of that heart, the peace, im¬
provement and salvation of communities depend. Such is the
magnitude and importance of the work of the Ministry, that to
fulfill, men must be wholly devoted to it: and they cannot be
wholly devoted to it, unless they receive a competent support.
The right of the Ministry to support has been settled by the
infinite wisdom and authority of God. The Levites possessed
no inheritance, but residences only : for " they that served at the
Altar were to live of the Altar." The Redeemer hath ordained
that " they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel."
The right has been recognized also by common sense and
justice. The Ministry is the most useful and laborious office
under the Sun ; and if in any office, whether you consider the
actual amount of labour performed, or the value of that labour to
the world, the labourer is worthy of his hire, it is emphatically
true in respect to this. As to the idea that compensation may be
given for the labours of faithful Ministers, it can have no place
in a reflecting mind ; for the value of those labours to perishing
men, can never be estimated in silver and gold. Ministers are
supported that they may labour: their labours, in themselves
considered, are above price.
We are not to be accused when we require a competent sup¬
port, of going beyond what is written in the Scriptures. It is
12
the express command of God our Saviour that we be supported.
Nor are we to be accused of covetousness and love of the world.
Can Ministers and their families live upon air ? Are they sup¬
plied with changes of raiment and necessary food, as are the lillies
of the field and the birds of the air? Are their various wants
supplied by their fellow men, free of costs and charges ? By no
means. They buy, and they pay, as their neighbours do : and
this is right; but it is not right that they be not counted worthy
of their hire. It is a miserable spirit in men to exact and receive
and enjoy labour, without rendering a suitable reward in return.
Take it therefore as a plain intimation in Providence, that you
are not called to settle among any people who will not give you
a competent support, independent of your own property or exer¬
tions. Let the call of duty amount almost to a voice from
Heaven, when you act otherwise. The poor and the destitute
we supply with Missionaries duly commissioned and supported.
If you are able to preach to such, gratuitously, and are so mind¬
ed, do it, and your reward will be laid up in Heaven.
6. Be decided men in your doctrines and system of Faith:
building yourselves upon the plain declarations of the Bible
alone.
The best compend of the doctrines of the Bible, you have in
our Confession of Faith, understood according to its plain and
obvious meaning, in which manner we trust you have all sincere¬
ly adopted it.
Should you ever depart from the doctrines or discipline of the
Church, act ingenuously. Do not remain in the Church, hoping
to gain others over to your way of thinking; the mean while,
concealing your real sentiments, prevaricating and quibbling, and
labouring to make the impression that you agree with our stand¬
ards, when in your own conscience you know that you do not.
Leave the Church like honest men, with the reputation of honest
men, if not of sound Theologians.
"While you :emain in the Church, defend its doctrines and dis¬
cipline, with a spirit of Charity, yet with decision. Repudiating
sectarianism and bigotry, be devoted to your own denomination.
"We have neglected duty to ourselves in this respect, until we
have most severely suffered. Maintain and teach the distinctive
features of Presbyterianism, with confidence for they have their
foundation in the pure word of God: make your respective char-
13
ges thoroughly acquainted with them, that they may know what
they believe, and that they be not shaken by every wind of doc¬
trine, and proselyted by surrounding denominations.
Attend punctually upon the meetings of the Judicatories of the
Church. Cultivate every acquaintance with your Brethren, that
you form, and treat them all with confidence, affection and cour¬
tesy, rendering cheerfully, honour to whom honour is due. Above
all things avoid the very appearance of pride, distance, austerity,
dictation, self-sufficiency. During the sessions of Presbyteries,
Synods and General Assemblies, be sure to appropriate daily, as
usual, time for retirement, for private reading of the Scriptures,
meditation and prayer. If you can command no place for these
holy duties in the houses where you lodge, then go out into the
high-ways, into the lonely fields, and silent woods. Hours thus
spent will not be lost; they will enlighten your understanding,
soften your heart, allay your passions, bring your whole soul
into sweet captivity to Christ, and be your best preparation for
a sober, judicious and pious discharge of your duties in those
Bod ies.
7. In all your character aim at elevation, and spotless pu¬
rity.
If any men on earth, should possess elevation and nobleness
of character, it should be Ministers of the Gospel. It is ex¬
pected of them. A small blemish may effect their ruin. It
will not be beneath you to cultivate "a good behaviour," that
you may be welcome and agreeable in all circles. A discovery of
our faults is the first step to amendment; therefore acquaint
yourselves with the faults of your character ; with those sins to
which you are most exposed both in private and in public. If
you are at little pains to know yourselves, your distance from
perfection will be great.
Ministers in their habits, should be strictly temperate and re¬
gular: in their dress, neat without extravagance: in their man¬
ners, dignified, cheerful without lightness, and sober without
austerity: in Spirit, not soon angry, nor contentious, but so¬
cial, frank, generous, hospitable and kind : in office, and inter¬
course with men, calm and self-possessed, abhorring all little¬
ness and meanness, covetousness, dishonesty and deception in
every form: free from ambition and detraction, with a willing¬
ness to serve, and to behold Brethren elevated above them :
14
self-sacrificing for the good of men: meek, forbearing, forgiving
injuries, and above all, clothed with humility.
As you are public men and men of influence, you must pos¬
sess a public spirit, taking an interest in, and promoting every
object, having for its end the improvement and benefit of man¬
kind ; warning the public mind of special evils, and giving it a
right direction on all subjects of moment where it can safely
and consistently be done.
But suffer me to warn you in respect to the interest which you
take in the Politics of our beloved Country. "While you main¬
tain your right as Citizens, of private judgment, of voting and
acting, on all political matters whatever, a right never to be sur¬
rendered, yet avoid becoming in the slightest degree, what we
denominate, party politicians.
To this temptation you will certainly be exposed, as from the
popular nature of our Government and institutions, opening the
widest door imaginable, to individual ambition ; and from the vast
extent of ovir territory creating a diversity of interests and feel¬
ings, we are from time to time subject to political excitements,
more or less violent and extensive. If you wish to preserve your
respectability and influence, keep aloof from them : yours is the
Kingdom of Heaven.
May you ever be prudent, judicious men: men that will think
well and prayerfully before you act: men that can be hurried
away neither by multitudes, nor by strong excitements from the
sure paths of sobriety: men who cannot be made the tools of de¬
signing men, to remove away the ancient landmarks of truth, nor
be induced to trample in the dust the character and opinions of
men of God who have stood as pillars in His Church : men who
cannot be inflated by pride so as to overstep the modesty of youth,
and inexperience, and set yourselves up to dictate to your equals
and fathers in the Ministry. You will greatly need prudence and
judgment, for the present times are times of excitement, of over-
action, and of extremes. We need the checks and balances of
prudent and judicious men in every department of society, or we
shall grate and jar and rush headlong to ruin. Men do not take
time to think; they look not enough at consequences. Put down
to the extent of your influence that spirit of misrule, radicalism
and ultraism, rife in our country. It has reared its head in poli¬
tics, in morals, in religion, yea, almost in every thing. But
15
thanks be to God, there is strong reaction: may it increase, until
all the people shall walk in " the old paths." If you are not in
your character as Ministers, prudent and judicious, there will be
little or no hope, of your extensive or permanent usefulness.
8. When you become settled Pastors, redeem the Pastoral
office, in your own persons, from neglect and contempt.
Let your discourses from the pulpit, be instructive as well as
moving, that the piety of your people may be coupled with Know¬
ledge. Betake yourselves to lecturing, to expository preaching,
such as was seen in the days of Nehemiah, when "the Levites
caused the people to understand the Law : and the people stood
in their place. So they read in the book, in the law of God dis¬
tinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the
reading
Visit faithfully and regularly the families of your Church and
Congregation : catechise and instruct the Baptized Children:
feed the Lambs of Christ's flock : and bring your Eldership into
active service.
Especially let me entreat you to remember the Religious in¬
struction of the Negroes attached to your Congregations.
This is a part of Pastoral duty which has been most criminally
neglected in our Church, throughout the whole South. Other
denominations can answer for themselves. The Servants of
Masters, form as truly a part of your charge as their Children,
and you have to account to God for the manner in which you
watch over them.
When you settle, whether in Town or Country, let it be un¬
derstood that you settle over masters and servants—over the en¬
tire households, composing the Church and Congregation : make
it a stipulation, that a suitable portion of your time is to be given
to the special instruction of the Negroes : for they cannot be ex¬
pected to profit by your sermons to the whites. Experience
proves that they do not.
You may preach, on the Sabbath, to the whites in the morn¬
ing, and to the Blacks in the afternoon ; and perhaps, an evening
or two, during the week, on neighbouring Plantations. By all
means, establish regular Sabbath Schools, at your Churches, for
Adults and Children ; influence Planters to make their people at¬
tend ; and call in to your aid your Elders and Members of the
Church, as Superintendents and Teachers. Encourage Planta-
1G
tioii instruction, 111 the way of schools, conducted by Masters
themselves, or by members of their families: and preach upon
the relative duties of Masters and Servants. When the Black
population is very large, and requires the entire service of a
Minister, endeavour to obtain a Missionary for them. There are
large and populous districts, where the Negroes must have Mis¬
sionaries, or live and die, generation after generation, in ignor¬
ance and sin.
If the work of the religious instruction of the Negroes is not
performed, my solemn conviction is, that the great sin of it will
be at the door of the Ministry: for the overwhelming mass of
our Citizens, is in favour of it, judiciously conducted—Our Citi¬
zens need only, to be led forward and encouraged by those, whose
duty it is to watch over the spiritual interests of men, and em¬
phatically, to preach the Gospel to the poor.
The fanaticism, of a small portion of the Citizens of the free
States, on the subject of Slavery, has very inconsiderately, been
allowed, in a measure, to check the instruction of the Negroes.
But matters are taking the right course, once more. Never let
the movements of these men, interefere with you. The command
of the Apostle is, '•'•from such withdraw thyself''
You will find this field of labour, now urged upon your atten¬
tion, in many respects, a most delightful one: but one in which,
you will meet with discouragements; one in which you, must
let patience have her perfect work. I am certain you will not
neglect this field. May your fidelity sound out into every quarter
of our land : and the blessing of many ready to perish, rest upon
you.
9. Give to this Seminary, in which you have obtained your
theological education, your prayers and your support.
It is but a debt of gratitude to cherish your theological, Alma
Mater: it is a duty which you owe to the Southern Church and
country, for we must have our own Institutions for the educa¬
tion of our own youth in every department of learning : other¬
wise our wants will never be supplied. It moreover has claims
upon you as a public Institution, established for the benefit of
the whole human family.
And while you cherish the Seminary, let it be one prominent
object with you, to search out and bring forward suitable young
men for the Ministry. The fewness of theological students is
17
mainly to be attributed to the absence of revivals of religion in
our Churches. Labour diligently, and pray fervently for revivals
of religion :—" The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers
are few : pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He will
send forth labourers into His harvest."
10. I shall detain you but a moment longer. You are now
going out to stand very much alone, and to take upon your¬
selves the highest responsibilities which men can assume. The
great object for which, as Ministers, you are to live, is the glory
of God in the salvation of souls throug Jesus Christ our Lord.
You are ambassadors for Christ: God beseeches men by you,
to be reconciled through Christ, unto Himself. Your Ministry
is to be a savour of life unto life to some, and of death unto
death to others ! Knowing what we are by nature and by prac¬
tice, we exclaim, why has God chosen us to this high office ?
Beholding the world of labour before us, and our awful respon¬
sibility, we tremblingly inquire, who is sufficient for these things ?
Cherish ever the deepest humility, and sense of your unwor-
thiness, and weakness, and depend upon the Spirit of God alone
in all you do, for success.
" Our sufficiency is of God He alone can change the heart
of man. "We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the ex¬
cellency of the power may be of God and not of us." May you
not spend years in a barren Ministry, and at the end discover
that you have been depending for success upon your own talents,
and powers as public speakers; or upon your own wisdom and
righteousness. In our office, God worketh all, and in all.
Pray for grace, that you may crucify, and be dead to every
other motive in fulfilling your Ministry, but the love of Christ.
Settle it in your minds once and forever, that none other will
bear you triumphantly through. O may you never discover
that you have entered the Ministry uncalled of God ! that you
have entered it as a mere profession, a stepping-stone to popu¬
larity, influence, ease, or competency, thus making God your
Minister, and not yourselves, His ! Can there be greater iniquity
than this ?
You are destined to encounter difficulties, and disappointments,
discouragements and distresses, of which none but Ministers have
any knowledge. The trying realities of ministerial life are to
come upon you. Remember that you have the sympathies and
18
prayers of your Brethren and of the Church. Remember Him,
in whom your great strength lieth. Jesus hath said, "all power
is given unto me in heaven and in eartli:—and lo, I am with
you alwav, even unto the end ol' the world." Is it not He,
that walketh among the golden candlesticks, and holdeththe stojrs
in His right hand? Be of good cheer, Christ hath overcome
the world. You can do all things through Christ which strength¬
ened! you If you are faithful, He will come and take up His
abode with you, and shew you His glory: He will grant you
the firmest supports, the greatest comforts and joys, and when
you have finished your course the chief Shepherd will award to
each of you a crown of life.
Go then, youthful Soldiers of the Cross ;—bear the glad tidings
of Salvation to thousands of your fellow-men who are waiting
your arrival! You carry with you the esteem, the confidence
and affection of your instructors, of your brethren and friends
whom you leave behind. We shall delight to hear of you as
zealous, holy and devoted Ministers of the Redeemer. We shall
rejoice and give God thanks at every report of your rise and use¬
fulness in the Church and in the world. We shall remember you
in our prayers, planted as lights in different parts of our land :
we shall especially remember that one of your number, who goes
for hence to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. May Almighty
God go with him: spare his life : give him favour in the eyes
of the Heathen, and make him eminently instrumental in fulfilling
the promise of the Father to the Son, "he shall have the Hea¬
then for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for
his possession."
Live, beloved Brethren, with Eternity in your eye : Christ i*
your heart: and the word of Salvation upon your tongue. Go.
Each to his separate field,
But all to the same labour given.
God, be your sun and shield ;
Your everlasting rest, be Heavsn.