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ON THE SUBJECT OF APPROBATING AND ORDAIN- ING CANDIDATES FOR THE MINISTRY, by 3|cljn (EBtoartfoiu I fpea]| as unto wife men ; judge ye what I fay," - BOSTON, PRINTED BY RUSSELL- AND CUTLER l801, TO THE CLERGY. GENTLEMEN, |HE following obfervations are addrefled to you, for two reafons ; firft, That a remedy for the evils, of which they complain, is excluiively within your power ; and fecondly, It is prefumed, that you feel a greater intereft in the fuccefs of the chriftian re- ligion, than any other order of men. the fuccefs and refpectability of our common faith, unqueftionably, depend, under God, on the character, abilities, and virtues of the Clergy. It would be little Ihort of a miracle, fhould religion re- tain its re fpect ability and influence, under a Clergy ignorant and licentious. And where the Clergy are of an oppoiite character, where they poffefs good un~ derftanding, found erudition, and gofpei piety, it does not admit of a rational doubt, that God will beftow fuch degrees of his own -fpirit, as are fufEcient to give fuccefs to their miniftry. the generality of the American Clergy, efpecial- ly, thofe of New-England, are men of clean hands. and of courfe, we prefume, they have pure hearts. In point of moral character, they would not iufFer, it is ( 4 ) believed, in a companion with the Clergy of any country, and of almoft any age. in literary refearches, our country cannot, in- deed, pretend to an equality with the land of our fathers' fepulchres : but a very refpeclable proportion of the literature, which we have, is found among thofe of ecclefiaflical profeffion. it is the devout wifh of the author of thefe ob- fervations, that the Clergy may increafe in all amiable, ufeful, and refpectable qualities. He will never envy that influence, how great foever it may be, which originates from their erudition, their morals, and piety. that the Clergy may increafe, in refpeclability, and that,, through them, the religion of christ may obtain a more extenfive prevalence, there is one cau- tion of peculiar importance and urgency. It is this, Let none be admitted to the J acred profeffion , but men, whofe characters are refpe Liable for natural endowments , literary acquirements, and ferioufnefs of difpofition. the refpeclability of an office is proportionate to its importance— -to the influence, which it has on the convenience, happinefs, and improvement of mankind. It is, therefore, extremely clear, that a high degree of honour is attached to the office of a Clergyman, in it- felf confidered. The religion, which he explains and inculcates, endeavours to eftablifh the human mind in all uprighinefs and moral virtue, and to prepare it for I 5 ) endlefs improvement, and increafing felicity, in a fu- ture world. But I conceive that an honourable office^ does not necelTarily confer honour on the perfons who hold it, and whether it mall do this or not, depends on the manner, in which this office was obtained. I never conceived that there was any honour in the protectorfhip of Cromwell, or the dictatorfhip of Cae- sar ; but efpecially, not in an office, which any man may affume at pleafure, and the afTumption of which, implies neither abilities, virtue, nor even addrefs. A man who pofTefTes neither of there, will really be lefs refpecl- able in office than he was before, becaufe the impor- tance of his office will render his deficiencies the more apparent. it may, doubtlefs, be fait able and prudent to render an external refpect, (and no other will ever be rendered) to a weak, or a wicked man, on account of the importance of his ftation. But this external re- fpecl: is founded, entirely, on the prefumption, that, in general, the office will be filled by able and good men. The office fuppofes fome good qualities in them who hold it. It is prefumed, that none will be put in office, but fuch, whofe abilities point them out as able to fulfil its duties. But when an office is affumed at pleafure, and no abilities, learning, or virtue, are necef- fary to fuch a difcharge of its duties, as meets with general approbation, the office, however honoura- ble, in itfelf, ceafes to confer honour on them who s . ( 6 ) hold it. I honour a Judge, becaufe I believe that a Na- tion of fuch great importance and refponfibility, will be filled by men of talents and uprightnefs ; and, though I may fee fome inftances to the contrary, they are not fufficient to fubvert a general rule. I honour a Clergyman for the fame reafon. But fliould it ever appear that any man may alfume thefe places, at pleafure, and that no moral nor intellectual qualifi- cations are ufually connected with them, I will ceafe to honour a Judge or a Clergyman. If the Clergy mould approbate and ordain, indifcriminately, with- out uiveftigation as to the moral, religious, and litera- ry acquirements of thofe, who are candidates, the name of a Clergyman ceafes to be connected with any honour. the prefent is a peculiar era, in politics, philofo- phy, and religion. It is a day of the world's madnefs. It is confidered as a mark of peculiar genius, to inno- vate, revolutionize, and fubvert. We affect: to pity the ignorance of our predeceffors. We laugh at the c Lilliputian ties" which were once of fufficient ftrength to control and regulate the pailions of men. Ihe religion of our fathers was fuperflition, their gov- ernment tyranny, their philofophy weaknefs, and their whole fyftern of education wrong from the very bot- tom. We muft Jegifiate on different principles, and if we moralize at all, it muft be to prove, that there is no fuch thing as morality. Our youth muft be taught, not to fear God, but to believe that there is ( 7 ) no God to be feared ; not to govern their paffions but indulge them ; not to live foberly, but to ridicule fo- briety. Our literary tafte is vitiated and debauched. We avoid books of plain fenfe and found learning, and relifh none fo well as thofe, which inflame the paffions, corrupt the heart, and entice and captivate by an overftrained refinement of fentiment and " harlot- ry of ftyle." Even the youth, of the female fex, read and vindicate, without blulhing, a book written by an abandoned woman, in which, even the appearances of chaftity, and the decencies of converfation, are de- clared to be the refult of weaknefs and folly. They devour up novels, in every page of which, their hon- our and religion are infulted** o the probability of a renewed intercourfe with France, affords us very little reafon to expect, that the face of things fhould be fpeedily altered for the better. If there be an organized oppofition to the Chriflian faith, there will, hereafter, be fewer obflacles to its free operation in this country.! * Time has been, when female reading was reftricted to books of decency and good morals. Two forts of men have*, of late, brought off the younger part of that fex, from a practice fo rigid : I mean rakes and infidels. f Since writing the above, I have received the following intelli- gence : — " The nrft number of a blafphemous periodical publication, has juft been ilTued in the city of New-York, by one Drifcoll,. entitled " The Te?nple of Reafon." The declared object: of the editor of this work, is to attack the doctrines of Chrift." Columb. Ce?ii. ( 3 ) AT fuch a time, it is peculiarly important that the Clergy mould feel the dangers and the duties of their ftation ; that they mould confider themfelves as jet for the defence of the Gofpel, and for the fupport of good manners in civil fociety. Their duty is to be firm, perfevering, and inflexible, tojlandin the evil day y Gracious Heaven ! Is this a time to fend out weak, and unlearn- ed men to preach the gofpel ! Non tali auxitio, nee defenforibus i/lis ^Tcjnpus eget. Virg. ^£n. L. 2. 521. A few years iince, the publications of Profejfor Robifon, and the Abbe Barruel excited juft alarm in the public mind. But we have fallen back to our former lethargy. It mould be remembered that the fpirit of anarchy, revolution, and impiety never ileeps. It takes advantage of our fancied fecurity. 7/ is the peftilence walking in darknef, and unlefs we aroufe from our {lumbers, it will become the deftrucTwn which wajleth at noon day. As a conclufive proof of which, I would mention the in- creafmg prevalence of Jacobin principles. AVho fufpected, two years ago, that there would be even a cha?ice for Mr. Jefferfon's elec- tion ? From what caufe has his election been rendered probable ? What occafioned, in feveral inftances, the omiffion of federal repre- sentatives to Congrefs, and the election of men of different politics ? There have been no events in Europe, and no obnoxious meafures of our government, from which! fuch a change would naturally pro- ceed. This change has, undoubtedly, been effected by mere dint of indullry, and of fyilematical operations on the fide of felf-ftyled re- publicans. We cannot doubt but that part of the defign of the Grand Confederacy, which refpects religion, has been prelTed for- ward, with the fame unremitting energy, as that which refpects poli- tics, while an administration fimilar to the prefent, is continued, this Confederacy will be depreffed and kept down, though not ex- terminated. But mould the administration of the national govern- ment be changed, and fall into the hands of Mr. Jefferfon, and men like Mr. JefFerfon, thofe who have combined againft the Lord and nft his anointed, will take meafures of lefs caution and referve. myjlery of iniquity doth already work, only he that now letteth will let, until he he taken out of the way. JVhcfo hath ears to hear let him hear. ( 9 ) and having done all tojland. At fuch a time, it would be, in a high degree, dangerous to countenance the introduction of any into the miniftry, but fuch, who poflefs the difpoiition and ability to fight the good fight of faith. give me leave to enquire, whether the examina- tion of candidates for the miniftry, have not become unwarrantably fuperficial, both as to their religious character, and their literary and theological acquire- ments ? it has an unfavourable effect on the intereft of re- ligion for young men of profane and dhTolute lives, to enter into the facred profeffion, without fome very ftriking alteration in their views, their feelings, and character ; and without fome pretty vifible teftimony of regret and felf-abafement for paft offences. For a perfon of this defcription, to become truly religious, is a great change indeed ; and to fay the leaft, it is extremely to be defired, that this change mould be evinced by fome better evidence, than, barely, atten- tion to decency, and abftinence from former immo- ralities. It is of confequence, that a Chriftian minifter fhould have a good report of them thai are without. but certainly the appearance of prefent piety is al- together indifpenfable. If religion be worth preach- ing, it is worth poffefiirsg ; if it be neceffary to the V ™ 1 hearer, it is to the preacher. And unlefs a man be deeply and rationally convinced of the divine origin of the Chriftian Gofpel ; unlefs he be deeply impref- fed with thofe reprefentations, which the Gofpel gives of human life, and the confequences, which are con- nected with it ; unlefs he be refolutely determined to lay hold on eternal life for himfelf, and to ufe his beft endeavours to bring others to the fame felicity, he will not be contented with that humble mediocrity, I had aim oft faid, poverty, beyond which the Clergy are forbidden to look ; he will be unable to brook the numerous reftraints and felf-denials, which pru- dence and a regard to religion require ; he will be unable to refift the temptations of wealth and honour, the contempt of the proud, and the ridicule of the profane, the ftupid, or the unbelieving. i do not mean, by this, to recommend a practice, which is faid to prevail, among fome very refpe&able Clergymen, of afking the candidate what his views are, in preaching ;. and whether he be regenerated, or not. Thefe queftions, to be fure, are of infinite con- fequence, in themfelves, but what conceivable purpofe can be anfwered by propofmg them to a candidate ? If a man's views be bad, will he tell you of it ? If you fufpect a man's honefty, in common things, do you afk him, in order to remove your doubts ? Do you give great credit to the teftimony, which a man bears concerning himfelf ? Would any man prefent himfelf ( " \ for examination, who was determined to declare, be- fore an ecclefiaftical council, that he thought himfelf a pinner ? Were I to prefent myfelf before a bifhop, or a council of Clergymen, to take orders, or to obtain ap- probation for the miniftry, would it be poflible that he, or they, fhould be more fatisfied as to my inten- tions, becaufe I had given them a favourable account of myfelf, and had declared that my only object in de- firing to preach, was to batter down, and trample un? der foot the kingdom of sat an? it is, without queftion, a matter of mighty con- fequence, that fuch as enter on the facred profeflion, fhould have their hearts fully fet in them to be on the Lord's fide. But whether or not, this be the cafe with any one, mujl be determined by his habits of life and general converfation. Judging in this way, it is true, men may be deceived, but an error, which arifes from the imbecility of human intellects, will never be con? fidered as a crime. a candidate ought, unqueflionably, to know what kind of religion that is, which he undertakes to preach. He fhould have a clear and diftinct. knowl- edge of the appropriate doctrines of the Chriftian Faith. He Ihould perceive, and be able to exprefs his perception of, the vail and ftriking difference between Chriftianity and every other religious fyftem. There are no motives, fo well calculated to promote fcripture piety, as thofe motives, which the fcriptures exhibit. ( 12 ) And a perfon who underftands thefe facred writings will obferve a ftrong connection between the difcrimi- nating doctrines of Christianity, and that morality and piety, which it requires. If he underftand thefe doc- trines, he will be able to fet before his hearers the beft motives to a virtuous life. in this age of corruption and unbelief, when fuch various meafures are taken, to unfettle the faith of men, and to fubvert former principles, the Clergy, of all men in the world, mould be always ready to give an anfwer to every one that ajheth a reafon of their hope in the GofpeL If the reading of infidel books, if deiftical converfation, or a man's own reflections have fuggeft- ed to him, any difficulties in revelation, or the pofli- bility of its being not true, to whom ihould he apply fo readily, as to the Clergy ? He will prefume, with reafon, that as they are fet for the defence of the Gof- pel, they mult be well acquainted with the grounds and reafons of the Chriftian Faith. If they be unable to remove reafonable doubts, and to give a good and rational account of their belief in Scripture, he will fuppofe that the fault is in the fubjec~t itfelf, and that Chriftianity is incapable of a good defence. if there be one fubject, on which candidates for the miniftry, mould be examined with fevere fcruti- ny, it is the divine authority of the facred writings. When Clergymen approbate young men for the min~ t x 3 ) xftry, without a fcrupulous examination on this fub- jeer., they do it at their own peril, and at the peril of the church. To what purpofe do you refer the in- quifitive fceptic, to the prophecies of the Old Tefta- ment, or the miracles of the New ; unlefs you Ihew him, at the fame time, that the prophecies were cer- tainly delivered before the correfponding events took place, and that the miracles, which you mention, were certainly wrought ? To what purpofe do you refer him to the rapid and fupernatural fpread of the Gof- pel, unlefs you be able to inform him what the ftate of the world was, when Chriftianity was at firit preached, and the mighty obftacles, which this re- ligion had to furmount ?* there are fome Clergymen of good intentions, and I believe, of good underftanding too, who are fo pleafed with a young man's apparent piety, as to dif- penfe, too readily, with intellectual and literary en- dowments. They believe him ferioufly engaged in religion, and that much may be accomplished by his religious zeal. To be ferious and hearty in the caufe of religion, is, doubtlefs, a quality of high confe- quence ; but it is not every thing. Let the difpoiition of a foldier to fight, be ever 10 great, it avails nothing while he has no weapons, or no ftrength to ufe them, * How a knowledge of all theie fubjecte can be obtained, in the fhort time, which fome young men employ in theological ftudies, 1 am totally ignorant. D ( »* ) It is true, that a weak or an ignorant man may poffi* bly be the occafion of doing good. But there is more than an equal chance of his doing much hurt. By his inability to defend the Scriptures, he may create infidels even among' perfons well informed ; and one infidel of underftanding and activity, is of more inju- ry to the caufe of Christ, than a dozen iinners of or- dinary growth. by remaining ignorant of the evidences, on which the Gofpel is fupported, a man, at the prefent day, incurs unufual guilt, as well as danger ; lince the means of information, on this fubjecl;, are numerous, and eafily obtained. To perfons who have any know- ledge of the u Purfuits of Literature " it will be a fuffi- cient recommendation, of the following catalogue, that a writer of fuch immenfe genius and literature, has propofed it. " If," faid he, " the reader is difpof- ed to attend to the fuggeftions of a very private lay- man, on this fubjecl:, I think he would find great ad- vantage, mjiudying and conjidering the following works in Englifh, (which are very few in number,) and in the order, in which they are arranged, i. A view of the internal evidences of the Chriftian religion, by Soame Jennyns, esq^ 2. The evidences of Chriftian- ity, in three parts, by W. Paley, d. d. 3. Grotius, on the truth of the Chriftian religion, in any tranfla- tion. 4. The evidences of natural and revealed reli- gion, by Dr. Samuel Clarke. 5. Mr. Locke's rea- ( '5 ) fonablenefs of Chriflianity, particularly, the latter part of the tract. 6. Bifhop Hurd's introduction to the iludy of the Prophecies. 7. Lord Lyttleton's dif- fertation on the converiion of St. Paul, and 8. Dr. Butler's analogy of religion, natural and revealed, to the constitution and courfe of nature. From thefe few •volumes, if they are Studied with care, and an upright intention, I think it may be faid, that, " They mail fee, to whom, he was not (before) fpoken of; and they that have not (before) heard, Shall understand." it is to be obferved that this catalogue is ex- tremely Short, when compared to that, which was re- commended by the learned Warburton, and which he considered " as only an introduction to the iludy of theology.'' it cannot be questioned, that West's dhTertation on the refurrection of Jesus Christ, Paley's Hor- ace Paulina, and Priestley's lectures on the Jew> ifh religion, may alfo, be read to much advantage. how well the knowledge, which muSl neceiTarily be obtained by a careful perufal of thefe books, cor- refponds with that degree of information, on this fub- ject, which is ufually required in a candidate for the ministry, I leave to the determination of thofe, by whom candidates are ordained. I pray God, the cen- fures, which have been heaped on Englilh Bifhops, may never be deferved by the American Clergy, ( «? y u Our learned hijhops o?ie would think Had taken fchool-boys from the rod, And made embajadors of God." Again, ".Fromfucb apofiles, ye mitred heads, Preferve the church I and lay not carelefs hands 0/f fulls that canmt teach, mid will not learn" Cow r Kit. there is higher authority, however, for the cau« tion, we have been fuggefting ; authority, which, of all men, the Clergy will be the lafi to controvert. Lay hands fuddcnly, on no mdn : not on a novice. The things y which thou haft heard of tne^ before many witneffes^ the fame commit thou to faithful men, who are able to teach others alio. I wifh thefe paflag.es might be a little ftudied. should any of the Clergy take the trouble of reading the foregoing obfervations, they certainly cannot doubt the author's intentions. 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