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 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.} 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE; 
 
 THE RELATION OF 
 
 THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION 
 
 WORK OF THE MINISTRY. 
 
 AN ADDKESS DELIVERED ON OCCASION OF THE 
 
 FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE FAIRMOUNT 
 
 THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, JUNE 21, 1854. 
 
 WITH AN APPENDIX, RELATING CHIEFLY TO THE ORGANIZATION 
 AND PROGRESS OK THE SEMINARY. 
 
 By EDMUND TURKEY, 
 
 PROFESSOR OF DIRLICAL LITERATURE AISD INTERPRETATION. 
 
 CINCINNATI: 
 ANDERSON, GATES AND WRIGHT. 
 
 T OLEDO: 
 ANDERSON, BURR AND CO. 
 
 1857. 
 
The Library 
 
 OF Covr i, v^g 
 Washington 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1857, by 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern 
 District of Ohio. 
 
Cincinnati, Jan. 15, 1857. 
 Rev. and Dear Brother — 
 
 At a recent meeting of the Executive Com- 
 mittee of the Western Baptist Education Society, 
 it was unanimously resolved, that a copy of the 
 address delivered by you at the First Anniver- 
 sary of the Fairmount Theological Seminary, be 
 requested for publication. 
 
 The undersigned, were appointed a committee 
 to communicate to you this resolution. Believing 
 that the publication of this address will contri- 
 bute to diffuse just views of the importance of 
 ministerial culture, we may be permitted to ex- 
 press the hope that you will accede to the request 
 of the Committee. 
 
 Very sincerely yours, 
 
 W. F. Hansell, 
 J. Stevens. 
 Rev. E. Turney, D. D., 
 
 Prof, Bib. Lit. and Interp., 
 in the Fairmount Theo. Sem. 
 
PREFATORY NOTICE 
 
 BY THE 
 
 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 
 
 The Executive Committee, at whose request the follow- 
 ing Address has h^en published, would invite the attentiou 
 of the reader to the following extracts of letters and notices 
 of the work, as indicative of its design and characteristics, 
 expressing the hope that a similar interest in the promotion 
 of the object had in view in its publication, and a similar 
 desire for its " circulation," will generally be cherished, and, 
 as opportunity is presented, practically exemplified, by the 
 members- of onr churches. 
 
 From Rev. K A. Crawley, D. D., Pastor of the Mount Auburn 
 Baptist Church, Cincinnati, and late President of Acadia 
 College, N. 8. 
 
 " I have read with unfeigned pleasure and interest your Ad- 
 dress on Ministerial Culture. It appears almost superfluous 
 for me to say, that the republication of this excellent treatise is 
 well timed, and must, with God's blessing, do good. 
 
 The clearness with which the subject is presented in it? 
 8criptural and practical aspects, must, it strikes me, be admira- 
 bly adapted to effect the end sought. 
 
 Prejudice and indifference are powerful enemies ; but truth 
 is mightier than they. I trust you will eventually see the Fair- 
 mount Seminary occupying a position beyond the furthest range 
 of your present hopes, — and I have no doubt that when that 
 event shall arrive, this treatise, if largely circulated, will be 
 honored as one of the most efficient instruments towards go 
 desirable a consummation." 
 
 (vii) 
 
V1U NOTICES OF THE WORK. 
 
 From Rev. J. Bowling, D. D., Pastor of the Berean Baptist 
 Church, New York. 
 
 "I have read the work with very great pleasure. It ■will be 
 found valuable, not only for the historical facts in relation to 
 ministerial education among Baptists during the past two 
 centuries, which it embodies, but for its able and conclusive 
 reasonings upon the design and work of the Christian ministry, 
 and the importance of literary, and especially theological train- 
 ing, in increasing ministerial efficiency. 
 
 I consider the work eminently adapted to awaken a deeper 
 interest in ministerial education in the rapidly-growing churches 
 of the North- Western States, as well as to teach them the im- 
 portance and practicability of prosecuting the work which their 
 own independent and united wisdom has commenced, for edu- 
 cating a ministiy for themselves. 
 
 The facts embodied in the Appendix, in relation to the 
 history and progress of the Fairmount Theological Seminary, 
 add much to the value and interest of the book. — I am very 
 much pleased with the system of education as explained in the 
 Appendix.' ' 
 
 From Bev. W. F. Hansell, Pastor of the Ninth St. Baptist 
 Church, Cincinnati. 
 
 " The earnestness and skill with which the theme is treated, 
 can not fail to command the interest of the reader, and to deepen 
 his sense of the importance of an educated ministry. The 
 scriptural argument is forcibly presented. 
 
 The subject is discussed by one whose experience and success 
 as a teacher in theology, give weight to his suggestions ; and 
 we cordially commend the work as a valuable addition to our 
 literature upon this subject. 
 
 In the Appendix are to be found some facts of great interest, 
 pertaining to the history of the Fairmount Theological Semi- 
 nary. 
 
 It is admitted that our efficiency as a denomination, is 
 greatly dependent upon the prevalence, among the churches, of 
 sound^ Scriptural views of the importance of ministerial educa- 
 tion. This work will contribute to the diffusion of such views, 
 and should have a wide circulation, especially in the West and 
 North- west." 
 
NOTICES OF THE WORK. IX 
 
 From the Christian Chronicle* 
 
 {t This is a very able address. Ministerial culture is presented 
 in a light which must carry conviction to the mind of the can- 
 did reader. It was well to print an address so valuable, and 
 give it to the friends of an educated ministry for reflection. 
 Good must result from its timely publication. 
 
 Its review of the past, and its bearings on the future, are full 
 of suggestions for all the friends of the rising ministry. 
 
 The sketch of the origin and progress of the Fairmount In- 
 stitution is full of interest." 
 
 From the Michigan Christian Herald. 
 
 "A valuable part of this little book is a brief history of the 
 efforts, in the Baptist denomination, to promote the means of 
 ministerial culture, beginning just after the revolution of 1G88 
 in England, and continuing down to the present time. 
 
 The author's views, also, in regard to the design and work 
 of the ministry, of the necessity of intellectual culture, as well 
 as of deep piety and thorough knowledge of the Scriptures, as 
 qualifications for the proper discharge of its duties, are eminently 
 sound and Scriptural. They are such views as must prevail, and 
 become operative with the Baptist denomination everywhere." 
 
 From the Witness, of Indianapolis. 
 
 " It presents the subject of ministerial Education in an able 
 and Scriptural light, — containing sound and important views 
 of the subject, — with copious historical and explanatory notes." 
 
 From the New Yorlc Chronicle. 
 
 " It is a well thought out production, like every thing from 
 the author's pen, and is worthy of the careful attention of the 
 pastors and churches generally." 
 
 From the Christian Watchman and Reflector. 
 
 " The first anniversary of the Fairmount Theological Semi- 
 nary, was an occasion of special interest to the cause of theolo- 
 gical education in the West. 
 
 The author presents sober and Scriptural views of ministe- 
 rial culture, with the earnestness which the subject demands. 
 The Appendix gives full information respecting the Fairmount 
 Seminary. The circulation of such a discourse must be pro- 
 ductive of good effects." 
 
X I NOTICES OF THE WORK. 
 
 From tJie CJirisiian Times. 
 
 After reference to the plan of the Address, and to the 
 Appendix as "explaining the plan and course of study- 
 adopted at Fairmount," and containing "various articles 
 relating to the general subject of Theological education in 
 the West/' and in connection with an allusion to the "dis- 
 cussion of the subject," as "discriminating, clear, and con- 
 clusive," it is added: 
 
 " It is one of the best works we have seen on the subject 
 it treats." 
 
 The following, from the Journal and Messenger, although 
 it d.oes not relate exclusively to the work to which it invites 
 attention, has a Very obvious relation to the general object 
 designed to be promoted by its publication, and, as an illus- 
 tration of the correctness and practicability of the views 
 advocated in the work, may be properly here introduced. 
 
 " Perhaps we cannot better illustrate the " relation " which is 
 claimed by the author of the work, to exist between theological 
 education and the work of the ministry, than by introducing an 
 extract or two of a letter from a worthy pastor in one of the 
 Western States, a graduate from an Eastern college, who was for 
 a season, connected as a student with the Seminary at Fair- 
 mount. 
 
 After laboring with acceptance for a period of two or three 
 years, as pastor, in New England, he had his attention directed 
 to the West, as the field of his future labors ; but before deciding 
 upon a place of settlement, he was induced, by special invitation, 
 to enter the Senior Class of the Seminary, and prosecute to com- 
 pletion the course of theological study, having gone over most 
 of the studies of the first year at a former period. After refer- 
 ring to "a precious revival of religion" enjoyed in the church 
 of which he is pastor, during the past winter, he says : 
 
 'I have read with deep interest, the publication on Ministerial 
 Culture. I regard the Institution at Fairmount as being in the 
 able, judicious, and highly practical character of its instructions, 
 and the spirit of piety with which it is pervaded, eminently 
 adapted to train up a devoted and efficient ministry. 
 
 ' It was more through the direction of Providence, than from 
 any premeditated design, that I was led to a connection, for a 
 
NOTICES OF THE WORK. XX 
 
 season, with the Seminary. Having spent several years in a 
 course of education, I had little inclination to interrupt tho 
 labors of the ministry, on which I had but recently entered, and 
 resume studies in connection with an Institution. * * * * 
 But, having enjoyed the advantages of the Seminary, and being 
 permitted again to enter upon pastoral labors, I can not regret 
 that I was thus led, in the providence of God, to a more full 
 and thorough investigation of the doctrines of the Bible, and 
 the proper work and obligations of the pastoral office^ through 
 the instructions of the Seminary. 
 
 'I have again entered upon the work of the ministry, with 
 the conviction of having received almost invaluable aid from the 
 studies thus pursued. I have received many important sug- 
 gestions, which I shall act upon with profit through life. My 
 views have been enlarged, my tastes improved, my defects cor- 
 rected. 
 
 'The exercises in Homiletics have been of great service to me. 
 Through these exercises there has been acquired a largely in- 
 creased power and facility in sermonizing. I feel impelled to 
 speak with great admiration of the eminently correct, judicious, 
 and practical instructions on this subject. To these I am 
 greatly indebted for an improvement in my style and manner 
 of preaching, by which it is, I can not but think, rendered more 
 appropriate and effective. 
 
 * My experience assures me that in the work of preparation 
 for the ministry, I have received more direct aid, during the 
 period spent at the Seminary, than during a much greater 
 length of time in any previous part of my course of study.' " 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 INTRODUCTORY NOTE, 
 
 Relating to the duty of the churches with reference to an 
 increase of laborers in the ministry and their prepara- 
 tion for their work. 
 
 ADDRESS. 
 
 PART I — Relations of the enterprise to the past — 
 Interest of Baptists in Ministerial Education during a pe- 
 riod of nearly two centuries — Various counteracting influ- 
 ences — Action of the Convention of Baptists in London 
 in 1689 — Formation of the Education Society at Bris- 
 tol in 1770 — Action of the Philadelphia Association in 
 1722 — School at Hopewell — Interest in the establish- 
 ment of Rhode Island College — Appropriations to bene- 
 ficiaries in 1767 — Movement in behalf of ministerial 
 education, A. D. 1789-92 — Action of the Charleston 
 Association — Testimony of President Manning — Action 
 of the Warren Association — Organization of Education 
 Societies — Literary and Theological Institutions — West- 
 ern Baptist Convention in 1833 — Proposed Theological 
 Institution, and Western Baptist Education Society — 
 The Fairmount Theological Seminary. 
 
 PART II — Relations to the future, or to the objects 
 
 to be accomplished — Design and importance of the 
 
 ministry — An efficient ministry — Importance of piety — 
 
 Of intellectual culture — Direction to pray for laborers — 
 
 The Apostles set apart to the work of preparation — 
 
 ( xiii ) 
 
XIV CONTENTS. 
 
 Apostolic directions with regard to ministerial qualifica- 
 tions — Ability to make use of all Scripture desirable — 
 Nature of the work to be performed — The preaching 
 of the Word — The perfecting of the saints — Confuta- 
 tion of error, and defence of the Gospel — What a theo- 
 logical education includes — By whom it should bo 
 sought — Missionary character of the enterprise — The 
 spirit to be cultivated by the theological student — Sym- 
 pathy with those with whom he is to be associated in 
 the ministry — Practical sympathy with the work of th6 
 ministry. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Note A. — Origin of the Fairmount Theological Semin- 
 ary — Action of the North-Western Convention in 1843. 
 
 Note B. — Progress of the Seminary, as a ground of en- 
 couragement with regard to the future. 
 
 Note C. — Kegular Course of Instruction in the Seminary 
 
 Note D. — Characteristics of the system of education. 
 
 Note E. — Advantages of a theological education, and the 
 duty of those called to the ministry, to seek it. 
 
 Note F. — Advantages of the Seminary in respect to those 
 already in the ministry. 
 
 Note G. — Cultivation of a missionary spirit among theo- 
 logical students. 
 
 Note H. — Location of graduates. 
 
 Note I. — The Preparatory Department. 
 
 Note J. — Testimonial of Examination. 
 
 Note K. — Libraiw of the Seminary. 
 
 Note L. — Anniversary of the Seminary, June 17, 1857. 
 
INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 
 
 In consenting to the publication of the following ad- 
 dress, the author has been influenced by the hope that it 
 might, to some extent, be effective in awakening among 
 our churches a deeper and more permanent interest in 
 the object which it is designed to promote. The subject 
 of ministerial education is one which, not merely con- 
 cerns the few who may be convened on an anniversary 
 occasion, but in which the great body of the ministry and 
 membership of the churches, ought to be no less directly 
 and earnestly interested. It is one which is intimately 
 related to all that is dearest and most important in the 
 means adapted to promote the interests of Zion and the 
 salvation of souls. 
 
 Among the few specific subjects of prayer noticed in the 
 instructions given by our Lord to his disciples during his 
 public ministry, is that which relates to an increase of 
 " laborers" in the gospel harvest field. And, as in tho 
 petition, " Thy kingdom come," it is supposed that it will, 
 if sincere, be accompanied, on the part of him who 
 utters it, with corresponding efforts to seek the advance- 
 ment of the kingdom ; it is no less so in the prayer that 
 " the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers into 
 
 hi3 harvest." There is in this respect a work to be per- 
 
 (xv) 
 
XVI INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 
 
 formed by the churches. They are to cherish, and, as far 
 as practicable, encourage the gifts which God has given 
 them ; to call them out, and open the way for their im- 
 provement. Is it not in all respects as appropriate that 
 the Baptist churches of this country, should at the pre- 
 sent time "make inquiry among themselves if they 
 have an}' young men hopeful for the ministry," as it 
 was in 1722 ? 
 
 Again, may we not believe that with an increase of 
 deep, evangelical piety in the churches, there would be 
 an increase in the number of those who would have their 
 attention irresistibly drawn to the work of the minis- 
 try ? Why should the pressing call from eveiy quarter 
 come to us year after year,— 'Send us more laborers,' 
 and so few be ready to respond, Here am I, send me ? 
 Have not the ministry and the churches a degree of re- 
 sponsibility in this matter, of which they have not, per- 
 haps, with very few exceptions, formed any adequate 
 conception ? 
 
 But it is a significant fact, that our Lord at the very 
 time he gave the direction to pray for an increase of 
 laborers, did not, in ordaining his disciples to the work to 
 which he had called them, seek to accomplish the object 
 of the prayer, by at once sending them forth into the 
 harvest field. It was not until after years of prepara- 
 tion, that they received their final commission. So in the 
 case of those who are called to the work of the ministry 
 at the present day, — if it be the will of the Master that 
 
INTRODUCTORY NOTE. XV ii 
 
 they should enjoy the means of a proper culture, it is 
 obviously the duty of the churches to see that these 
 means are brought within their reach, and that they avail 
 themselves of them. There are few subjects pertaining 
 to the means for promoting the cause of Christ, which 
 ought to be so intensely interesting to the heart of the 
 Christian, as that of ministerial culture — and by this, as 
 the phrase is used in connection with the following ad- 
 dress, is meant a culture which, while it seeks to disci- 
 pline the mind for the work of the ministry, to train it 
 to correct habits of thought and of action, and to store it 
 with useful and available knowledge, extends not less truly 
 to the heart, — by which the heart is brought into sympa- 
 thy with the truth, is enabled to appreciate and feel its 
 preciousness, and to know by experience its adaptation to 
 the wants of men. If the suggestions contained in the 
 address shall have the effect to show the importance of 
 such a culture, and to awaken an interest in its being 
 sought by those who are called to the ministry, the object 
 for which they are now sent out will be accomplished. 
 
 In an Appendix is introduced a series of articles relat- 
 ing chiefly to the origin and progress of the Seminary, 
 its organization, its system of education, and other items 
 of information respecting it which may be of interest to 
 those to whom it naturally looks for support. It is hoped 
 they may find in the statements given, ground for encour- 
 agement with regard to the future, as well as for earnest 
 
 and united effort in aiding its Trustees to promote the 
 2 
 
XV111 INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 
 
 object for which it has been established. Attention is 
 called to the features of the system of education adopted, 
 particularly with respect to its adaptation to promote the 
 end proposed, a suitable preparation for the work of the 
 ministry ; as also to the suggestions in Note B respecting 
 the causes of hindrance which exist, and the importance 
 of suitable measures for overcoming them, especially for 
 awakening among the churches within the field of our 
 operation, a deeper and more effective interest in behalf 
 of the ultimate object had in view. These counteracting 
 influences should be viewed as occasions, not for relaxing, 
 in the slightest degree, our efforts, but rather for renewed 
 and vigorous exertion to accomplish as fully as possible 
 the purpose originally contemplated. Attention is also 
 directed to the remarks in Note E respecting the advan- 
 tages of a theological education to those called to the 
 work of the ministry, and their duty, even at the cost of 
 inconvenience and self-denial, to avail themselves of 
 them. Above all, it is earnestly desired that the enter- 
 prise which has originated in the faith and best contribu- 
 tions of the churches, may continue to enjoy their fervent 
 prayers, that the influence identified with it, and by which 
 it is controlled, may ever be in perfect harmony with the 
 object to be accomplished, and such as shall be in all 
 respects adapted to aid in securing for the churches and 
 the world a devoted and efficient ministry. 
 
 Fairmount Theological Seminary, March 2, 1857. 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 The occasion on which we are convened, 
 the first anniversary of this Seminary, which 
 after years of prayerful and patient toil, has 
 been established on this beautiful spot, and is 
 now in successful operation, is especially adapt- 
 ed to bring before our minds the prominent 
 relations of the enterprise in which, as the 
 friends and supporters of the Institution, we 
 are engaged. Hence it will not be inappro- 
 priate, if we seek to improve the occasion, by 
 calling attention to some of the facts and 
 considerations adapted to exhibit the nature 
 and importance of these relations- Such an 
 exhibition can hardly fail to give the enter- 
 prise a firmer hold on the sympathies and 
 efforts of its friends, while, at the same time, 
 it may tend toward the removal of any 
 lingering prejudice against it, which may 
 exist in the minds of those who have not yet 
 
 (19) 
 
20 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 given it their hearty approval. In order the 
 most effectually to promote these objects, we 
 propose/ before proceeding to exhibit the es- 
 sential relations of the enterprise to the 
 future, or, more precisely, to the objects to be 
 accomplished, to notice: 
 
 I. Its relations to the past, or to the 
 
 CAUSES WHICH HAVE OPERATED IN THE ESTABLISH- 
 MENT of the Institution. The origin of the In- 
 stitution is to be traced to the prevalence in 
 the denomination of a sentiment calling for in- 
 The interest of creased facilities for the educa- 
 
 BaptistemMin- ^ Qf ^ minis w Nor fe 
 istenal Educa- / 
 
 tion. this sentiment, as is supposed by 
 
 many, of recent origin. It has been widely 
 cherished and frequently expressed by the 
 Baptist churches of this country and of Eng- 
 land, from the earliest periods of their history 
 in their present associated capacity. The 
 apathy and neglect manifested by many in 
 our churches, with regard to the cause of 
 ministerial education, are doubtless to a very 
 great extent, nourished by an impression that 
 the fathers of the denomination in earlier 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 21 
 
 times, those to whose labors under God we 
 are in no small degree indebted for our pres- 
 ent prosperity, were either indifferent or 
 opposed to all direct and systematic efforts 
 for the education of the ministry. Were 
 such an impression justified by facts in the 
 history of the denomination, it could avail 
 nothing toward releasing the churches of the 
 present day, from a duty which, as we shall 
 presently show, is clearly revealed in the 
 word of God, and, as thus revealed, is made 
 especially imperative by the exigencies of the 
 times in which we live. Or even could it be 
 shown that the views thus imputed to the 
 ministry of an earlier period, were actually 
 suited to the state of things that then existed, 
 it would by no means follow, as a proper in- 
 ference, that they are adapted to the present 
 age. It is the duty of the church at all 
 times to seek a ministry adapted as fully as 
 possible to the circumstances in which it is 
 required to act. 
 
 We are very far from admitting, however, 
 that such have been until recently, either in 
 this country or in England, the prevalent 
 
22 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 views of the fathers of the denomination, 
 whose practical wisdom and abundant labors 
 w T e are apcustomed to admire. We shall 
 rather find on examination the opposite of 
 this to be true. We do not deny, indeed, 
 that during the protracted struggle for reli- 
 gious liberty in this country, strong prejudices 
 existed in certain quarters against 
 
 Counteracting . -, , ^ -, . 1 . . 
 
 influences. th e tyP e °* an educated minis- 
 
 try too common in some of the 
 dominant religious sects, — prejudices excited 
 in most cases, we apprehend, by the exhibi- 
 tion of traits resulting from the spirit of the 
 age, united not unfrequently with a real defi- 
 ciency of ministerial character, rather than by 
 anything pertaining to the possession of true 
 learning. We readily admit the existence of 
 an apathy, altogether unjustifiable, with re- 
 gard to the adoption of practical measures for 
 the promotion of the object, in many cases 
 where its importance was admitted. Nor 
 would we overlook the fact, that the purposes 
 expressed, and the plans adopted for its pro- 
 motion, were, in some instances, in conse- 
 quence of embarrassments arising from the 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 23 
 
 character of the times and from other causes, 
 but very imperfectly carried into execution. 
 The system of organized effort by which 
 benevolent enterprises are now prosecuted 
 with such efficiency, had not then been brought 
 into general use; and serious obstacles ex- 
 isted to its successful prosecution in the few 
 cases in which it was attempted, Hence it is 
 no occasion for surprise, that far less than the 
 wants of the times evidently required, was 
 done toward promoting an object the import- 
 ance of which was admitted, and which was 
 repeatedly and earnestly urged upon the 
 attention of the churches. The correctness 
 of the position here stated, is abundantly 
 proved by the records of the denomination 
 for a period of nearly two centuries. 
 
 No sooner had the Revolution of 1688 se- 
 cured religious liberty to the Baptists of 
 England, than a movement was started to 
 unite their efforts for the promotion of objects 
 considered as having an important connection 
 with the interests of Zion. A convention 
 composed of the ministers and messengers of 
 more than one hundred Baptist churches in 
 
24 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 England and Wales, met during the next 
 year for the purpose of consultation and of 
 Action of the adopting suitable plans of ac- 
 convention in tion. Prominent among the 
 acts of this Convention was a 
 resolution to raise a stock or fund to be ex- 
 pended in aiding churches which were not 
 able to sustain their pastors, — in sending out 
 duly qualified ministers to visit churches, and 
 to preach the gospel where it had not been 
 published, — and in assisting members of the 
 churches who had promising gifts, w r ere sound 
 in fundamentals, and inclined to study, in at- 
 taining to a knowledge of the languages, 
 Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, — an education 
 which, as far as it extended, had special refer- 
 ence to a knowledge of the sacred Scriptures. 
 As indicative of the interest that was felt in 
 the last named object, it may be proper to 
 state that a portion of what w T as contributed 
 by the churches during the ensuing year for 
 the purposes of this fund, was sent in with the 
 direction that it should be " entirely disposed 
 of for the education of young ministers." 
 Out of this movement sprang the celebrated 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 25 
 
 Bristol Academy ) in connection with which was 
 organized in 1770, a general Education Soci- 
 ety, the object of which is thus stated : " That 
 dissenting congregations, espe- ForaationofthQ 
 cially of the Baptist denomina- Education Soci- 
 tion, in any part of the British efcy at nst0 ' 
 dominions, may, if it please God, be more 
 effectually supplied with a succession of able 
 and evangelical ministers, and that missiona- 
 ries may be sent to those places where there 
 is an opening for the gospel." It is worthy 
 of notice, that the first general Society organ- 
 ized among Baptists for the specific purpose 
 of providing, " that missionaries might be sent 
 to those places where there was an opening for 
 the gospel," was an Education Society. It 
 would be interesting, if it were in point, to 
 trace the connection between this movement 
 and those influences which, at a later period, 
 led to the establishment of the Baptist mis- 
 sions in India. 
 
 Equally interesting and instructive is the 
 history of efforts to promote the education of 
 the ministry, in connection with the Baptist 
 churches of this country. More than fifty 
 
> 
 
 26 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 years before the war of the American Rev- 
 Action of the ^ u ^ on ^ the Philadelphia Asso- 
 Phiiaddpiiia As- ciation, the oldest body of the 
 
 kind in the country, recorded a 
 vote recommending to the churches " to make 
 inquiry among themselves if they had any 
 oung persons hopeful for the ministry," who 
 were inclined to learning, and if so, to give 
 notice of it, that they might be recommended 
 to the college " on Mr. Hollis, his account.'* 
 
 In 1756, we find the association taking 
 measures to sustain a school at Hopewell, N. 
 
 J., " that young men promising 
 
 School at Hope- j Qf ^ ministry m i g J lt m j y the 
 
 benefits of education." With the 
 sanction of the association, it was placed 
 under the care of Rev. Isaac Eaton, and u the 
 inspection of brethren Abel Morgan, Isaac 
 Stelle, Abel Griffith, and Peter Peterson Van- 
 horn," four of the most esteemed and influen- 
 tial ministers belonging to the association. 
 " Toward the encouragement " of this school, 
 it was " concluded to raise a sum of money f 
 and during several successive years it was 
 commended to the sympathy and " contribu- 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 27 
 
 tions" of the churches. In a letter sent by or- 
 der of the association in 1762 to the "Board 
 of Particular Baptist Ministers in London/' in 
 connection with a reference to the number of 
 churches in the association, and to the fact 
 that some of them were destitute of pastors, 
 is the statement that there was, nevertheless, 
 " a prospect of supplies, partly by means of — 
 this infant seminary of learning." 
 
 In perfect accordance with the spirit of this 
 movement, it was "agreed" at the meeting of 
 the association in 17 G 4, — the "consultations 
 being loving and unanimous through the 
 whole," — " to inform the churches, that inas- 
 much as a charter had been obtained in 
 Rhode Island government to- interest in the 
 
 t ,• -o j. j r\ n establishment of 
 
 ward erecting a Baptist College, Rhode Island 
 the churches should be liberal College. 
 toward carrying the same into execution." 
 In the Minutes for 1766, in connection with 
 the statement that there were already in the 
 College "three promising youths under the 
 tuition of President Manning," we find the 
 following record: "Agreed to recommend 
 warmly to our churches the interest of the 
 
28 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 College, for ivhich a subscription has been 
 opened all over the continent" It was the pro- 
 spective relation of this " Baptist College " to 
 the education of the ministry, which, more 
 than anything else, gave it such a hold on 
 the sympathy of the Baptist churches of that 
 day. The object at first sought in connection 
 with the school at Hopewell, it was hoped 
 might be more fully accomplished under a 
 charter obtained from the liberal government 
 of Rhode Island. And had the system of 
 education adopted in the final organization of 
 the College, been more fully adapted to the 
 wants of the ministry, it cannot be doubted 
 that a far greater number of Baptist minis- 
 ters, — both in New England, and in the 
 Middle States, which were equally interested 
 in the project of its establishment, — w r ould 
 have shared in its benefits. 
 
 From 1767 we find the association for 
 
 several years making annual appropriations to 
 
 young men in a course of study 
 
 Appropriations ■/ . o J 
 
 to beneficiaries in preparatory to the work of the 
 
 ministry, from the interest of 
 
 a "bounty" or "donation" which was held 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 29 
 
 for this express purpose. Previously to 1779, 
 at which time the principal was, by order of 
 the association, "put into the continental 
 fund/' nine young men had thus been aided 
 in the prosecution of their studies. In 1770 
 the following regulation, relating to these 
 appropriations, was adopted : " Agreed that 
 any person hereafter applying for said boun- 
 ty, shall produce a recommendation from the 
 church he belongs unto, relative to his minis- 
 terial gifts, upon such trials as they shall put 
 him to." 
 
 We next pass to a period in the history of 
 the denomination, A. D. 1789 — 1792, during 
 which a movement in behalf of ministerial 
 education was started in differ- Movement in be- 
 
 , ,. pii i_ half of Minis- 
 
 ent sections of the country, terial Education , 
 which may be regarded as in a.d. 1739-1792. 
 some sense the origin of our present system 
 of operation. 
 
 In 1789 the Philadelphia Association, 
 which at that time included f fly-six churches, 
 located chiefly in the States of Pennsylvania, 
 New Jersey, and New York, adopted the fol- 
 lowing resolution : — " After conferring upon 
 
30 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 the necessity and importance of raising a 
 fund for the education of pious and promising 
 youDg men for the ministry, we, the members 
 present, do engage to promote subscriptions 
 in our respective churches and congregations, 
 for said purpose." 
 
 During the same year at the meeting of 
 the Charleston Association, S. C, after a ser- 
 mon by Rev. Richard Furman from Eph. iv, 
 
 Action of the U ~ 13 > " a proposition was 
 Charleston Asso- brought forward to recommend 
 a mode for raising funds by the 
 several churches in order to assist pious young 
 men in their studies for the ministry," — 
 " which met with the unanimous approbation 
 of the association." The "mode" of opera- 
 tion recommended and unanimously agreed to 
 at the next meeting of the association, was, 
 " That once a year a charity sermon be 
 preached in each church, at which time collec- 
 tions be made from the congregation at large, 
 to be brought into a common fund, for the 
 express purpose of assisting pious young men 
 designed for the ministry, and destitute of 
 other assistance, in obtaining education; to- 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 31 
 
 gether with such other religious and public 
 uses as may be approved by the churches, 
 should it finally prove sufficient." This fund 
 in 1792 was committed to a "general Com- 
 mittee " of brethren with instruction that 
 they should apply to the General Assembly 
 for an act of incorporation. At the same 
 meeting it was " agreed to assist Rev. Jesse 
 Mercer in pursuing a course of study by fur- 
 nishing him with ten pounds for the year." 
 In the list of those who were aided by this 
 fund in acquiring education, I notice the 
 name of William T. Brantly, a name which 
 will readily suggest the relation of education 
 to efficiency in the ministry. 
 
 Simultaneously with these efforts in the 
 Middle and Southern States, a movement 
 contemplating the same object, was started in 
 New England. In May 1791, about two 
 months before his death, President Manning 
 in a letter addressed to a friend in England, 
 wrote thus: "It is and has w .. 
 
 Testimony of 
 
 long been my opinion, that President Mam^ 
 money for the benefit of the mg ' 
 American Baptist churches, could in no way 
 
9f 
 
 32 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 be so well laid out as in educating young 
 men for the ministry, nearly on the plan of 
 the Baptist Academy at Bristol." In Sep- 
 tember of the same year, at the meeting of 
 the Warren Association, which at that time 
 included a large portion of the most efficient 
 Action of the Baptist churches in Bhode Is- 
 Warren Associa- land and Eastern Massachu- 
 setts, a plan for the promotion 
 of this object was introduced by Dr. Still- 
 man of Boston, and " after a second reading 
 was unanimously adopted." A Board of 
 Trustees, consisting of Samuel Stillman, Jona- 
 than Maxcy, Isaac Backus, Joseph Grafton, 
 (names honored in the history of Baptists,) 
 and seven other brethren, was subsequently 
 created, to which the management of the 
 fund collected for this purpose, was intrusted. 
 Among those who were aided from this fund 
 in obtaining education, were Joshua Bradley, 
 Jeremiah Chaplin, and Nathaniel KendrieJc, — 
 whose wide-spread usefulness, extending 
 through half a century, has already sufficed 
 to repay to the churches a thousand-fold the 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 33 
 
 amount of the contributions made to the 
 fund from which they were aided. 
 
 This decisive expression in three of the 
 oldest associations in the country, largely re- 
 presenting the strength of the denomination 
 in the Middle, the Southern, and the New 
 England States, unanimously approving the 
 object, and recommending it to the attention 
 and liberality of the churches, may serve to 
 indicate with sufficient distinctness the views 
 which were at that time entertained of its 
 " necessity and importance." 
 
 These efforts resulted ultimately in the 
 formation of Education Societies in different 
 sections of the country, and in the establish- 
 ment of temporary schools for 0rganization of 
 
 the Study of theology at Dan- Education Socie- 
 
 vers, Mass., and at Philadel- ties * 
 phia, at which were educated a goodly num- 
 ber who will ever be reckoned among the 
 brightest ornaments of the Baptist ministry. 
 As early as 1812 an "Address/' signed by 
 Win. Rogers, Henry Holcombe, Wm. Staugh- 
 ton, and others, was sent out " in behalf of an 
 establishment contemplated to be formed for 
 
34 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 the assisting of young men called to the 
 Christian ministry, in their education/' ac- 
 companied with the Constitution of "the 
 Baptist Education Society of the Middle 
 States/' whose object was to assist those in 
 whose behalf it had been formed, " in obtain- 
 ing such literary and theological aid as should 
 enable them, with greater ease to themselves, 
 and usefulness to the churches, to fulfill the 
 duties of the Christian ministry." In close 
 and obvious connection with the influence ex- 
 erted by this and other similar societies, — 
 prominent among which are the Massachu- 
 setts, now Northern Baptist Education Soci- 
 ety, formed in 1814, and the New York Bap- 
 tist Education Society, organized in 1817, — 
 was the establishment of incorporated institu- 
 T .. , tions of learning at Washington 
 
 Literary and ° o 
 
 Theological in- and Waterville, at Hamilton and 
 6 tuutions. Newton, and at other points 
 
 both in the south and west, designed to fur- 
 nish facilities in different degrees for the edu- 
 cation of the ministry. 
 
 This brings us to the period of the origin 
 of the movement in the Western States which 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 35 
 
 has resulted in the establishment of this 
 Seminary. The first meeting of the " West- 
 ern Baptist Convention " was held at Cincin- 
 nati, Nov. 6 — 11, 1833. At this meeting, 
 at which were present as mem- The Western 
 bers more than one hundred Baptist Conven- 
 brethren from different States 
 of the Union, the cause of ministerial educa- 
 tion " received prominent attention." In 
 addition to other acts designed to promote 
 the object, the following resolutions, intro- 
 duced by Rev. J. M. Peck, were adopted : 
 
 "Resolved, That the establishment of a 
 Theological Institution in some central portion 
 of the Mississippi valley, where preachers al- 
 ready in the ministry, and brethren who may 
 hereafter give evidence of a call from God, and 
 be approved by the churches for the ministry, 
 can receive such an education in the Holy Scrip- 
 tures and in other branches of knowledge, as 
 is necessary to qualify them in a more emi- 
 nent degree for the great work of ministerial 
 labor, is an object of vast importance to the 
 interests of the Baptist denomination in the 
 Western States. 
 
36 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 " Resolved, That a committee of five per- 
 sons be appointed to open a correspondence 
 on the subject, ascertain the views of brethren, 
 look out for a site for location, receive propo- 
 sals for funds or donations, and report to the 
 next Convention." 
 
 At the next meeting of the Convention, 
 held November 5 — 10, 1834, the report of 
 the Committee was presented ; and the sub- 
 Proposed Theo- j ec t was referred to a select 
 logical inatitu- Committee of nineteen brethren 
 
 tion, and "West- 
 
 em Baptist Edu- from ten different States, who 
 cation society. reporte(1 "in favor of a central 
 
 Theological Institution, and likewise recom- 
 mended the formation of a Western Baptist 
 Education Society." The opinion of the Con- 
 vention was expressed in the adoption of the 
 following resolutions : 
 
 "Resolved, That in the opinion of this 
 Convention, the wants of the valley of the 
 Mississippi require that we should have an 
 institution intended solely for the education 
 of those whom the churches shall approve as 
 called of God to preach the gospel. 
 
 " 2. Resolved, That in the opinion of this 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 37 
 
 Convention, it is expedient that a Western 
 Baptist Education Society be now formed." 
 
 The Society having been formed, the loca- 
 tion of the proposed Institution was, during 
 the same year, and in accordance with the 
 general voice of the Convention, fixed at Cin- 
 cinnati or vicinity. An earnest but unsuc- 
 cessful attempt was at first made to unite the 
 Northwest and the Southwest in support of 
 the same Institution, located at Covington, 
 Ky. The Board of the Institute, as origin- 
 ally approved and organized by the Education 
 Society, having been unexpectedly deprived 
 of all control in the management either of 
 the school, or of the property which had been 
 accumulated for its support, the Society in 
 1849, with the view of carrying one the origi- 
 nal design for the North-Western States, took 
 measures for the establishment of the Fair- 
 mount Theological Seminary, whose first an- 
 niversary w r e are now convened to celebrate. 
 This was in accordance with the „, iL ,. 
 
 Tho .bairmount 
 
 "united action " of a " General Theological sem- 
 Convention,' 5 composed of " del- inaiy ' 
 egates from Baptist churches, State Conven- 
 
DO MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 tions, Associations, and Societies, and of indi- 
 viduals" in the Northwest, held at Cincinnati, 
 October 31st, and November 1st and 2d, of 
 the same year. 1 
 
 We have thus traced the history of efforts 
 and influences favorable to the cause of minis- 
 terial education in the Baptist denomination, 
 such as have resulted in the establishment of 
 this Seminary for the benefit of the North- 
 western States, through a period of nearly 
 two centuries. We have seen that the views 
 expressed by the founders of this Institution, 
 as to the importance of special efforts to pro- 
 mote the education of the ministry, are not 
 new in the history of the denomination. The 
 efforts which have been put forth in behalf of 
 this enterprise, are in perfect accordance with 
 the views and wishes extensively cherished 
 and frequently expressed by the fathers of 
 the denomination in former times, but which 
 embarrassments and difficulties of various 
 kinds prevented in many instances from be- 
 ing carried into execution. Let us not forget 
 that, with our increased facilities for promote 
 
 1 See Note A. 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 39 
 
 mg the object, our responsibility with regard 
 to it is proportionably increased. 
 
 II. This view of the relation of the Insti- 
 tution to the past, or to the influences which 
 have operated in bringing it into existence, 
 will prepare us to appreciate more fully the 
 nature and importance of its relations to 
 
 THE FUTURE, OR TO THE OBJECTS PROPOSED TO 
 BE ACCOMPLISHED. 
 
 Were I to select a motto, which, above all 
 others, I would be willing to inscribe on the 
 front tablet of our enterprise, to be known and 
 read of all men, as indicative alike of the object 
 which we have in view, and of the agency 
 through which we hope to accomplish it, — one 
 the sentiment and spirit of which should ever 
 be present to its patrons, pervading their 
 hearts, and controlling their actions, it would 
 be the prayer of the Psalmist, — " God be 
 merciful to us, and bless us, and cause his face 
 to shine upon us, that thy way may be known 
 upon earth, thy saving health among all 
 nations." ' While we cherish an habitual feel- 
 
 ! Ps. lxvii, 1, 2. 
 
40 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 ing of dependence on the " mercy of God'' 
 for the privilege of laboring in his kingdom, 
 1 Chron. xxix, 10 — 16, and for his " bless- 
 ing " to attend our exertions, — without which 
 our best concerted plans, our most assiduous 
 and self-denying efforts, will be unsuccessful, — 
 may we not fail to keep distinctly before our 
 minds the nature and magnitude of the ob- 
 ject to be accomplished. That object is, that 
 the way of God, the w r ay in which he has 
 manifested himself to the world in the Scrip- 
 tures of the Old and New Testaments, espe- 
 cially his way for redeeming lost men, " may 
 be known upon earth," and, as the result, "his 
 saving health among all nations." For the 
 promotion of this object he has appointed the 
 Christian ministry. He has commissioned 
 them to go into all the world, and preach the 
 
 gospel to every creature, to go 
 minify. ° * an( ^ teach or disciple all nations. 1 
 
 They, above all other means, are 
 his chosen instrumentality for the evangeliz- 
 ation of the world. Whatever other agency 
 may be brought into requisition in the provi- 
 
 1 Matt, xxviii, 19 ; Mark xvi, 15. 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 41 
 
 dence of God to diffuse a knowledge of the 
 truth among " the nations/' few comparatively 
 will ever "hear" of Him on whom they must 
 " believe," in o^der that they may be " saved/' 
 "without a preacher." Men must go forth 
 whose business it shall be to " do the work of 
 an evangelist/' to give themselves ivholly to 
 it. Others must be employed to "labor in 
 word and doctrine/' and the various duties of 
 the ministry, as " pastors " of churches. They 
 must be "instant in season, out of season," 
 guarding every avenue of evil influence, touch- 
 ing, as occasion requires, every spring of ac- 
 tion, and improving, by the pulpit, the press, 
 the private interview, or by whatever means 
 arc available, every opportunity to bring the 
 whole moral power of the church to bear on 
 the conversion of the world to God. Effec- 
 tiveness in every department of labor con- 
 nected with the interests of Zion, depends on 
 the presence and agency of an efficient min- 
 istry. 
 
 Hence it becomes, in view of the mngni- 
 tude and importance of the results to be 
 
 1 Rom. x, 13, 14. 
 
42 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 effected, a question which should awaken in our 
 minds the most lively interest, How shall 
 the ministry be rendered in the highest de- 
 gree efficient ? The first requisite, of course, 
 
 An efficient min- is P ie %* And in every system 
 istry needed, im- of ministerial culture, it should 
 
 portance of piety. be fl primary ob j ect to promote 
 
 its cultivation. He who enters the sacred 
 office should have become habituated to the 
 exercise of a piety as expansive and ener- 
 getic, as it is deep and fervent, a piety per- 
 vading the whole intellectual and moral na- 
 ture, and summoning the w T hole man to the 
 work of the Lord. And it is the natural 
 tendency of truth studied, as it always ought 
 to be by the theological student, with a pro- 
 per regard for its relations, and the uses to be 
 made of it in the work of the ministry, to 
 produce this effect. 
 
 But it will hardly be denied that, in addi- 
 
 importanee of tion to P iet y> the minister of the 
 intellectual cui- gospel needs the advantage of a 
 well-stored and cultivated intel- 
 lect. He must come to his work with a mind 
 trained and educated to meet its peculiar du- 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 43 
 
 ties and responsibilities. That this is an essen- 
 tial part of the divine plan in providing for 
 the world an efficient ministry, is abundantly 
 evident from the representation of the New 
 Testament. 
 
 Prominent among the passages which have 
 an obvious relation to this subject, we place 
 the memorable declaration and direction ut- 
 tered by our Lord in connection with his first 
 appointment of the Christian ministry: — 
 " The harvest truly is plenteous, but the 
 laborers are few. Pray ye, therefore, the Lord 
 of the harvest, that he would send forth labor- 
 ers into his harvest." 1 It will 
 
 t -i i .. . i r> .1 Direction to pray 
 
 be observed it is not for the forLABOEE J. 
 sending forth of men as such, 
 that we are to pray. This will not meet the 
 necessities of the case. What is needed is 
 laborers,- — men who can perform the labor 
 required, — men who can do the work which 
 needs to be done. One who should enter the 
 field of the husbandman, not to thrust in the 
 sickle with care and skill, so as to preserve 
 and gather in the ripened harvest, but only 
 1 Mat. ix 37, 38. 
 
44 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 to exercise his muscles in irregular and violent 
 blows upon the standing grain, leaving it, per- 
 haps, in an entangled and disordered state, to 
 be reaped by others, and in the process need- 
 lessly scattering much of the precious seed 
 into the earth to be irrecoverably lost, would 
 not be considered a "laborer" in that field. 
 There might be no lack of earnest and vigor- 
 ous exertions ; but by being misapplied, they 
 would not answer to the "labor" to be per- 
 formed. It is precisely so in the field that 
 is to be entered by the minister of the gos- 
 pel. The demand is for men who are pre- 
 pared to put forth well directed and effective, 
 as w r ell as vigorous exertions. Activity, zeal, 
 earnestness, diligence, self-denial, are not the 
 only requisites in one who enters the gospel 
 ministry. There is a labor to be performed, 
 a work to be accomplished — a work which 
 besides being intrinsically responsible and 
 difficult, is usually rendered more so by some 
 peculiarity in the circumstances under which 
 it must be performed. As far as the minister 
 of Christ, through negligence or want of ap- 
 plication, finds himself unprepared to meet 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 45 
 
 this responsibility, or to adapt himself to 
 these peculiarities of circumstances, he so far, 
 whatever may be his activity, fails to perform 
 the labor required at his hands. 
 
 This direction of our Lord has additional 
 significancy as viewed in connection with his 
 example, or the course pursued by him in the 
 institution of the gospel ministry. From the 
 company of his disciples, "he The Apostles set 
 ordained twelve," 1 whom he apart to the work 
 called apostles. It is interest- ° P ie ^ aratl0n - 
 ing to observe the particular purpose for 
 which they were at this time ordained. Was 
 it that they might at once go forth and 
 preach the gospel ? This, it is true, is speci- 
 fied as the work to which their lives were 
 ultimately to be devoted, — " that he might," 
 i. e., whenever he should think proper, " send 
 them forth to preach." It is equally true 
 that he sent them forth for a brief period on 
 a special mission, during his own public min- 
 istry. 2 On this occasion, however, not only 
 were their instructions specific as to the na- 
 ture of their message, but their commission 
 
 1 Mark iii, 14. 2 Mark vi, 7. 
 
46 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 was limited as to the field of their operation. 
 They were not to " go into the way of the 
 Gentiles, nor into any city of the Samari- 
 tans ;" and as they went, they were to "preach, 
 saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand." ' 
 Their mission was designed to answer a spe- 
 cial purpose, and was of short continuance. 
 It occupied, in the opinion of the best har- 
 monists of the Gospels, less than two months. 
 So slight was the interruption to their usual 
 mode of life, that it is not taken into account 
 by the apostle Peter in his allusion to the 
 life of the apostles during this period, on the 
 occasion of his proposing that one should be 
 appointed in the place of Judas, to be a wit- 
 ness of the resurrection of Christ. Of the 
 men from whom the selection was to be made, 
 he thus speaks, — " men who have companied 
 with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went 
 in and out among us, beginning from the bap- 
 tism of John, unto the same day in which he 
 was taken up from us." 2 This constant attend- 
 ance of the apostles upon the ministry of 
 Christ during a period of several years, pre- 
 1 Mat. x, 5—7. 2 Acts i, 21, 22. 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 47 
 
 viously to receiving their final commission, is, 
 when viewed simply as an historical fact, re- 
 plete with instruction to the church in all 
 ages. But you will observe, it is stated, that 
 it was for this express purpose that they 
 were thus early set apart to the apostleship. 
 " He ordained twelve, that they might be with 
 him." This was the first and immediate 
 object of their appointment, — that they might 
 be with him to listen to his teaching, to wit- 
 ness his miracles, to imbibe his spirit, to have 
 their habits of thought and feeling formed for 
 his service, and their whole character and 
 minds trained and educated for the important 
 and responsible work which they were to be 
 " sent forth " to perform. And, as if to make 
 their education in the highest degree avail- 
 able for the purposes for which it was designed, 
 he promised to send them, on the completion 
 of their term of pupilage, the Holy Spirit, to 
 " bring all things to their remembrance, what- 
 soever he had said unto them." 2 
 
 The inference to be drawn from these facts 
 is obvious. If a previous course of training 
 
 1 Mark iii, 14. 2 John xiv, 26. 
 
48 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 was requisite in the case of the apostles of our 
 Lord, who, in addition to this advantage, were 
 to be endowed with special and miraculous 
 gifts, is it not, so far as it can be secured by 
 such means as arc available, equally necessary, 
 to say the least, in the case of those who en- 
 ter the ministry at the present day ? Had 
 he designed that his ministers in proclaiming 
 the message of the gospel, should rely chiefly 
 on the aid of immediate and present impulses, 
 would he have thus provided that even his 
 apostles should enjoy the advantage of a "re- 
 membrance " of the things in which they had 
 been previously instructed ? 
 
 Is there nothing in these facts suggestive 
 of the duty of the churches in their relation 
 to the ministry ? Is evidence that God has 
 called an individual to preach the gospel, a suf- 
 ficient reason for investing him at once with 
 all the duties and responsibilities of the sa- 
 cred office ? Would it not accord much more 
 nearly with the primitive pattern, as given by 
 our Lord in the ordination of his apostles, were 
 they to set him apart, if necessary, first of all, 
 to the work of preparation ? or were he vol- 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 49 
 
 untarily to place himself in circumstances 
 where he might acquire the requisite knowl- 
 edge and culture ? 
 
 From the precepts and example of our 
 Lord ; we turn to the teaching of his apostles 
 on this subject. And, first, we learn that an 
 essential qualification in one who Q UaMcationsfor 
 enters the sacred office, is " an the work of the 
 aptness to teach" l a requisition mimstry * 
 which, so far from being met in mere fluency 
 of speech, or readiness to express one's 
 thoughts, — thoughts which may possibly be 
 of very little practical value, — has specific 
 reference to ability or adaptation to act the 
 part of a teacher or instructor in the truths 
 of God's word. Again, we are taught, that it 
 is incumbent on the minister of Christ to 
 " study to show himself approved unto God, 
 a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, 
 rightly dividing the word of truth ;" 2 and that 
 the things which have respect to the work of 
 the ministry, are to be committed to " faithful 
 men who shall be able to teach others also." * 
 It is true, in none of these passages is the 
 
 1 1 Tim. iii, 2. 2 2 Tim. ii, 15. 3 2 Tim. if, 2. 
 4 
 
50 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 amount of knowledge and cultivation requisite 
 in the minister of the gospel, particularly in- 
 dicated : nor is it necessary for the purpose 
 for which they are here referred to, that it 
 should be. It is sufficient that we know what 
 kind of mental qualification is necessary to 
 the successful prosecution of the minister's 
 work. The extent to which it must be pos- 
 sessed, must be commensurate with his duty 
 and responsibility in the situation which he 
 occupies. He is to study or strive to possess 
 himself of it in such degree, that, in what- 
 ever position he may be placed in the provi- 
 dence of God, he may be " a workman that 
 needeth not to be ashamed." 
 
 There is a passage, however, in the apos- 
 tolic writings, relating to the importance of a 
 scriptural education for a minister of the gos- 
 pel, which indicates with sufficient distinctness 
 
 AMiit to make *^e ex ^ en t to which it may be 
 use of "all " profitable " for him, to say the 
 
 Scripture." j^ t() progecute hig e ff orts to 
 
 attain it. The apostle, writing to one who had 
 " learned " from him the things pertaining to 
 the work of the ministry, says : " All Scrip- 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 51 
 
 ture l is given by inspiration of God, and is 
 profitable for doctrine [or teaching], 2 for re- 
 proof, [including confutation of error by argu- 
 ment], 3 for correction, for instruction [or edu- 
 cation] 4 in righteousness. 55 Such being the 
 ends to which the Scriptures may be made ef- 
 fective, on whom devolves the responsibility of 
 seeing that they are applied to these purposes ? 
 Who is to engage in this work of " teaching " 
 men the gospel, this " confutation " of their 
 errors, this " correction " of their faults ? By 
 whom are they to be " educated in righteous- 
 ness," under the influence of religious truth? 
 This, we are taught, is the appropriate and 
 special work of the Christian minister : and 
 the Scriptures, the apostle tells us, are " pro- 
 fitable " in the respects indicated, to the very 
 end of qualifying him for its successful per- 
 formance; — "that the man of God may be 
 perfect [or complete], thoroughly furnished 
 unto all good works " 5 required at his hands, 
 
 1 2 Tim. iii, 16. 2 Compare Rom. xii, 7. 
 
 3 Comp. Job xxiii, 4 ; xxxii, 12 ; Tit. i, 9 ; John xvi, 8. 
 4 rrcuSuct, Comp. Eph. vi, 4, where the term is rendered 
 nurture. 6 Comp. 1 Tim. vi, 11 ; 1 Sam. ix, 6-14. 
 
DZ MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 or, as an eminent commentator has para- 
 phrased it, " for every good purpose which his 
 ministry is intended to answer." For the 
 purpose of this " thorough furnishing/' no part 
 of the Scripture is to be regarded as useless 
 or unimportant. There is not a book in the 
 sacred volume, a particular knowledge of which 
 w T ould not, in various respects, be profitable to 
 the Christian preacher in the fulfillment of 
 his ministry. There is not a department of 
 writing, worthy of being "given by inspira- 
 tion of God," whether of narrative, of argu- 
 ment, of poetry, of symbol, with which he 
 should not seek to be acquainted. A " com- 
 plete " equipment for his work, involves an 
 ability on his part to make use for the pur- 
 poses of the ministry, of "all Scripture." 
 What, then, in the light of this testimony, is 
 the part of those on whose minds has been 
 impressed the duty of preaching the gospel, 
 while yet they may be unable, perhaps, to 
 give so much as a satisfactory exposition of a 
 single chapter in either portion of the sacred 
 volume ? Shall they, while neglecting the 
 means within their reach for acquiring the 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 53 
 
 requisite knowledge, seek to become at once 
 invested with all the prerogatives of the Chris- 
 tian ministry ? Does not this allusion of the 
 apostle to what is u profitable " in a " thorough 
 furnishing" for the work, clearly point in a 
 different direction ? To what extent a preacher 
 may innocently come short of this thorough 
 preparation, especially when it is within his 
 power to supply the deficiency, and, as the 
 consequence, habitually omit in his ministra- 
 tions much that might be "profitable" to his 
 hearers, is a question which may be left to 
 the decision of those severally to whom it 
 relates. 
 
 But the teaching of the New Testament 
 with regard to the importance of this special 
 preparation, will, if possible, appear in a still 
 stronger light, upon a more par- Natoc of the 
 ticular view of what is taught work to bo per- 
 us respecting the nature of the formed 
 work to be performed. What is the minister 
 of Christ required to do, in order that he 
 may " make full proof of his ministry ?" I 
 refer not now specifically to the general duties 
 pertaining to an " oversight " of the flock 
 
54 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 of God and the interests of Zion ; l although 
 these are of a nature to require that he who 
 fills " the office of a bishop," should be, a not 
 a novice/' 2 but a man of experience and abil- 
 ity. I refer more especially to what pertains 
 to his ability to influence the minds of men 
 by a presentation of the truth. 
 
 As a preacher it is his duty to " preach the 
 
 gOSpel/' to " PREACH THE WORD." 3 
 
 toward/ mg ° ^ * s f° r ^ S P ur P ose that he 
 is " intrusted with the gospel." 4 
 It is incumbent on him to proclaim it, not by 
 piecemeal or in isolated parts merely, but in 
 all its fullness and richness of doctrine, of pre- 
 cept, of promise, of example, — in its various 
 relations to God and his government, — in its 
 applicability to man, with regard to his duty, 
 his wants, his present and eternal interests. 
 It is a "gospel" which has important rela- 
 tions to the Old Testament, as well as to the 
 New, — which was u preached to Abraham," 
 shadowed forth in the Mosaic law, sung in the 
 Psalms of David, and " prophesied of" and 
 
 1 1 Pet. v, 2 ; Heb. xiii, 17. 2 1 Tim. iii, 6. 
 
 3 1 Cor. ix, U ; 2 Tim. iv, 2. 4 1 Thess. ii, 4. 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 55 
 
 symbolized by the succession of prophets, 
 with whom " the testimony of Jesus was the 
 spirit of prophecy." It is a gospel that is 
 identified with all the narratives of our Lord 
 and the writings of his apostles, — which finds 
 the evidence of its truth and divine authority 
 in the record of miracles, in the fulfillment of 
 a series of prophecies extending through many 
 centuries and presented in a great diversity 
 of forms, l as well as in its general harmony 
 with the established facts of history and 
 science. 2 It is a "word" which is insepa- 
 rable from the inspired history of God's deal- 
 ings with men in every age, and every dispen- 
 sation ; — whose sanctions, precepts, motives, 
 illustrations of duty, of privilege, of danger, 
 are to be drawn from every part of the in- 
 spired volume ; a for whatsoever things were 
 written aforetime, were written for our learn- 
 ing, that we through patience, and comfort of 
 the Scriptures, might have hope " under the 
 gospel. 3 Such is the nature and extent of the 
 Christian preacher's message. Will a few 
 
 1 Luke xxiv, 27. 2 Ps. xxxiii, 4. 
 
 3 Rom. xv, 4 ; 1 Cor. xi, 1 — 11. 
 
56 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 irregular and superficial readings of that won- 
 drous volume in which it is contained, suffice 
 to give him an adequate knowledge of it ? 
 Will ability " rightly to divide/' or skillfully 
 to dispense this "word," so extensive and 
 various in its exhibitions of "truth," be 
 likely to be acquired without close and sys- 
 tematic and protracted study? 
 
 But in another view of the office of the 
 
 ministry, it is appointed for " the edifying of 
 
 the body of Christ," " the per- 
 
 The perfecting of FECTINQ QF THE g^g." 1 J^OT 
 
 the saints. 
 
 this purpose he who sustains to 
 the flock of God the relation of pastor, must, 
 in order that he may be a " pastor after the 
 heart of Jehovah," be able to "feed them 
 with knowledge and understanding." 2 He 
 must so dispense the word of truth that it 
 shall meet their various wants, their numerous 
 hindrances to "perfection," their cases of 
 conscience, their peculiarities of mental con- 
 stitution, of temper, of habit, of external cir- 
 cumstances. While he defends them, on the 
 one hand, against the attacks of the " griev- 
 
 1 Eph. iv, 12. 7 Jer. iii, 15. 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 57 
 
 cms wolves" that are liable at any time to 
 " enter in among them, not sparing the 
 flock/' l he must, on the other, strive to bring 
 them "in the unity of the faith and of the 
 knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect 
 man, unto the measure of the stature of the 
 fullness of Christ." He must be prepared to 
 " warn every man, and teach every man in all 
 wisdom" that he may, if possible, " present 
 every man perfect in Christ Jesus." 3 
 
 Again, according to Tit. i, 9, while he is to 
 be " able to exhort " by the use of " sound doc- 
 trine,"— not to harangue the people merely, 
 but in the use of appropriate Confutation of 
 arguments and considerations to !! rror ' ** d n de ~ 
 
 *=> fence of the Gos- 
 
 press home the truth with ener- pel. 
 gy and effect upon their minds and hearts, 4 — 
 he must also, as a necessary qualification to 
 his entering " the office of a bishop," " be able 
 to convince the gainsayers," or more properly 
 to " confute " them in their opposition to the 
 truth. He must be able, within the sphere of 
 his labors, to meet error in the various forms 
 
 1 Acts xx, 29. ' Eph. iv, 11—13. 3 Col. i, 28. 
 4 Comp. Acts iv, 36 ; xi, 23 ; xv, 32 ; xx, 2. 
 
58 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 which it assumes, to show its falsity, to expose 
 the insufficiency or falacy of the arguments by 
 which it is defended, and by a proper exhibi- 
 tion of the opposite truth, seek to apply 
 the appropriate antidote to its baleful influ- 
 ence. In a word, he is, like the apostle to 
 the Gentiles, " set for the defence of the gos- 
 pel." 1 He must be prepared, in connection 
 with a distinct and effective announcement of 
 its truths, to vindicate, as occasion requires, its 
 claims, to defend it against the numerous and 
 insidious attacks made upon it, urged at every 
 point, and presented in every available form. 
 A very important part of the work now re- 
 quired of the ministry, is the exposition and 
 defence of a pure Christianity, — a Christian- 
 ity historical, spiritual, scriptural, — in which 
 the authority of the sacred Scriptures is pro- 
 perly regarded, and the vicarious work of 
 Christ, and the life-giving influence of the 
 Holy Spirit, are allowed to occupy each its 
 proper place in the scheme of human redemp- 
 tion. Our danger at the present day arises 
 not less from enemies who prefer a claim to 
 
 1 Phil, i, 17. 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 59 
 
 the Christian name, than from the advocates 
 of an open infidelity. Attacks coming from 
 the one source, as well as from the other, 
 must be met by the force of truth brought 
 into contact with the public mind through the 
 agency of an earnest and able ministry. How 
 important, then, that he who enters the min- 
 istry, should be, if possible, " thoroughly fur- 
 nished" for his work; that he should be fami- 
 liar with the facts by which in each case these 
 attacks may be repelled ; and that he know 
 how to use them with propriety and effect. 
 How important that he understand the true 
 art of reasoning, 1 of awakening conviction^ of 
 persuasion f that he be able to present truth 
 in its most effective form, " commending him- 
 self," by his clearness of statement, his lucid- 
 ness of proof, his directness of appeal, his 
 earnestness, his whole demeanor and spirit, 
 " to every man's conscience in the sight of 
 God." 4 
 
 Such are the facts on the ground of which 
 we maintain the exceeding desirableness of a 
 
 1 Acts xxiv, 25. 2 Tit. i, 9. 
 3 2 Cor. v, 11. 4 2 Cor. iv, 2. 
 
60 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 theological education for the minister of the 
 gospel. And by a theological education, while 
 we refer more particularly to the branches of 
 knowledge and culture which have specific 
 reference to the work of the ministry, we 
 mean in general whatever is necessary to pre- 
 pare him to exhibit the truth with propriety 
 and effectiveness, and to constitute him, in the 
 position which he is called to fill, an " able 
 minister of the New Testament." He who 
 can honestly maintain that the Christian min- 
 ister, especially at the present day, does not 
 need the kind of education which has been 
 indicated ; or that he is justified in neglecting 
 the means within his reach for acquiring it, 
 must have exceedingly meager and inadequate 
 views of the nature of the work to be per- 
 formed, as well as of the power and insidious- 
 ness of the influences to be resisted. Far 
 better might the lawyer or the physician en- 
 ter the public service without an education in 
 what a theoiog- the branches of his profession. 
 icai education in- The Bible is the great text book 
 of the Christian preacher. How 
 important that he know how to interpret it 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 61 
 
 aright, — that he understand correctly its teach- 
 ings, its language, its facts, its methods of 
 presenting truth, the structure anfl relations 
 of its parts, and the art of bringing out and 
 exhibiting its meaning. The doctrines of 
 theology constitute the system of truth which 
 he is to teach. How important that he have 
 a distinct apprehension of their nature, of the 
 proof, scriptural and general, by which they are 
 established, of their applicability to the case of 
 men, of their relation to each other as parts 
 of a general system, as well as to the facts 
 and principles of natural and mental science. 
 This system of truth, since its first promulga- 
 tion in its fullness by Christ and his apostles, 
 has had a history. It has encountered opposi- 
 tion in the form of errors, corruptions, abuses, 
 civil and ecclesiastical proscriptions ; while it 
 has itself been an ever present leaven in the 
 corrupt mass of humanity, gradually preparing 
 the way for the introduction of the latter day 
 of glory. How desirable that the gospel min- 
 ister should understand this history, at least 
 so far as to enable him to meet to the best 
 advantage similar errors, corruptions and 
 
62 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 abuses, which he is liable to meet at every 
 point in the fulfillment of his ministry, and 
 to derive from it instructive lessons for the 
 warning or encouragement of those over whom 
 he is " set as a watchman." Again, this truth 
 must, by the Christian pastor, be brought into 
 contact with the minds of men at a great vari- 
 ety of points, in connection with the duties of 
 the pastorate. It must, above all, be pro- 
 claimed with clearness and effect from the 
 pulpit. How necessary, therefore, that, while 
 he understand distinctly what is required of 
 him in the general pastoral relation, he be 
 acquainted with the specific work of preach- 
 ing, — that he be able, as a scribe instructed 
 unto the kingdom of heaven, to " bring out 
 of his treasure things new and old ;" that he 
 know how to present truth in respect to an- 
 alysis, arrangement, description, proof, discus- 
 sion, illustration, appeal, in such a manner as 
 to secure the attention of his hearers, and 
 make the most favorable impression on their 
 minds. 1 
 
 Such, in brief, is the kind of preparation 
 
 1 See Notes C and D. 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 63 
 
 which we regard as needed by the minister of 
 the gospel, and which it is the object of a 
 theological education to supply. Is there a 
 department of study embraced in this repre- 
 sentation, that is superfluous to the end pro- 
 posed? Ought anything short of an edu- 
 cation in these several branches of knowledge, 
 to be sought by him who would prove himself 
 u a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, 
 rightly dividing the word of truth ?" 1 The 
 extent to which this education „ , ., 
 
 By whom a theo- 
 
 shall in each case be pursued, logical education 
 must, of course, depend very ^ ldbeso ^- 
 much on the age, the relations, or the circum- 
 stances of him who is called to the work of 
 the ministry. We would guard against any 
 representation which might tend to discourage 
 those whose opportunities for preparation are 
 limited, from availing themselves of the prof- 
 fered means for acquiring the requisite know- 
 ledge, to the extent of their ability. Our 
 systems of theological education should pre- 
 sent facilities for " education in the Holy 
 Scriptures and in other branches of know- 
 See Note E. 
 
64 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 ledge/' to all who are desirous of " qualifying 
 themselves in a more eminent degree for the 
 great work of ministerial labor/ 5 whether they 
 be those " already in the ministry/' or those 
 who " give evidence of a call from God, and 
 are approved for the ministry." l They should 
 aim at the highest practicable improvement 
 of the ministry as such. They ought not by 
 any unnecessary restrictions, either in their 
 plan, or their practical working, to leave the 
 inference to be drawn, that there are many 
 in the ministry to whom their advantages are 
 impossible. Nor, on the other hand, ought 
 these advantages to be to any who may be 
 benefited thereby, a matter of indifference. 
 The great demand of the present day, as it 
 respects the ministry, is for educated men 
 imbued with the spirit of the Master, men 
 fully instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, 
 and consecrated to the work of resisting the 
 powers of evil, and " persuading " men to be 
 "reconciled to God." 2 
 
 And for whom is such a ministry to be 
 sought? In order that we may properly 
 
 1 See Xote F. a 2 Cor. v, 11, 20. 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 65 
 
 appreciate the importance of the enterprise in 
 which we are engaged, we should be careful 
 that we do not misapprehend or overlook the 
 magnitude and importance of the object to be 
 accomplished. It is^ an enter- The missionary 
 prise which, while it conteni- character of the 
 plates a supply for the churches enter ^ nse - 
 at home of able and efficient pastors, is also, 
 in another aspect of it, essentially missionary 
 in its character. Its specific object is to aid 
 in securing an efficient ministry for the world ; 
 to qualify " laborers " to go forth into the 
 great harvest field without distinction of peo- 
 ple or country. Indeed, it should be the 
 aim, that, not a select few merely, but that 
 all who enjoy its advantages of education may 
 be missionaries in the best and truest sense 
 of that term ; that imbued with the spirit of 
 the Master and his apostles, they may, re- 
 gardless of ease or worldly emolument, be 
 prepared to labor for the great purposes of the 
 ministry, in whatever way, and at whatever 
 point, the Lord of the harvest shall in his 
 providence designate. This should be re- 
 garded as an essential part of the preparation 
 5 
 
66 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 which is requisite for the work of the minis- 
 try. 1 Hence in all arrangements for mental 
 culture which are adopted in connection with 
 our systems of ministerial education, regard 
 should be had to the influences which legiti- 
 mately tend to affect the spirit, or mould the 
 religious character of the student. You will 
 allow me, in conclusion, to call attention to 
 two or three suggestions in illustration of this 
 thought. 
 
 One important point in a theological educa- 
 Theoiogicai edu- tion is the cultivation by the 
 
 cation in its rcla- . n . P ... , . T .,-, 
 
 tion to the spirit student of a spirit which will 
 to be cultivated, prepare him the most fully for 
 sympathy and co-operation with his brethren 
 in the ministry. Whatever tends legitimately 
 to promote among students an exclusiveness 
 of spirit or sympathy, or an unhallowed rival- 
 ship of interest, — whatever is adapted to 
 place brethren in an attitude toward each 
 other, which it would be dangerous or unbe- 
 coming for them to assume in their relations 
 as pastors or missionaries, or to interrupt or 
 to check, even in the slightest degree, the warm 
 
 1 See Note G. 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 67 
 
 current of Christian affection and sympathy, 
 is entirely apart from the appropriate means 
 of ministerial culture. Arrangements for men- 
 tal improvement of the tendency here indi- 
 cated, by whatever considerations they may 
 be recommended, have properly no place in 
 a system of education designed for candidates 
 for the ministry. Their relations to each 
 other in all respects, their habits of inter- 
 course, as well as the motives by which they 
 are excited to mental exertion, should be in 
 perfect harmony with the nature of the work 
 to which they have consecrated their lives, 
 and such as will tend directly to foster and 
 strengthen the spirit which it is desirable 
 they should carry with them to its perform- 
 ance. The Seminary should be a school 
 where may be learned the duties devolving on 
 the ministry, not in the pastoral relation and 
 the pulpit merely, but in their relation to each 
 other, where the spirit of the new command- 
 ment of the gospel may be exemplified in all 
 its loveliness and applicability to the relations 
 of Christians. 
 
 Such an education, it cannot be doubted. 
 
68 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 would do much toward increasing the power 
 of the ministry, by the direct and reflex in- 
 fluence of a hearty co-operation in the numer- 
 ous and diversified spheres of labor which they 
 are called to fill I do not overlook the fact 
 that this is a result which pertains rather to 
 the general influences which are incidental to 
 a system of education, than to any express 
 provisional arrangement. And yet much may 
 be done directly toward promoting the result, 
 by those on whom devolves the responsibility 
 of the adoption and regulation of such a sys- 
 tem, by guarding it against the operation of 
 causes which tend to the opposite result, as 
 well as by attaching to the cultivation of this 
 spirit, so closely connected with the highest 
 efficiency of the ministry, an importance 
 corresponding to its nature and influence. 
 These suggestions, I am happy to know, are 
 in entire harmony with the spirit of the 
 resolution relating to the general cultiva- 
 tion of piety, which was adopted at the or- 
 ganization of the Education Society in 1834: 
 " Resolved, That in ministerial education it 
 should be a primary object to promote growth 
 
MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 69 
 
 in grace and knowledge of Christ ; and that 
 to do this effectually, prayer and habitual de- 
 votion are indispensable." May the sentiment 
 of this resolution ever control and character- 
 ize the enterprise which the Society has ori- 
 ginated. May its managers ever regard the 
 result indicated as one to be kept distinctly 
 and prominently in view in all their educa- 
 tional arrangements. 
 
 Again, every system of theological educa- 
 tion should aim at promoting in the student 
 a practical sympathy with the Practical sym- 
 work to which he has devoted *£'j£jZ 
 his life, while he is, at the same istry. 
 time, acquiring an aptitude for its performance. 
 His great object during his course of study is 
 preparation for the future labors of the minis- 
 try. Hence it is suitable that he should be 
 free from the responsibilities and cares inci- 
 dent to the pastoral charge of a church, even 
 if he were in other respects prepared for the 
 task. He should be able, under the guidance 
 of suitable instruction, to devote himself, 
 without interruption or distraction, to the ac- 
 quisition of the knowledge and culture that 
 
70 MINISTERIAL CULTURE. 
 
 he needs. And yet, by frequent and system- 
 atic efforts to communicate the truth of the 
 gospel to the minds of men, he should keep 
 his heart in constant and practical sympathy 
 with the world, — with its wants, its misery, its 
 claims on his benevolence and labors. In a 
 word, he should be continually cultivating a 
 love for his work, not as it presents itself to 
 his view in prospect merely, but as an actual, 
 present exercise. 
 
 Such, it is hoped, will be the result of our 
 efforts to promote the education of the min- 
 istry in connection with this Seminary. Lo- 
 cated, as it is, in the immediate vicinity of 
 the great metropolis of the west, it is hoped 
 its students, in view of the extensive and in- 
 teresting field of labor, which is ever open 
 before them, will become, even during their 
 course of study, worthy examples of a prac- 
 tical missionary zeal. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 iNOTE A. 
 
 ORIGIN OF THE FAIRMOUNT THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 
 THE NORTH-WESTERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. 
 
 At the session of the "North- Western Conven- 
 tion " held Oct. 31st, and Nov. 1st and 2d, 1849, 
 Ministerial Education " constituted the prominent 
 topic of consideration ;" although Committees ap- 
 pointed by the Convention on each of the following 
 subjects, Foreign Missions, Home Missions, Bible 
 cause, Book and Tract circulation, and Periodicals, 
 presented reports, which were accompanied with in- 
 teresting addresses from returned missionaries and 
 others. The Committee on Ministerial Education 
 consisted of E. Thresher, S. Bailey, T. R. Cressy, J. 
 Stevens, Wm. Brand, J. A. B. St$ne, J. Hall, D. 
 Shepardson, S. B. Page, E. G. Robinson, N. N. 
 Wood, E. D. Owen, A. H. Dunlevy. 
 
 This committee after consultation reported the fol- 
 lowing resolutions, which after having been discussed 
 by the brethren composing the Convention, in " Com- 
 mittee of the Whole," were recommended to the 
 
 (71) 
 
72 APPENDIX. 
 
 Convention for adoption. " The question being then 
 put, Shall the resolutions pass ? — the Convention 
 decided the question affirmativelv by a unanimous 
 vote." 
 
 " 1. Resolved, That this Convention cherish a deep 
 conviction of the importance cf theological learning ; 
 of an increase of intellectual and moral power in our 
 ministry ; of an increase of such power as can be 
 hoped for only as the result of education. 
 
 " 2. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Conven- 
 tion there ought to be established, at the earliest 
 practicable moment, an institution in Cincinnati or its 
 immediate vicinity, whose exclusive object shall be 
 the education of approved ministers of the gospel. 
 
 " 3. Resolved, That this Convention earnestly re- 
 quest the Western Baptist Education Society to take 
 immediate and efficient measures to carry the second 
 resolution above expressed into effect. 
 
 " 4. Resolved, That this Convention recommend 
 to the Western Baptist Education Society, that the 
 thirty acres of land offered by the Fairmount Land 
 Company, and already accepted by the Executive 
 Committee of the Education Society for an institution 
 of learning, be improved as the location of the insti- 
 tution recommended in the second resolution re- 
 ported by this committee, and adopted by this Con- 
 vention. 
 
 " 5. Resolved, That we recommend to the Execu- 
 tive Committee of the Education Society to take im- 
 mediate measures to raise, by subscription and dona- 
 
ORIGIN OF THE SEMINARY. 73 
 
 tion, the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars, as a suit- 
 able endowment for carrying the proposed Theo- 
 logical Institution into successful operation. " 
 
 Another resolution adopted by the Convention 
 related to the propriety of an " equitable division of 
 the property held by the Western Baptist Theolo- 
 gical Institute " at Covington.* 
 
 The meeting of the Convention as a whole was 
 one of exceeding interest. The Western Christian 
 Journal referring to a visit of the Convention to 
 Fairmount on the second day of the meeting, says : — 
 " The Convention at 2 o'clock P. M., started in om- 
 nibuses to visit the proposed location for the Semi- 
 nary on Fairmount. The day was remarkably fine ; 
 all were delighted with the ride. When the summit 
 was ascended, and the prospect broke upon the view, 
 all were charmed. In the southeast lay the city 
 sleeping in the valley ; over the river was discovered, 
 through the haze, Covington Seminary ; in front, 
 the hills north of Cincinnati, with Mill Creek in the 
 valley between, the thoroughfare of the Hamilton 
 
 * It ought, perhaps, to be remarked, that this proposition 
 was not acceded to by those who at this time held possession 
 of the property. The Education Society was accordingly 
 shut up to the necessity of prosecuting the plan for endow- 
 ment recommended in the fifth resolution reported by the 
 committee. The Institute at Covington, however, having 
 been subsequently, by order of the Court, restored to the ori- 
 ginal body of Trustees, the proposition to divide the property 
 equally between the North and South, after the payment of 
 the debts, was renewed and accepted. 
 
74 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Railroad and Pike ; in the rear, a rolling plateau. 
 As one looked forward and contemplated the time 
 when this entire region would be peopled with a 
 teeming population, he could not but be grateful for 
 the providence which had directed the Baptists of 
 the Northwest to this favored spot. We have rarely 
 in our lives enjoyed a more delightful trip. It was a 
 day memorable in the history of North-Western Bap- 
 tists." 
 
 From the Journal's report of the remarks made by 
 brethren approving the object, — among whom were 
 Alfred Bennett of N. Y., Nathaniel Colver of Bos- 
 ton, and T. R. Cressy, Wm. Brand, S. Bailey, J. 
 Hall, E. G. Robinson, E. Thresher, J. Stevens, S. 
 B. Page, and other esteemed brethren, from different 
 parts of the Northwest, — we insert a few brief ex- 
 tracts relating chiefly to the location of the proposed 
 Institution. 
 
 "E. Thresher of Dayton — The peculiarity of 
 our position compels us to rise and build, or we shall 
 suffer. There is no more favorable point west of the 
 Alleghanies, than the vicinity of Cincinnati, for an 
 Institution/ ' 
 
 "E. G. Robinson — We recently had twelve young 
 men in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, desirous of a 
 theological training who are now scattered for want 
 of a seminary. Very few young men, who go East 
 for their, education, will return, unless they are very 
 conscientious." 
 
 "Pres. Bailey remarked — Why establish a Theo- 
 
ORIGIN OP THE SEMINARY. 75 
 
 logical Seminary in Cincinnati or vicinity ? 1. Be- 
 cause Cincinnati is the great commercial emporium 
 of the West, — distinguished for the resources and the 
 number of Baptists — the Miami, the richest valley in 
 the world, pours its treasures into its lap. More will 
 be done for an institution of learning by those who 
 live in its immediate vicinity, than by those remote. " 
 " Cincinnati is accessible to Indiana and Illinois as 
 well as to Ohio — now only twenty hours distant from 
 Franklin College, — soon destined to be only four." 
 
 " T. R. Cressy of Indiana, was astonished at the 
 unanimity that prevailed on this subject, even in 
 Southern Illinois. Indiana is not so far off from 
 Cincinnati as Ohio — there is not five miles difference 
 between the distance from Indianapolis, the capital 
 of Indiana, and that of Columbus. " 
 
 The editor of the Journal, in concluding his report 
 of the meeting, says : " Thus closes a hurried report 
 of one of the most memorable meetings that have ever 
 transpired in the West. The sentiment and action 
 were united, harmonious. A deep spirit of supreme 
 dependence on God, seemed to pervade every meet- 
 ing, and every heart. There was much prayer. Oc- 
 tober 31st, and November 1st and 2d, will be memo- 
 rable days in the history of the Baptist denomination 
 in the Northwest. Especially will that hour be re- 
 membered, when the Convention stood upon the apex 
 of Fairmount. He that has a hand or heart in the 
 prosecution of this enterprise, may at this time, and 
 shall ever hereafter, feel grateful to God for the priv- 
 
76 APPENDIX, 
 
 ilege. There are epochs in every man's life — in the 
 history of every denomination. We can never have 
 a proper conception of the results that will flow from 
 our most trivial actions. But we cannot be deceived 
 with regard to the results that spring from great en- 
 terprises. Let one stand on the summit of Fair- 
 mount — let him realize that there is beneath him a 
 population of 125,000 [now 180,000]— let him recol- 
 lect the empires of which Cincinnati will be for ages 
 the great commercial emporium — let him consider 
 the relative position of the Cincinnati section to 
 Ohio, — the West — the East, * * then he can 
 have some adequate conception of the magnitude of 
 the enterprise in laying the foundations of a great 
 central Theological Seminary for the region of the 
 Northwest. It is done/' 
 
 It may not, perhaps, be amiss to remark, in this 
 connection, that, while the Constitution of the West- 
 ern Baptist Education Society as originally adopted 
 in 1834, proposed, that "a foundation should early 
 be laid for a theological institution of high character 
 adapted to the wants of the denomination, and in its 
 provisions, fitted to keep pace with its progress," and 
 while it empowered the Society "to take measures 
 for establishing the Theological Institution contem- 
 plated by a resolution of the Convention of Western 
 Baptists of Cincinnati, November 10th, 1834, and in 
 case of the success of such measures, — to determine 
 the location, character and general principles of the 
 
PROGRESS OF THE SEMINARY- 77 
 
 institution, and also to appoint its first Trustees and 
 Instructor or Instructors, and fix the tenure of their 
 offices," it, nevertheless, contemplated that the So- 
 ciety, as " an association for the promotion of minis- 
 terial education," should exist *' in addition" to this 
 and all other institutions of learning, and be " distinct 
 and separate fr om them all in its action. 1 ' 
 
 NOTE B. 
 
 THE PROGRESS OF THE SEMINARY, AS A GROUND OF 
 ENCOURAGEMENT WITH REGARD TO THE FUTURE. 
 
 The progress of the Institution during the time it 
 has been in operation, has been, especially in view 
 of the causes of hindrance which have existed, of the 
 most gratifying nature, and such as to afford abun- 
 dant encouragement and promise with regard to the 
 future. Respectable classes have been organized 
 with each successive year, and without any interrup- 
 tion have been brought regularly through their course 
 of study to an honorable graduation. The number 
 of graduates, and of those preparing for graduation, 
 is believed to be quite as great as could have been 
 expected in the case of any institution commencing 
 operations with general arrangements and prospects 
 ( similar to those which attended the opening of this 
 school ; and this, notwithstanding there has been, 
 during the entire period in which it has been in ope- 
 ration, a variety of independent, and to a great ex- 
 
78 APPENDIX. 
 
 tent, unforeseen causes, which have operated strongly 
 against an increase to the number of its students. 
 
 1. The embarrassments attending the pecuniary- 
 matters of the Trustees have prevented them from 
 carrying into effect the arrangement with which the 
 school was opened, for the appointment of additional 
 instructors after the first year. As the consequence, 
 the whole work of instruction for the theological 
 classes has come on a single individual. This fact 
 alone, under ordinary circumstances, would have oc- 
 casioned an interruption in the course of study, and 
 have wholly broken up the classes before their grad- 
 uation. And nothing but an amount of application 
 and labor in the work of instruction, altogether dis- 
 proportionate to the provision made for its perform- 
 ance, could have prevented such a result. 
 
 2. The Seminary has lacked the system of agency 
 by which the interests of other similar Institutions 
 have in the meantime been promoted, designed es- 
 pecially to gather in students, by seeking out those 
 in circumstances to enable them to pursue a theologi- 
 cal course of study, and, by means of correspondence 
 or personal interviews, directing their attention to 
 the Seminary, and preparing the way for their enter- 
 ing it. The agency which, during a portion of the 
 time, has been employed by the Education Society, 
 has been devoted for the most part to the collection 
 of funds, and the promotion of the general purposes 
 of that organization. An agency in behalf of the 
 Seminary, not only more constant and permanent, 
 
PROGRESS OF THE SEMINARY. 79 
 
 but of the specific character indicated above, such as 
 is enjoyed by other similar Institutions, would, it can- 
 not be doubted, have contributed in a very impor- 
 tant degree to its prosperity. It has suffered, for the 
 lack of it. 
 
 3. Added to this is the fact, that, during the nego- 
 tiations incident to a division of the property of the 
 Covington Institute, the creation of a new Board, the 
 transfer of the property together with the Seminary 
 to that body, and the provisions necessary to be made 
 for meeting the terms of the compact, by which the 
 heavy indebtedness of the Institute was first of all to 
 be provided, for, and all this at a time of severe 
 pressure in the monetary affairs of the public, — the 
 time of the Trustees, during most of the period, has 
 been almost entirely occupied at their meetings, with 
 matters pertaining to the funds committed to their 
 charge. Attention has proportionably been with- 
 drawn from arrangements designed to promote the 
 immediate and present prosperity of the school, by 
 seeking an increase to the number of its students. 
 
 4. During the entire period that the Seminary has 
 been in operation, the Baptist Colleges in the North- 
 west, nearest its seat, and on which it was contem- 
 plated in its origin it would chiefly depend for stu- 
 dents, have been in a gradual process of recovery 
 from a previous state of depression ; so that during 
 a portion of the time they have sent out no graduates 
 of any description ; while the majority of the very 
 few who have more recently been graduated, have not 
 
80 APPENDIX. 
 
 had the ministry in view. During the three years that 
 the Covington Institute was in operation, previous to 
 the resignation of Dr. Pattison and Prof. Robinson, two- 
 thirds of the whole number of graduates connected with 
 the several classes, were from Granville College. Dur- 
 ing the three years and a half since the opening of 
 this Seminary, the College, in consequence of the 
 suspension of its operations in 1852, has not gradu- 
 ated a single student who has had the work of the 
 ministry in view ; and, of course, it has supplied 
 none to the Seminary. This difference in the circum- 
 stances pertaining to the two Institutions, will readily 
 be appreciated. Let the number of students from 
 Granville College who were connected with the 
 Covington Institute from 1845 to 1848, be taken 
 from the whole number who were in attendance from 
 the North- Western States, and the number would be 
 reduced to one half. The Seminary, so far as it natur- 
 ally relies on the Colleges for a supply of students, 
 cannot, of course, unless they are supplied from this 
 source, be held responsible for their theological edu- 
 cation. It may be hoped, however, that with the 
 increasing numbers in the graduating classes of these 
 Institutions, this difficulty will in a measure be re- 
 lieved, i. e., provided the Seminary can enjoy the 
 co-operation from this source, which was anticipated 
 for it when the plan for its organization was agreed 
 upon at the North-Western Convention in 1849. 
 
 5. During the season of depression, referred to 
 above, to which our western colleges were subjected, — 
 
PROGRESS OF THE SEMINARY. 81 
 
 one of which, upon the resignation of its officers, and 
 the decision to prosecute measures to secure an en- 
 dowment, entirely suspended, for a season, its opera- 
 tions, — a very considerable number of young men 
 preparing for the ministry connected with the several 
 classes, as well as others who would otherwise have 
 naturally entered, resorted to Eastern institutions to 
 prosecute their studies ; and upon completing their 
 collegiate course, they have very naturally, and 
 almost of necessity, through the force of associations 
 formed, and the influence of respected teachers, re- 
 mained to pursue their theological education at the 
 same place, in connection with their former associates. 
 Nothing less than this could have been expected. 
 And the example and influence of the brethren thus 
 related, can hardly fail to be felt powerfully in turn- 
 ing the attention of their acquaintance in the same 
 direction, and will doubtless continue to affect, in 
 various ways, our educational operations and interests 
 in the West, for years to come. 
 
 6. It is stated that the number of young men be- 
 longing to our Western churches, who are known to 
 have their attention directed to the ministry, is at 
 present very considerably less than at some former 
 periods. In 1842, the year in which the writer en- 
 tered upon his labors as pastor of the church at 
 Granville, Ohio, there were connected with the Col- 
 lege located at that point, " more than forty young 
 men who were understood to have the work of the 
 ministry distinctly in view." The diminution has, 
 6 
 
bZ APPENDIX. 
 
 to a great extent, been in proportion to a decrease in 
 the means employed to promote in the churches a 
 direct and ]irese7it interest in the work of supplying 
 for the world an efficient ministry. Especially have 
 the closing of the theological school, as originally 
 organized, at Covington, and not long after, the sus- 
 pension of operations at Granville, contributed to 
 this result. The attention of the friends of ministe- 
 rial education has thereby been turned more especially 
 to the matter of making "pecuniary provision for the 
 future, rather than to the work of keeping up and 
 fostering in the churches that spirit without which a 
 large increase to the number of the ministry cannot 
 be expected.* If a suitable agency could at this 
 time be put into the field, to visit the churches, and 
 urge upon their attention the claims of the object, to 
 endeavor to awaken among them a more general 
 spirit of prayer for an increase of " laborers/' seek 
 out those on whose minds has been impressed a con- 
 viction of duty with regard to preaching the gospel, 
 
 * Perhaps the small number of students who were in attend- 
 ance at the Western Baptist Theological Institute, from the 
 South- Western States, during the eight years in which it was 
 under their exclusive control, should be received as additional 
 proof of a diminution of interest in the cause of ministerial edu- 
 cation, among the churches of the West. The average number 
 who were in the regular course of theological study, and that 
 during aperiod when the colleges of the Southwest were in 
 successful operation, is believed not to have been one fourth 
 the number of those who have enjoyed similar advantages in 
 connection with this Seminary. 
 
PROGRESS OF THE SEMINARY. bJ 
 
 and put them, if advisable, in the way of securing 
 the requisite preparation, — an agency qualified to 
 present the subject in all its magnitude and import- 
 ance, in view of the relations of an efficient ministry 
 to the highest interests of Zion, — it cannot be doubted 
 it would be followed by the happiest results. In the 
 opinion of the writer there are few things pertaining 
 to the means adapted to promote the end desired, 
 which are at the present time more imperatively de- 
 manded. 
 
 Other influences might be mentioned, which have 
 operated in the same direction. But these which 
 have been enumerated, each one of which is strongly 
 marked, and of a nature to be easily appreciated, 
 will suffice abundantly to justify the remark, with 
 which this article was commenced, that the progress 
 of the Seminary thus far has been of the most grati- 
 fying nature, and such as to afford abundant encour- 
 agement and promise with regard to the future. 
 These causes of hindrance have been felt most 
 keenly in their influence, by those on whom has de- 
 volved the responsibility of sustaining the school; 
 and nothing but confidence in God could have in- 
 spired the courage sufficient to induce the labor which 
 has been requisite to attain the result which has been 
 reached. Against their combined influence the Semi- 
 nary has not only been kept in operation and sustained 
 in all its departments, without interruption in its 
 course of theological study, or in the organization of 
 its classes, but it has from the time it was opened, 
 
84 APPENDIX. 
 
 been gradually increasing in the number of those 
 permanently connected with its theological classes, 
 and in the interest felt by its students in the studies 
 pursued. The average number who have graduated 
 from the regular course of study, since its first class 
 completed its course, has been equal to the average 
 number in one of the oldest Theological Seminaries 
 in the country, during a recent period of five years; 
 while the number who during three years have en- 
 tered on such a course is greater than the number who 
 entered a similar course in the same Institution, dur- 
 ing a period of equal extent. Indeed, the whole 
 number either holding a connection with the theologi- 
 cal classes of the Seminary, or who have during the 
 year enjoyed the benefit of theological instruction, is 
 not less than the number who were connected with 
 the theological classes at Covington in 1847-48. 
 
 These facts are mentioned simply as a ground of 
 encouragement and hope with regard to the future. 
 With the additional appointments to the faculty of 
 instruction, which it is expected will soon be made, 
 it is hoped the friends of ministerial education in the 
 Northwest will, in view of the success which has at- 
 tended the Seminary thus far, find fresh occasion to 
 rally around it, and unite their efforts in its support ; 
 especially in consideration of the various influences 
 which are to be striven against in accomplishing the 
 purpose originally had in view. This purpose ought 
 to be no less dear to the friends of Zion now, than 
 in 1833 and '49. We cannot safely overlook or dis- 
 
COURSE OF INSTRUCTION. 85 
 
 regard the causes affecting our educational interests 
 which have been enumerated. It is important that in 
 their operation and influence they be well understood 
 and appreciated. And it is for this purpose mainly 
 that attention has been called to them in this article. 
 Our efforts must hereafter be conducted in view of 
 them. They must, by the use of appropriate means, 
 be met, and resisted, and, as far as possible, over- 
 come. And to this end, it is exceedingly desirable 
 that there should be union of earnest and persever- 
 ing effort among the friends of the cause, within the 
 field of our operation. 
 
 NOTE a 
 
 REGULAR COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IN THE SEMINARY 
 
 It was the original design of the Education Society, 
 as is expressed in the Reports of the Board for 1852 
 and '53, that the regular Course of Instruction should 
 embrace " all the branches of theological learning 
 usually taught in Theological Seminaries, including 
 Biblical Literature and Interpretation, Biblical and 
 Pastoral Theology, Homiletics, or the composition 
 and delivery of Sermons, and Ecclesiastical His- 
 tory" — "designed for graduates of colleges and 
 others whose attainments may enable them to prose- 
 cute such a course successfully. " It has been in ac- 
 cordance with this design that the school has been 
 organized. It is true the pecuniary embarrassments 
 of the Board have prevented them from appointing 
 
86 APPENDIX. 
 
 as yet the number of theological instructors originally 
 contemplated, a lack which it is expected they will 
 at an early period take measures to supply. In the 
 meantime, there has been no disposition to circumscribe 
 or to change the contemplated course of study. We 
 here insert, with a few slight alterations, an extract 
 from the last Catalogue of the Seminary, relating to 
 the course of study which has thus far been pursued 
 by the several classes, and which may serve as a 
 proof that the original design of the Board has been 
 kept steadily in view, as well as to indicate to what 
 extent it has been carried out in the case of those 
 who have graduated. The catalogue of studies, it 
 will be perceived, is not one indicative merely of the 
 general branches within the range of which instruc- 
 tion is supposed to be restricted, and from which an 
 instructor may make a selection for a given class. It 
 is an exhibition of what has actually been accom- 
 plished by the student. The range of studies indi- 
 cated, it is believed, is as extensive, and the number 
 of exercises as great, unless a slight exception should 
 be made in the department of Ecclesiastical History,* 
 as is usual in the case of any single class in our The- 
 
 *In the course in Ecclesiastical History, as indicated on 
 pages 75, 76 and 79, it has been the aim to make the 
 student familiar with the guiding facts in the history of 
 Christianity, and to illustrate fully the manner of success- 
 fully prosecuting investigation with regard to the several 
 subjects belonging to this department of study. 
 
COURSE OF INSTRUCTION. 87 
 
 oiogical Seminaries, during a course of two years. 
 As many hours, it is believed, have been spent by 
 each class in the exercises of the lecture room. And 
 it is due the excellent brethren who have pursued the 
 course, to say, that they have evinced an interest in 
 their studies and investigations, which has been in 
 the highest degree gratifying. The result, of course, 
 has been attained only by an amount of labor and 
 application in the work of instruction, which would 
 not, under other circumstances, have been under- 
 taken : and in a few instances there has been a slight 
 change in the order of taking up the several studies ; 
 so that both classes have been enabled to attend the 
 same exercise. The chief reason for introducing the 
 extract in this place is suggested by its introductory 
 paragraph. 
 
 COURSE OF INSTRUCTION. 
 
 " Particulars with regard to the Course of Instruc- 
 tion as at present pursued, together with some other 
 items of information not noticed above, may be 
 learned from the Report of the Faculty for the year 
 ending: June 20th, 1855, the substance of which, in 
 accordance with a suggestion of the Executive Com- 
 mittee, and as a means of meeting inquiries which 
 are frequently made, which could not so easily be 
 met in any other way, is here inserted. 
 
 'The Junior and Senior classes organized at the re- 
 opening of the Seminary on the 14th of September, 
 have pursued, under Professor Turney, the stu- 
 
88 APPENDIX. 
 
 dies of the course, without interruption during the 
 year. 
 
 The studies of the Junior class have been as follows: 
 
 STUDIES OF THE JUNIOR CLASS. 
 
 IN HEBREW, 
 
 A daily exercise during five months, and a week- 
 ly exercise during the remainder of the year, have 
 been devoted to an examination of the elements and 
 principles of the language — Gesenius' Hebrew Gram- 
 mar being chiefly used as a text-book — and to the 
 critical reading of several chapters in the Hebrew 
 Bible. [The daily exercise is at present extended 
 through the year.] 
 
 IN BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION, 
 
 Two daily exercises have been had during the 
 year, embracing a course of lectures and recitations 
 on the following subjects : 
 
 The principles of interpretation, in their appli- 
 cation to the various kinds of composition adopted 
 by the sacred writers, with criticisms on the notes of 
 Ernesti, Carson and others — together with an exam- 
 ination of the general character of the sacred writings. 
 
 In the New Testament, an examination of the 
 character of the Greek of the New Testament. 
 
 An extended Exegetical Examination of the Epis- 
 tle to the Romans. 
 
 General Exposition of the Epistle of James, and 
 of the Epistle to the Galatians. 
 
 I 
 
COURSE OF INSTRUCTION. 89 
 
 Introduction to each of the Epistles of Paul with 
 respect to occasion and circumstances of composition, 
 contents, style of argument, etc.; together with the 
 Chronology and History of the Acts of the Apostles. 
 
 Introduction to each of the Gospels with respect 
 to design, style, manner of narrating facts, etc. 
 
 Examination of the Gospels in harmony, with an 
 exposition of important passages selected from each. 
 
 In the Old Testament, — in addition to the exer- 
 cises in the critical reading of the Hebrew noticed 
 above — the History of the Hebrew language in the 
 different stages of its development. 
 
 Exposition of important passages selected from 
 Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Zechariah, and Malachi, 
 of several of the Messianic Psalms, and of the first 
 chapter of Genesis. 
 
 Particular Introduction to each of the Prophetical 
 books, — together with the Chronology and History 
 of the Israelitish nation, and Biblical Antiquities. 
 
 IN ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, 
 
 Lectures have been delivered, and recitations had 
 on the state of the Church, external and internal, 
 during the first four centuries. In the instruction in 
 this department the method adopted in the text- 
 books, by which the events or facts pertaining to 
 each century, or particular period, are considered by 
 themselves, has not been adhered to. After an ex- 
 amination of the external history of the Church in 
 its relations to the Roman government, and of the 
 
90 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 authorities to be relied on for testimony, the facts 
 relating to each usage or opinion have, in connection 
 with passing allusions to their cotemporaneous rela- 
 tions, been traced on separately and uninterruptedly 
 from the apostolic age to the close of the fourth cen- 
 tury. 
 
 STUDIES OF THE SENIOR CLASS. 
 
 IN THEOLOGY, 
 
 Daily lectures have been delivered on the follow- 
 ing subjects: 
 
 The Importance of Theology, and divisions of the 
 subject — Sources of Theological knowledge — Nature 
 and sources of evidence — Characteristic properties 
 of mind and matter. 
 
 Proofs of the existence of God, metaphysical and 
 general — Evidences of Divine Revelation, including 
 an examination into the Genuineness of the sacred 
 writings — their Credibility — Credibility of the Chris- 
 tian miracles — Evidence from prophecy, and the In- 
 spiration of the Scriptures. 
 
 Attributes of God — His Eternity, Spirituality, 
 Power, Omniscience, Wisdom, Goodness, Holiness, 
 Truth, Immutability. 
 
 Creation and primitive state of Man, and his rela- 
 tion to his posterity — The Fall and its consequences — 
 Present condition of Man — His relation to the govern- 
 ment of God — The doctrine of Human Depravity — 
 Nature and desert of sin — Necessity of a remedial 
 scheme, and the purpose of God respecting it. 
 
COURSE OF INSTRUCTION. 91 
 
 The Agency involved in the work of redemption — 
 Doctrine of Christ's Humanity — His Divinity — Union 
 of the two natures in one person — Personality and 
 Divinity of the Holy Spirit — General doctrine of the 
 Trinity. 
 
 The Work of Christ — His vicarious sacrifice, with 
 the general doctrine of the Atonement, its nature, 
 its design, its extent — The Obedience of Christ — 
 His Resurrection, Exaltation, Intercession, and the 
 relation of each to the work of redemption. 
 
 The Work of Redemption in its relation to the 
 experience of the believer — The doctrine of Regen- 
 eration, of Faith, of Repentance, and their relation 
 to each other — The believer's union with Christ — 
 His justification — Adoption — Growth and perfection 
 in holiness — Perseverance in a state of grace — Re- 
 ception to heaven at death — Resurrection of the 
 body — Final state. 
 
 Judgment and Destiny of the wicked, and the 
 general doctrine of Future Punishment. 
 
 The kingdom of Christ — Its relation to the Patri- 
 archal and Mosaic dispensations — Its ultimate exten- 
 sion throughout the earth — Its termination on the 
 earth, or the second coming of Christ — His Kingdom 
 in its internal nature and membership — Its external 
 organization, or the Christian Church — Its member- 
 ship — Its general polity and government — The office 
 of the ministry — The Ordinances of the Gospel — ■ 
 Baptism, its design, subjects, form — The Lord's Sup- 
 
92 APPENDIX. 
 
 per, its design, and prerequisites — The Christian 
 Sabbath. 
 
 Each of these subjects has been discussed by 
 means of written lectures, accompanied with oral 
 remarks and illustrations, and daily reviews and re- 
 citations on the part of the class. In one part of the 
 course recitations were also had in Paley's Natural 
 Theology, parts of Butler's Analogy, and Wilson's 
 Evidences of Christianity. 
 
 IN BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION, 
 
 The class have examined the argumentative portion 
 of the Epistle to the Galatians, parts of the Gospels 
 in harmony, and several of the Messianic prophecies. 
 
 IN HOMILETICS AND PASTORAL DUTIES, 
 
 A course of daily exercises has been had, con- 
 ducted partly by means of oral and written lectures, 
 and partly by recitations in Porter's Lectures on 
 Homiletics and Pulpit Eloquence, and Vinet's Pas- 
 toral Theology. [In these exercises as at present 
 conducted, extending as they do through the year, 
 frequent use is also made of Eipley's Sacred Rhet- 
 oric, Baxter's Evangelical Pastor, and other standard 
 authors.] 
 
 A Weekly Exercise in which the members of both 
 classes have participated, has also been had during 
 the greater part of the year, in the reading and crit- 
 icism of Sermons and plans of sermons, and in Elo- 
 cution with special reference to the exercises of the 
 pulpit.' 
 
SYSTEM OF EDUCATION. 93 
 
 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 
 
 In addition to the foregoing list of studies for the 
 Senior class, the course, as at present pursued, em- 
 braces an examination of the history of Christianity 
 from the fourth to the seventeenth century.' ' 
 
 NOTE D. 
 
 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION 
 ADOPTED. 
 
 We insert at this point the substance of an article 
 published in the New York Examiner of December 
 27th, 1855, the occasion of which is sufficiently ap- 
 parent from the article. The statements contained in 
 it with regard to facilities afforded for the instruction 
 of "men of different degrees of preparation/' will, 
 perhaps, be serviceable chiefly to those who, — from 
 representations similar to that referred to in the arti- 
 cle, — may have received the impression that the com- 
 paratively small number of students in a Theological 
 Seminary who may at any time be pursuing a partial 
 course, must necessarily be owing to some defect in 
 the arrangements for instruction which are adopted. 
 It will doubtless always be true that the great majority 
 of those who enter upon a theological course of study 
 in connection with our Seminaries, will be either 
 graduates of Colleges, or those whose attainments 
 will enable them to pursue their studies successfully 
 along with graduates. Such has been the case in the 
 
94 APPENDIX. 
 
 history of this Institution ; nor do we apprehend that 
 there will be in this respect any essential change in 
 future. With the exception of three or four tempo- 
 rary students, more than four-fifths of the whole 
 number who either have held or now hold a connec- 
 tion with the theological classes have entered upon the 
 regular course, a very fair proportion of whom have 
 been graduates of Colleges. Of the seven belonging 
 to the two classes which have already graduated, all 
 were students in the regular course, who had prose- 
 cuted their preparatory studies at different institutions 
 as indicated in the Catalogue. And yet every facility 
 has been extended to students of a different class for 
 enjoying the advantages of theological instruction 
 which the Seminary affords ; nor has there been any 
 lack of attention to their " wants," in cases where 
 they have chosen to avail themselves of these advan- 
 tages. It is true those who have been in circum- 
 stances to enable them to acquire the preparation 
 necessary to qualify them to pursue the regular course 
 of study, have been encouraged to do so. And such, 
 we apprehend, will ever be found to be the spirit pre- 
 vailing in any well organized and efficient Theologi- 
 cal Institution. Would it contribute to the greatest 
 efficiency of the ministry, were it otherwise ? 
 
 Nor, again, is anything in the subjoined article in- 
 tended to indicate the relative importance attached in 
 the system of education adopted, to any particular 
 branch of study. The writer does not hesitate to 
 express his opinion that the course which will, at least 
 
SYSTEM OF EDUCATION. 95 
 
 in most cases, be found most serviceable to the theo- 
 logical student, is one in which prominence is given 
 to those branches of study which have special refer- 
 ence to the language and interpretation of the Holy 
 Scriptures, and the doctrines of Theology ; at least 
 so far as it respects the proportion of time to be spent 
 in their examination. And yet these ought not to be 
 pursued to the omission or neglect of the other de- 
 partments of study usually embraced in a theological 
 course. It is especially important that the student 
 learn how to use for the purposes of the ministry, and 
 to the best advantage, the knowledge which he ac- 
 quires in all the departments of study. The views 
 of different individuals with regard to the degree of 
 attention which should be given to exercises belong- 
 ing to the general department of Homiletics, will de- 
 pend greatly on the importance attached to effective- 
 ness in the manner of presenting truth to the minds 
 of men. That its claims to attention are such as to 
 warrant its being made a distinct department of study, 
 demanding a special course of lectures and exercises, 
 is, we think, perfectly obvious. But in addition to 
 this, much may be gained by the student, by its be- 
 ing kept continually in view throughout his entire 
 course. Many of the topics coming under considera- 
 tion will be examined with additional interest, as well 
 as thoroughness and accuracy, if he is taught to ex- 
 amine them, that is, as far as may be deemed practica- 
 ble, with reference to the use which may be made of 
 them in the active duties of the ministry ; so that tho 
 
96 APPENDIX, 
 
 attention given to this department of study, instead 
 of being a hindrance, may actually be an assistance 
 to him in his investigations in other branches of 
 knowledge. 
 
 It is not suggested that the arrangement adopted in 
 connection with this Seminary for the promotion of 
 this object, is intrinsically the best. It is one, how- 
 ever, which the writer has found eminently success- 
 ful ; nor does he perceive how in its essential features 
 it could be improved. The ability on the part of the 
 student to use his knowledge readily and effectively, 
 without being driven, on the one hand, to the neces- 
 sity of delivering his sermons memoriter, or being 
 compelled, on the other, to rely too exclusively on his 
 manuscript, will, we presume, be readily admitted to 
 be an advantage to him in fulfilling the duties of the 
 ministry. Although it will be acquired in unequal 
 degrees by different individuals, it may, we believe, 
 by suitable training, be acquired to a greater or less 
 extent by all. 
 
 "Theological Education. 
 
 ' Our Theological Seminaries, 9 
 
 The writer of " Notes on the Principles and Prac- 
 tice of the Baptist Churches," in his number for No- 
 vember 29th, has this remark : " I may, perhaps, be 
 permitted to say a word respecting our Theological 
 Seminaries. They are all fashioned after the same 
 model, the Seminary at Andover." And then, as 
 
SYSTEM OF EDUCATION. V i 
 
 indicating in what particulars he considers this mo- 
 del defective, he asks, " Could they not so arrange 
 their instruction as to render it serviceable to men of 
 different degrees of preparation ?" — " With due at- 
 tention to learning, could they not also labor to make 
 preachers ?" etc. The assumption is, if I understand 
 the writer, that they are organized with too exclusive 
 reference to a single class of students ; and that suffi- 
 cient regard is not had, in the mode of instruction 
 adopted, to those studies and exercises which have 
 direct reference to the work of preaching. This is a 
 charge brought indiscriminately against "all our 
 Theological Seminaries/' It is no part of my object 
 to examine to what extent it may or may not be true 
 in its general statement. I propose simply to point 
 out its incorrectness in its application to the Seminary 
 established at this point. For this purpose I may be 
 allowed to refer to some of the characteristic fea- 
 tures of the system of education which is now in 
 operation. As the Institution, moreover, has but 
 just entered on its third year, and as no particular 
 statement has as yet been given to the public respect- 
 ing its plan of operation in some of its features, some- 
 thing of the kind may possibly be demanded as a 
 means of information to those who have manifested 
 an interest in its origin, and to whom it must look for 
 patronage and support. 
 
 I. With regard to provision for the " instruction " 
 of "men of different degrees of preparation," it may 
 be proper to remark, first of all, that the object has 
 
98 APPENDIX. 
 
 not been sought by setting aside the general course 
 of instruction usually pursued in " Theological Semi- 
 naries," nor by introducing any new standard of 
 qualifications in those who prosecute it. Indeed it is 
 hoped that the time is far distant when our Theologi- 
 cal Seminaries will be characterized by less attention 
 to " learning, " than at present ; or when the general 
 range of studies pursued will be less extensive, or 
 the method of prosecuting them less thorough. 
 
 Those who avail themselves fully of the advantages 
 for education afforded by the Seminary are expected 
 to pursue a course of study designed for graduates of 
 colleges, and others whose attainments enable them 
 to prosecute such a course successfully, extending 
 through a period of two years, and embracing the 
 various studies which properly pertain to the Litera- 
 ture and Interpretation of the original Scriptures of 
 the Old and New Testaments, Ecclesiastical History, 
 Christian Theology, Homiletics, and Pastoral Duties. 
 This is the regular course of study. 
 
 Students, however, whose attainments do not ad- 
 mit of their pursuing this course, and whose circum- 
 stances seem to render it impossible or inexpedient 
 for them to make the requisite preparation, are allow- 
 ed, after a suitable preliminary training in English 
 branches, to enter upon an English course of two years 
 in theological studies ; — while others still, who may 
 not find it convenient to spend so long a time at the 
 Seminary, are permitted to pursue such a course as 
 may be deemed most serviceable to them for the time 
 
SYSTEM OF EDUCATION. 99 
 
 •which can be spent in study. Students in all such 
 cases are allowed to attend the exercises of the 
 classes in the regular course, so far as the same can 
 be made profitable to them ; while in cases not thus 
 provided for, special exercises are had, adapted to 
 their respective wants. 
 
 By such an arrangement, it is believed adequate 
 provision is made for the effective instruction in those 
 branches of study which have immediate relation to 
 the work of the ministry, of all whom God has 
 called to this work who are disposed to avail them- 
 selves of it ; and in such a manner that there is not 
 the slightest interference with any of the exercises 
 pertaining to the regular course of study. 
 
 II. The system of education in operation has been 
 adopted not without special regard to those studies 
 and exercises which have direct reference to the 
 work of preaching. It is not, indeed, proposed to do 
 exactly what is expressed in the passage quoted at 
 the commencement of this article, viz: to "make 
 preachers. 9 * The student must evince his call to the 
 ministry by exhibiting those natural capacities for 
 public speaking, which are sometimes, although im- 
 properly, denominated an "aptness to teach," or all 
 efforts to make him an effective speaker may be ex- 
 pected to result in failure. And even in cases where 
 the effort is successful, the degree of success will, in 
 each case, be determined, to a very great extent, by 
 the natural endowments, the application, or the 
 
100 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 general habits of the student. What is proposed is, 
 to famish a system of education which shall be 
 adapted the most effectually to aid the student in 
 acquiring the ability to present readily and effectively 
 before an audience the truths of the gospel. The 
 method which has been adopted for this purpose is, 
 in some of its prominent features, the following : 
 
 1. During the greater part of the Senior year one 
 daily exercise is devoted to those studies which have 
 direct reference to the preparation and delivery of 
 sermons, and the various exercises of the pulpit. 
 
 2. In addition to this, it is provided, that "one 
 weekly exercise, at least, shall, during the entire 
 course, be devoted to instruction in the direct work 
 of preaching.' ' 
 
 3. It is made the duty of the professor in each de- 
 partment of study — as in Theology, the History of 
 Christianity, and the Interpretation of the Scrip- 
 tures — to "explain and illustrate the manner in which 
 the branches pursued may be made serviceable to 
 the work of the ministry, and to this end to have 
 frequent exercises with those under his instruction, 
 in the preparation of sermons on topics related to the 
 subjects coming under examination. " 
 
 4. Another feature of the system, — and one that 
 has been found in its practical operation to be 
 attended with the happiest results, — is that the 
 student who has the approval of his church, shall 
 be, not permitted merely, but " encouraged/' under 
 the general direction of the Faculty, to engage, as 
 
SYSTEM OF EDUCATION. 101 
 
 often as practicable, in the work of preaching. He 
 is thus, during his entire course of theological study, 
 learning to preach, not in theory merely, but in prac- 
 tice; and that too under circumstances the most 
 favorable for his improvement. 
 
 In the exercises of the lecture room, special at- 
 tention is given to the different subjects suitable to 
 be treated of in the pulpit, the proper manner of pre- 
 senting, arranging, discussing, and illustrating them, 
 the different methods of treating particular passages 
 selected as texts, the style or mode of expression 
 suitable to be used for different purposes, — in connec- 
 tion with frequent elocutionary and rhetorioal exer- 
 cises having reference to the delivery of sermons, the 
 public reading of the Scriptures and of hymns, etc. 
 
 Each student, moreover, during the continuance 
 of these exercises, is required as often as once a 
 month to present a written sermon on some subject 
 selected by himself, or assigned him by his instructor, 
 in a form and style suitable for it to be spoken (not 
 read) in the pulpit. After it has been subjected to 
 criticism, it is returned to its author to be re-exam- 
 ined, and, if necessary, re-constructed and re-written, 
 with the requisition that it be presented, in the use 
 of appropriate language, the second time, without 
 the aid of the manuscript, and without abridgment 
 as to any of the thoughts embraced in it. By this pro- 
 cess the student is naturally led to associate his ideas 
 permanently with suitable modes of expression ; and 
 in his attempt so to arrange and express his thoughts 
 
102 APPENDIX. 
 
 as to promote distinctness of impression and readiness 
 of recollection in his own mind, he is preparing the 
 way the most effectually for the same results to be 
 effected in the minds of his hearers. He is, above 
 all, acquiring a self-command in the presentation of 
 truth, which will be of incalculable benefit to him in 
 the work of the ministry. Whatever objections may 
 be urged against the process here indicated, in view 
 of the time necessary to be spent by the student in 
 making the requisite preparation, or by the instructor 
 in seeing that the work is thoroughly done, there is, 
 perhaps, no practical exercise having reference to a 
 preparation for the duties of the pulpit, which will be 
 found more profitable to the student. The experi- 
 ment in connection with this Seminary has been at- 
 tended with the most gratifying results. 
 
 The foregoing statements will indicate to what ex- 
 tent there has been in the adoption of the system of 
 education in operation at this Seminary, practical re- 
 gard to the importance, in the minister of the gospel, 
 of effectiveness in preaching. While it is true the 
 measure of success attending each case will depend 
 very much on the mental constitution and previous 
 habits of the student, the writer is unable to perceive 
 how a system of education could in itself, at least in 
 its essential features, be better adapted to promote 
 the end proposed. e. t. 
 
 Fairmount Theological Seminary y Dec. 14, 1855." 
 
ADVANTAGES OF CULTURE. 103 
 
 NOTE E. 
 
 THE ADVANTAGES OF A THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION, AND 
 THE DUTY OF THOSE CALLED TO THE MINISTRY WITH 
 REFERENCE TO IT. 
 
 We shall not, we trust, be understood in anything 
 which has been said respecting the desirableness of 
 a theological education, as expressing what the ad- 
 vocates of ministerial culture are sometimes accused 
 of asserting, to-wit, that no one who has not enjoyed 
 the advantages of a regular course of study, ought 
 to enter the ministry. Reference is had simply to 
 the kind of preparation which, according to the rep- 
 resentation of the New Testament, is needed, and to 
 the obligation of every minister of Christ to seek 
 it to the extent of his ability. While it may be se- 
 cured by other means than those afforded by our 
 Theological Seminaries, it is nevertheless believed to 
 be true that these afford the most convenient and 
 effectual provision for attaining the object. They 
 are the means which God has provided in his provi- 
 dence for those whom he calls to preach the gospel, 
 to prepare in the shortest time, and in the best man- 
 ner, for the duties of the ministry. The student, 
 with the advantages pertaining to a regular course 
 of theological study, may secure in a single year, 
 what it might require many for him to accomplish 
 under other circumstances, or which, in the great 
 majority of cases, he would fail of securing at all. 
 
104 APPENDIX. 
 
 The author recollects to have heard the lamented 
 Alfred Bennett once remark at a public meeting, 
 that, while, by a diligent use of the means within his 
 reach, he had overcome in a good degree, the embar- 
 rassments which he experienced in his early ministry 
 from his want of education, lie felt that it had been 
 at a great sacrifice of time and usefulness ; — his at- 
 tainments had been made under great disadvantages, 
 and through a series of many years. And it was 
 this early experience combined with a conviction 
 arising from careful general observation, which made 
 him, during the most useful period of his ministry, 
 so hearty and firm a friend to the cause of ministerial 
 education, — evidence of which we find in the resolu- 
 tions " sustained " by him, and adopted at the meet- 
 ings of the " General Convention, " held in Cincin- 
 nati in 1833 and '34. One of these, adopted in 1834, 
 is as follows: " Resolved, that we consider the edu- 
 cation of ministers highly important as a means of 
 enabling them to exhibit appropriately and forcibly 
 the truths of the gospel/ ' 
 
 Again, it should be borne in mind that while a few, 
 like Father Bennett, through the force of native talent 
 and energy, succeed in overcoming, to a great ex- 
 tent, the difficulties arising from a want of early cul- 
 ture, it is far otherwise with the great majority of 
 ministers similarly situated. Their want of education 
 continues to be through life, not only an embarrass- 
 ment to themselves, but a serious hindrance to their 
 usefulness. Hence the case of the few who have 
 
ADVANTAGES OF CULTURE. 105 
 
 risen above these embarrassments of their early life, 
 and become distinguished for their usefulness, could 
 be, — even were we to throw entirely out of the 
 account the hindrances and difficulties which they 
 actually experienced, — an example only to such as 
 are conscious that they possess the native talent and 
 energy and perseverance which will insure similar 
 results. 
 
 And here we would urge upon those who have 
 evidence that God has called them to the work of the 
 ministry, the inquiry, whether they are justified in 
 consenting to contend through life with difficulties 
 and hindrances to their usefulness, which the requi- 
 site application and self-denial would suffice to remove. 
 Does the Lord of the harvest excuse them for this 
 waste of time and energy, when the means of im- 
 provement are within their reach ? Is it objected 
 that the course indicated will be in the case of many 
 an individual attended with inconvenience; or that it 
 will require a degree of mental application which is 
 felt by him to be irksome ? We ask, may not this 
 very labor be a part of the work to which he is 
 called? See Mark iii, 14. Must he not, if he would 
 sustain the character of " a good soldier of Jesus 
 Christ," be willing to " endure hardness?" 1 And, 
 perhaps, it is at this very point that his willingness to 
 endure hardness and self-denial for Christ, is to be 
 put most severely to the test. Perhaps the incon- 
 venience and application necessary to qualify him to 
 
 1 2 Tim. ii, & 
 
106 APPENDIX. 
 
 become an able minister of the New Testament, is 
 the very thing which, above all others, he is unwill- 
 ing to " endure." He may possibly find it far easier 
 to submit, if need be, to physical hardship and en- 
 durance, in the service of Christ, than to a course of 
 mental training. Shall he then consult the things 
 which will most conduce to his ease or his conve- 
 nience, with the plea that God requires simply what 
 he has given? Ought he not rather to regard his 
 gifts in the light of property committed to him for 
 improvement, for increase ; so that from a single 
 " pound" originally given, he may bring to the ser- 
 vice of his Lord ten? Has God called him to the 
 work of the ministry? Does He not, then, require 
 him to make the most of his talents and energies for 
 the promotion of the great object had in view ? Is 
 it not made incumbent on him to " study," to exert 
 himself, to exercise diligence, earnestness, striving, l 
 to qualify himself to become " a workman that 
 needeth not 'to be ashamed?' 
 
 NOTE F. 
 
 ADVANTAGES OF THE SEMINARY IN THEIR RELATION TO 
 THOSE ALREADY IN THE MINISTRY. 
 
 It will doubtless always be true that the majority 
 of those who avail themselves of the advantages for 
 education afforded by our Theological Seminaries, 
 
 1 <nrovJ*£m. Comp. 2 Pet. i, 10;. 2 Tim. iv, 21 ; Phil, ii, 
 28 ; 2 Cor. viii, 16. 
 
ADVANTAGES OF THE SEMINARY. 107 
 
 will be " young men approved by the churches for 
 the ministry," but who have not fully entered upon 
 its duties. There is no reason, however, why these 
 advantages should not be extended equally to all 
 " approved ministers of the gospel " who may be dis- 
 posed to avail themselves of them. In several 
 instances, indeed, those who have enjoyed the bene- 
 fits of the course of theological study pursued at this 
 Seminary, had, after graduating from college, been 
 successfully engaged for a succession of years as 
 pastors of churches. While it is true in the case of 
 these brethren, that time would have been gained by 
 their having pursued such a course at an earlier 
 period, they were, nevertheless, enabled, in the 
 event, to come to its prosecution with a maturity of 
 mind, and a measure of experience, which may have 
 prepared them to appreciate more fully its advan- 
 tages. And they have engaged anew in the labors 
 of the ministry, with the full conviction that their 
 time had been well spent, and that, with the blessing 
 of God upon their lives, the sum of their usefulness 
 would be increased. Are there not others now in the 
 ministry, who, without serious inconvenience, could 
 avail themselves of similar advantages with the hope 
 of similar results ? 
 
108 APPENDIX. 
 
 NOTE G. 
 
 CULTIVATION OF THE MISSIONARY SPIRIT BY THEOLOGI- 
 CAL STUDENTS. 
 
 The foregoing is the heading of an article pub- 
 lished in the March number of the Macedonian, 1856, 
 which we here insert. 
 
 "It is an admitted fact, that the existence of a 
 living, effective missionary spirit in the body of the 
 ministry, is necessary to the highest success of the 
 missionary enterprise. And it is scarcely less appa- 
 rent that no period in a minister's life is so favorable 
 for the successful cultivation of this spirit, as that ap- 
 propriated to his preparatory studies. Most of those 
 who have been sent out from this country as mission- 
 aries to the heathen, received their first deep and in- 
 delible impressions with regard to their duty, before 
 completing their course of study. 
 
 Regard for these facts has been had in the organ- 
 ization of this Seminary. The object indicated has 
 been kept steadily in view in the arrangements for 
 education which have from time to time been adopted, 
 and such means have been employed to promote 
 it as the circumstances of the case seemed to call 
 for. 
 
 In accordance with this general purpose, a Society 
 has recently been organized among the students, the 
 object of which is * to cultivate a missionary spirit 
 among the members, and to assist them in determin- 
 
MISSIONARY SPIRIT. 109 
 
 ing their personal duty with regard to their field of 
 labor in the gospel ministr}^' — a prominent means 
 to these ends being ' inquiry into the moral and re- 
 ligious condition of the world, and the results of mis- 
 sionary labor among the heathen.' In becoming 
 connected with the Society, each student, after atten- 
 tively considering the nature and design of the or- 
 ganization, expresses his deep conviction of the 'im- 
 portance of a 'practical regard for the Saviour's great 
 command, Go ye into all the world, and preach the 
 gospel to every creature/ and his willingness and 
 determination to ' hold himself ready, upon complet- 
 ing his preparatory studies, to enter whatever field 
 of labor may, after prayerful and earnest inquiry, be 
 indicated to him in the providence of God.' The 
 design is to give the inquiries relating to the moral 
 and religious condition of the world, and the subject 
 of missions in general, a definite, practical aim, and 
 to keep the question of personal responsibility con- 
 tinually before the mind of the student, during his 
 course of study. In furtherance of the same object, 
 in addition to a monthly meeting for the communica- 
 tion of missionary intelligence, provision is made for 
 another, for prayer and free religious conference 
 amon^ the members. 
 
 o 
 
 Most of the students have become members of the 
 association ; and it is hoped it will prove to be an 
 important auxiliary in promoting the general object 
 had in view in the founding of the Seminary. Whether 
 our young men who enter the ministry, decide to 
 
110 APPENDIX. 
 
 labor at home or to become missionaries to the hea- 
 then, it is important that they become inseparably 
 and practically identified with the missionary cause ; 
 that they regard it as their own, and consider them- 
 selves responsible, to the extent of their ability, for 
 its success. 
 
 Of the members of our first class, two have gon 
 out as missionaries to the destitute, and are now suc- 
 cessfully laboring, one in Iowa, and the other in an 
 interesting field in this State. The students now in 
 attendance have almost without exception entered 
 with Great readiness into the arrangement which has 
 been adopted for the prosecution of missionary labors 
 to a limited extent in connection with their course of 
 study. Weekly exercises under the general super- 
 vision of the faculty, for the purpose of preaching or 
 imparting religious instruction in some form, are held 
 at some ten or twelve different points in Cincinnati 
 and vicinity, and, for the most part, among the poor 
 and the destitute. Yery many, who would not other- 
 wise attend a place of worship, are thus brought 
 within the sound of the gospel ; the young are 
 guarded against the evils to which they are exposed ; 
 and the good seed is sown in many hearts, where it 
 may ultimately spring up and bring forth fruit to the 
 glory of God. The direct and obvious results of 
 these efforts have, in not a few instances, been ex- 
 ceedingly encouraging. e. t. 
 
 Fairmount Theological Seminary , Feb. 5, 1856." 
 
PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT. HI 
 
 NOTE H. 
 
 LOCATION OF GRADUATES. 
 
 Of those who have graduated from the established 
 course of study, all have left with fair prospects of 
 usefulness in the ministry. Of this number one is at 
 present in Indiana, one is settled in Western New 
 York, two in Ohio, two in Illinois — and one, recently 
 of Iowa, is now stationed at Nebraska City. If this 
 distribution may be regarded as in any good degree 
 indicative of the field in the Northwest to be culti- 
 vated in the future operations of the Seminary, one 
 important requisite to its accomplishing the object 
 had in view in its origin, will be realized. 
 
 NOTE I. 
 
 THE PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT. 
 
 The design in the foregoing articles has been 
 chiefly to give information respecting the Seminary 
 in its relation to theological instruction. An import- 
 ant arrangement for enabling a portion of those who 
 may be benefited by such instruction, to pursue the 
 requisite preparatory studies, exists in the Prepaid' 
 tory Department. A good work has already been 
 accomplished in this department. The following, 
 published in the Journal and Messenger, for July 
 12th, 1856, as it belongs to the history of the Semi- 
 
112 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 nary, and as it has special reference to this De- 
 partment, may without impropriety be introduced in 
 this connection. 
 
 " RESIGNATION OF PROF. STONE. 
 
 Prof. M. Stone has resigned his Professorship in the 
 Fairmount Theological Seminary, and accepted a call 
 to the pastorship of the Baptist church in Lebanon, 
 0. We have been permitted to publish the following- 
 letter to him from Prof. Turney, showing how pleas- 
 ant and harmonious have always been the relations 
 between them. — [Ed. J. & M.] 
 
 Fairmount Theo. Sem., June 30, 1856. 
 
 My Dear Brother — As you have felt it to be your 
 duty, with a view to again entering the pastoral re- 
 lation, to resign your place in this Seminary, as 
 " Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy, 
 and Principal of the Preparatory Department/ ' you 
 will allow me, in lieu of the usual testimonial from 
 the Faculty in similar cases, to present you with a 
 simple, unrestrained expression of my own individual 
 sentiments of regard and affection. The three years 
 during which we have labored and prayed and coun- 
 seled together with regard to the interests of this 
 Institution, have been, — notwithstanding the anxiety 
 and toil and self-denial incident to the history of a new 
 enterprise beset with pecuniary embarrassments, — 
 among the happiest of my life. The experience of 
 
PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT. 113 
 
 the period has endeared you to my heart, as a Chris- 
 tian brother, and a fellow-laborer in the cause of 
 Christ, in a manner, which will, I believe, through 
 life, afford occasion for the most pleasing and grate- 
 ful recollection. 
 
 Although each has had his specific department of 
 labor, the general duties and interests of the Semi- 
 nary, have, nevertheless, brought us into daily con- 
 tact. The cases arising, especially from the state of 
 affairs naturally pertaining to the origin of the Insti- 
 tution, in which consultation with reference to its 
 interests has been necessary, have been numerous 
 and diversified in their character, and not unfre- 
 quently beset with difficulties. And yet, while each 
 has been free in the expression of his opinion, there 
 have been, I believe, a oneness of aim, and a sym- 
 pathy of spirit, which have uniformly led to a 
 satisfactory result. The pleasure arising from the 
 retrospect of our intercourse, during the time in 
 which we have been associated in labor, is, I believe, 
 unalloyed by the recollection of a single circumstance 
 giving occasion for misunderstanding, or requiring 
 explanation, or the utterance of a single word 
 adapted in the slightest degree to rufffe the spirit or 
 awaken an unpleasant emotion. Although our rela- 
 tions arising from a connection with this Institution 
 are now dissolved, our hearts will, I trust, ever con- 
 tinue to be united in a common sympathy with what- 
 ever pertains to the prosperity of the cause of Christ. 
 
 You have my most sincere and earnest wishes and 
 8 
 
114 APPENDIX. 
 
 prayers for your future prosperity and continued 
 usefulness, not doubting that the same sincerity of 
 purpose and devotion of spirit which have character- 
 ized your labors here, will attend you in your new 
 relation ; and that you will still cherish an unabated 
 interest in this Institution, and be willing, as you 
 have opportunity, to labor for its prosperity. 
 
 I am, as ever, yours truly and affectionately, in 
 the Gospel of Christ, 
 
 Edmund Turney. 
 
 Rev. Prof. M. Stone. 
 
 NOTE J. 
 
 TESTIMONIAL OF EXAMINATION. 
 
 The following testimonial is copied from the Jour- 
 nal and Messenger, and relates to the public Examin- 
 ation of classes held June 14th, 16th and 17th, 1856. 
 It may serve to illustrate, to some extent, the practi- 
 cal working of the method of instruction indicated in 
 the third and fourth of the foregoing articles, whereby 
 it is sought, not only to interest the student in the ex- 
 amination of the several subjects coming under no- 
 tice, but to make the knowledge acquired directly 
 available for the purposes for which it may be re- 
 quired. 
 
 After allusion to a suspension of the examination in 
 the Preparatory Department, occasioned by the ab* 
 eence of a majority of those at this time belonging to 
 
TESTIMONIAL OF EXAMINATION. 115 
 
 the department, in consequence of special arrange- 
 ments for the summer, having reference to provision 
 for their pecuniary wants,* it is added : 
 
 " The exercises were confined to the several studies 
 embraced in the theological course. — It was the privi- 
 lege of the undersigned to attend the examination, — 
 and they deem it due alike to the Seminary, and to 
 the cause of ministerial education, to give this expres- 
 sion of the high gratification which the occasion af- 
 forded them. 
 
 The studies that came under review were, Hebrew, 
 Biblical Interpretation, Theology, Homiletics, Pasto- 
 ral Duties, and Ecclesiastical History. There had 
 been evidently no casting of parts — each student was 
 thrown upon the resources of the moment. And the 
 readiness and accuracy with which questions were 
 answered by the students, were a most honorable tes- 
 timony both to the thoroughness of the instruction 
 given, and to the success with which they had been 
 trained up. It was, also, interesting to observe how 
 the mode of conducting recitations contributes directly 
 
 *It may be proper to remark, that an arrangement exists 
 thereby approved applicants receive from the Education So- 
 ciety an appropriation amounting to $80 per annum in all 
 cases where it is needed. Students have usually spent their 
 summers in laboring for the American Tract Society, the 
 American Sunday School Union, or some similar organiza- 
 tion, or in supplying destitute churches, whereby they have 
 realized an additional amount, to aid them in the prosecution 
 of their studies. 
 
116 APPENDIX, 
 
 to a sure accumulation of knowledge, as well as to 
 the power of original investigation. 
 
 We are free to say, that the best argument to min- 
 isterial education is the annual examination and com- 
 mencement of the Seminary. God grant that this 
 anniversary may soon come to be reckoned one of the 
 chief feasts of our beloved Zion. 
 
 S. W. Adams, 
 W. F. Hansell, 
 H. S. Dale." 
 
 NOTE K. 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF THE SEMINARY. 
 
 We here insert a paragraph from the Catalogue 
 of the Seminary, which has a very obvious relation to 
 the means adapted to promote the object had in view 
 in its establishment. 
 
 " The Library formerly belonging to the Institute 
 at Covington has come into the possession of the Semi- 
 nary, and, together with the thirteen hundred vol- 
 umes which had previously been gathered, consti- 
 tutes a choice collection of nearly four thousand 
 volumes. It is, in the character of the books, well 
 adapted to the wants of the Seminary, being particu- 
 larly rich in theological, biblical, and historical works, 
 including text-books for the use of students ; besides 
 containing a valuable collection in the department of 
 general religious and secular literature.' ' 
 
ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEMINARY. 117 
 NOTE L. 
 
 ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEMINARY, JUNE 17, 1857. 
 
 The following brief statement with regard to the 
 Exercises of the Fourth Anniversary of the Seminary, 
 June 17, 1857, is inserted in the present edition, in 
 accordance with the wishes of brethren who were 
 present on the occasion. 
 
 The number of addresses by the young men, as 
 indicated by the scheme, was five, followed by an 
 address to the graduates by Prof. Turney. To the 
 list of members of the Senior Class, however, should 
 be added the name of Lansing Bailey, A. M., late 
 Pastor of the Baptist Church in Cheviot, and recently 
 settled with the Baptist Church in New London, 
 whose engagements prevented his attendance at the 
 anniversary, — thus making the whole number of 
 brethren completing their course of study with this 
 anniversary, six. 
 
 " After the collation in the grove, short and 
 spirited speeches were made by brethren Hansell, 
 Sutton, Lyon, Bedell, Colver, Dickinson, and Bickeil, 
 expressing their high gratification with the exer- 
 cises of the occasion, and their confident hopes for 
 the future prosperity and progress of the Seminary." 
 Several of the brethren remarked, that, although 
 they had frequently attended the commencement ex- 
 ercises of Theological Seminaries in the Eastern and 
 Middle States, they had never witnessed anything 
 
118 APPENDIX. 
 
 of the kind more entirely satisfactory throughout, or 
 which reflected more credit on the Institution repre- 
 sented, than the exercises which had just closed. 
 
 The general impression made by the exercises, is 
 sufficiently indicated by the following extracts from 
 public notices of the Anniversary. 
 
 The Editor of the Journal and Messenger, referring 
 to the exercises, says : 
 
 " The performances of the Senior Class were good, 
 very good ; the whole occasion pleasant, very plea- 
 sant ; and the general opinion formed of the tenden- 
 cies of the instruction here given on the character of 
 the student, was favorable, very favorable." 
 
 The following appears in the Witness, of Indian- 
 apolis : 
 
 " The addresses, both in composition and delivery, 
 were excellent. The subjects were well chosen, dis- 
 cussed in a liberal minded, sensible manner, and well 
 spoken — the elocution was worthy of special com- 
 mendation, natural, easy, impressive. J. S." 
 
 The Pastor of a Baptist Church in Ohio, in the 
 Christian Times, says : 
 
 " The young men acquitted themselves with credit. 
 Their addresses were of a high order, well written, 
 and for the most part uncommonly well delivered. 
 They gave evidence of being trained to habits of in- 
 dependent reflection. There was energy, directness 
 and simplicity in their style of composition and man- 
 ner of delivery. And then, better than all, there 
 
ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEMINARY. 119 
 
 was a tone of earnest and unaffected piety running 
 through all their productions, which touched the 
 heart, and commanded the respect of the entire 
 audience. 
 
 The address to the class was happily conceived 
 and expressed ; the themes of the young men sug- 
 gesting the topics of remark and counsel to them. 
 
 H. M. R » 
 
 The following is from the Christian Chronicle, of 
 Philadelphia : 
 
 " The exercises were most gratifying. The speeches 
 were all well conceived, well written, and well spoken. 
 
 It was my privilege to attend during the examina- 
 tion of two of the classes. I have rarely witnessed 
 anything of the kind more satisfactory. The young 
 men had evidently been trained to examine and 
 think. It was delightfully manifest that they had 
 ideas ; and were at no loss to express them. 
 
 A larger number of friends than usual were brought 
 together to enjoy the occasion. The expression of 
 satisfaction was universal and decided. 
 
 Dayton, June, 1857. E. W. D." 
 
 The following from Rev. B. Bedell of Wilmington, 
 O., appears in the Journal and Messenger, to the 
 closing paragraph of which particular attention is 
 solicited : 
 
 "From my first arrival on the grounds, I was 
 pleased — when once on the summit of the hill, I for- 
 got my fatigue, I was charmed ! 
 
120 APPENDIX. 
 
 But it is not of the hill or the building, but of the 
 Institution itself, that I would speak to the churches. 
 It is emphatically a ' theological ' institute. It is a 
 place where good, strong, clear, Bible theology is 
 examined, discussed, and treasured up in the minds 
 and hearts of the young men, fitting them to ' teach 
 others also.' 
 
 Not being in to hear the examination of the classes, 
 I sat down in their rooms and enjoyed a better oppor- 
 tunity, perhaps, than a public examination would 
 have afforded me, to judge of their theological and 
 literary attainments. * * * * * 
 
 But last, though not least, I was struck with their 
 realization of the greatness and responsibility of the 
 ministerial work and the pastoral office. This feature 
 of their education was patent to all who had the 
 privilege of hearing the addresses of the graduates. 
 
 I feel more than ever urgent to see the churches 
 awake to the interest of this Institution. Let us have 
 more praying and laboring for it. Pastors, look after 
 those young men of talent and piety among you, who 
 are contending with their convictions of duty. En- 
 courage them to cherish their inward call, and at the 
 same time advise them to seize this and every avail- 
 able opportunity of preparing themselves for this 
 good work. 
 
 Wilmington, July 1, 1857. B. B." 
 
 END OF THE APPENDIX. 
 
 \M. 
 
THE 
 
 KINGDOM OP CHRIST 
 
 IN THE 
 
 PRINCIPLES OP ITS ORGANIZATION; 
 
 INCLUDING THE 
 
 SCRIPTURAL LAW OF BAPTISM 
 
 WITH RESPECT TO 
 
 ITS DESIGN, ITS PORM, ITS SUBJECTS ITS AUTHORITY, 
 
 AND 
 
 ITS RELATIVE POSITION. 
 BY EDMU1VD TURNEY, 
 
 PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE AND INTERPRETATION IN THE 
 FAIRMOUNT THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 
 
 Anderson, Burr & Co., in connection with Sheldon, Blake- 
 man & Co., are about to publish, in attractive form and style, 
 an edition of the above mentioned work. Orders for the work 
 may be forwarded either to the publishers at Toledo, or New 
 York, or to Anderson, Gates & Wright, or G. S. Blanchard, 
 Cincinnati. 
 
 The work, in the form in which it was originally published, 
 consists, as its title indicates, of five parts, aside from (lie 
 Introduction and the exegetical and explanatory Notes in the 
 Appendix. 
 
 The first relates to the general and symbolic design of bap- 
 tism in its various aspects and relations. 
 
 The second has for its object to show that the act enjoined in 
 baptism, and which is inseparable from a proper observance of 
 the rite, as is indicated by its design, the meaning of the word, 
 and the practice of the primitive Christians, is immersion. 
 
 (i ) 
 
11 SCRIPTURAL LAW OF BAPTISM. 
 
 Part third, which occupies somewhat more than one-third 
 part of the whole work, in treating the question respecting the 
 proper subjects of baptism, in its various aspects, scriptural 
 logical, historical, practical, gives occasion for a full examina- 
 tion of the scriptural doctrine respecting the spiritual nature 
 of the church of Christ, and the essential qualifications for 
 membership in his kingdom, as distinguished from relation- 
 ship claimed on the ground of natural birth-right, the supposed 
 efficacy of external rites, etc. 
 
 Part fourth is designed to enforce the obligation of those who 
 believe in Christ, regardless of the acts of others, to profess their 
 faith in him in the ordinance which he has appointed for this 
 purpose. 
 
 Part fifth is chiefly an exposition of the scriptural terms of 
 admission to the Lord's Supper, as an ordinance to be observed 
 within the church. 
 
 Since the announcement for the publication of a revised edi- 
 tion of this work, it has been thought that its character and 
 design would be more precisely indicated by a change in its 
 title to the form presented above. 
 
 A principal design of the work as originally published, was 
 to treat of baptism, not as an external rite merely, but with 
 regard to its import and relations as the initiatory rite of the 
 church of Christ, as being indicative of Christian character 
 and experience and relationship to the kingdom of Christ, of the 
 nature of the church as a spiritual body, of the terms of admis- 
 sion to its fellowship, of the rights and responsibility of its 
 members, etc. 
 
 With such additions as the nature of the case may require, 
 and a suitable index of subjects, it will, it is believed, be found 
 to be a complete exhibition of the doctrine of the Scriptures 
 respecting the kingdom of Christ in the principles of its organiza- 
 tion, as well as of whatever pertains specifically to the scrip- 
 tural law of baptism in its various relations and aspects. 
 
TESTIMONIALS. Ill 
 
 The following are among the expressions of opinion which 
 .have been given with regard to the character of the work as 
 originally published, and its adaptation to answer the purpose 
 for which it was designed, — to which the publishers invite 
 attention : 
 
 From the New York Recorder. 
 
 " "We call the attention of our readers to this work with un- 
 qualified pleasure. With singular success, the author has laid 
 open the scriptural and philosophical grounds of Baptist faith, 
 commending his arguments to consideration equally by their 
 truthful cogency, and their scholar-like and Christian tone. 
 
 "We have long felt the need of a work which should depart 
 from the common track, and show the harmony of Baptist sen- 
 timents with the individualizing tendencies of the Christian 
 religion, thus adding to arguments from philology the demands 
 of the believer's consciousness. 
 
 Such a work we have now before us, written in a style of 
 simplicity and lucidness, which, while it will gratify a culti- 
 vated taste, will render it intelligible to ordinary minds/' 
 
 From the Christian Review. 
 "This excellent treatise on Baptism is distinguished by 
 strong, clear and philosophical views, and shows abundant 
 proof that it originated from a thinking mind. It is one of the 
 best and most satisfactory works on the subject which we have 
 seen. It treads in a new and higher path than most books on 
 the same topic, — is calm, clear and convincing, and may be set 
 down as a decided advancement in the literature of the bap- 
 tismal controversy." 
 
 From the Neiv York Baptist Register. 
 
 " The body of the work demonstrates the propriety and 
 truthfulness of its title. The scriptural authority in regard to 
 the ordinance is adduced with great clearness, and its design 
 is presented with striking originality and force. Indeed, no 
 
IV SCRIPTURAL LAW OF BAPTISM. 
 
 work has appeared on this subject in these modern day 
 languished by so much originality. IN" or has anyone c *a 
 under our notice evincing more admirably throughout th\ 
 manly dignity and Christian courtesy of an enlarged anc. 
 elevated piety. 
 
 As a standard work, it must hereafter take a conspicuous 
 place ; and the more extensively it is examined, the more sub- 
 stantial will be its reputation. We have not room for an elabo- 
 rate article in regard to it ; but we will venture this assurance 
 to all those who purchase it, that if it fails to give them new 
 and original views on this subject, or does not come up to their 
 expectations, we will refund all that they have expended for it. 
 It is a book that should receive an extensive circulation." 
 
 From the Michigan Christian Herald. 
 " The sound philosophical, as well as scriptural, argumenta- 
 tion presented in the work, — its originality as a whole, — its 
 mild, yet manly, spirit, — its perspicuity and logical conclu- 
 siveness, must place it in the front rank of this description of 
 literature." 
 
 From the Christian Watchman. 
 
 u We are much pleased with the plan, the style, the reason- 
 ing, the tone, and the spirit of this book. 
 
 The work has received strong testimonials from many gen- 
 tlemen of high standing, as one of learning, candor and judg- 
 ment, who unite in commending it to the attention of all who 
 are inquiring on this subject." 
 
 From the Theological Professors at Madison University. 
 
 "We hesitate not to say that we know of no treatise on the 
 same subject better adapted to be useful, and none which more 
 clearly and happily illustrates the scriptural view of the design 
 and nature of Christian baptism. The spirit of candor and 
 impartiality in which it is written, is eminently adapted to 
 commend its arguments to the candid consideration of all who 
 
TESTIMONIALS. V 
 
 are conscientiously desirous of obtaining correct views of the 
 ordinances of the gospel. 
 
 "We think the work ought to be published, and that great 
 good may be expected from its extensive circulation. 
 
 J. S. Maginnis, 
 
 T. J. COXANT, 
 
 Hamilton, N. Y., July 22, 1846. Geo. W. Eaton." 
 
 From Prof. A, C. KendricJc, of Madison University, July 
 6, 1846. 
 
 Alluding to the section on the "meaning of the word," he 
 says: "The manuscript which you left with me I attentively 
 perused, — and was much gratified with the candor, accuracy 
 and clearness of the discussion of the topics embraced." 
 
 From Bev. W. B. Williams, D. D. t New York, July 31, 1846. 
 
 "I have read several chapters and sections. These suffi- 
 ciently show the clear and forcible character of the work. — 
 Even our Psedobaptist brethren must allow the sustained spirit 
 of Christian moderation and kindness which renders the man- 
 agement of the subject both more winning and more cogent." 
 
 From Bev. J. Doivling, D. P., New York, July 27, 1840. 
 
 Having examined the portion of the work which treats of the 
 "design of baptism," he says : "The fact that you have made 
 the general and symbolic design of the ordinance the starling 
 point in your argument, and have treated this part of the sub- 
 ject in a manner so thorough, so original, and so striking, has 
 invested your work, in my mind, with a degree of interest I 
 could hardly have supposed I should feel in a new work on 
 this subject." 
 
 From Prof. J. II Baymond, of Madison University, June 
 
 22, 184G. 
 
 u The most recent phases of Pa3d0ba.pt ism receive an appro- 
 priate share of attention ; and the style of reasoning adopted in 
 
VI SCRIPTURAL LAW OF BAPTISM. 
 
 the portions I have read, appears to me eminently adapted to 
 meet difficulties in the minds of our Psedobaptist brethren, too 
 generally overlooked by our writers, or not treated -with the 
 respect due, if not to the difficulties themselves, to the minds 
 which are embarrassed by them. 
 
 I sincerely hope that the book will be published, and find 
 its way into the hands not merely of Baptists, but of intelligent 
 and candid men in other denominations ; who will see that 
 the Baptist argument, so far from being exhausted, is only 
 beginning to be developed." 
 
 From Rev. R. Turnbull, D. D., Hartford, Ct. 
 
 "Its tone is candid and kind, — its arguments clear and con- 
 vincing. It is one of the most complete and satisfactory dis- 
 cussions of the subject — written in a good spirit, and suitable 
 to be placed in the hands of Pasdobaptist inquirers." 
 
 From Rev. E. E. L. Taylor, D. JD., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
 
 In connection with allusion to "the originality and clearness 
 with which the subject is treated by argument and Biblical 
 interpretation," to the fact, that the very " passages relied upon 
 for the support of Psedobaptism," are shown to " furnish addi- 
 tional testimony to the contrary," etc., he says : 
 
 "I most heartily recommend the work as being eminently 
 adapted to produce conviction on the subject of which it treats, 
 as well as to edify, encourage, and strengthen those who are 
 already established in the truth." 
 
 From Rev. W. W. Everts, D. D., Louisville, Ey. 
 
 "It develops the scripture doctrine of baptism not merely 
 by critical notices of particular passages, but by a learned, able 
 and exegetical examination of the entire harmony of the Scrip- 
 tures in regard to the design, form and subjects of this ordi- 
 nance." "Its allusions to classical and ecclesiastical writers 
 evince the accuracy and candor of the Christian scholar." 
 
TESTIMONIALS. Vll 
 
 Omitting expressions of the same general import from Drs 
 Sharp of Boston, Tucker of New York, and others, the pub 
 lishers deem it sufficient to call attention to the following: 
 
 From an extended notice of the work in the Christian Beview, 
 by President Bailey ) of Granville College, December, 1847. 
 
 "We know not where we should look for another work upon 
 a controverted subject so firm and decided in the defense of the 
 truth, and yet so kind and courteous in its bearing toward 
 those who, for any cause, had fallen into error. — In its spirit it 
 is a model for all who may have occasion to speak or write 
 under similar circumstances. 
 
 It is not only kind in its spirit, but scholar-like and thor- 
 ough in its investigations. — The author, in his undertaking, 
 has acquitted himself like a man at every turn of the argument; 
 at every point in the discussion, he is thoroughly furnished 
 and prepared for any emergency. — There are not a few, we 
 hope, who will find in this work what they love, clear, unadul- 
 terated truth ; or, to change the figure, truth resting firmly and 
 securely on her iron pillars. 
 
 In his exposition of passages relied upon to sustain the 
 practice of infant baptism, he is strong, full, and perfectly sat- 
 isfactory. We see not how, in fairness, an exception can be 
 taken to the construction which lie has given to these disputed 
 portions of the word of God. This part of his work he has ex- 
 tended to the greatest length, and has executed with the 
 greatest patience and fidelity. And his argument is worthy 
 not only of being read, but of being carefully studied by all 
 sincere inquirers after the truth as it is in Jesus. 
 
 We had intended to give some instances, in which, by a 
 faithful exposition, he turns the very weapons of his opponents 
 against themselves. But our limits will not permit. 
 
 We lay down this volume with a solemn conviction of the 
 importance of th e principles which distinguish 
 us as a denomination." 
 
BIBLICAL CATECHISM; 
 
 GUIDE TO EELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION 
 
 IN THE FAMILY 
 
 AND 
 
 SUNDAY SCHOOL. 
 BY EDMUND TURNEY, 
 
 PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE AND INTERPRETATION IN THE 
 FAIRMOUNT THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 
 
 This work is shortly to be issued by Sheldon, Blakeman & Co., 
 Isew York, and Anderson, Burr & Co., Toledo. 
 
 The plan of the work was first submitted to several brethren, 
 in whose judgment the author has great confidence, in the 
 autumn of 1855. From the expressions of approval and inter- 
 est in the object, then given, the author has been induced to 
 proceed to the execution of the plan ; and, except for the pres- 
 sure of professional duties, the work would probably have ere 
 this been issued from the press. 
 
 The design of the work is to make the youthful mind familiar 
 with the doctrines and precepts of the Bible, in their applica- 
 bility to the various relations and responsibilities of life, with 
 the evidences of the truth and divine authority of the Christian 
 religion, the principles which regulate the organization of the 
 church, etc., and thus to erect a bulwark against the influence 
 of the various prevalent forms of infidelity and religious error. 
 
 The author proposes to submit the work, before it is pub- 
 lished, to the examination of brethren distinguished for their 
 knowledge of Christian theology and experience in the ministry 
 in different sections of the country, for which arrangement* 
 have, in part, been already completed. 
 
 ( viii ) 
 
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