ADDBBSS, 
 
 DELIVERED BEFORE THE 
 
 ‘TRUSTEES, PROFESSORS, AND STUDENTS _ 
 
 , ‘OF THE 
 
 GENERAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 pe? 
 
 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH 
 sion 
 UNITED STATES, 
 In Trinity Church, on Friday Evening, December 97, 1822. 
 
 BY SAMUEL H. TURNER, 
 
 Professor of Biblical Learning and the Interpretation of Scripture. 
 
 oo 
 
 Published at the Request of the Trustees. — 
 
 NEW-YORK: 
 
 PRINTED BY T. AND J. SWORDS, 
 No. 99 Pearl-street. 
 
 1823. 
 
io 
 
 a 
 
 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2022 with funding from 
 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 
 
 pe 
 
 https://archive.org/details/addressdeliveredOOturn_1 
 
ADDRESS. 
 
 Ir is the great object of the science of Theo- 
 logy, to teach men the truths of religion, and to 
 lead them to a practice suited to the holy cha- 
 racter of the instructions. Of the truths refer- 
 red to some appear to be so exceedingly per- 
 spicuous, and all are so entirely in unison with 
 the soundest principles of reason, that the su- 
 perficial inquirer may be disposed to conclude, 
 that man’s unassisted powers are quite ade- 
 quate to their disclosure. Such an inference 
 would but evince ignorance of the character of 
 the human mind, which readily admits truths 
 when pointed out which its own abilities could 
 never have discovered, and of the history of 
 - religious opinion, which exhibits proof from 
 
(4) 
 experience of the incorrectness of such a con- 
 clusion. 
 
 From the connexion which subsists: between 
 God and his intelligent creatures, and from the 
 character of both as far as we are able to judge, 
 the presumption is highly in favour of a revela- 
 tion; so that it is rather the paucity than the 
 multitude of communications which may natu- 
 rally excite surprise. It is evident that a re- 
 velation must be intelligible, and especially to 
 those for whom it was principally intended; 
 else it is not what it professes to be, an unintel- 
 ligible revelation being contradictory. Hence 
 arises the principle maintained, under certain 
 modifications, by the whole Protestant body of 
 Christians, that the leading truths of the Bible 
 are sufficiently plain to be comprehended by 
 any man of integrity of mind, who has informa- 
 tion to examine them, and good sense to form 
 a judgment of their meaning. But while we 
 maintain the perspicuity of divine revelation, 
 let us be allowed to explain ourselves. We 
 mean chiefly in those doctrines which are es- 
 sential to salvation, and in those rules of con- 
 duct which are the foundation of a holy life. 
 In these respects the simplest understanding is 
 capable of comprehending the truths of reli- 
 gion, if there accompany it a sincere determi- 
 nation to apply them to the practical purpose 
 which they were intended to subserve. 
 
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 It is evidently therefore consistent with the 
 above principle, to assert that the volume of re- 
 velation does contain serious and important dif- 
 ficulties. Nor is such a position at all extraor- 
 dinary. In this the word of God is analogous 
 to his works. While in the latter “ his eternal 
 power and Godhead are clearly seen,” we 
 frequently meet with difficulties which seem 
 to affect the divine wisdom and providence; 
 Some of which are even now susceptible of sa- 
 tisfactory illustration, and all of which will pro- 
 bably become so, when the human mind shall 
 have advanced to that exalted state of perfec- 
 tion. which it is destined to attain. 
 
 To acquire a minute acquaintance with those 
 subjects with which the study of the sacred 
 Scriptures is connected, is by no means an easy 
 task; and he who supposes that the appropria- 
 tion of a short portion of time, and a slight de- 
 gree of labour, will ensure his ultimate success, 
 only discovers how very little he knows of the 
 magnitude of the object. And to what depart- 
 ment of literature or of science is the remark 
 inapplicable? ‘The prominent points of any 
 topick are readily seized, because they lie open 
 to the inspection of the most careless observer; 
 but to form in the mind a connected scheme of 
 the whole subject under examination, to trace 
 its various ramifications, to discover the nature 
 and influence of every part, and to discern the 
 
. = 
 
 bearing of each upon the whole, thus from mi- 
 nute investigation advancing to the various con- 
 clusions to be formed, and thence to a satisfac- 
 tory acquaintance with the science, is not the 
 work of a day, or the result of feeble and inter- 
 rupted exertions. The productions of nature’s 
 operations are seen and felt alike by all; but it 
 is the patient and laborious philosopher, tracing 
 them to. their secondary causes, who acquires 
 any knowledge of their mysterious modes of 
 action, and by the aids of persevering industry 
 and intellectual strength, discovers any of those 
 secret principles by which the system is regu- 
 lated. 
 
 It has been much the practice of infidel wri- 
 ters, to object to the scheme of revelation be- 
 cause it differs in its character from what they 
 assume might reasonably have been expected. 
 Now although it can be shown that in most 
 instances, either from want of information or 
 through design, they have misrepresented its 
 character; yet this is unnecessary, as the prin- 
 ciple on which the objection is founded is by 
 no means to be admitted, unless under consi- 
 derable limitations. But it is not the design of 
 this address, nor is it consistent with the official 
 duties of the speaker, to enter into any discus- 
 sion of this nature. ‘Taking the system of reve- 
 lation as it is exhibited in the Bible, let us em- 
 ploy a few moments-in examining the reasons 
 
¢ 4%) 
 
 why it has pleased the divine Being that it 
 should be accompanied by difficulties. The 
 conclusion will be strengthened by a view of 
 some of the causes of difficulty which arise out 
 of circumstances necessarily connected with a 
 revelation. Hence the inquiry will naturally 
 be suggested, in what manner may the student 
 of Theology most successfully apply himself to 
 the study of the Scriptures ? 
 
 A person who does not habitually exercise 
 his mind upon the various subjects which the 
 present state displays for his consideration, but 
 satisfies himself with first impressions, will per- 
 haps infer, that as a revelation is designed to 
 instruct, it should be as plain as language and 
 fact, suitably illustrated, can make it. But it is 
 very doubtful whether such a revelation would 
 instruct in the greatest possible degree. Or, I 
 may rather say, it is certain that it would not 
 thus instruct. For be it remembered, that im- 
 provement consists greatly in that course of dis- 
 cipline which qualifies a man for the attainment 
 of the highest degree of perfection to which his 
 nature can arrive. The benefit of acquiring 
 information does not consist altogether, or even 
 principally, in the extent of the information ob- 
 tained, but rather in the habit which is main- 
 tained of exercising the mind, and thus of pro- 
 moting its strength. And the difficulties of the 
 sacred volume lead to the same end, and pro- 
 
Cig 
 
 mote mental improvement of the highest possi- 
 ble character. The inquirer is led to examine, 
 to investigate with care, to ‘ compare spiritual 
 things with spiritual,” in order to obtain a 
 knowledge not only of the fundamental princi- 
 ples and leading truths of the holy Scriptures, 
 but also of those interesting though less neces- 
 sary parts of revelation, which illustrate the di- 
 vine character and operations in a degree how- 
 ever inferior. Why should not a principle which 
 applies to every species of science be applied 
 ta the noblest of all sciences, that of Theology-? 
 If the abstruseness of mathematics, and the in- 
 tricacies of metaphysical disquisition, strengthen 
 the mind for further exertion, why may not the 
 obscurities of Scripture promote the very same 
 result ? 
 
 Were we to reason further from analogy, we 
 should find that the argument derives thence 
 additional force; that through the whole stage 
 of human progress, in the present state, there 
 are difficulties to be surmounted ; that infancy, 
 childhood, youth, mature age, are not exempt; 
 and that all results in the gradual acquisition of 
 such a character as qualifies the possessor for 
 further exertion in those stations which he may 
 hereafter be called to fill. Now, since it is un- 
 deniable, from observation and experience, that 
 each part of the present state is.a state of disci- 
 pline, preparatory to a subsequent, it is reason- 
 
gern) 
 
 able to believe that the whole is equally so pre- 
 paratory to a future; and there is no incongru- 
 ity in the supposition, that the advancement 
 made in spiritual subjects here will facilitate the 
 advancement which will be made hereafter. 
 A careful attention to the oracles of God cannot 
 but promote this, by enlarging our views of the 
 character of that great Being whose we are, and 
 whom we are under the strongest obligations to 
 serve. In all the arrangements of the divine 
 economy, their all-wise Author and Conductor 
 contemplates the ultimate advantage and most 
 complete satisfaction of the industrious, hum- 
 ble and pious inquirer. 
 
 That moral evil was introduced into the cre- 
 ation of God by an aspiring pride, leading to 
 the wish of more exalted eminence, is an opi- 
 nion which has for its sanction high authority. 
 Whether the ruinous principle developed itself 
 so early or not, is an inquiry of no very great 
 moment. {t will hardly be questioned that we 
 have naturally a tendency to self-estimation. 
 And there are few evils against which the can- 
 didate for the ministry should more carefully 
 guard than this. Self-esteem, arising from the 
 consciousness of greatness, is an emotion very 
 little suited to the present state of man, and 
 least of all to the professed character of a theo- 
 logical student. Since then we are exposed 
 to temptations of this kind, and the evil incli- 
 
 2 
 
CC We) 
 
 nations of our nature avail themselves even of 
 our progress in knowledge to encourage tem- 
 pers incongruous with: our real characters and 
 destructive of our future hopes; there is great 
 reason why such a system should be exhibited | 
 both in the works of creation and in the word of 
 revelation, as will involve some difficulties not 
 easily solved. It tends to keep us humble; to 
 remind us that whatever be our fancied powers 
 of intellect, “we are but men,” mere atoms in 
 the vast fabrick of the untverse, springing into 
 life but “ yesterday” and gone again to-morrow, 
 This is one reason of the obscurities of Scrip- 
 ture, and is doubtless the use which we ought 
 to make of them. How very little do the best 
 informed and wisest of men know of those hea~ 
 venly truths in which it is conversant! And in- 
 deed the farther we proceed in the field of sa- 
 cred science, the more does it seem to extend 
 all around us till it appears unbounded. And 
 were it possible to grasp all the knowledge 
 whieh the subject comprehends, there would be 
 no value inthe acquisition, unless it made us 
 better and more humble Christians. 
 
 But this is not all. The difhculties of the 
 sacred Scripture promote in the pious reader 
 submission and faith. Be it remembered, that 
 it is for the well-disposed that its benefits are 
 chiefly designed. Should a revelation from 
 heaven be so constructed as to meet the wishes 
 
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 of the infidel, or of the worldling? Should the 
 grand scheme be contracted, so as to approxi- 
 mate to the imperfect view of him who think- 
 ing it unworthy of investigation, never rises to 
 that sublimity of character which enly can ap- 
 preciate its worth’ Where would be the wis- 
 dom of such a scheme? Not thus does the 
 divine Governor of all things arrange his plans. 
 If the proud, self-confident sciolist finds his im- 
 perfect information or his narrow capacity in- 
 competent to admit the truth, the humble and 
 intelligent inquirer, receiving with gratitude 
 what he can comprehend, bod admitting that 
 what he cannot understand is not therefore 
 necessarily untrue, finds that those difficulties 
 which confirm the unbelief of some, tend rather 
 
 to establish ‘his faith, and to lead him to sub- 
 mission to that “wisdom and knowledge of 
 God,” in the view of which the Apostle to the 
 Gentiles bursts forth into the exclamation, 
 “how unsearchable are. his judgments, and his 
 ways past finding out!” 
 
 As connected with the above feral it may 
 further be observed, that the difficulties in con- 
 templation are admirably adapted to promote 
 our aspirations after that future and blessed state 
 of improvement, which will admit us to an 
 exalted degree of intelligence. Ifthe Christian 
 be properly influenced by the principles of his 
 religion, how ardently must he desire that bet- 
 
( 1%) 
 
 ter country the heavenly, in the enjoyment of 
 which the difficulties that embarrass the present 
 state will be removed, and the reasons of what 
 now appears inscrutable will be illustrated! 
 When he will perceive, that where all seemed 
 confused and inextricable, the most luminous 
 order in reality prevailed! that where impe- 
 netrable darkness appeared to reign, where the 
 divine attributes were thought to be shrouded 
 in deep and awful mystery, where immaculate 
 justice seemed to our partial, imperfect and 
 erring apprehensions, to hold the balance with 
 an uneven hand, it was easy to show that the 
 wonder arose from our ignorance and imbeci- 
 lity! Ifthe difhiculties of the sacred volume do 
 not lead us to this conclusion, if where we can- 
 not comprehend we reject, we display a pre- 
 sumption altogether unbecoming frail and igno- 
 rant mortals, and the benefits of revelation do 
 in a considerable degree lose on us their effects. 
 The reasons above exhibited are such as 
 arise out of the character of man considered in 
 connexion with that of his present state of ex- 
 “ystence. If we examine the nature of the sub- 
 ject which the Scriptures profess to teach and 
 illustrate, we shall perceive a cause of difficulty 
 necessarily extensive in its influence. 
 
 Man being formed for eternity, it is reasona- 
 ble to conclude, that those objects which are 
 most intimately connected with his future being, 
 
(13) 
 would stand most prominent in a revelation 
 from heaven. His temporal existence is but a 
 moment in the vast, unbounded duration in 
 which he is destined to live. And as the sub- 
 jects which concern his future state and cha- 
 racter are wholly spiritual, it is rational to infer, 
 that their complete extent must be greatly be- 
 yond the grasp of the present infancy of intel- 
 lect. How far it would be practicable for man 
 to attain divine knowledge were he in his state 
 of original purity, and what effects on his un- 
 derstanding may justly be ascribed to the loss 
 of that purity, are questions on which we might 
 speculate through life perhaps without deriving 
 much solid improvement. Imperfection is at- 
 tached to every thing created; but what degree 
 of that ignorance and incapacity of which we 
 are conscious, is to be ascribed to that grada- 
 tion in the scale of created beings to which di- 
 vine wisdom hath appointed us, and what is the 
 natural consequence of the fail, it is impossible 
 tosay. But it is evident that natural and super- 
 induced imperfection must disqualify us for 
 comprehending fully those truths, which are to 
 be the subjects of our contemplation through 
 the whole period of existence. 
 
 Here | am naturally led to remark, that the 
 views which the Bible discloses, are not to be 
 admitted or rejected as they may chance-to suit 
 our feeble reason. ‘The evidence. of the pro- 
 
( ) 
 
 fessed truth, that is, the divine origin of the 
 passage which contains it, and the meaning of 
 the terms by which it is expressed, are to be 
 carefully investigated. Ifthe one be sufficient, 
 and the other be satisfactorily ascertained by 
 admitted rules of interpretation, the mysterious 
 nature of the truth is no argument against it. 
 In such a case, the object of faith is the fact 
 that a certain proposition is true, which is be- 
 lieved on the testimony of God transmitted to 
 us on sufficient evidence. If it be objected that 
 the proposition may contradict reason, the pos- 
 sibility of this is denied A revelation which 
 shall contradict any principle of right reason, is 
 altogether incompatible with the necessary at- 
 tributes of the divine nature. Reason is that 
 law according to the regulations of which all 
 beings were intended to operate, existing in per- 
 fection in God, by which he constantly acts, 
 though with entire freedom ;* so that to suppose 
 any thing unreasonable to emanate from the 
 Divinity, is plainly contradictory. But in cre- 
 ated beings this principle exists in part only ; 
 yet susceptible of increase or of diminution, and 
 probably affected by the acquisition of a habit 
 of original virtue or an aberration from primitive 
 integrity. How incongruous therefore is it for 
 beings no higher in the grade of creation than 
 
 * Comp. Hooker, vol. i. p. 200, 8vo, Ox. ed. 1793. 
 
(> Ea) 
 
 man, to. claim the right of rejecting spiritual 
 truths which are in part to them incomprehen- 
 sible! And how greatly is the incongruity in- 
 creased by the consideration, that these beings 
 have fallen below their original destination, and 
 have sunk deeper than their fall by cherishing 
 prejudices and by encouraging tendencies to 
 error! It is not right reason in the infinite ex- 
 tent of the term which is denied to be the mea- 
 gure of truth, it is that small degree of it which 
 creatures like ourselves possess. ‘ Dangerous 
 it were,” says the profound Hooker,* “ for the 
 feeble brain of man to wade far into the doings 
 of the Most High; whom although to know be 
 life, and joy to make mention of his name, yet 
 our soundest wisdom is, to know that we know 
 him not as indeed he is, neither can know him; 
 and our safest eloquence concerning him is our 
 silence, when we confess that his glory is inex- 
 plicable.” | 
 
 Independently of the above consideration, 
 other causes of difficulty may readily be point- 
 ed out. The antiquity and in many respects © 
 the obscurity of the languages in which the 
 books of revelation were originally written, 
 may properly be mentioned. The ancient He- 
 brews and Greeks, and particularly the Hellen- 
 istic Christians of the first ages, were released 
 
 Book i. $2, p. 198. 
 
( 16 ) 
 
 from a burden which must be borne in the pre- 
 sent day by every critical student of his Bible. 
 _—Nor is the labour diminished by. the very 
 great antiquity of the writings, and the still 
 higher antiquity of some of the facts narrated. 
 Hence results a brevity, which, although it does 
 not make the writing less intelligible to con- 
 temporary readers, produces in subsequent 
 ages an obscurity proportioned to the degree in 
 which the omitted circumstances have faded 
 from the memory of man. ‘lo the same source | 
 are to be traced those peculiarities of dialect, 
 to which ears accustomed to modern phraseo- 
 “logy only cannot very readily accustom them- 
 selves. | 
 Connected with the cause above stated is 
 another consideration, which adds strength to 
 the position maintained. If a writer of our own 
 should compose in his vernacular tongue a work 
 full of allusions to existing laws, systems and 
 habits, on the presumption that his readers are 
 well acquainted with them all; it is plain that 
 such a work could be understood by those only 
 who were instructed in the various subjects 
 referred to. And if there confessedly is some 
 difficulty in uncerstanding such an author, how 
 greatly would the difficulty be augmented, if 
 the work to be examined were of the highest 
 antiquity—written in languages long since 
 obsolete and considerably obscure—alluding to _ 
 
19h, 
 
 customs, laws, systems of philosophy, modes of 
 reasoning, peculiarities of phraseology, habits 
 of thinking, which kave grown out of use, the 
 knowledge of which can only be attained by 
 investigating ancient authorities or by inquiring 
 of those judicious men who have devoted their 
 lives to the investigation, and who though 
 “dead yet speak” in their writings! It will 
 easily be seen by the well informed mind, and 
 by the candid it will immediately be acknow- 
 ledged, that thus to study the sacred Seriptures, 
 is the labour of a life. 
 
 The great diversity of conditions through 
 which the books of revelation have passed, sug- 
 gests another source of difficulty. Had they 
 not been affected by this circumstance, the 
 phenomenon would be inexplicable on any 
 other supposition than that of constant miracu- 
 lous interposition. Consider the state of the 
 Jewish Scriptures antecedent to the Christian 
 dispensation. It is plain from the idolatrous 
 character of the people and of the greater part 
 of their kings before the captivity, that the 
 copies must have been much neglected. It is 
 admitted however that they were revised by 
 Ezra, and preserved with care by the men of 
 the great synagogue. Yet the various disper- 
 sions of the Jews into Egypt, and different parts 
 of Asia Minor, the persecutions which they un- 
 derwent, sometimes from the Piolemies, and 
 
 3 
 
Cb? 
 
 sometimes from the Syrian monarchs—the ha- 
 
 _tred which subsisted between them and the 
 Samaritans—the intestine confusions respecting 
 the high priesthood, together with the discord 
 and total neglect of the peculiarities of the law 
 which preceded the establishment of the As- 
 monean government—beside other circum- 
 stances unnecessary tobe mentioned, may have 
 had an indirect influence on the subject under 
 consideration; and perhaps could not be tho- 
 roughly counteracted by Masoretical supersti- 
 tion or sectarian jealousy. 
 
 It were easy to enlarge on this topic by de- 
 scending to less remote periods of history, and 
 by showing the circumstances by which the 
 volume of inspiration was affected from the 
 second century of the Christian era to the ap- 
 plication of the art of printing to the preserva- 
 tion of the Scriptures. While such an investi- 
 gation would result on the one hand in abund- 
 ant proof of the superintendence of Providence 
 in preserving the general genuineness of the 
 Bible, it would with no less certainty illustrate 
 the position already evinced, of the difliculties 
 attending a thorough study of the holy Scrip- 
 tures. 
 
 From the considerations already suggested, 
 it is natural to ask whether it is practicable to 
 arrive at such information in the critical study 
 of all the parts of the sacred volume as will be 
 
( 19) 
 
 satisfactory to a rational inquirer? And the 
 answer is readily given in the affirmative. Let 
 the proper means be adopted, and the appli- 
 cation of every day and I may say of every 
 hour, will increase the satisfaction which such 
 an inquirer will attain. I speak not now of 
 private Christians in general, although it is 
 doubtless their duty to make the Scriptures the 
 subject of study as far as their situation admits, 
 and proportionably to their abilities to shed on 
 them additional light; and there might be men- 
 tioned many illustrious names of laymen to 
 whom the ‘Christian Church is in this respect 
 greatly indebted; 1 speak of students of Theo- 
 logy who aspire to the oflice of the ministry: 
 “The priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and 
 they should seek the law at his mouth.” 
 
 But although satisfaction is certainly attaina- 
 ble, the vast diversity of expositions proves that 
 it is not so easy a matter as many apprehend. 
 If we assume an hypothesis, we may indeed 
 make Scripture bend to it, and by a perversion 
 of its meaning establish our own dogmas. But 
 ihis is not much short of sacrilege. Toassumea 
 system to be right, and then to explain Scripture 
 so as to suit it, is a plain abandonment of the 
 authority of Scripture, or else it is in theology 
 what would in logic be called arguing in a 
 circle. in innumerable instances has this 
 wretched mode of reasoning been adopted in 
 
e om 
 
 erder to coincide with what is ignorantly called 
 the analogy of faith. The great inquiry which 
 the Christian divine should propose to bimself 
 is this, ‘on the point in question what say the 
 Scriptures? ‘To the law and to the testi- 
 mony.” [do not forget that reason also must 
 have its influence, that this principle as well as 
 that of revelation is important in the elucidation 
 of divine truth, and that the possibility that 
 these two principles can urge conflicting inter- 
 ests is absurd. But it is the province of the 
 latter to lend its aid for the illustration of the 
 former. ‘The Bible, be it indelibly fixed in the 
 recollection of the student of Theology, the 
 Bile is the great source of spiritual truth. 
 
 But | mean the Bible properly explained ; 
 not in order to meet the views of this party of 
 Christians or the other-—not to make it sanction 
 the affirmations of ignorance—not according to 
 that narrow, little-minded prejudice which mea- 
 suring all excellence by its own contracted rule, 
 would make its petty acquisitions the stand- 
 ard of perfection. Lamentable have been the 
 effects which have resulted from these causes. 
 Hence the perpetuation of error by the diminu- 
 tion of the facilities for extending truth,—hence 
 the prevalence of bigotry and the growth and 
 establishment of suverstition,—hence the relin- 
 quishment of the right of private judgment,— 
 hence the predominance for a long course of 
 
¢ 28) 
 
 ages of the horrors of persecution for conscience 
 sake,—and hence, from the natural tendency 
 of the human mind to extremes, the preva- 
 lence of irreligion, of infidelity, or of laxity and 
 error leading to this result. 
 
 The student of the Bible must bring a mind 
 free from prejudice. | do not say that he should 
 not be prepossessed in favour of a certain sys- 
 tem. If the child entertain a favourable opi- 
 nion of the understanding of his parent, and 
 consequently of his ability to elicit the truth, 
 of his affection to his offspring and therefore of 
 his disposition to inculcate the truth, must he 
 not have a bias in favour of bis parent’s views? 
 He certainly must, and this tendency grows out 
 of the nature and circumstances of the human 
 family. But let it be observed, that there isa 
 wide difference between a bias in favour of a 
 system and a prejudiced attachment to it. 
 The one allows its advocate to investigate with 
 diligence, and when error is discovered to aban- 
 don it; the other directs investigation by a re- 
 gard to system, and when the results of investi- 
 gation are found to be incompatibie with the 
 system assumed, is governed by the latter. Of 
 this the student must divest himself, to do 
 which no small degree of self-government is 
 requisite. past 
 
 The student of Theology must bring to the 
 examination of the Bible a sound mind. I 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 mean such an understanding as can deduce 
 legitimate conclusions from correct premises ; 
 else he will be perpetually exposed to the dan- 
 ger of being led astray by the exuberance of 
 fancy. And perhaps ne where has this evil 
 been more extensively felt than in the study of 
 the Scriptures, in which imagination has tri- 
 umphed over rule, and run wild into the luxu- 
 riancy of folly—He should bring also a culti- 
 vated mind, accustomed to inquiry and reflec- 
 tion, inured to discipline, and acquainted with 
 the general principles of language, of literature 
 and of science. 
 
 If the inquirer intend to arrive at satisfaction 
 in the study of the Scriptures, he must examine 
 them in the originals. It is otherwise impossi- 
 ble to enter thoroughly into the spirit of them. 
 I do not speak of imbibing the spirit of the reli- 
 gion which they teach and inculcate, but of 
 feeling the energy and beauty of expression, 
 the sublimity and grandeur of description, 
 which in general the original writers of the Old 
 and New Testaments display ; and also of ap- 
 preciating properly their excellence and of em- 
 bracing the full extent of their sentiments and 
 views. Noone pretends that in these respects 
 the value of a classic writer can be sufficiently 
 estimated ina version; and why should it be 
 thought that a Hebrew poet can be adequately 
 understood and valued through such a medium 
 
( 23 ) 
 rather than a Greek. Without a knowledge of 
 the original languages of the Bible, a man must 
 depend on others for his information, and 
 although this must ever be the case with a vast 
 proportion of Christians, yet it need not be the 
 case with the clergy, and I trust the time is not 
 far distant when the general feeling and senti- 
 ment shall concur with the voice of our ecclesi- 
 astical authority in determining that it shall not 
 be. Without a knowledge of the originals, the 
 ultimate conclusion to which the student can 
 arrive is this: ‘thus on the text in question 
 Say respectable commentators, who inform us 
 that the original phrase is equivalent to such a 
 meaning.’ I trust that the pupils of this insti- 
 tution will never make such an object as this 
 the summit of their wishes. The man who 
 intends to devote himself to “the work of the 
 ministry,” one part of which is to explain the 
 rule of faith and parctice, is under an obligation 
 to do something more. Let him rise at once to 
 the fountain, aud aualyze the pure streams 
 themselves as they flow from their sacred 
 source. No other plan than this will advance 
 our Church to that elevated standing, which 
 her institutions, character and origin so justly 
 claim. ‘These will never command sufficient 
 respect among the people generally on account 
 of their own intrinsic value; they must be ac- 
 companied by ability at leat above mediocrity 
 
( 24 ) 
 
 in their advocates. And how cana man with 
 satisfaction to himself and with honour to his 
 cause, profess to be an authorized expounder 
 and defender of revelation, if he is incompetent 
 to examine the communication as ofiginally 
 given, and thus to form his own opinion? | am 
 aware that the acquisition referred to is not to 
 be considered as absolutely necessary in all 
 cases, for age and various other circumstances 
 may sometimes make its attainment impracti- 
 cable, while the applicant for admission into the 
 Christian ministry may be in many respects 
 highly competent to benefit the Church. But 
 the general expediency of the requisition is un- 
 questionable. | 
 
 Here it were easy to enlarge by exhibiting 
 some of the great principles of exposition, and. 
 by detecting errors which unsound maxims 
 have introduced. Nor would such a discussion 
 be irrelative to the subject, or to the occasion. 
 But it would be an unreasonable demand on 
 the time and attention of the audience, for 
 which the efforts of the speaker would but badly 
 apologize. Enough he trusts has been said to 
 illustrate his position, that a careful study of 
 that branch of Theology alone which concerns 
 the examination of the sacred Scriptures, is a 
 labour of no slight difficulty. But let him add, 
 that perhaps there were never offered to the 
 student greater facilities than at present. We. 
 
(oe 
 
 live in an age of inquiry. “ Many have run to 
 and fro, and knowledge has been increased.” 
 ‘This is true to a great degree in physical sci- 
 ence, whereby the true nature of the works of 
 creation is illustrated, and in that kind of litera- 
 ture which subserves the cause of revelation by 
 lessening the obscurities of Scripture ; and who 
 can say that both, gradually advancing from 
 darkness to dawn and thence to bright day, will 
 not burst upon the world in the full splendour of 
 illumination, producing that blessed reign of 
 the Messiah, “ when the knowledge” both of 
 the works and of the word of “ Jehovah shall 
 cover the earth.” For the approach of which 
 glorious season, let us as Christians fervently 
 pray, and as divine Providence shall call us to 
 act, let us earnestly Jabour. 
 
 And here it is impossible to withhold the 
 obvious remark, that we are required to labour 
 in those stations respectively wherein we are 
 placed. If a man neglects his duties in one 
 situation, he justifies the suspicion that he will 
 also neglect them in another, and cannot rea- 
 sonably expect confidence or anticipate ad- 
 vancement, -The remark applies to you, gen- 
 tlemen, who are students of the institution, and 
 who have this day pledged yourselves to con- 
 form to ‘its regulations, and to attend to the 
 duties which it imposes. Consider that the 
 circumstances in which you are placed require 
 
( 26 ) 
 
 cautious and serious: deportment, pious and 
 humble and persevering industry, not merely 
 to avoid the unsparing attacks of calumny, ever 
 busy in her efforts and ever pestilential in her 
 influence, but to qualify you for the office of 
 the Christian ministry. Will any one object 
 that the duties contemplated are laborious ? 
 Let him consider that labour is essential to the 
 acquisition of any thing valuable. ‘Phe search 
 of knowledge,” says the author before cited, 
 who is emphatically called the judicious, “1s 
 a thing painful. ‘The root hereof, is divine 
 malediction, whereby the instruments being 
 weakened wherewithal the soul doth work, it 
 preferreth rest in ignorance before wearisome 
 labour to know.” But let not this be said of the 
 man who would become a minister of Christ. 
 I consider it as what may fairly be presumed, 
 that you are conscious of the holy operations of 
 divine grace drawing up your minds to high and 
 heayenly things; and with this consciousness 
 can you refuse to consecrate all your powers to 
 your God? Shall it be said, that emulation, 
 ambition, and other motives even less honoura- 
 ble, excite “ the children of this world” to pro- 
 ject and execute various plans of utility or of 
 agerandizement, while those who ought to merit 
 the appellation of “ children of light,” who are 
 
 * Book i. § 7, vol. i. p- 221-2. 
 
¢ 8% ) 
 
 peculiarly “sons of the prophets,” are unin- 
 terested in the splendid object which is set 
 before them, the advancement of the kingdom 
 of God, or would make any considerations equi- 
 valent to its interests? It must not, it cannot 
 be said. No motive has been more efficacious 
 in leading to painful and noble efforts for the 
 amelioration of the state of mankind, than 
 ‘sound piety and a serious sense of duty. ‘Those 
 candidates for the gospel ministry in whom ° 
 these principles are wanting, had better aban- 
 don atonce the object, and apply themselves to 
 some other profession. Yes, were you standing 
 at the very foot of the altar, ready to devote 
 yourselves professedly to God’s service by re- 
 plying in the affirmative to that searching ques- 
 tion, “do you trust that you are inwardly 
 moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon you 
 this office,” and were you uninfluenced by the 
 motives suggested, it would be but the part of 
 friendship to you and of duty to the Church, to 
 prevent the solemn mockery. We should be 
 required to address you in the language of St. 
 Peter, “you have neither part nor lot in this 
 matter.” | 
 
 To the student who is governed by conscien- 
 tious and upright motives, (and the remark I trust 
 applies to all of you), no farther considerations 
 will be necessary, to lead him to devote all his 
 talents and his efforts to the duties of his station. 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 The prevalence of error even in important 
 points of Christian doctrine, and the fondness 
 for hypothesis which in all ages has displayed 
 its influence, and seldom more wildly than in 
 the present, will require the attempt on his 
 part to detect the sophisms by which they are 
 supported. And while he will see the necessity 
 of calling to his assistance the aids of critical 
 and philological inquiry, let him ever remem- 
 ber that it is no less necessary, to seek by ha- 
 bitual supplication that assistance from above, 
 which only can render his studies practically 
 efficacious. Let him apply himself to the 
 Scriptures under the influence of the principle 
 which suggested the ejaculation, “ open thou 
 mine eyes, that | may behold wondrous things 
 out of thy law.” : 
 
 In conclusion, let it be allowed me to solicit 
 for a moment the attention of the lay-members 
 of our Church. With the objects which the 
 ‘Theological Seminary hopes to promote, you 
 cannot be unacquainted. And | trust that you 
 do not consider them as of little importance, or 
 feel but little interest in their advancement. 
 Admitting as you do, not merely the general 
 truths of Christianity, but avowing also the ex- 
 cellence of that modification of it which we 
 profess to defend, I trust it is not a matter of 
 indifference to you, whether the Church of 
 your forefathers shall maintain in this country 
 
( 29 ) 
 
 that influence among other Christian churches, 
 “which her character merits. Ignorance of her 
 doctrines and misapprehension of the nature of 
 her discipline, have contributed to propagate 
 gross errors, which the prejudices of early edu- 
 cation and the influence of venerated example 
 have served to strengthen. But these causes 
 have greatly diminished in their influence ; and 
 as it has been proved by the test of experience, 
 so is it now acknowledged by many of the en- 
 lightened and impartial of all Christian deno- 
 minations, that the institutions and usages of 
 the Episcopal Church are no less favourable to 
 a well-regulated republican form of govern- 
 ment, and no less conducive to the advance- 
 ment of sound morals and genuine piety, than 
 those of any other. It is but consistent that we 
 as churchmen should esteem them peculiarly 
 excellent. But permit me to repeat and to 
 impress the sentiment before expressed, that 
 the institutions of our Church will never com- 
 mand suitable respect among the community 
 in general, unless they are illustrated and de- 
 fended by respectable talent and unaffected 
 piety. And as it is the design of the seminary 
 to advance these essential objects, it may pro- 
 perly look to the members of the Episcopal 
 Church for protection and support. The speaker 
 is aware that in suggesting this consideration 
 he exposes himself to the suspicion of being 
 
¢ 30) 
 
 influenced by interested motives. But satis- 
 fied that in this instunce at least it is the ‘* mens 
 sibi consci1 recti” which prompts him, and 
 that the suspicion will not be harboured by any 
 noble minded man, he will not shrink from the 
 performance of a duty through apprehension of 
 a charge which is unworthy of his notice. He 
 considers the advancement.of Theological Lite- 
 rature as closely connected with the best in- 
 terests of his Church. And iet him be allowed 
 to say without the charge of egotism, that his 
 attachments to that Church are such as spring, 
 not from recent proselytism and late conviction 
 of its excellence, but from habits connected 
 with his earliest recollections, strengthened by 
 associations never to be forgotten, and estab- 
 lished just in proportion to his examination of 
 her principles. And he thinks, that in pleading 
 the cause of the Seminary, he is equally the 
 advocate of his Church. The institution in 
 contemplation he dees not consider as connect- 
 ed with this or that section of his country, or as 
 intended to have an influence on the character 
 of the Episcopal Church in the present age 
 merely; he views it as affecting the interests of 
 our Zion in. the whole extent of country which 
 this vast empire embraces, and as bequeathing | 
 its unnumbered legacies to ages yet unborn. 
 Let us take no contracted view of its influence. 
 A multiplicity of objections and difculuies may 
 
Carer, 
 be started, but they will all be answered and 
 solved by the influence of time, when it shall 
 be seen that our object is, not to promote party 
 jealousies, but by a thorough course of ‘The- 
 ological instruction and by a constant inculca- 
 tion of duty and a vigorous maintenance of dis- 
 cipline, to endeavour to the best of our ability, 
 to cherish the piety of our pupils, in order to 
 send them forth as “ workmen that need not be 
 ashamed.” And in this object are the mem- 
 bers of our Church willing to co-operate by 
 their influence, by their prayers, by their wealth? 
 Let it not be thought that sid from the last 
 mentioned source is not required. It is abso- 
 lutely necessary to place the institution on a 
 tolerably respectable footing, and to subserve 
 the grand interests to which it directs its efforts. 
 Something has been done, but much remains 
 to be effected. If our members are not willing 
 thus to co-operate, then let it be acknowledged, 
 either that the plan of the institution is radi- 
 cally wrong, thus questioning the wisdom of 
 our highest Ecclesiastical council, or that Epis- 
 copalians are deficient in zeal for the interests 
 of their Church, and less influenced by religi- 
 ous considerations than other Christian com- 
 munities—Whatever may be the result, the 
 speaker will never come to either of these con- 
 clusions, until an appeal not only to the rich of 
 this world, but to every individual of the 
 
( 32 ) 
 
 Church whose circumstances enable him to 
 give any thing however little, shall by its fai- 
 sae have extorted from him the lamentation, 
 '* how is the eet: become sae the fine gold 
 changed?” 
 
 THE END 
 
THE ADVANTAGES 
 
 OF DISTRIBUTING 
 
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