object of true eloquence, then, is not sim- and from lips touched and sanctified by his ply to amuse and delight; to captivate the Spirit; when its ain reaches to heaven, mind to no useful purpose; nor to employ and its theme is salvation?-To mention its charms to dazzle and bewilder. It has no others, what think you of Paul, and of What was the mighty instrua higher and nobler aim. It seeks to con- Whitefield? vince men of what is good; to show them ment which they employed for the conwhere their real interests lie; and to ac- version of men, so far as human agency complish this, it wields the truth with all was concerned? It was eloquence. Withthe energy which it can command. To in- out this they would have passed through duce men to pursue their own good, and to their ministry with no other success than seek their true interests, it calls to its aid all has attended the efforts of ten thousands of that is inviting and powerful in language;- their fellow-laborers, whose zeal and love all which is attractive in elocution, and ad- may have equalled theirs, but whose sucDo you say that dress. It explores every avenue to the cess fell far behind. mind, and searches the recesses of the these two distinguished ministers wielded heart. It looks at home, and abroad, for the sword of the Spirit, and that was the motives to control the will, for whatever instrument which gave them success?-But can sway the affections-for whatever can how did they wield it? They wielded it arouse to action. It borrows arguments, eloquently. They preached the word of illustrations, and beauties, from every region God eloquently-they reasoned eloquently of creation, and makes them subservient to-they persuaded eloquently.-Their hearits one great purpose. While it captivates, it imposes no servitude, for the subjects of its power are so from choice; and their obedience is that of the understanding, and their assent is the assent of the heart.

ers felt the power of their eloquence, and
God honored and blessed it, as the means
So will he
of conversion, to multitudes.
He will always honor those
always do.
means which are worthy of honor, and give
efficacy to such as are adapted to their
object. He will not dignify what is un-
worthy of regard, nor give success
means which are adapted to no end.

to

In a matter of so great importance, far be it from me to insist on any position which cannot have truth for its support, or to magnify it beyond its deserts. But, as it appears to me, there is little danger of overrating the rank which eloquence should hold among the qualifications of a Christian minister. The records of the church will show that its greatest victories have been achieved by an eloquent exhibition of divine truth.

I know there are those who seem to think it enough to have the truth on their side, and think themselves scarcely responsible for the manner in which they present it to others. If they do but preach the truth, it is no matter how. Let the presentation of it be ever so dull, feeble, and languid; let it be wrapped in ever so much obscurity; let it be blended with matters ever so foreign; let it be said, or sung, or chanted; let it be conveyed in

We have already seen that the great object of a Christian minister, is to convince men that there is a God; that he has given them a revelation; that they are sinners; that Jesus Christ has made a propitiation for them; and that they may obtain forgiveness of sin, through his blood, by faith in his name, and repentance of sin. Here, then, if any where, is occasion for eloquence, of the highest, noblest kind. Here men need to be convinced of the sublimest truths, of the dearest interests, of the most important good, in which they are, or ever will be, concerned; and, from their natural aversion to all these, their indifference and stupidity, they need the most cogent persuasion to induce them to profit by the truth. Here are interests at stake, in comparison with which all other interests are insignificant. In times of political trouble, how do we wish our real patriots to be irresistibly eloquent in their endeavors to maintain the public weal against the attacks of folly, or of wickedness? And when some consummate statesman arises who, by his eloquence, is able to cope with these at-language low and disgusting, or fierce, or tacks, and defeat the schemes of ambition, how highly do we value the man, and bless the skill which gave him the victory? But what are political evils, or any which afflict us here on earth, either in magnitude or duration, compared with those which sinners will endure in a world to come? Or what political, or other happiness, can equal that which the gospel presents, in boundless love, to those who comply with its conditions? If eloquence can accomplish such great things in the concernments of this world, as we know it can, and that too, when flowing from lips which are impure; what can it not effect when coming from a heart which the love of God has warmed,

vaporing; in tones suited to excite a smile when you should weep, and in terms which repel, rather than invite ;-they have performed their duty; and if sinners are not saved, the latter are alone in fault. If their manner be objected to, the reply is, we are minister's of Christ; it is your business and duty to receive our message, however delivered; to respect us for our Master's sake, demean ourselves as we may; and to receive the truth for its own sake, whatever we may do to render it forbidding. All this is perfectly true; and did it render those who say it as excuseless as their hearers, it would be well. But neither the soundness of their cause, nor the un

reasonableness of their hearers, makes out a sufficient apology for failing to maintain the one, and to overcome the other, by all the means which they can properly employ. We know that sinners are unreasonable, captious, and ready to transfer the blame of their rejecting the gospel to those who preach it-nay, to the very Author of it himself. But this is the very difficulty which a minister should expect, and be prepared to encounter and remove; and not one to be used in justification of his own deficient performances, and failure in promptitude to maintain so good a cause against so groundless an opposition.

I have dwelt the longer on eloquence as a qualification for a preacher, from a conviction that its importance has been too much overlooked in a course of theological education. The subject has an extensive bearing on the interests of the church, and is intimately connected with the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom on earth. 1 should add, that eloquence is not a natural gift. The obtaining of it demands much careful study and discipline; a wide range of knowledge of various kinds, and a thorough comprehension of the objects which it embraces. Like other acquisitions of the mind, it does not come without labor, and search; but, when once possessed, it yields a full and ample reward.

37

employ all the means, within their reach, for doing good, and advancing the kingdom of heaven. He gives them a holy disposition of heart, and sheds abroad his love there, for nobler and higher ends than to neglect and despise the means of usefulness which his own wisdom has provided.

But is it not "by the foolishness of preaching," some will reply, "that God is pleased to save them that believe?" An able commentary, truly, which construes the opinion of Greek philosophers, that the preaching of the gospel was foolishly inadequate to change the religious belief of mankind, into a divine commendation of foolish preaching! Folly itself could not wish for a more appropriate vindication. Yet this passage has often been quoted, with great seriousness and gravity, in defence of such preaching as excited censure for its leanness and inefficiency.

It is further objected by some, with an air of triumph, that the apostles, whom Christ commissioned to be the first preachers of his gospel, and whose labors were crowned with such glorious success, were unlearned, and uneducated men.-That the apostles were selected from the humbler walks of life, is very true; but it is evident from sundry considerations, which I shall not stop to mention, that they had received, at least, those rudiments of education which It has often been said, by way of objection were commonly enjoyed by their countryto the arguments in favor of an educated men. For three years and a half, as is ministry, that the Holy Spirit alone confers generally supposed, they received instrucon those who are authorized to preach, alt tion from One who "taught, as never man necessary powers and gifts for that purpose. taught." They were the daily companions But do facts warrant such a position? Do of their Master, listening to the wisdom they show us that uneducated, and ignorant which continually fell from his lips, and men, with all the aids which the Holy witnessing the wondrous, and instructive, Spirit is pleased to vouchsafe to them, are acts which he performed. Who can estithe most successful preachers;-that they mate the advantages for instruction and are even tolerable expositors of his word;-knowledge, which these men enjoyed?that they are able defenders of the truth The Master did not select and commission against infidels and calumniators? Where these apostles just as he left our world, and are the monuments which such men have thus send them forth untaught, and ignoerected in the cause of Christianity, to sig-rant, depending alone on the mere supernalize their prowess, and their achieve- natural influences of that Comforter whom ments? That plain, unlettered men have he promised to send, inestimable as those sometimes been the instruments of good, on influences were; but himself became their a limited scale, is not denied. But the good instructor, and educated them for their work. which they have done bears no comparison He has thus set an example of what should with what they might have accomplished be done, for the training up of men to miniswith the same natural talents, cultivated, ter in his name. With all the advantages and expanded with superior knowledge; which young men, preparing for the miniswhile even this has been blended with try, enjoy at this day, none of them, I trust, evils which their ignorance has occasioned, would consider his opportunities of acquiring and which a better education might have knowledge appropriate to that work equivaavoided. Facts, surely, do not teach us that lent to those which the apostles possessed, ignorance is a qualification for any enter- and be unwilling to exchange his privileges prise, whether its object relates to the things for theirs. it would be a useful and pleasing of this world, or that which is to come. undertaking to point out the various particuThe office of the Holy Spirit is not to confer lars in which the Saviour instructed his knowledge on men, but to sanctify it, and apostles, and compare them with those lead them to put it, when possessed, to a which are embraced by a course of theoright use. He does not countenance their logical education such as is now most apignorance, and indolence, and self-conceit, proved. But this occasion does not admit but disapproves them. He urges them to these minuter inquiries, and I leave them

to be made by those who may choose to men, demand of every follower of Christ investigate the subject more at large.

faithfulness, and encourage us to go forward with holy ardor in an enterprise so pleasing to Him, so benevolent in us, so salutary to our fellow men, and so needful to their salvation? I repeat it,-we, we alone are to blame. Ours is a privilege which angels might covet, while we treat it as a painful burden, and seek to cast it from us by every pretext which unbelief can frame.

that he should lend his aid, so far as his When our Saviour, after his ascension to ability allows, to the great work of making heaven, made choice of one to bear his the Redeemer's kingdom co-extensive with name among the gentiles, whom did he the world. The gospel must be preached select? Did he make choice of an ignorant, to every human creature, if we would fulfil unlettered, uneducated man? No; he chose the command of Christ, and manifest to the Saul of Tarsus, a man skilled in the various world that the love which dwelt in Him, learning of his times, and educated for action dwells also in us. It the whole world have in public life. His fellow-laborer, Luke, not this gospel preached to them, the fault was an educated physician; Apollos was, is not in the Father, nor in the Son, nor in we are told, an eloquent man and mighty the Holy Spirit. The fault is entirely ours. in the scriptures; and who can doubt, from The work is left for us to do; and the cothe accounts which are given of them in operation of God is pledged, if we perform the sacred writings, although we have not our part aright; but not a single promise is their particular histories, that Barnabas, and made for the accomplishment of the world's Silas, and Mark, and Timothy, and Titus, delivery from the bondage of sin, beyond were far advanced above ignorant and un- what he has already done through the learned men? The whole tenor of these atoning sacrifice of his Son, without the accounts serves to convince us that they efforts of men in its behalf. The glad were men of no ordinary attainments. tidings of salvation must be borne from Passing by the days in which the Fathers land to land, and from clime to clime, by flourished, and coming down to modern human aid, and be announced by human times, for the sake of obtaining names lips. Whatever can be done by man, man which are familier to us, who have been must do, in this glorious cause, before God the great luminaries of the church in this himself will manifest what he will further latter period? They are such men as Lu- do for the redemption of his pledge. Has ther, Melancthon, Calvin, Wesley, White-not He already done enough to evince his field, Robert Hall, Henry Martyn, Edwards, Dwight, and a numerous company of others who have sustained the ministerial office, and been a blessing to mankind. Who can believe that human learning did not render these men immensely more useful to the world, as ministers of Christ, than they could have been without attainments in learning and knowledge? They faithfully cultivated their intellectual powers, and then consecrated them to the service of God and man. He accepted the consecration, and vindicated, in so doing, this truth of his own word, that a man is accepted according to what he hath, and not according to what he hath not. If it be true that a man reaps according to what he sows, it follows, of course, that a minister who sows the seed of ignorance and folly shall reap a crop of ignorance and folly; nor will the Spirit of God, by any process of sanctification, cause the seed of tares to germinate into wheat, or of nonsense into wisdom. He will not break up his own established connection between cause and effect, to gratify the caprices of ignorance, or the whims of self-conceit. Weakness, however sanctified, is weakness still. It is vigor, which, when sanctified, puts forth an efficient growth of holiness, to the praise and glory of Him who does all things well. In accordance with the sentiments which have now been expressed, the object of the American Education Society, is to select indigent young men of hopeful piety, and promising talents, and educate them thoroughly for the gospel ministry. The So ciety continue to urge their claims upon the attention of the Christian public, believing that the honor of God, and the salvation of

But

Here, now, I rest the cause of this So. ciety. This gospel of the kingdom must be preached to every creature by human agency, or not at all. If it shall be so preached, truly and faithfully, then will the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God, and of his Christ. they who preach must be well qualified for their work, and the effect will be strictly in accordance with these qualifications. Partial causes will always be followed by partial effects, and complete effects will be produced by corresponding causes.- - Our object, therefore, is, to educate young men, who are to be preachers of the gospel, in the best manner in our power, in order to insure their greatest usefulness. We cannot conscientiously aim at less. After all, we do not expect the accomplishment of our wishes in full; for some will, in spite of all our care, and anxiety, disappoint our hopes. But by making our standard high, we shall accomplish more than we should were it low; shall have abler ministers, and more abundant fruits from their labor. Those who are able to educate themselves, we leave to their own responsibilities;—our object is to find out the indigent pious, of competent abilities, and of a right spirit, and to educate as many of them for the ministry as the charity of the Christian

1834.]

REV. MR. ELLIS'S REPORT.

39

nevolent object of said Society. In making this donation, I can scarcely refrain from suggesting that of the late lamented death of my only son, Joseph it is property which has fallen to me in consequence Appleton Barrett, who was a member of Yale College, and of great promise; and who, probably, had voted himself to the Christian ministry. But since his life and health been preserved, would have dehe is gone, it is my carnest desire and prayer to God, that this property which was his, may be so appro. priated as shall best subserve the same cause.

JOSEPH BARRETT.

best results, certainly to the funds of the Society; and if I may trust the declarations of the beloved brethren in the ministry who felt so deeply the responsibility, the results were equally happy on the objects of the meetings.

public shall allow us the means. We intend that our efforts shall have no other limit than that which shall terminate the charity of Christians towards their fellow-men. Let Christians ponder well on their duty, their privileges, and their ability, in relation to this subject. Especially let those in Connecticut attentively consider, whether they have done their duty, in contributing but little more than half the amount of the funds which their own beneficiaries have received the past year.-Think once more, how can Perhaps it would aid the cause of benev this world be converted to Christ, without olence to state a few facts calculated to preachers? How can preachers be raised deepen conviction in relation to the direct up, and educated, and sent forth, without evangelical tendency of this with other means, and without effort? Christians of branches of Christian enterprise. In three Connecticut, Christians of America, do not instances I have had the pleasure of pleaddisguise your apathy, and cheat yourselves ing the cause of the Education Society, in of the reward which awaits the faithful, the midst of protracted meetings with the watchful, servants of your Master, by finding fault with this, and that, scheme of operations, and so excusing yourselves in your idleness. If you do not like the plan which we or others propose, try some different one. We only wish you to act. Fault us as much as you please- but act. The destitute of our own country, and the heathen throughout the world, demand your assistance. Death and hell wait not your tardy movements. They are continually swallowing up the victims which your timely action might have rescued from their power. You can never take your money with you to heaven; but you can do with it what is immeasurably betteryou can, by its bestowment in the cause which I plead, obtain companions to attend you in your upward flight thither, who will greatly add to that recompense of reward which you hope to receive, and who will be additional jewels, placed by your own benevolence, in that diade:n of glory which sparkles on the head of Jesus, your Redeemer.

Report of Rev. John M. Ellis, who has been engaged for a few months past in the State of New Hampshire.

THE churches visited since my last report with their contributions, are the following, viz. Jaffrey, $160 16. Rindge, $168 05. W. Boscawen, $187 66. Campton. $14287. Lyme, $63 65. Lebanon, $92 69 Haverhill, $50. Bath, $135 18, including the fourth payment of the scholarship of I. Goodall, Esq. Canterbury, $65. East Concord, $47. New Ipswich, $455 99. Hollis, $182 13. Mt. Vernon, $75. Milford, $168.-Total, $1,993 38.

A part of the collection from New Ipswich was accompanied with the following note addressed to me as agent.

Sir, through you I transmit to the American Education Society. $150 to be appropriated in that manner which will best promote the great and be

On one of these occasions, a young man, who, during the meeting, had become deeply convicted of his lost state as a sinner, yielded his heart to God, as we joyfully trust, at the very moment of circulating the cards to receive the subscriptions for the Education Society. Seeing others subscribing, he said to himself, "I know I ought to be devoted to so good a cause; but

have little money to give; if the Lord will accept me I will pledge my life to it forever." He afterwards said to me that he had no feeling of submission to God till that moment. But from that time, such has been the evidence of his Christian character that all rejoice to see him laying aside the mercantile business to prepare for the

work of the ministry.

It is truly encouraging to witness the increasing sense of responsibility in ministers and churches to search out and bring forward promising young men to prepare for the ministry. As an instance, I found a grey headed father, who had already given up four sons to prepare for the ministry, and now was about giving up the fifth and only remaining son to the patronage of the American Education Society, choosing to labor the harder to support his family, rather than keep back one promising youth from the field of moral desolation.

I am happy to state, also, that almost every week brings new and delightful illustrations of the Bible doctrine, so important to the cause of Christ, that "there is that scattereth and yet increaseth." In travelling extensively, both east and west of the mountains, as an agent of the Education Society, I have found no man who says he has given too much, or is the poorer for giving; but the universal testimony is, "I know I have been blessed in my business much more since I have given liberally to

the cause of God." "Until four years ago," said a contributor to your funds, in New Hampshire, "I gave nothing to these societies; but the Lord has opened my eyes, and my heart, and I now seek opportunities to give." Being asked how much he had given in that time, he answered, $700." And are you the poorer for it, said I?"No," said he, "I know I am not the poorer. God's blessing comes often, so as to surprise me, both in the fruits of my fields, and the facilities of the market."

and their record is on high. But my soul shudders in view of this fearful comment on the words of Christ. "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God."

As to the reception of this object of charity by the Christian community, I need only say that their favor has made my work most delightful;-the amount bestowed will show the rest.

Francestown, Oct. 13, 1834.

Some of the best collections have been received from churches which had just been exiled from their accustomed place of worship, in the manner that has caused so many orthodox churches to be obliged to make large sacrifices in building new houses of worship. Without exception their declaration is, that "Never have they been able to do so much for general benevolence, and never with so much satisfaction as since they came to the resolution to maintain the cause of Christ at any sacrifice. The minister of one of these churches said, The Rev. Charles S. Adams has spent the "should our new house be destroyed, we most of his time for the last quarter in the could build a second one easier than we built the first." And it was said, also, "that State of Maine. He has labored successfully the church had given more within the last in the county of Cumberland. No report three years to public benevolence than all it had given before since its existence." for publication has been received from him. Another was so poor that they were about Mr. William P. Apthorp, who has been to lose their pastor, not being able to sup-appointed to a temporary agency, has spent port him; but from the time they deter- a few weeks within the bounds of the Edmined on building their house, no such complaint has been heard. In the case of ucation Society of Taunton and vicinity. the third, such was the impulse given to No account of his agency has been received. their moral energies, by their success in building their meeting-house, that they added also a commodious building for a female academy, with results so completely satisfactory, that a third building is now contemplated for the instruction of males.

THE REV. Mr. Mather, secretary of the Vermont Branch, has been employed the last quarter in that State, and also in Massachusetts. He is now prosecuting his agency with success, as usual, in the county of Hampshire. No report has been received from him for publication, except the annual report of the Branch Society.

ANNIVERSARIES OF BRANCH AND AUX-
ILIARY SOCIETIES.

New Hampshire Branch.

THE annual meeting of this Society was held at Meredith Bridge, Sept. 3, 1834. The report of the directors was read by professor Hadduck, of Dartmouth college. The report of the treasurer in his absence was read by the Rev. Mr. Bouton of Concord. The meeting was addressed by the Rev. Mr. Willey of Rochester, the Rev. J. M. Ellis agent of the Parent Society, the

I have learned a lesson both from the rich and the poor. Two small country towns, paid, in nearly equal sums, over $300. The largest donations in both towns were from females. In one of the towns a young woman, supporting herself by her labor, made herself a life member of the State Branch, by a donation of $30. She had a few months previous, done the same for the Bible Society," I cannot be satisfied," she said, "until I see my money DOING GOOD." Nor is this a solitary instance of the kind. In the other town one of the three highest donors is entirely dependent on her own industry and the blessing of her Rev. Dr. Tucker of Troy, New York, the God.-Happy for a dying world, and happy Rev. Dr. Matheson of Durham, England, for the cause of Christ, if the rich would and the Rev. Dr. Cogswell, Boston. The give like the poor. I thought of the widow who "cast in all the living that she had." officers of the Society for the year ensuing, I thought of the rich who cast in their "two are the Rev. Nathan Lord, D. D. President mites." Will they can they be accepted of Dartmouth college, President; the Rev. unless they give "ACCORDING TO WHAT C. B. Hadduck, Secretary, and Hon. Samuel Do they love their money THEY HAVE?" more than the cause of Christ and the souls Morril, Treasurer. An extract of the reof men? I know there are noble exceptions, port will be inserted at some future time.