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MINISTERS MUST BE EDUCATED MEN.

CHAPTER XIII.

Selecting Young Men for the Ministry.

Ir, at first view, it might be a question whether I am not digressing in this chapter, it will be seen on reflection by the reader, that this is not the case. Especially would he feel so, had teachers often come to him to inquire whether they, or such and such pupils, ought to study for the ministry. So difficult is this subject, that I have recently had a committee of a church formally putting the question, "How shall we know whether it is the duty of a young man, hopefully pious, and in indigent circumstances, to seek an education with the gospel ministry in view ? "

The importance of this question will not fail of obtaining from my reader a careful perusal of the thoughts which I may suggest, and a deep attention to the subject. The sabbath shool is hereafter to be the nursery of the ministry, and multitudes of teachers and scholars are to be trained up for this high and holy work. The attentive will observe also, that though I mention several desirable characteristics in one who proposes to study for the ministry, yet none of them are of the extraordinary character with which only here and there one can be found to be endowed. Let the reader candidly and anxiously inquire whether it is not his duty to seek the ministry; and if not, whether he does not know one, two, or more young men, whose duty it is, and over whom he may have more or less influence.

It is too late in the day to doubt whether the ministers of the gospel must be educated men. The light, the intelligence, the freedom, and the boldness of thought in this age, have decided that point. We have decided that we will trust neither our ships, our diseased bodies, our questions at law, our schools, nor any other great interest, to men who are unqualified by education and discipline of mind to manage them. And every child knows and feels that the imperishable interests of the soul, and that wide and deep influence which the ministry in this, and indeed in all other lands, has upon society, ought not, and must not, be committed to ignorance or stupidity. Many denominations of Christians have long held this doctrine in theory and practice, and I rejoice to know that it is fast becoming the doctrine and the practice of every denomination of Christians which hopes to do much towards influencing the human mind, and carrying salvation through the world.

AN EDUCATED MINISTRY.

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That there will be an immense number of young men educated for the ministry in this land, for the coming half century at least, there can be no doubt. It is easy to bring proof on this point which no scepticism can resist. I will very briefly tell you why it must be so.

In the first place, the state of this nation, and of all the nations of the earth, calls loudly for educated ministers. Every man who nnderstands the subject can present most alarming facts in regard to the destitution of our land. The tide of population rises continually, but never ebbs. With an increase of more than three hundred and sixty-five thousand every year, and nearly, or quite half our present population unsupplied with the bread of life, these facts can never be repeated without thrilling the heart. We feel that the salvation of this country, and, through the agency of the church of God here, the salvation of half the earth, depends upon the ministry. The desolations at the north, beginning with Canada, and at the south and west, from every point, assail us with the cry, " Give us men." The voice comes from places where no churches are yet organized, and from hundreds of feeble churches, crying, "Give us men." The heathen nations, through our missionaries, cry with a voice that might almost awaken the dead, "Give us men." These calls for "men" are sounded through our churches continually. They startle, they cause the heart to throb, and the eye to gush with tears. Our old men hear them, and lament that their youth is gone by. Our young men hear them, and their bosoms heave at the tale of the woes of a world. Is it possible that they will not in multitudes seek the ministry? Is there any thing to be poured upon this excited feeling, this painful interest, that can destroy it? No: nothing. And they will, by hundreds, and by thousands, rise up, and say to the voice of God, "Here am I, send me."

In the second place, we have a systematic and and an efficient organization created by our churches, which has publicly and solemnly given the pledge to aid every properly qualified young man who shall ask assistance. The foundations of this charity were laid in prayer. The hands of such men as the judicious and ardent Cornelius, built upon these foundations, till the fabric has become beautiful. It has become the fostering parent of many hundreds of consecrated sons. It can extend a warm and confiding hand to every one who will grasp it. Our youth all know it, and, as all know that they shall not be suffered to fall by the way, it is morally impossible but that thousands should seek to be educated for the Christian ministry.

In the third place, our churches all expect this. in great mercy with the churches in this land. of the morning he has the dew of our youth."

God is dealing "From the womb Our almost con

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DUTY OF CHURCHES:

tinued revivals, our system of sabbath schools, and the direct, home preaching of our ministers, cannot but call multitudes of young men every year into the ministry. Almost every little church in our land can furnish from one to half-a-dozen young men of decided promise, for the holy ministry. I could mention a smal church in New England, in a town, the whole of whose inhabitants would not amount to six hundred, which has nearly twenty young men at the present time preparing for the ministry. This is at present an uncommon case; but may we not hope the time is near when very many of our churches will be equally honoured? Our churches are beginning to feel that it ought to be so, and that they are behind the age, if they have not each one or more sons in the ministry, or fitting for the ministry. I trust the day is not far off, when every church will feel that she ought to have sons in the ministry, if not on heathen lands, and that the choicest offering which she can make, will be that of sons and daughters baptized with the love of Jesus Christ, and devoted to his service. This growing, and now almost universal feeling, will greatly increase the number of those who will seek to be educated for the ministry. It need not be said that every pious heart rejoices, and admires that system of providences which has laid this pressure upon our churches. They cannot go back, if they would. Nothing short of some most awful frown of God, by which he withdraws his spirit from these churches, can prevent hundreds from entering the Gospel ministry But from the great mercies which God has bestowed upon this land, and from that source almost solely, I draw the hope and the confident expectation, that these churches, planted with many prayers and tears, are yet to be a great blessing to this fallen world.

A question of vast importance and deep interest, then, stands at the head of this chapter. I myself know of scores, and I presume there are many hundreds in this land, who are asking it with anxiety almost indescribable. It is to aid these that I give the hints which follow. We all know something of the power and the influence of one sanctified, educated mind, when placed in the ministry. The arithmetic of the world cannot compute the loss which the earth would have suffered, had not such minds as those of Edwards, Dwight, Mills, and Payson been brought into the ministry. We cannot bear the thought that such vessels should be suffered to lie unfitted and unused in the Master's service. the other hand, it is a sore evil to bring forward men, who, with good intentions, have such natural or moral deficiencies of character as will result in their certain disappointment, their deep mortification, and will inevitably destroy their usefulness. It was ennidly said by a body of our dissenting brethren in England to a

On

FIRST TEMPTATION.

RESPECTABILILITY.

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young broom-maker, who was very desirous of becoming a preacher, Young friend, we have carefully examined your character and qualifications. We believe that God requires his servants to labour in different stations. Some he calls to serve him by labouring in the ministry, and some by making brooms. We are of the unanimous opinion, that he calls you to serve him by making brooms.' Is there not danger that such candour is too unfrequent; and that while the pledge is held out that all who ask it, shall receive an education, the impression will be made upon our youth, that all ought to receive it? But in the remarks which I am about to make, I am no less desirous of bringing forward those who ought to come, than of preventing those who would not think of coming forward, if they knew themselves.

Few questions can ever come before the mind of a young man who gives credible evidence of piety, of greater importance or of more solemn import than this: Is it my duty to try to obtain an education with a view to the Gospel ministry ?' It is a question which often awakens deep solicitude in the bosom of the pastor, of the officers of the church, and of the sabbath school teachers, as they look round upon the young men within their communion. And in discussing this question, it seems to me that there are several severe temptations to which such a youth is exposed, and of which he ought to be tenderly and faithfully warned.

1. The temptation of desiring to study for the sake of respectability.

The human heart is selfish and vain. I do not say that such thoughts as the following pass through the mind in this regular train, but I can safely appeal to ahe bosom of many for whose benefit I am writing, and ask if they have never felt any thing like it? 'I am now a member of Christ's visible church. I am born to no affluence, in no circle of powerful friends. My station in life is that of the commen walks. To be sure, I can work on the farm or in the shop, and be as respectable as my neighbours. But if I should succeed in obtaining an education, and become a minister, I shall fill a wider and a very diffent sphere. I shall then have books, a good library, a circle of educated acquaintances, and there will be no circle in this, nor in any other country, into which my profession will not admit me. My name will stand on the catalogue of the college, of the seminary, and of the church, as a student and a public man, as long as our language lives. How different this from plodding through life, unknown, and unknowing, just earning enough to clothe and feed the body, and knowing just enough to fulfil these lower duties whose object is to supply the wants of the animai nature! There are circles into which i can never gain admittance: there are fountains of knowledge at which I can never hope to drink.

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AMBITION.--EASY LIFE.

Why should I not become the pride of my friends, the honour of my family, and the centre of great respectability? Yes, I will seek a liberal education.'

You will not suppose me to be blaming the young man because he has this temptation placed in his way, and because these bright visions dance before him. No. It is a part of the moral discipline through which he must pass. But let him understand the temptation, and realize that nothing can be further from the spirit of the Gospel, than the spirit of these motives.

2. The second temptation is that of ambition.

At first thought, it might seem as if this might be embraced in the preceding head. But I make this distinction between the two temptations. That was a desire to escape from the present condition; this, to soar and walk on the ridges of the earth. The young man in his deliberations looks round, and sees one and another who, in their youth, were poor, aud their families unknown. Many of those who now stand near the throne of England, were poor boys. Even the late Chancellor of England, it is said, was once a sizer, or waiting scholar in college. In this country, those who, in the religious world at least, are taking the lead in the van of the army of the Prince of Peace, were poor, and the objects of charity. Some of them are now at the head of Colleges, and Theological Seminaries : some are at the head of our great benevolent operations of the day, and a host of such stand high, and in most enviable situations. Why should not he? What forbids that he should do the same, and hereafter be known as the President of a College, the author of a much-admired book, or centre of some commanding influence? Nothing, surely. And he who is now unknown and unnoticed, a mechanic's apprentice, or a farmer's boy, or an under clerk, will yet reach a height from which his influence shall be felt the world over!

I do not believe that our young men have yet felt the power of this temptation as much as they will feel it. It will every year become more and more strong; and I beg of our young men not to mistake such motives and call them a zeal for Jesus Christ. The flame may ascend high and fill the bosom, but neither the oil nor the fire is from the sanctuary of God.

3. The third temptation comes in his expectation of passing an easier life if he becomes a minister.

The hours of toil and severe tasking, through which the minister passes, are unseen, while all the hard labours of the mechanic, of the farmer, and of the merchant, are seen and known. You see the one in his shop, and the other in his field, and the third in his store or on 'change, and know just how much fatigue each endures. When you see the clergyman, he is walking, or riding, or relaxing