thren, which is as high and impassable as that which exists between Protestants and Papists here, or should exist between the converted pagans and their old idolatrous and heathen religion. It is in our eyes an odious deformity in their creed, a morbid fungus upon their body ecclesiastic. Nor can the world ever be converted by such instrumentality: and we commend this one thought to the prayerful consideration of the Rev. Mr. Noel, and the readers of his book.

ART. VIII.-ADAMS'S MINISTER OF CHRIST.

Notes of the Minister of Christ for the Times, drawn from the Holy Scriptures. By CHARLES ADAMS. 18mo., pp. 246. New-York: Lane & Scott. 1850.

In our January number this work (then unpublished) was characterized as being "full of thought and seeds of thought, as well as of stirring practical appeals for an earnest and effective ministry." We have little fear that this judgment will be set aside by our readers, after they shall have carefully examined the book itself. Its object, as stated in the preface, is "to delineate, with simplicity and brevity, the Scriptural picture of a Christian minister,"-to bring out a "faithful view of the minister for the times, and for all time," with materials drawn from that volume which belongs to the race. It is divided into four parts, of which Part I. treats of "The Minister for the Times as a Man." The principal topics here are the personal qualifications of the real minister of Christ,-physical, moral, and intellectual. Each trait is handled singly, with a separate passage of Scripture for a text or motto. We give a specimen of the style of the book, and of the spirit which animates it, from Part I. Under the text, "One thing I do,” (Phil. iii, 13,) we have,

He has settled the

"The minister for the times is a single-minded man. matter fully and forever, that oneness of pursuit is indispensable to distinguished success in any important enterprise. Salvation is his one sublime purpose, as it was the purpose of his great Master. Here is the goal toward which all his energies tend. He takes no step-touches no book-holds no conversation— writes no line-indulges no recreation, inconsistent with this all-controlling point. A hundred things which many good men, and many ministers, allow in themselves, this minister cuts off entirely. His meditations are upon the things of his ministry. He gives himself wholly to them, and continues in them. He determines not to know anything among the people save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. His eye looks right on, and his eyelids straight before him. Each book-essay-conversation-anecdote; each providence, prosperous or adverse;-all heaven, earth, and hell, are laid under contribution for the effecting of his object. He is a man of one work-comprehen

sively of one book-one thought-one wish. True, he has various accomplishments, and acts amid varied scenes and in varied capacities; still his mind wavers not-the 'mark' is before him, and fills his eye, while he presses toward it evermore. Christ came into the world-to save sinners. Paul made every innocent compliance-that he might, by all means, save some. Mills determined-that he would savingly influence the world. Martin ran after-the glory of God in the salvation of sinners. Wesley girded himself for a universal revival of religion. This, exactly this, is the genius of the minister for the times. Perhaps never were there greater allurements presented to the minds of ministers, to tempt them to a division of affection and pursuit. Abundant libraries-attractive lectures-literary and theological discussions-ingenious theories-fascinating circles-honourable appointments -flattering commendations-these, and the like, combined with native downward tendencies, are far too prone to cloud the spiritual vision, and induce the minister to forget the one great purpose of his mission. There is wanting now a race of ministers of singleness of soul-of one, indomitable purpose,living and running for salvation only;-in whose minds all else, whether in the literary, social, or physical world, is as the dust of the balance. This is the greatest want of the world. Greater talents are not needed. Learning, there is an abundance of it. Theologians-writers-scholars are not lacking. A concentration is demanded, of energies already in the ministry, to the one great pursuit the salvation of the race.

"Man of God, what now! A sinner is about to perish forever. Christ has found a ransom. He commissions you to publish it to that sinner, that he may be saved. Shall anything hinder? Shall aught else come into mind?” -Pp. 24-26.

Part II. treats of the "Minister for the Times as a Student.” The ground assumed by the author under this head is very high; yet it is, in general, abundantly well maintained. Indeed, this chapter, though condensed and brief, (perhaps because it is so,) appears. to us to be one of the best in the book. The foundation is laid as follows:

"But what are the acquired qualifications suited to a minister for these times? We answer that they are, so far as possible, such qualifications as were acquired and possessed in the beginning; and nothing less must be esteemed appropriate or adequate. This view appears amply confirmed not only by the inspired picture of an 'able minister,' but also by the apostolic charge to Timothy, whom Paul solemnly addresses, saying, 'The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.' This means that the apostolic learning was to be communicated to their successors, and received by them; and this with a view to their competency for instructing others.

"What, then, was this apostolic learning? It was the learning of men who had been long, and largely, and personally instructed by the Great Teacher; -men who, for years, had sat at the feet of Him that speaketh from heaven, and whose speaking was such as never man uttered;-men who often wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth;-men that were the companions of Jesus as he went through cities and villages teaching, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom;-men who drank deeply at the very fountain-head of truth and wisdom,—to whom thus the great book of revelation was unveiled,-who listened as, beginning at Moses and all the prophets, Christ expounded unto them, in all the Scriptures, the things concerning himself, until their hearts burned within them as he talked with them, and opened

to them the lively oracles. The apostolic learning is that of men who were the companions of the Lord Jesus all the time that he went in and out among them, beginning from the baptism of John to the very day that he was taken up;-men to whom he 'expounded all things,'-who saw and heard the 'many other' things which Jesus did and spoke, by far too numerous to be written, and too astonishing for a sinful world to believe.

"Judge, then, what must have been the learning of the first gospel ministers. They were eye-witnesses from the beginning, and had perfect understanding of all things from the very first.' Are there any greater privileges in this age for securing the qualifications adapted to a preacher of the gospel? Are the most studious and profound in this generation any better prepared-can they be better prepared to perform this solemn ministry? Can they know more of Christ-of his doctrine-of his spirit and practice-and of the best modes of instructing and persuading men so as that they may be saved? What, then, is the inference? This, simply; that if the deepest and most diligent study will not, to say the least, bring us farther than to the standard of apostolic learning, then any less degree of study will leave us less qualified than were they for the great ministerial work; and what they taught and preached, we shall not be fully able to teach others also.' In other words, this ministry will not, and, without miracle, cannot, be perfectly accomplished in us and by us. "Thus the conclusion is irresistible, that the good and able minister-the minister for these times-is, and must be, a diligent, faithful, earnest, and untiring student. Aiming at nothing less than primitive acquirements and excellence, he will give his mind and heart to the things of God, and, by all appropriate means, pursue after divine knowledge. He studies not everything. Thousands and thousands of books he never reads; but he looks earnestly for every acquisition-every ornament suitable and needful for his most important work. To these he devotes himself unreservedly, rigidly adapting his means to the end in view."-Pp. 96-98.

Part III. sets forth the "Minister for the Times as a Preacher," under twenty-five traits. The first treats of the nature and importance of preaching, as a vital and essential function of the Christian Church, as follows:

"Preaching is the capital office and work of the minister-and of the minister for these times, as well as for all time. It was thus that the gospel dispensation commenced. Christ was announced by preaching. When He appeared, he came preaching. He passed through all the cities and villages, teaching, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, anointing him to preach the gospel to the poor. The apostolic commission was to preach. Paul was called, by God's grace, to preach Christ among the heathen. This was his special work; for Christ sent him not to baptize, but to preach the gospel. Thus this Apostle writes of those who were begotten through the gospel. Peter writes of such as were born not of corruptible seed, but by the word of God; and James writes of himself and others being begotten with the word of truth. And how shall men believe in one of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? This is the divinely appointed instrumentality for the awakening and salvation of the race. Its importance, either from too much inadequate preaching, or from the multiplication of benevolent agencies, or from the degeneracy of the times, may have come to be more lightly esteemed than formerly. Yet preaching is still the great agency-the grand means for the world's regeneration. It is true now, as ever of old, that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing, by the procla mation of the word of God. Nor is he at all the minister for these times who hopes to save the souls of men by other means as effectually as by the preach

ing of the gospel. He has forgotten the ancient landmarks. He is striking out another path than that which He devised who gave the great gospel commission. Converse he should, at every opportunity. Write he should, wherever his pen may awaken, or guide, or comfort. The press he may use, so far as he has time, to aid the great cause for which he lives and acts. But let him not forget that preaching preaching is his great business his high callinghis heavenly ordnance-his celestial sword his burnished weapon of warfare -his strong staff of accomplishment. Preaching has done wonders, from the day of Pentecost to the present; and that, because it is God's own select instrumentality. Immeasurably the greater proportion of saints in Paradise, and of the great multitude now travelling thither, were brought to salvation by gospel preaching. Preaching awoke them at first-led them on to repentance, faith, conversion, sanctification, and perseverance; while its solemn voice, like some strange, invisible power, is ever lifting the Christian toward God, dying away on the pilgrim's ear only when the everlasting doors have shut him within the heavenly city. To the Jew, it may be a stumbling-block; to the wise of this world, it may appear as foolishness; while yet by such foolishness hath it pleased God to save them that believe. This is still the power of God and the wisdom of God;-this will still be the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes.

"What, then, of the minister adapted to these times? He is a preacher. This is his work. For this he studies, and prays, and converses, and recreates, and eats, and drinks, and lives. This, in his mind, is the most weighty and important of all human transactions and efforts. By this, men are saved from an eternal hell, and exalted to immortal life. This is the joyful sound. This is the heavenly heralding. This is the startling note, effectively warning millions on millions away from the wrath to come. This is the solemn trumpet, echoing from hill-top to hill-top,-waking the 'isles of the south,' and shaking the nations. Above all voices running along the earth, this is the voice which 'devils fear,'-the voice which hushes to peace the heaving billows of grief and despair."-Pp. 119–121.

The practical thoughts which follow are all timely, and they are expressed with remarkable point and edge. Take the following as a specimen :

"The minister for the times preaches simply. In other words, he preaches artlessly and plainly. The design is to benefit and save all of every class, and of every grade of intellect and of education. He feels it to be entirely indispensable that he be understood. Hence, he preaches with simplicity. His plan of discourse is simple. Intricacy, and multiplicity of heads and divisions, are avoided. His scheme has unity and definiteness. His arrangement is natural and orderly. The main point of the discourse, as well as the principal heads, are laid down with perspicuity, and with as much brevity as possible. Then the style of the whole performance is simple, though always dignified and chaste, and never descending to any vulgar or mean expression or word. His terms are popular, rather than scientific or technical. Every word is as sound and good as it is simple and plain. His sentences are idiomatic and easy-not long and involved, and are understood as soon as uttered. He uses no superabundance of words and expressions; but announces his thoughts plainly and directly, and there ceases. If imagery be employed, it is always with due moderation and caution, and with a preference for that drawn from the 'lively oracles.' His elocution, too, corresponds to the simplicity of his style. much as possible he avoids all mannerisms. He speaks distinctly, properly, and naturally;-not as a man acting a part, or performing a piece of mere professional service, but as one who greatly desires to be understood by every

As

hearer, and who is solicitous to impart as well the impressions and emotions of his soul, as the ideas of his intellect. With such a speaker, all modes and ways will be avoided whose influence is to divert attention from the appropriate impression and purpose of the sermon. The whole arrangement, style, elocution, and gesture, are such as to be forgotten by the audience; while the thoughts, the soul, of the discourse fasten all eyes, and arrest all hearts.

"The preacher is simple. In his eye, externals are trifling-the Word, everything. That Word, therefore, he preaches with the simplicity of the primitive preaching. However profound as a reasoner, and mighty as a preacher, he prefers to speak five words with his understanding, that he might teach others also, than ten thousand words either in an unknown tongue, or in a style and manner not more easily understood."-Pp. 134-136.

Part IV. exhibits the "Minister for the Times as a Pastor,"_a function which needs to be newly inaugurated, almost, among modern preachers, at least in some sections of our country. As usual, the author's first procedure is to show the necessity and importance of the pastoral work:

"The pastoral ministry is an essential department of the sacred office; and when there is deficiency in this department, the labours of the pulpit, though otherwise able and acceptable, are of comparatively little effect. Happy for the Church and the world, were this great truth engraven upon the heart of every gospel minister upon earth! The idea is still far too prevalent, that a minister's great duty, for the most part, goes out in public preaching. An error this, as insidious and plausible, as it is unscriptural and fatal: and is the more prevalent, as it tallies so well with the worldliness and sloth which, we must fear, tinge too much the character of some who wait at the altar.

Preaching! What is preaching to a congregation? Is it the mere repetition of the general principles of Christianity-such as we quote from books, and gather in the cloister? Is it the mere doling out of theology and ethics? Is it the dissertation of a student-the babbling of a recluse? God forbid! This amounts not to preaching; and he who has exercised himself thus, and wondered at his barrenness, must, henceforth, wonder no more. He fails to preach-fails well-nigh as disastrously as he who mounts the pulpit without thought or arrangement, and pours out a mere broken and ghastly mass of declamation and vociferation. Thou wilt not preach to that congregation without preparation; and an essential part of a perfect preparation must be thy deep and familiar acquaintance with the religious circumstances of the people before thee.

"The pastoral department supplies some of the essential elements of the effective and successful sermon. It imparts to the public preaching an indispensable knowledge-breathes into it an indispensable spirit and warmth -inspires it with an indispensable sympathy-dictates an indispensable styleand points out the indispensable application. Mark if such be not the Scripture view of this most important subject. The good minister, for example, is to give to each a portion in due season. But how can he do this, except either by miracle, or by ascertaining, through pastoral diligence, what the exact 'portion' is? Again, what is this 'watching for souls as they that must give account?' Is such momentous watching fulfilled in a mere sermon begotten and reared up in solitude, and with no more adaptation to those particular 'souls' than to any others whom the minister is not appointed to watch, and for whose salvation he is not so specially accountable? Yet again; what is this 'taking heed to the flock,' which the Apostle, in imagery so significant as well as beautiful, enjoins upon the ministers of Ephesus? Is all this poetry a mere 'song,' or means he not, rather, that those elders were to exercise a con