Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest!" Prayer, prayer, prayer. "Pray ye the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth laborers into his harvest!"

CHAPTER XX.

THE FITTING EDUCATION FOR THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY.

We have, in the preceding chapter, presupposed, that the duty of the Church in regard to the classical and scientific education of her sons for the Christian ministry, is in a good measure performed. In all ordinary cases, we insist on such an education. The necessities of the Church may justify the setting apart of men to the sacred office who have not enjoyed the advantages of an extended education. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantz, the French Protestants called to the pastoral office some of their most zealous and enlightened members, and are indebted to them for their continued existence. But the instances in which this is called for are rare; necessity knows no law.

We proceed, in the present chapter, to a topic of some delicacy, and implore direction to treat it in the meekness of wisdom. A classical and literary education is not all that ministers need; nor is it all for which the

Church ought to hold herself responsible. There is a solid, theological, spiritual, and practical training of her sons which must be cared for; nor can she throw this responsibility from her own conscience; nor may she stand by an indifferent and silent spectator, if she sees, or even fears, that her beloved and consecrated youth are exposed to a training which will diminish their usefulness in the service in which she desires and prays that they may be eminently useful.

We have intimated that the pulpit is less powerful than it was in the days of our fathers; and this acknowledgment comes to us from quarters from which it might be least expected. The existing ministry are not backward in announcing the mournful fact. One of the most venerable and experienced teachers in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, makes the following faithful statement on this subject, in an address to the students in that institution, which has been read with great interest, and has given great satisfaction both to the churches and their pastors. I shall offer no apology for introducing these thoughts, expressed as they are with the clearness, purity, and meekness so characteristic of their accomplished author. "The means of more mature study, and the excitements to more mature study, have been constantly increasing; but both the means and

excitements have been lost upon a large number of our candidates. And when a rapid improvement might have been expected, a real decline, if I mistake not, has been silently and insensibly going on. A little more than three quarters of a century ago, there was a considerable number of ministers in the Presbyterian Church in this country, who deserved to be called illustrious. As to the reality of this fact, you will not hesitate, when I mention, as a specimen, the names of President Dickinson, the elder President Edwards, President Burr, the Tennents, Mr. Blair, President Davies, President Finley, and a number more scarcely inferior; men, most of them, at once eminent for the fervor of their piety, the activity of their zeal, the vigor of their talents, the extent of their erudition, and their commanding influence. The distinguished usefulness of these holy, apostolical men, in giving a tone to the preaching, the discipline, and the character of the Church to which they belonged, it would not be easy to estimate. They were felt to be workmen that needed not to be ashamed,' qualified rightly to divide the word of truth;' and the churches, and their younger brethren confided in them, and looked up to them, and, under the divine blessing, were guided aright. They were men fitted to have influence, and they had it, and em

ployed it for the glory of God, and the best interests of mankind. The generation of ministers next to them, were, as a body, little, if any less distinguished. Then we had Strain, and Duffield, and Witherspoon, and M'Whorter, and Waddell, and Wilson, and Rodgers, and Hoge, not to mention others of equal claims; men of wisdom, piety, prudence, dignity, and peace;-men who commanded the veneration and confidence of the churches; men, who, whenever they appeared in ecclesiastical judicatories, especially in the higher ones, seemed as if they were sent to enlighten, and guide, and bless the family of Christ. Of the present state of our Church in reference to this point, it is both difficult and delicate to speak. But I ask-Have we an equally illustrious list to show at this hour, in proportion to our greatly augmented numbers and advantages? The ministers of our Church are nearly ten times as numerous as they were sixty years ago; and the facilities for obtaining books, and pursuing study, are also greatly multiplied. Upon every principle of proportion, we ought to be able now to bring forward a catalogue of Presbyterian apostles at least ten times as large as co ild have been produced in the days of Edwards, Davies, and Finley. But can we produce such a catalogue? It would rejoice my heart if I could think it pos