But happy for some younger brother of his, who may rejoice to accept the despised birthright, and who, mingled with suitable humility, feels a joyful leaping forth of heart to the work, coming, as came the Saviour from heaven on his embassy to dying men, saying, “I delight to do thy will, O my God." 8. He should have a spirit to enter zealously into the cause of missions, temperance, ministerial education, and all the other great enterprises for the salvation of the world. The nature of this spirit is sufficiently indicated under the last head. And as to its vast importance, we have no space for the delineation. Still the topic cannot be pass it asks, with mingled hope and wonder. | reap the final reward of turning many to "There is balm enough-and a physician righteousness, and be the men to shine as that is adequate-and tongues enough to the stars forever and ever; excused, (alas speak the joyful tidings. And speak it they for his hapless choice! he knows not the soon must, and to the praise of this Re- price put into his hand; yet,) excused he deemer, or the very rocks will cry out." must indeed be-both from the toil and the Still, perhaps, he scarcely dares to harbor reward. The cause "needs not such aid." the thought of ever being deemed worthy himself to proclaim the glad tidings. For the present, it seems enough for him to be permitted, in this "new world" on which he has opened his eyes, to bear some humble part in aid of those who shall be called as ambassadors of God to men. Viewed in this new relation to a dying world and to God, a radiance of glory comes down from heaven around the secluded sphere in which Sovereign grace has found him. In that sphere, whether at the plough, the bench, the anvil, the counter, he is not merely content, but will rejoice to remain, provided it be the calling in which he may believe it will please God to make him the mosted without remarking, that the pastor who highly useful towards the salvation of souls. But yet, when he muses, with some gathering hope, on the most blessed employment on earth, his heart exclaims,-" O, if I could be fitted for that employment, how should I delight to say, here, Lord, am I, send me where thou wilt, to preach thy gospel-in this or in other lands-to the rude or the refined the poor or the rich-in evil report or good report-only let me be where I should be and suitably preach thy gospel for the salvation of men. Let the success and the glory be all ascribed to the riches of thine own free grace and power." Now men of such a spirit are the men whom a dying world needs; and whom it must have, or its multitudes will continue to crowd the way to death. Such men see joy set before them which the world cannot proffer that for which the Saviour endured the cross, despising the shame. They are prepared to enjoy, not only their own success, but that of all the laborers. And when the world shall be filled with these alert and happy co-workers, (not one of them a contra-worker,) its salvation shall be rapidly hastened. At least a germ of this buoyant spirit, to commence with, is needful in every one who is to devote himself to the celestial vocation. A mere leaden sense of duty will never serve him as a vivid spring of action. It is true, one may properly be led, by mere duty, first to examine the question; and every young man should be led by it to such an examination. But when a youth, who supposes himself converted, has deliberately contemplated the subject, and still finds not his soul beginning at all to glow with the kindlings of a sacred 'desire for the good work-if he had rather be a farmer, a merchant, a lawyer, a statesman; and his voice come a third time, I pray thee have me excused; and he prefers that others should reap the field and does not enter into these things, knows neither how to labor for the salvation of the whole world, nor yet for the salvation of his own people, or his own soul, as he ought. He will loiter behind his age, and soon be numbered with things obsolete. 9. His constitution and habits should be such as to admit of the requisite study and of public speaking. In judging of these, it is to be remembered, that not every frail body nor every species of disease, brings imbecility on the whole man. Some of the most efficient spirits in the church, have put forth their energies through the organs of a sickly frame. Such were Baxter, Doddridge, Edwards, and many others that might be named. Nor is it every robust constitution that is fitted to endure the peculiar toils of study and of speaking. Experiment alone can fully decide in a large number of cases. But while some of a feeble frame may be found to endure such labor, and by their mental energy and pious zeal, to do much good, yet let no one be consecrated to the sacred work, merely because he is incapacitated for common employments. This would be reversing the rule God gave for the Jewish priesthood. The maimed, the blind, the deformed, were not to minister at his altar. And if such a rule is not now to be regarded as of divine obligation, yet surely a blemish ought not to be the leading reason for seeking the ministry. To enter God's special service because you cannot serve yourself in some more congenial way, is surely an insult to his majesty. Personal blemishes may not only give pain to an audience every Sabbath, but also prove a serious bar to influence and usefulness; and this was doubtless one reason for excluding the deformed from the ancient priesthood. Weak lungs or a feeble voice, may also be regarded, in decided cases, as proof that a youth is to seek to glorify God in some other calling. In the preceding remarks, I have endeavored to present the chief requisites, in one who has a call in providence to enter on a course of preparation for the ministry. It is not to be supposed that all the qualifications that are desirable have been mentioned. The case of each individual must of course be decided, not in view of any single excellence, but by a comprehensive regard to his whole case, including his character, the age in which he lives, the country, indeed the whole circumstances in which he is placed. Nor can it be too deeply impressed on all minds, that the grand question is, not, Whether one may do some good in the ministry, but where can he be employed to the best advantage? Supposing now the question decided with a young man in favor of his entering on a course of preparation for the ministry, there remains yet a further consideration, THE AMOUNT OF ACQUISITIONS IN KNOWLEDGE TO BE SOUGHT. This point, too, must be decided in view of the whole case. Were man's life now that of the antediluvians, it might be unwise in him to commence pastoral or missionary labors amid such a world of intellectual giants, and possessed of so much time, before the age of threescore years and ten. He would then be comparatively but a boy. But now, man's life is a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away. What he does he must do quickly, though it be done but imperfectly. | And amid such urgency as the present, doubtless many are called to seek the ministry, who are already too far advanced in life to admit of their passing through the more regular course of training. For some, it will be best to resort to a theological seminary by a shorter course than that of a college; particularly, (if I may name a period in which not a few men of experience are agreed,) it will be well for such as have passed the age of twenty-four before commencing the study of Latin or Greek. And for others, especially those who have reached the age of about eight and twenty, a still shorter course, and perhaps of private instruction, may be conducive to their highest usefulness on the whole. The increased difficulty of acquiring new languages, and the haste that men usually feel for a profession at so late a period of life, are additional reasons for the shorter course, of greater or less force in the case of different individuals. But while there may be exceptions, it is now deemed important by competent judges, that generally a full and liberal course of study be pursued, including literature, science, and theology. Such a course, in college and the theological seminary, is increasingly demanded by the progress of can society, the loud voice of public opinion, and especially of the ministers of most denominations, as already explicitly uttered. "But," says the zealous youth, (glowing perhaps with the best of feeling,) not be more speedily fitted to go forth and do at least some good?" Yes, doubtless, if your heart prove true to the work-and perhaps, inadvertently, some evil also, to balance the good.-But have you yet closely examined the real object of this intense eagerness? You feel, it may be, "an indescribable longing to be engaged in saving souls." But ought you not to ponder the nature and object of this ardent desire until you shall be able to describe it, or at least to conceive of it more definitely? There may be a youthful and heroic leaping forth of the soul, in its pantings for immediate action in so glorious a cause, which, at best, is of but a mixed and imperfect nature. We would neither blame nor check any thing youthful, merely because it is youthful but neither should it pass without moral scrutiny, because it is to be expected in the young. Young men, (it was once remarked by Dr. Dwight,) misjudge, not from the want of ability to discriminate, but because they are too precipitate to examine. If time for reflection, then, will help you to anticipate the wisdom of years, be entreated, in a case so momentous, prayerfully to take that time. But perhaps you will plead, that you have already done this in respect to the motives that stir your zeal, and are ready to do it further in respect to the guidance of this zeal. "Without claiming perfection," you say, "I still find something more solemn and etherial than a mere love of action, or even mere sympathy. I long to be engaged in saving souls and to glorify him who came from heaven to save them." The answer is good; and, we would hope, from a good conscience. But a further question must now be put, if we would reach the point of true wisdom. Is it the object of your glowing zeal, to be publicly engaged in doing good now, at all events? or is it, in view of all the light you can gain, to aim at the utmost possible good while on earth-saving as many of these sinking souls as you can in the course of your whole life? This is the only just light in which to ponder the main question. Think of it then deeply in this light; and ask the voice of experience to aid your meditations. To these last directions, perhaps, you also give your cordial assent. And it may furthermore be, that you will say, "all this I have done, from the beginning." (Would not Jesus love this young man?) "And I have sought to consult the best of experience, viz., that which was guided by wisdom from above, and followed by the best results. It is the experience of the apostles themselves; those faithful but ignorant fishermen, who went forth every where preaching that men should repent. This simple annunciation, which they made with a glowing tongue, was every where followed by divine power on the souls of men. And my heart pants to do the same, in hope of a like blessing." It is, then, in closely following the true spirit of this example, that you hope for such a blessing. You will of course rejoice to know, that others give their cordial assent to the same position; and if any mistake be found here on your part or that of others, you desire its correction. At what period, then, did these poor fishermen go forth on their final embassy? and with what degree of preparation and endowment? He who called them to the work, on a certain occasion, bid them lift up their eyes and behold the fields white already to the harvest. The harvest was also great, and the laborers few. Their hearts burned within them,-as yours does now. And the Saviour's heart likewise burned with a more intense flame to have them in the great field that was daily perishing. What, then, was his command to them? go, without a moment's delay, and save what you can? No;-but "pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers." And how long did he detain them about him, praying that laborers might be sent, and preparing themselves to go? Certainly three, if not seven years. True, he sent some of them occasionally on short and simple messages, in preparing his way among the people, just as you may now go forth. But, most of the time, they were about him. And during three years, he spake to them as never man spake. Nor was it merely the brief but comprehensive epitome of instruction that is now left for our learning in the gospels. One of their number affirms, that if the whole had been written, he supposes the world would not contain the books. It is also to be remembered, that they had the promise of the divine Spirit to bring all these things to their remembrance. None of this vast amount of instruction was to be lost, but they were to have it always ready as occasion should require. Consider, likewise, that he who taught them, foreknew the situation in which each one would be placed. He could, therefore, impart exactly the knowledge and admonition they needed, without spending their time in a preparation for mere contingencies. Thus he warned Peter of satan's purpose to sift him. Reflect further, that when all was done, and they had seen this same divine teacher ascend up where he was before, they were not to embark on their embassy until clothed with miraculous powers and filled with the spirit of inspiration, and blessed with the gift of tongues. Now, put all these things together, and VOL. VII. say, Did Christ send forth ignorant men to preach his gospel?-Or did he seem in haste to send them?-Or could this delay result from the want of that same ardor which you now so properly feel? I wisdom dwell with prudence. He knew the training men need in order to preach as he would have them preach. And the example he has thus given is worth more than the combined experience of the whole church besides, even had that experience appeared to teach a different lesson. But alas, not only for the hasty aspirant to the sacred office, but also for even the more considerate, this divine example seems rather to prove too much than too little. If it convict of any thing, it will convict the advocates for the most thorough training, of having been too lax and accommodating, in giving their consent that any should go forth with less than the comparatively imperfect preparation which is called liberal. We say, if a man is already of mature age, and has acquired wisdom in some pursuit of business, and has also a family which he cannot long leave, he may take a shorter course. But when, says the example we are examining? Were not these men of mature age, at the time Christ called them from the walks of common labor and the seat of civil office? Had they not acquired practical wisdom? Were not some of them even married and settled in families? To the young man, then, who has no such encumbrance, and who does not inordinately wish for what the apostles could so freely forsake, in order to be with Christ and gain their divine education-to such an one, we would say, Ponder well the sacred precedent you have adduced. Have you more wisdom than these men had when they came under Christ's teaching? Can you hope to gain more that will be to your purpose, in seven or ten years, than they gained while with him? Would you not rather be with Christ one year, than in a college or a theological seminary three years? With Christ, who could tell, in a single breath, respecting some doctrine, what it will now cost you months of study fully to settle in your mind! And then, to be gifted with languages which it will cost you years to acquire! And will you not need as much wisdom and knowledge as they needed who first spread Christianity? Is not the present age as rich and learned as was that of the apostles? Is not even most of human knowledge of a later date? On what principle, then, will you think to curtail that thorough preparation which reason sanctions, and which Christ's example so plainly demands?-You may think it a great pity that you must spend so much of your precious life before you can begin to act effectively.-But was it not equally sad, that the apostles should spend so much of theirs?-And sadder still, that Christ should live on earth till he began to be about 22 thirty years of age, before he commenced | be given to a law by the movement of his his public ministry? A pity that we must pen: but what fearful interests hang on the spend so much of our time! Are we, think moment of decision. Yet not more fearful, you, wasting this time? misspending it? as eternity shall disclose, than may hang on Are we doing otherwise than God would some few of the sentences in the last serhave us do? than he designed us to do, mon of your short life. Mighty events for when he formed us men, and not angels? both worlds were decided by Peter's short Could he not make us at once fit for action? address on the day of pentecost. Would he full grown men, without the gradations of have made that address if he had not folinfancy, childhood, and youth? Could he lowed Jesus in his course of preparation? not raise up better ministers from the stones It is worth a life of prayerful study, to be of the street, than yourself even hope to privileged to preach such a sermon as that be? If so, where is the pity? Is it that by Mr. Livingstone at the kirk of Schotts, Providence has indeed so made man, that in Scotland, when about five hundred half his life must be spent in preparation turned to the Lord. Such results come for the highest usefulness during the other not by chance either as it respects the half! Engage then in thorough preparation, means or the grace that blesses them. If like a Christian man, grateful that God has you would preach such a sermon, run not given you capacities to gain such wisdom before you are sent, but follow the pattern at all, and deeply impressed that you have of preparation your Lord has given. It is a great work before you in preparing to as much a duty to prepare to preach the preach, as well as in the final discharge of gospel well, as actually to preach it well; that high office. When you have faithfully and he who is properly engaged in such devoted the customary period to prayerful preparation, is as truly and acceptably study, you will feel, as thousands have felt serving Christ, and as ready to meet him before you, that much more remains to be at a moment's warning. learned than all which you at first imagined requisite. Then will you begin more deeply to feel the truth, that it requires much, very much to constitute a good minister. This is a truth which will continually deepen in your view, in the course of actual experience; and you will exclaim, with increasing emotion, There is not on earth another office which requires such a combination of excellences. Neither need you be troubled with the thought, that possibly you may die soon after completing your preparation. That is for God to decide. And if you must so soon die, still it is quite possible you may accomplish as great amount of good in this way, as by a premature entrance on the ministry. For, some persons of piety and discretion effect as much good while among their fellow students as in any equal portion of subsequent life. The early death, too, of one who is prepared for extensive usefulness, seems often to occasion as much good as could have been hoped from prolonged labors. Like the death of Harriet Newell, it summons a fresh host to the onset. Such possibilities are a cheering and ample offset to the ill-boding supposition just adduced. But, not to dwell on these possibilities; I remark, in favor of thorough preparation, that the hand of skill sometimes effects much by a single movement. A physician may save the most precious life by one prescription: but it cost him a life of study and experience to gain that skill. It has been well observed by a living preacher, that the battle of Waterloo, (on which hung the destinies of half the globe,) was soon fought: but the wisdom which dictated the victorious movement was the attainment of many years. The signature of our chief magistrate can Thus have I endeavored, as fully as the limits of this tract would permit, to meet the true spirit of the questions proposed for discussion. Having now seen the pressing need of young men to preach the gospel, and the kind of men that are needed, and the acquisitions they should first make, it may not be improper, in conclusion, very briefly to inquire, How are these young men to be supplied? a momentous question truly for the church at large, and particularly for those on whom the responsibility is more immediately devolved. And who are these responsible persons? The following classes may be readily designated. First, the converted young men in our country. If such of them as are gifted by nature and grace for the work, will not freely come forward and devote their lives to the divine calling, the world will not be saved. Are you, then, a young man whose heart the Lord hath opened to rejoice in his kingdom? Seriously and prayerfully inquire with yourself, whether it may not be your duty, and your most exalted privilege, to bear a part in hastening this kingdom by leaving your farm, your merchandize, your shop, your office, your endeared home, and giving up your life to preaching this same Jesus, whose word has now become so precious to your soul. Inquire of others, and especially of your minister, in hope that they may cast light on your path. Above all, inquire of God, with a mind that wishes above all things to know and do its duty. There is not a young man under the age of thirty, who ought not solemnly to ponder this question as a matter of personal duty. Perhaps you will be able, (or will rather be compelled,) very speedily to decide it in the negative. Be it so: still the time spent in such examination, is not lost. If properly | By a single word, fitly spoken, the most spent, it will do you good while you live. obscure Sabbath-school teacher may give It will make you a more active and prac- to the church a blessing that cannot be tical Christian, by the elevation of mind and estimated. purity of purpose which such a contemplation is fitted to impart.-Excite, also, your young brethren, perhaps more gifted than yourself, to make the same investigation for themselves. The parents of promising young men, belong to the responsible number. Are you, as a father, blessed with a son of the suitable natural endowments, and now doubly blessed by his hopeful conversion? Make yourself more than thrice happy in him for this world and the future, by giving up this son to an employment so elevated, so needful, and in which angels would delight to minister. For mere worldly gain, or honor, or ease, to yourself or him, you cannot, you must not withhold him. The Lord hath need of him, and you must rejoice to send him forth.-Are you a devout but poor, widowed mother, whose desolate heart, sustained by an only son, a child of many prayers, and that heart now overflowing with gratitude for the conversion of this son? Strange as it may seem to the eye of worldly wisdom, you will be the last to need exhortation to the duty now in question. If, like her who gave all her living, you find it consistent to gratify your strongest desire, and give your only son, in cheerful faith, the God of the widow and the fatherless may make it a memorial better than that of sons and of daughters. But with Christian parents, we stop not here. Ye fathers and mothers in Israel, what to you are sons and worldly substance more than to other parents? Every thing, if you have but hearts to know. Wait not, then, till your sons are converted. Consecrate them to Christ and the church from the birth. While rearing them in faith, often tell them of this consecration. In due time, cheerfully consent to the expense of their education at college, in the hope the divine Spirit will then meet them, if not before, and form them vessels of honor. Nor cease to hope and pray and labor in faith, provided they should not so soon be turned to the Lord; ;-nor, indeed, ever regret your efforts for so good an object, though you should not see it accomplished in the manner you had hoped. But many such parents will see their object accomplished speedily; many are in fact seeing it accomplished, from year to year, through the revivals that so frequently bless our schools of learning. Teachers, also, of every class, from the common and the Sabbath school up to the college, belong to this responsible number. They have special opportunities for discerning and guiding the most useful talents the country contains. Well may it be expected of them that they will not neglect so responsible a trust. God will require it. And last but chief of all, may be named the ministers of the gospel. To you, ye spiritual guides and watchmen, is given in charge a sacred deposit, which you are bidden in turn to commit to faithful men, who are able to teach others. And it is no less your duty to seek out and provide such men for the church, than to see to it that you intrust the deposit with no others. And God has accordingly given you the ability for this purpose. You, above all other men, are the guides of education, in smaller and in larger spheres. You are acquainted with the schools and the youth of the land; and with their parents; and God has given you a voice that will be heard on this subject by parent, child, and teacher. Let each Christian minister, then, speak this word of power as God would have him speak, and thus every year double the whole usefulness of his own public ministry by selecting at least one for the high calling from those who might otherwise remain in obscurity. And when seasons of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord, let the holy man preach each sermon as though he were going to convert men who were, in turn, to become ministersand who would take him as their sample of imitation through life. Let him teach the young converts as though he were teaching embryo ministers. And when the season is through, let the good bishop of the flock select, without needless delay, at least a tithe of the young men thus converted, for the work of the sanctuary. He that will be thus faithful over a little, will be made ruler over much. He will soon see another revival, and another, and another still. sun will finally go down in glory, and his light will be long reflected by a hemisphere of stars. His Thus let Zion's watchmen and all her sons be intent on increasing this great and primordial source of Christian influence, and soon the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.- Reader, will you stand in your lot, and do your part in this work? And, though perhaps neither prophet nor prophet's son, thus receive a prophet's reward, as having at least preached the gospel by the mouth of another. An Education Society of the German Reformed Church. THE tenth article of the constitution of the Education Society of the Classis of North Carolina is as follows. No beneficiary shall receive pecuniary aid from the society as a gift; but it shall |