but also to elucidate with clearness the various parts of the sacred volume, whether doctrinal, historical, typical, prophetic, or practical. He is to be ready to rectify erroneous translations of sacred scripture; to reconcile seeming contradictions; to clear up real obscurities; to illustrate the force and beauty of allusions to ancient customs and manners; and, in general, to explain the word of God, as one who has made it the object of his deep and successful study. He is set for the defence of the gospel*; and, therefore, must be qualified to answer the objections of infidels; to repel the insinuations and cavils of sceptics; to detect, expose, and refute the ever varying forms of heresy; and to give notice, and stand in the breach, when men, ever so covertly or artfully, depart from the faith once delivered to the saints†. He is to be ready to solve the doubts, and satisfy the scruples of conscientious believers; to give instruction to the numerous classes of respectful and serious inquirers; to reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all long suffering and doctrine‡. He is to preach the gospel with plainness, dignity, clearness, force, and solemnity. And, finally, he is to perform his part in the judicatories of the church, where candidates for the holy ministry are examined and their qualifications ascertained; where a constant inspection is main

* Philip, i. 17.

↑ Jude 3.

2 Tim. iv. 2.

tained over the faith and order of the church; where the general interests of Zion are discussed and decided; and in conducting the affairs of which, legislative, judicial, and executive proceedings are all combined.

This is but a very brief and imperfect sketch of what a minister is called to perform. Now, it is evident that, in order to accomplish all this, with even tolerable ability, a man must be furnished with a large amount of knowledge." He must," (and on this subject I am happy in being able to fortify myself with the judgment, and to employ, for the most part, the language of the General Assembly of our church,) "he must be well skilled "in the original languages of the holy Scriptures. "He must be versed in Jewish and Christian antiquities. He must have a competent acquaint"ance with Ancient Geography, and Oriental Cus"toms. He must have read and digested the

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principal arguments and writings, relative to "what has been called the Deistical controversy. "He must have studied, carefully and correctly, "Natural Theology, together with Didactic, Po"lemic, and Casuistic Divinity; and be able to

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support the doctrines of the Gospel, by a ready,

pertinent, and abundant quotation of Scripture "texts for that purpose. He must have a consi"derable acquaintance with general History and Chronology; and a particular acquaintance with

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the history of the christian Church. He must * have studied attentively the duties of the Pasto"ral Office; the form of Church government au"thorized by the sciptures; and the administra❝tion of it as practised in the protestant churches*.” He must have become well versed in Moral Philosophy, as an important auxiliary in studying man, his constitution, the powers and exercises of his depraved and sanctified nature, and his duties thence arising. To all these, he must add, a respectable share of knowledge, in general Grammar, in Logic, Metaphysics, Natural Philosophy, Mathematical Science, Geography, Natural History, and polite Literature.

Several of these branches of learning are, indeed, only auxiliary to the main body, if I may so express it, of ministerial erudition. But they are important auxiliaries. No man, it is true, can be a complete master of them all; and it were criminal in a minister to attempt so much. The time requisite for this, must be taken from more important employments. Of some of these departments of knowledge, general views are sufficient; and of others, perhaps, an acquaintance with nomenclatures and first principles ought to satisfy the theological pupil. But so much of them ought to be ac

*Constitution of the Theological Seminary of the Presby terian Church, Article 4th

quired, as may enable their possessor the better to understand the scriptures, and the better to defend the gospel. I repeat it, every branch of knowledge is helpful and desirable to the christian minister.Not to enable him to shine, as a man of learning: this were infinitely beneath the aim of an ambassador of Christ: but to make him a more accomplished and useful teacher of others. For it is certain that the more he attains of real, solid science, provided it be sanctified science, the more clearly will he be able to explain the sacred volume, and the more wisely and forcibly to preach that Gospel which is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth*.

4. Once more, it enters into the character of a faithful minister, that he is ACTIVE, DILIGENT and PERSEVERING in the discharge of his multiplied and arduous duties. However fervent his piety; however vigorous his native talents; and however ample his acquired knowledge; yet, if he be timid, indolent, wavering, easily driven from the path of duty, or speedily discouraged in his evangelical labours, he does not answer the apostle's description of a faithful man. The minister who is, in any good measure, entitled to this character, is one who carefully studies to know, and to the best of his knowledge, declares the whole counsel of God, with

* Rom. i. 16.

out fearing the frowns, or courting the smiles, of men; who shrinks not from any self-denial, labour, or danger to which the will of his Master, and the interests of religion, evidently call him; who abhors the thought of sitting down in inglorious ease, while thousands are perishing around him; who does not allow himself to be diverted by secular or minor objects from his grand work; who is instant in season, and out of season, in all the diversified and momentous labours of his holy vocation; and the object of whose steady exertion, as well as supreme desire, it is, that the church may be built up; that souls may be saved; and that Christ in all things may be glorified*.

Such is a faithful and able minister. A minister fervently pious; eminently wise, discerning, and prudent; extensively learned, especially mighty in the Scriptures; abounding and prevalent in prayer; a bold, energetic, instructive, experimental preacher; a zealous, affectionate, condescending, laborious pastor; a friend to revivals of religion; a firm and persevering contender for the truth; one, in short, who devotes all his talents, all his learning, all his influence, and all his exertions, to the one grand object, fulfilling the ministry which he has received of the Lord Jesus.

* 1 Peter iv. 11.