the herald of the cross, how he endeavours to produce, and prolong excitement on the subject, in any other way than by the appropriate exhibition of truth. Let him remember, that he has MEN, and not mere animals to deal with. There is however, an excess on the other hand as dangerous, and as ruinous to the souls of men, as this. The public preaching may be too intellectual. The facts of scripture may be exhibited, in abstract doctrinal discussions, which shall necessarily and insensibly beguile the minds of the hearers, -if they be not too far above the level of ordinary persons,-into the study, or at least, apprehension of religion, as a matter of science. Even experimental religion, as it is sometimes called, may be thus taught, and men may become profound theologians, and expert casuists, and yet themselves be strangers to the purifying, and transforming influence of divine truth. Intellect may illumine, and throw its pensile rays upon many intricate questions in didactic divinity, but after all, the heart be not melted, or reached. And unless the heart is affected by the truth, its motive power will not be experienced. In order to this, something more is necessary than the mere intellectual exhibition of truth, as a matter of science. It must be made known, as though the speaker himself realized it, and understood, and felt its actual bearing on the condition and interests of his hearers. Common sense, at once, descries the truth of the heathen poet's' remarks;-and no where are they more important, than where men come, in the name of the Lord God of Hosts, to plead with wretched rebels that despise His grace; or, to counsel and console His friends.

1.

The varying face should every passion show,
And words of sorrow wear the look of woe;

Let it in joy, assume a vivid air;;

Fierce when in rage; in seriousness severe.

Tristia mæstum

Vultum verba decent; iratum, plena minarum,
Ludentum lasciva; severum seria dictu.-Hor.

The man who tells the sinner of his guilt and danger, and evinces no concern,-who reproves vice and hypocrisy, and betrays no displeasure and indignation,—who describes the Saviour's love and tenderness, and is not himself melted,-who extols His grace and glory, and does not burn with holy zeal, may indeed be accounted a learned divine, and a profound scholar, and a great preacher, but will never sway the hearts of his hearers. In order to this, he must himself display feeling. Nor should it be a mere display. We have heard of ministers studying their cadences, and practising their gestures before the glass, and enunciating their studied periods, as with theatrical simulation. Such things may please the lovers of the stage; but they will never win a soul to Christ. They are all mere antic capers, or abominable hypocrisy in the sight of God. Nothing can make amends for the actual want of feeling. Histrionic emotion is easily detected. Noisy mechanical excitement cannot be successfully disguised. Nothing can supply the place of a soul deeply imbued with its subject, and that, realizing its solemn truth, and the immense responsibilities and interests at stake, makes its thrilling appeals, through those avenues of feeling by which alone the heart is accessible.

On this subject we could say much, not only as to the importance and necessity of actual feeling in the preacher, but as to its character-appositeness-the danger of cherishing improper feelings and of improperly displaying them-and the mode of cultivating and exciting those that are appropriate; but the cursory sketch intended in this chapter forbids enlargement, and detail. It is the feeling exhibition of the truth, where the feeling is appropriate to the truth-to the circumstances under which it is made known and to the state and character of those addressed, which we particularly regard as an highly important and

essential qualification, for success in the preaching of the gospel. Dull monotonous discourses, on themes which have little or no practical bearing, or where their practical bearing is lost sight of, are not the means which the Spirit of God employs, to convert the souls of men. They are not adapted to this end;-and the fact that they are not actually employed, should administer a rebuke to every one, who, in this way, prophesies over the dry bones in the valley of vision. The attention must be engaged, and interested. It is indispensably necessary, as we have seen from the very process of conversion. In order to this, there must be truth vividly exhibited, and that, so far as human instrumentality is concerned, can only be done effectively, where intelligence and feeling are blended in the exhibition.

Intellect and heart in the minister of Christ, should never be disunited. Perhaps one of the best methods a minister of Christ can adopt, to prevent himself from attempting their divorce, is to address the conscience. Here both mind and heart unite. Conscience is the judgment. which we form, as to the character of an action compared with the standard of right, and which is accompanied with a feeling of approbation, or the contrary, according to the character of the action, or its correspondence to the rule of right. All the great truths and facts of religion, have a direct bearing on conscience. You cannot effect it, where there is not the exhibition of truth; but where truth is properly exhibited, so as to secure the interested attention, and the vivid perception of it, our sensibilities will be affected, painfully, or pleasurably, according as the character of the truth, and individual, and the circumstances of the case may determine. You may indeed affect the imagination, and move the passions; but no motive power to induce conversion, shall be felt. It is through truth, as it tells upon the conscience, that the Spirit of

God, converts the soul, so that, when this is defiled, and scared, the sinner's case is hopeless. Now if the minister of Christ would prove successful, he must have a reference to this circumstance of the Spirit's agency, and so present the truth, as to find its way to the conscience. If he addresses the intellect, the fancy, or the heart only, and does not attack the conscience, he need not expect to see the Spirit's influence, accompany his ministrations. It is true, that all may be enlisted, and their influence brought to bear, in giving truth a direction, and a point, so as to rouse the conscience into action: but here is where they are to have their outlet, and to accumulate their power. Arguments, illustrations, appeals, and every available method of exhibiting and enforcing truth, may be appropriately, and seasonably employed; but to the conscience must they all speak, or they will prove ineficient, and the converting influence of the Spirit will be withheld. For we remark further,

4. That in his exhibition of truth, it is important the minister of Christ, should be found co-operating with the Spirit of God. "We then," says the apostle, "as work ers together with Him, beseech you that ye receive not the grace of God in vain." There can be no co-operation, where there is neither a plan of operation previously known, and acted on, by the parties, nor the entertainment of the same design, in the prosecution of it. Now God has a design in the preaching of the gospel. It is a specific means He has ordained for its accomplishment. That design is the conversion of sinners, or the reconciliation of them to Himself. "He hath given to us," says the apostle, "the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Chirst, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their tresspasses unto them; and hath committed

1. 2 Cor. vi. 1.

recon

unto us the word of reconciliation." It is therefore the solemn duty of every minister of Christ, to aim specifically, and directly, at the conversion of sinners in the prosecution of his work. He must labor to effect ciliation in the sinner, to God. To this his preaching, prayers, and efforts, should all tend, so that he may enter fully into the Spirit of the apostle's words, and say in his addresses to his hearers: "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." In the ministration of the word, to lose sight of this end, is to cease from co-operation with God; and how in such a case, can success be expected?

It sometimes happens, that ministers aim at the mere mental illumination of their hearers, or their entertainment, or their gratification. These are all unhallowed ends, when made supreme, and will vitiate the service. Nor is their's any better, who seek, in the spirit of sectarism, to swell their numbers, or, in the spirit of proselytism, to seduce from other denominations. God does not commission, or employ ministers to labor for their sect. The Bible knows nothing of sect, save it is the sect every where spoken against-the true followers of Christ. To increase their number, should be the aim of the ministry; aud they who manifest more zeal for the increase of their sect, than to bring sinners to Christ, have forgotten their commission, and will receive no plaudit from Heaven, for their labor. It is truly pitiable to witness the expenditure of time, labor, funds and feeling, which is made in the spirit of sectarism! The Presbyterian, and Episcopalian, and Methodist, and Baptist banners, are to be seen floating in almost every direction; and the cry for recruits, is heard in every breeze: but alas!

1. 2 Cor. v. 18, 19.

2. 2 Cor. v. 20.