societies established for the promotion of the gospel, and which constitute her of earth the salt; it is these that cause her fame, rather than her coal; with Daniels in her council, she might defy the world; for none but the enemies of the Lord should be found in array against her; like as when the tribes of Israel went up at stated times to worship at Jerusalem, no enemy dared look upon her defenceless border: The terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.' Again, we have the promise, 'If thou wilt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary to thine adversaries." Of the author's piety we entertain no doubt, but of his ability to form a style, to construct an argument, or to do any one thing to justify his attempting to write for the instruction of the public, he has furnished no evidence in this Pronaos, as it were, to the Temple of Wisdom.' Doctrinal Discourses. By John Bunyan. London: Ward and Co. The name of the author will be a sufficient recommendation of this volume, which belongs to Ward's Library of Standard Divinity, and is got up in the same handsome and cheap form as the other works belonging to that useful series. Historic Illustrations of the Bible, principally after the Old Masters. Division III. London: Fisher and Co. We have already introduced the former parts of this work to our readers, and the favorable terms in which they were noticed are equally applicable to the Division now before us. It contains twelve engravings from paintings by some of the most eminent artists, which are executed in a style well adapted to their several subjects Such a work cannot fail to be extensively popular. Literary Entelligence. Just Published. Toryism versus English Liberty; an Argument from History (reprinted from the Eclectic Review for June 1841.) The English Hexapla, exhibiting the Six Important English Translations of the New Testament Scriptures:-Wiclif, Tyndale, Cranmer, Genevan, Anglo-Rhemish, Authorized. The original Greek Text after Scholz, with the various readings of the Textus Receptus, and principal Constantinopolitan and Alexandrine MSS., and a complete Collation of Scholz's Text with Griesbach's Edition of 1805, preceded by an Historical Account of the English Translations. Quarto. What to observe, or the Traveller's Remembrancer. By J. R. Jackson. Plain Sermons on the Church Ministry and Sacraments. By the Rev. Cyril Hutchinson, M.A., Student of Christ Church. 12mo. Letters from Italy to a Younger Sister. By Catharine Taylor. 2 vols. Octavo. The Moral Influence, Dangers, and Duties of Great Cities. By John Todd. Summer and Winter in the Pyrenees. By Mrs. Ellis. A Collection of English Sonnets. By R. F. Housman, Esq. Sketches in Erris and Tyrawly. By the author of Sketches in Ireland. The Mother with her Family, being Scriptural Exercises and Prayers for Children every Sabbath Evening. By the Rev. T. Timpson: with Counsels to Mothers, by Hannah More. The Pictorial Edition of Shakspere.-Troilus and Cressida. Chorazin, or an Appeal to the Child of Many Prayers on Questions concerning the Great Salvation. By David Everard Ford, author of Decapolis. Remarks on the Opposition to the Poor Law Amendment Bill. By a Guardian. Christian Activity_demanded by the Signs of the Times; a Sermon by James Matheson, D.D. The Spiritual Destitution of the Country, and the best Means of remedying it. By W. Lindsay Alexander, M.A. Le Keux's Memorials of Cambridge. Part 15. The Journal of Civilization. Part 1. The Lady's Closet Library. The Hannahs, or Maternal Influence on Sons. By Robert Philip. What have I to do with Missions? By the Rev. T. Timpson. Memoir of Rev. Robert Findlater, late of Inverness. By the Rev. W. Findlater. A Course of Lectures to Young Men. By Ministers of various Denominations in Glasgow and its Vicinity. The Modern Judea, Ammon, Moab, and Edom, compared with Ancient Prophecy, with Notes and Engravings. By the Rev. James Aitken Wylie. A Dictionary of Science, Literature, and Art. General Editor, W. T. Brande, F.R.S., L. and E. Part 5. Philosophic Nuts. By Edward Johnson, Esq. No. 6. The Early Life and Conversion of William Hone, of Homewood Farm, Ripley, Surrey, Hammersmith, and Clerkenwell. A Narrative written by Himself. Edited by his Son, William Hone, author of the Every Day Book, &c. Letter to the Right Hon. Lord Bexley, on the Collision between the Civil and the Church Courts in Scotland, from Alexander Keith, D.D. A Practical Exposition of the Lord's Prayer. By Thomas Manton, D.D. (Ward's Library, reprinted from edition of 1684.) Romanism and Anglo-Catholicism: Lectures. By Joseph Sortain, A.B. The Christian's Family Library-The History of the Hebrew Nation from its first Origin to the Present Time. By the Rev. J. W. Brooks. The Eucharist not an Ordinance of the Christian Church; being an attempt to prove that eating Bread and drinking Wine in Commemoration of Jesus Christ is not obligatory upon Christians. By Joseph Goodman. History of the Great Reformation of the Sixteenth Century in Germany, Switzerland, &c. By J. Merle D'Aubigné. Vol. 3. Sermons. By the Rev. John Harding, M.A., Rector of St. Ann's, Blackfriars. Services at the Ordination of the Rev. Andrew Reed, B.A., of Norwich. Canadian Scenery Illustrated. Part 14. Fox's Book of Martyrs. Part 5. THE ECLECTIC REVIEW, FOR AUGUST, 1841. Art. I. The Old Ministry: being a Lecture delivered in London, May 19, 1839. By N. SYDNEY SMITH BEMAN, D.D., United States of America. London: John Snow. PREACHING is of God. He is pleased by it to save them that believe. It is impossible, therefore, to overrate its importance; and he is no friend to the church or the world who impairs its sanctity or diminishes the respect in which it is held. We have often been astonished that ministers should ever depreciate or disparage it, and this for reasons of religion and benevolence, and not those of pride and profit. But who that has attended a few only of those most solemn services which accompany the ordination of ministers among Protestant Dissenters, has not heard it not only classed among, as if of simply equal importance with, but actually placed below, other ministerial functions? We have often been astonished and distressed at exhortations to the youthful preacher to remember that preaching is not the most important part of his office, and that he may do more good out of, than in, the pulpit. Surely this is to be wise above what is written in this particular case, and to teach a principle of dangerous application in all cases, namely, that what the Bible says nothing about in relation to any office may be more important than that about which it says all it has to say. For our own part, we have as little sympathy with those who put pastoral visitation in the place of preaching as with those who put the sacraments. Both dishonor and damage a divine institution, the one class by an abuse of scrip VOL. X. K tural observances, the other by the substitution of a human tradition. But it is not by extolling the ordinance of preaching that it can be kept up in the respect and esteem of men, and if it could be so done, it would not be desirable to do it. Paul told Titus and Timothy not to let any man despise them. The injunction proves that they had it in their own power to avoid or obtain the contempt of men. They could lose or get ministerial power. It was not the necessary attendant of their office, but the natural product of a becoming conduct. It was not to be won by dignified utterances of a divine mission, but practical evidences of a divine life. It was not to be produced by what they said had been done unto them by another, but by what men saw was done by themselves. And so may it be said to any minister, with more particularity, 'Let no man despise thy 'preaching. Let it be such that no man can despise it. Do not seek to sustain its credit by declarations of its being a divine ordinance, or it may be answered, 'We know that God has ordained preaching, but not your preaching; he has ' ordained the foolishness of preaching, but not the preaching ' of foolishness.' It is evident that preaching must depend more than ever upon its intellectual and spiritual merits. superstitious reverence with which ministers were wont to be regarded has nearly passed away, at least among Dissenters, and it is well if some of the proper reverence has not vanished with it. Popery and Puseyism may invest the priesthood with a slavish awe, because they arm them with official saving power; but Dissenters allow no influence to ministers but that of truth, truth announced in faithful words, truth embodied in holy actions. The pastor is held to have no commission which his works do not evidence; his right is in his soul, not in his succession; the proof that God has sent him is his doing of God's will; his authority to preach is revealed by his preaching well. They who disclaim the power of regenerating by water, must have the power of renewing by the Holy Ghost; they who say they have no corporeal Christ to furnish to men's bodies, must have a spiritual Christ to supply to men's souls. The No minister, put by God into the ministry, labors altogether in vain. To suppose that any did, would be to suppose that either God acted without having a design, or without gaining it. But it is not for us, or for any, to say how much success must attend the labors of those whom God employs to watch for souls in the office of the ministry. We do know, however, that men whose pretensions are equally valid, may be efficient in various degrees, and that it is competent for us to inquire into the reasons why greater efficiency in any case, or in all cases, does not characterize their ministrations, and if possible, to secure it. Now we think that few can doubt two things, first, that the modern ministry is not so useful as the primitive ministry was; and, secondly, that the causes of this are with us, and are criminal. We quite agree with Dr. Beman in the sermon which we have placed at the head of this article, that 'the dif'ference in question is not to be attributed to anything peculiarly favorable to the reception of the gospel in the spirit and genius of primitive times-to the gift of inspiration-to the power of miracles-to the mere sovereignty of God;' or to any thing else which would prove us innocent, and give us peace upon this subject. We are convinced that the modern ministry has, upon the whole, a great advantage over the primitive, and ought to be more successful; and design to point out in this paper what appear to us some of the principal causes of its inferior practical power. If the question is asked, Why is not the ministry more successful?-we must say, first of all, because the church is not more holy. Any explanation of the fact which goes not beyond the ministry must be defective if not false. The ministry cannot be separated from the general community of professors. Ministers are the expositors and advocates of a system, of which christians are the practical illustrations and evidences. It is a moral system-moral in its great ends-moral in its chief arguments-moral in its prime influences. To this system each christian bears a relation of great intimacy and importance, the relation of a subject and a sign. He is before the world as its fulfilment and exemplification. He is a living manifestation of its power and its purity. Men have a right to consider him as a specimen of the results of christian faith and feeling. The whole body of saints is what each individual saint is, an exhibition of the gospel. Upon the moral use and effect of religious character the language of the Bible is strong and strikingThe fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. Let your light 'so shine before men that they may see your good works and 'glorify your Father which is in heaven.'-Blameless and 'harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a 'crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights ' in the world, holding forth the word of life.'--' Abstain from 'fleshly lusts, which war against the soul, having your conver'sation honest among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak ' against you as evil doers, they may by your good works, 'which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.' -Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of 'all men forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the 'epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but 'with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.' Now if these representations |