MINISTRY OFTEN UNFAITHFUL. 349 maintaining religious instructors, have always acted upon the principle, that they are a body of men really useful and necessary to civil society. They have formed their opinion of religious teachers from universal observation and experience. This opinion, therefore, which mankind in all ages have formed, respecting the usefulness of religious instructors, rests upon a firm and broad foundation, which can never be shaken. lb. The business of religious teachers perfectly coincides with the business of civil rulers. It is the ultimate design of civil magistrates to restrain the external actions of men; and, so far as religious teachers restrain their internal corruptions, just so far they aid the civil powers, and contribute all their influence to promote the good of civil society. This salutary effect of religious instruction, enforced by the motives of eternity, mankind have observed and experienced in all ages; and upon this solid ground they have formed their united and just opinion, that religious instructors are highly necessary to promote their civil as well as religious interests. South. If there were not a minister in every parish, you would quickly find cause to increase the number of constables; and if the churches were not employed as places to hear God's law, there would be need of them to be prisons for law-breakers. [See 401, 800.] 595. MINISTRY OFTEN UNFAITHFUL. Em. Those preachers, who perpetually swim upon the surface of the Gospel, never teach their people any real knowledge of the great system of Christianity. For no subject in divinity can be said to be really known, without being known in its various connections with the other branches of divinity, and with the general scheme of Divine grace. But superficial preachers, who never lay open the Gospel as one great, uniform, consistent design, never represent one doctrine of religion in its full and proper connection. Hence they never convey much real instruction to their hearers, by their vague and indeterminate preaching. Ib. Preaching the Gospel partially, never fails of leading hearers into error. They must form wrong ideas of God, and 350 MINISTERIAL POPULARITY. of the doctrines of the Gospel, if the most important parts of the work of redemption are either concealed or denied. lb. Those who attempt to preach the Gospel without its threatenings, do not preach the whole Gospel, but that which is subversive of the whole Gospel. Puritan Rec. Omission to hold forth the truth, as it should be done, is cause enough to secure a rank growth of error. Unitarianism never came into the Unitarian churches by Unitarian preaching, and never will. Those whose memory extends back to the time of its first development here, and who know the habits of that time, well know, that the mischief was done more by silence, than by controversy. Men will not be indoctrinated in Christianity, unless they hear the doctrines preached. And if they are not indoctrinated in the truth, error is the sure result. Boston paper. We once knew a clergyman, reputed in his congregation as uncommonly bold and faithful; but his people became pharisaical, denunciatory, and quiet in their sins. On closer inspection, it appeared that their pastor, in his preaching, hit everybody but his own flock, and all sorts of sins but those of which they were specially guilty. Taking him as a model of faithfulness, they thought they could have no faults which he would not point out, and as they saw how much more heinous the sins of others were represented than their own, the young pharisee in them could but flourish under such a ministration of the word. 596. MINISTERIAL POPULARITY. Ed. (Ironical.) Recipe for present popular favor. Cultivate the outside talents much; the inside, much or little. In managing, be profound; in divinity, superficial. Be declamatory and amusing, not discriminating and systematic. Desultory things, said smartly and smoothly, are the thing. Strive to be animated, especially when preaching nothing, for such animation will excite an auditory, and this excitement will pass for religion, active and devout. In preaching, assert, but never reason; at least, never from offensive and disputed principles. Preach little or much on the importance of logical, instructive, doctrinal, and discriminating preaching, provided you avoid the thing itself. Guide all the reputable selfish feeling, spiritual pride, and vanity, into the channels of piety, that religion may flourish, and not decline. Attach much importance to the quantity of religion, little to the quality. Let strong and popular prejudices die a natural death: it is always hazardous to encounter them. Be careful to lead, or drive, in the way people wish to go. Avoid all questions that involve high principles in theology or ethics, as long as it will do; but when compelled to meet them, ingeniously attach enough other things to them to cover up all offensive points, or to turn away public attention from them. Preach rousingly and pointedly against errors and vices that prevail abroad, but slide over, with all possible smoothness and circumlocution, besetting and prevalent errors and faults at home. If you mention the latter, classify them with many others, and not dwell upon them in particular. Encourage all reputable persons, who think favorably of themselves, to come into the church, that, by enjoying its ordinances and privileges, they may become prepared for heaven. Be hospitable enough to secure all desired friendship; and liberal enough in charitable donations to avoid deprecated censure. More might be said, but these hints will give a clue to that course of preaching and procedure which can scarcely fail, with common abilities and prudence, to secure present popular favor and influence. "I speak as unto wise men, judge ye what I say." Em. If you would preach so as to please every-body, be careful and not meddle with the conscience. [See 714.] 597. MINUTENESS. Jour. Com. The small drop of water, which appears clear, and too minute to contain any insect, when viewed through a microscope, appears an extensive, turbid pond, in which thousands of living creatures are swimming about, sporting and preying upon each other, and pursuing the bent of their nature with as much eagerness and animation as the mightiest monsters of the deep. The wings of a gnat, when thus viewed, appear put together with as much firmness and strength, compared to the weight they bear, as the wings of the largest birds. 352 MIRACLES, MISCELLANEOUS MAXIMS. Ed. The greatness of God's power and wisdom appear as manifest, as marvellous, and much more manifold, in the minuteness as in the magnificence of his works. We can no more find the end of the minute, than of the magnificent. Smith, Rev. R. The philosophy of trifles is the most curious of all philosophy. What student of natural science has not wondered as he has looked forth upon the minute, the subtile, the microscopic among the things of creation? The tiny wonders of physical nature give us most impressive images of the many trivial things which, by their peculiar connections, or accumulated influence have so mighty a bearing in the mental and moral world. [See 546, 951.] 598. MIRACLES. The Christian miracles are confirmed by ancient miracles, and infidels admit that genuine miracles prove a revelation. Ed. Miracles confirm faith, and confound unbelief. 599. MISCELLANEOUS MAXIMS. Ed. Maxims miscellaneous, like unlucky men, have not wit enough to find their place in the body politic. A good mason refuses no stone. Rely not on another for what you can do for yourself. Change your climate, not your mind. Ed. The reverse would often be better advice. Two of a trade can never agree. Ed. Unless the trade is to do good, and not merely to get it. Bruyere. We are come too late, by several thousand years, to say anything new in morality. The finest and most beautiful thoughts concerning manners, have been carried away before our times, and nothing is left for us, but to glean after the ancients, and the most ingenious of the moderns. Ed. The misfortune is not that we are born too late, but that we are become too indolent, or notional, to be anything but gleaners and copyists. There are many say-wells, to one do-well. The worth of a thing is best known by the want of it. Butler. Should once the world resolve t' abolish MISCELLANEOUS MAXIMS. All that's ridiculous and foolish, It would have nothing left to do. 353 Ed. A mistake. It would have plenty of work to make them stay abolished. Who is wise? He who learns from every one. Who is powerful? He who governs his passions. Who is rich? He who is contented with little. Who is open, without levity; generous, without waste; secret, without craft; humble, without meanness; bold, without insolence; cautious, without anxiety; regular, yet not formal; mild, yet not timid; firm, yet not tyrannical, will pass the ordeal of honor, virtue, and friendship. Lavater. He who sedulously attends, pointedly asks, calmly speaks, coolly answers, and ceases when he has no more to say, is in possession of some of the best requisites of man. Henry. God's favorites are often the world's laughing-stocks. Ed. We go out of the world before we become acquainted with it; and out of the body, before we become acquainted with ourselves. Ib. Those towns which abound in spiritual guides who point the wrong way, and are deficient in finger-posts to direct strangers the right way, are wanting in public virtue and spirit. Who lives in a glass house, should not throw stones. He that speaks ill of others to me, will speak ill of me to others. I If leaders go to a precipice, the people will go over it. say A living faith is the best divinity; a holy life is the best philosophy; a tender conscience, the best law; honesty, the best policy, and temperance the best physic. Ed. "And what shall more?" Only, that a good memory is the best almanac ; a good conscience, the most cheerful companion; a good wife, the best fortune; a good home, the best place; a good name the best perfume; and a well-grounded religious hope the best possession. It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good. |