pre-occupied the ground, propagated errors, divided the peo ple, and rendered them indifferent to the Gospel and its institutions. Those who live at a distance from this, or similar regions of darkness, delusion, and spiritual desolation, can form but faint ideas of the wants and dangers of our wretched fellow sinners, even in this Gospel land. Missionary Societies have done much; and still a vast and dreary waste remains to be cleared and cultivated. Candidates for the ministry in New England and the neighboring states are not sufficiently numerous to supply the wants of the old settlements. Those who have expended much money and nine years of precious time in study, and who are really qualified for larger towns, and more eligible situations,most naturally fall into them. It is certain we have cause of gratitude to the gracious Head of the Church that "an unusual number of ministers have been settled in this district within a short period." But nearly all of them are settled in old towns, or in the most pop. ulous and thriving of the new settlements. A few have been stationed in the smaller and in

terior towns, who there shine as lights, and cast a few enlivening rays into the surrounding Egyptian darkness. Most of these few are men who have not received a public education.

It seems that "preachers have come hither, and have returned for want of employment." Whether these found all the flourishing towns supplied, and declined penetrating into the regions of poverty, division, and delusion, I know not. I know, that vacancies of the first de

scription have been generally supplied. I know the people in new settlements are not always prepared to hire candidates; that they, with some old, but divided towns, must be stimulated and assisted by Missionary Societies; and that they are for the present inactive in consequence of the calamities which all of us feel, and the people of Maine peculiarly. No, Sir, many are perishing because there is no vision. Notwithstanding all the present means and sources of supply, there is a great want of ministers. And it is increasing every year.

While we sleep, the enemy is sowing tares. Look, Sir, at Rhode Island; and let your eye affect your heart. Say, is it best to let whole towns and districts continue without the ministry, till God's holy day is forgotten, all the institutions of religion are unknown, and the descendants of the puritans become more heathenish than those who never heard the Gospel? Many portions of our country present scenes as gloomy as our own. Can we then be blamed, if we beseech the Lord of the harvest, that he would thrust forth [Gr. enbaλɛ,] laborers into his harvest? Shall we be regarded by our brethren with a jealous eye, if, while we pray, we use our exertions to promote the same object? God forbid.

2. Men of piety and promis ing talents are often found, who cannot be fitted for the ministry in the way you propose. God does not usually bestow his grace on the rich and noble of the earth. Very few of this description, comparatively, born into the kingdom.

are

You

will contend, as earnestly as myself, that piety is an indispensable requisite for a minister of the Gospel Natural talents are bestowed on the poor as well as the rich. Many who might shine as lights in the world, both in church and state, are never known beyond the town in which they were born. Many of the most faithful, laborious, and useful ministers, who do receive a collegiate education, acquire it by great industry and seif-denial, and through many obstacles and difficulties, in which the prime of life is consumed, and they enter the ministry at the age of 30, or 35. Some men of superior natural talents are called to know Christ when rather advanced; and it seems improper that their services should be lost to the Church, merely because they cannot then become so learned ás others, At any rate, there are young men of piety and talents, who cannot be educated in your way. Their fathers have no property to spare for the purpose. If they earn enough themselves, their nine years must become twelve or fifteen. Our Colleges are not charitable institutions. The Seminary at Andover will give them assistance gratis, in pursuing their theological studies, but only after they have obtained a collegiate education, or what is equivalent. This, however, they cannot do. Shall we endeavor to assist them through the whole course of their studies on your plan? It is beyond our means; beyond our hopes. We look on these men, who might be useful to Zion, (not forgetting the many and distressing wants of the people,)

In

and we cannot forbear saying to them, "The Lord hath need of you; come up to the help of the Lord, against the_mighty." this state of things we ask, Is it allowable, and expedient to admit men to the sacred office with less qualifications than are bestowed at Andover? Here we hesitate, we reflect, we inquire, we pray; and we find,

3. That no defined degree of learning is required in Scripture, for the office of a minister. God requires that a bishop should not be a novice, but apt to teach, able to teach others, a scribe well instructed into the kingdom of heaven, bringing out of his treasures things new and old. His priests' lips must keep knowledge. His pastors must feed the people with knowledge and understanding. But he has no where placed a boundary. He has not prescribed a certain degree of learning, which shall be necessary to fit a man for service in his vineyard.

4. We learn from Scripture, that God employs men of very different attainments, in the ministry of the word. Paul and Luke, and John and Mark were men very unequal in their acquirements. Christ gave Apostles, and Prophets, and Evangelists, and Pastors, and Teachers; and all for the edifying of the body of Christ. Religious instructors, as well as others, had their peculiar gifts, differing according to the grace given unto them; and were accordingly required to prophesy, or wait on ministering, or teaching, or exhortation, as the gift of each had prepared him. And yet they

were all fellow servants and brethren. The head, the hands,

and the feet, performed their separate functions; and yet all promoted the interest of the whole body without rivalship.

5. The practice of the Christian churches does not establish the degree of knowledge, which a minister shall possess. Certain ly it does not furnish your standard. The advantages which the Seminary at Andover afford have been enjoyed in New England but a few years. An equal portion of time has not been spent by ministers generally, who were graduates from Colleges, and are now, or have been, faithful, well-furnished, and useful. The churches have also employed many who were never at a College, who have not only been the means of much good to souls, but, in many cases, an honor to the ministry. Of this fact there are living witnesses. 6. It is impossible to fix a standard. Ministers always have been qualified in different degrees, and always will be. Dif. ferent native talents, with the same means, and in the same time, will produce a different result. Some men would be better fitted for an employment in four years, than others in nine. Some men with limited attainments would be more capable of instructing, than others who had ten times as much knowledge. God gives talents, to one, five; to another, two; and to another, one. Yet he accepts the improvement of each. Shall we insist, that the possessors shall equalize them before they shall improve them? We cannot, if we would.

7. The wants of churches require men of different qualifica tions, in different places. The

talents of a Missionary should be very different from those of the stated Pastor. In an obscure country village, a man may be well qualified for every duty to which he will be called; may fill up his life with usefulness, and lead many souls up to heaven; who would not be an acceptable nor profitable preacher in a city, where he would be surrounded with literary men, and be conversant both with inquirers and opposers of a more intelligent order. A man therefore, to whom providence has evidently marked out his way to a station of the first description, would go entirely aside from duty, if he should consume several years of a short life, in acquiring talents, which are never to be called into exercise. As well might a man, who designs to employ his life as a blacksmith, acquire at great knowledge of the art of watchmaking; or a farmer, who determines never to leave his native shore, acquaint himself with the business of the sailor. Would it not be strange, that a man, who knows he can never be President of a College, and intends only to take the charge of common schools, should yet labor to fit himself for leading students into the most abstruse mysteries of science. Far be it from me to undervalue learning. I would have some of Christ's servants as well informed, as the most erudite gainsayers. would have none employed, who are not possessed of solid attainments. A minister ought well to understand the proper business of his function. He should have an intimate acquaintance with the sacred volume of God's

expense a

I

truth; and so much knowledge of the sciences as to fit him to convey instruction to his hearers in a perspicuous manner. But every man cannot be a Doddridge, nor an Edwards. And the exigences of the church do not require it. Some are wanted, in the regions of Socinian and other learned heresies, to combat infidels with their own weapons, and confute them with biblical criticisms. I rejoice that Andover affords the means of educating ministers for this service. I rejoice that means are there enjoyed, unknown to our fathers, for rendering many many Gospel ministers learned, and mighty in the Scriptures; though I hope but few will devote their time and talents for life to the business of comparing quotations, manuscripts, and versions, while souls are perishing around them. Perhaps those who do not, like us, reside within the sound of the Macedonian intreaty from desolate regions, do not, like us, fully realize that the Church needs and requires men to go forth thither peculiarly fitted to "endure hardness;" men who seek not great things for themselves; men who will never meet a learned opposer, but find many errors, the offspring of ignorance; men prepared by the habits of their minds, to adapt themselves to common people. 8. The plan proposed will prevent unqualified men from undertaking the high office of religious teachers. It is natural for every soul, when born of God, to pity other lost sinners, earnestly to desire their salvation, and to wish to do something to that end. Many pious men, near destitute places, are ready

to fly to the rescue of souls from death, without_ample ability to be useful. This is in a less degree the case in all places, where the situation of the destitute is known. A man of some natural powers, and of fervent piety, gives some attention to study, can lead in public devotions, is sound and understanding in the faith; but his attainments are small. An Association, viewing the pressing wants of their fellow men, are strongly tempted to grant him license to preach; they cannot find it in their hearts to refuse him. In this way unqualified men may come into the ministry. But this will be prevented, if men of this description can repair to a seminary, where they can be assisted, where they will not be fitted for eminence indeed, but to become respectable and useful ministers of the New Testament. It is to be lamented, that persons have rushed into the sacred office with so little preparation, in so many cases. We are aware that bad effects result from employing illiterate teachers. We would guard against this evil by our institution. On the other hand, learning may be, it has been, exalted higher, than its proper place. In our zeal for its promotion we are apt to overlook the other indispensable qualifications. A learned ministry may be wanting in spirituality, and the unc. tion of the Gospel.

On the whole, we are constrained to believe that we may do God service, if he shall grant us means, and endue us with wisdom to pursue the proposed plan.

But, Sir, deference is due to

your remarks. I shall, therefore, in the third place, briefly reply to your objections:

1. You say "the institution will tend to degrade the ministerial character." It should be remembered, that the ministerial character is not yet generally raised to the standard of Andover, for which you contend; because few have had such advantages as are there enjoyed, till within a few years. Something has been said which will show that the probable tendency of our institution will be to raise the character of the ministry from its present state.

2. "The proposed Academy is in its very design, a rival institution to all our Colleges, and particularly to the Theological Seminary at Andover." I think this is not the fact. Such as have property and time will prefer to pass through College; and we shall advise to it. Others generally do not go to Col. lege, even when there is no other institution

to take them. Those who can command the means will still prefer Andover. The objects of the two institutions are different, but not opposite. You would fit men for certain stations; we take other persons, and fit them for other stations. Most of those who will come to us; could not have gone according to your desire. They would have been useless to the Church. We should have no sinister motives in our acts of benevolence. We should think little of the grandeur or celebrity of an institution. We should rejoice only in its purity and usefulness. I sincerely wish there were pious young men enough in this state to fill two

such institutions as that at Andover. If ours could be useful in another part of the vineyard, I should be willing it might receive students. If I can do

good, I will not consider you as an intruder on my prerogative, although you do good likewise, in your appointed sphere, and by lawful means. Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my friends and thy friends; for we be brethren. I am persuaded, Sir, that if you knew our motives and views, whatever bad effects you might fear from our measures, you would not impute to us the "design" of rivalling an institution, for a blessing on which we ardently pray.

3. You say the proposed Academy "will produce an unhappy division among ministers." Such a division does not exist now, though there is a greater difference in attainments than would result from our seminary. Pious and faithful preachers of small acquirements, without collegiate education, unite with others of the first eminence; and they hold each other in mutual estimation. And this, although it is "understood" that the one class have studied little, and the others much. I do not think it is the manner of pious ministers to despise their brethren, who appear to be ministers of Christ, because they have less knowledge than themselves. Each esteems others better than himself.

4. I am not in the least degree apprehensive that the students in the College of our Baptist brethren in this quarter will make greater attainments than

our own.