PREFACE. HAs the modern evangelical pulpit lost, and is it still losing, any of its power? This is a question far too momentous to be asked in the spirit of mere curiosity, or to be answered in unreflecting and ignorant haste. An affirmative reply involves consequences so deeply and so painfully affecting the eternal welfare of mankind, as well as the cause of orthodox doctrine, that it should not be given but upon indubitable evidence; while on the other hand, a negative answer will only perpetuate the evil, if it really exists, by preventing all measures which might be taken to correct it. In settling this question, it is necessary to define what is meant by the loss of the power of the pulpit. If by this it is intended only to ask whether evangelical ministrations have lost their attractiveness in drawing the people together to hear them, it may be unhesitatingly affirmed that they have not, for perhaps there was never anything approaching the numbers which now are found listening to the glad tidings of salvation. The true intent of the inquiry then is this: Has the modern pulpit lost any of its efficacy as regards the great end for which the Gospel is preached, that is, the conversion of sinners, and the spiritual advancement of believers? In coming to a right conclusion upon this matter, another inquiry still must be proposed, which is this: With what past period of history is the present compared? If we go back to the time of BAXTER, HOWE, OWEN, BATES, MANTON, and CHARNOCK, there can be little reason to believe, it may be presumed, that the moderns preach with the same results that these men did. As little can it be questioned whether WHITFIELD and WESLEY, with the men called up by their labors, proclaimed the gospel of the grace of God, with more power and success than the preachers of the present day. It is better, therefore, to limit the range of inquiry to the last quarter of a century, and to state the matter thus: Does the preaching of the gospel now, taking all evangelical denominations into the investigation, appear to be followed with the same saving and sanctifying results, as it was then; and if not, does there appear to be a progressive diminution of effect still going on? This, it must be obvious, is a question which cannot be settled by very accurate statistics, and for the solution of which we must depend pretty much upon general reports, and concurrent testimony. It may be asked, then, whether the want of efficiency is not matter of acknowledgment and lamentation by all evangelical bodies? True it is that to a certain extent similar acknowledgments and lamentations have been made in every age, and by ministers of all denominations. But the inquiry now supposed is made chiefly by those who compare themselves with themselves; and their success at the present time, with their own success in the past time. The confession from the United States, made by Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Baptists and Methodists, is concurrent, that there is a flatness over the churches, that revivals are rare, and conversions |