The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-06-09

From being the miniiter OF petty VILLAGE or 4
contracted neighbourhood, his enthutisf'n or his
ambition viii prompt him to extend his exerti-
ons and histriumphs over wider difSriet. From
thete powerful indictments, the zeal of minif-
ter Of the church derives an activity and con-
fancy, which no other means can attempt 70 in
!pire. CbierNe too the influence which this IL
tuation produces upon his moral character. AS
lis temporal interef appears to DC the fame
with that of all the niniiSers OF his own fees as
they have no regular or accurate ftanda1d by
which they may Ultimate the influence that
they may respectively poiieis in their feet as
they have no numerical lit by which they can
compare the number OF converts whom they
have respectively gained, or Of religious friends
who are willing 10 fupport them an envy of
their mutual iuccefS and reputation has no room
to exert its moit malignant power. The friend
ihip OF the miniiterS will contribute to the har-
mony of the feet. The individual character of
, the miniiter will accommodate itfeif more com
p.eatly to the nterelts Of his church. II will
not be 70 much his own cauic, rs the interen of
his iett, which he will be anxious to promote !;
or rather they will be 70 intimately connected
w!th each other, that both objects will be equal
y embraced b. his eXertions. This anxious de-
IRE to promote TIE interef of his own ie6S, will
increate rather than repreis his attention TO their
neral conduct. Should he obferve them to
relax from the principles Of their creed, or from
the precepts of morality, ne will not defend TO
F., the mean artihce OF tiatteIing their paiionS or
their deviatlons from truth: but with manly
( boldneis, correspondent to the energy of his
motives, he win attempt TO lead them back in
to the ways of helineiS and faith. Perhaps he
may itep into the folds of cfks, fc6ts TO make
converts for his own. The ipirit OF protelyti.in
may perhaps lead him TO neglect the diicuiiion
OF the moral doctrines cfrelgion, and puih thofe
points of controversy in which their formula
res faith may differ. Bat theie fiuiteiS DIFF
cuiIions, thefe efforts OF feetaiian fpilit will be
iefS frequent becauie the intercitS ofthe church.
es are not altogether Incompatible, and becaufc
their reflective minifters will frequently be en-
| poyed III reforming the manners and doctrines
| oft6eiL ozva.
| Let us now reverft the medal.
| Let us make ufe of the Indictment which
| Judge Tucker has recommended. mltead of
that holy enthuiiaiin, or that impure ambition
which animates mott Of the minifers of the pre-
tent day, let us fuppofe them bribed to per-
form their duty. The confciouincfs OF an ho-
norable motive has now departed /; and with il
mott OF that earnetneis, perseverance and en-
phatic eloquence which formerly difinguiihed
| them. The people who liiten TO their e.horta-
tons, no longer Imagine they hear the voice OF
| divine inipiration or difiatercfed virtue. The
zeal which they perceive in their muifers, will
nary and tine-ierving fpirit. The minifers
themfclves Whole relative influence will be more
| eahly eliminated by the number and wealth OF
Their respective followers, and whole pecuniary
lnteretS may be altogether incompatible. will
indulge towards each other g mere Jealous and
diicordant difpoition. In fome counties where
| the minifters OF any one Church, are nearly G.
quail to each other III talents or popularity, the
different members of the fc6t will exhibit di-
vIded tPirt, dbagreeable to theniel es and diff
F.! graceful TO their cauie. In all the counties an
intoierant temper will more and more divide
the .1zze|<;1f Churches. Their miniflers, being
PAD according TO the wealth and number of
their followers, will try to extend the number
OF their PROTOTYPES. Thofe moral DOCTRINES in
which they all agree, will be put Aide for the
purpoie or introducing uielefs difcuiIions on
points OF faith, in which they all differ. The fate
viii thus come to exhibit variety offeas more
completely ieparated from each other and ma.
| ny OF the counties will contain fcyersI Gnalier
dlvItions IN eacn feet, headed by different mi
niiters, who neglect the doctrines of morality to
dHcuis formularieS of faith and who have Ioft
IN inercenaTy temper mott of their reliqiious
enthuhaiIn, and much Of their ardent AMBITION.
1t was from this view of the fub;ea that Arcb
Deacon Paiey has pafied nearly the fame criti-
ciiin on the plan. ''The making flaws he) the
pecuniary fuccefs of the different teachers of
I iCbo ioil 10 oSiDeNu upon the number g. wealth
OF rneir respective followers, would naturally
generate ftrifeS and indecent iealouiies among
them, as well as produce a poenical and pro-
telyiing fpirt, founded in or mixed with viev,s
OF private gain, which would both deprave the
principles OF the clergy, and diftract the coun-
Try with endlefs contentions''&
Ifthen the Character of a competent rniniHer
! ihould PoHef proper degee of religions zeal :.
OF zeal which promotes the intercfts of the diff
terent lects, without completely deGroying their
federation for each other of a zeal which in
cu!catss the valuable doctrines OF religious mo-
rality, notwithstanding ufelefs tl;fcuEonson
fornularies of faith ilIall we hef;tate in onr
choice Of theie iyitcms But fudge Tucker
may ak what is zeal without IcGrv;Hy WHY
inipire the minifer with an ardent deGre to
preach the religion of the gofpel, who is unable
to understand or explain its precepts
will admit with Judge Tucker, that moi
Of the inini}eis of the preicnt day are by No
means iuiiicientiy enlightened and able in their
vocation ard THAI they frequently filDo!v by
all euthuiiaitic manner, the abfence OF more w.
idable cndowments. But his fyRe5n does not
appear efficiently calculated TO remove this
evil, in many reipects. 1T. Even if il could
produce the moi favorable change il the intel
ettual character of fone of the miniRers. If
would De productive of little benefit. unlef, n
correspondent change was wroggh. in therninde
OF the people. Afternoon addrelIed TO them i,