Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-04-01
Religious MISCELLANY.
From the New York Observer
1-mAnent Piety Requisite in Candidates
for the Ministry.

| tes
for the Ministry,
The mere increase of numbers is no,
sufficient; higher qualifications are need
cd than have commonly been found in
candidates in our day: especially deep
and abiding conviction of the truth as +
Is IN Jesus, and constraining sense OF
Inc love OF Christ. habitualIv, on the
nina. One minister of eminent pietv IS
worth many whose piety is feeble, and
their religious course unsteady. False
religious ways have ministers enouoh.-
when there was bat one prophet of Je
hovah, there were four hundred priests of
baal, and more than as many more of
Ashtaroth, or the Groves. The TEMPLES
OF the Pagans in India and China swarm
with ministers, all of whom are supnort.
ed at the public expense. Where mon
asterles exist, they are commonly crowd
ed aud the religious orders of the Rom.
lsh church find devotees enough. Vari-
Gus motives induce men to eonseerate their
lives TO false religion Some are inf]u.
enced by a love Of ease and sensual indul-
gence; but doubtless. the far great num-
oers by religious motives; that is, bv the
bidding foEce of superstition. The mass
OF the people are easily brought under the
influence of superstition, but with mpch
difficulty brought to take an interest.in
the doctrines of truth. and the pure wor-
snip OF God. No people in the world
manifest so much indifference to the r.l;-
glon IN which they have been brouc h m
as they who have been educated in 4 nnre
system of Christianity. Many Protest.
ants have very little esteem for their reIi.
gion, and very little veneration for the sa-
cred office of the ministry. In most re-
llglons. the ministers of the altar stand
high on account of their sacred Office.
and parents deem it an honor for their
children to be invested with it; but MANY
persons, among US, little exalted above
the common run OF men, are resoluteIv
averse to have their sons become preach
ers of the gospel. Indeed, they are apt
to think that young man who might
shine IN the senate, or at the bar, throws
himself away, if he becomes al minister
OF the gospel. This shows how tempo
raj things predominant in the minds ofl
worldly Christians, over those which are
eternal. 1t is a thing very favorable to
the purity OF the ministry among US, that
IT promises little to attract young men off
worldly principles. They who enter il
must do so on the principles of faith and
self-denial. They must expect to struo-
gle with privations, not suffered in arv
other of the learned professions: and the y
must wait for their. honor and reward in
another world. where ";hev that be wise
shall shine as the brightness of the fiirma.
menf. and they that turn MANY to right
eouSness, as the stars forever and ever"
BY eminence in pietv, is not meant ex-
traordinary views and extotic frames. hnt
deep and conscientious regard to the au-
IhorIty and glory of Christ. Such
steady pursuit of the Redeemer's king
dom. as leases the person no time nor in
to think of growing rich, or of
liVing in ease and luxury.
Young men, who have been regularly !,
in the doctrines of our standards.
and accustomed from infancy to habits of
sobriety. and industry, are far
more likely to make exemplary pastors,
when truly pious, than such as have been
brought up in vice and ignorance, al
though they may be truly converted from
their sins, and may possess flaming zeal.
Those who have the selection and recon-
mending of young men to be taken ND
and educated, have sOlema responsible
ty; and on this point. there has been
great indiscretion. Many youths have
been taken from the plough and the shop.
and placed upon the funds of the church
who after spending years at school, and