New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-27
Episcopal Theological Seminary.

| annual address Je(oTe the A'umni-DHties Of tht
Christian Ministry.
The Annual Sermon before the Alumni of the
General Theological Seminary of the Protestant
Episcopal Church, was delivered on Tuesday
evening, ct st. Thomas's Church, Broadway, by
Rev THOMAS LLOYD Of Godsborough, Nd There
was fair attendance, including "a number of the
Clergy. The text was taken from Ezekiel iii. .
in the following words;
"sop OF man. sneak to The chdron OF thy people and
say Them when Dr0g the sword upon land, II the
people Of Inc lsnd take Of their coasts snd set him
Tor their Wstchman" h connection wilh the succeeding
verses
The virtue incucsted in the present passage,
said the speaker, is that Of duty-a duty Illus
Hated by the familiar image Of Waterman placed
upon the post of Israel, who, when he sees the
evil coming, is to blow the trumpet and warn
the people. If this duty be performed he that
taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But, "if the
Waterman see the sword come and blow not the
trumpet, and the people be not warned; il the
sword com and take any person from among them"
bic blood is to be required at the watchman's hand.
From this point the speaker drew illustration Of
the ofice of Christian Minister and proceeded
to establish and fortify the argument He said the
text conveyed an awful admonition to the Clergy
Of the responsibility of their Office, and the danger
of betrayiDg it. The duty of the Christian Minis
ter is here exhibited in most striking point OF
view. Ezekiel ia noble model for men OF every
country and condtOn-ss worthy to be initiated as
rarely to be found. The office OF the Minister Of
the present day resembles his in a great degree.
The evils Of our day too nearly resemble those OF
Ezekiefs time and nation Toe times in which
live impose upon Us weighty obligations for the
faithful delivery of the message delivered u us.
The speaker regarded it as OF the highest import
bIce that the LGisy should understand what thu
! Church OF Cbrst expects from Christian Ministers
! that they may bear with them when they rebuke,
| exhOft as they are required to do; and
especially when they are called to combat the per.
nclous tendencies which may mark the age Ia
which they live. Some qualifications Of the Chris
iian Minister require, however more especial at
teDton. These are fidelity and earnestne, ia re
presenting the claims Of the constituted Church of
God, and boldly preaching the Gospel. Happy
would 1t be for mankind IT the Ministers of God
were always actuated by due sense of their re-
spoDsibility.-Msn is by nature a religious being
His history bis existence, his physical orr auizatiol
all bear witness to the fact la the hight Of his
prosperity be experiences wants which can be
supplied from noRe other than a religious channel
The Christian Is literally supplied with comforts
which human aid cannot discover. With a soil,
then, SO happily prepared what glorious harvests
might have been gathered, bad the ambassadors of
Sbiibi tnclr ONCE Win unc m
rDpuble fidelity and boldness. The Clergy should
be consistent in their lives, and progress spiritual
llie and strength. They must not acco IMMEDIATE
themselves to the vanity aud pride Of the afloent
should not seek 10 obtain favor Of the world at the
expense Of principle. God is not deceived. Should
suffering and privatoH follow the faithful perform
ance Of their duty TO speak boldly against vice in
every shape, that duty is but made the stronger
Tie temper OF the times may be so vicious inquity
may so abound, as to render the utterance OF the
truth dangerous, yet should not the Christian mia.
lister be moved. He must obey God and not trem.
BILE at the frowns of men. st. Paul boldly asserted
bis right 10 reprove and rebuke at the very tribunal
OF power, which had authority to scourge imprison
or kill him. Yet he was not deprived of his forti
tude or selfcommand.
The speaker adverted to the forms of religious
error low so sadly multiplied. Men profess to be
lukewsrm in religion from very principle To
treat oil forms and principles Of Christianity light
y to admit to fellowship those whose belief is Of
hat character which would be fatal to RELIGION.
and calculated TO bring dshoDor upon the Church.
s regarded by many as the truest berality. if not
he soundest policy. To this argument the speaker
decidedly objected. He urged the necessity of
be ching the progress Of latitudinarianism; and
bOye all held that the Clergy should afix the seal
o their Christian effort by the example of pure
ives, as well as by precept.
The discourse was an able effort, and was listen
d to with marked attention.
The Annual Commencement of the Seminary
axes place at O'Clock this morning, at St. Peters
,hurch, Chelsea.