The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-01-17
CHE Gssapi5t.
For Tho Cecil Wing
eACHERS AND PREACHING.


4 AcHERs AND PREACHING.
x would leave il to the decision of any
4 ordinary candor, intelligence and edu-
i. to say whether men. in any other pro-
n, could carry on their business with
>, if they took no more pains about the
u than an ordinary preacher does In the
lukition and delivery of all average ser
s The truth is, that liz England pulpit
Nice has fallen to very low ebb in
eabove remarks, which we copy from
8hdon Times, are equally as applicable
81 country as to England for pulpit
nee can certainly not be at any lower
IIhn with US. A great majority of our
ID, in the country at least. arc filled with
,.Iers whose sermons are remarkable for
ng but thcil interminable length and in
bic stupidity. Sunday after Sunday
congregations will be inflicted
Serinons that require from an hour to
,dr and half in the delivery, and which
it contain a single original idea or a
stloqucnt passage and yet they are ex-
4 to listen to them with attention and
Al.
lei, u lawyer. politician, or lecturer on
Mucous subjects, borcs us with Ia prosy
gle, we Soon leave him to discourse to
y benches, and are justitiablc in venting
Hen upon him to our hearts content.
preacher of the Gospel may be prolix.
'snnd dull, and, because his subject
"rof divinity, his auditors must listen
'w.ly, never daring TO open their mouths
Itprase Of him, lest they be instantly
u oe fostering and disseminating SEN
rank with infdclity, and calculated
d the Scriptures into disrtpute. And
or his congregation prefer staying from
professionally TO being panied with his
nS delivery Of inane cornn,on-places
en looked upon with suspicion as being
otter than heatheu. Thus, thousands
''pwho are too lazy to earn their bread
'Nir hands, and zoo bralnleas to do it
ipir heads, don the clerical robes, get
Stoned to preach, and obtain livel-
" delivering insufrrabIy stupid Ser
,congrcga'unS who dare not complain.
',bicct of preaching, We take it, is to
men, and there is but little prospect
~ this until we can get them to listen
= octrnes Of whose truth we wish to
~ them. And we know Of no way Of
" th,m to listen but by having those
s inculcaled in an eloquent and at
manner. The discourscS Of cur pas
not calculated to enlist the sylnra-
tescite the feelings Of the people: and
1T be expected to take much interest
ling to sermons that give pain rather
ttasure-disgust rather than afford
saon Goodness alone does not qualify
a Z the pulpit. 1t is not every one,
wncd with spirit Of piety, that has
tht or ability 10 teach his fellows. A
lnY be as meek as Moses or as pious as
Pad yet tie unfit to preach. A preacher
haster opportunity Of making decided
impn upon his hearers than speaker Of
any kind, for his theme is the finest
andimcst in the world. md he who fails
to do celebrated divine of our time says,
rs y" We do not care to use language
so hsbut we do say that the preacher
SEo ehcs from week to week to the same
ongltion without making a perceptiblc
nj irg impression for good upon 1t,
houl,s gn his chargo-he has evidently
'is'aFh bis calling.
Whour lives OF property are at stake
e try obtain the services Of the hest ply
'ians lawyers. but any poor botch we
nSideped enough for the salvation of our
lis. e ure extremely anxious that our
nporaflars should be in the hands of
npe,t, well qualified men, but are will
to rix our own and our neighbors' spirit
wtlhrc, with men better qualified at
wing potatoes, digging bitches, or doing
thing else than saving souls. This is Ger
ny not as it should be.
A keat reform is needed in the ministry in
S Country, and the sooner it commences
better it will bceor the cause Of religion.
usecrrct out the csrical quacks who fill
many Of our pulpts,md give them an op-
unity to try their hahs at some vocation
re the responsibility is lot so great. and
Influence exertcd for good or evil not so
in its consequences. Until a
siderable change takes place in the ability
ur preachers; or Mt least until a great
nge takes place in the style and delivery
'ur average sermons, we have no expecta.
of seeing our churches crowded as they
ad be, and as they undoubtedly would be
he pulpits were occupied with preachers
llifed to minister to the wants and de-
nds of the people. w.
900
ACTS ABOUT TIE koRAN.-The Koran was
item about \. ID, CLIO. It's general ain,
to Unite the professions of ldolatry and
jews and Christians in the worship of
God-whose unity was the chief point
cated--under certain laws and ceremo-
!, ,exacting obedience to Mahomet and the
pnet' 1t was written in the Koreish
BIC and this language, which certainly
'essrd every fine quality, was said to be