The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-09-03
MINISTER'S Al spucArops

rrssful in it, said to MS II few days since -
81 feel myself more indebted 10 my minis.
ter than To amy other living man, for the
IDEAS which he gives me for the thoughts
whicl, he suggests, not on religious subjects
only, but on all subjects. My mind rccurs
to them often during the week; and find
myself Inickencd, instructed, and mentally
invi""ratrd, 10y having been in contact on
the Sabbath with such Il serious, thoughtful
and wcl.cultivatcd mind" This gentle
man is III some respects particularly iortu
nate III his church associations; is permit
ted to enjoy the minisr,tions Of pastor
who has probably no superior certainly in
the most important and radical clements OF
excellence as Il preacher, among American
clcrgymcn. But how many others might
say the same thing? How many, even,
who arc now hardly col,sc Gus Of their in
dcbtc'lncSs in this direction, would find, if
they should thoroughly analyzc and consid
cr their own mental progress, that more
than two newspapers, magazines, books,
more than to casual intercourse with ac-
Iuantanccs or regular social Intercourse
with friends, more than to the studies and
plans and struggles of the counting room,
they owe to thci: Minister, and his ,lscour-
scS from the pulp OF in the lccturc.room,
their best ilc.s, their nohlcst and l,appicst
plans OF lie, their most genial and fruitful
mcntal growth. The direct agency wlicl,
the ministry thus cxcrts in The education of
the popular mind Of the country can hardly
he estimated! and those who are not r:Ii
giouSly disposed, may at least be respectful
and corlc"us to the pulpit for the general
enlightenment, and the mental and social
refinement and visor, which il constantly
distributes.
1t is much, as our friend intimatcI, sim
ply to DC brought two or three Times every
week into direct contact and communication
with Il mind that las been studious.
thoughtful, and mc'litativc, while we have
been hurried from work, inccssan,ly occu-
pied and pcrrex'd with engagements, in
tent on doing the present thing first, and
the next thing next, AMI without either lcs.
ure, facilities, or almost faculties, for quiet
studies, and gradual and elaborate processes
OF thought. y hcaltlful and animatinr in
iluencc hrcathcs upon us through the con-
tact. Our subsequent state of mind if not
more thoughtful and intellectual is less ur-
gently practical, less strained and strenuous.
1t "c do not ourselves study more thcrcaf-
ter, we arc ut least more sensible than be-
fore OF the value and beauty of such still
studies ) and the ci,mor Of daily affairs and
efforts do not drown so completely, our
finer sense Of the majority Of thought, and
the supremacy Of truth.
HE themes which the minister mcd;tatcs
and presents, too, arc themselves the grand
est III The compass Of thought, aud they
have the widest and the most various rcla
tons to all subjects Of inquiry. A most
various really well considered and instr,c-
tive discourse has score Of outlooks, Which
the preacher may Indicate in words or not.
which are sometimes better suggested
without words,-towards principles Of phi
Iosophy, towards ethical rules, towards lis.
tory, science, art and life. And the hearcr,
who is listening attentivcly and thoughtful
Iy, will find trains Of thinking started within
him which shall outrun the lines and over
pass the limits Of the discourse he has
heard. Some principle that has been ut.
tered will stimulate him 10 apply it for linn
self, more mlnutcIy and more widely, to
politics, or his profession. Some fact refer.
red to will send him to at least an hours
reading Of history, archaeology, or sacred
to see in what series of facts it
has place. lie vii: consider an argument,
and reproduce it in his thoughts, that he
may examine and test its soundncss. And
it will be singular if the effect of the SER
mon is not to make him more thoughtful
and instructive at lIor at evening in his
iireside conversation, more alert and elli-
ccnt in his Whole mental action through
the week which follows; generally better
and bcttcr-disciplined man.
The minister then should feel his rcspor,-
siblity for making his sermons as instruc-
tive, 1"ickcning, invigoraling, as ho can;
refreshing and animating not only to the
hearts and the conscicnces of his hearers,
but also to their minds, their understanding
and reason; remembering that here is one
great source of popular vigor, culture, and
mental grace, as we'll rs of evangelical af.
fiction and faith. And people who would
be free and successful and intelligent, that
they may be both free and successful, must
cherish assiduonsl y, and carefully guard,
and abundantly maintain, that enligltening
Pulpit, which helps Literature, fosters Art,
encourages and assists all laudaLle enter
prise, and without which Titorafuro At