The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-03-27
BIBLICAL SKETCHES.
BY UNCLE WILLIAM"
SKETCH XVI.
THE PREACHERS FOR THE PEOPLE.


Our opinion is, that too much
has been said about tire demand
made by the present age, for a
more learned ministry. The select
few may feel, the need Of more
learning in their pastors, bnt it is
not true that the bulk of the people
have made any very wonderful pro-
gress in learning. Flourishing pas
tors and congregations shut up in
busy cities and large towns, are not
the bulk Of society, only portion
of it. Those who live and labor
in the open country daily; and visit
the cities and towns occasionally,
and who have examined the real
state of things for themselves, are,
after all, the best judges i this
matter. If this be an age of great
wisdom and profound philosophy
where are the fruits to be foun I,
ripe and ready for gathering? 1t
is certainly an age of great COM
mercial activity, but we are not
very sure, that great attention to
business leaves much spare time
for acquiring stores of knowledge,
by laIorious researches in the deep
mines of classic lore. Our reason
refuses to come to such an unrea-
sonable conclusion. The great
problem to be solved is, how to pro-
cure weil-educated and suitable
preachers for the people as they
are. A high degree of mental cul-
ture has been tried, but the. masses
are still unsaved and even unvisited.
Fine scholars are not necessariI y
powerful preachers. 1t is very sell.
dom, as tutors well know, that u
irst-rate scholar turns out n pSpu-
lar and first-rate preacher. The
two great qualifications may be
found concentrated in the head and
heart of the same person; but they
are much more frequently found
apart.
Our hope is, that the Great Head
of the Church, who interposcd, in
mercy, in the hour of Abraham's S
anguish, and Isaac's peril, will now
interpose, and thus raise mp u class
ofpatriotic, earnest, stlong-minded.
large-souled, intelligent, and quail
fed men, from among the people
themselves, who will make the
working-classes their real charge,
and go out and in among them, in
structing, rebuking, exhorting, and
directing them in all that is lovely
and ofgoodreport. Teaching them
how to make the best Of the pres.
ent life, by acting industriousIy,
and living soberly, righteously, and
godly in their probationary state.
To teach our fellow-beings, that
the way to comfort, peace, and
plenty on earth, consists in doing
justly, exercising mercy, and prac
tlsing temperance and frugality, is
the duty of every minister, who
would aspire to the distinguished
post of being the peoples preacher.
These things he ought to do; but
there are other things which he
ought not to leave undone. To
preach the Gospel fluently; to rea-
son logically; and to be able to tell
his hearers, how certain Greek,
Hebrew, and Latin words are de-
rived and wherein this author is
right, and that author wrong, may
form a part of the minister's quail
fcations for his work but the man
Of God, if he would succeed, must
follow these qualifications with his
earnest, continued, and tervent
prayers; watering the seed sown
with his melting tears. Influenced
by an unbending faith, fixed hope,
and impelling love, he will push
his principles to their utmost pow
er Of sanctified and untiring activ.
ity: carrying them out to their
legitimate and scrlptural consc-
quences; and thus try in the right
use of appropriate means, what
God will do for himself and his
bearers. The preachers for the