Morning journal and courier., 1880-04-03
Yale Theological School.


 turer on Preaching-The Third of the | COurse-A Crowded Chapel.
 Rsv. Dr. John Hall spoke at Narquand | chapsl before the Yale Theological School yesterday afternoon, giving the third of his lectures on preaching. The chapel was crowded and many minister and ladies in addition to the students of the seminary were present. The New York divine in his open ing remarks spoke of the duty of ministers with regard to the class of men who say of religion that 1t is a speculative dream. This class say we are practical, we take things that are assured and established. Now there is no
 basis for this assumption. You ask these doubters what are you after. What is your
 aim in life? Oh! they answer, perhaps it is
 culture of mind they are after But culture is just as intangible and invisible. Another says. I am providing for old age for my chil- dren, or accommodating to give benefit to
 some charity. But these friends err, for
 what they aim after is in the future. not in
 the present. The doubting friend he too in
 his own plane of life without belief in the divine, is making for things he does not see,
 but which are in the future. Even the posi- twist cannot help projecting his mind into the unknown future to guide his motives.
 What are the things to do to promote per
 sonal pisty? One of these means is a dsvo-
 tional study of the scriptures. This of all
 other studies of the scriptures Is vital. Of course one needs an accurate knowledge of scripture SO as to quote it correctly, and a 1 thorough course of Bible reading so as to read understandingly. I have heard shame ful scripture readings.
 Again if in prayer your heart grows cold
 and apothetic turn to the Bible; let God
 speak to you in it, and in so doing you will
 strengthen your personal piety. The speaker l here alluded to the influence the written and | spoken words of his instructor in Latin had
 upon his youthful years. How much more is
 the influence of the Word Of God when | sought!
 Then again the speaker urged the study and
 companionship of uninspirsd books of devo-
 tional character. There arc two classes of such
 books. The first gives you manifold sxhorta-
 tions. If says to me, ''Bs good" "Oh
 do be good" q beseech you to be good,"
 may have an admiration for the man, but get
 50 addition to speak of to my ideas.
 Such books do good to soma people, but will not, think, to you. Another class of books
 say to you ''Be good" and give you reasons for being good. Works of Thomas Kempis
 were recommended as of the latter class and
 Matthew Henry's commentaries wsre highly l commended. These commentaries reached 1 instinctively to the meaning of diff and delicate passages, and wera superior in many
 respects to works of later date. Dry light is 1 good but we need moro than dry light we
 need the warmth of genuine feeling Have | good books with you, uninspired books, of a devotional character.
 1 Again, take time for personal occupation of
 2 devotional nature. Don't be imitators of
 anybody. Be yourself under the guidance of
 Gods Holy Spirit. You need not placard
 your study door with ''The minister is
 now engaged in secret prayer and
 does not wish to be disturbed" but
 prayerful, loving heart will find its
 time and opportunity for secret communion l with tho master. The case Of a personal
 friend in Scotland was here mentioned in l-
 lustration of the foregoing. So you too can
 find way to be alone with God. Again, if
 you have written something dazzingly bril- | liant, the glory will sometimes disappear in
 praying over it. You will leave out many
 things after praying over the subjeo as friend did with the silver; he took 1t to the | light and detected the base from the genuine.
 Make it your habit to be devotional Don't
 confound this with mechanical arrangement,
 as for instance so many minutes day to this | and so many to that, but make it 8 part of the | woven web of your life. Romanism and Rit-
 ualism too, after fashion, talks up the me-
 chanical and the routine way. We are not to
 compress the time of intimacy with God into
 a certain interval. We are to work with God, to live with God and in degree wo are in | fellowship with God. And if at any time
 we are lacking in courage to spsak | the truth, apprehensive of what men | may think, this is the way to get courage. You have sometimes gained courage from speaking with strong mind. What must it
 be to be in living contact with the Almighty? The next point in the lecture was necessity for close acquaintance with ons's own people The speaker had heard men speak, to listen to whom was purely intellectual treat and delightful, bat such man may have feeble spiritual life. Preachers were more than in- tsllectual teachers; they were preachers of the word of the living God. When we do our best in this matter of spiritual toll we are the most useful, and we are also the greatest gathers ourselves. We cannot come into close
 relations with our people but we find at every turn what we ought to be ourselves
 The next thing of importance is close con- fdential intimacy with chosea fellow minis terg for spiritual improvement. It is good to be in close relations with Christian laymen, but ministers understand one Rnother's
 there is no restraint In 1729 John Wesley came to Christ church, Ox-
 ford, and gathered group of men round about him for just such purpose, and you know what power Methodism has been from | such earnest prayerful associations. Pussy did so also with good results to Ohristendom.
 The speaker pointed to Scotland, to such \ names as Bonner: McCheane, Andrew, Som | erville, who, using the same means, wrought powerful results all over in Scotland and be- yond it's borders The American students \ who prayed under the shadow of tho haystack were cases also in point. The speaker said | I make much of this. I have myself been
 much indebted to this very thing and it was ' one of the greatest hardships had in leaving my old charge across the water to come to | this country, to leave just such a means of | grace, which had been of incalculable benefit | to me.
 The speaker now alluded to the subject of | ministers choice of wife. Though deli | cate it was highly important matter to the preacher. The importance, gravity and sol | ennlLy or Lne EuDJeCI uHQ0 In6 JuQgmGnG or l older people of much value on this subject. l Now venture to say that one of the greatest helps the ministry has to the preservation
 of deep personal piety is the Christian wife | the Christian wife. Such an one shares his | life, knows his character, knows his dificul- | ties. Should he have heavy trials, she can keep him up, lift him up. If she is not | Christian she is sure to drag him down. He l cannot change the character of the human | soul that has been united to his, and | if he makes new demands it may be a very ! just reply. Why you knew what was before | you married me. You have no right to turn l upon me. Young ministers have their future \ more governed by this than at first may be | supposed. Accomplishments, social quail
 ties, etc., are very desirable, but the primary
 thing for the woman to be his wife is to have l heart right with God. With that he knows