The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-03-17
Literary Notes.

Literary Notes.
DR.. Howard Crosby of New York. the busy
minister of one of the largest of the Presbyterian
churches-the Chancellor of New York TTniver-
slty-the head of the onslaught against the
liquor dealers-the promoter of all sorts of so
cial reform-the prolific writer for various of our
religious journals, has, nevertheless, found time
to send to press volume of lectures entitled
The Christian Preacher" (lNessrs. Randolph
e Co., 900 Broad,cay $15o) These Lectures
were delivered before the Yale Divinity School
to whose students some eminent minister every
year furnishes, by special appointment, similar
course. Comparisons are not in good form " or
DIR. Crosby's hearers and readers might be dis
posed to say that never heretofore. has more
Judlcious, practical, and wise series been given
to these students, and now through the press. to
the public
There are seven Lectures in all, and we give
the titles of them, that fair idea of their scope
may be presented: Lecture l. Physical Prereq,t;-
sites II. Mental Prerequisites. III. General
knowledge. ". Habits, Manner. V. The
Preachers God,Oard Living VI. The Preache,
and The World. VII The Preachers Relation
to his Work
The author begins by saying that nothing of
an investigational character shall occupy his
mind as the Lectureship was not designed as
an arena where emulating sages should show
their prowess; but as an opportunity for counsel
and advice from veterans to the new recruits. +"
One OF the first things to which he addresses
himself, is to correct some common errors of
speech into which most ministers are ant to fall
Altar, priest, sanctuary" "house of God, ="
he would eliminate from the ecclesiastical vocab-
ulary, as words not to be found in Scripture as
referring to the Church of Christ and its order.
He would do away, too, with the notion that
preaching is profession, as law or medicine is :;
something by which man is to make his living
He has some very strong words on this point.
All that ordination does is to put the approval
OF the Church upon the ministrations of the man
ordained, but no pecuniary support is involved
In that. 1t is common to quote our Saviour's
words The laborer is worthy of his hire as
satisfactory proof that every licentate should be
supported by the Church but our Lord tells Ms
that every taborcr is worthy of his hre-not
every one who offers 10 be a laborer." He pro
ceeds to say that the ministry is degraded bv
multitudes who, under the mistaken idea that the
Church owes them support, are making slaves
of themselves by this worldly spirit of depend
ence preacher must be independent trust
ing to the Lord and his own energies for his
daily support, even while he rightfully accepts
the laborer's hire" AS to prerequisites, DIR.
Crosby insists that a minister should have GOOD
utterance, strong physical organization and
n
OF all men, his life is the least idle and self
lndulgent His pages on some of these points
should be read emphatically by every class of
graduating theologues As to mental prereoui
sites, he insists on the sharp use of the mental
eye the power Of odjusted knowledpe-sound
judgment-untiring industry. Under each of
these heads, there is wealth of wise counsel
In the Lecture on General Rnotgledqe. he has
good deal to say on the safe and right use of
Argunentatiye Power, and gives MANY sbarp
INT at those ministers who use texts for incui-
eating all sorts Of doctrines to which these texts
have no possible reference :-(the Top not come
down preachers, we suppose they might be
called) He elaborates this point to show what
re dictionary weakness results from if. As IN
General knowledge if a manjs a blunderer in
the elements Of science Of course he loses weight
with his cultivated hearers, even where he
speaks authoritatively Of what specially con
Germs him as a minister, therefore he would have
all ministers so instructed as to be able to ap
preciato science, without being in any degree
81 'cialists. He must beware Of the anti gospel
which puts the Book Of Nature anywhere above
that Of Revelation. The fishermen Of Galilee
were learned men before they were sent out to
preach, with their three years tuition under
Divine Teacher. He abiures the Wanted lbo