believe that every scriptural doctrine of importance may be discovered, understood and maintained, without much critical learning. Dr. Brown, in his remarks upon the Earl of Shaftsbury's Characteristics, challenges him to produce any translation of the Bible, which does not fairly contain all the great and essential doctrines of divine revelation. If this be true, it seems that classical and biblical knowledge is not so absolutely necessary for a preacher as some have represented. Besides, sacred criticism has no end. It opens a field too wide for any man completely to traverse. How many volumes of criticism have been written upon these words? "There are three that bear record in heaven; the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one." But after all that has been said, by the ablest critics, for and against the authenticity of this passage, both sides are obliged to sit down in a degree of darkness and doubt. I would not, however, discourage young students in divinity from acquiring biblical knowledge; but I would have them reflect, that this alone will never make them profound divines. In order to arrive at this attainment, they must acquire theological as well as classical knowledge. They have as much need of studying theology, after they have gone through their classical studies, in order to prepare themselves for the work of the ministry, as other young men have of studying law, or physic, after they have left the university, in order to prepare themselves for either of these professions. Many pious and ingenious young men have gone almost immediately from the college to the pulpit. But I doubt not but they have often regretted their rashness and precipitancy. It has probably prevented the usefulness of some, and injured the health, if not destroyed the lives of others. It is of the last importance, that those young men who are looking forward to the ministry, should possess that human and divine knowledge, which is previously necessary to render them both able and faithful ministers of the New Testament.

The whole train of the observations which have been made in this discourse, now converge to a single point; and unitedly press the important duty of assisting pious and promising youths, to furnish their minds with that literary and theological knowledge which is indispensably necessary to prepare them for the gospel ministry. Among the numerous young men who are annually finishing their public education, the great majority are destitute of the first and most essential qualification for the sacred office and accordingly they choose to turn their attention to what they deem more reputable and lucrative employments. This has, at length, awakened the public attention to the importance of aiding indigent youths of promising

piety and talents, in qualifying themselves to preach the gospel of Christ, and promote the salvation of sinners. A society was formed several years ago, consisting of numerous branches, for the purpose of sending preachers among the poor Pagans in the Eastern world. That society has been very industrious and successful in obtaining large sums from the generous public, to assist them in pursuing their pious and important object. But whoever seriously and impartially considers the present state of our own nation, in respect to a famine of the word, will be fully convinced that able and faithful ministers are as much needed in this country, as in any other quarter of the globe. If the calculations which have been lately made, respecting the vast numbers in this land who are destitute of the preaching and ordinances of the gospel, be just, or very nearly just, there is a loud call for the increase of faithful laborers in this part of the vineyard of Christ. We cannot reasonably expect to be properly supplied with scribes well instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, unless great and peculiar exertions are made to assist indigent youth of real piety and good abilities, to furnish themselves for the great and good work in which they ardently wish to be employed. We, my brethren, have weighty motives, to pursue with ardor and zeal the very benevolent and important design in which we have voluntarily engaged. And among many other motives, it is a very consoling and animating one, that we are united with the Parent Society, in promoting an object of vast magnitude which does not militate against the Bible Societies, the Tract Societies, the Moral Societies, or the Massachusetts Missionary Society; but which directly tends to carry into effect all their benevolent purposes. And though it should divert or lessen some of the great and numerous streams of public charity, which have been flowing into the wide channel of the Foreign Missionary Society; yet it must greatly assist the members of that respectable body, by raising up the best qualified instruments to carry their great design into effect. Besides, we must suppose that they have no wish to neglect our destitute brethren, for the sake of sending the gospel to those far distant nations; from whom European christians have derived, and are still deriving their exorbitant wealth; and to whom they are under peculiar obligations to send the gospel. It is of the first importance, that we should evangelize the heathen in our own country, and others who are fast falling into a more deplorable condition than ignorant and unbelieving Pagans. When those who have had a Christian education apostatize, and become infidels, they are generally more malignant enemies to the gospel and the cause of Christ, than the most benighted and bigoted heathens. Let us then lift up our

eyes, and look on the fields, which are white already to the harvest. Let us hear the voice of millions of our countrymen, who are calling upon us, with the utmost importunity, to raise up, and qualify, and send faithful laborers among them. Though we are, at present, weak in numbers and in wealth, and must move very slowly in our benevolent exertions, yet we may lay a firm and permanent foundation for the most beneficial and extensive effects, for years and ages to come. Our fathers spared no pains nor expense, to provide for us a learned and faithful ministry; and shall not this consideration inspire us with a pious and noble ambition to follow their example, and to do all in our power for the instruction and salvation of those who are coming after us? The God of our fathers, in answer to their prayers, has increased our numbers, our wealth, and our civil, religious and literary advantages as a nation, above all human calculations; by which he has laid us under the most endearing obligations of gratitude, to him and to them, to promote his cause, which lay the nearest to their hearts. We have come upon the stage in the most eventful period in the history of man. The widest field for usefulness is open before us, which invites, solicits and demands our most vigorous and benevolent exertions, in the most glorious and important cause that ever engaged the attention of this, or any other nation. While error, superstition, idolatry and infidelity have laid waste the churches of Christ in the old world, we are imperiously called upon to cherish and maintain the sinking cause of Zion, among a people who have been saved of the Lord for the very purpose, we hope, of preparing the way for the universal spread of holiness and happiness among the many millions of our guilty race, who are perishing for the lack of vision. Is it not a privilege to employ our time, our labor, our property, and our prayerful influence, in coöperating with our fellow christians, in spreading the Redeemer's kingdom, and bringing home many sons unto glory? To beg, I am ashamed; but I am bold in obedience to the apostle, to "charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us all things richly to enjoy; that they do good; that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for. themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." Amen.

SERMON XXI.

RATIONAL PREACHING.

AND Paul as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures. - ACTS, xvii. 2.

PAUL was a chosen vessel to carry the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles in various and distant parts of the world. For this great and arduous work he was eminently qualified. He was a man of genius, learning, eloquence and piety. Longinus, a learned heathen, ranks Paul of Tarsus among the most eminent of the Grecian and Roman orators; and Christian writers have not been sparing in their encomiums upon his piety and eloquence. But, from some motives or other, they have seldom celebrated his reasoning powers and the use he made of them in preaching the gospel. The inspired writer of his life, however, more frequently mentions his reasoning, than his declaiming, on the doctrines he taught. Speaking of Paul and Silas passing through Amphipolis, and Apollonia, and coming to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews, he says, "And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures; opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ." The truth, which here lies upon the face of the text, and which is proposed as the subject of the ensuing discourse is this:

That Paul usually proved the truth of the doctrines which he taught.

I shall first show that he did this; and then why he did it.
I. We are to consider, that Paul usually proved the truth of

the doctrines which he taught. He did not desire his hearers to believe any thing which he asserted, without evidence. It seems, by what is said in the eleventh verse of the context, that he commended the noble Bereans, for searching the scriptures, to see whether the doctrines which they heard him preach, were agreeable to that infallible standard. He usually preached on the great and essential doctrines of the gospel, which he knew ought to be proved by plain and conclusive reasoning. To reason fairly, is to draw fair consequences from true premises; or to adduce clear and conclusive arguments in support of truth. In order to reason clearly and intelligibly upon the truth of a proposition, it is often necessary, in the first place to explain it; in the next place to produce arguments in support of it; and lastly to answer objections against it. By Paul's proving the doctrines which he taught, we are to understand his reasoning upon them in this manner. And if we now examine his general mode of preaching, we shall find that he usually proved the particular doctrine which he preached, by explaining it, if it needed explanation; by bringing arguments to support it, if it needed to be supported; and by answering objections, if he supposed any would occur to the mind of the hearer. This will appear in respect to a variety of subjects upon which he preached.

When he preached upon the existence of God, he reasoned plainly and forcibly upon the subject. Hear his arguments in support of this first and fundamental doctrine of all religion. Speaking of the Pagans, who deny the existence of the only living and true God, and neglect to worship him, he says, "The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." But he argued more largely upon this doctrine, in his discourse to the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers at Athens. "Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars-hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious; for as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To the unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God, that made the world, and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him,