and fell. The glorious Reformation was chiefly brought about by preaching-the preaching of Luther. The Republic of Geneva, after which our own Republic was fashioned, was produced by preaching, the preaching of Calvin. The sturdy national character of Scotland was formed chiefly by the preaching of men like John Knox, of whom at his grave it was said, "There lies one who never feared the face of men." The present quiet of every New England village was laid far back in the preaching of the Stoddards, and the Mathers, and the Edwardses. The present national existence of the Sandwich Islands, whose people forty years ago were wild cannibals, is the fruit of the preaching of American missionaries. The foundations of the American Union were laid in the labors and toils of such men as George Fox, the Quaker, and John Wesley, the Methodist, and George Whitfield, the Calvinist, who traveled and preached from Massachusetts to Georgia, and aided the people to form religious and ecclesiastical affinities, before the cry to arms rung out from old Faneuil Hall. Civil liberty, in the days of our fathers, was perched upon the standard of the cross, and will always visit every land where that standard is unfurled. And the conversion of the nations to God, and the final and universal triumphs of the Gospel, will be effected mainly by the same heaven-ordained and heaven-owned method. For the Lord shall give the word; great shall be the army of the publishers. "For an angel shall be seen, flying through the clouds of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to every nation." And as that blessed Gospel shall begin to walk abroad on its last triumph, thrones shall tremble, oracles shall grow dumb, and the brows of tyrants shall turn white as ashes. Then cities and palaces shall fling wide their gates at her advancing tread, and the great mass of suffering, sinful men shall bow their adoring heads as her sweet voice shall fall upon their ear. 1. In view of all that has been said, it is expedient that there should be a much more exalted appreciation of the ministerial office. It should be magnified above. all other callings. Is he deemed great who founds empires, gains victories, amasses wealth, or glitters in stars and coronets-whose praises live in history, and whose name is engraven on marble? How much more honorable, and how much more deserving of gratitude, should they be deemed who ameliorate the hearts of men, subdue passions, found churches, form public morals, and produce effects on character and conduct that shall last forever. 2. We also see, from this subject, the propriety of setting apart a distinct class of men to the ministerial work. If the ministry be of divine appointment, honored of God, magnified of Paul, filled by Christ, surely not every one is competent to enter it, and none should enter upon it, but he that is "called of God, as was Aaron"-called by the Church, called by his own brethren, called by the Spirit, called by his own heart, glowing with love for souls, and appropriating the words of the Apostle, "for necessity is laid upon me, yea, woe is me if I preach not the Gospel." And when such a one has assumed the ministry, he should never desert it. He should wear out in it, and become every day more and more a centre of influence, and a saver of life unto life to immortal souls. Alas for those who do not thus magnify their office. Woe to those who degrade the ministry― detract from its heavenly dignity by perverting it to secular purposes, and "steal the livery of the court of heaven to serve the devil in." Among such we include sectarian preachers, poetical preachers, sensational preachers, political preachers, fanatical preachers. 3. Contemplate the elevated position of our Church in its high appreciation of the dignity and sacredness of the office, in permitting none to enter it but men of piety and learning, that the ark of the Lord be not carried by inefficient or unholy hands. Hence the honorable distinction of our Zion in her zeal in educating the young, in founding schools and colleges, and furnishing the world with a learned ministry. 4. You here learn the duty of the people to provide for the temporal wants of the ministry. If we minister to you in spiritual things, is it not a small matter that you should contribute to us of your temporal things? Is not the laborer worthy of his hire? Should not they who serve at the altar, live of the altar? And is not that church most criminally remiss in her duty to herself and her head, which expects of her ministry constant services and elevated mental toil, but which extends to them a scanty and niggard support, expecting men to be given to hospitality and devoted to study, as well as punctual in meeting their pecuniary obligations, but whose worldly maintenance is inadequate or paid with reluctance. 5. The views which we have advanced respecting the ministry, so far from begetting in the mind feelings of vain glory, are calulated to instill the deepest humility. When we recount our arduous duties, our severe trials, and our fearful responsibilities, we would cry out with the Apostle: "Who is sufficient for these things?" Oh, brethren, "we are with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling." And we would appeal to you in the language of the same Apostle, "Brethren, pray for us." Nothing will so much relieve us, nothing will so much encourage us, as your fervent prayers. For a prayerless people will always have a desponding ministry; while, on the other hand, the performance of this duty will lead to the performance of every other. They who pray for their pastor will necessarily love him; they will contribute to his worldly support; they will be careful of his reputation; they will punctually wait on his ministry; they will receive with meekness the word of God from his lips, will grow up with him as heirs of the grace of life, and finally enter with him into the same eternal joy. HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, HOUSTON, TEXAS. THIS church was organized on the 31st of March, 1839, in the Senate Chamber of the Congress of the Republic of Texas, by Rev. William Y. Allen, after a sermon preached by him from Psalm cxxii., verse 6: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love thee." The following preamble and resolutions were adopted as the basis of organization, viz.: "For the purpose of promoting Divine worship, and our mutual edification in the knowledge and practice of piety, we, whose names are hereunto subscribed, do agree to associate ourselves together as a Presbyterian Church upon the following principles, viz. : "1st. We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice. 2d. We sincerely adopt the Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures. "3d. We adopt the form of Government and Directory for worship as laid down in the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America." To the above agreement the following names were appended: A. B. Shelby, J. Wilson Copes, James Burke, Isabella R. Parker, Edwin Belden, Marian Shelby, James Bailey, Jennett Smith, Harris G. Avery, Sophia B. Hodge. |