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It can hardly be denied, I think, that the prevalence of this spirit has greatly increased within a few years, and become a great and alarming

Elder. Ah, indeed, Lord, it is.

Preacher. The very reverse of what God would have us to be

Elder. God Almighty knows it's true.

Preacher. How necessary, then, that God should call upon us to renounce everything—

Elder. God help us!

Preacher. Is it necessary for me to say more?

Elder. No-oh-no!

Preacher. Have I not said enough?

Elder. Oh, yes, quite enough.

Preacher. I rejoice that God calls me to give up every

thing

Elder. Yes, Lord, I would let it all go.

Preacher. You must give up all—

Elder. Yes-all.

Preacher. Your pride

Elder. My pride.

Preacher. Your envy

Elder. My envy.

Preacher. Your covetousness

Elder. My covetousness.

Preacher. Your anger

Elder. Yes-my anger.

Preacher. Sinner, then, how awful is your condition!

Elder. How awful!

Preacher.

evil. This increase is owing, no doubt, to the influence and new practices introduced into the religious world by a certain class of ministers, who have lately risen and taken upon themselves to rebuke and set down as unfaithful all other ministers who do not conform to their new ways, or sustain them in their extravagant career."

The interference, I may say the tyranny, of the laity over the ministers of these democratic churches is, however, of still more serious consequences to those who accept such arduous and repulsive duty. It is a well-known fact that there is a species of bronchitis, or affection of the lungs, peculiar to the ministers in the United States, arising from their excessive labours in their vocation. I have already observed, that the zeal of the minister is even unto death:

Preacher. What reason for all to examine themselves.
Elder. Lord, help us to search our hearts!
Preacher. Could you have more motives? I have done.
Elder. Thank God.-
Thank God for his holy

word. Amen."

the observations of Mr. Colton fully bear me out in my assertion:

"There is another serious evil in the Presbyterian and Congregational denominations, which has attained to the consequence of an active and highly influential element in these communities. I refer to the excessive amount of labour that is demanded of the clergy, which is undermining their health, and sending scores to their graves every year, long before they ought to go there It is a new state of things, it must be acknowledged, and might seem hopeful of good, that great labours and high devotion to the duties of the Christian ministry in our country will not only be tolerated, but are actually demanded and imperatively exacted. At first glance, it is a most grateful feature. But, when the particulars come to be enquired into, it will be found that the mind and health-destroying exactions now so extensively made on the energies of the American clergy, particularly on these two classes I am now considering, are attributable,

almost entirely, to an appetite for certain novelies, which have been introduced within a few years, adding greatly to the amount of ministerial labour, without augmenting its efficiency, but rather detracting from it. Sermons and meetings without end, and in almost endless variety, are expected and demanded; and a proportionate demand is made on the intellect, resources, and physical energies of the preacher. He must be as much more interesting in his exercises and exhibitions as the increased multiplicity of public religious occasions tend to pall on the appetite of hearers. Protracted meetings from day to day, and often from week to week, are making demands upon ministers, which no human power can sustain; and, where these are dispensed with, it is often necessary to introduce something tantamount, in other forms, to satisfy the suggestions and wishes of persons so influential as to render it imprudent not to attempt to gratify them. In the soberest congregations, throughout nearly all parts of the

land, these importunate and (without unkindness, I am disposed to add) morbid minds are to be found,-often in considerable numbers. Almost everywhere, in order to maintain their ground and satisfy the taste of the times, labours. are demanded of ministers in these two denominations enough to kill any man in a short period. It is as if Satan had come into the world in the form of an angel of light, seeming to be urging on a good work, but pushing it so hard as to destroy the labourers by over exaction.

"The wasting energies-the enfeebled, ruined health-the frequent premature deaths-the failing of ministers in the Presbyterian and Congregational connections from these causes all over the country, almost as soon as they have begun to work-all which is too manifest not to be seen, which everybody feels that takes any interest in this subject-are principally, and with few exceptions, owing to the unnecessary exorbitant demands on their intellectual powers, their moral and physical energies. And the

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