Millennium shall announce-"The kingdoms | sent generation of preachers of the Gospel. of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." THE CALL FOR MINISTERS-HOW THE rapid settlement of the Western States, the extension of the manufacturing and mercantile interests, and the opening of canals and rail-roads, within the last few years, have created many important towns and centres of influence, and call loudly for a supply of active and intelligent ministers of the Gospel. At the same time, many other communities, which were before content to live without preaching, feeling the quickening impulses of the times, awake to the conviction that they too must have the ministry, and all the attendant privileges of the sanctuary. There is thus created an almost unprecedented demand for laborers in the Gospel harvest. How shall this demand be supplied? This is a question that forces itself upon the mind with intense interest. When we rise from the perusal of communications from various parts of our land,-after spelling out the tear-steeped pleadings of a mother in the woods of Michigan-or being transported in imagination to the cottages on the prairies in Missouri or Illinois-or hearing the discouraged complaint of the poor, neglected, and almost broken hearted churches in obscure valleys and corners of the older States-we feel that this state of things must not continue-that there MUST BE, at whatever cost of treasure, or consecration of men, a more adequate supply of good ministers for the dying thousands of our country. But how shall it be secured? This is the great problem of the day. We advert to this subject in the hope that some few hearts, at least, will feel so much interest in it, as to make it the theme of special and persevering prayer. Every good we receive comes in answer to intercession; and if ever the voice of the faithful herald of salvation is heard statedly in every hamlet in our land, it must be in connection with the deep longings of pious souls, breathed forth incessantly at the mercy seat. And we earnestly entreat pastors, and all who have influence with the churches, to bid God's people to "lift up their eyes and behold the fields, that they are white already to the harvest," and to pray to "the Lord of the harvest that He would send forth laborers into his harvest." In this connection, we give utterance to a feeling which we doubt not finds a place in many breasts. It is, the painful conviction that very many of those already in the sacred office, are not, as they might be, making full proof of their ministry. Let us not be misunderstood to disparage the pre On the contrary, we regard them as, on the whole, more spiritual, more laborious, than those of almost any previous age. But what we refer to is, the fact, that so large a number of clergymen are OUT OF THE PULPIT. We dare not undertake to say what proportion of all the evangelical ministers in this country are employed in other stated callings than that of preaching; but if an investigation were made, we should not be surprised to learn, that from one fourth to one third are mainly occupied in other matters. It is true, that the management of some of the leading benevolent societies, and of colleges and theological seminaries, requires ministers of the Gospel; but, besides these, how many instances are there, where clergymen have lapsed from the pulpit into secular employments, and sometimes into situations not directly connected with the public good. When ministers find themselves pressed with poverty, cumbered with large families, or in impaired health, the temptation is very great for them to go into situations involving less responsibility, less wear and tear of the heart, and of the health, and promising a better temporal support. Nor do we doubt there are cases where this is proper. But where the result is so frequent, and each new case serves as a precedent for many successive ones, we are sure there is something wrong. We fear the dignity of the priest's office is losing its solemn charm; that the consecrating vow, uttered in the soul's tenderest moments, in its nearest approach to the thronethe vow registered in heaven-is forgotten on earth, and he that uttered it has declined in his enjoyment of Christ's presence, as well as lost much of his influence to do good to men. To one who is called of God to the work of the ministry, there is this almighty support, Lo, I am with you always." Even if other aids are wanting, the thought, that he is a devoted man, will uphold his spirit He is consecrated to in the hour of trial. Christ. The Head of the church, through his ministers, hath laid upon him the hand of authority, and separated him for the peculiar service of heaven. He is "Jesus Christ's man,"-earth has no interest in him, nor power to harm him; his only business with it is to do it good, and this is his business, and his whole business. The consciousness of this high calling renders him quite superior to the trials of the world. He walks on elevated ground, and breathes celestial air. Shall he, then, for slight reasons-we had almost said, for any reason-forego this great honor of being the ambassador of Christ, and lose this sustaining consciousness of divine favor and support! If there be any, who, declining in their zeal, or oppressed by their trials, and disgusted with men, have fled, like the prophet of Israel, to the wilderness, and buried themselves in caves of the mountains, we could pray that the Lord would speak to them in the same "still, small voice," saying, "What doest thou here, Elijah?" and directing them, "Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus,"-go again to your duties resume the labor and conflict, and you shall enjoy the succor and rewards of a minister of God! would suppose, that the spirit of mammon had escaped from the nether world, gained access to the garden of the Lord, and seduced from their allegiance, not a few of the professed friends of Zion.. Wherever the church becomes absorbed in worldly pursuits, religion languishes, her institutions are poorly sustained, the claims of benevolence are generally unheeded, Should this direction be obeyed, and all and the efforts of the minister, paralyzed. the ministers of the Gospel in the land, who In many cases, one of the first symptoms of are not absolutely disqualified by physical religious decline, is the reluctance with causes, should, with revived piety, return to which Christians contribute for the support the work of preaching the unsearchable of their preacher. His services are neither riches of Christ, it might add, at once, per-appreciated nor rewarded, and to obtain the haps one fourth to the numerical strength of necessaries of life for himself and family, the profession, and do much more to supply he is perhaps compelled to spend a portion the immediate wants of our feeble churches, of his time in some secular employment. especially in the older States, than our From his worldly pursuits he enters the education societies can accomplish in many sacred desk, like the strong man shorn of years to come.-Home Missionary. his strength, and offers in sacrifice, the sick, the lame, and the blind. Then may be seen the powerful influence of mutual DUTY OF SUPPORTING THE CHRIS- reaction. The more secular the minister TIAN MINISTRY. EXTRACTS from a Sermon on the duty of supporting the Christian ministry, by the Rev. BENJAMIN LABAREE, Secretary of the Central American Education Society, published in the Presbyterian Preacher. The text is from Luke x. 7. For the workman is worthy of his hire. The duty of active benevolence seems to be better understood and more generally practised by Christians, in the present, than in any preceding age, since the time of the apostles. The belief is becoming common, that a liberal and systematic appropriation of money, for the advancement of religion, is not less essential to Christian character, than the offering of prayer or the forgive ness of injuries. The prompt and cheerful response made to the various and repeated calls of benevolence at home and from abroad, is one of the most auspicious signs of our times. But the pleasure we take in bearing this honorable testimony to the pious liberality of many individuals and churches, is not a little diminished by some painful exceptions, that truth and justice require us to make In the midst of wealth and luxury, the public advocate of any large department of Christian enterprise, is not unfrequently repulsed by manifest indications of displeas ure, where he had every right to expect tokens of cordial approbation. Instances are not rare, in which a sordid thirst for gain seems to have acquired a complete ascendancy over every generous feeling. The heart is firmly barred against the most thrilling appeals of want or of wo, and the hand grasps its golden idol with the tenacity of a dying miser. In surveying the deplorable condition of some of our churches, one becomes, the less are his people inclined to support him; and the less they are disposed to aid him, the more is he devoted to the world. connected the prosperity of his church on The great Author of our religion has earth with the instrumentality of a pious, active ministry; and has plainly pointed out many important reciprocal duties between the pastor and his flock. While the gospel herald is required to be wholly given to his work, a corresponding duty is enjoined upon those, who are profited by his instructions. They are taught that "the laborer is worthy of his hire," and are directed to afford him a competent support. This duty is in itself so reasonable and just, that we are surprised it should ever be neglected by those, who can feel the claims of justice and gratitude; but our surprise is increased to astonishment, when we remember that this neglect involves a disregard of the explicit injunction of Jesus Christ. It is my purpose, on this occasion, in a plain and practical way, to urge upon Christians the duty of affording their pastors a comfortable and respectable support. I come not to plead my own cause, nor to enforce my own claims, nor to seek redress for wrongs of my own. I speak by the direction of others in behalf of that class of men, who have consecrated their time, their talents, and their all, to the public good. The first argument that I shall adduce to prove that a pious, intelligent, industrious ministry are entitied to support, shall be based upon, 1. The benefits which the civil community derive from their labors. II. Humanity and justice require that the clergy should be supported. III. The Divine command requires that Ministers of Religion should be supported by the Church. IV. The practice of the primitive | sentiments through all the veins of this churches ought to stimulate Christians to extended republic. How shall the misthe performance of this duty. V. I derive an argument for the support of the Ministry, from the dealings of Providence with the Churches. But some may ask, what does a comfortable and respectable support include? Without attempting to specify minute particulars, I will mention a few things that a generous people will carefully provide for, if they consult their own duty and the happiness and usefulness of their minister. 1. Your minister should be furnished with a comfortable habitation, and decent apparel. 2. He must be able to educate his children. This is a common Christian duty, but it is especially incumbent upon a miaister. As he will have no estate to bestow upon his children, he ought to give them an equivalent, in a good education. Were he to teach them himself, he would interfere with the appropriate duties of his vocation, and inflict a material injury upon his people. From the avails of his salary he ought to give his sons and daughters a respectable education. 3. He must have books. Paul exhorts Timothy to give attendance to reading. Amid all his cares and trials the great apostle himself was accustomed to refresh and extend his knowledge in the same manner. He always remembered "his books and parchments." It is a fact much to be deplored that most of our clergy are unable to purchase such books as are really necessary to aid them in their studies. Perhaps there never was a time when ministers had greater need of such auxiliaries. The sentinel, who in these perilous times guards the walls of Zion, must be completely equipped and ever ready for action. Error, in all its Protean forms, grows rife and luxuriates in our soil. The old land marks of truth are removed, new schemes devised to rob Christianity of its glory and destroy its vital energies. Infidelity, too, has marshalled her forces and taken the field in battle array. Her banner is now waving in the breeze, alluring to her ranks, the dissolute, thoughtless multitude. Her stores of abuse and ridicule are well nigh exhausted, and she is now endeavoring to press into her service the aid of science. By deep research, she professes to have discovered, that Moses has made some important mistakes respecting the time of the world's creation; and that his account of the deluge cannot be sustained by the legitimate results of scientific investigation. Vigorous efforts are made, funds contributed, printing presses established, societies organized, and periodicals issued to oppose and overthrow the religion of Christ. The facilities that our country affords for intercommunication renders it easy for infidel societies in our large maritime cities to diffuse the poisons of their chievous effects of this formidable array of wickedness be counteracted? Who shall resist and drive back this desolating flood of iniquity? Who shall expose the infidel's sophistry and unmask the turpitude of his dark designs? Who will show that the declarations of science and the revelation of God are perfectly harmonious? It must devolve upon preachers of the gospel; it is their appropriate duty. To be well qualified for the wide range of ministerial duty, those who are set for the defence and propagation of the truth, must acquaint themselves with the original languages of Scripture, must survey the extensive fields of science and literature, must be familiar with sacred and profane history, and have a general knowledge of the political and religious doings of the present age. They must be ever ready to feed their flocks with the rich and varied instructions of divine truth, must bring forth from the treasury things new and old. For these purposes they must have books. The minister who does not refresh and invigorate his mind by constant reading and study, will contract and impair his own intellectual powers, and feed his flock upon stale truths and husky repetitions. Let him have a competent salary, so that he can make a liberal appropriation yearly for mental furniture, and his people will be richly paid in the freshness and vigor of his instructions, and the cause of truth will find a more successful and efficient champion. 4. A Minister must be an Example of Liberality. 5. The Minister ought occasionally to Travel for Health and Improvement. 6. The Minister ought to lay up something for his Wife and Children in anticipation of his own decease. Are you favored, my Christian friends, with the services of a faithful, devoted pastor? How do you evince your gratitude for this inestimable blessing? Do you endeavor to increase his usefulness by anticipating his wants, by sustaining him in his trials, and rendering his situation comfortable and pleasant? If you subscribe liberally to his support, are you punctual in paying that subscription? Do not forget that your min ister must have something more substantial than promises. Many a one has been under the painful necessity of disappointing his creditors, because his church failed to fulfil their solemn engagements. Do not permit the reputation of your preacher to be sullied by your culpable neglect. But if you contribute promptly to his support, do you regard the appropriation in the light of charity, and do you give to your minister as you would bestow alms upon a poor mendicant? If so you will deeply wound his sensibilities and do him manifest injustice. As well may you consider the bill of your | imitate the pious example of the primitive physician, your merchant, or your mechanic, Christians; if you would listen to the voice a charitable donation. If he has sacrificed of God's providence, speaking a language of the prospects of wealth, and devoted his loudest terror to the covetous, but of comtime and talents to the promotion of your fort and consolation to the liberal; if you dearest interests, are you not bound by every would be moved by the piercing cries of a principle of justice and of gratitude, to fur- dying world, and would be instrumental in nish him with the means of subsistence? saving souls from death, encourage the heart Call it not charity. and strengthen the hands of your minister, by promptly and cheerfully affording him a competent support. Do not, I entreat you, compel your minister to obtain support from secular employments. His mind will be distracted, his heart become cold, and his services of little worth. The duties of a gospel preacher would give full scope to the powers of the tallest angel; and shall frail man pretend adequately to discharge those duties with a meagre portion of his thoughts, and a fraction of his time? Relieve him from this fatal necessity, and permit him to bring to your service the best energies of his mind and heart. If, however, he voluntarily engages in worldly avocations, and preaches mainly to advance his own temporal interests, the less you give him, the more perfectly he will be paid. That man cannot profit his hearers, who enters the sacred desk, with his mind divided between a mathematical diagram and the messages of truth, or with a bill of sale in one pocket and the bones of a vapid declamation in the other. But do you withhold a just and generous allowance from your minister, that you may accumulate a large estate for your children? If so, Heaven will doubtless chastise your avarice and your disobedience, by compelling you to witness, as many a parsimonious Christian has done, the rumseller and the gambler rioting upon the spoils of your estate. Look around I beseech you, and behold "iniquity coming in like a flood," and threatening to overwhelm with its turbid waters, truth and righteousness. Who shall oppose this desolating tide? I know "the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against it," but where are the standard bearers? If they are left to faint and to famish unsustained by the church, how can they successfully fight the battles of the Lord? Again, look abroad upon the world and behold the fields already white for harvest; but where are the reapers? If those now in the field are driven from their work, and compelled to minister to their own temporal wants, who shall raise up a company of youthful, vigorous laborers, to thrust in the sickle and reap this golden harvest? If, then, Christian friends, you regard your own spiritual interests; if you would promote the present and future welfare of your families; if you can feel the claims of patriotism and philanthropy; if you would yield to the dictates of humanity and common justice; if you would obey the positive commands of God, and the express injunction of Jesus Christ, enforced by the cogent arguments of an inspired apostle; if you would THE RIGHT KIND OF PREACHERS. Remarks of Rev. Dr. Alexander, of Princeton, N. J. THE church wants preachers now, who will be willing to make a sacrifice of popularity and worldly gain, and who will devote themselves to the word of God and prayer. The church never stood more in need of humble, holy, devoted ministers. For such laborers the harvest truly is great, and the fields white for the sickle. She wants no more "new divinity," nor "new measures," but she does need and urgently demands a set of ministers, greatly exceeding in spirituality and in profound knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, and their own hearts, those who have preceded them. "Oh that the Lord of the harvest may raise up many such.” There is now an urgent demand for some men of superior abilities, and deep undissembled piety to go into the foreign field; men of a higher standard than common, both of talents and spirituality, to occupy as leaders, important points which ought not to remain vacant. But who will go for us? Or rather who is qualified for the work in such responsible stations? Do not suppose that I underrate the wisdom, energy and diligence of our missionaries from America. I give thanks to God for endowing so many of them, with gifts which have rendered them able ministers of the New Testament. I have with gratitude admired that our missionaries have risen, in many cases, far above the expectation of their friends; and in my opinion, far above what they would have attained to, had they not become missionaries. But why do so few ministers of mature age, and some experience, give themselves to this most important work? Why is it committed almost entirely to young men, who have scarcely completed their studies, before they are shipped off to perform the most arduous as well as the most important work in the world? TO PIOUS YOUNG MEN. Extract of a letter to the Secretary of the Society, from a Missionary in heathen lands. "MY DEAR BROTHER,-At the termination of the next century, the United States will probably contain several hundred millions of inhabitants. Who then will be looked upon as the greatest benefactor of our country? If in our day that person can be found who, to an untiring intercourse with Heaven and other qualifications, will spend his life in the sole object of endeavoring to bring forward young men for the gospel ministry, I venture to predict, that he is the man. If an individual, of whom I have been reading, who was a settled minister of the gospel for about thirty-five years, and who "introduced to the field one Laborer for nearly each year of his ministry," could do so much in his very limited sphere, what might not an Agent, whose whole time should be devoted to this business, do among the one hundred and twenty thousand pious young men of our churches? EARLY RISING. FROM March to November, at least, no cause, save sickness, or one of equal weight, should retain us in bed a moment after the sun has risen-so says Dr. Granville, in his Catechism of Health, upon whose rules, however, we cannot consent to act. The following from Time's Telescope, is more in accordance with our notions: "Whosoever is found in bed after six o'clock, from May-day to Michaelinas, cannot, in any conscience, expect to be free from some ailment or other, dependent on relaxed nerves, stuffed lungs, disordered bile, or impaired digestion. Nothing can be done absolutely nothing-if you do not rise early, except drugging your draughts, a luxury which the indolent morning sleeper must prepare himself to purchase dearly. We give him joy of his choice; bid him good bye, and springing out into the sunny air, we gather health from the heath, and become young again among the glittering May dew and the laughing May flowers." O, "Lift up your voice, my dear brother, and put the question to some one of the young ministers who may be qualified for such a work, whether he will not become such an Agent. If no one can be found, put it to some individual in the Theological Seminaries who will undertake the service. Should you succeed in obtaining one, let him immediately commence his work. how would such an agency, with divine aid, tell on the destitute parts of our country and on the heathen world! Let the agent, in the execution of his plans, put into the hands of the pious young laymen belonging to the churches, the following questions, that they may add them to the list of questions which they daily ask, when engaged in the duty of self-examination. "What a luxury the sons of sloth lose!" says Harvey, in his flowery Recollections on a Flower Garden; little, ah little is the sluggard sensible how great a pleasure he foregoes for the poorest of all animal gratifications!" Be persuaded; make an effort to shake off the pernicious habit." "Go forth," as King Solomon says, "to the fields; lodge in the villages; get up early to the vineyards;" mark the budding flowers, listen to the joyous birds-in a word, cultivate morning pleasures, and health and vigor must certainly follow.-New York Evangelist. PUNCTUALITY. "O my soul! as there are six hundred millions of heathen and Mohammedans, to whom Christ has commanded his church to make known his gospel, and as this cannot be done unless many of her pious young men go forth to proclaim it, is there not reason to believe that thou art one to whom the eyes of thy Saviour were directed, when he gave this command? As this may IT has justly been said that punctuality be the case, it becomes thee to inquire into is more precious than gold, and that like the the reasons why thou dost not engage in precious metal, its value increases with its this work. What are they? Are they scarcity. After all which has been said on different from those which may be urged this subject, and after the importance of the by every pious young man? Are they practice in question has been so universally such as will stand the test of the judgment- acknowledged, it is astonishing that we do day? Are they such as will enable thee to not find a greater number of persons dislook every heathen and Mohammedan in posed to maintain a convenient and obliging the face then, and say, I am clean of your virtue, which is so essential to the welfare blood? Are they such as will enable thee of a plodding, trading community, like our to appeal to thy Saviour then, and say, own. It is also, if we are not mistaken, a Thou knowest, my Saviour, that would painful fact, that so far from the boasted have gone to the ends of the earth to pro-spirit of improvement having reached us in claim thy gospel, had I been among that number, to whom thou gavest thy last great command? Art thou quite sure they are such as that the Saviour will not then apply the words to thee, which he used when addressing the man of whom mention is made in Matt. xxii. 13?" Let every pious young man in the land read these questions, and then ponder them well. this particular, we have greatly degenerated from the good, prompt habits of our ancestors. Certainly, this ought not so to be. We have no wish to be censorious; but only desire to state simple facts, upon this point. We ask our reader, then, whatever may be his occupation or profession, if he has not suffered from unpardonable negligence, in this particular, either in himself or others. A neighbor agrees to meet you at your house, in a morning, before you |