lack of knowledge, or excess of prejudice, in the small account made, in some parts of the national community (legislature included), of what is voluntarily done by Dissenters, for religion and moral improvement, throughout the land. Their immense and encreasing expenditure, their numerous and frequented places of worship, with the adjunct of schools, and their multifarious exertions in other ways. seem hardly to come even in sight, when the discussion is about the means of religious instruction in the land. if a fact of such magnitude does obtrude on attention, it is accounted so much done and expended just for the indulgence of a perverse sectarianism.

Or,

Well; our "praise" not being "of men," let it be "of God." And truly, no praise that men could bestow would be an adequate reward; it would be an empty honour set against a substantial sacrifice. The loftiest eulogies conferred by the most elevated portion of society, by courts, and parliaments, and hierarchies, and nobles, would be a poor equivalent for what Dissenters have had to do, are doing, and must continue to do, in the service of religion: would be no equivalent, even for what you, my friends, are requested to do this day.

Let our service to the cause of God be a genuine tribute and offering to God himself, in the humble faith and hope that we effect a little,-a little (but clearly discerned and condescendingly apprehended by him) in that great introductory process by which he will at length transform this miserable world into "the kingdom of God and his Christ; so that, when that great consummation is come, it shall be in his memory that we, in our short sojourn on earth, had given our humble co-operation with his servants, and even with Himself,-"workers together with God."

Oct. 1840.

LECTURE LXIV.

ON THE INSTITUTION OF PREACHING.

PREACHED ON BEHALF OF THE BRISTOL BAPTIST COLLEGE IN 1890,*

ROMANS X. 14.

"How shall they hear without a Preacher?”

In looking forward through the course of the future generations of our race, we see them constantly subject to a number of great and urgent wants, which must be supplied.

* In 1822 Mr. Foster wrote an Address on behalf of this Institution, from which the following paragraphs are extracted (omitting some local and special references), for the purpose of illustrating some of the topics in the discourse:

"A very little rational consideration of the mental resources and exertions, required in a man who is to explain and inculcate the comprehensive system of the Christian doctrine and morals, in a ministration to multitudes in public, and to individuals in private, of all ages, and of every diversity of disposition, capacity, and situation, and that ministration continued through many years, might suffice to show the importance of his having a considerably extended introductory portion of time, to be devoted to the diligent improvement and exercise of all his faculties, to the acquisition of materials for his work, and of rules and methods for performing it in a worthy manner. His whole subsequent life, indeed, is to be a course of improvement; but this introductory period, well employed, will be of inestimable use in forming his mind to the right habit for it, and inuring him to the labour.

"Among Dissenters it is of peculiar importance to afford this advantage to young men preparing for the Christian ministry; because, as we do not fix this appointment on a portion of our youths as a mere professional destination, without a regard to piety and ability, it must frequently happen, that the persons in whom these indispensable requisites hecome

And, we instantly see how they will be supplied. We foresee a long succession of the produce of the earth—diffusive verdure, and ripening harvests; all the labours and rewards

apparent at the age of manhood, will be such as have not enjoyed the advantages of a regular education.

"We watch with great interest every remarkable manifestation of such a character in young men of our congregations. To observe this disclosure is very gratifying on their own account. But it is not long before we begin also to think, of what value these qualifications might be, as applied to the special service of Christianity. When we consider the state of that great cause in the world, and in our own country, it is impossible not to wish that a far larger share of the talent existing in the community could be laid hold upon, and drawn forth into the operations of this consecrated field. Even in beholding the great division of mental ability which carries no marks of relation to piety, and seems as if it knew of no such thing in the world, there will often arise the wish, together with a consciousness of its being a wish in vain, that an ample share of this had been just so much energy and agency in the promotion of religion. But it is with more especial regret that we sometimes reflect, that here and there are individuals, whose superior mental endowments, being combined with piety, seem to be marked as expressly belonging to the cause of God; but who yet are withheld by one prevention or another, from being effective in that service.

"Reverting to the desirableness of bringing into full activity as much as possible of the genuine talent existing among our religious youth, let it be considered what an extensive and various agency is continually going on in the promotion of all that is evil. That operation never intermits, for it is possessed of the principle of perpetual motion vainly sought in mechanics. It is incited by that innate depravity which is combined with all human existence, and is never tired of activity. That activity challenges your attention on all sides; it meets you in practices which are working a still greater than their immediate and absolute evil, by incessantly throwing out a malignant force of example; maintaining as it were, a standard model and encouragement for sin, and thus emboldening other men to do the same: it meets you in language which is every hour teaching folly and iniquity to numbers beyond calculation, in youth and every stage of life. This too, is successful activity, and efficacious instruction. Now, is it not infinitely desirable, that amidst, and in opposition to, all this, there should be a greatly augmented portion of ability and zeal sent forth into action for

of agriculture; also the mechanical and many other arts. They will also want government and legislation; and there is no fear that the supply of this should ever fail.

truth and righteousness? There are among our religious youth some spirits we hope not a few-which a process of intellectual discipline would render of great value for the better cause, would accomplish for teaching, and proclaiming, and protesting against the prevailing impiety and wickedness. And should not the religious community regard itself as in a measure pledged to God, that these minds shall be rendered efficient, by being brought out to the best advantage, against that wide and powerful co-operation for maintaining the dominion of depravity? As in lividuals, men will, we are admonished, be charged as criminals for burying their talents in the earth; but we would suggest, whether the religious community ought not to consider the best endowed minds it may contain, as talents belonging and entrusted to it in its collective capacity; and whether it can be altogether acquitted of the same guilt, if it do but little toward rendering these capable minds the most effectual agents that they might be, for religion.

"Let it again be considered, what a prodigious calling forth of ability there has within our times been in all other modes of activity. It might seem as if the human mind, in this part of the world, had nearly slept out its long deep sleep, and were now in lighter morning slumbers, ready to awake at any call. In our nation especially, there has been displayed what appears, in comparison with the state of our ancestors, almost a preternatural restlessness to be in action; so that the various objects of human interest, whether serious or trifling, have excited such a measure of faculty and ardour in the pursuit of them, as to raise our wonder at the capabilities of man. A surprising number of able spirits have been impelled into every department of literature, of science, of arts, of curious research, of enterprise for remote discovery, of schemes for the change of public institutions, and of the dreadful business of war. Now, while we behold this vast amount and superfluity of talents directed to every other purpose, can we be content without an effort to bring forward the best of the remaining abilities, to prosecute an incomparably nobler object? Are we willing that this should obtain but a much slenderer proportion in the distributive allotment of cultivation, intellect, and genius ?

"It is true that the cause of religion has not remained stationary as it respects the number of intelligent and faithful promoters, while different and opposite interests have been receiving so ample an accession. The

But they will want to be taught Religion; and how must this want be supplied? There will always be the Bible,numbers of instructive books,-domestic teaching in serious

new spirit which has arisen among men, to propel them in such masses, in all directions of interest, fancy, or ambition, with an incitement to go further than men had ever gone before, has, under the divine destination, sent us a large reinforcement for the work of God and human renovation. But we feel that we want a still much larger proportion of the minds impressed with the new impulse to exertion, when we look upon the condition of the people of our towns and villages throughout large tracts of the country. No one who has surveyed any considerable circuit, with a reference to religion and morals, has the smallest difficulty in naming one spot, and another, in a too long succession, where the genuine religion of Christ is but just beginning to make itself heard, and some places where it has not begun. In many of these situations, the people are wondering what wild absurdity, or designing quackery of religion, it can be, that is working its way into their neighbourhoods. They can hardly believe that men in their right senses, unless with some dishonest purpose, can employ themselves in the propagation of such folly. They had always imagined that religion enough, and of the right old standard quality, was to be had in the place before, by any that wanted it. Ludicrous stories, without number, are made and circulated in the neighbourhood, respecting the strange novelty, and the expressions, gestures, and personal adventures, of the men who come to publish it. Nevertheless, when it comes quite close to them, they are tempted to hear it, notwithstanding their prejudices and scorn; so that experience is continually proving that, with here and there an excepted place, there are sure to be hearers where there are zealous preachers. Some salutary coercion of a superior power compels them, in a manner which themselves cannot account for, to go again and again within reach of the voice of the fanatic. Is it not, then, most desirable and important, that there should be a great addition to the number of such voices, for the sake of such hearers?

"In many places where these efforts have been made for several years, with hopeful signs of success, it is in but a very scanty measure, that the ministers stationed at the distance of many miles from such districts or villages are able to extend their labours thither. The deficiency is but imperfectly supplied, either in kind or frequency of service, by less competently qualified teachers, belonging to our religious societies. Here it will not be imputed to us that we can mean any disparagement to the