A Pioui and Enlightei
0 Bt S. CLOUGH.
H.
[Continued]
Thus it appears that cultivated talent
and learning, as well as deep piety, have
learning had vanishM, religion was near
ly extinct. When letters revived, religion
again flourished and assumeda purer form.
From this fact, we deduce an argument for
a ministry of native tald0|> cultivatedJp
tellect, and elevated character# There, is
as mileh score for effort, as much demand
for energy, for skill, for comprehensive
ness of plan, and boldness of action now,
as at any former period of the churjph.
I Wpfon ' ’ '
The,great principles i$on which the Di
vine (Sovereignty has always acted, are
still in operation, and will continue t~ **“
main in operation through successive
to come. And thatministry which w
be useful and successful, must be confi
ed to the Divine plan pf operation, Jf
the Providence oLGod has glorious ob
jects to be achieved, and the ^pspel min
istry be its chief instrumeritMfty, it will
still demand s ministry of intellectual
strength, of moral courage, of rich resour
ces, as well as of personal piety. *
The importance of an p|)e ministry
may be further argued from the express
provision God has made for training and
supporting it. Under the Jewish econo
my, various provision!, were made, de
signed to secure eminent qualifications , in
the sacred office. There were nearly fifty
schools established, for the express pur
pose of educating those designed for the
priestly, office. None were allowed to
enter the priesthood till thirty years of
age. Large funds were appropriate!
set apart for sustaining men, both id MP
m
3S8
aration and actual service; funds so
le and so abundant, as to take away
temptation to deviate from all appro
ve study and labor. And none wete
expected to entangle themselves in the
affairs of this life, either before or after en
tering the sacred office. These wise and
salutary provisions proved a most effectn
al bulwark and safeguard to the Jewish
” J especially, to the preserva
original purity, both of the
religion ;
tion, in
law and
prophets.
The spirit of these arrangements was
feftnsferred to the Christian dispensation.
The twelve Apostles, as has been already
observed.
very best of instruction
and training, before they were authorized
to preach the gospel. They were under
the direction and tuition of the great
Teacher himsqlf* with little interruption,
during hie ministry of three yeans. When
he «en£ that forth on special messages to
ditferMufiBs of Juc w _
taking eiiter bread or money, or even two
coats a piece; but instructed t&em to rely
entirely on others for the means of sup
port. He also conferred upon t^em mi
raculous powers. After his crucifixion and
resurrectioi| fipem the dead, he bestowed
upon them still higher gifts, laiger mea
sures of the Spirit, and the power of speak
ing in different tongues; gifts, all designed
and adapted to make able ministers of the
New Testament, Thus qualified with
both gifts and graces, they assailed the
Dowers of darknessL with ^as
surprising success. The word oi liod, as
proclaimed by them, had free course and
waa glorifiei How efficacious and re
sistless was the majesty of truth from their
lips! m i.jn
*' ®ut the personal _
tions of Christ are now
oower of miracles, the gift of
ct inspiration of tbe
hnvo AMSAlf ' A nil Xllhat iIam provi*
■ustruc
w
The
and
.