The Pulpit and Modern Science. 177 and the exaltation of one does not diminish the glory of the other. Nor should there be any conflict between the pulpit and men of true science. Their spheres are widely different. The scientist is engaged in tracing the laws of matter and ascertaining the properties with which God has invested it. The preacher is engaged in proclaiming God's mercy and love as revealed to fallen man, and the precious promises which He has given of pardon for sin, of purification of heart, and of a glorious immortality. A few of those who occupy the pulpit very injudiciously assail the scientists, undervaluing their studies and reproaching them for their attachment to science. Sometimes also a few, who are uncultured, or who have failed to keep pace with scientific inquiries, announce propositions almost as absurd as those of the coloured preacher of Richmond, who has recently been lecturing on "The sun, he do move." On the other hand, there are a few scientists who are as ignorant of the Bible as the coloured lecturer was of astronomy, and who make mistakes, if not quite so palpable, yet quite as ridiculous. Between such extremes there is quite a conflict; but between the true minister and the true scientist there should be none whatever. They are engaged in telling different parts of the truth. They occupy different standpoints; and, if the pictures they present do not seem fully to harmonize, it arises from the limits of human vision and from the imperfections of human knowledge. The Eye above and at the centre can alone perceive and comprehend the harmony of the whole. There is another class of thinkers who are opposed to the pulpit because it proclaims the truths of the Bible, and the Bible pronounces the judgment of God upon their sinful practices. They hate the Bible and all who believe it. Such men talk of the failure of the pulpit, and with them the wish is father to the thought. There are still others so absorbed in business and in various pursuits that they dislike to attend a church or hear a sermon. Possibly, when they chanced to attend, they were not pleased with the discourse, and their dissatisfaction with one sermon has extended to all. Fancying that, because they care nothing for the pulpit, others sympathize with them, they also glibly talk of its failure. I do not precisely know what these various classes mean when they use this phrase, nor am I sure that they perfectly understand themselves. A machine is a failure when it cannot perform the work for which it was designed; but the ignorance, incapacity, or negligence of the workman, though a failure on his part, is not properly charged as a failure of the mechanism. So the pulpit is a failure if it is not suited to perform the work for which it was instituted; but it is not a failure simply because some of its preachers may be unskilful or unworthy. There is a clear distinction between failures in the pulpit and the failure of the pulpit. The superintendent of a railroad may be a failure, while the railroad itself may be a great public benefit. A cook may be a failure; but the kitchen remains an imperative necessity. Were I, then, to admit, as I frankly do, that some preachers are failures; were I to go further, and admit that many are failures; nay, were I to admit that nine out of ten are failures, that would not constitute the pulpit a failure, while even one in ten makes it a grand and glorious success. Is, then, the institution of the pulpit a failure in view of its design? It was ordained to proclaim a divine message. That message is the Word of God. Has it not spread that message far and wide? No one pretends that it has changed or mutilated the divine record. For eighteen hundred years that record, in its completed form, has been handed down from age to age. How carefully critics have weighed every word and considered every doubtful meaning! There have been recensions of other works; but no book has ever received a tithe of the attention which has been given to the Bible. Not only has it been carefully preserved in all its completeness and beauty; but it has been given to every leading language on the face of the globe, and parts of it have been translated into over two hundred dialects. While by its agency that message has been preserved and translated, I frankly admit that the pulpit has not accomplished all that could be desired. It was designed to reach all nations and to influence all Why some Preachers fail. 179 people. That work has not yet been fully done; and to this extent the Christian pulpit has as yet failed to perform its whole duty. Nor do I claim for the pulpit that it has reached its highest perfection. Preachers have all the frailties and imperfections of their race. Too often they fail to accomplish properly their great work, and there is abundant cause for careful inquiry why the pulpit is not more efficient and successful. There may be a few men who make merchandise of the Gospel, seeking only positions of honour or emolument, who have no settled convictions, and who labour only where they can find the most comfortable homes and the largest salaries; whose only principles are centred in the question, "Will it pay ?" There may be even a few who use the pulpit as a cloak for sinful practices and for vicious purposes. But of all these the percentage is exceedingly small. It is deeply to be regretted that there are any such; for they not only discredit the cause of Christ, but bring suspicion on their brethren who have high and elevated motives and who are of pure and holy conversation. One cause of the failure of the pulpit is the lack of appreciation which is shown by ritualists. In the eighty-ninth "Tract for the Times" a writer says: "We would not be thought to entirely deprecate preaching as a means of doing good. It may be necessary in a weak and languishing state; but it is an instrument which Scripture, to say the least, has never recommended." Views like these, if entertained, impair the estimation in which preaching should be held. As a natural result, the sermon is very short, and little interest is attached to it, the chief attention being absorbed in the distribution of the sacraments and other parts of the ritualistic service. Another reason why the pulpit is considered a failure is the lack of sympathy between the preacher and his congregation. I have heretofore alluded to the fact that a wall of partition is rising between the capitalist and the labourer, the higher classes and the lower; and the masses generally identify the minister with the higher class of society. They contribute chiefly to his support, and have much influence in terminating his appointment. 180 Why some Preachers fail. His dress, deportment, and general habits fit him for association with good society, and the masses are liable to feel that he is not one of them. A few disobey the apostolic injunction, and do not "give attention to reading, to meditation, and to prayer." They are both ignorant and indolent, and sometimes cloak their disinclination to study under an assumed zeal for deep personal piety. Others are not men of one work. With them the ministry is a matter of convenience, while their minds and hearts are intent on other things, and they are devoted to personal matters. This causes the pulpit to be regarded as a profession merely ; respect for the pulpit is diminished; the divine element disappears; and people regard his teaching and advice simply as those of a physician or attorney. He is a minister simply to earn a livelihood. In some cases that preparation of heart and that culture of spirit which should mark those who are truly sent of God are not apparent. The minister appears merely as a guest in the social circle, a jovial guest. He is engrossed with the movements of the day. Outside of his pulpit he manifests but little concern for the salvation of the people. He meets them in the street, joins with them in social company, attends public gatherings, and goes with them on excursions. He is absorbed in the general movements of society, keeps a close eye on stocks, ventures into speculation, but shows little concern for a perishing world. He visits families, but makes but little effort to lead the young to the Saviour. He is pleasant with the profligate and the gay, without ever seeming to be concerned for their future welfare. Such ministers, though they may preach like angels in the pulpit, are but of little service to society. In some instances the minister is shorn of his power by adopting an essay-like style of preaching. He selects his topic and discusses it well, but in a way which does not address the hearts and consciences of his hearers. The pulpit is not the place for essays, however brilliant or sublime. He should pour forth truth from a warm heart for the personal benefit and edification of his congregation. If the preacher is not expecting any present or any immediate result, his message is in great measure paralyzed. In some instances, also, the minister enters the pulpit rather as Why some Preachers fail. 181 a task. He preaches because the Sabbath has come and he must |