that as many as possible of its public teachers should be men of great mental cultivation,--exercised in regular and even severe labours of thinking, -possessing a free and yet accurate command of words, on the right choice and disposition of which it depends whether their thinking shall be

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 coer-worth any thing to other men,-cion of a superior power compels furnished with a considerable them, in a manner which them store of various knowledge,—and selves cannot account for, to go qualified to appear to advantage again and again within reach of in society. The necessity that the voice of the fanatic. Is it not many of our preachers should then most desirable and import-stand thus high, is becoming the ant, that there should be a great addition to the number of such voices, for the sake of such hearers?

more apparent and urgent from the very circumstance on which we have been remarking; namely, the constantly increasing number of such preachers as have enjoy ed but a very limited degree of the privilege of education, either in early or more advanced youth. While the number of these is so fast augmenting, it must be the wish of every considerate person among our friends, that our ministers of the most cultivated order should still be of a number to preserve some proportion to them, both for the sake of maintain

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 religi-ing the respectability, in the view ous societies. Here it will not be imputed to us that we can mean any disparagement to the efforts of those worthy and useful labourers. On the contrary, we estimate them highly, rejoice exceedingly in their increasing number and activity, and wish that many more may speedily be excited to do like them,-provided always, that, while they proceed in teaching others, they be assiduous in the use of all attainable means for their own progressive improvement.

But, at the same time, it is plain to common sense, that it must be of vast importance to the honour and success of religion,

of the community, of a vocation with which religion is so much implicated, and that there may be in every place, men whose evident superiority may exert an influence, of example, advice, and moral control, over those of subordinate qualifications. A minister respected for his clearer intelligence, and more extensive attainments, may be a centre of combination and influence to a little band of these auxiliaries, and dispose their operations in such a manner as to render them doubly useful. But, if we would send out well-accomplished ministers in numbers sufficient to maintain the proportion here de

sired, there should, assuredly, be no apartments left vacant from year to year in our academy.

become vacant, it was no very pressing consideration that possibly, as rather a rare event, a new place of worship might now and then be raised in another situation. Happily, now the case is quite altered; insomuch that the probable number of preachers that may die, is become the minor part of the calculation of the number of new ones that may be required. Our ministers now, instead of wearing out their life in a course of solitary labours, to be transferred at death to their successors, see younger ones rising up on every side, to co-operate with them. Stations for constant public service are multiplied, and continuing to multiply, on tracts where formerly one edifice, become grey with time, was the sole receptacle of the true worshippers, during a period as long

We hardly need advert to the obvious consideration of the demands made upon our institution for preachers to occupy the places of the elder ones successively removed by death, except to observe, that there is not one of those venerable servants of Christ, who would not, in laying down his work, desire that his successor might excel him in every qualification for the service; and devoutly pray, if the thought were suggested to him, for all prosperity to the institutions for preparing young men to carry forward the good work which he and other faithful labourers are resigning. Especially that institution under the benefit of which they had attained their own preparatory improve-as the average of human life. And ments, has often been seen to be an object of affectionate interest with them to the last. And if their people profess to feel any sympathy with that sentiment, and to have received important spiritual advantage from a minister who had been there himself instructed how to instruct them, they will surely be willing to make an effort, not only to prolong, but to enlarge, the usefulness of such an institution.

besides these regular services, there is an extensive variety, as we were before observing, of occasional and experimental ones. Many barbarous and almost pagan districts are disturbed, by zealous spirits who are reconnoitering, approaching, and invading them.

We may justly rejoice in the advantage we possess, as Dissenters, in being at liberty to vary and accommodate our modes of operation. We are bound up by no ecclesiastical formalities and prescriptions. When we seek to make an impression on some portion of an ignorant, thoughtless, and wicked population, we can extend our preaching, either di

When speaking of the demands for successors to departed ministers, we may notice a striking difference between the present and past times. Half a century since, it was chiefly in reference to the number of ministers ex-rectly, or in well-contrived adpected to be withdrawn by death, that our religious societies measured the extent of means necessary for the education of young preachers. If a due provision was made for the supply of the old stations as they should

vances, to their own territories, instead of remaining fixed immoveably, (like men shut up in a garrison, while they should be skirmishing over the wide field,) in stations where none might ever give themselves the trouble to

men wiser and better. He certainly will not say, in answer to this, that the efficacy of the ministration depends on that Spirit whose power is not limited by the quality of the means. We all know that, right well. But it is just as clear a truth, that the professed friends of the gospel will never be admitted, by its Author, to have proved their sincere care for its honour and progress, by a carelessness respecting the fitness of

come in our way, to receive a stroke on their consciences. And our efforts have not been at all the less beneficial, for the degradation of preaching in a humble school-room, in the farmer's barn, or shed, or kitchen, in an unoccupied workshop, or on the deck of some old hulk,-unhallowed places! but in which has been developed, in very many instances, the germ of a zeal which has resulted, within a few years after, in a commodious and well-the means and instruments, while frequented meeting-house. the great and lasting mischief Let not, however, the views done to it by ill-adapted instruhere presented be dwelt upon in ments has been a plain matter of the spirit of self-congratulating fact before their eyes. Piety, and vanity: they are intended for the a more than ordinary measure of purpose of admonition and solici- natural capacity, we deem to be tation. It will surely appear de- of the essence of the fitness for sirable that our public preaching, the service; and when these are with all its accompanying se- found in youth, we know of no condary expedients of religious better course for the attainment instruction, should be vigorously of the requisites to be added, continued and still further ex- than that which is pursued in such tended, both in its ordinary ex-institutions as the one for which ercise, and in its more irregular we are now petitioning a larger and excursive operations. But supply of aid from the friends and what if ignorance, mental imbeci-societies within our religious conlity, or the rashness of undisci-nexion. plined zeal, should become conspicuous in the prosecution of this great service? Let any sensible friend of religion recollect in what manner he has been affected by examples which he may have witnessed of this kind; what influence he thought such exhibitions likely to have on the several classes of hearers; what remarks of some of them he gladly escaped from listening to. And then let him say if it be possible, consistently with a sincere concern for the Christian cause, to be indifferent whether the greatest at- proper to depart from the literal meantainable measure of understand-ing of any part of the Sacred Oracles, ing, judicious thinking, appro- another subject will require attention; priate language, and illustrative namely, the Range and Limits of such a departure. This subject, however, knowledge, shall pervade an acmay be more advantageously consider tive system which aims at making ed in a future paper,

THE

WARRANTABLE GROUNDS

FOR UNDERSTANDING

SCRIPTURE FIGURATIVELY.*

"IF the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?" and if we

interpret the scriptures according to our preconceived opinions, or the excursive flights of fancy, we

* When it is ascertained where it is

then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit

cast ourselves upon an ocean without bottom or shore. Truth is one, but error is manifold; and these two general causes of false views of truth, may produce re-to them that ask him!” Luke xi. 13. sults as numerous and as diver- That the excursive flights of sified as the stars of the sky: and fancy may also do incalculable either cause may prove fatal. For mischief, may be easily conceivthey who "wrest" the scriptures ed when we consider that a pasmay "wrest" them" to their own sage of scripture improperly alledestruction." 2 Pet. iii. 16. Nor gorized involves two serious conshould it be forgotten, that the sequences. First, a portion of most momentous truths are some- truth is taken away from the times HID from the wise and sacred volume; and then, a human prudent, whilst they are RE- addition is made to it: and if an VEALED unto BABES. Matt. xi. 25. ungovernable fancy is thus made With respect to preconceived to affect any class of peculiarities opinions, it may be observed, in the sacred oracles, the grapes that unless a man be a partaker of Eshcol may be converted into of the "Divine nature," (2 Pet. | malignant poison. i. 4.) he does not see things in These fallacious modes of inthe same light as God sees them: terpretation, however, had no inand hence the unregenerate man fluence on those illustrations of attaches a great improbability to the Old Testament which have many important statements in been so faithfully handed down Holy Writ. "The natural man to us from the sacred writers of receiveth not the things of the the New Testament. These holy Spirit of God for they are fool- men have furnished us with light ishness unto him." 1 Cor. ii. 14. without any mixture of darkness; It is no wonder then that some of for the same Divine Spirit who had the plainest passages should be been the source of truth, was to misconceived, and made to as-them the unfolder also of that sume a meaning essentially different from their literal or obvious import. Nay, the misconception may be so great as to make the scriptures appear to sanction the very thing they condemn, and condemn the very thing they sanction. Thus the apostle Paul once so interpreted the scriptures of the Old Testament as to think he had the fullest sanction from them to expect eternal life by the works of the law, a doctrine which he afterwards refuted by quotations from the very same scriptures. It is of the utmost importance, therefore, for us not to lean to our own understanding, (Prov. iii. 5.) but to regard the following promise: "If ye

truth. So that when the apostles produced proof to justify the explanation they gave to the sacred oracles, that proof was well founded. These inspired men did not, indeed, employ the rhetorical flourishes of some refined orators of that age; for having only truth and a good cause to defend, they needed nothing beyond the language and logic of plain common sense. Notwithstanding the cavils of scoffers, therefore, they established truths which have diffused numberless blessings on individuals, families, and nations.

In our days, however, as is well known, men are not instantaneously furnished with languages, nor are they endowed

terpretation, we should have recourse "to the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because their is no light in them." Isa. viii. 20.

To proceed, then, to the WARRANTABLE GROUNDS for a de

with miraculous gifts. But the | present generation has ample opportunities of attaining, in a natural way, that knowledge which could not have been derived, by the same means, or from the same sources, in the days of the apostles. We, therefore, as well as they, are accountable for peculiar ad-parture from the literal meaning vantages. Nevertheless, the ser- of any part of the sacred oracles, vants of Him who is "Lord of they may, it is conceived, be all" are not required to trade with restricted to one simple circumtalents never delivered to them, stance; namely, when we are but with those actually entrusted furnished with a check to a literal to their care and among other interpretation. peculiar advantages which we No.1.-In some instances there possess, we have the twenty-is an avowed acknowledgment seven books of the New Testa- that the language adopted is not ment, to which the apostles them to be understood literally; and selves could not have recourse this is one check to a literal when they commenced their ex-meaning, and a scriptural warrant tensive and useful labours. This for the language being considered deficiency, however, with respect as figurative. Thus the language to them, was amply compensated addressed by Jehovah to Ezekiel by the gift of inspiration; and as was an avowal that what the prowe are not thus prepared to make phet was about to hear was a additions to divine truth, our de- parabolical description. "Son of ficiency is provided for in that man," said Jehovah," put forth portion of holy writ which is a RIDDLE, and speak a PARAthe result of their being inspired. BLE unto the house of Israel." If, therefore, we avail ourselves Ezek. xvii. 2. of this result in our researches for General Principles of Interpretation, we are illustrating the Inspired Volume, by Inspiration itself. But with regard to inferior lights, though we may be indebt-literal term or description is proed to them in explaining the words and allusions of sacred writ, we should beware of seeking too much from such helps. We must not expect to derive the bright radiance of the sun from the glimmering of a taper. Our procedure should be to entreat God to give us his Spirit, that we may have a right disposition of mind for the successful investigation of truth; and, with regard to the statements of men concerning the Bible, or the General Principles they furnish for its in-pretation of the four beasts;

No. 2.-The second check to a literal meaning is furnished when there is a tacit acknowledg ment of the figurative style; and this is always made when some

duced as an interpretation, though the precise meaning of such interpretation may require the aid of Providence to place the sentiment in that conspicuous point of view that may render it plain. Thus in Dan. vii. 17. we read that the prophet was informed the four beasts he saw were four kings, or, as we should say, four dynasties, or the governing powers of four great empires of the world. By this explanation an effectual check was put to a literal inter