'TO MY YOUNGER BRETHREN IN THE MINISTRY OF THE GOSPEL. I COULD wish that we might ever set up as our model, the ministerial character of our blessed Lord and the Apostles. The more closely these are studied and copied, the more perfect and effective will be our ministry. Yet, when their history is read, as there was so much that was peculiar and extraordinary, we are not enough inclined to contemplate them as models for present ministerial character. But when a successful pastor of modern times is exhibited, we feel that we are contemplating "a man of like passions with ourselves," whose example is imitable-that, in like circumstances, what he has done, we may accomplish. This disposition to admit the claims of modern examples, has induced me to desire that the Memoirs of Pastor OBERLIN should be republished, and thus find their way to the study and heart of American pastors. One thing, belonging to these memoirs, is adapted to render them signally useful beyond most other pieces of clerical biography. While in their subjects there is often a splendor of genius, a fortunate combination of circumstances, or some peculiarity in the direction of Christian exertion, which, not belonging to us, therefore discourages or forbids competition--we feel that we are not fairly matched by nature or circumstances, and are excused from similar success. But the subject of this memoir is one that comes down to "the busi ness and bosom" of every pastor. Here we see no peculiar grandeur of intellect or acquirement-no proppings of unusual circumstance to sustain him; but a pious, humble, unattended pastor, with whose intellect and attainments we feel some fellowship, entering on a field, as humble, as arduous, as unpromising as ours; yet, in the exercise of such resources as we may command, transforming a wilderness into a garden of the Lord. Memoirs like this, instead of discouraging, make the reader conscious of new powers, diminish the influence of impediments, and strengthen the hope of success in our own field of moral effort. The mind that does not rise from this memoir excited and mightier for God, has a heartlessness and apathy none will covet. Among the peculiar benefits derived from this memoir, I may mention the idea the reader will receive, First, Of the comprehensiveness of the ministerial office. Too commonly this office is restricted to the mere business of preaching, and administering the sacraments. These are indeed divinely appointed and important; but even these lose much of their efficacy without the aid of external circumstances. The early Apostle, when he rose to preach, was attended by that interesting recommendation as "a man of God," the wondrous miracles he wrought. This collateral qualification gave impressiveness to his address. When the modern Apostle would preach with due impressiveness, he too needs the collateral aid derived from the character of "a man of God." This character cannot be furnished by miracle—that has ceased; nor by apostolical succession-that requires proofs; but, his character as a man of God must be evinced by those "fruits of the Spirit," the purity, the benevolence, the usefulness of his life. The preaching that is carried home by such collateral aid, will and must be heard. Such a pastor, whose active benevolence reaches the necessities of young and old, the ignorant, unskilful, sick, poor, and friendless, "with a godliness that is profitable unto all things," will interest the cold and careless, silence the penurious and gain-saying, and triumph over all opposition to the kingdom of our Lord. Such a pastor was Oberlin. Such, required at all times and places, are peculiarly necessary to our country Ours are a people that move not in the dull, mill-horse circle of prescription; they, think, judge and act for themselves. Enterprising, laborious, jealous, and calcu lating, they will judge of ministers by their character, of character by its worth. We must therefore prove our selves worth something to society. It is not enough that |