OF P.,,;^ f OCT 2^ mQ j BX 7260 .J272 C36 1860 Campbell, John, 1794-1867. John Angell James ^ ^KCMINK EN ZOON v., ^vcr an you entered it, you should sorrowfully confess it to God, 30 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. and make it your first, yovir immediate, and your pressing business to repair the loss. You are not in a fit state of mind, if there be an impaired state of personal religion, to do the work of the Lord. You are feeble and inapt, and must immediately seek to be ' strengthened ^vith all might by the Spirit in the inner man.^ I wish each of you to be a vessel meet for the Master's use ; which you cannot be in a low state of experimental religion." There is, from the nature of the case, but too much reason for these searching^ susfcrestions. "^"VTiat is here put subjunctively is to a fearful extent, everywhere, a sad reality. In the absence of powerfully conservative pro'S'isions, it is the cer- tain result of the zealous prosecution of the bulk of the studies of the place. Leave a man under the full influence of them for two or three years without public religious exercises, and he is in danger of being undone ! ^^^len he is at length allowed to preach he will resemble a machine, overrun with rust, which can hardly be put in motion ! No marvel, if pious old women, on retiring, are heard to say to each other, " What a poor, dry stick ! These college lads are not worth their salt." No wonder if they read their sermons. Short of miracle, how can it be otherwise ? There has been no practice of free speech, and the very springs of the soul are frozen ! Such has been the state of many a youth who, before entering the college, was deemed a good preacher. Cecil says : " Were I to preach only once a month, I should soon lose the power of preaching altogether ; " what would have ACADEMIC PREACHING. 31 been the result to the great man of a suspension of two or even three years ? Such, then, is the danger, and there is no remedy comparable to that of constant preaching, more or less, according to circumstances. This will compel recourse to the Bible, and tend to keep alive the flame of personal religion. In a word, let every young man first pass muster in the church to which he belongs as a good and hopeful preacher ; and then, from the day he enters till the day he leaves, let him go on exercising the gift that is in him for the salvation of men. I know all that has been said on behalf of the silent system, but deem it un- worthy of notice. On this subject my opinions, the effect of ex- tended observation, are matured and decided ; and I am anxious to place them on record. It is my deliberate conviction that it is not the business of academies, or colleges, either to test or to develop the preaching capabilities, the " aptness to teach " of young men, but simply to cultivate, improve, and as far as possible, perfect the capabilities with which they enter the institution — capabilities which have been previously ascertained, and fully certified else- where. In this, I think, very mainly consists the value of such institutions. That the opposite course largely prevails is granted ; and I deeply lament it ! This point of natural capacity, I contend, ought to be settled in the churches to which the parties, re- spectively, belong. As a rule, no youth ought to be sent to college till he has been well and fully tried and proved in Prayer Meetings, Sunday- 32 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. schools, and Village Preaching. Nothing should be left to peradventui-e. No man should be sent thither who could not, if uncontrollable circum- stances required it, get on without academic aid, and by the help of God, become an efficient preacher of righteousness. True power is inherent — an afiair of nature ; no art can impart it, and no negligence uproot it. He in whom it exists will bye and die with it. It is easy to conceive of a multitude of mere college men cumbering the ground in the Evangelical Vineyard, as well as of a multitude of men who never spent a day in academic bowers efficient and useful Ministers of the Gospel. I desire to bear my emphatic testi- mony on this subject because of its incalculable im- portance in these times to the interests of Christi- anity. Whether with or without academies, and colleges, there must be an adequate measure of innate capacity in order to Ministerial efficiency. This is the primary, and unalterable condition of success. But there is a secondary condition which I hold to be equally indispensable, and unchange- able — vigorous perseverance in well directed self- culture. Without this mere college residence will be productive of no real good ; and with this gTeat things may be attained far away from academic institutions. Examples of this in theology, lan- guage, science, and literature are abundant. There is Thomas Scott, the prince of our Commentators, who never passed the threshold of a university. There is John Newton, in his own walk, a great popular writer, who was indebted to no human ACADEMIC PEEACHING. 33 tuition. Tliere is Andrew Fuller, tlie greatest doctrinal and polemical writer of his time, who was equally without academic training. There is William Jay — a name that will long be dear to the British Churches, whose advantages were confined to the humble roof of Cornelius Winter, who himself had no instruction whatever other than a few lessons in grammar received from Mr. Green at the expense of Geo. 'VVhitefield; and yet he sent forth some of the best and most successful Ministers of the period. To William Jay may be added not a few of Mr. Winter's students, who were second to none of their contemporaries as servants of Christ. Last, not least, we might almost claim John Angell James ; for, I think, it is highly probable, that had he never seen Gosport, his way and his end, his service and his fame, would have been substantially the same. Such piety, such talents, such industry, such eloquence would have succeeded to the full, apart from the slender advantages conferred on him at Gosport. To labour, then, to devout, zealous, \'igorous, well-directed labour, whether m or apart from colleges, men must look for attainments, and efficiency. The history of letters abounds with proof, and illustration. Amongst Englishmen we might cite the cases of Swift, Gibbon, and a multi- tude besides. The academic life of these individuals was a comparative blank. That they gained not more, and came not forth laden with literary treasure was, of course, their own blame ; I only state the fact that their time was thrown away, to show, that, D 34 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. had they never entered the university, the result would have been in nowise materially affected. Swift for seven years laboured fourteen hours a day ! Gibbon, referring to his college residence and its unproductiveness, remarks, that no man was ever great who did not afterwards put himself through a second course of education. A college, or a university, is but a name for a set of advan- tages, such as time, books, stimulus from gifted and aspiring compeers, and direction from wise and experienced tutors — matters all, doubtless, highly important, and which may be turned to the best account; but how important soever they may be, they are not to be considered essentials. Time and books are all that are absolutely necessary to men of real power, and governed by high principle. Such men will derive sufficient stimulus from within their own bosoms ; and as to dii-ection, like Lord Bacon, they will either "find or make a way." A plan for study is not a thing of much difficulty, and after all, a great deal does not depend on it. One author leads to another; and as a man ad- vances the light increases, and the path becomes broader. Such men, with the right spirit, will bid defiance alike to help and hindrance, and carry the world before them. Every difficulty will vanish at their approach, and in the end they will not fail of usefulness, respectabihty, and honour. In thus speaking, let it not be supposed that I am unfriendly to academic institutions ; far from it ; they may be, as they have been in the case of count- less thousands, the means of incalculable good, but ACADEMIC PEEACHING. 35 abused by being made subservient to incompetence, they become the reverse of a blessing, and prove a source of public mischief. I do not speculate ; I speak from extended observation ; I went through my full curriculum half the period in one, and half in another of our national Universities ; and I speak with the experience of long years to guide me. I have known many men of superior parts, pass through all the classes — classes conducted by Pro- fessors of first-rate ability — with scarcely one par- ticle of benefit. A number of them, equal to great things, utterly failed. Precious time was idled away; classes were, indeed, resorted to, but not prepared for ; from Professors they bore certificates of attendance, but that was all ! They finished their course, spent their money, and went forth with very little more of either culture or knowledge than when they entered. The whole of the golden period was one long holiday Avith them; they walked, they lounged, they beguiled their heavy hours with light company, and light literature ; and went forth at length to the battle of life uneducated men ! No matter, they had been at college ; the public knew tJiat, ^d they did not care to know more; they had been to college, and that was enough ! It was charitably presumed, that the end for which they had entered was answered, and that now they were competent to the duties of their Profession. They Avere, therefore, accepted, while men of superior attainments privately acquired, were looked dovm upon. This, then, is the state of things over which I 3C JOHN ANGELL JAMES. would utter my loud lament^ and against whicli I enter my earnest protest ! Let us, by all means, have academic institutions in abundance, and of the very best description, and let them be filled with proper men ; but let the very door-posts proclaim, and every professor's chair echo the voice, that the unalterable condition of culture and acquire- ments is, self-application, devout, unceasing labour ! Again, with like emphasis I would encourage men of respectable parts, and genuine piety, but who, from circvimstances, cannot command the advantages of a college training, to take courage, and look up. Let them neither despair, nor be faint-hearted, but gird up the loins of their minds ! Everything they can desire is within their grasp. Let them be assured that there is nothing required in the way of the attainments needful to efficiency in the Gospel vineyard, which they may not in process of time, with prayerful industry, secure for themselves. I am anxious, above all things, to recommend this matter of self-culture for purposes of evangelical usefulness, wholly apart from the regular ministry. The Churches of Christ more and more requii-e it for a variety of objects. Speaking-power is an element far more necessary than money in advancing the cause of God. On this subject. Dr. Vaughan, in the " Modern Pulpit,'' has the following admirable observations : — "Unhappily, it is not a small portion of our population who are subject to deep poverty, and who seem to be wedded to the sufi'ering, and to the de- graded social condition, natural to such poverty. It ACADEMIC PREACHING. 37 is scarcely necessary to say, tliat tlie spiritual wants of tliese classes must on no account be forgotten. In such connections, tlie ministry of religion must continue to be in some degree peculiar, and as a case of exception. Good natural ability, a fair amount of knowledge, a ready and impressive de- livery, and a heart intent on contributing to the spiritual improvement and comfort of the poor, must continue to be the main qualifications demanded in the case of a somewhat large class of religious teachers, if the multitudes who have their place as on the lowest verge of our civilization are to be brought at all under the influence of religion. The bigot, the inconsiderate, the frivolous, the vain — all such persons will continue to cast their reproach on preachers of this description, upon the ground of their limited education, and on our general ministry as being identified with them. But a glance at the spiritual destitution of so many myriads among our countrymen, for whom no better provision can be made, must suffice to render every mind imbued with the spirit of the Grospel proof against reflections of that nature. To subordinate the pride of learn- ing, to a feeling of compassion towards spiritual natures perishing for lack of knowledge, should be no work of difficulty with men holding the office of Christian ministers. " Nor should we forget, that in such departments of labour, the natural ability of the comparatively uneducated, must carry with it a much greater pro- inise of success, than the merely acquired ability of minds possessing little original capacity. We see 38 JOHN ANGELL JAIIES. every day, that tlie man of little teclmical scholar- sliip may be a man of power, wliile the man who has been most patiently trained to such scholarship may be a man without power." The following remarks from the same work on the same topic, are entitled to special notice. By far the most efl&cient ministers for the common people have been supplied by the common people, and it is important that care should be taken not to educate students out of sympathy with the common people. Dr. Yaughan goes on : — "We should bear in mind, also, that the dis- tance separating between the social habits of the teacher and those of the taught, must be in no case very gTeat, if there is to be the degree of sympathy between them which is necessary to success. Gen- tlemen who pride themselves on the ai-istocratic character of the associations and tastes which their manner of education has been calculated to bring along with it, are not hkely to be among the most suitable persons to do the work of an evangelist among" classes whose rough and hard lot has its place at the lowest point beneath theii' own. The gulf which intervenes between such parties, is com- monly found to be much too wide to allow of any real intercommunion of thought or feeling. AYho can need be reminded of the distance which sepa- rates between the habits of a college and those of a colliery ?" CHARACTER. 39 CHARACTEE. On this head I desire to be distinctly understood ; the private and personal character of Mr. James lies wholly beyond my province. I have to do with him solely and only in his public capacity as a Preacher, a Platform Orator, a Pastor, an Educa- tionist, and a Nonconformist; and in dealing with these points I profess nothing more than to present a faithful outline of the several particulars. THE PREACHER. "The righteous shall be in everlasting remem- brance." So long as Birmingham shall be a town or a city, England a nation or an empire, John Angell James will be held in reverential memory. Amid all the changes, probable or certain, in human affairs this is sure. His name is written on the hearts of the British Churches, and nothing can obliterate it ; on that imperishable tablet it is in- scribed along with the names of Wickliffe and Latimer, Ridley and Hooper, Owen and Flavel, Baxter and Howe, Henry and Doddridge, Watts and Whitefield, and myriads more. From time his character has nothing to fear but everything to hope. The more it is scrutinized the more it will 40 JOHN ANGELL JAMES, sliine. But tlie present state of liis fame is quite satisfactory ; lie lias suffered little, if anytliing, from l^rejudice. He belongs to a small and privileged class to wliom large, if not full, justice lias been done during tlieu' own lives. He lias in an eminent degree enjoyed the blessed promise; lie lias been " shielded from the scourge of the tongue." Little more will remain for posterity but to affirm the sentence of his contemporaries ; and that it will do so is certain; no revision is required, no reversal is to be apprehended ; but while the generations to come will form their own opinions from the data which will go down to them, they will not be indif- ferent to contemporary judgments, and especially to judgments expressed at the time of his depar- ture by those who were his personal friends and associates. While in this labour of love the first place will, of course, be accorded to his biographer, the passing tributes of various sorts from other hands will be held to possess a portion of interest, A desire to contribute somewhat, however small, to this aggregate of sentiment and oj)inion, has prompted the present observations, Mr, James was distinguished by all the attri- butes of personal superiority. He would have attained to eminence in any walk of life he might have chosen. As a tradesman he would have ruled his guild ; as a merchant he would have been a prince; as a physician he would have attained to the presidency of the college ; as a lawyer he would have led the bar, and finished on the bench ; as a poHtician, however, his virtue would have barred CHARACTER. 41 liis promotion. But, wliile in a large measure adapted to all, lie was specially fitted for tlie line to wliicli he was led in Providence. Oratory is quite as mucli a thing of the physical as of the in- tellectual. There are multitudes of men of superior parts who from bodily organization could never have been reared into effective public speakers. We refer not at present to voicCj but to the muscular knitting of the frame, and its general structure. The Bar, the Senate, and the Pulpit, to be sure, everywhere supply illustrations of cases in which mere intel- lectual potency has conferred distinction in spite of physical defects, and others in which physical power alone, with but slender parts, has raised its subject to eminence; but, had the former pos- sessed tbe body of the latter, and the latter the mind of the former, the result would have far transcended that which, in either case, was attained. About Mr. James there was a physical and a mental massiveness that served as a rock on which to plant his rhetorical artillery, which mightily en- hanced its effect. To this was added a counte- nance highly dignified, open, angular, and radiant at every point with the sunshine of heaven-born benevolence — a countenance in which the whole man was mirrored forth Avith truth and majesty — a countenance which attracted and conciliated an auditory the moment he rose to speak. Sincerity and veracity seemed -written on it as with a sun- beam. To behold was to love, confide, and admire. The celestial spot of that countenance was, of course, the eye, which, when lighted up, shot fire into the 42 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. soul of an assembly, but it was tlie fire of Heaven and love, full of sympathy with, the righteous, and compassion for the wicked. That eye woi'ked won- ders both in the pulpit and on the platform, as well as in the intercourse of private life. Then there was the voice, the matchless voice, which at plea- sure arrested, subdued, charmed, and melted an audience — a voice which, in a degree rarely, if ever, surpassed, united compass with sweetness, and pathos with power. "While its faintest accents were audible in the remotest corners of the largest build- ing, its loudest thunder, fraught with melody, never wounded the most cultivated ear. The inexperienced are incapable of estimating the value of such an organ to a public speaker. Its working power is wholly in- exhaustible. Its operation is almost entirely an affair of the vocal organs ; the speech is from the fauces, not from the chest, which makes all the diiference between a pleasurable, wholesome exercise, and a painful, self-consuming effort. Speakers of this class — Islr. Spurgeon to wit — can speak for ever with but little physical exhaustion, whereas chest- speakers are utterly prostrated by a great and pro- longed effort. It will, nevertheless, be found that this latter class, whether in England, Scotland, or Ireland, have formed the highest order of speak- ers. It is inseparable from the oratory of passion. Mr. James was never the subject of the divine frenzy which belongs aHke to the highest species both of eloquence and of poetry. He spoke on great occa- sions with emotion, deep and strong, but not with passion ; and hence the effect of his address was to CHARACTEE. 43 move and to melt, rather than to agitate, amaze, and overwliehn, as in the case of Robert Hall, Thomas Chalmers, and James Parsons in the pulpit — Chatham, Shei'idan, and Burke in the Senate — Curran, Erskine, and Brougham at the bar. In pulpit propriety Mr. James was a model. There all was composure, gravity, and solemnity ; there the light and the frivolous had no place. He was, moreover, the same man in and out of it, before and after the service. Good faith marked the whole of the exercise. Wliat he boldly said he clearly meant, and fully believed his own testimony. Mr. James was alike exemplary in every portion of the service. With him mere preaching was not the Alpha and Omega of the hour ; it was only a part, — and, although a very important part, by no means the greatest part of the business. He attached the utmost importance to the proper reading of the Holy Scriptures ; it was quite a feast to hear him in his best frames, and in good health. His mere reading was far more instructive, impressive, and edifying than a crude and feeble comment. He was deliberate, discriminating, feeling, and em- phatic. The lessons of the day were obviously well studied beforehand. To some extent, the orator as well as the poet, must be born, but it is compe- tent for every man, at least, to become a good reader. There is, therefore, no excuse for defect here. To the preacher it is absolutely indispen- sable, and yet the reading of many a superior and learned man, in the pulpit, is execrable ! It would be deemed intolerable even in a village school- 44 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. master. THs matter onglit to be well seen to in our colleges. Its importance is vital. "With, regard to the sermons of Mr. James^ in the earlier part of his history, he was intensely labo- rious. To a large extent he preached viemoritcr, and, the habit once formed, he was enabled when he deemed it expedient, to secm-e a large amount of force and effect; quite as much so in point of language as the best reader, without the deadening, and the often deadly, effect of MS. By degrees, however, he cultivated the invaluable power of ex- temporary speech Avith the utmost success. In this line, indeed, he had few superiors'; and it often stood him in excellent stead. As a rule, his preach- ing was by free speech, although on some occasions he read; and he always provided large notes, al- though neither reading nor committing them to memory, which he deemed, as it doubtless is, the best method of public ministration. Few men, perhaps, ever paid more attention to the searching out of " acceptable words " than Mr. James, who was a thorough master of the English tongue ; yet in no man was there less of the ap- pearance of display. In him art successfully con- cealed itself. He combined in a degree equalled by none of his contemporaries the power of easy and dignified talk with vigorous and commanding decla- mation. "V^Tiile this in tender scenes was omnipo- tent for effect, it afforded repose both to the as- sembly and to the speaker, who merged the orator in the friend, and for the moment became one of the social circle. This is one of the highest and most CHARACTER. 45 difficult attainments in oratory. In secular elo- quence, tlie late Mr. O^Connell was tlie greatest master of it in his time, as Mr. James was in eccle- siastical. They were, perhaps, as nearly matched on this point as men could be ; each was perfect in his way. This is a matter of exceeding great importance, and deserving of the utmost attention. The absence of nature is the crying sin of modern eloquence. Natural speaking is rarely heard in the Senate, the Pulpit, or in the Courts of Law. Mannerism is all but universal. DrawHng, shouting, ranting, whin- ing, singing, screaming, these are prevalent charac- teristics in every department. Whatever varieties may obtain, they are all in the direction of the un- natural. There are no doubt noble and splendid exceptions — but such is the rule. When Wliitefield went to Scotland, the only fault found with him by the good people was, that he wanted " the holy tone." He did not sing, but spake as a man to men, which was deemed irreverent. That consum- mate orator surpassed all his contemporaries in the power of vivacious and vigorous talk, as well as of rapturous and overwhelming declamation. The people were startled by his natural utterance ; he spake as a man that really meant it ! From this mainly arose his marvellous power over the minds of the multitudes he everywhere addressed. It was quite a new thing. We have now large numbers of superior men who have formed each for himself a mechanical style of address, stilted, mouthing, jolt- ing, with a measured, meaningless modulation, which 46 JOHN ANGELL JAilES. renders them intolerable and inefficient alike in the pulpit and on tlie platform, but wliose mental powers and general attainments are such, tliat if they were to speak naturally they would reign supreme in popular assembUes. The effect of nature is magical. Men are awakened, excited, charmed, they know not how. In our time this nature is mainly found among laATnen, numbers of whom speak admirabh'. Almost all ]\Iinisters, all Barristers, and all Statesmen hare formed, more or less, an artificial manner. Without great care, indeed, this is almost always the effect of speaking often. It is with speaking as with other things, frequency leads to formality : manner be- comes habit. It is nevertheless quite possible to resist the evil influence, and keep true to nature, and the attainment will amply repay the necessary eflFort. But even success may assume to the vulgar the air of a failure, or at least of an imperfection. A perfect speaker will never, by the masses, be ex- tolled as an orator, but he will be universally /eZf to be one ! Their admiration is reserved for the arti- ficial ; then- understandings are surrendered to the natural ! A really natural orator will by them be \'iewed as no orator at all ; they will, indeed, think nothing about it ; they will only attend to what he says ; they Avill be led captive by him, and rejoice in their vassalage ! But the things to charm them are imag-ination as to matter, and spouting as to manner ; by these they are amused, not vanquished ; but thej fall prostrate before the footstool of truth and nature ! "Whately, in his " Ehetoi-ic," judi- ciously remarks, concerning the natm-al speaker : — CHARACTER, 47 " He will, indeed, never be praised for a very- fine delivery ; but his matter will not lose tlie appro- bation it may deserve ; as lie will be the more sure of being lieard and attended to. He will not, indeed, meet with many who can be regarded as models of the Natural manner ; and those he does meet with, he will be precluded, by the nature of the system, from minutely imitating ; but he will have the advantage of carrying within him an Infal- lible Guide, as long as he is careful to follow the suggestions of nature, abstaining from all thoughts respecting his own utterance, and fixing his mind intensely on the business he is engaged in. And though he must not expect to attain perfection at once, he may be assured that, while he steadily adheres to this plan, he is in the right road to it ; instead of becoming, as on the other plan, more and more artificial, the longer he studies : and every advance he makes will produce a proportional effect : it will give him more and more of that hold on the attention, the understanding, and the feelings, of the audience, which no studied modulation can ever attain. And though others may be more successful in escaping censure, and ensuring admiration, he will far more surpass them, in respect of the proper object of the orator, which is, to carry li'ts pu'mt." But the matter of Mr. James's discourses was worthy of his manner. His theology was pre-emi- nently that of the olden time, thoroughly Apostolic, thoroughly Puritanic. He Avas never tired of re- peating, vinder every variety of combination, the testimony once delivered to the saints. Mr, Jay, 48 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. towards tlie close of his life^ thanked God that he had been " kept from whims j" and Mr. James had equal cause for gratitude. He never deviated a hair's breadth from the grand system of evangelical doctrine. So sound was his judgment on this sub- jectj so thoroughly was he rooted and grounded in the truth, that he was not more proof against mor- tal error than against the unscriptural novelties and vagaries of the hour. It was as natural for him to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, as to breathe ! So little importance did he attach to the minor heresies of his day that he rarely thought it worth while to move either tongue or pen for their suppression : he left them to die of themselves. In his lips the doctrine of Divine Sove- reignty was sweet and lovely. The Gospel was always " glad tidings of great joy" to those who were "ready to perish." Every accent was as honey from the comb. His ministry might be likened to his character ; it was full-orbed ; no one element shot away in excess while leaving another dwarfed or stinted. While he traversed the Sacred Book in all its length and breadth, he opened up to view every fold of the human heart in its relation to the Gospel with the same fidelity. He was at great pains to set forth and delineate the influence of truth in all its aspects on the soul. Christian expe- rience in his lips was a thing so accordant with reason, that to reject it was to do violence to com- mon-sense, and separate between cause and effect. In all his preaching, as Avell as in all his writings on the subject, every utterance was marked by a tho- CHARACTER. 49 roughly Scriptural purity. The vague, the fanciful, the imaginative, the mystical, still so much admired in some quarters, had no place in his system. Everything was as transparent as in the Epistles of the New Testament. Every expression was sound and wholesome. The counsels of Mr. James were but a transcript of his own practice. To a body of students leaviuc^ colleo'e he said : — " Preach Christ, my brethren, and for Christ's own sake. Exalt Christ, not yourselves. Exhibit Christ, in the divinity of his person, the efficacy of his atonement, the prevalence of his intercession, the fulness of his grace, the freeness of his invita- tions, the perfection of his example ; in all his media- torial offices, and Scripture characters ; and as the Alpha and Omega of your whole ministry. Let your sermons be fragrant with the odours of his name : carry this precious unguent to the pulpit, break the alabaster box, and let the 'precious per- fume fill the house in which you minister. Christ has himself told you the secret of popularity and success, where he said, ' And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.' With this divine load- stone magnetize your sermons : here lies the attrac- tion. Preach as in full view of all the wonders of Calvary, and let it be as if, while you spoke, you felt the Saviour's grace flowing into, and filling your soul, and as if at that moment you were sympathiz- ing with the apostle in his sublime raptures — ' God forbid I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.' When Popery and Puseyism are lifting so extensively the crucljix, or at any rate a I 50 JOHJ{ ANGELL JAMES. mere ceremonial religion, let us exhibit tlie cross in all its grandeur and attractions. This is our strength, our defence, and "svill ensure our success. Turning with disgust from the puerilities by which the doc- trine of the cross is substituted, the people will feel afresh the power of Gospel truth, if u-e have but the wisdom and fidelity to present it. Denied it from their own pastors, our hearers will go for it to the Wesleyans and the evangelical clergy of the Church of England. And who can wonder, or blame them ? Dissent is a poor thing without the Gospel — the shell without the kernel, the chaff without the wheat. It has nothing for the imagination, nothing for mere taste ; and if that which alone can quiet the con- science and feed the heart, be wanting in its preach- ing, I mean the fulness of the Gospel, it will be left by all those who are more concerned for their salva- tion, than they are for their nonconformity. Thank God, there is yet no extensive indication of this state of things ; I hope there never will be : but in order that there may not, let our young ministers remember, that it is not by intellectuahtj-, nor by bitter controversy, nor by being pubHc men, but by fally, faithfully, ably, and earnestly preaching the Gospel, that they wiU be useful either in the higher object of saving souls, or the secondary one of building up their own denomination." But this was not the whole. The system of Eomaine, Booth, and other excellent men, would have stopped here, exhibiting what Robert Hall called a " profile view of the Gospel." Not so John Angell James ; he uniformly taught that Christian I CHARACTER. 51 experience was accompanied by Christian morality. In nothing was he more successful than in setting forth the claims of the Divine law on the subjects of Divine grace. He was careful to show that Christian obedience was simply Christian love in operation — internal sanctity rendered palpable by external action — ^that sanctification is the only evidence of justifica- tion — change of character the only proof of a change of state — a growing meetness for heaven a true evi- dence of a title to it. This fact is important, as show- ing that the popularity of Mr. James in no degree arose from his merging the preceptive in the promissory, and preaching comfort at the expense of holiness — dwelling on privilege while silent on duty ! In this full-orbed ministry he is a model for young preachers, who will find that, in proportion as they honour their Master, they will secure their own reputation. The motto of all his discourses, as of all his works, was, " Holiness to the Lord ! " The fact of his great and enduring* acceptance much redounds to the credit of the general soundness of the churches of our age and country. The best commentary on his words and writings is the all but unexampled fertility of the church in Carr's-lane. If the tree be known by its fruits, what shall be said of that levia- than fellowship ? The good man bears the following testimony in the last letters he issued to the churches, which now possess a special claim to pubhc attention : — "When I became pastor of my church, more than fifty-three years ago, the only object of congrega- tional benevolence and action was the Sunday-school, 52 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. whicli was then conducted in a private house, hired for the purpose. There was nothing else ; literally, nothing we set our hands to. We had not then taken up even the Missionary Society. We have now an organization for the London Missionary Society, which raises, as its regular contribution, nearly £500 per annum, besides occasional donations to meet special appeals, which, ujDon an average, may make up another £100 a-year. For the Colo- nial Missionary Society, we raise, annually, £70. For our Sunday and day schools, which comprehend nearly two thousand children, we raise £200. We support two town missionaries, at a cost of £200. Our ladies conduct a working society for orphan mission schools in the East Indies, the proceeds of which reach, on an average, £50 a-year ; they sus- tain also a Dorcas Society for the poor of our town, a Maternal Society, of many branches, in various localities; and a Female Benevolent Society, for visiting the sick poor. We have a Religious Tract Society, which employs ninety distributors, and spends £50 nearly a-year in the purchase of tracts. Our Village Preachers' Society, which employs twelve or fourteen lay agents, costs us scarcely any- thing. We raise £40 annually for the County Asso- ciation. We have a Young Men's Brotherly Society for general and religious improvement, with a library of 2,000 volumes. We have also night schools for young men and women at small cost, and Bible classes for other young men and women. In addition to all this, we raise £100 per annum for Springhill CoUege. We have laid out £23,000 in improving CHARACTER. 53 the old chapel and building the new one ; in the erection of school-rooms, the college, and in build- ing seven country and town small chapels. We have also formed two separate Independent churches, and have, jointly with another congregation, formed a third, and all but set up a fourth, and are at this time in treaty for two pieces of freehold land, which ■will cost £700, to build two more chapels in the suburbs of the town." We doubt if in the history of the churches of these realms there be any instance of a pastor in the fifty-fourth year of his ministry so situated as to be able to make a similar statement. The church in Carr's-lane towers far above even the most fertile of the sisterhood, whether endowed or voluntary. We know of nothing comparable in the realm. "V^Tiile the preaching of Mr. James was dis- tinguished by various other concomitant attributes entitled to notice, it was remarkable for adaptation to special occasions ; these might be small or great ; there was always sufficient pertinence to them. Earely, indeed, was an audience disappointed. He seemed, somehow, to reach the thing that was right as if by instinct. Amid the all but innumerable discourses which he delivered in and around the metropolis, and throughout the country, it may be doubted if there was one which wholly failed in this important particular. This, of course, implied fore- thought and special preparation ; and it would seem that nothing was grudged that might further the object of the occasion. It is worthy of notice that Mr. James was quite 54 JOHN AXGELL JAMES, as acceptable in Scotland as in England. On one occasion he and Chalmers preached on the same day for a pubHc object in Edinburgh, and by some of the most competent judges it was held that, as to all the great ends of public preaching, the re- noiATied Enghshman lost nothing by comparison with the brilhant Scottish orator. The prayer ! who shall describe that ? So ftdl, so multifarious, so comprehensive, so discriminating, so pertinent, so simple, so meek, so childlike, often so sublime that earth and time were annihilated and forgotten, and the worshipper borne straightway to the throne of God ! V^lio that ever joined with him can forget it ? To devout people, indeed, the reading and the prayer, with the praise, were often enough for a spiritual repast ; they scarcely wanted more; the soul was refreshed, strengthened, and happy, and all beyond was in excess. His prayer was quite equal to his preaching ; we cannot pay it a higher tribute. It may be doubted if his prayer did not contribute as much to his usefnlness as his preaching, perhaps, also to his popularity, especially among godly people. THE PLATFORM GHATOE. Mr. James was quite as great on the platform as in the pulpit — a circumstance which greatly con- tributed both to his popularity and his useftdness. On this head he deserves the special notice of all young ministers. In this matter he fairly eclipsed Jay, Chalmers, Wardlaw, and some other eminent preachers, who first neglected platform speaking. CHARACTER. 55 and tlien shrank from it. The first and tlie second of these eminent men could never be induced to appear there ; and Wardlaw was once clamoured down in the midst of a beautiful but unspeechlike disquisition on the platform of the Bible Society — the most mode- rate and decorous of all our religious gatherings. Till within the last dozen years, when he seemed to get weary, and disposed to leave the platform to younger m.en, Mr. James was a very frequent speaker in London, where he was always welcome and always effective. Nor was this all; where he was most known he was most loved, the sure proof of excel- lence. His noble-hearted neighbom-, Dr. Miller, of Birmingham, in a Funeral Sermon which will reflect lasting credit on his respected name, and in which the Churchman is merged in the Christian, and the popular orator in the mourning friend, says : — " On his advocacy of those religious societies in whose great and blessed designs Churchmen and Dissenters co-operate, and on his general powers as a public speaker, I need not dwell. No man ever rose on a Town Hall platform who was more wel- come to the auditory. Earnest, grave — or with a gravity reUeved by playfulness only, never by levity — touchingly pathetic ; rising not seldom to lofty eloquence; his language fluent and choice; every speech presenting the difficult combination of all the polish of the most finished preparation, and all the freshness of extempore address — his face be- tokening high intelligence and often lighted with a smile of heaven's own love — he was a speaker not often surpassed. I never saw him sit down without 56 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. regret tliat liis speech was not longer. It lias been sometimes objected that liis personal references to friends present savoured somewliat too much of compliment and flattery. But I believe that they upon whose lips such language would have been but compliment and flattery judged him by their own hoUowness. With friendly eye he unconsciously exaggerated the excellences of those he admired and loved — but Angell James was no retailer of platform comphments — he was a true man — he was sincere. While many others possess one and another of his gifts in greater measure, a rare combination made him what he was. And few men more dili- gently improved gifts given. He was a singular exemplification of Lord Bacon's words, — ' Beading maketh a full man ; conversation a ready man ; and writing an exact man.' " It is among the traditions of the last generation, which may still be occasionally heard in certain circles, that the first event which fairly brought forth J. A. James as an orator and a public man, was a speech he made at the formation of the Wol- verhampton Auxiliary to the British and Foreign Bible Society. To this oration, therefore, a more than ordinary interest now attaches. We are in- debted for a copy of it — the only one we ever saw — to our much-esteemed, and learned friend, Benjamin Hanbury, Esq. As it is something more than a curiosity, and well worth preserving, I shaU here insert it, where it will be read with interest by the ge- nerations to come. The meeting was held Deceml^er 12, 1815. The Eev. T. Whitby in the chair opened CHARACTER. 57 tlie business with a most suitable speecb, after wliicli no fewer than fifteen Clergymen, Dissenting Minis- ters, and Laymen, at various lengths, addressed the assembly. The task assigned to Mr. James placed him at the close, when the time was gone and the people exhausted : he was appointed merely to move thanks to the Provisional Committee, which showed that but little was required, or, perhaps, expected, of the young man from Birmingham. Mr. James, however, wisely felt, that the cause was greater than time, and being prepared, he determined that his labour should not be thrown away. The great speeches of the occasion were those of the Eev. Thos. Gisborne, afterwards so famous for his writ- ings, and the Rev. Thos. Scales, well known as one of the Dissenting" Ministers of Leeds, and still alive respected and beloved, useful and happy, in con- nection with one of the great Dissenting Schools for the Sons of Ministers in the North of England. Mr. James, nothing daunted, proceeded : — " Mr. Chairman, — At this late hour of the Meet- ing, when so many able speeches have been aheady delivered, and especially after the luminous, compre- hensive, and eloquent address of the Reverend Mr. Gisborne, it is needless, if not presumptuous, in mo to add a syllable. What that gentleman has touched he has enlightened — what he has enlightened he has warmed — what he has warmed he has impressed. I cannot, however, forbear to express my sincere congratulations to the inhabitants of this tomi, upon their accession to the cause of the British and Foreign Bible Society : an Institution, than which 58 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. ingenuity could not invent^ nor will future ages dis- close, one more fraught witli tlie best blessings of man, and tlie highest praises of the great God : an Institution, which, more than any other ever framed by the wisdom, or promoted by the benevolence of the human mind, is entitled to the angelic ascription as its motto, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and good-will towards men.' " There are three points of view. Sir, in which the importance of the Bible Society may be clearly seen. ''First, by considering what are its pretensions. To circulate the Scriptures according to the autho- rized version, without note or comment, as widely through our own, and other countries, as its funds shall allow. In every case its boon is nothing less than the Word of God. The Bible is the most valu- able gift which one mortal can bestow upon another, and no wonder, since it is the richest treasure which God himself, next to his Eternal Son and Spirit, can direct to the possession of man upon earth. There are many other Societies which embrace religious objects, and which are exceedingly important as far as they go ; Prayer Book and Homily Societies, religious Tract Societies, and others of a similar nature, are in the view of their supporters highly valuable. But whence do these Institutions derive their value ? Unquestionably from the portion, either of the letter or spirit of the inspired volume, Ti^hich is infused into the subjects of their benevo- lence. Prayer Books, Homilies, and Tracts, their most zealous distributors must admit, are important, only as they lead men to the Bible ; they are lesser CHARACTER. 59 lights conducting' to the greater, and, like the Star of BetHehem, are valuable only as they guide to the rising orb of spii'itual day. Now if these lesser and subordinate objects are thought of sufficient moment to justify a distinct and separate combination of human effort, much more that which is paramount to them all. There is something ineffably sublime in the spectacle which exliibits all denominations of Christians, and all the Protestant nations of Christen- dom, uniting to conduct the Bible in solemn proces- sion to the supreme tribunal in the temple of truth, and with one voice, exclaiming as they stand around its seat of majesty, ' The Bible, the Bible alone, is the religion of men, as sinners, or as Protestants.'' " The importance of the Bible Society may be estimated, in the next place, by a survey of the moral and religious state of the world. It is now, Sir, nearly four centuries since God, by directing the human mind to the invention of printing, may be said to have produced wings for the Bible; and about three centuries since, by the Eeformation, he broke open its prison doors and made way for it to take its flight through the earth; and yet, how melancholy is it to reflect upon the religious and moral condition of the globe in the nineteenth century ! Assuming that the population of the earth is about eight hundred millions of inhabitants — of these, foui- hundred and eighty millions are groaning beneath the various systems of pagan idolatry ; a hundred and forty millions avow the blood-converting blasphemy of Mahomet ; nine mil- lions are Jews; only about a hundred and seventy 60 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. millions are Cliristians by profession, and out of this number only fifty millions are Protestants. This is a most heart-affecting statement. As it respects our own country^ this land of Bibles, this valley of \'ision, even here, beneath the very droppings of the Christian sanctuary, there was a lamentable dearth of the Scriptures. It is computed that when the Bible Society commenced its operations, no less than four hundred thousand families, in England and Wales alone, were destitute of the Word of God. If this be the state of things here, think. Sir, what must be the condition of less favovired countries upon the continent of Europe. The scarcity of Bibles in many of the German States was lament- ably great ; but in the Russian provinces it was almost incredible. In only two of these provinces, nearly half a million of families were starving for lack of this bread of life. Advancing into Catholic kingdoms, we enter deeper and gloomier shades. As we pass through the realms over which the Arabian impostor stretches his blood-stained scep- tre, the night thickens dismally around us, tUl having reached the swarming regions of paganism, we are wrapped in the midnight of the moral world ; there darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people ; save where the throne of superstition is revealed by the horrid glare of its own abominable systems, with its ministers, impiety and obscenity, cruelty and terror, binding their fetters upon innu- merable myriads of its ^vretched votaries, who, as they pass to eternity, send in the bosom of every wave, and upon the wings of every breeze, that CHARACTER. touches the Britisli shore, their mournful plaint, ' Come over and help us.' How important is the Institution, which rises amidst this wreck of human happiness, to supply such wants, and relieve such miseries ! In such a state of the world as this, what are we to think of the mercy of those who complain of the multiplication of Bible Societies ? Do they really know the state of the world ? Must we con- vict them of ignorance or inhumanity ? " But there is another way to ascertain the im- portance of the Bible Society ; and that is, to look at it through the medium of its own reports. ' Her own IV orhs praise her in tlie gates' Here, Sir, it was my intention to have laid before the Meeting a sum- mary of its operations, and success ; in this, how- ever, much for the benefit of this assembly, I have been anticipated by the able friend of the Society to whom I have already alluded. In addition to the interesting details communicated by him, there is one scene of the Society's operations, where its labours to diffuse its own spirit have been pre- eminently successful — I mean Russia. Yes, Sir, on that spot where French cruelty had left nothing but a sepulchre, for the ancient capital of this Northern Empire — there, through the aid of British mercy, has a fountain of life been opened, by the establishment of a most flourishing Bible Society. -Amidst the ruins and ashes of Moscow, this noble cause is displaying uncommon energy. The sup- port it meets with in that immense kingdom, in- cluding the fostering care of its benevolent Monarch, and many of its Princes, is astonishing. There are 62 JOHN ANGELL JAMES, one or two facts in connection with the Eussian branches of the Bible Society, contained in the last sheet of information published by the Parent Insti- tution, of too encouraging a nature to be kept back on the present occasion. One is, the establishment of a Branch Society in Theodosia, a commercial city in the Crimea. The importance of this event consists in the opening it will afford for introducing the Scriptures into that part of the Turkish Empire, which once formed the chief scene of St. Paulas suc- cessful labours, and which contained the seven Churches addressed in the Apocalypse. How de- lightful is the thought, that access may thus be ob- tained, by the means of the Bible Society, for the torch of inspired truth, to rekindle the lamps in the seven golden candlesticks, which once formed the light and glory of Asia Minor, but which have long since almost expired amidst the errors of Islamism ! — Another fact, singularly impoi'tant, is communi- cated in the same letter. The Mufti of the Crimea, who is at the head of 10,000 Mahommedan Priests, is a subscriber of fifty roubles annually to the Bible Society, and appears from the account not to be far from the kingdom of God. From this and several other facts which might be mentioned, in connection with the Wahabee Schism, it is very evident that the crescent of the impostor is waning and waxing pale, preparatory to its being lost amidst the noon- tide splendour of the Sun of Righteousness. " It is thus. Sir, that our cause is going on to en- compass the globe with its operations, and to fill the world with its bloodless triumphs. It is thus that CHAllACTER. 63 it is raising tlie prayers of all nations to Heaven for Britain's prosperity, and causing tlieir united sup- plications to ascendj like a cloud of incense, before the tlirone, on tlie behalf of our beloved country. And then, be it remembered, that these are the opera- tions of its infancy. It is yet but in the twelfth year of its existence. We are the more astonished at its success, when we also recollect, that it has all this time had to struggle for its very being against a phalanx of foes armed for its destruction. Like the Jews at the building of the second temple, its friends have had to wield with one hand the Aveapon of defence, while they have grasped with the other the instrument of labour. Mitres and professorships have been set in array against it, while all the artil- lery of rhetoric, argumentation, calumny, and abuse has been brought to bear upon it. Amidst all oppo- sition it has lived and triumphed. Like the moun- tain pine, the storm which shook its boughs, gave strength to its roots ; like a torch, the more it was smitten, the brighter it burnt. The tempest which was raised for its destruction, served only to trans- port it the more swiftly through the earth ; ' she rode upon the wings of the wind, and did fly.' "Now, Sir, to what shall we attribute this astonishing energy ? To the sublime simplicity of its fundamental irrindplc. To its immutable purpose of cii'culating the Scriptures without note or comment. 'Tis this that has gained for it such immense support. 'Tis this that prevents all complexity of internal arrangement, all confusion of external operation. It is aU simplicity, and therefore all efficiency. That G4 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. I ■wMch is its irrcscnt ghnj is also tlie pledge of its j future puriiy. Many noble Institutions, by the ad- i mixture of wliat is buman in tbeir construction, bave, 1 in tbe lapse of a few years, been entirely perverted from tbeir original purpose. Sucb a perversion can never bappen to tbe Britisb and Foreign Bible So- ciety. It must ever remain faitbful to its original i design, so long as it sball exist. To alter it, wbicb I can only be done by encroacbing upon its funda- | mental principle, is to destroy it. This is tbe key- j stone of tbe arcb, wbicb tbe moment it is removed, ; leaves tbe wbole a beap of ruins. It is deligbtful to repose our bopes for future generations upon sucb a basis, and amidst tbe melancboly cbanges wbicb we are often condemned to witness in tbis world of mutabibty, to fix our expectations on tbis Institu- I tion, wbicb, wbile it continues, must continue to be j wbat it now is. " Time will not allow, nor does occasion require, tbat I sbould dwell on tbe excellence of tbis Society, , as tending so powerfully and so dii'ectly to gatber up tbe broken tbread of Cbristian Unity, and guide back to tbe Cburcb of God tbe retreating spirit of Cbristian peace. It bas been fasbionable of late to declaim against entbusiasm and fanaticism. "Wbere tbese evils exist, tbey are to be deplored ; but wbat \ are tbey, compared witb tbe dark, mabgnant spirit i of bigotry ? ' Entbusiasm bas sometbing of tbe ' radiance and ardom' of tbe sun to impart a sort of beauty to its clouds and mists. Even fanaticism bas tbunder and ligbtning, and meteors ia its gloom, and soon disperses itself by tbe violence of its storm. i CIIAEACTEE. 65 But bigotry is the palpable obscure ; tlie solid tem- perament of darkness, whose chilling damps, and pestilential vapours, blast the lively fruits of piety and goodness ; while all noxious, all monstrous, all prodigious ^things crawl forth to increase the horror of the night.' The British and Foreign Bible So- ciety has done more for the destruction of this gloomy and sullen enemy of the Christian Church, than was ever done before. Its tendency is to produce candour, without generating indifference. Union without compromise, is its motto. " I have now. Sir, acted for nearly ten years with my friend, the Rev. Mr. Burn, in the concerns of this Institution ; who, to a spirit of love which has adorned his principles as a Christian, has united a dignity and consistency as a clergyman which would have delighted, could he have witnessed it, even the Bishop of Lincoln himself. From what I have seen in my respected friend, I assure you. Sir, that if I had joined this Society in the hope of seeing the Church of England pulled down by the hands of her own sons, I should long since have left it in despair. Yet there are some persons, and not a few, who would have us dissolve this Society, and act only within the pale of our distinct and separate com- munions. No ! Let them dissolve the Hallelujah chorus of Handel, and send the performers each to sing his own part, in his own separate abode ; this, though an outrage upon harmony, would be a venial offence compared with the breaking up of an Insti- tution, which to the delight of angels, and the joy of God's own heart, is performing the noblest con- 66 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. cert that ever rolled its sublime tones from eartli to heaven. Let them speculate with gratification upon the scene that would present itself, were the rain- bow divided, and the heavens striped with its dis- tinct and separate colom^s ; but let them not attempt to persuade us to separate the mingled beauties of this interesting Society, which now throws its noble arch across the hemisphere of Christendom, the symbol of retu'ing stoi^ms, and the fair pledge of future tranquillity." Such was the speech which is said to have in- augurated, or estabHshed the fame of J. A. James. From that day his reputation as an orator was fixed, and every succeeding year but added to its consolida- tion. The speech is remarkable for its striking pertinence to the occasion, its brilliant figures, and rhetorical flights, rather than for its breadth, depth, or power. Most ordinary men were quite compe- tent to its production ; but add to it the voice and manner of Mr. James, and it at once hfted it above all competition. It was obviously prepared with the utmost care. In this point, Mr. James through life was a model to all public speakers. He prepared for the platform equally as for the pulpit. A con- science accompanied him everywhere. Whatever may be a man's gifts of fluency, or his acquisitions of knowledge, to the utmost that circumstances allow, he will do well always to make elaborate pre- paration for great occasions. THE PASTOE. But, how distinguished soever Mr. James might CHARACTER. 67 be as a preacher, lie was still more so as a pastor. He had a most exalted conception of the office, its claims, honours, and responsibilities. Proof the most abundant of this came forth in his daily walk, free converse, ordination charges, and more ex- tended authorship. For practical illustration we may look into the working of the church in Carr's- lane, as well as into his ecclesiastical writings. The church is his writings developed into actual life ; and his writings, the church reduced to abstract principle and verbal exhibition. We there find him operating on all classes, and in every possible way, and by every species of agency. Among his manifold literary projects for the good of his people, not the least noticeable are his valuable, or rather invaluable. Addresses, amounting to several volumes — productions surpassed by none of his precious performances. We know not where to look for anything of the kind which admits of comparison with these golden lessons of pastoral love, sagacity, and vigilance. They are Divine philosophy adapted to the events of the passing hour among the people of God. Had Mr. James produced nothing else, he Avould have established a claim to the grateful ad- miration of the Christian Church, and more especially of his own people. They deserve to be known to I the ends of the earth. But particulars are so numerous that we must leave them, and extend our thoughts on this head to Mr. James as the great moving power of the noble institution of which he was so long the head in Carr's-lane. Here it is that his true greatness 68 JOHX ANGELL JAilES, becomes fully apparent. How vast tlie multitude there congregated, and tlie societies tlierewitli con- nected, all animated by one spirit, moving in one path, and labouring to one end ! Of the gigantic fellowsliip, so manifold and complete in its organiza- tion, lie was tlie life and tlie soid, everywhere pre- sent, a parent and a power. Sucli a position was one of incomparable moral greatness; entkroned amid the affections of tliis vast society of the ex- cellent of the earth, it is difficult to say whether Mr. James was more distinguished as a Christian pastor, a patriot, or a philanthropist. The pidnciple of the three characters, however, in him was one and the same, " Christ the hope of glory." From his avoca- tion, and the circumstances therewith connected, his patriotism came forth but seldom and sparingly, but he was every inch an Englishman — a genuine lover of his countiy. His philanthropy, however, was in constant, powerful, and costly operation. The forms it assumed were Protean and all-com- prehending. "\'Vhile he felt that Birmingham had the first claim on him and his flock, he was duly mindful of England, the colonies, and the world, Kever, perhaps, did Christian zeal distribute its efforts and its beneficence with greater judgment or in better regulated proportion. Wherever we find them at work we might be led to think that the task of the hour was the onhj thing they were con- cerned about ; but it forthwith appears that it was only a segment of the gi'eat cii'cle of their multiphed undertakings. ^Vhile the bm-den of his cry was, " Let the whole earth be filled with His glory," his CIIAKACTEK. 69 noble heart miglit be said to agonize pre-eminently for the vast Empire of China. He considered the great work well begun in other compartments of the globe, and panted to see the standard of the Cross extensively unfurled in the " Flowery Land." It will still be remembered by many that his over- flowing zeal found an outlet in the late British Banner, when that journal was under my manage- ment. His zeal in this matter increased with time ; his last great literary effort on this magnificent subject was in the shape of a pamphlet — " The Voice of God in China " — one of the most eloquent and powerful productions that ever issued from his prolific pen. Brainerd "lying," as he said, "on the sides of eternity" did not more vehemently yearn for the salvation of the Heathen at large than did Mr. James for the Chinese. The only man who long preceded, and, if possible, surpassed him, in this matter was Mr. Thomas Thompson, whose mid- day thoughts and midnight dreams for half a life- time have been of China and its idolatrous hundreds of millions. Mr. James was honoured to achieve wonders on behalf of China, and it is but fair to state that he was both powerfully prompted and liberally assisted in his efforts by his friend Mr. Thompson. Mr. James, in his Appeal for China, addressed to the British Banner, with characteristic ardour, said : — " I have lately received a letter from that active .and devoted friend of Christian enterprise, Thomas Thompson, Esq., of Poundsford-park, containing .the noble proposal to raise a fund immediately for 70 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. p)-inting and drcidatinrj in China A million copies OF THE Chinese New Testament, and earnestly solieifing me to lay the subject before the 2)ublic, tlirowjh, the medium of the Press, and to call out the 8 imdaij -school teachers and scholai-s to do the worl-. The project of circulating a million copies of tlie New Testament is itself a vast idea. Is it practi- cable? Easy. Is it worth, the effort, the pains, and the cost ? Transcending all we can calculate. Shall it be done ? Will not voices as numerous, though far more intelligent, as those which, in the eleventh century, under the wild enthusiasm of Peter the Hermit, shook the plains of Clermont, and raised the thundering shout, ' God ^L■iUs it,' again say, ' God v:i]ls it ?' My friend, Mr. Thomp- son, has commenced this subscription-list himself, by promising to give 1,000 copies ; and I shall be most happy to give 500." It is interesting to add that, instead of one million, tico and a quarter millions were subscribed for, at a cost of about £40,000 ! I reflect with special and heartfelt gratitude that the Britisli, Banner was the instrument of inaugurating this great, glorious, and unparalleled movement. the educationist. Education in every form, and for every class, had in him a most powerful advocate. However he might differ from some of his friends on the question of Government aid in the matter, there were no differences as to the general importance of the CHARACTER. 71 subject and the necessity of the work being carried out on Christian principles. But, much as he prized day-school instruction, he set an infinitely higher estimate on that of the Sunday-school. From his earliest youth to the close of his great career he was a zealous advocate of that institution. One of his very first productions from the press was a work intended to further the competency of its teachers. His own Sunday-school in Carr's-lane was among the most efficient of its kind in the nation. Mr. James did not lose sight of youth on theii* leaving the school, and he urged it on young ministers not to do so. He says : — "Be peculiarly attentive to the young men, especially those who are of the educated class, and endeavour to train them up to be pillars in the chm'ch, when their fathers are removed to the temple above. We have neither right nor reason to complain that our young people yield to the seductive influence of the National Establishment, or go off to the world in all its gaieties and pleasures, if we take no pains to cultivate their minds, form their character, and attach them both to ourselves, and to our system. Take a deep interest in the welfare of the Sunday-school. It belongs to you of right and propriety to do so : for I maintain that the Pastor is the general superintendent of all the pubhc rehgious instruction that is carried on in con- nection with his congregation, and that the Sunday- school is one department of his duty. Bestow a kind, but not a dictatorial, attention upon the teachers, in training and fitting them for then- work. 72 JOHN" AXGELL JAMES. Be tlie friend of your people, and let it be felt by tliem that you are so ; not by convivial feasting, idle gossip, or political discussion, but by vratcb- fulness over tbeir spiritual welfare, gentle yet faithful rebuke, tender sympathy, pastoral \'isitation, and a, deep interest in the religious character of their children. Avoid all undio'nified famiHaritv. Re- spect youi'self, and teach every one to respect you. Let no man despise you. Without assuming offi- cial pomp, or affecting the odour of extraordinary sanctity, or gathering up yourself into clerical stiff- ness, or exhibiting religion in the type of awfulness and gloom, remember that a bishop, however young, must be grave and serious : and provided he have these quaHties of character, he may be as cheerful and pleasant, as sincere religion and good temper can make him. Many young ministers have done themselves irreparable mischief, at their entrance upon their work, by allowing their cheerfulness to degenerate into facetiousness and levity. Never forget that they who see you on week days, will be gathered round your pulpit on the following Sabbath, and that your demeanour and conversation in the former, should not hinder, but help them, by pro- fiting by your sermons in the latter. ^Yho can look up with confidence, in reference to their soul's afiairs, to the fribble, or the fop ? Your youth is mth some persons a Httle check to that veneration and deference, with which the Christian Minister should be regarded ; how much is the power of this check increased, when frivolity is associated with juvenihty." CHAEACTER. 73 Mr. James^ at all times, took the deepest interest in the academic institutions of the land for the training of the Christian ministry. He watched over them with a godly jealousy. Much as he valued sound intellectual culture, literary and other attainments for the ministry, he viewed them only as a means to an end, and as dust in the balance compared with sound theology, fervent piety, and preaching power. It may be doubted if any one of his contemporaries had a more correct view of this paramount subject. The slightest symptom of academic departure from the faith in the case of either student or professor filled him with alarm. Some gentlemen of sanguine temperament and exuberant courage thought him a little morbid on this point ; our sympathies, however, are with hitn, and not with them ; if he erred, it was on the safe side. The matter is not merely momentous but vital to the interests of the Church of Christ. The poison of error once introduced into the colleges, none can tell the consequences which may flow from it. One of the very last communications I had from Mr. James made special and emphatic reference to this subject. In the preface to his "Affectionate Counsels," he expressed himself as follows : — "It is certain that an apprehension has been pretty extensively felt for some few years past, that the preaching of some of our young ministers was considerably defective in those qualities both of manner and matter, which were likely, under God's blessing, to render it effective for the conversion of sinners, and the edification of those who, through 74 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. grace, had believed : that in fact, without being in any sense heretical, it was neither so richly evan- gelical in doctrine, nor so plain, pungent, and popular, in style and mode of address, as could be wished. This was considered to be in part the result of a greater attention paid in our colleges to classical and philosophical studies, to the incorpora- tion of these Institutions with the London Uni- versity, and to a more extended intercourse with the seats of learning in Germany ; whereby a degree of ambition for literary distinction and academic honours had been excited, which had a little cor- rupted some from the simpHcity that is in Christ. The venerable Mr. Jay, in an admirable sermon preached before the managers, friends, and students of Cheshunt College, since published, and which every young minister should read, uttered his oracular and impressive voice against this tendency of our age ; and since then, others have expressed the same cautions, and the same fears. It may be these fears are groundless — it is certain at any rate they proceed from no unworthy motive, from no mean jealousies, no dread of the legitimate effect of literature, nor from any unkind feeling towards the younger brethren — but from a truly paternal sohci- tude for the usefulness, honour, and comfort of the rising ministry, from an anxious care for the salva- tion of souls, and from a jealous solicitude for the welfare of our churches. We do not undervalue literature — we wish we had a thousand times more than we possess ; we are not insensible to the beauties of classical composition, nor to the immense CHAKACTER. 75 advantage to the cause of truth of the power of sound logic, of true philosophy, or of chaste eloquence : would that we had more of all these ; but still what are they in comparison with, or with- out, the fulness of the glorious gospel of the blessed God? " Some of us are growing old in the ministry, and begin to be deeply anxious about our co-pastors or successors ; and knowing by what means we have attained to a degree of pubHc favour and usefulness, as far above our deserts as it is beyond our expec- tations ; knowing, at the same time, what it is that is most adapted to meet the wants of human na- ture, the tastes of society, and the demands of our churches, we are tremblingly concerned to see a race of ministers rising up, who, when we have rested from our labours, shall sustain and carry on the work which we have been honoured in our re- spective spheres of duty to accomplish. Sorrow- fully and humbly conscious of our defects, yet thank- ful for what God has wrought through our instru- mentality, we desire to be followed by men every way our superiors, and we hear with pure and un- utterable delight the testimony that is borne not only to the literary attainments, but to the sound theology, and the evangelical and effective strain of preaching, of many who are from time to time issuing from our colleges. Too much may have been said of the exceptions to this, and too little caution may have been observed in giving utterance to it ; but it has been in love to our younger brethren; and love is jealous, while at the same 76 JOHN AXGELL JAilES. time, even tlie jealousy of affection is not always sufficiently careful in its language. We liave a most solicitous concern for our denomination, and know- ing tliat it is suffering not only from the assault of its foes, who were never more determined in their hostility, but from the incompetency of many of its ministers, we venture to tell them that to be cor- rectly dull, intellectually profound, or philosophically rehgious, ^vill not secure or retaia for them the favour of the churches, accomplish the ends of their ministry, or build up our denomination. To be useful, they must be popular ; and to be popular they must be richly evangelical, simple, earnest, impres- .sive and affectionate." Mr. James, in speaking of " exceptions," refers to a series of papers, which had recently appeared in the Congregational Magazine, reflecting on the theology of the Rising Ministry, against which the students of two colleges, to the grief of Mr. James, had passed resolutions. islr. James sometimes indulged in a strain of quaint pleasantry in addressing young men on this subject, which rivetted instruction. The Rev. Peter Sibree has kindly transmitted to me the following : — " At a meetincr of the Friends and Subscribers at Springhill College, on their last anniversary at which I was present, Mr. James addressed the stu- dents on the subject of preaching. Dr. Gordon, whose beautiful sonnet to the memory of the late pastor of Carr's-lane you inserted in the Standard, was also there, and made an effective speech, refer- ring the students to the moral strength which Mr. CHARACTER. 77 James had attained, and quoting some Greek wliicli Mr. J. could not well understand — his mind was full of one idea, liow young men were to become useful preachers — so he would have nothing of Dr. G.'s en- comiums or his Greek — he wanted to see the rising ministry aiming more at usefulness than high attain- ments in scholarship — though he did not under- value learning. I want you, said he, to be like Spurgeon, to preach as he preaches, in good plain Saxon style — and in his Evangelical strain, adapted to the wants and feelings of the common people. Three qualifications you all need — and no apologies, he said, were needed for the homely advice he was going to give. But these three things they must have if they wished to be useful preachers : — " 1st. Brains, to take in all the Latin, Greek, and Logic you can receive or your professors give. " 2nd. Boiueh, for intellectual power without pathos and tenderness in preaching will not succeed — preach with sympathy and feeling, not as re- proaching men. " And 3rd. Belloivs also you must have ; and without you give full exercise to your breathing apparatus, by frequent platform and pulpit ex- ercises, you will not be efficient ministers. Get out of doors in the summer months and give free play to your lungs in the open air ; and make all your classical attainments bear on the one gi'eat object — saving souls ! " In this homely address there is a world of prac- tical wisdom. The spirit which it breathes is not merely Puritanic, but Apostolic. 78 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. Mr. James entertained a very decided opinion concerning the duties of college committees in rela- tion to tliis matter. He contended for the necessity of constant^ free, and friendly intercourse with, the students, and he was careful to exemplify his views in his o-\vn case in regard to Springhill College. From the time of the opening of that institution he was in the habit of inviting the young men to dine with him on the Saturday afternoon; and it need hardly be said that such occasions were times of especial interest. It may be hoped that some of these gentlemen will favour the world with an out- line of an afternoon's intercourse in the hospitable mansion of Edgbaston. Such an outline could not fail at the present hour deeply to interest the churches ; and it might not be without its use in academic localities. There can be no doubt that these parental talks were virtually lectures on sub- jects connected with the Christian ministry, strongly tending to guide, to encourage, and to establish. The beu.efits thence derived, we doubt not, will be experienced by those whose happy lot it was to share them to their latest day. Some of the best and most active pastors now in the field are deeply sensible of their obligations to him ; and the people of their charge have reason to bless his honoured memory. In addressing a body of the students about to leave college, Mr. James thus touchingly and beau- tifully refers to it : — " In thus publicly taking my leave of you, on your quitting Springhill College, I i-eally feel that I am parting with so many personal CHARACTER. 79 and mucli endeared friends : for your uniform g'ood conduct during your residence in our institution has given you a high, place in my regard and esteem. Some of you it was my privilege to admit to the visible fellowship of the Christian Church — others to meet monthly at the Table of the Lord — one to con- sider as in some measure the fruit of my labours — and all to receive from time to time at my habita- tion, for the purpose of friendly intercourse, and for imparting to you, as I was able, the results of my observation and experience as a Christian minister : and I would fain believe that our Saturday after- noon conferences will not be forgotten by you, as they certainly will not by me." THE NONCONFORMIST. We must next glance at another phase of the pastoral character of Mr. James — his Dissent from the Established Church — which is deserving special notice. His Nonconformity was of a thoroughly Scriptural character ; it was the Nonconformity of Owen and his noble compeers — a thing not of fac- tion or division, but of conscience, decided and inflexible, yet peaceful and loving. Mr. James greatly prized, and firmly held, his principles on this subject ; and, on proper occasions, he was always prepared to state, and, if necessary, to defend them, in a manner at once chivalrous and charitable. There was something, however, on which he set an infinitely higher value — the doc- trines of the ''common salvation." His charity was 80 JOHN ANGELL JA3IES. compatible witli his Nonconformity^ and his Non- conformity with his Charity. Neither demanded of him the sacrifice of the other. Only once during his long life did the discussion of the question of the union of Church and State assume dimensions wliich might be designated national ; and then Mr. James was not wanting either to his principles or his piety. That he might once for all deliver his conscience and have done with the subject, he issued one of the most eloquent and powerful pamphlets that the occasion brought forth. Still, the production of that potent manifesto appeared to have been to him a self-deny- ing duty. He rather deplored the necessity than rejoiced in the opportunity of assaulting the Esta- blished Church, which was then carrying things with a rather high hand. However necessary and important to the interests of the Gospel at times, polemics were not congenial to his generous nature. He carried aversion on this point, I think,, too far. After the memorable strug'gle of that period, things settled down by degrees to their former condition, and Mr. James never again entered the arena of controversy. This led to the insinuation, that he had become lukewarm in the cause of Dissent ; but it was not so. As we have heard him say, it was " not that he loved the prin- ciples of Nonconformity less, but that he loved the people of God more." He saw, moreover, no good, but much evil, come out of the contest; and, while much was wrong, he felt that things could only be set right by the diffusion of truth and the progress of reason; and he rightly judged that love and. CHARACTER. 81 union would infinitely more conduce to tliis than the most ably-conducted controversy. This pamphlet is now a literary curiosity. A Churchman had somewhat rudely assailed Dissent as set forth in the " Church Member's Guide," by Mr, James, which led him to publish a " Defence the volume necessarily assumed the aspect of an assault, although made in an excellent spirit. The closing paragraph is worthy of his noble nature. He says : — " As it respects the conduct of Episcopalians to- wards Dissenters, we ask nothing but candour and good-will. We have had contumely, and hatred, and misrepresentation enough, from some quarters in the Church, and some from which it would be little expected, to wear out our charity, if anything could do it. If we are occasionally betrayed into expressions of warmth and irritation, which will hardly bear the test of the high-toned morality of a religion that requires us to bless those that curse us, perhaps our excuse, if anything could excuse the least violation of Christian meekness, may easily be found in the page of many wi'iters, both clergy- men and laymen, poetical and prosaic, who seem to regard it a proof of good Churchmanship to insult and abuse the Dissenters. We sometimes smile at the harmless fulminations of ex cathedra, or ex rostro, scorn and displeasure with which we are assailed ; but they do not hurt us ; amidst all we go on, and go on our way rejoicing. Our numbers ought to be sufficient to protect us from contempt ; and though excluded from the Universities, and denied access to 0 82 JOHN ANGELL JAMES, the national fountains of literature, by a bigoted and narrow-minded policy, and tlius left to provide as we can for the education of our own ministry, we have among us some, who in the departments of Biblical criticism, Greek and Hebrew Hterature, systematic theology, and English composition, would be referred to as splendid ornaments of the Angli- can hierarchy. At any rate, there is one thing which entitles us to the gratitude and respect of all who prefer constitutional freedom to despotic au- thority ; for David Hume himself, ' a competent witness, if ever there was one, of political prin- ciples, and who was far from being partial to Dis- senters, candidly confesses, that to them we are indebted for the preservation of liberty.' "Desirous of living in the good-will of our neighbours, we ask for just so much esteem as our conduct entitles us to, and no more : and as to our principles, tJioj are matters between God and our souls, which we have placed in the sanctuary of our heart, under the guardianship of our conscience, and allow no man to meddle with : which we love and value, notwithstanding the incidental evils with which it is our unhappiness to see them sometimes associated ; which inspire us with no ill-will to those who differ from us, and disqualify us for none of the duties of social life, none of the operations that are carried on for the temporal or eternal welfare of mankind ; which we publicly profess, and unblushingly avow, amidst the wonder of the igno- rant, the suspicion of the credulous, and the sneer of the scornful; which we have inherited from CHARACTER. 83 martyrs, and for wliicli, should God call us to tHe trialj we hope we should find grace to accept and wear the crown of martyrdom om'selves ; but which we are ready, notwithstanding our present convic- tions, and attachment, to surrender to any one who will prove them to be contrary to the Word of God. In ceasing to be Dissenters we should have no sacrifices to make, no persecution to endure, no cross to take up ; these things lie all on the other side. Dissent, if it be a sin, is neither a courtly nor a gainful one. So far its motives are beyond suspicion. Our principles cost us much money and much respect, which we should save by entering within the pale of the Establishment : and at the same time, we should lose the ungracious character of separatists, and get rid of the unmerited name of schismatics. We should at any rate, try our fortune in the ' lottery of ecclesiastical prizes,' and the career of church preferment. We are neither stoics nor ascetics ; we do not profess to be in love with poverty and reproach, though quite willing to endure both for conscience sake. We are open to conviction, and will hearken to reason ; but are never likely to be converted by the hectoring and contempt, the dogmatism and arrogance of either the evangelical or anti- evangelical members of any hierarchy upon earth. Although we contend for dissent, our desire is to be vanquished by the truth; and if these two can be shown to be not identical, we are quite prepared to surrender the former. But the man who would lead us back to the Church of England, must not meet us with the works of 84 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. Hooker, but with tlie New Testament ; lie must not come with a sufficient portion of dialectic skill, to convict of many errors in style and logic, so humble an advocate of Nonconformity as myself but to overturn our great position that the Word of God IS THE SOLE AND SUFFICIENT AUTHORITY IN MATTERS OF RELIGION; he must not only prove, if prove he could, from my concessions, that Dissenters are guilty of many things inconsistent with their own principles, but he must demonstrate, and nothing less than this will give him the victory, that an ALLIANCE OF THE ChURCH OF ChRIST WITH THE SE- cular power is sanctioned by the authority, and accords with the genius op christianity; that diocesan episcopacy, founded on the superiority of bishops to elders, is of apostolic origin and appointment; and that the book of common Prayer containeth nothing contrary to the Word OF God. Until this is proved, nothing is done, and when this is demonstrated, the grounds of dissent are taken away, and dissent itself, will in all pro- bability, be abolished for ever." To prevent misconception and to do justice to the fellow -labourers of the departed, less renowned, but not less faithful in the Gospel vineyard, it is proper to state that Mr. James carried on the bulk of his potent ministry under circumstances of a peculiarly favourable character; more so, we pre- sume, than any one of his compeers. No mistake can be greater than to suppose that Mr. James would have achieved the same things in the Metro- pohs, or in any other of the great towns or cities. CHARACTER. 85 For the first seven years of his course lie " ploughed on a rock," like too many other faithful men at the present time. In his case, as in that of others, piety, talent, zeal, eloquence, work — ^hard, zealous, and prayerful — seemed to go for nothing, or very little. To employ a homely figure, the pump was well constructed, sound and good, and the well was full of wholesome water, but suction was not estab- lished, and hence the handle was moved to little purpose. In the case of the pump, what is wanted was a bucket full of water, and in the case of the pulpit, additional people sufficient for a time to fill the edifice ; that done the water will flow and the congregation will keep up, increase, and multiply. These seven or eight years of Mr. James's opening ministry were far from cheering, and, if he had sought a change and found it, the act to the human eye would not have been censurable. It would nevertheless, in his case, have been most unfortu- nate. A congregation of one hundred and fifty or two hundred people, and a church of forty members, held forth but a poor prospect for a young man panting to be useful ; but, had he left and got into the rut, he might, like many others, have toiled on with small success and repeated changes, without improving his position, till, after a long life of self- denying labour and manifold afflictions little noticed and little known, he dropped into a nameless grave ! But he waited prayerfully and patiently, labouring tiU the appointed time, when the tide rose in strength, and, for forty years, wafted him along to a measure of usefulness and honour, such as has 86 JOHN AXGELL JAMES. fallen to the lot of very few. The fact is significant, and higlily monitory to tlie cliurclies ; there is, we feel assured, many a James throughout the land that will leave the world undiscovered. We have among us a number of pastors "labouring in the fires," who want nothing but a start. Give them that ; let them once get faii'ly into contact with the masses, and, like Mr. James, they will go on con- quering and to conquer ! But, for the want of this, their lives are one long struggle even for existence ! Some churches, reading the history of Carr's-lane, may be tempted to exclaim, " Oh that we had a James ! " while their pastors may, perhaps, with equal propriety, exclaim, Oh that we had a Bir- mingham ! " Another circumstance is entitled to notice : the property of which Mr. James early came into pos- session, and which he used so admirably for the glory of his Master, greatly redounded to the suc- cess of his ministry. The pastor who, to high personal worth, excellent wisdom, and preaching powers of the first order, adds a carriage, cannot fail, under the Di-s-ine blessing, of immense popu- larity and corresponding success. " The rich have many friends, but the poor is despised of his neigh- bour." The commercial principle, that "money makes money," applies with the utmost force to the Chi'istian congregation. Rich men are everywhere gregarious. Wealth di'aws to wealth ; and, when an assembly largely composed of the opulent and the well-to-do are once brought fairly imder the power of the Gosj)el, the results are highly gratify- CHARACTER. 87 ing. Tlie tendency to increase will be constant. Where tlie wealtliy are the wealthy will go, and there they will remain and become the supporters of every good work, a comfort to the pastor and a blessing to all around them. That wealth, more- over, is generally allied to superior intelligence, whereby its possessors are fitted for public useful- ness, and carry with them, both within and without the church, great influence for good. Again, the Carr's-lane church, as being the first in the field, naturally became the mother-church of the town, and, as such, without seeking it, ac- quired a species of monopoly of public favour, esteem, and confidence. There were numbers, opu- lence, respectability, and usefulness in the chapel, Avith eloquence, power, fame, and manifold worth in the pulpit. In juxtaposition with this mighty institution, new chapels, new churches, and new pastors had no chance ! The history of Birmingham in relation to the present case confirms this view, and the theory sufiices to explain its transcendent superiority. But this is only a portion of its ad- vantages. The great town went on constantly increasing in number and opulence, and every step in advance brought its tribute to Carr's-lane. No church in England has had such a field to work on; none of the London churches has had a tithe of its advantages. It might be likened to some of our leviathan commercial establishments, with bound- less wealth and world-wide fame, carried forward by their own momentum, self-sustained by their all-embracing connections and countless ramifica- 88 JOHN ANGELL JAilES tions, and resting on foundations Tvliicli nothing can shake. Any man -witli a reasonable measure of competency, so circumstanced, would have realized great things, although it may be few would have attained to the altitude of John Augell James. We have felt it due to the Ministers of the Gospel of the Independent Body thus to discrimi- nate. The principle is one which deserves more attention than is frequently given to it. Men aUke excellent and devout are frequently the victims of their positions, where they are visited with neglect, and often with reproach or contempt, when the are fully entitled to s}Tnpathy, succour, and admira- tion. ELOQUENCE. 89 ELOQUENCE. The great Eoman Orator, in the simplicity of his heart, told the world, that his own orations supplied a perfect illustration of the principles set forth in his rhetorical treatises. A prouder man would have left it for others to make the discovery ; although there can be no doubt of its substantial truth. The principle applieswith the utmost force to the case of Mr. James. To a very large extent he unquestionably was both the preacher and the pastor whom he so admirably portrayed in his books and charges. To ascertain what he actually was, how he preached and pas- torized, the distant reader has only to consult his various works. He expresses himself thus on an Earnest Ministry : — " Nothing less than earnestness can succeed in any cases of great difficulty, and the earnestness must of course be in proportion to the difficulty to be surmounted. Great obstacles cannot be over- come without intense application of the mind. How then can the work of the ministry be accomplished? Every view we can take of it replies, ' Only by earnestness.' Every syllable of the apostle's lan- guage replies, ' Only by earnestness.' Every sur- vey we can take of human nature replies, ' Only by earnestness.' Every recollection of our own ex- 90 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. perience, as well as every observation we can make of the experience of others^ replies, ' Only by earnestness.' Tliis, tliis, is "what we want, and must have, if the ends of the gospel are ever to be extensively accomplished, nn eaexest rninisfnj." His own ministry was beyond question one of the most earnest ministries of the nineteenth cen- tury, the very thing here set forth. On this point we have a fine touch of his own experience at an early period. He says : — " If without an offence of the law of modesty I may refer to my own history, labour, and success, I would observe that I began my ministry, even as a student, with a strong desire after this object; and long before this, while yet a youth engaged in secular concerns, I had been deeply susceptible of the power of an awakening stjde of preaching, which was strengthened by the perusal of the rous- ing sermons of Dr. Davies, of New Jersey. From that time to the present I have made the conver- sion of the impenitent gi'eat end of my ministry, and I have had my reward. I have been sustained in this course by the remarks of Baxter in his ' Ee- formed Pastor,' a long extract from which I will now furnish : — " ' V^ e must labour in a special manner for the conversion of the unconverted. " ' The work of conversion is the great thing we must drive at ; after this we must labour with all our might. Alas ! the misery of the unconverted is so great that it calleth loudest to us for compas- sion. If a truly converted sinner do fall, it will be ELOQUEXCE. 91 but into sin wlaicli will be pardoned, and be is not in tbat bazard of damnation by it as otbers are. Not but tbat God batetb tbeir sins as well as otbers, or tbat be will bring tbem to beaven, let tbem live ever so wickedly ; but tbe spirit tbat is witbin tbem will not suffer tbem to live wickedly, nor to sin as tbe ungodly do. But witb tbe un- converted it is far otherwise. They " are in the gall of bitterness, and in tbe bond of iniquity," and have yet no part nor fellowship in tbe pardon of their sins, or tbe hope of glory. We have therefore a work of greater necessity to do for tbem, even " to open tbeir eyes, and to turn tbem from darkness to light, and from tbe power of Satan unto God ; that they may receive forgiveness -of sins, and an inheritance among them who are sanctified." He tbat seeth one man sick of a mortal disease, and another only pained witb the toothache, will be moved more to compassionate the former than the latter; and -will surely make more baste to help him, though be were a stranger, and the other a brother or a son. It is so sad a case to see men in a state of damnation, wherein, if they should die, they are lost for ever, tbat me- tbinks we should not be able to let tbem alone, either in public or private, whatever other work we have to do. I confess I am frequently forced to neglect that which should tend to the further in- crease of knowledge in the godly, because of tbe lamentable necessity of the unconverted. Who is able to talk of controversies or of nice, unnecessary points, or even of truths of a lower degree of neces- 92 JOnX ANGELL JAMES. sity, how excellent soever, vAiile lie seeth a com- pany of ignorant, carnal, miserable sinners before tis eyes, wlio must be changed or damned ? Me- thinks I even see them entering upon their final "woe ! Methinks I hear them crying out for help — for speediest help ! Their misery speaks the louder, because they have not hearts to ask for help them- selves. Many a time have I known that I had some hearers of higher fancies, that looked for rarities, and were addicted to despise the ministry, if I told them not something more than ordinary ; and yet I could not find in my heart to turn from the neces- sities of the impenitent, for the humouring of them; nor even to leave speaking to miserable sinners for their salvation, in order to speak so much as should otherwise be done to weak saints, for their confir- mation and increase in grace. Methinks as Paul's " spirit was stirred within him," when he saw " the Athenians wholly given to idolatry," so it should cast us into one of his paroxysms, to see so many men in the greatest danger of being everlastingly undone. Methinks, if by faith we did indeed look upon them as within a step of hell, it would more efiectually untie our tongues, than Croesus' danger did his son's. He that will let a sinner go down to hell for want of speaking to him, doth set less by souls than did the Eedeemer of souls, and less by his neighbour than common charity will allow him to do by his greatest enemy. 0 therefore, brethren, whomsoever you neglect, neglect not the most miserable ! Whatever you pass over, forget not poor souls that are under the condemnation and ELOQUENCE. 93 curse of tlie law, and who may look every Lour for the infernal execution, if a speedy change do not prevent it. 0 call after the impenitent, and ply this great work of converting souls, whatever else you leave undone.^ " From such a man tliis is a most important test- THony, — a splendid example ! It shows that what had been so largely found, had been the chief object •of his search. It was not a chance affair. This object, however, may long be earnestly sought without being foimd ; and the disappointment is, ■doubtless, a very trying condition for a right-minded minister. As to the effect which it ought to have, Mr. James says : — " Here it may be proper for us to look out of our own profession, and ask if the earnest trades- man, soldier, lawyer, philosopher, and mechanician, are satisfied to go on as they have done, though with ever so little success ? Do we not see in all other departments of human action, where the mind is really intent on some great object, and where success has not been obtained in proportion to the labour bestowed, a dissatisfaction with past modes of action, and a determination to try new ones ? And should we who watch for souls, and labour for immortality, be behindhand mth them ? In calling for new methods, I want no new doc- trines ; no new principles ; no startling eccentrici- ties ; no wild irregularities ; no vagaries of enthu- siasm, nor phrenzies of the passions ; no, nothing but what the most sober judgment and the soundest reason vrould approve ; — but I do want a more in- 94 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. ventiye; as well as a more fen-id zeal in seeking the great end of our ministry. Diill imiformity, and not enthusiasm, is the side on which our danger lies. I know very well the contortions of an epi- leptic zeal are to be avoided, but so also is the numbness of a paralytic one ; and after all, the former is less dangerous to life, and is more easily and frequently cured, than the latter. We may, as regards our preaching, for instance, examine whether we have not dwelt too little on the alarm- ing, or on the attractive themes of revelation whether we have not clothed our discourses too much with the terrors of the Lord, and determine to try the more winning forms of love and mercy, or whether we have not rendered the Gospel power- less by an everlasting repetition of it in common- place phi'aseology ; whether we have not been too argumentative, and resolve to be more imaginative, practical, and hortator}'; whether we have not addressed ourselves too exclusively to believers, and determine to commence a style of more fre- quent and pungent addi-ess to the unconverted; whether we have not been too vague and general in our descriptions of sin, and become more specific and discriminating ; whether we have not been too neglectful of the young, and begin a regular course of sermons to them ; whether we have not had too much sameness of topic, and adopt courses of ser- mons on given subjects ; whether we have not been too elaborate and abstract ia the composition of om- discourses, and come do"svn to greater simpHcity ; whether we have not been too careless, and bestow ELOQUENCE. 95 more pains; wlietlacr we have not been too doctrinal, and in future make all truth, as it was intended to do, to bear upon the heart, conscience, and life." This is a passage of extraordinary value, finely distinguishing a right from a wrong course. It is a treatise in a paragraph ! Mr. James had a very ex- alted conception of the importance of high spiritu- ality in the ministry. The following are weighty words on this head : — " No careful reader of the New Testament, and observer of the present state of the church, can fail to be convinced, one should think, that what is now wanting is a high spirituality. The Christian pro- fession is sinking in its tone of piety ; the line of separation between the church and the world be- comes less and less perceptible ; and the character of genuine Christianity, as expounded from pulpits and delineated in books, has too rare a counterpart in the hves and spirit of its professors. " How is this to be remedied, and by what means is the spirit of piety to be revived ? May we not ask a previous question — How came this spirit of slumber over the church? Was it not from the pulpit ? And if a revival take place in the former, must it not begin in the latter ? Is the ministry of the present day in that state of earnest piety which is likely to originate and sustain an earnest style of preaching, and to revive the lukewarmness of their flocks ? I do not mean for a moment to insinuate that the ministers of the present day among the Dissenters, or Methodists, or the EvangeHcal clergy of the Church of England, are characterized by im- 96 JOHN AXGELL JAilES. morality, or even a want of substantial holiness : or that they would suffer, as regards their piety, in comparison with those of some other periods of the liistory of their denominations : but what I am com- pelled to believe, and what I now express, is that our deficiencies are great as compared not only with what is always required of us, but is especially required by the circumstances of the times in which we live. Amidst the eager piu-suits of commerce ; the elegan- cies and soft indulgences of an age of growing re- finement ; the high cultivation of the intellect, and the contests of politics, the church needs a strong and high barrier to keep out the encroachment of tides so adverse to its prosperity ; and needs equally a dam to keep in, its spiritual feeling. And where shall it find this, if not in the pulpit ?" This language is, doubtless, very htimbling, but not more so than that of Dr. Chalmers, whom Mr. James quotes as follows : — " ' As things stand at present, our creeds and confessions have become effete ; and the Bible a dead letter ; and the orthodoxy which was at one time the glory, by withering into the inert and lifeless, is now the shame and reproach of all our churches.' This is strong language, and a startling opinion. But the most melancholy thing connected with it is its truth." jjlr. James thus beautifully epitomizes the sum and substance of the Gospel ministration : — " I advert first to the hatter of our ministra- tions. And this must consist of course of those topics which bear most obviously and directly upon ELOQUENCE. 97 the great ends we are seeking to accomplisli. Ear- nestness will take tlie nearest and most direct road to its object ; nor will it be seduced from itspatlibybeau- tiful prospects and pleasant walks^ that lie in another direction. ' I want to reach that point, and I can- not allow myself to be attracted by scenes, which however agreeable and appropriate to others, would, if I stayed or turned to contemplate them, only hinder me in my business.' Such is the language of one intent upon success in any given scheme. Now what is the end of our office? — the reconciliation of sinners to God, and their ultimate and complete salvation, when so reconciled. It is easy then to see that the matter of our instruction and persua- sion must be, the miiiistnj of reconciliation. Of course it must be our purpose to declare the whole counsel of God, and to remember 'that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruc- tion in righteousness ; that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works.' In the way of exposition a minister should go through the greater part of the whole Bible, fairly and honestly explaining and enforcing it. But since the whole Bible, as explained by the more perfect revelation of the New Testament, directly or indirectly points to Christ, or may be illustrated and enjoined by con- siderations suggested by his mission and work, our preaching should have a decidedly evangelical cha- racter. The divinity, incarnation, and death of Christ — his atonement for sin — his resurrection, ascension, intercession, and mediatorial reign — his H 1 98 JOHN ANGELL JA3IES. spiritual kingdom, and liis second coming : the offices and work of the Holy Spirit in illuminating, ' regenerating, and sanctifjong the human soul : the doctrine of justification by faith, and the new birth : the sovereignty of God in the dispensation of his saving gifts — these and their kindred and collateral topics should form, so to speak, the staple of our pubhc ministrations and teacliing. It surely must be this which the apostle meant when he said, ' I determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Chi'ist and him crucified/ ' The Jews require a sign, and the Gi'eeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling- block, and untothe Greeks foolishness : but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God/ If there be | any meaning in language, this must imply that the i apostle in his ministry dwelt chiefly upon the work of Christ, as the theme of his discourses. His epistles all sustain this view of his meaning. They ; were all full of this great subject. We may perhaps smile at the simple piety of the individual who was at the trouble of counting the number of times that the apostle mentioned the name of Jesus in all his epistles, but at the same time something is to be learnt from the fact that he found it to reach be- | tween four and five hundi-ed. This teaches ns how j thoroughly Christian, how entirely imbued with evangelism, his mind and his writings were. His morality was as evangeUcal as his doctrine, for he | enforced all the branches of social obligation by motives drawn from the cross. His ethics were all ELOQUENCE. 99 baptized witli the spirit of" the Gospel, so that the believer in reading the writings of Paul, has his eye as constantly kept upon the Crucified One, in the progress of his sanctification, as the sinner's eye is turned towards the same object, for his justification. Here then was the earnestness of the apostle, one constant, uniform, and undeviating endeavour to save men's souls by the truth as it is in Jesus." Would that these wise and admirable words might be engraven on the hearts of all our young Acade- mics ! They form a fine clue to a thoroughly evan- gelical ministration. With respect to the best method of dispensing the truth, Mr. James was clear, decided, and Scrip- tural. He began with men where God begins with them, urging repentance towards God as well as faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Connected with this subject there is one point, the " terrors of the Lord," on which it is important to have the judg- ment of such a man. In the days of the Puritans there was greatly more of this in the pulpit than there is in our times. The views of Mr. James were thoroughly sound ; and his practice therewith corresponded. Many good men err on the subject, and err upon principle. Extremes are not un- natural even to public teachers. During many years we were hearing constantly, and on all occa- sions, of the Moravian Missionary's experiment. For a long time he preached nothing but justice and wrath, and there was no fruit : at length he altered his course and sounded the trumpet of mercy, and the souls of his hearers were then melted. 100 JOHN ANOELL JAMES. From this an inference was drawn, that nothing should be preached but love ; that wrath should not be mentioned ! Now what says the Scriptures ? How did the Prophets and Apostles preach ? How did John and Jesus preach? That point once ascertained, our rule is before us : a straw for human opinion ! We have only to follow the divine pattern in a right spirit and all will be well. The Missionary from the first should have preached both the " terrors of the Lord/' and the love of the Lord — both justice and mercy. On this point the follow- ing is full of interest ; Mr. James says : — " I remember a discussion, by a large company of ministers in my vestry, on one occasion, as to what style of preaching had been found in their own experience to be most useful : and it was pretty generally admitted, and some of them had been among our most successful preachers, that sermons on alarming and impressive texts had been most blessed in producing conviction of sin, and first con- cern about salvation. At the same time it must be recollected that though descriptions of sin may affect — exhibiting the consequences of it may affright — vehement censures of it may alarm — reasoning concerning it may open the gloomy road to despair — this alone will not convert. Law with- out gospel will harden, as gospel without law will only lead to carelessness and presumption : it is the union of both that will possess the sinner with a loathing of himself, and love to God. Still our danger in this age lies not so much in neglecting the gospel, as in omitting to associate with this, the ELOQUENCE. 101 preaching of tlie law. It is worthy of remark that Jesus Christ, who was incarnate love itself, the living gospel, yea the way, the truth, the life, was the most alarming preacher that was ever in our world. It is, however, especially incumbent upon us not to mistake grossness for fidelity ; nor harsh- ness for earnestness. The remarks of Mr. Hall on this, are as correct as they are beautiful : ' A harsh and unfeelinor manner of denouncing- the threaten- ed o ings of the word of God, is not only barbarous and inhuman, but calculated by inspiring disgust, to rob them of all their efficiency. If the awful part of our message, which may be styled the burden of the Lord, ever fall with due weight upon our hearers, it will be when it is delivered with a trembHng hand, and faltering* lips.' The look, the tone, the action, when such subjects are discussed, should be a mixture of solemnity and affection — the awfulness of love. To hear such topics dwelt upon in strong language, vehement action, and boisterous tones, strikes us as being an utter violation of all pro- priety, and in every hearer of the least discernment, is likely to excite horror and revulsion. Real earnestness is the result of deep emotion, and the emotion excited by the sight of a fellow-creature perishing in his sins is that of the tenderest com- miseration, which will express itself not in stormy declamation and thundering denunciations, but of solemnly chastened expostulation and appeal." I have no doubt whatever that the error of the day with many is, as Mr. James defines it, " the preaching of gospel without law." The doctrine 102 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. and duty of repentance requires far more prominence, I liave reason to tHnk, than in our day is generally given to it. Many rest satisfied with a clear, full statement of Gospel truth, which some call "bear- ing the Gospel testimony and having done that, they think they have done all that is required of them. One thing is certain, this is not the preach- ing of the New Testament. Mr. James strikingly observes : — " If all that was necessary to seciu'e the ends of our ministry was to lay the truth open to the mind; if the heart were already pi-edisposed to the subject of our preaching, then like the lecturer on science, we might dispense with the hortatory manner, and confine ourselves exclusively to explanation. Logic, unaccompanied by rhetoric, would sufiice ; but when we find in every sinner we address, an individual acting in opposition to the dictates of liis judgTnent, and the warnings of his conscience, as well as to the testimony of Scripture ; an individual who is sacrificing the interests of his immortal soul to the vanities of the world, and the corruptions of his heart ; an individual who is madly bent upon his ruin, and rushing to the precipice from which he Avill take his fatal leap into perdition, can we in that case be satisfied with merely explaining, however clearly, and demonstrating, however conclusively, the truth of revelation? To borrow the allusion which I have already made, should we think it enough, coldly to unfold the sin of suicide, and logi- cally to arrange the proofs of its criminality, before the man who had in his hand the pistol or the ELOQUENCE. 103 poison with -wliicli lie was jnst about to destroy him- self ? Would exegesis, however clear and accurate, be enough in this case? Should we not entreat, expostulate, beseech? Should we not lay hold of the arm uplifted for destruction, and snatch the poison cup from the hand that was about to apply it to the lips ? What is the case with the impenitent sinners to whom we preach, but that of individuals bent upon self-destruction, not indeed the present destruction of their bodies, but of their souls. There they are before our eyes, rushing- in their sins and their impenitence to the precipice that overhangs the pit of destruction ; and shall we content our- selves with sermons, however excellent for elegance, for logic, for'^perspicuity, and even for evangelism, but which have no hortatory power, no restraining tendency, none of the apostle's beseeching entreaty ? Shall we merely lecture on theology, and deal out religious science, to men who amidst a flood of light already pouring over them, care for none of these things ?" The worst conceivable style of instruction for the milHons, is to "lecture on theology merely to lecture. Were man composed of pure intellect, that would be the proper plan ; but as he is a moral agent, the subject of hopes and fears, love and hate, joy and sorrow, it is not so. That great Master in Israel, the Rev. R. Cecil, has recorded his opinions in his golden "Remains" as follows : — • " The first duty of a Minister, is. To call on his hearers to turn to thn Lord. 'We have much to speak to you upon. We have many duties to ui'ge 104 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. on you. We have much instruction to give you — but all will be thrown away, till you have turned to the Lord.' Let me illustrate this by a familiar com- parison. You see your child sinking in the water : his education lies near your heart : you are anxious to train him up so that he may occupy well the post assigned to him in life. But, when you see him drowning, the first thoughts are — not how you may educate him, but how you may save him. Re- store him to life, and then call that life into action." The same great man again thus sets forth his views : — "A sermon that has more head infused into it than heart, will not come home with efficacy to the hearers. ' You must do so and so ; such and such consequences will follow if you do not ; such and such advantages will result from doing it :' — this is cold, dead, and spiritless, when it stands alone ; or even when it is most prominent. Let the preacher's head be stored with wisdom ; but above all, let his heart so feel his subject, that he may infuse life and interest into it, by speaking like one who actually possesses and feels what he says." Such was the hold the subject, from its import- ance, seemed to have taken on the mind of Cecil, that he often referred to it. He elsewhere says : — " In acting on matter, the art of man is mighty. The steam-engine is a mighty machhie. But in reliarion, the art of man is mere feebleness. The armour of Saul is armour in the camp of the Israel- ites, or in the camp of the Philistines — but we want the sling and the stone. I honour Metaphysicians, ELOQUENCE. 105 Logicians, Critics, and Historians — in their places. Look at facts. Men wlio lay out their strength hi statements, preach churches empty. Few men have a wisdom so large, as to see that the way which they cannot attain may yet be the best way. I dare not tell most academical, logical, frigid men, how little I account of their opinion, concerning the true method of preaching- to the popular ear. I hear them talk as utterly incompetent judges.^' Mr. James, notwithstanding his intense solicitude about doctrinal truth, and spirituality of mind, at all times set great store on elocutionary training for theological students, which, notwithstanding its paramount importance, has on both sides of the Tweed been most lamentably neglected in the Schools of the Prophets. He says: — " Far gi'cater numbers of our preachers fail for want of this, than fi-om any other cause, a fact so notorious as to need no proof beyond common ob- servation, and so impressive as to demand the atten- tion not only of the professors but the committees of all our colleges. It is too generally the case that no culture sufficient is bestowed upon the speaking powers of our students, from the beginning to the end of their course of study. There is great assi- duity manifested in giving them a fulness of matter, but far too little in producing an impressiveness of manner. Every assistance is granted to them to make them scholars, philosophers, and divines ; but as to good speaking, for the acquisition of this, they are left pretty much to themselves. Nay, it is not even inculcated upon them with the emphasis 106 JOHN AXGELL JAMES. it sliould be, to tiy to make good speakers of them- selves. A. complete system of ministerial educa- tion must of necessity include some attention to elocution, and wliicli should commence as soon as a student enters coUege : so that by the time he is put upon the preaching list he may have some aptitude for the management of his voice, and not have his thoughts diverted then from his matter and his object, to his manner. He should by that time have acquired a habit of good speaking, so as to be able to practise it with facility, and Avithout study. The great objection to lectui-es on elocu- tion is, that they are apt to produce a pompoiis, stiff, and affected manner ; but this is an abuse of the art, the object of which should be to cure the vices of a bad, and to supply the wants of a defec- tive enunciation, and to form an easy, natural, and impressive dehvcry." The fact here alleged is all but incredible. Men whose business through life is to be pubhc speaking, receiving no instruction on this vital subject, while severely di'dled in matters but re- motely connected with theology ! The fact is astounding. But it is difficult for people to teach what they have not learned, or to impart acquire- ments which they do not themselves possess. Many able, skilful, and successful tutors have been but sorry models either of good reading, or good speak- ing. It was in vain, therefore, to look to them for the required commodity, and it only remained to call in the aid of the Elocution Master. But the services of that personage, where he could be found. ELOQUENCE. 107 — for lie was far off from most of tlie Independent colleges — were perilous in the extreme. They too house of Grod. Under such circumstances it was not strange, that the thing was left to its own course. Mr. James, addressing students, asks : — " How is it then that of those who leave our col- leges, so few attain to eminence as preachers ? In some, and perhaps in not a few cases, I am aware, there are physical disqualifications in the way: there is no gift of commanding utterance, no fer- vour of imagination, no strength of intellect, no enthusiasm of soul ; and a fault lies somewhere that such persons were ever sent into the ministry, for neither reverend imbecility, nor sacred inanity, nor learned dulness, will do for the pulpit at any time, much less for the present, when all around, without, and within the church is in a state of high excite- ment. Rush-lights will not do in the piilpit, when hydrogen and oxygen are blazing everywhere else. But the failure in other cases is not to be traced to a cause so innocent as inability. It is not a want of talent, but of tact — it is not ignorance, but indo- lence — ^it is not a deficiency of voice, but of soul — not a physical incapability of any kind, but a moral one : it is in fact a want of heartiness, and dili- .gence, and earnestness. The men have not thrown their whole selves into the work. They have wanted the burning zeal for God, the melting pity for souls, the hungering and thirsting after useful- 108 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. ness, the labour in study, the self-cultivation, the constant painstaking, and the fervent piety, which alone can conduct to eminence. Or else perhaps they were more concerned for a. comfortable settle- ment, a home of elegance or comfort : or they made the fatal mistake at the outset of determining to be scholars, metaphysicians, or philosophers, in- stead of being preachers and pastors. They went to their ministry with the purpose of composing what they meant should be fine sermons, and secure the approbation and applause of what they considered were the more intellectual portion of their hearers, and thus failed in everything. They forgot that their congregations were sinners that needed pardon, lost souls perishing in their sins, and that needed salvation ; or else that they were men and women harassed by six days' labour, wearied by the cares, and burdened with the sor- rows of time, collected round their pulpit on the day of rest, to be soothed and invigorated by the prospects and the hopes of heaven and eternity; that these children of want and Avoe had come to have their minds instructed, their cares softened, their sorrows assuaged, their consciences purified, their hearts healed by the music of gospel truth : — and then to be treated with nothing but the philo- sophical essay, the metaphysical disquisition, the meatless, marrowless bones of criticism, the thorns of controversy, the flowers of rhetoric, or the mere slip-slop of words without thought, or thoughts without connection, order, or intelligible meaning ! Oh, what is this but to mock the hungry by offer- ELOQUENCE. 109 ing stones for bread, and to insult the thirsty by presenting froth instead of the crystal stream of the water of life ? " On the same point he says: — " Everything I have said implies that in order to eminence there must be simplicity as opposed to what is artificial^ afiected, and egotistical, both in style and manner. It has been well remarked by an Ameri- can writer, that ' some giant of a Johnson with all the encumbrance of artificial structure, has pro- truded his unwieldy form through the world, and Samson-like, has poised the pillars of the house, not- withstanding his fetters of brass ; and his humble imitators, are without his might trying what they can do with both hands bound. They are placing perfection in sonorous words, in stateliness of move- ment, in an antithetical balance of clauses, and are running from nature as fast as they can. ' I seek divine simplicity in Idm Who handles things divine.' It may be rested upon as an everlasting maxim, that the eloquence best fitted to thrill the heart of a phi- losopher, is that which melts the heart of a child.' " Here let mo warn you against the sad mistake of confounding mere noisy declamation, bluster, and rant, with earnestness and animation. Nothing is more offensive to persons of taste, more repulsive even to the untrained multitude, or more destruc- tive of the efiect of the tender and solemn truths of the gospel, than emotionless vociferation. I have heard it said of Talma, the celebrated French actor, that he had made it his study for twenty years to 110 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. acquire earnestness without vehemence. Robert Hall was a tine specimen of tkis ; no one can have heard that extraordinary man, in his happiest moods, without being as much impressed with the intense feeling and animation of his manner, as astonished by the grandeur of his conceptions, and delighted by the correctness of his taste. With a voice of little compass, and by no means musical, he com- pensated for these defects by the earnestness of his manner ; and with an eye through which the glow of his mighty soul was perpetually flashing upon his subject and his audience, he poured forth a stream of eloquence, which though impeded at first by a shght hesitation, soon acquired the force of a tor- rent, and the grandeur of the cataract. Let me then entreat you to endeavour to acquire the great secret of earnestness without vehemence, and to avoid the reproach of having the contortions of the sibyl without her inspiration. In guarding against the one extreme of being pulpit statues, cold, motionless, and all but silent, do not run into the other of being pulpit furies." On this momentous subject Dr. Vaughan is entitled to a hearing : — " Should it be necessary, therefore, in order to secure to the students in our colleges an agreeable and effective elocution, we do not hesitate to say, that it would be wise to bestow as much attention on this branch of education as upon the study of the Greek language. We speak thus strongly on this point, because there would seem to have been great deficiency in this respect in most of our col- KLOQUENCE. Ill legiate institutions, and because there is special danger tliat this deficiency will become more observ- able, rather than otherwise, as we raise the standard of scholarship. Readiness in speaking is so much a natural gift, and consists so often with the super- ficial in almost everything else, that men of real power, and solid acquirement, are oftentimes dis- posed to hold such talent in little estimation, and not unfrequently cease to be themselves men of ability in speaking, in the degree in which they become men of thought and learning. " We scarcely need say that such a course of things is the result of a radical error in judgment — an eiTor, so childish and absurd, that a man pre- tending to sagacity in anything, should blush to find that he has allowed himself to be ensnared by it. The want of sound practical sense in cases of this sort is so manifest, as to afford strong presumption^ that the man who has thus failed in relation to the pulpit, will hardly succeed in relation to any other object. Nothing could be more plain, than that it became him, when purposing to take upon himself the office of a preacher, to be constantly mindful of the fact, that no attainment could be of value to him in that capacity, except as it might be popu- larized, and made to subserve his power as a speaker. But of that fact he has not been mindful, and he has failed — failed deservedly, inasmuch as his failm^e has resulted from a negligence of those means, attention to which should have been seen at a glance as strictly necessary to success. We repeat, therefore — let our students fail in the matter of 112 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. elocution, and, so far as regards their ministry among protestant dissenters, it will matter little in what else they may succeed." The closing words of this paragraph ought to be deeply pondered by all who are looking for- ward to the office of the ministry. When the most potent of modern advocates, the Hon. Thomas Erskine, during the period of his legal studies, was privately asked by the Lord Chancellor of the day, what book he was making his manual, he mentioned a particular work on Law, when his Lordship sub- joined, "Erskine, you had better make a manual of Enfield's ' Speaker.' " On this head it may be proper to state, that it is one on which, beyond most others, self-instruc- tion may effect great things. Works on it, since the example set by the elder Sheridan and John Thelwall, have been numerous, and many of them excellent. Walker, in particular, is entitled to special notice. His Dictionary, Rhetorical Gram- mar, and Elements of Elocution are a well-furnished storehouse, where the diligent student may find all that he requires. It may well be supposed that the subject of sermon reading occupied the serious attention of Mr. James ; it did so, and upon all fit and proper occasions he was ready to express a decided opi- nion upon it. Unless under special circumstances, he was a determined opponent of the practice, which, as a rule, he deemed utterly incompatible with general acceptance and extended usefulness. Referring to the recorded opirwions of Dr. Mather, ELOQUENCE. 113 of New England^ on the subject of Notes^ he says :— " Pity that Dr. Mather had not gone a little farther than this, and affectionately advised his younger brethren in the ministry, to begin their career without any notes at all in the pulpit ; advice still more necessary in this day, as there seems a rising inclination to adopt the practice. Nothing can be conceived of more likely to repress earnest- ness, and to hinder our usefulness, than this method becoming general. True it is that some preachers may rise up, who, like a few living- examples, may in despite of this practice attain to eminence, to honour, and usefulness, such as rarely falls to the lot of ministers in any denomination ; but this will not be the case with the greater number, who having no commanding intellect to lift them above the dis- advantage of this habit, will find few churches willing to accept their dulness, for the sake of the accuracy with which it is expressed. And who can tell how much greater our greatest men would be, if they delivered their sermons without their notes ? Think of Whitefield, Hall, Parsons, reading their sermons ! What a restraint upon their noble intel- lects, and their gnashing hearts ! Where is reading tolerated but in the pulpit ? Not on the stage, nor at the bar, nor in the senate. It is conceded that we lose something of precision and accuracy by spoken discourses, as compared with those that are read ; but is not this more than made up by what we gain in impression? By him who slavishly reads, the aid borrowed by the preacher from the I 114 JOHK ANGELL JAMES. eye and gi'acefiil action is lost : tlie link of sym- pathy between his soul and that of the audience is weakened: the lightnings of his eloquence flash less vividly, and its thunders roll less grandly, for this obstruction to their efforts. Perhaps even those who do read are aware of tlie disadvantages of the habit, and would say to theii* younger brethren, whose habits are not yet formed, avoid if you can the practice of reading your discom-ses. There are however occasions, when from the nature and extent of the subject, this practice is not only allowable, but necessary." Was ever condemnation more decided? This great preacher has thus put upon record his entire and intense disapproval of the practice ! Surely such a dtdum ought to be decisive with all who aspire to the office of the Christian ministry. Is free speech a primaiy condition of acceptance? Must it not, then, be a primary condition of success ? Ought not its culture, therefore, to be a governing principle in all academic instruction ? Should not special provision be ever\-where made for it ? We are much pleased to find Dr. Yaughan dehberately stating his views on the subject. He says : — " It will be perceived that in these remarks we contemplate preaching as to consist, not in reading sermons, but in such extemporaneous dehvery as obtains at the bar and in the senate. We account it, on the whole, one of the greatest mischiefs that have befallen the church, and the cause of rehgion generally, that any other mode of communicating instruction than obtains in those connections, should ELOQUENCE. 115 have become prevalent in the pulpit. In the history of Europe^ the practice of reading sermons is almost pecuhar to England; and one of its effects has been to render preaching, which should have been the most popular form of public speaking, in the gi'eat majority of instances the least so. It is a practice which became prevalent among us subse- quent to the Restoration, and became established as the invariable usage of preachers in the Church of England, and as the general usage among Noncon- formists, by the close of the seventeenth century. "We are not ignorant with regard to the ob- jections usually made to extemporaneous preaching. But these objections consist almost entirely of argu- ments derived from a misconception of the practice intended, or from its abuses only. It does not follow because the language of a discoui-se is ex- temporaneous, that the substance is unpremeditated. It is not to be supposed because a speaker has not stored his memory with words, that he has not been careful to store liis mind Avith thoughts. ISTor does it follow because the greater part of an address is clothed in language supplied at the moment, that this must be the case with every part of it. We say not, that no good has come to our pulpit lite- rature, or to religion, from wiitten sermons, we only say that the good vvhich has so come might well have been spared, for the sake of the much greater good that might have been realized by a different method. No man of sense would be understood to intimate that extemporaneous dis- courses always display the best judgment or the 116 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. best taste. We reason from the general effect of the practice, and not from its exceptions or its parts. Every man knows that the contrary practice of reading sermons, is no guarantee that the sermon read will be well read, or vnW be at all worth reading. It often happens, that the men who only read sermons, never write them, and not unfre- quently they betray a lamentable want of discern- ment even iu availing themselves of the labours of other men. We advocate extemporaneous preach- ing, not as demanding less labour or less talent than the opposite practice, but as being more natu- ral, more impressive, more adapted to the ends of preaching, and as involving, when entered upon with the due amount of preparation, the most whole- some exercise both of the mental and moral faculties. We no more mean that the extemporaneous preacher should be a mere rhapsodist, than we mean that such should be the character of pleading at the bar, or the character of oratory in the senate. " Some rare occasions there are, on which it may be well to deliver a whole discourse memoriter, or even to read ; but among the persons who have been truly obliged to adopt either of these methods as a general practice, there are few, we suspect, that should have become preachers. Multitudes, who seem to be wholly dependent on such methods, have become so purely through habit — habit which has derived its license from custom, and its strength from indulgence." The celebrated Bishop Burnet, one of the most excellent preachers of his times^ has borne a noble ELOQUENCE. 117 testimony against this baneful practice. Referring to statements lie had made, he says : — " This leads me to consider the difference that is between the reading and the speaking of sermons. Beading is peculiar to this nation, and is endured in no other. It has indeed made our sermons more exact, and so has produced to us many volumes of the best that are extant. But after all, though some few read so happily, pronounce so truly, and enter so entirely into those affections they recom- mend, that in them we see both the correctness of reading, and the seriousness of speaking sermons, yet every one is not so happy. Some, by hanging their head perpetually over their notes, by blun- dering as they read, and by a cursory running over them, do so lessen the matter of their sermons, that as they are generally read with very little life or affection, so they are heard with as little regard or esteem. Besides, the people (who are too apt to censure the clergy) are easily carried into an obvious reflection on reading- — that it is an effect of laziness." These opinions I hold to be decisive. The prac- tice ought to be universally reprobated as one of the sorest evils with which the Church of God can be afflicted. I avow my entire concurrence with Dr. Vaughau in his allegation, that among those who are incapable of free speech, and compelled to have recourse to reading, " there are few that should have become preachers." So strong were the objections of Mr. James to the practice, that he cordially entered into every expression of opposition to it, whether by tongue 1L8 JOHN AKGELL JAMKP. or ipen, -whether at the meetings of the Congre- gational Union, or elsewhere. In writing to my- self, he expressed a strong wish for the publication in a volume of the series of Articles^, which recently appeared in the British Standard on preaching — jirticles which breathed the most uncompromising hostility to the reading of sermons. There is another subject of moment all but infi- nitOj on which it is most important to record the iudgment of Mr. James. In addressing a body of students, he says : — " Before I leave the department of preaching, allow me to refer your consideration to one par- ticular kind of preaching, I mean the pyxpository , which I am sorry to say is far too Httle practised in the English modern pulpit. To this your attention has been directed by your able and excellent theo- logical tutor. I know it has been supposed, or at any rate said, that the people do not like exposition. I believe the contrary to be the fact, and that it is the ministers and not the people, that are not fond of it. If it has been tried and 2jroduced dislike, it must be from one or other of these causes, either it has been conducted too much like the German Exegesis, in Avhich there is so much minute and anxious verbal criticism as to be almost tedious even to a scholar ; or else it has been carried on in such a loose and slovenly manner as to disgust even a superficial hearer and thinker, and to jjroduce the conviction, tliat it has been taken up from mere indolence : a bad exposition is usually the worst of all bad sermons. If it be well done, and this is not ELOQUENCE. a difficulty beyond tlic reach of any one wlio will give himself the trouble to make the acquisition, the people are sure to like it. There are so many advantages connected with it, that it is surprising to me it should not be adopted by all preachers. How much perplexity and waste of time does it save in the selection of texts and subjects : what an opportunity does it afford to introduce topics into the pulpit which we should neglect but for this method, topics which if they did not come in regular course, would be set down to personality on the part of the preachei*. If the minister takes the view of the passage which his hearers have previously formed, they are pleased with him for thinking as they do ; if he bring out a viev;' which did not occur to them, they give him credit for a deeper insight into the meaning of a passage than they possessed. It leads to an extended acquaintance with the Bible, both on the part of ministers and people. So far as my own experience goes, having practised this method from the commencement of my ministry, I can bear emphatic testimony to its acceptableness, although I make no pretensions to be a skilful ex- positor. If you feel a difficulty at commencing what might be called a regular exposition, so eai-ly in your ministry, begin with a (consecutive course of sermons, for which the eighth chapter of the Romans would furnish a fine field, or the eleventh of He- brews ; or occasionally take a long parable, or fact of the New Testament, and procure for yourself the tact, and produce in your people the taste, for this method of instruction. But be sure and let it be 120 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. I done well, and rendered interesting, as it certainly may be with painstaking, and you will have no cause to complain of a want of relish for it. Some ministers give short, current remarks on the chapters which they read in the course of the service, and preach a sermon afterwards. For my own part, I have a feeling which makes me wish that God's own word, unattended by any remark of my own, should be heard during a part of the service allotted to public worship." But how great soever the importance of preach- ing, there is something still more important. If we examine closely the New Testament, we shall find very little said about preaching, but a great deal about prayer. It would in apostolic times seem to have been not simply " the one thing needful," but the one ivorlc, both of the preacher and the people. We hear much now-a-days of Great Preaching, but very little of Great Prayer ! This is readily ac- counted for by the carnality of human nature, which delights in the excitements of oratory^ but shrinks from the exercises of devotion ! If with decency the thing could be done, it would altogether dis- pense with worship. On this subject Mr. James has expressed himself thus : — " Before we pass from the subject of preaching, we may consider with propriety the matter and manner of prayer. Between these two there is a close and obvious connection, for earnest sermons should ever be associated with earnest prayers ; and it cannot be doubted that a pious, faithful, and de- voted minister is scarcely less useful, at least in the ELOQUENCK. 121 way of keeping up the spirit of devotion in his con- gregation^ by the latter, than he is by the former. His chastened fervour, like a breeze from heaven, comes over the languid souls of his hearers, and fans the spark of piety in their hearts to a flame : while on the contrary, the dulness and coldness of some public prayers are enough to freeze what little de- votion there may be in the assembled people. We have thought too little of this, and have too much neglected to cultivate the gift, and seek the grace, of supplication. If entreating and beseeching im- portunity be proper in dealing with sinners for God, can it be less so in dealing with God for sinners ? Our flocks should be the witnesses of both these, and hear not only how wo speak to them, but how we plead with God for them ; should be the audi- tors of our agonizing intercession on their behalf ; and be convinced how true is our declaration that we have them in our hearts. How such petitions, so full of intense afiection and deep solicitude, would tend to soften their minds, and to prepare them for the sermon which was to follow. Who has not beheld the solemnizing and subduing effect of such holy wrestling with God, upon the congregation ; they seemed to feel as if God had indeed come down among them in power and glory during the prayer, and was preparing to do some work of grace in their midst. The rudest and most turbulent spirits have sometimes been awed, and the most trifling and frivolous minds made serious by this .holy exercise. We who practise extempore prayer . have advantages for this, of which we should not be 122 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. slow to avail ourselves. Not being confined by the forms of a liturgy, but left to our own choice, we can give a harmony to all the various parts of the service, and make the Scripture we read, and the hymns we sing, as well as the prayers we present, all bear upon the subject of the sermon, and thus give a unity of design, and a concentration of effect to the solemn engagements of the sanctuary. This should be an object with eveiy minister, in order that the thoughts of the people may, without being divided or diverted, flow pretty much in one chan- nel, and towards one point. j\Ioral, as well as mechanical effect depends on the combination of many seemingly small causes. But more especially should the prayers be in harmony with the sermon, and every preacher knows what the sermon is to be. If he is about to address himself in a strain of be- seeching importunity to the impenitent and unbeliev- ing, how much would it tend to prepare them for his appeal if his heart were previously, and in their hearing, to pour forth a strain of fervent pleading with God on their behalf. They would thus be awed and subdued into a state of mind likely to render the forthcoming sermon effectual, by the blessing of God, for their conversion. Such a prayer would be the most appropriate introduction he could give to his discourse. But then especial care should be taken that the hymn, and even the tune, which interposes between the praj^er and the sermon, should not be of a kind which v/ould divert the cur- rent of thought, much less efface the solemn impres- sions already produced, and hinder the effect of the ELOQUENCE. 123 discourse about to be deliveved. I remember to have beard a preacber, wbo Avas going to preacb a very solemn sermon, breatbe out one of the most impressive strains of intercession for the impenitent I ever bstened to, as if even anxious to begin the work of conversion by his prayer, which he hoped to finish by his sermon. The people sat down in solemn awe, when as if by a prompting of the wicked One, who catcheth away the seed out of the heart, the clerk gave oiit a most inappropriate hymn, and the choir, with a band of nmsical instruments, sung a tunc more inappropriate still : as may be easily imagined, the seriousness produced by the prayer was instantly lost, and the preparation for the sermon entirely destroyed. How true is it that the singing seat is often hostile to the usefulness of the pulpit, and the choir in opposition to the effect of the preacher." This beautiful passage must commend itself to the understandings and the hearts of all devout and reflecting men. It has been gloriously exem- plified in the better ages of the Church ; then, in many cases, power of preaching and power of prayer united in the same person, Both the his- tory and the biography of the Reformation abound in illustrations. Those seraphic men whose names are still dear to Scotland v/erc among the most noted examples of faith and fervour since the days of the Apostles. What things are told of Welsh and Wishart, Guthrie and Peden, and a multi- tude their brethren in tribulation ! The Presby- terian Body in Scotland, during the last genera- 124 JOHN AXGELL JAMES. tion, wanted not for men wliose public prayer was instrumental of working tlie noblest results. Their spirituality gathered multitudes from miles round, who bung upon their lips with unabated interest till hoary hairs ! Their preaching was simple, plain common-sense, steeped in devotion. They stood and talked as fathers and gi'andfathers in the midst of their children and grandchildren. But their prayer ! How mightily did the Spirit of God work in them ! What importunity ! What agony ! What confidence, humility, sublimity ! It was A-braham pleading for the doomed cities ! I cannot withhold a fine passage on this subject from Dr. Vaughan : — " Every argument that will apply to freedom of utterance in preaching will apply in favour of the same kind of utterance in prayer. In this case, as in the former, the freedom for which we plead is not a freedom precluding all forethought, but such as allows thought to be clothed for the most part in the expressions of the moment, such as may admit of allusion to passing seasons and events, and of that expansion and warmth which is so natural to the mind when it becomes really interested in such exercises. So far are we from pleading for the kind of free prayer which has no relation to preparatory mental discipline, that we should delight to see the manner of prayer accounted of no less impoiiance, as an object of study, than the maimer of preaching. Such an attention to the subject would secure to the young minister a fixed and scriptural idea con- cerning the nature of prayer, and could hardly fail ELOQUENCE. 125 to familiarize his mind with modes of thought^ and scriptural examples, of a nature adapted to impart fluency, order, variety, appropriateness, and withal richness and unction, to the devotional exercises in our public services, such as even those of the con- trary practice would often be constrained to approve and imitate. " Among the persons distinguished by their place in the court or the cabinet during the reigns of Charles II. and James II., there was no man who possessed, on the whole, a better knowledge of his contemporaries, or of the times in wliich he lived, than the Marquess of Halifax. His saga- city as a statesman was allied with great refinement and power of thought, and with an unusual com- mand of language as an author; and we scarcely need say that he is not to be suspected of any lean- ing, on general grounds, towards the practices of the Nonconformists. But it is in the following- terms that his lordship has expressed himself on the comparative claims of free prayer and forms of prayer : — ' I am far from relishing the impertinent wanderings of those who pour out long prayers upon the congregation, and all from their own stock ■ — too often a barren soil, which produces weeds instead of flowers, and by this means they expose religion itself to contempt rather than promote men^s devotion. On the other side, there may be too great a restraint put upon men whom God and nature have distinguished from their fellow-labour- ers, by blessing them with a happier talent, and by giving them not only good sense, but a powerful 12G JOHN AXGELL JAMES. utterance too, ■svliich lias enabled tliem to gush out upon the attentive auditoiy with a mightv stream of devout and unaffected eloquence. ^^Tien a man so qualified, endued with learning too, and, above all, adorned with a good life, breaks out into a warm and well-deUvered prayer before his sermon, it has the appearance of a divine rapture ; he raises and leads the hearts of the assembly in another manner than the most composed and studied form of set words can ever do; and the "praywe's" who serve up all their sermons ■svithtlie same garnishing, would look like so many statues, or men of straw in the pulpit, compared with those who speak with such a powerful zeal, that men are tempted at the moment to believe that heaven itself has dictated their words to them.' " What can be more important in relation to pubHc worship, than the kind of service, which, when well-conducted, is found capable of producing such impression, even in sucli quarters ? Indolence, under the mask of a pious humility, may allege that the true spu-it of prayer is from God, but so is the true spirit of preaching also, and both are iucluded in the apostolic admonition — ' Neglect not the gift that is in thee' " I entirely concur in these wise and weighty words, and most fully sympathize in particular with those I have itahcized. The subject is entitled to greatly more attention than it generally receives. The majority care very little about a man's prayers, provided he preach with force, and splendour, and passion. Let there be but fire, aud the masses will ELOQUENCE. 127 make no iuquii-ies Avliotlier it be true or false^ from lieaven, or of earthly origin. The moral, then, of all this is, the propriety, the necessity, the duty of most intensely cnltiyating the gift and the grace of Prayer. Such is the portrait of the Preacher and his Work, conceived and drawn hy some of the best and greatest men of past and present times. The hopes of the Church are largely bound up with the Minis- ters of the Word. For good as well as for evil, the adage of the prophet, "Like pi'iest like people," will stand true. A nation is seldom better than its laws ; a church is rarely in advance of a minister, and it will never lag very far behind him. To raise the pastors, therefore, is infallibly to raise the flocks, and hence the incalculable importance of every efibrt to improve colleges, students, and ministers. The nation whose pulpits should one and all be filled with such men as are described in the foregoing pages, would be, or soon become, a spiritual para- dise. We may still be far ofi" from such a consum- mation, but every hour brings it nearer ; and its advent is as certain as the fulfilment of prophecy. To every flock of the faithful, of every nation, kin- dred, tongue, and people, the Great Shepherd of Israel will " give pastors after his own heart, who will feed them with knowledge and with under- standing." "VVTiatever, meanwhile, may stand in the way, it shall be sure, "for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it !" 128 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. THE PULPIT AND THE PEESS. The subsequent remai-ks on tlie writings of Mr. James may, perhaps, be profitably introduced by a few observations on tlie relation of tbe Pulpit to the Press, and the bearing of Authorship on posthumous usefulness and reputation. The subject has been but little discussed, and yet it is one of very grave importance. The province of the Press has fre- quently been exaggerated and misrepresented. Its power and value have been extolled at the ex- pense of the Pulpit, which has been scornfully spoken of as a thing of the past — weak, worn out, and no longer to be accounted of. This view, which is alike false and foolish, ought to be cor- rected. Each has its own place, a place of great power, and peerless dignity in the Evangelical economy. There is no rivalry between these insti- tutions. Sun and moon are not more related, nor more harmonious. They are the creations and the property of the same Lord, and appointed to sub- serve the interests of the same kingdom. The vitality of both arises from the blood of the Cross, and the righteousness of faith. The end of both, each in its own Avay, is to " fill the earth with His glory." THE PULPIT AND THE PRESS. 129 John Angell James has now disappeared from our midst, and we are left, undistracted by his com- manding and all-absorbing' presence, to look at tlie sum total of his labours. Our position is, therefore, improved, and so much the more favourable to a clear and comprehensive glance at his noble doings. He may now, as an author, in some degree, be viewed by us as he will be by the generation to come. Anticipating the flight of time, we may place ourselves among the men of 1959, with their eyes survey the present generation, and place in the balances the venerated man of whom we are speak- ing. Can there be a doubt as to the place which, among the men of the present age, they will assign to him, and the estimate which they will form of his services ? When our living generation shall come to be thoroughly sifted, the objects of contrast and comparison will, after all, not be numerous. Few are in the way to fame : the mass of those who now people these Isles will each repose in a nameless grave. They will leave no trace of their existence, but be " dead men out of mind." Such will be the lot of the bulk even of great and useful characters now living ; although ably and honourably " serving their generation by the will of God," future renown on earth will make no part of their reward. Pos- thumous celebrity of an enduring character, cannot be severed from posthumous usefulness of some sort ; and a chief means of that is Christian litera- ture. Baxter and Owen, but for their writings, would, with the mass of their compeers, have been utterly K 130 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. forgotten. Tliey are still useful, and will be for ages to come. Tradition may do a little for a season, but the book alone is enduring. It is in connection with, this that we must now look at the future of j\Ir. James; and proceeding on this principle, our task is easy. For a long period things will remain much as they are now. The esteem in which he will be held a century hence, will be simply a continuance of the esteem of which he is the object now. The reason is obvious : pos- terity will mainly judge of his character by his writings ; his fame will therefore rest on sure foun- dations. It is agreed on all hands, that the staple of his books is in the highest degree favourable to immortality, since they are based on truth and' na- ture. They will be every whit as much adapted to the year 1959 as they are to the present hom\ They embody the principle of a permanent vitality, for they are in every case fully charged with the verities of the Gospel. Human nature, moreover, will re- main the same, as well as the wants of the various classes for whom he so zealously laboured. The prospect, therefore, of his ever extending usefulness, and lasting celebrity, is bright in the extreme. By his writings he will continue to speak in the leading- languages of the earth, for the work of translation is but beginning. There is no hazard in such a prediction. It is founded on principles of eternal truth, and the indestructible character of the human mind. Such is the advantage of the printing press, and such the value of thoroughly Christian and popular literature. THE PULPIT AND THE PRESS. 131 This is the correct view of the subject, but let it not be perverted. It is not to be inferred from the distinguished place thus assigned to writing, that preaching is thrown into the background. No mistake can be greater. As compared with preach- ing, as a means of advancing the kingdom of God, the publishing of books, how numerous or excellent soever, is but impotence. Preaching is God's spe- cially-appointed instrument for the conversion of men. Whatever aid books may have supplied, this has been the rule in every age, and it will be so to the end of the world. The two things in their nature are wholly different, so mnch so as altogether to exclude the idea of comparison. Each is absolutely great and valuable in its own place; neither is meant to supersede or substitute the other. Each has its excellence and its drawback, and the one is designed to assist the other. The labours of the preacher are confined to his lifetime. The tongue of Whitefield was for a period the horn of his power ; with that he moved the nations ; through that, " by the good hand of his God upon him," he wrought wonders in both hemispheres ; but on September 30th, 1770, that tongue ceased to articulate, and his noble career came to an immediate end ! He sought neither usefulness nor fame by means of the press ; he perfectly understood his own glorious mission, as he beautifully defined it in a lively letter to his early and life-long friend James Hervey, author of the " Meditations." It is necessary that the number of speakers should be great ; it must be increased by thousands 132 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. and hundreds of thousands many times multiplied^ to meet tlie necessities of the human race ; whereas a comparatively small number of competent writers will suffice for the wants of the family of God. The sphere of preaching is mainly the world ; the sphere of Christian books is mainly the Church. Rightly to estimate this matter, we must look at the Sacred Scriptures. It is a remarkable fact, that the Lord himself wrote none while he was on earth ; and that after his ascension, he dictated only seven short letters to his " servant John." His mission was to " jpreacli the Gospel," not to write it. The same rule guided both the prophets before the 'advent, and the ^'apostles after the ascension. The prophets wrote very little ; most of them, indeed, nothing. The history of the apostles is analogous ; they all preached ; to this they were specially ordained by their Lord ; for this they were specially endowed by the Holy Spirit. In season and out of season, they all published salvation with the living voice, till severally called to seal their testimony with their blood. But, as in the case of the prophets, the bulk of them wrote nothing, and those who did very little, — Paul more than all the rest several times over, but the aggregate even of his writings consti- tutes only a small volume. Preaching", then, preaching, was, is, and ever- more will be the great, sole, and heaven-appointed means of the world's renovation. When the preaching has achieved its object, the book ad- vances to help on the mighty process of spiritual culture. By this means personal influence is in- THE PULPIT AND THE PRESS. 133 definitely extended, not only wliile the writer is alive, but after lie has departed this life. Wliere the preacher cannot go with his testimony, the author may send his book. It may cross oceans and con- tinents, and find its way to the poles, and thus impart to him first a species of ubiquity, and then a species of immortality ! Thus the insignificance of man, the feebleness of his power and the brevity of his life are compensated largely by the invention of Printing. Through this a writer may speak, and speak on till time shall be no more ! The Anxious Inquirer " of J. A. James will not be at all affected by his removal. It will travel on- ward in its beneficent course throughout the earth, scripturally answering questions vital to salvation ! A book is unmoved by the threats of tjrranny, and impervious to the darts of death ! It can wait the conciliation or the overthrow of persecuting dynas- ties, and will then come forth as true and strong as when it withdrew to its hiding-place. Such, then, is the medium through which we are to look at the future of John Angell James. For the millions he wrote ; and while the millions exist they will prize his lessons, and profit by his labours. They will teach their sons and their daughters to venerate his memory, and to make manuals of the invaluable volumes specially pre- pared for them. It will be allowed by all that the preacher's path is marked out for him by his divine Master ; who will deny that it is equally so with the devout author? If this matter be closely looked at, it 134 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. will be seen tliat there is uniformly an overruling providence witli regard to it. Nothing else can ex- plain facts. How is it that some men write so much, and that others, equal, or superior in point of ability, write little or none ? The true answer is, that the matter is dependent on a variety of circum- stances largely beyond human control. Some are led by an unseen hand ; they are now impelled by this motive, and now by that, to do the thing ap- pointed for them. Others remain uninfluenced, and are, therefore, silent, and indifferent. They have within them, consciously or otherwise, a mine of mental wealth, which is never opened; they bear with them their undiscovered treasures to the g'rave, lea\Tng the world in no degree their debtors, while they might have enriched their contemporaries, and have laid posterity under lasting obligation. One man finds openings all around, and is called forth to act ; and another seems faii-ly shut up, repressed, and helpless. The reasons of the diiference do not appear. Some at once gain the ear of the public, who read with avidity whatever bears their name; while others, men of sterling merit, never can obtain a hearing. They are likewise led on by degrees ; they proceed from less to more, till they are at length borne forward by public favoui' as if by a torrent. J. A. James, we presume, had no idea of the lengths to which his first essay at authorship would carry him. Like other men, at the outset, he knew nothing of the power that was within him, never dreamt of the coui'se which awaited him. It was only by exercise that he discovered his own superior capacity. THE PULPIT AND THE PRESS. 135 In tlie case of James, as in tliat of Baxter and a few otliers, there was a union of great writing witli great speaking • power. But tliis is rare. The divine wisdom is never prodigal of the highest gifts, and generally deems one of these sufficient. It deserves remark that this holds aUke in the Church and in the world. First-class writers and first-class speakers, as a rule, have always formed two distinct bodies. Notwithstanding the occa- sional union, the peculiar qualities on which the utmost success in these respective walks depends, if not conflicting, seem but imperfectly to harmonize. Speciality of gifts is required to eminence in either ; and although the union is possible, it is rare, and apparently not quite natural. Besides the special gift, a condition of the highest success is incessant cultivation. The unremitting exercise of great preaching powers, and proper attention to pastoral duties, are wholly incompatible with the extensive cultivation of authorship. Again, even when the gifts do co-exist, and are alike in measure, the attainment of the first emi- nence in either, requires that a man shall choose his line, — preaching or authorship, — and devote himself to it morning, noon, and night. He cannot cultivate hotli to perfection. Men such as Baxter — who probably wrote more a hundred times than Jay, A¥ardlaw, or James — with stupendous energy, may, in combining both divi- sions, work wonders, but these are the exception ; and even they, by selection, would have attained to things far greater. Had Baxter been nothing but a 136 JOBS ANGELL JAMES. preacher, lie could scarcely have preached more, but potent as he was, he might have been far more so ; or had he been nothing but a writer, the amount of his authorship could scarcely have been increased, but its finish and value would have been incalcu- lably improved. Fully to perfect would have been vastly to reduce. Had Mr. James done nothing but preach, even he might have preached better; and had he done nothing but write, even he might have written better. In either case there might have been more finish and more fame, but I doubt if there would have been more real usefulness, either living or posthumous. Power, a chief element of useful- ness, is in no respect dependent on polish and pret- tiness, exactness of thought, and choiceness of diction. The sum of the matter, then, is this : — every man hath his own gift of God, and as are his gifts, so are his duties. Let every man, therefore, be satis- fied in his own mind, and act upon his own convic- tions. Let him preach wholly, or let him write wholly, for the gloiy of God : or let him combine more or less of writing with preaching, or of preach- ing with writing, according to circumstances. Nei- ther will the preacher nor the writer lose, but gain by the mixture in moderation. But where there is in the preacher no internal promptings, and no external call, towards the Press, let him not force the matter, but with brave and loyal heart, and high devotion, cleave to the Pulpit, the noblest of earthly vocations, and fully avail himself, for pastoral pur- poses, of the literary aids supplied by other hands. THE PULPIT AND THE PRESS. 137 If he thus forego living and posthumous usefulness from books, and the fame attending it, he may still make it redound to his eternal honour. Let him but redouble his dihgence in preaching. The great, the peerless service is personal effort for the sal- vation of men. " He that winneth souls is wise," and " they that be wise shall shine as the bright- ness of the firmament ; and they that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever.'^ If the direct work of saving souls is to be estimated by the reward assigned to it, all human standards of value, and all human thoughts, utterly fail. Nothing will suffice but the most exalted, most glorious, and most enduring objects in the Universe ! Such service surely should be enough to satisfy the loftiest ambition of the highest angel ! It should be enough, and more than enough, to satisfy the most gifted and exalted of human kind, for a season, to tread this great globe, — led by the hand that made it, — and, as a fellow-labourer with Grod, to raise the Dead in trespasses and sins ! Such a man can well afford to dispense alike with the usefulness of accepted authorshijD, and the honours which attend it, both now or in after times. All such minor things are lost amid the radiance of the firmament and the glory of the stars ! As with the Gospel preacher, so with the Chris- tian author: although full of Science, overflowing with Literature, richly replenished with the gifts of Genius, and fired with a holy desire ; yet if there be no inward promptings, and no outward call, and above all, if there be what amounts to an interdict. 138 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. a positive absence of " aptness to teach" — wittout which, whatever the "desire," there can be no divine call — ^let him not force the matter, but meekly submit. Let him be satisfied with his own " talent," and worthily " occupy till his Lord come." He too shall " stand in his lot at the end of the days," and receive a glorious recompense. All men can- not be Kings ; all men cannot be the Ministers of Kings ; it is, nevertheless, a noble office, a most distinguished honour to serve in the palace, or to be in waiting. Yes, honour enough to serve in company with an Owen, the wisest, the holiest, the most erudite, and, in his class, the mightiest of men, to whom was denied the honour of preaching-usefulness : he was only just not without " a single convert." There is a sovereignty in the regulations of the divine service ; and as a rule the service excludes monopoly. Preaching was not the work to which Owen was called : he was predestined and appointed to be the Teacher of Teachers, the Minister of jMinis- ters, not to rule the legions and order the battle, but to supply the armour, and to forge the weapons with which other, and far meaner men were to go forth and subdue a rebel Universe ! Yes, honour enough to serve in company with a Dick, and unite with him as he connects all the segments of the mighty Circle of Science with the Central Cross, and stamps the whole cyclopedia of human knowledge with the divine impress of Chris- tianity ! Yes, that is honour an angel might covet. EvangeHcal authorship ! Christian Literature ! THE PULPIT AND THE PRESS. 139 Let it not be lightly tliouglit of, nor viewed as an ignoble, or worthless vocation. It is, I repeat, only second in value and in honour to the preaching of the word. To master all the languages of man, and sanctify them by rendering them the vehicle of Eternal Truth, of Heaven's life-giving medicine to a dying world, — to lay hold of all history and free it from its fable, folly, and falsehood, — to purge all poetry from the nonsense, the corruption, and the impiety which disfigure and debase it, — to dis- place all philosophy "falsely so called," by true Chris- tian ethics which unite man to man and all men to God, restoring a reign of reason, truth, justice, and charity, and show that true obedience consists in holy love, — to provide -pure and edifying instruc- tion of every sort for all classes of the people of the nations, — to provide for all the earth a system of complete, perfect, and adapted school literature for the rising generation of every land : to do these things is not to be treated as an ignoble and a worthless vocation ! No : it will be, and be viewed as a work worthy a Bacon and a Boyle, a Newton and a Locke, a Johnson and a Burke, a Butler and a Paley — worthy the first of mortal men ! Every man, then, in his own order : let preachers discourse, and let authors indite, each as of the ability which God has given them, and so fulfil their respective missions ; and each will, in due season, receive from the lips of the Lord of all, " Well done ! good and faithful servant : enter thou into the joy of thy Lord I" 140 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. LITERARY LABOURS. In proceeding to review tlie literary labours of John Angell James my object is simple, and definite; it is no part of my plan to analyze tbe several publications, and thereby to pronounce upon their respective merits for the guidance of public opinion. This would be a work of supererogation : the Church of Christ in all its branches has already stamped them deeply with the impress of its favour ; but it is not too late to exhibit the principles they embody, to set forth their general character, with specimens of their varied excellence. It is not too late to do for J ohn Angell James precisely what Morris did for Andrew Fuller — a service which extorted the cordial plaudits of Fuller^s illustrious friend, Robert Hall. By this process, the Avritings of Mr. James will in effect be brought within visible compass, which will very materially contribute to a right con- ception of his multifarious and abundant labours. While the gem passages will interest the small number who possess the whole, they will specially attract those who have still to cultivate an acquaint- ance with this invaluable writer. I can think of no means so calculated to give the general public some- what of an adequate idea of the character and LITERARY LABOURS. 141 measure of his literary labours, and tlie foundation which they lay for general and grateful admiration of his talents, industry, zeal, and charity. " CHRISTLAN FELLOWSHIP." At the time when this work came forth there was great need for something of the sort. For a long period nothing had appeared in England beyond two or three very elementary volumes, and in Scotland only Ewing's " Attempt," and the " Social Worship" of Haldane; the former an elabo- rate dissertation on the Kingdom of Christ, power- ful as against State Churches, and Presbytery, but of little use as a Manual of Christian Fellov^ship ; the latter a work of real merit, elaborate, solid, and scriptural, but not at all suited to the taste of Eng- land, or adapted to popular use. There were seve- ral English works, however, of a former generation, of a meritorious character, which appear never to have had much popularity, and they were then for- gotten. One of these is a really excellent book, by a Mr. Whitfield, published in Northumberland ; I never saw a copy but my own. Under these cir- cumstances the practical judgment of Mr. James was soon attracted to the deficiency, and accord- ingly he set to work, and in the middle of 1822 forth came the " Church Fellowship ; or, the Church Member's Guide." The sun of Mr. James was then approaching its meridian, and his name became a sure passport to such a publication. In three short months the entire impression was sold off ! That 142 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. the reader may see at a glance its scope and range, I shall set forth the contents : — I. Nature of a Christian Church. II. Nature and Design of Church Fellowship. III. Privileges of Membership. IV. General Duties of Church Members in their Individual Capacity. V. Duties of Church Members to their Pastors. VI. Duties of Church Members towards each other. VII. Duties of Church Members to the Mem- bers of other Christian Societies. VIII. Du^ties of Church Members in their Character and Station. IX. True Nature of Church Power. X. Mode of Conducting Church Meetings. XI. Admission of Members to the Church. XII. Church Discipline. XIII. Eemoval of Members. XIV. Voting in the Election of a Minister. XV. Church Conduct in such Elections. XVI. Private Communion. XVII. Causes of Schisms. XVIII. Support of the Ministry. The thoroughly practical character of the work appears throughout these headings. There is little wanted for purposes of social worship which the volume does not supply. The candour of Mr. James relative to the short- comings of the Independent Body was meanly abused. There were not wanting those who used his frankness to damage Dissent, and the Volun- LITERARY LABOURS. 143 tary Principle. Mr. James anticipating a cliarge of incautiousuess from his friends, in his preface, said :— " It will probably be thought by some readers, that the evils occasionally attendant on the Inde- pendent form of church government, are too much exposed in the following pages ; and that strength will thus be given to the objections which are urged against the principles of Nonconformity. To which the author repHes, that it is the existence not the statement of these adventitious evils, that wiU injure the cause of dissent. No secrets are betrayed in this volume. Nothing is promulgated but what is already known. Anxiety to remove those evils, which, through the imperfection of human nature, have grown like excrescences upon our system, and disfigured its beauty, is far more useful, aud certainly more honourable, than any efforts to conceal them.^^ The section on the causes of schisms to which the parties in question mainly referred, is a very valuable portion of the book, and its publication was upon the whole a real service to the cause of true religion. Would that it were thoroughly worked into the mind of all Ministers, Deacons, and leading men in the body ! At the same time expressions do occur of an undue severity, calcu- lated to make an impression greatly in excess of the real facts. The following is a specimen : — " I BELIEVE ONE HALE OF OUR CHURCH QUARRELS ORIGINATE IN LAZY, LOITERING MINISTERS, They live beyond their income^ plunge themselves in debt, and 144 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. their people in disgrace ; or tliey speak unadvisedly witli tlieir lips, and involve ttemselves in litigation, with either their own friends, or persons of other denominations ; or they hastily engage in paper wars with their neighbours ; or they marry persons unsuitable to their character, and ofiensive to their congregation, and thus lay the foundation of uneasi- ness and dislike ; or they become involved in poli- tics, or public business, and thus neglect the inte- rests of the church ; or they speak ill of some mem- bers to others, and thus raise a prejudice and party against them in the society ; or they let down their dignity by becoming the gossiping companions of some of their congregation. In all these and many other ways do ministers often prepare the way for dissatisfaction, or schism. Piety and prudence in the ministerial character would prevent many of the divisions of our churches." The small capitals are the author's own. This is doubtless very severe, and although in some cases, it may have been supported by facts, yet beyond question, the examples were not nume- rous. In the same chapter the people received their portion of meat in due season. The author remarks : — " Other causes of division are to be found amongst the people. 1. A very large proportion of our schisms arise at the time of choosing a minister. This has aheady received a distinct and separate consideration. "2. A hasty choice of an unsuitable person to fill the pastoral office, has frequently ended in great uneasiness. LITERARY LABOURS. 145 " The people have discovered their error, when its rectification was sure to cause much trouble to the society. Upon our system of church government, it is not easy to displace an unsuitable individual, and therefore great caution should be observed in choosing him. Few men will venture to remain in opposition to the wishes of a whole society, but how rarely does it happen that an individual has no party in his favour. "3. A peculiar and dishonourable ^cZi^ejiess of disposition on the part of the cliurcli, is in some instances the cause of division. " They soon grow tired of the man whom they chose at first with every demonstration of sincere and strong regard. They seldom approve a minis- ter beyond a period of seven years, and are so uni- form in the term of their satisfaction, as to make their neighbours look out for a change, when that term is about to expire. " 4. Uneasiness has often arisen between a mi- nister and people, by tlie unwillinrjness of the latter to raise tlie necessary support for their pastor. " They have seen him struggling with the cares of an increasing family, and marked the cloud of gloom as it thickened and settled upon his brow ; they knew his wants, and yet, though able to double his salary and dissipate every anxious thought, they have refused to advance his stipend, and have robbed him of his comfort, either to gratify their, avarice, or indulge their sensuality. He remonstrates, theij are offended : love departs, esteem is diminished, confidence is destroyed ; while ill-will, strife, and 146 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. alienation^ grow apace. How easily might all this have been prevented : a few pounds a-year more, given by some individuals who could not have missed the sum^ would have spared the peace of a faithful servant of Christ, and what is of still greater consequence^ the harmony of a Christian church. Can those persons be disciples of Jesus, who would put a religious society in peril, rather than make so small a sacrifice ? Let not the voice of avarice reply, '^Can that man be a minister of Christ, who would feel offended with his church, for not increasing his salary?" But what is a minister to do? Stai-ve? or beg ? or steal ? If he is already Hving in luxury, and expects more, he deserves to be denied. But I am supposing a case, where, in the judgment of candour, he has not enough to support his family in comfort. " i>. An improper method of exjn'essing dissotts- f action with a minister's labour or conduct, has often led to trouble in a church. " I do not pretend to say, that a minister occu- pies a seat too elevated for the voice of complaint to reach him, or that he is entitled (like his Master) to an entire exemption from all that interference which would say unto him, "What doest thou?" There are times when it might be proper to remind a minister of some duty neglected, some pastoral avocation overlooked ; but if anonymous and inso- lent letters are sent him ; if young, impertinent, or dictatorial persons wait upon him; if, instead of the modest, respectful hint of some individual whose age and station give him a right to be heard, he is LITERARY LABOURS. 147 schooled in an objurgatory strain, by those wlio have nothing to recommend them but their impudence and ofiiciousness ; no wonder, considering that he is but an imperfect man, if he feel offended with the liberty, and almost command the intruders from his presence. The apostle has spread over the minis- terial character the shield of his authority, to defend it from the rude attacks of those who would act the part of self-elected accusers. ' Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father.' — 1 Tim. v. 1. "6. The dombiecrlnrj Kpifit and conduct of some leading members, has often been the source of very considerable uneasiness to our churches. " If amongst the first disciples of Christ, there existed a strife for pre-eminence, and even hi the churches planted by the apostles ; it is not to be wondered at, however much it is to be regretted, that there should be individuals in our days, who carry the spirit of the world into the church, ma- nifest a love of power, and struggle with others for its possession. Their property, and perhaps their standing, give them iufluence, and this unhappily is employed in endeavouring to subjugate both the minister and the people. No scheme is supported unless it originates with them ; while every plan of theirs is introduced, almost with the authority of a law. They expect to be consulted on the most trivial occasion, and if in anything opposed, become resentful, sullen, and distant. Little by little, they endeavour to gain a complete ascendancy in the society, and watch with peculiar jealousy every indi- vidual who is likely to become a rival. The minis- 148 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. ter at length, scarcely dare leave home for a Sab- bath, without asking their leave ; nor can the people form the least scheme of usefulness without their permission. "V^Tien they are at any time resisted, they breathe out threats of giving up all interest m church aifairs, at which the terrified and servile society end their resistance, consolidate the power of their twant, and rivet the fetters of slavery upon their own necks. At length, however, a rival power springs up ; a family of growing reputation and in- fluence, refuse any longer to submit to the thrall- dom ; opposition to unlawful domination commences, the church is divided into factions, the minister be- comes involved in the dispute, distraction follows, and division finishes the scene. Lamentable state of things ! Would God it rarely occurred ! Let the leading individuals of our churches, the men of property, and the deacons, consider what mischief may be occasioned by the least assumption of undue influence. Let them watch against the lust of power : it is a passion most guilty and most mischievous : it arises almost imperceptibly from their situation, and its progress, like that of sin in general, is slow but certain. Let them conduct themselves -^-ith humi- lity, and deliver their opinions with modesty, and remember that every exertion of illegal authority is an invasion, not only of the liberty of the Church, but of the prerogative of its Divine Head." Here is a sample of fidelity which has never been surpassed. The man who could thus express himself was clearly no ordinary person. He spoke as one having authority. Such a manifesto was LITEKAEY LABOURS. 149 greatly fitted to work tlie cure of crying evils, and to advance the cause of truth, order, peace and charity, beyond anything that had been issued in the Independent Body during the living generation. It were well if a custom were established through- out the churches, at the admission of members, to put a copy of this work into the hands of every individual, whether rich or poor, at the expense of the church, with a solemn injunction to give it a careful perusal at least once a-year. There is a world of matter set forth which is vital to church comfort and prosperity, which cannot be brought out in the pulpit in addressing a promiscuous con- gregation. The cheap edition, recently issued, would greatly facilitate such an arrangement. "CHKISTIAN CHAPaTY EXPLAINED." This, which is one of the best publications of Mr. James, appeared in the summer of 1828, and met with a very cordial reception. The subject was peculiarly congenial to his great heart, and generous aspirations, and it commended itself to the Universal Church as a highly seasonable pro- duction. Beyond the very masterly dedication there was nothing in it to bespeak the thorough Dissenter, or to stumble the devout Churchman. The volume was inscribed to the fellowship in Carr's-lane in a composition of great length, and singular beauty. The author there takes occasion to give expression to his views on certain points of great moment ; the following is a sample : — "It has been sometimes alleged against the 150 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. principles of the Independent mode of cliurch. government, that they supply innumerable occasions for strife and division. I wish that an appeal to facts did not seem to furnish some ground for the objection. The fault, however, is not in the system, but in the spiritual imperfections of those who embrace it ; and, probably, in the attempts of many to carry it to an extreme. The identifying principle of any system, whether civil or sacred, should, of course, be well defined, constantly recognized, and carried out into all its practical details ; but it should not be pushed too far, or too violently, in what may be called the line of its own direction and tendency : it is by a forgetfulness of this, that monarchy is sometimes urged on to tyranny, and democracy to anarchy. Amongst us, as you know, all the principles of Independency have been recog- nized ; but they have not assumed the character, nor produced the confusion, of a turbulent republic. We have not converted our church meetings into seasons for debate, nor have we either encouraged or tolerated those who love to prate and to have the. pre-eminence. Yoii have never encroached upon itnj dwty and prerogative, as your spiritual ruler; and I hope I have never attempted to lord it over God's heritage. Our union, formed upon the prin- ciple of mutual choice, was founded upon love, and has been supported by confidence : to this under- standing of the nature of our relation, and of the duties it brings with it, we owe, under God, our undisturbed tranquillity.''* Even then the keen perception of Mr. James dis~ LITERARY LABOURS. 151 covered the embryo of tlie Negative Theology, and from its birth he held it in the deepest abhorrence ! Addressing" his flock he says : — "Amidst all that variety of matter which is presented by the Word of God, you have been much familiarized with those grand fundamental truths which constitute the leading' features of the Chris- tian economy : the divinity of Christ ; the vicarious and sacrificial nature of his death; justification by faith in his righteousness ; regeneration and sancti- fication by the influence of the Holy Spirit. Loose generalities, cautious reserve, and ambiguous state- ments, have not been characteristic of the sermons you have heard. The importance of right senti- ments has been enforced, the form of sound words has been exhibited, and the faith once given to the saints has been earnestly contended for ; yet not, it is to be hoped, in such a way, as either to generate a spirit of controversy, or to extinguish the feelings of benevolence. Doctrines, my friends — doctrines are of immense consequence — they are the basis of all practical religion ; and the morality that is not connected with truth by faith, is not the morality of the New Testament. The theology of the Word of God involves all the principles and motives of its morality. It is the very nature of Christian ethics, that they are so many emanations from Christian truths. Christ crucified, therefore, should be the great theme of every minister of religion : that latitudinarianism — and alas ! it is becoming but too fashionable in the present day — which would reduce all sentiments as to their importance, to. a level, 152 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. and wliicli would banish all distinctive opinions from tlie pulpit, to make way for mere moral duties and social virtues, is the rankest and most mischievous infidelity. If the teuth as it is in Jesus be with- held, there can be no Christianity : no, nothing but deism ; and to this many of the liberals of the pass- ing age would bring us ; — but it must not be." Only the contents of the work can give an idea of its very important character. They are as follows : — I. The Occasion of Paul's Description and En- forcement of Chi-istian Charity. II. The Nature of Charity. III. Christian Love is not to be confounded with that Spurious Candour- which consists in Indif- ference to Eehgious Sentiment, or in Connivance at Sinful Practices. IV. The Indispensable Necessit}' of Christian Love. V. On the Properties of Christian Love. VI. The Meekness of Love. VII. The Kindness of Love. VIII. The Contentment of Love. IX. The Humility of Love. X. The Decorum of Love. XL The Disinterestedness of Love. XII. The Unsuspiciousncss of Love. XIII. The Joy of Love. XIV. The Candour of Love. XV. The Self-denial of Love. XVI. The Permanence of Love. XVII. The Pre-eminence of Love. LITERAEY LABOUKS. 153 XVIII. Improvement. XIX. Improvement, by Way of Examination and Humiliation. XX. Improvement, by Way of Exhortation. As a treatise on Cbristian love the work may be considered approaching perfection. Very little remains to be added. I know of nothing equal to it. There is nothing, I believe, in the English tongue to be compared with it. Nothing has appeared so experimental, so practical, and, at the same time, so Scripturally doctrinal. It is quite a treasury of wisdom, touching this greatest of all the graces. The book is more fit for the Millennial than the present state. It is a fair, and a full portraiture of the purity and feHcity which yet await our cor- rupt and afflicted world. After its perusal the reader sits down with a sigh of sadness to think how short the Church still comes alike of her duty and of her privilege, and how deplorable the state of those nations which have not the Gospel. The following is a sample of the chapter on the " Humility of Love — " The usual grounds of pride are the following : — " Wealth. Some value themselves on account of their fortune, look down with contempt on those below them, and exact obsequiousness towards themselves, and deference for their opinions, ac- cording to the thousands of money or of acres which they possess. Others are proud of their talents, either natural or acquired. The brilliancy of their genius, the extent of their learning, the splendour of their imagination, the acuteness of their under- 154 JOHN ANG£LL JAMES, standing, tlieir power to avgne, or declaim, form the object of self-esteem, and tlie reasons of that disdain wliicli they pour upon all who are inferior to them in mental endowments. But these things are not so common in the Chui'ch of God, as those which we shall now mention. "Ecclesiastical connections form, in many cases, the occasion of pride. This was exemplified in the Jews, who boasted that they were the children of Abraham, and worshipped iu the temple of the Lord. Their self-admiration, as the members of the only true church, and as the covenant people of God, was insufferably disgusting. In this feature of their character, they are too often imitated in. modem times. While some boast of belonging to the church as by law estabhshed, and look with con- tempt on all who range themselves on the side of dissent, too many of the latter throw back the scorn upon their opponents, and pride themselves on the greater purity of their ecclesiastical order. There is the pride both of the dominant party, and also that of the seceding one ; the pride of belonging to the church, which includes the com-t, the senate, the universities ; and that which is sometimes felt in opposing this aiTay of royalty, and learning, and law ; the pride of thinking with the king, and the nobles, and the judges, and the prelates ; and also that of thinking against them. Whatever leads us to think highly of ourselves in matters of rehgion, and to despise others, whether it be the distinc- tions of earthly greatness, the practice of re- ligious duties, or the independence of our mode LITERARY LABOURS. 155 of thinking, is opposed to tlie spirit of Christian . charity. j " Sapcrior light on the subject of revealed truth, is no unusual occasion of pride. The Arminian Pha- ; risee dwells with fondness on the goodness of his | heart; the Antinomiau, with equal haughtiness, i values himself on the clearness of his head ; and ' the Socinian, as far from humility as either of them, I is inflated with a conceit of the strength of his reason, and its elevation above vulgar prejudices; — while not a few moderate Calvinists regard with complacency their sagacity in discovering the happy medium. As men are more proud of their under- standing than of their disposition, it is very pro- bable that religious opinions are more frequently the cause of conceit and self-importance, than any- thing else which could be mentioned, ' It is know- | ledge,' says the apostle, 'that puffeth up. ^ We are i the men, and wisdom will die with us, is the temper | of multitudes. " Relkjious gifts are sometimes the ground of self- admiration. Fluency and fervour in extempore prayer, ability to converse on doctrinal subjects, , especially if accompanied by a ready utterance in | public, have all, through the influence of Satan and the depravity of our nature, led to the disposition we are now condemning-. None are in more danger j of this than the ministers of religion ; — it is the besetting sin of their office. There is no one gift which offers so strong a temptation both to vanity j and to pride, as that of public speaking. If the [ orator really excel and is successful, he is the im- i I 156 JOHN AXGELL JA5IES. mediate spectator of liis success, and has not even to wait till lie lias finislied Lis discourse : for although the decorum of pubhc worship will not allow of audible tokens of applause, it does of visible ones ; — the look of interest, the tear of penitence or of sympathy, the smile of joy, the deep impression on the mind, the death-like stillness, cannot be con- cealed ; — all seems like a tribute of admiration to the presiding spirit of the scene ; and then the ap- plause which is . conveyed to his ear, after all the silent plaudits which have reached his eve, is equally calculated to pufi him up with pride. No men are more in danger of this sin than the ministers of the Gospel; none should watch more sleeplessly against it." The man who could thus speak was clearly a Master in Israel, intimately conversant with the mysteries of the human heart. On the " Decorum of Love " we have the following : — " Unseemliness in the conduct of a church member towards his brethren, applies fo all that is rude, unmannerhj, or uncicil. ' Xo ill-bred man,' says Dr. Adam Clarke, in his comments on this word, ''or what is commonly termed rude or un- mannerly, is a Chi'istian' — certainly not a con- sistent one. 'A man may have a natural bluntness, or be a clown, and yet there may be nothing boorish, or hogrjish in his manner. I must apologize for using such words, but they best express the e%'il against which I wish both powerfully and success- fully to declaim. I never wish to meet with those who a^'ed to be called ''blunt honest men;" who LITERARY LABOURS. 157 feel themselves above all the forms of civility and respect, and care not how many they put to pain — how many they displease. But let me not be mis- understood : I do not contend for ridiculous cere- monies, and hollow compliments : there is surely a medium ; and a sensible Christian man will not be long at a loss to find it out. Even ihrd people who profess to be above all worldly forms, and are gene- rally stiff enough, yet are rarely found to be rude, uncivil, or ill-bred.' There is much good sense in these remarks, that deserves the attention of all professing Christians who have the credit of re- ligion and the comfort of their brethren at heart. It is inconceivable what a great degree of unneces- sary distress is occasioned by a disregard of this rule ; and how many hearts are continually bleed- ing, from the wounds inflicted by incivility and rudeness. We should be careful to avoid this ; for religion gives no man a release from the courtesies of life. In our private intercmirse with our brethren, we should be anxious to give no offence. If we feel it our duty at any time, as we may, and ought, to expostulate with a brother on the impropriety of his conduct, we should be most studiously cautious to abstain from all appearance of what is imperti- nently officious, or off"ensively blunt. Eeproof, or even expostulation, is rarely palatable, even when administered with the honeyed sweetness of Chris- tian kindness ; but it is wormwood and gall when mingled up with uncourteousness, and will gene- rally be rejected with disdain and disgust. We must never think of acting the part of a reprover. 158 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. till vre have put on humility as a ^rment, and taken up the law of kindness in our lips." Although there is a good deal of repose in the work, yet on fit occasions the orator appears in all his splendour. As, for example, on the " Pre-emi- nence of Love," he says : — " Survey with admiration and dehght the mighty operations, and the splendid achievements of this powerful and benevolent principle, as they are to be seen within, and only within, the hallowed pale of Christianity. AVhat are all the numerous and diver- sified institutions in our own land, where houseless poverty has found a home ; craving hunger, a sup- ply ; forsaken infancy, a protector ; helpless age, a refuge ; ignorance, an instructor ; penitence, a com- forter ; virtue, a defence ; — but the triumphs and glories of love ? What are all those sublime com- binations of human energies, property, and influence, which have been formed for the illumination, refor- mation, and salvation of the human race? ^Vhat Bible Societies, Missionary Societies, Anti- Slavery- Societies, Peace Societies — but the mighty monu- ments of that love, which seeketh not her own, and is kind ? AVhat are the tears of commiseration, which flow for human sorrows, but the di-ops that fall from the eye of love ? What the joy that is excited by the sight of happiness, but the smiles of love ? What was it that made the great Apostle of the Gentiles willing, not only to bear any accumu- lation of suffering, indignity, and reproach, but to pour out his blood as a libation for others, and even to be accursed from Christ for his kinsmen, and man- I I LITERARY LABOURS. 159 ; i kind in general ? — Love ! Wliat is it tliat renders j tlie modern missionary willing to go into perpetual exile, from the land of liis fathers and of his birth, to spend the future years of his life, and find, at last, a grave amidst the sands of Africa, or the snows of Greenland; willing to exchange the so- ciety and polished intercourse of Europeans, for savages, whose minds are brutishly ignorant, and whose manners are disgustingly offensive ; willing to quit the land of Sabbaths, and of Bibles, and of chui'ches, for regions over which the demon of super- stition has extended his horrid sway, and beneath whose yoke nothing is to be seen, but orgies, in which lust and cruelty struggle for pre-eminence ? — ' Love ! What was it that breathed into the heart ' of Howard, that spirit which so filled and fired his ' imagination Avith visions of human misery, and which i brought from so many dungeons the plaintive cry, " Come over and help us !" that he could no longer rest in his own house, or in his own country, but travel, again and again, across the breadth of Europe, in quest of wretchedness ; descending into the captive's cell, that he might weigh his fetters, and measure his narrow apartment, and examine his food, to ascertain whether there was not more of misery in his hapless and forgotten lot, than justice demanded for the punishment of his crime; who inhaled the infected atmosphere of the lazaretto, to grapple with the plague — that fell destroyer of the I human race, to approach which seemed to be court- ing death? It was love that formed the character of that illustrious man, and presented him to the 160 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. notice and admiration of the civilized world. ^Vliat was it that gave courage, confidence, and self-denial, to that EXTRAOEDiNARY WOMAN, who Ventured among the furies of Newgate, where, if she had not cause to fear that assassins would attempt her life, she must have calculated upon finding a sort of de- mons, whose malignity, excited by the purity and virtue which seemed to set in stronger light, by the power of contrast, their own vices, would vent its rage on the angel form which had disturbed them ? If ever the form and the beauty of charity were seen in one of our species, it was in Mrs. Fky when she entered the cells of our metropolitan prison, and called their vicious and loathsome inmates round her, to be instructed and reformed ? And what is it that makes ten thousand holy men and women employ themselves continually in all kinds of self- denying exertions, to instruct the ignorant, to re- lieve the miserable, to reform the wicked ? These, O heavenly charity ! are thy works, the displays of thy excellences, and proofs of thy pre-eminence ! " This is a fine sample of the eloquence of Mr. James at an early period, and although ornate it is pure, and excellent English. " THE FAMILY MONITOR.-" No preacher of our times was more studious of simplicity and definiteness in all his statements, than Mr. James. Never sermon or speech dis- played less of the vague and the general. He delighted to view men in classes, and those classes LITKKAKY LA130UK.S IGl he made it his business to study carefully, iuquir- ing into all their necessities, with a view to supply them. Out of this sprung his " Family Monitor/' which is a most valuable contribution to the do- mestic literature of the nation. The subject was one of equal difficulty, and delicacy; there are many points requiring to be touched which none but a practised hand could safely deal with. From the nature of the case the topics are not numerous, although they are highly momentous. They are as follows : — I. The Domestic Constitution. II. The Mutual Duties of Husbands and Wives. III. The Special Duties of Husbands and Wives. IV. Some Remarks on the Formation of the Marriage Union. V. The Duties of Parents. VI. The Duties of Children to their Parents. VII. On the Fraternal Duties. VIII. The Duties of Masters. IX. The Duties of Servants. While the volume is throughout one of duties, these duties are all carefully based on Christian principle. The volume is, in effect, the great work of Baxter in epitome, not that he copied Baxter, but that he ti-avelled in the same path. None could have written it but a man of great practical sagacity, and a shrewd observer of life and man- ners. Among the numerous passages distinguished by pungency and originality is the following : — M 162 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. " Tlie alienation of brothers and sisters on account of pecuniary matters^ is usually a matter of deep disgrace to tliem u II ; not only to the spoiler, but also to the rest. "But in wliat terms shall I depict the atrocious wickedness of a villainous brother, who, after the death of their parents, would employ his iniiuence to wheedle and swindle an unmarried sister ou.t of her property, and reduce her to poverty and dependence, to indulge his own rapacity, or to avert calamity from himself! Such wretches have existed, and do exist, vv'ho, taking advantage of a sister's strong affection, combined with her igno- rance of money matters, never cease, till, by all the arts of subtlety, they have got out of her possession the last shilling she has in the world ; and then, perhaps, when she has nothing more for them to pilfer, abandon the victim of their cruelty with the reniorselessness of a highwayman, to Avant and misery. Let such monsters remember, that there is one in heaven whose eye has been upon all their wicked arts and cruel robbery, and who, for all these things, will bring them into judgment. It is an act of cruelty in any brother, who, without any dishonest intention perhaps, Avould wish to jeopar- dize the property of a sister, in order either to increase his own gains, or to avert his own dreaded misfortunes. She may be very unfitted to struggle with poverty, and altogether disqualified for earning support by her own industry, and therefore ought not to be exposed to the danger of losing her pro- perty. Cases do occur sometimes, in which it may LITERARY LABOURS. 1G3 be proper, and even necessary, for the property of unmarried sisters to be employed in the trade of their brothers; but as a genex"al rule, it is unadvis- able; and where it does happen, the latter should let all their conduct be conducted on the principles of the greatest caution, the most rigid integrity, and the noblest generosity. " Brothers ought ever, after the death of their parents, to consider themselves as the natural guardians of unmarried sisters ; their advisers in difficulty, their comforters in distress, their pro- tectors in danger, their sincere, tender, liberal, and unchanging friends, amidst all the scenes and vicis- situdes of life. It is rarely advisable that a sister should permanently dwell with a married brother ; but then, even the much stronger claims of the wife ought not to cancel or throw into oblivion those of the sister." I fervently hope these golden words may meet the eye of many a brother who may be the better for them, and who may be led by them to plead as Mr. James has pleaded for an interesting and a frequently injured class of society. The following lesson of frugality is for female servants : — "You are in very dependent circumstances. Your support depends upon your own labour, and that upon your health. You have no arm but your own to rely upon, and should therefore feel the obligation of laying up something in the day of prosperity, against the night of adversity. We are all enjoined to trust Providence, but not to tempt it. To spend all we get in vanity, and useless 164 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. trifles, under the idea that we shall be taken care of, in one way or other, is a presumption that generally brings its own punishment. There is in the present day a most censurable propensity in female servants, and workwomen in general, to dress quite beyond their station. It is not easy, in some cases, to distinguish between the maid and her mistress. What abject {oWj is it, for a young «^oman to spend all her wages in gay apparel. When she is in ill health and out of place, will it be any consolation to look upon finery which she is obliged to pawn, one article after another, for her support? The love of dress has led in some instances to stealing ; in others to prostitution ; in more, to poverty. Character is respectability, not dress. Harlots are generally fine and gaudy in their attire. Economize your little property, then ; lay up in store for the time to come. I know several servants who have, one forty, another fifty, another one hundred pounds in the bank. Besides, it is desirable to save from unnecessary expense in dress, that you may have a little to give to the cause of humanity and religion. The mite of the servant may mingle, in this age, with the pound of the master, to help in spreading the blessings of Christianity over the face of the earth. And it is to be poor indeed, to have nothing to give to the cause of humanity or religion." Servants had always a powerful, judicious, and sympathetic friend and advocate in Mr. James. The following is to masters on their behalf: — "Kindness should lead us to allow our servants LITERARY LABOURS. 165 all possihle Indulgences and rccreatiuns that are vot incompatible with religion. " They are capable of gratification like ourselves, and have the same desire of it ; while at the same time are denied, by their very circumstances, access to many of those sources of delight which are con- tinually open to us. Those who seem to grudge domestic servants an occasional remission of their labour, that they may have communion with others at the feast of innocent enjoyment, convert their service into slavery, and render the oppression additionally bitter by the circumstance, that it is exercised in the land of freemen. I have often been delighted to see the cheerful faces of female servants at those meetings which are convened for promoting the various objects connected with the cause of religion and humanity, and who seemed to drink in the streams of eloquence and piety, with as eager a tliirst, and as exquisite an enjoyment, as their more enlightened and better educated masters and mistresses. And I have known those, who, when going to some neighbouring town or village to attend, perhaps, a religious service of a public nature, have placed a female servant on the box- seat of the carriage that conveyed them, that she might share the pleasures of the day. It is our duty, of course, to keep them from all polluting and vitiating amusements, but it is not less a duty of benevolence, to give them as often as is con- venient to us, and consistent with their interests, an opportunity of enjoying the liberty and the sun- shine of innocent and holy pleasure." 166 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. The chapter on marriage is one of a highly im- portant character ; the following is to Ministers of the Gospel : — " To my brethren in the ministry I do recommend, and recommend with an earnestness which I have no language sufficiently emphatic to express, the greatest caution in this most delicate and important affair. In their case, the effects of an imprudent marriage are felt in the church of the living G od. If the wives of the deacons are to be ' grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things,' what less can be required of the wives of the pastors ? ' A bishop must be blameless, one that riileth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gra^-ity. For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?' But how can he exliibit in his domestic constitution, the beautiful order and harmony which should pre- vail in every Christian family, and especially in every minister's house, without the intelligent and industrious co-operation of his wife ; and how can this be expected of one who has no intelligence or industry ? Not only much of the comfort, but of the chnradcr of a minister, depends upon his wife; and what is of still greater consequence, much of his usefulness. How many have been driven away from scenes of successful labour, or rendered uncomfor- table in the midst of them, by the mismanagement of wives, who have plunged their husbands into debt, and thus blasted their respectability ; or by that pride, petulance, vulgarity, meanness, and busy interference, by which j^they have involved LITERARY LABOURS. 167 tliem in perpetual strife witli their neighbours^ tradesmen, or their coiig-rerofiteiJ, that is to be spiiitually improved in knowledge, faith, holiness, joy, and love, is the end of hearing- sermons, and not merely to have our taste gratified by genius, eloquence, and oratory. I knoAv scarcely anything of more impor- tance to put before a young Christian than the ne- cessity, in order to a healthful state of religion, of a right end and object in hearing the Word of God. We live in an age when talent is idolized, and LITERARY LABOUKS. 183 genius adored. This is 'tlie image of jealousy wliicli maketh jealous' in tLie temple of the Lord. With, too many it is not the truth of God that is thought of, valued, and delighted in, but the talent of man with which it is set forth. Now we admit that it is almost impossible not to admire, and be affected by, genius. Mind must admire the nobler exhibitions of mind; and cultivated intellects cannot put up with the crude effusions of iguoi-ance or dulness. To such persons, it is not only offensive to taste, but to piety, to hear such sublime and glorious themes as the Gospel contains set forth in the mean and tat- tered habiliments of vulgar language and mean thought. WTio would like to have the richest deH- cacies served-up on the meanest or broken earthen- ware ? Even in regard to books, elegant tj'pogra- phy and good paper add to the pleasure of reading, even where the matter is instructive, and the sub- ject of perusal is interesting. But it would argue an ill-regulated mind, in the one case, to be fonder of the elegance of the dish than of the good food which it contains ; and in the other, of the type, paper, and binding of the book, than of the momen- tous subject on which it treats. It is scarcely pos- sible to give a more important piece of advice to one setting out on the ways of God than our Lord's words, 'Take heed how you hear.' We should hear sermons with something of the same state of mind, and for the same purpose, as we should direc- tions from a physician concerning our health — or from a lawyer how to avert an impending sentence of death." 184 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. The following lesson, toucliing tlie perils of companionship, deserves to be written in letters of gold :— " Among the hindrances to progress in religion must be mentioned cornpav'ionslnp. 'He that walketh with wise men shall be wise/ says So- lomon, 'but a companion of fools shall be de- stroyed.' — Pro. xiii. 20. We take the tinge of our character from those, and in return give back in brighter hue the colour of our own to them, with whom we associate. We are all the communicants and recipients of unconscious influence ; just as healthy or diseased subjects are supposed to keep the atmosphere around them salubrious or infec- tious. As, therefore, we would preserve our spiri- tual health and promote our increase of strength, let us avoid the society of those whose company and conversation are unfriendly to piety. The strength of our convictions, the fixedness of our habits, the clearness and settledness of our princijiles, and the firmness of ofir i-esolutions, must in a great measure depend upon our associates. David said, ' I am a companion of all those that fear God and keep his statutes.' As to the choice of good and suitable companions as a means of progress, I have already written in a former chapter; but I now speak of the avoidance of unsuitable ones, of such as would be a hindrance to it. And I would, with all the emphasis it is possible to give to written language, conjure the young professor to be most anxiously and tremblingly concerned about this matter. It may happen that now when first brought under con- LITEKAKY LABOUKS. 185 cern about salvation, you may have companions con- genial with yom* former tastes ; and some to wlioni you were mucli attached^ but wbo are still as re- gardless of religion as you once were. This is in- deed a painful and perplexing situation, and will expose you to considerable danger. You will find it difficult either to dissolve the ties of friendship, or to maintain them without peril to your infantine reli- gion. To withdraw from those in whose society you have spent so many cheerful hours, will be like cut- ting off a right hand, or plucking out a right eye. Well, and are not these the terms of Christian dis- cipleship? Why, in the times of persecution, the saints were often called to surrender husbands or wives, parents or children, for Christ's sake ; and can you not give up a friend ? Will you risk your religion, and jeopardize 3'our soul, at the shrine of friendship ? Do you not know that your religious character must be distasteful to your former friends, and that their pursuits and conversation are now distasteful, and actually injurious to you V Do you not come from their society with religious ardour damped, the spiritual taste lowered, the devotional spirit impaired, and the conscience offended and wounded by your sinking too deeply into the cur- rent of their conversation? Is it not felt by you that there is one subject, and that the most momen- tous of all, in reference to which you can have no sympathies and no conversation in common? You must withdraw. It is come to this, that you must sacrifice your friends or your souls ; which shall it be?" 186 JOHN AXGELL JAitES. "the olive beaxch and the cross.-" Mr. James was Lappy beyoud most men in the titles of his works. The present is, I think, the only instance in which he may be said to have been otherwise. The second title, however, brings out the idea fully — " The Quarrels of Christians Settled, and Trespasses Forgiven, According to the Law of Christ." That is the true title of the treatise. It is now nine years since the publication of the volume, so that Christianity was in full operation in Mr. James's own circle, and throughout the sphere of his observation, when he wrote the work and ex- pressed himself as follows in his copious Dedica- tion : — " The Church of God in general has yet failed to exhibit in any considerable and attractive pro- minence, that spirit of holy love, by which it was intended by its Divine Founder to be characterized. The thorn, the briar, and the nettle, instead of the fir-tree and the myrtle, still gTOVv- too luxuriantly in the precincts of the temple ; and the wolf and the serpent are too often to be seen, where only the lamb and dove should be found. Christianity has not yet left the impression of its exceeding loveliness so deeply stamped as it should be on the character of its professors ; and of all its graces, none is so faintly and imperfectly traced as that which is the subject of this addi-ess. It has been found more easy, at any rate more common, to subdue the con- cupiscible than the irascible affections ; and yet it is as much the intention of Christ, that his people LITERARY LABOURS. 187 sliould be distiuguislied by meekness and gentle- ness, as it is by purity, trutlifalness, and justice. Love is pre-eminently tJie Christian grace. Equity, cliastity, and veracity, liave been found in the list of heatlien virtues, but not charity : //te// have some- times ' shed their fragrance on the desert air ' of paganism, but where has love been found, except in the garden of the Lord ? Alas, that even there this plant of Paradise, this heavenly exotic, should so often look shrivelled and worm-eaten ; and thus fail to procure for its Divine Curator all the praise it should, and in its more flourishing condition would do.'' This is a sad but I fear a true pictm-e of the re- ligion of the times, and it surely shows sufficient cause for the preparation of the clear, strong, and striking- manifesto here presented. It so happens in spiritual maladies, that in proportion as such maladies abound the specific is neglected rather than sought for. Men begin to look on their actual as their nominal and natui-al condition, confound- ing sickness with health. Mr. James has a most enlightened conception, both of the evil and its cure, and here he sets forth the true and only remedy. The following passage is entitled to the solemn attention of the Church of Christ : — " Why is it that Christians think so little about it, but because it has not been sufficiently insisted upon by ministers from the pulpit. It has long been my conviction that there is a great deficiency in the evangelical school of doctrine, of the practical enforcement of Christian duties in detail, especially 188 JOHN ANGKLL JAMES. of what may be emphatically called the cc angelical virtues — the passive graces of the Christian cha- racter — the exercise of brotherly kindness and charity. It is delicious, I know, to hear a fine, eloquent, and richly theolog'ical descant upon re- deeming love and pardoning mercy — to have the imagination and heart regaled with rhetoric, radiant with the glories of the cross, and redolent with the odour of that Name which is above every name : it is gratifying to the thinking- mind to have the intellect pleased with logical dexterit}^, and the fine abstractions of clear and strong thinking : it will be well enough also to have the subjects of moral obligation discussed in vague generalities and by elegant composition — but it is not so acceptable to have all the special and difficult duties of the Christian's life, or man's conduct to his fellows, set clearly before the understanding and enforced upon the conscience. Men do not so well like to be followed through all the labyrinths of the heart's deceitfulness, beaten out of every refuge of lies, and made to feel the obligation to love where they are inclined to hate, and to forgive where they desire to revenge. And we ministers pander too much to this taste. The pulpit has not done its duty. We have preached to the intellect, to the imagination, and to the taste, but not enough to the heart and to the conscience. In our endeavour to please, we have not been sufficiently intent upon the greater object, to profit. We have not preached justification too much, but sanctification too little. W e have been so intent upon urging men to obtain LITERARY LABOURS. 189 the forgiveness of tlieir own sins from God, that we have neglected to urge them to forgive the sins of their fellow-creatures against themselves. We have urged faith with a becoming vehemence, but not love. We have descanted upon the evil of licentiousness, and falsehood, and dishonesty, and covetousness ; but have said far, far, too little about malice. We have urged men to zeal and liberality, but not enough to humility, forbearance, and forgive- ness. We have led men to view the cross of Christ, but we have not sufficiently urged them to take up their own. We have entreated them to view him as the Lord their Righteousness, but not sufficiently as their Example. How much and how often have we insisted upon this duty which we are now dis- cussing ? Has it borne that place in our discourses which it does in those of our Lord ? Have ive not led our people to neglect this duty ? I for one plead guilty, and feel as if I had not made this sufficiently prominent in my ministry, though I have not only preached but written and published upon it. " Is it then any wonder that professing Chris- tians should think so little, when they hear so little about it. And hence there is another result — the obligation to this duty is not felt. It is surprising to see how lightly it presses upon the consciences of many persons. They who would scruple to commit many other sins, have no scruple on the subject of not forgiving. They have no deep solemn sense of constraint ; no feeling of a bond ; no urgency of conscience. An injury is inflicted. 190 JOHX ANGELL JAilES. and instead of at once saying, 'Here is a call for cliarity/ tliey at once in the quickness of resent- ment^ say, ' Here is a demand for resentment/ and they directly form a purpose of retaliation as naturally as if it were tlie thing" most proper to be done." The case is here put with great ability and much force, and there can be no doubt that to a vast extent the complaint of the author is well- founded. The truth is, that Avith multitudes the preaching required would not be endured; it would be resented as legality. Mr. James has taken a very complete Anew of the bearings of this great question on the increase of religion and spread of the Gospel. He says : — " I urge this duty by a regard to the character and progress of true Christianity. You profess to understand and to love religion, and to desire its progress in the world. Do you ? Do you really know ajid practically consider that the Christian religion is a religion of forgiveness ; that it is the rolifjion of a forQ-ivino- God, throuo-h a forg-iving' Saviour, and designed to raise up a forgiving- church? Do you reall}^ know and practically con- sider that all God's redeemed peojole are intended to be witnesses, not only for the doctrine, but the cluty of forgiveness ? Imagine what a sin it is to bear false witness on this point for God, and lead men to consider that Ms religion no more promotes forgiveness than the religion of Paganism. Con- sider what an impression would be produced by the church upon the world in favour of Christianity, if LITEKAUY LABOURS. 191 all professing Christians were seen and known to be persons in whose bosom the spirit of charity dwelt, and who had blotted out by the tears of their own penitence the word, ' Revenge,' from their vocabulary. Why, they would be strong by their weakness, and mighty by their meekness : for who would injure a man wlio was too loving to resent it ? How many would ask, ' Where did these men learn this lesson?' and on being told ' at the cross,' what an idea would it raise in the world of a system of doctrine that could produce such an effect. Now the religion of the New Testament is come into the world to bless mankind, to startle with its novelty, and to attract by its loveliness. And this is the new and beautiful thing by which it is to accomplish its end, by leading men first to obtain mercy, and then to show it. " But alas, alas, how slowly does it gain ground even in the land where it is professed. And why ? Because its path is filled up with the stumbling- blocks cast there by its professors. They misre- present it by their conduct, and lead men to suppose it is no better than other and false religions. The great bulk of mankind take the Gospel just as it is set out before them in the lives of its followers : and as there is so much of the spirit of the world, the spirit of anger, wrath, and malice, they keep aloof from it. They are afraid it will do them no good, yea, that it will do them harm, by adding hypocrisy to their other sins. Yes, they are really afraid of religion. But this would not, could not, be the 192 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. case, if all Christians were like Jesus, ever going about forgiving sins and doing good. Therefore we must be more holy, and in order to this, among other things we must be more meek and gentle — we must be more loving in order to be more lovely, and make our religion more loved. We must by forgiveness live down the suspicions of jealousy, the reproaches of calumny, and the indifference of stupidity. Preaching will not do it — printing will not do it. Sermons and books will not do it. Eloquence may descant upon forgiveness, and the rhetoric of the orator may be admired; but if we wish religion to prosper, all who profess it must be seen and known to pardon those who injure them." "the young man's friend through life to immortality." That man has no claim to the character of a Christian philanthropist whose heart does not warm within him at the intimation that upwards of 20,000 copies of this work are already in circulation. I hope the day draws on when these figures will be very extensively multiplied. Were 250,000 copies in operation on the minds of the rising race amongst us, it would still come short of the neces- sities of the case. Were its diffusion to be co-ex- tensive with its merits and the real wants of our young men, the issue would not cease until four times the number suggested. If it be remembered that the young men of the nation are its right arm — we LITEKAKY LABOUES. 193 miglit almost say its very heart — and that by and by tliey will constitute the nation itself, the deposi- tories of its power, and wealth, and influence — the occupants of all its ofiices, and the doers of all its work — it will be seen that to enlighten their minds, to purify their hearts, and to mould their charac- ters, is the highest service that can be rendered to the age that now is, as well as that which is to come. It is, therefore, no extravagance to say, that had John Angell James done nothing for his generation beyond producing this volume, he would have been entitled to rank as one of its chief bene- factors. The subjects discussed, which go far to exhaust the theme, are the following : — I. Preparation for Life. II. The Young Man Entering Life. III. The Young Man Entering Life Undecided in Religion. IV. The Young Man Possessing a Defective Amiability. V. The Young Man Perplexed by Religious Controversy. VI. The Character of Joseph a Study for Youth. VII. The Study bf the Book of Proverbs. VIII. The Young Man Succeeding or Failing in^Business. IX. The Young Man Emigrating to a Foreign Country. X. The Young Man Disappointing or Realizing the Hopes of his Parents. 0 1^4 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. XI. The Young" Man Impressed with, tlie Im- portance of the Age in which he Lives. XII. The Young- Man Dying Early, or Li-\ang- to Re%"iew Life in Old Age. In the present case, greatly more is performed than is promised; the contents give but a very inadequate idea of the real worth of the work. Here is an awakening" passage : — "Imagine what may happen, must happen, in sixty or seventy years. Through what a variety of situations, temptations, difficulties, trials, changes, even if there be nothing at all extraordinarj' or out of the common course of man's history, you will be called to pass. And should not all this be prepared for ? It is impossible for you now to foresee the designs of Providence towards you. I would not excite and influence your imagination to anything that is romantic ; nor set you upon building castles in the air ; nor lead you to leave off plodding, and in the exercise of an unauthorized ambition, to seek, by a leap or bound, to reach an exalted situation, or by a stroke to grasp a large fortune. Still it is im- possible to conjecture what opportimity you may have given you, by patient and successful industry, to rise in life. In this happy country, there is no chain of caste which binds a man down to the situa- tion and circumstances of his birth. The very heights in social and commercial life are accessible to all, from whatever low level they commence the ascent. The grandfather of the late Sir Eobert Peel was at one time a journeyman cotton-spinner. He that laid the foundation of the greatness and wealth LITERARY LABOURS. 195 of the ArkwrigM family, Avas a barber. Carey, one of tlie greatest linguists and missionaries of modern times, was a cobbler. Stephenson, the great en- gineer and first constructor of railways, was a mender of watches. No one knows what openings Grod may set before him in life, and should he not be prepared to take advantage of them ? Yea, this very preparation, in many cases, makes the opening. Ignorance, idleness, and vice, can never rise. They "will ever sink by their own weight, and effectually close any door which Providence might set open. What a painful reflection is it for any man to make in future life, when some rare and golden oppor- tunity presents itself for bettering his condition, ' Alas ! I cannot avail myself of it. I am disquali- fied. I made no preparation. With tolerable dili- gence at school, and during my apprenticeship, I could have fitted myself for it ; but my indolence then, and my folly and sin subsequently, have put it quite out of my power to seize the advantage thus offered me.^ From this, and, indeed, all the other works of !Mr. James, it would seem as if he had done nothing- else, during his waking hours, but walk up and down in the earth, closely observing and carefully noting whatever struck him as bearing on the work of public instruction. He is equally at home in dealing with all classes, from the highest to the lowest. The princely merchant, the toiling me- chanic, the servant-maid, and the apprentice-boy, all feel that they are in the presence of a man who is thoroughly acquainted with their way of life, 196 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. their cares, conflicts^ sufferings, and sliort comings. He tlius discourses of bad books, bad places, and bad habits : — " With much the same emphasis do I warn you against had hooJis — the infidel and immoral publica- tions of which such a turbid deluge is now flowing from the press^ and depositing on the land a soil in which the seeds of all evil will grow with rank luxu- riance. Infidelity and immorality have £;eized upon fiction and poetry, and are endeavouring to press into their ser\"ice even science and the arts. But besides these, books that inflame the imagination and corrupt the taste, that even by their excitement unfit the mind for the sober realities of life, or that indispose it by everlasting laughter for all that is grave, serious, and dignified, are all to be avoided. In some respects bad books are more mischievous than bad companions, since they are still more ac- cessible, and more constantly with us ; can be more secretly consulted, and lodge their poison more abid- ingly in the imagination, the intellect, and the heart. A bad book is a bad companion of the worst kind, and prepares for bad companions of aU other kinds. " There are had places, also, which endanger you, as well as bad companions and bad books ; where, if you have not already formed bad companionships, you are sure to find them. There is the tavern, the resort of drunkards — the brothel, the resort of de- bauchees — and the theatre, the resort of both. All these are the avenues to ruin ; the wide gates that open into the way of destruction. Many who have been kept out of the way of these places at home. LITERARY LABOURS. 197 on entering life have indulged, in the first instance, rather a prurient curiosity than an inclination to sin, and have thought they would go once to them, just to see what they are, and whether there is all the harm that has been represented. Fatal curio- sity ! Oh that once — i\\a,t first wrong step — that slip off from the summit of the inclined plane ! The door of evil was opened, never again to be closed. Never trust yourself even once in a place where you would not feel yourself justified in going habitually. Never go even once, where you are sure you would not be followed with the approbation of your father, your conscience, and your God, and from which you would not be willing to go immediately to the judg- ment-seat of Christ. In illustration of the danger of a single visit to an anti- Christian scene of amuse- ment, I may here repeat the fact which I have given in another publication, of one of the primitive Chris- tians, that for a long time resisted the importunities of a friend who invited him to witness the gladiato- rial figlits in the amphitheatre. At length he was subdued, but determined that he would sit with his eyes closed, and thus quiet his own conscience, while he yielded to the solicitations of his friend. An unusual shout of applause which followed some display of skill or corn-age, excited his curiosity. He opened his eyes, he was interested, could not close them again — went again voluntarily — became a con- stant and eager attendant— abandoned Christianity, and died a pagan. How many more have been vic- tims to one visit to forbidden places. " I mention also had Itabits — habits of extrava- ^98 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. gance in tlie way of apparel, ornamentsi, and plea- sure-taking. A love of gay personal appearance, and sensual gratification, leads to expense ; and as extravagance must liave resources, if honesty and industry cannot supply them, dishonesty -will create them. Be frugal, economical, prudent. Begin life with a determination to live within your income. Have no needless artificial wants — dispense with the cigar; it costs money, excites appetite for liquor, leads to evil company and evil places ; and intro- duces other expenses and other hahits. Common and simple as this hahit seems to be, it does not always stop with itself. It is within my own- know- ledge that young men have involved themselves in debt and disgrace by this indulgence.'^ Mr. James treats of a very prevalent evil as follows : — • " This is perhaps the most graphic and vivid de- scription of inebriety ever yet g-iven to the world. The drawing is perfect, and not less so the colour- ing. It has been often called, and with great truth and justice, 'the drunkard's looking-glass, in which he may see his own face.' It is said that amidst all the splendid furniture and ornaments of our gin- palaces the mirror is not found; the vendors of poison not being very wilHng that the miserable victims should see their own suicidal act, in gulping the fatal dram, reflected. In default of a looking- glass, I wish they could be compelled to have the passage just quoted painted in large and flaming characters, and hung up in the most conspicuous place of these human slaughter-houses. Observe LITERAKY LABOURS. 199 the description of the drunkard. Tlie quarrelsome temper whicli liquor produces — the fights in wluch it involves the man who quaffs it^ and the wounds he gets in his affrays — his babbling discourse on subjects which he does not understand, and is then unfitted to discuss, when blasphemy is wit, treason courage, and ribaldry eloquence — his going on, when inflamed by wine, to the gratification of other lusts, and the commission of other sins — his insensi- bility to injury and danger when his brain is stupi- fied — his returning to the indulgence of his vicious appetite when awakening up from Ids drunken slumber — his intense misery and woe produced by his remorse of mind and wretchedness of body — these are all set forth in this wonderful passage with a graphic power that nothing can exceed. " Begin life. Young Men, with an extreme dread of this vice. There is ground for alarm. Drunken- ness was never more prevalent than it is now. Myriads and myriads sink every year into the drunkard^s grave, and lower still, into the drunkard's hell. One-half of the lunacy— two-thirds of the pauperism — and three-fourths of the crime of society, are said to spring from this desolating habit. Be- ware, then, of this dreadful appetite and propen- sity. Be afraid of it. Consider yourselves liable to it. Abandon all self-confidence. Avoid everything that leads to drinking. Abjure tobacco in every shape. Shun bad company. Never cross the threshold of the tavern for the purpose of convi- viality. Practise total abstinence. All the di-unkards that are, or ever have been, were moderate men 200 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. once. I do most earnestly entreat you to abstain from all intoxicating drinks. You do not need them for health, and to take them for gi-atification is the germ of inebriety. Total abstinence will con- duce to health — to economy — to prosperity. You will one day bless me if this chapter should lead you to adopt this practice. I do not say that this will ensure the practice of every virtue, and the enjoy- ment of all prosperity, but I know nothing in the order of preparatory means more likely to be fol- lowed with such results." ^^Tiatever value may attach to books of human origin, arises solely from what they have derived from the pages of that which is inspired. If men would but read that as it ought to be read, they may dispense with everji^hing else. While all is precious above rubies in the holy volume, there is one book specially entitled to the attention of young men — the book of Proverbs. Mr. James thus speaks of that marvellous storehouse of divine wisdom : — " Though there is much in this book which, pro- perly understood and followed, would, in connection with other parts of Scripture, guide the reader to heaven, and prepare him for its enjoyment, it must be confessed and remembered, that it principalhj aims to form the social character for the present ivorld. What we have already said on this subject we re- peat, that for a clear and explicit knowledge of the way of pardon and eternal life, we must read the New Testament. There we learn how Christ is made of God unto us ' wisdom, and righteousness. LITERARY LABOURS. 201 and sanctification, and redemption.' And even there also we learn tie great moral principles on wliicli all the transactions of this world's business should he founded ; but it is in this extraordinary- book that all the details of social life are given with a minuteness that is really extraordinary. It is the tradesman's vado rncnnn. It might lie upon his desk by the side of his ledger, and even tliat, in a thousand instances, would have been in a better state, had this been more constantly consulted. It is my firm belief, that no man who reads this book through with close attention and earnest prayer, once a year, will fail, either in this world, or in reference to that which is to come. It is designed and adapted to form the industrious, prudent, honourable, and successful tradesman, and is there- fore eminently suited to this great commercial country. Napoleon Bonaparte, when in the zenith of his power and pride, called this country, more in a spirit of mortification and envy than of contempt, a nation of shophcpers. If by that term he com- prehended our merchants and manufacturers, he did not inaptly describe us. We are not ashamed of our commercial character and greatness ; and provided our merchandise be carried on upon the principles of this book, and we thus inscribe upon it Holiness to the Lord, it is our glory and defence. "In this hooli is disclosed the secret of true happi- ness, and which, indeed, if possessed, will make happy individuals, happy families, happy neighbour- hoods, happy nations, and a happy world. All the 202 .TOTIX ANGELL JAMES. errors Avhicli men hare fallen into on this subject ; all the delusive sliadows, tlie polluted springs, the deleterious ingredients^ wliicli have misled so many, are here detected and exposed ; while the nature, the source, and the means of true felicity, are as clearly pointed out. Here in the favour of God, in the mortification of our corruptions, in the restraint of our passions, in the cultivation of our graces, in the performance of our duties, in promotiug the good of our neighbours, and in the hope of immor- tality, are the materials of human blessedness. Here happiness is set forth not in the heathen forms of Bacchus, Venus, or liJomus; not by such descrip- tions as those of Horace, Ovid, and Anacreon ; not by such rout and revelry as the lovers of pleasure in every age would, recommend. Quite the con- trary. In this book, happiness is seen descending from heaven, her native place, and lighting iipon our orb in the seraph form of religion. She is clad in the i-obe of righteousness, arrayed in the gar- ment of salvation, and adorned with the ornament of a meek and quiet spii-it. Like the king's daughter of old, she "^is all glorious within, her clothiug is of wrought gold." Joy sparkles in her eye, and peace reposes upon her brow. Her con- science is easy by pardon, and her heart is light through purity. The song of the seraphim is upon her lips. Her hand is alternately lifted up in ado- ration to God, and stretched out in mercy to his necessitous creatures. Her feet ever carry her with willing steps, either to the house of prayer or to the abodes of sorrow. Her excellences are described. LITERARY LABOURS. 203 and her praises are sung, not in the odes of licen- tious poets, at sensual orgies, in strains inspii-ed by lust and wine ; but in the hymns composed by pro- phets and apostles, resounding in the temples of devotion, or chanted by good and holy men in the circles of their friends, or the homes of their fami- lies. Such is the happiness set forth in tliis book, the only thing which deserves the name, the only thing that can prove itself worfJty of the name. That seraph form lights. Young Men, in your path, and with her own angeUc, divine, and hea^'enly smile, beckons you to follow her to the well-spring of delight, repeating, at every step, the beautiful language of this book, ' Happy is the ?jan that FINDETH WISDOM.' " It is difficult which more to admire — the spi- rituality or the Ts'Orldly wisdom of this book ; its conclusions on business are invakiablo. Here are fragments : — ■ " Method and Hijstem have much to do with failure or success. In this I include liromptucss, as opposed to procrastination. No habit can be more fatal to success than the wretched disposition of postponing till another time that which ought to be done, and can be done, at once. Procrastination has ruined millions for both worlds. There is a class of adverbs which some men appear never to have studied, but which are of immense importance in all the affairs both of time and eternity — I mean the words ' in- stantly,' ' immediately,' ' at once,' ' now,' and for which they have unliappily substituted jjresently,' 'by and by,' to-morrow,' 'at some future time.' 204 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. Young Men, catcli the inspiration of that weighty monosyllable — 'now.' Yield to the potency of that word — ' instantly.' But to use a still more business- like term, acquire a habit of 'despatch.' And in order to this, do not only something immediately, but do immediately the thing that ought to be done next. "P'unrfiialif ij is of immense consequence. It has been rather ludicrously said, ' Some people seem to have been born half an hour after their time, and they never fetch it up all their lives.' In the present busy age, when business is so extended and complicated, and when, of course, one man is so dependent upon another, and oftentimes many upon one^ a want of punctuality is not only a fault, but a vice, and a vice which inflicts an injury not only upon the transgressor himself, but upon others who have been waiting for him. '^You have caused us to lose an hour,' said a gentleman to another, for whose appearance twelve persons had been waiting. ' Oh, that is impossible,' replied the laggard, ' for it is only five minutes after the time.' ' Very true,' was the rejoinder, ' but here are twelve of us, each of whom has lost five minutes.' He who keeps servants, customers, or creditors waiting, through his want of punctuality, can never prosper. This is as irreligious as it is injurious, inasmuch as the Apostle has commanded us to ' redeem the time.' Order is no less essential to system and success than promptness and punctuality. Order, it is said, is heaven's first law, an aphorism as true of earth as it is of heaven, and as applicable to the movements LITERARY LABOURS. 205 of trade as of tlie stars. A place and a time for everything, and everything in its place and time, is the rule of every successful tradesman. A disor- derly and irregular man may be diligent, that is, may be ever in a bustle, a very different thing from a well-regulated activity, but his want of order de- feats everything. The machinery of his habits may have velocity and power, but its movements are irregular and eccentric, and therefore unproductive, or productive only of uncertain, incomplete, and. sometimes mischievous results. A disorderly man wastes not only his own time, but that of others who are dependent upon, and waiting for him — nor does the waste stop here, for what a useless expen- diture of energy and a painful reduction of comfort, are ever going on. "Economy has a most powerful influence in determining the failure or success of a young tradesman. This applies to personal, trade, and domestic expenses, and the man who would succeed in life must reduce them all to the lowest prudent level. In order to keep down the expenses of trade, he must do with as little purchased help as he can ; and to accomplish this, he must be a hard worker himself till he has attained to that pitch of prosperity, when he can do more with his eyes and his ears tlian with his hands and feet. As to personal expenses, let him avoid all unnecessary consumption of money in dress and ornaments. Let it be no part of your ambition. Young Men, to be noticed and admired for matters of this kind. It is a very grovelling ambi- tion to be complimented for that with which the 206 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. draper, tlie mercer, and tlie jeweller, may bedizen the veriest fool in existence. How mean and petty is fojjpery, compared witli an enliglitened mind, a dig- nified character, and tlie beauties of holiness. I am not an advocate for either meanness or slovenliness. Cleanliness and neatness border upon virtue, as ex- cessive foppery and expensiveness do upon vice. It is unworthy of a female to be inordinately fond of dress — but for a man to love finery is despicable indeed. Avoid also the love of pleasure, for ' he THAT LOVETH PLEASURE SHALL BE A POOR MAK.' Never were truer words uttered. The man who is bent upon Avhat is called ' enjoy iiuj Jiimself/ who ivill have his boon companions, his amusements, and his frequent seasons of recreation ; who is fond of par- ties, entertainments, the gaming-table, the ball-room, the concert, and the theatre — is on the highroad to poverty in this world, and to hell in the next. Let tlie lover of pleasure read the history of Sampson in the Old Testament, and of the Prodigal in the New — and also let him turn back to the illustrations contained in the last chapter. If you would have economical habits as a master, cultivate theui as a servant. Begin now and persevere. But you must carry out the principle of economy into your domestic establishment. Frugality in the house is a virtue, and extravagance a vice. If you would have ele- gance and luxuries at the close of life, be content with necessaries at the beginning of it. He that must have superfluities at the beginning, will in all probability have scarcely comforts at the end. Let youi- furniture, your style of Hving, your whole do- LITERAKY LABOURS. 207 mestic establisliment, be all arranged upon tlie principle of a rigid, tbougli not moan economy. Never aim to cover over poverty by extravagance, nor adopt tlie false principle ttat style is nece.ssary to success. Such conduct often defeats its own end, by exciting suspicion and undermining- credit. Wise creditors bave keen and vigilant eyes, that look not only at the shop, but penetrate into the dining and drawing-room, and thus watch the mode of living as well as of doing business. They deal more rea- dily and upon better terms with the frugal man, than with the extravagant one. The basis of credit is laid in economical simplicity and plain Hving, not in unsubstantial splendour, — just as the foundation of a house consists of unadorned bricks and un- sculptured stone, and not of carved and gilded wood. It is the diligent and frugal man who is considered, to be the trustworthy one.'' These paragraphs alone ;ire worth the price of the work many times over. I attach so much im- portance to the following that I cannot withhold it :— " Fcrticveraiiee is also necessary to success. With- out this nothing good or great can be achieved in our world. Success is not so much a creation, as a gradual formation — a slow deposit. In business it usually proceeds on the principle o{ arithmetical progression, till at a certain stage, and in some few instances, it changes its ratio of increase to that of geometrical progression. The ascent in life is usually the reverse of that of a mountain. In the latter case the steepest part is near the summit ; in the for- 208 JOHX AXGELL JA3IES. mer at tlie base. Both, liowever, require perseve- rance. He tliat would succeed, must not expect to reach his object by a light, easy, and elastic bound, but by many a successive and weary step, and occa- sionally, perhaps, by a step backwards. He must go on sometimes amidst discouragement, and always with labour. There are some who cannot succeed, because they will not wait for it. If success does not come at first, they will not follow after it. They are as impatient as the foolish child that sowed his seed in the morning, and went to bed hopeless and crpng because he did not see it springing up be- fore sunset. Be ever hopeful, prayerful, and perse- vering. ' In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand, for thou knowest not whether shall prosper either this or that, or whe- ther they both shall be alike good.' ' Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long- patience for it. Be ye also patient.'" These samples will sufficiently bear out all I have said of the incomparable worth of the book. We have many on the subject of our young men, but none that admit of comparison mth tlais. " THE YOUNG MAN FEOil HOME." The idea of this book was a most happy one. It is alike stamped with originality and benevolence. It is an apple of gold set in a picture of silver. There is nothing in it that a wise and loving parent could wish to be expunged, and there is very little LITERARY LABOURS. 209 he cdultl liave Avislied to liave been inserted wanting. Tlie following are the points discussed : — I. The Time of a Young Man's Leaving Home always a Critical Period. II. The Sources of Danger to Young Men away from Home. III. Sources of Danger continued. IV. The Progressive Manner and Successive Steps by which many Young Men are led astray. V. The Danger of Young Men away from Home Proved and Illustrated by Two Examples. VI. Dangers of a Minor Kind to which Young Men away from Home are exposed. VII. The Means of Safety for Young Men away from Home. VIII. Keligion Considered as a Preservative from Sin. IX. Religion Considered as Leading to Comfort and Happiness. X. Religion Viewed as a Means of Promoting the Temporal Interest of its Possessor. XL Religion Considered as a Means of Use- fulness. XII. Religion Considered as a Preparation for Superintending a Home of your own upon Earth, and for Going to an Eternal Home in Heaven. XIII. Several Classes of Young Men specially Addressed — The Traveller by Sea or Land — The Orphan — The Pious Youth — The Prodigal. From this it will be seen that the offices of every-day life are carefully attended to. It is more- over clearly shown that godliness has the life that p 210 JOH-N ANGELL JAMES. now is as well as tliat wMcli is to come, life fol- lowing is a passage of rare beauty : — " MartjTS of concupiscence, victims of drunken- ness, ye loathsome spectacles, ye living corpses, full of everything that is tormenting to yourselves and disgusting to others, rise like spectres before the imagination of young men, to deter them from the crimes which have reduced you to cori-uptiou, even on this side of the grave. Religion would have guarded you fi-om all this ! Such men live out not half their days. But see what is in the left hand of wisdom : ' riches and honour.^ Not that religion shields from poverty, and guides all her subjects to wealth ; but still it prevents the crimes which lead to the one, and implants the virtues which tend to the other. Sin is an expensive thing, as we have already considered ; it is a constant drain upon the pocket, and keeps a man poor, or makes him dis- honest : while piety is frugal, industrious, sober, and prudent ; it makes a man trustworthy, confi- dential, and procures for him esteem, preference, and station. Do you Avish to prosper, and get on in the world? (and it is quite lawful for you to wish it, you ought indeed to wish it,) go to wisdom, and take the blessing, even riches and honour, Avhich she has in her left hand, and which she holds out to you. Go and pluck the fruit of this tree of life, or catch the precious produce as the boughs are shaken by the favouring gales of Providence. " How many young men have left their native village, and their father's house, with all the property the}- had on earth tied up in the bundle they carried LITEKARY L.V330UKS. 211 in their liaiid, and liavc gone to London poor and almost friendless lads, who yet, because they became the disciples and admirers of this wisdom, have I'isen to opulence and respectability ! \'\niat names could I record, dear to the Church of God, and known to the friends of man throughout the country and the world, who, by the aid of religion, rose from obscurity to renown, and from poverty to wealth ! Their history is a striking proof that ' godliness is profitable unto all things, having pro- mise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.' I could mention, were it proper, the name of one, who went into an extensive concern in Lon- don as a boy to sweep the shop and carry out goods, who became, at length, possessor of the whole con- cern, died rich, and his property, in part, became the foundation of a new charitable institution : of another, who, from a poor lad, became a leading man in one of our religious denominations, and the treasurer of one of our most useful societies : of a third, Avho, from being a shop boy in the city, became the possessor of a large fortune, which at his decease enriched many of the noblest institutions of the present time. In these cases, religion, by rendering them steady, industrious, and confidential, was the means of their opulence and elevation. They shunned evil companions, evil places, evil habits, evil amusements, and, under the influence of piety, entered those paths which lead many from poverty to wealth, and from obscurity to renown. They sat down as young men at the feet of wisdom, learned her lessons, and received her rewards. 212 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. "I do not mean to say tliat religion without application to business, or talents for it, will suc- ceed ; but religion, by giving diligence and sharp- ening the faculties, will promote success. Piety exerts a favourable influence, not only on the morals, but on the secular habits of life : and one piece of advice which wisdom delivers, as she holds out her eft-hand blessings, is. Be diligent in business, as well as fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, Rom. xii. 11. It is a lawful and proper ambition to try to excel in the profession or business to which you have devoted your life. You ought not to be satis- fied with dull mediocrity, much less with creeping, grovelling inferiority. You happily live in a country where the summits of society are accessible to those who seem, by the circumstances of their birth, to be placed at the base. The grandfather of the late Sir Robert Peel was at one time a journeyman cotton- spinner ; nor is there any legal bar across the path of any other aspirant after distinction ; but it is only talent, united with good conduct, that can expect to rise : while incompetence, which is more frequently the result of a Avant of application than of ability and indolence, will sink. Piety and a desire to excel in business are helpful to each other : the former will give the virtues necessary to the latter, while the latter will guard the former from being destroyed by many of those evils to which youth are exposed, and by which they are hindered from getting on in life. " The cultivation of the mind in all useful know- ledge, is also auxiliary to elevation in life. A reli- LITERARY LABOURS. 213 gious dolt may I'ise, but it is not usual. Besides, admitting tliat religion does sometimes help igno- rance up the steep ascent to wealth, it is knowledge alone that can fit a man for eminent usefulness. Employ your spare time in reading and acquiring knowledge. Ignorance was never so inexcusable as it is now, when the fountains of science are opened all around us, and the streams of learning are flow- ing even into the cottages of the poor. Religion and knowledge are harmonious, and reciprocally helpful. Let your reading be select and useful. Squander not the little time you have to spare upon trash. Read history, natural philosophy, the evi- dences of revealed religion, and some of our best- conducted periodical publications. " How well is that young man defended from the dangers that surround him, and how likely to rise in life, who has religion to sanctify his heart, appli- cation to business to occupy his time, and a taste for reading to employ his leisure ! It is he that receives from wisdom the blessings she holds forth in both of her hands ; length of days in the right, and riches and honour in the left ; and at the same time it is his to gather from the tree of life the fruit of glory and immortality." That " the righteous is more excellent than his neighbour" is a proposition none can deny; it is daily demonstrated through examples counted by millions. Mr. James remarks : — " To do good is God-like ; to do evil is Devil- like : and we are all imitating God or Satan, accord- ingly as we are leading a holy or a sinful life. It is 214 JOHX ANGELL JAMES. said in Scripture^ that ' one sinner destroyetli mucli good he not only does not do good himself, but he destroys good in others. Instead of doing good, he does evil. He not only leaves unassisted all the great means and instrnnients for improving and blessing- the world, and has no share in all that is being done for the spiritual and eternal welfare of mankind but he opposes it, and seeks to perpetuate and extend the reign of sin, and the kingdom of Satan. He corrupts by his principles, seduces by his example, and leads others astray by his per- suasions. V^ ho can imagine, I again say, how many miserable ghosts await his arrival in hell, or follow him there to be liis toimientors, in revenge for his having been their tempter. He is ever scattering the seeds of poison and death in his path. Eeligion ha])pii_y saves from this mischief all who possess it : it makes a man an instrument of good, and not of evil, to his fellow-creatures ; it renders him a bless- ing, and not a curse ; a saviour, and not a destroyer ; a physician to heal, and not a murderer to destroy. He lives to do good — good of the noblest and most lasting kind, good to the soul, good to distant nations, good to the world, good to unborn genera- tions, good for eternity. He is a benefactor to his species — a philanthropist of the noblest order. By a pious example, he adorns relig-ion, and recommends it to others, who, attracted by the beauties of holi- ness as they are reflected from his character, are led to imitate his conduct. He connects himself, while yet a youth, with a Sunday-school, and trains up the minds of his scholars in the ways of virtue and reli- LITERARY LABOURS. 215 gion. He associates witli a Tract Society, and visits tfie habitations of tlie poor with, these admirable compcnds of Bible truth. As life advances, property increases, and influence becomes more powerful, his sphere of usefulness widens, his energies sti'eugthen, and his devotedness becomes more intense. He consecrates a share of his gains to the funds of Bible, Missionary, and various other societies, and gives his time, his wisdom, and his labour to the committees that direct their affairs. He thus lives not for himself alone, but for the glory of God, the spread of religion, and the salvation of souls. To do good is his aim, his delight, his business. He catches the spirit of the times, and is a man of the age, and /or the age. In secret he swells the cloud of incense that rises from the church, and which no sooner touches the throne of grace than it descends in showers of blessings upon the world. He needs not the intoxicating cup of worldly amusement, as a relief and diversion from the toils of business, and the cares of life, but drinks a purer draught from the fountain, whose living waters he is engaged in conveying to those Avho are sinking into eternal • de;ith. He is consulted on every new scheme of mercy, and called on to assist in working- it for the relief of human wretchedness. His name is enrolled on the list of benefactors, and pronounced with respect by all who know him. The blessing of liim that was ready to perish comes upon him, and he has caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. Thus he lives. A happy death terminates a holy and useful life. ' I heard a voice from heaven saying 216 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. unto me. Write, Blessed are the dead whicli die in the Lord, from lienceforth. : Yea, saitli tlio Spirif, that they may rest from their labours ; and their works do follow them/ He is received into glory by the Lord Jesus, who yviih a smile bids him welcome, saying, 'Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Transcendent scene ! glorious spectacle ! His use- fulness is seen in living forms of glory everlasting'. The good he did on earth follows him to heaven, and is a part of it. He will never cease to reap the rich reward of doing good, as with adoring wonder and rapturous delight he hears his name repeated with grateful praise in the golden streets of the New Jerusalem, by those whom he was the instrument of conducting to the celestial city." " THE CHRISTIAN FATHER'S PRESENT TO HIS CHILDREN." Mr. James never produced anything more thoroughly popular. For years it ran through a large impression annually. The range of topics is very wide, and without exception, they are all of a stirring character. The texture of the book is natural, easy, and even loose ; till the end there is hardly an elaborate paragraph : he never falls into anything like terse and regular composition. The work abounds in extract and anecdote all touching, amusing, or instructive. Almost any minister in the land might have written it, and yet J. A. J ames was the only man to whom it occurred to do so. The following are the topics : — LITERARY LABOURS. 21 I. On the Anxiety of a Christian Parent for the Spiritual Welfare of his Children. II. On the Dispositions with which we should Enter upon an Inquiry into the Nature of Religion. III. On Right Sentiments in Religion. IV. On the Nature of True Religion. V. On the Advantages and Responsibility of a Pious Education. VI. On the most Prevailing Obstacles which Prevent Young People from Entering on a Religious Life. VII. On the Deceitfulness of the Heart. VIII. On Transient Devotions. IX. On Decision of Character in Religion. X. On the Pleasures of a Religious Life. XI. On the Advantages of Early Piety. XII. On the Influence of Religion upon the Temporal Interests of its Possessor. XIII. On the Choice of Companions. XIV. On Books. XV. On Amusements and Recreations, XVI. On Theatrical Amusements. XVII. On the Period which Elapses between the Time of leaving School and the Age of Manhood. XVIII. On Public Spirit. XIX. On Female Accomplishments, Virtues, and Pursuits. XX. On Prudence, Modesty, and Courtesy. XXI. On Redeeming Time. XXII. On the Obligation to Enter into Fellow- ship with the Christian Chuich. XXIII. On the Choice of a Companion for Life. 218 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. XXIY. On Keeping inViewtlie Great End of Life. XXV. On the Meeting of a Pious Family in Heaven. Tlie question, " A'\Tiat profit shall we liave if we pray unto him ?" is well answered. The following is a sample : — " It certainly prevents those vices which tend to fovcrty. Penmy is often the effect of vice. How many have hurled themselves and their families from the pinnacles of prosperity to the depths of adversity, by a course of wicked and profligate exti-avagauce. IMultitudes have spent all theii- substance, hke the prodigal son, upon harlots and riotous living. Pride has ruined thousands, and indolence its tens of thousands. It is an observa- tion of Franklin, ' that one vice costs more to keep than two children.^ Religion is the most econo- micnl, and sin the most expensive thing in the Avorld. How much do the di'unkard, debauchee. Sabbath-breaker, and frequenter of theatres, pay for their sinful gratifications. What is spent in this kingdoiii every year in the gTosser sensual indul- gences, would pay the interest of the national debt. Piety v^'ould save all this to the nation. " And then it not only prevents the vices which tend to poverty, hat enjoins and cherishes the virtues ich ich lead i o 'prosjiierity. It makes a man industrious, and is not this the way to wealth ? It renders him sober; and does not sobriety tend to advance our fortune ? It enforces a right improvement of time, and surely this is advantageous to every one. It prescribes frugality, which tends to increase. If a LXTEKAUY LABOURS. 219 young man is in tlie service of anotliei"^ P^ctj, by eaiisiug' him to speak the truth, and adhere to the principles of honesty^ renders him trustworthy and confidential. We have a most striking and in- structive instance of this in the history of Joseph, of whom the historian thus writes : ' Ajid the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man ; and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and t]iat the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found gi-ace in his sight, and he served him ; and he made him overseer over liis house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And ho left all that he had in Joseph^s liand, and lie knew not ought he had, save the bread whicli he did eat.^ This is one of the most lovely and cou- vincinsr cases on record of the influence of relimon on our temporal interests. It was his piety that secured to Joseph this elevation and prosperity ; it was religion that exalted him fr-om a menial slave to a steward. Innumerable are the cases in Avhich persons who set out on the journey of life without property, and without patronage, have, by dint of those \'irtues which religion enjoins, risen to respec- tability and affiuence. They wore first, probablj-, in a state of ser,'itudc, v/here, by their steadiness and good conduct, they so attached themselves to their employers, as to become, in their estimation, almost essential to the future success of the lousiness ; and the result has been a share, and, in some cases, the whole of the trade, which they had contributed so materially to establish. 220 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. "A friend of mine was once walking in the neig'liboui'liood of a larsje manufacturino- town on a very cold winter's morning, when he overtook a plain man, decently clad, and wrapped in a comfortable greatcoat. After the usual salutations, my friend said to the stranger, ' I am glad to see you with such a good warm covering this cold morning.' 'It was not always thus,' the man replied. 'I was once a poor miserable creature, and had neither good clothes nor good victuals ; now I have both and a hundred pounds in the bank.' ' What pro- duced this favourable change ?' continued my friend. ' Religion, sir ; I am a good workman, and, as is too commonly the case with such men, spent half my time, and all my wages nearly, at the pubHc- house. I was, of course, always poor, and always wretched. By God's direction, I was led to hear the Methodists, when by Divine grace the word reached my heart. I repented of my sins, and became a new creature in Christ Jesus ; old things passed away, and all things became new. Religion made me industrious and sober, nothing now went for sin; and the result is, that I am comfortable, and comparatively rich.' " I reflect with unutterable grief, as I now write, upon many young men, who were entering life with the greatest advantages and the brightest prospects, whom, to use a common expression, fortune favoured with her brightest smiles : but, alas ! they would not be happy and respectable, for taking to the ways of sin, they dashed all the hopes of their friends. LITERARY LABOURS. 221 and wantonly threw away the opportunities which a kind providence had put within their reach. They went first to the theatre, then to the brothel, then to the tavern. They became dissipated, extrava- gant, idle. UnhapjDy youths ! I know what they might have been ; respectable tradesmen, pros- perous merchants, honourable members of society : I know what they are ; bloated rakes, discarded partners, uncertificated bankrupts, miserable va- grants, a burthen to their friends, a nuisance to the community, and a torment to themselves." Mr. James, in laying down an outline of private study, specifies the following books, which, although many of them are now superseded, are good and useful : — " In addition to the Bible, there are many unin- spired religious books which I recommend. In the class of Biography, Hunter's Scripture Characters is a most fascinating production ; Brook's Lives of the Puritans, Gilpin's Lives of the Reformers, Cox's Life of Melancthon, are all useful and interesting. Mr. Williams' Life and Diaiy will show you how the tradesman may be busy for both worlds. The Life of Pearce, by Fuller, is an excellent work. Mar- tyn's Memoirs is the most interesting piece of Bio- graphy published in modern times. Durant's Life and Remains of his Son are singularly in- structive. " Should you wish to read on DocfyuioZ Theology, I strongly recommend Dwiglit's System. On the Evidences of Christ ian ify, Bishop Watson's Apology, in reply to Paine ; likewise Bogue's Essay, Chal- 222 JOHN ANCiKLL JAMES. mers' Historical Evidences ; tlie masterly work of Palcy ; and Campbell on miracles, a work whicli meets tke subtleties of Hume. As a work of general biblical knowledge, too muck praise cannot be be- stowed on Home's Introduction to tke Critical Study of the Bible. No young person skould suffer him- self to live another month without seeking to gain access to this invaluable book. Townsend's Chro- nological Arrangements of the Old and New Testa- ments is a very useful work. On Clmrcli Hlstorij, I recommend Burnet's History of the Reformation ; Campbell for his ad- mii'able description of the rise, progress, and spirit of Popery; Mosheim, for his account of the error and corruptions of the Church ; and Milner for the anxiety to trace true piety, wherever it is to be found, amidst the prevailing ignorance and vice of the times. He is, however, too credulous, and not so impartial in his treatment of the questions whicli bear on dissent, as the dignity and candour of an historian requii'e. Jones's History of the Walden- ses is a very interesting work. " Secondly, the other division of books includes all the varied classes which relate to the affairs of this life. " Enjoying as Britons, the advantages of a poli- tical constitution, which is the work of ages, and the admiration of the world, you should acquaint yt)ursclves with it« theory, and for this purpose may read distance's short work, De Lolme's more ela- borate and philosophical productions, and the first volume of Blackstone's Commentaries, together LITERARY L;VBOURS. 223 ■witli a more modern ^\ork of Lord Jolm Rus- selPs. " Young men should acquaint themselves with the principles of trade and commerce, and of course should be acquainted with Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations. " Histdri/ is a class of reading in which you ought to Lc at home ; and as Britons, it would he to your deep disgrace to be ignorant of the details of your own coinitrij. In this department you ought not to be satisfied with mere facts, and names, and dates, but should read with an eye which discriiui- nates and marks the changes which events introduce into the manners, laws, liberties, and governments of nations. History is something more than a mere chronicle of facts : and our knovfledge of its details should be such as enables us to trace the progress of society, and the march of improvement. The history of Goldsmith should prepare you for the larger and popular work of Hume. The beautiful simplicity of Hume's composition, together with his philosophical mode of analyzing character and tra- cing events, render him peculiarly fascinating : but unhappily Hume was a confirmed infidel, and must be read with a mind ever upon its guard against the poison which he has infused into his narrative ; and his views on the great question of religious libertv were not the most liberal. In his history of the Stuarts, he has suffered his high Tory principles so far to prejudice his mind, and bias his judg-ment, that this portion of his work will be a lasting re- proach to him for his want of accuracy: it is, in fact. 224 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. little better in some places tlian a mere historical romance. It is tiglily probable that his antipathy to religion led him into this error. Perceiving, as he himself confessed, that the Puritans and Noncon- formists were the most zealous friends of liberty, he felt a sort of revulsion for liberal principles, because of the religious sentiments witli which they were so often united. Philosophy, then, does not always emancipate the human understanding from the fet- ters of prejudice. Mv. Brodie, an author of con- siderable reputation, has exposed such a shameful want of accuracy in Hume's account of the Stuarts' reignSj that the authority of this northern sceptic, as a matter-of-fact man, seems to be much on the decline. When you read Hume, remember that, although you are drinking a pleasant draught from a goblet of burnished gold, there is poison in the cup ; happily, the deleterious infusion floats lapon the surface, and may be, therefore, easily detected. An English history, in which there shall be the most sacred regard to the principles of pure morality, evangelical religion, and rational liberty, is still a desideratum in the literature of our country. " The Ancient History of Rollin, eloquent, pure, and moral, should be read by every young person. It is almost impossible to recommend this work too strongly. It has all the interest of a novel, with none of its poison. AVliat need have we of fiction, at least, till we have read such facts as are here embodied ? Rollin, however, it must be confessed, is rather too warlike in the tendency of his remarks. Goldsmith's Greece should prepare for the masterly LITERARY LABOURS. 225 work of Mitford ; and liis Borne, for the gorgeous production of Gibbon. Unliappily, the same remark will apply to this latter writer^ as to his contempo- rary Hume ; he was an infidel, though in a more covert way than the Scotch historian. If you have leisure and inclination to pursue Roman history, Crevier, who was a pupil of EolHn, has supplied the means in his ' Lives of the Emperors and Hooke also, in his Roman History, which is carried down to the death of Octavius. Robertson's historical works are eminently entitled to attention, especially his ' Charles the Fifth,' the introductory volume of which contains a view of the progress of society in Europe, from the subversion of the Roman empire to the beginning of the sixteenth century, and also presents a masterly survey of the gradations by which the social institutions of antiquity have passed through the barbarism of the dark ages into all that characterizes the state of modern Europe. Bishop Burnet's History of his own Times, ought to be perused as the work of an author who wrote the narrative of events which he witnessed, whose vera- city can be trusted, if not his discrimination. " In the department of EngJish Composition, Ad- dison and Johnson, though moral writers, in the usual acceptation of the term, are not always cor- rect in their principles, if, indeed, the New Testa- ment is the standard of moral sentiments. It is desirable to cultivate a good taste, and an elegant style of composition ; and for this purpose, the pro- ductions of these two celebrated writers may be read, together with Burke on the Sublime, Alison Q 226 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. on Taste, Blair's Lectm-es, Campbell on Rlietoric, and Lord Kaimes's Elements of Criticism. " Should you feel inclined, and be favoured with leisure, to pursue the study of Mental Philosophy, I recommend you to begin with Isaac Taylor's Ele- ments of Thought. Then read Mr. Burder's Hints on Mental Culture ; then Dr. Watts on the Improve- ment of the Mind ; then Dr. Eeid's work on the In- tellectual and Active Powers of the Human Mind ; and then study Dugald Stewart's beautiful work on Intellectual Philosophy. " Poetry is a bewitching, and if not of a strictly moral character, a dangerous species of writing. I by no means condemn it, for this would betray a gothic destitution of taste, as well as an ignorance of some of the first principles of our nature. The ear is tuned to enjoy the melody of numbers, and the imagination formed to delight in the creations of fancy. But still it must be recollected that the imagination is amongst the inferior faculties of mind, and that the gratification of the senses is amongst the lowest ends of a rational existence : only a limited perusal of poetry is therefore to be allowed ; such an indulgence iu this mental luxury and re- creation, as will not unfit the mind, or deprive it of opportunity, for severer and more useful pursuits. We should use poetry as we do those pleasing ob- jects of nature, from which it derives its most lovely images ; not as the regions of our constant abode, but as the scenes of our occasional resort. Although the present age can boast the noble productions of such men as Scott^ Southey, Campbell^ and Words- LITERARY LABOURS. 227 worth, wliose poems every person of real taste will read, yet I recommend the more hahitual perusal of our great Milton among the ancients, and Cowper and Montgomery among the moderns : the first for his genius, and the others for their piety. " The whole wide range of Natural History and Experimental Philosophij presents a scene of inte- resting research, through which authors of the first respectability stand always ready to conduct you, unfolding at every step some new proof of the ex- istence, and some fresh display of the wisdom, power, and goodness of the great First Cause. The sublime wonders of astronomy elevate the mind, and throw open an almost infinite field of contem- plation and astonishment. Chemistry, by its com- binations, afl[inities, and repulsions ; by its princi- ples as a theory, and the unlimited practical uses of these principles, is an endless career of pleasing and useful study. Optics, pneumatics, electricity, with all their attendant sciences, have been treated of by writers whose productions assist us to explore the wonderful works of God : while botany shows that the weed we trample under our feet, no less than the mighty orb which rolls through illimitable space, obeys the laws, assumes the place, and accommo- dates itself to the order appointed by its Creator.^' Concerning the " Stage," the author bears a noble testimony to its wickedness, and the abhor- rence in which it has ever been held by the virtuous in all ages and nations. He says : — "It is an indubitable fact that the stage has flourished most in the most cornipt and depraved 228 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. state of society ; and tliat in proportion as sound morality, industry, and religion, advance their in- fluence, the theatre is deserted. It is equally true, that amongst the most passionate admirers, and most constant frequenters of the stage, are to be found the most dissolute and abandoned of mankind. Is it not too manifest to be denied, that piety as instinctively shrinks from the theatre, as human life does from the point of a sword or the draught of poison ? Have not all those who have professed the more elevated piety and morality, borne an unvarying and uniform testimony against the stage ? Even the more virtuous Pagans have condemned this amuse- ment, as injurious to morals and the interests of nations : Solon, Xenophon, Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Livy, Valerius Maximus, Cato, Seneca, Tacitus, the more venerable men of antiquity ; the brightest con- stellation of virtue and talents which ever appeared upon the hemisphere of philosophy, have all de- nounced the theatre as a most abundant source of moral pollution, and assure us that both Greece and Pome had their ruin accelerated by a fatal passion forthese corrupting entertainments. William Prynne, a satirical and pungent writer, who suffered many cruelties for his admirable productions in the time of Charles I., has made a catalogue of authorities against the stage, which contains every name of eminence in the Heathen and Christian worlds, it comprehends the united testimony of the Jewish and Christian churches ; the deliberate acts of fifty- four ancient and modern, general, national, provi- sional councils and synods, both of the Western and LITERARY LABOURS. 229 Eastern churclies ; the condemnatory sentence of seventy-one ancient fathers, and one hundred and fifty modern Popish and Protestant authors; the hostile endeavours of philosophers and even poets ; with the legislative enactments of a great number of Pagan and Christian states, nations, magistrates, emperors and princes. " The American Congress, soon after the Decla- ration of Independence, passed the follomng mo- tion : — " ' Whereas, true religion and good morals are the only solid foundation of public liberty and hap- piness, — " ' Resolved, that it be, and hereby is, earnestly recommended by the several states, to take the most effectual measures for the encouragement thereof, and for the suppressing of theatrical enter- tainments, horse-racing, gaming, and such' other diversions as are productive of idleness, dissipa- tion, and a general depravity of principles and manners.' " Now must not this be regarded in the light of very strong presumptive evidence of the immoral tendency of the stage ? Does it not approach as near as can be to the general opinion of the whole moral world ? " But let us examine the average character of thosr- productions ivhich are represented on the stage. If we go to Tragedy, we shall find that pride, am- bition, revenge, suicide, the passionate love of fame and glory, all of which Christianity is intended to extirpate from the human bosom, are inculcated by 230 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. the most popular plays in tliis department of the drama. It is trae, gross cruelty, murder, and that lawless pride, ambition, and revenge, which trample on all the rights and interests of mankind, are re- probated ; but I would ask, who needs to see vice acted in order to hate it ? or will its being acted for our amusement be likely to increase our hatred of it upon right principles? As to Comedy, this is a thousand times more polluting than tragedy. Love and intrigue ; prodigality dressed in the garb of generosity ; profaneness dignified with the name of fashionable spirit ; and even seduction and adultery ; these are the usual materials which the comic muse combines and adorns, to please and instruct her votaries. This department of the di-ama is almost unmixed pollution. How often is some profligate rake introduced to the spectators, furnished with a few traits of frankness and generosity, to interest them by his vicious career ; and who so far recon- ciles them all to his crimes, as to tolerate his atro- cities, for the sake of his open-hearted, good- humoured virtues. Who can wonder that young women should be prepared by such stuff, for any intrigue with a bold and wily adventurer ; or that young men should be encouraged to play the good- natured, heroic rake, which they have seen such a favourite with the public, on the stage ? Besides, how saturated, as I have already observed, are both tragedies and comedies with irreverent appeals to heaven, profane swearing, and all the arts of equi- vocation, and falsehood, and deception ! What las- civious allusions are made, what impure passages I LITERARY LABOURS. 231 are repeated ! What a fatal influence must this have upon the delicacy of female modesty ! Think, too, of a young man coming at the hour of midnight from such a scene, Avith his passions inflamed by everything he has seen and everything he has heard ; and then having to pass through ranks of wretched creatures waiting to ensnare him and rob him of his virtue; does it not require extraordinary strength of principle to resist the attack ?" These are samples of a work which well deserves all the popularity which has followed it. Although now old, it is not stale ; every fact, anecdote, argu- ment, all that constitutes its material, is as fresh as in 1824 when the volume appeared. " FEMALE PIETY ; OE, THE YOUNG WOMAN's FRIEND AND GUIDE." The fact that this volume is in the 21st thousand, may be taken as proof of the esteem in which it is held. It was originally delivered in a course of monthly lectures, which were highly popular. The subjects are : — I. The Influence of Christianity on the Condi- tion of Woman. II. The Conspicuous Place which Woman Occu- pies in Scripture. III. Woman's Mission. IV. Early Female Piety. V. Female Religious Zeal. VI. The Young Woman at Home. VII. The Young Woman away from Home. 1 233 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. VIII. Character of Rebekali. IX. The Ornament of an Early Female Profes- sion of ReHgion. X. History and Character of Martha and Mary, of Bethany. XI. To Young Mothers. XII. Beautiful Picture of a Good Wife in the Book of Proverbs. It will here be seen that the subjects fall under two classes, general and particular, the latter amply charged with personal bearing and application. We could desire nothing better than many of the posi- tions and portraits here delineated. Were the per- sonal chapters formed into a separate volume, it would be a great service to society. The price might then be reduced to a third, and the circula- tion would probably be ten-fold. "christian hope." This work was the product of the most mature years of the author, and is one of the ripest things that have dropped from his flowing pen. His great heart seems to have been frequently in a state of peculiar elevation while he was elaborating the glorious theme. It is the completion of a whole ; the companion volumes, " Faith" and " Charity," are about the same size, and the three constitute a work of incalculable value. The most noticeable feature of the volume is the Preface, which is copious and elaborate to an unusual degree. The venerable man, consciously drawing near the close LITERARY LABOURS. 233 of liis pilgrimage, is at pains to bear a clear, full, and explicit testimony on behalf of the truth as it is in Jesus. Nor is this all ; he boldly specifies the evils he condemns, as well as the quarters where they chiefly obtain and prevail. He said : — " My anxiety, not^vithstanding all that has been said to dissipate the fears of minds zealous and jealous for sound doctrine,' is still alive on this momentous subject. Others of far stronger in- tellectual nerve than myself partake with me in these apprehensions, as will be evident by the fol- lowing extract from a letter I received from one of the master spirits of the age, whose name, had I permission to give it, would impart oracular weight to his words : — " ' You are one with me in the deep and power- ful conviction that the grandeur, and reality, and simplicity of the Gospel have faded from the view of many around us, who still would give their " yea" to an orthodox and evangelic confession. It is not dishonestly that such a " yea" would be uttered, but hearthssly , and with a reserved feeling of this sort — " I believe all this, if I believe anything ; or, I mean to believe it until I have made good my posi- tion on another ground." I am orthodox and evan- gelical acl interim." There are many, I fear, who go on to serve the Gospel as discontented menials do, who take care to give no umbrage until the day when they shall have hired themselves to a master more to their taste. I have painfully felt this in list- ening to and conversing with young ministers. On the Dissenting side it is one sort of thing, on the 234 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. Episcopal another ; but as to tlie result, it is a de- partui-e from and a disrelisli of the Gospel. I am sure you are right in foreseeing the issue — an alienation of heart from the first truths will end, as to many, in a declared heterodoxy : this, or else a hiding of the face behind the mask of ritualism. A most im- pervious and opaque thing, when properly prepared, painted, and varnished, is a papier mache Churchism. Wearing this disguise, a heart-at-ease atheist may do, say, and seem whatever is convenient.' "Among: the Nonconformists the house of re- fuge is an intellectual Ism, which the people may in- terpret as they please : a spiritualism in the dialect of which the old women of the congregation will think they hear what they used to hear and approve ; but which the young men in the crimson-cushioned pew will well know how to render into a philosophy after Hegel, or Miss Martineau, or anybody else." The work is divided into ten chapters,, thus indicated : — I. Hope Considered Grenerally. II. Nature of Hope, and its Distinction from Faith and Love. III. Foundation of Hope. IV. Object of Hope. V. Salvation by Hope. VI. Assurance of Hope. VII. Author of Hope. VIII. Hope as an Anchor. IX. Hope as a Helmet. X. Various Descriptions of Hope. XI. Necessity and Means of StrengtheningHope. LITERARY LABOURS. 235 Althougli here Mr. James has not so completely- exhausted the subject as was his custom, he sets forth all the main points ; and never did he more fully summon forth his rare powers to do justice to a noble theme. Large portions of the book animate Kke the sound of a trumpet. His soul would seem at times to have been rapt in ecstasy, like a seer of old. He speaks as one who sees with the naked eye the glorious objects of which he treats. The work may be likened to a mass of beaten gold. It is one of the richest theological legacies of the generation. "the course of faith." The title of this most precious volume would seem to have been derived from PoUok's " Course of Time." From the nature of the subject there is but little room for originality in the mode of treatment. Publications upon it are innumerable. In all its aspects it may be said to be stereotyped. Little remained but to condense, to simplify, to inspire with feeling, and invest with force, and this is most ably done. The topics are the follow- ing :— I. Faith in General. II. Faith in Justification. III. Faith in Relation to Sanctification. IV. Joy of Faith. V. Work of Faith. VI. Faith^s Victory over the World. VII. Faith in Prayer. VIII. Faith in Hearing the Word. 236 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. IX. Strong Faith, including Assurance of Faith. X. Faith in Reference to the Blessings of Life. XI. Faith^s Exercise in Reference to Affliction. XII. Faith in Reference to Death. XIII. Faith in Relation to Death. Only two of these chapters, when the author wrote, were matter of devout speculation with him, aided by the Scripture. He had then an experi- mental acquaintance with all the rest, and now he has with these ! Were Chapters XII. and XIII. still to write, he could speak as man never spoke before, but it is probable that we should not be able to understand. Well, as he was we are ; and as he is we shall all shortly be — in the World of Spirits. "the christian professor.-" The run of this volume has been great, but its merits are much greater. It is one of the very best works of its author, and eminently calculated to be useful. It is some twenty-three years since its original appearance, and it is now in the 7th edition, a measure of success far exceeding that of the bulk of even favoured publications. The topics, which are numerous and various, are thus set forth : — I. What the Christian Profession imports. II. Obligation and Design of the Christian Pro- fession. III. Dangers of Self-deception. IV. Young Professors. V. Present Generation of Professors compared with their Predecessors. LITERARY LABOURS. 237 VI. Professors not to he Satisfied with Low Degrees of Piety. VII. Professors to Avoid tlie Appearance of Evil. VIII. Conformity to the Workl. IX. Professors often too Much Influenced hy the Opinion of the World. X. Conduct in Reference to PoHtics. XI. Brotherly Love. XII. Influence of Professors. XIII. Conduct towards Unconverted Relatives. XIV. The Unmarried Professor. XV. The Professor in Prosperity. XVI. The Professor in Adversity. XVII. Conduct away from Home. XVIII. The BacksHding Professor. XIX. Necessity of the Holy Spirit's Influence to Sustain Profession. XX. Dying Professor. From this most comprehensive outline it will be seenj that " The Christian Professor " is a map of the believer's course, — a chart of the voyage to eternity, abounding with beacons and lighthouses. It is not merely a book for these times, but for aU times. It has merit enough to claim for it the place of a handbook throughout Christendom. "the earnest ministry." This is a volume we scarcely know how to characterize. No language of ours is sufficiently strong to proclaim its worth. It is by far the best book of its class, whether of earlier or later date. 238 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. wliether of this or otlier countries. It lias all the excellence of Baxter's " Reformed Pastor," without its defects, and excellences not to be found in that celebrated treatise. There is not a minister of the Gospel in the world who may not profit from the perusal of its fervent pages ; nothing can exceed the wisdom of its counsels, the closeness of its search, and the pungency of its appeals. "the chuech in eaenest.-" This is the counterpart of the foregoing, and every way worthy of it. The idea of the work was singularly happy. The two volumes constitute a noble unity; perhaps, all things considered, they are the greatest contribution of the fertile pen of Mr. James. They are a complete digest of the mighty subject, — a repertory of wisdom. There is nothing comparable to that unity anywhere to be found ; it fairly eclipses everything of the sort that has been produced in the United States, where such works are somewhat numerous. It describes a state of things which has never yet obtained, but which is as sure to be realized as that a reign of truth and righteousness, peace and charity, awaits this troubled world. Such is a glimpse at the chief works of Mr. James, with illustrative passages from those of earlier dates. Among the minor performances of Mr. James, a very high place is due to his Intro- duction and Notes to Spencer's Sketches. He there LITERARY LABOURS. 239 bears the following pathetic and highly momentous testimony : — " I am still in circumstances calculated to give solemnity to my reflections, and perhaps some weight to my words. The pressure of disease upon my bodily frame has been lightened, but it has left me no longer ' strong to labour.'' I am on the verge of old age, and a subject of not a few of its infir- mities. The evening of life is come, and with it some of its clouds. Should these clouds, however, only furnish a new theatre on which to display the lustre of my setting sun, and afford me an opportu- nity of glorifying Christ by the passive virtues of the Christian character, they ought to be more welcome than even a clearer sky. It is now some consola- tion to me to recollect that amidst innumerable de- fects — which, if affection has concealed them from the notice of my friends, are humblingly known to myself — I have in some measure ever kept in view the conversion of sinners as the great end of the Christian ministry, and therefore of mine. I started in my preaching career, while yet a student, with this before my eyes as the great purpose for which I entered the pulpit. This I have kept in view through a ministry of half a century. This I now look at, with undiverted eye, in the latter scenes of my life ; and taught both by my own experience, and by observation of all I have seen in the conduct of others, were I now beginning my course instead of gradually closing it, I should most deliberately choose this as my ministerial vocation, and consider that my official life would be almost a lost advcn- 240 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. ture if this were not in some good measure its blessed result. In the pursuit of this object, notwitlistand- ing all my defects and manifold imperfections, I have had my reward. I speak thus, not in the way of boasting, but of gratitude, and for the encou- ragement of my brethren in the ministry, especially its younger members. " God will never suffer those altogether to fail in theu' object who make the conversion of souls theii' great aim, and who employ in earnestness of prayer and action his own methods, and depend upon his own Spirit for accomplishing it. "Ministers may think too little of this now, and the work of conversion be lost sight of too much, in their eager desires and ardent ambition after popularity and applause ; but the time is com- ing when these, except as they give a man a wider sphere for his converting work, will be thought worthless and vain. Amidst the gathering infii'- mities of old age, and the anticipations of eternity — much more at the bar of Chi'ist, and in the celestial world — it will be deemed a poor and meagre reflec- tion to a minister of Christ, that he was once fol- lowed and applauded by admu'iug crowds. The knowledge then that he had been the instrument of converting a siugle sinner from the error of his ways, and sa^*ing a soul from death, will be worth more than the applauses of the world or the admi- ration of an age ; and is an honour for which the crown of royalty or the wi'eath of victory might be bartered now with infinite advantage. Then amidst the scenes of the last judgment, and the splendours LITERARY LABOURS. 241 of immortality, they who have been most eager in .seeking, and most successful in obtaining, the richest distinctions upon earth, shall confess that ' He who winneth souls is wise,' and shall see that ' They who turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever/ " The whole of the smaller publications must be passed over. To these must be added letters in the newspapers and magazines, and reviews, prefaces, introductions, and essays almost without end. This list may be taken as an index to the head and heart of the author, and an illustration of his know- ledge and zeal as well as of his wondrous tact and versatility. How ceaseless his labour ! How vast the range of his thinking ! His solicitude covered the whole face of society; no class escaped his attention, and none went without a benefaction. These publications are the channels which the mighty workings of his intellect and the affections of his heart cut out for themselves ; and, while the current is strong, the waters are salubrious. Rightly to estimate this part of the labours of 'Sir. James, we must look around and see whether there be aught anywhere to be compared with it. Let us first, then, glance at Scotland : is there in that country any minister of any denomination who, in this respect, may be viewed as the rival of the Birmingham pastor ? Search is in vain ! There is not one that makes the remotest approach to him. Chalmers, Wardlaw, and John Brown have severally achieved a large amount of noble authorship ; but it has been almost all of one character — solid divinity. £ 242 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. The mauifold wants of the various classes of society have been almost completely ignored by them. Let the catalogue of their works be placed side by side with that of the works of Mr. James ; and mark the result. Is it possible that contrast can be greater ? Mr. James stands alone in his glory. Well, what has England produced ? Much, very muchj in the aggregate ; but that is not the ques- tion. The question is, what works has any one minister issued ? None, whether Churchman or Dissenter, has even approached Mr. James. Mr. Jay has done good service in a sing:le line by his writings, which he was spared to set forth in a uniform edition ; but the subject of all his volumes is one and the same ; nothing can be more general. The only attempt, indeed, at class-writing is in his admirable volume, " The Christian Contemplated but even here the generality is undisturbed. Many ministers of the various sects have made most valuable contributions, but not one has come within sight of our departed friend. Had he been a pro- fessional writer toiling for bread, he could hardly have put his wits to a severer stretch to awaken interest and secure popularity. Mr. James alone has done more a thousand times over than all the Bishops on the Bench embodied ! Had any one of them done half as much, he would have been the wonder of his age, and famous for a century to come. Having specified and characterized all the larger Works of Mr. James, it may be interesting to enumerate the smaller, and indicate their various LITERARY LABOURS. 243 measures of public acceptance. Tlie following, then, is the ascertained circulation, up to this date, of his publications issued by the Tract Society : — ' Anxious Inquirer, 18mo . 456,421 Eoyal edition 20,217 32mo Welsh Italian German French 101,227 7,710 160 429 279 Pastoral Addresses Young Man from Home . Christian Progress Believe and be Saved, 32mo . Path to the Bush Elizabeth Bales „ Tracts — Believe and be Saved Your Great Concern The Pious Collier . The Man that Killed his Neigh bour .... Grand Total - 586,443 1,049,319 88,001 37,817 30,260 13,813 8,262 450,900 128,250 121,575 416,310 2,930,950 244 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. CONCLUSION. Take the whole span of the mortal career of John Angell JameSj and it ■will be found remarkable in every aspect in which it can be contemplated. It is so, alike as it regards both the Chiirch and the world, things at home^ and things abroad. Inven- tions and discoveries of every kind have filled every place, and blessed every people. It may be safely asserted that no such period has passed over our world since the introduction of Christianity. It was a time of great thoughts, great words, and great deeds ; its wars were great, and its peace was great ; everything about it was great. It was, above all, the era of Missions to the Heathen, of popular education, and popular literature. Viewed mecha- nically, politically, philosophically, and religiously, it was in all respects great beyond precedent. All the half centuries that had gone before were stamped with an air of comparative insignificance. Whether that period, in its turn, shall be dwarfed by the events which are to follow, it is impossible to foresee ; but if so, in the same proportion, the world is travelling on to a light and a truth, ^^a repose and a bless, a greatness and a glory, of which poets nevet dreamt. CONCLUSION. 245 While in the era of Mr. James, every man in all departments of action, had his appropriate place, lower or higher, in the great scale of things, some more than others were centres of influence, both in the Church and in the world. He himself held a high place among those who constituted a moral power in the earth, a power of eloquence, position, piety, and character. He was the pivot on which many moral and spiritual movements, both great and small, home and foreign, for the welfare of man and the glory of God, mainly turned. His lot was to b6> a leader of men ; and hence he reflected lustre on the town in which he spent his days, and the great community he lived and died in. " Baxter of Kidder- minster," " Doddridge of Northampton," " James of Birmingham," are conjunctions of persons and places which no time will sever. Baxter lived in a dark and troubled day ; his herculean labours and noble career were comparatively marred by the tyranny of the times ; but even when silent he was not inactive. A month to him was as much as a year to other men. That he should have effected so much in the way of theological authorship in so small a period is wonderful ; it can be accounted for only by the vastness of his powers, the range of his knowledge, the skill of his pen, his severe economy of time, and the energy of his efforts, under the , blessing of the Most High, who had ajjpointed him his work. Next to Baxter, in some respects, although liv- ing long after him, and in a far better age, was the amiable, the learned, and the excellent Doddi-idge, 246 JOHN ANGELL JA^ES. wlio, by his works and his cliaracter, conferred lasting honour on Northampton. He and Baxter had but bttle in common, and yet there were points of afl&nity. Nothing, however, could be more unlike than the sphere of their operations, and all the difference was to the advantao-e of Doddridgfe. The globe and its treasui'es, so to speak, when Bax- ter Hved were still locked up ; in the days of Dod- dridge the gates of discovery began to be thrown open; but the work, whether as to matter or space, did not advance very far. The firmament of both these distinguished men was covei'ed with clouds and darkness, and the horizon narrow. In the days of Doddridge, however, the light began to shine ; yet how imperfect his vision, how limited his views, how narrow his sphere compared with those of John Angell James, who lived and moved amid the noon- day blaze of modern science ! He witnessed the opening up of the world from pole to pole. He be- held the missionary advancing into eveiy region, while darkness and barbarism fled on his approach ; even the gloom of Central Africa had been illumined. Steam had wrought its miracles by sea and land ; while the Telegraph was girdling the globe, and uniting every people. All these events and advantages, iu the same proportion, ministered to the usefulness and the fame of James, both as a minister and as , an author. Baxter and Doddi'idge were known chiefly, if not only, to the people of England, then comparatively a handful, and to the small popula- tions of the American colonies. • Their fame and CONCLUSION. 247 tlieir works extended very little further. The name of John Angell James is a household word through- out the earth. His books are read by every people. There is no nation which numbers not his friends ; no language which is not the vehicle of his praise. The day of Doddridge was, in point of light, a mighty advancement on that of Baxter, but James's exceeds that of Doddridge incalculably more. Those illustrious men, however, in a sense, now participate the benefits of this stupendous progress ; in their works they share the privileges of these latter times. They now walk over the earth in company with James and his contemporaries, the immortal Watts supplying the illustrious band with melody and song ! Thanks to the Printing Press, " although dead, they all speak,'' and speak with a voice that fills the world ! Each of these distinguished individuals was se- parately a power — a mental and moral system com- plete in itself. They did nothing in their posterity. Of Baxter, Watts, Doddridge, and James, none have left behind them, bearing their name, any to keep alive the fires which they kindled. The dispensa- tion of each began and ended with himself. The fact applies to most of our distinguished men. Thus it was with John Knox, Berridge, Fletcher, Wesley, Whitefiekl, Andrew Thomson, Thomas Chalmers, Hall, Poster, and multitudes besides ; their breath gone, all was over ! Such is the sovereignty which rules in the afiairs of men. In closing this Review, special prominence is due to the very last act of public service rendered by 248 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. Mr. James to the cause of God. For absorbing interest and overpowering solemnity^ Britisli Bio- graphy presents nothing comparable to it. The facts of the case are too thrilling-, the pathos too profound, for comment. Nothing remains but to stand in awe, admii'c, and adore ! Had the most judicious and devout friend of j\Ir. James been allowed to choose for him an appropriate mode of leaA'ing the world, it must have been somewhat such as that arranged by the Divine wisdom. His closing words to Mr. Birrell are most intensely congruous with his ruling passion, the salvation of men ! That passion was at its highest point when his last sands were running out ! Never had he a more "sdvid con- ception of the true character of the Christian minis- try, its unutterable responsibility, and its incom- parable glory, than when he wrote the closing para- graph of his generous tribute to Eichard Knill. Let us hear him : — " In the retrospect of a long life, now drawing to a close, during which I have watched, of course, the career, and observed the mode of action, of many of my brethi'en, I have noticed great diver- sity in the results of their ministry ; and I have most assm-edly seen, that where they have been in- tensely earnest for the salvation of souls, and have sought this by a style of preaching- adapted to ac- compHsh it, God has honoured theii- endeavours hy giving them success. If, without impropriety, I may refer here, as I believe I have done elsewhere, to the service which, during fifty-four years, I have been allowed to render to oui- great Master, I may CONCLUSION. 249 declare my thankfulness in being able, in some small degree, to rejoice tliat the conversion of sinners has been my aim. I have made, next to the Bible, Baxter's ' Reformed Pastor' my rule as regards the object of my ministry. It were well if that volume were often read by all our pastors, — a study which I now earnestly recommend to them. I sometimes venture to hope that it has kindled in me a spark — but oh, how dim ! — of that spirit which actuated Mr. Knill. In regard to all that consti- tutes earnestness, I blush before his statue, as it rises before me in this volume, and confess my shortc&mings in the work of the Lord. Standing, as I now do, in the prospect of the close of my ministry, of the eternal world, and of my summons to the presence of the great Lord of all, the salva- tion of souls, as the object of the ministry, appears to me, more than ever before, in all its awful subli- mity. Everything else, as compared with this, seems but as the small dust of the balance ; and though, perhaps, not altogether an idler in the vine- yard of the Lord, it is now my grief and my sur- prise that I have not been more devoted and more laborious. Defects, omissions, and errors, come out before our view in the evening of life, and espe- cially when it is spent, as mine now must be, in re- tirement, solitude, and suffering, which we did not perceive during the burden and bustle of the day. To my younger brethren I say. You are engaged in the greatest work in the universe ; for in preaching for the salvation of souls, you are brought into fel- lowship with God in his eternal purposes of mercy 250 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. to the children of men ; with our Lord Jesus Christ in his redeeming work upon the cross ; with the Holy Spirit in his mission to our world ; and with prophets^ apostles, and martyrs. Heaven, through eternity, will resound with the praises of your dili- gence, or hell with lamentations and execrations upon your neglect. Happy will it be for you, and happy for your flocks, if the perusal of this volume should help you to find and to wear the mantle of Eichard Knill." It Will he observed that the last words are to "Younger Brethren and what words ! Such coun- sels from such lips at such a time are fitted t5 make such an impression which nothing can efface. A more fitting end for such a course it is impossible to conceive. As an indulgence, a privilege, and an honour, it transcends everything of the sort in the annals of British Protestantism. Alone it sufl&ces to impart immortality to the Memoir of Eichard Knill ! This Eeview would be incomplete without some reference to the funeral tributes which have been published. All of these which have come to hand, more especially those of Dr. Gordon, E. Dale, and Patrick Thompson, have been mai'ked by varying excellence, but that which more than any other has arrested my attention is the sermon of Dr. Miller. That most unambitious discourse, viewed simply as a funeral sermon, is admirable, defective in no excel- lence which ought to characterize such a composition. But when it is remembered, that it is the production not of an admiring- Dissenter, but of a conscien- tious Churchman, its value is indefinitely enhanced. CONCLUSION. 251 It acquires a moral lustre in. wliicb. its otlier liigh qualities are in a measure lost. Never before did we meet in a clergyman with so commanding a display of Christian manhood and ministerial mag- nanimity. It is nothing to find such examples of jus- tice and generosity towards Churchmen among Dis- senters ; there it is the rule^ not the exception. A^^hen Hall pronounced his magnificent eulogy on Robinson, all men admired the tribute, but it never occurred to anybody to remark on the liberality of the orator ! A new order of things is inaugurated by the noble- minded Rector of St. Martin's, Bii-mingham. Some- thing kind and honourable was certainly looked for from that quarter, but nothing equal to the actual result. Integrity and charity apart, it required a measure of com^age such as few clergymen possess publicly to perform a part so honourable. By this discourse Dr. Miller has reflected the highest credit on himself, his order, and his Church, and well earned the admiration of all good and candid men. Were all the pulpits of the Establishment filled with pastors of a kindred spirit, the result would very soon be a new faoe upon British Society. Of Mr. James he says : — "He had no sympathy with any ism, however novel, or specious, or popular, which corrupted or darkened the simplicity of the Gospel message. He deplored, as we have seen, not only the heresy which has troubled our own Zion for more than a quarter of a century, but the intellectualism and would-be profundity of a new Germanizing school rising up among his own body. His life, too — a life 252 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. I of unsullied good report — has a lesson for icorldly- mindeJj inconsistent, careless preachers and pastors. He was an epistle of Christ, in domestic and public life, in habits, temper, -words; — an epistle, not blurred and blotted, and illegible, but fair, and known and read of all men. The secret of this may be told : ' Happy is the man that feareth always.^ ' Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.^ ' Hold Thou me w^, and I shall be safe.' And Avhat a life of unsparing toil ! How does it rebuke loungers and dawdlers in the ministry — men talking much of their work, but doing little — idlers, triflers, hangers-on in draAving-rooms, at the dinner-tables and tea-tables of any who will ask them, and as often as they will ask them — he-a- beds. ' Eternity is long enough,' he writes, ' and heaven is place enough, for rest : till then, I mean to work on.'" There was something very remarkable in the presentiment of John Angell James regarding his own dissolution. For a considerable time it seems to have been ever present to him, that his work was drawing to a speedy close. His conversation, letters, addresses on the platform, and in the pulpit, all bore more or less the impress of the valedic- tory. When he last stood on the platform of the Congregational Union in London, he intimated that it was his last appearance. Everywhere, to every place, and every person, he seemed to be bidding a long farewell. In all this Mr. James was clearly in deep earnest; he spoke with all the decision of a man to whom a CONCLUSION. 253 divine communication had been made that he was about to put off his tabei'nacle. The bulk of his aflfectionate admirers set it down to the score of depression. The thought was unwelcome, and they, therefore, endeavoured to stave it off. His more intimate friends, however, ascribed it to the effect of the grievous malady under which he was labouring. Still all hoped the best, and looked for a number more years ; and in this they were apparently jus- tified from the extraordinary vigour of his mind. There was absolutely nothing in relation to that which seemed to bespeak even incipient decay. I have had repeated occasion within the last year or two to liken him to Edmund Burke, whose transcendent intellect seemed to increase in power and splen- dour to the very close. His last performance — the Letters on the Regicide Peace — surpassed in force of argument, vigour of style, and brilliancy of colouring, everything he had previously given to the world. Still he considered himself as a man whose days were fulfilled, and he uniformly asserted that all he did was valedictory. His friends, how- ever, could not see it, and felt unable to reconcile such powers with approaching dissolution. But as in the case of Mr. James, it turned out as the great political philosopher had said. As to both these distinguished men, their time was come, their work was done, and all that remained for them was to lie down and die. In the case of Mr. James this presentiment rendered the event all the more re- markable. His communication through his brother to the assembly of the Congregational Union at Aber- 254 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. dare, "his letter to tlie Evangelical Alliance at Belfast, and his closing words toucliing tlie Life of Knill, all were deeply affecting and all added emphasis to the fact of his demise when it came to pass. Now that time has been afforded for reflection, none can fail to see that the mode of the departure of Mr. James could not fail to produce a profound impression on the town of Birmingham, the Inde- pendent Body, and the whole Protestant Church. The arrangements of Providence seem, at times, to require that eminent individuals should be removed in A manner different from that which is common to man. Examples innumerable might be specified both in the Church and in the world which will readily occur to my readers. Birmingham has had a double warning. Its two most noted men, Joseph Sturge and John Angell James, have both within a brief space of each other, received a summary dis- missal from the body. Both died in the early morn- ing, while each was indulged with a few minutes to bid farewell to the domestic circle ! To John Angell James as well as to his friend, the end was worthy of the way. Whether preaching or speak- ing he always finished well, very generally with a burst of pathos, of power, or of brilliancy. His long life was in effect one great discourse, and his death the overwhelming peroration ! We can but view such a termination of a noble career as full of mercy. Yfko is there amongst the countless admirers of Mr. James who could have wished to see him slowly fade away, sinking at length, perchance, into second childhood, and at CONCLUSION. 255 last passing off comparatively a stranger in the land? Such, a dismission would have formed an ill-fitting conclusion to so bright, so instructive, and so edifying a career. Ajnid the rush of events he would have been in a few years all but forgotten ; as it is, the stroke by which he fell has resounded throughout Christendom ! He " ceased at once to work and live \" We must now, for a season, bid farewell to this most devoted, useful, and honoured among British ministers. The memory of John Angell James will ever be very dear to me, in common with countless multitudes. His dust is with us, and his works around us ; but his noble spirit has taken its place amongst the Immortals ! I little thought when last in his much-loved company that this humble tribute would be called for so soon. But all labour must have an end ; weary work must be followed by sweet repose. Thus the ties that bind us to the present sphere are incessantly broken. Earth is hourly robbed to enrich heaven. To men who have lived down half a century life becomes serious ; ro- mance departs, and all is reality ! As years still advance the gravity increases. The object and the end of life, with its heavy responsibilities, di-aw near and stare us in the face, compelling attention. Separations begin to multiply, till at last this teem- ing world assumes the air of a dreary solitude. Men are strangers among those who are theii* juniors! Social gatherings and special occasions prove more and more to be valedictory, all vocal and all moni- toiy. The wisdom, therefore, of all saints is to 256 JOHN ANGELL JAMES. speak, and "act, and look, and love as if each meet- ing were to be their last ! In this way, while they near the world of spirits, they will become increas- ingly fit to enjoy its immunities and privileges. If John Angell James has been a most faithful, he has also been a much privileged servant. His agile and luminous intellect remained unimpaired to the last ; and, notwithstanding his severe afflic- tion, he has been enabled to perform the labours of a man in the prime of life and vigour of health to the close. The last year of Mr. James's life has been one of the most laborious of the threescore and fourteen he passed on earth. He would seem every hour to have heard the Master's voice, " Whatso- ever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." With all his heart he obeyed the Divine command- ment. May the text, with the commentary thereon supplied by his labours, sink deeply into all hearts ! Multitudes with the eye of faith have followed John Angell James into the realms of light, the abode of the blessed, and seen him enter the gates of the celestial city ! They have beheld the wel- come accorded to him on all sides from old and be- loved friends long gone before, who have been hopefully, anxiously waiting his arrival ! They ga- ther, they rejoice, they admire^ they adore ! Nor these alone : hosts besides, cluster around him, with a multitude of his spiritual children of this and other lands, who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb ! 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