Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from John Angell James: A Review of His History, Character, Eloquence, and Literary Labours; With Dissertations on the Pulpit and the Press, Academic Preaching, College Reform, Etc
The idea of Preaching Schools was unknown to the Apostles; every church supplied its own pastors. In those days there was clearly no lack of fit and proper men. What was sought was not linguists, mathematicians, philosophers, and orators, but men of God. We find Titus specially appointed to set in order the things that were wanting, and ordain elders in every city; and we have Paul himself traversing whole regions, and ordaining elders in every church. Fit and proper men everywhere appear to have abounded. In Paul's epistles both to Timothy and Titus, where the qualifications of Pastors are specially set forth, and the rules of ordination clearly laid down, it is distinctly stated that the candidate must be a married man, having his children in subjection with all gravity. The reason is urgent, for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God i' The reason holds equally in all time. This language is utterly incom patible with the idea of juvenile pastorates. Taking care of the Church is work which ill befits the condition of un tried and inexperienced youth. It requires years, wisdom, discipline, knowledge of man, and weight of character.
As to the selection, we read in the sacred page, that it is the express prerogative of the Lord Jesus to give pas tors and teachers for the work of the Ministry. This gift, and the internal call consequent upon it, come to be known by the fact, that the parties in question desire the office of a Bishop. They are, by the Holy Spirit, prompted to seek the work to which they are divinely appointed. But even this desire, as it may be spurious, has its checks and its tests. The subject of it, if a novice, or recent convert, neither rooted nor grounded in the truth, is to be rejected; lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the Devil.
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