THE

ECLECTIC REVIEW,

FOR FEBRUARY, 1830.

Art. I. The Christian Ministry, with an Inquiry into the Causes of its Inefficiency, and with an especial Reference to the Ministry of the Establishment. By the Rev. Charles Bridges, B.A. Vicar of Old Newton, Suffolk, and Author of Exposition of Psalm CXIX. 12mo. pp. 512. Price 6s. 6d. London. 1829.

THERE can scarcely be a doubt that this excellent volume

will take its place among the books of every young minister who is seriously devoted to the duties of the sacred office. The indications of sound judgement, of Christian temper, and of a well stored mind, appear on every page. And the Author is no mere theorist in the momentous concerns upon which he writes. It is evident, that he has himself discharged the duties he enjoins, encountered the difficulties he describes, sustained the burdens which he would aid others to bear; has rejoiced in the successes which he holds out to excite the diligence of his brethren, and has actually exulted in the bright hopes wherewith he endeavours to fire their zeal. This is the prominent merit of the book; it is an itinerary of the ministerial path, drawn out by one who has beaten the ground, and noted well each of its dubious turnings.

We wish to bestow (for Mr. Bridges deserves it) praise, distinct and appropriate, not exaggerated. And he would, we are confident, much rather be told by the public, that he has enriched our sacred literature with an eminently useful book, than see his name inscribed on the pillar of fame, as a man of powerful understanding and splendid genius. In truth, it would be to abuse the confidence of our readers, were we, on this occasion, to employ terms of commendation of that kind which, by leading them to anticipate excellencies of the rarest sort, or peculiar beauties of expression, might probably rob them of their edification in reading the book, by suggesting a feeling of disappointment.

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Mr. Bridges has not merely read extensively in the line of his profession, (if the rather improper phrase may be allowed,) but has digested and condensed whatever he has met with, that might most directly conduce to purposes of utility. The volume he now offers to his brethren is, in fact, the product of his well-conducted and diligent clerical studies. Scarcely a page can be found-if one-that is not fraught with pertinent and weighty quotations from authors of every age. Indeed, while we grant that this is one of the recommendations of the work,that it brings into a focus celestial rays from an infinity of scattered sources, it makes the task of the Reviewer somewhat perplexing, who would fain bring the Author, not his authorities, before his readers. But we will do our best in this difficulty. While on the subject of Mr. B.'s many quotations, we must express our pleasure in seeing him adduce, pretty often, the Divines of the Ancient Church; and we indulge the belief that, for these citations, he is indebted to nothing but a personal familiarity with the too-much-neglected Fathers.' There has been a time in England when, among both conformists and non-conformists, it was thought a necessary part of clerical study, to peruse a good portion of the remains of Christian literature. That time is gone by; and we readily grant, that this branch of theological learning is very properly neglected by any Christian minister none of whose hours, due to the closet, are consumed in trivial, fruitless, and dissipating engagements. But it is hard, on any other plea than that of a fulness of pastoral employment, to excuse a clergyman's ignorance of what Christianity has been, and has done, in each age through which it has held up its light to the nations. And we must deem him ignorant of these things, who owes all his knowledge of them to modern compilers of Church history. It is, indeed, the happy privilege of the humble Christian, to draw his religion, pure and unmixed, from the inspired page. Yet, the teacher, while he exults, not less, in sharing this inestimable advantage with others, should regard it as at least a seemly thing, if not an indispensable qualification, to know personally, in what manner the same Divine principles have been derived from the same source, by the men of other times *. But we return to

We wish, in this age of reprints, the experiment were made, of reprinting, in an economical form, some one or two of the Fathers,— or at least some few separate treatises. We are much disposed to think, that there is enough of curiosity and of diligence in the clerical body to reward a few such adventures. We do not wish to see translations:-who shall be trusted to execute them? If a minister be not able to peruse Justin Martyr, or Tertullian, or Gregory, with his own eyes, what has he been doing at College?

our Author, who shall give his own account of the origination and design of his work.

The Work now presented to the Public originated in a letter to a beloved friend upon the interesting subject of Ministerial inefficiencywhich, at his desire, and by the disinterested kindness of the Editor of the Christian Observer, was subsequently inserted with a few enlargements in that valuable Miscellany, from whence an impression was taken off for private circulation. Several applications having been made for its separate publication, the Writer was induced to reconsider the subject in a more extended range, and to avail himself of the suggestions of friends, until the small pamphlet has unconsciously swelled into this portentous size-a memorable illustration of the adage" Vires acquirit eundo." As to the Work itself-the Writer desires to be with his brethren" in weakness, and in fear, and much trembling." He is aware that his proper situation, both in authority and experience, is at the feet of many who are thus constrained to listen to him; and it would be to him a subject of the most painful regret, were he supposed to advance any pretensions to a higher standard of zeal, earnestness, or Ministerial attainment. He has not described what he is, but what he ought, and what he trusts he desires to be; and if, after the model of the Country Parson, he has " set the mark as high as he could", it is because "he shoots higher that threatens the moon, than he that aims at a tree." He has endeavoured to write in the first instance for himself, and to point every arrow of conviction at his own heart -"Thou that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?"' Preface, pp. v, vi. In allusion to the frequency of his quotations, Mr. Bridges says:

The materials for this work have been brought from different departments of the territory of the Church. Though the Writer has had a special regard to the Ministry of the Establishment, (to which he is bound by the strongest and most endearing ties, and which occupies in his view the most commanding station in the Church of Christ,) yet he would be sorry to repose (refuse?) a cordial admission, and to neglect a diligent improvement, of the acknowledged excellencies of the honoured men of God in different communions. If he should be thought to have been too large in his references, he can only apologize by his anxiety to shelter his own statements (which in themselves could possess but little weight) by the strength of accredited authority.' Preface, pp. vi, vii.

That spirit of modesty and of humility which is the distinguishing character of minds substantially qualified to afford edification or delight to others, shews itself not merely in the Author's preface, where it might have been assumed for a moment, as a recommendatory grace, but shines attractively on every page, from the first to the last of the book; and it can hardly fail to speak a lesson to some who, with a hundredth part of Mr. B.'s ministerial accomplishments, scarcely find a

pulpit roomy enough to contain themselves and their sacerdotal importance.

The work is divided into six parts: The first is entitled, 'General View of the Christian Ministry'; the second, Ge'neral Causes of the Want of Success in the Christian Ministry'; the third, Causes of Ministerial Inefficiency con'nected with Personal Character'; the fourth, Causes of 'Want of Success connected with the Public Ministry'; the 'fifth, 'The Pastoral Work of the Christian Ministry'; and the sixth, Recollections of the Christian Ministry.'

The sections of the first part have somewhat of a prefatory character, and rapidly advert to the topics which the reader will expect to find treated under a general title of this sort. In speaking of the trials and difficulties of the Christian Ministry, our Author says, after quoting Mr. Venn:

It must also be remembered, that the kindness of the world is far more formidable than their enmity. Many, who would have been ready to have stemmed the torrent of opposition, have yielded with compromising indulgence to their baneful and paralyzing kindness. The spiritual character of our employment no more protects us from the excitement of internal corruption-the unfavourable influence of external associations-or the restless and subtle activity of the tempter, than occupations of a character wholly secular. Indeed, many circumstances connected with the Ministry have a peculiar tendency to excite the rising of corruption. A course of opposition to our message, if it be not met in the spirit of meekness, will stir up a spirit not of the Gospel. Popularity is yet more dangerous. Few have escaped its influence unhurt and that only by such exercises of painful conflict as have shewn their deliverances from this fiery trial to be nearly miraculous. Favourable symptoms of success, unless tempered with personal abasement and habitual watchfulness, exhibit the alloy of self-confidence. The want of these tokens, on the other hand, is too often accompanied with impatience, fretfulness, or despondency: so that, assaulted as we are at the extreme points, and from opposite directions, we need" the armour of righteousness on the right-hand and on the left." p. 20.

And again:

Perhaps many of us may have entered upon this work with no other anticipation of its difficulties beyond the conscientious discharge of its official duties. And it is this want of acquaintance with the real difficulties connected with every part of the function, that by exciting self-confidence is one main cause of its unfruitfulness. None of us will find this "pleasure of the Lord to prosper in our hands", except every effort is grounded upon the practical conviction that no strength but the arm of Christ and Omnipotence is sufficient for the work. Many of us also realized in the prospect some taste of the delights and encouragements of the work of the Lord, and in all the

spring and freshness of youth calculated upon a steady and uninterrupted devotedness rising above all opposing obstacles. But scarcely have we passed the threshold, before the dream of confidence passed away in the first perception of the reality of things. The chilling influence of worldly objects and the disheartening effect of unsuccessful pains, soon began to exercise us with the harassing power of ministerial temptations. We learnt to become conversant with disappointment; our sanguine expectations of a harvest proportioned to our industry was dispelled. Our constancy and love are often put to a severe and searching trial, and with all the dignity of character and principles of encouragement that belong to our service, we are made to feel that "if a man desires the office, he desires a toilsome and selfdenying as well as " a good work."" pp. 21, 22.

Who can doubt that the Writer of the following passage has himself enjoyed the blessedness of which he writes so feelingly?

'We may mention also, as a subordinate source of comfort and encouragement in our work, the share and interest we possess in the affectionate sympathies of a beloved people. Here we find the full compensation for the scorn of an ungodly world, and the secret spring of many an hour of support and enjoyment, by which we are carried forward in our painful course. Many of our people are sufficiently spiritual and intelligent to be not wholly unacquainted with our experience. They well know that our path is thickly strewn with snares, and our hearts keenly wounded with sorrow and temptation. Christian sympathy will engage them to "communicate with our affliction." A sense of duty, obligation, and privilege will combine to call forth their exertions, and to direct their conduct so as carefully to remove from us, as far as possible, all just grounds of complaint, or occasions of grief; and to make our labours for their sakes, and in their services, consoling to our own souls. Our debt of obligation to the secret expressions of their love at the throne of grace, is reserved among the discoveries of the great day, to add dignity and emphasis to the acknowledgment now made "in part," then to be more fully proclaimed, that we are their rejoicing, even as they also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus." pp. 26, 27.

In the seventh chapter of the first part, the Author touches upon a subject immensely important, and not less difficult than important.

On the other hand, young men of ardent feelings and promising talents but with unfurnished minds, are thrust forward by the persuasion of injudicious friends, or by the excitement of some momentary bias, into the sacred office. The Church of God has severely suffered from this woful inconsideration, and the victims of this illdirected impetus have felt to their cost the bitter fruits in the disappointment of their own Ministry, and the want of establishment and support in their own souls. In other cases, however, an interval abundantly sufficient has been allotted for Ministerial preparation, with no better success. The precious time for gathering in the store