The Christian Ministry: With an Inquiry Into the Causes of Its Inefficiency (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The Christian MinistryThe materials for this work have been brought from different depart. Ments 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 refuse a cordial admission, and to neglect a diligent improve ment of the acknowledged excellences of the honoured men of God in other communions.1 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. After all, he is deeply conscious, that this most responsible work has suffered perhaps materially from the unskilfulness of its treatment. He would desire, however, to be accepted of his brethren, 2 in a sin cere attempt to subserve the grand cause, to which they, equally with himself, are consecrated and he would beg to express his earnest desires to be favoured with private communications for the improvement of a second edition (should it ever be called for) for which purpose he sub joins his place of residence at full length.