ART. VII. AN ENQUIRY INTO THE UTILITY OF MODERN EVANGELISTS, AND THEIR MEASURES.

By Rev. WILLIAM MITCHELL, Rutland, Vt.

CHRISTIANITY in its essential properties is endowed with the immutability of its Author. In its fundamental precepts and doctrines, in its spirit and purity, it was designed to be without variableness or shadow of turning. But it is otherwise in regard to the outward form of Christianity, and the methods by which its ultimate triumphs are to be achieved. A few simple means, most wisely adapted to the end, accordant with the true philosophy of mind, and expressly designed to secure to the rightful proprietor the excellency of the power, are explicitly ordained, and intended to be perpetuated to the end of time. But with these limitations the Gospel was left from the beginning to adjust itself to the civil, literary, and political changes of the world. In this aspect the kingdom of peace may be likened to a floating bridge. It rises and falls with the subjacent waters.

The correctness of this view is manifest from the example of the Master, and his Spirit-taught disciples. They neither commenced their mission with a tirade against the manners and customs of society, nor with an onset upon the powers that be. They did not compel the converted master to manumit his slave, as a condition of discipleship; but demanded only that he should treat him with Christian benevolence. They did not oblige the soldier to quit his post, and incur the penalty of martial law, on becoming a soldier of the cross; but simply required him to carry the spirit of the Gospel into his profession. They looked for the extinction of war only in the subjugation of the passions from which it originated, and regarded peace on earth as the effect, and not the cause of the prevalence of the Gospel. The weapons of their warfare, mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds, were truth and love, wielded in faith, prayer, and patience; and they held up the mirror of their example for the benefit of all who should succeed them in carrying forward the spiritual kingdom. It is quite apparent that Christ intended to direct the attention of his disciples in every age to the spirit of the Gospel, and to admonish them that their efforts in his service if effectual, must

be characterized by simplicity and godly sincerity, and be aimed chiefly at the renovation of the heart, by the force of truth, and the attendant power and demonstration of the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.

We can never abandon the position, that the means Divinely instituted-the ordinary preaching of the Word, including the proper administration of its ordinances, and the fulfilment of pastoral duties, combined with prayer, faith, and the zealous co-operation of the churches-are sufficient, under the promised agency of the Spirit, to fill the earth ultimately with the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. If the Roman empire, with idolatry woven into the texture of its literature, philosophy and government, fell before these spiritual weapons, are they not still adequate, to accomplish the end for which they were designed? The fact is, that whenever the means of grace which God has appointed are skilfully and zealously employed, the Gospel still, as at the first, exerts immense power.

But while we affirm, that these means are adequate to the end, are sure from divine appointment and the blessing infallibly connected with their proper use, and that on them must be our main reliance, we readily admit, in view of the genius of the Gospel, the example of inspired teachers, and the ever varying phasis of the world, that some measure of discretionary power was intentionally confided to the church in every age. In the specified means of conducting the Christian enterprize, we find no mention, for instance, of Bible, Missionary, Tract, Temperance, and Sabbath School Societies; and yet has not God set to them the seal of his approbation? I know not what fields of usefulness remain to be explored, and occupied by expanding benevolence. This is a soul-stirring era, and will be so recorded in the annals of time. But of this I am sure, that the spirit and the essential doctrines of the Gospel can never be safely contravened; nor may any measures be adopted which, in the quaint but just observation of an old divine, are not "butted and bounded by the word." The landmarks set up by the hand of God must remain hallowed and untouched in all time; and the anger of the Lord will visit him who attempts their removal. These things premised, I believe that every individual effort and combination of effort consonant with the spirit and intent of the Gospel may be lawfully employed, to accelerate the latter day glory of the church.

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But the fact is as notorious, as it is lamentable, that the discretionary power of which I have spoken has been wantonly abused. The ordinances of the Gospel have been robbed of their simplicity, and buried under the parade of human magnificence. The pure word of truth has been sullied by the bigotry of denunciation, the bitterness of invective, the pride of orthodoxy, and the admixture of carnal philosophy. The constitution of the human mind has suffered violence by irrational and prolonged excitement. Numerous expedients have been set in operation for the furtherance of the Gospel, which find no warrant either in the letter or tenour of the Scriptures. It were well if these evils belonged wholly to the record of the past. But they do not. The present age, in its zeal for improvements, has revived measures and doctrines which former generations proved, discarded, and, but for the benefit of their posterity, would have buried in oblivion. There is no new thing under the sun.

Some of the prominent characteristics of the present times which awaken solicitude, are an over scrutinizing rationalism, love of excitement, and innovation. Principles regarded as settled by the voice of antiquity, are now subjected to unsparing revision: and unless we greatly misjudge, not a few adventurers in the various departments of reformation are pushing on to a hazardous extreme. We anticipate much good from this dominant spirit of enterprize,-this "rush of mind;" but we forebode also many evils. The van of the troop of mischiefs has already made its appearance in the disorder of the churches, the reveries and immoralities of Perfectionism; and what may be in reserve, it is impossible to tell. But at all events, it is time, in the judgement of reflecting men, to pause and consider.

Est modus in rebus; sunt certi denique fines

Quos ultra, citraque nequit consistere rectum.

It has become the decided conviction of many, that the labours of modern Evangelists are among the disturbing forces which threaten the ultimate prosperity of the churches. We beg leave, therefore, to bring the general utility of these labours to the test of a candid and faithful examination.*

About five years ago this subject was brought before the public, occasioned by the proposition to organize a corps of Evangelists, as "helpers" of the pastors in the older settlements. Had the scheme been effected, we doubt not from the necessity of the case, that these helpers must have become supplanters of the pastors. The arguments of the writer who exposed the futility of the plan have

The term Evangelist, as denoting a distinct grade of office, has lost its original meaning. The order of men specified by this title is enumerated after prophets and apostles, and they received a temporary appointment to preach the Gospel and administer its ordinances, wherever the Holy Spirit should lead them. They visited destitute places and gathered churches among the heathen; but they were not employed either as promoters or conductors of revivals in the churches over which the Holy Ghost had appointed overseers; nor did they "boast in another man's line of things made ready to their hand." Their office terminated, like that of prophets and apostles, and we have now nothing analogous to it, except the trust committed to the modern missionary, and the labourer in places destitute of settled pastors. (Acts 9: 38; 21: 8; Ephes. 4: 11.)

But we will not press the enquiry, why the title of an office is perpetuated after the office itself has ceased, nor why it should be given to those whose field of operation is so entirely different from that originally occupied by Evangelists. We are concerned rather with things than names. The main question is, whether the labours of those who now bear the name of Evangelists are, on the whole, either necessary or beneficial to churches supplied with regular pastors. I speak not of occasional aid from this source, if circumstances require it. Such men as Wesley, Whitefield, the elder Tennent, and a few others of recent date, may have been needed to rouse the slumbering churches; and God will provide such extraordinary instruments when they are wanted. I shall direct my attention to Evangelists as organized into a distinct, permanent body, and selecting chiefly for their field of labour churches abundantly supplied with the means of grace.

To bring the general utility of these men and their measures to the proper test, it will be necessary to examine the consistency of their operations with the duties and usefulness of stated pastors. In the beginning, churches were organized and overseers were appointed by the Holy Ghost. They were charged, before the Judge of quick and dead, to feed the flock specially committed to their care,-to preach the Word in the sanctuary, and from house to house,-to in

since been elucidated by monitory facts. We recommend a re-perusal of this candid and judicious article. Review on the employment of Evangelists in our older settlements. Christian Spectator, September, 1829.

struct the ignorant, reclaim the erring, visit the afflicted, and to perform various duties, silent as the dew in their influence, and essential to the fruitfulness of the vineyard, although neither adapted nor designed to excite the admiration of the multitude. I shall not stop to prove, that the benefits arising from this Divine institution are necessary to the prosperity of religion. The experience of every age, from the apostles down to the present hour, and the confusion which has invariably followed the subversion of this arrangement, fully demonstrate its wisdom and necessity. No other means than the unostentatious labours and persevering industry of the stated pastor, have ever been devised by which a due proportion of doctrinal instruction, and the consequent symmetry of Christian character could be at all secured. It is not believed that the churches are willing to exchange the services of the pastor, for the benefit of an itinerant ministry. They are not prepared to sever the bond endeared by so many tender associations. Whatever tends therefore, to produce so disastrous a result should be carefully avoided.

We ask now, if the measures at present pursued by Evangelists have not a direct and powerful tendency to disorganize churches, and to dissolve ultimately the pastoral relation? Look back upon the rise and progress of these measures. A few years since an eminent pioneer commenced the work of an Evangelist, going forth without purse or scrip, and we doubt not at the special call of Providence, to render his invited aid, where a revival was hoped for, or had already commenced. He, and a few who succeeded him, carefully preserved the unity of the churches, and strengthened the hands of pastors by their co-operation, and by yielding them, in all things, their place, as the constituted guardians of the flock. They performed, in fact, pastoral duties, visiting from house to house, arousing the careless, guiding the ignorant, and directing the anxious sinner. Much good was effected by these harmonious efforts of pastors and evangelists. But the introduction soon after of certain innovations upon established order, injurious chiefly in a prospective view, paved the way for numerous evils.

Among these innovations may be mentioned the Conference of Churches. By the consent of pastors, meetings were held, conducted by laymen; and two and two, after the