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OUE RELATION TO THE DEITY.

[Part I.

of variety ; and the customs of the pulpit permit him to turn thispassion to good account, by availing himself of the services ofhis brethren in exchange for his own. Cowper may be pre-sumed to have had these advantages in mind when he said, —

u The pulpit, in the sober useOf its legitimate, peculiar powers,

Must stand acknowledged, while the world shall stand,

The most important and effectual guard,

Support, and ornament of virtue’s cause.” *

There are two points on which it merits an inquiry, whetherthe pulpit might not be made more effectual for its great pur-poses than it usually has been. It may well be doubted, whetherthe pulpit has not exerted its immense power too exclusively inthe illustration and enforcement of doctrines, and to the neglectof morals.f While doctrinal sermons abound everywhere,—how small, comparatively, is the number of sermons in whichChristian morals are very ably discussed and illustrated. Thisneglect to illustrate and enforce the moral duties of Christianityseems to have been increasing during the last century, and existsmore in this country than in Great Britain. If the wholestrength of the pulpit, “ in the exercise of its legitimate peculiarpowers,” were directed against certain immoral maxims, habits,and usages, which extensively prevail, it is not to be doubted,that, within a few years, a much more healthful moral tone might

* The Task, Book II.

t On this topic, I am in danger of being misunderstood, and this I am anxiousto prevent. The term “ moral preacher ” has unfortunately become a term ofreproach, both in this country and in England. This reproachful use of theterm undoubtedly arose from the delinquencies of a certain class of Englishpreachers, whose sermons are described by Dr. Southey, as containing “ nothingto rouse a slumbering conscience, nothing to alarm the soul at a sense of itsdanger, no difficulties expounded to confirm the wavering, no mighty truthsenforced to rejoice the faithful, — to look for theology here,” continues he,“ would be seeking pears from the elm; — only a little smooth morality, such asTurk, Jew, or Infidel may listen to without offence, sparkling with metaphorsand similes, and rounded off with a text ofScripture, a scrap of poetry, or, betterthan either, a quotation from Ossian.” (Espriella’s Letters, Vol. I. p. 210.)To prevent all misunderstanding of my meaning, I will illustrate it by examples.Dr. Beecher’s “ Six Sermons on Intemperance,” — Bishop Jeremy Taylor’s twoSermons on the t( Wedding Ring,” — and the great body of Dr. Barrow’s Ser-mons, are specimens of what I mean and recommend by moral preaching.