w IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. .<^ c^ (? i' -^0 fe f/j f/. 1.0 I.I T *- IIIM u 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 -« 6" — ► V] ■^z # /a '^ .^r^ v> .•^' ^v o 7 /A Photograpllic Sciences Corporation ^^ '^ :\ ^ur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole —^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symboie V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s i des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour §tre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est filmd d partir de Tangle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ^ C^\ i y^\jCj^*0 -^^ KNOX COLLEGE iJvirtepUjji^iriil mil Jiitcviinj jSoricty. , J. N AUGURAL AdDRESS. ' « 7 3. ■■3s,m INAUGURAL ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE KNOX COLLEGE •^etaplti^iaUptoii f 0det| BT THE PRESIDENT, J. SCRIMGER, M.A., ON THE EVENING OF FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6th, 1872. PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY. PRESBYTERIAN PRINTING HOUSE, 102 BAY STREET, TORONTO. A KNOX COLLEGE W JJatrous : Rev. professor CAVEN. Rev. professor GREGG. Rev. JOHN CAMPBELL, M.A. Rev. a. TOPP, D.D. Rev. J. J. A. PROUDFOOT, D.D. J3vc6ilicut: J. SCRIMGER, M.A. p. F. GUNX. . H. RENNELSON, M.A H. H.McPHERSON, M.A. W. FRIZZELL. J. B. FRASER, M.D. Comepouliiug ^ccrctarD: D. C. JOHNSON. Curator : J. LL RATCLIFF. Commiitec : I J.J.HENRY. A. McFARLANE. / ORDINARY MKMB1':RS. it ii il II Ballantynk, F. Baitie, G., M,A, Bell, A. Burnett, J. R. S. Campbell, Isaac. Carmicilvel, J. A. Colter, T. CuRRiE, H., B. a, FoT HER INCH AM, T. F., B.A. Fowl IE, R. F. Fraser, D. D. Fraser, J. B., M.D. Frizzell, W. Gallagher, W. Goldie, p. C. GuNN, R. F. Hamilton, A.M. Hartley, A. Y. Henderson, R. Henry, J. J. Johnson, D. C. Kenning, T. KiPPAN, A. H. McDonald. D. Mcl'lLVYOEX, H. McFarlane, A. McKay, D. G. McKay, II. McKellar, II. McKkxzie, D. McKeracher, D. Mi^Lellaxi), a. M. McPhersox, H. H., M.A. NicoL, p. Pax TON, E. W. Paterson, J. Ratcliff, J. H. Re ID, W. Rex nelson, W. H., M.A. Scrimger, J., M.A. Smyth, W. J. SxiiWART, A. Straith, p. Tait, D. Thynne, R. TULLY, A. F. Whimster, D.B. INAUGURAL ADDRESS. To the Members of Knox College Metaphysieal aud Literary Society. Genti EMKN, — On tliis the occasion uf our first public meeting for the present session, I shiU avail ri.vSLlt' of the oj^jporl unity usually afforded to the I'rcsident, of addies^ing n few \vords to the members of this Society. And allow me in tlu- first place to express to you my thanks for having elected me to fill a position iionourable in itself, and rendered more so by the gentlemen whose names have been associated with it in years gone by. It was Avith some misgiving that I accepted it, for while it is an honourable positi(>n, I feel ihat it is one that brings ^\ ith it no slight responsibility ; and most cs- p'.cinlly (]o T Tcc'l tliuL i-c^|u'n>-ibility i-nigh',, v.Iicn I rennj'.wbcr that, willingly or unwillingly, the A\ords that I may utter will be taken as an expression not only of my own sentiments, but also of the current views in the Society and in the College. Turning, however, from myself to the Society and its work, I have to congi^atulate you on the steady progress made from year to year, and on the success which so far has attended our meetings this sesnl^n. At no time in the history of our College has there been a more general desire to enjoy the advantages afforded by this Society ; and the result is seen not only in the greater interest in its work manifested ^^ the members, but also in the increased membership. While, however, 6 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. we welcome a large number of new members, we have also to notice the absence of some who last year stood in the foremost rank. We miss their well-known faces, but we part from them with less regret when we remember that it is only that they may enter upon their great life-work and apply in practice the lessons and the principles which they have learned within our College halls. There is one gap in our roll, however, which calls for a more particular notice. Last year we numbered among us one who, though just entering upon his col- legiate course, gave promise of great usefulness as an earnest preacher of the Gospel. To all appearance, in perfect health, he had before him a prospect of many years' service in his Masters cause. But He who rules all things and guides them for the best, had willed it otherwise, Robert Lochore d'ed suddenly of heart disease, on the 1 2th of March last, deeply lamented by all who knew him. It is not for us to penetrate into the inscrutable reasons why God in His Providence saw fit to remove from earth one who bid fair to take no mean place in the roll ol His honoured servants, but there are many obvious lessons which we might learn from such an event. We diall not soon forget the deep impression which it made upon all our minds at the time ; and his brief life in our midst will not have been in vain if it has been the means of inciting us all to greater earnest- ness, so that altogether we may do more in the course of our lives than we v> orild have done had ho never l^ecu our fellow-student. It i.s no mere fancy to think of him as leaving to each one of us as c solemn charge a portion of that work m Inch he might have accom- plished, had he been spared to labour in the Master's vineyard. It is not my intention to deliver a funeral oration, nor yd to point out the lessons which we ought to learn from such a sad event. But this, together with several other circumstances, has suggested to me the propriet}' of making a few remarks on i/ie necessity of earnestness in tlu Christian ministry. I make no apology 'or thus turning aside from the line of thought usual on such occasions as this, to a subject \\hich is of such im- INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 7 mense importfince to as all, though it may appear to be only conx- monplace. We may as well frankly confess that we are in great danger of losing much of our natural earnestness and enthusiasm while engaged in the work of preparation for the more active duties of life. As students of Systematic Theology, Ave are apt to crystal- lize Divine truth into our systems, and forget that it has a living power to mould human life and conduct. In our familiarity with it, we begin to look upon it with professional eyes, and regard it as something with which A\e must render ourselves familiar if we would lake rank as licensed preachers of tlie Gospel. This is no new dis- covery, now made for the first time. It is no new experience now felt for the first time in our day, but one v»hich has always been felt whenever any large measure ©f attention is given to the scientific study of the Bible. The intellect becomes strengthened at the ex- pense of the emotions, and the free-flowing river of Gospel truth is frozen into a bed of theological ice. This is the tendency. Hap- pily it does not often lead to these extreme results, o\\ingtothe counteracting power of other influences. But we must be con- stantly on ouv guard against it, and it is well that we should realize more keei\ly the necessity there is for earnestness as well as for scholarship, for deep feeling as well as for deep learning. Tliis is a matter in which we have no choice left us, if wc would fulfil the end we have in view. The age demands earnestness of us. It were a mere truism to say that the age needs it. Tliere never lias l^een an age that did not need it. But wc go further, and say that the age demands it, and will tolerate nothing short of it. Tlie age in which we live may be •haracterized in many ways, according lo the particular standpoint from which it is viewed. It may be called a progressive age, a literary age, a scientific age, a commercial age. But no one of these epithets describes it more truly than when we say it is an earnest age. There is an intensity now thrown into life, especially on this Continent, which was before unknown. When once an object has 8 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. been sel up, the course is so planned as to lead to it with the great- est directness, even though to the neglect of other interests more important. There is an intensity in business pursuits. We are get- ting accustomed to the f^iuick, nervous step of the active business itian Ji. car ;:lrci_l;-.. \\ c ^cc ii-LHi endc:iv«-'.unng U' de.iiro}' time and .space by the use of the raihvay and electric telegraph. The daily paper has entirely supplanted the Aveekly in business circles, and no one would thin]; of carrying on any business enterprise Avithout daily or almost hourly advices from the most distant parts of the world. One excirement treads on the heels of another, and business life be- comes a constant hurry \\ith them. Tlie consequence is seen in the large number of cases of nervous prostration and premature decay. There is intensity in the pursuit of science. Nature is weighed, and her forces measured by the inquiring student, in order that she may be induced to disclo>e her secrets to the mind of man. The investi- gation enlists all the entliusiasni of many hearts, which bound with joy at the prospect of finding a key wherewith to unlock some of her hidden stores. The result of this over-stimulation is seen in the hirge number of extravagant scientific theories being given to the vrorld, claiming to explain the ojK^rations of nature. There is in- tense activity in applying scientific principles to the purposes of practical life. Every new discovery is immediately questioned 'by ti.e utilitarian spirit of the times as to the amount of material ad- vantage it may confer on man. New principles are not allowed long to slumber on the pages of scientific books, but are speedily set to work to cater to man's pleasure or man's comfort. The result of this is apparent in the annual harvest of mechanical inventions pressed upon the world's notice as fitteil to add something to human life and happiness. There is the same intense earnestness in the race for every other object in life, vdiether it belongs to the region of matter or of mind. And we may also affirm, without exposing our- selves to the charge of self-righteousness, that there is greater ear- nestness in religion ic/w than in most preceding periods of the INAUGURAL ADDRESS. world's history. It is not that dogmas are held with a firmer grasp, 6\' fought for with fiercer zeal, but that there is a deeper conviction of the necessity of making religion a practical matter — a principle pevvadim^ tlie life as well as the mim!. Tlierv- !■ mcr.^ v.ii. ionrtvy spirit in the churches, and a greater readiness on the part of church members to engage in what may bedistinctively called Christian work. We thus find this earnestness, or rather this intensity, everywhere, in every pursuit, and in every walk of life, more strikingly developed and manifested now tlian at any previous time. It is not that the earnest men now arc more earnest than the earnest men of past ages ; but there are more of them, and on account of the stimulus of competition, their efforts are more sustained. It is not that the earnestness of the present day is of the highest kind, but the pre- vailing spirit reaches, in some way or other, almost every individual. It is often a very different thing from moral earnestness, for it is fre- quently selfish, and ready to sacrifice the true and the good for the sake of some lower end ; l)ut it gives a tone to the whole community. The pursuit may be one not ^^■orthy of the eff<3rt wasted on it ; but in any case the whole powers of the man are laid under tribute to attain it. He v ho will not so exert himself to t'"'e full extent of his ability, must be content to Ici the world pass on before him, while he struggles on behind as best he may. The world may have a cer- tain degree of respect for cautious deliberation in practical matters of life, and tolerate it, but it seldom commends it, and seldomer still acts on it. To be slow is simply to be despised. Whether this is the best state of society is open to question. But certain it is that this is the condition of highly civilized countries now, or the condition to which thev are rapidly hastening. It is no strange thing, then, to find that the age demands something of the same spirit in the pulpit. It demands more u.id more that the preacher should have an earnest and practical subject to lay before them, and not the mere sidHleties of a pedantic logic. It demands that he should speak of that subject in plain, earnest language, and 10 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. not simply Avith the fading beauties of a floweiy rhetoric. It de- mands that he should throw into it all the deep feeling of a man who believes what he says, and is in earnest about it. It is in vain for us to cry out against mere excitement and sensationalism in preaching, unless we substitute for it something that will satisfy the demand and be in harmony with the rest of life. The mere per- formance of ceremonies Mill not do it. It must be truth set on fire by the earnestness of the speaker. This and this alone will prevent church-going from becoming a mere respectable recreation to a very large proportion of the people of our countrj'. Men who are prac- tical all the week will listen with impatience, or at most with tolera- tio.i, to the bare statement of theoretical doctrines and fancies on the Sabbath. Men who seldom speak in their business transactions of things that are always taken for granted, are not to be won over to religion by the tedious repetition of things that they know and always have known, except in so far as these are made to apply to their consciences and the manner of their life. And in order that these doctrines may seize hold upon them, and become matters of real interest to them, it is necessary that they should be brought before them with an earnest purpose and an earnest manner. We have faith in Christianity as being the only true religion for this age as for any other, and we must not be ashamed of our belief. We believe that even the hurry, and the stir, and the bustle of the pres- ent day, may be sanctified by a love for the Christ of our Bible, and v/e must not shrink from tlie ta.sk of bringing Christian principles to bear with all their weight on this active life. But the edge must not be taken off them througli a want of keen earnestness, if we would be successful. The age that has hitclied the lightning to its chariot, and sweeps by on the wings of the wind, vvill not be guided in its course by the weather-beaten finger-boards of past generations. It will give heed to nore but the earnest warnings and plain direc- tions that compel attention even from the most thoughtless. If, therefore, we would not let mankind ru^h by us on the fatal road to Vf INAUGURAL ADDRESS. II ain in the t)cr- I Y ruin, we must proclaim with manly earnest words the message which we bear as ambassadors and servants of the Most High, commissioned to Avarn and appointed to lead the generation in which our lot is cast to a higher, a ])etter, and a purer life, It may be said, perhaps, that the age is wrong, that its tendency is a dangerous one, that the demand ^\•hicll it roakes is an unreason- able one. It may be said that it i^ a mistake to pander to its wishes, that this attempt to make the Gospel suit tie age has led to the de- gradation of the pulpit, has given rise to startling sensationalism for the purjiose of catching the ear of the world. It may be said that the influence exerted should he the influence of the truth alone, and not the influence of any one who may chance to be the bearer of the message. Granted, if you will. But this does not make it any the less the duty of the Christian minister to be intensely in earnest, and that because the age demands it. Suppose that the age is wrong ; that it is selfishness rather than moral earnestness which lies at the bottom of our enterprise and our business activity ; is not our object to make it better? And shall it be said that v.'e are less zealous in our object tlian the world is in its object ? Even suppose that the demand which it makes. on the pulpit is an unreasonable one ; ought we refuse to attempt the task when our only choice is between at- tempting that and utter failure? True it is that the influence we exert on the age should be not a personal one, but that of the truth we proclaim ; yet we must remember that the influence of that truth will depend on the Mhole very much on the manner in which it is presented, and that we are ever bound to present it, so far as ve can, in that manner which is best calculated to gain the earnest attention of the world. The truth itself will ever remain the same, but the manner of presenting it must vary with the age for which it is in- tended. It must be cast in the mould of modern thought, and be tinged with the hue of modern experience. To borrow an illustra- tion from a recent writer : it is like an engineer's line. When sur- veying for a railway he lays down the line level, or as nearly level 12 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. as the configuration of the surface will permit. But this level is not a straight line. It is the segment of a circle — that circle being the circumference of tlie glolje. The line which practically constitutes a le\ el hends downwards continually as it goes forward, following the form of tlie carili, and at every ]joint being at right angles to the radius. If it Averc produced in an a])solutely straight line, it would, in the course of a few miles, be high and dry above the surface of the earth, and entirely useless for the j)ractical purposes of life. Very similar to this would be the result, were the manner of present- ing truth, Mhich may have suited well enough the demands of a past age, to be continued in the present. We must cause truth to touch the level at every point in the progress of the race, and I would hazard the assertion that it i^ impossible to do this in our day without something more than tlie average earnestness of the }:>ast. Men will no longer submit patiently to the ecclesiastical shackles imposed upon them by authority. They must be made to them living ]irinciplcs, quickened into life by the earnest enthusiasm of him who seeks to win their assent, so that they may freely and willingly l)o\\' to the truth, because they feel it to be true. Let us not think, then, to go forth into tlie V;-orld \v\{\\ a system of theology ready made, and seek to indoctrinate men in its logical niceties merely, and then leave it with them, as though our Gospel were, "believe on this system of theology and thou shalt be saved." We shall find ourselves sadly mistaken in thinking that thereby we can make any deep impression on men's minds. These truths must be tipped with the fire from our own hearts, if they are to burn into the hearts of men in an age such as ours, when there is so much to sear and harden, as well as to arouse. The age, then, demands it of us, if there were nothing else. But there is somethinn; else. The subject of which we haye to speak is one tiiat demands the greatest earnestness from us. This is not the proper time, neither am I the proper person, to urove to you the importance of this sub- ject. I take it for g- anted that all will concede the infinite moment % •r •/ lot le tes .lie a, of tc. 'iit- »f INAUGURAT, ADDRESS. 1 3 of a theme which is drav. u from the interests of ctevniiy. It is no light matter to speak to immortal souls on a subject which so nearly concerns their future. Were our subject merely one of passing in- terest, Ave could easily find an excuse for becoming enthusiastic over n. \'v cic we speakmg to men on a matter which concerned merely their welfare liere, moral earnestness would be in place. How much more intense should be our earnestness in speaking of that which affects both tliis work! and the next, which is to make their happi- ness or deepen their misery for cxqv. Tlie world rings wiih the praises of those who, for the sake of ju.uice, or liberty, for the sake of the welfare of their fellovr-men, have spent their lives in untiring toil, or sealed their sincerity \v\ih their blood. And how much greater reason is llicre vhy we, who are the advocates for undying tmth, and the messengers of lieavenly peace, should enlist all our powers and faculties in the one life-task which that position imposes upon us. We shall soon be made painfull}' conscious that the world judges of the importance of religion from llie estimation in which it seems to be held by those who arc appointed its teachers and guar- dians in their midst. If, therefore, \\'e would have them believe that it is the most important thing in the world, it Avill only be by our showing that we consider it so. Just here is our danger. Our very familiarity with the subject, so vast, so many-sided, and so incom- prehensible, tends to make u> less in earnest about it, and blunts our own sense of its imjiortance. The children of Egypt soon learn to play gleefully amid the solemn ruins of the forgotten past, and under the very shadoAvs of the pyramids before which the stranger stands in awe. The very closeness of our inspection of Divine truth pre- vents us from seeing its majesty and its overwhelming import. But, assuredly, if ever any matter deserved the most serious consideration, this does. If ever any subject called for deep feeling, this does. If ever any principle was worth burning ourselves out for by ardent, irrepressible enthusiasm, this is. If nothing else, tl'c burden of our subject should weigh us down into a terrible earnestness. ■*■*■ 14 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. Furthermore, ue ought to remember the object which we have in view. It is not simply to discharge our consciences by telling men the truth, whether they will hear it or not. It is not merely to stand up on certain solemn occasions, and in well -measured sentences pro- pound our vie\\ s ( 'f certain doctrines. That is only one means to the end. The end is to make men belter, and holier, and happier. The object for which we ought to strive is not to have well-filled churches, but to influence the cliaractcr of men for good, to make men fit for the Kingdom of Heaven, to restore the fallen nature, to re-adorn the marred image of the Creator with the beauty and the grace of holi - ness. This, truly, is the noblest work in which any one can possibly be engaged — to he makers of men ; and if tliere is one thing more certain than another, it is this, that such a high object is not to be attained in any great degree by anything short of the most heartfelt earnestness in the work. Even under the most favourable circum- stances, it is no easy thing to accomplish, and as a matter of fact, the circumstances are generally very unfavourable. Even to train up children to such a character requires tact and perseverance, and firm- ness. How then but by a "whole-souled devotion can we expect to influence and build up men ? How otherwise can we expect to im- press our ideas upon them, and make them feel the power of the truth we teach them ? 'Inhere is so much to draw them in the other direction, so much to make all our efforts vain, that we cannot afford to trifle with men, and sj^eak to them merely in the line of our pro- fession. They need impulse as well as instruction, and they must catch from us some of" that earnestness \\hich will enable them to rise above self and the world into the purer atmosphere of noble purposes and high-toned manliness. True, it may be said that here we do not labour alone, and that in no single instance is success due to our efforts. But lam not concerned here with the theological aspect of the case, and however firmly we may maintain the neces- sity of divine interference, yet there is no getting past the fact, that practically results such as we desire are made to follow only from •, ' INAUGURAL ADDRESS. IS lie i human effort, ami that the greatest resiiUs ahiiost invariably attend the most earnest, faitb.fal endeavours. The Reformation of the six- teenth century was kindled by the earnestness of Martin Luther and his fellow- Reformers. Tiie foundation of Scotland's Protestantism was laid firm and deep by the terri])le earnestness of John Knox. The spiritual restoration of England was effected through the fiery earnestness of Whiteficld and Wesley. Were Me to call for the tes- timony of the great army of those who have been useful in their day and generation as mini.-;ters of the Ciospel, we should find that they attributed any success which they iiiay have had to their earnestness rather than to their superior talents or attainments. I may not forget, however, gentlemen, that I am addressing you now as members of a Society which has for its object the cultivation of the power of expression ; and it may be thought that this matter is one with which we have nothing to do here. But so far is this from being true, T believe our training in this Society has a close relation to this very feeling of earnestness. Allov, me very briefly to state and explain that relation. Notwithstanding all that ha;- been said, and I lio not mean to say anything now to lessen its importance, carnestne>s is not everything. All experience goes to prove that the earnestness of ignorance is fanaticism — the disguised, but no less real ent-niy (•[ true religion and of all stability of character. It must, therefoic, receive the founda tion of a sound education, which at once gives information and strengthens the mental powers. While we must be careful not to chill or expel deep feeling by over-refinement or too much attention to dry detail, we cannot aflford to dispense v, ith that liberal training which, like ballast, is needed to steady the ship and to prevent the wind in the sails from overturning it. There may be, however, learning and earnestness combined with- out any great influence being exerted, because of a want of the power of expressing it, and so communicating the vital power within to all around. It will not do to say that under such circumstances earj i6 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. nestness will find some way of expressing itself — it may he after a manner peculiar, it may be in defiance of all recognized rules, but it will make itself felt. Granted. In like manner an acorn will sprout from under a stone and make its way out by some means. But it comes out a crooked, slender stem, and no one would be foolish enough to deny that it Mould have grown far better had the stone been removed. So ve need cultivation of the power of expression, that the feeling within may not only be communicated, but com- municated in the best possible way. The impediments, as far as possible, ought to be removed out of the way, so as to give free, full, and effective utterance to the thought within, and in such a way as to express with it the depth of fcL4ing which is associated with it. It is only in so far as earnestness is exin'essed that it can exercise an influence over others. Now our Society does not pretend to give learning, except in a very small degree. Least of all does it give earnestness, hnt ii trains in the power of expression. There lies its value and its use- fulness. In so far as ii accomplishes that, it attains its end. Other incidental ends may be gained at the same time, such as the influence which mutual association must always have on character ; but this, after all, is the object which must be constantly kept before us, and it is the bound en duty of every one who is looking for\\'ard to such a position as that of the Christian ministry, in which personal in- liuence must be exerted very largely through the power of speech, to avail himself of every opportunity of cultivating that power, so as to acquire an easy and graceful expression. A mere acquaintance with rules is of little value until they have been so practised as to become natural and unconscious. Here comes in the gieat stock excuse from those who are unwilling to undergo any such training, or devote time to any such practice ; viz, that many of the men who have risen to the highest eminence have never submitted to it, but have simply spoken out earnestly and naturally in the language that first came to them, and with a manner a r ; ■ INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 17 that was entirely their own. The fact is unquestionable, though probably the number of such men is very much smaller than is (gen- erally supposed, for we must never take it for jj^ranted that because a man is perfectly natural in his manner of delivery, he is therefore untrained. This is the very perfection of art, and the very end that it strives to attain. Yet, admitting that there are such cases as are thus held up for examples to us, it would be an easy thing to retort that these would have been greater men had they been carefully trained. But there is a deeper answer that may be given. All men are not alike in the measure of their powers. There are some few who hit upon a high degree of natural excellence without any special culture. Ikit these few arc no fair specimens of the mass, There are a few people in the world that have genius who rise above all or- dinary rules. But surely no one will maintain that the method which gives freedom to the exercise of genius is the best method for the great proportion of those who enter on a professional life. For the great majority, v. iio have and always will have only the average abil- ity, no training can be too careful, no drill too thorough. The difference between these two classes, and the absurdity of pleading the example of the one class for the guidance of the other, may be made more apparent by an illustration. There are two ways in which a fire may be put out. The storm from above may sweep over the place, and pouring out of its cloudv reservoir torrents of rain, may so thoroughly drench everything that not an ember remains of all the flames. This is the most natural way, the easiest way, and oftentimes indeed proves a most effectual way. And yet that city would certainly be wanting in common foresight that would trust en- tirely to the rain from heaven to extinguish its fires and preserve it from loss. For ordinary emergencies there must be an elaborate and very prosaic system of reservoirs, and water-pipes, and fire-engines, and hose, to accomplish what might be accomplished by a shower of rain, if it could only be commanded at the proper time. The method of genius bears a striking resemblance to the action of nature in making ! x8 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. clouds mid sending rain. Towering high up above iho great mass of mankind, he gathers his materials by an almost unco.iscious principle of selection from the most diverse and the most unlikely sources. These materials, refined aud purified as they are gathered, like the vai)our that ascends to heaven from every ocean and stream and stagnant pool, accumulate, and in due time are given to the world again, to sway, to refresh, and to elevate mankind, or come down like a torrent to sweep away sin and wrong-doing from the face of the earth. But there are very few of us have genius, and therefore we must have recourse to the prosaic, but on the whole more effective method of diligently cultivating whatever powers we have, that we may make the best ))ossible use of them. We must construct our reservoirs and fill them by means of hard study and solid learning. We must perfect our method of turning all our power on one object by the most careful practice and cultivation. Anti yet we must be careful not to give culier one or the other of these a prominence in our practical work which they do not deserve. The object of learning is not to show how learned we are, but to communicate it to others in such a way that it will benefit them- The object of elocution is not to show the world how well we can express our ideas, and with ^^hat grace we can deliver them, but to enable us to express our ideas in such a way that their full power may be felt. The object of earnestness, if it can be said to have an object at all, is not to show how earnest we are, but to give our words sufficient weight and moral power to influence men's hearts and lives. That learning, that manner of expression, or that ear- nestness which calls attention to the person of the speaker rather than to the subject of which he speaks, is all vi'rong an utter failure. Let us remember we have a mission in the world, nnd one that is en- tirely distinct from ourselves, one of ^^•hich our praise and honour form no part. That mission is the reclaiming of a sinful, fallen v/orld. It is one which is by no means easy to accomplish, but de- mands our whole powers. It requires of us that we should become f of rNAUr.URAI- ADDRKSS. 19 so much alive to llic real state of tlic cnse and the importance o( remedying its evils, that we shall be carried out of our own selfish selves, and burn in our hearts with the hre of earnestness for the ac- complishment of this jj;lorious end. It requires of us that wi- sliould leave no means untried whereby we can increase our power and our facility in brin_q;ing the truth wo feel to bear on the busy world around us. The truth which we have in our hands is (lod's own truth. Let us not nuitilate it or deprive it of its living ])ower by im- perfections ol our own makinj:^. The cause in v.hich we ore em- barked is God's own cause. We know it m'.isl triumjih iii ihe end ; biif, in the meantime let us not hinder its progress or bring it iii'o Contempt by our want of earnestness or by our want < T culture. *^||l;. ^ I ..ItilWMMi uma/HnmHtM ' ' /