[figure description] Page 048.[end figure description]

THE application made by Teague, to be admitted
to the ministry, and the simplicity of the ecclesiastics
in listening to his overtures, made a great
noise through the neighbourhood; in as much as the
young man laboured under a want of education, and
was not qualified by theological reading. But I do
not see, why it should be thought blamable; provided
the matter was not too much hurried and hastily
brought forward. For give him a little time, and he
might have been instructed to preach as well as some
that I myself have heard. Especially if at first setting
out, he had confined himself to historical passages
of scripture; such as the history of Sampson,
and Gideon, and Barak, and the like: Only he must
have taken care that in pronouncing Barak with the
brogue upon his tongue, he did not make it Burke;
for that is a patronimic name of his country, and he
might inadvertently have fallen into this pronunciation.

I acknowledge, that in the regular churches such
as that of the Presbyterians, there is still kept up
some opinion of the necessity of literature. But do
we not see that with other denominations; such as
the Quakers, the Methodists, and Anabaptists, it is

[figure description] Page 049.[end figure description]

totally disregarded and thrown out? Because when
human gifts or acquirements are absent, that which
is supernatural more evidently appears.

Do not Quakers, and Methodists, and Baptists,
preach very well? At any rate, they do a great deal
of good, and that is the first object of preaching......
Whether such sermonists, avail themselves most of
sense or sound, I will not say; but so it is they do
good; and that without the aid of any human learning
whatever.

It is very true, that formerly in the infancy of the
church, a knowledge of languages and sciences, might
be requisite. But the case is quite altered now. The
Scripture has been well explained, and frequently
preached over; every text and context examined, and
passages illustrated. The Hebrew roots, so to speak,
have been all dug up; and there is scarcely a new
etymology to be made. Are there any new doctrines
to discover? I should think it impossible. At
any rate, I should conceive it unnecessary. There
are enough in all conscience: The inventing more,
would be like bringing timber to a wood, or coals to
Newcastle.

This being the case, I feel myself disposed to agree
with those who reject human learning in religious
matters altogether. More especially as science is
really not the fashion at the present time. For as
has been before seen, even in the very province of
science itself, it is dispensed with; that of natural
philosophy, for instance. In state affairs, ignorance
does very well, and why not in church? I am for
having all things of a piece; ignorant statesmen, ignorant
philosophers, and ignorant ecclesiastics. On
this principle, Teague might have done very well as
a preacher. But the selfishness of the Captain prevailed,
and obstructed his advancement.

Previous section

Next section