OPEN-AIR PREACHING.
St. John's College, Cambridge.
In the Spectator of September '9th there were some remarks on open-air preaching, which made me desirous of writing a few lines to you ; other engagements have prevented my doing so hitherto, but I trust it is not yet too late.
I must confess myself grieved at the tone of your remarks, and disap- pointed too, for I doubted not you would have hailed the present movement among the -clergy with satisfaction and cordiality, as being one of hopeful promise. -It may not of itself, if it go no farther, produce muck fruit, but it is-at least an indication of the-spirit that is growing within our Church, and vrhieh 'will, it is to be hoped, continue -to expand and grow, until the spirit of the Apostles is once more among us, and the Christian Church becomes a mighty engine, not only diffusing life and health among its own members, but 'currying- the truth over tit obstacles to every part of the world. That "-many other things, altogether unsuited to the customs and costume of England in the nineteenth century, can be justified by texts from Scripture," seems to me to have little application here. It would, certainly, if the preachers Who are now practising this innovation were doing so merely for the sake of health, or for some similar consideration ; but if they are doing it, its ive believe theynne, in a missionary spirit, as apostles of Christ, "sent forth to seek that which is lost," then we can hardly Bay they are "justified by texts of Scripture," but that they are doing what they are plainly commanded to do, And ever have been commanded to do, and what common sense too would MY they must do, if they wish to perform the task God has given them. The whole spirit df the New Testament—the example of Christ mid 'all His _followers, which they are bound to imitate—and the natural season of Avery man—are on their Aide. It is very likely that what they do is not at all consonant with the customs of the world in the nine- teenth century : but when was apostleship consonant with worldliness ? when was preaching anything else than foolishness? God does not alter, however much we may ; nor does human nature alter, however much the outward phase of the world may : preaching is as much -needed now, and as well suited to draw men to Christ, ea ever it was; and the injunction, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature," is as urgent at this very moment-en die ininiStrits of Christ; and the-promise, "Lo I am with you unto the end of the world," is to them, as much as ever it was to the disciples of -eighteen hundred years ago. It is not lowness that is _required in the preacher, it is earnestness. Paul was not a "low" man ; neither do I believe Wesley can with truth be called " low "; but there is a :living example, on whom the imputation cannot, am sure, rest fora moment. Father Ignatius, a Roman Catholic missionary and brother to Earl Spencer, is IL man whom all our English clergymen would do well toimitate. In the moat crowded and dirty courts and alleys of Tooley Street, his voice was heard pleading in all-absorbing earnestness for the souls of the poor wretched -creatures who live there ; -and it was so that the Roman Catholic chapel in Maze Pond was filled with its mingled assembly of worshipers, and it is so that the phenomenon you remark, in congregations of that persuasion, Sias always been produced.
If we want the poor to throng to our churches, we must draw them thither in the same way. -But we must not step short with filling our churches. The present staff of ministers in England if all in earnest, are sufficient to evangelize the whole country in a very few years ; to cause a church to be needed, and built, Wherever enough people to fill it live ; to make every man and woman in the kingdom worshipers; and then to diffuse God's-light over-the whole world, till all -darkness vanish, till "the kingdoms of the earth _become -the kingdomsof our God," till "every man know the Lord, from the least unto the greatest."
.1-do not anticipate such _results from the open-air preaching lately in- augurated : but it is a step- in the -right direction ; it shows that the fire of seal-is alive, though it may be but smouldering: let us not damp it ; let us -rather encourage it and pray for the lime to be _hastened when it shall burst forth with irresistible power.
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