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 I
have recently read “Alexander Campbell” by Benjamin Lyon Smith;
The Bethany Press, St. Louis, Mo., 1930. If one wonders why there
are so few “Campbells” in our day, the following quotes may
explain. First, Campbell’s conception of the necessary
qualifications of a minister, written in his journal while yet a
student at Glasgow, Scotland. (Age, 20-21 years.)
“1.
The preacher must be a man of piety, and one who has the instruction
and salvation of mankind sincerely at heart.
2.
A man of modest and simple manners, and in his public performance
and general behavior must conduct himself so as to make his people
sensible that he has their temporal and eternal welfare more at
heart than anything else.
3. He must be well instructed in morality and religion, and in
the original tongues in which the Scriptures are written, for
without them he can hardly be qualified to explain Scripture or to
teach religion and morality.
4. He must be a proficient in his own language to be able to
express every doctrine and precept with the utmost simplicity, and
without anything in his diction either finical on the one hand, or
vulgar on the other.
5. A sermon should be composed with regularity and unity of
design, so that all its parts may have a mutual and natural
connection, and it should not consist of many heads, neither should
it be very long.
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6.
A sermon ought to be pronounced with gravity, modesty and meekness,
and so as to be distinctly heard by all the audience.
7.
Let the preacher, therefore, accustom himself to articulate slowly
and deliver the words with a distinct voice, and without artificial
attitudes or motions or any other affection.”
In
1810, being 22 years old, young Campbell arranged the following
STUDY plan for himself,
“One
hour to read Greek-- from 8 to 9 in the morning.
One
hour to read Latin-- from 11 to 12 in the morning.
One-half
hour to Hebrew -- between 12 and 1 p. m.
Commit
ten verses of the Scripture to memory each day, and read the same in
the original languages with Henry and Scott’s notes and practical
observations. For this exercise I shall allow two hours. These
exercises being intended for every day, will not be dispensed with.
Other reading and studies as occasion may serve. These studies in
all require four and a half hours. Church history and divers other
studies are intended to constitute the principle part of my literary
pursuits.”
(Anyone for preaching?? rft)
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