The times.

Power of Gospel.

ministers who have preached Christ-as did Payson, Nettleton, Richards, Alexander, Rice, Baker-are those who were a blessing to the Church. And such are the men who are a blessing to it now; the men who permit not themselves to be drawn away from the Cross to a crusade against particular sins, or in favor of certain schemes of social or political reform. And the men who turn away from the preaching of Christ to preaching for the times-who are seeking to rise to prominence by connecting themselves with the excitements of the day, are the men who are dividing their own churches, and who are casting around them firebrands, arrows, and death, to the extent of their power. Their progress is marked, like that of the conflagration or freshet, by the ruins they leave behind them. Without benefiting any human interest, they destroy their own usefulness, and bring a reproach upon the entire Gospel ministry.

"Among ourselves there are sectional jealousies and political excitements for which the preaching of Christ is the best remedy. Abroad, every thing is tending in one direction. The great drift is toward right civil and religious institutions. India, China, Japan, Turkey, Sardinia, and even Mexico, by recent treaty, are open to the Gospel; and the gates of those nations yet closed must be soon unlocked. And if every minister of the Gospel would, from this time forth, preach Christ and nothing else, in the spirit and power of their commission-if they would abandon sectarian strife, and doubtful schemes of reform, and devote their united energies to the simple preaching

Extension.

The way.

of Christ, within a very brief period the Gospel might be carried in triumph from pole to pole-on the Eastern Continent from Senegambia to Japan, and from Hudson's Bay to Cape Horn on the Western.

"In the language, then, of the old patriarch to the young minister, I would say to every minister of the New Testament, 'If you wish to be a blessing to the Church, preach Christ.'"

On returning home, he resumed and continued his pastoral labors with great enjoyment and success.

New call.

The committee.

CHAPTER XI.

Called to Elizabethtown, N. J.-Advice of Friends.- Letter from Rev. John M'Dowell, D.D.—Letter from a venerable Elder.-He accepts the Call. His Installation.-A new Era.- Habits of Study. History of Elizabethtown.-Pastors of the First Church. -Reminiscences.

IN the month of April, 1833, the Rev. Dr. John M'Dowell was dismissed from the pastoral charge of the First Presbyterian Church in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, having been called to the Central Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia.

Before leaving Elizabethtown, Dr. M'Dowell called the elders and trustees of the Church together to learn whether they would take any action in reference to a successor. Their attention was at once directed to the man who had visited them a few months before for the purpose of getting assistance to build a church. A letter was written to Mr. Murray at Wilkesbarre, but he was at that time in Philadelphia, attending the General Assembly. A committee of the elders then proceeded to Philadelphia, and requested him to visit Elizabethtown, and preach as a candidate in their vacant church. This he steadfastly refused to do, but was finally prevailed on to supply the pulpit for two Sabbaths, while the General Assembly was in session. Dr. M'Dowell left Elizabethtown May 13th, 1833, and on the two following Sabbaths Mr. Murray preached in Elizabethtown. The congregation met June 3d,

The call.

Independence.

the Rev. Dr. Magie, pastor of the Second Church, presiding, and with entire unanimity made a call for Mr. Murray, offering him a salary of one thousand dollars. per annum, and the use of the parsonage house and lands.

This call opened a new field and a perplexing question to the mind of the pastor in the Valley. He sought the heavenly guidance and the counsel of his friends. The advice he obtained was almost as unanimous as the call of the people; but he had formed new, strong, and endearing ties, which it was hard to sunder, and it may be truly said they never were sundered, for he and the people of the Valley cherished the warmest reciprocal attachment so long as he lived. Some of them insisted that he was under obligations to them to stay. With that independence of spirit that always marked his language and conduct, he replied, "I am under obligations to no man.”

Dr. M'Dowell, feeling naturally deep concern for the people he had left, wrote to Mr. Murray:

"Philadelphia, June 15th, 1833. "MY DEAR BROTHER,-I rejoice to hear that my former people at Elizabethtown, still dearly beloved, have, at a full meeting, unanimously made out a call for you to become their pastor. By a letter which I have recently received from Elizabethtown, I find that there is a deep interest felt in the result of this call, and much anxiety, and doubtless much prayer (for I know that they are a praying people), that, if it is consistent with the Divine will, you may be induced to

Doubts.

Advice.

accept; and I unite with them in the hope that this may be the result. I view the hand of God as remarkable in this call-that, so soon after the departure of their late pastor, and when they were foreboding disunion, and that it would probably be a long time before they would be able to call a minister, they should so soon, and so cordially and harmoniously unite. The Lord, I sometimes think, has a great work for you to do there, and that he suffered the events to take place which issued in my removal, to open the door for your introduction to reap the harvest. Nothing but something like what did take place would probably have removed me from that people. I pray that the Lord may be with you, and direct you in this solemn business; and if it is for His glory, and the interests of Christ's kingdom, and consistent with His will, I pray that you may decide to go; and if not, however anxious I feel on this subject, I desire with submission to bow. I can tell you what my wishes are, but I dare not say what is duty. I am not suf ficiently acquainted with your present situation, and I feel too much interested on one side to place great confidence in my own decision. I can only place before your mind the state of things at Elizabethtown, and leave you to contrast them with your present situation. The congregation, in itself, is a very important one, containing about 400 families and near 600 communicants; it has had, and is calculated to have, a commanding influence on the surrounding country throughout the Presbytery; it has been, and is calculated still to be, an efficient congregation in the benev