1. The elaborate writing of the whole sermon. A. Good results of the method. It disciplines the preach- er's intellect; his heart; induces the preacher and the hearers to obtain large and accurate views of truth; tends to promote the literary as well as the religious growth of the people; gives authority to the preacher; variety to his ministrations; prepares him for exigen- cies; qualifies him to preach extempore; tends to perpetuate his influence. B. Evil results of the method. There is danger that it will repress the life and energy of sermons; will debilitate the minister; encourage his ambition; induce him to spend in writing sermons the time which he may spend more usefully in writing for the press; induce him to neglect his extemporaneous sermons; to write in a style which will fail to make a good impression on the people. No. VIII. THE INSPIRATION OF THE RECORD HOW ASCERTAINED. 644 654 696 God's Action in Redemption involves the Miraculous, 694 God's Action in Redemption constitutes a Revelation, The Knowledge of God revealed through his Action in God's Action in the Establishment and Administration of Rules for the Writer of Sermons: in relation to, 1. his physical state; 2. his high idea of a sermon; 3. his in- terest in what he is writing; 4. his religious feeling; 5. his general excitement and sensibility; 6. freedom of spirit; 7. mastery of his theme; 8. rapidity of writing; 9. writing continuously; 10. subsequent criticism and correction; 11. attention to thought rather than to words; THE BIBLIOTHECA SACRA. ARTICLE I. PROTESTANT SISTERHOODS, AS THEY EXIST IN GERMANY, AND AS THEY MAY BE ORGANIZED IN THE UNITED STATES. BY REV. FRANCIS WHARTON, D.D., LL.D., PROFESSOR IN THE EPISCOPAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT CAMBRIDGE, MASS. On the 13th of September 1869, the Deaconess Institution at Kaiserswerth celebrated its thirty-third anniversary. Among the remarkable facts stated at the meetings, we take this occasion to mention the following: 1. On the 23d and 24th of the previous September was held the third General Conference of the various mother institutions. Of these (forty-two in number) twenty-nine were represented, including delegations not merely from all parts of Germany, but from England, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, France, Switzerland, and the Levant. By the reports presented it appeared that during the preceding three years ten new sisterhoods had been organized, and 500 sisters had been added; the total number at the time of the summary being 2106. These sisters were engaged in 520 distinct stations, being 143 more than reported at the prior triennial meeting. 2. In the line of new edifices the following are mentioned: A new and beautiful church at Kaiserswerth, where the sysVOL. XXVIII. No. 109.-JANUARY, 1871. tem was first planted, and where is now its largest and most flourishing home. A new hospital at Alexandria. The old building used for this purpose had been for several years in such a condition that the safety of its inmates was greatly endangered. In the meantime active efforts had been instituted for a new edifice. Two sisters, in particular, had made large collections in England; and, though much was still wanted to put the building in complete order, yet full confidence was felt that the divine aid, which had heretofore been so bountiful, would not fail until the work was finished. The institution at Berlin had been extended by the erection of a new and commodious hall. In Serajewo, in Bosnia, a normal school for the instruction of Christian native teachers was provided with an excellent building; and it was on the eve of being occupied by sisters who had been temporarily residing in Pesth in order to acquire the language. As an illustration of the hold that this institution was gaining on the public mind, it was mentioned that the Turkish Governor General had largely contributed to its support. A new and adequate asylum for the homeless was in the process of erection at Brandenburg. In Smyrna, principally through English aid, a new orphan house was building, and funds for a Protestant hospital were to be forthcoming as soon as an adequate number of sisters could be secured. 3. The Kaiserswerth Institution, which, as the first and most widely extended, we select as a general type, presents, in its report of 1869, the following statistics: Dedicated1 sisters, 361; Hospitals under their charge, 57; Patients in Hospitals, 20,696; Poor-houses and Refuges, 17; Persons provided for in same, 432; Congregations 1 We have translated "Einsegnung" as dedication," though perhaps “benediction" would be better. In Germany, the term is used constantly as a general designation of "confirmation." The following is the form of the dedication service, as used at Dresden. It will be seen that it does not constitute an “ordi visited, 35; Persons cared for in same, 10,000; Schools for Orphans, etc., 43; Scholars in same, 2000; Sunday and night schools, 32; Scholars in same, 2000; Female Asylums, 10; Inmates of same, 2600; Prisoners visited, 287. If we multiply these figures sixfold, we shall have a general view of the aggregate work of the sisterhoods of Protestant Germany; sisterhoods which carry on their beneficent work not merely in Germany, but in all sections of Europe and of the Levant. Under these circumstances it may not be now out of place to consider some of the leading principles on which this remarkable institution is based. And in enumerating these principles we have relied almost exclusively on the official reports, and on the addresses made at the nation." It may rather be likened to a service in one of our churches, on the departure of foreign missionaries, male and female. LITURGIE BEI EINSEGNUNG VON DIAKONISSEN. ANSPRACHE DES GEISTLICHEN. LIED. ANSPRACHE. Nach der Ansprache legen die Einzusegnenden ihr Gelöbnisz in die Hand des Geistlichen ab. P. Kniet nieder und bittet um den Segen. - Die Einzusegnenden beten: Gott sei uns gnädig und barmherzig und gebe uns seinen göttlichen Segen! Er lasse über uns sein Antlitz leuchten, dasz wir auf Erden erkennen seine Wege. Es segne uns Gott, unser Gott, und geb uns seinen Frieden. Amen. P. Es segne euch der dreieinige Gott, Gott der Vater, Sohn und heilger Geist. -Schw. Amen. P. Friede sei mit Schw. N. N. Schw. Friede sei mit ihr. P. Er sende ihr Hilfe vom Heiligthum.-Schw. Und stärke sie aus Zion. P. Der Herr unser Gott sei ihr freundlich und fördre das Werk ihrer Hände bei uns. - Schw. Ja, das Werk ihrer Hände wolle er fördern. P. Amen! In Jesu Namen. - Schw. Amen. Hierauf giebt der Geistliche jeder der Schwestern einen Gedenkspruch und betet über ihnen: Ewiger, Gott, Vater unsers Herrn Jesu Christi, du Schöpfer des Mannes und des Weibes, der du Mirjam und Debora und Hanna und Hulda mit dem heiligen Geiste erfüllt und es nicht verschmäht hast, deinen eingebornen Sohn von einem Weibe geboren werden zu lassen; der du auch in der Hütte des Zeugnisses und im Tempel Wächterinnen deiner heiligen Pforten erwählet hast; siehe doch nun auf diese deine Mägde, die (dir) zum Dienst verordnet werden, und gieb ihnen deinen werthen heiligen Geist und reinige sie von aller Befleckung des Fleisches und Geistes, auf dasz sie würdiglich vollstrecken das ihnen aufgetragne Werk zu deiner Ehre und zum Lobe deines Christus, mit welchem dir sei Ehre und Anbetung mit dem heiligen Geist von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit. Amen. Vater Unser, etc. P. Schluszvotum. - Schw. Amen! |