Discussions (Vol 2) - Dabney - IV - Lay-preaching

Required reading
Discussions (Vol 2) by Robert L. Dabney (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read 'Lay-preaching'.

My summary
Today Dabney speaks about lay-preaching.

Firstly he discusses the things that can be learned from eminent lay-preachers.

But then Dabney provides reasons for preaching to be done officially as commissioned by the church through her presbyterial courts.  This includes half the chapter being dedicated to critiquing the lay-preaching ministry.

What grabbed me
I think Dabney was right to critique some of the dangers of lay preaching, particularly if it is closely wedded to ecumenicalism: 'In the third place, this exalting of the union effort as the only efficient mode to build up Christ's kingdom, and this denunciation of denominationalism as an obstruction to good in revival meetings, contain a very plain implication that denominations are wicked things. The inevitable effect will be, that a generation of Christians will be educated opposed to all denominational distinctions. Then there will be but three possible resorts for these Christians — popery, or broad churchism, or the renunciation of the visible church in every form. This is the lesson which divine providence has taught to Christendom by the struggles of eighteen hundred years, and especially by the agonies and blood of the Protestant Reformation ; the existence of the visible church catholic in branches or denominations, each conscientiously teaching the whole counsel of God for man's salvation, as it honestly understands it from the Scriptures, yet each respecting the sincerity and the church rights of the others, is the only condition possible for the existence of orthodox Protestantism — on the one hand, not persecuting, and on the other hand, not dishonestly latitudinarian — in such a world as ours. Such, we solemnly testify, is the lesson of God's providence as of sound reasoning. Let the reader scan the grounds of this conclusion again and again ; he will find them adamantine. It will be a calamitous day for truth and for immortal souls when the novelties of a restless and conceited age shall persuade us to cast away this costly truth.'

Could the outright rejection of the visible church by many 'Christians' today be traced, in part, to lay-preaching last century?

Next week's reading
Read 'The public preaching of women'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.