A very scarce work by one of the leading proponents of the "new school" Presbyterian revivalists of the Second Great Awakening. Nathan S.S. Beman [1785-1871] had already been experiencing revival in his church in New York in 1826. He then invited Finney to preach, and as a consequence spent 6 weeks in front of the Presbytery defending himself and his actions while his church was busy seeing people converted every evening. He was opposed by those of the "Old School" such as Bennet Tyler, Asahel Nettleton, etc.
The present little book has a fascinating context.
Having heard about the revivals under Finney and spreading throughout New England, Finney began to receive calls to travel to the United Kingdom to spread the fire. John Angell James even sponsored a publication of his Revival Lectures. In an effort to stoke those flames and to reply in advance against "old school" concerns, Beman traveled to preach in an effort to encourage the British, Welsh, Irish, and Scottish to seek a revival in the "new school" model.
The title, "The Old Ministry," is intentionally referencing the Old School / New School controversy and a bit o a poke in the eye, claiming that their "new school" methods were really the old apostolic methods of Scripture.
Beman, N. Sydney Smith. The Old Ministry: Being a Lecture Delivered in London, May 19th 1839. London. John Snow. 1839. 72pp.
No copies in the trade or in the auction records we can trace.
A good + copy, bound in cloth, very solid, with light foxing and some minor penciling.
