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the sick. The scene before their eyes presents much matter for personal impression; in the vivid picture of the consequences of sin, the vanity of the world, the nearness and unspeakable importance of eternity, and of an instant preparation for it. The immense responsibility of their station should be deeply inculcated, together with the obligation to add the care of the soul of the sick to the care of his body; to keep off the too successful diversion of impertinent topics; to improve seasonable opportunities of reading or suggesting suitable instructions; and to seek in special prayer a permanent blessing both upon him and upon themselves.

Nor must the convalescent be omitted in our consideration. Bishop Burnet recommends us to exact from the sick solemn promises of renovation of life in the event of their restoration. Yet must these promises (if called for) be inculcated in the deepest sense of utter helplessness, and entire dependence on Divine strength. We might say to each of them-" Behold, thou art made whole; sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon thee." "2 To awakened and softened minds we might recommend daily consideration of the lessons which they have learned in this school ; 3 daily prayer to keep alive the teaching of the Spirit in their season of affliction; daily recollection of their peculiar trials; 5 daily renewal of their sick-bed vows; 6 and daily prayerful "remembrance of" them that are in adversity, as being themselves also in the body."7

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1 Past. Care, ch. viii. Comp. Stearne's Tractatus, ut supra-a treatise with most admirable systematic rules; but with an almost total destitution of enlivening views of the gospel.-Clergyman's Instructor, p. 408.

2 John v. 14.

4 Isaiah lxiii. 15-19. lxiv. 1. 6 Psalms ciii. cxvi.

3 Ps. xcii. 12. cxix. 67, 71, 75. 5 Lam. iii. 19-21. 7 Heb. xiii. 3.

CHAPTER IV.

PASTORAL MINISTRY OF THE YOUNG.

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THE consideration of this Ministry is of primary importance in the detailed system of our work. Such was the judgment of one, eminently qualified to speak upon every division of the pastoral work. My first and greatest success (says Baxter) was upon the youth; and so it was, that when God had touched the hearts of the young with the love of goodness, and delightful obedience to the truth; in various instances their friends, their fathers, and their grandfathers, who had grown old in an ignorant and worldly state, did many of them fall into a liking and loving of piety, induced by their love to their children, who now appeared so much wiser and better, and more dutiful to them.'' So sensible was Dr. Doddridge of the importance and difficulty of this Ministry, that he resolved at his entrance into the Ministry- I will often make it my humble prayer, that God would teach me to speak to children in such a manner, as may make early impressions of religion upon their hearts,' 2 Mr. Brown of Haddington observes of himself— I lament, that I have not been more diligent in catechizing and exhorting the children in my congregation. I am persuaded, that these exercises are some of the best means, which, Ministers can use for promoting the welfare of souls.' 3 This

1 Introduction to his Compassionate Counsel to Young Men. 2 Orton's Life of Doddridge, ch. v. And again in a letter to a friend-Oh! could I spend more of my time in catechizing children, in exhorting heads of families, and addressing young people!' Chap. viii.

3 Brown's Life and Remains, p. 28. Dr. Owen remarked to the

morning seed-time is connected with peculiar encouragement. As has been beautifully observedThis is perhaps the most delightful of all the Minister's labours. He has indeed ignorance to contend with; but ignorance is more easily overcome, than that worse knowledge of "the counsels of the ungodly," which commonly belongs to more advanced years. He has evil to encounter; but it is the evil of nature, not yet rendered obstinate by habit; of vicious propensities, not yet strengthened by indulgence, till the attempt to eradicate is nothing less than the "plucking out a right eye, or the cutting off a right hand.”—All reason, all experience, all Scripture, concur in this " In the morning sow thy seed." Often has it sprung up,

and brought forth the fruits of grace, when it had seemed to outward eyes to have been choked with tares.' 1

We have been well reminded of the high responsibility of this Ministry, as providing for the progressive renovation of the strength of our national and Apostolical Church. Under a deep sense of this responsibility, we proceed to investigate some of its most interesting particulars of detail.

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same effect-that 'more knowledge is ordinarily diffused, especially among the young and ignorant, by one hour's catechetical exercise, than by many hours' continued discourse.'

'Bishop of Chester's Sermons on the Christian Ministry, pp. 23-26.

2 Bishop of Winchester's Charge, pp. 30, 31.

SECTION I.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL-ITS IMPORTANCE-CONSTITUTION-AND

SUPERINTENDENCE.

No difference of opinion can exist on the importance of a Sunday School. It connects itself with almost every department of the Ministerial system. It is often instrumentally an adult school. Parents in not a few instances have been taught to read by their children, thus qualified to instruct them. Suitable instruction is also often sent to them from Scriptural lessons of the School; which, retailed with affectionate and interesting simplicity, may form a part of the childlike conversation in the family circle. And thus we speak extensively through this attractive channel, and with a force of interest, which no other system could convey. In many cases also the palpable happy fruits of Sunday instruction, have brought parents to shame on account of their ignorance, and have excited a sincere and active desire to partake of the advantages. And thus the School enters into almost every family as a medium of instruction. It is indeed the lever, whose force is felt over the whole parish. No one' therefore

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can

1 The advantages of Sunday Schools have been strongly set forth in many of our Episcopal Charges. Bishop Law remarked'There are few means, by which a Minister of our Church can more effectually promote the cause of order and religion. A Sunday School is an easy, cheap, and unmixed good.' (Primary Charge, 1825.) Bishop Blomfield enforced the necessity of a Sunday School in every place-taught, in the failure of other resources, by the Clergyman himself, or some part of his family.' Primary Charge at Chester, 1825. It is scarcely necessary to refer to the strong language of recommendation, with which Bishop Porteus addressed his Clergy on this interesting subject.

the care of a parish, through the agency

have been long entrusted with without observing, that it is of his school, directly or indirectly, that he will best win his way to the hearts of his people, as their spiritual Minister and friend, for their souls' good.' 1

On many accounts, therefore, the instruction of the young is of the highest moment; and though, like every other department of the Ministry, it will be the occasion of deeper condemnation in the numerous cases of neglect or misimprovement; yet many are there now on earth, and many more in heaven, who will remember this important advantage in their songs of everlasting praise.2

Often also is it the seed-time for the future harvest. As the immediate result, the pulpit Ministry becomes more intelligible and interesting. In many cases of subsequent reception of the truth, (as in the in

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1 Bishop of Winchester's Charge, p. 31.

2 Cotton Mather mentions Eliot's prayers, when the question of Ministerial inefficiency was discussed in their synod-' Lord, for schools every where amongst us! that our schools may flourish that every member of this assembly may go home, and procure a good school in his town! that, before we die, we may be so happy as to see a good school encouraged in every plantation of the country. The effects of Sunday Schools in the principality of Wales, under the instrumentality of the late Mr. Charles, are among the most remarkable instances of the revival and extension of religion in the present day. See full and most interesting details in his life (p. 237-258) a most edifying piece of Ministerial biography.

3 Might it not be well, if the plan, arrangement, and illustrations of our sermons had a more specific reference to the children's apprehension, and to a subsequent inquiry of their intelligence? Not to speak of the advantages to ourselves in the cultivation of a more simple mode of address, the benefit to the children would be most important, in forming and fixing their habit of attention in the house of God, &c. Still further-if the Scriptural lesson in the school were to form the subject of one of the sermons of the day, the unity of the system about to be detailed would be complete, and the school be most advantageously connected with the Pulpit Ministry.

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