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reason,

I have no doubt, why religious conversation is so often what it ought not to be, and so often useless, is that it is so seldom the offspring of that unaffected, war spiritual feeling, which piety of an elevated character alone can give.

22. Finally; it will be a stimulus to diligence, and an auxiliary to improvement, in the precious art of religious conversation, if you daily and faithfully CALL YOURSELF TO AN AČ

COUNT FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH YOU HAVE

PERFORMED THIS DUTY. We stand in need of something of this kind to quicken us in every department of our christian work; and in none more than those which consist in frequently recurring details, rather than in single great acts. Never retire from any company, then, without asking yourself, "What have I said for the honour of my Master, and for promoting the everlasting welfare of those with whom I conversed? What was the tenour of my conversation? What opportunity of recommending religion have I neglected to improve? From what motives did I speak, or keep silence? In what manner did I converse? With gentleness, modesty, humility, and yet with affectionate fidelity; or with harshness, with formality, with ostentation, with vanity, and from a desire to avoid censure, or to court popular applause ?" Few

things, I believe, would have a more powerful tendency to promote watchfulness, diligence, and unremitting perseverance in this important duty, than the constant inspection and trial of ourselves here recommended.

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MINISTERS are visiters by profession. It is a large and essential part of their official duty to teach and exhort "from house to house." Of course, every thing which tends to give this part of their work a better direction, and a more happy influence, is highly important to them, and to the cause of religion Yet I have been constrained seriously to doubt, whether any thing, in the whole circle of ministerial activity is, commonly, less appreciated, or worse managed. Accordingly, that which might be made a most powerful instrument for conciliating the good will, and promoting, in various ways, the best interests of those who are committed to their charge, many ministers are too

apt, from indolence, or want of skill, so to conduct, as to make it of little value, as a source either of pleasure or profit. Allow me, then, with the same freedom with which I have offered you my counsel on other subjects, to suggest a few thoughts on this. My own experience convinces me that there is need of such suggestions, and that they may often do much good. For, although I am conscious of not having accomplished, while I was a pastor, all that I might and ought to have done, in reference to this part of my duty; yet, if I had known as much, at the commencement of my ministry, as I now do, of its importance, and of the means of condueting it, I should have pursued, if I do not deceive myself, a very different course.

I shall first speak of those visits which may be called PASTORAL; and secondly of those which may be styled SOCIAL.

1. By the Pastoral visits of a clergyman, I mean, those visits, of a formal character, which in his clerical capacity, he pays to the families and individuals under his pastoral care. Of these visits, as distinguished from others, it is desirable that you should have just and appropriate views. In reference to such visits, I offer the following advices.

1. My first advice is, that you BY NO MEANS NEGLECT THEM: nay, that you be constant and diligent in making them.

If you desire to

gain the love and confidence of your people; if you wish to instruct and edify them in a great variety of ways which the nature of pulpit address does not admit; if you deem it important to be well acquainted with their situation, views, feelings, difficulties and wants; then visit every family belonging to your congregation frequently, systematically, and faithfully. I say frequently. How often, must, of course, depend on the number of families belonging to your charge, and on the number of your avocations. But I should say, in the largest congregation, at least once a year; in one of medium size, at least twice; and, in all cases in which it is practicable, still more frequently. In short, the oftener the better, provided your visits be conducted in a proper manner.

2. Attend to this duty sYSTEMATICALLY. Do not leave it to the caprice or the convenience of the moment. If you do, but little will be accomplished. Company, trifles, languor, procrastination, and a host of other obstacles, will incessantly stand in the way of performing what you really wish and resolve to perform. Have your fixed days in the week for visiting; and address yourself to it with the same fixedness of purpose, and the same inflexible perseverance, which you employ in preparation for the pulpit. In most situations, a pastor may visit, on an average, from twelve to fifteen, or twenty fa

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