SUPPLEMENT

TO THE PASTOR'S ASSISTANT,

FOR JUNE, 1844.

TO THE READER.

in

No attentive observer of the dealings of Providence with the designs of men can have passed many weeks of his life, without having occasion to remark the truth of that proverbial saying,"Man proposeth, but God disposeth." The Editor of the Pastor's Assistant desires to acknowledge its truth with reference to the proposal which was made at the end of the last year, the Postscript to the second volume of the work. The suggestion of a mode of further encouragement to the publication has been so far approved of, and acted upon, that it is no longer a question, whether the publisher would be justified in continuing to send forth the work; while the communications which the Editor bas received from various quarters have given him a good warrant to believe, that his endeavours have met with a sufficient measure of acceptance from his brethren in the ministry.

It has however pleased God to interpose a hindrance to the efforts which these encouragements are calculated to produce. The Editor is no longer permitted to enjoy that large measure of health, which has enabled him hitherto to add to his more direct duties the pleasing task, of offering such assistance to his younger brethren in the ministry as this work is intended to afford. For several months he has striven, in spite of bodily weakness, to supply the periodical demands upon his powers which it makes; anticipating the time when returning health might restore his former capacity of meeting them with readiness and comfort. He finds these efforts increasingly injurious to himself, and calculated to retard the period he has been anticipating; and

VOL. III.-NO. XXXI.

therefore, however reluctant to suspend the progress of a means of ministerial usefulness to which some measure of success has been vouchsafed, he finds it necessary to close the Pastor's Assistant, when the present Volume has run but half its course.

It is with no slight regret that the Editor has felt this to be the path of duty; but in submitting to the providential ordering which calls upon him for this sacrifice, he desires to express his grateful sense of the encouragement he has received in his work; and his prayerful anxiety that what has been already put forth may, by God's grace, be rendered really useful to his fellowworkers in the Lord's vineyard. The great aim which has been prominently maintained throughout the work has been the elevating of the standard of ministerial diligence in the Church of England. The attempt has been constantly made to point the attention of the Clergy, to the large blessing which might be expected from the exercise of that hearty devotedness to their work, which, by leading them freely to spend and be spent in the service of the souls committed to their charge, seeks to apply the most suitable means, and is rewarded by winning the largest share of favourable consideration even from the worldly amongst their flocks.

The ministry of the Church of England may be said to be, at this moment, in a transition state; and the powers of darkness are employing some of their most subtle devices to profit by the crisis. The people have become awake to the duties which the ministers of Christ are sent forth to fulfil; and though this quicksightedness is not unaccompanied in many cases by hostility, yet it opens a large field for those who are really anxious for the salvation of souls, by preparing many for appeals, and for the exercise of an influence, which would have taken them by surprise in former times. Such a field however requires to be occupied with diligent activity, and with careful wisdom :—it requires that the servants of Christ should manifest that they have a higher object in view even than that which the people expect to find set before them :-it requires that the standard should be evidently raised high in spirituality, and planted in

powerful energy :-it requires that the minister should go before. the people rather than be carried on by the force of public opinion. We live in days when a capacity to fulfil the duties of any worldly office is absolutely necessary in retaining the position; and when the absence of such capacity, or a disregard of the duties, is sure to be followed by contempt; and if this be so in worldly matters, how much more surely so in those offices which profess to deal with matters of infinite and eternal moment? Every portion of a community like that of Great Britain, in these days of enlightened education and independent thought, is not only prepared to expect the elevation of a high standard for high matters, but is in some degree prepared also to receive it; and the preparation, which may not be enough to ensure the cordial reception of the high standard of truth, is yet enough to call forth disapprobation, and sometimes even contempt, on the appointed standard-bearers who may be content to lower it, and to sit at ease before they have complied with their ordination charge, never to cease their labour, their care and their diligence, until they have done all that lieth in them, according to their bounden duty, to bring all such as are or shall be committed to their charge, unto that agreement in the faith and knowledge of God, and to that ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ, that there may be no place left among us, either for error in religion, or for viciousness in life."

66

It has been the object of the Pastor's Assistant to endeavour to help on, and to cheer on, the rising generation of ministers in the Church of England to this point and as God condescends oftentimes to work great effects by means which are qualified for His purpose by their own insignificance, a heartfelt conviction that, at all events, the work possesses this qualification inspires the Editor with a hope that much real benefit may hereafter be found to have resulted from this endeavour.

It may be possible that, through God's mercy, the Editor may find himself restored to health and strength in the course of the forthcoming six months; in which case, should he be encouraged to hope that the continuation of the work would be acceptable

to his brethren generally, he might be induced to resume the publication at the beginning of the next year. This however he leaves for the direction of God's providence; while he commends the subject to the prayers of the Lord's people.

HAVING left an important article on District Visiting unfinished in the number for May last, with the promise of subsequently concluding it, the Editor redeems that promise by subjoining the remainder in this Supplement.

DISTRICT VISITING.

(Concluded from page 136)

(The objects by pursuing which the District Visitors may promote the welfare of the people have been divided into four classes; the first of which has been already noticed.)

II. The second class of objects is-

"The promoting an effective use of all the means of grace." 1. Under this head the Church Services occur as the first. These consist of

Morning Service and Sermon at half-past ten o'clock. Afternoon Service and Sermon at half-past three o'clock. Evening Instruction in the School-room, at seven o'clock. Though it would be desirable that every person should attend all the services, yet as in many cases this could scarcely be made consistent with the necessary domestic arrangements, it should be the District Visitor's care to understand what plan each family intends to pursue-which Service the husband attends, and which the wife; and by judicious hints to rectify any thing in the arrangements which may require alteration: to observe in the church whether the plan is adhered to; and a little kind inquiry when it is departed from, would shew that there is an interest taken in the family, which would greatly tend to promote regularity. The course to be pursued to those who do not come to church regularly, or at all, will readily suggest itself. A system of kind persevering advice and affectionate remonstrance will often, under God's blessing, be found to succeed.

2. There is a Wednesday evening service in the Church, at which a course of Scripture exposition is given. The people should be induced to attend this as their other duties may permit. Inquiries should be made whether the portion of Scripture has been afterwards read at home. A proposal to explain any difficulties which have occurred, will often tend to much profitable conversation.

3. The Weekly Cottage Reading is intended principally for the benefit of aged persons; but others who live near should be urged to take advantage of it whenever their duties and necessary occupations will permit.

4. Every individual who can read should possess a Bible. It is not enough that there be one in a family-the District Visitors should endeavour to induce every member of each family to procure one for himself. Bibles, Testaments, Prayer-books, and Hymn-books are kept at the School-room and in the Vestry Room for sale, at various prices, and of various sizes. The prices are very low, and the poor people should be urged to accumulate pence for the purpose of procuring a Bible at all events; also subsequently a Prayer-book. The District Visitors can take charge of these pence until they have brought a proper sum; and when a real anxiety has been shewn, by small acts of self-denial, to possess a Bible, the Rector will always give some portion towards the amount if it be needed.

5. The people have been often earnestly exhorted to establish the custom of family prayers in every house; some have attended to the exhortation, and have continued in the use of family worship; others, who had begun, have subsequently neglected it; and many have not commenced it at all. It is of extreme importance that this duty should be established in every family, and continued perseveringly. A plain form of family prayer will be given to every person who will make use of it. District Visitors should attend to this point, and when they have succeeded in prevailing upon any person in their district to adopt the custom, it is desirable that the Visitor should be present once to commence it, and should afterwards attend occasionally at the prayer-time, to keep up the impulse to the performance of that duty.

The

6. It has been found to be much blessed, as a means of grace, that the people should be called upon to feel an interest in the spiritual condition of the heathen nations. By this means their own religious privileges are set before them in a more striking light; and the sense of their own responsibility under them is quickened. The state of the heathen and the progress of missionaries is explained to the people every month, and they are recommended to contribute some assistance towards the missionary cause; the District Visitors are requested to promote this feeling by making missionary intelligence a subject of conversation; and by pointing out the duty of giving some small portion of the sufficiency with which God blesses them towards this Christian object. It would be desirable also that the Visitors should be