be ready to find with your pastor, you ought rather to have found with yourselves-with your own temper, wrong feelings, or improper expectations.

There are two or three sources from which misunderstandings and dissatisfactions, relative to the clergy, are so apt to arise in a congregation in this city, that it may be proper to notice them distinctly.

1. The frequency of publicpreaching. That ministers of the gospel may be slothful and negligent in this particular, and that they who are laborious on the whole, may sometimes be blameably deficient in industry and exertion, I am not disposed to deny; nor would I be the apologist either of the one class or the other. But the truth is, the mass of the people do not know, and it is not easy to make them understand, how much time is necessary to a suitable preparation for the pulpit; nor how many calls of duty and interruptions of study in a populous city, reduce the time which their minister can devote to such preparation, within a small compass indeed. They usually, therefore, expect more preach

tion, mingled with fidelity and plainness. In many cases, probably, he will be able to satisfy you that you had less cause of offence, than you had supposed; and in some, that you had judged him altogether erroneously, through ignorance or mistake. If he shall have been really to blame, you will have taken the most proper method to reform him; and if of a right temper, he will certainly not only correct his error, but thank and love you for your faithfulness and friendship. But beware of scattering indiscriminate reflections on your minister, to the diminution or destruction of his influence with his people. Remember that the credit of religion itself, and the success of the gospel, are connected with respect for the ministerial character. Will your children, or others who may respect your opinions, be likely, do you think, to derive benefit from the instructions of a man, whom they shall hear you frequently condemning and reproaching? Or is it probable that you will yourselves,*"receive with meekness, the ingrafted word which is able to save your souls" from one, over whom you are in the habit of erecting yourselves into haughtying from a clergyman than it is praccensors; or towards whom you are continually indulging in fault-finding, and in severe remarks on his performances, actions and character? Avoid, then, as injurious to yourselves, your family and friends-as cruel and unjust to your minister, and as highly offensive to the Saviour himself, all groundless and unnecessary censures of him who is placed over you in the Lord. Make a reasonable allowance even for real blemishes, imperfections, deficiencies and mistakes. Consider that your pastor's office is extremely arduous and difficult, as well as that it unavoidably exposes him to such a general and rigorous scrutiny, that all the real friends of religion should rather be his advocates than his accusers. Recollect too, that we are allfar more disposed to lay blame on another than on ourselves, and that it is by no means improbable, that the fault which you will sometimes

* James i. 21. VOL. VI. No. 3.

ticable for him to perform. The case is particularly hard and embarrassing to a young minister. The late venerable Dr. Witherspoon, whose opinions on ministerial duty certainly deserved the highest regard, said to me when I was coming into your service-"In ordinary circumstances, never neglect, while you are young, to write one sermon in a week-and never attempt to write more than one, for if you do, you will spoil them all. If you must preach twice, let once be without writing, and with little study; otherwise, instead of doing all well, you will do nothing well."

To a young clergyman, then, you ought to show much indulgence in the article of preaching; for if he neglect diligent study and laborious preparation for the pulpit in youth, both he and you will probably regret it sorely to the end of his life. For two or three years after entering on his ministry, do not expect from him statedly, unless he voluntarily offer it, more than two public performan-

Ο

strictly pastoral; that is, to catechise the family, to inquire into their religious knowledge and the state of their souls, and to address them seriously on their eternal concerns. Yet such, or similar visits, a clergyman is chiefly bound to pay. His time is too precious to devote much of it to ceremony and sociality. A few hours, occasionally, he may pro

ces in a week. As he advances in | age and experience, your expectations may reasonably increase: and after a number of years he may, if his health permit, preach as frequently as you may desire to hear him. But the health of your pastor cught always to be an object of your regard, as well as of his own. If it be feeble, make candid allowances for it; if it be vigorous, or comfort-perly employ in calls or visits of able, you have a right to expect that mere civility and friendship; for his services will be more numerous these may have their use, not only and with fewer interruptions. in relaxing his own mind, but also in gaining the affections of his parishioners. But those who have no disposition to see their pastor on the errands that are the most proper to his office, have the least reason of all to complain of him for the want of attentions of another kind; and yet these commonly are the very persons who are most disposed to clamor against him for not visiting his people.

2. Pastoral visitation is another portion of ministerial duty, in regard to which the complaint in congregations is so general, that I never knew but a single minister-an aged man, who in the last years of his life, devoted nearly his whole time to visiting-who did as much of it as his people desired. There certainly has been no part of my duty as a pastor, in which I have so little satisfied my self as in this; and in which, also, I believe that I have so little satisfied you. Yet I can truly say, that I have always appreciated it highly, and that the anxieties I have felt, the resolutions I have formed, the plans I have devised, and the exertions I have made, to perform it more effectually, have neither been slight nor few. There are several obstacles to the full discharge of this duty, in this place, not to be easily surmounted or removed. Many earnestly desire to have their clergy-seasons of affliction, sickness and men call on them often, as a friend or companion, who would never wish to see him enter their doors on a visit

*A consideration which had much influence in determining me to enter on that course of public catechetical lectures which I have continued through two seasons, was, that this would be a substitute for family visitation and catechising-that in this way I could do what was equivalent to catechising all the youth of my charge, with many of their parents, once a week, for half the year.There is nothing I more regret in leaving you, than that I leave this course of lectures incomplete-Possibly it may yet be finished, and the whole be published.

But the occupations mostly pursued by those who live in this city, and the manner in which the several members of a family are obliged to spend their time, are, in fact, almost incompatible with regular pastoral visitation. Many families can neither intermit their business, nor be seen together, except in the evening-when visits are generally inconvenient to a minister The most which seems to be practicable, is, that your pastor should see you in

confinement; at times when some of the family are known to be under serious impressions of religion; and when providential occurrences, of whatever kind, may give you a special claim on his attention. If on such occasions you shall perform your own duty, by letting him know what is the state of your household, he will ordinarily be able and desirous to visit you. And if my successor, or late colleague, shall be able to organize a system of regular family visitation and catechetical instruction, I shall, should I live to know it, rejoice in it with all my heart. But you must not forget that this cannot be effected without your consent and co-operation, and that till it be done, your expectations of visits from your pastors ought to be

limited by the bounds which I have indicated. In the mean time you will recollect, that the constant opportunities which you have for the general catechising of your children, the favorable circumstancesin which you are placed for deriving religious knowledge from books and conversation, the privileges you enjoy in religious societies and conferences, and from the numerous public services on which you may conveniently attend, both on sacred and secular days, are, to say the least, a full equivalent for the want of that family catechising, which congregations otherwise circumstanced more need, and sometimes receive.

ble of using what was intended for his benefit, to screen him from deserved censure, or to assist him in the practice of imposition. A man disposed to do this, would be likely to be soon banished from the ministry altogether. Every worthy minister of the gospel will incline to the extreme of over exertion, rather than to that of indulgence. He will often be disposed to regret that he cannot do much more than he finds to be practicable, in a cause so good as that in which he is engaged, and for a master who has such high and tender claims as the one whom he serves.

In order to your improvement under the ministrations of your pastor, I recommend a careful attention to the following things

3. The last cause of complaint, which I propose to notice, is, the Occasional absences of your minister for the recruiting of his health and 1. Expect and desire him to despirits. That under color of such clare to you" all the counsel of God." absences, abuses may be practised, Do not indulge a wish that he should is not to be questioned. At the same keep back, conceal, or disguise, any time, you ought to be sensible, for it part of the revealed system. Be wilis certainly a truth, that there is not ling that he should bring it all forOne man in a hundred who has a ward, and in all its strength....provi constitution to bear the life of a stu- ded that he does it with suitable exdent and pastor in your city, without planations and in just proportion, intervals of relaxation, and occa- dwelling most on those topics which sional excursions in travelling, to re- are most important and most pracstore his wasted strength. The du- tical. Never quarrel with your minties of a faithful minister here, bear ister for dealing plainly with you harder on the animal functions, than from the pulpit, and endeavoring the occupations of the day laborer, to come as closely as he can to your the mechanic or the merchant. The consciences and hearts. Rememabsences contemplated will, moreo- ber that he is bound to do this, both ver, be useful to your minister, and that he may deliver his own soul eventually to yourselves, by the op- and be instrumental to your salvaportunities which they will afford him tion. If he shall avoid coarseness and of enlarging his acquaintance with vulgarity, (which he ought to do as men of piety and science, of seeing a matter of duty as well as taste,) the habits and customs of different he cannot be too plain, practical and places, and of extending generally his pungent, in his addresses. Let it be knowledge of mankind a know- deeply imprinted on your minds, ledge as important to a minister of that it is not to be amused or enterthe gospel as that of almost any oth- tained, it is not merely to be instructer description. A moderate allowed, that you hear the gospel-it is ance for such absences, therefore, you ought to make, without complaint or reluctance.

On reviewing the three last particulars, I am very sensible that, while they are important to direct you in the treatment of your pastor, they are capable of perversion by him-But there is nothing which may not be perverted; and I hope you will never have a pastor capa- I

that your souls may be saved. Alas! what would it avial you, though your pastor were as wise and as eloquent as Paul, if he were not honored to win your souls to Christ. Oh, that my successor may be far happier in this respect than I have ever been! Oh, that he may see many seals of his ministry, beyond what I have witnessed! And that this may be realized,be not wanting to yourselves

honestly, heartily and wholly,seek | andfaithfully performed, it may, be to be made wiser and better, whenever you hear him preach.

2. Do not treat both your pastor and yourselves so unjustly, as not to attend constantly and regularly on his preaching. It is not in human nature to speak with earnestness to deserted seats. You, therefore, not only sustain a loss yourselves, but you sink the heart of your minister, and disserve those who are present, when you are unnecessarily absent from church. Against that most unchristian custom, which has begun to shew itself among you, of neglecting public worship in the afternoon of the Lord's day, I desire here to enter my pointed testimony. It has its foundation unquestionably in the love of sensual indulgence and conformity to the world; and so long as any individual allows himself in it, I seriously affirm that I have very little expectation that he will profit by the morning service, on which he attends. A conscientious, careful, praverful, and constant attendance on public worship, I do most earnestly recommend to you all, as you value your eternal well-being. And though I must not dwell upon it, yet I cannot be content without urging, in a word, upon those who have not yet approached to the table of the Lord, not to withdraw from the church during the administration of the holy sacrament of the supper, but to remain till the conclusion of the solemnity, and reverently to meditate on what they witness. Thousands have dated their first deep and effectual impressions of religion, from what they saw and heard at the Lord's table, before they had ever been admitted to it as communicants.

of the greatest use.-It may under the divine blessing, save a soul which might otherwise be lost. View it, therefore, not as an insult, but as it is in reality, an instance and proof of the truest and highest friendship; and be persuaded that you will act, not meanly and pusillanimously, but nobly and wisely, as well as dutifully, in meekly receiving and profiting by "the wounds of a friend."-Open rebuke is better than secret love."* 4. Fail not to send your children statedly to receive the catechetical instructions of your pastor. Prepare them for these instructions at home, by carefully governing, teaching and praying with them, according to your solemn baptismal vows; and as recollecting what I have often inculcated, that family government, family instruction, and family religion, are the only sure and solid foundations of all that is excellent either in church or state. With much regret I have observed that there has been, for a year or two past, a lamentable and increasing remissness in the duty of sending your children to be taught their catechism, and those little forms of devotion which have been prepared for their use. The cause of this, as I am satisfied that I do not mistake it, I must not forbear to expose.-It is the criminal neglect of parents to teach their children in their own families. Giving them little instruction there, they are at first ashamed to expose their own unfaithfulness and their childrens' ignorance, by sending them into pubilc; and afterwards they lose, by degrees, all sense of obligation and regard to the duty till at last they omit it wholly, without compunction or concern. 3. Receive the private admoni- Believe me, the guilt and the dantions, and even rebukes of your pas-ger of this is truly alarming, with tor, suitably administered in the dis-respect both to yourselves and your charge of his official duty, with tem- offspring. Perform to them, thereper, candor, submission and thank-fore, your own personal duty, and fulness. To admonish, reprove and you will be willing and desirous to rebuke individuals, is an undertaking give your pastor the opportunity of to which a gospel minister is com- performing his. Send to him, caremonly disposed to be sufficiently re-fully and punctually these lambs of luctant, without any special discour- the flock, that he may add his enagement. Yet it is one which he is

not permitted wholly to refuse ; and when seasonably, discreetly, tenderly

* Prov. xxvii. 5.

deavors to your own, in striving to direct and guide them to the fold of eternal safety and rest.

Some account of the impressions on the mind of George Parsons, as appeared from his conversation, a short time before, and in his last illness.

Mr. George Parsons was born at Enfield, Aug. 14th, 1787, of respectable parents; and died December 14th, 1812, at the age of 25 years and 4 months. He was dedicated to God in baptism, while an infant. The importance of religion was taught him from his youth to riper years; but with no other visible effects, than those which respect morality. He was moral and regular in his life and conversation, remark

5. Remember your pastor in all your prayers. How often does the great apostle of the gentiles repeat the injunction--" Brethren, pray for us. He felt constantly the necessity of being aided by the devout supplications of all the faithful: And if such was the fact in regard to him, with all his extraordinary furniture and endowments, what must be the feelings of every inferior and ordinary minister of the gospel, who has any right views of his work and his necessities? He will assuredly most earnestly desire, as he will most urgently need, your unceasing pray-ably constant at public worship, and ers; and you will incur the guilt of attentive when in the house of God. no common neglect, if you do not But the seed that was early_sown, prefer your petitions to God consprung up in due time. On the stantly and ardently in his behalf. morning after he had spent the preNeglect in this particular, may, also, ceding evening in mirth and dancing, be most injurious to yourselves; for in his usual health, he solemnly deyour pastor's labors however faith-clared to his wife, that he would ful, and abundant, will do you no good, unless God confer his blessing on them; and it is only in answer to prayer that you have a right to expect the blessing. Therefore, pray for your pastor and for the success of his ministrations-1 had almost said-whenever you pray for yourselves.

never again set his foot on the floor to dance. "It is time," said he, "for you and I to attend to our bibles." These observations may shew every one, that dancing and religious impressions on the mind are so perfectly inconsistent with each other, that one or the other will be dismissed.

And here you will permit me to The night following, he was taken put in a request, that I may still be ill, and as he was full of bodily pain, specially remembered in your ad- he said very little as he drew dresses to God, though my pastoral nearer to the close of life, strength relation to you be dissolved. Give seemed to be given him; his tongue me this proof of your attachment was loosed, and he spoke in solemn and affection, and I will esteem it as language to all who were present. the most precious which I could re- Among the first questions which ceive. Pray that I may be directed, were asked him, was this, whether assisted and blessed, in the ardu- any thing troubled his mind; he reous trust which I am about to as- plied, "a sick bed is a poor place sume, and for the right execution of for repentance." The Saturday bewhich I feel that I need both wis-fore his death, which took place eardom and strength which can come from God alone.-Pray that I may be made the humble instrument of promoting our Redeemer's cause to the end of my days; and that then, through his infinite merits and prevalent intercession, I may be permit-During the Sabbath he appeared to ted to enter on "the rest which remaineth for the people of God."

(To be concluded in our next.)

ly on the morning of the succeeding Monday, he repeated the words, "a sick bed is a poor place for repentance." He appeared then to be much alarmed concerning himself, and viewed his exit near at hand.

be often in prayer, and to be fervent in his petitions that he might be spared, yet a little while: then in earnest, and with apparent fervency, he would pray for his soul. On Sab