1 every I come lastly to the duty on the part of Pastor, of superintending the daily and Sundayschools in his parish, and of catechising, agreeably to the Rubric and Canons, and ancient customs of his Church, the ignorant of all ages and descriptions'. "Pastors and Schools," said the great German Reformer," are councils; small indeed, but perpe"tual and useful: they have a precious office and "work, and are the very jewels of the Church. "I would that no one were chosen a preacher, "who had not prepared himself for it by an "attendance on schools, for in teaching children, we learn how to teach men "." We do more; we are preparing the future man to profit by our public instructions: every hour which a minister spends in the parochial school, is a day gained for his after-ministry. We are besides improving ourselves. A minister cannot devote a portion of and they will by this means be kept not only in righteousness, but most probably in the unity of the Church."-Parish Priest's Manual. See also Bishop Fleetwood's Primary Charge. Works, p. 468. 166 Preaching without catechising will not be sufficient. For if people be not well instructed in the necessary principles of religion when they are young, they will hardly attain to any sound knowledge when they are old.”—Bishop Bull. 2 2 Luther. From a treatise in German, entitled "Von den Conciliis und terchen." (1539). 2 Cujus gratiâ tandem vivimus nos senes, quàm quòd teneræ ætatis homines curemus, educemus, instituamus? Atque haud scio, num quicquam perinde doceat senem, ac curandorum liberorum ratio. Martini Lutheri Libellus de Instit. Pueris, p. 440. each day to the instruction of the child in the deep and practical truths of religion without feeling himself what he is teaching, and having to exercise much self-denial and humility, much patience, and tenderness, much, in a word, of that necessary qualification for the fulfilment of the ministry, which the great Apostle has expressed 2 Tim. ii. 24. in the term διδακτικόν '. The parochial school should be among the most cherished objects of ministerial care'. The benefit 1 Ego verò, ut de meipso dicam scilicet, tametsi Doctor ac prædicator sum, non minori, ut opinor, cùm doctrinâ tùm experientiâ præditus, quàm ii qui tanta de se præsumunt, et ad tantam securitatem pervenerunt, haudquaquam tamen imitari me pueros pudet, sed quemadmodum illos Catechismum docemus, ita et ego manè, aut quandocumque vacui aliquid temporis datur, ipsam orationem Dominicam, decem præcepta, articulos fidei, Psalmos aliquot &c. mecum ipse quasi ad verbum recito. Et quanquam adhuc quotidiè lectionibus et studiis vaco, attamen ne sic quidem possum pervenire quo cupio, aut præstare quæ volo. Ita fit ut puerum ac discipulum Catechismi etiam hodiè me profiteri necesse habeam, profiteorque libenter.-M. Lutheri Præf. Catechism. Maj. tom. v. p. 645. 2 I am particularly attentive to the school; there, in fact, I think most good can be done: and, besides the obvious advantages, it is a means of conciliating all sects of Christians, by taking an interest in the welfare of their children. Our Sunday-school is very large, and is attended by Roman Catholics, and Presbyterians: the day is never a Sabbath to me; however, it is the kind of labour that is best repaid, for you always find that some progress is made, some fruit soon produced, whereas your labours with the old and the adult often fail of producing any effect, and at the best, it is in general latest and gradual.-Remains of the Rev. C. Wolfe, p. 152. derived from the school is incalculable. From the child it is reflected on the parent: from the parent it diffuses itself through the neighbourhood. The child looks up to the Pastor: the parent loves the Pastor for his care of the child. There is a kindly feeling at work in every part, and the Pastor moves through his parish, the friend and the father of his flock'. Still the labours of the week are but preparatory to the more strictly religious instruction of the 1 "As to the youth, there shall not one be neglected, but all that will, one way or other, shall be taught to read. For I beseech you, is it probable Christians should either know or practise their duty well, who are ignorant of all letters ?" It is possible indeed, because everything is so to the inspiring grace. of God. But otherwise, and ordinarily speaking, they must needs be in a very sad and deplorable case, who cannot go to those wellsprings of heavenly life and knowledge, as oft as they want, are weak, or thirsty, and be refreshed. Besides, God's word is so very necessary, whereby to get a stock of spiritual ideas, language and desires-whereby to improve in the divine duties of prayer and meditation-whereby to know the will, the providence and love of God,-whereby to learn exactly the threats to deter our disobedience, and gracious promises to provoke our obedience-wherein to read the very words of our dear Saviour, the Lord Jesus, and his amazing tenderness to our weak natures, wherewith to comfort us in our hours of affliction, and moderate our passions in those of prosperity, with innumerable other such religious privileges-that I cannot but think it my duty to endeavour to the utmost of my power, that every soul under my care may have the privilege of consulting it, and making the proper use of it, which they ought.-Parochial Pasturage, p. 31. Sabbath. The daily and Sunday schools should always exist together. The latter takes up and perfects the work of the former. In the Sundayschool should be found the old, who have never been instructed; the young, who have lately left the daily school; and the children who yet attend it; the old—that they may be able to read for themselves the charter of their salvation ; the young-that they may retain what they have learnt, and be prepared under the eye of the minister, for the seasonable and Apostolic rite of confirmation and the still younger-that they may be encouraged to emulate their elders, and be more attentive to the instructions of the week. A Sunday-school well conducted, especially if in some open space within the Church, will often draw thither many a parent and neighbour, and the mouth of the child, the friend, and the dependent be made an affectng vehicle of religious truth. Then are the questions and explanations of the minister of the highest value; and often will the humble stool of the catechist, as the Pastor thus sits amid his flock, be more effectual to touch the hearts of his people, than the throne of the preacher1. 1 Ecce Catechistes humili sermone tenelli Expectans In the discharge of these your several duties I am sensible that a West Indian diocese presents its peculiar difficulties; but I know of none, which will not yield, under God's blessing, to a holy and discreet zeal. Shew yourselves ready to spend, and be spent for your flock. Live amongst them, and for them'. Be much and often John x. 14. Expectans monitus, pendetque docentis ab ore, O! quantum est teneræ pietatis semina menti Burton's Sacerdos parœcialis Rusticus. "He that is a stranger to his flock, and only visits them now and then, can never be said to watch over them."- They have very mean thoughts of their holy function, that think the main part of it lies only in the pulpit-I wish even that were minded more-but all the ways you can do good among your people are within the compass of your duty; not merely to instruct them in religion, but to prevent quarrels, and contentions, and meetings for debauchery, which tend to corrupt men's minds, and draw them off from the principles as well as practice of true religion. It is your duty to make them live like good Christians, and good neighbours, and to set patterns yourselves of sobriety, meekness, charity, and of every thing praiseworthy." Duties and Rights of the Parochial Clergy. Bishop Stillingfleet's Works, vol. iii. pp. 625, 658. A clergyman's parish is, in some sort, his house and home; there is his business, there his family; there all his time, his care, his pains and diligence should be expended: and I call every man's heart to witness, whether, the more months he lives. in his parish, the more duty he performs in it, the more care he |