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 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 * Cujus gratiâ tandem vivimus nos senes, quàm quod teneræ ætatis homines curemus, educemus, instituamus? Atque haud scio, nùm quicquam perinde doceat senem, ac curandorum liberorum ratio.-Martini Lutheri Libellus de Instit. Pueris. p. 440. the great Apostle has 2 Tim. ii. 24. expressed in the term διδακτικόν *. The parochial school should be among the most cherished objects of ministerial care. The benefit derived from the school is incalcu * Ego verò, ut de meipso dicam scilicet, tametsi Doctor ac prædicator sum, non minori, ut opinor, cùm doctrinâ tum 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 quò 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. lable. 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 *. * "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 every thing 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 well-springs of heavenly life and knowledge, as oft as they want, are weak, or thirsty, and be refreshed. Still the labours of the week are but preparatory to the more strictly religious instruction of the Sabbath. The daily and Sunday schools should always exist toge 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. ther. The latter takes up and perfects the work of the former. In the Sunday school 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 |