66 counsellor, a tender and experienced friend. He must be taken aside and made to feel himself the object of exclusive solicitude. Others again in a hesitating suspense need the filial confidence of pastoral communion-to have their convictions cherished, re-touched, deepened, and directed more immediately to the Saviour, as the charm that dispels the allurements—as the power that breaks the chains, that still hold them to the world. The serious, humble, and perplexed need the same pastoral confidence to open their grief, and receive the benefit of ghostly counsel and advice."* In our communication however with these confidential cases, the mode of continued address may be most advantageously exchanged for affectionate catechetical inquiry, which is always found most effectual in eliciting the gradual disclosure of indiviual perplexities, and thus of furnishing us with the most valuable materials for accommodating our instruction to their need. It is also most important that the communion of a Minister with his flock should be eqalized-that he should shew himself equally the friend, the father, the Minister of all-" a debtor to the wise and to the unwise,"" without preferring one above another, doing nothing by partiality." He should be to his flock--as the soul to the body-as the head to the members-invigorating every part of the body—the lowest as well as the highest; and contributing to the benefit of every member alike. Indeed it is invariably found, that the suspicion of favouritism fosters a spirit of pride in its objects, and of envy in the rest, and therefore is most destructive to the unity and prosperity of the flock. *See Exhortation in Communion Service. As far as this confidential character is preserved, there will be as little occasion to enforce relative rights and obligations, as to fix the precise. boundaries of authority and obedience between man and wife, where the spirit of the marriage relation is maintained. Perhaps this department of the ministry may be deficient in that excitement, which makes it so delightful to preach to a congregation hanging upon our lips. There will be great demands for patience, self-denial, and severe exercise of faith, the cost of which has not always been duly calculated. Henry Martyn confessed that at times he was 'tried with a sinful dislike of his parochial work,' and seemed frequently as a stone speaking to stones.'* The Writer was struck with the observation of a local preacher, who has subsequently relinquished his work for secular engagements-that from his experience he considered a Minister's life to be the happiest in the world, and that he had never known such enjoyment, as when in the act of preaching the Gospel. Without feeling inclined to dispute his judgment, he was reminded of his incompetency to decide upon the matter. For whatever be the delight of proclaiming the glad tidings of the Gospel to sinners, yet in the express commission of the parochial Ministry, it is chastened with a weight of responsibility, unknown. The 66 necessity laid upon us "-the "watching for souls as they that must give account " -the darkness thick as night; and alas! the presage * Life, p. 60. Dr. Witherspoon observes, on the testimony of conscience to this Ministry-We may gratify our vanity by preaching, but diligence in private can scarcely arise from any thing but a sense of duty.' † 1 Cor. ix. 16. Heb. xiii. 17. 'Let the pastor who trembles not at these words, tremble at least at his own blindness and insensibility.' Quesnel in loco. of eternal night, so often attendant upon death-beds— the wisdom and tender faithfulness which such scenes imperiously demand-the "travailing in birth" for souls once and "again, until Christ be formed in them "*-the daily contact with sin, obstinacy, and impenitence and finally, the conflict with the powers of darkness-all these combine in our sacred employment, wakening emotions of the most opposite character, and yet issuing at length in the triumph of faith, so that we are at once "as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." This general sketch of the principles of the pastoral work will show at once its laboriousness, and its importance. To acquaint ourselves with the various wants of our people; to win their affections, to give a seasonable warning, encouragement, instruction, or consolation, to identify ourselves with their spiritual interests, in the temper of Christian sympathy, and under a sense of Ministerial obligation; to do this with the constancy, seriousness, and fervid energy which the matter requires, is indeed a work of industry, patience, and self-denial. And yet, how else can we "make full proof of our Ministry," but by ready obedience to the injunction," watch thou in all things, do the work of an evangelist."+ CHAPTER II. TREATMENT OF CASES IN THE PASTORAL WORK. A VARIETY of cases occur in our Pastoral communication in the many subdivisions of the two grand classes † 2 Tim. iv. 5. * Gal. iv. 19. which divide the world ;* and much inefficiency has resulted from their inaccurate treatment. A few hints may be suggested on some of the most important of them-chiefly drawn from the observations of the New Testament Ministry, as illustrative of the several specialties of our Christan Ministrations. SECTION I. THE IGNORANT AND CARELESS. SUCH were the multitude in our Lord's time. He instructed them in the spirituality and requirements of his law, mingling the strongest encouragement with his most searching developements of the heart. The nature and immediate duty of faith in himself,§ the awful consequences of rejecting his salvation,|| uncompromising exhibition of the terms of the Gospel,¶ the most unfettered invitations to all that were willing to accept them, without respect of persons**--these formed the prominent topics of general instruction. In individual cases he improved tangible points of conviction, as means of dealing closely with consciences.†† The exhortations of the Apostles were of course more ex * Gregory treats of no less than thirty-six cases-chiefly relative situations, or moral dispositions-with very scanty exercise of spiritual discrimination. De Curâ Past. Part iii. c. 1. Baxter's practical treatises contain the most arresting addresses to the unconverted, that probably have ever come from the pen or heart of man. A more decided tone of evangelical doctrine and motive would however have added much to their power. It may be doubted also, whether his method of Christian establishment is as direct and explicit as the freeness, fulness, and simplicity of the gospel would warrant. Matt. v. vi. vii. § John vi. 29-65. || Matt. xi. 20-24. plicit. While they warned of the dreadful danger of acting against light, their arrows of conviction were dipped in the blood of Christ. The display of the cross was the ground of their successful pleadings.* This, like every other class, must be treated according to character. But close remonstrances upon the inexpressible sinfulness and danger of their state, especially in the aggravated guilt of the rejection of the Saviour, cannot be inapplicable to this case. It should be dealt with, like the case of a man on the brink of a precipice, or asleep in the immediate neighbourhood of firesaving them with fear, pulling them out of the fire."† A solemn statement has often been owned with an awakened blessing. The man also should be brought, if possible, to a point, and some appeal fastened upon his own declarations. He thinks but little of eternity; yet he hopes to go to heaven, because he wishes to go there. Here is ground to work upon-the folly of making his sincere and indolent wishes the ground of his hopes. He would give every thing on a deathbed to be assured of his safety: why is he not in earnest now? He knows Christ as our Saviour, but has no personal interest in him-no sense of want, no spiritual exercises of faith. He needs instruction, like a babe or a heathen, upon the elementary truths of the Gospel. The hardened of this class must be treated with the greatest mildness (else something personal will be imagined), as if we spoke with the most compassionate regard to their condition,§ and with the most "beseeching" entreaties-"Be ye reconciled to God." Let them not suppose, that by denouncing the judgments of God, we seal their condemnation, but rather, that *Acts ii. iii. iv. xiii. with Zech. xii. 10. 2 Tim. ii. 24, 25. † Jude 23. § Comp. Jer. iv. 19. Mic. i. 7, 8. |