possess but little weight) by the strength of accredited authority. After all, he is deeply conscious, that this most responsible work has suffered--perhaps materially--from the unskilfulness of its treatment. He would desire however to be "accepted of his brethren,"* in a sincere attempt to subserve the grand cause, to which they equally with himself are consecrated--and he would beg to express his earnest desires to be favoured with private communications for the improvement of a second edition (should it ever be called for); for which purpose he subjoins his place of residence at full length. For his work he has no other wish than the Country Parson--The Lord prosper the intention to myself, and others, who may not despise my poor labours, but add to those points, which I have observed, until the book grows to a complete pastoral.'† For himself-he would listen to the concluding exhortation of an eminent Minister to his Student and Pastor-And now, go thy way, O thou son greatly beloyed, and work in thy lot lively, and prayerfully and cheerfully to the end of thy days; and wait and look for what the glorious Lord will do for thee at the end of thy days; in those endless joys, wherein thou shalt shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars for ever and ever.‡ * Esther x. 3. Preface to The Country Parson.' Conclusion to Mather's 'Student and Pastor.' ་ PREFACE. as he could," it is because "he shoots higher that threatens the moon, than he that aims at a tree."* He has endeavoured, however, to write in the first instance for himself and to point every arrow of conviction at his own heart-" Thou that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?"† The Writer will be found to have dealt rather largely in illustration-not only, as being more suited to his character than didactic instruction-but as exhibiting that sympathy of care and anxiety, which gives to us a peculiar place in each other's remembrance, an interest in each other's prayers, a witness in each other's hearts." The same afflictions are accomplished in our brethren that are in the world."‡ The materials for this work have been brought from different departments of the territory of the Church. Though the Writer has had a special regard to the Ministry of the Establishment, (to which he is bound by the strongest and most endearing ties, and which occupies in his view the most commanding station in the Church of Christ,) yet he would be sorry to refuse a cordial admission, and to neglect a diligent improvement, of the acknowledged excellencies of the honoured men of God in different communions. § If he should be thought to have been too large in his references, he can only apologize by his anxiety to shelter his own statements (which in themselves could * G. Herbert's Preface to "The Country Parson.' † Rom. ii. 21. 1 Pet. v. 9. The Christian spirit in one of the dignified advocates of our Establishment is truly admirable, which admitted the Life of Philip Henry (often referred to in these pages) into his collection of Ecclesiastical Biography--with the admission that any one Nonconformist of superior piety would also have found a place in his work. Wordsworth's Ecclesiastical Biography-Preface, p. xviii. possess but little weight by the strength of accredited authority. After all, be as deeply conscious, that this most responsible work has suffered-perhaps materially--from the unskilfulness of its treatment. He would dere however to be accessed of his brethren."* in a - cere attempt to subserve the grand cause, to when they equbuy with hose are consecrated—and be ADVERTISEMENT TO THE SECOND EDITION. The Writer, while he would acknowledge the kind reception with which his work has been favoured, cannot but regret that the shortness of the interval has precluded him from the advantage of many of those animadversions, by which it might have been considerably improved. He has, however, endeavoured to send it forth a second time, he trusts, with some symptom of amendment, and (in compliance with the suggestions of some kind and judicious friends), with considerable enlargement in the detail of the pastoral department, as well as with the result of a general system of revision throughout. The Writer is most sensible of the many defects of the work, but under present circumstances he has no other course than once more to commend it to the gracious consideration of the Great Head of the Church, with an earnest desire that he would accept it as an offering for his service, and employ it in however mean a degree for the edification of his church, of that part more especially in whose prosperity the Writer is most deeply interested. Old Newton, Oct. 9, 1829. 382 VI. The qualifications of the Christian Ministry. ·VII. Preparation for the Christian Ministry, SECT. I. Habits of General Study, CHAP. II. The withholding of Divine Influence the main cause of the want of Ministerial success, 102 III. The enmity of the natural heart a main cause of the want of Ministerial success, |