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shown them to his soul. He can institute a sound process of comparison between those testimonies of Scripture which a natural criticism has made palpable to him, and those traces upon the soul which a natural sagacity has made palpable to him: and, without sharing himself in an unction from the Holy One, or being sealed by the Spirit of God into a personal meetness for the inheritance of the saints, still may he both be able to rectify and restrain the excesses of fanaticism, and also to recall the departures that heresy is making from the law and from the testimony.

The work of Bishop Horsley against Unitarianism, is a work which erudition and natural talent are quite competent to the production of. It is the fruit of a learned and laborious research into ecclesiastical antiquities, and a vigorous argumentative application of the materials that he had gathered, to that controversy, on the field of which he obtained so proud and pre-eminent a conquest. We would not even so much as hazard a conjecture on the personal Christianity of this able and highly gifted individual. We simply affirm, that for the execution of the important service which he, at that time, rendered to the cause, his own personal religion was not indispensable; and, whether or not by the means of a spiritual discernment, he was enabled to take off, from the inscribed Christianity of the record, an effectual impression of it upon his own soul, it was well, that, by the natural expedients of profound sense and profound scholarship, he cleared away that cloud in which his antagonist, Dr. Priestley, might have shrouded the face of the record, both from the natural and spiritual discernment of other men. It is possible, both to know what the doctrine of the Bible is, and most skilfully and irresistibly to argument it, without having caught the impress of the doctrine upon one's own soul. It is possible for a man not to have come himself into effective personal contact with the seal of Holy Writ, and yet to demonstrate the character of the seal, and to purge away its obscurity, and make it stand legibly out, which it must do, ere it can stand impressively out, to the view of others. There are many who look with an evil eye to the endowments of the English Church, and to the indolence of her dignitaries. But to that Church the theological literature of our nation stands indebted, for her best acquisitions; and we hold it a refreshing spectacle, at any time, that meagre Socinianism pours forth a new supply of flippancies and errors, when we behold, as we have often done, an armed champion come forth, in full equipment, from some high and lettered retreat of that noble hierarchy; nor can we grudge her the wealth of all her endowments, when we think how well, under her venerable auspices, the battles of orthodoxy have been fought-that, in this holy warfare, they are her sons and her scholars who are ever foremost in the field--ready, at all times, to face the threatening mischief, and, by the might of their ponderous erudition, to overbear it.

But, if human talent be available to the purpose of demonstrating the characters of the seal, it is also, in so far, available to the purpose of judging of the accuracy of the impression. The work, perhaps, which best exemplifies this, is that of President Edwards, on VOL. IX.

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the conversions of New-England, and in which he proposes to estimate their genuineness, by comparing the marks that had been left on the person of the disciple, with the marks that are inscribed on the books of the law and of the testimony. He was certainly much aided, in his processes of discrimination upon this subject, by the circumstance of being a genuine convert himself, and, so, of being furnished with materials for the judgment, in his own heart, and that stood immediately submitted to the eye of his own consciousness. But yet no one could, without the metaphysical faculty wherewith nature had endowed him, have conducted so subtle, and at the same time, so sound and just an analysis, as he has done; and no one, without his powers of insight among the mysteries of our nature-a power which belonged to his mind, according to its original conformation-could have so separated the authentic operation of the word upon the character, from the errors and impulses of human fancy. It is true that none but a spiritual man could have taken so minute a survey of that impression which the Holy Ghost was affirmed to have made, through the preaching of the Word upon many, in a season of general awakening. But few, also, are the spiritual men, who could have taken so masterly a survey; and that, just because they wanted the faculties which could accomplish their possessor for a shrewd and metaphysical discernment among the penetralia of the human constitution. It is thus that, by the light of nature, one may trace the characters which stand out upon the seal; and, by the light of nature, one may be helped, at least to trace the characters that are left upon the human subject, in consequence of this supernal application. Fanaticism is kept in check by human reason, and the soberness of the faith is vindicated. The extravagance of all pretenders to a spiritual revelation is detected, and made manifest; and the true disciple stands the test he is submitted to, even at the bar of the natural understanding.

(To be continued.)

A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE PEOPLE.

To the Editor of the Christian Herald.

SIR-I have read with considerable interest, several articles in your work on the subject of Pastoral Visitation. The remarks which gave rise to them, being a plea against a pastoral visitation demanded by the people, have naturally led to a view of only one side of the subject. I would, Sir, that the congregations who complain of the want of Pastoral Visitation had that hungering and thirsting after righteousness which their complaints indicate. What a happy presage would this be, of the wide diffusion of spiritual blessings-and how soon would such holy and earnest desires be satisfied, by the services of an efficient and devoted ministry.

But, sir, does the physiognomy of our congregations exhibit such earnest desires? Are those who complain that their pastors do not visit them, anxious to receive them as ambassadors for Christ, and to

hear their messages of instruction, consolation and reproof? Do they desire their company as a means of nearer approach to their great Advocate himself?

The relation, sir, which subsists between a minister and his people is one of infinite solemnity :-infinitely solemn to the people as well as to the minister-eternal consequences will follow their mutual fidelity or neglect. Their temporal pilgrimage which they pass together, is about to end in rendering a solemn account, and in receiving the retributions of eternity. Nay, every month-perhaps every week, bears away to a dreadful or a joyful doom, the aged and the young; and many an aged pastor has lived to see the congregation of his youthful ministry, gone, redeemed or unredeemed-gone for ever from his care.-Happy is that pastor, who, as he parts successively with the objects of his charge, or in the near prospect of his own death, can justly feel that he is clear of their blood; or even he, who learns over the death-beds of his people, a lesson of Christian fidelity. Happy those who die, having joyfully received and holily improved the ministry of reconciliation, and who depart from the poor privileges of the most devoted ministry, to enjoy the presence and the fulness of the great Shepherd himself.

Oh sir! were the members of our congregations sensible to the nature of that blessed relation, in which they are graciously connected with their pastors, there would be a preparation for pastoral visitation, which we must now, I fear, look for almost in vain. For I do fear, that in most instances, a congregation receives and enjoys its minister with almost no serious regard at all. He is a sort of necessary man to make up a respectable village, and a connexion with a respectable congregation, is considered by every respectable citizen as an indispensable part of individual and family character, and dispels the dread which most men feel at the thought of having no religion.

Nor is this all :--There is not merely an improper feeling in regard to the ministerial relation, but quite as manifestly in regard to the sort of minister which the congregations and the individuals which compose them wish for themselves. I fear that I am now to assail not only the religious feeling, but the taste of no small part of the community. For surely, the disposition to be caught and fascinated by prompt and ready talents;--the desire to have, in vulgar phrase," a smart man," i. e. a splendid and showy man--the little inquiry which is set up, as to a man's intelligence, industry, and consistent piety--the idea with which so many congregations settle their minister, that he is, (not a sensible, industrious, excellent man) but an uncommonly bright genius; all evince a lamentable depravity of taste, and a still more lamentable depravity of moral feeling.

How ill-prepared, sir, is a congregation thus receiving their minister as a mere earthly blessing, and especially thus vainly puffed up of their fleshly mind, to desire or receive Christian visits from their pastor. They may love attention from him; if he retain the reputation which bore him on the full tide of popularity into so elevated a situation as their pulpit, they may feel chagrined to be obliged to say, that for months and years they have not seen his face, nor heard

him speak in plain and familiar coloquy; and especially that they should not be his particular friends. And even if it has appeared that his original popularity was altogether adventitious and occasional, it will not be strange if disappointed vanity should mingle with its murmurs, a reproach for neglected duties. But all this presents no preparation, and intimates no desire for a Christian visitation. All this may exist, and in too many instances does exist, while the complainants themselves are unprepared for the very visitation which they profess to desire; and where a minister may, for a considerable time at least, find them baffling instead of aiding his efforts.

It is very humbling to be obliged to suggest here, that even the communicants are not always free from the vain notions and feelings, which we have been attributing to congregations at large; and that a minister does not always find among them an inviting state of mind. It may be said indeed, that the duty of private warning and exhortation is always more imperious in proportion to the uninviting state of a Church, or of any of its individual members; yet no one who has not done it, can well understand the difficulty and painfulness of warning backsliding Christians or hypocritical professors. Their spiritual declension and worldly mindedness, have gone far to benumb their moral sensibility, while they have become more sensible to reproach ;-ever as they sink in moral worth, becoming more desirous to save or to gain a character.

Of those, however, who have voluntarily and responsibly placed themselves under the charge of the Gospel minister, the greater number by far, are not communicants; in fact make no pretensions to that actual piety which they expect in those who are. The most important part of every minister's pastoral labours, is among this great majority, whom it will be his daily object to bring truely into the fold of Christ. As he proceeds steadily and earnestly in this glorious work, which aims to make them joint heirs with Christ, he will often find his faith and patience tried, by perceiving those false views of their mutual relation, and those foolish desires respecting his ministerial character, of which we have been speaking. He will find that so corrupt and absurd a friendship, however sincere it may be, does not always open an easy avenue to their hearts. It may produce a very plentiful politeness, and a minister so situated, may experience the kindest attentions, from those very persons whose hearts he finds it most difficult to reach. But their very politenessmay be found the greatest of all impediments. I refer not now to that sort of bribery by which the world succeed sometimes in making even a good man temporize, for fear of offending the more important members of his congregation, and which makes him put off to a more convenient season the effort, to bring down the haughtiness of the rich to the lowliness of the Gospel, and for amoment's convenience to himself, hazard the eternal ruin of one and another individual and family; but rather to the actual difficulties which impede the faithful minister in the discharge of his duty. Such an one may find the politeness of his people even a greater impediment than their open opposition. A good man can hardly fail to resolve to warn and reprove the unruly,

and will often be strengthened by the open opposition with which he meets. It excites him to activity; it shows him more evidently the necessity of his efforts, and the suggestion to yield, is so evidently from his great enemy, and so like a denying of his master, that it rather urges him on than deters him. But the world's politeness to a good minister, is so like a Christian grace, that it may prevent the impression of their lost condition. They so nearly wear sheep's clothing as in a good degree to hide their natural deformity, and a minister may be deceived by it, till many of his hearers are removed from his charge to the tribunal of their judge. Besides, the very assent, the polite assent which people offer to all a minister says, while they shut up their hearts from all intercourse with him, obstructs the current of his communication to them. Often when he may have intended an important effort, he fails, because they have really been so accommodating to every thing he has said that he could not decently suppose them to be any thing else than avowed believers, while all their assent is probably the result of indifference to their true state and politeness to their minister.

If a minister is treated with great formality whenever he visits-especially if he is invited to meet "a few friends" so often as to prevent a spontaneous visiting-if he is almost obliged to be present when a splendid exhibition of dress and furniture is made, and a feast of all good things is provided; he finds his charge too much occupied in displaying themselves, to give him an opportunity to do them good. Should he seize what is not given, he runs the hazard of offending by his obtrusiveness, and emphatically at the best, sows his seed by the way side and among thorns. A family occupied in the effort at worldly display, surrounded by the out-poured paraphernalia of gentiliy, is the least promising of all fields for the success of the Gospel.

It is not, however, merely in this way that a minister may find his pastoral labours hindered by the worldly wealthy of his charge. It would be well if when he endeavours to meet them in their quiet domestic circle, or in private conference, he could find them ready. But what if in his familiar calls he should find them fashionably "not at home" or uniformly engaged, or too unwell to see company, or should have to wait in solitary meditation, while the morning comfort is put off and the fine lady is put on? What if he can never come in contact with his most wealthy and respectable supporters except when they are in the bustle of worldly business, or if whenever he can meet them alone, they so lead the conversation, and so parry his every effort, as successfully to put off time after time, his intended exhortation and reproof? What if he discovers, that those who are the most proud of his preaching, appear evidently to claim a freedom from that pastoral annoyance which might befit the houses of the poor? What if he ever find the rich peculiarly inaccessible, and be ever learning from experience that the deceitfulness of riches is as much averse to the entrance, as the growth of the word, and that a generous support to the minister constitutes the whole of the religion of many?

There is a real difficulty in the way of pastoral visitation, which

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