1 ioners. There are opposing prejudices in every community; there are long cherished opinions to be combated; there are objections deeply rooted to be removed, ere his flock can be of " one heart and one soul." In opposing these objections, in combating these opinions, in eradicating these prejudices, you will not act, I trust, in the spirit of proselytism, but from a principle of duty. When zealously defending the interests of that venerable establishment of which you will be an attached and faithful member, let there be nothing of bigotry or intolerance in your conduct to a dissenting brother: on the contrary, where his interests can be promoted, without injury to those of which you are the delegated guardian, there be your hand and heart ever open to his assistance. Steadily follow and teach others so to follow that which, in your judgement, appears the leading path to truth; but do not rashly and uncharitably conclude that every other must terminate in destruction! It is the most prominent among the many excellencies of our church establishment that her minister shall not be permitted to enter upon the very serious and responsible office, until his testimonials as to ability have been approved-his character and conduct diligently scrutinized before a competent authority; in short, the whole system of the clerical appointments approaches as closely as possible to the practice of the Apostolic age. The previous discipline of education-the qualifications insisted on the forms of ordination observed: all are in conformity with the customs of the primitive church. It is also the wise and considerate provision of the Church of England that the means of growing wise to their dearest interests, the work of their own salvation, be placed within the reach of all her followers. For this purpose, that every parish in the kingdom have its peculiar place of worship, solemnly dedicated to God, and consecrated to purposes of piety alone; that every separate Christian community be distinguished by its own peculiar minister-every flock entrusted to its appointed shepherd; the sphere of his exertions being purposely limited, that he may more effectually perform the functions of his sacred office. On all occasions, his Divine Master is to be his model in his endeavours to discharge the duties of his high station; humbly imitating him, he must be no respecter of persons," and the lesson which he teaches within the walls of the Temple on each revolving Sabbath must be confirmed, as occasion may require, by daily admonition at the respective dwellings both of rich and poor. If they be in sorrow, it is his office to soothe them, if in sickness, he must strive to smooth the pillow of suffering, 66 if they be in doubt, he must convince them, if self-desponding, uphold them, if selfconfident, reprove them, if sinners, he must make it his especial labour to reclaim them. Their complaints must never meet his ear indisposed to listen to them their tale of misery must never make its way to a breast too callous to appease them. It is true, unlike his adored Master, he cannot make the blind to see the deaf to hear; but with that Master's Gospel in his hand, he may give eyes to the spiritually blind-he may give hearing to the wilfully deaf. He will convince his hearers that Christ is still with them in power if not in presence; that " his arm is not shortened that it can no longer save," but that, in fulfilment of his own promise," he will be with them" to the end of time. Trust me, my dear boy, these scenes of sorrow will tend much to win your own thoughts from worldly contemplation, and fix them on the higher duties which you stand pledged to fulfil. When you behold one who came forth from the hands of the same God,-born to the same hopes, destined to run the same race of earth with you, cut off in the meridian of his day, and recalled to the God who gave him being, you cannot but be won to profitable meditation on the uncertain tenure of your own existence. In some instances you will see this dssolution preceded by a long interval of sickness-a merciful interval for preparation; in others, a year, a month, a day, the briefly allotted space for the retrospect of the past; in other instances again, one short hour, nay where the preceding moment has been health and animation, the next will bear the summons to eternity. Surely, you will exclaim, such awakening cautions cannot fail to bring the Christian's heart to the conviction that "all below is vanity," |