which subsists between a faithful Minister of Christ and the flock which he is appointed to feed. How many are the methods by which that bond of affection may be more closely drawn! Many an anxious care docs the faithful and vigilant Pastor experience for the welfare of those who are endeared to him by the sacred sympathy of spiritual affinity; many a sorrow for failures in which the world thinks he has no interest; and many a joy for blessings which he alone perceives descending upon the heads of those whom he loves in the Lord.'

Finally. I come to ask you to turn with me aside a moment, to witness a scene of more than ordinary solemnity. It is the death-bed of a Christian Pastor. He desires, before his voice is forever silenced, to address to you one word more of affectionate exhortation. His heart, before it is forever still, would throw before you, once more, its tenderest sympathies.

He who thus seeks you, sincerely loves you, and has your truest interests at heart. He watches for your soul, as one that must give an account, and he trembles under the dreadful responsibility of his charge. The subjects, on which he is anxious, in the simplicity and godly sincerity of the truth, to speak, are eternal realities. They deeply concern your happiness, for the present and for all future periods. He is commissioned from God, with a message to you, and as God's faithful ambassador he would deliver it, as the last he will ever have to communicate, in the conviction of its immeasurable importance. And oh! if it be true, that 'a death-bed is the detecter of the heart,' you may be sure, that the words which he will speak are the words of hon esty and soberness. Let us approach the spot. It has nothing repulsive.

'The chamber where the good man meets his fate,

Is privileged beyond the common walks

Of virtuous life, quite in the verge of Heaven.'

God smiles on him, and he smiles on death. He is in near prospect of perfect purity, everlasting freedom, full and uninterrupted joy. The doctrine of the resurrection, and faith in his happy interest in that doctrine, sustain him in his final hour, and make him rejoice in the sacrifices which he made to attain to this triumphant consummation. Reclining on his last pillow, his heart is possessed with the peace of God which passeth all understanding.' The termination of his earthly toils and conflicts hastens on, and like the weary laborer, at the close of day, he waits to quit the field and go to be forever with the Lord. Hear his language I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of glory, which the Lord, the righteous

judge, will give me at that day.' But to you, over whose spiritual interests I have watched, I am anxious to address a final appeal. My motives for assuming the responsibilities of the sacred office, as far as with the closest self-examination, I have been able to know them, were love to Christ, and an ardent regard for your eternal welfare; it was indeed in weakness and in fear, and much trembling,' that I ventured on such holy ground. Yet made willing by divine grace, to forego the gratifications of a world that perisheth; I spurned the allurements of ambition, and the pursuit of pleasure, and chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy them, for a season.' What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.' And as worldly inducements had not influenced me in my choice, so neither could worldly discouragements, after ward, lead me to swerve from it. The scoffs of the wicked, the unkindness of false brethren, depressed spirits, a broken constitution and a premature grave— 'none of these things moved me. I panted for usefulness, and under a weight of conviction which I could not shake off, I felt that 'necessity was laid upon me, yea woe was me if I preached not the Gospel.' Trusting in him who had called me by his grace,' I went forth, and 'ye yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that our exhortation was not of deceit nor of uncleanness, nor in guile. But as we were allowed of God, to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we spake not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth the heart.' 'And we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children, so being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the Gospel of God only, but our own souls also, because ye were dear unto us.' Now therefore, once more suffer the word of exhortation. The welfare of your soul, as it has been the object of anxious solicitude in life, so is it the absorbing desire in death. Believing in its immeasurable worth, and its alarming exposure to perdition, how can it be otherwise, than that the tongue should employ its latest power of utterance, in warning you to flee from the wrath to come.' If the value of a thing is to be estimated, by its susceptibility of pleasure or of pain, and by the length of its duration, then the soul must be of all things most valuable. This is the seat of life and of feeling, and it can never die. The body is but a perishable tenement erected for its temporary abode. Its best and brightest properties are fading and corruptible. If then you look upon this, to admire its strength or beauty, which at the best, are but the advantages of an hour, how much more, should you prize the nobler, the imperishable attributes of the soul! The inhabitant, and not the habitation; the essential being, and not the mere outward veil that covers it. When you remember too, how soon and how suddenly sickness may wither all your earthly comforts and hopes, how can you build with confidence upon them? When you see the emp

tiness and delusion of the world, how can you pursue, with so much ardour, its miserable pleasures? Why give your affections to objects so uncertain of attainment, so unsatisfying even if gained?-to riches, when they take to themselves wings, and flee away; to fame, when it vanishes like a shadow from the grasp; pleasure, when its gayest scenes, only load the hours of reflection, with self-reproach and agonizing shame? Alas! 'the fashion of this world passeth away,' and he alone is wise, who seeks an inheritance in the world that is to come. I see you pursuing phantoms, blinded and led captive by the father of lies, at his will. I warn you of your infatuation and danger. I address your reason and your conscience. I place before you the counsels of heavenly truth, unfolding the sad, but true description of your character, pointing you to pardoning blood, and a reconciled God, -bringing life and immortality to light,' and setting before you alike the promises and threatenings of Him who is almighty, in the one life, and in the other death. 'And now behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men, for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.'

Such, however imperfect, may be supposed to be the dying appeal of a faithful Pastor. How tremendous is that account, which he will have at least to give of himself, and of those over whom he has labored in the Lord. He is a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish, To the one, he is the savor of life unto life; and to the other of death unto death. And who is sufficient for these things?' Happy will he be, if when the chief Shepherd shall appear, he may behold the countenances of his flock beaming in glory, and hear their voices raised in the praises of God and the Lamb; and bowing with them before the everlasting throne, 'may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.'

NOTE. It is a part of the plan of this work, to publish in each No. one long sermon or two short ones, making from twenty to twenty-four pages. In the progress of the 3d vol. thus far; we have frequently failed of our object, from the want of MSS: of suitable dimensions. This is our apology for the issue, mostly, of single sermons, for the last several months, and for the insertion of so many of our own notes. The remaining Nos. of the vol. will contain more matter. But we gladly occupy the blank of two pages, left us, for suggesting a few thoughts co-incident with the foregoing excellent sermon,

The author in fixing his title to his sermon, docs not use the phrase Devoted Pastor,' in the popular, but in the proper sense,

as the sermon itself shows. The phrase in common parlance' means, a Pastor who has no other employment besides his pastoral charge. Our author uses it to mean, one who does his work faithfully and assiduously. It may happen that a Pastor who has no other business to occupy him, may do this very negligently; while another, may perform an incredible amount of Ministerial duties, although in the mean time burdened with other labors for his own support, and thus perhaps sink under accumulated cares. May the Lord hasten the period when every Minister of the Gospel, liberated from his school-room, his farm, and every secular pursuit, shall make the Ministry his sole employment, attending to none other except as it may be subservient to his great work, as learning and science.

Obligations and privileges are always reciprocal. A devoted Pastor deserves a devoted people; and a devoted people deserves a devoted Pastor. Let him that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.' Gal. vi: 6. The wisdom and justice of this arrangement, are inculcated throughout the Bible; evident from the nature of the Ministerial office, and the wants of every Church and community; implied in that great secret of success in all other enterprizes, division of labor for unity of object; and seen in its good effects where it is observed, and its bad ones when it is disregarded.

The

But this subject demands another view. We solemnly fear, the Pastoral relation is not half appreciated or understood, even by those of us, who have studied it most. Notwithstanding the light which blazes from the pulpit and the press, the spirit of this quid pro quo age, is constantly assimilating this relation to others, whereas there is none like it on earth. That of preceptor and pupil, properly understood, perhaps approaches it nearest. tuition fee is not the reward, to which the faithful preceptor looks, nor to merit it the object at which he aims. Nor does the intelligent and grateful pupil purchase his instruction and counsel, like he does a garment or a horse. It would break the heart of a wise and good teacher to conduct a class on this principle. We, for ourselves, should greatly prefer the spade or the plough. Not that these are dishonorable; but the instruction of youth is more honorable.

We shall never forget, how we felt shocked, when an aged Minister from one of the Northern states, mentioned in our presence some few years ago, 'Every Pastor among us, expects now, in accepting the call of a Church, to resign in two or three years. Such an expectation is in our judgment an extinguisher of both pastoral, and Church, usefulness and pleasure. If we had. fifty lives to live over again, we would never accept of one charge, with such an expectation. It requires that length of time to become acquainted. Give us the pastor, to whom we can go as a tried and well proved friend, for advice in every case of difficulty,

and comfort in every trouble. To whom we can confide every secret of our hearts, as to a father or a mother. And were we again to enter the field of labor, give us a flock with the little ones of whom, around the fire-side and in the Sunday School, we could form attachments never to be broken, not by death itself. We could love the Minister who sojourns with us for a month, or for a few years, but it would only be as a visiter, not as a resident.

One of the greatest faults in the Methodist ecelesiastical polity, is, that it destroys the pastoral relation. Itineracy, for a sparse population, has its advantages: but these, especially if the change is annual or frequent, must be subject to many draw backs. Want of acquaintance between the parties renders intimate friendship and confidence impossible; change from one field of labor to another abridges the necessity of study, and produces a barren mind; and novelty of person and voice, is substituted for newness of idea and thought.

We almost fear it may have been indiscreet in us to glance at so important a subject, when brevity forbids us to say what is in our heart.

DIVINE INFLUENCE.

EDITOR.

'Let' the spirit be poured from on high' on the ministers of the Gospel; secular aims vanish, the mind rises superior to mortal frowns or smiles; zeal for the salvation of men glows like the perpetual fire on the altar of the Lord, and a missionary passion is inspired. Let the holy influence descend on a Church of Jesus Christ; its members will abound in love; they will fear the Lord, and speak often to each other. Prayer meetings will become crowded; an anxiety will generally be felt for the conversion of sinners, associated with desires to become useful in the world. The hand will be opened to communicate to the relief of the poor, and for the spread of the Savior's kingdom; and circumspection and holiness mark the life and conduct. Let it descend on a family; parents become affectionate, children respectful, servants obedient, while the domestic altar flames with a sacrifice morning and evening to Him in whom 'the families of the earth' are 'blessed.' Does it descend on the ungodly? hypocrisy hurls away her mask, sabbath breaking is ended, swearing is no more; falsehood and deceit, envy and malice, are supplanted, and their seats in the heart occupied with integrity and good will; infidelity hides its head, confounded; youth relinquishes its vain expectations and follies, and age its obduracy and avarice. This blessed influence is the rod of Moses on the rock, which produces penitential streams: it is the shadow of Peter, that 'passing by,' heals all manner of disease: it is the sling of David, before whose energy the enemy of Zion falls. Sacred Spirit! forgive these low allusions! it is thyself brooding on the face of the Dr. Staughton,

waters.'