preach abundantly besides. But this cannot be. We have this treasure in earthen vessels. He cannot go beyond the capabilities of flesh and blood. I do by no means underrate the importance of out-of-pulpit duties. Every minister should find time, if possible, to see his people at their homes. But of the two, if instructive preaching and frequent pastoral visitation cannot be united, give me the studious minister, rather than the visiting one.

Injustice is often done to a minister by his people comparing him with others, particularly with itinerant preachers. An evangelist, having perfected a few discourses by preaching them a hundred times, and enriching them with every new and striking thought that has occurred to him, and with affecting anecdotes collected in his travels, must of course preach in an uncommon manner;* especially when his fame precedes him, and produces "érect ears" and an expectant prepossession

in his favor.

When such a preacher retires from a place, his admiring auditors not unfrequently begin to turn and look upon their own humble pastor as a tame and ordinary man. The great meteor goes down, and in the darkness which succeeds, the poor candle, instead of shining brighter

* It was in this way that even Whitfield perfected his discourses and gave them their ultimate effect, eloquent as he naturally was. See his life by Southey.

in its socket, looks duller than before. It dwindles to

a taper. "Where are the talents and the zeal of our own and surrounding ministers, compared with such a preacher as he that has been among us!"

Now there is an illusion here which ought to be dissipated. Take this wonderful Apollos and make him stationary; compel him to sustain all the cares and various monotonous labors of the settled pastor, and in the same pulpit from year to year to bring forth out of his treasure things new and old, like "every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom;" bind him with the seven green withs of parish duty, and cut off the seven locks of his itinerating fame, and then shall he be weak, and be as another man. He could not always preach the same exciting story-fraught discourses. Nor indeed would this be desirable. It would not be profitable if it were practicable: As for laboriousness and zeal, it does not require, nor does it show, as much of either, to go, as the revivalist does, from one exciting scene and temporary field to another, repeating the same prepared discourses, without oppressive care or sense of responsibility, and with liberty to preach or forbear preaching, as strength or convenience may dictate, as it does to be ever sustaining the ceaseless, noiseless round of parish labors.

I do not say these things in the least to disparage itinerant preachers, certainly not all of them; there are some that cannot be commended. I believe that the Lord has honored them in the conversion of many souls; and have reason to know how welcome their labors

generally be satisfied. But if it be assumed by others, dissatisfaction on the part of some, if not division, will be the consequence.

Nor can the blessing of God be expected on the labors of a preacher so obtruded into the place of another; nor is the preacher himself, who will do this, worthy of common respect.

What is here said of the pulpit is applicable also to the lecture-room, and to any place which the pastor statedly occupies, and where his people are expected to be the auditors.

Of the same kind is the right of the pastor to be advised with in regard to any private meeting, which it may be proposed to set up by the members of the church. It is but due respect to him that he should know of such meetings, and how and by whom they are to be conducted. I speak of meetings where the attendance is promiscuous, and teaching or exhortation a leading exercise. In the case of meetings for retired social prayer it is not so important, though in that case it may be well, and encouraging to the pastor, to let him know of them.

On the other hand, in relation to the same subject, there are certain things which the people have a right to expect from him. If they have committed the trusts of the pastoral office to him, he may not, as it appears to me, resign those trusts to another. To make my meaning obvious, I will suppose that in a time of special

attention to religion he is assisted by a stranger; and that this stranger, bringing his own novelties with him, assumes that he knows better than the pastor what ought to be done, and acts accordingly. He takes it upon him to direct what meetings shall be held, what measures adopted, who and how many shall be admitted to the church, how soon they shall be admitted, and the like. Now can the pastor, consistently with his duty, can he consistently with the trusts reposed in him by the people that called him, and the council that ordained him, stand aside from his office, and give up the reins to this stranger? If the field has been committed to his keeping, may he consign it to another? May he let Samson's foxes into it, to work what mischiefs they may? I trow not. And I do not wonder at the complaints which have been made on this subject in some places. "Our minister, (said a gentleman from a populous town in the West,) is a good man, and a good preacher; we all respect him; but he has given up his society so entirely to certain extravagant preachers lately, that numbers are getting disgusted, and are gone and going to other societies." A minister certainly should have the privilege of calling in assistance when it is necessary; but he ought ever to maintain his place as a pastor, and never resign up his judgment and hand over his parish to others.

CHAPTER VII.

DEACONS.

THE Office of Deacons was first instituted, as is generally thought, Acts vi. 1-6.

The qualifications of the men who are to fill the office are, as mentioned at the time of its institution, that they be "men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom;" that is, of unblemished reputation, distinguished piety, and judgment; and more particularly, 1 Tim. iii. 8—10; "Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of deacon, being found blameless." Which may be paraphrased thus; grave, sincere, temperate, not avaricious, of thorough knowledge of the truth and sincerely attached to it, and of tried and established worth. It is also added that they should be men who "rule their children and their own houses well." These are the qualities which churches are bound to seek in a candidate for the office, and this is the character which every deacon should endeavor to sustain.

Their duties are these:

1. To receive and distribute the alms of the church. This was the service to which they were specially ap