PREFACE.

The title of this work requires a word of explanation. James the First, than whom no English Sovereign fulfilled the part of an earthly Head of the Church more assiduously (we cannot always say wisely,) was desirous of having the religious state of the nation placed before him, and required the Clergy to furnish him with a statistical view of their respective parishes. It was to exhibit the number of attendants upon public worship, and of communicants at the Lord's table, and other particulars. The entire collection, was denominated "Speculum Regium," or a Royal Mirror. Few things, of an ecclesiastical nature, could have more laudably occupied the attention of that "Divine among Kings."

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It was this royal enquiry which suggested to that excellent prelate, the late Bishop of Chester, (now Archbishop of Canterbury,) the propriety of requiring every candidate for Holy Orders, to produce a Speculum Regium of the parish or district in which he had served the year of his Deaconship. This document was to exhibit the names of the householders, the number in each family, the proportion of attendants at the public services of the Church and the Lord's Supper, &c. These returns were not designed so much to inform the Bishop of the existing state of religion in any particular parish or district, as to ensure the candidate's personal acquaintance with his flock, and afford a pledge of his future pastoral diligence.

With much diffidence we submit that, mutatis mutandis, a "mirror" of this description might be advantageously prepared by probationers for the Wesleyan Ministry, and presented annually at the district meetings. It would supply a test of pastoral character, of kindred importance with that of intellectual advancement, furnished by the Lists of Books read during each year. An effective stimulus to pastoral enterprise might at the same time be received by others, beside probationers, by means of a faithful examination, from year to year, on this increasingly important question.

INTRODUCTION.

The object of this publication is to describe and It seeks "church

revive "Pastoral Visitation." extension" by the only available method, not so fully employed now as formerly. Never, probably, was the power of the pulpit to be rated higher than at the present moment; nor were the lives of the clergy of all denominations ever, we believe, more generally irreproachable. Still, true religion cannot be said to be popular. The "holy waters" require to "issue out from under the threshold of THE HOUSE," or sanctuary; and they are to be mea

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sured” again and again, until they shall be RISEN:

-waters to swim in, a river that cannot be passed

over! and it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, SHALL LIVE!" (See Ezekiel, xlvii. 1st to 9th verses.)

How precious are the very terms of one of the earliest promises—“IN THEE shall ALL FAMILIES of the earth be blessed!” (Gen. xii, 32) This thrice happy domiciliation of Christianity is to be hoped for, in great part, from the introduction of her ministers within the domestic pale. If it be true, indeed, that " every Englishman's house is his castle," then must ministers of the gospel enter that castle with "the banner of love," to be afterwards placed, by "willing" hands, upon its lofty turret, or its lowly roof.

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If, however, so chivalrous an enterprise be in contemplation, ministers must be good soldiers of Jesus Christ," indeed. And they shall be crowned at last, if they "strive lawfully," or according to the rules of the war ;—whether they altogether succeed in their object, or not. The attempt is to be urged less