Christian ministers, combined with humble, constant, persevering waiting upon the Lord for the anointing, that teacheth us of all things and is truth. (1 John ii.27.) When anxious inquirers say, Watchman, what of the night ? Watchman, what of the night? Pity that our light should be so dim, that we know not whether to report the gathering blackness of the midnight hour, or the approach of morning's dawn. (Isa. xxi. 11, 12.) This could not be the case were there a full acquaintance with the word of God, and the Scriptures were studied as an harmonious and continuous whole. To every individual minister of our national church, it was said by the Ordinary, upon his admission into the sacred office, Are you persuaded, that the Holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all doctrine required of necessity for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ? And are you determined out of the same Scriptures to instruct the people committed to your charge, and to teach nothing, as required of necessity to eternal salvation, but that which you shall be persuaded may be concluded and proved thereby ?' And the candidate for the priesthood solemnly responds, ‘I am so persuaded, and have so determined by God's grace.' Surely, then, the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and the people should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. (Mal. ii. 7.) This mutual interchange of spiritual communication between ministers and congregations would go far towards verifying the beautiful figure of the golden candlestick; congregations and their angel-ministers would be full of light, and the Lord of both the teachers and the taught would be honoured by the subserviency of each to other, and of all to himself. Let, then, the priests, which come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves (Ex. xix. 22); and carefully feed the flock of God which is among them, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre's sake, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. (1 Pet. v. 2, 3.) We like you to know the responsibilities of your ministers; first, that your sympathy may be awakened on their behalf; and next, that your prayers may aid them in their most arduous and affecting labours. May each one of us called to the ministerial office personally feel, Thy vows are upon me, O God! (Psa. lvi. 12); and by a conduct agreeable to our solemn vows may all the varied sections of the one universal fold become as a city set on a hill, whose illumination cannot be hid! (Matt. v. 14.) Rev. W. Mudge. THE PASTOR'S ASSISTANT. MAY 1, 1844. PART FIRST. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE PASTOR IN HIS STUDY. TO THE READER. It may perhaps appear to several of our Clerical brethren, who have been kind enough to write to us on various subjects, that we have been inattentive to their brotherly observations. We take this mode of assuring all such, that we are truly grateful for their remarks, and heartily desirous of paying due attention to them; but it has pleased God to interrupt the ordinary course of our proceeding by sickness, which has for many weeks rendered it quite impossible to attempt any addition to the subjects pre viously arranged for the Pastor's Assistant. More than one correspondent has requested that some articles might be inserted respecting the management of Schools, and especially of Sunday Schools;-several persons have enquired whether we purposed to offer any suggestions concerning the mode of conducting Family Prayer; some have inquired concerning the instructions necessary for District Visitors;—and two of our friends have suggested that some specimens of sermons in full might advantageously be given in the second part. Upon these, and upon many other collateral subjects, it has long been our purpose to insert articles; but the hindrance, to which reference has been made above, will prevent any matured arrangement of suggestions at present. We, however, offer in this number a copy of the regulations for District Visitors, long since prepared; and also a sermon in full. The length of both these makes it necessary to divide them into VOL. III.NO. XXIX. K two portions; the latter of which will be given in the next number. Upon one other subject it seems proper to offer a remark: the articles on Pastoral Visiting have hitherto been withheld in deference to the remonstrance of some valued brethren, the expression of whose opinion makes further consideration necessary, although we do not at present partake in their scruples. As those who have stated that they differ from the view of the subject presented in the article on Pastoral Visitings, have at the same time expressed their approbation of the chapters on My Church-Yard, it is intended that the detail of another case should be given under that head; while we are waiting to decide on the course to be pursued with respect to the other mode of treating the same subject. The nineteenth chapter of My Church-Yard is therefore prepared for the next number, PLEADING IN PRAYER. THE last verse of the eighteenth chapter contains much comfort for the timid pleader in prayer. The Lord waited to hear Abraham out. He listened to all he had to say. This passage stands in powerful contrast in one respect with that which describes the interview of Jesus with the woman of Canaan. (Matt. xv. 21-28.) Every approach of the suppliant was met in that case by an apparent discouragement, and in this case by a distinct approval. But in both cases the Lord waited to the very end. And so every pleader who wrestles with God, and seems to say, like Jacob, I will not let thee go," may be sure that the Lord will have patience with his pleading: only let him come with the faith of the woman of Canaan, and with the charity of Abraham. 66 And when Abraham had urged his plea to the utmost, he left the matter, calmly and confidently, in the hand of the Lord, and returned to his place; while the Lord went his way, when he had left communing with Abraham-his way-yes-the Lord's way. That shall be the way taken in every case: and the best preparation of heart for the result is that which enables us to say"It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good." The prayer of Abraham's heart was granted, though he knew not when, or how and he must have been a long time under the heavy fear that Lot was lost. In chapter xix., verse 27, we are told that " Abraham rose up early in the morning," and went to the place which had been consecrated by his pleading with the Lord in prayer. From thence he could see the devoted cities of the plain. The beauty and fertility that had tempted Lot to separate from Abraham and dwell there, was marred— disfigured-engulphed in horror, and "the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace." He must have passed a painful night; and he left his bed of restlessness early. But he must have felt deep pain of heart when he saw that miniature of hell;-and where could Lot be, but in the midst ? The fire told the tale, that there had not been found ten righteous within the city;-but where was Lot? Many a child of God has felt all that Abraham went through now-restless nights of prayerful anxiety, while yet there lingers life in the loved one, not yet sealed outwardly with the Spirit's mark. But he dies :-the soul separates from the body. The prayerful mourner goes to the place where he has often communed with the Lord-he turns the pages of His holy word-through them he looks upon the fire that is not quenched-as, for instance, through Mark ix. 42-48, or John v. 27-29. Alas! the smoke of eternity goes up as the smoke of a furnace before his mind—and where is the loved one he has lost? He cannot tell any more than Abraham then could of Lot's escape. But Abraham's prayer had been answered, though that early morning's gaze must have been a great trial to the Patriarch's faith. Yes! Abraham's prayer was answered. The Lord was merciful to the man for whom his heart had pleaded. (Gen. xix. 16.) It was Abraham's prayer that was made the instrument of the escape of Lot, when the things of this world, which had ensnared him to dwell with sinners, were consumed, together with their possessors. We are especially told that when this awful destruction took place, it was God's remembrance of Abraham by which he sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow. (Gen. xix. 29.) Therefore the angels had orders on his behalf, and they could do nothing till Lot was safe. (ver. 22.) Who shall despair of a soul that has been prayed for, though it have lived in the midst of the world? and who shall give up pleading with the Almighty the heart-plea of love on behalf of a poor worldly one? But the Lord did more than save Lot from the overthrow. He gave additional time to those that were bound to him with the ties that will not be broken here. There were three who had grown into the very core of Lot's heart-his wife and his two daughters. Send him forth from the flames, and they must even go too. There was no time to dislocate such an adhesion; and so they were saved from the present destruction. They were infatuated, and in love with death because of its face of sin. So the end was death to them; but time to turn was granted them because of Lot, and Lot was saved because of Abraham, and Abraham prevailed because of prayer, because of that prevailing plea which is placed in the power of a christian now, as it was of Abraham then. It may be said that Abraham's plea prevailed even to the full. He had grounded it on the glory of God-for the sake of ten righteous all the cities would have been saved: -only one righteous was found-and for his sake one city was saved. May not Zoar have been to the cities of the plain as one to ten? So that, according to the proportion of strict justice, God granted all that Abraham asked. "See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken." Lot had spoken for Zoar; but God remembered Abraham in saving Lot. Here we may observe the echo of the prayer of Abraham bounding from the heart of Lot, and making itself heard again as the voice of the same Spirit, taking the form of agreement between two, to which a blessing is promised. (Matt. xviii. 19.) But Abraham was "the father of the faithful." Such faith as his could do all things: but how could our's, all weak and worthless as it too often is, hope to prevail as Abraham's did? The Lord has been pleased to anticipate this excuse, and to shew that, even under the influence of the weakest moment of his faith, he who is admitted a pleader in the courts of heaven, may, nay must, execute his office; and that prayer is the appointed instrumentality by which God ordinarily works his mercy, through his people, to the unconverted. In immediate connection with this pleading of Abraham in the fulness of his charity for the cities of the plain, we have recorded one of the most striking instances of his sinful unbelief, and want of confidence in God. The destruction which he had witnessed affected his nerves, and awakened his fears. He fled in alarm from the spot where he had seen such evidence of the wrath of God; and, taking up his abode amongst the godless natio ns in Gerar, his trembling faith, and shaken confidence, made him resort to self-confident devices, involving the sin and the folly of falsehood. (Gen. xx.) Yet in this disheartened condition, and in spite of this sinful stratagem, God not only pitied and protected him, but gave an open testimony to the power of this faithless sinner's intercessory prayer. The Lord laid a curse on Abimelech; and explained to the king that it was for the protection of His servant Abraham. He instructed him how to act; but obedience alone to these |