MINISTERS AND THE YOUNG.

No. 1.

WHEN Peter had declared his love to Christ, Christ instantly replied to Peter, "Feed my Lambs." In these words the Redeemer appears to require that all who profess to love him, should pay special regard to the interests of the rising generation, and that his Ministers should take the lead, and set the example in this good work. Our desire is to enforce this duty upon Christ's followers, and especially upon Christ's

ministers.

We cannot but acknowledge, if we think upon the subject properly, that the young stand in great need of our attentions. They have not only the seeds of evil in themselves, but they are surrounded with innumerable temptations and snares. The whole of their path is strewed with dangers to their immortal souls. They are exposed to the crafty temptations of the devil, and to the powerful and multiplied influences of a corrupt world. The prevalence of bad principles and bad customs; the influence of erroneous systems and corrupt institutions; the perpetual sound of irreligious conversation, and the perpetual sight of evil example, all tend to increase the jeopardy of youthful minds. Their ears, their eyes, and their feelings are all inlets to temptation; and almost everything they meet with is in danger of proving to them a snare. Whether they are at home, or abroad; at school, or with their friends, they are still in the midst of perils. The press pours forth its volumes of bad books; and infidel associations send forth their hired and practised advocates, to plead the cause of error and licentiousness. Perhaps never did unbelief stand forth more daringly, or assail the immortal spirits of our youth with such variety and force of temptation. I see no probability for their safety, unless the church and the ministry shall make more efforts on their behalf. If ever the Redeemer called on us, with more than usual carnestness, "Feed my Lambs," it is now. It is our wish to urge this call, both on the church at large, and on the ministers of Christ in particular. And first, on ministers. Let us consider, in the first place,

what it is that we have it in our power to do for the young and let us then consider, in the second place, the great obligations we are laid under, to do all we can.

1. More might be done for the benefit of those young persons who regularly attend the preaching of the Gospel in our places of worship, than is done. Many of the young sit under the word for years, without appearing to be powerfully and savingly affected thereby. I have often thought that our ministrations are not sufficiently adapted to our young hearers, and that to this deficiency the absence of a work of grace upon their hearts may in many cases be attributed. We ought to preach more frequently to the young, and dwell more upon such subjects, and enlarge upon such views of sacred truth, as are peculiarly suited to their case, and as have a special adaptation to awaken and affect their hearts. We might speak more frequently of the guilt and madness of procrastination; the importance of early piety, and of the advantages which the young possess for seeking religion, and for making proficiency therein. We might speak of the influence of early piety on the circumstances of men, and show them how it contributes to success in business, to health of body and vigour of mind, to domestic comfort and social enjoyment, to intellectual wealth and greatness, and how it furnishes us with opportunities of serving our connexions, of promoting the welfare of our neighbours, and of benefitting our country and the world. might show them the ingratitude of procrastination towards God, the mischiefs it entails upon men, the disasters which it brings upon families, and the difficulties and troubles in which it so frequently involves men through all the periods of their life. We might expose the foolish delusions by which men try to quiet their minds in their procrastinations, and try to sweep away "their refuges of lies." On these and on kindred subjects we ought to dwell frequently, with a direct reference to the case of the young, and with a special and anxious desire to witness their conversion; and I doubt not but that the advantages resulting from such a course would be quickly seen.

We

2. We might, when speaking on religious subjects generally, adapt our remarks to their capacities, and apply them specially to their case. We might show them how each argument in favour of religion generally, bears with peculiar force on them. There is no subject but what is capable of such special application to the young, and which may not be advantageously employed as an inducement to an early repentance and a holy life. Are we speaking of the miseries of a sinful life? How natural to call upon the young to look before them, and behold through what sorrows they must pass, and with what torments they must become familar, if they make not haste to give themselves to God. Are we unfolding the advantages of godliness? How easy to ask the young to survey the varied and boundless pleasures and enjoyments which are at their service, to sweeten the whole of their existence, if they are but willing to make haste to return to God. Do we speak on the happiness of heaven? How natural to remind the young, that the happiness of saints in glory will be in proportion to the length of time they spend in God's service on earth, and to the zeal, and patience, and devotion with which they toil and suffer in his cause. Do you speak of the calls of God? How easy to inform the young, that these calls, if they disregard them, will daily become more faint,—that their hearts will gradually lose their tenderness of feeling, and grow hard, and that every time they resist the Spirit of God, they run the risk of being given up to the hardness of their hearts, to work iniquity with greediness. And when we speak of the difficulties of religion, of the dangers of temptation, of the various duties and privileges of the Gospel, we might still find it easy to apply the principles of our discourses to the young, and to engage their attention especially to our remarks. This could scarce fail to have a happy effect on the minds of many, and to bring them to an early decision in favour of God and holiness.

3. We ought, if we would do justice either to the young or the aged, to shun all matters of mere speculation or needless controversy, and give our whole attention to such matters

as have a direct tendency to affect and to renew the heart. We ought never to trifle ;

"But preach as though we ne'er should preach again,

"And as a dying man, to dying men."

4. We might do something more than we do towards the salvation of many young persons in our congregations, if we were to court their acquaintance more, and seek opportunities of speaking with them privately. We are prone to pass the young by. We speak to their parents and their employers, but we have seldom a word for them. They look at us, but we look not again; they listen to what we say, but we address none of our remarks to them. We do not understand or appreciate their importance as we should do. We underrate their understandings, and we miscalculate the interest they feel in the subject of religion. Perhaps a feeling of pride would persuade us that we should stoop too low to speak with them; or perhaps because they have lived fewer years than their parents and masters, we think them of less moment and consideration. Many rich opportunities of doing them good are thus lost. They expect to be noticed, and they frequently wish to be addressed; and if we would but speak to them kindly of their souls and of their Saviour, they would often receive from us lasting good. They would feel honoured by our notice, and begin to think how they might secure a repetition of such respect and kindness. They would feel themselves bound to us by such tokens of love, and be stimulated to act in such a way as might be likely to secure the like tokens for the time to come. They would be encouraged to sacrifice their old and dangerous friendships, and seek the company of the grave and pious. The young are easily won, if properly sought after, especially if sought after by a minister of the Gospel. They soon begin to love us, when they find themselves beloved; and when they love, they love devotedly. And when, by the kind attentions of their pastor, their affections are once gained, they will not soon be lost. Let us then set our hearts upon the young, and never rest till we have had repeated interviews with them,

and seen reason to believe that good and deep impressions have been made upon their minds.

5. In many cases we might be instrumental in doing lasting good to the young in our congregations, by lending them, with our own hands, tracts, or little books; or by giving them occasionally a tract or book, accompanying the gift with suitable advice, and affectionate requests that they would attentively read it through. Tracts and books thus given, I have known preserved for years with the greatest care, and read over again and again, until they have been rendered instrumental in producing, in the hands of God, a change of heart and life.

6. We might do more as ministers than we have yet done, to bring into disrepute, and ultimately to abolish, many customs which are continual snares to the young, and which annually lead astray, and swallow up in ruin, thousands of young immortal beings. Every thing that tends to deprave the minds of youth, and to increase the difficulty of their conversion and salvation, should have the vigorous and ceaseless opposition of every minister of the Gospel. Something should be done to do away with Wakes, and the observance of all abused and mischievous festivities. More should be done to abolish theatres, assemblies, races, sports of the field, the custom of taking Sunday pleasure trips, and all the various forms of gaming. We might do something towards reforming the foolish feasting and drinking customs of marriages and births, of baptisms and funerals, and a multitude of other ensnaring customs of social intercourse. More might be done towards uprooting and destroying the drinking system of our country, and banishing from common use all intoxicating drinks? We might, in this way, not only fix a barrier to the ravages of drunkenness, but bring about its utter extirpation. Great things have been done in the way of general reformation in times past; and why should not great things be done now, and in times to come? Many cruel sports have ceased to disgrace our country, and many vile and evil customs have been changed: mighty and glorious institutions have been formed, and

made to operate with greater force from year to year, upon the minds and characters of our countrymen, and of the inhabitants of distant lands and may we not hope by our united efforts, assisted and succeeded by the Almighty, to multiply these happy changes, and to increase and extend the influence of every useful institution, till the empire of the wicked one is quite thrown down? The work is great and difficult, but God is strong, and in the strength of God it may be done. 7. We might do much to prevent the ruin of many young persons, by explaining to parents and masters the duties which they owe to them, and urging them both publicly and privately, to a right and diligent discharge of them. It is distressing to think how many parents, who profess to be Christians, either neglect or understand not their duties to the souls of their children. They appear not to consider that their rising offspring have immortal souls, and that without religion they must be lost. Or, if they think of the souls of their children, and do something for their salvation, they go about the work as carelessly and slothfully as if they regarded it as a work of secondary importance. If they can secure for their children the blessing of religion, without subjecting themselves to any special care or trouble, and without incurring any worldly inconvenience, they will do it; but if ease and duty clash,-if the claims of the world and of religion came in competition, the world and self must triumph. Look at professing parents, and tell us; is it always a regard to God that determines their choice of a calling for their children? Is it a regard to their children's souls that decides to what school they shall be sent, to what families they shall pay their visits, and what youths shall be their acquaintances and friends? Are they thoughts of God and eternity, that rule professing parents in the ordering of their children's dress, their diet, their labours, their recreations, or the different branches of their education? Are not the thoughts of God, of the soul, and of eternity set aside, or kept under; while the thoughts of honourable acquaintance, decent appearances, profitable alliances, and lucrative

employments are the uppermost and ruling thoughts?

Hence hundreds of children of professing Christians, grow up and form their characters at random. There is, in their parent's dwelling, no regular system of instruction. The Gospel cannot be taught, because the love of the world prevents it from being understood. The example of parents is faulty; religion is exhibited imperfectly and inconsistently; and though it is treated as some thing, it is not treated as every thing to man.

In consequence of this improper treatment, thousands of young persons go to fill the ranks of Satan, which ought to have filled the ranks of Christ. How shall this be remedied? We have already addressed ourselves to professing parents on their duties, but comparatively few of them will read what we have written. After all the books that may be written, there will still be many parents that must be taught their duty in some other way; they must be taught the will of God by the living voice of ministers of the Gospel. They will hear, when they will not read; and we should allow them to hear from us, from time to time, whatever concerns their duty. We should, in our addresses to them, or in our conversations with them, go through the whole business of reliligious education. We should explain, and illustrate, and enforce their duty in all its branches; and we should, with Christian gentleness and tenderness, point out and correct every error. We should learn what are the faults of our flock, and by what prejudices and misconceptions they are prevented from correcting their faults; and we should labour, both publicly and from house to house, with our flocks, to remove those prejudices, and rectify these misconceptions.

When we have done what we can by our personal instructions, and even while we are doing it, we may recommend them to read such treatises on the subject of religious education, as are likely to impress their minds with a sense of their responsibility, and to instruct them in their duty. In some cases we *See a publication, entitled "The Care of the Young," &c., by J. Barker.

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may lend, in some cases we may give, and in many cases it would not be necessary to do no more than simply. recommend the books we wish them to peruse. We might encourage the members of our churches to assist each other by the loan of useful books, and in some cases we might request the more wealthy to purchase useful books for distribution among the poorer members. have them properly instructed in every branch of their duty to their children, and especially to their children's souls; and to bring them fully to understand and feel the importance of making the careful and skilful discharge of these duties the great concern and business of their life, a minister should spare no pains, he should shrink from no expense. And by directing his attention to the parents, especially to those who have but lately begun to sustain that interesting and affecting relationship, he may do much both towards improving the present generation, and towards preventing its prevailing errors and deficiencies from descending to the generations that are to come.

REASONS FOR CEASING TO BE A MEMBER OF TWO BENEFIT SOCIETIES.

The following article is from a young man, who considered the subject attentively, and long before he concluded to take the course he has taken; a young man, whose general character and standing in the church, entitle him to be regarded with respect.-ED.]

1. Because by contributing to the funds of these societies, I was acting in contradiction to the Saviour's injunction "Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth." Matt. vi. 19. Luke xii. 19, &c.

2. Because contributing to the funds of these societies, took from me the greatest portion of my means of "doing good unto all men."

3. Because many of the customs and usages of these societies appeared to me to be both needless and opposed to the sobriety of deportment enjoined in the New Testament.

4. Because mixing in the company of ungodly men, which my connection with these societies rendered in

evitable, was, according to my judgment, contrary to many express commands of God, both in the Old and New Testament, requiring those who profess to be his servants to be "separate, and to come out from among the ungodly," &c.

5. Because I had known several instances in which connection with these societies had been the cause of decreasing the spirituality, and lessening the usefulness of professors of religion and because,

6. My own experience convinced me that my prosperity of soul was in jeopardy while in them.

GOOD RESOLUTIONS.

[The following resolutions, for the regulation of his conduct, were formed by William Law, the author of " a Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life ;" and as some of them are of the utmost importance, and calculated to promote the benefit of all who practically adopt them, we insert them here.-ED.]

To pass my time as little as possible among such as cannot benefit me, or I them.

To think nothing great or desirable because the world thinks it so; but to form all my judgments of things from the infallible Word of God, and direct my views accordingly.

To avoid all concerns with the world, or the ways of it, but where religion or charity obliges me to it.

To remember frequently, and impress it deeply on my mind, that no condition of this life is for enjoyment, but for trial; and that every power, ability, and advantage we have, are so many talents to be accounted for to the Great Judge of the world.

That the greatness of human nature consists in nothing else but in imitating the Divine nature; that all the greatness in this world which is not in good actions and holy dispositions, is nothing to the purpose.

To read and think often of the life of Christ, and propose it as a pattern to myself.

To remember often and seriously how much of my time has been already spent, from which I can expect nothing better than a charge of

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guilt, and how little there may be to come, on which my eternal happiness depends.

To call to mind the presence of God whenever I find myself under any temptations to sin, and to have immediate recourse to prayer.

To think humbly of myself, and with great charity of others, allowing much for the ignorance and sad disadvantages they labour under.

To forbear condemning or speaking evil of any one.

To receive all pains of body or mind as tokens of God's love, and be thankful for them: to remember that whom God loveth, he chasteneth.

To pray privately three times a day, besides morning and evening prayers.

Not to build my hope of salvation on my own works or self-righteousness, but on the merits of Christ, and the shedding of his precious blood.

A GOOD MAN IN LONDON.-"I once went to a friend, says Mr Cecil, for the express purpose of calling him out into the world, I said to him, "It is your duty to accept the loan of ten thousand pounds, and to push yourself forward into an ampler sphere." But he was a rare character; and his case was rare. His employers had said, "We are ashamed you should remain so long a servant in our house, with the whole weight of affairs upon you. We wish you to enter as a principal with us, and will advance you ten thousand pounds. It is the custom of the city; it is your due; we are dissatisfied to see you in your present sphere." I assured him that it appeared to me. to be his duty to accede to the proposal. But I did not prevail. He said, "Sir, I have often heard from you that it is no easy thing to get to heaven. I have often heard from you that it is no easy thing to master the world. I have every thing I wish. More would encumber, increase my difficulties, and endanger me.'

OPEN AIR PREACHING.-We ought never to relinquish the practice of preaching in the open air; we ought rather to use it more frequently. When Christ ministered the word of