and with God in prayer, prepara Exod. xl. 12, 13. Luke vi. 12, 13. tory to the Service of the ensuing day. In that Service the duties, the difficulties, and the awfulness of the ministerial office are exhibited in the words of Holy Scripture and I would take this opportunity of recommending in the strongest manner to each of you a stated recurrence to this service, at least on every anniversary of your ordination, as to a documentary evidence of promises made by you before God and your brethren, a test of past faithfulness, and a guide for your future conduct. Comprehensive, however, and affecting as this Service is, it neither enters into all the particulars of a Clergyman's duty, nor touches on several matters which are highly important in their effects, though too familiar to be made the subject even of a public address: it states, generally, what a Christian minister ought to be in spirit and in practice, but leaves the regulation of his conduct under peculiar circumstances of time and place to his own prudence, aided by the suggestions of his ecclesiastical Superiors. At all times, and in all places, it is required of the spiritual steward, that he "be found faithful," yet must he, in the discreet and conciliatory spirit of the Apostle, strive with the help of God's grace, and without any compromise of principle to "be all 1 Cor. iv. 1-5. ix. 19-23. x. 33. Ezek. iii. 17-21. things to all men, that he may by all means save some*." He that "As men are to be dealt with after that manner, as may best serve to reclaim them, I shall use all the proper ways I can think of to bring about that end. In my reproofs I will humble myself to the lofty and great; be sharp to the presumptuous; meek, gentle and full of entreaty (as there is occasion) to all: and I hope, that when men see I am purely disinterested from any worldly consideration whatever, and rebuke them principally to win them to piety and eternal glory, they will not take it ill, but close in with my entreaties, and be reformed."-Parochial Pasturage, by a Presbyter of the Church of England, in a letter to his friend, 1722. Let not the reverence of any man cause you to sin against God : but in the matter of souls, being well advised, be bold and confident; but abate nothing of the honour of God, or the just measures of your duty to satisfy the importunity of any man whatever,-and God will bear you out. Bp. Taylor's "Advice to his Clergy." would succeed in his ministry, must labour to win the affections of his flock, before he admonishes them; must watch his opportunity that he may be heard the more gladly: must yield in trifles that he may carry greater matters: must neither needlessly offend the prejudices of his people, nor unjustifiably encourage them in their errors: must point out their faults with tenderness; instruct their ignorance with patience; tend on them in their afflictions with affectionate solicitude; and ever in his visits among them shew that interest in their temporal, which may enable him to exert a salutary influence over them in their spiritual, concerns. The Diocese in which your mi nistry will be exercised, is divided into so many and distant portions, that in no one Colony can any very numerous body of Clergy be collected and even under the most favourable circumstances, the nature of the climate, the badness of the roads, and the want of proper conveyance will prevent that frequent and unrestrained personal communication with members of your own profession, which must ever add so materially to a Clergyman's own comfort, and by the mutual interchange of pastoral experience, advance the cause of religion among his people. Much must consequently be left to your own discretion, and you will have need to pray fervently for God's |