versing with the sick person. Where a prayer has been found particularly to affect him, or contains a petition for some grace, of which, though as yet unconvinced himself, he stands in great need, it will be desirable to leave a written copy for his own perusal, or to be read to him by his friends or attendants. Appropriate portions of Scripture should also be pointed out; and often a book or tract left in his hands, which may serve to keep up during your absence, and perfect, under God's blessing, his conviction of those truths, which you have been endeavouring to impress upon him. Wait not to be sent for to the sick-room, but be often the first to offer your ser

vices; and delay not an instant when you are summoned. Let your first visit be short, rather to familiarize the sick person with your voice and manner, and break through the restraint of a first interview. Never make your visits too long, lest you weary and exhaust the patient; speak low, and in your natural tone of voice: be always serious and earnest, but never tremulous, and agitated yourself, lest you agitate him. Approach his bed without fear; yet if the complaint be of an infectious nature, be careful not to inhale the breath of the sick person, nor omit those simple, but well-known precautions, which the fullest trust in God's gracious Providence, not only

justifies, but demands from us. Forget not, whilst addressing the sick person, that there are others in the room, who are but too much disposed to apply to themselves, and often on insufficient grounds, every encouragement which you are holding out to the dejected and alarmed sinner, and thus pervert the tender mercies of God into an argument for their own continuance in ill doing. Quench not in the dying penitent the embers of hope; kindle not in the living the fire of presumption *.

*"I have experienced that nothing endears a minister more to his people than his care and willingness to visit and comfort the sick. Therefore I have resolved to be very diligent and laborious in this duty. I have ventured my life

I come lastly to the duty, on the part of every Pastor, of superintend

before now on this occasion, and I am ready to do it again, if called thereto. Travelling some miles in a dark rainy night over craggy hills, through by-ways, and among many deep and uncovered mines (which threatened destruction both to man and beast,) did not deter me from visiting a poor man dying a violent death by a sudden and lamentable accident, nor shall the greatest danger, I trust, deter me, where I have any hope of doing good to men's immortal souls."-Parochial Pasturage.

"There are persons in every parish besides the absolutely sick that call for the attention of the pastor; I mean those, who, though not under the influence of disease, yet from age or infirmity are unable to attend the public service of the Church. To these the Church should in some measure be carried. The parochial minister should as often as the extent and population of his parish will admit, visit them, read some of the prayers of the Liturgy to them, and discourse with them upon religious

ing the daily and Sunday-schools in his Parish, and of catechising, agreeably to the Rubric and Canons, and ancient customs of his Church, the ignorant of all ages and descriptions *.

"Schools," said the great German Reformer, "concilia sunt: par

subjects. He will always find they receive comfort from these visits, and generally advantage. Their minds will be kept in a proper frame for that change, to which they are approaching; and they will by this means be kept not only in righteousness, but most probably in the unity of the Church."-Parish Priest's Manual.

Preaching without catechising will not be sufficient. For if people be not well-instructed in the necessary principles of religion when they are young, they will hardly attain to any sound knowledge when they are old." Bishop Bull.