If all this is to be done-if he is to answer all these demands upon him, as he should-how little time must be left for general parochial visiting! In a large city congregation, for example, we believe that it will be the experience of most clergymen, that all they can accomplish is, to go through the congregation, in their regular rounds, once or twice a year. And this, barely serves to keep up a slight acquaintance with the different members of their charge. The rest of their timeall the odd intervals which can be gleaned up-must be appropriated to the sick and the dying, and those whose case admits not of delay. They have no time (or ought to have none,) for visits of mere courtesy-for dining out, day after day—or for spending one evening after another, with any who choose to invite them. Yet, how seldom will the laity realize that there is this want of time! We remember an incident which Cecil relates. "Having," he 66 says, some business to transact with a gentleman in the city, I called cne day at his countinghouse he begged I would call again, as I had so much more time to spare than he had, who was a man of business. An hour is nothing to you, said he.'-'An hour nothing to a clergyman!' said I: 'you seem little to understand the nature of our profession. One hour of a clergyman's time, rightly employed, sir, is worth more to him than all the gains of your merchandise."" This anecdote, we verily believe, displays the opinion which most people have, of the time of the clergy. They regard them as gentlemen of infinite leisure; who, during their preparatory course of study, lay in a stock of materials for sermonizing, and, when this is done, have nothing but a life of ease before them. Thus, sometimes when a minister, driven to his wit's end by a press of business, to contrive how he shall prepare for the coming Sunday, happens in the midst of his perplexity to meet a parishoner, perhaps the first salutation with which he is greeted is-" Why don't you come and see me oftener?"

6

But in speaking of the multiplication of public services, we cannot leave the subject without hazarding a few remarks as to what we think is their necessary influence. One effect is, the frequent ruin of the clergymen's health. We have heard the question often sneeringly asked-"How does it happen, that the clergy have of late years become so delicate? We never heard of the Bronchitis in old times, nor were ministers then ever obliged to go to Europe for their health. They preached fifty and even sixty years, and came to a green old age." We

Cecil's Remains. (Works, v. 2, p. 664.)

confess, we sometimes feel indignant when we hear these remarks made. Here is a class of men, laboring far beyond their strength, for their fellow beings, and when their health fails, and they seem to be sinking into an untimely grave, behold, their earthly reward! They are stigmatized as being "delicate," and unfavorably compared with those who have gone before them. It is indeed well for the minister of the gospel, that the favor which he seeks is not that of this world. It is this thought which cheers him, even amidst the privations of stipendiary poverty, and the indifference and neglect of those, in laboring for whose immortal interests, he has spent his strength.

But is a solution of these unfeeling questions wanted? Look at the burden which is now often placed upon the clergyman, and the requirements which are made of him, and then tell us, is there any cause for wonder that so many are obliged to throw away their books, and seek for health in other lands? Count the number of public services which some are called to go through, often in large and difficult churches, and then say, what but a constitution of iron, and a throat of brass, can enable them to discharge their duties? It is this, which makes such fearful havoc in their ranks. "It is as if Satan had come into the world in the form of an angel of light, seeming to be urging on a good work, but pushing it so hard as to destroy the laborers by over-action."*

But there is another injurious effect produced by these multiplied services, and one which is little suspected. We refer to their unfavorable influence on personal piety. We believe, that as a general thing, the religion of the present day, while more widely extended, is not as deeply seated as formerly. "But," says some one in astonishment" do you ascribe it to the many means of religious instruction which we enjoy? Should we not hear the gospel preached as often as we can?" We acknowledge indeed that it is a cause for thankfulness, that religious truth is so extensively diffused, but would simply ask, Whether there is not beginning to prevail at the present day, an excessive love of church-going to the neglect of private duties? Is not excitement often sought in public services, when it would be much better for the individual's spiritual condition, were he in the solitude of his closet, communing with his own heart and with his God. We think indeed that there is something of this spirit visible in the religious community, and were we called to point out a striking trait of the present day, we should say, that we are a people "having itching ears." Popular preaching is

Colton, on the Religious State of the country, p. 40.

sought, in the place of sound, wholesome instruction; and instead of "walking in the old paths," many wander about from church to church, inquiring for " any new thing." This produces a feverish restlessness of mind, and our good old Scriptural prayers are disregarded in the anxiety, (as it is expressed,)" to hear preaching." To descend to a particular exemplification of what we mean by the injurious effect on personal piety, produced by multiplied services; here is an individual, who regularly attends church three times on the Sabbath. Now, to him we would say "You can certainly never inwardly digest' three sermons in one day. Two are quite as many as are for your good. Go to church, therefore, morning and afternoon, and in the evening stay at home, reflect on what you have heard, instruct your family, and read your Bible, and you will find it much more for your spiritual edification."

If we need any proof of the fact, that religion has of late years grown superficial in the mass of those who lay claim to it, let us only compare them with the Christians of a century ago. What examples were they of heart-searching piety-of close intercourse with God-of deep knowledge of their own natures and of the Scriptures of truth! And what a noble legacy have their writings been to this age! What rich masses of golden thought do they contain, unequalled by any thing in our day! Place beside these devoted men, the Christians of present times, and how can we bear the comparison? How feeble seem our affections, and our views of eternal things! We say then, it would be better in some cases, if, as in old times, there were fewer public services, and more time devoted to the closet.

We would ask the laity then, when they sometimes feel as if they saw too little of the clergyman in private, not to judge him harshly-not to condemn him as unfaithful, until they have set down, and calculated how much he has to do, and determined whether or not he has time to visit them oftener than he does. Let them think too of the question, whether in some cases, they would not be more benefited in every spiritual respect, if their minister had fewer public services to perform, and consequently more time for private and friendly intercourse. We throw out these suggestions, because there are instances, where the laymen. of a parish have it in their power to remedy the evil, of a clergyman almost sinking under a burden, which he has taken upon himself in conformity with their wishes.

But there is another tax upon the time of the clergy, particularly in the cities, which we must also notice; and this arises from the numerous societies which have of late years been

formed. Look at the long array, Missionary, Education, Bible, Prayer-Book, Tract, &c. besides the various benevolent societies for the relief of merely temporal wants. All these have their separate periodical, and committee meetings, quarterly, monthly, and sometimes weekly. Who conduct these numerous associations? Take up their printed reports, and look at the lists of Presidents, Vice Presidents and Managers, and you will find, that although the laity are active in discharg ing their duty, yet the clergy are placed forward most prominently. On them, the highest offices are generally conferred. They have the honor, with its corresponding anxieties and responsibilities. The consequence is, they must attend the meetings, let the sacrifice of time be what it may, or the other duties to their respective churches, ever so pressing. If they do not, they are accused of want of zeal, and of displaying no interest in the great benevolent movements of the day. Now ask any parish minister, how often these engagements break in upon his time-how often they interrupt him in his studies, and call him to leave his library, and his half-written sermon ? Pass on to another, and make the same inquiries, and before you have gone far, you will come to the conclusion, that these things are no slight interruption of his parish duties. But the ministers of former days knew nothing of them.

There is another mode in which the laity are chargeable with placing difficulties in the way of pastoral visiting; and this is from a manifest unwillingness to listen to religious conversation. Some are always, indeed, willing to join in conversation on such topics, but how many are not. How often is every effort to introduce it received with coldness, and the subject dismissed as quickly as possible, with ill-concealed disgust. Let the pastor, for example, enter an animated and cheerful circle, and unite with it in the discussion of all worldly things, and he is welcome. But let him sometimes throw out an observation calculated to lead the thoughts into a more serious channel, and what an immediate change is visible! The smile disappears from every face, animation departs, and those around him become only uneasy listeners. How trying to his feelings, who made the attempt, when he perceives that his conscientious efforts have only cast a restraint over those whom he wished to benefit. How naturally does the reflection pass through his mind-" if I can only talk to them of worldly things, I might better be at home in my study." Thus a series of repulses, owing entirely to the worldly spirit of those with whom he meets, may freeze up an honest, conscientious clergyman's zeal for

pastoral duties, and cause him, almost insensibly, to imbibe the opinion, that he can be most useful by confining his efforts to the pulpit, and endeavoring in this way to operate upon those, who seem so little disposed to listen to him in private. Thus, while the members of a parish may be complaining of their clergyman's remissness in pastoral duties, it may perhaps be their own indisposition (by no means equivocally manifested) to profit by his visits, which has driven him to this course.

We are not asserting, that he would be right in so yielding; far from it; we think he should persevere through evil as well as good report; sowing the precious seed, in the hope that some may take root. We wish only to show that this course would be natural, and clergymen are but men. Discouragements and difficulties operate upon them, as upon others, particularly when they are left to contend alone, without sympathy or assistance. "Well is it, if has not ensued Another and a worser mood,

When all unfaithful thoughts have way,
When we hang down our hands, and say,

Alas! it is a weary pain.

To seek with toil and fruitless strife,
To chafe the numbed limbs into life,
That will not live again."

We have thus detailed some of the difficulties, which at the present day stand in the way of pastoral visiting; for we think it right that both sides of the question should be set before our readers. It is well too for the laity to see, that they also have something to do in this matter-that they may contribute to hinder the labors of their clergyman, and to discourage him in his efforts.

We assert it again then in conclusion; that every minister of the gospel should devote as much time to this duty as he can. He alone can determine the amount which he is able to perform; and he should do it, estimating the circumstances under which he is placed, and the solemn responsibilities resting on him. This subject concerns, not only his own soul, but the eternal interests of all around him. He is to stand "as a light in the world," by his radient piety furnishing an unanswerable argument for the holiness of religion. He is to be, by his example, a blessing or a bane to all who are brought within the sphere of his influence. How solemn then becomes the inquiry, which shall it be? What account will he render in, at the great day of the Lord? Shall any then rise up in judgment against him, because his levity, or indifference to spiritual things, strengthened them in their carelessness? Oh, to each one who