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2. Let those of us who have been put into the ministry, strive to be, in deed and in truth, men of prayer. If the command, Pray without ceasing," be obligatory on all, it is emphatically so on a minister of the gospel. He needs, above all men, to be "full of faith and the Holy Ghost;" and how shall he become such, except by seeking the influences of the Spirit in agonizing and persevering prayer? The most eminent saints whose names are recorded in Scripture, and those ministers who have

must admit, that all revivals hitherto have ceased; and it has often been the case,

that churches, blessed with such seasons of refreshing, have afterwards sunk down into as lukewarm a state as those which have not enjoyed such seasons. These facts have led some to think and speak lightly of revivals, and to doubt whether there was much genuine religion in them. Churches, through remaining sin, are con

been distinguished for usefulness in every age of the church, have been praying men. A well known maxim of Luther was, "Bene orasse est bene studuisse." This maxim might with equal truth be extended. The minister who is faithful in his closet, will be faithful, not only in his study, but in the pulpit, in his parochial visits, and in all the various duties of his office. We would appeal to your own experience, brethren, whether you have not been most faithful in the discharge of every duty, when you have been most careful to cherish and cultivate a devotional frame of mind? Did ministers in general spend five hours in communion with God, where they spend one, the church of Christ would be far more benefited by their labours. It is in the closet, while earnestly pleading for spiritual illumination, that the minister of the gospel is taught the value of God's eternal smile, and the worth of the souls committed to his care. It is here that he is endued with that holy boldness and self-denial, so essential to his usefulness. that he sees his own weakness, and learns to trust in God alone for strength, and fear no evil, 0, brethren, did we suitably prize the throne of grace, we should be often there pleading for those inestimable blessings, which our heavenly Father is more ready to grant, than earthly parents are to give good gifts to their children, How much we need, at this im portant crisis, that "wisdom which is profitable to direct;" and can we fail to ask of him "who giveth liberally and upbraideth not?”— The revival that has prevailed among us, and which still prevails, has enraged the enemies of the cross; and the voice of God to his ministers and churches now is, "Watch and pray." Let us, brethren, beware that we do not dis

stantly prone to become conformed in heart and life to the world. But were a church to continue as faithful in prayer and Christian effort, as they ever are in a time of revival, it may be a question whether con

versions would continue in that place till

none were left. It may be, that some would continue to harden their hearts under such means of grace; and the duty of the church would be no longer to "give that which is holy to dogs, nor to cast their pearls before swine." But one thing is certain; ministers and churches are bound to exercise as much faith, and to be as fervent in prayer, and as diligent in the use of means to advance the kingdom of Christ in some way, at all times, as in a season of revival. The amount of holy feeling and effort ought never to diminish, and were a church to remain such, their christian graces would be constantly gaining strength; and in this sense they would enjoy a constant revival. Let no means be neglected which are calculated to make such churches, and then we shall be better able to judge whether we may expect a constant revival. Were our churches such, revivals would doubtless be more extensive than they now are, and of longer continuance. Old hardened sinners would soon be removed by death, and the rising generation would all be converted. Thus we should have in these favoured spots the commencement of the millenium; and were all the churches of Christendom roused to such exertions, there would be

It is here

one continued revival, till all nations were regard the solemn admonition.

converted.

Our own good, as well as that of

our churches, is concerned. minister may show considerable zeal in religion, and even in promoting revivals, and after having preached to others, he himself may be a cast-away.

A 4. Frequent ministerial visita-
tion is essential to sustaining and
increasing religion in our churches.
We have seen the effects of visit-
ing from house to house in this
revival; and we rarely read an
account of a revival which did
not originate from such visits.
When revivals begin to decline,
ministers are in great danger of
neglecting this duty.
Let us,
brethren, guard against such ne-
glect. It is as important now
as ever. Converts need our coun-
sel. Their growth in grace is as
intimately connected with the
glory of God as their conversion.
One cause why many backslide
is, that ministers and influential
members neglect to watch over
them according to their cove-
nant engagements. It is a great
mistake to suppose that the plants
of righteousness are like tares,
in the great field of nature, and
will grow and thrive without cul-
tivation. How many old pro-
fessors, who go into places where
they enjoy few religious advan-
tages, become cold, conformed to
the world, and at length are even
ashamed to have it known that
they were ever numbered with
the children of God. And are
we to expect that mere babes in
Christ Jesus may be neglected
without injury? It is the im-
perious duty of ministers to feed
these babes in Christ with know-
ledge, and by affectionate counsel
encourage them to perseverance.
With an eye of compassion fixed
on them, Jesus says to us, breth-
ren, "Lovest thou me?" An-
swer him, and forget not his di-
rections. By visiting from house
to house, a pastor becomes inti-
mately acquainted with the spiri-
tual wants of his flock, and his
public instructions are more ap-
propriate. Mutual friendship is
promoted. A minister takes a
deeper interest in his people. He
preaches with more pleasure to
them, and they are more atten-
3 Z

3. Ministers must endeavour to strengthen each other's hands. We are, brethren, subject to like passions with others. In despondency under trials, we need the counsel and sympathy of our fellow labourers. In a season like the present, some, and those who are perhaps the most faithful, will be charged with indiscretion. Let us beware that we do not weaken their hands by siding with the enemy. Envy sometimes lurks in the breast of ministers, and shows itself in secret whisperings, which spread and undermine the influence of their brethren more effectually than the open opposition of professed enemies. If we discover errors in our brethren, let us act the part of friendship, by telling them their faults, as our Saviour, whose commands we profess to follow, directs, instead of talking to others. Let us not forget the royal law, of doing to them as we would they should do unto us. Those whose societies are contiguous, might do each other essential service, by meeting occasionally, and consulting upon the best means of removing difficulties, and promoting religion in their respective congregations. Were they to assist each other, on important occasions, such as days of fasting and prayer, and church conferences, they might increase each other's influence and usefulness. By confining his labours exclusively to one congregation, a minister insensibly loses his interest in other societies. Those who have laboured much as missionaries, we apprehend, feel a deeper interest than others in the general welfare of the church of Christ.

N. S. No. 34.

tive to his instruction. The duties of ministers are arduous; but visiting is one which cannot be neglected without injury to their flocks. One cause of the woe denounced by God against unfaithful pastors, in the days of Jeremiah, was, that they had not visited his flock. (Jer. xxii. 2.) Most ministers consider it their duty to visit the sick and dying, but are prone to neglect those in health. The reflection of the Rev. Mr. Manly, in the preceding narrative, (see the account from Boonville), is worthy of notice, and his resolution ought to be adopted by every pastor. Sick-bed repentance often proves spurious upon the return of health. It is a fact, too, worthy of notice, that revivals prevail almost invariably in a general time of health. Ministers ought to be assisted in visiting by the elders, or influential members of the

churches.

(To be concluded in our next.)

LITERARY INQUIRIES.

(To the Editors.) GENTLEMEN,-I should be much obliged to any of your readers, who would acquaint me with some particulars of the life of William Secker, preacher of the Gospel, who published "The Nonsuch Professor in his Meridian Glory," 8vo. 1660. Mr. Secker is noticed by Lettsome, in his Preacher's Assistant, as a Dissenter; but not being mentioned by Calamy, I presume, he did not survive the Act of Uniformity in 1662, in which case he is more properly to be called a puritan. The style of the book indicates, that the author was of nonconformist principles in 1660; but that age was a very slippery one, and many who had professed nonconformity in Cromwell's time, stumbled into the hierarchy in 1662. I am inclined also to the same opinion,

&c.

from the title affixed to his name, as few of the Episcopalians in that period had more inclination, than they had right to call themselves "preachers of the Gospel." Their more congenial and legitimate title was, "Vicar, or Rector of,” Some of your readers may perhaps be able to say, whether Mr. Secker died between 1660 and 1662, or whether he conformed at the Act of Uniformity. His book is much ridiculed by Eachard, in his "Reasons for the Contempt of the Clergy." It is, however, thoroughly evangelical, very sententious, and occasionally felicitous. Its great fault is a more than ordinary proneness to antithesis. Nevertheless, I have good reason to know, that it is often read, and well remembered by some of our modern popular preachers, the tenacity of whose powers of reminiscence is so remarkable, that they are in a fair way to resuscitate the whole body of obsolete divinity. If your bookworm readers can, in addition to the query respecting Secker, answer another respecting Richard Garbutt, pastor of a church at Leeds, and author of an excellent piece on the Resurrection, 12mo. 1669, I shall be obliged. Was Mr. Garbutt a nonconformist, or not? I am inclined to think he was, and that he died before 1662.

HORNBOOKIUS.

DESCRIPTION OF THE GENERAL BURIAL GROUND, MANCHESTER.

(With an Engraving.) GENTLEMEN,-I remember to have felt no small gratification on perusing, in your Magazine for 1822, an account of the appropriation of a commodious site of ground in Manchester, for the use of the Dissenters, in common with all other persons, who chose to select it as a resting place for

[graphic][subsumed]

THE GENERAL BURIAL GROUND, MANCHESTER. ESTABLISHED, 1821.

Published Cat":1877 for the Congregational. Mag: by B.J.Holdsworth Sails Church Yard.

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