THAT a deeply solemn and sacred compact subsists between members of churches and their pastors, none, we presume, will attempt to deny. And that the duties involved in this hallowed relation are mutual, and of paramount importance, all are, doubtless, alike prepared to admit. That these duties may, however, be adequately and faithfully discharged, it is equally clear that they must be mutually and distinctly recognized. The duties of a pastor are, by the inspired writers, described as manifold, though summarily declared as consisting chiefly in "prayer and the ministry of the world." Yet no faithful minister of the word would wish to shield himself by this definition of his office from the discharge of other acknowledged duties, such as visiting the sick of his flock, privately teaching the ignorant, directing the inquirer, warning the unruly, fostering the nurseries of the church, and exercising a sort of general superintendence over the entire community of which he has been called to take the charge. But we cannot conceive how any individual, however talented or energetic, can effectively discharge all these, with many other kindred duties, unaided by the members of his flock: and hence the great propriety of mutual co-operation.

Q Q

Let it be assumed, then, that the man of your choice is what he professes, and that you believe him to be "a man of God." As such he is engaged in God's work; and according to the ability and grace that God giveth, he aims at a faithful and effective discharge of his hallowed duties. He preaches the word in season and out of season; he diversifies his labours; distributes his energies; sows here, and plants there; and, like his Divine Master, waters the whole with his prayers and tears. With just reason he looks now for a crop, and hopes soon to reap a harvest of reward. Yet, it may be, after labouring long and hard, he sees little or no fruit of his toil—his strength and his labour appear to have been alike in vain. He marvels at the result; the people marvel too, and probably complain. The good man is grieved at heart, his spirit mourns within him, and he plaintively exclaims, "How is it!" Fearing that the fault may in some way or other rest with himself, he reviews his labours, examines his motives, and tests the spring of his actions by the pure standard of unerring truth. rises from the research-his breast heaves with a consciousness of pure integrity before God, and with humility of soul he looks up to the seat of the Eternal, and thus solemnly makes his

He

appeal: "I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy loving-kindness and thy truth from the great congregation." Psalm xl. 9, 10. Whence, then, this moral dearth -this death-like stillness, as regards the ingathering of souls, and the consequent establishment of the church? Is the angel of mercy dead, that he descends not to trouble the waters, and render them salutary and healing as heretofore ? Are the energies of the Holy Spirit paralyzed, that they fail to subdue the pride and stubbornness of the human heart? Or is the arm of Jehovah shortened, that it cannot save ? None of these things may be assumed; the cause must be sought elsewhere. Where, and with whom, does it originate?

Whenever any church is in a lukewarm state, with no signs of vitality and progress, we may always set it down as a fact, that they are wanting in the spirit of prayer and the grace of supplication. For if they possessed it they could not be left without a blessing; according to those scriptures:

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." "Prove me now herewith, if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it!" Would you then, brethren, see Zion arrayed in her beautiful garments, going forth, bright as the sun, fair as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners? pray for it-pray earnestly -pray unitedly-pray perseveringly. Prayer is the lever which moves heaven's throne and brings down heaven's blessing! But, above all, let your ministers share in your private

as well as social supplications to the God of all grace and goodness. Cease not to implore for them a large measure of the Spirit's influences, that while their own souls are made to prosper and be in health, they may be the instruments, under God, of awakening in the breasts of many the cry of, "Men and brethren, what shall we do ?" By thus co-operating with your pastors, by praying both for and with them, the blessing promised may justly be expected to rest upon you; large accessions will be made to your numbers; and instead of the mournful exclamations now so often emanating from the pulpit and the closet, "Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ?" the inspiring cry of, "Who are these which fly as a cloud, and as doves to their windows ?" shall resound along the walls of your sanctuaries, and fill your souls with adoring gratitude and praise.

Another way of helping on the work of God in the hands of your pastors, is to aid them with pecuniary supplies for the accomplishment of plans of usefulness. A minister's heart is often larger than his means. He sees, or thinks he sees, an opening for extended usefulness. He would gladly apply the energies of both his body and mind in the prosecution of the object before him.

But an obstacle meets him on the very threshold of his plan. He has no adequate command of money, and he cannot carry his purpose without it. A room for preaching or teaching, a school in some destitute locality or contiguous village, appears eminently desirable; and funds, of course, are indispensable for its accomplishment. Co-operate with your pastor by contribution according to your means, and the thing is done. The gospel is introduced here sabbath school is established there; a new and instructive library for the children and teachers is appended to this invaluable institution; and, perhaps, a missionary or tract society is formed. As a consequence of these,

-

a

or some such movements, life and activity take the place of moral death and inertion. Zion's borders are enlarged; the heart of the pastor is cheered; and his hands are made strong. And why should not every church be thus strengthened and made to rejoice ?

Members may also co-operate with their pastor by a personal and faithful attendance on his ministry, and by endeavouring to sustain the ordinances of God as they were delivered. Every member, on his admission into a christian church, virtually pledges himself to aid his pastor in upholding all the ordinances of God. But how, we ask, is this effected when such individuals abandon their posts of duty? Or how can those be fitly termed "pillars of the church" who neither answer the end of ornament nor support? The evil of which we complain, and which we wish to see rectified, is the habit into which some persons have fallen, of needlessly wounding the feelings of their recognized pastor by their frequent neglect of his ministrations, and of exhibiting to the young and inexperienced a dangerous precedent for their imitation. The evil of this practice not only thus affects the mind of the pastor, and of the church as a body, but sooner or later will have a baneful influence on the mind and temper of the individual himself. He, perhaps, may not be the first to perceive, and of course not the first to confess it; but it will not be long before others both see and deplore it. Its usual symptoms are an increased negligence of the means of grace a shy, distant sort of deportment towards the pastor, accompanied with a disposition to thwart his plans, to envy him the esteem of others, and not unfrequently to sow the seeds of discord and strife amongst the brethren. Nor is it easy to say how great an extent of mischief even one individual can often thus generate in a church, or how he can influence the minds of the many, until at length a fire is kindled which

"many waters cannot quench." But, beloved brethren, never act in this manner; rather rally round your pastor. "Encourage him." "Help

him.”

Defend him from the assaults of his enemies; and by no means suffer his good name to be traduced. In a word, like good men and true, be faithful to all your engagements, and sustain the ministry you have chosen in every possible form. Let the sabbath ordinances, the prayer meeting, the church meeting, and the weekly lecture, all witness to the love and zeal you bear for Christ, the interest you take in his cause, and especially in the prosperity of the church of which you are a member. You have also a talent which you may employ for the good of others; you can urge them to an observance of the sabbath, and invite them to the house of God. And, if but one soul be thus won to the Saviour and gathered into his fold, you will find an ample satisfaction in the reflection that you have "done what you could."

Further, members may co-operate with their pastors in their attempts to gather around them all the elements of piety, and to advance the spiritual elevation of the church.

Brethren, look around you, watch for occasions of usefulness, and promptly improve them. Are there no young persons in the school or congregation with which you are connected, in whose heart you may perceive some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel? Could you not take such by the hand, kindly and yet earnestly urge upon them a serious consideration of the great duties of religion, the importance of yielding their hearts first to the Saviour and then themselves to his people? Numbers of young persons, we apprehend, are lost to the community in which they have been trained, owing to the apathy of those whose duty it is to watch for souls, as those that must give account. Will you not then, beloved friends, forthwith devise and adopt some more systematic plan, with a view to the rescue of our