validity of the rite itself; as is well expressed in the twenty-sixth Article of the Church of England:

"Although in the visible Church the evil be ever mingled with the good, and sometimes the evil have chief authority in the Ministration of the Word and Sacraments, yet forasmuch as they do not the same in their own name, but in Christ's, and do minister by his commission and authority, we may use their Ministry, both in hearing the Word of God, and in receiving of the Sacraments. Neither is the effect of Christ's ordinance taken away by their wickedness, nor the grace of God's gifts diminished from such as by faith do rightly receive the Sacraments ministered unto them; which be effectual, because of Christ's institution and promise, although they be ministered by evil

men."

Something analogous to this takes place among men. The value of a gift does not depend upon the quality of the material by which it is conveyed. The private character of an ambassador has no connexion with the

purport of the message with which he is charged. If a person arrives in a foreign country, alleging that he is appointed to bear a message from his royal master, the sovereign of that country has simply to be satisfied of the validity of his credentials; that is, of his having been truly sent by him on whose business he pretends to have come; but the personal character of the messenger is no concern of him to whom the message is sent. Hence we perceive the error of those who suppose, that because the ministers of any Church act in an irreligious manner, and testify by their conduct that they are unworthy of their high dignity, that that Church thereby ceases to have a necessary characteristic, and a right to be considered an integral part, of the Church of Christ.

The duties of a Pastor are more large than those of a Minister, and by no means limited to the services of the Church. He must be

assiduous in visiting his flock, and making part of the domestic circle of the poorest of its members. But if he wishes due respect to be shown to his own office, he must

set the example of respecting the office of others. He must remember that in the cottage of the labourer the father is the head, and he only a stranger within the labourer's gate; there must be no dogmatizing here. The pulpit is the place from which he may teach ex cathedrâ; but out of it he is only such another man as themselves, and must condescend to men of low estate. Neither can he expect much credit for feeling for the souls of the poor, unless he be constant in his attention to their bodies also. It is a charge brought with some justice against many of the Evangelical clergy,-that they have less sympathy for the temporal distress of the poor, than many of their clerical brethren who do not profess to be so much enlightened in spiritual truth. This is a temptation of Satan to mar their success. Sickness is an occasion on which the pastor ought never to omit the opportunity of administering relief; almost all the diseases of the poor arise from debility, and require more nursing and attention than medical skill. Clean linen is an article they always want; and somebody

to attend to their children and household matters while they are confined. Much suffering and subsequent misery is brought on women by being obliged, by other domestic calls, to move about too soon, and exert themselves too much after confinement in child-birth: here the supply of a nurse would be doubly advantageous, not only for the present necessity, but also by preventing future misery. This is a more religious sphere of duty also for the single women in the parish than attending committees. Medical men are frequently compelled to withhold prescribing for the poor, because, since their ailments arise chiefly from deficient nourishment, the restorative medicines and food, necessary for their cure, are so expensive as to be quite out of their power to procure. Here, too, the pastor might aid the physician, and with soup and wine do more than the whole materia medica besides. The habitual attendance on the poor, in the company of the ordinary medical practitioner, will speedily give to the most ignorant an adequate knowledge of common sicknesses; and he who has "first a will

ing mind," will quickly find it the most valuable of all seasons, if duly attended to, for winning the kind regards of those who are not to be won by any other means.

The bishop of Winchester has said in his late charge, that a Minister "must grudge no teaching which may tend to build up his people in their most holy faith, and withhold no good office which may minister to their earthly well-being. In the words of that old author, to whom I have already alluded, he will desire to be all to his parish, and not only a pastor, but a lawyer also, and a physician.' He will not think the name of temporal guardian, protector, and friend of his people, illassorted with that of spiritual guide; so that he may smooth the ruggedness of their earthly path, and carry them on with him, through the working of their natural affection, in the way that leads to eternal life."-p. 36.

It is not only in times of sickness that the affectionate solicitude of the pastor should be shown. He should upon all occasions be the patron and the friend of the labourer; to advocate his cause against the oppressor,