PART FIRST.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE PASTOR IN HIS STUDY.

CHURCH PRINCIPLES, No. 1.

It is a common remark that most differences would be simplified by a definition, and there is scarcely any subject to which this truth applies more forcibly than to those connected with the Church. And yet the definition of the Church itself is plain and simple, as it is set forth in the 19th Article. The " Congregation of faithful men," there mentioned is often considered as if it were a corporation when spoken of as "the visible Church of Christ; " and it is in forming just notions of the rights, privileges, and immunities of this corporation, and of its members, as such, that defined and clear ideas are especially necessary. The estimate of these is extremely various; and in using the term " the Church," the hearer rarely receives precisely the same thought into his mind as that of the speaker.

With respect to the positive spiritual advantages to be derived by membership in the visible Church, there seems little hazard in asserting that as they must be received only after a spiritual manner they cannot be received at all where no spiritual life exists. And with respect to the external benefits enjoyed by members of the visible Church, they can only be imparted upon the supposition that they are annexed to, and result from, the spiritual benefits which it is the primary intention of the constitution of the Church to convey. The want of a distinct understanding upon this point has given place for most of the dangerous deceits by which formal profession soothes the conscience of nominal Christians.

Hence, too, has resulted the erroneous conception that the Church, as a corporate body, has power to impart, and actually does impart, something which is spiritually beneficial per se, irrespective of the spiritual condition of the recipient. Now it does not appear from Scripture that any such power is given to the Church, nor can it be clearly ascertained that our Lord constituted, under the name of the Church, any such corporation

as those which suggest the idea of a body, having a separate responsibility, power of action, and conventional existence distinct from these qualities in the individual members. All that can be fairly concluded from the Scriptural statements is, that when the Holy Spirit takes possession of the hearts of individuals He spiritualizes their relative affections, and leads them to live together as a band of brothers, having one object and one rule of life; "one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all," and thus they become "one body," in the same way that a family is one body. (Eph. iv. 4-6.) This is "the kingdom of heaven" of our Lord's parables, into which many who are not influenced by the Holy Ghost are induced to press and in spite of this mixture the Holy Spirit dwells in the midst of that family and reigns in the general ordering of its affairs. Rulers and officers are appointed by Divine authority for the preaching of the pure word of God—the due administrations of the Sacraments-and for the setting in order of such things as be needful. From all this we cannot but entertain a high sense of the exceeding benefit of being a true member of the Church of Christ, and a high reverence for the united body; but there is nothing which justifies a supposition that the body, as a corporation, can of itself impart to its members any of those privileges, the possession of which constitutes a right to membership. With this agrees the definition in the Article, that the Church is "a congregation of faithful men," and not a corporation of privileged individuals.

It has not pleased the great Head of the Church to give either capacity or authority to any individual, or to any number of his people, to decide infallibly upon the spiritual state of another; it is manifestly impossible, therefore, for any human power to limit the number of the visible Church to those alone who are actually the subjects of Divine grace. Neither was it intended that, during the present dispensation, such a limitation should take place. All that the utmost jealousy for the purity of the visible Church can effect, must be confined to imposing upon each member strictly othodox-professions of truth, and requiring from each the most solemn statements of a sincere belief in them; as well as taking the best pledge that can be obtained for a consistent walk according to the profession made. After all is done which the most careful jealousy could dictate, it is plain that the validity and personal advantage of admission and continuance of any member, must depend, not only on the sincerity of his profession, but on the true character of it, since he may be sincerely self-deceived. Every member therefore who

joins the body, or who continues in it, can only be received and retained conditionally; and the conditions are, that his profession is both sincere and correct. If he deceives himself by misunderstanding or misapplying the truths, he professes, he cannot be a partaker of the spiritual benefits resulting from a right faith; and therefore he is not a member of the true Church; and the body of God's people upon earth have no power to give him any real benefit in connexion with his outward membership. If he be not sincere, he joins the body under false pretences; and would be expelled from it if his falsehood were declared.

The constitution of the Church of England is framed exactly in accordance with this view of the subject. No privileges are claimed for the body in its corporate capacity, but those of preaching the pure word, and duly administering the sacraments; together with the regulation of such rites and ceremonies as may be suitable for times and circumstances, so that they be not inconsistent with the word of God. A strictly orthodox confession of Faith is set forth; and a high standard of holiness is required. A solemn declaration of belief in the one, and of intention to strive after the other, is required of every individual at his admission into the body, and upon frequent occasions during his continuance as a member. None but those who first make, and then repeat, these solemn professions are allowed to be partakers of the privileges of members and in perfect harmony with this, no declaration is made, in the name of the Church, concerning the real state or security of individual members, except upon the conditions above mentioned; and a variety of formularies are prepared for the use of the members, all of which are framed in the first person; and each of which is a test of the sincerity of the individual using it; while strong warnings are continually put into the mouth of the minister, in order to quicken self-examination, and to keep sincerity in lively action.

The due and diligent administration of the Church by a pastor to his flock, in carrying out these her principles into practice, will assuredly be found one of the most powerful means of separating the precious from the vile; of shaking off a large proportion of those who deceive themselves, and encumber the church by their false hopes and nominal christianity; and so of adding to the true church daily such as shall be saved.

It will be the object of future articles under this head, to demonstrate the truth of the above statements-to exhibit its advantages—and to point out the mode in which the system may be worked, so as to produce the most effectual result.

VOL. 1.-NO. I.

C

10

PASTORAL STATISTICS. No. 1.

One of the most important helps, in working the system of the Church beneficially, may be derived from a judicious use of statistical statements. It is intended that several suggestions on this head should hereafter be given in detail: but in the mean time, the mind may be prepared for these by considering the following notification of the result of the recent Census, as concerns one parish. It was sent by the clergyman to the inhabitants in the form of

"A Word from the Pastor to his Flock."

A very important public work has been lately carried on in every part of this country; and of course our parish has been included. A Census has been taken according to law; that is to say, the people have been numbered this year as they were ten years ago (in the year 1831); and various particulars have been gathered and noted down, in order to serve many very important purposes for the good of the nation at large.

Perhaps at some future time your Pastor may enter upon the general subject of this census, with a view to your instruction : but at present he wishes only to give you the actual results of the enquiries which have been made, on various heads, by the Commissioners appointed by law; for the purpose of enabling you all to think over each particular, in order to see whether you can profit personally by the information thus obtained. It is your Pastor's desire to draw your attention hereafter to some obvious considerations which should arise from the facts thus brought forth by authority: but he wishes your own minds to gather the thoughts for yourselves, before he suggests them to you. At present, therefore, nothing but the numbers and particulars are placed before you leaving the inferences which belong to them for a future occasion Your Pastor would only add, that you are all aware, that he is in the habit of keeping a Pastor's Account and Registers, with which he has compared the results of the present Census; which he finds agree exactly with the more minute particulars furnished by his own private books. He has added below some of the information which these latter supply, beyond the details required by the Commissioners.

Under the Act of Parliament, the Commissioners appointed proper officers, in every parish in the country, to ascertain the number of houses in every Parish or Hamlet;—the number of inhabitants in each; and the sex, name, age, and calling of each person.

Besides this, the Commissioners required every Clergyman to give, from the Parish Registers, several particulars concerning the population during the last ten years (from 1831):—such as the number of Marriages-of Baptisms-and of Burials,-and the illegitimate children born.

The following are some of the particulars with respect to the parish of A. consisting of the two villages of B and C.

In C. there are 97 houses, inhabited by 278 males and 239 females; making 517 persons.

In B. there are 50 houses, inhabited by 140 males and 128 females; making 268 persons.

In the whole Parish, therefore, there are 147 houses, inhabited by 419 males, and 367 females: making in all 786 persons. This is an increase of 46 persons above the number of 1831.

In B there are 120 males and 89 females under the age of 15 (inclusive); and there are 159 males and 150 females above that age.

In C. there are 57 males and 47 females under that age; and 83 males and 81 females above that age.

In the whole Parish, therefore, there are 177 males and 136 females of the age of 15 and under; and there are 242 males and 231 females above that age: making together 313 persons of 15 years and under; and 473 persons above 15 years old.

In the past ten years there have been 215 children baptized in the parish; of which 109 were male, and 106 were female. The greatest number baptized in any one year was 27; and the smallest number 16: but the average of the whole was about 11 males, and 10 females: together 21 persons for each year.

In the last ten years 145 persons have been buried; of which 62 were male and 83 female. The greatest number buried any one year was 24; and the smallest 8: but the average of the whole was rather more than 6 males; and rather more than 8 females together 14 persons for each year.