the vigour of his powers he should preside alone over his charge. All other considerations apart, financial necessity may enforce this arrangement. It may in general secure greater unity of action in the ministry, and of affection in the people. But where all circumstances facilitate a copastorate, and, as in the present instance, a well-adjusted connexion between an elder and a junior Minister in the service of the same church can be established, very happy results can hardly fail of being realised. Pulpit ministrations will be both enriched and varied-schools and Bible classes well conducted-pastoral oversight and intercourse increased-and all works of benevolence prosecuted with redoubled vigour. We cannot therefore but regard this Church as a favoured people under a joint pastoral care so harmonious and efficient: and both the shepherds and the flock have our fervent prayers for their lasting peace and prosperity.

3. Then, thirdly, dear Sir, I have some few thoughts to offer on your being stationed by Providence in this parcular church and district, and on the kind of ministry and labour adapted thereto. We in this locality, dear Sir, are accustomed to speak somewhat highly of our position. We think the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places. Our near vicinity to this great city enables us at once to receive its influences and to join in its movements, while yet we have quiet in our sanctuaries and our Sabbaths. We are in sufficient strength for mutual defence and united effort. We are not lone and dejected, like many of our brethren in rural and hostile neighbourhoods. We are in the midst of society, intelligence, and refinements. Nor do we think it for us a small advantage that we occupy this locality, rather than the opposite extremity of the metropolis, where splendour and gaiety spread round them many influences penetrating even to that class of society to which we belong. But these congratulations are not

boasts. They are hinted at in gratitude, but for usefulness no less. Perils and responsibilities always attend on advantages. We find ourselves in danger of settling into ease in Zion-of becoming too respectable for all avowals of principle, all forms of activity, all instances of nonconformity to the world. We feel called on by our position to be more liberal in our contributions, more active in our labours, than less favoured brethren-yet doubt whether our liberality rises to the measure of our obligation, and whether our activity is so conducted as to be never in excess, and always favourable to devotion. We are not quite sure that our dear youth are in no danger from the attractions of many plausible but equivocal entertainments provided in this great city, where all good and all evil are found in every kind, in every degree, in every mixture. Then we find ourselves straitly bound by sectarian and social distinctions in this land of parties, where classes seem settling into castes, so that co-operation and intercourse are now all in separate and narrow circles, out of which it seems impracticable to emerge even to do good. Lastly, we see ourselves surrounded with multitudes on whom we are exerting either no influence at all, or such as is very indirect and feeble-whom we cannot reach, through prejudices on their part, and conventionalisms on our own; an ever-widening chasm separating the respectable from the industrial classes, the church from the world it ought to pervade and bless.

Into the midst of such scenes and circumstances as I have alluded to, you have entered as the Pastor of a Christian Church now far advanced into the second century of a consistent and undeviating testimony to the truths on which it was founded, and exhibiting the vigour and stability of age without its decays. Such an endurance amidst adverse influences, and with no resources but such as its own truth has won from willing hearts, is no weak

confirmation of the cause and the principles we adopt. So that when we examine our foundations and our structure, to ascertain whether we may safely add thereto, we find everything sound, and equal to any pressure that can be required. You will soon judge for yourself-you have probably already judged-whether I have correctly indicated the position on which you have entered. But I feel secure of your accordance in the following views of the kind of ministry needed in this place. Doubtless you will find the public preaching of the Gospel here, as in all times and places, the chief ordained means of the usefulness of the ministry, and of the good of the people. Nothing can work a change in the place assigned to this primary institute by its Divine Author. But Hackney will require an exhibition of the Gospel enlightened, enlarged, and vigorous in substance, and in manner natural, earnest, and warm-hearted. Pastoral care follows next and close in importance: the active and pleasing labour of the Pastor in prayer-meetings, Bible classes, church proceedings, visitation of families, of the sick, and of the young. Then education claims serious careSunday, infant, and daily schools-wisely promoted and encouraged. Then our long-cherished work for the spread of the Gospel by missions at home and abroad-that work enjoined by the Saviour and inherited from our fathers, in which no difficulties, no delays, no disappointments can damp our ardour, or change our constancy-will ask your advocacy and your counsels. Even yet there will be required some further attention to labours in general benevolence, enlightenment, and social progress. Nor can skill in promoting and guiding that habit of combination for important objects, which is the very character of our times, and of such universal adoption, be dispensed with. And for conducting all these diversified labours in public, there must be in private a proportionate and well

regulated course of reading, study, devotion, and selfdiscipline. Ah, who is sufficient for our work, and for our times! How greatly do ministers need the help of God— the prayers and candour of men! The period in which we live is continually increasing its demands on all classes. An amount of effort, a scale of efficiency, is exacted in every department, such as former periods never required. The ministry has its full share of this strong pressure. One thing, however, dear Sir, is observable-a fixed, concentrated ministerial effort can now be alone successful; and wherever such labour is employed, there it is successful. In and round this metropolis, it might be shown, were not such an enumeration both invidious and unnecessary, that no eminence of ministerial talent will secure desirable success without this fixed addictedness to each man's proper work and sphere, but that with it even moderate abilities are found adequate to most happy results. My observation leads me to think this the exact, the one thing needful to ministerial success in our times. The like thing is wanted everywhere. In trade, in schools, in professions, in service, concentration is the one element of success. Perhaps this is so always and everywhere. It may not be a peculiarity of our times, or of the ministerial work; but only made conspicuous and remarkable amidst competition, hurry, and irregular effort. Yet I cannot but observe, that perhaps a habit of caring too much for general, too little for particular duties, may have been a besetting evil among ministers in our stirring age, and that the success of those who have escaped this snare is therefore the more observable. However, dear Sir, you will give yourself to this Church, and in so doing you will want for neither co-operation nor success-you will not fail of the Divine blessing, nor of the approval of your own mind. So,

4. Fourthly, I proposed to offer some observations on

these remarkable times in which we are called to labour, and on the manner in which we may hope best to meet their urgent claims, and to encounter or avoid their various dangers. On the whole, I can perceive no ground for heavy complaints against these times as worse than those that went before, or as threatening disastrous influences on those to come. Rather, I hope that we are reaping great advantages from the past, and preparing greater for the future. It is doubtless our duty, as watchmen on the walls of Zion, to observe the times, and as leaders in the churches to have understanding of the times, knowing what Israel ought to do in wise adaptation to their peculiar character. Yet this may be overdone. We may note the times, till we forget the Bible; and we may inquire after new remedies for new evils, till we overlook or mistrust the universal, invariable fitness and power of the Gospel for every age and state of the human race. Let us be neither heedless of the times, nor absorbed in exploring them; but just regard them so far as lawfully to adapt the manner of our ministry to the forms which contemporary society has assumed.

Now, it is observable, that the present period has revived what is called the æsthetic taste; that is, a taste for clothing what is spiritual, and ideal, and beautiful, in expressive forms and sounds. This taste is plainly seen in the large increase of decorated buildings, books, paintings, and furniture. It pushes for entrance into religious observances, and in many quarters has gained admittance. It is a passion that tends very naturally and insidiously to excess. Our fathers, who saw some of its worst mischiefs, drove it far away from them as an unclean spirit. Hence our worship is bare of all attractions and influences derived from this source. So let it continue. But at such a time, and in the presence of such a state of the general mind, it becomes very important that our unadorned