CHAPTER VI.

PASTORAL ADVICE.

IN the preceding chapter, we have endeavoured to give some notion of Mr. Miller's pastoral faithfulness, in his public acts and ministerial office. In his more private intercourse and correspondence, he kept the same end constantly in view. We have numerous letters, addressed to parties with whom he lived on terms of intimate friendship, in which this spirit is finely manifested. We know not how to classify this portion of his correspondence better than under this head. These letters are specimens of true friendship, but at the same time go much beyond that delicate and tender office, and indicate a spirit and concern much more allied to the pastoral relation.

In his intercourse with the families of our people— at least in the latter period of his life-Mr. Miller never joined in any facetious and amusing jokes or anecdotes; he never took part in the common gossip which, too often, forms the staple conversation of religious parties; he never entered into the news, disputes,

or politics of the day; and he never took part in any polemic discourse which might happen to arise. What part then, it may be inquired, did he act on such occasions? He sat still; with heaven in his countenance, and his lips indicating by their movements, that he was often engaged in prayer. He looked like a person not at all belonging to the scene around him ; and as if he had no more to do with luxury, festivity, sensible indulgences and enjoyments, than if he belonged to the pure region of spirits. He remained in a state of perfect silence, the very picture of abstraction, till finding a break, he would at once introduce some religious topic-his favourite ones, the sanctification of believers, and the revival of the work of God, always being uppermost. If he succeeded in leading the conversation in this direction, he manifested great happiness and pleasure, joined most heartily in it, stated his opinions freely, and became animated and eloquent; if he failed, he sunk back again into his old attitude of silence and abstraction, seeming to say in just reproof-" If I cannot raise you up to my level, I will not come down to yours." But nothing could prevent him engaging in prayer. Whatever might be doing, or saying, when he considered the suitable time had come, he would give out the verse of a hymn, and then himself pray, and call upon others to follow.

He had always some word of advice, or exhortation, for the inmates of families, and, indeed, for all he met with. We do not know that he ever adopted any formal rule of visitation, but he carried a law of love in his own bosom, which induced him to be "instant in season and out of season," in doing good. He was one of those remarkable men-few in number-who

can say anything they feel, without either repelling or giving offence. Reproof, and even advice and caution, from some men, chill, frighten, and stupify. The feeling of the admonished party is, never, if possible, to come under the spell of such minds again, or even enter into their presence. Nothing of this took place in the case of Mr. Miller. His addresses were true, admonitory, and when necessary, threatening, but a shower of love invariably accompanied the thunderthis spirit disarmed all resentment, and if he failed to convince and improve, he left an impression that he himself, at least, was a good man. We have seen him sit surrounded by men and women, like a venerable patriarch amongst his children, talking to them directly and indirectly, of their faults and religious defects, but instead of being offended by this, they would only be attracted to a nearer approach, and in self-defence, speak to him somewhat after the manner of children: "Why father Miller, we are but young-are full of life-have little experience of the evils of life; you must let us enjoy it whilst we can." We have witnessed something like this. Nothing sour, stern, repulsive, appeared in his spirit, or in his expression. Taking up the simile of Solomon, respecting "apples of gold in pictures of silver," we may say of Mr. Miller's case, that, the brilliants of truth were set in a heart of love. We proceed to give, in an arranged form, extracts from Mr. Miller's correspondence.

1.-ADVICE UNDER ΑΝ APPREHENSION OF DECLENSION.-The first extract we quote in illustration of the pastoral fidelity of Mr. Miller, is dated Whitehaven, and is addressed to a lady in Sheffield-he says, "How stands the balance betwixt God and your

soul? Is there that devotedness to Jesus-that simplicity of the child-that strong and pure appetite for real gospel food, for the power of God-that burning zeal for souls, and that feeling for the genuine success of Zion, viz., the awakening of sinners, and the sanctification of believers, as ought to be the case? Do these things dwell in you, and do they abound yet more and more? I feel much for -; if she loses her glory, Sheffield will have lost one of the strongest ties which bound my soul to it. Is there no conformity to the world creeping in? Is there the full separation kept up? Does the reproach still continue? You have been at Matlock: did you feel that inward misery which always accompanies every soul, truly alive, at the spirit of these places? Did your spirit never arise to the reproof of love, to the speaking one word for Jesus? If not, I tremble for you indeed. I trust you are not getting your head filled, and your heart emptied. If there should be any ground for these close, loving inquiries, I beg, I intreat, I abjure you, my dear friend, to let the closest, the strictest examination take place. If the merciful affliction God has laid upon you, so peculiarly calculated to deaden you to earth, and to quicken every heavenly desire, does not produce the blessed effect; but, if on the contrary, there is with this great advantage, a decline, how alarming must be the symptoms, how low must your soul have sunk! May the Spirit of a heart-searching God, now search your soul, enable you clearly to see yourself in the gospel glass, to yield to conviction, and arise once more into all the life of love, all the heights of holiness, and sink into all the depths of union with God, which is the privilege of every believer under our dispensation."

It seems some one had suggested to him a fear that the person addressed, in the above letter, was losing ground, and, on that report, without further inquiry, he poured out his searching interrogations. The judiciousness of this may well be questioned; but it indicates the intensity of his anxiety for the good of souls, the state of religion in individuals and societies, and the honour of God.

He was altogether mistaken, and at the earliest moment he hastened to acknowledge his error. He says, "I have received -'s letter. I sympathize with you all on her behalf. Surely the Lord will yet spare her and spare you the shock of her loss. She seems to grow into God; my suspicions are entirely removed yet let us not blame · for his zealous watchfulness."

This letter was answered by the lady in question, and his rejoinder follows :-"The account I hear of your state of health, and the thought of my indiscretion adding a further weight to the pressure, fill me with the liveliest concern. I know you have grace to pardon my heartiness, because you must attribute it to its true cause a deep concern for your everlasting interests. But still I know, in your weak state, every agitation of the mind must produce most painful effects. I trust you will for ever banish it from your memory. I am fully satisfied I was mistaken. I trust our God will yet graciously spare you, that I may yet see

restored

to her wonted health, and receive that benefit from her conversation and example, that I have been wont to do. May the Lord spare you, may he fully restore you to your dear friends, and to his church and people.— Respecting myself, when I think of writing such a magisterial letter to you, and reflect on my own shame