retired duties, and what to those which are social and public. I take it for granted that he has a plan. It would be impossible to realize his own hopes or yours without one. 'Order is heaven's first law.' When that great statesman, DeWitt, was asked, how he accomplished so much, he answered: 'By doing one thing at a time.' The chief difficulty which a minister in a large city has to meet, is the difficulty of carrying out his own plan of operation, of calculating definitely on his hours of retirement. On this account he often fails to concentrate the energies of his mind in the freshness of its strength on any department of his labors. Sometimes the consequences are late hours at night- broken rest, impaired health. There is no remedy but a systematic division of time, which will lead one to attend first to the things of first importance. I was struck some time ago with a remark of Mr. Combe, of Edinburgh, respecting his visit to America. He observed that the system of social habits to which he had been accustomed does not prevail here; but that he found himself in company from early in the morning until late at night. He soon became conscious of suffering from too protracted cerebral excitement, which threatened to unnerve him. He was obliged, therefore, to appoint his hours (at noon) for receiving calls, and on the days when he lectured to seclude himself entirely. In those few words, that writer has touched the secret cause of

many a minister's premature decline in this coun· try, and has suggested the only effective remedy.

'Let me say again, ascertain your minister's plan of life and action, and endeavor to sustain him in it. If you have confidence in his conscientiousness, in his industry and his zeal, commit all this to his discretion. While he is in his study, let not his faculties be palsied by his having reason to think that any complain of neglect for want of visitation, for then he will not enjoy his visits, because the duties of his study and his home will not have been accomplished. If you have not confidence in his judgment, in his love, in his desire to be faithful, let that be known, and come to a speedy explanation. But if you have, let his spirit calmly and trustfully repose on your candor, kindness, and cooperative zeal.

'2. As I address those who know how to pray, let me 'not be negligent to put you in remembrance' of this duty- as you desire the prosperity of religion here, habitually to bear your minister on your heart at the throne of grace. Did not inspired apostles say, 'Brethren, pray for us?' With what earnestness did Paul implore the prayers of the church? How much more do we need them! I doubt not that I utter the desire of my brother's heart, in this request of you on his behalf.

And now,

friends and brethren, I cannot close this address, without reminding you, that the day cometh, when before the throne of our Lord and

Saviour Jesus Christ, you will have to meet the results of my brother's ministry among you. Oh! it will be a source of life unto life, or of death unto death. God grant that then this congregation may not part-but may you so treat the ministry of truth and love, that he who is now installed as your pastor, may give up his account with joy, saying: 'Here am I, Lord, and the people whom thou hast given to me.' Then shall we rejoice to know that what we have done to-night, has been ratified on high, that what we have bound on earth, has been bound in heaven.'

SOON after the commencement of a stated ministry, the congregation began to increase: and, in the course of a few months, the house was well filled. It was evident that the word of truth was not without effect on the hearts of many; and a state of feeling among the members was manifested, which is the sure precursor of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The prayer meetings were numerously attended, particularly the young men's prayer meeting. These meetings were eminently useful as a means of preparing the church and congregation for the blessing from on high, in which this people, in common with the other churches of Boston and its vicinity, shared during the winter and spring of the past year.

On the first day of August, 1841, the Baptistery was, for the first time, opened for the solemn service of the mystic burial: and three persons, all of them in the morning of life, were 'buried with Christ by baptism.' The following is the clerk's record of the events of a day of deep interest to both pastor and people.

'The church had the pleasure of witnessing the solemn ordinance of baptism, for the first time since its formation, administered to three individuals received as candidates at the last meeting of the church. In the afternoon, those who were baptized, as well as others who had been received by letters from sister churches, had the right hand of fellowship tendered to them by the pastor, who prefaced the same with suitable remarks. The church partook of the Lord's Supper, being the first time with its pastor; and the occasion was one of deep and thrilling interest, and such as will be remembered for years yet to come.'

On the 15th of September the church was received into the Boston Baptist Association, which held its anniversary at Baldwin Place; at which time it numbered one hundred and

forty-eight members. The accessions since that period, by baptism, have been as follows:

The accessions have been somewhat large by letter also, as will be seen by the List of Membership. A portion of these have been from other churches in the city: but many of them from churches at a distance, who have become residents of the city.