and more signs of spiritual life would be soon perceived amongst us. Especially this result might be hoped for, if those who really are earnest and constant in seeking Christ's help in the appointed way were to make it more distinctly and frequently a subject of prayer, that the Holy Spirit would speedily raise up His great power, and come among us, and with great might succour us with more of the energy of spiritual life.

In order to shew you, both the interest which some of God's people are kindly taking in this flock, and also the effect produced upon other minds by the Church Communion Account of this parish, your Pastor gives you an extract from a letter lately received from a dear brother minister of Christ, who has himself been much experienced in pastoral work, and has been much blessed of God in it. This clergyman is affectionately interested for your Pastor and his people; and he occasionally receives the calendars and weekly papers which are provided for this flock. He writes

"I should be glad to hear that your communicants were more steady and hungering in their attendance upon the ordinance. It is not their number, but their regularity of attendance in a spiritual appetite for food, and love for their Saviour, that is the standard to take of the character of religion in your parish. I observed the communion on Nov. 4th, 1838 (the last of which I have any record), after deducting those whose absence is satisfactorily accounted for, leaves 93 out of 172 without any reason at all. Whether 1839 gives a better report I know not; but the average number of the Sunday congregations as to double attendance, and more especially the weekly lecture, after all allowance for agricultural difficulties, give no indication upon a large scale, corresponding to the number of communicants, of that hungering appetite for the word and house of God, which ought to characterize a genuine and full profession of the gospel."

XIV.

MONTHLY CHURCH ACCOUNT.

MAY, 1840.

I. COMMUNION ACCOUNT.

Number of grown-up members in communion last month 158

Number of remaining members who did not

communicate at this season

....

52

4 strangers were present.

93 total number at the table at Whitsuntide, 1840.

The money collected at the offertory amounted to one pound ten shillings: the whole of which is given by the Minister and Churchwardens to the Friendly Help Society."

II. BAPTISM ACCOUNT.

1. The Sacrament of Baptism was administered to three male children.

2. At these baptisms two members of the Church became

sponsors for the first time; making seventy-eight present members who are sponsors in the parish.

The

III., CONGREGATIONAL ACCOUNT.

average numbers of the adult congregations have been

1. At Sunday morning service

167

Sunday. Sunday. Sunday. Sunday. Sunday.

V. REGISTER ACCOUNT.

1. One MARRIAGE has been solemnized.

2. One infant, and one member in communion with the Church, have been taken away by Death.

VI. CHARITY ACCOUNT.

1. Friendly Help Society.

The visitors expended £3 2s. 6d. for the benefit of thirty-six families.

2. Widows' Church Alms Box.

The box contained one shilling and sixpence, which is distri

buted amongst three poor widows.

3. Missionary Funds.

For Jews' Society.

For Church Missionary Society.

1. Ordinations are appointed to take place

On the 28th of June by the Bishop of Hereford.

On the 12th of July by the Bishop of Winchester. The Cottager's Guide to the New Testament No. LXIII. will be sent round the parish on Sunday the 5th of July.

XV.

A WORD FROM THE PASTOR TO HIS

FLOCK.

5 July, 1840.

It is meant to send you next week the second of the Monthly Church Accounts; and to continue (if God will) similar accounts on the second Sunday in every month. Upon the occasion of sending the first of these accounts, your Pastor stated that he intended to point out the advantage which each of you may gain by regularly and carefully examining them

་

when they are sent to you; this he purposes now to do briefly; inviting at the same time every one of the flock to make such enquiries of him personally as they may desire; upon which he will give to each more full information.

The object of sending this account to the people is threefold. First, it is for the purpose of leading each person to consider in what position he stands in the Church; that so you may all the more readily understand your own state as regards spiritual matters. Secondly, it is given in order to make those amongst us, who really know the power and blessing of prayer, more particular and more earnest in supplication for the gift of the Spirit of Christ in the parish. This is likely to be produced by shewing the true state of the case as regards what is done, in order that they may the more plainly perceive what yet remains to be done, and mourn over it, while they make it a matter of prayer. And thirdly, such an account regularly brought before the people is calculated, under God's blessing, to strengthen and keep in mind the real order of the Church; and to preserve us from the careless and ignorant notions which frequently prevent the benefit which the Church intends for her members.

This being the general principle upon which the account is sent round the parish, it may be advantageous to give a few short hints as to the manner of applying this principle in making use of these accounts.

I. First, as to the Communion Account. As this gives the real state of the Church, as far as the rules of her discipline enable us to ascertain it, much care is taken in keeping the account, of which some of the results only are given. The name of every member of the Church is kept in a book, and their days of attendance upon Communion are always marked, as also such reasons for non-attendance as may be known to your Pastor. This book tells also the Sacramental days