PASTORAL SUPERINTENDENCE.

PART III.

ITS SUPPORT,

AS DRAWN FROM ARRANGED COMBINATIONS FOR

INTERCESSORY PRAYER.

I.

THE WONSTON PRIVATE-PRAYER UNION.

ORIGINAL ADDRESS, WITH THE FIRST EDITION.

It appears that the blessing of God has been vouchsafed, in a considerable measure, to the ministry of the Word, in the parish of Wonston, for some years past. A progress has been made in religious things, both outwardly in profession, and, it is to be hoped, also inwardly in the spirit, which calls for much thankfulness, and ought to afford much encouragement; but this very progress, by the increase of light, of knowledge, and of grace which produces it, tends to distinguish more clearly the darkness beyond it; and to shew more plainly how much there is yet to be done. The following is a short general view of the state of things, at the end of the first seven years of the present Rector's ministry.

Of

The population is about seven hundred and forty souls; of which about four hundred are above sixteen years of age. these, two hundred and one are communicants; a large proportion of whom are giving satisfactory evidence of sincerity, by consistency; while there is not one whose conduct would make it desirable that separation from Communion should take place.

The attendance on the means of grace may be called satisfactory-the Sunday morning congregation consisting of about three hundred persons, including children; and very few, except professed Dissenters, absenting themselves entirely from church.

The attendance at the Schools is satisfactory and regular (except so far as concerns the lad's class); and the progress made by the children is such as manifests a real advancement in knowledge.

The use of the press which has been established in the Parish has been attended with very important results. By means of the Weekly Calendar"-the short addresses, called "The present truth"-and especially the "Text Papers," a degree of Scriptural knowledge, and a general interest in the work of the ministry have been excited amongst the people, so as to produce habits of thought and enquiry, beyond what could have been expected. The publication and circulation of the "Cottager's Guide to the New Testament" have been found to assist in promoting these habits.

Besides this, there has been a continual, though gradual, infusion of Church principles into the minds of the parishioners, along with the main object of the ministry. A certain degree of ecclesiastical discipline has been put into practice in a very beneficial manner, and with scarcely any difficulty. The administration of the Sacrament of Baptism, strictly according to the requirements of the church, has been made the means of obtaining such an understanding of churchmembership, as has evidently produced the wholesome result of an intelligent attention to the subject. None but Communicants are admitted as sponsors; and all the sponsors are occasionally called together, as a body of office-bearers in the church, to be instructed in their duties, and to be urged to the performance of them. Two seasons of Confirmation have been greatly blessed to the people.

This is a brief sketch of the outline of that general state of things, which forms both the materials and the expectation of better things in future.

But there remains much to be done. Many persons continue uninfluenced, even in external things by the means

of grace and of instruction. Some persons continue openly sinning, with a high hand--some it is to be feared, are led to make an insincere profession-and there are but few in whom the seed brings forth an hundred-fold. A greater earnestness-a more impressive unction is wanting;-a deeper, and more solemn tone of spirituality-more persons under the decided influence of spiritual affections.

One point which is of the greatest importance is, that the infirmities and insufficiency of the minister may perhap form a serious hindrance to such a spiritual revival of the work of the Spirit in the hearts of the people, as is to be desired.

Since the beginning of the present Rector's ministry, there has been a spirit of prayer amongst many of the flock; sometimes manifested with more, and sometimes with less of steadiness and power; and it seems probable that this is the point to which most attention is required. There are not wanting those amongst the flock, who lift up their hearts to the throne of grace, from time to time, with special petitions for a blessing on the work; and an unusual number of valuable friends have been raised around the minister, who have willingly promised to plead for him, and for his people, in prayer. He gratefully acknowledges this affectionate kindness; and depending with confidence upon their sincere intentions of fulfilling these promises, he loves to ascribe to the instrumentality of their prayers, (the Spirit of Christ helping their infirmities) much of that measure of success which has been already vouchsafed from on high. A full reliance upon the sincerity of these friendly intentions, joined to an experimental conviction of the weakness of our warmest spiritual desires, (especially in the exercise of the difficult duty of prayer, and under the disadvantage of absence from the scene in which we are interested, and of surrounding occupation unconnected with it) has induced the Rector of Wonston

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