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trations must be the gaining in that heart, first, a lodgment for the Gospel truth, and then a throne for the Saviour who has sent it.

He who reads the Scriptures to the sick will often find it necessary to pause and explain, to apply the promises of the Book to the cases of those who need them, and bring home its appeals to the consciences of those who have long evaded them. Even in cases where the Scriptures are to a certain extent understood, it often happens that the practices of piety have been so neglected, that the sick visitor has to copy the example of John the forerunner, and of his greater Lord, and "teach them how to pray." Especially is this the case with younger persons who have been accustomed rather to be prayed for in our schools than to utter their own desires at the throne of grace.

It is not needful for us to dwell longer on such duties as these, upon which all are doubtless agreed, but we may touch on some matters which, though not of primary importance, are yet parts of the work without which it would be incomplete.

Sickness is a time

There is, for instance, the relief of the poor. of great privation with the poorer classes, who, from their very style of life, seem to have a greater share of it than others, but the minister, in most instances, unless he have a larger income than is commonly the case, may talk, may pray, may abound in good words, but cannot to any useful extent minister to any but spiritual wants. The Sacramental Fund only meets the needs of sick Church members, and scarcely that. If the pastor might to a greater extent dispense the gifts of his richer people, much good would accrue to the sick themselves, and the gifts of many of our more careless givers would escape that misdirection always involved in indiscriminate charity, whilst the minister himself would be relieved from a false and humiliating position.

There are, especially in poor neighbourhoods, great risks to the pastor's health involved in sick visitation, and to these it would be only fair to allude in the hope that some of our brethren may in discussion give us a little practical counsel. Is it not best to advise that all cases of infection amongst the poor be removed to charitable institutions, where all their wants, and amongst the rest their religious wants, will be fully met, without the risk of either killing your visitor, or at least sending him home to carry infection thither, or to the neighbouring sick who may need his services?

In times of epidemic visitation, I trust there are none of us who would shrink from any duty in this direction, but relying on the protection of divine Providence, would accept the duties which came to us, and leave the rest with God; but to go to a solitary case of infectious sickness without a clear call of duty, and at a time when others require your services, seems to us a tempting of Providence, whatever it may seem to others. If we copy the medical profession in their fearlessness of contagion, we ought also to copy them in their precautionary measures.

The Rev. Dr. Guthrie, one of the bravest of men, was always careful to place himself in such a position in the sick chamber, that the draught from door to fire-place would carry away from him, rather than towards him, any particles or germs of infection proceeding from the sufferer or his bed. Powerful disinfectants, such as carbolic acid, in its different kinds, may now be obtained in great variety, and in some cases in so refined and aromatic a form as to be available for the handkerchief, or for disinfecting without injury the clothing of the visitor. It is always unwise to visit bad cases of sickness when hungry, or exhausted, or unwell. Remembering such precautions as these, we may at once increase our usefulness and diminish the risk to others and to ourselves.

The administration of the Lord's Supper to the sick seems in some cases so desirable, and yet in all cases so liable to abuse, that it would be well if we could arrive at some fixed principle by which we might be guided in the matter. In our own case, where it has been desired on the part of communicants long debarred from it or very eagerly desiring it, we have invited a few Christian friends, and we have broken bread together, and felt that such an observance of the Lord's Supper was a means of grace to us all. Still, I presume, we rather discourage the practice than otherwise. Are we right? It is a matter for thankfulness that in the broad and general features of our work we do not suffer for lack of light.

Over and above all precedent and every other rule, stands the personal example of the great Pastor and Bishop of souls, our Divine exemplar in all things.

It is said of Augustine, as though it were a sort of official virtue in him, that "he was wont of his own accord to visit the poor, the fatherless, and the widow, but the sick never till he was called." But Christ waited not to be sent for; He found his way to the infirmary by the sheep-market, where were all manner of sick folk; he refused not to go when sent for. They told him of that fever case in the house of Simon, whose wife's mother, according to Luke the beloved physician, was in a "great fever." He visited the sick; He encouraged them to visit Him. He made no difference in His compassion, and even where there was clear connection between the sickness and the sin, withdrew neither pity nor help, nor did He lay any condition of this kind on his first missionaries, who were told to heal the sick, and make use of all their special and miraculous gifts, even to the raising of the dead. Still they were not to wait until the weariness of the disease had worn out the patient; they were to shew Christ's compassion for the ailing, and were to heal the sick.

Here is a picture which may serve to cheer those who are tempted to weariness in well-doing. "And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a Centurion, beseeching Him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith, I will come and heal him." As a

response to his extraordinary faith, the visit was not made, but the sick one was without it healed by His word. No one can read Matthew viii. or Mark i. without feeling that the Good Shepherd has left us a heritage of duty in the care of the sick which cannot be disowned without treason to His authority, and oblivion of His example, and loss to His Church. He was above all others the Friend of the sick. He would not suffer His hands to be tied by Sabbatarian or sectarian bonds, even though the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans, and by Rabbinic law it was not lawful to heal on the Sabbath days. So, with something like wondering simplicity, the narrator of His miracles adds once and again, "And the same day was the Sabbath." He heals the sick still, and not the spiritually sick alone.

if

If there be any truth in the promises, and any power in prayer, He be the same, yesterday, to-day, and for ever, if His compassion fail not then, from the time of the apostle James until now, we are warranted in asserting that the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and that, subject of course to all the great conditions of blessing, "if they have committed sins, they shall be forgiven them."

If, in the general duty, we have the example of Christ, so have we more specifically His methods. He prayed with the sick; so must we. He taught the sick; so must we. He healed the sick; and with the Gospel in our hand and the Master by our side, we are warranted by the promise in looking for those greater things which were to attest in later ages, and over a wider area, the power of the risen Lord, who said, "Ye shall see greater things than these."

The Saviour in one instance at least has set us an example in the direction of following up the work which begins at a time of affliction. This is probably our weakest point. The promises made on the sick bed would be more often kept if the cases were followed up carefully, and if the presence of the convalescent were looked for and secured in the house of God. As it is, we have often to ask, "Were there not ten healed? Where are the nine?" Men are not more grateful now than they used to be. But we have a precept which tells us to "go to the lame and the halt and the blind, and compel them to come in.

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Many excellent manuals have been published to guide pastors in this part of their duty; but, like books on preaching, they are for the most part mere personal theories of the writers, or, worse still, praying machines full of orations to the deity, of which we who believe in free prayer can make but slender use. But if they serve no other purpose, they help to direct our minds to the importance of a duty in which we all have a community of interest, and from which we have a right to expect much larger results than we have hitherto gained, as the reward of more careful work.

"IN DUE SEASON YE SHALL REAP, IF YE FAINT NOT."`

not remain satisfied without having fruit to their labours. He had toiled in his parish for many, many years. By him the bread of life had been carefully, faithfully, and discriminately distributed, but as yet, apparently, with no results. This state of things often caused him severe and painful mental anguish. Often would he exclaim, “Let me

THE minister of a country parish was taking his usual afternoon's walk, going in and out among the members of his flock, attending to and remedying, as best he could, those varied evils which so constantly and tenaciously cling to our frail and fallen nature. In the course of his parochial labour he came to a neat and whitewashed cottage, the very appearance of die rather than be useless in the which afforded abundant proof of vineyard of my Lord." Oftentimes, the order that reigned within. The in the silence of his study, at the cottage was one that could not fail close of the Sabbath services, when to strike the eye of an intelligent seen by no eye but that of Omnisciobserver. Everything betokened ence, would he fall down, and, in the care and oversight of a master the bitterness of his soul, cry aloud, hand. No weeds were ever found "Who hath believed our report, and in the beautiful garden, always most to whom is the arm of the Lord tastefully laid out. The air seemed revealed?" Weeks and months ever to be full of the most delicious rolled on, he continued faithful to perfume. The time to which we his post, and now he was about to are now referring was that in which realise the glorious fact that he had nature is arrayed in her gayest and not laboured in vain, that he had most beauteous garb. The rich, not spent his strength for naught. ripe fruit hung most invitingly from We left him surveying and enjoying the heavily laden boughs. The to the utmost the various beauties birds sang their sweetest notes of by which he was surrounded. He love. The hum of the busy bee was suddenly arrested in the enjoywas heard on every hand, as rich ment of his passing dreams by the honey was gathered from the open-sight of six men bearing on a litter ing flowers. what appeared to be a human body.

The minister, before entering the The procession drew nearer and interior of this abode of beauty, nearer. At last, opening the very paused for awhile_to enjoy the gate through which he had so variegated scene. He was a man shortly passed, the mournful cortege whose love for the beautiful was stopped at the cottage door. A intense, and now, as he looked from shriek, such as once heard can point to point, his whole soul never be forgot, told the sad effect seemed to be thrilled with emotion. this blow had upon her who seemed For awhile the cares which had to have lost the desire of her eyes oppressed him-the ingratitude, by a stroke. Mr. and Mrs. S. were dulness, stupidity, want of attention the inhabitants of the pretty little and sympathy on the part of those among whom he laboured-were all forgotten and banished from his mind. This was one of the oases of his life, one of those moments that richly repay those hours of weary, weary toil.

The minister was one of those faithful servants of Christ who can

cottage. Florence, their baby-child, lay in the cradle, happily unconscious of the dire catastrophe, while Edwin, their first-born, sadly tried to know why ma was sobbing as if her heart must break. Mr. S. was by trade a builder. He had been engaged but an hour previous in giving directions to his workmen,

and had ascended the scaffolding to see how the work was progressing. How uncertain is the tenure of human life! Upon what slight and feeble threads doth our present existence seem to hang!

"Our life contains a thousand springs,

And dies if one be gone; Strange that a harp of thousand strings

Should stay in tune so long!"

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cleanseth us from all sin.' I felt every word that you spoke. The blood of Jesus-precious bloodcleanseth me from all, from every stain. I am going to die, but all is well. Father to the fatherless, husband to the widow-all is well."

Here the speaker sank back exhausted; the lips closed to open no more, the eyes lost their brightness, the silver cord was loosed, the But not merely are we in danger golden bowl was broken. Mrs. S. from our internal mechanism, but was a widow. The minister stood from outward causes we indeed like one entranced. Mr. S. had stand in jeopardy every hour. The always been one of the most work had been approved, the last reserved members of his congregadirection given, when suddenly a tion. Constant and regular in his rope was seen to snap, the scaffold- attendance, apparently unapproaching gave way, and, with a fearful able to introduce conversation on crash, precipitated its unhappy occu- religious subjects, he was invariably pants from the height of about silent; but now the truth had come thirty feet violently to the ground. freely and unhesitatingly from his The strong man, who but a few lips. The words rang in the hours before had left his home of minister's cars, and fell like healing love full of life and vigour, had now balm upon his soul. "I have been entered it for the last time. The the means of leading him to Christ. men laid their burden carefully Shall I ever doubt or mistrust upon the bed. He was not dead, again? Forgive, O Father, the errbut seriously injured. Medical skill ing waywardness of my heart; I of the highest order was speedily afresh devote myself, with all my summoned, but the ominous shake powers, to Thee." Such were some of the head spoke the fatal truth of the pastor's words as he turned that it was too late. The king of to administer comfort to her whose terrors had issued his summons, earthly prop was gone; but what and from that claim there was no was his astonishment when he exemption. The dying man, un- found that she too had become a closing his eyes, caught the earnest partner of the same like precious gaze of the minister fixed upon him. faith. "Oh, sir, my heart is full; He beckoned him nearer, and, in but you must know it, my husband accents quivering with emotion, and I together commenced this new said, "I am so glad you are here; life yesterday. We were happy I could not die without seeing you. before, but, oh, the love that filled You have been the means of leading our hearts as for the first time me to the Saviour. I shall be a star together at the family altar we worin your crown. You remember that shipped the Father in spirit and in sermon about "The Starless Crown?' truth! Little did I know the trial How it seemed to thrill me through that was awaiting me. But even and through! How I longed to tell now, in the midst of my great you the feelings of my heart! I was sorrow, I can truly say, 'Not my just then beginning to see the light; will, but Thine be done.' My now I have found it. All is calm, husband, I am persuaded, has gone and joy, and peace. Your sermon to the better land-the heavenly yesterday was just what I wanted. Jerusalem. I shall meet him there. 'The blood of Jesus Christ His Son | Oh, sir, you cannot tell what I feel

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