"

fulness. A clergyman who has his heart in his profession, is the happiest of men in the business of his life at least, if not in actual temperament: (that may be prevented by trials, anxieties, and disappointments :) but his employment leads him to advance others, and advance himself, in the only pursuit which, if we believe the Scripture, has any real value or importance. On the contrary, if there were a clergyman who had not his heart in his profession, he must be "of all men most miserable:" restrained by the decencies expected of him from objects to which he is really attached, or condemning himself for neglecting duties in which he feels no interest. But it is still more certain that the time will come, when those who have taken upon themselves to be " stewards of the mysteries of God," must render the account which is required of stewards: and that then, to be found faithful, whether over few things or over many things, whether in the use of ten talents or of one, will be an honour cheaply bought at the price of ten thousand transitory worlds. "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable; always abounding in the work of the Lord, inasmuch as ye know that your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord."

APPENDIX, &c.

APPENDIX No. I. (Page 13.)

By the return of population in 1821, it appears that of every hundred persons, twenty are under 7 years of age: twenty are between the ages of 7 and 15: ten between 15 and 20: leaving fifty from the age of 20 upwards. More than half therefore, not only of our congregations, but of our people ought to be habitual communicants, before we have any just grounds to be satisfied with their state. I shall not detail the awfully different result which has been furnished me from the several parishes, because each clergyman can calculate it for himself: but I am sure that the fact justifies any strength of language that I can use, and demands any measure of zealous exertion that the clergy can devise, in order that they may introduce a state of things more resembling a community of Christians. One cause to which I cannot help attributing much of the inattention to this ordinance which prevails, together with much of the ignorance of our people, is the early age at which it has been usual to admit children to Confirmation. It does not follow, that because they must be acquainted with the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, before they are confirmed, they should also be confirmed whenever they are thus qualified; for if so, a child of six from an Infant School might be better prepared than his neighbour of sixteen. Confirmation implies a solemn religious obligation: which very few, under sixteen, are able to enter upon in earnest. If that were considered the lowest age at which any were admissible, Confirmation might be followed by regular attendance at the Lord's table, and a system of Christian life begin which should not be laid aside. This would exclude many from Confirmation, for a time, no donbt; but it would exclude none whose admission is really desirable: and many of those whom the inadequacy of our Church accommodation has rendered dissenters from our discipline while they retain our doctrine, would be added to the number confirmed, when they witnessed the solemnity and experienced the utility of such an intelligent recognition of Christian obligations.

Even among those who are communicants, I find a custom prevailing which is very far from satisfactory: that of attending the Sacrament, on the great Festivals of Christmas or Easter, and at no other time. This looks too much as if the Sacrament were considered as a duty to be performed, or a rite to be observed only, and not as the habitual practice of a Christian, by which his faith were to be maintained in continual exercise. Such a custom is a sort of practical acknowledgment that men are desirous of the benefit of the Gospel as far as it can be obtained by compliance with a form, but that they do not possess the spirit and will not submit to the obligation of Christians. It is very needful, when we insist upon the Sacrain its proper light, ment either publicly or privately, to place as the test of a Christian state of mind; and it might tend to remove a remnant of popery which still exists too generally, if the Sacrament were never urged upon the sick, or even administered to them without much consideration, unless they have been previously communicants. The withholding it will seldom be felt as a serious evil, unless the object of the Sacrament itself is misunderstood, and if its object is misunderstood, it is far better that it should be withheld. The temporary consolation, of which a few who may be really entitled to such consolation will thus be deprived, is of far less consequence than the perpetuation of an error and an abuse, which there is reason to fear has been the ruin of multitudes.

I take this opportunity of alluding to another custom which I find in a few parishes of this diocese, that of distributing the alms or a part of them among the poorer communicants at the time of administration. The dangers of this practice are so obvious, that I request it may be from henceforth discontinued.

APPENDIX No. II. (Page 17.)

The only way in which this instruction can be given, in parishes of any size, is by collecting together at fixed hours a certain number, not too large a number, of those who live contiguously, and explaining the Scriptures to them in a familiar

fnanner. In this way one hour will answer the purpose of fifteen › or twenty, and more interest will be roused: and the private concerns of the family will be avoided which materially interfere with the usefulness of visits to individuals. It has been object-u ed to me, that the people will not value such instruction enough to come for it. This does not agree with experience; and will seldom be found, I believe, when it is offered with sincerity. Let it be fairly tried for a year, and continued or dropped according to the result. To the clergyman himself the exercise will be invaluable: and further, "If thou warn the wicked of his way, to turn from it, if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." More remarks on this plan will be found in an excellent little Tract, Parochial duties practically illustrated,"* the author of which writes to me: "I have no scruple in saying that if I see any decided blessing on any part of a long ministry, (above 26 years); it is to this species of instruction; and that the 209 hours of the last year which were employed in this manner, were in every respect as tending to fill the church, and attaching flock to scriptural inquiry, and to our church-establishmentmore fruitful than any other ministerial labours of the twelve months."

APPENDIX No. III. (Page 24.)

The large and populous town of Brighton has been for some years divided into 6 districts, with their respective Secretaries and Committees. Each district consists of from 9 to 18 sub-divisions, and has visitors regularly appointed to each sub-division, some males but chiefly females. The District Committee meet monthly, to receive the reports of the several visitors and transact the business of the District.

The objects of the Society, and therefore the objects kept in view by the Visitors, are 1. relief to the sick and unfortunate. 2. The encouragement of provident habits. 3. The improvement of moral and religious character generally. 4. The prin

**Sold in London by Hatchard & Co.

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ciples of the rising generation. 5. The suppression of mendi dicity and imposture.

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that

The Report for 1827 says:- Experience has taught us," it is impossible to go among forty families and exercise these " acts of judicious kindness without insuring their respect and af fection. The poor are found to be grateful beyond expectation; 93 and get so attached to the Visitors as to resemble a large family, This is no exaggeration. It is a sweet reward for the trouble of the employment. The Visitors thus obtain a great moral influence over the district. They are able to convey many useful" impressions; their own character is more or less reflected from those around them. A serious conduct, and greater regard for " religious observances, and more attention to the education of their children are the fruits of this intercourse; and the charac ter of the low population of Brighton is perceived, by sober persons, to be considerably improved by this constant visiting of the members of the Society, for the space of three years.”

"P.S. The mechanism of this Society is equally adapted to a small village or to a populous town. It has been tried in some villages, and has answered extremely well; of course its operations are there much simplified.*

It is obvious, as remarked in the last extract, that if such a system can be maintained successfully in so large a town as Brighton, and in proportion to its size, certainly not containing

a

large number of Clergy: it becomes comparatively simple in a population of from 2 to 5,000, where nothing is necessary, except to assign a district of from 25 to 50 houses to different individuals, who shall have their stated times for calling, to see that no want is unrelieved, no needful advice withheld: shall report to the Clergyman such cases as require his interference, and shall meet him at regular periods for the purpose of counsel and encouragement. In this manner the parish is really under pastoral superintendance; and yet the Clergyman has far more undistracted time at his command than he would have without

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Whoever is desirous of obtaining the necessary papers and forms for a similar Society, may apply personally, or by letter, post-paid, to the Agent, Mr. Foard, Society's Office, 63, High-street, Brighton.

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