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of teaching natural knowledge should be expressly trained for the due performance of this function, and be afterwards expected to devote their whole attention to its duties, how necessary it must be that those who are to enter upon the more difficult and important office of imparting spiritual instruction should be duly qualified, and have their undivided time, attention, and energies directed to the sole discharge of this preeminent duty. That the services of those who minister in spiritual things are felt to be of the highest estimation, is evident from the fact that ministers usually obtain a seat in the affections of their congregations much superior to that which any other class of men ever obtain with those whom they serve. It is true, that the love cherished for ministers of religion frequently degenerates into mere personal attachment; but this abuse of a useful and indeed heavenly affection, ought not to dictate the abolition of all such feeling. The abuse of a good cannot be employed as a valid argument against its use. Accordingly, the doctrines of the New Church do not countenance the practice of withholding from ministers, nor from any other individual, that personal affection which is grounded in his good qualities: indeed, this regard for a person, founded on the good which is perceived to constitute his real character, is the genuine love of our neighbour, and, as such, cannot be too much encouraged.

"It is, then, with the view of fostering this truly christian affection, that meetings have been occasionally held throughout the Church in her various societies; at which, expressions of regard for the minister have been laudably indulged. The good man, while he refers all praise and thanks to the Lord, will, nevertheless, feel gratified by this evidence that his services are well received; and this conviction will strengthen him in the future performance of his useful and onerous duties.

"The reception of a newly-appointed minister would appear, then, to be equally a suitable occasion on which to hold such friendly meeting, in order that, while its members enjoy the "convivial recreations of charity," they should simultaneously exhibit towards their pastor that warmth of genuine charity which may be regarded as an encouraging evidence of the good ground upon which he is called to labour. We have now met to celebrate such an event; and which has originated in one of those progressive changes to which all mundane things are subject. Each day passes through its morning, noon, evening, and sinks in night: every year also progresses from spring, through summer and autumn, terminating its career in winter. So each dispensation of Divine Truth has enjoyed its morning or spring, has passed through its various periods and seasons, and ultimately has sunk, never to rise

again. But man, for whose use the whole world has been created, and for whose benefit these several dispensations have been given, after passing through his states of childhood, youth, manhood, and old age, in this world, sinks to rise in a better

'He bows his head at going out, and enters straight

Another golden chamber of the King's, larger than this and lovelier; '—

there to experience only those vicissitudes which impart a zest to life, and lead to higher and higher states of bliss to all eternity. Thus it is with the newly-risen and glorious dispensation of the New Jerusalem, whose sun will never go down, for her vicissitudes will only render her more resplendent, and she will know no end. As with the whole, so it is respectively with each part; for every society of this Church, although it may be exposed to times of difficulty and states of trial, yet, if Truth sits enthroned in the hearts of its members, it will emerge from these states of cold and of darkness into brighter ones of light, of life, and of love. As with parts in general, so with parts in particular; an exemplification of which comes home, just now, to ourselves, for our much-beloved minister, Mr. Noble, has seen his morning, noon, and it may with truth be said, is. now far advanced into his evening of life; and hence it is impossible to avoid the painful conviction, that to some extent we are now bidding him-Farewell! Painful, however, as it is at all times to bid adieu to a much esteemed friend, yet seldom does it happen that there do not exist some circumstances to mitigate the bitterness of parting; and in our case this bitterness is considerably lessened by the conviction that, on the election of a coadjutor in the ministerial duties and of a successor to his charge, the choice of the society, falling as it has upon the Rev. William Bruce, has fallen upon a gentleman who is in every way most agreeable to Mr. Noble. Thus he may retire with the happy assurance that the tenor of his teaching will be continued by his successor, and that, now that he rests from his labours, the results of his long sustained and disinterested exertions will not be allowed to perish, but, on the contrary, they will be continually vivified, and his good works will permanently endure in those convictions of truth and affections of good which his valuable teaching has implanted in the hearts and minds of his flock.

"That any one may satisfactorily fill the office of a minister in the New Church (or perhaps I ought upon this occasion rather to say in the Cross-street society), he should be intimately and extensively acquainted with the heavenly doctrines of the New Jerusalem; he should also

end

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possess such a knowledge of the Word in the three languages--Hebrew, Greek, and English-as will enable him to demonstrate the truth of those doctrines from that sense in which it is in its fulness, its sanctity, and its power. It is also requisite that he should be acquainted with the Latin tongue, that he may read the writings of the Herald of the New Dispensation in the language in which these were originally written. He, likewise, should enjoy that faculty, for the absence of which nothing can compensate, namely, the power of perceiving and developing the internal sense of the Scriptures; that sense which distinguishes them from the works of man, and stamps them indisputably with the title of THE WORD OF GOD. In addition, a minister must be a pastor as well as a teacher: he should be suited to soothe the sufferer under pain and in trouble; in his chamber and at his fireside. should enliven the social circle by his friendly and cheerful converse; become familiar with the youth and children of his flock, encouraging them in the discharge of their home duties; and by his benign presence, chastening their recreations and elevating their enjoyments. Such, then, are the qualifications which we conceive we are justified in requiring. And in you, dear sir, we feel with confidence that these qualifications are combined. In the discharge of your various and responsible duties, it cannot but happen that some difficulties will arise; for when was the discharge of the duties attendant on a post of honour unconnected with such? But whatever of difficulty you may have to encounter, whatever trials you may be called upon to experience, we here tender you our unfeigned sympathies and our unflinching energetic support.

"It now only remains for me, dear sir, to add, that in the name of the Cross-street Society I bid you a hearty WELCOME!"

At the conclusion of the Address, which was received with marks of great approbation,

The Rev. W. BRUCE rose and responded as follows:-"In addressing you on the present occasion, I trust you will exercise towards me very considerable indulgence. The circumstances under which we are met together are such as cannot fail to make a deep impression on the minds of all, more especially on my own. The address which has been read is calculated to deepen that impression, by bringing more distinctly under our view the serious nature of the relationship into which we have entered, and the importance of the duties which arise out of it. It appears to be necessary for me to make a few observations on some of the sentiments contained in the address; but before doing so, I wish

to say a few words as to the reasons which have induced me to accept the office which I now hold, as coadjutor of the Rev. Samuel Noble, in the ministry of the Cross-street society. In accepting the invitation to this office, which has been given me without the slightest solicitation or solicitude on my part, I have acted more from the dictates of my deliberate judgment than from anything connected with my own personal feelings. I considered that, under the circumstances in which I was placed, my services might be more useful to the Cross-street than they were likely to be to the Edinburgh society; and that the services of another might be more useful in Edinburgh than mine. The change was not dictated by any want of affection on the part of the flock of which I have been pastor for more than twenty years. During that period I have walked with them in perfect peace; nor has any breach of friendship been produced by my acceptance of this charge-a step in which I have their entire concurrence: I mention this to convey to you the agreeable intelligence that the society which I have left regard that to which I have come with no envious or unpleasant feeling on my account; but are rather gratified that I have entered on what they regard as a sphere of more extended usefulness. In entering on the duties of the office to which I have been called, I am well convinced that it will require all my limited abilities and best energies to discharge them with advantage and satisfaction to the society. The success of our ministry must depend on the use which we make of the peculiar talent which the Lord has bestowed upon us. If our intentions are upright, we have reason to believe that He who inspires the end will also supply the means of usefulness, by communicating that truth which is necessary for the enlightenment of our own minds and for rightly directing the minds of others. It is an article of our creed which, I may venture to say, none who hear me will refuse to admit, that those who in sincerity enter on the ministerial office, are the subjects of a peculiar Divine influence, which confers upon them an especial degree of illustration, distinct from the personal illumination which is common to all the members of the Church.* We are assured by Swedenborg,† that the faithful minister is "every day taught of the Lord what to preach; not immediately by any dictate, but by influx into his spiritual affections and delight:" from which we may conclude, that he is guided by the Divine Mercy to the truths and subjects which are best suited to the states and conditions of his flock. These things, when rightly considered, so far from having any tendency to exalt the human instrument, have, on the contrary, the effect of leading to a more direct recog+ Apoc. Exp. 825.

*T. C. R. 146.

nition of the Divine Hand in all that contributes to the order and edification of his church. There are, however, as mentioned in the address, other duties besides those of the pulpit which belong to the minister's office, the principal and most important of which is that of personal intercourse with the members, especially with those who are labouring under sickness of body or distress of mind, and who require the sympathy of a friend and the aid of a spiritual adviser. Among the duties of a minister may be mentioned that of discouraging and endeavouring to allay all party feelings and personal animosities, and endeavouring to unite his society in such a bond of confidential and cordial fellowship as will make them in the sight of the Lord as one man. There is nothing more destructive of the peace, the welfare, and the utility of a religious society, than party division. Such divisions and contentions may generally be traced to the desire of rule grounded in self-love; for when this love is active, the understanding is too often blinded to the course which duty and true interest require us to pursue. In such cases, where such unhappily occur, much may be done to promote unity and peace by the exercise, on the part of some one, of temper, affection, and judgment; and such a one undoubtedly should be found in the person of the minister. It is to be hoped that there may be no such occasion in this society for the office of the peace-maker; but should such occasion arise, it shall be my endeavour to promote harmony and peace both between parties and individuals. I shall not occupy your time by entering further into these and other duties, having already delivered my views on the pastoral relation and duties in my discourse of last Sabbath morning. Sensible as I am of the importance of these duties, I trust that I may be enabled, by the divine mercy of the Lord, to discharge them faithfully.-Besides the remarks made in the address, on the duties of a minister, there are others which relate to his qualifications. I am satisfied of the justice of those remarks; but it would be presumptuous in me to say that I possess them in such a measure and degree as to satisfy myself. It must be my endeavour to advance in those attainments, as it is my duty to desire those gifts, which are necessary to qualify me for promoting the improvement of others, and to enable me to realise, to some extent, the expectations of the society to which I now belong. He who teaches requires also to learn: unless I do so, it will be unreasonable to expect either the progress or the approval of my congregation, or to secure the respect and attachment which are necessary for the useful exercise of the ministerial function. The love and honour directed to ministers, which has been alluded to in the address, is a delicate subject, but one which is of some importance: it is

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