LECTURE IX.

Extra Religious Meetings. The number of them. Meetings on Sabbath evening. A Lecture and Prayer meeting in the week. Directions as to the manner of conducting these meetings. Dangers to be avoided.

THERE is a class of public religious services which, according to the usages of our churches, belong appropriately to the pastoral office. They are so appropriate to it, that the performance of them enters into the very idea of a minister's contract with his people. They may be called stated religious services. They are the two regular services of the Sabbath, and such other stated public services as a minister shall have, either expressly or impliedly, engaged to perform, so as to leave him no option or discretion on the subject. The times of performing these services are, in general, fixed; and instruction as to the manner of their performance belongs more properly to another department, than to that of Pastoral Duties.

In addition to these stated services, there is a class of extra religious meetings, which will necessarily engage the attention of the pastor. The amount of this extra labor will, of course, vary according to circumstances. In times of special seriousness and revival, the number of meetings will be increased. They will be so increased, as to meet the exigencies of the case. But in times of no more than ordinary attention, what ought to be the number of them? What extra weekly meetings should a

pastor undertake to sustain, during the general course of his ministry?

My own impression is, that three meetings in a week, of the kind here spoken of, are enough. Perhaps these are more than some pastors will think it their duty to sustain. I have intended to set the standard sufficiently high. In ordinary cases, I should think a pastor might better fall short of it, than go beyond it.

When there are three extra meetings during the week, one of them will be likely to fall on the evening of the Sabbath. But as to the propriety of holding meetings on the evening of the Sabbath, different opinions have been entertained by evangelical ministers. In opposition to such meetings, it has been urged, that two sermons in a day are as much as most people can hear with profit; that the evening of the Sabbath is needed for religious instruction in the family; and that under the pressure of so much continuous labor on the Sabbath, the health of ministers must necessarily suffer.

It has been urged in favor of the meetings in question, that the evening of the Sabbath is, on many accounts, a favorable time for a religious exercise; that people then have leisure, and greater numbers will attend; that their minds are in a more serious state, and less burthened with worldly cares, than at any other time during the week; that such meetings prevent visiting, unprofitable conversation, and other things of an improper character; that not a few attend them, who do not go to the house of God during the day, and who would otherwise spend the evening unprofitably and wickedly; and finally, that God, in a great many instances, has blessed these meetings, and made them the means of saving souls. In reply to the objections, above stated, it has been said, that the question is not, how many sermons in a day a people can profit

ably digest, but how many will they; that most people hear so carelessly and inattentively, that three discourses will not be likely to overburthen their minds. It has been further insisted, that most families may attend three meetings on the Sabbath, and yet find time for the religious instruction of their household; and that if any cannot do this, they may well be excused in absenting themselves from the third meeting. There will be a large number to attend, if these stay away. And as to the health of min

isters, it has been urged that these meetings may be so conducted (if need be) as not to impose upon ministers a large amount of extra labor.

In view of the whole subject, it is obvious that a minister ought to take a prudent care of his health. And if he cannot, without endangering life and health, attend three meetings on the Sabbath, he should not attempt it, even if the third service is entirely dropped. But when ministers are favored with sufficient health, and other circumstances are not particularly adverse, they will, I am persuaded, endeavor to seize the favorable moment, and hold a meeting on the evening of the Sabbath.

In fixing the place of this meeting, a minister will, of course, be guided by circumstances. He may also vary, as to the mode of conducting it. He may preach a sermon; or give an expository lecture; or turn the meeting into one for religious inquiry, or for mutual conference and prayer. His performances, let them be what they may, should be of a free, extemporaneous character, having for their object, so far as practicable, to follow up and deepen the impressions of the day. In order to this, let the subject suggested at the evening meeting be one growing out of the services of the day; or at least, an intimately connected subject. In the mode of illustration also, the same object should be kept in view. By

neglecting this rule, a minister will be likely to distract the minds of his hearers, and his meeting in the evening may go to destroy the good effects of his sermons through the day. While by adhering to the rule, and aiming at a general unity of impression, the good effects of his sermons may be rendered more lasting and sure.

It has been the practice of some ministers to make their meeting on Sabbath evening one of conversation and inquiry in regard to the sermons of the day;-the minister proposing questions to test the knowledge and recollections of his hearers; and they proposing questions to him, if any point has not been sufficiently illustrated, or when any difficulty remains upon their minds. A meeting such as this, where it can be introduced and sustained in a proper spirit and manner, I think must be a very pleasant and profitable one. It will have a good effect both upon preacher and hearers; leading him to prepare his sermons with care and accuracy, and them to listen to them with attention and interest.

Besides the meeting on Sabbath evening, there may be, ordinarily, two others during the week. The one of these, I think, should be a lecture, and the other a meeting for social conference and prayer. The lecture should be a free, extemporaneous performance, on some appropriate subject which may require attention. There is a class of subjects, which a minister may be inclined to discuss, which will be more appropriate to a lecture in the week, than for a sermon on the Sabbath. Occasionally he may give a course of such lectures. One minister of my

acquaintance has delivered a very interesting course of weekly lectures on Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress; another, on the Assembly's Shorter Catechism; and another, on the parables of our Saviour.

I have said that these lectures should, in general, be

extemporaneous. They should be so for two reasons; first, because a minister will not have time to write them; and secondly, because an extemporaneous discourse will be more free and direct, better adapted to circumstances, and consequently more interesting aud impressive, than a written one will be likely to be. Besides, it will be an advantage to the speaker, who writes his sermons for the Sabbath, to preach once extempore during the week. He will in this way become accustomed to extemporaneous preaching, and will be able to resort to it, when necessity calls, without embarrassment. By extemporaneous preaching, however, I do not mean preaching without preparation or thought. The subject of the discourse should be seasonably selected; a plan of it should be carefully drawn out and digested; and with such preparation, let the minister go forward, trusting in God to sustain and assist him, and to crown his labors with

success.

The other meeting during the week, I have said should be one for religious conference and prayer. In addition to other reasons for sustaining such a meeting, it will be one of much importance to the brethren of the church. It will afford them an opportunity of opening their minds to one another, and to the church, on the great doctrines and duties of the gospel. It will also give them an opportunity of exercising and improving their gifts.

But because the brethren of the church are expected to take part in such a meeting, it does not follow that it is to be an easy one for the pastor. So far from this, a meeting for religious conference and prayer is a very difficult one for the pastor to conduct, so as to give it interest, and make it profitable. Especially is this true, in seasons of coldness and declension in the church. It may not be difficult, indeed, for the pastor to go to such