and ten and while one of them, the unprofitable servant, was cast into outer darkness, the other two heard from their Lord the approving welcome, Well done, thou good and faithful ser

vant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." (Matt. xxv, 21, 23.)

Now, on the supposition that you possess talents which may be improved and rendered available to the Church, you have been placed in your present position. We need only conceive that you may here, in any degree, make yourself useful, You are required only to make use of what you have. "For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not." (2 Cor. viii, 12.) There is much comfort to be derived from this consideration. We have not a hard ¡naster, "reaping where he has not sown, and gathering where he has not strewed," (Matt. xxv, 24;) but one who makes all necessary allowance for our infirmities, and requires only that we be "faithful in that which is little." And in order to encourage us to act well our part, he graciously records the most inspiring promises, "Whatsoever good thing a man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord." (Eph.

vi, 8.) "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." (Rev. xiv, 13.) "To him that soweth, righteousness shall be a sure reward." (Prov. xi, 18.) "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever." (Dan. xii, 3.)

Now, although our responsibilities be ever so great, we have nothing to fear, but everything to hope, as long as we are in our proper place, and doing our best in the fear of the Lord. We have everything to encourage and stimulate us. The day is far spent. The night hastens on apace, when our work shall be done, and our reward secured. There are crowns above, awaiting the faithful labourer, and the toil-worn pilgrim. A glittering diadem shall decorate the honoured and illustrious brow of him who shall succeed in overcoming the world and sin, and in completing the task assigned him by his Divine. Master.

"It is our felicity that we cannot describe the value and excellence of that reward. Yet a little while, and enjoyment shall explain to the faithful servants of Christ that which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor heart conceived.

Then, my brethren, you will, in the presence of your Lord, be associated with patriarchs and prophets, apostles and martyrs, ministers, evangelists, elders, deacons, and the spirits of just men made perfect. Then you will meet with those whose burdens you carried in this state of trial; in whose sorrows you sympathized; whom you succoured in temptation; whom you aided to fight the good fight of faith; and who, with you, have trampled upon death, and obtained. the final victory. Their glory will brighten yours, and their happiness will augment your unspeakable joys through the ages of eternity." -Grindrod.

CONCLUSION.

WE have now accomplished the task which, in the outset, we proposed to ourselves. We hope, not only that something has been contributed towards the better understanding, in general, of that institution which has given rise to this treatise, but that those particularly for whom this manual has been prepared, will find therein those instructions which are adapted to the position which they occupy, and to the supply of a want, to meet which no adequate effort has heretofore been made. It is not pretended that this work is perfect; but we have done the best, which, under the pressure of other numerous and important engagements, we could. If we have rendered you any service, we herein find an ample reward. Our labour has not been in vain, and the profit is both yours and ours. "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all then which are sanctified." (Acts xx, 32.)

APPENDIX.

A.

"THERE then existed in London, for instance, 1. 'The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in New-Eng land, and the parts adjacent in America,' established by King Charles II., in 1661. 2. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts,' instituted in 1701. 3. The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge,' which also was instituted in 1701. 4. 'The Society for Reformation of Manners,' which was commenced by five or six gentlemen of the Church of England, and sanctioned, in consequence of an address from the bishops and archbishops, by royal proclamation, in 1691. 5. There were twenty societies in London and Westminster at the beginning of the eighteenth century, of various qualities and functions, formed,' as Dr. Woodward says, 'in a subordination and correspondency one with another, and engaged in this Christian design (of reformation); all which have their set hours and places of meeting to direct, support, and execute this their great undertaking.' 6. There were The Religious Societies,' of which there were forty at the time Dr. Woodward wrote his account of them. The members of these societies were the most active members of The Society for the Reformation of Manners,' and of other societies, which had for

their object the suppression of vice. It was to these religious societies, doubtless, that Mr. Wesley had special reference in the above remarks; and, as Methodism seems to have been ingrafted on these socie ties, or rather to have swallowed them up, it may be interesting to know something more respecting them. It appears they were established about 1677. Dr. Woodward says, 'So far as I am able to trace their first rise, it was thus introduced by the gracious providence of God; it is now about two and thirty years ago that several young men of the Church of England, in the cities of London and Westminster, were about the same time touched with a very affecting sense of their sins, and began to apply themselves in a very serious manner to religious thoughts and purposes. I was, about that time, made privy to the spiritual sorrows of one of them, who, with floods of tears, lamented that he had not, till then, had any affecting apprehensions of the glorious majesty and perfections of Almighty God, nor of his infinite love to men, in his Son Jesus Christ; and that he had not felt before any just conceptions of the immense evil of every offence against God, though it be but, said he, in the wilful neglect or misperformance of any duty to him. But now he saw and groaned under all this, in very sharp and pungent convictions. And withal, perceiving the universal corruption of human nature, and the deplorable crookedness and deceit of man's heart, and with what a world of temptation we are encompassed, being withal besieged by many legions of infernal spirits; when he considered all this, his soul was even poured out within him, and he was in danger of being overwhelmed with excessive sorrow. The case was