The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-03-02 00:00:00

THE LIVER.POOL, STANDARD

CHURCH PASTORAL AID SOCIETY.

On Tuesday morning last, the Right Rev. Dr. Sumner, the
Lord Bishop of Chester, preached at St. Nicholas Church.
according to announcement, a sermon on behalf of the Church
.Pastoral Aid Society. The society bearing this name, has for
its object the employment of candidates for holy orders, and of
such of the laity as are devoutly disposed, in visiting those per-
sons supposed to neglect their christian duties, and who, from
the dense population of large towns, are likely to be overlooked
and left in their state of spiritual destitution, unless sought out
by means similar to those employed by the society. In short,
the society professes to afford what its name indicates, religious
aid to those pastors whose flocks have increased beyond the
possibility of their being carefully tended; and that that aid
shall be to promote the religious influence of the united church.
The societ y being most exemplary in its objects, and at the same
time but little known in this town, we have subjoined a report
of the Lord Bishop's excellent sermon in its behalf, in ,order
that our townsmen may become more acquainted with its
merits. Owing to the exceedingly stormy morning, the church
was very thinly attended. Prayers were read by the. Rev.
Rector Campbell. •
His LORDSHIP took for his text the 34th chapter of the
prophet Ezekiel, and the 6th verse. " My sheep wandered
through all the mountains, and- upon every high hill; yea, my
flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did
search or seek after them." So it was written. Such was the
state of things in Judea when Ezekiel was commissioned to de-
Mare the word of the Lord; notwithstanding the provision
made for that country—that rich and plentiful provision, that
wide as the land was, so wide should the knowledge of the word
of God extend. That though the people should multiply like
the sand of the sea, the word of the Lord should prevail
amongst them all, and his commandments prevail in honour.
Yet far otherwise was the event. The flock is neglected,
" scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search
or seek after them." Hundreds of years afterwards when it
came on, when all the law and the prophets were to be fulfilled,
the same complaint was made. Thus we read in the 9th of
Matthew that Christ went about all the cities and villages,
teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel, healing
the every sickness and every disease among the people; but
when he saw the multitude he was moved with compassion on
them, because they fainted and were scattered abroad as sheep
not having a shepherd. Their shepherds had deserted them ;
there were none to guide them or gather them in His bosom;
they were aged and infirm but there was none to help ; they
were sick and diseased, but there was none to heal: There
were those who had strayed ft orn the fold, but there were none
to search or seek after them, none to feed them in green
pastures and lead them forth besides the still waters of comfort.
Yea, rather they became meat for all the beasts of the field,
because they were scattered. So when our blessed Lord saw
the multitude he had compassion on them—he 'was moved with
compassion en them." And how would it be my irrethreal if the
same Lord were to pass through the cities and villages of our
time? Would he find no reason for compassion? How'Would
it be if another Ezekiel should hear the word of the Lord, say-
ing unto him, " Son of man. prophecy ?" Would he find no
cause to say "they are scattered because there is no shep-
herd?" We are but too well able to answer this question. The
town in which we are now assembled might furnish the prophet
with but too wide and large a field. The country to which we
belong might furnish innumerable examples, and the society to
which I direct your attention to-day might accumulate details
from every corner of our land of sheep scattered because they
have no shepherd. In this respect the parallel is but too exact
between Judea and our own country. The parallel goes no
further, the condition is similar, the cause is widely different.
The people of God in Judea were scattered, because the
shepherds went after their own pursuits and cared nothing
for those whom it was their office to go in search of.
Our people are scattered, because there are too many for the
shepherds. The flocks are accumulated, some thirty-Fold, some
sixty-fold, and some one hundred-fold, but the pastures remain
the same, the shepherds are not more numerous, and our case
is much as might have been the case in Judea, if, while the
twelve tribes increased, as they did increase, from the day when
they went into the land of Canaan, the Levites continued the
same, their numbers the same as in the time of Ezekiel, when
passed the little brook Kedron. It was not so in Judea, or Eze-
kiel would not have been commanded to prophesy "Wo against
the shepherds," Such is not the case against the spiritual
shepherds. It may seem, that the language of the .prophet is
not alone addressed to the spiritual rulers of the land, but it
appeals to the civil governments, for they are shepherds of
Israel. And though numerous are the flocks' that demand their
care, and though they are fainting under the labour which it
costs them to bind up that which is broken, yet still the word of
-the Lord came unto him, and he would prophesy to the civil
rulers; the flock became a prey, and none were sent to search
after them. Brethren, this becomes a matter of grave consider-
ation; there is danger lest we should impute to others blame in
which we share ourselves. There is danger lest while we im-
pose on others that duty which we conceive is theirs, the duty
itself remains unperformed, lest the flock which is scattered be-
comes scattered more and more,and those that might have been
reclaimed to the fold be lost for ever. What shall we say?
Shall we continue idle, looking on the scattered flock, not loOk-
ing after them? leaving the civil government to look to those
whom they rule? Unquestionably an obligation lies on those
who govern a country to supply their people with spiritual in-
struction. We will proceed a step further, and consider the
grounds.of this obligation. It is the duty of every` man to pro-
'mote the glory of God, and therefore it is the duty f the ruler,
and of him more than other men, in proportion as he has more
power, more influence. It is the duty of every christian man
to advance the kingdom of the Redeemer, and of the ruler more
than other men, in proportion as his means are greater. It is
the duty of all to consult the welfare of their fellow men; the
higher the interest that is concerned, the more urgent is the
duty. The spiritual interests, the welfare of the never-d)ing
soul, the things that pertain unto eternity, these are orall inter-
ests the greatest; and therefore it is the duty of the powers that
rule to promote those interests by all the means they have
Whatever else they do, this, as far as in them lies, they must
not leave undone. But here observe why this duty is incumbent
on them. It is incumbent ou them as they are men, as they are
christians, as they have an account to render, as those to whom
talents are entrusted—talents of power and authority; they are
bound to use them before God for the welfare of their fellow
creatures; and observe farther, that for the very same reasons
the duty is incumbent on ourselves. We may or may not be
equally responsible, we may or may not have equal power, or
equal means committed to our charge; but all have sown-racanS,
some power; and all are bound to use the means they have for
the welfare of their neighbours and the honour of their God and
Saviour. It is only the duty of the government, on the same
principle, as it is the duty of every private man. Whether it
is guilty of not performing this duty or not, our duty still re-
mains binding on ourselves. It is the duty of every individual
man, and still more of every christian man, that no soul :hall
perish for lack of knowledge which he has the opportunity of
communicating. A parent is bound to provide for the child to
whom he has given birth—bound to supply its temporal wants
and no less bound to bring it up in the fear and admonition of
the Lord. But it may be that the parent neglects that duty, and
I find that child wicked and destitute. The parent's obligation
does not absolve me from my obligation as a man and a chris-
tian. lam bound as far as I can to fill up the lack-of service
of the parent. And so in the parable we read just ,now; it
was the 'duty of the priest to whom the care of the people
was committed to look after the wounded traveller, and it was
the duty of the Levite also; but they neglected their duty.
Did that absolve the Samaritan from all duty? Is he not
a man and a "neighbour?" and is he not most solemnly
set forth to us as an example—as one who fulfilled that duty,
and as having set us an example that we should " go and do like-
wise." But still further observe that all duty is limited by op-

portuuities. Man is judged according to what he bath; and not
according to what he hate not. Now our governments are not
omnipotent; they cannot act except as the law allows; and
with the best intentions in the world to give benefit to the com-
munity, they can scarcely go against the will of the community.
Brethren. in that cotenataily we form a pail ; some part then
of the responsibility tests upon ourselves—that responsibility,
to which, as a nation, we have ueen too long insensible, and to
which as individuals we are only beginning to turn our serious
attention. But thanks be to God we are beginning; the value
is seen, and the duty is partly attenied to. and the first steps
are taken that the prophet may not always have reason to com-
plain `• my flock is scattered upon all the face of the earth, and
none did search or seek alter them. My brethren, the society
searches and seeks after them which I introduce to your notice,
and for which 1 ask your assistance. I looked out on the wide
surface of the laud, and saw in many a district the shepherds
not idling in the shade while the beasts of ,he field devoured
the flock—not feeding themselves while the sheep weie without
pasture, but saw them sicking under a charge which neither
bodily strength could bear, not Intellectual power sustain. How
could one alone bear the burden of r) or 10,000 people? " What
ate they among so many ?" I need not go far for instances;
there are too many on every side, within the sound of the very
bells which summoned us to church this day. Take but a
single specimen. In an extensive pat ish in the East ofLan-
cashire, containing 8 separate churches. with a population of
71,000 persons, giving to each separate pastor an average
charge of nearly 10,000 souls. This society pas made to this
diocese 29 grams of assistance. 0127 incumbents who received
thescraai e:tteyes societies
proportion,
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ight
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9
template this state of things, it is aptialliug. Should we con-
teintitaie it as a people to whom God has given no advantages ?
And to this land so blessed, so privileged, the very words of the
apostle may be applied wilen looking at a land of idolaters,
"How shall they believe him whom they have not heat d? and
bow shall they hear without a preacher? and how shalt they
preach without they be sent.'.' Shall we be content who have
caused this increase—whose capital has cteated the animal
being, but whose care has not attended to the spiritual being?
Shall we look at this as the memners of an establishment
whose characteristic it is that every individual in the land belongs
to his own fold and has a claim upon his own shepherd-?,. The
Pastoral Aid Society contemplates this state of things in all its
bearings, and with a single eye towards God's glory, and with
a firm belief that our welfare was connected with his glory. We
have no party to serve but the party of our common Lord and
Master; we have no wish or interest but that the, people of God
should he multiplied in our land in breathing the spirit of
prayer: and with the energy of faith in giving themselves to
the work with an industry which could only have been so sup-
ported, they have, in the course of two short years, supplied the
salaries of 106 curates. and 23 lay assistants; thus doubling
the spiritual assistance of above 110 churches, and affording
spiritual assistance to above 900,000 of the inhabitants. Allow
me to say here that I think it no disparagement to the so-
ciety that it does pay the salaries of 2.3 lay assistants. I think
it no disparagement, because I think we must admit theprin-
ciple on which the lay assistant is engaged; if no lay assistant
may receive a salary. no lay assistant may be employed: The
principle which forbids his salary must refuse his aid, if it be
because he is a lay assistant. I say nothing of the expediency
of it; 'each incumbent must judge of that himself. Many things
are lawful which are not expedient ; but it is for the lawfulness
that I must and will contend. if the clergy in their spiritual
labours are to have no help except from clergy like themselves,
then they or their flocks or both mast perish. If none but those
who are set apart fur the ministry are to instruct in religion,
what multitudes must ever remain uninstructed! And how is
that time ever to arrive which the scripture teachesus to expect
when all shall know the Lord from the least to the greatest.
But further still, if none but the duly ordained, and those set
apart for the purpose as a separate order may advise or instruct
in spiritual things, how are they to discharge the duties of their
religion? We desire to imbue them with the spirit; we desire
that they keep themselves unspotted from the world, and glorify
God in all their ways—live for him and die for niut, love their
fellow creatures as Christ himself has loved them. Such is the
subject of our weekly ministrations; but is the spirit to have no
sphere of action ? What can give energy but exercise ? And
what spirit can survive the want of all exercise? Is all this
love of God to cramp all their measures? Are they to keep
themselves unspotted from the world by hiding themselves in
the closet or the desert? Are they to live to Christ by hiding
themselves from his kingdom ? Is their concern fur their
fellow creatures to be confined to their bodily interests. Bre-
thren discard this; protest against this relict of papal mis-
deeds, when they chose to keep the key of knowledge to them-
selves, and allowed the prieit's lips—and the priests duly to
speak—that he alone might enjoy the power which always
attaches itself to knowledge. Still further, great is the

mystery oft God; so great angels desire to know it. No intel-
lect su high that is given to man but that may be well employed
by subjects such as the scriptures set before it; no learning so
deep, or so profound, that may not be well occupied in disco-
vering and searching out their hidden meaning; and I trust
there will never be wanting to us those who thus enoble their
intellect, and employ their learning. But, still the word of sal-
vation is unto thee. What is it but man saved, and Christ the
Saviour? Must I go through a long course of special education.
before I cart show to the thought less Godless man, that an account
is to be given of things done in the body? Need 1 anything but
to know that Christ has been revealed to me, as " the way, and
the truth, and the light," in order to declare that he will be this
to all who call upon him? For my part I believe the more of
mystery we mix up with the plain truths of the Gospel, the more
we darken the councils of God; and that the more simple our
statements are, the more they mill affect the hearts of those who
hear, and the nearer they will approach to the words of inspira-
tion. But, brethren, Igo further, and say, that if we shut out
from spiritual usefulness all persons but those set apart for spi-
ritual teaching, we contradict the plain commands of our reli-
gion. Our scriptures teach us that we are "to edify one ano-
ther." Such are the precepts given by the apostle to all whom
he addressed. We are "to warn the unruly, to comfort the
feeble." We are " to exhort one another daily while it is called
to-day, for the night cometh when no man can work. "We are
"to visit the fatherless and widows" in their affliction. We are
not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together to perfect
ourselves in love; we are to speak to one another on spiritual
subjects. So the scriptures say, and we ought to obey God
rather than man. Brethren, we shall never be a Christian
community till this error is dispelled, and till every one has the
knowledge of Christ in his own heart, and believes it to be his
duty to bring to the same knowledge every body with whom he
is connected—his friend, his servant, his dependent, his neigh-
bour, his labourer; then, and not before, may the kingdom of
world become the kingdom of the Lord. Here then are
some of the reasons why [ think it no disparagement to our so-
ciety, that it admits of lay assistants—so far admits it as not to
disavow the principle for which I have been contending; so far
admits it as to allow a salary to be paid to such by an incumbent
who may prefer such aid; and some incumbents do, for reasons
suited to their own circumstances, and known to themselves,
prefer such aid. Let it be well remembered that the society
has no such in its own employ; indeed it has no one in its em-
ploy, properly so called, whether curates or lay agents. the
incumbent alone is responsible, the society furnishes nothing
but the servant. But in this way, for one, what has it
done ? If I confine myself, as it is natural that I should,
to my own diocese, it has assisted 27 incumbents whose average
charge amounted to 9889 persons. In this way it has sent into
the field 29 additional labourers, and with the Lord's blessing,
who shall calcolate the extent of good ? Here, then, is the
reason why I ask such assistance as it needs and demands;
here I ask for the talent of silver and gold,ivhich is to be thus
employed. The society has an annual expenditure of £2180;
the source which is thus strained must receive its supply. Great
indeed, is the debt we owe to that source, not only as members
of our diocese, but as members of this country, and of this
church. They have awakened the nation to a sense of its
wants; they have attracted public attention to the weak point
of our establishment, not that it might be assailed, but that it
might be strengthened in the only part where it was really
vulnerable. They have done much by these exertions to re-
lieve local spiritual wants, in providing increased means of in-
struction, and in employing such as were not absolutely desti-
tute of instruction on more useful, and valuable books. They
are worthy, not of our good word, and good will only, but of
having those resources furnished to them by which their exer-
tions may be supported, and extended still more usefully.
Brethren, you know not by experience spiritual destitution.
You have your minister ready to converse with you, more often,
perhaps, than some prefer ; you have your place in the sanctu-
ary, where, sabbath after sabbath, your affections are drawn from
things below to things above. When sorrow visits your family,
and whendesolation comes, you have one to whom you can
go, from whom you are sure to receive those consolations, which
are alone valuable. The scriptures are in your hands, and in
your ears, which are able to make you wise unto salvation,
through faith which is in Christ Jesus. You abound in spiritual
things, not less than he did in temporal things, who is described
in the well known parable as clothed in purple and fine linen,
and faring sumptuously every day. At that rich man's gate
lay Lazarus, diseased, and destitute, and desiring to be fed with
the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. And think you,
that in these crowded streets, and lanes, that we pass, as we
come hither, that these lanes, and alleys, which teem with hu-
man souls, there is not many a Lazarus labouring under the
calamity which sin has caused, but ignorant of its remedy ;
desiring to be fed with the bread' of life, and only the more
deserving of compassion, because there are means of grace
which he is -able to attain. 1 know that these crowded streets,
and lanes, abound with sin, and ignorance; in ignorance that
prefers darkness to light; in sin that there is no will to abandon.
But, I also know, that where there are mortal bodies there is
also an immortal principle; that where there are men there are
hearts, and where there is a heart, there is a conscience—a con-
science that is not always scared, and a heart that is sometimes
sensible to the voice of mercy, though hardened it may be,
against the reproof which it has incurred ; a heart, which, how-
ever hardened against reproof, may yet respond to the merci-
ful words, " Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy
laden, and 1 will give you rest: for the Son of man is come to
seek and to save that which was. lost." Think you not amongst
those who have been long wandering in the wilderness, far
from the shepherd's search, and the sacred fold, there are some
who were brought bp as lambs and flocks, and fed with milk?
They have strayed into strange pastures, and a Corrupt heart
has turned them aside. What now if these might be sought,
' might be recovered, might be brought back? Let us at least
hope, believe, endeavour. Let us not be content to enjoy our
' own abundance, or feed upon our sumptuous fare, multiply our
' religious books, and delight in our sabbath ministrations, and
forget those who are blind, destitute, and perishing, yes, even
at our very gates, and for whom nothing is prepared. Now to
God, &c.
After the sermon, a collection was made on behalf of the
• society.