Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-01-04

Extract from an sddress delivered by the
Rev. j. M. Mason, in the Presbyterian
Church In Cedar-street, New. ORR, on
the occasion Of his resigning the pasto-
raj charge Of that church.
"The system Of every we'll regulated
church is system of fixed ministrations
For the lighter services Of the pulpit; for
social prayer aud exhortation; generally,
for the public exercises of religion, an
tiuerani ministry, although, With the ex-
ception OF missionaries, far inferior in la
Dor, in seIf.dewial, in responsibility, may
get along aud be popular. But for sound
exposition OF the scriptures; for giving
to every one his portion Of meat in due
season; !" for training up the youth; for
coercive and preventing discipline; for car
rying both the law and the gospel home to
every mans. business aud bosom;" brief
ly for binding up and consolidating the
Invaluable interests Of a Christian comma
pity, there is no adequate, and no appoint
ed, means Of a stated ministry. Without
it there may be preachers 10 abundance,
pastors there can be none. This broad
aud obvious distinction is recognized ia
the form Of a call customary in our church
les; which, taking for granted that min
lister is to preach, lays the principal Stress
upon his pastoral character. True it is,
that no man can be scriptural pastor, W ho
does not feed his flock with knowledge
and with understanding !" but he may pro-
vide their weekly food, plenty and good,
and yet lamensably fail in his pastoral
work. For my own part, the longer /
consider the nature aud design of the
Christian ministry, the more does the i'm
portaDce of those functions which are term.
ed parochial duty, rise to my view. am
persuaded, that without them no congre-
gatioo... c cSa permanently flourish nor any
pastor be permanently comfortable. There
are a thousand avenues to conviction
which no public instruction can enter. A
thousand difficulties TO be solved which
the pulpit cannot reach. There is an a.
daption of general truth TO particular cir
cumstaDces, fit only for the private walk
or the fire side. There is a correspon-
dence between doctrine preached aud ex-
emplified which forces its way silently,
but most effectually, TO the heart By
pastoral vigilence and prudence, abuses
are TO be checked, and scandals prevent
ed, which when permitted to ripen tor iu-
dicial cognizance, are often beyond rene
dy. 1t is of unutterable moment TO coup
se, 10 the early associations of children,
the idea Of their minister with that Of a
spiritual father, and of their own relation
and duties to the church Of God-which is
impossible without frequent and affection
ate intercourse. The want OF this is tbs
most fertile secondary cause of that absurd
contradiction which reigns among the
Notwithstanding our baptised youth a.
if they were mere heather. The feeble
are 10 be strengthened, the lame to be heal
ed. the wanderers to be hunted up and
brought back. The dropping spirit is L
be cheered; the tbougMIess spirit admot
ished, the impeiuous spirit restrained
The presence Of faithful pastor refresh
es the soul Of labor, and sweetens the crus
Of poverty. Ills voice smooths the bed
of sickness and mitigates the rigors q
death. In short, his people expect from