385 POSTSCRIPT To the Second Volume of the Pastor's Assistant. THROUGH the continued goodness and mercy of God, this attempt for the promotion of his glory has been permitted to reach the end of the second year of its existence. There are many things which make the Editor surprised, as well as thankful, for this; and he desires thus to record his gratitude to Him from whom every good thing has come. He humbly trusts that this little work has not been allowed to continue its course through another year, without having been made the means by which the giver of all good has, in some degree, advanced the great object of the ministry; and He has not left the Editor without some tokens that this has been the case. While deriving the comfort of encouragement from these tokens, he has yet been made to feel doubtful whether it is the purpose of God that the publication of the Pastor's Assistant should be continued. The Editor has no desire to press upon his brethren in the ministry counsel and assistance, the proffer of which may not seem warranted by the welcome of a sufficient number amongst them. The reception of this work which was sufficiently marked to afford encouragement at its first appearance, was properly considered in that light just because it was given at its first appearance. That it should grow no warmer in the progress of two years tends to alter its character; and the same amount of circulation which in the beginning might be calculated to cheer the labours of the Editor, and justify the expectations of the publisher, might if it continued the same, cease to be cheering to the one or to realize the prospect of remuneration to the other. This is the case with respect to the Pastor's Assistant. The number of copies called for at its commencement gave a fair hope that it was considered useful, and would be successful: but the demand for copies has been nearly stationary, and it thus becomes a question how far the circulation will justify the continuance of the publication. There are two ways by which the present readers of the Pastor's Assistant may be the means of deciding what is to be the answer to this question. If they are impressed with a sense of its usefulness (which may be inferred from the fact of their having hitherto purchased it), then their recommendation of it to others would give an increased impulse to the circulation of the work. If every person who now takes in the Pastor's Assistant were to make it a point to induce one other person to become a subscriber, the result would amply supply the means of continuing the work; and the publisher's doubts on the subject would be at once removed. But besides this, in order to settle the mind of the Editor as regards his warrant for hoping that the great object of the work is in some degree attained, and that his brethren in the ministry have been able to gather some profitable assistance from his labours, he would respectfully, but affectionately, request his readers to favour him with a private communication of their estimate of the work, as regards its practical usefulness, and their view of the benefit to be derived from its continuance. If any of his brethren, who may be disposed to accord him this favour, would at the same time point out such defects, and suggest such improvements in the work, as may have occurred to their own minds, the Editor would feel it to be an important brotherly kindness; and as such he earnestly solicits communications of this nature. The numbers of the Pastor's Assistant for the early part of the forth-coming year will be published as usual: but the continuance of the publication will mainly depend upon the manner in which the first of these suggestions may be acted upon by the present readers of the work; while, if it be continued, some modification in the form and substance of the work may possibly be the result of the attentive consideration which the Editor pledges himself to give to every communication made by those who may be kindly disposed to act upon the second suggestion. There is yet a third mode by which the object of the Pastor's Assistant may be advanced, and for the exercise of which the Editor is above all things most anxious. If those christian brethren who have had their interest, in any degree, awakened by the work, would sometimes manifest that interest by praying God to accompany it with his blessing, they would do more than can be effected by any other means, and establish a larger claim upon the gratitude of the Editor. Commending the work to the prayers of the Lord's people, the Editor humbly commits it to the hands of Him, for whose glory alone it was designed. PRINTED BY J. SHAYLER, AT THE WONSTON PRESS. |