They get at the opening history of
their young people's hearts before their first communion. They make
shorthand entries and secret memoranda at such a season like this: 'A. a
rebuke to me. He had for long been astonished at me that I did not speak
to him about his soul. B. traced his conversion to the singing of 'The
sands of time are sinking' in this church last summer. C. was spoken to
by a room-mate. D. was to be married, and she died. Of E. I have great
hope. F., were she anywhere but at home, I would have great hopes of
her,'--and so on. But, then, when a minister takes boldness to turn over
the pages of his young communicants' roll for half a lifetime--ah me, ah
me! What was I doing to let that so promising communicant go so far
astray, and I never to go after him? And that other. And that other.
And that other. Till we can read no more. O God of mercy, when Thou
inquirest after blood, let me be hidden in the cleft of that Rock so
deeply cleft for unwatchful ministers!
4. And then, as Dr. Joseph Parker says, who says everything so plainly
and so powerfully: 'There is pastoral preaching as well as pastoral
visitation.
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