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The
nature and duties of the pastoral office form a subject of great practical
moment. The thoughts suggested in this volume are largely results
of the writer's personal experience in the ministry and of his observation
of pastoral work in our churches. The literature of the subject, however,
has of late become specially rich and valuable, and the hints which
a careful study of this furnishes have also been freely used. The
experienced pastor, for whom some of these suggestions will be needless,
will remember that they were originally embodied in lectures delivered
to the classes in the Hamilton Theological Seminary, and prepared
for young men who, for the most part, were as yet inexperienced in
the pastoral care.
With the earnest prayer and hope that the work my receive the approval
of the Master and may contribute, in some humble measure, to the higher
effectiveness of the gospel ministry, it is now submitted to the Christian
public. |