←1442
←1442
See his Life. ‘I am too backward’ (said the celebrated John Rogers of Dedham)? to privately visit neighbours at their houses; this neglect is very injurious; for from this cause, their love for me cannot be so great as it would be; nor am I so well acquainted with their particular states, and therefore I cannot speak to them so fitly as I might.’ Archbishop Seeker remarks—‘A chief reason why we have so little hold upon our people is that we converse with them so little as watchmen over their souls.’ After alluding to the influence, which the Foreign Protestant pastors, the Romish priests, and the dissenters gain over their people by this means, he adds—‘Why should we not learn from them?’Charges, pp. 246, 247. Mr. Hall observes—‘The more frequently the pastor converses with his people, provided his conversation is properly conducted, the more his person will be endeared, and his Ministry will be acceptable.’ Sermons, p. 29. For this purpose, Bishop Wilson (Stowell’s Life, p. 114, 143), Dr. Doddridge (Life, ch. v.), Sir James Stonehouse (letters to a Young Minister), Ostervald, Dr. Stearne (Clerg. Instruct, p. 384), and Dr. Watts (Humble Address, p. 91), recommend a Ministerial register to note, as may be practicable, the individualities of character and circumstances among our people.
