w
a Picture of a very grave Person hang up against the Wall, and
this was the fashion of it: It had eyes lift up to Heaven, the
best of Books was in its hand, the Law of Truth was written
upon its lips, the World was behind his back; it stood as if it
Pleaded with Men, and a Crown of gold did hang over its head._"

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.

CHAPTER I.

_THE SECRET WALK WITH GOD_ (i.).

_Pastor, for the round of toil
See the toiling soul is fed;
Shut the chamber, light the oil,
Break and eat the Spirit's bread;
Life to others would'st thou bring?
Live thyself upon thy King._

Let me explain in this first sentence that when in these pages I address
"my Younger Brethren," I mean brethren in the Christian Ministry in the
Church of England. Let me limit my reference still further, by premising
that very much of what I say will be said as to brethren who have lately
taken holy Orders, and are engaged in the work of assistant Curacies.

AIM OF THE BOOK.

Day by day, for many years past, my life has lain among men preparing
themselves for just that work. As a matter of course my thoughts have
run incessantly in that direction. Many a lecture in the library where
we work together, and many a conversation in dining-hall, or by study
fire, or in college garden, or on country road, has given point to those
thoughts and enabled me, I trust, better to understand my younger
Brethren, and with more sympathy to make myself, as an elder brother,
understood by them. What I here seek to do, with the gracious aid of our
blessed Master, is somewhat to extend the range of such talks, and to
ask a friendly hearing from younger Brethren in the holy Ministry with
whom I have never had the opportunity of speaking personally.

I have not the least intention of writing a treatise on the Christian
Pastorate. To talk to young Christian Ministers about some important
details of pastoral life and work, but above all of life, inward and
outward--this is my simple purpose.

* * * * *

THREE LINES OF PRAYER.

One day in each week, at Ridley Hall, we unite in special prayer,
without liturgical form, for those members of the Hall who have gone out
into actual ministry. As I lead my dear younger Brethren in that
supplication, the heart feels itself full of many, very many,
well-remembered faces, characters, lives. It seems to see those many old
friends scattered abroad in the Lo