of both of us. When the preaching is done,--when
strangers who lodge with us are gone,--when the calls at our house are
over,--when the needful letters, however briefly, are written,--when the
necessary church business is settled,--our minds are often so worn out
that we are glad to be quiet. 9. But suppose we have bodily strength
remaining, after the above things have been attended to, yet the frame
of mind is not always so as that one could visit. After having been
particularly tried by church matters, which in so large a body does not
rarely occur, or being cast down in one's own soul, one may be fit for
the closet, but not for visiting the saints. 10. Lastly, in my own case,
no small part of my time is taken up by attending to the affairs of the
Orphan Houses, schools, the circulation of the Scriptures, the aiding
missionary efforts, and other work connected with the Scriptural
Knowledge Institution.

III. What is to be done under these circumstances? 1. In the days of the
apostles there would have been more brethren to take the oversight of so
large a body as we are. The Lord has not laid upon us a burden which is
too heavy for us; he is not a hard master. It is evident that he does
not mean us _even to attempt to visit all the saints_ as much as is
evidently needful, and much less as frequently as it would be desirable.
We mention this, to prevent uncomfortable feelings on the part of the
dear saints under our pastoral care, who find themselves not as much
visited as they used to be when we came to Bristol, when the number of
them was not seventy, and now it is about four hundred, and when in many
other respects the work in our hands was not half so much as it is now,
and when we had much more bodily strength. 2. It is therefore evident
that there are other pastors needed; not nominal pastors, but such as
the Lord has called, to whom he has given a pastor's heart and pastoral
gifts. 3. Such may be raised up by the Lord from our own number, or the
Lord may send them from elsewhere. 4. But in the mean time we should at
least see whether there are not helpers among us. 5. As to the work
itself, in order that time may be saved, it appears desirable that the
two churches, Bethesda and Gideon, should be united into one, that the
breaking of bread should be alternately, and that the number of weekly
meetings should be reduced.

October 21. To-day the Lord has given me a house for the Orphan Boys, in
the same street in w