RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Pastoral Theology
care, not merely to enforce the lesson of the sermon, but mainly to kindle and express the devotions of the people. There should be thoughtful preparation for leading the people in prayer, so that the actual condition of the congregation and of the country may be represented in the thanksgivings and supplications of the sanctuary.
The sacraments of the church involve some special pastoral obligations. As to baptism, the pastor should know the condition and habits of his people.
He should know what parents have
6. The Sac- had their children baptized, and he
raments and should kindly and faithfully instruct
Devotional such parents as to their covenant privi-
Meetings. leges and obligations; and, with those
parents who are neglecting this ordinance for themselves and for their children, he should remonstrate, urging them to the performance of their duty. As to the Lord's Supper, the pastor should exercise the greatest care, lest, on the one hand, he may be the means of admitting to the ordinance those who are not truly regenerated; or, on the other hand, he may repel or restrain those timid and doubting Christians who need that spiritual refreshment which Christ gives only at his table. The celebration of the sacramental feast should be made bright and hopeful, self and sin disappearing, for the time, in the ascendency of the exalted Christ. The prayer-meeting, or, as it is sometimes called, the conference-meeting, under the sole conduct of the pastor, it is to be feared, is fast changing into a mere lecture, and so is losing its social character. It is a question whether it is better that the prayer-meeting should be conducted by the pastor, or by such of the officers and members of the church as have the spirituality, the tact and skill, to make this social service both interesting and profitable. No one method should constrain the liberty of the pastor in this relation: a variety of methods is more conducive to the freshness and effectiveness of this important service. A schedule of topics may be prepared, printed, and distributed, so that the people will know from week to week the theme that will be considered. Questions may be sent in to the pastor to be answered in the prayer-meeting. A course of familiar exposition, if not too long or labored, may be tried with profit. The pastor should be bound by no method, but should impress his people with the deep significance, sacredness, and power of united prayer.
Unselfish consecration, the love of men for Christ's sake, power in the pulpit, tact, tenderness, a profound knowledge of human nature, and a Christlike manliness, are the fundamental necessities to success in pastoral work. Thomas S. Hastings.
Bibliography : On the cure of souls consult: H. A. Kostlin, Die Lehre von der Seelsorge, Berlin, 1906 ; R. Hooker, Ecclesiastical Polity, V., lxxx. 2, in Works, ed. Keble, London,1845; R. Field, Of the Church, book v., chap. 28, Cambridge, 1852; C. Wyss, Etwas vom Kern und Stern der Seelsorge, Basel, 1858; J. H. Blunt, Dictionary of Doctrinal and Historical Theology, pp. 179-180, London, 1870; A. Schweizer, Die Lehre von der Seelsorge, Leipsic, 1875; F. L. Steinmeyer, Die spezielle Seelsorge in ihrem Verhaltniss zur generallen, Berlin, 1878; F. Probst, Theorie der Seelsorge, Breslau, 1883; W. Cramer, Die apostolische Seelsorge, Diilmen,. 1889; J. M. Watson, Cure of Souls, New York,
1896; A. Hardeland, Geschichte der speciellen Seelsorge, Berlin, 1897-98; H. Bechtolsheimer, Die Seelsorge in der Industriegemeinde, Gottingen, 1907; W. Cunningham, The Cure of Souls, New York, 1908; K. Hesselbaeher, Die Seelsorge auf dem Dorfe, Gottingen, 1908; P. Du Bois, Psychic Treatment of Nervous Disorders, 6th ed., New York, 1909; H. Bechtolsheimer, Die Seelsorge in der Industriegemeinde, Gottingen, 1909; W. W. Webb, The Cure of Souls; a Manual for the Clergy, 2d ed., Milwaukee, 1910. Consult also the monthly, Die Seelsorge in Theorie und Praxis, Leipsic, 1896 sqq.
On the general subject of pastoral theology the literature is immense, much being indicated under Practical Theology (q.v.). The following list is but a selection: A classic is G. Herbert's A Priest to the Temple, new ed., by H. C. Beeching, Oxford, 1898; A. Vinet, Theologie pastorale, Paris, 1889, Eng. transl., of earlier ed., Edinburgh, 1855, new issue, Nashville, 1875; J. H. Blunt, Directorium Pastorale; Principles and Practice of Pastoral Work in the Church of England, London, 1864; J. W. Burgon, A Treatise on the Pastoral Office, London, 1864; A. Oxenden, The Pastoral Office; its Duties, Difficulties, and Prospects, London, 1864; A. F. Douglass, The Pastor and his People; Discussions on Ministerial Life and Character, London, 1868; D. P. Kidder, The Christian Pastorate; its Character, Responsibilities, and Duties, New York, 1871; A. F. C. Vilmar, Lehrbuch der Pastoraltheologie, Giitersloh, 1872; P. Fairbairn, Pastoral Theology, Edinburgh, 1875; W. Lohe, Der evangelische Geistliche, 2 vols., Giitersloh, 1876; W. G. T. Shedd, Homiletics and Pastoral Theology, New York, 1876; T. Murphy, Pastoral Theology; the Pastor in the various Duties of his Office, Philadelphia, 1877; G. T. Bedell, The Pastor, Philadelphia, 1880; J. Amberger, Pastoraltheologie, 3 vols., Regensburg, 1883-86; J. M. Hoppin, Pastoral Theology, New York, 1884 (excellent) ; W. W. How, Lectures on Pastoral Work, New York, 1884; J. T. Beck, Pastoral Theology of the New Testament, Edinburgh, 1885; W. G. Blaikie, For the Work of the Ministry, London, 1885; C. Harms, Pastoraltheologie, 2 vols., Gotha, 1888 (of high value) ; C. Gore, The Ministry of the Christian Church, London, 1889; H. James, The Country Clergyman and his Work, New York, 1890; E. Blech, Pfarramtsideal, Leipsic, 1891; W. Lefroy, The Christian Ministry, New York, 1891; J. P Lilley, The Lord's Day and the Lord's Servants; a Contribution to Pastoral Theology, Edinburgh, 1891; F. R. Wynne, Our Sacred Commission, New York, 1891; J. D. Wells, The Pastor in the Sick Room, Philadelphia, 1892; W. Stang, Pastoral Theology, New York, 1897 (Roman Catholic); W. Gladden, Christian Pastor and the Working Church, New York, 1898; B. Riggenbaeh, Die Christliche Gemeindepastoration nach Schrift und Erfahrung, Basel, 1898; J. St. Wilson, Ministerial Life and Work, 2 vols., London, 1900-01; A. W. Williamson, Ideals of Ministry, Edinburgh, 1901; E. A. Knox, Pastors and Teachers, London, 1902; G. H. Gerberding, The Lutheran Pastor, Chicago, 1903; J. F. Lepine, The Ministers of Jesus Christ, 2 vols., London, 1903; H. E. Savage, Pastoral Visitation, London, 1903; H. Cremer, Pastoraltheologie, ed. E. Cremer, Stuttgart, 1904; A. Krauss, Pastoraltheologie, ed. F. Niebergall, Tubingen, 1904; C. F. Rogers, Principles of Parish Work, Essays in Pastoral Theology, London, 1905; E. C. Achelis, Eine Pastoraltheologie in Versen. Johann Valentin Andrew (1586-1654): Das gute Leben eines rechtschaffenen Dieners Gottes, aufs neue dargeboten, Marburg, 1906; V. S. S. Coles, Pastoral Work in Country Districts, New York, 1906; F. Schulze, Manual of Pastoral Theology, Milwaukee, 1906; C. L. Goodell, Pastoral and Personal Evangelism, New York, 1907; A. Hardeland, Pastoraltheologie, Leipsic, 1907; S. Home, The Ministry of the Modern Church, London, 1907; W. H. Crawford, The Church and the Slum: a Study of English Wesleyan Mission Halls, New York, 1908; J. O. Dykes, The Christian Minister and his Duties, London, 1908; H. Johnson, The Ideal Ministry, London, 1908; A. S. Hoyt, The Preacher. His Person, Message, and Method, London, 1909; R. C. Joynt, Pastoral Work, New York, 1909; W. Moore Ede, The Clergy and Social Service, New York, 1909; H. H. Henson, The Liberty of Prophesying; with its just Limits and Temper considered with Reference to the Circumstances of the modern Church, New Haven, 1910; J. S. L'dgett, Apostolic Ministry, London, 1910; A. J. Lyman, The Christian Pastor in the New Age; Comrade, Sponsor, social Mediator, New York, 1910; W. A. Quayle, The Pastor-
Pastoral Theology Patience