individual should omit to pray, at each season, for divine superintendence, for divine protection, for divine help. Nor should we deem it enough; yea, rather let us say, nor will it be enough, to call upon God at those times only, when we first rise from sleep, or when we are preparing for long repose. In whatever place we are situated; by whatever employment we are occupied, through all our waking hours; the soul can find, the devout soul will find, moments in which to lift up its thoughts, either in brief supplication, or in short thanksgiving, to the Almighty! Whether you are at home or abroad; whether busy in your house, or labouring in the field; whether you are prosecuting any works of art or branches of commerce, without which the wants of civilised society could not be supplied; whether you remain inhabitants of the land, or whether you may be navigating the waters of the sea; if you would keep innocency in thought, word, and deed; or if you would be truly thankful for acts of divine benevolence continually exerted, and often signally experienced; raise your minds either with earnest petitions, or with grateful acknowledgment to God, who heareth all that truly turn to him with a devout though silent prayer; to God, who helpeth our infirmities in body and soul; to God, who saveth us in all perils imminent from the world, the flesh, and the devil; to God, who blesseth us with unspeakable abundance of loving-kindness!

If you are punctual in frequenting and serious in attending to the service of our church; whenever you would secretly and silently entreat, whenever you would secretly and silently magnify, the Lord; suitable to the feelings of your soul at the moment will occur to your memory some expressions used in our Book of

cannot be too well acquainted, with that edifying, pious, and truly Christian book. Well known to you are the subjects of our litany. There is scarcely an evil incident to man, which in a general way is not mentioned in it, and from which we are not instructed to pray that the Lord would deliver us. There is scarcely a blessing desirable by man, which, under a general head, is not introduced, and for granting which we are not taught to beseech the Lord that He would hear us. Accordingly, as the particular and immediate case may require, you can apply for your own purpose a a fit passage, and make the sentiments your own. On emergencies sudden, and occasions unexpected, not the number of your words, but the sincerity of your hearts, will be regarded.

Are you anxious, as indeed you should be anxious, that the Holy Spirit, by His heavenly grace, should direct you to a right judgment in religion; should give you an increase of faith, hope, and charity; should make you perceive and know what things are good, and also assist you in performing the same? You can call to remembrance, and adapt for your own use, those inimitable compositions, which, though framed with brevity, are replete in substance, the collects of our liturgy. Not only for their variety and comprehension; not only for the devotional spirit and expressive language, are our collects to be admired. They have in them another excellence, which particularly recommends them to the notice and approbation of considerate Christians. For, continually and forcibly do the collects remind us of Him, through whom alone our prayers are made acceptable to God; through whom alone we obtain remission of our sins; through whom alone we regain the favour and blessing of God: they continually and forcibly remind us of our Mediator, Intercessor, and Redeemer, our Lord Jesus Christ!

66

"There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved," but only the name of Jesus Christ! Therefore, by causing you to be baptized into the religion of Christ, your parents showed a conscientious concern, and a tender regard for you. By its creeds, calculated for that end; by its catechism, drawn up for that express purpose; by its appointment for reading the Ten Commandments on every Sabbath Day; by its ministers continually giving instruction; the church hath provided ample means for your being taught what you were to profess, when you should be capable of answering for yourselves. You will presently be asked, in a most solemn manner, if you will now yourselves engage to fulfil the promise given; if you will now bind yourselves to observance of the vow, which, at the time of your baptism, was made in your name. True indeed it is, that the very act of your appearing at the altar will imply you do take such promise and vow on yourselves. It is, however, expected, because it is highly proper, that you should with a loud voice pronounce the words which the service for confirmation prescribes. Utterance of those words is but momentary; the meaning of them leads to a consequence deeply important. For, in effect, each of you will say thus: "I acknowledge it is my duty to "avoid every thing which is vicious and sinful. I ac"knowledge it is my duty to receive the doctrines, "delivered by Christ and His Apostles, as the rules of "my faith. I acknowledge it is my duty to keep "God's holy will and commandments, and to walk in "the same all the days of my life.'". Ponder this in your thoughts. Be attentive while the same sentences are repeated. When you answer, as the service for

ass I Lil. De me charity: Je mi kw what things are good, and 1 being the same? You can cal Rencare, mi ape in your own use, those AURO SMENstins with though framed with rece in substance, the collects of our iny. Na myke their variety and comprehension; But it is the devotional spirit and expressive langure, are or ocects to be admired. They have in them another excellence, which particularly recommends them to the notice and approbation of considerate Christians. For, continually and forcibly do the collects remind us of Him, through whom

are made acceptable to God th obtain remission of our

we regain the favour ar nually and forcibly r

cessor, and Redeer

"There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved," but only the ime of Jesus Christ! Therefore, by causing you to e baptized into the religion of Christ, your parents howed a conscientious concern, and a tender regard or you. By its creeds, calculated for that end; by its atechism, drawn up for that express purpose; by its ppointment for reading the Ten Commandments on every Sabbath Day; by its ministers continually giving instruction; the church hath provided ample means for your being taught what you were to profess, when you should be capable of answering for yourselves. You will presently be asked, in a most solemn manner, if you will now yourselves engage to fulfil the promise given; if you will now bind yourselves to observance of the vow, which, at the time of your baptism, was made in your name. True indeed it is, that the very act of your appearing at the altar will imply you do take such promise and vow on yourselves. It is, however, expected, because it is highly proper, that you should with a loud voice pronounce the words which the service for confirmation prescribes. Utterance of those words is but momentary; the meaning of them leads to a consequence deeply important. For, in effect, each of you will say thus: "I acknowledge it is my duty to "avoid every thing which is vicious and sinful. I ac"knowledge it is my duty to rece