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power of evil has established a dominion over you: for then, mighty efforts and painful struggles, far beyond all the duties of an early piety, will be required for your conversion. Remember him now, while you may walk in the light of his favour and in the comfort of his love. Remember him now, before you have wandered into the dark and intricate ways of wicked men; into the way which goeth down to hell; the way in which many have perished, and from which few have returned. Remember him now, in an acceptable time, and in a season of mercy and of kindness; lest you be compelled hereafter to remember him in a season of judgment and of severity, and at a time when you shall find no place for repentance, though you seek it carefully with many tears.

Slight not these admonitions on the ground of their being common. The best guidance to happiness, and the best rules of duty, are those most commonly enjoyed: so great has been the bounty of God in the dispensation of his inestimable truth! It is the character of Divine Wisdom, as we find her poetically described in Holy Writ, that she crieth without, and uttereth her voice in the streets; that she crieth in the chief place of concourse, and in the openings of the gates, and uttereth her words

in the city*. This also is the wisdom, of which the neglect will be most calamitous. This wisdom, as long as man shall exist, it will be needful to inculcate and fatal to contemn. It applies to all men: but it particularly suits the circumstances and the customary age of those, who are called upon by the authority of the Church, at the appointed seasons of Confirmation. Let it thus be regarded by those to whom the consideration of this subject is proposed. Let it thus, I say, be regarded both by those who would offer themselves to this sacred ordinance, and by others connected with them by any natural or spiritual relation, as parents or as

sponsors.

• Proverbs i.

CHAPTER II.

IN WHAT CONFIRMATION CONSISTS, AND HOW IT IS

ADMINISTERED.

For the purpose of conveying a right understanding of this subject, I shall first explain the meaning of the word Confirmation, and describe the manner of administering the ordinance denoted by it.

By Confirmation is meant, the solemn laying on of the hands of the Bishop upon such, as have been baptized and have come to years of discretion. This is performed in the following manner: which I shall describe from the directions contained in the Book of Common Prayer.

It is required that children who have been baptized, shall, after they have learned to say, in their mother tongue, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, and have been further instructed in the Church Catechism; be brought to the Bishop to be confirmed.

When the Bishop gives notice of his intention

to confirm, the Curate of every parish is to provide a list of all such persons in his parish as he thinks fit to be presented to the Bishop for that purpose. If the Bishop approve of the persons thus named, he confirms them according to this form.

They are brought to the Church, and thus questioned by the Bishop: "Do you here, in the presence of God, and of this congregation, renew the solemn promise and vow that was made in your name at your baptism; ratifying and confirming the same in your own persons, and acknowledging yourselves bound to believe and to do all those things which your godfathers and godmothers* then undertook for you?" To this question every one is required to make answer, "I do." After this the Bishop, in order to their being enabled to fulfil this their vow, prays to God, that he would strengthen them with his Holy Spirit, and daily increase in

* It is to be regretted that no provision is here made for the case of persons who have been baptized in riper years, and who, at their baptism, answer for themselves. The inconvenience arising from the omission has practically occurred to my notice. I think it the more important to be remarked upon, because I consider as greatly mistaken, those who think that Confirmation does not apply to persons who have been thus baptized. By the rules of our Church, it is certainly required of them. The sequel of these remarks may tend to shew, that it is also required by higher authority.

them his manifold gifts of grace. He then, while they kneel before him, lays his hand upon them, and entreats God "to defend them with his heavenly grace, that they may continue his for ever, and daily increase in his Holy Spirit more and more, till they come to his everlasting kingdom.” To this imposition of hands are added, after the whole number have been confirmed, suitable addresses and petitions to the Father of grace and mercy and the solemnity ends with the benediction of the Bishop.

Relating to this ordinance, it is required by the Church, that none be admitted to the Holy Communion till they either have complied with it, or are ready and desirous so to do.

It is also required, that every one shall have a godfather or a godmother, as a witness of his confirmation: but this, with other parts of the duty of godfathers and godmothers, is too generally neglected.

Such then are the nature of Confirmation; the manner of its observance; and the requirements of the Church relating to it.

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