shall also be the year of my birth for a better world. With a peaceful smile, and blessed in Thee, my GoD, may I depart hence, when my hour arrives; and with a joyful smile enter upon that ETERNITY, in which awaits me unknown beatitude-Thy wonderful and endless gift.

II.

FAMILY DEVOTION.

EPHESIANS v. 15-21.

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."

It is moving and heart-elevating, to stand in the circle of a pious family, when it holds communion with the most holy and sublime Being in existence, with the DEITY Himself. Who can remain unmoved by the tear which trembles in the eye of a mother, when it is turned towards heaven; and she prays for the life, the health, the innocence, the welfare of her dearest children? Who can be unconcerned, when a worthy father, surrounded by his household, uncovers his head; and in sup

plication for the happiness of his family, addresses himself to the King of kings, the Almighty God? In whose breast will there not arise the most exalted feeling, when a guileless, blooming child, with uplifted hands, lisps a prayer to the invisible, eternal Father, for his parents, for his brothers, his sisters, and his playmates.

Formerly-who will, who can deny it ?-there was far more domestic devotion found in the family of the prince, as well as of the citizen, than there is at present. It cannot be denied, that there was likewise more manly strength, more rectitude, more magnanimity. There was in social life less levity and trifling, less odious party-spirit, and disgusting selfishness, but more quiet domestic happiness, more cheerfulness, and more delight in great and useful things.

With the progress of the, so called, polish of manners, the fine religious sense of our ancestors, in many families, gradually disappeared. Men preferred wild dissipation to the more sober, but true enjoyment of life. They pursued happiness in outward objects, and lost it in their own bosoms. They attempted to exhibit a supposed intellectual superiority, at the same time that they were guilty of the most irrational behaviour, and disdained all public manifestation of religious feelings. They were not ashamed of having been found in improper

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or dissolute society; but of having been seen in the Temple of God. They were not ashamed of having read books which were immoral and destructive both to soul and body; but of having been caught perusing a volume of devotion, of ethics, or of Holy Scripture. Thus, many a heart was by degrees bewildered, whilst it fancied itself improved-it aspired to intimacy with men of rank, but appeared to shrink from intercourse with God. It attached itself to things to which the irrational beast is no less addicted; and forgot that man is also a citizen of a spiritual world, and can only ennoble himself by alliance with God-the Father and Lord of spirits.

But the levity and immorality of many fathers of families, and the folly of many mothers, have destroyed the happiness, the peace, and the respectability of their children. Many are prudently returning to the simple mode of life of former days: -would that they could also revive the virtues of their forefathers!

Then, likewise, would the much-forgotten devotional exercises be again introduced into pious families, and secure to them domestic peace, consolation in misfortune, and innocent cheerfulness diffused over the work of every day.

It is true, that the public worship of God in His holy Temple is of the utmost importance;-but, how

often is it made a mere lifeless matter of custom! because that heart which cannot occupy itself at other times with the Supreme Being, at length becomes cold, through the daily distractions of the world. How soon are those impressions obliterated, which a godly word makes upon our mind! How soon are the most sacred vows forgotten, and the tears which accompany them, when a man returns from the church to his old pursuits, in quite another sphere; and for a long succeeding week neither can nor will think any more about them! How! shall we then be Christians only on the Sabbath? Is not every day of the week God's day—a holy day?

Yet we must cautiously preclude all misunderstanding, all false interpretations, when we speak of domestic worship. It is not, and never can be, meant to designate by that term, the object of greater or less meetings of different persons and families, who may associate to perform a private religious service. Such assemblies are in themselves by no means deserving of censure, and unallowable; yet they often produce in society consequences, which the Christian, as a member of society, will carefully avoid.

The Christian must respect the relative obligations of civil life, and consider the judgment and feelings of those with whom he is obliged to have