hands. And therefore every family ought, as such, to worship him with penitent, humble, and thankful hearts.

The promise of Christ's presence, as we find it in the 18th chapter of St. Matthew, appears to be more especially applicable to families, assembled for the purposes of devotion. "I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them by my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them :" not that the presence of Christ is by any means confined to such an assembly; but we may suppose it to be a goodly sight in the eyes of God for those, whom he has united in the same household, to offer united prayer and praise to him.

But the practice of family prayers is moreover attended with these advantages, which are confined to that practice. The Parent, when he thus gathers his Chil

dren round him for the purpose of prayer, is in the most effectual way" bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord;" and is giving them the best lesson on religion, by showing them how necessary he considers a constant observance of its duties.

The Master, who thus assembles his Servants, cherishes in them a sense of religion, which would be likely to fade away between one sunday and another; and, if he is not thereby instructing them in their duty, (which however it is probable that he may be,) yet he at least is keeping their duty more strongly present to their minds: and he is impressing upon them the necessity of doing their duty by the consideration, that they have another" Master, who is in heaven."

And both the Parent and the Master have the satisfaction of knowing, that, although his Children or Servants might neglect their prayers, if left to themselves; by bringing them together for that express purpose he is inviting and encourag

ing them to serve God, and is himself setting them an example that they also

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ought always to pray and not to faint.”

Why this duty of family prayer is so generally neglected, as we may reasonably fear it is, I confess I am at a loss to conjecture: unless it is to be attributed to a most deplorable lukewarmness with regard to religion. The trouble and inconvenience to a Parent or Master of a family in reading prayers to his household at least every evening, (if it be not practicable, as perhaps is sometimes the case, in the morning,) cannot be very great. Try the experiment, you who are so situated as to have it in your power to try it. It cannot do you the least harm; and it may do you much good. It may make your Children more dutiful, and your Servants more faithful; and it may, and probably will, make yourselves more serious and religious. It will give you but little trouble at present: it will be attended with no pain, and it will not be any hindrance to you in your business. But, if I am not much mistaken, you will find ample reason to be

satisfied with it hereafter; when the consciousness of your having thus been the instruments of making your families do their duty to God, at the same time that you have also been endeavouring to do your own duty, will smooth your bed in your sickness, and be a source of comfort and hope in death.

At the beginning of my discourse I said, that I was desirous of recommending this subject to your most serious reflection. Let me now beg it of you in conclusion, and that as a matter of the first importance to your happiness, that you will not dismiss these reflections from your minds the moment I shall have ceased speaking; but that you will, upon leaving the Church, make them the subject of your most attentive consideration. For this purpose let me suggest a few brief questions to your minds.

Has not Christ instructed us that it is our duty "always to pray and not to faint?" And has he not given us to understand by the parable, that constant and

earnest prayer is necessary in order to our being in favour with God?

Can a man be properly said to pray at all, unless he prays with sincerity and in earnest; with his heart as well as with his lips?

And should not, and will not, the man, who is really sincere in his devotions, show that he is so by a devout and decent beha viour in the house of God?

If we really wish to " pray always and not to faint," should we not take every opportunity which is afforded us of worshipping God in public with the congregation of our brother Christians; and come to Church twice every sunday, unless we are unavoidably prevented?

Can we be said to "pray always and not to faint," if we confine our devotions to one day in the week? Should we not then rather offer to God every day in private the sacrifice of our morning and evening prayers?

VOL. II.