example in duly mixing the reading of the Scriptures with her public prayers and praises; and the devotions of any private family may justly be pronounced deficient in which either of these duties is statedly omitted. It is greatly to be lamented, that among other excellent usages of our forefathers, the pious custom of retaining a clergyman in fa milies of rank and wealth, for the purpose of religious instruction, should have degenerated in so many instances into a mere nominal appointment, bestowed only as a mark of ordinary respect, or to qualify the receiver for enjoying a plurality of livings. It would, however, indicate great insensibility to his duties in a layman to suppose, that because he has it not in his power to retain a regular chaplain in his household, family prayer may without impropriety be omitted. It was said by Bishop Burnet, of Sir Matthew Hale, that "he used constantly to worship God in his family, performing it always himself, if there was no clergyman present;" and happily there are many similar examples to be found in the present day of laymen of rank and consideration in society who are not so ashamed of their obligations to God, or of the Gospel of their Saviour, as to neglect this interesting duty. We may confidently hope and predict that the number of such characters, far from being on the decline, is on the increase; but it will not be till the custom shall again become general that all will have been effected which is attainable in this respect for extending and perpetuating a spirit of devotion throughout the country*. It is only necessary to suggest further, under this head, the importance of making the extension of pure and undefiled religion among the members of our church, a prominent object in our petitions, both in our private and domestic devotions. If the success of every instrument be * The customs which existed during Cromwell's usurpation are very far from presenting an unexceptionable national model; yet it certainly was not an uninteresting spectacle to witness almost every shop and place of public business in the metropolis closed at a certain hour in the morning and evening, while each family was engaged in its devotions. Something, indeed much, must be abstracted for the probable portion of hypocrisy and display which mingled with the observance; but the custom itself is well worthy of imitation in every Christian community. While on this subject, the author cannot but express his humble opinion, that some benefit might accrue to the cause of piety and the church, if laymen of influence, where time and circumstances will allow, would more frequently set the pattern of attending the public service, as far as practicable, on week days and saints' days. It is lamentable to observe, even in crouded parishes, the scanty attendance on these occasions, often scarcely sufficient to come within the blessing promised to "two or three" gathered together in the name of the Redeemer. K from God, we cannot reasonably expect this desired consummation without the earnest and united prayers of Christians for its accomplishment. Our church has shewn us the duty of constantly praying for our bishops and clergy, our sovereign and his council, our houses of parliament, our magistracy, and all ranks and classes of society, with an express reference to this most important and desirable object; and no manual of private or family prayer can be complete which does not render it a subject of especial prominence*. * For the sake of those who are strangers to the blessings and advantages of family prayer, the author cannot refrain from extracting a passage or two from Dr. Henderson's travels in Iceland, in which he gives the following interesting pictures. "The exercise of domestic worship is attended to in almost every family in Iceland, from Michaelmas to Easter. During the summer months, the family are so scattered, and the time of their returning from their various employments is so dif ferent, that it is almost impossible for them to worship God in a collective capacity: yet there are many families whose piety is more lively and zealous, that make conscience of it the whole year round. "One day I strolled up a rising ground behind the factory, and falling in with a dry and sheltered spot, I lay down on the grass. While my thoughts were engaged with some of the Psalms, I heard the notes of harmony behind; which, on turning about, I found proceeded from a cottage at a little distance to the left. The inhabitants, consisting of two families, had collected together for the exercise of social 2. A second and most important way in which the internal arrangements of a family worship, and were sending up the melody of praise to the God of salvation. This practice is universal in the island on the Sabbath-day. When there is no public service, the members of each family (or where there are more families they combine) join in singing several hymns, read the Gospel and Epistle for the day, a prayer or two, and one of Vidalin's Sermons. Where the Bible exists, it is brought forward, and several chapters of it are read by the young people in the family."-Vol. ii. p. 124. And again: "At the conclusion of the evening labours the family join in singing a Psalm or two, after which a chapter from some book of devotion is read, if the family be not in possession of a Bible; but where this sacred book exists, it is preferred to every other. A prayer is also read by the head of the family, and the exercise concludes with a Psalm. Their morning devotions are conducted in a similar manner at the lamp. When the Icelander awakes, he does not salute any person, but hastens to the door, and lifting up his eyes towards heaven, adores Him who made the heavens and the earth, the Author and Preserver of his being, the source of every blessing. He then returns into the house, and salutes every one he meets, with, ' God grant you a good day.'" p. 368. There is much in this description to remind the reader of that primeval state of blessedness described by our greatest of poets, when "As soon as sacred light began to dawn In Eden, on the humid flowers that breath'd Their morning incense, while all things that breathe To the Creator, and his presence fill With grateful smell, forth came the human pair, may be made to foster devotion and church principles, is by a strict attention to the duties of the Christian Sabbath. Christianity could not long exist in a nation if that divinely appointed day were entirely neglected; nor can a high tone of religion prevail, where it is only partially and ceremonially observed. That such is unhappily the case in too many families of all ranks, notwithstanding many recent symptoms of improvement, is but too notorious. It is true, we are not at present labouring under the national guilt of a Book of Sports, or Sunday drilling, or any other of those authorized profanations which at different periods have disgraced our municipal regulations. Nay, we are proverbial among our continental neighbours for our regard to the duties of the day of sacred rest, and, upon the whole, observe it probably as well as most Protestant, and better than most Roman Catholic, nations. But is there not room for improvement? or rather, is And again in the evening: “When at their shady lodge arriv'd, both stood, The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heav'n, Maker Omnipotent! and Thou the day, |