valuable, indeed, than that of private devotion, but still to be commended, inasmuch as it is the only channel of communicating instruction to characters of this description. That it has at the same time a tendency to foster the too prevalent disposition to rely on the external duties of religion, is unquestionably true. Many have. an undivided attachment to the public means of grace, and would take delight in spending the whole of the Lord's day in attendance upon favourite preachers; a spirit which has descended, though with much softening and abatement, from the age of puritanism; and an additional service, in the churches gives scope for its additional indulgence. For this there is no other remedy: than to inculcate, with the more earnestness, the necessity of sacred exercises in private; and that, highly as the public means of grace are to be esteemed, they ought not to be embraced to the exclusion of domestic piety. But the mischiefs arising from this source, and I am not insensible to their magnitude, are far from outweighing the advantages of opening the doors of the churches, for public devotion, at an hour most convenient to great numbers who belong to Christ's fold.

Experience proves that multitudes are ready. to attend evening worship, and if the doors of the national churches be closed, those of the

meeting-houses will be open, by which means numbers may be led to desert the pale of the Establishment. Except evening lectures are. adopted by the established clergy, the dissenters. are left upon the vantage ground, of which they well know how to avail themselves; and such services, whether strictly accordant with the original discipline of the Anglican church or not, seem a necessary accommodation to the temper and spirit of the age. Many churchmen, when their own places of worship are closed, will not. scruple to enter the dissenting chapel, which rarely fails to alienate their affections from the Establishment, and commonly ends in seceding from its communion. In saying this I am not actuated by that sensitive alarm which pervades the minds of many concerning the stability of the National Church, for, so far from being in danger, I am persuaded that her influence has been for years on the increase, and is daily increasing. It is not meant to palliate that schismatical spirit by which sects and heresies are multiplied in endless disorder. He who separates from the Established Church without candid inquiry, without careful deliberation, and conscentious motives, is guilty of a crime condemned by every principle of law, of reason, and of religion. But whether the separation be without cause, or arise from the honest conviction of the mind, there is no ade

sabbath from polluting it, to his holy mountain and to make them joyful in his house of prayer 9. Those who have ever experienced these feelings of sacred transport will exclaim, “O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods "."

Of all the duties in which rational creatures can be engaged, that of social worship is most powerfully adapted to cherish the growth of genuine piety. The fervour attending it, the solemnity with which it is performed, and the recollections which it calls up, are calculated to stimulate our love and veneration for the Deity. In devout abstraction from worldly cares and pursuits, the mind dwells entire and undivided upon heavenly things; it is absorbed in spiritual thought; and sees with clearness and force the perfections of God as displayed in the works of creation and redemption. The blessings of salvation purchased by the atoning sacrifice of Christ, are contemplated with that deep interest which attaches the heart in gratitude to its Redeemer. A pardoning God, an interceding Saviour, a sanctifying Spirit, are presented to the

Isa. Ivi. 7

h Ps. xcv. 1-3.

view, surrounded with all the attributes which can win our affections, and command our adoration. Along with meek reverence to the everblessed Trinity, is awakened a sentiment of universal kindness and benevolence to man. What is more august, more affecting, more adapted to excite the feelings of brotherly affection, than the appearance of a full assembly of fellow-creatures in humble prostration before the throne of the Most High? All ranks and conditions being united in one common service, and a service stimulating the best affections of human nature, are drawn towards each other by the influence of sympathy and mutual regard. They are assembled together as members of the same family, as children of the same Parent, acknowledging the same wants, trusting in the same Saviour, and aiming at the same end by means which rarely fail, when duly applied, to melt the heart to unbounded charity. charity. Who ever departed the company of the faithful, worshipping in the house of prayer, without experiencing a fresh stimulus to his piety towards God, and his benevolence to man?

Nor is it reasonable to doubt that the sabbati cal exercises of devotion are attended with the especial favour of God. Our Lord dignified by his presence, and distinguished by his grace, the septenary day of his resurrection; and the same

day of the week, at the feast of Pentecost, was signalized by the miraculous effusion of the Holy Ghost. The apostles, in obedience to the command of their divine Master, "continued in fellowship, and in prayer, and in breaking of bread;" and when assembled sung "psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs." Many promises are made by the Almighty to devout prayer and supplication; all of which apply to public worship on the Lord's day; and this is agreeable to the declaration at the first institution of the sabbath. When God appropriated the seventh day to himself, he also "blessed it," that is, promised to annex his special blessing to the pious observance of it. If we devote it to religious exercises, he has thus engaged to accept the homage which we offer to him in sincerity and truth. The Supreme Lord will then be propitious to the prayers of his faithful people; he will graciously accept the offerings of contrite hearts, shedding abroad upon them the influence of his Spirit, when they participate in the ordinances he has prescribed. So favourably does he regard public worship, that his blessing is bestowed upon the punctual discharge

Deut. iv. 7. Ps. lxv. 2.-lxxxvi. 5. Isa. xxx. 19. Jer. xxix. 12.-xxxiii. 3. Joel ii. 32. Zech. xiii. 9.

Rom. x. 12, 13. 1 Tim. ii. 8. James v. 16. viii. 3, 4; and other places.

Matt. vii. 8.

Revel. v. 8.