suffered. I repeat, flesh and blood can never see this. From God must this faith come, and from God it will assuredly come to every one who prays in a humble spirit; and not only this faith, but "all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer ye shall receive."

Now, my dear family, the world counts this folly. It would fritter away the real and plain meaning of this and other like passages of Scripture; but try you the experiment of prayer. Here you have a promise plain enough and abundantly gracious; for it offers all things, that is, of course, all good things, for God can give you nothing bad. Read this promise and the other promises about prayer that are scattered over both Testaments; but especially these of Christ, whose words are God's own. Then pray for the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, and especially holiness of life, and I am sure you will not be disappointed of an answer. I say not that the sudden conversion of any unconverted among you will take place, nor all the errors of any inconsistent Christian among you be immediately removed; but this I do say and affirm, that such sound rational changes will take place, both in the one sort of person and the other, that each will be able to bear witness-calm, clear, and decided witness-that these words of our Lord are true, and that there is a tender and loving God into whose bosom the prayer of even little faith may be humbly poured; and that there is a sure hope that through the merits and pleadings of Christ His beloved Son, it will be answered to the solid substantial happiness of him who offers it. Try the experiment, I repeat; find no fault with the religion of Christ for its difficulty in matters of belief or practice, till God has refused to listen to your humble and believing prayers. Go in faith to the foundation from whence all Divine knowledge flows, and the word of Christ is your warrant that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge and love of God in Christ Jesus, nor in the duties required of you as baptized persons. A LAYMAN.

of grace.

THE NEW CHURCH.

No. XIII.

THERE is no duty more indispensably necessary to the formation of a Christian character than Prayer. We stand in need of daily assistance from on high to enable us to "walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time.” Our blessed Saviour has directed us to the only means of obtaining that assistance, by pointing us to constant and habitual appeals to the throne "Ask (He says), and it shall be given to you; knock, and it shall be opened." There is no need to press this duty upon the true child of God, for he finds prayer to be his life and happiness. In times of joy or affliction, it imparts to his soul the only real satisfaction. But I believe there are comparatively few, who deny the importance of prayer generally, yet I fear there are many who consider sickness or a death-bed the most seasonable period for this sacred duty. Surely such persons are much mistaken; for when prayer is used for the first time under such circumstances, there is often more of horror and remorse, intermingled with fearful but fervent deprecations of the Divine wrath, than there can be of hope or confidence in a God of mercy. The Christian finds a throne of grace his dearest refuge, and, when heart and flesh are failing, he looks still to a mercyseat, and sees at the right hand of Jehovah the great Intercessor, who ever liveth to plead for those who by faith lay hold upon Him. He is then an anchor for their souls to rest upon, and they are able to testify with the Psalmist, in the 22nd Psalm, ver. 24, "He hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard him." The repenting sinner having recourse to prayer, finds a sure antidote to despair, and looking to the cross of Christ, remembers with deep gratitude that there is a balm in Gilead, and that the heavenly Physician waits to heal all who make their supplications to the Father through Him. If so much may be said of private prayer, how much more may be affirmed of united and family prayer? Hear the encou

ragement given by our Lord Jesus Himself, "Wheresoever two or three are met together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." And again, "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven." If prayer is so requisite to the formation of a Christian character, surely it is equally necessary to form the character of a Christian household. In the Scripture very honourable mention is made of family worship, in commendation of faithful Abraham: "I know him, (saith the Lord,) that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord." Joshua, too, on a review of many great deliverances wrought out for him, said, "If it seem evil unto you (speaking to the children of Israel) to serve the Lord, choose ye this day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." The Psalmist, after the same example, having finished the various services of the day, in which he had publicly testified his thankfulness for the Divine interposition, returned to bless his household; and, to prove his love of prayer, cries in another place, "Seven times a day do I praise thee." Our obligations, as a family, to God, prove the reasonableness of family worship. To His unmerited goodness we are perpetually indebted. If we are in joy, our thanksgivings are due to Him; if in affliction, we are told to pray. We want His direction through the trials and perplexities of the day in the evening we seek rest and safety in vain, unless He give slumber to the eyelids, and protection to the body. If then we recognize our entire dependence upon that Friend, who sticketh closer than a brother, by what shall we show our dependence, if not by yielding the worship and adoration we acknowledge to be due? Family prayer, being so plain a duty and privilege, how ought it to be conducted? In singleness of heart to the glory of God. No circumstance whatever should put it aside; no company be an excuse for omitting it. Now I earnestly wish that this new year may be the beginning of better things to many. I pray that heads of families may see the absolute necessity of family worship, if they have never yet seen their

duty therein; and that those who have and do set up a family altar, may remember this injunction, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou goest." Were we to receive the smallest token of respect at the hand of an earthly friend, we should be prompt in making our acknowledgments; we should feel pain in recollecting one opportunity when we might have testified our gratitude, but which was either neglected or forgotten; and if that friend were removed from us by death, how would memory bring before us each smallest token of affection, each sacrifice of self, each effort made to promote our good and add to our happiness! We should determine for the future to be more circumspect, and to let no opportunity pass of showing our gratitude to those benefactors still left us; and our grief would be, the total impossibility of recalling the past.

Masters of families, and parents, cannot escape from their responsibility in this most important duty; and unless servants and children see that family worship is considered a delightful privilege, and not a burden, they will learn to consider it best performed when soonest ended. But I would say to masters and parents, and say with earnest affection, because I have seen the good resulting,-Let your dear little ones and your servants see, that the service of God, both public and private, is considered by you "the one thing needful," and instead of making family worship give place to every trifle, let every thing give place to it. It seems to me there never was a time when prayer was more needed; our poor country requires our prayers; our neighbours at home, and in wretched blood-stained Ireland, call loudly to us to pray for their necessities. Let us earnestly approach the throne of grace this new year; and who can tell if the Lord may even yet cause the dark cloud hanging over us to burst with blessings? Now some may ask, what all this has to do with the "New Church?" I answer by a simple fact, which will, I think, prove the good resulting from family prayer, and from a form of prayer used in our own family, and presented to us by a minis

ter of the new church. My dear mother was one who, having once seen the necessity of a thing, and established a rule respecting it, was very firm in insisting upon its being attended to by all in the house. Attend

ance in the house of God on the Sunday was her first engagement with every servant she took into her service. She used to say, if God's service is not your freedom, mine will be a sad bondage to you. I allow no visiting on God's day. I cannot give you that day, because it is not mine to give, except to serve the Lord; but I will give you a day in the week, for then your time is mine; I attend the church at S-d, and there you must go, so that I may know for my own satisfaction that you are there. I may here observe that many of our domestics received serious impressions in that church, and though we could not always at the time trace this going on, yet in after years, in some few instances, the seed sown brought forth fruit to life eternal. JD was one into whose heart the word of God penetrated, though he was unconscious himself of the fact, until affliction laid him aside, that he might consider his ways and be wise.

Family worship was one rule enforced upon all. Now we had living with us a man-servant J. D., who did all he could to escape this duty, but it would not do; sometimes he was not dressed, then he was obliged either to appear as he was, or my mother would wait a few minutes for him, but come he must. Notwithstanding all this, the young man had a great regard for his old mistress, and so long as she lived did not openly rebel, but after her death it was found impossible to retain him, and he was dismissed from the family. He married, and lived in the village. His occupation led him frequently past our residence, but he seemed to have no regard for any then remaining. A year or two after his marriage he was taken ill; my brother-in-law visited him, and found him under great concern for his soul; he expressed a wish to see my sisters, who were still resident in the old house. They immediately acceded to his wish, and found the poor fellow very ill and in consumption. He asked forgiveness for his ungrateful con