some degree, range ourselves on the Lord's side. We thus show that we are not ashamed of worshipping Him openly, while we offer our prayers and praises audibly, "in the sight and in the hearing of all his people, in the courts of the Lord's house."

I think your own observation and reflection will satisfy you, that this practice would be attended with beneficial consequences on those who witness it. Many, who are now silent, would be encouraged by example to join audibly in the service also. Many, who are inattentive, would become serious. The whole congregation would put on more, both of the appearance, and of the reality, of an assembly of brother Christians, uniting together with heart and voice in worshipping their Creator and their Redeemer. Even those, who have themselves but little religion in their hearts, might be influenced and affected by it; and the effect might in some degree be produced, which is spoken of by St. Paul, as the probable effect of the right exercise of one of those gifts of the Spirit which were vouchsafed to the primitive church. If all unite fervently and audibly in common prayer, "and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all; and so falling down on his knees, he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth." (1 Cor. xiv. 24, 25.)

In the Holy Scriptures we meet with different occasions, on which the servants of God thus united together, in uttering aloud their praises and thanksgivings to their Creator and Preserver. Thus we find Moses and the children of Israel uniting their voices together, in singing praises

and giving glory to God, after their miraculous deliverance from the army of Pharaoh. And thus we are told, in the Acts of the Apostles, that when Peter and John returned to their own company, after being threatened by the chief priests and rulers of the Jews, the assembled church "lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that therein is." (Acts iv. 24.)

The glorified spirits and saints in heaven are represented, in the book of Revelation, as joining together, "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands," in thanksgiving and praise, and "saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." (Rev. v. 11, 12.) And when the "voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear Him, both small and great;" it immediately follows, "And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia; for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.' (Rev. xix. 5, 6.) What a contrast to the comparative stillness, the silent and listless indifference and inattention, which pervade too many of our congregations!

I trust, my friends, that you enter readily into what I have said. I trust that you will all perceive and feel how much additional animation and interest is given to the church service, how much the object of public worship is promoted, when the people regularly and devoutly join in it audibly,

in those parts which are pointed out to them in the liturgy. Our spiritual affections and devotion are so sadly apt to become languid and lifeless, that we should be glad to have recourse to every means in our power to animate and quicken them. Let us earnestly beseech the Almighty God to lift up our hearts to him; to pour into our hearts the genuine spirit of grace and supplication; to raise and to spiritualize our thoughts and affections; to make us feel that "God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth: " and "may the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one towards another, according to Christ Jesus; that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.'

TRACTS FOR ENGLISHMEN,

Complete in 24 Numbers, price 11⁄2d. each, or 10s. 6d. per 100.

No. 1.-WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN? By the Rev. WILLIAM DODSWORTH, D.D.

2.SEARCHING OF THE HEART. By the Rev. E. B. PUSEY, D.D. 3. OUR LORD'S AGONY. By the Rev. W. F. Hook, D.D. 4.-SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL EXCELLENCE. By the Rev. J. MILLER, M.A.

5.-GATE OF HEAVEN. BY BISHOP HEBER.

6.-SOULS OF THE BLESSED. By BISHOP MANT.

7.-SCHISM AND UNITY. By the AUTHOR OF DR. HOOKWELL. 8.-SIN AND GRACE. BY BISHOP HEBER.

9.-DEATH FOR TRUTH. By the Rev. W. GRESLEY, M.A. 10.-SLEEP OF THE FAITHFUL. By ARCHDEACON MANNING. 11.-ROOM FOR ALL. By the Rev. FRANCIS E. PAGET, M.A. 12.-INSTANT IN PRAYER. By the Rev. CHARLES A. HEURTLEY, M.A.

13. THE RIGHT MIND. By SAMUEL WILBERForce, D.D., Dean of Westminster.

14.-COMFORTS OF RELIGION. By the Rev. HUGH JAMES ROSE, B.D.

15.-THE GLORY OF THE RIGHTEOUS. By HENRY EDWARD MANNING, M.A., Archdeacon of Chichester.

16.-THE HOLY GOSPELS. By the Rev. ISAAC WILLIAMS, B.D. 17.-THE PARTING HYMN. By the Rev. HENRY MELVILL, B.D. 18.-THE HOPE OF THE CHURCH. By the Rev. G. W. WOODHOUSE, M.A.

19.-THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS. By the Rev. JOHN JEBB, M.A. 20.-HAPPY DYING. By the Rev. CHARLES GIRDLESTONE, M.A. 21. THE DUTIES OF SPONSORS. By the Rev. J. N. G.

ARMITAGE, M.A.

22.-THE SOLDIER'S MARCH IN GODLY ORDER. By the Rev. W. J. TROWER, M.A.

23. THE HUMBLE CHRISTIAN. By the Author of "THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH IN ITS EPISCOPACY." 24.-ON JOINING AUDIBLY IN PUBLIC WORSHIP.

Rev. EDWARD BERENS, M.A.

By the

The above Series, neatly bound in cloth, price 3s. 6d.

J. Rider, Printer, 11, Bartholomew Close, London.