when they were present at morning prayers, but did not remain for the Communion, as well as those days when they were absent altogether. Another list is kept of the names of those who, having been members of the Church, have declined, with the length of their backsliding, and the date of their return. Every Communicant is at liberty to know all the particulars in this book which stand opposite to their own names; but not those of any other name. Your Pastor thinks it his duty to add, that he inserts these particulars very minutely, as he is in duty bound; as this is the only means of outward discipline which the law of the Church and of the land warrant him in exercising. When therefore a member of the Church examines this monthly account, he ought to consider under what item his own name swells the number; and then to reflect whether the great Head of the Church (who looks more minutely than His appointed servant into the particulars of each ease) is satisfied with the place where that name stands. After this self-examination, each line of the account will give abundant occasion for prayer, when the general result is considered; without entering upon any examination of the particulars concerning other names than your own.

II. The Baptism Account. As the presence and faithful participation of the members of the Church at the Sacrament of Baptism is of great importance, this part of the account will afford every Communicant an opportunity of examining himself whether he attended upon the occasions mentioned. It will convey also a hint to Sponsors, to put them in mind of their duty; and, by shewing them the number of Sponsors in the parish, will encourage each in fulfilling the office on behalf of the Church which they have undertaken. If the remembrance of these things be accompanied with prayer, this will not be found the least interesting portion of the

account.

III. Congregational Account. This head of account is a very important one; and, if properly attended to, may perhaps shew the real state of religion in the parish, upon the whole, as truly as any part. Every assembling of persons for worship or instruction is counted, and the number noted in a book. The children are not reckoned in this account, because they are correctly given in the school accounts; and the attendance at the Sunday School being added to the congregational account, will give the whole number of souls present. The total number of souls in the parish may be stated at 750; and the number of persons above the age of education, who ought to attend the means of grace, at about 400. To make this account clear it is right also to state, that while two services are appointed for every Sunday, your Pastor finding himself blessed with a stronger constitution, and better health than are given to many men of his age, is able to add a third means of instruction on the Lord's day. The object of this is twofold; first, to supply assistance to such persons as are able and willing to employ the whole Sabbath in laying in a store of spiritual instruction for the week; and secondly, to offer to all persons in the parish the means of attending twice on the Lord's day, in spite of the hindrances which domestic arrangements may cause. By examining this account with a little trouble it may be seen how many people have entirely neglected public worship on the Lord's day, and also how many have attended it but imperfectly. There are about fifty persons who are in the habit of attending all the three services; but as there are occasionally hindrances to these, it is found that the average number of persons actually present three times every Sunday, is about forty. This number having been satisfactorily accounted for, let it be taken from the numbers given in the account at all the three services. This, in the account for May, would leave 127 in the morning, 26 in the after

add the two smaller which is the largest attended twice; and

noon, and 55 in the evening. If we numbers together they will make 81; number of persons that could have this taken from 127 will leave forty-six who only attended once in the day. But if instead of this we suppose that all those who attended in the afternoon and in the evening were different persons from those who attended in the morning, then eighty-one is to be added to 127, and will make it 208 persons; but none of them could have attended more than once; this, together with the forty, encreases the number of attendants to 248 out of the 400 on any one Sunday. What became of the 122 persons who made the difference between the two numbers? If the examination of this account lead any one of them to think where they ought to have been, and no longer to "forsake the assembling themselves together as the manner of some is," it will not have been in vain that care has been taken to make this state of things plain to the people. The other items of the Congregational Account will each suggest useful hints for self-examination to persons who, for trifling reasons, neglect to avail themselves of the instruction which is offered to them.

The other Heads of Account will be made the subject of some future “ Word” to you. For the present your Pastor commends these remarks to the serious and prayerful consideration of you all.

CONFIRMATION.

XVI.

A WORD FROM THE PASTOR TO HIS

FLOCK.

The present truth. 2 Pet. i. 12.

16 August, 1835.

THE Bishop, to whom in the providence of God has been committed the oversight of the Church in this part of the country, is about to go round the diocese, to confirm all persons who have been baptized into the Church, and, being sufficiently instructed in what is required of them when they themselves confirm their baptismal vow, are desirous of partaking in the rite of Confirmation. The letter in which he communicates this to the clergy is printed below; and it will be your minister's duty to be "earnest and diligent," in acting according to the instructions it contains.

The subject of Confirmation will be more particularly explained next week; in the mean time every person in the parish who has not yet been confirmed, is requested to attend, either at the Rector's room on Tuesday next, the 18th of August, at seven o'clock in the evening, or on Wednesday next at the vestry room, in the church, at six o'clock in the evening. This arrangement is made for the accommodation of persons who live at Sutton and at Wonston, to spare them time at this season of the year, when there is so much occupation in the fields. These persons are requested to attend upon this occasion, merely to give their names, and to receive instructions as to what is afterwards to be done; so that if

any difficulty should exist in the minds of any one upon the subject, such a one had nevertheless better come at the time specified, and consider his difficulty more maturely afterwards.

THE BISHOP'S LETTER.

REVEREND SIR,

Farnham Castle, August, 1st, 1835.

INTENDING, by Divine permission, to hold a Confirmation for your parish in the ensuing autumn, I request that you will not fail, on three successive Sundays, at least, after the receipt of this letter, to give notice thereof in your church or chapel, and of your readiness to examine and prepare such of your parishioners as are of proper age, and desirous of participating in this holy rite.

I confidently trust that you will be earnest and diligent in endeavouring to acquaint the candidates with the nature and design of Confirmation; that, before this solemn ratification of their baptismal vow, they may examine themselves seriously, as in the presence of God, whether, by the aid of his heavenly grace, they are heartily desirous of forsaking all sin, and of living henceforward as faithful members of Christ's Church; resting their hopes of eternal happiness solely on the merits of his death, and adorning their profession by a consistent and godly course of life.

To this end you will represent to them, as well by suitable sermons, as by private instruction, the motives by which they should be influenced; the especial duties to which they will be bound; and the benefits which they may expect to derive from a spiritual participation in this sacred ordinance. You will aim at impressing their hearts, under God's blessing, with those devotional and holy feelings which this solemn ceremony is so well calculated to excite; and at encouraging them in those purposes of faith, love, and obedience in the service of