their Redeemer, to which the occasion spécially invites them. Above all, you will inculcate the necessity of fervent prayer to Almighty God, that He may enable them, by the grace of His Holy Spirit, to fulfil the engagements they undertake, and to walk faithfully in the paths on which they enter.. None are to be admitted as candidates who are under the age of fifteen years; and even if they have attained this age, it will be better to defer presenting them until another opportunity (which, God willing, will be afforded at no distant period), unless you are fully satisfied of their disposition to partake of this rite, as one of the means of grace, in an intelligent and pious spirit. It seems essential that the catechumens should possess at least such a general acquaintance with Scripture, and with the truths of the Gospel, as will preserve them from the sin of making an unmeaning profession, without being able to give a reason for the hope that is in them. Christian knowledge is indispensable to Christian practice. A notice will be found in the inclosed paper, of the day and place appointed for the Confirmation of your parishioners; and I request you to exhort them to a decent and devout behaviour, not only during the service, but also in going to, and returning from church; accompanying them yourself as their Pastor, and delivering a list of their names and ages to me in the chancel, after the conclusion of the ceremony. Each candidate must be provided with a separate certificate, signed by yourself, in the following form; "A. B. examined for Confirmation, and approved of by me, C. D. officiating minister of E." The candidates must be desired to be early at the church, as none can be admitted who are not in their places before the commencement of the prayers. They are also to be required to bring their prayer-books with them. I am, Reverend Sir, Your affectionate Brother, As the opportunity for Confirmation is a very important period in a parish, and one upon which God's blessing may especially be asked and expected, you are all entreated to pray for a spiritual blessing upon this parish, on the present occasion. The minister will attend, at his room in Sutton, on Thursday next, at eight o'clock in the morning, to offer up prayer for this purpose, with such persons as may desire, and be able to join him. XVII. A WORD FROM THE PASTOR TO HIS FLOCK. The present truth. 2 Pet. i. 12. 23 Aug. 1935. WITH the Calendar this week there will also be given to you two Tracts.* One is to explain to you what is Confirmation (this you will receive on Sunday morning); the other is to shew to every person in the parish how each is personally concerned in the Confirmation; and what is the particular duty of each upon the occasion: this tract you will receive early in the week. They contain that which I urge upon you all as being especially "the present truth." The first tract repeats the information which was given to you more largely at the last Confirmation, three years ago. Concerning this I desire to apply the whole of the text referred to above (2 Peter i. 12.). The subject of the second tract requires very serious consideration. May God put it into all your hearts to consider and act upon the instruction there given. To assist you in the duty there urged upon you, I intend every week, while we are preparing for the These Tracts, together with those subsequently mentioned, are published by Messrs. Nisbet and Co. Confirmation, to meet any of you who like to join me, that I may lead you in prayer for the object proposed. This shall be on Tuesday evenings, at the Rector's Room, in Sutton, at half-past seven; and (after the present week) on Thursday evenings, at the same hour, at the School-room. The places are thus arranged, that the inhabitants of both villages may, without inconvenience, be enabled to join at least once a week. The hour is also chosen for the convenience of those who are at work in the fields and as it is a sincere heart, rather than much speaking, which is required, not more than twenty minutes will be occupied on each evening; so that every body who attends may reach their homes by eight o'clock. In the present week there will be no occasion to meet specially for this purpose on Thursday, as on Friday all the persons who are Sponsors in the Parish are invited to attend at the School-room; and any one who is not a Sponsor, but who wishes to join them in prayer, may attend likewise. The parents of those who are of proper age to be confirmed are requested to consider the notice that is given at the end of the Calendar, that they may send them to give their names at one of the times mentioned, if they have not already done so. Make it the subject of your secret prayers, while you are engaged in your daily work, that a spiritual blessing may attend the approaching Confirmation. XVIII. A LETTER FROM THE RECTOR OF WONEVERY FAMILY IN THE STON TO PARISH. MY DEAR FRIENDS Wonston Rectory, August 24th, 1835. I HAVE often told you of the importance of having prayer regularly, morning and evening, in every family in the Parish. Have you family prayers in this house? if If you have not, you have tried God's patience a long time; for is it reasonable to expect a blessing upon your family, you do not care for a blessing enough to ask for it? Is it reasonable to expect that your children will grow up to think of God, if you do not shew that you remember that all your mercies come from Him? Thank God then, that He has had so much patience with you: do not try that patience any longer, but begin family prayers now. There is a particular occasion for your doing so at this moment. I explained to you, in the Sermon last Sunday morning, the duty of every person in the Parish to pray for a blessing on the Confirmation for which we are now preparing; and I shewed you, at the same time, the great encouragement God gives you to induce you to do this. The whole matter is further explained in the two tracts which I have sent to each of you this week. Having so great encouragement, take this opportunity of beginning family prayers, for the purpose of asking especially for this blessing. I send you, on the other side, a prayer that you may use in your family, morning and evening, for this purpose. I pray that God may send a blessing into your house from the use of it. If you have family prayers, be thankful that He has put it into your heart to act thus already; and do not fail, when you kneel down together, morning and evening, to ask for the blessing of the Holy Ghost upon the present opportunity, which is offered to so many, of making a profession that they are Christians. If you are at a loss for words in which to do this, you may make use of the form of prayer on the other side and may God bless the use of it to your own souls. I wish also to put each of you in mind of the duty which is urged upon you at the end of the Tract No. II., which shews you how every one in the parish is concerned in a Confirmation. I mean the duty of oftentimes lifting up your heart to God, in a few words, upon the subject. For fear any of you should neglect this for want of knowing what words are best, I recommend you, many times in every day, secretly to say, O God, for the sake of Jesus Christ, send the blessing of the Holy Ghost upon us, at this Confirmation. Grace, Mercy, and Peace be with you all, Your affectionate Friend and Pastor. A PRAYER To be used by the Families in this Parish until the ALMIGHTY GOD, we confess that there is a great deal of sin and wickedness in this parish,, at which Thou art justly offended: we confess, also, that this family must share in the blame of giving Thee this offence; because we have not stood against the evil as we ought to have done; and have not set such an example of godly obedience in all things, as we might have done, according to our knowledge, and the means of instruction Thou hast given us. We desire to humble ourselves for all these things; and we beseech Thee, for Jesus Christ's sake, not to visit this parish according K |