however is a certain feature of a gracious soul, that it mourns over its unthankfulness; and convinced of its own impotence, looks to the fountain of all grace, that by its internal operation it may be made unfeignedly thankful.' And when ever this unfeigned thankfulness in any degrée presides in our hearts, it always produces a desire of shewing forth His praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves, to His service, and by walking before Him in holiness and righteousness all our days, through 'Jesus Christ our Lord.' But, alas, how many persons are there, who in the house of God thus verbally devote themselves to His service, as being under everlasting obligations of love and gratitude; and yet go into the world, and there desecrate their time and talents, their bodies and souls, to the Devil, the world, and the flesh! Those, whose professions are sincere, continually labor to give up themselves to His service more and more; and consider themselves as a devoted thing, which it would be sacrilege to alienate from its lawful Proprietor to any purpose dishonorable to Him. O how many there are among us, plead for reserves, and try to satisfy themselves who with a partial surrender of their hearts, and a limited devotion of their lives; and thereby prove their insensibility of His mercy! How much more easy is it to give all our goods to feed the poor, and even our bodies to be burned, than

to give up our hearts and lives to God! How proper is the supplement, which our church has added to our thanksgivings!

We present our praises and thanksgivings through Jesus Christ our Lord.' In His name only can they be accepted. His merit must always be combined with them; His intercession recommend them; or otherwise, they will prove offensive to the Lord of hosts. And it is for His sake only that we expect a gracious answer to those supplications, which we offer for that spirit of gratitude, which so far as it prevails, assimilates sinners on earth to saints in heaven. • To • HIM THEREFORE WITH THE FATHER AND THE HOLY GHOST BE ALL HONOR AND GLORY WORLD WITHOUT end. Amen.'

THE CONCLUSION.

THE propriety, spirituality, and multifarious excellency of our church-liturgy having been honestly, though rudely, sketched in the preceding pages; it is hoped that every reader and hearer belonging to her communion, will survey the ground on which he stands, and scrutinize the

sincerity, or insincerity of his Christian profession as in the Divine presence. Confession of sins, penitential supplications, praises and thanksgivings, are things of a most solemn and awful nature; and should never be addressed to the throne of Omniscience, but with the guileless mind of Nathanael. Destitute of this essential qualification, they harden instead of meliorating the heart; and excite the indignation of that Holy Being, who hath proclaimed His requisition of truth in the inward parts. But if, in the use of our devotional forms, we make it the object of our strict attention, that the sentiments and sensibilities of our souls harmonize with all the declarations of our lips; we shall know by experience the blessedness of Gospel-religion; and shall daily grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Happy they, who can say, without any degree of mental reservation, That it may please Thee to give us true repentance; to forgive us all our sins, negligences, and ignorances; and to endue us with the grace of Thy Holy Spirit, to amend our lives • according to Thy holy word; we beseech Thee to hear us good Lord!"

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