CHARLES'S PASTORAL VISITS. MR. HADDOCK. THE YOUNG

METHODIST. THE CARD PARTY.

THE Rev. Charles Mortimer having now been some time settled in his curacy, attempted to bring his people to set up the morning and evening worship of God in their families. This, however, was considered by many as an attempt to make them over-righteous,-nay, worse-by this practice they would begin to resemble the Scotch people and the Dissenters. The subject was formally introduced at a dinner party at Mr. Haddock's. He complained that his son was a Methodist-that he actually frequented the Methodist meeting; and a friend of his stepped into it one night, and with his own eyes, beheld his son actually praying aloud amidst a throng of people, who were groaning around him; nay, he prayed so loud in his own room, as to disturb all his family, and he seriously meant to turn him out of his house, and take for him lodgings lest he should infect his brothers and sisters with the same enthusiasm. "Now, sir," said Mr. Haddock, "what are you doing-recommending us to set up family prayer morning and night; and will not this lead to the same enthusiastic delusion, of which my son Philip is the victim ?" no means," said Charles, "it will guard against enthusiasm. This is only reviving the old practice for which

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God commended Abraham I know Abraham that he will command his children, and his household, after him, that they may keep the way of the Lord;' and what was the end to be answered, that I may bring upon Abraham that which I have spoken of him. We are to offer up prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, and to implore wisdom and grace for ourselves and our families; and God has promised to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him.' Prayer, by the ordinance of divine wisdom, has been rendered the means of conveying every good and perfect gift which cometh down from above from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning. any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to every man liberally. By the regular reading of portions of Scripture and prayer your family will be taught to form a right judgment in all things-to distinguish truth from error, zeal from rashness, and sincerity from hypocrisy they will grow up in reverence for their parents, who thus feed them with the bread of life as well as with that bread which perisheth-they will seek a better portion than this world they will be taught to abhor the enticements of sinners, and to hold fast that which is good. And if any one should be led astray by the snares of an evil world, and wander from the way of peace after his own wicked. ness has corrected him, and his backslidings reproved him, he may recal to mind the image of his Father, offering up daily prayer and praise, and be awakened to new resolutions and obedience, and become desirous again of trying, by prayer and perusal of the word of God, to rec brain the path of religion and truth; and thus, by degrees, he may find religion hallowing his worldly pursuits, lightening his way, soothing his sorrows, and seasoning his enjoyments; in a word, he may become desirous to prepare for the employments of the saints in light, by trying on

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earth to have his conversation in heaven. And I will venture to say, that if you will make the experiment, before you exclude your son from your roof, that family prayer will sober his views and practices, and increase the wisdom, piety, and harmony of all your family.",

But, sir," said Mr. Haddock, it will be so singular a custom; I shall act different to the rest of my neighbours, and it will be such an interruption to the daily business and domestic arrangements of my family.", "Oh, sir," sir,” said Charles," you little know the importance and obligation of the duty, or you would not make these excuses. Are we not frail and dependent beings, in debt to God for every thing? And shall we pass a day without acknowledging it, and seeking his blessing? Does he not, by means of his word, open the ears of men, and seal instruction and speak to us, not once or twice, but in every part of his word, by precept, warning, threatening, and promise? And shall we not read this word to our families? Has he not threatened, by the prophet Jeremiah, to pour out his wrath on the families that call not on his name?"" 66 But it appears to me so puritanical," said Mr. Haddock, "I shall be in danger of making my children melancholy, or Methodists, by bringing them to school every morning and night to hear a long chapter and prayer." "Only taste and see that the Lord is good," said Charles; "and try the experiment of thanksgiving and prayer in your family; supplicate the continuance of God's favour, and you will find, that neither yourself nor your family will consider it an irksome task. When they have been accustomed to these periodical acts of family worship, they will not regard it as a formal ceremony to be submitted to with reluctance,

they will feel a tranquil delight in the exercise of celebrating God's mercies, which are new every morning and fresh every evening; they will behold the tokens of his

power and presence in making the outgoing of the morning and evening to rejoice,' and they will lift up their affections to the Father of spirits and acknowledge that, ‘it is a good thing to show forth his loving kindness in the morning and his faithfulness every night.' Did not the smoke of the evening sacrifice ascend with increasing regularity from the sanctuary of Israel as the early dew descended on the mountains of Sion? And did not the Lord in consequence 'command his blessing there, even life for evermore?' Even so shall the man still be blessed that feareth and worshippeth the Lord."" "Why this may be very proper," said Mr. Haddock, "for ministers, but not for private christians." "Yes," said Charles, "but we depend much, as ministers, on your prayers. You must, pray with your family for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified.'. The world at large depends on your prayers. Let all the families of our christian Israel pray apart, as well as in, the congrega-, gation, that the showers of blessing may descend on the desert and parched places of the earth where the stream of salvation has never yet flowed, that the God of the whole earth would look down on all the families of the earth, and send his Gospel to cover the earth as the waters. Then would wisdom and knowledge be the stability of our times, his work should appear before his servants, and his glory to their children;' and 'times of refreshing should come from the presence of the Lord.' Till christian families thus unite in domestic prayer for themselves, for their ministers, their neighbours-for all christians, and for all the world, we cannot expect a general blessing from God. To you, therefore, and such as you, all the ends of the earth are looking. Do you begin this night; let me commence the work as your chaplain, and then may we hope that the gracious promise will be at last accom

plished,Then shall the offering of his people be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old, and as in former years. And the Lord will create upon every dwellingplace of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flame of fire by night; for upon all the glory shall be a defence.""

Mr. Haddock, with the promptitude which marked his character, declared he would adopt the proposal. The family were all called in, and Charles set up the altar of prayer and praise in that family which was never, as long as the family lived, for a day afterwards discontinued.

Much pleased was Mr. Haddock with his new employment. The next quarter of the year, when it came to his turn to have the usual card party of gentlemen of the town at his house, he did not prevent their coming, but surprised them with a novelty they little expected. When they were all assembled, and the fire full blazing, and the cards placed ready on the table, he thus addressed them

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My old friends, I have joined you many years in what I thought the innocent recreation of a game of cards. 1 an growing old, and you are also many of you beginning to be greyheaded. I have determined to spend now the short time I have left in the serious business of reading, prayer and praise, and instructing my family, morning and evening; and now in your presence I make the public sacrifice of these painted idols, that they may never more tempt me to trifle with my soul and mispend my time.” With these words he cast them, pack by pack, into the fire!

His friends looked on with mute surprise. At last, one said, "Mr. Haddock you are beside yourself; religion has made you quite enthusiastic. Come, this is too much!" "No," he said, "I am now come to myself, and am returning from my wanderings, like the prodigal, to