elevate and warm your affections, to obtain peace and felicity, to fit you for the discharge of duty both personal and relative, and to enjoy a foretaste of the heavenly world.

Here, too, while retired from the world, you must not forget the important duty of self-examination. Nothing can be more necessary than this, however it is discarded by some as a legal service. The apostle says, "Examine yourselves, prove your ownselves," so that to neglect this, is surely to violate a New Testament precept. It is to be lamented, however, that this is little attended to by many professors. The world without is explored with accuracy and diligence; but the world within, the mind, is too often neglected, as if it were not our interest to regard that which is nearest to us. The merchant examines the state of commerce; the mariner looks well to his vessel; the tradesman narrowly inspects his accounts; the scholar looks. back to see what progress he has made in science; the traveller counts the miles he has travelled, and the distance he has yet to go; and shall not the christian, who is engaged in a better cause, and pursuing nobler objects, shall not he often stand still, and ask, "What am I? What have I done? What is my knowledge? What proficiency have I made? What has occupied my thoughts? What has been the subject of my conversation? How have I acted under afflictions or

* I have read, says Dr. South, of an holy person, that he used to bestow a whole hour at least in meditation, before he kneeled down to prayer.

+2d Cor. xiii. 5.

mercies? What has been the state of my temper, and my conduct to my fellow creatures, but especially towards God my maker?" These, or such like questions, cannot but be interesting and important. Go therefore, reader; enter into thy closet, and there begin the work of self-enquiry: nothing will have a greater tendency to self-abasement, to enhance in your estimation the value of the atoning sacrifice, and to excite you to live more to the glory and praise of your great Lord and Master.

To the duty of self-examination you must add prayer. This has always been considered as incumbent upon christians in every state the best, the most experienced, the oldest, have always thought it of the greatest importance to be much in the exercise of this duty; how much more you, who are but just beginning the christian race! In this you solemnly dedicate yourself to God, acknowledge your own unworthiness, implore the forgiveness of all your sins, entreat his direction and blessing, hold communion with him, enjoy solid peace and felicity, and adore him. for all his goodness manifested to you. Here then endeavour to obtain the spirit of prayer, for it is not a form, a multitude of words, eminent gifts of speaking, that God regards: he looks at the heart, and from thence it is that true prayer is to rise. Labour, therefore, after a devotional frame; for then you will find it a pleasure as well as a benefit to be constantly lifting up your heart to

* Some have thought proper to write out and subscribe their dedications to God, as a kind of inemorial, to which they refer for their future improvement.

God. In this way you may be praying instantly, taking occasion from every circumstance, whether prosperous or adverse, to draw nigh to God. All places, times, events, ordinances, providences, undertakings, will furnish you matter for supplication. You will find it advantageous, also, to appoint set times for secret or closet devotion. When thou prayest," says our Lord, 66 enter into thy closet; and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."* Wise and eminent characters have always found it beneficial to be much in the practice of closet devotion. Our Lord spent whole nights in prayer. Of Bishop Andrews it is said, that his life was a life of prayer; a great part of five hours every day he spent in prayer and devotion to God. The pious Bradford used to do every thing almost upon his knees. Martin Luther thought three hours every day were little enough to spend in prayer. Mr. Flavel informs us of one that never suffered any company to hinder him from the performance of this duty, and was used to say, "Friends, I must beg your excuse for a little while: there is a friend waits to speak with me." Now it is not absolutely necessary that you are to follow these examples in every particular, for perhaps you may be in situ. ations where you have not the opportunities as they had; yet some time should be found. I have often thought it a most idle excuse of the luke

* Matt. vi. 6.

See also the remarkable anecdote of the Friar and the Night Whisper, in my Anecdotes.

warm, who tell us, that they are so taken up in their business, that they cannot find seasons for prayer; as if Providence had brought a man into a situation where he is commanded to work so hard, as to have no opportunity of devoting himself to God. Is it not better to borrow a few minutes from sleep, or from our meals, than to be found in the neglect of such an excellent practice? It is true, prayer neither informs God, nor changes him; but as it is his own appointed mean, I believe it will be found that very little, if any thing, of the life of God will be evident in those who omit it. Whatever you neglect, therefore, do not neglect this. I speak without hesitation when I say, that though you may frequently find yourself dead and languid in the performance of it, yet you will find it to be your most profitable employ, your happiest asylum, your surest refuge, your grand catholicon under all the difficulties and trials of human life.

We might here say something of family devotion, if so be you sustain the character of a head of a family; and even if you do not, if you can promote it any way in others, you do well. When we consider how many family sins there are to be deplored, family wants to be supplied, family mercies to be thankful for, who can doubt the reasonableness or propriety of having an altar erected to God in our houses? What a blessing is it likely to prove to our children, our servants, ourselves, to the community at large! How often will it quench strife, sanctify domestic enjoy. ments, alleviate grief, and promote order, decency, and religion in general? The blessings are innumerable. As to want of time, of gifts, of

courage, which are often brought forward as objections, these are easily obviated. The season need not be long: gifts improve by exercise; or if not, a form may be easily procured ;* and as to want of courage, only begin, and the fear of man will gradually subside. I believe many are deterred from this practice, from an idea of their want of ability; but why should they fear before they have made the experiment? We know not what we can do until we have made the trial; especially in such a work as this. We are told of one, that, when he embraced the gospel, he felt a strong desire to introduce family prayer; and though he had no children nor servants to oppose his wishes, he feared his partner in life might not conform to it. One evening, as he was walking the room, reflecting on the sinful omission of a duty constantly urged by his own conscience, he at length resolved to make the attempt, and began by saying, "How do I wish I could engage in prayer, like those we hear at the vestry!" His wife replied, Why don't you try to pray at home? Are you willing I should?""" Willing! certainly." The hinderance, which had only existed in imagination, vanished; family prayer instantly commenced, and, through divine goodness, has been continued to this day.†

Praying with our christian friends or social

* I must confess that I am no great advocate for forms; but it is better for those who have not as yet the gift of prayer to use a form, than to give up the duty: there are many excellent ones, such as Bean's, Jenks, Palmer's.

+ See this subject considered more at large, in an excellent sermon on family religion, by the Rev. W. Scamp, which I beg leave to recommend to all heads of families.