much good, that it is a dreadful snare, and I wish I could guard my brethren effectually against it; I mean the fear of being suspected of false piety. It can never be sufficiently lamented, that the practice of devotion, and the doctrines of grace, so essential to the Gospel, should have fallen into disrepute, from the example of any persons who have been discovered to have acted a godly part for mercenary purposes. But God forbid, that the hypocrisy of others should lead us into lukewarmness and indifference, which are equally bad."

Those who discover promptitude, address, and boldness, in managing all their secular affairs, and manifest a striking timidity only with reference to the duties of religion, may surely blush at the very thought, that while many glory in their shame, they should be ashamed of their glory. As to the other part of the objection, which relates to the stupidity or stubbornness, levity or perverseness, of domestics, it is probably more formidable in anticipation, than it would be found to be in fact. But a wise and conscientious master, possessing authority and liberty of choice, will dismiss from his family those domestics who prove vicious and incorrigible. "Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he that walketh in a perfect way,

he

shall serve me. He that worketh deceit, shall not dwell within my house; he that telleth lies, shall not tarry in my sight." Ps. ci. 6,

7.

As facts are often more forcible than reasonings, I shall here insert an extract from the life of that venerable divine, Thomas Scott, whose judicious Commentary, and other works, will speak to future generations. He began, he tells us, to establish the service of God in his family, by using a form of prayer belonging to his wife; afterward he used Jenks's Devotions; at length, he was gradually led to adopt the method of extemporary prayer. "From this beginning," says he, "I do not know, that during thirty-eight years, the daily worship of God in my family, morning and evening, has ever been interrupted, except when I was ill, or from home: and indeed, when that has been the case, some one of my household has usually supplied my place. On this I look back with peculiar gratitude, as one grand means of my. uncommon measure of domestic comfort, and of bringing down on my children the blessings which God has graciously bestowed upon them. And though the time allotted to this service has been, for many years, far longer than is generally deemed sufficient or expedient; yet, by a punctual observance of an appointed hour, and the adjustment of domestic affairs to the

In

plan, as known and invariable, no inconve nience worthy of notice has resulted from it. Nor have I, as many complain, in excuse for great brevity, found my domestics in general shew symptoms of weariness and inattention. My evening worship is much shorter than that of the morning; and, for many years past, it has taken place, in all ordinary cases, at a pretty early hour, which, where it can be practised, appears to be much preferable. numerous instances I have had visitants, espe cially relatives, to whom I clearly perceived that my family worship was disagreeable, and some who would not so much as, by a change of posture, profess to join in our prayers; but I never once omitted the service, or altered the method of it, on that account; and, in some cases, the parties have been softened into a more cordial concurrence with us." His son and biographer adds, after remarking on the interesting manner in which family worship was conducted, and the peculiar fulness of his Father's intercessory prayers, "that, in very few instances, has a servant, or a young person, or indeed any person, passed any length of time under his roof, without appearing to be brought permanently under the influence of religious principles." Let such examples, and the happy effects produced by them, encourage every fearful Christian, at the head of a house

hold, to commence, or, if it be already commenced, to continue, amidst all difficulties and drawbacks, the practice of family devotion.

Evening Prayer for a Family.

Almighty and most merciful Father, in whom we live and mové and have our being: to thy tender compassion are we indebted for all the comforts of the present life, and for the hopes of that which is to come. We bless thy great goodness, for the measure of health which we have this day enjoyed; for our food and raiment; for our peace and safety; for our domestic and social enjoyments; for the use of our reason; and for the opportunities of religious improvement with which we have been favoured. But above all, we acknowledge, with thankful adoration, thine inestimable love, in sending thy Son Jesus Christ into the world, to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification. To this love we owe thy forbearance with us; thine unwearied patience towards us; the gracious invitations of thy Word; thy promises of pardon, reconciliation, and eternal life; and the gift of thy Holy Spirit, to renew our fallen nature, and to enable us to perform thy righteous will.

"Here, O Lord, in thy presence, would we bewail our carelessness and inconsideration in time past, and the innumerable sins whereby we have provoked thee to withdraw thy tender mercies from us, and to abandon us to the natural blindness and hardness of our hearts. Our lives, even during the day which is now drawing to a close, have little corresponded with those obligations which our Christian profession lays upon us, and which we have solemnly promised to fulfil. We have loved the world more than God; and we have been pursuing its vain and worthless objects, far more eagerly than the glory and the treasures of thy kingdom. How little, O Lord, have we felt the force of gratitude to thee, and to Christ, as the animating spring of our obedience! How little have we been restrained by thy fear, and by the recollection of thy presence, from transgressing thy commands! How little has it been in our thoughts and intentions to please thee, and to do thy will!

"O Lord, lay not our sins to our charge. Be merciful, we beseech thee, to our unrighteousness, through the blood of the Lamb of God, which was shed for the sins of the world. Remember not against us, O Lord, the vanity of our thoughts, the errors of our judgment, the pride of our spirit, the inordinateness of