In this country, where we are deprived of the benefit of episcopal visitations, and our children cannot be confirmed according to the rites of the Church of England, the author begs leave to remind the reader, that all the principal advantages of confirmation may be secured by the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Let the child, after previous instruction and admonition, be prepared for attending the Lord's Supper, exactly as he would be prepared for Confirmation: Let him know that in this public manner, he solemnly confirms the promises made for him in baptism, and dedicates himself to the service of Christ. If we are thus conscientious in the discharge of our duty as christian parents, we have reason to hope, that God, even our own God,

blessing.

7 OC 63

will give us his

Calcutta, December 31, 1811.

T. T.

A

SERM O N,

ON THE NATURE AND IMPORTANCE

OF

CONFIRMATION,

Ecc. V. 4, 5.

When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

AMONGST the many serious and affecting exhortations of the wise man, there is something peculiarly instructive in the opening of this chapter. He here inculcates seriousness in the discharge of those duties which, perhaps, of all others, are treated by the generality of mankind with the greatest levity; viz. hearing the word of God, prayer, and other religious exercises. "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house "of God; and be more ready to hear than to "give the sacrifice of fools; for they consider

B

"not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy "mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is, in heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few." How little are these solemn admonitions considered by a large portion of those who assemble together for divine worship!

He then enforces the discharge of religious vows, and solemnly cautions us against trifling with God and our own souls in matters of such great importance. "When thou vowest a vow

unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath "no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest "not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and "not pay."

A vow is a solemn promise to God, by which we bind ourselves to do or forbear certain things. Such engagements were in general entered upon voluntarily, and related to things which depended on the zeal of the individuals concerned; and were not strictly regulated by the law of God; they were often free-willofferings of their persons, property, or services, to God, arising from the fervor of religious

affection, or from the emotions of gratitude for mercics received or expected, These engage

ments having been once made, the law was very strict in requiring the fulfilment of them,

a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to, hind his soul with a bond; he "shall not break his word, he shall do accord-. ing to all that proceedeth out of his mouth." Num, xxx. 2. When thou shalt vow a vow "unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. But if thou shalt forbear to yow, it shall be "no sin in thee. That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even "a free-will offering, according as thou hast « vowed unto the Lord thy God, which thou "hast promised with thy mouth." Deut xxiii. 21-23.

And is it not reasonable that such engage. ments should be fulfilled? While we consider a faithful performance of promises as indispensi ble in the intercourse of men with each other, shall we admit insincerity in our transactions with the blessed God? Will not the heartsearching God require from all of us a serious

discharge of those duties to which, as Christians, we have professed ourselves bound? If in mat, ters of indifference, and resulting from voluntary offers, he exacts punctuality, will he not, at least, equally require it in things which arise from our relation and obligation to him as our Lord and Saviour?

It is my intention at present to call your at tention to those promises which you have all made to the blessed God, and to urge you to an immediate performance of them. And here I might observe, that on many occasions we have engaged to serve him, and it becomes us to re, flect that God is not an unconcerned spectator of our conduct. How many amongst us have solemnly bound ourselves to a life of religion at the Lord's table! After commemorating the dying love of Jesus, we have expressly presented ourselves to the Lord, and besought him to accept the offer as our bounden duty and service. How emphatical are the words which we have adopted! "Here we offer and present unto

thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, "to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice "unto thee; humbly beseeching thee, that all

we who are partakers of this holy communion