Thirdly, To enforce that universal surrender of heart to the Redeemer which his love to us so justly demands; that as we declare solemnly this is our intention, to devote to him our bodies, souls, and spirits, "to be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service;" we may shew the truth of our professions by such a conversation as becometh godliness; not content with the lukewarm negligence of careless professors, but shewing the zealous diligence of active disciples; not resting on the ceremonious performance of an ordinance, but living every day in a course of communion with God.

The Prayers and Meditations are added as the necessary means to promote such a daily walking with God; for as we live daily pensioners on the divine grace, we must every day ask our daily bread, and in the field of the word collect the living manna. Certain it is, that a real Christian can no more live without prayer and the word of God, than a living body can subsist without proper nourishment; and they will be most flourishing in their soul's health, whose appetite for the sincere milk of the word is keenest, and who pray without ceasing.

May the God of all grace accept this mite cast into his treasury, and make it effectual to the advancement of his own glory, and the salvation of redeemed souls.

T. H.

ALDWINCKLE, October 10, 1764.

AUTHOR'S PREFACE

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THE NINTH EDITION.

THE acceptance of this little labour of love, marked by the number of editions which have been called for by the Public, has engaged the Author to revise it again for the press. The instances of many who have received a blessing from the perusal, are at once the best reward, and most powerful inducement to continue his services for the souls purchased by the precious" blood of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world." The happy and increasing revival of religious impressions among many, encourage hope that the deserted table of the Lord shall become more frequented, and that many young persons, turned from the pursuits of vanity and dissipation, will begin to feel themselves immortal, and not be diverted from due attention to an eternal world by the seductions of vice, or the delusive pleasures of sin, which are but for a season. It is with an especial regard to them, whose hearts are yet tender, not drenched with the intoxicating draught of trifling amusements, or fast bound in the chain of fashion and folly, that this little book claims their consideration, and suggests to every one who bears, and would deserve, the name of Christian, the necessity of joining themselves to the Lord by voluntary surrender at his table, as the pledge of their fidelity to him, and union with those, who, baptized in his name, have been from infancy devoted to his service: and especially having in the Church

of England offered themselves for confirmation, have solemnly ratified every engagement previously entered into for them, and profess to have given satisfactory evidence to their Pastor of their views respecting the Christian principles, and of their stedfast purpose to receive Christ Jesus as their Lord, and to walk in him. However improperly, carelessly, and superficially this matter is at present managed, the institution is excellent; and if the preceding steps to confirmation were properly improved, nothing appears to promise more beneficial effects, or to have a happier tendency to impress the consciences of young persons with a sense of divine truth, and to engage them early, before they are drawn into the vortex of corruption, to consider their ways, and to receive assurance, that none ever repented that their earliest days were consecrated to God our Saviour, and that the longest life spent in his service, affords the most substantial blessedness.

To any person who has ever given the matter a serious consideration, it is impossible to doubt the obligation of every Christian to join himself to the Lord in his instituted ordinances. The command is the most explicit, and the neglect of it must be wilful as criminal. The intention is the most beneficial for us, as honourable to our Lord; avowing therein our transcendent obligations to his blood-shedding for us, we receive the constant pledge and assurance of all the benefits of his passion; and shewing forth the Lord's death till he come, have every powerful claim, from the most impressive motives for our conduct, "to live for him who died for us," and to prepare to meet him as our friend, who, we believe, is so shortly coming to be our Judge. If the frequency of the case did not take off our surprise, though adding to the

criminality, by the multitudes who countenance each other in the inexcusable neglect of this ordinance, we might well wonder how any persons can turn their backs on the Lord's table, who make profession of being redeemed by his blood, and appear in his house among those who worship him in spirit and in truth. But, indeed, the awful ignorance of the first principles of the doctrines of Christ, and the stupid and unmeaning services of vain formality, are too glaring not to be observed, and too criminal not to be lamented, by all who have any tender sensibility for the salvation of those around them, and feel for the dishonour of their Lord in the contempt put on his authority, and ordinances. All such neglect contains in it a virtual renunciation of Christ, and his religion: and, however shocked many appear to be with the present impiety and infidelity spreading on every side, yet their own practice most powerfully countenances it; and there is not a child, or a servant in any family, who sees his parents or superiors living in the habitual neglect of the most solemn and obligatory Christian ordinance, but must necessarily conclude that they do not believe a tittle of the doctrine, however decent they may think it, not to avow a renunciation of the established faith of their country. The rising generation, struck with such examples, cannot but be led to treat sacred things with indifference, and to suppose their obligations to fulfil their baptismal engagements as very insignificant, and that the knowledge of cards is much more necessary than the doctrines of the Catechism.

But whenever the religion of the Son of God is received in the light, and the love of it, what is so plainly our duty, will be regarded as our privilege and delight. It will be sensibly felt, that it

is good for us to draw near to God; that He who is our Redeemer and Saviour, is entitled to the first affections of our hearts, and unreserved devotedness to his service; and the sooner we begin to take him for our Lord, to esteem him as our portion, and to follow him as our leader, and the more faithfully we are attached to his worship and service, the happier we shall grow in time, and more meet for an inheritance among the saints in light. To encourage and engage the rising generation thus to cleave to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and never to be ashamed of Christ, or of their open profession of him as their Saviour, is among the most desirable objects to be pursued by every faithful and conscientious Minister of Christ's Church; and nothing will probably contribute more to promote this desirable purpose, than exhortation to early communion, and a disposition to seize every occasion of enforcing on the conscience the duty, and displaying the desirableness and excellence of a life of habitual communion with God.

The views here presented, are only more confirmed by long experience in the Christian ministry; and the blessedness, as well as propriety, of the practice recommended, will continue to approve itself to every conscience, that dares be faithful to its own convictions, and diligent to enquire into our "bounden duty and service."

BATH, August 1, 1809.

T. H.