66 therein, is the glory of himself, and the benefit of his servants. If it be found a tiresome task, it is to those who are under the power of a carnal mind. When a man's heart is right with God, he will love the habitation of his house, and the place where his honour dwelleth. That he should do so, need be no matter of surprise, for, possibly it is the place of his spiritual birth; certainly it is the place where his soul is nourished and fed with the sincere milk of the word. The Lord's day, to his servants, is often a day of feasting and rejoicing, and his house is a banqueting house. The united experience of thousands can attest, that a day in God's courts is better than a thousand spent elsewhere. David says, "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord." It is good to draw nigh to God in every way in which he is accessible, but particularly so in concert with multitudes. When the Psalmist was banished from the courts of God's house, he poured out his soul in sorrow, for the loss of those sweet and precious seasons, when he went with the multitude to the house of God, to keep holy-day. To see a multitude run to do evil, is truly shocking to gracious souls; but surely on this side of the grave, nothing to them is so delightful, as to see and join with large assemblies in worshipping God in spirit and truth. But many, called Christians, have no delight in God's ordinances. The Sabbath is either a wearisomeness to them; or otherwise, its sacred hours are spent in sensual and carnal gratification: they have nothing to say to their Maker and Preserver, either in prayer or praise. They have no taste or relish for the rich dainties of the Gospel-feast; neither have they an ear to hear what the spirit saith unto the churches. O that they were wise, that they understood their best interest! for then they would fly to God in his ordinances, like a cloud, or as doves to their windows. But are there not some who profess to know God, and to love his ordinances, who are yet tardy in their attendance upon them? Church members, whose vacant seats in the house of God, witness the coldness of their hearts towards his worship? Do they not absent themselves for reasons which they would deem too slight to detain them from the market, or a common visit? Surely, if the divine word were more to them than their necessary food, sweeter than honey, and dearer than much fine gold, they would not be so indifferent about attendance on the reading and preaching thereof! It is not a slight excuse that will keep the hungry and thirsty man from his meat and drink; nor the lover of gold and silver from pursuing the acquisition thereof: neither is it a little matter that will detain from God's house those who, as new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby. When the soul thirsteth and panteth to appear before the living God, as the hart panteth after the water-brooks, the study and labour will be, not to excuse for being absent from divine wor ship, but rather to remove obstacles and hindrances out of the way, that God may be approached as its chief desire and delight. It were much to be wished, that gracious souls were always so disposed; but, alas! souls, as well as bodies, are subject to indispositions. The Israelites loathed the manna; and the saints do not always equally relish the Gospel. It is always the same; but there is great mutability in them; and it is a sad symp tom that all is not well, when there is little appetite for God's word, and only cool desires for his house. In such a state it is no wonder that a few friends at a tea-table have more attractive influence than twice, and more than twice, the number going to the house of God, and there to the throne of his heavenly grace. It is a common maxim, that of two evils, we must choose the least; it would seem to follow, that of two good things, we must choose the best. It would not be irrational to follow this rule, in our choice of visits, when it is between the house of God and that of a friend and neighbour. Give the preference where it is due. Go first where the best interest is most likely to be the best promoted. There is another matter respecting the worship of God's house, which deserves attention; and which the writer of this paper considers as an evil that ought to be exposed, and, if possible, prevented. It is the circumstance of late attendance, in many, who do frequent religious ordinances. Perhaps it is no uncommon thing for public worship to commence with not so many as twothirds of those whose business is, then, and there to worship. The noise of doors and clatter of pattens, have often distressed the ministers of Christ. When, as the people's mouth to God, they have been speaking in prayer, or as God's mouth to the people, have been reading his word to them, they have sometimes, owing to the noise before mentioned, been hardly able distinctly to hear the sound of their own voice. Why is it that such is the case? What can be the motives of such a conduct? Do these late comers not know the time? Is there no time fixed for the beginning of the worship? Or, is he by whom it is conducted, so irregular as to the time of his beginning, that it is uncertain when he will begin? Is it possible they should come in late to attract the more attention to their persons and their dress? Charity forbids the thought. Surely then it cannot be from a dislike to the beginning of divine worship, and a wish to disturb those who are otherwise minded! Whatever be the cause, it is certain it cannot be with a view to glorify God in his house. It cannot be with a design to conform with the sacred rule contained in the Scriptures. It cannot be from a good and tender conscience to promote the zeal and edification of others. Neither can it possibly be for the sake of conformity to the customs and manners of men in general, in other matters of far less import ance. No rational man can ever believe, that they who profess great love to divine ordinances, can so act with a view to evince the sincerity of such profession. So far as men act with a view to the glory of God in his house, they will not serve him there by halves as they would go with the whole heart, so they would go for the whole time. If they must pinch any thing in point of time, so far as they aim at the glory of God, they will pinch the time of eating, sleeping, and dressing, rather than that of waiting upon God in his worship. So far as men conform to the sacred rule of Holy Writ, they will do all things decently and in order, and especially so in the house of God; but in the present matter of complaint, there is nothing either of order or decency to be found, but very much the contrary. It is said, Luke xxi. 38, and very much to the credit of those of whom it is spoken, that all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him, viz. to hear Christ. The account we have in the tenth of Acts, concerning Cornelius and his friends, presents us with another pleasing instance of what the worshippers of God at this day ought to be. They were all present before God, to hear all things that he had commanded Peter to speak unto them. What a pleasing sight! Happy is that faithful minister of Christ who enjoys any thing of the sort! Where men act from a good conscience, to promote the zeal and edification of one another, they will not first be dilatory and backward in their attendance on public worship, and then attempt to justify and excuse the same, by saying such and such "were later than me :" No; this would not be to provoke sacred zeal for the orders of God's house, but rather to harden one another in the neglect thereof. And as for the customs of men in general, in respect of matters of far less importance, we know what they are. The diligent mariner will not miss his opportunity. He will mind his winds and tides. The diligent husbandman will improve his time for sowing and reaping. When the hours for buying and selling in fairs and markets are fixed, they who have business there will mind not to be too late. When a curious and entertaining sight is to be seen, suppose a grand procession, or what not, it is quite common for multitudes to be in waiting; they wish not to be too late. When friends and neighbours are to be vie sited, and the time for such visits appointed, common politeness, as it is called, requires punctuality; and if it so happens that the visitors be not exact to the time, reasons are generally assigned and apologies are made. But what apologies can be made for those who profess the highest regard for God and his Gospel, to his ministers and servants, to his worship and the orders of his house, while, notwithstanding, they are generally behind the time. They come after the entertainment is begun ; and continue so to do for years. Though they come four or five times in a week, perhaps they come not at the beginning twelve times in twelve months. Five or ten minutes with many would make up the difference between the time of their coming and the beginning of the worship. Surely their engagements are not such, but that, with a little contrivance and management, they might arrive at their places in the house of God a few minutes sooner than they commonly do. This would agree with what they profess, and would remove the cause of the above complaint. It would be no small comfort to him who leads the worship. God himself would be honoured; and they who were in this matter reformed, would lose nothing, but gain much more than ever they did by their former excuses for their late attendance. Occasional circumstances may happen, when punctual attendance will be impracticable, and in which cases, it will be better to come late, than not to come at all, as a little of that which is good is better than none; but these circumstances will not frequently occur, and when they do, the best and not the worst must be made of them. By and by, they who now frequent and delight in the ordinances of God's house, shall be removed to nobler worship in heaven. Then they will no more need the means of approaching unto God, but be for ever in his immediate presence. They will no more sip at the streams, but drink for ever at the fountain. ANECDOTES. The late Rev. Mr. Warrow, of Manchester, (Eng.) a little before his death, was complaining to the Trustees of the Chapel, that he had not been made the instrument of calling one soul to the knowledge of the truth for the last eight years. He preached but two sermons after this, before the Lord called him to himself; and soon after his death, between twenty and thirty persons proposed themselves as Church Members, who had been called by grace under Mr. Warrow's two last sermons. Let not Ministers think their work is done while they can preach another sermon, or speak another word. How often are we disposed to quarrel with God for answering our own prayers, because he does it in a way we did not expect. We cry for deeper views of our corruptions; but when we discover the plague of our hearts, we think he has forgotten to be gracious. We entreat for more sanctity of character; but when he afflicts for this end, we say, "Allthese things are against me." We are ready enough to pray for mercies, but who will pay the price of them? The following remark of the Rev. Philip Henry, after he had been engaged in ardent prayer for two of his children that were dangerously ill, is so expressive of the simplicity and tenderness of Christian faith and love, as to recommend itself to the hearts of those who walk with God: "If the Lord will be pleased to grant me my request this time concerning my children, I will not say as the beggars at our door use to do, I'll never ask any thing of him again; but, on the contrary, he shall hear oftener from me than ever; and I will love God the better, and love prayer the better, as long as I live." FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. SURVEY OF MISSIONARY STATIONS. - CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY. Under the patronage of the Bishop of Calcutta, a Diocesan Committee of the Society has been established at Calcutta, with District Committees at Madras, at Bombay, and in Ceylon. These Committees are very beneficially engaged in the circulation of the Scriptures, Prayer Books, School Books, &c.; and that at Madras being established near the seat of the Society's Missions, has taken them under its special care and direction. The Bishop of Calcutta, in the course of his Lordship's first visitation, investigated, on the behalf of the Society, the state of its several Missions; and confirmed its high opinion of its worthy Missionaries. The Rev. John George Philip Sperschneider, a Lutheran Clergyman, has sailed for India. His arrival will be very seasonable, as the Missions have suffered great loss by death.-We are happy to state, that two other Lutheran Clergymen, the Rev. L. P. Haubroe and the Rev. David Rosen, are about to proceed to India. Vepery, near Madras-1727-Rev. Dr. Rottler, pro tempore.The Society have sustained a severe loss in the death of their Missionary, Charles William Pænold, who long laboured here. His place has not yet been supplied; but Dr. Rottler of Madras, has taken charge, for the present, of this Mission. Trichinopoly, a town in the Southern Carnatic-1766-John Caspar Kolhoff, pro tempore. Tanjore, a city in the Southern Carnatic-1766-John Caspar Kolhoff,-Adeykalam, Nanaparagason, and Abraham, Country Priests. CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The concerns of the Society in India are under the direction of Corresponding Committees. Its earliest connexions with this quarter were through the medium of such a Committee, formed at Calcutta, and which takes charge of the northern part of India. Asecond Committee followed at Madras,which directs the Society's |