pent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand"that "if we confess our sins, God will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness"-let us bear in mind that unless we really do repent us truly of our former sins, our worship will be of no avail. The prayers, or rather the formal, outward, expressions of the wicked and unrepentant are "an abomination to the Lord."

The Exhortation which follows these sentences of Scripture, and which is to be said likewise by the Minister only, the People following him with their eyes, and hearts, and understandings, is somewhat of a comment upon the sentences which have been already delivered. He addresses them, in the affectionate language of St. Paul, or of St. Peter, or of St. James, to their converts, as his "dearly beloved brethren"words which express very strongly and very properly the good will and tender regard, which the Ministers of God should have for their people: who should in return receive with a religious spirit the admonitions of those who endeavour to speak to them "the truth in love."

This Exhortation bids us, in accordance with what Scripture says, always to be ready to confess our sins to our Heavenly Father, but especially when we assemble and meet together for the purpose of religious worship and of religious instruc

tion; and therefore to accompany the Minister to the throne of God's gracious mercy and goodness; and, before we proceed any further in our devotions, to make our humble Confession to Almighty God, with "a pure heart and an humble voice," of all our "sins, errors, negligences, and ignorances”—for before we have done this truly, heartily, and sincerely, we should not suppose that we are worthy to approach God's presence either in prayer, or in praise, or in thanksgiving.

Then you will observe in the directions given, which are called the Rubric, "a general Confession to be said of the whole congregation after the Minister, all kneeling."

There are two expressions used here, my brethren, which I wish to impress upon your minds"to be said of the whole congregation," and "all kneeling." Can any thing be more suitable and proper, more religious, more solemn, and serious than this? The whole congregation kneeling! Here is the first direction given us in our Prayer Book that when we pray we should kneel. For this practice we have the example of the Lord Jesus Christ himself, who "kneeled down and prayed." After this divine pattern therefore, good men of all ages have performed their public devotions with humble and lowly gestures, and more particularly in that of kneeling, as an emblem of

humility. In this natural and religious posture we are directed with one voice to acknowledge that we have strayed from God's ways like lost sheep-that we have followed the devices of our own wicked hearts-left undone those things which we ought to have done-acknowledging that we are destitute of spiritual health, and praying to God to have mercy upon us, to spare us, to restore the penitent to pardon and peace, according to His promises delivered to us by His dear Son our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom alone we can have access to the Father-who has himself said "no man cometh to the Father but by me," and "whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name it shall be given you." Can there be any thing more solemn and more truly scriptural than this?my brethren, how inattentive, how insensible, are they to the spiritual and affecting nature of our prayers, who, in such a service as this, either from heedlessness, or from sloth, refuse to bend the knee, or to confess aloud with their lips, their numerous sins and offences in the presence of God and of His assembled congregation.

And would you say that this manner of making your Confession aloud is noisy, or that it may disturb others?-ah! my beloved brethren, if this be done by each person, as is also directed,

"with an humble voice," he will give no disturbance to others, but he will quicken and warm their piety and devotion, he will by his example "teach and admonish" them to repent of their sins, and to confess them to Almighty God. Every one surely must experience that what he says, on this occasion, with his own mouth, is brought more home to his soul, becomes more personal and affecting, than if he had silently assented to it when said for him. And as for noise with regard to the Responses in our Service being made aloud, let me beg of you, my brethren, never to let the fear of such a word deter you from your prescribed duty. We are directed to "make a joyful noise unto God;" and I heartily hope that I may live to see the day arrive when in all the Churches throughout our land, instead of the cold, formal, frozen efforts of modern devotion, the people may make a joyful noise unto God in Psalms, and Praises, and Thanksgivings, and that their voices may once more be heard, as they used to be in former times, like "the sound of many waters," in praising God, in blessing God, and in shewing forth the might and majesty of His great and glorious Name. Such, I tell you, was the ancient practice of our Church, and such, as you will see, is the practice expressly enjoined in the Prayer Book.

But, before the Confession of sins, the Minister, as you will observe, has exhorted the people to join in "an humble voice"-let then the Confession be repeated aloud with the humble voice, and "see that thou believest in thy heart what thou confessest with thy lips." If you will but do this, you will be suitably prepared to hear God's Absolution pronounced to you by the voice of His Minister. This is to be said, as you will see, by "the Priest alone"-in which he declares God's entire pardon and remission of the sins of all those "who truly repent and unfeignedly believe His Holy Gospel." Now this subject of Absolution requires to be properly understood, and I will therefore confine my attention to this part of our service during the remainder of the present dis

course.

It is a great mistake, my brethren, to suppose that in our Church the Priest takes upon himself to absolve the sinner in his own name, or by his own power and authority. If you carefully examine that which is called "the Absolution or Remission of sins," you will find that it is God's pardon which is pronounced, or declared, to be granted to penitent sinners. The words-and precious and comforting words they are-are as follow. "He"-that is, God" pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent, and un