the remarks of a commentator on the chapter read. My objections to this plan are, 1st. That it does not actively employ the mental faculties of the different members of the family, but allows them habitually to meet around the domestic altar, and spend the accustomed time in a state of complete listlessness. 2d. That it gives them no opportunity of understanding the Scriptures. This is grounded on the supposition, that the servants of a family, who have never been trained up to habits of thought, and who are totally unaccustomed to all mental exercise, do not understand one tenth part of what is read, either as text or comment. 3d. That the prayer offered is mostly too long, and too general, uninteresting, and consequently rarely followed in mind by the auditory. In some measure to lessen these evils, I have adopted the following system, and having found it both practicable and advantageous, have been induced to offer it for the consideration of others. It may possess no claim to attention as novel, but it does as useful. 1st. Let each member of the family be provided with a Testament or Bible, and read in rotation a verse of the chapter in course, never exceeding in the whole more than twenty or twenty-five verses. 2d. Ask each one in turn some question on the portion read. Suitable ones will naturally suggest themselves, and it will soon be found they cannot be too plain or simple for instance, the distinction between the character of the Pharisees and Sadducees, the office of a prophet and an apostle, a priest and a Levite-they might also learn to distinguish promises from precepts, doctrinal from practical remarks, while the younger might explain the meaning of such words as sepulchre, tabernacle, disciple, tribute, &c. &c. These questions will lead you insensibly to communicate the most important spiritual instruction, while you will often have to lament over their deep and deplorable ignorance. To the more intelligent ones it would be well to explain seeming inconsistencies and discrepancies, and occasionally to show the evidence on which the historical facts are presented to us. This exercise, as profitable to the teacher as the taught, should not be allowed to occupy more than twenty minutes, it will in that time have employed the mind, led it from its previous engagements, and prepared it for devotional service.-Conclude then by, 3d. Reading a few verses of Scripture, selecting parts purely devotional, and offering a very short prayer, referring as much as possible to the peculiar circumstances of the family, and to the portions of Scripture read. Where singing can be conducted devotionally and with propriety, there can be of course no objection, the time occupied by it depending on circumstances. This course of instruction might be completed in half an hour; and if heads of families would endeavour to make it as interesting as possible, I am convinced, instead of being considered a wearisome service, the period of its return would be welcomed. Before concluding this paper, I should wish to suggest to any father of a family who may read it, 1st. The propriety of conducting the devotions of his own family himself, whoever may be present There seems a peculiar suitability and appropriateness in this service being conducted by the master of the household, and I cannot but regret that it should be so much the practice to transfer this important duty to individuals casually visiting. I am not insensible to the delights of social prayer, but I think, whenever enjoyed, they should be distinct from family worship, and I equally abhor the flattery which is too often administered under the form of petition, and the observations which are so frequently made on the temporary chaplain having prayed well or ill there is considerable truth in Mrs. H. More's remark, that we are too apt to be proud when we humble ourselves eloquently. : 2d. The importance of enabling themselves by previous study to give the most profitable explanation of Holy Writ. Why should ministers alone be acquainted with oriental customs, with sacred criticism, with the opinions of holy men on obscure and difficult passages, or with the external, internal, and collateral evidences of our common Christianity. The time is gone by, when ignorance was considered the mother of devotion, and it is now generally acknowledged that the best antidote to cold and speculative infidelity, to popish superstition or antinomian error, is to be found in the inculcation of a clear and intelligent Christianity. 3d. The danger of substituting family for private devotion, or at least of allowing it materially to abridge the time allotted to the religion of the closet. How few duties are there which the enemy of souls does not endeavour to wrest to our injury. If he cannot keep us from praying in our families, he will induce us, if possible, to abridge secret prayer, and, perhaps, wily as he is, he never spreads a snare more unsuspected and destructive. If I might be allowed to hint at one cause of so common, and yet fatal an error, I should say it arises from not sufficiently marking the distinction between petitions suitable for the family and those more particularly adapted to the closet. It may be replied, that there are few laymen whose habits of mind will enable them to do this; in answer I would then at once say, Use a form in the family, and relieve yourself from such a temptation. If closet duties be neglected no others can be rightly performed. Beware then of any such tendency. Remember you possess a heart, the deceitfulness of which is only exceeded by its desperate wickedness, and intreat of the Giver of all Good, the Father of Mercies, that he would enable you acceptably to perform the various duties assigned you by his providence, and that he would impart the influences of the Holy Spirit, without whose direction our holiest services will be converted into sins. London, April 8, 1825. ་་་་་་་་་ ON THE PROFANATION OF THE SABBATH. (Concluded from page 292.) The Sabbath is instituted to be a constant memorial of the finished work of redemption. Neither the day when the angel Gabriel was despatched from the throne of heaven, to announce to the Virgin the news and the name of Jesus; nor the day of his birth, when the angel of the Lord in glorious splendour proclaimed his dignity, and the chorus of the heavenly host celebrated his praise; nor the day of his baptism, when the heavens were opened, and a voice from the excellent Majesty declared him to be the Son of the Father and the Holy Ghost, in a bodily form, alighted and abode upon him; nor the day of his transfiguration, when Moses and Elias were sent from heaven to converse with him, and the form of his countenance was changed, and his face shone resplendent as the sun, and his garment beamed as the rays of light, and the cloud of glory overspread him, and the voice of God proclaimed him to be his own beloved Son, was chosen for the christian sabbath; but the day, on which he arose from the grave, having finished transgression, made an end of sins, procured reconciliation for iniquity, and brought in everlasting righ teousness. If the creation, preservation, and government of the world required a memorial for man's sake, how much more the completion of the great work of redeeming love. In the resurrection of Christ we behold the end of all the humiliation and suffering which he endured as our Redeemer, and the commencement of the glory of the mediatorial kingdom to which he is exalted. In that great event the character and perfections of God are manifested, the mysterious plan of providence and of grace developed, and the unspeakable blessings of eternal life secured to men. The scheme of redemption is not a system of speculative truth, contrived to exercise ingenuity or gratify curiosity. It is the revelation of the work of infinite wisdom, love, justice, mercy, power, holiness, and truth, glorifying God in the highest, and delivering man from guilt, misery, and degradation, and raising him to blessedness and honour. The imagination cannot paint, nor the mind comprehend, nor the heart feel the extent of the wrong which has been done to God, and the wretchedness brought on man by sin; nor has ear heard, nor eye seen, nor hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the glory and blessedness which God has reserved for those whom he has redeemed. To record such a work, a constant memorial must be highly proper, and no memorial could be more suitable than the Sabbath. The Sabbath refers to what is past, to the things which are present, and the things which are yet to come; it celebrates the wonderful love of him, who is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. It is both a pledge and a pattern of the rest which remains for the people of God. There is not a nearer emblem of the blessed in heaven than a church on the Sabbath, all joining in the song of praise to him who loved us, and who washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us priests and kings to God his Father for ever and ever. The Sabbath is a present blessing. We are in danger of being greatly injured by the cares and anxieties of this life. The present world is full of cares, and truly sufficient, unto the day is the evil thereof. What a blessing, therefore, to have one day in seven, given us by our heavenly Father, on which all earthly concerns may be laid aside, and the mind and the heart may be engaged in the delightful, the holy work of seeking and enjoying salvation, through the blood of the Lamb. A Christian needs no persuasion to enjoy the Sabbath; it is to him a day of delight. The fruits of the spirit, gratitude, faith, hope, joy, all dispose him to keep, and to rejoice in the Sabbath and the holy exercises which it brings. When you see a Sabbath-breaker, you behold a being who, whatever may be his pretensions, is not a Christian. He may call himself by that honourable appellation, but he is without the spirit of Christ, and is none of his. He is still in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. What can be the reason why the profanation of the Sabbath is so prevalent? Are the followers of Christ sufficiently alive to the importance of the Sabbath? Is the number of mere nominal Christians, who comply with the customs of the world, so great, that their example and influence overpower the efforts of the true followers of Christ to maintain the sanctity of the Lord's-day? The churches of Christ, both in their social and private capacity, ought to endeavour more earnestly than they do to promote the observance of this sacred institution. Ministers should preach, and admonish, and exhort more about it; private Christians should pray more for the blessing of the Sabbath, and more conscientiously observe it themselves and their families, and more boldly testify against its desecration. And this, no doubt, will be their conduct when the times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord. TO A LADY, ON THE DEATH Taunton, Jan. 29, 1759. MADAM,-If one pays visits without business, only to testify respect, why may we not write letters, though nothing material occurs to write upon; and yet, methinks, since Mr. Hervey's death, that affectionate veneration I had for a person of such uncommon excellencies is ready to suggest something or other in most letters I have wrote since. I have the pleasure to tell you that he had a sweet, peaceful exit. My Nancy writes me, that she was in company with Mr. Jones, of Southwark, and he was saying that Dr. Stonehouse told him that he trusted he would rejoice, when he assured him that he had but a few hours to live; whereupon the good man lift up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Now Lord lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation"then leaned his head back, and died in his chair. Thus that bright star set to rise with inconceivable advantage in the other, even the celestial hemisphere. Sure much divine influence (light, holiness, and consolation, love to Christ and his christian friends) was poured into him, while in the body; but what does he possess now? While, here, few admired and recommended the glorious Redeemer as he did; and yet could he now speak and write of him, and we could understand the celestial language and style, how far, O how far would he exceed himself? He had read and studied much! The Hebrew Bible and Greek Testament were at his fingers' ends. He was a critic in R. B. both! In all the parts of polite Christian professors are living epistles, known and read of all men; they should therefore take care to present a fair copy of Christianity to the world; the men of the world mark the blots, and excuse their own conduct, by the blunders which they find committed by those who profess godliness. The Sabbath-breaker too often shelters himself under the plea, that those who make pretension to religion regard it as little as himself; and if he sin, he lays the blame at their door. The friends of Christ should therefore beware, lest their Master be wounded in the house of his friends.. The line of demarcation, between the conduct of religious persons and that of the world, is not so distinctly and boldly marked as it ought to be; and this line of the manner in which the Sabbath is spent, should be drawn with such vivid colours that no mistake may possibly be made, or reason given to doubt, on which side the profesor is walking. There is the more need of caution when it is considered that many things, which are duties on the six days of the week, become sins on the Sabbath. Let us all watch and pray, that we enter not into temptation. Our Sabbath days are either our best or our worst. May we love them more, enjoy them and honour them more, till we arrive at that place where the Sabbath never ends. literature he was a master; writes as one that was ignorant of nothing that it became a scholar, a gentleman, and divine to know. How elegantly he wrote, what a master of language he was, how bright his imagination, how apt, sublime, and pathetic his expression, the world is generally agreed; but the temper of his mind, expressed in all his carriage, peculiarly recommended him to the esteem and wonder of those he conversed with. So affable, humble, spiritual, and elegant; so full of Jesus and his salvation; like a full vessel of wine, fragrant and reviving to every taste, and at the same time refreshing to every one that sips. O Madam, what a world is that which is full of those excellent ones; and they made ten thousand times more excellent: where a saint is no more like himself when in the body, than the noblest cedar on Mount Lebanon is like the first tender shoot of that tree; where there is no mixture of any thing that defileth. And may you and I hope to enter within the veil; to be admitted into the whiterobed society; having ourselves, as they before us, "washed our clothes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb!" Adored be that grace that prepares the glory and opens the way to it. Oh, the obligations we are under to Jesus, who has so dearly purchased it; who has gone before to prepare it, who bestows it so freely; and who, by his spirit on the hearts of his people, raises desires towards it, forms them for it, assimilates them to it, and gives them the first fruits of it. O may we have our esteem of it enlarged, our breathings after it strengthened, our meditations on it more fixed, frequent, sacred and sweet; shall we not be our own friends by looking more to the things which are not seen, but are so much more worthy our regards than any thing this world NEW SERIES, No. 7. INQUIRIES RESPECTING THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH, FORMERLY DR. WATTS'S, AT BURY STREET, ST. MARY AXE, LONDON. I REJOICE in the inquiries which have been recently prosecuted with so much vigour, respecting the flagrant abuses of charitable endowments. Mr. Brougham, I believe, first awoke this spirit in the public mind by his able exposure of the abuses of grammar and other endowed schools, and it has recently appeared amongst Protestant Dissenters, and produced a lengthened discussion concerning a great amount of property held by various trusts, which has been, it appears, perverted with Unitarian adroitness from the designs of the testators to the support of a system from which they would have turned with marked abhorrence. While, however, we contemplate the exposure of these proceedings with that satisfaction which the detection of dishonourable, not to say fraudulent transactions, must ever inspire, let us increase our solicitude for the just appropriation of the endowments. of our Independent churches, lest the reproof of our Lord be justly applied to us, Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy bro2 Z |