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THE INFLUENCE OF EXAMPLE.

(A Fragment, by Zeller.)

"Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.-1 TIM. iv. 12.

"In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you."-TITUS ii. 7, 8. 1. Be what the children ought to be.

2. Do what they ought to do.

3. Avoid what they should avoid.

4. Aim always that, not only in the presence of the children, but also in their absence, your conduct may serve them for an example.

5. Are any among them defective? Examine what you are yourself-what you do, what you avoid-in a word, your whole conduct.

6. Do you discover in yourself defects, sins, wanderings? Begin by improving yourself, and seek afterwards to improve your children.

7. Think well that those by whom you are surrounded are often only the reflection of yourself.

8. If you seek daily to have grace given you, it will be imparted to you, and through you to your children. 9. If you always seek Divine guidance, your children will more willingly be directed by you.

10. The more obedient you are to God, the more obedient will your children be to you; thus, in his childhood, the wise Solomon asked of the Lord "an obedient heart," in order to be able to govern his people.

11. As soon as the master becomes lukewarm in communion with God, that lukewarmness will extend itself among his pupils.

12. That which forms a wall of separation between God and yourself, will be a source of evil to your

children.

13. An example, in which love does not form the chief feature, is but as the light of the moon-cold and feeble. 14. An example, animated by an ardent and sincere love, shines like the sun-it warms and invigorates.

PERSONAL EFFORT.

THE cause of Christ would flourish more, and Christians would be far happier, and many more souls would be converted from the error of their ways, if Christians would act out that fidelity which duty calls for, and their solemn vows to Christ enjoin.

When Christians become practical in their lives, and depend for success more upon practice and less upon profession, I think sinners will feel and tremble more, and flock in scores to their Redeemer. A thousand opportunities to do good are every day lost through carelessness. How many sinners we might reprove and exhort every day, and how many rebukes we might give to sin, if we would begin the day with prayer, and keep the subject constantly before our minds. It is not sudden fits of devotion and periodical bursts of piety that give the greatest charm to religion, or produce the best influence on the impenitent. But it is the uniformity of feeling and practice, or rather the increasing strength and practice of all the graces of the Spirit, that gives the brightest lustre to religion, and throws around the ungodly the greatest restraints, and holds out the most powerful inducements for them to repent and lead a life of obedience and piety.

Ten years ago, I was acquainted with a family in affluent circumstances, and all but one, and that the mother, were very wicked. But that mother was a devoted follower of Christ. Not only would she pray for herself, but her ungodly husband and profane children would have a place in her heart, and be presented before her Master morning and evening, with all the affection and tenderness of a mother and wife devoted to the interests, temporal and eternal, of her family. But mark the change which a few years have produced in that family. They are a praying band of the heavenly army. They have passed from death unto life, and, I trust, are on the road to heaven. And that mother's heart is full of thanksgiving for the salvation of her family. She now beholds the answers to her many prayers in living characters in her own household, around her own table and fireside circle.

ON KNEELING IN PRAYER.

Ir was an observation made by Frederick the Third, that the forms used by the Romanists, in Divine service, made their worship seem to have a superior for its object, those of the Protestants to have an equal. Were that prince now living, and were he to visit many of the churches and chapels in this nation, might he not say that the posture in which many place themselves, is such as indicates the object of their addresses to be neither a superior nor an equal? Their prayers are neither in prostration like the Mahometans, nor in standing like the Jews, nor in kneeling like Christians, but sitting; an attitude in which a superior receives and addresses an inferior. This is a custom which has been introduced, partly through the examples of those who ought to have set a better; and partly, it is to be feared, from that kind of indifference which arises from ignorance and carelessness: for did people think before whom they are; did they properly reflect on the nature of prayer; did they contemplate God as the Creator of heaven and earth; as the universal Sovereign, with whom is honour, power, and dominion, majesty and glory; I say, did men consider these things, can we suppose they would dare to address Jehovah in an attitude which is at the utmost distance from reverence and deep humility?

NOTICES ON THE SERVICES OF THE CHURCH.

SERVICES FOR JANUARY.

The Circumcision of Christ.-" Almighty God, who madest thy blessed Son to be circumcised, and obedient to the law for man; grant us the true Circumcision of the Spirit; that, our hearts, and all our members, being mortified from all worldly and carnal lusts, we may in all things obey thy blessed will; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

This Collect, which is appointed for New Year's Day, is also to be used for the first Sunday in January, which intervenes between it and the Epiphany. (See note appended to the Gospel in the Prayer-Book.)

There is one acknowledgment in this Collect

That God made his blessed Son to be circumcised and obedient to the law for man.

Circumcision was the token and seal of God's covenant with the Jews, (Gen. xvii. 11. Rom. iv. 11.) and it was specially ordained in the law. (Lev. xii. 3.) Our Saviour was circumcised the eighth day. (Luke ii. 21.) It was therefore in obedience to the law, as a child born of Jewish parents. (Gal. iv. 4.) Because circumcision in itself is nothing, (1 Cor. vii. 18.) and baptism was about to take its place under the Gospel. (Matt. iii. 11.)

There is one article of prayer in this Collect—

That God would grant us the true circumcision of the heart, in order that we may, in all things, obey his blessed will.

True circumcision (that availeth) is of the heart, (Rom. ii. 28, 29. Deut. x. 16.) and consists in the mortification of our earthly and corrupt affections, (Col. iii. 5, 8.) and in the crucifixion of the old man, (Rom. vi. 6.) and we are called upon to be dead unto sin. (Rom. vi. 11.) Unless we are circumcised in heart, we are dead, not to sin, but to holiness, (Eph. ii. 1.) and follow the lusts of the devil. (John viii. 44.) God promises this true circumcision to those who love him, (Deut. xxx. 2, 6.) and life to those who mortify the deeds of the flesh. (Rom. viii. 13.) Obedience springs from God's Spirit, (1 Pet. i. 2.) and is a means of purification. (1 Pet. i. 22.) The disobedient will be punished at last. (2 Thess. i. 8, 9.) They that follow his will shall be blessed. (Rev. xxii. 14.) Abraham obeyed God's will in following him, (Gen. xii. 4.) and in giving up what he loved. (Gen. xxii. 2.) Joseph obeyed God's will in refraining from what he had forbidden. (Gen. xxxix. 9. compare Ps. cxix. 9.) If, then, we are dead with Christ, and risen with him, we must seek those things that are above. (Col. iii. 1—3.) Our prayer therefore should be Ps. cxliii. 10.

The Epiphany.*" O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles; Mercifully grant. that we, which know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.'

* Epiphany is a Greek word, signifying a manifestation, or shew. ing forth.

There is one acknowledgment in this Collect— That God, by the leading of a star, did manifest his Son to the Gentiles. It was foretold that a star (or prince) should arise out of Jacob. (Numb. xxiv. 17.) For a star, in Eastern language, signifies a king, or great person. (Gen. xxxvii. 9. Rev. i. 20.) At our Saviour's birth, a star appeared, and guided the wise men from the East (called also magi) to the place where he was. (Matt. ii. 9.) He calls himself the Bright and Morning Star. (Rev. xxii. 16. Dan. xii. 3. 2 Pet. i. 19.)

There is one article of prayer in this Collect

That they who know God now by faith, may, after this life, have the fruition of his glorious Godhead.

In God's presence there is fulness of joy, (Ps. xvi. 11.) which consists in being like him. (1 John iii. 2.) This will be entirely satisfying to the Christian. (Ps. xvii. 15.) The depraved heart of man, however, has no enjoyment in this presence, but flies from it, (Gen. iii. 6, 8.) and dislikes the light. (John iii. 20.) The enjoyment of heaven consists in doing God's will. (Ps. ciii. 20. compare Matt. vi. 10.) But in our natural, unrenewed state, we love to follow our own wills, which are contrary to his. (1 Pet. iv. 3, 2.) Therefore our wills must be renewed, ere we can enjoy heaven. (Rom. xii. 2.) The enjoyment of heaven consists in being holy, even as God is holy. (Heb. xii. 10, 14.) But in our natural, unrenewed state, we yield ourselves to the practice of iniquity. (Rom. vi. 19.) Therefore we must put on the 66 new man,' ere we can enjoy the presence of God. (Ephes. iv. 24.) The enjoyment of heaven consists in loving God. (1 John iv. 16.) But our natural, unrenewed state is one of enmity against him. (Rom. viii. 7.) Therefore we must put on this true charity, or love, ere we can enjoy God's presence. (Col. iii. 14.) The sacrifice of Jesus Christ has opened a new way whereby we may approach God, and be renewed in heart to serve him thus, (Heb. x. 16, 19-22.) and God promises that he will sanctify us wholly unto Christ's coming, (1 Thess. v. 23, 24.) thereby making his people meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. (Col. i. 12. 2 Pet. i. 10, 11.) We should therefore examine our

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