In order to your profitable attendance upon God in his public worship, let the following directions be observed by

you.

1. Come always at the beginning of the service, and be sure to stay till the whole is ended; neither come late, nor run away early, before the blessing be given, which many careless people rudely do, as if they were as glad to get out of God's house as out of a prison. Those two pious and useful men, whose memories are held in such deserved veneration, Mr. Rogers, and Mr. Hildersham, the one in his Exposition of St. Peter, and the other in his Lectures on St. John, do give frequent advice to their people, not only to come at the beginning, but before the beginning of public worship: "It becoming the people (say they) to wait for the minister, rather than the minister to stay for the people." Think not then that you are time enough at church, if you get to the sermon, though you miss the prayers, for they prepare you for the Word, and sanctify the Word unto you. It is not the way to profit by one ordinance, to neglect another.

2. Enter the public assemblies awfully and reverently. Presume not to come into the house of God as you do into a play-house or dancing-school, laughing and toying, nor to go out of it as such; but labour for a lively vigorous sense of God impressed upon your minds, and to get your hearts possessed with the consideration of the infinite Majesty and glorious Excellency of that God whom you are addressing yourself unto.

3. When present in the public assemblies, join uniformly with the congregation in all the parts of God's worship: it makes much for the comeliness and reverence of God's worship that all things be done in order, when the congregation prays, hears, kneels, and sings together, as if the whole congregation were but one man.

4. Look that the intention of your mind, and the reverence of your body, do always accompany each other in the public worship of God; particularly in prayer, look that your soul ascend with every petition that is put up at the throne of grace, and let the posture of thy body declare the veneration of thy soul. To that end, always kneel at prayer, if with any conveniency you can. This posture of kneeling, and sometimes of lying prostrate upon the face, in prayer, was constantly used in the Jewish Church; and the Christian

Church was never acquainted with any other posture, except only betwixt Easter and Whitsuntide, when, in memory of Christ's resurrection they were wont to stand. As for such amongst us who rudely sit at prayer, it shows that their minds are not possessed with an awful sense of that vast and infinite distance and disproportion that is betwixt God and them. Sitting nowhere appears in the Scripture to have been used as a praying posture. And for that one text, 2 Sam. vii. 18, that "David sat before the Lord, and said,” &c., it may as well be read, David abode or stayed before the Lord, and so is rendered, 1 Sam. i. 22. Nor is it to be supposed, that David would present his supplications to Almighty God in such a saucy manner, as he would not suffer any of his own subjects to present a petition to himself. A prince would not like an irreverent behaviour from his servants in his bedchamber, where none besides himself is witness to it, much less would he bear it in his presencechamber, when he sits upon his throne before a multitude of his subjects.

5. Therefore, to compose the frame of your mind, and to regulate the behaviour of your body, whilst you are attending upon Almighty God in his public ordinances, often remember the several eyes that are upon you, and taking notice of you; namely, the all-seeing eye of God, the observing eye of conscience, the vigilant eye of the world, and the malignant eye of Satan.

6. Never attend upon Almighty God in public duties, before you have waited upon Him in your private devotions: enter the closet before you enter into God's house, and there first consider, and then pray. Consider with thyself the weight and importance of those duties which thou art about to engage in. Consider the worth and value of an opportunity for thy soul, which thou art that day intrusted with; but especially reflect often upon the strictness of that account which is to be given, for the long enjoyment of the plentiful means of grace afforded to thee. Next bow thy knees to Almighty God in prayer, humbly implore his gracious presence with thee, and assistance of thee in thy private preparations, and in thy public performances also. Remember that as thou canst do nothing of thyself, at the ordinance, without God's assistance, so will God do nothing for thee by the ordinance without thy endeavours. The remembrance of the

former will stir thee up to a more fervent supplication, and a more importunate expectation of help from heaven; and the consideration of the latter, will excite thy diligence and care both in thy preparation for, and attendance upon, all the sacred and solemn institutions of Almighty God.

Never, therefore, go forth out of thine own house without preparation and prayer to the house of God; and let such of you as plead to me want of ability to express your desires to God, make use of some form of prayer for the Lord's day, composed to your hand, both in your closet alone, and also in your family.

7. As soon as the public ordinances are over, retire and withdraw thyself from the world; think, and meditate upon what thou hast heard. If thou art a single person, call thyself to an account; if thou hast a family, call thy household to give an account of what they have heard that day, and endeavour thyself (according to thy duty) to be their remembrancer, by repeating to them, either by the strength of thy memory, or by the help of thy pen, the chief heads of discourse which were insisted upon, for the informing of their judgments, and directing of their practice. This was the pious practice of your forefathers: and if ever religion recovers its decayed strength, it must be by the help and encouragement of masters of families, who holily resolve, that whatever others do, they and theirs shall serve the Lord.

8. Conclude and end each day of public worship with family prayer, and a psalm of praise, bewailing the miscarriages of your hearts in holy duties, imploring forgiveness of the iniquity of your holy things, and the acceptance of your sacrifice and service in and through our great High priest and worthy Mediator.

[Burkitt's Help and Guide to Christian Families.]

ANECDOTE OF THE LATE REV. RICHARD CECIL. A YOUNG girl entered the shop of Mr. B., a bookseller, desiring him to exchange a Prayer-book, which she brought with her, for a Bible. The bookseller gave her a Bible, and bade her keep the Prayer-book also. Some time after, this girl was taken into the service of the Rev. Mr. Cecil. On her first coming into the family, Mr. Cecil inquired if she

had a Bible, to which she answered in the affirmative, and told him from whom she had received it. Mr. Cecil was pleased with the circumstance, and finding out Mr. B., recommended him to his friends. During Mr. Cecil's absence from town, however, Mr. B. became involved in serious pecuniary difficulties, and was compelled to give up his business, and return to a mechanical employment, which he had learned in his youth. The violent exertion attendant on this occupation occasioned a painful illness; he remained some time in an hospital, but at length left it, and retired to an obscure lodging, without any adequate means of support for himself and family. To this place Mr. Cecil, on his arrival in town, with difficulty traced him. An early interview took place, and Mr. B., having stated his misfortunes, “Well, Mr. B.," said Mr. Cecil, "what can be done for you? Would a hundred guineas be of any service to you?" "I should be truly thankful for such a sum," said Mr. B.; "it would be of great use to me, but I cannot expect it." "Well," returned Mr. Cecil, “I am not a rich man; I have not a hundred guineas to give you, B., but," continued he, putting his hand in his pocket, "I have got one; here it is, at your service, and I will undertake to make it a hundred in a few days." Mr. Cecil represented the case to his friends, fulfilled his promise, and the Bible, which B. had formerly given to a child, procured the means of once more opening his shop, and affording him a subsistence.

[Christian Observer.]

DODDRIDGE'S RULES FOR THE DIRECTION
OF HIS CONDUCT.

1. LET my first thoughts be devout and thankful. Let me rise early, immediately return God solemn thanks for the mercies of the night, devote myself to Him, and beg his assistance in the intended business of the day. 2. In this and every act of devotion, let me recollect my thoughts, speak directly to Him, and never give way to anything internal or external that may divert my attention. 3. Let me set myself to the reading of the Scriptures every morning. In the first reading let me endeavour to impress my mind with a practical sense of divine things, and then use the help of com

may

mentaries: let these rules, with proper alterations, be observed every evening. 4. Never let me trifle with a book with which I have no present concern. 5. Let me never lose one minute of time, or incur unnecessary expense that I have the more to spend for God. 6. When I am called abroad, let me be desirous of doing good, and receiving good. Let me always have in readiness some subject of contemplation, and endeavour to improve my time by good thoughts as I go along. Let me endeavour to render myself agreeable and useful to all around me, by a tender, compassionate, friendly behaviour. Let me avoid all trifling, impertinent stories; remembering that imprudence is sin. 7. Let me use great moderation at meals, and see that I am not hypocritical in prayers and thanksgivings at them. 8. Let me never delay anything, unless I can prove that another time will be more fit than the present, or that some other more important duty demands my immediate attention. 9. Let me be often lifting up my heart to God in the intervals of public worship. 10. Never let me enter into long schemes about future events; but, in general, refer myself to God's care. 11. Let me labour after habitual love and gratitude to God and the Redeemer. Let me practise self-denial, and never indulge in anything that may prove a temptation to youthful lusts. Let me guard against pride and vain-glory; remembering I have all from God's hand, and I deserve the the severest punishment. 12. In all my studies, let me remember the souls of men are immortal, and Christ died to redeem them. 13. Let me consecrate my sleep, and all my recreations to God, and seek them for his sake. 14. Let me frequently ask myself, what duty, or what temptation, is now before me? 15. Let me remember, that, through the mercy of God in a Redeemer, I hope I am within a few days of heaven. 16. Let me be frequently surveying these rules, and my conduct as compared with them

CONVERSION OF A SAILOR.

THE following narrative was related by Mr. Dudley, at a meeting of the Brighton Auxiliary Bible Society:-Many years ago a man was seen, one dark night, walking on the Point of Portsmouth, leading by his hand his little boy, who,