possible, be revived; and the name of father on earth waken notions that may faintly image what we owe to our Father in Heaven, and lead us to look up to our God in that character. There is still a curse upon every one that setteth light by his father or his mother, the curse of hard-heartedness. Deut. xxvii. 16. Although the Israel of God may not now, as of old, assemble to acknowledge its certainty, yet are its consequences no less formidable than when they did. It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgment, than for the city which rejects the Messengers and the words of Christ. It will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, than for Chorazin and Bethsaida. The love of Christ is more constraining than the Law is deterring; and we are much worse in moral character for rejecting the Gospel, than for disregarding the Law. The greater is our sin, the more dreadful is the state in which we are left, hopeless, and, in fact, unredeemed, with hearts to know God, but not to love Him; and to feel at once what we are, and what we might have been, had we not in our day neglected His great salvation. There does not appear to be any thing said on any of these pages that renders it, in fairness, necessary for the editor to publish his name: and he therefore considers it allowable, and believes it advisable, for him to subscribe himself, as one among many, what he is by profession, and would earnestly desire to be in conduct and heart, A CHURCHMAN. THREE PRAYERS FROM ANCIENT DEVOTIONS. Almighty God! Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in Heaven and earth is named, I give Thee most humble thanks for that Thou didst, of Thy divine providence, vouchsafe to let me be born of Christian parents, by whose care I was first brought unto Thy holy baptism, and afterwards brought up in Thy holy religion. I beseech (Thee), O blessed God, who art the rewarder of every good work, to recompense them their full reward, even out of the riches of Thy bountie and goodness! Give them peace and plenty; defend them from all dangers, both of bodie and soul; keep them in the stedfastness of Thy faith, and in the obedience of Thy holy commandments; that so, having Thee, their merciful and gentle Father, after many happy days here in this life, they may at last be brought into life everlasting, through Jesus Christ! Amen. A thousand years have roll'd away, and now In strongest words, yet grave and reverent. Father and mother, children, husband, wife, Shall there, in Christ, receive eternal life, And bless His reign, one holy brotherhood! 0. HYMNS. I. ABANDON'D o'er the world's wide waste, Through no proud dangers, floods, or fires, Bad passions, selfish discontent. Work in us, and work with us, Lord! Confuse the truth they should display; And Thou, the Saviour of our race! B |