household; entire freedom: one day perhaps in this manner, another day in that; sometimes long-another time short. Perhaps it would be best that this exercise should not at first embrace all the individuals of the house, but should take place in a narrower and more familiar circle; in this way you would secure greater facility and edification. Follow these different impulses ; the principal thing is, that God be not forgotten under your domestic roof. Keep yourselves firm in the liberty wherewith Christ has made you free, and submit no longer to the yoke of bondage." But with what, then, ought the moments devoted to God, to be occupied ?

In the first place, and as it is very natural, the reading of the word of God; occasionally, perhaps, that of other Christian works. In how many families has this admirable book, this book of the nations, been in all ages, and still continues to be, the most precious treasure! In how many dwellings has the Holy Bible diffused righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, and submission to every authority constituted of God. The different books composing the Bible, are almost every one of a different kind; it would be difficult to enclose a greater variety in the same volume, yet everywhere partaking of the same spirit of God. This circumstance renders it singularly fit for the nourishment of families; and thence it happens, that so many poor and obscure families among Protestant nations, with this book in their hands, so readily outstrip all others, and are brought by it not only into the pos session of eternal life, but still more to a remarkable development of intelligence. The child, the old man, the woman, the man, find alike in it, that which interests and raises them to God. There is something in it suited to every situation in life. What abundant consolations may not all agitated and afflicted but faithful souls, draw from the psalms of the Prophet-king! It is convenient to read an entire book in course, but it is not necessary to follow the order in which the different books are found arranged in the holy Volume. On the contrary, it would perhaps be better to pass from the New Testament to the Old, from the Old to the New; from one of the Gospels, for example, to one of the Prophecies (how sublime is that of Isaiah, and how he reaches the depths of the soul!), from the Prophets to the Epistles of the Apostles, and then to one of the historical books of the Old Testament. It is desirable that the reader should make some application of that which he reads. You know how to speak of other things which you have read; here alone, shall sentiments and words fail you? Can you find nothing in it which is applicable to the state of your heart, to the situation of your family, to the character of one of your children? Always read this Book, not as a history of past time, but as a word written for you, addressed now to you; you will ever find in it something to benefit you. If, however, nothing is given you, be satisfied with asking the Holy Spirit to cause His word to bear in the heart, those fruits which he has promised. For, as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the

earth and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I have sent it."

A second act of worship should be extemporaneous prayer. There are doubtless good written prayers; but would you not know how to pray yourself with a loud voice? You know very well how to speak to a friend. Why would you not know how to speak to God? It is so easy to approach Him when one draws near in the name of Christ crucified! "Thou art God, very easy to be entreated," said David. "He hears us," said he, "before we yet speak." If you pray in a low voice, would you not also be able to pray aloud? Be not so careful about your words: " prayer requires more of the heart than of the tongue, more of faith than of reason." How can the influence be other than salutary, when the father or mother of a family, for example, prays aloud to God in the presence of their children, entering into the details of their faults before God, and asking for his assistance and his favor? And when is a family not in a position in which it is not called upon to raise its prayer to God for deliverance, for succor, for consolation? "You shall seek me, and shall find me, after that you have sought me with all your heart," is the promise of God.

A third act of worship, which, if it is practicable, ought to make a part of domestic devotions, is singing. Man has now associated song with his labors, and above all with his pleasures; but to praise God is certainly its first appointment. It was to this that the Prophet King consecrated it. Shall we not devote it to the same? If they sing so many secular songs in the household, why can they not sing to the honor of God, who has created and has saved us? Speaking unto each other in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts unto God."

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But, does some one ask, what time shall we think thus on God, and when shall we draw together towards him? I reply, at the time that you wish, the time which will best suit your convenience, which will derange your affairs the least. Usually this is in the evening; perhaps, on account of the fatigues of the day, it would be better in the morning, or rather both morning and evening. After you have taken your morning meal, or even while taking it, could you not consecrate the time that is usually employed in silence, or in useless trifling, to reading or hearing read some words which would lift up your thought to God? I am about to commence the day by the first function of animal existence; but thou, my soul, a spiritual and immortal existence, wilt thou do nothing, wilt thou receive nothing now? I am about to nourish my body with that which God has created; but thou, my soul, awaken thyself and be fed by the Creator! Oh Lord, thou art my portion for ever! Oh God, thou art my strong God! in the morning I will seek thee! What a blessing, my brethren, would such a commencement shed over the whole day, and to

what happy dispositions would it dispose us! And to you, Christian parents, the evening of the Sabbath, that time which the children of irreligious parents devote to dissipation, ought to be especially precious and sacred. Instruct then your children in the way of the Lord, and your instruction at this moment will be more especially blessed, if they see that you are truly serious in the work in which you are engaged.

To all this, my brethren, add the main thing,- —a life in agreement with the sanctity of the worship which you offer to God. Be not different men before the altar of God, and in the world, but be ever and everywhere the same. Let your conduct throughout the day be a living commentary on what you have read, heard, or spoken, in the hour of devotion. Put in practice the Word, and be not hearers only,-deceiving yourselves with vain words,—for the sacrifice of fools is abomination in the sight of God, but he is well-pleased with the entreaties of the righteous. Such is domestic worship. We have reminded you, my dear hearers, of the motives which ought to hasten its establishment in your families, and we solicit all, but particularly the married, the fathers and mothers, to put their hands to the plough.

But do you exclaim, "this would be so strange a thing?" What, my brethren? is it not still more strange, that a family, professing Christianity,-professing to have a firm hope for eternity, should advance towards that eternity without manifesting in its midst any sign of this hope, any preparation, any conversation,— perhaps, alas! without even a thought on these things? Oh! how strange is conduct like this!

But, do you say again, "It is a thing of low repute, inglorious in itself, and kindled with a thousand indignities?" And who is then the greatest;-that father of a family, in patriarchal days, who was also a priest of God-who supported his own paternal authority, and imparted to it a divine unction by bending his knee, with his children, before his Father and their Father, or that man of the world, in our day, whose mind is only occupied with vain pursuits, who forgot his own and the eternal destinies of his children, whose house is without God? Oh! what a reproach!

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But do you further object? · Different ages,—different manners : these things were well enough once; but now everything is changed!" It is just because everything is changed that we must hasten to set up again the domestic altar in the bosom of families, lest the weak bonds, which still preserve these families, should be dissolved,-involving, in their ruin, both Church and State. It is not until after disease has spread with great violence that remedies become useless, and before despairing of a man's life, we give him at least the most powerful preservatives.

You, who by the grace of God have with good resolutions, and good dispositions, already made the attempt, do not be discourag ed; make another trial still; have recourse to God in prayer; ask Him to guide you, to sustain you, to make you united; ask Jesus

to be with you, for where two or three are gathered together in his name, he will be in their midst.

But, my brethren, before an altar can be raised to God in your households, there must be one set up in your hearts! And is it found therein, my brethren? Oh! if I could draw aside the veil; if I could now penetrate and read the hearts of those who listen to me, what should I behold? Or rather, Lord! what seest thou in our hearts, thou for whom there is no veil, and before whom all is naked and uncovered? In your heart, my dear hearer, I discover an altar raised to pleasure and worldliness; upon it you offer your morning sacrifice; and the smoke of your evening sacrifice ascends even throughout the night, filled with intoxication and stupefaction. In your heart, my dear hearer, I find an altar to this world's goods, to riches, to mammon. In yours, my dear hearer, I see an altar erected to yourself-you are your own idol, which you exalt above everything else; for whom you desire all things, and at whose feet you would see the whole world prostrate itself! My brethren, is there an altar in your heart raised to the living and true God? Are you the temple of God, and dwelleth the Spirit of God within you? So long as there is no altar erected your souls to God, there can be none in your families; for what participation has justice with iniquity? And what connection is there between light and darkness? What concord has Christ with Belial? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?

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Be converted then in your hearts! die unto the world, unto sin, and above all, to yourselves, and live to God in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Immortal souls, Christ has redeemed you at a great price! He has ylded up his life on the cross for you; and know that if one died for all, it was that they who live should no longer live unto themselves, but should live in newness of life unto Him, who died and rose again. Depart, therefore, from idols, and touch not any vile thing, and I will receive you, and I will be to you a father, and you shall be to me for sons and for daughters, saith the Lord God Almighty.

Oh! my brethren, happy isthat family which has embraced that God, who has said: "I will dwell in the midst of you, and will walk with you, and ye shall be unto me for sons and for daughters." Happy for time, happy for eternity! How can you hope to meet your children with Christ, in Heaven, if you do not seek with them Christ, on earth? How can you meet again your family on high, if you do not concern yourselves in your families below, with the things which are above. But the Christian family who have been united in Jesus, will be joined together around the glories of Him, whom they have loved, not having seen. It will but exchange its mean and perishable tabernacle for the immense and eternal mansion of God. Instead of an humble family of the earth, united by the same bonds with all the families in the Heavens, it will have become one glorious family which no man can number. She, with the hundred and forty-four thousand, will encompass the throne of God, saying, as she said upon earth, but with joy, and with glory: "Lord, thou art worthy to receive glory, and honor, and power!"

Oh my brethren, if there is now a single father or mother, who will resolve to assemble together around the Lord! if there is but one person not yet sustaining domestic relations, who has resolved, when he shall have formed them, to raise an altar to God in his house, and in future years shall put his resolution into practice, causing abundant blessings to descend on him and his; then will I render thanks to God for having spoken. Oh my dear hearers! may the Lord so have touched your soul, that you will now exclaim: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord! AMEN,