had gathered on him, he was still one of the brightest ornaments, and, through the well-founded influence of his sentiments, and the venerable dignity of his whole character and conduct, one of the most useful members of our household of faith. Fervent in spirit, too, as the servant of the Lord, to the very last possibility of his usefulness to his Church, he was found, even by the arrest that took him from us, at the post of honourable service, and was willing to breathe out his spirit there.

Brethren, we must mourn; we cannot but reasonably mourn the departure of one, whose presence among us was still so much our delight and confidence, and whose light, though the brilliancy of its earlier lustre was gone, still shone with a fulness of pure undazzled lumination, on which the eye of affection rested with an unwearying contemplation. Gone, however, to the reward of his fidelity, let not our hearts repine at his gain. 'It is the Lord, let him do what seem eth to him good.'

Nor let us, in the multitude of our sorrows, as members of the Church and of society, for the loss of this excellent servant of Christ, and of his brethren for Christ's sake, forget the sorrows of those who mourn in this event the husband and the parent, to them inestimably dear. Let us, as becomes us, supplicate in their behalf, the God of all comfort, who alone can sustain their souls in this their day of bitter extremity; and in the spirit of sympathetic concern for their bereavement, commend them to the Father of the fatherless, and the widow's trust, even God in his holy habitation, and to the precious interposition of his providence.

Brethren, the honour done to the dead is for the benefit of the living. We would claim in your hearts a place for the memory of this eminent

traordinary character. Its excellent author was animated to the labour of it, under great infirmity of body, by a solicitude for the interests of truth; which, having characterised his whole life, seemed literally to consume its last feeble remains.

ly holy man; because in the remembrance of worth like his, there is a continual incitement to all that is good and all that is happy. Remembering, then, his ardent love of the truth, as it is in Jesus, and his active' zeal for its interests; remembering his benevolence and kindness towards all his fellow men, however distinguished from him by denomination, tenets, pursuits, or condition; remembering the cheerfulness of enjoyment, and the humble patience of suffering, with which he pursued the way of his pilgrimage, through the probation of mortality, to the rest that remaineth for the people of God, in that better, even that heavenly country, into which Christ has opened the prospect of faith-let us be followers together of the example of religious virtue which he has left; and while the young cherish the grateful impression of his labours for their good, and his wise and pious counsels, let none forget, that as to such it belongs to bear the honour of the Diyine favour and approbation, so to such it no less belongs to be remembered with honour and affection by men, as those by whose examples Heaven would animate and guide them in the pursuit of life eternal.

On the Common Prayer Book.

PERSONS Who use the Prayer Book should consider it a great advantage that they are enabled to unite in public service, with both the voice and the heart. To bear a part ourselves in the worship of the congregation will make us attentive; for when required to unite with the voice, we are, by common sense, required to unite with the mind also. Besides, to have a book before us, in which the substance of our devotion is laid down, will actually help us to worship; for the book impresses the eye, while the voice of the minister impresses the ear; and the double impression, if attended to, is powerful, and will raise distinctly in our minds the sentiments of devotion, and the feelings of solemnity. Such being, in part, the

advantage of using a Prayer Book, it will be proper to explain the offices of morning and evening prayers.

If we have been seriously impressed with the awful truths of religion; if we have felt the continual sinfulness of our hearts and lives, this feeling will be uppermost whenever we worship our Maker. Hence it is proper to begin worship with an acknowledgment of sin. And this acknowledgment is not only proper in itself, but it is also enjoined in scripture. Public service, therefore, begins by the minister's reading one or more passages of scripture to that effect; and then exhorting the congregation to confess their sins with 66 a pure heart" he bids them not dissemble, nor cloak their offences;-i. e. not hide them from themselves, nor excuse them before God. Then immediately follows a full confession of things undone which ought to have been done, and of things done which ought not to have been done, and of their being no health in usi, e. of our being thoroughly diseased with sin. While we make this solemn offering to God, each individual should acknowledge in his heart, his own particular sins; he should bring to mind the crimes and follies he has been guilty of, and the duties he has omitted. If all will do this with sincerity, and with full resolution to amend, there cannot arise before the Throne a fuller confession than that in the Prayer Book.-It should be uttered by all, and with an audible voice; for whatever comes from the lips of the congregation should be as the "voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters." (Rev. xix. 6.)

In every congregation there will doubtless be some who have made the above confession in sincerity. Such are entitled to hear from the minister a declaration of pardon; not an unconditional pardon; for it is declared to them only, who," with hearty repentance and true faith, turn unto God;" not an actual pardon; for the protestant minister leaves that with his Master; but that solemn asrance, or invoking of pardon, which

seems to have been ordered by our Saviour, when he ordained the twelve to be ministers. (John, xx. 23.)The humble worshipper should here listen to the priest with sincere gratitude to God.

Next follows the Lord's Prayer. This being a form of words directed by our Saviour himself, the respect is paid to it of requiring the whole congregation to repeat it whenever it is used, and of inserting it in every one of the services; in morning and evening prayers; before the sermon; int the communion; in the office of baptism, &c. And this is peculiarly proper; for all that we can pray for is contained in it; of course, all that we omit in other prayers, we remember in this. It is placed after the confession, as being a short and comprehensive summary of our petitions, calculated to give utterance to all our feelings, without wearying then with the severer parts of devotion.

We then enter on a more enlivening duty, that of praise. We first ask of God that he will open our lips; i. e. sanctify the words by which we are to show forth his praise; then, rising from the posture of prayer, we give glory to the Godhead, Three in One. The minister then invites the people; " Praise ye the Lord," (the same in English as Hallelujah in Hebrew) and the people, accepting this invitation, proceed with the minister to celebrate the praises of Jehovah. For this purpose we use the inspired language of the psalms. The psalms have all of them a spiritual meaning. In some this meaning is plain; in others not so clear. But we must suppose David, or the King, to mean our Saviour; his enemies, to be our spiritual foes; Sion and Jerusalem, to be the Church, or body of believers; Moah, &c. to be its enemies; and so forth. A little attention, in this way, will show the psalms to be full of important meaning, and highly adapted to the spiritual understanding of serious persons. So that while we praise God, in the language of the psalms, we also improve and comfort ourselves.

Next follow the two lessons, from

the Old and New Testaments; the benefit of which need not be pointed out. After each of them we again rise, and "praise the Lord." Then we repeat the sum and substance of our faith, as contained in the Creed: this is useful to the whole congregation, but particularly to the young and ignorant. The custom of bowing at the name of Jesus, is agreeable to scripture, (Phil. ii. 10.) and, in this place, the ceremony is full of meaning, for it is an acknowledgment that our Saviour is truly God.

Of the prayers that come next nothing need be said; no person, who reads them, can deny their excellence; no person, whose heart gives meaning to their language, can deny that they utter all that the soul can desire. More especially, the Litany is both elegant and affecting; and it has this great advantage, that the voices of the people have a share in its supplications; by which means all are kept attentive, and are reminded that the public service is incomplete unless they join in it. At the end of the other prayers the people are to say Amen this is the custom, as recorded in scripture, (1 Chron, xvi. 36. 1 Cor. xiv. 16.) It should be pronounced loudly, and as with one voice. A Christian bishop of the early ages is said to have remarked, that when his congregation said Amen, it was like a clap of thunder; and in the Revelations, the voice of the adoring multitude was as the voice of mighty thunderings. (Rev. xix. 6. and xiv. 2.)

It cannot be expected that in so short a tract, all the beauty and excellence of the public service should be set forth. Only one other advantage will be noted-the service is almost wholly in Scripture language, as will be seen by those who take the trouble to examine.

The following hints may be added: 1. We should endeavour to be present at the beginning of service, for the most important part of devotion is the confession of our sins; and we lose the opportunity of performing this duty, by not being sea

sonably at church. To keep our minds seriously occupied before service has begun, we should utter a short prayer, and seek in the Bible or Prayer Book for some devout meditation.

2. We should repeat loudly all parts of the service, in which the people are to unite with their voices, This is agreeable to common sense; for whispering and half whispering mars the whole beauty of such a worship as ours.-It may be added, that all should join in chanting and sing ing; for the best psalm tunes, and almost all the chants are simple mysic, such as any one may learn.

3. We should not wait to have our hearts excited before we join in the service; we should bear our parts at once, and throughout with solemn attention. The blessed Spirit, who helpeth us to pray as we ought, will, we trust, give as great a blessing if we utter the service, as if we only listen to it.

4. We should not regard the ser vice as a mere appendage to preaching. This is a most inconsiderate error; for our highest duty is to wor ship God; our highest privilege is to open our hearts to him in prayer and praise, that he may pour in a blessing. Our service contains more truth than any sermon ever written; it is agreed by millions to be truth without error; whereas sermons have the judgment of but one man that they are correct; it is truth without enthusiasm ; and enthusiasm in language, while it excites pious feeling, will often excite other feelings along with it.

We should not be unwilling to let our pious thoughts be directed by so valuable a book; it will not lead us into improper reflections; it will not restrain feelings truly devout. In public worship of every kind, the devotion of the congregation must be led their minds to the guidance of the and the sooner Episcopalians accustom Prayer Book, the sooner will they love and profit by the duties of the sanctuary. Besides that, much of the language is borrowed from Scripture; many parts of the service were in use centuries and centuries ago,

In these words, many a martyr has given utterance to the holiest and highest feelings of religion. These words, long accustomed to, have stirred up anew the decaying spirit of many a departing Christian. The pious Episcopalian may safely intrust his feelings to such a guide. He need not fear that his piety will be misled, or his devotion prevented from expanding into the noblest exercise. While he "prays with the spirit, he will pray with the understanding also."

CONSTITUTION of the LADIES' ASSOCIA FION of the City of Troy, for the Assistance of Students who intend to take Orders in the Episcopal Church.

Article 1. THE funds of the association shall be devoted to the Assistance of Pious Young Men, of limited fortunes, who wish to qualify themselves for the ministry in the Protestant Episcopal Church.

Art. 2. The officers of the society shall be a first and second directress, treasurer, and secretary, each of whom shall be chosen by ballot from among the members; and who, with ten managers, chosen in like manner, shall constitute a board, for the transaction of all business in the recess of the society.

Art. 3. The first directress shall preside in all meetings, whether of the board or society; shall have the casting vote when there is an equal division of either; and may call a special meeting with the advice of the other officers.

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when requested either by the board or society.

Art. 7. No monies shall be drawn from the treasury but by vote of the board, and by an order signed by the first directress.

Art. 8. Twelve members shall form a quorum, who, with the requi site number of officers, shall be com petent to transact all business.

Art. 9. Any female subscribing Fifty Cents annually, shall be considered a member.

Art. 10. The society shall meet the last Wednesday in November, February, May, and August; the meeting in November to be the anni

Managers.

Mrs. Mary Warren.
Mrs.
Wells.

Mrs. Margaret Kellogg.
Mrs. Deborah Bishop.
Miss Lorinda Delong.
Miss Harriet Butler.
Miss Eliza Kellogg:
Miss Caroline Tibbits.
Miss Harriet Selden.
Miss Abigal Peebles.

It appears, by the report of the treasurer, that they have one hundred and thirty dollars now on interest; and that they are, likewise, collecting the subscriptions for the present year.

The following address was deliveri ed before the society, at this meeting, by the Rev. DAVID BUTLER, Rector of St. Paul's Church, Troy :

LADIES,

I feel myself greatly honoured, in being called upon to attend with you upon this, your first anniversary

meeting; and it falls in with my inclination, no less than with my duty, to encourage you in the pious and benevolent object of your association. Created, as you were, by our beneficent God, to sooth, by your tender assiduities, those of our sex under the weight of the more rugged employments that fall to our share; to cheer with your vivacity our more gloomy and less flexible minds; to soften our hearts, and make them melt into pity, or expand with benevolence; you could not have combined in an object more congenial with your nature, or more acceptable to the God who made you for the enjoyment and the diffusion of happiness, than that of your present undertaking. If it was by your sex that sin and misery were first introduced into the world, you seem to be disposed to make all the reparation in your power for the former, by pointing man to the fountain opened for its purification; and to alleviate, as far as possible, the latter, by your tender sympathies and vigiJant attentions. But, alas! man, who followed you too readily in the transgression, is not now so quick to move in the direction to which you point, nor to participate with you in your benevolent designs. I hope, however, that your combined efforts will rouse our attention, and influence us more effectually in the way of duty, than your separate and individual endea vours have hitherto done. The great object of your present association is to promote the religion of Christ; to furnish his Church with administrators of its sacred rights and ordinances; to send forth the heralds of his gospel to proclaim pardon and reconciliation to a rebellious world; to preach repentance and remission of sins in his name; and to invite all, even the most profligate and abandoned, to come unto him and be saved.

Though it is not your province to officiate as ministers of religion; to be clothed with authority to proclaim the gospel, and administer its ordinances; yet you can be greatly use ful to those who act in this capacity; and, by your endeavours and your

substance, can assist in providing and qualifying young men for the exercise of this important office.

Under the Jewish dispensation God elevated one family only to the holy office of the priesthood; and every other person was prohibited, by the severest penalties, from coming nigh him in the discharge of its sacred functions. But under the mild and more extended economy of the gospel, the priesthood has been thrown open to all the families of the Chris tian Church; those in the most hum ble situations may participate of its honour, when qualified by suitable graces of the heart, and furnished with those intellectual accomplish ments necessary to enable them to teach, and to give efficacy to their sacred administrations. This being the case, it is most laudable in you to unite your endeavours in finding out young men of pious dispositions and sound minds; and contributing of your substance towards their educa tion; that so they may be furnished with knowledge, and clothed with au thority, to render their graces and their native powers more extensively useful.

What renders this object more pe culiarly important is, that at present there is so little encouragement, in a worldly point of view, to enter the ministry of the Church, that it is greatly to be feared that opulent fa milies will be loath to educate their sons with a view to a profession so little inviting; and young men who are educated, of whatever descrip tion, unless impelled by the strongest sense of duty, will shrink from an undertaking attended with so many difficulties, and which offers so few worldly advantages; though it seems almost impossible that any one who devotes his time to the study of the religion of Christ, should not feel his heart warmed in his sacred cause. Yet there is no doubt but the Churcli would be better served than it usually has been, could a method be devised for seeking out young men of vigorous minds, of good elocution, and deeply impressed with sentiments of religion, and furnishing them with a suitable