and applied in a manner calculated to make a lasting impression. All other church holidays were similarly improved at Truro, so that our services being fully understood, were valued as they deserved, and triumphed in their scriptural purity and force, over the public vices of profane opposers. The lectures, not only in Lent, but at Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide, were of a character so heart-searching, that when they failed to convert, they awed the sinner into outward decorum, and actually prevented the recurrence of those scenes of profligacy, by which festivals were disfigured, whose design was to call men to a vivid and thankful remembrance of the incarnation, sufferings, and victory of Christ. Strolling players, cock fighters, and others of a like description, ceased from the streets of Truro during these seasons, and its inhabitants became ashamed of open desecration of such solemn occasions, though the majority remained destitute of the grace, which would have led to the purer joys and happier pursuits of vital piety. By setting apart certain days for celebrating events of high importance, our reformers guarded against the possibility of their being overlooked; and if at such periods our congregations are taught to anticipate with interest, the subjects that will be pressed upon their attention, numbers of them will be greatly edified thereby. Each minister must carefully watch against the tendency of the human mind, to allow religious habits to degenerate into mere form; a weakness of our nature, which will affect even the better part of his flock. The remedy however depends much upon himself. If he brings out his old treatises, and reads

them year after year, all interest in their matter will decline; but by ever applying anew to his periodical task, he will discover that the Scriptures can supply him with power to clothe questions apparently exhausted, with an endless variety. Each time the dew of heaven descends upon the same soil, it imparts to it a new freshness and fertility; undiscovered beauties spring up to arrest attention, and command the deepest interest. No man better knew this property of the word of God, or used it more skilfully than Mr. Walker. Scripture, like the ocean, remains essentially the same, while the light never plays upon its surface without varying its hues; but the dull mind of man loves earth too well, to contemplate its beauties, in that spirit of enjoyment, which imparts to the bosom of a believer such pure and rapturous delight.

If we availed ourselves of this characteristic of the bible, we might, like the wise minister of Truro, cause our people to hail each returning season as a source of fresh comfort to their souls. They would, in succession, be reminded of mercies, pointed to examples, warned of dangers, and instructed in doctrines; and by following the routine of our church, all chance of omitting any vital question would be certainly avoided. All that Mr. Walker effected by such means, is within the reach of every clergyman, if in the spirit of prayer he will be guided by the rules of our reformers. Instead of contending for our establishment by invectives against its enemies, let us set every wheel of the great machine to work. Let the people be well instructed in the true excellence of our Liturgy; let

them be more earnestly exhorted to imbibe its spirit, to seek to feel its petitions, to rejoice in its spirituality, and the ark of God will go forward in majesty and triumph, and though shaken by the motion of those who bear it, will never fall.

CHAPTER V.

THE DAILY CHURCH SERVICE.

The daily church service.

In order to impress upon his people the importance of joining in the prayers of the church, with a full appreciation of their excellence, Mr. Walker addressed to them a series of sermons on the nature and use of prayer. He desired, with the fervent interest of a watchful pastor, that his flock should be "well qualified to bear their part in public worship, in a manner becoming the majesty of the God they served, the decency and dignity of his house and family, and highly improving and profitable to the begetting and confirming religious habits within them." He therefore, after preparing their minds by the lectures before mentioned, carefully explained to them the Daily Service, and Litany, in order "to shew the spirit of devotion with which their several parts ought to be performed, and also how expressive they are of the sentiments with which a pious heart is warmed and enlivened." It too often happens that due stress is not laid by ministers upon the devotional parts of worship, nor are our congregations always sufficiently reminded of their value. That the faithful and wise curate of Truro was not chargeable with this omis

sion, will be evident to all who read the following admirable treatise on

THE DAILY SERVICE.

"You will remember that God, successively considered in the various characters of being infinite in power, in majesty, in dominion, in wisdom, in justice, in goodness, is the object of your devotion, which rises upon you as you view him in one or other of these excellencies; and as you consider yourselves weak, ignorant, defective, sinful men, strongly convinced of your vileness, dependence, and obligations. Now, let us suppose ourselves, in the first place, approaching publicly the divine presence, that with one mouth we may confess the vileness, which, upon comparing ourselves with God, and our actions with our duty, we do every one of us at heart lament and bewail, and earnestly beseeching infinite goodness to avert the punishment we so well deserve. This [penitent approach to his Creator] by the creature of his power, the sinful object of his wrath, the child of his mercy, is the first step that a sinful creature, well aware of what God is, and what himself ought to be, must make towards God in his addresses to him. Confession1 therefore, very properly bears the first place in our church service; and this, with the

1 In order fully to understand the nature of this illustration of the Daily Service, it is necessary to observe that Mr. Walker, in his preparatory lectures, described prayer as consisting of (1) Confession, (2) Praise, (3) Petition, and (4) Thanksgiving. He now designs to shew how admirably these are united in order in the morning and evening service.