new discovery has been made, and the good, old, plain, matter-offact truth is not relished. Having become wiser than their teachers, some forsake home; or having heard of some who are wiser, they must be followed; and when spoken to upon the subject,-" Oh, it is a matter between God and their own consciences, and no one has a right to interfere." Well, but is it right to travel on the sabbath, encouraging traffic on that day, when you can have food at home? The reply is," The soul must be fed, and it is a duty to seek it anywhere." But why will not the same food do that used to satisfy? Fresh light has been received, and old truths will not satisfy. Thus Satan cheats the soul, and anything but profit follows.

6. An unwillingness to assist with their property the public institutions for spreading the gospel.-Amidst all the efforts of the day in which we live, how many persons there are who do nothing to help! Indeed, they throw obstacles in the way: hence we are told, that God will take care of his own cause; that we are not to invade the work of the Holy Spirit by inviting sinners to Christ, as all the elect will surely be brought in. What a judicious conclusion! to enable the covetous and idlers in the vineyard to sit down and do nothing. Of course, they are amongst the elect themselves, and are sure of heaven, and that is all they care about. Is not such a spirit to be deplored? Oh! dread it in your own breast; and, remembering what God has done for you, labour by all means to glorify him, and bring precious souls to Christ.

7. Too much intercourse with the world; too much conversation upon its affairs; too little intercourse with the excellent of the earth; and too little pious conversation upon the good things of the kingdom. -They that feared the Lord in ancient times, used often to speak one to another upon divine subjects; so the disciples were employed on their journey to Emmaus; but the followers of the Lamb seem to talk and act as though they were citizens of earth, rather than of heaven. "What is the news? what is the price of stocks?" &c., are to be heard in the circle of professors; instead of, "Art thou in health, my brother? wherefore look ye so sadly to-day? are the consolations of God small with thee? how does the cause of truth proceed?" &c. Would not this be more for our spiritual good, and the glory of good, and prove us to be concerned about the best things? 8. A want of affectionate regard for the characters and comforts of ministers and fellow-professors.-Alas! some persons are quite alive to a report of an unfavourable nature, but very deaf when the voice of commendation is heard, or when the wants of fellow-worshippers are stated: they never inquire into the truth of a statement, but take for granted the report must be true; and it is well if, in spreading the news, it does not increase by their repetition. Is this hiding a multitude of infirmities? Is this throwing the mantle of love over an offending brother's conduct? Charity hopeth all things, endureth all things; it never faileth. Oh, how ignorant must those persons be of their own faults, who take pains to make

known the faults of others; and how little can they have imbibed of the spirit of their Master!

9. Neglect of family worship.—Can this be the case with any who call themselves the followers of the Saviour? Let the consciences of some speak who may read this paper. They attend the sanctuary, they pass for believers, but they never assemble their children and servants around the family altar, to bless God for his mercies, to ask counsel at his hands, and to commit themselves to his care. Did the patriarchs and saints of old do this? Wherever Abraham dwelt he had his altar for God, and we are to "be the followers of those who now, through faith and patience, inherit the promises." How can we expect the favour of the Most High to rest upon us, unless we seek him? for he has said, "Ask, and ye shall receive." Servants have souls, and children are to be early brought to God; but if family devotion is neglected, we show a lamentable indifference to them.

10. Neglect of the Lord's Supper.—This is a subject much to be deplored to see hundreds of persons assembling in the sanctuary to hear God's Word on the sabbath is cheering to the soul; but to witness the larger part leaving when the sermon is over, and not surrounding the table of their dying Lord, is an act of culpable neglect of Him who has said, “Do this in remembrance of me." Many are the excuses that have been formed for this inconsistency of conduct; but does not the chief reason consist in an unwillingness to forsake the world and sin, to come out and make a bold and sincere confession of attachment to Christ and his good cause? Oh, it is time that professors of the truth were brought to a point upon this subject, and saw the importance of declaring themselves on His side who died to save our perishing souls.

11. Neglect of week-night service.-Some persons are so taken up with the affairs of life and their domestic duties, that, perhaps, it would be difficult to find time to attend to the public service of God except on the sabbath, especially as it respects servants; but with how many this would be a vain excuse, for they have no duties that detain them at home; but, alas! they have very little appetite for spiritual food, therefore they do not diligently seek it; they have very little concern for the prosperity of Zion, and the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, therefore they see not the necessity for attending prayer-meetings. Yet with some, perhaps, it arises from the want of consideration and energy: they fancy they have not time; let such try-rise one hour sooner, or sit up one hour later, if it be but once in the week, and so gain one hour for a week-night service, and you will be well repaid for this little act of self-denial.

12. Neglect of church meetings.-Members of churches ought to consider themselves as belonging to the family of God in an especial manner, and should avail themselves of the opportunities that these meetings afford, of meeting with those with whom they hope to spend their eternity; but some members show a painful spirit of

indifference to such a privilege. How can they know of the prosperity of the church to which they belong? how can they know the experience of those who are admitted? how can they sympathise with the afflicted, or give counsel respecting disorderly members, if they never attend? not to say how discouraging it is to their minister and fellow-members. And what is exceedingly perplexing, such persons are often the first to find fault with what is done in their absence. My brethren, these things ought not so to be! How much more might be said on the subject of sabbath-day company; the drudgery of servants on that day, and the difficulty with which they attend the house of God; the unhappy display of temper shown by some professors of the gospel; the disorder of their house, and the want of system in almost everything, showing the mind to be too little under the influence of truth, which would produce better effects. If the removal of the evils which have been pointed out would, in any degree, promote the glory of God, advance the prosperity of the cause of Christ, stop the mouths of gainsayers, benefit the soul, and help the believer onward with more comfort through the journey of life; then, surely, it is a duty to point out these evils, and the duty of every professor of religion to do his part towards their removal. Whatever will improve the order of our churches or families, and tend to bring about a greater regard to religious duties, must be desirable; and well would it be if every one, in his station, would endeavour to accomplish something, by which the improvements so much to be wished might be obtained! OBSERVER.

A GROUNDLESS OBJECTION.

It is objected by infidels, that "as or that there is no diversity in his unprayer cannot change an unchangeable changeableness. That his unchangebeing, therefore prayer is unnecessary and useless." This objection arises from three mistaken conceptions:

1. With regard to the nature of prayer. What is prayer?" Prayer is an offering-up of our desires unto God, for things (mark!) agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies." The objection, then, supposes a contrariety where there is

none.

ableness does not exclude means, is palpable to the meanest capacity. It is his unchangeable will that seed shall grow and produce a harvest; but it is not less his unchangeable will, that the ground shall be prepared and the seed sown first. And that there is diversity in God's unchangeableness is equally evident. It was God's unchangeable will that Hezekiah should fall sick, but it was also his unchangeable will that Hezekiah should recover; and when

2. With regard to the character of fifteen years were added to Hezekiah's God.

For the objection implies, either that God is unchangeable without means,

life, God was not a whit less unchangeable. A change in us by no means argues a change in him; no more than

a change in the season argues a change in the God of the season: "the land is not drawn to the boat, but the boat to the land; the result of the contact is the same." God is not a being of one idea only; he is not given to one order of things merely; there is infinite diversity both in his mind and in his procedure, as well regarding the duration as the nature of things, so that amid all changes he remains unchanged.

3. With regard to the objection itself. For it assumes that prayer is contrary, whereas we have before proved it "agreeable" to the will of God; or, that the blessings prayed for are contrary thereunto. But that remains to be known as well as proved. "Who knoweth the mind of the Lord?" But, apart from these mistaken conceptions, the objection, practically, is contrary to all analogy-to all reason -to all Scripture.

braying of a calf, or a lamb, or any of
the other inferior animals. A child
prays to its parent; a servant to a
master; a people to their representa-
tives; their subjects to their king; and
should not we pray to God? Is prayer
to stop short of the Being of beings,
God over all, blessed for evermore?
(2.) It is contrary to all reason.

Man is a religious being; that is, his reason inclines him to religion: hence the heathen, in the absence of revelation, worship idols. Now, would the Creator have endowed man with this principle if he had intended it not to be exercised? The objector might as well say that a locomotive was made to stand still; or a boat never to sail; or a watch never to go; or a bird never to fly; or man's body never to move; or his understanding never to think, as his soul never to pray.

(3.) It is contrary to all Scripture. For what say its commands—invi

(1.) It is contrary to all analogy. Creation exhibits a whole chain of tations-promises-examples-threatdependencies, the last link of which prays, so to speak, to the preceding link, and so on until the first link is reached-God, the first-cause of all things. Hence the language of Scripture: "And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; and the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel," Hos. ii. 21, 22. Among the irrational creatures, also, the ox is spoken of as knowing, or, by its manner, praying to, its owner; and the ass his master's crib. Does the unfledged offspring in the nest chirping pray for nothing? Pursue a brood of chickens, and, croaking to the mother hen, do they not pray for her protection? So with the

enings? "I the Lord build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it. Thus saith the Lord God, I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them," Ezek. xxxvi. 36, 37. Thus prayer is prescribed as the way in which he who has a right to determine, and who cannot err, has chosen for our obtaining his favours. But this objection, virtually setting aside all this, goes to strike the whole church of God dumb: doing away with the intercession of Christ, and his Spirit, and all worship; closing every church and chapel in the world; rendering useless every prayer or hymnbook in both; and calling every one that used either the one or the other -Solomon himself, the wisest man that