reach, and that he was not only permitted, but even invited, nay entreated, to seek for a share of them.

Prayer is either public, domestic, or private.

Public prayer is addressed to God by the congregation of his servants assembled at his house.

By domestic prayer I mean that which is offered by the members of each family, called together for this purpose in their own houses.

Private prayer is that address to heaven which each makes to Almighty God when he is alone.

Of prayer in general I have often spoken, of public worship with equal frequency, of private prayer again and again. I have occasionally also recommended the practice of family prayer. This last I shall take for the subject of my present discourse. The direction contained in the text being given by St. Paul in this passage, and also in his Epistle to the Ephesians', (vi. 18.) immediately after the mention of the duties

See Family Bible, edited by Dr. D'Oyley and Bp. Mant, on Col. iv. 2.:

which Christians owe to each other, arising out of their different stations, may have been intended by him to teach us, that they who live in one family should often join in prayer for God's assistance, that they may be enabled to perform their duties faithfully to each other.

if

do

The reasonableness of prayer may be gathered from this, that we practise much the same thing naturally, without even thinking of it, every day of our lives, in our intercourse with our fellow creatures. For you want the assistance of a neighbour, you not ask him to serve you? If you see that he has it in his power to render you an act of kindness, do not you apply to him, provided that you believe him to be willing as well as able to grant this favour? If, again, you are threatened with any evil, which you think can be warded off by a powerful neighbour, do you not at once entreat him to give you his protection and support? Or, even farther, if you think that he can be of service in bestowing a kindness on a friend, or in removing an evil from one in whose, welfare you are much interested, do you not strive to en

gage his assistance by pleading the cause of him in whose behalf you have come forward? And, when any of these favours have been granted, do you not feel bound to return thanks to the person who has taken pains to serve yourselves or those who are dear to you? Do you moreover take an honest pleasure in mentioning to others what kindness you have received? Here then you have all that comes under the general term of prayer-intreaty, thanksgiving, and praise.

If then you address yourselves to a fellow creature, and seek to engage his support for your own benefit, or for the benefit of others, is it not most reasonable that you should apply to the Being who gave you life, and on whom you depend, not only for all you possess, but also for all you can receive hereafter?

When a practice, so reasonable in itself, and so agreeable to the actual conduct of men towards their fellow men, is required of us by Almighty God and his Son Jesus Christ, do we not stand in a manner selfcondemned, if we neglect this duty?

Hitherto I have confined my attention

to prayer in general; I shall now consider more particularly family prayer.

It surely becomes those who live under the same roof, and meet together to share the daily bounties of God at their meals, to join in acts of prayer and praise to the Being from whom they derive these blessings. They are accustomed to act together for the service of the family; if any thing is wanted, each is ready to seek after it, so that all are engaged to forward the advantage or comfort of those who belong to the same household. What then can be more reasonable or proper than that they who act together for worldly objects, should join, as members of a family, in daily prayer and praise to him who holds in his hands the keys of life and death?

Would not the practice of meeting morning and evening to offer up prayers and praises to Almighty God, serve to make you feel more united, and help therefore to increase the kindness which prompts you to serve and assist each other! If David says, "how good and joyful a thing it is to dwell together in unity"-why should

Psalm cxxxiii. 1.

gice has assistance by pleading the caus of him in whose behalf you have come fo word? And, when any of these favou have been granted, do you not feel bour to return thanks to the person who h tisen parns to serve yourselves or tho we are dear to you? Do you moreov mike an honest pleasure in mentioning t octers what kindness you have received Here then you have all that comes unde the general term of prayer-intreaty, thank giving, and praise.

It then you address yourselves to a fello creature, and seek to engage his support fo your own benefit, or for the benefit others, is it not most reasonable that yo should apply to the Being who gave yo hie, and on whom you depend, not onl for all you possess, but also for all you can receive hereafter?

When a practice, so reasonable in itself and so agreeable to the actual conduct of went towards their fellow men, is required o us by Almighty God and his Son Jesus' Christ, do we not stand in a manner selfcondemned, it we neglect this duty?

Hitherto I have confined my attention