not enlarge on the faults of my neighbors; I would rather take my instances from other places. Look at the condition of any populous town,-and can it be said that the Church is in a right state? What division! what schism! what open ungodliness! Then consider the awful destitution of religious instruction and ordinances; and, notwithstanding the pages written and speeches made on the subject, still the niggardliness with which provision is made to remedy the acknowledged deficiency. One would have thought that, when the destitution of the people was plainly proved, all parties in the state would have vied with each other in their efforts to remove the evil. But any great and important change seems, alas! almost as far distant as ever. The very repetition of complaints seems to have hardened men's hearts against these crying evils. I think, therefore, that, though a certain degree of popularity may have been gained by the Church, so that, politically speaking, she is in a safe condition,-yet that her real state is very far from being so satisfactory, that it can be said no alteration is needed. Nay, I should rather say that her actual condition is a proof that the popular Churchmanship of the present day is practically a failure. Do I, in affirming this, bring a charge of inefficiency against the English Church? No; far from it. On the contrary, I say, restore her to what she really is, to what the reformers left her, and she will be the most effectual instrument to save the nation from corruption and ruin. Preach to the people her forgotten doctrines, and there will at least be hope that they will be recognized. Tell them of the unity so distinctly enjoined in Scripture, and they

may be induced to give up their schism. Urge upon them the Divine claim of their ministers, and they may yet be willing to rally round them, and respect them as God's ambassadors. Teach them the nature of the Church's festivals, and they will discern their value, and regard them as they ought. Induce them to keep the appointed fasts, and you may ingraft in them a spirit of self-denial for the Lord's sake, which will be the best antidote against the prevailing luxury and self-indulgence, and may furnish the means of restoring the Church to her efficiency.

"It is really surprising that men should not discern the obvious connection between the neglect of Church-ordinances and the prevailing evils of the day, and acknowledge how surely their revival would be the best antidote. What is it that prevents churches being built, schools founded, and the people educated and instructed in the ways of truth? What but the selfish niggardliness of those in the upper and middle classes, who will not exercise the selfdenial necessary to supply the requisite means, but must have their equipages and entertainments, and vie with each other in splendor and refinement, while the poor are perishing for lack of laborers in this vineyard? How is this state of things to be remedied? If men were but taught to exercise, for conscience-sake, the self-denial necessary for observing the Church's fasts, I warrant they would soon control their inordinate expenses, and supply the wants of their poorer brethren. When a rich man has learned to fast for duty's sake, he will then be disposed to sacrifice other luxuries and comforts, which now he looks on as almost necessaries. So,

again, induce him to observe the festivals of the Church with religious veneration; and not only will his soul be improved by the contemplation of the character of Christians of former days, but he will learn to take delight in holy ordinances, the worship of God will become habitual with him, a train of analogous feelings and sentiments will be imbibed, and we may yet again see something of the devotion, the humility, the piety and munificence of our forefathers. I am afraid, my dear sir, I may have spoken somewhat too boldly and plainly; and you will set me down as an enthusiast. However, I trust you will bestow your candid consideration on the facts and arguments to which I have adverted."

"I promise you I will, Mr. Leslie," said my worthy friend, rising and shaking my hand: "sentiments like those which you have uttered are too valuable to be neglected. Some, I confess, are novel to me. But it is impossible not to discern their importance. I came here, thinking to give you a word of advice; but I see that in these matters at least I have a good deal to learn from you."

From that time Sir John and I became greater friends than ever; and his countenance and example were of the greatest value in my plans of reformation.

CHAPTER XIII.

Why mourn'st thou still as one berest,
Now that the eternal Son

His blessed home in heaven hath left,
To make thee all His own?

Thou mourn'st because sin lingers still
In Christ's new heaven and earth,-
Because our rebel thoughts and will
Stain our immortal birth.

KEBLE.

SOLEMN PRACTICAL THOUGHTS.

THE Conversation which I had had with my worthy parishioner led me into a train of reflections, all tending to the great question which for so long had occupied my mind: namely, how to bring my parishioners to repentance and holy living. And the more I pondered on the question, and ran over in my mind all that had been said on a former occasion by Mr. Manwaring, the more convinced was I that, as the Church was the instrument whereby the seed of life was first conveyed by baptismal regeneration; and as by her ordinances she is the means of keeping alive in the heart, and quickening, the spark of divine grace, -so also, in the case of those in which the grace of baptism has been corrupted or lost, the ordinances of the Church are the surest means of restoration.

Of the efficacy of preaching, in many cases, to

awaken the sinner to a sense of his danger, and so bring him to repentance and amendment of life, none entertain a doubt. But there are other ordinances of the Church not less efficacious, and often available, in cases where preaching may have been ineffectual. I reflected on the case-alas, too common !-of a man living in all the comforts and luxuries of life; endowed with ample, or at least sufficient, means; ignorant of want and poverty, perhaps of sickness; and yet feeling that his heart is not right with God: God is not in all his thoughts. If he thinks on death and judgment, heaven and hell, it is with an uncomfortable fear. Instead of rejoicing to be called away to the presence of God, he would shudder at the very thought. And yet this man is no stranger to the word of truth. He comes, it may be, every Sunday, and hears very solemn appeals on the necessity of repentance, the fearful danger of sin, and the great love of God in sending His beloved Son to die for perishing sinners; yet these things move him not. They have little or no effect upon him; less each time he hears them. And the more awakening and stimulating is the appeal of the preacher, so much the more, by its constant repetition, does it deaden and blunt his feelings.

Does the Church, then, leave this man to his fate? Is there no ordinance besides preaching, to which he can resort? The more I thought on the case of the prosperous, well-doing, unrepentant sinner, the more was I convinced that nothing could be more exactly suitable, or more mercifully prepared by the providence of God, than the ordinance of fasting. This man's soul is being destroyed by his comforts, his