stantly lecturing her family on the first, that they had no time nor inclination to think of the last. Her husband spoke wisely when he said to her-"Ye tell the bairns, Jenny, that cleanliness is next to godliness-tak care that ye dinna teach them that godliness is next to cleanliness *.

As to some of the ways of children, they are what belong to them merely as children, and will leave them, of themselves, as they grow older; and to give an over importance to them is wasting time, and labour, and temper, to little or no purpose. I knew a mother who was always complaining of the faults of her children. "They are constantly in mischief; always doing something that they should not. It is not for want of talking to, for I am perpetually speaking to them, or checking them, or punishing them,--and it is of no manner of use. I think they are all the worse for it."-I should think

so too.

My readers must not however suppose, that I wish parents to be negligent, or to overlook the little awkward ways that their children get into. Quite the contrary. But there is a difference between these, and crimes, and therefore they should be spoken of in a different manner; and this is the most likely way, moreover, of succeeding in our attempts.

V.

ON FAMILY PRAYER.

'MR. EDITOR,

A LITTLE girl was reading to me some days since, a little book, called "Village Conversations on the Liturgy +," and she seemed so well pleased with,

* History of a Servant Maid.

+ A little work not long since added to the list of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

and so well to understand, what is there said between two poor men of the comforts of family prayer, that I thought it might be useful to write a short form of family prayer; and, if you approve of it, you will perhaps put it into your Visitor, that such Cottagers as wish to live like Christians, may use it with their families. If unhappily neither the father nor mother of the family can read, one of the children may do it; for, in these times, there are very few who have not been taught to read. And how can they so well employ their learning as in praying to, and praising, that God, "from whom cometh every good and perfect gift," and who by his grace put it into the hearts of the rich to have poor children taught to read their Bibles, and to offer up their prayers.

Most earnestly do I recommend it to my Cottage friends to join in prayer with their families, night and morning; and I advise this not as a duty, (though a bounden duty it is) but as a great and certain happiness, as that which, if rightly used and felt, will sweeten their daily labour, be the means of improving their children, and of bringing to their hearts that peace which the world can neither give

nor take

away.

Putney Heath.

E. M.

Sunday Morning. All devoutly kneeling, let the person who reads, say, " Let us pray."

ALMIGHTY GOD, the maker of heaven and earth, who, in Thy great mercy, didst command the sabbath to be kept as a day of holy rest, grant that it may be truly such to us, and while in obedience to thy law, we rest from those labours, which, if always continued, would destroy the body; may we this day, and for ever, rest from those sins, which, if we turn not from them, must destroy the soul.Grant that by Thy grace, we may be enabled to

this life, which will soon be ended, to the concerns of that better life which will last for ever. Make us regular and devout in our attendance on public worship, May we receive, as our best treasure and greatest blessing, the promises of Thy mercy contained in Thy holy word, and thankfully attend to all the good instructions which may this day be given to us. Grant that while our lips utter Thy praises, our hearts also may rise to Thee in earnest prayer for the pardon of all our past sins for Jesus Christ's sake, and for the power of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may be enabled to obey Thy commandments in all things, and may live humbly and righteously in this life, that in the life to come, we may joyfully rise to live with Thee.

O blessed Lord, our Saviour and Redeemer ! who didst, as on this day, rise from the grave, raise we beseech Thee our souls unto a life of righteousness, that we, by Thy grace, may heartily repent of, and forsake our sins, may feel our great unworthiness, and, in humble faith, may trust alone in Thee.

And do Thou, O Holy Ghost, purify our hearts, and put into them good desires, and enable us, to bring the same to good effect.-Guide and strengthen us by Thy power, and save us from every evil thought, and every sinful word and action.-All these petitions we humbly offer up, in the name and through the mediation of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Father! which art in heaven; hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever, Amen,

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all, now, and evermore.

Sunday Evening.—Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY and most merciful Lord God! we hum bly thank Thee for the great blessings of this holy day: that we have been admitted to the privilege of joining in public worship; of offering up our prayers and praises to Thy Divine Majesty; and of hearing Thy holy word read and preached. May the great truths we have been taught, sink deep into our hearts, and, by Thy grace, bring forth in us the fruits of a sober, a contented, and a holy life.Pardon, we beseech Thee, the coldness of our hearts, the wanderings of our thoughts, and all we have done amiss. Help us to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus, Christ, and grant that we may daily become more. humble more devout, and thereby more happy. Bless, we pray Thee, with Thy choicest gifts, all our relations and friends; teach them, and us, Q God! to know, to love, and to serve Thee. Grant that we may go to rest in peace and charity one towards another, forgiving all who may have offended us, as we hope and pray to be forgiven of Thee, Enable us, throughout the week upon which we have this day entered, to obey Thy laws, and keep Thy commandments; grant that Thy strength may help our weakness; and make us diligent to watch and pray that we fall not into temptation. In Thy great mercy, O Lord! bless, direct, and pardon us, through the merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Father, &c. &c.

Morning Prayer for a Week day.-Let us pray..

O LORD our heavenly Father! we humbly thank Thee for Thy great mercy in bringing us in health and safety to another morning. Continue to us, we pray Thee, O God! Thy Almighty care; and guide us through this day by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may make it our earnest desire to obey Thy laws, and to keep Thy commandments. May we remember that thine eye always seeth us, and that, according to what we do and say, and think here, we shall be happy or miserable hereafter. Enable us then to do such things as will please Thee; to love Thee with all our hearts, and all our minds, and all our strength; to be humble and lowly in ourselves; kind to all our fellow-creatures, and to every creature that thou hast made, and to do to all our fellow-creatures as we would have them do to us. Make us honest and true in all our dealings, and careful to do our duty in that state of life in which Thou hast placed us. May we remem ber the weakness and sinfulness of our hearts, and constantly pray to Thee for Thy grace to help and strengthen our endeavours. Uphold us by Thy power, purify us by Thy holiness, and lead us to the comfort and peace of true religion in this life, that in the world to come we may rise to the joys of heaven, for the sake of Jesus Christ our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Our Father, &c. &c.

Evening. Let us pray.

BLESSED Lord God Almighty, we humbly pray Thee, of Thy great mercy, to keep us in safety through the dangers of this night, and to grant that we may enjoy such quiet and refreshing sleep as may strengthen us for the labours of the following day. Give us grace heartily to repent of all our