are requisite and necessary as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure heart and humble voice to the throne of the heavenly grace, saying."

In the beginning of this exhortation, we usually find, that the clergyman's eye is fixed on the book, and that he utters the words as mere matter of form; but, surely, the truly Christian and affectionate address, with which it commences, from a pastor to his flock, ought to be made with earnestness, and his eyes looking round the whole congregation. 'Dearly beloved brethren! And then there should a pause of some length ensue, to give them time to collect themselves, and awaken their attention to the solemn duty they are about to perform. Whereas, in the other way, when the eye is on the book, the congregation cannot feel it as an immediate address to them; especially when they find that there is no pause after this address, but that he immediately runs on to the next sentence, which has no connexion with it, misled by the false pointing of a comma after the words, 'Dearly beloved brethren,' which ought to have been marked by what is called a point of admiration. In the latter part of the first period, 'but confess them with an humble lowly penitent and obedient heart, to the end that we may obtain, forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy' there are several faults committed. In the first place, the four epithets preceding the word heart,

are huddled together, and pronounced in a monotone, disagreeable to the ear, and enervating to the sense; whereas each word rising in force above the other, ought to be marked by a proportional rising of the notes in the voice; and, in the last, there should be such a note used as would declare it at the same time to be the last with an humble' lowly' penitent' and obedient heart, &c. At first view it may appear, that the words humble and lowly, are synonimous; but the word lowly, certainly implies a greater degree of humiliation than the word humble. The word, penitent, that follows, is of stronger import than either; and the word, obedient, signifying a perfect resignation to the will of God, in consequence of our humiliation and repentance, finishes the climax. But if the climax in the words, be not accompanied by a suitable climax in the notes of the voice, it cannot be made manifest. In the following part of the sentence, 'to the en'd that we may obtàin' forgiveness of the same' there are usually three emphases laid on the words, end, obtain, same, where there should not be any, and the only emphatic word, forgiveness, is slightly passed over; whereas it should be read' to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same,' keeping the words, obtain and forgiveness, closely together, and not disuniting them, both to the prejudice of the sense and cadence. The following words, by his infinite goodness and mercy,' lose much of their force, by the manner of repeating them; whereas, by interjecting a pause between the words, his, and infinite, as, 'by his' in finite goodness

and mercy' we not only pay the proper reverence due to the Deity, whenever he is mentioned, but there is superadded, by this means, a force to the word, infinite, coming after the pause, which alone can make us have an adequate conception of those attributes in Him, whose mercy endureth forever—' by his' in`finite goodness and mercy.'-' And although we ought at all times'-Here the accent of the word, although, is changed, and put on the first syllable, àlthough; and this syllable being pronounced in the same quantity as the word all, which follows soon after, occasions a repetition of the same sound so suddenly, as to be disagreeable to the ear; and the want of the due change of note on the word all, obscures the sense' and although we ought at all times'-whereas, in the right way of pronouncing it, and although we ought at all times'-the repetition of the same sound is avoided, and the following meaning is evidently implied; though we should embrace every opportunity, when we are alone, and in private meditation, to confess our sins before God, yet ought we chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together, to join in acts of public worship. Here, also, there is often an unfortunate emphasis on the word, so, instead of the word, chiefly, 'yet ought we chiefly sò to do, &c.' and this arises from not giving the due emphasis to to the word, all, in the former part of the sentence, which would have shewn the necessity of giving a correspondent force to the word, chiefly, in the latter. 'And although we ought at all times' humbly to acknowledge our sins before God" yet ought we chiefly

so to do' when we assemble and meet together to render thanks' for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, &c.' Nothing is more frequent than to give the tone of a full stop at the end of the former part of this sentence, as thus- yet ought we chiefly so to do when we assemble and meet together.' What, at any time, in assemblies of amusement and festivity? No, it is only when we assemble and meet together, to render thanks for the great benefits we have received at his hands, &c. In this, and what follows, a distinct enumeration is made, of the several parts whereof the public worship is composed. To render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands" Thanksgiving. To set forth his most worthy praise" by psalms and hymns. To hear his most holy word" in the Lessons. And to ask those things that are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul" the prayers. On which account, the several sentences containing the distinct parts of the service, ought to be kept more detached from each other, than they usually are; and the words peculiarly expressive of each branch of the service, should chiefly be made emphatical. To render thanks' for the great benefits that we have received at his hands" to set forth his most worthy praise" to hear' his most holy wo`rd" and to a'sk those things' which are requisite' and necessary' as well for the body' as the soul"" Whereas, in the usual way of running these sentences into one another, the auditor has no time to observe the distinctness of the parts; and I believe it has seldom occurred to any one, that

in these four sentences, are separately enumerated the four capital branches of the church service. 'Wherefore I pray and beseech you as many as are here present-This is the way in which that passage is usually delivered; but, surely a more particular and personal address, would have more force to call up attention, than this vague and general one; which will be done only by placing the emphasis on the word, you. Wherefore I pray and beseech you' as many as are here present, &c.' That is, I pray and beseech all of you, and each individual of you, here present, to accompany me, &c. for that is what is implied in the words 'as many as are here present :' it is addressing them in detail, each individual of the number there present; and if these words be not taken in that sense, they are a mere tautology; for if they had only a general meaning, like the word you, they would express nothing more than what had been already done by that word.

I shall now read the whole, in the manner I have recommended; and if you will give attention to the marks, you will be reminded of the manner, when you come to practise in your private reading.

"Dearly beloved brethren! The scripture moveth us' in sundry places' to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness" and that we should not disse'mble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God' our Heavenly Father" but confèss them' with an