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COLLECT.

EVERLASTING God, who hast ordained and constituted the services of angels and men in a wonderful order; mercifully grant, that as Thy holy angels alway do Thee service in heaven, so by Thy appointment they may succour and defend us on earth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

JOHN HENRY PARKER, OXFORD AND LONDON.

CONDUCT IN CHURCH.

SUPPOSE an Indian, a worshipper of idols, was by any chance to pass by here while we were at Church; and seeing the door open, was to come in. Suppose he was to sit down, and without understanding any thing that was said, was to look on, and watch what we were doing, what do you think would be his judgment of our proceedings? Would he say, "What is the meaning of all this? There is one man reading; and the others sitting about, but not seeming to be much concerned in the business; some I see whispering and others looking about them: and every now and then a few children speaking out; but the main part of those present, I do not think much care for what is going on?"

Or would he say, "Here must be some great matter of deep importance; how earnest every body seems! how attentively they listen! how eagerly they all seem to take part in it from time to time. This must be a matter of life and

death. I should like to know all about it?" And so he might seek out information and come to learn about our true Faith.

Now which of these judgments this Indian might form from watching us here at Church, I will not say, but I can tell you which he ought to be led to, and I will tell you in St. Paul's own words. "If all prophesy and there enter in one that believeth not or is unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all." If all with earnestness and fixed purpose join in the worship of God, any stranger who comes in will be" convinced," brought to the trial, made to see the greatness of what they all are about; he will be shewn to himself as not being what he ought to be. The earnestness of all around will shed light upon the coldness of his own heart, and so the secrets of his heart will become known, he will discover the plague of which he was ignorant, and falling down on his knees, he will join your prayers with all his heart, and report that God is among you of a truth.

The service, then, which we here offer up, with one accord to God, ought certainly to bear upon its face some marks of earnestness and sincerity. This is shewn in the words of David

in one of the Psalms. David was not content to serve God to himself, and by himself, he must have his brethren taught by his example. "I will declare Thy Name unto my brethren." And not only his brethren as he found them from day to day at home, but when they were all met together to worship. "In the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee." In the same spirit he cries out in Ps. xxxiv. "O praise the Lord with me, and let us magnify His Name together;" and declares in Ps. v. that "His voice should be heard betimes in the morning."

This shews how careful David was as to his behaviour in the worship of God. And his wise son, Solomon, has left us a rule to the same purpose. "Keep thy foot," he says, "when thou goest to the house of God," shew the due marks of respect and honour. For those Eastern people undo their shoes and walk barefooted in the presence of those that are above them; "keep thy foot," that is, be careful in all thy doings and goings in the House of the Mighty God.

For God's sake, for our own sake, and for our brethren's sake, we are alike bidden to give heed to our conduct in God's House.

I am not speaking now to those who neglect

God's public service. To them any words I could here speak would not be likely to reach, to shew them the greatness of their error and the danger which they most certainly are running.

I am not speaking now to those, if any such there be, who come to Church for show, or from worldly motives, and who prove that there is no better reason in their service, by staying so constantly away, when nothing is to be gained by coming.

But I am speaking to those who know that it is a duty, and who feel that it is a blessing to be allowed to attend the worship of God. To them, I say, that it makes a great difference to themselves and others, whether they duly and rightly fulfil their part in this business. For though there are no Indian idolaters to come in and be converted by the plain signs of our earnestness here, yet there are baptized Christians all about us, whose condition is, I fear, worse than that of heathens, and who do sometimes come within these walls. Worse, I say, than heathens; because they know more, and do as little to please God as heathens do; and who yet must be judged, not by the easier rule of heathens, but by the searching law of Jesus Christ.

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