for them." Even suppose afflictions and perplexities so increase, that there seems no escape from them, still you may at the last find reason with St. Paul even to glory in them. The trials to which God has thus called you, may have been necessary for your soul, to discipline it for heaven. But for the exercise of grace which it called forth, pride might have filled the heart where now humility reigns; love of this world might have risen above the love of God; there might have been distrust, and fear, and selfishness, where now abound faith, and hope, and charity; and an overweening regard for things of earth, might have taken place of that ardent longing for the holy peace of heaven, which is now your abiding repose and joy. Thus your very difficulties become blessings to the soul and you find that all things work together for good to them who love and fear their God.

Nor are the blessings of such a faith confined to Parents. Children learn to walk in the light of so bright an example. When they, from their early years, see the noble spirit of courage and endurance which true religion gives their parents; when they see it raise the father's arm to added exertion for their support, and animate the tender mother in patient and uncomplaining endurance of ills, for their sake, they almost insensibly imbibe the same spirit, learn the power of Christian principles in giving the fruit of Christian happiness; and grow up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. A family thus united by the bonds of religious love, and acting together upon the principle of religious duty, aid each other by their very numbers. They strengthen each other in every good resolution; and by bearing one

another's burdens, temporal and spiritual, help each other onward toward their final home in heaven. They animate each other by the aged Prophet's assurance, when recording the result of his own experience through a long and varied life, he declares; "I have been young, and now am old, yet never saw I the righteous forsaken, or his seed begging their bread." Such is the triumph of faith; and to such a triumph the Church would in this service lead the Christian Mother, under the added weight of care which an increasing family must bring; and in bearing which the best strength is to be found in a holy reliance upon her God.

CHAPTER IV.

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

YET every Christian Mother humbly acknowledges that the goodness of God thus vouchsafed is undeserved. "It is of the Lord's mercy." Therefore, in remembering mercies past, and proceeding to implore a continuance of them for the time to come, you begin your supplication with the Lord's Prayer, as a peculiarly appropriate channel for the expression of mingled feelings of love and duty, dependence and trust: the minister and congregation first joining in a pious ejaculation, indicative of the most lowly sense of man's unworthiness, and his entire dependence upon the love of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

3 Psalm xxxvii. 25.

As a Mother, grateful for recent deliverance from your peril, you feel that the introduction of the Lord's Prayer at this part of the service, is most seasonable. It does indeed mark the soundest judgment and discretion in the framers of our Liturgy. We each of us know from our own experience, not only that our prayers, like all our services are, and ever must be, stamped with imperfection and unworthiness, but that very often in proportion to the fulness of our feelings -whether of fear or hope, apprehension or safety, sorrow or joy—so is our difficulty in giving due expression to them. Lest this be your case; lest you also should either want words to express the overflowing joy of your heart, or haply fail in fit expression of reverence and love, of gratitude for the past and faith for the future, you offer a prayer in itself perfect: a prayer, which for his sake who framed it for you, and taught it you, we must trust will be acceptable in his sight, to whom it is offered, and to whose honour and glory you gratefully, and with peculiar solemnity now dedicate yourself.

Observe several petitions of it, as they bear your thanksgivings or your supplications to the throne of grace for new hopes and new fears are quickened in your heart, as a mother praying not for herself only, but for her child-observe how closely they come home to your heart, meet the feelings of gratitude which at this time must glow there with unwonted ardour, and aid you so to fix your whole soul upon the gracious Being whom you are addressing, that whilst in your maternal character you acknowledge your added responsibility, you find also added support as "a Mother saved."

God is our "Father in heaven."

What a thought

for fallen man! how instructive and comforting to all! to you, how monitory and encouraging! It instructs as to your new duties, and points the comfort of a due fulfilment of them; it warns against presumption, encourages holiness, and leads to peace. Is this kind and gracious Being your Father? To Him you look, and on Him you rely to sustain, guide, and bless this fresh object of your love and care. As you watch your helpless charge, and ponder what its future years may be, and remember that when once launched on the waves of this troublesome world, it must share the storm and the tempest, as well as the calm and sunshine of life; all a Mother's love fills your soul with prayer to the great Being who ruleth the storm, that He would keep your loved one under the shadow of his wing, and exercising his power to perfect his love, be himself the ever-present guardian of your child from the cradle to the grave. Yet amid the thousand apprehensions which fill your mind after such ponderings, faith triumphs; and in pouring out your heart's dearest hopes before the throne of heaven, and addressing Him who sitteth thereon, as your Father, thus your mind communes with itself "O! why should I fear? God is our Father: and I know full well what is a parent's love. He hath already saved me in my peril, when my soul was nigh unto death; and He hath preserved my helpless infant to be its parent's joy. Thus far He has brought us safely through all dangers: it were coward faithlessness to doubt his protection now. O my child, unconscious as thou art of his gracious care, I well know that He is thy protector! As the Father of all, He careth

for all. I cannot look around me, without perceiving what evidences of this love and care abound. The bird of the air, the flower of the field, the very grass under my feet, owe their existence and support to Him. Joy to my heart it is to believe that this care is extended to thee! And faith is, I trust, now sanctified in me by grace through Christ Jesus. My earnest prayer for thee, dear infant, and for myself, is, that as opening sense admits instruction, I may teach thee to understand thy debt of gratitude to the unseen but gracious providence of that heavenly Father, which sustaineth thee. With growth in stature may there be growth in wisdom and in grace! Then, though death must at last remove me, I shall fear no evil for thee, even from the troublous world in which I leave thee. God the omniscient, the omnipotent, the all-merciful-is at hand to sustain thee with all a Father's care; all a Mother's love."

When, as you proceed in this service, you pray that God's "name be hallowed"-in how enlarged a sense do you apply the petition! Not with holy reverence only, but with the deepest gratitude do you now hallow that name; for He, who in the glory of his majesty bears it, the Lord of heaven and earth, is yet your Father. What though, as the ineffable “I AM," God cannot be approached unto! what though He be past finding out, eternal, invisible! He is always present: to Him all hearts are open, from Him no secrets are hid. He knew your affliction, and He answered your cry in the hour of trial; He knows your gratitude, and He accepts your thanksgivings in the hour of joy. Therefore you hallow his great name,

4 Exodus iii. 14.