of self-recollection amidst your recreations and amusements. Some portion of recreation is necessary; amusements may be enjoyed, not only without guilt, but with great advantage. The Holy Saviour chose to sanction with his presence a festive party, and in one of his beautiful parables he speaks of the amusements of youth in language which shows that he approved of a sprightly joyful temper, and condemned that sullen, morose disposition, which refuses to join in innocent diversions. But we must not forget, that life was given us, not for diversion, but for duty, and we must therefore be careful not to sacrifice to mere entertainment and pleasure, those portions of our time which should be devoted to business, to self-cultivation, or to religion. We should remember, too, that though amusement in itself is lawful, there are amusements which are forbidden; we must therefore consider the time, the place, the nature and tendency of the diversions we partake of. There are places and society into which we may not go, to partake of amusements, which are not improper in themselves. There are amusements in themselves most harmless and interesting, which may be engaged in, in a spirit and for purposes highly censurable. There are amusements unobjectionable for a different class of society, which may not accord with our circumstances and characters. On all these matters we ought to exercise a sound discretion, and to be governed by the spirit of religion; and it would materially assist us in forming a just decision, were we, in the choice or in the enjoyment of our recreations and amusements, to pause and inquire, "What doest thou here?" can I lift up my soul to heaven and say, Father, vouchsafe to keep me

in this matter free from sin; so teach me to govern my affections and feelings, that in the enjoyment of these pleasures I may not forget Thee? is this a place in which a Christian should be found? is this society with which a Christian should sympathize? find I here the sentiments, the habits, the entertainment which should delight, even for a moment, a Christian mind? If a Christian should, unfortunately, find himself, by some unaccountable agency, engaged in the act of gambling, or entering the portals of a Theatre, and were seriously to put these questions to himself, what can you imagine would be the result? If he were really to say to himself, Where am I going-what am I about-what do I here? can you believe it possible for him to proceed with any degree of self-approbation? Rest assured that nothing can be lawful which will not bear such inquiries.

IV. An important point remains. Let me persuade you to cultivate a habit of self-recollection in regard to your religious duties; in secret devotion-in family worship-in the public services-and, those of you who comply with the command of Jesus, in the celebration of the Lord's Supper. These are acts which, however they may endeavor to extenuate the neglect of them, I never yet knew any professed Christians amongst us value themselves upon omitting, or recommend others to omit. I take for granted that all of you acknowledge private, public and family worship to be desirable and advantageous. The inquiry which I urge is not, therefore, with a design to ascertain whether these duties are wholly neglected, but whether they are attended to at fit seasons, and in a becoming manner. When

you are about to bend the knee before your Father, which seeth in secret, ask, "What do I here?" is this the proper scason for me to be here-ought not my devout thanksgivings and self-dedication to have taken place at an earlier hour? If conscience accuses you of no fault in this respect, ask, What ought I now to do? ought I not to impress my heart with the conviction that all my sufficiency is of God-ought I not to consecrate afresh my whole being to his service, and pray that he would guide me this day by his counsel? Let a similar inquiry be made with regard to family worship. And when you enter any place of public worship, remember the question "what doest thou here”—for what purpose am I come hither? am I come for religious instruction, spiritual improvement, and an increasing fitness for Heaven? or am I come merely from custom and decency, or by the command of others? Before you enter, say, What do I here now? the minister is reading the scriptures, or the congregation have half finished their first hymn of praise, or the prayer is almost ended, the people have confessed their sins, and asked forgiveness; they have returned thanks for their blessings they have prayed for all needful merciesand I am come just in time to say "Amen" to what I have had no concern with. Is this the proper time for me to enter the sanctuary of God? And during the service, are the scriptures being read or expounded?— recollect yourselves and put the question, What am I doing? attending? trying to understand and to remember? or letting my thoughts wander, thinking of anything rather than the word of God? In the singing, too, consider whether you are entering into the senti

ments of the hymn; whether you feel what you utter; whether you are sensible of the fact that you are actually engaged in what ought to be a solemn and delightful exercise of the most generous and noble affections of the human soul. For, let me remind you, that to utter the praises of God with reverence and holy fear, is an affair of precisely the same obligation as to pray to him with humble, reverential, and contrite hearts; and if the singing be a proper part of Christian worship, it is a duty to make it as solemn, impressive, and affecting a part of the service as we can. But to carry on the suggestions I was making-you will find it frequently of great use to check the current of your thoughts for a moment even in the prayers, to inquire whether your affections are indeed borne upwards on the wings of devotion, or bowed down to earth by insensibility and thoughtlessness; whether you are making your own the supplications and thanksgivings which are poured forth in your ears, or whether the whole of your devotion is included in that mere change of position, which decency requires you to preserve till the concluding ascription of praise is pronounced. Speak often thus to yourselves, and you will find the devotional part of the services much more profitable, and not the less delightful. And whilst you are listening to the sermon, ask, With what motives and feelings am I hearing? What do I wish to hear? something more enlarged and excellent than what I know, or just so much as will make me satisfied with my present views and information? something that will make me pleased with myself, or something that will shake my self-confidence and animate me to fresh exertions? something to palliate my

indifference, my worldly-mindedness, my negligence and sin, or something to show me the malignity of every sin, and make me feel the danger of all indifference, and every particle of the spirit of the world? What do I wish to hear? And, what am I hearing; the language of reason, or of folly? Is the preacher trying to persuade me to believe a lie, or is he enforcing important truth that concerns my salvation? Am I at all interested in the great realities which he holds up to my contemplation? His words have often been to me as a pleasant song, which has lulled me to repose: have I not been sleeping upon the verge of a precipice? have I not at stake an immortal interest in the truths which are even now falling from his lips? If I have not a supreme desire to free myself from sin, to grow in holiness and prepare for Heaven, what do I here?

Finally, ye who in addition to other means of spiritual improvement and happiness, avail yourselves of the inspiring motives furnished by the Supper of the Lord, let me not forget to remind you of the necessity of self-recollection when you come to celebrate that holy rite. To you, Jesus, the great master of the feast, says, What doest thou here? Friend, wherefore art thou come? Hast thou repented of sin, and art thou come to celebrate the love which promised and confirmed forgiveness? Hast thou been captivated by the beauty of holiness, and art thou come that the spirit of holiness may be shed abroad in thy heart? Hast thou believed that my Father is also thy Heavenly Parent, that I am ascended to him, to prepare, in his house, mansions for those that follow me ? and art thou come to strengthen thy faith, to elevate thy hopes, to purify and quicken