denied before the angels of God; and whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels."

An awakened sense of the infinite importance of the great duty of prayer; an increasing apprehension of the danger of living without it; a serious concern for the souls of all such unthinking characters; and an earnest desire of contributing, though in the smallest degree, as an instrument in the Divine Hand, to stir up the minds of men to a proper regard to it; these are the causes which have prompted the author of this little work to try somewhat out of the common way, in order to awaken, if possible, a spirit of piety in the land; and may He, who alone can give energy to what is said, bless the labours to the end intended!

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The writer presumes, that " Five Minutes Advice" on so important a subject, cannot be considered tedious by any one; and he presumes also, that the most busy life will not complain much of the impertinence of so short an interruption; and, if he were to add any thing farther to these considerations, by way of gaining the indulgence of a favourable hearing, he would say moreover, that as the object in view, in giving the advice here offered, does not proceed from any interested views in the writer, he should suppose there would need no stronger reason to persuade the reader to regard it.

My brother, consider well these arguments before thou refusest the advice here offered thee; and do not turn from it with a fastidious indifference and disregard. Alas! if the world could but see the thick film of prejudices with which the eye of the understanding, in a state of nature, is darkened, how gladly would they accept of any help which might place them in the way of its removal !

The almost Christians, like Agrippa, who were just now mentioned, and the half-believers, like Nicodemus, both need nothing more than the frequent recollection of the unpardonable duplicity of an unsettled and wavering conduct; and of the increased condemnation which must finally fall on such in the great day of account, Reader, art thou ashamed of prayer?ashamed of that which is the distinguishing character of man, and the noblest privilege with which he is furnished? Anticipate, I beseech thee, that hour when the shame will be on the opposite side of the question; when it will not be the shame of man; of of a poor fleeting creature of a day, like thyself; but the shame of an offended God, an injured Redeemer, and the presence of the whole world of congregated beings, at the judgment-seat of Christ!

But while the author of this little work looks up to God with an eye of humble supplication, that his grace may bless these considerations to both these sorts of prayerless persons, he cannot but more earnestly implore the Divine Goodness that they may affect prayerless families.

It is to rouse inconsiderate, unnatural, and thoughtless fathers, parents, and masters, for which these hints are given :-it is to convince them of their iniquity and their danger; for to their shameful neglect of this necessary duty, must, in a great measure, be ascribed the prevalence of profaneness and impiety which abound in life; and, oh! that all such would but duly consider what a brutal part they are acting towards those whom the ties of nature and affection have so intimately linked together, that they should be so anxious as they are to see them "labouring for the meat that perisheth," and not bestow a thought or concern how they may obtain" that bread which endureth to everlasting life!"

Reader, art thou a parent, a father, or a master?

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Awake to the duties of these high characters! . Consider the souls of thy household as entrusted in some sort to thee, and suffer not "those souls to perish through thy neglect, for whom Christ died. How agonizing will be the interview between such cruel and irreligious parents and their unhappy children at the last day! What dreadful reproaches! How painful the accusations which the children will throw upon them! And with what a piercing bitterness will the sound of their cries enter into their ears! and let it be observed that these matters will be in an increased proportion of evil between those tender relations, where the parent hath attended to every thing in this life for his child's interest but the "one thing needful." The more solicitous and provident he hath proved, as the father and the friend, in the concern of this world's good, the more bitter will be the reflection, for not having regarded the important concerns of a better. Let the mind conceive, if possible, the horrors with which the prayerless father will hear the accusation from the son or daughter of his own bosom, in terms perhaps like these :-"Ah, cruel parent! was this the seeming tenderness with which you studied my happiness in yonder world, in contriving every amusement and pleasure for my enjoyment, while leaving me ignorant of that in which alone true happiness is founded, and for the want of which I am miserable for ever?"

Reader, art thou a parent? and dost thou call thyself a tender parent? wouldest thou be displeased to be accused of inattention to thy children's welfare? Attend, then, to that which concerns their welfare indeed! even their eternal welfare; and know, that void of this, though thou labourest night and. day for their earthly comfort, and though thou leavest behind thee the richest worldly possessions to thy children, and to thy children's children, yet art

thou infinitely worse and more foolish than the senseless ostrich of the wilderness, who "leaveth her eggs in the dust," and is regardless of every attention to her young. Oh, may the eye that reads this, if he stands in either of the relative situations of the head of a family, and is among the unhappy characters who neglect household devotion, be awakened to an instant discharge of it! and may the prime Mover and Hearer of all prayer be graciously pleased to pour out the Spirit of supplication upon him from on high!

But perhaps thou art one of those who art so far awakened as to feel an anxiety for thy own personal salvation, and art attending upon the means of grace thyself, but hast not set up religion in thine house. This is one of those unaccountable problems which excites the wonder of men and angels. What a contradiction is such a man's life to himself! Anxious to discharge one duty, and neglectful of all the rest! In secret serving God, but ashamed to do it openly! It would be a most unnecessary service to offer any argument upon this point. A moment's reflection is enough to convince every man of this complexion both of his iniquity and his danger. Awake, awake, therefore, from this delusion, and let not the fear of Man any longer bring a snare. Attend only to that cutting expostulation of God by the prophet, which is enough to drive out all lesser fears: "Who art thou that thou shouldst be afraid of a man that shall die, and the son of man which shall be as grass, and forgettest the Lord thy Maker?" May this awful consideration be so accompanied with divine grace as to operate to the purpose intended!

I fear the five minutes I requested, is nearly, if not quite exhausted, and therefore, reader, I take my leave. Farewell! Let not a stranger, and perhaps unknown, feel this concern for thy eternal salvation, and thou remain uninterested. Add but thy

prayer to his, and God will bless the means to the end intended: and however the fashion of the world may be against this great duty (a world whose customs are declared enmity to God;) however "fools make a mock of sin, and scorners delight in scorning," let nothing intimidate thee from taking up the resolution of Joshua, and saying "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

To assist in the execution of this desirable purpose, and that none may want a proper form of devotion, here are added short Prayers both for morning and evening service in a family, and also an additional help for the Lord's Day. They are not given as perfect models, but merely as helps to devotion. The great principles, by which the christian religion is peculiarly distinguished, are carefully preserved in them; and though they are by no means meant to fetter the spirit of piety to those who need no form of prayer, yet it is to be hoped they will answer the purpose to those that do. Gladly would the author throw them aside, was that blessed effect more generally manifested in the world, which is promised of God, when "a Spirit of grace shall be poured out from the Lord;" and when the Spirit shall so plentifully be helping our infirmities, as to teach us in our hours of devotion, what to speak; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but, in the mean time, we are admonished not to despise the day of small things.

Such as they are, they are humbly offered to those who may stand in need of helps of this nature; and the author can only earnestly pray to God that a divine blessing, like that which distinguished the fleece of Gideon, by the dew falling upon it, while all the