ticularly committed to their charge, we have this prayer, "for all men," whatever may be their condition in life or whatever part of the world they may inhabit. These are, indeed, prayed for in the "Litany." But there are

certain days on which the Litany is not appointed to be read, and on those days, it seemed right that when we met together to worship, some prayer should be offered up for all sorts and conditions of men: and this prayer was accordingly added, at the last review of our Church service in the year 1662, soon after the restoration, in the reign of king Charles II. It has by some been called "the lesser Litany."

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We first address God as our "Creator." Thus acknowledging his power, in making the world and all that it contains. Who could form man and give him life, and suit his bodily frame, and all his capacities, to the world which he was to inhabit? Who could do this but He whose name is "wonderful?" And can we then address our Lord as our "Creator," without a sense of our dependence on him, a feeling of admiration of his power, of thankfulness for his goodness? But we address him not only as our Creator," but as our "Preserver." And unless God, who made us, did "preserve" us, we could have no security for a single moment of our lives. Think then how much of admiration, and of love, and gratitude should warm our hearts whenever we think or speak of God as our "Preserver." But, in this prayer, we are called upon to thank God as the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, thus extending our prayers to every human being upon earth. We pray that God would show them all the way which lead to happiness in this world, and to everlasting glory in the world to come, that he would bless "all nations," with the knowledge of his salvation, and make them partakers of all the blessings which belong to His own people. But we put up our especial prayers for God's own Church, for the faithful in every part of the world. The Catholic church means the general Church, the universal Church, the followers of Christ, united together by faith, and by a participation in his holy ordinances, through whatever part of the world they may be dispersed. We say, catholic, because we are not here praying for any particular church. We

1837.]

REFLECTIONS ON THE CHURCH SERVICE.

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consider the Church of England to be a branch of the universal or general or catholic church, but we are not here praying for this branch of the church alone, or for any other particular branch, but for the whole Church universal. It is common to call the members of the Church of Rome catholics, but this term does not belong to them in particular; it expresses, as we have said, the whole Church throughout the world. But many a portion of the Church which once held the truth has fallen into grievous errors and sins, both as to doctrine, and to practice; and God has withdrawn his favour from such as have fallen from Him. We therefore put up our petition that the whole church may be "guided and governed by God's good Spirit." As members of the universal Church of Christ, and admitted into his fold by baptism, we have the name of Christians, and the outward profession of the Gospel. But this will not save us, unless we are Christians in our faith, and Christians in our conduct. We, therefore, pray, that "all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth," and that thus holding the faith, they may hold it "in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life" that they may be united in heart, bound together in holy love and peace, and that every one who is called a Christian may show that he is such, by the purity and uprightness of his life and conduct.

Then we pray for those who are afflicted or distressed, whether in mind, or body, or worldly circumstances. Those who are disabled from attending the public worship may have the prayers of the Church offered up for them. And for all who are in affliction, we pray that it would please God "to comfort and relieve them," in the way which He knows to be best for them, "according to their several necessities," that He would give them His grace and blessing to enable them to be patient under their sufferings, to endure them as feeling assured, that they are sent by an allwise Father, who knoweth what is good for His children; and we pray that He would give them "a happy issue," a happy deliverance out of all their afflictions. We do not say when and how we would have them delivered; but we trust this into the hands of God, being fully assured that He knows best what is good for

His people. If there be grief of mind, pains and sickness of body, or distress and poverty in worldly circumstances, we do not pray that God would give us a speedy deliverance from them: because we know that He sends us these trials to bring about his own purposes of good; we therefore pray for a happy deliverance from them; a deliverance in the way which He knows to be best for us. It will be a happy issue, if we have been led by them to see the vanity of all earthly things, and to set our affections on heavenly things; and it will be a happy issue if God should deliver us from all the pains and sorrows of this present world, and take us to everlasting peace and happiness with him, having first made his afflicting dispensations the means of drawing our hearts to him, and of thus preparing us for that kingdom which He will give to all those whom his grace has first made meet and fit to enter those abodes of holiness, and purity, and peace. And that he would do this "we beg for Jesus Christ's sake," through whom, as the great and only Mediator, every prayer of the Christian is to be put up.

EXTRACTS FROM THE PUBLIC NEWSPAPERS, &c.

ས.

India-rubber Hats.-A manufacturer at Portland has lately succeeded in making very good hats from India-rubber. They are very light, weighing on an average about four ounces, and are so elastic that they may be folded like a handkerchief, may be crushed into any shape, and will immediately to their original form, without being injured in the smallest

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degree.

Lately a fire broke out at Itchem Stoke, which entirely consumed three cottages. The fire was accidentally occasioned by an old woman holding a candle up too near the thatch in the wash-house, which in an instant took fire, and in two hours the cottages were burnt to the ground. Three families (having five children) and the above old woman were rendered houseless by this calamity.

A journeyman painter, 23 years of age, was turned out of a public-house at a late hour in a state of intoxication, and was found next morning frozen to death, lying by the side of a ditch.

J. B., the son of a carpenter, at Hendon, Middlesex, in his 28th year, committed suicide on Monday, by cutting his throat. The cause was drunkenness, to which vice the deceased had latterly given way, and had thus ruined his prospects in life.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We have received the communications of D. I. E.; A Constant Reader; G. C.; N. B.; E.; L. S. R.; Sophia Matilda; Y.; and A Lay

man.