discourse is delivered, for about twenty, or from that to thirty minutes. It should scarcely ever exceed thirty minutes; and the preacher, if possible, should so fully get into faith, as to preach the gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.* in order to this he should keep clear of all improprieties, all reflections on individuals or societies, and all other unprofitable things; using only, "Sound speech, that cannot be condemned.t" and, as far as wisdom is given to him, preaching a pure gospel, and nothing but the gospel. After sermon or discourse, the service closes with singing and prayer. The whole service takes up about an hour or an hour and a quarter.

When the pious praying labourers are in proper discipline, (and not addicted to dragging out to too great lengths,) prayer meetings are introduced after preachings, with very great success. The prayer

meeting usually commences at the conclusion of the preaching service, and is carried on for about twenty minutes. On some occasions, when circumstances warrant it, the prayer meeting begins immediately after sermon, and forms a part of the preaching service.

Every pulpit should have a proper convenience for the preacher to kneel at prayer. The preacher should always stand during the singing service, unless obliged to sit down through extreme illness. If two preachers stand up in one service, they may speak from 15 to 20 minutes each: and it would be prudent in the latter preacher not to make any reference to the preaching that went before. Such references are generally injurious.

Prayer Meetings.

The outline is as follows;

1 Open with singing for about 4, 5, or 6 minutes. 2 Spend 4, 5, or 6 minutes in prayer, ending with the Lord's prayer.

3 Sing about 2, 3, or 4 minutes.

4 Let the members of the society pray in quick succession, for about 2, 3, or 4, minutes each; with singing a verse or two, occasionally, to vary the exercises.

5 In praying with mourners, or in other particular cases, the exercises may be lengthened. But, in general, long exercises, in public, are injurious, and + Titus ii. 8.

* 1 Pet. i. 11.

should be carefully avoided. And if any one trespass, by attempting to drag out to an improper length, then the leaders' meeting, or some other official authority, may determine what remedy shall be applied to such impropriety.

6 If exhortations be given, they may be from 2 or 3, to 6 or 8 minutes each.

7 Conclude in an hour, or an hour and a quarter. 8 On suitable occasions, prayer may again commence, and especially if there be souls in distress. 9 This outline may be judiciously varied in any point as circumstances may require.

In all kinds of meetings the general rules are as follows:-1 Begin at the proper time. 2 Get into faith as much as possible, in order that the Holy Ghost may descend. 3 Kneel at prayer. 4 Stand in singing. 5 Sit in the time of preaching, exhortation, or discourse. Nevertheless in worship in the open air, if the ground be wet or unsuitable, the kneeling is sometimes dispensed with.

Class Meetings.

1 Open with singing for about 4, 5, or 6 minutes. 2 Let 4 or 5 minutes be spent in prayer ending with the Lord's prayer.

3 Sing about 2 or 3 minutes.

4 Leader speak 1 or 2 minutes, chiefly his own experience.

5 Let 15, or from that to 20 minutes be spent in conversation of the leader with the members. And, to keep the attention alive, the leader, during the conversation, may if he chooses, give out one or two verses, and sing.

6 If a class have 15 or 16 members, the average time of speaking should be about one minute with each member. If there be 20 or 30 members the time should be less, because in speaking to one, the leader, in effect, speaks to all. In particular cases, more time may be spent with any member.

7 If any member have acquired or be acquiring a habit of long speaking, then the leader, after dropping a word or two, should immediately pass on to the next, and begin, at once, to speak to the next. If this be not attended to the meeting will soon be injured.

8 When the speaking is concluded, sing for 2, 3, or 4 minutes.

9 Then let the members pray in quick succession,

for about 2 or three minutes each. The leaders must take care that none of them trespass upon time. Also, one or two verses, may be occasionally sung, to vary the exercises.

10 Be careful and exact in settling the class paper. 11 Conclude in an hour, or an hour and a quarter. 12 This outline may be judiciously varied in any point, as circumstances may require.

13 If a class be met by a preacher, after preaching, he may begin the conversation without previous singing and prayer, and go through this service in 15 minutes, or not exceed 20 minutes.

Lovefeasts.

Lovefeasts usually open with singing and prayer.* A piece is then sung by way of asking a blessing; after which the bread and water are served out, the love feast collection is made, and a piece sung by way of returning thanks. The preacher makes a few remarks; the people rise in succession, and speak their own experience; and distant comers sometimes say a little about the works of God in other places. But none are allowed to run into useless exhortations, drag out to tedious lengths, or to speak unprofitably of others; and above all not to reflect upon or find fault, either with individuals or societies. it is the preacher's painful duty to stop all who attempt to trespass. He has to preserve the Lovefeast in its clear and pure course, in order that the people may grow into faith, and that the Holy Ghost may descend.

And

Singing and prayer are occasionally introduced; and the lovefeast finally closes with prayer.

Camp Meetings,

Camp Meetings open at 9 o'clock in the morning, proceed with a variety of services, and close at 4 or 5 in the afternoon. Sometimes they stop an hour for dinner, and sometimes not. All the exercises in all the services must be short, as long exercises are peculiarly injurious at Camp Meetings.

They usually open with a praying service for about 30 minutes. At half-past 9, preaching service. At a quarter past 10, praying service in companies. At a quarter before 11, either a preaching or a reading

• It has been a custom to have preaching before a Lovefeast; but this, is very generally laid aside on account of its very great inconvenience.

service. At half-past 11, praying service in companies; and so on, varying the exercises, in order that the attention and energy of the people may keep rising and increasing to the last.

PREACHING Services open with singing and prayer, and close with sermon or discourse. Two preachers should always stand up in each service; and no preacher should, on any account, be allowed to speak for more than twenty minutes in any one service. And a preaching service should scarcely ever be allowed to continue for more than 45 minutes. The preachers should take a clear pure course, and not make references to any preaching that has gone before or that is to follow after. Such references being mostly injurious.

READING Services open with singing and prayer. One or two experiences are then read from the Magazines. The readers are allowed to comment a little as they go on. These services promote variety and are often very useful.

PRAYING services should be carefully supported. They are the chief strength of the Camp Meetings, and give energy and dignity to the whole. They are held in four different ways;

1 The general praying service at the opening.

2 About a quarter past ten in the forenoon, a praying service should open in companies; but no company should be allowed to fix near the stand. The movements in this service, give variety, energy, and effect to the whole. If the congregation happen to be but small, they should nevertheless go out in companies, because the going out and coming in are a great relief both to body and mind; and are of great service to the people in other respects.

3. When a praying service, in companies, has gone on, with energy, for half an hour, they are usually summoned to the preaching stand. But if the pious praying labourers happen to be engaged with mourners, then the next service must be deferred or put off as the case may require. Nevertheless, if circumstances render preaching necessary, then a permanent company is formed, and fixed at a suitable distance from the stand to pray for mourners: and this company does not break up for preaching. The permanent company is a relief to the whole; and all the other services proceed regularly as before.

4. Sometimes, when the work breaks out powerfully under preaching, it is found necessary to have a

general praying service without going out in companies. In this case it is usual to make a ring or opening, and call up the mourners to be prayed for.

On Musical Instruments.

Jubal, a descendant of Cain, was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. Gen. iv. 21.

The trumpet of the Lord sounded at Sinai. And, among the Israelites, trumpets were blown throughout the land, on the great day of atonement. The trumpets were also sounded on the new moons, feast-days, and jubilees; and, on some occasions, they were blown over sacrifices for a memorial.

Samuel said to Saul, "Thou shalt meet a company of prophets, with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them." Sam. x. 5. David invented a variety of musical instruments, and introduced them into the singing service. But in all the Christian worship in the New Testament, we never hear of musical instruments, except in the Revelation of the Apostle John, where we are told of harpers harping with their harps.

Amos, vi. 1-5, says, "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, &c.-5. That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick like David."

When these things are fully considered, it will be evident that great caution should be used in admitting musical instruments into the public worship. And none but decidedly pious persons should, on any account, be allowed to play on any musical instrument, in the congregation, during the time of worship.

With great care and caution, it is probable, that musical instruments might be occasionally used, without becoming a snare. It will, however, require considerable firmness in religious people to keep clear in this matter. But whenever they admit any person, whose life does not adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, to play on any instrument in the congregation, or to take any part in leading the singing service, they may, at once say, THE GLORY IS DEPARTED."

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"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." Ephes. iii. 20, 21.