this at once when you consider what is the end and object of all public worship. It is to promote GOD's glory and to make men holy. But that which is not itself holy, at least in some measure, cannot do either of these. If you wish then to have the great honour of doing God's work in His own House, you must try to be such as GOD will accept, and trust to do it. You must try to be holy; as being the ministers of a holy GoD, and as being entrusted by Him with the solemn office of helping His people to offer holy worship.

I have called you God's ministers, and so indeed you are. For as among “ Angels and Archangels and all the company of heaven" there are different degrees of ministry, so is it also in the Church upon earth. And every one who assists in any way in leading the services of the Congregation, is in his measure, a minister of God. You are not called to preach or to administer the Sacraments or other higher rites of our religion, because you have not received the Grace of Episcopal Ordination to enable you to do SO but you are set apart, as vessels for the Master's use, as members of the one great choir who sing GOD'S praise throughout the world. You stand next in honour to the Reverend the Clergy, and have a share with them in the same great work upon earth and the same bright prospect of reward in heaven.

Strive then as ministers of a Holy GOD to keep free from all sin. Not only from open and notorious sin, but from sin of all kinds, open or secret. "Abstain from all appearance of evil" in thought word or deed; for every sin you commit is an offence to GOD, an injury to the Church, and a hurt to your own soul.

Be very attentive, not only to the public worship of Gon, but also to your own daily private prayers. Without regular private prayer and self

examination, all public worship must be more or less hypocrisy, for it is only in private that our own particular wants can be made known unto GOD, and our hearts be fully laid open before Him. If you are at a loss how best to conduct your private prayers, apply to your Clergyman and he will gladly put you in the way.

And now I come to speak of one of your greatest duties and your greatest blessings: I mean the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of CHRIst. This in many choirs has been of late years very awfully neglected, for it must be confessed that many persons have been allowed to be Choristers who were by no means religious men, and therefore by no means fit for the office. And hence the Communion Service, which of all others ought to be the most noble and glorious, has become in many Churches the most mean and irreverent, from the absence of those who have skill to guide the musical part of it.

Let me urge you then to think seriously of the duty and privilege of receiving regularly your SAVIOUR'S Body and Blood.

First, because you cannot expect to go to heaven without it: for CHRIST has said, "Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood ye have no life in you." (St. John vi. 53.)

Secondly, because if you turn away from it, you neglect your duty as Choristers, and leave the service of GOD to be done in a mean and irreverent manner. And God has said, "Them that honour Me, I will honour, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed." (1 Sam. ii. 30.)

I do not enter here upon the preparation which is necessary to make you worthy Communicants, because in that matter your own Clergyman is your proper guide and judge, and I advise you to speak to him unreservedly about it.

But one matter more I now have to mention. Do not let your fondness for music lead you into improper places or improper company. I have sometimes known instances where Choristers have not only been guilty of this, but have also been induced to join in light and improper songs.

St. James teaches us the sinfulness of this when he says (St. Jas. iii. 10, 11) "Out of the same mouth proceedeth cursing and blessing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?" Remember then that you have been set apart for a holy purpose;—you are vessels

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unto honour, sanctified for the Master's use." (2 Tim. ii. 21, 22.) "Flee therefore youthful lusts, and follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the LORD out of a pure heart." "And the very GOD of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray GoD your whole body, soul, and spirit may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST." (1 Thess. v. 23.)

LONDON PRINTED BY JOSEPH MASTERS, ALDERSGATE STREET.

A

FEW WORD S

ΤΟ

CHORISTERS.

THIRD EDITION.

LONDON:

JOSEPH MASTERS, 33, ALDERSGATE STREET,

AND 78, NEW BOND STREET.

No. 7.-Price d. each. or 3s. 6d. per Hundred.

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FEW WORDS TO CHORISTERS.

MY GOOD FRIends,

You will wonder, I dare say, who I can be, who have taken upon myself to speak to you about the very delightful work which you have taken in hand, viz., the conducting the Musical part of the Service in GoD's House. Now, I am not going to tell you any more about myself than this, that I am one who wish you well, and who, as I delight to join with you in chanting God's praises in His Holy Temple, would gladly do all in my power to help you to do the service worthily. It matters much more what is said, than who it is that says it, and therefore I beg of you just to forget all about me, and to listen attentively to what I have to say to you.

Now, I am not going to give you a lesson in music; for I dare say, many of you know more about it than I do myself; and I take it for granted, that if you had not known a good deal about it, you would never have been chosen for your present employment.

What I wish to remind you of is this, that the work, which you are engaged in, is a very important one, not merely in the way of singing correctly, but also in other

ways.

It is a part, you know, of the solemn worship of Almighty GOD, and therefore ought to be done with the greatest reverence, attention, and devotion.

The first piece of advice, then, which I shall give you, is this:-Strive always to remember that you are in the especial Presence of GOD, and are employed in worshipping Him: and this both for your own sakes, and for the sake of the Congregation.

First. For your own sakes,—because it is a very dreadful mockery if while you are pretending to worship GoD, you