But though the Bible affords the best aid in prayer, we allow that other books may be very useful. He who neglects the word of God, and gives himself wholly to the writings of men, may in some respects be likened to Naaman the Syrian, who said, "Are not Pharpar and Abana, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?" Naaman, indeed, found that Jordan only could wash away his leprosy, though the rivers of Damascus might be useful in other ways, and for other ends. While speaking of the choice of religious books, it may be observed, that few works of controversy are calculated to cherish devout affections. The necessity or expedience of employing vigorous arguments, to refute error and maintain truth, is not here the matter in question: I merely state the fact, that there generally runs through the writings of controversial divinity, a vein of acrimony and bitterness, which ill agrees with the calm, delicious, and holy joys of a soul engaged in exercises of prayer and praise. The weapons with which the eager disputant fiercely fights his antagonist for victory, will not assist, but often encumber the saint, when he wrestles with God to obtain the blessing.

Among the works suitable to aid the believer in devotion, may be mentioned, Bishop Hall's Contemplations, Beveridge's Private Thoughts,

Scougal's Life of God in the Soul of Man, Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul, Bennet's Christian Oratory, Baxter's Converse with God, and Saint's Rest, and Watts's Guide to Prayer. It would be easy to swell this list; but the few here given may suffice. Of the last-mentioned writer, the venerable and excellent Dr. Watts, though I have only mentioned one piece, his whole works deserve, and will amply repay, a diligent perusal. We should risk little in asserting, that no author of our own or any other nation, has contributed so largely and effectually, to excite devout feelings among people of every denomination, rank and age. Whatever," says a masterly critic," he took in hand, was by incessant solicitude for souls converted to theology it is difficult to read a page without learning, or at least wishing, to be better. The attention is caught by indirect instruction; and he that sat down only to reason, is on a sudden compelled to pray." "For my part," says the late Dr. Vicessimus Knox, "I cannot but think this good man approached as nearly to Christian perfection, as any mortal ever did in this sublunary state; and therefore I consider him a better interpreter of Christian doctrine than the most learned critics, who, proud of their reason and their learning, despised or neglected the very life and soul of Christianity,

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the living everlasting Gospel, the supernatural operation of divine grace: and be it ever remembered, that Dr. Watts was a man who cultivated his reason with particular care; who studied the abstrusest sciences; and was as well qualified to become a verbal critic, or a logical disputant on the Scriptures, as the most learned among the doctors of the Sorbonne, or the greatest proficients in polemical divinity. I mention this, for the consideration of those who insinuate that the doctrines of grace cannot be entertained, but by ignorant and fanatical persons; by persons uninitiated in the mysteries of philosophy." Nor did this worthy man exhibit religion less in his life than in his writings. What can be more interesting than a circumstance mentioned by his biographer?On retiring to rest, he has been heard to say, "I bless God I can lie down at night, not being solicitous whether I awake in this world or another." When worn out with infirmities, he observed to a friend, "It is the plain promises of the Gospel that are my support; and I bless God they are plain promises, which do not require much labour and pains to understand; for I can do nothing now but look into my Bible for some promise to support me, and live upon that."

After mentioning some of the illustrious dead, whose works yet speak, I cannot but take this

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opportunity of warmly recommending a production of one living writer, namely, Practical Piety,' by Mrs. Hannah More. Possessed of a strong and well-cultivated understanding, active benevolence, and that knowledge which pre-eminently deserves the name, the knowledge of the heart,-of its wants, its disease, its remedy; she has done much towards promoting the spirit of genuine devotion among those into whose hands few decidedly religious books come.*

To say that ignorance is the mother of devotion, and that piety is necessarily allied to mental weakness, are assertions so utterly unsupported, so palpably absurd, and so opposed to facts, that one may wonder how popish priests could, even in the darkest age, give the currency of a general maxim to the former, or prejudiced infidels and profane scoffers gain any credit for the latter. The history of the world, indeed, sufficiently proves how much ignorance contributes to the introduction and establishment of idle ceremonies, and empty forms, and useless austerities; but nothing except a reasonable service deserves to be dignified with the name of devotion. Yet the dark-minded and disingenuous sceptic, who treats all religion with sovereign contempt, persists in classing the

* For an admirable contrast between the writings of Madam de Stael, and the less brilliant, but more useful productions of Mrs. More, See Eclec. Rev. vol. iii. p. 446. New Series.

enlightened and sober Christian with the vassals of superstition, and the dupes of enthusiasm ; nor will he believe that

"Piety has found

Friends in the friends of science, and true prayer
Has flowed from lips wet with Castalian dews."

II. As I have spoken of the selection of suitable books, I shall now shew how they are to be used.

1. Set yourself to seek a divine influence, by which you may be assisted to reap the benefit to be derived from reading.

I would rather run the hazard of some repetition, than fail to give a point of so much moment its due prominence. In the duties of religion, there is a connexion both of order and reciprocal operation. Reading fits us for prayer, and prayer qualifies us for reading. To lay in a store of knowledge, without supplicating the grace of the Holy Spirit, is as if the merchant should lade his vessel, and garnish it with ornaments, but forget to spread the sails, which are to catch the breeze of heaven, and waft him to the desired port; or as if the inhabitants of Egypt, whose harvest depends upon the Nile, were to sow their grain, yet neglect at the right season to open their sluices, and water their lands. But to come to