servation. An alarm would be given, aud the latent cause of the mischief would be searched out.

CHAPTER XXI.

Concluding Remarks.

After reading my little book, some will most likely, in not very good humor, say, "We can never submit to such sudden and revolutionary changes as are here contended for. If we attempt any thing of this sort, we shall just break up, and destroy our prayer-meetings on the old and tried plan, and have nothing left in their place. We must have our own way of praying, or we cannot pray at all. "We do not know what right any one has, to teach us what we shall pray for, or how we shall pray, and other things of the like sort."

Others again may say, they find nothing

new.

That they do not see, wherein a prayermeeting conducted as we propose, will differ from other prayer-meetings. We do not expect that meetings will be all made just alike, rather than other things, but we see nothing peculiar."

To the first class of objectors we only say, "Keep to your old ways, till you are convinced there may be better ones. The author would be the last man to dictate to you, or control you in any way, but by convincing your judge

ment.

If you are praying men at all, you must believe the subject worthy a very careful and candid consideration. This then, I hope and trust you will not refuse, and to this I am willing to leave you. It is not to be expected, that an entire and universal, and immediate change will take place. This is no reason however, why you should not read, and consider, and judge; and whenever you may think your prayer-meetings, susceptible of any improvement, let that improvement be instantly made. Make a beginning, even if it be a smull one; and others will naturally follow in the train.

To those who love Zion, and prayer, and prayer-meetings, for her prosperity; and yet find nothing new in the present treatise, if there are any such, we tender our sincere congratulations, and hope they will be zealous, and efficient co-laborous in endeavors to bring about a better way of doing these things.

We have not designed our little book, as a book of rhapsodies, but of truth; not so much a recommendation, of prayer-meetings, as a

means for making them, recommend them selves.

If any great advances shall be made during the life-time of the author, they must be speedy; but he fully believes such advances will be made, and that a glory now unknown, shall hang over the prayer-meeting hall, and that heaven and earth. shall hold more familiar and endearing converse.

It is his desire before closing his earthly labors, to do something, that may help forward the desired change. Though he has gained no earthly reward for his labors, he trusts they have not been in vain in the Lord; and gladly would he leave a legacy for those who may survive him, which shall have a value, long after gold and silver, and gems, shall be worthless. Of one thing he is perfectly sure, that to whatever degree he may lend an influence in the reformation of prayer-meetings, he will to the same extent lend an influence for the salvation of the world,

TOPICS OF PRAYER.

Some topics for prayer and remarks are here added, as a guide to those who may desire such aid.

no harm to any if they are not used, and the number we apprehend is small, who will not find them occasionally convenient. If made familiar to the mind of any brother, by a little sturdy, such a list of topics, may prove a remedy for that vacurity which all feel more orl ess when speaking in a public meeting. No man has perfect and constant command of his own thoughts, and few, if any, are strangers to the feeling of dread, lest an effort to speak or pray, prove an entire failure. This may be one reason of those long, prosy, common-place introductions to a prayer, which are often so tedious. It is something to have at hand a remedy for so great an evil.

It is not principally, however, as a remedy for a barren state of mind, that we introduce this catalogue of topics, We think when the mind is active and fertile and the heart warm, such aid will be more especially useful.

One may be called to lead a meeting, hurried in from the noise, and bustle and confusion of the world, when he hardly dare trust his own thoughts, or the same thing may occur from the power of disease in deranging the nervous system. In such a ease, the very idea of having something to fall back upon, will give a man vigor of his own, and help him to draw from his own resources. At any rate we think it best to give the arrangements not claiming for it any thing like completeness.

TOPICS SUITABLE FOR AN ORDINARY GENERAL PRAYER-MEETING.

ADORATION OF Gop. His greatness; "majesty; justice;good

ness; works; forbearance; bounties; mercy, and grace. INVOCATION OF THE SPIRIT. That his presence may be felt;

that he would inspire awe; unfold scripture truth; warm the heart; subdue the soul; give ready utterance. CONFESSIONS OF SIN. Rejection of God; breach of a good law; contempt of Christ; injury to our fellow men; deserving wrath.

THANKSGIVINGS. God's goodness in creation; redemption bounties of Providence; health; peace; blessing of education; national blessings; spread of the Gospel; revivals, &c.

PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH, Spirituality of its members ; purity of life; activity; liberality; brotherly love; kindness, &c.

CHRISTIAN FAMILIES. Instruction; government; dutifulness of children; parental love; conjugal harmony; family worship; observance of sabbath; attendauce on religious worship, &c.

IRRELIGIOUS FAMILIES. That they may give themselves to reading and reflection; may attend religious meetings. OLD PEOPLE. that they may retain health; activity; eyesight and hearing; reason and memory; may be cared for and comforted; may have patience; cheerfulness; that they may be getting ripe for heaven.

MAN IN MIDDLE LIFE. As parents; men in business; men