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286 world; but it is without shame laid aside at the tables of the highest and the lowest ranks among us.

And as parents should be admonished, and it should be pressed upon their consciences, to teach their children their prayers and catechism, it being what they are obliged to upon all accounts; so it is proper to be mentioned here, as a means by which they will bring the principles of Christianity often to their own minds, instead of laying aside all thoughts of it from week's-end to week's-end.

General exhortations to piety, abstracted from the particular circumstances of it, are of great use to such as are already got into a religious course of life, but such as are not, though they be touched with them, yet when they go away from church, they scarce know where to begin, or how to set about what they are exhorted to. And it is with respect to religion, as in the common affairs of life, in which many things of great consequence intended, are yet never done at all, because they may be done at any time, and in any manner; which would not be, were some determinate time and manner voluntarily fixed upon for the doing of them. Particular rules and directions then, concerning the times and circumstances of performing acknowledged duties, bring religion nearer to practice; and such as are really proper, and cannot well be mistaken, and are easily observed,—such particular rules in religion, prudently recommended, would have an influence upon the people.

All this, indeed, may be called form; as everything external in religion may be merely so. And therefore, whilst we endeavour in these, and other like instances, to keep up the form of godliness, 2 Tim. iii. 5: amongst those who are our care, and over whom we have any influence, we must endeavour also that this form be made more and more subservient to promote the power of it, 2 Tim.