undone those things which we ought to have done, and have done those things which we ought not to have done ; and there is no health in us." He can know httle of " the plague of his own heart/' who does not find those acknowledgments exactly suited to his state. At the beginning of the Litany, what can express the desires and feelings of a contrite spirit more justly than that reiterated cry to every person of the Holy Trinity to " have mercy upon us, as miserable sinners?" In the Communion Service, after the recital of every distinct command, we cry, " Lord, have mercy upon us for our past breaches of it, and incline our hearts to keep it in future." Now this is the very frame in which we should draw nigh to God. There must be nothing in us of a self-righteous and self-applauding spirit. Blasphemy itself is not more hateful to God than that pride of heart, and formal self-complacency, wherewith the generality approach their God. The self-applauding Pharisee, with all his pretended thankfulness, was to God an object of abhorrence ; whilst the poor self-condemning publican was liberated from the guilt of all his sins. And wherever there is a prayer like his, there shall also be the same success : for " the broken and con- trite spirit, God never did, nor ever will, despise."
But we must seek God, also, with fervour of spirit. Prayer is not a service merely of the lip and knee, but of the heart ; and the whole heart should go forth to God in the performance of it. This was well understood by the compilers of our Liturgy; and ought to be understood, and felt, by every woi-shipper in the Established Church. The whole of the Liturgy breathes an ardour suited to the feelings and necessities of a contrite soul : " Lord, have mercy upon us : Christ, have mercy upon us : Lord, have mercy upon us." Oh! what would not be obtained by a congregation pouring out those prayers with corresponding emotions ? I will not say, that the house would be shaken, as it was when the Apostles prayed^; but I will say, that the worshippers would
1' Acts iv..31.