not a whit less necessary, and which I would take the liberty earnestly to recommend ; and that is, the establishment of prayer in your own famihes. Who that sees the zeal of Solomon on this occasion, does not perceive the duty of every head of a family ? We cannot all raise public edifices to the Lord ; but we may all set up altars in our own houses, and pro- mote the worship of God amongst those who are within the sphere of our own influence. God has said, that " where two or three are met together in his name, there will he be in the midst of them ;" and that, ^'^when two or three agree respecting what they shall ask," he will confer it upon them. If any say, that they feel unequal to the task of conducting family worship, they need not be discouraged on that account, because there are abundant aids afforded them, both in the formularies of our Church, and in other books that are written for that express purpose.
And let me not omit this occasion of inculcating the duty of private prayer. This is absolutely indis- pensable to every child of man. Without this, no soul can prosper : without this, no sinner in the uni- verse can find acceptance with God. In the pubhc Services of the Church, your petitions must be, for the most part, general, and such as all the congre- gation can join in : but in your private chambers you may, every one of you, spread before the Lord your own personal transgressions, and implore at his hands those blessings which you more especially stand in need of. Remember, I pray you, that on your own personal application to God in prayer is suspended all your hope of mercy and forgiveness. " God will be inquired of by us" for those gifts which he has most freely promised and covenanted to bestow. "Ask, and ye shall have ; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." These are the terms with which we must comply : and, if we will not ask, it is in vain to hope that we shall obtain any thing of the Lord.
Let the duty of prayer generally, of pubhc, social, and private prayer, be this day impressed upon your