CHAPTER XXVI.

CONFIRMATION.

By the time your child thus far understands the nature of his christian covenant, as it is laid down in the Church Catechism', it will be your duty, and doubtless your delight, to prepare him for the solemn ordinance of Confirmation-an occasion of deep interest, and one by duly observing which you may entertain a humble hope that he will receive much and permanent benefit. You will instruct him first in the nature of this ordinance; and he will then at once from that judge for himself, how reasonable and fitting a thing it is that in due season he take opportunity to attend an ordinance so holy in its appointment, and so profitable, to those who heedfully regard it. The very term-Confirmation-implies some preceding rite; the person confirmed completing something which was left unfinished. Taught therefore, as your children will have been by the Catechism, that they entered into covenant with God in their infancy, by godfathers and godmothers, they will comprehend without difficulty the propriety

1 This account of the two sacraments was not added to the Catechism till the time of King James the First. It was then thought desirable, that the young Christian should be thus specially instructed in their nature and institution, their requisitions and benefits; in order that he might more seriously feel and better understand the necessity of seeking, by prayer and holy obedience, the continual assistance of the Holy Spirit, as the appointed means whereby he might renovate continually that spiritual life, which first vouchsafed to them in Baptism, is still further assured to them at Confirmation. Being thus instructed, he is admitted, after Confirmation, to the Table of the Lord.

of confirming, in their own persons, the promises and vows then made by others for them; and of solemnly, before the Church and in the presence of their fellowcreatures, owning themselves responsible agents in the sight of God, as his servants in Christ Jesus; not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, but rejoicing publickly, before God and man, to make a confession of Him, who will in mercy, as you humbly trust, confess them before God and angels. The ordinance formed part of the Jewish ritual'. Being, however, an act which is rather declaratory of faith previously professed, than a special act of faith entered upon, it is little changed under the gospel dispensation: observed

1 Indeed, the analogy between the Jewish and the Christian dispensations is equally striking and instructive. Thus, though circumcision under the law was superseded by baptism under the gospel, the end and object of each was the same-each being the appointed door whereby, under the several dispensations, infants should enter into covenant with God. So, the sacrifice of the paschal lamb, often offered, being no longer necessary when the eternal Lamb of God had offered up himself once for all, the Jewish passover was superseded by the Christian Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. And in these ordinances severally was to be sought grace for enabling the parties to continue true to the conditions of their covenant. The change of these commemorative and sanctifying ordinances was consistent with the nature of the two dispensations, of which they were respectively a part. The Law, severe in its enactments, and delivered in all the terror of the Divine Majesty, admitted men within its holy pale, by the severe and painful ordinance of circumcision, and continued them therein by virtue of the daily sacrifice with blood. The gospel admits to its privileges all men by the holy but easy rite of baptism, and continues them therein by the simple yet sanctifying ordinance of the supper of the Lord. And further, as circumcision and the passover were united by the ordinance which required Jewish children about the age of thirteen to appear in the temple and promise for themselves to keep the law of Moses into which they had been circumcised, so the link which unites our two Sacraments, is Confirmation.

however now by us under apostolical authority, it is administered according to apostolical practice, and stands sanctified by the example of our blessed Lord himself. The object of the rite, under either dispensation, is the same; that the youthful servant of God, having been admitted into that holy service in infancy by baptism, as of old by circumcision-before he could be conscious of his act, and when others engaged, on his part, for the due fulfilment of duties attached to that service-should in due time, as he advanced to years of discretion, relieve his sponsors of their obligation, and stand himself bound to fulfil all the promises and vows they in his infancy made for him.

The requisite preparation for admission to this solemn rite, is stated in the introduction to the service-that the child be able to "say the Creed, the Lord's prayer, and the ten commandments, and also answer to such other questions as in the short catechism are contained." The Church evinces here her wonted wise forethought; and would thus both encourage you to fix early in the minds and hearts of your children, those Christian principles upon which must be based Christian character, and assist you in the good work. The day must come when, if God spare their lives, they will find those principles beyond price. They will find them a rallying point against evil counsels; against the open attacks of the infidel, and the subtle fallacies of the sceptic. They will be enabled at once to give an answer to every man that asketh them a reason of the faith that is in them. Το whatever trials they may be called; whatever sorrows they would fain forget; whatever wounds of the soul they would heal; whatever difficulties they would

meet well-principles are at hand, shedding around their powerful influence; regulating the affections; and arming the soul against all contingencies. Even if as your child grows old, clouds of disappointment and sorrow darken his latter days, thus sustained, he is never broken down. Over the dark realities of life, a spirit of light and joy will yet be diffused, in a calm and steady faith; and in a hope, free from the fear of evil. Scorning the cold philosophy of unbelief, he adopts the nobler philosophy of the gospel, and true to the Lord his Redeemer, abides by the faith he professes, rises above his trials, and goes on his way rejoicing. You would doubtless wish such to be the course of your dear child. O! then persevere in engraving deeply on his understanding and heart the principles in question-they will arm him against every enemy of his soul—they will arm him against himself1;

1 It is a beautiful remark of the excellent Bishop Horne, that "when principles remain, practices may be altered and amended; but those once gone, there remains no further hope of a reformation; because there is then nothing to ground one upon." He proceeds, in a truly apostolical spirit to urge upon those who themselves value Christian principles, the wisdom and consistency of sparing no time or pains in fixing them in the hearts of children, or of others for whose welfare they may haply be concerned. His counsel is sound. Suppose your child who is now pursuing his bright untiring course, healthful in mind and body; cheery of heart, for as yet he knows not care; suppose him in after years to be a child of sorrowsome sorrow he must have; and he may have many sorrows.— Suppose his heart, like some torn, shattered tree, beaten down by affliction; all its freshness lost; its bloom all withered! Lo! the dew of heaven's blessing still remains for the righteous, to refresh, to strengthen, to renew! Are his feelings strong? young in years, is he strong in intellect, in energy, in powers? Place over him the

* John xvi. 33.

or, to adopt the illustration used in this admirable service, "they will edify him"-build him up a holy temple to the Lord'. Having learned the solemn

only sure guard-stronger principles. Is he gifted with high talents? instil into his breast higher honour in the use of them. Are his views noble? Is he scornful of whatever is unjust and base and ungenerous? Teach him that since in a world of sin, he must meet with the wicked as with the good, with the false as with the pure, with the selfish as with the generous, so being a follower of the meek and lowly Jesus, he must meet even the despitefulness of pride, and the blasphemy of wicked wit, and the coldness of selfishness-he must meet all, with a spirit meek as it is courageous, quiet as it is firm. Then if called to grief and to bear his cross, he will remember the man of sorrows who bare the cross before him-*; if worn down by care and disappointment, and poverty, he will look to Him, who even had not where to lay his head, but is now exalted far above all heavens, and is gone thither to prepare a place for his faithful ones †. In pain and in misery he will think upon his Lord and Master, who endured agony even unto death; and in that thought he will find comfort even in the deepest desolation of his heart ; for he will feel that the servant must never expect to be "above his Master, nor the disciple above his Lord fenough that the one be as his Master ; the other, as his Lord!" O! the inestimable value of Gospel-principles ! In life they are our safety-in death, our joy! Strive then under all difficulties and discouragements, to fix them firmly in the heart of your child; in after years, when you shall have passed away, but when trials shall test his Christian soldiership, and he rise victorious over them, armed with these principles with which your wise care had furnished him, O! with what feelings of gratitude, full to overflowing, will he pour from his heart's deepest recesses his thanks for that care! How earnestly will he call down blessing on his sainted Mother's memory!

1 "To the end that confirmation may be ministered to the more edifying of such as shall receive it " The term itself is highly expressive, taken in its first sense for though generally used to signify, instruction and improvement, its exact meaning is, "to build up a house." The Church therefore, when she enjoins the Catechism to be learned of young persons as a preparative for admission to the Matt. x. 24, 25.

* Matt. xxvi. 24.

+ John xiv. 2.