the very forefront of the youthful battle? Should not it, being as it is a special means of grace and the gifts of the Holy Ghost, be set to meet the dangers which belong to the youthful age? Should not the measures of youthful strength be made to correspond more nearly with the times of youthful hazard? Do we not rather show want of faith in the efficacy of God's ordinances, when we are afraid of trusting them in the midst of the very dangers which they were designed to counteract? It would not indeed follow of necessity that all young people would be confirmed at an earlier age than they now are, even if these suggestions should be adopted. The point gained would be, that they would at once be put under training for Confirmation, and regarded as catechumens. At present they have no Church character at all. They are neither babes, nor catechumens: but children running more or less wild; to be caught, if it may be, after awhile, when by some other means they have become steadier, and deserve Confirmation as a sort of privilege; but for the present to be let loose to do as they will. They would be actually confirmed when they became ready for it; and if Confirmation could by any means be annually celebrated, the postponement of it on the ground of unfitness of a candidate in one year would not lead (as it now too often does) to the loss of the Holy Communion for all the precious years of youth. But I forbear. My object has rather been to make an humble suggestion, than to furnish a plan perfect in its parts, and ready for immediate and extensive adoption. If it should be thought desirable, I could say much more upon it, for I myself regard it as not only practicable, but easy, and of high importance. I will only add my firm conviction, that such a general course of systematic Church instruction for catechumens, as I have described, would find them docile, obedient, earnest, and thankful; and that if they are now less so than they should be, it is because they have been less thoroughly taught and trained than they should have been. CONTENTS. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is tem- |