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was baptized, and from whom cometh every good thought, desire, and purpose, which I have since felt in my heart; assist me, I beseech Thee, in the new dedication which I am going to make of myself unto Thee, whose I am and resolve to be to the end of my days. Be pleased to confirm me in my grace, and to strengthen me with might by Thy Holy Spirit in the inner man, that I may ever choose those things which are acceptable in Thy sight. Arm me, good Lord, against all the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, with a will steadfastly resolved never to yield to any of them. Enable me to persist faithfully in the performance of the vow, which was made in my name when I was baptized, and which I now intend, with my own mouth, to renew openly before Thy Church, whose devout prayers in my behalf I beseech Thee to hear, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

* This prayer is taken from a tract on Confirmation, No. 87, Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

THE

CHAPTER XV.

THE long talked-of Confirmation day dawned at last, and the large church at Fairfield was thronged from end to end.

It was a beautiful sight to see that goodly company of young disciples, binding themselves solemnly to stand by their heavenly Teacher a band of soldiers declaring themselves ready to fight under the banners of Christ, their chosen Captain. Full of bright joys and hopes of youth, with their young hearts not yet weighed down with the cares and sorrows, or sins, as it may be, of later years, they are able to offer to God a simple, trusting faith, with no fear or misgiving. Not fear or misgiving should those young Christians feel, but a holy awe, a heart full of love to God and trust in Him, yet of reverence and godly fear.

Feel your own helplessness, grieve over your sinfulness as you may, but trust in

Christ. He has treasures of spiritual strength which can never be exhausted, and which on this day He is preparing to pour forth upon you.

These were the thoughts that filled Mr Manners' mind as he saw his young flock take the places assigned for them in the church.

It was their Confirmation day, the day on which the germ of all that is holy, and "pure and lovely, and of good report," was to be so blessed as to bring forth fruit unto eternal life.

Mr Manners had tried to impress upon the young people the necessity of keeping their thoughts fixed as much as possible upon the solemn service, and the vow which they were about to make. Some time he knew would elapse before the beginning of the service, and this he advised them to employ in prayer and meditation. He told them that by kneeling they would be better able to encourage a devotional spirit, and be the better able to keep their eyes from wandering, but he advised them not to weary themselves.

Bodily fatigue is often a hindrance to devotion, and therefore, if the time was long before the commencement of the service, he told them not to hesitate to change their posture, and to sit and read passages of Scripture instead of attempting too long prayers.

At last the service began, and after the first address was read, the bishop, speaking in a clear, grave voice, asked the important question—

"Do ye here, in the presence of God and of this congregation, renew the solemn vow that was made in your name at your baptism, ratifying and confirming the same in your own persons, and acknowledging yourselves. bound to believe and to do all those things which your godfathers and godmothers then undertook for you?"

Then throughout that vast church echoed the young voices, in that short but important sentence

'I do."

A moment's pause followed, and it seemed to Miss Manners as if then the recording

ange was registering the vow in heaven, then the bishop took up the sentences and said, "Our help is in the name of the Lord."

And so this long, long thought-of vow was made; all these young persons, come together from many neighbouring parishes, had at the same moment, and in those two short words, enrolled themselves of their own free will, and as it were, afresh under that banner of Christ, which their godfathers and godmothers had promised for them in their infancy that they should fight under. No ear but that of God can distinguish one voice amongst the many in that short vow; no eye but the Almighty's can look into the hearts to see how sincerely and how earnestly the vow is made. But there is a day coming, when, in the presence of God, and before angels and saints, each one of us will have to stand forth alone, to hear our sentence for eternity, and the words which we repeat at our Confirmation will then be recalled, either to our infinite blessing, or to our unspeakable shame!

Sophy Turnbull was among the first girls who were led up to the bishop to receive the

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