"In what way," asked Mr. Milles, "do you see the proof of this?"

"In many ways," answered the other; "but as sufficient for our present purpose, I will say, first, in the low views as to its nature, which they frequently hold and teach; and, secondly, in the careless way in which they very often prepare their children for it. In my own case, I remember that the one idea I had of the nature of confirmation was, that I confirmed the vows and promises I had made at baptism: the consequence was, that I looked upon this holy rite as a simple ceremony of the Church, not intended to convey grace, but merely to press upon my mind the remembrance of what I had promised at baptism; and I thought that the presence of the Bishop, and the laying on of his hands, was only intended to make the ceremony more imposing."

"But do you imagine," asked the vicar, " that such is a common impression, or rather that you were placed under unfortunate circumstances, where your clergyman was but imperfectly acquainted with this subject?"

"I fear," replied Bradwell, "that such a low view is very commonly entertained and taught by the clergy, and that its sacramental nature is very often overlooked."

"Perhaps you are right," said the vicar," although one could wish the case were otherwise. But now for the practice in which you think we fail so much."

"Well, then," continued Bradwell, “I do not imagine that the occasional preparation the children have, for instance, one night in seven, or even the more regular teaching which in some cases they enjoy for a few weeks, is sufficient duly to fit them for confirmation. In my opinion, it is impossible to understand the dispositions and acquirements of children in so short a

time, so fully, at least, as to say whether or not they are prepared for such a rite."

"And in what way," asked Mr. Milles, "would you remedy this?"

"It is difficult," answered Bradwell, "to reply satisfactorily to your question; but I should say, that the mode you adopt in these cases appears to me as good as any. With regard to the holy rite itself, I have ever heard you speak of it as a high and holy ordinance, sacramental in its nature, and conveying grace; and in your catechisings on Sundays and holy days, together with your private instructions to the young, I see that preparation which should fit all that properly use it for a due reception of the great blessings that doubtlessly attend upon this holy ordinance of the Church."

"I thank you," replied the vicar, "for the kind way in which you speak of my poor attempts to do my duty in this instance, which I must set down to your feelings of friendship; but, indeed, with regard to what you have said generally, I most fully concur; I do think that, for some reason or other, probably from a fear of appearing to favour the Roman Catholic view as to sacraments, we of this day have lost sight, to a very great degree, of the sacramental nature of some ordinances in the Church, among which confirmation may justly be adduced. There is one other point connected with this subject which you have not touched upon, but which, I think, demands as much consideration as those things of which you have spoken. I mean, the incautious way in which young persons are admitted to Holy Communion. I have no doubt but that this has arisen from the lamentable state in which our flocks generally are. A clergyman from among a large population has perhaps but a twentieth or a thirtieth part

of them communicants; he is anxious, of course, to remedy so great an evil; he sees in the candidates for confirmation the means of doing so; and, without duly instructing them in the things required of those who go to the Lord's Supper, he tells them, that unless they are fit to come to the holy Communion, they are unfit to come to confirmation."

"And is not this true?" asked Bradwell.

“True, undoubtedly," replied the vicar; "but the mere statement of such a proposition is scarcely sufficient preparation for holy Communion; and yet, I believe, it is frequently all the young candidates have. Of course there can be no doubt as to the point of all persons prepared for confirmation being prepared for holy Communion; but the truth of the case is, that many are admitted to both who are fit for neither."

"The real point then is," said Bradwell," that you object to the incautious way in which the young are admitted to confirmation, and the defective instruction they receive on the subject of the holy Eucharist."

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Exactly so," replied the vicar; "you have stated my objections better than I did myself."

"It is necessary, I think," continued Bradwell, "to have clear views upon this subject, or we shall fall into another error, viz. of encouraging the young to be confirmed, and yet treating holy Communion with indifference. Surely the only proper way is to give both their due honour, and to admit no person to one or other unless duly prepared for both. Confirmation, although not a sacrament necessary to salvation, is doubtless so intimately connected with the two sacraments that are, that it appears to me almost wrong to separate it from them."

"And yet it is distinct," observed Mr. Milles.

"Yes," said Bradwell, “it is in one sense; never

theless, in another sense it is not; but as a plank across a brook forms a mode of communication between the two banks, so, to my mind, confirmation is, as it were, the stepping-stone between holy Baptism and the Eucharist; and, although neither one nor the other, partakes in some degree of the nature of both.”

In due time the day arrived; the Bishop with his chaplain came; and by ten o'clock in the morning the roads on all sides of Preston were thronged with the young of the different parishes in the neighbourhood, each flock headed by its pastor, and hurrying onward to Preston, where the confirmation was to take place. I know few things more interesting than a confirmation, and have seen few sights more beautiful than that which the church presented on this occasion. The whole body of it was filled with the young; the girls for the most part dressed in modest white, and the greater portion of those present apparently impressed with the nature of the solemn service in which they were about to be engaged. The galleries-I am sorry to say there were galleries—were filled with the parents and friends of the children. One difference was observable in the case of Mr. Milles's children, which it will be well to mention. With many of the candidates for confirmation,-in all cases, viz. where the plan could be adopted,—was one or more grown-up persons, who proved to be the respective godparents, and who accompanied the children when they went to the altar; and sought from God, through Christ, by the hands of the heads of the Church, that heavenly grace which alone would enable them to persevere in the good course in which they had been instructed to walk. Among those thus present was Bradwell, who attended upon the young orphan; and with a moistened eye and beating heart, heard the confession made by

him, that he renewed his baptismal vow and promise, and witnessed the imposition of the Bishop's hands. As soon as the holy rite was over, the Bishop ascended the pulpit and addressed the children, pointing out to them the nature, privilege, and responsibilities of confirmation, urging them to meditate frequently and earnestly on the service in which they had been engaged, and to strive to live up to the vows and promises they had ratified and confirmed. After this the congregation dispersed, and all returned to their own homes.