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to the commencement of a new year; and I bring to the footstool of thy throne the first offering of my waking senses, praising and thanking thee for the blessings vouchsafed unto me, and imploring their conti

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"I desire to recal to my mind my own unworthiness, and thy ineffable goodness, patience, mercy, and long-suffering; with all my relapses into sin, and all my forgetfulness of thee; and I earnestly desire by the grace of the Holy Spirit to be strengthened for the future, and by the blood of my Lord and Saviour to be pardoned for the past. "I further implore thee, O God of all mercies, to confirm my good resolutions, that my footsteps slip not;' and to lend me thy divine aid, so that, with the new year, I may walk in newness of life; for, without thine especial favour, I know that I can do no manner of good. In order to obtain this unspeakable blessing, grant, heavenly Father, that on all the ensuing days which thou mayest be pleased to allot me on earth, I may never be hindered, by my fault, or that of others, from coming to thee, morning and evening, to pour out my soul before thee in penitence, in petition, in reverence, and in love. For thou, O God, hast said, Repent ye that your sins may be blotted out.' am he that blotteth out thy transgressions. If thou seek him he will be found of thee..

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"Who is God save the Lord ? and who is a Rock, save our God.' A gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.' "To all those dearest to me, absent and present, give, most gracious God, thy divine grace. Raise those that fall; strengthen those that stand; confirm the wavering; awaken the supine; and bring them all, O God, to one fold, under one Shepherd, through the mercies of our precious Saviour's atonement.

"If any of these are in sorrow, trouble, sickness, need, or any other adversity, in perils of waters, in perils by land, under their own roof, or by the way side, or on the devouring ocean, O God, do thou look down upon their several necessities, and be to them a very present help in trouble. Pardon my enemies, if I have any, O God; and teach me from my heart to forgive them, as I hope to be forgiven: pour into my heart that spirit of gentleness which is from above. Thou, O God, hast said that I am not to forgive my fellow-creatures seven times, but until seventy-times seven. Thy words, O God, are, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.' Grant, most heavenly and almighty God, that I may be indeed one of thy children; and send down thy Holy Spirit upon me, that I may live in charity with all men.

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May I, in no one thing, O God, trust to my own strength; For because that thou hast trusted in thy works, and in thy treasures (saith the Lord, to a proud nation), thou shalt also be taken; but who trusteth in the Lord his God, mercy embraceth him on every side.'

"Give me, heavenly Lord God, giver of all good gifts, perseverance

and success in my lawful undertakings; may every future day allotted to me on earth, be so employed that I may redeem lost time, and when the last day and hour cometh, may I be found watching, strong in faith, relying upon the merits of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in whose blessed name I offer up this prayer, and to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory. Amen."

"EVENING PRAYER.

"FOR THE FIRST DAY OF THE YEAR,

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"GRANT, O Lord God Jehovah, Father of all mercies, that as I kneel now before thee on this evening of another year, blessing thee for past mercies, and imploring their continuance, I may be so found every future evening of my life; for we know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning. And whenever he may come, O God of all grace, grant that I may be found watching. Vouchsafe to hear the petitions which, with this renewed epoch of life, I now offer up to thy mercy

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"May I follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, peace, and love; and make all my temporal desires to be in subjection to those heavenly ones. May I pass henceforth every day, which is given to me on earth, in the progressive attainment of thy favour; so shall all be well with me, whatever may betide.

"When sorrow, sickness, perplexity, wearisomeness, assail me, may I fly to my Bible for comfort and aid; for therein are the words of eternal life. Happiness here, and everlasting happiness, are contained therein. God Almighty, grant that it may not be a sealed book to me; but open thou the eyes of mine understanding; and' may I continue in the things which I have learned,' and have been assured of, knowing where I have learned them, and that from a child I have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make me wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

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May I remember and ever hold fast the blessed truth that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for correction, and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Bless this house with religion, peace, and love. Take all its inhabitants under the shadow of thy wings; keep them from all evil; guard them through the night, and awaken them to a new day with more intense sentiments of love to thee, and a more steady desire to do thy will.

"Bless all those dearest to my soul, absent or present; correct their evil propensities; confirm their good ones; lead them through this life, O God, so that they lose not that life which is eternal.

"Pardon my enemies, if I have any. Take from my heart all bitterness towards them; and though I guard myself against their malice, may I never harden my heart towards them, but strive to imitate the blessed Jesus who pardoned all, even on the cross,

"Thus in prayer to God, and in peace with all mankind, I lie down to take my rest; and may I, Almighty Father, through faith in the blood of the Lamb, so lie down in life's last sleep, calm and untroubled, and arise to be with thee for ever. Amen."

The same spirit pervades the whole of these solemn addresses to the Almighty, bespeaking such a sense and feeling of the blessed hopes and prospects of pure Christianity, as do great credit to the heart and understanding of the noble author.

A Sermon preached at St. Martin's Church, Birmingham, on Sunday, October 9, 1825, in behalf of the General Institution of Deaf and Dumb Children at Edgbaston, near Birmingham, and published at the particular Request of the Committee of that Institution. By the Hon. and Right Rev. HENRY, LORD BISHOP OF LICHfield and CoVENTRY. 8vo. Pp. 24. 2s. London. Rivingtons.

In this very interesting appeal in behalf of an excellent Institution, the Bishop, after passing from the consideration of our - Lord's miraculous cures of bodily infirmities to that of the remedies which He has provided for our spiritual maladies, proceeds to consider first, The deplorable state of the deaf and dumb while unrelieved; secondly, The change wrought by the relief which the Institution affords; and he concludes with a practical application of the subject to the hearts and consciences of various classes in the congregation. We have only room for the following touching and affecting enumeration of the privations under which the uninstructed person labours, who is deaf and dumb from the birth.

"He seems doomed almost wholly to hopeless ignorance. He can neither make enquiries, nor receive answers. Incapable of hearing, so as to imitate, he can never acquire language. The fetter of the ear chains the tongue. And to all the benefits of social intercourse he is little less a stranger. He sees at times vivacity and every sign of animated enjoyment in the countenance and gestures of those around him--but to him it is all unintelligible and uninteresting.

"Life, with all its chequered varieties, is to him but an uniform, cheerless, dreary blank. He is never more solitary than when in company. The suggestions of friendly counsel, the soothing voice of the comforter, and the no less salutary admonitions of the reprover never reach his soul. He cannot give vent to the effusions of affection, or pour forth the tribute of gratitude.

The proclamation of sin forgiven, of a crucified Saviour, and a reconciled Father, that sound which has gone through all the earth,

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even unto the end of the world,' passes him by. Amidst its pealing echoes, its awakening summons, its touching appeals, he stands insensible and unmoved. The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,' cannot pierce the barrier of his ear, or penetrate to his imprisoned soul. The customary channels at least, by which he would hear of his God, are cut off; and we usually find him without prayer, without God in the world.". P. 10.

We hope that these extracts will not only exhibit an example of real excellence in composition; but also serve to give additional publicity to the merits of an Institution that benevolently and successfully (as far as human efforts can succeed) endeavours to remove the afflicting infirmities, which are here so feelingly depicted, and that is open to the whole kingdom, and therefore may confidently appeal to the whole kingdom for encouragement.

The Dangers by which the Established Church is menaced at the present time. A Sermon preached at the Archdeacon's Visitation, held at London, April 18, 1826, by W. M. HURLOCK, M.A. Rector of Hel lington, in the County of Norfolk, and Lecturer of Dedham, Essex. 8vo. Pp. 25. 1s. 6d. London. Rivingtons. 1826.

THIS is a very excellent and impressive discourse. Having briefly noticed the duties of the Christian ministry, Mr. Hurlock proceeds to call the attention of his hearers to the dangers by which he conceives that the Established Church is more immediately threatened at the present time. These are Infidelity, Socinianism, Enthusiasm, and, what has been miscalled, liberality of sentiment. From his remarks on Enthusiasm we extract the following as a favourable specimen of the preacher's style.

"In the character of him who was our great exemplar, whose heart was ever warmed by the kindliest feelings of our nature, we perceive nothing extravagant, nothing eccentric, much less enthusiastic. His demeanour was, on occasions the most trying, calm, composed, and dignified amid scenes which ruffled the tempers, and agitated the - minds of his disciples, he retained his self possession and restrained every act which savoured of intemperate zeal. All his discourses were addressed to the reason, rather than the passion of his hearers, and it was his aim to win souls to himself through the medium of a rational conviction. Far be it however from the minister of Christ to deride as visionary impulses, or wild conceits, those holy, though animated feelings, that joy and peace in believing which with most

exalted feeling that good men can enjoy upon earth, an earnest and a pledge of heaven itself. Although we must no longer look for supernatural gifts, still does the great author of our being hold sweet communion with the hearts of men by his Holy Spirit; which may ever be distinguished from enthusiasm by its rise and operation on the mind. Its holy influences are not instantaneous, but progressive; bright but not dazzling,—shining still more and more unto the perfect day." P. 12.

A Sermon on the present times, addressed to the Manufacturing Poor of Rochdale, and preached in the Parish Church of that place, on Sunday, 30th April, and again on Sunday, 7th May, 1826. By the Rev. JAMES ASPINALL, M.A. Curate. Pp. 17. 1s. Rochdale. Ashworth.

IT is not the least important of the duties of the Christian minister, to impart to the necessities of his hearers that spiritual instruction and consolation, which are so needful and so soothing in times of public distress. Mr. Aspinall has taken occasion, on such a conjuncture, to impress upon the minds of his auditors a great scriptural truth, and to give them that divine comfort and encouragement, which a pious and conscientious pastor will always be ready to communicate.

The example of our Lord under his unparalleled afflictions was an obvious topic on such an occasion, and the writer has expatiated on the subject with considerable feeling and effect. The sermon is plain, practical, and judicious; and indicates a degree of humane sympathy and benevolence worthy of the writer, and of the distressing emergency on which it was delivered.

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A. Sermon preached in the Cathedral Church at Winchester, on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 1826. (At the Lent Assizes.) Before the Hon. Sir James Burrough, Knt. and the Hon. Sir Stephen Gaselee, Knt. and published at their Desire. By JOHN RICH, M.A. of St. John's Col lege, Cambridge. Pp. 20. 1s. 6d. London. Rivingtons. NOTWITHSTANDING several instances of obscurity, this sermon bears many indications of being the production of a mind habituated to deep reflection, and to close and accurate reasoning.

Different occasions and different auditories call for different modes of address, and we think that among recent discourses on occasions of a similar nature few will be found superior to

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