by evinced to be just, and his mercy conspicuous in con sulting that general good of his creatures which unites their interest and their duty, in the obedience he requires.

For our Enemies, prayer is perhaps still less frequently made than for any other occasion: and that which should distinguish us as christians, is not only neglected, but despised. Its importance as a duty, appears from this, that it subjugates the worst passions, and tends to reconcile us to those, who frequently will not be reconciled to themselves, and takes the most effectual way to lessen the number and violence of our enemies, by lessening the enmity itself. This was the command of Christ, and this was his practice-which He enjoined us to fol low.

·For resignation at the hour of death, we are all of us so bound to pray, as that we know it to be a time we must meet, and know not how soon.

Its impression should be familiarized, and then a placid serenity would take the place of an usurped confidence, or a disgraceful, (and to a christian the most degrading) fear. He looks forward to immortality-the gift of God.

The daily Examination of Conscience, will surely be allowed one of the best and most effectual means to obtain that knowledge, which can alone secure us from the fear of death by its practical improvement-and without such improvement, every action of religion must be-vain!

The following Extracts will also be found relating to subjects of general concern.

The Prayer for the Church is such, as that its most severe enemies will probably join in it under the idea, that they may adapt its expressions to their own charitable notions; while we may as fervently beseech God, that " where it is divided and rent asunder, he would make up the breaches of it," and that since "we live in times when the rents of his church are grievous, beseech him to guide us, that the divisions of men may not separate us either from him or it-but labour for the preservation of TRUTH and PEACE."

The idea of a Prayer for House and Family, is excellent in itself, and has I believe been a part of every good man's devotions. It is now perhaps, but too generally neglected*, and a model for a prayer of this kind must

In that old and excellent work the Christian's Magazine, a form of devotion of this kind was given as an article of equal novelty and impor

tange.

be

be highly acceptable to the devout, while it may give rise to the adoption of a like practice in others. It would also form a very good addition to our manuals of this kind, where such forms are generally wanting.

The Prayer for a good Journey is so necessary, and the occasions for it so frequent, as to form a requisite addition to the daily devotions of many individuals, either' for themselves, or others to whom they are related.

in

The Times of Affliction, Peril and Adversity are so frequently the lot of every christian in this militant state, as to make the excellent prayer on this subject most highly acceptable; and though we are not now called upon to solicit strength in martyrdom, yet as we are uniformly called upon to die daily, and become living martyrs, the course of our christian life, there can be no impropriety in admitting so pure and pious a prayer into the concluding part of those devotions, which as they tend to purify the heart and life, as means best fitted to that end;-so the event of these eventful times can neither be anticipated or prevented.

In the hope therefore, that these further extracts may be acceptable, they are presented by

Sir,

Yours, &c.

JUVENIS.

Newington Butts, Feb. 1805.

For the Church after the Collect for the fifth Sunday after Epiphany.-Gracious Father, I humbly beseeeh thee for thy holy catholic church, fill it with all truth, in all truth, with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purge it; where it is in error, direct it; where it is superstitious, rectify it; where any thing is amiss, reform it; where it is right, strengthen and confirm it; where it is in want, furnish it; where it is divided and rent asunder, make up the breaches of it, O thou holy one of Israel, Amen.-Ò merciful God, since thou hast ordered me to live in these times, in which the rents of thy church are grievous; I humbly beseech thee to guide me, that the divisions of men may not separate me either from thee or it, that I may ever labour the preservation of truth and peace, that wherefore, and by our sins, the peace of it succeeds not,

E e 2

thou

thou wilt yet accept my will for the deed, that I may still pray, even while thou grantest not, because I know thou wilt grant it, when thou seest it fit. In the mean time bless, I beseech thee, this church in which I live, that in it I may honour and serve thee all the days of my life, and after this be glorified by thee, thro' Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the CHURCH of ENGLAND when robbed of her reve nues.-O Lord, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God; O thou which keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee that hath come upon us, upon our priests, upon the houses built and dedicated to thy name, upon the maintenance for them that serve at thy altar, upon our king, state, and people. Since that day of affliction, thou art just in all that is brought upon us, for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly. Yet, O Lord, have mercy, and turn to us again, for Jesus and his mercies sake. Amen.

For the Common-meal after an introduction from Psalm xxxiii. ver. 10. and 12.-Lord, bless this kingdom, that religion and virtue may season all sorts of men: that there may be peace within the gates, and plenty within the palaces of it. In Peace, I beseech thee to preserve it, that it corrupt not; in War, so defend it, that it suffer not; in Plenty so order it, that it riot not; in want so pacify and moderate it, that it may partially and speedily seek thee, the only supply both of men and states; that so it may continue a place and a people to do thee service to the end of time, through Jesus Christ our only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee to let thine anger be turned, (Dan. ix. 16, 17,) away from this city and thy people, and cause thy face to shine upon whatsoever is desolate therein, for Jesus Christ his sake. Amen,

For the Kingdom of England.-O Almighty Lord God, bless this kingdom, and grant health, chastity, victory, and all virtue may abound therein, with thanksgiving to God the Father and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and may this blessing remain upon this kingdom, and upon all the inhabitants thereof, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For House and Family.-O Lord I beseech thee, visit this habitation, and keep away from it all the snares of our (ghostly) enemy: Let thy holy angels dwell in it, and

let

let them preserve us in peace and health, and let thy blessing be upon us for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Against Temptations (after 1 Cor. x. 15.)—O Almighty God, have respect unto my prayers, and deliver my heart from the temptations of evil thoughts, that by thy mercy I may become a fit habitation for thy holy spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O God who makest all things work together for good to those that love thee; inflame my heart with such an inviolable sense of thy love, as may never be shaken by the force of any temptation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O most merciful God, grant me constancy in thy faith, and firmness in thy love, that I may retain both entirely, and may never be turned from them by any temptations, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For a good Journey.-O Lord I deserve not the guidance of a star to guide me, yet I beseech thee grant me a good journey, seasonable weather, (and) a happy return; that thy holy angel being my companiou and pro tector, I may arrive happily to my journey's end, and back again to my own house, and at last to the post of everlasting salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

In time of Afflictions, Perils and Adversities, (after several quotations from Scripture, 2 Sam. xv. 25.-1 Cor. iv. 8.-Psalm xxxviii. 10.-Ps. cxix. 65.—Baruch v. 1. &c. Ps. ix. 18.-Ps. xxxi. 8 and 16.-Ps. xlii. 6.-Ps. xliv. 13.—Ps. xxxi, 1.-Ps. lx. 11.-Ps. lv. 3.)—Gracious Father, the life of man is a warfare upon earth, and the dangers which assault us are diversely pointed against us. I humbly beseech thee, be present with me in all the course and passages of my life, but especially in the services of my calling. Suffer no malice to be able to hurt me, no cunning to circumventure, no violence to oppress me, no falsehood to betray me. That which I cannot foresee, I beseech thee to prevent; that which I cannot withstand, I beseech thee to master; that which I do not fear, I beseech thee to unmask and prostrate; that being delivered from all dangers, both of soul and body, I may praise thee the deliverer, and see how happy a thing it is, to make the Lord of hosts my helper in the day of fear and trouble. Especially, O Lord, bless and preserve at this time from, &c.-that I may glorify thee for this deli

verance

verance also, and be safe in the merits and mercies of Jesus Christ, my only Lord and Saviour. Amen.

In trouble and heaviness.-O Lord trouble and heaviness have taken hold upon me; patience, good Lord, that for all this my delight may be in thy commandments. Amen.

In time of Fear, after Psalm xix. 9.-O Lord give me that grace that I may so carry myself, and that courage that I may so bear up myself, as that I may fear none but thee, nothing but that wherein I offend thee, even for Jesus Christ his sake. Amen.

For strength in martyrdom.-Lord, make me remember the bones of thy saints, Ps. cxli. 8, how they lie scattered before the pit, even as when one heweth wood upon the earth. O Lord, mine eyes look unto thee; in thee is my trust, O cast not out my soul; and if my bones also must be broken, O Lord, I beseech thee give me courage, and abundance of patience, that no torment may make my faith fall away from thee, for Jesus Christ his sake. Amen.

For Enemies, after Matt. v. 44.-O (thou that art the) God of peace, and love, grant peace and charity to all (that are) mine enemies, and forgive them all their sins, and deliver me by thy power, out of all the snares they have laid for me, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.-See Daily Office, from p. 23 to 65.

Criticism on JOB ii. 9, from BISHOP LOWTH's Letter to BISHOP WARBURTON.

S for his lordship's wit here upon Blessing and Cursing, let those make any thing of it, that can; I profess, it is past my comprehension; but his Criticism I shall consider. "The Hebrew word to bless signifies likewise to curse:" i. e. to curse, as in a solemn execration uttered by a Priest; for that is the sense, which his lordship's meaning, if he has any, requires in this place. But he will find no example of the word 772, in which it can be supposed to be used in that sense; for which the Hebrew, though the most barren (as he says) of all languages, and though the idea is not of the most frequent occurrence, has yet four or five other synonyAnd I will add, that

קלל קבב,נקב ארר,אלה,nous terms

the