of the stars, what vain struggles by spent swimmers against the swift current, what enforced marches, with reverted eyes and sealed orders, into the land of shadows.

"Nothing of all this in the declining years of our friend. The day was far spent and the night at hand; yet he was as trustful and even-tempered as a child. Nothing barren or wintry in this old age of his-I speak that which I have myself seen-but everything ripe and genial, as when the mellow autumn sets in upon the toil and scorch and sweat of summer; and though verdure and flower and the voice of the bird are gone, yet the song of labor is on the hill-sides, and the harvests gather themselves into garners, and the wasting foliage flushes into purple, and the sloping sun yellows into gold. All this, perhaps, I have little need to relate, for you have seen it all under your own eyes; only I may add that with this disappearing old man disappears a life which would be thought as gentle as good old George Herbert's, if as gentle a pen as good old Izaak Walton's could be found to sketch it. You may easily find greater men, but where a better, a more white-souled one?

66

I have thus given you my idea, founded on much observation, of the character of our deceased brother. "Tis a friendly portrait, I will not deny. I would not have it otherwise, but true, I hope, to the modesty of nature.

"I can not close without calling to mind in a common memory those other patriarchs of our profession-the fellows of the deceased in age and rank-the roll of them I will not call-who have passed away since yesterday, as it were, leaving behind them-am I not right, or does affection mislead my judgment?-no successors of equal rank and stature. The last of that great patriarchate is gone. The roll closes. "Abiit ad plures.'

"And now, as I look over our broken ranks, and my eyes miss this white-haired and venerable leader, this loved and fatherly presence gone hence where go the judges and counselors of the earth till the heavens be no more, may I

not here and now, before our ranks close again and we move on and leave our dead comrade behind, may I not here and now, in the presence of this brotherhood who knew him best and loved him most, borrow for my last words that golden benediction of our Supreme Counselor and Judge Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.""

Emphasis of Distinction and Contrast.

Extract from Quarles.

"If evil men speak good, or good men evil, of thy conversation, examine all thy actions and suspect thyself. But if evil men speak evil of thee, hold it as thy honor, and by way of thankfulness love them; but upon condition that they continue to hate thee.

"To tremble at the sight of thy sin makes thy faith the less apt to tremble. The devils believe and tremble, because they tremble at what they believe. Their belief brings trembling; thy trembling brings belief."

THE ORDER FOR DAILY MORNING

PRAYER.

¶ The Minister shall begin the MORNING PRAYER, by reading one or more of the following Sentences of Scripture.

THE LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.-Hab. ii., 20.

From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, my Name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my Name, and a pure offering: for my Name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.-Mal. i., 11.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be alway acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer.-Psalm xix., 14, 15.

When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.-Ezek. xviii., 27.

I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me.-Psalm li., 3.

Hide thy face from my sins; and blot out all mine iniquities.-Psalm li., 9.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.-Psalm li., 17.

Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow

to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.-Joel, ii., 13.

To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws. which he set before us.-Dan. ix., 9, 10.

O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.-Jer. x., 24. Psalm vi., 1.

Repent ye; for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.-St. Matt. iii., 2.

I will arise, and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.-St. Luke, xv., 18, 19.

Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O LORD; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.—Psalm cxliii., 2.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.-I. John, i., 8, 9.

Then the Minister shall say,

DEARLY beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us, in sundry places, to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness; and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father; but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart; to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought, at all times, humbly to acknowledge our sins before God; yet ought we chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy Word,

and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure heart and humble voice, unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying—

A General Confession.

To be said by the whole Congregation, after the Minister, all kneeling. ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou those who are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.

The Declaration of Absolution, or Remission of Sins. To be made by the Priest alone, standing; the People still kneeling. ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live, hath given power, and commandment, to his Ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins. He pardoneth and absolveth all those who truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel. Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance, and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present; and that the rest of our