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ON THE DEATH OF THE PRINCESS AMELIA, and the Indisposition of the KING.

WHAT sounds of joy can Britain hear, When how in death Amelia lies? What foreign storm can call her fear From fate careering in the skies?

In vain may Gallia's tyrant boast, -
She heeds no more his idle threat;

And Wellington's victorious host
But mingles joy with her regret.

Her valiant sous have drawn the sword,
And conquest on their side appears;
But till her patriot-King's restor'd,

She can but thank them with her tears!

Around Amelia's royal hearse,

No feigning heartless mourner weeps; No hireling hand shall write the verse Upon the tomb where -greatness sleeps!

A nation feels the Monarch's grief, A Princess dead, the country mourns; Nor can Britannia find relief

Till to her Sovereign health returns. Behold, we bow heneath the rod, The nation weeps, but not despairs; Succour must come from thee, O God! Our sins forgive, accept our prayers! W. B. C.

An Hymn for Charity-Children.

Our God, our Father, and our Friend!
Oh, hear a youthful band,
That in thy presence now attend

At Gratitude's command! Thy pow'r, that form'd our mortal frame,

Still guards our tender age:
Then let the praises of thy name
Our lips and hearts engage!

Thy love our gen'rous friends inspires,
And bids their bosoms glow:
All that our helpless state requires

Thy ib'ral hands bestow!

Thus while thy mercy, day by day,
Our earthly need supplies,
Help us to seek that peaceful way
That leads above the skies!
Defend us thro' Life's dang'rous road,

From ev'ry tempting snare:
Oh, make us fit for thine abode, -

And then receive us there!

So when these weak, expiring tongues,
Shall faiut beneath thy praise,
Our souls may join th' angelic throngs,
And straips immortal raise!

HENRY.

:

Hymn for Sunday-Schools.

TUNE,

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah ?

God, our Father, great Creator,
At thy feet we humbly bow,
Gratitude for boundless favour
Shall in praise for ever flow!
Great Jehovah,

Praise to thee is ever due!
Gracious Jesus, mighty Saviour,
Hear our lispings to thy praise!
Thou didst bless such little children,'
And invite them near thy face.
Son of David,

Loud Hosannas to thy name?
Holy Spirit, take thy dwelling
In these wretched hearts of curs;
Purify us by thy graces,
Sanctify our inmost powers.
Source of Comfort,

Lighten our benighted minds.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

One in Three, and Three in One, Now accept our cheerful praises, Let thy will on earth be done! God of Glory,

Make us all for ever thine ! Shew us all thy great salvation, Lead us in the way of truth; Keep us safe from all temptation, Be the Guardian of our youth! O, protect us

Through this wilderness of wee!

ERRATUM.

J. S.

Page 455, in the Title of Bernard's Latin Hymn, for Saera, read Sacra,

G. AULD, Printer, Greville Street, London.

[graphic][subsumed][merged small][merged small]

TO THE

EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE

FOR THE YEAR 1810.

THE LIFE

OF

PHILIP PENITENCE;

Containing his Serious Reflections, occasioned by seeing Eight Malefastors executed at Washwood-Heath, near Birmingham, April 19, 1802; with a Continuation of his History to January, 1805; and Reflections on Infidelity.

[From this plain, but instructive Tract, we select a few passages, earnestly hoping that they may warn young men from pursuing the paths of Infidelity and Vice, from which the Writer was happily rescued, while some of his companions miserably perished. The reader will immediately perceive the propriety of the Author's concealing his true name, and adopting that of Philip Penitence.]

I was born in the neighbourhood of Birmingham, and was put to the button trade. During my apprenticeship, P was very steady and sober, and gave great satisfaction to my master, who often told me he meant to assist me in setting out in life, as a reward for my good conduct. These good beginnings were very pleasing to my parents, who always gave me good advice, and were very desirous to promote my welfare. After the expiration of my apprenticeship, I wrought for some time as a journeyman; when, having more money at my disposal, I began to frequent a public-house, where it was customary for a considerable number of mechanics to meet every night, to read the newspapers, 'Paine's Rights of Man,' and other publications of a similar nature.

I soon imbibed a love for politics; and, having naturally a ready utterance, could speak with a considerable degree of fluency on any political question that was agitated. In process of time, those who were first converted to Paine's political @pinions, introduced his 'Age of Reason.' At first, I had some

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objections to hear it read; but they were soon over-ruled, and, I am sorry to say, I became as great an admirer of his theological as of his political scheme.

I must not forget to observe, that I was not at the pains to examine my Bible, but took for granted all that he said. The principal thing that determined me to adopt his system, was a wish that it might be true. I thought, if the Bible was false, it was very immaterial whether I was wicked or righteous, just or unjust. I frequently applauded myself on the victory which I had obtained over the prejudices of education, as I termed them. It is true, indeed, I was sometimes afraid lest Christianity should be true; especially in a fit of sickness which I once had, when I thought there was but a step between me and death. I began to ask myself, 'What if the Bible should be true?" I invariably answered, "I shall be miserable to all eternity ;"-but my Deistical brethren coming to see me, soon laughed me out of my superstitious whims, as they called them.

On my recovery, I was more profligate than before; and as I worked but little, found myself very much embarrassed. On mentioning my situation to one of my companions, he told me he could relieve me, if I would engage to keep a secret; which I promising to do, he said, if I would give him half-aguinea, he would put me in possession of a box containing something of considerable value: though he did not inform me what the box contained, yet I easily understood by his manner that it was base coin. It was delivered to me in the street, when it was quite dark. On returning home, I found it contained a considerable number of pieces of base coin, in imitation of half-crowns and shillings. I was much pleased with my bargain: it so much resembled the current coin of the kingdom, that I thought I should have but little difficulty in paying it away.

I found it needful, indeed, to use some precaution, and therefore frequently mixed a little good with my base coin; nor did I ever offer any unless I had some good in my pocket, that I might exchange it if it was objected to. Having soon passed all I had, I was desirous of obtaining another supply; which I soon did in the same way as before.

My confidants finding I was likely to be staunch in their cause, proposed to me a scheme much more lucrative, viz. to pass forged bills, which I was to have upon very advantageous terms. In putting off bad bills, I generally observed the same precaution as on putting off bad money; but notwithstanding this, I was sometimes in danger of being discovered.

At times I was so much alarmed with the fear of detection, that I could not compose myself to sleep for several nights together; and when nature was quite exhausted, and I was overpowered by sleep, I used to imagine myself pursued by justice,

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