Taylor, Rev. J. H. rector of Upton, Worcestershire. Worcester, The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Wood, W. P. Esq. St. George Street, Westminster. (£10 0 0 donation.) Wood, Western, Esq., Hyde Park Street. (£5 5 0 donation.) Weston, Rev. H. rector of St Michael, Worcester. Wheeler, Mrs. Cheltenham. Walford, C. Esq. Foxboro' Hall, Melton. 2 copies. Walford, Miss, ditto. 2 copies. Ward, Rev. W. C. curate of Brome Williams, Rev. G. vicar of Wichenford, Worcestershire. Wheeler, Rev. A. rector of St. Martins, Worcester. Woodcock, Rev. G. Barbourne House, Worcester. Walsh, H. Esq. Worcester. Walsh, J. H. Esq. Worcester. Walsh, Esq. Wakeman, J. Esq. Worcester. Wakeman, Mrs. Worcester. Wilson, Mr. Mendlesham. Wheeley, Miss, Worcester. Williams, J. Esq. Pitmaston, ditto. Worcester Clerical Book Club. Whincopp, William, Esq. Woodbridge. SERMON I. ISAIAH li. 6. "LIFT UP YOUR EYES TO THE HEAVENS, AND LOOK UPON THE EARTH BENEATH: FOR THE HEAVENS SHALL VANISH AWAY LIKE SMOKE, AND THE EARTH SHALL WAX OLD LIKE A GARMENT, AND THEY THAT DWELL THEREIN SHALL DIE IN LIKE MANNER: BUT MY SALVATION SHALL BE FOR EVER, AND MY RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL NOT BE ABOLISHED." It is the blessed reward of a faithful perusal of God's word, that there will arise light amid the darkness to him who diligently pursues the holy practice; light amid darkness-and this in many different acceptations. For example, portions of Scripture will appear dark, hard to be understood of him who looks only at remote intervals, or with an unawakened spirit upon them, which when diligently B perused with prayer, shall discover that which concerns the readers' instruction, and give light where before there was none. There will, again, arise light in the darkness to him who is doubtful of the course which he should pursue in life, or perplexed with the difficulties which beset his path. If he will humbly seek wisdom of God, in his holy word, he will find a sure teacher, where in vain he has sought wisdom of man: he will often in scripture find what shall be "a lantern unto his feet and a light unto his paths,"* and have to praise God for revealing a way of escape from the perplexity which baffled human wisdom, or from the temptation which mocked human strength. And again, in deep affliction, there will arise to him who seeks it in God's word, light amid that darkness. When the ingenuity of human reasoning shall have left the mourner comfortless; when the vanity of human philosophy shall be apparent in soothing the broken * Psalm cxix. 105. spirit, or in opening the understanding to behold any consolation in woe-any gleam through the clouds of sorrow, the scriptures of God, if sought in humble reliance on God's teaching, will shed light on the darkness; a single text will by his blessing penetrate the soul, and make it comprehend that mysterious yet eternal working of God's providence, which out of calamity and evil is still educing good: or by pressing on the mind with the authority of truth, the vanity of earthly things, as contrasted with the reality and fixedness of God's promises, render it capable of finding in them a repose and a resting place, which before seemed utterly denied. Now if we refer to the language of the text, we shall there find plainly set before us words of wisdom that may serve as a light to all ages; words wherein the transitory character of the noblest creations of nature, is brought into contrast with the unchangeableness of the promised salvation, and righteous ness of God; and which therefore instruct us, in all plainness, on what to rest our affections: and this wisdom, the highest that can be revealed to man, is thus brought before us without any reference to-or, if we may so speak, without any knowledge of the general object of the prophet's teaching in this place. If some portion of the chapter appear to contain things hard to be understood, either because we do not fully comprehend the character of those to whom it was originally addressed, or the circumstances in which they were placed, yet there is here light in the darkness; there is here a plain and powerful exhibition of their condition, as beings of a frail tenure, dwelling amid things to pass away like themselves, and therefore called upon to look to that "salvation which should be for ever," and to that "righteousness which should not be abolished:" and if this is an exhibition of their condition and duty in these respects, so is it no less of ours; for we look upon the |