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gratefully accepted the charge of the congregation at Newport, in the Isle of Wight. From Newport, in 1810, he passed to Winchester, where he continued to perform the duties of his ministry with the most exemplary exactitude till 1825, when his increasing infirmities led him to retire from the service of others, that he might devote himself solely to his own sanctification. He died the death of the just on the 9th of April, in the following year.

Mr. WHITE was an elegant scholar, with a correct taste, and great classical acquirements. He left among his papers a considerable number of discourses, some preached by him originally in the metropolis, but the greater part written for the instruction of his congregations in the country. The first are more flowery and laboured; the latter more simple, and not less impressive; and it is from these that has been culled the Sermons for Sundays and Festivals, which are here presented to

the reader. They are published, not as specimens of the author's talents, for assuredly, had he meant them for the press, they would have received many improvements and embellishments from his pen; but because it has been thought that they would fill a chasm in our religious literature, and occupy a middle place between the discourses of professed preachers, and lessons for daily instruction or meditation. As sermons, it is true, they are rather short; but this very quality may perhaps recommend them to those who have not the leisure, or more properly the inclination, to peruse longer compositions, and to the religious reader, short as they may be, they will offer much, both to quicken his faith, and to animate his fervour. The elegance with which they are in general composed, and the bursts of eloquence which they occasionally display, will delight the imagination; while the earnestness of conviction, and the spirit of piety which they

uniformly breathe, cannot fail to interest and improve the heart.

Of the personal character of the author, it is unnecessary to speak. His soul still lives in these pages; nor will the man who has once perused them, be at a loss to appreciate the modest and truly Christian worth of him by whom they were written.

It was originally intended to confine the present work to the selection of a series for the year, but finding that the course of sermons for that purpose were not sufficient to form two volumes, while they were too many for one, a few of his sermons relative to some of the sacraments, and other important and interesting subjects, have been added, to complete the first intention of two octavo volumes.

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