THOUGHTS ON THE OLD AND NEW YEAR.

THE knell of another year has sounded. By its departure the days of living men have suffered a considerable reduction. The space into which the closing events of this world have to be crowded has been contracted. We are thus forcibly reminded that the scenes of earth and time are fast fleeting away; and eternity, with its dread secrets, its glorious and awful realities, and its penal destinies, is rapidly drawing nigh to all mankind.

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The year has gone-it is no more! but the proofs that it has been are incontrovertible; the traces of its action are indelible. True indices of the passage of time we have in all the objects that surround The physical and moral developments of childhood and youth; the precursors of age, in the blanched hair, and the furrowed brow, and the sunken cheek, and the enfeebled gait: the mutations of family connections; the social and political changes which are ever taking place, all mark the progress of time, and serve to remind us that the world passeth away.' The memory and conscience, the mental and moral experience of every human individual, also tell, with certainty, that life is advancing. There is a record on high of the innumerable scenes which earth has witnessed during the by-gone year. Not one has escaped the scrutiny of the Omniscient One. All the doings and purposes of every soul of man have been noted down in the Book of Divine remembrance, to re-appear, for the comfort or confusion of the actors, in the final day of reckoning.

Another year is gone. But "He that sitteth in the heavens" is alone competent to estimate the amount of joy or of sorrow which it brought to the children of men. What hallowed and happy scenes has Jehovah beheld! What clouds of incense, the prayers and praises of his saints,-have ascended to his throne! What acts of piety; what exhibitions of grace; what deeds of philanthropy; have gained his approbation! But has he not also witnessed the comparative supineness of his professing people? Has he not seen their worldliness and lukewarmness; their indisposition to duty and to self-sacrifice for his sake? Has he not beheld Zion sitting at ease, while the wary foe has been marshalling his forces, and extending his operations, and threatening to exterminate the army of the living God? And has not God, through many alarming events, been heard to sound the watchword, "To your tents, O Israel?"

In the world at large, what dreadful scenes of crime and of wretchedness have been continually open to the all-seeing Eye! What deeds of murder and rapine, of idolatry and uncleanness, of oppression and wrong, have been daily and nightly transacted! What pining penury; what secret sorrows; what dire diseases; what deaths, in forms and numbers multiplied! The open violence and the hidden stroke; the shafts of malignity, and the wounds of injured innocence; the heartsickness of suspense, and the pangs of disappointment; the griefs of infamy, and the distresses of age; have all been unveiled before the Lord! All the expressions of woe-the sighs and groans, the cries and tears-of his earthly children are treasured up in his memory;

and will all be adduced to enhance the condemnation of Satan, sin, and sinners, when God shall come to render unto every man according to his deeds.

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Another year has closed. Has the God of Providence been unmindful of the promises made to his church, or of his uttered purposes in regard to the world? Why is it that his cause appears to languish ? that the ministry of his word is so comparatively inefficient; and that his professing people in general display so little of the evangelic spirit? Is it too much to assume, that the last of these facts is the true cause of the two former? Assuredly, the God of truth, and the giver of prophecy, is not forgetful of his promises, nor regardless of the interests of his church. But the instrumentalities by which he will accomplish his gracious purposes, must be morally qualified for the high vocation, and spiritually prepared to receive the honour of success. It is a grave question, whether the church at large, in its present state, is possessed of these qualifications. Whatever may be the aspect of things in regard to the church of Christ, its glorious Head is not inactive. The work of Providence is going on. dictions are hastening to become historical verities. The political movements, now in course of development throughout the kingdoms of Europe, are auguries of great events. God is shaking the nations. Portents of evil are numerous and startling. Men's hearts are failing them for fear. Antichrist is rapidly gaining ascendency, striding on, with giant step, from one point of power and influence to another; and is already proudly, but vainly sounding the note of triumph over the church of the Gospel. Political intrigues, national convulsions, insurrectionary tumults, and religious feuds, are filling the nations with boding rumours; while, amid all these commotions, the clarion of war sounds its piercing strains, and announces that brethren are embruing their hands in each other's blood. The wisest of men may be unable to trace, through this complication of events, the connection subsisting between them and the accomplishment of God's cherished purposes. But "He knoweth the end from the beginning." He can pursue the labyrinth from its commencement to its termination. perceives all; governs all; overrules all; and will continue to do so, From seeming evil still educing good." "The Lord reigneth! let the earth be glad!"

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Another year is numbered with the past. What is the record, as regarding ourselves, which it has borne before the throne of God? How have its days, and weeks, and months been spent, in reference to the great end of our being? What account can we give of the blessings with which we have been entrusted? Our means and opportunities of doing good; our gifts, talents, influence,-how have these been improved? As servants of the Lord, have we been diligent? As stewards of the manifold mercies of God, have we been found faithful? As soldiers of Christ, have we been valiant for the truth? Have we been suitably concerned for the salvation of our own souls; for the honour of our blessed Lord; for the advancement of his cause; and for the souls of those he died to redeem? In a word, does the close of the year find us better qualified for heaven than we were at its commencement?

Another year is ended; and we are yet alive. What need for gratitude that we survive! How many have fallen victims to the common destroyer! On some of our standard-bearers death has laid his ruthless hand. He has torn them away from weeping friends, and a sorrowing church, and has hid them in his own dark prisonhouse. But, no! we forget; it is only of their earthly covering that death retains possession. Them he could not hold, for they are Christ's. O yes! their spirits have eluded the grasp of their last enemy; and now they dwell in heavenly mansions, radiant with light, and redolent of bliss. For what purposes have we been spared? Is it not that we may attain to a higher spirituality; display a livelier zeal in the work of human salvation; and profitably occupy those various stations of usefulness, which the providence of God has allotted unto us? O may we see to it, that these lofty ends be answered!

A new year has dawned upon us. A blank tablet of time is turned to each of us, to be filled up, as day shall succeed to day, with a faithful record of our moral doings. With what characters would we wish that tablet to be inscribed? What would we desire should be its testimony, when we come to close our accounts? The recording angel waits to write-is now writing-and every work, and thought, and purpose, will be found recorded there, when we come to appear before "the great white throne." What a motive to purity, to watchfulness, to holy activity!

Bestir your

Followers of Christ! the new year lies before you. selves, with unwonted alacrity, to do the bidding of your Lord. Let the season of health and vigour be consecrated to deeds of holy enterprise. The world lieth in wickedness, and precious souls are perishing every day. Satan and his hosts are roaring to devour their coveted victims. The enemies of the faith are all on the alert. Duty, obligation, gratitude, all demand your services for God. Up, then, and be doing! Pray, watch, labour, live, as you have never done before; and the present year, if you be spared to see its close, will be the happiest, the most useful and prosperous, that you have ever known. London. E. PEARSON.

REDEEMING TIME.

ANOTHER year has fled never to be recalled. All the opportunities which it has afforded of doing good to others, and of working out our own salvation, are irrecoverably gone. The grace that has been offered may not be offered again. The tear of the orphan, which we may have refused to dry, is perhaps now wiped from his eyes by the hand of GOD himself. The poor we have neglected or despised may lie beyond all reach of our relief in the undisturbed repose of the tomb. But whatever may have been the thoughts of our hearts, or the actions of our lives, during the past year, the rapid moments caught them as they flew, and carried them to heaven. There they are recorded in the book of divine remembrance, and will one day appear to our everlasting honor, or to our shame and everlasting contempt.

We have now entered upon a new period of time, which it is to be feared, some will abuse, as they have the past. More opportunities are to be afforded, but to be neglected. More warnings are to be addressed to the consciences of sinners, but to be disregarded. Additional overtures from God to his guilty creature man are to be made through the medium of the Gospel, but to meet with cold indifference or insulting rejection. Meanwhile the flood of time irresistibly rolls into the ocean of eternity, and bears immortal souls to their everlasting destiny. Here one falls at threescore years and ten. There another is cut down in the vigor and usefulness of his days. Some unexpectedly exchange the laughing gaieties of youth for the gloom of the grave; and others, like flowers nipped with an untimely frost, almost instantly bloom and decay. Let us therefore remember, that not only the present year, but the whole of our lives, shall quickly pass away, and be like a tale that is told; that, for aught we know, a part, a very small part of this year may terminate our mortal existence. So short a portion of time, to be followed by eternity! So limited a life, to prepare for everlasting things! Upon so few days does our endless happiness or misery depend! Then, methinks, in reason's ear every moment cries aloud, Redeem the time!" Eternity repeats the alarming and wholesome advice, Redeem the time!' And God, who is from everlasting to everlasting, and who has created us for endless duration, bends in compassion from his lofty throne; and this is the language of the voice divine,-"Ye children of men, redeem the time!"

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Why has GOD called us into existence? For what purpose has he measured out to us years, and months, and days, and moments? Is it not to be reconciled to Him through JESUS CHRIST his Son? who in time is brought into this happy state has lived to some purpose. He who dies in a state of alienation from Gon, whatever else he may have accomplished, has lived in vain, and worse than in vain, as to himself.-Time was afforded him to make his peace with GOD; but he has trifled away the golden moments, and despised the proffers of never-ending happiness. Oh, then, let us earnestly embrace and diligently improve the means of grace. A slight objection or a trifling inconvenience must not detain us from the courts of the Almighty. We must take heed how we hear the Gospel. We must reflect solemnly that it is the word of the living GOD, and that he will account with us for every such opportunity. We must not only hear prayers, but we must heartily join in asking for blessings upon others and ourselves. We must sing the praises of GOD not only with the lip, but offer to him, in the breath of harınony, the incense of unfeigned gratitude. On the Lord's day we must not only attend upon the public worship of GoD, but employ the whole of it according to the Divine command. Holy time must be filled with holy duties. We must daily read the Word of GOD with a praying heart. We must frequently meditate upon the things of GOD, and strictly examine ourselves as to our use or abuse of time, and every other talent with which we may be entrusted. If heads of families, we must keep family worship, not only on singular occasions, but uniformly morning and evening. Above all, we must use secret prayer, not a few times

in the year, not merely on occasions of great mercies or severe afflictions, not only when we feel disposed, (for that might prove very seldom) but daily,-with great earnestness-with the holy importunity of unwearied perseverance-with such sentiments as become the guilty pleading with the omniscient Judge, through a Mediator, for the life of their immortal souls. And as, through our negligence, we all have squandered a great portion of our time, we must, in order to redeem it, henceforth use double diligence in all our duties to God and to our neighbour. Thus will time be rescued from the service of Satan, from the tyranny of lust, from the impetuosity of passion, from the enervating charms of voluptuousness, from the entanglements of worldly care, and be devoted, as it should be, to God's service.

But what motiyes urge us to the performance of this duty? Fellow-sinners, do you ask, What motives? Cast around your eyes and view the condition of man. Reflect on what you are, and what you may be, before the lapse of another year. Pass the slight barrier of the present state, and venture in imagination upon the future and unknown world. Realise the thrones set, the books opened, the judgment begun. Behold the righteous Judge of all the earth preparing to decide the unchangeable fates of all the living and all the dead. See the mansions of everlasting rest prepared for the reception of the blessed, and the gulf of everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. All these glorious and awful realities have an intimate connection with time. Can you then suppose that the mis-improvement or waste of the precious hours which God has given you will not inevitably bring upon you the most terrible evils-the anguish of your own reproach, and the just displeasure of your Maker and Judge?

"Time is eternity,

Pregnant with all eternity can give:

Throw years away!

Throw empires, and be blameless!

Moments seize;

Heaven's on the wing; a moment we may wish,

When worlds want wealth to buy."

Shall we speak of its swiftness, in order to move you by additional arguments to pursue your own happiness? The young think they are abundantly rich in time, and therefore suppose they are excusable in wasting it in wantonness. So far from complaining of its swiftness, they are weary of its sluggish motion. Every period of life seems indeed somewhat uneasy under the burden, and seeks for relief in some species or other of amusement. But oh, did youth and age consider, how much has to be done, before they can have any reasonable hope of escaping the wrath and obtaining the favor of the LORD ALMIGHTY, they would start up into sudden alarm, and vain and childish amusements would be forgotten in the rational anxiety to prepare for judgment !

Need you be told that time lost is irrecoverable? That when the solemn hour is come, commissioned to wing your flight to future worlds, no entreaty and no ransom can detain you a moment from your destiny? That although you may be very unfit to partake of heavenly joys, and altogether unprepared to meet your Maker-although you