myself as in his presence, to whom I must disburthen our minds of solicitude, and rest give account? The answers returned by our weary heads upon our pillows in peace; conscience to such questions as these, would since the trouble of each day is sufficient for perhaps show the best man living that, if he the day; and He who has been with us tohave not all he wanted, there is no just rea-day, will be with us to-morrow. son for complaint. There is another consi- In this ever-memorable and most imporderation which may completely settle your tant precept, Christ consults our natural quiet, minds, on the subject of the distresses to no less than our spiritual welfare. The chief, which the righteous are sometimes exposed sources of uneasiness are, vexation at what is in this present life. A very good man may past, or forebodings of what is to come: be rendered much better by trials and afflic- whereas what is past ought to give us no distions. Proportionable to his sufferings will quiet, except that of repentance for our faults; be his reward; and if you could propose the and what is to come ought much less to affect question to those saints in heaven who once us, because with regard to us and our conwandered destitute, afflicted, tormented, in cerns, it is not, and perhaps never will be. sheep-skins, and goat-skins, upon earth, they The present is what we are apt to neglect. would tell you, they do not now wish to That, well employed, will render the rememhave done otherwise. brance of the past pleasant, and the prospect of the future comfortable. Attention to the duties of the day is like the manna, when it descended fresh and grateful from above; anxiety about the events of to-morrow resembles the same manna when, distrustfully laid up contrary to the divine command, it bred worms and putrefied. Give us, then, blessed Lord, even as thou hast commanded us to ask at thy hands, our daily bread, and let it not be corrupted by discontented and unthankful imaginations. Thou art the same, yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Thou hast borne us from the womb; thou hast supported us from our youth up, even until now. Thou forsakest none but those who have first forsaken thee. Only enable us to trust in thee, and then we shall never be confounded.

Our Lord closes his interesting and divine discourse on this subject of worldly care and anxiety, in the words of my text, with an argument drawn from the evident absurdity of anticipating sorrow, and rendering ourselves unhappy beforehand: "Be not therefore careful for the morrow; for the morrow will be careful for the things of itself: sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." The meaning is, that having such a promise from our heavenly Father, of being provided for as his children, if we are but dutiful children, we should not render ourselves miserable by forestalling mischief, and adding the future to the present; but that, having, through his grace, transacted the business, and overcome the difficulties of the day, we should at night

DISCOURSE XXVIII.

THE DEATH OF THE OLD YEAR.

2 CORINTHIANS, v. 17.

Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

THE departure of the old year and the entrance of a new one, cannot but suggest many useful and very important reflections to a thinking man. I will beg leave to offer some few to your minds, exactly as they have arisen in mine.

The departure of the old year may, I think,

fitly be compared to the death of an old friend; and our behavior in one case regulated by that which generally obtains in the other.

1. When we have lost a friend, our first care naturally is, to see that he be decently interred; to follow him mourning to the grave; to let his funeral remind us of our

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own; and to erect a monument to his memory.

afterwards think of recalling them to consideration! It were well if we kept a diary of our lives for this purpose, if we "so numbered our days, that we might apply our hearts unto wisdom." But certainly no year should be permitted to expire without giving occasion to a retrospect. The principal events that have befallen us in it should be recollected, and the requisite improvements be raised from them severally by meditation. What preservations from dangers spiritual or temporal have been vouchsafed; what new blessings granted, or old ones continued, to me and mine, to my friends, my neighbors, my church, my country; and how have I expressed, in word and in deed, my gratitude® and thankfulness for them? With what losses or crosses, what calamities or sicknesses, have we been visited; and have such visitations rendered us more penitent, more diligent, devout, and holy, more humble and more charitable? If the light of heaven hath shined on our tabernacle, and we have enjoyed the hours in health and happiness, let us enjoy them over again in the remembrance: if we have lived under a dark and stormy sky, and

The past year is, to all intents and purposes, lost to us, and numbered among the dead. It is gone to join the multitude of years that have died before it. They arise from their seats in the repositories of the dead, to receive it among them; it is now become like one of them; and all that hurry and bustle of business and pleasure which distinguished and animated it, have sunk into silence and oblivion. It will return no more upon the earth; and the scenes that were acted in it are closed for ever. It has lived, however, and we have enjoyed it; let us pay the honors due to the deceased, and drop a tear over its tomb. We cannot take a final leave of anything to which we have been accustomed, without a sentiment of concern. Objects, otherwise of the most indifferent nature, claim this; and they never fail of obtaining it at the hour of parting. The idea of the last is always a melancholy idea; and it is so, perhaps, for this among other reasons, because, whatever be the immediate subject, an application is presently made to ourselves. Thus, in the case before us, it is re-affliction has been our lot, let us consider that collected and let it be recollected-it is good so much of that affliction is gone, and the less for us to recollect it—that what has happen- there is of it to come. But whatever may be ed to the year, must happen to us. On each gone or to come, all is from God, who sends it of us a day must dawn, which is to be our not without a reason, and with whom if we last. When we shall have buried a few more cooperate, no event can befall us which will years, we must ourselves be buried; our not in the end turn to our advantage. Such friends shall weep at our funeral; and what reflections as these should, indeed, be always we have been, and what we have done, will made at the time when the events do befall live only in their remembrance. The re- us. But if not made then, they should be flection is sorrowful; but it is just and salu-made at some time, which yet will not be tary equally vain and imprudent would be done, unless some time be appointed for makthe thought of putting it away from us. Meanwhile let us cast our eyes back on that portion of time which is come to its conclusion, and see whether the good thoughts that have occurred to our minds, the good words that have been uttered, and the good deeds that have been performed by us, will not furnish materials with which we may erect a lasting monument to the memory of the departed year.

2. When a friend is dead and buried, we take a pensive kind of pleasure in going over again and again the hours we formerly passed with him, either in prosperity or adversity. Let us pursue the same course; it may be done to great advantage in this instance. The grand secret of a religious life is, to "set God always before us; " to live under a constant sense of his providence; to observe and study his dispensations towards us, that they may produce their proper effects, and draw forth suitable returns from us. Too often we suffer them to glide unheeded by us, and never

ing them. And what time so fit as that when one year ends and another begins; when, having finished a stage of our journey, we survey, as from an eminence, the ground we have passed, and the sight of the objects brings to mind the occurrences upon that part of the road?

3. When a friend is taken from us, we begin to consider whether we profited by him as we ought, while he was with us; whether we sufficiently observed his good example, to imitate it; his wholesome advice, to follow it; his faithful and kind reproofs, to be the better for them by amending our faults. In the course of the foregoing year, many good examples must we have seen and heard of; and by means of books and conversation from without, and hints from our consciences within, much wholesome advice, many faithful and kind reproofs, must we have met with. For all these admonitions are we the better. and have we profited by them? Let it b supposed, for instance, that we had been ac

customed aforetime to pray but seldom, and, | make such preparation, and to stand in when we did, to pray without attention, and such habits?-Suppose any person had without fruit: Do we now observe the hours means of being assured, and actually were of prayer with more constancy and less dis- assured, that he should die upon the last day traction? Do we really and truly find any of the year into which he is now entered, we pleasure in our devotions? or are we dragged should all agree upon the manner in which unwillingly to them as a task, and, conse- such person ought to spend the year. There quently, rejoice with all our hearts when would not be, I dare say, one dissentient voice. they are over? For years together, perhaps, Yet, upon the supposition here made, this we have turned our backs on the communion person has before him a whole year certain. table: Is it in our intention to give that holy Is not the obligation then still stronger upon ordinance a more frequent attendance for the every one of us? For that man must be out future? Do we hear a sermon with a deter- of his senses, who can bring himself to immined resolution to carry what is said into agine that he has a whole year certain, or a practice, or as a matter of amusement only, or a month, or a day, or an hour. The arguand a subject whereon to display our powers ment is not to be answered. of criticism? Does the current of our thoughts flow in any degree more pure than formerly? Is our conversation become innocent, at least if not improving; free from slander and scandal, from pride and conceit? Are our actions more and more directed by the rules of justice and charity? Above all, what use do we make of the talents with which it hath pleased God to intrust us, particularly those two, our time and our fortunes? Is it altogether such as that we shall be able, on our death-beds, to think on it, before God, with comfort and confidence? When we examine ourselves as to the progress we have made in the Christian life since this day twelvemonth, do we find that we have made any progress at all, that we have discarded any evil habits, or acquired any good ones; that we have mortified any vices, or brought forward to perfection any virtues? In one word, as we grow older, do we grow wiser and better? These are the questions which should be asked at the conclusion of a year-And may the heart of every person here present return to them an answer of peace!

4. While we are following a friend to his grave, it is obvious to reflect, that his day of trial is at an end, that the time allotted him for his probation is over, and his condition fixed for eternity. Engaged in the awful speculation, we can hardly avoid the following reflection; if, instead of his being taken from us, we had been taken from him, what at this time had been our lot and portion in the other world? By the favor of God we have lived to the end of the year: we might have died before it.. In such case where had we now been? Have we no misgivings within? Do we feel as if we thought all would have been right? Are we conscious to ourselves of having stood prepared at all times, and for all events, in such habits of repentance, faith, and charity, as would have rendered our passage hence welcome and prosperous? If not, should we delay, for a moment, to

I have somewhere read of one who, having strong religious impressions, and feeling terrible apprehensions whenever the ideas of death and judgment presented themselves, contrived so to habituate his mind to the contemplation of them, as to render them ever after, not only easy, but agreeable. His custom was, to consider each evening as the close of life, the darkness of the night as the time of death, and his bed as his grave. He composed himself for the one, therefore, as he would have done for the other. On retiring to rest, he fell on his knees; confessed, and entreated pardon for the transgressions of the day; renewed his faith in the mercies of God through Christ; expressed in a prayer of intercession his charity towards all mankind; and then committed his soul into the hands of his Creator and Redeemer, as one who was to awake no more in this world. His sleep after this was perfectly sweet; the days added to his life were estimated as clear gain; and when the last came, it ended with as much tranquillity as all that had preceded. I would wish to recommend this example to your imitation. The practice will cost you some pains and trouble, perhaps, for a little while; but you will never have cause to repent that you bestowed them; and I know of no better method whereby you can place yourselves in a state of constant security and comfort.

5. When we say that we have lost a friend, we can mean only, that we have lost him for a time. He is not finally perished; we shall see him again: and therefore it behoves us to consider what our sensations will be at the sight of him; which must always depend on our usage of him during his life. We shall see him with joy or grief, as we have formerly used him well or otherwise; and all that we have ever said or done relative to him will then be known. We are too apt to forget this circumstance; and seem to think that when they are dead with whom we have

She laid her

But

been concerned, no farther account will be large part of the history of this earth; taken of our behavior towards them. Other- what is become of her now? wise the consideration could not but have a foundations deep, and her palaces were great effect in the regulation of our conduct. strong and sumptuous; she glorified herself, The case is exactly the same respecting and lived deliciously, and said in her heart, I the old year now departed. It is, indeed, as sit as a queen, and shall see no sorrow. we have observed before, numbered among her hour is come, she is wiped away from the dead; but like the dead, it will, in one the face of the earth, and buried in eversense, arise and appear to us again, and we lasting oblivion. But not cities only, and shall be made to recollect the usage it received the works of men's hands-the everlasting at our hands, while we were in possession of hills, the mountains and rocks are melted as it upon earth. Memory will in that hour be wax before the sun, and their place is no quickened and perfected. Like a mirror where to be found. Here stood the Alps, holden before our eyes, it will represent the load of the earth, that covered many faithfully to our minds the various transac- countries, and reached their arms from the tions of the year in which we bore a part; Ocean to the Black Sea: this huge mass of and we shall be forced to recognise and ac- stone is softened and dissolved, as a tender knowledge the thoughts, the words, and the cloud into rain. Here stood the African actions which passed during its continuance mountains, and Atlas with his top above with us. May we find pleasure in reviewing the clouds; there was frozen Caucasus, and them!-But review them we must-and so Taurus, and Imaus, and the mountains of must He who is to be our judge, at the day Asia; and yonder, towards the north, stood of his second manifestation. That day draws the Riphæan hills, clothed in ice and snow. on apace. For not only friends die, and years All these are vanished, dropped away as the expire, and we ourselves shall do the same, snow upon their heads!-Great and marvelbut the world itself approaches to its end. It lous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just likewise must die. Once already has it suf and true are thy ways, thou King of saints!" fered a watery death: it is to be destroyed a Thus you see, old things are passed second time by fire. A celebrated author, away.? But out of their ashes a new creahaving in his writings followed it through all tion shall spring forth. According to the its changes from the creation to the consum- divine promise, which cannot fail, we look mation, describes the eruption of this fire and for new heavens and a new earth, wherein the progress it is to make, with the final and dwell righteousness, joy, and life, and from utter devastation to be effected by it, when which, consequently, sin, sorrow, and death, all sublunary nature shall be overwhelmed are for ever excluded. We wait, in faith and sunk in a molten deluge. In this situa- and patience, for the time when we ourtion of things he stands over the world, as if selves shall be restored with the world, and he had been the only survivor, and pro-"all things shall become new." To prenounces its funeral oration in a strain of sub-pare for this glorious and long-expected limity scarce ever equalled by mere man.

time, let us be first "renewed in the spirit of our minds; let us put off the old man, corrupt with the deceitful lusts, and put on the new man, which of God is created in righteousness and true holiness;" addressing ourselves, for the necessary strength and power, to him that sitteth on the throne, who saith from thence, "Behold, I make all things new." This done, we shall descend undismayed to the grave, and our flesh shall rest there in hope, like a grain of corn in its furrow, to appear in another and better form, at the appointed season, to begin an everlasting spring, and be for ever young. And when can we enter with so great propriety, upon the blessed work, as now, when a new year affords us opportunity to repair the miscarriages of the old

"Let us reflect upon this occasion, on the vanity and transient glory of this habitable world. How, by the force of one element breaking loose upon the rest, all the varieties of nature, all the works of art, all the labors of men, are reduced to nothing! All that we admired and adored before, as great and magnificent, is obliterated, or vanished; and another form and face of things, plain, simple, and every where the same, overspreads the whole earth. Where are now the great empires of the world, and their imperial cities? their pillars, trophies and monuments of glory? Show me where they stood, read the inscription, tell me the conqueror's name. What remains, what impressions, what difference or distinction do you discern in the mass of fire? Rome one? Let me leave in your ears, and upon itself, eternal Rome, the great city, the empress of the world, whose domination and superstition, ancient and modern, make a

your minds, the charming words of that kind and affectionate invitation, made in one of the sacred books, by the Redeemer to

his church, who, you know, throughout the, ing birds will come; and the voice of the Scriptures is considered in the relation of turtle will be heard in our land. The fig-tree his spouse :will put forth her green figs, and the vines, with the tender grape, give a good smell. Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."

"Lo, the winter will soon be past; the rain will be over and gone; the flowers will appear on the earth; the time of the sing

DISCOURSE XXIX.

THE CHILDREN IN THE TEMPLE.

MATTHEW, XXI, 15, 16.

And when the chie priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, and said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

The proposition arising from the text is evidently this; that God is pleased to esteem himself honored, when children are taught to confess and to praise his holy name. A few considerations shall be offered, touching the grounds and reasons of such proposition, whence an application will follow to the charity which this discourse is designed to recommend.

THIS part of sacred story presents us children the instruments of shaming and with a very extraordinary scene. Messiah, confounding the adversaries of his truth; the promised Saviour, prefigured by the out of the mouth of babes and sucklings he law foretold by the prophets, and univer-perfects praise," or, as it is in the origisally expected to appear, appears accord-nal Hebrew, "ordains, appoints, constitutes ingly. Exactly in the manner described by strength, to still the enemy and the avenger." Zechariah, he makes his public entry, meek and lowly, into his capital city, Jerusalem. Agreeably to the celebrated passages in Malachi and Haggai, "The Lord, whom men sought, came to his temple," and by his personal presence rendered "the glory of the latter house greater than the glory of the former." "He came to his own, but his own received him not." The rulers of the then church would not acknowledge him they were offended (it was but a natural consequence) with those who did so. The voices of children, proclaiming his titles, sounded harsh and grating in their ears; and they hinted by their question, that he himself ought to reprove, rebuke, and silence these little heralds of his praises. "Hearest thou what these say?"-as if they had spoken blasphemy. But mark the answer: Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou has perfected praise?" In other words, "You are ignorant of your own Scriptures; at least you do not recollect what is written in the eighth psalm; that when God is to be glorified for his works, and those who should do it will not do it, he makes even

On hearing, that "out of the mouth of babes and sucklings God ordains strength to still the enemy," the thought which first strikes us is that suggested in another passage of Scripture, wherein he says, My strength is made perfect in weakness." This is the circumstance which distinguishes the works of God from the works of man. When man has an end to accomplish, he must employ means originally and in themselves suited to that end. The materials and the persons who use them must be every way proper, and equal to the work. By him who is building a house, great preparations are made, plentiful stores of every thing necessary laid in, skilful and able artificers provided: and we know, beforehand, that by a due application of the causes, the effect may be produced. In the works of