we see far more of the evil than of the good, in the whole state of things as far as within our comprehension. But we are sure that on the great view to which we cannot yet attain, there must be a predominance of good, in the empire of Him who is infinite in wisdom, power, and goodness. The anticipation of clearly seeing it so, is a delightful radiance from heaven on our present dark abode. What rational beings, and under what economy in other realms of the universe. The universe itself. After such views contemplated, think of the pride of present knowledge! With a little glimmering on their spirits, there are men that walk the earth with an elevation as if they should be gods; and destitute too, as this very pride would shew, of that which is the best of the knowledge attainable here. So "in part" (our knowledge is) that we cannot agree one with Consider what a high advantage another; the "part itself is not over us is now attained by our clear, bright, and infallible as far as pious friends that are gone! even it goes. It contains those shades, in that less perfect state which perplexities, and equivocal appear-intervenes between the departure ances among which men must here, and the resurrection. "That greatly differ. It would have been which is in part shall be done away.' a fine thing, if good men and wise Imagine them emerging from this men could have been unanimous, dark world into light! What a disunto the limited extent of this early missal for their spirits, what a vastage and immaturity of our know-nishing away of the whole system ledge. Not filled the twilight of their little notions, and childish of the great approaching day of conceptions. If they will be suffiwisdom with their controversies and ciently recollected to be compared quarrels. But, &c. But when the with the grand manifestations of "perfect is come" the grand illu- truth and reality then unveiled, mination of each spirit will be ren- what a contrast! dered inconceivably more delightful by the coincidence of judgment which will create a happy sympathy and harmony of the affections. [We have] no time to apply these somewhat too vague and general ideas to special subjects. But they might be illustrated in application to our imperfect knowledge of even our own nature. As in the essential principle of life. The nature and the operations of the soul itself. How striking to reflect that we can as yet just as much comprehend the whole universe as our own little selves, our own selves, who are thinking and talking on these subjects! The theory of the condition and destination of our race. The system of divine providence. ence.. And yet there will not be an entire contempt thrown on the retrospect; for it will be understood how those little notions, that feeble light, that partial revelation, were the right training for the infancy and childhood of the human soul. Let us then be thankful that we do know, though but "in part," and earnestly apply and improve what we are permitted to know. Thankful too that one point of that very knowledge is, that its imperfection will at length be left behind. Lastly, if there will be (as none can doubt) in the heavenly state different degrees in the felicity of the redeemed spirits, and if knowledge will be one great means of felicity there, who may be expected to possess the highest attainment of it? Not, necessarily, those, even good men, who possessed the most of it here. But, rather, those who have excelled the most in piety, in devotion to God and Christ, and the cause of heaven in this world. God can by one great act of his rewarding power, make them the highest in intelligence. And it is reasonable to believe that he will., ADDRESS FOR THE NEW YEAR "Time is short." “He that gathereth not with me scattereth." ishing world; arise from your slumbers and call mightily upon God for the gift of the Holy Spirit, that you may begin to be diligent and activeyour love to the Saviour increasedthat you may be constrained to love souls for his sake; and pray that strenuous self-denying labours for this object may be the delightful employment of your life. There is, dear reader, ample room for the most enlarged operations of Christian zeal and kindness all around you. There is not a spot on which you can fix your eye but sin reigns, and misery dwells, every where WHAT is your condition, dear reader, souls are in danger of perishing,are you gathering with the Saviour, yes, souls capable of enjoying God, or scattering abroad?-This is a are living in enmity to him, debassolemn inquiry; for one or the other ed by sin, on the verge of destruc-: it must be. You bear the christian tion, and loudly call upon you, by name, but do you follow Christ in their sin and degradation, to arise going "about doing good?"-Do for their help, to take to them the you watch for opportunities of healing balm of the gospel for the speaking a word in his name to per-cure of their diseases,-to hasten to ishing sinners?Do you strive to improve your talent of influence or authority for him?-Do you deny yourself to serve his cause?-Do you daily pray "thy kingdom come, and daily inquire "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Perhaps, hitherto, you have done little or nothing for the Saviour, you have been living to yourself, selfishly enjoying religious privileges, forgetting that hundreds of souls around you close at hand (as precious as your own), as well as thousands afar off, were destitute of the bread of life, on the brink of perdition, uncared for, unthought of; forgetful of the Divine command, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." them in their starving condition with the bread and water of life, and to point them, while sinking under the load of guilt and depravity, to the "Lamb of God that taketh away? the sin of the world." Yes, dear christian reader, that precious blood on which you rest your hope of sal-· vation, is needed by your friendsTM and neighbours, that salvation in which you glory is unknown to them. And, oh! will you continue to be selfish? can you, indeed, be satisfied any longer to keep the knowledge of it to yourself?—will you not impart it to those who will perish without your efforts?-Oh! that every principle that is excellent, that is valuable, may forbid. You But this is a day in which we would not withhold food from a starvhave been favoured to hear much of ing neighbour, you would not revivals, and therefore such a state withhold the effort that would save of inactivity is the more criminal a friend from drowning, you would and inexcusable. Ah! dear reader, joyfully hasten to pluck a poor do pray that the spirit, as well as child from the fire, and it would news of a revival may reach you. be laudable exertion for the welfare If you have been living as described, and preservation of the body. Sureforgetful of the miseries of a per-ly, then, you cannot be in a right frame of mind to withhold the bread | christians to unite in this good of life, the waters of salvation from work, yet, even if you cannot do the soul of your neighbour. You this, go forward, leave not the work cannot be " gathering with" the undone, even should reproach be Saviour, if you withhold from your cast upon you:-opposition from friend those tidings of mercy that the world is not so discouraging as would save his soul from the wrath lukewarmness from professors, but to come. Reader, solemn is the this must not, and indeed will not, thought, yet as certainly true, that retard the zealous efforts of those while acting thus you are scat- who feel for souls,—who know they tering abroad and not gathering are accountable to the head of the with the Saviour; not coming "up church for their influence in it, and to the help of the Lord against the for the faithful use of the talents mighty," not devoting to him the he has intrusted them with. Thereenergies of your soul; not present- fore, dear reader, let nothing from ing yourself a living sacrifice; but without or within, from the world as if you owed him nothing, as if or the church, prevent your devotsouls were not valuable; as if there ing "body, soul, and spirit as a were not grace and salvation abound-living sacrifice ;"-prevent you from ing for the chief of sinners: you are living to yourself, and not glorifying Him you profess to love. Dear reader, "think on these things;" such a review of past unfruitfulness should call for deep sorrow of heart. You owe all your hopes of eternal life to the Lord Jesus, and to be unconcerned for his glory ill becomes one for whom he shed his precious blood. Oh! do pray that the time past may suffice for a life of unfruitfulness in his service, let deep sorrow fill you for the past, and a holy resolution be formed to begin a new life in his service. Let the New Year witness a new series of efforts for the salvation of sinners. The uncertainty of life demands that your efforts should be made with promptitude. Multitudes die every year, and this year thou shalt die" is probably recorded concerning numbers to whom you have access, who are yet unconverted. Pray, therefore, for grace and courage, and faithfulness to warn, and entreat, and beseech such to be reconciled to God. Look around to find out the needy and ignorant, regard the various circumstances of each precious soul; and suit your efforts to meet their cases. Call to your help a few praying 66 sow in labouring "in season and out of reap on Oh! joyful in its nature, and able to oh! let me entreat you to begin to make you truly happy both in this world and that which is to come, if you rightly value and understand it : 66 seek after them " Now, while it is called to-day," now, while the Bible declares "it to be the accepted time; the day of salvation," do It is entitled the "Glorious Gos- listen to my entreaties, do not live pel." This is, indeed, a glorious another hour without praying for subject; able to make the most divine teaching that your heart may ignorant "wise unto salvation,' be opened, that you may receive -the most depraved and guilty this glorious Gospel whereby you sinner, fit for the holiness and hap- will have a hope in life, a hope in piness of heaven; and, in a word, death, and enjoy after it a glorious to save precious souls from the tor-immortality :—yes, "the wages of ments of hell, and prepare them for sin is death; but the gift of God," an inheritance with the saints in the " unspeakable gift," revealed light." Has this glorious Gospel, my dear aged friend, any charms for you? or have you any desire to be blessed by it? Have you ever prayed to be a partaker of its prospects and supports? If you cannot say that it has claimed your attention, or that you have felt any desire after it, your situation is a pitiable one; and, as a real friend, I feel the deepest pity for you; yes, pity of the purest kind for your precious soul, which, without an interest in this glorions Gospel, must be miserable for ever and ever. Your advancing years, and the uncertainty of your life, call loudly for pity and solicitude on your behalf; you "know not the day of your death," "this night your soul may be required of you," and then, ignorant of this glorious Gospel, and unconcerned about an interest in it; hopeless, Christless, will be your condition for ever. Oh! reflect then for a moment on what I say, and lift up a desire that in a subject so important you may feel a concern. While I thus plainly tell you, my respected aged friend, of your lost and ruined state without a personal interest in this "Glorious Gospel," I entreat you further to remember that all the blessings it contains are still offered to you that you are welcome to partake of them—and, in the Gospel, is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Oh! hesitate not to begin the pursuit of such inestimable blessings, cast not away from you such prospects, such offers of mercy as are now presented in the "Glorious Gospel.' I cannot indeed fully describe to you in this letter all the blessings which are offered for your acceptance-the Gospel is so full of them: but what light and the power of seeing would be to one blind— what health and ease would be to one sick and suffering-what liberty would be to the captive-what deliverance would be to the shipwrecked sailor - and what life would be to one about to be put to death-these, and much more than these, are the blessings contained in the glorious Gospel-what all these would be to the poor perishing body, which after receiving them would not be always able to retain and enjoy them-such are these blessings to the precious soul : yes, my aged friend, by nature, as a sinner, you are in need of all these changes to be wrought in you: the Bible describes you, as a sinner, to be diseased " from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot." "The god of this world" is said to have "blinded the minds of those that believe not," and sinners " are dead in trespasses and sins," " led captive by the devil at his will;" thus there is a need for a remedy to be provided, and, blessed be God, that remedy is contained in the glorious Gospel: yes, life, light, health, liberty, and life eternal, are treasured up therein; and all, all these blessings are now freely offered to you. Consider the greatness and extent of this offer; it is made to you by the authority of God himself; yes, I do it in his name, my dear aged friend, and say to you, "Come, and take of the fountain of the water of life freely:" the Saviour says, "If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink:' "Come unto me I will give you rest:" "He that believeth on me shall never hunger shall never thirst shall never come into condemnation, but shall have everlasting life." Let me respectfully urge the inquiry, whether, if all these good things were offered you for the body, you would either slight them or hesitate to seek after them? I think not, I think you would joyfully hear of them, and delay not an hour in seeking for them; you would inquire most anxiously where they were to be obtained, and listen with deep interest to every particular that could be heard about them. Well, do attend to the voice of real friendship which urges you to do the same as it regards your soul, the wants of your precious soul, the case is infinitely more urgent-the effects more lasting-the object more glorious. If the body were relieved from pain, it would still be subject to death. If sight were restored to the blind, yet death would come at some time. If liberty were given, death could not at last be avoided. But so far superior are the blessings of the Gospel to any thing that is earthly, that, if once possessed, they are possessed for ever, and death itself, so far from ending your enjoyments, will continue them, in a VOL. VII. 3d Series. manner not now to be described, in the kingdom of heaven. You have reason to be very thankful that such blessings are contained in the Gospel, and that, offered to you, you are welcome to partake of them. But beware how you neglect the offer made; you would pity and wonder at a starving man, if he declined to come to a wellspread table, when assured by the master of the house that he was welcome; you would blame the sick man, who would not use the means of cure, when assured by one who had skill and knowledge that the remedy was suitable, and had cured others. Oh! yes, and saints and angels, and even devils, will look on you with wonder and surprise in neglecting the great salvation-in slighting the glorious Gospel, and making light of its offers and blessings. Remember, you are invited to it by God himself; his ministers and saints repeat his offers and entreat you to accept of them and, once more, you are invited by this friendly letter not "to refuse him that speaketh." You are herein urged by a sincere friend to seek an interest in them without delay, now while they are to be found; delays in common things are dangerous, but how much more so when heaven and hell depend on the result of such delay; be wise then now for eternity, and come to the Saviour who still invites you, who "will in nowise cast you out.' Oh! what a mercy it is that, although so late in life, you are yet welcome; but forget not, that, its being so late, is a reason why you should not delay another hour. To the young and healthy life is uncertain, and how much nearer is your last hour likely to be? Let no earthly care, or business, or pleasure, tempt you to neglect your soul, or to say, "To-morrow I will seek the Lord." One aged person was thus C |