7. Alas, we cannot our experience tells us that, in many things, we offend; that in all we come short of that glory, in which it is our privilege, and should be our ambition, at all times to shine. How circumscribed are our views of God, of his word, and of ourselves! How much dross is still mixed with the fine gold of the kingdom! How often does a deceitful heart betray itself, and tell us we have not yet attained, neither are already perfect! 8. What reflections should these convictions produce? May they not briefly be these: A new period of time is begun another year (perhaps my last) is commenced. Lord, let it be devoted to thee! let our hearts, our lives, our all, be thine! We desire to love thee! Make us ashamed that we are still so cold; make us glow with Divine ardour; claim us as the purchase of thy blood, as the conquest of thy love, and henceforth. "Be thou our all, Our theme, our inspiration, and our crown, Our souls ambition, pleasure, wealth; our world, TO-MORROW. Con WITH all the pensiveness of grief and bitterness of self-reproach, I lately turned my steps towards the house of a Christian friend. On entering the abode where I had ever been greeted with smiles, I was surprised to find nothing but sadness, like my own. scious guilt suggested the suspicion, that they knew and reproached me for my neglect; but my friend soon undeceived me, by pouring into my bosom her lamentations for the loss of an only child. 2. "Alas!" cried she, " my Henry is gone! But three days ago he was romping about me in full health, when, suddenly, be sickened with a fever, which seemed to lie chiefly in his head; and he has, this morning, breathed his last!" * 3. I struggled with myself, summoned up resolution, and made an awkward attempt at consolation, while my own heart hung heavy in my breast; but I was struck dumb, when the afflicted parent, fetching a sigh from the bottom of her heart, exclaimed, "Ah! Sir, these consolations might assuage my grief for the loss of my child, but they cannot blunt the stings of my conscience, which are as daggers to my heart! 4. "It was but last week that I was thinking, my Henry is now twelve years of age; his mind is rapidly expanding; I know he thinks and feels beyond the measure of his years; and a foolish backwardness has hitherto kept me from entering so closely into serious conversation with him, so as to discover the real state of his mind, and make a vigorous effort to lead his heart to God. I then resolved to seize the first opportunity to discharge a duty so weighty to the conscience of a Christian and the heart of a parent; but, day after day, my foolish and deceitful heart said, 'I will do it To-morrow,' till the very day he was taken ill. I had resolved to talk with him that evening, and, when he first complained of his head, I was half pleased with the thought thathis might incline him to listen more seriously to what I should say. 66 5. But, O Sir! his pain and fever increased so rapidly, that I was obliged to put him immediately to bed; and, as he seemed inclined to doze, I was glad to leave him to rest. From that time he was never sufficiently sensible for conversation; and now he is gone into eternity, and left me distracted with uncertainty concerning the salvation of his precious soul. I know he had arrived to the period when he must be judged as au accountable creature ;* for I have several times observ ed in him such efforts of reason and conscience, as surpassed many who had seen twice his years. I recollect the favourable symptoms I have discovered, and, for a moment, hope that the Good Shepherd had gathered the lamb into his bosom. *We are accountable creatures from the first moment of our existence. The law of God is universally binding on all ages of human intelligence. If such as die in their infancy are saved, as I trust in God's mercy they are, it is not because they were not in a state of guilt and condemnation; but because they are graciously included in the covenant of Redemption, and are saved by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Ed. 6." But then, again, I cry, If it should not have been So That thought plunges me back again into the depths of distress. Dilatory wretch! had it not been my own sin, I might now have been consoling myself with the satisfactory conviction of having discharged the duty of a Christian parent, and enjoying the delightful assurance of meeting my child before the throne of the Lamb O! the cursed sin of procrastination! O the ruinous delusion that lurks in the word Tomorrow!" 7. You may readily conclude that I sympathized with the agonizing parent, but eannot easily conceive what I felt on being obliged to say to her, "My friend, if that can afford you any consolation, I must own to you that I am now distracted with reflections similar to your own. Perhaps you observed, when I came in, that I was thoughtful and dejected, and that it was a forced effort which I made for your relief. I had but just returned from a house, which was to me, as well as to the family, a house of mourning. I was sent for, yesterday, to visit a sick man, and as I fancied that I was then engaged, I promised to call and see him To-morrow. But, when I went there To day, I was shocked to hear that he was dead, especially as I had reason to fear for his eternal state; and his wife said he was very auxious to see me.” 8. Unwilling to pour " vinegar upon nitre," I refused indulgence to my own feelings; and, after feebly pointing my distressed friend to some of the consolations of the gospel, I withdrew. As I returned home, I was surprised and confounded to observe how differently my excuses now appeared, and how light they proved when weighed in the ballances against a sinner's eternal interests. Stupid and cruel wretch! to prefer my own convenience to my brother's salvation! And can I pretend to be a disciple of Him who came even from heaven" to seek and to save that which was lost, and to give his life a ransom for many!" 9. What are the advantages of a few hours business, when compared with eternal joys or pains? "Lord, lay not this sin to my charge, nor let the blood of my brother's soul rest upon my mind, and blast the future success of those employments, for which I left him to perish in his sins! Grant me to learn hence, to abhor, through all my future life, the thought of deferring the concerns of souls till To-morrow!"` 66 Christians, Parents, Ministers, learn wisdom from my folly obey the voice that says, "Go work To-day in my vineyard;" To-morrow is none of yours.. Sinners, to-day, if ye will hear the voice of Christ harden not your hearts, lest he swear in his wrath that you shall not enter into his rest." A WALK OF USEFULNESS. A WEEK BEFORE THE WORLD'S End. ONE day, musing in my little parlour, my thoughts were carried forward to the last week of the world's existence. I supposed this circumstance to be known only to myself, and that all things were in the same state they are now. I determined to walk into London, to do all the good I possibly could. On my way I overheard a drayman swearing at a neighbour who had offended him. I touched him on the shoulder, and whispered in his ear, that the Son of God would call him to account for his swearing, and for all his conduct, in the course of the week; and therefore advised him to prepare to meet his Judge. 2. The man, at first, was remarkably struck with this uncommon and unexpected salutation. He then turned to his neighbours, saying, "What think you this man has been telling me? He says, the Judge of men is to be here in a week." Some laughed, another said, be to me if he be here so soon, for I've been a wicked fellow." Another said, "It is all a farce; let us mind our work" and away they went. Woe 3. I walked on: but passing a public house, and hearing a number of people singing over a pot of porter, I returned, and stepped into the house. Inquiring what they were about-with an oath, one replied, "We are making ourselves merry with a little beer. Sir." Now, do not count me rude,' said I, when I ask, Have all of you been sorry for your sins yet? has ever that cost you a serious thought ♪ "Not much,” replied they all, with a smile. It is time, high time, that every one of you think seriously upon that matter, and how your sins may be pardoned, for the Judge is at the door; and when he cometh he will bring every man to his bar, to answer for his deeds, whether good or bad.' 66 4. One man, who appeared more serious than the others, requested me to inform them how a sinner could be saved; for," said he, "I was once thinking a good deal about these things, but people told me I was turning Methodist; and I did not like that, Sir; and so I thought no more of the matter." 'Believe,' said I, ' as poor sinners, in the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Son of God and Saviour of sinners, and ye shall be saved.' I desired them also, when their work was over, to run to their Bibles, and there they would find full instruction about things of the last importance for them to know. 5. Upon this I left them, hastening to the chief coneourse of people, I mean the Royal Exchange. Here I found hundreds anxiously occupied about the affairs of this life. I stood upon a chair, that I might be seen by all; and, with a loud voice, requested silence and attention for a few minutes, which the novelty of the circumstance soon obtained; when I spoke to the following purport: 6. "Gentlemen, Unless I had a matter of the utmost consequence to communicate, I could not have had the boldness to interrupt your business in this public way, You must, no doubt, be expecting that I am to convey important intelligence. Your conjecture is just. The end of all things is at hand! The Judge is now on his throne of grace, but he leaves it on Sunday next for a throne of judgment: wherefore, I solemnly call upon every man present to consider his ways, to turn to the Lord and he shall live, and welcome the Lord at his coming. 7. But if you do not, you shall be thrust from the presence of the Lord into the prison of perdition, there to bewail your folly for ever and ever. Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. Hearken, ye stout-hearted and far from righteousness, God has brought near to you the righteousness of his Son; and |