to banish every solemn thought with mirth, or drown reflection in the cup of intoxication and of riot? Is it fitting that creatures, who owe all to the munificence of their Creator, should thus prostitute the very blessings he has given, to his dishonour?

In the days that were before the flood, men were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage," even until the day that the flood came and swept them all away-and still, men are eating, and drinking, and making merry, whilst death is mowing down hundreds around them-whilst every new year's day as it passes, shows them another and another blank in the circle of their friends, proclaiming in solemn and impressive language, "Be thou also ready!"

Have you then, reader, ever realised to yourself the period of your own departure? Have you seriously considered, that ere many years are gone, a new year's day will come, when your family circle may meet, as in times past, to exchange their congratulations and good wishes, but your place shall be empty-the place that once knew you, shall know you no more, and the circle of friends who were wont to rejoice with you, shall never behold you again? Have you ever, in imagination, beheld yourself stretched on a bed of sicknessyour now active limbs a prey to disease—your healthful body shrivelled and decayed-the colour fled from your cheek, and on your countenance the hue of death:-your languid eye, your parched lip, your feeble broken voice, and your scarcely beating pulse-life ebbing-relatives talking in whispers and dissolved in tears-all proclaiming that the hour is come when you must die! A deathlike silence around you-no joyful smiles-no cheerful countenances-no sounds of mirth or indications of revelry there-but every eye fixed on your wasted frame-every ear listening in breathless silence to your expiring moans, every moment expecting the spirit to take its flight, and leave its tabernacle of clay! Have you in imagination heard the last agonizing cry which bursts from the bosom of a father or a mother,—of a husband, a wife, of a child, when the struggle is over, and the soul has gone to give in its final account?-And with such a scene portrayed before you, can you thoughtlessly rejoice in "the flight of time?"

You have often, it may be, followed the remains of another, to deposit them in the tomb, perhaps yourself the chief mourner there. The preparations for committing the remains of an endeared relative or friend to the dust, have gone like

iron into your very soul. You have returned from the scene of sorrow pensive and thoughtful; but have you ever realised the company of mourning friends assembled to convey your own remains to the house appointed for all living? Have you ever seriously thought, that the last sad office which you and they together have performed to the dust of another, must, after the lapse of a few years at most, be performed to your own? And with such a prospect before you, can you inconsiderately hail with welcome "the flight of time?"

"When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return," was the language of one of old. Every year as it passes, speaks the same language, "I shall not return." The year just closed has said, "I shall never return-I am gone beyond recall-you are a year nearer to death and to eternity!" Your last year, reader, must come ! And who can tell how near that year, that day, or that hour may now be?

reader

The lapse of another year seems to propose to every these questions-" what have you been doing?—what have you gained?—or what have you lost, during the year which is gone?—and what are you resolved to do for the time to come?"

To the first of these questions, what have you been doing? many may reply, "We have been eating and drinking and making merry-enjoying life, and making time pass as pleasantly as possible.' Some may answer-" We have been busied in amassing money to lay by for a comfortable old age." Others, "We have been occupied early and late in earning the scanty pittance which scarcely supplies our daily wants. Some may confess that "their attention has been chiefly engrossed about adorning their persons; and some that the culture of the understanding has been the one grand object of their pursuit ;" and all will avow, that happiness has been the ultimate object of their search.

And does any one of these, reader, contain a satisfying answer to this question? Are these the ends for which you live, and will any or all of these prove a solace or a comfort when you come to die? Have you no higher end of existence than to eat, and drink, and sleep, and die? Is sensual indulgence an object worthy of a being endowed with a reasonable soul? Is it a pursuit befitting a creature destined for immortality, to toil early and late in amassing riches which cannot profit, and whose very possession brings with them a load of anxiety and care? Does your hard-earned

pittance so engross your affections, as to aid you to contemn that portion which endureth for ever? Or can we for a moment suppose, that the all-wise Creator would form a creature with a rational soul, for the mere object of filling up his span of life in attiring his perishing body, whilst his immortal soul was left destitute of that raiment, in which alone he can stand with acceptance before his Judge? Nor will it stand the test of reason to make the cultivation of the mental powers alone, the highest aim of existence. The certainty that eternity follows time in its flight, proves that the soul's final destiny ought to be pursued as the grand object of life.

Hear, reader, the language of God, in reference to these various objects of pursuit: "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.' -"Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven."-" Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or wherewithal shall we be clothed? for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things; but seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.' "Unto man he saith, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."

What have you gained during the year that is past? In the pursuit of the pleasures of the world, you have gained perhaps a greater knowledge of evil,-purchased experience at the hazard of your soul's interests for eternity! This is emphatically, to gain a loss. You have gained perhaps an addition to your fortune; and at what expense have you obtained it? In your eager pursuit of wealth, "the true riches" have been left uncared for-" the pearl of great price" has never been sought; nay, so deeply engrossed have you been with earthly treasures, that you have now no heart for that treasure in heaven, which it ought to be your highest object to seek. Better far for you, had your earthly riches been sunk to the bottom of the sea, than to have" gained this harm and loss!" Or have you gained an accession to your knowledge is your judgment more matured-your information more diversified and extended so far it is well. But if these literary or scientific pursuits have been sought whilst a knowledge of your own heart-a knowledge of your spiritual

wants a knowledge of God, and a knowledge of the Saviour, have been overlooked-you have obtained your knowledge at a fearful loss! Hear the language of an inspired apostle"Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the ex cellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord."

What have you lost during the year that is gone? It is recorded of a heathen emperor, that when a day had passed during which he had performed no deed of benevolence, he exclaimed, "I have lost a day." Many looking back upon the year that is past, may say, "I have lost a year-I have wasted it in the pursuit of pleasure, wealth, honour, applause, the wisdom of this world, but not a thought have I bestowed on eternity! not an hour have I given to the concerns of my soul!"

Reader, art thou living for this world alone, and hast thou no well-founded hope of a better portion beyond it?-then, remember that so much of thy portion is gone-each succeeding year is lessening it, and leaving thee poorer than beforeTime, as a thief, is stealing it away. O be persuaded, then, to seek a better inheritance, which cannot decay, and of which nothing can ever deprive thee! How many precious opportunities hast thou lost!-how many advantages hast thou slighted!—how many warnings hast thou given to the winds! Yet every year is bringing thee nearer to thine eternal home. Art thou then a traveller towards the place of everlasting woe, and wilt thou not pause and think what thou art losing by thy folly? Thou art losing present happiness and peace -forfeiting communion with Him whose gracious presence would fill thee with joy unutterable-bartering away everlasting blessedness-ruining thy soul for ever! And what gain can counterbalance a loss so immense?

There may be some reader of these pages, who had a relish for and delight in the things of religion at the commencement of last year, who has now lost much of that relish for serious things; how it is you know not, but you feel a deadness to religious duties, an indifference toward objects. of the highest moment. You have lost that deep sense which you once had of the evil and bitterness of sin; you do not feel that reluctance to practise it, which you once did. You look back and remember a time when you would have trembled to utter, or practise, what you can now speak and do without remorse or shame. If so, you are in imminent danger the pulse of spiritual sensibility is ceasing to beatthe conscience is becoming seared. Turn to the cross of

Christ, look on Him whom ye have pierced. And may the Lord pour out upon you the spirit of grace and supplication, that ye may approach him in the language of penitence, and through Him whom you have pierced, find mercy to pardon all your sins!

Some one may cast his eye on these pages, who from a change of circumstances, has lost some restraint which kept him from evil. You may have lost a friend whose watchful eye proved a check upon your conduct; or thrown yourself out from a circle of religious people, and become the associate of the profligate or the profane. You may be withdrawn from the sound of the gospel, which you heard from the pulpit, or under the parental roof, and may be taking the downward course to perdition. Unhappy reader! your situation is calculated to excite the commiseration of such as witness your fearful progress. But it is not yet too late. "Return unto the Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquities. Take with you words and turn to the Lord say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously; so will we render the calves of our lips."

What are you resolved to do for the future?-Is it your intention to live as you have done? Is time to pursue its rapid, silent flight, and bear you onwards on its wing towards an eternal world, whilst this present world is still to retain your heart? Is the great end of your inquiry still to be, "how much amusement, how much pleasure, or how much indulgence in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, can I crowd into its narrow span ?" Reader, beware! Your weal or woe depends on your sowing to the flesh, or sowing to the Spirit. If you sow to the former, you must reap corruption-if to the latter, you shall reap life everlasting. Therefore with the earnestness of one who feels eternity to be at stake, "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness"-fly to Christ the refuge of the guilty—the ark of safety provided for the sinner, to shelter him from the storm of impending wrath. Time is speeding its flight—the day of grace is passing away. Why wilt thou, then, delay thine application to the only appointed Saviour, till a more distant day? Be wise to-day, for ere to-morrow dawns, thy sun may be set in everlasting night. The day of death is hastening on, and after death is the Judgment! Hear then this friendly warning, and may the Lord bless it for thy good! Reader, hast thou already fled for refuge to Christ the only Saviour? Then to thee the flight of time is no just cause of