Various, that the mind of desultory man, studious of change and pleased with novelty, may be indulged-Cowp.

Vol. V.

Philadelphia, Saturday, January 2, 1808.

No. 1.

ORIGINAL PAPERS.

MISCELLANY.

For The Port Folio.

THE LAY PREACHER.

"See, then, that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, REDEEMING THE TIME."

will be generally predominant in those visions of Futurity, with which, we may presume, men of reflection as well as sensibility are favoured. They will sorrow for the negligences and errours of the past time, but they will exult in pleasing IN the calendar of every contem-dreams of better days to come. The plative man, the arrival of A NEW YEAR will be noted as a memorable epoch. Amid the bustle of business, or the blandishments of pleasure, he will hear, distinctly, the voice of Time, and, by a natural association, be led to meditate on the past, and to project for the future. As he communes with his own heart, in the recesses of retirement, various powers will hover over his head, in Reflection's hour. Memory will sometimes appear to him with a gay, and sometimes with a ghastly train, and pining Regret and corroding Remorse will insert their thorns amid the buds of sanguine Expectation, and the fairest roses of Promise. But honest Purposes, good Resolution, and cheering Hope

face of every moralizer, at such a period, is the changeful face of April. As his emotions are various, their expressions will be so. Sometimes there will "appear much joy in him," but then joy cannot show itself without a badge of bitterness. "He will break out into tears, a kind overflow of kindness;" but we hardly need the authority of SHAKSPEARE'S affectionate governour of Messina to assert, that there are no faces truer, than those that are so washed.

To me, January generally comes up with a jocund air, and kind assurances, like a liberal friend, with not only brightness in his eye, and a smile on his cheek, but warmth in his heart, and gifts in his hand.

A

He

Though this personage is generally curately informed, nor is it very reputed austere, and many shudder material to inquire. It is highly at his approach, and shiver in his probable, from the antithesis in the presence, I have always found my- text, that they were so. Perhaps self very comfortable in his compa- every Ephesian would waste many ny. He treats me with benignity, a year either asleep in the dormitoand after the very law of kindness. ry of Indolence, or broad aw ke and He amuses my imagination with his vociferous in the pavilion of Revelry, holydays and his pageants. or wallowing in the sty of Intempesooths my ear with merry musick, rance. Prodigal of his fortune, and he regales my palate with those prodigal of his health, and more laChristmas pies, which my Mother vish of his hours, he would lend Church has made so sweet and sa- them to every impertinent and pervoury. But this is only the least fidious borrower, and never think part of his benevolence. With his of redeeming the precious pledge. admirable admonitions he NOU- Such egregious Folly, and such auRISHES MY MIND. He urges me to dacious Vice deserved all the admoforsake the Fair of Vanity and the nition of an Apostle. He could not mob of men, and by the radiance of behold these infatuated Ephesians, his bright fires, and brighter lamps, thus wandering in the mazes of Abto read, what deserves to be re- surdity and Iniquity; all desperate membered, and to write what, possi- on the very brink of Destruction; bly, some may read. The wind, and all darkling in the shadow and rain, and hail, that often beat of Death. Like an experienced, about his dwelling I heed not, nor a faithful, and a trusty guide, he inam I chilled into torpor by that be-dicates the paths of Honour, Peace, numbing Frost, and that cold, spe- and Security, and then to each pilcious dissembler, Snow, who some- grim exclaims, See that ye walk times appear by his side. Let all circumspectly, not as fools, but as the Demons of the Tempest howl wise. for admission at my casement, I am careless of their importunity, for I have my Bible and my Shakspeare for my protection and solace.

He does not content himself merely with suggesting a plan of Prudence, but correctly indicates the mode of its accomplishment. A better mode the wit of man could not devise, or even the eloquence of an Angel enforce. This was by REDEEMING THE TIME, as, with equal emphasis and elegance, it is expressed in the Epistle. This is one of those brilliant metaphors, by whose glory the Scriptures are so often illuminated, and whose splendour, like that of the Sun, is not merely a sparkling, but a salutary light. The weight of the Apostle's admonition is much more forWhether the citizens of Ephe-cibly impressed by this figure than sus, like most of the inhabitants of by that plainness of speech, which he every other metropolis, were some- judiciously employed on other octimes gay, and careless, and thought-casions. With his usual artfulless, and dissipated, we are not ac- ness of address, and his consum

At the very mention of the Blessed Book I open it, with reverence; and in the very elegant epistle to the Ephesians, what admirable advice do I receive from Saint Paul, and how appropriate, at this season, to my readers and to me. It is an injunction of Prudence, uttered with the most friendly voice of Caution. "See, then, that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time."