THE termination of one year, and the commencement of another, form an interesting period. At this period, the mind is naturally drawn to the consideration of solemn things A disposition to seriousness should be encouraged at all times; but especially when arguments from reason and Scripture are powerfully seconded by the appearances of nature, and the apparent, as well as real, changes of all the objects which surround us. We are reminded, not only by the revolutions of the heavenly bodies, but by the date of every newspaper and every letter, by all the forms of public and private business-that an important part of the active life of man has losed for ever. It will not be deemed improper for us to seize this occasion to offer such reflections as occur, in looking back upon the past, and casting an inquiring eye forward upon the future.

The last year has been more crowded with great and stupendous events of a political nature, than any year within the whole history of the four great monarchies. The attempt to establish a military/ despotism, which should hold in its iron grasp the whole civilized world; an attempt which had been persevered in with astonishing success for more than ten years and which was regarded by the most enlightened statesmen with a dismay resembling despair;this attempt, more formidable in itself, more afflicting in its progress, more disastrous in its probable consequences, than any other project of ambition from the days of Nimrod bûr own, has signally failed. We should certainly abstain from such political r flections, as would displease any portion of the friends of peace and human happiness; but on the subject here brought in.o view there is but one opinion with such persons. No man, indeed, can be found, who will venture to express a wish for the restoration of that gigantic power, which has just disappeared like a dream of the night. In tracing the various causes of this amazing reverse, the politician will find abundant materials for his contemplation; but the Christian will raise his thoughts to the Governor of the world, by whose wise and holy counsels all the unexpected changes of our imes have been produced; who has in view the promotion.of a VOL. XI.

greater cause and higher interests than are directly involved in the erection or overthrow of any temporal empire; and whose determinations will all be carried into full effect, notwithstanding any violent opposition or adverse appearances. In the great political events of the last five and twenty years, the Christian will see an unexampled preparation for the spread of pure religion. Infidelity has made its votaries ashamed of themselves and of their cause; it has shown, in the clearest manner, the necessity and the excellence of Christianity; and it has taught multitudes to press the Bible to their hearts with an ardor of affection, and to disseminate its holy doctrines with a zeal, to which they would otherwise have been strangers. The revolutions, which have astonished mankind, have had a powerful influence in lessening the attachment to empty forms of religion, and in breaking down corrupt establishments. It may be fairly concluded, that religious persecution will not again be countenanced and supported even by nominal Christians. The way seems fast opening for the propagation of the truth without direct resistance, and with the aid of reason, conscience, and the word of God; and, may it not safely be added, with the accompanying influ ences of the Holy Spirit. To these encouraging features of the times the observing and animated Christian will not forget to join the great and continually increasing efforts, which are now made to preach Christ where his name is not known. These various considerations give an interest to late political changes, which, great and stupendous as these have been, could never be given to the disposition of temporal thrones, or the restoration of the balance of power.

The Christian, who looks at the present condition of this coun try, will find many things to excite his regret and lamentation for the past, and his apprehension for the future. Whatever opinions may be entertained as to the origin and immediate causes of the war in which we are involved, no well-informed and conscientious man wiil deny, that the procuring causes have been our national sins. Such a man will perceive no sure indications of returning prosperity, without national repentance and reformation. He will therefore regard with a deep interest all the efforts, which have been witnessed during the last year, for the promotion of good morals and the restrain of vice. Similar efforts he will encourage with all the influence which he possesses. He will not suffer political dissensions to fill the whole circle of his vision, so that he cannot discover the remote and radical causes of the evils which we suffer, and the means of averting them. He will labor and pray for the increase of religious knowledge and practical godliness, as the only rational means of securing to his country the favor of heaven. But we would caution our readers against suffering their attention to be so engrossed by great and general objects, as to neglect Great as are those which more immediately concern themselves

the evils of war, there always have been evils of a personal nature, which have maintained an almost universal influence, and concerning which it is the duty of every man to examine his own soul.

We refer to stupidity in sin and the neglect of Christ and his ser vice, of salvation and heaven. If we look around in our churches and congregations, in our neighborhoods and families, how many evidences do we find of spiritual sloth and cowardice, and of spiritual death. Let this scrutiny be made with particular reference to the year which is just closed. How many opportunities have been neglected of communicating spiritual blessings to our fellow creatures. How much has each one lived as a mere inhabitant of this world; how little as an heir of immortality. How many have gone into the eternal state, within the last twelve months, without any preparation to meet their God. How many are now beyond the reach of mercy, to whom our readers had it in their power to impart religious knowledge and the offers of life; but to whom, nevertheless, no religious knowledge, no offers of life, were thus imparted. This is subject, which plainly does not receive proper attention` from Christians. Every country on the globe, every province, every town, every village, every neighborhood, contains ignorance to be removed, suffering to be mitigated, vice to be suppressed, and unbelief, hardness of heart, and worldly-mindedness, to be supplanted by faith, hope, joy, and evangelical love. If all professed Christians were truly what they profess to be, and if all real Christians were plainly distinguished by that grand characteristic of the Savior, that he went about doing good, how soon would the face of the world be changed; how glorious would be the alteration; how divine the effects. Every individual is answerable to his conscience, and to God the judge of all, if he does not contribute his full proportion towards bringing about so immense a good.

Time is rolling on; the active years of those, who are now in their prime, are fast spending; health is impaired, in ten thousand instances, and life is lost in ten thousand more; opportunities are passing by never to return; and yet how slowly does the good cause advance, compared with the wishes of Christians, and the exigencies of mankind. What enterprises must be undertaken, what Jabors performed, what perseverance exhibited, what an amazing. combination organized, and what extended operations carried on, before the world shall be evangelized. Every year of delay in this work ought to be a year of deep regret with Christians. But a year of delay should never be suffered to return, so far as the prayers and exertions of every enlightened friend of man can avail to prevent it.

The neglect of past opportunities should afford a powerful stimulus to future exertions. What! shall a man, a patriot, a Christian, live at this interesting period, and do little or nothing for his species, his country, and the church of God? Shall his years be occupied in the pursuit of wealth, or in lamenting its departure;-in the scramble for political distinction and influence, or in mourning over the uncertainty of popular favor; and shall he forget his immortal interests, and the deliverance of a fallen world from sin and error? Shall he sink himself into a mere actor in this temporary bustle, unmindful of his better part, his eternal destiny? Shail his

example encourage others to engage in the struggle for toys and gewgaws, and to despise the pearl of great price? Shall his conduct give the careless an occasion to pead, that they concluded from minutely observing his actions. that religion was a pretence, and salvation a dream? Shali he bring reproach upon his Savior, and harden the infidel in guilt? Let him awake, then, as he would avoid so melancholy a perversion of his influence; let him awake to activity, to a life of beneficent exertion. Let him remember, that vacancies are constantly made in our charitable societies by the ravages of death; that these vacancies must be supplied, and more than supplied; that as the benevolent are removed from the places which they occupied on earth, and as the field of labor is perpetually enlarging the call is the more urgent for an increase of laborLet him bear in mind, that every individual can work in some part or other of his Lord's vineyard; that no man's talents are so humble, nor his sphere of action so circumscribed, as that he will be forbidden the honor and privilege of engaging in the grand Jabor of love. Who can think himself thus forbidden, that considers the case of the widow, who had no other means of sustenance than two mites, and who, nevertheless, surrendered these two mites to the treasury of the Lord, and received for her liberality the high commendation of the omniscient Judge?

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The shortness of the time which remains to us, and the uncertainty how soon it will terminate, are powerful incentives to immediate action. Dr. Doddridge somewhere observes, while urging his readers to the daily practice of private devotion, that no Christian will have cause to regret having spent half an hour on the last day of his life, in communion with God and preparation for heaven; and that, as no man can tell how soon or how unexpectedly his last day may arrive, it is true wisdom to live every day as he would wish to have done, should he be summoned, without a moment's warn ing, to appear before God. The same thought may be happily applied to the plans which we may form, in reference to the new year. Let that portion of our time, our influence, and our property, be employed in the direct service of God, which we shall rejoice to have had thus employed, if we are removed, in the course of the year which has just commenced, from all participation in hunian affairs.

It is sometimes urged, in answer to charitable applications, that the person applied to has met with losses of property, and can therefore afford nothing in charity. Without denying that each person must be the judge of what he can afford, and that the loss of property in these changetul times, does utterly prevent many individu als from giving what they would gradly give if they were able, it may well be concluded that the above-mentioned excuse is carried too far. The question is not, how much a person has lost, but how much he has remaining. If he has lost much, and has much still remaining, which, however, he imagines to be in immediate danger, how much more reasonable is it that he should do good while he has it in his power, That such a man should urge his、

previous losses, as a reason for stopping all the channels of his benevolence, is as plainly wrong, though not quite so glaringly absurd, as for a person, who has lost much of his time, to allege this loss as a reason why all his time in future should be devoted to private and selfish objects. Whoever looks around him, and beholds immense fortunes suddenly melted away, under the scorching influence of some great public calamity, and reflects how much has been withheld, which it was the duty of the possessors to have given, will be convinced that it is a dictate of prudence, as well as of religion, that all should honor God with their substance.

In making estimates of his future contributions of time, property, and influence to public purposes, the wise and intelligent Christian will be on his guard against taking his standard from the great body of professing Christians, or even the great body of those, who are praised for their liberality. He will recollect, that, as there has been but one Howard, there has also been but one John Thornton in modern times; that among the many wealthy men, who have deserved commendation for their liberality, John Thornton alone stands so pre-eminent, as that no one will venture to suggest, that he ought to have given more. Though he died immensely rich, the streams of his beneficence flowed during his whole life in channels numerous, broad, deep, and uninterrupted, and refreshed all around him to an unprecedented extent. Before the institution of Bible Societies he distributed Bibles in such numbers, as would now do honor to any society of secondary importance. Before the institution of Missionary Societies, he did all in his power to promote the Gospel in every region which his ships visited. Before the institution of societies for the relief of indigent pious clergymen, he relieved the wants of numbers of this most meritorious class of men; and not only relieved their wants, but afforded them the means of comfort, of hospitality, of administering charity to others. To the poor and destitute, on both sides of the Atlantic, he dise tributed money by faithful agents with a princely liberality. Though he received solicitations with the utmost kindness and urbanity, much the greater number of his favors were conferred without solicitation; and the great mass of those, who were the recipients of his bounty, never knew their benefactor, and never will know him, till all actions shall be revealed at the resurrection of the just, That there are not instances of similar virtue, on a more humble scale, it would be too much to affirm; but among those who are and have been very rich, though many have done worthily, there has yet been but one John Thornton. Let the eye of the Christian philanthropist be directed to such an example; let him use all the means in his power to obtain an enlarged view of his duties; and let him look to God for a decided resolution to perform them.

Our readers will not deem it improper that we should bring to mind the relation which exists between them and ourselves. However we may have occasionally erred, in their opinion, or faten short of their expectations, we may confidently appeal to them, whether our work does not afford proof, not only of nonest intens