THE

CHRISTIAN'S PENNY MAGAZINE.

THE NEW YEAR.

"HITHERTO the Lord hath helped us."-(1 Samuel vii. 12.) Past mercies ensure future confidence goodness and mercy have followed us all our days. The hand of the Lord has led us safe along the journey of life. We have been preserved, cared for, watched over, and shielded from danger by Him who never slumbers, nor sleeps. His eye has rested on us every conscious moment, we have been led and guided by His good Spirit, and not one of all His great and wonderful promises has failed us.

The New Year opens on us—we know not the uncertain future -all is concealed, both in its trials and temptations. He knows what is best for us, we cannot dictate to Him, but may rest assured that all things concerning us shall be ordered for the best. His wisdom is perfect, and He has a right to choose for us the very path which shall best secure our happiness, and promote His glory. We are blind, and ignorant, and defective in our judgment and estimation of things; we grope in darkness, and have no light, no discernment, no just appreciation of what is best to form, mature, and ripen our spiritual character. If we attempt to choose our own path, we shall inevitably fail; we cannot advance safely one step without His guiding hand, we shall stumble and rush into danger and temptation, unless He keeps us every moment—we are only safe in His keeping. He will perform and complete the work He has begun in us, but it must be in His own way. We are so erring as to put darkness for light, as to write bitter things, if all does not go smooth; forgetful that the path to glory is rugged and trying, that every virtue may be

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exercised, every grace brought into action, and earthly hopes exchanged for heavenly and eternal treasures. He is never unmindful of our highest interest, and often destroys and cuts up by the root the earthly good, that the higher and spiritual life may abound, and the bond of love be strengthened and confirmed. He watches carefully the precious seed of divine grace in the heart, waters it with the dews of heaven, and ripens it to perfection by the constant operation of His Spirit. He never forgets His own work, but silently and effectually carries it on, beautifying the soul unto holiness, adorning it with His perfect righteousness, and making it perfect and complete for its home and inheritance above. "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." Shall we doubt His faithfulness in the future? Shall we not rather feel the strength and power of His covenant, and unchangeable love? not yield to Him the best, and the most hallowed of our thoughts and affections; and so live that His name may be glorified? We are laid under intense obligations to serve Him with increasing fidelity. All we have, we receive from Him, and are unceasing pensioners on His bounty. What shall we render unto the Lord? Time is short, our moments are limited, our opportunities for doing good will soon be over; the present is ours-the calls to duty and faithfulness are urgent, we are individually summoned to increased activity in the Lord's vineyard, and the Master solemnly appeals to us. 'Occupy till I come." "Be thou faithful unto death." Earnest living and earnest work are demanded and pressing. Souls are perishing. The world is before us, it may be our last year of probation. May we have grace to abound in prayer, that We may be found faithful, concentrate our energies and talents more unreservedly to Him—whose we are, and whom we serve— seeking more intensely than ever to win souls to Christ, making His glory the object of life, resting on the divine promises, and go forward under the full assurance of His constant presence, guidance, and direction; that we may enjoy a large measure of spiritual prosperity, and so labour that a special blessing may rest on all we do and undertake in the year on which we have entered. Tiverton. J. S. G.