sons, I have given my place to tion, but may soon remind him of another; but I hope I shall never the limited nature of his ability. be requested to do the like again. Time is now the subject of our My friends, it is said, The grace | contemplation, and, while we of God appeared to all men; that think, it rapidly flies. We carry Christ tasted death for every back our thoughts to the moment man ;' and was going on, when a when God said, " Let there be worthy old gentleman, one of the light, and there was light;" but managers and trustees of the what have we then done? beplace, arose and said, ، Mr. | yond that period there was eterW- you had better give out | nity, and we are lost. We endeaa hymn.' This stopped him; vour to form some idea of a day and a hymn he gave out. The when there shall be an end of following was one of the stanzas: terrestrial scenes; or, farther, of a period equal to myriads of years, spent in indescribable bliss, or unimaginable misery; but, beyond, very, very far beyond that, will be eternity, and we are overwhelmed. It belongs then to the eternal mind to comprehend unlimited duration, and finite un derstandings must return to the improvement of some small portions or divisions of it.

، ، Stand then against your foes,
In close and firm array;
Legions of wily fiends oppose
Throughout the evil day;
But meet the sons of night,
And mock their vain design,
Arm'd in the arms of heavenly light,
Of righteousness divine.'

"He kept me behind him, and

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would not suffer me to conclude in prayer; and when he had done, he would not turn round to We have great reason to be speak to me. I went partly down thankful for those divisions of the pulpit stairs, expecting him our time which originated with to follow; but he kept his seat. our benevolent Creator. He I returned, took him by the hand, could doubtless have created all and said, Good night, Mr. things in the twinkling of an eye, W- ; but he shook away. my but he parceled out his work into hand, as Paul shook off the viper daily portions, and closed it in a from his. The whole congrega- | week, evidently for our instruction was in agitation, and evi- tion. By an arrangement, which dently in pain for me. His treat- none but himself could have dement of me was town talk. The vised or executed, the simple recongregation at large expressed volutions of those of the heavenly their approbation of the sermon, bodies with which we are most and astonishment that any part familiar, divide our time into days, of it had given Mr. W-- of weeks, months, and years; and fence." it is with the last of those divisions we have now to do. It is the revolution of another year we propose to improve; and, seeing this division of time is of divine appointment, and we are so involved in the business and vanity of a temporary world as often to forget ourselves, it is good to seize any particular season that affords a probability of our mak

[To be concluded in our next.]

REFLECTIONS

ON THE

COMMENCEMENT OF THE YEAR.

THERE is not a subject to which man can direct his atten

ing any progress in the art of "so | sions of duty, and commissions numbering our days that we may of sin, countless as the drops apply our hearts unto wisdom." which compose the ocean, or as Were it possible for a being the sands on the shores that bound unacquainted with the nature it. To recount the sins of our and end of man to visit this lives, would be as impossible as world, and were he to form his to number the years contained in opinion merely from a general eternity, or the mercies expeview of his conduct, he could not rienced from our heavenly Fa suspect that he was the subject ther's hands. Let us then conof an immaterial principle, or fine our hasty and imperfect rethat he had any destiny more im- trospect to the year which is just portant or awful than that which passed; and even in this short he now fills: he would perhaps space what cause for deep hube led to adopt the striking de- miliation! signation of a popular writer, and pronounce it a "world without souls;" or, if undeceived in this particular, and taught his history, with the provision made for his recovery; if assured, notwithstanding the scenes which at this season surrounded him, it was nevertheless the duty and privilege of man, as even Socrates taught, "to eat and drink in order to live, and not to live in order to eat and drink," he must condemn it 66 as an insane world."

As citizens of the world, (the boasted distinction of many proud philosopher,) but rather as philanthropists, what little interest have we felt in the general welfare of our species! how little have we done for missions! What has the little pittance of our subscriptions effected, and what good has the fervency of our prayers brought down? As subjects of a highly privileged country, what have we done for its welfare? What have we done for the cause of education? Into how many hands have we put the scriptures of truth? Into how many dark villages have we exerted ourselves to introduce the gospel? In the parish and neighbourhood in which we reside, how many hungry have we fed; how many naked have we clothed; how many that were sick and in prison have we visited? In the family, has there been that, command of temper, and that example of forbear

The month on which we have entered was called by the Romans Januarius, from Janus, one of their divinities, (to whom they attributed two faces,) because the first day of this month looks on the one hand towards the old year, and on the other towards the new. Although there is a connexion between the origin of this name and their idolatrous religion, it may not be amiss to take a hint from the fact, and endea-ance, patience, and forgiveness, vour to review the past, and contemplate the future.

which tend to recommend reli gion? Have we exerted that auIn reviewing the past, there is thority, or rendered that obediabundant cause for the deepest ence, which our relative stations repentance and the liveliest grati- required? In the church, what tude. We were conceived in sin has been our conduct? Have we and shapen in iniquity; and of been early and regular at the this humiliating fact we have house of God? have we been given abundant proof in omis-respectful and kind to our minis

ters and deacons, strengthening | surprising occurrences that pretheir hands by our liberality and sent themselves teach us, but prayers? have we carefully stu- the truth that we know not what died the duties of membership, a day will bring forth? What, and aimed in the fear of God to vain man;-after the experience discharge them? In the world, of so many ages, after all thy have we at no time disgraced our boasted discoveries, after all the christian profession, or been efforts of those mighty geniuses, ashamed of the cross of Christ? one or two of which as with the Will our commercial transactions, eccentricity of a comet have enand our amusements, bear a seri- lightened an age, is this thy conous review, and meet with consi-dition? How ridiculous and prederate approbation? And retiring sumptuous then is the conduct from all these somewhat public of those rash enthusiasts, who scenes, what say our closets and now and then start up, palming our Bibles? In the solemn re- their daring predictions on apotirement of self-examination, what calyptic prophecy, to the no says conscience to our progress small distress of the weak and the in the divine life? What lust timid, until the passing year behas been mortified; what passion lies their pretended discernment! is through grace subdued; or Eager curiosity and anxiety about what victory has been gained the future betray unbelief. over those sins that most easily "Blindness to the future 's kindly given, beset us? O that each of us That each may fill the circle mark'd by heav'n." could sincerely say, that such weighty considerations had often occupied our minds; and that to grow in grace, and increase in knowledge, had been our prevailing desire and endeavour! The holiest reader, however, would be the readiest to acknowledge, that in all these things he has come short; and to exclaim, | "Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord; for in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified." It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. O that the goodness of God may lead us to repentance, and excite our gratitude, that amid such imperfections and rebellions we should have been fed and clothed and protected and comforted, and that our religious privileges should have been conti-inheritance. nued!

But we turn to the future. And as we endeavour to penetrate it, what cause for humility! What do the incessantly new and

The revealed character of God, however, may well lead to the exercise of faith, and the indulgence of hope. It is the certainty of the fulfilment of his gracious purposes and promises which inspires confidence; the assurance that our great High Priest ever liveth to intercede for us; the conviction that the hairs of our head are numbered, and that as our day our strength shall be. It is the full persuasion that we are hastening to the promised land by a divinely appointed road, that reconciles us to the troubles of the way; united with the knowledge, that even those troubles conspire to produce that meetness in our hearts which is necessary for our admittance to, and enjoyment of, the celestial

Let not, however, our penitential review of the past, or confident anticipations of the future, induce neutrality or inactivity on our parts. It is true God is om

groping after. However that may | be, I observed the lad who entered with Mr. Old riveted in attention, with every mark and symptom of feeling and intelligence, saying little, but modestly asking now and then an appropriate question. I took occasion, before I went forward, to inquire after him, and found that young as he was he was a member of the church at Northampton, and looked on as a very consistent and promising character. I lived at Olney till the end of 1785, and in the course of that time I called two or three times, and was each time more and more struck with the youth's character, though I said little at Mr. Old's; but before I left Olney, Mr. Carey was out of his engagement to Mr. Old. I found also that he was sent out as a probationary preacher, and preached at Molton; and I said to all to whom I had access, that he would, if I could judge, prove no ordinary man. Yet though I often met both old Mr.Ryland, the present Dr. Ryland, Mr. Hall, and Mr.Fuller, and knew almost every step taken in forming your Missionary Society,-and though I sometimes preached near Molton, yet it so happened that I do not recollect having met with him any more till he came to my house in London, with Mr. Thomas, to desire me to use what influence I had with Mr. G. to procure them license to go in the Company's ships as Missionaries to the British settlements in India, perhaps in 1792. My little influence was of no avail. What I said of Mr. Carey so far satisfied Mr. G. that he said, if Mr. Carey was going alone, or with

It should have been Olney. He was baptized at Northampton, but joined a small church at Hackleton, af

ter which he joined Olney Church, July

14, 1785.

one equally to be depended on along with him, he would not oppose him; but his strong disapprobation of Mr. Thomas, on what grounds I know not, induced his negative. I believe Mr. Old died soon after I left Olney, if not just before, and that his shop, which was a little building apart from the house, was suffered to go to decay. While in this state I several times passed it, and said to my sons and others with me, "THAT IS MR. CAREY'S COLLEGE."

As it was at that time a mean and ruinous place, and as I stated that Mr. Carey was apprenticed to him who owned it, I was by some means or other charged with saying that he was a parish apprentice. This I neither said, nor meant, nor thought. The OLDS were rather a respectable family, as to temporal things, and I knew nothing of Mr. Carey's family till afterwards I was informed by a letter of an afflicted sister of his [Mary Carey], that a sermon which I preached at Creaton had been the means of her conversion. I from the first time thought young Carey an extraordinary person. I augured the most happy circumstances from his Mission, providing his life were spared. I had no doubt but in spite of his disadvantages of education, he would be a learned man; but he has lived to go be yond, in all respects, my highest anticipations. May God still preserve and prosper him and his ! My time of life, and many infirmities, lead me to suppose my race nearly run-but the Lord is very gracious, and I still keep busily employed. My thanks and best respects to the Committee, and my thanks to you for the publication.

I remain, dear Sir,
Your friend and fellow-labourer,
THOMAS SCOTT.