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The past year was not without its enjoyments and its trials; and yet we are now utterly unable to point out those spots where we rejoiced or wept. But as we are journeying eastward, looking for the appearing of the Sun of Righteousness, the light falls differently on those objects we have passed and those we are approaching The very things we counted gain, appear but loss; and those which once lay buried in their own dark shadows, are now lighted with unearthly glory. Look! where that cold and gloomy cloud now rests, and call to mind the hours of mirth, and revelry you spent upon that very spot. What fruit had we in those things whereof we are now ashamed? Does the retrospect of them leave any pleasurable sensations on the mind; or do they now appear what they once did? Have they not perished with the using, leaving only their ashes as a blackened spot upon our heavenward path? But strown through the dim past, are there not some points of light and beauty? Our hours of retirement and prayer, our wrestlings with our own evil passions, our silent waitings on God's message in the sanctuary; our visits of mercy to the poor and ignorant; our felt, and faithful, and close communings with those who hungered for the bread of life; our studies of the lively oracles, when virtue seemed, at every touch, to come out of them,-why have these left so few traces along the way which God hath led us, that a stranger scarcely can discover by them where our home lay, and whither we were tending?

The past is past, and all our property is in the future. Little indeed of that may be given us,- but the less time, the more work. Forethought, examination, enterprize, and unconquerable industry, are as much necessary with reference to our future plans as intelligent beings, and especially as Christians, as they are to those who are engaged in railway operations. What pains are taken, and what expenses are incurred to be before-hand with the work; what carefully-laborious surveys are carried on to ascertain the character, products, natural features, and capabilities of the country it is intended to traverse. What majestic enterprise distinguishes the operations of surveyor and engineer: roads are carried over rivers, and rivers over roads; hills are levelled or tunnelled, valleys are raised, and nothing is suffered to turn aside the gigantic purposes of the projector. And then

what a scene of bustle and activity is a railway in actual progress! One spirit seems to actuate all the persons employed, and whatsoever the hand finds to do, it does with all its might. Even the very horses seem to catch the enthusiasm of their owners, and to pull more vigorously at the loaded truck, and trot back more briskly with the empty one, than if engaged on ordinary operations. But what is all this stir about? Simply, perhaps, after all, to bring a few unimportant towns half-an-hour nearer to each other; or, it may be, to connect two important lines that would be as well left unconnected, for any traffic they would gain by the junction.

Now, does not all this vigilance for such unworthy ends put us to shame in our attempts after things of so much higher concern? How many of our readers are at this moment marking out a line of conduct for the New Year, with diligence and care at all to be compared to that which men will exercise to serve the mercenary purpose of growing richer in the things of this world? Who amongst them has formed a well-concerted plan of what he means, by God's help, to do throughout the coming twelve months? Has he made even a first rough guess at the probable outlay necessary for any project of the kind?

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Perhaps he may be contemplating a course of worldly pleasure and frivolity has he counted its cost? or has he not rather set it down on his own crude estimate, at far, far less than it will require ? Has he, to resume our figure, gone over the line? Perhaps he has found the gradients easy; but has he ever once thought of the Grand Terminus? Has he ever seriously considered the tremendous risk he is incurring if the foundations be not trustworthy, and he should, too late, discover that he has been building on the sand? Does he know on whose lands he is about to enter; and that the prince of the darkness of this world is lord of the soil throughout the whole line he has mapped out? O! let him, like a wise master-builder, first count the cost. If he know not what his prospects are, there is One who does. "God knows the thousands who go down

From pleasure into endless woe,

And with a long despairing groan,

Blaspheme their Maker as they go!"

Is he marking out for himself a course of intellectual study;

is he planning how he may rise into notoriety as a philosopher, or a moralist, or a metaphysician? Is he laying down a formula of study or research, a course of reading, or a series of experimental pursuits; or is he resolving in his own mind how he may best discipline the powers, and affections, and sentiments, of the mind, so as to become a severe and practical anylist of the measures and motives of others, thus laying bare the principles of all history, and unriddling the secrets of every revolution in the kingdoms of the world?

We are friendly to all kinds of knowledge: we wish to see the intellect disciplined, instructed, and educated. We fear no advance in mental attainments; for knowledge is light and power, and God himself claims both these as attributes peculiarly His own. But we would have even the philosophical enquirer sit down and count the cost of his projected studies. Does he know, practically and thoroughly, the country he has to go through. Is he quite sure that his new line will yield him the very large returns he calculates upon? Does he know that it will not cost him more than he has put down? Is it strongly impressed on his recollection that "time is the stuff life is made of," and consequently, inappreciably valuable, as it might be applied to things of highest value? Is he well acquainted with the collateral lines, and are the goods they carry fairly marketable? But, above all things, does his own line end well; and will he be able to convert the wood, hay, and stubble, he may look to for a revenue, to the gold, silver, and precious stones, which alone pass current in the country he is going to?

Let us, however, suppose that as a sincere, humble, confirmed Christian, you are desirous of commencing the present year in such a manner as shall best advance your spiritual interests, and promote a more vigorous growth of all that is desirable in the life of a believer in the Gospel. The command, to “walk circumspectly," sufficiently implies the necessity for a careful survey of past, present, and future. As a Christian, the impressions of the past will have wrought themselves so thoroughly into the character, as to produce all the practical accessories of that godly sorrow, so minutely described by the apostle; its influences are all that will remain; but let not these be barren or unfruitful. Your motto is, however, " Forward!" and you will

find abundant exercise for all the forethought, and enterprise, and untiring industry, so conspicuous in the projects of the children of this world. As one not ignorant of the devices of Satan, let your plans be well and timely laid. Be forewarned, if you would be fore-armed; weigh all difficulties before you come into conflict with them, calculate all contingencies, and where the opposition seems strongest, lean not to your own understanding. And when you have left principles and rudiments, let your mind receive, in all the majesty of their perfection, such views of the glorious gospel of Christ Jesus as shall fill you with all the fulness of God, and bring you to a due sense of the royalty of your high calling. What are the loftiest pursuits of the men of this world, and what are their appliances, compared with yours? None of them are aspiring so high as a corruptible crown, whilst you seek one that fadeth not away. None of them can surmount every difficulty,—but with you all things are possible. None of them can secure for one hour the very questionable honors and emoluments they seek; but you are heir of all things for eternity. Why art thou, then, cast down, O my soul; and why art thou disquieted within me?

What a glorious field lies before us! Let us occupy it till our Lord come. We stand in Christ's stead between offending man and his offended God. It is required of us to be holy as He is holy, to labor as He labored, to suffer, if need be, as He suffered; and who is sufficient for these things? Seen in the light and truth that radiate from his holy hill, how utterly contemptible is all the toil of those who rise up early, and sit up late, and eat the bread of carefulness, merely that they may heap up treasure for the moth, and spoil for the thief. Lord! let it not be so with us! Fill us with holy intrepidity; with fearless independence of all but Thee; with dauntless perseverance in the faith of Jesus, that we may war a good warfare through the Coming Year!

There are many who affect lofty views of the great enterprise involved in the salvation of their own souls, and the souls of others, who are yet slothful in the work. But we do not believe there can be idle christians. We know there may be idle busy bodies; but a paradox must have its limits. Is it within the bounds of possibility that those who have so much to do, and so

little time to do it in, can be ever found crying out—“ A little more sleep, and a little more slumber?" Is the business of eternity to be learned in the brief apprenticeship of threescore years and ten? When we take a calm and serious view of the believer's duty, and realize the solemn fact, that in this little hour he has to "learn Christ;"-how can we find it in our proud, presumptuous hearts to lose one moment of the time he lends us for this very purpose? If we really believe, that in Christ Jesus are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and are constrained as our spiritual appetite appears to grow by what it feeds on, to cry out, "O! the depth!" on surveying the limitless and unfathomable dimensions of our inheritance in Him, what have we, or rather what have we not, to learn during the little span allotted us on earth? But God has not promised us so long a term as threescore years and ten; he has not promised us another year-another month- another day. Great and precious as are his promises, they do not reach to-morrow; but are bounded by the present hour. Work! work! work! then while it is called to-day, for the night cometh in which no man can work.

Do you ask how you are to work? Work as captives of Christ; work as followers of Christ; work as students of Christ. You are apprehended of Him; follow after Him, and apprehend those things for which He has apprehended you.

Always feel that the grasp of his Almighty love is on you; feel, in the study, the closet, the sanctuary, the solitary walk, the mixed assembly, the market-place of souls, or merchandise, -in all places, at all times, that He is by your side, holding up or holding back your goings. He has not laid hold of you that you may go at large again, even into those pursuits which men account most honorable. Philosophy may spoil your simple trust in Jesus if he go not with you. But upheld and counselled, and led forth by Him, there is no enquiry that he cannot sanctify and sweeten. Till you have secured the kingdom of God and his righteousness, every figure in the sum of your attainments is a cipher-this, the initial unit that gives them all their value.

Work as a follower of Christ. He is your example, no less than your Master and your Saviour. Let your prayer be-

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