our iniquities." There is not one of those calamities which has not a cause in our transgressions; not one that does not correspond too plainly with some evil deed of man, as its first cause and penalty. Who, therefore, when he sees the sword of judgment fall, can raise his hand or voice against it, and not show himself to be deceived and ignorant beyond all excuse?

Where then can peace be found, or hope, under such circumstances, but in the recorded dealings and revealed mercy of that God in whose hand our breath is, and whose are all our ways? The very language which has been used often before, and has suited too well to describe a multitude of cases, again and again comes forth too accurately to tell of renewed evils upon earth. It is now as in many, many other pages of man's history, that abroad the sword bereaveth, and at home there is as death. Although we wish to dwell upon the blessed truth which all things encourage us to do that mercy is mixed with, and even rises over judgment in God's providential dealings, yet we cannot forget what is ever too plainly before our eyes that judgment is mingled with mercy, and that we are very far from being altogether unpunished.

The hour of victory is also the hour of mourning. The price is fearful at which the cheapest success is bought. But those which we are now celebrating have been won by awful sacrifice, and the Christian will grieve for the fallen foe as well as for the fallen friend. The knowledge of so much fearful bloodshed, the description of such harrowing scenes, make the world appear the home of death, and the state of man who has to wade through such rivers of woe a real place of chastisement. The very triumph won by arms is shocking to the mind. While we never doubt the justice and righteousness of the painful course of duty imposed upon our country at this moment by permitted circumstances, we are at the same time sickened of the fallen and wretched state of a world that demands such horrors to be enacted upon it for necessary causes. Can this be fancied by any thinking man to be our place of rest, where war and all

its sacrifices are necessary so frequently to be endured. Can we love a world where such crimes abound as to require such penalties? Can we take for our portion a place where the turbulent passions of men lead to these tremendous consequences, and fill so many of its fairest scenes with heaps of slaughter?

Do not these things compel us, brethren, to sigh for the happy reign of the Prince of Peace, which God in his wise mercy sets before us as to come hereafter, where men shall not learn war any more, where mercy and truth meet together, and righteousness and peace shall kiss each other?

So long as the kingdoms of the earth are the kingdoms of men, these horrors will reign as attendants on the rule of sinners, wars and rumours of wars must still be heard but in the moment that the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, the reign of peace will be set up for ever; the daring ambition and wilfulness of man will shrink into its place of punishment and afflict no more. Who then

are wise, who are faithful, who do not wait for his coming? Who have the love of God, or the love of truth and holiness, the love of mercy in their hearts, that do not from their souls prefer the rule and government of Christ and his triumph to the victory of the most righteous cause on earth? and who is safe that rejoices deeply in the joys of this most fallen state, and does not seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness with all his heart? If we take these things in the temper and feeling of children of God and his blessed Son in the secret of our hour of prayer, we shall sigh and mourn over the sins and wickedness of the nature we all partake of, more sincerely and truly than we rejoice with the shouts of victory, although in a good and righteous cause. We know that it is the general feeling among us to lament most deeply the need of such sacrifices, and to condemn the authors of them; let us however go further, go to the root and source of all the offending, and we find it to be the lost state and corrupt heart of all mankind, the sinfulness which has come in upon us as a whole world,

the desperate wickedness of all flesh, which makes men by turns the agents and the victims of divine wrath against them.

SELECTIONS FROM DIFFERENT AUTHORS.

E.

On the Conclusion of the Year.-Consider, first, that the year is almost come to a conclusion; it is just upon the point of expiring. The twelve months that are now nearly past have flown away into the gulf of eternity, from whence they will never return again. One year passes away after another, and hurries us also along with them into an endless, unchangeable eternity. Our years pass rapidly on in succession after this manner, and we shall find ourselves at the end of our lives much sooner than we imagine. Let us not then set our hearts upon transitory things; let us despise whatever passes away with this short life, and learn to adhere to God alone, who remains for ever, because He is eternal. Let us be always prepared for our departure hence.

Consider, secondly, that as the year is now on the point of expiring, so all the pleasures, diversions, and amusements in which we have spent it may now be said to exist no more; the remembrance of them is but like that of a dream. Since, then, such is the nature of all things that pass with time, why do we set our esteem or affections on them? Why are we not practically and intimately convinced of their emptiness and vanity, and that nothing deserves our love or attention but God and eternity? And as the pleasures of the year are all past, so are all the troubles, uneasinesses, pains, and mortifications thereof; they also appear now no more than a dream; and so will all temporal evils appear to us a little while hence, when we shall see ourselves upon the brink of eternity. Let us learn, therefore, only to fear those evils which have no end; and the evil of sin, which leads to those never-ending evils.

Consider, thirdly, what use you have made of your time this year, which was only given you by your Creator in order to bring you nearer to Himself, and to a happy eternity. Recollect the many favours and

blessings you have received from Him every day of the year! the many graces and invitations to good! and ask yourself what profit you have reaped from them? Have you made any improvement whatever since the beginning of the year? Instead of advancing towards God, have you not rather withdrawn yourself farther from Him? What an account shall you have to give one day for all this precious time, and for all these, graces and blessings, spiritual or corporal, which you have so ungratefully abused and perverted during the course of the year! Again, as to those sins, whether of omission or commission, against God, your neighbour, or yourself, of which you have been guilty this year, either in thought, word, or deed, oh, what a dreadful scene will open itself to your eyes upon a little examination, especially when you consider the little pains you have taken to forsake them by repentance and faith in Christ! Oh, how melancholy would your case be, were your eternal lot to be determined by your performances of this past year!

Conclude by returning thanks to God for all his blessings of this year, and especially for his patience and forbearance with you in your sins. Return now at last to Him with your whole heart, begging mercy and pardon not only for all the sins of the year, but also for all the sins of your life; and resolve, with God's grace, if He should be pleased to grant you another year, to spend it in such a manner as to secure to your souls, through Jesus Christ, the never-ending year of a happy eternity. Meditations for Every Day in the Year.

The right Estimate of Sin.-How do we regard sin? Is it a light thing in our eyes? Do we excuse it, or laugh at it? or do we weigh it in the balance of the sanctuary, and look upon it, as what God represents it, a deadly thing -a plague, a leprosy, treason against heaven? All our professions of religion are vain, unless we regard it thus. We know nothing of repentance, we know nothing of faith; no, nor of holiness in thought, or word, or work, till our religion rests on a right estimate of sin, till we sigh and cry for the abominations done in the midst of us, and around us. May God show us the evil of sin!

for then, and not till then, can we glory in the cross of Christ, in the salvation of the Gospel.-Dowling.

Reading the Psalms.-By often reading the Psalms, as the ancient Christians were wont to do, with devotion and attention of mind, we shall find much spiritual consolation, whatever condition we are in. And thus the Christians of old exercised their religion, and glorified God, and solaced themselves. And it is a comfortable thought, that we employ ourselves in this way, by which so many have to heaven in former ages. gone We should, therefore, endeavour to be affected in our mind, according to the matter which we read, whether for imploring the grace of God, rejoicing in his salvation, praising his name, or bewailing sins past, and begging forgiveness, &c.

Again, the book of Psalms contains many prophecies of Christ, as of his kingdom and glory, under the history of David, his death, and of his resurrection, of his sitting on the right hand of the Father, and many more the like.-The same.

Who are the Poor?-A man, if destitute of the necessaries of life, must be wretched; but if he has a sufficiency with regard to food, clothing, and habitation, suited to his state, he may be called poor, but he is only comparatively so. Take a peasant or a mechanic in a village, sober, moral, religious; his wishes bounded by the simplicity of rural life; his sleep sweet; his meals, though plain, sauced by appetite; his hands sufficient for him; his labour limited, and free from distracting cares; his little garden yielding him the useful vegetable and the Sunday flower; the Sabbath a day of pleasing change, and rest, and refreshment of spirits, the going to the house of God in company; and the Bible, now more amply read, though not forgotten during the week: take such an one, and his condition as to enjoyment will not shrink from a comparison with thousands who never look down upon him but with contempt, or pity, or indifference.-Autobiography of the Rev. W. Jay.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We have received the Communications of the Rev. T. Farley; L. S. R.; E. A.; J. A.; A Layman; S. B.; and some anonymous correspondents.