travelled, and, from the countless tokens of God's watchful care,-His gracious condescension, faithfulness, and love, I sought to lead you-while erecting another Ebenezer-not only to inscribe on it the words, "Hitherto the Lord hath helped me," but, with a firmer trust and deeper love, to say, "This God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our Guide even unto death." It has pleased our heavenly Father, to withhold from me the privilege of addressing you, this year, from my accustomed place, yet do I feel most grateful, that He gives me strength of mind and body, even from the sick-room, to discharge a duty so solemn and important, and thus, to hold communion with those, whom, from my inmost heart, I love so truly. It may be also, that the words I now address, will not be less welcome or impressive, coming, as they do, from one who has been lately snatched from the very gates of death, and who has experienced,—more deeply than language can describe,—the goodness, the mercy, and the love of God. By His blessing, these pages may be instrumental in awakening in some breast, a livelier sense of the divine faithfulness, and a more ardent longing for union and fellowship, with an unseen, but ever-present Saviour. Assuredly, I have no wish so near to my heart,-none which so entirely occupies my thoughts and prayers, as that all of us may be united, not only as pastor and people, but, as "heirs together of the grace of life,"-" partakers of Christ," and "children of God by faith in Him." For all of you, my heart's desire and prayer is, that "Christ Jesus may be formed in you the hope of glory," and that, by divine grace, you may be enabled to "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called." Both as pastor and friend, eleven years of intercourse have united me more and more closely to you in the bonds of affection; and, looking back on my past ministry, I can say, that in every home I met a cordial welcome,from every parishioner I received kindness and sympathy, and that no discord or division has ever weakened my hands or discouraged me in my labours. It were strange, indeed, if, with such a retrospect, I could feel otherwise than deeply interested in your present and eternal wel fare, if any desire could be stronger than - that all of you should be "followers of Christ" and "heirs of everlasting glory." Suffer me, then, dear friends,-while the year is closing in around us, and making way for the opening of another,—to address to you a few words of faithful, earnest, and loving counsel, and may the Spirit of all grace sanctify and impress them on all our hearts! In reviewing the past, the feeling which, at such a time as this, should be uppermost in every heart, is that of fervent gratitude to God for His unmerited goodness and mercy. There are none of us, who have not experienced, during the bygone year, that "the Lord our God is gracious." We may have failed to realise and acknowledge it, but it is not the less true, that every step of our pilgrim-pathevery hour of prolonged existence-every return of daily comforts and blessings, have been so many tokens of God's goodness, so many evidences that His "tender mercies are over all His works." In the house and by the way, He has watched over and protected us, and in the midst of a multitude of dangers,—which our eye could not see, nor our arm avert,-He has guided and upheld us, so that we may well |