2. When "the fulness of time" had arrived, "God sent forth his Son." Gal. iv. 4, 5. thy holy city, to finish transgression, to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness-then shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself." Dan. ix. 24-26. To this period of time, were the views, the hopes, the anxious expectations of the people of God under the former dispensation uniformly directed; and if we consider its importance, we shall not wonder that the breathing of their souls should be, “Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!" Psal. xiv. 7. But the promise was at length accom "He spake, and bade four thousand years Roll on: at length his Son appears; Angels with joy descend to earth, And sing the great Redeemer's birth." Now the promises of eternal mercy, which the blessed God had from time to time been graciously pleased to communicate, and the various predictions of the prophets, all began to receive their accomplishment. In particular, it had been promised to Abraham that in his seed all nations of the earth should be blessed. Gen. xxii. 18. This the father of the faithful under-plished, and stood as a promise of the Messiah, 3. All the heavenly host particiwho was to descend from his loins, pated in the joyful event. No and he was consequently led to sooner had the virgin brought forth look forwards with eager expecta- the holy child Jesus, at Bethlehem, tion to the day of Christ's appear- than an angel of the Lord appeared ance. Gal. iii. 16. John viii. 56. to the shepherds as they watched Isaiah had foretold that "A virgin their flocks by night, and anshould conceive and bear a son, nounced the good news of the Sawhose name should be called Im-viour's birth. "Behold I bring manuel,” ch. vii. 14. and, rapt in vision into distant times, he anticipates the actual accomplishment of the prediction, representing himself as a spectator of the wonderful event. "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Fa-ever ready to do his will, had been ther, the Prince of Peace." ch. ix. 6. yet this astonishing language was used more than seven hundred years before the prophecy was fulfilled. But, not to enlarge on so copious a subject, it may be remarked that the prophet Daniel seems to have nearly consummated the knowledge of the Old Testament saints on this point, when he announced both the exact time of Messiah's appearance, and the way in which he should bring redemption to his people Israel. "Seventy (prophetical) weeks," or four hundred and ninety years, "are deterwined upon thy people, and upon you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God." Luke ii. 6-13. These ministering servants of the Most High, who wait around his throne, spectators of his divine operations when he called the universe into existence; they then contemplated with sacred delight the successive displays of his power, and wisdom, and goodness in the creation of the heavens and the earth; the sun, moon, and stars; the various tribes of living creatures with which this lower world was peopled; and lastly, in that masterpiece of the divine architecture, the formation of man-man the image and glory of God-the sovereign of this lower world-and the representative of Deity over the other creatures; they were witnesses of all this, and, as the Almighty himself came poor, that we through his informed his servant Job, "the poverty might be made rich." 2 Cor. viii. 9. How unspeakable was his condescension and grace! "The children being partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same,” that he might die for their sins and redeem them from eternal misery. Heb. ii. 14. It was for this that "God was manifest in the flesh." 1 Tim. iii. 16. that "the image of the invisible God," became a man morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy." Job xxxviii. 7. But a new theatre was now opened on which they were called to contemplate the character of the blessed God, in a light in which they had never before beheld it. They were to survey his glory, not merely in the works of creation and providence, but in the accomplishment of the great work of man's redemption; of sorrows and acquainted with and, therefore, on beholding the very first step of the wonderous plan, when they saw the Saviour, though only a babe lying in the manger at Bethlehem, destitute of all earthly pomp and grandeur, they brake out into the most enraptured strains of triumph, and chaunted the celestial anthem, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men." Luke ii. 14. Yet these blessed spirits are not personally interested, as we are, in the riches of redeeming grace! 4. The birth of Christ affords to the human race a perpetual theme of wonder, gratitude, and praise. Of wonder, that rebellious man should be the object of special grace and favour, while rebellious angels were passed by, and left in a state of helpless despair, shut up to the blackness of darkness for ever; being reserved in everlasting chains to the judgment of the great day. Matt. xxv. 41. Jude, ver. 6. Not such is the case with man; for God hath not appointed us to wrath, but "he has so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life; for God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved." John iii. 16, 17. Of gratitude, to the adorable Redeemer, who, "though he was rich, yet for our sakes be grief-was persecuted, afflicted, No more the Gentiles lie forlorn; BEHOLD! THE PROMISED SEED IS BORN. THE pleasure in retracing the hours we DEATH OF THE OLD YEAR formerly passed with him, either IMPROVED. THE departure of the old year has been not unaptly compared to the death of an old friend; and as it is wise in us to make a suitable improvement of the occurrence, we may see the propriety of regulating our behaviour in one case, by that which generally takes place in the other. con in prosperity or adversity. Let us pursue a similar course with the past year. The principal events that have befallen us in it should be recollected, and the requisite improvements be raised from them by suitable meditation. What instances of preservation from dangers spiritual and temporal have beef afforded us, what new blessings granted, or old ones tinued, to ourselves, our friends, the church, or our country, and how have we expressed in word and deed our thankfulness for them? With what losses, calamities, or sicknesses have we been visited; and what effect have they had upon us; have they rendered us more patient, humble, and submissive to the divine will? If the light of heaven has shined on our tabernacle, and we have enjoyed the hours in health and happiness, let us be thankful to the author of all good; and if we have lived under a dark and stormy sky, and affliction has been our lot, let it console us that so much of that affliction is gone, and the less there 1. When we have the misfortune to lose a friend, our first care naturally is, to see that he be decently interred; to follow his remains to the silent tomb; to let his funeral remind us of our own; and to erect a monument to his memory. The past year is, to all intents and purposes, lost to us, and numbered among the dead. It will return no more, and the scenes that were acted in it are for ever closed. Let us pay the honours due to the deceased, and drop a tear over its tomb. We cannot take a final leave of any thing to which we have been accustomed without a sentiment of concern. Objects, however indifferent in their nature, claim this, and they rarely fail of ob-is of it to come. taining it at the hour of parting. The idea of the last has generally in it something affecting, and probably for this among other reasons, because, whatever be the immediate subject, an application is generally made to ourselves. Thus, in the case before us, we can scarcely avoid recollecting that what happened to the year must happen to us: on each of us a day must dawn which is to be our last. When we shall have buried a few more years, we must ourselves be buried; our friends shall weep at our funeral; and what we have been and what we have done, will live only in their recollection. The reflection is sorrowful, but it is just and salutary! 2. When a friend is dead and buried, we take a pensive kind of may be gone or to come, let us But, whatever never forget that all is from the hand of a sovereign God, who doth not willingly grieve or afflict the children of men, and, therefore, doth not send it without reason. 3. When a friend is taken from us, we begin to consider whether we have profited by him as we ought while he was with us; whether we have availed ourselves of his counsel, to follow it; his example, to imitate it; his kind and faithful reproofs, to be the better for them in amending our faults. In the course of the last year, we must have enjoyed many opportunities of instruction; have seen many good examples that by the books we have read, the were worthy our imitation; and sermons we have heard, and the 5. When we say that we have lost a friend, we only mean that we have lost him for a time; we expect to see him again, and therefore it behoves us to consider, what our sensations will be at the sight of him; and this will very much depend on our treatment of him during his intercourse with us. We shall see him with joy or grief, as we have formerly used him well or ill; and all that we have ever said or done relative to him will then be known. The case is ex reproofs we have received, we must prosperous? If not, how excessive have enjoyed privileges which we is the folly of trifling in a matter are not sure that we shall ever of such infinite moment! "Seek again possess. How have we pro-ye first the kingdom of God and fited by all these admonitions? his righteousness, and all other As we grow older, do we grow things shall be added unto you." wiser and better? What use are we making of the talents with which it has pleased God to entrust us, particularly our time and our property? Is it such as we shall be able to reflect upon with satisfaction when we arrive at the end of our race, and are laid upon our death beds? ONE THING only Is absolutely NEEDFUL! How stand our minds affected towards that one thing; does it occupy the chief place in our regard? However homely the saying, there is much truth and im-actly the same respecting the old portance in it, that, "When things are in their proper places, the best will be uppermost." Is that the case with us? Often let us ask ourselves the question, "What shall it profit a man though he gain the whole world and lose his own soul; or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" 4. While we are following a friend to his grave, it is natural for us to reflect, that the time allotted him for his probation is over, and his state fixed for eternity. When the mind is engaged in the awful speculation, we can scarcely avoid the reflection" if, instead of his being taken from us, we had been taken from him, what had been our present lot and portion in the other world?" Through the longsuffering mercy and goodness of God we have lived to the end of the year; we might have died before it; and, in that case, where had we now been? Have we no secret misgivings? Do we feel as if we thought all would have been right? Are we conscious of having stood prepared at all times, and for all events, in such exercises of faith, hope, and charity, as would have rendered our passage from this world to the next welcome and year now departed. It is, indeed, numbered among the dead; but, there is a sense in which like the dead it will arise and appear to us again, and we shall be made to recollect the usage it received at our hands, while we were in possession of it upon earth. Memory will in that hour be quickened and perfected. Like a mirror held before our eyes, it will faithfully represent to our minds the various transactions of the year in which we bore a part, and we shall be compelled to retrace the thoughts, the words, and the actions which passed during its continuance with us. O that we may find pleasure in reviewing them! But review them we must, and so will HE who is to pass sentence upon them at the day of his second appearance. That day is fast approaching; for not only do friends die, and years expire, and we ourselves shall do the same, but the world itself approaches to its end. IT must likewise die. Already has it once suffered a watery death, it is now reserved for a second destruction by fire. A celebrated author, contemplating this awful catastrophe, represents himself as standing over the world, as if he had been the only survivor, and, in a strain of unrivalled sublimity has thus pronounced its funeral oration. their summits! Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints! Who would not fear thee and glorify thy name, for thou only art holy." To the Editor of the New Evangelical I have somewhere seen it re men, have a character. This is certainly true; for though we now and then meet with individuals of whom it may be said that they have no character at all, the same may be affirmed with equal pro ing read your Prospectus, I am one of the many who are standing upon the tiptoe of expectation, wondering what its character will turn out to be. The old maxim, fronte nulla fides, I have found of great use in my progress through life, and am now got too old to be any longer deceived by appearances. Like many other old people, too, I am fond of giving advice, and into that natural infirmity you must resolve the liberty I am about to take in telling you what I think your work ought to be. "Let us reflect upon this occasion, on the vanity and transient glory of this habitable world. How by the force of one element breaking loose upon the rest, all the varieties of nature, all the works of art, all the labours of men, are reduced to nothing! All that we SIR, admired and adored before, as great and magnificent, is oblite-marked, that books, as well as rated or vanished. Where are now the great empires of the world, and their imperial cities? their pillars, trophies, and monuments of glory? Shew me where they stood, read the inscription, tell me the conqueror's name. Rome it-priety of many publications. Havself, eternal Rome, the great city, the empress of the world, whose domination and superstition, ancient and modern, make a large part of the history of the earth, what is become of her now? She laid her foundations deep, and her palaces were strong and sumptuous; She glorified herself, and lived deliciously, and said in her heart, I sit as a queen, and shall see no sorrow. But her hour is come, she is wiped away from the face of the earth, and buried in everlasting oblivion. But not cities only, and the work of men's hands, Sir, we have religious magazines the everlasting hills, the mountains in abundance already extant, and and rocks are melted as wax be- I could almost undertake to give fore the sun, and their place is no you the character of every one of where to be found. Here stood them; but the task would be inthe Alps, the load of the earth, vidious, and instead of entering that covered many countries, and upon it, I would rather remind you reached their arms from the Ocean in what respect yours should differ to the Black Sea: this huge mass from them. The prominent fault, of stone is softened and dissolved, and which is characteristic of most as a tender cloud into rain. Here of them, I take to be, a tiresome stood the African mountains, and sameness, a dull insipid uniformity, Atlas with his top above the which palls upon the mental faculclouds; there was frozen Cauca- ties of the reader, and too fresus, and Taurus, and Imaus, the quently produces satiety or dismountains of Asia; and yonder, gust. Never was the maxim more towards the north, stood the Ri-true than when applied to the ge phoean hills, clothed in ice and snow. All these are vanished, dropped away as the snow upon neral mass of the journals I allude to, ex uno disce omnes. Any one may serve as a sample of the whole. |