LINES,

WRITTEN BY A LITTLE GIRL, ON HEARING THE DISCOURSE,

96

OF WHICH

THOU art gone to the home where the weary have rest,

And though weeping friends may deplore thee,
God took thee in mercy to dwell with the blest,

Where sorrow no more shall hang o'er thee.

→ And he will protect thy fatherless babe,
In the land of the stranger residing,

1

For He only withdrew the frail life that he gave,
And now thou art with him abiding.

And though thy dear wife may be mourning thee now,
She will soon raise her heart in thanksgiving,
And shall say, to God's justice for ever I'll bow,
Though my husband is not with the living.

THE DYING YEAR'S COMPLAINT.

[The following article was intended for the last number.]

RECLINING on a couch of decayed beauty, shrouded in a mantle of fallen leaves, the Old Year presents itself to our view, as a venerable old man drawing near to his latter end. His pulse beats feebly-his life becomes shorter; he exhibits every mark of approaching dissolution. His name is, old Eighteen Hundred and Thirty-five; and as every class of readers must remember him a young man, presenting at one time the primrose, at another the rose, and at a third the Autumnal blasts, perhaps he will feel interested in hearing some of his departing expressions, together with a few particulars respecting him.

His existence is still likely to be prolonged a few days, by the presence of his child December, the last and sole survivor of his twelve useful children; but the father and daughter must expire together. The following may be represented as some of the expressions falling from his dying lips: "I am the son of one called Time, and the last of a numerous progeny, for he has had no less than five thousand eight hundred and thirty-five of us; but it has ever been his misfortune to see one child expire before another is born. Many think, that his own lengthened span will soon wear down, and that when he hath produced a few hundred more of his family

will be complete, and then, as the Scripture saith, "Time shall be no more."

We

may represent this Old Year also as keeping an accountbook, and turning over the pages with a sorrowful eye. He has kept an account of all the moments, hours, and days that have passed by, and of the months he has afforded-a dismal catalogue. On every page he has something strange; but more especially in every line he sees the account of some mortal, hurled from present enjoyments to his long and silent home-some, 'tis true, to never- -ending bliss; but far the greater number to everlasting woe. Upon turning to a certain page in his book, he was much affected, and the tears streamed down his furrowed cheeks as he examined it. This was the register of the Sabbaths he had offered; which, of all the gifts he had presented, were the most scandalously abused. "These," said he, "were my most precious gifts. I had but fifty-two of them to bestow, and, alas! how lightly have they been esteemed! On turning back to old memorandums, I find a long list of vows and resolutions, with respect to these Sabbaths, which, instead of being faithfully kept, have been shamefully wasted. I feel, however," said he, "more pity than indignation towards these offenders, since they were far greater enemies to themselves than to me. But there are a few outrageous ones, that have defrauded me of much of my substance, particularly that soul-destroyer, Procrastination, of whom every man has heard, and who is well known to have wronged my venerable father Time of much of his property. There are, also, a few others, from whom I have suffered much-Sleep, Sloth, and Pleasure; and besides these, there are two others, Dress and Beauty,-the former, under pretence of making the most of me, steals from me more than either comes to her share, or than I can spare. The latter, wishing to rival the lily of the field, is oft found before the well frequented glass, contemplating herself in all the loveliness which nature hath given, or art can bestow."

Having thus spoken, the Old Year went on farther to say: "If there be any who, upon hearing my dying lamentation, feel any regret for having treated me unkindly, by spending my revolving days badly, I would beg leave to hint, that it is. still in their power to make some amends in their conduct. Let them testify their sincerity by an immediate alteration in their behaviour, not despising my only remaining child, December; she has still a few remaining offerings, especially her Sabbaths, and it would cheer my remaining moments to know,

that these have been better spent than the former ones.

I must now shortly go, to leave the way for my succeeding brother, giving you this advice, not to delay reflecting on yourselves for your misconduct to me; but rather spend the youthful hours of my coming brother, in the manner most calculated to produce in you the peaceful fruits of righteousness."

Now, reader, do you see the meaning of this representation? Do you see how well it applies to the present time? This year is now wearing to a close, and have you asked yourself, what has been your conduct throughout the year? Has it been earnestly working out your own salvation, with fear and trembling, that you may live, when this year, and time shall be no more? How have you spent those Sabbaths, which are represented as a ground of complaint? Truly, 'tis a lamentable thing to look on the Old Year, and to contemplate the many mispent Sabbaths that have passed by. Truly, they are the most precious gifts of the year, and yet the public resorts, and places of amusement, are better attended than the Sanctuary, on that day. Would the irreligious and openly profane, now, at the end of the year, pause, and ask themselves, what have they done towards their souls' salvation? Another year is now nearly gone by, and is their prospect, in entering a new one, the same as it has been throughout this last? Let such persons arise from their slumber, and wait not till the New Year begin; but let them highly prize the Sabbaths that yet remain, attending thereunto, that they be made inheritors of an everlasting abode.

But the Old Year is represented, above, as complaining of Procrastination. It is an old but true adage, that " Procrastination is the destruction of many;" and, indeed, it is very detrimental to the welfare of the soul, and it is contrary to the rules laid down in Scripture, for it is said, " To-day, if ye will hear my voice, harden not your heart." Where procrastination appears, it is a sign that the soul careth little for its own salvation. I will, to-morrow or next year, is an expression, in godly things, that but little belongeth to the true believer; for no one, rightly esteeming the value of his soul, and knowing not what a day may bring forth, would delay, for a moment, those things which so much concern his future happiWhat assurance has any one of length of days, that he should thus put off, from time to time, his good intentions, until death for ever closes them out from his eyes. If this revolving year has been a stene of procrastination with you, let it not close on you as such. Look around you, and see your

ness.

&

neighbours and departing friends falling asleep, and among hem, perhaps, you will see some, who, but a few days or months ago, lulled themselves into calm repose, with the pleasing hought, that they would yet repent, and live soberly, rightpously, and godly. But, now, the sudden pangs of death are upon them, and they are ready to exclaim-procrastination has been my destruction. Seize the opportunity while it affordeth itself to you, knowing, that "now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation."

Another ground of complaint for the loss of time arises from sleep, sloth, and pleasure, three evils from which flow many evil consequences,-not only do worldly affairs suffer much by these, but, also, they are very injurious to the progress of religion in the world. Sleep squanders away that time which God hath given us here below, to prepare to meet him hereafter. It oft detracts from those precious moments, in which the soul should be engaged in devotional exercises; it steals away the thoughts from heavenly things, and either presents to the mind fanciful images, or tickles the imagination with Elysian visions. Sloth, as a cankerworm at the root of time, wastes much of it; it renders religion a burthen, devotion a load, and the house of God a weariness. Sloth may be said to be the parent of procrastination, destructive to the soul, and injurious to the body: and when pleasure is joined to these, it renders industry troublesome, and religion intolerable.

But another ground of complaint to the departing year, arises from time squandered in dress and beauty-two vain things. Dress is but a fickle thing; it is true, it answers the ball-room, it suits the gay of this world-'tis vanity, and suits the vain. But, Oh! how little does outward splendour and pompous shew tend to the salvation of the precious soul. Were the gay to pause a moment, now, at the decline of the year, and ask themselves, how much precious time they spent in gaudy shew? -how long time they spent in adorning themselves with pearls of Ceylon's stones? But, alas! how little of the now declining year have they spent in seeking out the Pearl of great price, who bought us with his blood? While there yet remains a single day of this year, put not off till the next, lest that time come upon you, "when man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets.' Beauty, a still more trifling thing than dress, has many foolish hours spent in contemplating itself, and showing itself to others. Why is mortal man so vain! This very beauty, which many hug to their bosom, will yet be the prey of worms. Death shall conquer

H

"

all-the grave shall possess the whole-yet see how many flatter themselves with imaginary beauty, and cherish it to their

hurt.

Reader! were there such an account-book kept, as this Old Year is here represented as keeping, picture to your view what I would be its contents. Dismal pages would be found therein -there would be awful accounts of drunkards, murderers, thieves, &c., all tending to their own destruction-there would be sad accounts of mispent time gone by, that never can be recalled. Picture to your view the numberless deaths that have taken place, throughout this year. Look at the many who have gone to another world, treading on the broad way to destruction, while but few have been found treading on the straight and narrow way, which leadeth to never-ceasing bliss. See how very few have earnestly endeavoured to build up the broken down walls of Zion. On the other hand, see the struggles of the enemies of the church, who are every day growing stronger against the camp of the living God; so that, when a few revolving years pass by, they will burst upon her as a flood, to try the faithfulness of her members. What has been the state of the church, this year, is the duty of every one of her well-wishers to inquire, and seek after; but, more especially, what has been the state of the Synod of Ulster? It is true, she has made some improvements in her discipline, but many are still wanting. The Westminster Divines, were they now existing, would hail this as a joyful year, in which undisputed subscription to their scriptural standard has been rendered requisite to entering on their holy ministry, which, indeed, is a pleasing epoch in the history of the church. The benefits arising to the church from this subscription are so numerous, that we cannot here mention them, and so valuable, that we can better meditate upon, than express them. It should, therefore, be the ardent desire of all, that the Lord would arise and build up Zion, that he would repair the broken down walls.

Christians should think seriously of their conduct throughout the year, and should consider, that although the year be incapable of keeping an account, yet God, who seeth all things, hath kept an account of the deeds done in the body, that he hath entered down our every thought, and our every action, for which we shall, hereafter, have to answer at the great tribunal of the Lord. Would men still keep this in view, through-. out the year, it might be a means of causing them to hate sin, and love righteousness. This should be a time of self-exa. mination and humility;-of self-examination, that we may