thy desire to partake of a divine nature? If such be the thought of thy heart, take, eat, and be abundantly satisfied; take, and drink, yea, drink of the waters of the river of life freely.

I might extend the inquiry to a much greater variety of circumstances and characters, but it is enough to have suggested the manner in which self-recollection may be employed. I leave it to you to apply it to yourselves, as the desire of your own improvement and a regard to the voice of conscience shall dictate; only adding, that you will find it as easy as it is useful, that it will be the means of bringing you acquainted with your own characters, and of enabling you, whilst you stand in judgement at the bar of conscience, to form an estimate of your fitness to appear at the judgment-scat of Christ. It is an easy practice; it requires no great length of time, no extraordinary ability, no painful exertion of the mind. It can be employed at any time, in any circumstances, by any person. It is, in fact, only the realization of our present thoughts, feelings and motives: a looking at ourselves as we are at the moment. Religion is a habit, where it has any real existence; and whether it has a real existence, is best indicated by little things, by the motives and feelings by which we are swayed in our ordinary pursuits and occupations, and the regular routine of our lives. Now, nothing can have so direct a tendency to make religion habitual, as frequent self-inquiry, for it will teach us to be diligent, prudent, thoughtful; it will teach us to redeem our time, to reverence our moral nature, to stand in filial awe of that great Being to whom we must finally render an account. Thus there will be nothing discordant in

our varied engagements. Worldly business, domestic duties, social enjoyment, religious exercises will form an harmonious whole, animated by one Divine Spirit, and glowing with one pervading beauty, even the beauty of holiness. Oh! that we might all realize the heavenly picture! for to this we are called: "as many as are in Christ Jesus have put on Christ." And such was the divine temper of his mind. He was ever intent upon the work that his Father had given him to do. He was always in his proper place, and discharged every duty at its proper season, and therefore "he did all things well." Let his example add weight to the advice which has been given you; and remember that it is he which is appointed of God to be the judge of quick and dead--the judge of thoughts as well as actions, of secret motives as well as public deeds. We We may shrink from self-inspection; we may refuse to look at the picture of our own hearts, and turn a deaf ear to the reproofs of conscience; but we cannot escape the just judgment of God. When Christ shall demand an account of our stewardship, that account must be rendered. May we all so profit by the word which has been spoken, that we may render up our account with joy, and not with fear; may we be nourished and built up in faith and holiness, that when Christ shall appear, we may be found of him in peace. Amen.

PRAYER.

OH! Thou who searchest the hearts, and knowest the thoughts of the children of men, before Thee do we

bow down with humility and reverence. If we should say that we have not sinned, our own hearts would condemn us; how much more, then, the strictness of thy holy law! Before Thee, a God of unchangeable rectitude, we can only appear with hope, whilst we present ourselves as penitent sinners, relying upon the promises of the glorious gospel. Thanks be unto Thee, most Merciful, that Thou hast given to us a good hope through Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom we have access unto Thee, the Father, Vouchsafe at this time to listen to our prayers, and grant a gracious answer to our petitions. May it please Thee to accompany with thy blessing the exhortations to which our attention has now been directed. Ignorant, too often of ourselves, may we bring our tempers and habits to the standard of thy truths, that we may forsake that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good. Deliver us from pride, and vanity, and worldliness, and shed abroad in our hearts the spirit of universal holiness. Save us from the per. nicious influence of secret faults, and from the guilt of presumptuous sins. Increase our faith, and confirm our obedience. May the mind that was in Jesus be in us. Whilst we are in the world, may we be kept from the evil which is in it through sin; may we be useful in the stations which thy Providence has assigned us; may we enjoy the testimony of a good conscience, and be ever found at the post of duty. And whilst we are thus endeavoring to follow the example of our Holy Saviour, may we possess that divine peace, which he promised to his followers, and patiently wait for his coming to judgment. Merciful Father, we commit ourselves and all our interests into thy hands. Be Thou our Guide, even

unto death, and the strength of our hearts; and when He who is our life shall appear, may we also appear with him in glory. In his name we offer up our prayers, and through him, the only Mediator, ascribe unto Thee, the Everlasting God, the kingdom, the power, and the glory. Amen.

SERMON V.

THE NEW YEAR.

2 Cor. vi. 6.

"BEHOLD! NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION!"

IT is an observation of the excellent Fenelon, that, "God, though most liberal and bounteous of all other things, yet teaches us, by the frugal dispensations of his providence, how careful we ought to be to make good use of time, because he never grants us two moments together, nor vouchsafes a second, until he has withdrawn the first, still keeping the third in his own hand, so that we are entirely uncertain whether we shall have it or not." How forcibly is this remark brought home to us by the present season! Another year is added to the past. A year ago, it was the land of uncertainty, now, it is the land of experience; then, it was the fairy ground of hope, now, it is the province of memory; then, it shone in the brightness of anticipation, now, it is clothed with the sober hues of reflection; its last duty is discharged, its last trial is endured, its last plea