and vegetable life, during the rigours of an ungenial sky, winter returns, and again prepares the earth, by a night of rest, for the labours of the coming year.

We

"These wonders of Divine providence need only to be mentioned to show with what consummate skill and goodness God accommodates the seasons to the comfort, the convenience, and the happiness of everything that lives, and especially of the human family. The labour to which man is doomed strengthens his bodily powers, and rouses, exercises, and sharpens his mental faculties. The changes, too, which are continually taking place, are highly conducive to his improvement and happiness. Sameness deadens curiosity, and satiates enjoyment. are so constituted as to require constant changes for stimulating the mind, and giving relish to our exercises; and in each season of the year we find employments suitable to our faculties, and calculated to afford them agreeable and useful occupation. Even in winter, cold and comfortless as it appears, how much do we find to make us both happier and better. The family circle, collected in the long evenings round the cheerful winter fire, feels those affections warmed which soften the heart without enfeebling it, and those domestic endearments increased by exercise, without which life is scarcely desirable; while the soul, enlightened and enlarged, is better prepared to receive impressions of religion, to love him who first loved us, and, rising to more exalted views, to aspire after the society of the just made perfect in the world of spirits.

"The paternal care of the Supreme Being, thus strongly impressed on the mind, by contemplating the traces of his beneficence, which are every where conspicuous in the seasons as they revolve, are calculated to re-assure the mind, in looking forward to that great change, of the approach of which we are forcibly reminded by the passing away of another year of the short and uncertain period allotted us on earth. We, too, have our spring, our summer, our autumn, and our winter. Will another spring dawn on the winter of the grave? To the encouraging answer which revelation gives to this important question, is added our experience of the operations of the God of the seasons. Under his administration, nothing_perishes, though everything changes. The

flowers die but to live again. In the animal world many species sleep out the winter, to awake again in a new season. Nature itself expires and revives, even while she lies prostrate and rigid. An almighty hand preserves the germs of future life, that she may once more start from the grave, and run a new round of beauty, animation, and enjoyment. Is there not hope, then, for the human soul? Shall not the same paternal goodness watch over it in its seeming extinction, and cause it to survive the winter of death? Yes, there is hope here, but there is no assurance. It is from the word of inspiration alone that the assurance of immortality springs: that book of unerring truth informs us, that, after our mortal winter, there comes a spring of unfading beauty and eternal joy, where no cold chills, and no heat scorches; where there is bloom without decay, and a sky without a cloud.

"But let it never be forgotten that the prospect which lies before us is not all bright and smiling. The same book of truth which reveals to us our immortal nature, informs us also that, in the unseen world to which we are travelling, there is a state of misery as well as a state of blessedness; that we are now, step by step, approaching the one or the other of these states; and that each successive year, as it passes over our heads, instead of leading us upward to the unchanging glories which belong to the children of God, may be only conducting us downward, on that road which leadeth to destruction.'

"This is inexpressibly dreadful! and, when we think of our own character and qualifications, we shall find nothing calculated to allay our terrors. We are the children of a fallen parent,-ourselves fallen and guilty. If from the elevated spot on which we now stand, at the commencement of a new stage of our journey, we look back on the scenes through which we have passed, and reflect on the transactions in which we have been engaged, what shall we discover that can recommend us to him 'who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity?' If, again, we look forward, what a scene of turmoil and disorder, temptation and danger, do we descry in a world lying in wickedness! When we think of the weakness of our own hearts, and of the enemies we have to encounter, so numerous and so formidable, we cannot fail to be appalled, and to experience

the same kind of misgiving which led an apostle to exclaim, Who is sufficient for these things?'

"But when, in the exercise of faith, we turn to the Gospel, a more blessed view opens to us, for it is full of the most encouraging promises to those who will accept of them. It tells us of the Lord God merciful and gracious, long-suffering and slow to anger, abundant in loving-kindness and tender mercy:' and, in proof of this character, it reminds us of the impartial manner in which the Creator employs inanimate nature for the good of his creatures, making his sun to rise on the just and unjust.' It reminds us, also, of the parental affection with which his own exuberant bounty has inspired the animal creation; and, taking an example from the inferior tribes, it beautifully declares, that as an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings,' so he watches over his rational offspring, delighting to lead, instruct, and bless them. Rising still higher, it reminds us of the tenderness he has infused into the mind of earthly parents, and says, 'If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to those who ask him. Nay it represents the Eternal as condescending to compare his regard for his people with that of a fond mother for the infant smiling upon her knee: Can a

mother forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, she may forget; yet will I not forget thee.' It does much more; it opens to our view the wonders of redeeming love, presenting to our view the Son of the Eternal humbling himself for our sakes, to assume the form of a servant, becoming a man of sorrows, submitting to ignominy, torture, and death; and then it crowns all, by making this unanswerable appeal, If God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things!'

Such is the unspeakable encouragement which the Christian cherishes from the Gospel of his Divine Master. And shall we not work out our own salvation, seeing it is God who worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure?' In this mighty task, we cannot indeed avoid being affected with 'fear and trembling,' when we reflect on what we have at stake; but we have also everything to hope, for he who is for us, is greater than all that can be against us; and the value of the prize which is set before us is inestimable."

The above article is selected from Dr. Duncan's "Sacred Philosophy of the Seasons," reviewed in the December Magazine, and which we again earnestly commend to the notice of our readers as a work of much intelligence and piety.

January number of your excellent Magazine. The sermon itself was delivered at the residence of Mr. Henry's celebrated daughter, Mrs. Savage (Wrenbury Wood, a farm-house a few miles from Broadbak), Dec. 31, 1690, and the present transcript is made from her handwriting in my possession. I am, &c., J. B. W.

Shrewsbury.

Matt. vi. 33. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

The great question is-who said this? It was the Lord Jesus. He who is truth itself. Yet, not one in a thousand doth believe it. Who believes that God "is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him?" Heb. xi. 6.

The words were spoken in a sermon on the mount. It was at a field meeting the saying was uttered, and it is worthy to be written in letters of gold.

The lesson in the latter part of the chapter we have all need to learn; namely, to be less solicitous for the body, and more for the soul. See the 25th, 31st, and 34th verses. "Take no thought;" and again and again, take no thought; that is, no anxious, solicitous, disquieting thought. There is a great difference between care and carefulness; between thought and thoughtfulness.

This our Lord presses,—

(1.) By sending us to school to the fowls of the air, and to the lilies of the field. Their Maker provides food and clothes for them. And "are not ye better than they?"

(2.) From the vanity of this solicitous care. You cannot by taking thought add a cubit, &c.

(3.) After these things do the Gentiles seek. Surely you will not be like heathens. Inordinate care is more like heathens than Christians.

(4.) From the relation we stand in to God. "Your Father knows." When do you see little children carking and caring? No. They cast their care upon their parents. Seek first the kingdom of God. Seek to please him, and approve thyself to him, and all other things shall be added.

I. Here is a duty to be performed by us-" seek first the kingdom of God." Beware to seek it, and to seek it first.

II. Here is a promise to be made good to us-" all these things," all worldly things, "shall be added." DOCTRINE. It is a sure, and certain,

and safe way to worldly prosperity, to seek first the things of God and of our souls.

Show I. The duty; seeking the kingdom of God. What is meant? The kingdom of God is three-fold.

1. The kingdom of his providence. Ps.xxii. 28, "the kingdom is the Lord's,' &c. He rules over all creatures, and all their actions.

Seek this, and seek it first. Study that it may be your portion. I pray and beseech you, for the love of God, seek this kingdom. Seek, that you may go to heaven when you die. Seek the kingdom of his grace as the way to the kingdom of his glory.

And his righteousness. This is twofold, his absolute righteousness, Ps. cxlv. 7 as he is righteous in himself; his relative righteousness.

1. The righteousness of God the Father imposed on us; that is, required of us as our duty. He will have all his people to be a righteous people; to give to every one their due. It is all religion in a word; to God his due, to men theirs. Inferiors owe duty to superiors, and superiors to inferiors. Wrong no man. Oppress no man. Also, this includes charity. The Scripture calls alms righteousness, Ps. cxii. 3. God has made the poor his receiver.

2. The righteousness of God the Son imputed to us; made ours by faith, Jer. xxiii. 6; Phil. iii. 8. This we are to seek for in the first place. It is by this alone you must be saved. Seek this first. Without this all signifies nothing. Christ is all and in all. Then they are mistaken that have spent all their days in weaving a web of their own, to make a righteousness for them.

3. The righteousness of God the Holy Ghost implanted in us. This we must seek, and seek first: a new heart; to be born again; renewed in the spirit of our minds. Pray every day for sanctification. Pray for yourselves and for yours, that you may be sanctified.

To seek first the kingdom and righteousness of God is, in one word, to be religious; to take the yoke of Christ upon you, and to learn of him.

Seek first; that is, let those have the pre-eminence. Seek first; that is, let it have the precedency in place and the priority in time. Chiefly seek it. Seek it more than anything else. The first question in Mr. Ball's catechism is, What ought to be the chief and continual care? &c.-To glorify God, and to save his soul.

In all your affairs, in all your removes, be sure to choose that which may be best for your souls. Lot, a good man, missed it in his choice, Gen. xiii. 12. He pitched his tent in the vale of Sodom: a rich land, like the garden of God. He did not consider what bad neighbours he should have, and he had never

good days there. His righteous soul was vexed with their filthiness. But God had mercy on him, or he had perished with them. In all your choosings observe that rule-In all thy ways acknowledge him, Prov. iii. 6. Knock

at his door. Observe, also, that, 1 Cor. x. 31, Whether, therefore, ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. As the precedency of place, so should be the priority of time. The things of God and of our souls should be sought first.

1. First, in the time of our lives. The best of men live a great while before they know what they came into the world to do. You that are children seek first the kingdom of God. Set yourselves to know and serve God. Parents should tell their children of instances of good children: as of Samuel, Josiah, Solomon, Timothy. Children should say, Lord, give me a wise and understanding heart. Is this age of childhood past? Seek first the kingdom of God in the days of your youth. I rejoice to see so many young faces. Learn Eccl. xii. 1, Remember now thy Creator. Come, young man, young woman, put thy neck under the sweet, easy yoke of the Lord Jesus. Flee youthful lusts. It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth. Others are come to middle age, perhaps to old age, and yet have not sought the kingdom of God. Is there no hope? Yes. I dare boldly say, there is yet hope for you, if from this time forward you will seek first the kingdom of God.

2. First, every day; that is, as soon as we wake in the morning; our first thoughts should be of God. Ps. cxxxix. 18, When I am awake I am still with thee; that is, the first things I think of are the things of God and my soul.

As soon as you are up and ready, get alone; fall on your knees, begin every day with prayer: and you that have time on your own hand should join reading the word with it, if it were but one verse of the 119th Psalm. That would take up but little time. You that have the charge of families, more is required from you. You ought to call your families together, and seek God with them. Do not expect the blessing of God on your affairs if you neglect this. "All other things shall be added."

3. The first of every week must be given to God; that is, the Sabbath. Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it

holy. Spend the whole time in public, private, and secret exercises of God's worship, except so much as is taken up in works of necessity. Suffer not children or servants to break the Sabbath. It is not their time, nor yours, but God's. The fourth commandment is directed particularly to masters of families. The question put to the primitive Christians, when before magistrates, was, "Do you keep the Sabbath?" The answer was, "I am a Christian, and dare not do otherwise. I must sanctify that day though my life go for it."

4. The first of our months. The children of Israel had a feast every new moon. This I apply to the ordinance of the Lord's supper. This too many sin in the neglect of. Oh, prepare yourselves; renew your covenant with God; and then come and take the seal. There are those that experience the sweetness of frequent communion with God in this ordinance.

5. Begin every year with God. Seek first his kingdom aud righteousness. Reflect with thankfulness upon the mercies of the year past.

Reflect with repentance for the sins. Take not the guilt of the sins of the old year into the new.

Is it enough, you say, that we begin the day, week, month, and year with God? I answer, no. We must not only begin well, but hold on, and hold out to the end. Drawing back is to perdition. It is better not to have known the way of righteousness, than after to turn aside.

I shall now show you why the things of God and of our souls must be first sought by us.

1. It is his will and command. He is first.

2. They best deserve it.

3. Other things are impertinencies; one thing is needful. It is not needful that you should be rich, but it is needful that you should be godly.

4. These are most beneficial things, both in the world to come, and in this life.

DOCTRINE 2. The surest way to thrive in the world is to mind the things of God, and our souls in the first place. These are like paper and packthread given into the bargain.

You object; we know many that do not seek the things of God at all, and yet they prosper in the world more than many others.

I answer, it is true, it is so; but then their prosperity is a snare to them, Prov. i. 32. They are led like a lamb for the slaughter, in a large place. There will be a woful reckoning one day. Son, remember. I know you would not desire prosperity with a curse. Pray read Psalm xxxvii. Fret not thyself. In a moment the wrath of God comes upon them. This night thy soul shall be required.

You object again, Many that do seek first the kingdom of God, yet do not prosper.

I answer, it is true; and

1. There are also instances of those that fear God, whom he doth abundantly bless in their basket and store; in the house and field; and makes all to prosper. Godliness has the promise of the life that now is.

2. These promises must be understood with a proviso, as far as it is for our good and God's glory. If you be low in the world, yet go on to serve him.

3. God is a righteous God. It may be, though now they seek him first, yet it was long before they did. It may be,

they do sometimes neglect seeking God first, and, therefore, they do not prosper.

To conclude, 1. Seriously repent that you have not sought the kingdom of God, and his righteousness. All seek their own, not the things that are Jesus Christ's; a fault too common. Every one is for himself; 1Chron. xv. 13, sought him not after the due order.

2. For time to come let this matter be amended. Seek first the kingdom of God. Principle your children with this. 3. Pray for our rulers, that God would put this into their hearts, to seek first the kingdom and glory of God. The tabernacle was reared the first day of the first month, Exod. xl. 2; that was their new year's day. Joshua began with the ordinance of circumcision, then the passover, Josh. iii.; Hezekiah ii.; Chron. xxix. In the first year in the first month he opened the doors of the house of the Lord, Ezra iii. 2. When they returned, the first thing they set up an altar for daily worship, long before they could get a house. Pray for our king that he may tread in the steps of these good kings.

We intend to give some advice to students of theology, as to the mode of prosecuting their inquiries. Zeal and firmness of purpose insure success amid a great variety of arrangement, so that we must be neither too particular, nor too vague; minutiae are as unnecessary for a healthy mind as for a healthy body.

I. Study the Scriptures in the vernacular tongue. It might be thought better to study the external evidences first; but we think the internal evidences are the most striking, and that the Divine authority of Scripture is nowhere so evident as in its own pages. We recommend this course, not only for the sake of your piety, but for the sake of your scholarship. But why in our own lan

guage? Because our translation, though not strictly correct, may be more rapidly and frequently read than the Hebrew or Greek. We shall oftener come in contact with the subjects of revelation, and get more familiar with them. Consult references and parallel passages, and you will get on with your studies more quickly. It is by these means that many a cottage peasant becomes better acquainted with Scripture than the most accomplished linguist. Make an analysis of each book, and compare the prophecies of the Old Testament with the events of the New, and you will thus be prepared for the delicate criticism in which you will afterwards have to engage, and which might otherwise absorb your whole attention to the neglect of the subject-matter. To read at first in the original languages is, for the sake of scholastic pedantry, to burden one study with the labour of others.

II. Study the Scriptures daily in the original languages; master even a few verses in Hebrew, Greek, and the Septuagint, and in one session you will come to read a chapter in each, with scarcely perceptible trouble; you will