to be the more distressing. God does not desire that you should experience such misery. He has made a glorious provision in the gospel for the salvation of all. Jesus Christ is set before us as a refuge, and the only one; for there is none other name under heaven given amongst men whereby we can be saved, but by Him. To this refuge our friend has fled, and has found shelter, and is now eternally safe. His mortal remains were eventually committed to the dust, where, in the house appointed for all living, they rest in hope, until the morning of the general resurrection, when the loud diffusive blast from the trump of the Archangel shall shake the earth, cause charnel houses to rattle, and those temporary prisons which have long held the millions of our race to yield up their prey; then the body of our friend, with the bodies of all the faithful, shall become animate, rise, and stand with joy before the Judge, and in the presence of angels and an assembled world be thus addressed, "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world," and enter into life eternal. WILLIAM H. DAVIES. MISCELLANEOUS. THE NEW YEAR. As God in the order of his kind Providence, and tender mercy, has spared us amidst the prevalence of disease, and the ravages of death, and permitted us to enter upon another year, surely it is our duty to prostrate ourselves before the mercy seat, and in humble, fervent prayer to supplicate pardon for the past, and grace to redeem the remainder of our precious time. It becomes us at all times, to give thanks unto the Most High; for it is in Him we live and move and have our being. This is a most reasonable service, and he that neglects so great a duty is like a barren heath in the wilderness which knoweth not when good cometh. But though it is our bounden duty daily to laud and praise the Author of all our mercies, yet there are seasons when we are more especially called upon to engage in this delightful work; such a suitable season is the beginning of a new year. And while we render our hearty thanks unto Almighty God for permitting us to enter upon a new period, and implore his gracious assistance, that we may employ ourselves in contemplating his mercies, it behoves us to resolve in the strength of divine grace, to be more circumspect, and to consecrate our little all to his service, in grateful return for his numerous favours. Let the young then, whose welfare hath the first claim on our anxious care, suffer the word of exhortation, and calling to mind their obligations to the Author of all their mercies, and bending low at his footstool, let them beseech his gracious assistance, that they may be enabled to remember their Creafor while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh when they shall say we have no pleasure in them. And knowing that he hath said, "I love them that love me; and they that seek me early shall find me," may they individually in their devout breathings, cry unto him, "My Father, my Father thou art the guide of my youth." But if they should vainly imagine that length of days is before them, and consequently be disposed to say, "Go thy way for this time, when we have a more convenient season we will call for thee," let them remember that "Procrastination is the thief of time," that "now is the accepted time and now is the day of salvation." To reprove their folly let them visit the place appointed for all living; there they will read solemn mementos of their own mortality, and there they will learn to their mortification, that youth far younger than themselves have already gone down to the chambers of the grave. Listen then, O ye young, to the advice of wisdom, and let the friendly exhortation at the commencement of the new year, meet with your serious regard; so shall ye avoid the pathway which leadeth unto destruction, and by devoting yourselves unto the service of the Most High, happily possess the peace which passeth all understanding; for wisdom's ways are "ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace." Hear then the word of exhortation, let the time suffice wherein ye have wrought folly; and now, after so long a season of longsuffering mercy, be admonished to attend to the things which make for your everlasting happiness. What if thou rejoice, O young man in thy youth; what if thy deceitful heart commend thee for obeying its depraved dictates, and thou suffer the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, to allure thy feet astray; yet know thou, for all these things God will bring thee into Judgment! Man of business! Remember another year has fled! See to it that thy transactions for the year which is now for ever gone are well adjusted: review the past, and let thy memory and thy conscience asssist thee in the examination; for be assured they are all written in heaven. The columns are all cast up, the account is carried forward, and the recording angel hath inserted a faithful transcript in the great ledger of God's remembrance. What does conscience say? Is the balanco in thy favour? or is there a long list of mercies slighted, of opportunities neglected, of crimes committed, and admonitions contemned ? If so, then it behoveth thee to make haste and delay not, but by godly contrition and fervent prayer to implore pardon through the blood of the Lamb. For thy encouragement thus to act, another year hath visited thee, bearing on its wings the assurance that heaven is propitious, and that God who waiteth to be gracious, desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he turn from his wickedness and live. Having exhorted the young, and middle aged, who are actively engaged in the busy concerns of life, to attend to the one thing needful, there is yet another class who have a claim on our affectionate regard. These are they, who having lived until time hath silvered their locks, and from the course of nature, are standing on the brink of the grave, consequently ought to be like corn fully ripe, ready to be gathered into the garner of the Lord. But, alas! observation and painful experience demonstrate, that grey hairs are not always found in the way of righteousness; that there are not a few who, though the days of their years are threescore years and ten, yet even they, O thought most appalling! have not found time to seck and obtain peace with God. To them the opening year as a monitor from the Father of mercies, addresses itself in a tone of peculiar emphasis, saying, "To day after so long a time, as it is said to-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." Humble yourselves therefore, and repent, lest he swear in his wrath, "Ye shall not enter into my rest." "Whatsoever thine hand findeth to do," saith the wise man, "do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest." Remember we are dying creatures, hastening to an eternal world, where we must be for ever happy with God in heaven, or miserable with devils in hell. What an argument should this be with all of us to escape from the wrath to come! Thousands are now lifting up their eyes in hell, weeping and wailing and gnashing their teeth, who hsve long lamented, and will in vain through eternity lament, the greatness of their folly in neglecting their soul's salvation. My dear reader, cry mightily to God for his Divine Spirit that this may never be the case with thee. If thou art unconverted, oh, consider thy latter end, before it be too late! Be wise in time, whilst it is called to day; improve thy precious moments, by fleeing unto Jesus, the only hope set before thee in the gospel. Reflect that God could have long since cut you down, and caused all your hopes to perish, and have sworn in his wrath that ye should never enter into his rest; but he is still waiting to be gracious, full of compassion, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. The blessed Saviour, whose "Feet were nailed to yonder tree, To trample down our sin; Whose hands stretch'd out we all may see, To take his murderers in," is ready to embrace, not only every returning prodigal, but also every penitent, backsliding sinner. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt, xi. 28. "Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool." Isa. i. 18. "Return ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings." Jeremiah iii 22. What precious encouragements, snd gracious invitations, are here held forth to us! Shall we begin the new year with thankfully receiving them! Remember it is a standing maxim of the Bible, that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Examine thyself whether thou art in the faith, prove thine ownself. Cry mightily to God with David, and say, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me by the way everlasting." Thus may you begin the new year with God; and may he fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost," which is the only way to have a happy new year. FRANCIS MARTIN. SOURCES OF CHRISTIAN UNION. [Extracted from the Opening Address of Dr. John Morison, delivered at the Conference of the British Organization of the Evangelical Alliance, October 25th, 1853, which appeared in "Evangelical Christendom."] When we look at the Protestant world, in our own and other lands, do we not see that the denominations are testifying to their own conviction of the anti-normal state of our existing Christianity, by their earnest struggle to increase the sphere of their denominational peculiarities? National churches are putting forth their might and mastery to absorb the voluntaries; and voluntaries are labouring with earnestness to show, that State interference in support of Chrstianity is its weakness and its reproach. Episcopalians are contending for the rule of Bishops; Presbyterians for that of presbytery; Congregationalists for that of pastor and people; and nondescripts for a cessation of all rule, all order, and all discipline. This, brethren, is no fiction; it is the veritable state of things by which we are surrounded; and assuredly it cannot be pronounced to be the normal condition of Christianity, as it existed in the apostolic age. Some there are, who think that all this variety of ecclesiastical costume is an excellence rather than a defect; but it will be difficult to sustain this view of things, either from the inspired records, or from a survey of the working of denominational peculiarity in the history of the past. I fear that our diversities must be regarded as the proof of our infirmity, and not as the evidence of our conformity to the mind of our Lord. Taking the best interpretation that Christian charity can suggest of our divisions, they are sad memorials of how far we have departed from the original design of Christianity, as the bond of universal brotherhood, The world has seen our divisions; has listened to our strifes and reproaches; has been witness to the oppressions and persecutions of one class of Christians by another; but it has yet seen but little of the holy confraternity of men calling themselves Christi ans, and little of that love and harmony which might rouse it to thoughtfulness, and awe it into practical belief. It would be a great mistake to charge upon the present generation all the evils connected with the divisions and strifes of the Christian world. They, unhappily, existed before we were born, and are so far beyond our control, that if we would we could not supersede them. It is not saying too much, perhaps, to affirm that they have been modified, and rendered less intense in their evil action, in our own age, than in any former one since the antichristian leaven began powerfully to operate. We can see, in our own day, except where the Romanising spirit exists, a steady progress towards more kindly feelings and associations among real Christians. For this "we would thank God and take courage." But assuredly it becomes a serious duty, with every disciple of Christ, and every minister of truth, to ask himself what he can do to make more palpable the unity of all true believers in the Lord Jesus, while, in their ecclesiastical organisations, they present very much the aspect of various conflicting armies. It cannot be the duty of any Christian man to relinquish convictions which he has derived from a pains-taking and prayerful examination of the word of God; but it is his duty to see how far these convictions may be compatible with the cordial recognition of vital, heartfelt Christianity, wherever it is found existing, whether within his own ecclesiastical pale, or any other which his conscience compels him to reject. Because I may be under a moral necessity to reject my Christian brother's ecclesiastical system, it does not follow that I am bound to reject him; nay, if he be a brother in Christ, I reject him at my peril, for Christ the Master hath received him; and my ecclesiastical theory will be no excuse for me, in the great day, for treating him as "a heathen man and a publican." He may be right, after all, in the points in which I differ from him; and a better understanding of his position and training might lead me to the conclusion, that there was less of sin in his deviation from my particular course, than in my distance and alienation from him on account of it. It comes to this, brethren :what are spiritual men,-men of faith and holiness,-men in whom the love of God, and Christ, and heavenly things has found a place, 6 what are such men to do, in order to mitigate the asperities of a denominational Christianity? Are they to sit down, "every man under his vine and fig tree," and to say to themselves, in the old murderous spirit," Am I my brother's keeper? What have I to do with those who differ from me? Let every church take care of itself, and I will take care of mine." Why this is but a modified edition of the old papal theory. It may exist apart from the persecuting element, but it is not a whit more practically Christian. It is, in a sense, more inconsistent. Romanism denies the Christianity of all beyond its own pale, and acts accordingly; but spurious or cold-hearted Protestantism shrivels itself up within its petty strong holds, and says, "I deny not the Christianity of men belonging to other sects, but I am resolved to have no fellowship with them; they are not of my communion, and I will postpone my intercourse with them till we meet in heaven, if that should ever happen." I am aware that men do not put the question in this honest and categorical form, but this is just the way to try the question, if it is to be at all fairly dealt with. While, then, our ecclesiastical differences, in the present imperfect state of the church, operate against Christian fellowship in its most perfect form, is it not imperative on men who feel the power of Christian sympathy to all their brethren in Christ, to yield themselves to its sacred impulses, and thus to counteract, as far as possible, the baneful effects connected with the present denominational caste and complexion of the visible church? If we are not prepared to quit our respective enclosures, or to relinquish convictions which have been deliberately and prayerfully formed, may we not, with advantage to ourselves and benefit to the Christian cause, fall into some line of sympathetic action, that may prove to the age that our Christian love is co-extensive with the brotherhood of Christ? Nay, does not our allegiance to Christ himself demand of us, that our ecclesiastical organisa tions should not be suffered to check the outgoings of Christian love, which is something higher and nobler than they can possibly be? If the divisions among real Christians are to melt away, and church principles are to approximate to a greater harmony, I know not how either of these results is to be achieved, while we stand at a forbidding distance, and refuse to each other that Christian intercourse which belongs to a common spiritual and heavenly birth, and not to mere organic church arrangements. Upon this great principle, denominated by Paul 'the unity of the Spirit," which belongs to all who have "tasted that the Lord is gracious," the Evangelical Alliance was formed, more than seven years ago; and, so far as the original idea of its projectors has been realised, it has wrought pre-eminently well for the canse of vital Christianity. Its public assemblies, and its more private confraternities, have been distinguished by an element both of freedom and harmony, which its most sanguine friends could scarcely have anticipated. There have been no unhappy collisions; no bitter words of strife and debate; no heart-burnings among brethren, who had learned to "love one another with a pure heart, fervently;" no struggle for pre-eminence among those who have felt that they were sitting at the feet of one loving Master-even Christ. Many, who once looked with suspicion and jealousy on this catholic union, have learned to feel "how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity," and have returned to their home spheres with a double portion of the spirit of their Master, and with a more settled purpose to promote and exemplify fraternal fellowship among His pledged friends. So truly blessed has been the interchange of thought and feeling in this hallowed circle of light and love, that the spontaneous prayer of many hearts has been, "Would that its ranks were multiplied a thousand-fold." And what hinders the indefinite triumph and progress of Christian |