instead of being burned after the He means to create in time. All general resurrection, should stand the creatures, whether merely aninhabited; and that a bird should sensitive and animal, or rational come from some distant planet, and immortal, which He desigus once in the space of what we here to bring into existence, must recall a century, and should take, at ceive their life and breath from each visit, one particle of earth or the Divine hand, during the conwater. After the whole globe, tinuance of the present world.ocean and land, should be remov- This earth is the only residence of ed, at this slow rate; if one of the the irrational animals: their use is inhabitants of heaven or hell, limited to the scenes of time and should cast back a glance of sense: when they die, they perish. thought upon time, how would it All the rational creatures, whom appear to him, in its greatest lat- God designs to bring into existitude? Would it not appear as a ence for his glory, must be called point; as the smallest star that into life before the end of time: twinkles on the curtain of night? as they must all be present at the And yet, he would look upon eter- day of judgment, which will take nity as but just begun, as no near- place immediately after the end of er a close, than when the last sen- the world. In time, God has to tence dropped from the lips of the form the characters of all his inJudge of quick and dead. Com-telligent, accountable creatures, pared to eternity, time, in its and fit them for the revelation of whole extent, is short.

his righteous judgment, at the great Time, in its greatest length, is and last day. also short, compared with the work The work of redemption is the which God has to do in it. In end of all the works of creation time, God has to perform all his and providence, and is carried on, works of creation, providence, and must be completed in time.and redemption. The work of The eternal purpose, which God creation began with the commence- purposed in Christ Jesus, is to be ment of time. In the beginning, carried into complete execution, God created the heavens and the before the end of the world. In earth. In the first six days of time, God had to prepare

the

way time, God produced from nothing, for the incarnation of Christ, by that matter, of which the world the apostacy of man, and by the and all its productions, are com- types and predictions of the Moposed. He enacted the laws, by saick economy-to bring him into which the material world should be the world, at the appointed perigoverned, and according to which, od-and to effect by his hand, as all its diversified inhabitants should He had determined in his councome into being, and live, and sel, all the events of his life and

These law's He is con- death, of his resurrection and asstantly carrying into execution, cension. The promulgation of the by his providence, which is his un- gospel, with all its fruits and efremitting and powerful agency, fects, in relation to both Jews and forming, upholding, moving and Gentiles, is the work of time. All governing, all the elements that that is yet to be done, in fulfilcompose the world, and all the ment of prophecy, respecting the creatures that inhabit it. All these purity and glory of Zion, the exworks of creation and providence, tinction of her enemies, the spread must be performed in time. All of the gospel, the restoration of that God designs ever to create, the Jews and the conversion of

a

66 Our

the Gentiles, must be accomplish | When Pharaoh asked Jacob, "How ed before the end of time. The old art thou?" Jacob replied, whole work of redemption must " The days of the years of my be finished, and all the millions of pilgrimage, are an hundred and men be raised up and fitted for thirty years: few and evil have the their eternal destiny, before the days of the years of my life been " final conflagration, and the end of Had the same question been put all things. How much God had to Methuselah on his death-bed, it to do in time! How much He has is presumed he would have returnwrought already! All history, sa- ed a similar answer. But, could cred and profane, records but a either Jacob or Methuselah now be fraction of what God has done in asked, how long human life was this world. How much He de- in the patriarchal age; they would signs yet to do, before the final hardly be able to find terms diminconsummation! The whole extent utive enough to express their sense of time is short, when viewed in of its shortness. relation to the work, which God But, if human life was short, in had to perform in it; and which is the patriarchal age; what is it now? to lay a foundation for the fullest It is seldom, in these last times, exercise and brightest display of that any one arrives to a tenth part all his glorious perfections, and of the age, to which some of the the acquisition of the greatest pos- patriarchs lived. It is looked upsible sum of created good, through on as a wonder, if a man now atthe ceaseless ages of eternity - tains to a hundred years. Time, in its widest extent, is short, age to seventy years is set.” Few compared with the great, manifold, surpass it: but, alas, how many and marvellous works, which God fall short of it! It is presumed,

' has to do in it.

ninety-nine, out of a hundred. A But, it appears from the con- small proportion only, arrive at nexion, that the apostle, in our what we call middle age, i.e. from text, uses the word time in a more thirty to forty. More than half limited sense. He means by it, that are born, die under ten or the period allotted to men, in this twelve. Surely, then, the time state of probation. The term of is short. Pertinent and without human life is the time, which the exaggeration, are the words of the apostle emphatically pronounces apostle James : “ What is your short. And if time, in its whole life? It is even a vapour,

that

apextent, is so short as we have seen; peareth for a little time, and then then short, indeed, must be the term

vanisheth away.” of human life.

Finally, the term of human life Human life was comparatively appears short indeed, when viewed

, short, in the early ages of the in connexion with the work which world. Methuselah, the oldest men have to do in it. In time, we man of whom we have any ac- have to prepare for eternity. This count, lived but nine hundred and life is our season of trial, and our sixty-nine years. This period, only day of grace. All that mancompared with the whole of time, kind can ever do, to prepare themsupposing the age of the world tó selves for their everlasting abode, be seven thousand years, was a must be done, before the end of short time.

the world and the day of judgment. In order to judge rightly of They are to be judged at the last time, it must be viewed, not from day, according to the deeds done

, its beginning, but from its end. I here in the body: and, according

THE TIME IS SHORT.

We may

to the sentence then passed, will ly impatience, are expecting their be their unalterable and eternal Messiah; the Angel of the Apocastate. And how great the work lypse is flying through the inidst to prepare for eternity! If a man of heaven, having the everlasting were about to remove into a far gospel to preach to all the nations distant country, to spend the re- of the earth. The work of God mainder of his days upon earth, must be done ; and the time is he would think it a great piece of short. “ For he will finish the work to prepare for so long a jour- work, and cut it short in rightney and so long a residence. Days eousness; because a short work and weeks and months would seem will the Lord make upon the a short time for this work. But, earth." men are all about to remove to the 2. Is time, in its greatest extent, unseen world, to spend there the so short as we have seen? We may remainder of their never-ending hence perceive the cause of the existence. And to prepare for the desperate efforts, which Satan is returnless journey and their ever making, to injure the kingdom of Jasting abode, they have, at most, Christ and ruin the souls of men. a few, fleeting years. Verily, He realizes the sarcastick exhort

ation of our Lord to the hurried REFLECTIONS.

traitor, What thou doest, do 1. Is time short at the longest? quickly.' He sees, that the ter

hence see a reason, why mination of his career, is at hand. the great Governour of the world, Hence he rallies all his legions, moves on the wheels of providence and comes, with “ dreadful roar," with such rapidity. He has been to devour. Never did he work, incessantly employed, ever since with greater industry and art, in the commencement of time, both the children of disobedience. Nevin the natural and moral world, er did he more effectually blind working all things after the coun- the minds of them that believe sel of his own will, and carrying not; lest the light of the glorious into effect his great scheme of re- gospel should shine unto them. demption, which comprehends all Never were works of darkaess his works and designs. With more prevalent; Never was diawhat despatch hath He wrought bolical influence more apparent. his great and marvellous works, in What strides have heresy and inages past! But, in this latter part fidelity made, within a few years! of the sixth millenary of the world, What combinations have been when time is swiftly running down formed against the pure doctrines to eternity, and the coming of the and precepts of Christ! What Lord draweth nigh, how rapid is multitudes, in Christian the succession of events! The Lordlands, are led captives, in the seems to make haste, in accom- chains of their lusts, by the Adplishing his purposes and fulfilling versary, at his will! . Wo to the his predictions. The Man of Sin, inhabitants of the earth and of the who had reached the height of his sea! for the Devil is come down arrogancy and power, has been unto you, having great wrath, beabased and made weak like ano- cause he knoweth that he hath but ther man.

• Babylon is fallen, a short time." and become the habitation of dev- 3. Is the time of human life ils.' The throne of the False Pro- very short? Then it is very precphet totters on its base. And ious. There is much to do, whick while the blinded Jews, with sick-must be done in time, or be left

even

souls, or the souls of others, or for of

undone forever. If we ever be- eousness; an inheritance incorcome reconciled to the Divine ruptible, undefiled, and that fadcharacter, law and government; eth not away.

As much as time if we ever exercise repentance to- is shorter than eternity, so much ward God and faith toward our less should we set our affections Lord Jesus Christ; if we ever on earthly, than on heavenly become interested in the promises things. Hence, saith the apostle, of the gospel; behold, now is the “ The time is short; it remaineth, accepted time; behold, now is the that both they that have wives, be day of salvation. This life is the as though they had none; and they only season of probation, which we that weep, as though they wept shall ever have. As we sow now, not; and they, that rejoice, as so we shall reap forever. Every though they rejoiced not; and they one of our present actions will that buy, as though they possessed affect our future and eternal state. not; and they that use this world, In time, short as it is, we must do as not abusing it: for the fashion , own of this world passeth away."

5. Is the time of human life exthe advancement of Christ's king- tremely short? Then how impordom in the world. How precious, tant is the term of a year. It is then, is time. How unwise aro no inconsiderable part of the longthose, who waste it in idleness, or est life. It is a large part of the misspend it in vain amusements, active and useful season of each trifling pursuits, or criminal prac- one's earthly existence. Compartices. How they will rue their ed with the whole of our lives, a folly, when time shall be lost in year is an important period; how eternity! Every day and hour important, then, compared with should be actively and usefully what remains of our probationary employed. Whatsoever thy hand time. Would it not be wise in findeth to do, do it with thy might us, seriously to enquire, what we --Redeeming the time-Be not have done with the year, which is slothful in business, but fervent just gone, never to return? How in spirit, serving the Lord.' have we spent so great a portion of

4. Is the time of human life so our appointed time! You think it short? We may hence see the fol- prudent to reckon with your neighly of laying up treasures upon bours once a year: would it not be earth. Is it worth while to make equally so, to reckon with yourgreat exertions to accumulate trea- selves? Is it not desireable to sures, which, at the most, can be know, how the account stands bepossessed but a few days? And tween your souls and your Maker? yet, how many are careful and What have you done to advance troubled about many things, to the your eternal interest, the year total neglect of the one thing past? Are you better prepared for needful! How many are saying, death, judgment and eternity, each one to his soul, like Dives in than you were a year ago? What the parable, “Soul, thou hast have you done, these twelve much goods laid up for many

months, for the spiritual welfare years; take thine ease, eat, drink, of your families and friends, and and be merry.” Ah, and how for the spread of the gospel and many, like that rich fool, will lose the advancement of Christ's cause? their souls? It is the part of wis- Is it not to be apprehended, that dom, to lay up treasure in heaven; there is some one here present, to seek durable riches and right who, if his Lord should come this

day and reckon with him, would unto prayer; for the coming of the hear the cutting reproof, “Thou Lord 'draweth nigh. wicked and slothful servant?” Lastly. Since the time is short;

While we render thanks to the let not sinners harden their hearts. Preserver of men for the continu. How much of your precious time ance of our forfeited lives, let us is already gone, and your work resolve, by Divine grace, to re- for eternity not begun! In your deem the time; and, should anoth- present course of negligence and er year be granted us, to spend it disobedience, how can you expect as we have reason to think we shall

to escape the righteous judgment wish we had done, when time with of God: 0, be exhorted to awake us shall be no more.

to righteousness. Time is not on6. Is the time short? Then let ly short, but awfully uncertain.saints bear, with patience, the tri- You know not what a day may als and toils of life. The affic- bring forth. If you do not imtions of the righteous may be ma- mediately attend to the things that ny and grievous; but they are belong to your peace, it may be short. The night is far spent, forever too late.' No longer then,

, and the day is at hand. Saints despise the patience and forbearwill soon be where tears are wiped ance of God; but let his goodness from all faces. Their sufferings, lead you to repentance. Let the which are but for a moment, are time past of your lives suffice you succeeded by an eternal weight of to have transgressed the laws and glory. Followers of Christ, in provoked the wrath of God; and ,

; patience possess ye your souls.-- be entreated to begin the new Be not weary in well doing; for in year with newness of life, that it due season ye shall reap, if ye may be a happy prelude to a hapfaint not. Be saber, and watch / py eternity. AMEN.

OY TAE PREVALENCE OF SOCIXIANISM, ever prevail in those churches No VI.

which are now Sociniau ? Were It has often been said that Hop- their sentiments ever taught in kinsianism has led the way to So- | the university of Cambridge: Have cinianism. The only reason I not the Hopkinsian Calvinists ever have ever heard assigned for be- been the most decided and zeallieving so, is, that Edwards and ous opposers of all the errors conBellamy and Hopkins and Spring | nected with Socinianism ? Have and Emmons have lived in New- | not the Socinians been the most England, and their mode of stato decided and zealous opposers of ing the Calvinistic doctrines has Hopkinsian sentiments: been more prevalent in New-Eng- But though the assertion is desland than elsewhere ; and it is in titute of proof, and gains no beNew-England, also, that Socinian- lief but with the opposers of Hopisin has prevailed. But where is kinsian sentiments, it may be well the proof that the labours of these to show, from public documents, men have contributed in any de- what kind of sentiments have forgree to the spread of Socinianism: merly prevailed in those places Have the churches to which they where Socinianism now prevails. ministered, or any churches that it was stated, in my first number, embraced their sentiments, become that the high Calvinism of the Socinians ? Did their sentiments | Pilgrims, gradually gave place to