The various months and seasons of the year are all enriched with the bounties of an indulgent Providence; yea, as a crown encircles the head of its wearer, fo do the mercies of our God encompass our perfons, and encircle our years— for "he crowneth the year with his goodness." Even the season of Winter is not without its inftructions, or its comforts. How much may we learn of the power and greatness of our God when we fee "fire and hail, and ftormy wind," all fulfilling his will; and none of them able to go beyond his word. What a majestic defcription doth the Pfalmift give of Deity in the wintry feafon !" He giveth fnow like wool, and scattereth his hoar froft like afhes; he cafteth "forth his ice like morfels. Who can ftand before his cold? "He fendeth out his word and melteth them," &c. Nor do we at this feafon behold the greatnefs of God only, but his goodnefs alfo. The appointment of this feafon is wife and good; for all the feafons are equally ufeful and neceffary. How welcome has been, for fome years, the return of winter to the western world, to kill the feeds of infection, and enable thousands to return to their homes and bufinefs, who had been thrown from thence by the dreadful ravages of the most fatal diftemper. From how many difeafes may this feafon, in the hand of Providence, be a means of our prefervation! It is, however, of acknowledged benefit to the ground, which then "Draws in abundant vegetable foul, "And gathers vigour for the coming year." What traces of divine goodness appear in the Spring! When Nature feems to awake from her wintry fleep to renewed life and activity, to bud forth in fresh beauty, and promife a variety of benefits for the fupport of needy man! How do all the lovely fcenes of fpring atteft his bounty and difplay his love! A view of the returning verdure and fruitfulnefs, which then every where meets our eye, fhould caufe us to adopt the grateful language expreffed in this pfalm" Thou vifiteft the earth, and watereft it, thou greatly enricheft it with the river of God, which is full of waterthou watereft the ridges thereof abundantly-thou settlest the furrows thereof-thou makeft it foft with fhowers-thou blessest the springing thereof. "David feems here to view all nature reviving again to beauty and fruitfulness, and afcribes it all to God, who fends copious fhowers of moisture from heaven, and adds his bleffing to man's industry: that "the earth may yield her increafe, and God, even our own "God, may blefs us." "Then comes his glory in the Summer months," all of which he likewife crowns with his goodness. It is by the. kindly rays of this feafon that the fruits, which were sprung up, are matured and ripened for our benefit. How doth all nature appear now laden with the bounties of our God! and whilft we behold them, on every hand, what reason have we to look up, with admiring gratitude, to the great Author of all thefe bleflings, and fay, as David here-" Thy paths drop fatnefs, they drop on the paftures of the wilderness, and the little hills rejoice on every fide ?" What rich imagery is here used, to exprefs the exuberant goodnefs of God! We dwell in a needy wilderness, and all our fupplies must come from above. May we gather them with gratitude, and praise the bounteous donor! on "His bounty fhines in Autumn unconfin'd, "And fpreads a common feast for all that lives." The eyes of all wait on our God; and how liberally, at this feafon, does he provide for all! He opens his hand, and fills all things living with plenteoufnefs. The fruits of the earth are now gathered and stored for the use of man. The Pfalmift evidently alludes to the goodness of God at this feafon of the year-when he fays here, "The pastures are clothed with flocks the vallies alfo are covered with corn, they fhout for joy, they alfo fing." Each part of the creatiappears adorned and enriched with divine beneficence; all nature fmiles with his bounty, and rejoices in his liberali. ty. This is the crowning of the year. All the foregoing feafons have prepared their various fruits to be gathered in this, and the divine bounty is gathered with general gladnefs, This is moft eminently the cafe in the prefent feafon. We have provoked our Maker by our iniquities, and he has repeatedly threatened our fupplies. The fcarcity of an unfavourable year or two, has been encreased and magnified by the wickedness of man; and there are not wanting fome monsters who have even rejoiced in the profpect of farther diftreffing the poor for their own emolument. But behold, his goodnefs at once difappoints their avarice, and fatisfies with bread. Thus he crowns the year with his the poor goodness. "We fee his hand "In every varying scene; and taste his love "O praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men !" And as divine goodness appears, in all the various seasons we experience, fo in all the various mercies we receive. What reafon have we to acknowledge our obligations for his preferving goodness through the past revolving year? In how many circumftances of danger, may each one say, hath Almighty goodnefs protected us? Who can afcertain the numerous evils and dangers to which we every day stand expofed? Only an omnifcient eye can difcern them; only an almighty arm can avert them. "Thou, O Lord, haft been a fhield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of my head.” Almighty Guardian! I would own thy kindness; and prefent to Thee the tribute of my gratitude! May the life thou haft fpared be more devoted to thy glory! God hath alfo fupplied the numerous wants of another year, and thereby crowned it with his goodness. All our fprings are in him; and there is no day, nor hour, but ftreams of mercy are flowing from thence to fupply and comfort us; yea, our mercies are more numerous than our moments. We are unable to calculate the mercies, or estimate the obligations of a day; what praises must be due then for the mercies of a year? If we are believers, we are not only monuments of fparing goodness, but alfo of pardoning mercy. "Who is a God "like unto Thee, O Lord; pardoning iniquity, and because "thou delighteft in mercy?" Have we experienced many fufferings the paft year? Still we have reafon to admire the goodness of God, who always corrects in measure, and only for our good; who hath proportioned our fufferings to our ftrength, or, our ftrength to our fufferings; who always numbers or forrows, and has often alleviated them; who hath fupported us by his power and grace, and at times cheered us by his prefence. Surely, "all the paths of the "Lord are mercy and truth; and bleffed for ever be his "name." He crowneth our years with his goodness. That Let us now briefly inquire, what obligations refult from a review of this fubject? What obligations to humility and contrition refult from a review of our own conduct? we have been fo forgetful of divine goodness, and fo ungrateful for its mercies? That we have lived fo much to ourfelves, and fo little for Chrift? What barrennefs, though favoured with many means and mercies! What hath borne any proportion to our mercies, except our fins? Alas! to us belongeth fhame, but to our God belongeth mercy. What obligations arife to the livelieft gratitude and praise? What fhould we render, whofe mercies have been fo numerous? Let us come into his houfe in the multitude of his mercy, enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. We cannot render adequate, let us, therefore, be more concerned to render grateful returns. Blefs the Lord, O our fouls! What obligations to renewed confidence in God? if we had thus proved the faithfulness and kindness of an earthly friend, how would our confidence, as well as our gratitude, be encreased! And ought not this to be the cafe with refpect to our God?" Because thou hast been my help; there"fore, under the fhadow of thy wings will I truft."-What obligations, to active obedience, and fubmiffion to God! Christians, be concerned to run in the way of his commandments; for consider, how great things the Lord hath done for you-and confider, if he thus crown you with goodness during the years of your pilgrimage, with what bleffing, with what joy, with what glory will he crown you through eternal ages? How great is the goodness he hath laid up for them that fear him!" If fuch the fweetness of the stream, what will the fountain be?" SODALIS DISCIPULUS. I ATTENDANCE ON PUBLIC WORSHIP. BELIEVE it is generally allowed, that there was never a greater fpirit for hearing the Gofpel than at the prefent time; and it is of great importance, that we should earnestly attend to hear the truth, as it is in Jefus. "Faith cometh "by hearing;" but it is to be lamented, that many who call themfelves Chriftians, while they are anxious to hear, appear so indifferent to the chief acts of Chriftian worship, namely, prayer and praife; for "Preaching and hearing, though appointed means of edification, and to be performed in a devout manner, are not direct acts of worthip." This indifference is too obvious from the very common, though indecent practice of many, who are not careful to be pi fent at the commencement of divine worship, by which they are not only irreverent towards God, but alfo difturb and grieve thofe who attend in time. This evil, it is to be feared, is too little confidered by perfons in general, and too often overlooked by minifters; hence it is common for many to exprefs themfelves perfectly fatisfied that they were "in time for the fermon," and think nothing of being too late. for prayer. I wish perfons, who habituate themselves to fuch a practice, would alfo feriously confider the cruelty they are guilty of, by constantly depriving the door-keepers and pew-openers from joining in the worthip. Nor does it ap pear confiftent with the character of those who, themselves, maintain a strict and regular attendance on public worship on the Christian fabbath, or Lord's day, to allow their fer vants to be unneceffarily prevented from attending religious exercifes; or to oblige them to work, perhaps as much, or more than on other days, in dreffing dinners, &c.; but, if this fhould be excufed by pleading the neceffity for keep ing fomebody at home for the fafety of the habitation, and that in fuch cafes there can be no harm to indulge with a hot dinner, I beg leave to afk, whether, even where it may be neceffary, for the fecurity of their property, to leave a perfon in the houfe; it would not be more confiftent with religion and decency, that they fhould, as much as poffible, refrain from the drudgery of cooking, &c. on the Sabbath, as that muft, in fome measure, interfere with the fervants at-tendance on public worship; either by preventing them from attending in time, the part of the day they are allowed, or unfitting them, through fatigue, for any attendance; befides depriving them of the means of edification, which they might avail themfelves of, when obliged to be at home. A. B. C. 1 SOLILOQUY ON THE RICHES OF CHRIST. Written on the Day before the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper. How OW inexpreffible the fatisfaction which fills the heart on taking a near view of the unfearchable riches of Chrift! If he be my portion, furely my treafures are fufficient. Oh may a fteady gratitude of heart evidence, how highly I efteem my more enduring fubftance! Yes, thou art mine! My foul feels fatisfied with thy riches, with the immenfity of which I am unacquainted, until it be opened to me in glory, and thy gracious voice bid me partake of it. And I have heard thy voice, thy gracious voice! |