Thus, my respected female dia-vicious, polluted throughout, friends, I have endeavoured to per- and totally ignorant of that Saviour, form, in the best manner I could, whose blood alone “cleanseth from the service to which you have call- all sin.” Often think on your speed me on this occasion. It is a cial obligations to “God who hath time at which, as has been said, wo- called you unto his kingdom and men are taking part in almost all glory." Often think on the distinthat is done, in the holy cause of re- guishing and merciful allotment of ligion and humanity. For this, you his providence, in giving you birth

, suffer unsparing censure from some and education, in a Christian, inof my sex, and from some of your stead of a heathen or Mahomedan own. By this censure, some among

land. And while you perceive, as you have been intimidated; and you cannot fail to perceive, that others, I question not, have been women have a peculiar interest in made honestly to doubt, in what the propagation of revealed truthmanner they ought to act. In- since the influence of that alone has stead, therefore, of confining my- ever raised them to their proper self, in this service, to a single rank in society, and sustained them

, point, or of indulging in general de- in it-feel that you are under peclamation, I have rather chosen to culiar obligations to extend the show, as far as my limits and my knowledge of that truth, by all the ability would permit, what Chris- means in your power; to extend it tian women may do, and what they for the benefit of all, but especially may not do, in expressing their love for the benefit, both temporal and to the Saviour, and manifesting eternal, of your own sex. Never

, their desire to promote his religion. was there greater encouragement to The sneer of the infidel we look proceed with animation and energy for, and are prepared to disregard in a good work, than that which it; but what is Christian duty, is you have already received. The

, for us a most serious inquiry. In cheering intelligence has reached pursuing this inquiry, I have taken you, within the

year past, that on the word of God for my guide-In the schools of Ceylon, the very

its letter, where I found its letter schools to which you afford your explicit; and in its spirit, as far as aid, God has most remarkably I could ascertain that spirit, in all poured out his Holy Spirit. Under that I have said.

his sacred influence, those schools As to the special purpose for have become Bochims and Bethels which your association has been places of weeping and houses of formed, I shall add but little, to prayer; houses in which daughters,

, what you have already heard. It is as well as sons, have, we trust, your high praise, that while too been born to God and glory. In many have been, and still are, ne- this most joyous event, remember gligent of their duty, and as it that your prayers, and your alms, seems to me, sealed up in apathy have had a happy instrumentality. and stupor, in regard to the great Go on, then, to pray earnestly and object of your society-you, like to give cheerfully, for God is with Mary, have done what you could. you: and before the throne of God Go on, Christian sisters. Be not and of the Lamb, many of the feweary in well doing, for in due male children of India, shall yet time you shall reap, if you faint not." meet you, and bless you, and reOften think of the number of immor- joice with you, through eternal ages. tal souls, that are every day and eve- Men and brethren, who hear me ry hour passing into eternity, from on this occasion. Be reminded that. the multitudinous population of In- there is a divine injunction laid on

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us, in relation to the subject which But he never presented himself behas now been discussed. The apos- fore them in the character and style tle Paul, speaking as he was moved of a beggar. No. But he directed by the Holy Ghost, has said— Timothy to "charge them that are Help those women that laboured rich in this world—to be rich in with me in the Gospel." Yes, it is the good works, ready to distribute, sacred duty of us all, to help these willing to communicate.” And a female gospel labourers; to help greater than Paul, commended the them with our countenance and en- two mites of a poor widow, cast into couragement; with our prayers and the treasury of the Lord, beyond our purses; with every aid and all the offerings of the rich. Thereevery facility which we can afford fore, men and brethren, it is in the them, in their benevolent exertions. name of the Lord, unworthy as I For whom do they labour? Not am, that I come to you; and I demore for themselves than for us. liver to you his charge, and not my Nay, in many of these pious la- own, that, for his sake, and for bours, they are directly helping us; your own sakes, you help these they are taking a part of that bur- women who labour in the gospel. I den on themselves, which used to be tell you in his name, that the day borne by us alone. They are do- is coming that will call you to acing for us, generously and nobly, a count before Him, as the Judge of part of our special business. And quick and dead, for the manner in shall there be a creature in the form which you shall have disposed of all of a man, so much without the spi- your property.—The day when what rit of a man, as to hinder, and not you shall now give, if you give it help them, while thus employed, from right motives, will afford you to mock them with laughter or ridi- more pleasure, than all that you cule, or even to treat them with a ever spent in luxury and show, and cold and discouraging neglect? superfluous personal gratification. Such a being, I trust there is not in Give then from a pure, a noble, a this assembly. Ah! my brethren, truly benevolent desire to do good. the hour is not far distant, when to Give thus, I repeat it, for your have helped the cause of God and own sakes, and for the sake of your Christ, in this dark and perishing Saviour's precious cause, and as world,--to have helped this sacred you

will wish to have done, when cause but in a feeble, if it has been he shall say to those on his right in an upright manner-will avail us hand—0! may you and I be there infinitely more, than to have re- _“Come ye blessed of my Father,

ceived the proudest distinctions inherit the kingdom prepared for which the world can confer.

you

from the foundation of the And now-hearers of all descrip- world: For I was an hungered, and

, tions I call on you to help these ye gave me meat: I was thirsty and women, on the present occasion, ye gave me drink: I was a stranby a liberal contribution to their

ger
and

ye

took me in: Naked and funds. But think not that I am go- ye clothed me: I was sick and ye ing to address you, for this pur- visited me: I was in prison and ye pose, in the language and tone of a came unto me-Verily I say unto mendicant. I read no such address, you, inasmuch as ye have done it no such language, in my Bible. unto one of the least of these my Paul indeed, sometimes appealed brethren, ye have done it unto me earnestly to the liberality of the Enter ye into the joy of your primitive churches, and sometimes Lord."-Amen. warmly commended them for it.

a life.

THE VOICE OF THE NEW YEAR. condition, and to the continuing custom

and conceit of the ungodly world; that We think the following extract against both they may maintain that rank from the expository works of Arch- and dignity to which now they are called, bishop Leighton, may, with peculiar and, in a holy disdain of both, walk as

the redeemed of the Lord. Their own propriety, receive the title we have former custom he speaks to, ver. ii. iii. placed at the head of this article.

and to the custom and opinion of the world, ver. iv. and both these will set

strong upon a man, especially while he is 1 PETER, iv. 3.

yet weak, and newly entered into that “For the time past of our life may suf- new estate. fice us, to have wrought the will of the 1. His old acquaintance, his wonted Gentiles."

lusts, will not fail to bestir themselves, to

accost him in their most obliging familiar The past may suffice; there is a figure way, and represent their long continued in that,* meaning much more than the friendship. But the Christian, following words express: It is enough, Oh! too the principles of his new being, will not much, to have lived, so long, so miserable entertain any long discourse with them,

but cut them short; tell them that the Now, says the Christian, “Oh! corrupt change he hath made he avows, and lusts and deluding world! look for no finds it so happy, that these former de. more, I have served you too long. lights may put off hopes of regaining The rest, whatsoever it is, must be to him. No, though they dress themselves my Lord; to live to him by whom I live; in their best array, and put on all their and ashamed and grieved I am, I was so ornaments, and say, in the known word long in beginning. So much past,-it may of a certain courtesan, I am the same I be the most of my short race past,-before was, the Christian will answer, as she was I took notice of God, or looked towards answered, but I am not the same I was. him. Oh! how have I lost, and worse And not only thus will he turn off the than lost, all my by-past days ? Now, plea of former acquaintance that sin had I the advantages and abilities of many makes, but turn it back upon it, as, in his men, and were i to live many ages, all present thoughts, making much against should be to live to my God and honour “ The longer I was so deluded, the him. And what strength I have, and more reason now that I be wiser; the wbat time I shall bave, through his grace,

more time so misspent, the more pressshall be wholly his.” And when any ing necessity of redeeming it. Oh! I Christian hath thus resolved, his intend- have too long lived in that vile slavery. ed life being so imperfect, and the time

All was but husks I fed on; I was laying so short, the poorness of the offer would out my money for that which was no bread, break his heart, were there not an eter- and my labour for that which satisfied not, nity before him, wherein he shall live to Isa. lv. ii. Now I am on the pursuit of bis God, and in him, without blemish and a good that I am sure will satisfy, will fill without end.

the largest desires of my soul; and shall Spiritual things being once discerned I be sparing and slack, or shall any thing by a spiritual light, the whole soul is call me off from it? Let it not be. I carried after them; and the ways of ho

that took so much pains, early and late, to liness are never truly sweet till they be serve and sacrifice to so base a god; shall thoroughly embraced, with a full renun- I not now live more to my new Lord, the ciation of all that is contrary to them. living God, and sacrifice my time and

All his former ways of wandering from strength, and my whole self, to him?" God are very hateful to a Christian, who

And this is still the regret of the senis indeed returned and brought home; sible Christian, that he cannot attain to and those most of all hateful, wherein he that unwearied diligence, and that strong hath most wandered and most delighted. bent of affection, in seeking communion A sight of Christ gains the heart, makes with God, and living to him, that someit break from all entanglements of its

it.

how pitiful is it, that the small number thee, and depress thy mind; and will that is thus minded, minds it so remissly hold it so down, that thou shalt not find and coldly, and is so far outstripped by it possible to walk upright and look upthe children of this world, that they follow wards, with that freedom and frequency painted follies and lies with more eager that becomes heirs of heaven. ness and industry, than the children of 2. The measure of thy affairs being wisdom do that certain and solid blessedadapted, look to thy affection in them, ness that they seek after. * Strange! that it be regulated too. Thy heart may that men should do so much violence be engaged in thy little business as much, one to another, and to themselves in if thou watch it not, as in many and great body and mind, for trifies and chaff! and affairs. A man may drown in a little that there is so little to be found of that brook or pool, as well as in a great river, allowed and commanded violence, for a if he be down and plunge himself into kingdom, and such a kingdom that cannot it, and put his head under water. Some be moved, Heb. xii. 28; a word too high

care thou must have, that thou mayest for all the monarchies under the sun. not care; these things are thorns in

And, should not our diligence and vio. deed; thou must make a hedge of them, lence in this so worthy a design be so to keep out those temptations that acmuch the greater, the later we begin to company sloth, and extreme want there pursue it? They tell it of Cæsar, that waits on it: But let them be the hedge; when he passed into Spain, meeting there suffer them not to grow within the garwith Alexander's statue, it occasioned den: Though they increase, set not thy him to weep, considering that he was up heart on them, nor set them in thy heart. so much more early, having performed That place is due to another, is made so many conquests in those years, wherein to be the garden of thy beloved Lord; he thought he himself had done nothing, made for the best plants and flowers; and was but yet beginning. Truly it will and there they ought to grow, the love be a sad thought, to a really renewed of God, and faith, and meekness, and mind, to look back on the flower of the other fragrant graces of the Spirit. youth and strength as lost in vanity; if And know that this is no common nor easy not in gross profaneness, yet in self-serv. matter, to keep the heart disengaged in ing and self-pleasing, and in ignorance the midst of affairs, that still it be reand neglect of God. And perceiving served for Him whose right it is. their few years so far spent ere they set 3. Not only labour to keep thy mind out, they will account days precious, and spiritual in itself, but by it put a spiritual make the more haste, and desire, with stamp even upon thy temporal employholy David, enlarged hearts to run the way ments; and so thou shalt live to God, not of God's commandments, Psal. cxix. 32. only without prejudice of thy calling, but They will study to live much in a little even in it, and shalt converse with him in time; and, having lived all the past time thy shop, or in the field, or in thy jour. to no purpose, will be sensible they have ney, doing all in obedience to him, and none now to spare upon the lusts and offering all

, and thyself withal, as a saways of the flesh, and vain societies and crifice to him: Thou still with him, and visits: Yea, they will be redeeming all he still with thee, in all. This is to live they can even from their necessary af

to the will of God indeed, to follow his fairs, for that which is more necessary

direction, and intend his glory in all. than all other necessities, that one thing Thus the wife, in the very oversight of needful, to learn the will of our God, and her house, and the husband, in his aflive to it; this is our business, our high fairs abroad, may be living to God, raising calling, the main and most excellent of their low employments to a high quality all our employments.

this way, “Lord, even this mean work I Not that we are to cast off our parti- do for thee, complying with thy will, who cular callings, or omit due diligence in hast put me in this station, and given me them; for that will prove a snare, and in- this task ; thy will be done. Lord, I offer up

volve a person in things more opposite even this work to thee, accept of me, and - to godliness. But certainly this living of my desire to obey thee in all.” And to God requires, 1. A fit measuring of

as in their work, so in their refreshments thy own ability for affairs, and, as far and rest, such Christians pursue all for as thou canst choose, fitting thy load to him, whether they eat or drink, doing all thy shoulders, not surcharging thyself for this reason, because it is his will; and with it. An excessive burden of busi- for this end, that he may have glory; nesses, either by the greatness or mul- bending the use of all their strength, titude of them, will not fail to entangle and all his mercies, that way; setting this

mark on all their designs and ways, this * Plus illi ad vanitatem, quàm nos ad for his glory, 1 Cor. x. 31, so from orre

thing to another throughout their whole from the hopes of it. Oh, how sad an life. This is the art of keeping the heart estate! and the more, by the rememspiritual in all affairs, yea, of spiritualizing brance of these slighted offers and inthe affairs themselves in their use, that in vitations! Will you then yet return, you themselves are earthly. This is the elixir that would share in Christ? Let go these that turns lower metal into gold, the mean lusts to which you have hitherto lived, actions of this life, in a Christian's hands, and embrace him, and in him there is into obedience and holy offerings unto spirit and life for you. He shall enable God.

you to live this heavenly life to the will And, were we acquainted with the of God, his God and your God, and his way of intermixing holy thoughts, ejacu- Father and your Father, John xx. 17. latory eyeings of God, in our ordinary Oh! delay no longer this happy change; ways, it would keep the heart in a sweet how soon may that puff of breath that temper all the day long, and have an ex- is in thy nostrils, who hearest this, be cellent influence into all our ordinary extinguished! and art thou willing to actions and holy performances, at those die in thy sins, rather than that they times when we apply ourselves solemnly die before thee? Thinkest thou it a to them. Our hearts would be near pain to live to the will of God? Sure them, not so far off to seek and call in, it will be more pain to lie under his as usually they are, through the neglect eternal wrath. Oh! thou knowest not of this. This were to walk with God in. how sweet they find it that have tried deed; to go all the day long as in our it! Or thinkest thou, I will afterwards? Father's hand; whereas, without this, Who can make thee sure either of that afour praying morning and evening looks terwards, or of that will, if but afterwards? but as a formal visit, not delighting in Why not now presently, without further that constant converse which yet is our debate? Hast thou not served sin long happiness and honour, and makes all es- enough? may not the time past in that tates sweet. This would refresh us in service suffice, yea, is it not too much? the hardest labour; as they that carry Wouldst thou only live unto God as little the spices from Arabia are refreshed with time as may be, and think the dregs of the smell of them in their journey; and thy life good enough for him? What insome observe, that it keeps their strength, gratitude and gross folly is this! Yea, and frees them from fainting.

though thou wert sure of coming unto If you would then live to God indeed, him, and being accepted; yet, if thou be not satisfied without the constant re. knowest him in any measure, thou gard of him; and whosoever hath attain. wouldst not think it a privilege to defer ed most of it, study it yet more to set the it, but willingly choose to be free from Lord always before you, as David profess- the world and thy lusts, to be immeeth, Psal. xvi. 8, and then shall you have diately his, and wouldst, with David, that comfort that he adds, He shall be still make haste, and not delay to keep his at your right hand, that you shall not be righteous judgments : all the time thou moved.

livest without him, what a filthy wretchAnd you that are yet to begin to do this, ed life is it, if that can be called life that think what his patience is, that, after you is without him? To live to sin, is to live have slighted so many calls, you may yet still in a dungeon; but to live to the will begin to seek him, and live to him; and of God, is to walk in liberty and light; then, consider, if you still despise all thi to walk by light unto light, by the begingoodness, how soon it may be otherwise; nings of it to the fulness of it, that is in you may be past the reach of this call, his presence. and may not begin, but cut off forever

FOR THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE,

CHRIST'S REPROOF AND CALL TO HIS DISCIPLES.

“Sleep on now and take your rest!--Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners!— Rise! let us be going: behold he is at hand that doth betray me!"

Hark! hark! from heav’n the Saviour's voice

To slumb’ring saints address'd
Rise! rise ! nor make the ignoble choice,

Whilst sin abounds, to rest.
Vol. IV.Ch. Adv.

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