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2. The hours which we are under the necessity of consuming in sleep occupy a third part of

Eccles. ii. 10. Take heed lest maineth that both they that have from this, your spirit degenerate wives be as though they had into carnal use. There is a dan-none, &c." The time is short ger of your forgetting your con- which is allotted, 1. For our stant dependence, and of your existence in the present life. 2. saying, "Who is the Lord?" Which is capable of being imand that thus your hearts should proved for spiritual purposes. 3. be unfitted for the work of God. The time which remains is short: Again: there are those who are to many of us at least; perhaps poor, and have scarcely any to all. And I purpose to conthing of the world to use. You clude, by mentioning some of the have scarcely meals; you are most important objects to which poorly fed, and meanly clad. we are called to consecrate the Your situation requires you to time we may have yet to spend. exercise daily care, lest you should 1. There was a period when be tempted to use unlawful | human life was counted by hunmeans to provide for your own dreds of years. See Gen. xi. But wants; lest, being poor, you now it is reckoned by scores, should steal, and take the name Ps. xc. 10; and is reduced to a of God in vain, by telling false-hand breadth, Ps. xxxix. 5. It is hoods in the name of the Lord. less than a twelfth part of that Prov. xxx. 9. Zech. xiii. 9. You of the antediluvians. How few are in danger lest a murmuring, reach the period of 80! complaining, discontented, and envious spirit eat up all your thoughts, and prevent you from serving God without distraction.our time, during which we are But remember, "the time is short." All these things will soon be over. You were born for higher employments; you are ca pable of nobler enjoyments; you are destined for eternity. Every thing worldly, or that can be en-portant; and then how short will joyed in the present world, if the time appear, when the mind trusted to for happiness, will is completely at liberty to think prove vanity and vexation of spi- of spiritual subjects, or to engage rit. Seek first the kingdom of in useful employments! Shall we God, and then you may enjoy not be constrained to acknowevery thing else. Hear the con- tedge, that the man who has clusion of the whole matter. lived sixty years, has not lived Fear God, and keep his command-twenty years complete? Although ments; for this is the whole hap-he has in truth spent sixty years piness of man. For God shall in the world, forty of them have bring every work into judgment, passed away in listlessness and with every secret thing, whether it inaction. Let us ask seriously the be good, or whether it be evil, questions, "What proportion of Eccles. xii. 13, 14. our time has been given to God? But I proceed to illustrate the What proportion of it has been PRINCIPLE by which these sen- given to the world?" Ah, my timents are enforced. "Bre- friends, the proportion that has thren, the time is short: it re-been given to God is so short as

stretched in a species of tomb, and undergo as it were an anticipated death. Add to these the hours spent in dressing and undressing, and in other occupations equally insipid and unim

to be almost imperceptible, com- swifter than a weaver's shuttle, pared with the years which have | Job vii. 6. been engrossed by the world.

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IMPROVEMENT. Time is given us as a state of probation for eternity.. How valuable then is every moment! It is time we must redeem, Eph. v. 16; it is a

time of visitation which we must
know, Luke xix. 44; a time ac-
cepted, and a day of salvation we
must improve, 2 Cor. vi. 2; a
period of forbearance and long-
suffering which we must embrace,
Rom. ii. 4; and a time beyond
which there shall be time no
longer, Rev. x. 5, 6. Time is al-
lotted us, not merely to acquire a
trade, or a fortune; not to fill the
magistrate's bench, the senator's
seat, or the monarch's throne;
not to spend our days in mirth
and jollity, or in sorrow and mi-
sery; but to repent and turn to
God; to believe, and be convert-
ed, and to serve and honour God.
Let each of us then say, What
shall I render unto the Lord for
all his benefits toward me? Ps.
cxvi. 12. It was a useful reflec-
tion which I once heard an old
member of the church make.
Having said, "I am the oldest in
this company," he added, "I
feel confounded at the thought,-
but what have I done to serve my
generation by the will of God."
We may
all say the same.

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According to the most exact calculations of those who have made such kind of researches their study, each of these classes must, in the course of the next year, present to death a tribute of ten persons. In that case, sixty will be numbered with the dead. Conformably to the same rate of computation, of the 900 present, there will remain in ten years, 635; in twenty years, only Many ways will present them415; in thirty, 240; in forty, selves to those who are anxious 115; and in fifty, no more than to be useful. It is astonishing 35. Surely the sacred writers are how facilities will open to those correct in representing human whose hearts are alive in the life as a shadow that declineth, work of God. The way of the Ps. cii. 11; as a vanity, which slothful man is as a hedge of has nothing real and solid, Ps. thorns; but the way of the righxxxix. 5; as a flower which fadeth, teous is made plain," Prov. xv. Isai. xl. 7; as grass which is cut 19. Do not say, I have nothing down and withereth, Ps. xc. 6; as to do. Are there not Schoola vapour, that appeareth for a lit-visiting Societies? Are there not tle time, and then vanisheth away, James iv. 14; as a dream which flies away, Job xx. 8; and as

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Missionary Societies to the East Indies and to Ireland? Is there not Social Prayer? Is there not

Village Preaching? Ought you not constantly to prepare for death? It is true that habitual readiness for that solemn event depends upon our faith in Christ, through whom alone we have a title to the heavenly inheritance; but our actual readiness depends upon the state of our hearts, and upon the holiness of our conduct. Let us not then sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. Let us gird up the loins of our mind. And when the Bridegroom shall come, may we be ready to go forth to meet him! Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh. IOTA.

QUESTIONS AND COUNSEL,
Addressed to Young Persons who feel
a Concern for their best Interests.
By the Rev. Ashbel Green, D.D.
LL.D. President of the College of
New Jersey, North America.

QUESTIONS.

observances? or has it been on Christ alone, as your all in all? Has Christ ever appeared very precious to you? Do you mourn that he does not appear more so? Have you sometimes felt great freedom to commit your soul to him? In doing this (if you have done it) has it been not only to be delivered from the punishment due to your sins, but also from the power, pollution, dominion, and existence of sin in your soul?

3. As far as you know yourself, do you hate, and desire to be delivered from all sin, without any exception of a favourite lust? Do you pray much to be delivered from sin? Do you watch against it, and against temptation to it? Do you strive against it, and in some good degree get the victory over it? Have you so repented of it, as to have your soul really set against it?

4. Have you counted the cost of following Christ, or of being truly religious? that it will cut you off from vain amusements, from the indulgence of your lusts, 1. HAVE you seen yourself to and from a sinful conformity to be, by nature and by practice, a the world; that it may expose lost and helpless sinner? Have you to ridicule and contempt;you not only seen the sinfulness possibly to more serious persecuof particular acts of transgression, tion? In the view of all these but also that your heart is the things, are you willing to take seat and fountain of sin; that in up the cross, and to follow Christ you, literally, there is no good whithersoever he shall lead you? thing? Has a view of this led Is it your solemn purpose, in reyou to despair of help from your-liance on his grace and aid, to self; to see that you must be al- cleave to him, and to his cause together indebted to Christ for and people, to the end of life? salvation, and to the gracious aid of the Holy Spirit for strength and ability rightly to perform any duty?

2. On what has your hope of acceptance with God been founded? On your reformation? on your sorrow for your sins? on your prayers? on your tears? on your good works and religious

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5. Do you love holiness? you love a Holy God, and because he is holy? Do you earnestly desire to be more and more conformed to God, and to his holy law?-to bear more and more the likeness of your Redeemer? Do you seek, and sometimes find, communion with your God and Saviour?

6. Are you resolved, in God's | culiar attachment, because they strength, to endeavour conscien- bear their Saviour's image; and tiously to perform your whole because they love and pursue the duty to God, to your neighbour, objects, and delight in the exerand to yourself? Do you per- cises, which are most pleasing form common and relative duties and delightful to yourself? Do conscientiously, as a part of the you, from your heart, forgive all duty which you owe to God? your personal enemies; and refuse to cherish or entertain any sentiments of hatred or revenge? If you have injured any person, have you made reparation; or are you willing and ready to make it?

7. Do you make conscience of secret prayer daily? Do you not sometimes feel a backwardness to this duty? Do you at other times feel a great delight in it? Have you a set time, and place, and order of exercises for performing this duty?

8. Do you daily read a portion of the Holy Scriptures, in a devout manner? Do you love to read the Bible? Do you ever perceive a sweetness in the truths of Holy Scripture? Do you find them adapted to your necessities, and see at times a wonderful beauty, excellence, and glory in God's word? Do you make it the man of your counsel, and endeavour to have both your heart and life conformed to its doctrines and requisitions?

12. Do you feel it to be very important to adorn religion, by a holy, exemplary, amiable, and blameless walk and conversation? Do you fear to bring a reproach on the cause of Christ? Does

this appear to you extremely dreadful? Are you afraid of backsliding, and of being left to return to a state of carelessness and indifference in religion?

13. Do you desire and endeavour to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Christ your Saviour, more and more? Are you willing to sit at his feet as a little child, 9. Have you ever attempted and to submit your reason and to covenant with God? To give understanding implicitly to his yourself away to him, solemnly teaching; imploring his Spirit to and irrevocably, hoping for ac-guide you into all necessary truth, ceptance through Christ alone; to save you from all fatal errors, and taking God, in Christ, as to enable you to receive the truth the covenant God, and satisfy- in the love of it, and to transing portion of your soul? form you, more and more, into a likeness of himself?

10. Does the glory of God ever appear to you as the first, greatest, and best of all objects? Do you desire to promote the glory of God, as the chief object of life?

11. Do you feel a love to mankind-such as you did not feel before you became religious? Have you a great desire that the souls of men should be saved, by being brought to a genuine faith and trust in the Redeemer? Do you love God's people with a pe

COUNSEL.

1. Remember that these questions are intended to point your attention to subjects of inquiry the most important. Do not, therefore, content yourself with a careless or cursory reading of them. Read and deliberate, and examine yourself closely on the questions under each head; and let your heart be lifted up to God, while you are considering each

come; nor from repeated examinations and trials of yourself even to the end of life. Many

particular question, in earnest desires that he may show you the very truth. You cannot ordinarily go over all these ques-marks and evidences of a gracious tions at one time. Divide them, state are set down by pious writherefore, and take one part at ters; but they must all come to one time, and another at another. this-to ascertain what is your But try to go over the whole in prevalent temper and character; the course of a week; and do this whether, on the whole, you are every week, for some months. increasing in sanctification, or When you find yourself doubtful not. If you are, you may be or deficient, in any point, let it comforted; if not, you have not discourage you; but note cause to be alarmed. It is only down that point in writing, and he that endureth to the end that bend the attention of your mind shall be saved. to it, and labour and pray till you have made the attainment which will enable you to answer clearly. It is believed that you cannot fail to see how each question ought to be answered.

2. Remember that secret prayer, reading the word of God, watchfulness, and self-examina tion, are the great means of preserving comfort in religion, and of growing in grace. In proportion as you are exact and faithful in these, such usually will be your inward peace, and the safety of your state. Unite them all together, and never cease to practise them while you live. Think often of the character of Enoch, and try to walk with God. Read Mason's little book on Self-Knowledge-I recommend it as excellent.

3. Besides the Bible, have constantly in reading, at your leisure hours, the works of some author of known piety and excellence: such as Owen's, Baxter's Saints' Rest, Doddridge's Rise and Progress, Watts's, Witherspoon's, Newton's, Scott's, Venn's, &c.&c. 4. Do not suppose that any evidence which at present you may think you possess of a gracious state, will release you from the necessity of maintaining a constant vigilance in time to

5. I think it of very great importance to warn you not to imagine that true religion is confined to the closet or to the church; even though you apprehend that you have great comfort and freedom there. Freedom and comfort there, are indeed most desirable; but true religion reaches to every thing: it alters and sweetens the temper: it improves the manners; it goes into every duty, relation, station, and situation of life. If you have true religion, you will have a better spirit-you will be better sous, better daughters, better friends, better members of society, and more exemplary in the discharge of every duty; as the sure consequence of this invaluable possession. And if your religion does not produce these effects, although you may talk of inward comforts, and even of raptures, you have great reason to fear that the whole is a delusion, and that the root of the matter is not in you. "Herein (said the Saviour) is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples."

6. Be careful to avoid a gloomy, and to cherish a cheerful temper. Be habitually cheerful; but avoid levity. Mirth and laughter are not always sinful; but let your

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