Every thing around us is in a state of constant fluctuation. Neither nature nor art continue long in one position. The heavens above us are in perpetual motion. The earth beneath is ever changing its external appearance. The atmosphere around us is subject to incessant variations. Individuals, families, and nations, are altering their aspect, and assuming forms marked by strong traits of novelty. Not only opinions, but even long established customs at length lose their hold on the mind, and are shut out by practices of a directly opposite tendency. Thus are we whirled around in the vortex of life by incidents the most strange, and by events the most contrary to our expectations. Change, in its endless variety of shapes, presents itself, and we observe, with surprize, the effects produced by it, both in ourselves and in our friends with whom we are connected: But sure to foreign climes we need not range, But spare, O TIME! what e'er of mental grace, Of candour, love, or sympathy divine; Whate'er of fancy's ray, or friendship's flame is mine! MINSTREL. 4. We should enter upon the new century with the pleasing idea that the progressive series of events tends to human improvement. The light which broke out at the great æra of the reformation, continues to send forth its rays, and will illuminate the most distant regions of the globe! The human faculties, which had slumbered for ages, were then roused into action, and the discovery of the art of printing facilitated the spread of truth in districts whither its beams had not before penetrated. Since that illustrious period, science has lifted up her head commerce has spread abroad her sails-and religion has unfolded prospects of futurity highly favourable to human felicity. Our ideas seem now to flow in channels which cannot easily be interrupted. More just views of the Supreme Being are entertained, and clearer notions indulged respecting the rights and privileges of humanity. Man will henceforward become more sensible of his advantages, and will, it is to be hoped, convey them entire and unmutilated to their posterity. The benevolent of every class rejoice in the prospect. Feeling for his species, the good man will exult in the recollection, that the night of ignorance and misery is passing away, and will be assuredly lost in the full blaze of perfect day: Hail, radiant ages! hail, and haste along! To reasoning man your splendid years belong : Andreach a glorious fall that ne'er shall wane to night! CHANGE. Finally, let us, upon the commencement of the new century, realise the perfections and government of the Supreme Being, under whose superintendance every thing will be conducted to a happy conclusion. A fatherless world! an orphan universe! are ideas agonizing to every well constituted mind. The present system bears unequivocal marks of the wisdom and goodness by which it was originally con C stituted. The parts themselves, and the relation they bear to each other, point out the admirable ends for which they are intended. The sun, moon, and stars, perform with regularity their destined revolutions. The earth vegetates at the assigned period of fertility, and pours forth its stores for the sustenance and comfort of the human race. The intellectual and moral powers of man lead him to the perception, and by the force of motives properly weighed, impel him to the practice of right conduct. The REVELATION with which we are favoured, is in every respect honourable to the divine government. The reasonableness of its doctrines, the purity of its precepts, and the sublimity of its prospects, recommend it to our most serious attention. Even the futility of the objections made to its origin, shews in a more striking point of view its divinity-for the envenomed shafts of infidelity, recently aimed at the heavenly shield, have been seen to fall pointless to the ground. In such circumstances, and with such views, MAN is empowered to look abroad at the commencement of a century, and to realise the perfections and government of the SUPREME BEING, with whom there is no variableness nor the shadow of turning! In neglecting this privilege, he omits to discharge a most important duty. He sinks himself upon a level with the brutes, and relinquishes means admirably calculated to promote and secure his perfection. From the honourable ideas which we have been taught to form of Deity, we cannot for a moment suspect the equity with which he presides over every part of his wide extended empire! The architect prides himself on the proportion and regularity with which his buildings have been raised. The artist contemplates the niceness and accuracy after which his pieces of mechanism have been constructed. The statesman congratulates himfelf on the sagacity with which his plans have been devised and accomplished. In a similar manner the Deity has regulated every procedure of his government with the profoundest wisdom, in conjunction with a benevolence which exceeds our loftiest conceptions. Immediately after the creation-GOD surveyed the works of his hands, and pronounced them to begood! And humanly speaking, he must at all times look down with an eye of distinguished complacency on the subserviency of his government to general felicity. MAN, however, furnished with scanty powers of perception, is cooped up on every side, and vainly strives to disclose the secrets of futurity. We know not what to-morrow brings forth. This is a mea. sure ordained in infinite wisdom. The anticipation of our joys, or of our griefs, is often a burden too heavy to be borne. Pretensions, indeed, are made to a knowledge of our future destiny-but the imposition has been long ago detected and exposed. Our wisest way is to throw the reins over a vain curiosity. Let us never attempt, on any occasion, to lift up the awful veil which divides the present moment from futurity! Such a procedure shews only our own impiety and folly. Contented with that portion of information which is commensurate with our faculties and most congenial with our present situation, let us devote our knowledge to the great purposes of faith and practice. A larger degree of intelligence cannot, perhaps, in this life be the legitimate object of attainment. Henceforwards then, let us dismiss our anxious thoughts-banish our corroding cares-and shudder at the indulgence of impious anticipations.In fine, let us calmly and cheerfully resign ourselves to the disposal of that GREAT BEING who cannot err, and who will with consummate ability TION, and in his solicitude for their welfare. In their society he relaxed from his important occupations, and accustomed himself to share their pleasures and promote their amusements. By what more certain means can a parent obtain that confidence so necessary to enable him to promote the happiness of his children? The office of instructor of youth he considered as of the highest importance. "If," says he, "we esteem those who contribute to the prosperity of the state, we ought to place in the first rank the tutors of our children, whose labours influence posterity, and on whose precepts and exertions the dignity of our family and of our country in a great measure depends.” AFFECTION OF BRUTES. VALORI relates, that Lorenzo was highly gratified with the amusement of horse-racing, and that he kept many horses for that purpose, amongst which was one, that on every occasion bore away the prize. The same author professes to have heard from Politiano, that as often as this horse happened to be sick or was wearied with the course, he refused any nourishment except from the hands of Lorenzo, at whose approach, he testified his pleasure by neighing and by motions of body, even when lying on the ground; so that it is not to be wondered at, says this author, by a kind of commendation rather more striking than just, that Lorenzo should be the delight of mankind, when even the brute creation expressed an affection for him. MARIANO, A CELEBRATED PREACHER. "I was lately induced," says Politianus, "to attend one of his lectures, rather, to say the truth, |