CONNECTICUT

EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE;

AND

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCER.

PUBLISHED MONTHLY.

VOL. VIII.

Elx. Dup. (Old Corner brai

HARTFORD:

PUBLISHED BY PETER B. GLEASON AND CO.

1815.

A New Year's Address. ler, while closing one year and beginning another, the thought

HE Editors of the Maga- ful mind cannot avoid a solemn

Tzine rejoice with their read-consideration of the scenes with

ers and Christian friends, in the which he is surrounded. To merciful favors of Divine Pro-aid our reflections at this intevidence, by which they are resting juncture, to enable us to enabled to welcome the com- profit by the review and the anmencement of another year.ticipation to which we are inThey unite with them in adoring vited, a few things may, perhaps, that divine mercy, by which be usefully suggested. they have passed another porThe existence of moral betion of human life safely borne ings is as unlimited as duration. through all its perils. The in- A part of duration is set out by spired Psalmist observes of the the limits of time. The periods people of God, "They go from which mark the divisions of strength to strength." That is, time are well suited to enable from one support, or resting- us to determine its nature, and place, to another. In the pro- estimate the rapidity of its gress of time, the different peri- flight. There is but one thing ods into which it is divided that gives time its real importnaturally bring those who are on ance. It is the season in which the journey of life, from one guilty offenders may regain the resting-place to another; from favor of God. Time is of conwhence, it is peculiarly natural sequence, not because it affords and proper to look back upon an opportunity for the display of the scenes which have passed, to human passions; an occasion for discover their dangers and pre- the efforts of the pride and inservations, and to learn wisdom terests of men; but because it for the future. In the station opens a way for the sons of pain occupied by an immortal travel- and sorrow to rise to infinite.

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In a more general view of things, we may forcibly discover the value of time. It is the pe

*blessedness. The servant of sin is necessarily doomed to endless woe; not merely because the divine law denounces death a-riod in which the Lord Jesus gainst the transgressor; not be- makes up his mediatorial kingcause Christ Jesus will execute dom. As a reward for all his judgment upon all the impeni- sufferings and toils, for an evertent; but because of the fatal na- lasting attestation of the triture and certain tendency of sin. umphs of truth over all the deSin excites all those affections in vices of evil, and for a perfect the heart, of selfishness, envy, display of all the moral perfecmalice, hatred, pride, revenge, tions of Jehovah, God has promwhich necessarily fill the subject ised to give to Christ a kingdom, with unceasing pain. Sin alien- of which he is to be the proprieates the soul from God. As all tor and prince forever. good is in him, and as there can kingdom is to consist, principally, be none for creatures but what is of the Redeemed. Holy angels derived from him, the sinner, may be included in the eternal standing in a state of hostility kingdom of Christ; but they with his Creator, must be per- cannot constitute the material petually destitute of all good. part. The blessedness of these Sin is always increasing in an can never display his mediatorial unholy heart; of course, the character, nor the riches of dienmity towards God is increas- vine mercy. The highest praise ing, and no prospect appears of that will ever be heard in heavany exemption from endless sor-en, will be the song, "Thou art

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worthy, for thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood." A song which none can sing but those who have lain in the depths of sin." The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy.", Those whom Christ has ransomed from the power of the Destroyer, will constitute the glory of his kingdom. This kingdom of the redeemed is to be collected in time. Between the dark hour of man's fatal apostacy, and the solemn morning which will sound the archangel's trump, the unnumbered millions of the redeemed are to be collected in the kingdom of When it shall be proChrist. nounced that time shall be no longer, his house will be full, his supper will be furnished with guests, and the door will be shut.

soul, while the objects of the world have engaged his chief' pursuit; he will be intreated to remember, that an important period of his probation is passed forever, a period in which many have been secured in Christ, a period which can never be recalled.-Those with whom the Holy Spirit of God has been striving, whether in a greater or less degree, if they have resisted the merciful applications of divine love, and their hearts have refused to bow to Christ as their Lord and Saviour, if they have resolved to prefer, for the present, the enjoyments of the world to his holy service; have the utmost reason to enquire of themselves whether they can

This kingdom will be, through eternity, the wonder and the glory of the universe; and will show forever what has been done iu time. When millions of ages shall have rolled away, immortal intelligencies, looking back to this point in duration, will perceive it to be the foundation of the infinite blessedness then enjoyed. In every period of time, the kingdom of grace is advancing. There is no age in which the divine Saviour is not gathering in his people, none which will not afford trophies of his victorious grace. For he has declared, “The moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be forever, and my salva-expect the divine Spirit to call tion from generation to generation.' His salvation is ever advancing; every year carries sons and daughters from a world of sin to habitations of eternal glory.

Such being the nature and the high privileges of time, as we pass over its different stages, we pause to enquire what has been accomplished in these immortal interests. The first enquiry with every individual is, What have I done, and what has God done for my own soul? Every sinner may be told with safety, the Spirit of God has done little or nothing for him, if he has been indifferent himself. If any one who reads these reflections, or any one who begins his year with serious thoughtful ness, is conscious that he has lived for the last year in a state of stupidity and indifference with regard to his immortal interests, that he has, to a great degree, neglected the concerns of his

again, or whether they shall ever be more ready to accept the conditions of mercy.-Those who have reason to hope that, in the year past, they have found the blessings of a Saviour's love, are called upon, by the mightiest motives, to be steadily devoted to his service, to manifest their gratitude by a faithful obedience, to examine their exercises and conduct for the constant evidence of their hope, and to labor, in the various opportunities which God may afford them, for the advancement of the holy interests of their Lord.-Those who have passed another year of the Christian life, still hoping and trusting in a Saviour's mercy, with many fears, with great darkness and discouragement ready, at times, to relinquish every hope, are to remember that their darkness is the result of unfaithfulness to their Lord, mindful of themselves rather than of him. The evidence of their Christian stand