A Brief Memoir of Mrs. Philip, Cape Town 324 377 415 462 . 511 550 Prince's-street Chapel, Norwich Education in India Hints to Christian Tradesmen The Nobility of Labour Moralities drawn from the Bee THE CHRISTIAN WITNESS, AND CHURCH MEMBER'S MAGAZINE. Theology and Biblical Ellustration. THOUGHTS ON TIME. THE old year is past and gone, no more to return. Not a single moment of its time can be recalled nor bought back again; no, not by all the wealth of all the world. All its wasted, misspent hours are fled. All the sins that have been therein committed are recorded in the calendar of eternity. Every oppor tunity which it afforded for getting or doing good is also gone; and, whether improved or otherwise, can in no wise be recovered. During the past year many important changes, in both the church and the world, have taken place. Strange and fierce contentions have been going on. Knowledge has been contending with ignorance, truth with error, and virtue with vice. Nor have the children of men escaped the vicissitudes that are incident to this changing world. Some men, in their position or prospects in this life, have been lifted up; others have been cast down. Some have been filled with joy and gladness; others have been almost overwhelmed with sorrow and sadness. Some have flourished in the bloom of health and strength; others have wasted away in sickness and disease. Many an eye that, in the beginning of the past year, beamed with sparkling beauty and enchanting loveliness, is now closed in the darkness of death. Many a tongue that spoke in tones of sweetness, and poured forth words of wisdom, is silent in the undisturbed stillness of the tomb. Many a happy family has been visited with severe affliction, and called to pass through great distress. Many a faithful husband has had to mourn over the sudden and unexpected loss of a dear departed wife. Many a disconsolate widow's heart has been wrung with anguish over the grave of her dearest, her only earthly protector. Many an indulgent father has sorrowed greatly because of the early departure of his beloved son, whom he hoped would have been the staff of his declining years, and have smoothed for his weary feet the rugged path of life. Many a fond mother has wept bitterly, because the hand of death has torn from her embrace an affectionate and, perchance, only daughter, who was her parent's solace, her only earthly joy: yes, and as that bereaved mother followed that dear departed one to her final resting-place, such was the keen distress of her almost bleeding heart, that she was heard to exclaim, "Oh! my child! my child! would to God I had died for thee!" Such, no doubt, are some of the scenes of sorrow and woe that have been witnessed in the year that is past. The future is impenetrable to mortal vision, unknown to finite man, and can only be seen by the comprehensive glance of the infinite mind of the eternal Spirit. It is quite certain, however, that in the course of this year unexpected and mysterious events will take place. Many of the human race will be overtaken by adversity-many by affliction-many by death. But who? Ah! this is an important question, and can hardly fail to be seen and felt as such, especially when we consider the solemnities, circumstances, and consequences of death. Oh! my soul, it is indeed a solemn thing to die! The very idea of having to be consigned to "A land of deepest shade, Unpierced by human thought, The dreary regions of the dead, is calculated to fill the mind with sacred awe and trembling dread. The circumstances of death are sometimes terrible and alarming. The sudden accident-the raging disease-the slowly beating pulse-the pale check-the swimming eye-the quivering lip-the cold sweat-are circumstances generally attendant on death, and invest it with an association of ideas from which the human spirit shrinks as with an instinctive horror! But the consequences of death are by far the most awful. Death is to man the passport or medium out of time into eternity. In effect, it decides his destiny in a future state of being. It elevates the soul to heaven, or consigns it to hell; raises it to immortal bliss, or sinks it in endless woe. Death is also a matter of uncertainty. To us, at least, its shafts appear to fly promiscuously and at random. It seizes as its helpless victims those whom we thought would not yet have been taken, and takes those whom we supposed would have been left behind. So that we cannot tell, we do not know to whom the summons may next arrive. Hence the uncertainty there is in this matter: yes, and strange to say, on the very fact of this uncertainty is found unjust cause for daring presumption on the part of mankind. Men presume upon time, and thus procrastinate their attention to the vast concerns of eternity. He who is in the midst of his years, "the prime of life," talks not, thinks not of death, but refers this subject to the decrepit and the aged. He who rejoices in the full vigour of physical strength and activity forgets "to number his days and apply his heart unto wisdom :" he leaves this work to the delicate and infirm, whose "heart and flesh are failing.' There is much truth in the following words of a great and good man: "Men think all men mortal but themselves." Certain it is that the vast majority of human kind are living as though they had come to a positive conclusion that they shall never die; living as if they had no part to act, no position to occupy, but on the stage of this short fleeting life. Judging from their conduct, we might naturally suppose "their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwellingplaces to all generations." Thus they seem to think, thus they appear to act, notwithstanding the many solemn and earnest warnings they have received to pursue a different course. Warnings, did we say? Yes; and where is the man who, during the past year, has not been warned in some way or other? Perhaps it has been by the lightning's flash, the thunder's roar, the pelting storm; or, by the word, the Spirit, and providence of God. Thousands of the unconverted and careless have been admonished of their danger, their duty, and their interest. Their neighbours, friends, and relatives have been taken away. They have seen the king of terrors marching abroad in his most ghastly forms, cutting down on the right hand and on the left, and hurrying affrighted mortals to the bar of God. Yes, and in these alarming dispensations they have heard a voice speaking in deep and solemn tonestones that they could neither mistake nor misunderstand, saying, "Be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." For awhile these things made impressions, called forth something like serious resolves; but, alas! the former are blighted, the latter forgotten, or if not forgotten, disregarded. Regardless of the past, and unmindful of the future, they are ready to say within themselves, "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years: take thine ease; eat, drink, and be merry." They have plunged, or are now plunging deeper and deeper in the sea of earthly care, and are being carried by the fierce winds of popular excitement or worldly folly, with fearful impetuosity, down the rapid stream of time; and there is too much reason to fear that many of them, wrapt in imaginary ease and fancied security, will not awake to a full consciousness of their awful danger and perilous condition until death suddenly comes upon them-comes at a time when they least expect it, and are most unprepared to meet it. "Oh! that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!" Serious reader! have you pursued, or are you now pursuing, a course similar to what has just been described? If so, you will do well to reflect upon the past, examine the present, contemplate the future. The performance of this duty may not be found the most agreeable; it is nevertheless binding and indispensable. Sins must be called to remembrance, ere they can be repented of and forgiven. Danger must be really apprehended and felt, ere a place of refuge or safety will be sincerely and earnestly sought for. There must be an enlightened contemplation of the future, before a full preparation for the awful realities it will disclose can be effectually obtained. Then shrink not from the task in question. Practical attention to it is your interest, your life! It is possible, nay, it is probable, that in reference to you the irrevocable decree has gone forth, "This year thou shalt die!" Before its rolling course is closed, you, with millions more who are now living, may be numbered with the dead. If, then, you have entered upon the last year of your earthly existence, it is not difficult to say what line of conduct ought to mark the general tenor of your life. Surely, it ought to be "Your sole concern, your single care, Remember, that if the last enemy should come and find you unprepared, the event will be awfully shocking, and its results tremendous; inasmuch as it will involve not only the dissolution of the body, but also the death—the eternal death of the soul! True follower of Christ! perhaps the decree has gone forth, and it has also been said of you, "This year thou shalt die !" Well, if it be so, you have nothing to fear. "For you to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Make religion and the momentous concerns of eternity the first and last business of your life. Let it be your care to promote, to the uttermost of your power, the glory of God. Labour with renewed diligence, with unwearied zeal, in his blessed service. Daily examine your title to heaven. Seek to be made more fully meet for the inheritance of the saints in light, And since you "know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man may come,' watch therefore, remembering who has said, "Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching." T. SWALLOW. Worcester, November 25. |