being devoted to laudable industry in their respective callings, or to the spiritual and temporal welfare of those around them.

Again-You are not, it is to be hoped, guilty of any gross and sensual excesses; but this is mere negative praise-a Christian will be regarded as the barren fig-tree, if he aspire not to the praise of being habitually chaste, temperate, and sober. Whether you are so, or not, it becomes every individual, in the course of self-examination, to inquire, and that with the utmost seriousness and impartiality.

Farther, you may so far fulfil the apostle's

precept as not to be "slothful in business," But ask your consciences, as in the presence of God, whether every part of your conduct be strictly just, fair, and honorable; or whether, infected with an unwarrantable greediness of gain, your commercial projects are contami nated with any illegal practices, or with extremely hazardous, if not ruinous, speculations.

In times like these, also, and with such examples as are almost daily presented to our eyes, it behoves every one to inquire, whether, from an excessive passion for pleasure, the indulgence of vanity and pride, or any other sinful propensity, he is living in a style of

ostentation and parade, not suited to his rank and station in society, or involving himself in permanent, but unnecessary expenses, which must lead to ruin and disgrace, if not to guilt and infamy.

Under the exemption from greater offences, which, perhaps, you may fairly claim, some attention should be paid, and that from reli gious motives, to faults and infirmities of temper; duly considering how productive they are of almost daily vexation, misery, and evil, both to yourselves and others. Are you peevish, fretful, and irascible?-or subject, as the weather of the mind changes, to childish humors and caprice?—Are you envious and jealous ?— ?and easily offended, but not easily appeased? If so, be assured, all this is incompatible with the due performance of many of our essential duties in every relation of life. Humbly, therefore, and earnestly seek forgiveness for the past, and, with fervent prayer for the gracious aids" of the Holy Spirit, cultivate, for the remainder of your days, the opposite virtues of patience and forbearance; peace and contentment; brotherly kindness, and brotherly love.

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Now, if in proposing these and similar tions to yourselves, as a portion of your duty to

God on this day, you should plead guilty to any of them, and yet resolve on no change, or correction of life, remember that the conviction will only aggravate your condemnation in the awful day of judgment. As soon, therefore, as the purpose of amendment is formed, we should turn away, every one, from his transgressions, and "bring forth works meet for repentance." To postpone this great duty is folly, and presumptuous sin. Not knowing how long we have to live, and how soon we may be called to account, how can we dare to go on from year to year, provoking the divine wrath with our iniquities! If the tree that was only unfruitful for a certain season was threatened to be cut down; what must not be the severity of God's judgment against those who persist in their transgressions? Let us consider, also, that, by long continuance in evil, the worst habits may become so inveterate, as to sit quite easy on the mind. They excite no shame, or compunction, and the heart, by degrees, acquires a sort of obduracy, that resists every good impression, and all right sentiment and feeling for those virtues, from which it has been estranged, is lost. As the eye grows dim with age, and the ear becomes dull of hearing; so

the sense of moral and religious duty, from neglect, may die away, and the conscience become "hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

Let us then, with the commencement of another year, rouse from this lethargy, and listen to the awakening voice of the holy prophet, "What meanest thou, O sleeper! arise, call upon thy God." Let us reflect, also, that the longer we put off the season of repentance, the faster shall we "be tied and bound with the chain of our sins ;" and the less chance will there be of any future efforts being successful. Besides, we should remember, that, with advancing years, we become dead to some of our darling vices,-not from any virtuous conquest over our sinful passions, but because temptation has died away; and therefore we lose both the power and opportunity of shewing the sincerity of our obedience. Not to mention, that when the evil days are come, in which a man may. say, "I have no pleasure," it will be sufficient to bear the pains of disease, and the many infirmities of old age, with patience and resignation, without being haunted, on the bed of death, with the dreadful idea of sins not timely

repented of, and all the terrors of a future judgment.

But while there is life, there is, in general, no ground to despair. We may, indeed, on many occasions, doubt the sincerity, the effi cacy, and success of human endeavours, without the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit to strengthen and support them; but "the mercy of God, we are assured, endureth for ever." Observe the encouragement given to frail, offending mortals in the Parable, which we have been considering. "Lord, let it alone this year also; and if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down."

Thanks to the continued goodness of our heavenly Father, whatever might have hitherto been the character of our omissions and transgressions, we have been "let alone" during all the years that are past! Let us be truly grateful, that, while others have been "gathered unto their fathers," and are gone to "give account of the things done in the body," opportunities and encouragements are still graciously afforded us, of beginning the New Year with newness of life.

If, then, we are in earnest,-if one spark of