The

" vox et præterea nihil." good or evil men do in their lives, by means of the press, "lives after them;" and though the consideration of the potency of this instrument of public benefit or injury may operate on the zeal of some individuals, desirous of doing good, imprudently to run to the press, with the best intentions indeed, but with slender and insufficient qualifications, this result ought not to check the exertions of those who have been endued with talents to wield its energies advantageously. In the majority of cases, however, the clergy may best employ this instrument, not so much by writing for the press themselves, as by circulating the labours of others; and, happily for the present generation, never was there so great an abundance of cheap and useful reading calculated for all classes and conditions of mankind.

量

Those who duly attribute to the providence of God the regulation of the whole course of human events, will perhaps be inclined to think the Almighty has, as it were, in a peculiar manner claimed to himself the use of printing, by causing the discovery of that invaluable art to be made at the very period when the state of religion especially required such a means of spreading information. How compara. tively contracted must have been the success attendant on the labours of Luther and the early reformers, if their means of communicating knowledge had been confined to the instruments of conveying knowledge till about that period in use! But the artillery of the press shook the proud fabric of the Romish Babylon to its very foundations. Let, then, the pious, the learned, and the eloquent, bear in mind how powerful a weapon is put into their hands: let them consecrate it to the service of their God: and let them not suffer either indolence, false modesty, or any other insufficient motive, to prevent their using it vigorously.

Pious and able writers are undoubtedly doing much good by their endeavours to correct and elevate the public feeling with respect to some of the points which have been mentioned. A beneficial effect must follow the exposure, for instance, of the false policy as well as the immoralities attendant on the present system of our public-houses, and our lotteries; our Sunday newspapers, Sunday travelling, and similar evils. Were the public feeling on these subjects, by the blessing of God, elevated to the scriptural standard, the voice of the Nation would be generally raised against them; and legislative enactments would not be very long delayed, tasuppress, or at least to restrain, them. And, improbable as such an extensive change of the public sentiment may at present, seem, it is yet beyond our power to, estimate to what extent an object so desirable might be attained by a combination of the pious and benevolent exertions of the clergy and other persons duly qualified to avail themselves of the instrumentality of the press.

(To be concluded.)

FAMILY SERMONS.-No. CLXIV. Job xiv. 1.-Man, that is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.

ISHALL not attempt either to prove or to illustrate this affecting declaration; for mortality and sorrow are stamped in such plain characters on every thing within us and around us, that every heart must instantly feel, and every understanding instantly acknowledge, its truth.. But I would turn the solemn fact to practical account; I would urge the consideration of it as a most important duty. The contemplation is fraught with instruction; it was intended to impress upon our minds, not a vain and useless regret or desponding melancholy, but lessons of heavenly wisdom, which, if rightly learned, will lead to the

happiest results both in this life and that which is to come. May He who, amidst all the changes of this mortal world, is still the same "yesterday, to-day, and for ever," open our hearts to the important consideration in the text, that so we may eventually experience joy amidst sorrow, certainty amidst change, spiritual consolations amidst worldly disappointments, and, by the grace of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, be at length permitted to exchange the fugitive vanities of time for the unfading splendours of eternity.

There are two lessons which we ought especially to learn from every contemplation of the brevity and sorrow of human life. The first is, to maintain a spirit of Christian moderation as respects earthly objects, whether pleasing or painful; the second, to prepare diligently for a future state of eternal duration and enjoyment.

I. And, first, the consideration in the text should lead us to maintain a spirit of Christian moderation as respects all earthly objects, whether pleasing or painful.-St. Paul affectingly urges this duty. "Brethren," says he," the time is short it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world pass eth away." The present scene is not the home of the Christian: he is to live here only as an inhabitant of a better country; his affections are to be set upon things above, and not upon things on the earth. His moderation is to be known to all men; for the Lord is at hand.

But it is necessary to explain the nature and measure of this Christian moderation somewhat more particularly.

We are not, then, to suppose that the consideration of the short and

sorrowful term of human life was intended to render us wholly indifferent to every thing that respects our temporal condition. There was a sect of heathen philosophers, so called, who affected this unnatural apathy; but the Gospel does not require it, nor is man capable of it. There is a sensible difference between a life of comparative comfort, and one of extreme affliction; between the enjoyment of peace, security,friendship, and liberty, with a competent measure of the ordinary blessings of Providence, and pain, bereavement, slavery, destitution, and the hardships of bitter poverty. Nor does our heavenly Father, who knoweth whereof we are made, who remembereth that we are but dust, require from us a life of gloomy austerities and bodily mortifications, or that we should take pleasure in pain or misery for their own sakes, or any further than as they may be permitted for wise and gracious purposes, and as his own paternal inflictions for the profit of our souls.

Much less, again, is the moderation which the Gospel enjoins intended to render us indifferent to any of the duties of our present state of existence. It would be a grievous error to suppose that the deadness to the world which is required of us as Christians, is to disqualify us for taking an interest in any thing which may promote the temporal or eternal welfare of our fellow-creatures, especially our immediate relations, friends, and connexions, or those with whom we are called to have intercourse in society. As parents or children, brothers or sisters, masters or servants, in our worldly calling, and as members of public society, it becomes us to devote a large por tion of our time and thoughts and efforts to active exertion; not to cherish a misanthropical or indolent spirit, but to be diligent in business, while we are fervent in spirit serving the Lord.

The moderation, then, which the

remembrance of the frailty of the tie by which we are bound to earth ly objects should teach us, is that salutary degree of self-denial and indifference which is necessary to prevent the things of time becoming a snare to us in our preparation for eternity. Worldly objects, whether pleasing or painful, are accompanied by many temptations. Prosperity and adversity, abundance and want, with all the affairs and changes of human life, present obstacles in our religious progress, which can only be overcome by living in the world as not of the world; watching over our appetites and passions, our bopes and fears, our pains and pleasures, lest they should become inlets to evil, to the ruin of our immortal souls. If the right eye offend, it must be plucked out; if the right hand offend, it must be cut off: God alone must reign supreme in our affections; his will must be our rule; his displeasure our greatest fear; his approbation our highest reward.

The subject may be illustrated by a reference to the particulars enumerated by St. Paul in the passage already quoted. Thus: "let them that have wives, be as though they had none;" the spirit of which we may apply to all our friendships, relationships, and connexions in life: we are to be grateful to God for our social blessings; we are not to root out natural affection, or to be indifferent to the welfare of those whom it is our Christian duty to regard and benefit: but we are ever to bear in mind that the tenure of life is uncertain; that this world is not our rest; and that in all our friendships we are to endeavour above all things to promote those spiritual and eternal interests which will last when the few days of this sorrowful life are for ever ended. So again," they that weep should be as though they wept not;" they should not grieve as men without hope for as their days are few, their afflictions are proportionably short-lived; a brighter scene is

So,

rapidly approaching, where there shall be neither sorrow, nor sigh. ing, nor pain; and, to every true believer, the present light afflic-. tion, which is but for a moment, "worketh out a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Again: "They that rejoice should be as though they rejoiced not;" for life, at best, is "full of trouble:" we may, with contentment and moderation, lawfully enjoy the blessings which our heavenly Father pours into our cup, while we possess them; and it is our duty as well as our privilege to do so; but we should stand prepared for those reverses which, in his infinite wisdom and mercy, he may see fit to inflict, and that when we least expect any such painful dispensation: we should not take too much complacency in any earthly good; we should beware that it do not draw us aside from God, or impede us in our course for heaven. also, "they that buy should be as though they possessed not;" for all temporal acquisitions may speedily make to themselves wings and fly away, as an eagle towards heaven; and even should they be continued to us, they may prove a snare to our souls. We should therefore enjoy them as though we possessed them not; viewing ourselves but as stewards, and endeavouring, with regard to our worldly substance, be it little or much, to use it to the glory of God, with moderation, and under the direction of Christian principles of duty. In short, as the Apostle adds, we should in all things 66 use this world as not abusing it;" remembering always how speedily we may, and must, be summoned to the bar of God, to give an account of the deeds done in the body, and to be judged for the use we have made of all our talents, opportunities, and acquisitions.

II. We are thus led to the second consideration from the text; namely, that, having ever before us the sorrowfulness and brevity of the present life, we should prepare

diligently for a future state of eters nal duration and enjoyment. This is a lesson frequently taught us in Scripture. We are instructed so to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. We are reminded, that "it is high time to awake out of sleep ;" for "the night is far spent, and the day is at hand." We are exhorted diligently to work out our salvation with fear and trembling; remembering the counsel of Solomon, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do," and what have we to do so important as that for which we were expressly sent into the world? "do it with all thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."

If the doctrine of the text were reversed; if the life of man were uniformly joyful and immeasurably long; if the sinner could protract this short span of existence at his pleasure, and say to his soul," Eat, drink, and be merry," without a possibility of disappointment; yea, if we could be certain that our day of probation will be lengthened out even for a few years; that the heart will not in the mean time become finally impenitent, or the Holy Spirit be quenched and desert us; then possibly the man who is thoughtless of his salvation might have some colour of hope. He might then say, with somewhat more shadow of reasonableness than at present, "I will put off my repentance till the time of sickness, or leisure, or old age;" though even then such conduct would be dread fully presumptuous and absurd, But now, when he knows not what a single day may bring forth; when his thread of life may be snapped asunder in a moment; and when all the earthly vanities, for which he sacrifices his immortal hopes, may be taken away even before life itself fails; how extreme, how in excusable, the folly of delaying the great object of human existence the preparation for eternity!

Now only is the appointed time; now only is the day of salvation. If, under a false security respecting the continuance of life, we are neglecting to turn to God; to cast ourselves as penitent sinners upon the mercies and atonement of a crucified Saviour; and to live to the praise and glory of Him whose we are, and whom we are bound in duty to serve with all our heart, and mind, and soul, and strength; what will be our excuse should we be summoned, as we may be, in the midst of our indifference, to appear before our Omniscient Judge? Can we hope that the vain pleas with which we so often endeavour to quiet our own consciences, will be accepted at the tribunal of the Searcher of all hearts? Shall we dare to urge before our Creator, that we were desirous of enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season; of following our own ways and devices, however contrary to the will of God, so long as health and ope portunity should last; and that we purposed at the close of life, when the eternal world was just opening upon us, to apply for that mercy which we had rejected so long, and under such aggravating circumstances of folly and ingratitude? Blessed indeed be the mercy of God, that, if there be any one who has thus obstinately held out against his convictions, but is at length convinced of his guilt, and is desirous of returning to the bosom of his Heavenly Father, it is not yet too late to amend his ways and obtain forgiveness-for the Saviour will not cast out, even at the eleventh hour, any that humbly come to him ;-but no one, who puts off his repentance, has any warrant to hope that such will be his lot; for the fearful probability is, that, instead of becoming at length more sensible of his unhappy condition, he will be rapidly hardened by the deceitfulness of sin; his conscience will be seared; his long-stifled convictions will wear away, or prove to be only a vain remorse, not ending in true

repentance and conversion of heart; till at length, being often reproved, and hardening his neck, he will suddenly perish, and that without remedy.

Surely, then, the consideration of the magnitude of our eternal interests, and the shortness and uncertainty of the time of our earthly trial, should make us often and seriously inquire, "How am I living? To what am I trusting? Whither am I hastening? And am I prepared for that never-ending state which lies before me?" And the practical conclusion from these inquiries should be, to delay no longer complying with that sacred admonition, "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and return unto the Lord," depending upon his gracious assurance that "he will have mercy upon him;" "and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" him.

One circumstance which often renders men insensible to their best interests is, that they behold the wicked in prosperity; they "think them happy that deal very trea-' cherously." No visible infliction of Divine vengeance takes place; all is gay and prosperous; their sun shines, the air is calm around them, and their vessel appears to ride prosperously over the waves of life, as if proceeding safely to its destination. But contemplate the melancholy reverse. That giddy bark will not ride in safety long; the waves shall arise, the heavens shall be blackened, and an impending storm shall shatter it to pieces. "I was envious," said the Psalmist Asaph," at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no bands in their death; but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Behold, they prosper in the world; they increase in riches." This scene raised the envy of Asaph.

CHRIST, OBSERV, No. 248.

"Verily," said he, "I have cleans ed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. Then I thought to understand this, but it was too hard for me." And how did he at length obtain an answer to his difficulties? He remembered that the time of the sinner's triumph is short. “Iwent," says he, "into the sanctuary of God: then understood I their end; how thou, O Lord, dost set them in slippery places; thou castest them into destruction: they are brought into desolation as in a moment; they are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shall despise their image." David felt the same difficulty, and obtained the same answer to his doubts." Fret not thyself," said he, "because of evil doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity: for they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green baytree; yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not; yea I sought him, but he could not be found." Man that is born of a woman, is of few days; and when these days are ended, awful beyond expression is our condition, if we have made this world our only portion, and have neglected the momentous concerns of a neverending life! Time is rapidly passing away. How many a fresh addition is daily made to the inhabitants of the tomb! how many, who but as yesterday were hoping, or fearing, or contriving, or weeping, or rejoicing, like ourselves, are now laid cold and silent in the grave, till the morning of the resurrection! "Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth; are not his days like the days of an hireling?" Life in a few years will appear but as a dream; oh! that when we awake from it, it may be to everlasting joy and happiness! But to that end we must improve our few short hours; we must love 3 Q