Abel lived and acted by faith. His father had seen God; he never had; but he had a solemn and habitual recollection of him. No sin of his is mentioned. His actions are a monument of faith; this is a pleasing fact. There are many forms of monuments or monumental inscriptions; but whatever rude materials might have been collected at the time to mark his grave, they have all perished. His monument is a moral one, animating to posterity. His piety was peculiar-united to death. Piety and Death; let no man divide these two; many do; it should not be so; death is then doubly dreadful. Surely something should be so connected with it, as to alleviate it and give it a new character. In its union with piety, death becomes secondary, loses its peculiar terrors, its monarchical and terrible character.

Abel's was the first persecuted piety,—the first persevering piety,—the first rewarded piety.

The good have never quitted this world without leaving other instructors and examples. Thus the Patriarchs succeeded Abel; the Prophets followed; then the Apostles; and there has always been a succession of instructors to apply their lessons.

Dead men still speak. Indeed, most of the wisdom-all that is known in the world—has been communicated by the dead. All christian history, and the most important instruction by inspired voices. Think on all we know! Whence did it spring? Those who are now in the world contributed but a small share. Happily there are a few for whom the world is the wiser-men who teach the religion of Christ more clearly; but the major part is taught by the dead. We are necessarily called back to past saints and martyrs. The last century left such men, and our contemporaries will soon be dead. Some of the best instructors, particularly in our own denomination, have been lately removed. And what wisdom can any man have who does not converse with the voices of the dead. It is thought most important for piety and the purposes of christian instruction that the languages of the dead (though called dead languages) should live. The recorded actions of dead men speak. What an insensible mind not to hear Elijah, or Paul, or John! I mean, what a wretched mind must that man have who is conversant with their writings and yet not be moved, who does not feel as if he were in their company, and saw something more than human. A peculiar excellence for which any man has been distinguished speaks. A distinguished character speaks, like our friend Fuller, for instance, drawing near to an illustrious end, displaying fortitude and unshaken confidence to the very last. His soul -mast have no ears who does not receive instruction from these past examples, not only of the general high qualities of a christian, but of some particular one. It is very important to derive instruction from the delineation of such a character, so as to be able to say, I never saw such a branch of piety or virtue more magnificently or strongly illustrated. It is desirable to be able to bring something to look in the face.

At what a vast distance do we stand! What sounds of falling empires have been heard! How many cities have been ruined, and countries ravaged since Abel died! From beyond how many events has his example come down to us, with a sweep like a rainbow, from one end of the heavens to the other.

There have been some like him in later ages (ages indeed!), and it is certain that God will not suffer such examples to fail. It is pleasant to look at some particular star in the sky; still more so at the Milky Way. We hope and trust these latter days will be distinguished by a far greater number of examples; they will lose none of their brightness, though somewhat of their fame. One good man may be more famous by being alone;

but he would be sorry to find himself distinguished above all his contemporaries for this grace or that virtue; like Moses, who said, "Would to God that all the Lord's people were prophets." Let us all be distinguished, like a vast multitude of lamps,—a city set on fire by graces and virtues, but like the bush, unconsumed.

Those who wish that they may speak when dead, should speak when alive. This is a fame at which we may all very properly aspire. Let it be said of us one day, "The dead speak." Let something we did be not forgotten. Our voice shall be heard.

Downend, 1815.

A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

BY THE REV. CORNELIUS ELVEN.

Already our readers may have received and reciprocated this friendly salutation, and we cordially unite in wishing them "a happy new year." In what a variety of senses, however, is this salutation intended and understood. Many, it is feared, build their hopes of happiness too low, because they "build beneath the skies." For let them be assured,

"True happiness is not the growth of earth,

The toil is fruitless if they seek it here;

'Tis an exotic of celestial birth,

And only blossoms in celestial air."

It cannot therefore be found in worldly pleasure or sensual indulgence. Think of the Prodigal Son: it might have been on a new year's morning this reckless youth set out from his paternal abode, flushed with anticipations of a happy new year, and cheered, too, by the greetings of his companions. But he found "the way of transgressors hard"-for carnal pleasures have their poison, too, and sensual sweets their snare-till at length he was "ready to perish." Youthful readers! are any of you weary of the restraints of your father's house? Do you think you could have a happy new year if you could be released from the fetters of parental example, family religion, and pious remonstrance? "Be not deceived, evil communications corrupt good manners." You wish to be happy; then seek it where alone it is to be found, in the love and service of Him whose ways are pleasantness, and whose paths are peace."

Neither will happiness be found in the accumulation of riches. We read of one who promised himself not only one, but many, happy new years. "Soul, thou hast much good laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry,"-forgetting that, even in the realization of his wishes, he would have found, like Solomon, "vanity and vexation of spirit," and little thinking that that very night his soul would be required of him. Do not, therefore, place the happiness of the coming year in the love of money; for so doing you will find it not the source of good, but the "root of all evil." Have you never observed what care and pains the spider takes in weaving its frail web, how it runneth up and down, and spendeth itself in its curious work, which, after all, may prove its own winding-sheet, when it is blown away with the next puff of wind, or destroyed with the sweep of a besom? And yours will be equal folly, if you make money your chief good: rather "lay up treasure in heaven," cease to spin your cobwebs, and seek a share in "the unsearchable riches of Christ."

You will be equally at fault if you think to be happy in climbing the ladder of earthly ambition. We think we hear some exclaiming, “Oh,

we are not such gross and grovelling souls as to make either sensual gratification or paltry gold our summum bonum; but we desire to attain to honourable distinction, to wear the laurels of a well-earned fame!" It should be remembered, however, that high places are slippery, that the weight of a crown is known only to those who wear it. Be entreated therefore to seek the honour which cometh from God, and, after being dignified by his service here, you shall receive "a crown of glory which fadeth not away."

Having thus endeavoured to clear the way, we address the salutation of the season to some distinct classes of our readers, and

First, to the unconverted. We wish you a happy new year. You are not happy now: you live, it may be, in pious families; you attend, perhaps reluctantly, on a preached gospel; you may even be Sunday school teachers, or, peradventure, you have been instructed in a Sunday school; you have had convictions during the past year; you have too much light to be happy, for light without love will only lead you to hell. It may seem a hard saying, but it is a true one. Come now, let us commune freely on this weighty matter. You have tried to be happy, have you not? And if you have felt a transient pleasure, it has been like a blaze which has consumed the very materials on which it was kindled, leaving but the ashes of emptiness and regret. You have chased after bubbles which have eluded your pursuit, or exploded in your grasp. Oh, then, turn from these lying vanities, and yield your hearts to the Saviour. And what a circle of happiness your conversion will fill! What a happy new year for yourselves! What joy for the christian pastor who has watched for your souls as one that must give account! What a thrill of sacred joy will be felt in your parents' hearts; for they can have no greater joy than to see their children walk in the truth! Surrounding saints will be made happy! And the bliss of heaven will be increased; for angels will announce the glad tidings there, and a new wave of joy shall swell the crystal sea, till it laves the very throne of God.

Another class, whose happiness we seek, is the undecided. We mean, not those who are undecided as to their personal, but as to their relative, religion. We look, from year to year, on some whom we believe to be like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea who for a time were disciples secretly, and we wonder when, like these, they will also declare themselves on the Lord's side. You will not have a happy new year unless you act upon the dictates of your conscience and the word of God. Has not the Saviour declared his "yoke is easy ?" why, then, do you not put it on? Think of your dear Redeemer, groaning in Gethsemane, and expiring on Calvary, for you; and now he is addressing you from his throne, "Is this thy kindness to thy friend ?" Surely, then, you will no longer slight the Saviour, quench the Spirit, grieve the saints, and allow your own conscience to be beaten with many stripes, as those who know the Lord's will and do it not! "Arise, and be baptized!" You have given yourselves to the Lord; now "give yourselves to his people according to his word," and you shall have a happy new year; for "in the keeping of his commandments there is a great reward."

Christians, pledged and avowed followers of the Lamb, you have just closed another year of life's pilgrimage, which, whatever may have been its trials, you know has been crowned with loving kindness and tender mercies. We salute you also in the name of the Lord. To many the past year has been but the wasting of an estate which can never be redeemed, and nothing remains of it but hopelessness and remorse. It is not so with you, who have many "Ebenezers" in review, and who can gather from the past innumerable inducements to increased devotedness to

a covenant God; so that while you praise Him for all that is past, you can trust Him for all that is to come.

We may therefore wish you increasingly happy in the coming year. May you, then, be happy in the closet. Carry your joys there; go oftener with your thansgivings ; and all your mercies will thus be sweetened. Go there with your sorrows; for there you may lean upon the bosom of ONE whose never-failing kindness is the choicest anodyne for an aching heart, in whose breast there will be found a responsive throb for every sigh you heave. We know that, strictly speaking, God cannot be moved or actually drawn nearer to us by prayer, but prayer draws us nearer to God; as a person in a boat, to whom a rope is thrown, which is attached to a rock; although by pulling the rope he does not move the rock, yet he draws himself nearer to the rock; so secret prayer will bring us nearer to the source of all blessedness, and make us happy in the Lord.

We wish you also happy in the prayer-meeting. Has it hitherto been neglected? Was it so in the past year? Oh, then, it is "time for these old things to be passed away." Now, if you wish your pastor a happy new year, you may gladden his heart by being at the prayer-meeting this week; yes, begin at once, and never, unless it be unavoidable, let your place be empty again. It may be your last year, and thus it will be your best.

In a word, through the coming year let a devotional spirit pervade your minds, and this will rightly influence all the details of a christian's personal and relative obligations. The great art of christian chemistry is to infuse the religious element into all our engagements, whether secular or sacred. For this seek the influence of the Holy Spirit, and you shall have. a happy new year. Then affliction may come, but its waves will waft us nearer the haven of rest,-losses and crosses may befall us, but they will only endear to us our inalienable portion in heaven,-death may come, and we shall hail him as the welcome messenger to bear us to our happy home. For truly it may be said, "Happy is that people that is in such a case; yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord." (Ps. cxliv. 15.) Bury St. Edmonds.

DIRECTIONS FOR EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY.

BY THE REV. JAMES SMITH.

"Look up."-Luke xxi. 28.

Great and sore troubles preceded the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and great and sore troubles will precede the second coming of our beloved Lord. The time of his coming approaches, and it becomes his disciples to think of that event, and diligently prepare for it. But if we do not witness the descent of our Lord in the clouds, death will soon come and usher us into his presence; and before that we may be exposed to many and painful troubles, so that the direction given by our Lord to his disciples may be just suitable, "Then look up" (Luke xxi. 28). We are entering upon a new year, we shall have new toils, new trials, new temptations, and new troubles; but whenever they come let us "look up." And, with a view to encourage our souls to do so, let us, at the opening of the year, consider,

First, the seasons to which this advice is applicable. national calamities; as pestilence, famine, or war; but upon the nation, the christians in it should "look up."

There may be whatever comes There may be

persecution; servants may lose their places, mechanics their employment, labourers their situations, cottagers their cottages, and children many of their comforts, for Christ's and conscience' sake; while the sword of the magistrate is sheathed, the pen, the tongue, the frowning countenance, persecutes some; the withholding employment or custom persecutes others; but if persecution should rage against any of us this year, let us "look up." Providence may frown and throw us into perplexity and difficulty; losses and crosses may become almost our daily lot; we may think that God is turned against us, and that every thing is contrary to us; but when our circumstances are most trying, when our souls are ready to faint within us, then let us remember the Lord has engaged for us by promise and by covenant, and let us "look up." We may be called to change our places, and leave dear friends and connections behind us; or, what is worse, our friends may be alienated from us, and turn against us; but if every friend frown upon us, even if father and mother forsake us, or if we be removed to the ends of the earth, let us remember that our God is the same to us, and that he is ever near us; therefore, let us "look up." If death should enter in at our windows, and take away the desire of our eyes with a stroke; if our parents should die, our children be removed, or our wives or husbands be laid in the grave; though lover and friend be removed far from us, and our acquaintance into darkness, still, whatever death may do, let us determine that we will "look up.' If darkness becloud our evidences, obscure our path, and throw its gloom over our minds; if discouragement brood over our souls, or place stumbling blocks in our way; if all our past experience appear questionable, and our acceptance with God at present doubtful, still let us not give way or yield to despondency, but let us "look up." If thrown on the bed of sickness, racked with pain and fainting with weakness; if death stand before us, and the grave appear ready for us; if eternity throw its revealing light upon us, or draw back its curtain to us, let us not tremble, or shake with fear, or ask, "How can I come before the Lord ?" but let us "look up." In whatever state, in whatever place, in whatever condition we may be brought this year, let us seek grace to follow our Lord's loving advice, and "look up.' We will now notice,Secondly, the direction our Saviour gives-" Then look up." Look not back, as Lot's wife did. Look not within, as too many do. Look not around, as David did. But "look up.' "Look up to God, he is your Father, your Friend, your Saviour. He can help you. He will help you. He says, "Look unto me, and be delivered; for I am God." Many did so of old, as David testifies, "They looked unto him, and were lightened; and their faces were not ashamed." Look up for light to guide you, and the everlasting light will shine upon you. Look up for grace to sanctify you, and the grace of Jesus will be found sufficient for you. Look up for strength to enable you to do and suffer God's will, and his strength will be made perfect in your weakness. Look up for comfort to cheer you, and as one whom his mother comforteth, so will the Lord comfort you. Look up for courage to embolden you, and the Lord will give courage to the faint, and to them that have no might he will increase strength. Look up for patience to keep you, and the God of patience and consolation will enable you quietly to bear the heaviest burden, and silently to endure the most painful affliction. Look up for providence to supply you, and the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail; but God shall supply all your need, according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Look up in faith, exercising confidence in the word of a faithful God. Look up in prayer, asking for what God has graciously promised. Look up in hope, expecting what you ask in the name of Jesus. Look