posed, by remarking on the plenty and refreshment which may be expected from the succeeding shower.

Thus does politeness, as well as good sense, direct us to look at every object on the bright side; and, by thus acting, we cherish and improve both. By this practice it is that Melissa has become the wisest and best-bred woman living; and by this practicé, may every person arrive at that agreeableness of temper, of which the natural and never failing fruit is Happiness.

A New Year's Song.

How fast in succession our moments have run!
How little, bow little of duty is done!

How heavy the load of our sin!

With another full year, God has lengthen'd our days;
Let his patience excite us to join in his praise ;

With increas'd obligations we see the New Year;
Let gratitude move us to serve him with fear,

And straight a new life to begin.

Since the last New Year's Day, many thousands have fled
To the regions of darkness, and mix'd with the dead,
Though better than we who survive.

What a wonder of mercy such rebels as we
Should still be permitted to live and to see
The grateful return of another New Year!
God's praises let each future moment declare,
That wretches like us are alive.

To the blood of atonement for pardon and grace
By faith we apply, that the rest of our days
Be spent in the way of the wise.

Through Christ we resolve, that the season of youth
Be adorn'd with the practice of wisdom and truth,
That as age is advancing and years roll away,
We may ripen in virtue and fill up each day
In seeking the heavenly prize.

Come, dear fellow mortals, forsake your vain ways,
And begin the New Year with a song to his praise,
Who kindly continues us here.

We'll join and be merry; but merry and wise,

Our vanities leave, and aspire to the skies.
Like rational creatures, our time we'll employ
In serving our Maker with virtuous joy,

And so have a happy New Year.

ANDOVER:

PRINTED FOR THE NEW ENGLAND TRACT SOCIETY

BY FLAGG AND GOULD.

1820.

[4th edit. 6000.

SUBJECTS FOR CONSIDERATION..

1. CONSIDER YOURSELVES-What! know you not yourselves! Are you so intent upon things without, that you can never look within? Do you not see a great variety of creatures lower than you, and made for your use? What else are the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, and the fishes of the sea, and rivers? Are you not much better than they? furnished with greater excellencies and powers? and who made you to differ? who gave you knowledge, and judgment, and conscience? who put the sheep and oxen, and other cattle in subjection to you? Was it not some great Creator and Disposer of all things?-Was it not some great Lord that is good to man, and prepared him a well-furnished world to dwell in ?-Who made these curious bodies? the head to govern and guide the movements of the members-the stomach to receive the food, and convert it into nourishment-the lungs to breathe and the heart to admit the blood and pour it out again into all the members and the limbs? How wonderfully are you made? Who formed this soul that gives life and motion to the body; that knows, judges, and remembers; that is capable of noble services, and of great joys and miseries! O foolish, unthankful men! that forget themselves, their original, and Creator. Alas! how stupid and sleepy have you been all this while! how have you lost your thoughts, and minds, and souls, amidst the cares, and vices, and noise of the world? how dead and lost have you been to your Maker, and to all the love and service that you owe him!

2. Consider God.-How great and glorious he is that made you, and ordained all these things! He is indeed the high and lofty one that inhabits eternity: so vast is he, that the heaven of heavens cannot contain him: so glorious, that the purest, brightest angels cover their faces before him! Look up to the heavens, and consider the wisdom and power that shine there! Behold the firmament which hangs over our heads!-this glorious sun that shines by day-these thousands of stars that adorn the heavens at night! Look around upon the earth; what riches and stores are there! grass and herbs for the cattle-birds and

cattle for men-seas and rivers to water the earth! "O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" How sad is it, that your hearts are turned away from God! that you have no more delight in him, or desire after him! how sad is it, that you should live so estranged from that God, who only can make this world a comfort to you, and prepare you therein for the enjoyment of a better!

3. Consider the Divine Law.-Has God made you reasonable creatures? and do you think he has given no laws for your direction? Does he not justly expect honour and worship from you, and has he not taught you how to worship him? Do not you find the commands of God in your Bible? Yet when did you learn or study the law of God? When did you think of the things that are commanded or forbidden there? When did you find that God's law is exceeding broad? that it reaches the thoughts, and judges the secrets of the heart? Alas! how little have you loved your duty! Do you think God has forgotten bis laws as much as you have? and that he will never call you to an account for your ignorance, stubbornness, and disobedience? Surely the Judge of all the earth will maintain his law, and will do right. What! will you bid defiance to the Majesty of Heaven? will you scorn his wisdom, and goodness, and power?-What! will you trample upon his mercy, and patience, and love? Will you dare his vengeance, and provoke him to his face? Poor souls! think what you are doing. Do you think God does not hate sin, and that he will not be avenged on all the workers of iniquity? How much guilt is there in one sin! And how much more in a whole life of sin; and how much more if you live and die without repentance!

4. Consider the Office of Conscience. It will make you some time or other consider; it will not always be silenced. Have you no conscience? would you have the world to know you have none? Have you no inward shame for any thing you say or do? Can you lie without conscience! Have you no fear of God-no reflection on yourselves-no regard to the law of God? Can you contentedly commit adultery and whoredom, or cheat, or steal, or break the Sabbath, or swear, or get drunk, or fall into passions? What hearts have you! how unfit to live among mankind!.

Does conscience never accuse you? If you have no conscience, how much worse are you than the brutes! and that because you are likely to do much more mischief. If you have a conscience, what is its language? Does it not tell you, that you have souls to be saved, and work to be done, for eternity? Does it not tell you that death is coming, and that you are unready, and know not what will become of you forever? Did you never feel the pangs of a guilty conscience? If you ever did, consider how enraged it would be, if God should open conscience more, and set your sins in order before your eyes, and make you feel the weight of them! What a troubled conscience would you then have! it would give you no rest day nor night; it would be a constant torture to you, and as a worm that never dies!—Oh, stand in awe of your conscience! see that it be reconciled to God, and cleansed from dead works, that you may truly serve the living God.

5. Consider the World you inhabit. It is a sinful world, continually breaking God's laws; the fear and love of God -aims and designs for God, are rarely to be found:-ungodliness every where reigns. Can we wonder then, that God is angry with such a world as this, and that he sends woes and plagues? We find some complain of poverty and wants; some of sickness and pains: others of shame and reproaches: some are wronged and oppressed; almost all have their crosses, disappointments, and vexations, in one kind or other; and death at last infallibly comes and cuts down all. And should we be fond of such a world as this?-a failing, withering world; a vain, vexatious, dying world! Will you not seek a better world than this? you sell your souls for this? What shall it profit you to gain such a world as this, and then lose your own souls and perish forever? Oh! what need have you to be saved from this present evil world, and to set your hearts and hopes upon a better!

Will.

6. Consider the Nature of the Christian Religion.—It is the way of serving and pleasing God, which is established in and by Jesus Christ, and which is taught us in the New Testament. Do you take care to learn your religion from thence? or have you no religion? If you have none, are you not hypocrites ?-for do you not profess some religion or other? If you have no religion, sure you have no con

science; and, if no conscience, what are you? If you have any religion, where is it? From whence do you learn it? From the customs and commands of men? From your parents and education? Alas, what are customs! always good? Is education always agreeable to the word of Christ? Do you pretend to be Christians, and yet not know what Christianity is, and what it means? Are you strangers to the religion you pretend to, and by which you hope to be sav ed? Do you think that a religion you do not understand will do you any good; or that it is enough to have the name of religion, when you have none of the power and practice? How easily do poor sinners delude their own souls, and cheat them into eternal darkness !

7. Consider the Bible.-the book that God has sent you, to teach you the way to heaven and happiness, and himself: the book that is to make you good and wise, yea wise to salvation the book that contains the law of God and gospel of Christ; the law is expressive of your obligationthe gospel is the way in which you are to be pardoned, and saved, and accepted with God. There you are told what God has done in the world; how he had dealt with man when he had made him good and happy; what he designed by sending his Son, and what the Son of God has done to redeem and recover lost sinners to God. There you learn how holy men have walked with God, and have been blessed by him; and how evil men have offended him, and have been punished. There you are taught how to believe and repent, and overcome the world, and be eternally happy. O blessed book! how is it slighted and despised! O wicked world! that will not value, and study, and learn the book of God, the word of truth, and word of salvation! Oh the patience of God, that so bears with the world, that disregards and forsakes his law and covenant, his will and grace discovered to perishing mankind!

8. Consider the Lord Jesus Christ.-How often do you speak of him yet how little do you know him! What, know ye not Christ? Is he the head and Author of your religion, and yet not know him?-are you called by his name-called Christians, and yet not know who Jesus Christ is? What do you think of him; what are his excellencies? or has he none in your eyes? What do you think of his person, his offices, work, and design? What