your chief attention to the welfare of your souls, and to the important affairs of everlasting life. All this, if not actually expressed, is implied in the concluding verse of my text; "for that ye ought to say if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that." The inference which I have drawn from these words, that we ought principally to attend to our spiritual concerns, though not directly stated, may certainly be fairly concluded from them; for if we are to feel so insecure of life, and if we are to depend wholly on God's good pleasure, in regard to it, and all things pertaining to it, what follows, but that the great object of our solicitude, is to be the eternal happiness of another world? This is just what our Saviour has declared in plain terms; having first forbidden all anxiety about provision for the necessaries and comforts of life, in consideration of God's providence, He adds a command that we should study above all things our spiritual welfare-"Take no thought (be not anxious) saying what shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or wherewithal shall we be clothed? for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things, but seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." And this He said, not to encourage idleness and

carelessness, and the neglect of honest and lawful means of procuring such things as are required for the support and convenience of human life, but to induce us to rely on the providence of God, and to consider all earthly interests insignificant, in comparison with the momentous concerns of eternity. Happy are they, my brethren, who do so; who do not load their minds with the cares of this life, making it their principal aim to heap up perishable riches, to pursue fleeting pleasures, to catch at all the empty and unsubstantial shadows of earthly enjoyment; but who, trusting that God of his mercy will bless, as He sees fit, their honest industry, in the laudable avocations of life, and bestow on them what he thinks expedient of comfort and refreshment in their weary pilgrimage through the world, journey onwards in a straight course, with their eye constantly fixed on their heavenly home, their hearts ever longing for it, every faculty of their souls earnestly striving, in dependence on his gracious aid, after the attainment of it.

May such be our course in the ensuing year ? Alas, we have most of us a sad year to account for, in the one that is nearly closed; it has escaped from us unimproved; it is gone, the last of a long series of sad years, to detail the histories

of our many infirmities, omissions, and sins, to the offended ear of God, whom we have lightly esteemed. If we could call it back, and make it pass in review before our minds, what a record of worldliness, vanity, folly, negligence, impiety, would it present! How often have we forgotten our highest interests, neglected the care of our immortal souls, indulged in forbidden pleasures, yielded to unlawful passions and desires, been seduced by temptations to evil, been indolent in the cultivation of spiritual feelings, and in the practice of Christian virtues, despised the warnings of God, been unthankful for his mercies, unmindful of his presence, disregarded the motions and suggestions of his Holy Spirit, in short, "done those things which we ought not to have done, and left undone those things which we ought to have done." How frequently have we used the means of grace without profit !—read the scriptures without becoming wise unto salvation !-uttered formal prayers without devotion of heart, and therefore without spiritual aid !— joined in public worship with no other purpose, than to make an outward show, and profession of religion !-heard sermons, and followed none of the holy instructions which we received !-partaken of the emblems of Christ's body and blood, and not fed on Him in our hearts by faith!

Would we not, if possible, blot such a year out of the Book of Judgment? Let us repent of our manifold sins, and turn to God in sincerity and truth, praying for His mercy, with a full trust in our Redeemer's merits, and our sin shall be blotted out for ever, and no more remembered against us. Let us take especial care that we add not another to the long list of years that already condemn us. May we from henceforth, by the help of God, begin a new life, if we have not yet been quickened from our death in trespasses and sins! May we be excited to continual perseverance, and daily improvement, if our resurrection unto holiness has been accomplished before! May we all, should it please God to bring us to the conclusion of the ensuing year, be found better Christians than we now are! Should we die during its progress, may it be our portion (for Christ's sake) to be for ever blessed in that glorious life, in which time shall be no more computed, and of which ages shall never bring us nearer to the end! This we humbly implore of thy merciful goodness, O Lord, through Jesus Christ, our only Saviour and Redeemer.