THE SOUL'S WELFARE. THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. BY REV. J. JENKINSON, OAKHAM. TIME ever swift and ceaseless in its flight has brought us to the commencement of another year, And as an entrance on a new station or relationship brings with it new duties and responsibilities, or at least, duties and responsibilities which have then peculiar claims on our attention, so is it with our entrance on a new year of our existence. To point out some of these is the object of the present essay. 1. It should be a time of serious reflection. Thirty millions of human beings who a year ago were living on the earth are now lying in their graves. Myriads of them were then elated by the hopes, depressed by the sorrows, or agitated by the cares of earth as though this were their eternal dwelling-place: but now all these things with them are past, and they themselves are saved or lost for ever. Thus too it will shortly be with us. Perhaps this year: for thirty millions of those now living will be dead before this year is gone. But however this may be we are certainly each of us a year nearer to eternity than we were at the beginning of the year just ended. Ought we not then solemnly to reflect on the past, the present, and the future? Remembering the uncertainty of life, and the comparatively small number of years which complete the longest sojourn allotted to mortals here below, it is matter of surprize howeven the most thoughtless can pass out of one year into another without consideration. 2. It should be a time of faithful self-examination. Many men of business regularly take stock at the beginning of the year. And this is wise and useful: inasmuch as if they are prosperous it gladdens them to discover it: if otherwise, it is advantageous to know it. But if this is well in reference to the things of time, how much more so in reference to those of eternity. The close of the day, the close of the sabbath, the time of partaking the Lord's supper, the recurrence of a birthday, and many other seasons are appropriate times for self-examination : but the beginning of the year seems to be peculiarly so. It is then specially important to talk with our past hours, and ask them "what report they've borne to heaven." What more do we know of divine truth than we did a year ago? What progress have we made in the divine life? What have we done for Christ during the past year? What self-denial have we practised, or refused to practise? What temptations have we repelled or yielded to? What evidence does the year just closed afford as to our real character, state, and prospects? These and similar questions, if pressed upon the conscience, and answered as in the sight of God, can scarcely fail to be found profitable. But to secure this our self-examination must be cautious and faithful. The tradesman who in taking stock either determines to discover his circumstances to be prosperous, or by careless reckoning makes them appear to be so, may find himself involved in ruin before he is aware. And he who resolves to think favourably of his spiritual condition, or who either neglects self-examination or performs it superficially and ignorantly, may unexpectedly find his soul irretrievably undone. 3. It should be a time of humiliation and confession. It is impossible to advance far in scriptural self-examination in reference even to a single year without discovering that 10 THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. we have wofully come short of God's requirements. This may well humble us in the dust before him, and induce us to adopt the language of Ezra and Daniel. "O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities have increased over our heads, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken thy commandments, which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets." "We have sinned, and committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled even by departing from thy precepts, and from thy judgments. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day." Ezra ix. Dan. ix. 4. It should be a time of earnest prayer. The God against whom we have sinned can and will pardon iniquity: but only to such as earnestly implore his forgiveness. Every day of the year which has now begun will, if we are spared to see it, renew our need of the bounties of his hand, and for these we should pray. Every day will expose us to temptation; and for strength to resist it effectually we must pray. Throughout the year we shall need help and grace, instruction and support, guidance in perplexity, protection in peril, deliverance from danger, and comfort in trouble; all of which may be obtained by asking for them; but which if we neglect prayer will probably be witholden from us. 5. It should be a time of renewed application to the blood of Christ. Under the Mosaic economy "the remembrance of sins every year" was made in connexion with the offering of the atoning sacrifice. Lev. xvi. 34. Heb. x. 3. Prayer is important as the divinely appointed means of obtaining mercy; but it must not be forgotten that it is only through the death and intercession of Christ that the prayers of fallen creatures can find acceptance with a holy God. "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission." But that blood, even the precious blood of Christ, has been shed. "By his one offering he has for ever perfected them that are sanctified." 'Having, therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus," let us, at this the commencement of another year, believingly, humbly, earnestly plead the merits of that blood for the forgiveness of our sins. A year ago nothing less than that blood could obtain salvation for us, but assuredly we now need it more, and may well therefore seek an interest in it with augmented ardour, and increasingly rejoice that "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin." 6. It should be a time of personal reformation. The sincerity of our repentance and humiliation on account of our past offences can be evidenced only by the earnestness of our endeavours to avoid the sins into which we have fallen, to discharge the obligations we have heretofore neglected, and to live henceforth more decidedly to the glory of God our Saviour. The time past may well suffice us to have wrought evil. Let us henceforth diligently work in the Lord's service; for the night of death is at hand in which no man can work. 7. It should be a time of grateful acknowledgment. Though the retrospect of our own doings may well fill us with shame and sorrow, the Lord's doings have always been right and wise and kind; and ought therefore to be gratefully remembered. Is it not matter of thankfulness that while so many millions of our race have in the past year been carried to their graves our lives are still prolonged? And has not every day of that year come to us laden with blessings? Whatever may have been our afflictions or trials, losses or bereavements, have we not had infinitely more of health and comfort, prosperity and friends than we deserved? Is it not also cause of thankfulness that reason is continued to us the word of God still in our possession-and the throne of grace accessible? Well may we at the beginning of the year exclaim, "Blessed be the Lord who daily oadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation." - REV. ROWLAND HILI. 11 "I beseech you by 8. It should be a time of renewed consecration to the divine service. the mercies of God," says the apostle, and his entreaty seems specially appropriate at the commencement of a year, "that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Rom. xii. 1. "Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price : therefore glorify God in your body and your spirit which are God's." 1 Cor. vi. 20. 9. It should be a time of cheerful anticipation. Though it is always well to anticipate the future with seriousness and submissiveness, it is never right to do it with despondency or distrust. It is true that we know not what this year may bring forth; but our Father knows it perfectly, for He sees the end from the beginning. Trials and difficulties may befal us, but He has said, "As thy days so shall thy strength be." Let us trust our bodies and our souls, our families and friends, the land of our birth and the world at large, and especially the church of Christ into his hands. Then if we have now entered on the last year of our earthly sojourn, all will be well with us. Or if we are spared to see its close as well as its commencement we shall find that "the eyes of the Lord our God are upon us for good from the beginning of the year even to the end of the year." REV. ROWLAND HILL. ROWLAND HILL was the third son of Sir Rowland Hill, of Hawkstone, near Weston. He was born 23rd August, 1744. From a boy he was playful and lively, and, when at the Grammar-school of Shrewsbury, where he received the elements of education, he gave evidence of that innocent vivacity and cheerful humour for which he was afterwards so much noticed. He very early became the subject of religious impressions, by reading, as he himself informs us, Watts's Hymns; and, when he attended Eton school, he looked upon himself as one who had been called out of darkness into God's marvellous light. His excellent biographer, Mr. Jones, gives the following as a note out of the last sermon Mr. Hill preached, when encouraging the sinner to come to the Redeemer : "You are not farther from God than Saul of Tarsus was; you are not farther off from God than I was when first I went to Eton school; there never was a sinner fonder of this world, or farther from the fear God than I was then; but God made me wise by his own power." Even at this early period, by his zeal and love, he was instrumental in leading not a few of his school-companions to the cross. On his removal to the university of Cambridge, he displayed more and more of the life of the true Christian. Along with others of kindred piety, he sanctified the walls of this celebrated seminary, ard made sacred the waters of the Cam, by his prayers and praises while he was drinking from the well of salvation. He here became acquainted with the Rev. John Berridge, vicar of Everton, near Cambridge. This individual soon acquired an influence over the young student. By his counsels, Rowland determined to break through all canonical rule, and begin his career as a minister of the gospel before his collegiate course was completed. His first sermon was preached in a cottage on his father's estate to a few poor people. He afterwards preached in the neighbourhood of Cambridge; and, accompanied by companions of similar temper and zeal, he visited in jails, workhouses, and sickrooms, calling sinners to repentance. Thus early did he manifest that dislike of restraint which, during the whole of his life, disposed him to keep himself entirely free from all ecclesiastical or denominational subordination, and left him |