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The Past, 9.

Protestant Watchword, 15.
Ecclesiastes, ix. 3, 36.
The Eagle, 58.

On the Bible, 75.

The Dark and Cloudy Day, 76.
Protestant Times, 76.
"Downward Paths," 100.
Hymn, 120.

POETRY.

"Unto you that believe," &c, 140. Deut. xxxi. 1-8, 140.

In Sorrow, 160.

Ps. cxlv. 19, 180.

Peace, be still! 200.

Thoughts on an Autumnal Morning, 219.

The Hour of Prayer, 219.
Bethel, 257.

So we see they could not enter in because of unbelief, 258.

"Trust in Him at all times," 258

The Dying Believer's Prospect, 259

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THE

FRIENDLY VISITOR.

JANUARY, 1851.

HOW TO BEGIN THE NEW YEAR.

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LET us begin the year with solemn reflection—and say, with Job, "When a few years are come I shall go the way whence I shall not return." Let me not only believe this; but think of it, and feel the importance of the sentiment. Yes, in a little time I shall be no more seen. How-where -shall I be disposed of? The seasons will return as before; but the places that now know me will know me no more for ever. Will this be a curse? or a blessing? If I die in my sins, I shall return no more to my possessions and enjoyments; to the calls of mercy; to the throne of grace; to the house of prayer! If I die in the Lord, I shall-oh! blessed impossibility!-return no more to these thorns and briers; to this vain and wicked world; to this aching head; to this throbbing heart; to these temptations and troubles, and sorrows and sins.

Let us begin the year with self inspection—and say, with the chief butler, "I do remember my faults this day." We are prone to think of the failings of our fellow-creatures, and often imagine because we are free from their faults that we are faultless. But we may have other faults; we may have worse; and while a mote is in our brother's eye, a beam may be in our own. Let us be open to conviction. Let us deal faithfully with our own hearts. Let us not compare ourselves with others, and especially the more vile of our fellow-creatures; but with our advantages; with our knowledge; with our professions; with the law of God.

Let us begin the year with a determination to abandon whatever appears sinful-and say, with Elihu, "If I have done iniquity, I will do no more." Should the evil course or the evil passion solicit, let it plead in vain while the Saviour-Judge says "If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members

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should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."

Begin the year with pious and personal dedication—and say, with David, “Lord, I am thine; save me." Through Him who is the way yield yourselves unto God. It is your reasonable service, He has infinite claims to you. You will never be truly your own till you are His.

Begin the year with relative religion; and if the worship of God has never been established in your family, now commence it—and say, with Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." A family without prayer is like a house without a roof. It is uncovered and exposed; and we know who has threatened to pour out His fury upon the families that call not upon His Name.

Begin the year with fresh concern to be useful—and ask, with Saul of Tarsus, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Let me look at my condition; my resources; my opportunities. How can I glorify God and promote the welfare of my fellowcreatures? Is there not a Bible to circulate? Are there not missionaries to support? Are there none perishing for lack of knowledge that I can myself instruct? Have I no irreligious neighbours to reclaim? Are there no poor to relieve? No widows and fatherless to visit?

Begin the year with more conduct in the arrangement of your affairs, and resemble Ezra and his brethren, who "did according to the custom, as the duty of every day required.” God has said, let every thing be done decently and in order. Much of your comfort will arise from regularity in your meals, in your devotions, in your callings; and your piety will be aided by it. Have a place to receive everything; an end to simplify it; a rule to arrange it. Leave nothing for the morrrow that ought to be discharged to-day. Sufficient for each period will be its own claims; and your mind ought to be always at liberty to attend to fresh engagements.

Finally. Time, this short, this uncertain, this all-important time, upon every instant of which eternity depends, will not allow of our trifling away any of its moments. Resolve therefore to redeem it. Gather up its fragments that nothing be lost. Especially rescue it from needless sleep; and if you have hitherto accustomed yourself to the shameful indulgence of lying late in bed, begin the New Year with the habit of early rising; by which you will promote your health and im provement of every kind, and live much longer than others in

the same number of days. And say, with David, "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up."

And if this be your determination, the season will be the date of your happiness. God himself says, "From this day will I bless you.'

THE POPE'S AGGRESSION.

NEVER, perhaps, was there such a general stir throughout England, from one end to the other, as at the present moment; and never, we may safely say, have events occurred, since the days of the Reformation, of a more exciting and stirring nature. The Pope has issued his Brief, and appointed Archbishops and Bishops to preside over the dioceses into which he has divided all England; and, strange to say, these Bishops are appointed with a control, not merely over the Roman Catholics residing in their respective dioceses, but over all baptized persons! All, whether young or old, high or low, who have been baptized, whether Churchmen or Dissenters, are to be considered as the objects of Popish interference and influence! Was there ever any thing so barefaced and outrageous! The Pope and his party are confidently expecting the conversion of all England to their Church; and in his Brief, the Pope does not hesitate to announce that he has been much engaged in supplicating the Virgin Mary to prosper his efforts!

Poor deluded man! Is there one even amongst the humblest of my readers who is not thankful for the much higher privilege he enjoys of taking all his wants and cares direct to the God of heaven, through the one Mediator, Christ Jesus, the beloved Son of God, who is one with the Father, rather than through any created agency, however excellent! What an insult do Romanists offer to Christ, as if he were unable or unwilling of himself to hear poor sinners, and save to the uttermost!

Now, in the present state of public feeling, there are two questions which every one is ready to ask:

1. What will be the result of this movement?

2. What is to be done?

As to the first point, it is quite impossible to conjecture. It is certainly a very singular sign of these most marked and singular times. They who are most deeply studying prophecy

are full of expectation. They consider that all is fast hastening on the grand consummation-the destruction of antichrist, the establishment of Christ's kingdom. One thing, I think, is very certain: matters on religion will become more decided. It will be more clearly seen who are sound, hearty Protestants, and who are not. There can be no borderersno half-and-half Christians. Men must shew their colours, and take their stand for Rome, or Protestantism, or Infidelity. Tractarianism must be swamped. It can have no standingplace in the Church. And thus the stepping-stones, which unworthy and unfaithful members of our own dear Church have been so largely affording towards Rome, will cease to exist. This good I fully look for; and in this and other ways I do hope that the storm which now assails us will purify our religious atmosphere, and thus God will display his prerogative of bringing good out of evil. And on his boundless grace and mercy we can alone depend.

For if we look to man, we can only expect the most fearful results. If we look to ourselves, may we not fear that we have provoked a jealous God by not duly appreciating and improving our Protestant privileges? What could God have done more to his vineyard in England! what nation so blest! and yet where is the fruit proportioned to our advantages! What are we doing as a nation for the rest of the world, to every part of which we have access, and over so great a part of which we have the rule! And when we look to ourselves individually, what may we not fear? May not God most justly be withdrawing the candlestick of the Gospel from amongst us, and be suffering us to relapse into all the fearful darkness and misery of the Asiatic Churches?

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Then, if we look to our rulers, we would fain hope the best; yet past experience must teach us to cease from man." They have grievously encouraged Popery, in past days, in many ways, and largely brought on and encouraged the mischief which has now befallen us. However, our Prime Minister has made a noble declaration of his Protestant sentiments and indignation; and let us hope that the Government will have the candour to own past mistakes, and thus resolve to make reparation, and resist the present aggression as it deserves. If we dare, however, to trust in any degree to an arm of flesh, the bright spot is our beloved Queen's hearty and honest Protestantism. I could say much in proof of this. I have little doubt that the Premier's excellent letter was pub

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