forbid it. Forget not him who gave you all that you enjoy; him who crowns your life with loving kind ness and tender mercy, and maketh your cup of blessings to run over; him on whom you depend for all that you have in prospect, as well as for all that you have in possession; him whose frown is death, but whose favour is life, and his loving kindness better than life.

Alas! must you confess that you have forgotten him! Yet he, while forgotten, has been mindful of you. Through another year, in which you have not remembered him, he has notwithstanding, most kindly remembered you; he has spared you, upheld you, and blessed you. And will you forget him still?-forget that in him you live and move and have your being. Believe it, there is awful danger, as well as base ingratitude, in continuing to "forget God." Let the return of this season effectually call you to remember the Author of your existence; to remember your Father in Heaven; to remember your Saviour and your Sanctifier; to remember your first, greatest, and best Friend. In deep contrition and abasement seek the pardon of your past ingratitude, neglect and disobedience. Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. Imploring the Spirit of all grace to afford his all sufficient aid, flee to the Saviour: Look by faith to his atoning blood; trust in his perfect righteousness, his prevalent intercession, his superabounding fulness. Imagine not that any future period will be more favourable to begin a life of religion than the present-This is the delusion of your great adversary. Devote yourselves, therefore, immediately and without reserve to God. Let his glory be your great aim; his word the man of your counsel; his will your rule of duty; his friends your companions; his service your employment; communion with him your highest pleasure; and the hea

ven of his abode the home to which you look, the inheritance to which you aspire. Then shall this new year bring you a happiness that you never yet have known; a felicity for which the pleasures of sense afford not a comparison. Then will you taste a new sweetness in all the innocent festivities of the passing season, and in all the lawful pursuits and enjoyments of lifeYou will receive them as the gift of a covenant keeping God, the expression of his present kindness, and the earnest of an eternal enjoyment of himself.

sown

Forget me not, as the counsel and command of Him who ruleth over all, in whose hands our life is and whose are all our ways, may be considered as peculiarly and pointedly directed, on the commencement of a new year, to those who are engaged in the busy and active scenes of life-who are immersed in the world. Great indeed is the danger to such, of forgetting God. "These are they who are among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful-they go forth and are choked with cares, and riches, and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection." What a description is here, how just, how striking, how melancholy, of what we constantly behold! We see men who once felt powerfully the effects of a religious educationtheir impressions of sacred truth were deep, and it was hoped they would be lasting: but it was not so. The pleasures of the world with some; with others the lures of wealth or ambition; with others even lawful and necessary occupations, inordinately pursued; with all the influence and the charms of present and sensible objects, have choked the good seed. They are now careful and cumbered about many things, and entirely neglect

the one thing needful. All their sensibility to the concerns of their souls is extinguished. They neglect publick worship, prayer they never attempt, the Bible they seldom open-or they open it for speculation only, and not for devotion. If custom, or courtesy, or reputation, carries them to the house of God, they "hear as though they heard not." The world often follows them into the sanctuary, and engrosses them there: Or if some good impression is made, they immediately drown in the world every anxious thought about their eternal destiny-Thus they forget God; they forget purposes and resolutions once rationally and solemnly made; they forget the awful, hastening hour of death; when-taken it is to be feared by surprise-"for all these things God will bring them into judgment." "O that they were wise! that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end." O that with the return of the present season, salutary consideration might commence!

But it is not thus with all. Yet to all, even to those whose hearts are renewed by the Spirit of grace, the business, the cares, the attractions, the sensualizing influence of the world, create dangers and seductions of the most formidable kind. Happy were it, if the words "Forget me not," as the cautionary voice of his God, did sound solemnly in the ears of every busy man, with the return not only of every year, but of every day and every hour of life. Forget not the presence and inspection of Jehovah. Forget not the purity and strictness of his holy law. Forget not the duty that you owe him-let it not be neglected for any earthly concern. Forget not to serve God with your substance, and to honour him before the world. Forget not the account you are soon to render. Forget not that you are surrounded by snares and temptations innumerable. Forget not that they may not only surprise you into sin, but

steal upon you, as they often do, by imperceptible advances. Forget not, therefore, to watch as well as to pray. Forget not often, very often, to estimate the world and all its concerns, as they will appear at your final hour, and at the tribunal of your final Judge. Forget not to implore incessantly that God may keep you-keep you by his grace from losing a spiritual frame of mind; keep you from dishonouring his cause and wounding your own souls; keep you, by his almighty power, through faith unto salvation.

"Forget me not," is the address of " the Strength of Israel" to the aged-to which an entrance on a new year should give irresistible force. As the last sound of God's mercy, it may well strike the ear of the aged unrepentant sinner. As such let him regard it, and in the mercy of Him whose mercy is boundless, in the blood of that atonement whose merits are infinite, let him hasten to seek salvation while it may be found-found even by him. But to those who have served and trusted in God in their more vigorous days, "Forget me not" is the language of encouragement. It admonishes them that in Him to whom they have devoted their lives, they have an almighty unfailing friend; to whom it is as much their privilege as their duty, to go with all their present weaknesses, and necessities, and complaints, in the assured confidence that he will most kindly notice and provide for them all. Aged Christians-fear not that he whom you have loved and served, on whom you have relied, whose consolations you have experienced, who has pitied and forgiven your imperfections, and who has already helped you "in six troubles and in seven"-fear not that he will "cast you off in time of old age." His faithful promise to you is, "Even to your old age I am he, and even to hoar hairs will I carry you. I have made and I will bear, even I will carry and will deliver you." Therefore, amidst all the languore.

and infirmities, and diseases, of declining years; amidst the loss of the friends of your youth; and while incapable of enjoyments which once you could share; still comfort yourselves in God. In Him you are entitled to find, and may certainly find, more than an equivalent, for all your privations. On him let all those affections centre, which have lost their object in the world. Commune much with him, and with your own hearts. Be careful to adorn the religion of your Saviour, by patience, by meekness, by gentleness, by cheerfulness, by seasonable and tender counsel to the young, by promoting the cause of God with all your influence-by every good word and work. Cling not to the world which you are leaving. Think much of that better world, on which you are soon to enter; and often cheer your hearts with the thought, that in a few more fleeting hours, perhaps before the beginning of another year, every unpleasant feeling induced by age, will be exchanged for immoral youth, activity and vigour, in the presence and full fruition of God your Saviour.

Of all men living, the rich ought to hear with the most attention and the most alarm, the words "Forget me not," as a divine admonition. "How hardly, said the Saviour, shail they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." The plain import of these declarations is, that the temptation to forget God is such, to those who abound in wealth, that their salvation is all but hopeless. Let the rich be thankful that it is not utterly hopeless; and let them look well that they do not render it so, by neglecting to seek earnestly for a larger measure of grace than would be necessary to their

safety, if the temptations to which they are exposed were less insidious and fatal. Let them remember that it is the Lord who "giveth them power to get wealth;" remember the reply made by Abraham to the rich man in the place of eternal torment-" Son, remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things;" remember to be "rich in faith;" remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, "it is more blessed to give than to receive;" remember the injunction of an inspired apostle to his own son in the faith, "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."

To the poor and afflicted no language should be more consolatory than when their Maker says, " Forget me not." To suffer here, only as a prelude to sufferings infinitely more intense hereafter, would indeed be a destiny appalling beyond expression. But the Lord does not afflict willingly. He is in a peculiar manner the friend and the refuge of the afflicted. If rightly improved, "these light afflictions which are but for a moment, work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." A large proportion of the inhabitants of heaven, will doubtless ascribe their arrival there to sanctified afflictions. The experience of the Psalmist was theirs. "Before they were afflicted they went astray;" but affliction compelled them to reflect, and reflection led them to seek, and eventually to find, a friend, a comforter and a portion, in God. The afflicted are sometimes sorely tempted, as Asaph was, to envy the prosperity of the wicked; and at other

times, to regard their suffering state as an evidence of the Divine displeasure. The oracles of unerring truth afford a distinct correction of both these errors. They declare that "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." And as to the poor, their language is "To the poor the gospel is preached Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him." Let the pious poor, and the afflicted, therefore, comfort themselves in their God. Let them remember that the joys of heaven will be enhanced to them, by all that they now endure-enhanced by the contrast of a state of perfect happiness, with one of bitter privation and painful conflicts; as well as by that increase and maturity of grace, to which all their afflictions were made to contribute. Let them rejoice that another year of want and pain is past; and that but few more, perhaps not another, can intervene between them, and a state of felicity perfect and eternal.

"This do in remembrance of me" -was the command of that Saviour in whom is all the hope of sinners, when he instituted, just before his last agony, the standing memorial of his sufferings and death. That this was a precept, directed to all who should hear the glad tidings of salvation announced in his gospel, there can be no reasonable question. Yet this sacred FORGET ME NOT, of a Redeemer to whom every evangelized sinner owes a debt of gratitude which he can never pay, is neglected, disregarded, and practically despised, by thousands, and tens of thousands, to whom the gospel is constantly and faithfully preached. At this, if angels weep, their tears must flow. Shall it not be, that some, on reading these lines at their entrance on a New Year, will recollect with shame and con

trition, how long they have already lived in the pointed violation of the dying command of their souls' best friend-the incarnate Son of God! Will they not make this the happiest year they have ever seen, by dedicating themselves unreservedly to God their Saviour, and sealing a covenant relation to him, in an ordinance which, by a most merciful and condescending appointment, he has instituted for this high and holy purpose!

LECTURES ON THE SHORTER CATECHISM OF THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES ADDRESSED

TO YOUTH.

(Continued from Vol. IV. page 331.)

2. The answer before us states that when Christ as a king, has subdued his people to himself, he afterwards "rules and defends them."

Christ's kingdom is not of this world. The subjects of it are not absolved from their obedience to earthly magistrates, but enjoined to render it as a part of Christian duty-There is but one exception to this, and that is, when the civil ruler requires that which is directly contrary to the laws of Christ; in which case we must obey God rather than man, though life itself be the forfeiture. On this principle, all the real martyrs of the Christian faith have suffered death.

Christ, as a king, rules his people by his laws; by which we are to understand his moral laws, a summary of which we have in the decalogue, or ten commandments. In keeping of these commandments, his people have a great reward, even at present. Christ writes these laws in their hearts, and puts them (as the Scripture expresses it) "in their inward parts." They really love these laws; and obedience to them is not only sweet and delightful in itself, but it also secures the testimony of a good con

science toward God: For Christ has satisfied the moral law for his people, as a covenant of works; and he gives it out to them only as a rule of life; by which when they conscientiously walk, they have confidence toward God, notwithstanding the imperfection which cleaves to all they do.

Christ rules in the hearts of his people, in conquering their corruptions for them, and by the grace of his Holy Spirit, sweetly conforming their wills to his own blessed will; and by invigorating, sustaining and quickening all their graces.

Christ, as a king, gives laws to his church as a community-of which all his people are members. No man, or body of men, has any authority to enact a single law, rite or ceremony, for the church of Christ. He is himself the only lawgiver, and men are only the executors of his laws. But when the laws of Christ for his church are faithfully executed, in the due administration of discipline-however a profane and ungodly generation may scorn or deride it-they are infinitely more dreadful than any civil penalties. What his officers thus bind in his name on earth, he binds in heaven.

Christ, as a king, rules over and defends his people, by his providence. Their whole lot in life, whether in wealth or poverty, in prosperity or adversity, in honour or dishonour, in joy or in sorrow, is ordered by him. He marks all their path, and directs all that befals them; and he will assuredly make all things work together for their good. He chastens and corrects them in covenant faithfulness. When they wander from him, or are disobedient to him, his chastising rod is laid upon them, to restore them to duty and to comfort. Even for the improvement of their graces, and their general sanctification and progress in the divine life, chastisement is frequently the mean employed. "Whom the

Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." But while the Lord corrects, he upholds his people, and often renders the seasons of their affliction the times of the sweetest spiritual consolation to their souls.

Christ, as a king, defends his people. They are ever their own most dangerous enemies. Soon would they become the prey of their own mistakes, perverseness and corruption, if he, by his providence and grace, did not defend them. But by his providence he crosses those designs which they form, that would injure or ruin them if they were not disappointed and defeated. By his grace, he keeps "alive within them the spark of holy fire, in the midst of an ocean of corruption;" nay, he increases and kindles it, till it dries up, or consumes, all that opposes it.— Christ also defends his people against their enemies among ungodly men, and among the powers of darkness. This introduces the

3d and last clause of the answer

before us-" He restrains and conquers, all his and their enemies." Christ has identified himself with his people: They make up but one body, of which he is the head, and they are the members; and therefore they have, of necessity, the same friends and the same foes. This affords to his subjects the most consolatory assurance of perfect protection: For their Redeemer and Sovereign is the mighty God of Jacob, and while he reigns they must be safe. "If God be for us, who can be against us!"

Because the people of Christ "are not of the world, therefore the world hateth them." Persecution, in one form or another, every truly loyal subject of the king of Zion, will receive from ungodly men. But their Sovereign holds these men perfectly in his hand, and restrains, and bounds, and defeats their rage, at his pleasure. Their power, their swords, their tongues, their efforts,