used to rise from their beds at midnight, SERM. and continue in their synagogues praying XXI. and worshipping till break of day. One of their own writers, therefore, scruples not to assign this motive for the blowing of trumpets, that it was designed to awaken them to a sense of their spiritual conditions at this awful period, signifying some such solemn exhortation as follows; that those that were sleeping and slumbering should awake, and arise, and examine their past transactions; should seriously and attentively weigh the situation of their souls, consider their ways and works, and turn to repentance and amendment of life; to stir them up to acknowledge the goodness of God, in preserving them through the time past, and to excite them to pray for his protection and blessing for the new year on which they were entering. Whether this account be just or not, it is antient and respectable (more so than most of their traditions), and may serve to admonish us to distinguish, by a similar practice of self-examination, the commencement of our own years; to which purpose,

SERM. I do not think the custom of ringing bells XXI. at midnight, when this annual revolution

takes place, as it is observed in many of our towns and villages, is to be regarded as altogether an idle or superstitious usage, but that it might be brought to good account, and turned to high advantage; for the year being the chief measure of man's life, is a most important period, and its termination must inevitably warn us of the shortness and vanity of human life-a lesson the Spirit of God seems to have taken especial care to teach us, throughout all the writings of the inspired penmen, there being hardly any thing very frail and transitory, mutable and uncertain, but they are used to set forth the vanity of life by; we have it represented as a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again—a tale that is told and forgotten-a vapour that appeareth for a little while, and vanisheth away; we are admonished that our days are swifter than a post, that they pass away as the swift ships, and as the eagle that hasteth to the prey; that man cometh up like a flower, and is cut down;

that

that he flieth also as a shadow, and SERM. continueth not; nay, that in the very XXI. midst of life, considering the precarious state of mortality, we are actually in death, being every moment liable to accidents without number, of every description, and from every quarter; at all events, every pulse and breath doth tell us we are hastening to the end of time, and call on us to dispatch our works while it is yet to-day, never being able to know what shall be on the morrow." Most men have so many misdoings to account for, that it is not a very grateful task to urge them to reflection. The world is generally gay enough, and busy enough, and noisy enough, to drown all reflection; and therefore, as long as there is no need to make comparisons, one sort of happiness is as good as another. But the truth is, we should learn to make comparisons, and to estimate the happiness of wisdom and folly according to their respective values. Happy the man may be, or at least he may fancy himself so, who is indulging himself from morning to night

SERM. in scenes of riot and debaucheries; but this XXI. is the happiness of a fool, for it is shortlived at best, and leading to no consequences in the smallest degree desirable -generally quite otherwise, leading to remorse and disappointment, horror and disgust; for the time is sure to come, if life lasts long enough, when we shall be convinced, that such indulgences have been purchased at the expence of both soul and body; the former being degraded by them, and sullied almost past redemption; the latter weakened and impaired, and rendered, instead of a blessing, a burthen to us past endurance. But the happiness of a wise man, by the study of God's word, and adherence to his laws, is founded on a rock. It is to be enjoyed at all times, and even in defiance of any evils incident to human nature; for it is built on hopes extending beyond the limits of this mortal life; on promises that can never fail, however present appearances may be against them. Such a man has pleasure in reflection past all the present enjoyments of the sinful and profane. This is an undeniable

truth,

XXI.

truth, and requires but experiment to SERM. prove it; nay, even where our misdoings have been numerous and great, reflection will redound to our satisfaction, if we review those misdoings with proper remorse and compunction, determining to redeem the time lost, by works of righteousness in time to come; so that, at all events, reflection is of the utmost moment to our true happiness, and it is folly to defer it. But because we are not commonly inclined to make to ourselves opportunities for such reflections, it is well if any occur not of our own seeking, and I think none can be more striking than the revolutions of such periods as we have agreed to make the measure of our lives; for these must bring to our minds, as well the time past that we may have wasted or abused, as the time to come in which we have to make up our account; with this important difference between the two, that the measure of the former is knowable, and consequently the amount of our transgressions; but the measure of the period to come, in which we must make our peace with God, or not

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