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that they be carried out to-day. It will be easier work to-morrow, easier every day you keep to them. If your temper is to be better controlled, or expensive and selfish pleasures given up during the year, to-day is the only time to begin, to-morrow will cheat you of all your domestic happiness.

You cannot get happily through the year without being "right with God." To be haunted with the conviction, "I have never seriously and decidedly repented of my sins, sought forgiveness through the blood of Christ, and devoted myself to the service of my Maker;" to feel that this is not done, is to nourish within your bosom a "never-dying worm." No happiness is possible for sinful men, till they "turn to God." Amused, occupied, gratified, they may be; but happy no man can be without his God. Alas, how many purpose to turn to God, or hope they shall be converted, in the course of the year; but "TO-DAY is the accepted time." A new course must have a beginning, and to begin is this day's work: to go on will be another day's work, and another's, and another's, the work of life. You cannot prepare for conversion. You are no nearer to it day after day (but rather further off), until you "come to yourself and say, I will return again to my Father." The work of salvation must be taken "a day at a time," and this day's work is to "turn to God."

And thus all the difficulties of living to God must be viewed also. A year's or a life's temptations, struggles, and difficulties, seen all together, may well appal or overwhelm any imagination; but taken "a day at a time," they are comparatively easily conquered. A forgiving God, a High Priest, who "can sympathise with our infirmities, having been, in all points, tempted like as we are, yet without sin," a Holy Spirit so graciously promised to all who ask it, will make us "more than conquerors through Him that hath loved us."

And, to conclude these brief and imperfect remarks, the trials, sufferings, cares, and sorrows of this mortal life,-under some of which, perhaps, we are now struggling, while others appear to be approaching, let these, above all, be taken "a day at a time," if we wish for a happy new year. The day's burden may be very heavy, but how much more so, if that of another day be added to it. Our blessed Lord has himself given us the grand direction for spending a happy new year, and it is this:-"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take, therefore, no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matt. vi. 33, 34.)

"I MUST TURN OVER A NEW LEAF."

"I must turn over a new leaf," said a man the other day, and it was quite time he did, for he was living in sin, neglecting his family,

and despising his own soul. Now, I dare say many will read these lines who have often talked of turning over a new leaf, but have never done so. A temporary conviction flashed across the mind, and, without much thought, or any settled purpose, they gave utterance to the exclamation. Friend, listen to me for a few moments, and I will try to shew you, that it is necessary to turn over a new leaf, and that the present is the best time to do so. A new year begins to-day. The old year has told its tale before the throne of God. Every act performed, every word spoken, every thought conceived, every temper indulged, has been written as with a pen of iron on a table of brass. The record is permanent. Nothing can obliterate a letter, but the precious blood of Christ. The recording angel has just turned over a new leaf, and, with pen in hand, is ready to register the thoughts, plans, purposes, and practices of this year. You cannot look over the past with much pleasure, and had need begin afresh,—

First, If you have neglected your soul. Thousands have done so,— perhaps you have. They have attended to the body, even indulging its lusts and evil propensities; but the soul, the never-dying soul, has been neglected. What folly is this! It is like being careful of the frame, and allowing the picture to spoil; or paying attention to the clothes, and leaving the child to perish. The greatest loss in God's universe is the loss of a soul, and yet thousands of souls are daily lost by sinful neglect. If your soul is lost, it will be in consequence of neglect; wilful, deliberate, long-continued neglect. It may be saved, for Jesus is both able and willing to save it; but unless you apply to him, and seek salvation right earnestly, there is no probability that he will save you. Now if, up to the present time, you have neglected your soul; if you are still unpardoned, unsanctified, and unsaved, I am sure it is high time that you "turned over a new leaf."

Secondly, If you have lived without God. That is, without the knowledge of his nature and character,—without faith in his word,without reconciliation to him by the cross of his Son,-without loving, worshiping, and obeying him. God is love, but if you do not love him, you do not know him. God is truth, but if you do not believe his word, you do not know him. God is the only object of adoration, but if you do not worship him in spirit and in truth, you do not know him. Now, if you do not know God, you are living without God; you have no faith in him, love to him, zeal for him, or fellowship with him. You are considered his enemy. An enemy that refuses to be reconciled to him. An enemy who prefers his absence to his company, his creatures to himself. And if you are living without God; if you neither know his character, study his word, worship at his throne, or seek to do his will, I am sure it is high time for you to "turn over a new leaf."

Thirdly, If you are disregarding the rights of your neighbours.

Your neighbour has a right to your love, for God has commanded you to love your neighbour as yourself. You ought, therefore, to think kindly of every one, speak kindly to every one, and seek to do good to every one; for if you do not, how can you be said to keep God's law? And if you wilfully, allowedly, and habitually act contrary to God's law, are you not a criminal in his sight? and if a criminal, exposed to punishment? and if exposed to punishment at the hand of God, are you not in great danger of being sent to hell? and if in great danger of being sent to hell, is it not high time to "turn over a new leaf?" "But my neighbour is no friend of mine." Perhaps not, but love makes friends, and keeps friends when made. "But my neighbour is above me, and I cannot do anything to shew my love." Are you sure of that? Let love fill your thoughts, and it will look out at your eyes, and you will then soon see an opportunity to manifest that you love your neighbour. "But my neighbour is my enemy." If so, Jesus says, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven." (Matt. v. 44, 45.) Did Jesus command what is right? Is his command binding on you? Do live in the neglect, or violation of it? If so, it is high time for you to "turn over a new leaf."

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Finally, If you have slighted the Saviour. Jesus came from heaven to earth, he laboured, suffered, and died, to save sinners. He cries, "Behold me! behold me!" He calls, "Come unto me." He promises, "He that believeth shall be saved." Have you fixed your mind intently upon what is written in the New Testament, or preached by God's ministers, concerning the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you come to Him on his throne of grace, confessing your sins with sorrow, and praying for salvation with all the fervour of your soul? Do you exercise confidence in his word, and rely alone on his obedience and sacrifice, for your acceptance before God? In a word, have you taken him to be your Saviour, and placed yourself in his hand to be saved by him fully, freely, and for ever? If so, you are devoted to his service, and active in his cause; now, is this the case? If not, the Saviour is still slighted by you; and to live and die slighting the Saviour, is to make sure of eternal damnation. And I am sure if you are in this situation, it is high time for you to turn over a new

leaf."

Reader, what say you? With the new year will you begin a new course? If so, shun the alehouse, go to the house of prayer, begin in earnest to seek the Lord, and be sure every time you go upon your knees, to entreat the Lord to create in you a new heart, and bless you with a right spirit. You will always be as your heart is. The great change, therefore, must commence there; this is the reason why God made the promise, which runs thus, "A new heart also will I give

you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." (Ez. xxxvi. 26.) This promise is given, to shew you that God is willing to give what you want, and to stir you up to ask for it at his hands. A new heart will embrace the Lord Jesus, and lead to a new course of life; and a new course of life flowing from faith in Jesus, will make a happy new year; and that every reader of "The Appeal” may enjoy such a year in 1852, is the sincere and hearty prayer of one who longs and is willing to labour for the salvation and happiness of the working classes, and therefore wrote these lines. Shrewsbury.

JAMES SMITH.

THE SABBATHS OF 1851; HOW HAVE THEY
BEEN SPENT?

Another year has closed upon us. In that year fifty-two Sabbaths have been numbered! And these Sabbaths are, by the appointment of a compassionate God, for wise and gracious purposes of love to his creatures; not only to be used as a cessation from worldly cares and labours, for the relief of the bodily powers, but as a rest to the mind, wherein the soul may enjoy a nearness of access to the Author of its existence. They are the christian's preparation-days to fit his soul for that "heavenly rest which remaineth for the people of God;" sweet foretastes of that Sabbath that shall know no termination, when ceaseless songs of joy shall for ever ascend from an innumerable company of redeemed spirits to the Lamb who was slain and liveth again. Dear reader, seriously apply this question to your heart, How have my Sabbaths been spent? Make a faithful review of each one of these fifty-two Sabbaths. Let not one escape your search: review them singly and alone. Scrutinize your actions, your spirit. Where have been your Sabbath resorts? What object has chiefly engrossed your attention on these days? What company have they been devoted to? Have you reason to believe any one of these Sabbath-days will rise up in the judgment against you, to condemn you for your misimprovement thereof? Pause! reflect!

Have your Sabbath hours been abused? If so, what a fearful account will you have to render to the Lord of the Sabbath. Oh, those mispent days! What would you not give for them on a dying bed! How will the remembrance of them augment your woe when shut up in the land of darkness! They were given to you as a rest from the toil of life, to remind you of that other world to which you are going, and to enable you to prepare for the scenes which eternity will open upon your vision. But you have spent them in indolence, or pleasure, or vice. Seldom have you thought in them of God and eternity. Scarcely even has worship gone up from your lips or your heart to the Creator of the Universe. And, during the year which

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has just closed, fifty-two of these opportunities have passed by you. Their record is in the book of remembrance, which will be opened at the judgment-day. They cannot be recalled. They are gone. Dear reader, fifty-two Sabbaths may never again be yours. one of these days in the new year may be your last. What, if the next should be your last! It is difficult to persuade men, or to make them think, that death is approaching to them. They are willing to believe it in regard to others, but they act as though they were immortal. But, reader, you must die. The last enemy will come to you. The hour of the final struggle will come to you. The last word will be spoken to you. The coffin and the grave will be opened for you. God alone knows whether before 1852 has closed, your body will not be mouldering in the dust, and your name be carved on the stone in the grave-yard. Oh, pause, reflect, pray. "Now is the accepted time: Now is the day of salvation." Be careful how you commence, continue, and end, the first Sabbath of the new year. Let it be a season of importunity and earnest wrestling with God in prayer, that you may be taught fully to value, above every day, the Sabbath of the Lord your God. And may each successive one, as it closes upon you, bear witness that you have been with Jesus,—that the growth of grace in your soul has been promoted,—and that thus you are meetening for the inheritance of the saints in light.

REST FOR THE WEARY.

Does the gospel word proclaim

Rest for those that weary be?
Then, my soul, put in thy claim-
Sure that promise speaks to thee:
Marks of grace I cannot show;
All polluted is my best;

But I weary am, I know,

And the weary long for rest.

Burdened with a load of sin,

Harassed with tormenting doubt,

Hourly conflicts from within,
Hourly crosses from without;
All my little strength is gone,
Sink I must without supply;
Sure upon the earth is none

Can more weary be than I.

In the ark the weary dove

Found a welcome resting-place;
Thus my spirit longs to prove

Rest in Christ the Ark of grace:
Tempest-tossed I long have been,
And the flood increases fast;
Open, Lord, and take me in,

Till the storm be overpast!

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