than many of my fellow-creatures have shared, and far, very far more so than what I myself formerly enjoyed. -These, however, have been infinitely small, in comparison of those I hope to partake of, when this frail and sinful body returns to its native dust, and the spirit, disencumbered of mortality, returns to God who gave it. Yet I bless the Lord for what I have enjoyed, and am not ashamed to draw the contrast between these and former days, and thus hold up to the vain and thoughtless reader another proof that his ways are not the ways of pleasantness, and his paths are not the paths of peace.

It is one gracious property in the divine government to produce good from evil, and on many occasions graciously to dispense this privilege to returning prodigals, who having left their kind parent's house, rejected his councils, spurned and cast away his bountiful provision, and scorned all his reproof, do at length, through grace, come to themselves, and arise and return with weeping and supplication to their much abused, but still compassionate, Father. Thus, in my own instance, foolish, perverse, and sinful as the greater number of my past days and actions have been, yet viewed in the retrospect, and compared with the present, they are not without their benefit. The more they are remembered and pondered over, the more they sink in my esteem and enhance the value of present privileges. For there is scarcely a wind can blow, or a storm arise there is scarcely an accident can now befall the limbs or lives of my neighbours-there are few complaints can seize their bodies, or delusions of hell infatuate their minds, but in each circumstance the retrospect presents similar,

and oftentimes more distressing, events, as having been witnessed in others, or deeply shared in by myself. Nor is there a comfort I now enjoy, either political, domestic, or spiritual, but, when viewed in contrast with its opposite and past evil, has a tendency to increase the value of what I now possess.-Thus, through infinite mercy, I have been taught to esteem as blessings, many things which otherwise might have been overlooked or despised. Having been made to feel adversity myself, I have been taught to compassionate others. From seeing and suffering much, I have imperceptibly acquired a degree of medical knowledge, which now enables me to attend the couches of the sick poor, and often successfully to prescribe to those who in our poor and remote parish would otherwise be forlorn indeed. Having previous to my entering the ministry been exercised in the school of opposition, envy, hatred, and malice, and having read man not only in books, but in the army, the navy, and various societies in different parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia, I have come to my present and most important labours with some share of useful knowledge, which has at least helped me forward and taught me to overcome difficulties that otherwise would have been insurmountable. And thus a gracious God on many occasions leads me to extract present good from past evil. As the changes and seasons of the year arrive, and pass away, and are succeeded by others, each in its turn points backward to its corresponding portion, and although unable to " cancel past follies," yet each speaks an audible and intelligible language, and says, be humble for the past;

be thankful for the present. This is certainly the case in the review of the last eight days,* and the recollection of similar past seasons. For when the retrospect glances at the Christmas seasons, at the old, and new year's days, which have marked a long succession of years, it can relate nothing of the greater part of them, but that they were spent in heathen indifference, and awful ignorance of the nature and attendant blessings connected with the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the duties and devotions in which, as men and professed Christians, we should employ our minds on the conclusion of one year and the commencement of another. They are distinguished from other days only as they were more prolific of folly, revelling, inconsideration, and sin. But in the great number which thus passed away, my mind has been much struck, and I hope humbled by the recollection of one in particular, which occurred during my first visit to the Mediterranean.

After our return from the campaign and conquest of Egypt we remained some weeks at Malta. Independent of the casualties of active warfare, the climate of the former country had swept multitudes into eternity, and enfeebled many of the survivors; nor did the air of Malta relieve, but rather prolong and increase, the evil in my own and other cases in our ship. Several of the crew were landed, and only a part ever returned. As for myself, although I continued on board, I was too

*This paper was first drawn up on the 2d of January, 1816; of course the eight days alluded to included Christmas-day, as well as the succeeding old and new year's days, as they are commonly termed.

much reduced to be able to keep the deck or to do any duty; and at the time our ship was ordered to sea, I considered myself in a confirmed consumption.

On the last day of November, just after the commencement of the rainy tempestuous season, we sailed with a party of troops for the Isle of Elba, a voyage (had the wind and weather proved favourable) of not more than four days; but which employed us five and twenty to complete. During this time we had to contend with incessant gales of wind, and a miserably old and leaky vessel. Such a change from heat to cold, and from rest to labour, (for our ship made from two to three feet water every hour,) exhausted our diminished and debilitated crew, and soon laid up the captain, both lieutenants, and master, leaving only myself, the gunner, and one midshipman* to take command of the deck.— But this laborious and trying passage, which transferred almost every name from the watch bill to the sick-list, was commissioned to produce an entirely different effect on myself. For in one week after quitting port, I was able to resume and continue my whole duty, by night and day, and from that period I enjoyed much better health than many of my comrades. At length, on the forenoon of Christmas-day, we reached our destination, and anchored in Porto Ferrajo. It was impossible, after such a voyage, not to enjoy the repose and comforts of a well sheltered harbour; nor would Christianity have refused that enjoyment, or forbidden us the comforts of a social dinner and a cheerful evening, so that we had

*The writer's rank at that time was master's mate.

still remembered and been thankful for the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, and for our deliverance from the toils and dangers of our uncomfortable voyage. But alas! not one of us had the least desire thus to commemorate the day. On the contrary, all the officers, whose health would admit, dined together, and passed the evening to a late hour, in loud and profane songs, hard drinking, and all that silly, loose, and unchristian conversation which never fails to accompany such parties. I certainly knew why this day had, from the early ages of the church, been set apart as a day of christian thankfulness; but I do not recollect that my heart felt the slightest degree of gratitude or love to God for the inestimable gift of his only begotten and dearly beloved Son. Nor did I once thank him for having "brought us to the haven where we would be." Such was my Christmas-day at Elba! It was what the world would call a jovial one, what some would even call a happy one.—It was what I then enjoyed; but my enjoyments were those of the sensualist and the brute, which left the body enfeebled by excess, and the mind dissatisfied with itself.

This day of unchristian hilarity was soon followed up by keeping the last day of the old year, and the first one of the new, in the usual manner-in revelling, banquetting, and excess; in stamping the broad seal of iniquity, rebellion, and spiritual madness on the conclusion of the one and on the commencement of the other; in filling up the measure of our own and each other's sins, and at the same time wishing each other a merry Christmas and a happy new year. What fools! what