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ODE ON THE NEW YEAR.
Reflections for any Year.

AGAIN the flight of Time I sing,
Time, who, with swift unwearied wing,
His annual circuit flies;
Thus measuring out the dates of all,-
Men and their works before him fall,
And other beings rise!

A year has pass'd, and with it borne
Vast crowds, while crowds are left

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Some dear departed friend.
A year begins; but who can know
If it shall bring him bliss or woe?
Or he shall see its end?
In this uncertain state of things,
True wisdom consolation brings

From the Eternal's throne!
Time's wide events his counsels plann'd;
The wheels are guided by his hand,
And roll his praise alone!

Ere men their final doom receive,
A little space,
-a short reprieve,

For penitence is giv'n: 'Tis ours the doubtfu! space t' improve; Lament the past; and onward move,

With future hope, to Heav'n.

A SONG ON THE OLD YEAR.

ETERNAL Being! mighty God!

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Beneath thy sway we bow,
Man is on earth a mould'ring clod,
The Infinite art thou!
With wond'ring eyes we backward look,
The dawn of time to trace,
And learn from thine unerring book,
The Author of our race.
Thy voice into existence spake

The goodly frame we see,
And all the forms thy creatures take
Were fashion'd first by Thee!
The shining sun, the silver moon,

The planets as they roll,
The shades of night, the blaze of noon,
And man's immortal soul!

The wat'ry tribes, the fowls of air,

The beasts which graze the mead, Thou dost for favour'd man prepare, And with thy Bounty feed! From Winter's frost, from blooming Spring,

From Summer's glowing sky, Thou dost the stores of Autumn brieg, And all our wants supply!

Nor thus alone thy love appears
To bless ungrateful man;
Thy grace a nobler fabric rears,
Thy mercy crowns the plan!
Lost sinners sav'd, and souls renew'd, !
Thy praises best proclaim;
Here, may thy brightest works be
view'd,

From year to year the same!

A PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR.

Lo! another Year begins,

Wrapp'd in Winter's deepest gloom,
Burthen'd with a nation's sins,
Dragging on a nation's doom.
Sov'reign on thy throne ou bigh,
Now thy suff'ring children hear!
Lay thy rod of vengeance by!
Spare us yet Another Year!

Long has War its thousands slain,
Making man his fellow's foe,
Squand'ring wealth and life in vain,
Trampling states and princes low.
Lord of Hosts, beneath, above,

Break the battle-axe and spear,
Turn the rancour into love,

Give us now a Peaceful Year!

While Destruction, Woe, and Death, Far and wide around us roam, Meagre Want, with wasted breath, Asks too oft for bread at home! Unexhausted Source of Good,

Baffle Avarice severe;

Bless the hungry poor with food;
Give us now a Plenteous Year!

Vice and Folly, through the land,
Riot in the face of day;
While the unbelieving band

Spurn thy truth and love away!
God of Pow'r, thy foes reclaim!-

Bring thy converts home sincere! Build thy temples, spread thy name! Send the great Sabbatic Year!

Time shall soon his race complete;

Nature's wheels shall cease to roll; Soon the Judge shall take his seat; Fix the doom of cv'ry soul! When the awful trump shall souud, With thy sheep may we appear, Welcome to the endless round Of a bless'd Eternal Year!

ALIQUIS.

TO MISS

With a Copy of Dr. Young's Sermon, entitled 'The African Stranger.»

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London.

Say, Mercy's feast is now prepar'd,
By many a dusky stranger shar'd,

From bonds and torture, all at
rest;

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That Peace presides that Friendship flows

That Joy in ev'ry bosom glows

And each, in blessing others, blest.
Now happier moons begin to rise,
And brighter hopes to gem the skies;
Lo! the sweet smile of Jesus'
face!

Salvation spreads her charms divine,
And everlasting glories shine

On injur'd Afric's honest race.
To glad the weary on their way,
To lead them to the gates of day,

Is noble aim! Angelic theme! Then speed the glowing chariot's wheel,

While millions rise for Afric's weal,-
For Afric's children's good supreme.
G.

ON A POOR CHRISTIAN WOMAN,

Who recently died of a Cancer.

Behold! on yonder bed, the silent clay !
Left by its tenant ere the break of morn;
Her spirit long'd to taste celestial day,
Securely hous'd from life's tempestuous storm.
While on she journied in this vale of tears,
Large was her portion of the cup of grief!
Pale, wan Disease had been her guest for years,
And cheerless Want, that often claim'd relief.
The healing art, which proves to others kind,
No balm could give to cure her hopeless case!
But Heav'n, who knew the sorrows of her mind,
Sent Resignation to supply the place.

Yet would her bosom sometimes rise with fear,
Lest she should faint upon the thorny road;
But Faith awaking, saw kind Help appear,

Sent by her Saviour from his bright abode.

Then would a smile break forth, though dimm'd by pain :
So shines the sun between a thick'ning gloom,

When blackening clouds are charg'd with fleecy rain,

Or hollow thunders mutter forth at noon.

But now, transplanted into fairer climes,

Her soul stands, blooming, near the throne of God;
With joy, reflecting on past wint ry times,
And mazy paths, in which she homeward trod.
Ye sons of wealth, ye strangers to distress,
Who often sigh amidst your stores profuse,
Behold the peace of those who Christ possess,
Though of life's comforts oft depriv'd the use!

Printed by G. AULD, Greville Street, London.

J. W.

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THE

EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE.

FEBRUARY, 1809.

MEMOIR

OF

THE LATE REV. JAMES SOMERVILLE,

OF BRANTON, IN THE COUNTY OF NORTHUMBERLAND.

THERE are many invaluable characters unknown to the world, and seldom mingling in the busy scenes around them, whose example and talents, though they do not illuminate the crowded city, or fascinate the gay metropolis, like suns of another system, spread their benign influence throughout the circle in which they live. Such shall, at the last, be owned as those who have turned many to righteousness, and shall shine as the stars for ever and ever. Such was the Subject of the following Memoir. Blest with piety, learning, and eloquence, which would have done honour to the most public station, it was his lot to spread abroad the Saviour's name in regions of comparative obscurity. Here, unknown to Fame, and without any object but the good of souls, he spent a life of labour, usefulness, and peace, testifying the truth of the gospel, and affording a bright example of the efficacy of divine grace on the minds of men.

Mr. Somerville was born at Pitmuir, in the parish of Lauder, and county of Merse, Scotland, in 1743, of poor but eminently pious parents, who taught him to read, and instructed him how to pray. Happily, he soon took very great delight in both these exercises. When six years of age, he was put to school with Mr. H. Wilson, of Netherhaughton: here he learned writing, &c. He learned Latin, and probably Greek, at the GrammarSchool of Lauder. Learning and books were his principal delight; and, tho' only a child, at this school he first manifested a strong inclination to become a preacher of the gospel. When but a boy, he made conscience of secret prayer; and conducted the worship of God in the family when his father was absent. He was admitted to the Lord's Supper when only 13 years of age: this he received not in a careless manner; but, sensible of the

XVII.

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