does, and demand not of it impossibilities or miracles. Bring your mind to the conclusion that there are woes which it cannot fully relieve, burdens which it cannot lift away from off your spirit, occasions when it must leave you comparatively alone, and when you must be made aware of its insufficiency, and aware of the need of something else, something mightier, something holier, for support and consolation."

There is also an intrinsic dignity in independence of human sympathy. Does not a person who is continually throwing himself upon the sympathies even of his friend, wear out those sympathies? As has been well said "There is an aspect of mendicancy in his conduct which is felt to be troublesome, and which rather repels than secures the best regards of friendship and offices of charity. Whereas, a person who is careful not to intrude his sorrows on the attention of others, is respected for his manliness, and loved for his good sense and forbearance, and fully gains the sympathy for which he does not beg. Sympathies flow in upon such a man in free tides from all affectionate hearts.. One powerful consideration, therefore, for the cultivation of independence on human sympathy is, that the best sympathy is finally given to independence. A bright example of this truth is the once deserted Saviour. What a crowd of sympathies, what a countless pilgrimage of affections now flock about Him on that loneliest spot in His own life, where He was betrayed, denied, and forsaken of men. All the sympathy which has been rendered to all the greatest and wisest of our race, is not to be mentioned in comparison with that unreckoned and inconceivable amount which goes forth, from age to age, and hangs round the image of the despised and crucified,-of Him who, in the garden of Gethsemane, in the hall of Pilate, on Calvary, was left alone, and yet was not alone, because the Father was with Him."

If we desire to know how this independence of human sympathy is to be acquired, we have but to turn to the example of our Lord, and refer to the words of our text. Jesus, though left alone, was not alone, because the Father was with Him. Like Him, we need not sink in the time of desertion, we too may be upheld of God. Like Him, we can spare the company, and

pardon the defection of friends, because we also can resort to the all-sufficient Source of love, and light, and mercy.

"Man's wisdom is to seek

His strength in God alone;

And even an angel would be weak,
Who trusted in his own."

There is a proud and hard self-confidence which will, apparently, bear a man up through much tribulation. There is, however, no comfort, no relief, no refreshment, in such endurance. The real and consoling strength can only come from above; can only be given from God; can only be imparted by the conviction that God is present, that He hears, sees, sympathizes, and will reward. The want, the defects, the insufficiency of human sympathy, are only to be remedied by an abiding sense of the fulness and perfection of that love and care with which the Father watches over His children. Assured of His nearness, as was Jesus, then the desertion and isolation of human sympathy will not crush Whatever our loneliness, whatever our sorrow, in whatever way we may be disappointed or forsaken, a practical faith that the all-Father is near us fills up the void, and surrounds us with an eternal sympathy.

us.

"Who is alone, if God be nigh?

Who shall repine at loss of friends,
While he has One of boundless power,
Whose constant kindness never ends;
Whose presence felt enhances joy,

Whose love can stop the flowing tear,
And cause upon the darkest cloud

The pledge of mercy to appear?"

Withdraw not from men, but draw nearer unto God. Repel not human sympathies, however imperfect and inadequate they may be; but above all cultivate those sentiments which render the presence of God a reality to your spirit. Then the seeming chilliness and insufficiency of human sympathy will cease to

afflict, because there is enjoyed the sufficiency of God. Then there will be communion and sympathy with Jesus Christ, who loved all men most deeply at that very hour when He was forsaken of all men, and who, when forsaken and alone, yet was not alone, because the Father was with Him.

DARLINGTON.

FRED. A. CHARLES.

The Old and the New Year.

“HE THANKED GOD, AND TOOK COURAGE.”—Acts xxviii. 15.

As the outcome of his appeal to Cæsar, Paul was sent by Agrippa to Rome. On his way from Cæsarea to Italy, he encountered many dangers, especially in the Mediterranean Sea, where he was shipwrecked, but, by the mercy of God, was brought safe to land. For three months he enjoyed the hospitality of the people of Melita, then departed in a ship of Alexandria, and proceeded towards Rome. At Appii Forum, and the Three Taverns, Paul met several brethren who had heard of his coming; they came to see him, about whom they had heard so much, and to cheer him with their society and sympathy. The companionship Paul had on his journey, till now, had not been the most congenial; for he had travelled with "certain other prisoners," guarded by a band of soldiers. Doubtless, these brethren who met Paul, were permitted to speak to him, and as the great apostle heard of the success of the gospel in Rome, and the love of the brethren, he thanked God, who always caused them to triumph, and he took courage in face of the trying ordeal through which he was about to pass. He had longed to see Rome, the mighty capital of the ancient world, and, though a chained prisoner, with an escort of soldiers, he felt there were many kindred hearts beating lovingly towards him, and that his Great Master would stand by him as his Defender and Friend.

We cannot but admire the true and timely sympathy of the

brethren who met Paul, to cheer him on his way. It was thoughtful, heroic, unselfish, sincere, Christly. It was fully appreciated by the apostle, who was of a tender and sympathetic nature; and shown in circumstances when such sympathy would be peculiarly appropriate and acceptable. Like a conqueror, rather than a captive, Paul proceeded towards Rome, fearless of the face of man, for he had seen a vision of the Great King, and enjoyed the stimulus of Christian sympathy.

God-in His great mercy-has led us to see the beginning of a new year, we have been brought safely through innumerable dangers. He has surrounded us with many mercies, with kind and sympathetic friends; we go bound into the unkown path of the future, not knowing what a day may bring forth; but our times are in God's hands, the Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. The example of the apostle is worthy of our imitation, when at Appii Forum, "he thanked God, and took courage." The text indicates—

I. THE DEVOUT SPIRIT IN WHICH THE PAST SHOULD BE REVIEWED. He thanked God." Thankfulness is a duty we owe to God, for "in Him we live, and move, and have our being." As we review the year which has just closed, we are reminded of (a) Temporal mercies. Every day we were fed, clothed, enjoyed the blessings of friendships and home. The year was crowned with the goodness of the Lord, His mercies were new to us every morning, and repeated every night. During the busy hours of the day, and the silent watches of darkness, His unseen hand sustained us, and underneath us were the everlasting arms. (b) Spiritual supplies. Though our faith sometimes staggered, and was frequently clouded, yet it was not allowed to utterly fail; though our love was feeble and fitful, yet its flame was fanned with the breath of Heaven, its heat sustained by the power of God; though our hope sometimes almost sank into despair, yet it was constantly revived by fresh manifestations of our Master's face; of His fullness we constantly received, and grace for grace. (c) Victories achieved. Every day we had to encounter the uprisings of depravity within, attacks of temptation from without, yet we were enabled to successfully resist; no weapon formed against us has prospered,

we have come off" more than conquerors through Him who hath loved us." (d) Work accomplished. Imperfectly and unworthily as our tasks were performed, our duties discharged, yet God has not dismissed us from His service, nor despised our efforts. He has helped us to work and witness for Him, has given us more success than we have deserved, and to Him be all the glory for ever. We are also reminded of (e) Sins forgiven. In everything we have fallen short of the glory of God, our best works and holiest duties have been marred by sin. But for the pity, patience, and pardoning mercy of the Lord, we should have been consumed. "He hath not dealt with us after our sins, neither rewarded us according to our iniquities." Surely our hearts,—with such a retrospect, overflow with gratitude and joy. Unthankfulness is a heinous sin, evidence of hardness and coldness of heart; to be thankful, indicates an appreciation of the blessings received, as well as an acknowledgment of kindness on the part of the giver, and indebtedness on the part of the receiver.

"Let us, then, with gladsome mind,

Praise the Lord, for He is kind;
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure."

The text also indicates

II. THE HEROIC SPIRIT IN WHICH THE FUTURE MAY BE ANTICIPATED. "And took courage." There are many things calculated to discourage us as we endeavour to prosecute the work of the Lord, such as our consciousness of the feebleness of our powers; the magnitude, importance, and solemnity of our work; the malignity and multitude of our foes; the inveterateness of evil; the seeming slowness of the progress of truth; the brief and fleeting character of our lives, &c. But there is much to encourage us, to fill us with confident expectation, as we proceed into the untrodden pathway of the future, and address ourselves afresh to service for God. There are (a) Inspiring memories. Every mountain scaled, burden borne, enemy vanquished, victory won, is the earnest and pledge of further successes. (b) Christian sympathy. Paul had many brethren who felt for him in his