yielded to the temptation, and thus involved themselves, and all their posterity, in guilt and misery. "By one man, sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Since that period many generations have passed away by death into the invisible world, and many generations have come, but the earth abideth, or standeth, for ever.

Many changes there have been made on the face of the earth, and especially that great change effected by the flood, which swept away both the passing and coming generations at once, except one family, from which a new world of human beings was to arise. But this earth,—with all the elements of which it is composed-keeps its place in our solar system, performing its diurnal and annual revolutions, entirely unaffected by any thing which has appeared on its surface. "One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever."

It may not be improper to premise, before we proceed further, that, within the bounds of the passing generation, we include all those who have reached the meridian, and are in the decline of life. And, within the bounds of the coming generation, we include infancy, childhood, youth, in short, all who have not arrived at manhood.

1. In surveying both generations, we remark, that all the coming generation does not arrive at the meridian of life.

Many there are "whose sun goes down while it is yet day." By far the greater part of the human race die before they attain the years of maturity. Many infants have no sooner opened their eyes to the light, than they have been closed in the darkness of death. Many parents have seen the desire of their eyes taken away with stroke; and that stroke often sudden and unexpected. Many sisters, in the flower of their age, have lamented the loss of brothers younger than themselves; and brothers, in their growing strength, have lamented the loss of sisters, who were so entwined around each other's hearts, as to make the pang of separation to be long and severely felt. How often have we seen the bloom and vivacity of youth giving way to the paleness and languor of disease, and all the fair and flattering hopes they were cherishing, with respect to a present world, blasted for ever. They painted in their glowing fancy, how rich, and honourable, and happy, they would be, when they should arrive at manhood, the ease and dignity they would enjoy to support and to cheer them in the decline of life;-but this fine prospect existed in their imagination only, for they were cut off before it could be realized. So true is it, that all the coming generation does not arrive at the meridian of life.

It is equally true, that all the passing generation does not arrive at extreme old age. We regard the passing generation (as we have premised), to be such as have reached the meridian, and are in the decline of life. As the young are naturally disposed to presume on the continuance of life, and to anticipate many long years to come; even the aged are not strangers to the influence of a similar feeling. It is not rarely that they are apt to say to themselves, "Since we have seen so many years, shall we not see a few more? Since we have lived so long, shall we not live a little longer?" Too many indulge the thought,

NO, XII, VOL. III.

3 Y

that since they have survived the diseases incident to infancy, childhood, and youth, and with a vigorous consitution and a flow of spirits, have arrived at manhood, death will still be from them a considerable distance. But how few are there of the passing generation who arrive at extreme old age, at seventy, eighty, ninety, or a hundred years, there is only one here, and one there, like a stump in the midst of a forest, a stump, withered and peeled, showing what time can do.

2. In surveying the passing and coming generations of mankind, we remark, that there are as many of each class preserved by God, in their day, as he sees meet, and deems sufficient, through their instrumentality, to fulfil his purposes of providence and of grace.

The material universe the Almighty has formed, is according to a plan of his own devising, in order to make it a theatre for the display of his glory. For aught we know, this earth on which we dwell, is, if not the only, at least the principal place destined for God's working out his own purposes, both in his providence and in his grace. And we clearly see that, amidst all the alarming displays of his justice, truth, and holiness, there is a wonderful manifestation of his goodness, long-suffering, and forbearance. Although he has often cast off some who rebelled against him, cast off many, yet he never has cast off all. God has not, in any age or generation, left himself without a witness, or a few witnesses, to his benignant character, to his wondrous works, to his righteous cause. When a whole world was, on account of their great wickedness, overwhelmed with a deluge, there were Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and others of his family, preserved. When Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities of the plain, were to be consumed by fire and brimstone from heaven, there was Abraham fervently and importunately pleading with God in their behalf; and there was Lot, "whose righteous soul was vexed, from day to day, with the filthy conversation, and unlawful deeds of the wicked." "And time would fail me to tell" of Moses and Aaron, and Joshua, and David, and Solomon, and all the messengers of God, who wrought for him in the accomplishment of his purposes, both towards his own peculiar people, and their implacable enemies. And it is one of the mysteries of providence, which we pretend not to unravel, that God sometimes works out his own purposes, by permitting the criminal conduct of his apostate creatures, and so overruling it as to make the wrath of man and of devils to praise him, and restraining the remainder of their wrath.

Jehovah raised up of old, in succession, prophets, priests, and kings, who were to act in their respective spheres during the four great monarchies which preceded the fulness of the time when "God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, and made under the law," to fulfil the predictions, and to realise the types which went before concerning him. O! What am important eventful era was that of our Saviour's first appearance! Earth never had, and never will have, such an inhabitant ; and time, 66 as he holds on his ceaseless course," never had, and never will have, such an improver of his movements. Whatever Jesus taught, and did, and suffered, was altogether unparalleled. He finished the work given him to do, to the entire satisfaction of his Father, the omniscient, the impartial Judge, who raised him up from the dead,

and gave him glory. After his resurrection, he gave commission unto his apostles, 66 to go into all the world, and to preach the gospel to every creature." The first preachers of christianity performed their work, in their generation, faithfully and fearlessly, amidst all the fierce and cruel persecution they had to endure, and their labours were crowned with wonderful success. After the apostolic age, pastors and teachers, and other office-bearers, were ordained to carry forward the work which had been so auspiciously begun; and, if it had travelled with the speed of its first years, long before this time it would have been spread over the world. But, alas! among other impediments which came in the way of its progress, this was none of the least, the linking of the church to the state. The consequence was, the dark ages came on, when the idolatry, the superstition, and tyranny of the man of sin, the son of perdition, prevailed over the truth, the purity, the liberty, and the love of primitive Christianity. This was a long and dreary night, but not altogether without a ray of truth and of hope. A light which had been faint, and unknown to public view, at length gathered strength, and burst forth on a benighted world, when Luther attracted attention, as the leading star of the Reformation. Calvin, Knox, and other men of renown, afterwards appeared, who were honoured to be signal instruments in the hand of Him whose "kingdom is not of this world," in delivering it, in no inconsiderable degree, from the bondage in which it was long held. Although the reformer of Germany was by many years the senior of both the reformer of Geneva, and the reformer of Scotland, yet they were men of one generation. What a bright constellation amid the surrounding gloom! What a splendid dawn of the coming day! And, when we consider they were newly awakened to see the gross and destructive errors of popery, it is not a little surprising they were so far advanced in the knowledge "of the truth as it is in Jesus," and so determined to defend it in spite of the most formidable opposition. They were men "who had the fear of God, and no fear beside." Having done their work, in their day, and having finished their course, they have left behind them an example worthy of our imitation, and richly deserve the gratitude of all succeeding generations.

3. In surveying the passing and the coming generation of mankind, we remark, that both are going to a place whence they shall never return. Having finished their course here, they shall never come back to repeat it, but altogether a new race shall arise in their room. When once we leave this world, we leave it for ever. We exchange time for eternity. Oh, what an awful, absorbing thought! It is appointed for all men once to die, and after death the judgment, and after the judgment a never-ending existence of happiness or of misery. Now is the period of labour; hereafter is the period of recompense. Now is the time of trial; hereafter is the time of retribution. Now is the season of sowing, hereafter is the season of reaping. "And be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Of what infinite importance, then, must it be, to improve time in the view of eternity. For, after we are removed from the present scene, there is no returning to commence life anew-no

returning to the infancy of our being-no more trials of our faith or of our patience-no new course of obedience proposed to us; for the righteous shall receive a crown of glory which fadeth not away, and the wicked "shall go away into everlasting punishment."

In the future world there is no change of state, of character, or condition; for between the regions of everlasting happiness and the confines of everlasting misery, there is a great, an impassable gulf fixed; and the declaration of the Faithful Witness shall then be realized,—“ He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still." Oh! let us never forget, that when a few years at most are come, with respect to the present generation, they must go the way whence they shall not return; and that the place which knows them now shall in a little while know them again no more. Let us work the works of "Him who sent us into this world, while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work." And "whatsoever our hands find to do, let us do it with our might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither we go." Let it be our sincere and earnest prayer, that we may prove ourselves to be such as Christ will acknowledge as his own, for they shall receive at last his approbation before an assembled universe. With what inconceivable delight will they be filled when he thus addresses them," Well done, good and faithful servants, enter ye into the joy of your Lord."

4. In surveying the passing and coming generations of mankind, we remark, that every generation should improve on the one that has gone before, in all that is good, and especially in promoting the interests of religion and morality.

The present generation has made great and rapid advances in the sciences and in the arts. New planets-new worlds-have been discovered in the heavens, and new modes of cultivating the earth have been invented. New mechanical powers, or old powers applied to new purposes, by which there is a saving of time and labour; new facilities to commercial intercourse; a new impulse given to free trade among the nations; a growing liberality, and greater tendency to union among professing Christians,-may be reckoned among the improvements of the passing generation, by which preceding generations, in these respects, have been cast into the shade. But have equal improvements been made in religion and morality? The passing generation, no doubt, can look back and say, that they have witnessed the progress of missions in all quarters of the globe, to a much greater extent than our forefathers had seen; and in this department of christian charity more has been done, within the last fifty years, than what was done for centuries before. There is, however, still much to be done. An infidel and papal spirit has gone abroad, and is working zealously for the overthrow of that religion for which our protesting forefathers were ready to make every sacrifice but that of truth and of conscience; and if this spirit should spread and prevail according to the wish of some who breathe it, it is to be feared that the scenes of violent and cruel persecution which former generations have witnesed, would be renewed. But we hope better things of the age, though we thus speak. When

Episcopalians and Roman Catholics, however, seem so much inclined to draw together, and to unite their efforts against the one faith delivered unto the saints, it certainly becomes those who are friendly to "the Evangelical Alliance" to bind themselves together, not by an act of uniformity in all matters that may be proposed, but by the girdle of essential truth, and by the cords of brotherly love, thus forming a phalanx against the common enemy, which will prove invincible. And this marvellous movement, which the present generation has seen in its commencement, the coming generation will see in its progress; and they in their turn will help it forward; and generation after generation, rolling on to the end of time, shall have instruments raised up among them eminently qualified, in their appointed season, for that part of the work they were destined to perform. The glory of the Millennium will then shine forth in meridian splendour. How delightful to look forward to that period, "when the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be seven-fold as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound." Then the scene so beautifully described by the evangelical prophet shall be realised,"The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed, their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."

MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. ROBERT FORREST OF STAMFORD, UNITED STATES.*

THE announcement contained in our last number of the decease of this venerable father in the ministry has awakened, we have no doubt, sorrow in many hearts. It brought, in our own case, to our remembrance the pleasant scenes of by-gone years, with which he was connected; it carried us back to the days-happy ones they were-when we were permitted to enjoy communion with him in the quiet parsonage of Stamford, where he so long dwelt, amid the books which he had gathered around him, and which he loved so well. We now sit down with a sort of melancholy pleasure to prepare a brief memoir of the venerable friend and father who has ceased from his earthly labours, and, we doubt not, now "sleeps in Jesus."

Mr Forrest was born at Dunbar, Scotland, of parents of great respectability, about the year 1768. He was brought up under the ministry of the Rev. John Henderson of the Burgher Secession church, and the author of an excellent little work, entitled "The Legal Temper

*From the American Christian Instructor for May 1846.