too, and self-conceit, we value them often as the fruits of our own schemings and calculations, and as proofs of our cleverness: we are flattered by our success, and, forgetting Him by whose aid alone our efforts succeeded, we glory simply in the result. But did we accept these blessings as free gifts of love from God, what comfort and peace they would bring with them. Their own intrinsic value would seem small to us in comparison of that providential care of which they are the tokens. A sense of our own unworthiness would at once effect this change, and reveal to us ourselves, and our brethren, as the objects of God's tenderest compassion. Every blessing would then be a pledge of that love that supports and sustains us even in our sins. And our very daily bread would be to us as a continual remembrance of our heavenly Father's never-ending and changeless affection. And thus, the more we become conscious of our unworthiness, the more God's blessings would increase in value. Instead of living in the spirit of proud, cheerless self-reliance, which must end in disappointment and misery, we should rejoice in the gifts which we possess, and look with confidence to the future, knowing that He who has cared for us hitherto, ever has His loving eye upon us, and directs every circumstance of our lives to our ultimate good. Our hearts would become calm, contented, and resigned; we should learn really to love God when we felt that He was the Giver of all that gladdens and cheers us, the very fountain

and source of all grace and joy. We should long to render thanks to Him to whom we owe so much, to pay Him the glad homage of the lips; and thus, beginning with words of thanksgiving, we should end in blessing and praise.

And remember, my brethren, by cultivating such a frame of mind we shall be fitting ourselves for the performance of our highest duty as Christians. To praise God is our highest duty, our highest privilege. We pray, because we are sinners, and need God's pardon and assistance; it is an outward acknowledgment of our sinfulness and helplessness, of our fall from the estate of blessedness and innocence in which we were created. But praise is angels' work; it belongs to those who stand around the throne of God, it is the privilege of those who are perfect, and enjoying the love and fellowship of Almighty God. And we, their brethren on earth, because through Christ we have been raised up to heaven, and through Him are enabled to cultivate the dispositions belonging to the inhabitants of heaven, are permitted also to take our part in that privilege. Here on earth we join the unseen choirs of angels on high, in singing to the praise and glory of God, that we may be fit and prepared to sing His praises before His throne hereafter. Prayer, then, will have an end, when this life of endless wants and infirmities comes to an end; but the praises of God, which are even now sung in poor and feeble strains, shall never cease to be heard,

and death shall only summon us to join in songs more pure and perfect, and, with the multitude of the heavenly host, to sing eternal Hallelujahs to Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

Such, then, are two of the most important sources of that spirit of praise which breathes throughout so many of the Psalms. And it is our deficiency in these points that has made us so dead to its influence. And yet, surely at this time, if ever, those feelings which engender that spirit, should be uppermost in our minds. Our standing, as we do this day, upon the border of two years, both that which is gone from us, and that on which we are entering, calls on us to reflect on our condition as God's creatures, depending on His love and compassion. Such great divisions of our life are doubtless intended as remembrances of Him who has ordered that days, and nights, and seasons should follow each other in an appointed order.

We cannot, whether we would or no, divest our minds of thoughts of the past and the future; thoughts which involuntarily lead us up to Him who is the Author of every good and perfect gift. And most surely such thoughts must be of an humbling and chastening character. As we think of the past year, with all its sins and follies, our time wasted, our opportunities neglected and unimproved, our hearts so little removed from earthly joys, surely we cannot but be conscious of our unworthiness in

God's sight; we cannot but feel that we have tried God's loving mercy and forbearance to the uttermost. Our sins quickly pass away from our recollection; whatever they may be, we forget them readily; events crowd so thickly upon us that they seem to hide each other. But such seasons as these make us halt for a moment in our course, and thrust us back upon the past. They remind us that life, although made up of minutes, and hours, and days, and years, with separate thoughts and actions filling in each, is yet but one undivided whole; that every portion of it has an influence on the rest, and that sins and follies, which may seem trifling, and are easily forgotten as separate acts, need, when gathered together in the long and fearful reckoning, no slight repentance and self-abasement. Such thoughts must make us conscious of our unworthiness. And upon that comes the thought of the many blessings, which, in spite of our sins, have not been withheld from us; of the mercies with which God has crowned our days, the evils He has turned aside, the perils through which He has brought us safely.

Thus, at this time, I say, if ever, our hearts should be attuned to the strain of praise and thanksgiving. Now that reflection on our past lives, the remembrance of sins committed, of blessings bestowed, and life still preserved, has made us conscious of our unworthiness in God's sight, and our entire dependence on His mercy;-now, if ever, without unreality, we may find expression for our feelings in

that most beautiful of the Psalms, the 103rd, which, like a still, clear brook, pours forth the strain of praise and blessing: "Praise the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me praise His holy Name. Praise the Lord, O my soul: and forget not all His benefits; who forgiveth all thy sin: and healeth all thine infirmities; who saveth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things: making thee young and lusty as an eagle. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: longsuffering, and of great goodness. He will not alway be chiding neither keepeth He His anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins: nor rewarded us according to our wickednesses. For look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth: so great is His mercy also toward them that fear Him. Look how wide also the east is from the west: so far hath He set our sins from us. Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children: even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear Him. For He knoweth whereof we are made: He remembereth that we are but dust. O praise the Lord, ye angels of His, ye that excel in strength: ye that fulfil His commandment, and hearken unto the voice of His words. O praise the Lord, all ye his hosts: ye servants of His that do His pleasure. O speak good of the Lord, all ye works of His, in all places of His dominion: praise thou the Lord, O my soul."