During the past year repeated notices have been bestowed on our work by all the Calcutta Journals. These notices have, on the whole, been of a very friendly nature, and we cannot but feel grateful to those Editors who have spontaneously proffered such favourable testimonies. Differences of opinion there have arisen ; and, from the constitution of the human mind, and the nature of the subjects discussed, might perhaps have been expected to arise. Still we are happy to add, that in no instance could we trace any thing like a marked hostility to the general object of our undertaking rather, quite the reverse. This circumstance affords ample room for encouragement. Our own endeavour must naturally be to furnish as little ground for collision as possible. And should any diversity of sentiment occur in future, we doubt not that a candid and honourable feeling will predominate, so as to characterize all objections as those of a friendly censor. It is with peculiar satisfaction we have to record the fact that, in the course of the last twelvemonth, there has been an increase of nearly a hundred in our Subscription list. We view this pleasing fact as a certain indication, that our labours meet with the cordial approval of a large proportion of our religious communityand that, however humble, they may not be wholly unattended with beneficial effects. One of the consequences that has already followed such extensive support we must be excused for particularly specializing. By a reference to the cover of the Observer, it will be seen, that "the profits arising from the sale of the publication are to be devoted to the Calcutta Christian Tract and Book Society." About half a year ago, the Proprietors had the pleasure of presenting this excellent Society with a donation of 150 Rupees. And it is clear, that the more the catalogue of Subscribers swells in number, the greater will be the amount of profits disposable for the purpose above-mentioned. Now, this purpose we hold to be not only unexceptionable, but incontrovertibly good. The utility of judiciously written tracts has been so often demonstrated by argument and fact, that it were a work of supererogation to say one word on the subject. And the Calcutta Tract Society, from its Catholicity, has more than ordinary claims on the attention of all who are interested in the propagation of Christian truth among neglected Europeans, and especially the dense mass of Heathen around us. It is composed of members from all denominations of Christians: it extends its salutary influence to all: and all experience its powerful aid in conducting their various philanthropic operations. In addition, therefore, to any personal benefit which readers may derive from the perusal of our work, it must also be a source of pure delight to them, that they are at one and the same time advancing the interests of a Society, so well entitled to the support of a benevolent public. And no new Subscriber can fail to participate in this pleasurable feeling, when he is assured, that he is henceforward contributing so much to the support of a cause, which may make him actually, though unknowingly, instrumental in converting souls to God. It is needless to dwell any longer on miscellaneous topics. We hasten, therefore, in conclusion to offer a few remarks on a subject of paramount importance. Since we last addressed our readers, another year has rolled over our heads. During that period, some have been "gathered to their fathers ;" and those who survive now enter an another year of their being. To you who still remain, through God's loving-kindness and long-suffering grace, we make our appeal. What, think you, is the practical lesson to be deduced from the fleeting nature of time, coupled with the dreadful uncertainty of life? Is it not that all should give special heed to the Apostle's emphatic exhortation, to "redeem the time,”—and to the divine Redeemer's impressive warning, "to watch and be ready?" All men, by their transgression of God's Holy Law, have forfeited life and immortality. Why then are they permitted "to live, and move, and have a being?" Simply and solely because the Lord of glory, out of boundless compassion, did shed his precious blood to purchase for them a short season of probation, during which they may return to God, and, through the merits of the Redeemer's sacrifice, be received into the number of the blessed. Do ye therefore watch and pray and redeem your time, in accomplishing the purposes of your high destiny? If so; happy are ye in the enjoyment of God's favour now, and happy in the prospect of enjoying it, in the blissful region, where there is no sin or sorrow for evermore. But, alas! how few are found giving earnest attention to the solemn admonitions of our Saviour and his Apostles? How do multitudes shew forth their gratitude for a boon secured to them at a price so inestimable as "the precious blood of Christ ?" Do not some, by the whole tenor of their life and conduct, in effect, loudly proclaim;-Thou, O Lord, hast given us time to be redeemed, in making confession of sin, and pleading for pardon at a throne of grace; but we wish rather to spend it in careless indifference and giddy frivolities ;-pray have us excused: others, Thou hast given time to be redeemed, in applying the blood of sprinkling to cleanse and purify a guilty conscience; but we wish rather to spend it in proving, by the continued impurity of a carnal nature, that the blood of the Saviour was shed in vain; pray have us excused? Some, Thou hast given us time to be redeemed, in making our peace with God, and accepting of the offers of reconciliation and love; but we wish rather to spend it in reckless defiance of the sanctions of a righteous law, and so widen the breach that already subsists, and add to the number of God's enemies ;pray have us excused: others, thou hast given us time to be redeemed, in cultivating the graces which naturally flow from faith, and adorn pardoned, and purified, and reconciled souls; but we wish rather to spend it, in converting our souls into nests of all the loathsome deformities of sin;-pray have us excused? Some, Thou hast given us time to be redeemed, in searching into the counsels of heaven, and admiring the plans of infinite love; but we wish rather to spend it, in prying into the affairs of men, and studying the contrivances of human wisdom;—pray have us excused: others, thou hast given us time to be redeemed, in maintaining "a good warfare" against the principalities and the powers of darkness, and the domineering maxims, habits, and principles of an ungodly world; but we wish rather to spend it in contests for earthly power, office, and dignity, and in converting the maxims, habits, and principles of a corrupt nature into so many engines for the accomplishment of our various schemes;-pray have us excused? Some, Thou hast given us time to be redeemed, in securing a name that shall be honoured of God and of angels, and flourish for ever in the book of thy remembrance; but we wish rather to spend it in gaining a name that shall be cherished by men for a few short years, and then sink for ever into the obscurity of oblivion ;-pray have us excused: others, thou hast given us time to be redeemed -days of rest-precious sabbaths-in order to enjoy sweet antepasts of bliss, and lay up treasures in heaven, which are affected by no change, and unassailed by storm or tempest; but we wish rather to spend it in scenes of gaiety, and in amassing treasures on earth, which may vanish in a day, or perish with our children, or finally be consumed in the universal conflagration ;-pray have us excused? And now, oh reader, whosoever thou art, to whose character and conduct, part or the whole of the preceding delineations may with truth be applied, bear with us, when we address to you a word of affectionate expostulation. What! if a righteous God take you at your word, and allow your excuse? What! if he declare in your case, as in that of wicked and forsaken Ephraim :-" Ephraim is given to idols, let him alone?" Then, like souls forlorn and deserted of God, may you sleep on, and nothing may effectually arouse you from spiritual slumber. The morning may dawn and the shadows of the evening close in changeless succession, and leave you undisturbed. The meeting of pious friends, or the return of religious solemnities, may for a season arrest your attention, but fail to awaken you. The fleeting remembrance of the past, or the occasional pang of an unpacified conscience may cause some uneasiness, but fail to awaken you. The loud and faithful warnings of the ministers of Christ, or the pressing earnestness of their entreaties, may produce a momentary seriousness, but fail to awaken you. Death may break in upon your dwelling, and snatch away the flower or prop of your family-and as ye bid a long adieu to the clay-cold remains of the object of fondest affection, or consign them to the cheerless prison of the grave, to moulder into corruption with the ashes of former generations,-Oh, then may your heart be ready to break for want of utterance—and nature may dissolve itself into floods of tears-and for a time the world may fade from the view, and all created objects be pronounced "vanity and vexation of spirit:" -but even a visitation so appalling and so painful may fail permanently to waken you-and you may go on slumbering till the "king of terrors" seize you in his iron grasp;-and hurry you to the judgment seat-where, for the first time, you may be awakened from the dream of carnal security:—and awake you shall ever remain to a sense of your present guilt and folly, while the fiery billows of God's righteous vengeance continue to roll over you, without intermission, giving no rest, day nor night, to all eternity. Come now, thou hitherto infatuated reader, and rejoice with us, yea, sing aloud for joy. What! may you naturally exclaim: What! sing aloud for joy, because I may be abandoned of God, and the victim of never-ending torments? Oh, no, dear reader :—but because you are yet on earth, in the land of the living, and in the place of hope. Remember, oh, remember the joyful assurance, that : "As long as life its term extends, Awake then, ye that slumber, and redeem precious time, by returning to "the stronghold as prisoners of hope." Arise, make haste, and redeem the present moment, by fleeing for your life into the refuge set before you in the Gospel. "Behold now is the accepted time; now is the day of your salvation." Now, even now, is the compassionate Redeemer entreating you: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest:" "Whosoever cometh, I will in no wise cast him out:"Yea, "whosoever will," let him come now, and take of the water of life freely," "without money and without price." II. On the Fulfilment of Scripture Prophecy. "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."-Rev. xix. 10. This passage of Scripture appears on the first reading to be somewhat ambiguous, and the truth which it is intended to convey is not immediately perceived. The veil however is speedily removed on comparing it with other passages of a similar character. These may be considered as the key to its true interpretation, and it is by these means that the light shines forth from obscurity, and we are put into possession of the spiritual treasures which it unfolds. The apostle Peter informs us, that to him, that is, to Jesus Christ, as the anointed of the Lord and the Saviour of the world, "give all the prophets witness;" and the sentiment which is contained in these words is evidently in correct keeping with, and may be taken as expressing the general sense of the passage above; and the two, if taken together, furnish us with a beautiful epitome of the true nature, the great object, and the principal design of Scripture prophecy. They teach us that the whole of the inspired predictions have in some sense or other a bearing upon the person, character, and work of the Redeemer, and are intended in their practical influence to bring us, as the subjects of his moral government, in the spirit of penitence and faith, to the foot of His cross. It does not however appear that the sense of either of these passages is to be |