their own fear, and reason, and which their weariness redeems | ing their humanity, and baffling from converse with brutes, in making themselves such, by drinking away the little residue of wit and reason they have left; mixing with this gentle exercise their impure and scurrilous drolleries, that they may befriend one another with the kind occasion of proving themselves to be yet of the human race, by the only demonstration remaining, that they can laugh -Others born to trouble the world, to disquiet the neighbor-pect, as people who bore much hood, and to be the common plague of all about them, at least if they have any within their reach who value not their souls at so cheap a rate as they do—Others made to blaspheme their Maker, to rend the sacred name of God, and make proof of their high valour, and the gallantry of their brave spirits, by bidding defiance to heaven, and proclaiming their heroic contempt of the Deity and of all religion; as if they had persuaded themselves into an opinjon, that because they had so prosperous success in conquer sway in their country, and could number so many hundreds or thousands a year; and that, at least, the infernal flames will never presume to touch so worthy personages, and that devils will be awed by, their greatness, and fear to seize them, lest they should take it as an affront." This is exactly what we might suppose to be the inward sentiments of many, were we to judge by their teraper and conduct. How differ ent from those of the real Christian! Donations to the Connecticut Missionary Society. 1804, Nov. 20. From Rev. O. Wetmore, contributed in new settlements, $11 34 A REVIEW of times past, and ourselves and others. A sericontemplations on future pros-ous attention to these words of pects, humbly attempted for general instruction, and to excite pious meditations, &c. or, the Editors' NEW-YEAR'S GIFT, to their generous read era. (Cont. from Vol. IV. p. 250.) N a review of times we shall Inde viver of we the apostle, Who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive?* might be highly beneficial in religiously recounting these differences, and the various events of the yearMight it not teach us much of ourselves, much of God and of The words import that there are great differences among the creatures of God: that he maketh those differences; and that they have nothing but what they have received from him. They also import that this ought to be matter of serious contemplation. God hath made an innumerable variety of creatures. Among them there is a gradation from the most glorious angel, who sings nearest to the throne of his Creator, to the worm upon the earth, and the atom which floats in the air. Among angels there are differences. Some are denominated thrones, others dominions, prin new and surprising events.We shall witness admirable, and to us unaccountable differences made between kingdom and kingdom, between the inhabitants of one country and another, between churches, families and individuals. We shall witness differences with respect to birth, education, natural and moral endowments, with respect to acquirements of every kind, with respect to health of countenance, length of days, civil and religious liberties, and with respect to all personal, domestic and public opportunities, advantages and enjoyments. We shall find them in every place; we shall see them every year and almost ev-cipalities and powers. Next to ery day, among our neighbors, in our own families, and between VOL. V. No. 7. * 1 Cor. iv. 7. angels are men, who, though | babes may say our eyes never far below them, yet possess no- saw a parent, the knees of our ble powers, and are fearfully and mother never supported us, her wonderfully made. paps never gave us suck. OthBelow man, for his use anders enjoy kind parents to nurse convenience, are the beasts of and educate them, to form them the earth, the fowls of heaven, to piety and usefulness, and to the fish of the sea, and every leave them an inheritance. Some living thing. In the vegetable and are born to wealth, honor and inanimate creation, are trees public usefulness, others to povplants, herbs, fruits and grass in erty, obscurity, laborious and immense and pleasing variety: hard living. Multitudes are enSun, moon, stars, earth, seas, slaved, bought and sold like lakes, rivers, streams and foun- beasts of burden, always op tains of water; mines, minerals, pressed, and live and die in crugolden sands, and every thing el bondage. Others enjoy the nutricious, healing, convenient, amplest freedom. Some have and useful to man. These won- their existence in barren and underfully increase and aggran-healthful countries, in burning dize this variety; and display, the greatness, sovereignty, wisdom, power and goodness of the Creator. sands or frozen regions; others in a land, like Canaan, flowing with milk and honey. To some their lot is appointed in times and countries of the grossest ignorance, where they never With respect to man, he is constituted Lord of this lower creation, and all things are sub-heard or thought of a Creator or ordinated to his use and convenience. Redeemer, and perish for lack of vision. To others the lines have fallen in pleasant places, and in the most favorable periods of time; in Immanuel's land, and in the Christian era. They have been taught by prophets and wise men, by Jesus Christ, his apostles and ministers. The gospel shines upon them with Among men thus distinguished from all the works of God, in the present world, there is still a further and wonderful variety and difference. Some are born perfect in body and mind, others are greatly deficient in both. Some have a vigorous, healthful constitution, great ac-meridian lustre. tivity of body and mind, and enjoy health and ease from childhood to old age. Others are enfeebled, pained and miserable from their infancy, and never eat or drink with pleasure. Others are born in a sickly and distressed condition, draw every breath with pain, expire in a few hours and are never known among men. Others are born to be orphans, the father dies before their birth, and the mother almost as soon. The forsaken Beside among those in Christian lands there are great differences. Many are called, but few chosen. To some the gospel is a savor of life unto life, and to others a savor of death unto death. Some are vessels of mercy prepared unto glory, but others vessels of wrath fitted to destruction. Even among the saints there are differences. Some are men and others are babes in Christ. Some are stars in the firmament of the church, but others only lights in the world. Differences equally great will extend themselves into the most distant ages of eternity. For as one star differeth from another star in glory, so also is the resurrection from the dead. All will be rewarded according to their works. The splendor of their crowns, their dignity and blessedness will be for ever different. sparrows fall not on the ground without his notice. The verdure of the grass, the beauties of the rose, the inimitable tinge and spots of the tulip are his gift,+ and the very hairs of our head are all numbered. Of him, and through him, and to him are all things.§ : Highly important is it, that men believe and seriously contemplate that it is God who maketh all these differences in his works of creation and provi-` dence. To this persuasion and serious contemplation the apostle calls the Corinthians, and all Christians. It is of great moment to consider that God maketh these differences, and religiously to consider them, because it is abundantly taught us in the scriptures, enters very essentially into religion and has an important influence in all the pious feelings of the heart, and on the whole conduct of the Christian's life. It is in this persuasion only, that we can think But who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou, that thou didst not receive? This demand strongly implies that God in his works of creation and providence makes these differences, and that all which creatures have, they received from him. It is as though the apostle had said, "Who maketh you, O ye Corinthians, to differ from other Gentiles, who know not God nor our Lord Jesus Christ? Who sent you apostles and teachers by whom ye have believed? Who disposed you to embrace the gospel rather than other Gentiles, and than thou-properly of God, or of ourselves, sands of your own citizens? or worship him as God. This Who hath enriched you with firm confidence, with serious gifts and graces beyond many contemplations on these differother Christians? Did these dif- ences, at once, lead to the most ferences originate from your- affecting, admiring, and reverselves? Certainly they did not.ential views of the wise and ho For what have you that ye didly sovereignty of God, of his not receive? Nothing. Not the glorious majesty, and of his inleast natural, moral or spiritual finite exaltation above all his endowment: Not the least en- creatures. What clear and imjoyment: Not a moment of pressive ideas would these give time, not the breath of your nos- us of our absolute, entire detrils." Every good gift, end ev-pendence on him for all things, ery perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights. His government is universal. When the lot is east into the lap the whole disposing of it is of the Lord. The James i. 17. and of that immense everlasting debt of gratitude, thanksgiving and obedience which we owe to him? How will a realizing sense that God is All and in all, and + Luke xii. 27, 28. Matt.x. 29, 30. § Rom. xi. 36. that he only maketh us to differ and sharpening their swords for from the beast, the worm and destruction. Can we view our the atom; from the most mis- happy country far disjoined from erable of the human race upon the other continent, from its polearth, from those who slumber itics, broils and wars; our peace, in the graves, and even from the our distinguished civil and relidamned in the abyss of woe, gious privileges and enjoyments; swell and enliven our gratitude, and consider who maketh us to and impress deeply in our minds differ, and not sing, Amen, Hala sense of the duty of giving lelujah? Beside, in Europe, thanks always, for all things, in several events claim our notice. the name of our Lord Jesus The most wonderful is the ter Christ? How happily adapted are mination of the French Revolusuch views to awaken in us the tion, in the most extensive and Editors, and in you our Christian confirmed tyranny. We witreaders, those pious feelings ness those mighty patriots, who which are suited to a New-Year's had shed the blood of millions, day, which will honor our com- destroyed their own monarch mon Benefactor and afford the and the royal family, who had divinest comfort to ourselves? plundered and banished their Which will make it indeed a princes and nobility, and sworn good day? Views and contem-eternal hatred to kings, uniting, plations like these will have a di- to a man, in the support of an rect tendency to awaken in us a usurper and despot; and emmore lively sense of our dependploying millions of the people's ence, of our obligations, of grat- money in creating themselves itude and joy, and to call forth princes and noblemen, and for our high praises to God through the aggrandizement of them. the whole course of our review selves and his imperial majesty. of the times and changes which All this they have done professpass over us.. edly for the purpose of fulfilling the wishes of the people, and to establish liberty and equality! What is still more wonderful, we behold more than twenty millions of people making the most extravagant rejoicings at an event so contrary to every thing, which for a course of years, they had professed and sworn. In this If we turn our eyes upon the vast empire of Turkey we shall view millions of people enslaved, whelmed in the most wretched ignorance of God and the divine Saviour, ruined by their effeminacy and vices: an empire rent with internal animosities and civil wars, and under its own weight going to destruction.-extraordinary event, and in the Can we contemplate who maketh men to differ and not exclaim, Praise ye the Lord? whole course of the French revolution, divine providence has given to the world, one of the If we take a survey of Europe most striking instances of human we shall find it in a state of dis- deceit and wickedness, and of quiet, perplexity and fear: A the little dependence which can large proportion of its inhabi- be placed in the patriotism of tants grievously oppressed and Atheists, infidels and unprincienslaved. Some of its principled men. It has exhibited in pal nations are engaged in warla strong point of light, that nei |