REFLECTIONS, &c. I JANUARY I. A MEDITATION FOR NEW-YEAR'S DAY. CONSIDER this first day of the year, as if it were the first day of my life; and dare expect from the goodness of my God, as many blessings for the year that commences this day, as I have obtained in any since my entrance into the world to the present time. What favours have I not reason to expect from my heavenly Father, who, from the first moment of my existence, yea, even before I had a being, was occupied concerning me with so much tenderness and goodness. At the moment of my arrival in this world, he caused me to find parents and friends who assisted me, who have nourished me, and whose disinterested love provided for me in that state of weakness and incapacity in which I was found. Without their succour, without their generous attachment to my wellbeing, could I have preserved health, and the many other blessings which I now possess? If at that time I had been able to reflect on my destiny, I should, without doubt, have promised myself many agreeable hours in the course of my existence upon earth. Now that I am capable of making these reflections, I wish to give myself up to the contemplation of my happiness, and to those pleasing hopes which it invites me to form A Meditation for New-Year's Day. for the future. I enter with the present year, into a new path of life, not so wholly deprived of all things, nor so incapable of assisting myself as I was when I first entered into the world, but with the same need of supernatural succour that I then had. I still need the fostering hand of my friends, their consolitary aid when dejected by disappointments, and their protection in those dangers to which I may be exposed. And will not my heavenly Father grant me a blessing so necessary? Yes, I am certain he will, and whatsoever may happen to me in the course of this year, the Lord has without doubt already chosen a friend for me, who in dubious cases shall be my counsellor, and in affliction my support: who shall rejoice with me in my prosperity, and be the stay of my mind in the time of adversity. From the first moment of my life, God has laid the foundation of my future destiny. It was not by accident that I was born of such parents; in such a part of the world; and in such a particular time, and not in another. The time, place, circumstances, and consequences of my birth, God has arranged in the wisest order.. He then regulated my lot, weighed the hardships which I was to endure, and provided the comforts and satisfactions which should restore calmness and serenity to my mind. After his purposes, many unknown causes must contribute to my felicity, and every thing which stood in any relation to me must concur to accomplish his beneficent designs. With this first day of the new year, I may consider my lot as being regulated anew. The Lord who has given me a being A Meditation for New-Year's Day. comprehends with a foresight which nothing can de ceive, every week, day, and instant of this year. Though all that concerns me be hidden from my eyes, yet every thing is open to the eyes of the Lord, and all is regulated according to his purposes, which are ever fraught with wisdom and goodness. If during the course of this year, I should meet with some misfortune which I cannot foresee; if some unexpected happiness should fall to my lot; if I meet with some loss which I have now no reason to expect, I shall consider the whole as happening according to the wise direction of my God. ney Impressed with this conviction, I enter on the jourwhich commences this day. Whatever may occur, I will confirm myself more and more in the persuasion that Jehovah shall be my God and my Father in my old age, as well as he has been in my youth. If I find myself exposed to want or distress, 1 will remember the days of my infancy, a state still more critical, in which the Lord had pity upon me. If I meet with unfaithfulness from any friend, this must not disturb me; God can raise me up others, from whose tenderness I may derive joy and comfort. Should my life be exposed to persecutions and distresses, which I can neither foresee nor prevent, this shall not terrify me I will trust in the Lord, who has protected my infancy when it was exposed to a thousand dangers. What then should hinder me from beginning this year with tranquillity? I desire, without anxiety, to look forward, and abandon all my concerns to the direction of the Lord. I wish submissively to follow the |