THE PRACTICAL EXPOSITOR. January 1. PSALM XC. 10. For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. SUCH is the description given us by the sacred writer of human life. How well, at the commencement of a new year, to stand still and consider the shortness of time, and the vanity of all things here. The ancients, says Mr. Brooks, represented time with wings, not running but flying. The Egyptians drew it with three heads; the first of a greedy wolf, gaping for time past; because it hath ravenously devoured the memory of so many things past recalling. The second of a crowned lion, roaring for time present; because it hath the principality of all actions, for which it calls loud. The third of a deceitful dog, fawning for time to come; because it feeds some men with many flattering hopes, to their eternal destruction. When Popilius, by order of the Roman senate, required Antiochus to withdraw his army from the king of Egypt, and he desired time to deliberate upon it, the Roman drew a circle with his wand about him, and said, In hoc stans delibera, give a present answer before you move. Thus eternity, says Dr. Bates, whose proper emblem is a circle, a figure without end, presents to us life and death, that after a short time expects all men; and here we must make our choice. shall a mortal coldness possess us in an affair of such importance? We cannot so fast repair the ruins of the body, but that every day death makes nearer approaches, and takes away some spoils that cannot be recovered, and will shortly force the soul to leave its And habitation; and shall we not secure a retreat for it in the sanctuary of life and immortality?" January 2. ISAIAH i. 17. Seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. LAVATER died at Zurich, 1801, in the 60th year of his age. The following account of the spirited and bene-volent conduct of this excellent man is a fine practical exposition of the above passage. There lived in the city of Zurich, and even a member of its senate, a most wretched character, who during the time he had been prefect over a district of the canton, had committed innumerable acts of the grossest injustice; yea, such abominable crimes, that all the country people loudly reproached and cursed him; but no one dared to call him to public account, he being related to several gentlemen who were members of the Zurich government, and son-in-law to the principal magistrate of the city. Mr. Lavater, after having often heard of, and duly examined into the atrocities of the prefect, committed even against helpless widows and orphans, could at last no longer refrain himself. His tender feeling heart was glowing with the noblest sentiments of justice and humanity, and felt an irresistible desire to plead the cause of the poor and oppressed.. Being only twenty one years of age, and knowing the connection of the culprit, he was fully aware that his stepping forward in this cause would expose him to the frowns of the great and mighty, and occasion much uneasiness and anxiety even to his nearest and dearest relations; but he was determined to obey God rather than man. Having prepared himself by earnest prayer, and consulted an intimate friend, he first addressed a letter to the prefect, in which he strongly reproached him for his detestable actions, and freely declared his full intention to bring him to public justice, should he not restore his spoil within the term of two months. This term having elapsed, and the warning proving in vain, Mr. Lavater proceeded to print a most solemn indictment against him, which he caused to be delivered to every member of the Zurich government. At first he kept his name a secret, but when called upon, he came forward in the most open manner, nobly avowed, and fully proved the points of his indictment before the whole assembly of the senate; and had the unspeakable satisfaction to see the wicked prefect, who, conscious of his guilt, had saved himself by flight, solemnly condemned by law, his unjust property confiscated, and restoration made to the triumphant cause of oppressed poverty and innocence ! January 3. MATT. xi. 28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. CICERO, one of the greatest orators, statesmen, and philosophers of antiquity, was born, B. C. 107. His eloquence was undoubtedly great, and his book of offices has been admired by all succeeding ages as the most perfect system of heathen morality. It is to be feared, however, that more attention has been paid to his works by some than to the sacred volume. Abp. Leighton, therefore, in his theological lectures, gives this advice to his pupils, "I exhort and beseech you never to suffer so much as one day to pass, without reading some part of the sacred records. It is not possible to express how much sweeter you will find the inspired writings than Cicero, Demosthenes, Homer, Aristotle, and all the other orators, poets, and philosophers. They reason about an imaginary felicity, and every one in his own way advances some precarious and uncertain thoughts upon it: but this book alone shows clearly, and with absolute certainty what it is, and points out the way that leads to the attainment of it." This is that which prevailed with St. Augustine to study the Scriptures, and engaged his affection to them. "In Cicero and Plato, and other such writers (says he), I meet with many things wittily said, and things that have a moderate tendency to move the passions; but in none of them do I find these words, Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”” January 4. JOB XXXVI. 22. Who teacheth like him! The famous ASCHAм died 1568. The loss of a valuable instructor is a matter of great grief. Ascham had been tutor in the learned languages to Queen Elizabeth, who so much lamented his death, that she declared she would rather have lost ten thousand pounds than her tutor Ascham. Christian rejoice; thy Great Teacher never dies; nor shall the knowledge he communicates ever be lost! Antisthenes taught Rhetoric, and had among his pupils Diogenes; but when he had heard Socrates, he shut up his school, and told his pupils, "Go seek for your selves a master, I have found one." Thus all who are convinced of their ignorance, will renounce every thing that would prevent them from sitting at the feet of Christ to learn of him. Philip wrote to Aristotle thus, "I inform you I have a son, I thank the gods, not so much for making me a father, as for giving me a son in an age when he can have an Aristotle for his instructor.' How much more may the Christian feel grateful, not only that God has given him life and rational faculties, but that he has Christ for his teacher, for, Who teacheth like him? January 5. ECCLES. v. 11. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes. AGLAUS, the poorest man in Arcadia, was pronounced by the oracle more happy than Gyges king of Lydia. It has been observed, that a very interesting essay might be written on the unhappiness of those who are surrounded with every earthly good; and from whom Providence seems to have removed all the causes of un happiness. Mr. T. B-k was considered as one of the most accomplished men of his age of exquisite taste, perfect good breeding, and unblemished integrity and honour. Undisturbed, too, by ambition or political animosities, and at his ease with regard to fortune, he appeared to be placed at the very summit of human felicity. This happy man, so universally acceptable, and with such resources in himself, was devoured by ennui; and probably envied with good reason, the condition of one half of those laborious and discontented beings, who looked up to him with envy and admiration. He was querulous, indifferent, and internally contemptuous to the greater part of the world; and like many other accomplished persons, upon whom the want of employment has imposed the heavy task of self-occupation, he passed his life in a languid and unsatisfactory manner; absorbed sometimes in play and sometimes in study; and seeking in vain the wholesome exercise of a strong mind, in desultory reading or contemptible dissipation. "My Lady, I'd give all the world if I were in the state of that beggar," said a nobleman once, when a poor beggar put up his palsied hand to the carriage for something. He soon after destroyed himself. A gentleman of vast fortune sent for a friend to settle some affairs; and while they were together, he walked to the window and observed a chimney-sweeper's boy with his brass plate and sack passing by. His friend was surprised to see the tears burst from his eyes, and clasping his hands, with an oath he exclaimed, "Now would I give every shilling I am worth in the world (he had ten thousand pounds a year) to change beings with that little sweep. And well perhaps he might, if he could have been as happy as another little sweep was, who, while ascending a chimney was heard to sing, The sorrows of the mind Be banish'd from the place, |