Part 12 (1/2)

On your sins towards your _children_. Neglect-bad example-prayerlessness-cross tempers-hasty slaps. Again you must say, 'Pardon mine iniquity, for it is _great_.'

2. On your _sorrows_.

Poverty-sickness-death. Yet your sorrows not so many as your sins.

How have you been helped through them! Have you _profited_? Heb. xii.

10. G.o.d has been teaching you, have you learnt the lesson?

3. On your mercies.

You can count your sorrows. Try and count your mercies, they are more than can be numbered. Ps. xl. 5. How undeserved they were! You have counted your days of sickness-have you those of health? Your hours of mourning-have you those of joy? Your children taken-have you counted your children spared? &c., &c. Were you thankful? Gen. x.x.xii. 10.

II. Look forward on the opening year.

On what? Can you tell?

How uncertain, you know not what will be even on the morrow. Jam. iv.

4. Prov. xxvii. 1. Who will be taken? Whose husband? Whose child?

You know not.

Therefore, 'be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye _think not_ the Son of Man cometh.' Matt. xxiv. 44.

Can _you_ say, 'Even so come, Lord Jesus, _come quickly_?'

x.x.x. LAST MEETING IN THE YEAR.

THE CRADLE AND THE GRAVE.

G.o.d has been speaking to us during the past year. Two mothers have gone to their long home, and ten of our children. Let us reply, 'Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.' 1 Sam. iii. 9.

G.o.d speaks to us from the cradle, and the grave.

I. From the _cradle_, and says,