I.

HYMN IV.

The dying Chriftian.

THO' on the bed

of death I lie Opprest with pain and care,

Yet in the Lord I put my trust,
And find fweet comfort there.

2. What tho I fink in forrow low,
I never will complain;
My God will raise my spirit up,
Nor let my hope be vain.

3. Sore trials now my Father sends
To prove my faith and love;
His grace fupports and fits my foul
For rest and joy above.

4. There is a glorious world to come,
I view it from afar,
Where fin and forrow are no more,
Nor peace is mixt with fear.

5. The grave shall not confine me long,
This feeble flesh shall rife;
Then shall I fly with raptures new
To dwell where Jesus is.

6. There free from interpofing clouds
Shall I behold his face;
And endless ages be too short
To fing redeeming grace.,

HYMN V

On Time.

IME flies apace,
In ceafeless race

Man hurries to the tomb,
In blifs or woe,

Ere long to know

His everlafting doom.

2.

Then let thy heart, Whoe'er thou art,

From a friend of Missions, From do.

The REVIEW of times past, and contemplations on future profpects, humbly attempted for general instruction, and to excite pious and useful meditations, &c.: Or, the Editors' New-Year's Gift, to their generous readers.

[Contin. from Vol. I. p. 250.]

R

EASON was given to man that he might contemplate; and that by contemplation, he might become wife, useful and happy. The fubjects of contemplation, which invite his confideration are numerous, entertaining and important. He may, with great advantage, contemplate himself, his Creator, his word and wondrous works. He may so consider his own ways as to make hafte and delay not to keep the commandments of his God. The end of days and years are proper seasons for review and ferious confideration. The events of years, prospects for time to come, our own particular state, our progrefs in knowledge, in virtue or vice, our preparation for the end of time and the commencement of an eternal state, are all subjects of special contemplation upon a New-Year's day. We VOL. II. No. 7.

[No. 7.

will therefore upon this, as a continuation of the Review which we presented to our readers the last New-Year, invite them to a contemplation of these very interesting subjects. We shall begin with some of the events of the last year, in Europe, and with moral observations which they will suggest. We will then contemplate fuch as respect America, and ourselves more immediately.

At the close of the last year, the pacification of Luneville had left France, Spain and the Batavian republic at full liberty to employ their whole strength in fupport of the French conquests in Egypt, and against Great-Britain. At the same time the northern coalition was completely formed, and the several princes which had combined were strongly engaged to carry its defigns to execution. Britain, therefore, faw all the great powers, and almost the whole maritime force of Europe combined against her. The afpects of providence with respect to her were indeed gloomy and alarming. She was under the necessity of submitting either to fuch terms of peace, as her haughty enemy should please to dictate, or to continue the war, until his disposition should be more amicable and conciliatory. She magnanimously determined on the latter. The armies of France were numerous and powerful. They were stimulated to action by the thirst of glory and an implacable spirit of revenge. The greatest exertions were made to reinforce her armies in Egypt, and to be prepared for a descent on Great-Britain. At the same time, the northern powers were with expedition, firmness and unanimity, preparing for their own defence and to carry into immediate effect the designs of the coalition. Britain, with a vigor and dispatch which such a crifis demanded, prepared to defend herself at home, and to annoy the enemy abroad. Early in the spring a powerful armament was sent into the Baltic. Two great events, under the divine superintendence, foon took place, which changed the whole aspect of affairs in the north.

On the 23d of March, 1801, Paul, emperor of all the Ruffias, the leader, most engaged and powerful prince in the coalition, was no more. Alexander, a prince of a better mind, and different politics, ascended the Imperial throne. A few days after, April 2d, Lord Nelson, in a most dreadful action of four hours, destroyed the fleet of Denmark, lying before Copenhagen, and having made himself master of the harbour, the capital of the nation lay at his mercy. These great and unexpected events broke the northern coalition. The Danes, to fave their capital, agreed upon an armistice which has not been broken. By treaty, the difficulties subsisting between GreatBritain and Ruffia, were foon after amicably adjusted.*

Nearly at the same time, when these events took place in Europe, Lord Keith, with a powerful fleet and a large body of troops, appeared near Alexandria in Egypt. Early in the month of March, general Abercrombie landed the army under his command in Egypt. The French, having collected their troops from Cairo and other parts of the country, on the 21st of March, made a well-directed, furious and perfevering attack upon the British army. After a long and hard fought battle, in which great generalship, exertion and heroism had been displayed by the refpective armies, and great loffes in officers and men had been fuftained by both, victory declared in favor of the English. The consequences were fatal to the interests of France in Egypt. Great exer. tions were made by the French people to reinforce their armies in that country, but the great superiority of the British navy rendered it impracticable. By the same means, the English were enabled to reinforce their army from all quarters, and, it seems, finally have captivated and brought off the whole French army. Such is the naval force of Britain that she has been able to defeat her enemies in the Baltic, to send a powerful armament into Egypt, and at the fame time to blockade the principal ports of France, Spain and Holland; and to prevent any attempts of the enemy upon her own coasts. These events have finally terminated in preliminaries of peace, between the British and French nations. By thefe a foundation is, probably, laid for the pacification of all Europe, by a definitive treaty. This will be another great and most defireable event.

While these things have been acacomplishing, and preparing the way for a general pacification, considerable progress has been made in carrying into execution the articles of the treaty of Luneville and France, Germany and Italy appear to have been progressing toward a state of rest.

Another event which claims special notice, and was probably an article of that treaty, is the reestablishment of Popery in France, Italy, and some other parts, even with a numerous train of Jesuits, an order so mischievous, so repugnant to the liberty and happiness of mankind, as, many years since, to have been fuppressed in all the Roman Catholic countries. As the pope nevertheless is divested of temporal dominion, and his revenues in a manner annihilated, he must be confidered as in a manner fallen. His power is circumfcribed, his influence is exceedingly diminished, and his very existence is dependent on the precarious will and convenience of the first consul of France, or of other despots, who may fucceed him, in the government of France and Italy.

While popery is so weakened and fallen, the Turkish empire feems to be exceedingly rent and broken, by numerous internal factions and rebellions, and rapidly hastening to a total dissolution. These are some of the principal events of the last year, which merit our notice, in Europe and other foreign parts.

These events, viewed in their connection with the extensive and bloody war which they have terminated, with the views with which it was undertaken and the manner in which it has ended, will afford many interesting observations. They afford the most demonstrative evidence, That the Most High ruleth in the kingdoms of men, and giveth them to whomsoever he will ;

That in the course of his providence, for their correction, and the accomplishment of his own wife and holy purposes, he often fetteth up over them the baseft of men: That, in a most wonderful manner, he disappointeth the devices of the crafty and carrieth the counfl of the froward headlong*. Never, perhaps, was this in any instance more strikingly exem plified than in the progress and termination of the late European war. Not a single design has been answered, for which any of the bel. ligerent powers professedly began it. The emperor of Germany and the king of Pruffia embarked in it to assist and fave the king of France, and to humble his rebellious subjects. From the high tone with which the duke of Brunfwick began his operations, it appeared that he expected foon to be at Paris, and set the king and royal family at liberty; and that if any opposition should be made, he should triumphantly mark his route with blood and carnage. But instead of this expected triumph, the combined armies were obliged to retire with great loss and shame. The king of Prussia, to save himfelf, foon withdrew from the war. The opposition which had been made, inflamed the French people, and instead of giving any relief to the king and royal family, precipitated their destruction. The emperor of Germany, with all the assistance of his allies, has been unable to defend himself, and has been obliged to submit to the humiliating terms of a great diminution of his empire. England and Spain embarked in the war to fupport monarchy in France, and to preferve the balance of Europe; but they effected neither. Spain