Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-02-02
A GREAT TIME.KEEPER.

a GREAT JIME-kEEPER.
discourse with this title appears in the Jan.
nary No. e. the Nat.caa. Preacher, from the
pen of Rev. Dr.. Bushnell Of Hartford, designed
to illustrate the moral uses Of the great diyi-
the alienation Of days. 1t is replcto with SOL
cmn suggestions uttered in eloquent phrase
How s'rikingly do these admontons of time &C
cord with the proper reflections for the new
year!
God has made the very universe to DO the
clock Of the universe and admonsh every NOR
tai heart of the sure and constant passage OF
time We arc not left to our inward judgments
Tine has its measures without in the most Pal
pablc and impressive visitations OF the senses
Every twilight tells us that day is gone and tha,
by a sign as impressive as the bo,tny out Of
the sun! 1t is as if we had clock, so adjust
ed as to give notice Of the hour, by displacinc,
at stock, the light Of heaven, suspcnding the
iabors OF Tie world, qncnchins the fevers Of its
earthly schemes and passions, and dffiisin, an
opate spell of oblivion over all human conscious.
ness. The im7aipabe o!ors Of the spring pene
trate our secret sense, as monitors of time
The summer heat is the heat of time, the win.
ter's is the cold Of time-both forcing their way
into our experience by visitation that we can.
not resist One season tells us that another is
gone and, when the whole circle Of seasons is
completed and returned into itself, the new year
tells US that the Old is gone. And certain
number ofthese years, VIC know, is the utmost
bound Of life. How sure is the reckoning. It
is even compulsory-none can escape it. All
things, in fact, swim round US and above, in cir.
cling notions and these all are but so many
measures Of time, so many voices telling US Of
its flight. Our very business, our days works,
our pay days, the term Of our stocks and con.
tracts, is made to be impossible, without remind.
ing us that days, months, years are passing
away, and bringing US nearer 10 our eternal &C.
count II the years fly swiftly and still more
swiftly, we yet know that they are years. They
will not prolong themselves to the satisfaction
OF our judgment. If we try to avoid the reck>
onng, they will not stop. Ii we have spent
them in folly and neglect Of God, they still whrl
on their fight. If life is fading to close, and
the sentence of Gods displcasurc waiting to re-
ceivc us, they will not slacken their steady and
determined rolling. And thus you see that God
has built the very frame OF creation 10 warn
and keep You warned of the fight Of time. Your
stay hero was to be short, and lie has thrown
all things round you into visible transit, that you
may see the time pass ard have your eternity
ever in view. TO accomplish so desirable, SC
benevolent an end, he has made the sun and
moon TO roll on their courses, and the whole or
der Of heavenly motions, to be for signs, and fol
seasons, and for days and years.
You have now just completed another of thes.
years. How swiftly do they fly how soon vii
they bear you away! Try not TO close you
eyes 10 fact, which God has been at 50 muc
pains to impress upon You. You are now near
er, by another year, TO eternity and the judy
ment-bar OF God. II you have strong desir
Of life, try not 20 force an opinion of your sta,
ngain7t he sun and the sisns Of heaven. Ifyou
last year las hccn cDo Of success, it has never
theless been year, and you are nearer BY
yea 'oyour everlasting state. Ifyour means {
eapA.y enjoyment have been enlarged, you
time of earthly enjoyment is diminished.
you have great plans yet to mature, you hav
one year less to do it in, and if you should es
rect to live as long as your hopes tempt you, III
years will not take counsel of your hopes.
you arc : ta..-'-or, YOU have had the year
growth OF Christian. Ii you are not, the
have you lost year and by so much have d
minished the prospect of your salvation. Ii 70
are an old man, without God, and the year ha
gone too quichy by, it has yet gone tho su
has not slackened his pace because he mu
bring you so much nearer to your end If 70
are young. the Holy Spirit has given you on
more year OF mercy, and it may be the last!
say you, one and all, my friends give heed
this reckoning. The sun has returned into h
circle, the great bell Of time has struck anoth,
year is gone
Would that we were less nsensble, nv hea
crs to this most Impressive lesson Of the Almiol
ty! God is telling us everywhere e, by signs
awful grandeur, that time is a precious thin
and that we cannot aff1rd to lose momer
From the heaven Of heavens, where lie bol,
his throne, he numbers to US the hours. ar
calls US 10 apply our hearts unto wisdom. Al
what do we : What have we done what ,
we design to do? Who can think that such
world as this, is made for trihing, Cease, gi
cy mortal. awake thou, dreamer of indolen
and sef'indulgence! duty calls heaven wait,
Serious and awful results are pendinr-t
strong engnery of heaven is driving on the heu
aud there 10 not moment TO b lost!