TRACTS PUBLISHED BY THE ENGLISH MONTHLY ᎢᎡᎪᏟᎢ SOCIETY, FROM JANUARY, 1838, TO DECEMBER, 1851. OFFICE, NO. 27, RED LION SQUARE, LONDON. MAY BE HAD AT THE OFFICE; AND OF J. F. SHAW, BOOKSELLER, SOUTHAMPTON ROW, AND CONTENTS. "THE world passeth away." So simply, and yet so impressively, does the Scripture tell us, of the transitory nature of the scenes amidst which we live and move. But was it needful · that such a description should form part of a direct revelation from heaven; at least, is there not something striking in the fact that it is therein declared? The world passeth away!—Who does not know it? Who has not heard it? Do we not discover it-feel it-understand it of ourselves? The same question might be proposed of many points referred to in the sacred volume; of many facts, which it did not require a specialrevelation to teach us. Some things profane history would have taught us; others, the investigations of natural science; others, the very commonest observation. Yet was it needless that they should be introduced by the hand of God? Thus we should not decide, if a fellow-creature brought before our notice, in an impressive form, truths with which he knew we were already acquainted. The inference we should derive from such a repetition would naturally be, that more than knowledge was needed; that impression was required; that there was reason to fear that we should overlook what we knew; and that, if we did, the consequences would be serious. How much more may we not draw the same conclusion, when we discover the Spirit of God insisting upon a fact which we all know, and adopting it as a part of his own revelation? And just as in the former case between man and man, there would be a special obligation to observe, so, let it be remembered, that in regard to that class of truths which, independently of revelation, we should have known, but the statement of which God has incorporated into his Word, a double responsibility presses upon us. "THE WORLD PASSETH AWAY." Is it not absolutely necessary that we should especially have this called to our remembrance? Do men, do we ourselves, act as though it were true? Are not the consequences of the neglect of this fact unspeakably detrimental, in regard to man's present state,―dangerous, even to awfulness, in relation to his future condition? Will those who forget the transitoriness of the present, be providing for the future? Will those who make this world their home, be preparing for their departure into another, which is speedily to open on them? Who, then, can doubt why God has Himself told us this? Who, then, can be blind to this His purpose, that we should feel it the more because His voice declares it, and that all which around us serves to illustrate the fact, should be regarded with double interest, as confirming that which the Lord has spoken? |