BY JOHN ABERCROMBIE, M. D.

Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Author of "An Enquiry concerning the
Intellectual Powers," and "The Philosophy of the Moral Feelings."

ENTERED

According to Act of Congress, in the year 1835, by VAN NOSTRAND & DWIGHT,

In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the Southern District of New-York.

TO THE READER.

THIS little work, from the pen of Dr. Abercrombie, of Edinburgh, was originally intended for gratuitous distribution among the families of a district in that city, which he often visited in the course of professional duty. As a layelder of the Church of Scotland, and deeply interested in the progress of religion, he was accustomed to make his visits to the sick, the occasion of exerting that religious influence, so peculiarly within the power of the Christian physician.

In his introductory address to the families for whom it was designed, he alludes to the various exciting subjects which had been agitated in that community, and which had so strong a tendency to divert attention from the first great object of life, and to engross it inordinately, if not supremely, in the concerns of this world.

He addresses a friendly voice to them, in the hope of arresting their attention and engaging their hearts in the highest and noblest of all human pursuits, manifesting at once his sincere and cordial interest in their temporal and eternal welfare.

He says, "it is related of a distinguished clergyman of a former day, that he was found fault with by his friends, for "not preaching to the times." He replied in terms which carry with them a weight of meaning worthy of the most deep and serious attention,-" When so many brethren," said he, "are preaching to the times, will you not allow one poor brother to preach for eternity."

"For some years past, this country," he adds, "has resounded from end to end, with discussions and contests which relate to 'the times.' But amid all these commotions has it never occurred to you that life is passing rapidly on, and that it will very soon be over; that a period is approaching with fearful rapidity, when, regarding each of us, "time shall be no longer?" Has it never occurred to you to think, with deep

and personal interest, of that hour when all our best friends can do for us, will be, to convey us with suitable decency to the grave,-to cover us with green turf,-and then to return to the tumult of life, with the same activity and interest as if we had never been? To them the face of nature shall bloom fresh and fair, as it bloomed before; and the full tide of life shall flow on as it flowed before; and some pageant shall again move on, in all its mock majesty and a busy crowd shall follow it with looks of wonder and shouts of applause, till another, and another of them shall drop into the grave, and life, with all its dread responsibilities, shall close upon them forever."

There can scarcely be a more appropriate little work for our own times at home, than this unpretending but precious volume. It is written in a plain, affectionate and winning style. A Christian can scarcely rise from its perusal without remarking in his own breast, a responsive monition, saying awake, awake, put on the armor of faith.