A New Years Gift, Title page – To the reader
A New-Years-Gift: Containing Serious Reflections ON TIME, AND ETERNITY. And ſome other SUBJECTS Moral and Divine.
With an Appendix concerning the Firſt Day of the Year, how Obſerved by the Jews, and may beſt be Employed by a Serious Chriſtian.
LONDON, printed for S. and John Sprint at the Bell, and J. Nicholſon at the King's-Arms in Little-Brittain. 1699.
TO THE READER.
WHatever is likely to awaken Men to the Conſideration of the great acknowledged Principles of Religion, cannot be Unſeaſonable. And when 'tis every Man's Concern, the Meaneſt, and Weakeſt Endeavours may be of ſome Uſe. The Subjects of the following Reflections are moſt of them of that kind, neceſſary to be attended to, by all ſorts of Perſons; and ſo cannot be too often preſt, though in different Manners.
The uſefulneſs of the ſubject Matter, and the ſmallneſs of the Bulk, are two Things which are wont to recommend a Book to moſt Readers: For which Reaſon, I may hope, this will be read by ſeveral, who ſuffer much better (becauſe bigger) Books to lye by them neglected. Some may poſſibly give it the Reading, as a New-Years-Gift. And whoever ſhall be ſo far perſwaded by it, as to ſet apart ſome Time in the Beginning of the Year, for Self-Examination, Confeſſion of Sin, Repentance, Thankſgiving, and ſolemn renewal of their Covenant with God, (which ſeveral of theſe Reflections may not only excite to, but are intended to direct and aſſiſt him in,) I am perſwaded he will thank me for putting him in Mind (at leaſt) of ſo ſeaſonable an Exerciſe. The greateſt part of theſe Meditations were begun on a New-years day, tho' ſome others are thought fit to be inſerted, as tending to promote the ſame deſign. But knowing how much eaſier it is to ſtir up other Mens Devotion, than to command and keep alive my own; 'tis deſired, that the moſt Devout Thoughts contained in theſe Papers, may be looked upon as what the Author aims at, and would perſwade to, rather than what he hath already attained: As what he knows he ought to be, and do, and doth ſeriouſly endeavour, rather than what he is, and hath been; heartily lamenting wherein he hath been faulty, or defective in ſuch duties, as theſe, and the like Reflections, do oblige to, and enforce upon All, who ſhall read them, and therefore much more upon himſelf.
That they were Penn'd at ſeveral times, and in occaſional Retirements for Spiritual Exerciſes, will, with the difference of the Subjects, be a ſufficient Excuſe, that ſome are larger and others ſhorter, and that the Style is in ſome places more neglected than in others. If I may hereby render any Service to the Souls of Men, if any ſecure Sinner, any Self-deceiving Hypocrite be hereby awakened, or any ſerious Chriſtian's Devotion be quickned and advanced, I hope God will accept it. To his Bleſſing I humbly Recommend it, for thoſe Ends.
J. S.