Are there not some things to be put off, as well as some things to be put on? Answer honestly as we look the New Year in the face--answer as to a messenger from God. What weight are we carrying, that we need to lay aside? What evil habit is fixing itself upon us, shutting out the light of God, chilling the better affections, deadening the nobler powers, and threatening, perhaps, beneath its insidious smile to take from existence more of its beauty and joy and strength? Let each consider well his own besetting sin, and put it off. With the falling burden, scales fall from his eyes--he sees God anew. For him the former things have passed away--all things are become new. What makes our being fresher and happier than the conviction that the coming years are better than the past! Off with the old burdens, and put on the new armor. There is something for each of us to do--something for each one of us specific and peculiar as our own individuality--something for all of us as universal as our common humanity. The specific thing and the universal good pursue as if for life itself. God bless us in the striving, and crown us in the work. Each year in its sober experience give us new hopes for ourselves and the future of our race. _New Year._ Solicitude of Parents SOLICITUDE OF PARENTS. Our thoughts turn now more particularly to the circle of home relations, and we propose to give some plain views of them with an especial eye to the temptations of city life. The duty of parents is the topic first in order. Few if any words are given in the Scriptures to persuading parents to love their children, or to wish to provide for them. The affection is taken for granted, and they who have it not are set aside by themselves as monsters. If any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. It is not upon the parental sentiment itself, but upon its due direction, that Christianity rests its emphasis; as well it may, for what sentiment has gone more astray from the true mark, and in mistaken kindness hurt those whom it would most bless. "What man," asks our Saviour, "would give his son a stone instead of bread, or a serpent instead of a fish?" Not one, if he really knew it or saw it. Yet what is more frequent than such wrong indirectly done? * * * * *