Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-01-25
How 10 hegin the New Year.

Let us begin the year with solemn redec !
tion-and say, with Job, "When a few
years are come, shall 90 the way whence
| shall not return" Let us not only be.
lieve this; but think Of it, and feel the i'm
portance Of the sentiment. Yes, i'll little
time | shall be no more seen. How
where-shall l be disposed Of! The sea.
sons will return as before; but the p aces
that now know me will know me no more
forever. Will this be curse or blessing ?
If die in my sins, shall return no more
to my possessions and enjoyments, to the
throne of grace, to the house of prayer
If die in the Lord, shall, o blessed i'm
possibility return no more to these thorns
and briers, TO this vain and wicked world 3,
to this aching head, to this throbbing heart,
to these temptations and troubles, and sor-
rows and sins.
Let US begin the year with self-inspection
land say with the chief Butler, I" do re-
member my faults this day." We are prone
to think of the faiIings of onr fellow-crea-
lures, and often imagine because we are
free from their faults, that we are faultess.
But we may have other faults, we may have
worse, and while a mote is in our brother
eye, a beam may be in our own. Let US
be open to conviction. Let us deal faith
fully with our own hearts Let us not COM
pare ourselves with others, and especially
the more vile of our fellow creatures, but
with our advantages, with our knowledge
with our professions, with the law Of God
Let us begin the year with determine
ton to abandon whatever appears sinful
und say, with Elihu, " If | have done iniq-
uity, will do no MORE" Should the evil
course, or the evil passion, solicit, let it
plead in vain while the Savior-Judge says,
:" If thy right eye offend thee. pluck it out,
and cast it from thee; for it is profitable
for thee that one of thy members should
perish, and not that the whole body should
be cast into hell"
Begin the year with pious and personal
dedlcatiJn, ana say, with David, Lord,
am thine, save me-" Through him, who
is the way, yield ourselves unto God. l
is your reasonable service. He has infinite
claims to you. You will never be trull
your own till you are his,
Begin the year with relative religion
and if The worship of God has never beel
established in your family, now commenc
it-and say, with Joshua, Gas for me an
my house, we will serve the Lord"
family without prayer is like house with
out roof 1t is uncovered and exposed
and we know who has threatened to pou
out his fury upon the families that call nc
upon his name.
Begin the year with fresh concern t
be usefnl--and ask, with Saul of Tarsu'
Lord, what wilt thou have me to do
Let me look at my condition, my resources
my opportunities. How can gorify Go
and promote the welfare of my fellowcrej
lures Is there not Bible to spread Al
there not missionaries to support! Are thel
none Pershing for lack Of knowledge th
can myself instruct Have no irreligiot
neighbors to reclaiml Are there no poo
to relieve? No widows and latherless
visit
Begin the year with more conduct in Il
arrangement Of your affairs, and resemb
Ezra and his brethren, who "did accordir
to the custom, as the duty of every day r
dured." God has said, "I.et every thin
be done decentIy and in order" Much
your comfort will arise from regularity
your meals, in your deyotions, in your cal
ings; aud your piety will be aided by
Have place to receive everything, an en-
to simplify it, rule to arrange it, Lea'