The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-01-01
Tho Closing Year.

The closing year How many reflections
Il awakens Ia the thoughtful mind Il calls
up the pasti IL leads us forward 20 the fu-
ture,
The ffty-two Sabbhths Of this year. have
dawned upon us, and passed away again. 30
many opportunities have been given "a hear
the word Of God 80 many 10 enloy special
communion with God aud Ills Saints "a
many IN refresh The weary soul nom lts con
tact With the world, and make Il strong With
tho pure influences Of heaven. What is the
Impression which these Sabbaths have made
upon our hearthp What IL the record which
they have borne 10 heayenP
The days of this year are Fastening to their
close What changes have they wrought
Sweet friendships have been formed and bro
ken, Dear family relations have been enter
ed into, and nt the bed Of d1aih they have
broken asunder, The light and music Of the
home circle has gone Many household
made glad by the presence Of its little ones,
has seen them die, one by one and 60 down
70 the cold grave. Their gladneas has been
turned into desolation. How many hearts
which a twelyemonth ago gave uttcrance TO
their earnest wish OF a"llappy New Year"
Tor their loved ones, are now in all the lunli-
ness Of grief Some who were poor then,
are poorer now some who We're rich, are
richer but oh who can tell the struggles
with labor and despair, the hopes disappoint-
ed, the anguish Of spirit, alike ia the oyller
OF the poor and the mansion OF the rich
How few Of us are to-day what we hoped
and wished to be year ago. We have not
made the progress that We intended TO do
We have not lubored nor studied Rs VIZ pro-
posed. We have not wrestled with our sins
as We then purposed. We have not culdvat-
ed the mind nor the heart as We then resoly-
ed 60 do. We have not prayed, nor done
iur tho poor, nor nburrd for perishinR men,
as We then resolved. We have not achieved
for ourselves the mental and moral eminence
at which W. aimed, nor made that deep and
abiding mark upon the Church and the age
that VIC intended 10 do. Such a failure Of
our purposes and plans suggests moderation
to our own ambition, charity 10 the faults Of
others, aud should at the same time rouse ma
to more vigorous cndeayor in every good aud
noble purpose.
What a mighty procession has been NOV
ing toward the grave during oil this past
year! At the usual estimate, since the first
Of January, there have more than hiriy-onc
million dpc hHHdTcd thousand Of the worlds
population gone down TO the grave. Place
them in long array, and they will give n NOV
ing column Of more than thirteen hundred TO
every mile Of the circumference Of tie globe.
What spec;scle, us they move on, tramp,
tramp, the "DrSa March" giving It's funeral
notes az they 20 10 the silent shades!
The closing year. How It suggests lu pa-
rents the duty OF gathering together IN your
own home the sounds Of innocent enjuy ment
for your children Make their lives happy,
for not long may they be sheltered under
your roof and near your heart Aud more
than all, how IL imprcsses upon you the inn
portance Of putting forth all diligence in
training them for God and hcnyenl They
are fast growing out from under your pareu-
tai training. The days of your opportunity
may be very few, for death may claim them
~ his own. Let the closing year remind YOU
Of lost opportunities, of careless neglect. Let
II summon you to more prayer, more faithful
teaching, more ceaselrss watching. a dead
son or daughter unconvcrted and uusavcd :
Christian parent, may YOU never know such
n bitter experience. Sabbath school teachers
tGHt- mntk-iG- -haGlcning- to G-GlnAE---Nnur
scholars are leaving YOU, some for the world
and its duties, some for eternity and It's dread
results. Let the closing year tell YOU to SOW
your seed now diligently, laboriously, prayer
fully.
lmpcnitent man Another wear is closing
upon YOU. Your sins all vet lie upon your
heart Your days ofgrace are Fastening TO
a close. This year may he your last. This
year your soul may be required of you. The
closing year How appropriate and solemn
the words Of that grand hymn of Bryant;
$50 live, that when thy summons comes 70 Join
The innumcrable caravan that moves
To the pale realms OF shade, where each shall
take
Ills chamber in the silent halls Of death.
Thou go not. like the quarry slave AZ night.
Seourgcd to his dungeon, but, sustained and
suothcd
ny an unfaitering trust, approach thy grave
Like one who wraps the drapcry OF his couch
About him, and lies down TO pleas ant dreams"