The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-12-30
1868.

us to address to those of them who are
prosperous and happy, our congratula-
tons; to those who are sad through
losses aud bereavements, our assurances
of sympathy; and to all, our best wishes
fer their welfare and advancement in all
that is good.
Hating, as we are, between the death
of the old year and the birth of the new,
we are like one standing on narrow
neck of land between the two unbounded
seas of the past and of the future. The
former, so far as we have had an interest
in it, no matter how it has been spent
is irrevOcable. The retrospect may fill
us with anguish. Each may say, would
that | could recall those wasted hours,
that l could undo the evil influences l
have exerted on others, that could can
eel so much that now see to have been
wrong in temper, speech and conduct
But not one momento Of the departed year
can be ransomed; all that was done IN it
is now irreversible history, booked for
the Judgment and bound over to eternity.
The only benefit we can now derive
from the past year is to profit by its ex-
perience In the review of our mistakes,
short comings, and overt misdeeds, We
may be instructed by our very failures.
In the retrospect of the good we have
achieved or attempted we may see where
improvements are possible, and how our
efforts to be useful may be made more
efficient. During the past year some of
our readers have had the houses in which
they lived burned to the ground, but in
searching through the ruins they found
some things worth preserving. So with
the year. It's months have been con-
sumed, but even from the smouldering
ashes We may rake out some golden
grains.
The future, so far as our life may be
prolonged, is, in some sense, under our
control; not indeed in the way of order
ing any of its coming events, or of chang
ing any of the purposes of Divine Provi-
dence-but in the way of making right
use of whatever time may be allotted to
us, and of the opportunities for good
which may come within our reach.
1t is an animating thought that, God
helping US, our lives hereafter may be
purer, nobler, diviner than heretofore, by
receiving in our own souls fresh uuc
ton from the Holy One, by new and
more disinterestCd efforts for the welfare
of others, and by fresh and more entire
conservation to Him to whom we owe all
homage, all obedience, all love.
In the circle of your acquaintance
perhaps you can call to mind, at least
one who during the past year was evil
IDENTIFY making the service of God his
great business. He neglected none of
the means of grace. He was regular in
his attendance on the ordinances of the
sanctuary. His walk was close with God.
He grew in grace. He was useful to
others. He let his light shine. His ex-
ample was a sermon to the wording;
rebuke to the luke-warm professor; an
encouragement to his brethren in the
Church. To him the year was one of
pious zeal and efficient labor. 1t required
sacrifice of time and ease to accomplish
all this, but he found abundant recon-
pense for all his toll in the consciousness
of an honest endeavOr to do right, and
in the peace which God gives to a soul
intent upon the promotion of his glory.
The year 1868 was one of spiritual bless
ing and JOY to him. Well, it ought have
been all this to you. You had the same
means Of grace-the same opportunities
for usefulness. Both of you had your
pressing worldly business to attend to,
but the year had in it as many weeks
and days and hours for you as for him.
You might have arranged your engage
ments as he did, so as to secure tine for
the service of God and for works of be
neGcence toward your fellow-men. You
might have joined hands with him, and
heart to heart you might have walked
along the same path. Now you cannot
60 back and retrace your steps, but you
can overtake him, and walk with him
along the same course for the year to
come, and at its close look back with
adoring gratitude upon a year of noble
service in the noblest calling.
There are some special obligations rest
ing upon the members of our own Church
during the year upon which we are now
entering. Owing to the general impov-
erishmeut of the people in the Southern
States, their abilities for supporting the
great enterprises of Christian benevo-
lence is much lessened, while the de-
mands of the enterprises themselves have