Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1869-12-18
For -ths Register.

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s.,.y,, % a,.i.g For 4hs Register,u
Ma. ZlTTlE:-Willy please be 50
kind as TO give me small space in your
paper, as | have desire 10 wti!e a few
lines on the closing OF another year. The
year eighteen hundred and sixtY-nine is
fas, drawing 10 it's close, and soon many
things appertaining to il will be number
ed with Past events, and, perhaps, will
soon be forgotten. which, nevertheless,
will prove TO bave bad an important
bearing upon the eternal destiny Of US all
The earth, il is true, has moved on in It's
usual course and nature appears TO the OBJ
server as Of old but oh, have no, msny
things transpired during the year, now
so rapidly closing, which, to the devont
observer Of human events, iutnish abun-
danl material for serious ard profitable re-
lection Let Us, then, for a moment,
turn hack !he pages Of the year, and de-
vouhy consider the doings of 'the lord
upon the eanh, and from such considers
iion of the past seek TO become wiser aud
better prepared for an entrance upon the
duties Of The coming year. The frs, in
quiry in making this retospeci worthy oil
cur consideration is, how have we requil.
ed the Loid for His goodness towards US
when the Almighty in His rightsous
Judgment has permitted one portion OF
our earth 10 be Grenched with the blood
/ of thousands slain in horrible battle and
visited another fair portion With the dread.
|. ed plague, and in. our own country third
portion is still oppressed with starva lion
and hopeless poverty. Then would say
il surely becomesu US who have .tpaIisken
! during all this year Of the boun,ies Of the
/ Lord and enjoyed His favor, His mercy
and His love in high degree aud pos
sessed all the spiritual privileges that our
souls could desiie. Let us ask ourselves
how would il be With Us if e were call
ed upon TO appear1in His presence. How
have we requled the Lord for His good
| ness Have we done all we could for
/ the promotion Of His honor and Glory
upon earth, and have our lives been co Or
! dered that il instead of some Of those who
have been cut down by Death, we had
been called into His presence could we
have rejoiced and said to die is gaiD.F
If we ask ourselves gsUch questions as
these, they cannot fail TO. lead ps to deep
humiliation before God, and assuredly
proye beneficial to every one, who Dedl-
tstpsi upon hem. We should al The CON.
mencement OF The coming year, make new
I resolutions for good, and with all sinceri-
,y do our whole duty towards God and
our fellow nan. All Of Us have duty 10
perform and if We perform il as best we
know how We shall receive our reward.
Many within the past year have gone
,,ihe bourne from whence no, traveller has
e'er returned God in His goodness has
spared our lives for some wise purpose.
aud We should show forlh our gratitude
towards Him for the many blessings He
t.has bestowed upon us and for prolonging
! our lives. by walking in His fear and
lsboIing Tor the honor and Glory OF His
name. We should remember that we
too are passing away, and should always
| live in constant preparation for death, for
! if we ever expect TO livs in Heaven, we
must, while here on earth fl and prepare
| ourselves TO dwell in that blest abode.
Nothing but what is pure and holy can
! enter tn at II eayenIy city with its jasper
walls and gates Of pearl, which sPilyl en-
blenatizss The pufiiy that dwGlls within.
Who can imagine lbe joy of a sinless
land Imagination. ialiets in the attempt
to, conceive Of the bliss Of that lair land;
| 10 babe in lis rivers Of delight, 10 drink
from its founl.ns Of joy, TO join in lis
raplurous songs. 10 listen 10 lis hsrPing
choirs 10 praise God and the Lamb lorsv-
Ter. .This is ''whsi eye hath not seen, nor
ear heard Of he things that God hath pre-
pared for theD that love him" Oh,
hwhalinefabie gIor:es must be The portion
7 Of ransomed Spirits 4! How rich. bow
sweet how precious, surpassing oil that
fancy or fiction ever painted. Such 10 The
experience OF The sainted dead, in The IAN
gusge Of the poet -
We speak OF the realms Of the blesi,
F. oflbst world 50 bright and so fair;
And of are lis gio,ies confessed, 1'''
q Bot what be 10 be there !
sgq 81 scsil fgll iraj s.hnl ga spri
We.spesk of its pathways Of gold, 's9
or iss walks ueeked with jewels so rarei
or its wOndefs and pleasures uuiold, r1
Blu, iwha, must j! be 10 be there $50
.T .r.g,1t.lgD .-aF -a aaars 4. r. is..
We speak offs freedom from sin,
From sorrow, temptation and care;
From trials without and within,
Butwhst must it be 10 be there
Do Thou Lord midst sorrow and woe
Sill for Heaven our spirits orenare.