The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-01-05
THE OLD YEAR AND THE NEW.

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THE OLD YEAR AND THE NEW.
The year which has just departed has been dis
tinguished by events that must mark it in the his
tory of the world. Among the physical changes
effected mention may be made OF the great Rail
road opened in this country from the Atlantic to
the PaciGe-a highway for US to the Eastern ma
tons. More recently comes the opening of the
Suez Canal herculean work, connecting the
Mediterranean and Red seas, and thus shortening
the distance between Europe and Asia by many
thousands Of miles The effect of this change
may be beyond all present conceptions. Close
upon it come the preliminary surveys, by the
United States Government, for another ship canal
across the Isthmus Of Darien.
The progress Of Christianity has also been very
marked In Madagascar, where only few years
ago prosecutions on a large scale and Of most
cruel character prevailed, and thousands were
martyred for protesting the name of Christ the
prospect now is that in little time the whole pop
ulatiOn viii, in some form, soon profess the name
Of Christ.
In Japan, China and British India important
advances have been made. 1t seems probable that
in a few years India will witness an astonishing
moral revolution. The holds Of the old supersti-
tons are fast giving way.
Some of the most remarkable advances of Pro-
testautism have taken place in Mexico. A little
while ago no Protestant worship could be held ;
now there are more than one hundred eOngrega-
tons, and the promise Of rapid increase.
In a general view it cannot be doubted that
Professionalism in the United States and over the
world is decidedly gaining upon the Church Of
Rome.
The prospect is that ecclesiastical changes of the
highest Importance viii be witnessed before long
The disestablishment of the Church Of England
in Ireland will probably be soon followed by a
disestablishment in Scotland and England A
separation Of Church and State will soon be one of
the questions deeply stirring all Europe.
In the Church Of Rome the great event of the
past year. and of this is the meeting of the Gene
raj Council in Rome. No such Council has met
for three hundred years So far as it is now pos
sble to form a conjecture, every thing points to
the probability that they will take the most ex-
treme ground. If the infsIGbility Of the Pope is
now made an article Of faith, and they should, if
possible, still more explicitly than heretofore, set
themselves in direct opposition to the rights Of
conscience and human freedom, the result will
probably be a new schiSm. The signs of this in
Germany and France are ominOus. At all events
it will awaken anew the contest between that
Apostasy and the truth of the living Ged, in a
manner likely to strike the attention OF all classes
of society. The Lord reigns high over all the
wickedness of men, and all the prevalent forms Of
error and evil, and his promises and purposes arc
moving on through both storm and calm to
blessed ful6lment.
To many of our readers the past year has been
one of affection and trouble. Muldtudes nurtured
in comfort from childhood, are now subjected to
want The future seems very dark, and they are
deeply perpexed What shall we say to such?
First, cast your burden on the Lord. You have
trusted your Saviour with the burden Of your sins;
can you not trust him with your cares? Think
more Of your mercies, and less Of your troubles,
Abstain from murmurings; try to preserve a
cheerful spirit
Second be active in doing good This is not
only a duty, but the best way also to be happy
In doing good to others, your own hearts burden
will be ightcned and your peace with God and
your Christian hope be increased.
Third, the portion of the land in which yOu
dwell has been subjected to deep political humiia-
tons and wrongs. Bear them with digni6ed firm
ness. Nothing can be intrinsically disgraceful,
except that which is voluntary and selfimposed.
Never bow your necks lower than your yoke. He
who does so, expecting to escape a lower subiec-
ton, is sure to be mistaken. lie who proposes to
part with one half of his selerespect, with view
to make the other half more secure, is on the high
road to losing the whole.
Fourth, remember how quickly all the " fashion
1.-THE scheme) of this world passeth away" Happy
are they who live most for another and better
All of US are one day nearer the last New Years
day we shall ever spend upon earth, If this
should be that last may it bring US to a home in
the house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens