The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-01-05
Original 2aper.
For the Democratic Adro1aie.
The Death of the Old Year.


1t is verify true that time and tide
wait for no man Time is evcrmorc
passing away, and bearing us away also
IN its current, though we remain in.
sensible to the sritiRcss with which it
IS harrying us on to eternity. Another
year has sped, aud passed into the laud
OF furgetIulncSs to be buried with its
ancestors in the grave of the Past; and
it reminds me OF Longlclows's immor.
tai words
"Lct the dead past bury its dead;
Act! act in the living present,
Heart within, and God O'crhcad."
As Job says, How lorcible are right
words - Both reason aud reye ,ation
teach US that only the present time is
ours, and oh that we may improve it
in preparing for that long eternity
that circle without beginning or end
upon which We must oou enter-where
there is no yesterday or tomorrow, but
all Is one eiernui a0W. With David let
US pray that the Lord may $50 teach us
to humber our days that we may apply
our hearts unto wisdom" The follow.
lng are sage words, oh. that they might
strike the heart Of each and every one
of us with persuasive energy, and awake
US to new and living effort for the good
of our fellow men: II expect To 90
through this world but once if, there
fore, there be any Kindness | can show.
or any good thing | can do to any fellow
human being let me d, it now. Let
me not defer or neglect it, for | shall
not pass this way again" The good
old year Is about to leave us, and it
carries with it, in it's lonely departure,
all the burden of its accumulation by
the way. In the bundle about to be
wrapped up and cast aside may be
found, oh how various collection -
Here bright and joyful circumstance,
which, though a thing Of the past.
memory still cleaves to with a devotion
truly grateful and intense. And there
perhaps an hour of tried affliction or
painful anxiety, so sad SO sorrowfuI,
that we would ain forget it if we could.
Thus is the scene of the year chequered.
like Joseph's coat of many colors. Not
one long line without any divergence
but made up Of little crooks and turns
all however uniting to make perfect
whole; for the chain of His Providence
is always united and harmonious though
1t may not always appear SO to US.
We dread to part with the year that
has become so much endeared to us by
long familiarity; it is like losing
much loved friend. But the fiat is
passed The decree has gone forth
and cannot be altered. The summons
has come and must be obeycd. The
sound Of its retreating footsteps coming
to us in the solemn stiffness of the
nlght.watches serves to remind us of
that hour when the angel shall proclaim
those woudrous words, "Timc was, time
is, but time shall bo no more"
But though the old year is dying, the
new is just opening into existence. As
Spurseon says, "wheu the year has
finished its evangelistic mission there
comes another to preach the same lesson
again" This we are ever learning
And shall We not. then, come to the
knowledge Of the truth? On every side
is some prospect by the perusal of which
We may be benefited Every waving
tree, every twig and every flower has
its lesson for the thoughtful mind
Nature is great aud grand Instructor,
and the truths she teaches us are such
as refine and elevate our minds, as make
us filter for this world and the next
We are now sowing and in due season
we shall reap if We faint not" and if
we be sorrow laden by the way we have
this comfortable assurance, that "thcy
who sow in tears shall reap in joy."-
But we must be careful what we sow.
Tor the hescripture says, BE not deceived
what man soweth that shall he also
reap" The great " Harvest Time" is
coming when the laborers shall receive
the reward of their service; aud "he
that endureth to the end shall be saved"
The Giver of all good says, "be thou
faithful unto death, and | will give thee
a crown of life" This he speaks to his
chosen servants, and he furthermore
says, him that overcometh will |
make pillar in the temple of my God,
and he shall go no more cut; and | will
write upon him the name of my God,
and the name of the city of my God,
'ohich is new Jerusalem, which cometh
down out of heaven from my God /: and
pW ~rite upon him my new name"
"Strive to enter in at the straight gate"
"The door of heaven is never shut,
To those, who, with repentant heart,
A.. %