The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-01-05
Original gaper.
For he Democratic Adro1a,s.
The Death of the Old Year.

III us current, though we remain in-
sensible to the spiflness with which it
is hurrying us on to eternity. Another
year has sped, and passed into the land
Of forgetfulness, to be buried with its
ancestors in the grave Of the Past; and
1t reminds Inc Of Longielows's iinmor
tai words:
"Lct the dead past bury its dead;
Act! act In the living present,
Heart within, and God o'erhead."
As Job says, How iorcible are right
words! !" Both reason aud revelation
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 S Don enter-where
there is no yesterday or tomorrow, but
all is one eternal aoW. 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.
ing 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: ~ expect to 60
through this world but once if, there.
fore, there be any Kindness I can show,
or any good thing can do to any fellow
human being let me do 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 its 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 thing of the past,
memory still cleaves to with a devotion
truly grateful and intense. And there
perhaps au hour of tried affection or
painful anxiety, so sad, SO sorrowful,
that we would lain 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 aud turns,
all however uniting to make a perfect
whole; for the chain Of His Providence
is always united and harmonious though
it may not always appear SO to us.
We dread to part with the year that
has become so much eudeared to us BY
long familiarity; it is like losing a
much loved friend. But the fat is
passed. The decree has gone forth
aud canaot be altered. The summons
has come and must be obeyed. The
sound of its retreating footsteps coming
to us in the solemn stiffness of the
night-watches serves to remind us of
that hour when the angel shall proclaim
those wondrous words, Time was, time
is, but time shall be no more"
But though the old year is dying, the
new is just opening into existence. As
Spurgeon 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
rs refine and elevate cur minds, as make
us filter for this world and the next.
We are now sowing, and lin due season
we shall reap it we faint mott" and if
We be sorrow-ladeu by the way we have
this comfortable assurance, that "they
who SOW iu tears shall reap in joy
But We must be careful what we sow,
for the scripture says, "Be not deceived,
what man soweth that shall he also
reap" The great Harvest Time" is
coming when the lahorers shall receive
the reward Of their service; and "he
that oudureth to the end shall be saved"
The Giver Of all good says, abe thou
faithful unto death, aud l will give thee
a crown Of life" This he speaks to his
chosen servants, and he furthermore
says, It him that overoometh will l
mako a pillar iu the temple Of my God,
and no shall go no more out; and | will
write upon him the name Of my God,
aud the name Of the city of my God,
,chich is new Jerusalem, which cometh
down out Of heaven from my God and
ell ,crite upon him my new name"
"Strive to enter in at the straigh, gate"
"The door Of heaven is never shut,
To those, who, with repentaut heart
An entrance seek"
May the Lord bless the new year
with his loving favor, and to His name
! be all the praise. d.