, 1874-09-13

+ wa.er-gato ard they said to Ezra, Il
eIpounder (of :ile lnw) that he should bring TO
2. ward tho boo. of tile law of Moses (the Thora
i. which tue Lori commended to Israel. The
did Ezra. the priest, bring forward the law b.
: foro tho congregation. both Of man and Nonal
on the first day OF the seventh month, and
J road therein from tito first daylight until mix
tlay, and tho Of ali the people were directe
unto the book Of tie LAW, And Ezra stood u!
! on elevated stand, which was made for thl
purpose and he blessed the Lord, the Sreat Coz
J aud all people answered amen, amen! so the
read lu the book Of the law Of God, exhibitin
the seuso thereof 50 that the people unae7stoo
what was reau, and All the people were weep'n
When they heard the word OF God (being we
aware that they had failed against it, But til
Leritea quietcd the people and said: Be still
for the day is holy. and tlonot grieve yourselves
But why should Nc be si:liotad, according to th
tense Of this yeTac, mud .:hy slou!d its contcnt
grant us connolAtion2
Ny Friends: A retrospect into the Fast re
minds us. befozc cl OF t.o instability OF timo.-
every new year reminds us Of it. Those. VIII.
have socn many new year nud arc advanced il
ago teach us tho inconsistency Of LIE With tr1le
earn~stness: for to them the pant years are onl,
like one short day and can tbs consciousness ol
tie idea that our whole life is only ike Ehor
winter day ill lis with loy: That tho sun sink:
behind tlle horizon e1en after Its riscs l., there
fore, day which reminds us Of this fact moi
4 day Of mournfulness? Whilo Uo look baci
upon the past we experience, With sadness, the
/
ancestors at Jerusalem, and Aayc g. right to e1-
claim with the sufferer Job: "0ur days pass
Bwifter than runner; they lice AVA; they soc
10 happiness. They hasten along !lke private
! ships; like the eagle that Htoopeth down upon
his food'
Bat: away with. these sal ana sorronful
| thoughts 10 not Gricvo yourselves, fur the
| day is hol-, sa;s our to1t May days rns5 may
time lee; thougl, NO maj turu our ere back
| wards, wo proceed on Our way nevertheless, and
| may cyes march on iu such a manner AZ not
to DC behind time. Only lie vanislles with tins
! who takes the shadow for the being, wllo only
I longs for earthly gools-tho trno man never
ceases to be. His actions are positive and holy
! as is tho festival Of this day, provided he has
gained this his holiness, not by canonizaton, but
by deods Of love, BY purity and devotion Of his
hcart; lie will be eternal Le has found true life,
and his soul stands beyond the reach OF tluo.
The look into the future further shows uuto u.
how little find satisfaction in our present con-
dition Of life; for, Mas how many have lost
more during the past rear than they gained!
Mankind III i:s efforts aud e1crtions is natu-
rally directed to progress. Is it not, therefore,
sad and depressing for man, if lie socs to-day
spite Of his anxiety and sorrows? How much
more will those feel dissatisfied to-day, who
uoyer can get enough, and how painful is to-
day again ths recollection to those who have lost
during the last year 70 them our text spsaits
to-day Da no: sad ; for tho day il holy do
not grieye yourselves ThiH day, therefore,
should bo considered standing aboYo the
events Of time. So your losses have been limit
ed to money and earthly goods only. which had
been acquired by labor or eren by chance, and
which. therefore, you can repair Mt any time
after this: it should bo L lesson to you for the
future All those who were not coutentcd may,
therefore, bear their losses patiently and speak
with the psalmist: - 1t is we'll for 1ne that
have beon afflicted in order that I might learn
thy statutes: batter il unto me thy holy law
thAu thousands of rOll and silver" +"
Lastly, the retrospect into the past will show
unto lis that We hare altogether neglected the
aim aud task OF our life. The ouiy leading
thought Of mankind Of this day is: How do
Providence did not exclude wealth from our
earthly joys. it should only be usca as a means
to promote o11r happiness: and to bo charitable
toward our fcllow-1nen. Most Of us only loay
for the means. neSlectinG to make wso use OF
them. Yea, oven to-day. OH this day of re-
pentance. VIC pray with feryor for nourishmeut,
being rather indifferent to the prayer: Help
0 Lord. that may become 4 better mani"
III fact, it is very affecting to know that
pursuits wishouu: value, which are so
little becoming to the image OF God 80 that,
especially in our present modern time, religion
and morality almost appear to have vanished.
DO not even ministers Of the church seek pro-
lection under tho cover Of holiness to live indul
gently LII sin Are not seliHhneas and dlshon- |
esty at present spreading i'll our country to al |
alarming extent? j? But even wo, who hare to |
suffer by the transgrcssions Of our fellow-men, |
tiud consolation for their lmpOsttonB III our text.
Is Do not grioyo yourselves, for the day il holy"
it says; and this day Of carueat considerations
be witness that there still many,
many noble-feelng men in our midst. In direct !
to the hypocritlcal Fharlsee, We tlnd |
men who are well aware Of their true mission.
And even those sinners who were led astray
from the path Of righteousness are invited to-
day to partake OF the benefit Of repentance |
~ For lave no pleasure IN the death Of him that
leseryeth to die, saith the Lord Eternal, thcro-
fore convert yourselves and live" Therefore,
away with those shadows, those dark pictures
away, ye affecting thoughts! Let ,ls commence
Dur ncw year With joyful earnostness
Tho continuation of the past is the future.
perspective is opening hero boforo US. lily
friends, while NC know the past well, the future
lies hidden from our sight. Our efforts would
be in rain should wc try to penetrate into the
futnre; but though wo arc vol aware OF this
fact VIC are surrounded to-day by questions for
which we have no answer. What can expect
from the future? How will I got along during
he next year? How will I have to strive to
,aln the necessities of life? Will God grant to
No health? What lot has God destinuted to
ne?'' asks the caroworu head OF . family. |
i Will ho cndow me with strength to benz tho
ask OF lifo patiently? Will remain among my |
beloved ones, OF: will death tear tho holy bands
If matrimouy, and leave my wife behind nc 8
widow, and my children wcepis or
,hans?" Parents think. with emotion ''What
yil be our slara OF HorrO~s during the coming
1oar Will the darlinss of our hearts live, to our
oy-or will young troe in tue garden Of our
a1nily brcak down. OF q tendor flower fade before
t has doveloped?" But do not grieye for tho
lay is holy. and therefore it exacts from us to |
ontide ourselves and the futuro to Him, the
most holy.
In fact, how 1nnuy among lls embittercd their
ives, cherishing expectations which were not