The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-31

THOUGHTS FOR THE sEAsoN-sERMoN BY THE
REV. GEORGE D. vosBuGGH.
Rev. Mr. vosburgh, pastor OF tho Baptist Church on
Jersey City Heights, preached from Judges XIX, H.
last cause--.Whiiher goest thou? and whence
contest thou?n In treating the subject suggested ny
the outgoing and incoming years Mr.. vosburgh re-
marked We stand to-day near one OF the crossroads
OF lie, where the old and the new year meet and part
forever Though tho OF life may engage US
that the fight OF days and months may be unnotced,
yet when year irrepressibo instinct prompts
to pass Its events in review before Our lives are
made up OF series OF closings the past is closed
ended forever. Seventyseven is as eectually ended
where at the last Gay the angel swears that time
Is more. Year follows yoar, but az they pass they
leave impressions upon the heart which 1t will carry
forever Twenty, thirty, sixty years-where have
they gone We go to the shores and call them. but
they will back we shall meet again, but It
will be on the other side. How many joys, how many
bright hopes long cherished. how many lives, are
borne along with each year 10 Its horizon and like 1t
sink OUT OF sight How oited hopes have
trirmpncd over our fcars Wn all look back to
days that dark with sorrow days which threat
cned TO ovcrwhelm US but they hnaly passed and et
us unframed. Fears and doubts have gathered about
our hearts, threatening storms gather IN
summer skies, which, passing 70 the East
fall IN harmless lightning; while stars rain
down their quiet iustre on our homes What have we
to show tor tho year through which wo have Gomez
what nave We really RutueTeu tuut We Ctn Caii ouf
own? In these depressing times, when so many have
lost thor wealth. AMI homes upon which shadows
OF another kind have fallen, persons arc apt 10 say,
son have brought nothing but sorrow trouble dis
appointment toars, all the way." But success has
Its dangerous sdc How often as mon grow wealthy
do they grow conccited and vain and proud aud
seash-self- mauc men, who worship their crcatorY
What is called prosperous year IN the sight OF man
IL the sight OF God and angels may appear the most
disastrous. Men grow rich IN purse but lean In
soul: when men go down the outside they 60 up on
the inside. Lie, not death. Is the ultimate. He
has had u blessed year who, though no has
built no mansion that man can see has
been 1ashioning his character in the likeness
OF his GOD. He is the richest man whose soul Is the
purest whose Christ Is the strongest, whose
hone is inc brightest. Men will DO surprised when
they reach the world to nd that their darkest
and stormiest days, and the days in which they
thought they were doing the least were their best
days aud those IN which they did the most Many q
man has gone from mansion into garnet In order
that by and by he night 60 from carrot into the
..Fathor's house of many mansions" SO as we look
back into the year that Ia past let US think not OF
what we have lost-whether II DO wealth
or some sweet voice that for this world Is
silent forever--but OF what we have gained
Have VIC gained in all those qualities which make
manhood noble and womanhood divineY Have we
ii ore faith God and Christ to-day than we had
year agoY Have more charity and sympathy Tor
men and are wo more like our Lord ana MnsierY Our
the development Of the heart the bringing OF the
whole nature into union ana sympathy with God II
we ave gained these things, then II matters not
what may have lost; the year has been blessed
year. with all Of Its apparent disasters 1t has been
fNll al