Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1903-01-15
NEW YEAR GREETING.

come to greet you at the close OF the
old year and the ushering Of the new.
You have doubtless had a merry Christ
mas, and now we heartily wish you a
Happy New Year, but first we must re-
view the Old Year. Another volume Of
life's Record has been closed.to be open
ed no more until earth and sea shall
deliver up their dead, and humanity
come forth in immortal youth and Wig
er.
Last New Year book with 365 pages
as clean and white as the driven snow"
was placed in your hands. When the
! first day of the new year was passed the
drst page OF the new book was filled,
and so on the year round, When you
began the years work had you not re-
solved on a better life? You promised
yourself and God that if spared through
another year you would do more for his
cause than you had done the previous
year. On opening this book we find
perhaps the very first page all blotted.
When you see copy copybook blot
ted you say that is the result of care
lessness. When you see letter blot
ted you sigh What pity"
But here is whole years record of
your own life sealed up and gone into
the hands CT Gods recording angel who
keeps the archives of heaven, and yet
we find its pages so blotted that we can
scarcely read many of them. They are
blotted it may be with sins you would
not have read out for millions OF wealth
and yet they are found there in the vol
of your life, which has just been done.
Shall they be there when this book is
opened on the day Of judgement? They
will, unless washed away by the blood
of Jesus.
Are you willing to stand by and de-
fend the record you have made the past
year? Accounts may be forged against
you in this life, but this record is in
your own handwriting, and you are for
ced to answer as did PLATE, What
have written have written"
The Old Year is rolled bacH upon the
tide of ages and is numbered with the
years that are no more, but its record is
filled away in the archives of eternity,
and will be brought forward on the day
of final account. To meet that day let
US all prepare.
Let us turn our attention to the New
Year. The happiest year, whatever be
it joys or sorrows, is that which is spent
in laying up the richest treasures in
the way of character and good deeds.
To secure this let us kindly urge you
1. Spend each day as though it were
to be your last. Keep in view the fact
that your life here is the "seed time"
of which eternity is the harvest. 1t
is this that makes a moment such a
mighty thing" Therefore, spend
'life's brief hour we'll" and "heaven's s
eternal year is thine"
2. Be diligent in the use of all the
appointed means of grace, especially on
the preaching of the word, the sabbath
school and prayer meeting. 1t is said
Benjamin Franklin, about to sail for
J Europe, thus advised his daughter go
! constantly to church whoever breaches.
The act of devotion is your principal
business there"
3. See that you truly receive the
Lord into your hearts and make Him
, welcome guest. ITO a thirsty man
thousand pearls are not worth one
, drop of water. So to dying man a
Thousand worlds" are not worth one
ray from the cross of Christ"
f. Make sure that your are in Christ
saved by his cleaning blood and by the
renewing power of the Holy Spirit. A
mistake on this point would prove ia.
: tai.
5. Conscecrate yourself and all you
t have to Christ Were you to give Hin
all you have it would be poor return
D for what he has done for you, ant
whether you eat or drink do it all tt
the glory OF God. "
8. Remember that slime is short
and millions of shipwreched souls are
crying for help. viii you help? Time
flies; death urges; eternity pleads foi
' them. The "King's business requir
' haste"
D Yesterday, with all its sighted op
y portunities can not be recalled; but to
5 morrow with all the unfolding future
: may, like the milk way" be studded
y with priceless gems of rare loveliness
e and the year be filled with the "fullnes
l. of God"
II And when these earthly years are
y done what glorious and endless New
}, Year will dawn in the New City tn,
n New Jerusalem above.
&c Wishing you all Happy New Year
n l am your aftiectionate pastor,
IS w. I. DALE.