Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1906-12-31
DIR. WYATT ASKS,
HOW OLD ART THOU
Points Out That Life is
Measured By Works and
Not By Years
START NEW YEAR RIGHT

JlhNl NLW LINN NiUIi
How Old Art Thou?" was the sub
ject of DR.. c. T. Wyatts New Years
sermon at Harrison Street Church yes
terday morning. The text was from
Genesis AZ, s. DR.. Wyatt said:
Many regard this question as un-
civil, but the Oriental asks this Ques-
ton as naturally as We would ask.
How do you do? When III, the Chi
nese viceroy was in this country some
years ago, it was observed that he ask
ed this question with great frequency.
When Jacob went down into Egypt
Joseph presented his father to Phar-
oah, who was impressed with Jacobs
patriarchal appearance He bore the
marks of age. For many years he
supposed that Joseph was dead and
this trouble aged him. Pharoah said
10 Jacob, How old art thou? Jacobs
reply was full Of meaning He said.
The days of the years Of my pilgrim
age are a hundred and thirty; few
and evil have the years of my life
been He calls life a pilgrimage Like
his grandfather, Abraham, he looked
for a city that hath foundations
whose maker and builder is God. As
he looked back to the vanished years
of childhood It seemed only few
days. But they had been full of sor-
ROW, temptation and bitter experience
Life is short. We spend our years ae
la tale that IS told. At best it Is a
mixed cup. Let us remember we arc
pilgrims, and not allow the affairs of
earth to so engross our thought as "a
forget the duty we owe to God. But
lare Years the true measurement OF
llife2 It is often remarked that such
Ian one is the Oldest man in the COM
munity. SO he is. n you measure life
by the almanac. But there Is a higher
standard and one that commands the
Prospect OF reason and the appreciation
lof God. A writer has given us a good
definition Of life, and one well worth
remembering: Life is time prohtably
spent
"One Of our poets has said:
; We live in deeds not years; II
thoughts not breaths;
In feelings, not in figures on a dial.
We should count time by heart throbs
He most lives who thinks most, feel
the noblest, acts the best
THE time we spend in idleness ans
sloth is not to be counted in the rea
; life. But those hours in which w,
have been under the inspiration Of
noble purpose, which have been full
of noble deeds are to be counted In
He who does nothing to make tn
world happier and better does not liv
] at all; he simply has a miserable ex
4 istence. We should make a distinction
. between living and existing. Younl
4 hat said:
r Thine wasted is existence; used /
| life
r He who lives to serve Gods pur
r pose. 20 elevate humanity and to hel
1 usher in a reign OF righteousness 1
: living indeed.
s How old art thou?
THE answer comes: THE fftiet
milestone has been passed Wha
have you done for God and humanity
Have you been content TO sit still Will
the agents of Satan have been active
ly and aggressively engaged in thel
deadly work? What have you don
to rid the community of vice and I'm
Temperance. to establish civic virtu
and push forward the work Of Chris
{ in the world? Nothingl Then 70
have wasted the years God has give
you, and like Job you might wish Z
have them blotted out Of the calendar
How old art thou, professed Chris
= ton,
Thirty years ago 7 was born int
the Kingdom Of God by a spiritua
birth. says another.
But If you apply the same test, an
4 insist that life is time prohtably util
lied, how old art thou? To-day afte
these years have elapsed your zeal 70
. Gods cause and your passion to wi
souls is not as great as it was in in
hour Of your conversion. No famil
altar has been set up. An activ
Christian could have done more in on
year than you have done in thirty.
How old art thou? You reply. Is
the standard set up have not live
at all. The precious years Of my lii
have been wasted
do not yield TO disbursement. A
the bloody battle of Marengo IN
French line was routed. The officer
rushed to Napoleon. crying. The bat
tie is lost Yes said Napoleon. 'on
battle is lost but there is time to wi
another Inspired by his faith an
. IlpdAhHt tit 1liiNtIo MuIIlcQ Ddckt turn
ed the head Of the retreating column
and when in a few hours the last gu
was fired, the French camped on tn
field Of battle, and Marengo was woi
If the battle in the past year has bee
lost in business, or worse still. in YOU
struggle with temptation. remembe
there is yet time to win a bait,
Raise the standard. take courage, as
God to help you and victory will b
yours. God desires that this new yea
shall be the best year Of your life. Ar
you willing to help him? This is tn
n time for new start. You need no
r take the sins of the past year into IN
e new year. God is waiting to be era
+ cious The promise is. II we comics
II our sins, He is faithful and just to for
Y give us our sins, and to cleanse u
I from all unrighteousness. Let us pro
= At by the mistakes OF the past and con
It secrate our lives to the Masters ser
IS vice.
q Clothes Ruined bv Fire.