The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-02


of tho preparation which YOU hav,
already done for him..
"rhe Lord Is at hand! This ougi
to ring In tho ears OF every man as hi
goes from tho old year into the new
Let us consider how a man become:
moro ana moro conscious OF God. ant
then how God comes actually closer tc
him year By year. Every. new experience
| is new opportunity of knowing God
/ Every experience is like q jewel sci
/ into the texture of our life on which
God shines and reveals Himself. And
God shines with new and special
revelation upon every sne.
To most or us--silall not say to
ail7--have come IN the past year ex-
periences unmct before. Some of you
may have known for the first time
what It is TO be poor. Perhaps some
have known (for the first timc) what
II is TO be rich. You have had your
first Illness. your first bereavement.
Some have entered into the Joys OF
family lie: some have become father
and mother. To some have come yet
deeper changes, which have left new
and uplifting ideals. These are tho
Jewels, set on the robe of your life.
And If In the past there have been
new and varied experiences. we may
rest assured that God will reveal Him
self yet more and more in the flu
ture. Every treasured experience will
enable US moro fully to comprehend
and adore the Maker and Father OF US
all.
In our own activity and personality,
there is sometimes danger lest we for
get the constant and manifest activ-
ity OF God Not merely shall grow
and be more able to understand, but
God also VIII be ever bringing new
things TO pass. He IS forever at work.
He has purposes for me, for you. still
unfolded. Therefore each year grows
sacred with a wondering expectation.
AS you and stand on the threshold
OF this new year, we may be sure OF
one thing-God will, through its med
iunl. open up for us IN one way or an
other fuller, wider. deeper life.
What Will He do this year, How
will He come near to man? None may
tell. Only this we know. that with a
world which needs so much, and With
q God vino knows its needs. and
knowing. loves and pities It. there
must be In this long year some dis
tinct approach of His life to ours; some
new and manifest coming of, the Lord.
And II this be true of the world In
general, shall 1T not be true OF US? AS
We look forward to the coming days
and months, we know that changes
must come. Something will surely
happen. 1t may be fuller life; it may
be death. But God Himself will actu-
ally come to Us, in each and all of the
unknown things which shall befan US
ere we see another New Years Day.
He is always coming 10 us, There is
no accident: nothing can happen to us
which is not His coming. TO know
this IS TO find the most trivial life
made solemn; the most cruel life made
kind; the most sad life made rich and
Beautiful.
Then go forth nobiy into the future
as those for whom greater thoughts
and deeds are stored. Go humbly, SOL
EMMY, brsve1y, as those who go to
meet their Lord. With quiet, firm,
serious steps. fun of faith, full of hope,
lit us arise and meet Him who viii
be our Judge. but is also our Saviour
and our Friend
II we are only now obedient TO His
Voice, He will make US tby the discI-
pline of all that is past) fit for His
visible Presence IN that everlasting
home, where days and years and time
shall be no more.
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