The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-11
THE WANING OF OPPORTUNITIES.

1rust 10 Socrihce the general Soou 10
individual interests.
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THE WANING OF OPPORTUNITIES.
4 (Sclected for The Times Dispatch.)
80 wind tina; passeth away,
and comcth not aSain."--Psalm lSNviii.
50.
It seems to be an unchansins law
of Gods providence, with respect to
this present world, that nothing which
has passed away shall over wholly
come back. Something like 1t there
will often he. but the same thing
never. 1t is SO with nations and
men. Ono form of good may prevail
At one time, and one form ut another;
now one form OF evil may be de-
stroying souls, and now another; but
each particular form of good and OWL
passes away, and returns no more.
You might as We'll attempt to refill
the old deserted temples OF Egypt
with worshipcrs rs to recall the
usayes that prevailed among ourselves
two hundred or even nfty years ago.
Even our own hearts, our own
tastes, our own habits. feelings and
wishes and thoughts all change and
pass away We can no more recall
the ardors OF youth and tho rapturcs
OF childhood than we can bring back
the bodily conditions which were ours
then. We all of us know these things
perfectly well. and yet we live as If
we could recall the past or control the
future; as though we had the right
and power, without danger, to waste
and abuse the present.
And yet the Holy Spirit, IN the
Psalm from which our text is taken
compares the flesh--that is, man-and
all his works and opportunities to -
wind that passcth away and comc.h
not again" And in another Psalm,
sadly familiar to us all. there Is the
same testimony with respect TO our
selves and all we think we have-"so
soon passc,h it away. and We ara
gone"
We have each our allotted time OH
earth, short or long, as God ordalns
in His infinite wisdom and love. In
that allotted time we have each or
us certain measure o. trials ana
temptations, OF mercics and blessings.
OF helps and announcements but Il
rests with ourselves whether we use
them. or neglect them, or abuse them
We may ba hard encd by trials or
brought nearer by them TO God: We
may yield to temptation, or resist it:
we may forsake our own mercies ami
blessings, or they muT win us TO love
God with an undivided love; we may
avail ourselves OF them. 1t all rests
simply with US. But there they are
and God sent them! If VIC turn them
to good account It is we'll; but If not,
when once gone. they arc gone for
ever. God, In Ills patience and pity,
may send others; but these, once lost,
can never be recalled, and We can
never be again as though we had not
had them! Think of the calls, and
warnings and mercies. and oppor-
tunties which have come to us. and
which VIC have sighted, wholly or in
part. from our youth up. Think OF
the prayers in which you might have
joined, and did not: of the holy sea
sons which might have brought bless
inSs TO your souls. but which, by Your
own negligence of them. because you
were too busy or idle. have not.
Think of the opportunities of becom-
ing, by the grace OF God, better men
and nearer heaven, which you have
neglected! All these have passed
away, and they come not again!
Still, Gods mercics are new every
morning; stlll He calls YOU lovingly
Are the number of your opportuniti. IS
and OF His mercies to be turned into
an argument for sighting them? Be-
cause YOU have forgotten how many
Eon have had and neglected, do you
think God forgcts them? DO you
think the Devil forget them? Be
cause they have been continued so
long. do you expect thclh TO continue
forever? All lines are good for re-
pentancc; day by day. every day, all
day. tn" year through. The more fire.
Gnentiy and continually we humble
ourselves before God, the better
O. accept this opportunity; accept
TINS chance Begin anew to-day, and
remember that this, like every other
occasion, passeth away, and cometb
not again!
"o"'" me hntihTpnotism bill proven;