The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-01-13

could have been accomplished Were
the years blanks? or was there a half
or full crop?
Have the years passed and the IN
changing Christ not your friend? o,
wasted years! No wonder the Lord S
prophet asked, How long hault we be-
between two opinons?" Why hesitate
to choose between the slavery of sin
and bondage to Satan and the liberty
OF Christ? If former years have been
squandered, not this year be used the
sameswaY. Sad alas, these truths are
they fall upon our ears and make moth
ing more than a passing impression.
Past the turn of life, going down but
whittier? Let not the year go against
your account.
We pause as we enter the new year.
We recall the years that sparkled with
mercles and were full OF pleasures.
Did we scatter them to the winds or
lay them at the feet of our Master?
Was their music like the merry tink-
ling bells upon which was engraven
"holiness to the Lord?"
How shall we answer if this year also
is wasted and we plod along regardless
of the claims of our Saviour?
Continued Indifference makes the
heart callous. 1t may be a year of
mercy or of judgment. Now we are
related to mercy by and by we will
have to deal with justice. When the
dresser pleaded for the tree, it was
only for this year, thereby implying
limit. Poor unfruitful trees we arel
Planted in the vineyard yet not living
up to our duties Jesus pleads for US
but He will cease by and by. Doom
then will be fixed. We may go beyond
the limit of divine endurance If we
will not repent we must perish. If the
spade do not benefit US the AK must fall
at our roots. There will be last warn
ing, last chance. The present is our
only chance. From the cradle to the
tomb life is stupendous reality.
Squander youth and your one chance
in it is gone. Waste middle life, your
one chance IN it is gone. Fritter away
old age, there's but a single chance in
it. The reckless moral leper has no
second set of early years.
The last stage of the Pilgrimage will
be reached. 1t is just next to the Jordan
of death, and what wilt thou do in the
swelling of the Jordan? What if this
year should be thy last? The scene will
change, the curtain that hides the
future from our view will rise and
eternity will flash upon US. We will
hear the cry Behold the Bridegroom
cometh." Shall we go into the mar
riage supper? What a day! when the
righteous are caught up to this supper
Some are growing old, others are in
prime of manhood, many in the vigor
of youth, but any of US may hear the
sentence This year thou shalt die. "
There is in the nature of things limit
to the Divine endurance.
The new year greets thee and urges
the to prepare for the issue of eternity.
Awake, o believer, put on thy
strength for your complete salvation
is nearer than when you believed. Be-
fore the end of the year you may be in
paradise in all the glory of blssful
eternity. For this you have been labor
ing, Can you sleep so near your home?
With sweet anticipations we look for
ward to that rest. That will be bet
ter day than your birthday for it will
be your coronation day. Friends may
say you are dead, but the shout of the
angels will be, born to life eternal.
There is much yet to do. The more
good we do here the greater will be our
capacity for the enjoyment of happi-
ness hereafter. They will bring their
rewards. The more then we have of
them the greater must be our reward.
Do then with your might what your
hands find to do
There is abundance of work to do,
but only short time in which to do it.
May the Master grant you His bles-
sing this year also. We have had great
national prosperity, educational in
terests have increased. public toenefac-
tons have been conferred upon chart
table and educational institutions. The
attention of the church more than ever
has been turned to benifcince, but it
needs the presence of the Divine Spirit
to make the work effectual. Let the
voices of supplication ascend continually
to God, that the spirit may descend
with power that the church may be
quickened the impenitentlconverted and
folly and sin be averted.
ring, bells ring! for the King Is here;
Ring, bells ring! for the.glad new year,
He mounts his throne with a,smiling face
His scepter lifts with majestic grace.
Ring for the JOY his advent brings;
Ring for the happy song he sings;
Ring for the promises sweet and true
With which he gladdens our hearts
anew.