Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-02
OLD YEAR AND THE
NEW RESOLVE.
Impressive New Years Sermon DeiiV-
cred by Rev. Joel B. Slocum, D. D.

The Old Year and the New Resolve
was the subject of an impressive New
Years sermon delivered by Rev Joel
L. SIocum. D. D., pastor of the Central
Baptist church, on Sunday evening.
In part DIR. Slocum said:
The old year is ebbing out like the
tide. In a few hours it will be low
tide and all that we called 1915 will be
the tide of the new year will begin to
come in. With the outgoing year
many hopes, many fortunes and alas!
many lives will go. With the incom
ing year new hopes will be born and
new opportunities created.
But life will continue very much in
the same old way. Tomorrow will not
be different from today Its name
call it January 1st 1917, but that will
not change its character. These ami
versaries are only the human marks
that we put up for our convenience
But, Notwithstanding all this, there
is something impressive in the fact
that another milestone has been
reached in the pilgrimage of life 1t
is not time that goes. Time stays
we 60 But each milestone that we
reach is a reminder that we have been
just that much longer on the road
just that much farther from the place
where we began the journey, and that
much nearer the end of the road.
The old year suggests death. Some
thing that was, but no longer is. But,
If it is not too much of a paradox,
Death implies life; and not simply the
life that has been, but the life that is
to be.
seems synonymous with universal
death. The trees seem OF be dead; but
they are only sleeping. The spring
time will awaken them and bring them
once more into beauty. So it is with
the people and the things that passed
With the passing year Though death
came and took loved ones and our
hearts were numbed with grief, yet
those same loved ones yet live. This
is a part of our Christian hope Be
cause He the Son of God, lives, we
shall live also.
Also, the old year suggests change.
There were many changes in the old
year. Some of them pleasant and some
of them painful. But there is One who
does not change; who remains change
less throughout all the vicissitudes of
the centuries. Change and decay in
all around I see o Thou who changest
not, abide with me.
Then, too, the old year reminds us
of time. But over against time we
place eternity The soul of man was
created for eternity. Time is a thin
slice Of eternity and measured by what
we call hours, and days and weeks,
and months, and years. Unreasonable
eternity beckons to these souls of ours
What we do we must do quickly II
lIII0s LOT eternity waits ana calls.
At the end of the road stands the
ageless Christ. 1t was He who in
spired His apostle to write the words
i have chosen for the text: 81 count
not myself to have apprehended, but
this one thing I do. forgetting those
things which are behind, and reaching
forth unto those things which are be-
fore, I press toward the mark of the
prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus"
This was the resolution of the apos-
tie. Let each fand all of US make it
ours The great aim and purpose of
our life should be to win Jesus Christ
and to make His aims and ideals our
own. In order to do that we must
forget the past. At least to all prac-
teal purposes we must forget it by
cutting away from all its entangle-
ments. Then f1inging ourselves into
The new year let us determine that we
shall realize the great controlling pur-
pose for which Christ called us into
service.
We may make ever so many New
Year resolutions, but if we forget to
center all our physical and spiritual
energies in attaining Him and His
righteousness, we shall make out of
life a miserable failure. The triumph
ant, living Christ is not only the goal
but He is the road and companion of
the journey. Let us commit ourselves
to Him for the coming YEAR