The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-01-01
The Old Year and
the New
A Sermon for New Years Eve
by
REV. STEPHEN PAULSON

NV Times are In Thy hand.-Psalm 31:l5.
CAD and solemn are the last hours
of the dying year. Only a few
~ months ago a New Year was
given unto us, fresh and pure from
Gods great storehouse Of time. 1t
has spent its life upon the earth, and
its footprints will never be effaced.
The departing year has brought to US
Gods numberless blessings; 1t has
seen many noble deeds done, and II
has seen progress in many depart
ments of life.
The passing of another year must
emphasize to every thoughtful person
the swift flight of time. Looking
backward over the past years OF our
life they seem to shrink to the size
Of beads strung around a child's neck
Seeking an image of mans career, the
prophet sees his days swifter than a
weaver's shuttle; his years swifter
than an arrow, curving as 1t rises 10
its fall. What is mans life? he asks
It is a cloud dissOlving in the sun
shine. It is a summer brook swollen
by sudden rains. but soon running Out
and leaving the stones bare again
1t is a tale that is soon told.
These last days Of the old year urge
us to husband well the time that is
still given us. To shrub year
means only leaf; to the vine, cius
| ter; to the tree, new ring or wood
But to a man q year means large
norton of his life which has beer
used or wasted. Youth often unthink
ingly throws all responsibilities on Tho
wears TO come. To him everything
seems possible in the future. Then M
thinks TO have time for education
Then he will practice economy ant
thrift, let the present be prodigal al
II may. The morrow will suf1ce 10
the forming of habits and the buildini
Of character. So dazzled by the III
ture the youth allows the years L
slip through his hands, and the resul
is a man who is an intellectual infan
and a moral feebling. AS you paus
now and think over the past, 20
must realize that the morrow hold
no haryests which the labOrers calle
Yesterdays did not sow and cultivate
There was an ancient custom Of put
ting an hourglass into the coffin
the dead to signify that their tim
had run out-a useless notification
them. Better put the hourglass int
the hand of every living man to sho'
him how swiftly the sands of life d
flow. But. after all, time Is of valu
only as we make the best use OF 1t.
We live in deeds, not years; in thought
not breaths;
In feelings. not in figures on dial
We should cours time by heart-throb
He most lives
Who thinks most. feels the noblest, &C
the best.
The old year may hold our mar
failures. many disappointments, man
bitter regrets. The New Year holt
out to us hope and promise. for n
times are in Thy hand. o Lord.
should comfort us when we think
the brevity Of our years, to reali.
by contrast the length Of Gods year
We have but short time to wor
and II Is well to remember that
order that we may be dilligent. B
God has a whole eternity in WIFI
! TO work, and 1t is well to rememb
that also, so that we may cease fro
: fretfulness and Impotence at the sic
r progress of His kingdom among I
Jesus Christ has not ceased from r
redemption of the world MOI, has G.
:. been defeated in His plans for b
mainly, for the times of men a
nations are in His hand.
For most of us the memory Of (
past Is a chamber of discomfort. L
therefore the old year bury fro
|, sight its story of sin and sorrow a
failure. Let there be sincere repel
ance for the follies of the past. a
then let new man step forth to m,
: with hope and determination the 81
y New Year which God desires shall
blessed year for every child
earth. When God forgives. He Z
gives utterly. He casts mans s
"into the depths of the sea-" W
: then should memory thrust its hooi
pole into the sea to dredge the b
tom and bring up by the locks so