AS we write these lines it is with our eyes fixed on another milestone of life’s great journey, soon to be passed. We have travelled another stage nearer to the solemn day of reckoning, when the secrets of men’s hearts will be revealed by Him whom God has appointed Judge of the whole earth. The beginning of another year is, alas! too often ushered in by customs and practices that have long been a disgrace, and still are a disgrace, to our country. It is a time when the solemn words of the Apostle, which fell on the ears of Augustine like a voice from Heaven, should be given heed to by many—”The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Rom. xiii. 12-14). These words, weighted as they are with heavenly admonitions, are worthy the serious attention of all the sojourners who are passing over the road their fathers trod before them. The aged have special need of being reminded to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, for with many of them the day is far spent and fast approaching eventide, when there are not wanting manifest signs that soon they will behold their last sun-setting in this world. For the righteous the prospect is full of hope. The night of death will be ushered in by a day that will not be measured as the days of time by the coming of night. Eye hath not seen nor ear heard what the Lord hath prepared for them that love Him, and the entrance of the Lord’s redeemed on this state will be in the highest sense the beginning of days for them. On the day when they were effectually called by his Spirit, they began the journey, which with all its vicissitudes led them to this consummation. But there are others which, with the largest stretch of charity, of whom we can entertain no such hope. For them the words of Dr Macdonald, Ferintosh, have a solemn meaning—Age, Ignorance, and Death meeting together. To our aged readers still ignorant of Christ we recommend them to Him who came to the market place at the eleventh hour, and said:—”Why stand ye here all the day idle?” They say unto Him: “Because no man hath hired us.” He saith unto them: “Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right that shall ye receive.” (Matt. xx. 6, 7).
To the young the words of admonition make an especial appeal. They have bright visions of the future, and their minds are not yet sobered by the stern facts of life. Far be it from us to discourage the natural buoyancy of youth when directed in right channels, but we are painfully conscious of the tremendous appeal the god of this world is making to that liveliness of spirit which characterises the young. To them would we appeal to put on the Lord Jesus in the days of their youth so that the future might have more lasting and enduring and purer joys and pleasures than the world can give. If ever we are to see God’s face in peace, the young, as well as the aged, and for that matter of it, all ages, must be clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. The Word of God has made this abundantly clear, and it has told us in language that cannot be misunderstood that it is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His great mercy He saves sinners. It is our prayer for our readers, as it is for ourselves, that He would teach us by His spirit to see more and more our need of Christ, and apply His own precious truth savingly to our souls. And if such a work be wrought in us, He will see it carried on until the day of Christ, and with such a good hope through grace we can sing on our way as the years are passing:—
But I with expectation
will hope continually,
And yet with praises more and more
I will thee magnify.
Thy justice and salvation
my mouth abroad shall show,
Ev’n all the day; for I thereof
the numbers do not know.
And I will constantly go on
in strength of God the Lord;
And thine own righteousness, ev’n thine
alone, I will record.