BY the time this issue of the Magazine is in the hands of most of our readers another year will well-nigh have run its course. The ending of a year and the beginning of another ought to be a time of reflexion for every serious minded person. We know what is past; we know not what is before us. A merciful Providence has veiled the future from our eyes. The lot appointed to each of us with its joys and sorrows is known to Him alone who has set a bound to our habitations that we cannot pass. To many the year on which we are entering will recall to their memory those vacant places which will no more be filled on earth. Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, who were with us a year ago are gone and one feels with their departure as if the world had changed. But while Scripture does not forbid us to weep for the beloved dead, it exhorts us not to mourn as those who have no hope for those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. In the Church in general and in many of our readers’ homes these vacant places are reminding us and them of the transitoriness of life and the duty of setting our own house in order.
It is solemn to think that at the very time these lines are being written there are thousands living who will not see the New Year. And what guarantee has any of us that we are not among that number. The young are looking forward to this new stage in life’s journey with eagerness and hope and while we would not desire to bring anything into their young lives which would mar the innocent joys of youth yet it is well that they should be reminded that life is not a fantastic dream. We wish them well—well, in the highest and truest sense. An interest in Christ as their Saviour in the days of their youth would be the beginning of a joy that will never have an end. The god of this world is dangling before their eyes the fleeting pleasures of time, promising them happiness in the enjoyment of the world and what it has to give. Let our young friends listen to the testimony of those who have drunk deeply of these wells and ponder well their testimony—vanity of vanities, all is vanity. In the mind of the writer there lingers the memory of words spoken by a Nathaniel-like Christian (Wemyss Mackay, Halkirk) close on forty years ago. In parting with him he said in words we have never forgotten—”There is none happy but who are in Christ.” The words, so simple in themselves, yet uttered with such feeling, keep the memory of that parting at his gate ever fresh in our minds. We wish our young readers that this happiness may be theirs. May they seek that wisdom the merchandise of which is better than that of silver and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies and all the things we desire are not to be compared to her. “Length of days is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace” (Provs. iii. 16, 17). The older we grow the more do we feel for the young people of our Church as they go out into the world and when they are suddenly faced with temptations and erroneous religious views of which they were entirely ignorant under the sheltering care of godly fathers and godly mothers in the homes of their childhood. Let them never be ashamed of that which is founded on the Word of God however few receive them. It has been a long cherished dream of ours that some day or other a small magazine would be published suitable for the young people of our Church
in which matters of special interest to them might be discussed but whether we shall ever see this dream realised remains to be seen.
There are among our readers, we have no doubt, quite a number whose thoughts are solemnly turned to the end of their earthly journey. They are being reminded in many ways that they are not to live always here. The years have passed over their heads without their knowledge and now they feel themselves within sight of the end. To some no feeling of regret will grip their heart for while they may not have full assurance of their salvation yet they hope they can say if only with faltering tongues—”I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (II. Tim. i. 12). For them life has not been a barren wilderness eaten up at the end with infinite regrets; they had their struggles; the battle with sin, the flesh and the world, at times, seemed to go sore against them but they are within sight of the last enemy and the last conflict. They came into this world children of wrath and they are leaving it the heirs of the hope of eternal life through the kindness and love of God their Saviour. But what shall we say to those who have no right to entertain such a hope? How solemn it is when, as Dr. Macdonald puts it, Age and Ignorance and Death meet. Still He has not yet risen to shut the door forever and as the hours of opportunity are flying swifter than a weaver’s shuttle it behoves the aged unconverted to cry to God to have mercy on them and pray that His blessed Spirit may teach them now to do so.
There are many of our readers who do not come within the categories of those we have mentioned as far as age is concerned and here again we have the two classes—the saved and the unsaved. Have the passing years any message for them? Many of them are still in the full vigour of youth, they are keen and eager, they are going to do great things. Those whose days are passing into the sere and yellow leaf cannot help at
times looking on with pleasure as they witness the zest with which youth tackles the obstacles that lie strewn across its path. This zest, if directed in right channels, is a God-given gift and may under His guidance prove an unspeakable blessing to His cause in the world. There are mighty problems facing the world to-day and those who are entering on the long drawn out battle line have a tremendous struggle before them but with grace in their hearts and zeal for the glory and truth of God and with full purpose to continue the conflict in His strength who knows what work may be done for His sake in these islands? But graceless warriors, however much they may lay about them with weapons of their own furbishing, will fail in the day of trial. Happy are those who have believed and who are equipped with the whole armour of God for they shall be valiant and do exploits in the name of their King and it shall not be said of them they failed when the Cause of truth needed help.