THE CHRISTIAN JOURNAL. NEW-YEAR PROJECTS. OLD year! thou hast gone from amongst us. We shall never again behold thee. Thou hast lived out thy allotted period, and shalt nowhere now be found except on the page of memory. Thou didst bring with thee joys, but thou hast left behind thee sorrows, which have taken up their residence in many a heart, and it will be long before some of them can be expelled. Thou shalt be brought to a reckoning for thy deeds. The day may be distant, but it shall arrive, and myriads of immortals, who, like thyself, have disap. peared, shall find that "God requireth that which is past." We may forget the past, but it is a mistake to suppose that we are done with it for ever. Memory lives; memory is imperishable. It is a thing endowed with immortality: and though many things of the past year may be regarded as having been buried in the tomb of oblivion, a resurrection awaits them. The interview of that resurrection-day, will, to multitudes, be anything but a pleasing one. They will be glad to get a hiding-place anywhere from sins, for example, which will be there only as witnesses and accusers. The wisdom of every individual, without exception, is, to be in great haste, to hide himself now in the only refuge, because, in that day, those only are safe who have in time "fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before them in the gospel." The New-year has been ushered in by many in a manner indicative of a serious lack of true wisdom. As a fresh starting-point in life, it is the date of many and varied schemes. Man is a calculating being, and, if he made use of his power of forethought under the influence of proper motives, and directed it to proper pursuits, he would deserve our approbation, without incurring a word of rebuke. Let it be distinctly understood, at the very outset, that forethought, in itself, so far from being wrong, or prohibited, is positively commanded. But, as the very best powers and gifts may be prostituted to the very worst purposes, and employed and laid out in the very worst possible manner, a few words of caution and advice on this head will, we trust, be deemed seasonable as well as suitable. In the plans and projects which individuals devise or set a-going at the commencement of a year, the grand element of success is too frequently wanting, and that is the religious element. "The religious element!" say some-let religion be kept in its proper place, and applied to its proper objects; for surely there are many things which a man may purpose, and in which he may embark, without foisting in religion into them." We should like to have some of these objects named, into which the religious element could not consistently be introduced. Which are they? If the religious element cannot be introduced into them, or brought to bear on them, then, a Christian cannot consistently have anything to do with them. The Word of God expressly says, "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will VOL. V.-No. 49, N.S. JANUARY, 1854. A direct thy paths." "In everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." This is sufficiently explicit, and shows how thoroughly all the movements, undertakings, and projects of a Christian man, should be pervaded with a spirit which looks upon religious feeling and principle as the grand regulators of his character and life. The Apostle James administers a very suitable rebuke to those schemers who do not admit the religious element into their schemes and calculations. "Go to now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy, and sell, and get gain, whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." A wise man—and the man who cultivates religious feelings is entitled to be so called-never loses sight of the casualties of life. He may foresee that his plans and projects will require a whole year, at the least, before they can be carried out to the extent which he desires; but, at the same time, he takes into account that an event may occur to-morrow which shall so effectually obstruct him, as to oblige him to abandon his purpose entirely. There is wisdom in forethought. God justifies it. He sends us to the ant, "to consider her ways, for she provideth her meat in summer, and gathereth food in harvest." A man displays practical wisdom when he provides against inconveniences, for example, but in making such provision he must be watchful that no feeling of distrust in God's all-sufficiency mingle with his precaution, and he must not be forgetful that before a year has completed its cycle, a thousand contingencies, of which he had not the slightest anticipation, may start up to throw insurmountable obstacles in his way. These contingencies are all foreseen by God. They are permitted by Him, and a devout man always takes into account, when devising his plans, that "A man's heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps." A wise man introduces the uncertainty of life into his calculations, as well as its casualities. A young man may be anticipating his arrival at the threshold of three score years and ten, and he may get beyond it, but it is not impossible that before the last chime of 1854 has died on the midnight air, his ear may be deaf to its notes in the long sleep of the sepulchre. The bounty of Providence may have loaded the harvest field with so plentiful a crop, as to render it necessary for the husbandman to enlarge his barns; but it would be positively sinful for him, like a mere groundling, to be found gloating over his enlarged store of mere bodily comforts, adequate though they might be for the necessities of many years -forgetful that, though years had to elapse before the lease of his farm should terminate, he was but a tenant at will in the sight of God, and might that very night get notice, not only to quit immediately, but to leave all his wealth and enjoyments behind him. A prudent business-man may see a profitable opening for his merchandise in a neighbouring town, and he may conclude his arrangements to occupy it. We might be disposed to say that his ambition was greatly subdued, when, in the mean time, he had merely resolved to "continue there for one year. Nevertheless, whatever his hopes may be, and the promised countenance of others, in his enterprise may be, he has no manner of certainty that he shall see the expiry of that one year. He has youth on his side, and health, and capital, and a fair share of business, but what of all that? Life is ever "like a vapour. The east-wind of disease may but breathe upon it, and if it do, the vapour disappears. To a certainty, before the close of this year, the grass will be growing on the grave of many who are now filled with schemes, and full of hopes of success. The success of any scheme is the more likely, if it has been sanctified from the commencement. One way of sanctifying it, is, to begin with acknowledging God in it, and to carry it on under a sense of our entire dependence on Him-under a frame of mind that will be as willing to pause, if God wills it, as to proceed. There is no resisting of God's will, or frustrating of His purposes; and though He has concealed from us those events which shall certainly befall us, we ought, in everything, to recognize His will, and be prepared to acquiesce in it. When Paul had purposed to be at Jerusalem by a given day, and was bidding the Ephesians farewell, he gave them a promise of another visit to compensate for his leaving them amid so urgent entreaties to remain there, but, at the same time, he attached an important condition to this promise of revisiting them-“ if God will." He had heard of the divisions which had sprung up among the Corinthians, and concluded that his presence among them might tend effectually to allay them. He therefore promised to come to them shortly; but, feeling that while "a man's heart deviseth his way, the Lord directeth his steps," he was careful to apprise them of the condition upon which his promised visit could be paid "if the Lord will." We have already referred to the rebuke which James has administered to those who neglect to introduce the religious element into their New-year projects. Observe his wise counsel: "Ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that." Our Redeemer, our best example of holy feeling, gave a practical illustration how thoroughly all our desires and purposes should be pervaded with the religious element to which we have particularly referred. When drinking the bitter cup during the agonies of Gethsemane, he inquired of his Father, if it were possible that it might pass from him— if it were possible to make a sufficient atonement without having to endure these agonies any longer. But, at the same time, as if reminding himself, that it was his Father's will he came to execute, he said, "If this cup may not pass away from me except I drink it, thy will be done." As the commencement of a year is a starting-point with many in plans and projects, it is a fit season for the Christian to set his heart on objects which involve his spiritual well-being and everlasting prospects. Let him undertake them after having acknowledged God in prayer, because we may calculate on success when we can assure ourselves that we have God's permission. Let him undertake them, leaving it to the Lord to spare him to see their completion, or to disappoint him, or to remove him before they can be executed. Let those who may have hitherto been neglecting the things which belong to their peace, begin this year, saying, "I will take heed to my ways." "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest.' Too many are postponing the consideration of their spiritual and eternal interests, till they have done with the bustle of the world, thinking that in old age they will have nothing else to employ them. But have they security for old age? Have they security for to-morrow? They have not; and they deceive themselves by imagining that they may repent, and believe, and turn to the Lord whenever they choose, or like to do it. Samson was mistaken when he said, "I will go forth and shake myself as at other times." He tried it, but his former strength was gone from him. "To-day, if ye will hear the voice of the Lord entreating you, harden not your hearts. Now is the accepted time and day of Biration" I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy emmandmente" -WE: 150 Dot from this time, co me, My Father, tops ars the guide of my youth!" "The time past of our life may suice DF to have wrought the will of the Gentiles" -Christ died, that they who Ire should not fire to themselves, but to Him who died for them, and rose again" -Nice of us Breth to himself and no man diet to Limself: for whether we lire, we live to the Lord, and bether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we Ere, therefore, or die, we are the Lord's" LORD, TEACH US TO NUMBER QUE PATS. 1 Cor. xv. 52. * If after the manner of men* I have fought with beasts 2 Erbesas, what alrantageth it me. If the dead rise not ? let us eat and drink; ke t-mar we de't Heb. ix. 27. Psalms xc. 12. wisdom. It is appointed to men once to die, but after this the jairment.” - Do teach us to number our days that we may apoy our hearts unto MEN Eve as if they would never die. May we not say this of the mass of mankind? Nay, more, is it not just because they know that only a short space separates them from the boundary at which they must withdraw from and leave behind them all that earth has bestowed, that, on this account, they are determined to use life while they have it? "Death maketh pale, O man!" This is, indeed, a significant truth; which, however, fares like every other truth which is placed at the disposal of man. If, in the one hand, it is a staff on which one may lean for support, in the other it becomes a serpent. Death maketh pale: well, then, “let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die." Death maketh pale: "Come on, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that are present; and let us speedily use the creatures like as in youth. Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they be withered." Thereupon, the question might present itself, What is pale death? Is it the dark wall, at which every traveller must stop, and-sink? Is it sleep, undisturbed by dreams? Or is it the dark wall, on the other side of which begins the holy land —the fleeting moment, the short bridge, on which the brief sleep of time meets the long waking of eternity The wall is dark at which the days of this life end. That Lo one will deny. But if the door in it could only be seen! I mean the little open door in the dark wall, through which there shines the grandeur of the judgment-day! Judging from appearances, we should indeed believe that by far the greater number of men have never seen this little door, although it continually stands open. Indeed, it seems as if they were sitting at the banquet of life, like Belshazzar at the feast, whilst it never occurs to them that, meanwhile, there is a dark and silent hand-writing on the wall, "Though art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting." But I must still think that this is only in appearance. I do not believe there exists a single human heart in which there has not, at one time or other, been awakened a foreboding of the terrors of the judgment-day. That death shall be the end of all things, no one believes, or, at least, not constantly. And will not what is there continued unite with the thread that is broken here? And if it does unite, will there § Dan. v. 27. be no accuser, to bear witness of lost hours, of despised mercies, of desecrated places, of unnumbered crimes, of hidden secrets of wickedness? If even in the frivolous heart there were no anticipation of the judgmentday, of a reckoning to be made, why this fleeing from solitude? Why, if not that there is even here an accuser, who upbraids man in his hours of loneliness with his undischarged reckoning. Why the constantly renewed resolution to change his manner of life, and seek out new paths?-were but the strength equal to the wish! But At thirty, man suspects himself a fool; Knows it at forty, and reforms his plan ; At fifty chides his infamous delay, In all the magnanimity of thought Resolves, and re-resolves; then dies the same." Such serious thoughts as that of the judgment-day, do not indeed float on the surface; thus it may come to pass that many people seem more lightminded than is really the case. But when men of God come, who throw their plummet deep into the frivolous heart, then indeed its depth is made manifest. No one suspected, that in the heart of the governor Felix, the pleasure-seeking, avaricious, Roman worldling, there dwelt any fear of eternity; but if it were not so, why is it said, “And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time.' O certainly, in that deep sorrowfulness that seizes men at the thought of separation from the good things of this life, there dwells always somewhat of the fear of eternity. Now raise the mournful dying song, Thy earthly course may end. Truly, the seriousness which arises at the sound of this word, Eternity, is not merely the result of anxiety concerning that which men leave behind, but also Acts xxiv. 25. of anxiety concerning that which awaits them. No one can be happy in this life who is not certain of blessedness in the future life. Yes. Who is not certain of it. How deeply have I felt humiliated at a time, when as yet I did not know what was my belief, and whilst I held long disputations as to whether there existed an immortality, and as to its nature, at hearing devout Christians speak concerning it as if they were come hither from that land. Thus it is, that, "He who believeth hath everlasting life," and "hath tasted the powers of the world to come."§ How, indeed, is it possible that he, whose happiness is not in God, should be truly joyful in this life, seeing that every moment leads him further away from the land that contains all in which his heart rejoices! Every stroke of the clock, every falling grain of sand in the hour-glass, proclaims that a portion of his life, and with it a portion of his spirit and joy, has passed away. Dost thou hear the gentle, mournful song, which the softlyfalling sands of the hour-glass are continually singing? O man, consider thoughtfully, Thy days and years how few. We never cease to run. Thy latest hour is done! O beloved friend, if then it is ordained for man, that no one can be truly happy in this life, who is not assured of future blessedness, "seek to live as thou wouldst wish to have lived when thou comest to die." Lay hold of eternity in time, and, above all things, embrace Him who hath said, "He that believeth on me hath everlasting life!"-Tholuck's Hours of Devotion. ↑ John iii. 36. Heb. vi. 5. |