New years greetings
"Hold
up my goings in Thy
paths, that my footsteps slip not." -Psalm
17:5 [KJV]
Without
scrupulously or superstitiously observing "days, and months,
and times, and years," few of us altogether pass by so marked an
epoch as the dawning of another year upon our path without some
acknowledgment of it both to God and man. When we open our eyes on
the first morning of the year, we almost instinctively say, "This
is New-year’s day." Nor is this, at least this should not be,
all the notice we take, all the acknowledgment we make of that
opening year of which we may not see the close.
When we
bend our knees before the throne of grace, we mingle with thankful
acknowledgment for the mercies of the past year, both in providence
and in grace, earnest petitions for similar mercies to be experienced
and enjoyed through the present. Last evening witnessed our
confessions of the many, many grievous sins, wanderings,
backslidings, and departings from the living God during the year now
gone; this morning witnesses our supplications for grace to hold up
our goings in His paths, that our footsteps slip not through the year
just come. Tears are most suitable at the burial of the dead; hopes
and desires at the birth of the living.
The past year was
the departed sire, worn out with age and infirmity; the present year
the new-born babe in the arms of the smiling nurse. It is still,
however, mid-winter. To-day, the first of the present year, differs
little in outward appearance from yesterday, the last of the past.
But the thoughtful, prayerful mind takes little notice of wintry
skies. It feels that the old, worn-out year has sunk into its grave,
with all its trials and afflictions, and that a new year has come in
its place, with its new hopes and new mercies; and if it bring new
trials, yet that the promise still stands, that new strength will be
given to meet and overcome them.
Refreshed and
strengthened at the throne by such or similar communings with the God
of all our mercies, we go down to meet our families, and are at once
greeted on all sides with, "I wish you a happy new year," a
greeting which we as warmly and affectionately return. Almost every
friend, well-nigh every acquaintance that we meet with in the course
of the day, greets us with the same kind wish. Now in all this there
may be a great deal of formality, lip-service, and traditional usage;
but there may be also a good deal of sincerity, kindness, and
affection.
We are not, surely, so shut up in miserable
self as to have no desire for the health and happiness, the temporal
and spiritual welfare, of our families, our friends, or even our
acquaintances. And if we desire their good, we need not be backward
or unwilling to express it in a few words of friendly greeting. "Be
ye kind one to another, tender-hearted;" "Be pitiful, be
courteous;" "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you,
live peaceably with all men," are precepts imbued with all
the spirit of the gospel, and may be, indeed, should be, attended to
without the least sacrifice of that faithfulness which becomes those
who would daily walk in the fear of the Lord.
There may be
a form of kind words as well as "a form of sound words;"
and as we may use the latter in perfect harmony with the doctrines of
the gospel, so we may use the former in perfect harmony with the
spirit of the gospel.
-preacher J.C. Philpot (1802-1869 A.D.)
January 1st, EARS FROM HARVESTED SHEAVES
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