The Christian treasury (and missionary review).

Sandford, Mrs Lucy E.
Sangster, Margaret E.
Schmolke
S. H.
Simpson, Rev. David
Smith, Kathleen Mary
Smith, Robert, A.M.
Smuller, Emma A.
Spurgeon, C. H.
Stevens, Rev. L. C.
Stuart, Rev. Kenneth Moody
Symington, late Rev. William,

D.D.

Taylor, Rev. Wm. M., D.D.
Thomson, Rev. J. H.
Thurber, Hon. C.
Touch, G. A.
Towert, Rev. John, B.D.
Townsley, Fannie É.

Walker, Anna D.
Walker, Rev. N. L.
Wangermann, Dr
Watson, T.
Watts
W. M.
Wyeth, Mary C.

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CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF VARIOUS

EVANGELICAL DENOMINATIONS.

HE situation of Paul and his years are threescore years and ten.' That

companions, when in the storm has great power over us; it springs out of
they “fell into a place where our love of life. And as year after year
two seas met,' aptly illustrates carries our life away, as a flowing river does
the position in which we often the bark to the boundless sea, each as it
find ourselves in providence. disappears must command our thoughts and
They were in cross-currents sway our feelings as few things else can.
with their opposing forces, or in The year is filled with a mingled stream of

a narrow channel connecting privileges, mercies, failures, and sins. God has two seas, laying them open to the fierceness cast into it providences, provisions, numberof both ; and we are often in a position in less and rich ; and inwoven with all, as a which directly opposing providences bear seamless robe, giving them their lustre and down upon us, driving us in contrary direc- value, is 'the grace that is in Christ Jesus.' tions. One season at which we periodically We have cast into it neglect, failures, and fall into such a situation is the New YEAR. sins. And now these dissimilar and inconThen the past and the future are on us as gruous elements are gone rolling down the strong and contending gales, and the surge food, apparently a mere tumbling, vanishing they raise is often great.

mass. But, as we watch, one thing grips the We must look at the past. We cannot help conscience, saddens the heart, subdues the ourselves : our whole nature constrains us to whole man. These sins are ours; and they do so. More than a traveller is constrained to have got their depth and tone of colouring in turn and take one last look at scenes he guilt from their very connection with the knows he shall never revisit, are we impelled blessings God was bestowing upon us. They to take a long earnest gaze at the year just either rose exclusively out of, or going, and as we do so many things strangely aggravated by, mercies slighted, providences affect us, drawing us back to it, and making despised, opportunities unheeded, invitations us unwilling to let it go.

scorned, or calls to faith and work contempThere is the flight of time. It may not be fast, tuously set aside. And if sometimes we nor noticeable, as an arrow through the sky; seemed to rise to the occasion, we are now but it is constant, sure as the circuit of the so conscious that we have fallen far short, that earth round the sun. This time is not life ; | by the very fascination of regret we are held but its lapse is the measure of life. A certain to the past; its tug and strain are upon us. length gone; life is gone. "The days of our The past cannot be recalled ; we cannot

were

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The Christian treasury (and missionary review)., Volum 38,Utgave 1882