DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS, Standing on the very threshold of another new year, may it not be well for us to pause for a few moments and remember the past. The year 1882 has passed forever—never to be gone through again; its joys are over, its sorrows are past. But stop―did I say “never to be gone through again?”―ah! that is not so; it will all come up again, and in thinking of this are you troubled? or can you say: “Well, I know that as far as my sins go, the blood of Jesus has answered for them all, and in looking forward I have no fear.”
But it is not of the past I would speak, but rather of the coming year, and how it is to be spent.
I am reminded of an incident that occurred some years ago, when in North Wales, and being anxious to ascend Mount Snowdon, I hired a guide and asked him what he would charge to show me to the top of the mountain. He told me, and I agreed with him, and started under his guidance, and trusting to his wisdom, because I was in a path I had never trodden before. I reached the top of the mountain, and had a magnificent view of all the surrounding country for many miles, and descended the other side in perfect safety. But not many days after came another young man, desirous of making the same ascent, but scorning to have a guide, trusting to his own wisdom to find the path, and reach the top in safety.
Well, he started, and had not gone very far when he missed his footing and fell from a terrible height into a lake below.
And how like his case is to some of the young people that I know. They think of entering on the new year without Jesus as their Saviour and Friend; they think of going by themselves; and ah! who knows what the end will be? But how blessed for those who commence with Jesus as their Saviour, Friend, and Guide, and then come what will, all is well.
This will be to such a truly happy new year, and I could wish that everyone who reads this paper might know for themselves what this true happiness is. If you have spent all your past years without Christ, come to Him now, and let this new year be the beginning of years to you—yea, the beginning of joys and happiness to which you have been as yet a stranger. My young friend, you who read this paper, the joys of the world are as nothing compared with the joys of the Christian. Amongst my circle of friends I have many young ones who are true Christians, and I know that they are happy indeed, and my object in writing these lines is to ask you to come to Jesus, and have all that He has to give you, to have Him as your own Saviour, and to find your hearts’ delight and joy to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him. So that when He cometh to make up His jewels, you and I may be together there with Him, and then ours will indeed be a happy new year. With best and brightest wishes, I am, my dear young friends, Yours affectionately, R. H.