Dear Reader,—The thought, that we have again reached the close of another year, awakens afresh the oft-repeated question all the year round—Art thou prepared for the more solemn—the final close? At all times, we may say, and in every form, we take occasion to keep before our readers this one, grand question; still, it seems natural to press it with peculiar earnestness at the close of the year. At such a time we cannot help being reminded, that we are fast hastening on to a long—a never ending eternity: an eternity of unmingled blessedness or of unmeasured woe.
The season of the year is like the voice of God to Israel of old: " Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider your ways" (Hag. 1:5); or, like the traveler that has reached the top of the hill, and who is disposed to pause a little and look around him.
Oh! that my dear reader, if unprepared for the end of the journey, may indeed pause, and think seriously on that important future. The end may be near. But, near or remote, what can be more certain, what can be more solemn, what can be more thy immediate concern, than thine own eternity? Where is it to be spent, and with whom?- Amidst the bright glories of heaven or the dark miseries of hell?—In thy Father's house—at thy Savior's side, and with all the saved from every land, and with all the holy angels who never sinned? or, awful thought—in the prison house of hell, with the devil and his angels, and all the impenitent wicked of every age? Oh! what an eternity of misery this must be! the very thought of it is overwhelming. Now, we may forget our sorrow, or even our misery, for a little while, in welcome sleep; but there will be no sleep in hell. Now, we may find a quiet corner and weep alone, and find relief in solitude; but no quiet, no solitude, no relief, will ever be found there. The eyes that are distressed at every sight shall never be closed—the ear that is assailed with blasphemies on every side, shall never grow dull of hearing -the weary soul shall never find one moment's rest. All hope shall flee away, and dark despair shall complete its awful work.
But, enough, enough, I forbear. Bless God, the door of repentance and salvation is open—wide open—open for thee, my reader, yes, open for thyself. Wilt thou not turn to Jesus now? Wilt thou not flee to Him now, while thy sad case is before thee, and while all the solemn realities of the future are pressing on thy mind? Yes, do, we beseech thee. Stay not till thou hast finished this paper. As thou art, where thou art, lift up thy heart to Jesus. " Come unto me......I will give you rest,"
are His own words of tenderest love and richest grace. " Him that cometh to me," He says, " I will in no wise cast out." Thou canst never be more fit to come, or more welcome to thy Savior than now; and never more welcome to thy Father's arms, thy Father's house, thy Father's sweetest welcome there. His joy and delight in receiving the prodigal, is a thousand times greater than the prodigal's in being received. What wondrous grace and love! What wondrous long-suffering and mercy! His name alone have all the praise!
It is difficult—more than difficult, for either writer or preacher, fully to realize the force of these two words, " saved—lost." All that is solemn, weighty, important -all that is blessed or miserable, both for time and eternity, to the immortal soul, is included in these words. Were every reader of these pages, and every hearer of the gospel, to be described according to truth, these two words would suffice for all. There is no third class—no middle ground in scripture. Hence we read, that " the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Those who believe in Him are saved, those who believe not are lost. Not finally, or everlastingly lost, of course, while here; but lost under the guilt and condemnation of sin, and too commonly, alas, lost to all proper sense of the consequences of sin. As one has forcibly said, " Young, brave, polite, intelligent, but lost! Beautiful, amiable, honored, beloved, but lost! Wealthy, idolized, caressed, flattered, but lost! Serious, courteous, moral, affectionate, but lost! Discreet, benevolent, educated, a churchgoer, but lost!"
Remember then, Ο my reader, that although every qualification and advantage here mentioned, most truthfully applied to thee, thou art still lost, if not a believer in Christ Jesus. Nothing short of His blood can cleanse thy sins away. We are saved through faith in the blood of Christ, which cleanseth us from all sin. Saved! yes, saved—saved with God's great salvation! All blessing is included in the one word saved. Eternal life, pardon, justification, sanctification, reconciliation, adoption into God's family, acceptance in the Beloved, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, standing in grace, waiting for glory.
May this wealthy portion be thine, dear reader—and the wealthy portion of all who read these pages! Amen.
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