Watch Night by R. F. C.

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 21, 1858

Watch Night.

By R. F. C.

In times gone by, it became a custom among a pious class of persons to meet together for watching and prayer and religious exercises on the evening of the last day of the year, and continue the exercises till the midnight hour was past, thus ending the old year and beginning the new in the worship of God. This was certainly much better than to spend the same hours in carnal festivities and giddy mirth, and doubtless God was pleased with, and smiled upon those godly persons who thus chose his worship in preference to the fleeting pleasures of a vain and thoughtless world. The Holy Spirit came into these assemblies and the saints were refreshed and feasted by faith on the enduring joys and festivities of the heavenly country to which they were bound, and in view of which, they confessed themselves pilgrims and strangers on the earth.

Those times are past; we are amid the perils of the last days, Babylon is fallen, and is fast becoming the hold of every foul spirit. Yet men are disposed to hold on to the form, though the power is wanting. They are disposed to follow the beaten track of tradition and venerate the customs of their fathers, while they will not yield to the clearest truths of God's word, if those truths do not harmonize with the "traditions of the elders." Consequently the watch night is still observed, and the watch meeting held, by those that esteem the form.

To watch and pray is always right, and to begin the year aright is always commendable. Yes, it would be well to commence every day with the exercises of devotion. But the enlightened mind cannot have any great veneration for the commencement of the Roman year. Still the end of the year brings to mind the rapid flight of time, and it is a good time to try to renew our diligence in the cause of God, and resolve, in the strength of the Lord to make greater progress during the remainder of our probationary time.

But the day ends, and another begins at the setting of the sun. Hence it is easy to commence each day with the worship of God. We need not watch for the midnight hour in order to hail the first moments of the new day. Consequently darkness still rests upon those minds that begin the day at midnight. And thus in the darkness of night, and the still greater darkness of their minds they watch and wait for the new day which had already commenced ere their watching began.

We are repeatedly admonished to watch in reference to the coming of the day of the Lord; but it is greatly to be feared, nay, it is positively certain, that, to those that walk in the path of blind tradition, that day will come as a thief. Before they are aware and ere they begin to watch, that day of recompense will have begun. But to those that watch, that day will not come as a thief. The pathway of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day; but the way of the wicked is as darkness, they know not at what they stumble.

The Lord help the writer and the reader to watch and walk as children of the light. To watch now, and not defer it till the vengeful day is begun, and we then find that we are too late! R. F. C.