REFLECTIONS ON THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR.
By E. S. Walker
THE last day of the year 1861 has come. Another year has passed away, which brings us one year nearer the coming of our Saviour, and leaves us one year less in which to prepare for that great event. The most lasting duration of time is but short, and its greatest prolongations come to an end. A given moment is scarcely known till it is no more, a few of which make a minute, which we but begin to enjoy when it is also gone. Thus an hour flies away, a day hastes to its end, and a year, as this has done, comes to its last day. Before this reaches the readers of the Review they will have bid adieu to the year 1861, and have entered upon the duties of another year. The scenes of the past year will have become a matter of history. Another year will have been added to the limited age of old father Time, who is growing old, yes very old. A few more days or months will end his career; when the righteous will enter upon eternity, and time will be numbered with the things that were. Then with this view before our minds how important it is for us to redeem the time—to make good use of the short period remaining to us in which to prepare for eternal life. The year that has passed has been an eventful period in this world's history. As the careworn traveler on his journey examines his chart, and is attentive to the description of the scenes which he has to pass before reaching his journey's end, and as one noted place after another is passed, until he finally passes the last one, he knows that he is near home; so the Christian has been attentively watching the signs of the times during the past year. Many things have transpired calculated to cheer and encourage the wayworn traveler, and as one noted sign after another appears, he knows that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. In our national difficulties—in the rebellion into which our nation is plunged, and in the perplexity of our rulers, deposing one commander after another and setting up others in their stead, without effecting their object, we behold the fulfillment of Luke xxi, 25: "Upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity." And in the inactivity, and the fact that there is nothing accomplished by the large army that our government has in the field, we see the "holding of the winds," and know that we are in the "sealing time." By the difficulties in which all nations are involved—being either engaged in war or preparing for war—we behold the elements of the whirlwind that is to be raised up from the coasts of the earth. By the universal preparation of implements of warfare, and in the increase of army and navy, we see the fulfillment of God's prophecy: "Prepare war, wake up the mighty men; let all the men of war draw near; let them come up; beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears." And in the fear that appears to pervade the hearts of the rulers and wise men of earth, we find the approximation to the fulfillment of the last sign given which is to precede the second advent of our Saviour: "Men's hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming upon the earth," for the powers of heaven shall be shaken, and then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Luke xxi, 26, 27. We are further exhorted, "When these things begin to come to pass, to look up and lift up our heads, for our redemption draweth nigh." It behooves us to be ready for his coming. Then let us try to profit by the experience of the past, and as we enter upon the new year, renew our covenant with God to live nearer to him, and have our lives more devoted to his cause than we have ever done before. Let us strive to make the year 1862 an eventful year in our religious experience, a year of victories over self, and over all our besetments and wrong doings, that we may grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, until we shall arrive at the stature of perfect men and women in Christ Jesus. E. S. WALKER.