Happy New Year by J. W. Raymond

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 13, 1863

Happy New Year.

By J. W. Raymond

I WISH you, dear brethren and sisters, a happy new year. I make not this wish because it is customary. I make it heartily, and in full view of what it takes to constitute true, abiding happiness—the glorious effulgent hope of the word; the fruition of which, from the numerous and ominous tokens which God in his infinite mercy hath spread out in the heavens above and on the earth beneath, we know is soon to be ushered in.

But a clear view merely of the nature of this hope, and of the signs by which its close proximity is indicated, cannot of themselves, make us happy. Our happiness for 1863, in connection with this knowledge, will depend on our hearty union, in spirit and practice, with the truth, order, and work of God. As we swerve from these, our happiness will wane away. God grant that every pulsation of our hearts, and every step of our course, may beautifully comport with the solemn, testing, sealing truths committed to us, to be dispensed to a dying, wayward world.

The year 1862, with its duties, privileges, &c., has passed away. What record it leaves for each of us, we are doubtless more or less accurately familiar with. What wrongs of 1862, or prior to that time, have not been rectified, what sins have not been confessed and forsaken, what wayward steps have not been retraced, what errors have not been abandoned, let us attend to now. Let us attend to these things in view of the solemn judgment work going on in the heavenly sanctuary, and the brevity of probation.

1863, with its duties, privileges, perils, trials, &c., is now rolling in upon us. O let us draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to us. O let us be undeviatingly faithful at home in our families, faithful in our attendance at the closet, faithful in the church of God, and exemplary before the world: so will this year pass with us peacefully away, and find us better prepared for the glorious transition just before us. Glory to God! the hope is all glorious, the way is clear, and our future rest will be triumphantly sweet, when we meet on mount Zion, immortal, to part no more.

1863 finds our nation still engaged in gory strife; but nevertheless, we can be happy in the Lord and go on our way rejoicing. Holy seers of old, who under the divine influence, looked down through the vista of coming years to the present, have forewarned us of this state of things. The angry state of the nations lies along our pathway to the kingdom; and we may rejoice as we pass on into this state of things; may rejoice because of the close proximity which it sustains to Jesus' coming, as shown in the chains of prophecy where it is alluded to. The haven is just ahead. Beware of shoals, breakers, and quicksands.

And finally I would say, Stay on board the ship. The Devil may rage, and the billows roll, but she will reach the port. Cultivate a love for the manifestation of God's power through the gifts of the Spirit, which he is restoring in his remnant people.

In hope of immortality.

J. W. RAYMOND.

Wheeler, N. Y., Jan. 1st, 1863.