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the supreme object of our efforts, instead of
throwing our heart and soul into the Christian
life and cherishing the love of Christ, the love
of the brethren, and the desire for the spread
and triumph of the Truth, as the passions of
our souls? Are we not apt to lose sight of this
blessed assurance of our Master, and to make
our secular business the chief concern of
existence, when it ought to be altogether
secondary and subordinate?
Brethren, let us take heed lest “the cares of
this world and the deceitfulness of riches
choke the word and it becomes unfruitful.”
Let us not weary in well doing. Many have run
well for a time and have at last made ship-
wreck. Several lamentable instances of this
have occurred during the past year. Let us take
warning. Let us give diligent attention to the
precious Word of God, which is able to build
us up in our most holy faith. This is a most im-
portant exhortation; for if a man neglect the
reading of the Scriptures, or if he only attend
to it in an occasional manner, his spiritual life
will fade, and his mind will be gradually but
certainly leavened with the deceptive princi-
ples around him.
In regard to our own personal condition, we
know whether we are warm in our hearts
towards Christ, his truth, and his brethren, or
no; for “where the treasure is, there will the
heart be also,” (Matt. vi.21), and “out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh”
(Matt. xii.34). There cannot be any mistake.
Are we doubtful? Have we qualms of con-
science? “God is greater than our heart,” and
will disapprove what it condemns. Are we
pleased with ourselves, and looking forward
with confidence to the coming of our Lord and
Master? Only one thing can justify that confi-
dence – the consciousness of a holy Christian
life – the answer of a good conscience toward
God. “Not everyone that saith Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom, but he that
doeth the will of my father, that is in heaven”
(Matt. vii.21). “He that keepeth my command-
ments, he it is that loveth me” (John xiv. 21).
“Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I
command you” (John xv. 14). There can there-
fore be no mistake about the terms of friend-
ship and ultimate acceptance. Mere sentiment
is idleness; unwarrantable self-complacence is
delusion. “The words that I have spoken, the
same shall judge you in the last day” (John xii.
48). “If a man love me, he will keep my
words” (John xiv. 23). Let us measure our-
selves by this standard. We have believed the
glad tidings of the kingdom of God and eternal
life; and have been baptised into the name of
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That is the
first act of obedience – the first act of conse-
cration, but what a work remains to be accom-
plished! “All things WHATSOEVER I have
commanded” (Matt. xxviii.20). That is the
measure of our duty, of our goodness. Have we
filled it?
Brethren, let us devoutly study the command-
ments of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of his
apostles, and be careful to obey them all in
our lives, for upon that depends our ultimate
salvation. If we do so, we shall be patterns of
excellence – beautiful characters – noble men
and women – glorifying the name of our Father
in heaven.
A few words in conclusion in regard to the
spreading of the Truth. We have come to know
God’s blessed word; and hereby has been
given to us a most precious talent. Are we
alive to its true value, and to the obligation
that rests upon us to increase it? It is to be
feared not. Some altogether neglect the duty
of helping to disseminate the glorious gospel
among their perishing fellow men; and it is to
be regretted that some even go further, and
discourage efforts in that direction. This is a
misfortune; for our common benevolence
prompts us to proclaim salvation to our fellow
men, and to place within their reach the same
opportunities of obtaining it that we ourselves
enjoy. Moreover, does not imperative duty call
upon us to do so? “Let him that heareth say,
come.” What higher commission do we
require? Have we not heard? And shall we not
then say “come?”
~ continued ...
A New Year’s Message
... continued