Excerpt from The Gospel Messenger, 1895, Vol. 17

With humble thankfulness to the God of all grace for his abundant mercy, we greet the readers of the messenger with a short Introductory to its 17th Vol ume. But what can we say? We cannot look into the future any further than it has already been unfolded to us in the word of God. We have no new revelations but would insist upon a faithful adherence to 'the doc trine of God our Saviour and to all the admonitions, reproofs, and warnings set forth in the Scriptures. We would insist upon an abiding faith in every promise of God that he will not leave or forsake his redeemed people. It is true, no doubt, that in the year now dawning upon us, every child of God will be at times made to feel the need of grace to help him through the toils, sufferings and temptations that are incident to his pilgrimage in this world. But let us remember that our Father hath said He will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. - 1 Gor.x.18. That little word, safer, in the above text, shows us how completely every tempta tion, every trial, and every sorrow is regulated and under the control of a loving Father, who will supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

In view of the predictions of. Christ and his apostles, we may in the coming year, as in the past, confidently look for an increased development of human depravity and wickedness among men, for the Spirit speaketh expressly' that in the latter times some Shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doc tiines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot 11on - 1 Tim. Iv. Men professing godliness will deny its power, and be come mo1e and more hardened in sin, and thus bring to pass those perilous times foretold by the apostle. But amidst all the conflicts of faith through which the dear children of God are called to pass, let them not be discouraged, for even the very hairs of their head are all numbered. If not one little sparrow can fall to the ground without our Father's notice, surely his chosen and redeemed people, whom he loves with an everlast ing love, are of more value to him than many sparrows. In the coming year we Shall doubtless need the help and forbearance of one another in many ways. Let us strive to help, encourage, and strengthen one another to Bear one another's burdens, and SO fulfill the law of Christ. The law of Christ is not fulfilled in us or by us unless we thus help and become partaker of one another's burdens. Thus we become helpers in Christ and fellow-helpers to the truth. - 3 John 8.

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