December 31

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle.—Job 7:6.

DOES this last day of the year impress me with the solemn truth that life is fast passing away, and that soon I must go to give up my account to God? Realizing the brevity of life, and how fast it is flying, and how soon its end will come, am I diligent to improve it to the utmost? Do I feel that the end of all things is at hand? Am I sober, and do I watch unto prayer? When the Master calls will be find me ready?

There are two words that should take up most of our thoughts and cares, viz.: time and eternity: time, because it is so fast passing away; eternity, because it will so soon begin; time, because it will so soon be ended; eternity, because it never will end. *

Our life hangs, at every moment, by a thread; but that thread is in a Father's hand.—EVANS.

We are kept at uncertainty as to the precise time of Christ's coming, that we may be always ready. For it is no thanks to a man to be ready for an attack, if he knows, beforehand, just the time when it will be made.—MATTHEW HENRY.

Well, if our days must fly,

We'll keep their end in sight;

We'll spend them all in wisdom's way,

And let them speed their flight.

They'll waft us sooner o'er

This life's tempestuous sea;

Soon we shall reach the peaceful shore

Of blest eternity!—WATTS.