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We may speculate and conjecture about what is to befall us, or to befall the Church and the world in the course of this year; but the sagacity of the wisest statesmen cannot forecast the events of the near future. Neither can the knowledge of the most learned inform us what shall be on the morrow. This is a thought that may humble our intellectual pride, and may prevent us from being puffed up by the little knowledge to which we have attained. But we are not in absolute ignorance of what will probably be the nature and character of some of the events of the future. We know that as the present leaves us the future will find us. We enter into this year with the character, principles, and habits that marked our life in the past. Life is a continuous thing. Character becomes a continuous thing. Old things have not passed away from us with the old year, and all things have not, with the new year, become new to us. This is a solemn and an awful thought, because it indicates to us that not only do we enter on the new year with the character and principles of the past year, and that if we enter on the year without the love of God in our hearts, we cannot be happy, but it also indicates to us that as we pass from the days of time so shall we enter on the ever-revolving and endless ages of eternity. Let us give due consideration to this thought, and it may, through the grace of God, by destroying a most prevalent and fatal delusion — the delusion by which multitudes deceive and ruin their souls, that somehow or other to-morrow, or at least the time of death, will work a grand transformation of their state and character — awaken us now, in the precious passing present, to give heed to the things of our peace, that they may not at length be hid from our eyes. The statement, "Ye have not passed this way heretofore," is not inconsistent with our knowledge thus far of the future that it will, to a great extent, take its colour, complexion, and character from the present. The connection between years as measurements of men's lives is not that merely of antecedence and succession. It is more. It is a connection as between cause and consequence or effect, as between seed and fruit. Time, that develops the germ in the acorn into the stately oak; time, that developeth tares from their seeds, will gradually evolve what are the seeds from which our words and actions grow. The tree of character will be known by its fruits. But from the moral connection between past, present, and future, as related to our lives and characters, not only will the future be a developing time, but it will also be, because of this, a time of reaping, a sort of harvest time. If in the past year we have been sowing to the flesh, we may most certainly in the year to come expect to reap corruption. And if in the past we have been sowing to the Spirit, we may expect to reap in this year the fruits of the Spirit in love, joy, and peace. I may remark that the words, "Ye have not passed this way heretofore," are not inconsistent with our certain knowledge that the days of the new year will introduce us to duties, trials, temptations, and, it may be, sufferings similar to those, if indeed not greater than those of the past year. As in the past, so in the future, we shall be called to serve and glorify the Lord — to love the Lord with all our heart, strength, soul, and mind, and our neighbours as ourselves. We shall be called to work the work of God, to believe in Jesus, and to walk as He also walked. We shall be called to be diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. "Study," therefore, my brother, "to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed," The new year will bring with it new trials, new afflictions. But as in the past, so in the furore, the child of God may appropriate for his comfort the words, "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called, according to His purpose." Nothing "shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord." We know that the new year will bring with it new temptations. The passions that war in our members have not become extinct, have not passed away with the old year. They go with us into the new year. And as in the past, so in the future, they will entice us into sin. Satan has not ceased with the days of the former year. He enters with us into the days of this year. And into this year he carries all his subtlety, all his malice, all his guile. We know, therefore, that new temptations, new seducements to sin, will be laid in our path. The world has lost none of its many powers — none of its many arts of deception. We may, therefore, expect that the world will attempt to ensnare us in the future, just as it attempted to allure us in the past. But we must listen to the word that admonishes us, "Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds." The new year may bring with it new forms of trial, unexpected sufferings and bereavements. It may bear to us the summons, "The Master is come, and calleth for thee." We cannot tell. But this we know, that preparedness to meet that summons — preparedness to meet the Lord, is a most blessed state of soul. But a fourth idea is involved in the words, "Ye have not passed this way heretofore"; it is that we may expect to witness or behold in this new way, in this untrodden path, new displays of the grace and power of the Lord, the leader and commander of His people. The way is unknown to us, but it is known to the Lord. And we are sure that He "leadeth His people by the right way, that they may go to the city of habitation — to that city whose founder and builder is God."

(G. Macaulay.)

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KJV: And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;

WEB: It happened after three days, that the officers went through the midst of the camp;