Before Annual Sermons to Young People on New-Year’s Evenings explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Prayer and Dependence on God

  The hymns are largely prayers for blessing, grace, and revival, emphasizing dependence on God's power and mercy.

• Grace and Unmerited Favor

  The need for saving grace and the unmerited favor of God is a central theme, especially for the youth who are described as sinful.

Characters to notice

• The Lord

  Addressed as the gracious Lord who reveals his arm, makes his glory known, and softens hearts of stone.

• Jesus Christ

  Referred to as the Saviour whose name is pleaded and whose dying love is revealed to wounded hearts.

• The Holy Spirit

  Invoked to be sent down from above to teach, convict, and give life to dry bones.

• Satan

  Described as the foe who keeps souls in bondage and as a ravenous bird of prey seeking to carry away the young.

• The Shunammite

  Used as an example of grief and faith, whose son was restored through the prophet's prayer.

Key passages

• “Now, gracious Lord, thine arm reveal, And make thy glory known; Now let us all thy presence feel, And soften hearts of stone!”

  Lord, show your power and glory, and let us feel your presence, turning our hard hearts to softness.

  A prayer for divine intervention to change hearts.

• “Grace is a plant, where’er it grows, Of pure and heav’nly root; But fairest in the youngest shows, And yields the sweetest fruit.”

  Grace is a heavenly plant that grows best in the young, producing the most beautiful and sweet results.

  Emphasizes the value of grace in youth.

• “When Peter, through the tedious night, Had often cast his net in vain, Soon as the Lord appear’d in sight He gladly let it down again.”

  Peter fished all night without success, but when Jesus appeared, he willingly cast his net again.

  Used as a metaphor for preaching the gospel despite past failures.

• “The Shunammite, oppressed with grief, When she had lost the son she loved, Went to Elisha for relief, Nor vain her application proved.”

  The Shunammite woman, grieving over her dead son, sought help from Elisha, and her request was not in vain.

  Illustrates faith and the power of prayer.

• “Hear, ye dry bones, the Saviour’s word, He who when dying gasp’d—“Forgive,”— That gracious sinner-loving Lord Says—“Look to me, dry bones, and live.””

  Listen, you spiritually dead people, to the Savior's word; He who forgave on the cross says, 'Look to me and live.'

  A call to spiritual life through Christ.