Part 16 (2/2)
”One poor woman, whose husband was in the Island Hospital, I called to see on the Wednesday before the last great storm. She had just sent her little boy to see his father, and was, with her five children, without fire or food. The day before she had divided her last five cent loaf among them. I immediately went to the Visitor of the district, who gave her groceries and coal, but before she received the aid word came that her husband was dead. She is a Protestant, but has been living in careless neglect of her duty to G.o.d. She now became very penitent, and lamented her past life, believing, as she herself affirmed, that G.o.d had been afflicting her for her sins. I think I shall be able to get her aid from the Widows' Society.
”Some time ago, visiting in a tenement house, I inquired at one of the doors if there were any children there who did not go to Sabbath-school, and was answered by a boy that he did not go. I then asked him to go to our school. He consented, and on the following Sabbath three of the children came, and since then have induced their father to attend church, and he appears to be one of the most attentive hearers there.
”A few days since I visited the family, and found his wife to be a very interesting woman. As I entered the room, the children told their mother I was from the church. She seemed glad to see me, and told me of the many trials she had met with. She was a stranger in the city, having recently come in from the country, where they had lived in comfort, but since then have been greatly reduced. She wept sore, as she told me that her husband had no employment at present. He looks over the papers every day, but as yet can find no situation. I begged her not to be discouraged, but put her trust in the Lord, and He would not forsake her. She said she felt much encouraged from the interest her husband had taken in matters of religion, and regretted she had never made a profession herself. Before I left I prayed with her, and when I bade her good-by, she put her arms around my neck and wept, saying it was the Lord who sent me to her, and asked me to come soon and often.
”That same evening her husband attended our prayer-meeting, and it was remarked by several present how very attentive and interested he appeared.”
Fidelity in the performance of duty is always rewarded by getting a.s.sistance from kind Christian friends. The last five cent loaf is divided among the children. It is a terrible picture to study. A storm without, starvation within, and a father sick in the hospital. Can you imagine a more heartrending scene than the one so graphically portrayed by this missionary woman? Picture the moral heroism displayed in her tender appeals for help to this death-stricken household.
Bible ill.u.s.trations are always the best:
”Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil: my cup runneth over.”--Ps. xxiii. 5.
”There is no want to them that fear Him. They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”--Ps. x.x.xiv. 9-10.
”Seek ye first the kingdom of G.o.d, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”--Matt. vi. 33.
”My G.o.d shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”--Phil. iv. 19.
”G.o.dliness with contentment is great gain. Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.”--1 Tim. vi. 6, 17.
”I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on: is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Wherefore, if G.o.d so clothe the gra.s.s of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore, take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”--Matt. vi. 25, 30-32.
DISCOURAGEMENT AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
She begged this woman not to be discouraged, but to put her trust in the Lord. How comforting is the word in this connection, ”He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my fortress; my G.o.d, in Him will I trust.”
1. Consider the happiness of those who put their trust in the Lord.
Everyone who neglects to do this may reasonably expect that G.o.d will hide his face from them.
2. See the benefits that flow from the reciprocal influence of religion. She felt encouraged because her husband was interested in religion.
3. Trials ought to be spiritually discerned. We form a very wrong estimate of religion if we think that G.o.d's gifts of grace are invariably conferred upon the prosperous. Many have the smiles of His providence who are not basking in the suns.h.i.+ne of His reconciling countenance.
IF WE FORSAKE G.o.d, HE WILL ALSO FORSAKE US.
_She had not discharged her duty to G.o.d, etc._--How quickly she recognized the vital importance of discharging duty to G.o.d as infinitely superior to all others. Penitence for sin omitted and committed against a holy Being who has purer eyes than to behold iniquity. This thought is put in the foreground; sin brings affliction. Repentance was the first subject selected by John, and Christ himself, to proclaim to the people of Palestine, ”Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Why does it imply simply a change of mind?
_Laments her past life._--Living in the careless neglect of her duty to G.o.d, she censures herself, evidently experiencing that G.o.dly sorrow for sin which needeth not to be repented of. How many, alas! sadly neglect to confess and forsake their sin until the setting of life's sun.
_He consented, etc._--The old story-telling with gentle, winning words, at the door of the tenement-house, accompanied with the loving invitation to come to Jesus, are deeply impregnated with never-ceasing influence. Three children and a father persuaded to attend the means of grace on the Sabbath, in G.o.d's sanctuary. What a striking reflection of the character of Him who sat weary and way-worn on Jacob's well. Surely a truly devoted missionary of the holy cross of Jesus is an angel on this sin-blighted earth, where, through penury and sorrow, hearts are almost crushed with despair. She is Christ's amba.s.sador.
_Seemed glad to see me, etc._--Why, dear Christian reader? Because she brought rays of heavenly suns.h.i.+ne of G.o.d's peace and grat.i.tude and gladness into many a benighted heart; thus inspiring, encouraging, and arousing within the soul blessed remembrances of a covenant-keeping G.o.d, even toward His poor, wayward, backsliding children.
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