Part 19 (1/2)
”'You have done a great deal for us by teaching us to trust in the Lord.'”
Thought ought to operate between two limits--the one of time, the other of eternity.
The Sabbath-school and the Church are inseparably linked with earth and heaven. ”Train up a child in the way it should go, and when it is old it will not depart from it.” The first book put into my hand when a boy, in the public school of my native land, was the Bible. And the first book I had to study in the Sabbath-school was the Shorter Catechism. These two books have exerted a benign and salutary influence on my whole life. Now, what the study of mathematics is to the intellect by disciplining and imparting the power to reason consecutively, thus tranquillizing the judgment by furnis.h.i.+ng demonstrative knowledge, even so the sermons heard in the House of G.o.d, and the lessons taught in the Sabbath-school, and all the outward spiritual truth conveyed to the heart of the hearer, quickens the soul into newness of life; hence the injunction of the Apostle:
”Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)
”And let us consider one another, to provoke unto love, and to good works:
”Not forsaking the a.s.sembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
”For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.
”But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
”He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses.”
Her chief delight was to lead men, women, and children to the house of G.o.d. It does not seem strange, therefore, when we find the foregoing emphatic declaration in her diary: ”_I am much encouraged by the attention paid to the reading of the Scriptures._” This is the glorious result of getting people first to attend to the means of grace in the sanctuary on the Lord's day. How greatly cheered she must have been in her work to hear the welcome words: ”_You have done a great deal for us, by teaching us to_ TRUST IN G.o.d.”
What is G.o.d's estimate of those who trust in Him? Here the mind is forever set at rest. He proffers innumerable blessings to those who _confide_ in Him, and we will, right now and here, give our attention to a few of the many precious promises by which G.o.d richly entertains his children:
”Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee; trust ye in the Lord forever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”--Isa. xxvi. 3-4.
”He that putteth his trust in me, shall possess the land, and inherit my holy mountain.”--Isa. lvii. 13.
”Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”--Jer. xvii. 7-8.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE DYING MOTHER AND THE INTEMPERATE HUSBAND.
I know there are realms where the voices of song Never cease 'neath a burden of tears.
And I seek, 'mid earth-discord, the sound of a strain, Falling sweet from those radiant spheres.
We scarcely ever knew of a more _touching_ account of a dying mother, than the following graphic narrative:
”One poor woman whom I mentioned before has just died. Surrounded as she was by Romanists, she stood firm in the belief in which she had been instructed by her father in her youth. Some time since I took her little girl to Sabbath-school, and a short time ago her teacher found her earnestly seeking Christ. She has since given good evidence of being a Christian, and has united with the church. I was the only friend visiting the mother during her last illness, whom she desired to come to read and pray with her. She mourned over much of her past life, but had much to contend with from those around her. A few days before she died she said, 'she would be better soon.' I asked her what she meant. She answered, 'When I go to be with Jesus;' but she added, 'Who will see to my little girl?' I told her I would. Once again I saw her; she was composed and at peace, saying, 'She would soon be at home.'”
See how she pictures the intense solicitude of the mother after her child, in the loving and sweet inquiry (so faithfully remembered and carefully recorded), ”Who will see to my little girl?” See her quiet and Christ-like spontaneous response, that she would. Here we are forcibly reminded of a scene in New Testament times. In the ninth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles we read:
”Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which, by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did.
”And it came to pa.s.s in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
”And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
”Then Peter arose, and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them.”