Part 18 (2/2)
Jesus shall all my powers possess, My hopes, my fears, my joys:
and thus my heart resolves. Yes, Lord, the dying embers of my life are Thine. I thank Thee, Thou dost not cast me off in my old age. 'My soul shall magnify the Lord, and my spirit rejoice in G.o.d my Saviour.'--A few days ago, my mind was filled with uncertainty respecting two members of my family; however, I laid the case before the Lord, and, to my surprise and grateful acknowledgment, in a day or two there was an opening in each case. Reader or writer, think not highly of thyself, others were praying as well as thee.--My first thought this morning, 'I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with ”loving kindness have I drawn thee.' A very cheering letter from my son Richard. Praise the Lord for such information, both from heaven and earth.--A beautiful sunny morning. Grant that the Sun of righteousness may rise upon me with healing in His wings. Let Him heal, and form my soul anew. This is my chief desire. I do thank Thee for peace, but O enlarge my heart, and fully fit me to behold Thy glory!--A quiet Sabbath morning. I am sitting alone. The sun s.h.i.+nes brightly upon me, and all nature seems to join in hallowed harmony.
May my soul, capable of far greater powers, be expanded to receive far richer influences from the great source of my being--the inexhaustible fountain of all blessedness. My soul drinks of the living stream.
Praise G.o.d for these small draughts. Enlarge and fill, and enlarge for ever!”
MAN'S FRAILTY.
See a flower of lovely hue, Dipp'd in beauty bright, at Spring, Blasted by a wind that blew, Ere it pa.s.sed its blossoming.
Such is man, in best estate; Like a flower he buddeth forth, Till some unexpected fate Brings him to his mother earth,
Such a shadow of a shade, Human life, a moment, is: Now we live, but soon conveyed Past all life's uncertainties.
Blooming youth and wither'd age, Infant charms and ripened years, Death a.s.saults with equal rage, Unappeas'd by prayers or tears:
Then, the closely wedded pair, Soul and body sadly part; Yet to meet again--but _where?
Seek the answer in thy heart_.
”'Looking unto Jesus!' This is the posture of my soul. Yea, I long after G.o.d. I have been peculiarly drawn out In prayer for several members of my family, with great sweetness In my own soul. Glory be to G.o.d!”
XXIII.
SLEEP IN JESUS.
”WEEP NOT; SHE IS NOT DEAD BUT SLEEPETH.”--Luke viii. 62.
When the shadows of evening begin to fall, it is not difficult to prognosticate that the night is at hand; and, admonished by the increasing gloom, man, wearied by the tolls of the day, gladly looks forward to the hour of repose. Universal nature shares in the feeling of presentiment. The cattle seek the shed; the birds fly back to their nests; and the gentle flower folds its delicate petals, as if for sleep. Is It wonderful that as life closes in, especially when protracted to a good old age, the human spirit should feel an instinctive consciousness of approaching dissolution? or that the aged Christian, after long and patient endurance in his Master's service, should joyfully antic.i.p.ate the hour of _rest?_ Yes, REST, not death; ”For whosoever liveth, and believeth in me,” saith the Saviour, ”shall never die.” Christ has tasted death for him, and the bitterness, which is the reality of death, is pa.s.sed away. His stedfast faith prevents the dawn of a brighter day, and what matters it, whether his sleep continue but a few hours, or be protracted through a period of centuries? The body can be sensible of no difference, and the spirit, transported far beyond the regions of dream-land, enjoys a happy and conscious existence in the presence of Him, who died, ”That whether we wake or _sleep_, we might live together with Him.” Mrs. Lyth looked, nay longed for the time of her departure; and as the hour drew on, seems to have had some pleasant premonitions of its approach. About a month before it occurred, she writes, ”My first thought this morning was,
'We soon shall be landed, for death is in view, Almighty protection shall comfort us through; Released from our prisons, to heaven we fly, Exchanging all sorrows for mansions on high.'”
”A few days of beautiful spring weather permitted her to enjoy an occasional walk, which was generally made subservient to some higher purpose than that of mere refreshment. Thrice her steps were directed to the Sanctuary, opportunities which she richly enjoyed. Of one of these she says, ”I enjoyed the privilege of meeting my friends at the lovefeast, and hearing them speak of the power of grace to save; but my poor body is very feeble.”
This short respite, however, excited in her mind no fallacious expectation of a much longer reprieve; and more than once she expressed her conviction, that, as the summer advanced she would be no better. The weather suddenly changed; and the prevalence of north and easterly winds, accompanied with rain, confined her to the house. To use her own expressive language, ”June enters weeping, and yet (10th) remains in tears.” This circ.u.mstance elicited almost the last effort of her poetic pen.
”Fairest month of summer's Trine, Why dost thou remain in tears?
Ask not. 'Tis the will divine; This shall dissipate my fears.
He, who ruleth in the sky, Knoweth what His creatures need; He can every want supply, Trust Him, and His promise plead.
Clouds may wear a frowning brow, Blasting winds may sweep around, He, who reigns above, knows how Best to make his love abound.
Then, I'll cast my every care On my promise-keeping G.o.d; Honour Him by faith and prayer; Rest upon His faithful word.
Should the cloud continue still, Thou for ever art the same, All the workings of Thy will But proclaim Thy glorious name.”
The last entries of her diary, which with a solemn significance just fill up the volume, we give in full.
”June 11th.--I expected to have received my ticket, but no one came, I clearly see no dependance can be placed upon the creature. On Thee, O Lord, let all my confidence rest! Glory be to G.o.d, though I am an isolated one, I am not left alone. I do feel drawn, after G.o.d, I have given myself to Him, and He is chief in my affection.
19th.--My seventy-eighth birth-day. I had intended writing, but the Lord saw otherwise. I was in bed three parts, of the day, and on the 20th very ill, having taken cold.
21st.--Thursday the longest day. I am very feeble, but have taken my pen to acknowledge the goodness of G.o.d to me for so long a period. At noon we had an awful thunderstorm, during which my soul was calm and peaceful. This is the Lord's doing. I felt sweet trust and confidence in my Almighty Saviour. Afterwards I received my ticket at the hands of the Rev. Thos. Nightingale. On the ticket there is written, 'I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with everlasting kindness have I drawn thee.'”
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