Far Off.
by Favell Lee Mortimer.
PREFACE.
This little work pleads for the notice of parents and teachers on the same grounds as its predecessor, "Near Home."
Its plea is not completeness, nor comprehensiveness, nor depth of research, nor splendor of description; but the very reverse,--its simple, superficial, desultory character, as better adapted to the volatile beings for whom it is designed.
Too long have their immortal minds been captivated by the adventures and achievements of knights and princesses, of fairies and magicians; it is time to excite their interest in real persons, and real events. In childhood that taste is formed which leads the youth to delight in novels, and romances; a taste which has become so general, that every town has its circulating library, and every shelf in that library is filled with works of fiction.
While these fascinating inventions are in course of perusal, many a Bible is unopened, or if opened, hastily skimmed; many a seat in church is unoccupied, or if occupied, the service, and the sermon disregarded--so intense is the sympathy of the novel reader with his hero, or his heroine.
And what is the effect of the perusal? Many a young mind, inflated with a desire for admiration and adventure, grows tired of home, impatient of restraint, indifferent to simple pleasures, and averse to sacred instructions. How important, therefore, early to endeavor to prevent a taste for FICTION, by cherishing a taste for FACTS.
But this is not the only aim of the present work; it seeks also to excite an interest in _those_ facts which ought _most_ to interest immortal beings--facts relative to souls, and their eternal happiness--to G.o.d, and his infinite glory.
These are the facts which engage the attention of the inhabitants of heaven. We know not whether the births of princes, and the coronations of monarchs are noticed by the angelic hosts; but we do know that the repentance of a sinner, be he Hindoo or Hottentot, is celebrated by their melodious voices in rapturous symphonies.
Therefore "Far Off" desire to interest its little readers in the labors of missionaries,--men despised and maligned by the world, but honored and beloved by the SAVIOUR of the world. An account of the scenery and natives of various countries, is calculated to prepare the young mind for reading with intelligence those little Missionary Magazines, which appear every month, written in so attractive a style, and adorned with such beautiful ill.u.s.trations. Parents have no longer reason to complain of the difficulty of finding sacred entertainment for their children on Sunday, for these pleasing messengers,--if carefully dealt out,--one or two on each Sabbath, would afford a never failing supply.
To form great and good characters, the mind must be trained to delight in TRUTH,--not in comic rhymes, in sentimental tales, and skeptical poetry.
The truth revealed in G.o.d"s Holy Word, should const.i.tute the firm basis of education; and the works of Creation and Providence the superstructure while the Divine blessing can alone rear and cement the edifice.
Parents, train up your children to serve G.o.d, and to enjoy his presence forever; and if there be amongst them--an EXTRAORDINARY child, train him up with extraordinary care, lest instead of doing extraordinary _good_ he should do extraordinary _evil_, and be plunged into extraordinary misery.
Train up--the child of imagination--not to dazzle, like Byron, but to enlighten, like Cowper: the child of wit--not to create profane mirth, like Voltaire, but to promote holy joy, like Bunyan: the child of reflection--not to weave dangerous sophistries, like Hume, but to wield powerful arguments, like Chalmers: the child of sagacity--not to gain advantages for himself, like Cromwell, but for his country, like Washington: the child of eloquence--not to astonish the mult.i.tude, like Sheridan, but to plead for the miserable, like Wilberforce: the child of ardor--not to be the herald of delusions, like Swedenbourg, but to be the champion of truth, like Luther: the child of enterprise--not to devastate a Continent, like the conquering Napoleon, but to scatter blessings over an Ocean, like the missionary Williams:--and, if the child be a prince,--train him up--not to reign in pomp and pride like the fourteenth Louis, but to rule in the fear of G.o.d, like our own great ALFRED.
FAR OFF.
ASIA.
Of the four quarters of the world--Asia is the most glorious.
There the first man lived.
There the Son of G.o.d lived.
There the apostles lived.
There the Bible was written.
Yet now there are very few Christians in Asia: though there are more people there than in any other quarter of the globe.
THE HOLY LAND.
Of all the countries in the world which would you rather see?
Would it not be the land where Jesus lived?
He was the Son of G.o.d: He loved us and died for us.
What is the land called where He lived? Canaan was once its name: but now Palestine, or the Holy Land.
Who lives there now?
Alas! alas! The Jews who once lived there are cast out of it. There are some Jews there; but the Turks are the lords over the land. You know the Turks believe in Mahomet.
What place in the Holy Land do you wish most to visit?
Some children will reply, Bethlehem, because Jesus was born there; another will answer, Nazareth, because Jesus was brought up there; and another will say, "Jerusalem," because He died there.
I will take you first to
BETHLEHEM.
A good minister visited this place, accompanied by a train of servants, and camels, and a.s.ses.
It is not easy to travel in Palestine, for wheels are never seen there, because the paths are too steep, and rough, and narrow for carriages.
Bethlehem is on a steep hill, and a white road of chalk leads up to the gate. The traveller found the streets narrow, dark, and dirty. He lodged in a convent, kept by Spanish monks. He was shown into a large room with carpets and cushions on the floor. There he was to sleep. He was led up to the roof of the house to see the prospect. He looked, and beheld the fields below where the shepherds once watched their flocks by night: and far off he saw the rocky mountains where David once hid himself from Saul.
But the monks soon showed him a more curious sight. They took him into their church, and then down some narrow stone steps into a round room beneath. "Here," said they, "Jesus was born." The floor was of white marble, and silver lamps were burning in it. In one corner, close to the wall, was a marble trough, lined with blue satin. "There," said the monks, "is the manger where Jesus was laid." "Ah!" thought the traveller, "it was not in such a manger that my Saviour rested his infant head; but in a far meaner place."
These monks have an image of a baby, which they call Jesus. On Christmas-day they dress it in swaddling-clothes and lay it in the manger: and then fall down and worship it.
The next day, as the traveller was ready to mount his camel, the people of Bethlehem came with little articles which they had made. But he would not buy them, because they were images of the Virgin Mary and her holy child, and little white crosses of mother-of-pearl. They were very pretty: but they were idols, and G.o.d hates idols.
JERUSALEM.
Here our Lord was crucified.
Is there any child who does not wish to hear about it?
The children of Jerusalem once loved the Lord, and sang his praises in the temple. Their young voices pleased their Saviour, though not half so sweet as angels" songs.
Which is the place where the temple stood?
It is Mount Moriah. There is a splendid building there now.
Is it the temple? O no, that was burned many hundreds of years ago. It is the Mosque of Omar that you see; it is the most magnificent mosque in all the world. How sad to think that Mahomedans should worship now in the very spot where once the Son of G.o.d taught the people. No Jew, no Christian may go into that mosque. The Turks stand near the gate to keep off both Jews and Christians.
Every Friday evening a very touching scene takes place near this mosque.