What an unspeakable privilege to unbosom one"s trials and difficulties into the ear of a faithful servant of G.o.d. But ought we not to thank the Father of Light that the throne of grace has been erected, and we are kindly invited to come boldly into His immediate presence, through the rent veil of our Redeemer"s flesh, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in every time of need?
Consider the change from comfort in the country to circ.u.mstances of cheerlessness in the city. Many make a sad mistake in leaving their country home to come to the city to be crowded in a tenement-house.
Drawn thither, perhaps, by the glare and din and bustle, to mingle in the sin and sorrow. She described the woman as weeping sorely. "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." What an inexpressible comfort to those who feel their loneliness in the city, then Jesus wept and said that he was friendless and homeless. "He hath trodden the wine-press alone, of the people there was none with him."
Poverty and hunger is a great temptation to a woman in the city. How comforting to know that Christ was tempted in this respect. For we read in G.o.d"s divinely inspired word:
"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he Had fasted forty days and forty nights, he afterward hungered. And the tempter came and said unto him: If thou art the son of G.o.d, command that these stones become bread. But he answered and said: It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of G.o.d. Then the devil taketh him into the holy city; and he set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou art the Son of G.o.d, cast thyself down: for it is written,
"He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: And on their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.
"Jesus said unto him, Again it is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy G.o.d."--Matt. iv. 68.
To such weary ones we would say, remember the words of the blessed Jesus: "Let not your hearts be troubled," etc., for
I have read of a land whose inhabitants say "I am sick, I am weary," no more, And I pine, "mid the burdens and heat of the day, For a glimpse of that life-giving sh.o.r.e.
Eye hath not seen it, and ear hath not heard, Yet all my spirit with longing is stirred; Oh, glory exceeding my heart"s utmost pleading!
Eternal, eternal the weight of thy bliss!
_On Resisting Temptation._--Thomas A. Kempis says: So long as we live in this world we cannot be without tribulation and temptation.
Hence it is written in Job, "The life of man upon earth is a life of temptation."
Every one therefore ought to be careful about his temptations, and to watch in prayer, lest the devil find an advantage to deceive him; for he never sleepeth, but goeth about, seeking whom he may devour.
No man is so perfect and holy, but he hath sometimes temptations, and we cannot be altogether without them.
Nevertheless temptations are often very profitable to us, though they be troublesome and grievous; for in them a man is humbled, purified, and instructed.
All the Saints pa.s.sed through man"s tribulations and temptations, and profited thereby.
And they that could not bear temptations, became reprobate, and fell away.
There is no order so holy, nor place so secret, as that there be not temptations, or adversities in it.
There is no man that is altogether free from temptations whilst he liveth on earth: for the root thereof is in ourselves, who are born with inclination to evil.
When one temptation or tribulation goeth away, another cometh; and we shall ever have something to suffer, because we are fallen from the state of our felicity.
Many seek to fly temptations, and fall more grievously into them.
By flight alone we cannot overcome, but by patience and true humility we become stronger than all our enemies.
He that only avoideth them outwardly, and doth not pluck them up by the roots, shall profit little; yea, temptations will the sooner return unto him, and will be more violent than before.
By little and little, and by the very beginning, unlearn evil habits, lest perhaps by little and little they draw thee to greater difficulty.
Oh! if thou didst but consider how much inward peace unto thyself, and joy unto others, thou wouldst procure by demeaning thyself well, I think that thou wouldst be more careful of thy spiritual progress.
_Of the Profit of Adversity._--It is good that we have sometimes some troubles and crosses; for they often make a man enter into himself, and consider that he is here in banishment, and ought not to place his trust in any worldly thing.
It is good that we be sometimes contradicted, and that men think ill or inadequately; and this, although we do and intend well.
These things help often to the attaining of humility, and defend us from vain glory: for then we are more inclined to seek G.o.d for our inward witness, when outwardly we be contemned by men, and when there is no credit given unto us.
And therefore a man should settle himself so fully in G.o.d, that he needs not to seek many comforts of men.
When a good man is afflicted, tempted, or troubled with evil thoughts, then he understandeth better the great need he hath of G.o.d, without whom he perceiveth he can do nothing that is good.
Then also he sorroweth, lamenteth, and prayeth, by reason of the miseries he suffereth.
Then he is weary of living longer, and wisheth that death would come, that he might depart and be with Christ.
Then also he well perceiveth, that perfect security and full peace cannot be had in this world.
_Before I left, I prayed with her._--This brings before us another very touching scene in the life of St. Paul. His final farewell to the elders of Ephesus. When he had spoken unto them he kneeled down and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore and fell on Paul"s neck and kissed him.
Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they should see his face no more, and they accompanied him unto the ship. If this course was persistently pursued by all Christian workers how manifold would be the blessings conferred on our labors. It would be found that many a poor sin-burdened heart would be instantly relieved of its load of care.
For "if we ask, we shall receive."
We are called upon, not to go forth in our own name, or in our own strength, but in the name of Him who said, "Lo! I am with you alway, even to the end of the world;" and when one reflects on the many sad scenes and circ.u.mstances with which she was constantly surrounded, we ought to thank G.o.d that in every age of the Christian Church, he has raised up men and women who were willing to go with the name of Jesus to the distressed and dying, and to speak that name in all its living power.
A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER GIVEN A BIBLE AND ITS RESULT.
Of this incident she writes: "A woman and her daughter, whom I have been visiting for some time, and to whom I have given a Bible, have become greatly changed, and attended our place of worship last Sabbath.
They gave evidence of having been very deeply impressed. The mother said, with the Lord helping her, she will live no longer as she has done. This woman has been greatly tried. On the day of the great storm, her husband left Washington, where he had been employed some time, and has never since been heard of. He was her only means of support, as the rest of the family were out of employment. Her daughter is a very interesting young woman, and would like a situation as seamstress and nurse. I would have no fear in recommending her to any one who might need her services."
Notice, 1. That love and reverence for G.o.d"s Word inspires one with a desire to distribute the Sacred Scriptures. There are various reasons for this. In the first place, because of the moral influence the revealed will of G.o.d has had on the world. When we think of the benign and salutary influence of the Bible by its circulation throughout the length and breadth of the land, nay, all lands, by the British and Foreign Bible Society, and the American Bible Society, we have great reason to rejoice at the marvellous success that has attended their labors. Surely it is indited by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It has been transmitted to us, from generation to generation, unaltered and uninjured; the simple yet sublime boon--G.o.d"s loving letters to mankind.
"What glory gilds the sacred page!
Majestic like the sun!
It gives a light to every age; It gives but borrows none."
"The power that gave it still supplies The gracious light and heat; Its truth upon the nations rise; They rise but never set!"
In the beginning was the Word. _Christ is the Word._ It giveth light.
Read His power in the Gospel. Notice the connection between natural light and spiritual faith in Christ.
"And as they went out from Jericho, a great mult.i.tude followed Christ.
And behold two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus was pa.s.sing by, cried out, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou son of David. And the mult.i.tude rebuked them, that they should hold their peace; but they cried out the more, saying, Lord, have mercy on us thou son of David. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I should do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. And Jesus being moved with compa.s.sion touched their eyes, and straightway they received their sight and followed him."
2. The infinite superiority of the Divine Word to that of all earthly traditions, and the best literary productions is best judged by results. The works of Plato, Lycurgus, Demosthenes, Homer, Virgil, Dante, Milton, Scott, Burns, Bryant, and Longfellow are not for one moment to be compared to the Bible. When Scott, the great writer, was departing life, he turned to his son-in-law, Lockhart, and said:
"Bring me the Book."
"What book?" asked Lockhart.
"There is but one Book--the Bible!" was the reply. What spiritual and spontaneous enthusiasm in Divine things are stirred within us when we read the sacred pages.