""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 furnishing 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."
The last part of her diary is extremely touching. But this sorrowful sight presented to our view is only one of the many that frequently occur in a city like New York. They harrow the refined feelings of the faithful missionary. If such scenes are so distressing, what must have been the experience of Him who was made sin for us, and who daily mingled with sinners. He who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of G.o.d in Him. Let her tell her own story.
"A few days since I visited a woman whose husband had beaten her till she was almost helpless. She told me about his coming to her with a knife, and expected he would have taken her life. She asked me to engage in prayer with her. He sat by, apparently unmoved. When I was leaving, he asked me to forgive him. I told him it was not me he must ask; he must go to G.o.d for forgiveness. It was distressing to see the poor wife, as she asked me what she must do, as she had no friend on earth but me.
I then spoke to the husband; he said he was very sorry he had acted so badly, and would _drink no more_. I intend getting him to sign the pledge, which he says he will do.
"The evils of intemperance meet us in so many ways, we often feel discouraged, and yet at times a case occurs which bids us _work on_ and hope on. The man mentioned above from that time continued to refrain from drink, and has treated his wife well ever since. She wept with grat.i.tude as she told me, a few evenings since, that he came in and handed her all his money as he had received it for work, never having opened it. She could never forget the day when I came in and found almost everything in the room broken to pieces, and his promise which he faithfully made to me that he would _try and do right_."
Eternity alone will reveal to our astonished gaze the number of forlorn and sad hearts that were made to rejoice in the pardoning mercy of G.o.d through her weak instrumentality.
How comforting is the thought that His word shall not return unto Him void, but it will accomplish that which He please, and prosper in the thing wherein he hath sent it. "It either proves the saviour of life unto life, or of death unto death." If we harden our hearts in the day of affliction we grieve the Holy Spirit away from us. But sickness and penury properly received soften the heart and lead to repentance and transformation of life. Here is a practical ill.u.s.tration of this truth:
"Another family I found, with two children lying ill with diphtheria.
They were living in a bas.e.m.e.nt room, and were very poor. The father had been out of work for some time, and the mother"s sewing had supported the family, but now her time was taken up with attending to the sick children. I provided some nourishment, and the next time I called, the mother was lying ill with typhoid fever. A poor woman was taking care of them, risking her own life and that of her own children, and another poor neighbor had taken home the third child to preserve it from infection. They had but little covering, and I procured what was needed from the Home of the Friendless, and a dear friend gave me a bundle of clothing for them. They have since recovered, and having a friend who owned a tenement-house, I spoke to her about them, and they are now removed there, and are quite comfortable. Our kind ladies who a.s.sist us at the sewing-school having sent us some turkeys for distribution at Christmas I was able to furnish them with one; and better still, the husband has obtained employment. They say they never will forget the time when they had nothing, and now they have _everything so comfortable_.
They seem to feel it came from G.o.d."
Yes, He is the giver of every good and perfect gift, the Father of lights with whom there is no variableness nor the least shadow of turning. Without this perception and unless we return to G.o.d our grateful acknowledgments, we cannot truly enjoy His blessings from above. If G.o.d makes us the happy recipients of His favors it is our bounden duty to return to him our heartfelt grat.i.tude. This was the feeling of the Psalmist when he said:
"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
"Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
"Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies;
"Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle"s."
CHAPTER XIX.
HELP AND LOVING KINDNESS.
Oh, give Thine own sweet rest to me That I may speak with soothing power A word in season, as from Thee, To weary ones in needful hour.
That Mrs. Matilda Knowles, our _beau ideal_ missionary, possessed a thankful heart, we glean from her diary. She gives a deeply interesting account of the recognition, on her part, of the gentle and generous loving-kindnesses of those ladies who heartily co-operated with her in lifting the burden of sin, sorrow, and sadness from poor suffering humanity. She writes at the close of 1875, thus:
"Our sewing-school kept its usual festival, thanks to our kind ladies, Mrs. Harper,[3] with Mrs. Fiske, and their friends, who supplied us liberally, and made many very happy. I have also, through the generosity of friends, been able to _aid_ and even _supply_ the wants of many who are in need, and I trust, in beginning a New Year, I may be able to work even more earnestly than ever before."
[3] Wife of Mr. Fletcher Harper, of Harper Brothers, publishers, Franklin Square, New York.
This wealthy and inestimable lady (Mrs. F. Harper) has also recently entered into her rest and reward. We are glad to know, however, that her daughter has taken up all her mother"s work, as the following communication will testify:
"LAUREL HOUSE, LAKEWOOD, N.J., February 21, 1887.