Thereupon the Emperor, greatly moved, and with a tear in his eye and much solemnity in his tone, replied--
"G.o.d grant, my child, that I may be counted worthy of that kingdom."
OUR BIBLE CLa.s.s.
THE GLORY OF CHRIST.
(JOHN xvii)
In the large, upper room of that house at Jerusalem, where Jesus had eaten the Pa.s.sover with His disciples, and inst.i.tuted His own new feast, "The Lord"s Supper," He had been speaking, and they hearing, most wonderful truths. "Arise, let us go hence," He had said (John xiv. 31).
Yet He arose not, and they lingered still, held fast in solemn wonder while He spoke the parable of the vine, and warned and encouraged them concerning their future course when He had left them. And then, having a.s.sured them that He had overcome the world, and bidden them rejoice in Him, He lifted up His eyes to heaven, and prayed for Himself, for them, and for all His people to the end of time.
A wondrous prayer! He was just about to enter into His deepest sufferings; yet He says not a word of pain or sorrow. "The glory that should follow," "the joy that was set before Him," fill His heart and tongue, and all His prayer breathes of that reward--that crown of all His labours--the everlasting life of all His beloved ones.
He thought of His ancient glory, "the glory which I had with Thee before the world was" (ver. 5); and that glory was connected with His dear people, as we read in Proverbs viii. 23, where Christ, speaking as Wisdom, says, "I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was"; and "Then I was beside Jehovah, as One brought up with Him: I was daily _His_ delight, and _My_ delights were with the sons of men" (ver. 30, 31).
"The sons of men," as yet unborn; but "His gracious eye surveyed them"
as they should in future days appear, and He was then their "Elder Brother," "the First-born among many brethren," and in His image Adam was formed as a man, "a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honour," and the lord of G.o.d"s earthly creation (Psa. viii.). And Jesus looked on to the glorious time when all His people, though they have fallen, and become sinners, shall be purified and fully saved, and be "presented to G.o.d without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing." It _was_ His glory, before time, to think of this; it _shall_ be His glory, when time is ended, to see all His desires fulfilled, and all His wishes accomplished.
Next, Jesus thought and spoke of "the glory His Father had given Him"
(ver. 24)--given Him in the world, in the sight of His people. In Revelation xiii. 8, He is called "the Lamb that hath been slain from the foundation of the world"--slain in pictures and shadows; "the firstling of the flock" that Abel offered; the paschal lamb, and all the numberless sacrifices slain of old by G.o.d"s command, pointed always to the Lamb of G.o.d; and He was glorified when His people, in by-gone times, like Abraham, "saw His day," His coming, and His work, and were glad in His salvation.
And Jesus prayed that all whom His Father had given Him might behold His glory. When? Not only in heaven, but here. As we read in Paul"s wondrous description of this sight, "we all, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord" (2 Cor. iii.), do not simply gaze upon it as on a lovely picture, but are transformed as we gaze--are changed, until we become like our Lord, and bear His image, and reflect His glory, as the face of Moses shone when he came down from G.o.d on Mount Sinai, and he did not know it until he found the Israelites could not look at him unless he veiled his face, for true holiness makes us humble and lowly, and
"The more His glories strike our eyes, The humbler we shall lie; Thus while we sink, our joys shall rise Immeasurably high."
And if now we see Him thus by faith, we shall see Him as He is, and be like Him for ever.
"Oh, that with yonder sacred throng We at His feet may fall; Join in the everlasting song, And crown Him Lord of all."
But the prayer of Jesus began with the earnest request for another kind of glory--"Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee." "The hour" for which I came into the world--"the hour" of deepest woe, yet most glorious victory. Glorify Thy Son by strengthening and sustaining Him, that He may glorify Thee by accomplishing Thy will, and destroying the works of the devil.
Was not the prayer answered? Hear the dying Saviour cry, with a loud voice, on Calvary, "It is finished!" and we behold Him gloriously conquering in the very moment of His death, and departing to receive the Victor"s crown, and the grateful worship of all the redeemed, as they sing, "Worthy the Lamb that was slain!"
Lastly, Jesus says of all His glory, "I have given it to My people, My followers, My friends" (ver. 22). "My glory, My joy, I share with them."
He is "anointed with the oil of gladness above His fellows" (Psa. xlv.
7); but to every "good and faithful servant" He will say, "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
Is His joy, His glory, ours? Do we delight in His salvation? Do we desire to follow Him, and, like Him, do good to others? Do we long to see G.o.d"s kingdom come, and His will done on earth as it is done in heaven? If so, He has given us a share in His glory, and we shall meet with all His saints around His throne on high--
"And with one heart, and voice, and soul Sing His redeeming grace."
Then will His glory be complete. Oh, that we may behold and enjoy it, too! Amen.
Our next subject will be, _Gleanings from the Book of Ruth_.
Yours affectionately, H. S. L.
THE PITCAIRN ISLANDERS AND THE QUEEN.
Captain John Lewthwaite, of Maryport, has just returned to England, bringing with him a present for the Queen from the inhabitants of Pitcairn Island. Captain Lewthwaite is master of the _Cairmont_, of Glasgow, and on his homeward voyage from Vancouver Island he called at Pitcairn. He found that the descendants of the mutineers of the _Bounty_ had received papers containing particulars of the Queen"s Jubilee. They said they were anxious to make Her Majesty a Jubilee present, and in the absence of anything more valuable they decided to send some straw hats of their manufacture. They also sent other goods made of straw, which they manipulate with a great deal of skill. The presents were handed to Captain Lewthwaite by M"Avoy, the Governor of the island, and grandson of one of the mutineers. The box containing the presents has been lodged with the Vicar of Peckham Rye, who acts as agent for the islanders, to forward to the Queen.
There are now one hundred and twelve persons on the island, two-thirds being women. They use no strong drink, tobacco, or money. Some time ago a harmonium was taken out to them, and Captain Lewthwaite says one woman plays it remarkably well.
A MAN that cannot mind his own business is not to be trusted with the king"s.--_Saville._
PRIZE ESSAY.
LESSONS TO BE DERIVED FROM THE HISTORY OF DANIEL.
The princ.i.p.al lessons to be derived from the history of Daniel are--faith, moral courage, patience, perseverance, and the value of prayer. Daniel"s faith was steadfast in G.o.d, for, in spite of all opposition, he stood firm to his purpose. This also shows his moral courage, in standing alone before his G.o.d when all others were against him. He truly manifested the feeling, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." Envied and persecuted by many, he knew that G.o.d was for him if men were against him. It is a dreadful sin to conspire against a child of G.o.d, for Christ will say to such in the day of judgment, "Depart from Me, ye cursed." And again (Mark ix. 42) He said, "Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in Me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea." Daniel knew, too, the efficacy of prayer, for he was taught by G.o.d Himself; and where G.o.d gives faith and a true spirit, He is sure to call it into exercise. Daniel possessed an excellent spirit, and was preferred by King Darius, who did not worship the true G.o.d, and was prevailed upon to establish an idolatrous decree. But Daniel openly prayed to G.o.d. This showed his confidence in Jehovah"s omnipotence and faithfulness, and he was enabled to leave all in His hands, feeling sure that all things would work together for his good. It has been wisely said that "not one spark of real saving faith can be kindled in our hearts but by G.o.d Himself," and if He does this, He will give us the supply we so much need. As a weak limb often grows strong by exercise, so will our faith, if it be of G.o.d, be strengthened by the very effort we make in stretching it out towards things unseen. Daniel"s chastening afterwards yielded "the peaceable fruit of righteousness" when the angel Gabriel was sent to tell him he was greatly beloved, and that he should "stand in his lot at the end of his days." Oh, what comfort this message must have brought to poor Daniel! Happy shall we be if the Lord speaks thus to our hearts.
LAURA CREASEY (Aged 14 years).
_Sydney House, Sleaford, Lincolnshire._
[Good Essays have been received from Charles Southon, Kate M. Bond, Alice J. Wells, E. W. Cray, Martha Ramsay, Sarah Hicks, E. B. Knocker, and E. R. Harris.]
[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of "Cowper"s Poems."
The subject for January will be, "What is the Most Desirable Thing to Possess in the Spring-time of Life?" and the prize to be given for the best Essay on that subject, a copy of "The Life of Whitfield." All compet.i.tors must give a guarantee that they are under fifteen years of age, and that the Essay is their own composition, or the papers will be pa.s.sed over, as the Editor cannot undertake to write for this necessary information. Papers must be sent direct to the Editor, Mr. T. Hull, 117, High Street, Hastings, by the first of December.]
DEEPER than the love of home, deeper than the love of kindred, deeper than rest and recreation, deeper than the love of life, is the love of Jesus.--_Hamilton._
NOTHING is easier than fault-finding. No talent, no self-denial, no brains, no character is required to set up in the grumbling business.
But those who are moved by a genuine desire to do good and benefit their fellows have little time for murmuring or complaint.
Interesting Items.
THE length of the Thames from source to mouth is 220 miles.