"THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS."
(ZECHARIAH iv. 10.)
The second temple was much smaller than, and very inferior to, the first, and from it were wanting the ark, the Shechinah glory, the sacred fire, and the Urim and Thummim. Hence we read that, when it was erected and dedicated, the older men that had seen the former temple wept (Ezra iii. 12). Compared with that, the second temple saw but a "day of small things" (Hag. ii. 3).
And thus do we sometimes speak of the days of childhood and youth, and rightly so. Young people are small in stature and little in ability.
Their minds are not much cultivated at present, their faculties undeveloped. Their views of things are narrow and circ.u.mscribed. They have seen and know but little of the world, or, indeed, of anything at all. But children are not to be despised on that account. We who are older must not think depreciatingly of them, nor should the young depreciate themselves--their abilities, their time, their opportunities.
Do not waste your precious moments, for yours is a golden age, which will quickly pa.s.s away, and can never return.
Do not imagine that you are too young to exert any influence over others for good or harm. You may, and do, influence not only your companions, but many older people also. As children and youths are old enough to sin, they are old enough also to be impressed by the Spirit of G.o.d--yea, even savingly converted, if G.o.d so will it.
Not long ago, a very little boy, dying, was heard to say, "Oh, Lord Jesus, please make room for a little boy!" and I doubt not, his prayer was as real and as acceptable to G.o.d as was that of the dying malefactor, "Lord, remember me," &c. Another dear little fellow said, "If I ever get to heaven, I"ll go straight up to Jesus, throw my arms around His neck, and say, "I"m come! I"m come!""
Very little things are not without their importance or value. The earth is nourished all summer by tiny dew-drops. The greatest mountains, even huge Chimilari, towering five and a half miles into the clouds, and all the other peaks in the Himalaya and Andes ranges, are formed of tiny molecules of earthy matter.
Take a lesson from the coral formations. These are the work of a very little creature called a _polype_, or sea-anemone. Recent research has led to the discovery of much that is highly interesting respecting these little creatures. One polype, fixing its minute body to the rocky bottom of the sea, discharges a chalky secretion, which gradually grows up a branched trunk. The end of each branch is terminated by another polype; and thus it divides and multiplies itself, until a huge ma.s.s of red coral is formed. The more common white coral is similarly produced.
Beware of what are called "little sins." Do not think them mere trifles.
Bad in themselves, they likewise extend and grow into habits. These, once acquired, will hold you down with the force of a mighty chain.
Of late years vine-stocks have been imported from America into France and Italy. Upon these a tiny insect, called _phylloxera_, has been found--so small that thirty-three of them placed lengthwise would not measure more than an inch; and yet so destructive have these tiny things proved, and so rapidly have they been known to spread, that they have been the destruction of more than a million acres of vines.
One has well observed that "a great sin committed once shows where the devil has been; but petty sins, nourished into a habit, show where the devil lives."
[Ill.u.s.tration: "HER FATHER"S BAD WAYS MADE HER LIFE HARD." (_See page 38._)]
One of the discoveries of modern medical science is, that the disease known as cholera may be produced by a microscopic insect (the _Conina Bacillus_) being taken into the stomach inadvertently with our food.
This minute creature propagates with enormous rapidity in the blood, until that terrible malady is the result. Thus many great things are developed from the very smallest--not only great evils, but great blessings also.
In doing good, we must not despise "the day of small things." The beginnings, though imperfect and weak, are not without their own peculiar value, and ultimately they lead on to excellence.
Travellers on the continent are often struck by the contrast exhibited between two paintings which are shown in the museum at Rotterdam. The one is exceedingly poor--a mere daub. The most enthusiastic connoisseur cannot discover in it any mark of genius. The other painting is a grand work of art, almost priceless in value. Yet, strange to say, the same painter executed both--the celebrated Rembrandt. The first ill.u.s.trates the commencement of his career as an artist; the other is a masterpiece, while many years of earnest, patient toil intervened.
There must be a beginning to all things, and many dear Sabbath scholars have been instrumental of good to their parents and friends. I will mention one instance of this, selected from scores which have come under notice at different times.
In a miserable home there once resided a drunken father, with one girl, his only child. Of course, he took no particular interest in her welfare, either body or soul. But some kind friend got her to attend a Sabbath School. There she was brought to know and love the Saviour, and often during the week, while attending to the house, she was known to sing the sweet hymns she had learned. This was her only comfort, for her father"s bad ways made her life hard.
One day, when she was thus occupied, her father was in another room, sleeping off his drunkenness. On awaking, he heard the little maid singing--
"There is a happy land, Far, far away."
The Lord was pleased to use these words for another awakening. The grace of G.o.d touched his heart, and he said to himself, "Yes, it must be far away for her, poor thing; it cannot be here with me." That thought came from G.o.d. It melted his frozen heart, brought him to his knees, caused him to utter strong cries for mercy, led him to ask his little daughter to explain the way of salvation, and ultimately he was enabled to rejoice in pardoning mercy.
Dear young Gleaners, may the Lord thus be pleased to bless the reading of the LITTLE GLEANER, and the instruction imparted in the Sabbath School, first to your own soul, and then make you a similarly honoured instrument of good to others.
A. E. REALFF.
_Dunstable._
G.o.d never wrought miracles to convince atheism, because His ordinary works convince it.
A SUNNY, happy face naturally, is worth a world of recipes upon cheerfulness. Only let one possessing it come into a room where there are a number of melancholy souls, and see how soon the magnetic influence begins to relax the lines of care around the mouth and eyes of the burdened ones, and the light of forgotten smiles to illumine the dark faces! The very breath of summer has blown through the room, bringing the breath of meadow sweets on its wings.
HOW A GREAT MISTAKE WAS DISCOVERED.
A TRUE INCIDENT.
My grandmother was always looked upon by those who knew her as a good Churchwoman, a dutiful wife, an affectionate mother, and a good neighbour. She attended the services and partook of the Sacrament regularly, visited the sick, gave alms to the poor, and was generally regarded as a very religious, upright, consistent, and exemplary person.
Yet, notwithstanding this outward goodness, her mind was not at rest.
Her religion yielded no joy, her service brought no satisfaction. Nor could it be otherwise, for, instead of it being the spontaneous outflow of a heart constrained by love, it was as a task imposed--a duty performed in the hope of pleasing G.o.d, and meriting His favour, and in this way obtaining peace and rest to her soul.
Poor grandmother! These were "deadly doings"; but she knew it not, for her eyes were blinded by the G.o.d of this world (Satan), and her unsuccessful attempts to procure peace by these means often left her depressed in spirit and cast down in mind. But G.o.d had better things in store for her, although it was by no ordinary means that He was pleased to make known to her His more excellent way.
One Sunday, she went to church as usual, and took part in the singing and prayers, which were performed in the same mechanical order as at other times. It was not until the text was read out that her attention was particularly aroused; but this so arrested her that it all seemed to be intended for herself. The words, "Ye must be born again," uttered by the lips of an unconverted preacher, were made the message of G.o.d to her soul, but not as yet the message of peace. Her conscience was troubled, and as the words of the text were revolved in her mind, and the necessity of the new birth laid hold upon her heart, she trembled in her seat, and all her fancied goodness fled away; for here was Nicodemus, a good man, a teacher of religion, a pattern of morality, being told by the Lord Jesus that he must be "born again," or he could not enter heaven. She could see now that her almsgiving and church-going would not satisfy the righteous claims of a just and holy G.o.d.
She had made a most blessed discovery--that she was a lost sinner, "having no hope, and without G.o.d in the world." She returned home in great distress of mind, and so continued until the next day. These painful exercises then showed no signs of abatement, for the words of the text kept ringing in her ears; so, on the morrow, as early as convenient, she sought an interview with the clergyman, in the hope that he might be able to minister relief to her troubled heart.
But "woe unto you, ye blind guides!" The only counsel he could give was, to remind her of her good deeds, her consistent life, her regular attendance at church, &c., urging her to be calm and to banish from her mind these distressing thoughts, as there was not the slightest foundation for her fears. But this only increased her trouble, and she cried out, in great anguish of soul, "Tell me how I can be "born again"!
Tell me over again what you were telling the people yesterday." As she earnestly entreated him thus, he became greatly perplexed, for, alas!
the sermon he had preached the day previous was borrowed, and had since been returned to its owner; so, in much confusion, he had to confess his inability to help her; but said he, "You must get into cheerful company, read lively books [at the same time offering to lend her some of Shakespeare"s plays], and these impressions will soon wear off." But the solemn words from John iii. 7 were fastened in her mind by the "Master of a.s.semblies," to bring forth their fruit in due season.
My grandmother left the minister in great despair, which continued and increased to such an extent that eventually it became necessary to remove her to an asylum, and her cries of distress were heartrending, her incessant and unchanging cry being, "I must be "born again"! Tell me how I must be "born again"!" But strange as it may appear, this was G.o.d"s way of bringing her both mental and spiritual relief. A Christian lady who visited the asylum became acquainted with her case, and learning that there were times when grandmother was quieter and more herself, she resolved, if possible, to enlist the co-operation of a G.o.dly minister of her acquaintance; and having made it a matter of prayer, the way was soon open for him to see her, and the visit was made with the happiest results.
As the glorious Gospel message was set before her, in simple and earnest language, she listened with rapt attention, and drank in the blessed truth which was soon to become the power of G.o.d unto her salvation.
After this visit she was a little restless at times, but as the truth entered her soul, and she was enabled by "precious faith" to lay hold upon Christ, her fears all vanished, and she gradually became more calm and peaceful. She was led to see that peace was made for her by the "blood of the cross," and not by her works; and, "being justified by faith, she had peace with G.o.d, through our Lord Jesus Christ."
She had now known and experienced the blessed change so long sought, and which might have been set forth at her first awakening had a wise counsellor been at hand. The change wrought in her soul was very real, and acted so beneficially upon her mind that shortly afterwards she was able to return to her home and friends, to tell "what great things the Lord had done unto her." The remainder of her life was one of settled peace and joy, fruitful in good works, and abounding in thanksgiving and praise to G.o.d.
Dear reader, how is it with you? Have you experienced this great change?
Remember, nothing but reality will do for G.o.d and eternity. Neither education, morality, reformation, nor religious profession, can take the place of the new birth. "They that are in the flesh cannot please G.o.d."
There must be a new life and a new power communicated, in which to love and serve G.o.d; and this can only be "by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost." "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of G.o.d" (John iii. 3).--_Selected._
THE ENEMIES OF G.o.d AND OF HIS PEOPLE SCATTERED.
As the anniversary of the defeat of the Spanish Armada is to be celebrated this year, the following anecdote may not be uninteresting to our readers, as showing a like providence in the case of New England Christians.