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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Rocky Island, by Samuel Wilberforce
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: The Rocky Island
+       and Other Similitudes
+
+
+Author: Samuel Wilberforce
+
+
+
+Release Date: February 7, 2007  [eBook #20541]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ROCKY ISLAND***
+
+
+
+
+Transcribed from the 1849 (tenth) Francis & John Rivington edition by
+David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
+
+
+
+
+
+THE ROCKY ISLAND,
+AND
+OTHER SIMILITUDES.
+
+
+BY SAMUEL WILBERFORCE, D.D.
+LORD BISHOP OF OXFORD.
+
+"Fed my lambs."--S. JOHN xxi. 15.
+
+TENTH EDITION
+
+LONDON:
+FRANCIS & JOHN RIVINGTON,
+ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE.
+1849.
+
+{The Rocky Island: p0.jpg}
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+The advertisement to a work of similar character to the present expresses
+the author's principle and wishes as to this little volume.  It is
+constructed on the same plan, and, like the former, has had the test of
+the observations of his own children before it was given to the public.
+The reception of "Agathos" has shewn that many parents have felt the want
+which these little volumes are intended to supply, and leads the author
+to hope that he has in some measure been able to meet it.
+
+It is a peculiar gratification to him to be able thus to enter many a
+Christian household, and fulfil, in some measure, his Master's charge,
+"Feed my lambs."
+
+May it please God to give His blessing to this new attempt.
+
+S. W
+
+_Winchester_, _Sept._ 29, 1840.
+
+
+
+
+The Rocky Island.
+
+
+I saw in my dream a rough rocky island rising straight out of the midst
+of a roaring sea.  In the midst of the island rose a black steep
+mountain; dark clouds rested gloomily upon its top; and into the midst of
+the clouds it cast forth ever and anon red flames, which lit them up like
+the thick curling smoke at the top of a furnace-chimney.  Peals of loud
+thunder sounded constantly from these thick clouds; and now and then
+angry lightning shot its forked tongue, white, and red, and blue, from
+the midst of them, and fell upon the rocks, or the few trees which just
+clung to their sides, splitting them violently down, and scattering the
+broken and shivered pieces on all sides.  It was a sad, dreary-looking
+island at the first view, and I thought that no one could dwell in it;
+but as I looked closer at its shores, I saw that they were covered with
+children at play.  A soft white sand formed its beach, and there these
+children played.  I saw no grown people among them; but the children were
+all busy--some picking up shells; some playing with the bright-coloured
+berries of a prickly dwarf-plant which grew upon those sands; some
+watching the waves as they ran up and then fell back again on that shore;
+some running after the sea-birds, which ran with quick light feet along
+the wet sand, and ever flew off, skimming just along the wave-top, and
+uttering a quick sharp note as the children came close upon them:--so
+some sported in one way, and some in another, but all were busily at
+play.  Now I wondered in my dream to see these children thus busy whilst
+the burning mountain lay close behind them, and the thunder made the air
+ring.
+
+Sometimes, indeed, when it shone out redder and fiercer than usual, or
+when the thunder seemed close over their heads, the children would be
+startled for a little while, and run together, and cry, and scream; but
+very soon it was all forgotten, and they were as full of their sports as
+ever.
+
+While I was musing upon this, I saw a man appear suddenly amongst the
+children.  He was of a noble and kingly countenance, and yet so gentle
+withal that there was not a child of them all who seemed afraid to look
+in his face, or to listen to his kind voice when he opened his mouth, for
+soon I found that he was speaking to them.  "My dear children," I heard
+him say, "you will all be certainly killed, if you stay upon this rocky
+island.  Here no one ever grows up happily.  Here all play turns into
+death--the burning mountain, and the forked lightning, and the dreadful
+breath of the hill-storm,--these sweep down over all that stay here, and
+slay them all; and if you stay here, for these childish pleasures of
+yours, you will all perish."
+
+Then the children grew very grave, and they gazed one upon another, and
+all looked up into the face of the man, to see if he spoke in earnest.
+They saw directly that he did, for that kind face looked full of care as
+well as of love: so from him they looked out upon the waves of the sea,
+and one whispered to another, "Where shall we go? how shall we ever get
+over that sea? we can never swim across it: had we not better go back,
+and play and be happy, until the time comes for us to die?"
+
+"No," said the man, looking round kindly upon them all; "you cannot swim
+over; you never could get over of yourselves: but you need not stay here
+and die; for I have found a way of escape for you.  Follow me, and you
+shall see it."
+
+So I saw that he led them round a high rough rock, to where the calm
+waves of the sea ran up into a little bay, upon the white sand of which
+only a gentle ripple broke with a very pleasant sound.  This bay was full
+of boats, small painted boats, with just room in each for one person,
+with a small rudder to guide them at the stern, and a little sail as
+white as snow, and over all a flag, on which a bright red cross was
+flapping in the gentle sea-breeze.
+
+Then when the children saw these beautiful boats, they clapped their
+little hands together for very joy of heart.  But the man spoke to them
+again and said, "You will all have a deep, and dangerous, and stormy sea
+to pass over in these little boats.  They will carry you quite safely, if
+you are careful to do just as I bid you, for then neither are wind nor
+the sea can harm them; but they will bear you safely over the foaming
+waves to a bright and beautiful land--to a country where there is no
+burning mountain, and no angry lightning, and no bare rocks, and no
+blasting hill-storm; but where there are trees bearing golden fruits by
+the side of beautiful rivers, into which they sweep their green boughs.
+There the trees are always green, and the leaves ever fresh.  There the
+fruit ripens every month, {6} and the very leaves upon the trees are
+healing.  There is always glad and joyful light.  There are happy
+children who have passed this sea; and there are others who have grown
+old full of happiness; there are some of your fathers, and mothers, and
+brothers, and sisters; and there am I ever present to keep and to comfort
+you."  Now when they heard this, all the children wished to jump into the
+boats, and he was kindly ready to help them, only he put each one in
+carefully and slowly; and as he put him in, he gave him his charge.  He
+told them that they must never look round to this island they were
+leaving, but must be always setting their faces towards the happy land
+they sought for.  He told them that they must leave behind them all the
+shells and the berries which had pleased them here, for if they tried to
+take these with them in their boats, some accident would certainly befall
+them.  Then some of the children, when they heard all this, drew secretly
+away, and ran round the point, and gave up the boats and the sea, and
+began their old idle play again.  And some of them, I thought, hid the
+shells and the berries they had got, and then jumped into the boat,
+pretending they had left all behind them.
+
+Then I saw that the man gave different presents to each of them, as they
+seated themselves in the boat.  One was a little compass in a wooden box.
+"This," he said, "will always shew you which way to steer; you are to
+follow me, for I shall always be before you on the waters; but often when
+the darkness of the night comes on, or the thick mist seethes up from the
+wave's brim, or the calm has fallen upon you so that your boat has stood
+still,--often at such times as these you may not be able even to mark my
+track before you: then you must look at the compass, and its finger will
+always point true and straight to where I am; and if you will follow me
+there, you will be safe."  He gave them, too, a musical instrument, which
+made a soft murmuring sound when they breathed earnestly into it; "and
+this," he said, "you must use when you are becalmed and so cannot get on,
+or when the waves swell into a storm around you and threaten to swallow
+you up."  He gave them, too, bread and water for many days.
+
+So I saw that they all set out upon their voyage, and a beautiful sight
+it was to look upon.  Their snow-white sails upon the deep sea shone like
+stars upon the blue of the firmament; and now they all followed close
+upon the leader's ship, and their little boats danced lightly and
+joyfully over the trackless waves, which lifted up their breasts to waft
+them over: and so they started.  But I looked again in a little while,
+and they were beginning to be scattered very widely asunder: here and
+there three or four of the boats kept well together, and followed
+steadily in the track of the leader's vessel; then there was a long space
+of the sea with no boat upon it at all; then came a straggler or two, and
+then another company; and then, far off on the right and on the left,
+were other boats, which seemed to be wandering quite away from the
+leader's path.
+
+Now, as I watched them closer, I saw that there were many different
+things which drew them away: one I saw, soon after they started, who
+turned back to look at the rocky island, forgetting the man's command.  He
+saw the other children playing on the beach; he heard their merry voices;
+and then looking round again towards the sea, it looked rough and dark
+before him; and he forgot the burning mountain, and the terrible thunder,
+and the bright happy land for which he was bound, and the goodly company
+he was in, and the kind face of the kingly man; and he was like one in a
+dream, before whose eyes all sorts of shapes and colours fly, and in
+whose ears all sounds are ringing; and he thought no more of the helm,
+nor watched the sails; and so the driving swell carried his boat idly
+along with its long roll; and in a few minutes more I saw it at the top
+of a white foaming breaker, and then he and it were dashed down upon the
+rocks which girdled the sandy beach, and he was seen again no more.
+
+Then I turned my eyes to two other boats, which were going fast away from
+the true course, for no reason which I could see; but when I looked at
+them more closely, I saw that they were in a sort of angry race; each
+wished to get to the wind-side of the other; and they were so busy
+thinking about this, and looking at one another with angry glances, and
+calling out to one another with angry words, that they forgot to look for
+the leader's ship, or to watch the finger of the compass; and so they
+were going altogether wide of the track along which they should have
+passed.
+
+Then I looked closely at another, which was shooting quite away in
+another direction; and I saw that the poor child had left the rudder, and
+was playing with something in the bottom of the boat; and as I looked
+nearer in it, I saw that it was with some of the bright berries of the
+rocky island which he had brought with him that he was so foolishly busy.
+
+Foolish, indeed, he was; and kind had been the warning of the man who
+bade them leave all these behind: for whilst I was watching him, and
+wondering what would be the end of such a careless voyage, I saw his
+little boat strike suddenly upon a hidden rock, which broke a hole in its
+wooden sides, and the water rushed in, and the boat began to sink, and
+there was no help near, and the poor boy was soon drowned in the midst of
+the waves.
+
+Then I turned sadly away to watch the boats which were following their
+leader; and here, too, I saw strange things; for though the sea when
+looked at from afar seemed just alike to all, yet when I watched any one,
+I saw that he had some difficulties, and some frights, and some helps of
+his own, which I did not see the others have.
+
+Sometimes it would fall all at once quite dark, like a thick night, all
+round a boat; and if he that was in it could hear the voice of a
+companion near him for a little while, that gladdened him greatly; and
+then oftentimes all sound of voices died away, and all was dark, still,
+deep night, and he knew not where to steer.  Now if, when this fell upon
+him, the child went straight to his compass, and looked close upon it, in
+spite of the darkness, there came always a faint flashing light out of
+the darkness, which played just over the compass, so as to shew him its
+straight blue finger, if he saw no more; and then, if he took up his
+musical instrument, and blew into it, though the thickness of the heavy
+air seemed at first to drown its sound, yet, after awhile, if he was but
+earnest, I could hear its sweet murmuring sound begin; and then directly
+the child lost his fears, and did not want company; sweet echoes of his
+music talked with his spirit out of the darkness, and within a little
+time the gloom would lift itself quite up again, or melt away into the
+softest light: and lo! he had got on far on his voyage even in this time
+of darkness, so that sometimes he could see the beloved form just before
+him; and at times even the wooded shore of the happy land would lift
+itself up, and shine on his glad eyes, over the level brim of the silver
+sea.
+
+From another boat it would seem that the very air of the heaven died
+away.  There it lay, like a painted sail in a picture--the snow-white
+canvass drooping lazily, or flapping to and fro, as the long dull swell
+heaved up the boat, and let it sink again into the trough of the waves:
+other boats, but a little way off, would sail by with a full breeze; but
+he could not move; his very flag shewed no sign of life.  Now if the
+little sailor began to amuse himself when this happened, it seemed to me
+that there he lay, and would lie, till the dark night overtook him, and
+parted him from all his company.  But if, instead of this, he took up his
+musical instrument, and played upon it with all his earnestness, its soft
+breath, as it whispered to the wind, soon woke up its gentle sighing; the
+long flag lifted itself on high; the blood-red cross waved over the
+water; the snowy sails swelled out, and the little boat danced on along
+its joyful way.
+
+I noticed also that before those boats which were passing on the fastest,
+the sea would every now and then look very dark and threatening.  Great
+waves would seem to lift their white heads just before them; whilst every
+where else the sea looked calm and enticing.  Then the little sailor
+would strain his eye after his master's course, or look down at the
+faithful compass; and by both of these sure signs he saw that his way lay
+straight through these threatening waves.  Well was it for him, if, with
+a bold heart and a faithful hand, he steered right into them.  For always
+did I see, that just as he got where it seemed to be most dangerous, the
+tossing waves sank, as if to yield him an easy passage; the wind favoured
+him more than at any part of his voyage; and he got on in the right way
+faster than ever before.  Especially was this so, if at first he was
+somewhat tossed, and yet held straight on; for then he shot into a glassy
+calm, where tide and wind bore him steadily along unto the desired haven.
+But sad was it for him, if, instead of then trusting to the compass, he
+steered for the smoother water.  One or two such trembling sailors I
+especially observed.  One of them had long been sailing with the foremost
+boats; he had met with less darkness, fewer mists or troubled places,
+than the boats around him; and when he saw the white crests of the
+threatening waves lift up their strength before him, his heart began to
+sink; and after wavering for a moment, he turned his little boat aside to
+seek the calmer water.  Through it he seemed to be gliding on most
+happily, when all at once his little boat struck upon a hidden sandbank,
+and was fixed so firmly on its side, that it could not get afloat again.
+I saw not his end; but I sadly feared that when next the sea wrought with
+a troubled motion, and the surf broke upon that bank, his little boat
+must soon be shivered, and he perish in the waves.
+
+The other who turned aside followed closely after him; for this was one
+thing which I noted through all the voyage.  Whenever one boat went
+astray, some thoughtless follower or other would forget his compass, to
+sail after the unhappy wanderer; and it often happened that these
+followers of others went the farthest wrong of any.  So it was in this
+case; for when the first boat struck upon the sandbank, the other,
+thinking to escape it, bore still farther off; and so chancing to pass
+just where the shoal ended, and an unruly current swept by its farthest
+edge, the boat was upset in a moment, and the poor child in it drowned.
+
+And now I turned to three or four boats which had kept together from the
+time they left the harbour.  Few were forwarder than they; few had
+smoother water or more prosperous gales.  I could see, when I looked
+close into their faces, that they were all children of one family; and
+that all the voyage through they were helping, cheering, and directing
+one another.  As I watched their ways, I noticed this, too, which seemed
+wonderful.  If one of them had got into some trouble with its tackle, and
+the others stayed awhile to help it, and to bring it on its way, instead
+of losing ground by this their kindness, they seemed all to make the
+greater progress, and press on the further in their course.
+
+And now I longed to see the ending of this voyage; and so looking on to
+those which were most forward, I resolved to trace them to the end.
+
+Then I found that all, without exception, came into a belt of storms and
+darkness before they reached the happy land.  True, it was much rougher
+and more dark with some than others; but to every one there was a deep
+night and a troubled sea.  I saw, too, that when they reached this place,
+they were always parted one from another.  Even those which had kept most
+close together all the voyage before, until just upon the edge of this
+dark part, they, like the rest, were scattered here, and toiled on awhile
+singly and alone.
+
+They seemed to me to fare the best who entered on it with the fullest
+sails, and had kept hitherto the straightest course.  Indeed, as a common
+rule I found this always true--that those who had watched the compass,
+and held the rudder, and cheered themselves with the appointed music, and
+eaten the master's bread, and steered straight after him, they passed
+through this cloud and darkness easily and swiftly.
+
+Next to these were those who sought most earnestly to cheer its gloom
+with the sound of their appointed music.  The Lord of these seas, indeed,
+had many ways of cheering His followers.  Even in the thickest of that
+darkness His face of beaming love would look out upon them; and He seemed
+nearer to them then than He had done heretofore through all their voyage.
+
+Then, moreover, it was never long; and bright light lay beyond it.  For
+they passed straight out of it into "the haven where they would be."
+Sweet sounds broke upon their glad ears even as they left that darkness.
+A great crowd of happy children--parents who had gone before them--friends
+whom they had loved, and holy persons whose names they had long
+known--these all lined the banks, waiting to receive and welcome them.
+Amidst these moved up and down shining forms of beautiful beings, such as
+the children's eyes had seen only in some happy dream; and they, too,
+were their friends; they, too, waited for them on the bank; they, too,
+welcomed them with singing, and bore the happy new-comer with songs of
+triumph into the shining presence of the merciful King.  Then, on the
+throne royal, and with the glorious crown upon His head, they saw the
+same kind face of gentle majesty which had looked upon them when they
+played on the shores of that far rocky isle.  They heard again the voice
+which had bid them fly the burning mountain.  They saw Him who had taken
+them into His convoy; who had given them their boats; who had been near
+them in the storm; who had given them light in the darkness; who had
+helped them in the dull calm; who had never left them; but who had kept
+and guided them across the ocean; and who now received them to His never-
+ending rest.
+
+* * * * *
+
+_Father_.  Who are the children playing on the shores of the rocky
+island?
+
+_Child_.  The fallen children of fallen parents, born into this sinful
+world.
+
+F.  What does the burning mountain, and the lightning, and the
+hill-storm, represent?
+
+C.  The wrath of God ever burning against sinners.
+
+F.  Who is He who warned these thoughtless children?
+
+C.  The Lord Jesus, who, by His ministers, warns men to "flee from the
+wrath to come."
+
+F.  What are the boats by which they are to escape?
+
+C.  The "ark of Christ's Church," into which we are admitted by baptism.
+
+F.  Many of the children who embarked in the boats were lost,--what is
+shewn by this?
+
+C.  That it is not enough to be received into the congregation of
+Christ's flock; but that we must always "manfully fight under His banner
+against the world, the flesh, and the devil, and continue Christ's
+faithful soldiers and servants unto our lives' end."
+
+F.  What is the compass, and the musical instrument, and the bread, and
+the water?
+
+C.  God's word, and the privilege of prayer and holy sacraments, and the
+other gifts of God to His Church.
+
+F.  What is the gentle wind which the musical instrument awoke?
+
+C.  The grace of God's Holy Spirit, promised to the members of His
+Church, to be sought by earnest prayer, and in all the means of grace.
+
+F.  What means the boy playing with the berries, and so striking on the
+rock?
+
+C.  One who having been given up to Christ in baptism follows worldly
+pleasures, and so "makes shipwreck of the faith."
+
+F.  What are the dark places and calms into which different boats enter?
+
+C.  The different temptations and dangers of the Christian life.
+
+F.  What are the threatening waves which seemed to be right ahead of the
+boat?
+
+C.  The dangers and self-denials which they must meet with who will
+follow Christ.
+
+F.  What is meant by the boat which turned aside, and ran upon the shoal?
+
+C.  That they who will turn aside from following Christ because danger
+and self-denials meet them cannot reach heaven.
+
+F.  What is shewn in the boat which followed this one?
+
+C.  How ready we are to follow a bad example, and go beyond it.
+
+F.  What was the little company of boats which kept together?
+
+C.  A Christian family earnestly serving God.
+
+F.  Why did those who helped others find that they got on the fastest?
+
+C.  Because God, who has bid us "bear one another's burdens, and so
+fulfil the law of Christ," will greatly help and bless all such.
+
+F.  What is the belt of storm and darkness which all must pass through?
+
+C.  Death.
+
+F.  Why were all separated in it?
+
+C.  Because we must die alone.
+
+F.  Who are those that generally passed through it most easily?
+
+C.  Those whose life had been most holy and obedient.  "Keep innocency,
+and take heed unto the thing that is right; for that shall bring a man
+peace at the last" (Ps. xxxvii. 38).
+
+F.  Who were the next?
+
+C.  Those who entered on it with much prayer.
+
+F.  What was their great support in it?
+
+C.  The presence of Jesus Christ our Lord.
+
+F.  What declaration have we on this subject in God's word?
+
+C.  "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee."  "I am
+the resurrection and the life; he that believeth on me shall never die."
+
+F.  What lies beyond this to the faithful Christian?
+
+C.  The blessed rest of paradise and the bright glories of heaven.
+
+
+
+
+The Vision of the Three States.
+
+
+I saw, in my vision, two glorious creatures walking together through a
+beautiful garden.  I thought at first they must be angels, so bright and
+happy did they seem.  The garden, also, in which they were, seemed too
+beautiful for earth.  Every flower which I had ever seen, and numbers
+which my eye had never looked upon, grew in abundance round them.  They
+walked, as it were, upon a carpet of flowers.  The breeze was quite full
+of the rich scent which arose from them.  The sun shone upon them with a
+brightness such as I had never seen before; whilst the air sparkled with
+myriads of winged things, which flew here and there, as if to shew how
+happy they were.
+
+All through the garden, too, I saw every sort of beast, in all its
+natural grace and beauty; and all at peace.  Great lions moved about
+amongst tender sheep; and striped tigers lay down quietly to sleep
+amongst the dappled fawns which sported around them.  But, amidst all
+these beautiful sights, my eyes followed more than all, the two glorious
+forms which were walking together with such a kingly majesty through the
+happy garden: they were, truly, I could see, beings of this earth; they
+were talking to each other; they were speaking of ONE who had made them
+out of the dust of the earth; who had given to them living souls: who was
+their Father and their Friend; who had planted for them this beautiful
+garden, and made them the rulers of all that was in it.
+
+Now I marked them as they talked, and I could see that their eyes were
+often turned from all the beauty round them towards one far end of the
+garden; and as I watched them, I saw that they were still passing on
+towards it.  Then I also fixed my eyes there, and in a while I could see
+that, at the end of the garden to which they were moving, there was a
+bright light, brighter and purer than the light of the sun; and I thought
+that in it I could see here and there heavenly forms moving up and down,
+flying upon silver wings, or borne along upon the light breath of the
+sunny air.  But as I strained my eyes to pierce into it, it seemed to
+dazzle and confound them by its great lustre.  Then, again, I heard the
+words of the two; and they spake of what was before them; of the bright
+light, and the heavenly forms: and I found that they were only travellers
+through this beautiful garden; that the King who had placed them in it
+dwelt in that light, the brightness of which had so confounded my gaze;
+that they were on their way to His presence, and that when they reached
+it, they should be happy for ever; even as those shining spirits were
+already, whose golden figures I had been just able to discover.
+
+Now, whilst I was pondering upon these things, and casting my eyes round
+and round this beautiful garden, I heard all at once a most terrible
+sound, as of thunder, such as man's ears had never heard.  I looked up,
+and the bright light at the end of the garden seemed to turn itself into
+angry fire, and to flash red and threatening through thick black clouds,
+which were forming themselves into terrible shapes all over the garden.
+Then I looked for the two that I had seen before: I could just see them;
+sorrow sat upon their faces, and fear made them deadly pale; a serpent
+was gliding from them into the bushes; and their eyes were fixed upon the
+air, as though voices, which I heard not, were speaking terrible things
+to their inner ears.  Then, as I looked, it grew darker and darker--the
+thunder pealed all round me--cries came forth from every hill, as of
+fierce and deadly beasts in wild dreadful fight.  The flowers round me
+were withering up, as if a burning blight had passed over them; and soon
+it was all dark, and dreary, and desolate.
+
+Then when my heart was very heavy within me, methought there stood by me
+one of the forms of light whom I had seen at the garden's end; and my
+knees smote together through fear of his glory; but he looked upon me
+kindly, and spoke to me in a voice of pity, and he said, "Wouldst thou
+see the end of this sight?"  Then my heart gathered courage, and I told
+him, that if it were lawful, I would indeed fain look upon it.
+
+With that he lifted me, and we flew through the air, and I knew not where
+he had borne me; but in a while he set me on my feet, and bade me look
+right down beneath me.  Then I looked down at his word, but could see
+nothing.  My eyes seemed to rest upon the thick mantle of the night, and
+they could not pierce through it.  Now, while I was striving to pierce
+through the darkness, strange noises rose from it to my ears.  All sounds
+that ever were, came up from it, so mingled together that I could not say
+what they were.  Whether it were a groan, or a cry, or a roaring, or
+music, or shouting, or the voice of anger or of sorrow; for all of these
+seemed joined together into one; but the groaning was louder than the
+laughing, and the voice of crying well nigh drowned the music.  Then I
+asked my guide what was this strange noise; and he told me that it was
+the voice of all THE WORLD, as it rose up to the ears of those that were
+on high.  Then I begged of him, if it might be, to let me see those from
+whom it came.  With that he touched my eyes; and now methought, though
+the darkness remained, that I could see in the midst of its thickness,
+even as in the brightness of the day.
+
+It was a strange place into which I looked.  Instead of the beautiful
+garden I had seen before, and two glorious creatures passing through it;
+now I saw a multitude of men, women, and children, passing on through a
+waste and desolate wilderness.  Here and there, indeed, there were still
+flowery spots, but they were soon trodden down by the feet of those who
+passed along.  Strange too were their steps.  Now, instead of passing
+straight on, they moved round and round, for they were all in the black
+darkness.  The ground was full of pitfalls, in the low bottoms of which I
+could see red fire burning fierce and hot, and one after another fell
+over into these pitfalls, and I saw them no more.  Evil beasts, too,
+moved amongst them, slaying one, and tearing another; and as if this was
+not enough, oftentimes they would quarrel and fight with one another,
+until the ground all around was covered with their bodies strewed upon
+it.
+
+Yet for all this, some would sing, and dance, and frolic; and this seemed
+to me the saddest of all, for they were like mad men; and mad in truth
+they were, for in the midst of their dancing and their singing, one and
+another would get near the side of some great pitfall, and step over into
+its flames, even with the song upon their lips.
+
+In vain did I strain my eyes to see any light at the end, as I had seen
+it in the garden.  If it was there, the black clouds had rolled over it
+so thick and dark that not a ray of it was left.
+
+Yet I heard one and another offering to lead those that would follow
+them, safely through this terrible wilderness; and such men never wanted
+followers: so I watched many of these leaders, to see what they would do
+for those that trusted them.  Little help could any of them render.  Some
+put their followers on a path which led straight down into the deepest
+and most frightful pitfalls; some set them on a path which wandered round
+and round, and brought them at the end back to the same place from which
+they started; some led them into thorny places, where the poor pilgrims
+pierced their bleeding feet with many a wound: but not one did I see who
+brought them into any better place, or took them any nearer to their
+journey's end.
+
+How they found their way at all, was at first my wonder.  But as I looked
+more closely, I saw in all their hands little lanterns, which just threw
+a feeble light upon the darkness round them.  These were always brightest
+in the young, for they soon grew very dim; and the falls and blows they
+met with, bruised and shattered them so much, that some had hardly any
+glimmering left, even of the feeble light which they had seemed to cast
+of old.
+
+I looked at them until my heart was very sad, for there was no peace, no
+safety, no hope; but all went heavily and sadly, groaning and weeping, or
+laughing like madmen, until, sooner or later, they seemed all to perish
+in the fearful pitfalls!
+
+Then my angel-guide spoke to me again, marking my sadness, and he said,
+"Hast thou well observed this sight?" and I answered, "Yes."  Then he
+said, "And wouldst thou see more?"  So when I had said "yes," methought
+we were once more flying through the air, until again he set me on my
+feet, and bid me look down.  Now here, too, strange noises reached my
+ears; but as I listened to them, I found that there were mixed with them
+such sounds as I had not heard before.  Sweet clear voices came up now
+from the din, speaking, as it were from one close by me, words of faith,
+and of hope, and of love; and they sounded to me like the happy talking
+which I had heard at the first between the glorious beings in the garden.
+
+So when my guide touched my eyes, I bent them eagerly down into the
+darkness below me.
+
+At first I thought that it was the same place I had seen last, for there
+was a busy multitude passing to and fro; and there was music and dancing,
+and sobbing and crying; there were pitfalls, too, and wild beasts.  But
+as I looked closer, I saw that, in spite of all this, it was not the
+place that I had seen before.  Even at a glance I could see that there
+were many more flowers here than there; and that many amongst the
+pilgrims were going straight on, with happy faces, by a road which passed
+safely by all the pitfalls.  I could see, too, that at the end of the
+road was a dim shining of that happy light which had been so bright in
+the beautiful garden.
+
+Now, as I looked, I saw that there were but a few who kept to this
+straight safe road, and that many were scattered all over the plain.  I
+saw many leave this path even as I looked upon it; and very few did I see
+come back to it: those who did, seemed to me to find it very hard to get
+into it again; whether it was that its sides were slippery, or its banks
+so steep, many fainted and gave up, after trying to climb into it again.
+But it seemed quite easy to leave it; for every one who left it went on
+at first lightly and pleasantly.  Sometimes, indeed, they seemed greatly
+startled after taking their first step out of it, and some of them turned
+straight back, and after a few struggles, more or less, such always got
+into it again.  But if once after this first check they set out for the
+plain, they seemed to go easily along, until their path lay straight by
+the den of some destroying beast, or led them into the midst of the
+pitfalls, where they wholly lost their reckoning, and knew not how to get
+on, or how to get back.
+
+I saw, too, after a while, that they had got lanterns in their hands,
+some of which gave a great deal of light.  Those which were carried along
+the narrow path shot out bright rays on all sides, until towards the end
+they quite blazed with light.  I could see, too, that these travellers
+had some way of trimming and dressing their lamps; and that much of their
+light seemed to come from an open book which they carried in their hands,
+from the leaves of which there flashed out continually streams of light,
+which made their lamps burn so brightly that all their road shone with
+it.  But as they got further and further from the path, their lamps began
+to burn dim.  All these travellers, too, had the book of light closed; or
+if they now and then opened it, they shut it up again, some carelessly,
+and some as if its light frightened them; and not one could I see who
+stopped to trim his light: so that just when they got amongst the
+pitfalls, and wanted light the most, they were all the most nearly in
+darkness.
+
+Now, when I had looked at them for a space, and wondered, my guide said
+to me, "Wouldst thou see how they enter on this plain?"  Then he took me
+to a fair porch, which came from the wilderness I had looked upon before;
+and there I saw a man standing in white robes, and speaking good words,
+and giving good gifts to each one as he came in.  There were persons
+coming in of all nations and people, and some, too, of all ages, though
+the greatest number were little children, so small that their little
+hands would not hold the man's gifts, and so he hung them round their
+necks, for them to use as soon as they were able.
+
+Then I joined myself to the group, to hear and see the better what was
+passing.  The man in white was speaking with a grave kind voice as I came
+up.  He told the pilgrims that the great Lord of the land had built that
+porch, and set him there to help the poor travellers, who were before
+without hope or help amongst the beasts, and snares, and pitfalls of the
+terrible wilderness; he told them that the blood of the King's own Son
+had been shed, that that porch might be built; that the King had prepared
+them a narrow way to walk in, which led straight from that porch to His
+own blessed presence, and that they might all pass along it safely if
+they would; he told them that if they left that path, they would surely
+get again amongst the pitfalls which they had left in the wilderness;
+nay, that they would be worse off than they had been even there, for that
+there was no other porch where they could again be set right, and no
+other place where the gifts that he was giving them now, could ever be
+got any more, if they were once thrown quite away.
+
+Then I looked to see what these gifts were.  I saw the man bring forth
+clear and sparkling water, which shone as if with living light; and with
+this he washed from them the dirt and the bruises of the terrible
+wilderness: with this, too, he touched their little lamps, and as it
+touched them, they grew so bright and clear, that the light within poured
+freely forth on all around them.  Then he looked in their faces, and gave
+them a name, which he wrote down in the King's book; and he told them,
+that by this name they should be known, not only by their
+fellow-travellers, but that this would remain written in the King's book
+here, unless they wholly left His path; and that every name which
+remained written here, they would find written in another book in letters
+of gold and of fire, when they reached the other end of the path; and
+that for every pilgrim, whose name was written there, the golden gate
+would open of itself, and he would find a place and a crown in the
+presence of the King.
+
+Then, as he spoke all these glorious words, my heart burned within me to
+see how the travellers sped.
+
+But he had not yet done with them; for he brought out of his stores a
+golden vial for each one; and he told them that in it the King had stored
+the oil of light and beauty for the dressing of their lamps.
+
+Then he shewed them how to use it: not carelessly or lightly, for then
+the oil would not flow; but earnestly, and with great care; and then
+sweet odours issued from the vial, and the flame of the lamp burned
+brightly and high.  He gave them, too, the precious light-book, which I
+had seen; and he bade them read in it when it was dark, or the way was
+slippery; and that they should ever find that it was a "lantern unto
+their feet, and a light unto their paths."  He put, too, into the hand of
+each a trusty staff, suited to their age; and then he told them, while
+they leant upon it, it would bear them up at many a pinch, and ever grow
+with their growth, and strengthen with their strength.  "Church-truth" he
+called these staffs; and they were made after a marvellous fashion, for
+they were as if many wands had been woven together to make one; and as I
+looked, I could see "example," and "experience," and "discipline," and
+"creeds," written upon some of these wands, which grew together into
+"Church-truth."
+
+Then I longed greatly to follow forth some of these whom I had seen under
+the porch; and as I gazed, I saw the man look earnestly into the face of
+a fair boy, who stood before him: he gave him the name of "Gottlieb,"
+{45a} and entered it in the book, and put the staff in his hand, and
+washed him with living water, and hung the vial at his side, and put the
+banded staff into his hands; and, bidding him God-speed, set him out upon
+his journey.
+
+Then he looked steadily into the face of another, and it, too, was fair
+to look upon; but it had not the quiet happy peace of the last.  The man
+wrote it down as "Irrgeist;" {45b} and I thought a shade of sadness swept
+over his brow as he gave to him the King's goodly gifts.
+
+Then he sent forth a third, whose timid eye seemed hardly firm enough for
+so long a journey; and I heard the name that was given him, and it was
+"Furchtsam." {45c}  Close to him went another, with a firm step, and an
+eye of steady gentleness; and I saw, by the King's book, that he bore the
+name of "Gehulfe." {46}
+
+So these four set out upon their journey; and I followed them to see how
+they should fare.  Now, I saw that at first, when they started, they were
+so small that they could not read in the goodly book, neither could they
+use the golden vials; and their little banded sticks would have fallen
+from their hands, if they had not been small and thin, like the first
+green shoots of the spring.  Their lamps, too, cast no light outwardly,
+yet still they made some way upon the path; and whilst I wondered how
+this might be, I saw that a loving hand was stretched out of the darkness
+round them, which held them up and guided them on their way.
+
+But, anon, in a while they were grown larger; and I could see Gottlieb
+walking on the first, and his book of light was open in his hand, and his
+lamp burned bright, for he often refreshed it with oil, and he leant upon
+his good staff, and strode along the road.
+
+Then, as he walked on, I saw that there stood upon his path a shadowy
+figure, as of one in flowing robes, and on her head she seemed to wear a
+chaplet of many flowers; in her hands was a cup of what seemed to be
+crystal water, and a basket of what looked like cool and refreshing
+fruit.  A beautiful light played all round her, and half shewed her and
+her gifts to the boy.  She bid him welcome, as he came up to her; so he
+raised his eyes from his book, and looked to see who spoke to him.  Then
+she spoke kindly to him; and she held forth the cup towards him, and
+asked him if he would not drink.  Now, the boy was hot with walking, for
+the air was close, so he stretched out his hand to take the cup; but
+though it seemed so near to him, he could not reach it.  And at the same
+moment she spake to him again, and asked him to come where these fruits
+grew, and where the breeze whispered amongst the boughs of yonder
+trees,--and there to drink and rest, and then go on his way again.  Then
+I saw that she had power to call out of the darkness the likeness of all
+she spoke of.  So he looked at the trees to which she pointed; and the
+sun seemed to shine around them, and the shade looked cool and tempting
+under them, and the pleasant breeze rustled amongst their fresh leaves;
+and he thought the road upon which he was travelling was hotter and
+darker, and more tiring than ever; and he put up his hand to his burning
+brow, and she said to him, as he lingered, "come."  Now, the trees to
+which she pointed him lay off his road, or he would gladly have rested
+under them; and whilst he doubted what to do, he looked down to the book
+that was open in his hand; and the light shot out upon it bright and
+clear, and the words which he read were these, "None that go unto her
+return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life." {49a}  And as
+he read it, he looked again at the stranger; and now he could see more
+clearly through the wild light which played around her, and he knew that
+it was the evil enemy who stood before him; the sparkling cup, too, and
+the fruit, turned into bitter ashes; and the pleasant shady grass became
+a thorny and a troublesome brake: so, pushing by her with the help of his
+staff, he began to mend his pace; and looking down into the book of
+light, there shone out, as in letters of fire, "Wherewithal shall a young
+man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word." {49b}
+
+Then I saw that he was feeding his lamp, which had begun to grow dim as
+he parleyed with the tempter, and that he ceased not till it streamed out
+as bright and as clear as ever.
+
+But still the air was hot and sultry, and no cool breath blew upon him;
+and if he looked off for a moment from his book, the fair form of the
+tempter stood again beside him in silver light; the cold water sparkled
+close to his lips; and trees with shady boughs waving backward and
+forward over fresh green grass, and full, in every spray, of
+singing-birds, seemed to spring up around him.  For a little moment his
+step faltered; but as his lamp streamed out its light, all the vain
+shadows passed away: and I heard him say, as he struck his staff upon the
+ground, "I have made a covenant with my eyes;" and even as she heard it,
+the tempter passed away, and left him to himself.  Scarcely was she gone,
+before he passed by the door of a beautiful arbour.  It was strewn with
+the softest moss; roses and honeysuckle hung down over its porch; light,
+as from a living diamond, gleamed from its roof; and in the midst of its
+floor, a clear, cool, sparkling stream of the purest water bubbled ever
+up from the deep fountain below it.  Now, as this lay on the road,
+Gottlieb halted for a moment to look at it; and the light of his lamp
+waxed not dim, though he thus stayed to see it; the book of fire, too,
+spoke to him of rest, and of halting by "palm-trees and wells of water;"
+and as he looked, he read in letters of light over the door-way--
+
+   Faithful pilgrim, banish fear,
+   Thou mayst enter safely here:
+   Rest for thee thy Lord did win;
+   Faithful pilgrim, enter in.
+
+Then Gottlieb rejoiced greatly, and cast himself gladly upon the mossy
+floor, and bent down his parched lips to drink of the cool spring which
+bubbled up before him.
+
+Now, whilst he was resting safely here, I turned to see how it fared with
+the others who had set out with him from the porch, for they had not got
+as far as Gottlieb.
+
+The first of them was Irrgeist; and when I looked upon him, he was
+drawing near to the place where Gottlieb had fallen in with the tempter.
+Irrgeist was walking quickly on--so quickly that, at the first glance, I
+thought he would soon be by the side of Gottlieb.  But, upon looking more
+closely, I saw that Gottlieb's steps had been far more steady and even
+than those with which Irrgeist was pressing on; for Irrgeist's lamp
+burned but dimly, and gave him no sure light to walk in.  Very near to
+the place where Gottlieb had met with her, the tempter stood beside
+Irrgeist.  He was not looking at his book, as the other had been; and he
+did not wait to be spoken to; for as soon as he saw the light which
+played round her figure, he began to speak to her, and asked who she was.
+She told him that her name was "Pleasure;" and forthwith she shewed to
+him her crystal cup and fruits; and she brought before the charmed eyes
+of the wanderer all the gay show with which she had tried before to
+mislead the faithful Gottlieb.  There was the bright sunshine, and the
+green path, and the waving trees, and the rustling of the wind, and the
+song of birds, and the sweet resting-shade.  Irrgeist looked eagerly at
+all she shewed him, and in his haste to reach out his hand for the cup,
+he dropped altogether the trusty staff of "Church-truth."  Then the cup
+seemed to draw away from him, just as it had done from Gottlieb; but he
+followed thoughtlessly after it.  And soon I saw that he left the path
+upon which he had been set; and though he started suddenly as soon as he
+was off it, yet it was but a moment's start,--the cup was close before
+him, the shadowy form led him on, the grass was green, and the trees and
+the sunlight but a little farther.
+
+And now I saw him drink some of the enchanted water; and as he drank it,
+his look grew wild, and his cheek burnt like the cheek of one in a fever;
+and he walked after the deceitful figure with a quicker step than ever:
+but I saw that his lamp was almost out, that the book of living light had
+fallen from his hands, and the golden vial hung down, ready, as it
+seemed, to fall from him altogether.
+
+Still he walked on; and a strange flitting light, from the form which was
+before him, lightened the darkness of the valley, so that he could pass
+on quickly; the meadow, also, was smooth and even, and there was a
+rustling breeze, which played around him: so that he got on faster than
+he had ever done upon the narrow path, and thought that he was getting
+well on to his journey's end.  Many times did he put forth his hand for
+the sparkling cup, and drank of it again and again.
+
+But now I saw, as I thought, a strange change which was coming over him;
+for he drank oftener of the bowl, but appeared each time to find it less
+refreshing.  Sometimes it seemed almost bitter, and yet he could not but
+take it the very moment he had thrust it from him.  The shadowy form,
+also, before him seemed altogether altering; he looked again, and her
+beautiful features and pleasant countenance had changed into a sharp,
+stern, and reproachful frown.  His own voice, which had been heretofore
+almost like one singing, grew sad and angry.  The very figure of his
+guide seemed vanishing from his eyes; the light which floated round her
+grew wilder and more uncertain, and his own lamp was almost out.  He felt
+puzzled and bewildered, and hardly knew which way to go: he had got into
+a broad beaten path, and he found that many besides himself were going
+here and there along it.  Sometimes they sang; and, in very bitterness of
+heart, he tried to sing too, that he might not think: but every now and
+then, when a flashing light came, and he saw the look of the travellers
+amongst whom he was, it made his very heart shiver--they looked so sad
+and so wretched.  Now, none went straight on: some turned into this path,
+some into that; and then he soon lost sight of them altogether.  Sometimes
+he heard fearful cries, as if wild beasts had seized them; sometimes a
+dreadful burst of flame from the horrid pits which I had seen, made him
+fear that they had fallen over into them: for poor Irrgeist had got now
+into the midst of the deep pits and the ravenous beasts.  And soon he
+found how terrible was his danger.  He had been following one who had
+made him believe that he had light to guide his steps; he had gone with
+him out of the beaten path; and they were pressing on together, when
+Irrgeist suddenly lost sight of him in the darkness; and whether it was
+that he had fallen into a pit, or become the prey of some evil beast,
+Irrgeist knew not; only, he found that he was more alone than ever, and
+near to some great peril.  Poor Irrgeist sprang aside with all his force,
+thinking only of the danger which he feared; but, feeling his feet
+slipping under him, he turned, and saw that he had got upon the
+treacherous brink of a fearful pit; down which, at the very moment,
+another pilgrim fell.  The fierce red flames rose out of it with a roar
+like thunder, and a blaze like the mouth of a furnace; and the wind blew
+the flames into the face of Irrgeist, so that he was singed and almost
+blinded.  Then the poor boy called in the bitterness of his heart upon
+Pleasure, who had led him out of the way, and now had forsaken him; but
+she came no more--only terrible thoughts troubled him; and he heard the
+hissing of serpents as they slid along in the bushes near him, and all
+evil noises sounded in his ears, till he scarcely knew where he was
+standing.  Then he thought of his staff, which he had dropped when
+Pleasure had first tempted him, and he grieved that it was gone; and he
+felt in the folds of his mantle, hoping that he might still have the book
+of light within it; for he had too often thrust it there at the beginning
+of his journey; but he could not find it.  Then he strove to get some
+light from his little lamp; for, hurt as it was, he had it still in his
+hand, and he thought there was just a little blue light playing most
+faintly within it; but this was not enough to direct him on his way,
+rather did it make his way more dark.  Then at last he bethought him of
+the golden vial.  Few were there of those near him but had lost theirs
+altogether, and his hung only by a single thread.  But it was not gone;
+and when he had striven long, he just drew from it a single drop of oil,
+and he trimmed his lamp, and it yielded forth a little trembling light,
+just enough to shew that it was not altogether dead.  With the help of
+this light he saw that when he had dropped his book of fire, one single
+leaf had been torn from it, and stuck to his mantle; so he seized it
+eagerly, and strove to draw light from it; but all that it would yield
+was red and angry-looking light, and all that he could read was, "the way
+of transgressors is hard."
+
+Poor Irrgeist! he sat down almost in despair, and wept as if his heart
+would break.  "O, that I had never trusted Pleasure;" "O, that I had
+never left the path;" "O, that I had my book of light, and my lamp's
+former brightness, and my goodly stick;" "O, that one would lighten my
+darkness."
+
+Then did it seem to me as if in the murmur of the air around him two
+voices were speaking to the boy.  One was like the gentle voice of the
+man whom I had seen at the porch of the valley; and it seemed to whisper,
+"return," "return;" "mercy," and "forgiveness."  And as he listened,
+something like hope mixed with the bitter tears which ran down the face
+of the wanderer.  But then would sound the other voice, harsh, and loud,
+and threatening; and it said, "too late," "too late," "despair,"
+"despair."
+
+So the poor boy was sadly torn and scattered in his thoughts by these two
+different voices; but methought, as he guarded his golden vial, and
+strove to trim his dying lamp, that the gentle voice became more
+constant, and the voice of terror more dull and distant.
+
+Then, as I was watching him, all at once the boy sprang up, and he seemed
+to see a light before him, so straight on did he walk: many crossed his
+path and jostled against him, but he cared not; he heard the sweet voice
+plainer and plainer, like the soft murmuring of the cushat dove in the
+early summer, and he would follow where it led.  Hitherto his pathway had
+been smooth, and he had hastened along it; but this did not last, for now
+it narrowed almost to a line, and ran straight between two horrible
+pitfalls; so he paused for a moment; but the roaring of a lion was behind
+him, and forward he pressed.  It was a sore passage for Irrgeist, for the
+whole ground was strewed with thorns, which pierced his feet at every
+step, and the sparks from the fire-pits flew ever round him, and now and
+then fell in showers over him.  Neither did he hear now the pleasant
+sound of the voice of kindness; whether it were that it had died away, he
+knew not, or whether it were that the crackling and roaring of the fierce
+flames, and the voice of the beasts behind, and his own groans and
+crying, drowned its soft music, so that he heard it not.
+
+I had looked at him until I could bear it no more; for the path seemed to
+grow narrower and narrower; the flames from the two pits already almost
+touched; and I could not endure to see, as I feared I should, the little
+one, whom I had watched, become the prey of their devouring fierceness.
+So, with a bitter groan for Irrgeist, I turned me back to the road to see
+how it fared with Furchtsam and Gehulfe.
+
+They had fallen far behind the others from the first.  Poor little
+Furchtsam had a trembling tottering gait; and as he walked, he looked on
+this side and on that, as if every step was dangerous.  This led him
+often to look off his book of light, and then it would shut up its
+leaves, and then his little lamp grew dimmer and dimmer, and his feet
+stumbled, and he trembled so, that he almost dropped his staff out of his
+hands.  Yet still he kept the right path, only he got along it very
+slowly and with pain.
+
+Whether it was that Gehulfe was too tender spirited to leave him, or why
+else, I know not, but he kept close by the little trembler, and seemed
+ever waiting to help him.  Many a time did he catch him by the hand when
+he was ready to fall, and speak to him a word of comfort, when without it
+he would have sunk down through fear.  So they got on together, and now
+they came to the part of the pathway which the evil enchantress haunted.
+She used all her skill upon them, and brought up before their eyes all
+the visions she could raise; sunshine, and singing-birds, and waving
+boughs, and green grass, and sparkling water, they all passed before
+their eyes,--but they heeded them not: once, indeed, poor Furchtsam for a
+moment looked with a longing eye at the painted sunshine, as if its warm
+light would have driven off some of his fears; but it was but for a
+moment.  And as for Gehulfe, whether it was that he was reading his book
+of light too closely, or trimming too carefully his lamp, or helping too
+constantly his trembling friend, for some cause or other he scarcely
+seemed to see the visions which the sorceress had spread around him.  So
+when she had tried all her skill for a season, and found it in vain, she
+vanished altogether from them, and they saw her no more.  But their
+dangers were not over yet.  When Gottlieb passed along this road, he had
+gone on so boldly, that I had not noticed how fearful it was in parts to
+any giddy head or fainting heart.  But now I saw well how it terrified
+Furchtsam.  For here it seemed to rise straight up to a dangerous height,
+and to become so narrow at the same time, and to be so bare of any side-
+wall or parapet, that it was indeed a giddy thing to pass along it.  Yet
+when one walked over it, as Gottlieb did, leaning on his staff of Church-
+truth, reading diligently in his book, and trimming ever and anon his
+lamp, such a light fell upon the narrow path, and the darkness so veiled
+the precipice, that the pilgrim did not know that there was any thing to
+fear.  But not so when you stopped to look--then it became terrible
+indeed; you soon lost all sight of the path before you; for the brightest
+lamp only lighted the road just by your feet, and that seemed rising
+almost to an edge, whilst the flash of distant lights here and there
+shewed that a fearful precipice was on each side.
+
+Furchtsam trembled exceedingly when he looked at it; and even Gehulfe,
+when, instead of marching on, he stopped to talk about it, began to be
+troubled with fears.  Now, as they looked here and there, Furchtsam saw
+an easy safe-looking path, which promised to lead them in the same
+direction, but along the bottom of the cliffs.  Right glad was he to see
+it; and so taking the lead for once, he let fall his staff, that by
+catching hold of the bushes on the bank, he might drop down more easily
+upon the lower path; and there he got with very little trouble.
+
+It was all done in a moment; and when he was out of the path, Gehulfe
+turned round and saw where he was gone.  Then he tried to follow after
+him; but he could not draw his staff with him through the gap, or climb
+down the bank without letting it go.  And, happily for him, he held it so
+firmly, that after one or two trials he stopped.  Then, indeed, was he
+glad, as soon as he had time to think; and he held his good stick firmer
+in his hand than ever, for now he saw plainly that Furchtsam was quite
+out of the road, and that he had himself well-nigh followed him.  So
+leaning over the side, he began to call to his poor timid companion, and
+encourage him to mount up again, by the bank which he had slipped down,
+and venture along the right way with him.  At first Furchtsam shook his
+head mournfully, and would not hear of it.  But when Gehulfe reminded him
+that they had a true promise from the King, that nothing should harm them
+whilst they kept to the high way of holiness, and that the way upon which
+he had now entered was full of pitfalls, and wild beasts, and every sort
+of danger, and that in it he must be alone,--then his reason began to
+come back to him, and Furchtsam saw into what an evil state he had
+brought himself; and with all his heart he wished himself back again by
+the side of Gehulfe.  But it was no such easy matter to get back.  His
+lamp was so bruised and shaken as he slid down, that it threw scarcely
+any light at all; while it had never seemed, he thought, so dark as it
+did now: he could not see the bushes to which he had clung just before,
+or the half path which had brought him down.  Gehulfe's voice from above
+was some guide to him, and shewed him in which direction to turn; but
+when he tried to mount the bank, it was so steep and so slippery, he
+could scarcely cling to it; and he had no staff to lean upon, and no
+friendly hand to help him.  Surely if it had not been for the kind
+encouraging voice of Gehulfe, the weak and trembling heart of Furchtsam
+would have failed utterly, and he would have given up altogether.
+
+Now, just at this time, whilst he was reaching out to Furchtsam, and
+urging him to strive more earnestly, he heard a noise as of one running
+upon the path behind him; and he looked round and saw one of the King's
+own messengers coming fast upon it: so when he came up to Gehulfe, he
+stopped and asked him what made him tarry thus upon the King's path.  Then
+Gehulfe answered very humbly, that he was striving to help back poor
+Furchtsam into the right way, from which he had been driven by his fears.
+Then the messenger of the King looked upon him kindly, and bid him "fear
+not."  "Rightly," he said, "art thou named Gehulfe, for thou hast been
+ready to help the weak; and the Lord, who has bidden his children 'to
+bear one another's burdens,' has watched thee all alone thy way, and
+looked upon thee with an eye of love; and forasmuch as thou seemest to
+have been hindered in thy own course by helping thy brother, the King has
+sent me to carry thee on up this steep place, and over this dangerous
+road."  With that, I saw that he lifted up the boy, and was about to fly
+with him through the air.  Then, seeing that he cast a longing look
+towards the steep bank, down which Furchtsam had slipped, and that the
+sound of his sad voice was still ringing in his ear; the King's messenger
+said to him, "'Cast thy burden upon the Lord.'  'The Lord careth for
+thee.'  'For the very hairs of your head are numbered,' and 'the Lord is
+full of compassion, pitiful, and of great mercy.'"  So the heart of
+Gehulfe was soothed, and with a happy mind he gave himself to the
+messenger, and he bore him speedily along the dangerous path, as if his
+feet never touched the ground, but refreshing airs breathed upon his
+forehead as he swept along, and silver voices chanted holy words to his
+glad heart.  "He shall gather the lambs in his arms," said one; and
+another and a sweeter took up the strain and sang, "and he shall carry
+them in his bosom."  And so he passed along the way swiftly and most
+happily.
+
+Then I saw that he bore him to the mouth of the arbour into which
+Gottlieb had turned to rest.  And now as he came up to it, Gottlieb was
+just coming forth again to renew his journey.  Right glad was Gottlieb of
+the company of such a comrade; so they joined their hands together, and
+walked along the road speaking to one another of the kindness of the
+King, and telling one to the other all that had befallen them hitherto.  A
+pleasant thing it was to see them marching along that road, their good
+staffs in their hands, their lamps burning brightly, and their books
+sending forth streams of light, to shew them the way that they should go.
+But now I saw they got into a part of the road which was rough and full
+of stones; and unless they kept the lights they bore with them ever
+turned towards the road, and looked, too, most carefully to their
+footing, they were in constant danger of falling.  The air, also, seemed
+to have some power here of sending them to sleep, for I saw that
+Gottlieb's steps were not as steady and active as they had been; and he
+looked often from this side to that, to see if there were any other
+resting-place provided for him; but none could he see: and then
+methought, as he walked on, his eyes would close as he bent them down
+over his book, like one falling asleep from exceeding weariness.
+
+Gehulfe saw the danger of his friend; and though he felt the air heavy,
+his fear for Gottlieb kept him wide awake.  "What are those words," he
+asked his drowsy friend, "which burn so brightly in your book?"  When he
+heard the voice, Gottlieb roused himself, and read; and it was written,
+"Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation; the spirit truly is
+willing, but the flesh is weak."  Then, for a little while, Gottlieb was
+warned, and he walked like one awake; but, after a time, such power had
+this sleepy air, he was again almost as drowsy as ever, and his eyes were
+nearly closed.  Then, before Gehulfe could give him a second warning, he
+placed his foot in a hole, which he would have easily passed by, if he
+had been watching; and, falling suddenly down, he would have rolled quite
+out of the road (for it was raised here with a steep bank on either
+side), if Gehulfe had not been nigh to catch him again by the hand, and
+keep him in the path.  He was sorely bruised and shaken by the fall, and
+his lamp, too, was dusted and hurt; so that he could not, at first, press
+on the way as he wished to do.  But now his drowsiness was gone; and,
+with many bitter tears, he lamented that he had given way to it before.
+One strange thing I noted, too: he had dropped his staff in his fall, and
+he could not rise till he had taken it again in his hand; but now, when
+he tried to take it, it pricked and hurt his hand, as if it had been
+rough and sharp with thorns.  Then I looked at it, and saw that one of
+the stems which were twined together, and which bore the name of
+"discipline," was very rough and thorny; and this, which had turned
+inwardly before, was now, by his fall, forced to the outside of the
+staff, so that he must hold that or none.  Now I heard the boy groan as
+he laid hold of it; but lay hold of it he did, and that boldly, for he
+could not rise or travel without it, and to rise and travel he was
+determined.  Then he looked into his book of light, and he read out of it
+these words, "Make the bones which Thou hast broken to rejoice."  And as
+he read them, he gathered courage, and made a great effort, and stood
+upon his feet, and pressed on beside Gehulfe.
+
+Then I saw that the road changed again, and became smoother than they had
+ever known it.  Gottlieb's staff, too, was now smooth and easy in his
+hand, as it had been at first.  Soon also a pleasant air sprung up, and
+blew softly and yet cool upon their foreheads.  And now they heard the
+song of birds, as if the sunshine was very near them, though they saw it
+not yet.  There were, too, every now and then, sounds sweeter than the
+songs of birds, as if blessed angels were near them, and they were let to
+hear their heavenly voices.  A little further, and the day began to dawn
+upon them--bright light shone out some way before them, and its glad
+reflection was already cast upon their path.  But still there was one
+more trial before them; for when they had enjoyed this light for a
+season, and I thought they must be close upon the sunshine, I saw that
+they had got into greater darkness than ever.  Here, also, they lost
+sight of one another; for it was a part of the King's appointment, that
+each one must pass that dark part alone--it was called "the shadow of
+death."  Gehulfe, I saw, walked through it easily; his feet were nimble
+and active, his lamp was bright, his golden vial ever in his hand, his
+staff firm to lean upon, and the book of light close before his eyes: he
+was still reading it aloud, and I heard him speak of his King as giving
+"songs in the night,"--and so, with a glad heart, he passed through the
+darkness.  The brightest sunshine lay close upon the other side of it;
+and there he was waited for by messengers in robes of light, and they
+clad him in the same, and carried him with songs and music into the
+presence of the King.
+
+But Gottlieb did not pass through so easily.  It seemed as if that
+darkness had power to bring out any weakness with which past accidents
+had at the time affected the pilgrim: for so it was, that when Gottlieb
+was in it, he felt all the stunning of his fall come back again upon him,
+and, for a moment, he seemed well-nigh lost.  But his heart was sound,
+and there was One who was faithful holding him up: so he grasped his good
+staff tighter than ever, though its roughness had come out again and
+sorely pricked his hand; but this seemed only to quicken his steps; and
+when he had gone on a little while thus firmly, as he looked into his
+book he saw written on its open page, "I will make darkness light before
+thee." {76}  And as he read them, the words seemed to be fulfilled, for
+he stepped joyfully out of the darkness into the clear sunlight.  And for
+him too the messengers were waiting; for him too were garments ready
+woven of the light; around him were songs, and music, and rejoicing; and
+so they bare him into the presence of the King.
+
+Now, when I had seen these two pass so happily through their journey into
+rest, I thought again of the poor trembling Furchtsam, and longed to know
+that he had got again into the road.  But upon looking back to where I
+had lost sight of him, I saw that he was still lying at the foot of the
+steep bank, down whose side he had stepped so easily.  He had toiled and
+laboured, and striven to climb up, but it had been all in vain.  Still he
+would not cease his labour; and now he was but waiting to recover his
+breath to begin to strive again.  He was, too, continually calling on the
+King for aid.  Then I saw a figure approaching him in the midst of his
+cries.  And poor Furchtsam trembled exceedingly, for he was of a very
+timorous heart, and he scarcely dared to look up to him who stood by him.
+After a while I heard the man speak to him, and he asked him in a grave,
+pitying voice, "What doest thou here?"  Then the poor boy sobbed out in
+broken words the confession of his folly, and told how he had feared and
+left the road, and how he had laboured to get back into it, and how he
+almost thought that he should never reach it.  Then I saw the man look
+down upon him with a face of tenderness and love; and he stretched forth
+his hand towards him; and Furchtsam saw that it was the hand which had
+been pierced for him: so he raised the boy up, and set him on his feet;
+and he led him straight up the steepest bank.  And now it seemed easy to
+his steps; and he put him back again in the road, and gave the staff into
+his hand, and bid him "redeem the time, because the days are evil;" and
+then he added, "Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble
+knees."  "Say to them that are of a fearful heart, 'be strong:' 'fear
+not.'" {79a}  Such strength had his touch, his words, and his kind look,
+given to the heart of the timid boy, that he seized the staff, though its
+most prickly "discipline" sorely hurt his tender flesh; and leaning on
+it, he set bravely out without a moment's delay.  And I heard him reading
+in his book of light as he climbed up the steep path which had affrighted
+him; and what he read was this: "Before I was afflicted, I went astray;
+but now have I kept Thy word." {79b}
+
+When he had almost reached the arbour, another danger awaited him; for in
+the dim light round him he saw, as he thought, the form of an evil beast
+lying in the pathway before him.  Then did some of his old terrors begin
+to trouble him; and he had turned aside, perhaps, out of the way, but
+that the wholesome roughness of his staff still pricked his hand and
+forced him to recall his former fall.  Instead, therefore, of turning
+aside, he looked into his book of light, and there he read in fiery
+letters, "Thou shalt go upon the lion and the adder; the young lion and
+the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet:" and this gave him comfort.
+So, on he went, determining still to read in his book, and not to look at
+all at that which affrighted him: and so it was, that when he came to the
+place, he saw that it was only a bush, which his fears had turned into
+the figure of a beast of prey; and at the same moment he found where it
+was written in his book, "No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast
+shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall
+walk there." {80}
+
+And now he stood beside the arbour, where he rested a while, and then
+pursued his journey.  Now I noticed, that as he got further on the road,
+and read more in his book, and leant upon his staff, that he grew bolder
+and firmer in his gait: and I thought that I could see why Gehulfe, who
+had been needful to him in his first weakness, had afterwards been
+carried away from him: for surely he had leant more upon him, and less
+upon his book and his good staff, unless he had walked there alone.
+
+However this might be, he grew continually bolder.  As he drew near the
+last sad darkness, I began again to tremble for him; but I need not have
+done so; for he walked on so straight through it, that it seemed scarcely
+to make any difference to him at all.  In the best part of the road his
+feebleness had taught him to lean altogether upon Him who had so
+mercifully helped him on the bank, and who had held up his fainting steps
+hitherto; and this strength could hold him up as well even in this
+extreme darkness.  I heard him, as he parsed along, say, "When I am weak,
+then am I strong;" and with that he broke out into singing:
+
+   "Through death's dark valley without fear
+      My feeble steps have trod,
+   Because I know my God is near;
+      I feel His staff and rod."
+
+With that he too passed out of the shade and darkness into the joyful
+sunshine.  And oh, it was indeed a happy time!  It made my heart bound
+when I saw his face, which had so often turned pale and drooped with
+terror, now lighted up with the glow of the heavenly light; when, instead
+of the evil things which his fears had summoned up, I saw around him the
+bands of holy ones, and the children of the day: and so they passed
+along.  And soon, I thought, he would see again the hand which had been
+stretched out to save him on the bank, and hear the kind and merciful
+voice which had soothed his terror and despair, and live in the present
+sunshine of that gracious countenance.
+
+And now methought I heard an earnest and sorrowful voice, as of one
+crying aloud for help; so I turned me round to see where he was that
+uttered it, and by the side of the King's path I could see one striving
+to mount the bank, and slipping back again as often as he tried.  He was
+trying in right earnest: his cries were piteous to hear, and he laboured
+as if he would carry his point by storm.  But it was all in vain; the
+more he struggled, the worse his case grew; for the bank, and all the
+path up to it, got so quagged and miry with his eager striving, that he
+seemed farther and farther from getting safely up.  At last, as he was
+once more struggling violently up, his feet quite slipped from under him,
+and he fell upon his side: and so he lay sobbing and struggling for
+breath, but still crying out to the King, who had helped him before, and
+delivered him from the flames of the pit, to help him once more, and lift
+him again into the right way.  My heart pitied the poor boy, and I looked
+more closely into his face, and saw that it was Irrgeist--not Irrgeist as
+he had been when he had walked at first with Gottlieb along the road, or
+as he had been when he had first followed the deceitful phantom
+"Pleasure" out of it,--but Irrgeist still, though brought by his
+wanderings and his trouble to paleness, and weariness, and sorrow.  Now,
+whilst I was looking at him, as he lay in this misery, and longing for
+some helper to come to him, lo, his cries stopped for a moment, and I saw
+that it was because One stood by him and spoke to him.  Then I could see
+under the mantle, which almost hid Him, that it was the same form which
+had visited Furchtsam, and delivered him when he had cried.  Now, too, I
+saw the hand held out, and I saw Irrgeist seize it; and it raised him up,
+and he stood upon his feet: and the staff was given to him,--exceeding
+rough, but needful and trusty; and his lamp shone out, and the book of
+light was his; and his feet were again in the road.
+
+But I marked well that Irrgeist trod it not as the others had done.  Truly
+did he go along it weeping.  Whether it was that the thought of what he
+had gone through amongst the pitfalls dwelt ever on his mind; or whether
+it were shame of having wandered, I know not,--but his road seemed
+evermore one of toil and sorrow.  Still, in the midst of tears, a song
+was often put into his mouth, and his tongue was ever speaking of the
+great kindness of Him who had restored the wanderer: his head, too, was
+so bowed down, that he marked every stone upon the road, and therefore
+never stumbled; but still his speed was little, and his troubles were
+many.  When he got to the dark part, he had a sore trial: his feet seemed
+too weak and trembling to bear him; and more than once I heard him cry
+out, as if he thought that he were again between the pitfalls, and the
+fire were ready to break out upon him.  But then did it seem as if there
+were some sweet hopes given him, and his face brightened up; and in a
+faint, feeble voice, he would break out again into his song and
+thanksgiving.  As he drew towards the end, things somewhat mended with
+him; and when he was just upon the sunlight, and began to see its
+brightness through the haze, and to hear the voices of the heavenly ones,
+methought his heart would have burst, so did it beat with joy: and withal
+he smote upon his breast, and said,--"And this for me!  And this for the
+wanderer!  O mercy, choicest mercy!  Who is a God like unto Thee, that
+pardonest iniquity?"  And so saying, he entered on the heavenly light,
+and left for ever behind him the darkness and the danger of the pitfalls,
+and the face of shame, and the besetting weakness; for he too was clothed
+in raiment of light, and borne with joy before the Lord the King.
+
+* * * * *
+
+_Father_.  Who were those who were walking in the beautiful garden as its
+lords?
+
+_Child_.  Man in Paradise before the fall.
+
+F.  What was the dreadful change that came upon them?
+
+C.  Their fall into sin and misery.
+
+F.  What was the second estate seen in the vision?
+
+C.  Their fallen children in this sinful world, without the knowledge of
+God; wandering in the darkness of heathenism amongst the pitfalls of
+error.
+
+F.  What was the porch which let them into a better way?
+
+C.  The entrance into the Church of the redeemed by baptism.
+
+F.  What does our Catechism say about this?
+
+C.  That it is our being "called to a state of salvation."
+
+F.  What are the gifts bestowed upon them?
+
+C.  God's word is the book of light; conscience enlightened by God is the
+little lamp of each; the oil in the golden vial is the help and teaching
+of God's grace; and the staff is the help and assistance of the Church.
+
+F.  Why was it so easy to get out of the path, and so hard to get back?
+
+C.  Because it is easy to go wrong, and very hard to return into the way
+of righteousness.
+
+F.  What were the baits which the phantom offered to the youths?
+
+C.  The pleasures of sin, which are but for a season.
+
+F.  Why was the staff rough to those that were coming back from
+wandering?
+
+C.  Because the discipline of the Church, which is easy to the obedient,
+is often galling to those who offend.
+
+F.  Why was Irrgeist, after he was brought back, still so sad a pilgrim?
+
+C.  Because, though he was accepted and forgiven, the effects of his
+former sins still weakened and grieved him: as says the Lord, by the
+mouth of the Prophet Ezekiel (chap. xvi. ver. 63), "That thou mayest
+remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of
+thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done,
+saith the Lord God."
+
+
+
+
+The Little Wanderers.
+
+
+In a miserable little hovel, built on the edge of a wide and desolate
+common, lived a poor widow woman, who had two sons.  The eldest of them
+was quite young, and the least was scarcely more than an infant.  They
+were dressed in torn and dirty rags, for the widow had no better clothes
+to put upon them; and often they were very hungry and very cold, for she
+had not food or fire with which to feed and warm them.  No one taught the
+biggest boy any thing; and as for the poor mother, she did not know a
+letter.  She had no friends; and the only playfellows the little ones
+ever knew were other children as poor, and as dirty, and as untaught as
+they were themselves, from whom they learnt nothing but to say bad words
+and do naughty tricks.  Poor children! it was a sad life, you would say,
+which lay before them.
+
+Just at this time the widow was taken very ill with a fever.  Long she
+lay in that desolate hut, groaning and suffering, and no one knew how ill
+she was but the little children.  They would sit and cry by her miserable
+bed all day, for they were very hungry and very sad.  When she had lain
+in this state for more than a week, she grew light-headed, and after a
+while died.  The youngest child thought she was asleep, and that he could
+not waken her; but the elder boy rushed weeping out of the house, knowing
+that she was really dead, and that they were left alone in the wide
+world.
+
+Just at that very moment a man passed by, who looked into the pale, thin,
+hungry face of the sobbing child, with a kind, gentle look, and let
+himself be led into the wretched hut, where the poor dead mother lay.  His
+heart bled for the poor orphans, for he was one who was full of
+tenderness: so he spake kind words to them; and when his servants came up
+after a while, he gave orders that their dead mother should be buried,
+and that the children should be taken from the miserable hut, to dwell in
+his own beautiful castle.
+
+To it the children were removed.  The servants of the Lord of the castle
+put on them clean fresh clothes--washed their old dirt from them; and as
+no one knew what were their names, they gave them two new names, which
+shewed they belonged to this family; and they were cared for, and given
+all they wanted.
+
+Happy was now their lot.  They had all they wanted: good food in plenty,
+instead of hunger and thirst; clean raiment, instead of rags and
+nakedness; and kind teachers, who instructed them day by day as they were
+able to bear it.  There were a multitude of other happy children too in
+the castle, with whom they lived, and learned, and spent their glad days.
+Sometimes they played in the castle, and sometimes they ran about in the
+grounds that were round it, where were all sorts of flowers, and
+beautiful trees full of singing birds, and green grass, and painted
+butterflies; and they were as happy as children could be.
+
+All over these grounds they might play about as they would: only on one
+side of them they were forbidden to go.  There the garden ended in a wide
+waste plain, and there seemed to be nothing to tempt children to leave
+the happy garden to walk in it, especially as the kind Lord of the castle
+bid them never set foot on it: and yet it was said that some children had
+wandered into it, and that of these, many had never come back again.  For
+in that desert dwelt the enemies of the Lord of the castle; and there was
+nothing they loved better than to pounce down upon any children whom he
+had taken as his own, and carry them off, to be their slaves in the midst
+of the waste and dreary sands.
+
+Many ways too had these enemies by which they enticed children to come on
+the plain; for as long as they stayed within the boundary, and played
+only in the happy garden, the evil one could not touch them.  Sometimes
+they would drop gay and shining flowers all about the beginning of the
+waste, hoping that the children would come across the border to pick them
+up: and so it was, that if once a child went over, as soon as he had got
+into his hands the flower for which he had gone, it seemed to fade and
+wither away; but just beyond him he thought he saw another, brighter and
+more beautiful; and so, too, often it happened that, throwing down the
+first, he went on to take the second; and then throwing down the second,
+he went on to reach a third; until, suddenly, the enemy dashed upon him,
+and whirled him away with them in a moment.
+
+Often and often had little Kuhn {95a}--for so the eldest boy had been
+named--looked out over this desert, and longed, as he saw the gay flowers
+dropped here and there, to run over the border and pick them up.  His
+little brother, who was now old enough to run about with him, would stand
+and tremble by him as he got close to the desert; but little Zart {95b}
+would never leave him: and sometimes, I am afraid, they would have both
+been lost, if it had not been for a dear little girl, who was almost
+always with them, and who never would go even near to the line.  When
+Kuhn was looking into it, as if he longed for the painted flowers, the
+gentle Glaube {96} would grow quite sad, and bending her dark sorrowful
+eyes upon him, their long lashes would become wet with tears, and she
+would whisper in a voice almost too solemn for a child, "O Kuhn,
+remember."  Then Kuhn, who could not bear to see her sad, would tear
+himself away; and the flowers seemed directly to lose their brightness,
+and the desert looked dry and hot, and the garden cool and delicious, and
+they played happily together, and forgot their sorrow.
+
+But it was very dangerous for Kuhn to go so near.  The servants of the
+Lord of the castle often told the children this; and seeing a bold and
+daring spirit in Kuhn, they had spoken to him over and over again.  What
+made it so dangerous was this,--that the flowers of the wilderness never
+looked gay until you got near to its border; afar off it seemed dusty,
+dry, and hot; but the nearer you got to it, the brighter shone the
+flowers; they seemed also to grow in number, until you could hardly see
+its dry hot sands, for the flowery carpet that was drawn over them.
+
+Poor Kuhn! he was often in danger.  Never yet had he crossed the border;
+but it is a sad thing to go near temptation; and so this unhappy child
+found to his cost.
+
+One day he was sauntering close to the forbidden border, when the hoop
+which he was trundling slipped from him and ran into the desert.  In a
+moment he was over after it; and just as he stooped to pick it up, he
+saw, right before him, a beautiful and sparkling flower.  He would
+certainly have gone after it, but that at the instant he caught the eye
+of Glaube looking sadly after him, and it struck upon his heart, and he
+hastened back, and was safe.  For a while his legs trembled under him,
+and Zart looked up quite frightened into his pale face; Glaube too could
+scarcely speak to him; and it was long before they were laughing merrily
+again under the tall palm-trees of the garden.  But by the next day all
+Kuhn's fears had flown away, and he went with a bolder foot than ever to
+the very edge of the desert.
+
+{The Little Wanderers: p98.jpg}
+
+Glaube was further off than usual; and just as Kuhn and Zart were in this
+great danger, a beautiful bird started up under their feet.  The boys had
+never seen such a bird.  All the colours of the rainbow shone upon his
+feathers, and his black and scarlet head seemed quite to sparkle in the
+sunshine.  It tried to fly; but whether its wing was hurt, or what, I
+know not, but it could not rise, and ran before them flapping its painted
+wings, screaming with a harsh voice, and keeping only just before them.
+The boys were soon in full chase, and every thing else was forgotten;
+when, just as they thought the bird was their own, he fluttered across
+the border, and both the boys followed him,--Kuhn boldly and without
+thought, for he had been across it before; but poor little Zart trembled
+and turned pale, and clung to his bolder brother, as if he never would
+have crossed it alone.
+
+Once over, however, on they went, and the bird still seemed to keep close
+before them; and they never noticed how far they were getting from the
+garden, until suddenly they heard a dreadful noise; the air looked thick
+before them, as if whole clouds of dust were sweeping on; shining spear-
+heads were all they could see in the midst of the dust; and they heard
+the trampling of a multitude of horses.  The boys were too much
+frightened to shriek, but they clung to one another, pale and trembling,
+and ready to sink into the earth.  In a minute rude hands seized them;
+they heard rough voices round them; and they could see that they were in
+the midst of the enemies of the Lord of the castle.  In another minute
+they were torn asunder, they were snatched up on horseback, and were
+galloping off towards the sad abode in which the evil men of the desert
+dwelt.  In vain the boys cried, and begged to be taken home; away
+galloped the horses; whilst no one thought of heeding their cries and
+prayers.  They had gone on long in this way, and the dark-frowning towers
+of the desert castle were in sight.  The little boys looked sadly at one
+another; for here there was no flowering garden, there were no sheltering
+trees, but all looked bare, and dry, and wretched; and they could see
+little narrow windows covered with iron bars, which seemed to be dungeon-
+rooms, where they thought they should be barred in, and never more play
+together amongst the flowers and in the sunlight.
+
+Just at this moment the little Zart felt that, by some means or other,
+the strap which bound him to the horse had grown loose, and in another
+moment he had slipped down its side, and fallen upon his head on the
+ground.  No one noticed his fall; and there he lay upon the sand for a
+while stunned and insensible.  When he woke up, the trampling of horses
+had died away in the distance; the light sand of the desert, which their
+feet had stirred, had settled down again like the heavy night-dew, so
+that he could see no trace of their footmarks.  The frowning castle-walls
+were out of sight; look which way he would, he could see nothing but the
+hot flat sand below, and the hot bright sun in the clear sky above him.
+He called for his brother, but no voice answered him; he started up, and
+began to run he knew not where: but the sun beat on his head, the hot
+sand scorched his weary feet; his parched tongue began to cleave to his
+mouth; and he sunk down upon the desert again to die.
+
+As he lay there he thought upon the castle-garden and its kind Lord; upon
+the sorrowful face with which Glaube was used to look on them, when he
+and Kuhn drew near to the forbidden border; and his tears broke out
+afresh when he thought of his brother in the enemies' dungeon, and
+himself dying in the desolate wilderness.  Then he called upon the Lord
+of the castle, for he remembered to have heard how He had pitied
+wandering children, and heard their cry from afar, and had brought them
+back again to His own happy castle.  And as he lay upon the sand, crying
+out to the Lord of the castle, he thought that he heard a footstep, as of
+one walking towards him.  Then there came a shade between the sun and his
+burning head, and looking languidly up he saw the kind face of the Lord
+of the castle turned towards him.  He was looking on the poor child as He
+had looked on him when He had pitied him by the side of the hut; and that
+kind face seemed to speak comfort.  Then He stretched out to him His
+hand, and He bade him rise; and He lifted up the child, and bore him in
+His bosom over that waste and scorching wilderness, nor ever set him down
+until He had brought him again into the pleasant garden.  Once as he lay
+in that bosom, Zart thought that he heard in the distance the tramping of
+horse-hoofs; and he saw the dusty cloud lifting itself up: but he felt
+that he was safe; and so he was, for the enemy did not dare to approach
+that Mighty One who was bearing him.
+
+When he reached the garden again, the gentle Glaube met him, and welcomed
+him back again to their peaceful home.  But he hung down his head with
+shame and with sorrow; and as he looked up into the face of the Lord of
+the garden, he saw in it such kindness and love, that his tears rolled
+down his cheeks to think how he had broken His command, and wandered into
+the wilderness of His enemies.  Then he tried to speak for his brother,
+for his heart was sore and heavy with thinking of him; but the Lord of
+the castle answered not.  Many, many days did Glaube and Zart pray for
+him; but they heard nothing of him: whether he died in the enemies'
+dungeon; or whether, as they still dared to hope, he might even yet one
+day find his way back to the garden of peace; or whether, as they
+sometimes trembled to think, he had grown up amongst the enemies of their
+Lord, and become one of them,--they knew not, and they dared not to ask.
+But they never thought of him without trembling and tears, and Zart more
+even than Glaube: for he had crossed that terrible border; he had been
+seized by the fierce enemy; he had lain alone in the wide scorching
+desert; and had only been brought back again from death by the great love
+of the mighty and merciful Lord of that most happy garden.
+
+* * * * *
+
+_Father_.  Who are meant by these children born in the wretched hovel?
+
+_Child_.  All the children of fallen parents.
+
+F.  Who are such?
+
+C.  All who are born.  For we were "by nature born in sin, and the
+children of wrath."
+
+F.  Who is the kind Lord of the castle who takes pity on them?
+
+C.  Jesus Christ our Lord.
+
+F.  What is meant by His taking them to His castle?
+
+C.  His receiving us when children into His Church.
+
+F.  When was this done?
+
+C.  At our baptism.  For "being by nature children of wrath, we were
+hereby made the children of grace."
+
+F.  What is meant by the clean raiment and the new name He gave them?
+
+C.  The "forgiveness of all our sins" (see Collect in
+Confirmation-Service), and the giving us our Christian name.
+
+F.  Why is it called your Christian name?
+
+C.  To mark its difference from our natural, or parents' name.
+
+F.  Why was it given you at that time?
+
+C.  Because then I was taken into God's family, and "made a member of
+Christ, child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven."
+
+F.  What was the food with which they were fed?
+
+C.  All the means of grace of the Church of Christ.
+
+F.  What was the desert, and who those who dwelt in it who were enemies
+to the Lord?
+
+C.  The ways of sin, and the devil and his angels.
+
+F.  What were the bright flowers and the bird?
+
+C.  The baits and temptations of sin.
+
+F.  Why did Kuhn, or "bold," cross the border more easily the second
+time?
+
+C.  Because one sin makes another easier.
+
+F.  Why did Zart, or "tender," follow him?
+
+C.  Because bold sinners lead weaker sinners after them.
+
+F.  What were the dry sands into which Kuhn and Zart were carried?
+
+C.  The evil ways of sin.
+
+F.  Who came to Zart's rescue when he prayed?
+
+C.  The gracious Lord who had at first received him into His Church by
+baptism.
+
+F.  Why was he still sad and ashamed after he was brought back?
+
+C.  Because he had wandered.
+
+F.  Did he then doubt whether he was forgiven?
+
+C.  No: but he "remembered and was confounded, and never opened his mouth
+any more, when the Lord was pacified toward him for all his iniquity."
+
+F.  What was the end of Kuhn, or the "bold?"
+
+C.  We know not; but they who "draw back unto perdition" are punished
+above all others.
+
+F.  What are we to learn from the whole?
+
+C.  The blessedness of being taken into the Church in our infancy; and
+our need of prayer and watching, lest we turn it into a curse.
+
+
+
+
+The King and his Servants.
+
+
+A great king once called his servants to him, and said to them,--"You
+have all often professed to love me, and to wish to serve me; and I have
+never yet made trial of you.  But now I am about to try you all, that it
+may be known who does in truth desire to serve me, and who is a servant
+only in name.  To morrow your trial will begin; so meet me here in the
+morning, and be ready to set out upon a journey on which I shall send
+you."
+
+When the king had so spoken, he left them; and there was a great deal of
+bustle and talking amongst these servants.  Not that they were all alike.
+Some were very busy, and said a great deal of the services they should
+render; and that they hoped it would be some really hard trial on which
+the king would set them.  Others were quiet and thoughtful, saying little
+or nothing, but, as it seemed, thinking silently of the words the king
+had spoken, as if they feared lest they should fail in their trial.  For
+they loved that king greatly; he had been as a father to them all.  Once
+they had been slaves, and cruelly treated by a wicked tyrant who had
+taken them prisoners, and cast some of them into dungeons, and made
+others work in dark mines, and dealt evil with them all.  But the king
+had triumphed over this their enemy, and rescued them from his hands.  His
+own son had sought them in the dungeons and dark pits into which they had
+been cast, and had brought them out; and now he had given them places in
+his service, and fed them from his own kingly table; and he promised to
+such as were faithful, that he would raise them yet higher; that he would
+even set them upon thrones, and put crowns upon their heads; and that
+they should remain always in his presence, and rule and dwell with him.
+Now, when the time of their trial was come, these faithful servants were
+grave and thoughtful, fearing lest they should fail, and be led to forget
+him their kind and gracious king.  But one thought held them up.  He had
+said unto them all, "As your day, so shall your strength be."  They knew,
+therefore, that he would put on them no task beyond their strength.  They
+remembered his kindness and his love in taking them out of the dungeons
+of the enemy.  They desired greatly to serve him; and so they rejoiced
+that their trial was come, even while they feared it; and they trusted in
+him to help them, even whilst they trembled for themselves.
+
+These servants spent much of the night in preparing for their journey; in
+thinking over all the directions the king had ever given them; for many
+times had he spoken to them of this coming trial; and even written down
+plain rules for them, which should teach them always how he would have
+them act.  All these they gathered together, lest in the hurry of setting
+out, they should forget any one of them; and so they went into the court
+of the palace to meet the king.
+
+Then he came forth from his palace-door, and gave them all their charge.
+
+From the great treasure-chambers of that palace he brought out many
+different gifts, and laid them before these his servants.  One had gold
+and silver, and another had precious stuffs; but all had something good
+and costly: and as he gave them these gifts, he told them that this was
+to be their trial.  He was about to send them with these gifts into an
+exceeding great and rich city, which lay afar off from his palace; and in
+that city they were all to trade for him.  They were to take his gifts
+and use them wisely, so that each one of them might bring something back
+to him.  He gave them also very close and particular instructions.  He
+told them that there were many in that city who would try to rob them of
+these his gifts; and he told them how to keep them safely.  He told them
+that many would seek to make them waste what he had given to them on
+pleasing themselves.  But that they must remember always, that what they
+had belonged to him; that they would have to give him an account of their
+way of using all his gifts; and that of his mere mercy he, who had
+redeemed them from the dungeon and made them able to serve him, would
+graciously reward hereafter all their efforts to use his gifts for him.
+He told them also to set about trading for him as early as they could;
+for that all the merchants' goods were freshest in the morning; that then
+the precious stones were the finest and the truest; but that those who
+waited till the evening would find all the best goods sold; and that,
+perhaps, before they had any thing ready, the trumpet would sound which
+was to call them all out of the city, and then they would have to come
+back to him empty-handed and disgraced.
+
+When he had given them these charges, he sent them from his presence to
+begin their journey to the great city.  All that day they travelled with
+horses and camels over plains and hills, and fruitful fields and deserts,
+until, just as the sun went down, they came to the walls of a great city;
+and they knew that it was here they were to traffic for their king upon
+the morrow.
+
+Then the thoughtful servants began carefully to unpack their goods; they
+looked into their bales of precious stuffs to see that they had got no
+injury from the dust and sand of the desert; they counted over their bags
+of money to see that all was right; and began to lay them all in order,
+that they might enter the town as soon as the gates were open, and trade
+for their king in the morning hours, which he had told them were the
+best.
+
+{The King and His Servants: p115.jpg}
+
+But some of the other servants laughed at them for taking all this care
+and trouble.  "Surely it will be time enough," they said, "to get every
+thing ready when the markets are open to-morrow.  We have had a long,
+hot, weary journey, and we must rest and refresh ourselves before we
+think of trading."  So they spread the tables, and began to feast in a
+riotous way, quite forgetting the king's service, and putting the morrow
+out of their thoughts.
+
+Now as soon as the sun was up, in the morning, there was a great stir
+amongst the servants.  Those who had been careful and watchful in the
+evening were ready with all their bales; and as soon as ever the city-
+gates were open, they marched in through them with their goods.  It was a
+great wide city into which they entered, and must hold, they thought, a
+vast multitude of men.  Houses and streets of all sizes met their eyes
+here and there; but they passed easily along, because it was still so
+early in the morning, that few persons were in the streets, and those few
+were all bent upon business, as they were themselves.  So they passed on
+to the great market where the merchants bought and sold, and here they
+set out all their goods; and the merchants came round them to look over
+their wares, and to shew them what they had to sell in return.  Now they
+found it true as the king had foretold them.  For they had the first
+choice of all that the merchants could offer.  One of them opened his
+stores, and shewed them rubies, and diamonds, and pearls, such as they
+had never seen before for size and beauty.  So they chose a pearl of
+great price, and they bought it for their prince, and they trafficked in
+their other wares, and gained for him more than as many bags of treasure
+as he had given them at first.  Thus they traded according to their
+skill, and every one had now secured something for his lord.  The pearl
+of great price was stored by some; others had rich dresses adorned with
+gold and precious stones; others had bags of the most refined gold;
+others had the spices of Arabia and the frankincense of the islands of
+the East.
+
+One there was amongst them who seemed to have got nothing to carry home
+with him; and yet he, as well as the rest, had laid out his master's
+gifts.  Then some of the other servants asked him, what he had stored up
+for the king? and he said that he had no riches which he could shew to
+them, but that he had an offering which he knew that the merciful heart
+of the king would make him love and value.  Then they asked him to tell
+them his story; so he said that, as he was walking through the market, he
+had seen a poor woman weeping and wringing her hands, as if her heart
+would break: he stopped, and asked her the cause of her sorrow; and she
+told him that she was a widow, and that some merchants, to whom her
+husband had owed large sums of money, had come that morning to her house
+and taken all that she had, and seized her children too; and that they
+were dragging them away to the slave-market to sell them for slaves in a
+far land, that they might pay themselves the debt which her husband had
+owed them.  So when he heard her sad tale, he opened his bag of treasure,
+and found that all the gold which he had got in it would just pay the
+widow's debt and set her children free.  Then he went with her to the
+merchants, and he told out to them all that sum, and set the children of
+the widow free, and gave them back to their mother; "and I am taking," he
+said, "to our merciful king the offering of the widow's tears and
+gratitude; and I know well that this is an offering which will be well-
+pleasing in his sight."
+
+So it fared with these faithful servants in their trading; and all the
+while they were cheerful and light-hearted, because they remembered
+constantly the love and kindness which their king had shewed to them; and
+they rejoiced that they were able to serve him and to trade for him with
+his gifts.  They thought also of the goodness of the king's son towards
+them; they remembered how he had sought them when they were prisoners in
+the dark dungeons of their tyrant enemy; and they were full of joy when
+they thought that they should be able to offer to him the goodly pearl,
+and the other curious gifts, which they had bought.  They thought of
+these things until they longed to hear the trumpet sound, which was to
+call them out of the town and gather them together for their journey
+home.  When that trumpet might sound, they knew not; but the sun was now
+passed its noon, and the town, which had been so quiet when they came in
+the early morning along its empty streets, was now full of noise, and
+bustle, and confusion, as great towns are wont to be, when all the
+multitude of sleepers awaken and pour out for pleasure, or business, or
+idleness, into the streets, and squares, and market-places.
+
+Heartily glad were they now that they had been so early at their traffic.
+Now the merchants had shut up all their richest stores; and the markets
+were full of others who brought false pearls and mock diamonds, instead
+of the costly gems for which they had traded in the morning.  There
+seemed to be hardly any true traders left.  Idlers were there in numbers,
+and shows and noisy revels were passing up and down the streets; and they
+could see thieves and bad men lurking about at all the corners, seeking
+whom they could catch, and rob, and plunder.
+
+On all these things the servants looked; sometimes they saw beautiful
+sights pass by them, which gladdened their eyes; and sometimes sweet
+music would fill their ears, as bands of merry harpers and singers walked
+up and down through the market; and they rejoiced in all of these, but
+still their hearts were full of thoughts of their kind king, and
+recollections of his son their prince; and they longed to be at home with
+them, even when the sights round them were the gayest, and the sounds in
+their ears were the sweetest; and they were ever watching for the voice
+of the trumpet, which was to call them again homeward.
+
+But this happy case was not that of all the servants.  When these
+watchful men had been entering the gates of the city in the morning, the
+thoughtless servants were not yet awake.  They had sat up late at their
+feasting and rejoicings, and when the morning sun rose upon them, they
+were still in their first deep sleep.  The stirring of their
+fellow-servants moved them a little, and for a while they seemed ready to
+rise and join them.  But their goods were not ready, so they could not go
+with them; and they might as well, therefore, they thought, wait a little
+longer and rest themselves, and then follow them to the market.  They did
+not mean to be late, but they saw no reason why they should be so very
+early.
+
+They slept, therefore, till the sun was high, and then they rose in some
+confusion, because it was now so late; and they had all their goods to
+unpack, their stuffs to smooth out, and the dust to shake off from them.
+Soon they began about every little thing to find fault with one another,
+because they were secretly angry with themselves.  Each one thought that
+if his neighbour had not persuaded him to stay, he should have been up,
+and have entered the city with the earliest: so high words arose between
+them; and instead of helping one another, and making the best they could
+of the time which remained, they only hindered one another, and made it
+later and later before they were ready to begin their trading.
+
+At length, after many hard words and much bad temper, one by one they got
+away; each as soon as he was ready, and often with his goods all in
+confusion; every one following his own path, and wandering by himself up
+the crowded streets of the full town.
+
+Hard work they had to get at all along it when they had passed the gates.
+All the stream of people seemed now to be setting against them.  The
+idlers jested upon their strange dress; and if they did but try to
+traffic for their lord, the rude children of the town would gather round
+them, and hoot, and cry: so that they could not manage to carry on any
+trade at all.
+
+Then, as I watched them, I saw that some who had been the loudest in
+talking of what they should do when they were tried, were now the first
+to give up altogether making any head at all against the crowd of that
+city.  They packed up what goods they might have, and began to think only
+of looking about them, and following the crowd, and pleasing themselves,
+like any of the men around them.  Then I looked after some of these, and
+I saw that one of them was led on by the crowd to a place in the town
+where there was a great show.  Outside of it were men in many-coloured
+dresses, who blew with trumpets, and jested, and cried aloud, and begged
+all to come in and see the strange sights which were stored within.
+
+Now when the servant came to this place, he watched one and another go
+in, until at last he also longed to go in and see the sights which were
+to be gazed on within.  So he went to the door, and the porter asked him
+for money; but when he drew out his purse, and the porter saw that his
+money belonged to some strange place, and was quite unlike the coin used
+in that town, he only laughed at it, and said it was good for nothing
+there, and bid him "stand back."  So as he turned away, the porter saw
+the rich bundle on his back, and then he spoke to him in another tone,
+and he said, "I will let you in, if you like to give me that bundle of
+goods."  Then for a moment the servant was checked.  He thought of his
+lord and of the reckoning, and he remembered the words, "As good stewards
+of the manifold grace of God;" and he had almost determined to turn back,
+and to fight his way to the market-place, and to trade for his lord, let
+it cost him what it might;--but just at the moment there was a great
+burst of the showman's trumpets; and he heard the people shouting for joy
+within; and so he forgot all but his great desire, and slipping off the
+bundle from his shoulders, he put it into the hands of the porter, and
+passed in, and I saw him no more.
+
+Then I saw another, who was standing at the corner of a street gating at
+some strange antics which were being played by a company of the townsmen.
+And as he gazed upon them, he forgot all about his trading for his
+master, and thought only of seeing more of this strange sight.  Then I
+saw that whilst he was thinking only of these follies, some evil-minded
+men gathered round him, and before he was aware of it, they secretly
+stole from him all the gold which his lord had given him to lay out for
+him.  The servant did not even know when it was gone, so much was he
+thinking of staring at the sight before him.  But it made me very sad to
+think that when he went to buy for his master, he would find out, too
+late, his loss; and that when the trumpet sounded, he would have nothing
+to carry back with him on the day of reckoning.
+
+Some of these loiterers, too, were treated even worse than this.  One of
+them I saw whom the shows and lights of that town led on from street to
+street, until he came quite to its farther end; and then he thought that
+he saw before him, beyond some lonely palings, still finer sights than
+any he had left; and so he set out to cross over those fields, and see
+those sights.  And when he was half over, some wicked robbers, who laid
+wait in those desolate places, rushed out upon him from their lurking-
+place, and ill used him sorely, and robbed him of all his goods and
+money, and left him upon the ground hardly able to get back to the town
+which he had left.
+
+Then I saw one of these loiterers who, as he was looking idly at the
+sights round him, grew very grave, and began to tremble from head to
+foot.  One of his fellows, who stood by and saw him, quickly asked him
+what made him tremble.  At first he could not answer; but after a while
+he said, that the sound of the trumpet which they had just heard had made
+him think of the great trumpet-sound of their master, which was to call
+them all back to his presence, and that he trembled because the evening
+was coming on, and he had not yet traded for his lord.  And "How," he
+said in great fear, "how shall we ever stand that reckoning with our
+hands empty?"  Then some of his companions in idleness laughed and jeered
+greatly, and mocked the poor trembler.  But his fears were wiser than
+their mockings; and so, it seemed, he knew, for he cared nothing for
+them; but only said to them, very sadly and gravely, "You are in the same
+danger, how then can you jeer at me?"  And with that he pointed their
+eyes up to the sky, and shewed them how low the sun had got already, and
+that it wanted but an hour at the most to his setting, and then that the
+trumpet might sound at any moment, and they have nothing to bear home to
+their lord.
+
+Now, as he spoke, one listened eagerly to him; and whilst the others
+jeered, he said very gravely, "What can we do?  Is it quite too late?"
+"It is never too late," said the other, "till the trumpet sounds; and
+though we have lost so much of the day, perchance we can yet do
+something: come with me to the market-place, and we will try."  So the
+other joined him, and off they set, passing through their companions, who
+shouted after them all the way they went, until the townsmen who stood
+round began to jeer and shout after them also: so that all the town was
+moved.  A hard time those two had now, and much they wished that they had
+gone to the market-place in the early morning, when the streets were
+empty, and the busy servants had passed so easily along.  Many were the
+rough words they had now to bear; many the angry, or ill-natured, crowd
+through which they had to push; and if any where they met one of their
+late and idle companions, he was sure to stir up all the street against
+them, when he saw them pushing on to the market-place.
+
+"Do you think that we shall ever get there?" said he who had been moved
+by the other's words to him, who led the way, and buffeted with the
+crowd, like a man swimming through many rough waves in the strong stream
+of some swift river.  "Do you think that we shall ever get there?"  "Yes,
+yes," said the other; "we shall get there still, if we do but persevere."
+"But it is so hard to make any way, and the streets seem to grow fuller
+and fuller; I am afraid that I shall never get through."
+
+Just as he spoke, a great band of the townspeople, with music, and
+trumpets, and dancing, met them like a mighty wave of the sea, and seemed
+sure to drive them back: one of their old companions was dancing amongst
+the rest; and as I looked hard at him, I saw that it was the same who had
+given away his precious burden in order to go into the show.  Now, as
+soon as he saw these his former fellows, he called to them by their
+names, and bid them join him and the townsmen round him.  But he that was
+leading the way shook his head, and said boldly: "No: we will not join
+with you; we are going to the market-place to traffic for our lord."  "It
+is too late for that," said he; "you lost the morning, and now you cannot
+trade."  Then I saw that he who before had trembled exceedingly grew very
+pale; but still he held on his way; and he said,--"Yes, we have lost the
+morning, and a sore thing it is for us; but our good lord will help us
+even yet; and we WILL serve him, 'redeeming the time, because the days
+are evil.'"  Then he turned to the other and said to him,--
+
+"And will not you stop either?  Do not be fooled by this madman: what use
+is it to go to buy when the shops are all shut, and the market empty?"
+Then he hung down his head, and looked as though he would have turned
+back, and fallen into the throng; but his fellow seized him by the hand,
+and bid him take courage, and think upon his kind master, and upon the
+king's son, whose very blood had been shed for them; and with that he
+seemed to gather a little confidence, and held for a while on in his way
+with the other.
+
+Then their old companion turned all his seeming love into hatred, and he
+called upon the crowd round him to lay hands on them and stop them; and
+this the rabble would fain have done, but that, as it seemed to me, a
+power greater than their own was with those servants, and strengthened
+them; until they pushed the rude people aside on the right and on the
+left, and passed safely through them into another street.
+
+Here there were fewer persons, and they had a breathing-time for a while;
+and as they heard the sound of music and of the crowd passing by at some
+little distance from them, they began to gather heart, and to talk to one
+another.  "I never thought," said the one, "that I could have held on
+through that crowd; and I never could, if you had not stretched out your
+hand to help me."  "Say, rather, if our master's strength had not been
+with us," said the other.  "But do you think," said he that was fearful,
+"that he will accept any thing we can bring him now, when the best part
+of the day is over?"  "Yes, I do," he replied.  "I have a good hope that
+he will; for I remember how he said, 'Return, ye backsliding children,
+return ye even unto me.'"  "But how can one who is so trembling and
+fearful as I am ever traffic for him?"  "You can, if you will but hold
+on; for he has once spoken of his servants 'as faint yet pursuing.'"
+"Well," said the other, "I wish that I had your courage; but I do believe
+that I should not dare to meet such another crowd as that we have just
+passed through; I really thought that they would tear us in pieces."  "Our
+king will never let that be," said the other, "if only we trust in him."
+"But are you sure," replied he, "that our king does see us in this town?"
+
+Just as he said this, and before his companion had time to answer him
+again, they heard a louder noise than ever, of men dancing, and singing,
+and crowding, and music playing, and horns blowing, as if all the mad
+sports of the city were coming upon them in one burst.  At the front of
+all they could see their old companion; for the band had turned round by
+a different street, and now were just beginning to come down that one up
+which they were passing.  Then he who had been affrighted before, turned
+white as snow; and he looked this way and that, to see what he could do.
+
+Now it so happened, that just by where they stood was a great shop, and
+in its windows there seemed to shine precious stones and jewels, and fine
+crystals, and gold and ivory.  And, as he looked, his eyes fell full upon
+the shop, and he said to his fellow,--"Look here; surely here is what we
+want: let us turn in here and traffic for our master, and then we shall
+escape all this rout which is coming upon us."  "No, no!" said the other;
+"we must push on to the market; that is our appointed place; there our
+lord bids us trade: we must not turn aside from the trouble which our
+lateness has brought upon us--we must not offer to our master that which
+costs us nothing.  Play the man, and we shall soon be in the market."
+
+"But we shall be torn in pieces," said the other.  "Look at the great
+crowd: and even now it seems that our old companion sees me, and is
+beginning to lead the rabble upon us."  "Never fear," said he who led the
+way; "our king will keep us.  'I will not be afraid for ten thousands of
+the people who have set themselves against us round about.'"
+
+Then I saw that he to whom he spoke did not seem to hear these last
+words, for the master of the shop had noticed how he cast his eyes upon
+the goods that were in the window, and was ready in a moment to invite
+him in.  "Come in, come in," he said, "before the crowd sweep you away;
+come in and buy my pearls, and my diamonds, and my precious stones; come
+in, come in."  And while he halted for a moment to parley with the man,
+the crowd came upon them, and he was parted from his friend, who had held
+up his fainting steps; and so he sprung trembling into the shop, scarcely
+thinking himself safe even there.
+
+Now the man into whose house he had turned, though he was a fair-spoken
+man, and one who knew well how to seem honest and true, was altogether a
+deceiver.  All his seeming jewels, and diamonds, and pearls, were but
+shining and painted glass, which was worth nothing at all to him who was
+so foolish as to buy it: but this the servant knew not.  If it had been
+in the bright clear light of the morning, he would easily have seen that
+the diamonds and the pearls were only sparkling and painted glass, and
+the gold nothing but tinsel; but the bright light of the morning had
+passed away, and in the red slanting light of the evening sun he could
+not see clearly; and so the false man persuaded him, and he parted with
+all the rich treasures which his king had given him, and got nothing for
+them in exchange which was worth the having, for he filled his bag with
+bits of painted glass, which his lord would never accept.
+
+However, he knew not how he had been cheated; or if, perhaps, a thought
+crossed his mind that all was not right, it was followed by another,
+which said that it was now too late to alter, and that if he had chosen
+wrongly, still he must abide by it; and so he waited for the trumpet.  But
+he was not altogether happy; and often and often he wished that he had
+faced the strife of the multitude, and pressed on with his trusting
+companion to the market.
+
+A hard struggle had been his before he had reached it.  It seemed indeed
+at times as if the words of his fearful companion were coming true, and
+he would be torn altogether in pieces, so fiercely did the crowd press
+upon him and throng him.  But as I watched him in the thickest part of
+it, I saw that always, just at his last need, something seemed to favour
+him, and the crowd broke off and left room for him to struggle by.  I
+could hear him chanting, as it were, to himself, when the crowd looked
+upon him the most fiercely, "I will not be afraid for ten thousands of
+the people that have set themselves against me round about."  And even as
+he chanted the words, the crowd divided itself in two parts, like a
+rushing stream glancing by some black rock; and on he passed, as though
+they saw him not.
+
+So it continued, even till he reached the market-place.  Right glad was
+he to find himself there: but even now all his trials were not over.  Many
+of the stalls were empty, and from many more the fair and true traders
+were gone away; and instead of them were come false and deceitful men,
+who tried to put off any who dealt with them with pretended jewels and
+bad goods.
+
+Then did he look anxiously round and round the market, fearing every
+moment lest the trumpet should sound before he had purchased any thing
+for his lord.  Never, perhaps, all along the way, did he so bitterly
+regret his early sloth as now, for he wrung his hands together, and said
+in great bitterness, "What shall I do?" and, "How shall I, a loiterer,
+traffic for my lord?"
+
+Then his eyes fell upon a shop where were no jewels, nor gold, nor costly
+silks, nor pearls of great price; but all that was in it was coarse
+sackcloth, and rough and hairy garments, and heaps of ashes, and here and
+there a loaf of bitter bread, and bitter herbs, and bottles wherein tears
+were stored.  As he gazed on this shop something seemed to whisper to his
+heart, "Go and buy."  So he went with his sorrowful heart, as one not
+worthy to traffic for his master, and he bought the coarsest sackcloth,
+and the ashes of affliction, and many bitter tears: and so he waited for
+the sounding of the trumpet.
+
+Then suddenly, as some loud noise breaks upon the slumbers of men who
+sleep, that great trumpet sounded.  All through the air came its voice,
+still waxing louder and louder; and even as it pealed across the sky, all
+that great city, and its multitudes, and its lofty palaces, and its show,
+and its noise, and its revels, all melted away, and were not.  And in a
+moment all the servants were gathered together, and their lord and king
+stood amongst them.  All else was gone, and they and their works were
+alone with him.
+
+Then was there a fearful trial of every man's work.  Then were they
+crowned with light and gladness who had risen early and traded
+diligently, and who now brought before their master the fruit of that
+toil, and labour, and pain.  Each one had his own reward; and amongst the
+richest and the best--as though he brought what the king greatly
+loved--was his reward who brought unto his master the offering of
+gratitude from the broken-hearted widow.
+
+Then drew near the servant who had wasted the morning, but had repented
+of his sloth, and had fought his way through the crowds, and had at last
+bought the sackcloth.  Now he came bringing it with him; and it looked
+poor, and mean, and coarse, as he bore it amongst the heaps of gold, and
+jewels, and silks, which lay piled up all around; yet did he draw near
+unto the king; and as he came, he spoke, and said, "A broken and a
+contrite heart wilt thou not despise."  And as he spake, the king looked
+graciously upon him: a mild and an approving smile sat upon his
+countenance, and he spoke to him also the blessed words, "Well done, thou
+good and faithful servant."  Then did the coarse sackcloth shine as the
+most rich cloth of gold; then did the ashes of the furnace sparkle as a
+monarch's jewels; whilst every bitter tear which was stored in the bottle
+changed into pearls and rubies which were above all price.
+
+Then the king turned to the careless servants, and his voice was terrible
+to hear, and from his face they fled away.  I dared not to look upon
+them; but I heard their just and most terrible sentence, and I knew that
+they were driven away for ever from the presence of the king, in which is
+life and peace; and that they were bound under chains and darkness,
+deeper and more dreadful than those from which the king's son had
+graciously delivered them.
+
+* * * * *
+
+_Father_.  In what part of God's word do we read such a parable as this?
+
+_Child_.  In the 25th chapter of St. Matthew's gospel, and at the 15th
+verse.
+
+F.  Who is the King who called his servants thus together?
+
+C.  Almighty God.
+
+F.  Who are meant by these servants trading in the town?
+
+C.  All of us Christians.
+
+F.  How do you know that they were Christians?
+
+C.  Because they had been delivered from slavery and dungeons by the
+King's own Son.
+
+F.  What is the great town to which they were sent?
+
+C.  This world.
+
+F.  What are the goods which God gave them to lay out for him?
+
+C.  Every thing which we have in this life: our strength, and health, and
+reason, and money, and time.
+
+F.  How may we trade with these for the King?
+
+C.  By trying to use them all so as to please Him and set forth His
+glory.
+
+F.  Who are those who rose up early to go into the town?
+
+C.  Those who begin to serve the Lord even from their youth.
+
+F.  What is shewn by their finding the streets easy to pass, and the
+markets full of rich goods?
+
+C.  That this service of God is far easier to such as begin to serve Him
+in youth; and that such are able to offer to Him the best gifts of early
+devotion, and their first love, and the zeal of youth, and tender hearts,
+and unclouded consciences.
+
+F.  What is taught us by their seeing the beautiful things of the city at
+their ease, after their diligent trading?
+
+C.  That those who serve God truly in a youthful piety commonly find more
+than others, that "godliness has promise of the life which now is, as
+well as of that which is to come."
+
+F.  Why were those who were late ready to quarrel with one another?
+
+C.  Because companions in sin have no real love for each other, but are
+always ready to fall out; being all selfish and separate from God.
+
+F.  What were the full streets they met with when they entered the town?
+
+C.  The many difficulties and hindrances which beset those who set about
+serving God late in life.
+
+F.  What were the shows, and the thieves, and the robbers, which troubled
+them?
+
+C.  The different temptations which come from the devil, the world, and
+the flesh.
+
+F.  Who were the crowds who withstood them?
+
+C.  Those who love this present world, and who therefore withstand those
+who seek to live for God's glory.
+
+F.  Who was he who sold the false jewels?
+
+C.  One of those who often make a prey of persons beginning, after a
+negligent youth, to feel earnest about religion, and of whom we read,
+Rom. xvi. 17, 18, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause
+divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned;
+and avoid them.  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ,
+but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the
+hearts of the simple."
+
+F.  Who was he who held on through all difficulties to the market-place?
+
+C.  A truly humble penitent, who having turned to God with all his heart,
+leans not to his own understanding, but follows God's leading in all
+things; cleaving close to Christ's Church.
+
+F.  What were the sackcloth and ashes which he bought?
+
+C.  The true contrition of heart and deep sense of sin, which God gives
+to those who seek earnestly to turn away from all iniquity.
+
+F.  What was the sound of the trumpet?
+
+C.  The call of men to the general judgment.
+
+F.  Who were those whose trading the master was pleased to reward?
+
+C.  Those who had served God early; those who had given to Him the best
+of their youth; those who had been kind to others and helped the needy
+for His sake; those who had turned to Him in truth, and clave to Him with
+a humble penitence.
+
+F.  What was the end of the careless servants?
+
+C.  It is an awful end, which our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ speaks of
+thus: "Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall
+be weeping and gnashing of teeth." {148a}  And, again, "These shall go
+away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal."
+{148b}
+
+
+
+
+The Prophet's Guard.
+
+
+It was the very earliest morning.  The day was not breaking as it does in
+this land of England, with a dewy twilight and a gradual dawning--first a
+dull glow all over the east, then blood-red rays, catching any fleecy
+cloud which is stealing over the sky, and turning all its misty whiteness
+into gold and fire;--but day was breaking as it does in those eastern
+countries--sudden, and bright, and hot.  Darkness flew away as at a word;
+the thick shadows were all at once gone, and the broad glaring sun rose
+proudly in the sky, rejoicing in his strength.  The people of the town
+woke up again to life and business.  Doors were flung wide open, and some
+were passing through them; the flat roofs of the houses began to be
+peopled--on one was a man praying, on others two or three standing
+together; but most of the people were hastening here and there to get
+through their necessary work before the full heat of the day came on;
+numbers were passing and repassing to the clear dancing fountain, the
+cool waters of which bubbled up in the midst of a broad square within
+that city.
+
+And now, what is it which one suddenly sees, and, after gazing at it for
+a while, points out to another, and he to a third?  As each hears, they
+look eagerly up to the hill, which rises high above their town, until
+they gather into a knot; and then, as one and another are added to their
+company, grow into almost a crowd.  Still it is in the same quarter that
+all eyes are fixed; their water-vessels are set idly down, as if they
+could not think of them.  Those which were set under the fountain have
+been quite full this long time, but no one stooped to remove them; and
+the water has been running over their brimming sides, while its liquid
+silver flew all round in a shower of sparkling drops.  But no one thinks
+of them.  What is it which so chains all eyes and fixes the attention of
+all?
+
+The hill is quite full of armed men.  There were none there overnight:
+they have come up from the vale silently and stealthily during the
+darkness, while men slept, like some great mist rising in stillness from
+the waters, and they seem to be hemming in the town on every side.  Look
+which way you will, the sun lights upon the burnished points of spears,
+or falls on strong shields, or flashes like lightning from polished and
+cutting swords, or is thrown a thousand ways by the rolling wheels of
+those war-chariots.  "Who are they?" is the question of all; and no one
+likes to say what all have felt for a long time--"they are our enemies,
+and we are their prey."
+
+But there is no use in shutting the eyes any longer to the truth.  The
+morning breeze has just floated off in its airy waves that flag which
+before hung down lifelessly by the side of its staff.  It has shewn all.
+They are enemies; they are fierce and bitter enemies; they are the
+Syrians, and they are at war with Israel.
+
+But why are they come against this little town?  When they have licked up
+it and its people like the dust from the face of the earth, they will be
+scarcely further on in their war against Israel.  Why did not they begin
+with some of the great and royal cities?  Why was it not against
+Jerusalem, or Jezreel, or even against the newly rebuilt Jericho?  Why
+should they come against this little town?
+
+Then one, an evil-looking man of a dark countenance, one who feared not
+God and loved not His servants, whispered to those around him, and said,
+"Have you not heard how Elisha the prophet, who dwells amongst us, has
+discovered to the king of Israel the secrets of the army of the king of
+Syria?  No doubt it is because Elisha is dwelling here that the king of
+Syria has come upon us.  And now shall we, and our wives, and our sweet
+babes, and our houses, and our treasures, become the prey of the king of
+Syria, for the sake of this Elisha.  I never thought that good would come
+from his dwelling here."
+
+Now, fear makes men cruel and suspicious, and fills their minds with hard
+thoughts; and many of these men were full of fear: and so, when they
+heard these words, they began to have hard bad thoughts of God's prophet,
+and to hate him, as the cause of all the evils which they were afraid
+would very soon come upon them.
+
+Just then the door of another house opened: it was the prophet's house,
+and his servant came forth with the water-vessels to fill them at the
+fountain.  He wondered to see the crowd of men gathered together, and he
+drew near to ask them what was stirring.  He could read upon their dark
+scowling faces that something moved them exceedingly; but what it was he
+could not gather.  He could not tell why they would scarcely speak to
+him, but looked on him with angry faces, and spoke under their breath,
+and said, "This is one of them."  "'Twere best to give them up."  "They
+will destroy us all."  Then the man was altogether astonished; for his
+master had been ever humble, and kind, and gentle; no poor man had ever
+turned away without help when he had come in his sorrows to the prophet
+of the Lord.  And yet, why were they thus angry with him, if it were not
+for his master's sake?
+
+Broken sentences were all that he could gather; but, by little and
+little, he learned what they feared and what they threatened; he saw,
+also, the hosts of armed men gathered all around the city; and his heart,
+also, was filled with fear.  He believed that it was for his master's
+sake that they were there; he saw that all around him were turned against
+his master, and he trembled exceedingly.  For some time he stood amongst
+the rest, scarce knowing what to do, neither liking to remain nor daring
+to go; until at last, as some more stragglers joined themselves to the
+company, he slunk away like one ashamed, without stopping even to fill
+the water-vessels he had brought.
+
+And so he entered his own door, heavy-hearted and trembling; and he went
+to the prophet's chamber, for he deemed that he still slept.  But the man
+of God was risen; and he knew, therefore, where he should find him--that
+he would be upon the flat roof of his house, calling upon the name of the
+Lord his God, who had made another morning's sun to rise in its glory.
+
+{The Prophet's Guard: p156.jpg}
+
+So he followed his master to the housetop; and there, even as he had
+supposed, he found the holy man.  It was a striking sight, could any one
+have seen the difference between these two men.  The one pale and
+trembling and affrighted, like a man out of himself, and with no stay on
+which to rest his mind; the other calm and earnest, as, in deep and
+solemn prayer, with his head bowed and his hands clasped together, his
+low voice poured forth his thanksgiving, or spake of his needs; he also,
+as it seemed, was out of himself, but going out of himself that he might
+rest upon One who was near to him though his eye saw Him not, and who
+spake to him though his outward ear heard no voice of words.
+
+Thus he continued for a season, as if he knew not that any man was nigh
+unto him; as if he knew not that there were, in the great world around
+him, any one besides his God with whom he communed, and his own soul
+which spake unto his God.  All this time his servant stood by him, pale
+and trembling, but not daring to break in upon that hour of prayer; until
+at length the prophet paused, and his eye fell upon the trembler; and he
+turned towards him, and said kindly, "What ails thee, my son?"  Then the
+servant answered, "O my father, look unto the hill."  And he stood gazing
+in the prophet's face, as though he expected to see paleness and terror
+overspread it when his eyes gathered in the sight of those angry hosts.
+But it was not so.  No change passed over his countenance; his brow was
+open as it was before; the colour never left his cheeks; and, with almost
+a smile, he turned unto the servant, and said, "And why does this
+affright thee?"  "It is for thee they seek, my father--it is for thee
+they seek; and the wicked men of the town are ready to fall upon thee and
+deliver thee into their hands.  Even now, as I walked along the street,
+they looked on me with fierce and cruel eyes; and they breathed threats
+which these lips may not utter, and said, that thou hadst brought this
+trouble upon them, and their wives, and their little ones; and I feared
+that they would curse thee and thy God."  But the prophet was not moved
+by his words, for he only answered, "Fear them not; they that are with us
+are more than they that are against us."  Then did the servant cast his
+eyes to the ground, and he spake not, yet his lips moved; and if any one
+had heard the words which he whispered, they might perhaps have heard him
+ask how this could be, when they were but two, and their enemies were so
+many and so mighty.
+
+Now the prophet's eye rested upon him, and he read all his secret
+thoughts; and he pitied his weakness, for that holy man was full of pity
+for the weak: so he chid him not; but, bowing his knees again on that
+flat roof, he prayed unto his God to open the eyes of his affrighted
+servant.  His prayer was heard.  For there fell from them as it were
+films; and now, when he looked out, he saw a glorious sight.  All the
+mountain was full; and they were a wonderful company which filled it.  The
+dark hosts of the Syrians, and their glancing swords and clashing
+chariots, now looked but as a mere handful; for the whole mountain round
+them was full of that heavenly army.  Chariots of fire and horsemen of
+fire thronged it in every part.  High up into the viewless air mounted
+their wheeling bands: rank beyond rank, and army beyond army, they seemed
+to stretch on into the vastness of space, until the gazer's wearied eye
+was unable to gaze on them.  And all of these were gathered round his
+master.  They were God's host, keeping guard over God's servant.  And
+they who would injure him must first turn aside those flashing swords,
+must break up that strong and serried array, and be able to do battle
+with God's mighty angels.
+
+Then was the weak heart strong.  Then did the poor trembler see that he
+was safe; and know that he who is on God's side can never want companions
+and defenders.
+
+
+
+
+The Brothers' Meeting;
+OR,
+The Sins of Youth.
+
+
+A large company was winding its way slowly out of the vale in which the
+river Jordan runs.  The sun was just beginning to strike hotly upon them,
+and make them long for rest and shelter, as they toiled up the open sandy
+hills and amongst the great masses of rock with which that country was
+strewn.
+
+It was a striking sight to see those travellers.  First went three troops
+of kine, lowing as they went; camels with their arched necks, stooping
+shoulders, and forward ears; asses with their foals; ewes and lambs; and
+goats with their kids, which mounted idly upon every rock that lay by
+their road-side, and then jumped as idly down again; and before and after
+these, drivers in stately turbans and long flowing robes, keeping the
+flocks and herds to their appointed way.  Then came large droves of
+cattle, and sheep, and goats, and asses, stirring up with their many feet
+the dust of the sandy plain, till it fell like a gentle shower powdering
+with its small grains all the rough and prickly plants which grew in
+tufts over the waste.  Then was there a space; and after that were seen
+two bands of camels,--the best they seemed to be of all the flock, those
+which came last especially,--and on them were children and women riding,
+over whom hung long veils to shelter their faces from the hot breath of
+the sandy desert through which they had travelled.  And after all these
+came one man, with his staff in his hand and a turban on his head,
+walking slowly, as one who walked in pain and yet walked on, following
+those who went before.
+
+If you had stood near to that man, you might, perhaps, have heard him
+speaking to God in prayer and thanksgiving; you might have heard him
+saying to himself, "with my staff passed I over this Jordan, and now I am
+become two bands:" or you might have heard him earnestly calling upon the
+God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac his father, to keep him safe in the
+great danger which now lay close before him.  His mind was certainly very
+full of that danger; for he kept looking up from the sand on which his
+eyes were often fixed, and gazing as far as he could see over the hills
+before him, as if he expected to see some great danger suddenly meet him
+on his way, and as if, therefore, he wished to be quite ready for it.
+
+If you looked into his face, you could see at once that he was not a
+common man.  He was not a very old man; his hair was not yet grey upon
+his head; and yet it seemed, at the first glance, as if he was very old.
+But as you looked closer, you saw that it was not so; but that many, many
+thoughts had passed through his mind, and left those deep marks stamped
+even on his face.  It was not only sorrow, though there was much of that;
+nor care, though he was now full of care; but besides these, it seemed as
+if he had seen, and done, and felt great things--things in which all a
+man's soul is called up, and so, which leave their impress behind them,
+even when they have passed away.
+
+He HAD seen great things, and felt great things.  He had seen God's most
+holy angels going up to heaven, and coming down to earth upon their
+messages of mercy.  He had heard the voice of the Lord of all, promising
+to be his Father and his Friend.  And only the night before, the Angel of
+the covenant had made himself known to him in the stillness of his lonely
+tent, and made him strong to wrestle with him for a blessing, until the
+breaking of the day.  So that it was no wonder, that when you looked into
+his face, it was not like the face of a common man, but one which was
+full of thought, which bore almost outwardly the stamp of great
+mysteries.
+
+But what was it which now filled this man with care?  He was returning
+home from a far land where he had been staying twenty years, to the land
+where his father dwelt.  He had gone out a poor man; he was coming home a
+rich man.  He was bringing back with him his wives, and his children, and
+his servants, and his flocks, and his herds; and of what was he afraid?
+Surely he could trust the God who had kept him and blessed him all these
+twenty years, and who had led him now so far on his journey?
+
+Why should he fear now, when he was almost at his father's tent?
+
+It was because he heard that HIS BROTHER was coming to meet him.  But why
+should this fill him with such fear?  Surely it would be a happy meeting;
+brothers born of the same father and of the same mother, who had dwelt
+together in one tent, kneeled before one father's knees in prayer, and
+joined together in the common plays of childhood,--surely their meeting
+must be happy, now that they have been twenty years asunder, and God has
+blessed them both, and they are about to see each other again in peace
+and safety, and to shew to each other the children whom God had given
+them, and who must remind them of their days of common childhood.  And
+why then is the man afraid?  Because when he left his father's house this
+brother was very angry with him, and he fears that he may have remembered
+his anger all these twenty years, and be ready now to revenge himself for
+that old quarrel.
+
+And yet, why should this make such an one to fear?  Even if his brother
+be still angry with him, and have cruel and evil thoughts against him,
+cannot God deliver him?--cannot the same God who has kept him safely all
+these twenty years of toil and labour, help and save him now?  Why then
+does he fear so greatly?  He has not forgotten that this God can save
+him--he has not for a moment forgotten it; for see how earnestly he makes
+his prayer unto Him: hear his vows that if God will again deliver him, he
+and all of his shall ever praise and serve him for this mercy.  Yet still
+he is in fear; and he seems like a man who thought that there was some
+reason why the God who had heard him in other cases should not hear him
+in this.
+
+What was it, then, which pressed so heavily upon this man's mind?  It was
+the remembrance of an old sin.  He feared that God would leave him now to
+Esau's wrath, because he knew that Esau's wrath was God's punishment of
+his sin.  He feared that Esau's hand would slay his children, as God's
+chastisement for the sins of his childhood.  He remembered that he had
+lied to Isaac his father, and mocked the dimness of his aged eyes by a
+false appearance; now he trembled lest his father's God should leave the
+deceiver and the mocker to eat the bitter fruit of his old sin.  It was
+not so much Esau's wrath, and Esau's company, and Esau's arms, which he
+feared--though all these were very terrible to this peaceful man,--as it
+was his own sin in days long past, which now met him again, and seemed to
+frown upon him from the darkness before him.  In vain did he strive to
+look on and see whether God would guide him there, for his sin clouded
+over the light of God's countenance.  It was as when he strained his eyes
+into the great sand-drifts of the desert through which he had passed:
+they danced and whirled fearfully before him, and baffled all the
+strivings of his earnest gaze.
+
+But the time of trial was drawing very near.  And how did it end?  Instead
+of falling upon him and slaying him and his; instead of making a spoil of
+the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and giving the young children to
+the sword, Esau's heart melted as soon as they met; he fell upon his
+brother's neck and kissed him; he looked lovingly upon the children who
+had been born to him in the far land; he spake kindly of the old days of
+their remembered childhood, of the grey-haired man at home; and he would
+not take even the present which his brother had set apart for him.
+
+Jacob knew who it was that had turned his brother's heart, and he felt
+more than ever what a strong and blessed thing prayer and supplication
+was.  Nor did he forget his childhood's sin against his God.  It had
+looked out again upon him in manhood, and reminded him of God's holiness,
+of his many past misdeeds, and made him pray more earnestly not to be
+made to "possess the iniquities of his youth."
+
+* * * * *
+
+_Father_.  What should we learn from this account of Jacob's meeting
+Esau?
+
+_Child_.  That God remembers and often visits long afterwards the sins of
+our childhood.
+
+F.  Does not God, then, forgive the sins of children?
+
+C.  Yes, He does forgive them, and blot them out for Christ's sake.
+
+F.  Why, then, do we say that He visits them?
+
+C.  Because He often allows the effects of past sins to be still their
+punishment, even when He has forgiven them.
+
+F.  Why does He do so?
+
+C.  To shew us how He hates sin.
+
+F.  What should we learn from this?
+
+C.  To watch against every sin most carefully, because we never can know
+what may be its effects; to remember how God has punished it, often for
+years, in His true servants; to pray against sin; to think no sin little.
+
+F.  What should we do, if we find the consequences of past sin coming
+upon us?
+
+C.  Take our chastisement meekly; humble ourselves under God's hand; pray
+for deliverance, as, "Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my
+transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness'
+sake, O Lord" (Ps. xxv. 7).
+
+F.  What should be the effect on us when God hears our prayer, and
+delivers us?
+
+C.  It should make us more humbly remember our sins and unworthiness, and
+strive to shew forth our thankfulness, "not with our lips only, but in
+our lives."
+
+{Finis: p172.jpg}
+
+LONDON:
+PRINTED BY GILBERT & RIVINGTON,
+St. John's Square.
+
+
+
+
+Footnotes:
+
+
+{6}  Rev. xxii. 2.
+
+{45a}  Lover of God.
+
+{45b}  Wanderer.
+
+{45c}  Timid.
+
+{46}  Help.
+
+{49a}  Prov. ii. 19.
+
+{49b}  Ps. cxix. 9.
+
+{76}  Isaiah xlii. 16.
+
+{79a}  Isaiah xxxv. 3, 4.
+
+{79b}  Ps. cxix. 67.
+
+{80}  Isaiah xxxv. 9.
+
+{95a}  Bold, or Rash.
+
+{95b}  Tender.
+
+{96}  Faith.
+
+{148a}  Matt. xxv. 30.
+
+{148b}  Ib. xxv. 46.
+
+
+
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