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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fb080c6 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #50349 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50349) diff --git a/old/50349-h.zip b/old/50349-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 91fedb5..0000000 --- a/old/50349-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50349-h/50349-h.htm b/old/50349-h/50349-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index ff438f7..0000000 --- a/old/50349-h/50349-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4505 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> - -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" /> - <title> - A Basket of Barley Loaves - by Miller, Mary Christina - </title> - - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - - <style type="text/css"> - - body { - margin-left: 7%; - margin-right: 7%; - font-size: 110%; - } - - p { - margin-top: .5em; - text-indent: 1em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .5em; - line-height: 120%; - } - - h1 { - text-align: center; - clear: both; - font-weight: normal; - font-style: normal; - font-size: 200%; - line-height: 200%; - margin-top: 1em; - margin-bottom: 1em; - } - - h2 { - text-align: center; - clear: both; - font-weight: normal; - font-size: 120%; - line-height: 150%; - margin-top: 1em; - margin-bottom: 1em; - } - - hr { - width: 50%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 25%; - margin-right: 25%; - clear: both; - } - - /* styles for Transcriber's Note */ - #tnote { - background-color: #EEE; - color: inherit; - margin: 5% 20%; - padding: 0.5em 1em; - border: 1px solid gray; - font-size: small; - } - #tnote p { - text-indent: 0; - text-align: left; - margin-bottom: .75em; - margin-top: .25em; - } - - /* styles for front matter */ - .front { - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - } - .front p { - margin-top: 3em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - text-indent: 0; - text-align: center; - line-height: 125%; - } - .front .font { - font-family: sans-serif; - } - - /* styles for ToC */ - #toc { - border-spacing: 0 0.5em; - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - margin-bottom: 2em; - } - #toc td { - line-height: 100%; - font-variant: small-caps; - font-size: small; - } - #toc td.chap { - padding-right: 1em; - text-align: right; - } - #toc td.loc { - padding-left: 5em; - text-align: right; - } - - /* style for page numbers */ - .pagenum { - position: absolute; - right: 1.5%; - font-size: small; - font-style: normal; - font-weight: normal; - text-align: right; - } - - /* styles for dropcaps */ - p.drop-cap { - text-indent: 0em; - } - p.drop-cap:first-letter { - float: left; - margin: 0.1em 0.1em 0em 0em; - font-size: 250%; - line-height:0.85em; - } - - /* style for illustrations */ - .image-center { - margin: 1.5em auto; - text-align: center; - } - - /* styles for poetry */ - .poetry-container { - text-align: center; - } - .poetry { - display: inline-block; - text-align: left; - font-size: small; - } - .poetry .stanza { - margin: 1em auto; - } - .poetry .verse { - text-indent: -3em; - padding-left: 3em; - } - .poetry .indent2 { - text-indent: -2em; - } - .poetry .quote { - text-indent: -3.4em; - } - - /* misc styles */ - .nodent { text-indent: 0; } - .center { text-indent: 0; text-align: center; } - .smcap { font-variant: small-caps; } - .uppercase { text-transform: uppercase; } - .right { text-align: right; } - .small { font-size: small; } - .x-small { font-size: x-small; } - .large { font-size: large; } - .x-large { font-size: x-large; } - .gesperrt { letter-spacing: 1em; } - .gap-above { margin-top: 2em; } - .nogap { margin-top: 0; } - -@media handheld { - p.drop-cap:first-letter { - float: none; - margin: 0; - font-size: 100%; - } - .poetry { - display: block; - margin-left: 1.5em; - } - } - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's A Basket of Barley Loaves, by Mary Christina Miller - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: A Basket of Barley Loaves - -Author: Mary Christina Miller - -Release Date: October 31, 2015 [EBook #50349] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BASKET OF BARLEY LOAVES *** - - - - -Produced by Richard Hulse, Chris Pinfield and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div id="tnote"> - -<p>Transcriber's note.</p> - -<p>The author is not listed on the title page but has been - identified as Mary Christina Miller.</p> - -<p>A few apparent typographical errors have been corrected.</p> - -<p>Chapters II to XVIII begin with a short quotation from Psalm 104. - For technical reasons the quotation marks have been omitted.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="front"> - - <h1><span class="small">A BASKET</span><br /> - <span class="x-small">OF</span><br /> - BARLEY LOAVES.</h1> - - <p>BY THE<br /> - <span class="smcap">Author of "The High Mountain Apart" and "Sacramental Sabbaths."</span></p> - -<p>"There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves."—<span class="smcap">John</span> vi. 9.</p> - - <p>PHILADELPHIA:<br /> - PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION,<br /> - No. 1334 CHESTNUT STREET.</p> - -<hr /> - - <p>Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by<br /> - THE TRUSTEES OF THE<br /> - PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION,<br /> - In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.</p> - - <p><span class="smcap">Westcott & Thomson</span>,<br /> - <i>Stereotypers, Philada.</i></p> - -<hr /> - - <p>TO<br /> - MY FORMER PASTOR,</p> - -<p class="x-large"><span class="smcap">Rev.</span> ALEXANDER DICKSON,</p> - - <p>WHO TAUGHT ME</p> - -<p class="font large">"THE WAY OF GOD MORE PERFECTLY,"</p> - -<p>AND WHOSE THOUGHTS AND VERY WORDS ENTER LARGELY INTO THESE PAGES,</p> - -<p>I DEDICATE THIS</p> - -<p class="smcap font x-large">Basket of Barley Loaves.</p> - -<hr /> - -</div> - -<h2>EDITOR'S PREFACE.</h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">To</span> those who crave more of Christ in the soul and in the daily life, -to those who long for holiness and assurance, this <span class="smcap">Basket of -Barley Loaves</span> will bring welcome refreshment and nourishment. The -devout, even though trembling, believer, who hungers after -righteousness, will here find that which will kindle his affections -and lead them to the only satisfying source of love and peace, Jesus -Christ. What of sweetness and strength there is in these meditations -is due to God's word, of which they are full. Sweeter than honey and -the honey-comb, more precious than silver or gold, was that word to -the Psalmist; and thence these chapters draw their flavor and force. -By them the weary, the needy, the longing, will be led nearer to -Christ and be more filled with the power of his love. May these few -Barley Loaves feed many thousands of hungry souls!</p> - -<p class="right">J. W. D.</p> - -<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> - -<table id="toc" summary="ToC"> - -<tr> - <td></td> - <td></td> - <td class="loc">PAGE</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">I</td> - <td>Jesus Sought and Found</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">II</td> - <td>His Name</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">III</td> - <td>The Assurance</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_31">31</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">IV</td> - <td>The Perfect Work</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">V</td> - <td>The Chastening</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">VI</td> - <td>The Compassion</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">VII</td> - <td>The Sympathy</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">VIII</td> - <td>The Love</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_78">78</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">IX</td> - <td>The Life Abundant</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">X</td> - <td>The Forgiveness</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_90">90</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">XI</td> - <td>The Help</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">XII</td> - <td>The Deliverance</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_102">102</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">XIII</td> - <td>The Hearer of Prayer</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_107">107</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">XIV</td> - <td>The Reward</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_112">112</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">XV</td> - <td>The Soul's Portion</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_119">119</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">XVI</td> - <td>The Cross</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">XVII</td> - <td>The Presence</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_131">131</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">XVIII</td> - <td>The Appearing</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="chap">XIX</td> - <td>The Conclusion</td> - <td class="loc"><a href="#Page_143">143</a></td> -</tr> - -</table> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">{11}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="67" alt="" src="images/i_011.jpg" /> -</div> - -<div class="front"> - - <p>A BASKET</p> - - <p class="small">OF</p> - - <p class="x-large">BARLEY LOAVES.</p> - -</div> - - <h2>I.<br /> - <i>Jesus Sought and Found.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">The</span> -crowd was thronging and jostling. -Eager and wistful faces were turned -to One who stood in the midst. His countenance -was mild and compassionate; and -as I gazed upon him, a deep desire filled my -heart to know and follow this Man of Sorrows. -With swiftest steps I hurried on and -pressed into the crowd. The lowly, suffering -woman was satisfied to touch the hem -of his garments, and it was enough. But -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">{12}</a></span> -I was not content until I had grasped his -hand. Yes, I put my hand in his—my -guilty hand that nailed him to the cross.</p> - -<p>"Who touched me?" He turned, and -we stood face to face. In answer to his -inquiry I whispered, "Lord, I will follow -thee whithersoever thou goest." A look of -love glanced from his eye; nearer he drew -me to his side and whispered, "Beloved." -Oh how it thrilled my heart! Excess of -joy choked my utterance, and I could only -grasp his hand more firmly and exclaim, -"My Lord and my God!"</p> - -<p>Tell me not now of loneliness and desolation. -Jesus is mine, and so we journey -hand in hand; and as he whispers to me of -love unchangeable, I hide this sweet secret -in my heart and answer, "I am thine."</p> - -<p>"They tell me," we said to an aged man, -"that you have no rock on which to plant -your feet." "No rock?" he said, calmly, -with a smile—"no rock? Well, my creed -does differ from yours. Mine is love to -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">{13}</a></span> -God and love to my fellow-men. I do not -believe such a man as Jesus Christ ever -lived. The world has had many saviours. -Mine is a principle—a rightening principle. -I have tried all beliefs, and here I am content -to rest."</p> - -<p>But we have not so learned Christ.</p> - -<p>Infidels may tell me such a man never -lived; humanitarians may tell me he was -mere man and no God; careless worldlings -may tell me there is no beauty in him -that I should desire him; but from the far-off -region of light, beyond the mist-clouds -that encircle the earth, I hear a voice, calm -in its majesty and tender in its tones: "I -am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and -the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and -which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." -"I am the light of the world: -he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, -but shall have the light of life." "I -am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, -thy Saviour." "I, even I, am the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">{14}</a></span> -Lord; and beside me there is no Saviour." -"O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself, but -in me is thine help." "I will ransom them -from the power of the grave; I will redeem -them from death." "Come unto me, all ye -that labor and are heavy laden, and I will -give you rest."</p> - -<p>Hearing this voice I draw nearer. "Have -I been so long time with you, and yet hast -thou not known me? Thou hast both seen -him, and he it is that talketh with thee." -"Lord, I believe." "I know thee who thou -art, the Holy One of God." With the eye -of faith I have seen thee, and I can testify -that "thou art fairer than the children of -men." With the hand of faith I have -grasped thine, O thou "Friend that stickest -closer than a brother." And thou hast -talked with me. "Never man spake like -this man." I cannot utter half the words -Jesus has spoken to my soul; but this I -say: Into his hands I commit my soul with -all its interests; "for I know whom I have -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">{15}</a></span> -believed, and am persuaded that he is able -to keep that which I have committed unto -him against that day."</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"O Jesus, Friend unfailing,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">How dear thou art to me!</div> - <div class="verse">And, cares or fears assailing,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I find my strength in thee.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"I love to own, Lord Jesus,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Thy claims o'er me and mine;</div> - <div class="verse">Bought with thy blood most precious,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Whose can I be but <i>thine</i>?"</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>"As the late lamented Dudley Tyng was -passing from the earthly vineyard to his -higher position in the heavenly," writes -Boardman in his book entitled "Him that -Overcometh," "he said to his father, while -light fell upon him from the open gateway, -'Father, stand up for Jesus.' Then, after -advancing a little farther on into the fuller -effulgence, he spoke again, saying, 'Father, -stand up in Jesus.' These injunctions were -reported by his father as they fell from the -lips of his son, and went abroad all over the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">{16}</a></span> -land. The first one struck a chord which -vibrates still, and passed into a watchword -for all Christian enterprise and for all enterprising -Christians, but the second seemed -to find no chord keyed up and ready to -respond. It is to be feared that this is -indicative of the true state of the Christian -world to-day—<i>for</i> Christ, more than <i>in</i> him; -and yet, if we may believe the words of -Christ himself, and the history of all the -progress of his kingdom, we have the -secret of all power in these two words, "in -Jesus," with the converse of them, "Jesus -in us."</p> - -<p>"<i>Abide in me, and I in you.</i>" Christ -within is better even than Christ beside us, -as the apostles found after Pentecost. This -is the secret of all joy and the source of all -strength.</p> - -<p>To those who are just starting on the -Christian pilgrimage we would repeat these -words of the Master, "Abide in me." -Guide-books are good, but a trusty guide is -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">{17}</a></span> -better. We might fill our pages with minute -directions concerning the way, but we -would rather point to Christ, who is the way. -We remember that there are times when -travelers forget their guide-books and cling -to their strong and sure-footed guides.</p> - -<p>Consider our Guide. He knows every -step of the way, and he will guide us with -his eye. Let us meditate upon Christ till -our hearts are led to desire more intimate -fellowship with him. "My meditation of -him shall be sweet"—"sweet" when I -remember his name, his character, his -work, his promises and the peace he gives.</p> - -<p>But it may be that some to whom these -pages are addressed find many dark threads -of doubt woven into their meditation of -Christ. You have never, perhaps, been -fully assured of your acceptance with him; -or, if confident at the commencement of -your Christian course, doubts and fears -may have gathered around your pathway -before journeying very far into the wilderness. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">{18}</a></span> -The chilling winds of unbelief make -winter in your soul. The days are short -and cold; the nights are long and colder. -Yes, even the day seems as the night—all -darkness. Some around you seem to be -enjoying perpetual spring-time, because -Christ shines so constantly upon their -happy souls, and your coldness and darkness -seem all the sadder in contrast with -their warmth and brightness.</p> - -<p>How can you account for this? Ask -some Christian friends, and they will tell -you that you must not expect so much joy—that -the Christian life is a constant conflict -with doubt and sin, and you cannot expect -to be always as happy as perhaps you were -at first. You turn away sadly disappointed. -They are older Christians, and you think -they must know better than you. What -will you do? Will you sit under the -clouds, or struggle to get out into clear -sunshine?</p> - -<p>We cannot think that God intends you to -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">{19}</a></span> -have a limited measure of joy and peace. -Why should you not grow happier in your -love to Christ as you learn to know him -better? Why should not the promises become -more precious as you prove them and -find them all "yea and amen in Christ -Jesus?"</p> - -<p>Let us inquire into the cause of your -darkness. The Saviour does not willingly -withhold his smile which makes spring and -summer in the soul. When God made a -covenant with you he gave you this promise: -"I will never leave thee, nor forsake -thee." God has not then forsaken you. -Perhaps you have neglected the means of -grace. Perhaps you are cherishing some -secret sin. Perhaps you have looked more -to your own frames and feelings than to -Christ's perfect work. Your mind has -dwelt too much upon self. Take the advice -of one who walked with God and was -not, because God took him: "For one -look at self take ten looks to Christ." The -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">{20}</a></span> -advice is good, and it has lifted many a -Christian above the clouds.</p> - -<p>"Saw ye Him whom my soul loveth? -I sought him, but I found him not." Is this -your sad lament?</p> - -<p>Seek him again. Seek him earnestly, -prayerfully, constantly. Seek him in the -place of secret prayer. Jesus had his secret -place upon the lonely mountain. -Though he lived in constant communion -with his Father, though his every step was -a hymn of praise and his every act was a -prayer, still he felt his need of a place -where he could pour out his soul in supplication. -If secret prayer was necessary for -the Master, is it not more needful for you? -If you have neglected that, it is not strange -if it is winter in your soul.</p> - -<p>Seek Jesus also in his holy word. In the -garden of the gospel you may meet him -and walk with him, holding sweet communion. -Here he reveals himself. Obey -his own commandment, "Search the Scriptures." -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">{21}</a></span> -This is the reason and this the -reward, "for they are they that testify of -me." They testify of Christ. Yes, they are -full of Christ. Rays from his cross shine -through both the Testaments. Prophets -and saints of old looked forward and rejoiced—"not -having received the promises," -it is true, "but having seen them afar off, -and were persuaded of them and embraced -them." Fuller, clearer light now shines on -Calvary. Draw near and read again the -sacred story. Yes, "search the Scriptures," -for here you will surely find Jesus. -His love prompted every promise, and is the -pledge and fulfillment of every promise.</p> - -<p>Seek him in the place of social prayer. -Thomas was not at the prayer-meeting when -Jesus manifested himself to his disciples. -How much he lost by staying away! When -Jesus draws near and says, "Peace be unto -you!" then let me be within hearing of his -gentle voice. Let me be near when he -says, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost." "<i>Only</i> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">{22}</a></span> -a prayer-meeting," do you say? <i>Only</i> a -visit from Jesus, the Giver of peace! Who -would miss a visit of so much profit—a visit -of so much pleasure!</p> - -<p>Seek Jesus at the sacramental supper. -Jesus is there. There you may enjoy his -longest, sweetest visits. There he speaks -peace to his people. Sweet it is to meet -Jesus in the closet; sweet visits there he -pays his beloved and betrothed. Sweet it -is to meet him in the holy Scriptures; -sweet to find him in the place of social -prayer. But sweeter far are his visits at -the communion-table. To sit like Mary at -his feet, to lie like John upon his bosom—was -ever joy like this? was ever Jesus -nearer? No longer do we say, "Saw ye -Him whom my soul loveth?" We have -found him! we have found him! "His -left hand is under my head, while his right -doth embrace me." I charge you, my unstable -heart, that you forsake not, nor grieve -again "Him whom my soul loveth."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">{23}</a></span> -Now that you have found him, cleave to -him. "Abide in me," the Master says. In -union with Christ the Christian finds his -safety, strength and happiness. And the -closer this union, the greater is the security, -strength and happiness of the Christian. -Would we be guided by his eye? Then -must we be continually "looking unto -Jesus." Do we need strength? "In the -Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." Are -we seeking happiness? "Happy is he that -hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose -hope is in the Lord his God."</p> - -<p>Cling closer, young Christian, cling -closer to Christ. Learn to walk with him -daily in sweet communion. Be not satisfied -with an occasional visit from your Lord, but -beseech him to abide with you. He is willing -to come and abide with you. "If any -man love me, he will keep my words: and -my Father will love him, and we will come -unto him, and make our abode with him."</p> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">{24}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="59" alt="" src="images/i_024.jpg" /> -</div> - -<h2>II.<br /> -<i>His Name.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">My</span> -meditation of him shall be sweet -<i>when I remember his name</i>.</p> - -<p>We need not say, as did Jacob, "Tell -me, I pray thee, thy name." We know thy -name, <i>Jehovah Tsidkenu</i>, "The Lord our -Righteousness." We are all as an unclean -thing, and all our righteousnesses are as -filthy rags, and all the soap and nitre in the -world cannot make us pure and holy. "If -I wash myself with snow-water, and make -my hands never so clean, yet shalt thou -plunge me in the ditch, and mine own -clothes shall abhor me." But in the covenant -of the cross we come and change -clothes with Christ. He takes our filthy -rags and gives us his own spotless robe; -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">{25}</a></span> -and we are "accepted in the Beloved," not -having our "own righteousness, which is -of the law, but that which is through the -faith of Christ, the righteousness which is -of God by faith."</p> - -<p>We know thy name, <i>Jehovah Shalom</i>, -The Lord of Peace. Sweet peace speedily -follows as one of the results of justification. -"And the work of righteousness shall be -peace, and the effects of righteousness quietness -and assurance for ever." Or, as the -apostle expresses it in the Epistle to the -Romans, "Therefore, being justified by -faith, we have peace with God through our -Lord Jesus Christ." Peace was one of the -notes in the song which angels sung when -He was born who himself "is our peace." -And when he was parting from his disciples -"peace" was among the last words -that fell from his lips: "Peace I leave with -you; my peace I give unto you." "Thou -wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind -is stayed on thee." "Perfect peace," being -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">{26}</a></span> -interpreted, means, "Peace, peace." So -that we shall have a double portion, "good -measure, pressed down and shaken together -and running over."</p> - -<p>We know thy name, <i>Jehovah Nissi</i>, The -Lord my Banner. "Thou hast given a -banner to them that fear thee." He his own -self is our standard and our standard-bearer, -and we need not fear that our flag shall -ever be taken, or that those who fight -under it shall be beaten. Though we are -but weak worms of the dust, and are called -to contend "against principalities, against -powers, against spiritual wickedness in -high places," there is nothing more sure -than that we shall win the day. "If God -be for us, who can be against us?" Looking -at the end from the beginning, and confident -of victory, we can say, when buckling -on the harness before the battle is -begun, "We are more than conquerors -through Him that loved us."</p> - -<p>We know thy name, <i>Jehovah Rophi</i>, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">{27}</a></span> -The Lord my Healer. When he began -his holy ministry here on earth, "Jesus went -about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, -and preaching the gospel of the -kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness, -and all manner of disease among the -people." Some came to him groping in -their blindness, others came on crutches, -and many were carried to him on their -beds; and he healed them all. Though he -came from heaven mainly to heal diseases -of the mind, yet while he labored here in -the flesh he healed more diseases of the -body. He is still the only Physician of the -soul, and by far the best Physician of the -body. "He knoweth our frame," this our -mortal body, better than the wisest men, -for he made it, and without his blessing -the best prescription will do us no good. -He is our Physician. When we are taken -sick he is first called to our bedside. By -prayer we lay hold of something at the -mercy-seat that rings a bell in heaven, and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">{28}</a></span> -he makes haste and comes down and -"healeth all our diseases."</p> - -<p>We know thy name, <i>Jehovah Jireh</i>, The -Lord will Provide. He provided a lamb -upon Mount Moriah for Abraham in his -greatest emergency. He has also provided -a Lamb for us—a Lamb without spot or -blemish, "the Lamb slain from the foundation -of the world." "Even Christ our -Passover is sacrificed for us." On his -guiltless head our guilt was laid. And -having provided a Lamb for us, he will -provide anything else. "My God shall -supply all your need according to his riches -in glory by Christ Jesus." As the greater -includes the less, so the unspeakable gift -embosoms all minor blessings. "He that -spared not his own Son, but delivered him -up for us all, how shall he not with him -freely give us all things?"</p> - -<p>We know thy name, <i>Jehovah Shammah</i>, -The Lord is there. Wherever we may be -called to go, the Lord is there. What -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">{29}</a></span> -strong consolation, what good cheer there -is in this blessed truth,</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"Awake, asleep, at home, abroad,</div> - <div class="verse">I am surrounded still with God!"</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p class="nodent">In every duty, in every difficulty, the Lord -is there. In the lion's den and in the fiery -furnace, the Lord is there. In sickness and -in health, in sorrow and in joy, the Lord is -there. When our pilgrimage is almost over, -and we are going down into the dark valley, -blessed be his name, we shall find that the -Lord is there. "Yea, though I walk -through the valley of the shadow of death, -I will fear no evil, for thou art with me."</p> - -<p>Beyond the valley there is a place about -which we know very little; but we know -that there is a house of many mansions, and -we know that the Lord is there. "I go to -prepare a place for you." There is a holy -city along whose golden streets these feet -shall one day walk; "And the name of the -city from that day shall be, The Lord is -there."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">{30}</a></span> -"Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let -us exalt his name together." He is everything -to us. Are we sinners? He is our -Righteousness. Are we in trouble? He is -our Peace. Are we soldiers? He is our -Banner. Are we sick? He is our Healer. -Are we in want of anything? He will provide. -Are we going into eternity? He is -there, waiting to receive us up into glory. -"Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us -exalt his name together."</p> - -<p>"My meditation of him shall be sweet" -when I remember his name, for "they that -know thy name shall put their trust in thee."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="100" height="64" alt="" src="images/i_030.jpg" /> -</div> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">{31}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="68" alt="" src="images/i_031.jpg" /> -</div> - -<h2>III.<br /> -<i>The Assurance.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">My</span> -meditation of him shall be sweet -<i>when I remember the assurance he -has given me</i>.</p> - -<p>To his dear children God is pleased to -give earnests or pledges of the future bliss. -We cannot think that any of the heirs of -glory are wholly deprived of foretastes of -heaven. Some indeed walk in the mist-clouds -of doubt for a great part of their -lives. Only at intervals the clouds part -and reveal a ray of heavenly sunshine. -They live amid clouds—it may be they die -amid clouds—and never know clear shining -until they reach the land of perpetual sunshine.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">{32}</a></span> -Others there are who pitch their tents -upon "the high hill Clear." They live in -the land Beulah, where the sun is ever -shining and the birds are ever singing, -where Giant Despair never comes and -where Doubting Castle is not so much as -seen. They live in the sunshine, they die -in the sunshine—no, they do not die; they -pass away, onward and upward, into clearer -light and brighter sunshine. Light is sown -for them on earth by Him who is the light -of the world, and the harvest in eternity is -abundant and glorious. The first-fruits here, -though nothing compared with the after-fruits, -are beautiful and greatly to be desired. -Why may they not be enjoyed by all?</p> - -<p>We hardly think it is God's will that -his children should have a limited measure -of peace and joy. Neither can we think it -humility to doubt the words of our Lord -Jesus: "I give unto them eternal life; and -they shall never perish, neither shall any -pluck them out of my hand."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">{33}</a></span> -"Yes," we hear you saying, "this is -comforting for Christians, but am I a Christian? -The clouds of unbelief often envelop -me and exclude all heavenly light. -'Whereby shall I know that I shall inherit -the land?' Who will assure me of my -interest in Christ?"</p> - -<p>"He that believeth on the Son of God -hath the witness in himself." Can you remain -ignorant of so great a change wrought -within by the Spirit? Are there not many -signs to prove to you that you are in Christ? -Do you not believe and know that a change -has passed over all your feelings and affections? -Do you not love the things you once -hated and hate the things you once loved? -Do you not love all who bear the Saviour's -image? Is not sin odious to you? Do you -not find some pleasure in drawing near to -God in prayer? Is not the thought of continuing -in sin painful to you? Would you -willingly grieve your Saviour?</p> - -<p>We would not say, "Peace! peace!" -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">{34}</a></span> -when there is no peace. We would have -you look well to the foundations of your -hope. Examine it closely. Let the light -of the Word fall full and clear upon it. -Look at it on every side, and rest not till -you know that it is founded simply and -solely upon the merits of the Redeemer. -If you are sure Christ's work is really -begun in your soul, you need have no doubt -about its being continued and finally completed. -The Master counts well the cost -when he begins his work in the sinner's -soul, and none shall ever mock his work, -saying, "This man began to build and was -not able to finish."</p> - -<p>Having ascertained this all-important fact, -you may be "always confident" till you -enter his presence "with exceeding joy." -You need not fear that you shall fall away. -"Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: -when I fall, I shall arise." You shall be -"kept by the power of God through faith -unto salvation." You need never fear that -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">{35}</a></span> -Christ will weary of his work, but you may -be "confident of this very thing, that he -which has begun a good work in you will -perform it until the day of Jesus Christ," -and you shall stand "without fault before -the throne."</p> - -<p>We know some humble and sincere disciples -will shrink back, saying, "We are not -able," when we beg them to make Paul's -language all their own. With their hands -upon their mouths and their mouths in the -dust, they dare not look up with perfect confidence; -they think it almost presumption, -or at least they say, despondingly, "It is -not for me." "Paul," they say, "was an -uncommon Christian—he attained a tall -stature in holiness." So he did; and why? -Because his was no half-way service; he -gave no divided heart to his master. That -was the reason why he so well understood -the doctrine of full assurance. "If any -man will do his will, he shall know of the -doctrine." Do you understand these words -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">{36}</a></span> -of the Master? He does not say, "If any -man fully keeps the law, which is the perfect -will of the Father, he shall know of the -doctrine," for it is not possible for any mere -man perfectly to keep the commandments -of God. Nor does he say, "If any man -<i>does</i> the will," but, "If any man <i>will</i>"—is -willing to do his will. If he shows a willing -heart and mind, God will enlighten him -more and more. And what is implied in -this willing heart and mind but full consecration?</p> - -<p>When shall we learn the secret of a -happy life? "Ye cannot serve two masters." -Those who give themselves up to -Satan's service may lead an unhappy life, -but greater must be the unhappiness of those -who are trying to make a compromise between -God and Satan. They can enjoy -neither service; they are of all men most -miserable.</p> - -<p>O ye who have professed the name of -Christ, come away from all inferior pleasures! -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">{37}</a></span> -Pleasures? They are not worthy of -the name. One hour with Christ is worth -them all. Will you then suffer them to hide -the Saviour from your view?</p> - -<p>Once we were happy all the day long, -having given ourselves to Christ in the covenant -of the cross. Christ was the source -of our life, the fullness of our joy, all our -salvation and all our desire. Having enjoyed -his precious presence, we dreamed -not that we could ever wander; we thought -our hearts would cleave to him for evermore. -We had no doubts in those days. -"My Beloved is mine, and I am his," was -the constant language of our heart. But, -alas! the world again entered our heart, -dividing it and leaving but half for God. -Then came the clouds gathering thick and -fast, till our Saviour was hidden from our -view. Upon the ear of the watchman who -went about the streets soon fell our mournful -cry, "Saw ye Him whom my soul loveth?" -We sought him, but we found him not. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">{38}</a></span> -Our gloom and grief increased. Oh for -one hour of Jesus' presence! "Let all -other joys forsake this heart," we cried, "if -only we may again enjoy Jesus' presence." -Feeling thus, we thrust the joys (falsely so -called) of earth away, and kneeling at the -mercy-seat, we renewed our covenant with -Jesus. True, there was no joy in our hearts; -we saw not yet his smile. But we could -trust him where we could not trace him; so -we confessed to him all our wanderings. We -told him how we had thought to serve him -with half our hearts, but now we would give -him all. The first steps were taken in darkness, -but God soon revealed his smiling face.</p> - -<p>If this assurance is attainable by one, -why not by all? If at one time it may be -enjoyed, why not at all times? We have -"for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a -precious corner-stone, a sure foundation," -laid in Zion by the great Master-Builder.</p> - -<p>Foundation-stones are chosen with great -care and laid with care, for upon them the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">{39}</a></span> -whole building depends. Look at this -foundation-stone. Tell me, is it not perfect, -sure and tried? This is the stone that -the builders rejected: they perished, but it -remaineth, and upon it the Lord hath built -his Church. Believers in all ages and -climes have built all their hopes of heaven -upon it. Is it not a tried stone? Satan -tried it and found no flaw; Pilate tried it -and found no fault; the Father tried it and -pronounced it good; and we have tried it -and proved it so. What a sure foundation -it is, with Christ for the corner-stone, the -next stone faith, then repentance, hope, -submission and all the graces! "Master, -see what manner of stones are here." Are -they not goodly stones? and will they not -make a beautiful temple?</p> - -<p>Upon Christ, the precious corner-stone, -let us build our hopes of heaven, and dismiss -all fears for the future.</p> - -<p>My hope, my joy, my salvation, my desire, -my righteousness, my strength, my all—Christ -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">{40}</a></span> -in me "the hope of glory." -"Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? -who shall dwell in thy holy hill?" I have -not clean hands, nor a pure heart. Behold, -I am vile. Nevertheless, I shall abide in -thy tabernacle; I shall dwell in thy holy -hill. Why? Because Christ is mine. His -hands are spotless, his heart is pure, his -righteousness is perfect. All his is mine, -for he is mine. I build my hopes upon the -Rock Christ Jesus. These hopes shall -never be overthrown; I have no fear of it.</p> - -<p><i>When</i> the head stone shall be placed I -cannot tell, but I wait and work with joy, -hoping unto the end. Sometimes weariness -almost overcomes me, for building is hard -work. Foes within and foes without make -the labor exceedingly hard. But whether in -joy or grief, the building goes on, and from -the completed structure shouts shall ascend -to the great Master-Builder: "Grace, grace -unto it!" "Glory be to the Father, and to -the Son, and to the Holy Ghost! Amen."</p> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">{41}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="57" alt="" src="images/i_041.jpg" /> -</div> - -<h2>IV.<br /> -<i>The Perfect Work.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">My</span> -meditation of him shall be sweet -<i>when I consider his perfect work</i>.</p> - -<p>What consternation must have been felt -among the ranks of holy spirits when sin -entered into the world, "and death by sin!" -Could grief intrude into heaven, we should -imagine <i>that</i> an hour of deepest anguish -when the Father, looking down upon the -fallen race, exclaimed, "How shall I pardon -thee for this?" "How shall I put thee -among the children?" How could the just -and holy God justify the sinner? Not one -of all the heavenly host could solve the -problem. "How shall I give thee up?" -burst from the heart of the loving Father. -The beloved Son exclaims: "Deliver him -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">{42}</a></span> -from going down to the pit; I have found -a ransom." "Who will seek and save these -wanderers?" says the Father. "Father, -send me," the Son replies; "I will seek -them, and save them, and bring them home. -I will bear the wrath due to them for sin; I -will die for them." The Father accepts the -Substitute; the Son lays aside his glory and -girds himself for the mighty conflict. He -looks along the line of weary years, and -though he sees nothing but suffering, reproach -and death, his holy purpose remains -unshaken. The lost sheep of the house of -Israel must be saved, and none but Jesus -could save them.</p> - -<p>"So he was their Saviour."</p> - -<p>His work of <i>justification</i> is perfect. -Look at it for a moment. What is justification? -"Justification is an act of God's -free grace, wherein he pardoneth <i>all</i> our -sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his -sight, only for the righteousness of Christ -imputed to us, and received by faith alone."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">{43}</a></span> -Can there be anything more simple and -beautiful and perfect than this? It is free -to all; it is sufficient for all: "Whosoever -will;" "And I will pardon <i>all</i> their iniquities." -It is the work of a moment, but it -abideth for ever. One look of faith, and -life, eternal life, is yours.</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"The moment a sinner believes</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And trusts in his crucified Lord,</div> - <div class="verse">His pardon at once he receives,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Redemption in full through his blood."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>His work of <i>adoption</i> is perfect. Like -justification, it is done in a moment, and it -abideth for ever. "Adoption is an act of -God's free grace, whereby we are received -into the number and have a right to all the -privileges of the sons of God."</p> - -<p>The Romans had a twofold form of adoption. -The first was a private transaction -between the parties, receiving the person -adopted into the family; the second was the -public recognition in the forum.</p> - -<p>The moment we are justified we are -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">{44}</a></span> -adopted. This is the private transaction. -Hearing a voice from heaven saying, -"Thy sins are forgiven thee; go in peace," -we look up through our tears, and with rejoicing -lips we cry, "Father!" "<i>Now</i> are -we sons of God," placed among the children, -because Jesus solved the mighty -problem, showing how God can be just -and yet justify the sinner. The public -recognition will come very soon. When -we reach the pearly gates, Jesus, our Elder -Brother, will be waiting to receive and acknowledge -us as his own. Standing before -his Father and ours, he will stretch forth his -hand toward his disciples and say, "Behold -my mother and my brethren!"</p> - -<p>His work of <i>sanctification</i> is perfect. It -is not, like justification and adoption, an act -done in a moment. It is a work slow and -at times painful, yet sure and perfect. It -begins when we are justified, it ends when -we are glorified. "Sanctification is the -<i>work</i> of God's free grace, whereby we are -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">{45}</a></span> -renewed in the whole man after the image -of God, and are enabled more and more to -die unto sin and live unto righteousness." -It is often a painful work. "The flesh, -with the affections and lusts," must be crucified. -We must "die unto sin." The -sound of the hammer and axe and iron -tools is not heard by those who are without, -yet every blow causes the heart to -quiver, and the cutting is very painful. -Nevertheless, who would not be "a carved -stone" in the temple of our God?</p> - -<p>We praise thee for this work, O God. -We rejoice to know that thou wilt not weary -of it, but wilt carry it on "until the day of -Jesus Christ." We shall be perfect in that -day. No imperfection shall remain in us—no -sinful desire, no unholy thought. Jesus -will say unto us, "Thou art all fair, my -love; there is no spot in thee," and he will -present us "faultless before the presence of -his glory with exceeding joy."</p> - -<p>His work of <i>redemption</i> is perfect. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">{46}</a></span> -Christ, our Prophet, instructs us, "revealing -to us, by his word and Spirit, the will -of God for our salvation." Christ, our -Priest, offers up himself "a sacrifice to -satisfy divine justice and reconcile us to -God." He also "maketh continual intercession -for us." Christ, our King, subdues -"us to himself;" he rules and defends us, -and restrains and conquers "all his and our -enemies." Is he not a perfect Redeemer? -He redeems our souls from death, our bodies -also from the grave. "My flesh also shall -rest in hope," always confident of a glorious -resurrection. "For I know that my -Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at -the latter day upon the earth; and though -after my skin worms destroy this body, yet -in my flesh shall I see God." "I will ransom -them from the power of the grave; I -will redeem them from death. O Death, -I will be thy plague! O Grave, I will be -thy destruction!"</p> - -<p>Though some may cavil at this mystery -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">{47}</a></span> -and say sneeringly, "How are the dead -raised up? and with what body do they -come?" yet we trust in the word of our -God, and "<i>we know</i> that if our earthly -house of this tabernacle were dissolved, -we have a building of God, an house not -made with hands, eternal in the heavens." -Christ, "the first-fruits of them that slept," -is risen; then how say some among you -that there is no resurrection of the dead? -"Christ is risen!" Oh glorious truth, first -proclaimed to the women who came weeping -to his sepulchre! "Fear ye not," the -angel answered, "for I know that ye seek -Jesus which was crucified. He is not here; -for he is risen, as he said." Christ is risen! -Then we which are Christ's shall rise also. -"Because I live ye shall live also." "Behold, -I show you a mystery:" "the dead -shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall -be changed. For this corruptible must put -on incorruption, and this mortal must put on -immortality."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">{48}</a></span> -O Lord, our Redeemer, Prophet, Priest -and King, we praise thee for thy perfect -work!</p> - -<p>Yes, "my meditation of him shall be -sweet" when I consider his perfect work. -My Master too regards it with satisfaction; -he sees of the travail of his soul, and is -satisfied. His life on earth was sorrowful, -but his triumph was complete. "Having -spoiled principalities and powers," God's -enemies and ours, "he made a show of -them openly, triumphing over them in it," -or in <i>himself</i>, as it may be rendered. As a -victor returning from the fight, he ascended -to the glory which he had with the Father -"before the world was;" and the song of -the glorified filled the high heavens with -richer harmony as the Well-Beloved of the -Father proved by the nail-prints that he had -finished the work which was given him to -do.</p> - -<p>Coming ages will testify to his triumph -and to the completeness of his work. On -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">{49}</a></span> -earth it was for the most part viewed not -only with indifference, but even with unbelief -and scorn. "He came unto his own, -and his own received him not." "For a -good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy, -and because that thou, being a man, -makest thyself God." "He saved others; -let him save himself, if he be Christ, the -chosen of God." "If thou be Christ, save -thyself and us." "If he be the King of -Israel, let him now come down from the -cross, and we will believe him." But now a -mighty multitude swell the song, "Worthy -is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, -and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and -honor, and glory, and blessing. And every -creature which is in heaven, and on the -earth, and such as are in the sea, and all -that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, -and honor, and glory, and power, be unto -Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto -the Lamb, for ever and ever. And the -four beasts said, Amen. And the four and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">{50}</a></span> -twenty elders fell down and worshiped Him -that liveth for ever and ever."</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"Ten thousand times ten thousand sung</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Loud anthems round the throne,</div> - <div class="verse">When lo! one solitary tongue</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Began a song unknown—</div> - <div class="verse">A song unknown to angel ears—</div> - <div class="verse">A song that told of banished fears,</div> - <div class="verse">Of pardoned sins and dried up tears.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"Not one of all the heavenly host</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Could these high notes attain,</div> - <div class="verse">But spirits from a distant coast</div> - <div class="verse indent2">United in the strain;</div> - <div class="verse">Till he who first began the song,</div> - <div class="verse">To sing alone not suffered long,</div> - <div class="verse">Was mingled with a countless throng.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"And still, as hours are fleeting by,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The angels ever bear</div> - <div class="verse">Some newly-ransomed soul on high</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To join the chorus there:</div> - <div class="verse">And so the song will louder grow,</div> - <div class="verse">Till all redeemed by Christ below</div> - <div class="verse">To that fair world of rapture go.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"Oh give me, Lord, my golden harp,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And tune my broken voice,</div> - <div class="verse">That I may sing of troubles sharp - <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">{51}</a></span></div> - <div class="verse indent2">Exchanged for endless joys:</div> - <div class="verse">The song that ne'er was heard before—</div> - <div class="verse">A sinner reached the heavenly shore—</div> - <div class="verse">But now shall sound for evermore."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="100" height="54" alt="" src="images/i_051.jpg" /> -</div> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">{52}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="67" alt="" src="images/i_052.jpg" /> -</div> - -<h2>V.<br /> -<i>The Chastening.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">My</span> -meditation of him shall be sweet -<i>when I consider his chastenings</i>, -for "blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, -O Lord."</p> - -<p>Of all the beatitudes this may appear to -be the strangest. To the young disciple -chastisements may seem anything but happiness; -you see in them no beauty that you -should desire them. If you have never -been taught in the school of affliction, you -cannot understand this; neither can you -understand it if you have not learned well -what you were there taught. Perhaps you -have been greatly afflicted, and yet you can -see no good fruits of it in your soul. Every -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">{53}</a></span> -disappointment has only increased bitter -feelings in your heart. You are conscious -of this. You are ready to say, "Where -are the blessed effects of sorrow?" The -Master comes "seeking fruit," and findeth -none. Why is this? We reply, that sorrow -in itself has no sanctifying power. -Many are hardened by it, and rendered -more unlovely and unholy. But the plane -in the hand of the carpenter's Son cannot -fail to make you better, and if you are not -profited by it, it is because you do not rightly -receive your sorrows.</p> - -<p>While you were a stranger to the love of -Christ you had no special consolation to -sustain you in the time of trial. The consolations -of God, which are neither few nor -small, you had no right to appropriate. -With every stroke of the rod you seemed -to hear a terrible voice saying, "I, even I, -will chastise you seven times for your sins." -But now that you are reconciled to God, -all is changed; you hear another voice -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">{54}</a></span> -saying, "As many as I love, I rebuke and -chasten."</p> - -<p>Henceforth, therefore, you may accept -trials as love-tokens, for "whom the Lord -loveth he chasteneth."</p> - -<p>Perhaps, like Jonah, you have been sitting -with great delight under the shadow of -your gourd. To give you joy and comfort -in the desert, God caused it to spring up. -You felt glad and even thankful because of -its pleasant shade, and while you rested -under its shadow songs of praise ascended -to the Giver. Yet "God prepared a worm." -You woke one morning to find your beautiful -gourd all withered. Never did the -desert seem more dreary. You fainted -under God's smiting, and with aching and -rebellious heart you prayed for death. -There seemed to be nothing for which to -live, and you said, "It is better for me to -die than to live."</p> - -<p>"Doest thou well to be angry for the -gourd?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">{55}</a></span> -There are times when God shows his -mercy to us by turning a deaf ear to our -foolish prayer. No, I should not say he -turneth a deaf ear to our prayer. He does -hear, and he does answer, but not according -to our asking. You asked death; he -sent grace to live. "It is better for me to -die," you said. God, by sparing your life, -said most plainly, "It is better for you to -live." God knows best.</p> - -<p>If you are still mourning over your smitten -gourd, permit us to give you some reasons -why you should no longer mourn, or, -at least, why you should not murmur.</p> - -<p>Remember, the gourd was undeserved. -You had done nothing to merit such a blessing. -Perhaps even when it came it found -you, like Jonah, indulging in bitter, reproachful -thoughts. Wayward and wandering -were you; loving and tender was -God. Earthly parents bestow most tenderness -and anxious thought upon the erring -child. The Good Shepherd leaves the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">{56}</a></span> -ninety and nine to search for the straying -one. These things but faintly illustrate the -dealings of God with his children.</p> - -<p>Perhaps you were in the path of duty, -and were not unthankful while you rested -under the gourd. Still, you know that you -deserve not the least of all God's mercies. -Your sufferings are less than your sins deserve. -"He hath not dealt with us after -our sins, nor rewarded us according to our -iniquities." "Wherefore doth a living man -complain?" Let then this thought silence -your complaints.</p> - -<p>Remember also that the hand that smote -the gourd was the hand of your Father, -your loving Father. And this thought -surely will give you comfort in your sorrow, -and will even cause you by and by to sing -aloud for joy. Knowing full well that "he -doth not afflict willingly," you seek to know -why he thus dealt with you. It ought to be -enough for you to know that "<i>God</i> prepared -a worm." "What I do thou knowest not -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">{57}</a></span> -now, but thou shalt know hereafter," should -make us dumb before him, but so great is -his condescension toward them that love -him that he even tells them <i>why</i> the smiting -was necessary. Your heart was fully set -upon the gourd, and you were</p> - - <p class="center small">"Making a heaven down under the sun."</p> - -<p>It may be that there was very little of the -pilgrim spirit in your heart. The heart-tendrils -were firmly fastened around the -gourd; its uprooting seemed to rend you in -twain. Bitter and severe was the pain, but -the hand that dealt the blow is ready to bind -up the bleeding wound, and in after days -you will love to look upon this scar, for you -will cherish it as a sweet reminder of God's -faithfulness and mercy—not only as a monument, -but also as a warning, for whenever -you look upon it, it will say to you, "Little -children, keep yourselves from idols."</p> - -<p>Have you ever noticed the old gravestones -in some English burial-garden? The -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">{58}</a></span> -damp climate, which so soon obliterates the -letters, has a kindly way of dealing with -the horizontal stones. Into the deep grooves -of the lettering little seeds are carried by -the wind, and, lodging there, the dampness -soon causes them to germinate, and in place -of the blackness of decay spring up the -characters in living green.</p> - -<p>Into the deep scars caused by God's sharp -instruments the precious seeds of divine consolation -shall be wafted. Watered by your -tears, they shall soon spring up, and in your -sweet submission others will read your testimony -to God's faithfulness: "I know, O -Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that -thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me."</p> - -<p>When God uproots the gourd he gives us -something better, and "our light affliction, -which is but for a moment, worketh for us -a far more exceeding and eternal weight of -glory."</p> - -<p>If Paul could call his calamities "light," -surely we may; for what are our trials -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">{59}</a></span> -when compared with his? Behold what a -crushing load he carried! "In labors more -abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons -more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the -Jews five times received I forty stripes -save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, -once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, -a night and a day I have been in -the deep, in journeyings often, in perils of -waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by -mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, -in perils in the city, in perils in the -wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils -among false brethren; in weariness and -painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger -and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and -nakedness." Oh what a life! How could -he call all these afflictions light? Placed in -the balance with the exceeding weight of -glory, they seemed as naught. The afflictions -were but for a moment; the glory was -eternal.</p> - -<p>"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">{60}</a></span> -but the Lord delivereth him out of -them all. He keepeth all his bones: not -one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the -wicked: and they that hate the righteous -shall be desolate. The Lord redeemeth the -soul of his servants; and none of them that -trust in him shall be desolate."</p> - -<p>Then "wait on the Lord; be of good -courage, and he shall strengthen thy heart: -wait, I say, on the Lord." And let your -meditation be sweet when you consider Him -who smites the gourd in order that he may -lead you to the shadow of the great Rock.</p> - -<p>"When my heart is overwhelmed, lead -me to the Rock that is higher than I."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="250" height="57" alt="" src="images/i_060.jpg" /> -</div> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">{61}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="65" alt="" src="images/i_061.jpg" /> -</div> - -<h2>VI.<br /> -<i>The Compassion.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">My</span> -meditation of him shall be sweet -<i>when I remember his compassion</i> -for the multitude.</p> - -<p>It was a beautiful thought to compile a -record of loving and heroic deeds, of all -lands and ages, and to entitle it, "A Book -of Golden Deeds." Florence Nightingale, -whose picture adorns the opening page, -stands forth a fit exponent of the spirit of -love that prompted these recorded acts.</p> - -<p>The record of Christ's life may truly be -called "A Book of Golden Deeds;" and -that blessed name, which is above every -name, becomes the symbol of "whatsoever -things are lovely and of good report." The -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">{62}</a></span> -works which mark his earthly career are -wonderful beyond compare, and the crowning -act of this life of perfect self-abnegation -is the greatest mystery of love.</p> - -<p>It was noble in Dick Williamzoon, the -Netherland martyr, when safely over the -frozen mere, to turn back, at the peril of his -life, and rescue his pursuer, whom he saw -about to perish in the waters. He saved -his enemy, and was himself captured and -burned at the stake—a martyr for mercy as -well as for truth. It was nobler still in the -Moravian missionary to enter the hospital in -order to preach Christ to the lepers. "If -you go in, you can never be allowed to -come out." "I accept," he said, and entered, -to go out no more. But the compassion -of Jesus towers far above the devotion -of mortals, and expresses itself in a manner -which excites wonder in heaven and upon -earth. Looking down from his heavenly -throne, his heart was deeply affected by the -ruin of our race. One blow of the arch-destroyer -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">{63}</a></span> -had marred God's fair creation—man. -Could no hand restore what in one -dark hour had been lost? O mighty Restorer! -we wonder and adore.</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"He left his lofty throne,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And threw his robes aside;</div> - <div class="verse">On wings of love came down,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And wept and bled and died."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>Yes, girding himself with full strength, -he descended to the work his loving heart -devised. Humbling himself to bear our -sins, he became our Saviour. Not satisfied -with simply bearing the sins of his people, -he also carried their sorrows, and so becomes -their Sympathizer. "Surely he has -borne our griefs" as well as our guilt. He -became "a Man of Sorrows" in order that -from henceforth and for ever his followers -might have not exemption from all sorrow, -but a Saviour who would be able to sustain -them fully in their afflictions, even lifting -them so far above their sorrows that at midnight -and in prison they might sing praises.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">{64}</a></span> -Gazing along the line of centuries, the -omniscient Jesus saw a mighty multitude of -bowed and suffering ones—in sickness, in -pains, in poverty and chains; inheritors of -"cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, -moreover, of bonds and imprisonment;" -those whose portion should be to be stoned, -"sawn asunder," tempted, "slain with the -sword;" who should wander about "in -sheep-skins and goat-skins, being destitute, -afflicted, tormented." Seeing these, is it -any wonder if his heart melted with tenderness? -In the simple story of his life we -read: "And Jesus went forth and saw a -great multitude, and was moved with compassion -toward them, and he healed their -sick." "In all their affliction he was -afflicted." Blessed be our High Priest who -is still "touched with the feeling of our -infirmities!"</p> - -<p>When his life on earth ended and he returned -to the glory which he had with the -Father before the world was, he left us an -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">{65}</a></span> -example that we should walk in his steps. -To his disciples belongs the honor of taking -up and carrying forward the work of ministration. -Partakers of Christ's love and -sympathy "look not every man on his own -things, but every man also on the things -of others. Let the same mind be in you -which was also in Christ Jesus," who "took -upon him the form of a servant." "He -that saith he abideth in him, ought himself -also to walk even as he walked."</p> - -<p>How did he walk? Study well the memorial -of "golden deeds." Compare your -life with his. How can you bear the test?</p> - -<p>Nothing can be more beautiful than a life -of self-abnegation. One single act of devotion -to another's good is like a ray of -golden sunshine in a darkened room, and -a life of such deeds may well be called a -golden life. Into the cabin of one of our -government transports was borne a poor -wounded soldier, who, with many others, -was going home to die. He had just been -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">{66}</a></span> -laid in the middle berth—by far the most -comfortable of the three tiers of berths in -the ship's cabin—and was still thrilling with -the pain of being carried from the field, -when he saw a comrade in even greater -suffering than himself about to be lifted to -the berth above him, and, thinking of the -pain it would cost him to be raised so high, -he exclaimed, "Put me up there; I reckon -I'll bear hoisting better than he will."</p> - -<p>Where can we find sufficient inspiration -for a life of devotion to others? "Act as -if the eyes of Cato were always upon you," -was urged upon the Roman youth to stimulate -him to virtuous deeds. Act as if the -eyes of Jesus were upon you, we urge, for -surely he bends from his throne to watch -you as you endeavor to tread the path your -Saviour trod.</p> - -<p>To some of us God has given leisure from -arduous toil, wealth, talents and many opportunities -for usefulness. Perhaps to all -these gifts he has added strong faith and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">{67}</a></span> -bright hopes of heaven. What, then, are -our duties to the poor and ignorant, the -weary and feeble ones? "Strengthen ye -the weak hands and confirm the feeble -knees. Say to them that are of a feeble -heart, Be strong; fear not." Remember, -and forget it not, ye favored ones, that -"unto whomsoever much is given, of him -shall much be required." Let nothing be -hoarded. "Withhold not good from them -to whom it is due, when it is in the power -of thine hand to do it." Nature's and the -Gospels' doctrine is, "Be ready to distribute, -willing to communicate." Looking -up at the twelve silver statues in Yorkminster -cathedral, Oliver Cromwell asked, -"Who are those expensive fellows up -there?" He was told that they were the -apostles of Christ. "Ah? let them be -taken down and melted up," said the old -Puritan; "then they, like their Master, will -go about doing good."</p> - -<p>It is said that in China the rich buy up -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">{68}</a></span> -and distribute clothing to the poor, and in -times of scarcity of food, through the kindness -of the rich, rice is sold to the poor at a -third or fourth less than the market price. -This is done to win the favor of the gods. -While we do not hope to purchase God's -favor by anything that we can do, yet we -may remember the words of the Lord Jesus, -how he said, "Whosoever shall give to -drink unto one of these little ones a cup of -cold water only, in the name of a disciple, -verily I say unto you, He shall in nowise -lose his reward." "And they that be wise -shall shine in the brightness of the firmament, -and they that turn many to righteousness, -as the stars for ever and ever."</p> - -<p>Let us daily strive to imitate our Master -in compassion for others; then shall our -meditation prove profitable as well as -pleasant.</p> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">{69}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="67" alt="" src="images/i_069.jpg" /> -</div> - -<h2>VII.<br /> -<i>The Sympathy.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">My</span> -meditation of him shall be sweet -<i>when I remember his sympathy</i> -with his chosen ones.</p> - -<p>To have a friend who is ready to rejoice -with us when we rejoice, and to weep with -us when we weep, how delightful it is! It -doubles our every joy and divides our every -sorrow. Though some hearts seem to scorn -this tender plant of heavenly origin, we believe -that none are wholly insensible to the -magic power of sympathy. Those who -scorn it most are often led to crave it most -when the days of bitter grief draw near. -We call it a plant of heavenly origin, and -so it is; for though it is often found in unrenewed -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">{70}</a></span> -hearts, yet it attains its fairest perfection -in hearts regenerated by the Holy -Spirit. Planted by the hand of God and -watered by heavenly dews, it reaches its -greatest height, and wins the admiration -of many who fail to understand the secret -source of its life.</p> - -<p>But human sympathy, even the deepest -and tenderest, often fails us in the hour of -our greatest need. Who will say that -Peter and the two sons of Zebedee were not -friends of the Lord Jesus? Certainly they -loved him, for they followed him whithersoever -he went. Feeling his need of human -sympathy—for he was the man Christ Jesus—he -took them with him to Gethsemane. -All he asked was that they should watch -with him. "Tarry ye here, and watch -with me." Did they watch? You know -the record well. "And he cometh unto -the disciples and findeth them asleep, and -saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch -with me one hour?" When brought to our -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">{71}</a></span> -Gethsemane, is not our experience something -like our Master's? Where we looked -for sympathy we find indifference; we are -there alone. Perhaps our sorrow may be -of such a nature that we cannot reveal it -even to our best-beloved. Our secret grief -lies like ice upon our hearts, sending its -chilling influences through every member. -The hands hang down listlessly and the -feeble knees smite together; the aching of -the head is only exceeded by the aching of -the heart. Yet no one knows the agony -that paralyzes our life. Or, sadder still, the -heart-friend may be snatched away, and -while our hearts are breaking by reason of -bereavement, we may have no one left to -whom we may turn for comfort in our -affliction.</p> - -<p>Is there no friend whose sympathy is -deep, ever abiding and ever accessible? -Thank God, there is One. His name is -Jesus. In all our afflictions he is afflicted. -He suffered that he might sympathize. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">{72}</a></span> -Coming to a race concerning whom it was -written "few are their days and full of -trouble," "it behooved him to be made like -unto his brethren," therefore he accepted -the inheritance of suffering, and became "a -man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." -"Himself took our infirmities."</p> - -<p>Is poverty your portion? Is it no uncommon -thing for you to suffer hunger, cold -and weariness? Do friends forsake and -foes oppress you? Go and tell Jesus. -Though no longer suffering the sorrows -of earth, he remembers them well. Think -you that <i>he</i> has forgotten those wilderness -seasons when he suffered hunger; or those -times of weary watching on the mountains; -or that dark night when "all the disciples -forsook him and fled;" or that sad hour -when his Father forsook him? Though -gone to God's right hand he is the same -Jesus still. His heart is full of love and -pity. "He knoweth our frame," for he has -put on our humanity. He put on our humanity; -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">{73}</a></span> -he has never put it off. "Behold -the Man!" "And I beheld, and lo, in the -midst of the throne, and of the four beasts, -and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb -as it had been slain." "And I heard the -voice of many angels round about the -throne, and the beasts, and the elders; and -the number of them was ten thousand times -ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; -saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the -Lamb that was slain to receive power, and -riches, and wisdom, and strength, and -honor, and glory, and blessing."</p> - -<p>And is he absorbed by this homage? I -tell thee nay.</p> - -<p>Let us recall that parting scene at Olivet. -His days of suffering are now ended, and -he is about to return to the glory which he -had with the Father before the world was. -A few words of parting, and then a cloud -separates him from his sorrowing disciples. -A cloud, the record tells us. So it appeared -to them; to us it seems rather a company -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">{74}</a></span> -of shining ones—a heavenly convoy sent to -attend King Jesus back to his heavenly -throne. In the midst of the homage of this -heavenly host he does not forget his sorrowful -disciples, but arrests the glad song for a -moment that he may send words of comfort -down to them. "And while they looked -steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, -behold, two men stood by them in white -apparel, which also said, Ye men of Galilee, -why stand ye gazing up into heaven? -This same Jesus which is taken up from -you into heaven shall so come in like manner -as ye have seen him go into heaven."</p> - -<p><i>This same Jesus</i> is not now absorbed by -the homage of that "great multitude which -no man could number." Surrounded by -those "which came out of great tribulation," -can he for a moment forget those who -are going through great tribulation? He -does not forget them. The hand that was -nailed to the cross is still swift to obey the -impulses of that great heart of love, and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">{75}</a></span> -hastens to wipe away the tear that gathers -in the mourner's eye, to bind up the broken -heart and to smooth the pillow of the dying.</p> - -<p>We cannot read the record of Christ's -earthly life without perceiving that his sympathy -with suffering was deep and constant. -Failing to comprehend this, some may add -to your grief by uttering these chilling -words: "Trouble not the Master." Remember, -and forget not the broken-hearted -father whose "only daughter" died before -the help of the Good Physician could be -obtained. There comes one from the ruler's -house saying unto him, "Thy daughter is -dead; trouble not the Master." The mournful -message is heard by the Master, and -turning to the sorrowing father, he said, -"Fear not; believe only, and she shall be -made whole." How speedily joy came into -that darkened home when Jesus entered and -took the maiden by the hand!</p> - -<p>Little know they that great heart of love -who say to the sorrowful, "Trouble not the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">{76}</a></span> -Master." Young disciple, heed them not. -Think no sorrow too trifling to pour into his -sympathizing ear. Whatever troubles you -interests him. "In all their affliction he -was afflicted." No tear falls unnoticed by -him; no sigh escapes unheard. He keepeth -you "as the apple of his eye." What encouragement -to carry your griefs to Jesus! -Satan would suggest that we "trouble not -the Master." He trembles to see such close -communion between Christ and the Christian. -He knows that his power over the -Saviour's "hidden ones" is fast passing -away, and he would be glad to raise all -chilling barriers to their delightful intercourse. -"Get thee behind me, Satan!" -My Saviour invites, yea, urges, me to come -to him with all my sorrows, and I will cast -all my cares on him, for he careth for me. -"It is good for me to draw near to God." -Again and again have I found it good—oh -how good! All sympathy is sweet, but his -sympathy is exceeding sweet. Yes, so -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">{77}</a></span> -sweet is it that trouble is no longer trouble, -because Christ shares it with me. He -changes the "valley of Baca" into the -"land Beulah." He gives me songs in -the night, and his presence turns my darkness -into day.</p> - -<p>"Trouble not the Master."</p> - -<p>I tell you, Satan, it is no trouble for the -Master to care for me; no trouble to soothe -my sorrowing spirit; no trouble to wipe -away my tears; no trouble to pillow my -aching head upon his bosom; no trouble to -give me "beauty for ashes, the oil of joy -for mourning, the garment of praise for the -spirit of heaviness." Many and many a -time has he done this, blessed be his name! -Nothing troubles him but my sins. Would -to God they might trouble him no more! -They grieve him; then let me forsake them. -By his help I will. Begone, unbelief, pride, -worldliness, ingratitude—begone! It is ye -that trouble my Master!</p> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">{78}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="75" alt="" src="images/i_078.jpg" /> -</div> - -<h2>VIII.<br /> -<i>The Love.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">My</span> -meditation of him shall be sweet -<i>when I consider his love for me</i>.</p> - -<p>The record of Christ's deeds of mercy -toward a multitude of sick and suffering -ones gives us a wonderful glimpse of his -heart. The thought of his perfect sympathy -with his people has comforted the -Church in all ages. But draw a little -nearer and consider his <i>personal love for -you</i>, dear young Christian. Listen to his -voice saying so tenderly, "I have loved -thee." Forget for a moment the multitude -that need his compassion and the disciples -who share his sympathy, and try to realize -his deep, personal love for you. Consider -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">{79}</a></span> -that love as shown on Calvary. Remember -the great price he has paid for your redemption.</p> - -<p>During the dark days of the Netherland -revolt there went forth a decree from the -cruel Philip the Second; and though many -a bloody edict had gone out before from that -throne, this one in cruelty exceeded them -all, for it condemned to death all the inhabitants -of the Netherlands. "Heretic" was -branded upon every one, and, without respect -to age or sex, they were doomed to -destruction. Now, if a mighty deliverer -could have traversed those gloomy streets -proclaiming full deliverance for those who -were condemned, with what joy would he -have been hailed! Not only would the -public thanks of the nation have been his, -but each rescued one would have hastened -to express his own thanks to his deliverer.</p> - -<p>Let then your heart overflow with grateful -love when you remember the great Deliverer. -"Guilty" was branded upon every -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">{80}</a></span> -forehead when Jesus came to the rescue; -and while the thanks of all the redeemed -are ascending to the throne, let your praises -unite with theirs, for you too were under -condemnation when Jesus offered pardon. -His terms were simple—"only believe;" -and through the grace of God you were -led to accept the offer of everlasting life. -"There is therefore now no condemnation," -for the Son hath made you free.</p> - -<p>"No condemnation!" How sweet it -sounds! How much it means! Christ -hath fulfilled the Law's requirements, and -you are free. As we meditate upon it we -seem to hear the Saviour saying, "Lovest -thou me?" Dear Lord Jesus, we cannot -love thee as thou hast loved us. A mother's -love is as naught when compared with thy -love, for she <i>may</i> forget, but thou hast said -thou wilt never forget us. But yet our -hearts cherish most fondly this secret of thy -love to us. "I have loved thee with an -everlasting love."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">{81}</a></span> -It gives us joy in our loneliest hours. -We love to think about it when we are all -alone. Never are we less alone than when -alone, for then it is we hear the sweetest -whispers that ever fell on mortal ears. And -when we hear the voice of our Beloved, can -we be indifferent to his love? I tell thee, -nay. Love, a faint reflection of his own, -rises in our heart, and falling on our knees -before him, we exclaim, "Lord, thou -knowest all things; thou knowest that I -love thee." Sadly we feel that it is a poor -spark of love—nothing like his great love -to us—yet we rejoice that the little spark -is there, and pray that it may be kindled -into a steady flame. "Lord, thou knowest -all things." Oh how glad we are of this! -Thou knowest every emotion of our heart -toward thee. Thou knowest our grief because -we do not love thee more.</p> - -<p>But this meditation has its practical bearings. -We may not always dwell upon the -high mountain apart thinking about our -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">{82}</a></span> -Saviour's love. Let our communion with -Christ be as close and confidential as possible, -but let us never forget that He who -spent whole nights communing with his -Father also spent whole days ministering -to others. Let, then, the love of Christ -constrain us.</p> - -<p>Standing safely upon the Rock Christ -Jesus, let our hearts go out in pity for those -who are still breasting the billows. Faint -and exhausted, they seem ready to perish. -"Help, Master, help!" Let our prayers -for them ascend unceasingly. The Master -is not far off, and in answer to our prayers -he will come and rescue them with his -strong arm. Let the love of Christ constrain -us to labor for the perishing around -us. This is our working-time, and this -principle of love is the life of our work.</p> - -<p>This word "constrain" has several meanings. -It might be thus expressed: "The -love of Christ transports us." It carries -away our souls in ecstasy even from earth -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">{83}</a></span> -to heaven, and fills us with holy rapture. -How often at the table of the Lord have we -been thus transported by thoughts of his -everlasting love! And as we went on our -pilgrim way we cast frequent glances back -to that hour of heavenly brightness. Earth -grew dim during those moments of holy -communion. Fain would we have tabernacled -there.</p> - -<p>The love of Christ <i>urges</i> us, <i>prompts</i> us. -Sweet it will be to rest in the arms of his -love. But this rest remaineth; we have not -yet reached it; to the present belong toil -and labor. There must be no loitering in -the Christian life. Where the love of Christ -fills the heart there can be no loitering. It -is a prompting principle, ever leading us to -new endeavors for the Master.</p> - -<p>The love of Christ <i>unites</i> us. Though -diversities of opinion mark those who bear -the Christian name, yet, if the Saviour's -love fills our hearts, we have one common -platform where we may meet and hold -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">{84}</a></span> -sweet fellowship. Our experience is the -same: "we love him because he first loved -us." Our Hope is the same: Christ in us, -"the hope of glory." Our home is the -same: "and there shall be one fold." Our -Shepherd is the same: "and I will set up -one Shepherd over them." And though -our creeds may differ, our chorus is the -same: "Thou art worthy, for thou wast -slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy -blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and -people, and nation." Angels and archangels -round the throne join in the heavenly -melody, saying, with a loud voice, "Worthy -is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, -and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and -honor, and glory, and blessing." "And -every creature which is in heaven, and on -the earth, and under the earth, and such as -are in the sea, and all that are in them," -being united by the love of Christ, join in -the song which celebrates his wondrous -love.</p> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">{85}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="66" alt="" src="images/i_085.jpg" /> -</div> - -<h2>IX.<br /> -<i>The Life Abundant.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">My</span> -meditation of him shall be sweet -<i>when I consider the life more -abundant which he gives</i>.</p> - -<p>We are amazed at the languid, feeble -lives of many around us. Among the aged -we naturally look for inactivity, but, alas! -"even the youths" faint and are weary, and -the young men utterly fall. Before "the -time of old age" the grasshopper becomes a -burden, and we hear the young exclaiming, -in world-weary tones, "I have no pleasure -in them." They said in their hearts, "Go -to, now; I will prove thee with mirth; -therefore enjoy pleasure." And behold -they found it vanity. They builded houses, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">{86}</a></span> -and planted vineyards, and gathered silver -and gold; but, looking back on all the -works their hands have wrought, they are -compelled to acknowledge that all is vanity -and vexation of spirit. Therefore they hate -life and all their labor which they have -taken "under the sun." "For what," say -they, "hath man of all his labor, and of -the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath -labored under the sun? For all his days -are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his -heart taketh not rest in the night. This also -is vanity."</p> - -<p>How marked and beautiful the change -when Jesus takes possession of these weary -souls! "I am come," says the Master, -"that they might have life, and that they -might have it <i>more abundantly</i>"—life in -greater quantity; "good measure, pressed -down, and shaken together, and running -over."</p> - -<p>We hear much about the power of love -to arouse the dormant faculties and animate -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">{87}</a></span> -the feeble spirit. When this love is the -dear, deep love of Jesus, who can estimate -its life-giving power? Truly, we hardly -begin to live till Jesus reveals himself to us—until, -kneeling at his cross, we consecrate -to him our time, our talents and our all. -From henceforth life has for us new beauty, -because Jesus is the charm of our life.</p> - -<p>Life "more abundantly!" Let us enter -more deeply into the meaning of these -words. Let us understand that religion -does not close the door upon any lawful -calling. The days of religious seclusion -are long past, but the days have not yet -come when men have fully learned that -daily business is not antagonistic to Christian -life, but that it is one of the means of -its development. It has been truly said -that there have been noble bands of Christians -who have gone to heaven despising -ambition, refusing crowns, disdaining sceptres, -unwilling to be cumbered with wealth, -willing to bear hardship and suffering; but -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">{88}</a></span> -there shall be another band of men who -shall do more mighty things than they—men -of higher grace who shall conquer -enemies more strong and terrible, who shall -go to heaven even with crowns and sceptres -or with great wealth. Through abounding -grace they learn Christian development in -spite of, and by means of, those external -things which cause the spiritual shipwreck -of multitudes.</p> - -<p>Let the spirit of the Saviour, dwelling in -us richly, sanctify all commerce, all learning, -all politics, all art. May religion dignify -our every act. Religion was not simply -designed for the dying hour. "Christ -shall be magnified in my body, whether it -be by life or by death." "For to me <i>to -live</i> is Christ."</p> - -<p>Dear Lord Jesus, thou hast showed me -"the path of life," and by thy presence, -even on earth, thou hast given me "fullness -of joy." Thou hast given me power when -faint, and "increased strength" when I had -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">{89}</a></span> -no might. Therefore my life shall praise -thee. "A new creature" in Christ, henceforth -I will not live unto myself, but unto -Him which died for me and rose again, -"for the love of Christ constraineth me."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="100" height="75" alt="" src="images/i_089.jpg" /> -</div> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">{90}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="67" alt="" src="images/i_090.jpg" /> -</div> - -<h2>X.<br /> -<i>The Forgiveness.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">My</span> -meditation of him shall be sweet -<i>when I consider the full and free -forgiveness he imparts</i>.</p> - -<p>The hour in which we first felt the joy of -sins forgiven can never be forgotten. The -burden had grown so heavy that we could -carry it no longer, so, bending the knee at -the foot of the cross, the burden was cast -upon Christ.</p> - -<p>For many days our joy and peace were -so great that we fondly hoped to be burdened -no more; but as old wounds often -break out anew, so it is with the soul, and -the memory of "sins that are past" often -sweeps over the Christian like a bitter wave. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">{91}</a></span> -Daily sins cause daily grief to the heart that -loves the Lord. The only way of peace is -to carry them at once to Jesus, confess all -and seek forgiveness. We never seek in -vain.</p> - -<p>But these past sins, these iniquities of our -youth, how they rise up to condemn us and -take away our peace! "Thou writest -bitter things against me," saith Job, "and -makest me possess the iniquities of my -youth." "My sin is ever before me," cries -David in the bitterness of his soul. It must -have been a lifelong grief to Peter that he -had denied his Lord and Master. Others -might easily forget his hour of weakness -and sin while they listened to his fearless -words on the day of Pentecost and heard -him exclaim, "Him, being delivered by the -determinate counsel and foreknowledge of -God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands -have crucified and slain." But though -others could forget, how often must Peter's -soul have been saddened by the memory of -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">{92}</a></span> -his weakness and sin! Sounding along the -corridors of memory, ever and anon these -words, "I know not the man," must have -smote upon his ears like a funeral knell. -The recollection of that look of love must -often have brought tears to his eyes and -filled his heart with tender grief.</p> - -<p>How many of us recall with deepest sorrow -hours of weakness when, yielding to -strong temptation, we fell into sin! Perhaps -no eye but God's marked our wandering -steps, no ear but his heard our words of -sin, no heart but his read the dark secret. -The hour of true contrition came when, -ashamed and deeply grieved, we scarcely -ventured to look up to our offended Father, -but casting our tearful eyes upon the ground, -we knelt and cried in anguish, "Thou hast -set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins -in the light of thy countenance." Remembering -that "if we confess our sins he is -faithful and just to forgive us our sins and -to cleanse us from all unrighteousness," we -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">{93}</a></span> -freely confessed all, and in the deep peace -that followed we found a fulfillment of the -promise. "I acknowledge my sin unto -thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I -said, I will confess my transgressions unto -the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of -my sin."</p> - -<p>But though the Lord is "ready to forgive," -and "plenteous in mercy" unto all -them that call upon him, yet these past sins -are weapons that the great adversary often -uses successfully in his warfare with the pilgrims, -causing many almost to stand still -when they should be running in the way of -God's commandments.</p> - -<p>Think you that our God desires from us -constant mourning over "sins that are -past?" If these are to lie a perpetual burden -on our hearts, robbing us of our peace -and clouding our hopes of heaven, what -advantage then hath the Christian? or -what profit is there in the atonement of -Christ?</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">{94}</a></span> -We have somewhere heard of a chemist -who was lecturing before his class. A -number of rags of varied hue lay before -him, and by means of strong chemicals he -was changing their colors into whiteness. -Presently he paused, and holding up a piece -of Turkey red, he remarked, "Ah! now -we shall have some trouble, for of all colors -this is the hardest to extract." Again and -again he dipped it into the strong solution, -but with little effect; then cast it aside, saying, -"It must either remain as it is, or else -lie in the solution till its very fibres are -destroyed."</p> - -<p>But the blood of Christ has power to extract -even scarlet stains. "Though your -sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as -snow; though they be red like crimson, -they shall be as wool."</p> - -<p>Then "why art thou cast down, O my -soul?" for "the righteousness of God, which -is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all them that -believe," is "for the remission of sins that -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">{95}</a></span> -are past," as well as for the constantly -recurring sins of the present.</p> - -<p>Shall we, then, never think of our past -sins? Yes; think of them as the mariner -thinks of dangers past, and as the redeemed -in glory think of past tribulations. "He -maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves -thereof are still. Then are they glad because -they be quiet; so he bringeth them -unto their desired haven." Yes; think of -them with gratitude to God for deliverance, -and let this be your song as you press on: -"He sent from above, he took me; he drew -me out of many waters: he delivered me -from my strong enemy, and from them that -hated me; for they were too strong for me." -"When I said, My foot slippeth, thy mercy, -O Lord, held me up." "The Lord is my -rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; -the God of my rock: in him will I trust; -he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, -my high tower, and my refuge, my -Saviour." "For who is a God, save the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">{96}</a></span> -Lord? and who is a rock, save our God? -Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O -Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing -praises unto thy name."</p> - -<p>Think of them, also, with humility and -self-distrust, and let this be your constant -prayer: "Hold up my goings in thy paths, -that my footsteps slip not." "Keep me as -the apple of the eye; hide me under the -shadow of thy wings."</p> - -<p>But oh do not carry the memory of past -sins as a weight to drag your soul down to -the dust! If the Lord has forgiven and -forgotten them, why not rejoice in this wonderful -token of his love toward you? Casting -aside every weight, you may thus rise -to the enjoyment of "a present heaven."</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="150" height="32" alt="" src="images/i_096.jpg" /> -</div> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">{97}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="55" alt="" src="images/i_097.jpg" /> -</div> - -<h2>XI.<br /> -<i>The Help.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">My</span> -meditation of him shall be sweet -<i>when I remember the stones of -help he has given</i>.</p> - -<p>For forty days the champion of the Philistines -had defied the armies of Israel. He -was a man of great stature—a giant—and a -man of war from his youth. "And all the -men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled -from him and were sore afraid." All, yet -not all, for one accepted Goliath's challenge -and stepped forth to battle with him. Who -was he? The strongest, bravest and oldest -veteran in the army? No; he was not a soldier, -but a shepherd-boy, and too young to -be enrolled. "A stripling" the king calls -him, and his weapons are only "<i>five smooth</i> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">{98}</a></span> -<i>stones</i>!" Is it any wonder that his elder -brother chided him and that Goliath disdained -him? Trusting in the Lord who -delivered him out of the paw of the lion -and out of the paw of the bear, he went -forth confident of victory. He took a stone -from his bag and put it in his sling, and -buried it in the giant's forehead so that he -fell prostrate to the ground. How wonderful!</p> - -<p>There are giants still in the land—giant -powers that defy the armies of the living -God. There are giant sins and giant fears -that throw themselves across the path of -every Christian and threaten his destruction. -And if this page shall meet the eye -of some youthful warrior who would fain -overcome those spiritual foes that challenge -the soul, permit me to choose five smooth -stones for you, with which you shall prevail -to lay the giants low.</p> - -<p><i>The presence of God</i> is one of these -stones: "Thou God seest me." Sometimes, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">{99}</a></span> -like David's first stone, it is enough -to kill the Goliath of temptation. When -sinners entice us, there is power enough -to defend us in the thought that the many -eyes of the Most High are looking on us, -and the soul starts back appalled, saying, -"How then can I do this great wickedness, -and sin against God?"</p> - -<p><i>The power of God</i> is another of these -precious stones. David declined to go forth -to battle with Saul's armor. He could not -go with weapons which he had not proved, -but he took to himself "the whole armor -of God." He had proved it, and knew by -experience that there was more than protection -in that panoply. Goliath was a giant, -but he was not God. He was mighty, but -he was not almighty. He was potent, but -he was not omnipotent.</p> - -<p><i>The wisdom of God</i> is still another of -these stones. The mighty man of Gath -was mailed from head to foot. He was -completely covered with a coat of iron and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">{100}</a></span> -brass. His whole body was protected; -only his forehead was left exposed that he -might be able to see his antagonist. And, -strange to say, the first smooth stone went -straight to this only place where it could -harm him, "and sunk into his forehead." -God's wisdom guided it to its own place.</p> - -<p><i>The faithfulness of God</i> is another of -these stones. In his holy word he has made -unto us many exceeding great and precious -promises, and his faithfulness ensures their -fulfillment. He will do as he said. Heaven -and earth may pass away, but his promises -shall never pass away. If ordinary means -will not suffice for their accomplishment, -miracles shall be wrought. The sun and -moon shall stand still, if need be. Taking -the past as pledge of the future, "there -shall not fail one good word of all that the -Lord our God hath spoken."</p> - -<p><i>The love of God</i> is the last stone of help. -"And the last shall be first." It is the -smoothest and most precious of the five. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">{101}</a></span> -There is some gold in all the others, but -this one is all gold, and the most fine gold. -In the presence, power, wisdom and faithfulness -of God much love is mingled. He -goes with us and upholds us and guides -us and remembers his covenant because he -loves us, so that our last thought crowns -and comprehends all the others. The love -of God is first and last and best. Presence, -power, wisdom, faithfulness and love, these -five; but the greatest of these is love.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="150" height="79" alt="" src="images/i_101.jpg" /> -</div> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">{102}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="68" alt="" src="images/i_102.jpg" /> -</div> - -<h2>XII.<br /> -<i>The Deliverance.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">My</span> -meditation of him shall be sweet -<i>when I consider him as my Deliverer</i>.</p> - -<p>How dense the gloom that gathers round -the record of Adam's sin and fall! Reading -this chapter without the cross before our -eyes, it seems the saddest in all the inspired -volume. Issuing from the abyss of woe, -Satan has found an entrance into a newly-created -world. Sin and death have bridged -the gulf that separated earth from hell, and -are swift to follow in Satan's track, eager to -complete the ruin his hellish hate devised. -Fiends from the pit rejoice, while angels, -with grief-clouded faces, gaze upon the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">{103}</a></span> -guilty pair. "Adam, where art thou?" -Sinful man hears the summons, and, compelled -by power divine, appears in the presence -of his offended Maker. "Can any -hide himself in secret places that I shall not -see him? saith the Lord." "Though they -hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will -search and take them out hence." Truly, -"there is no darkness, nor shadow of death, -where the workers of iniquity may hide -themselves."</p> - -<p>But when we read this record in the light -of the cross, our grief speedily changes into -gladness. That the promise made to Satan, -"Thou shalt bruise his heel," has not been -retracted, each disciple of Christ can testify. -The old enmity hissed forth by the arch-apostate -and his followers when the almighty -Arm hurled them into their own -place, has not yet been destroyed. The -conflict, begun in Paradise, between the -seed of the woman and the serpent—that -conflict darkly shadowed forth in the mythology -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">{104}</a></span> -of heathen nations and painfully -experienced by each regenerate heart—is -raging still. "O wretched man that I am! -who shall deliver me from the body of this -death?" cries the Christian. "O my Father, -if it be possible, let this cup pass from -me!" prays the Christian's Lord and Master. -That the bruising is not light, Gethsemane -and Calvary bear mournful testimony. Nevertheless, -it is not vital. Thou mayest bruise -his heel, Satan, but not his head. From the -abode of demons a yell of triumph must have -risen when the Light of Life was extinguished -on the cross. But the triumph was -short-lived. "Rejoice not against me, O -mine enemy; when I fall, I shall arise." -"That which thou sowest is not quickened -except it die." "Thou shalt bruise his -heel" because Omnipotence allows it, for -"it pleased the Lord to bruise him," but -"it shall bruise thy head." "Traveling in -the greatness of his strength," Jesus plants -his feet upon the necks of his enemies and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">{105}</a></span> -chains the captives to his triumphal car. -The Lion of the tribe of Judah has seized -the prey. "Judah, thou art he whom his -brethren shall praise." "Let all the people -praise thee, O God; let all the people praise -thee." And those who will not render him -willing homage shall be trampled under the -wheels of his advancing chariot. "But -these mine enemies, which would not that -I should reign over them, bring hither, and -slay them before me."</p> - -<p>Shiloh, the Pacificator, has come; and -though the conflict has not ceased, the combatants -are already singing the conqueror's -song. What meaneth this shout of triumph -that cometh up from the battle-field? It is -the voice of them that shout for the mastery. -They go forth singing, "Thanks be -unto God, which giveth us the victory, -through our Lord Jesus Christ." We hear -their song above the clash of arms; amid -the smoke of the battle-field we see their -look of quiet confidence; and as they fall -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">{106}</a></span> -in the conflict they shout, "O Death, where -is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory?"</p> - -<p>From heaven above is now proclaimed -the blessing above the curse; and though -Eden was lost through the disobedience of -Adam, Paradise shall be regained through -the obedience of Christ.</p> - -<p>Mercy closed Eden's gate. "Behold, -saith the Lord, the man is become as one -of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest -he put forth his hand, and take also of the -tree of life, and eat, and live for ever, therefore -the Lord God sent him forth from the -garden of Eden." Life everlasting, even -in the garden of Eden, would be no boon to -a sin-stricken race.</p> - -<p>The gates are open now not only "that -the King of Glory may come in," but also -for "the generation of them that seek him, -that seek thy face, O God of Jacob." -"They shall ascend into the hill of the -Lord;" they "shall stand in his holy place."</p> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">{107}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="67" alt="" src="images/i_011.jpg" /> -</div> - -<h2>XIII.<br /> -<i>The Hearer of Prayer.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">My</span> -meditation of him shall be sweet -<i>when I consider him as the Hearer -and Answerer of prayer</i>; for his promises -concerning prayer are many, making us -"always confident" when we come to the -throne of the heavenly grace. Surely, -every Christian may approach with confidence, -saying in his heart, "My God will -hear me." He may adopt the language of -full assurance and say, "Father, I know -that thou hearest me always." The Bible -abounds in promises relating to prayer. We -also find there many illustrations of God's -willingness to answer the prayers of his -children.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">{108}</a></span> -But some may say, "Notwithstanding the -promises which appear so positive, we do -not always receive that for which we ask." -There are many reasons why this is so. -Sometimes our motive in asking is wrong. -"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask -amiss." Sometimes we do not ask in faith, -consequently, no answer comes; for thus -reads the faithful promise: "All things -whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, <i>believing</i>, -ye shall receive." Therefore "ask in -faith, nothing wavering." There is another -reason why we do not always receive the -things for which we ask. In our ignorance -and short-sightedness we often ask for that -which God in his wisdom sees would be -hurtful to us. Loving us with more than a -mother's love, he withholds the evil which -seems to us good, and sends the good which -seems to us evil. Though God's providence -may seem to contradict his promise, yet this -is a faithful saying: "No good thing will -he withhold from them that walk uprightly." -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">{109}</a></span> -The wicked often prosper for a time. "They -are not in trouble as other men; neither are -they plagued like other men. Their eyes -stand out with fatness, they have more than -heart can wish. Behold, these are the ungodly -who prosper in the world; they -increase in riches."</p> - -<p>How shall we solve this seeming contradiction? -Suppose we cannot solve it. Shall -we therefore arraign the justice of God? -Shall we reject the promise because we -cannot understand it in the light of God's -providence? Oh, not so. Let us remember -that now we know only in part. But -do we not often forget the condition of this -promise? Do we not make the promise -void by our unworthy walking? "No good -thing will he withhold from them that walk -<i>uprightly</i>." "If ye abide in me, and my -words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye -will, and it shall be done unto you."</p> - -<p>We must remember that God's standard -of judging between good and evil is very -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">{110}</a></span> -different from ours. In this our thoughts -are not as God's thoughts. We call poverty, -sorrow, sickness and bereavement -evil; God often shows us that they are -good. We ask health; in answer God -sends sickness, which he blesses to the -healing of all our spiritual maladies. He -can make our sick-chambers very Pisgahs, -so that we shall thank him for sickness. -Sometimes in our weariness and discouragement -we pray for death. God in answer -sends sufficient grace. He maketh our feet -"like hind's feet," equal to the way. Is not -his "a more excellent way?" It seems to -us every Christian should be satisfied with -answers like these. Is it not better to have -our portion appointed by God? It is better -when praying for temporal blessings always -to say, in spirit if not in words, "Nevertheless, -not my will, but thine be done."</p> - -<p>There are some things for which you may -ask without any limitations, and these are -spiritual gifts; "for this is the will of God, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">{111}</a></span> -even your sanctification." You may also -have this confidence when praying for the -conversion of friends. God has provided -salvation sufficient for all. In our Father's -house there is room enough, and in our -Father's heart there is love enough, for all. -None need perish with hunger. "As I live, -saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in -the death of the wicked; but that the wicked -should turn from his way and live." If, then, -you have a desire in your heart for the conversion -of a soul, be assured that God awakened -that desire. It is a token of his readiness -to bless. "Have faith in God," "and -wait on thy God continually." Plead till -the answer comes; "though it tarry, wait -for it." "What things soever ye desire -when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, -and ye shall have them."</p> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">{112}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="59" alt="" src="images/i_024.jpg" /> -</div> - -<h2>XIV.<br /> -<i>The Reward.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">My</span> -meditation of him shall be sweet -<i>when I think of his reward for -faithful labor</i>.</p> - -<p>The weariness of work is often very -great, but if sufficient recompense follows -our endeavors, if success crowns our working, -we soon forget past toils, "for the -desire accomplished is sweet to the soul." -But if we can see no good resulting from -our labors, disappointment and grief increase -our fatigue. Yes, the weariness of -grief far exceeds the weariness of successful -labors, though they may be "labors -more abundant," "in season" and "out of -season." The faithful minister of Christ -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">{113}</a></span> -will here bear me witness, for of all times -of exhaustion he will acknowledge this to -be the greatest, when he goes from the -pulpit to the closet with this despairing cry: -"Who hath believed our report?" "Master, -we have toiled all the night and have taken -nothing."</p> - -<p>It was morning when upon the shore of -Tiberias three tired fishermen were seen. -They were sad as well as weary, for the -night had yielded them no recompense. -From the crowd that pressed upon him to -hear the word of God, Jesus stepped forth -and entered into Simon's boat. And when -he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, -"Launch out into the deep, and let down -your nets for a draught." Naturally enough, -Simon, answering, said, "Master, we have -toiled all the night." They were very tired -now, and were greatly in need of rest and -refreshment. "All the night." Slowly -must the hours have worn away while they -labored and waited. And then he added, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">{114}</a></span> -"We have taken nothing." We can almost -hear the tone of disappointment in which he -said it. It would have been no marvel if -he had added, "Lord, if we have been so -unsuccessful during the time that is generally -the most favorable for fishing, will it -not be useless for us to make another attempt? -Besides, we are weary all over and -almost sick with disappointment; let us at -least wait till the falling darkness favors our -work."</p> - -<p>But Simon Peter's answer was marked by -more faith than this. While he reminded -the Master how long and unsuccessfully -they had toiled, he quickly added, "Nevertheless, -at thy word I will let down the net." -And a great multitude of fishes was the -result of this act of faith and prompt obedience. -Peter and all that were with him -were astonished at the draught of fishes -which they had taken.</p> - -<p>To our mind this astonishment does not -confute the idea that this act of obedience -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">{115}</a></span> -was prompted by faith. The result so -speedily followed, and was so great in its -magnitude, that the strongest faith might -well be taken by surprise. Have you not -sometimes been surprised by the blessed -and abundant answer to prayer which you -have received? Perhaps the salvation of a -dear friend was the deep desire of your -heart. For this you toiled till you nearly -fainted at the mercy-seat. You prayed -unceasingly, and you believed it was the -prayer of faith; yet when the answer came -you were almost overcome with astonishment.</p> - -<p>Contemplating this scene, let us take new -courage. The sowing-time is often a time -of exhaustion. It is also a time of weeping; -from very weakness God's seed-bearers -weep. The work is great; "who is sufficient -for these things?" Sometimes God -in his infinite wisdom sees fit to withhold -from them the knowledge of the results they -are really accomplishing. Often he calls -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">{116}</a></span> -them away before the seed is fully ripe, -and they never see the harvest, nor hear the -joyful song of the reapers who come after -them. They sow in tears, and then they -lie down at the close of the day, and with -sighs and tears they pass away; but God -watches over the precious seed, and the tear-watering -causes it to flourish more abundantly -and ensures a more glorious harvest. -At the time of planting, if the husbandman -sees no signs of coming rain, he steeps his -seed over night in water that it may spring -up sooner; but no seed springs up so soon -as that which is steeped in tears. "He -that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious -seed, shall doubtless come again -rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."</p> - -<p>The present reward of work is very great, -and much to be desired. "In all labor -there is profit." Every deed done for the -good of others brings a blessing to our own -souls: seeking their happiness, we find our -own. God's laborers are blessed above all -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">{117}</a></span> -others. He never forgets to reward the -smallest work of love; even the cup of cold -water given in his name shall be remembered. -When we fail to accomplish the -good we designed, we cannot say that our -labors were in vain or that we have spent -our strength for naught. God's designs -have been accomplished; our souls have -been disciplined; and as we sit down upon -the ruins of our brightest plans and fairest -hopes, we glorify God far more by our cheerful -submission than we could have done by -successful labors.</p> - -<p>But the <i>future</i> reward, how great it is -and how enduring! The harvest-time will -be a time of joy. Past labor and weeping -will be forgotten when the Lord of the vineyard -shall call the laborers that he may -reward them abundantly. What a scene -will then be presented to our view! From -north, from south, from east, from west, will -they come—some who have toiled through -the heat and burden of a long day; others -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">{118}</a></span> -who have labored but one short hour. I, -too, will obey the call, saying, as I come -and kneel before the God of the harvest, -"Master, behold my sheaves. I know they -are very few and of little worth; yet, Master, -behold my sheaves." Then shall these -cheering words come to me, and not to me -only, but to all the faithful laborers: "Well -done, good and faithful servant; enter thou -into the joy of thy Lord."</p> - -<p>Weary worker in the vineyard, waste not -your strength in weeping. Say not, "I have -labored in vain; I have spent my strength -for naught, and in vain;" for surely your -judgment is with the Lord, and your work, -or your reward, with your God. "Thus -saith the Lord, Refrain thy voice from -weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for thy -work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord."</p> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">{119}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="68" alt="" src="images/i_031.jpg" /> -</div> - -<h2>XV.<br /> -<i>The Soul's Portion.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">My</span> -meditation of him shall be sweet -<i>when I consider him as my soul's -best portion</i>.</p> - -<p>Again and again in God's holy word are -we warned to avoid covetousness. From -the midst of the thunders and lightning of -Sinai issues the emphatic command, "Thou -shalt not covet." "Take heed, and beware -of covetousness," saith the Master, "for a -man's life consisteth not in the abundance -of things which he possesseth." "Let your -conversation be without covetousness," enjoins -the great apostle, "and be content -with such things as ye have; for he hath -said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake -thee."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">{120}</a></span> -In order, then, to gain this sweet content, -let us meditate upon Christ, who is our soul's -eternal portion. Let us consider what we -already possess, and also meditate upon -"things to come," till our hands shall relax -their grasp upon earthly things and our -hearts cling more closely to Christ. Our -lips vainly declare, "Christ is all," if our -lives contradict our lips. The worldling -looks at our daily life, and soon judges -whether or not we are satisfied with Christ.</p> - -<p>"Conversation" means more than mere -words. In its original meaning it includes -the whole life. Our whole lives, then, must -prove that Christ is our all.</p> - -<p>Can we be contented in sickness, in sorrow -and in poverty? Yes, we can; "for -he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor -forsake thee." In sickness the Lord will -make all your bed; he will strengthen you -upon the bed of languishing; his left hand -will be under your head, while his right -hand will embrace you. In sorrow he will -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">{121}</a></span> -be with you, for he has said, "When thou -passest through the waters, I will be with -thee; and through the rivers, they shall not -overflow thee: when thou walkest through -the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither -shall the flame kindle upon thee." In poverty -be content, for though you are poor -and, it may be, despised of men, you are -not forgotten by God. That you might -have eternal riches he became poor—so -poor that he had not where to lay his head. -The manger was his cradle and the rich -man's tomb was borrowed for his burial. -"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus -Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for -your sakes he became poor, that ye through -his poverty might be rich."</p> - -<p>Christ is our <i>eternal</i> portion, "for he -hath said, I will <i>never</i> leave thee, nor forsake -thee." "Lo, I am with you alway" -were his last words on earth. Be content, -then, with such things as ye have. Having -Christ, ye possess all things, "for all things -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">{122}</a></span> -are yours; and ye are Christ's, and Christ -is God's."</p> - -<p>The "things present," which belong to -us through the covenant of peace made with -Christ, are precious and greatly to be desired. -We have the promise of all things -needful for this life. "My God shall supply -all your need." "No good thing will -he withhold from them that walk uprightly." -Bread is sure; water is sure. "The young -lions do lack, and suffer hunger; but they -that seek the Lord shall not want any good -thing." "Therefore I say unto you, Take -no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, -or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your -body, what ye shall put on." "Consider -the ravens" and "the lilies," and "be not -faithless, but believing;" for if God so feedeth -the ravens and clotheth the lilies, "how -much more will he" feed and clothe you, -"O ye of little faith!"</p> - -<p>Come and meditate upon his promises, for -they are positive and sure, and full of sweet -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">{123}</a></span> -comfort. All your wants are supplied by -your Lord Jesus. Are you sick? He is -your Healer. Are you weary? He is your -Rest. Are you in trouble? He is your very -present Helper. Are the days dark? He -is your Sun. Are you in danger from the -darts of the adversary? He is your Shield. -Does the desert sun beat hot upon your head -and the desert sand scorch your pilgrim feet? -He is "as the shadow of a great rock in a -weary land." When the wicked, even your -enemies and your foes, come upon you, he -is your Fortress and your strong Tower. -He is your Teacher, Brother, Friend and -Saviour. What more do you desire?</p> - -<p>And when "things present" are about to -pass away for ever, and your trembling feet -touch the cold waters of the river of death, -before the last fond grasp of earth is given, -Christ will take your hand in his, and as he -draws very near to you, you will feel in that -hour that Christ is the best portion your soul -can possess. His finger will point plainly -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">{124}</a></span> -toward "things to come," and he will doubtless -give you glimpses of glory before the -time.</p> - -<p>We need not, however, wait till the last -hour to consider the things God has laid up -for us. The lesson of present content is -more easily learned while we sit, like Bunyan's -Patience, waiting for our good things. -Passion would not be satisfied till his lap -was filled with golden treasure, but Patience, -with empty hands, was very quiet, -though Passion laughed scornfully. "Patience," -says Bunyan, "is willing to wait."</p> - -<p>What a beautiful figure of the Christian! -And what are these good things for which -the Christian is willing to wait?</p> - -<p>First of all, he has a home in the future. -No earthly home can be compared to it, for -it is a home where change and death never -come. The earthly home may be made -desolate by death, but in the heavenly home -there shall be no vacant place. "There -shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">{125}</a></span> -crying, neither shall there be any more pain; -for the former things are passed away."</p> - -<p>The Christian has also a crown laid up in -the future. Here thorns may bruise his -aching brow, but there he shall be crowned. -And earthly crowns will pale before the -Christian's crown of glory. If he is wise -in winning souls, they shall be placed as -jewels in his crown; for though all will -have bright crowns, some shall be surpassingly -glorious, being studded with immortal -souls.</p> - -<p>Let me, dear Lord, be one of those who -"turn many to righteousness." Give me a -glorious crown, and I will gladly lay it at -thy feet. No matter if it must be with -weeping that I now go forth to win souls, -no matter if my heart be weary and my -hands be heavy, the reward will more than -compensate for the weariness and weeping, -and every redeemed soul shall shine in my -diadem of glory.</p> - -<p>Let the worldling keep his portion and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">{126}</a></span> -clutch his paltry treasures till they crumble -to dust beneath his eager fingers, but let</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"My soul to heaven aspire,</div> - <div class="verse">And fix its all on God."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p class="nodent">He is my best portion, and "my meditation -of him shall be sweet" when I remember -that this "good part," which his grace has -enabled me to choose, "shall not be taken -away" from me.</p> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="100" height="64" alt="" src="images/i_030.jpg" /> -</div> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">{127}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="57" alt="" src="images/i_041.jpg" /> -</div> - -<h2>XVI.<br /> -<i>The Cross.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">My</span> -meditation of him shall be sweet -<i>when I consider his cross and mine</i>.</p> - -<p>The cross is the emblem of our religion. -To it the awakened sinner flies when conscience -fills him with gloomy fears. There -is no place of safety for him save in its -blessed shadow. Looking up with faith, he -sees Jesus, the suffering Saviour, and with -the sight peace and joy fill his heart. As -he starts upon his pilgrim course the cross -is set before him, and these are his marching -orders: "If any man will come after -me, let him deny himself, and take up his -cross, and follow me." Oh how he learns -to love that cross of shame! it becomes -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">{128}</a></span> -radiant with glory, and as he journeys he -sings,</p> - -<p class="center small">"In the cross of Christ I glory."</p> - -<p class="nodent">As he bears his own personal cross, which -sometimes is exceedingly heavy, he lays the -heaviest end of it upon Christ, and looks up -joyfully through his tears to the great Cross-Bearer -and learns to "glory in tribulation." -Looking up, what does he see? Beyond -the cross he sees the crown. How dazzling! -how enduring! No stain nor rust -shall ever mar its beauty; none shall ever -rob it of its sparkling gems.</p> - -<p>Tell me, I ask, who shall wear these -bright crowns? "And he said unto me, -These are they which came out of great -tribulation, and have washed their robes, -and made them white in the blood of the -Lamb." Out of great tribulation into great -exaltation. What a striking contrast! What -a happy exchange! Like the Master, they -passed from a lowly state of trouble into a -lofty state of triumph. Because they were -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">{129}</a></span> -not ashamed of him in his grief, he was not -ashamed of them in his glory. They were -saved not because they suffered, but because -they trusted in Him who suffered for -them. Some of them suffered even unto -the death, but the blood that made white -their garments was not their own; it was -"the blood of the Lamb." "<i>Therefore</i> -are they before the throne of God, and -serve him day and night in his temple: and -he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell -among them."</p> - -<p>How happy are they now! Former trials, -when recalled, only lead them to new songs -of praise. They remember all the way of -the past, and strike the harp-strings with -exultant fingers when they think of their -sufferings, now exchanged for endless joys.</p> - -<p>Consider your cross, young disciple, and -meditate upon it without bitter thought. It -was a wise and loving Hand that laid it -upon your shoulder, and that same Hand -will lift it when he thinks you have carried -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">{130}</a></span> -it long enough. "He doeth all things -well." The end shall be better than the -beginning, and in eternity you will understand -it all. Your voice will rise in higher, -loftier strains when you remember the sickness -that was sanctified and the sorrow that -led you nearer to your God.</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"Oh what a load of struggle and distress</div> - <div class="verse">Falls off before the cross! The feverish care;</div> - <div class="verse">The wish that we were other than we are;</div> - <div class="verse">The sick regrets; the yearnings numberless;</div> - <div class="verse">The thought, "this might have been," so apt to press</div> - <div class="verse">On the reluctant soul; even past despair;</div> - <div class="verse">Past sin itself,—all, all is turned to fair,</div> - <div class="verse">Ay, to a scheme of ordered happiness,</div> - <div class="verse">As soon as we love God, or rather know</div> - <div class="verse">That God loves us!... Accepting the great pledge</div> - <div class="verse">Of his concern for all our wants and woe,</div> - <div class="verse">We cease to tremble upon danger's edge;</div> - <div class="verse">While varying troubles form and burst anew,</div> - <div class="verse">Safe in a Father's arms we smile as infants do."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">{131}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="67" alt="" src="images/i_052.jpg" /> -</div> - -<h2>XVII.<br /> -<i>The Presence.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">My</span> -meditation of him shall be sweet -<i>when I remember his near and -constant presence</i>; for he is the joy of my -life and the life of my joy. Joy without him -is hardly worth the name of joy, and sorrow -with him is better than joy.</p> - -<p>When my heart is overwhelmed because -of enemies and foes, my terrified soul turns -quickly to him, and David's prayer becomes -all my own: "Be not thou far from me, O -Lord; O my Strength, haste thee to help -me! Deliver my soul." The answer quickly -comes: "Wait on the Lord; be of good -courage, and he shall strengthen thine -heart."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">{132}</a></span> -But oh, my Saviour, "they mar my -path." Remove these enemies, even for -thine own name's sake; for then shall I run -in the way of holiness and my ever-brightening -path shall show forth thy praise.</p> - -<p>And again the answer comes: "Commit -thy way unto the Lord;" "My presence -shall go with thee."</p> - -<p>Nearer and nearer draws the Saviour; -sweeter and sweeter is his presence in this -time of my soul's sorest need. He lifts my -prostrate soul and bids my weary eyes survey -the upward path. How glorious to -behold! He tells me "these light afflictions" -are working out "a far more exceeding -and eternal weight of glory." And -when I feel his strong arms around me, my -soul breaks forth in singing:</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"I have no foe, with thee at hand to bless;</div> - <div class="verse">Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>Blessed is the man who has learned the -secret of a happy life, and, like Enoch, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">{133}</a></span> -walks with God. We care not to know the -outward circumstances of him whose inner -life is hid with God. His delighted soul -bathes in the sunshine of God's smile; his -face reflects the peace that flows like a river -through his spirit.</p> - -<p>It was the presence of Christ that made -the Emmaus journey so delightful. We -know that the favored two started with slow -steps and heavy hearts, and there was a -deep undertone of sadness in their voices as -they talked together of all the strange things -that had happened. But what a change -came over them! A stranger joined their -company, and as he talked with them their -hearts burned within them, till, drawing -near the journey's end, they felt so unwilling -to lose his company that they constrained -him to come in and tarry with them. And -so it came to pass that the last hours of the -day were the best hours. In the morning it -was cloudy and dark, but at evening-time it -was light, for as they sat at meat the Sun -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">{134}</a></span> -of Righteousness shone full and clear into -their hearts, dispersing all the clouds.</p> - -<p>Does not this journey remind us of some -of the days of our pilgrimage? The morning -found us heavy-hearted. We knelt at -the mercy-seat, while sighs and groans took -the place of songs and rejoicings. With -slow steps and aching hearts we began the -duties of the day. But soon there came a -change. Jesus, our Lord, drew near. He -spake some cheering promise, uttered some -whisper of his love. Our hearts began to -melt; again we knelt at the mercy-seat. -We prayed, we praised; we rose and hastened -to our duties, singing as we worked; -and so the hours sped on. Night fell; still -he tarried: we slept in sweet security, for -"so he giveth his beloved sleep;" we woke -to find that we were still with Jesus.</p> - -<p>Happy the soul that hath the abiding -presence of the Saviour. Be this our constant -prayer: "Abide with us." "Lord, I -am not worthy that thou shouldst come -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">{135}</a></span> -under my roof," but yet my heart cries out, -"Abide with me." Give me light in the -evening-time. Abide with me "until the -day break and the shadows flee away."</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word,</div> - <div class="verse">But as thou dwell'st with thy disciples, Lord—</div> - <div class="verse">Familiar, condescending, patient, free—</div> - <div class="verse">Come, not to sojourn, but abide, with me."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="100" height="75" alt="" src="images/i_089.jpg" /> -</div> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">{136}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="65" alt="" src="images/i_061.jpg" /> -</div> - -<h2>XVIII.<br /> -<i>The Appearing.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">My</span> -meditation of him shall be sweet -<i>when I consider his appearing</i>.</p> - -<p>To those who have refused the Saviour's -offer of mercy the thought of his second -coming is full of terror. With them there -is a "certain fearful looking for of judgment -and fiery indignation." Having "trodden -under foot the Son of God," and "counted -the blood of the covenant wherewith he was -sanctified an unholy thing," is it any wonder -if they fear to fall into the hands of the -living God, knowing full well that the fearful -and unbelieving "shall have their part -in the lake which burneth with fire and -brimstone?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">{137}</a></span> -But the event which strikes such terror -into the hearts of those who are without -Christ and without hope in the world, fills -the heart of the Christian with exceeding -joy. There is comfort, yea, great comfort, -in the thought of Christ's coming. The -apostles departed from Olivet with new -hope and joy after receiving this angel message: -"This same Jesus which is taken up -from you into heaven shall so come in like -manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." -Ever since, the waiting Church has been -gazing steadfastly toward heaven, "looking -for that blessed hope, and the glorious -appearing of the great God and our Saviour -Jesus Christ." And ever and anon -angel voices have uttered words of comfort -to the waiting ones. Often the voice is -the voice of our Beloved, the Angel of the -Covenant. "I will come again," he says, -"and receive you unto myself; that where -I am, there ye may be also." Hear his last -prayer: "Father, I will that they also, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">{138}</a></span> -whom thou hast given me, be with me -where I am; that they may behold my -glory." Hear the last words of inspiration: -"Surely I come quickly." And the waiting -company of believers joyfully respond, -"Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."</p> - -<p>The thought of his coming comforts those -whose dearest friends sleep in Jesus, for -them will God bring with him. This shall -be a time of glad reunions. Let us not -sorrow "as others which have no hope." -We shall soon be ever with one another.</p> - -<p><i>There is deliverance</i> in the thought of -Christ's coming; "for we that are in this -tabernacle do groan, being burdened." Yes, -young disciple, we have not yet reached -that state of perfection when we have no -burdens. We are yet in the body, and the -burden of sorrow is often upon us; and -though we try to cast this burden on the -Lord, we yet look forward with joy to -Christ's coming, for then "sorrow and -sighing shall flee away," and "God shall -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">{139}</a></span> -wipe away all tears." And though Christ -has delivered us from the penalty of the -broken law, yet the burden of sin is often -upon us, and many times with contrition -and shame we bow before the mercy-seat, -saying, sadly, "Father, I have sinned -against heaven and in thy sight, and am -no more worthy to be called thy son." The -burden of death is upon us, and Christ's -coming gives comfort to those who through -fear of death are all their lifetime subject to -bondage.</p> - -<p>Trembling disciple, perhaps you are fearing -what may never come upon you. You -may be among the number of those who -shall be alive at the coming of the Lord. -The time may not be distant, for nearly all -the prophecies have been fulfilled and the -signs of the times seem to declare plainly, -"The coming of the Lord draweth nigh." -Many a time, it is true, the waiting Church -has fancied it heard the sound of his chariot-wheels, -but the time was not yet. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">{140}</a></span> -"Where is the promise of his coming?" -cries the scoffing world. "Behold, I come -quickly." Believers closely clasp this promise -to their hearts while they pray for patience -to wait. Generations have passed -away, but the word of the Lord endureth -for ever. "I come quickly." Perhaps this -generation shall not pass away till all be -fulfilled. It may be so. Certainly there is -"upon the earth distress of nations, with -perplexity;" men's hearts are "failing them -for fear, and for looking after those things -which are coming on the earth."</p> - -<p>"My Lord, I stand continually upon my -watch-tower," remembering the benediction, -"Blessed are those servants whom the Lord -when he cometh shall find watching."</p> - -<p>Last of all and best of all, <i>there is glory</i> -in the thought of Christ's coming. There -is comfort, great comfort; there is deliverance, -great deliverance; there is glory, -great glory, "a far more exceeding and -eternal weight of glory." "Behold, I show -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">{141}</a></span> -you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but -we shall all be changed, in a moment, in -the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; -for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead -shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall -be changed; for this corruptible must put -on incorruption, and this mortal must put on -immortality. So when this corruptible shall -have put on incorruption, and this mortal -shall have put on immortality, then shall be -brought to pass the saying that is written, -Death is swallowed up in victory." What -a glorious picture! No doubt is here admitted. -"We <i>shall</i> be changed;" "this -corruptible <i>must</i> put on incorruption;" "this -mortal <i>must</i> put on immortality."</p> - -<p>This thought of glory overwhelms us; it -is a "weight of glory." To be ever with one -another is blessedness; to be ever with the -Lord is glory. To be free from this body -of sin and death is deliverance; to wear the -likeness of our glorified Lord is transfiguration—wonderful, -dazzling, glorious!</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">{142}</a></span> -Is it any wonder, then, if our meditation -is sweet when we reflect upon "the glorious -appearing of the great God and our Saviour -Jesus Christ," "who shall change our vile -body, that it may be fashioned like unto his -glorious body, according to the working -whereby he is able even to subdue all -things unto himself?" No wonder the apostle -calls it "a blessed hope." It sustains -the heart of the aged Christian who has -"fought a good fight" and finished his -course. It also helps the young disciple to -"run with patience" the race that is set -before him.</p> - -<p>"This same Jesus shall come again." -How? "In like manner as ye have seen -him go into heaven." "Behold he cometh -with clouds," and with "ten thousand of his -saints." And why does he come? To take -his weary children home. "I will come -again and receive you unto myself."</p> - -<p>"Wherefore, comfort one another with -these words."</p> - -<div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">{143}</a></span></div> - -<div class="image-center"> - <img width="400" height="67" alt="" src="images/i_069.jpg" /> -</div> - -<h2>XIX.<br /> -<i>The Conclusion.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="uppercase">Let</span> -us hear the conclusion of the -whole matter.</p> - -<p>We have meditated upon the names of -Christ, and have found in them a sweet significance. -Jehovah Tsidkenu satisfied the -demands of the broken law, making us -righteous in the sight of God. Jehovah -Shalom gave a peace which even this tumultuous -world cannot take from us. Jehovah -Nissi leads us forth to battle against -our mighty foes, and always gives us the -victory; "thanks be to God!" Jehovah -Rophi healeth all our diseases with marvelous -skill: even the broken heart is not -beyond his power, for his own word declares, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">{144}</a></span> -"He healeth the broken in heart, -and bindeth up their wounds." Jehovah -Jireh quiets all our fears for the future, for -his name is sufficient pledge that he will -supply all our need. Jehovah Shammah -completes and crowns our joy, for in his -presence is fullness of joy; "his presence -is salvation."</p> - -<p>We have rejoiced in "the earnest of our -inheritance." Glimpses of glory before the -time have made us homesick. His "perfect -work" has filled our minds with amazement -as we meditated upon our adoption, -justification, sanctification and redemption. -The thoughts of his chastenings were not -painful, because we knew a blessing was -concealed in the blow. His compassion for -the multitude seemed to us a sweet thought; -but as we learned something more about his -sympathy with all his "sanctified ones," -and his deep personal love for each individual -Christian, our hearts melted within -us, and drawing nearer to this great heart -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">{145}</a></span> -of love, we joyfully exclaimed, "This is -my Beloved, and this is my Friend, O -daughters of Jerusalem."</p> - -<p>We have considered the life more abundant -which he gives, until life with Christ -seemed the happiest life man can know. -Thoughts of the full and free forgiveness of -all our sins, even sins of scarlet hue, were -comforting thoughts; and while we cast the -past behind our backs, we looked forward -to the future with new confidence, remembering -the "stones of help" provided by -him to slay the giant sins. Deliverance -from the curse was certainly a pleasant -thought; and as we gazed into Paradise -regained, we gave thanks because Christ -had purchased for us the "right to the tree -of life" which stands in the midst of the -Paradise of God.</p> - -<p>Our meditation was sweet when we -thought of his faithful promises concerning -prayer, for his word confirmed our own experience, -and we learned to kneel and ask with -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">{146}</a></span> -a more unwavering confidence. Considering -his reward for faithful labors made us almost -forget the weariness of work as we seemed -already to hear his "Well done, thou good -and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy -of thy Lord."</p> - -<p>Christ as the soul's best portion filled the -heart with deep, unspeakable joy, and we -took up our cross, singing as we walked, -because his near presence made us almost -unmindful of its weight upon our shoulder.</p> - -<p>On Olivet we had our last glimpse of our -living Lord. Here we stood "gazing up -into heaven" at "this same Jesus," who is -as dear to us as he was to the twelve. Our -hearts thrilled over his parting blessing, and -the thought of his coming again filled us -with delight.</p> - -<p>Our meditations are over now. They -have been "sweet," or, as it may be rendered, -"as the calm evening hour." Meditating -upon Jesus has increased our joy: -"I will be glad in the Lord." Around his -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">{147}</a></span> -very name sweet thoughts thickly cluster. -Jesus! my Jesus! In that dear name the -best music of heaven comes down to me.</p> - -<p>How sweet it sounds! A bundle of -myrrh it is—a hill of frankincense—a -mountain of spices. Through all the livelong -day, through all the silent watches of -the night, my mind may turn to Him whose -"name is as ointment poured forth," and no -bitter, doubting, fearful thought shall ever -mingle with my musing. No dark thread -shall ever weave itself into the silver web -of my sweet meditation of him, for my unbelief -is banished when my Jesus is near. -All my grief fades away in the presence of -his glory, and he his own self is the joy of -my heart and the heart of my joy.</p> - -<p>"My Beloved is mine, and I am his." -All that he is is mine, and all that I am is -his. He is more than all the world to me, -and without him heaven would not be worth -having. "Whom have I in heaven but -thee? and there is none upon earth that I -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">{148}</a></span> -desire besides thee." Jesus! my Jesus! -Eternal musings will not exhaust this hive -of honey. He has saved me from my sins -and betrothed me to himself for ever. O -my soul, "how much owest thou unto my -Lord!" The greatness of my indebtedness -I will not fully realize till I stand upon the -yonder shore, and perhaps not even then.</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"Jesus, I ne'er can pay</div> - <div class="verse">The debt I owe thy love."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>I am, and ever will be, "debtor." Thy gifts to me have been so great -that, though my giving cannot enrich thee, I would fain relieve my -grateful heart by giving thee some token of love.</p> - -<p>In the stable at Bethlehem the Eastern -sages open their costly treasures. The -sight is a strange one, and there seems a -strange incongruity between the gifts and -the receiver; also between the giver and -the receiver. The wise men bow before a -babe, and lavish the riches of the East upon -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">{149}</a></span> -the infant of the lowly manger. "Lavish," -did I say? Let not the thought of waste be -here implied. This babe is "the holy child -Jesus," the King of the Jews. Bring costly -sacrifices. "The kings of Tarshish and of -the isles shall bring presents; the kings of -Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all -kings shall fall down before him; all nations -shall serve him."</p> - -<p>Jesus, Saviour, once a child! Jesus, my exalted King! what shall I -bring to thy footstool? What shall I give my Lord?</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"Were the whole realm of nature mine,</div> - <div class="verse">That were a present far too small."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>But I am poor, very poor. No good works have I to bring; no incense of -holy prayers; no golden thoughts in which there mingles no alloy of -impurity.</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"Thou willest that thy bride should be—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">I bless thy will—most poor, most low,</div> - <div class="verse">Receiving everything from thee,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">My Lord and God. Then be it so.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">{150}</a></span> - "That I have nothing of my own,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Freely and gladly I to all declare.</div> - <div class="verse">This is my portion, this alone,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">That thou permittest me thy name to bear."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>Have I then nothing to give? Stay, holy Christ; I have a heart. True, -it is polluted—more than this, it is broken—yet I have heard that -though</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"Our God requires a whole heart or none,</div> - <div class="verse">Yet he will accept a broken one."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p class="nodent">Accept the gift. Take it and make it holy; fill it with love to thee. -Fill it even to overflowing; so that, having received all from thee, I -may be able to give thee all. Let me be wholly thine—thine in every -thought and passion of my soul. Here, Lord, I give my soul to thee; I -am thine.</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"Poor heart of mine, awake, arise!</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And thou, my Bridegroom, my life's Sun,</div> - <div class="verse">Draw me to reach the heavenly prize,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Oh, do thou draw, and we will run.</div> - <div class="verse">Draw after thee thy fainting bride,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Who still is far, too far, from light and grace;</div> - <div class="verse">Till in thy presence, at thy side, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">{151}</a></span></div> - <div class="verse indent2">She see thee wholly—see thee face to face."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>My meditation of him makes me long to see Him whom, having not seen, I -love. I would see him—not as I have seen him in the sanctuary and in -his holy supper, but I would see him "face to face." I would see him -as he is; and, blessed be his glorious name for ever! I shall one day -see him thus. Oh blessed hope! These eyes shall see Jesus; "For I know -that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day -upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet -in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine -eyes shall behold, and not another."</p> - -<p>And, better than all beside, I shall be like him; for "we know that -when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he -is." Such knowledge is too wonderful for me: it is high; I cannot -attain unto it.</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"Jesus! the very thought is sweet; -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">{152}</a></span></div> - <div class="verse">In that dear name all heart-joys meet;</div> - <div class="verse">But sweeter than the honey far</div> - <div class="verse">The glimpses of his presence are.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"No word is sung more sweet than this;</div> - <div class="verse">No name is heard more full of bliss;</div> - <div class="verse">No thought brings sweeter comfort nigh</div> - <div class="verse">Than Jesus, Son of God most high.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"Jesus, the Hope of souls forlorn,</div> - <div class="verse">How good to them for sin that mourn!</div> - <div class="verse">To them that seek thee, oh how kind!</div> - <div class="verse">But what art thou to them that find!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"No tongue of mortal can express,</div> - <div class="verse">No letter write, its blessedness:</div> - <div class="verse">Alone who hath thee in his heart</div> - <div class="verse">Knows, love of Jesus, what thou art.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse quote">"O Jesus! King of wondrous might;</div> - <div class="verse">O Victor! glorious from the fight;</div> - <div class="verse">Sweetness that may not be expressed,</div> - <div class="verse">And altogether loveliest."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p class="gap-above center">THE END.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's A Basket of Barley Loaves, by Mary Christina Miller - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BASKET OF BARLEY LOAVES *** - -***** This file should be named 50349-h.htm or 50349-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/3/4/50349/ - -Produced by Richard Hulse, Chris Pinfield and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: A Basket of Barley Loaves - -Author: Mary Christina Miller - -Release Date: October 31, 2015 [EBook #50349] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BASKET OF BARLEY LOAVES *** - - - - -Produced by Richard Hulse, Chris Pinfield and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - A BASKET - OF - BARLEY LOAVES. - - BY THE - AUTHOR OF "THE HIGH MOUNTAIN APART" AND "SACRAMENTAL SABBATHS." - -"There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves."--JOHN vi. 9. - - - PHILADELPHIA: - PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION, - No. 1334 CHESTNUT STREET. - - - Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by - THE TRUSTEES OF THE - PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION, - In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. - - - WESTCOTT & THOMSON, - _Stereotypers, Philada._ - - - - - TO - MY FORMER PASTOR, - REV. ALEXANDER DICKSON, - - WHO TAUGHT ME - "THE WAY OF GOD MORE PERFECTLY," - AND WHOSE THOUGHTS AND VERY WORDS ENTER LARGELY INTO THESE PAGES, - - I DEDICATE THIS - BASKET OF BARLEY LOAVES. - - - - -EDITOR'S PREFACE. - - -To those who crave more of Christ in the soul and in the daily life, -to those who long for holiness and assurance, this BASKET OF -BARLEY LOAVES will bring welcome refreshment and nourishment. The -devout, even though trembling, believer, who hungers after -righteousness, will here find that which will kindle his affections -and lead them to the only satisfying source of love and peace, Jesus -Christ. What of sweetness and strength there is in these meditations -is due to God's word, of which they are full. Sweeter than honey and -the honey-comb, more precious than silver or gold, was that word to -the Psalmist; and thence these chapters draw their flavor and force. -By them the weary, the needy, the longing, will be led nearer to -Christ and be more filled with the power of his love. May these few -Barley Loaves feed many thousands of hungry souls! - -J. W. D. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - PAGE - I. - JESUS SOUGHT AND FOUND 11 - - II. - HIS NAME 24 - - III. - THE ASSURANCE 31 - - IV. - THE PERFECT WORK 41 - - V. - THE CHASTENING 52 - - VI. - THE COMPASSION 61 - - VII. - THE SYMPATHY 69 - - VIII. - THE LOVE 78 - - IX. - THE LIFE ABUNDANT 85 - - X. - THE FORGIVENESS 90 - - XI. - THE HELP 97 - - XII. - THE DELIVERANCE 102 - - XIII. - THE HEARER OF PRAYER 107 - - XIV. - THE REWARD 112 - - XV. - THE SOUL'S PORTION 119 - - XVI. - THE CROSS 127 - - XVII. - THE PRESENCE 131 - - XVIII. - THE APPEARING 136 - - XIX. - THE CONCLUSION 143 - - -[Illustration] - - A BASKET - OF - BARLEY LOAVES. - - - - - I. - _Jesus Sought and Found._ - - -The crowd was thronging and jostling. Eager and wistful faces were -turned to One who stood in the midst. His countenance was mild and -compassionate; and as I gazed upon him, a deep desire filled my heart -to know and follow this Man of Sorrows. With swiftest steps I hurried -on and pressed into the crowd. The lowly, suffering woman was -satisfied to touch the hem of his garments, and it was enough. But I -was not content until I had grasped his hand. Yes, I put my hand in -his--my guilty hand that nailed him to the cross. - -"Who touched me?" He turned, and we stood face to face. In answer to -his inquiry I whispered, "Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou -goest." A look of love glanced from his eye; nearer he drew me to his -side and whispered, "Beloved." Oh how it thrilled my heart! Excess of -joy choked my utterance, and I could only grasp his hand more firmly -and exclaim, "My Lord and my God!" - -Tell me not now of loneliness and desolation. Jesus is mine, and so we -journey hand in hand; and as he whispers to me of love unchangeable, I -hide this sweet secret in my heart and answer, "I am thine." - -"They tell me," we said to an aged man, "that you have no rock on -which to plant your feet." "No rock?" he said, calmly, with a -smile--"no rock? Well, my creed does differ from yours. Mine is love -to God and love to my fellow-men. I do not believe such a man as Jesus -Christ ever lived. The world has had many saviours. Mine is a -principle--a rightening principle. I have tried all beliefs, and here -I am content to rest." - -But we have not so learned Christ. - -Infidels may tell me such a man never lived; humanitarians may tell me -he was mere man and no God; careless worldlings may tell me there is -no beauty in him that I should desire him; but from the far-off region -of light, beyond the mist-clouds that encircle the earth, I hear a -voice, calm in its majesty and tender in its tones: "I am Alpha and -Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and -which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." "I am the light of the -world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have -the light of life." "I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, -thy Saviour." "I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no -Saviour." "O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thine -help." "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem -them from death." "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy -laden, and I will give you rest." - -Hearing this voice I draw nearer. "Have I been so long time with you, -and yet hast thou not known me? Thou hast both seen him, and he it is -that talketh with thee." "Lord, I believe." "I know thee who thou art, -the Holy One of God." With the eye of faith I have seen thee, and I -can testify that "thou art fairer than the children of men." With the -hand of faith I have grasped thine, O thou "Friend that stickest -closer than a brother." And thou hast talked with me. "Never man spake -like this man." I cannot utter half the words Jesus has spoken to my -soul; but this I say: Into his hands I commit my soul with all its -interests; "for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he -is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." - - "O Jesus, Friend unfailing, - How dear thou art to me! - And, cares or fears assailing, - I find my strength in thee. - - "I love to own, Lord Jesus, - Thy claims o'er me and mine; - Bought with thy blood most precious, - Whose can I be but _thine_?" - -"As the late lamented Dudley Tyng was passing from the earthly -vineyard to his higher position in the heavenly," writes Boardman in -his book entitled "Him that Overcometh," "he said to his father, while -light fell upon him from the open gateway, 'Father, stand up for -Jesus.' Then, after advancing a little farther on into the fuller -effulgence, he spoke again, saying, 'Father, stand up in Jesus.' These -injunctions were reported by his father as they fell from the lips of -his son, and went abroad all over the land. The first one struck a -chord which vibrates still, and passed into a watchword for all -Christian enterprise and for all enterprising Christians, but the -second seemed to find no chord keyed up and ready to respond. It is to -be feared that this is indicative of the true state of the Christian -world to-day--_for_ Christ, more than _in_ him; and yet, if we may -believe the words of Christ himself, and the history of all the -progress of his kingdom, we have the secret of all power in these two -words, "in Jesus," with the converse of them, "Jesus in us." - -"_Abide in me, and I in you._" Christ within is better even than -Christ beside us, as the apostles found after Pentecost. This is the -secret of all joy and the source of all strength. - -To those who are just starting on the Christian pilgrimage we would -repeat these words of the Master, "Abide in me." Guide-books are good, -but a trusty guide is better. We might fill our pages with minute -directions concerning the way, but we would rather point to Christ, -who is the way. We remember that there are times when travelers forget -their guide-books and cling to their strong and sure-footed guides. - -Consider our Guide. He knows every step of the way, and he will guide -us with his eye. Let us meditate upon Christ till our hearts are led -to desire more intimate fellowship with him. "My meditation of him -shall be sweet"--"sweet" when I remember his name, his character, his -work, his promises and the peace he gives. - -But it may be that some to whom these pages are addressed find many -dark threads of doubt woven into their meditation of Christ. You have -never, perhaps, been fully assured of your acceptance with him; or, if -confident at the commencement of your Christian course, doubts and -fears may have gathered around your pathway before journeying very far -into the wilderness. The chilling winds of unbelief make winter in -your soul. The days are short and cold; the nights are long and -colder. Yes, even the day seems as the night--all darkness. Some -around you seem to be enjoying perpetual spring-time, because Christ -shines so constantly upon their happy souls, and your coldness and -darkness seem all the sadder in contrast with their warmth and -brightness. - -How can you account for this? Ask some Christian friends, and they -will tell you that you must not expect so much joy--that the Christian -life is a constant conflict with doubt and sin, and you cannot expect -to be always as happy as perhaps you were at first. You turn away -sadly disappointed. They are older Christians, and you think they must -know better than you. What will you do? Will you sit under the clouds, -or struggle to get out into clear sunshine? - -We cannot think that God intends you to have a limited measure of joy -and peace. Why should you not grow happier in your love to Christ as -you learn to know him better? Why should not the promises become more -precious as you prove them and find them all "yea and amen in Christ -Jesus?" - -Let us inquire into the cause of your darkness. The Saviour does not -willingly withhold his smile which makes spring and summer in the -soul. When God made a covenant with you he gave you this promise: "I -will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." God has not then forsaken -you. Perhaps you have neglected the means of grace. Perhaps you are -cherishing some secret sin. Perhaps you have looked more to your own -frames and feelings than to Christ's perfect work. Your mind has dwelt -too much upon self. Take the advice of one who walked with God and was -not, because God took him: "For one look at self take ten looks to -Christ." The advice is good, and it has lifted many a Christian above -the clouds. - -"Saw ye Him whom my soul loveth? I sought him, but I found him not." -Is this your sad lament? - -Seek him again. Seek him earnestly, prayerfully, constantly. Seek him -in the place of secret prayer. Jesus had his secret place upon the -lonely mountain. Though he lived in constant communion with his -Father, though his every step was a hymn of praise and his every act -was a prayer, still he felt his need of a place where he could pour -out his soul in supplication. If secret prayer was necessary for the -Master, is it not more needful for you? If you have neglected that, it -is not strange if it is winter in your soul. - -Seek Jesus also in his holy word. In the garden of the gospel you may -meet him and walk with him, holding sweet communion. Here he reveals -himself. Obey his own commandment, "Search the Scriptures." This is -the reason and this the reward, "for they are they that testify of -me." They testify of Christ. Yes, they are full of Christ. Rays from -his cross shine through both the Testaments. Prophets and saints of -old looked forward and rejoiced--"not having received the promises," -it is true, "but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them -and embraced them." Fuller, clearer light now shines on Calvary. Draw -near and read again the sacred story. Yes, "search the Scriptures," -for here you will surely find Jesus. His love prompted every promise, -and is the pledge and fulfillment of every promise. - -Seek him in the place of social prayer. Thomas was not at the -prayer-meeting when Jesus manifested himself to his disciples. How -much he lost by staying away! When Jesus draws near and says, "Peace -be unto you!" then let me be within hearing of his gentle voice. Let -me be near when he says, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost." "_Only_ a -prayer-meeting," do you say? _Only_ a visit from Jesus, the Giver of -peace! Who would miss a visit of so much profit--a visit of so much -pleasure! - -Seek Jesus at the sacramental supper. Jesus is there. There you may -enjoy his longest, sweetest visits. There he speaks peace to his -people. Sweet it is to meet Jesus in the closet; sweet visits there he -pays his beloved and betrothed. Sweet it is to meet him in the holy -Scriptures; sweet to find him in the place of social prayer. But -sweeter far are his visits at the communion-table. To sit like Mary at -his feet, to lie like John upon his bosom--was ever joy like this? was -ever Jesus nearer? No longer do we say, "Saw ye Him whom my soul -loveth?" We have found him! we have found him! "His left hand is under -my head, while his right doth embrace me." I charge you, my unstable -heart, that you forsake not, nor grieve again "Him whom my soul -loveth." - -Now that you have found him, cleave to him. "Abide in me," the Master -says. In union with Christ the Christian finds his safety, strength -and happiness. And the closer this union, the greater is the security, -strength and happiness of the Christian. Would we be guided by his -eye? Then must we be continually "looking unto Jesus." Do we need -strength? "In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." Are we -seeking happiness? "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his -help, whose hope is in the Lord his God." - -Cling closer, young Christian, cling closer to Christ. Learn to walk -with him daily in sweet communion. Be not satisfied with an occasional -visit from your Lord, but beseech him to abide with you. He is willing -to come and abide with you. "If any man love me, he will keep my -words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and -make our abode with him." - - -[Illustration] - - - - - II. - _His Name._ - - -"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I remember his name_. - -We need not say, as did Jacob, "Tell me, I pray thee, thy name." We -know thy name, _Jehovah Tsidkenu_, "The Lord our Righteousness." We -are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy -rags, and all the soap and nitre in the world cannot make us pure and -holy. "If I wash myself with snow-water, and make my hands never so -clean, yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes -shall abhor me." But in the covenant of the cross we come and change -clothes with Christ. He takes our filthy rags and gives us his own -spotless robe; and we are "accepted in the Beloved," not having our -"own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the -faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." - -We know thy name, _Jehovah Shalom_, The Lord of Peace. Sweet peace -speedily follows as one of the results of justification. "And the work -of righteousness shall be peace, and the effects of righteousness -quietness and assurance for ever." Or, as the apostle expresses it in -the Epistle to the Romans, "Therefore, being justified by faith, we -have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Peace was one of -the notes in the song which angels sung when He was born who himself -"is our peace." And when he was parting from his disciples "peace" was -among the last words that fell from his lips: "Peace I leave with you; -my peace I give unto you." "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose -mind is stayed on thee." "Perfect peace," being interpreted, means, -"Peace, peace." So that we shall have a double portion, "good measure, -pressed down and shaken together and running over." - -We know thy name, _Jehovah Nissi_, The Lord my Banner. "Thou hast -given a banner to them that fear thee." He his own self is our -standard and our standard-bearer, and we need not fear that our flag -shall ever be taken, or that those who fight under it shall be beaten. -Though we are but weak worms of the dust, and are called to contend -"against principalities, against powers, against spiritual wickedness -in high places," there is nothing more sure than that we shall win the -day. "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Looking at the end -from the beginning, and confident of victory, we can say, when -buckling on the harness before the battle is begun, "We are more than -conquerors through Him that loved us." - -We know thy name, _Jehovah Rophi_, The Lord my Healer. When he began -his holy ministry here on earth, "Jesus went about all Galilee, -teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, -and healing all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease among -the people." Some came to him groping in their blindness, others came -on crutches, and many were carried to him on their beds; and he healed -them all. Though he came from heaven mainly to heal diseases of the -mind, yet while he labored here in the flesh he healed more diseases -of the body. He is still the only Physician of the soul, and by far -the best Physician of the body. "He knoweth our frame," this our -mortal body, better than the wisest men, for he made it, and without -his blessing the best prescription will do us no good. He is our -Physician. When we are taken sick he is first called to our bedside. -By prayer we lay hold of something at the mercy-seat that rings a bell -in heaven, and he makes haste and comes down and "healeth all our -diseases." - -We know thy name, _Jehovah Jireh_, The Lord will Provide. He provided -a lamb upon Mount Moriah for Abraham in his greatest emergency. He has -also provided a Lamb for us--a Lamb without spot or blemish, "the Lamb -slain from the foundation of the world." "Even Christ our Passover is -sacrificed for us." On his guiltless head our guilt was laid. And -having provided a Lamb for us, he will provide anything else. "My God -shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ -Jesus." As the greater includes the less, so the unspeakable gift -embosoms all minor blessings. "He that spared not his own Son, but -delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him freely give us -all things?" - -We know thy name, _Jehovah Shammah_, The Lord is there. Wherever we -may be called to go, the Lord is there. What strong consolation, what -good cheer there is in this blessed truth, - - "Awake, asleep, at home, abroad, - I am surrounded still with God!" - -In every duty, in every difficulty, the Lord is there. In the lion's -den and in the fiery furnace, the Lord is there. In sickness and in -health, in sorrow and in joy, the Lord is there. When our pilgrimage -is almost over, and we are going down into the dark valley, blessed be -his name, we shall find that the Lord is there. "Yea, though I walk -through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for -thou art with me." - -Beyond the valley there is a place about which we know very little; -but we know that there is a house of many mansions, and we know that -the Lord is there. "I go to prepare a place for you." There is a holy -city along whose golden streets these feet shall one day walk; "And -the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there." - -"Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together." He -is everything to us. Are we sinners? He is our Righteousness. Are we -in trouble? He is our Peace. Are we soldiers? He is our Banner. Are we -sick? He is our Healer. Are we in want of anything? He will provide. -Are we going into eternity? He is there, waiting to receive us up into -glory. "Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name -together." - -"My meditation of him shall be sweet" when I remember his name, for -"they that know thy name shall put their trust in thee." - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - - - - - III. - _The Assurance._ - - -"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I remember the assurance -he has given me_. - -To his dear children God is pleased to give earnests or pledges of the -future bliss. We cannot think that any of the heirs of glory are -wholly deprived of foretastes of heaven. Some indeed walk in the -mist-clouds of doubt for a great part of their lives. Only at -intervals the clouds part and reveal a ray of heavenly sunshine. They -live amid clouds--it may be they die amid clouds--and never know clear -shining until they reach the land of perpetual sunshine. - -Others there are who pitch their tents upon "the high hill Clear." -They live in the land Beulah, where the sun is ever shining and the -birds are ever singing, where Giant Despair never comes and where -Doubting Castle is not so much as seen. They live in the sunshine, -they die in the sunshine--no, they do not die; they pass away, onward -and upward, into clearer light and brighter sunshine. Light is sown -for them on earth by Him who is the light of the world, and the -harvest in eternity is abundant and glorious. The first-fruits here, -though nothing compared with the after-fruits, are beautiful and -greatly to be desired. Why may they not be enjoyed by all? - -We hardly think it is God's will that his children should have a -limited measure of peace and joy. Neither can we think it humility to -doubt the words of our Lord Jesus: "I give unto them eternal life; and -they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand." - -"Yes," we hear you saying, "this is comforting for Christians, but am -I a Christian? The clouds of unbelief often envelop me and exclude all -heavenly light. 'Whereby shall I know that I shall inherit the land?' -Who will assure me of my interest in Christ?" - -"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself." Can -you remain ignorant of so great a change wrought within by the Spirit? -Are there not many signs to prove to you that you are in Christ? Do -you not believe and know that a change has passed over all your -feelings and affections? Do you not love the things you once hated and -hate the things you once loved? Do you not love all who bear the -Saviour's image? Is not sin odious to you? Do you not find some -pleasure in drawing near to God in prayer? Is not the thought of -continuing in sin painful to you? Would you willingly grieve your -Saviour? - -We would not say, "Peace! peace!" when there is no peace. We would -have you look well to the foundations of your hope. Examine it -closely. Let the light of the Word fall full and clear upon it. Look -at it on every side, and rest not till you know that it is founded -simply and solely upon the merits of the Redeemer. If you are sure -Christ's work is really begun in your soul, you need have no doubt -about its being continued and finally completed. The Master counts -well the cost when he begins his work in the sinner's soul, and none -shall ever mock his work, saying, "This man began to build and was not -able to finish." - -Having ascertained this all-important fact, you may be "always -confident" till you enter his presence "with exceeding joy." You need -not fear that you shall fall away. "Rejoice not against me, O mine -enemy: when I fall, I shall arise." You shall be "kept by the power of -God through faith unto salvation." You need never fear that Christ -will weary of his work, but you may be "confident of this very thing, -that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the -day of Jesus Christ," and you shall stand "without fault before the -throne." - -We know some humble and sincere disciples will shrink back, saying, -"We are not able," when we beg them to make Paul's language all their -own. With their hands upon their mouths and their mouths in the dust, -they dare not look up with perfect confidence; they think it almost -presumption, or at least they say, despondingly, "It is not for me." -"Paul," they say, "was an uncommon Christian--he attained a tall -stature in holiness." So he did; and why? Because his was no half-way -service; he gave no divided heart to his master. That was the reason -why he so well understood the doctrine of full assurance. "If any man -will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine." Do you understand -these words of the Master? He does not say, "If any man fully keeps -the law, which is the perfect will of the Father, he shall know of the -doctrine," for it is not possible for any mere man perfectly to keep -the commandments of God. Nor does he say, "If any man _does_ the -will," but, "If any man _will_"--is willing to do his will. If he -shows a willing heart and mind, God will enlighten him more and more. -And what is implied in this willing heart and mind but full -consecration? - -When shall we learn the secret of a happy life? "Ye cannot serve two -masters." Those who give themselves up to Satan's service may lead an -unhappy life, but greater must be the unhappiness of those who are -trying to make a compromise between God and Satan. They can enjoy -neither service; they are of all men most miserable. - -O ye who have professed the name of Christ, come away from all -inferior pleasures! Pleasures? They are not worthy of the name. One -hour with Christ is worth them all. Will you then suffer them to hide -the Saviour from your view? - -Once we were happy all the day long, having given ourselves to Christ -in the covenant of the cross. Christ was the source of our life, the -fullness of our joy, all our salvation and all our desire. Having -enjoyed his precious presence, we dreamed not that we could ever -wander; we thought our hearts would cleave to him for evermore. We had -no doubts in those days. "My Beloved is mine, and I am his," was the -constant language of our heart. But, alas! the world again entered our -heart, dividing it and leaving but half for God. Then came the clouds -gathering thick and fast, till our Saviour was hidden from our view. -Upon the ear of the watchman who went about the streets soon fell our -mournful cry, "Saw ye Him whom my soul loveth?" We sought him, but we -found him not. Our gloom and grief increased. Oh for one hour of -Jesus' presence! "Let all other joys forsake this heart," we cried, -"if only we may again enjoy Jesus' presence." Feeling thus, we thrust -the joys (falsely so called) of earth away, and kneeling at the -mercy-seat, we renewed our covenant with Jesus. True, there was no joy -in our hearts; we saw not yet his smile. But we could trust him where -we could not trace him; so we confessed to him all our wanderings. We -told him how we had thought to serve him with half our hearts, but now -we would give him all. The first steps were taken in darkness, but God -soon revealed his smiling face. - -If this assurance is attainable by one, why not by all? If at one time -it may be enjoyed, why not at all times? We have "for a foundation a -stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation," -laid in Zion by the great Master-Builder. - -Foundation-stones are chosen with great care and laid with care, for -upon them the whole building depends. Look at this foundation-stone. -Tell me, is it not perfect, sure and tried? This is the stone that the -builders rejected: they perished, but it remaineth, and upon it the -Lord hath built his Church. Believers in all ages and climes have -built all their hopes of heaven upon it. Is it not a tried stone? -Satan tried it and found no flaw; Pilate tried it and found no fault; -the Father tried it and pronounced it good; and we have tried it and -proved it so. What a sure foundation it is, with Christ for the -corner-stone, the next stone faith, then repentance, hope, submission -and all the graces! "Master, see what manner of stones are here." Are -they not goodly stones? and will they not make a beautiful temple? - -Upon Christ, the precious corner-stone, let us build our hopes of -heaven, and dismiss all fears for the future. - -My hope, my joy, my salvation, my desire, my righteousness, my -strength, my all--Christ in me "the hope of glory." "Lord, who shall -abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?" I have not -clean hands, nor a pure heart. Behold, I am vile. Nevertheless, I -shall abide in thy tabernacle; I shall dwell in thy holy hill. Why? -Because Christ is mine. His hands are spotless, his heart is pure, his -righteousness is perfect. All his is mine, for he is mine. I build my -hopes upon the Rock Christ Jesus. These hopes shall never be -overthrown; I have no fear of it. - -_When_ the head stone shall be placed I cannot tell, but I wait and -work with joy, hoping unto the end. Sometimes weariness almost -overcomes me, for building is hard work. Foes within and foes without -make the labor exceedingly hard. But whether in joy or grief, the -building goes on, and from the completed structure shouts shall ascend -to the great Master-Builder: "Grace, grace unto it!" "Glory be to the -Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost! Amen." - - -[Illustration] - - - - - IV. - _The Perfect Work._ - -"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I consider his perfect -work_. - -What consternation must have been felt among the ranks of holy spirits -when sin entered into the world, "and death by sin!" Could grief -intrude into heaven, we should imagine _that_ an hour of deepest -anguish when the Father, looking down upon the fallen race, exclaimed, -"How shall I pardon thee for this?" "How shall I put thee among the -children?" How could the just and holy God justify the sinner? Not one -of all the heavenly host could solve the problem. "How shall I give -thee up?" burst from the heart of the loving Father. The beloved Son -exclaims: "Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a -ransom." "Who will seek and save these wanderers?" says the Father. -"Father, send me," the Son replies; "I will seek them, and save them, -and bring them home. I will bear the wrath due to them for sin; I will -die for them." The Father accepts the Substitute; the Son lays aside -his glory and girds himself for the mighty conflict. He looks along -the line of weary years, and though he sees nothing but suffering, -reproach and death, his holy purpose remains unshaken. The lost sheep -of the house of Israel must be saved, and none but Jesus could save -them. - -"So he was their Saviour." - -His work of _justification_ is perfect. Look at it for a moment. What -is justification? "Justification is an act of God's free grace, -wherein he pardoneth _all_ our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in -his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and -received by faith alone." - -Can there be anything more simple and beautiful and perfect than this? -It is free to all; it is sufficient for all: "Whosoever will;" "And I -will pardon _all_ their iniquities." It is the work of a moment, but -it abideth for ever. One look of faith, and life, eternal life, is -yours. - - "The moment a sinner believes - And trusts in his crucified Lord, - His pardon at once he receives, - Redemption in full through his blood." - -His work of _adoption_ is perfect. Like justification, it is done in a -moment, and it abideth for ever. "Adoption is an act of God's free -grace, whereby we are received into the number and have a right to all -the privileges of the sons of God." - -The Romans had a twofold form of adoption. The first was a private -transaction between the parties, receiving the person adopted into the -family; the second was the public recognition in the forum. - -The moment we are justified we are adopted. This is the private -transaction. Hearing a voice from heaven saying, "Thy sins are -forgiven thee; go in peace," we look up through our tears, and with -rejoicing lips we cry, "Father!" "_Now_ are we sons of God," placed -among the children, because Jesus solved the mighty problem, showing -how God can be just and yet justify the sinner. The public recognition -will come very soon. When we reach the pearly gates, Jesus, our Elder -Brother, will be waiting to receive and acknowledge us as his own. -Standing before his Father and ours, he will stretch forth his hand -toward his disciples and say, "Behold my mother and my brethren!" - -His work of _sanctification_ is perfect. It is not, like justification -and adoption, an act done in a moment. It is a work slow and at times -painful, yet sure and perfect. It begins when we are justified, it -ends when we are glorified. "Sanctification is the _work_ of God's -free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of -God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and live unto -righteousness." It is often a painful work. "The flesh, with the -affections and lusts," must be crucified. We must "die unto sin." The -sound of the hammer and axe and iron tools is not heard by those who -are without, yet every blow causes the heart to quiver, and the -cutting is very painful. Nevertheless, who would not be "a carved -stone" in the temple of our God? - -We praise thee for this work, O God. We rejoice to know that thou wilt -not weary of it, but wilt carry it on "until the day of Jesus Christ." -We shall be perfect in that day. No imperfection shall remain in -us--no sinful desire, no unholy thought. Jesus will say unto us, "Thou -art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee," and he will present -us "faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy." - -His work of _redemption_ is perfect. Christ, our Prophet, instructs -us, "revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our -salvation." Christ, our Priest, offers up himself "a sacrifice to -satisfy divine justice and reconcile us to God." He also "maketh -continual intercession for us." Christ, our King, subdues "us to -himself;" he rules and defends us, and restrains and conquers "all his -and our enemies." Is he not a perfect Redeemer? He redeems our souls -from death, our bodies also from the grave. "My flesh also shall rest -in hope," always confident of a glorious resurrection. "For I know -that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day -upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet -in my flesh shall I see God." "I will ransom them from the power of -the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be thy -plague! O Grave, I will be thy destruction!" - -Though some may cavil at this mystery and say sneeringly, "How are the -dead raised up? and with what body do they come?" yet we trust in the -word of our God, and "_we know_ that if our earthly house of this -tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not -made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Christ, "the first-fruits of -them that slept," is risen; then how say some among you that there is -no resurrection of the dead? "Christ is risen!" Oh glorious truth, -first proclaimed to the women who came weeping to his sepulchre! "Fear -ye not," the angel answered, "for I know that ye seek Jesus which was -crucified. He is not here; for he is risen, as he said." Christ is -risen! Then we which are Christ's shall rise also. "Because I live ye -shall live also." "Behold, I show you a mystery:" "the dead shall be -raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible -must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." - -O Lord, our Redeemer, Prophet, Priest and King, we praise thee for thy -perfect work! - -Yes, "my meditation of him shall be sweet" when I consider his perfect -work. My Master too regards it with satisfaction; he sees of the -travail of his soul, and is satisfied. His life on earth was -sorrowful, but his triumph was complete. "Having spoiled -principalities and powers," God's enemies and ours, "he made a show of -them openly, triumphing over them in it," or in _himself_, as it may -be rendered. As a victor returning from the fight, he ascended to the -glory which he had with the Father "before the world was;" and the -song of the glorified filled the high heavens with richer harmony as -the Well-Beloved of the Father proved by the nail-prints that he had -finished the work which was given him to do. - -Coming ages will testify to his triumph and to the completeness of his -work. On earth it was for the most part viewed not only with -indifference, but even with unbelief and scorn. "He came unto his own, -and his own received him not." "For a good work we stone thee not; but -for blasphemy, and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself -God." "He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the -chosen of God." "If thou be Christ, save thyself and us." "If he be -the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will -believe him." But now a mighty multitude swell the song, "Worthy is -the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and -strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which -is in heaven, and on the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all -that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and -power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, -for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and -twenty elders fell down and worshiped Him that liveth for ever and -ever." - - "Ten thousand times ten thousand sung - Loud anthems round the throne, - When lo! one solitary tongue - Began a song unknown-- - A song unknown to angel ears-- - A song that told of banished fears, - Of pardoned sins and dried up tears. - - "Not one of all the heavenly host - Could these high notes attain, - But spirits from a distant coast - United in the strain; - Till he who first began the song, - To sing alone not suffered long, - Was mingled with a countless throng. - - "And still, as hours are fleeting by, - The angels ever bear - Some newly-ransomed soul on high - To join the chorus there: - And so the song will louder grow, - Till all redeemed by Christ below - To that fair world of rapture go. - - "Oh give me, Lord, my golden harp, - And tune my broken voice, - That I may sing of troubles sharp - Exchanged for endless joys: - The song that ne'er was heard before-- - A sinner reached the heavenly shore-- - But now shall sound for evermore." - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - - - - - V. - _The Chastening._ - - -"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I consider his -chastenings_, for "blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord." - -Of all the beatitudes this may appear to be the strangest. To the -young disciple chastisements may seem anything but happiness; you see -in them no beauty that you should desire them. If you have never been -taught in the school of affliction, you cannot understand this; -neither can you understand it if you have not learned well what you -were there taught. Perhaps you have been greatly afflicted, and yet -you can see no good fruits of it in your soul. Every disappointment -has only increased bitter feelings in your heart. You are conscious of -this. You are ready to say, "Where are the blessed effects of sorrow?" -The Master comes "seeking fruit," and findeth none. Why is this? We -reply, that sorrow in itself has no sanctifying power. Many are -hardened by it, and rendered more unlovely and unholy. But the plane -in the hand of the carpenter's Son cannot fail to make you better, and -if you are not profited by it, it is because you do not rightly -receive your sorrows. - -While you were a stranger to the love of Christ you had no special -consolation to sustain you in the time of trial. The consolations of -God, which are neither few nor small, you had no right to appropriate. -With every stroke of the rod you seemed to hear a terrible voice -saying, "I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins." But -now that you are reconciled to God, all is changed; you hear another -voice saying, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten." - -Henceforth, therefore, you may accept trials as love-tokens, for "whom -the Lord loveth he chasteneth." - -Perhaps, like Jonah, you have been sitting with great delight under -the shadow of your gourd. To give you joy and comfort in the desert, -God caused it to spring up. You felt glad and even thankful because of -its pleasant shade, and while you rested under its shadow songs of -praise ascended to the Giver. Yet "God prepared a worm." You woke one -morning to find your beautiful gourd all withered. Never did the -desert seem more dreary. You fainted under God's smiting, and with -aching and rebellious heart you prayed for death. There seemed to be -nothing for which to live, and you said, "It is better for me to die -than to live." - -"Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd?" - -There are times when God shows his mercy to us by turning a deaf ear -to our foolish prayer. No, I should not say he turneth a deaf ear to -our prayer. He does hear, and he does answer, but not according to our -asking. You asked death; he sent grace to live. "It is better for me -to die," you said. God, by sparing your life, said most plainly, "It -is better for you to live." God knows best. - -If you are still mourning over your smitten gourd, permit us to give -you some reasons why you should no longer mourn, or, at least, why you -should not murmur. - -Remember, the gourd was undeserved. You had done nothing to merit such -a blessing. Perhaps even when it came it found you, like Jonah, -indulging in bitter, reproachful thoughts. Wayward and wandering were -you; loving and tender was God. Earthly parents bestow most tenderness -and anxious thought upon the erring child. The Good Shepherd leaves -the ninety and nine to search for the straying one. These things but -faintly illustrate the dealings of God with his children. - -Perhaps you were in the path of duty, and were not unthankful while -you rested under the gourd. Still, you know that you deserve not the -least of all God's mercies. Your sufferings are less than your sins -deserve. "He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us -according to our iniquities." "Wherefore doth a living man complain?" -Let then this thought silence your complaints. - -Remember also that the hand that smote the gourd was the hand of your -Father, your loving Father. And this thought surely will give you -comfort in your sorrow, and will even cause you by and by to sing -aloud for joy. Knowing full well that "he doth not afflict willingly," -you seek to know why he thus dealt with you. It ought to be enough for -you to know that "_God_ prepared a worm." "What I do thou knowest not -now, but thou shalt know hereafter," should make us dumb before him, -but so great is his condescension toward them that love him that he -even tells them _why_ the smiting was necessary. Your heart was fully -set upon the gourd, and you were - - "Making a heaven down under the sun." - -It may be that there was very little of the pilgrim spirit in your -heart. The heart-tendrils were firmly fastened around the gourd; its -uprooting seemed to rend you in twain. Bitter and severe was the pain, -but the hand that dealt the blow is ready to bind up the bleeding -wound, and in after days you will love to look upon this scar, for you -will cherish it as a sweet reminder of God's faithfulness and -mercy--not only as a monument, but also as a warning, for whenever you -look upon it, it will say to you, "Little children, keep yourselves -from idols." - -Have you ever noticed the old grave stones in some English -burial-garden? The damp climate, which so soon obliterates the -letters, has a kindly way of dealing with the horizontal stones. Into -the deep grooves of the lettering little seeds are carried by the -wind, and, lodging there, the dampness soon causes them to germinate, -and in place of the blackness of decay spring up the characters in -living green. - -Into the deep scars caused by God's sharp instruments the precious -seeds of divine consolation shall be wafted. Watered by your tears, -they shall soon spring up, and in your sweet submission others will -read your testimony to God's faithfulness: "I know, O Lord, that thy -judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me." - -When God uproots the gourd he gives us something better, and "our -light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more -exceeding and eternal weight of glory." - -If Paul could call his calamities "light," surely we may; for what are -our trials when compared with his? Behold what a crushing load he -carried! "In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in -prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received -I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I -stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in -the deep, in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of -robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, -in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the -sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in -watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and -nakedness." Oh what a life! How could he call all these afflictions -light? Placed in the balance with the exceeding weight of glory, they -seemed as naught. The afflictions were but for a moment; the glory was -eternal. - -"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth -him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is -broken. Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous -shall be desolate. The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants; and -none of them that trust in him shall be desolate." - -Then "wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen -thy heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." And let your meditation be sweet -when you consider Him who smites the gourd in order that he may lead -you to the shadow of the great Rock. - -"When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than -I." - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - - - - - VI. - _The Compassion._ - - -"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I remember his compassion_ -for the multitude. - -It was a beautiful thought to compile a record of loving and heroic -deeds, of all lands and ages, and to entitle it, "A Book of Golden -Deeds." Florence Nightingale, whose picture adorns the opening page, -stands forth a fit exponent of the spirit of love that prompted these -recorded acts. - -The record of Christ's life may truly be called "A Book of Golden -Deeds;" and that blessed name, which is above every name, becomes the -symbol of "whatsoever things are lovely and of good report." The works -which mark his earthly career are wonderful beyond compare, and the -crowning act of this life of perfect self-abnegation is the greatest -mystery of love. - -It was noble in Dick Williamzoon, the Netherland martyr, when safely -over the frozen mere, to turn back, at the peril of his life, and -rescue his pursuer, whom he saw about to perish in the waters. He -saved his enemy, and was himself captured and burned at the stake--a -martyr for mercy as well as for truth. It was nobler still in the -Moravian missionary to enter the hospital in order to preach Christ to -the lepers. "If you go in, you can never be allowed to come out." "I -accept," he said, and entered, to go out no more. But the compassion -of Jesus towers far above the devotion of mortals, and expresses -itself in a manner which excites wonder in heaven and upon earth. -Looking down from his heavenly throne, his heart was deeply affected -by the ruin of our race. One blow of the arch-destroyer had marred -God's fair creation--man. Could no hand restore what in one dark hour -had been lost? O mighty Restorer! we wonder and adore. - - "He left his lofty throne, - And threw his robes aside; - On wings of love came down, - And wept and bled and died." - -Yes, girding himself with full strength, he descended to the work his -loving heart devised. Humbling himself to bear our sins, he became our -Saviour. Not satisfied with simply bearing the sins of his people, he -also carried their sorrows, and so becomes their Sympathizer. "Surely -he has borne our griefs" as well as our guilt. He became "a Man of -Sorrows" in order that from henceforth and for ever his followers -might have not exemption from all sorrow, but a Saviour who would be -able to sustain them fully in their afflictions, even lifting them so -far above their sorrows that at midnight and in prison they might sing -praises. - -Gazing along the line of centuries, the omniscient Jesus saw a mighty -multitude of bowed and suffering ones--in sickness, in pains, in -poverty and chains; inheritors of "cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, -moreover, of bonds and imprisonment;" those whose portion should be to -be stoned, "sawn asunder," tempted, "slain with the sword;" who should -wander about "in sheep-skins and goat-skins, being destitute, -afflicted, tormented." Seeing these, is it any wonder if his heart -melted with tenderness? In the simple story of his life we read: "And -Jesus went forth and saw a great multitude, and was moved with -compassion toward them, and he healed their sick." "In all their -affliction he was afflicted." Blessed be our High Priest who is still -"touched with the feeling of our infirmities!" - -When his life on earth ended and he returned to the glory which he had -with the Father before the world was, he left us an example that we -should walk in his steps. To his disciples belongs the honor of taking -up and carrying forward the work of ministration. Partakers of -Christ's love and sympathy "look not every man on his own things, but -every man also on the things of others. Let the same mind be in you -which was also in Christ Jesus," who "took upon him the form of a -servant." "He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also to walk -even as he walked." - -How did he walk? Study well the memorial of "golden deeds." Compare -your life with his. How can you bear the test? - -Nothing can be more beautiful than a life of self-abnegation. One -single act of devotion to another's good is like a ray of golden -sunshine in a darkened room, and a life of such deeds may well be -called a golden life. Into the cabin of one of our government -transports was borne a poor wounded soldier, who, with many others, -was going home to die. He had just been laid in the middle berth--by -far the most comfortable of the three tiers of berths in the ship's -cabin--and was still thrilling with the pain of being carried from the -field, when he saw a comrade in even greater suffering than himself -about to be lifted to the berth above him, and, thinking of the pain -it would cost him to be raised so high, he exclaimed, "Put me up -there; I reckon I'll bear hoisting better than he will." - -Where can we find sufficient inspiration for a life of devotion to -others? "Act as if the eyes of Cato were always upon you," was urged -upon the Roman youth to stimulate him to virtuous deeds. Act as if the -eyes of Jesus were upon you, we urge, for surely he bends from his -throne to watch you as you endeavor to tread the path your Saviour -trod. - -To some of us God has given leisure from arduous toil, wealth, talents -and many opportunities for usefulness. Perhaps to all these gifts he -has added strong faith and bright hopes of heaven. What, then, are our -duties to the poor and ignorant, the weary and feeble ones? -"Strengthen ye the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees. Say to -them that are of a feeble heart, Be strong; fear not." Remember, and -forget it not, ye favored ones, that "unto whomsoever much is given, -of him shall much be required." Let nothing be hoarded. "Withhold not -good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine -hand to do it." Nature's and the Gospels' doctrine is, "Be ready to -distribute, willing to communicate." Looking up at the twelve silver -statues in Yorkminster cathedral, Oliver Cromwell asked, "Who are -those expensive fellows up there?" He was told that they were the -apostles of Christ. "Ah? let them be taken down and melted up," said -the old Puritan; "then they, like their Master, will go about doing -good." - -It is said that in China the rich buy up and distribute clothing to -the poor, and in times of scarcity of food, through the kindness of -the rich, rice is sold to the poor at a third or fourth less than the -market price. This is done to win the favor of the gods. While we do -not hope to purchase God's favor by anything that we can do, yet we -may remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, "Whosoever -shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water -only, in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, He shall in -nowise lose his reward." "And they that be wise shall shine in the -brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness, -as the stars for ever and ever." - -Let us daily strive to imitate our Master in compassion for others; -then shall our meditation prove profitable as well as pleasant. - - -[Illustration] - - - - - VII. - _The Sympathy._ - - -"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I remember his sympathy_ -with his chosen ones. - -To have a friend who is ready to rejoice with us when we rejoice, and -to weep with us when we weep, how delightful it is! It doubles our -every joy and divides our every sorrow. Though some hearts seem to -scorn this tender plant of heavenly origin, we believe that none are -wholly insensible to the magic power of sympathy. Those who scorn it -most are often led to crave it most when the days of bitter grief draw -near. We call it a plant of heavenly origin, and so it is; for though -it is often found in unrenewed hearts, yet it attains its fairest -perfection in hearts regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Planted by the -hand of God and watered by heavenly dews, it reaches its greatest -height, and wins the admiration of many who fail to understand the -secret source of its life. - -But human sympathy, even the deepest and tenderest, often fails us in -the hour of our greatest need. Who will say that Peter and the two -sons of Zebedee were not friends of the Lord Jesus? Certainly they -loved him, for they followed him whithersoever he went. Feeling his -need of human sympathy--for he was the man Christ Jesus--he took them -with him to Gethsemane. All he asked was that they should watch with -him. "Tarry ye here, and watch with me." Did they watch? You know the -record well. "And he cometh unto the disciples and findeth them -asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one -hour?" When brought to our Gethsemane, is not our experience something -like our Master's? Where we looked for sympathy we find indifference; -we are there alone. Perhaps our sorrow may be of such a nature that we -cannot reveal it even to our best-beloved. Our secret grief lies like -ice upon our hearts, sending its chilling influences through every -member. The hands hang down listlessly and the feeble knees smite -together; the aching of the head is only exceeded by the aching of the -heart. Yet no one knows the agony that paralyzes our life. Or, sadder -still, the heart-friend may be snatched away, and while our hearts are -breaking by reason of bereavement, we may have no one left to whom we -may turn for comfort in our affliction. - -Is there no friend whose sympathy is deep, ever abiding and ever -accessible? Thank God, there is One. His name is Jesus. In all our -afflictions he is afflicted. He suffered that he might sympathize. -Coming to a race concerning whom it was written "few are their days -and full of trouble," "it behooved him to be made like unto his -brethren," therefore he accepted the inheritance of suffering, and -became "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." "Himself took -our infirmities." - -Is poverty your portion? Is it no uncommon thing for you to suffer -hunger, cold and weariness? Do friends forsake and foes oppress you? -Go and tell Jesus. Though no longer suffering the sorrows of earth, he -remembers them well. Think you that _he_ has forgotten those -wilderness seasons when he suffered hunger; or those times of weary -watching on the mountains; or that dark night when "all the disciples -forsook him and fled;" or that sad hour when his Father forsook him? -Though gone to God's right hand he is the same Jesus still. His heart -is full of love and pity. "He knoweth our frame," for he has put on -our humanity. He put on our humanity; he has never put it off. "Behold -the Man!" "And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, and of -the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it -had been slain." "And I heard the voice of many angels round about the -throne, and the beasts, and the elders; and the number of them was ten -thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a -loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and -riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." - -And is he absorbed by this homage? I tell thee nay. - -Let us recall that parting scene at Olivet. His days of suffering are -now ended, and he is about to return to the glory which he had with -the Father before the world was. A few words of parting, and then a -cloud separates him from his sorrowing disciples. A cloud, the record -tells us. So it appeared to them; to us it seems rather a company of -shining ones--a heavenly convoy sent to attend King Jesus back to his -heavenly throne. In the midst of the homage of this heavenly host he -does not forget his sorrowful disciples, but arrests the glad song for -a moment that he may send words of comfort down to them. "And while -they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men -stood by them in white apparel, which also said, Ye men of Galilee, -why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up -from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him -go into heaven." - -_This same Jesus_ is not now absorbed by the homage of that "great -multitude which no man could number." Surrounded by those "which came -out of great tribulation," can he for a moment forget those who are -going through great tribulation? He does not forget them. The hand -that was nailed to the cross is still swift to obey the impulses of -that great heart of love, and hastens to wipe away the tear that -gathers in the mourner's eye, to bind up the broken heart and to -smooth the pillow of the dying. - -We cannot read the record of Christ's earthly life without perceiving -that his sympathy with suffering was deep and constant. Failing to -comprehend this, some may add to your grief by uttering these chilling -words: "Trouble not the Master." Remember, and forget not the -broken-hearted father whose "only daughter" died before the help of -the Good Physician could be obtained. There comes one from the ruler's -house saying unto him, "Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master." -The mournful message is heard by the Master, and turning to the -sorrowing father, he said, "Fear not; believe only, and she shall be -made whole." How speedily joy came into that darkened home when Jesus -entered and took the maiden by the hand! - -Little know they that great heart of love who say to the sorrowful, -"Trouble not the Master." Young disciple, heed them not. Think no -sorrow too trifling to pour into his sympathizing ear. Whatever -troubles you interests him. "In all their affliction he was -afflicted." No tear falls unnoticed by him; no sigh escapes unheard. -He keepeth you "as the apple of his eye." What encouragement to carry -your griefs to Jesus! Satan would suggest that we "trouble not the -Master." He trembles to see such close communion between Christ and -the Christian. He knows that his power over the Saviour's "hidden -ones" is fast passing away, and he would be glad to raise all chilling -barriers to their delightful intercourse. "Get thee behind me, Satan!" -My Saviour invites, yea, urges, me to come to him with all my sorrows, -and I will cast all my cares on him, for he careth for me. "It is good -for me to draw near to God." Again and again have I found it good--oh -how good! All sympathy is sweet, but his sympathy is exceeding sweet. -Yes, so sweet is it that trouble is no longer trouble, because Christ -shares it with me. He changes the "valley of Baca" into the "land -Beulah." He gives me songs in the night, and his presence turns my -darkness into day. - -"Trouble not the Master." - -I tell you, Satan, it is no trouble for the Master to care for me; no -trouble to soothe my sorrowing spirit; no trouble to wipe away my -tears; no trouble to pillow my aching head upon his bosom; no trouble -to give me "beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment -of praise for the spirit of heaviness." Many and many a time has he -done this, blessed be his name! Nothing troubles him but my sins. -Would to God they might trouble him no more! They grieve him; then let -me forsake them. By his help I will. Begone, unbelief, pride, -worldliness, ingratitude--begone! It is ye that trouble my Master! - - -[Illustration] - - - - - VIII. - _The Love._ - - -"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I consider his love for -me_. - -The record of Christ's deeds of mercy toward a multitude of sick and -suffering ones gives us a wonderful glimpse of his heart. The thought -of his perfect sympathy with his people has comforted the Church in -all ages. But draw a little nearer and consider his _personal love for -you_, dear young Christian. Listen to his voice saying so tenderly, "I -have loved thee." Forget for a moment the multitude that need his -compassion and the disciples who share his sympathy, and try to -realize his deep, personal love for you. Consider that love as shown -on Calvary. Remember the great price he has paid for your redemption. - -During the dark days of the Netherland revolt there went forth a -decree from the cruel Philip the Second; and though many a bloody -edict had gone out before from that throne, this one in cruelty -exceeded them all, for it condemned to death all the inhabitants of -the Netherlands. "Heretic" was branded upon every one, and, without -respect to age or sex, they were doomed to destruction. Now, if a -mighty deliverer could have traversed those gloomy streets proclaiming -full deliverance for those who were condemned, with what joy would he -have been hailed! Not only would the public thanks of the nation have -been his, but each rescued one would have hastened to express his own -thanks to his deliverer. - -Let then your heart overflow with grateful love when you remember the -great Deliverer. "Guilty" was branded upon every forehead when Jesus -came to the rescue; and while the thanks of all the redeemed are -ascending to the throne, let your praises unite with theirs, for you -too were under condemnation when Jesus offered pardon. His terms were -simple--"only believe;" and through the grace of God you were led to -accept the offer of everlasting life. "There is therefore now no -condemnation," for the Son hath made you free. - -"No condemnation!" How sweet it sounds! How much it means! Christ hath -fulfilled the Law's requirements, and you are free. As we meditate -upon it we seem to hear the Saviour saying, "Lovest thou me?" Dear -Lord Jesus, we cannot love thee as thou hast loved us. A mother's love -is as naught when compared with thy love, for she _may_ forget, but -thou hast said thou wilt never forget us. But yet our hearts cherish -most fondly this secret of thy love to us. "I have loved thee with an -everlasting love." - -It gives us joy in our loneliest hours. We love to think about it when -we are all alone. Never are we less alone than when alone, for then it -is we hear the sweetest whispers that ever fell on mortal ears. And -when we hear the voice of our Beloved, can we be indifferent to his -love? I tell thee, nay. Love, a faint reflection of his own, rises in -our heart, and falling on our knees before him, we exclaim, "Lord, -thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee." Sadly we feel -that it is a poor spark of love--nothing like his great love to -us--yet we rejoice that the little spark is there, and pray that it -may be kindled into a steady flame. "Lord, thou knowest all things." -Oh how glad we are of this! Thou knowest every emotion of our heart -toward thee. Thou knowest our grief because we do not love thee more. - -But this meditation has its practical bearings. We may not always -dwell upon the high mountain apart thinking about our Saviour's love. -Let our communion with Christ be as close and confidential as -possible, but let us never forget that He who spent whole nights -communing with his Father also spent whole days ministering to others. -Let, then, the love of Christ constrain us. - -Standing safely upon the Rock Christ Jesus, let our hearts go out in -pity for those who are still breasting the billows. Faint and -exhausted, they seem ready to perish. "Help, Master, help!" Let our -prayers for them ascend unceasingly. The Master is not far off, and in -answer to our prayers he will come and rescue them with his strong -arm. Let the love of Christ constrain us to labor for the perishing -around us. This is our working-time, and this principle of love is the -life of our work. - -This word "constrain" has several meanings. It might be thus -expressed: "The love of Christ transports us." It carries away our -souls in ecstasy even from earth to heaven, and fills us with holy -rapture. How often at the table of the Lord have we been thus -transported by thoughts of his everlasting love! And as we went on our -pilgrim way we cast frequent glances back to that hour of heavenly -brightness. Earth grew dim during those moments of holy communion. -Fain would we have tabernacled there. - -The love of Christ _urges_ us, _prompts_ us. Sweet it will be to rest -in the arms of his love. But this rest remaineth; we have not yet -reached it; to the present belong toil and labor. There must be no -loitering in the Christian life. Where the love of Christ fills the -heart there can be no loitering. It is a prompting principle, ever -leading us to new endeavors for the Master. - -The love of Christ _unites_ us. Though diversities of opinion mark -those who bear the Christian name, yet, if the Saviour's love fills -our hearts, we have one common platform where we may meet and hold -sweet fellowship. Our experience is the same: "we love him because he -first loved us." Our Hope is the same: Christ in us, "the hope of -glory." Our home is the same: "and there shall be one fold." Our -Shepherd is the same: "and I will set up one Shepherd over them." And -though our creeds may differ, our chorus is the same: "Thou art -worthy, for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood -out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." Angels and -archangels round the throne join in the heavenly melody, saying, with -a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and -riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." -"And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under -the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them," -being united by the love of Christ, join in the song which celebrates -his wondrous love. - - -[Illustration] - - - - - IX. - _The Life Abundant._ - - -"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I consider the life more -abundant which he gives_. - -We are amazed at the languid, feeble lives of many around us. Among -the aged we naturally look for inactivity, but, alas! "even the -youths" faint and are weary, and the young men utterly fall. Before -"the time of old age" the grasshopper becomes a burden, and we hear -the young exclaiming, in world-weary tones, "I have no pleasure in -them." They said in their hearts, "Go to, now; I will prove thee with -mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure." And behold they found it vanity. -They builded houses, and planted vineyards, and gathered silver and -gold; but, looking back on all the works their hands have wrought, -they are compelled to acknowledge that all is vanity and vexation of -spirit. Therefore they hate life and all their labor which they have -taken "under the sun." "For what," say they, "hath man of all his -labor, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath labored under -the sun? For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his -heart taketh not rest in the night. This also is vanity." - -How marked and beautiful the change when Jesus takes possession of -these weary souls! "I am come," says the Master, "that they might have -life, and that they might have it _more abundantly_"--life in greater -quantity; "good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and -running over." - -We hear much about the power of love to arouse the dormant faculties -and animate the feeble spirit. When this love is the dear, deep love -of Jesus, who can estimate its life-giving power? Truly, we hardly -begin to live till Jesus reveals himself to us--until, kneeling at his -cross, we consecrate to him our time, our talents and our all. From -henceforth life has for us new beauty, because Jesus is the charm of -our life. - -Life "more abundantly!" Let us enter more deeply into the meaning of -these words. Let us understand that religion does not close the door -upon any lawful calling. The days of religious seclusion are long -past, but the days have not yet come when men have fully learned that -daily business is not antagonistic to Christian life, but that it is -one of the means of its development. It has been truly said that there -have been noble bands of Christians who have gone to heaven despising -ambition, refusing crowns, disdaining sceptres, unwilling to be -cumbered with wealth, willing to bear hardship and suffering; but -there shall be another band of men who shall do more mighty things -than they--men of higher grace who shall conquer enemies more strong -and terrible, who shall go to heaven even with crowns and sceptres or -with great wealth. Through abounding grace they learn Christian -development in spite of, and by means of, those external things which -cause the spiritual shipwreck of multitudes. - -Let the spirit of the Saviour, dwelling in us richly, sanctify all -commerce, all learning, all politics, all art. May religion dignify -our every act. Religion was not simply designed for the dying hour. -"Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by -death." "For to me _to live_ is Christ." - -Dear Lord Jesus, thou hast showed me "the path of life," and by thy -presence, even on earth, thou hast given me "fullness of joy." Thou -hast given me power when faint, and "increased strength" when I had no -might. Therefore my life shall praise thee. "A new creature" in -Christ, henceforth I will not live unto myself, but unto Him which -died for me and rose again, "for the love of Christ constraineth me." - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - - - - - X. - _The Forgiveness._ - - -"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I consider the full and -free forgiveness he imparts_. - -The hour in which we first felt the joy of sins forgiven can never be -forgotten. The burden had grown so heavy that we could carry it no -longer, so, bending the knee at the foot of the cross, the burden was -cast upon Christ. - -For many days our joy and peace were so great that we fondly hoped to -be burdened no more; but as old wounds often break out anew, so it is -with the soul, and the memory of "sins that are past" often sweeps -over the Christian like a bitter wave. Daily sins cause daily grief to -the heart that loves the Lord. The only way of peace is to carry them -at once to Jesus, confess all and seek forgiveness. We never seek in -vain. - -But these past sins, these iniquities of our youth, how they rise up -to condemn us and take away our peace! "Thou writest bitter things -against me," saith Job, "and makest me possess the iniquities of my -youth." "My sin is ever before me," cries David in the bitterness of -his soul. It must have been a lifelong grief to Peter that he had -denied his Lord and Master. Others might easily forget his hour of -weakness and sin while they listened to his fearless words on the day -of Pentecost and heard him exclaim, "Him, being delivered by the -determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by -wicked hands have crucified and slain." But though others could -forget, how often must Peter's soul have been saddened by the memory -of his weakness and sin! Sounding along the corridors of memory, ever -and anon these words, "I know not the man," must have smote upon his -ears like a funeral knell. The recollection of that look of love must -often have brought tears to his eyes and filled his heart with tender -grief. - -How many of us recall with deepest sorrow hours of weakness when, -yielding to strong temptation, we fell into sin! Perhaps no eye but -God's marked our wandering steps, no ear but his heard our words of -sin, no heart but his read the dark secret. The hour of true -contrition came when, ashamed and deeply grieved, we scarcely ventured -to look up to our offended Father, but casting our tearful eyes upon -the ground, we knelt and cried in anguish, "Thou hast set our -iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy -countenance." Remembering that "if we confess our sins he is faithful -and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all -unrighteousness," we freely confessed all, and in the deep peace that -followed we found a fulfillment of the promise. "I acknowledge my sin -unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my -transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my -sin." - -But though the Lord is "ready to forgive," and "plenteous in mercy" -unto all them that call upon him, yet these past sins are weapons that -the great adversary often uses successfully in his warfare with the -pilgrims, causing many almost to stand still when they should be -running in the way of God's commandments. - -Think you that our God desires from us constant mourning over "sins -that are past?" If these are to lie a perpetual burden on our hearts, -robbing us of our peace and clouding our hopes of heaven, what -advantage then hath the Christian? or what profit is there in the -atonement of Christ? - -We have somewhere heard of a chemist who was lecturing before his -class. A number of rags of varied hue lay before him, and by means of -strong chemicals he was changing their colors into whiteness. -Presently he paused, and holding up a piece of Turkey red, he -remarked, "Ah! now we shall have some trouble, for of all colors this -is the hardest to extract." Again and again he dipped it into the -strong solution, but with little effect; then cast it aside, saying, -"It must either remain as it is, or else lie in the solution till its -very fibres are destroyed." - -But the blood of Christ has power to extract even scarlet stains. -"Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though -they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." - -Then "why art thou cast down, O my soul?" for "the righteousness of -God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all them that believe," is -"for the remission of sins that are past," as well as for the -constantly recurring sins of the present. - -Shall we, then, never think of our past sins? Yes; think of them as -the mariner thinks of dangers past, and as the redeemed in glory think -of past tribulations. "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves -thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he -bringeth them unto their desired haven." Yes; think of them with -gratitude to God for deliverance, and let this be your song as you -press on: "He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many -waters: he delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated -me; for they were too strong for me." "When I said, My foot slippeth, -thy mercy, O Lord, held me up." "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, -and my deliverer; the God of my rock: in him will I trust; he is my -shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my -Saviour." "For who is a God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save -our God? Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the -heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name." - -Think of them, also, with humility and self-distrust, and let this be -your constant prayer: "Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my -footsteps slip not." "Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me under -the shadow of thy wings." - -But oh do not carry the memory of past sins as a weight to drag your -soul down to the dust! If the Lord has forgiven and forgotten them, -why not rejoice in this wonderful token of his love toward you? -Casting aside every weight, you may thus rise to the enjoyment of "a -present heaven." - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - - - - - XI. - _The Help._ - - -"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I remember the stones of -help he has given_. - -For forty days the champion of the Philistines had defied the armies -of Israel. He was a man of great stature--a giant--and a man of war -from his youth. "And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, -fled from him and were sore afraid." All, yet not all, for one -accepted Goliath's challenge and stepped forth to battle with him. Who -was he? The strongest, bravest and oldest veteran in the army? No; he -was not a soldier, but a shepherd-boy, and too young to be enrolled. -"A stripling" the king calls him, and his weapons are only "_five -smooth_ _stones_!" Is it any wonder that his elder brother chided him -and that Goliath disdained him? Trusting in the Lord who delivered him -out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, he went -forth confident of victory. He took a stone from his bag and put it in -his sling, and buried it in the giant's forehead so that he fell -prostrate to the ground. How wonderful! - -There are giants still in the land--giant powers that defy the armies -of the living God. There are giant sins and giant fears that throw -themselves across the path of every Christian and threaten his -destruction. And if this page shall meet the eye of some youthful -warrior who would fain overcome those spiritual foes that challenge -the soul, permit me to choose five smooth stones for you, with which -you shall prevail to lay the giants low. - -_The presence of God_ is one of these stones: "Thou God seest me." -Sometimes, like David's first stone, it is enough to kill the Goliath -of temptation. When sinners entice us, there is power enough to defend -us in the thought that the many eyes of the Most High are looking on -us, and the soul starts back appalled, saying, "How then can I do this -great wickedness, and sin against God?" - -_The power of God_ is another of these precious stones. David declined -to go forth to battle with Saul's armor. He could not go with weapons -which he had not proved, but he took to himself "the whole armor of -God." He had proved it, and knew by experience that there was more -than protection in that panoply. Goliath was a giant, but he was not -God. He was mighty, but he was not almighty. He was potent, but he was -not omnipotent. - -_The wisdom of God_ is still another of these stones. The mighty man -of Gath was mailed from head to foot. He was completely covered with a -coat of iron and brass. His whole body was protected; only his -forehead was left exposed that he might be able to see his antagonist. -And, strange to say, the first smooth stone went straight to this only -place where it could harm him, "and sunk into his forehead." God's -wisdom guided it to its own place. - -_The faithfulness of God_ is another of these stones. In his holy word -he has made unto us many exceeding great and precious promises, and -his faithfulness ensures their fulfillment. He will do as he said. -Heaven and earth may pass away, but his promises shall never pass -away. If ordinary means will not suffice for their accomplishment, -miracles shall be wrought. The sun and moon shall stand still, if need -be. Taking the past as pledge of the future, "there shall not fail one -good word of all that the Lord our God hath spoken." - -_The love of God_ is the last stone of help. "And the last shall be -first." It is the smoothest and most precious of the five. There is -some gold in all the others, but this one is all gold, and the most -fine gold. In the presence, power, wisdom and faithfulness of God much -love is mingled. He goes with us and upholds us and guides us and -remembers his covenant because he loves us, so that our last thought -crowns and comprehends all the others. The love of God is first and -last and best. Presence, power, wisdom, faithfulness and love, these -five; but the greatest of these is love. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - - - - - XII. - _The Deliverance._ - - -"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I consider him as my -Deliverer_. - -How dense the gloom that gathers round the record of Adam's sin and -fall! Reading this chapter without the cross before our eyes, it seems -the saddest in all the inspired volume. Issuing from the abyss of woe, -Satan has found an entrance into a newly-created world. Sin and death -have bridged the gulf that separated earth from hell, and are swift to -follow in Satan's track, eager to complete the ruin his hellish hate -devised. Fiends from the pit rejoice, while angels, with grief-clouded -faces, gaze upon the guilty pair. "Adam, where art thou?" Sinful man -hears the summons, and, compelled by power divine, appears in the -presence of his offended Maker. "Can any hide himself in secret places -that I shall not see him? saith the Lord." "Though they hide -themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out -hence." Truly, "there is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the -workers of iniquity may hide themselves." - -But when we read this record in the light of the cross, our grief -speedily changes into gladness. That the promise made to Satan, "Thou -shalt bruise his heel," has not been retracted, each disciple of -Christ can testify. The old enmity hissed forth by the arch-apostate -and his followers when the almighty Arm hurled them into their own -place, has not yet been destroyed. The conflict, begun in Paradise, -between the seed of the woman and the serpent--that conflict darkly -shadowed forth in the mythology of heathen nations and painfully -experienced by each regenerate heart--is raging still. "O wretched man -that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" cries -the Christian. "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from -me!" prays the Christian's Lord and Master. That the bruising is not -light, Gethsemane and Calvary bear mournful testimony. Nevertheless, -it is not vital. Thou mayest bruise his heel, Satan, but not his head. -From the abode of demons a yell of triumph must have risen when the -Light of Life was extinguished on the cross. But the triumph was -short-lived. "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy; when I fall, I -shall arise." "That which thou sowest is not quickened except it die." -"Thou shalt bruise his heel" because Omnipotence allows it, for "it -pleased the Lord to bruise him," but "it shall bruise thy head." -"Traveling in the greatness of his strength," Jesus plants his feet -upon the necks of his enemies and chains the captives to his triumphal -car. The Lion of the tribe of Judah has seized the prey. "Judah, thou -art he whom his brethren shall praise." "Let all the people praise -thee, O God; let all the people praise thee." And those who will not -render him willing homage shall be trampled under the wheels of his -advancing chariot. "But these mine enemies, which would not that I -should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me." - -Shiloh, the Pacificator, has come; and though the conflict has not -ceased, the combatants are already singing the conqueror's song. What -meaneth this shout of triumph that cometh up from the battle-field? It -is the voice of them that shout for the mastery. They go forth -singing, "Thanks be unto God, which giveth us the victory, through our -Lord Jesus Christ." We hear their song above the clash of arms; amid -the smoke of the battle-field we see their look of quiet confidence; -and as they fall in the conflict they shout, "O Death, where is thy -sting? O Grave, where is thy victory?" - -From heaven above is now proclaimed the blessing above the curse; and -though Eden was lost through the disobedience of Adam, Paradise shall -be regained through the obedience of Christ. - -Mercy closed Eden's gate. "Behold, saith the Lord, the man is become -as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his -hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever, -therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden." Life -everlasting, even in the garden of Eden, would be no boon to a -sin-stricken race. - -The gates are open now not only "that the King of Glory may come in," -but also for "the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy -face, O God of Jacob." "They shall ascend into the hill of the Lord;" -they "shall stand in his holy place." - - -[Illustration] - - - - - XIII. - _The Hearer of Prayer._ - - -"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I consider him as the -Hearer and Answerer of prayer_; for his promises concerning prayer are -many, making us "always confident" when we come to the throne of the -heavenly grace. Surely, every Christian may approach with confidence, -saying in his heart, "My God will hear me." He may adopt the language -of full assurance and say, "Father, I know that thou hearest me -always." The Bible abounds in promises relating to prayer. We also -find there many illustrations of God's willingness to answer the -prayers of his children. - -But some may say, "Notwithstanding the promises which appear so -positive, we do not always receive that for which we ask." There are -many reasons why this is so. Sometimes our motive in asking is wrong. -"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss." Sometimes we do not -ask in faith, consequently, no answer comes; for thus reads the -faithful promise: "All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, -_believing_, ye shall receive." Therefore "ask in faith, nothing -wavering." There is another reason why we do not always receive the -things for which we ask. In our ignorance and short-sightedness we -often ask for that which God in his wisdom sees would be hurtful to -us. Loving us with more than a mother's love, he withholds the evil -which seems to us good, and sends the good which seems to us evil. -Though God's providence may seem to contradict his promise, yet this -is a faithful saying: "No good thing will he withhold from them that -walk uprightly." The wicked often prosper for a time. "They are not in -trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Their -eyes stand out with fatness, they have more than heart can wish. -Behold, these are the ungodly who prosper in the world; they increase -in riches." - -How shall we solve this seeming contradiction? Suppose we cannot solve -it. Shall we therefore arraign the justice of God? Shall we reject the -promise because we cannot understand it in the light of God's -providence? Oh, not so. Let us remember that now we know only in part. -But do we not often forget the condition of this promise? Do we not -make the promise void by our unworthy walking? "No good thing will he -withhold from them that walk _uprightly_." "If ye abide in me, and my -words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done -unto you." - -We must remember that God's standard of judging between good and evil -is very different from ours. In this our thoughts are not as God's -thoughts. We call poverty, sorrow, sickness and bereavement evil; God -often shows us that they are good. We ask health; in answer God sends -sickness, which he blesses to the healing of all our spiritual -maladies. He can make our sick-chambers very Pisgahs, so that we shall -thank him for sickness. Sometimes in our weariness and discouragement -we pray for death. God in answer sends sufficient grace. He maketh our -feet "like hind's feet," equal to the way. Is not his "a more -excellent way?" It seems to us every Christian should be satisfied -with answers like these. Is it not better to have our portion -appointed by God? It is better when praying for temporal blessings -always to say, in spirit if not in words, "Nevertheless, not my will, -but thine be done." - -There are some things for which you may ask without any limitations, -and these are spiritual gifts; "for this is the will of God, even your -sanctification." You may also have this confidence when praying for -the conversion of friends. God has provided salvation sufficient for -all. In our Father's house there is room enough, and in our Father's -heart there is love enough, for all. None need perish with hunger. "As -I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the -wicked; but that the wicked should turn from his way and live." If, -then, you have a desire in your heart for the conversion of a soul, be -assured that God awakened that desire. It is a token of his readiness -to bless. "Have faith in God," "and wait on thy God continually." -Plead till the answer comes; "though it tarry, wait for it." "What -things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, -and ye shall have them." - - -[Illustration] - - - - - XIV. - _The Reward._ - - -"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I think of his reward for -faithful labor_. - -The weariness of work is often very great, but if sufficient -recompense follows our endeavors, if success crowns our working, we -soon forget past toils, "for the desire accomplished is sweet to the -soul." But if we can see no good resulting from our labors, -disappointment and grief increase our fatigue. Yes, the weariness of -grief far exceeds the weariness of successful labors, though they may -be "labors more abundant," "in season" and "out of season." The -faithful minister of Christ will here bear me witness, for of all -times of exhaustion he will acknowledge this to be the greatest, when -he goes from the pulpit to the closet with this despairing cry: "Who -hath believed our report?" "Master, we have toiled all the night and -have taken nothing." - -It was morning when upon the shore of Tiberias three tired fishermen -were seen. They were sad as well as weary, for the night had yielded -them no recompense. From the crowd that pressed upon him to hear the -word of God, Jesus stepped forth and entered into Simon's boat. And -when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, "Launch out into the -deep, and let down your nets for a draught." Naturally enough, Simon, -answering, said, "Master, we have toiled all the night." They were -very tired now, and were greatly in need of rest and refreshment. "All -the night." Slowly must the hours have worn away while they labored -and waited. And then he added, "We have taken nothing." We can almost -hear the tone of disappointment in which he said it. It would have -been no marvel if he had added, "Lord, if we have been so unsuccessful -during the time that is generally the most favorable for fishing, will -it not be useless for us to make another attempt? Besides, we are -weary all over and almost sick with disappointment; let us at least -wait till the falling darkness favors our work." - -But Simon Peter's answer was marked by more faith than this. While he -reminded the Master how long and unsuccessfully they had toiled, he -quickly added, "Nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net." -And a great multitude of fishes was the result of this act of faith -and prompt obedience. Peter and all that were with him were astonished -at the draught of fishes which they had taken. - -To our mind this astonishment does not confute the idea that this act -of obedience was prompted by faith. The result so speedily followed, -and was so great in its magnitude, that the strongest faith might well -be taken by surprise. Have you not sometimes been surprised by the -blessed and abundant answer to prayer which you have received? Perhaps -the salvation of a dear friend was the deep desire of your heart. For -this you toiled till you nearly fainted at the mercy-seat. You prayed -unceasingly, and you believed it was the prayer of faith; yet when the -answer came you were almost overcome with astonishment. - -Contemplating this scene, let us take new courage. The sowing-time is -often a time of exhaustion. It is also a time of weeping; from very -weakness God's seed-bearers weep. The work is great; "who is -sufficient for these things?" Sometimes God in his infinite wisdom -sees fit to withhold from them the knowledge of the results they are -really accomplishing. Often he calls them away before the seed is -fully ripe, and they never see the harvest, nor hear the joyful song -of the reapers who come after them. They sow in tears, and then they -lie down at the close of the day, and with sighs and tears they pass -away; but God watches over the precious seed, and the tear-watering -causes it to flourish more abundantly and ensures a more glorious -harvest. At the time of planting, if the husbandman sees no signs of -coming rain, he steeps his seed over night in water that it may spring -up sooner; but no seed springs up so soon as that which is steeped in -tears. "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall -doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." - -The present reward of work is very great, and much to be desired. "In -all labor there is profit." Every deed done for the good of others -brings a blessing to our own souls: seeking their happiness, we find -our own. God's laborers are blessed above all others. He never forgets -to reward the smallest work of love; even the cup of cold water given -in his name shall be remembered. When we fail to accomplish the good -we designed, we cannot say that our labors were in vain or that we -have spent our strength for naught. God's designs have been -accomplished; our souls have been disciplined; and as we sit down upon -the ruins of our brightest plans and fairest hopes, we glorify God far -more by our cheerful submission than we could have done by successful -labors. - -But the _future_ reward, how great it is and how enduring! The -harvest-time will be a time of joy. Past labor and weeping will be -forgotten when the Lord of the vineyard shall call the laborers that -he may reward them abundantly. What a scene will then be presented to -our view! From north, from south, from east, from west, will they -come--some who have toiled through the heat and burden of a long day; -others who have labored but one short hour. I, too, will obey the -call, saying, as I come and kneel before the God of the harvest, -"Master, behold my sheaves. I know they are very few and of little -worth; yet, Master, behold my sheaves." Then shall these cheering -words come to me, and not to me only, but to all the faithful -laborers: "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the -joy of thy Lord." - -Weary worker in the vineyard, waste not your strength in weeping. Say -not, "I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for naught, and -in vain;" for surely your judgment is with the Lord, and your work, or -your reward, with your God. "Thus saith the Lord, Refrain thy voice -from weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for thy work shall be -rewarded, saith the Lord." - - -[Illustration] - - - - - XV. - _The Soul's Portion._ - - -"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I consider him as my -soul's best portion_. - -Again and again in God's holy word are we warned to avoid -covetousness. From the midst of the thunders and lightning of Sinai -issues the emphatic command, "Thou shalt not covet." "Take heed, and -beware of covetousness," saith the Master, "for a man's life -consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth." "Let -your conversation be without covetousness," enjoins the great apostle, -"and be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will -never leave thee, nor forsake thee." - -In order, then, to gain this sweet content, let us meditate upon -Christ, who is our soul's eternal portion. Let us consider what we -already possess, and also meditate upon "things to come," till our -hands shall relax their grasp upon earthly things and our hearts cling -more closely to Christ. Our lips vainly declare, "Christ is all," if -our lives contradict our lips. The worldling looks at our daily life, -and soon judges whether or not we are satisfied with Christ. - -"Conversation" means more than mere words. In its original meaning it -includes the whole life. Our whole lives, then, must prove that Christ -is our all. - -Can we be contented in sickness, in sorrow and in poverty? Yes, we -can; "for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." In -sickness the Lord will make all your bed; he will strengthen you upon -the bed of languishing; his left hand will be under your head, while -his right hand will embrace you. In sorrow he will be with you, for he -has said, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; -and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou -walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the -flame kindle upon thee." In poverty be content, for though you are -poor and, it may be, despised of men, you are not forgotten by God. -That you might have eternal riches he became poor--so poor that he had -not where to lay his head. The manger was his cradle and the rich -man's tomb was borrowed for his burial. "For ye know the grace of our -Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he -became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." - -Christ is our _eternal_ portion, "for he hath said, I will _never_ -leave thee, nor forsake thee." "Lo, I am with you alway" were his last -words on earth. Be content, then, with such things as ye have. Having -Christ, ye possess all things, "for all things are yours; and ye are -Christ's, and Christ is God's." - -The "things present," which belong to us through the covenant of peace -made with Christ, are precious and greatly to be desired. We have the -promise of all things needful for this life. "My God shall supply all -your need." "No good thing will he withhold from them that walk -uprightly." Bread is sure; water is sure. "The young lions do lack, -and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good -thing." "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what -ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye -shall put on." "Consider the ravens" and "the lilies," and "be not -faithless, but believing;" for if God so feedeth the ravens and -clotheth the lilies, "how much more will he" feed and clothe you, "O -ye of little faith!" - -Come and meditate upon his promises, for they are positive and sure, -and full of sweet comfort. All your wants are supplied by your Lord -Jesus. Are you sick? He is your Healer. Are you weary? He is your -Rest. Are you in trouble? He is your very present Helper. Are the days -dark? He is your Sun. Are you in danger from the darts of the -adversary? He is your Shield. Does the desert sun beat hot upon your -head and the desert sand scorch your pilgrim feet? He is "as the -shadow of a great rock in a weary land." When the wicked, even your -enemies and your foes, come upon you, he is your Fortress and your -strong Tower. He is your Teacher, Brother, Friend and Saviour. What -more do you desire? - -And when "things present" are about to pass away for ever, and your -trembling feet touch the cold waters of the river of death, before the -last fond grasp of earth is given, Christ will take your hand in his, -and as he draws very near to you, you will feel in that hour that -Christ is the best portion your soul can possess. His finger will -point plainly toward "things to come," and he will doubtless give you -glimpses of glory before the time. - -We need not, however, wait till the last hour to consider the things -God has laid up for us. The lesson of present content is more easily -learned while we sit, like Bunyan's Patience, waiting for our good -things. Passion would not be satisfied till his lap was filled with -golden treasure, but Patience, with empty hands, was very quiet, -though Passion laughed scornfully. "Patience," says Bunyan, "is -willing to wait." - -What a beautiful figure of the Christian! And what are these good -things for which the Christian is willing to wait? - -First of all, he has a home in the future. No earthly home can be -compared to it, for it is a home where change and death never come. -The earthly home may be made desolate by death, but in the heavenly -home there shall be no vacant place. "There shall be no more death, -neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for -the former things are passed away." - -The Christian has also a crown laid up in the future. Here thorns may -bruise his aching brow, but there he shall be crowned. And earthly -crowns will pale before the Christian's crown of glory. If he is wise -in winning souls, they shall be placed as jewels in his crown; for -though all will have bright crowns, some shall be surpassingly -glorious, being studded with immortal souls. - -Let me, dear Lord, be one of those who "turn many to righteousness." -Give me a glorious crown, and I will gladly lay it at thy feet. No -matter if it must be with weeping that I now go forth to win souls, no -matter if my heart be weary and my hands be heavy, the reward will -more than compensate for the weariness and weeping, and every redeemed -soul shall shine in my diadem of glory. - -Let the worldling keep his portion and clutch his paltry treasures -till they crumble to dust beneath his eager fingers, but let - - "My soul to heaven aspire, - And fix its all on God." - -He is my best portion, and "my meditation of him shall be sweet" when -I remember that this "good part," which his grace has enabled me to -choose, "shall not be taken away" from me. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - - - - - XVI. - _The Cross._ - - -"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I consider his cross and -mine_. - -The cross is the emblem of our religion. To it the awakened sinner -flies when conscience fills him with gloomy fears. There is no place -of safety for him save in its blessed shadow. Looking up with faith, -he sees Jesus, the suffering Saviour, and with the sight peace and joy -fill his heart. As he starts upon his pilgrim course the cross is set -before him, and these are his marching orders: "If any man will come -after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." -Oh how he learns to love that cross of shame! it becomes radiant with -glory, and as he journeys he sings, - - "In the cross of Christ I glory." - -As he bears his own personal cross, which sometimes is exceedingly -heavy, he lays the heaviest end of it upon Christ, and looks up -joyfully through his tears to the great Cross-Bearer and learns to -"glory in tribulation." Looking up, what does he see? Beyond the cross -he sees the crown. How dazzling! how enduring! No stain nor rust shall -ever mar its beauty; none shall ever rob it of its sparkling gems. - -Tell me, I ask, who shall wear these bright crowns? "And he said unto -me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have -washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Out -of great tribulation into great exaltation. What a striking contrast! -What a happy exchange! Like the Master, they passed from a lowly state -of trouble into a lofty state of triumph. Because they were not -ashamed of him in his grief, he was not ashamed of them in his glory. -They were saved not because they suffered, but because they trusted in -Him who suffered for them. Some of them suffered even unto the death, -but the blood that made white their garments was not their own; it was -"the blood of the Lamb." "_Therefore_ are they before the throne of -God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on -the throne shall dwell among them." - -How happy are they now! Former trials, when recalled, only lead them -to new songs of praise. They remember all the way of the past, and -strike the harp-strings with exultant fingers when they think of their -sufferings, now exchanged for endless joys. - -Consider your cross, young disciple, and meditate upon it without -bitter thought. It was a wise and loving Hand that laid it upon your -shoulder, and that same Hand will lift it when he thinks you have -carried it long enough. "He doeth all things well." The end shall be -better than the beginning, and in eternity you will understand it all. -Your voice will rise in higher, loftier strains when you remember the -sickness that was sanctified and the sorrow that led you nearer to -your God. - - "Oh what a load of struggle and distress - Falls off before the cross! The feverish care; - The wish that we were other than we are; - The sick regrets; the yearnings numberless; - The thought, "this might have been," so apt to press - On the reluctant soul; even past despair; - Past sin itself,--all, all is turned to fair, - Ay, to a scheme of ordered happiness, - As soon as we love God, or rather know - That God loves us!... Accepting the great pledge - Of his concern for all our wants and woe, - We cease to tremble upon danger's edge; - While varying troubles form and burst anew, - Safe in a Father's arms we smile as infants do." - - -[Illustration] - - - - - XVII. - _The Presence._ - - -"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I remember his near and -constant presence_; for he is the joy of my life and the life of my -joy. Joy without him is hardly worth the name of joy, and sorrow with -him is better than joy. - -When my heart is overwhelmed because of enemies and foes, my terrified -soul turns quickly to him, and David's prayer becomes all my own: "Be -not thou far from me, O Lord; O my Strength, haste thee to help me! -Deliver my soul." The answer quickly comes: "Wait on the Lord; be of -good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart." - -But oh, my Saviour, "they mar my path." Remove these enemies, even for -thine own name's sake; for then shall I run in the way of holiness and -my ever-brightening path shall show forth thy praise. - -And again the answer comes: "Commit thy way unto the Lord;" "My -presence shall go with thee." - -Nearer and nearer draws the Saviour; sweeter and sweeter is his -presence in this time of my soul's sorest need. He lifts my prostrate -soul and bids my weary eyes survey the upward path. How glorious to -behold! He tells me "these light afflictions" are working out "a far -more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." And when I feel his -strong arms around me, my soul breaks forth in singing: - - "I have no foe, with thee at hand to bless; - Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness." - -Blessed is the man who has learned the secret of a happy life, and, -like Enoch, walks with God. We care not to know the outward -circumstances of him whose inner life is hid with God. His delighted -soul bathes in the sunshine of God's smile; his face reflects the -peace that flows like a river through his spirit. - -It was the presence of Christ that made the Emmaus journey so -delightful. We know that the favored two started with slow steps and -heavy hearts, and there was a deep undertone of sadness in their -voices as they talked together of all the strange things that had -happened. But what a change came over them! A stranger joined their -company, and as he talked with them their hearts burned within them, -till, drawing near the journey's end, they felt so unwilling to lose -his company that they constrained him to come in and tarry with them. -And so it came to pass that the last hours of the day were the best -hours. In the morning it was cloudy and dark, but at evening-time it -was light, for as they sat at meat the Sun of Righteousness shone full -and clear into their hearts, dispersing all the clouds. - -Does not this journey remind us of some of the days of our pilgrimage? -The morning found us heavy-hearted. We knelt at the mercy-seat, while -sighs and groans took the place of songs and rejoicings. With slow -steps and aching hearts we began the duties of the day. But soon there -came a change. Jesus, our Lord, drew near. He spake some cheering -promise, uttered some whisper of his love. Our hearts began to melt; -again we knelt at the mercy-seat. We prayed, we praised; we rose and -hastened to our duties, singing as we worked; and so the hours sped -on. Night fell; still he tarried: we slept in sweet security, for "so -he giveth his beloved sleep;" we woke to find that we were still with -Jesus. - -Happy the soul that hath the abiding presence of the Saviour. Be this -our constant prayer: "Abide with us." "Lord, I am not worthy that thou -shouldst come under my roof," but yet my heart cries out, "Abide with -me." Give me light in the evening-time. Abide with me "until the day -break and the shadows flee away." - - "Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word, - But as thou dwell'st with thy disciples, Lord-- - Familiar, condescending, patient, free-- - Come, not to sojourn, but abide, with me." - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - - - - - XVIII. - _The Appearing._ - - -"My meditation of him shall be sweet" _when I consider his appearing_. - -To those who have refused the Saviour's offer of mercy the thought of -his second coming is full of terror. With them there is a "certain -fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation." Having -"trodden under foot the Son of God," and "counted the blood of the -covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing," is it any -wonder if they fear to fall into the hands of the living God, knowing -full well that the fearful and unbelieving "shall have their part in -the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone?" - -But the event which strikes such terror into the hearts of those who -are without Christ and without hope in the world, fills the heart of -the Christian with exceeding joy. There is comfort, yea, great -comfort, in the thought of Christ's coming. The apostles departed from -Olivet with new hope and joy after receiving this angel message: "This -same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in -like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Ever since, the -waiting Church has been gazing steadfastly toward heaven, "looking for -that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our -Saviour Jesus Christ." And ever and anon angel voices have uttered -words of comfort to the waiting ones. Often the voice is the voice of -our Beloved, the Angel of the Covenant. "I will come again," he says, -"and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." -Hear his last prayer: "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast -given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory." Hear -the last words of inspiration: "Surely I come quickly." And the -waiting company of believers joyfully respond, "Amen. Even so, come, -Lord Jesus." - -The thought of his coming comforts those whose dearest friends sleep -in Jesus, for them will God bring with him. This shall be a time of -glad reunions. Let us not sorrow "as others which have no hope." We -shall soon be ever with one another. - -_There is deliverance_ in the thought of Christ's coming; "for we that -are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened." Yes, young disciple, -we have not yet reached that state of perfection when we have no -burdens. We are yet in the body, and the burden of sorrow is often -upon us; and though we try to cast this burden on the Lord, we yet -look forward with joy to Christ's coming, for then "sorrow and sighing -shall flee away," and "God shall wipe away all tears." And though -Christ has delivered us from the penalty of the broken law, yet the -burden of sin is often upon us, and many times with contrition and -shame we bow before the mercy-seat, saying, sadly, "Father, I have -sinned against heaven and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be -called thy son." The burden of death is upon us, and Christ's coming -gives comfort to those who through fear of death are all their -lifetime subject to bondage. - -Trembling disciple, perhaps you are fearing what may never come upon -you. You may be among the number of those who shall be alive at the -coming of the Lord. The time may not be distant, for nearly all the -prophecies have been fulfilled and the signs of the times seem to -declare plainly, "The coming of the Lord draweth nigh." Many a time, -it is true, the waiting Church has fancied it heard the sound of his -chariot-wheels, but the time was not yet. "Where is the promise of his -coming?" cries the scoffing world. "Behold, I come quickly." Believers -closely clasp this promise to their hearts while they pray for -patience to wait. Generations have passed away, but the word of the -Lord endureth for ever. "I come quickly." Perhaps this generation -shall not pass away till all be fulfilled. It may be so. Certainly -there is "upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;" men's -hearts are "failing them for fear, and for looking after those things -which are coming on the earth." - -"My Lord, I stand continually upon my watch-tower," remembering the -benediction, "Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh -shall find watching." - -Last of all and best of all, _there is glory_ in the thought of -Christ's coming. There is comfort, great comfort; there is -deliverance, great deliverance; there is glory, great glory, "a far -more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." "Behold, I show you a -mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a -moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet -shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall -be changed; for this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this -mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have -put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, -then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is -swallowed up in victory." What a glorious picture! No doubt is here -admitted. "We _shall_ be changed;" "this corruptible _must_ put on -incorruption;" "this mortal _must_ put on immortality." - -This thought of glory overwhelms us; it is a "weight of glory." To be -ever with one another is blessedness; to be ever with the Lord is -glory. To be free from this body of sin and death is deliverance; to -wear the likeness of our glorified Lord is transfiguration--wonderful, -dazzling, glorious! - -Is it any wonder, then, if our meditation is sweet when we reflect -upon "the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus -Christ," "who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned -like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is -able even to subdue all things unto himself?" No wonder the apostle -calls it "a blessed hope." It sustains the heart of the aged Christian -who has "fought a good fight" and finished his course. It also helps -the young disciple to "run with patience" the race that is set before -him. - -"This same Jesus shall come again." How? "In like manner as ye have -seen him go into heaven." "Behold he cometh with clouds," and with -"ten thousand of his saints." And why does he come? To take his weary -children home. "I will come again and receive you unto myself." - -"Wherefore, comfort one another with these words." - - -[Illustration] - - - - - XIX. - _The Conclusion._ - - -"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter." - -We have meditated upon the names of Christ, and have found in them a -sweet significance. Jehovah Tsidkenu satisfied the demands of the -broken law, making us righteous in the sight of God. Jehovah Shalom -gave a peace which even this tumultuous world cannot take from us. -Jehovah Nissi leads us forth to battle against our mighty foes, and -always gives us the victory; "thanks be to God!" Jehovah Rophi healeth -all our diseases with marvelous skill: even the broken heart is not -beyond his power, for his own word declares, "He healeth the broken in -heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Jehovah Jireh quiets all our -fears for the future, for his name is sufficient pledge that he will -supply all our need. Jehovah Shammah completes and crowns our joy, for -in his presence is fullness of joy; "his presence is salvation." - -We have rejoiced in "the earnest of our inheritance." Glimpses of -glory before the time have made us homesick. His "perfect work" has -filled our minds with amazement as we meditated upon our adoption, -justification, sanctification and redemption. The thoughts of his -chastenings were not painful, because we knew a blessing was concealed -in the blow. His compassion for the multitude seemed to us a sweet -thought; but as we learned something more about his sympathy with all -his "sanctified ones," and his deep personal love for each individual -Christian, our hearts melted within us, and drawing nearer to this -great heart of love, we joyfully exclaimed, "This is my Beloved, and -this is my Friend, O daughters of Jerusalem." - -We have considered the life more abundant which he gives, until life -with Christ seemed the happiest life man can know. Thoughts of the -full and free forgiveness of all our sins, even sins of scarlet hue, -were comforting thoughts; and while we cast the past behind our backs, -we looked forward to the future with new confidence, remembering the -"stones of help" provided by him to slay the giant sins. Deliverance -from the curse was certainly a pleasant thought; and as we gazed into -Paradise regained, we gave thanks because Christ had purchased for us -the "right to the tree of life" which stands in the midst of the -Paradise of God. - -Our meditation was sweet when we thought of his faithful promises -concerning prayer, for his word confirmed our own experience, and we -learned to kneel and ask with a more unwavering confidence. -Considering his reward for faithful labors made us almost forget the -weariness of work as we seemed already to hear his "Well done, thou -good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." - -Christ as the soul's best portion filled the heart with deep, -unspeakable joy, and we took up our cross, singing as we walked, -because his near presence made us almost unmindful of its weight upon -our shoulder. - -On Olivet we had our last glimpse of our living Lord. Here we stood -"gazing up into heaven" at "this same Jesus," who is as dear to us as -he was to the twelve. Our hearts thrilled over his parting blessing, -and the thought of his coming again filled us with delight. - -Our meditations are over now. They have been "sweet," or, as it may be -rendered, "as the calm evening hour." Meditating upon Jesus has -increased our joy: "I will be glad in the Lord." Around his very name -sweet thoughts thickly cluster. Jesus! my Jesus! In that dear name the -best music of heaven comes down to me. - -How sweet it sounds! A bundle of myrrh it is--a hill of -frankincense--a mountain of spices. Through all the livelong day, -through all the silent watches of the night, my mind may turn to Him -whose "name is as ointment poured forth," and no bitter, doubting, -fearful thought shall ever mingle with my musing. No dark thread shall -ever weave itself into the silver web of my sweet meditation of him, -for my unbelief is banished when my Jesus is near. All my grief fades -away in the presence of his glory, and he his own self is the joy of -my heart and the heart of my joy. - -"My Beloved is mine, and I am his." All that he is is mine, and all -that I am is his. He is more than all the world to me, and without him -heaven would not be worth having. "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and -there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee." Jesus! my Jesus! -Eternal musings will not exhaust this hive of honey. He has saved me -from my sins and betrothed me to himself for ever. O my soul, "how -much owest thou unto my Lord!" The greatness of my indebtedness I will -not fully realize till I stand upon the yonder shore, and perhaps not -even then. - - "Jesus, I ne'er can pay - The debt I owe thy love." - -I am, and ever will be, "debtor." Thy gifts to me have been so great -that, though my giving cannot enrich thee, I would fain relieve my -grateful heart by giving thee some token of love. - -In the stable at Bethlehem the Eastern sages open their costly -treasures. The sight is a strange one, and there seems a strange -incongruity between the gifts and the receiver; also between the giver -and the receiver. The wise men bow before a babe, and lavish the -riches of the East upon the infant of the lowly manger. "Lavish," did -I say? Let not the thought of waste be here implied. This babe is "the -holy child Jesus," the King of the Jews. Bring costly sacrifices. "The -kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents; the kings of -Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down -before him; all nations shall serve him." - -Jesus, Saviour, once a child! Jesus, my exalted King! what shall I -bring to thy footstool? What shall I give my Lord? - - "Were the whole realm of nature mine, - That were a present far too small." - -But I am poor, very poor. No good works have I to bring; no incense of -holy prayers; no golden thoughts in which there mingles no alloy of -impurity. - - "Thou willest that thy bride should be-- - I bless thy will--most poor, most low, - Receiving everything from thee, - My Lord and God. Then be it so. - - "That I have nothing of my own, - Freely and gladly I to all declare. - This is my portion, this alone, - That thou permittest me thy name to bear." - -Have I then nothing to give? Stay, holy Christ; I have a heart. True, -it is polluted--more than this, it is broken--yet I have heard that -though - - "Our God requires a whole heart or none, - Yet he will accept a broken one." - -Accept the gift. Take it and make it holy; fill it with love to thee. -Fill it even to overflowing; so that, having received all from thee, I -may be able to give thee all. Let me be wholly thine--thine in every -thought and passion of my soul. Here, Lord, I give my soul to thee; I -am thine. - - "Poor heart of mine, awake, arise! - And thou, my Bridegroom, my life's Sun, - Draw me to reach the heavenly prize, - Oh, do thou draw, and we will run. - Draw after thee thy fainting bride, - Who still is far, too far, from light and grace; - Till in thy presence, at thy side, - She see thee wholly--see thee face to face." - -My meditation of him makes me long to see Him whom, having not seen, I -love. I would see him--not as I have seen him in the sanctuary and in -his holy supper, but I would see him "face to face." I would see him -as he is; and, blessed be his glorious name for ever! I shall one day -see him thus. Oh blessed hope! These eyes shall see Jesus; "For I know -that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day -upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet -in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine -eyes shall behold, and not another." - -And, better than all beside, I shall be like him; for "we know that -when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he -is." Such knowledge is too wonderful for me: it is high; I cannot -attain unto it. - - "Jesus! the very thought is sweet; - In that dear name all heart-joys meet; - But sweeter than the honey far - The glimpses of his presence are. - - "No word is sung more sweet than this; - No name is heard more full of bliss; - No thought brings sweeter comfort nigh - Than Jesus, Son of God most high. - - "Jesus, the Hope of souls forlorn, - How good to them for sin that mourn! - To them that seek thee, oh how kind! - But what art thou to them that find! - - "No tongue of mortal can express, - No letter write, its blessedness: - Alone who hath thee in his heart - Knows, love of Jesus, what thou art. - - "O Jesus! King of wondrous might; - O Victor! glorious from the fight; - Sweetness that may not be expressed, - And altogether loveliest." - - -THE END. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's A Basket of Barley Loaves, by Mary Christina Miller - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BASKET OF BARLEY LOAVES *** - -***** This file should be named 50349.txt or 50349.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/3/4/50349/ - -Produced by Richard Hulse, Chris Pinfield and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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