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diff --git a/old/50349.txt b/old/50349.txt deleted file mode 100644 index aa896ca..0000000 --- a/old/50349.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2909 +0,0 @@ -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: 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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