Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

care of me hath flourished again." Small as such tokens of kindness might seem, they yet gladdened him greatly, and anew refreshed and strengthened him for his arduous labours.

What specially touched him on such occasions was not so much the gift itself, or its seasonableness, as the pure and elevated motive of those who gave it. It was because love prompted it that he prized it so greatly,-love to the Master, and love to the servant for the Master's sake. Such kindness to the servant is kindness to the Lord, and he remembers it as such, and will one day crown it with open acknowledgment and gracious reward. "Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

After telling us of the arrival of himself and his companions at a heathen village on the banks of the Orange River, Dr. Moffat says: "We had travelled far, and were hungry, and thirsty, and fatigued. We asked water, but they would not supply it. I offered three or four buttons that still remained on my jacket for a little milk. This also was refused. We had the prospect of another hungry and thirsty night. When twilight drew nigh, a woman approached from the height beyond which the village lay. She bore on her head a bundle of wood, and had a vessel

of milk in her hand. She laid them down, and returned to the village. A second time she approached with other and larger supplies. We asked her again and again who she was. She remained silent, till affectionately entreated to give us a reason for such unlooked-for kindness to strangers. The solitary tear stole down her sable cheek when she replied, 'I love Him whose servants ye are; and surely it is my duty to give you a cup of cold water in his name. My heart is full, therefore I cannot speak the joy I feel to see you in this out-of-theworld place.' I asked her how she kept the life of God in her soul, in the absence of all communion with saints. She drew from her bosom a copy of the Dutch New Testament she had received in a school some years before. This,' she said, 'is the fountain whence I drink; this the oil which makes my lamp burn.'"

Thus does the Lord sustain and gladden the hearts of his servants in their times of need.

Whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.—MARK ix. 41.

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.-Acrs xx. 35.

February 11.

WITH MANY THE BLOSSOM SEEMS TO COME, BUT NEVER THE FRUIT.

A

T this moment, in India, there are thousands of those trained in our great missionary institutions who, from intimate acquaintance with the evidences of Chris

tianity and its fundamental doctrines, are almost persuaded to renounce idolatry, and cast in their lot with the people of God. But there, alas! to the grief of those who are thirsting for their salvation, they deliberately and persistently pause. And why? Not because of lacking evidence, or any remaining doubts, but simply because they shrink from the cross and the shame and persecutions that would follow. They have light enough to be almost persuaded, but not strength enough to be thoroughly decided.

With multitudes in our own land, alas! it is just the same. Their faces seem Zionward, their convictions are frequent, and many an anxious inquiry comes from their lips. But they never get beyond this. They are almost, but never altogether Christians. There is always something they will not give up. Though expressly told that they cannot both close with Christ and continue in sin, they still attempt the impossibility. Some evil things, perhaps, after considerable struggle, they might surrender; but to give up the wedge of gold, the Babylonish garment, or, to speak without figure, to give up besetting and longcherished sins, would be like rending asunder body and spirit; and rather than consent to such a severance, they go on risking their eternal all.

With others the hindrance is not so much something they will not give up, as something they will not accept, and that something is salvation as a gift-free, full, and absolutely unmerited; and so, when the door is finally shut, it is not within that they are found, but without.

In the life of a tree, one sometimes sees a little ivy shoot gradually entwine itself around the stem. For

years they grow together, and the stately tree seems almost to be more luxuriant clad in the green foliage of the ivy. But at length the vital resources of the tree become exhausted; it withers and dies. Many forget that sin is an ivy more fatal still; for what it ruins is an immortal soul. To spare the one is eternally to destroy the other.

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.-ACTS xxvi. 28, 29.

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.-Matt. vi. 24.

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.—ISA. lv. 6.

February 12.

IN SPITE OF ITS DARK LOOK, TEMPTATION OFTEN
SERVES A BRIGHT END.

OF

the many temptations and trials which beset God's children, some are light and transient in their nature, others severe and prolonged; some are mainly outward in their character, others inward and spiritual; some peculiar to youth, while others belong exclusively

to age.

Though often linked together, there is yet a difference between temptation and trial. With the former we invariably associate the idea of incitement to sin, through the wiles of our adversary, but not with the latter. It is true that every trial is in one sense a temptation to murmuring, hard thoughts, and distrust. It is true, besides, that every temptation is a trial of the sincerity of our profession, and the thoroughness of our loyalty to our

great Lord and Master. But whatever the difference in these respects, this much can be said of all of them, that though never in themselves joyous, but grievous, they are yet divinely permitted, and can be so graciously overruled as to work together for highest good. Indeed, for a good man anything is good that strips the world of its charms, abases his pride, teaches him the meaning of Scripture, exercises his faith, brightens his hope, and thereby makes him long more ardently for his heavenly home. Accordingly, James, when writing to the twelve tribes scattered abroad, said, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience."

It is said of a saintly man in medieval times that in a season of temptation the great adversary suggested to him that he was a reprobate, and persuaded him to take his fill of all the pleasures of this life, because he was excluded from every future joy with God in heaven. "No," replied the good man; "not so, Satan. If I · must not enjoy God after this life, let me enjoy him as much as I can in this life."

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.-MATT. xxvi. 41.

Lead us not into temptation.-MATT. vi. 13.

God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.-1 Cor. x. 13.

« AnteriorContinuar »