CHAPTER IX. REMARKABLE AID IN TEMPORAL NECESSITY AND EMBARRASSMENT. ONE of the most striking and memorable occurrences of this nature happened to me in November, when I again paid a visit to My son Frederick inquired minutely into my pecuniary circumstances, and said, "When you are in want, take the gold medal, presented as a token of remembrance by my godmother, which is in your keeping; dispose of it, that it may thus be of some service."* Tears forced themselves into my eyes at this expression of filial affection, and I refused to accept his offer. This I observed pained him, and he • This medal, which might weigh about a louis d'or, had on one side a tree laden with fruit, and under it the words, "Happy is he whose children cause him joy!" On the other side was inscribed the fifth commandment, "Honour thy father and mother, that thy days may be long in the land." said, "It is now of no use, and I would rather part with ten such pieces, if I could by that means divest you of one sorrow." "Let it remain," replied I, "it may some time or other be serviceable to thee. God has hitherto helped me without having occasion to touch the medal; and he will also send us further aid." -r's, This conversation took place at Mr. H where I was staying, on the morning of the day when I meant to depart by the market-boat. Frederick bade me farewell, and went home. Mr. Hr being under the necessity of going out on business, and not expecting to find me on his return, we took a mutual leave. Whilst preparing to go on board, my son came again with a note from his master to Mr. Hr. The latter having gone out, it was left sealed on the table. I then went to the vessel, and had scarcely embarked, when Frederick came running, quite out of breath, and said, “As soon as you were gone Mr. H- --r came home, opened the note, adding, "Take this directly to your father before the boat leaves the place."" I found within a folded paper; but before examining it, read the following words," A mite from F- and H-to their dear friend K- on his journey home." It contained a double louis d'or, which I showed to my son, saying, "Thou hast now brought me such a piece of gold as thou wast desirous of giving." Tears filled his eyes, he kissed me, said "God be with you!" and was gone in a moment. I had refused my son's offer; but it pleased God graciously to fulfil my dear boy's wishes in another manner, yet so that I could not mistake the hand of Divine Providence. H-r, to whom the note was addressed, was obliged to be absent at the moment, otherwise I should have received the money from him. But Frederick was to have the pleasure of presenting his father with the piece of gold; hence he had to come once more to the boat at the very moment when it was pushing off. And why did not this gift consist of some other kind of money? Because it was intended to be a piece of gold! O thou gracious God! Frederick wished to render me service by a coin of half the value, and thou-yes, thou alone, gavest into his hands the double! I was so much affected by this extraordinary and highly striking proof of the Divine goodness, that I could scarcely refrain from shedding tears in a corner of the vessel. The wonderful coincidence of circumstances had also made a deep impression upon Frederick, as he shortly afterwards informed me. The winter following, that twofold Divine promise was once truly blessed and applied to me, under the pressure of temporal circumstances, "I will be with him in trouble-I will deliver him." God had been hitherto visibly with me in my distresses; how often had he enabled me, by his grace, to sing praises in the midst of assaulting cares, and to bless his loving-kindness! How he had always relieved me, at the proper time, and supplied my most urgent necessities! The first part of the promise, “I will be with him in trouble," was therefore fulfilled in my experience. Despond not, O my soul! Take this as the token and pledge that he will also fulfil the latter part-“I will deliver him!" as soon as his time shall come. Hitherto the word is, "Wait!" Ah, this was David's lesson; he learnt in a masterly way that God sends help in proportion to our humility and patience. And because David had so often experienced this, waiting at length became a delight; for he says in Psalm lii. 9, “I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints." Therefore the longer thou sufferest me to remain in my distress, and the longer I continue without murmuring, the more gloriously wilt thou help me, and deliver me out of my trouble. Grant that waiting may become a source of joy to me! THE TWENTY-EIGHTH OF DECEMBER, 1801. I HAVE now happily terminated the three days' festival of our Saviour's birth, with the Lord's gracious assistance. Three sacred days! A festival more solemn than any other in the year, as all the rest are founded on it. At this period how many of our fellow-christians in every part of the world were assembled, at the same time, to honour and adore him, who is the Most High and the most lowly, the most adorable and the most despised! From pole to pole songs of thanksgiving arise, from thousands upon thousands! From one end of the earth to the other resounded that invaluable watchword of Christians, "Unto us a Saviour is born!" And perhaps it ascended nowhere from more fervent hearts than in the South-Sea Islands, Africa, and India! How have those new lambs of the flock of Jesus Christ rejoiced at the birth of their recently acknowledged Saviour, with a cordiality and elevation of feeling, with a warmth and devotion which European Christians have for the most part become incapable of comprehending! How much have I spoken, O Lord! in thy name during these three days! By seven sermons, two prayer-meetings, and two celebrations of the Lord's supper, how much of the precious seed has been scattered! Thou, O |