excessive action provoked her to such a degree that she burst into a
loud laugh, and she was desired to walk out of the place of worship,
where she had certainly shown too little regard for the Divine Being and
His worshippers.
On returning home, she was very properly and severely remonstrated with,
at which she was much hurt. She replied, in broken English, "What can I
do, madam? I go to church to please you, and there I fall asleep. I go
to meeting, and there I laugh; and to tell you the truth, I begin to
think my own religion is not the right religion, for that teaches me to
worship images, and God says, 'Thou shalt _not_ make any graven image.'
If, therefore, madam, I go to any place of worship, it shall be to hear
a Mr. Whitefield, for I have heard great things of him."
"Well," said her English friend, "we will inquire where he preaches."
The good man was then dead. The ladies therefore went to the Tabernacle,
Moorfields. Mr. T. Knight was the preacher, and the native of France,
enraptured, cried out--
"This is the good and right doctrine! Here I will attend."
"Yes," said the prudent, self-righteous lady, "it is my opinion that
they believe in predestination here, and you cannot think it right that
God made any of His creatures to be damned?"
"Oh, no," said Mrs. Le Pla; "but I will certainly inquire for myself."
The next opportunity was eagerly embraced, and the zealous inquirer,
seating herself by a good old woman of the congregation, whispered--
"Pray, madam, do they believe in predestination here?"
"Why, predestination," said she, "how can they avoid believing it? The
Bible is full of it."
The querist was thunderstruck. She hastened home.
"Do they believe in predestination there?"
"An old lady told me they did," was the reply. "But," said the French
lady, "I am determined to ask the minister myself."
Not long after, she had an interview with Mr. Knight.
"Pray, sir," said she, "will you allow me to ask you a few questions?"
"By all means," said the good man.
"Then you must know," said Mrs. Le Pla, "I was brought up a Roman
Catholic, and I think that is not the right religion, because they
worship images, and I come to hear you with pleasure, sir. But my
friends tell me you believe in predestination, and a good old lady, one
of your congregation, confirms it. I have therefore taken the liberty to
ask yourself about it."
Mr. Knight said to her, "Do not believe what every old woman says to
you. Do you believe you are a sinner?"
"Oh, yes, sir!"
"Do you feel the want of Jesus Christ?"
"Oh, yes, sir."
"Then," said Mr. Knight, "continue to hear the Word of God, and search
the Scriptures to see whether I preach the truth or not."
She took his advice, and some little time after, he preached on the
subject of predestination, and desired his hearers to compare what he
had to say with their Bibles. The French lady did so, and was quite
overcome with conviction of the truth. The question now was not with
her, whether predestination was a truth of God or not, but whether she
was one of the happy number appointed to salvation.
She afterwards became established in the truth, was joined to Mr.
Brewer's Church, died in the Lord some years since, and was interred in
the adjoining burying-ground.
AN EVENING AT THE WEST END.
On Monday evening, April 23rd, 1888, we were present at the
twenty-second Annual Meeting of Gower Street Chapel Sunday School, and,
although the weather was most unfavourable, the attendance was good,
which must have been very encouraging to Mr. Cooper, the Superintendent,
and the teachers. The meeting was presided over by the senior deacon,
Mr. Link.
The proceedings were opened by singing, and the Chairman read the fourth
chapter of Malachi, after which Mr. Gray engaged in prayer.
Mr. Link, in the course of a few weighty remarks, said that they were
gathered to thank the Lord for His goodness. He felt that the children
were surrounded with many temptations to ensnare them. He spoke of the
shortness of time, and the solemnity of the day of judgment, and said
that he often meditated upon these things, and thought about the Lord's
servants and people, whom he had loved because they were the Lord's, and
whom he hoped to meet again when he had done with time things.
The report for the past year was then read by Mr. Hale, the Secretary,
from which it appears that there are 222 scholars on the books, which is
a slight decrease during the year. The library numbers about 1,030
books. The report of the Sick and Benevolent Society was also read.
Mr. Boorne, of Greenwich, in addressing the teachers, referred to the
works, Word, and worship of God. He said that the grass, moss, plants,
trees, flowers, and fruits showed the sovereignty of God. Then there
were the various animals for the use and food of mankind, and the
internal treasures--metals, oxides, salts, &c. God's wise provision of
the sea for cleansing and purifying the earth--all declared the
sovereignty, wisdom, power, and goodness of God.
"Great God, with wonder and with praise,
On all Thy works I look;
But still Thy wisdom, power, and grace
Shine brightest in Thy Book."
He then spoke of the Book of _revelation_, the Bible, and the need that
the scholars should be taught the value of it, and what it has cost to
procure it to us--what a privilege it is to be able to read it, and of
the mercy of understanding it.
He mentioned an instance of a Bible, consisting of nine volumes, being
sold for L33 6s. 8d., in the thirteenth century, which would represent
about fifteen times that sum now. To-day a Bible might be bought for a
few pence.
He referred to the rigid laws of the time of Henry V., to prevent any
from reading the Bible in the mother tongue; yet still the Book lives.
He referred to the vulgar idea of the "three R's" in education, and said
that there were three R's which he wished them to oppose in their
teaching, namely, _Romanism_, _Rationalism_, and _Ritualism_. How many
worshipped something short of God in the setting up of candles,
crucifixes, music, and other things. We must "worship in spirit and in
truth."
He concluded by exhorting them not to grow weary in well-doing, for
their labour would not be in vain in the Lord.
Mr. Hazlerigg, of Leicester, said he had the difficult task of speaking
to the children, and he wished to put before them four prizes. But they
were not tangible--nothing to eat, nor yet anything to see--yet all, he
thought, might have them, and he recommended them all to aim at getting
them.
The first thing he wished them to prize was, their Sunday School. He
said it should be the endeavour of all to keep up the honour of the
school, and, when any were tempted to do wrong, their first thought
should be, "What would they say at the Sunday School?" When he was
formerly in the army, they had what was termed "_esprit de corps_,"
_i.e._, a pride in keeping up the character of the regiment. He hoped
none of his audience would ever buy sweets on Sunday, or it might be
said, that "It is one of the Gower Street Sunday School children."
The second prize was, their Bibles. If they prized and were led by their
Bibles, they would be good children. It would make them submit to all
lawful authority. How different it would be if the command, "Thou shalt
love thy neighbour as thyself," was better learnt and practised than it
is!
In the third place, he wished them to prize their chapel. He spoke of
the blessing attending the hearing of the Word of God. He said that some
children go to school, and then slip off without going to chapel. He
hoped none of those before him ever did that.
Fourthly, he hoped they would prize their Superintendent and their
teachers. What a labour of love and self-denial was theirs! They liked
the work, and their desire was, the glory of God in the children's
good--in the salvation of their souls, and their prosperity--and they
sought for this reward--the good of their scholars.
The "touchable" prizes for the past year were then distributed by Mr.
Hazlerigg, and after Mr. Link had concluded with prayer, the children
each received a bun and orange, the gift of Mr. Prior, one of their
teachers.
For the sake of brevity, a vote of thanks was proposed to the latter,
associated with the names of the visiting ministers and the President,
which was heartily responded to. Mr. Hazlerigg replied for all in a few
witty words, which brought the evening to a genial and timely close.
RAGGED TOM.
Tom was a poor, ragged boy. His home was an old house in a narrow court.
A stool, a deal table, an old bed in one corner, and a bag of shavings
in another, were all the goods contained in the room where Tom, with his
father and mother, lived.
Tom's hands and face were generally very dirty; his hair matted; his
clothes were in rags, and his feet were without shoes. He often had
nothing to eat, and no fire to warm him, however cold the day. Many were
the blows and kicks the poor boy received from the rude men and lads who
lived in the court.
It was well for him that a Ragged School was established in the
neighbourhood, and he was invited to go. He then learned that he had
three enemies of which he had not hitherto thought much. These were
dirt, ignorance, and sin.
He speedily vanquished the first at a pump. The second he overcame by
patient effort at the school. Then Tom became a respectable, happy, and
useful young man. Best of all, he sought mercy and help from God, and
lived to prove that he had God's smile and blessing.
OUR BIBLE CLASS.
THE GOOD SHEPHERD GATHERING HIS SHEEP.
(JOHN x. 16.)
In the city of Jerusalem, at the Feast of Tabernacles, a few months
before His death, Jesus set forth this beautiful parable of the Good
Shepherd. He had given sight to a man who from his birth had been blind.
The Pharisees, as usual, had shown their hatred of Him, and He then
described Himself as the true Leader, beloved and honoured of all
believing, obedient souls, declaring that His enemies did not believe
Him, because they were not His sheep.
"My sheep hear My voice; I know them, they follow Me, and I lay down My
life for them." "And other sheep I have that are not of _this_
[Israelite or Jewish] fold; them also I must bring; and they shall hear
My voice, and there shall be one fold and one Shepherd" (John x. 16).
The Jews who listened to those gracious words were much divided in their
opinions about them, some declaring that Jesus was mad; others,
appealing to the great miracle He had wrought in opening the eyes of the
blind; and three months later, at another feast (see ver. 22), their
controversy was renewed, and Jesus concluded His striking allegory by
saying, "I and My Father are One, and no power shall ever be able to
snatch My people from My hand or from His" (ver. 29, 30).
Returning to our text, we find Jesus declaring that all His people are
His before they know or love Him.
Up to that time the Jewish Church had been the only earthly fold of
believers in the living God, and all the Gentiles who were taught by the
Holy Spirit were led to unite with the house of Israel or the people of
Judah.
God was Israel's Shepherd (Psa. lxxx. 1). He led His people "like a
flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron" (Psa. lxxvii. 20). They were
regarded as "the sheep of His pasture" (Psa. c.), and the world around
them were strangers and foreigners, "aliens from the commonwealth of
Israel, and strangers to the covenant of promise."
But among these outcasts Jesus had many sheep. He gathered some in olden
times. He came to lay down His life for a great multitude, to be drawn
to Himself from every kindred, and tribe, and nation, and tongue. He
spoke of them as being already His own--"Other sheep I have, and them
also I must bring," or lead. "The Son of Man came to seek and to save
that which was lost." "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned every one to his own way"; and He who paid the ransom price of
His wandering flock, goes after every one for whom He shed His blood.
"He finds them wandering far from God,
And brings them to His chosen fold."
"As many as are led by His Spirit"--the Spirit of God--"they are the
children of God," the sheep of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He brings them to feel that they are lost--that they are far off by
wicked works--that they are guilty, and weak, and helpless--and thus
they are drawn to the Good Shepherd, who can and will deliver them from
all evil, and fill them with all good.
And having brought near, He leads in green pastures, beside still
waters; and even when the way is less pleasant, He always "leads in the
way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment" (Prov.
viii. 20).
"They shall hear My voice," He said, and it is by His voice--His Word
spoken to the heart--that He ever leads His people. Three thousand heard
it on the day of Pentecost, and were pricked in their heart. Wounded,
and imploring forgiving, healing grace, they heard again with gladness,
and followed their Lord in baptism (Acts ii. 37-41).
Lydia's heart was opened to receive the glad tidings, and she followed
the Good Shepherd; and Jesus leads His disciples all the way home. "In
all thy ways," the wise man says, "acknowledge Him, and He shall direct
thy paths" (Prov. iii. 6). "These are they that follow the Lamb
whithersoever He goeth" (Rev. xiv.).
Happy are they who know the sound of that heavenly voice! Have _we_
heard it? It may not be _recognized_ at first, as Samuel heard, but did
not know _who_ called him, until his name had been again and again
repeated, and Eli had "perceived that the Lord had called the child."
But as surely as He speaks, we shall, sooner or later, _know_ His voice,
and long and love to hear it.
Then Jesus promises that all His people, of all nations and all ages of
time, shall become one flock--one in Jesus; one in heart, and mind, and
judgment--and the whole redeemed and gathered flock shall at last dwell
in one fold--the fold of heavenly, eternal life and glory.
"From sorrow, care, and pain,
And sin they shall be free,
And perfect love and friendship reign
Through all eternity."
"And there shall be one Shepherd." "Jesus only" shall be seen,
acknowledged, and followed. Now He is loved and honoured as the great
Chief Shepherd of the sheep, and the ministers of the Gospel are
pastors, or shepherds, serving under Him. Christ brings them forth,
gives them their work, and blesses their careful labours. But He removes
them one by one. He alone abides for evermore. And in the fold above,
the pastors appear no more as shepherds, but as sheep, the redeemed and
saved people of the Lord.
Yet, wonderful to relate, the one divine Shepherd is called "the Lamb"
(Rev. vii. 9-17)--"the Lamb of God," all-seeing and almighty, yet the
Lamb that once was slain.
"His life and blood the Shepherd paid,
A ransom for the flock."
And this wonderful work is to be remembered while the years of eternity
roll, therefore it is "the Lamb in the midst of the throne that shall
feed them, and lead them to fountains of living waters; and God shall
wipe away tears from all eyes."
Shall we be among them? Let us rather ask, Are we asking Him to be our
Leader now? Are we "hungering and thirsting after righteousness" now?
And are we mourning over sin, and after Him? If so, our Leader in this
world will be our Leader still.
"He that hath fed will feed;
He that hath blessed will bless;
He that hath led will lead;
Can He do less?"
And we shall hunger and thirst no more in that blessed fold, where "in
His presence there is fulness of joy, and at His right hand are
pleasures for evermore." This is the life He gives His ransomed ones.
May it be ours.
Our next subject will be, _Elisha and the Shunammite_ (2 Kings iv. 8-37;
viii. 1-6).
Yours affectionately,
H. S. L.
BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN JUNE.
June 3. Commit to memory Prov. x. 27,
June 10. Commit to memory Prov. x. 28.
June 17. Commit to memory Prov. x. 29.
June 24. Commit to memory Prov. x. 30.
A SANCTIFIED heart is better than a silvered tongue.
PRIZE ESSAY.
WHAT MARKS DO THE LAMBS OF JESUS CHRIST BEAR?
True Christians may be known by their walk and conversation. They are
anointed ones, and they walk in the narrow way, following in Christ's
footsteps. They look unto Jesus, who is "the Author and Finisher of
their faith." They are a despised or persecuted people, as true
Christians have been in all ages.
The lambs of Christ have always a great deal of trouble, and are tried
and tempted in many ways, but it is for a token of their eternal
salvation, if God sanctifies the trouble. If their affliction drives
them to God, it is a sanctified affliction, and is for their souls'
good.
An infallible mark of a regenerated character is, when he begins to hate
evil, and where there is the Spirit's work, there is the panting after
God.
A child of God looks within, and feels that there is no putting away sin
but by the blood of Jesus Christ, and no pardon for poor sinners but by
His sacrifice.
We cannot make ourselves clean, or walk in the right way in our own
strength, but God will help us if we ask Him in the right way.
The lambs of Jesus Christ are "poor in spirit" and "pure in heart." They
"hunger and thirst after righteousness." Although they are often
"persecuted for righteousness' sake," yet Christ's righteousness is
imputed to them, because He has atoned for their sins. In speaking of
truly good men, Mr. Gadsby said--
"Life, light, and holiness divine
From Jesus they by faith receive;
The Spirit makes His graces shine,
And gives them power in Christ to live."
JANE BELL
(Aged 14 years).
_Sydney House, Sleaford,
Lincolnshire._
[Very creditable Essays have been received from Eleanor Saunders, Lilly
Rush, A. Pease, W. E. Cray, and Laura Creasey. We hope our young friends
will follow up the various subjects, as the study of them may do them
good.]
[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of "The Dairyman's
Daughter."
The subject for August will be, "Contrast the Lesson Taught by the
Conduct of Solomon and of Rehoboam, at the Commencement of their Reign";
and the prize to be given for the best Essay on that subject, a copy of
"The Life of George Whitfield." All competitors must give a guarantee
that they are under fifteen years of age, and that the Essay is their
own composition, or the papers will be passed over, as the Editor cannot
undertake to write for this necessary information. Papers must be sent
direct to the Editor, Mr. T. Hull, 117, High Street, Hastings, by the
first of July.]
ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA.
(_Page 106._)
"_Lamb of God._"--JOHN i. 29. "_Lord of all._"--ACTS x. 36.
L emue L . Proverbs xxxi. 1.
A cch O . Judges i. 31.
M ibza R . 1 Chronicles i. 53.
B ilda D . Job ii. 11.
O n O . 1 Chronicles viii. 12.
F ar of F . Ephesians ii. 13.
G abbath A . John xix. 13.
O phe L . 2 Chronicles xxvii. 3.
D ia L . 2 Kings xx. 11.
CLARA ELLIS
(Aged 14 years).
MANY wish to be like Christ in _bliss_ who seek not to be like Him by
_grace_.
Interesting Items.
DAIRYING BY A DUCHESS.--The Duchess of Hamilton has opened a shop in
Ipswich for the sale of butter, and is crowded with orders, at 1s. 7d.
per pound.
TELEGRAPHING from a moving train has now become a practical success in
America, and the messages have been successfully transmitted by
induction through twenty feet of air.
A POWERFUL PNEUMATIC GUN.--A pneumatic gun, which is to throw a shell
containing six hundred pounds of dynamite four miles, is being
constructed for Italy in Philadelphia.
THE QUEEN has presented to St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, a very
handsome silver gilt altar cross, in commemoration of her Jubilee. The
royal gift, which has, it is said, cost about L300, was displayed upon
the table next the reredos for the first time on April 1st.
THE Brighton Hotel, on Coney Island, has been successfully moved one
hundred and twenty feet further inland, in order to escape the
encroachments of the sea. The building was raised in one mass and rested
on trucks made to run on rails. Six locomotives were then attached to
the cars, and dragged the hotel for the distance named. It is intended
to move it still further.
A SPANISH Protestant clergyman, Senor Vila, has been condemned to
imprisonment for two years four months and one day, and to a fine of two
hundred and fifty francs and the costs, by the Criminal Court at Malaga,
for having discussed and condemned the dogmas of the Roman Catholic
Church in a pamphlet which he published in answer to the attacks of a
Catholic priest from Paris, who came to Malaga, and published a pamphlet
against the Protestant religion.
THE OLDEST AND YOUNGEST.--The oldest Cabinet Minister is Viscount
Cranbrook, Lord President of the Council, aged seventy-three; the
youngest is Mr. Balfour, Chief Secretary for Ireland, aged thirty-nine.
The oldest member of the Privy Council is Viscount Eversley, aged
ninety-three, who is also the oldest peer of the realm; the youngest
member is the Duke of Portland, aged thirty. The youngest duke is H.R.H.
the Duke of Albany, aged three. The Right Hon. C. P. Villiers (South
Wolverhampton), aged eighty-six, is the oldest member of the House of
Commons; and the youngest is Lord H. Cavendish-Bentinck, aged
twenty-four. Mr. Justice Manisty, aged seventy-eight, is the oldest
English judge; and Mr. Justice Charles, aged forty-nine, is the
youngest. The oldest bishop is Dr. Durnford, of Chichester, aged
eighty-five; and the youngest is Dr. John Wordsworth, of Salisbury, aged
forty-four.
A MILITARY HEROINE.--A handsome marble memorial has been erected in the
cemetery at Southsea in honour of the late Mrs. Fox, whose death was, by
special order of the Duke of Cambridge, signalized by a military
funeral. The inscription on the memorial is as follows:--"Sacred to the
memory of Mrs. George Fox, wife of Quartermaster George Fox, 2nd
Connaught Rangers (94th Regiment), who died at Cambridge Barracks,
Portsmouth, on January 22nd, 1888, from the effects of wounds received
in the action of Bronker's Sprint, Transvaal. For her heroic and
unselfish conduct on that occasion in nursing the wounded--desperately
wounded though she was herself--she was decorated by Her Majesty with
the Order of the Royal Cross. This monument is erected to her memory as
a token of affection and esteem by the officers (past and present),
non-commissioned officers, and men of the 2nd Connaught Rangers. 'Well
done, thou good and faithful servant' (Matt. xxv. 21)." The inscription
is surmounted by the regimental crest--a crown, an elephant, the word
"Seringapatam"--and "2nd Battalion the Connaught Rangers."
A RETURN, just prepared at the War Office, of the religious profession
of non-commissioned officers and men of the British European troops and
Colonial Corps (exclusive of Indian troops), shows that, at the
beginning of the present year, there were 158,414 Protestants of various
denominations on the roll books, of whom 132,537 belonged to the Church
of England, 15,072 were Presbyterians, 9,437 Wesleyans, and 1,369
belonged to one or other of the smaller Protestant bodies. The total
number of Roman Catholics was 40,775; and there were 274 who were either
Mahometans, Hindoos, or Jews; while the religion of 1,044 was not
reported. The proportion of Church of England soldiers per thousand (not
reckoning the Colonial corps) was 668; of Roman Catholics, 205; of
Presbyterians, 76; of Wesleyans, 46; of men of the smaller Protestant
denominations, 5; there being thus in all 795 Protestants per 1,000, to
205 Roman Catholics. The inquiry has not been so complete in the line
cavalry as in other branches of the service, there being 675 men out of
17,354 whose religious profession has not been reported; whilst amongst
the 129,599 men of the line infantry, only 272 were not reported.
WATCH GLASSES.--Of watch glasses, 50,000 gross, or 7,200,000, are sold
annually in the United States. Most of these are imported from England.