old vessel sprang a leak, and for weeks crew and passengers had to work
at the pumps to keep her afloat. At length, when all prospect of rescue
seemed hopeless, and the men were on the point of giving up in despair,
Mrs. Pryor, who had maintained her calmness and encouraged the sailors
all along, came out of her cabin one morning, saying she had good news,
for she had seen in a dream a vessel coming to their help that very day.
She had forgotten the name of the ship, but if the female passengers
would mention their maiden names, it would be recalled to her memory.
One of them said her name had been "Archibald." "That," said Mrs. Pryor,
"is the name of the ship that will save us." The men were cheered, and
turned with new energy to the pumps; and that evening, just before the
vessel foundered, they were rescued by a small Halifax schooner, named
the _Archibald_.
The crew and passengers attributed their deliverance, under God, to the
influence of Mrs. Pryor; and here was the explanation of the guidance
she believed herself to have received to sail in the _Fame_, contrary to
the wishes of her friends.
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord."--_Lantern._
IF Christ be not a refiner's fire _in_ you, He will be a consuming fire
_to_ you.
GOD can give a pardon to the greatest sin, but He cannot give a
patronage to the least sin.
"JESUS LOVES ME!"
A few years ago, a poor girl in London, to whose soul the Spirit had
spoken peace through the blood of Jesus, was very anxious to impart the
knowledge, and tell some other soul of the dear Saviour she had found.
She was too poor and ragged to take a class in a Sunday School. She
especially longed to tell children of Jesus. She thought, if she could
only be instrumental in the winning of one little child, how blessed it
would be, so she used to speak to any little child she saw standing
about in the street.
One little boy, about seven years old, often went to her to hear her
joyful Gospel tidings. One day she missed him, and searched until she
found him. Poor little fellow! He was lying in great agony upon a
miserable bed of straw in a wretched dwelling, and was quite alone.
The kind girl, full of pity for him, and anxious to relieve him, called
the attention of neighbours to him, but they declined to take any step
in the matter. At last she called a policeman. He made the case known to
the authorities, and the little sufferer was taken to the workhouse
hospital. Here he remained in great suffering, the doctors being unable
to do anything to relieve him.
In training him for an acrobat, his parents had treated him so severely,
in order to make his tender little limbs supple, that there was not a
bone in his body seemingly in its proper place, and his agony was most
intense. Six doctors, including Queen's physicians, had his case under
consideration, but their skill could not avail. He was unable to lie on
his back or side. A frame was made to support his head as he leaned
forward. His poor little hands were wrapped in cotton-wool steeped in
morphia, to allay the pain.
When he had been in the hospital about four months, a lady went to see
him, from whom I heard this most touching and true account. She said she
should never forget his face when he raised his head to speak to her.
Such a beautiful face, with sweet blue eyes and placid expression, met
her gaze. He so frequently said, "Thank you." It was, "Thank you, I am
not suffering quite so much to-day"; or, "Thank you. You are so kind."
One day, she asked him if he loved Jesus. He looked at her so
reproachfully that her heart smote her for having asked such a question;
then he said, "Jesus loves me." She saw then the meaning of his
reproachful look. How could she ask him whether _he_ loved Jesus when
Jesus loved _him_? The dear little sufferer had grasped the secret of
power. It was not _his_ love for Jesus, but the love of Jesus _to him_,
that was the solid rock on which he stood.
Another time he said, "Oh, I don't mind bearing a little pain for Jesus.
He died for me."
The language of some in the hospital was very dreadful. Such
blasphemy--such cursing and swearing--even when dying. But the clear
voice of the young sufferer often rose high above all others. It
distressed him beyond all measure, and he called out, "Oh, don't, don't!
Jesus hears you." Rough men, touched by the sight of his pain, would
stand by him, listening to his words, silenced by his entreaties. Truly
he was "out of weakness made strong."
Not long after the visit of the lady to whom I have referred, God
released the loving little soul from its tenement of suffering, and
revealed to him, in the "eternal weight of glory," how fully He loved
him. His brief tale of life on earth, with its pain so bravely borne,
and its knowledge of love so faithfully testified, is now changed for
the song and the crown, and the exceeding bliss of being for ever with
Him who loves him, "whom to know is life eternal," and "in whose
presence is fulness of joy."
NETTIE.
A RED SEA ROCK.
A fourth, and happily a successful, search by Her Majesty's ships has
just been made for a reported rock towards the southern end of the Red
Sea, on which two steamships, the _Avocet_ and _Teddington_, are
supposed to have struck during the year 1887, both ships afterwards
foundering.
Owing to a considerable error in the position given by the former
vessel, the first search was mainly over ground too far to the westward,
and operations were suspended until more accurate information could be
obtained. The loss of the second ship, in a position given five miles
north-east of the first, caused a second and careful search to be made
on a more extended area, still with no indication. A surveying vessel
was then sent two thousand miles in order to institute a rigorous
examination; but six weeks' close search--though under great
difficulties of strong wind and heavy sea--bore no fruit, and various
theories were started to account for the loss of the two steamships.
The fourth ship, Her Majesty's surveying ship _Stork_, has been more
successful. Guided by some slight indication afforded by an
insignificant rise in the sea bottom, the rock has been at last found.
It is a small coral patch, only fifteen feet under the surface of the
sea, and stands in twenty-eight fathoms of water, in latitude 14 deg. 22
min. 8 sec. N., longitude 42 deg. 41 min. 32 sec. E. It lies midway
between the two best positions that critical cross-examination had
finally settled as most probable for the respective vessels that were
lost. Though it is between five and six miles from the direct straight
line of track, the existence at times of strong currents transverse to
the axis of the Red Sea, causes the danger presented by it to be by no
means insignificant, though it is a matter for marvel that it has never
been struck before.
The difficulty of finding such a small rock may be appreciated from the
fact that one of the searching ships was at anchor within four hundred
yards of it, with her boats sounding round her, without its being
perceived, though she was driven from her anchorage by a gale before the
spot was passed over by the boats.
Seeing the enormous British trade, valuable both in lives and property,
that passes down the Red Sea, it is a matter of general congratulation
that the Admiralty refused to discontinue the search until the last hope
of finding a rock was dispelled, and that the efforts to discover it
have at length been crowned by success.
KENILWORTH CASTLE.
Willis, the American traveller, in his "Famous Persons and Famous
Places," observes that, when visiting Kenilworth, he noticed with
surprise that in one place the swelling root of a creeper had lifted one
arch from its base, and the protruding branch of a chance spring tree
(sown, perhaps, by a field-sparrow) had unseated the keystone of the
next. And so perish castles and reputations--the masonry of the human
hand, and the fabrics of human thought--not by the strength which they
feared, but by the weakness of trifling things which they despised.
Little did John O'Gaunt think, when these rudely-hewn blocks were heaved
into their seats by his herculean workmen, that, after resisting fire
and foe, they would be sapped and overthrown at last by a vine-tendril
and a sparrow!
THE PRIEST AND THE LADY; OR, TRANSUBSTANTIATION EXPOSED.
A lady once, a Protestant, in ignorance was led
To think she might with comfort live, though to a Papist wed:
But Rome decrees no peace they'll have who marry heretics,
Until their households have been made submissive to her tricks.
It sorely grieved this husband that his wife would not comply
To join the "mother Church" of Rome, and heresy deny:
Day after day he flattered her, but still she held it good
That man should never bow his knee to idols made of wood.
The Mass, the priest, and miracles, were made but to deceive;
And transubstantiation, too, she never could believe.
He went unto his clergy, and told him his sad tale--
"My wife's an unbeliever, sir; try if you can prevail.
"You say you can work miracles--she says it is absurd--
Convince her and convert her, and great is your reward."
The priest went with the gentleman--he thought to gain a prize--
He says, "I will convert your wife, and open quite her eyes."
So when they came unto the house, "My dear," the husband cried,
"The priest is come to dine with us." "He's welcome," she replied.
The dinner being ended, the priest to teach began,
Explaining to the lady the sinful state of man.
The kindness of the Saviour (which no one can deny),
Who gave Himself a Sacrifice, and once for sin did die.
"He by His priest still offers up Himself a Sacrifice."
The lady only answered this by expressing great surprise.
"I will return to-morrow--prepare some bread and wine--
And then dispense the Sacrament to satisfy your mind."
"I'll bake the cake," the lady said. "You may," replied he,
"And when you see this miracle, convinced I'm sure you'll be."
The priest returned accordingly--the bread and wine did bless--
The lady said, "Sir, is it changed?" His reverence answered, "Yes,
It's changed now from bread and wine to real flesh and blood;
You may depend upon my word, that it is very God."
Thus, having blessed the bread and wine, to eat he did prepare.
The lady said unto the priest, "I would have you take care;
For one half ounce of arsenic I have mixed in that cake,
But as you have its nature changed, it can no difference make."
The priest stood all confused, and looked as pale as death;
The bread and wine fell from his hands, and he did gasp for breath.
"Bring me my horse!" his reverence cried; "this is a cursed place!"
"Begone! begone!" the dame replied; "you are a cursed race!"
Her husband sat confounded, and not one word could say.
At last he spoke--"My dear," said he, "the priest has run away;
Such mummery and nonsense can never bear the light;
Apostate Rome I must denounce, and quit it I will quite."
HERESIES are views discordant to the truths of God.
STAND BACK.
A gentleman spending his holidays in Scotland was fishing for trout. He
had fishing-tackle and appliances of the best description. He threw out
his bait all the morning, but caught nothing. Towards afternoon he
espied a little ragged urchin, with tackle of the most primitive order,
nipping the fish out of the water with marvellous rapidity. Amazed, he
watched the lad for a while, and then went and asked him if he could
explain the reason why he was so successful, in spite of his meagre
outfit, while the expensive apparatus could catch nothing. The boy
promptly replied, "The fish will no bite, sir, as lang as ye dinna _keep
yersel' oot of sight_."
Well has it been said that "fishers of men need not wonder at their want
of success, if they do not keep themselves out of sight,' and uplift the
brazen serpent on the Gospel pole, while studiously keeping themselves
hidden behind the pole."
HIS TITLE DEEDS.
The deacon of a Church lay dying. He had been a successful merchant, and
he was about leaving this world to give an account of his stewardship.
When he was near his end, he asked his wife to bring him his
title-deeds. The lady went to his private drawer, and drew out some
musty papers relating to his property, which she took to him. As soon as
he saw them, he said--
"No, no; that is not what I mean. Bring me the New Testament."
It was brought, and he had it opened at Romans viii. 33--"Who shall lay
anything to the charge of God's elect?"
He shortly after closed his eyes in death, his finger continuing to rest
on the verse.
OUR BIBLE CLASS.
ELISHA AND THE SHUNAMMITE.
(2 KINGS iv. 8-37; viii. 1-6.)
As the Prophet Elisha carried God's messages, and did His appointed work
among the Israelites, he passed through Shunem.
"A great woman," or, as we should say, a rich, influential lady, lived
there with her husband and servants, and in her heart "some good thing
toward the God of Israel was found," so when the Prophet passed her
door, she invited him and his attendant to rest and refreshment; and
since he often came that way, she induced her husband to have a room
built upon the wall of the house, which she got furnished in a simple
way, and this was set apart for Elisha's special use. His heart was
deeply touched by the kind sympathy so freely shown him, and he offered
to do anything she might ask to show his gratitude. But the good woman
was not ambitious. "I dwell," said she, "among mine own people. I am
well content with the blessings I enjoy, and ask no more."
This Shunammite was doing good not for the sake of reward. She honoured
the Prophet because she perceived that he was "a holy man of God"--a
beautiful proof that she also loved and served the Lord, for "we know
that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren."
In honouring His Prophet she honoured God, and He has said (and He is
true), "Them that honour Me I will honour."
The Shunammite's honour belongs to all who love God's people for His
sake, for Jesus also declared that "whosoever shall give one of His
little ones a cup of cold water to quench his thirst, in the name of a
disciple, shall in no wise lose his reward" (Matt. x. 41, 42).
The loving services rendered to the Saviour's friends--even to those who
are most closely connected with us, or who often come in our way--are
accepted by Jesus as done unto Himself. We may not be able to
accomplish great and notable things, but, like this woman of old, may we
do good as we have opportunity, and receive His word of acceptance, like
Mary, "She hath done what she could."
But the Shunammite was to be rewarded in a very unexpected way. She had
no children, and Gehazi mentioned this fact to his master, who, in the
spirit of prophecy, assured her that, in due time, a son should be given
her. Her joy is described in her reply to Elisha. The news seemed too
good to be true. But "God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all
that we ask or think." The promised blessing came, and doubtless the
mother felt that her cup overflowed with happiness.
But earthly hopes are always insecure. The child had grown; and at
harvest-time he went to the field with his father and the reapers, when
suddenly what we should call a sunstroke fell upon him. "My head! my
head!" was all he could say, and the father had him carried to his
mother. She tended him with loving care, but at noon he died. She took
the lifeless form upstairs, and laid it on the Prophet's bed, and then
announced her intention to go and find the man of God, saying, "It shall
be well," or "peace."
Did she think her child would be restored to life at the Prophet's word?
Perhaps so. She had received him at first in a miraculous way, and by a
miracle he might be restored to her. At all events, her words and
conduct illustrate the divine encouragement, "Trust Him at all times, ye
people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a Refuge for us."
They saw her in the distance, and Gehazi ran to meet her, with the
question, "Is it well with thee, thy husband, and the child?" And she
answered, "Well." She would not tell the servant her sorrow. She
hastened on to his master, and in her grief she caught hold of his feet,
as if to hold him fast. Elisha, though a prophet, did not know what had
befallen her. Perfect knowledge belongs to God alone, and He had not
revealed this matter to him yet. He heard her story, and sent Gehazi
with all haste to lay his staff upon the face of the child. But the
mother refused to leave Elisha, and they together followed Gehazi, who,
first reaching the chamber of death, laid the Prophet's rod upon the
dead, but in vain. "There was neither voice nor hearing." A solemn
picture of spiritual death--no voice to cry to God; no ears to listen to
His Word. Are we alive or dead?
Elisha next entered the chamber alone, and, shutting the door, he prayed
to the Lord; and in the end, the child was perfectly restored to life
and health.
And this wondrous miracle was no doubt intended to foreshadow the
general resurrection of the last great day, and to show that "with God
all things are possible."
Here, too, we see a figure of "Him that was to come." The Shunammite
prayed to God through Elisha, from whose lips she had at first received
the promise; and in the name of Jesus we are to seek all blessings from
heaven.
"He ever lives to intercede
Before His Father's face;
Give Him, my soul, thy cause to plead,
Nor doubt the Father's grace."
Time rolled on, and other sorrows came upon the highly-favoured mother.
A terrible famine raged in Samaria, and at Elisha's bidding she and her
household left the land of Israel for seven years (see 2 Kings viii.);
and then, peace and plenty having been restored, she returned and went
to the king to ask for her house and land in Shunem. Behold here the
wonder-working providence of the Lord. At the very time of her visit,
Gehazi was telling the king of Elisha's miracles, especially that of
raising one to life; and as the woman presented her appeal, Gehazi,
recognizing her, exclaimed, "My lord, this is the mother, and this her
son, whom Elisha restored to life." Deeply interested at once in her
case, the king granted all her request with the utmost readiness.
So "all things work together for good to them that love God," and Jesus
always sympathizes with His people's sorrows, and helps and comforts
them, so that "they who wait for Him shall not be ashamed." May we, in
every time of trial and difficulty--
"Wait for His seasonable aid,
And though it tarry, wait;
The promise may be long delayed,
But cannot come too late."
Our next subject will be, _The Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard_
(Matt. xx. 1-16).
Your affectionate friend,
H. S. LAWRENCE.
BIBLE ENIGMA.
FOR THE LITTLE ONES.
One is in Adam, but not in Moses.
One is in Jesus, but not in Daniel.
One is in Peter, but not in Aaron.
One is in Eden, but not in Spirit.
One is in Pharaoh, but not in Matthew.
One is in Israel, but not in Abdon.
My whole, when arranged, will be found in the Book of Psalms.
ETHEL MARSH
(Aged 11 years).
_Laxfield._
BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN JULY.
July 1. Commit to memory Daniel ii. 19.
July 8. Commit to memory Daniel ii. 20.
July 15. Commit to memory Daniel ii. 21.
July 22. Commit to memory Daniel ii. 22.
July 29. Commit to memory Daniel ii. 23.
PRIZE ESSAY.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "UNCERTAIN RICHES" AND "THE TRUE RICHES."
In Proverbs xxiii. 5, the wise man says, "Riches certainly make
themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven"; and in
chapter viii. 18, he says, "Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable
riches and righteousness."
In these two verses may be seen one difference between the "uncertain
riches" and the "true" ones. The first passage of Scripture refers to
the uncertain or earthly riches, which "make themselves wings" and "fly
away." The second riches spoken of are the true ones, which Christ gives
to His people, and which are durable, inasmuch as they last for ever and
ever. This verse is spoken by Christ under the name of Wisdom.
In Christ's parable about the rich man and Lazarus (Luke xvi. 19-31),
both kinds of riches are spoken of. The rich man had the uncertain
riches in abundance, and was selfish, and kept them to himself, but the
beggar, though destitute of this world's goods, was one of God's
children, and had the true riches.
A man may be very rich, and be looking forward to a long life in which
to enjoy his riches, like the rich man in the parable (see Luke xii.
16), when he may suddenly die, and then what good can his wealth do him?
What Paul says in his first Epistle to Timothy is quite true. He says,
"We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry
nothing out" (1 Tim. vi. 7); and the Psalmist says, in Psalm xlix.
16-18, "Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his
house is increased; for when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his
glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lived he blessed his
soul."
But it is not so with those who have the true riches. They can never be
disappointed in having to part with them, for, as before mentioned, they
are everlasting. Christ said, in His sermon on the mount, "Lay not up
for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where
thieves do not break through nor steal" (Matt. vi. 19, 20). Our riches
are, as we know from experience, never really safe from harm and damage,
as articles of apparel, however costly they may be, are, if very careful
measures are not used, subject to being eaten by moths. Other things are
spoiled by rust gathering on them, whilst money is never secure, because
thieves may steal it; and even in banks the managers or clerks may be
tempted to steal the money entrusted to them, or the bank may fail.
Daniel Herbert says, in one of his hymns--
"Should all the banks in Britain break,
The Bank of England smash,
Bring in your notes to Zion's bank;
You're sure to get your cash."
One of Christ's gifts to His people is spoken of in 1 Peter i. 4. It is
"an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,"
reserved in heaven for those who are "kept by the power of God, through
faith, unto salvation."
Christ also gives His people "a crown of glory, that fadeth not away"
(see 1 Peter v. 4). This crown is called, in Timothy, "a crown of
righteousness"; and, in 1 Corinthians ix. 25, Paul calls it an
"incorruptible" one; and James says, "Blessed is the man that endureth
temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life,
which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him" (James i. 12).
In conclusion, we might compare the two kinds of riches to the Lord's
parable about the wise man who built his house upon a rock, and it stood
firm, "for it was founded upon a rock," and the foolish one, who built
his upon the sand, and his house "fell, and great was the fall of it."
The first instance resembles those who do not set their hopes on the
uncertain, but on the true riches; and the second like those who think
only of earth, its uncertain pleasures and riches (Matt. vii. 24-27).
E. B. KNOCKER
(Aged 14 years).
_South Hill House,
Tunbridge Wells._
[Very good Essays have been received from Nellie Nunn, Laura Creasey,
Eleanor Saunders, Jane Bell, W. E. Cray, J. Rowbottom, Alice Creasey,
Rose Holloway, Annetta Hargreaves, E. R. Harris, &c. Their efforts are
very encouraging.]
[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of "The Story of the
Spanish Armada."
The subject for September will be, "The Blessings Conferred on England
by the Accession to the Throne of William of Orange, and by the
Protestant Succession thereby Secured to Us"; and the prize to be given
for the best Essay on that subject, a copy of "The Reformation and its
Heroes." 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
August.]
ERRATUM.--Through an oversight, the name of the sender of the Enigma was
given last month instead of the sender of the answer. It should have
been--Nellie Nunn, aged twelve years.
Interesting Items.
THE number of Bibles printed during last year in England alone amounted
to nearly four millions.
A BIRDS' NEST IN A RAILWAY TRUCK.--A water wagtail's nest, containing
four eggs, was found at Norbiton Station amongst some coal in a truck
which arrived from Derbyshire, a few weeks ago. The old birds had
evidently come too, for they were seen flying about the station.
THE death is announced of Mr. Norman Macdonald, of Big Bras Dor, Cape
Breton, at the reputed age of 110 years. It is stated that he was a
survivor from Waterloo. He was a man of great activity and endurance,
and up to about two years ago was able to work on his farm at Cape
Breton.