more awful than he probably expected. This was so sad that it impressed
many with solemn thoughts, and led to the following similar sad story
being again related.
Some years since, in the next village, Earnley, a man being accused of
taking some money, declared that, if he had it, he hoped his legs and
arms might be burned off. A storm arose, the lightning darted athwart
the heavens, fell on the barn wherein he was, burned the barn, and his
body was afterwards found with legs and arms burned off.
This was related to me by a woman named Shepherd, now living within a
short distance of where the barn stood, and who saw it on fire.
Still another sad tale. On Sunday last, four young men left Bognor for
Selsey--a few miles' trip by boat on the sea. At Selsey they took too
much drink, and, on their return, the boat capsized, and they were in
the water for an hour crying for help; but although many heard them one
and two miles away--it being a still night--no one seems to have known
whence the sounds came. Thus all four Sabbath-breakers perished. One of
the poor fellows wore the knees of his trousers quite away in his
attempts to climb on the overturned boat.
A. E. P.
_Sidlesham._
P.S.--Selsey also joins this village. I saw the boat rowing towards it
about half-past four.
["The wages of sin is death." Reader, how are you living? How shall you
die, and where shall you go? Remember that all who are out of Christ are
exposed to the wrath of God, while all who, by faith, flee to Him for
mercy, are saved from the wrath to come. Beware of mocking God, of
despising His Word, and of desecrating His day. "The way of
transgressors is hard," but "whoso confesseth and forsaketh his sin
shall find mercy."--ED.]
THE highest visible form of Christian life is self-denial for the good
of others.
AN AGED PILGRIM'S HISTORY.
An aged pilgrim of seventy-two years, recently made a pensioner of our
Society, has lately come under our notice, and as an example of
courageous faith, it may interest our readers and others to know
something of this poor old man.
Having faithfully served our country for fourteen years as a soldier in
the 14th Light Dragoons, and having been severely wounded during the
Crimean War, in which he served in all the special engagements, he was
paid off as unfit for further service, receiving a pension for only ten
years, as he was unable to complete the full term of service (twenty-one
years) which would have entitled him to a pension for life.
After leaving the army he worked as a labourer, whenever he could find
employment, and was brought to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus
Christ about twenty years ago, after which he was soon engaged in
carrying heavy loads at Cotton's Wharf, in Tooley Street, London.
After seventeen years of this work, he one day, unhappily, stumbled
whilst carrying a load, and fell backwards some distance, the back of
his head being split open. This brought about paralysis on the left
side, and some two years afterwards it resulted in the loss of his
sight. For three years he has been stone blind, and has suffered at
times most acutely from pain in the head; but his indomitable energy,
and strong faith in his "dear Heavenly Father," have kept him from
falling to the level of a pauper; and rather than gravitate to the
condition of an inmate of one of our Unions, he has bravely endeavoured
to make a living by playing a musical instrument in the streets.
To add to his affliction, his wife, in 1883, was run over in the streets
of London, and died in an hospital under amputation of both legs. Thus,
left without relation or friend, this poor blind man had to face this
cold and unheeding world alone; and yet he is never alone, for his faith
is so bright that he goes out, walking long distances, trusting to God
to preserve him in his way.
On one occasion, he was taken by a constable before the Lord Mayor of
London, charged with playing an instrument in the streets, and having
been questioned as to what he did, answered that he played a small
instrument by which to keep himself. The Lord Mayor asked him to play a
tune, which he accordingly did, and he at once took the part of this
aged pilgrim, gave him five shillings, and reprimanded the constable for
arresting the poor old man, and told him to look after those who were
doing really wrong things in the streets, and not to bring poor,
helpless men to him like that. This poor man, hearing the severe words
addressed to the constable by his lordship, immediately began to beg
that no punishment might be meted out, quietly remarking, "My lord, very
likely he is a young constable, and has not quite learnt his duties.
Don't punish him; don't punish him." Thus did he show the true Christian
spirit of love for his enemies.
To illustrate the marvellous energy of will and courage of heart in this
old veteran, on one occasion he was badly bitten by a ferocious dog,
which left a terrible wound on his leg. No sooner had it got well enough
for him to crawl, than he walked four miles in awful agony to see one of
his friends, taking four and a half hours over the journey. Such men are
worthy of our support.
Our readers may ask, "How is it that Government does not look after this
old soldier?" But it is explained when we learn that he married "off the
strength," _i.e._, without leave, and so is now left to do the best he
can, unaided by his country.
From town to town this poor man, literally a pilgrim, wanders, seeking
the "wherewithal" to keep body and soul together. Often would he have
been starved, but for friends whom the good Lord has raised up for him
in the most unexpected ways.
Wherever he goes he carries the savour of Christ with him, and boldly
witnesses for his Saviour, abominating the awful language and behaviour
which he has to put up with in the houses where he lodges for the night;
and has even been pushed and struck because he has spoken out against
the evil by which he was surrounded. Thus actually from day to day
dependent upon his "Father in heaven" for his "daily bread," he lives by
faith; and thank God we know that, not having "his portion in this
life," there awaits him in due time the sweet rest of heaven, where he
shall be for ever "comforted" and owned in his Father's kingdom.--H. J.
K., in _Quarterly Record of the Aged Pilgrims' Friend Society_.
A MODEL PRAYER-MEETING.
It was a cheerful chapel above ground, filled with seats, wide enough
apart to kneel down between them, if one wanted to do so, well warmed
and well ventilated.
At the time fixed for the meeting, first of all came Brother
_Punctuality_. His watch and actions are always regulated to the minute
by the town clock. Once he and the minister came together. They waited
one minute for others who came not, and then each prayed, talked, and
sang. They spent fifteen minutes thus, and then left.
On their way home they met the rest coming, who said, "Why, are we not
to have a meeting?" "Oh, _we_ have had one," was the reply. That cured
all, except the most incorrigible, of their delay. Some people are
chronically tardy. You can never change them. They are always too late
for work, too late for dinner, too late for church. What a mercy if they
are not at last among those who come when the door is shut! They disturb
the devotions of others. Not so Brother Punctuality; only he has one
troublesome fault. When the hour is done he opens that inevitable
hunting-watch of his, and snaps it to with such a nervous jerk that it
says very plainly to all, "Now, shut up and go home." This is bad enough
in ordinary and dull times, but when hearts are warm, and prayers are
strong, and the current of love flows fully, let there then at least be
a little more latitude.
Congenial with this brother is Brother _Promptitude_. When the leader
opens the meeting, he is always ready to rise. He shudders at these
pauses. They are to him as ice-cakes clogging the current of love,
hindering the wheels of prayer. Yet he would not rush things. I have
known him to count _seven_, the mystic number of the Scripture, and
then, if no one rose to speak or pray, he did. He is thus a minute man,
ready for action in a minute, and hating to lose the minutes. Slower
natures than his complain that he does not give them time to think. No
matter; they may learn at last not to be so slow.
In the other seat sits Brother _Brevity_. He has something to say, and
having said it he sits down. When some overstocked divine or some
thin-laid layman drags wearily along with a chain of dull platitudes, he
is very twitchy, wondering why people will waste so much good breath and
use so many poor words in saying nothing.
Brother _Pointedness_ deeply sympathises with him. He wants to see
people take good aim at the mark, and hit it--not try to see how near
they can come and not do it.
Brother _Round-the-Circle_ greatly distresses him, who, if he has a
fact, an incident, or an illustration, has so many minor details to
dwell upon that he smothers the infant-truth under his mass of old
clothes.--_Selected._
[Perhaps this curious sketch may yield useful hints to some who read
it.--ED.]
GENEROSITY AND LOVE.
The late Duke of Portland was a nobleman who contrived to pass through
life without much noise, but reaped happiness and respect in abundance,
and, while gratifying his taste for rural occupation, conferred the most
lasting benefits on the country. The following, among many stories, is
told of him:--
The duke discovered that one of his tenants, a small farmer, was
falling, year after year, into arrears of rent. The steward wished to
know what was to be done. The duke rode to the farm, saw that it was
rapidly deteriorating, and the man, who was really an experienced and
industrious farmer, totally unable to manage it, from poverty. In fact,
all that was on the farm was not enough to pay the arrears.
"John," said the duke, as the farmer came to meet him, as he rode up to
the house, "I want to look over the farm a little."
As they went along, "Really," said he, "everything is in very bad case.
This won't do. I see you are quite under it. All your stock and crops
won't pay the rent in arrear. I will tell you what I must do. I must
take the farm into my own hands. You shall look after it for me, and I
will pay you your wages."
Of course, there was no saying nay. The poor man bowed assent.
Presently there came a reinforcement of stock, then loads of manure, at
the proper time seed, and wood from the plantations for repairing gates
and buildings. The duke rode over frequently. The man exerted himself,
and seemed really quite relieved from a load of care by the change.
Things speedily assumed a new aspect. The crops and stock flourished;
fences and out-buildings were put into good order. In two or three
rent-days it was seen by the steward's books that the farm was making
its way. The duke on his next visit said--
"Well, John, I think the farm does very well now. We will change again.
You shall once more be tenant, and, as you now have your head fairly
above water, I hope you will be able to keep it there."
The duke rode off at his usual rapid rate. The man stood in
astonishment; but a happy fellow he was when, on applying to the
steward, he found that he was actually re-entered as tenant to the farm,
just as it stood in its restored condition. We will venture to say,
however, that the duke himself was the happier man of the two.
He that doeth good enriches his own heart with unspeakable blessings.
"Better a fountain in the heart
Than a fountain by the way."
W. H.
ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA.
(_Page 165._)
"_Praise._"--PSALM cl. 1.
P is in Peter, but not in Aaron.
R is in Pharaoh, but not in Matthew.
A is in Adam, but not in Moses.
I is in Israel, but not in Abdon.
S is in Jesus, but not in Daniel.
E is in Eden, but not in Spirit.
JOSEPH HUGH WILLERTON
(Aged 6 years).
_Corby, Grantham._
[A correct answer has also been received from Maggie Nunn, aged nine
years.--ED.]
ZOAR CHAPEL SUNDAY SCHOOL, HAND CROSS.
The Sunday School children of the above place of worship met together
for their annual meeting on Sunday afternoon, May 20th, when our kind
friend, Mr. Daw, of Hailsham, presided.
The service commenced by our old friend, Mr. Izard, giving out Hymn 59,
Clifton Hymnal, after which Mr. Daw commenced by saying, as there were a
goodly number of friends present, as well as children, he would try to
make it as much like an ordinary service as possible. He then read 1
Samuel iii., then engaged in prayer, after which Hymn 212 was sung, the
last line of the chorus being, "What can we give in exchange for the
soul?"
He said that, when he was about one year old in divine things, he
thought, if that text was written up on his house in big letters, so as
people could see it as they passed by, it would convert them, and he
actually went out one day to see if there was a place where it might be
put up. That was when he had been quickened into life about one year. He
said he did not feel very old now. He remembered asking some little
girls if they could tell him how old he was, and one little girl said
thirteen; and he thought she was very near right, for he felt sure he
was not more than fourteen now.
He then said he should preach a short sermon from 1 Samuel iii., and the
last clause of the eighth verse--"And Eli perceived that the Lord had
called the child." He said he had tried to preach to children before,
but this was to be a special trial, so we should see how he got on.
He said, in referring to the Lord calling Samuel, that his mother Hannah
was of a sorrowful spirit, and prayed and made vows to the Lord that, if
He would give her a man-child, she would give him to the Lord all the
days of his life; and the Lord granted her request, and she called his
name Samuel, because she had asked him of the Lord. So when Samuel was
very young, she took him up to the temple; and one night, when he lay
asleep, the Lord called him, and Samuel thought it was Eli that called
him. But Eli said, "I called thee not; go and lie down again." But the
Lord called him the second and third time, then "Eli perceived that the
Lord had called the child."
The Lord called David to be king--the most unlikely one of the lot, for
all his brothers passed before Samuel first. Great, strong men they
were, to all appearance--far before David. But no; David, the shepherd
boy, was chosen to be king, for God often "chooses the foolish things to
confound the wise."
He said he used to be a teacher in the Sunday School, and he often
wished he was one now, for he thought he liked talking to children best;
and when the Lord called him out to preach, one of his greatest trials
was, to give up the Sunday School, for he thought out of his class the
Lord had called four boys and four girls.
Some boys and girls, after they have been to a Sunday School a few
times, will return home and tell a fine tale to their mother, and say,
"I shall not go to that school any more." "Oh, why not?" "Because they
don't give such good treats and prizes as they do at other schools." But
their mothers never ought to encourage that.
He once saw a girl at Polegate Station, and he thought, "That girl is
going off to service." He was sure of it; and whenever he saw a girl at
the station, with a box or two and a parcel, going off to service for
the first time, he generally said to himself, "That girl will have a
good cry to-night, when she gets into bed." So when he saw this girl, he
thought he would write her a letter; and he did so--that being five
years ago--and he saw her only last week, when she said she had cause to
thank him for that letter, and he quite hoped that letter was the means
used by the Lord in calling her.
Then he said he wanted to say a word to parents and teachers. He did not
know who he had before him, because he did not live in the
neighbourhood. If he did, he should know more about them, and if the
children did not come to school pretty regularly, he should often call
on them to know the reason. He said he did not wish to offend them, but
he often thought that parents sent their children to school, and never
went to the house of God themselves.
And as to teachers--what a self-denying work theirs was! If there were
any that needed sympathy, it was the teachers; and if they could not get
it from the parents, they would draw it from some other source, for we
read, "Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many
days" (Eccles. xi. 1).
The children then repeated several hymns and passages of Scripture,
which they had learned for the occasion, after which Mr. Daw proceeded
to distribute the prizes--which consisted of Bibles, hymn-books, and
other good books--those receiving the best who had the most marks for
attendance and good behaviour. In presenting a nice Bible to a little
girl, he made the remark, "I have a Bible in my pocket which is not
quite so good-looking as yours, but I prize it beyond any Bibles here,
because it was given to me by a girl that is now in heaven; and there
are marks in it, against various portions of Scripture, which had been
blessed to her through my ministry." As they came forward to receive
their prizes, he addressed each one in a very affectionate manner. He,
indeed, had a kind word for all. He also wished each one to learn a
hymn, which he named. After singing another hymn, Mr. Daw concluded with
prayer.
"Am I called, and can it be?
Has my Saviour chosen me?
Vilest of the vile am I;
Can I lift my thoughts so high?"
A READER.
ZION CHAPEL, TROWBRIDGE.
The sixtieth anniversary of the Sabbath School in connection with this
place was held on Sunday, June 24th. Special sermons were preached by
Mr. B. C. Turner, of Southport, and the scholars sang specially-selected
hymns in the evening, at which service the chapel was crowded.
The text in the morning was Ruth iii. 1, and in the evening Mr. Turner
spoke from Ecclesiastes xi. 6, "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the
evening withhold not thine hand." In discoursing from these words, he
spoke many encouraging words to the teachers and parents, and gave good
advice to the children.
After the sermon, three girls and four boys were promoted to the Senior
Bible Classes, each of whom was presented with a handsomely-bound Bible,
and Mr. Turner spoke a few appropriate words to them.
The collections at the two services amounted to L15 1s. 3d. The school
now numbers 240 scholars, forty teachers, and two superintendents.
BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN AUGUST.
Aug. 5. Commit to memory Prov. iv. 1.
Aug. 12. Commit to memory Prov. iv. 14.
Aug. 19. Commit to memory Prov. iv. 25.
Aug. 26. Commit to memory Prov. iv. 18.
WHAT could Jesus do more than die for us? and what can we do less than
live to Him?
OUR BIBLE CLASS.
THE PARABLE OF THE LABOURERS IN THE VINEYARD.
(MATTHEW xx. 1-16.)
Jesus had left Galilee for the last time, and He and His disciples were
on their way to Jerusalem, where He would be condemned to die. They had
rested in a house on the road, and He had embraced and blessed the
little children that were brought to receive His gracious touch. He had
been met by a rich young man as He resumed His journey--one who wanted
eternal life, but sorrowfully left the only Giver of that blessing
because he could not bear to give up his wealth to follow the meek and
lowly Saviour; and as the youth turned away, Jesus had said to the
disciples, "Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to
enter into the kingdom of God" (Mark x. 24). A conversation followed
(Matt. xix.), in the course of which Peter asked, "What reward shall we
have, who have forsaken all, and followed Thee?" to which question the
Saviour replied by a promise and a parable--the promise that all His
followers should gain a hundred-fold by their losses for His sake, and
inherit everlasting life; but He added, "Many that are first shall be
last; and the last shall be first," to illustrate which fact, He told
them a parable. "For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a householder,
who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard."
With those whom he first engaged, a penny a day was the wages agreed
upon, and they went at once to work. A penny a day, young friends, was
not such a little as it seems to us. It meant about eightpence halfpenny
in our money, and would buy a great deal more than we can get for
eightpence halfpenny now. You could live, in a careful way, at "an inn"
for a great deal less than a penny a day; and when the good Samaritan
took the wounded Jew to one of these humble places of rest and
refreshment, he gave the innkeeper "two pence" to take care of his
guest, and provide for him, and promised to pay any more expense should
it be incurred.
The terms were very fair and liberal for a full day's work; but more
hands were needed, and the master went out again at nine o'clock in the
morning, then at noon, at three in the afternoon, and yet again at the
eleventh hour, five p.m.; and finding still some unemployed, he asked,
"Why stand ye here all the day idle?" "Because," said they, "no man hath
hired us." "Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right, that
shall ye receive." Such were the terms on which all except the earliest
labourers were hired.
The working day of twelve hours is ended; the men are called to receive
payment; but, strange to say, the latest comers are first called, and
each one receives the full amount--one penny. The whole-day workers are
now dissatisfied. They have got all they were promised, but why should
those latecomers have as much as themselves, who had been working all
the time? "Friend," said the good man of the house to one of the
complainers, "I do thee no wrong. Didst thou not agree with me for a
penny? Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine
eye evil, or envious, because I am good?" "So," said the Lord Jesus, "in
My kingdom the last shall be first, and the first last." And has not He,
who is your Lord and Master, a right to do what He will with His own?
The disciples were thinking that Jesus would reign on earth, and make
the Jews a free, prosperous nation, and they, as His first followers,
wanted to be great men in His kingdom (see verses 20, 21 of this
chapter). Christ, on the other hand, was thinking of a spiritual,
heavenly kingdom, where He would reign for ever, ruling His people's
hearts by love. In this kingdom God has always blessed His servants
according to His own good pleasure.
Abraham, Isaac, David, and a host of others who served the Lord for many
years, looked forward to dwelling with Him in blessedness for ever. The
dying thief, whose day of life was spent in worse than idleness, in the
service of sin and Satan, received, in answer to his earnest prayer, the
wonderful assurance, "Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with
Me in paradise."
Prophets laboured, and Apostles reaped the fruit of those labours (John
iv. 37, 38). John the Baptist was great and honoured as the herald of
Jesus, yet the least one in Christ's kingdom is equal with, and in some
respects even greater, than he (Matt. xi. 11).
The Gentiles, in time past, were not a saved people; but now multitudes
of them have been gathered to Jesus, and become the people of God, while
the Jews (God's ancient people) have to a great extent despised the
Gospel, and been shut out from its blessings; so the last have been
first, and the first have become last.
Among the twelve Apostles, Andrew first found Jesus, and brought Peter,
his brother, to Him; but Peter afterwards became far more noted than
Andrew, especially on the Day of Pentecost, and in his Epistles; while
Paul, the very last of all, the persecutor of Christians, became the
first and greatest of the apostolic witnesses of Jesus. And Paul took no
credit to himself for this. "Not I, but the grace of God which was with
me," he delighted to say was the cause of all the good works done; and
when he joyfully looked forward to the crown of righteousness laid up
for him, he gladly adds, "and not for me only, but also for all them
that love His appearing."