there is an enmity appearing against good things! To many, attendance
both at school and the house of God is a burden, and when they grow
older they cast off all restraint and run wildly into sin. To such,
parental control is hateful; the wise counsels of father and mother are
scorned; the family altar, if possible, avoided; and their inward idea
is that, when they leave home, they shall then go on as they like, and
have their fill of pleasure. If any such children are reading these
lines, let them pause and tremble, for there is an Eye watching their
every thought, and an Almighty Arm that can reach them; and, sooner or
later, there will be a bringing into judgment, and who can say how soon?
But certainly, with Ellen, it was her delight to go to the house of God.
The writer has met her many times on Sunday mornings on her way, her
face bright and happy, a stronger bond than duty binding her close to
God's people.
In the autumn of 1887, the fatal languor that often accompanies
consumption appeared in Ellen, and, though she bore up bravely for a
little time, she had at length to leave her place and go home. Going
home to die seems hard for young ones like Ellen to think of, yet there
is no staying the Hand that strikes. The summons must be obeyed. In such
a case the great question arises, "Are we ready, or are we not?" Ellen's
earthly home had no mother to welcome the child, or to soothe her in her
dying hours; and no one can truly fill the mother's place at such a
time. But it was not to be long. Soon she was beyond the reach of mortal
aid, and want, pain, and care had passed away for ever.
The father gives the following particulars of what he witnessed in
Ellen, and it is well indeed when parents can give such testimonies of
their children:--
"She was a very dutiful girl, and very quiet--so much so, that I seldom
had to rebuke her; always very attentive at school, and, when out at
service, she would attend the house of God if possible. All this was
very good; but I wanted something further, and when she first came home
ill, I wanted it made manifest that the Lord had begun a work of grace
in her soul, and that she had been truly 'born again.'
"One morning, as I went home from chapel, Ellen said to me, 'Father, Mr.
D---- has been to see me.' I then asked her, 'Did he talk to you? and
did you like what he said?' She answered, 'Yes, very much, and I should
like for him to come again.' Then, bursting into tears, she said, 'I
should so like to be able to answer him better, but I cannot. I should
so much like to go to chapel again.' And when her sister asked her if
she thought she should get better, she said she did not know, but should
so like to go to school once more.
"The night before she died, I saw a great change in her, and I asked her
if she ever prayed to the Lord for mercy. 'Yes,' she said, 'sometimes I
wake up in the night and pray to Him. I should not mind death if I knew
my sins were pardoned. There is nothing to stop here for if I knew
this.'"
The writer has seen her weep much, when speaking to her of the certainty
of death and the judgment, the sufferings of Jesus, and the abundance of
pardon through His blood. Can there be a more touching sight than to see
a child fourteen years old weeping and praying in sincerity for mercy,
as a guilty sinner before God?
Ellen died so suddenly that nothing further was gathered from her lips,
but we believe her end was peace. She quietly passed away on February
10th, 1888, aged fourteen years.
In connection with her and her prayers and tears, these lines seem very
sweet to me--
"Did ever mourner plead with Thee,
And Thou reject that mourner's plea?
Does not Thy Word of truth remain,
That none shall seek Thy face in vain?"
Henry was two years older than his sister Ellen, and, like her, had to
commence work early, and bear the yoke in his youth. He had been a
regular attendant at the Sabbath School, and was truly a promising boy.
Quiet and serious he went on his way, and read his Bible, which, through
faith in Christ Jesus, is able to make wise unto salvation. He was, in
the leadings of Providence, called to labour at a place where he had
some work to do on Sunday mornings, and it was noticed that he seemed
put out in his mind if he was ever prevented from attending school.
In the spring of 1888 the same disease that cut down his mother and
sister appeared in Henry, and he had to leave his place and go home. The
teachers of the school and the friends around could see his days on
earth must now be very few, and that he too, like Ellen, had come home
to die. Yet he went to school a few times after this, and in May went to
Hailsham to spend a few days with some friends. Here we had an
opportunity of observing him closely, but he was scarcely able to say a
word about himself. He was failing fast at this time, and truly it was
sorrowful to see how feebly he moved about. When visiting the field on
Whit Monday, where the Sunday School children were having their treat,
what a contrast we beheld between the bright, healthy, happy children,
and the poor, pale, languid, dying boy looking on!
Soon after this he went back home, and went out but little afterwards.
He gradually wasted in body and strength, and could no longer attend the
school, though living but a few yards from it.
And now came the time of testing the matter, whether there was anything
of the work of the Holy Spirit in him, or whether it consisted in merely
coming and going to and from the house of God.
Let our readers reflect, this time of testing is coming to every one of
us, and we shall soon be brought where our young friend was--to lie down
and die, and thus appear before God.
We will now give some particulars of his last words and exercises, and
thus let our readers think for themselves what ground we have for our
hope that this dear young lad is now in heaven.
His father writes thus of his concern--"I had watched him for some time,
thinking I could see some signs of concern, and that he was different
from what he had been. I was almost sure he had been at times trying to
pray, but he would not let me see him if he could help it. According as
his illness came on he took more to his Bible and hymn-book, and they
were his daily and hourly companions. The friends in the school were
much concerned about him, and talked to him about his soul, but could
not get anything from him. Yet he seemed to like to hear them, so I
asked him if he did not enjoy what they said. He said 'Yes,' but did not
wish to say anything wrong, though he hoped that some of the things
spoken were the workings of his mind. I was very much concerned about
him myself, and my desire was, that the Lord would make it manifest that
He had a favour toward him. Once, when about my work, I could not help
asking the Lord for this, when these words came with some sweetness, 'At
evening time it shall be light'; then I had a hope that the Lord would
appear for him. Soon after this he had these words come with some power,
'When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee; and through
the rivers, they shall not overflow thee'; and then he expressed the
hope that the Lord would be with him in the river of death.
"When he was confined to his bed he seemed very restless, and being in
great exercise of mind, he folded his hands, and we could see his lips
move, but could not hear the words.
"Once, when I came home late from my work, and went into his bed-room,
he called me to him and said, 'I have had a blessed afternoon, for the
Lord has been with me, and I can leave you all now, and everything of
earth; and I believe that I shall go to heaven. I have prayed for you
all.' I told him I was very glad--more so than if any one had given me
gold, and asked him how it came to pass--whether it was by any word
coming with power or otherwise? He said, 'No, but it was a sweet,
humbling influence which so softened my heart, and drew my affections to
the Lord Jesus. It enables me to bear my sufferings better, and I lie
more comfortable.'
"A great change was seen in him after this. His mind seemed much
brighter, and he laid more calm and quiet. I told him that he perhaps
might feel after this comfort some distress of mind again, and he said,
'I have been in distress of mind, father, and the Lord has blessed me.'
This was about a week before he died. We thought he would have been
taken away sooner, and he felt so himself, for soon after his
deliverance he called us all around him, and shook hands with us all,
and gave each one something to keep in remembrance of him. I asked him
then if he felt the Lord was with him. He said, 'Yes, I fancy I can see
Him coming.' But he recovered from this, and I then said to him, 'The
Lord did not come as soon as you expected?' and he answered, 'No; but I
must wait the Lord's time.'
"He asked once that I would pray to the Lord to come and take him, and
then asked his sisters to sing the hymn commencing, 'How sweet the name
of Jesus sounds.' He then said, 'Oh, now I could sing!' I asked him if
he could sing that hymn. He said, 'Yes, if I had breath.' Mr. Reed asked
him if he could say that Jesus had done all things well. He answered,
'Yes, I have said so, and I can say it again.' He was then asked what
his hopes for eternity were. He soon replied, 'Nothing but the blood and
righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.'
"Speaking to one of his sisters, he said, 'I hope that you pray to the
Lord to be your Saviour, and that you read your Bible. Once I did not
like reading it, and when father made me come in to read, it almost made
me cry, but now it is the best treasure I have on earth.'
"I asked him if he had anything to tell Mr. Daw, 'Yes,' he replied, 'the
first Sunday after uncle was buried, June 24th, 1888, when he was
preaching from this, "I know that my Redeemer liveth," I felt blessed
then, and the tears ran down my face, but the feeling was soon gone.'
"The hymn commencing--
"Awake, ye saints, and sweetly sing
The ascended Saviour's love,
was very much blessed to him, and he asked for it to be sung when he was
once suffering much for want of breath; then he said, 'I feel as though
I could jump into the arms of Jesus.'
"About half-an-hour before he died he cried out, 'Oh, what a mighty
Saviour! I shall soon be before the throne, and sing the praises of the
Lamb. Don't sorrow.' I said, 'Not for you,' and he replied, 'No.'
"One remarking how ill he seemed, he said, 'I hope I shall soon be
better.' 'When you get to heaven,' I whispered, and he said, 'Yes.'
"At another time a remark was made about his pillow being hard. He said,
'It will be soft in heaven.'
"The last audible words from his lips were, 'Rest, father!' and so he
died on the 22nd day of August, 1888, aged sixteen years."
Here the father's narrative ends, and truly we can hope that he went
right to heaven, and that for him to die was gain. Brother and sister
now lie side by side in the pleasant burial-ground at Bodle Street,
awaiting the resurrection morning. Can we not, to close these few lines,
also say the last verse of the hymn of which we have given the first--
"On earth they sought the Saviour's grace,
On earth they loved His name,
So now they see His blessed face,
And stand before the Lamb"?
J. D.
DENIED, YET ANSWERED.
When Augustine, in his home at Carthage, resolved to visit Rome, his
mother wished either to prevent him from going, or to go with him. He
would listen to neither proposal, and resorted to a trick to carry out
his plan. One evening he went to the sea-shore, and his mother followed.
There were two chapels dedicated to the memory of the martyr Cyprian,
and he pressed her to spend one evening in the church of the martyr,
while he would accompany a friend on board a ship, there to say
farewell. While she was there in tears, praying and wrestling with God
to prevent the voyage, Augustine sailed for Italy, and his deceived
mother next morning found herself alone. In quiet resignation she
returned to the city, and continued to pray for the salvation of her
son. Though meaning well, yet she erred in her prayers, for the journey
of Augustine was the means of his salvation. The denial of the prayer
was, in fact, the answering of it. Instead of the husk, God granted
rather the substance of her petition in the conversion of her son.
"Therefore," said he, "O God, Thou hadst regard to the aim and essence
of her desires, and didst not do what she then prayed for, that Thou
mightest do for me what she continually implored."
HONOURING THE LORD'S DAY.
The following interesting incident was related to the writer by a
gentleman, who had the narrative from the merchant himself to whom it
occurred.
When a youth, the latter obtained a situation in a provision store in
one of the great mercantile cities of the United States. On the first
Saturday evening, he was told by his employer that he would be expected
to be at his business post the next day, the same as usual. On the lad
respectfully replying that he could not do so, as he had always been
taught by his friends to honour the Lord's Day, he was bluntly told
that, if he would not do what he was asked, he might come on Monday
morning and get his wages, as there would be no further occasion for his
services.
We may imagine how such a notice was calculated to discourage the youth;
nevertheless he kept to his resolution, and, after a Sabbath spent in a
right manner, proceeded on the Monday to get his discharge.
It was his duty to open the store, and as he was on his way to it, he
noticed a man, as the morning was dark, trying to make out the
inscriptions over the warehouse doors.
Asking him what he wanted, the man replied that he was a ship-captain,
and was looking for a provision store in order to get supplies for his
vessel, which was coming down the river with the tide. The youth
willingly, forgetting his employer's unkind threat of dismissal, at once
told the stranger that if he would go with him to his master's premises,
he would be sure to find there the articles he was in search of.
On getting to the stores, the captain selected a large supply of
provisions, for which he paid well. In short, it was an excellent
commercial transaction. When he came to pay the money, the chief clerk,
who had now made his appearance, made out the account, and saw that the
notes given in payment were those of good banks--a point of no small
importance in those days of unsound American currency. By this time,
too, the stranger's ship had arrived at the wharf attached to the store,
and the goods were placed on board of it, when it proceeded on its
voyage.
At a later hour the youth's employer came to business, and the clerk
told him that the new lad had been doing an excellent stroke of business
before others were astir that morning.
"A very good price, too, he has got for the goods," said the master, as
he looked at the invoice. "But," he continued, "depend upon it, he has
been taken in, and got bad notes."
"No," replied the clerk; "that's all right. I attended to that myself."
Presently the youth came up to his employer's desk.
"Well," said he, good-humouredly, "what do you want?"
"Oh, sir, you told me I was to come to you to-day, and get my wages and
my dismissal."
"Nonsense!" rejoined the master; "go to your work, and let me hear no
more of that."
So to work he went, and kept his situation, and a good conscience. When
our informant heard the anecdote from him, he had become a successful
trader, God having blessed his youthful conscientiousness.
This incident reminds us of another of somewhat the same character,
which was told us by a gentleman, now dead, who at the time held a very
important position on the staff of one of our great religious societies.
"When I was a youth," so his narrative ran, "I was sent by my friends to
one of the principal towns in an island in the West Indies, to be
apprenticed as an articled clerk to a firm of solicitors there. My
connections at home, although not Evangelical Christians, respected
religion, and when I left, they counselled me to be always particular in
observing the Lord's Day and reverencing it.
[Illustration: "WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT?" (_See page 252._)]
"On getting to my new situation, the managing clerk, at the close of the
first week, told me that I should be expected to put in my appearance at
the office on Sunday. I told him that I had been always taught not to do
any work on that day, and that I meant to go to church. To church I
accordingly went. On the Monday, when I returned to the office, one of
the partners, a lively little man, looked hard at me, but said nothing.
The next Sunday and the next I pursued the same course, without any
objection being made to it. There were other articled clerks in the
office, and they, seeing what I did, gradually did the same, without any
opposition from the principals. In course of time, some of the partners
ceased to come, until at last the little man I have named was the only
one who came, and that for an hour or two. Even this in time ceased, and
the office was shut up on the Sunday. Then, more curious still, the
other solicitors in the town followed the example that our office had
set, till, ere long, no business at all was done on the Lord's Day by
any solicitor in the place."
A third anecdote connected with the Lord's Day may here also
appropriately be given. The incident occurred to the grandfather of the
gentleman who narrated it to us.
The late Lord L---- was well known as a brave warrior during the
Peninsular War. His lordship, on his return to Scotland, was anxious to
have some timber on his estate cut down, that he might discharge certain
pressing debts. Without giving any notice of his intention, he called
one Sunday morning upon my friend's grandfather, just as he was
preparing to go with his family to church, and asked him to walk with
him over the estate, that they might together see what timber was fit
for cutting.
The grandfather respectfully replied that that day he had another Master
whom he must serve, but that he would be ready at any hour on a working
day to be promptly at his lordship's service. His lordship merely said,
"Very well," and named another day, when the agent attended him, and did
the work that was wanted of him, apparently to his lordship's
satisfaction.
The matter seemed to have blown over, when shortly afterwards the agent,
who had been many years in his lordship's service, received a notice
that he was wanted to meet Lord L---- at the office of his man of
business on a particular day, and in a neighbouring town. The request
was an unusual one, and much surmising took place among his friends as
to what could be the meaning of it.
"Depend upon it," said some, who pretended to see farther than others,
"his lordship, though he said nothing at the time, has taken offence at
your refusal to work for him on Sunday, and, now that the business is
finished, intends to give you notice of dismissal."
The day came, and the agent kept the appointment, when, to his joyful
surprise, instead of giving a notice of dismissal, his lordship told
him, with expressions of esteem, that he desired to show his sense of
the conscientious manner in which he had so long discharged his duties,
and that he had asked him to attend in order that he might settle a
pension upon him.
The reader may imagine his happiness when he found all his fears at an
end, and had this proof of the approbation of his conduct by a divine
and an earthly master. The worthy man lived long to enjoy Lord L----'s
bounty, having died at the age of 102. On the anniversary of his
hundredth birthday, some of his neighbours, by whom he was much
respected, entertained him at a public dinner, and gave him a Bible,
accompanied with the hope that he might have to the end of his
pilgrimage the guidance of Him who had guided him "a hundred years."--H.
M., in _Friendly Greetings_.
LITTLE JOHNNIE.
Shall I vex your patience, Johnnie,
If I write again?
Would you rather I should leave you
Brooding o'er your pain?
Does your little heart grow tired
Of the outside noise?
Will you never tell your sorrows?
Must you hide your joys?
Then I'll go to Jesus, Johnnie--
Go to Him, and say--
"There's a weary child, Lord Jesus,
Needs Thy love to-day.
"Listen to his father's praying;
See his mother's tears;
Speak, oh, speak to little Johnnie!
Speak, and hush our fears.
"He was born a wretched sinner;
Does he know it, Lord?
Thou hast promises for sinners,
In Thy precious Word.
"Speak, oh, speak to little Johnnie,
That our aching hearts
May be comforted about him
When his soul departs.
"We have told him of Thy mercy,
Told him of Thy wrath;
Told him of the untold terrors
Of the second death.
"But the voice that wakes an echo
In the silent one,
And the hand that opens heaven,
Jesus, are Thine own.
"Lord, we cannot help repeating,
Speak to him to-day;
Hope, nor prayer, nor mercy cometh
To the mouldering clay.
"Now the heart and flesh are failing,
Now the need is true,
Hell beneath, and heaven above him,
Stoop, Lord, lift him through."
I have said all this to Jesus,
Johnnie dear, for you;
Tell your mother if He answers;
She is praying too.
Oh, if you but hear Him whisper,
"Guilty sinner, come!"
Break away to Jesus, Johnnie;
He will take you home.
M. A. CHAPLIN.
_Galleywood, Chelmsford._
BIBLE ENIGMA.
A king of Israel.
A king of Moab.
Absalom's general.
The son of Ham.
A river.
A son of Jacob.
A king of Israel.
A priest.
Abram's brother.
A precious stone.
A king of Bashan.
Something sent to various kings by God.
A servant of Ahab.
An animal mentioned in the Bible.
WINNIE LANGMAN
(Aged 10 years).
_Battersea._
BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN NOVEMBER.
Nov. 4. Commit to memory Ps. cxxvii. i.
Nov. 11. Commit to memory Ps. cxxvii. 2.
Nov. 18. Commit to memory Ps. cxxv. 2.
Nov. 25. Commit to memory Ps. cxxv. 3.
BRIMSTONE OR SULPHUR.
"_The Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and
fire._"--GENESIS xix. 24.
Sulphur is one of the most inflammable substances known, and will melt
in fire but not in water. The meaning of the word "sulphur" is, the
burning or fiery stone. This substance is obtained in most parts of the
world, but is very abundant in volcanic regions. It doubtless helps to
feed those terrific fires of the earth which occasionally burst forth in
all their fury, pouring liquid lava upon the valleys beneath, and
overwhelming cities in destruction. The smoke which issues from the
craters of volcanoes is impregnated with sulphur; indeed, this substance
is often found encrusted round the mouths of these burning mountains.
Italy and Sicily produce the best sulphur in a native state, and in very
large quantity. This is imported into England, is refined, and in its
respective processes produces the roll brimstone, rock brimstone, and
flowers of sulphur, all so well known in commerce. Sulphur also exists
in some of our mineral springs, as that of Harrogate, in Yorkshire. It
is found in the combination of several metallic ores, such as pyrites or
sulphuret of iron, and sulphurets of zinc, copper, and lead. In some of
its forms it exists in some plants. This may be proved by leaving a
silver spoon in mustard; the colour of the spoon will soon be changed to
a blackish tinge. It is the presence of this principle in assafoetida
which causes it to smell so disagreeably. Silver put into the same
pocket with sulphur soon loses its brightness.
Sulphur is applied to a variety of purposes. It is largely used in the
manufacture of sulphuric acid, and forms about a tenth component part in
the manufacture of English gunpowder. As a medicine it is very useful.
There appears to be an allusion to its appropriation for gunpowder in
Revelation ix. 17, 18. Many eminent expositors of the Revelation agree
in supposing that the flashes of fire, attended by smoke and brimstone,
"whereby men were killed," which seemed to proceed from the mouths of
the horses, were really the flashes of artillery. The heads of the
horses alone would be seen through the sulphureous smoke, while in
reality the flashes and smoke proceeded from the cannon. The whole
appears imagery of a battle scene, and is thought to refer to the Turks,
who first turned to account the invention of gunpowder in carrying on
their wars.
"The Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire" (or burning
brimstone). As these cities were situated in the vale of Siddim, which,
as the sacred writer informs us, was full of bitumen pits, many learned
men are of opinion that it does not detract from the supernatural
character of this awful visitation to suppose that the wonder-working
God saw fit to employ natural agencies in effecting the purposes of His
will; and it is thought that, as sulphur exists in the neighbouring
hills, it might have been ignited by lightning, and poured down like
rain upon the vale below. The quantity of pitch already existing in the
vale would be set on fire, and thus the cities would be destroyed, and
the character of the valleys thereby changed.