THE CHRISTIAN'S PENNY MAGAZINE, AND FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE. The Cabinet. THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE FUTURE. "And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me," AcT8 xx. 22, 23. PAUL here speaks of himself as an Apostle. But the facts he expresses with regard to his official destination will apply to our experience as men and as Christians. And we may derive from them a reflection peculiarly seasonable, at the commencement of another annual period of our time: With regard to the future, he was both ignorant and informed; unacquainted with some things, but well apprised of others. Though Paul sometimes prophesied, he could not command the attribute of foreknowledge when he pleased. The use of it was always a miracle, and limited to a particular subject. He was therefore left uninformed of the ordinary course of life, and had to learn the will of God by events. Hence he says to the Philippians, "I hope presently to send Timothy, as soon as I see how it will go with me." It is the same with us; and as he was now going up to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that would be fall him there, so are we entering into another year, not knowing what a day may bring forth. But is this to be lamented? "Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in thy sight." The concealment is wise and kind. We may judge of this by our past feelings. Had we been previously informed of the scenes through which we have passed, our hearts would have failed at the thought: yet when the dispensations came, we were able to bear them, and had been really though unconsciously prepared for them. And suppose we were now informed of some of the changes we may be called to endure in the months before us, we should be seized perhaps with an overpowering surprise and oppres sion, rendering us dead to all present enjoyments, and incapable of every present engagement. He therefore says, "I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight: these things will I do unto them, and not forsake them." Let us trust in Him. He claims the full confidence of the heart, not only by his goodness, but by his wisdom. Although we go out not knowing whither we go, He knoweth the way that we take. Nothing can deceive or perplex our Guide. Especially let us check the workings of a vain curiosity. To this we are naturally prone. All pant to draw back the veil, and peep into futurity; but none are entrusted with its secrets. Even our Lord's own disciples were rebuked for wishing to know the times and the seasons, which the Father reserved in his own power. This advice will be found to be not only our duty, but our privilege; our strength" here is "to sit still.' We may consider the year before us as a desk containing three hundred and sixty-five letters, addressed to us, one for every day, announcing its trials, and prescribing its employments; with an order to open daily no letter but the letter for the day. Now we may be strongly tempted to unseal beforehand some of the remainder; but this would only serve to embarrass us, while we should violate thereby the rule our Owner and Master has laid down for us-"Take, therefore, no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." 66 But Paul's ignorance was not entire. Though he knew not what in particular would befall him at Jerusalem, yet the Holy Ghost testified that in every place bonds and afflictions awaited him; so that he was sure of one thing-sure of being always a sufferer, for the sake of the Lord Jesus. And thus it is with us. Though the future is not laid open to our view, yet it is not concealed from us in every respect and degree. Though we know not what is to come in the detail, we can apprehend much of it in the mass. Indeed, without some reliance on the general course of things, we could not properly carry on the system of life. Many of our present duties derive their existence and importance from some future relations. Instinct, in the brute creation, teaches them to look forward and the turtle, and the crane, and the swallow observe the time of their coming; and the ant provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in harvest. And is reason given us in vain? Or is there nothing for it to operate upon beyond the present hour? prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself," says the Scripture. And the same authority adds, "Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee." "The With regard then to the future, in every period, relation, and condition of life, some things may be reckoned upon. Thus, in the natural world, we know that the seasons will come round in their time and place, with little variation: "While the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." We also know that the general state and usages of society will be what they ever have been: "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It hath been already of old time, which was before us.' We are sure no creature-possessions and enjoyments will fully meet our hopes and wishes. They never have produced satisfaction; they were never designed to do it; they are incapable of doing it. We may certainly expect that trials of one kind or another will be our lot. They grow out of our very state and nature: "Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward." We must be infatuated if we are not aware that all our connections here are precarious. Some may abandon us from insincerity; some may leave us from infirmity; some may be removed to a distance by events; some may be laid in the grave. Need we be informed that the desire of our eyes is mortal? that childhood and youth are vanity? Can we be ignorant that with growing years we are to look for growing privations and weaknesses? that our senses will decay, that desire will fail, that the grasshopper will be a burden? It is the tax of age: "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow: for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." For the living know that they shall die. It is the way of all the earth and whatever may be doubtful when we look onward, there is not a human being but can say, "I know that Thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living." He knows also that the event cannot be far off, and may be very near. And is this all that we are apprised of? No. We also know that God will be found the same he always has been; we know that he will always prove himself the hearer of prayer; we know that he will never leave us nor forsake us; we know that our shoes shall be iron and brass, and as our days so shall our strength be; we know that he will guide us with his counsel, and afterward receive us to glory. WILLIAM JAY. THE MESSIAHSHIP. CHRONOLOGY is the handmaid of History, and one of the greatest helps to its thorough mastery, guiding the mind of the reader along the path of time, and by arranging and grouping, enabling him to gather up into one glance the whole of the facts of the mighty theme. With this view, various learned men, and amongst the rest Dr. Robinson, of the United States, have devoted themselves towards harmonizing and condensing the numerous events of the Saviour's History, with the place and the period of their occurrence. The HARMONY OF THE SAVIOUR'S HISTORY. Events connected with the Birth and Childhood of our Lord. TIME: About thirteen and a-half years. An Angel appears to Mary-Nazareth. An Angel appears to the Shepherds- The Circumcision of Jesus, and his Pre- The Magi-Jerusalem; Bethlehem. The return-Bethlehem; Nazareth. At twelve years of age Jesus goes to the Passover-Jerusalem. PART II. Announcement and Introduction of our TIME: About one year. The Desert; the Jordan. The Marriage at Cana of Galilee. Our Lord's First Passover, and the sub- TIME: One year. At the Passover Jesus drives the Traders out of the Temple-Jerusalem. Our Lord's discourse with Nicodemus Jesus remains in Judea and baptizes. Our Lord's discourse with the Samaritan the son of a nobleman lying ill at and fixes his abode at Capernaum. The call of Simon Peter and Andrew, and of James and John, with the The healing of a Demoniac in the The healing of Peter's wife's mother, and many others-Capernaum. The healing of a Leper-Galilee. PART IV. Our Lord's Second Passover and the The pool of Bethesda; the healing of the Sabbath-On the way to Galilee. The healing of the withered hand on the Sabbath-Galilee. Jesus arrives at the Sea of Tiberias, and is followed by multitudes-Lake of Galilee. Jesus withdraws to the mountain, and chooses the twelve; the multitudes follow him-Near Capernaum. The Sermon on the Mount-Near Capernaum. woman with a bloody flux-Caper naum. Two Blind Men healed, and a Dumb Spirit cast out-Capernaum? Jesus again at Nazareth, and again rejected. A third circuit in Galilee. The twelve instructed and sent forth-Galilee. The healing of the Centurion's servant Herod holds Jesus to be John the Bap -Capernaum. The raising of the Widow's son-Nain. John the Baptist, in prison, sends dis ciples to Jesus-Galilee; Capernaum? Reflections of Jesus on appealing to his mighty works-Capernaum? While sitting at meat with a Pharisee, Jesus is anointed by a woman who had been a sinner-Capernaum? Jesus, with the Twelve, makes a second circuit in Galilee. The healing of a Demoniac. The Scribes and Pharisees blaspheme-Galilee. The Scribes and Pharisees seek a sign. Our Lord's reflections-Galilee. The true Disciples of Christ his nearest relatives-Galilee. At a Pharisee's table Jesus denounces woes against the Pharisees and others -Galilee. Jesus discourses to his Disciples and the multitude-Galilee. The slaughter of certain Galileans. Parable of the barren Fig-treeGalilee. Parable of the Sower-Lake of Galilee; near Capernaum? Parable of the Tares. Other Parables -Near Capernaum? Jesus directs to cross the Lake. Incidents. The tempest stilled-Lake of Galilee. The two Demoniacs of Gadara-S. E. coast of the Lake of Galilee. Levi's Feast-Capernaum. The raising of Jairus' daughter. The tist, whom he had just before beheaded-Galilee? Perea. The twelve return, and Jesus retires with them across the Lake. Five thousand are fed-Capernaum; N.E. coast of the Lake of Galilee. Jesus walks upon the water-Lake of Galilee; Gennesaret. Our Lord's discourse to the multitude in the Synagogue-At Capernaum. PART V. From our Lord's Third Passover until his Final Departure from Galilee at the Festival of Tabernacles. TIME: Six months. Our Lord justifies his Disciples for eating with unwashen hands. Pharisaic Traditions-Capernaum. The daughter of a Syrophenician woman is healed-Region of Tyre and Sidon. A deaf and dumb man healed; also many others. Four thousand are fed-The Decapolis. The Pharisees and Sadducees again require a sign-Near Magdala. The Disciples cautioned against the leaven of the Pharisees, &c.-N. E. coast of the Lake of Galilee. A blind man healed-Bethsaida (Julias). Peter and the rest again profess their faith in Christ-Region of Cesarea Philippi. Our Lord foretells his own death and resurrection, and the trials of his followers.-Region of Cesarea Philippi. |