he was laid upon a sick and dying bed. He talked sweetly about Jesus, and much about heaven. On one occasion, when near his end, he called his father to his bed-side, and, with great respect and affection, said, “ Papa, I wish to make one request of you before I die." "What is it, my darling?" said the weeping father, bending over his beloved and now dying child. "O my dear son, your father is willing to do anything in the world for you; what do you wish me to do?" "Papa," said the dying child, "dear papa, if you please, don't swear any more." The father, as he narrated the affecting incident, wept-tears rolling down his cheeks. "O sir," said he to the minister, "I never had anything come with such power to my soul before, as this language of my dying boy, Papa, dear papa, if you please, don't swear any more.' Sir, it was blessed to my soul." The next day that man was seated at the table of the Lord. ARE YOU KIND TO YOUR COME, my little boy, and you, my little own dear mother? Now, then, let me ask you, Are you kind to your mother? There are many ways in which children show whether they are kind or not. Do you always obey her, and try to please her? When she speaks, are you ready to attend to her voice? or do you neglect what she wishes you to do? Do you love to make her heart feel glad? THE LOST BOY. A LITTLE boy, of six years old, wandered from his home, until lost in the woods. It was nearly two days and one night before he was found. Being asked what he did when it got to be night, he said he asked God to take care of him, and then laid down on the ground and went to sleep: So charm'd with the wild flowers that grew on his way, The gay little wanderer roved, But thought not how far he had wander'd astray From the home and the parents he loved. The day had declined, and the shadows of night In darkness encompass'd him round; His way he had lost in his rambles by light How could it in darkness be found? In sorrow and loneliness, wearied and worn, The poor little sufferer stood; He call'd on his parents and wept to return, But his moans were all made to the wood. Wide and late was the search over woodland and plain, Till abandon'd at night in despair; For the name of the lost one again and again Had been call'd, but no answer was there. His mother had taught the young vagrant to pray; He laid himself down on the ground, Ask'd God to take care of him, then till next day, Untroubled, slept sweetly and sound. The angels who flew to God's throne to impart The prayers of the pious and good, Heard none on that night like the prayer from the heart Of the little lost child in the wood t The Cabinet. THE DAY OF BLESSING. "From this day will I bless thee."-HAG. ii. 19. In the former chapter the Lord reproves the people for their neglect and slothfulness in respect of the temple; the people feel the reproof and set about its completion, and the Lord himself encourages them. He assures them that the glory of the second temple shall exceed that of the first, if not in material pomp, at least in spiritual splendour-which was to be realised by the coming of Christ, the "Desire of All Nations." He gives them to know that their previous neglect had hindered their prosperity; now that they had betaken them to their duty, he would bless and prosper them in everything to which they put their hands. These blessings are principally spiritual, and, therefore, eternal. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ." The term "spiritual" implies at once the perfection and eternity of the thing described; which is really everything to us, who are so soon to close our account with the present world. Human existence here is such a thing of nought that, as to outward things, it matters little how man be circumstanced; but the future knows of no end, no change, and as is its permanency such is its importance. Still earth, for its little hour, is something; and as even little things are great to a little creature, God, in mercy, is not unmindful of these things. Here, there are promises that no good thing shall be refused to those that walk uprightly : "He that withheld not his own Son, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" From this much-to-be-remembered day, believers are blessed with temporal good. The love of God is brought into the heart; and this supplies all, and seasons all! Whether they have little or much, it is blessed with that blessing which maketh rich and addeth no sorrow. There is communicated to the soul that which wealth cannot impart, that which makes it happy. He that has much has it as from the Lord, and feels that he is only a steward; he gives, and this is a means of his happiness. He that has little sets it down as the will of God that it should be so, and is well convinced that this is best for him. He lifts on them the light of his counte nance, and thus puts joy and gladness in their hearts, as none but he could do. Their bread is given them, and their water is made sure. They have received spiritual now wrath has passed There is no longer any distant from the west, so The chief blessings are eternal. life, and all that the term implies. doned all their sins. Before it, saith the Apostle, they were "children of wrath even as others; " but away, and sweet peace has succeeded to it. condemnation to them, "for far as east is far hath God removed their iniquity." From this day they are united to Jesus Christ by faith, and so receive out of his fulness;— they are in him ;—he is in them. They live in him, and through him. From all that is hurtful in natural death, they are delivered; and as to spiritual death, it has no power over them. They are living stones in the living temple;—and founded, and resting on the living Lord, they cannot perish, neither can any pluck them out of his hand. Because he lives, they shall live also. From this day they become the children of God; for “to so many as received him gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." "If children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs of Christ." The estate which awaits them and remains to be shared among them, is happiness, and glory. Whatever can minister to human good will be communicated. Their person and their circumstances will be so adapted as to secure the most perfect bliss as far as they are concerned,—and both will consist with the most endearing union to the Saviour. Is he a Son?-So are they; and, therefore, their bliss will just be a participation of his bliss. Whatever the Father's love to Him, and the Father's justice, in connection with his work, shall secure him, of that will the humblest of his followers be partakers. From this day are they the children of the promises; and the fulfilment of them takes date from this period. They are now one with Jesus, in whom the promises are all yea and amen. Now the decree breaks forth, and blessings pour down. On these promises do they live all the day long, and thus a communication is opened up between them and heaven. These they find suited to all their wants, and they cling to them with the utmost tenacity. Thus doth God supply all their necessities out of his abundant goodness. From this day they became temples of the Holy Spirit. Hence scriptural enjoyments now begin to gladden their hearts. The love of God is shed abroad there,—they have strong consolation under all their sufferings. They are soothed But then by the thought that they are the subjects of Divine regard,—they are thus relieved and strengthened in distress;-all the bliss arising from the knowledge and favour of the Godhead, from the love and presence of Jesus Christ, from the gracious aids of the eternal Spirit, all this is theirs. Believer! this general blessedness will not fail to attend you through life; and at death, it will still be yours. It is inseparable from your very existence. Blessedness and being, in the case of the believer, are two words which express the same idea: "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, for they rest from their labours." And blessed are the living who live in the Lord,-yea "blessed is he that hath a part in the first resurrection." Your Lord will find you out. He will open the grave, and gather your dust, and animate, and organize, and glorify it! come eternity and glory," an eternal weight of glory!" You will then be blessed in soul, being, and circumstances. What a place was that to which Paul was exalted, that he might be the better qualified to discharge the solemn and trying duties of his office! What sights he saw ! What words he heard! It was even unlawful to utter them. There he is now, and with him countless millions of the saints. He now knows something of the nature of that weight of glory, and that crown of righteousness of which he wrote so well, and rapturously. Yes, reader! and many who once were here are now there. Young reader, are your parents in glory? Are you preparing to join them? Why not? You have only to imitate them, that in the end you may sit down with them on thrones! They wait for you! They are at rest-you labour; but, Christian, you are travelling home to God. A few more days and nights of storms and sunshine, and you too will enter the haven of eternal rest. O ye who are poor among men!-who are hungry and hard bestead, ye will have done with sorrow in due season! No earthly cares are yonder; all these will be left behind. Ah! poor, aged widows, I delight to muse on this subject in connection with you. Hard is your struggle, but think not that God has broken his word. Yours is the way which infinite wisdom has resorted to for blessing you. He wants to make you pray! Did you need less you would pray less; he has made you temporally poor that he might make you spiritually rich! "She that is a widow, indeed, and desolate, continueth in prayer and supplication to God day and night." Were desolation to be substituted by comfort or competency, there might be much worth, much piety, but there would be less tenderness, less prayer, less dependence upon God, and less gratitude to the instruments of his bounty. Well, are not his methods of blessing you the best? Is the Lord's hand shortened? No! he will bless you! From this day he will bless you, and through eternity. You will get through this weary world, and none of your sorrows will be renewed in that which is to come. Christian reader! these are times of trial, and many think that trials are only beginning; but none will dare assert that God is changed, or that he will cease to bless his people. No, this is fixed. From this day he will bless you! You who are in business feel its cares;-yes, and your fathers felt care too! But they got through, and are now in heaven,-where they have forgotten every sorrow. Many were the anxieties which your godly parents felt for you. They succeeded by the help of God to bring you honourably up; many of your sisters and brothers are dead, but not one of them perished for lack of food! Many difficulties were encountered in setting you forth into the world; but they succeeded at last, and, through mercy, you continue to the present day. Yes; hitherto hath the Lord helped you-and he will help you to the end. But I am reminded of an awful duty! Every reader is not yet blessed! The day is still to come. The curse is not yet removed! You are still in your sins! "Cursed is he who continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them." This curse remains till Christ remove it; and after the Gospel has been heard, but rejected, this curse is followed by manifold aggravations. "He that believeth on the Son hath life;-he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." What a condition, then, is this to be in. Reader! do not deceive yourself; the dreadful curse of a broken law, and the more dreadful curse of a despised Gospel, rests upon you!-Yes! the curse of a despised Gospel! Hear, O earth! earth! earth!-hear the word of the Lord! While you continue without the foundations of God's temple being laid, you remain temples of Satan. While you thus live, you must expect no blessings; the curse, and only the curse, awaits you. Repent, then, and believe the Gospel. Flee from the wrath to come! It is coming, and will reach you in due time, and, it may be, very soon! Not a moment is to be lost! "Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation." Harden not your hearts, but turn and live! PASTOR FIDUS. |