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Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmte en commenpant par la premlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'iilustration et en terminant par la derniire page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaftm sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols ▼ signifie "FIN ". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent Atre filmAs A des taux de reduction diffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour 6tre reproduit en un seul clichA. il est film* A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite. et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 4 5 6 yBSus By C. T. C. "He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love." — Song of Solomon ii.- 4. $E0r0nt0, ©"analJa : S. R. BRIGGS, TORONTO WILLARD TRACT DEPOSITORY. J. E. HAWKINS, 17 PATERNOSTER ROW. E.C. 1886. 36 9 a INTRODUCTION. HESE verses were written by a sister in the Lord who has been made to drink the cup of sorrow to the bottom. Thirty years ago she was the happiest of women, judged by any worldly standard. The cherished wife of a noble Christian gentleman, who possessed ample means, and the revered mother of an only and beautiful child, who was just married, with the prospect of a brilliant future, her high social position and personal attractions and beautiful surroundings no doubt excited a feeling of envy on the part of those who were weak enough to be discontented with their lot. But soon a sad and sudden change passed over the fair scene. Her husband was cut down in a moment by the hand of an assassin, and to her sorely wounded spirit the bright sky of life was overclouded forever. Years passed en in loneliness and suffering, uncheered by human consolation, save in her devoted love for her 4 INTRODUCTION. daughter, and in the reciprocal affection and sympathy of that daughter's heart. Then came another blow that severed the tenderest tie that bound her still to earth ; and the childless widow was left alone with her grief and with jESUS. What He has been to her in her solitude, what lie is to her now in the lengthening shadows amid which she is hastening to join her loved ones beyond the river, what He will be to her at His second coming, she has set forth most appropriately and sweetly in the Poem that fol- lows. The severest of critics who might be disposed to pronounce an unfeeling judgment upon its literary merit, would at least respect the sincerity of faith that breathes in every line, and that comes forth from a soul severely disci- plined in the hard but instructive school of auiiction. B. Jrcsns. " He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love."— The Song of Solomon ii. 4. CONTENTS. ^art JTtrst. Jesus, The Angel of the Covenant, typified by bloody sacrifices, revealing the solemn truth, that "without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin." The Incarnation, Life and Death of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus. Part JFouttJ, The Baptism of the Holy Ghost— The True Church, what and where it is. PartJFiftfj. The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ ; and the Victory over Death. mem Part First, part first. The Saviour of a fallen race is first seen as the Angel of the Covenant, and typified in bloody sacrifices,* showing that ** without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin." PROOFS OF HIS DIVINITY. I. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Jrimi. i. II. " And Jacob was left alone ; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of V.e day And Jacob i' >ked him, and said. Tell me, I prry thee, thy name. And he said. Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name ? And he blessed him there .... And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel : for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." Gen. xxxii. 24, 29, 30. III. ** In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them : in his love and in his pity he redeemed them ; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old." Isaiah Ixiii. 9. IV. "And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand : and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him. Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said. Nay ; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And * Heb, ix. 7, 8, 13, 14 ; John i. 29 ; Rev. xiii. 10 PART FIRST. Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his seiirant ?. . . • And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot ; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so." Joshua V. 13-15. V. " No man hath seen God at any time : the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." John i. 18. Note.— God, as a Spirit, cannot be seen by man. It is in his mediatorial character, as the Son of God, clothed in flesh in reality, as the babe of Bethlehem, or seemingly, as the Angel of the Covenant, that we know anything certainly about the self-existent, omnipotent and all-wise Jehovah. " He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.'* John xiv. 9. " He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him." John v. 23. . ** I and my Father are one." John x. 30. Note Second. — This man Christ Jesus received honour h.im men and allowed them to worship him. But see what John saith about the angel he saw in Rev. — **And I John saw these things and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.. ..Then saith he unto me. See thou do it not : for I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book : worship God." Rev. xxii. 8, 9. JESUS. GOD, we cannot find Thee out By human ken, by human light : For God we search yet find Him not, Nor see we Him in depth nor height. As Angel of the Covenant, A form appears in simple guise, A gracious form, benevolent, To win us and to make us wise. What means that sacrifice of blood ?* Why slay the lamb, if fruit will do ? In it we see the wondrous plan Of Him the Just, the ever True : The wondrous plan in mercy given To one who ate the fruit forbidden. To blot out sin, and sanctify The race that else were doomed to die. The angelic host with wonder saw The gloom that o'er the garden spread, * Gen. iv. 4. 12 JESUS. When man, unmindful of the law, Defied the Lord, his glorious Head : And sin, the poison, entered there, And blasted all that was so fair. It looked for vengeance on the pair ! For it had seen a rebel fall As lightning, from his blissful height* But now, behold ! at mercy's call. An advocate appears, all bright, In mercy's robe of spotless white — The uncreated Son of Light. Messiah's promised : woman's seed,t Prepared to bruise the serpent's head. Is dimly seen through many years And points the way man must be led. Till human darkness disappears And Heaven's bright light is on him shed. An altar and a sacrifice^ Obscurely told of Jesus' blood : And yet in this, man did rejo^'ce And built his altars to his God. If he had humbly sought the Lord And lived by faith upon His word, * Luke X. 1 8. t Gen. iii. 15. Gen. viii. 20 ; Heb. xiii. 10-12 ; Heb. ix. 22. JESUS. 13 No darkened page of Israel's sin Had told of Israel's curse and doom ;* And blessedness and peace had been His soul's best gifts, and Heaven his home. God's chosen ones to be thus blind ! So vile, and yet so richly blessed ! Yet, through all ages gone, mankind Is e'er the same ; he is possessed Of sins of darkest hue ; and yet He toils and strives to gain a right To earn the bliss he vUl not take In Jesus' name, for Jesus' sake ; So proud, and still so poor he is ; So vain and blind to Heaven's bliss. To sit and learn at Jesus' feet. To be a living sacrifice. Is to the fallen far more meet Than costly gifts of highest price ; Far better than the penance borne To cleanse the soul, and win the crown. O God, we thank Thee for Thy book— The book inspired, f the book divine. And as in it we daily look. And each can say, " This book is mine," * Deut.xxvii. 1$. f 2 Peter i. 21. 14 JESUS. O, may we search to know the truth, And hourly feel its hidden power. From childhood's day. to day of youth, From youth — though storms may o'er us lower- To hoary age, may we delight To search its treasures all divine, Its riches that illumine night, Making even darkness shine ; The only lamp to guide the soul From mortal, to its heavenly goal. The Prophecies and Psalms agree In lauding Him who was to be Of David's royal line the Son,* The Prince of Peace, the Holy One. These chosen men received the word With wonder from the living God, And taught as they were told to teach ;f But durst not farther go nor reach. They knew from whom their knowledge came. And gloried in His holy name. They strung their harps to praise the Lord — The Lord forever be adored ! * Isa. ix. 6. t Luke xii. 12 ; i Peter i. 9-12 ; 2 Peter i. 19-21. JESUS, 15 The Lord He *s God ! O bless His name ! The Lord forever is the same; He's just and true, He only's good — He's merciful, a gracious God. By waters still He leadeth me, In pastures green He feedeth me.* To Thee, O Lord, I lift mine eyes. Creator of the earth and skies ; Assistance comes alone from Thee — Thou slumberest not but watchest me ; In scorching suns Thou art my shade, In darkest nights Thou art my light ; The wilderness which Thou hast made For me to pass, can never blight My hopes, whilst Thou art near to bless And clothe me with Thy righteousness. Away with blood of bull and goat ! I have a surer antidote ; For Christ the Lord, the Lamb of God, Assuages grief, relieves my load ; He cleanses all my sins away, And turns my darkness into day. ♦ Psalm xxiii. MP i6 JESUS. If Jacob, Job and Abraham* Through shadows of this early dawn Could see Emmanuel in the manf Who stoops to be of woman born ; If through these mists the Prophets loud Proclaimed this truth from sire to son, From age to age, which David could Not cease to chant ; and one by one, If thus fast linked by that strong faith Which led them on to God their guide, Oh ! how can we with light which hath Amazed the world, that none can hide, Which brightens earth with noontide rays, Lessening the shadows on our graves — Oh ! how can we refuse to praise ? * Job. xix. 23-26. t Isa. vii. 14. Part Second, B JESUS. pact Second* THE INCARNATION, LIFE AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST. " And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt amongst us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John i. 14. (( . . Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife : for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." Matt. i. 20. ULL of mystery is the union, Full of sweetness the communion ; One in God and in each other Joyfully they live together Overshadowed by His wing, Expectants of their royal King Promised long to Israel's race : Joy ! to see Him face to face. 20 JESUS, Joseph and Mary— beauteous type Of Heaven's bridegroom and the bride ; Unlike the pair in Eden's bowers, Garlanded with earth-born flowers, The parents of the sons of pride. For lowly in the manger lay Their lowly son who came to pay The debt we owe and set us free, By bleeding, dying, on the tree. " And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a mar.ger." Luke ii. 7. With all the marks of royalty The princes of this world are born ; In almost every family Garments made ready to be worn, Soft and pure for the little one. Await the coming of the boy Or girl, who fills the house with joy. The babe of Bethlehem was wrapped In swaddling bands, so poor was He No fleecy shawl nor cloak gold-warped Was seen to mark His royalty. Among the beasts thus lies the stranger, On the straw and in the manger. INCARNATION, LIFE AND DEATH. 21 But lo ! an angel from the sky* To faithful shepherds watching nigh Proclaims the news, **A Saviour born ! 'Tis Christ, the Lord ! " and brilliant shone The glory, and beautiful the scene. With shepherds watching flocks at night, — Above, the stars ; below, the green. And countless hosts of seraphs bright With joyful songs of '* Peace on earth, Good will to men," aloud do cry. With tidings of a Saviour's birth, *' Glory be to God on high ! " t '* Where is he that is bom King of the Jews ? for we have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him." Matt. ii. 2. " My kingdom is not of this world ; " % If Herod only this had known No cruel men had weapons hurled At children by their mothers borne ; In Rama's halls no tear were shed, No wail were heard o'er infants dead, § Who from their mother's breasts were torn : But wise men guided by a star, Who came to worship, and to praise. * Luke ii. 8-1 1. X John xviii. 36. t Luke ii. 13, 14. §Mattii. 18. 22 JESUS. With their pure offerings rich and rare And to behold the Christ-child's face, Had cast their treasures at His feet, And told the news — without a fear That men would rage, or women weep. " And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom : and the grace of God was upon him." Luke ii. 40. " And, without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness." I Timothy iii. 16. A single glance is given us At Jesus as a child ; His life is all mysterious ; Then let us ask no wild. Bold questionings and curious Concerning this strange child : But rather let us humbly stand And learn from Him to do Our ** Father's will ; " let Him command Our steps, and lead us too. And let us ne'er forget that He Is our example here ; His daily life was purity ; Perfect did He appear, JNCARNA TION, LIFE AND DEA TH, 23 Subject unto His parents' will. Obeying their behests ; Yet still their God forever near To succour and to bless. \ A lowly babe, a holy child, Blest mystery divine : The man all righteous, meek and mild, Of David's royal line. For He, the uncreated Son, The glorious Deity, In concert acting with the One, The holy Unity, Thus veiled Himself in human form Beneath the broken law. To bear the beatings of the storm : Amazed, the angels saw Him stoop to die that man might live. How precious is the grace Is known to them who Him receive ; Who see His smiling face, And feel the influence sweet Of God*s redeeming love. Which draws us to His sacred feet, From Him no more to rove. 24 JESUS. **Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me ? And Jesus answering said unto him. Suffer it to be so now : for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water : and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him : And lo a voice from heaven, saying. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matt. iii. 13-17. Thou that takest the Christian's name, And yet believest not Christ divine ; Who seekest heaven on the claim Of righteousness entirely thine, Look at Jesus, meek and lowly, Christ the Saviour, pure and holy. Son of God, without redemption — Attested by a voice from heaven. Gird your loins, without pretension Buckle on the armour given ; Fight with Satan, fight and conquer. Tread beneath your feet temptation. Rise triumphant over Nature, Lustrous shine in every virtue ; Sinless be, and sinless enter Heaven's gate. But I would rather Give up self, and trust in Jesus — I am sinful, He is gracious. INCARNATION, LIFE AND DEATH, 25 " Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil." Matt. iv. i. Who goes into this wilderness ? Jesus Christ, the Anointed One : Our Priest, our King, our Righteousness, The Father's well beloved Son. What dismal depths, how bleak the heights ! And must our Saviour there abide, Full forty days and forty nights. There, with the Tempter at his side ? Stand still, my soul, and view the scene : No limpid stream, no sunny slope. No fruit is there, no sward of green, To cheer, or to awaken hope ; The serpent's hiss, and roar of beast. Salute the lonely wanderer. Who presses in with heaving breast. Unheeding pain — our Conqueror — To expiate the sin of Eden And open wide the gate of heaven. * * The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor ; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted." Luke iv. 18. Isa. Ixi. i. " And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." Matt. iv. 23. " Never man spake like th'^s man." John vii. 46. 26 JESUS. Upon the threshhold of thy life, As minister from God to man, I pause amidst the daily strife To think on Thee as best I can. Thou art my guide, the morning star, That shines into this soul of mine ; Thou art my peace, my Comforter, In this dark vale of ills and crime ; A sympathising friend Thou art. For Thou hast borne temptation's test To draw us near Thy loving heart That we may calmly on Thee rest. Thine acts are full of majesty, I love to dwell upon Thy word. It fills my soul w^ith ecstacy ; And yet — and yet, I know not how To show Thee to a dying world, To show Thee in Thy brilliancy : 'Twoald just as easy be for me To make a blind man understand The rainbow's tints, the dark blue sea. Or any other beauteous thing. There is a beauty in Thy word : There is a glory in Thy Son : INCARNATION, LIFE AND DEATH. 27 There is a power, Almighty God : There is a work already done. And 'tis the Spirit's quickening rays That penetrates the darkened soul And draws it back to wisdom's ways. Blest Spirit, come ! our thoughts control, Constrain us by Thine influence sweet To sit and learn at Jesus' feet. He sits upon the mountain side,* While thousands flock to hear Him preach And wisdom flows a sacred tide — It swells and floats upon the breeze. Such peaceful words. Oh ! whocan teach Like Jesus ? What sweet thoughts are these ; " Blessed are the poor in spirit," " Blessed are the meek " and " they that mourn." To the meek — ** They shall inherit The earth ; " ** Blessed are the pure For they shall see God ;" and ** Mercy Shall the merciful obtain." True Is it, no man e'er spake like He ; Not one, no, none so graciously. ♦ Matt. V. l-iS 28 JESUS. Holy men have toiled through ages To unfold the Word of Life ; Preached and taught, as learned sages Lived and wrought in peace and strife. But like a fountain still unfathomed Glistening in the desert drear, Pure and fresh and ever welcomed To the dreary pilgrim there. Thus we take the heavenly manna, Thus we eat the living bread, '' Hid upon the glorious altar, Hid in Christ, our glorious Head ; And only he who finds it knows The richest gift which God bestows. " For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities ; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Heb. iv. 1$. The friend that soothes and softens grief By gentle words and tender love, Does more to give the soul relief, Does more of loving kindness prove. More to calm the painful throbbing Of a heart all torn and bleeding, * John vi. 33. Ida INC ARM A TION, LIFE AND DEA TH. 29 More to raise the fallen spirit, To restore tranquillity, Than all things else which we inherit, However great our treasures be. None, none can understand the throes Of each one's grief — too deep they He \ Too poor are words to tell the woes Which sap the life, which dim the eye : Too prone is man to turn away From sorrow's tale^ to seek the joy Which fortune gives ; how apt to say, When blessings crown each sunny day, " 'Tis nought, tis nought ! " They love to fret ; Why not submit and not regret ? Or, " surely they have done some wrong And retribution follows them ; A holy God is just and strong, And they who sin should suffer blame. Poor, suffering humanity ; Absorbed in self and selfish schemes, We chill the sweetest charity And pass our lives in sinful dreams. Forgetting human sympathy ; Not blessing, as we would be blessed 30 JESUS. By scattering roses in each path And soothing every troubled breast. But Christ, the Lord, discerns this want, He sees the sorrowing broken heart And comes to heal, our tears to count, And say to loneliness, depart. In all points tempted like as we, * He knows our worst infirmity ; Then let us to the Saviour flee, However dark our sins may be : He stooped to hear our every woe That we might on His bosom lie ; Then let us to the Saviour go And whisper all our frailty. He sweetly calms our troubled breast And gives the burdened soul rehef ; And draws it nearer to that rest Where neither tears nor sin nor grief Can darkness throw o'er our belief. Or rob the soul of joys divine, Which ever in the Saviour shine. And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee ; and the mother of Jesus was there. Aid both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. A when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto is'j, They have no wine.'* John ii. i, 2, 3. ♦ Heb. iv. 15. It ■ l« i < (M »W i>M»>l l l»l*Wdii i» »»iW '''*^ '-''''^ INCARNATION, LIFE AND DEATH, 31 Sublimely conscious of His power, In meek simplicity He stands : When they that served had filled the pots Up to the brim as He commands, He simply looked ; and sparkling flowed The ruddy stream which servants bore, First, to the wondering governor. He needed not the juice of vine. Like man, to make the best of wine ; He spake : and forth His glory showed. Where Jesus is, how blest to be ; Would I had been in Galilee ! No marriage scene is e'er so bright As this, where Jesus is the light. And why not see it everywhere ? Where two are one— a blessed pair ; For Jesus smiles upon the love Cemented fast which makes but one Of two who lived apart — that love Which binds two hearts, however torn And crushed by sorrows and by fears. Or filled with joys and free from tears. His presence at this festive scene. With disciples and His mother. Should teach the world, the social men 32 JESUS, Who love the flow of wit and wine And communion with each other, That Christ benignly smiles on those Who love His presence everywhere, Who hate the path of sin and choose To walk with Him where'er He goes And cast on Him their every care. ** And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. " And Jesus put forth his hand and touched him, saying, I will be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed," Matt. viii. 2, 3. A leper ! pitiable sight ! An outcast from his friends and home Condemned to wander day and night,* Accursed, defiled, he lives alone. No living voice to cheer him up. No tender hand his sores to bind ; With covering on his upper lip, * He cries " unclean " of human kind : Contamination's in his breath, No joy of earth has he to reap : Such life is worse, far worse than death, If death were but unconscious sleep, . ♦ Lev. xiii. 45. wm *9to((Wi|!iWW*'f«'*«««<*^^^ INCARNATION, LIFE AND DEATH, 33 A giving up of all things here For dust and nothingness. To rot in earth, however drear, Is bliss compared to this. With trembling steps the leper came To Jesus Christ, himself to show : For he had heard of Jesus' fame ; And leprous men ** as white as snow " Could find relief in God alone ; A gentle touch, and all was done. O thou, that wanderest from thy home, Because within is leprosy, To Jesus come, oh ! quickly come. No longer thus an alien be ; You'll find Him good, you'll find Him true, Complete in sympathy and love. And willing to have care for you, And lift your soul the earth above — As e'er He was the sick to heal. To make the lame man leap and spring, To listen to the soft appeal Of children who His praises sing, Or to revive the dead again, To bless as only God can bless. 34 JESUS, And deliver from all pain Each traveller in the wilderness. Oh ! ye who doubt His power to save, Ye blind, ye deaf, ye sick, ye dead. Ye have no stream in which to lave — Come to the living fountain, red With Jesus' blood, come, wash and live : Christ has eternal life to give. "If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean ? " Welling up from the depths within A piteous wail to Jesus goes, To Him who bore our sins and woes, And brings from heaven a certain cure : In Jesus healed, forever pure. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all o t that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, " And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called t house of prayer ; but ye have made it a den of thieves." Matt. xxi. 12, 13. Beautiful temple of our God : Beautiful shadow of the True, (The True so full of purest bliss). All lined with gold and draped with blue. INCARNATION, LIFE AND DEATH. 35 With pure twine-linen shining white, And luminous with glorious light, Fit emblem of Christ's righteousness. No wonder that the Lord, our God, Should frown on sacriligeousness And cast out those who bought and sold, And weep o'er human wickedness. Jerusalem — Jerusalem ! Thou holy place of Israel : Once glorious, now lost to them ; So famed when Israel did well — Thou star that once so brilliant shone, Thy hallowed light is dimmed and gone ; Farewell, farewell, Jerusalem ! And so it is, and e'er shall be. When men lose sight of holiness, And flounder in the shallow sea Of pious show and worldliness ; Admire the shell and hold it dear, And see nothing in the kernel ; While shells preserve and guard the grain That holds the life eternal. •* Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. *• But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother ? and who are my brethren ? 36 JESUS. "And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren ! " For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. " Matt. xii. 47-50. Thy perfect manhood, dearest Lord, Secures to her who gave Thee birth ' The strongest love that e'er was felt By man for kindred dear on earth. But human love, to that of God, Is a weak stream, a little spring, Compared to the deep ocean, God's love is a mysterious thing, Beyond our comprehension ; We only know how sweet it is, How pure, how fresh, how full of bliss The dearest ties that bind us here To mother, husband, child or friend. Can not at all with this compare — This boundless love that knows no end. The atmosphere of heavenly light Steals o'er my soul, and all is bright ; Soul union with the God of heaven Through Jesus' love, to us is given. The mighty God, the glorious One, In majesty Supreme, Divine, INCARNATION, LIFE AND DEATH. 37 So loved the world, He gave His Son, Who linked Himself with man and sin — With sin, to be for sinners slain, That man might live and reign again. The depth, the length, the breadth, the height, Of love like this is measureless : Amazed are angels at the sight ; And man reaps all its blessedness. Disciples of the Lord, look up ! Be not depressed ; however dark May seem the night, our morn is bright. Above the world, as doth the lark, We soar and rest in Jesus' light. What if we lay our friends to rest In the cold earth, if they are blest With Jesus' love ? Though stoops the soul, As earth's bleak changes o'er it roll, 'Tis Jesus does it all, that we To Him may nearer, dearer be. He breaks the tie that weds to earth Where nought is lasting, nothing sure ; And comes into this vale of death Where all is sinful, nothing pure. And tells us of a better love T 38 JESUS. That fillr the soul with heavenly peace Which links us to the throne above, And gives us in our Lord release From sin's dark thraldom o'er us cast ; He binds us to His loving heart And fills the void that death has made ; A brother who will ne'er depart. The broken-hearted now is glad, For joys are his which always last. The widowed mother mourns a son, By faith she sees the Holy One ; The word — it penetrates her breast — And can it be that He's my Son Eternal arms are round her thrown, With sweet surprise she sinks to rest Upon the dear Redeemer's breast, The aching void completely filled And every murmuring word is stilled. *• And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: a- id when the evening was come, he was theic alone. ** But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves : for the wind was contrary.'' Matt. xiv. 23, 24. Alone was He on the mountain height, Alone on the mountain to pray, Communion with God was His delight, To be with His Father, away W^lSi INCARNATION, LIFE AND DEATH. 39 From the crowd, in His bosom to rest, Was the need of His soul, the balm Of His woes : to lean on His dear breast, And sleep in peace and holy calm, Away from the strife of men : away From pollution and pain and grief, To Jesus, became His mighty stay. To the man, Christ Jesus, relief. But did He forget His disciples. Who, tossed in the midst of the sea, Longed for the calm, and the ripples, On the face of the dark, stormy sea ? " A Spirit ! " they cried out from fear, But Jesus spake unto them cheer : You see it is I — " be not afraid ! " And quickly their fears were allayed. But doubting Peter, rash and bold. To test our God replied : If 'tis the Lord we here be' old. Who, on the waves, dost t^lide. Do Thou bid me that I may come Across this sea to Thee ! He might have met a watery doom. And sunk into the sea. 11 40 JESUS, But for the loving Friend, who caught Him firmly by the hand, And gently said, '* Why did'st thou doubt ? " The sea, at His command, Grew still and calm, as silvery lake Where fishermen their pleasures take. Oh ! give me that faith, dear Redeemer. Which fixes my eye upon Thee : That I may walk over the billow, That I may ride over the sea : That no earthly storm may dismay me, Well knowing in whom I believe, That in day and in night if I pray Thee, " Thou'rt willing to help and relieve. The winds and the sea ever heed Thee, And peace smiles wherever Thou art: Then gently, O gently, come lead me, Stay and have rule in my heart. *' But all their works they do for to be seen of men : they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments. ' * And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues. . . . "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! , . .^ "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers ! how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" Matt, xxiii. 5,6, 13, 33. \rzm^. INCARNATION, LIFE AND DEATH. 41 )> Beware ! ye puffed-up men who rule, Who pride yourselves in gaudy show : For fear, ye hate the Saviour too, And tread beneath your feet His law. Think not, that many rites will prove, That you're descended from " the True Lose not the view of Jesus' love. His love for sinners — even you, But meekly learn His will to do. Aside throw all your costly trappings, Or use them for the poor to bless : Clothe yourselves in better wrappings, E'en Jesus' robe of righteousness. The Jewish Church has had its day, Its brilliant day in Israel : Which told of Christ, the Lamb of God, In every ceremonial. But types and shadows, all are gone. Useless become, for Christ is born ! No more we need a priest to slay. Since Jesus Christ Himself was slain : Lamb, Priest and Prophet — all in Him, And King forever to remain. And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings. he said unto his disciples, 42 JESUS. *' Ye know that after two days is the feasl of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified." Matt. xxvi. i, 2. We thank Thee, Lord, for all mankind, That Thou has kindly hid from us The woes and ills we are to find In traversing life's wilderness. We thank Thee that our morning bliss Is not defaced by c ^ * g night; That young hearts, full o i \ j and peace, Behold their sky as only bright. ilnd so it is from age to age, Because Thou hast decreed it so That in man's weary pilgrimage Hope ever shines, a brilliant bow, To cheer him on through life's rough way Oh ! if the veil that hides our woe, Were lifted once, if for a day, Then agonized with pain and dread We'd gladly be among the dead. Bui none of all the sons of men. However great his sorrows be, Can paint a picture of the scene. Or tell of sorrows such as He ti^ Wi il lW iiil » i > i nwi i wiii i ,*f «mi «t m* m iMv INCARNA TION, LIFE AND DEA TH. 43 Endured — this glorious Son of Man, Serenely calm and dignified, Love beaming in His gentle eye, He knew He must be crucified, And yet — ^undaunted — pressed He on. He saw behind the veil, the path Which He Himself must tread alone, "The winepress oi Almighty wrath,"* That poured on Him, and by Him borne, Would snatch the sinner from his doom, From the dark prison of despair. And ope the way for him to roam At peace with God, all bright and fair. Such love as this is wondrous high, We cannot reach such grace ; Not e'en beyond the starry sky Where we shall see His face : Yet there we'll sit at Jesus' feet And try to comprehend The depth and height of love so sweet, The grace of such a Friend. In viewing Jesus' love and sorrow I sit appalled and mystified ; ♦Isa. Ixiii. 3. ■ 44 JESUS, Nor do I know what words to borrow, To show the love of Him who died. To paint the grief, or anguish tell. Of a soul thus bowed and stricken. I must not on this anguish dwell. Nor think of Him as smitten ; But turn my thoughts to brighter themes Than Calvary's Mount, Gethsemane, The parting supper with His friends, The tokens of His memory. No ! I would rather f^ink of Jesus As the Friend that's always with us ] Pass by the cross and by the tomb Where buried lie our sins and gloom : And go with spice and sweet perfume To find the stone just rolled away, And Jesus there, a risen Lord : The night succeeded by the day. According to His blessed word. I linger near : for the fearful cry, " Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani ? " * Reaches my ear from the quivering lip, Telling a tale of agony : * Mark xv. 34. T INCARNA TION, LIFE AND DEA TH 45 He drank to its bitter dregs the cup — " Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani ? " I linger near, for blackened sky And shaking earth have sympathy* With Him who wears the thorny crown, With the sufTering Lamb we crucify : But these are nought to his Father's frown ! " Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani ? " I linger near, for, though vile am I, Yet may I look to Calvary : And know my sins were on Him laid. But the frown of His God was the darkest sky That clouded the life of Him who said, " Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani ? " I linger near and raise mine eye To the Lamb that was slain, who lives on high On the Father's throne — forever to plead. And to wash away sins of deepest dye : And thus bow my soul to the fearful cry, Eloij Eloi, lama sabachthani ? '* * Luke xxiii. 44, 45 ; Matt, xxvii. 3 1 , Part Third, JESUS. THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION OF JESUS. " For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures ; "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures : " And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve : " After that, he was seen of about five hundred brethren at once ; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. " After that he was seen of James ; then of all the apostles. • • And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one bom out of due time." i Cor. xv. 3-8. " Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain : ye are yet in your sins." " Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." I Cor. XV. 12, 17, 18. "For since by man came death, by man cair - also the resurrec- tion of the dead. " For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." I Cor. xv. 21, 22. >> " Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord. IsA. i. 18. D 50 JESUS. HE life of God in Adam breathed, Gave man his immortality,* A right to heaven to him bequeathed In virtue of his purity : He sinned and lost the life thus given, He died, and fear crept through his soul,t And down he crouched — unfit for heaven — Away from God ! the solemn toll, The death-knell of departed joys Has rung— does ring— and ever will— O'er those who fondly play with toys, And perishable things, and still Go blindly down the stream of time. The dupes of passion and of crime. If God is good and ever true, (And who can doubt this verity ?) He 's merciful to me and you, As shown in Christianity : The whole of which is based upon A risen Christ take this away And down the fabric falls ! Not one Of all the things He taught can stay * Gen. ii. 7 ; Rom, v.. 12. f Gen. ii. 17 ; iv. 13, 14. :.«B««Pr*X^;'5IWWBWS RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. It up, for Christ Himself s untrue ! This Christ who died on Calvary, Who came His Father's will to do — Say, is He false or heavenly ? In Jesus, death has lost its sting, The cruel grave its victory :* Asleep in Jesus, we shall rise, Shall rise to immortality. As the soul is to the body. So is Christ to the believer : He in us we li^ e forever ; Without Him, who can deliver ? There is a link from first to last Which binds mankind together ; In sin and sorrow we are cast, Each in sympathy a brother. And so in Christ we are unbound — Our brother in adversity — In Him eternal strength is found To snap the cords of sin and death Which intertwine this ruined earth. And recreate it heavenly. I Cor. XV. 55-57. 51 52 JESUS. <( ''And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre." Matt xxvii. 6x. '* And when the sabbath was past. Maiy Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices that they might come and anoint him." Mark xvi. i. " But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping : and as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre. And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou ? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, a nd I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her. Woman, why weepest thou ? Whom seekest thou?, She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast bid iiim, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni ; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her. Touch me not ; for I am not yet ascended to my Father : but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." John xx. 1-7. Woman is the greatest sufferer, For she was the first in shining ; Woman is the ** weaker vessel," Therefore woman does more weeping ; And the men might always spurn her, But the Lord has taught them better ; Taught them by His own example Woman's nature how to honour. •''':-,;'■- A'li^ri"'**' ■J-^ RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. 53 While men betrayed, forsook and fled, And hid until the storm was past, The lovfe of woman drew her on To be with Jesus to the last. Hope and Faith are Christian virtues, Very needful while we are here, Lost by sight and Heaven's fruition, But Love outlasts our fleeting year. Love's the bright gem in every crown. Resplendent with a heavenly birth ; 'Twas this that brought the Saviour down ; *^' 'Tis this can make a heaven on earth : 'Tis this that lives when time's no more — The fairest tree in fields above : Then let us love for evermore ! For evermore, for God is love. Last at the cross — first at the grave. First to behold the risen Lord ; The Lord who came her soul to save ; The first to spread the news abroad : ** Go, teL my brethren," Jesus saith, And off" she sped, so happily. Oh ! Mary, full of joy and faith. How quickly fled thy clouds away ! * John iii. l6; I Johniv. i6 ; Rom. viii. 35. 54 JESUS, ■ I Woman's mission, could she know it, Is one of true sublimity ; 'Tis hers to teach the infant mind, To tell of Christ's divinity : To be the first to plant the seed In virgin soil : to watch its growth, With faith in Him who waters it : And still to sow : for she that soweth Shall reap the fruits abundantly. A true Church type, divinely fair, She's clothed in sweet humility ; And thus in meekness does she bear The Spirit's fruic — so heavenly. "And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about three score furlongs. *' And they talked together of all these things which had hap- pened. " And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. " But their eyes were holden, that they should not know him. ' ' And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad ? ** And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering, said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days ? '' And he said unto them, What things ? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people : " And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him." Luke xxiv. 13-20. ^A^!|Hpii(W»W'r-jr RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. 55 ** Put they constrained him, saying, Abide with us." Luke xxiv. 29. Half believing and half doubting, To Emmaus they went their way -, Deeply stirred, yet went they talking Of what had come to pass that day. Always ready, loving Saviour, To draw near to those who ponder Caring for the true enquirer. Though he only talk and wonder ; Thou, a teacher, close beside such, Throwest a light upon their darkness, And levelling mountains by Thy touch Tumest doubting into gladness. While they longed for His abiding, Quickly passed away the shadows ; For the sun-light shone upon them, Scattering doubt and all their sorrows. He took the bread and blessed and broke, And darkness quickly fled ; They saw the friend whom they forsook — Their Jesus — who was dead ! And then — He vanished out of sight. That they might look to heaven for light. With burning zeal they sped their way Back to Jerusalem, 56 JESUS, To tell of what a glorious day Had broken in upon them. Their hearts aglow with heavenly fire The news to tell, so fresh and sweet, Of Jesus in His new attire, And cast their trophies at His feet. '• And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be uuto you. *' But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. " And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled ? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts ? " Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me and see ; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." Luke xxiv. 36-39. " Then opened he their understanding that they might under- stand the scriptures, ' ' And said unto them. Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day : * ' And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. " And ye are witnesses of these things." Luke xxiv. 45-48. ** Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. " And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. " Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you : as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." John xx. 19, 21. " And he said unto them. Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. '* He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved ; but he that believeth not, shall be damned." Mark xvi. 15, 16. RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION 57 A brooding sadness hovers o'er The followers of the Lord : From fear they closely shut the door To think upon His word ; The fearful scenes of Calvary, The darkness of the day When Christ in blood and agony So meekly passed away. Their base ingratitude and dread, Which caused them to forsake The gentle One as He was led Unto the cruel stake. A mortal consciousness of sin, A dread of future ill. Constrained them all to keep within, Unhappy and so still. Depressed, ashamed, with heads bowed down, They speak of Him they love, Who meekly bore the martyr's crown His love for them to prove j But in their midst the Lord appears, To calm each troubled breast — To drive away all sinful fears. That they might in Him rest. : I i! 58 JESUS, He came not to upbraid and blame, For not a word He said, To show their sins, to show their shame, For these were on Him laid. He sweetly saith, " My peace I give, My peace I give to you." With joy they scarce could Him believe, The Blessed and the True. " Ye are my witnesses," said He, " Of all the things I did And suffered here to make you free, And these must not be hid. Go forth and preach the living word. And they who will believe That I am He — the living God — They shall for ever live." And many words He spake to cheer His loved disciples there, Who went into that room so drear, Bent downward with despair. But nothing said was half so sweet As "Peace I leave with you;" Such peace He gives as we shall meet Above the heavenly blue. jBJ:tiBl»iiMli«''^-itiii'»"""r- RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION, 59 " But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. " The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. "And after eight days again, his disciples were within, and Thomas with them : then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said. Peace be unto you. *' Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands ; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side : and be not faithless, but believing. ** And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. ** Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed ; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." John xx. 24-29. I am but a simple writer, And once — like you — I was a sceptic, Honest as the sceptic Thomas. You may deem me now a mystic. Let that pass ; for I refer you Simply to the testimony. Oh ! read and think, if you be true And want to know this history : Dwell much upon the solemn truth, If you would have immortal youth ; If you would live above the world. If you would reap its treasures too, If you would joy amidst its ills, Believe in Jesus, trust Him, do. 6o JESUS. Of all the sins we mortals know None is so great as unbelief. Yet strange to say that men so low, So subject to despair and grief, Will not believe the truth which heals The deepest sores transgressors have, However earnest the appeals Of those whom Truth makes brave. Oh ! that they would believe the Lord, That they would ever trust His word. And flee from the avenging sword Of Him who came to save. See the scars ! O sinner, see them ! Faith is a better gift than sight — It draws us nearer far to Him Who sends the Spirit's glorious light To them who ask Him for it. See the scars ! O sinner, see them ; Your sins, dear brother, made them there. Trembling sinner, touch, oh ! touch them. Lift up your heart in humble prayer. Receive the Holy Spirit. You see the scars? O, yes, you see YouVe touched the Lord, you Ve felt the thrill. RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. 6i You see the Lamb of Calvary ? Oh ! look upon Him and be still. How blest; thou art beUeving. You see the scars ? Oh, yes, you see ; Believing Him, He blesses you. You see Him in His agony ! The death sweat's on His brow like dew, For us those wounds are bleeding. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you : but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. " And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. "And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. " And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy : "And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen." Luke xxiv. 49-53. Jesus, gentle shepherd, lead us To the town of Bethany ; Let us see Thee, precious Jesus, " Captive lead captivity." And, as Thou art ascending high Into the clouds, so gloriously. May Thy rich blessing rest on us, Give us Thy gifts abundantly.* * Eph. iv. 8. ; 62 JESUS. That we may love Thee, better far Than earth or friends or family, For all of earth must pass away : The living are the heavenly. Recollections press upon me Of the scenes of Bethany ; I see the paths whose windings once My Master trod so frequently : From Olive's brow I see the home, The humble home of Mary, Where Jesus loved so oft to come When tired of earth and weary : I see the cottage neat and clean Where Martha served so busily ; And where they wept when sorrows came, When clouds burst o'er them leavily : * I see what startling joys appeared E'en in the midst of agony, When Jesus came and called for them. Called for them so lovingly : I see them lead the way to where The dead was laid so gloomily, And o'er the whole, I see, I see, A beauteous man, unearthly ; ♦ John xi. 14. mfi^mw^i^m^v::'^'^,' -m^-mmmr-'-rr'iK'^. ■. RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. 63 And yet a man who wept with them, * Who wept as for a brother ; A resurrection hfe had he For them who loved, believingly. Since then, He bowed His sacred head So marred in blood and agony ; His soul an offering He made That death by sin destroyed might be : Into the tomb He carried all, The curse which came through Adam^s fall ; And rising, brought a brighter day To ruined men who " see the way," And then, ascending to the throne, Awaits the coming of his own. Who, washed in precious blood alone, Shall wear a bright celestial crown. * John xi. 35. JESUS. Ipart ,ifourtb. THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST. THE TRUE CHURCH : — WHAT, AND WHERE IS IT ? (( «( (( (( When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thcu at this time restore again the king- dom to Israel ? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you : and ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jeru- salem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up ; and a cloud received him out of their sight.' * Acts i. 6-9. " These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren." Acts i. 14. HEN wedded to the things of Time How blind do we become : How lost to Heaven so sublime, To our eternal home. The glitter of a kingdom here, The dazzle of its gold and gems, i I ? J 68 JESUS. Shine brighter than the treasures there, Where glow the heavenly diadems. These blind disciples of the Lord, So " slow of heart " to understand The meaning of the blessed Word, The teachings of the glorious band, Now spread abroad from shore to shore In psalm and prophecy — Ask, ** Wilt thou at this time restore " The kingdom to Thy saints of yore,* Their richest legacy ? Messiah, promised long, hath come — Hath come to set His people free ; To break their bondage under Rome Triumphant ever more to be ! Still, still they grovel in the dust ; Their thoughts they cannot raise Above the world in Him to trust, And with the angels, praise. Although the Lord had bled and died, And from the grave had risen — Had met them and their fears relieved ; Had blessed, and them forgiven. * Acts i. 6. THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST. 69 They knew not that the better gift In Him they were to find ; They knew not that He came to hft Into a purer air, and sift The chaff from all mankind. Bat tarrying in Jerusalem, Still in that upper room, They sang and prayed and thought of Him Who in the flesh had come ; And of the wondrous promise given By the ascending Lord, That they should be endued from Heaven With power to preach the word — When suddenly a rushing sound As of a mighty wind, With cloven tongues of fire, Changed the current of their mind : Then earth beneath their feet was tramped, A better portion they had found ; Which filling them with burning zeal, The image of the Lord was stamped On every lineament and grace. .. They knew the false, they knew the real ; No longer cowards, they can face The wrath of men^ the world's dark scorn, 70 JESUS, As witnesses of Him Avho died, The Holy Jesus — crucified. And now we take a final leave Of Mary, Jesus' mother, We '11 see her in that blessed place Where we shall see our " Brother," The Son of Mary, Son of God, And there we '11 praise together. Of her death we have no record, After this we hear nought of her : * Some believe she has ascended And is for us an intercessor ! But those who search "the Word" for truth, And love to learn at Jesus' feet. Drink from a pure perennial fount Which fills the soul with joy so sweet That idle things which men do teach Like pebbles are on ocean's beach, Swept by the foaming billow's spray, Or — mingled with the common clay — Under the foot are dashed away. * ' And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they M'ere all with one accord in one place. " And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting." • Acts i. 14. THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST 71 *' And there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them : *' And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts ii. 1-4. This miraculous display ' Of the life of God returning To the souls of sinful men, To this world so unbelieving, Is the urightest evidence That we can have beneath the sun Of Jesus Christ's acceptance, That His work was fully done. Not a flaw in Heaven's light Could be seen in one so pure : The blackness of the curse had fled ; Jesus n^et the frown no more. But blissful on His Father's breast He claimed the promise of His God : And down it came with mighty rush On all who trusted in the Lord. And still it comes to them who trust And long for this abiding ; The baptism of the Holy Ghost, So like a fire refining Gold and purging dross away : 72 JESUS. And yet it gives a burning love, An earnest zeal, a longing For a better, brighter day When man shall cease his doubting ; And take the good that's offered him Through Jesus' blood, atoning. Thus clothed with power from on high, These simple men of Galilee With fluent tongues and fearless hearts Amazed the crowds who came to see If what they'd heard of fishermen. And of the cloven tongues of fire, Of the zeal with which they spake Of Jesus who had risen higher — They came with strong desire to know If all these things were truly so. The crowd still rushed to see and hear, And wondrous was the work of God ; For every nation far and near Did hear them speak in their own tongue f And mighty was the work that day, A Pentecost remembered long, Which brought ** three thousand " in the way, ♦ Acts ii. 8. THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST 73 The new and living way, through Him Whom wicked men had crucified ! The Son of God upon His throne, Who crowned with thorns, for them had died. These men, " unlearned and ignorant," Add glory to the gospel scheme Which gives all power to God alone ; And Jesus is the mighty theme Which has thrilled mankind for ages With love or hate, as seemeth good, As saint or sinner pleases. It stirred the unbeliever then To unjust deeds of madness, And filled the souls of Christian men With joy and peace and gladness. The lame man at the temple gate Asked alms of John and Peter ; ' Instead of which, they said. Arise ! In the name of Christ the Healer, Arise and walk ! And leaping, he Praised God : and walking, leaping, Into the temple went with glee Still walking and still praising. This miracle displeased the priest ; The Sadducees were angry too : * Acts iii. 2. 74 JESUS. So into bonds the two were cast* For preaching and for being true. The truth the)% could not bear to hear, Nor priest nor Sadducee ; It filled them with an awfiil fear And brought to mind dark Calvary. The deed was done beyond repair, For they had slain the Nazarene ! And yet with boldness these declare That they the Christ had seen : That He had risen from the dead, And power to them had given To heal the sick, the blind to lead, And shew the way to heaven. These, who had power from the Lord — In all things else so poor — Were told to preach the blessed Word, And open wide the door, That sinners all might enter in Redeemed by blood from every sin. — While persecution reigned without, Peace sat enthroned within. '' For the love of Christ constraineth us ; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead : "And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again." 2. Cor. v. 14, 15. * Acts iv. 3. THE BAPTISM OF THE HOL V GHOST. 75 '' The love of Christ constraineth us ;" How pure a principle is this ! How mighty to accomplish good, How self-denying, full of bliss : 'Twas this that armed these men of old, As witnesses of Jesus' death, That made them willing to endure, And nobly rise above the earth. « '*The love of Christ constraineth us :" It fills our souls with love to men. Abide within us, dearest Lord, That we may gently draw them in ; That they may own Thy precious name, That they may know earth's narrowness ; That they may have a higher aim Than toiling for its nothingness. '' The love of Christ constraineth us :" Away with every glittering toy ! Since Jesus bore my sins, and died That I, though dead, might life enjoy, Fain would I give to Him my heart. With life and all I hold most dear ; Esteeming all things here but dross, If Jesus will be ever near. 76 JESUS, " The love of Christ constraineth us :" Apostles, martyrs, prophets, say ! What made you bold amidst the strife, And cheered you on from day to day ? Why cared you not for scourge or chain, For prisons cold, nor nakedness ? Why not for shipwreck on the sea. Nor perils in the wilderness ? " The love of Christ constraineth us : '* 'Tis this wondrous love of Jesus Which brought Him from His brilliant home, Which nailed Him to the cross for us, That fills us with a kindred love For fallen man in wretchedness 3 And for the Father, and the Son, In their sweet world of blessedness. " The love of Christ constraineth us ;" Through the Spirit's mighty power It soothes and elevates the soul, And fits us for the storms that lower So darkly o'er us while we live : And smoothly sweeps the roughest path That death, or sin, or woe can give. And takes away the dread of wrath. THE BA P TISM OF THE HOLY GHOS T. 7 7 " The love of Christ constraineth us ; " To give our souls, and bodies too, As members of our glorious Head, That He may work in us to do His will j and when we '* fall asleep " He'll gently watch our slumbering dust, And our happy spirits keep, until The resurrection of the just. (( (( Sirs, what must I do to be saved ? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts xvi. 30, 31. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up : That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." John iii. 14, 15. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest ihe sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth : so is every one that is born of the Spirit." John iii. 7, 8. What must I do, is forever the cry Since the first fatal hour when settled the night O'er the garden so fair and its sky : O, what must I do to bring back the light ? The light to my soul, now blighted and gone ; Says Cain, " My fruits so luscious will do it ! " He saw no need of the blood of the lamb : My fruits will appease, and I shall inherit 78 JESUS, The earth, and its freshness and fruits — Caring more for the gift than the Giver ! The sin of his heart was seen in the blood That flowed from the veins of his brother : The ground drank it up, and the light of the soul Went out from the wanderer for ever.* Thus the love of the world still blindeth the mind And draws it away from its goal ; Alas ! while in reaping its treasures we find But an emptiness left for the soul, *' Castles of air " far too poor in attaining To fill man's immortal desires : Wretched he looks up to heaven complaining Of needs that his soul most requires ; And cries in his anguish, What must I do ? I'll no longer to sin be enslaved ; Where is the balm for my sins and my woe ? O, tell me how can I be saved ? The self-righteous man who thinks over his deeds And sees nought in himself but what good is. Comparing himself with his neighbours, thus feeds The love of himself which makes up his bliss. * Gen. iv. 14. THE BAPTISM OF THE HOL V GHOS T. 79 He goes to the church, gives alms to the poor, Says loudly his prayers that all men may know — Knows himself he does right, for people say so ; And so he continues to do and to do. The pride of the heart, this dreadful conceit, Is seen in the man, the woman and child ; In blinding the eye, the soul it doth cheat Of its sweetest perfume, humility mild, And casts o'er its lustre a shadow so dark That truth ever fails in making its mark. And what is the truth ? O, what doth it say ? " Come unto me." O, come — even to-day ; Do nothing, do nothing, only believe That I am a Saviour, almighty to save. Look at me languishing on the dread cross, I drank of the cup in Gethsemane; I came to the earth and lived on its dross. Though "rich, became poor," that I might save thee. Your sorrows I feel, your burdens I've borne ; The pressure brought blood, and so did the thorn ; If you would be healed, O, wash in this stream, It costs nothing for you — mine was the pain ; ^m I 80 JESUS, The work is all mine ; IVe satisfied Him From whose bosom I came to this world of sin. Cast your eye backward to dark Calvary, And know that your sins were washed away there, And joyously give your hearts unto me, And your labours will end in praises and prayer. As man cannot tell from whence cometh the wind, Nor whither it goes into space on its way, Nor with cords can control, nor force it, nor bind. Nor stop it in flight, nor compel it to stay — Thus freely the work of the spirit is done ; I know it is so ; but I know not how The change hath been wrought that makes me a son. The new-born babe with its wail of woe Is not more really born of its mother, Its natuve the same, has come and will go The way of the earth, as one and another, Than he that is born of the Spirit of God — Like God, will hate sin, and e'er will look up For grace to discern the truth in His Word — To walk the new way and to drink of the cup He holds to his lips — the cup of His love, The life of His life, the bliss from above. THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST. 81 " O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not ! ** Behold, your house is left u.ito you desolate." Matt, xxiii. 37, 38. (( ((