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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour etre reproduit en un seul cliche, ii est film6 d partir de Tangle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 THE VOYAGE TO GLORY, AND OTHEE SKETCHES. Br THE AUTHOR OP THE GEEAT LOVEFEAST IN HEAVEN. T B N T : . WM. EOWE, PRIMITIVE METHODIST BOOK UOOM. 1869. Entered accoraing to Act of thePrmincial Legislature, in the yeaf one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine^ in tkc Office of the Registrar of the Province of Caiiada. COKTEI^TS. The Voyage to Glory. ^ The Harbour ^^ The Grave in the Wilderness 47 Ida in the Home Nest •••- ^'^ A Tale of Sorrow. '^^ .-■sf-- U'-' ' ,'"- ■-■^* h mm THE YOYAGE TO GLOEY. *#• TnE YOY^^GE, T was a bcrmtiful morning whcntlienoblw sliip Immanuel sailed into Bothlchcm; witli tlio flag of redeeming Ioyg floating at the mast-head. ^N'ight sat in solitary [.randeur on her ebony throne. The stars shone with their nsnal brilliancy, but there was one star brighter than the rest. There it stood in mid-heaven, pouring down its cold silvery beams on tho quiet old village of Bethlehem. And there appeared an angelic embassy, whose fadeless diadems lit up the heavens with unearthly splendour, who became jubi- lant with songs of praise. A number of Arabian philosophers have entered Jerusalem. Passing through the silent thoroughfares of the city, and hastening to the palace, they gain an audience with Herod -iUlMH- .'<-:,a.>^ 6 the king, find announco to him the arrival of the Iramanucl. When Ilcrod heard these thinus he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And he called together the Council, and asked them if they knew what port the vessel was from, the object of her visit, and the place of her destination. They told him, that as to her nationality it was not easy to define, but her destination w^as Bethlehem of Juda, ard tho object of her mission the restoration of Israel. The illustrious foreigners depart from Jerusa- lem, and the star which guided them over the trackless desert again appears. They hail it with joy, and follow it till it stands over the place where the Immanuel is riding at anchor. They go on board, and falling down at the feet of the Commander, and opening their treasures, they present unto Him offerings of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Meanwhile, the news of her arrival spreads, and becomes a source of deep anxiety alike to the Jew and the Roman. Behold that venerable Hebrew sire, perus- ing a highly treasured copy of a Mosaic chart : he is reading the dying prediction of the patriarch Jacob, and then he calculates the number of years recorded by Daniel, and as 4. r If !io roiids, and as lie calculates, his eyes glisten witli hallo sved joy, his heart well nigh bursts with rapturous delight; he thanks the God of his fathers that He has allowed him to see the advent of the Deliverer, whose appearance many kings and righteous men desired to behold, but were not permitted. And ther. sits a j)roud Israelite, with powerful emphasis repeating the prophecies of the ancient seers, and those portions of the Psalms which speak of the Messiah as "mighty to save," and which tell of Ilis achievements : — How He shall go forth from *' conquering to conquer," until, in his mind's eye, he beholds his native soil again unpolluted bv the foot of the uncircumcised alien ; his race free from foreiijrn domination, and Jerusalem become again a praise in the whole earth. And pursuing the exciting theme, he pictures to himself the expected One as a martial chief — as the Bozrah conqueror, whose gar- ments are dyed with blood, leading the troops of Ifeirael fL'om victory to victory ; the Roman eagle flying before the Jewish standard ; the mistress of the world humbled in the dust, and his countrymen, perclianee himself among the number, taking a fearful retribution for tlae suHeringij and insults of many generations. 8 f Hark ! the distant murmur of a Gtorm. It rushes dov/n upon the land with thunder- crash and deafening roar. Fear seizes held of the people ; in Earnah lamentation is heard, Rachel weeping for her children ! Onward sweeps the regal tornado, bestrewing the pettceful hr.rbour of Bethlehem with wrecks. The chief officer of the Immanuel, having been warned of the approaching storm, weighed anchor, and took refuge in Egypt. The tem- pest having blown over, she sailed into Galilee. While cruising along the coast, she picked up Peter, James, and John. She also called at Bethany, and took on board Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. The wind having cliopped round, she made for the city of Magdala, which, on entering, the look-out saw a strange looking craft be- longing to a jDcrson named Magdalene. Seven pirates had taken possession of her. Her condition was extremely perilous. The Captain of the Immanuel ordered a shot to be fired across the bows of the flag-ship of the fleet, wdiich brought them to. He then called upon them to surrender their prize, which they did unconditionally. She then set out for Calvary, where she had a most severe engagement with the enemy. The arch-pirato had collected all hL-' fbrces, which spread oat ever the ocean in formidable array. lie had also obtained the assistance of the Jewish and Roman fleets. The sun was climbing towards meridian when the great battle commenced : the sound thereof shook the earth— hushed into profound silence the grand harmonies of the celestial minstrels, and made hell quiver from centre to circumference. Mount Sinai also smoked and rocked to the tempest that swept around it. About the ninth hour the grand charge was made by the jmbined forces on the King's siiip, and so terrible became the contest that the very ocean seemed encircled in a sheet of livid flame. The Immanuel stood the shock of battle bravely, raking the enemy fore and aft. After an enc^agrement of six hours, a shout was heard from the deck of the K»lng's ship, which thrilled every heart, and ar- rested every attention : — " It is finished." Immediately down went the black flag ; the enemy had surrendered ; and the world's re- demption was accomplished When the smoke of battle had cleared away, the flag, which never shrank at the approach of any foe, was seen fluttering in the breeze, ;A 10 bearing this device, which was to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the polished Greek, foolishness: — "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ ; in whom we have redemption in Ilis blood, even the forgiveness of all our sins." As the Immanuel was preparing to leave the scene ot action, the Captain observed a Qiarine belonging to the allied forces, who had been severely wounded during the engagement, slinging, in the agony of death, to the ship's sable, crying aloud : — " Lord remember me." •'Throw him off," shouted voices from beneath ; but the Shipmaster, who came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them, gave him a look of tenderness, and said, " To-day shalt thou be with Me when I enter into paradise." Fully manned, and with a commission as wide as the world she started on a cruise which shall only terminate when time is no more. She sailed into Jerusalem on the mornini^ of Pentecost. A vast crowd had assembled to see this famous ship, just from the heat of battle, enter the port of the capital ; many of whom had not only witnessed, but even taken part, in the enga ement. The Captain 1 .ving opened the ship's port- boles, an d having made ready for action, Peter, 11 i» ra one of fior oiHccT}^, fitood up, '*not to fiolcl a dry argument with the people about duty, but Bpoke to them of free-grace, Nay, the living thing was there, operating upon men's minds and consciences, melting them down into faith and repentance, hope, and Christian love. Christ was there in the raiment of his sufferiiig, winninor sinners' hearts." Before the address was ended, three thousand rebels, upon whom the Spirit had descended, cried in wild amaze- ment and in different languages — '' Men and brethren what shall we do ?" Peter had anticipated such an enquiry, therefore tlie reply was prompt — " Kepent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, and you shall receive the forgiveness of all 3^our sins." There was no need to despatch envoys here and there to obtain in- formation ; Peter was enabled, by his commis- sion, to settle the dispute at once. Leaving Jci*usalem, she sailed forDamascnS, During the voyage ehe fell in with bad weather; both the wind and the sea raged furiously, injuring many of the marines, some of whom fell victir/is to the storm, and eschaisged mortality for immortality. As thej^ were entering the beantifiil harbour of Damascus, they closed witli a rebel of 12 stately build, from Tarsus in Cilicia, owned by Saul, an aristocrat of tbe old Hebrew faith ; a proud and freezing academic fresh from the schools of philosophy, who had seized and im- prisoned many of the King's officers. The Captain of the Immanuel, seeing that she meant mischief, opened upon her a terrific fire, which threw her on lier beam-ends. The King, having no desire to treat the rebel unmerci- fully, or even to retaliate for the injury she had done the service, bore down upon her, and took possession, saying : — " Saul ! Saul ! why persecute&t thou me? Arise, and stand upon thy feet, for I liave chosen thee to be my minister, djiivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to turn them from the service of Satan unto God, chat they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them which are justified by faith that is in me." She then made for Athens, where Plato lived, and Aristotle taught the light of science. Here she met with much opposition. The two forts of the city, Philosophy and Reason, opened upon her a heavy fire ; though Paul, the master gunner of the King's ship, made a powerful impression on the enemy's batteries, he could not silence them ^ " some mocked," i %f 13 SBI vMle others deserted tLe service of the enemy, and sought refuge on board the Immanuel ; among whom were Dionysius the Areoi^agite, and a woman named Damaris. They then left Athens and sailed to Corinth, a celebrated city in Greece, on the southern part of the Isthmus, between the ^Egean and the Ionian Seas, about twenty-five miles west of Athens. Here they found a " certain Jew named Aquila, born- in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla." They were also joined by Silus and Timotheus, who had come from Macedonia, having been thero on the King's business. Paul went on shore, and entering into the synagogue, reasoned with the Jews and the Greeks, testifying that Jesus was the Christ ; but they received not his testimony. Then Paul shook Jiis raiment, and said unto them, " Your blood be upon your own heads ; I am clean ; from hence- forth I w^ill go unto the Gentiles." And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that w^orship- ed God, whose house joined hard to the syna- gogue ; and Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, with all his house, and many of the Corinthians, sought admittance, and were accepted into the King's service. 14 i In consequence of this, the Jc^;vt? made in!?nr- rection agaiast Paul, and brought hhn to the judgment-seat, saying, " Tliis fellow persuad- ctli the people to worship one whom they know not, which is a violation of our law." Gallio, the judge, said unto the Jews, " If it Avcre a matter of wrong, or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should hear with you ; hut if it he a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it, for I will be no judge of such matters." And ho drove them from the judgment-seat. They left Corinth and came unto Galatia. Here a little unpleasantness arose amongst the crew, many of whom were dissatisfied with the restraints of the service ; so they applied for their discharge, which the Captain gave them at once ; it being contrary to the laws of the ship to retain any one against his will. The mutineers were at once put on shore, and their names struck oiF the service list. This occurrence produced a painful feeling among the crew, many of whom were moved to tears when they saw the men leave the ship, and not a few affectionately urged them to acknowledge their faults, and re-enter the service : even the Captain, whose authority they defied, spoke kindly to them, and entreat- 15 s tlio uad- vTlOW allio, O ye with and for I lid ho alalia. . st the I with pphed II gave e laws is will, re, and feeling moved ve the d them tcr the .thority Butreat- 1 i ed them to turn from their evil ways; but they paid no heed to his exhortations. After leaving Galatia, they set out again for Jerusalem. The day after their arrival, Paul and James went out to meet the elders, who received them graciously. Paul now made known to them the things which God had wrought among the Gentiles by liis ministry. And when they heard it they glorified God. Then Paul, and certain others, after purifying themselves, entered into the tempi?, and when the Jews which had come from Asia saw liim in the temple, they stirred up the people, and laid hold on him, crying out, " Men of Israel, help ; this is the man that teacheth all men, everywhere, against the people, and the law, and this place, and moreover brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place ;" for they had seen with him in the city Trophimus, an Ephesian, whom they supposed Paul had brought into the temple. The whole city was moved ; and the people ran together, seized Paul, drew him out of the temple, and closed the doors. They would have killed him, but tidings hav- ing reached the chief captain that Jerusalem was in an uproar, he took a band of soldiers •^MMM 1(5 and centurions, and ran do^Yn unto tliem, and when they saw the centurions and soldiers they left oiF beating Paul. Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and com- manded him to be bound with two chains and conveyed to the castle. The next day Paul was brought before the Jewish council, but the Sanhedrim having no legal right to arraign him, he was sent to Cajsarea, to appear before the Governor. The day of his trial came He is introduced into court under a burst of popular indignation, and loaded with public obloquy ; but does he hesiicite or cower — docs he temporise or con- ciliate — does he compromise his conscience and his creed, as the price of his freedom ? "No. Clad in steel as he was, and loaded with chains, disdaining the trappings of a court and the diadem of the Cajsars, he gallantly plant- * ed the standard of the cross, in the presence of his judge and his accusers; and throwing down heaven and hell at their feet, extorted from the astonished tribunal the involuntary confession, " Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." He had previously appealed unto Caesar, therefore the court at Caesarea had no jurisdiction, and he was taken to Rome. Af- ter a stormy voyage he reached the " eternal I I -'jfi*! Bi 17 city," and being delivered to the captain of the guard, he was allowed to dwell by him- self, with a soldier to keep him ; and he dwelt two years in his own house, and received all that came in unto him. We have no account of his trial before Ca3sar, but he was finally released .n the spring of A.D. 62 o' ^3, having been fully acquitted* After his release, it is said he preached the Gospel "to the uttermost parts of the vvest/* Kow began the first general persecution of the Christians. An immense multitude were put to death by the most horrifying means which savage cruelty could invent. During that fiery trial, it is supposed that Paul came to Rome to encourage the Christians to bear, with patience and resignation, the storm which was raging. Such a distinguished leader of the Christian faith could not long escape the fury of the tyrant. lie was apprehended, and, along with Peter, it is said, was cast into prison. We learn from the last epistle he wrote to Timothy, that almost all his com- panions had deserted him, except Luke the physician, whose affection for Paul diminished not. At length, the noble prisoner was led out of the city for execution. " Aa he marched along," i i i I 18 Bays an historian, "several of the sokliers who formed the guard were converted by his con- versation." lie was helieadcd ; and thus passed, from the publicity of a scaffold, to tlic crown of a martyr, one of the greatest heroes of tho Christian faith. When the news of his martyrdom reached Jerusalem, the officer in comand of the Im- manuel summoned all hands on deck, and communicated to them the great loss they had sustained in the death of their illustrious comrade, Paul. After which each man retired to his berth, and poured out his soul unto God, for grace to enable them so to triumpli, should they be called to suffer death for the sake of the Gospel. They then left Jerusalem and sailed to Ephesus. Here they found John, the beloved disciple, who was apprel.ended by order ot the Emperor Domitian, and banished to Pat- mos, a lonely island in the ^gean Sea, and left there to chant the name of Jesus to howling winds and booming waves. John, while at Ei3hesus, had been pre-eminently useful in persuading many to enter the King's service ; one of whom was Polycarp, who afterwards perished at the stake, for the testimony of a good conscience. He often spoke 19 of John, how ho used to repeat to lum Christ's last discourse to His clisciplcs. During the reign of the emperors Trajan, Antonius, Sevcrus, Maximus, and Decius, it would seem as if Satan, and his imperial confederates, put in force every means that tlieir infernal minds could invent, to exterminate the faith of the Gospel. Houses full of Christians were set on fire, so that no less than 100,000 in one year passed through the flames of martyrdom to that inheritance which is incorruptible. Notwith- standing the breaches made in the Church, we find according to Gibbon, in the reign of Constantine 0,000,000 of Christians. About the close of the fourth century, the good ship Immanuel entered Frajice, and the Gauls became Christians. Early in the sixth century she sighted the coast of Albion (England.) Augustine, one of her officers, was despatched to Etlielbert, tlio king, and explained to him the nature of the Christian religion, and he was converted, and the Saxons gave up their idols and Ijccamo Christians. Even before that time there Avere Christians in Wales who would not submit to the Pope. She then sailed to Germany — thence to Burmah's shore and India's coral Btrauds — to Polar snows and sunny Africa — 20 to Amorica'rt sinilinG: caf.sts and Asia's distant Isles; and ore lonsj lier glorious ensign, infolds of living liglit, sliall float over every land; and far-off continents, together with the islands of the sea, shall break forth into singing: — "The kinjii'doms of this Avorld arc become the king- doms of our God and of ITis Christ, and IIo shall reign for ever and ever." To meet the spiritual necessities of the human race, the Captain of our salvation has Dstablished on life's rugged and stormy coast several life-boat stations, that those who are ready to perish may be gathered up in safety. These lifeboats are all built under the super- intendency of the Lord High Admiral of [leaven, and are at the prestmt moment cruis- uiGT on the broad ocean of time. Perhaps you are wishful to know the names of a few of the boats in the King's service. Mark ! not allviho bear the KinG:'s name belonoc to the service. There, lying under the guns of a French battery, is an old vessel fully man- ned, but sadly out of repair : to venture out to sea in her present condition would be cer- tain destruction : Pope Pius is her captain ; tyranny and persecution are the orders under wliicli she sails. Lying at anchor in the roadsteads, is a large '4- f JHK 21 old-fiishioiiod-looking hoat ; some of hor crew look like Rominh priests, while the others aro less gorixeous in their apparel ; but they all receive State patronage. There is a heavy strain upon lier eal)le just now, and her crew fear that ere long she will break from her State mooriuL'S. This bor.t belonijs to the English Episcopalians. Not least amongst the many craft in tlio Kinii^'s forces is the fine old PREsnvTERiAN L'FE I>0AT. What storms she has braved ! what victories she has won! Though she h.as come out of many a battle with her yards almost stripped of canvas, yet, she has never had to chronicle a defeat; and if her present seamen are eqiuil in courage and nautical skill to those who manned her in earlier days, her ■^'iture is indeed an enviable one. Yonder, gliding in solemn majesty over tho unruffled waters, is an admirable boat, which belongs to the Baptists. In the early part of her cruise, she had many fierce storms to en- counter. Joliii Bunyan was one of her chief officers. For twelve years he was confined in a miserable dungeon, whose walls were ever dri])ping wdth damp, because he would not cease to recruit for the Kinsj's service. *' But from that dim apartment he sent forth a book, M H t I I 22 ■whose original conception, grand and beauti- ful imagery, touching pathos, purity of style, and truthfulness to nature and experience, has given him an unrivalled fame." At present, among the noble forms ujdou her deck, is a young officer, by the name of Spurgeon : his eyes gleaming with the fire of his enkindled soul, his form expanded to its utmost height, and his lips moving with energy, he paces the deck, exclaiming, as he points to the formidable batteries of Antichrist, " These strongholds must be taken. Quick ! Clear the deck, make ready for action !" "Comrades! stand firmly by y)ur guns, and never cease firing till you see that flag dripping with the blood of the martyrs lianlcd down." The command, " Biaze away," rings like a trum- pet-blast from one end of the boat to the other. Flash follows flash in rapid succession, and the roar of tlic cannon booms across the sea* *' How goc 8 the battle, Landels ?" cries the young Clueftain. " I already see several breaches in the walls. Sir," is the reply. " Equip yourselves like men ; be strong and fear not, for the Lord of Hosts is with us, and the God of Jacob is our refucre." ''Let the Arnlstronccs of imperishable truth be brought to beai* upon them, Burns." "Aye ! aye ! sir." What shouts 23 re tliose I hear from the mast head ? They aro he shouts of victory, sir. The enemy has sur- rendered. The mariners man the yards, and there ascend the high and joyful strains of the old Hebrew faith, " God is our refuge and strength, In straits a present aid, Therefore, although the earth remove, We \v ill not he afraid." There, riding splendidly over the waves, is anotlier boat : she belongs to the Congkega- TioxALiSTS. She has just come in from a cruise in the South Sea Islands, where John Williams, one of her bravest seamen, perished — a name that will live in the memorv of men, Avhen time has wiped out the names of the heioesof mili- tarj^ fame from the sculptured marble of Westminister and the fretted ivory of St. Paul's. Her present position* in the service is second to none ; and need v/e wonder, when she numbers amongst her crev/ a phalanx of such glorious iiien as James Parsons, Thomas Biuiiey, Newman Hall, Theodore Cuyler, Henry Ward Beecher, &g. Yixv to the Northward, where iccber<?*s crlis- tea in the diadem of night, is another boat : she belongs to tlie MoravIxViXS. A more ftxith- ful crew is not to be foimd iu the service, and |. w 24 » a most glorious reward awaits these devoted servants of the King. Do you see that boat enterino: the beautiful haven of endless joy, where flash the jewelled gates of immortality ? It belongs to the Wesleyan Methodists. " Thousands she has safely landed, Far beyond this mortal shore." She has shipped many a sea, and picked up mil* lions on tlio verge of ruin. Far out upon the ocean, like a speck upon the horizon, is another boat. She belongs to tlic Methodist New Connexion. Her officers are well skilled in nautical sciencCj but until she shakes out her reefs, and casts a flow ing sheet to the wind, she will never make much head-way. See ! Sec ! that vessel tossed fearfully on the raging ocean of iniquity. A dreadful temjiest has overtaken her, and the gale is still increasino^. The lowerini^: clouds have drathercd in awful blackness, and thev are buried in the shades of midnight darkness. How perilous their condition ! Sails rent ; masts gone ; rudder unshipped and compass lost ; and, Avhile contending with the fury of the elements, they are driven by the resist- less rage of winds and seas to the vei'y brink ^' i» 25 of rnin. The ship is rapidly sinking in the waves. What can be done for those ship- wrecked men ? See, there is a boat on its way to the rescue ! A braver crew never manned the oars. It belongrs to the Primitive Metiio- DisTS. iVfter many fierce struggles, the wreck is reached and the rescue made. In examining the logbook of this boat, I find noted down many marvellous deliverances, some of which are worthy of being chronicled on marble. Let one suffice at present. Some years ago, a young man was seen far out to sea clinging almost lifeless to a floating spar. Many bor^ts hastened to save him, but in vain. At length, when nearly all hope was gone, the Primitive Methodist lifeboat put out on the errand of salvation^ and after shipping many seas, one of the manners caught the young man just on the verge of being swallowed up in the vortex of endless ruin : that young man is Spurgeon, the most popular minister of the day. Iloving in eight is another boat : she belongs to the Free Church of Scotland. She was launched in 1843. At the helm stood the polished and classic Welsh, " his pure and glowing spirit shining through his fragile body, like a lamp thi'Dugh a vase of ala- baster." At liis risrht hand was the white- 1^ «M VS.: H 20 headed Chalmers, with " his massive frame and lion port," supported by nearly four hundred of Scotland's best ministers, and as manj^ elders. As this boat left tlie national docks and eccle- siastical emoluments, dismay and astonishment marked the countenances of the royal com- missioners and adlicrents of the crown ; while a long-drawn, sobbing sigh, and a suppressed cheer of admiration and sympathy swept from the thousands of spectators, who gazed with Bolemn wonder at the si^ht. Most of those brave men w ho stood true to principle in that stern hour of trial, have gone to their reward. Their burnished feet now press the golden Strands of Canaan. " They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, for the former things are passed away." Amongst the present crew of this Scottish boat, like Saul among the elders of Israel, stands the venerable Uuthrie. Grand old man as he is, his brow furrowed with more than thirty years of active service ; I can see him with form erect, near the figure-head, his eyes peering through tlie haze that curtains the sea of life, watching tor the lights upon the dis- tant shore. May lie w^atch there till the morn- ing Cometh, that knows no darkening. 27 Coming Into siglrt, under a, hea^^ press of canvas, is another boat. It belongs to the Me- thodist Free Cuubcii. Her officers — ^Messrs. Miller, Myers, Gutteridge, &c. — are daring, yet cautious men ; and under the management of such navigators, I have no doubt that she will give a good account of herself These boats are all provided with provisions and instruments of navigation — " A perfect and infallible chart, a chronometer that only needs care in winding, and a barometer that foretels all changes of weather. They have instruments to take their reckonings by the sun, and also for lunar observations, and they have their log-books and the best spy glasses ; and besides all these, they have means, by the faithful use of which, thougli it needs no little skill and attention, they can detect the direc- tion and strength of unseen tides and under- currents. They are, indeed, provided with everything calculated to muhi the voyage prosperous, sure, and successful." "There are ships," says the eloquent Mel- ville, " that never will founder in life's battles, or go down in life's tempest ; Avhich shall be in no peril when the last hurricane shall sweep earth, and sea, and sky ; and which, when the fury is overpast^ and the light that f i i£ ^1 ■ m 28 knows no uiglit breaks gloriously forth, shall be found on tranquil and crystal waters, rest- ing beautifully on their shadows. These arc they ^vho have trusted in Jesus ; these are they who have been anchored upon Christ." Reader ! have you embarked for the port of glory? If not, step on board the Gospel Life Boat, while she is abreast the pier; for all thincfs are now ready. Aged sinner ! you resemble a vessel which has been a long time out of her course ; and unless you liaul in f;aii, and pause on the high sea of lif(j, you will soon be in hell. Beware ! lest the storm of God's fiery indignation over- takes yo;i. Oh ! decide at once for Christ, are t¥ THE ILillEOUPi.. I 1^ I if H :i I! i I THE HAEBOUE. I " Hurrah I the harhour's near, Lo ! the red lights ! Slacken not sail yet, At inlet or island; Straight for the beacon steer, Straight for the highland ; Crowd all the canvas on, Cut through the foam ; Christian cast anchor now ; Heaven is thy home." J GIT may have seen that beautiful en-" graving: — "The Sailor's Dream." A sailor boy is represented as being cast upon a foreign coast. About a league from the shore is the wreck, lashed by the foam- ing waves. Weary with Iiis brave struggles for life, he has fallen asleep. Above him is a pic- ture of his dream. He dreams the long voyage is at an end, and home is reached ; a mother's arms are flung around him, and he feels again the pressure of those lips which in infancy 4 j i: ■I i I *. 82 kisscfl liis tears away. No liavcn is so sweet to the manner as home. " The thoucrlits of home, and the hope of returning thither," says an experienced seaman "made all the priva- tions of a foreign clime bearable, and all tlie hardships of a voyage seem light. What emotions thrill the heart of the mariner when he hears from the mast the sliout *'land ahead!" But tliere. are other hearts leaping for joy as well as his. Loved ones, who j^eopled his dreams when rocked on the bosom of the miglity deep, are anxiously waiting his arrival. At length the cry is raised, a sail ! a sail ! In a moment the straining eyes of fathers, mothers, sisters, bro- thers, wives and children, are ri vetted on the vessel far out on the foaming^ waters. The gallant bark draws near, expressive looks are exchanged ; she runs into port, drops her anchor, and the mariners leap ashore, greeted by a thousand v.x^comes. Such, in a higher sense, will be the joy experienced by the Christian, as he enters the harbour of glory : " A holy quiet reigns around, A calm whicli life nor death destroys ; And naught disturbs that peace profound, AVhich his unfctter'd soul enjoys.'' " The unspeakable blessedness of our holy 33 religion, in life's closing scene, is most strik- ingly illustrated in an interesting narrative iS a converted British sailor, by Lieutenant lihind, K.N. 'The subject of this sketch, Andrew Miller, when dying was visited by a pious friend, who said to him, 'It is a blessed thing to make a good landfall when the voyage of lii'e is drawing towards its close, Andi'cw.' 'The fading eye of the dyhig one brightened and his pale and wasted features became animated, as he gave expression to his glorious hope and unshaken faith in Clirist: — ' 0, it is, it is ! and I may truly say I have had the land abroad ever since I was laid up here. It's the looming of tlio hills of glory that cheers my soul ; and it matters not how rougli the voyage has been, since I have got into a good roadstead, and the port is right under my lee.' To his pastor he said, 'I have but another anchor to heave, and then I am off with a flowing sheet, to the land of endless bliss.' On another occasion he said, with a smile, I am close-hauled, but I hold a good wind. The pirates hove in sight this morning, but I spied the black flag and marrow-bone. One -r m li i 84 of tlicm ranged alongside ; l)ut I poured a broadside into him ; and he sheered oft' again. *You are a horrible sinner,' said he ; but I stopped his mouth, quickly. *I know that,' said I. « I the chief of sinners am ; But Jesus died for mo.' *0 sir, what should I do with these fellows, if it were not for the witness of the Spirit ? Sometimes I have them on all sides, like a swarm of bees, and then I run up my red ensign to the main, and they are off like smoke.' As the last storm darkened and lowered around, he said, 'I have had a heavy strain or two, b^it my ground-tackling is good ; and when the breeze freshened, I began to i^ay away more of my cable, and with the lonir service I rode easv enough till slack tide, iml I hove short, and got under way again, Mud now I am once more in deep water.' With his dying breath he whispered to his friend, — for the power of articulation was now failing — his voice was broken and low, — 'I mean to cross the bar, all standing, stud- ding sails, royals, and sky-sails, and fire a royal salute as I run in, my last breath on d- 35 earth, and my first in glory shall pmsc nim. I can only think of one thing no>v\ O the ^Tcatncss of his love ! I am persuaded there h nothing greater, or more surprising in heaven, There is nothing will ever astonish me more, than that lie should bring such a sinner as mo to see Ilim as lie is. You will be praising Him still in our blessed little Zion, and some may think that my lips are silent in the dust : but your Anih'cw will be praising Ilim louder than you all.' " What scenes of surpassing splendour the Christian beholds, as he draws near the bright and beautiful shore of the Better Land. No mortal eye ever gazed on such transcendent loveliness, nor ear heard such music as that,, *' Where angel-bands in concert meet,, and hosts seraphic sing." All around the land blushes with entrancing beauty, and on either side of the harbour stand mansions of incon- ceivable grandeur, and elvsian bo^vxrs, whick angel-fingers formed, " Ere the fresh stars hegan their race of gl-sry,. And young Time told his. first birthday by the sim."' Beautiful streams meander tlirouorh fieldia redolent with the fragrance of Sharon's rojc^?, and vocalised with the music of IlallelUjfaih's Ml ll '• i i J36 songs. There ware luxiinant forests, iincler wliose fadeless foUage are groups of celes- tial harpers singmg, accompained by the Bweetest music, " Salvation to our God, who sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever.'* The celestial city is full in view. "Gold paves its streets; around its secure and blissful homes rise jasper walls; earth holds no such cit}^, the depths of ocean rit) such pearls as form its gates. Winter never strips its trees, day never dies into night, but crowns of glory flash and blaze on the heads of its sinless and white-robed multitudes.*' " These are they which came out of great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Some of them had lo pass through storms of a personal and domestic character. One of them had a largo family and a splendid fortune ; but the same black day saw that fortune fij away, and the grave close upon seven sons and daughters. Another was a king, and his heir apparent avms liis pride and joj^, a youth whose beauty was a proverb through all the realm, so noble, so handsome, that his glance was fascination, and the people followed his chariot wirh delii-ious plaudits j 3V but -wlulc tlie (Toting father with s\7oilin£C emotion eyed his gallant successor, the seltisli youth grasped at his father's crown, and tlie old monarch fled with a bursting heart, to re- turn Avitli a broken one, for his misguided son w^as slain. One of them filled a dii]^n?fied office in a heathen land ; but fidelity to his God brought liini into jeopardy, till reft of his title and torn from his mansion, he was flung, food for lions, hito the howling den. Another was an evangelist, who delighted to go from city to city, proclaiming the Saviour whom he dearly loved, till the hand of tyranny bore him awav to an ocean rock, and left him to chant the name of Jesus to howling w'inds and boomino* waves. Among the shining ones, " is the spirit of a heroic Christian, who was dragged from one of the jungles of India, pale w^ith loss of blood, and v/asted to a shadow with famine and hard- ship ; far away from father and mother or any eartlily friend, and surrounded by a cloud of black incarnate fiends or sepoys, he saw a Mahommedan who had been converted to the Christian faith, appalled at the preparations these demons were making for his torture, and about to renounce his fliith, fast dying, and almost beyond the vengeance of his enemies^ h r ' !<f^w ■— 38 this good lad, having a moment longer to live, and willing to spend his last breath for JesusJ, he raisiid himself up, and casting an implor- ing look at the wavering convert, cried, "Oh ! do not deny your Lord." Inspired with holy courage, the Hindoo yielded not, but was willing, if need be, to pass through the fires of martyrdom to heaven. He has long since heard the victorious slioiit — the conquering hallelujah, burst from heaven's full-pcopIi?d depth. " "Wo come, for hark 1 wo hear the seraph lay ; We come, thy Son to kiss, His grace to jjay*, No more we roam. TVe give ourselves to God, to earth our clay ; Herald of bliss 1 we come with Thee away j Lead, lead us home." Yes, guide us, O Father, to that harbour that knows no agitation, unruffled, smooth, and pellucid — where there shall arise no shades of darkness, no tempests to discompose ; for in those days of our eternal youth, the clouds re- turn not after the former rain. There, no sighs are heard, no tears are shed ; but the tossed and the wearied enjoy eternal quietude. The death chill's past, the struggle's o'er, they have reached the radiant shore, where angels stand all diademed, and harp in hand, ",;.' 1 . 39 ^^ to hail the storm-tossed marfnGr to the lancf of perfect bliss. Hark ! how the welcome plaudit rolls in strains seraphic from the shining minstrelsy as the burnished feet of ransomed spirits touch the golden strands of Canaan. It is a Harbour that knoios no change. Its pleasures are perpetual. " Destruction is the law of the present system. The race of earth- ly glory is soon run ; riches flee away ; youth is a dewdrop which the rising sun soon exhales. Thrones and sceptres are but the tottering emblems of power. Empires and States pass away," but the happiness of the glorified is eternal. Immortality is wiitten on the gates and walls of the Celestial City. It flashes in jewelled lustre from the wreath that encircles the brow of the cherubim. It glows 3' d burns in the splendour of the sapphire tiirone. It rises in the mansions and the temples where the redeemed dw^ell, worship, and adore. In that HarhoiiT there will he no more dangers, Ko more hazards, likeited to perils on the sea. Many a noble ship has foundei'ed at the entrance of the harbour, when all danger was esteemed as past. 40 1^1^ Tliey strike, and while they trinniph^ they Sxpire. But once these conflicts survived, and ^he latest billow past, all fear rnay be given to Jhe Avind. " Oh! thou tossed with tempest and not yet Domlbited ; thou who art driven by adverse winds from thy course, and disappointed in thy hope, when it was fondly thought tliy troubles were all over ! wait a little, and thou shalt escape the blast of the tempest, and enter the harbour, where tliere shall be no more [)ri vations and trials, no more ni<]jhts of weary watcliin<x and deep agony, no more startling Intelligence of the loss of those we love." This Ilarhour possesses another pleasing fealiire. There will he no more separations from our friends It was on the sea-shore that Paul knelt down and prayed and wept at leaving those whom strono^ afiection and a kiiuli'ed faitli liad so mutually endeared. Thougii we may never have parted with friends m like circumstances, yet vv-e have experienced many sad partings, the like of which we pray our eyes may never agahi witness, and -our heartri never acrain i(iQ\. " Since t he bei.dnniu,c]j of the world what vast multitudes haT(; been deposited in the seaman's -churchyard. Though no tolling bell has * 41 called together sympathising friends ; though no green sod has opened to receive them, and no quiet grave invited them to rest beneath its shadows ; yet they have had their funeral semces ; the winds have sung their requiem, the waves have furnished a winding sheet, coral monuments mark their resting places, ojeneration after veneration have sunk in the dark waters, and now wait the summons of the last trumpet-peal. Multitudes will follow them, and go down to sleep beside tliem — yes, but there is a home far above ocean-tempests — a home where the death-chill fi'om cold waters Avill never be expei ienced. ' And I saw them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God, and they sang the song of Moses and the Lamb.'" The tides of time sweep us out to open sea. Wc may not cross each other's path, as we stand oft' and on ; wc may or may not come within hail ; but shall we not come at last to anchor in the harbour ? The harbour ! I seem to see it sometimes, when the night wind is high, and hurrying clouds scud wildly across the heavens, or sullen clouds hang dense and drear, and there is no light of the sun, or the HI 4j 42 moon, or of any star. Then, from its llgbt- hoiise streams tbe clear signal-light, and we know we near it safely. I see it again, when, ns in the glory of our rieh autumn, the sun sweeps westerly in man- tle of erimson and iijold. It is no stonn-sc^eno now ; it Avas stormy, but the tempest passed with a rain-bow hanging upon its sable skirts, and now tlie ships are coming in, not battered, with rent canvas and broken cordage, but ^vith sails full-bent, and the cross-blazoned colors flying, with decks crowded with happy voya- gers, who shout the voyage ended I See ! ihey look landward ; they are watcliing for familiar faces among those who crowd the wharves. Do they not see them ? AVho are tliey that shout glad welcomes from the ever-green shore ? Are those strangers who wear palm and laurel ? Are those eves of tender flame such as w^e have looked upon never? Oh, land of tlie pure and llie holy, country where graves are never made! Oh, mountains of beatitude ! Oh, city which hath foundation 1 Oh, '*2n'one of God and the Lamb, bright with excessive light ! There, there, after the battle, after the mortal aflliction, after the sore conflict with the King of Terrors ; there where, near the Redeemer, gather the rapt foreflyers from 43 our homes and altars ; there, at the portals of our Father's house, we name our trysting place, and there appoint our greeting. Until then, hail and farewell ! " We're afloat, we're afloat, for the haven of rest, We're afloat, in full sail for our home in the skies ; For the home of the weary, the home of the blest. The mansions of peace, and the kingdom of joys ! Who's afraid, when our Christ, and our God, and His Spirit, Assure us Their kingdom we now shall inherit ? Let us go. Death's below— Life's above ! Let us go." wv^.6^^@^^^vw " Land ahead I its fruits are waving On the hills of fadeless green ; And the living waters laving Shores where heavenly forms are seen. Then, let go the anchor ! riding In this calm and silvery bay ; Sea^vard fast the tide is gliding, Shores in sunlight stretch away." » 14 MJU! I I- 44 " Compass and Chart arc in thy hand ; Roadstead and rocks thou knowcst ; Thou art warned of reefs and shallows ; Thou bcholdest the harbour and its lights ; What 1 shall thy wantonness or sloth Drive the gallunfc vessel on the breakers ? What ! shall the helmsman's hand Wear upon the black lec-shoro ? Leave awhile th(! rudder to swing round ? Give the wind its heading ? And be wreeked !" — Tupper, " Eternity's vast ocean lies before thee Give thy mind sea room : Keep it wide of earth, That roek of souls immortal : Cut thy cord ; Vv^'eigli anchor ; Spread thy sails ; Call every wind ] Eye thy great pole-star, And make the land of life 1"— Fomw^, THE r:^ GEAVE IN THE WILDERNESS. BOB Tnif GEAYE IN THE "WILDERNESa |^IIEQITEUr.D like the twilight of morning,' k3 with the shades of evening, is human life. A« in battle, friend after friend falls ; and "we are left alone, to struijiirle with the stern realities of life. Many of us have more friends in heaven than on earth. It used not to be so ; but the last fe^v years have narrowed the cirele of our acquanitance. Once we had a patei-nal asylum, to which we could repair in time of trouble: wdiere tear mingled with tear, and heart beat in unison with heai't. However cheerless the night that came down upon us, there was a light ever burning in that dwelling ; a lamp to guide our youthful feet. It went out suddenly; and left us, like a shipwrecked mariner, to struggle amid darkness, through the thick folds of which scarcely a ray of light was visi- ble. By that mother's ip-rave we have stood ?» 48 i ^itli uncovered hoad, nnd rropt. And oven now, that the Atlantic rolls its proud waves Oetween ns, it is not forsaken. The eve of the niorninu^ weeps coronets of devry diamonds on her tomh, and old winter sprinkles his hoar frosts upon lier last resting i)lace. It is only through tears tliat we can look upon the old liomestead. Once it had charms, but they are gone forever. \ most touching incident of hereavement occurred not long ago : it took place on the Rensselaer and Saratoga Uailway. When the train stopped at Saratoga, among the pas- senG^ers from the West came a middle-ac^ed man, elbowinix his wav throuo-h the crowd. lie bore in his arms an infant. lie was a poor man : l)ot]) he and the child were poorly chid. Around his hat v/as tied a piece of soiled, worn crape. It was evidently all the mourn- ino- his b:cantv means could aiFord for the mother of tlie child, vrho was dead. This man was rougli in the exterior, but his face was an honest one. Unaccustomed to mirserv life, lie handled the T)abv rouo^hlv ; vet tliere Vv^as tenderness in his sad look, v»hich showed the purity of a father's love. The infant lay asleep, uncon- scious of the loss it had sustained, on liiy 49 coarsely-clad knee. A stray sunboam glanced across its tired face. They -were hotli tired, the father and the child, for they luid como from the Far West. And as he raised his broad, hard, toil-worn hand to shield it from the intense and golden rays, there Av^as blend- ed in his look a mixture of sadness and care, as if his pent-up feelings had been so crowd- ed back into the inner cells of his heart, that even tears could have been no relief to the hidden anguish that was makin< his life a misery. Tlie poor child wept : it might be it was tired, or j^erhaps it n\issed its mother. The tears rolled down its baby cheeks in silvery rivulets. The father wiped away the dewy drops as they fell, and then tried to feed it. He was so awkward with tlie bottle, that he knew not how to ijjivc his darling; its nourishment. As he made clTort after cflbrt to hush the cries and check the tears of his motherless babe, how he must have missed her, who in his life of labour and j)rivation had been his solace and comfort ? An unfoi']):ddcn tear started in his eye, but he bruslicd it quickly away. All Avho saw^ him pitied Iiim. At length a lady, richly npparellcd, vrith an infant restino: on the lap of its nuri^o Ijcsidc her, said, in a soft and a'cntle tone, " Give me li- : ■ Si : ■ it? CO tiii m the cliild." The poor mail gLmccd at Ler with a look of gratitude, fcid' there was a mother's tenderness in her voice. With hum- ble resignation, as if it were pain to j)art vv'itli him, even for a moment, he gave her his be 3'. The lady took it ; its soiled clothes rested on her costly silk, but its heavy liead was soon beneath her shavvl, and in a moment all was still. Like the Grecian daughter, who through the iron bars of a prison cell fed her starvin^^ father, so did this high-born lady from her breast feed the hungry child ; and when, on her gentle bosom, the little one lay in calm and unvexed sleep, she put aside the shawl. The father's heart swelled with gratitude. lie said, as a tear welled in his eye, and his voice was thick with emotion, " Thank you : I'll take him now." Then the woman's nature spoke forth, as she answered, " Not yet ; you will wake him ;" and for mile after mile that noble-hearted lady held that j)oor man's child ; and it was not till her own required such nourishment as only a mother can give, she gently rose, and placed the stranger-boy with his father. How mysterious are the ways of Provi- dence ! How difficult it ia at all times to I ^ ■ .i 51 say, " Thy Avill be done." How few there are who can submit, without a murmur, to such stern discipline. I have read of a wound- ed Paraguayan, whose resignation under the most acute suffering the Christian would do well to imitate. " I was waiting for the doctor," says the narrator, " to complete his arrangements for the operation, when I saw the Paraguayan sergeant who had charge of the wounded approach the bedside of the man suffering from inflammation in the bowels, now groaning with much pain. One word uttered by the sergeant stopped his complaint. Then the same official pronounced an harangue in Guarani, (his natural tongue,) and which the pilot on board translated for me as follows : — ' Dog of a bad Paraguayan ! are you not ashamed to let the enemies of your country hear you complain, and give them reason to laugh at you ? The glovj oi having been wounded fighting for your countrjr does not appear sufficient, without crying for sympathy in your sufferings ! Do not let me hear another groan from you, or I shall report you to the highest power' — mean- ing, of course, Field-Marshal Lopez. From that moment the poor sufferer never uttered a moan, although he died in four hours aftei^ hi it li '1 .!. t ik' Ml l! -• I , K«I»P""^ 52 wards, evidently in dreadful tortnre. Some Argentines wlio were on board, — no doubt tliose described as the ' enemies of his coun- try, — called this ' Paraguayan stolidity or stupidity ;' but to me it seemed the perfection of discipline, joined to the highest class of moral and physical bravery." Such, in a liigher sense, ought to be onr conduct as we meet the trials of life. Are the j)romises of God less inspiring than they were when martyrs perished at the stake ? Is not His grace sufficient for ns ? The passenger in an Atlantic storm remains tran- quil while he sees the commander unruffled. And on Alpine wilds, when the grand hills are shaken to their very base by the rolling thunder, and path after path lighted np by the flashinGf licrhtninGrs, and the recedinGf glens that ran up among the hills are turn- ed into so many trumpets, giving back the echo of the thunder, the mountaineer bounds like a hart along the dangerous patlnvay, nerved by the fearless visage of his guide. Then why are the beloved of the Lord dis- tracted with terrors ? Is not the Lord of hosts still a liiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest ? Is it not writ- ten, " The name of the Lord is a strong ■w of 53 tower ; the right eons runneth into it, anct i3 safe ; the shadow of a rock in a weary laud." Here is a shelter for our fainting spirits, — a pavilion for weary pilgrims to rest awhile. There are in many places alon;if the lone- ly sea coast of this continent, little huts erected close by the shore. They stand at a considerable distance from the inhabitants, and in places where, in the hour of storm, the stranded vessel is most likely to come ashore. Now, when the half-drowned sailor crawls up the beach, and discovers one of these hilts, provided with wood, matches, and other materials, his joy is unspeakable. I They speak to him in voiceless, but intelli- gible language. They say, " The people, anticipating your danger and understanding your necessity, if cast ashore, have built this for your use and help ; andj according- ly, he accepts the shelter. In like manner has the Lord placed, along the highway of holiness, many a hiding-place from the tempest, so that the Christian may take refusfe, while the storm passes over. !g ^\ 54 Then, however nigged and dangerous may be your path through life, fear not, the Lord of hosts is with you, and the God of Jacob is your refuge. "Hold on thy way with hope unchillcd, By faith and not by eight ; And thou shalt own His word fulfilled, « At evo it shall be light." il IDA m THE HOME NEST. t I I. • '- I "*■ "-»' IDA IN THE HOME l^EST. "'tjtjAVE yon not forgotten some one?' ®^ Tho cliild had risen from her knees, and lifted her soft brown eyes to lier mother's face, *IIa\'e you not forgotten some one? A shade of thought fell over the ohikrs cou- tenance, as her mother, ahnost a child hersblf, gravely repeated the question. * Who, mamma ?' she asked ; then, before her mother could reply, she said, ' Oh, yes, I did forget,' and dropping on her knees, clasp- ed her dimpled liands, and v\dth shut eyes and face upturned, spoke these words to our Father in heaven : ' Bless dear papa, and make him good and happy.' As the gentle young mother kissed her dar- ling, she closed her eyelids tightly, to keep the tears from falling over her cheeks. ' You must never forget dear papa,' said the mother. It wao only by an effort that she -k-> % n 11 i 1 * 68 %,ii was able to six;ak witli a steady voice, for hei Leart was moved by some strong feeling thai she wislied to hide. * I won't again,' answered the child, and then added, * I don't know what made me forget. I always do pray for him. Oh, ] "wish he were here to kiss me before I go to sleep. Tell him to kiss me when he comes home — won't you, mamma ? May be I'll know it in my dreams.' The mother's eyes-lids could hold the tears no longer. Large round drops fell on the child's forehead. * O, mother dear ! ' the little one erclaimed, throwing her arms about her mother's neck, * Avhat makes you cry ? Is it because I forgot papa in my prayers? Oh, I'll never forget him ao'ain. I can't tell what made me.' Foi a little wlille Iier arras were clasped tightly around the child, and her head held closely against hor mother's breast. Then good-nights Avero said, and kisses were exchanged. Soon after, the only sound heard in the room was the soft breathing of a child asleep. For over an hour the vounof mother sat in the still chamber alone with her little one. Then she went to an adjoining room, and sat by an open window, listening to the foot-steps 50 that came and went along tlid pavement, never catching the sound for v/hich her quiclj ears hearkened. Often she sighed ; but she spoke no words of weariness or complaint. Another hour passed, when, returning to the room where the child slept, she undressed herself, and lying down with an arm under the head and her cheek acrainst the face of her little one, w^as soon lost in slumber. All was not right with the young mother. Such tears is she held so closely beneath her eye-lids, that they might not fall, are not tears of joy. One loved by her, oh so tenderly! — the father of her sweet child — was absent ; and always when he was away her heart felt lonely. Where was he ? What held him aAvay from his wife and little one, now that the day was over ? Why did the darling of his heart pray for him at bed-time, instead of giving him her good-night kiss ? Had business taken him to another city? Was he absent at the call of duty ? Across the great city, in a room miles away from that in which angels watched lovingly over the sleeping mother and child, half a dozen young men were gathered around a table on which supper had been served. They 60 I. had eaten and drank, and now sat smoking. Waiters cleared off the table, and brought in bottles of wine, and glasses. More wine ! Had they not been drinking freely at supper? Yes, too freely. But they who * tarry long at the wine' grow thirstier the more they drink, until sense and reason are too often drowned. ' Let mo fill your glass,' said one of the company to a young man, whose noble raein gave no signs of an evil or depraved life. Looking at him, and then at his companions, any one would have seen that he was out of place, and in danger. * Kothing more at present,' answered the young man, who had already taken, with his supper, as much Avinc as he felt it prudent to drink. Without heeding this reply, the one who had addressed him filled the young man's glass and also his own. * To Ida in the home-nest !' he said, lifting his glass. The young man thus challenged, raised the wine and held it between his eyes and the light. ' To Ida in the home-nest !' Ah, tlie temp- ter miscalculated the power of that sentence. y *1 V tie meant evil to the yoanc^ mfin, but Godhacl this thought put into his miiul that he might use him as an agent of good. Just then, Ida in the liome-nest was saying, * Bless dear papa, and make him good and hapi)y,' and God, who is ever trying to lead liis erring children into the right ways, heard the prayer, as he Iiears all prayers that true hearts oirer up, and answered it in his own best way. As the young man Iiold up the glass of amber-colored wine to the light, he saw in it the picture of a kneeling child. The face, beautiful as the face of an angel, was tender and very earnest ; the barge brown eyes had in them a shade of sadness. "While he looked, the face and form m'ow more and more dis- tinct. He saw the sweet lips move, and heard them say, as clearly as if the words had been BjDoken in his outward cars : ' Bless dear papa, and mak'o him good and happy.' t . The glass of wine did not toucli his lips. ' Not drink to that ! ' exclaimed his tempter, in surprise, as he saw the untastcd wine. * Thank you for the toast,' answered the young man, as he rose from Im seat. ' I must look to my Ida in the home-nest ;' and bow- ing to the company, he hastily retired. One ^iWl Vii i 62 I i 4k laughed, another finecrcd, and another made a coarse jest; while a fourth said, with a gravity of manner that was ftlt hy the rest as a rebuke. * Our young friend is right : his place is at home, witli his wife and child, and not here. And there are some of us wlio, in my opinion, might take a lesson from his examj)le.' A dead silence followed. One looked at another ; and crimson spots burned on cheeks that had on them no sign of shame a little while before. * No more wine for me,' said the last speaker, replying to an invitation to fill his glass. * I've no patience with this kind of stuff,' spoke out one of the company, almost angri- ly. * What has wine been ordered for, if not to drink?' He who said this was a gambler, in the disguise of a friend. He wished to steal away the reason and conscience of his young companions with wine, that he might rob ♦hem of their money at cards. As he spoke, he filled one glass to the brim, and then pushed the bottle toward his neijxhbour, who filled his fflass in turn. Bat 63 it "svlien It came to tlw third In the circlo Bitting around the table, he passed it on, leaving his own glass empty. The fourth and fifth filled their glasses. Said the one who first passed the Lottie, lifting his glass as ho spoke : ' Here's to good fellowship.' And all but one repeated his toast, and drank as he drank. Then the third in the eircle filled Ids glass ■with water, and rising, said in a clear, rmgbg voice : ' Here's to Ida in the home-nest 1' Frowns darkened on his compan'ons' faces. Raising the water to his lips, he drank it slowly. As he set do^m the empty glass, he looked at the angry face of the gambler, whose real character he more than half sus- pected, and bowing slightlj^, said : ' I also thank you for that toast ; and I also will look to my Ida in the homc- ncst.' • .» Then, bowing graccfally towards the com- pany, he left the room ; the sound of curses in his oars, as he shut the door. The young man whoLO refusal to drink any more had first broken in that company the charmed eircle of danger, walked hurriedly away, turning his steps homeward. He was, as we have said, miles distant, and at the ii ■T!*^ 11 64 I # 02'>posite extremity of a great city. Ilurriecl- ly ho walked at first ; tlien his steps grew slower, and his head was bent down; for painful and self-condemning thoughts were in his mind. A street car passed ; it would have taken him, in less than an hour, within a few yards of his home. Why did he let it go by unheeded ? Was thought so busy that he had forgotten he could I'ide ? No, that was not the reason. He had drank too freely at the supper tiiblo, and he knew that his breatli was tainted with liquor ; and now that a new liijht had come into his mind, and lie saw, as in a mirror, a true image of liirasclf, he was shocked to discover that he was less a true man than in days past, and less wortliy to bear the name of liusband and fithcr. This was the reason why his steps were slow and his head bowed down; and the reason why he did not take the car, and pass quickly homeward. He shrank from the thought of laying his tainted lips upon the piu'c brow and lips of his wife and child, and so revealing: to them that weak and sensual side of his character which was holdinc; him back from a nobler and purer life than the one he was livinir. Slowly he continued to walk, still with bowed 65 ) _„ hc-ad and hnsy thoTiglits and memories. Sivl- cl(.^nly tliere came before him, even more clear! j', if possible, than when he saw it in the amber wine, the image of his kneeling child ; and again the voice, so fall of sweet music for his cars, was heard with strange distinctness, saying : — ' Bless dear papa, and make him good and happy.' Could God have answered the petition of that loving child for her father in any better or more eifectual way than by sendmg tho words of her pra}-or to his inward ears by the voice of an aiicrcl ? lie could not make him good and happy, except through repentance and a better life; but lie could make the [)rayer a means of conviction and repentance. So the good Lord is ever using us, w^hether we are children or grown-up men and women, and using us by thousands of different ways, in the work of leadino- others from evil courses Into paths of virtue and peace. And we are always better instruments in his hands, if we are pure and good, than if we are selfish and evil ; for, in some way that we do not clearly understand, our loving desires actually pass to others, and move their hearts. And so if we are pure and trirc, our influence over those wo ■♦■ 7^!m 66 ;=% 'ss love, even when tliey arc avray from its, will be for good. We sliall be as magnets, con- tinually drawing them back from evil. Our loyn nnrl our praycrs will go after them as ancjels ot nx^. . , The imairc of his kneelinor child seen ai^ain so diGtinctly, and her sweet voice lifted heaven- ward in prayer for him, heard again with such startling clearness, so touched the father's heart, that ho clasped his hands passionately toge- ther, and looking upward, exclaimed, ' O Lord, I am not worthy of anything so pure and precious as this child I — one of the little ones whose angels are ever before thy face.' A deep quiet fell upon his soul as he bowed his head once more and walked, still moving slowly, onward. And now, contrasted with the imioccnce, sweetness and purity of his wife and. child, stood out before him an image of himself that made shame-spots burn on his cheeks as if fire had touched them. They so loying and unselfish ; so true to him in all things ; so free from earthly taint, and he so selfish and worldly, yeilding to gross appetites, and giving his thoughts to what was mean and jsensiial, instead of to things good and noble ! ' Give mc Gtrensth to lead a new and better 6-^ life,' he prciyed, as he moved along the street. * This night I have turned my iDack upon tlie evil that was opening its jaws to devour me. This nighi I set my feet in a new way. I.ct thy power, O Lord, pass into my poor resolu- tions, and I shall be saved.' Home at last. It had taken him nearly two hourb from the time h6 turned so resohitely away from his dissolute companions. Enter- ing very quietly, he went first to the bath- room, vv'Iiere he washed his hands and face, and carefully cleansed his mouth, to remove, if possible, all smell of liquor or tobacco smoke. How silent it was ! How strangly he felt ! Softly he opened the chamber-door, and stood in the presence of his wife and child. How peacefully they slept ! Their faces laid close together, both so young md free]i, — m tender and sweet that they looked like sisters, instead of mother and * lild. A little while he remained bending above them. Great waves of tenderness came sweep- ing over his heart. They had never seemed so lovely and precious. Stooping, at length, for he could no longer restrain himself, he touched his lips to the fair forehead of his wife. She moved slightly, but did not awaken. Then he kissed the little one who had said, t 4 m 68 ere she went to sleep, ' Tell him to kiss me when he comes home, mamma, won't you? May be I'll know it in my dreams/ An angel must have told it to her now, for, while yet the touch of his lips was warm on her lips, a glad light flooded her countenance. As the light faded slowly off, her lips moved, and she said, still sleeping, yet speaking out clearly — 'Bless dear papa, and make him good and happy.' The father's heart was too strongly moved already to bear this without losing his self- control. A sob heaved his breast. Then, clasping his arms about his sleeping treasures, he pressed them passionately to his heart. ' God bless you and keep you from all evil, and make me worthy of you, my darlings !' This was the sentence, spoken in fervour, that met the ears of his waking wife and child. We cannot picture, in words, the joy that filled that young wife's heart, when the full meaning of all this came like a great light into her soul. She never sat lonely in the night-watches again, waiting with a shadowed sj)int for the loved but absent one in fear of the very 69 fl. thoughts that went out after him. And few and far between were the times that the little vUgol of their home asked that a kiss might be given which she could feel onl3^ in her dreams. Little ones, pray for those who are dear to your hearts. The angels are nearer to you, because of your innocence, than they are to those wlio are older and less pure, and they can often give to your prayers a power for good that will fall in blessings on those you iove." M A TALE OF SORROW. Ir I '/I '*. I! A TALE OF SOEEOW. I: '' Leaves have their time to fall, And flowers to wither at the north wind's hlast, And stars to set ;— but all, Thon hast all seasons for thine own, death ! " \mong the poor are occurring daily deeds )f quiet heroism, as full of the finest quali- fies of our humanity, as in what we call the higher ranks of life. The following brief and too true story is a striking illustra- tion : — A few years ago there lived in Halifax, England, a family named Mann, consisting of a mother and some half dozen children. The eldest daughter's name wasAlice, ]Manv montna ' t 74 f " ^ ' |r "before, tlie father had crossed the Atlantic, to found a new liomo for his family in the United States. He prospered sufllcientlj^ to be enabled to send enough money to pay the pas- sage of his household across the ocean, and they prepared to leave. Now Alice was no ordi- nary girl, in many respects ; she was indus- trious almost to a fault, intelligent beyond her station, and withal deeply religious. The greater part of the care and labour '^•f attend- ing to and bringing up the chiluren had devolved u2:)on her. She discharged most of the common household duties, and was the main stay of the family, in having to produce, from wages earned at the factory, that which provided them food, and kept a roof over their heads. The Sabbath found her equally busy in the helj) of others ; fur none were more diligent in the Sabbath School, or more regular in the performance of those little, but important duties which fall to the lot of such as her, in connection with our churches. Qualities like these could not but attract admiration, and win love. To one who sought her in marriage, she refused entirely on religious grounds. Another, 75 ftGjainst whom thcvc was not the c^lin^htost objection of this kind, she iloclinccl, licr only reason being, that she must go tc America. There was in her mind the utmost repugnance to leave England, and. every inducement for her to remain, but one — the strong desire to see her fatlier. From across the ocean came his earnest messaure, that if she came not, none need come ; and from the household there was the equally earnest expressed determination, that if she did. not go, none would go. So, active preparations were made for their de- parture. Alice was at work m the factory daily, almost to the very last ; for money was yet urgently needed. The nights were occu- pied in the multitudinous preparations which the voyage involved. Limited, indeed, was the time allowed for sleep. The arrange- ments for the departure of the family, however, were agreeably broken in upon, for those who knew her best could not suffer her to depart, without some memorials of respect and affection. At the Sabbath-school with which she was connected a large meeting was held and books were presented to her. i 70 bearing inscriptions, expressive of the highest admiration. But there is another circumstance, -which tjives a tinije of romance to the narrative. The first lover, of wliom we have spoken, with a chivah'y as high-niintled anil as sensitive as ever animated knight of old, and with a deter- mination yet to win the love he sought, hear- ing that she was aborj to go to America, sailed himself thither, that he might he pre- pared to meet her on her arrival, and show his determination to cut off old habits and associations, — thus proving how much he could sacrifice for her sake. I At length the family reached Liverpool ; and the energies of Alice, apparently ex- haustless, were taxed to the very utmost. She had to see to the numerous necessities incident in the arrangements for a long sea voyage. Upon this girl, and her ready sense and laboui's, depended the comfort of this household, in their coming passage across the Atlantic. At length, the good ship William Tapscott sailed. Dysentery and fever, the ever present scourges of the emigrant ship, did their work among the passengers j and one of * 77 those who suflorcd inoiit wnn Alice. Every faculty of hiM* ^ 'l\ ami niliul hud hrm strain- ed to itH utmost ton«i«ui, niul in her weak and oxhrtusted tMiuUlhui, eh^ fell an easy prey to diainvse. It was on the 1 7th September the ship left the IMersey ; and on the 18th of Oetober she anchored in New York harbour. Among those carried from the deck was Alice, fever- smitten, and, alas ! death-stricken. The new home founded by the father was on one of the beautiful prairies of Illinois ; and word was sent him that his family had arrived. It was arranged that they should make their way to Illinois, and that he should proceed towards New York, to meet them. The illness of Alice detained the family for five days ; and as she did not recover quickly, she was left, all expecting that she would be able to follow in a short time. The very next day she died. The brief voyage of her Btorm-tossed life was ended. It seemed that the purpose and end of her life had been for the family only ; not for herself: and now that she had lived to pilot over the children to their natural protector, her work was finished, and it only remained for her to ;::/^ P I ll : die. Her life from first to last was full of cares, hardships, and toils, endured mostly for others ; bui; bravely she strug- gled with them all ; and never did they mar the purity of her character, or turn her from her unselfish course : brief indeed was the figlit, but it was a sharp cne. Why a life so valuable should so early close, when apparently there seemed to be hope of rest and quietness, nono can tell. Looking at the circumstances of human existence, there are some things fiir beyond our phi- losophy, and which faith alone is able to reconcile v/ith our belief in the existence of an all-merciful Providence. To the man whose mind is not stayed by a firm belief that some futui'c state of being will be the com- plement, and finish of the condition of things here belov»'", the story of this poor girl must be inexplicable indeed. Yet her faith, and the rittributes of the Almic^htv, are both verities ; and ail that Ave can say is, that they are somehow reconcilable i^i that vast circle of things, the entire circimiference of which we are at present unable to discern. Alice is now " where the Tveary are at rtitit ;" she is gone to be *' for ever with the 79 Lord ;" and though in this life she moved among what are called the " hmnhler classes," the memory of i ^er affection, and of her lofty devotedness, will long remain. Who knows what good may be effected by the grand sermon continually preached in the life and death of such a woman. '< 'Tis ever thus — 'tis ever thus ! where hope has built a tower, Like that of Eden, wreathed about with every thorn- less flower, To dwell therein securely, the self-deceiver's trust, A. whirlwind from the desert comes, and « all is in the dust.' Tis ever thus— 'tis ever thus I that, when the poor heart clings, With all its finest tendrils, —with all its flexile rings, That goodly thing it cleaveth to, so fondly and so fast, Is struck to earth by lightning, or shattered by tho blast. 'Tis ever thus — ^'tis ever thus ! with beams of mortal bliss, With looks too bright and beautiful for such a world n.s this ; One moment round about us their angel lightnings play, Then down the veil of darkness drops, and all has passed awaj. 80 I* r ^ *Tis ever thus — 'tis ever thus ! with sounds too sweet for earth, — Seraphic sounds, that float away, borne homeward in their liirth ; The golden shell is broken, — the silver chord is mute ; The sweet bolls are all silent, and hushed the lovely lute. 'Tis ever thus — 'tis ever thus I with ?11 that's best below ; The dearest, noblest, loveliest, are always first to go, — The bird that sings the sweetest ; the vine thai crowns the rock ; The glory of the garden ; * the flower of tuo flock.' 'I'is ev(»r thus — 'tis ever thus 1 with oreatues heaven- ly fair. Too finely framed to bide the brunt more earthly natures bear ; A little while they dwell with us, blesbcd ministerfl of love, Then spread the wings we had not seen, and seei their home above." I w ■A ; i^ WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR. One of the most Popular Books of the Times — Fourteenth Thousand, beautifully Bound in Cloth, jwice 30 cents, THE GREAT LOVEFEAST IN HEAVEK. " ' The Great Lovcfeast in Heaven' is a luminous encyclo- pjedia of comforting experience. The author has earned the enviable reward of writing a book that will bless the living and console the dying. I handed tliis book to a friend of mine in his last affliction, and so enraptured was he with its contents, that he longed for the hour of his dissolution. In ardent expression, melting pathos, irresistible conclusive- ness and power, it has few equals." — Rev. W. B. Affieck, author of " Home Thoughts,''^ ^c. Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen a Reader of " The Great Lovefeast in Heaven," — The author has re- ceived a letter from Major-General Sir T. Biddulph, Her Majesty's private secretary, stating that Her Majesty the Queen has been pleased to accept a copy of " The Great Lovefeast in Heaven." No Christian should be without this delightful book. " If Lovefeasts are to be celebrated in Heaven, it is only fitting that * a Methodist Minister' should conduct them. But why should, he withhold his name ? He makes the patriarch from the land of Uz say, with curt and unmis- takeable frankness, ' I am Job ;' and why does not our author, with equal ingenuousness, take us into his conti- dence, and tell us his name ? He need not be ashamed of his performance, for though it is not a great literary ven- ture, yet it certainly does equal credit to his head and his heart. It is a book to do one's soul good. It is recreative, religiously. The idea of the work is original, and altoge- ther unique. In allegorical guise, he describes a Lovefeast in Heaven ; in which he introduces some of the most dis- tinguished sain':s of ancient and modern times, who have ' overcome through the blood of the Lamb;' He sees the antediluvian patriarchs, ' the goodly fellowship of prophets, the glorious company of the apostles, the noble army of martyrs,' and the heroic Reformers, in glory everlasting ; W \ and with them he beholds the Pilgrim Fathers, the Scotch Coveuanters, and Biinyan, Wesley, Watts, Whitfield, Kil- ham, Bourne, and Clowes, and also a few ' sisters,' such as * Mrs. Dodsworth, and Mrs. Wilkinson, of blessed memo- ry.' Coke, Clarke, Watson, Benson, Bramwell, Billy Daw- son, Sammy Hick, Asbury, Carey, Morrison, llowland Hill, and, jninibile dictu, Prince Albert, are all recognised as safely landed in the heavenly Canaan. Then he calls upon a number of these rather incongruous worthies to relate their varied experiences, not even excusing the late Prince Consort from this public duty ; and though we cannot tell on what principle our author has made his selection of speakers, yet we notice one singular feature in this Celes- tial Lovefeast is, that they ' rise and tell the wonders of Immanuel' according to seniority of residence. Moreover, they all speak in true Methodistic fashion, though it may fairly be presumed that Methodic asa,;.;s and phraseology were not familiarly understood m patriarchal and pre- Wesleyan times. Whatever these brethren were on earth, it is clear enough they are Methodists in heaven. Well, be it so ! < It is the hope, the blissful hope, Which Jesus' grace hath given, The hope, when days and years are past, We all shall meet in heaven.' We may congratulate the author on the ability with which he has wrought out his theme. His descriptive powers are of a high order ; practice and culture will enable him to achieve wonders ; and to take not only a high stand among his brethren, but a very respectable i)osition amongst English authors. This Lovefeast is very cleverly describ- ed. Elijah is made to tell the longest experience. We are rather surprised that he should have been permitted to take up so much of the valuable time. In a well conducted Lovefeast, no one is permitted to trespass on the tjirie of the rest. This, however, may have been the first Lovefeast ever held in heaven : and so we may account ftn- the ' pro- phet of fire' being privileged, out of the fulness of his groat heart, to occupy the time of the meeting so long : on sub- sequent occasions it will be necessary for him to exercise a little more discretion. Adam describes the intensity of his grief, when he became conscious that, through his disobe- dience, he had subjected all his posterity to death. Abel tells of the surprise occasion?e<i in heaven by his arrival, ' a stranger from a strange world.' ' When I arrived,' he said, * I found no companion, none who had wept, none who hfid sulfered, none who had died.' A ' sweet but lonely song' was his. Enoch relates the story of his translation thus : — ' One day, as I was alone, meditating upon the glories of my celestial home, a chariot and horses of lire came sweep- ing through the heavens, as on the wings of a whirlwind, and r was caught up into the flaming vehicle by an invisi- ble hand, and away went chariot and steeds, like an ascend- ing glory, up the hills of eternity ; and we never stopped for a moment all the way from earth up to the gates of the New Jerusalem.' Noah tells of the flood : Abraham of Mount Moriah : Moses of his marvellous rescue in infancy ; his more marvellous life at the Egyptian court, and subse- quently in the wilderness of Sinai, and his still more mar- vellous death and burial : Stephen tells of his martyrdom : Paul, ' a person of rather diminutive stature, but wearii.^ on his head a crown of more than ordinary brightness, and having a majestic voice,' relates his conversion ; Luther describes the Diet at Worms : Bunyau tells us of Bedford Jail and the ' Pilgrim's Progress :' Wesley narrates the rise and progress of Methodism : Hugh Bourne recites his thril- ling story : and after him, last but not h^ast, rises Prince Albert, and wakens up afresh the hallelujahs of heaven, by declaring that though his death plunged a nation into grief, yet it was to him inestimable gain. Moreover, he assured the listening angels, and the crowned princes of the redeemed, that one thought was ever present to his mind, namely, * the meeting of my beloved Victoria and dear children in this glorious Temple, where we shall part no more.' We find, also, plenty of singing. Bursts of glorious song, and Amen ! and Hallelujah ! responses, in the inter- vals of speaking. This book is deeply interesting. It is neatly got up, well printed, and is a very handy pocket companion. It is admira])ly adapted for Sunday reading ; aditd would be an acceptable presentation volume to a young Christian, It well deserves a large circulation." — Methodist t^uarterly. Just published, by the same Author y price 5 cents, OLD JOHN BARLEYCORN, Airp THE LIQXJOH TRAFFIC. « I V » Fifth Thousand, Cloth, price 30 cents, GRAPHIC SKETCHES OF IMMORTAL TRUTH. RECOMMENDATIONS. " I like your ' Graphic Sketches' so well, you may send me 900 copies." — William Brown. " I have read ' Graphic Sketches' with pleasure and profit. Some passages are sublime, and penotnitc the soul to its deepest depths. It possesses a genial warmth, wliich is refreshing and invigorating. Every sincere Christian would be benefitted by its perusal." — Kkv. W. VVillan, Metho- dist New Connexion Minister. " I have read ' Graphic Sketches' with much interest. The imagery is exuberant, but mostly correct, and the work highly creditable to the author, displaying very consider- able descriptive power, and unusual capabilities for interest- ing and profiting the masses of our countrymen." — Rev. Joh,"' Petty, Theological Institute, York. " I have read ' Grtii)hic Sketches' with great interest, and am not surprised, though greatly pleased, to know they have met with such extended and merited acceptance. Their inspiration is excellent, and their influene must be good."— Rev. J. P. Chown, Baptist Minister, Bradford. " They are really ' Graphic Sketches,' fully justifying the title they bear, and displaying a descriptive power of no common order." — Rev. T. Guthrie, D.D., JCiinburgh. " Never since the reading of Dr. Guthrie's < Ezckiel, have I been so pleased with or derived so much profit from any book as from ' Graphic Sketches.' They ought to have been -ntitled ' Vital and Graphic Sketches,' for they sparkle before the eye in living beauty, as much as in descriptive perspicuity. They ought to sell by thousands." — Rev. W. B. Affleck, Yeadon. " The gem of the Sketches, to our mind, is found in ' A Night Scene in Babylon.' It is as fine a piece of descriptive writing as we ever saw ; and in the mouth of a good elocu- tionist would be a master-piece : Gough or Vincent would jnake their fwrtune with it." — Methodist Tunes. n- The above Works may be had of WM. ROWE, 89, Yonge Street, Toronto. ilS lay send ire and th(; sonl , which hii.stian , Metlio- nterest. le work )nsi(lor- nterest- sv. JoH- nterest, 3VV they !. Their :ood."— stifying ovver of iztldel, lit from to have sparkle jriptive V. W. B. lin ' A niptive I elocu- b would VE, 89, jtt.iai