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45 M aiden Iiaue,
NEW V*)RK. je.
THE
WATCH TOWER
IN
THE WILDERNESS.
BY
ANNA SHI-PTON,
AUTHOR OF "asked OF GOD," "THE PROMISE AND PROM-
ISER," "WAITING HOURS," "SECRET OF
THE LORD," ETC.
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY T. V. CROWELL,
744 BROADWAY.
BV THE SAME AUTHOR.
THE ANNA SHIPTON SERIES.
Tell Jesus.
Waiting Hours.
Way-side Service.
Asked of God.
The Lost Blessing.
The Secret of the Lord.
The Promise and the Promiser.
The Watchtower in the Wilderness.
Bound in Paper Covers, 25 cents ; in Cloth, 76 cents.
THOMAS Y. CROWELL, Pnblisher,
744 Broadway, New York.
srlf
0C^l>^63l ^Co\
PFPIP>TIPr^
"When the poor and needy seek ivater, and there is none, and
their tongue faileth for tliirst, I the Lord will hear
them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them."
Isaiah xli. 17.
TO THE KEEPER OF ISRAEL,
■WHO NEITHER SLUMBERS KOR SLEETS,
3 Commit l^tst simple |lccorb3 of mn ?2Ialt^t9 in l^e
SnU&cincss,
PRAYING HTM TO GUIDE AND BL£S3 THEM TO THOSE T^ HO
UAVB NOT TRODDEN THIS WAY HERETOFORE.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
The Chamber looking toward the East - - - - 7
CHAPTER II.
Marietta ----------26
CILVPTER m.
Too late, but in God's time - - - . - - 47
CHAPTER IV.
How God supplies -----.._ 61
CHAPTER V.
The Messenger from the high Rocks - - - - 82
CILVPTER Yl.
The unseen Footsteps -------94
CHAPTER Vn.
Hie Mountain luu --..-... m
5
Vi CONTENTS.
CHAPTER Vin.
Light in the Darkness ------, 123
CHATTER IX.
The dark Tunnel .--.----144
CHAPTER X.
Watersprings in a drj' Ground. ----- 161
THE WATCH TOWER.
CHAPTER I.
THE CHAIVIBER LOOKLNG TOWARD THE EAST.
"On the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of
the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their
armies." — Num. il. 3.
fERRlBLE as an army with banners
would be the Church of the hving
God, did she go forth in the power
J
of weakness and the strength of Him who
dwelleth between the cherubim. It is the
presence of the God of our forces, the Cap-
tain of the Lord's host, that we need visibly
amongst us ; and until that army become a
7
8 THE WATCH TOWEE.
■willing and obedient people, we shall fail
to see the mighty power of the Lord, which
He is ready, moment by moment, to mani-
fest in behalf of those who trust him.
" If God be for us, who can be against us ? "
If the eye of faith be on the Lord, He is
migJity to save ; and whether we perceive
Him or not. He is faithful, even though way-
wardly and wilfully we may have wandered.
The disciphue entailed upon us through
temptation, and weakness, and suffering
(2 Cor. i. 4), by our being placed in a new
and unexpected position, may give us a
knoweledge of Him, enabling us to " succor
them that are tempted," to " strengthen the
weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees."
(Heb. ii. 18 ; Isa. xxxv. 3.)
The tribe of Judah in the wilderness, en-
camped towards the sun-rising, caught the
first gleam of light upon the wild waste
around ; and those who, like Judah, have
been accustomed to watch for the light of
the early day, both in the earthly and
heavenly sense, can sing many a glad anthem
THE CHAMBER TOWARDS THE EAST. 9
of praise for the still hour which has been
shared alone with God. Such know more
of Nature's sweet mysteries than many a one
who is deep in scientific lore.
The Lord, who has shown great love in
going before me to searcli mo out a resting-
place, has often appointed me a chamber
looking toward the east, and there has
always been associated with such seasons
some time of special service, or suffering, or
both, which has left golden remembrances in
my heart. We receive our mercies too
often without regarding them, until we miss
them from our pathway, and memory recalls
them like some loving gift, too little prized
until lost.
After an ascent of two hours and forty
minutes, I found myself on the summit of
one of those lofty mountains on the borders
of Italy, no longer, as in years past, inacces-
sible except to a few enterprising travellers,
but affording a sojourn for all who pined for
air at the highest level, or what is mora
common still, who desired to see the sun
10 THE WATCH TOWER.
rise in that mountainous region. The Lord
called me there, and I arrived at one of
those mountain rests that afford refreshment
and shelter to the traveller. On the evening
of my arrival, I heard the various family
parties arranging for climbing the heights
before dawn. Nature in me longed to climb
with them ; but the Lord had said, " Rest ; "
and so I went to my bed, in a chamber close
upon the ground-floor, whence I heard the
many guests arise and depart for the sight of
the sun rising. I lay still, and strove to com-
fort myself by remembering I was not called
to this, and that He who in His wisdom in-
capacitated me from bodily exercise, and
outward visible service, had given to me the
Sun of Righteousness, whose light shone on
my way. (Job xxii. 28.)
The sun was shrouded in heavy clouds,
and rose unseen. The travellers returned
weary, dispirited, disappointed; some could
not tarry for an other opportunity, and
others were as much displeased as if a broth-
er man had broken his engagement. An
THE CHAMBER TOWARDS THE EAST. 11
Italian woman of the household, in whose
eyes the Lord had given me favor to speak
of Him, told me of a little turret-chamber
looking towards the east, just vacated by a
student, who had passed the summer months
there with his books. TJie proposal sounded
pleasai.t, and the complaisant landlord gave
me the room. It was indeed a watch-tower
in the wilderness. There lay before me, far
away, the white Alps ; nearer, the purple
hills ; lower, the vast plain, with the green
lakes. After a niglit's rest I was prepared
to watch for the dawn over these magnificent
mountains. The moon still shone clear and
bright on the mountain valleys, the villages,
and the lone chalets in the crimson cl\^stnut
woods ; and lines of rose-color stole almost
imperceptibly over the hills.
Exactly at tlie point I had been directed
to keep in view for the sun's first appearance,
1 beheld a small gray cloud, which had the
similitude of a crown ; soon it became touch-
ed with the glory yet to be revealed. Bright-
er and brighter it gleamed ; in a few mo-
12 THE WATCH TOWER.
ments it became a golden glory-crown ; then
the sun rose into it and absorbed it, and in
an instant shone forth with a might and
majesty that could hardly be surpassed.
Many a day has that little cloud, in my
chamber looking towards the east, preached
to my heart ; and many a little cloud like a
man's hand has been the harbinger of a
brighter day, and I have watched what first
appeared to my eyes as a shadow become a
service or an offering accepted of the Lord.
Why has the believer so little of the light
of life? and why are so many contented
without it ? Simply because Jesus is not
the object of their life and affections. They
are not watching for Him as their bright and
Morning Star, that light may shine upon
their ways, and so they miss His footsteps,
and lack a knowledge of the mind of the
Master. They have not entered into the
sanctuary of His presence, and therefore are
they often cast down and afraid.
A prosperous merchant in one of the
largest cities of the Continent, being one day
THE CHAMBER TOWARDS THE EAST. 13
enjrajred in examininjr some intricate accounts
until his brain was weary, felt irritated to be
interrupted by the card of a stranger. He
refused to admit him; but hardly had the
door closed when he questioned within him-
self, what was the will of the Lord concern-
ing it. He immediately left his counting-
house, and going down received a Christian
brother from a foreign land, and after un-
expected blessing in communion with the
friend the Lord had sent him, he returned to
his labor invigorated with renewed conscious-
ness, that he who would know the joy of life
must have no will but to do the will of God.
The heart that loves truly blends the ob-
ject of its affection unselfishly with its own
life. (" Not I, but Christ.") Without this
there can be but faint comprehension of the
inner sanctuary of His j)resence. There are
thousands of outlets the carnal man can never
divine, by which a secret worship and service
are rendered, which are a mystery to those
without. For this there is no necessity for
positions of danger and excitement, or for sub-
14 THE WATCH TOWER.
lime scenes of nature. The dweller in the
crowded city or the mountain home, the pa-
tient in the sick-room, the housewife in her
domestic duties, the merchant in his office,
the commercial man on the road, the travel-
ler from health or necessity, may all equally
possess the httle sanctuary indwelt by the
Holy One, where the earth keeps silence be-
fore Him, and His wonders may be witnessed.
I have therefore chosen the illustrations of
my subject from the common events of every-
day life ; for there is as much opportunity
for the exercise of bravery and endurance,
of wisdom and skill, of generous self-forget-
fulness, and of every other excellence of
which man is capable, in " the daily round,
the common task" of the most uneventful
life, as in the most romantic and adventurous
career.
When the Lord is dealing with the soul
of His servant he need be a patient listen ei ,
only so is seen the little cloud, only so is
heard the sound of abundance of rain. Six
times did EUjah send for a sign before the
TIIE CHAMBER TOWARDS THE EAST. 15
sign that his prayer was answered was vouch-
safed. " The little cloud rising out of the
sea, like a man's hand " would have had no
language to Ahab ; but to the expectant proph-
et it bore a message distinct as an angel's
voice. The little cloud was the harbinger
of many clouds, the heavens were soon black
with them. (1 Kings xviii. 45.) Let the
kings of the earth eat and drink ; but they
who watch the way of the Lord must sit
alone on Carmel, content to wait, and to hear
six times, if need be, " There is nothing,"
and be perhaps the sport of mockers, who
know not what it is to wait alone upon God.
Were this fellowship with God more deeply
considered, we should have less complaining
of unanswered prayer.
When God commanded Abraham to slay
his son, his only son, we do not find him
pleading to be spared the sacrifice. Unhesi-
tatingly, and without taking counsel of man,
he goes up to slay him in whom he had
received the seed which was to possess the
earth, and in which all the families of tha
16 THE WATCH TOWER.
earth were to be blessed. But when ungodly
Sodom is about to be destroyed Abraham is
heard pleading for others, and God is seen in
that wondrous attitude of being detained by
the prayer of a child of dust ; nor does judg-
ment fall until Abraham ceases to intercede.
A man lives without God until some ter-
rible calamity threatens, or some great per-
plexity places him beyond all creature help,
and sends him to the place of power, the
right hand of the majesty on high. Faith
brings down the help ; for God is faithful ;
and as the man grasps the tangible answer to
his prayer he may cry with Job, " I have
heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear : but
now mine eye seeth Thee." (Job xlii. 5.)
But why is the believer who has seen and
believed — yea, who has so often not seen
and yet has believed — why is it thus with
him ? Why has he so little knowledge of the
mind of the Lord ?
Life does not consist in startling events,
but in minute and often-recurring perplex-
ities and new and unforeseen obstacles in
THE CHAMBER TOWARDS THE EAST. 17
the daily walk, calling for the exercise of
faith to keep alive that communication be-
tween the Saviour and the soul.
The spiritual kingdom must always be an
eniirma to those who are without. It has a
language misunderstood or uncomprehended
by them ; " as dying, and, behold, we live ;
as chastened, and not killed ; as sorrowful,
yet alway rejoicing ; as poor, yet making
many rich ; as having nothing, yet possessing
all things." " Therefore, if any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature ; old things are
passed away ; behold, all things are become
new." Faith and hope are the pinions which
bear the so id heavenward, and prayer and
praise tlic breath of the new creature ; for
*' faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen." As there
is a natural mind, so there is a spiritual
mind, that has its instincts more powerful
and perfect than that which must perish
with the using ; for it is written, " I -will
destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will
bring to nothing the understanding of the
18 THE WATCH TOWEE.
prudent. Where is the wise ? where is the
scribe ? where is the disputer of this world ?
hath not God made foolish the wisdom of
this world ? " (i Cor. i. 19, 20.)
The first principle design and effort of the
natural man is to attain that which to his
mind seems most desirable, be it the wisdom
of this world, rank, riches, or fame, and to
escape any sacrifice of present good. Yet
the pursuit and possession of all that appears
fair to him is not worth the toil, for to-mor-
row may see him bereft of it. The Hfe of
faith, with its endless treasures of everlast-
ing love, and grace, and power, is hated and
shunned ; for he says, the old life, with its
senses and sin, is better. But the Spirit
which reveals to us Jesus, does not leave us
with our natural life of sense to guide us.
He " teacheth us more than the beasts of the
earth, and maketh us wiser than tLa fowls of
heaven." (Job xxxv. 2.) Therefore doth
He give unto the spiritual man richer gifts
than all earth's multiplied power of sense
can bestow, and loftier understanding and
THE CnAJrBER TOWARDS THE EAST. 19
"Wisdom than the carnal man desires or ap-
plauds. The wisdom that cometh from
above is a supernatural wisdom ; for it is
drawn from the source of life in Him in
whom we live, and move, and have our
being. The man created in Christ Jesus, and
who has entered into fellowship with Him,
will no more seek enjoyment in the things
that before satisfied him, than the lark who
rises with his song in the summer air can
return to his shell prison in the mother's
nest.
Does the new man, living the life of faith,
enjoy no earthly blessing ? Ask him. *' The
earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof."
Earthly blessings are enhanced a Imndred-
fold when we take each from the pierced
hand that bestows them. We behold every
gift of time in the precious setting of eter-
nity — "All things are yours." Did the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ withhold
any good thing when He gave His Son as a
Saviour, an Ad vocal e, and a friend ? He gave
us in Him all things richly to enjoy ; Ha
20 THE WATCH TOWER.
bore away our sins and transgressions ; He
would bear away our fears if we would trust
Him ; He would hallow our affections and
sanctify our sorrows ; He has opened the way
to the throne, and He bids us use it. Does
the father love less the little ones who make
glad his home, because he takes them fron>
God to train for Him ? Ask the wife if her
husband is less beloved, because she has
learned something of the mystery of the
union of Christ with the believer? Is the
love of the husband less ardent, less faithful ?
Nay: ask the child if the summer day's
ramble is less delightful, or study more irk-
some, since he knew the love of his Saviour,
since he has learned to confide in Him for
help in his daily tasks, and to find a child's
joy in the sympathy of One who was once a
Cliild, and knows a child's sorrows and
temptations. Ask the sailor who has exper-
imentally entered on the life of faith, and is
now trusting in the care of Him who rules
that great sea over which he once heedlessly
Bailed, in storm and calm, thankless for pres-
THE CHAMBER TOWARDS THE EAST. 21
ervation, whether life is not brighter and
happier now. He will tell you the very rip-
ple of the water has auoiher voice for him
than heretofore. The wild billow has no
terror, for he knows His Father holds the
fountains of the deep in the hollow of His
hand, and will not suffer a wave to flow
beyond the bound that He hath set.
Oh, friends, ye are not poor that have
Jesus as yours, but rich; for everything is
enriched by the hand that gives, and blessed
even by the hand that takes away.
The spiritual man, even as the natural
man, must have his corresponding members,
and those members their component parts, to
render him fitted for the service of the
kingdom which the child of God is called
to inherit (Ephes. ii. 21, 22) ; like the priest,
he must be neither lame nor blind. (Lev.
xxi. 18.) The single eye to which the Lord
appended a certain blessing (Matt. vi. 22)
belongs to the uprightness of heart to which
He calls His people. From it springs sim-
phcity, unquestioning obedience, and child-
22 THE WATCH TOWEE.
like love. If we choose that in which He
delighteth not, we cannot have fellowship
with Him.
You may multiply ceremonies, and exalt
philanthropic efforts ; you may restore forms
and rites, which, like all Judaism, have passed
away with the rent vail ; but until the resto-
ration of that which the outward forms were
given to typify (the presence and power of
the Lord), the world will remain the same,
as far as any witnessing of the Lord's people
is concerned. " For if they believe not Mo-
ses and the prophets, neither will they be
persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
The dwarfed experience, and the cold lieart-
ed scepticism, among professing Christians,
arises, from a neglect, or a partial specula-
tive study, of the Word of God. They do
not deny that tlie manna falls from heaven ;
but they go not forth to seek it till the sun
is up, or gathering it, they leave it in tlieir
vessels, neglecting to feed on it until it be-
comes unprofitable. The patriarchs and
apostles lived the truths of God before they
THE CHAMBER TOWARDS THE EAST. 23
taught them ; and if you live in the Spirit,
men will recognize you us one that has been
with the despised Nazarene. " This fellow
was also with Him." Fear not ; let it be
known that you have looked upon and
handled the Word of life. Some will de-
ride you, some will hate and shun you, for
your singularity ; but dare to be singular I
for your testimony will remain before Him
who has declared, " Whosoever therefore
shall confess Me before men, him will I
confess also before my Father which is in
heaven." (Matt. x. 32.) " Ye are my wit-
nesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom
I have chosen : that ye may know and be-
lieve Me, and understand that I am He."
(Isa. xliii. 10.) The precept cannot be
severed from the promise. " If a man love
Me, he will keep my words: and my Father
will love him, and we will come unto him,
and make our abode with him." Let us lay
hold of these exceeding great and precious
promises, that we may be partakers of the
divine uatui'c, then shall wo realize Hia
24 THE "WATCH TOWEE.
power in us, and the sanctuary of His pres-
ence. So only can we rest in His love.
The inheritance of the saints is an incor-
ruptible one. Corruption, or the natural
carnal man, cannot possess it. Spiritual
blessings fall on those in heavenly places
in Christ Jesus ; how then can the world
receive them, or comprehend the sons cf
God ? " My soul, wait thou only upon God ;
for my expectation is from Him." " It is
better to trust in the Lord than to have
confidence in princes." " Trust in the Lord
at all times " does not refer alone to the day
of afidiction, but to daily need, and to hourly
blessing.
MY MOUNTAIN REST.
Ajto often my glad song swelling,
For mercies for ever new,
Is praise for the thoughts still dwelling]
On my rest in yon mountain blue.
There are chains of those purple mountains,
The Alps, with their crests of snow ; —
There are green lakes fed from their fountains,
And smiling vales below.
THE CHAISfBER TOWARDS THE EAST. 25
And content I had been to linger
Wherever my Lord might be ;
But I felt that His guiding finger
Led up to the heights for me.
To my spirit He seemed unfolding
The path that His feet had gone ;
And my heart in His love re-moulding,
To follow that path alone.
I stood on that mountain hoary,
And the white clouds veiled its crest ;
And light, like a beam of glory.
Fell bright on the green lake's breast.
But ever there beamed before me
The wannth of His heavenly smUe ;
And sweetly seemed whisp'ring o'er me,
" Come, thou, and rest awhile."
Thus amid the Alpine ranges,
One rises fairest of all.
Could I count the sky in its changes.
Or the sunbeams bright as they fall.
Oh, then should my soul, up-springing,
Like the lark from its lowly nest,
Tell over the thoughts still clinging
Bound the days of my mountain rest I
CHAPTER II.
MAHEETTA.
"Even the very hairs of your head are numbered. Fear not
therefore." — Luke xii. 7.
r
r
HY has the child of God so little
enjoyment of the presence of the
Lord ? Because he is so often seek-
ing his own will, and weighing his own
faith, and joy, and love. While expecting
that greater supplies of grace in " some
favored hour " will permeate his being, he
disregards the occasion prepared for bring-
ing into action the grace already given ; and
seeking for triumphs before the world and
his brethren, he neglects that service which
is seen only in secret places.
Jesus and Jesus only is the object of the
sinner's hope, and He is the saint's strong
MARIETTA. 27
habitation to which he may continually
resort ; and the heart that is sinceiiy watch-
ing for Him will learn in His presence that
to be brought nigh unto Him is to receive
grace for grace. Not how much of joy, but
how much of Jesus.
When the house is ready for our guest, we
do not spend our time in looking at the
house, but out of it, to catch the first
glimpse of the expected one, without whom
the house is not home. Then the meanest
thing that concerns him is important, and
the greatest event is nothing to us unasso-
ciated with Him, unshared with Him. How
often have 1 to remember the sparrow on
the housetop, the lily of the field, and that
He who cares for them remembers me !
" My dress ! INIy gray dress again ! What
shall I do with it ? " I repeated many times,
as I packed and unpacked my portmanteau,
and there came perpetually before me a cer-
tain dress, too valuable to be cast aside, and
yet requiring renewing for wear. As I jour-
neyed on through Switzerland, I thought..
28 THE WATCH TOWER.
Surely I shall find some ready-fingered
needle-woman for my help ; for it was of
English manufacture, and j)i"o raised still to
be useful. Vain the hope ! With one hand
useless from a contusion, and with no human
friend to supply the loss — though indeed
help was provided for me at every stage in
marvellous and unexpected ways — it may be
conceived that any additional labor, however
light, I would gladly have avoided.
My bedroom took fire ; all my winter
clothing, unpacked to meet the unexpected
severity of the season, was burned, but not
this particular dress — that was safe in my
portmanteau. It went up into the moun-
tains with me, and down into the valleys,
over the seas, and back again to the sunniest
city of the South. No harm befel it. I
would have given it away, but my question-
able benevolence was checked. It always
seemed unsuitable to the intended recipient ;
and when I thought a favorable opportunity
offered to dispose of it, the gift I would hava
made was unattainable.
MARIETTA. 29
I have been led to consider these minute
objects and events in which God manifests
Himself, which affect our lives, both for
good and evil, in walking in the way of Ilis
commandments, because I found God in
them ; and as we walk in faith. He has
promised that we shall see Him. We may
not always bask in the sun, but we may
often see the reflection if we are looking for
it. I have watched the waves on the hori-
zon, when the sun went down, and heavy
clouds hung between our eyes and the glori-
ous orb ; not a ray broke its gray panoply of
cloud, but it was shining still, and the dis-
tant waves on the extreme verge of the
boundary line danced in its light. After a
long season of storms, a single rain-drop on
the green hawthorn before ray window to-
day suddenly gleamed like a star. All else
to my eyes was dim ; but it told of a rent in
the clouds, and there was light beyond.
How often, M'hen the way has been dark,
and there has appeared to be so much delay
in answering prayer, that the impatient heart
so THE WATCH TOWEE.
has been tempted to cry, " It is in vain to
wait upon the Lord any longer," some light,
no more important to others than the gleam
on the rain-drop, has caused our heart to cry
aloud of His mercy ! We know by it that Ho
is near, that He is caring for us, that He has
considered our need, that He is waiting for
patience to have her perfect work, and to
show to His doubting, timid children that His
time is the best. What exercise of soul may
be carried on by what would be numbered
among the mean and contemptible affairs of
life; yet how much importance may be
attached to them from their influence on
ourselves and others !
I remember with shame the irritation with
which I one da}' regarded my unpacked
dress, from the difficulty of finding a place
for it ; but this was put to flight by the
tenderness of Him who, on the throne of His
Father, remembered His own weariness on
earth. Suddenly the thought flashed through
my mind, that after all the dress was not
mine, but the Lord's, and I would enquire
MARIETTA. 31
of Him what He needed done with it. Then
"there was a great cahn." Jesus entered
the little ship. The gray dress ceased to
encumber me ; I felt I was carrying it for
Him. This checked even the temptation to
part with it.
I am not conscious that I possess a single
article that has not derived a positive value
to me from the instruction or blessing con-
veyecl with it from the impress of the
pierced hand of Love through which every
covenant mercy flows. Each individual pos-
session is a way-mark of my wandering life
that awakens tears of penitence or songs of
praise for mercies every day new and un-
merited. Objects and circumstances are
nothing in themselves ; they derive their
importance from the use we make of them,
and the way in which they affect us. There
can be neither life nor interest in every-day
occurrences to one who sees " no beauty in
Him that he should desire Him" Such an
one has never wept with Jesus at the grave
of Lazarus, nor sat with him weary by the
32 THE WATCH TOWEE.
well of Sychar. He would behold notning
in the spring but the foliage appearing again
on the trees, without any delight in the
wondrous mystery contained in Nature's
resurrection ; and he might admire the
beauty of the Word of God, without any
personal application to himself.
It is only as the Spirit of the living God
broods on the dull waters that there is hfe.
Our eyes are opened to see and our ears to
hear what saith the Lord in His word and
His work. Moment by moment ravens may
in this way bring us bread and meat at morn
and eve, in deserts far from man's cogni-
zance, but not far from the God of Elijah,
who had taught his servant to look to the
Creator of heaven and earth for his suppHes.
The rod with which Moses guided his sheep
in the desert became the formidable instru-
ment in showing forth the power of Him
who had raised up Pharaoh, and in proving
to the Israelites what a God had looked on
their afflictions, and had called them forth
out of Egypt, and bare them on eagles'
MAKIETTA. 33
wings. Solomon spake of the cedar tree
that is in Lebanon, but he did not omit the
hyssop that springeth out of the wall. The
tree is not one whit more important than the
hyssop, except in our natural estimation, and
both were commanded in the sacrifice and
service of the tabernacle. (Lev. xiv. 4, 6.)
Withdraw a minute from an hour, and it is
no longer an hour. The lichen has its seed-
vessel, so has every little span of time, and
each will bear fruit — the one for time, the
other for eternity. A desire, a glance, a
word, a tone, has caused the wreck or the
rescue of a life ; has cheered or broken a
loving heart ; has led to the slaughter or the
salvation of thousands of human beings ;
has changed in a moment morning into mid-
night, or sorrow into song.
The work of the Spirit is to be remarked
externall}', as well as its effects spiritually,
by its action on tlie soul. Paul and Barnabas
were despitefully used at Iconium (Acts
xiv.), and they fled to Lystra, in Lycaonia.
There they preached the gospel. They were
34 THE WATCH TOWEB.
needed there, and the Lord allows the faith
of His people to be tried by being spitefully
entreated, while the rough file is used to
bring forth, not only the instrument for His
work, but witnesses for His glory. In
Lystra was a certain man, a cripple from his
birth, whom the Lord had ordained to be
healed, so that the messenger of Satan, who
thought to destroy the witnesses of the grace
and salvation through Jesus Christ, were only
permitted agents in the hands of God for
ultimate blessing.
I had made a rapid journey to Como for
the purpose of seeing some English friends,
whom however I did not meet. I had taken
a room in one of the large hotels, on the bor-
ders of the lake, where I expected them,
intending to remain there until I had further
tidings of them. The room appointed for mo
adjoined that of some very noisy neighbors,
who spent their nights at cards and m quar-
relling. I changed, and found one was given
to me which opened on to the gallery off the
saloon, where the unceasing piano, and
♦
MARIETTA. 85
occasional bands, defied all rest ; in addition
to which the fcmnie de chamhre was both
heartless and negligent, unlike . Italian ser-
vants in general, and I was weary and
suffering. Patient waiting is more diiUcult
than active service. Instead of looking
hither and thither in our daily troubles and
perplexities, if we meekly sit before the Lord
and ask, " Wherefore is it thus with me ? "
we gather wisdom for our way, and strength
for our trial, which lead us to know more of
Ilira, who has never left us because of our
little faith, nor forsaken us because of our
dim perception of Himself. He created the
smith that blows the coals of the fire ready to
consume us ; He brings forth the instru-
ments for His work, which seems so nigh to
break our heart ; but no weapon that is
formed against the child of God shall pros-
per ; all things shall show forth His power
and His glory to them that trust in Him.
What appear obstacles in our service are
often but the hand of the Lord to hedge up
our path in safety. The king would have
36 THE WATCH TOWER.
made David keeper of his crown, and would
have had him go to battle ; but the Lord
placed an obstacle in the opposition of the
Philistines (l Sam. xxix. 7), which prevented
David doing that which the Lord forbade,
Though David was a fugitive, yet he was not
out of the sight of Him who had taken him
from the sheepcotes to be king over His
people Israel. So it is to-day ; the Lord
never leaves us, though we forsake Him.
The Lord is full of compassion. So I
enquired of Him why it was thus with me ?
I was assured that I had followed Him so far,
and I knew that in waiting on Him I should
understand in part " wherefore."
The following day, as I went down the
lake, I saw a modest hotel and pension, which
had escaped my memory, where I had once
tarried during my first spring in Italy. I
bade the boatman laud me there.
The hostess was very ill, and unable to
rise, and sent an Italian girl to speak to me.
She told me she had but lately arrived, and
it was her -first place. She was clean and
MARIETTA. 37
neat, but so meanly clad that slie evidently
wore the oft-mended garments of her cottage
home. Her countenance and manner bore
evidence of strong character — shall I say-
strong will? — and she interested me. She
showed me a large and pleasant chamber
inth an eastern aspect, shadowed by pome-
granate trees, and overlooking the lake, with
a door opening out on the upper terrace
leading to the mountains. It pleased me
well. She made all the arrangements for me,
and took my directions for some alteration I
required in the room, which I took possession
of tlie following day. All my wishes had
been met ; and her compassion, awakened
for my helplessness, contrasted with the
surly service I had left. My new attendant
was most ingenious in devising ways and
means to help me. She was truly the " maid-
of-ull-work," and I marvelled why she was
there. It was a second-rate inn, with little
wages and very hard work. She never
seemed weary, but she never looked happy ;
she was reserved in speech, though so care-
ful in everything that affected my comfort.
38 THE WATCH TOWER.
By no premeditation on my part, 1 one
evening spoke to her of a Saviour, and
repeated to her a few texts in French and
• Italian. She listened; but it was tlie Christ
of the crucifix alone that she knew. She
felt her need of pardon ; but seemed to think
that was to be obtaind by works only ; and
what could she do ? If I had doubted before
if my way had been made for me, I should
have doubted no longer. That day Marietta
lay continually on my heart in prayer, and
the peace of God which passeth all under-
standing seemed to be allotted to me for my
portion in my chamber looking towards the
east. Day by day occasion opened to show
to her that there is a living God, who num-
bers the hairs of our head, and thinks nothing
too trivial that can give pain or pleasure to
His children. She listened, scarcely under-
standing or believing, but always wondering
and delighted.
My right hand, from over-fatigue, now
failed me, and I had to request help to
unpack my luggage. I was likely to remain
MARIETTA. - 39
some weeks, and few people were in the
house. The hostess gave her permission for
Marietta to assist me, and glad was I of the
arm the gracious Lord had "sent to me to do
the work. Neither the helper nor the helped
tlien knew all that was contained in the
circumstance. She took each separate article
out of the box with extreme care, and no
little curiosity. At last I heard a smothered
exclamation, followed by " Beautiful ! " I
looked round, and found she had reached
the bottom of the portmanteau, and in
admiration was contemplating my gray dress.
A thrill of joy ran through my whole being.
In my inmost soul I said, " It is good to wait
on Thee." I watched her smooth the folds
as she laid it carefully by, and then she
enquired, " Was it English fabric ? " " Yes,"
*' Most beautiful ! " I showed her that it
needed repair ; on which she told me she
could sew well ; that the only marriage
portion her mother said she could give her
was needle and thread, and that she should
have; and she had it in perfection. As the
40 THE WATCH TOWER.
portmanteau was closed, I marked her glance
from time to time at the dress. She left the
room. My travelling companion lay before
me. Reader, it is a mean thing in your eyes ;
but, like the manger where lay the Infant
Prince of Peace, I think, to the unseen
angels, there would have appeared a glory
over it, so nearly did I trace Jesus in the
fact of my carrying a robe for Him.
When her day's work was over. Marietta
came for the dress to repair it : and as she
took it I said, " God has sent you that
dress." There was a sparkle of those bright
eyes, a quick clasping of her hands before a
word would come, and then her thankful joy
would have repaid me for a longer journey
with the Lord's gift. Then I told her how
He had kept me from disposing of it, and
that I had prayed He would show me what
to do with it, and He had shown me. She
listened in rapt attention. I saw, as it were,
this child of the night struggling through
the shadows to the day. That night she left
me with the consciousness that the Lord
MARIETTA. 41
knows all our needs, and there is joy and
gladness in the service of Jesus.
She related to me her simple history. She
had not clothing fitted for another place, nor
had she any money to purchase it. She was
a peasant. Her parents worked in the fields.
An uncle living at Bordeaux had taken her
as a child to assist in a little shop, where she
acquired French. She returned to her
family, hoping to help a sick mother and
two aunts, who expected to be assisted out
of a sum so small, that I could no longer
wonder at her appearance. Her uncle died,
but wrote to her previously a letter that told
her where he had found peace and rest.
Temptations will come in service as else-
where. Suddenly Marietta avoided speak-
ing to me, or being alone with me. Ah I
ih'^1 Satan began his old suggestion, that
after all the service was not for God. I had
required my portmanteau unpacked, and had
paid a servant by the gift of a dress I did not
wear. To the blind it was no more. I pass-
ed a night of extreme sadness, and prayed to
42 THE WATCH TOWER.
the Lord to deliver me, by strengthening my
weak and wavering faith, that I might con-
tinue to rejoice in His mercy.
The next morning the brow of Marietta
was more sombre, and she herself more
taciturn ; and so it went on for some days.
At last, as I spoke kindly to her, she sudden-
ly, in an impassioned way, exclaimed,
" I am desolate because of my sins ! I cry
in the night, ' Oh, my God, if I should die,
what would become of me ? ' "
I repeated, " The blood of Jesus Christ
His Son cleanses us from all sin." " Beheve,
and be saved."
She started, and replied half, as it were, to
herself, " The words my uncle wrote to me
before he died ! ' Have faith in the blood of
Jesus.' That's not like the priest."
" You believe God knew your need in
sending to you some clothing. Do you think
He will leave you to perish ? Your soul is
of infinite value to Him."
" I know He sent you here," she answered
slowly ; " for you have said the words my
MARIETTA. 43
uncle bade me remember. Oh, if I could
only say the penitential Psalms! but I can-
not I My sins ! my sins ! " and covering
her face with her hands, her whole frame
trembled.
I took from my pocket a little vokime of
Italian texts of Scripture, and showed her,
one after another, — invitations to come to
Jesus. She asked me if I would lend it to
her. The following day she was reluctant to
part with it. Many precious reminiscences
were connected with that little book ; but I
felt I had Jesus, and this might lead another
nearer to Him, so I bade her keep it. This
"was a treasure beyond the first, and from
that time no doubt remained in my own mind
of the Holy Spirit's work begun in that soul.
Her sense of sin would often send her to my
side in deepest distress, and the peace that
followed from the repetition of the completed
Sacrifice for sin told whence that peace pro-
ceeded.
I passed three weeks in the pension, and
retui-ned the following year for a few days,
44 THE WATCH TOWER.
primarily to see Marietta. Tlie hope of en-
gaging her for my own service filled my
mind, but the Lord unmistakably disap-
proved, and I was thankful He had given me
discretion to keep that desire to myself, to
prevent disappointment. Her affection was
deep, and shown in the impassioned welcome ;
and the parting, like her own nature, was
full of power and pathos. " Others come
and go," she said ; " it is nothing to me.
But you I love as my mother. I am full of
grief to part with you." I left by the earliest
boat, soon after five in the morning, and the
last sight of the landing-place from the deck
of the steamer showed me Marietta still there
in her gray dress — her Sunday suit — with aa
expression of utter desolation at my last fare-
well.
I wrote to her occasionally, sending to her
as I CO aid what I thought would best help
her. Lastly, she wrote that she was very ill
at home. I forwarded a small suui of money.
I heard no more. Her letters ceased, and I
lost all trace of her. But we shall surely meet
MARIETTA. 45
again, when the white wedding-robe shall re-
place the soiled and worn-out garments of our
pilgrimage.
We shall look back, I believe, on these mi-
nute links of life's histor}'-, not as insignificant
and unimportant objects, as some count them
to-day, but as wondrous examples to exalt
the power and wisdom of God, which shall
carry their influence through eternity. He
has promised to manifest Himself to us as He
does not unto the world. " The hearing ear,
and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made ev3U
both of them." (Prov. xx. 12.)
<>o»io«
BEHOLD, GOD IS MY HELPER.
Psalm liv. 4.
Oil, fierce the foes that never tire,
And never cease their \vTath !
But Thou, Lord, art a wall of fire
About Thy childreu's path.
Thou seest the conflict close and sharp
None others gaze upon,
And angels strike a golden harp
For every victory won.
46 THE WATCH TOWER.
At night encamped around our bed
There waits a shining band ;
And where the evil spirits tread,
God's holy angels stand.
Then shall I dread the darksome nighty
Or fear the fowler's snare,
When midnight is as noonday bright.
And Thou art everj'where ?
Safe sheltered 'neath Thy canopy,
I will in danger hide —
The arrows harmless passing by,
While 1 with Thee abide.
Cover me, Lord ! my trust shall be
In Thee and Thy great name ;
For he whose hope is set on Thee,
Thou ne'er hast left to shame.
CHAPTER III.
TOO LATE, BUT IX GOD's TIME.
" Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon Thee {
Thou saidst, Fear not." — Lam. iii. 57.
'HE Lord does not show us beforehand
the way and means by which He will
work our deliverance ; enough for us
that He has said, "Call upon Me ... I will
deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me."
Perhaps after all the marvels by which
the children of Israel were delivered from
their enemies, they would find it difficult to
believe they could walk through the sea.
But Moses makes no demur to the command
of the Lord, but stretches forth his hand
over the sea, and, behold, the waters obey
him, and the children of Israel go forward,
47
48 THE WATCH TOWER.
and that very element their enemies ex-
pected would be the cause of their over-
throw, was their protection from the savage
anger of men more ruthless than the waves.
And when the waters were behind them, a
barrier from their enemies for ever, then
could they sing, " Thou in thy mercy hast
led forth the people which Thou hast re-
deemed : Thou hast guided them in thy
strength unto thy holy habitation." (Ex.
XV. 13.) So it is still. We think some cir-
cumstances in the place to which we are
called must obstruct our path, or destroy us.
The same Lord who divided the Red Sea for
the Israelites will make a path in the mighty
waters for us, and though His footsteps are
not seen, yet the pillar of cloud and fire is
still our guide.
But let not the enemies of God strive to
follow in such a path ; for there is no prom-
ise of safety to tliem ; they shall lie dead on
the shore of that sea which the Lord has
made a path for His ransomed to pass over,
" The ways of the Lord are right, and the
TOO LATE, BUT IX GOD's TIME. 49
just shall walk in them ; but the transgres-
sors shall fall therein." (Hosea xiv. 9.)
When difficulties arise, and perplexities
like rolling waves hedge up the path ; when
prayers seem to bring no deliverance ; when
light is hid ; when the soul cries despair-
ingly, " All these things are against me ; "
when " He sealeth up the hand of every
man; that all men may know His work"
(Job xxxvii. 7), these are the days when
the Lord shall fight for you, and you shall
hold your peace. " Fear ye not, stand still,
and see the salvation of the Lord." But
beware that the place is one to which He
has called you, and not some self-chosen
service or testimony : for there is no prom-
ise to them that are out of the way. There
must be confession, and restoration, and re-
turning, in the obedience of childi-en follow-
ing on to know the Lord.
After three days' journey in tlie wilder-
ness, when there was no water, their late
deliverance was forgotten, they did not cry
unto the Lord, but murmured against Moses.
50 THE WATCH TOWER.
Yet He who had brought them through the
Red Sea, and had so shown them that the
winds and waves obeyed Him, could as
easily have given them water when they
thirsted as He divided the sea. He was
training His people to trust Him.
How often are we sighing over the barren
and dry land where no water is ! Those
who know the joy of having trusted Him
will recall the overwhelming shame when
Ihey have limited Him. We are prepared
by Marah to understand the value of that
branch which makes life's bitter waters
sweet, the branch of that Tree which, out
of its garden-grave, blossomed and bore glo-
rious fruit : " Twelve manner of fruits, and
the leaves of the tree were for the healing
of the nations."
Moses cast in the only remedy for tlis
poison. It would not have availed anything
had he cast in all the spoil of the Egyptians,
or anything the Lord had not commanded ;
the bitter waters would have remained bitter
still. That Branch still can make life's
TOO LATE, BUT DT GOD's TEME. 51
needful waters pure and wholesome. Our
Father looks beyond our momentary trial ;
he sees after the twelve wells of sweet
water, and the fruitful palms threescore and
ten ; a well for ever}'^ tribe, a palm tree for
every elder, proving that He has only to
speak the word, and behold all things
abound for His wilderness family.
But to live ever beneath Elim's pleasant
shade would be to lose that prize for which
we left the house of bondage. We must
follow Him who alone can lead us in safety
still. Why are ^^■e, like the Israelites, mur-
muring at every step we do not understand,
or which is against some preconceived notion
of what the way of the Lord should be ?
He has bade us go over to the other side,
and we distrust Him that He can carry U3
there safely. When we see Ilim with us in
our little ship, then we know it shall be well
with us.
"Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered
thee ; I answered thee in the secret j^lace of
thunder : I proved thee at the waters of
Meribah." (Ps. Ixxxi. 7.)
52 THE WATCH TOWEE.
One sultry evening in July, I was about
leaving Zurich for Lucerne, when a stranger
paid me a visit, which detained me a few
minutes after the hour intended for my de-
parture, and I beheld the train leaving the
station soon after I entered it. After waiting
for two hours, I took my seat in another
train, and had proceeded part of the way,
when the guard entered the carriage, and
told me that the train would proceed no
further than Zoug, where a gveatfete of the
" Tire " of the four cantons was held, and
that it would be impossible for me to procure
lodgings or even a bed ; and then left me to
my meditations.
^Af ter a long summer's day of great fatigue,
alone, and with this prospect before me, I
had no hope but in God. I had the carriage
to myself, and I praised Him for it, that I
mio-ht seek Ilis will without distraction.
O
And I was able to spread before Him all my
perplexity, which did not seem to Him light.
(Neh. ix. 82), asking Him to show me where
to rest my weary head, and what to do.
TOO LATE, BUT IN GOD's TIME. 53
Before I arrived at the end of my journey,
there came into my mind the name of a lady
in whom some months airo I had been much
interested, who had spoken of her intention
of passing some weeks in the summer at one
of these mountain rests in this direction.
Clearer and clearer it came to my inward
sense that this was my way ; but how to
accomplish it ? Jehovah-Jireh 1
Zoug was a scene of wild jollity, such as I
had never witnessed. The trees and avenues
long before we approached the scene gave
evidence of the fcte^ extending from village
to village. Zoug itself presented the appear-
ance of one gigantic fair, while every house
was decorated with banners, garlands, and
devices. A wild confusion of hilarious mirth
seemed to reign.
For a moment I looked round with dismay.
A carriage was my only hope of quitting the
town ; but how was this to be procured ?
Not one was to be seen. How could I seek
for one, and how could I carry even the little
luggage I required ? 1 cast my helplessness
54 THE WATCH TOWER.
on Him who I believed had shown me the
way. He who turns the hearts of kings like
rivers of water touched the heart of the guard
of the train, and after considering me for a
moment, he bade me wait until he had de-
livered his papers, and he would return to
me. I had not long to wait. He took up
my bag, and bade me follow him, and I found
myself in the midst of that motley crowd,
while the tall, strong messenger the Lord had
sent to help me made me a path along which
I passed unmolested, to look for some con-
veyance that at the close of such a day should
be able to carry me safely up the mountain
of the Felberg.
At last my guide obtained an old cabriolet,
with a jaded horse, so thin and wretched in
appearance, that my spirit sank to think that
to his labor of the day it was for me to add
a mountain journey at night. The German
boy who drove him won my favor at once by
his care and kindness to the poor animal;
and the kind-hearted Swiss guard, having
seen me safely into the cabriolet, bade me
farewell.
TOO LATE, BUT IN GOD's TBIE. 55
Slowly and cautiously the driver threaded
his way along the crowded highway, now
blazing with lights in every direction. The
gi'eat gate of Zoug presented the appearance
of an enormous bower, and over it, in large
letters, formed of flowering heath and ever-
lastings, " WELCOME ! " met my eyes. It
seemed like the welcome for me in the path
the Lord had called me to tread, and I
thanked Him, and took courage.
Never, since I have known what it is to
trust in the living God, have I received a
more sensible realization of Himself than
when ascending that mountain, in the clear
twilight of that sultry day. On the first
platform Fritz rested and watered his horse,
and I walked slowly on. The fresh, cool
mountain air was charged with the scent of
the pine, and the herbs on the bank drank in
the dew after a da}' of burning heat, and
gave forth their fragrance to the breeze.
The moon rose over the lowest point of the
mountain as we wound into a yet broader
space, and the vast plain below was as dis-
56 THE WATCH TOWEE.
tiiict as in the full light of day, Zoug itself
appearing like a little illuminated garden in
the valley.
It was near midnight when I reached the
mountain home, and on enquiring for the
lady so suddenly brought to my mind, I
found that she was still there, and a light
yet burned in her chamber. I asked for ad-
mittance. My appearance there was one of
her first answers to prayer for any tangible
blessing, and she recognized it in wonder and
gratitude. She told me that that very day,
in desolation of spirit, she had wept in the
pine grove, and prayed the Lord in pity to
send her some one to speak comfort to her ;
but she had never calculated on such a pos-
sibility as that He would send me.
The stranger sent of God had delayed my
journey but three minutes ; but this had
been used to discipline my will, and to bless
and cheer the lonely-hearted. Thus I learn-
ed another lesson of following Him who has
never failed the soul that trusts in Him. A
day in that sweet, cool retreat refreshed me,
TOO LATE, BUT IN GOD'S TIME. 57
BO that when the Lord bade me proceed, 1
was able thankfully to rcpljs " Send me."
And now, the heart comforted, the work
done, I must descend again into the valley ;
but this time I had no good Fritz to drive
me, but a man who, when we arrived in the
town, would stop and drink at every beer-
house, in spite of the expostulations of my
fellow-travellers that we should lose the train,
which we did ; but he was reckless. Again
I found myself in the station, in the midst of
the dusty town, in the heated atmosphere,
heavy with the fumes of tobacco and beer. I
felt grieved, impatient ; but I remembered
how lately my disappointment was the little
cloud that led me where the Lord needed
m? for blessing to my own soul, and com-
fort to another, and I prayed that I might
again realize His care, and s0e His footsteps,
and praise His name and all within was
peace.
It was neither by carelessness of mine, nor
lack of committing my way to Him, that I
was there in that great salle of the station,
68* THE WATCH TOWEE.
every window open, and unshaded from the
burning rays of a July sun. I felt it perhaps
yet more keenlj^ from the contrast to the
quiet, cool shelter of the pines, and the pure
mountain air I had left ; but I was able to
say, " As Thou wilt," and I was satisfied.
A noisy throng came and went, and I watch-
ed to see if the Master had need of me. At
last the room was empty, save of myself and
a young and delicate German lady, who,
though on another route, like myself, had
lost the train. I saw her distress and dis-
appointment, and spoke to her of the Lord
Jesus holding in his pierced hand all the
tangled threads in perfect order, clear and
distinct in every particular, and reminded her
that every hair of the head of His child was
numbered. My companion listened in tear-
ful interest; and for an hour and a half we
sat in sweet communion.
As the passengers at last thronged the
room for the train by which she was to de-
part, she remarked, " Look around. Is there
one face in this crowd that bears the visible
TOO LATE, BUT IK GOD'S TIME. 59
seal of the Holy Spirit ? Listen ! Is there
even the expression of a thought concerning
Him ? Let us praise the grace that has sepa-
rated us to Himself."
I know not what was the message the
Lord comforted her with. She listened as
if she would not lose a word from my lips,
and looked long and lovingly in my face
ere she bade me farewell. Then, suddenly
clasping me in her arms, she gave me —
" Our next meeting - place — before the
throne." " Then," slie added, " and not
till then, you will learn that indeed it was
not in vain that you waited for two hours in
the station of Zoug."
-ooJOioo-
Tlic desert can ne'er lonel}' be,
If you find but the master there ;
The lislit of Tlis presence only
Makes earth in her beauty fan-.
Better the cross be the sorest.
Better be still and mute,
Thau tread, mid flowers of the forest,
And miss tlic trace of His foot.
60 THE WATCH TOWER.
Faint and athirst he knew me,
As I travelled my life's lone road,
And nearer His heart He drew me :
'Tsvas there my fountain flowed.
He sendeth the hot breeze blowing
In the weary land I stray;
But He is mj' " Great Rock " throwiog
The shadow upon my way.
CHAPTER IV.
HOW GOD SUPPLIES.
••Tlie silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord."—
Hag. ii. 8.
" Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name : the
upright shall dwell iu thj' presence." — Ps. cxl. 13.
HY are there not more frequent Eben-
ezers to the glory of God ? Why this
sad eompltiiuing, as if God were hard
to be entreated? Why has not Jacob prevail-
ed ? Why are ye so fearful ? How is it
that ye have no faith ? Did we, like God's
servants of old, build an altar for every
fulfilled promise, or set up an Ebenezer for
every deliverance, faith would be communi-
cated by the voice of pra3'er and praise,
which would often make glad our dwellings.
The footsteps of the redeemed would thus
leave a record of the power and faithfulness
61
62 THE TVATCn TOWER.
of Him who has said, " He that dwelleth in
the secret place of the most High shall abide
under the shadow of the Almighty ; " and,
" He shall call upon ]Me, "^nd I will answei
him ; I will be with him in trouble ; I will
deliver him, and honor him." (Ps. xci.)
We may discourse long and learnedly on
the power and the faithfulness of God,
without warming our own heart or the heart
of others, if our talk expresses merely a
theory ©f the head, rather than the over-
flowing of a full heart.
We are accustomed to look at the dealings
of the Lord with His ancient people ; but we
overlook that He will deal as miraculously
with each individual soul in the world-desert
to-day.
We do not see manna fall from heaven
when we hunger ; but the Lord can feed His
hungry people as wonderfully as He did the
Israelites, by putting it into the mind of some
one of His many instruments to supply all
their need. " The king's heart is in the
hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water :
HOW GOD SUPPLIES. 63
He turneth it whitlicrsoever lie will." —
(Prov. xxi. 1.)
I knew a poor woman who was very rich
in the promises of God fulfilled, and in
prayers laid up in heaven's great treasure-
house. She was a laundress, and such an
admirable one that many marvelled that she
lived in such a desert spot, where few could
benefit by her skill ; but the Lord had led
her there, and the blessing that flowed from
her hearty, simple, rejoicing faith, will be
known when every man's work shall be seen,
whether it be good or whether it be bad.
She traced much of her blessing to the fol-
lowing circumstance in her life.
Her generous hand always gave liberally,
and she held to the promise, " The blessing
of the Lord, it maketh rich." One sultry
summer's evening, when alone in the cot-
tage, she was startled by the entrance of a
rough-looking sailor, who asked permission
to rest. He had only one eye, and looked
so repulsive that, while she consented, she
lifted up her heart to the Lord, in whose
64 THE WATCH TOWER.
presence she abode. He told her that the
villagers had all refused him entrance, and
as he spoke she felt reassured. She had
only two loaves in the house. She gave him
one, prepared for him some tea, and pressed
on him her last half-crown ; which he de-
clined, telling her he had enough. The
sailor rose to leave, and then he solemnly
blessed her ; such a blessing that she often
afterward dwelt upon it as having come di-
rect from the fountain, as none ever came
before. The promises never rusted in her
keeping. They were in daily use ; but she
always dwelt upon that day, when she con-
quered her timidity, and gave rest and re-
freshment to one of the Lord's people, how-
ever strange the outward appearance was.
She had a large family, and proved how
compatible was the heavenly Master's ser-
vice with the daily life of one who had to
care for her children and earn their daily
bread.
A long illness laid her by from work, and
the only staff that supported her thi'ough
HOW GOD SUPPLIES. 65
many a dark valley was, " Call upon Me in
the day of trouble : I will deliver thee, and
thou shalt glorify Me." .(Ps. 1. 15.)
After her long illness labor pressed heavily
on her, and to satisfy her employers she was
obliged to hire assistance, and thus her ex-
penses doubled, and for the first time in her
life she found herself in debt for rent and '
coal to the amount of three pounds. The
doctor forbade her attempting to commence
her labor again, and she saw herself deprived
of the means of livelihood, as far as strength
was concerned ; for every attempt to return
to her former activity was followed by re-
newed sickness.
Her principal employers were the squire
and his family, and now she must go to them
and tell them she could work no more. The
debt pressed" on her, but the Lord had writ-
ten for her consolation, " Thou shalt call,
and the Lord shall answer ; thou shalt cry,
and He shall say. Here I am." " Behold
the Lord's hand is not shortened, that Ho
cannot save ; neither His ear heavy, that He
66 THE WATCH TOWER.
cannot hear." Her need was great, and yet
the very step she was compelled to take,
seemed to be shuttmg the door of help with
her own hand ; but our laundress had proved
the promises, and trusted in Him who had
never failed. Accordingly she set forth to
the manor, and at the gate met the squire.
He was a rough, passionate man, of whom
most were afraid. He had the character of
being covetous, and oppressive to the poor,
and no one cared to come into collision with
him.
She told him her errand, that she had come
to give up the washing, her health having
failed. He was much displeased, but con-
sented that she should give up all but his
fine linen. She answered firmly that it was
not possible for her to continue even that,
and he bade her go to the hall and get some
dinner, and he would speak to her again.
" I could not eat," she said ; " my heart was
heavy, and I felt afraid."
An hour went by and the squire returned,
and told her he would not consent for any
HOW GOD SUPPLIES. 67
one else to iron his linen, and that she must
do it, and that he would pay her better than
before.
" No, sir," she replied, " my husband and
my children cannot do without me, and I see
it is the will of the Lord that I give it up."
On this decided refusal he swore, and
spoke roughly to her, and went out of the
house. She watched him as he paced the
terrace with strong impatient steps, his hands
in his pockets, pausing now and then, and
looking towards the window where she sat ;
she saw that he was in a great passion. She
rose to leave, when he met her, and in a
gruff voice exclaimed, " There, if you won't
iron my linen, take that," upon which he
thrust a sovereign into her hand and turned
away.
She stood confounded. She had prayed
to the Lord to deliver her from debt ; but
she did not expect her first answer would
come through the hand of this rough donor.
There was one sovereign towards the debt ;
but where could the other two come from ?
68 THE WATCH TOWEE.
All ! has not the Lord written, " The silver
and the gold are mine " ? Still the squire
paced the terrace with hasty strides ; sud-
denly stopping as he saw his trembling vis-
itor ready to depart, and looking verj' much
disconcerted, he came forward, and in r. tone
which had more of fear than anger in it, he
said, " I don't know what is come to ine ; I
cannot help giving you this, and telhng you
I am sorry I spoke so roughly to you," and
he thrust two more sovereigns into her hand.
It is good to trust in the Lord. The child
of God had not trusted in vain in her
heavenly Father. She had gone forth
empty, believing in His power ; and re-
turned full, praising the God of her hope.
Another time she and her husband went
to a missionary meeting. Moved by the
condition of the heathen, which contrasted
with her happy enjoyment of the love of
God, she consulted with her husband on the
possibility of giving their last shilling to the
missionary. " No, no," said the husband ;
but a voice in the wife's heart said, " Give.'*
HOW GOD SUPPLIES. 69
Her prayers had risen and her tears had
flowed for the poor strangers, and should she
keep back her bit of silver because it was
her last, when she had treasures in heaven ?
Nay . So as she passed the plate she
dropped in her shilling. The pair walked
on in silence, the husband wishing they had
left^ the shiUing at home, and the wife re-
joicing that she had brought it, and repeat-
ing, as was her wont, promise after promise
to cheer her husband in his anxious fears for
the morrow. The moon shone bright, and
her light glittered on the frosty branches ;
the meadow path was white and crisp be-
neath their feet ; but it was not the moon-
light that made light in the heart of the
happy woman. " My husband," she said,
" turned to help me over the stile, when hig
e3'e lighted on something glittering brightly
on the path we had trodden. He pointed ifc
out to me. I turned back, and found a
shilling, white and new, as if just come from
the mint."
*' Blessed is the man who trusteth in the
70 THE WATCH TOWER.
Lord, and whose hope the Lord is ; . . . for
he shall be as a tree planted by the rivers of
water, . . . and whatsoever he doeth shall
prosper."
When little prospect of prolonged life lay
before me, and my earthly future was more
than ever obscured, a physician who at-
tended me intimated that the only hope of
amelioration to my suffering lay in wintering
in a southern cHmate> As I had specially
prayed for guidance and relief, this advice
did not startle me. The Lord himself had
prepared me for it. I knew, when casting
all my care on Him who careth for me, that
this also was of the Lord, excellent in coun-
sel. As for any anxiety to live or die, I had
none ; though, as often as I sought the Lord,
I felt that I had yet to suffer and serve be-
fore I entered into my rest.
In the spring of this year, I saw in a
vision of the night a mountain of a peculiar
form, overhung with clouds. Light broke
from a hand parting the clouds, and I be-
held a packet addressed with my name-
HOW GOD SUPPLIES. 71
The Land was withdrawn into the cloud,
and the large envelope fell on the opposite
side of the mountain. There was a lausjh
of derision, and a voice triumphantly shouted
" Now it will never reach you ! " Faith was
given me to believe that it would, and I
fearlessly replied, " If it is ordained for ms,
it must reach me ; and if not intended for
me, it matters not." I awoke with such a
strong impression of the peculiar outline of
the mountain, that I described it to my
Christian servant as one of those remarkable
dreams that seem distinctly to act on the
spiritual man, as drawing forth the power
of faith even in slumber.
We travelled on to the West of England,
and after many journeys, as the Lord led me,
we halted at Sennen. The summer had
settled in, and soon after our arrival, with
the assistance of an arm, I was able to wan-
der near our cottage, in one of those lanes
that form one of the loveliest features of
this most interesting county of Cornwall.
The rough stone wall that shut us in was
72 THE "WATCH TOWEE.
green with ivy and fern, overhung at inter-
vals with witch-elm and hazel; while the
mossy banks on either side were rich in
purple and white foxglove and the delicate
harebell. Such a scene of fresh beauty,
after a dwelling in towns and in a chamber
of sickness, filled my heart with praise. At
the ^end of the lane I found myself at a low
wicket-gate, which opened into the fields,
and in face of the mountain I had seen in
my dream. I pointed out to my companion
the same singular outline which I had de-
scribed to her, and, resting on a fragment of
rock in the sunny bank, we spoke together
of Him whose path is in the deep waters,
and His footsteps are not known. In the
quietude of that sweet spot I recalled some
of the many mercies that marked my daily
life, and caused me to raise the Ebenezer
to-da}', and leave the wisely-clouded future
all to Him.
When we returned to the cottage, two
letters awaited me — one from a friend in
tender sympathy, urging me to. leave Eng-
HOW GOD SUPPLIES. 73
land before the fog and cold of winter
would take from me the power of removal.
I turned to the other. It had followed me
from place to place, and bore on its super-
scription various additional addresses. I
tore open the envelope, and a hundred
pounds fell at my feet ! But this was not
all. A few words in the letter which en-
closed it came over me with a power which
I knew was from Him who can give speech
and language wherever the ear is turned to
listen. It was sent " for traveUing expenses
to Nice ; " and as I read it, I knew that He
called me there, and this was the will of the
Lord concerning me. Two or three medical
opinions were taken, and each one decided
this route as most prejudicial to me ; so that
I bejian to vacillate. But circumstances
over which I had no control overruled every
other suggestion and plan, and I found my-
self exactly where the letter had pointed.
The climate was injurious to me, there was
no doubt ; but the blessing that met me
there will be read only in the light of eter-
74 THE WATCH TOTVEB.
nity. And to follow Jesus, neither health,
nor wealth, nor strength is needed.
On another occasion I was on the point
of leaving the South of Ireland for the
North. The friends with whom I had been
resting a few days were distressed at the
idea of my proceeding alone ; for I had been
many months a prisoner to the house from
illness. The day previous to my departure
a gentleman suddenly called to bid them
adieu. He was leaving for England, and for
this purpose was proceeding by the night
train to the place from which he intended to
embark.
" Could you not delay your departure, and
take care of our dear friend ? " urged my
kind host ; for the idea of my long, lonely
journey was more formidable to him than to
me.
" Impossible ! " rephed the stranger, at the
same time expressing his regret.
" Why impossible ? " urged my host.
" I have engagements that compel me to
leave to-night."
HOW GOD SUPPLIES. 75
After a few words, which did not reach my
ears, the gentlemen left the room together.
I was not anxious for a companion, and the
evident disinclination of our visitor to post-
pone his journey left me perfectly satisfied in
the matter. I did not know they had quitted
me for prayer ; but so it was. A quarter of
an hour elapsed, and they re-entered togeth-
er. The stranger, advancing towarde me,
expressed much pleasure in delaying his
journey to suit my arrangements; and this
was done so frankly and courteously that I
was surprised and not a little touched at the
care for my comfort. Naturall}', I would
rather have travelled alone, but the choice
was taken out of my hands, and it remained
for me to seek from Ilim who had never
failed me how this long journey could be ac-
comphshed to His glory, and for blessing on
my companion, so that he should not regret
the sacrifice of his convenience.
I gave myself to prayer, and so near an
access was granted me, that I doubted not it
was at least an opportunity of blessing, as
76 THE WATCH TOWER.
everything must be that draws a soul to the
mercy-seat. But this was not all. I prayed
to be used in some way to the Christian
brother, stranger though he was.
My kind host had retained the coupS for
us, and we travelled from the early morning
until late in the afternoon. At several sta-
tions we were detained, when I observed my
companion busil}^ engaged in writing. I did
not interrupt him, but our conversation was
immediately renewed as we proceeded. "We
spoke of the power and work of the Holy
Spirit, particularly as I had lately witnessed
it exhibited in the lives of children, in whom
my companion evinced as deep an interest as
myself. I felt cheered by his evident sym-
pathy as I spoke of those whose change of
heart testified of the power which the assur-
ance of salvation gives to the lives of these
little ones of the flock. " Even a child is
known by his doings, whether his work be
pure, and whether it be right." (Prov. xx.
n.)
The details of the testimony of one in the
HOW GOD SUrPLIES. 77
broken circle I had just quitted greatly
touched my listeuer.
Towards the close of the afternoon, as we
waited for the arrival of another train before
proceeding, he learned from a placard that
the vessel he intended to sail in had left
several hours earlier than he expected, and
instead of proceeding with me to the termi-
nation of my journey, he must leave me at
once by express. I shall not forget our
parting. He warmly thanked me. The fol-
lowing day he was under an engagement to
address six hundred boys. He had felt quite
unequal to the task, and desired to rest at the
town where he was expected, for the purpose
of preparing his address. To his astonish-
ment, I unconsciously started the subject on
which his heart was pondering, and, opening
his note-book, he showed me copious notes
from our conversation, arranged in the most
methodical form, for the anticipated lecture
on the following day.
"To-morrow," he said, "at six o'clock,
your words, spoken only to me, will be
listened to by hundreds.'*
78 THE WATCH TOWJiR.
How the Lord supplies ! He wanted help,
and he had it. I cried for blessing, and had
received more than I asked ! 1 listened till
my friend had told me all — all his anxiety
for time to rest and leisure after his journey,
the feeling of depression at being called to a
service for which he was unprepared, and
much more.
And then I answered, " I prayed that the
Lord would bless you in some way, and not
suffer you to lose anytliing by your relin-
quishing your own plans to suit mine, for
Christ's sake. I asked that I might be the
channel of blessing, and receive some bless-
ing through you ; and these hours of converse
and communion are from Him. Doubtless
you had prayed for it also.
" No," replied my companion, with some-
thing of sadness in his tone ; " I never thought
of it ; but I thank God that you did." And
so we parted, to meet no more on earth.
Strong in praise for answered prayer, I
continued my journey, asking this time for
a Christian traveller through the only part
HOW GOD SUPPLIES. 79
of my journey that presented any difficulty
in the matter of a conveyance to carry me
on. My prayer was hardly breathed, when
a Christian officer entered the carriage. He
had long dwelt in a dry and thirsty land,
where no water was, and he greeted me as a
sister. I spoke of the Lord, who had that
day been so gracious to me, and he listened
with eagerness and joy to the praise of Him
who goes before His people to make Himself
a glorious name. My way was smoothed
and made bright by Him who, when He
called me to follow Him, promised to supply
all my need out of the riches of His glory in
Christ Jesus. And He has done so; for
God is faithful.
ONLY A SLING AND STONE.
I said, " Where shall I flee. ?
My foes encompass me.
Lord, keep me at Thy side :
There may Thy -weakest hide."
But His dear voice replied —
♦Tly not ! / am thy Shield.
Thou shalt not shrink nor yield.
Nor might nor prowess own ;
Take thou thj- sling and stone,
Trust in Thy God alone."
" Lord, I am but a child,
So easily beguiled.
So swiftly overthrown,"
I answered with a moan ;
"I cannot go alone."
"Say not, ' I am a child ! ' "
And then He sweetly smiled.
And every fear was gone :
" Take thou thy sling and stone ;
Thou shalt not <jo alone !
*' Thine eye shall be on Mine,
My hand upholding thine ;
Though ev'ry friend were gone,
Behold thy faithful One ;
Child, take thy sling and stone I
HOW GOD SUPPLIES. 81
"Believe, and thou sbalt see
My arm supporting thee ;
My shield is o'er thee thrown,
Thou hast its shelter known ;
Take now thy sling and stone.'*
I listened, and drew near;
Beneath the scoruer's sneer
I heard the mocker's tone —
"Not thus are battles won
By one weak child alone."
Ah! then I marked it well:
The giant reeled and fell
Beneath my sling and stone,
As I stood there alone ;
But a bright smile on me shone.
Come doubt, come grief, come pain.
Let me not doubt again ;
I have not stronger grown.
Nor warfare have I known —
Only my sling and stone.
CHAPTER V.
THE MESSENGER FEOM THE HIGH ROCKS.
" A bird of the air shall (.-aiTv the voice, and that which hath
wings shall tell the matter." — Eccl. x. 20.
jNE of the grandest and most lovely
lialting-places of my pilgrimage was
at Dessenzano, on Lago di Gardo,
which is the largest of the Italian lakes,
being thirty-five miles in length, and in the
widest part nearly seven in breadth.
The water is unlike that of the other
lakes ; it is intensely blue, and in it, when
calm, the coasts are imaged like fairy-land.
The vine terraces are flatter and broader
than elsewhere. Figs, oranges, and. olives,
abound ; but above all else in beauty are the
groves of lemon, whose fruit is remarkable
for its long resistance of decay ; and when
82
MESSENGER FROM THE HIGH ROCKS. 83
the breeze sets in, in the direction of these
plantations, the fragrance is unequalled.
From the extreme clearness of the water,
the lake seems alive with carp and trout,
and other brilliant fish. Yet its calm and
transparent waters are swept by tempests
more fierce than those which visit most of
the other lakes. Sudden gusts of wind
sometimes burst through the mountain gul-
lies, when the natives, who have sense of an
approaching hurricane, close every Avindow
and door, the rattling of which is the signal
for the fierce wind to break the calm of the
lake, and lash it into fury like a roaring sea.
I was in the large hotel alone, with the
exception of sixteen cats which I counted on
the evening of my arrival ; and my only oc-
casional society consisted of a young Gari-
baldian boatman, a Roman Catholic, who
guided my boat on the lake. Ho was most
bitter in his invectives against the priests ;
but this was from personal feeling rather
than from any religious sentiment. I spoke
to him only of Jesus, without advocating
84 THE WATCH TOWER.
any particular religion, and suddenly I found
that he listened, and received with interest
the Italian tracts I brought to him.
I offered to send him a Bible, which he
joyfully accepted, at the same time giving
me minute instructions how to secure it in
the most careful manner from the curiosity
of the village postman, as he feared to lose
it.
I had prayed to be guided to some quiet
spot, to perpare a manuscript for press.
And here I would note the necessity of re-
membering the form of our petitions. I per-
fectly recollect praying to be allowed to
write the two first chapters of one of my
books here. My only exercise was the boat
on the lake, and my only companion was
Pietro, the boatman, to whom I stammered
my Italian scriptures, which he would listen
to, and correct me, in his patois.
A young sister whom he tenderly loved
had lately died, and whom the priest had
refused to shrive, without a silver piece, which
Pietro refused to pay to him. Most touching
MESSENGER FROM THE HIGH ROCKS. 85
was the description he gave me of his cara
Lucia, as he pressed her to confess herself
to the Saviour; for that Jesus would hear
her as soon as the priest. The poor child
was comforted at the thought, and she did
confess to Jesus, and, as Pietro described it,
si e died in perfect happiness. All his life's
joy was this little sister, who had prayed for
him during the war. He had been preserved
through the battle of Solferino, where forty
thousand had been killed or wounded in the
short but fearful struggle ; and he had only
returned home to see her die.
But to return to the lessons I learned
there. The two chapters of my book were
completed, and I was accustomed, in some
measure, to the loneliness of the desolate old
inn, which was situated under the shadow of
the highest mountain, and overhanging the
grand and often turbulent lake.
As there was seldom any one beyond a
passing guest in the hotel, I decided in my
own mind, that it was the place to write, and
that I would remain for some weeks, until
86 THE WATCH TOWEE.
my work was done ; but it is not given us of
ourselves to know when our work is done.
I lost all power of writing. I prayed for it
to be restored, and for the strange shadow
which loured over me to pass from my soul.
It is often so with God's children ; at least I
can answer for myself. It seems good for
me to do and succeed in work which is un-
doubtedly mine: but "times" the Lord
keeps in His own power. What may be
appointed for us at certain seasons, is out of
season when we are carrying it on in our
own will and way ; we look upon our suc-
cess and call it blessing, though it has
wrought nothing in our own soul, while we
overlook the dealing of the Lord with us
individually, to bring us into conformity
with Himself. There is the gift of speech,
but there is also that of utterance ; there are
letters, but there are also letters weighty and
powerful ; there is faith, but also the gift of
faith to remove mountains of doubt, and
work v/onders ; but all can be set aside in a
mom<3nt by a breath of the Lord.
MESSENGER FROM THE HIGH ROCKS. 87
" Give, Lord, or -withholcl then
What Tiiou scest best ;
Not upon thy gifts, Lord —
On Thyself I rest."
It was the Lord's will, I am assured, that
led me there to do the work He had ap-
pointed me; but noi: less was the service to
the young Garibaldian, whom I did not
make so much the subject of my thought
and pra3'er. Both were given me of the
Lord, and one duty has no more right to
usurp the place of another duty than one
star to displace another in its orbit. " This
ought ye to have done, and not to leave the
other undone."
With the eye on Jesus, life flows out in
blessing, whether man beholds it, or behold-
ing it scorns it ; or whether it passes only in,
the sight of the Lord, and of spiritual princi-
palities and powers, before whom we walk
as witnesses of the grace of God, through
the blood of the Lamb slain. If the Lord
graciously uses the talents with which lie
has endowed us, and gives us the work sweet
88 THE WATCH TOWER.
to our heart, we must not forget that cross-
carrying is not marked out for the ransomed
people through flowery glades; the continual
crucifixion must go on. When one is deeply
engrossed in any employment in the service
of God, there is a certain elation of spirit
which is often miscalled " joy in the Lord,"
but is the exuberance of nature's enjoyment ;
and when the laborer to others' eyes may
appear an accomplished servant, rejoicing in
the special favor of the Master, that very
elation may have dulled the inward sensi-
tiveness, which so easily dies in the sunshine
of prosperity and unwatchfulness, when the
feet are out of the way, or the heart is para-
lyzed by unbelief; and indeed we may, and
do as truly, and often unconsciously, shrink
from the cross in watchful obedience, as in
any other service. This is realized in soli-
tude, in the busy family, in the prosperous
business, in the work of the pastor and evan-
gelist, helper and teacher. God is faithful.
He withdraweth not His eyes from the right-
eous : He careth for His servants. Most
1
MESSENGER FROM THE HIGH ROCKS. 89
precious are the vessels of His sanctuary in
His eyes, nor will He allow them to become
encrusted by the world's sloth, or filled with
its ways in self-indulgence even in His ser-
vice, which is no service except under His
appointment.
I did not ask the Lord if He would have
me leave the place ; I continued to pray to
Him for power to proceed with my labor.
The fierce hurricane swept over the lake
so suddenly, that more than once, when our
boat was miles from the hotel, the distant
tokens became recognizable even to myself
from constant observation, and it required
all the skill of Pietro to bring us safe to
shore. The storm often burst like a water-
spout, preceded by a few heavy drops, splash-
ing in the deep silence on the polished leaves
of the lemon trees in the grove.
On one occasion every boat was ashore,
and aL the inhabitants sought shelter from a
coming storm. Then the silence was follow-
ed by the roar of wind, which sounded like
thunder. My excursions on the lake were
90 THE WATCH TOWER.
at an end. The gray coloring in which the
landscape was enveloped gave a yet more
saddened tone to my mind. With a darker
purple on the mountains, a deeper shadow
on the water, without one ray of golden
sunshine to brighten the gloom, it bore some
likeness to the sadness of my spirit. Was I
not bound in fetters, and holden in cords
of affliction ? As it was of old, so it is to-
day, " He sheweth them their work, and
their transgressions that they have exceeded.
He oxieneth also their ear to discipline." (Job
xxxvi. 9, 10.)
Again I sat at my desk. Thoughts once
clear now became a tangled skein, and I de-
cided that the thunder-storms were to blame.
I had prayed for power to write my third
chapter. This was the answer, "No!" yet
I understood not. I went to bed, not to
sleep. The large window of my bed-room
was open, and I could watch the lightning
as it passed behind the mountain, showing
its grand outline, and occasionally the lemon
terraces. I was like one who had fallen into
MESSENGEK FKOM THE HIGH ROCKS. 91
a pit, or a net, without life or power. Mid-
night had passed, and the early hours of the
morning had struck, and found me still
watching. A shrill cry startled me from my
pillow. A large bird from the mountain, =
with a rapid flight, allighted on a crag of
rock overhanging the terrace beneath my
window, and with a cry something resem-
bhng that of a peacock, in a tone as plain as
my pen can repeat it, cried, " Di-rect ! Di-
rect ! " and having delivered his message
was silent. Like a flalsh of lightning my soul
seemed to awaken into life. I saw that I
had asked to write those two chapters of my
book ; this had been granted to me, and now
I must pray for direction. I did so. I saw
that I must leave at once. I could only
say, " I believe Thou hast directed me not
to tarry."
I arose from my bed, and lighting my
lamp, began my preparations. It was obe-
dience manifested before the Lord, and from
this I have ever received blessing. The
peace of God filled my soul, and asking for
92 THE WATCH TOWEB.
a little sleep to recruit mj strength, I fell
into a slumber, and awoke refreshed, and
able to undertake the journey which lay
before me. .
, I knew not then how graciously all this
was ordered for me. It was the eve of the
feta of Solferino, when it would have been
impossible for me to travel, on account of
the multitudes that gather from all parts of
Italy to the fete^ and when the hotel would
have been the scene of revelry and mirth, in
commemoration of the dead.
On the day of my departure I was tempted
to think that after all he did not care for the
Bible ; but at the station was my friend in
his gala dress to do me honor, and to remind
me of my promised gift. When I entered
the train my cloaks and umbrella were miss-
ing ; and almost before I could express my
dismay he had fled like a bird to the omni-
bus, which was returning to the hotel, and I
had only time to receive them as the train
was in motion, and to see how great was
his delight at having performed this little
Service.
MESSENGER FROM THE HIGH ROCKS. 93
The earnest face of the young Garibaldian
was my last sight in Dessenzano. The Holy
Spirit had taught him there was access to
the Saviour ; and I believe, I ^ust believe,
that He used my poor stammering accents iu
a foreirjn tonciuG to tell of the blood-shed-
ding through which the sinner (and he knew
he was a sinner) could reach the Lord of
life.
See where the sunlight falls
In its golden glow:
Soft through the olive boughs
Shadows come and go.
God bade the lily bloom,
And the thunder roll;
Each hatii a voice from Him
To the list'ning soul.
Take thou the cloud from Him,
Take thou the light ;
Day brings the eventide,
Eventide the night.
All hath a word from Him —
Child, listen well.
Learn why the sunlight failed.
Why the shadow fell.
CHAPTER VI.
THE UNSEEN FOOTSTEPS.
"He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through;
and He made the waters to stand as an heap."
Ps. Jxxviii. 13.
"Peace be uuto you; as my Father hath seut Me, even so
send I you." — John sx. 21.
^r
HE hairs of your head are all numbered.
If the life of Christ on earth were care-
fully considered in its minute detail, we
should have more practical illustration of
doctrine than that which we derive from
theories which men give of how we ought
to walk. The pivots on which many mighty
events have turned are unheeded, and yet,
so far from derogating from the might
and majesty of the great Artificer, they
magnify Him. The same hand which cre-
ated the stars, and made them move in their
94
THE UNSEEN FOOTSTEPS. 95
courses, formed the little glowworm's lamp,
and bade it shine in its mossy home. There
is nothing too minute to work the work of
God.
Withdraw the fish, the gourd, the worm,
the east-wind, which " God prepared," from
the book of Jonah, and how should we un-
derstand His dealing with His wayward
servant? How much should we lose of the
long-suffering and loving-kindness of Him
who manifested Himself of old, as He man-
ifests Himself to-da}^, in dealing with His
children according to their necessities, lead-
ing them by paths which they know not, to
work out His wonders, as He alone knows j
" for He looketh to the ends of the earth,
and seeth under the whole heaven."
Therefore, in abiding in Him you serve, it
is better to be conscious of Himself than
conscious of any success. It was, it is, a
solemn thing to be sent of God. Moses
shrank from it before the unbelief of His
people and the anticipated scorn of his ene-
mies. "Send by whom Thou wilt send"
96 THE WATCH TOWER.
was the expression of his reluctance, which
angered the God who had called him to that
mighty work as leader of His chosen people.
Jeremiah, from his conscious weakness,
would excuse himself: " Ah, Lord God! be-
hold I cannot speak ; for I am a child."
Isaiah shrank from testimony by reason of
his sense of sinfulness: " Woe is me! for I
am undone : because I am a man of unclean
lips." But the Lord God, when He sends a
messenger, goes with him. " Peace be unto
you : as my Father hath sent Me, even so
send I you." (John xx. 21.) " Lo, I am
with you alway." (Matt, xxviii. 20.) That
glory which overcame Isaiah has been veiled
in the likeness of the Man that Ezekiel be-
held on the throne, who paid His earthly
tribute to the kings of the earth through the
piece of money in the mouth of a fish, the
creature of His hand. He has been " de-
spised and rejected of men ; " a Man of sor-
rows, and acquainted with grief; " but He is
in us and with us now, as we go to and fro,
and follow in His footsteps, to carry uncou-
THE UNSEEN FOOTSTEPS. 97
sciously the message He designs to "eeml.
Oh, to be faithful ! to abide in Him, that we
may not be ashamed ! For He that shall
come will come, shrouded no more in the
bruised and lacerated flesh, but in the bright
effulgence of His Father's glory v/hich is to
be revealed ! Therefore, to any who mourn
their lack of service, 1 would say, " Be of
good cheer. Abide in Christ. He went
about doing good ; and think you that He
cannot do the same in you? You may not
see the fruitage of the seed until the harvest-
home ; and though your steps are circum-
scribed, limit not the power of Him who
dwelleth in His temple, and let it not be
said of you, * He did not many mighty
works there because of their unbehef.' "
I was invited by a lady, a friend when I
was in the world and of it, who had no sym-
pathy or love for me in the spiritual sense,
to take luncheon with her on a certain day.
I had long ceased to visit at the house,
where I found it impossible to obtain a hear-
ing for my Master : but with the note of in-
98 THE WATCH TOWEE.
vitation came the strong conviction to my
heart that I must go ; so, as I had other
business in the town that morning, I left
early, and arrived at the house a quarter of
an hour before the time appointed. The
lady received me coldly, and, with an ex-
pression of disappointment, enquired if I
had not received her note. I replied in the
affirmative, therefore had I come. The re-
ception was startling. She proceeded to say
her sister was expected to return to them
from the East that day, and she had written
to defer my visit. The pride of nature
would have suggested to me to leave the
house at once, but a power stronger than na-
ture kept me in my seat. It was not any-
thing in my mind, or any idea that God had
sent me, and that I must stay there ; I oidy
felt astonished and lost in wonder as to what
it meant. The lady looked uneasily at me ;
then our uncomfortable silence was dis-
turbed by a carriage which drove to the
door, and the servant announced the ex-
pected traveller.
THE UNSEEN FOOTSTEPS. 99
The lady rose, and, closing the folding-
doors, received her in the other apartment.
Perhaps a quarter of an hour might have
elapsed, when they entered the drawing-
room together, and with the cordial greeting
of the newly-arrived sister this prayer rose
with sudden power in my heart, " Lord, let
me be alone with her." It rose in faith ; so
that when the butler entered the room, in
less than five minutes after, I knew the Lord
had answered me. The servant brought a
request to his mistress from his master that
she would meet him at once in the library to
speak about some business matter. J\ly
friend and I were left alone. We had never
met since those da3^s when, in the toils of the
world, we were together on the road that
leadeth to destruction. The life of faith, and
everything connected with it, was a problem
we did not then care to solve ; nay^ we had
never seen or believed in practical Christian-
ity. The waves and billows had goiie over
me. I had found that peace which passeth
knowledge ; and she, without such sorrow,
100 THE WATCH TOWER.
was still a stranger to the trutli : " Except
ye be converted, and become as little chil-
dren, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of
heaven."
We looked each other in the face after a
separation of ten years. Both were silent.
After a long gaze of tender sj'-mpathy, she
said gently, " Oh, how much sorrow you
have passed through since we last met I "
I smiled in her face, and asked, " Do I look
very miserable ? "
" No," she answered, turning quickly after
a searching gaze at my countenance. " Wl^
I never saw you look so happy. How is it ?
What does it mean ? Tell me."
I put my arm round her, and rephed,
*' Since we parted I have known Jesus, the
Saviour of sinners, my Saviour. Oh, if you
knew the peace and joy of my life ! " And
the rest I whispered in her ear, as, clasping
her in my arms, I drew her back to the seat
from which she had risen.
She did not speak. She listened breath-
lessly as in ra^jid utterance I strove to tell
THE UNSEEN FOOTSTEPS. 101
fofth my deliverance from death and liell,
and God's love and mercy in the gift of His
beloved Son. Her face was bathed in tears ;.
but not a word passed her lips. So the time
went on until the lady re-entered the room ;
and I rose fi-om my place, not as before, to
linger, or marvel if the Lord had indeed
made my way prosperous, but inwardly to
bow down my head and worship. And I
went on my way.
Together the lady and her sister paid me a
brief visit, and as the latter left the room she
whispered, " Let me come alone at six to-
morrow."
She came to ask me to pray with her, and
we spoke of the joj'^s of those who are de-
livered from the bondage of corruption into
the glorious liberty of the children of God.
AVe met no more till the following year ;
and then never shall I forget the astonish-
ment with which I heard the reply to my
question, " How came you to receive this
blessed faith in Christ ? "
She looked in my face Avith surprise, and
102 THE WATCH TOWEE.
with a bright, beaming smile, fairer than in
the days of her youth and beauty, she replied,
" Do you, then, forget the day when you
clasped me in your arms, and spoke of Jesus
your Saviour, our Saviour ? I never was the
same since that moment. It came to me
then ; and I was changed."
" The hairs of your head are all numbered."
Had I not left my own abode before the
arrival of the postman, I should most cer-
tainly not have been in that room when the
traveller arrived ; for the letter I found on
my return was such that it would have been
impossible for me to have paid my visit at
that time. Had not the lady been with-
drawn, I could not have spoken to one whom
I had known only in the companionship of
the world ; and had not a power stronger
than pride kept me an unwilling guest, I
might never have had the joy of being the
messenger of good tidings to one who was
indeed born of God from the simple detail
of His love, " that whosoever belie veth in
Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life."
THE UNSEEN FOOTSTEPS. 103
Another day of unconscious ministry was
before me. One autumn evening, after a
day of depression and weakness which fol-
lowed a long illness, I made the effort to
reach a terrace not far from my dwelling.
It overlooked one of those riclily-wooded
English vallej^s the like of which one sees
nowhere in the world. The gorgeous tints
of oak and beech, and the heavy white
clouds, gathering their mellow shade from
the sunset, would at other times have filled
my heart with praise ; but now I was
feelincr how little nature can do until God
speaks, and bids it soothe and refresh the
soul.
I was leaving the place after many months
sojourn ; and as I looked on it, I seemed to
be a cumberer of the ground, and marvelled
why I had been led there at all. My im-
patience clouded my spiritual vision, and
chafed me with the sense of my helplessness.
Tlie natural heart knoweth not the way of
the Spirit ; but He will reveal it in His own
time to the soul that seeketh Him. As I
turned homeward I cried to Him v/hose will
104 THE WATCH TOWER.
I had forgotten in my distress ; and as the
feeblest moan echoes in our Father's heart,
He took away my sense of helpless loneli-
ness, and the desire to be anywhere or any-
thing but what he had seen best. So what
nature could not do, the God of nature had
done.
My landladly met me at the door, and told
me that during my absence a stranger had
waited to see me, and would return again. I
blessed the Lord. I thought He needed me
at last, and though on the eye of my departure,
He had yet something for me before I left
the little tent in the wilderness.
There entered a bright-faced woman from
the country, the messenger of the Lord to me.
She had not been with me many minutes be-
fore I felt sure she belonged to Him who
subdues my heart with His love.
"I am sure you love the Lord Jesus," 1
said. Her face answered the question ; there
was no, " Well," " I hope," but a joyful
"I do."
" And how long have you rejoiced in Hia
love ? "
THE UNSEEN FOOTSTEPS. 105
"Long ago I knew of Him, but I have
been a backslider for years, but now I have
Him ; " and then after a little hesitation she
told me her errand.
I had found so few outlets for service that
I requested one of the linen-drapers in the
town, who held a large shop, a great favorite
with the market people, to enclose a small
book and tract in the country parcels, to
which she gladly assented. I had forgotten
the circumstance that day, but God never
forgets (except our iniquities). My visitor
told me that from time to time with her
purchases she was astonished to receive the
words that exactly met her case, or that of
some of her household. The first she re-
ceived led her to see her neglect of pra3'er
for her children, and to seek salvation for
them, and the H0I3' Spirit had dealt savingly
with one of her sons. She had been drawn
to see how she had been a stumbling-block
in her husband's palh, and to desire that her
new life should be a testimony to lead him
to acknowledge that she was changed, by
106 THE "WATCH TOWEE.
the power of the Holy Spirit. She could not
understand how her case should be known,
and she entreated the linen-draper to tell hei
whence came those enclosures. The shop-
keeper reluctantly gave her the information,
as I had requested secrecy. My happy vis-
itor told me that suddenly that afternoon her
heart was so full of love and gratitude, that
she had walked to this place to express to
me the blessing on the tiny messenger of the
market parcels.
" And how were you restored ? " I en-
quired.
" From a verse in a hymn in one of those
new hymn-books used in the room where
the service is held in the hamlet."
Deg,r reader, the tears that had been sent
Lack many times would tell my joy at last,
touched to the depths by God's love.
Those h3'mn-books had again and again been
renewed. I had expressed the intention to
replace them no more, so often had they
been taken away ; but I had done so, and it
was one of these that had carried life and
peace to this happy soul.
THE UNSEEN FOOTSTEPS. 107
Husband and children were partakers of
the blessing, and we praised together, not
only that day, but man}^ that the Lord laid
me low, to do His work according to [lis
way. From the brow of the hill I had
seen the winding road throucrh that fertile
valley where trod the messenger of good
tidings to me ; and when the set time was
fully come, I received the assurance, that
it is not in vain " to be about my Father's
business."
GOD'S GOOD GIFTS.
" God thundcreth marvellously with His voice ; great things
doelh He which we cannot comprehend." — Job xxxNni. 5.
"The eyes of them tliat see shall not be dim, and the ears -f
them that hear shall hearken." — Isai^vii x-xxii 3.
I did not ask Him for a harp,
And yet a harp He gave ;
His praise was slumb'ring in my heart,
Like whispers 'neath the wave.
The storm hath rent the hidden rock
Ere from its cave it tore
The pearl and weed the billows cast
Alike upon the shore.
108 THE WATCH TOWEE.
Oh, ■wondrous forms of life, that make
A garden in the deep !
And wondrous echoes, mute erewhile,
In deep, untroubled sleep,
Until the God of glory spake
In voice of majesty,
And o'er the many waters rolled
Anthems of melody.
So Thou hast tuned the silver strings
. That once Thy tempest wrung,
And bade responsive echoes wake
In gladness to the song.
And sinking souls have loved the theme ;
Lord, I can bless Thy hand
Which ruled the thunder that awoke
The chords at Thy command !
Thus pains and perils teach the lore
That hearts have learned alone,
Interpreting another's woe
By learning from its own.
I did not ask Thee for a bark.
Oft storm-tossed on the sea ;
I thank Thee now — the billows brought
Their Lord and mine to me.
Thy presence shed a glory there :
Thou bad'st my terrors cease,
And whispered to my fainting heart
Thj' covenant of peace.
Weary with care and sorrow, Lord,
I prayed that I might die ;
Thou didst not my petition grant.
But soothed mj' bitter cry.
THE UNSEEN FOOTSTEPS. 109
And manifesting all the grace
Of Thine own heart for me,
Thou bad'st mo live and learn of Him
Whose love is sympathj'.
I thank Thee that Thy wisdom, Lord,
My heedless prayer denied ;
And for my stammering songs of praise,
A harp Thou hast supplied.
I prayed Thee for a peaceful path,
Wherever Thou might' st lead;
I pictured pleasant pasture lands
In Goshen's grassy mead ;
I found me in a battle-field.
Oft wounded and afraid,
That I might learn the art of war,
And call on Thee for aid.
Then onward, through the ■vvildemess,
Encamped on barren ground,
I sought and found the hidden springs
That in Thy love abound ;
And bitter waters mocked mj' thirst,
That I thenceforth might see
Thou onl3' art the Branch to make
Life's waters sweet to me.
And when my need hath cried to Thee
My daily bread to give,
Thou gavest angels' food to me.
And bade me eat and live.
Importunate and blind, Thou Icnow'st
How oft Thou would'st have saved I
My foolish heart, that weeping loathed
The verj- gifts I craved.
110 THE WATCH TOWER.
Choose Thou for me ! Thy gifts are good,
Thy way, Lord, is best ;
Grant me Thj' presence on my path,
I leave to Thee the rest.
Still tune my heart to Thy dear Name,
Thy mercies sure to tell
To them who dread the -wintry wavey
Or weep by Slarah's welL
CHAPTER Vir.
THE MOTJNTAET INN.
"He performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and
many such things are with Him." — Job xxiii. 14.
fHE gathering of sticks by the widow
of Zarephath, to kindle the fire where-
with to bake her last handful of meal,
J
was not to(» trivial for record in holy writ.
It was a most important link in Elijah's
history ; and although gathering sticks is one
of the commonest employments, this story is
full of meaning to him that hath ears to
hear. The ear open to the Spirit's teaching,
and the eye of faith fixed on Jesus, shall see
greater things than these. The lost axe,
which had been borrowed by the sons of the
prophets, was the subject of one of the most
remarkable miracles wrought by the hand of
m
112 THE WATCH TOWER.
Elislia. We are dealing with ordinary events
every day. The Father, who knoweth we
have need of such things, meets us with a
precedent to strengthen our hearts in Him
for every possible contingency.
We need closer deahng with God Himself,
and if those who complain that they are cut
off from Christian fellowship and instruction
would only give the Lord God the position
in their heart which He has designed for
them in this solitariness, they would behold
such evidence of His daily care, His grace
and goodness, that their hearts would be
knit to Him in yet more tender relationship,
instead of seeking Him only at stated times,
and feeling a sense of shame overclouding
the soul at omitting some formal approach to
Him ; and if He has given us some other
means of communion, we shall be satisfied
that we have had to do with him. (Sol.
Song i. 13.) Thus a sweet savour of the
presence of the King is perceived by tliose
who delight in Himself.
Weary with the noise of a crowded for-
THE MOUNTAIN ENN. 113
eign hotel, the foolish music and the mad
mirth around, I asked the Lord to give me a
season of quietude over His own Word. A
day in the mountain came before me as the
most feasible manner of obtaining this, and
hiring a little cabriolet, I took my Bible and
my staff to spend the afternooon with Him
alone in the quiet, calm, fragrant air. I
alisihted at the inn at the foot of the moun-
tain, where the horse and driver would await
me, and ordered a simple repast on my re-
turn. The housekeeper showed me much
kindness by indicating a route very easy of
access from the garden of the inn. Her di-
rections given, I began to speak to her of
Him who was my companion in the solitude
for which she had given me her sympathy.
I found a Christian, and the joy with which
she greeted me it would be difficult to de-
scribe. The end is soon told. I spent the
afternoon at the foot of the mountain in the
common room of the inn, in communion with
my Lord, in the person of one of His tried
and loving followers, and returned refreshed
and invigorated.
114 THE WATCH TOWER.
As I pondered how it came to pass, I
remembered my heart's desire had been to
see Jesus ; I believed that as I read His
Word and received its instruction in that
pleasant retirement which I had pictured to
myself, I should have met with all I longed
for. I had read Him in a living epistle of
His grace and goodness, and in return had
been privileged to show one more lonely than
myself the blessedness of finding Jesus every-
where.
I was interested in tracing the life of this
German sister. She had been led two years
before into fellowship with the Lord, and
desired to dedicate herself to His service,
and for this purpose proposed herself as a
member of one of the numerous Protestant
sisterhoods which now abound in England,
where she had long resided. Bat her views
of dedication to the Lord's service seemed
far other than what He had ordained for
her. Before she could enter the Deaconess'
House she was brought almost to the grave
by sickness, from which the doctors gave
THE MOUNTAIN INN. 115
her uo hope of recovery, save by a return to
her native mountain air. How this was to
be accomphshed she knew not : for her sav-
ings had been exhausted in her protracted
illness. An advertisement appeared in an
English paper for a housekeeper in the place
vhere I found her. It was suggested to her
to apply for it. She shrank from the idea.
An inn ! was that the place for a child of
God? There was nothing of the life she
thought would be most acceptable to the
Lord; but no other opening appeared for
her, so she wrote, and was engaged at once,
and went on her. way of necessity, without
the joy of seeing that the Lord had made it
plain before her face. How often has He to
say to us to-day, as to Israel of old, " How
long will it be ere they believe Me, for
all the signs which I have shewed among
them ? " (Num. xiv. 11.)
Her knowledge of the EngUsh language
made her acceptable to many travellers, who
were unacquainted with German. Scarcely
had she settled down in her new and strange
116 THE WATCH TOWER.
abodej than a joiing Englishman on de-
scending one of the mountains fell ana
broke his arm. The fever that ensued gave
her an occasion of bringing into practice her
nursing accomplishments, which she thought
would only find a field in a Deaconess'
Home. Then she began to see that in fol-
lowing the Lord she could never miss a
service. This first sign of blessing was
cause for thankful praise also to a Christian
famil}^ in finding unexpectedly such tender
care over one dear to them, and one who re-
ceived spiritual blessing in a foreign land.
Many cases followed, which proved to the
least observant that the Lord had need of
her there. A year had passed ; her health
was restored ; she had won the good will of
the landlords (brothers), who were able to
appreciate honesty and integrity. Their
gains nearly doubled. This was a testi-
mony ; and the Lord needs His witnesses
everywhere, by the wayside inn, as well as
before the multitude.
Men of the world appreciate Christian
THE MOUNTAIN INN. 117
qualities so far only as they subserve their
own interests. The money-loving landlords
admired their faithful servant because she
brought them much gain. So it will be
everywhere. The natural man admires that
which adds to his ease, his fortune, or his
consideration ; nothing more. If the ease is
entrenched on for the Lord's service, his
fortune touched for the work of God, his
reputation endangered by fear of mingling
with mean people, ah ! those who were be-
fore designated as estimable and true Chris-
tians, according to his interpretation, become
dangerous fanatics. Those who never see
Jesus are those who never think of Him.
Their eyes are turned from the Sun of
Righteousness, and, like a man whose back
is to the sun in its meridian glory, he sees
Iiis own shadow, and nothing else. Wliereas
the eyes of one accustomed to watch where
the light falls will follow with his heart, and
expect some gleam of glory, even when the
clouds are darkest and the road roughest.
I saw my friend of the inn again. This
118 THE WATCH TOWEE.
time I set forth for that purpose. I could
not find an occasion for more than a few
minutes' conversation with her ; but she
asked me to advise her. The landlords had
expressed their intention of reducing her
salary, which was most unjust, as the busi-
ness had prospered under her superintend-
ence ; and she purposed to leave at once. I
urged her to remain, and not to give up her
post merely for the money's sake ; but I
pointed her to our unerring Counsellor, who
had His own times and seasons for removing
His witnesses. I left her a few English
books which she prized, and parted from
her, not expecting to see her again.
However, in the winter a forced and rapid
journey over this pass brought us to this
same inn to halt for a relay of horses to our
sleigh. The German came forward to disen-
cumber me from my heavy mantle sprinkled
with the falling snow, and as I dropped my
hood she gave an exclamation of amaze-
ment. She recalled everything but my
name. She was in deep trouble ; her salary
THE MOUNTAIN INN. 119
had not only been curtailed, but great dis-
Batisfaction had been expressed by her em-
ploj'ers that she would not lend herself to
mean and unworthy practices to add more to
their gain than her earnest industry had
probably done. Little did she expect that
the Lord would send her human help that
drear November morning. But God has his
messengers everywhere ; and the soul that
sees no human help can lean on His promise ;
" Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and
shew thee great and mighty things, which
thou knowest not." It seemed clear to me
to say, " Go ; the Lord it is that goeth be-
fore thee," a direction upon which she acted
without delay. I had received an answer to
prayer that morning in the person of an
aged Swiss Christian who was so far my
companion, assisting me greatly on the road,
and this encouraged her heart.
As I bade my German friend adieu, I felt
the warmth of Christ's love in my heart
from the gleam of gratitude that shone in
her pale, distressed countenance, and it
120 THE WATCH TOWER.
cheered me through • that day of rough
travel, the coldest and bleakest in my re-
membrance. It was such a poor service to
be so richly repaid 1 I had not even gone
out of my way, or suffered for it ; only
spoken a word. I said, " If the Lord had
chosen me to go to the heathen in his own
land, and present salvation to him, should I
not have esteemed it an honor ? but if He
sends me with only a word of comfort to
one sad heart that calls Him ' Lord ' among
the snows of Switzerland, shall I not also
praise Him ? " I did so.
THE GOLDEN PROMISE.
"Lo, T am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
Matt, xxviii. 20.
Halt ! another milestone
Marks the road I travel ;
Dark the desert pathway
Still before me lies ;
He who bade me follow,
Strength and light bestoweth
For that homeward journey
Hidden from my eyes.
" I will never leave thee,"
Echoes o'er the mountain;
"I will ne'er forsake thee,"
Trust the word He saith ;
•♦For this God is our God for ever and ever;
He will be our Guide even unto death."
Past the pathless river
Deserts lie before me ;
Cloud and fiery pillar
Lead me on alone :
Fountains fresh and manna
Tell WHO goes before me ;
Elims wait my weariness
When my journey's done.
Christ Himself is smiling
On each faint endeavor.
Forward ! through the desert I
On from faith to faith!
"For this God is our God for ever and ever;
He will be our Guide even unto death."
121
122 THE WATCH TOWER.
Thorns and briers may wound me}
He is near to heal me,
Near to fight my battle,
Put to flight my foe;
Near to cleanse my garments
If I careless wander ;
Near to sweeten Marah
All the way I go !
Trust Him, only trust Him ;
Who the bond can sever?
Feebly may I follow.
But follow still in faith ;
• For this God is our God for ever and ever ;
He will be our Guide even unto death."
Halt ! Anoint the milestone
With the oil of gladness ;
Best awhile, and ponder
On the unseen way.
Praise shall bring our blessings
Down the golden ladder.
And the golden promise
Turn our night to day.
" Speak, Thy servant heareth ; "
Henceforth let me follow —
Let me trust the living God,
And every word He saith !
"For this God is our God for ever 'and ever;
He will be our Guide even unto aeath."
CHAPTER VIII.
LIGHT IN THE DABKNESS.
"Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes wilh man.'
Job xxxiii. 29.
Ofl
1^
^E have to deal with the human heart
of the Lord Jesus, our Brother on His
Father's throne, His Father and our
Father. His name is Wonderful, the Faithful
and True Witness, and " they that know
Thy name will put their trust in Thee : for
Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek
Thee." (Ps. ix. 10.) It is Himself we
need. Were He the object of our contem-
plation, we should cease to be in captivity to
the things of time. It is the lack of abiding
in Him, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of
the God-head bodily, that causes disunion
among the people of God, and a morbid
123
124 THE WATCH TOWER.
sensitiveness to the approval of men. It is
because of this neglect of dealing personally
with the Lord Himself, that things common
and unclean are not cleansed and sanctified,
and do not become mediums of communica-
tion and blessing.
To be filled with the fulness of Him who
filleth all in all, we need only the will of God
to be done in us. He is wilhng to become
all things to us, if we desire Him in all
things. All the loving thoughts and desires
that are constantly seeking expression in the
heart that loves Him are winged seeds of
blessing ; not one is lost.
Nothing can satisfy an immortal being but
immortality ; nothing can satisfy the soul but
communion with Him from whom came its
life, and through whom it is sustained. And
this cannot be in abstract meditation, which
would necessitate our withdrawal from life's
homely cares and necessary avocations ; but
in seeking Him in all, finding Him in every
thing, and in nowise supposing that any cir-
cumstance can hinder us fi'om blessing and
being blessed.
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. 125
"When the Jews took up stones to cast at
the Lord, He passed by a man that was blind
from his birth (John viii. 59; ix. i), and
paused to work the work of Him that sent
Him, " to open the eyes of the blind, to bind
up the broken-hearted, to comfort them that
mourn." It is the same to-day. If He passes
by, rejected by some, there waits one who
has need of His healing touch. His sweet
comfort, His guiding hand, His word of
warning; and this should bring forth the
testimony which shall rejoice our Father
which is in heaven.
We hear of testimony from the first love
of the heart ; but why should that first love
ever be cold ? The glad surprise of salvation
from eternal death may well call forth our
testimony of praise and ' thanksgiving ; but
is there not the same cause every day for
mercies ever new, the fountain that is ever
flowing fresh, and bright, and beautiful ?
Life is revealing Jesus, in a thousand secret
springs, to the thirsty soul. If the heart has
lost its first love, it is that it has ceased to
126 THE "WATCH TOWER.
gaze on Him who first inspired it. Neglect-
ing to watch for His hand, we lose desire for
His companionship ; so that there is neither
testimony nor blessing; for unless the soul
realizes the preciousness of Him whom she
would commend to others, that testimony is
powerless.
I knew a Christian woman, lowly, sad-
hearted, often discouraged, and in feeble
health. Her husband had been long in the
infirmary ; three of her children had died ;
she had not any work ; and what with nursing
her sickly infant, household cares, and deep
poverty, she said, " I often lie down on my
bed so weary that I can only say, ' Lord, help
me!'"
" One night, when more worn out than
usual, I had fallen asleep. Then I saw, in a
wonderful vision, that I had died where I
lay, and my spirit rose as though wings bore
me up. Many more people had died at the
same moment, and had reached the gate of
heaven before me. The Saviour was there
receiving them one by one, and welcoming
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. 127
them to their heavenly home. I stood aloof.
He looked so weary, though He smiled so
kindly, and the hand stretched out to wel-
come His people was a pierced hand. ' Will
He welcome such a sinner as I,' thought I, as
I stood back, and did not dare to enter.
But, though afar off, His eye rested on me.
Making His way through the throng. He
took me by the hand and led me Himself up
to the door of heaven, and 1 awoke. Oh,
how weary He looked ! I could only think
of that. I thought," said the poor woman,
" my sins and unbelief had helped to weary
Him."
The feeling of gratitude for this marvellous
sympatliy of Him who bare our sicknesses,
awakened in her heart a new experience of
His love who had so loved her and given
Himself for her; and the weary one was
able henceforth to believe that in all her
afflictions He was afflicted, and the spirit
of heaviness was changed for the garment
of praise. Do not limit the Lord, or try to
prescribe as to how or where He will man-
128 THE WATCH TOWEE.
ifest Himself. His ways are not your ways,
neither His thoughts your thoughts.
While waiting to make some purchases in
a shop, my attention was attracted to the
mistress, who was engaged with another
customer. .She was cheerful in speaking,
but when she ceased an expression of deep
affliction was visible on her face. I waited
until we were alone, and then spoke of the
rest there is in casting all our cares on Him
who careth for us, and the sympathy Jesus
has with His sorrowful ones. Tears came to
her eyes, and I observed her new mourning
dress. She replied that she had learned that
sorrow was one of the means to draw our
hearts to Him, and added ;
" I have lost four children, and the last,
the youngest, a child of eighteen months old,
was the hardest to give up. He seemed to
be the Lord's from his birth ; he never cried,
or was impatient or fretful ; he was more in-
telligent than any of our other cliildren — far
beyond his years. My little girl, who is six
years old, loved him fondly ; she was like a
LIGHT IN THE DAllKNESS. 129
little mother in her love to him. The day-
came when my precious boy was taken ill,
and through that short illness his patience
was unlike anything I ever saw. Ilis eyes
seemed to gaze upwards with an expression
of heavenly joy as if he saw the Saviour.
He died, and Lucy refused to be comforted ;
all her cry was for her dear brother Harry.
She lost her appetite and sleep, and would
not play as before. We saw her droop, and
thought we might lose her also. Early one
morning my husband and myself were awak-
ened by the voice of the child who slept in a
crib near the window. The morning light
fell on her, and we saw that she was kneel-
ing in her bed. Her face was turned upwai'd
•in awe and delight, and we heard her repeat-
edly say, ' O Lord I O Lord I ' We did
not interrupt her, and after a time she lay
back on her pillow, and we supposed her
asleep. An hour later the servant brought
the youngest child, and placed it in her bed,
when she said cheerfully, ' I shall never cry
again about Harry, I have seen him. A
130 THE WATCH TOWER.
beautiful gentleman, all in white, came to
me this morning with Harry in his arms,
and Harry looked so happy. He stopped
a long time, and I was happy too.' From
that day she revived ; but she never speaks
of our boy. She has regained her appetite
and strength, and we are full of thank-
fulness."
I could not refrain from tears to think of
the amazing goodness and tender pity of the
Lord, who amid the songs of angels, and the
praise of His saints, and the confession of
His contrite ones, heard the sorrowful wail
from the desolate young heart, and stooped
to dry the tears of a little child. Blessed
One, make us to love Thee more for Thy
exceedino; tenderness to the little ones of
Thy flock.
The feeble lamb upon His bosom hiding
Is precious as the strong ;
In tender love behold the shepherd guiding
The weary one with young.
At a time of sharp proving after much
blessing, I found myself, weary in body and
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. 131
tried in spirit, close upon the Lake of Como.
Like Jacob, I was looking on circumstances,
and almost ready to exclaim, " All these
things are against me," forgetting the patri-
arch's deeper experience of the faitlifulness
of Jehovah, "I have waited for Thy salva-
tion, O Lord." In waiting, that salvation
shall be seen ! To wait on the Lord con-
tinually, is " never to be confounded " by
any array of circumstances, however per-
plexing to outward sense. To realize that
we are in His hand which holds the world,
the hand pierced for us, — this is peace,
this is rest. The special preparation for
service is trial, and Satan will ever seek to
disturb, or depress, or tempt the soul that
has seen the results of a battle with the
enemies of the Lord.
Immediately after his praj'cr was an-
swered, the man of God listened to the voice
of the prophet, who lied unto him (1 Kings
xiii), although he had received from the
Lord Himself direction as to his service
and his way. When tlie king invited him
132 THE "WATCH TOWEE.
to refresh himself, he was on his guard, and
refused; but when one who professed to
be a prophet, with the word of the Lord in
his mouth, came to tempt him, then Satan
triumphed.
Abraham had been brought into intimate
communion with the Lord — he had seen the
God of all the earth willing to listen to his
prayer, and to stay his judgment on the
wicked according to the pleading of His
servant. The patriarch had beheld that
judgment executed when he had ceased to
intercede, yet he could not trust the wife
whom he loved to the care of the God he
honored.
After David's signal deliverances from the
hands of his enemies, when the favor of the
Lord had compassed him as with a shield, he
said in his heart, " I shall now perish one day
by the hand of Saul. There is nothing bet-
ter for me than that I should speedily escape
into the land of the Philistines."
After the -marvels worked by the prayer
of Elijah he was afraid, and weary of testi*
mony and service, he cried, " Let me die.'
>>
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. 133
After the miracle of five thousand men fed
in the desea't place from five loaves and two
fishes, the disciples could not trust the Sav-
iour to save them from the storm. And why ?
The answer applies to all, " Because they did
not consider ; " showing us that no amount of
blessing in the Lord's service can guard the
heart from the snare of the fowler. Unbelief
is the parent of fear. " Fear hath torment.''
Fear is of the devil. The Lord knoweth our
hearts, and, for the encouragement of His
people, " Fear not " abounds in Ilis word :
failure arises from the lack of considering
what great things the Lord hath done for us
and can do for us : " For this our heart is
faint ; for these things our eyes are dim."
(Lam. V. 17.)
In my early spiritual life Emily Gosse
warned me of this snare, adding, "Satan
w ill not tempt you with a silver opera ticket,
but lie has studied the weak side of the
citadel, and he will bring to bear upon you
the temptation to which 30U are most likely
to succumb, and not unfrequently it will
134 THE WATCH TOWER.
arise from the quarter you least expect it,
and when you tliink you are, in perfect
safety."
We are never in perfect safety but when
resting in the presence of the Lord of hosts.
Everywhere in the Scriptures, and in the
walk of each follower of the Lamb, we trace
trial and temptation preceding or following
success or blessing. The Lord must prove
the vessel He ordains to honor. What grace
and divine compassion — what manifestation
of power and majesty flow from the cross He
places in love on the neck of His chosen
witnesses ! The cross is the glory of the
Son of God, and to bear a cross is to par-
take of that glory. " Our light affliction,
which is but for a moment, worketh for us a
far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory." Those rough billows we expected
to overwhelm us brought the Lord on their
foaming crests. That Avail of waters we
thought would for ever shut us in with our
enemies waS made the means of their de-
struction, not ours. The earthquake (Acts
IJGHT HSr THE DAKKNESS. 135
xvi. 26) that threatened our lives and
fortune, opened the door for us to go forth
stronger for the Lord's hand in our behalf,
and when we have been cast out of one
city, it has been to be sent where the Mas-
ter's testimony and blessing awaited us.
The viper, that to the eyes of others seemed
the harbinger of our disgrace, was but the
instrument of Him who, through the malice
of a hidden foe, could prove the experi-
mental power of the promises of God
written for all ages (Luke x. 19) for the
followers of the despised Nazarene. There-
fore, shrink not ; for the bow is in the cloud,
and the covenant of God in the sure mercies
of David.
Forward then, and leave behind
A day's march, and its sorrow:
He who bids us onward now,
Shares our path to-morrow.
Light and strength for us are stored
Safe in God's own keeping:
And the harvest day will shine
Brighter for our weeping.
136 THE WATCH TOWEE.
God has been with me, He had blessed
me, and now it was the time to trust Him ;
but mj heart was heavy. As 1 sat on the
shore of the lake I was accosted by one of
the boatmen, and invited to take his boat.
After a few minutes' thought I gathered up
my books and writing materials, which had
lain idly on my knee in the sunshine of that
glorious afternoon, entered the boat, and
bade him choose the direction. He told me
all the strangers had left early that morning
to witness a grand festa in honor of the
patron saint of a neighboring town, and his
oars had lain without a fare to-day ; but why
did I not go also ?
I replied that I was waiting for another
and grander festa, that would never weary
me, that would never be forgotten.
This aroused his curiosity, and he en-
quired for whom was this festa.
I pointed him to i Thess. i. 10, and won
his attention ; and then, as he still ques-
tioned, I showed him Rev. i. 7, " Behold,
He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall
Bee Him."
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. 137
He slowly conned the words, and ex-
claimed, " It is true ! It is true ! "
So far from being astonished or vexed at
my repetition of the glories of which he had
never heard, he evinced some respect and
favor to me ; and seeing that I now desired
to be silent, he spoke only when I addressed
him, taking me to the finest reaches of the
lake, and evidently gratified by the least ex-
pression of admiration on my part.
I had never seen the lake so lovely. Its
blue waters dimpled in the sunshine, the
shores on either side were rich in the glory
of early summer, and the gorgeous wreaths
of flowers seemed as if there was no room
to fling their clustering wealth of blossoms
over trellis, and bower, and wall.
But earth's beauty could not touch my
heart ; it was waiting for the Master's voice,
the Master's hand, to tune it and bring forth
its music.
The old boatman broke the silence by
saying, " Has the lady seen the Cave of the
Rock and the Natural Sculpture ? "
138 THE WATCH TOWER.
" I do not care to see it," I replied, " it ia
notliing to me."
" True," replied my cicerone ; " but this is
marvellous ; it is God's sculpture, not man's.
This would give pleasure to the lady."
I did not reply, and we went slowly on,
the oars scarcely breaking the reflection of
the blue mountains and shores in the trans-
parent waters.
" You have lost the best thing here, until
you have seen the Cave of the Rock," still
persisted the boatman.
Thinking that he would leave me in silence,
after we had visited the cave, I consented to
go, and bade him row thither. Glad of the
permission, he turned his boat, and away
from the bright sunshine and sparkling water
and green shore, we passed under the shadow
of a great rock ; and the old man, glad of
the rest, let his boat drift with the current.
He told me of the danger to those who did
not understand the waters here ; it was the
deepest part of the lake ; but he had lived
on the lake since he was a child, and I need
not fear.
LIGHT m THE DARKNESS. 139
It was a strange place. He brought the
boat underneath an arch of the rocks where
no sunbeam fell, and after rowing almost in
the dark, we entered the cave, which seemed
worn by the action of the water which it
overhung, and was unperceived unless by
one acquainted with its locality.
At the first glance nothing was perceptible ;
but as my eye became accustomed to the
shadow, I saw distinctly, as if cut out from
the rock, a female figure larger than life, in
the grasp of a gigantic hand I The power of
the latter, and the helplessness of the form
that yielded to it, were marvellous. I could
hardly believe it possible that no art had
been used to bring forth this strange and
beautiful work of nature.
The old man was right — what the sun-
shine could not do the shadow of the rock
had done ; and out of the dark cave and the
still, deep waters, we went slowl}'" and silently
back into the light, with a sermon from the
unhewn stone more refreshing to my soul
than all the loveliness of earth. I could say,
140 THE WATCH TOWER.
" Mj soul folio weth bard after Thee : Thy
right hand upholdeth me." " I will wait for
Thy salvation." And my heart took courage,
beholding all things in His hand, even fi'om
the testimony of the shadow of a great rock
in the weary land, to which He had guided
our little bark. God speaks, and it is done I
How small a matter may disturb the outward
tranquillity ; but he who waits on the Lord
shall not be ashamed.
THE TWO SHADOWS.
"And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up
over Jonah, that it might be a sliadow over liis lietd, to de-
liver him from li is grief. . . . But God prepared a worm -when
the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that
it withered." — Jonali iv. 6, 7.
" A Man shall be as an hiding-place from the wind, and a covert
from the tempest ; as rivers of water in a dry place ; as the
shadow of a great rock in a wean,- land."— Isaiah xxxi'. 2.
'I sat down under His shadow with great delight."— Sol. Song
ii. 3.
Lord, hide nie in Tliy shadow
From the east wind's withering blast.
In the secret of Thy presence,
Till the fervid noon be past!
A worm destroyed the shelter
Of the gourd Thou gavest me ;
My heart is sick and, drooping,
And the suu beats piteously.
Take me, oh, take me to Thee,
Thou Comforter divine!
My fevered hands — quick ! clasp them
In that pierced palm of Thine.
My drooping head, Lord, shelter
Upon Thy loving breast ;
Thy presence must go with me —
Wilt Thou uot give me rest ?
141
142 THE TVATCH TOWEB.
I sat me in the desert
That dreary day alone,
Counting life's cherished promise
Of bud and beauty gone.
In my spirit's deep recesses
A still small voice I heard —
•' Better for thee, beloved,
The withering of thy gourd.
" My hand in love bestowed it,
To cheer thy desert way ;
I will not let my blessing
Thy trusting heart betray.
Behold, the bower I build thee
No east wind e'er can blight ;
My wings shall be thy shadow ;
My love thy soul's delight.
"It was My hand, beloved one.
That trained thy sheltering gourd |
The sun scorched at My bidding,
The wind obeyed My word.
'Twas I prepared in secret
The worm thou couldst not see,
To bear thy Master's message
In tenderness to thee.
"Peace, peace ! I know thy sorrows,
Thy faithfulness I prove ;
My hand hath weighed thy losses
In the balance of my love.
Cast down, but not forsaken.
Despair not, though distrest ;
My presence hath been with thee,
And I will give thee rest.
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. 143
"Behold a Plant whose beauty
No scorching breath hath fanned ;
A great Rock casts its shadow
In this dry and thirsty land 1
That Rock endures for ever
The shock of storm and wave;
And a Branch of thy green bower
Rose from a garden grave."
Ear could not hear the answer
To my low smothered moan ;
Eye hath not seen the rapture
Beheld by One alone.
A shadow, in that noontide,
Deeper and deeper grew;
Like healing balm the whisper
Fell on my heart like dew.
Oh, peace I oh, joy eternal I
Oh, love divine and true! ♦
Oh, bloom and fruit immortal
That Paradise ne'er knew I
Dearer the dreariest desert
Than all earth's joys restored.
And brighter is Thy presence
By the withering of my gourd.
CHAPTER IX.
THE DARK TUNNEL.
"Thou hast given a banner to them that fear Thee, that it
may be displayed because of the truth." — Ps. Ix. 4.
HAT is service ? We have divine
authority for the reply, " This is the
work of God, that ye beheve on Him
whom He hath sent." (John vi. 29.) If
we tJ'eheve in Him, we must know Him with
whom we have to do. If deahnq; with God
were to be restricted to periods of formal
devotion, or times of affliction, when all
other refuges fail, work and worship would
in some manner resemble heathen rites to an
unknown god. It is the heart sanctified by
the indwelhng Spirit, it is the living sacrifice
of our body, holy, acceptable to God, which
is our reasonable service, and will testify our
144
THE DARK TUNNEL. 145
belief in Him whom God hath sent. I pray
God that my words may penetrate into those
lonely dwelling-places where God's children
droop for lack of sympathy, and are cast
down by judging after the natural man.
They see no place of testimony for them ;
those around them reject them ; and every
avenue of public testimony is closed against
them. If they confess Christ in their lives,
there shall be a perpetual spring in the desert
which shall turn the wilderness into standing
pools of water for their own refreshment,
with the assurance that in some unlooked-for
manner others shall partake of their fulness.
(John vii. 38.)
To believe on Jesus is to love Him. And
the promise cannot be for the recipient only ;
for if out of those who believe shall flow
rivers of living water, there will be channels
prepared, that the streams may gladden the
thirsty land. (Eph. ii. 10.) The heart may
starve while it is a spectator of others feed-
ing the multitude ; but if the eye is on Jesus
rather than on His disciples, the soul will be
146 THE WATCH TOWER.
drinkins!' in drauCTJits of life which shall flow
out again in blessing. If you love Him, you
will desire to love Him more, and seek more
continuous fellowship with Him. He who
sees the lily bloom, and marks the sparrow
fall, counts you fairer than the lily, dearer
than many sparrows.
You are pining to behold some exhibition
of the Lord's almighty power and love.
Then carry all to Him — all, all. The
puniest instrument may thus become a
battle-axe in His hand ; the weak shall be
mighty through God to the pulling down
of strong-holds ; and the words of young
children effective as arrows from the bow
of an archer.
Why is there so little faith in following
the Lord in daily life? Simply because
there is a lack of sensitiveness in the soul
in regard to a knowledge of " when a man's
ways please the Lord ; " and because the
believer looks for visible results in regard
to his way, in place of leaving all to God,
and being satisfied with His favor. God
THE DARK TUNNEL. 147
has said, " I will guide thee with mine
eye ; " " Thine ears shall hear a word be-
hind thee saying, This is the way, walk ye
in it." Sometimes circumstance closes the
door that no man can open, and opens the
door that no man can shut ; but assuredly
they that wait on the Lord shall not be
confounded.
After many day's uncertainty as to the
way and the time of my departure from my
winter quarters, I was able to see that I
must leave on a certain day, and expressed
my intention to a friend, who endeavored to
persuade me to prolong my stay ; but when
I had told her that I had sought for guidance
as to the time, and had written to a friend in
London to ask her to receive me for the night
of the same da}', she ceased to press me.
Obstacles arose the day before that seemed
sent to prevent my journey. I battled
bravely through them, but in the morning I
was very ill and unfitted for travelling. This
and other circumstances caused me to fix a
later train for my departure; and when I
148 THE WATCH TOWER.
found that I could not receive some lu-^Grao^e
which I required until the following daj, I
sat down wearLlj, and looking, like Peter,
at the waves of cii-curastance, rather than to
Him who rules them, I said —
" I think it all means that I must wait
untd to-morrow."
"No," replied my faithfid friend, "you
were satisfied that you ought to go to-day.
Leave all this, and go, as you intended."
She had been urgent in desirinix me to
prolong my visit, and in a moment I felt she
was now sent to stengthen my hands in
God. So she accompanied me to the train.
I stood on the platform in prayer before I
went towards the carriages, asking the Lord,
*' If it please Thee, let me have a carriage to
myself." As I stood I was attracted by a
lady, attended by an elderly gentleman. She
was very handsome, and fashionably attired,
and carried in her hand a larga bouquet of
beautiful hot-house flowers.
Though indisposed to find interest with-
out, I was attracted by the tender leave-
THE DARK TUNNEL. 149
taking of the strangers — the affectionate
protective care on the part of the old officer,
and the oft-repeated" adieus of the daughter,
for such 1 felt assured she must be.
My attention became rivetted on her, not
so much for her remarkable beauty, as for
her frank and simple bearing ; and forgetting
my former desire to be alone for the purpose
of rest, I began to wish that the gentleman
would choose her seat in the carriage I occu-
pied. The desire was quickly formed into
prayer, and I cried, " Lord, if I can speak
for Thee, bring her in here." However,
they lingered to the last moment, and passed
me towards the other end of the platform.
There was sudden confusion from another
arrival of passengers at the junction, and
speedily every compartment was filled but
mine. Just before the guard's whistle
sounded for bur departure, the door sud-
dejil^' opened, and after the appearance of
rugs, and baskets, and various travelling
luxuries, the old officer carefully placed by
my side the beautiful bouquet, and immedi-
150 THE WATCH TOWER.
ately on the opposite seat I recognized the
lady for whose company I had only a short
time previously besought Him, without
■whose will not a sparrow falls. I could
say with David, " Thou hast given him his
heart's desire, and hast not withholdeu the
request of his lips." (Ps. xxi. 2.) I lifted
up my heart for a blessing.
We travelled for some time silently, until
the signal before entering a tunnel called
forth a faint murmur of distress from my
companion, who by way of explanation
said —
" I am in terror at these tunnels. Are not
you ? "
I smiled, and answered, " No ! but when I
•was young, before I had learned experimen-
tally that ' the hairs of your head are all
numbered,' I was very timid. A stranger
once strengthened me by saying, ' Fear not !
God is in the dark tunnel as elsewhere.' So
I say to you to-day, God is in this dark
tunnel."
The train entered the gloomy passage, and
THE DARK TUNNEL. 151
when we again emerged into liglit and air,
the face of my fellow-traveller was hidden in
her hands, and her terror was evidently not
affected. So I told her I saw that she had
not the blessing of knowing that she might
" trust in the Lord at all times," and then I
began " the old, old story of Jesus and His
love " without a word of interruption ; but
when I paused she looked in my face, almost
frightened, and enquired —
" Are you a sister of mercy ? "
*' I hope I am," I rephed, smiling ; " though
certainly not in the sense you mean. Do
you think a cloister the best place for a fol-
lower of the Lord Jesus ? "
*' I do not know," she answered, rather
confusedly ; " but, for me, my great stum-
bling-block to believing in such things is this
— the evangelical clergy condemn our balls
and operas ; yet I meet them at our great
dinners, where they talk to one just like
other people."
" And do you think that excuse will stand
good at the judgment-seat of Christ ? Or
152 THE WATCH TOWEE.
will the inconsistencies or hypocrisy of
others be accepted by Him who offered you
salvation throuq:h the merits of a Saviour's
death ? You must live or die eternally.
Do you know what it is to die eternally ? "
My listener sat with her eyes fixed on my
face, her lips compressed, and a startled ex-
pression of countenance that replied as
plainly as her words,
" Who are 3'ou ? No one ever spoke to
me like this before."
Dear reader, have you known the joy of
drawinq; water out of the wells of salvation
for those who have never tasted of the life-
giving stream ? Have you traced step by
step the Lord's upholding power, and heard
His swift response to your witness — "Be
strong, for I am with you " ? then you will
understand the disappointment that for a
moment flashed over me when, with a faint
attempt on the part of my companion to
make light of her emotion, she exclaimed —
" What will you say to me when I tell you
that I am going to a grand ball to-night, and
next, that I shall enjoy it immensely ? "
THE DARK TUNNEL. 153
" It is Dot surprising," I replied quietly ;
" you know nothing better, therefore natur-
ally you will like empty pleasures. You
cannot love heavenly things without a new
heart. As for your enjoying the ball this
evening, I tell you you will not enjoy it as
you expect."
The same half-frightened expression flitted
over her face : it gave way as I again spoke
to her of the love of God, and she listened
with profound attention as I told her what
the risen Saviour was to me — what He
would be to her ; and she spoke confidingly
to me. I saw her cup of earthly happiness
was full. She told me she had just parted
from a beloved father, who idolized her.
She was going to see her little child, and to
meet her husband, who thought the grand
ball would be incomplete without his beauti-
ful wife. All was related with so much sim-
plicity, that I felt as if I knew her whole
position, and my heart burned to snatch her
out of the strong grasp of the enemy. But
the Lord's ways are not our ways. We sow
154 THE WATCH TOWER.
the seed, and leave to Him the reaping ; it is
safe in the hand of the great Husbandman.
" The old, old stoiy," is an endless one to
those who love it, and my companion hstened
intently. Her journey was completed be-
fore mine, and she told me that at the sta-
tion we were aj^proaching we should part.
As we neared it she pointed out to me her
carriage, and soon after her husband and
friends who were waiting for her.
I searched in my bag and found unexpect-
edly a little book, the one I would have
chosen to leave with her. I held it towards
her, saying — "I have only this to offer you
by which to remember your fellow-traveller.
Will you keep it to remind you of to-day ? "
She burst into tears, and clasping my hand
with the book, she kissed it repeatedly.
" ' Remember ! ' " she answered ; " I shall
never forget you. Tlien slowly and solemnly
she added, " It was God who sent you to me
to-day.''
" And whom shall I ask the Lord to bless
when I pray for you ? "
THE DARK TUNNEL. 155
After a little hesitation she whispered her
Christian name. The train stopped. She
saw that she was recognized. She dried her
eyes, settled the lace and ribbon of her hat,
discomposed by her emotion ; and as my
eyes followed her, I said in my heart — or
rather the evil one suggested — " She will
forget it all before night;" and the fiery
dart of unbelief quivered for a moment in
my flesh, wherein " dwelleth no good thing."
But He who had called me to witness for
Him would not leave me comfortless. He
had His own way to meet the assault of the
enemy.
The sweet face of my late companion was
again by my side, my hand resting on the
window was again clasped and kissed, while
in a clear emphatic voice she repeated —
** God sent you to me this day. / know
He sent you." And the tears she sought to
control burst forth anew.
She kneiv. Yes, and I knew it also.
Every doubt vanished ; and I believed that
when she should stand among those who
156 THE WATCH TOWER.
would admire her earthly loveliness, she
would look down upon the beautiful blos-
soms in her hand, and her heart would again
hear the voice of their Creator and hers,
through the testimony of the weak and
weary stranger ; " Turn ye, turn ye : why
will ye die ? "
It was night when I arrived at my desti-
nation, an hour over tlie time ; but if any
doubt had lingered in my mind as to
whether " the Lord had made my way pros-
perous," it would have vanished ; for the
friend, who had ceased to expect me, met
me with open arms, exclaiming joyfully, " I
want you so sadly. It is the Lord who
brought you here to-night."
Yes, it was indeed the Lord. I scarcely
closed my eyes to sleep. M}^ heart and
thoughts were with that fair and graceful
woman in the toils of the v/orld, and then
to the throne of the Lord of hosts, praj'ing
Him to draw her to Himself, and give her
experimentally to know the love of God in
His unspeakable gift of Jesus, the Lamb
slain.
THE DARK TUNNEL. 157
As I considered the way the Lord had
led me, I realized the same Angel going be-
fore me who had directed the children oi
Israel when to pitch their tents, and when
to journey (Neh. ix. 19), even Jehovah-
Jesus.
In the Autumn I heard of a revival in the
place where my fellow-traveller spent part
of the year, and this specially amongst the
frequenters of balls and operas, and such
like. I had no clue to trace her, but it com-
forted me to remember that " Jesus, being
weary with His journey, sat thus on the
* well," to give to one who knew Him not
*' living water." And " he that soweth and
he that *reapeth shall rejoice together " in
the harvest, and I believe that it shall bo
even so, that when the last dark tunnel is
past, tlie day shall declare that bread cast
upon the waters shall be found.
THE WATCH TOWER.
•'Thou shalt know that I am the Lord : for they shall not b«
ashamed that wait for me."— Isaiah xlix. 23.
I wir,L stand alone on my watch tower,
And hear what my Lord will say ;
I 've watched there many a midnight,
And the noon of the sultry day.
I have cast my bread on the waters ;
I shall surely find it again,
Though now to my poor heart's vision
It seems to be all iu vain.
The Lord hath His time appointed ;
I know not when it may be ;
But the blessing my soul is seeking
Will be given at last to me.
It may come in the silent watches.
When the world lieth weary and still ;
It may come when my hope sinks lowest,
The depth of my spirit to tlirill.
I know it will come. I am gazing
Into the distance afar,
As the wise men watched for the rising,
Through Eastern night of their star:
And a star shall rise on my darkness
That Herod shall ne'er destroy ;
I shall know the light I have longed for.
And " rejoice with exceeding joy."
158
THE "WATCH TOWER. 159
It may come in another fashion
Then e'er I pictured its ray;
It may rise o'er the dull, cold mountain
Like the dawn of a summer's day.
It may come like the lightning flashing,
Or loud as the thunder's blast;
But the Lord, who is strong in battle,
Will answer my prayer at last.
Thou hast spoken, and Tliou wilt do it
1 will tarry in hope, and see;
For none ever walked in darkness.
And waited in vain for Thee.
I know that mj' prayer will be answered;
The Lord never comes too late ;
And the heart that will trust Ilim fully
Shall never be desolate.
It may come when my dust lies sleeping
Awaiting my Saviour's call ;
But my last prayer, safe in His keeping,
Will shine there fairest of all.
It may come when the enemy scoffeth.
But I will believe Thee, Lord :
For they who dwell in Thv presence
May take their rest on Thy word.
My star— nay, Thy star, my masterl
To shine in Th)' crown so fair :
This is my hope in my sadness,
This is the streni;th of my prayer.
Tlicu workest in signs and wonders;
Thy promise shall cheer me again.
Long have I waited on Thee, Lord ;
None ever waited in vain.
160 THE WATCH TOWER.
I will stand alone on my watch tower,
If so I may do Thy will.
Keep me to watch for my star-rise ;
If it please Thee, keep me there still.
Thou wilt answer my praj'er, for Thy glory,
0, Master beloved ! Thou wilt bless,
And quicken my heart in Thy praises,
To tell of Thy faithfulness.
CHAPTER X.
WATERSPHrNGS IN A DRY GROUND.
" Be not faithless, but believing." — John xx. 27.
F your desire be to glorify the God of
Israel, and seek only to serve Him, be
assured that " the desire of the righteous
shall be granted."
If you see results, praise Ilim ; if you see
them not, trust Him. Keep your eyes on
Him whose love is leading you, and fear not,
though you may be assailed by the adversary
who watclies to sadden the timid heart and
shake its trust in God.
We fear some natural impulse or undue
activity has carried us into a position of
chastening. What appears a natural impulse
is the Spirit's guidance, if we have sought it;
for we seldom have the consciousness of His
161
162 THE WATCH TOWER.
leading. If the servant has desired to do his
master's will, and instead of some sensible
service finds himself in a place which, so far
as his judgment can discern, is desert, he
may think it a mistake, and ask, " Why am I
here ? How can I serve ? " We must wait,
and what we know not now we shall know
hereafter.
When Abigail carried her gift to David to
appease his anger against the churlish Nabal,
she could not foresee that through that act
she would become the wife of the king of
Israel, the man after God's own heart. She
beheld no other fruit of her prudence than
that David was pacified. She knew not that
she was the messeno^er of the Lord of hosts ;
'o
but David knew it, for he was taught of God,
and recognized her as " sent." " Blessed be
the Lord God of Israel, that hath sent thee
this day to meet me." (i Sam. xxv. 32.)
The cruelty of Joseph's brethren cast him
into the pit ; and at this page of his history
it seems mysterious why Reuben's design to
rescue him was defeated, and wherefore he
WATEESPRINGS IN A DRY GEOTJND. 1G3
should have been drawn out of it only to be
sold as a slave, and carried into Egj-pt to
wait in a prison.
Why is the heart not more tuned to the
praise of Jehovah ? Because " my people do
not consider." Forgotten mercies are lost
blessings, and if the soul is resting on service
rather than on Christ, it must always be
barren. If we are seeking only Lhe result
of what we have done, the Lord may grant
it ; but if we desire Him in it we shall assur-
edly see Him, and to see Him is to praise.
There is much prayer that is only known by
its results. We desire to impart some of
that life that breathes in us. It may be that
the hearts near us reject it ; but it may be
that there are empty vessels not a few, and
" the inspiration of the Almighty giveth life."
The cry of the heart apart from Jesus may
bring woe, trials, and temptations, but those
desires in us which are born of God must be
fulfilled.
I had a cottage-lodging on the outside of a
large town, where I seemed to have no ser-
164 THE WATCH TOWER.
vice. My walk was bounded by a corn-field,
through which was a bye-path, traversed by
the neighboring villagers to the town. Occa-
sionally, in the fine weather, I sat there for
the opportunity of giving a tract or speaking
a word to the passers-by. When no one
came I contented myself by leaving a tract
on the stile or by the -gate. One day I had
watched in vain, and was about leaving, when
a young nursemaid with two children, one in
arms, passed me without observing me, so
engaged was she with the tract just gathered
from the stile. Breathing a prayer for a
blessing on it, I returned to the cottage.
The following day I met her again when I
offered her a book. She timidly asked me
for another tract also. We spoke together.
She had a knowledge of the way of salvation
from Sunday-school teaching, but no knowl-
edge of a personal interest in a crucified and
living Saviour. She listened with eagerness,
and when I rose to- go she wiped the tears
from her cheeks, and said —
" Oh, I wish you could but speak so to my
mistress ! "
WATEESritlNGS IN" A DRY GROUND. 165
" Who is your mistress ? " I enquired.
She mentioned the name of a tradesman ia
the neighboring town.
'iWiUiugly," I replied. "ShaU I caU upon
her?"
But the girl, fearful that she had said more
than she ought, now hesitated, and wished
me a hasty good-bye.
I walked away. I could only pray that
the little messengers would do the work,
and speak to tlie mistress as well as to the
maid. I saw her no more, and the thought
suggested itself that possibly the direction
of her walk was changed from the conse-
quences of the acceptance of the tracts.
As the heat increased, I had now to for-
sake the corn-field for the shady lanes, and
crossing the high road for this purpose, I
came one morning in front of a red brick
house glaring in the heat. At the lower
window sat a young woman, whose face was
almost as white as the pillows which sup-
ported her. She gazed listlessly into the
road. What had I to do with the stranger?
166 THE WATCH TOWER.
I knew not; but an indescribable desire to
speak to her took possession of me. But
how should I enter the house ? What
should I say ? I stood irresolute, and in a
few minutes the pale-faced woman rose,
perhaps annoyed at my observation, and
left the window.
I returned sad-hearted, I knew not why.
For two or three weeks illness kept me
within ; but often my thoughts were on the
red house in the road. One sultry evening
I prayed to be helped to gain admittance to
the sick woman, and that the door mis^ht be
opened for me. I reached the dusty high-
way, but to my great disappointment the red
house was closed, and there was not even a
sign that it was to be let or sold.
I entered the burut-up garden; nothing
told of life within. I knocked at the door,
but no one came, and there was no one near
to give me any information.
The enemy came in like a flood ; but the
Spirit of the Lord lifted up His standard
against him. Vv^hy had I not entered be-
WATEESPRINGS IN A DRY GROUND. 1G7
fore ? Why had I delayed it until now ?
Where was the hand of tlie Lord in the
matter, though I had committed it to Ilira ?
I went back in my memory to see why it
was thus with me. I had not disobeyed
any leading of the Spirit, and the disappoint-
ment at finding the house empty told the de-
sire of my heart, although He had seen fit to ''
deny me its fruition.
Perhaps the poor sick one had gone to
her last resting-place. Where would it be ?
The Lord was not dependent on my feeble
hand ; He had instruments for His purpose
of grace and salvation everywhere. There
was nothing for me to do, so I could only
pray and hope.
Many manifestations of the loving-kind-
ness of my gracious Master proved that the
waiting hours had not been in vain ; but I
saw no more of the nursemaid. Whether
she passed through the corn-field, now in
the hands of the reapers, I know not ; for
by this time, I' v/as able to extend my
rafubles in the green lanes further fi'om
the cottage.
168 THE WATCH TOWER.
One day of excessive heat, I had wan-
dered on till I came to an old-fashioned
farm-house surrounded by a wall overhung
with the branches of a fine cherry-tree
trained against it, abundant in fruit. I was
weary and thirsty, and entering the little
wicket gate, I enquired of an old woman in
the garden if the fruit was for sale. She
replied in the negative, but assured me I
should be welcome to some if I would be
seated. I had time to admire the luxuriant
garden of roses and campanulas, its old-
fashioned mingling of herbs and flowers,
and its narrow walks, and think what a
pleasant spot was shut in by those old gray
walls covered with fruit, and bright in the
western sun. The old woman called to a
child to bring a plate for the fi'uit. The
child disappeared into the house. After a
few minutes the door opened, and in place
of the child came forward my young nurse-
maid of the corn-field ! It was worth wait-
ing to see her beaming face, and hear her
exclamation of delight. She did not loiter,
WATEESPRINGS EN A DRY GROUND. 169
but, like myself, forgetting the plate and the
fruit, entered the porch, and in another min-
ute I beheld at the window the same pale
face that had caused me so many anxious
moments, the lonely dweller of the red
house. She did not look listless now; she
opened the window and greeted me with a
smile, and in a few minutes I had entered,
and she was telling me the mystery of those
Bweet ways by which the Lord had brought
me there.
She was in a consumption. The doctors
had insisted upon a change from the town,
and as her husband owned the red house on
the road, it was prepared for her reception.
Previous to taking possession of it, the nurse
had several times brought home a tract, at
first without any expression of interest from
the mistress ; but the maid repeated our con-
versation, and had courage to express to her
the desire that the stranger lady might come
and tell her of the love of Jesus, and make
her as hupiiy as herself. The poor mother
became weaker, the red house was too close
170 THE WATCH TOWEE.
for her, and another change was recom-
mended. Rooms in the old farm-house were
to be let, atid they removed to the pleasant
spot where I found them.
My eyes filled with tears, and my heart
throbbed with praise, as, turning to the
little table beside me, she pointed to the
carefully-treasured tracts, read and re-read.
She told me she had desired this removal for
the sake of the garden and pure air, and had
received much benefit ; but the fear of death
pressed heavily upon her, and parting with
her children was a shadow on her way.
Often the tract found in the corn-field had
made her long to know me, as her servant
had gathered many texts and tracts before we
met. No one knew me in the town from
which they had now removed till the
winter. .
Had I not been weary and thirsty, I might
not have seen the cherries which were to
draw me within those gray walls ; and had
the little child returned with the plate, I
might never have had the blessed task mj
■WATEESPRDSiGS m A DRY GROUND. 171
divine Master reserved for me, to lead one
feeble, halting, doubting soul nearer to Him-
self.
The invalid revived so much that no im-
mediate danger was apprehended. This en-
abled me to see her without any fatigue,
and her grateful welcome, and • that of the
young servant, made me often dwell on the
love of the Lord, in leading me to the service
He needed.
The fear of death remained still, the
bondage which at times held her in darkness
and sorrow, and she earnestly besought me
to be with her in her last moments. I could
only say, " As the Lord wills."
Early one morning I went to the farm.
All was still. The voices of the little chil-
dren were silent, the shutters of the win-
dows where I had so often seen the poor
mother watching for me were closed. She
had passed away. When death seized her at
midnight, a messenger was sent to bid me to
her bed of death. He wearied himself in
vain to find me in the town, forgetting the
direction of the cottage, and when he re-
172 THE WATCH TOWEE.
turned from his unsuccessful errand she had
peacefully passed the Jordan's waters, need-
ing not the weak reed, where the rod and
the staff of the Gi-eat Shepherd had com-
forted her. The faithful servant had taken
the little children to their home, and as I re-
turned through the corn-field, now reaped
and carried, where I had placed my first
tract, in prayer and weakness, I praised Him
who turneth the wilderness into a standing
water, and the dry ground into water-
springs.
Lord, my God, by Thee
My lonely path is made !
Why do I shun Thy cross?
Why am I thus afraid?
The storm may howl in wrath,
And clouds obscure the light:
Thou guidest still my path :
*Tis ever in Thj' sight.
Before me Thou wilt go :
Thou keepest watch above :
Thou kuow'st the way I do not know,
And all Thy ways are love.
O Thou sweet Dove of Peace !
My sinking spirit fill ;
Show me, though comforts cease,
That Thou art with me still.
"WATERSPKLNGS EST A DRY GROUND. 173
Tliou art my strength, Lord !
And here, with grief opprest,
I trust thy faithful word.
My stronghold and my rest!
My hiding-place I find,
My shadow from the heat.
My shelter from the desert wind —
All, all at Jesus feet.
Another time when I proved the faithful-
ness of God was in a remote hamlet in Eng-
land. I had suddenly been called to leave
the cottage in which I had dwelt some weeks,
and I was sorry to quit the quiet seclusion of
the green woodlands in which my tent had
been pitched, and where I hoped to have
remained, although I knew I had no guid-
ance as to what direction I should take. Fri-
day went by sadly, and on Saturday I must
depart. This was a day of trial. The land-
lady, who was angry at my departure, desired
to know by what train I should leave ; and
when I told her it was uncertain, she deluged
the room with water for a special house-
cleaning, which began in my bedroom, and
compelled me to have my luggage moved
into the entrance passage.
174 THE WATCH TOWEE.
I could uot tell whither to bend my steps.
The bedroom would be unfit for occupatioa
that night ; but there was yet a post dehvery
of letters, the only one that day. Oh, how I
listened and watched for the postman I I
felt assured he would bring me a letter to
point me on my pilgrim way. He passed. I
was sure he would return with a letter ; but
he came not. Then my cup seemed full.
God had called me to " arise," and He had
not shown me where to go.
Sinking hearts, take courage, and say not,
*' God will deliver me in such a time and in
such a manner." Limit Him not. He never
comes too late. The trial of your faith is
more precious than of gold that perisheth,
though it be tried with fire. My last hope
of external help had gone. I lay down on
the sofa prepared for my journey. I never
felt forsaken. I had no self-reproach. I did
not feel I had fallen into a snare ; but the
Lord was waiting for a full surrender of my
wiU. At last it came. I was able to say
from my soul, " As Thou wilt," and " When
"WATERSPKINGS IN A DRY GKOUND. 175
Thou wilt." I had asked Ilira to guide me.
He has promised to guide us with His eye.
I listened no more for the post, for that
had passed. The train due at the nearest
station had long since come in, and brought
me nothing ; and so I looked up to Him who
had called me to cast all my care upon Him,
and I had so cast it.
A rapid step up the garden path, and a
sharp knock at the door, made me spring to
my feet. There stood a special messenger
from a neighboring town with a telegram.
The wires had been broken, and it had thus
been delayed. It was from a friend, who I
knew not was in the country, in trouble,
praying me to go to her without a moment's
delay ; and a carriage and servant awaited me
at the station of the town whence the tele-
gram was despatched, and where she had
already engaged apartments for me. It
seemed impossible to reach the station in
time, but the Lord had ordained it.
There were no carriages in the place ; but
a little pony-chair, kept bj a youth half a
176 THE "WATCH TOWER.
mile from tlie cottage, was returning from an
■unsuccessful journey to the up train. The
messenger hailed him, assisted with my lug-
gage, already at the door, and in twenty
minutes I was at the station, with a heart full
of thanksgiving and lips of praise. That
day the train was overdue, and I had learned
a lesson of trust in the living God ; and look-
ing from failing cisterns, I had received what
I needed from the fountain.
When I had remained a short time at this
town I was most clearly called onward ; and
as I look back I see what I could not see then,
that one in the bloom and strength of youth,
to whom I was unmistakably sent for warning
and blessing, stood on the border of tho
grave, her strength and life to be sapped in a
moment, whom I should behold no more until
we meet in our Father's house above.
WAYSIDE SERVICE;
OR,
THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS.
BY
ANNA SHIPTON,
AUTHOR OF "tell JESUS," "THE SECRET OF THE LORD,"
"WAITING HOURS," "ASKED OF GOD,"
ETC., ETC.
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY T. Y. CROWELL,
744 BROADWAY.
TO
THE LORD JEHOVAH,
Pg ^trtngt^ anir mg S^ong,
WHO 8EETH THE END FROM THE BEGINNING,
MXD DOTH NOT DESPISE THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS,
I COMMIT MY WEAK WORDS. I PRAY
HIM TO GUIDE AND BLESS THEM
TO THE POOR AND NEEDY
AND AFFLICTED OF
HIS FAMILY,
Jfor pis fame's Sinkt,
CONTENTS.
chapter l facb.
The Bright Light dt the Cloitd 7
CHAPTER II. •
The Spikit of Truth 83
CHAPTER IIL
The Blessed poor 49
CHAPTER IV.
Precious Fruit 68
CHAPTER V.
En-hakkore. "The Well of Him that Cried" . 88
CHAPTER VI.
The Pleasant Plant 12l»
CHAPTER Vn.
Under thk Junipeb 154
WAYSIDE SERVICE
CHAPTER I.
THE BRIGHT LIGHT IN THE CLOUD.
Bebold, there arlseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a mar 'a
hand.— 1 Kings xviii. 44.
OU may be taken a long way to do a very
little thing." This was my song in the
night ; my bright light in the cloud.
It was the chill, dark hour that precedes the
dawn. A Christian nurse had kept her watch
by my bed, which promised to be one of death.
The silence of the weary hours had been un-
broken save by my hoarse, struggling breath.
Lacking the faith of the little child, who
trusts where it cannot trace the mystery of a
Father's love, I whispered,
"I wonder ivhy the Lord has brought me
Aere."
8 "WAYSIDE SERVICE.
My listener understood all that the regret-
ful tone comprehended, and with the assurance
produced by experience of the faithfulness of
the Wonderful Counselor, she replied,
" You may be taken a long way to do what
seems to you a very little thing."
Those words were sweeter to my soul than
a seraph's song. I recognized them from the
heart of my compassionate High Priest, touch-
ed with the feeling of my infirmities. On the
dew of his grace fell the manna that cometh
down from heaven, — " What I do thou know-
est not now, but thou shalt know hereafter."
" All the day long have I been plagued, and
chastened every morning When I
thought to know this, it was too painful for
me ; until I went into the sanctuary of God ;
then understood I their end." In the sanctu-
ary of his presence we can alone understand
his will ; and " this is the will of God, even
your sanctification." For the rest, what we
know not now we shall know hereafter.
A natural dread of suffering is often the
obstacle in the way of following the Lord ful-
THE BRIGHT l.IGHT IN THE CLOUD. 9
ly ; and the reasoning of our " own under-
standing " ignores the necessity of apparently ,
trivial and fruitless objects in our path.
There are no circumstances that act solely
on one individual. Many painful and myste-
rious positions have been necessary to bring
about certain results for others ; but they are
used at the same time as a school for ourselves.
If we have lived within the vail, we shall have
discerned a Father's hand teaching and prov-
ing the child of his love. Any service which
has not brought us into a deeper experience of
God himself will leave but an unprofitable
servant, who will be inclined to regard any
visible success attending his labors as wrought
out by his own ability.
Many of the Lord's providential dealings
with his people are preparatory to service ; of-
ten -t is a secret dealing with the soul ; some-
times outward tribulation.
There is to each of us in our own individual
history much that we cannot penetrate. Per-
haps we are not prepared to receive it, perhaps
the purpose is not yet fulfilled. If the Lord
10 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
does not reveal to us his designs for the future,
he does his will in our present duty ; for " the
testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the
simple ; the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes."
Each separate service and testimony has
equal value in the sight of Him who requires
it at our hands. If " the Lord has need of it,"
it is enough. When Jesus sent for the colt
whereon never man sat, the owner of the ass
little surmised that the Messiah had chosen
him to furnish the means of his triumphal
entrance into Jerusalem ; still less could he
penetrate all that was comprehended in that
significant transaction.
When " cumbered about much serving,"
the eye is not on the Master, but on the ser-
vice. Natural energy will climb mountains of
difficulty, when patient acquiescence in the
Lord's will, learned perhaps slowly and pain-
fully, would have wrought out an abiding
blessing.
If a mother bids her child go into the garden
close by her dwelling and gather her the fruit
THE BRIGHT LIGHT IN THE CLOUD. 11
she has specified, and the child in the perver-
sity of his will chooses to wander over a
mountain for what he imagines to be rarer
and more acceptable, will his mother approve
him ? He has been long from her side, he has
gone into danger unsent ; and if he finds fruit,
it is the produce of disobedience, and the
fruit-gatherer will miss the child's sweetest
reward — a mother's smile.
I would not by this appear to underrate
great enterprises seen of men, acknowledged
and visibly blessed. But as the few rather
than the many are called to them, I would seek
to encourage and arouse those who complain
that they are without any place of service, or
who, seeking to join themselves to some organ-
ization, become entangled in sisterhoods and
brotherhoods. With eyes and hearts on the
directors, they give flattering titles to men,
and living on second-hand thoughts, remem-
bered Bible readings, or first experiences, de-
cline in the divine life, instead of seeking a
fresh anointing, and growing up in the light
and dew freely given of the Holy Spirit.
12 "WAYSIDE SEEVTCE.
God's people are " a peculiar people." Each
one possesses an individuality of liis own.
They are vessels of the Lord, in which his
glory is to be made known to men and angels.
There may be light enough to show that it is
a vessel ; but unless it be filled with the Spirit,
the beauty of the skillful workmanship of the
Potter is not shown forth. To be filled with
religious opinions and sentiments is not to be
filled with the Spirit. The absence of power
in the church arises from lack of faith in re-
ceiving the Word of God, and individually
appropriating it.
Vessels unto honor must be made meet for
the service of the sanctuary. The least of
such vessels is of gold thrice refined, and must
have the dross taken a,wa,y. Prov. xxv. 4.
This must be made evident to the church, if
need be, for example and encouragement, and
to tlie world for testimony. John xvii. 21.
We know it is seen of Him who watches over
his precious ore in the fuvnaoe, molding it into
a shape of beauty, though to others it may
seem but an unsightly mass. In the smelting
THE BRIGHT LIGHT IN THE CLOUD. IB
process of many a fiery ordeal nothing is seen
as it really exists, nor is it for us to look too
closely upon the strange fuel about to be con-
sumed. For "no chastening for the present
seemeth to be joyous but grievous : neverthe-
less afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit
of righteousness unto them which are exer-
cised thereby." Heb. xii. 11.
But though we may not too curiously inves-
tigate the process of sanctification at these
seasons, there is one object to which the be-
wildered gaze may turn ; it is to the sympa-
thizing face of the great Refiner. Unchanged
and unchangeable, he watches over his pre-
cious ore, until he beholds himself reflected
there in increasing beauty. O child ! it is not
tin that he is refining, but gold, fine gold. He
has prepared a place and service for you in
the upper sanctuary in his Father's house, and
he must prepare you for it. So doth he
" make known the riches of his glory on the
vessels of mercy, which he hath afore prepared
unto glory." Rom. ix. 23. The temple of the
Loid must be builded. He needs the chiseled
14 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
stones, the polished jewels. He is preparing
them, and the work is done in silence. We
miss some from their accustomed places of
service, and we mourn, and think how much
we have lost. Oh, let us think how much will
he their gain, and say, " Father, glorify thi/-
self! " There has ascended a cry from many
of the Lord's disciples, to be conformed to the
likeness of him whom they love and serve.
The Lord has heard, and he is answering them.
Like the disciples of old, they are " amazed,"
and as they follow him, they are " afraid."
Friends, ye have importuned the Lord for
great things, now let him choose the way in
which they shall be received.
How is it that we do not expect these deal-
ings, and instead of crying, " All these things
are against us," that we have not faith to lay
hold of them with " All things are ours " ?
Simply because we judge after the natural
senses, not discerning the hand of the Lord in
the instruments of his work, or expecting the
refining as our own portion, if we look for a
deeper experience of heavenly knowledge for
ourselves.
THU BRIGHT LIGHT IN THE CLOUD. 15
A friend asked a very interesting woman
in a convent we visited why, with health and
strength and intelligence, she could not find
occupation out of a convent? She replied,
she wanted to be useful. She saw nothing to
do, no place for her in the world, so she left
her father, and mother, and family, and shut
herself up for life, to live under the rule of a
strict discipline, and offer a self-chosen sacri-
fice. Two young sisters had followed her;
and I looked on their early resting-places in
the burying-ground of the convent.
Many of my dear young countrywomen are
wandering into self-chosen ways, joining Rom-
ish institutions with Protestant names, and
doing their own will with a sincerity of pur-
pose that belongs to the natural heart, \yhich
they miscall "zeal."
You urge, "There must be a blessing on good
works." There is nothing "good" in itself.
2 Tim. ii. 5. It is only popish superstition to
pretend that place or service is holy, irrespec-
tive of God's Holy Spirit, or that counsel and
example of others free us from the injunction
16 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways, that
he may direct our paths. If you are born of
God, and there is no place assigned to you,
then you are a marvel in fhe spiritual creation.
Perhaps you have some preconceived views of
what service wiU best suit your natural taste.
"As the eyes of a servant look unto the hand
of his master, and as the eyes of a maiden unto
the hand of her mistress," so shall the servant
of the King of kings be guided to the ministry
the Lord has need of. The order of creation
lacks nothing. The elephant, the horse, the
whale, do not displace one another, and yet
there is room for the burnished beetle, the
humming-bird, and the minnow in the glanc-
ing waters.
If there is life in you, there is place for you ;
but if you have only the form of life, and have
built on any other foundation than Christ,
then your work shall not abide the tribulation
which shall prove it. "Not every one that
saith unto me. Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will
of my Father which is in heaven."
THE BRIGHT LIGHT IN THE CLOUD. 17
When I was at Genoa, a morning of oppres-
sive heat Avas followed by one of those devas-
tating storms which sweep along the Mediter-
ranean in the spring. The window of my
apartment (now a hotel, but formerly a palace
of the Prince of Orange) was close upon
another of those ancient palaces with which
this beautiful city abounds. Through the
marble balustrades of the neighboring window,
I was attracted by the dimpled hands of a
child, busy in placing some gathered roses
around the columns. The burning sun left
the roses fading. Some large drops of rain
fell at intervals ; as they plashed heavily on
the balcony, I saw the dark ejes, of the Italian
boy eagerly watching the promised refresh-
ment to his withering treasures.
On the ornamental facade above grew a lit-
tle white flower ; the seed probably carried by
the wind. I marveled how its root could have
found place, or earth, or nourishment; but I
observed that it was close to the pipe that car-
ried the rain to the well below. Hosea xiv. 5.
Upon the slender stem were several buds ;
18 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
but flower, and buds, and leaves, were alike
drooping under the scorching rays of an Ital-
ian Gun.
Heavy, heavier, came the storm ; and as the
thunder rolled the child retreated from the
window. I saw him no more. I looked the
following day to the balcony. All that re-
mained of the roses were a few discolored
leaves and the string which held the bare
stems ; but the sheltered flower above had
blossomed into beauty, stronger for the storm.
"Where the tiny buds had been I counted six or
seven white flowers, which, perhaps, in time
have cast their seed again to some hidden cre-
vice, unseen and untended by man, but not
unmarked by God, and needed by him to teach
a lesson of life and love to other hearts, as
they had done to mine.
If there is a place for you, then assuredly,
if you wait on the Lord, you will find it, and
having found it, you will know what the Lord
hath need of. The porters in the temple were
as numerous as the singers, and the watching
of the gates was as needful as the service of
THE BRIGHT LIGHT IN THE CLOUD. 19
song. Those who stand by night in the house
of the Lord are as much in service as the play-
ers on musical instruments in the morning.
To know the Lord's will and to do it is service ;
and " the blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich,
and he addeth no sorrow with it."
Having arrived at a place where I was
almost a stranger, one morning on waking
these words were impressed on my mind ;
" Thou shalt make the widow's heart to sing
for joy." I thought over all my poor and
needy friends to remember who could lay
claim to special providence and protection as a
widow, but I could not find one that satisfied
me that I had anything to do for her ; yet the
words followed me with so much power that I
thought, perhaps, I should be shown whom I
could help during the day.
I had made an arrangement with a chairman
to take me to a neighboring village, and while
I waited for him the servant said,
" Have you heard of the shocking accident
at the great house close by the road ? One of
the workmen has fallen fi-om the hiq;h ladder
and is crushed to death."
20 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
My heart sank, and I could scarcely articu-
late, " Was he young ? "
The reply only increased my trouble : " Oh,
yes ; quite young."
I felt almost as if his blood were on my soul.
Two evenings previously I walked by the gar-
den where the building was proceeding, first
intending to speak to the men, and give them
some tracts, but I lacked courage when I
heard their foolish jesting. I did not seek the
Strength of Israel, who had ever been my
shield and buckler, and my walk was accord-
ingly.
\ remembered a youth on the ladder, who
was diverting his fellow-laborers with his re-
marlfs, as he had observed the tracts in my
hand. And now where was he ? I thought,
perhaps the Lord had sent me to that spot
with an invitation of mercy to a perishing
soul, and the ribald joke and sneer of a poor
creature on the brink of hell kept me from
delivering it.
Imagination pictured the dying agonies of
that active vigorous frame, and the undying
THE BRIGHT LIGHT IN THE CLOUD. 21
agonies of the soul. I knew the Lord would
not let any perish through man's unbelief and
sinful carelessness; but my unfaithfulness
remained tlie same. Every pulse and nerve
throbbed with pain ; I could see nothing but
that I might have spoken for the blessed ]Mas-
ter whose tender love encompassed me contin-
ually, and I did not.
INIy heart was desolate, and made its cry in
h'jlplessness for comfort from Him who could
alone console. " Lord, help me," Avas all my
prayer. Intent to wait this day at least on the
Lord, and follow him, I tarried vainly for the
chairman I had engaged ; I went to his stand,
but he had not arrived. One other man only
was there, for it was an unusually early hour.
He offered me his chair ; I told him I must
wait, as I had engaged one. A little time
elapsed, the man civilly suggested that I
should now engage him, and I consented, and
he went the route I indicated.
We had to pass the end of the road, whence
the high scaffold around the buildings was vis-
ible. He said,
22 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
" There 's been a terrible business there tliis
morning, ma'am."
" Yes, yes, I know," I replied hastil}^ dread-
ing to hear the awful details.
" Poor fellow ! " persisted the man, "he did
not think his end would be so soon when he
went out to his work this morning."
" Did you know him ? " I inquired eagerly.
" Yes, I tliink I did, too," said the man.
" Was he fit to die ? " I summoned courage
to ask, and I gasped for the reply.
The man stopped, and turning to me with
solemnity replied,
" He was."
Oh the bright light in the cloud ! I believed
him. The shadow of my sorrow rolled away,
and a deep realized sense of God's unfailing
love came on my soul.
" Lord, help me ! " Yea, he had laid help
on Him that is mighty. One chairman had
been kept back, and the other sent, who
should lift the horrible suspense from my
mind. The Lord had taken away the sin, and
the chastening had left me with a heart more
THE BRIGHT LIGHT IN THIJ CLOUD. 23
bent on doing liis will and watching where he
might need me.
" Why do you think he was fit to die ? " I
could now say, no longer shrinking from the
subject.
" Because, ma'am, he was a changed man."
" How was he changed ? "
" One evening going home from work he
heard Mr. Guhin^ss preach. It threw him
into great trouble ; he felt his sins, and told
me after that he knew thwn pardoned. Once
he swore and lived like others, but then he
changed. I don't know all about it ; I only
know he was an altered man. I did not live
near him then."
" He was young." I asked, " Has he left
parents ? "
" I don't know ; I think not. He had a wife
and two or three little children."
My heart grew stronger.
" Can you tell me where they live ? "
" Surely I can," replied the man ; " it is in
the same alley as myself, and I pass their door
every day to my stand."
24 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
" Take me there at once," I said.
" That I will," replied the man heartily,
brushing away the tears from his eyes, " and
God bless you for going."
I prayed as I went along for the Lord to
prepare the way before me. Suddenly there
came to my mind various articles which I
ought to take with me, so I returned to a shop
at a little distance in an opposite direction.
Shopping, always tedious, seemed more than
ever so this day ; so many articles were rec-
ommended that I did not inquire for, and so
many presented that I did not need. I felt
impatient, but checked myself ; for I remem-
bered that I had asked the Lord to direct all
my steps, and that he could quicken the move-
ments of the tedious shopkeepers. Yes, the
Lord could, but he did not. On looking at
my watch I found I had been half-an-hour
there in procuring what might have been ob-
tained in ten minutes.
We went to the alley. A crowd lingered
round the house indicated as the one I sought.
I left the chair at the end of the street, and
THE BRIGHT LTGHT DT THE CLOTJD. 25
making my way through the crowd ascended
the few broken steps to the door, and asked
permission to enter. The alley was deluged
with water ; the threshold streamed, so did the
passage and the kitchen ; and on the wet
stones in the midst was a scene of woe never
to be obliterated from my memory.
The widow sat on the ground, in the first
grief that only feels death is there. At her
breast was a weak, ailing infant, crying for the
nourishment it sought in vain. A little girl
sat close by her mother sobbing, and an older
boy, more conscious of his loss, weeping bitter-
ly. The kind neighbors wept. All had tears
but the one it concerned the most.
" It is very wet for j^ou, ma'am," said one
of the neighbors, as she fetched me a piece of
carpet from her own house ; adding, " They
have only just carried the poor body through
the house, and this is wh}' 3-0U see so much
water."
The mournful significance of this remark
revealed my Father's care. The half hour I
thought "Avasted," had saved me from the
26 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
sight which would have unfitted me for 53er-
vice. He had sent me to the living, not to
the dead. I spoke to the stricken woman of
her loss ; but she heeded me not. I said a few
words to the crowd, and asked them to let me
close the door ; the neighbors went out, and
we two sat alone with God. He only could
touch that paralyzed heart. I sat with her
long in silent prayer. At last I took her hand,
and said,
" You remember Jesus, when he was on
earth, went among the broken-hearted. He is
in heaven. He has sent me with a messacce to
you. It is a promise through 3'our husband
to 3^ou ; ' Leave thy fatherless children, I will
preserve them alive ; and let your widows
trust in me.' "
The poor woman started, and the infant
screamed ; but she heeded it not. I went on
to say ; " God will provide. He has sent you
such things as you will find needful to-day :
He will care for you."
No answer, no movement, until I rose and
Dlaced what I had brought in the cupboard.
THE BRIGHT LIGHT IN THE CLOUD. 27
Then her eyes followed me, her lip trembled,
and those blessed tears that keep the heart
from breaking fell fast upon the child's pale
face. The wail of the infant bad not reached
the mother's heart ; God's message had. The
little ones were clasped to her breast. It was
enough.
" He was sucb a kind busband," she said
brokenly. " As soon as he was changed, he
began to pray for me and with me. Hours
after his work, when I was sleeping, I would
wake and hear bim praying down here."
All this was sweet to my soul ; and though
she had not the happy assuratice of her hus-
band, yet his words and example had been
greatly blessed to her. I persuaded her to
come to my lodgings sometimes in the even-
ing; and though at first she shrank from quit-
ting her desolate home, yet I saw it needful
for her ; and as a neighbor cared for the chil-
dren, I was thankful that she overcame her
disinclination and came. It was blessed to
watch the Lord in this as in all his dealings.
Soon after the funeral she left for a cottage in
28 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
the country, which a kind friend had provided
for her, and I was led elsewhere. I have re-
lated these details to show forth his praise to
those who wait on him.
We know not the end of the small things
the Lord permits us to do for ]iim ; but if it is
for him it Avill be seen, if we have not des-
pised it. When Hanani visited his brother at
the palace of Shushan, and described the des-
olation of Jerusalem, he knew not that he was
the appointed messenger to lay its restoration
on the heart of Nehemiah, still less that he
would be joint-ruler there. Certainly an offi-
cer of the royal Jiouseh old did not appear' the
most suitable person to rebuild the city.
Sorrow of heart for the reproach and afflic-
tion of his people cast a cloud on the brow of
Nehemiah. It Avas but the shadow of the fin-
ger of the Lord God, under whose wings he
had come to trust, preparing the way for his
journey.
To erect the gates which had been burnt
with fire, and to rebuild the ruined walls, was
but a part of the work. It was a " great
THE BRIGHT LIGHT IN THE CLOUD. 29
"work," and tlie king's cup-bearer hneio it as
such, and with every step he took he prayed
to the God of heaven.
The servant knew he had to do with the
living God, who aforetime had led his people
in the day by a cloudy pillar, and in the night
by a pillar of lire, to give them light in the
way wherein they should go. This God was
his God ; Nehemiah's God is our God.
In his light he gathered materials for his
labors ; he organized his fellow-workers ; he
appointed the service of the temple. It was
not in his own strength that he boldly testified
against the broken laws of his God, and re-
proved evil ; neither was it in leaning to his
own understanding that he detected the de-
vices of his enemies to alarm when they could
not allure him, and kept him undaunted amid
the stratagems to make him cease the work to
which God had called him.
Money and willing workers could not meet
all his necessities. Wisdom and discretion
marked all his steps, and showed that he trus-
ted not in an arm of flesh, but in the strength
of Israel.
30 WAYSIDE SEEVICE.
The faitliful follower -will ever be a consci-
ous or unconscious witness for the Master he
serves ; and so it was with Nehemiah. "When
his enemies heard of the rebuilding of the
walls, and the heathen who were about saw
these things, they were much east down in
their own eyes ; they perceived thai the work
was of God."
If ever there was a day when the laborer of
the Lord should work with one hand, and with
the other hold a weapon, it is now. " Watch
and pray," is our watchword. For lack of
spiritual understanding "the strength of the
bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is
much rubbish," so that we are not able to build
the wall. Nehemiah iv. 9.
Sanballat is within the city, and if he by
flattery cannot draw aside the servant of Jesus
into fellowship and league with him, then To-
biah will work yet more insidiously, or seek
to hinder by intimidating those whose only
hope should be, the Lord hath need of me.
If your counsels are from God, joxm work
will be seen to be of him. Nehemiah had but
THE BRIGHT LIGHT IN THE CLOUD. 31
the covenant of works, we have the covenant
of grace. The law of God and the love of
God remain unalterable : and the broken law
and stream of love's redemption go side by
side.
Is your place, dear reader, in the sight of
men, recognized in the great harvest-field as
sent of God?
You bear the burden and heat of the day ?
TRe greater you need to realize continually
the sanctuary of His presence who has called
you, for " it is not in man that walkcth to
direct his steps."
Some of the details will seem very small,
but despise them not if God is in them. From
him you will receive the wisdom that cometh
from above only. It will nerve you for con-
flict, enlighten your ej'cs to maintain a single-
eyed service, and keep your heart in peace, for
you know not which is more important. ^Go,
speak of Jesus with a fervent heart, Avarmed
with the contemplation of his beauty, and ten-
der from the sight of his minute care for you.
Live in the power of the Spiiit, and you will
32 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
.magnetize tlie loiterer by your side, ronse the
dull energies of your slumbering brethren, and
set in motion numberless engines to carry out
your heart's desire for the glory of him you
serve.
Arise and follow Jesus. Grieve not that
blessed One by standing afar off, or by waiting
for what you think a "great work," and des-
pising the day of small things ; for you know
not what you do.
The soui-ce of the Thames is to be found in
a little flowery brake on the hill-side, unseen
if unsought. When the merchant looks in
proud satisfaction on the river on whose broad
bosom his richly freighted vessels are borne,
he knows nothing of the silver brooldet, nor
cares whence that great body of waters flowed.
But — " The Lord had need of it."
THE SPIRIT OF TKUTH. 33
CHAPTER II.
THE SPmiT OF TRUTH.
The Spirit of tnith, whom the world cannot receive, because
it seeth him not. neither Icnowetli him : but ye Icnow him ;
for he dwelletli with you, and shall be in you.
— JOHNxiv. 17.
§^
■^IT is not marvelous that the enemies of
Christ should ignore the Holy Spirit who
came to reveal him ; but it is amazing that
those who are professedly of the church of
Christ, and who, if really belonging to it, are
temples of the Holy Ghost, should testify so
little of the living God.
A mere verbal recognition of the office of
the Comforter costs nothing ; a belief in reve-
lation would be considered incomplete without
it; but it is one thing to say, "The Holy
Ghost which is given us," and quite another
to reahze an habitual dependence on him. He
does not take up his abode in the heart as a
doctrine, but as the life of the new creature.
34 WAYSEDE dEKVICE.
He is there to manifest the Father and the
Son, to enlighten the understanding of the
ignorant, to make known the hope of our call-
ing ; " and what the riches of the glory of his
inheritance in the saints, and what is the ex-
ceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who
believe, according to the working of liis mighty-
power."
When Jesus prepared the hearts of liis dis-
ciples for the loss of his personal presence,
he consoled them with the promise of the
" Comforter," who should bring to their re-
membrance all things that he had said unto
them, and should abide with them forever.
In the power of this invisible, but no less
real, person of the Godhead, greater works
were to be accomplished than had yet been
seen, for Jesus had declared, "He that be-
lieveth on me, the works that I do shall he
do also ; and greater works than these shall
he do, because I go to the Father."
The coming of the Holy Ghost was the fruit
of the sacrifice of the Son of God. As truly
as we receive justification through the death
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. 36
of the Redeemer, so cometli sanctiflcation
through the Spirit by his life and intercession.
The Comforter came to reveal the great salva-
tion wouo^ht for us in the finished work of
Christ. " It is expedient for you that I go
away ; for if I go not away, the Comforter
will not come unto you." Was then the out-
pouring of the Spirit at Pentecost merely an
exhibition of his power ? Did he reveal Jesus
to those assembled in his name at Jerusalem,
and did he direct, and control, and teach the
early church, — and has he forsaken his church
to-day? Nay ; hath not God said, " He shall
abide with you /or every And again, "I will
dwell in them, and walk in them." Why then
are there so few evidences of his almighty
presence ? Why arc there no mighty works
done here ? " Because of their unbelief."
Who can convince of sin ? John xvi. 8.
Who can give assurance and peace ? 1 John
iv. 13. Who indites the prayer in the heart
where he dwelleth ? Rom. viii. 2G. If it is
the oflQcc of the Holy Spirit to take of the
things of Jesus and show them unto us, then
36 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
it is plain that an intellectual knowledge of
salvation is of no avail without him. We are
enjoined to be "led of the Spirit: " how shall
we obey the precept if we never seek to realize
him in practice ? Rom. iv. 16.
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilder-
ness to be tempted of the devil ; and when the
forty days were accomplished, and the prince
of this world found nothing in him, the sinless
Saviour returned in the power of the Spirit
into Galilee ; being glorified of all. Stephen,
being "full of the Holy Ghost, looked up
steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of
God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of
God." It was in beholding liim who had
prayed, " Father, forgive them, for they know
not what they do," that the first martyr could
follow in the footsteps of the INIaster, and pray
with his dying breath, " Lord, lay not this sin
to their charge." Acts %'ii. 55. Paul, filled
with the Holy Ghost, looked down on the child
of evil, and reproved the works of darkness.
Acts xiii. 10. When the little company met
in concert to seek the blessing of the Lord on
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. 37
their teaching, the very building M-'as sliaken
by the power of the Spirit, and they went
forth filled with the Holy Ghost, and spoke
the word of God with boldness. When Philip
was preaching at Samaria, with great accept-
ance, many signs and wonders being seen, it
did not appear clear to the natural understand-
ing why he should be taken from his success-
ful labor to " Gaza, which is desert," to preach
Jesus to one solitary man. But the Spirit had
commanded, and he obeyed.
It seemed " good " in the sight of Joshua to
receive the Gibeonites, but it was not so. He
asked not counsel of the Lord, and the false
embassadors triumphed in their deceit. Thus
Israel had enemies inside the camp, although
but hewers of wood and drawers of water.
" This is the work of God, that ye believe on
Him whom he hath sent." " He that believ-
eth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of
his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But
this spake he of the Spirit, which tlie}' that
believe on him should receive : for the Holy
Ghost Avas not yet given, because that Jesus
38 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
was not yet glorified." John vii. 38, 39. If
he has promised to lead us, shall we not trust
ourselves to his j^uidance ? And beincr in the
light, we shall see light, and the testing times
of hope and faith and patience shall bring
forth fruit.
" The simple (or foolish man) believeth
every word ; but the prudent looketh well to
his going." Prov. xiv. 15. It is by the pride
and unbelief of the carnal nature that our spir-
itual senses are dulled. The mariner will judge
from the appearance of the sky that a storm
is impending; he will make for the haven,
look well to his sails and cordage, and throw
overboard his freight, rather than risk the loss
of his ship and the precious lives. Then shall
I not watch for indications of my way from
Him who laioweth the way that I take, and
has said, "/will direct your paths"? Who
does not remember some excursion which we
hoped to enjoy, but which was dependent on
fine weather — how often we watched the indi-
cations of the wind and sky ? How warily the
merchant consigns his goods to a foreign mar-
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. 39
ket. How carefully the money-making man
examines the prospects of the funded interests.
Their houi's of careful, patient watchfulness
are praised as displaying needful foresight and
prudence ; but when the same watchfulness is
applied to spiritual and eternal things it is
called madness and fanaticism. Yet the heav-
enly " merchandise is better than silver, and
the gain thereof than fine gold."
Will God give light on the Word, its pre-
cepts, and its commands, and will he withhold
the guidance and power for our daily walk ?
Is it presumption to take him at his word, and
to believe that we can do nothing acceptable
to God without his Son ? Nay, is it not rather
presumption to walk in the vain imaginations
of the heart, in a path that no man knoweth?
Humility does not consist in a reiteration of
our sins, or in bcmoaninor the bondacrc from
which Jesus Christ died to deliver us. Tho
truest humility is the faith of the little child.
Conscious of its helplessness and ignorance, it
leans confidingly on the father's breast, and
watches for a sign of his will; so, with liis
40 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
hand clasped witHn the strong one of love,,
should the child of God trust in the wisdom
of Him to whom darkness and lisrht are both
alike. If the Holy Spirit witnesseth with our
spirit that we are the children of God, shall he
not witness with our spirit when we have done
his will ? Yea, surely ; for God is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him.
We hear Christians praying daily for help
to understand the word of God whic j they
read, thus acknowledging their need of the
power of the Holy Spirit whereby we receive
the truths of revelation, yet dishonoring him
by unwatchfulness as to the experimental
teaching of daily life, as if this were a thing
apart and not the branches sj)ringing from the
root. " If we live in the Sj^irit, let us also
walk in the Spirit." How often is he invoked,
yet never watched for ; how often are pleas-
ures sought and enjoyed in which he can have
no share ; thus neglected and grieved, his
voice of love is heard less frequently ; his
warnings are disregarded ; the upbraiding of
his holy jealousy is stifled \ until the whisper
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. 41
of remonstrance is perceived no more, and the
Spirit, well-nigh quenched, is remembered only
when the chastening liand of the Father re
minds us of our loss.
A friend with whom I took " sweet coun-
sel," told me that he*went to the south for the
benefit of his failing health. The new and
lovely scenes in which he sojourned, and the
void from the lack of the service, which had
over-fully occupied him in his own land, ten-
ded to enervate the life of faith within him,
and he ceased to remember that to " walk
before God," was the service most acceptable
to his Master.
He was shut out from his old Christian .
companionship, yet not more shut in with
Christ. And though his physical health was
restored, his soul fell into a careless, luke-warm
state. He had been resting more in his IMas-
ter's work than in his INIaster's love. But the
Lord loved him, and would not let his wan-
dering child remain in the path of slothf illness.
He became depressed and sad ; and while
mourning his backsliding state, there came to
42 ■■ "WAYSIDE SERVICE.
his mind a young Englishman of his own age^,
who for many weeks had occupied apartments
in the same house with him. He had often
passed him on the stah^case and in the street,
but the cliaracteristic pride and reserve of my
friend kept him aloof from the stranger. Con-
tent to accept the boon of health as the result
of his sojourn in a foreign land, he sought not
to inquire, " What w^ouldst thou have me to
do ? " or to ask if the Lord had need of him.
He dwelt among a strange people, but were
there none of his own tongue to whom he
could speak of the unsearchable riches of
Christ ? The sweet persuasion of the blessed
Spirit, acting on his awakening soul, led him
to desire to seek the acquaintance of his neigh-
bor. This was rendered the more difficult,
because he was conscious that he had shunned
rather than sought his societ3^ But the time
of his departure drew near. Days passed; he
lacked energy to follow his conviction ; and
when an opportunity offered, he lacked cour-
age to take advantage of it. Each evening
brought a heavy burden cf broken resolutions
and sorrowful regrets.
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. 43
One night lie dared not lie down to sleep ;
he Avas conscious that he had striven against
the whisper in his slothful heart aroused by
the love of Him, " who speaketh once ; j^ea,
twice ; yet man perceiveth it not." Though
it was near upon midnight, he wrote a hurried
note to the 3'oung man entreating him to come
to him immediately. The stranger, wonder-
ing at the urgency of the request, obeyed the
summons. Great was his amazement to find
that the gentleman, who had passed liim daily
for weeks without a sign of courtesy, was in
deep concern to know the state of liis soul !
He was startled by the heartfelt anguish of
my friend, unconscious of the source from
whence it sprang ; and though prepared to
resent what seemed an untimely interference
in his personal affairs, he listened to him.
From the broken heart of God's dear servant
went forth the cry that brought a blessing
down.
The two young men knelt side b}"" side, and
it was morning before they separated. And
then, oh, how sweet was the reward ! The
44 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
•
young Englisliman blessed the hand which
had been so tardy in its office of ministering
love, and confessed that, had the interview
been delayed one hour, he would have entered
on a path of sin and folly of which he could
not think without a shudder.
Thus, in all service the Lord works also
upon the instrument, and, in his loving-kind-
ness and tender mercy, often wooes back the
wandering soul with a blessing.
"Love, deep, divine, unsearchable,
Love is tlie binding cord,
Tliat, liid beneatli tlie cliastening,
Twines round tlie saints of God."
It will preserve from self-dependence, and
carnal reasoning, to remember that the work
of sanctification, begun by the Holy Spirit in
the soul, cannot be completed by man himself.
It will on the other hand uphold the sinldng
heart, if he bear in mind that almighty power
and wisdom are engaged in his behalf. " I,
even I, am he that comforteth you ; who art
thou, that thou shoiddest be afraid of a man
that shall die, and of the son of man which
shall be made as grass ; and forgettdst the
THE SPIEIT OF TRUTH. 45
Lord thy Maker?" Isa. li. 12. "In God
have I put my trust ; I will not be afraid
what man can do unto me." Psa. Ivi. 11.
He in whose hand is the soul of every living
thing, and the breath of all mankind, will he
not guard the life he has given, and deliver
his saints to-day ? Acts xxiii. 21.
If we lightly esteem his presence, and cease
to guard it from opposing influences, he will
withdraw his smile. If we have our treasure
in heaven, our thoughts will be there, and the
Hoi)- Spirit will reveal deeper things ; but if
the love of the world be admitted, and sloth
enervate the life of faith, he cannot reveal
anything which will not sting and wound.
A man of God, a pastor in one of the Swiss
cantons, was deeply interested in a prisoner
condemned to death for a capital offense.
Every day that visitors were admitted to the
prison he was allowed to pass an hour in the
condemned cell. There was no visible result,
but patiently and hopefully he still read tho
Word of God, and prayed with the prisoner,
setting before him the offers of eternal life in
terms of tender persuasion.
46 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
The day of execution drew near ; only one
day remained — Sunday. He could not ac-
count for the strange disinclination to the
service he had hitherto diligently fulfilled.
The hour had struck which on other days had
found him at the gate of the prison, and yet
he still lingered in his house. He upbraided
himself with supineness in losing this last
opportunity of speaking to and reading with
the prisoner ; and though the impression deep-
ened in his mind that God willed not that he
should go, he took his hat ; but ere he crossed
the threshold of liis house, a voice warned
him, — " Go not." The sweet and solemn
warning caused him to tarry. In a conflict of
feeling he passed the hour for admittance ; but
still fearful of neglecting a duty, he rushed to
the prison, believmg that under such circum-
stances, the rule as to time would not be
strictly enforced. But ere he reached the
prison-door, a power he could not resist,
" suffered him not," and he returned to his
closet, assured that God could work without
him, and that, in returning, he obeyed the will
of Him whom he desired to serve.
THE SPIRIT or TBCJTH. 47
The prisoner had determined to make one
desperate effort to escape. The visits of the
faithful pastor were between thiec and four
o'clock ; the criminal had resolved, on his en-
trance this da}', to spring on him, smite him
dead, and escape.
The hour struck, and the servant of God
came not ; the hand of love was guarding him
for future usefidness. The unhappy prisoner
grew wild with disappointment, and he yelled
in rage. The jailer, hearing an unusual noise,
entered the cell abruptly ; the prisoner, sup-
posing him to be his expected visitor, sprang
with the strength of despair upon his victim,
and smote him on the head with his fetters.
He fell. dead, while the miu"dcrer rushed to
the outer door, attempting to escape, and only
after a fierce struggle was captured. Before
his execution he confessed that he had mur-
dered the jailer in mistake for his kind and
pitiful visitor.
O ye who think that the actings of grace
exist in imagination, or satisfy yourselves that
• the care of the livmg God over his saints is
48 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
a " remarkable coincidence," grieve not the
Holy Spirit, but consider Lis ways. If ye be
born of the Spirit, " yield j'ourselves servants
to obey ; " and " fulfill all the good pleasure
of his goodness, that the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye
in him."
THE BLESSED POOE. 49
CHAPTER III.
THE BLESSED POOR.
He lifted up his eyes upon his disciples, and said, Blessed be
ye poor ; for yours is the kingdom of heaven.- Luke vi. 20.
'ONEY is a representative of many things,
but money is not the tithe of all that we
possess. There is much to be cast into
the treasury of the Lord besides the gold and
silver. " Give alms of such things as ye
have.''''
Are you yourself poor and needy ? Then,
"blessed are ye poor 1 " The empty hands
outstretched to tlie God of the whole earth,
and the open mouth of expectation, are accep-
table to him ; for " God is able to make all
grace abound toward you ; that ye, always
having all sufficiency in all things, may
abound to every good work." 2 Cor. ix. 8.
Often I hear Christians bemoaning their
inabihty to " serve the Lord." Either he has
not given them the amount of gold and silver
50 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
tliey think needful for the purpose which they
desire, or they are feeble in body, or old, or
sick, or unfavorably situated as to family con-
nections, so that when they speak of serving
the Lord it is with sorrowful regrets.
If gold and silver are to be the only tithe,
there will still be a lack ; for then those who
have them not are exempt from the offering
which the willing heart delights to lay upon
the altar of God's exceeding love.
The widow's mite was counted for more
than the abundance of the rich and the costly
gifts in the temple, for God looketh on the
heart. Who shall say, "I have nothing to
give ; I have no service for the Lord "? Look
well as to what God has given you, and then
you will find a treasury in heaven from which
you may draw without limitation, for with the
unspeakable gift of God's dear Son, he has
promised freely to give us all things.
The prayer of faith is safe for exchange.
The coin of the heavenly realms bears on it.
" The Lord will provide," with the name and
superscription of the King of kings. It never
THE BLESSED POOK. 51
decreases in value ; it is ever new, and bright,
and precious ; it enriches the giver and re-
ceiver ; it will send forth laborers to the wide
harvest-field, strengthen the weak hands, and
confirm the feeble knees, as well as supply the
wants of the saints, and is " abundant also by-
many thanksgivings unto God;" and when
this heavenly commerce declines prosperity
fails.
Who are the poor ? AU in need. Not only
the homeless wanderer, the forlorn outcast, the
friendless orphan, the ignorant, the destitute.
Those whom God has raised up to care for
them : many into whose hearts he has shed his
Spirit, and given them to preach the gospel,
are themselves among the poor, though rich in
faith, and heirs of the kingdom. ]\Iany in
high places are crying for patience and faith-
fulness ; many a teacher is asking for humility
and faith; many a tempted one praying for
strength to stand ; many an oppressed one ma-
ligned and defamed. Behold, the poor and
needy are everywhere 1
The lessons taught us experimentally are
62 WAYSroE SEE VICE.
best remembered. I have been very slow in
learning the privilege of bearing the mark of
God's special care in his chastening love ; but
he has taught me (blessed be his name!) it
was good for me to have been afflicted. To
be shut out from the outer world is not to be
shut out from service. The temptations
which are found with health and strength, and
the fair world without, are not the only ones ;
nor are you insured from the temptations from
witliin. Nay, the seasons which afford rich
experiences of the love and power of the Lord
are continually the battle-field of covetous
desires, murmurings, and regrets.
One of those long twilight evenings, which
so often press upon the sick and lonely, found
me, as they often did, weak and weary, trying
to " be still," and rest on Him whose wisdom
ordained it. Satan took advantage of my
weariness, and injected the thought that never
more would my weak hand convey to others
the messages of mercy ; that never more would
my faltering tongue proclaim my Saviour's
grace ; that all ministry for me was over, and
THE BLESSED POOB. 53
there was no room for me on tliis widt field
save to suffer and to die.
A pang shot through my heart, and my
desponding spirit bent beneath the dart of
the enemy. But we are not ignorant of his
devices, and his conqueror was there ready to
defend his weak one.
The Spirit of the Lord lifted up a standard
against my foe : " All power is given unto
me," — and I was comforted. I saw that the
same loving Master who had blessed the work
of this feeble hand could bless it still, even if
I could write no more. It was not my work,
but his work. It was not health or strength
I had given him (and he taketh not pleasure
in the strength of a horse) : he had blessed
what his own love had constrained me to
offer.
With my own utter worthlessness, I con-
trasted the exceeding grace of my heavenly
King, and found, what then I always find,
peace and blessing. And so I prayed, " Take
up, I pray thee, some words I have written for
thee, that thou hast blessed. Bless them
54 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
anew : for the power is not in my words, but
in thy Spirit." I had a firm conviction that
he would fulfill my petition, and I lay back
upon my pillow and praised him for what I
was assured he would grant.
A heavy storm that had long hung above
the hills came sweeping over my dwelling.
The hoarse voice of the wind, as it roughly
bent the branches of the old trees which
partly shadowed the window, left all more
gloomy than before ; but it had no power to
sadden me. My heart was resting on Him
whom winds and waves obey.
Two days afterward I received a letter from
a dear friend in the East of London, bringing,
as her letters ever do, a blessing with it. Un-
consciously, she had been commissioned by the
Lord to bear to my soul the message of his
faithfulness and tender care. The storm that
swept above me was the chariot of his power
who saith, "While they are yet speaking I
will hear."
On that stormy evening, in the East of Lon-
don, a prayer-meeting had been appointed in
THE BLESSED POOH. 55
a room hired for various purposes ; and when
my friend reached it, the rain had begun to
fall. She found that she had arrived too early,
and that the hall was still occupied by a gath-
ering: of infidels. When she discovered the
nature of the meeting, she began to retrace
her steps, preferring the violence of the ele-
ments without to the appalling scene within.
But the Lord had need of her. The storm
now beat furiously along the street, and the
outer doorway presented no shelter. When
she would have faced its fury, friendly hands
drew her back into the hall ; others, like her-
self, were waiting for that meeting to close.
Most reluctantly she entered, and found
herself in the midst of an assembly of sin-
ners, met to prove God's grace a fable, and
the Word of God a he ! Strong working-men
were there, artizans of various crafts, men of
cold, hard countenance, on which care, and
thought, and sin, had left deep scars — men
who, by scorners like themselves, are called in
the hackneyed phi-aseology of the world, " ear
nest men."
56 WAYSIDE SEE-VICE.
The fallacious reasoning of man's deceitful
heart strives to give a glitter to the things of
darkness ; and thus, however glaring the error,
however pernicious the doctrine, men shelter
themselves and others under a pretended rev«
erence for earnestness. Our lecture-halls teem
with such men, who are consciously and un-
consciously treading under foot the precious
sacrifice of the Son of God. Satan is earnest,
and his subjects are in earnest ; but when they
stand before the Judge of all the earth, the
plea that they were verily in earnest will not
save them. Hell will abound with earnest
men.
My friend told me that she timidly entered
the assembly. It was impossible to describe
her feelings ; the very atmosphere seemed
replete with evil. Lifting up her soul to the
Lord to render her deaf to the unholy lan-
guage, she made her way to the upper part of
the hall, where she saw one solitary woman
driven hke herself from the doorway for shel-
ter. On approaching her, she found her to
be a Christian woman of whom she had been
THE BLESSED POOR. 57
in search, and she sat herself beside her. The
power of the prince of darkness was not un-
checked in this assembly, any more than in my
lonely room. And Christian men who had
entered uplifted the banner in His name who
came to seek and to save.
Angry passions now swayed the infidels, and
their opponents, like soldiers for a moment
bewildered by the roar of cannon, paused.
There was silence. Had the powers of evil
pre-eminence ?
The silence was broken by a clear, manly
voice at the extreme end of the hall break ij^g
forth in a cheerful song —
" Sow ye beside all waters,
Where the dew of heaven may fall;
Ye shall reap, if ye be not weary,
For the Spirit breathes o'er all.
" Sow, though the thorns may wound thee,—
One wore tlio lliorns for thee;
And though the cold world scorn tliee.
Patient and hopeful be.
" Sow ye beside all waters.
With a blessing and a prayer;
Name Him wlu^se hand upholds thee,
And sow thou everywhere."
Voice after voice took up the strain, and told
how many more of the warriors of the cross
58 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
had gathered there against the enemy. And
weary hearts took courage.
My dear friend Imew how it would cheer
my heart and gladden my silent hours, to know
that the first-fruits of my pen, laid on the altar
of my God, should have been made a battle-
song for the faithful — at the same time teach-
ing my hands to war and my fingers to fight,
and calling forth from my own soul the shout
of " Victory ! victory ! through the blood of
the Lamb ! "
Service and ministry are so connected in the
minds of many with external form, that noth-
ing appears to them as ministry, unless in
accredited detail and order. The things of the
Spirit can only be seen in the Spirit ; and if
worship is to be offered in spirit and in truth,
so also must service b© ; and this I began more
fully to perceive a few days after the incident
I have related.
On reading Tlie Revival, I was specially
drawn to an account of a work in London.
The faithful servant of the Lord who had writ-
ten the report stated the great need of funds
THE BLESSED POOK. 59
to meet the necessities of the poor, amongst
whom it was his joy to preach the gospel of
Christ. In the impulse of my heart, I longed
to send him gold without measure ; hut I rea-
soned, that had God willed I should have gold
to give, he would have given me gold ; and it
was as easy for him to give me gold as silver.
I opened my purse, not to see what I could
spare, but how much was mine to give. I
found that all I could offer was silver, and a
sum so small, that Satan suggested that it was
useless to send half-a-crown.
Should I withhold it because it was so little?
Nay ! The barley loaves in the hands of Jesus
fed a multitude. From whom should I with-
hold it? From Mr. ? From the poor?
Nay ! From the Lord !
Every scruple vanished. I placed it before
him for his blessing, and pleaded for something
better than gold to send with it. A text came
so full of food and refreshment for myself, that
I hesitated if it could possibly be intended for
another ; but after waiting none other came.
I wrote it as clearly as my weak hand could
60 WAYSEDE SERVICE.
trace it, and inclosed it with the money to
Mr. ; and then I specially laid his need
before the Lord, praying for pounds, not shil-
lings, this very evening to be sent him, and for
special blessing on the text. And He to whom
belong the gold and silver, who owns the cat-
tle on a thousand hills and the sparrow on the
housetop, heard my prayer. I had an imme-
diate consciousness that it was granted, and I
praised therefore.
Could I have written a check, or have in-
closed a bank-bill, it is possible that after I
had done it, I should have thought no more of
the matter ; as it was, the exercise of faith
drew me nearer to realizing that I had to do
with a living God, whose care is over all his
works. My heart filled with grateful joy, for
I perceived a wider sphere of service and min-
istry than had ever before met my view.
Three months passed away. The circum-
stances had faded from my memory. One
morning the post brought me a pamphlet ;
and as I was much engaged, it lay for several
days on my table unopened. To look at it, I
THE BLESSED POOR. Gl
feared, would hinder me in my work. But a
thought flashed through my mind that per-
haps the Lord had sent, as he often does, some
message of love in it ; and if so, that would
help, not hinder me. I opened it prayerfully.
It was the report of the work which had so
much interested me, forwarded by an unlaiown
hand. I turned the pages, not to certify if my
mite had been received, for I had not sent my
name, but to know how the work prospered
that had been so blessed to myself, and for
which I had pleaded.
On turning the leaves, my eye caught a
text. This text, so full of treasures to my
own heart, had gone, in the power and hght
of the Spirit, and under peculiar circumstances
of trial had blessed him to whom I had sent it.
Furthermore, on the evening of the same day
the Lord put into the mind of one in whose
spiritual welfare I was concerned to send for
the work the gold which I lacked ; and there
followed other donations, which rejoiced my
heart. And it was clear that the check had
been remitted that night, as it reached London
the following morning.
62 WAYSIDE SEKVICE.
We are continually sowing in thought,
word, and work. " God is not mocked ; for
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of
the flesh reap corruption ; but he that soweth
to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life ever-
lasting."
Lord, let me feel that thou art ever nigh me,
And ruling all in love;
That no good thing thy wisdom will deny me.
Thy tenderness to prove.
Thy blessed voice the stormy wind obeyeth.
And thy behest fulfills;
Thy word the tempest wild within allayeth,
And each foreboding stills.
Keep me still close to thee, O Lord; thou knowest
Thou art my hope and rest;
And trustful let me tread the path thou showest,
Still leaning on thy breast.
Thou hast been Home and Friend in deserts lonely.
And thou wilt be again.
Oh, let me seek thy smile, my Jesus only,
And not the praise of men.
PRECIOUS FEUIT. 63
CHAPTER IV.
PEECIOUS FRUIT.
Cast not away therefore yonr confidence, which hath great re-
compense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that,
after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the
promise.— Heb. x. 35, 36.
E err presumptuously in claiming a prom-
ili^^ ise when we have neglected the precept ;
but we rob the Lord of praise and glory
in following the precept, and disbelieving the
promise. He has said, " Cast thy bread upon
the waters, and thou shalt find it after many
days." Here the heart-stirring command to
labor is coupled with the promise of a sure
reward ; so closely are they joined together
for the believer's encouragement, that they
can only be severed by his unbelief. The
promise is often limited to evangelists, as the
" cheerful giver " is restricted to the distribu-
tor to the poor. " He that winneth souls is
wise," and " he that hath pity upon the poor
lendeth to the Lord ;" but nowhere is it set
64 "WAYSIDE SERVICE.
forth, that to preach the gospel to others, or
to distribute to the necessitous, is the end for
which we have been translated out of dark
ness into the kingdom of God's dear Son.
The vessels of the sanctuary must be ren-
dered meet for spiritual service ; and the per-
fecting of them is often wrought out by what
seems to our short-sighted vision as unsuccess-
ful labor. " Mine eyes shall be upon the
faithful of the land, that they may dwell with
me ; he thatwalketh in a perfect way, he shall
serve me." Ps. ci. 6. When the Lord, in
answer to our prayers for grace, is cultivating
our faith, patience, and meekness, we rebel,
because we cannot behold with our outward
senses that which we have committed to him
in hope. The insult, that God is not faithful
to his promise, is insinuated by the father of
lies, and received into the natural heart of un-
belief. Virtually we say, " According to his
command we have cast our bread upon the
waters, but it is lost !" As if anything could
be lost that faith had committed to the eternal
God. Where there is a work of faith, there
PRECIOUS FRUIT. 65
must be precious fruit. That over which you
rejoiced, and for which you made many an un-
told sacrifice, brought forth " nothing but
leaves ; " and that over which you watched
through nights of weeping, and hopelessly ex-
claimed, " It was all in vain ! " may not have
been "in vain." The bread-corn, scattered
in feebleness, has not been devoured by the
fowls of the air, as you say ; it has fallen into
the cleft of a wounded heart, too proud to
show you it can feel. It will germinate slow-
ly and quietly, where no eye but God's will
watch it striving for light. We ask to see in
a week the growth of a cedar or a palm ; we
look for fruit in the seed-time ; and for sum-
mer flowers when only the spring winds are
rising, and water-floods overflowing. " Hope
in God." The crowning of labor is not accor-
ding to the natural energy of the sower, but
according to the wisdom of the Lord of the
harvest. And that harvest is sometimes reaped
only in the soul of the patient husbandman ;
and a fair and flourishing field, which the
sower will never behold on earth, is claimed
66 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
in future days by another who enters into his
labors.
God works in silence. Nature's processes,
by which he teaches us of the invisible things
by things which are seen, are almost imper-
ceptible in their progress. Light is silent.
The seed germinates, and none can tell where
it lies. John iii. 7, 8. The corn ripens silent-
ly ; spring steals over the land silently ; but
summer — smiling harbinger of precious fruit !
— tells at last the patient laborer that he has
not waited in vain. The narrow path runs
through a wide field. Little deeds of kind-
ness, words of love, of warning, of faithful
rebuke, and tender sympathy, cast forth by a
soul in union with Christ, are bread upon the
waters that shall be found after many days.
It is not difficult to glory in infirmities, when
we are permitted to see that thus the power
of Christ may rest upon us. I was desirous of
furnishing some large-type reference Bibles to
some of my poor friends in a place I was leav-
ing ; especially I needed one for a youth who
was recently converted, whose failing sight
PKECIOUS FRUIT. 67
could only discern the largest and clearest
print. I found Bibles of this description more
expensive than I expected, and I waited on
the Lord for the means of procuring them.
Day after day passed ; I was much exercised
in regard to leaving the place ; but this wait-
ing-time brought forth blessing.
A day had closed in conflict and sadness,
so that the great adversary blinded my eyes
to my heavenly portion. "In the world ye
shall have tribulation;" "in me ye shall have
peace." The wily accuser did not attack my
fair inheritance, but set before me my vileness
as a cliild of God — the grace I had sinned
against, the opportunities of usefulness I had
lost, ending with the Bibles for which I had
made no exertion, and which it was now need-
less to procure, as I must proceed on my jour-
ney. Like Eve, I listened to the tempter. I
believed the lie, and was afraid.
It seemed quite clear to me that I had never
loved the Lord, never served him or witnessed
for him ; but after a time came the sweet as-
surance that he loved me all the same. Still
68 "WAYSIDE SERVICE.
I dwelt on his love to me and my ingratitude
to him. The conflict was longer than the de-
tail I have briefly given ; but the blood of the
Lamb slain was my shelter and safety at last.
Long I wept over my uselessness, until he
gave me strength to cry to him ; " Spare me
until to-morrow, Lord, and if thy blessing has
never yet fallen on any service for thee, life is
not over ; bless me now ! "
I lay down and slept a long deep sleep, and
was awakened by a registered letter being
brought to me, requiring my signature. The
handwriting was unfamiliar to me, and the
letter bore no name. As I read, my heart
burst forth in praise ; line after line seemed
written to meet the need known only to Him
whose tender care is over all his works. It
told me of help and blessing received through
books I had written on this same battle-field.
The gold inclosed I was requested to use for
any service of the Lord I might at that time
require. The remainder of the letter is traced
on my heart, though unrecorded here ; but it
closes thus, " and for you, I pray that you may
be kept very, very humble."
PKECIOUS FRUIT. 69
I know not if I shall look on the face of the
writer until we meet on the morning without
clDuds, when the bread cast upon the waters
will be found after many days.
The prayer of faith had won for me this
trial ; and even while the Holy Ghost was in-
diting the prayer, the command had gone forth.
But " He hath not despised nor abhorred the
affliction of the afflicted ; neither hath he hid
his face from him ; but when he cried unto
him he heard." Psa. xxii. 24.
The sympathy and encouragement to labor
again sent me on my way rejoicing. Thus the
hand of a stranger was directed to supply the
Bibles, the need of which I had been permit-
ted to discover, and was also used to ojjen to
me anew the hidden riches which abound in
secret places, that I might realize again the
faithfulness of Him Avho had called me by
name, — that he was indeed my God, and that
I was his servant.
" He that observeth the wind shall not sow,
and he that regardeth the clouds shall not
reap." The ways and means the Lord ordains
70 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
for the accomplisliment of his work differ with
the varieties of his instruments, and the pecu-
liarities of their employments. To address
the same question to every one, to propound
the same doctrine, and set forth the same ar-
gument on every occasion, is simply a negli-
gent systematic occupation, which can never
satisfy a heart drawing its suppHes fresh from
the fountain of living water. One led of the
Spirit will be counted a fool for doing what
seems in opposition to received methods of
deaUng with certain sections of error; but
"hath not God made foolish the wisdom of
this world?"
An English family resided for the summer
in one of the Cathohc cantons of Switzerland.
The lady's maid was a witness for her heavenly
Master. She visited the poor in the neighbor-
hood, and with the permission of her mistress
cared for their necessities, while distributing
the tracts and books which she had herself
procured. In one of the houses lived a single
woman, known as the most bigoted Romanist
in the village. The Englishwoman could not
PRECIOUS FRUIT. 7l
approach her, until one day she found her very
ill in bed, with no one to help her. She then
did what she could for her, and from day to
day brought her nourishment suitable for her
state. The sick woman received the dinners
and ridiculed the donor, saying that she did
not wish to lose the good food, and if she
brought any tracts or good books she would
accept all, and when she was well again she
would make a feu de joie of them.
No tracts came, but the food never failed.
One day the servant carried with her one of
the portions of Scripture, now flying hke mes-
sages of mercy through the length and breadth
of the land. It was the Gospel of St. John.
The French woman made no objection to it,
but showing it to a neighbor, she laughed at
the simplicity of the giver, and put it aside as
the first supply for her feu de joie.
The woman grew worse, and was confined
entirely to her bed. The hours hung heavily
without any of her ordinary occupations.
At last in utter weariness she tui-ned to the
onlv book unread. She argued with herself
72 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
— " This cannot be a bad book, though it
comes from a Protestant ; portions of it are in
the mass. If some parts are good, all may be
good. I do not think it wiU do me harm."
She began it, and became intensely interested
in it ; and then when she had reached the last
chapter, she re-read it, and greatly desired
more.
No other book was offered her, no tract
came, no word was spoken to her on the sub-
ject of her errors, or of the truth Avhich the
book containe"d. At length she asked for an-
other portion, and finally for the whole Testa-
ment. She made no observation and put no
questions to her visitor, but on her blindness
arose the light of the Sun of Righteousness,
and Jesus could not be hid.
Then the priest came and asked why she
did not go to mass now that she was better.
She replied firmly, she could never hear the
mass again. "I cannot say," she added, "that
I have a new religion ; for I neither received
it of man, neither was I taught it ; no one has
ever spoken to me on the subject, but I see
PKECIOUS FKUIT. 73
wliat I never saw before, and I can no longer
go to mass."
The priest applied to the bishop of the dio-
cese, who was then in the neighborhood. He
sent his vicar, a learned and influential con-
troversialist, to visit her. After holdinga a long
conversation with her, he reported that it was
in vain to seek to draw her back to the true
church, for to every argument she replied only
in the words of Scripture.
The persecution raj^ed against this convert-
ed woman was such, that had she been with-
out a home no one would have dared to give
her shelter under his roof. By one of those
blessed providential dealings of our heavenly
Father, she had no lodging to seek. In some
of the small tenements in Switzerland the pro-
prietor has a right, in disposing of his house,
to retain one room for tlie Ufe of one member
of his family. This had been the case here ;
her father had arranged and secured this room
for her, of which no one coidd dispossess her,
and the peaceful possession of this quiet cham-
ber was continually the subject of her praise
74 WAYSEDE SERVICE.
and thankfulness. The Englishwoman minis-
tered to her while she was there. The eman-
cipated Romanist has never lacked — never
will, for her hope is in God. The bread upon
the waters is found.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped
for, the evidence of things not seen." Heb. xi.
1. "Without faith it is impossible to please
God." Faith must not be confounded with
vain imaginations of the natural heart, which
expects at a certain season certain results. To
do the will of God is to be assured of the
promise ; " for yet a little while, and he that
shall come will come, and will not tarry."
Faith has its many phases, but it is the same
faith. The rainbow has varied colors in its
zone, but it is the same light. Faith may look
upward rejoicing ; she may fold her hands in
patient waiting ; she may work, fearing noth-
ing ; she may suffer silently ; but it is faith
still. Its object is God's will ; its expectation
is from liim.
When on my way to the coast, I was detain-
ed for a few days in a strange town. One
PRECIOUS FRUIT. 75
blight autumn morning I sent for a mule-chair,
praying the Lord to guide me where I could
be used for his glory, or to grant me fellow-
ship with some of his people. As I was quite
a stranger in the place, I told the boy who
drove to take me into the country, leaving the
choice of the road to him.
I strove to watch and not miss any guidance
vouchsafed to me. We passed the outskirts of
the town, and threaded the long lanes of hazel
and beech. I was attracted by an old white-
washed cottage, of which we now see so few ;
its principal features were its high chimneys
and its large roomy porch. The myrtles and
fuchsias blossomed in profusion around it, and
a garden so rich in flowers and fragrant herbs
I had seldom seen. I felt inclined to enter,
but the mule obstinately pursued his way ; so
I contentedly dropped a little book upon the
cottage pathway.
We proceeded for about half a mile, when
the mule deliberately turned up to a cottage
door and stopped. I had a book in my hand,
but before I could speak to the bright-faced
76 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
woman who came out at the sound of the
wheels, she greeted me in the most cordial
manner, exclaiming, " How glad we are to
have you again ! "
" I think you mistake me for some one you
know ; but I am pleased you came out," I
said, " as I wanted to leave you a tract if you
would like one."
But the woman, without taking it, returned
into the house, exclaiming joyfully,
"Master! It is our dear lady come back
again ! "
A pleasant-looking man followed her, and a
few minutes made us acquainted with each
other. We were walking the same road — to
our Father's house of many mansions. At last
he said,
" My good wife took you for a lady who
used to visit us long ago ; your voice is so like
hers, I do not wonder. It is long since we
saw her. Do come in ; it will be good for our
souls to hear the news of the kingdom ; and
here are two of our relations come a long way
to visit us for the day."
PEECIOUS FRX7IT. 77
I at once entered the cottage. Neither of
the young women seated there knew Him who
was the subject of our conversation, the object
of our love ; but it was most refreshing to
mark the interest with which they listened to
" the old, old story," and received the books
and tracts. I was loth to leave them. As I
rose to depart, the kind old man looked at his
wife and said,
" The lady ought to see J. E ; how
pleased she would be."
" Oh yes ! " chimed in the wife ; " but it is
a long way off."
" Never mind that," I answered. " Is it
any one I can help ? "
" Why, she has a good deal to bear, ma'am,
but she is such a Christian. And she would
like to see you," he added in an inviting tone.
I asked him to describe the house. He
replied, " It is a little white-washed cottage in
a garden, in the green lane between this and
the town. There is a large porch to the cot-
tage."
I felt certain it was the same wliich had
78 "WAYSIDE SERVICE.
attracted my attention, and bidding my new
friends an affectionate farewell, we turned the
mule's head, and did not stop until we reached
the pretty rustic gate to which I had been
directed. I waited in vain to see any one ; so
I left the chair and entered the house.
A middle-aged woman was busily occupied
about household work, and I watched her for
a few minutes unobserved. The deep peace
of her face testified that she was the one I
sought. I spoke at once of Him who leadeth
the blind by paths they know not. She left
her work, and hastened to place a chair for
me, and sat beside me. She was not only
rejoicing in the forgiveness of her sins ; she
had learned that salvation from eternal death
was not the end of Christ's glorious sacrifice,
but that he died to bring the sinner into that
fellowship with God which Adam had for-
feited.
I told her of my prayer, and how richly my
Father -had answered me. Tears of joy fell
fast from her eyes as I detailed to her the
Bource of our unexpected meeting.
PRECIOUS FRUIT. 79
" How long have you known what it is to
follow Jesus ? " I asked.
" It is a fortnight last Friday," she replied.
" The Lord had taken me down to the grave's
mouth, and Avhen I had learned the meaning of
Luke xiv. 33, he brought me up again. Only
that night I had a knowledge of Christ him-
self, and of his power, and what he means by
leaving ' all ' for his sake, or else we cannot be
his disciples.*' Luke xiv. 33.
Who teaches like him ? Truly our fellow-
ship was with the Father, and with his Son
Jesus Christ ! While I listened to her I felt it
would strengthen my hand to sow beside all
waters ; while for herself it had taught her
that the Lord saw all her needs and could
meet them ; and she praised him for sending
me there, that out of her heart, surcharged
with love and praise, she might tell what great
things he had done for her.
She told me that she had known Christ as
her salvation for two years previously. A poor
Christian peddler formerly made the circUit of
the country in the summer months, carrying
80 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
cottons, laces, and such light wares as the cot-
tagers could not procure without going to the
town. The disciple spoke to her of her heav-
enly Master, but though her customer kindly
received the messenger, she did not heed the
message.
A seat in the shady porch was always given
her, and refreshment often offered, while the
little store of pence, scrupulously set aside for
the purpose, was laid out for some of the con-
tents of the basket.
It was in the autumn when the peddler
made her last visit to the cottage, to close her
circuit for the year.
The heat of midday was too much for the
poor traveler, who, languid and weary, rested
in the welcome porch. The purchases made
lightened her load, and she was herself re-
freshed by speaking of the faithfulness of Him
who was her Shepherd in the green pastures,
and the shadow of a great rock in a weary
land; then pointing her listener to him, she
took* up her burden to proceed on her way,
when her kind host brought forth her store of
PRECIOUS FRUIT. 81
two shillings, which she had gathered with
careful industry to help the lone woman in the
winter.
Deeply was the peddler moved, and she
knelt in that porch, so often her sheltering
rest, and prayed that when next she entered
there she might find that the hand that had
been stretched out to bestow the cup of cold
water had grasped the Redeemer's robe. Long
and fervent was the prayer ; then taking up
her basket she went on her way, and left the
blessing behind. A few weeks afterwards, and
she for whom she had prayed believed, and
was saved.
Spring came ; month after month passed ;
but the peddler was seen no more. Vainly the
new-born child of faith watched for the one
who had given her spiritual things for tem-
poral ones ; but she never came. The bread
was cast upon the waters. The work was the
Lord's. The means, the time, were his also.
It will be found " after many days."
As I took my last look of the cottage porch,
I thought how I too was indebted to the child
82 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
of God, who, sheltered there in the sultry
noontide, left a blessing even for me. Jesus
had been there. He had said, " Thy sins be
forgiven thee ; " and now he had called the
believer by name, and said unto her, " Follow
me." " Faithful is he that promised."
A friend who was often discouraged in ser-
vice told me, that in the winter of 1858, which
she passed in London, she became interested
in a worldly old lady, infirm in body and dis-
contented in mind, who seemed sinking into
the grave without any one to warn her, or
speak to her of those eternal realities of which
she knew little and for which she cared less.
My friend was much occupied in the week.
Sunday was the only day on which she could
visit her. This she constantly did, and the
exercise of faith and patience was often verj-
severe.
Although the lady did not desire anything
better than her worldly friends, and the folly
with which they amused her, yet she gladly
received her Sunday visitor, as even that was
better than being alone.
PRECIOUS FRTTTT. 83
The zGcalous servant would not give up her
thankless service, so long as the way was open
for her to speak for her Master ; but now she
herself must leave London, and she confessed
that it was a relief thus to be delivered from
anxious desires of seeing the result of her
labors.
The last afternoon when she entered she
found a visitor had arrived before her. She
proposed in her own mind to bid the old lady-
farewell," and proceed on another errand ; bu^
compassion for the state of the aged sinner
overcame her reluctance. Their next meeting
would be on that day when the truth she had
spoken would be made manifest ; and touched
with this thought, and totally regardless of a
third person, she spoke long and earnestly.
No sign in the face or voice of her listener
gave her reason to hope that her words had
made any impression ; and they parted to meet
no more on this earth.
At the close of the summer of 18G0, when
the Lord's work was revived, and much bless-
ing was falling on the meetings in the north
84 WAYSroE SERVICE.
of England, my friend was at a large open-air
meeting, and observed a lad}^ near her whose
voice had joined in the last hj-mn of praise,
and she noticed that now the eyes of the
stranger were fixed intently on her face. She
strove to recall her features — but in vain :
she felt assured that she had never seen her
before.
The lady accosted her ; my friend suggested
that she was mistaken ; but the stranger, call-
ing her by name, replied, " I am not Hkely to
be mistaken, or to forget you ; through your
words I am here to-day rejoicing in God's
mercy." It was the visitor of the aged lady,
whom she had looked on as an obstacle to her
last day's service. The bread was cast upon
the waters, and though it was aot seen in the
place where the husbandman sought it, yet it
was found after many days.
"■ Thou knowest not whether shall prosper,
either this or that, or whether both shall be
ahke good." A testimony of life unto life, and
death unto death, may come from the same
hand ; we can only offer the bread, we cannot
PRECIOUS FRUIT. 85
give the appetite, neither can "we bestow the
power of acceptance. But let not " faith stand
in the wisdom of man, hut in the power of
God."
In one of our large towns in the south of
Englahd a lady waited for an evening train.
In the course of the day she obtained with
some difficulty permission to enter the hospi-
tal, which had a reputation for its excellent
arrangements. It was not the day on which
it was open to casual visitors.
The lady walked sloAvly down the principal
ward, lingering by the beds to speak to the
suffering occupants. To each she gave a little
book or leaflet, and many a sad face brightened
beneath her kindly ministration and cheering
words.
In that ward at midnight lay two souls side
by side in strange contrast. The tracts given
to these two women had found a voice which
awoke in one a cry for mercy to the Saviour
of sinners, and in the other aroused the bittcir
sarcasm of despair.
The Christian girl, who gave me the details,
occupied the adjoining bed, and the anguish
86 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
of a soul first beholding itself a sinner on the
brink of eternity was terrible to witness.
After a night-long struggle, one of the dy-
ing women accepted life from the dead, with-
out money and without price ; while her
companion, awakened to rage at the necessity
of the new birth, and the perfect righteous-
ness of the perfect Sacrifice, died in hon-or and
dismay.
Vainly the doctors sought to quell the mad-
ness of despair and the conflict of the spirits
of darkness ; their healing art could not reach
the soul, and the midnight of death had fallen
on both soul and body at the eleventh hour.
Orders were issued that if the stranger
returned she should be denied admittance.
Many an eye on the visiting day looked for
her, and longed for her to return. She came
no more. The bread she had cast upon the
waters was seen, and she will find it after
many days. " For God is not a man that he
should lie; neither the son of man that he
should repent. Hath he said, and shall he not
do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not
make it good ? "
PKECIOUS FKUIT. 87
Say not " 'T was all in vain,"
The anguish, and the darkness, and the strife;
Love thrown upon the waters comes again
In quenchless yearnings for a holy life.
Think how at midnight, ou thy w^eary sight,
Tlie stars shone forth: beneath their welcome rays
Thy hopes to heaven, like birds, first took their flight,
And thou shall find them — "after many days."
Say not, "'Twas all in vain,"
The vigil and the sickness and the tears:
For in that land where there is no more pain,
The grain is garnered from these mournful years.
The faded form once sheltered on thy breast,
No more thy gentle ministry repays;
She waits with Jesus in her sinless rest, —
Fear not to find her — "after many days."
Say not, " 'T was all in vain,"
Thy tenderness, thy meekness; oh, not so!
A strength for others' sufferings tlioQ shalt gain,
As healing balms from bruised flowerets flow.
Weep not the wealth, in fearless faith cast forth
On the dark billows, shipwrecked to thy gaze;
The bark was frail, tlie gem has still its worth,
And thou shalt find it — "after many days."
Say not, "'Twas all in vain,"
The watching, and the waiting, and the prayer;
In pierced hands hath it unanswered lain?
'Twill grow in blessing as it lingers there.
'T is space where once thy quivering form was cast;
No floating breeze thy heart-wrung cry betrays;
Yet through the white-winged choir thy prayer hath passed
And thou shalt find it — "after many days."
Say not, " 'T was all in vain,"
Tliy patience, and thy pity, and thy word
In warning breathed 'mid passion's hurricane,
(Unheeded hero, thy Lord that whisper heard.)
The tender grief o'er strangers' sorrows shed,
The sacrifice that won no human praise:
In faith upon the waters oast thy bread.
For thou shalt find it — "after many days."
88 "WAYSIDE SERVICE.
CHAPTER V.
EN-HAKKOEE.
(THE WELL OF HIM THAT CEIED.)
The things which are impossible with men are possible with
God.— Luke xviii. 27.
f^RAYER is the confession of need and
weakness, and the acknowledgment of
Almighty power and readiness to maot
them.
The prayer of faith is the simple request of
a trustful child to a father who possesses the
means as well as the desire to grant it ; of an
intelligent child, who confides in the wisdom
of a parent in the bestowal of the gift ; of a
loving child, who knows that nothing will be
refused him which is really for his good, be-
lieving in the love of Him to whom his wants
and griefs and joy are a matter of symj)atby
and tender consideration.
We have a vivid sense of our need, but if
we sought an habitual assurance of the love of
EN-HAKKORE. 89
God, we should more confidingly spread our
daily perplexities before him, instead of seek-
ing to remedy them for ourselves in the world-
wide paths of expediency, (Gen. xxvi. 7) ; as
if He who had called us to follow him was not
powerful enough to protect and deliver us
without our seeking for help of the princes of
this world. Ezra viii. 22.
The Lord promises, " My grace is sufficient
for thee." Shall we not trust in the word of
the hving God, and believe that this " grace "
includes all possible contingencies ? No trou-
ble that hath come upon us seems little to him.
Neh. ix. 32. " For we have not an High Priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of
our infirmities Let us therefore come
boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time
of need." Heb. iv. 15, 16.
Did we more deeply feel our own insuffi-
ciency there would be an increased dependence
upon the power of the Holy Spirit ; for prom-
ise and precept are ever linked for our encour-
agement. " If ye abide in me, and my words
90 WAYSIDE SEEVICE.
abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it
shall be done unto you." " For we know not
what we should pray for as we ought ; but the
Spirit maketh intercession for us according to
the wiU of God."
We hear repeated murmurs and queries as
to unanswered prayer, but seldom if ever cou-
pled with confession of unfaithfulness to the
precept enjoined.
Speaking of the efficacy of prayer, one asks,
" Is not submission to God in all the events
of life the highest form of prayer ? "
It is not prayer in any wise ; neither have I
yet heard of a soul in perfect submission to
God in all the events of life.
" Is it not communion with God, and a state
of resignation of our will to his, without asking
for any definite object, but leaving it to his
love and wisdom to order events for us ? "
Why, then, was not our Lord Jesus Christ
our perfect pattern in that state, " who in the
days of his flesh, when he had offered up
prayers and supplications, with strong crying
and tears, unto him that was able to save him
EN-HAKKOKE. 91
from death, and was heard in that he feared ? "
Heb. V. 7. And when " he lifted up his
eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou
hast heard me ; and I know that thou hcarest
me always." And again, "I will pray the
Father, and he shall give you another Com-
forter, that he may abide with you for ever."
And lastly, " Sit ye here while I shall pray.
.... Abba, Father, all things are possible to
thee ; take away this cup from me ; neverthe-
less, not what I will, but what thou wilt? "
This is the highest form of prayer. The
prophets and saints of old had the same plea
for the acceptance of their petitions as we have
— the faithfulness of God. The new cove-
nant is sealed with the blood of the spotless
Son of God. Is he less faithful now than he
was of old ? Ileb. viii. 6 ; vii. 22. " Pray
that ye enter not into temptation."
Abraham believed God, and it was counted
unto him for righteousness, but he put his
own energy to the accomplishment of the
promise, and wrought sorrow to himself, the
purpose of God still standing sure. After-
92 WAYSIDE SEKVICE.
wards Abraham could say, " The Lord, hefore
whom I walk, will send his angel with thee,
and prosper thy way ; " while Eliezer, compre-
hending that the path of obedience was the
place of blessing, looked for the fulfillment of
his commission ; " / being in the way, the Lord
led me."
When we are out of the way^ we lose light
upon our footsteps, and miss the minute indi-
cations of the will of the Lord by which he
manifests liimself to his watchful followers,
(John xiv. 21); and these may be observed, not
only in the sunlight of the mountain, but in
the 'path on the dark waters in which he has
promised his presence.
The heart, tuned to praise by recognition of
the gracious hand that upholds and directs it,
is always prepared for prayer ; and declension
in the spiritual life will as often arise from
disregard of thanksgiving as in negligence of
the precept, "Pray without ceasing." Do
not, therefore, leave his feet because your
heart is cold, — because your thoughts are
wandering, — because you are disinclined to
EN-HAKKOEE. 93
Bpeak to him who loves to hear your voice.
The promise is, " They that tvait upon the
Lord shall renew their strength." Isa. xl. 31.
There is no promise for waiting for a inore
convenient season, for joyous emotions, or for
certain devotional sensations. If Satan ob-
struct your path, fear not ! ISIake mention of
the name of that great Conqueror Avho says
for you, "All things are yours, and ye are
Christ's, and Christ is God's."
Do not say, " I am unfit to pray." Your
only fitness is your need of Christ's help. Only
believe, and thou shalt see the glory of God.
Think not, because your cry is not ansAvered
in the time and way you have desired, that the
Lord has not heard.
Say not, "He answered nothing." Thou didst pray,
"Give mc tht/sfl/.' " and lo! lie talccs away
Thine idol from thy fond arms' fevered fold;
His garment's hem thy failing Angers hold.
Hush! in that solemn silence he hath heard
Thy sobs of anguish and each faltering word;
Go, plead again, and yet again ; thy need
Is wliat thy Saviour mctcth; therefore plead.
What! still ho answereth nothing! Xay; beneath
That silence rolls, "O woman, great thy faith!'
" Ehas was a man subject to like passions
as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it
94 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
might not rain ; and it rained not on the earth
by the space of three years and six months.
And he prayed again, and the heaven gave
rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."
James v. 17, 18. But when Elias prays,
" Take away my life, for I am not better than
my fathers," his prayer was unanswered. The
set time was not fully come. The work given
him to do was not done; his course was not
finished. He had yet to anoint Hazael and
Jehu kings over Syria and Israel, swords of
judgment for the nations. He had to call
Elisha from the plough, and anoint him prophet
in his room, and pronounce the sentence of
the Lord against the revengeful king, and the
woman whose vain threat had driven the true-
hearted servant into the wilderness.
The man so ready to resign his life as value-
less was still to live, to prove the power com-
mitted to him, and to command fire from
heaven to consume the hundred soldiers and
their captains, — the Lord of heaven and earth
thus manifesting to him how easily he could
have protected him from the vengeance of an
infuriated enemy.
EN-HAKKORE. 95
Courage ! trembling followers of the Lamb.
They that be with us are more than they that
be with them. He who delivered us from the
bear and the lion, unseen of men, is with us
in the single-handed combat with the sling
and the stone in the face of the multitude.
Forget not his works and his wonders. It is
the same God who sustained you in the year
of drought, who led you triumphantly through
the dangers plotted against you ; and though
you may fail to apprehend him in the earth-
quake, yet in the silence and solitude of the
soul that listens for him the still small voice
shall be heard. The experience of many a
wilderness journey is but the preparation for
the chariot of fire.
The mystical union of Christ and the be-
liever has heights and depths that pass man's
understanding ; and those to whom the secret
of the Lord is known have learned deep les-
sons of his power and their own insufficiency,
beneath the shadow of the juniper.
The Master whom Elias served had better
things in store for him. Was it in that desert
96 WAYSIDE SEEVICE.
solitude, with no eye to behold his wondrous
translation, that the Lord had appointed to
call away liis faithful and hitherto unflinching
witness ? Thus the cry of natui-e is refused or
delayed for better things.
Jesus said, " Whatsoever ye shall ask m my
name, that will I do, that the Father may be
glorified in the Son." The Father would not
be glorified by the acceptance of many of the
natural heart's desires. His chosen people
desired quails, and quails were given them ;
the answer resulted in judgment. The persis-
tent prayer from an unsanctified will brings
its certain chastening.
I knew a lady who had an only son — a
lovely and intelligent boy. He was the idol
of her life. Sickness seized him ; and one
evening the physicians broke to the agonized
mother, that in the night the child must die !
In the bitterness of her grief she persisted
that he should not die, and throwing herself
on her face declared before God that she woidd
never rise until his life should be granted to
her.
EN-HAKKORE. 91
The hours of night passed heavily on. In
tlie morning the child still lived, and the crisis
was declared to have passed. He recovered.
His brilliant abilities won for him earthly-
honors at school and college. He was the
pride of liis mother's heart. Then without
any apparent cause the powers of his mind
utterly failed ; nor did it end there. When I
knew her his abode was in one of those mourn-
ful habitations of restraint that preach so
loudly to the proud of heart and those of
boasted intellect. His mother, then an aged
woman, had never received from him one ex-
pression of recognition, when allowed at cer-
tain seasons to visit him, and she herself was
slow to acknowledge the answer to her un-
sanctified prayer.
" The prayer of faith shall save the sick."
Nay, this was not the prayer of faith, but of
the natural heart's rebellion.
Who is there, knowing the power of the
Lord to forgive sins, and who is rejoicing in
sins forgiven, that has not longed for his visi-
ble presence by the bed of suffering, where
08 "WAYSIDE SERVICE
some cherished one lies at the point of death ?
Such will have followed in tenderest sympathy
the steps of Jesus when the ruler fell at his
feet, " and besought him that he would come
into his house ; for he had one only daughter,
about twelve years of age, and she lay a dy-
ing."
Watch for him still. It is the same Jesus,
whose tender heart is not less tender since he
laid down his Hfe for you. In him is wisdom
for 5''0ur way, and solace for your sorrow.
The heart oppressed by its burden of woe
cannot realize that it prays at all.
" Lord, he whom thou lovest is sick," was
the prayer of faith, and expressed the great
need of the presence of him whose power and
love were acknowledged in it. Jesus knew
that Lazarus was sick, and yet he tarried.
We are too eager to escape the cloud in
which we afterward find the glory of the Lord
is enshrouded. Martha and Mary would fain
have saved Lazarus from death. " Lord, if
thou hadst been here my brother had not died,"
sounds upbraidingly to that Bizessed One
EN-HAKKORE. 99
who came to do more than they could ask or
think. They thought the personal presence
of the Lord would have saved them from this
trial. He came to open to them deeper truths,
and the power of the Lord of life was thus
discovered in the triumph of resurrection.
Had the sisters' first anxious cry been an-
swered, and the sick one whom Jesus loved
been healed at once, what a glorious manifes-
tation of the divine purpose would have been
withheld ! Nor were the precious revelations
confined to the family of Bethany, for with the
trial of their faith room must be made for the
display of the glory of God.
When the Jews followed Mary, they thought
that she was going to the grave to weep, —
and they found themselves at the feet of
Jesus.
Who, that has received a beloved one again
from the borders of the unseen world, knows
not the hallowing influence of such a restora-
tion ? In answer to the prayer, that seemed
no prayer to the sinking heart that breathed
it, the Good Physician has been in the house
100 "WAYSIDE SERVICE.
when we tliought liim unmindful of our afflic-
tion. He lias whispered, "This sickness is not
unto death," and we scarce believed him ; yet
he has stood by and rebuked the fever, and he
has restored our fading^ treasure to the arms
of our little faith. His hand, his pierced
hand, has been upon what we best loved ; and
that must render it twice the gift of God.
Never more can we regard it as. our own, as
once we did; it lives before us a witness of
Eternal Truth, sealed with the faithfulness of
God.
And you who watch and weep to-day, temp-
ted to think that had the Lord been here your
loved one had not died, — "only believe."
He knows your sorrows, and in Him who wept
at Bethany behold the hviug God ! Jesus
never comes too late.
Some who know him not will gather round
you in tender sympathy; they cannot 'reach
beyond the freshlj'-closed grave ; but there
may follow one who can, and find him who is
the resurrection and the life.
The long and weary sickness that baffles aU
EN-HAKKORB. 101
human skill and care is often the perfecting of
faith, and hope, and patience. Fruit is fairer
in the valley-land than on the hill-top. The
constant prayer for his presence who can alone
sustain leaves a track on the dark waters, —
unseen by others, but declaring to us the glory
of God.
" Be still, and know that I am God."
Lord ! look npon my loved one and on lliine,
For tlioii art full of mercy. On a way
Begirt with deepening shadows, let there shine
The light of tliy dear smile. Lo ! day by day,
With sinking heart and eager gaze, 1 seek
Some fuller accent, or some answering smile,
Some beam of health on lip, or brow, or cheek,
My anxious, weary watching to beguile.
Not thus, O Lord, canst thou the blessing shed;
Give me submission to thy sovereign will;
Behold my empty hands to thee outspread,
I know that thou art God : I will be still.
Sad hearts ! Trust your treasures to your
omnipotent Friend. A httle while, only a lit-
tle while, and they that sleep in Jesus sliall
come with him to die no more ; death shaU
have no more dominion over them. And some
in yon bright cloud of glory may jjoint to
where you prayed, ere your sick one was rais-
ed again, — where Jesus stood unseen, — as
102 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
the spot where they looked for the first time
from earth to heaven, and heard the voice of
the living God.
We pray. We say that God is the hearer
and answerer of prayer ; but if the answer
does not immediately return in the way our
short-sighted wisdom has pre-determined, we
faint, and either listen to the suggestion of the
Evil One, that the Lord does not hear such
prayers, or to our own heart's deceitful sur-
mises, that he will not heed this matter. He
says, " My thoughts are not your thoughts."
Isaiah Iv. 8.
Many events have often to transpire before
prayer can be granted ; many hopes must die
away, the energy of the flesh wither. Cir-
cumstances are weaving a chain out of what
seems to us a raveled yarn ; yet gradually
and in perfect order shall be developed the
gracious design of the Most High to his wait-
ing servant ; for none ever sought him in
vain.
In some cases the time is nearly fulfilled for
the pui-pose, before the Holy Spirit indites
EN-HAKKURE. 103
the prayer. Tims hope in God is encouraged,
and the breath of earnest supphcation wafts
the longed-for vessel swiftly into the desired
hav3n.
In some soul for whom we seem to be inter-
ceding in vain the seed has only germinated,
and we expect to behold ripened grain.
" Blessed are ye who have not seen, and yet
have believed." A Father's eye of love is on
his petitioner ; he is cultivating faith and pa-
tience in the restless heart wliile granting its
request.
We pray for a child, that he may live to the
glory of the Lord we love. The Lord gath-
ers it, and we say, " He did not hear." Nay,
he has heard and answered. The little one
has outstripped us in the race, and has left
behind a hallowed record. The lisping words
of truth the Holy Comforter taught him are
fondly treasured, and the child of many pray-
ers has brought forth fi'uit to everlcisting life.
Thus weeping eyes look upward, and see
Jesus; and girding up their garments anew
toil after the little messenger of love, whom
104 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
the Good Shepherd allowed to sojourn in their
midst. The prayer is answered ; the cliild has
lived to the glorj' of God !
You pray for some grace ; you are answered
by a temptation for which this grace is pecu-
liarly needed. Is not this a swift answer ^to
prayer ? — that you ma}^ learn at once the
hopelessness of self-effort, and cast yourself
on him who says, " Call upon me and I will
answer thee, and show thee great and mighty
things that thou knowest not."
You desire some gift. Are you fitted for
it ? Were the Israelites prepared to enter the
promised land as soon as they had passed the
Red Sea ? The spiritual blessing may seem
near, almost realized, and then by some strange
winding of our course be farther off than ever.
Discouraged, we cry, " Hath God forgotten
to be gracious ? hath he in anger shut up his
tender mercies ? " Nay, " If thou criest after
knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for under-
standing ; if thou seekest her as silver, and
searchest for her as for hid treasures ; then
shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord,
EN-HAKKOKE. 105
and find the knowledge of God." Pro v. ii.
3-5. Such gifts are not received in some sud-
den effusion of the Spirit, but by means which
often make ns think our failures are greater,
as morning light will disclose much that twi-
light conceals.
Be of good courage ! God will have regard
to the work of his own hands. With joy he
hears you plead. If the natural prayer is often
denied for blessing, the prayer for grace is for
God's glory ; it is indited by the Holy Spirit ;
it must be answered; it is the will of God.
Though it tarry, wait for it. 1 John v. 14.
In my early spiritual life I had a deep sense
of the essential requisite of assurance of salva-
tion. In vain I pondered on the Scriptures,
" He that believeth on me hath everlasting
life." " He that hath the Son hath life ; and
he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
These things have I written unto you that
believe on the name of the Son of God ; that
ye may kno^v that ye have eternal life, and that
ye may believe on the name of the Son of
God." 1 John v. 12, 13.
106 WAYSEDE SEEVICE.
These words might bring conviction to othei
hearts ; they brought none to mine, because I
had not reahzed that this gift came by grace
from the Holy Spirit, and not from any intel-
lectual assent of the human understanding to
a truth of God.
The absolute necessity of knowing my posi-
tion as a child of God, if I were one ; of laying
claim to all the promises laid up for me ; and
of taking advantage of the unsearchable riches,
which I sometimes thought might be mine ;
this seemed beyond all idea of service, — and
as for testimony, there could be none with-
out it.
It may be asked. Did I disbelieve Scripture?
I thought I did not, but it was a virtual de-
nial ; for "he that believeth not God hath
made him a liar ; because he beheveth not the
record that God gave of his Son. And this is
the record., that God hath given to us eternal
life, and this life is in his Son." 1 John v.
10, 11.
I was waiting at a dentist's in great pain
and apprehension before the extraction of a
EN-HAKKORE. 107
tooth. I did not pray for any mitigation of
the suffering; it seemed as though the pain
would be nothing if I only possessed an abid-
ing assurance of salvation. If peace and joy
filled my heart in contemplating the covenant
of grace, I wondered if I had a right to be joy-
ful ; and if depressed, and unable to enter into
the joy of the Lord, Satan set it forth as a
convincing fact that I had no portion in my
Father's house.
I prayed for other things. I obtained an-
swers, but never until this day had I seen that
this gift which was lacking in me, and the
most essential testimony to the love of God
towards me, could not be obtained by any self-
effort ; yet it ivas for me. The Holy Ghost
was promised in these "good gifts" to them
that ask for them.
I felt that-the Lord, and the Lord only, could
end the strife, and why I had never seen this
until then I knew not.
The room was crowded with people ; it liin-
dered me not, I was as much alone as if in my
closet. All my thoughts were centered on the
108 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
desire to liave this momentous question de-
cided once and for ever.
I sought for a Bible among the books
around, but no Bible was there. The first
moment my disappointment was great, believ-
ing that God's own Word, received in faith by
the power of the Holy Ghost, would resolve
all my doubts.
My cry had ascended into the ears of the
Lord of Sabaoth, and I felt obstacles to me
were no hindrance to him ; and my prayer was
" Speak, ZortZ / It matters not to thee, thou
canst speak through any book, or without a
book ; only tell me that Jam thine."
I laid my hand upon a volume near me. I
remember it was " Travels in the East." I
opened it, and in italics I read, " Fear not, for
I have redeemed thee ; I have called thee by
thy name ; thou art mine. When' thou pass-
est through the waters, I will be with thee :
and through the rivers, they shall not over-
flow thee ; when thou walkest through the
fire, thou shalt not be burned ; neither shall
the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the
EN-HAKKORE. 109
Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy
Saviour." Isaiah xliii. 1-3.
That moment the witness of the Spirit was
sealed on my soul. I only paused in my praise
to pray that it might never be withdrawn. By
grace we are saved ; by grace also are we up-
held. God is faithful, though I am unfaitliful.
In spite of the attacks of Satan, in spite of my
own waywardness and disobedience, this gra-
cious token of prayer heard and answered has
never been taken from me ; and the remem-
brance of that hour remains Avith me a fruitful
source of praise. I gladly received him, for I
was waiting for him. Luke viii. 40.
" Every good gift and every perfect gift is
from above," therefore given and received by
the Holy Spirit's power.
Our lack of faith in not believing that our
prayer has availed, or can avail, to bring the
blessing we need, is often the obstacle to our
thanksgiving. " He that cometli to God
must beUeve that he is, and that he is a re-
warder of them that diligently seek him."
Heb. xi. G.
110 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
We act as if our prayer for grace would be
gi'anted by some pleasurable and joyous emo-
tions ; instead of wliich it is not unfrequently
answered by some new view of our corrup-
tion, or some circumstances calling more loud-
ly for our need of this grace. Though it
come not in the form you expect, yet it will
come.
The prayer for unconverted relatives is per-
haps the one nearest to this in the heart of the
believer. And the little subjection of the
natural will often renders this ser\dce one of
peculiar trial and temptation. We decide on
some means wliich we pre-suppose shall be
effectual to bring before the sinner his true
state : — the sermon of some eloquent preach-
er ; the convincing arguments in a tract or
book ; the visit of some successful missionary ;
our own unpalatable counsel and disregarded
warnings. All fail.
Are you seeking for souls among your own
kinsfolk and acquaintance ? Remember you
tread in the path of the Master. But unlike
him you have to recall the days when youi
EN-HAKKORE. Ill
own pride might have revolted against the
exhortations of those who longed and prayed
to see you partaker of their blessed portion.
No missionary on the wide field of the heath-
en hath greater need of the abiding power of
the Holy Spirit. But there is One who will
not be forgetful of your labor of love.
Be patient, but not supine. You are living
together, the saved with the unsaved. There
may not be any very material difference visi-
ble to the natural eyes ; for nature has many
pleasant fruits, though they will be burned up.
You share in common the sunshine and the
rain, for he sendeth these blessings upon the
"just and the unjust ; " but you are separated,
as light from darkness. The blood is upon
one. The angel of destruction can touch him
not. He is " shut in."
He who is in darkness without cannot judge
of the light within : therefore you will be un-
comprehended and misjudged, — for a blind
man cannot tell the value of a precious stone ;
it needs a lapidary to pronounce upon its
worth and weight.
112 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
" Be strong and very courageous ; " and this
can only be as you live in the Spirit. Wateli
unto prayer. Speak little to unconverted
fiiends without earnest supplication for your-
self. But speak much for thdm to him who is
able to save to the uttermost ; for " it is not
the will of your Father that one of these little
ones should perish."
I knew a widower who had an only child.
From her early childhood she was an anxious
care to her godly father. For seventeen years
this parent prayed without any evidence that
his prayer was heard, save the abiding prom-
ise that cannot lie ; " If ye abide in me, and
my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye
will, and it shall be done unto you." John
XV. 7.
A preacher of the gospel, and a truly con-
verted man, became interested in this daugh-
ter ; whether she gave some appearance of
being touched by his solicitude for her, which
he mistook for an evidence of change of heart,
I know not, but he married her. And thus,
neglecting the injunction not to be unequally
EN-HAKKORE. 113
yoked, he wrought for himself much bitterness
and sorrow.
The young wife ridiculed her husband ; she
attended the services in which he was engaged,
and with a foolish companion delighted in
mocldng him on their return. Heart-sick her
poor father looked back on nineteen years of
unanswered prayer, and in desolation of heart
he said,
" I will go and see her once again, and I will
then pray for her no more." So he set off to
visit her.
He reached his son-in-law's house ; the
cloth was spread for supper. No one was
there ; a neighbor told him every one was gone
to the meeting.
The sad-hearted man sat himself down and
reviewed the past, and groaned in anguish of
spirit ; and he said, " I will wait here and
warn her again, and then I will pray for her
no more."
But now were heard the steps of the people
returning from the meeting, and his son-in-
law entered, followed by , tliis child of
114 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
many prayers. The father shrank back, ex-
pecting to hear some words of cruel mockery.
"What was his amazement when, after a most
tender greeting, he beheld husband and wife
kneel side by side, and one after the other
pour forth glad thanksgivings for salvation
that had visited their dwelling. Happy, hap-
py day !
Take courage, ye who carry your rebellious
children and unbelieving relations to the Lord
Jehovah ! Be it nineteen years, or twice told
nineteen years, fear not ; only abide in him !
Ye know not when, nor where, nor through
what channel, will flow the grace of God ;
enough when you hear, " Go thy way ; thy
son liveth." Only abide in him.
A Christian lady had an only brother, her
last near relative. While she rejoiced in the
way of life, he walked the paths of death.
He was a confirmed drunkard. She, with
friends and a position of affluence in this
world, had her heart set on the world beyond.
This affectionate and intelligent woman,
strong in him who is able to subdue all things
EN-HAKKOKE. 115
unto himself, left her own pleasant home, and
took up her abode in the poor drunkard's
dwelling.
Years passed by. There may have been
hours of sorrow and regret in the days of the
unhappy man, but he had never sorrowed after
a godly sort, and they wrought no change in
him.
Day after day on the borders of the lake
where they dwelt, she might be seen in the
summer twilight following at a distance the
unsteady steps of the wanderer, as a mother
would watch her child.
The position which she voluntarily accepted
sundered her even from Christian relationship.'
It may be that thus she found the strength to
walk therein to the glory of the Lord. " Bles-
sed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and
whose hope the Lord is." Jer. xvii. 7.
In the minds of others all expectation of any
favorable result from her self-denying service
had failed long since. Not so in the mind of
a faithful disciple of Him who came to seek
and to save. When urged to leave the wretch-
116 TVAYSIDE SERVICE.
ed man to his fate, and to bestow her time
and abilities on more fruitful sources of ser-
vice, her reply was always the same, " The
Lord has called me to this work ; there is no
one else to do it. God will give me my broth-
er's soul."
After a few days' sudden illness, the Lord
of seed-time and harvest called home his faith-
ful laborer. And some who had known her
faith, and the patient, watchful care bestowed
on one who disregarded it, said, " It has been
aU in vain ! Who will watch him now ! who
will care for him now ? "
Oh, dear friends, God is faithful ; judge no-
thing before the time. Was there no evidence
during this seed-time ? was the path all bar-
ren ? Nay ; long-suffering, gentleness, good-
ness, faith, meekness, everlasting fruit laid up
for the beloved, was seen.
That pale coffined form follows the wander-
er rio more ; but the silence of death seals with
a mighty force the service done. Where are
the thousand, thousand prayers ? Where is the
evidence which her djang breath repeated.
EN-HAKKORE. 117
abiding in the Beloved, — "God will give me
my brother's soul ? "
The grass was not green npon her grave
not far from the shore of the lake where the
faithful woman trod so often in faith, when —
behold the harvest ! The brother so long
sought is found ! Behold him clothed and in
his right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus, a
living testimony to the power of believing
prayer according to the new covenant of
promise. Jolm xv. 5, 7.
The Bible is full of prayers and answers to
prayers, evidences of man's helplessness and
of God's almighty power. The lives of those
who watch for liim are full of tokens of his
faithfulness and care, Luke xii. 7, and in the
lives of those who do not watch for him may
be traced the effect of the prayers of those who
do. Chapters would not suffice to record the
answers to my own feeble cry. With shame
I confess how often I listen to the whisper of
my unbeUeving heart, " Trouble not the Mas-
ter." " JNIany, O Lord my God, are thy won-
derful works which thou hast done, and thy
118 WAYSEDE SERVICE.
thoughts which are to us-ward ; they cannot
be reckoned up in order unto thee : if I would
declare and speak of them, they are more than
can be numbered." Psa. xl. 15.
The simplicity of prayer, and the simplicity
of the means by which it is answered, are
often used to the pulling down of strongholds,
and confounding the things that are mighty.
Our very infirmities and necessities thus be-
come sources of everlasting blessing ; and
some mean and otherwise useless instrument
may slay a host of our enemies, and prove
the medium of a living fountain to a thirsty
soul.
One morning I was preparing my packets
of tracts and " Revivals," etc., to send to some
distant friends : several had to be posted in
time for the foreign mail. All looked for
them by a certain day. Only a short time
remained for me to send them to the neigh-
boring town, when, to my dismay, I had no
string. Devising several expedients, and fail-
ing in all, I did at last what I should have
done at first — told Jesus. I sat quietly wait-
EN-HAKKOEE. Ill)
ing, when it struck me that I would again
examine the bag in which previously I had
made a fruitless search. I found a tiny roll of
twine, enough for one parcel, but very pre-
cious to me as a sign of my Father's answering.
I had already vainly applied to my lQ,ndlady.
But I rang the bell. It was answered by a
little girl who came to assist her, and who oc-
casionally waited on me.
I had before me many an e\ddence that my
Redeemer livcth. I had told him my desire
that the dear friends who looked for their
monthly remembra^e should not be disap-
pointed. I was importunate, for the hour tvas
waning fast.
I asked the child if she could go to town,
thinking I might yet be able to send her to
buy some new string. She smiled and listen-
ed, but made no answer ; she then left the
room, returning with a large ball of pink
twine, which she placed exultingly before me,
saying, " Father made it on purpose for you,
ma'am. He wanted to do something for you,
you were so kind to me ; he is a rope-maker.
120 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
and he said that this twine was the best tiling
he could think of; it was only finished last
night."
Never, surely, did a ball of pink twine
awake a more grateful song of praise. The
parcels were completed, and my happy Httle
helper carried them off to the post.
In the evening my landlady told me that
she had a relation coming to visit her, adding,
" I think she is a Christian ; but she is always
fretting, and never knows whether she is right
or wrong. I wish you could speak to her. I
fear she won't be persuaded to see you."
From the window the following day I re-
marked a stranger ; her countenance betok-
ened a heart ill at ease. I pondered on invit-
ing her in, when my landlady ushered her into
my room at her own request. She was a
Christian, so far as believing that the punish-
ment due to her sins had been laid upon the
spotless Son of God. But while she confessed
that she knew that he had died for her, she
had never realized that " he liveth."
She was full of " responsibility," of working
EN-HAKKORE. 121
and doing, without liaving believed that
"Without me ye can do nothing," and that
the Holy Spirit must work in us, to will and
to do of his good pleasure.
The Lord led her to open her heart to me,
and I saw from whence her trouble arose.
When she paused I said, " Have you ever told
Jesus all you have told me ? "
" No," she answered in surprise, " I should
not think he would listen to me about such a
thing; it would be but a little matter to
him."
" Your poor dehcate baby is a very little
thing, but you love it.'*
" Yes, indeed."
" It is a very little thing to others if the
unclosed shutter lets in the dancing sunbeam
upon its face, and keeps it from its midday
sleep ; but you make it a great matter, because
you love to know that your child is not suffer-
ing sleeplessness from it."
I then pointed to the ball of twine that,
though decreased in size, was still a goodly tes-
timony to the faithfulness of the living God.
122 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
I told her its history. She listened with an
interest deeper than curiosity, as I assured her
from experience that there was nothing small
or great to the eternal Father. Scarcely had
I paused ere she was summoned to her sup-
per.
. When she came to take leave of me, her
" countenance was no more sad." She thanked
me warmly for the words I had been led to
speak to her, and pointing to the ball of string
she smiled and said,
" To think it was that little ball of twine
did it all ! "
Thus the mean weapon with which Giant
Doubt was slain became a well of water to one
who cried.
My window overlooked a small homestead
and fields, on which the tenant himself la-
bored. From the pillow of my sofa I had
watched the grain ripen for the sickle, and
later, the group of men and women reaping,
gathering, and gleaning.
The harvest was over. It was a warm,
moist day, with occasional heavy mist and rain
EN-HAKKORE. 123
T had ceased to enjoy the close of the harvest :
the one poor horse had toiled with scarcely
any intermission from early morn till eve, and
I was thankful when I saw the poor jaded
creature led off to his stable, instead of dying
on the field.
Scarcely half an hour had passed when the
master returned, very smartly attired in his
Sunday suit, dragging the poor reluctant ani-
mal by the bridle. He fastened it to a sledge,
which he loaded heavily with wood. The
weary creature could not draw the load ; its
drooping head told its inability. The farmer
seized a yoke that lay by it, and beneath the
fierce blow he dealt it it nearly sank, but did
not move forward. Could my voice have
reached him in a petition to spare the sinldng
beast, it would have availed little against the
wrath of man ; but in less time than I can
write it I cried to the Lord God for deliver-
ance for the horse. Swift as my cry came the
answer. As the man raised the yoke again to
smite, his foot slipped and he fell, and failing
to gain his footing he rolled in the black mud.
124 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
When he arose lie presented a melancholy
spectacle. After a few mmutes to recover
himself he unfastened the horse, who moved
off to his stable. The sledge I saw still laden
with wood in the morninof.
Doth God take care for oxen, and will he not
for horses? Will he remember the sparrow,
and give no heed to the cry of his childi*en?
In a lodging I had taken elsewhere in the
summer I was disturbed by mice. I com-
plained to my landlady, who was firmly per-
suaded that no mice had ever been heard in
my apartments. She evidently thought that
it was some imaginary mouse. I was suffering
seriously from want of sleep. I had com-
plained to my landlady twice, and not once
had I told Him, to whom my sufferings were
of far greater interest.
Worn out by repeated nights of watching I
at last told Jesus, and that night I slept
soundly ; the next night the same. I heard
no more of the mice ; my landlady thus tri-
umphantly proving to her own satisfaction that
the supposed mouse was not a mouse.
EN-HAKKORE. 125
I write it with shame. I confess that I
accepted this great mercy as a matter of
course, without thanksgiving, though con-
scious that the Lord had done it all. When
one sultry evening I entered my bedroom the
windows were closed ; an odor so offensive
met me, that I hastily opened the windows
and left the room. When I returned to bed
the room was still insupportable. And now I
felt asliamed to complain again to my landlady,
lest I should weary her.
Then, and not till then, did I remember
One, who fainteth not, neither is Aveary ;
whose ear is open to our cry ; and whose hand
is powerful to help. To sleep in the room as
it was, was out of the question, and it was
now late in the night. I began to carefully
search the chamber. One of the old-fashioned
fire-irons had fallen from its upright position ;
I raised it, and underneath, crushed by its
weight, lay a large dead mouse in a state of
decomposition. Ah ! then my thanldess heart
remembered my Father's care, and I praised.
Oh blessed day of small things, wliich the God
126 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
who clothes the grass, and gives food to the
lavens who cry, does not despise !
When I showed my landlady this evidence
of blessing and reproof from the hand of my
heavenly Master, she began to consider if such
things could be, — that the Lord of the whole
earth would have regard to the sleepless nights
and aching head of his sick child ; and often I
was allowed to point her anxious mind to my
own staff, too frequently mislaid or forgotten,
"Be careful for nothing ; but in everything
by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known unto God;
and the peace of God, which passeth all under-
standing, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus." Phil. iv. 6.
THE LOOK.
And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy mlgb^
Judges vi. 14.
I LOOKED upon the olive-grove,
What comfort could it bring?
Tlie fmitful vine, once full of speech,
Was but a common thing.
Up to the gorgeous skies I gazed,
Down to the silvery sea,
On to the purple sunset heights;
But aU was dumb to me.
EN-HAKKOKE. 127
Then back I taimed to vanished days,
Wlien Christ liis love revealed —
To messages of hope and peace,
His faitliful hand had sealed.
And well I knew, " for me he died,"
But yet no rest could be,
Until my drooping heaii; could sing,
"My Saviour lives for me 1"
I looked upon my wounded feet.
So often led astray;
I strove to count my countless sins,
For ever put away ;
I looked on everytliing but him,
In desolating grief.
And found ! — O heart, what couldst then find
Of solace and relief?
Then sat I down before the Lord,
That he my need might see;
And helpless, hopeless, speechless, then
My Saviour looked on me.
Oh, look of life! oh, might of love!
My heart that glance returned.
And melting 'nealh his heavenly smlle^
With joy and ardor burned.
Just so my sweet and sovereign Lord
On Peter looked before;
He, In the strength of that one look*
Denied his Lord no more;
But followed him in life to death:
Lord, let r.ie do the same!
Yea, let me go in this thy might—
Strong in thy Iloly Name.
128 WAYSIDE SEEVICE.
CHAPTER VI.
THE PLEASANT PLANT.
If the Lord bo with us, wliy then is all this befallen us?
Judges vi. 13.
i^ S I sat on the terrace of my foreign dwel-
ls, li^^g) and looked from the blue waters of
^ji tlie vine-clad shores of Lake Leman in
its sunny loveliness, to Mont Blanc, crowned
with snow towering above it, I felt how per-
fectly the contrasts of Nature harmonized
beneath the hand of the great Creator.
Sheltered beneath the terrace of the chateau
were the earliest and choicest vines : their
fruit had long been formed, and in some places
it was even ripening, so that I was surprised
to see a man pruning among them. It seemed
almost ci'uel to denude them of so much of
their lovely foliage when they needed protec-
tion from the heat of the sun. I descended
the slope, and found the path bestrewed with
THE PLEASANT PLANT. 129
the branches and their graceful tendrils, al-
ready burned up in the glowing noon.
With deep interest I watched the vine-di-es-
ser as he intelligently examined every branch
before pruning it, so skillfully did he use the
sharp knife, and so carefully did he handle the
branches. I inquired,
" Monsieui', Avill you tell me why you are
pruning your vines so late? I thought all
such work had been completed long since.
Surely some of these branches might be left ;
it appears a pity to cut them so closely."
He smded at my ignorance, and replied,
" Nay, madame ; the value of the vine is in
the fruit, not in the leaves. If these branches
remain, they may njake wood ; but it is my
fruit here that I have my eye upon."
On this the knife pruned expertly close to
the leading stem, and as the branch fell, it
disclosed three or four rich clusters of grapes
near to the root. A few strong, healthy leaves
were left to protect them from being dried up
by the ardent rays of the sun, and to prevent
the too rapid exhalation of the dew, while the
130 WAYSIDE SEllVICE.
fair clustering fruit was nourislied into full
strength and beauty by the sap from which it
drew its life.
*' I am the proprietor," said the strangei
pausing, and glancing with e"vddent satisfaction
along the vine-clad slope. " I love to work
among my vines myself. I watch them in
their growth ; I think about them, and prune
them with care ; but if you saw the men em-
ployed down there," said he in a tone of com-
miseration, pointing compassionately to another
vineyard, " you would see that they cut here,
and slash there, and bruise, and break, and
trample among them, without understand-
ing."
As he' continued his work I spoke to him of
the heavenly Husbandman, and the great vin-
tage. He confessed it would be well if such
thoughts would come with the labor, and there
our conversation ended. Retracing my steps
to my seat beneath the lofty maples, the words
that Jesus spoke came fresh to my heart, "I
am the true vine, and my Father is the hus-
bandman Herein is my Father glorified,
THE PLEASANT PLANT. 131
that ye bear much fruit ; so shall y<} be my
disciples." John xv. 1, 8.
This man did not look for a few scattered
berries, or untimely fruit ; he was anticipating
an abundant vintage, which should hereafter
produce wine to "make glad the heart of
man." And the leaves wliich he was remov-
ing, if they fell not beneath the pruning-knife
of the husbandman, would perish in the win-
ter's cold.
Many weeks had gone by since I had first
looked on this vineyard. What cloudy days
we had seen ! What storms had beaten the
young plants low! — and yet they lived and
bore fruit ; and some bore " much fruit." The
sun had sent its searching beams among them,
and wild winds from the mountains had threat-
ened to uproot them. They had been early
pruned, and now they were pruned again, and
beneath it all they became more fi'uitful and
beautiful ! And there is yet another process
for wliich we wait. The bruising and crush-
ing of the grape is to come, ere the juice shall
produce the wine for wliich it was cultivated.
132 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
By many such means is the Great Husband-
man preparing the branches of his choice vine,
and maturing heavenly fruit for his eternal
joy! .
When the young branches are first pruned
they " weep," * or bleed, and then the buds
of promise burst forth ; but when they are last
pruned fruit is there, and it responds to the
pruning by increased richness and beauty.
I praised my God and Father that he had
given me to read and rejoice in this fair page
of natui'e opened before me, on which his own
hand had inscribed, " God is love."
The Lord delighteth in the prosperity of his
choice vine-branches. Ah, my friend! it is not
the prosperity that Asaph envied. He has
better things for his beloved. The scorching
fires of temptation, and the rough blasts of
* The "weeping" of the vine, which continues for two or
three days, lias been used for one of the false miracles of the
Romish church, the vine-branches being placed in the figure of
the Virgin in such a way that the tears of the vine fell at inter-
vals from her eyes. This was pointed out by the priests as a
mark of the loving pity of the Virgin mother of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and a reason why her intercession must be beneficial
and necessary to the acceptance of the prayers of the worship*
ers.
THE PLEASANT PLANT. 133
malignity and oppression, and cloudy dajs of
sickness, and sadness, and desolation, will in
the end show the love and wisdom of the Great
Husbandman.
Tribulation in various forms is the special
sign of the Chui'ch militant. There is a cer-
tain amount of the sufferings of Christ for his
body's sake, the church, which must be filled
up ; but the sighs are all counted, and tears
are all numbered, not one stifled sob is omit-
ted ; they have each a purpose to fulfill ; but
" as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so
our consolation also aboundeth by Christ."
2 Cor. i. 5. We fear affliction, yet it is the
Shechinah in which it oftentimes pleases the
Lord to reveal himself more immediately to his
beloved people. Many a one, in looking back
upon those pruning times, bears witness to the
glory seen in the darkest day. Nor are we to
suppose that, when God changes the nature of
the trial, it is an expression of his displeasure,
but rather to call into action some undevel-
oped grace of the Holy Spirit, and increase
the fruitfulness of the behever. Christ ap-
134 WAYSIDE SEKVICE.
peared in " another form " to certain of his
disciples ; but it was the same heavenly Mas-
ter, bent on the same gracious purpose, to
teach them to wait for him, watch for him,
and trust in him ; therefore, " no man should
be moved by these afflictions ; for yourselves
know that we are appointed thereunto." 1
Thess. iii. 3.
Perhaps the early pruning of a converted
soul consists in the first necessity that occurs
of believing in opposition to sense ; to know
that Christ is the same, (Heb. xiii. 8,) when
the palsied hand of faith can no more joyously
handle him. Unconsciously to ourselves we
rely upon our emotions, rather than upon the
object of faith. The sure rock that trembles
not is the Christ of the Word — God revealed
in Jesus.
The infallible testimony is, that Christ is
God, (1 John i. 1,) and that his covenant stand-
eth sure. And when shadows lengthen and
deepen and fall on one pleasant hope after an-
other, — when every nerve vibrates, and your
heart sinks, so that you can no longer feel
THE PLEASANT PLANT. 135
that you cling to him with your trembling
grasp, — oh then, how precious the assurance
that in him is no shadow of turning, in him is
no darkness at all ; and though you cannot
hold him, as you think, yet he holds you, and
nothing can pluck you out of your Father's
hand.
We are prone to think we are only safe
when faith is in full vigor ; but wc have no
more cause to fear when it can oul}^ touch the
hem of the Saviour's robe. " I am the Lord,
I change not." " God is not a man that he
should lie."
Infirmities are not sins ; and yet they are
often regarded as such. The clouded intellect,
the shattered nerves, the lost faculty of setting
before another the ground of your hope, dis-
may the soul ; but on that sad heart the com-
passionate eye of the blessed One is resting
in full comprehension, and tender sympathy.
" The Lord looketh on the heart." Its depths
reflect the rock, though no dancing sunbeams
light its surface to attract or rejoice other eyes.
He beholds the desire after himself, though
136 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
for his own wise purpose he permits you to
feel your own impotence to recognize him
until he reveal himself. But the message of
love is still for you, " Fear not ye ; for I know
that ye seek Jesus which was crucified." "Be
of good comfort." " It is I, be not afraid,"
It is written, " I will remember my cove-
nant with thee : " but oh, how often do we
forget it, and so lose sight of Jesus and of a
Father's love. It is the omission of frequent
confession of sin, and the neglect of application
to the High Priest of the sanctuary that we
may realize the blood that cleanseth, which
make many a dear child of God sorrowful and
afraid. One believing glance at Jesus, and
self-love and unbehef fall before us. God
himself is glorified by our reliance on his word
spoken, and sealed with the blood of the Lamb
slain. Rom. iii. 24.
" I have none of the joys of communion with
the Lord," said a sorelj^-tried Christian to me ;
"but I believe in him, and love him. The
best that I can do in these dark days is to read
his covenant of mercy by which I was called,
THE PLEASANT PLANT. 137
and in which I am sustained, and cry, ' Forget
not thy covenant.' Often I can do no more
than place my finger on the word, which now
seems my stronghold, ' jrY covenant,' and
plead it with him to keep me from sinking."
The Lord, tender and gracious, does not
withhold " more grace " from those who stay
themselves on the first round of the ladder ;
hut he would have them believingly ascend
and behold the glory which shall follow.
Fear not, " he will ever be mindful of his cov-
enant."
We may be conscious of tlie snare from
which an affliction has delivered us, or the evil
it was intended to reveal or purge, or we may
not ; therefore often is the child of God in
much amazement in his early trials. Others
may rashly judge him, and write bitter tilings
against the righteous — nay, the righteous will
be ready enough to write bitter things against
himself. God alone knoweth the heart. One
thing only it is declared to know — " its ow a
bitterness."
Oh blessed thought ! He who alone know-
138 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
etli it has love and sympathy to meet its every
need. He knoweth all its aggravations, its
secret spring of pain, its hours of hopelessness,
its dire temptations, its low condition, its re-
bellion, hardness, and deceit. All this the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ knew before
he gave his Son to die for you. All this the
beloved Son in the Father's bosom knew
before he took on himself your nature, and
laid down his sinless life for your sins. All
this the Holy Ghost knew before he began to
manifest the work of sanctification in your
soul. The promise is sure. " Sin shall not
have dominion over you." There is a wide
distinction between temptation and sin. The
sin consented unto is the cause of our humilia-
tion ; the temptation resisted we are com-
manded to count " all joy." The heart sigh-
ing after fuller communion with the Beloved
may be more harassed with corruption for a
time than in a lower sphere of spiritual life.
The great adversary can judge of the soul's
progress ; he sees the believer approaching a
point where henceforth his malice O'ill be una-
THE PLEASANT PLANT. 139
vailing, — therefore lie puts forth his strata-
gems to retard such a one : that hour brings
with it another blow to his kingdom, by the
child of faith entering into closer fellowship
with the power and wisdom of God, " In all
these things we are more than conquerors
throuoh him that loved us." Rom. vLii. 37.
o
If we have to conquer, then there is an
enemy ; and as there is armor provided, there
is certainly conflict. If there were no *' fiery
darts," what need of the shield of faith ?
Christianity is not only defensive, it is aggres-
sive. There are wicked spirits in heavenly
places as well as the visible wolves which
walk in sheep's clothing, ready to wound or
destroy. There are the hosts of evil imagina-
tions, and cruel desires ; and these leave a
wide field for conflict, and conquest through
faith in the blood of the Lamb slain. " Our
help is in the name of the Lord, who made
heaven and earth." Psalm cxxiv. 8. If the
Thessalonians had not endured persecution
and tribulation, Paul could not have rejoiced
in their patience and faith, which were tha
140 "WAYSIDE SERVICE.
friiits thereof. 2 Tliess, i. 4. If he himself
had not been brought before Caesar, we should
have lost his thrilhng discourse, and he would
have missed the occasion of testimony for the
Lord, and of reasoning with Felix on right-
eousness, temperance, and judgment to come.
There is a " needs be " for the stormy
blasts, and the burning sun, and the sharp
knife, if the life and prosperity of the Lord's
choice vine is to be proved.
The Lord has pronounced a blessing on the
meek (Matt. v. 5) ; but unless the soul be
placed in a position of temptation, how shall
the grace of God in the power of the Holy
Ghost be manifested ? "I will beautify the
meek with salvation." How ? Circumstances
must prove that grace strengthens the soul for
deeper trials.
One of the largest hospitals in a city in the
south of France was blessed with a directress
or matron who was a faithful follower of the
Lord. Her service was not a thing apart from
her spiritual life, but a field on which she
sought to glorify Him whose disciple she was.
THE PLEASANT PLANT. 141
She was often subjected to misapprehension
by, and even insult from, the patients ; but
she had learned by grace, that a meek and
quiet spirit was of great price in the sight of
Him who was meek and lowly of heart.
On one occasion a patient, angry at a rule
of the hospital being enforced, spat in the
matron's face in the presence of the assembled
ward; she quietly wiped her face, saying, "I
have been greatly honored to share the indig-
nity offered to m}^ blessed Saviour." The out-
rage was never repeated. But afterwards a
new patient was admitted, and when placed
in bed, the matron sent her daughter to remove
the apparel from the ward to another apart-
ment, as no clothing was allowed to be re-
tained in the sleeping room. As the young
girl stooped to gather the clothing together,
the woman, enraged that it should be removed,
bent over her, and raising one of her heavy
sabSts (clogs) struck her violently and repeat-
edly on the back.
All looked on in wonder and dismay at tliis
undeserved cruelty to one who had nevei
142 WAYSIDE SEEVICE.
offended, feeling that tJiis must touch the
mother's heart far more severely than any in-
dignity offered to herself.
The matron calmly continued her duties.
In the evening the culprit beheld her approach
her bed. She waited for some word of re-
proach, — none came ; for some expression of
displeasure in her face, — none was seen.
Christ was in his holy temple, and all the earth
kept silence before him !
Carefully she arranged the pillows, tenderly
she spoke to the woman while performing the
offices of kindness which she mis^ht well have
deputed to another. The culprit shrank be-
fore her ; there was no sign of the remem-
brance of this most unlovely deed. The heart
of the harsh and violent woman melted be-
neath the power of the Holy S23irit. She
watched and listened to the directress, as from
day to day she ministered of the " good
things " promised by her heavenly Father ;
and in a little time the truly new-born child
of God confessed Christ. Before leaving the
hospital she declared that the meek forgive-
THE PLEASANT PLANT. 143
ness of injury thus manifested by one who
walked with God, had broken her heart and
prepared it for the blessings awaiting her.
Ye who pine to serve and can find no place,
" Go and do likewise."
There are cloudy days for the pleasant plant,
for fruit is forming ; and if the sunshine falls
on the bud of promise, then the goodly branch
will droop. So we miss some from their place,
when all seemed to give hope of much fruit ;
and the laborer, bewildered at the sudden
transition from what seemed prosperity to
utter desolation, cries, " Why is it thus with
me?"
Ah! the Great Husbandman knows why;
and what " thm knowest not now, thou shalt
know hereafter." The zeal with which you
seemed to serve God may have appeared to
you an acceptable service, calling for some-
thing better than this abrupt termination.
" God seeth not as man seeth." T]ie very
success and enjoyment in the work so dear to
you ma}^ liave covered a snare from which He
in his wisdom has seen fit to shelter his bhnd
144 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
but beloved child. His eye detects the leaves
that must fall ; and though the knife be sharp,
it is love that holds it. Better that the right
hand be cut off, than that the soul he loves
should suffer loss. Your comeliness would
soon have faded beneath the drought of sum-
mer, unknown to you ; your incense would
have had no sweet savor. And now, could
the companions of your labors behold you in
the inner chambers, they would moui-n over
you, and write "Ichabod" on your prostrate
soul. Not so the compassionate God-Man.
He has numbered your tears ; he has seen
your affliction ; and he has weighed it against
the glory which you cannot comprehend, and
for which he is thus preparing you.
Perhaps self-love, or the desire of the flesh,
might have destroyed the work for the Lord;
and in pity he has protected you, that under
the shelter of the canopy of cloud you may
"inquire of the Lord," Ah! our mercy-seat
is in the Beloved ; and there we may learn,
as far as we can receive it, why it is thus with
us.
THE PLEASANT PLANT. 145
Has the Master of the house seemed to shut
you out from testimony and service ? Will
the work dear to you languish ? Is the door
closed where ouce you went in and, out, pro-
claiming the name of the Lord, merciful and
gracious? Where he so often met you with
blessing, he will meet you again ; but your
eyes are holden that you cannot see him.
Before the throng of angels and archangels,
in the presence of the Lord himself, you shall
glorify him. " I will bring the blind by a way
that they knew not ; I will lead them in paths
that they have not known ; I will make dark-
ness light before them, and crooked things
straight. These things will I do unto them,
and not forsake them." Lsaiah xlii. 10.
Is it nothing to live in testimony before God,
unseen of man? "Walk before me;" and
thismust be without any ulterior motive or
desire to be seen, or any regard to results. It
is only as we do this that the strength comes
for the action of faith. There is manj^ a
secret service offered to us, that, like the
weary traveler at the Arab's tent, may whis-
146 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
per, " I am sent of God," and for wliicli there
is no visible recompense ; but it is accepted
with the sweet consciousness that it is offered
to the Father which seeth in secret. Hospi-
tality is part of the religion of the Arabs.
Even an enemy is not denied food and shelter.
A stranger goes to the tent with these words,
"I am sent of God ; " a mat is given him to
repose on, and food and milk spread for liis
refreshment. The Arab considers it a breach
of the rites of his religion to deny his guest
anything, or to say or do aught that would
anger or sadden him at his departure.
General Ducasse when in Algeria, being
himself a superior officer, was conducted to
the tent of the chieftain, who received him
with marked respect. He had one lovely little
girl who delighted the General by her grace
and playfulness. When weary of her childish
sports, in which the old officer had joined her,
she sat on his knee and amused herself with
the brilliant decorations of his uniform, resting
her glossy head upon his breast. After the
General had retired to rest his thoughts dwelt
THE PLEASANT PLANT. 147
upon the fair young playmate, and he pre-
pared a gift for her that she might in future
days remember him. This he desired to be-
stow with his own hand before liis departure.
When the chieftain entered his tent the officer
inquired, "Where is your beautiful child?
May I see her before I leave you ? "
The father's face was overshadowed. He
replied,
" She sleeps ! "
"Nay," urged the General, "I have a gift
to bestow on her, and I would give it with my
own hand."
" Impossible."
" Oh, let me see her ! " urged his visitor.
" No ! no ! " replied the chieftain sternly,
motioning him back ; " you cannot see her,"
and his face was so cold and rigid that his
guest dared not press his request. Then, at-
tending him to the door of his tent, he bade
him farewell.
The little company had proceeded some
distance in silence when General Diicasse
turned to his aid-de-camp and inquired why
148 "WAYSIDE SERVICE.
his host had been so peremptory in not allow-
ing him to take leave of his lovely little daugh-
ter. The reply stunned him.
" Last night, after you retired to rest, she
fell from the embankment and was killed on
the spot. The rights of hospitality would
have been broken had you shared his grief."
The religion of the Arab taught him obedience
to what he believed to be the commands of
God, though he was in heathen darkness as to
the unknown God. Here is the call for living
faith owned of a living God. There may not
be the conscious action of faith at all ; but
faith is there, — shown in the willingness of
patient waiting, which glorifies the Lord.
Nor is it true that, while knowing your
position as a child of God, there can be no
real affliction. Jesus knows otherwise. He
mffered his Father's will, and agonized, and
wept, and was tempted even as we are, " yet
without sin."
Suffering and temptation we must neces-
Barily share with the Man of Sorrows alone.
Human sympathy can go but a little way with
THE PLEASANT PLANT. 149
US ; though so precious a gift of God, he with-
holds it, and bestows it as seems good to him.
And natural sympathy without him is often
expended before our trial is over.
But you have learned to know his voice
before the cloudy day shrouded him from your
sight. You have loved to trace his hand and
mark his footsteps, and now he is teacliing
you deeper lessons. " Hear him ; " for in this
mysterious dispensation he is answering your
desire for " more fruit," for which you have
importuned him. Oh, could you look beyond
these days of darkness, and see the results,
you would be satisfied. Can you not trust
him? You have entreated for blessings for
which you were not fitted, and you are thus
being prepared to receive them. You would
be content for the Lord to work your way to
overcome the obstacles in your reception of
his gifts ; but when he does some " new
thing," and prepares to exhibit to jon some-
thing more of his rich sufficiency ; some nearer
view of himself which shall call forth your
adoring wonder ; you shrink back afraid and
150 WAYSIDE SEE VICE.
amazed, and cry, " He liidetli his face," simply
because you lack faith to believe that he has
heard your prayers, and is answering your
request.
If the Holy Ghost work some " new thing "
with us and in us (Is. xlviii. 6), let us not
fear ; the heart is slow to recognize spiritual
gifts, and slack to praise for them ; for the
things of sense need not the delicate percep-
tion by which alone the things of the Spirit
are discerned. The faith that believes that
the grace prayed for must come, may perhaps
not discover that the prayer has been heai'd
until that grace is called into exercise ; thus
the fruit is visible through some unexpected
pruning.
You have no joy in the promises, no delight
in the thought of the return of the Beloved.
Perhaps joy is not what the Lord is requir-
ing from you, but the patient requirement
to believe in his love, and to lay even these
joyous emotions at his feet, resting on his
truth.
If in his strength, and for his glory, you can
THE PLEASANT PLANT. 151
quell one rising murmur, and smooth the fur-
rows on your pain-pent brow, he will rejoice
in your prosperity. It is a work for angels
and devils to behold, though the world and
the Church militant know nothing of it.
The natural — even the fair and beautiful —
must give place to resurrection life. The
placid temperament becomes destroyed by
sickness, and Satan finds a new avenue of
attack, because this gate of the citadel has
been unguarded. But if tlie temper is ruffled,
it can be subdued ; and Christ's power will
arise on its destruction. If the sanguine heart
has throutrh constant irritation become anxious
and doubting, it is only for the grace of th(v
Spirit to be seen in a new and spiritual hope.
Thy right hand may " forget its cunning," yet
will the Lord be magnified in the prosperity
of his servant. For as Christ is the root of
the vine, so the Spirit brings /orth the fruit.
In wintry days the sap returns for the nour-
ishment of the liidtlen life ; and these days of
apparent barrenness are seasons when the in-
visible power still continues its work ; and
152 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
that work is always sanctification in some
form or other.
One of the Lord's fruitful branches, so
greatly honored in service, passed through
many such seasons of trial. But when called
home, he lay for days in such enraptured com-
munion with the Lord, that even his wife,
whom he dearly loved, could not share his
thoughts ; but he said to her, his face glow-
ing with rapture, " The Lord in this says to
me, You have often murmured at the way I
have led you ; but Avhat do you think of it
now ? "
Be of good cheer ; he will rejoice in the
prosperity of his servant.
If only in life's pleasant ways,
Tlie Shepherd's tender love is known,
Then may I ask, in sad amaze.
If still he careth for his own.
But grief, and weariness, and pain,
Mark where the Man of Sorrows trod;
And he who would the kingdom gain
Must follow thee, thou Son of God.
If days of ease, and nights of rest.
And sweet affection's gentle bands.
Could woo the wanderer to thy breast.
Then might 1 claim them at thine hands.
THE PLEASANT PLANT. 153
For thou hast every blessing boiijjht,
Sealed by thy pierced hands above,
Aiid my salvation fully wrought
From the deep fountain of thy love.
And yet I ask for prosperous days;
Nor wilt thou, Lord, my suit deny:
For while upon thyself I gaze.
My soul shall know prosperity.
154 WAYSIDE SEEVICE.
CHAPTER VII.
UNDER THE JUNIPER.
I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and
will watch to see what He will say imto me.— Hab. ii. 1.
fHERE are two positions for desert trial.
In the one, the disciple of the Lord is
; " led up of the Spirit," into circumstances
of temptation and affliction over which he has
no control. The other is, when, like Jonah,
he flies from a service which the Lord has
clearly required of him ; or as Elijah, forsakes,
in willfulness, distrust, or uulelief, the place
of testimony to which he has been called.
Sickness, bereavement, and spiritual conflict
are often followed by desolation of soul that
separates it from the world without, and leads
it into deeper acquaintance with God himself
than it is possible to obtain elsewhere. The
other position of darkness is the result of dis-
obedience or sin in some form ; sometimes the
UNDER THE JUNIPEK. 155
consequence of self-will, by taking our justijfi-
cation and deliverance into our own hands, for-
getting Him " which doeth great things past
finding out ; yea, and wonders without num-
ber." In a word, the Holy Spirit has been
grieved. When David cried, " Make thy face
to shine upon thy servant," " Thou didst hide
thy face, and I was troubled," he gave utter-
ance to the experience that still marks the
pilgrim's heavenward journey. Inasmuch as
the Holy Spirit docs not manifest the face of
the Father, it is hidden ; and as far as he with-
holds the realized fellowship in Christ, the
soul is troubled by the darkness ; for the chil-
dren of the day alone understand the depth of
the trial of the desolation of night.
Weary and heart-sick must have been the
honored witness of the God of Israel, when he
laid himself down beneath the juniper and
prayed to die. 1 Kings xix. 4. While he
realized the power that sustained him in his
service, he boldly confronted armed men and
the rage of kings face to face ; but, forgetting
the soui-ce of liis strength, he fled before the
threat of a wicked woman.
156 WAYSIDE SEBVICE.
Instead of the death he prays for, sleep falls
upon the desponding man, and one of the
bright host of heaven is appointed to minis-
ter to his sinldng body. So the Lord answers
us. The saint, worn out with anxious labor
and neglect of communion with the Lord,
whose strength alone can sustain him, ceases
to realize him in the day's trial. The myste-
rious connection of the instrument of the soul
with the soul itself is often disregarded, and
Satan, taking advantage of physical weakness
and infirmity, harasses the sad-hearted servant,
until he falls into desolation of spirit, and, hke
Elijah, he is weary of his work and of his life.
Ye who tarry beneath the juniper, and cry,
" Oh that I were as in months past, as in the
days when God preserved me, when his candle
shined upon m}^ head, and when by his hght
I walked through darkness," — " Arise and
eat ; " for Jesus hath said, " My flesh is meat
indeed, and my blood is drink indeed ; " and
in the strength of that food ye shall go forty
days, if need be, in the wilderness. If the law
and judgment roll their fearful thunders over
UNDER THE JUNIPER. 157
you, yet tliey will only make more evident tlie
"still small voice" of the Lord, tender and
gracious. He will lead you back, after this
desert lesson, with a deeper comprehension of
the power of Him who has set his servant in
the forefront of the battle ; and having taught
you what you are without him, he will show
you what you may accomplish with him.
Have your enemies, like Jezebel, driven you
under the juniper ? Fear not them. " Bless-
ed are ye when men shall hate you, and when
they shall separate you from their company,
and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of
man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap
for joy ; for, behold, your reward is great in
heaven." Luke vi. 22, 23.
We know not what these desert trials pro-
tect us from ; what hot blasts of temptation
we have been hidden from ; what instruction
we have received for others and for ourselves ;
what progress in sanctification has resulted
from brokenness of heart. Take courage I
The hour of lassitude and depression is not
the time to count up what we possess our-
158 WAYSIDE SEEVICE.
selves; but it is the time to believe in the
riches laid up for us by the faithfulness of a
covenant God, who has said, "I will give thee
the treasures of darkness."
To examine our progress in a new country,
we do not wait for the day when storms sweep
over it, and heavy mists blind our eyes and
obscure our view. But we take the chart, and
try our way by the Word, which is truth. If
my telescope is dim with tears, and I cannot
see the object I seek, it does not prove that
the object does not exist : I must beheve that
it is there, though invisible to me. Such a
posture of soul honors God in blind faith even
more confidingly than when in the exaltation
of sense we cry, " He is mine ; for I behold
him." It is now, " He has made with me an
everlasting covenant that cannot be broken."
Sad is my heart, and dark as cold;
No light, no joy, is mine:
Return thou Holy Comforter,
With hope and peace divine I
Oh, let thy soft reviving beams
Show Christ alone my tiiist,
Although my faithless spirit seems
Still cleaving to the dustl
THSTDER THE JTJNIPEE. 159
Earth holds no light for me, O Lord!
Since I tliy face have seen;
I hear no whisper in thy Word,
The thunder rolls between.
O Holy Comforter! restore
The only joy I crave!
Lord! reveal thyself once more;
By thy salvation — save!
♦ * # *
1 hear the words of tenderness,
Sealed with my Saviour's blood;
"I will not leave tlico comfortless;
Behold the Lamb of God!"
Declension will often arise from negligence
in taking heed to the Holy Spirit's admoni-
tion, or from failing to follow out the desire of
grace that has dawned in the heart, or using
the devices of the flesh to complete that which
we have undertaken in the Spirit. The sins
of negligence, of willfulness, or of ignorance,
are variously met. But if we heed not the
first token of the Holy Spirit's witness, shad-
ows may deepen around us ; and if we enter-
tain his enemies, he may perhaps leave us tc
slumber, and to eat the fruit of our doings,
before he again manifests to us the precious
gift which a Saviour's blood-shedding has se-
cured to us.
Is it only comfort, and the removal of a
160 WAYSIDE SEEVICE.
cross, wliicli you seek in these wintry seasons?
Then the trial may be eluded for a time by
the excitement consequent on the pursuit, and
subsequently by the possession, of some earth-
ly good. This will di-aw your mind away
from considering your ways, and understand-
ing why it is thus with you ; so that you hear
not the voice of God in the cloud, and miss
the instruction that lay enshrouded there for
you with the blessing.
If your cry is for Christ, in any wise be
assured that it will be answered, and your
progress will be upwards and onwards ; for he
is before you and above you ; your cry is
sweet to his ear. You moan in your anguish,
" My God has forgotten me." Ah ! he does
not forget. The very shadow proves it. It
would appear more like forgetfulness, if he left
bis wandering child to prosper in the way he
has chosen for himself, and in which he has
found enjoyment.
To God the Holy Ghost alone pertains the
power of unfolding the mysteries of grace ;
and he only can guide us, consciously or un-
UNDER THE JUNIPER. 161
consciously, into the path of holiness. If,
through pride and unbelief, we close not our
minds to his gentle and reviving influence, he
will lead us, warn us, encourage and console
us, reprove and control us.
I would not make the work of the Holy
Spirit a subject of curious inquiry. It is ea-
sier to say, " We are nothing in ourselves,"
and " The Lord is my strength," than jn-acti-
cally to cast the soul on him. We draw com-
fort and power from the certainty that, as we
are commanded to walk in the S[)irit, he will
lead us, if that is our desire ; and that, as we
are enjoined to pray in the Spirit, he will
assuredly incline our heatt to seek such things
as are according to the will of God, if we wait
upon liim.
We must not expect him to operate always
in the same manner. " There are differences
of administrations, but the same Lord ; and
there are diversities of operations, but it is
the same God which worketh all in all. But
the manifestation of the Spirit is given to
every man to profit withal." 1 Cor. xii. 5-7.
162 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
The Spirit blowetli where he listeth. The
analogy runs through nature. The wind
sweeps every leaf of a tree in the same direc-
tion. It breaks a dry branch, and overturns
a comfortable nest ; it dashes to the earth a
lofty pinnacle, and wrecks a noble vessel on
the waters. It is no less the wind, when it
quivers in the clustering roses, and dries the
dews of night in the bright cups that send
forth renewed fragrance. The same breeze
wakes the still lake into tiny rij)ples, and
carries the breath of the spring pasture on
its wings.
All his ways tend to the same point —
sanctification for the glovj of God. Sove-
reign in his power, he still may be resisted ;
and by the command given to the Thessalo-
nians, " Quench not the Spirit," it is evident
that the actions of grace may be so sinned
against that no sensible manifestation of his
presence may be accorded.
Without the blessed Spirit, what shall bring
our sins to remembrance, or recall the faith-
fulness of God, or the mediation of the Lord
UNDER THE JUNIPER. 163
Jesus? The word will be as a dead letter,
without his breath ; and the free gifts to man,
which Christ's sacrifice promised us, will be a
matter of cold speculation.
Where will you look for consolation ? To
the world, from whose fetters he came to de-
liver you ? To your own intellectual knowl-
edge of the doctrines that once formed the
ground of your hope ? Oh, trifle not ; for God
is not mocked. Grieve not the Holy Spirit of
God.
There are times when the soul has melted
in remembering what great things the Lord
has done for it, and prayer was the sponta-
neous result. But at anotlier time the call to
praj'-er may liave been resisted, and a more
convenient season suggested, or some forgotten
business may have been recalled. The con-
venient season may never come ; and if it
comes, and the other unnecessary matter has
been completed, the Spirit has been resisted,
and leaves you to mourn that you had put
anything in place of God.
Again, an hour of solitude offers itself, and
164 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
you look forward with joy to a time of medi-
tation and prayer. Satan sees it too, and lie
will seek to destroy the tranquil hour by
bringing some of his devices to act upon j'our
imagination, or to arouse your evil passions.
If the adversary can gain your ear, he will not
be slow in following up his advantage ; he will
perhaps suggest some circumstance of sup-
posed wrong or oppression that has been or
may occur. He presents it in such vivid colors
that you could hardly feel less irritated if the
event had really taken place, and your heart
becomes the seat of turbulent passion or in-
dignation. jStill keep to your first intention.
You looked for solitude and sweet fellowship
with Jesus. Better to be there in conflict and
tears than to let Satan have the advantage.
He may harass you; he cannot devour you.
If he is permitted to afflict the child of God,
it is to manifest the power of the Holy Spirit
in the weakest member of Christ's body. " We
are more than conquerors through Him who
lovetli us."
The doubts and dishonoring thoughts of God
UNDER THE JUJSTPER. 165
that crowd the mind are too often resisted
in human strength. The heart, ceasing to
realize the foundation on which it rests, seeks
in its intellectual store of the truths of God
that which can only be effectual by the power
of the Holy Spirit.
Any immoderate desire, any undue curiosity,
any enemy of God welcomed and cherished,
will militate against the manifestation of the
Dove of Peace.
Oh, be not rocked to slumber with Satan's
devices, nor think, because others venture to
walk in paths of danger, therefore you will
avoid all peculiarity and be like them^ soothing
yourself with the thought that you are a child"
of God, and cannot be lost. This is turning
the grace of God into lasciviousness, and influ-
encing others by your example.
To those who follow the Lord faithfully,
every sunbeam and shadow will have an inter-
est ; as the botanist sees in the commonest
weed upon his way another link in liis study of
nature. Therefore watch.
It is not to " follow," to seek guidance only
166 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
when Kome matter is in hand to which we
attach importance, but to watch hour by hour
that we may read as we run in the way of the
Lord. For this there is a sure reward. Yes,
in despite of the reproach of those who know
not that the power and the presence of God
is in a separate walk. Will it be seen in the
world's honors, or the eulogy of your breth-
ren ? Nay.
What has ease or earthly happiness ever
done for us, in comparison to our enemies and
afflictions, which, in driving us into the desert,
enabled us to realize the fullness and reality
of a living Head ? Our dearest comforts too
often bind us to earth with their silken bonds,
until we forget, in the shadow of the gourd,
the mission to which we are called — to follow
Jesus.
Prayerfully and patiently seek light and
guidance from Him who giveth liberally, and
upbraideth not. When you laiow that he has
guided you by his eye, or by his hard provi-
dentially, beware lest Satan rob you of youi
reward.
*■ UNDER THE JUNIPER. 167
If another aver that he has received other
counsel for you, heed it not, even if he declare
an angel spake to him ; for if you do, a lion in
the way will prove that God is not a man that
he should lie. 1 Kings xiii. 18. Even one
who declares himself a man of God may tell
you of the need of temporizing and expediency.
The Lord is only proving you, whether you
will be faitliful to what you have sought and
found — the will of God.
If you are assured that he has bade you do
this thing for him, do it. As for other and
subsequent reasoning, whether of friend or foe,
put it aside ; for the Lord saith, " What is that
to thee. Follow thou me."
Obedience is a costly sacrifice. It is ac-
cepted and accurately weighed by the High
Priest of the sanctuary. Do you think that a
growth in grace will preserve you from tempta-
tion, or prevent the smart of affliction ? There
' is no exemption from the cross, if you w£),lk
with Jesus. We miss much blessing by a
restless desire for action, when the Lord is call-
ing us aside for quiet communion with him-
168 WAYSIDE SERVICE. '
self tliroiigli trials which we are yo dull in
understanding. It is probable that the Lord
would reveal himself to us frequentl}^ without
this, if we were in our true position ; for his
voice is heard in tenderness when he has not
first to say to us, " Take these things hence.
Make not my Father's house a house of mer-
chandise." The natural heart loves to deal
with natural things, and does not desire the
food from heaven.
Obedience is always the preparation for
blessing. " Whatsoever he saith unto you do
it Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water-
pots with water ; and they filled them up to
the brim ; " and wine was the result. The
reason that our water is so seldom changed to
wine may perhaps arise from our lack of obe-
dience. What Jesus has said unto us we have
not done.
My tent was once pitched in a hamlet re-
mote from a town, and unfurnished with any
means of conveyance, except a cart which
went to market for provisions. I was siu--
rounded by pleasant lanes and moorland ; but
UNDER THE JUNIPER. 169
I could not take advantage of their proximity,
for I was unable to walk ; and the garden
surrounding my cottage became wearisome
to me.
• One day I saw a pony carriage pass the
door, and, on inquiry, I found it was for hire
on the outskirts of the neighboring village.
I was quite alone as to companionship, and
longing much for some service suitable to
me ; but I saw none. My first impression
was to hire the carriage ; but Satan suggested
that it was sinful to take the indulgence. I
was depressed and ill. In my distress I poured
out my heart to my unfailing Friend, min-
utely telling liim ivhij I wanted the carriage,
and praying him to give it me if I could serve
him by using it, and to make it so plain that
it tvas his will that I shoidd not err in the
matter. Peace returned to my mind, and Sa-
tan's suggestion, like the howl of a wolf, only
sent me into the arms of my Good Shepherd.
I waited. The second day had arrived,
when a packet reached me containing a sum
of money, and a request that it 'might be ap-
170 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
propriated for the use of a carriage. I never
learned who was the instrument of my Father's
tender care over me, but in thankful joy I re-
ceived it from Him who knoweth that we have
need of such things.
Although it was evening, I sent for the car-
riage at once ; and my heart bounded as for
the first time I passed the boundary of the lit-
tle field that surrounded my garden. I prayed
again that the Lord would grant me a token
for good in this first drive ; for I longed only
to do his bidding.
At the end of the road two ways met — we
paused ; my driver advocating the high road,
while the fragrant air that stole over the wild
thyme and gorse and heath, seemed to invite
me to the moorland. I bade the boy take the
high road — why, I know not. When we had
proceeded a short distance, I remarked an aged
Christian lady whom I knew by sight resting
on the road-side with her servant, unable to
proceed, and too faint to be left to send her
maid to seek for any means of conveyance to
take her to her home. Tempted by the beau-
UNDER THE JTHSTTPER. 171
ty of the afternoon, she had gone to the vil-
lage, and, overcome with weakness and fatigue,
was in much distress, knowing not how to pro-
ceed. The grateful smile with which she let
me assist her into the carriage and drive her
to her house, I accepted as the sign I asked
for, while her tears told how her heart was
touched at the Lord's love and care over her.
" What a service ! "What a sign ! " may
some say, who go forth into the crowded dens
of "sin and misery with their lives in their
hands ! Yea ! yea ! I say so too ! But oh,
the grace of God who accepts what we have
— not asking for what we have not ! Unut-
terable grace to the vilest and last called.
The same grace ! the same God ! the same
reward !
A day or two later I went by the orchards
and fields, giving books and tracts on my way
as opportunity offered. The harvest was be-
ginning, it being an agricultural district ; thus
the cottages were mostly empty, and passen-
gers rare.
Still I prayed for service, and expected it.
172 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
The wind was high, and a little book which I
had sought to throw into a cottage garden
was carried after the carriages I bade the
boy alight and take it to the cottage ; how-
ever, he left it at the gate. Scarcel}^ had he
resumed his seat, when the book came career-
ing along, this time before the carriage. The
pony became restless, so I bade the driver
wait while I took the refractory tract to the
house myself.
With the vain effort of fixing it in the han-
dle of the door, the door opened. A woman,
whose deathlike countenance and gentle sor-
rowful mien touched my- heart, was startled
by my sudden entrance, and turned towards
me from a window in another direction. The
first words I spoke to her found an answer in
her brightening face. I learned the history
of her long-standing and painful maladj^ and
of her sorrows. Her sad expression passed
away, as we communed of Him who was our
very present help, and beneath the shadow of
whose wings I was rejoicing.
The time passed swiftly. I took leave of
UNDEB THE JTJNIPEE,. 173
her ; but on returning for a moment, I was
surprised to see her leaning on her poor thin
hands tightly clasped together, while her tears
fell fast. I drew near her: she said, "I am
weeping tears of shame," — to me they seemed
that they would be numbered among the
tears of the saints, accepted of the Lord, and
counted "praise."
At last she said, " Oh, ma'am, this is the
first day that I have repined. AU was so dark
to-day. Our people ai'e in the fields. My
child is at the village, at her school. The kind
fiicnds who used to come and cheer me have
all left the country. From morning to night
I have sat here. I was so lone and heavy of
heart ; and in the bitterness of my murmuring
spirit I said, ' Lord ! Tliou hast taken away
all my friends ; I have not one left me ! ' And
now before nifjhtfall he sends me one I never
saw before. This is how the Lord answers
me.
It seemed a very small thing to dry the
tears of my Father's child;- but to my heart it
was a token of his love, which I might have
174 WAYSIDE SERVICE
missed had I chosen to go to a stant land to
preach the gospel. Numberless are the marks
of my Father's care and guidance that my
heart records. I have related those which by
his blessing may encourage the weakest ones
in their loneliness.
The natural heart retains something: of the
fear of Adam after his fall, and dreads to
stand alone with God. We constantly hear
sympathy expressed for those who, from the
absence of the members of their family or
connections, in certain seasons are left alone.
Yet in all the momentous transactions with
the Lord Jehovah, the soul has been " alone
with God."
It was thus with Abraham, IMoses, Jacob,
Elijah, Samuel, Paul, and John at Patmos.
Nor were they " alone " only, but often af-
flicted also.
When Jacob took his way into the desert
alone, he fled from an angry brother, who
waited only for his father's death to slay him
who had taken his birthright and his blessing.
UNDER THE JUNIPER. 175
The lonely fugitive had a stone for his pillow;
yet it was there, in the wild wilderness of
Padan-aram, that he received the first mani-
festation of the God of his fathers, and beheld
the golden ladder let down fi'om heaven, and
the angels of God ascending and descending
upon the earth. In that solitary wilderness
the communication from the Lord himself
was given him. Had not Almighty Wisdom
foreseen the glory which was to be, with the
necessity of that desert teaching, Jacob might
still have lived his mother's darling in his
father's house, and the glorious vision have
remained unseen.
During my residence in the South, I had
some experience of the blessing of follow-
ing the Lord, and the sorrow of disobeying
him.
I was very weary with my sojourn in a
crowded city, among those cither indifferent
or hostile to my blessed Lord. I pined for
quiet and retirement ; mind and body both
clearly called for this. My path was so hedged
up that I saw no way of obtaining what I so
176 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
much needed. A happy Christian family
whom I knew had a lovely villa outside. the
walls ; and many and many a day the charm
of a visit there in Christian fellowship pre-
sented itself most alluringly to my mind. I
made it a subject of prayer. But it seemed
at last so impossible, that I besought the Lord
to guide me somewhere — anywhere he willed
— for a season of peace, and of deeper fellow-
ship with himself than I could obtain amid
the distracting gaiety of the surrounding
scenes.
Gently and distinctly a place was presented
to me, from which I naturally shrank ; but I
felt that I had only sought the will of the
Lord in the choice of it, and that therefore I
ought to follow its leading. Moreover it
would lighten a longer journey which lay
before me. My portmanteaus were packed,
and I arranged to leave on the following
day. It was no small trial to me, when a
carriage drove to the door with my friends,
who with affectionate solicitude invited me to
their beautiful home for a lengtliened visit.
UNDER THE JUNIPER. 177
My first feeling was cine of thankfulness;
the next was doubt whether this was my
way. I strove in crooked policy to think I
might go to the other place afterwards ; and
yet I had asked the Lord as to time as well as
place.
Dear friends advocated my remaining and
accepting the warm-hearted hospitality thus
offered. In the conflict I fell into great dark-
ness. Night passed without any light on my
path. When the morning Ijroke it was clearly
shown me that I had received guidance, and
that no other would be given me. My heart
was at once brought into obedience, and I saw
it was sweeter todo Eh will than to enjoy him
in his people.
I fell asleep, and as I awoke there came to
my lips, " He goeth before you into Galilee ;
there shall ye see him." Mark xvi. 7. My
journey was accomplished in peace and safety ;
but how can I describe the sequel? The
hotel where I alighted was out of the town,
and was occupied by one family only besides
myself. The deep quiet was welcome to my
178 WAYSroE SERVICE.
longing heart. But what can I say of — how
can I describe — the faithfulness of my beloved
Lord, and the powerful manifestation of him-
self? All is comprehended in " Jesus met
me ; " and I realized his joy in being con-
strained to remain. Those who have known
these things in their own experience w^ill com-
prehend the feelings of these sacred hours, for
which we have no words ; and may those who
as yet know them not learn them for them-
selves.
Only a few weeks afterwards a leading — as
prayerfully sought, and as clearly granted —
was met by disobedience on my part, and fol-
lowed by a shadow as deep as Elijah's must
have been when he cried, " Lord, take away
my life."
If you would walk with Jesus, you must
learn to watch for him, and recognize him,
and " be not unwise, but understanding what
the will of the Lord is." Life's daily walks
wiU thus open new views of him to your soul,
and a glory wiU shine upon common things
that never can be there unless his sanctifying
UNDER THE JUNIPER. 179
touch is discerned by you. Then the lowliest
duty, performed with singleness of purpose
" for him," will make your soul as a watered
garden.
On looking from the terrace of a house in
southern Italy, in a time of drought, I was
attracted by one green spot — an oasis in the
desert. The citrons and oranges, the roses
and rich flowering plants, were bright and
blooming ; while all around was parched and
dry.
I found my way in the course of the next
day to this garden, and learned the secret of
its beauty. A large deep well was in its
center; on either side of it were two tanlcs
to receive its overflowing when the storms
came ; and from thence were several small
troughs, which conducted the water to the
roots of the large orange trees, citrons, and
vines, which were now blooming with flow-
ers and fruit. Then I felt the promise, " Thy
soul shall be as a watered garden," coming
powerfully to my heart, and I saw the secret
in the deep well ; for the rich fertility de-
180 WAYSIDE SERVICE.
pended &till upon the mountain storms for a
full supply.
The memory of these cool streams avails us
nothing ; but only increases our thirst. The
garden must be watered every moment.
The Lord knows what is best for his wilder-
ness family : not one good thing will be founJ
lacking when they enter then Father's house.
There was a needs-be for QVQiy shadow.
There on such landmarks of your spiritual
progress you will pause, while fuller j^i^aise
swells your song, and echoes through your
Father's house ; for the stars that have marked
your midnight march will have shone fairest
in their heavenly splendor, as you rose up from
the shadow of the juniper.
Let the sweet song of home,
O'er the wild waters swelling,
Cheer lone hearts that battle
The billows among.
Let the " Light of the World "
Be the light of your dwelling,
And the Father himself wiU
Rejoice iu your song.
The heart, melodious with praise, by its
daily recognition of the Lord, is tuned to pray
for spiritual blessing for itself and others.
UNDER THE JUNIPER. 181
Praise seems of such small accoimt in tlie ex-
perience of some of God's people, that many
who think they wrong him and their own soul
by neglect of prayer, deem it a light thing to
withhold from him " the sacrifice of praise."
When the high praises of God are in the
mouth, then the two-edged sword will be
wielded in power.
Slow is the heart to believe that the Lord
really takes pleasure in his people ; pleasure
in their prosperity, pleasure in their praise I
It was when the temple of Solomon re-
sounded with praise, that the glory of the
Lord filled the house. It was when those tem-
ples of the Holy Ghost (Paul and Silas) were
filled with Ids praise that they burst forth into
songs, and the foundations of a prison were
shaken, and the doors were opened, and every
one's bands were loosed, and the keeper of
the prison fell down, in chains of sin, — to rise
up in life and gladness. Acts xvi. 2G.
The people of Moab, Ammon, and Mount
Seir, could not stand before Judah, who came
out against them with songs of praise. And
182 'wayside service.
as they went out in praise, so they returned,
for the Lord made them to rejoice over their
enemies. 2 Chronicles xx. 27.
How is he praised ? They that speak of his
glory, and talk of his power, make known to
the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glo-
rious majesty of his kingdom. None need be
silent. As there are many grains of sand to
form the boundary over which the sea shall
not pass, so there are a multitude of God's
tender mercies for which the soul in recording-
may praise and take courage ; for the bound-
aries of Satan are set by the same Almighty
hand.
Despond not; for in the Lord is your
strength. But remember it is God's vine that
is pruned, and that you must be a lily in the
garden of God ere you can expect him to be
as the dew. Before you can be a watered
garden, you must-be inclosed from the desert.
It is your life in Christ which can alone bring
forth fruit ; and all out of him, however fair
to your own eyes, and the eyes of others, will
be burned up.
UNDER THE JUNIPEB. 183
Jesus Scays, " Behold, I come .quickly ; and
my reward is with me, to give every man ac-
cording as his work shall be." Rev. xxii. 12.
" And they shall see his face ; and his name
shall be in their foreheads. And there shall
be no night there." Rev. xxii. 4, 5.
A3IEN.
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